Aro is often found in the company of a bronze dragon hatchling, called Iessa. She's recently hatched and not yet able to speak. Her current intelligence is comparable to a very smart dog, and will not go beyond that possible for Mabari throughout her time in game. She additionally will not be able to learn speech throughout her time in game.

Here's what you need to know about Iessa:

• She's small for a dragon, which is still pretty large to anyone else. She's about the size of a wolf.
• She can fly.
• She can breathe underwater.
• She has yellowish scales tinted with green. As she ages, they'll turn to bronze.
• Her wings have green tips.
• She has three large horns protruding from each cheek, pointing towards her tail. The horns have sharp black points.
• Her tongue is purpish grey and pointy, not forked.
• She has a large green frill running down the back of her neck.
• She smells like the sea, owing to how often she plays in it.
• Her scales act like natural armour.
• She can breathe a cone of electrical / lightning energy.

Iessa spends as much time as she can with Aro. When they're not together, she lives in the temporary lair she made for herself along the shoreline by the Gallows.

General

OOC Permissions

■ PLAYER: Kerry
■ PREFERRED CONTACT: Plurk: halfbloodly.
■ BACKTAGGING: I'm happy to! Though if we've been backtagging the same thread for months, I may eventually have to ask you to wrap it up in order to keep CR consistent.
■ THREADHOPPING: Please do, I encourage that.
■ FOURTHWALLING: Go ahead, it won't bother him. It may make him think you're not all there, though.
■ ACTION VS PROSE: I'll do either, but I would prefer action if pushed.
■ OFFENSIVE SUBJECTS & TRIGGERS: Please warn me first if you're going to talk about either excessive gore/body horror/torture, or animal cruelty. Other than that, I'm cool with most things.

IC Permissions

■ PHYSICAL AFFECTION: He's not that tactile unless he's already close to you. He won't react badly to being touched, but he's unlikely to initiate unless he knows you well.

■ PHYSICAL VIOLENCE: Aro is a mage who can use a variety of spells. He also tends to carry weapons, and he travels with a dragon that is likely to act in his defence as well. I'm happy to play out a fight but we'll need to talk about what will happen first!

■ RELATIONSHIPS: Aro's pretty good with people - he's friendly, kind and good with languages, at least in his own world. He's less confident when it comes to establishing deeper relationships, since he generally assumes people will be transient features in his life. He's only ever had casual romances, though that's not to say he wouldn't like something more. He's just never stuck around long enough to make anything last, and that's an impulse he'd need to grapple with to establish more lasting bonds.

■ MENTAL INFORMATION: He's resistant to magical charm, so powers that rely on it will be less effective against him. He has no telepathic resistance, so could be infiltrated like that. He'll likely react badly to it unless he trusts your character. Please ask before you do it so we can talk about how it might play out!

■ MEDICAL INFORMATION: He's a young, healthy half-elf. He has slightly pointed ears, he's taller and thinner than most humans of his weight, and he can see well in the dark. He also has a fine layer of translucent scales over the most vulnerable parts of his body - a kind of natural armour that's formed as a result of his magic coming from a dragon. As he grows more powerful, he'll eventually take on other aspects of his dragon ancestor as well, but for now, the scales are all you might notice.

Name: Kerry
Age: 32
Contact: halfbloodly
Other Characters: None, but I am also apping d'Artagnan this round.
Interests: I really want to delve into Aro's character - he's a new OC for me and I think this is an ideal setting for him, one similar to his own world but with several key differences that will enable me to explore his personality. I'm particularly keen to involve him in the political side of things in Thedas and explore his magic too.


Name: Arohaerd ('Aro')
Canon/OC: OC (D&D)
Canon Point: While wandering the wilds with Iessa, shortly after her hatching.
Journal: sorcerised
Age: 24

Canon World

Aro is from Faerun, the same world as Adalia who is currently in game. In many ways, Faerun is similar to Thedas. The setting is comparable to western Europe in the late Middle Ages. Smoke powder (their version of gunpowder) exists, but has a basis in magic and is still uncommon; swords, spears, bows and similar weapons still prevail. Faerun is a subcontinent which includes many different cities and towns, and politics is generally feudal.

Magic exists, but is not distrusted as it is in Thedas. It is split into two categories; the Divine, which comes from deities, and the Arcane, which is powered by a mystical field called the Weave. This is broadly similar to the Fade in Thedas. Speaking of deities, Faerun's inhabitants recognise a pantheon of gods similar to that found in the Greek or Roman pantheons, and different groups will focus their worship on different gods.

As on Thedas, Faerun has a wide variety of different races, including humans, elves, half-elves, dwarves, tieflings, dwarves, gomes, halflings, dragons, and many more. Elves as a rule are not discriminated against the way they are in Thedas; they have their own communities and are more similar to the beautiful, powerful Elves of Tolkien's Middle Earth than the elves of Thedas. Half-elves, however, tend to be outsiders as they're too elvish to be considered human, and too human to be considered elves. They tend to resemble humans more than elves, though they do have slightly pointed ears and longer lifespans.

Other than this, Faerun and Thedas are very similar; it would not be difficult for a character familiar with one to assimilate to another.

History

Aro was born to a human mother from an elven father. His parents did not stay together after he was born, and he was raised by his mother alone. His father was never able to be tied down and may not even have known he'd gotten a human girl pregnant - though, neither did he stay to find out. After his mother's family disowned her for getting pregnant out of wedlock, she travelled to another town to try and start again. Her life was hard even there, and they ended up very isolated.

Eventually his mother gave up on the town and they went out into the wild as travellers. She would dance and play music in the towns they visited and they earned what money they needed. When Aro was old enough to learn, she taught him to play a flute like hers, and they would play together. Otherwise, they learned to survive outside. Aro far preferred exploring the wilds, and disliked human towns where he was always stared at and bullied for being half-elven.

His mother didn't do so well with this life, and eventually started to struggle. She became ill, and although Aro was not yet 13, he understood that things needed to change. He brought her to a healing house in the nearest town, giving them what money he had to care for her. He promised to return, but left instead, knowing that his mother needed stability. He went back on the road alone.

A few years later, while travelling, Aro heard the sound of a wounded animal hiding among the rocks at the shore. Wary, but unable to walk away from a creature in pain, he went to investigate. There he discovered a bronze dragon, badly injured, and desperate for help; she had been hurt in battle with a blue dragon, which would take her territory as soon as she died. Aro did what he could, binding and tending to her wounds, but her injuries were too great and it was clear she could not be saved. She led him back to her lair, where he came to understand her determination; there was a solitary egg inside. The dragon gave the egg to Aro, asking him to save it where he couldn't save her. Then with the last of her energy, she blessed him with her power, leaving him with the magic of a sorcerer inside. In place of the dragon, he now held a bronze crystal, which would serve as an Arcane Focus. Aro left that place with the egg in tow, determined to keep it safer than its mother had been.

He carried the egg for a further two years before, finally, a bronze wyrmling hatched from it. Aro called her Iessa, after his own mother. They now travel as companions, learning magic together as they go. Aro hopes to one day bring Iessa back to her mother's lair and help her reclaim it, though that day is far in the future for both of them.

Personality

Aro is not the kind of person who likes to plan out every detail of his life. This is not to say he's aimless. He often has a general goal in mind, such as seeing as many new places as he can, learning more about magic, and helping Iessa to reclaim her home some day. However, he won't plan out every step on his journey towards those goals. Rather, he adapts to situations as they emerge. Change doesn't frighten him; he's not afraid of losing people, and in fact expects them to be transient figures in his life. His attitude towards this is a positive one; he'll enjoy the time he has with them, rather than focusing on what he might lose. His attitude to other changes in his life is similar; change is inevitable, so he will adapt, and focus on finding what happiness he can in any situation.

This attitude comes about in large part because of his upbringing. Used to moving around from a young age, Aro also learned not to hold onto things too closely. Leaving his mother behind was exceptionally difficult for him, but he also recognised that she wasn't well enough to keep travelling with him. Therefore he did what he thought was best for her, even though it meant letting her go.

Because of this, it can be difficult to get close to Aro. His expectation that relationships will not last means he tries to avoid getting attached. He also tends to distrust others - particularly Humans and Elves, among whom he's often felt unwelcome. He doesn't hold grudges, but he remembers ill-treatment and tries to avoid situations where it might happen again. That same instinct also leaves him responsive to kindness, however, and he cares very deeply for people who treat him well. He still expects his time with them to be temporary, but they'll matter to him, and he'll go out of his way to support them.

Another reason why he moves around is a natural wanderlust, common among those with elvish blood in his world. Cities, with their ordered legal systems and large populations, feel stifling to him. He likes to feel wind on his face and to explore new, untamed corners of the world. He feels the same way about music; it's a kind of release for him, and he'll often use songs to remind him of the places he's been and the people he's met, especially the ones who are no longer with him.

This lifestyle means he has to know how to fight, since it's not unusual to come across bandits, monsters, and other dangers in the wilds of Faerun. Aro is an experienced hunter and knows how to defend himself, but he tends not to go looking for trouble. He'll deal with it if it finds him, but he's careful and generally peaceful. Where disputes arise, he'll try to solve them without fighting, while being ready to stand up for himself when he must.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Fey heritage: As a Half-Elf, Aro is descended from the Fey. As a result, he can see better in the dark than humans (Darkvision: he can see in dim light within 60 feet as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. He cannot see colour in the dark, however). He also has some resistance to magical charm, and cannot be put to sleep by magic.


• Languages: Thanks to both his heritage and background, Aro has a natural proficiency when it comes to languages. He's fluent in five native languages of Faerun; Common, Elvish, Draconic, Infernal and Dwarvish.


• Magic: As a Sorcerer, Aro gained his magic when he was blessed by a Bronze dragon on its deathbed. This created a wellspring of magical energy inside him, changing him permanently. As Bronzes in Faerun are associated with lightning, Aro's magic also tends to skew towards lightning and thunder, though he's capable of casting other spells such as creating lights, putting others to sleep, and casting protective shields. He has had his powers for a number of years and is a Level 4 Sorcerer. This means he is not a beginner, but he is far from being the most powerful of magic users from his world. He learns mainly through experience rather than through academia or formal training, as is typical for Sorcerers in his world.


• Draconic Heritage: Aro's alteration by the bronze dragon did not only give him magic; it also gave him immediate fluency in the Draconic language, and caused some physical alteration as well. At his current level, parts of his skin have a thin covering of dragon-like scales which act like natural armour. Eventually, with practice and experience, he will gain the ability to sprout dragon wings from his back and fly, and to channel the presence of his dragon ancestry to inspire awe in others. He cannot use either of these abilities yet, however.


• Wanderer: Thanks to his experience as a traveller, he has an excellent memory for maps and geography, and can always recall the general layout of terrain, settlements, and other features around you. He's also good at locating food and fresh water and has generally good survival skills. He's better used to travel than to city life and is decently fit and athletic.


• Fighting: Aro generally prefers to fight with magic these days, but he has not always been a Sorcerer, and he still has some skill in general melee/weapons combat. His preferred weapon is a crossbow, but at close range he can also use daggers or darts. He's lightweight and dextrous, tending to rely more on speed and agility in a fight. He's not very physically strong, though he's durable enough to take more damage than might be expected for someone of his build.


• General: He's more durable than he is strong, and more charming than he is intelligent. He's streetwise rather than academic, and he's better at talking to people than he thinks he is. He can also play the flute, though he doesn't have the proficiency of a Bard. He has been playing since childhood, however, and makes most of his money through performance.

Suggested Nerfs

Aro is still a young sorcerer who is learning his craft. In D&D terms, he is a level 4 Sorcerer; it's my intention for him to start out at this level and gain experience in game that will enable him to get better over time. His magic is already regulated in order to prevent characters from being too overpowered. In general terms, the more powerful a spell is, the less often he is able to cast it without resting. As an example, the most powerful spell he currently knows could only be cast twice per day; he would then need to rest before casting it again. At present he only knows one spell at that level, with the others being less powerful. He's also able to cast spells which have certain effects - either 'Careful', which helps to protect allies from getting damaged by his spells, or 'Twinned', which lets him hit two targets instead of one. He can only do this three times per day before needing to rest.

As he grows in experience, he will both be able to learn new spells, and be able to cast a greater number of more powerful spells. I would like him to be able to get better with his powers in game; I will seek mod permission for any increase in level and the power increase that would go with it.

Due to this, I don't think he requires additional nerfing - though if you disagree, I'm happy to make changes!

Arrival Inventory

What will your character have with them in the dream they arrive from? Please go ahead and list weapons, technology, and magical artifacts, though they may disappear in the passage through the Fade. And please note that we do mean what they have with them in their dream; they can arrive in plainclothes with their usual belongings from a dream about buying groceries, or they can arrive in a gorilla suit with a deflated hot air balloon from a dream that was a little less mundane.

• 1 Arcane Focus: a bronze crystal worn around his neck, which serves as a focusing tool for his spells.
  
• 1 crossbow with 20 bolts.
  
• 2 daggers.
  
• Clothes on his back: sturdy boots, leather breeches, a belt, a shirt, a jacket, a long scarf, a pair of gloves, a wide-brimmed hat and a cloak.
  
• Backpack with standard exploring gear: a spare shirt, mess kit, hunting trap, rope, tinderbox, torch, waterskin, bedroll and some rations.
  
• 1 quarterstaff.
  
• 1 bronze dragon hatchling* named Iessa, recently hatched.

* With regards the dragon hatchling! Dragons are sentient creatures in Faerun; however, Iessa is a new hatchling for whom Aro is caring. I would like for her to come with him under the same terms as Adalia's dragon Charis, as discussed here - while in game, Iessa will not be able to learn speech and will not develop more than Mabari-level intelligence throughout her time here. As a dragon, she does have dragon scales which act like natural armour, and she can breathe a cone of electrical / lightning energy. In her own world she would naturally develop other magical abilities over time, but she will be nerfed from that while in game.

'Human'ization

As a Half-Elf, Aro closely resembles an ordinary human. He is slightly taller and more slender than the average human, though less so than he would be if he were a full Elf from Faerun. He also has very slightly pointed ears, though again not so pronounced as they would be if he were a full Elf. Half-Elves are able to grow facial hair, though Aro is cleanshaven at present. Additionally Half-Elves have a lifespan of around 180 years, so they are longer lived than humans, though again, not so long lived as full Elves who can live for thousands of years. Aro can also see in the dark, and has resistance to being charmed or put to sleep by magic, as a result of his Fey ancestry.

In addition, the process of gaining magic from the dragon also changed Aro physically. At present he has a thin layer of dragon scales which covers parts of his skin and behaves like armour. At higher levels, he will also be able to sprout dragon wings and fly. He cannot sprout wings at present, and when he gains that ability, he will be able to summon and conceal them on command.

As humans and Elves both exist in Thedas I would like his form to be unchanged - including retaining his slightly pointed ears and his layer of dragon scales, if possible! The dragon scales could be invisible or only able to be seen when the light catches them, if need be.

Fit

Thedas is very similar to Aro's homeworld from a certain point of view; it has a similar variety of races, including some that are almost the same as the races of his own world. It has magic, and basic similarities in terms of weaponry and theme. However, there are strong differences in attitude here. Elves are not looked down upon where he's from, and people as a rule are not distrustful of magic. Nevertheless, Aro has always been an outsider in his world thanks to his Half-Elf heritage, which has left him a child of two worlds who belongs to neither. He would certainly feel affinity for others who felt excluded and would want to help them where he could. In particular I think he would want to help other magic users and stand up for anyone who was oppressed or held in bondage. Essentially I think he would adapt easily to the setting, and would quickly become invested in helping those in need here. I am also interested in him learning to better hone and develop his magic here. At home he tends to spend most of his time alone. Here he will be around other magic users, and will hopefully be able to learn from them and along with them.

• Aro on the test drive meme.
  
  
• Network-style meme top level.