PCs:Cole Dayhawk
Basic Info
Full Name: Cole Dayhawke
Age: Mid to Late Twenties
Race: Half-Nymph
Gender: Male
Birthplace: Dormiria
Current Residence: Travels Regularly Throughout the Spiritland and Elysia
Diety: O'Ma
Alignment: Neutral Good
Affiliations:
- Champions of O'ma
- Order of O'ma
Appearance
Cole stands a shade or two under six feet tall with an athletic, symmetrical build. Weighing approximately one hundred and eighty pounds, daily training has created a lean blend of speed and power. Dark red hair falls down past slightly pointed ears, on many occasions needing pushed from vivid green eyes. His complexion, jaw, and bone structure leave little doubt to his bloodlines, as often as he prefers to leave them shadowed by his hood. Long days afield and encamped see him carrying a short brush of dark stubble here and there, though he is largely clean shaven.
While occasionally seen in plain clothing or a more functional set of robes, comprised of various layered tunics and tabards...he is most often found armored, his cloak and hood pulled around him, and the hilts of two longblades peaking over his shoulders. When on display, with the correct lighting present, fine sylvan etchings can be made out on the surface of each black plate. Around his left arm guard and bracer he has also taken to wrapping a necklace of prayer beads and various medals of religious significance, often loosing an end to manipulate with his fingers while thinking.
Demeanor
In general, he comes across as measured and thought out in his interactions with others, tempered with a quick wit and a penchant for humor that is often understated. He can be quite cynical at times, though wise beyond his years. Cole can be very closed off from other individuals (with one notable exception), having preferred to be alone in his purpose for much of his time, and while events have changed this, seeing him much warmer...he can at times easily slip into his colder demeanor. Suggesting he does not care however, is to not have actually seen him act.
In battle, Cole wields two longblades in an adaptation of the style named for Vanoviel Niltaurwen. Each blade rising and falling in arcs of practiced ease around his person, before striking home against revealed weaknesses. As with all Champions, he can amplify his reflexes and strength by drawing on O'mas grace, significantly increasing his prowess.
History: Seven Cities
Besides the facts that he was born in Dormiria, and at some point came to O'ma in his temple at Crosstreams, Cole is not overly active in telling his lifes tale before he came to the Southern parts of Negaria. He has talked of running the rooftops of Dormiria as a youth, and has displayed an unusually adept skill at climbing and ropework, though the details of what exactly he was doing up there are usually left vague at best and a chuckle awaits most questions regarding it.
It is known that he began his formal martial training under the tutelage of one Father Marcus Flynn of the Crosstreams Temple, himself a former Templar and adventurer. Details given are vague when it comes to accounting for the end of his tenure in Crosstreams, but eventually he parted ways with the place, and put foot to southern roads.
History: Templar
A winding journey upon the roadways ensued, his exact route and the time elapsed remaining unknown, although he has at times spoken of a challenge of wits with an elderly satyr at some point along the path. Arrival in the southern reaches of Negaria found him in the western stretches of the Spiritland, where he made for the city of Elysia, unmistakeable once sighted, even miles away. Within the Castle of Champions he found acceptance to train and began tutelage as a Templar amongst others. It is known that the brunt of his training was the responsibility of Champion Heath Tyler, while the one-armed Le'Megen retiree Sergeant Jecht was retained to refine the basics of his bladework, and ensure his humility..
History: The Champions
Upon completion of his training and being found worthy, Cole became a Champion of O'ma, the Fey King, and has since been so. Early days were marked by patrols around Elysian lands and those immediately surrounding, before his eyes set to the roads once more. Feeling the necessity for familiarity with the lands in which he would find himself operating, Cole began travelling throughout the Spiritland, Ferrell, M'Chek, and the mountains of Deglos with regularity, not often staying in one place, his blades finding frequent use.
Present day finds him having fought in the defense of many places and many peoples, gaining a reputation as a 'hero', a term he does not seem overly fond of. Threats circling Elysia have seen him largely arrest his broader travels, focusing on the city's defense. Greater time spent within the Champion's Keep over the years has also seen him contribute to the training of a great many Templars, now Champions. At first largely cycling through as other Champions often do, teaching bladework, an injury saw him begin to instruct in the philosophy, history, and other more mental and spiritual aspects as well. Upon healing, he continued to instruct in all aspects, taking advantage of his arrested travels to teach others.
The Battle of Midnight
One of the aforementioned threats came in the guise of a creature of shadow and nightmare, freed from it's imprisonment accidentally years prior by a group of magi. The creature slept for a time within the bounds of the dark forest on Elysia's border, before waking, and shattering upon doing so. It's pieces reached into the nightmares of where they found themselves, and became duplicates of foes from Avlis' past. The lich Sorvanok in Mikona, bandit queen Hugar in M'chek, the devourer Ezerberus within the Spiritland, and the vampire general, former Champion, Moreanne Tanasi in the Forest of Midnight.
As Tanasi, the creature once again compiled an army of the dead with ill intent toward the city, though this time they sat empowered by the creature's shadow they were free to exit the forest. For some time, the only reports involved vampires fighting each other within the forest and whispers of the return of the general, before the vampires were actively seen leaving the bounds of the forest and attacking nearby citizens and travllers. As the actual level of this threat became evident, and on the word of a particular Champion, Le'Megen patrols began watching the borders of the forest regularly. Over the course of a few weeks, and then months, the patrols became a tented camp that grew as the knowledge of the threat expanded. Eventually, the borderlands of Elysia would be the home of a sea of brown tents belonging to Le'Megen and Champion forces, joined by the Ashen, Ivory, and White orders of Andrinor's Trust along with allies of all shapes and sizes.
This situation saw a lengthy ((10 real life months)) standoff between the city's defenders and the forest, in which many skirmishes and movements of pieces took place. Cole would spend the majority of his time vigilant amongst the defenders for the length of the camp's existence, often found back within the Champion's Keep if not immediately on the lines with his brethren and the soldiers of Elysia.
Ultimately, in the presence of Lt. General Alxicus, the Le'Megen batallions marched into conflict lead by Captain Dathan Barukl. Alongside the Le'megen red and whites stood the silver of Champions lead by Champion Goodood, the wizened goblin Champion and teacher of many, including Barukl and Cole's own trainer, Heath Tyler. Joined by a bolstering number of Leno'faythen T'Nanshi, the allied mages, and others, the combined force fought for hours against foes that could not truly die.
As the main battle raged, Cole was tasked with the heading of a light group of Le'Megen, Leno'faythen, and assembled adventurers to find and combat the General herself behind the lines. The battle all but ceased when the groups mission was completed, Tanasi reportedly falling in large part to Cole's actions and the hammer of Warmaster Kiff of Leno'faythen. With the shadow gone, the vampires were no longer empowered nor particularly keen to the fight. It is reported that the shadow demon Ezerbrus was also encountered in the wood and also defeated, leaving only Hugar remaining of the shadow fragments.
Despite losses, including Champion Goodood, who turned the tide of the main battle with the slaying of a vampire leader before falling, the battle ended then in victory for Elysia and the elimination of a serious threat to the city.
- The True Devourer
In the course of the forest's events and the combatting of the various shadow fragments, the shadow of the Devourer demon, Ezerberus, was made to doubt itself and it's identity. In an effort to prove itself, it acquired the means to summon the Devourer, and succeeded, sending itself deeper into a spiral as it set the true demon loose on the world once more. Weeks followed of citizens found dead in the mode of the demon's past appearances, with stab wounds and signs confirmed by priests that their souls had been stolen. The pursuit of the demon was headed by Le'megen Officer Kynthalas Valencia as a ritual was recovered that had been used to banish the demon in the past, employing blood magic against the demon's soul magic. Regretably, many innocent lives were lost as the demon was finally cornered upon the hill in Zvidureth and the ritual performed as Cole and others occupied the demon in combat to keep it in place. As it was pulled back to the abyss however, the demon hinted that he knew of a soul-sucking blades location, a blade containing the soul of Champion founder Vanoviel Niltaurwen. Any possible answers sent back into the fires from which the demon came, Cole was left speechless and then wrathful as the seeds of hope were briefly set and then ripped away...
Waterfalls
Not long after the emergence of the shadow creature and it's fragments, the beings known as Spirit-Kin began slowly reawakening in the world, bringing their old conflicts with them. An imposed madness and the remnants of Hel'byssia's blue star play roles in a downward spiral as a number of the race have become threats drawn to attack the city of Elysia, whose own Kin keep the city warded from their kind as they balance the growing power on the peninsula.
In the course of the beings' awakening, Cole became tied not to a Spirit Kin, but one of the original Nature Spirits. Named She of Waterfalls in common, or more loosely called Peace, the grandmotherly figure has become another guide and teacher for him. Since this time he has often been found near fountains of falling water or waterfalls, either in meditation with the Great Waterfall, centering himself, or speaking to the water. From the back and forth, it can be assumed that the water often speaks back...
OOC: Champion Training
If you have a character that has decided they wish to train as a Champion or just have questions, you can contact me via private message on the forums or feel free to find me in game. Philosophy, history, bladework, and a mess of other heavy discussion are facets involved, encouraging character development, and it can take as long as it takes. Cole is working on his sixth Templar to Champion at present, and I think so far each has had a positive experience with it.
Miscellaneous
Cole's Writings (Thoughts on Champions, the Greater Good, as well as various journal entries/expanded scenes): [1]