Character:Adara Kallis

A Date With Destiny

• Adara Kallis
• Caste: Eclipse
• Concept: Noble Champion
• Adara is a remarkably youthful beauty not over the age of nineteen. She wears light satins and silks of white, silver and gold that tend to be comfortable in the Southern heat and iconic of Paragon and matches her blond hair, blue eyes and fair skin. She carries a sword that has an orichalcum hilt binding a crystalline blade. Adara keeps a polite and temperate demeanor with her emotions well guarded and controlled but strong; her passions becoming particularly noticeable when she gets anxious or excited.

Motivation

• Unite the South under one banner.

Intimacies

Natural

Positive

• Her People
• The South
• The Unconquered Sun

Supernatural

Positive

• Personal Honor [Honesty, Chastity, Charity, and Righteousness]

Anima

When Adara's anima banner goes iconic the radiant white essence condenses into Old Realm cipher with blazing golden coronas which rotates about her in crossing orbits displaying the Mandate of Heaven in perfect accuracy; anyone gazing upon the iconic text instantly understands the significance of the cipher even without knowing Old Realm. Most surprisingly is that Adara had never seen the text before it had appeared about her during the exaltation.

Attributes

Physical

• Strength 5
• Dexterity 8
• Stamina 5

Social

• Charisma 5
• Manipulation 1
• Appearance 5

Mental

• Perception 2
• Intelligence 2
• Wits 3

Abilities

• Awareness 3
• Dodge 5 [Unarmored 3]
• Bureaucracy 3
• Integrity 5
• Linguistics 3[High Realm, Fire Tongue, Old Realm, Rivertongue]
• Lore 5
• Melee 5
• Occult 5
• Presence 5
• Ride 1
• Socialize 5
• War 5

Backgrounds

Resources

Resources 5

Army of the Crimson Flame

Followers 5

Sword of Destiny

Artifact 5 Ten Mote Attunement. Speed 5, Accuracy 4, Damage 6, Defense 4, Rate 3

It is rumored that Mars herself forged this orichalcum hilted sword with a blade shaped of a moonsilver and starmetal crystalline alloy to be gifted to her favored champion in Chiaroscuro. This nearly legendary weapon shapes destiny itself around it's bearer to grant them victory in conflict. This in conjunction with the blade's lethality and destiny wreathed augmentation of the wielder makes it a terrifying sight to behold for any enemy. Upon attuning with the blade, the user's essence is imbued with the destiny of victory; increasing their physical stats each by three. Additionally the user may channel a virtue through the weapon to created a destiny [as the background] of victory in the conflict that the wielder is engaged; this destiny's strength is correlated to the strength of the channeled virtue.

Citadel of Rebirth

Manse 5: Fire Bird Gem

This manse was discovered deep in the desserts by Adara with the help of some People of the Dunes after signing a peace accord with their tribe. She was able to find and claim this glass citadel of fire and rebirth.

This palm-sized, egg-shaped ruby glows with a flickering golden light. Its owner can transform herself into a human-sized bird made of living fire. This transformation requires 5 ticks and has no defensive penalty. Everything the character wears, including all weapons and armor, are also transformed. This firebird can fly 300 miles per hour, but the character must return to her natural form at either midday and midnight, whichever comes first, and rest for at least an hour before continuing. At the end of a flight, the character is as hungry and exhausted as if she had spent the same period running.

While in the form of a firebird, the bearer can ignite flammable objects with a touch. All attacks are made as if she wielded any melee weapons she carries, but with an additional +2 bonus to damage because of the heat of her flames. She is also protected normally by whatever armor she is wearing. She cannot use any missile weapons in this form. Also, the touch of any liquid more substantial than fog or mist instantly returns the character to her normal form.

Charms

Dodge

• Third Dodge Excellency
• Infinite Dodge Mastery
• Dodge Essence Flow
• Shadows over Water
• Seven Shadow Evasion
• Reflex Sidestep Technique
• Leaping Dodge Method
• Lightspeed Body Dynamics
• Reed in the Wind

Integrity

• Third Integrity Excellency
• Infinite Integrity Mastery
• Integrity Essence Flow
• Integrity Protecting Prana
• Righteous Lion Defense [Personal Honor]
• Phoenix Renewal Tactic [Conviction]
• Epic Zeal of Conviction
• Epic Zeal of Temperance

Linguistics

• Sagacious Reading of Intent

Lore

• First Lore Excellency
• Immanent Solar Glory
• Immanent Solar Glory
• Immanent Solar Glory

Melee

• First Melee Excellency
• Third Melee Excellency
• Infinite Melee Mastery
• Melee Essence Flow

Occult

• Second Occult Excellency
• Spirit Detecting Glance
• Spirit Cutting Attack

Socialize

• First Socialize Excellency
• Infinite Socialize Mastery
• Socialize Essence Flow
• Wise-Eyed Courtier Method
• Taboo Inflicting Diatribe

War

• First War Excellency
• Infinite War Mastery
• War Essence Flow
• Mob Dispersing Rebuke
• Fury Inciting Presence

Essence

• Essence: 4
• Personal: 22/22
• Peripheral: 73/83
• Committed to Charms:
• Committed to artifacts: 10
• Willpower: 10/10

Virtues

• Compassion: 2
• Conviction: 5
• Temperance: 5
• Valor: 2

Limit Break

Overindulgence The character’s self-control completely fails, and she surrenders to all forms of excess. Sex, liquor, drugs and gluttony become equally attractive, and the character will not listen to reason or postpone her debauch. She indulges in all vices at hand, regardless of expense or consequences. If she’s penniless or isolated, she’ll borrow or steal or travel to a location where she can indulge. Characters in poor health should make a Stamina check to avoid long-term negative consequences from such an episode.

Partial Control: The character can be talked into essential duties such as pursuing enemies or leading armies. However, in every spare moment, she indulges in whatever forms of excess are available. She can avoid drinking on duty but not being exceptionally hung over. She automatically says yes whenever offered some intoxicant or other pleasure.

Duration: One full day

Limit Break Condition: The character must pass a favorite pleasure or vice in order to act in a moral fashion.

Conflict

Combos

Firestorm Stance: Spirit Detecting Glance, Spirit Cutting Attack, First Melee Excellency, Third Dodge Excellency, Seven Shadow Evasion, Reflex Sidestep Technique, Leaping Dodge Method, Sagacious Reading of Intent

Physical

• Join Battle: 6
• Dodge DV: 10 [Dodge 8, Dexterity 8, Essence 4]
• Parry DV: 9 [Melee 5, Dexterity 8, Defense 4]
• Soak: 3/5/0

Movement

• Move: 8
• Dash: 14

Social

• Join Debate: 8
• Dodge MDV: 9

Health Levels

• -0, -1, -1, -2, -2, -4, Incapacitated

Equipment

Blade of Destiny: Attack 11, Damage 11, Rate 3, Speed 5.

History

Adara has only known three things in her entire life, every thing else merely an expression; excellence, elegance, and duty. Her mother was a legendary commander of the Paragon military whose epic tale came to an end shortly after giving birth due to complications. In her last days Talisa left instructions for her estate to oversee her daughter's education and training. Adara's youth was dedicated to education, discipline, and excellence at the hands of the finest but least forgiving tutors available in Paragon. With the legend of her mother ever looming and her isolation from the already sterile culture of Paragon, Adara found it difficult to separate herself from the incessant drilling; swordplay, etiquette, dance, history, swordplay, etiquette, dance, history, swordplay, etiquette, dance, history, swordplay, etiquette, dance, history, swordplay, etiquette, dance, history, swordplay, etiquette, dance, history. . . and so the child became a woman.

Fifteen years of solitary refinement was at last revealed to the public as Adara joined her would be peers to prove herself worthy of becoming a noble to Paragon and the Perfect. Challenge after challenge was presented and each only served as a stage to validate her bloodline and as the sun set that evening she spoke the oath, binding her to the city-state. Adara had become a diplomat of Paragon and while the other newly appointed nobles reveled that evening, she returned to her estate; now empty save for her mother's ghost.

Mere days later she received her first assignment, to approach Grandmother Bright as a first step toward alliance (if the Paragon is to march against Gem, it would be best to have amicable relations with your neighbor to the rear, Grandmother Bright's backing and guidance of such a treaty would give it more gravity). Adara traveled west to Chiaroscuro with her retinue of guards and single handmaiden. Upon arrival she waited patiently for her opportunity to speak with Grandmother Bright presenting a small collection of trinkets recovered from Dari of the Mists. In exchange for her political assistance Grandmother Bright requested a boon from the fifteen year old noble; first she would need to record a dreamstone of herself making love to a local noble and then have the stone smuggled into his private chambers, then upon returning Adara would give her a book. The request shocked and offended the young maiden's sensibilities but she softly accepted.

The obstacles were not insurmountable but she hadn't any exposure to the arts of pleasure, and new little of the desires of men aside from the calculated and cold training in persuasion and diplomacy. To this end she had a servant buy for her a number of lewd dreamstones, one of which she planned to eventually plant her own fantasy. Meanwhile she began making the local social rounds before finally receiving an invitation to an upcoming gala after meeting him on several occasions. By night she submitted herself to the dreamstones, her innocent and pure mind being necessarily tarnished, until she found herself dreaming in perversity. It all offended her a great deal, clashing with Adara's chastity and nobility, but a part of her deep down secretly hungered for the illicit experiences; one evening the pleasures of the dream even physically manifesting much to her own embarrassment. She recorded this dream into a stone, her desire to succeed overriding her own sense of decency and chastity. Though it is one of her deepest held secrets, she savored that dream more than a couple of times before resolving to deliver it as intended.

The gala itself was fairly typical, Adara herself spending much of her time making social rounds and trying desperately not to express shock at the occasional over-indulgences which she resolutely refused to partake in. It wasn't until hours later and the gala was in full swing that she had largely unobstructed access to the depths of the palace. Here she wandered the halls, trying to block out the sounds of those partaking of each other behind closed doors. Her heart raced, what if her host was like-wise engaged in his chambers? Would she be expected to participate? Adara blushed at the thought, but prayed silently that wouldn't be the case as she gently pushed open the door to his chambers and closed them behind her. Empty; Adara sighed in relief as she moved to his bedside table to drop the stone in it's drawer, but found herself hesitant. Finally, she focused on the agreement with Grandmother Bright and dropped the stone into the drawer then closed it with a wooden snap.

Her heart racing, hands still on the bedside table she felt something warm rise up and burn from her core to her skin within a instant. Light burst forth and visions of ages past flooded her mind while raw essence poured into her body and soul. Adara looked up into a mirror to see the icon burning brightly on her brow while an anima encircled her for the first time, lighting the room. She stumbled back and fell onto the floor in shock and surprise as commanding words rang in her mind commanding her to unite the south under a single banner. Taking a moment to let the moment sink in and the wake of essence subside, Adara picked herself up off the floor and left the gala without a further word seeking the more familiar solace of her solitude.

The next morning she returned to Grandmother Bright, still flustered and a bit shocked. Seeing the radiant young woman Grandmother Bright smiled, having known the experience might trigger an exaltation. Adara confirmed the placement of the dreamstone, withholding the fact of her exaltation; at least until Grandmother Bright pointedly brought up the issue before reminding Adara that she still had to deliver a book. Stunned, Adara flounders a moment, having completely forgotten to bring one. After a few moments of hectic apologies Grandmother Bright calms the young woman and bids her to focus on recalling a cache egg she sees attached to Adara's essence. With several attempts and some coaching the egg finally materialized into her hand, holding within it a few trinkets, a beautifully crafted blade, a journal, and a book on sorcery. Thankful Adara handed the book of sorcery to the goddess, who agreed to aid in negotiations between Paragon and Chiaroscuro.

It wasn't until later that afternoon while taking inventory of her small cache of treasure that she even realized that the Paragon's sigil had left her hand. She considered this for a moment and realized that she was anathema to the realm, an enemy to the Paragon's greatest ally. If she were to stay it would put the Perfect and Paragon itself in danger. The thought of leaving her home behind tore into her heart, but until the realm had withdrawn she would have to decline the oath. Besides, now she had a new lord to serve, the Unconquered Sun himself.

Since that day Adara has spent the past two years uniting small groups of the south into one banner; hers. Even many of the People of the Dune have come under her influence and there are now mixed communities that operate at all hours with the resident formerly of the dunes coming out in the evenings.

Personality

Adara is by all measures incredibly reserved, well mannered, and traditional in spirit. At the same time she has a poor understanding of people and even herself as most of the relationships she has ever known was that of mentor and student. In many ways she is a cold caricature of a noble, playing out what she has been taught and drilled into her mind and body, for she knows of little else besides the stark elegance of her upbringing. All this is compounded by the specter of her mother's nigh legendary status, and the whispered accusations that it is Adara's fault that her mother died from complications during delivery. All of this has combined to create a woman that is outwardly of immaculate grace, beauty, and skill, driven to match her ever increasingly aggrandized view of her own bloodline.

Despite this immaculate exterior of a strong capable woman that Adara maintains, she is incredibly anxious and has a poor understanding of herself and many aspects of the world around her. While she clings to her chastity and honor, she has already tasted pleasure and desires which she cant let go of; instead repressing them so that her own image of herself is not challenged. Still the sexual temptations from the dreamstones haunt her at in some nights driving the young woman to personal release; a secret which she fervently protects and justifies to herself without simply accepting that she enjoys it. Likewise, Adara is charitable, kind, and soft spoken, but doesn't truly care for those around her, or even herself for that matter. She simply doesn't understand the significance behind the rote mannerisms and personality carved out of her formless youth. Conversely, she is only fifteen years old and empowered with the infinite possibilities of an exaltation. Given time she could overcome her flaws and smooth out the rough spots to redefine herself and her relationship with creation. That or she might simply perfect her exterior shell while sinking deeper into paranoia, depression, and solitude.

Influenced by her time in Paragon, Adara prefers light and 'clean' colors, silver, white, greys, and golds, to bright colors; which she find ostentatious. Adara knows little of her one and only past life, only that her name was Lilana and had been a close confidant to Queen Merela. Perhaps reading more of the journal will reveal more details regarding her.

BP

virtues 3:9 Skills:8:8 Manse5:5 Essence 4:7 Charm [Favored] 4:16

XP

• Earned: # 52
• Spent: # Lightspeed Body Dynamics[8], Reed in the Wind[8], Temptation-Resisting Stance[8], Elusive Dream Defense[8], Dodge[Unarmored 3][9], Epic Zeal of Temperance [8]
• Unspent: # 3