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ooc: setting
May. 6th, 2018 07:57 pmSetting
Once across Brae Saoidh all folk who prayed did so to many gods for whatever the were in need of, gods never outright cruel but often capricious, as alive as those who made offerings and lived for them. The names and interpretations might shift across continents, peoples, above or below the earth but the beating heart of it stayed the same. In Riach, these beliefs were particularly strong.
Were.
From across the sea swept the Order to spread their faith and their ways across this wild land as they had all other places they had been. A faith in a singular God to sweep the world clean of a great many uncivilised things, this faith was founded by a group who said they had gone through great trials at the hands of the old gods only to find one, a new one, promising a better way, a better path. They heard the truth in a world of lies espoused by false prophets.
There were wars fought over this in all lands the Order had been through, especially in the early days where many were furious at challenges to their ways, to traitors changing sides but others supported the order. Wealthy people. Powerful people. The Order grew a conquering army to spread across the lands where what came before came to be known as the old ways, superstition at best. With it came the restriction and suspicion of magic that had flourished and been beloved of the gods, suffering at the whims of individual rulers interpreting the word. Of course if mages could gain wealth, political clout or better yet both, then life might go very well for them. The elves split into a schism, some who fought violently to defend the old ways, some who found new meaning in the order, and those in the middle ground. The dwarves kept the party line; wars mean trade, and trade is good but more and more sought the surface.
Into all of this, Asher Hardie was born as the Order assumed a more comfortable hold on the heartlands of his home, settling in to conquer the wilds. Here they'd make the push to tighten their grip. To set an example. The old ways would be wiped out here, and all the rest would fall in line or power would be granted to wipe them out.
Asher
The firstborn child of Eleanor and Stafford Hardie out of five children, Asher is half upstanding civilised folk with a last name on his father's side who've believed in the Order for as long as anyone remembers, and half backwards barbarian hillfolk on his mother's side. (Her words, sometimes his if he's having a laugh.) Asher is seen in his own words, and those of his grandparents as well as his mother when she's in a rare black mood as a joke played on the world; Eleanor turned her back on her gods and chose a new god, denying them all and her past, and so they made her firstborn so very like all the things she'd left behind and did her best to keep hidden in a deep dark place. Asher had a hot temper as a boy made to fit in by his parents, dragged to sermons about the Order, told that the stories his grandparents told when they visited or he visited them were wrong, and that combined with trying to fit in? With the way his mother looked at him? It gave a boy a temper.
It gave a boy a violent enough temper that at the age of fifteen, after being goaded by an initiate knight of the Order older than Asher, he bloodied the other boy so badly that his mother packed a bag for him, took him by the arm and put him out of the house telling him that he had 'no place [here]'.
Wandering aimlessly with just his pack and a sense of shame that having no place also meant his grandparents and the hold wouldn't want him, Asher stumbled into a tavern where he met an elven woman named Melisende. Melisende, seeing a tall strapping surly boy with a temper asked if he knew how to fight. He joined his first mercenary company in the morning, learning as he went, reckless and vicious, but growing very close to Melisende who was something of a surrogate big sister to him. His faith in the old ways was one of the few things he cared for, continuing to express a belief that he found it funny that they were called the old ways when they were still very much alive and well, the people just the same, and believed the Order to be little more than a scam.
More than once Asher suffered near-fatal wounds including one injury where a blade cut him from the base of his back to the nape of the neck.
But it was after that, when he and Melisende were becoming dissatisfied with life in their current company with plans to start afresh elsewhere that they stopped by a place with blood sports. That was where Asher found his hound Bronson, a huge scarred war dog made to fight in a ring until Asher flew into a blind rage, beating those involved senseless as he rescued the dog that he named Bronson; scarred all over, blind in one eye, missing most of one ear, nearly dead himself as Asher had been but he nursed the hound back to health and in doing so, seemed to learn something about taking care of himself in the process. Man and hound were never apart after that, Bronson loyal and willing to fight alongside his new master in exchange for all the love, food, and affection an oversized war hound might expect.
Settling in a city state allowed Asher to fill up the ranks of his new company at last, bestowing the name the Boneflayers upon them before they set off, at last venturing to his hold again who'd heard of what had happened. It was there that Asher married in the fashion of his people to a skald named Sigrid, having a son with her, Brynjar. None outside the Boneflayers, the Hold, or his youngest sister Aura knew anything of this.
On his travels Asher crossed paths with Tavin Sokolov, helping him with several vicious beasts he needed captured for research that were beyond him by himself. With Fiachra Sullivan through supplying aid to his home in times of need at Liadan's request. With Morgaine Bonheur at first as mutual attraction before business, until she concocted a draught of dragon's blood with Tavin to give to Asher to enhance all that he was. (Even after the marriage of Morgaine and Tavin, and Asher and Sigrid, they still find themselves in the other's beds when chance allows it.) Morgaine's cousin has also crossed his path when working for the nobility.
There are famous stories of Asher and his temper: bar brawls that have resulted in serious injury to the other party over little more than a petty insult. Street brawls or jobs that might have been resolved with words ending in death or grievous injury. Several temples of the Order have banned him for various reasons including blasphemy, drunkenness, and indiscretions with priests and priestesses.
If you know one story about Asher it will be about that time he got drunk, ripped off his shirt in a packed tavern, stood up and announced his intention to go wreste a bear and won. He has a bit of a penchant for fighting bears.
The Hardies
The Hardie family run a moderately sized farm known as Hardie Holdings, owned and managed by Eleanor and Stafford Hardie. With Eleanor taking charge of the day-to-day running of the farm, and Stafford handling the accounts, it wasn't long before they expanded their operations to include a small beer-brewing business on the side.
Eleanor had previously been born to Torbjörn and Adalind of Honey Badger Hold before turning her back on their ways as a young woman to join the faith of the Order. They still have strong ties to them for trade but Eleanor distances herself from them, not wanting friends or neighbours to know that they're more than trading partners out of shame.
The Hardies have five children: Asher, Shannon, Aedan, Tobias, and Aura, with all but Asher presently working on the farm, employing several permanent staff as well as those who worker seasonally or those who spend a short time there to trade a place to sleep for work. Humans, elves, dwarves - all are paid the same wages. The farm itself is a two-storey home where the family live and work with stables, barns, and a modest bunkhouse for workers. The main outputs are meat, leather, wool, and cheese. Milk, butter, and eggs are only sold locally or traded up the mountain. Stafford's homebrew is sold to nearby villages and the local tavern.
Hardie Holdings is also known for their association with the mercenary company the Boneflayers, captained by their eldest son Asher.
Honeybadger Hold
Honeybadger Hold is an old mountain stronghold of Riach where the old ways are still held. They prefer to keep out of conflicts with their neighbours unless they must given the relatively small size of their hold but much like their namesake they aren't to be taken lightly, boasting a proud tradition of punching above their weight without fear or hesitation.
With a willingness to trade to anyone of decent character, they enjoy good relations with several farm holdings as well as nearby dwarves. They're also noted for their association with Hardie Holdings and more famously through Asher Hardie and the Boneflayers mercenary company.
Thane: Ragnhild
Augur: Gjurd
Rites for the Dead: Hulda
Master of the Hunt: Torbjörn
Master of the Hunt's wife: Adalind
Skald: Sigrid
Asher's son: Brynjar
The Boneflayers
Captained by Asher Hardie, the Boneflayers mercenary company have ranged far and wide across Brae Saoidh. In the early years when Asher was starting out, it mainly saw him and his second, an elven woman named Melisende out of Aubin, picking up whoever signed on until they eventually settled for a time in a foreign city state to work on a more permanent roster and to establish themselves as a more reputable company.
With Asher as battlemaster and captain, favouring heavy armour and two-handed weapons as well as fighting alongside a massive war hound rescued from a fighting pit, the roster settled over the next few years. Second-in-command Melisende who recruited him into the mercenary life after a meeting Asher in a tavern after he'd been kicked out of home a master of stealth and fighting with twin blades, and soon they were three after Liadan joined. A part-elven woman, she was an archer and crossbow user with a head for numbers and deals, originally contracting the Boneflayers to deal with rival thieves who'd pushed her out of the group she ran with. A mage joined in the form of Amalia, never having known anything but freedom and fire though she reluctantly learnt some healing magic but refused to learn brewing salves or potions, bringing along with her her lover and partner Nasir, an ex-smuggler, also an archer and smooth talker, advance scout and the one to make travel arrangements and help to hash out contracts or diplomatic issues for the group. Finally, two surface dwarves of criminal birth joined up, young but eager to pitch in and get out: Yngvi and Gunnar. Gunnar, the alchemist, wielding swords and shields in battle but also potions, salves, and poisons outwith, and Yngvi a rogue with two axes, a specialist with traps and charged with maintaining inventory.
After tensions grew in the city state, the company moved on and ended up with no permanent base, instead taking all sorts of jobs wherever they would from bounty work to monster hunting. Asher's temper however can lead to them outstaying their welcome but they have a superb track record that sees the nobility hiring them regularly. The company stops off at Hardie Holdings or Honey Badger Hold to rest when they're in the area.
Yngvi
Born - or as he likes to say congealed - in the dark gutters of a city state, the lowest rung of a criminal clan with no ties to the dwarves below the surface, Yngvi was raised communally with many other young dwarves of roughly similar age that he called his siblings, with one in particular that he called his brother, Gunnnar. Older dwarves were sorted roughly by age, rank, and what they taught you in the earliest years, and he became accustomed to a lot of death as well as having to work very hard to earn what food and warmth he was entitled to. In the earliest years he lived in the true darkness of the city, not being trusted or allowed above.
Finally, after proving himself, Yngvi was allowed up into the daylight where he was involved in smuggling, illegal gambling, protection rackets, thefts, extortion: all sorts of shady criminal things that shady criminas get up to. With a bright mind and a tendency to get himself in trouble with too much energy, some of the older dwarves taught Yngvi how to channel this into his trap-making, his confidence tricks, and the art of the grift. He became and old pro. And he got better meals to boot!
After a few years honing his skills and getting to work his way up from the depths and into the fanciest parts of the city, Yngvi (and Gunnar, from now on if I mention one that means both) met a man with a plan, and his awesome elf second-in-command, and the man's giant walking scar of a dog. That man was Asher Hardie. It was a chance to do something different. See the world. A young dwarf has a yearning okay. (Humans are really stupid, you don't leave the clan, the clan gave Yngvi their blessing, Yngvi sent back word.)
An Enterprising Clan
Einar; the patriarch;
Head of Yngvi's particular branch of the clanand Yngvi's father. A thing Yngvi doesn't know but maybe does because Yngvi has many fathers depending on the situation and what it might call for and isn't the head of a thing the father of it or something? A father is a complicated beast at the best of times and when his word is law in the house and much of the undercity with so much blood under his nails, it's difficult to know how to ever see him as a father.
the fathers;
Not his father but the dwarves overseeing much of everything beneath Einar's eye and thus overseeing Yngvi that it's the same as the mothers. They helped to make the decisions and convey instruction to all the rest about investments. Also the ones to strip the sentiment from them all and to teach everyone that loyalty to the clan comes before all other things and that loyalty is a disease, a pestilence, a plague and that it strangles you good and proper. You can hold two opposite things in your heart of hearts at once and have them both be true. That's how life is.
the mothers;
A collection of stern women that instilled a healthy fear in Yngvi from an early age as well as a respect for women who can get things done with the odds stacked against them. They were instrumental in keeping children alive when they were the children that were meant to be kept alive with what little there was to be had, not women of sentiment but when has sentiment done anything except get you killed? The number of mothers varies whenever he tells his stories but that's the way of the world.
the uncles;
Come and gone so many times that Yngvi loses count of them, the coarse hands and coarser mouths of the clan. Many have fallen to the guards or Order, wheat to the scythe. Taught a boy lessons and taught a boy harshly. If a boy made a mistake then a boy didn't eat and losing meals is dangerous in the dark when you're already small. Usually some of the rougher lessons in how to beat someone until it doesn't bother you or squaring off to someone bigger than you, how to take a beating and still laugh like you haven't felt a single blow.
the aunts;
A different beast to the mothers and many of them fell same as uncles did before the guards or Order before Yngvi was gone with Asher Hardie. Aunts taught lessons just as harsh as uncles but not the same. How to sneak, how to lie, how to weave a tale nice and neat and intricate, how to conceal as many things as your little hands could carry on your person with not a guard or Order(though what's the difference these days) any the wiser when it comes to it?
Hulda; the smuggler;
A dwarf from below who spoke about it first to Yngvi as a boy in a way no one else ever had, a woman who organises a greater chunk of the smuggling in and around the city state and beyond. Wicked grin as sharp as the blades that ruined her face years ago.
the cousins;
It's like with frogs. There's a lot. Then less. Then a few. And you can always hold two opposite things at once in your heart if you're Carta; that Yngvi has no siblings because he ate them and that Yngvi has one sibling and that it's Gunnar when Gunnar isn't his brother. But there are always children in the Carta, they're always looking to invest after all.
the old ones;
Old and grey, skin so aged it might crumble to dust or turn to stone itself. A rare thing to live to a great age for anyone these days but to make it to that age in the clans, so many of them branded though time topside even in the dark of the city beneath the city has faded the marks is not to be sniffed at. Dwarves of great wisdom if you can suffer them but still. To be respected as all the old are. At a distance. Listening to every sixth word.
Gunnar; the brother;
In truth, actually Yngvi's cousin the way these things are counted by the ones with all the names and bloodlines, they were worthy of investment so they ate the rest of their siblings and survived. Escaped together to become Boneflayers. something of an alchemist but wields a sword and shield. Usually in charge of maintaining good relations. The only soul Yngvi was ever honest with in those days.
'Brunswick' (Snorri)
A name ripe for puns, he changed it early and kept his head down, stays out of much of the politics of it all but he'll share his gossip evenly and that's the best you can hope for as the prodigal son isn't it.
Jim
Fuckin' Jim. Goes for the knees. Complains a great deal. There are many Jims. His Sunday name is Jimothy, swear to whatever gets you going.
The Sokolovs
The Sokolovs are middle nobility of Virene, respected and quietly observing the current state of the nation. They've consistently maintained a strong presence in the military since the founding of the line with some involvement in dragon hunting to small renown in the oldest days that they've carefully cultivated. The Sokolovs have mostly married within their own nation when it comes to the main branch, carving out a reputation as politicians and members of the army though more recently since the marriage of Valeriu to Corina they've began to look to their longer term futures with more advantageous marriages, and allowing one of their children to roam whilst keep a good eye on his career and the people he comes into contact with.
ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
Valeriu Evgeni Sokolov; patriarch, head of the household and general in the army. Married to Corina fairly young, son of a prominent mage and a politician groomed for soldiering when he didn't display the right traits for politics.
Corina Flavia Sokolov; matriarch, wife of Valeriu, involved in political affairs and a great deal of fundraising for popular projects that support the arts and any sort of cultural affair. 'Meddles' in the lives of her children, arranging their marriages, who they should meet etc.
Anatoli Bogdan Sokolov; eldest son, first child; head of the household in the absence of Valeriu, has followed his mother into politics rather than his father into the army and is considered a charismatic speaker. Married well to a daughter of another army figure but of higher standing, they have three children, one of whom is suspected to be a mage.
Octavian Nestor Sokolov; second son, middle child; scholar and researcher of zoology with an interest in draconology, how some of the odder beasts came to be etc. Studied at university. Unmarried/not engaged.
Demetra Mirela Sokolov; only daughter, third child; a young artisan. The youngest child who still has a lady bodyguard on retainer.
Constantin Decebal Sokolov; father of Valeriu, former politician but now retired and regarded as something of an eccentric. Takes a great interest in whatever Tavin happens to be up, enjoys writing long rambling letters since being widowed.
Tavin
Born into the noble Sokolov family of Virene, Tavin's love of wild creatures started young Tavin's love of wild creatures started young with the tales of dragons and dragonhunters he was told alongside his siblings as a small child. Generally he was far more interested in the inner workings of dragons than the dragonslayers themselves, a little more than slightly to the dismay of his parents who did have plans for their second son but plans can be adapted and they had an older son than him and a daughter for marrying off. It wasn't a disaster. Plans were made for him to attend the University of Aubin when he was older and in the meantime he was shuttled around Virene in his youth, mostly with his mother who liked to involve herself in politics and fundraising. His father was too involved in Virene's army to be around that much and didn't know what to do with a son that had zero interest in using a sword.
Generally an awkward tangle of limbs used to a very Virene way of life, going off to Aubin and leaving his family behind was a pretty big culture shock for him at the time and he wasn't really into it. He studied hard but didn't have the easiest time making friends by virtue of wanting to talk about weird wildlife theories and facts, usually when people were eating. So there were field trips. The many tales of 'that time Tavin almost got eaten by some wild beast oh you know the one' made the rounds but what can a man do but endure? The best part of university for him was finishing with it so he could actually go out into the world to publish papers, to research, to not have to deal with quite so many folk from Aubin.
At various points in his life, Tavin found himself calling upon the Boneflayers mercenary company to provide the muscle he lacked for certain endeavours, and it was partly through them that he came to meet his future wife Morgaine Bonheur. His mother, seeing a chance to finally settle her son down to someone with political aspirations and a keen mind, agreed to the match despite her lower social status and being a mage, since Tavin got on with her well enough and they found they had a passion in commons: rare beasts and their parts, or at the very least dragons. It was Tavin who helped Morgaine procure dragon's blood for Morgaine to give to Asher, and Tavin who keeps some of the notes on all that's changed since he drank it.
The Bonheurs
The Bonheur family are moderately wealthy, at least for the primary branch. From a modest market town in a farming region of Aubin, the primary branch presently is headed by Thierry Renard Bonheur married to Rosemonde Philomene Bonheur who have three daughters. Victoire Nina known as Ninette who will take over the family business when Thierry stands down in his later years, Valeriane Sybille, bodyguard and retainer to a noble family, and Veronique Sebastienne known as Seb who is now known as Sister Vervain, serving in the faith of the Order. Rosemonde has always been somewhat disappointed to only have three daughters and no sons given that the Bonheur name itself won't be passed on but Thierry is proud of having three daughters who've all chosen their own paths in life, as well as surviving into adulthood which isn't a certainty these days.
Valeriane
Valeriane Sybille Bonheur, known as Syb or Sybby to her very close friends but mostly addressed as Bonheur. She works for the noble Pelletier family who hail from a region with good hunting grounds, originally being known for hunting and fur-trapping before they were inducted into the ranks of the nobility. They protect the claims to their hunting grounds obsessively, which is why they have Valeriane on the payroll to guard them but mostly their children.
The heads of the family are Sylvain and Appolline Pelletier who have four children. Bruno, their eldest, next in line to lead who is engaged to a lady from the neighbouring land for trade reasons. The twins Eloise and Evariste with Eloise in the army, and Evariste a musician but also a spy in training; both of these choices help to further the aspirations of the family. Their youngest is Therese, a talented artist who also has a fascination with the workings of the body, a young woman with the chance to attend university but she's not in a rush. Valeriane is principally her bodyguard these days.
As a woman who greatly supports and believes in the singular god of the Order as well as striving to uphold it, her faith has been tested and shaken after an incident of violence near to one of the hunting lodges where she was attempting to get Therese to safety. Wounded, near death, something happened that Valeriane never discussed at all, claiming instead that god had chosen to bless her for her service but in her heart she knew that instead it was a spirit of the old ways that had reached out to her instead. The abilities she found herself with after? They were described in stories of warriors and knights of the old ways. And yet this happened after being set upon by a violent group of elves taking exception to any who supported the Order.
Morgaine
Born into a merchant family, Morgaine is a cousin to Valeriane Bonheur, her mother Emmanuelle Bonheur sister to Valeriane's father Thierry. Emmanuelle made it a provision of her marriage to her husband Olivier Levesque that she would not only keep her surname upon marriage as a matter of pride, but that any children they had would carry both with Bonheur being first and foremost of those names. Morgaine was the only child of Emmanuelle and Olivier, quite fortunately so since their family fortunes dwindled through mismanagement by Olivier unlike the careful practice of Thierry, and then there was what happened with Morgaine herself.
Morgaine's magic manifested at a young age rather dramatically one night where a wisp made an appearance at the dinner table when she felt her parents were ignoring her.Shipped off to 'school' after this incident, she maintained some contact with her family though she found that her life away gave her access to things she could not through her family that had retained their name but lost their fortune. Her new life was everything she had ever wanted, a beautiful glittering place where there were no arguments, no tears, no fretting over old glories and how to win them back. She settled to her studies quickly, a particular talent for creation and spirit spells emerging as she found her voice. She chose her friends with care from a young age, usually those who were as driven and competitive as she was. Morgaine did not like the company of elves at all, feeling that they were beneath her; friendships were conditional, the conditions implied, lasting only so long as she required them to last.
Using her persuasive personality whilst away, Morgaine cultivated political connections with another sect within her school, advancing herself both within and without. This put her in touch with the Sokolov family as well as the Boneflayers mercenary company as she expanded her reputation carefully, with the Boneflayers being something of an insurance policy given that a mage reaching too high might be seen as a very dangerous move. She developed a very close relationship with the leader of the company, Asher Hardie, eventually becoming involved in making him a very different sort of warrior through a concoction involving dragon's blood.
Morgaine had a talent for darker magics not sanctioned by the newer religion, only practiced by few who knew the old ways. Still, this enhanced her reputation in some circles and when she eventually married into the Sokolov family through Tavin who studied dragons, she carved out a further little niche for herself.
Fiachra Sullivan
Born to Fearchar Sullivan, a warehouse worker who supplemented his meagre wages through being a hunter and poacher on the side, and Caoimhe Ruskin, a kitchen servant to minor nobility, Fiachra was the first surviving child born to them after several stillbirths and miscarriages, followed not too long after by a sister, Muirenn. Growing up - alongside future Boneflayers member Liadan - Fiachra learnt archery as well as how to make bows and arrows from his father and other elders, as well as healing from his aunt. The healing stuck with him, and one day when plague swept through their slum, he would come to be her replacement. As a young man he tended to get into a lot of fights due to a fiery temper when some members of his family were mocked for only being of partly elven blood.
Still in his teens, his father lost his job after being arrested for poaching then promptly died in prison; Fiachra later learned he died from a combination of starvation and beating. Thus he became man of the house, responsible for himself, his mother, and younger sister. His mother soon became pregnant with a half-sister Siomha, Caoimhe dying two years after her birth. All his mother would say of Siomha's father is that she was born of her and the noble she worked for, and nothing more than that leaving Fiachra full of doubt and fear that plagued him for years to come.
Despite being the only healer his people had that would always treat them, folk were poor so he too had to turn to the same methods as his father had to supplement their income though in time he found himself able to abandon it after the elders stepped in to help. The idea of his sisters being left to fend for themselves was something he feared greatly.
Instead of marrying as young as most elves tended to, Fiachra had to delay his own wedding due to raising such a small child until at last he wed Fionnuala Murdock, servant to nobility as a seamstress. The marriage was happy but brief, her nobles moving away to where Fiachra couldn't follow with reports of violence in the region, and him with no way of asking after her or receiving news of if she's well or living. After her departure, Fiachra poured his heart and soul into his home, concentrating on becoming an even greater healer as well as making plans to get his half-sister into a better life since she could pass for human if they find someone willing. His elders hope for him to join their small council in time too given his passion as well as his strong voice, that he can read and write and taught not one but two sisters to do this same as well as teaching Muirenn to be a healer in her own right. Indeed, even though Muirenn married an elven man named Diarmaid Lennox, she's still known as a Sullivan first and foremost.
As with many elves living in cities amongst humans, Fiachra is a devotee of the Order. The priests and priestesses of the Order supported him when he felt lost after losing so much in his life in a very real way that the tales of the gods and old ways can't hold a candle to, and seeing the violence the elves will inflict on their own that he has to treat with his own hands makes him fearful as well as bitter towards those who choose to live apart and fight the Order to the last.
Other notes;
Asher's fighting style
Asher was always something of a berserker fighter, easily tapping into his rage at the sight of battle. Drinking the dragon's blood - from a fire dragon - had an impact on Asher's body that nearly killed him in the earliest stages with a seemingly violent allergic reaction as well as causing him to keep running hotter after. Asher sweats out fevers, is seemingly unbothered by the cold until they reach a tipping point such as pushing himself too hard in battle or sustaining a bad wound that sees him having to recover for longer than others same as when someone burns the candle at both ends. The dragon's blood has to be prepard with agents that help to mitigate some of the more toxic elements of it that would kill a person outright.
After drinking dragon blood, it brings out something more animalistic in a person. Something buried deep in their nature that thrives on the blood on carnage of battle, on the pain they inflict on their enemies.
As a berserker, Asher uses the smell of blood and death to drive himself into a fury, making himself a stronger fighter though he can't sustain this forever as it has a cost to his stamina if he does it without the proper focus, and if he maintains control of himself during these rages he can fight more effectively instead of striking blindly. This allows him to terrify his foes, as well as to inflict greater and greater damage as he goes, more damage the harder he swings.
Drinking dragon's blood allows Asher to cast something of an aura, enhancing his presence to mark any battlefield as his to give himself an advantage over enemies, allowing his strikes to hit harder. What it also allows for is for his own wounds and pain to fuel him since he can push past his limits, so the more he's wounded and bloodied, the better he fights, though also the more he wounds his foes, the better he fights as something strange happens with dragon's blood: given that it was a magical cocoction, from a magical beast, prepared by a mage, Asher can drain the life from them bit by bit as they bleed. The bloodier he leaves his enemies also tends to make them panic, and their deaths around Asher allow him to fight harder and faster, same as being close to a badly wounded enemy brings out a feral side of him that has him wanting to fight faster, his blows striking harder in critical areas.
There are darker parts to this: Asher can't control it well but he can inflict a strange radiating area of pain and agony about him when he fights, weakening the enemies around him though it doesn't affect allies, even bolstering some who use similar fighting styles. If Asher draws his own blood first at the start of the battle, this aura seems to burn, and each time he draws his blade across his own flesh before striking, the weapon itself seems to burn before it strikes with the heat of the flames from the fire dragon's blood he consumed.
Genetics
The way most people refer to their mixed breed children, usually between humans and elves, is that the seed you plant is the seed you grow meaning that the child takes most of the traits of the father in terms. This doesn't mean individual features like eye or hair colour, or temper, but the things people notice. Like the shape of the ears. So if a male human and an elven woman have a child then they have a mostly human looking baby, but if an elven male and a human woma have a child then it's a mostly elven featured baby.
The future
The Boneflayers eventually introduce Fiachra to the Bonheurs or Pelletiers as a place for his sister to work; Fiachra originally hopes to have his sister work for the Sokolovs but Liadan and Melisende take him aside to explain that since Morgaine is around, it's not the best idea to have even a part-elven girl near that sort of woman
Tarot inspiration
The High Priestess; a veiled woman with a closed book, a symbol of hidden knowledge, wisdom, female mystery and magic. The card may often double up with Triple Goddess imagery. She often is a Threshold Guardian and associated with the moon. Things seem strange and mysterious now, but don't worry, sometimes it's good to take a moment to think about things before you make your next step. (A card for Morgaine)
The Hermit; an old man in a dark place or cave, holding up a lantern. It's associated with wisdom, introspection, solitude, retreat and philosophical searches. Often a symbol for the Mentor or a Seeker Archetype but also The Hero undergoing a Heroic BSOD taking a much needed Journey to the Centre of the Mind to sort out his personal demons before returning to kick ass. Be honest with yourself as well as others, remember to take advice, and don't confuse solitude and loneliness as one. (A card for Asher)
The Fool; a young man strays obliviously close to the edge of a cliff with a dog at his heels. He holds a white rose, a symbol of divine love and purity. A trickster is often as an innocent protected by his own luck, a madman who speaks with the voice of the gods or an idiot who hides his strange powers. The Fool is a symbol of the in-between, of the Grotesque and of a reliance on luck. It all starts with a journey of self-discovery and a reminder to expect the unexpected. (A card for Asher)
Once across Brae Saoidh all folk who prayed did so to many gods for whatever the were in need of, gods never outright cruel but often capricious, as alive as those who made offerings and lived for them. The names and interpretations might shift across continents, peoples, above or below the earth but the beating heart of it stayed the same. In Riach, these beliefs were particularly strong.
Were.
From across the sea swept the Order to spread their faith and their ways across this wild land as they had all other places they had been. A faith in a singular God to sweep the world clean of a great many uncivilised things, this faith was founded by a group who said they had gone through great trials at the hands of the old gods only to find one, a new one, promising a better way, a better path. They heard the truth in a world of lies espoused by false prophets.
There were wars fought over this in all lands the Order had been through, especially in the early days where many were furious at challenges to their ways, to traitors changing sides but others supported the order. Wealthy people. Powerful people. The Order grew a conquering army to spread across the lands where what came before came to be known as the old ways, superstition at best. With it came the restriction and suspicion of magic that had flourished and been beloved of the gods, suffering at the whims of individual rulers interpreting the word. Of course if mages could gain wealth, political clout or better yet both, then life might go very well for them. The elves split into a schism, some who fought violently to defend the old ways, some who found new meaning in the order, and those in the middle ground. The dwarves kept the party line; wars mean trade, and trade is good but more and more sought the surface.
Into all of this, Asher Hardie was born as the Order assumed a more comfortable hold on the heartlands of his home, settling in to conquer the wilds. Here they'd make the push to tighten their grip. To set an example. The old ways would be wiped out here, and all the rest would fall in line or power would be granted to wipe them out.
Asher
The firstborn child of Eleanor and Stafford Hardie out of five children, Asher is half upstanding civilised folk with a last name on his father's side who've believed in the Order for as long as anyone remembers, and half backwards barbarian hillfolk on his mother's side. (Her words, sometimes his if he's having a laugh.) Asher is seen in his own words, and those of his grandparents as well as his mother when she's in a rare black mood as a joke played on the world; Eleanor turned her back on her gods and chose a new god, denying them all and her past, and so they made her firstborn so very like all the things she'd left behind and did her best to keep hidden in a deep dark place. Asher had a hot temper as a boy made to fit in by his parents, dragged to sermons about the Order, told that the stories his grandparents told when they visited or he visited them were wrong, and that combined with trying to fit in? With the way his mother looked at him? It gave a boy a temper.
It gave a boy a violent enough temper that at the age of fifteen, after being goaded by an initiate knight of the Order older than Asher, he bloodied the other boy so badly that his mother packed a bag for him, took him by the arm and put him out of the house telling him that he had 'no place [here]'.
Wandering aimlessly with just his pack and a sense of shame that having no place also meant his grandparents and the hold wouldn't want him, Asher stumbled into a tavern where he met an elven woman named Melisende. Melisende, seeing a tall strapping surly boy with a temper asked if he knew how to fight. He joined his first mercenary company in the morning, learning as he went, reckless and vicious, but growing very close to Melisende who was something of a surrogate big sister to him. His faith in the old ways was one of the few things he cared for, continuing to express a belief that he found it funny that they were called the old ways when they were still very much alive and well, the people just the same, and believed the Order to be little more than a scam.
More than once Asher suffered near-fatal wounds including one injury where a blade cut him from the base of his back to the nape of the neck.
But it was after that, when he and Melisende were becoming dissatisfied with life in their current company with plans to start afresh elsewhere that they stopped by a place with blood sports. That was where Asher found his hound Bronson, a huge scarred war dog made to fight in a ring until Asher flew into a blind rage, beating those involved senseless as he rescued the dog that he named Bronson; scarred all over, blind in one eye, missing most of one ear, nearly dead himself as Asher had been but he nursed the hound back to health and in doing so, seemed to learn something about taking care of himself in the process. Man and hound were never apart after that, Bronson loyal and willing to fight alongside his new master in exchange for all the love, food, and affection an oversized war hound might expect.
Settling in a city state allowed Asher to fill up the ranks of his new company at last, bestowing the name the Boneflayers upon them before they set off, at last venturing to his hold again who'd heard of what had happened. It was there that Asher married in the fashion of his people to a skald named Sigrid, having a son with her, Brynjar. None outside the Boneflayers, the Hold, or his youngest sister Aura knew anything of this.
On his travels Asher crossed paths with Tavin Sokolov, helping him with several vicious beasts he needed captured for research that were beyond him by himself. With Fiachra Sullivan through supplying aid to his home in times of need at Liadan's request. With Morgaine Bonheur at first as mutual attraction before business, until she concocted a draught of dragon's blood with Tavin to give to Asher to enhance all that he was. (Even after the marriage of Morgaine and Tavin, and Asher and Sigrid, they still find themselves in the other's beds when chance allows it.) Morgaine's cousin has also crossed his path when working for the nobility.
There are famous stories of Asher and his temper: bar brawls that have resulted in serious injury to the other party over little more than a petty insult. Street brawls or jobs that might have been resolved with words ending in death or grievous injury. Several temples of the Order have banned him for various reasons including blasphemy, drunkenness, and indiscretions with priests and priestesses.
If you know one story about Asher it will be about that time he got drunk, ripped off his shirt in a packed tavern, stood up and announced his intention to go wreste a bear and won. He has a bit of a penchant for fighting bears.
The Hardies
The Hardie family run a moderately sized farm known as Hardie Holdings, owned and managed by Eleanor and Stafford Hardie. With Eleanor taking charge of the day-to-day running of the farm, and Stafford handling the accounts, it wasn't long before they expanded their operations to include a small beer-brewing business on the side.
Eleanor had previously been born to Torbjörn and Adalind of Honey Badger Hold before turning her back on their ways as a young woman to join the faith of the Order. They still have strong ties to them for trade but Eleanor distances herself from them, not wanting friends or neighbours to know that they're more than trading partners out of shame.
The Hardies have five children: Asher, Shannon, Aedan, Tobias, and Aura, with all but Asher presently working on the farm, employing several permanent staff as well as those who worker seasonally or those who spend a short time there to trade a place to sleep for work. Humans, elves, dwarves - all are paid the same wages. The farm itself is a two-storey home where the family live and work with stables, barns, and a modest bunkhouse for workers. The main outputs are meat, leather, wool, and cheese. Milk, butter, and eggs are only sold locally or traded up the mountain. Stafford's homebrew is sold to nearby villages and the local tavern.
Hardie Holdings is also known for their association with the mercenary company the Boneflayers, captained by their eldest son Asher.
Honeybadger Hold
Honeybadger Hold is an old mountain stronghold of Riach where the old ways are still held. They prefer to keep out of conflicts with their neighbours unless they must given the relatively small size of their hold but much like their namesake they aren't to be taken lightly, boasting a proud tradition of punching above their weight without fear or hesitation.
With a willingness to trade to anyone of decent character, they enjoy good relations with several farm holdings as well as nearby dwarves. They're also noted for their association with Hardie Holdings and more famously through Asher Hardie and the Boneflayers mercenary company.
Thane: Ragnhild
Augur: Gjurd
Rites for the Dead: Hulda
Master of the Hunt: Torbjörn
Master of the Hunt's wife: Adalind
Skald: Sigrid
Asher's son: Brynjar
The Boneflayers
Captained by Asher Hardie, the Boneflayers mercenary company have ranged far and wide across Brae Saoidh. In the early years when Asher was starting out, it mainly saw him and his second, an elven woman named Melisende out of Aubin, picking up whoever signed on until they eventually settled for a time in a foreign city state to work on a more permanent roster and to establish themselves as a more reputable company.
With Asher as battlemaster and captain, favouring heavy armour and two-handed weapons as well as fighting alongside a massive war hound rescued from a fighting pit, the roster settled over the next few years. Second-in-command Melisende who recruited him into the mercenary life after a meeting Asher in a tavern after he'd been kicked out of home a master of stealth and fighting with twin blades, and soon they were three after Liadan joined. A part-elven woman, she was an archer and crossbow user with a head for numbers and deals, originally contracting the Boneflayers to deal with rival thieves who'd pushed her out of the group she ran with. A mage joined in the form of Amalia, never having known anything but freedom and fire though she reluctantly learnt some healing magic but refused to learn brewing salves or potions, bringing along with her her lover and partner Nasir, an ex-smuggler, also an archer and smooth talker, advance scout and the one to make travel arrangements and help to hash out contracts or diplomatic issues for the group. Finally, two surface dwarves of criminal birth joined up, young but eager to pitch in and get out: Yngvi and Gunnar. Gunnar, the alchemist, wielding swords and shields in battle but also potions, salves, and poisons outwith, and Yngvi a rogue with two axes, a specialist with traps and charged with maintaining inventory.
After tensions grew in the city state, the company moved on and ended up with no permanent base, instead taking all sorts of jobs wherever they would from bounty work to monster hunting. Asher's temper however can lead to them outstaying their welcome but they have a superb track record that sees the nobility hiring them regularly. The company stops off at Hardie Holdings or Honey Badger Hold to rest when they're in the area.
Yngvi
Born - or as he likes to say congealed - in the dark gutters of a city state, the lowest rung of a criminal clan with no ties to the dwarves below the surface, Yngvi was raised communally with many other young dwarves of roughly similar age that he called his siblings, with one in particular that he called his brother, Gunnnar. Older dwarves were sorted roughly by age, rank, and what they taught you in the earliest years, and he became accustomed to a lot of death as well as having to work very hard to earn what food and warmth he was entitled to. In the earliest years he lived in the true darkness of the city, not being trusted or allowed above.
Finally, after proving himself, Yngvi was allowed up into the daylight where he was involved in smuggling, illegal gambling, protection rackets, thefts, extortion: all sorts of shady criminal things that shady criminas get up to. With a bright mind and a tendency to get himself in trouble with too much energy, some of the older dwarves taught Yngvi how to channel this into his trap-making, his confidence tricks, and the art of the grift. He became and old pro. And he got better meals to boot!
After a few years honing his skills and getting to work his way up from the depths and into the fanciest parts of the city, Yngvi (and Gunnar, from now on if I mention one that means both) met a man with a plan, and his awesome elf second-in-command, and the man's giant walking scar of a dog. That man was Asher Hardie. It was a chance to do something different. See the world. A young dwarf has a yearning okay. (Humans are really stupid, you don't leave the clan, the clan gave Yngvi their blessing, Yngvi sent back word.)
An Enterprising Clan
Einar; the patriarch;
Head of Yngvi's particular branch of the clanand Yngvi's father. A thing Yngvi doesn't know but maybe does because Yngvi has many fathers depending on the situation and what it might call for and isn't the head of a thing the father of it or something? A father is a complicated beast at the best of times and when his word is law in the house and much of the undercity with so much blood under his nails, it's difficult to know how to ever see him as a father.
the fathers;
Not his father but the dwarves overseeing much of everything beneath Einar's eye and thus overseeing Yngvi that it's the same as the mothers. They helped to make the decisions and convey instruction to all the rest about investments. Also the ones to strip the sentiment from them all and to teach everyone that loyalty to the clan comes before all other things and that loyalty is a disease, a pestilence, a plague and that it strangles you good and proper. You can hold two opposite things in your heart of hearts at once and have them both be true. That's how life is.
the mothers;
A collection of stern women that instilled a healthy fear in Yngvi from an early age as well as a respect for women who can get things done with the odds stacked against them. They were instrumental in keeping children alive when they were the children that were meant to be kept alive with what little there was to be had, not women of sentiment but when has sentiment done anything except get you killed? The number of mothers varies whenever he tells his stories but that's the way of the world.
the uncles;
Come and gone so many times that Yngvi loses count of them, the coarse hands and coarser mouths of the clan. Many have fallen to the guards or Order, wheat to the scythe. Taught a boy lessons and taught a boy harshly. If a boy made a mistake then a boy didn't eat and losing meals is dangerous in the dark when you're already small. Usually some of the rougher lessons in how to beat someone until it doesn't bother you or squaring off to someone bigger than you, how to take a beating and still laugh like you haven't felt a single blow.
the aunts;
A different beast to the mothers and many of them fell same as uncles did before the guards or Order before Yngvi was gone with Asher Hardie. Aunts taught lessons just as harsh as uncles but not the same. How to sneak, how to lie, how to weave a tale nice and neat and intricate, how to conceal as many things as your little hands could carry on your person with not a guard or Order(though what's the difference these days) any the wiser when it comes to it?
Hulda; the smuggler;
A dwarf from below who spoke about it first to Yngvi as a boy in a way no one else ever had, a woman who organises a greater chunk of the smuggling in and around the city state and beyond. Wicked grin as sharp as the blades that ruined her face years ago.
the cousins;
It's like with frogs. There's a lot. Then less. Then a few. And you can always hold two opposite things at once in your heart if you're Carta; that Yngvi has no siblings because he ate them and that Yngvi has one sibling and that it's Gunnar when Gunnar isn't his brother. But there are always children in the Carta, they're always looking to invest after all.
the old ones;
Old and grey, skin so aged it might crumble to dust or turn to stone itself. A rare thing to live to a great age for anyone these days but to make it to that age in the clans, so many of them branded though time topside even in the dark of the city beneath the city has faded the marks is not to be sniffed at. Dwarves of great wisdom if you can suffer them but still. To be respected as all the old are. At a distance. Listening to every sixth word.
Gunnar; the brother;
In truth, actually Yngvi's cousin the way these things are counted by the ones with all the names and bloodlines, they were worthy of investment so they ate the rest of their siblings and survived. Escaped together to become Boneflayers. something of an alchemist but wields a sword and shield. Usually in charge of maintaining good relations. The only soul Yngvi was ever honest with in those days.
'Brunswick' (Snorri)
A name ripe for puns, he changed it early and kept his head down, stays out of much of the politics of it all but he'll share his gossip evenly and that's the best you can hope for as the prodigal son isn't it.
Jim
Fuckin' Jim. Goes for the knees. Complains a great deal. There are many Jims. His Sunday name is Jimothy, swear to whatever gets you going.
The Sokolovs
The Sokolovs are middle nobility of Virene, respected and quietly observing the current state of the nation. They've consistently maintained a strong presence in the military since the founding of the line with some involvement in dragon hunting to small renown in the oldest days that they've carefully cultivated. The Sokolovs have mostly married within their own nation when it comes to the main branch, carving out a reputation as politicians and members of the army though more recently since the marriage of Valeriu to Corina they've began to look to their longer term futures with more advantageous marriages, and allowing one of their children to roam whilst keep a good eye on his career and the people he comes into contact with.
ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
Valeriu Evgeni Sokolov; patriarch, head of the household and general in the army. Married to Corina fairly young, son of a prominent mage and a politician groomed for soldiering when he didn't display the right traits for politics.
Corina Flavia Sokolov; matriarch, wife of Valeriu, involved in political affairs and a great deal of fundraising for popular projects that support the arts and any sort of cultural affair. 'Meddles' in the lives of her children, arranging their marriages, who they should meet etc.
Anatoli Bogdan Sokolov; eldest son, first child; head of the household in the absence of Valeriu, has followed his mother into politics rather than his father into the army and is considered a charismatic speaker. Married well to a daughter of another army figure but of higher standing, they have three children, one of whom is suspected to be a mage.
Octavian Nestor Sokolov; second son, middle child; scholar and researcher of zoology with an interest in draconology, how some of the odder beasts came to be etc. Studied at university. Unmarried/not engaged.
Demetra Mirela Sokolov; only daughter, third child; a young artisan. The youngest child who still has a lady bodyguard on retainer.
Constantin Decebal Sokolov; father of Valeriu, former politician but now retired and regarded as something of an eccentric. Takes a great interest in whatever Tavin happens to be up, enjoys writing long rambling letters since being widowed.
Tavin
Born into the noble Sokolov family of Virene, Tavin's love of wild creatures started young Tavin's love of wild creatures started young with the tales of dragons and dragonhunters he was told alongside his siblings as a small child. Generally he was far more interested in the inner workings of dragons than the dragonslayers themselves, a little more than slightly to the dismay of his parents who did have plans for their second son but plans can be adapted and they had an older son than him and a daughter for marrying off. It wasn't a disaster. Plans were made for him to attend the University of Aubin when he was older and in the meantime he was shuttled around Virene in his youth, mostly with his mother who liked to involve herself in politics and fundraising. His father was too involved in Virene's army to be around that much and didn't know what to do with a son that had zero interest in using a sword.
Generally an awkward tangle of limbs used to a very Virene way of life, going off to Aubin and leaving his family behind was a pretty big culture shock for him at the time and he wasn't really into it. He studied hard but didn't have the easiest time making friends by virtue of wanting to talk about weird wildlife theories and facts, usually when people were eating. So there were field trips. The many tales of 'that time Tavin almost got eaten by some wild beast oh you know the one' made the rounds but what can a man do but endure? The best part of university for him was finishing with it so he could actually go out into the world to publish papers, to research, to not have to deal with quite so many folk from Aubin.
At various points in his life, Tavin found himself calling upon the Boneflayers mercenary company to provide the muscle he lacked for certain endeavours, and it was partly through them that he came to meet his future wife Morgaine Bonheur. His mother, seeing a chance to finally settle her son down to someone with political aspirations and a keen mind, agreed to the match despite her lower social status and being a mage, since Tavin got on with her well enough and they found they had a passion in commons: rare beasts and their parts, or at the very least dragons. It was Tavin who helped Morgaine procure dragon's blood for Morgaine to give to Asher, and Tavin who keeps some of the notes on all that's changed since he drank it.
The Bonheurs
The Bonheur family are moderately wealthy, at least for the primary branch. From a modest market town in a farming region of Aubin, the primary branch presently is headed by Thierry Renard Bonheur married to Rosemonde Philomene Bonheur who have three daughters. Victoire Nina known as Ninette who will take over the family business when Thierry stands down in his later years, Valeriane Sybille, bodyguard and retainer to a noble family, and Veronique Sebastienne known as Seb who is now known as Sister Vervain, serving in the faith of the Order. Rosemonde has always been somewhat disappointed to only have three daughters and no sons given that the Bonheur name itself won't be passed on but Thierry is proud of having three daughters who've all chosen their own paths in life, as well as surviving into adulthood which isn't a certainty these days.
Valeriane
Valeriane Sybille Bonheur, known as Syb or Sybby to her very close friends but mostly addressed as Bonheur. She works for the noble Pelletier family who hail from a region with good hunting grounds, originally being known for hunting and fur-trapping before they were inducted into the ranks of the nobility. They protect the claims to their hunting grounds obsessively, which is why they have Valeriane on the payroll to guard them but mostly their children.
The heads of the family are Sylvain and Appolline Pelletier who have four children. Bruno, their eldest, next in line to lead who is engaged to a lady from the neighbouring land for trade reasons. The twins Eloise and Evariste with Eloise in the army, and Evariste a musician but also a spy in training; both of these choices help to further the aspirations of the family. Their youngest is Therese, a talented artist who also has a fascination with the workings of the body, a young woman with the chance to attend university but she's not in a rush. Valeriane is principally her bodyguard these days.
As a woman who greatly supports and believes in the singular god of the Order as well as striving to uphold it, her faith has been tested and shaken after an incident of violence near to one of the hunting lodges where she was attempting to get Therese to safety. Wounded, near death, something happened that Valeriane never discussed at all, claiming instead that god had chosen to bless her for her service but in her heart she knew that instead it was a spirit of the old ways that had reached out to her instead. The abilities she found herself with after? They were described in stories of warriors and knights of the old ways. And yet this happened after being set upon by a violent group of elves taking exception to any who supported the Order.
Morgaine
Born into a merchant family, Morgaine is a cousin to Valeriane Bonheur, her mother Emmanuelle Bonheur sister to Valeriane's father Thierry. Emmanuelle made it a provision of her marriage to her husband Olivier Levesque that she would not only keep her surname upon marriage as a matter of pride, but that any children they had would carry both with Bonheur being first and foremost of those names. Morgaine was the only child of Emmanuelle and Olivier, quite fortunately so since their family fortunes dwindled through mismanagement by Olivier unlike the careful practice of Thierry, and then there was what happened with Morgaine herself.
Morgaine's magic manifested at a young age rather dramatically one night where a wisp made an appearance at the dinner table when she felt her parents were ignoring her.Shipped off to 'school' after this incident, she maintained some contact with her family though she found that her life away gave her access to things she could not through her family that had retained their name but lost their fortune. Her new life was everything she had ever wanted, a beautiful glittering place where there were no arguments, no tears, no fretting over old glories and how to win them back. She settled to her studies quickly, a particular talent for creation and spirit spells emerging as she found her voice. She chose her friends with care from a young age, usually those who were as driven and competitive as she was. Morgaine did not like the company of elves at all, feeling that they were beneath her; friendships were conditional, the conditions implied, lasting only so long as she required them to last.
Using her persuasive personality whilst away, Morgaine cultivated political connections with another sect within her school, advancing herself both within and without. This put her in touch with the Sokolov family as well as the Boneflayers mercenary company as she expanded her reputation carefully, with the Boneflayers being something of an insurance policy given that a mage reaching too high might be seen as a very dangerous move. She developed a very close relationship with the leader of the company, Asher Hardie, eventually becoming involved in making him a very different sort of warrior through a concoction involving dragon's blood.
Morgaine had a talent for darker magics not sanctioned by the newer religion, only practiced by few who knew the old ways. Still, this enhanced her reputation in some circles and when she eventually married into the Sokolov family through Tavin who studied dragons, she carved out a further little niche for herself.
Fiachra Sullivan
Born to Fearchar Sullivan, a warehouse worker who supplemented his meagre wages through being a hunter and poacher on the side, and Caoimhe Ruskin, a kitchen servant to minor nobility, Fiachra was the first surviving child born to them after several stillbirths and miscarriages, followed not too long after by a sister, Muirenn. Growing up - alongside future Boneflayers member Liadan - Fiachra learnt archery as well as how to make bows and arrows from his father and other elders, as well as healing from his aunt. The healing stuck with him, and one day when plague swept through their slum, he would come to be her replacement. As a young man he tended to get into a lot of fights due to a fiery temper when some members of his family were mocked for only being of partly elven blood.
Still in his teens, his father lost his job after being arrested for poaching then promptly died in prison; Fiachra later learned he died from a combination of starvation and beating. Thus he became man of the house, responsible for himself, his mother, and younger sister. His mother soon became pregnant with a half-sister Siomha, Caoimhe dying two years after her birth. All his mother would say of Siomha's father is that she was born of her and the noble she worked for, and nothing more than that leaving Fiachra full of doubt and fear that plagued him for years to come.
Despite being the only healer his people had that would always treat them, folk were poor so he too had to turn to the same methods as his father had to supplement their income though in time he found himself able to abandon it after the elders stepped in to help. The idea of his sisters being left to fend for themselves was something he feared greatly.
Instead of marrying as young as most elves tended to, Fiachra had to delay his own wedding due to raising such a small child until at last he wed Fionnuala Murdock, servant to nobility as a seamstress. The marriage was happy but brief, her nobles moving away to where Fiachra couldn't follow with reports of violence in the region, and him with no way of asking after her or receiving news of if she's well or living. After her departure, Fiachra poured his heart and soul into his home, concentrating on becoming an even greater healer as well as making plans to get his half-sister into a better life since she could pass for human if they find someone willing. His elders hope for him to join their small council in time too given his passion as well as his strong voice, that he can read and write and taught not one but two sisters to do this same as well as teaching Muirenn to be a healer in her own right. Indeed, even though Muirenn married an elven man named Diarmaid Lennox, she's still known as a Sullivan first and foremost.
As with many elves living in cities amongst humans, Fiachra is a devotee of the Order. The priests and priestesses of the Order supported him when he felt lost after losing so much in his life in a very real way that the tales of the gods and old ways can't hold a candle to, and seeing the violence the elves will inflict on their own that he has to treat with his own hands makes him fearful as well as bitter towards those who choose to live apart and fight the Order to the last.
Other notes;
Asher's fighting style
Asher was always something of a berserker fighter, easily tapping into his rage at the sight of battle. Drinking the dragon's blood - from a fire dragon - had an impact on Asher's body that nearly killed him in the earliest stages with a seemingly violent allergic reaction as well as causing him to keep running hotter after. Asher sweats out fevers, is seemingly unbothered by the cold until they reach a tipping point such as pushing himself too hard in battle or sustaining a bad wound that sees him having to recover for longer than others same as when someone burns the candle at both ends. The dragon's blood has to be prepard with agents that help to mitigate some of the more toxic elements of it that would kill a person outright.
After drinking dragon blood, it brings out something more animalistic in a person. Something buried deep in their nature that thrives on the blood on carnage of battle, on the pain they inflict on their enemies.
As a berserker, Asher uses the smell of blood and death to drive himself into a fury, making himself a stronger fighter though he can't sustain this forever as it has a cost to his stamina if he does it without the proper focus, and if he maintains control of himself during these rages he can fight more effectively instead of striking blindly. This allows him to terrify his foes, as well as to inflict greater and greater damage as he goes, more damage the harder he swings.
Drinking dragon's blood allows Asher to cast something of an aura, enhancing his presence to mark any battlefield as his to give himself an advantage over enemies, allowing his strikes to hit harder. What it also allows for is for his own wounds and pain to fuel him since he can push past his limits, so the more he's wounded and bloodied, the better he fights, though also the more he wounds his foes, the better he fights as something strange happens with dragon's blood: given that it was a magical cocoction, from a magical beast, prepared by a mage, Asher can drain the life from them bit by bit as they bleed. The bloodier he leaves his enemies also tends to make them panic, and their deaths around Asher allow him to fight harder and faster, same as being close to a badly wounded enemy brings out a feral side of him that has him wanting to fight faster, his blows striking harder in critical areas.
There are darker parts to this: Asher can't control it well but he can inflict a strange radiating area of pain and agony about him when he fights, weakening the enemies around him though it doesn't affect allies, even bolstering some who use similar fighting styles. If Asher draws his own blood first at the start of the battle, this aura seems to burn, and each time he draws his blade across his own flesh before striking, the weapon itself seems to burn before it strikes with the heat of the flames from the fire dragon's blood he consumed.
Genetics
The way most people refer to their mixed breed children, usually between humans and elves, is that the seed you plant is the seed you grow meaning that the child takes most of the traits of the father in terms. This doesn't mean individual features like eye or hair colour, or temper, but the things people notice. Like the shape of the ears. So if a male human and an elven woman have a child then they have a mostly human looking baby, but if an elven male and a human woma have a child then it's a mostly elven featured baby.
The future
The Boneflayers eventually introduce Fiachra to the Bonheurs or Pelletiers as a place for his sister to work; Fiachra originally hopes to have his sister work for the Sokolovs but Liadan and Melisende take him aside to explain that since Morgaine is around, it's not the best idea to have even a part-elven girl near that sort of woman
Tarot inspiration
The High Priestess; a veiled woman with a closed book, a symbol of hidden knowledge, wisdom, female mystery and magic. The card may often double up with Triple Goddess imagery. She often is a Threshold Guardian and associated with the moon. Things seem strange and mysterious now, but don't worry, sometimes it's good to take a moment to think about things before you make your next step. (A card for Morgaine)
The Hermit; an old man in a dark place or cave, holding up a lantern. It's associated with wisdom, introspection, solitude, retreat and philosophical searches. Often a symbol for the Mentor or a Seeker Archetype but also The Hero undergoing a Heroic BSOD taking a much needed Journey to the Centre of the Mind to sort out his personal demons before returning to kick ass. Be honest with yourself as well as others, remember to take advice, and don't confuse solitude and loneliness as one. (A card for Asher)
The Fool; a young man strays obliviously close to the edge of a cliff with a dog at his heels. He holds a white rose, a symbol of divine love and purity. A trickster is often as an innocent protected by his own luck, a madman who speaks with the voice of the gods or an idiot who hides his strange powers. The Fool is a symbol of the in-between, of the Grotesque and of a reliance on luck. It all starts with a journey of self-discovery and a reminder to expect the unexpected. (A card for Asher)
