Kai (The Land of Eternal Sunshine)

[Kai]

ORIGINAL:

Face claim’s name: Kassim (Magi)

Character’s inspiration lies in introversion and coping with a world full of outside forces that one may be more inclined to shield themselves away from.





Kai:

Age: 19

Gender: Male

Species: Human

Being Type: Somebody


Position: Chaotic Neutral


Current Primary Objective: To return to his home world and to “pull the weeds from his garden”

Learning type: Visual

Home World: The Land of Eternal Sunshine

A world constantly illuminated by the radiance of its three suns. The people live on several islands grouped in an archipelago and have a great love and mastery of the sea. People born on this world believe that their magic and vitality is a gift given from the three suns, and view the celestial bodies as the center of their universe. All human lives tend to fall into two categories; those blessed of mind and those blessed of body. All take pride in the gift that suns has bestowed on them and live their lives to best leverage their strengths.

The suns fill its people with light and energy all but for a short period every few years where all the stars are eclipsed by the world's three moons. This period of eclipse last three days, and is viewed by most as the period where the world cleanses itself of its evil elements. Wicked storms tend rage during this period, and the restless weather causes many of the wild creatures that live in the sea to frenzy.

Those who had yet to reach adulthood all fall ill during this period where they are cut off from the the sun's light, but the wise leaders and healers have devised long ago how to treat this ‘Nightfall Fever’. By taking all those who have yet to become adults to a remote island, and performing a special ritual, the healers are able to keep all the children and adolescents safe. In living memory, there hasn’t been a single soul who has succumb to the Nightfall Fever. A great healer once said “All who were born and live in the light have nothing to fear from the darkness.”

Passive:
Heartborn Husk

Weapon: Thanatos: a large black scythe who's blade is constructed of the same deep black material as its pole. Has little to no ornamentation and most of the weapons weight is focused at the weapons head, in the long curved blade that sits slightly offset from the snaith. Stands 7 feet tall from top to bottom. A surprisingly heavy weapon that Kai wields with a very practiced hand.

Appearance: Tall and draped in black, Kai is oft mistaken for a phantom. He stands at 6’2 and has an athletic yet slender build. His skin has a pale cinnamon tone, which implies that he doesn't spend enough time in sunlight. His pale grey eyes are the same shade as his dreadlocks, which are tied back with a thin black ribbon that  that hang down past his neck. Two short locks hang down over the right side of his forehead. He never seems to wear a happy or even interested expression on his face, almost as if his muscles in his cheeks were incapable of forming a smile. Kai seems perpetually weary, as though and any moment he might find a bed to collapse on and rest.

     Currently he wears a simple black hooded coat (akin to those used by people frequently traveling through the land of darkness but with even less flare), black sneakers and black gloves. Underneath his coat there are also simple black pants and a sleeveless black shirt. In his left ear he wears two silver earrings that each have a different inscription engraved into the metal bands.

Personality: Kai is a quiet and very observant person. He’s introverted, and prefers not to interact with people when he can. Being ostracized by most as a child has led him to keep most of his feelings and thoughts to himself, and to be selective when spending his own words. Even so he ends up speaking bluntly whenever he does speak, and doesn't seem to have much of eye for tact. He can integrate well enough any group that he finds himself in as he doesn’t have an argumentative nature, but contributes only as it fits his own needs. The goals of the group, or individuals thereof are nothing when compared to his own. He doesn't have it in him to truly hate any person, but by the same token its a long shot for him to develop true loyalty to anyone either. He may help you, he may betray you, but he’ll never do so with any malice in his heart. For the most part he seems to come off as indifferent to most and doesn't seem to have the capacity to show much interest in anything.

Even with this nature he tends to open up more to those he’s developed some level of comfort with, finding it easier to speak with those he’s developed some rapport with. While he’s very detail oriented, he tends to not take much stock in the importance of names and tends to refer to people by traits of there's that he’s observed.


Has a soft spot for animals and flora, and will often take time to observe them even in the middle of important tasks. He’s much more curious when it comes to non-human interactions, and tends to find himself at ease with non humans\ demi humans rather than most people.

Natural Affinities/Abilities/Skills:

Kai is a surprisingly good navigator, having spent a great deal of his life in and around boats. He's also quite good at tending to animals or plants. He is a naturally observant type of person.

Typically he employs a defensive style of fighting. Even though he is very proficient with his polearm type weapons, he only attacks aggressively when he sees an opponent as directly standing in the way of his goals.

Magic: Barrier- forms a solid barrier with his magical energy around him to defend from most attacks. Things on either side of the barrier cannot cross over to the other side until the spell is released. Barrier is stationary and anchored into the spaced that it is summoned into. Will expand to cover Kai’s wingspan, or anything that happens to be within his wingspan.

Skill: Assal: barrier type spell that creates a small blob like barrier that can be used to block incoming attacks, or as a platform to add to mobility. Absorbs physical energy and bounces it back in an equal but opposite direction. Remains corporeal for a duration of 3 post after initial use. Is destroyed instantly while absorbing a magical attack. Can be moved or cancelled by Kai at any time. Cannot be used for the same post duration if cancelled. Cannot be used for twice the post duration of its existence if destroyed (example; if Assal remains in play for two posts after use and is cancelled, then Kai must wait two post after cancellation to use it again. If destroyed one post after summoning then Assal cannot not be used until two post after destruction)

Limit/Skill: Babylon: Uses a “mist” of minuscule weak barriers all around him to increase his battle capabilities. A large blob of visible barrier magic appears above him, and dissolves into many tiny particle sized barriers that surround him like a giant invisible bubble. Slows opponents slightly while increasing his own speed. Slowing effect can be overcome/reduced by those of extremely high physical strength. Skill can be cancelled completely by massive bursts of magical power. Brings Kai magic down to 0 after using. Can use at max 3x per thread.

Limitations/Drawbacks: Kai has a strong aversion to letting people get close to him, and often puts up “barriers” when dealing with people. Like so, he can easily deal with people in certain tasks, but doesn't do well in letting others develop a true closeness with him. He keeps his guard up and finds it draining to let people close to him. He answers in groups only when directly addressed and rarely voices any thoughts or opinions to a large group of his own volition.

His Babylon technique is one that lets people inside his field of barriers, and as such he finds it extremely taxing mentally to do so. Also when faced with a large group his primary motive becomes to escape the situation lest he become overwhelmed by all those bearing down on him. Extends 7 feet around him in all directions.

His spells are relatively short ranged. His barrier only extends just past his wingspan (or the reach of his weapon when using). Assal can be used within 20 feet and only with a clear line of sight between him and a target (cannot be placed behind an enemy for example). Its taxing on him to see others force through the barriers he tries to put up, which makes it take twice as long for him to recover enough to replace barriers that are destroyed.


History: Kai was born to an adventurous captain of a well renown ship, and to a beloved healer of his home world. Upon their marriage many speculated on the greatness of their children, assured that a blessed child would come from their union. Yet Kai’s birth would fall to be more ominous that blessing. He was born in the middle of the Nightfall, the period of three day long total solar eclipse where no other life has ever been recorded being born. With his cold grey eyes, and inability to cry even at birth many feared that he he was an omen of dark times would soon plague the world.
Even though many residents of the world did their best to ignore and stay away from Kai, his parents loved him dearly. They sought to pass on their skills and knowledge to him as any parent would. Though he seemed receptive enough they never saw the passion for learning they believe one needed to truly master the skills they would teach him.

His father instructed Kai on traversing the seas, running and managing a ship, and fighting and hunting with a spear. The years would show him to be competent with his spear work, yet he had none of the charisma needed to even work with a crew. He seemed more interested in observing the creatures of the world than hunting them. His Mother taught him how to utilize his magic power, or at least tried to. He was able to bring out magical energy but there was nothing it seemed he could do with it. His power contained no elemental attributes, and no ability to heal like hers did. Still they did their best to pass their knowledge onto him. Their efforts to pass their skills on seem to continue in vein, until one fateful Nightfall.

During the eclipse of marking his eight year, a huge storm stirred causing massive damage to several islands on the edge of the archipelago. As always the children returned from the Nightfall safe and sound, though the same could not be said for all their parents. Many children were orphaned then, though they all were quickly taken in by couples who sympathized with their plight. His own parents chose to take in some kids as well, bringing in a young boy and younger girl into their household.

The young boy had been the son of a respected seafarer whose parents had been lost to the night. He had a solid foundation and saw Kai’s father as a hero captain, having heard his exploits growing up. The boy took quickly to Kai’s fathers teachings and quickly became the successor he was looking for. The girl had not come from famous sires, but she showed an aptitude and talent for healing magic that only came once in a lifetime. She became the apple of Kai’s mothers eye and more and more of his mothers lessons turned to focus on the girl with the great skill. One might think that Kai would have grown angry at the two usurping his place with his parents, but he was content. The lack of focus on him gave Kai freedom and time as he never had, allowing him to find his own place of peace in the world.
Still it was quite some time before these two children would grow to understand Kai. Two years later, they were still somewhat apprehensive of the young quiet boy who would always sneak off while they were at lessons and never spoke of where he went. Curiosity finally got the better of the two and they followed him in secret to learn what he did when he was away from the home. They tracked him down to a quiet groove, hidden far from prying eyes. As they stepped into the clearing they were surprised to a beautiful assortment of plants and flowers, even several different creatures roaming forth peacefully despite their looks. Kai turned from stroking the chin of a wolf like creature when he noticed the intruders. He moved to them swiftly, so swiftly that the boy thought for a moment Kai would attack them. Stopping just in front them he holds a hand out to each of them. Quiet reigns until Kai says to them. “If you're going to be here you may as well help.” He drops several seeds into each of their hands before walking back to a mound of freshly dug up soil. “Its ok, I trust them.” He says as young wolves, who sprout from nowhere growl. “You trust those wolves?!” The boy asks nervously. “I was talking about you two.” Kai replies. The girl laughs at the absurdity of it all, and walks forth to Kai’s side to help. The seeds the three planted that day would quickly bud and grow into the strongest friendship.
Within a year the three were inseparable. Morning were for their lessons, but afterwards they would always join Kai at his garden to spend the rest of their day. The girl would find a great tutor in Kai. Though he couldn't use magic properly, he always seemed able to help develop her skill. He was great at puzzling out mysteries that she was troubled with. Kai was even a match for the young boy. The skills learned from Kai’s father were polished while sparring with Kai. Never before had Kai’s father seen someone so able to learn their own weaknesses and correct them, but then few people had a friend and rival as capable as Kai. The boy and girl knew Kai must spend his hours alone training and studying just to help them, and just before the dawn of his 12th birthday they gave him the only birthday gift that they had ever scene make him smile; a pair of study black gloves and an obsidian garden knife, tools to help him tend his garden.

Kai had become more observant of the world around him. He saw things he had never noticed before, due to these two people who had become important existences to him. He still spoke little, but he became more aware of those around him, of their words, and of their deeds. He became more aware of himself as well, and of the desire that had begun to build and give strength to his heart. That year during the Nightfall he took notice that he did not suffer the effects of the Nightfall fever as the others did. When taken to the island the payed attention to the healers who handed the vital potion to all the children. None seemed to give him the same vibe his mother or even other normal healers did. Something about them was oddly… sinister.
The potion worked as it always did, guiding all who partook of it into a long slumber. Kai did his best to fight its effects, remaining conscious longer than he had ever done, and found himself hearing a chilling conversation. “We’ll have to sacrifice even more of them this year, we cannot have the same fiasco as the last.” “The heartless will have their fill. I suppose 1/10 th of those gathered should suffice.” “Gather…. lots….”
When he awoke he felt to either side, grateful to find that both his friends were still at his side. Was that all some nightmare? He wondered as they were escorted back home? No, less boats left the island carrying kids then had arrived, he was sure. But no one seemed to notice the loss of anyone, not even as the children were returned home. Kai found he could,'t remember a face or name for any of the missing children, even of one he was sure once lived nearby. It was as if all memory of them had faded from existence.For along time after he thought on the things he was sure he heard, until finally he decided he needed to find out for himself.
Over the next four years the three had grown even more. Though their lessons made them spend more time apart the three were better friends than ever. They had even taken to wearing earrings with each others names engraved in them so that they’d be together even when they weren't. A 16 year old Kai, the resplendent [boy] of the same age who was the right hand of a certain captain, and the 14 year old [girl] who had become a prodigious healer in her own right traveled together to the remote island to pass the Nightfall. It would be the last time they journeyed together.

Kai sneakily disposed of the potion he was to consume at the begging of the nightfall. While the others slipped into a coma like slumber, he only feigned to sleep. The healer’s spoke without scruple over the lot of sleeping adolescents. “ Quite the shame, it looks like this bunch had their lot called.” “Yes a shame, for those two at least. They could have grown to be quite the sight, now…” “Perhaps fate has deemed quality for quantity this time, though I may be wrong considering this one.” Kai lay motionless as he was lifted and carried to a large chamber.
When he could hear the door to the room seal shut, Kai opened his eyes. Much to his chagrin
[Boy] and [Girl] were at his side… along with two dozen others. They were all meant to be sacrifices he knew, to these creatures called ‘heartless’ as he stood his eyes followed the glow of the many runes that led to a large door on the far side of the cavern. In these last few years he had made his way here, to this forbidden place more than once. ‘This is the ritual’ he thought. All that pass through that door are forgotten by those on the other side… ‘I will not let them be taken away.’

The flow of magic finally carried enough into the door and it swung open. Everyone laying on the ground shivered as the heat was sucked out the space. A darkness seemed to creep forward from the doorway, like the tentacles of a deep sea monster. The first shadow fastens around a boy closet to the door and pulls him through. Another follows in suit, until 4 have been lost beyond the threshold. Though he watched them be snatched away, Kai finds that he can no longer recall any of their faces. This had been beyond what Kai imagined, how was he to fight back against something like this? Two large tendrils of darkness reach to either side of Kai, reaching to the only two friends he had made in his lifetime. “ No! You cant have them!” He says loudly, while a pocket of his magic forms around him and his friends.
The tendrils bounce off harmlessly unable to get near the two it sought to bring into the darkness. Even more begin to shoot from the doorway in answer to the unforeseen challenge.Could this shield withstand a pounding from so many tendrils? Could he afford to find out? “You can have me, but you will not have them.” Kai steps forward, the bubble remaining to protect his friends. The tendrils wrap around him and drag him slowly to the doorway. Kai looks back to his friends, finally realizing the nature of his own magic. It exists to protect the things important to him. The black gloves he received as a gift were in his pocket, hopefully they would protect him as he went forth. The obsidian blade as well.His friends had given him these tools, wherever he was taken these mementos of them would help guide his hand.
At the ritual’s end, [Boy] and [Girl] would be found alive, along with a surprising number of other children. When they returned home they had a certain melancholy to them but neither they, nor [Mother] and [Father] could recall a memory of the boy who gave himself to the door to darkness so that they could live on.

Role Playing Sample:

He opened his eyes in a shock, inhaling deeply. Beads of cold sweat dotted his face, as he sucked in the life granting oxygen. His eyes had yet to adjust to the transition, all he saw around him was darkness. As he pushed onto his side and began to rise he heard a sharp whistle cutting through the air. The sound brought him to reason. “Barrier”, he called softly filling the air with his magical power. Sharp claws raked against an invisible shield. They had enough force to rend flesh from bone, yet they could not leave even a scratch on the magical shield. “I’ve yet to become that weak.” Kai spoke softly as he rose to his feet. The creature glared at him a few for several long minutes before the tension finally left its body and the fierce red glow faded. Kai didn’t hesitate to let down the barrier as the danger had passed...for the moment. He looked to the beast, observing it as it observed him, the usual pattern for whenever he returned to this realm of darkness.

It had been much the same when he had first been thrown into world as well. He remembered as he try to rise to his feet several small creatures had rushed to him. They had already devoured those who had come before him, and at a glance he knew they would devour those left behind should he fall. The shadows came at him so he put on his gloves and pulled out the knife, those precious gifts given to him by… he could not seem recall their names. He sought out their faces as he brandished his blade left and right, but even those were a blur. He did not give up though, and continued to fight as the creatures of the darkness gathered. He fought until he had lost track of time, until he was beyond tired. He fought until exhaustion felt as normal as breathing.
He stood alone, fighting countless shadows that threatened to call for more hearts, until the gate behind him finally closed of its own accord. It was only then that the shadows scattered, no longer enticed by the promise of hearts. Yet as they left, he could feel the presence of another. Red eyes shined in the depths of the darkness. The hunter clearly had been waiting for its prey to become show weakness before striking. The moment Kai saw the shadows retreat and the doorway seal and disappear he felt a pang of relief in his heart. A sharpness whistled forth and it was all Kai could do to call forth his Barrier, to halt the would be mauling. He creature backed away, surprised by the sudden appearance of the magical shield. It tried attacking thrice more to no avail. The hunter watched Kai for several more minutes before peeling back in the darkness from once it came. Kai had never seen a beast such as that, yet he could tell this would not be the last time he encountered it.
Three years had passed since then. He fought and fought until he thought he would collapse. And then he fought some more. There were days where he could not find food. Days where he thought he’d forget who he was. Yet there wasn't a single day where he did not clash against the heartless. The constant struggle changed him to what he was now. The stress has sucked all the color from his hair. The look of exhaustion had long since become his default expression. But he had evolved. Even the gloves and knife he had brought with him had changed with him, becoming the strength he needed to survive. It had taken some time but he finally remembered where it was he needed to go. He had lost all track of time at some point, but he felt that the day he sought would soon arrive.
Kai glanced over the the heartless creature that continued stalking around him, waiting for a moment of weakness. A portal would open soon enough, and though there was no way of knowing where it would take him he would not hesitate to step through. Perhaps it would try to attack him again once he found the doorway, Kai could never tell with this creature. It would be for the best for him to try and deal with it now, yet Kai found some time ago that he was unable to raise his weapon to harm it. Despite the constant attacks, it had been his enduring companion as he walked this realm of darkness. He’d be loath to rid himself of it on a whim. “ Come,” he spoke, Kai’s grey eyes meeting the beast’s yellow ones. “The doorway will open once again.” He began walk as he would, aimlessly through the realm of darkness, the great dark hunter following….

[Jade]

This is all looking good to me!