character development Devaan's Training ground

[BitBitio he/him]

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YAY I'M NOT DEAD

 

[Silva]

Mejin shook her head.

”Wasn’t she just trying to kill him?” She asked. “And now you trust her not to murder him?” Mejin glanced at the stone Devaan had held. “Oh...” she muttered, recognizing it for what it was, the truth of the conversation sinking in. 

She held the dagger in her hand out to Devaan. She didn’t see any reason for it now.

[Nohadon he/him]

“Keep it” Devaan told Mejin as the two began to spar. The shin woman was good. She was showing Ethil some very potent techniques that Devaan hadn’t gotten around to teaching

”You might not ever use it. But power is perceived, not gained, if you look powerful, you can be powerful. I can train you in that, at least”

Devaan watched as the sparring session wrapped up after 3 hours.

“Ida, your truth is your own. This stone is your own, be free on the condition that you aren’t to hurt me or any under my protection. Do as you will.”

Devaan tossed the stone to Ida

”Mejin, you ready to start training?”

[BringerofShadows she/her]

Ida caught the stone, and walked off into the distance. 

[Nohadon he/him]

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I'm going to introduce my secondary character, It has already been approved by @Archer, and won't take a major role in the story just yet.

Here's the character sheet for more background details:

Spoiler

Name: Silphio Shamus

Age: 20 Rosharan years (21 Earth years)

Nationality: Father was a Siah Aimian, mother was Herdazian, the family life was interesting to say the least

Appearance: Male, tall, well-built, has tanned skin with one eye blue and one eye a faint red.

Facial features: short-cut, brown hair that is never styled, sharp, angular nose and mouth.

Personality: Usually cheerful, but honest with himself and introspective, very charismatic, which helps make up for his strange background.

Weakness: Silph is terrified of suffocating and low air, meaning that if he flies too far up, he might seize up and fall to the ground, he discovered this when traveling to Nalthis, which has a lot lower oxygen levels than Roshar, which took a while to get used to.

Investiture:

4 Hemalurgic spikes giving:

- The blessing of presence.

- Allomatic Bronze, allowing Silphio to hear the Rhythms of Roshar.

- A spren bond to a luckspren.

- Another spren bond to an unknown spren.

Allomatic bronze has been used so much by Silphio that he has turned into a very strange type of bronze savant, giving him innate abilities to hear the Rhythms of Roshar without having to burn bronze, but will usually be burning bronze regardless.

The spren bond to the luckspren was originally bonded to a skyeel, giving Silphio the ability to fly.

The other spren is unknown what kind it is, but was originally bonded to a whitespine, and combined with the Aimian heritage, Silphio can form white, bladed bone spikes around his body, they can be used as either armour (like parshendi carapace) or weaponry. (something like wolverine's bone claws, but not just on the fist), because of this, whitespines are friendly to him and he even has one as a pet, he calls it fluffy.

The luckspren communicates to Silphio rarely, he named it Seph.

Background:

Silphio was born in Herdaz, where he was immediately kidnapped by the doctor delivering him, who was a member of a rogue group of worldhopping hemalurgists, taken to an empty mountain just outside the shinovar lands and was experimented on for the first four years of his life, then returned when the hemalurgists deemed the experiments unsucessful, as no attributes or changes were showing. His father had managed to track down the hemalurgists and attacked them, killing three before the rest escaped, his father, recognising the Aimian blood inside Silphio recognised him as his son, and took him home. His childhood was completley fine, but on his tenth year he discovered his powers of flight and learnt to hear the rhythms, with allomatic bronze, on age 11 he discovered his bond to an unknown spren and met a whitespine who was strangely friendly to him, he named it fluffy and took it home, much to Silphio's mother's dismay, who shouted at him for a long time after that one. His father sent him to live with the parshendi to understand the rhythms, he came back a bronze savant with full understanding of his flight and the Rhythms. He discovered worldhopping at the age of 17, after he literally fell into cultivation's perpendicularity while on an expedition to the horneater peaks, and stumbled his way around the cognitive realm until he landed on nalthis, meeting one of the five scholars, Arsteel,  who trained him in the sword and languages of the cosmere, understanding how to get from planet to planet easily.

 

Silph hiked up the mountains, but carrying fluffy was irritating when he moved too much, and he didn't trust himself in the thin mountain air, his breathing was already accelerating. Storming phobias.

=====================================================================================================================================

Devaan heard feet shuffling, and rushed Rashan to a corner, tapping Zinc.

"We don't have much time before I have to train my pupils, so I need to ask you this question" Devaan tells Rashan in a hushed tone.

"What is it?"

"I took a look in your eyes, and saw something there, something I only saw once before, in a woman who was called the mother, she names herself cultivation. I spoke with her and her eyes had a certain quality that showed... something."

"ok."

"When you look at me, what do you see?"

"you."

"elaborate"

"all of you, your cognitive, spiritual and physical aspects"

"You see... all of me?"

"yes"

Devaan realised the weight of this. One man had the power to see everything

"And earlier, I know you are 2nd oath truthwatcher, yet you summoned a short shardblade."

"I can do that now"

"Of course you can"

A figure emerged over the mountain ridge, a teenager, no older than seventeen was standing on the entrance to the training ground, a small, arrow-like fish flitted around him, and to the side of him was a small whitespine, the size of a small axehound. It ran around happilly, trailing after the teenager.

"I want to train in the art of combat! sir!" The kid called out

"We'll finish this discussion later" Devaan said to Rashan

"Good for you kid! now, come over here and lets see what you can do!"

=====================================================================================================================================

Silph grinned, and floated above the ground. No lashings. No stormlight. True flight.

he hovered over to Devaan

"I can do some pretty strange things" He said, grinning "sir"

"Like?" He said, unfazed by the fact that a man was literally flying in front of him

Silph closed his eyes and concentrated for a second, attuning the Rhythm of focus.

White bones began to jut out from Silph's skin, plating and sharpening as they grew.

"I can do this"

"Ok, but how does that apply to combat?"

"I can make armour out of it, like singer carapace, and I can use it to cut people, as they are incredibly sharp."

"Well. lets get to training, rule number one, never let your guard down"

"What do you me-"

Silph was cut off as he took a duelling cane to the face

"Oh" He said, dazed, on the ground

"First, I want to teach you techniques for each weapon. go and pick any three"

Silph immediately walked over to the rack of weapons and chose his three. A pair of hatchets, A shortsword and a Kama.

For the next week, Devaan would teach him various techniques in attacking, counterattacking, blocking, dodging, basic stances, counterstances and ways around each weapon.

During which time Devaan randomly attacked Silph, discovering his weaknesses within the first day of training, he helped Silph try overcome his fear by telling him to store his breath in a metalmind for as long as possible, it helped a little, but Silph would still black out frequently due to lack of oxygen. 

=====================================================================================================================================

Devaan sent out a letter on the first night training the young Aimian.

It was adressed to his friend, akrasia, at a specific dead drop

From, Devaan Sheonar

To, Akrasia

Adress: @The Forgetful Archivist

Hello old friend, I have found someone of possible interest to you, his name is Silph, and appears to be part whitespine and skyeel. He can naturally fly, and is half Aimian, I would like you to come over and help me train the kid, he's got some problems, but they can be overcome. Give a friend a hand here.

 

[Silva]

Mejin had agreed. 

Isn’t it ironic, She thought, that in order to avoid combat I need to look like I know it.

Weapons still weren’t something she loved carrying, but Mejin had reluctantly agreed to carry one in a sheath.

Progress counts. She supposed.

[Nohadon he/him]

"First, Mej, you need to know how to walk, be more confident, powerful, and imposing in your own way. Stand tall, a strong gait helps just as much as a strong body. Be confident and ready, but relaxed at the same time, as if comfortable in all situations" Devaan told her

"adapt to your environment. understand where you are and change your demeanour to suit your needs, first we will go over how to avoid confrontations, and then we will go over what to do when you are in one"

[Silva]

“Can’t really say that I’m intimidating,” Mejin said, feeling rather short at 5’4” standing next to Devaan. She remembered the days when she would constantly be scolded for not slouching and seeming too conspicuous. Internally Mejin chuckled and fixed her posture to that of a woman of much higher rank.

”Since when is someone else allowed to call you Mej?” Lei protested.

She gave him a disparaging look, hoping no one noticed. Having an imaginary friend for eleven years isn’t something you want everyone to know about. But she hadn’t seen Lei in a while and was curious about what tales she’d make him come up with this time.

”Right, right,” he said. “Go have fun with your ‘real’ friends and ignore me.” Lei pouted.

Yep. Completely normal. Mejin thought.

Edited July 24, 2018 by Silva

[CadCom he/him]

As the woman Ida walked off into the distance, Ethil chased after her to thank her for that exceptional training. 

Ethil had been at the training grounds for about two weeks now, and he felt sufficient in self defense with dueling canes. As long as he kept practicing, that could be a great advantage in hand to hand combat. As he sat meditating how quickly he had learned under Devaan's supervision, he thought about his past.

"Remember Ethil," He heard his mentor, Jinrit, say. "We are merely informants. You must be more careful. It is not your job to risk your life to seek information. You merely trade valuable information." Ethil had forgotten that. He decided to spy on some dangerous people, and was almost caught. He had put himself in a dangerous situation. Jinrit continued "I have taught you everything that I know. The first of those rules is survival. I know that you enjoy my company, but I believe it is time to go our separate ways. It is in my best interest if I distance myself from you. Though I do hope that this danger passes and we are able to cross paths again in the future. I must leave you now." With that, Jinrit turned, and disappeared around the corner. 

A couple month's later, the man, Thagher, the leader of the Town Mob had nearly caught up to Ethil. It didn't help that Ethil continued trying to spy. One more day, and Ethil would be caught and killed. It was time to skip town. So he left. He left everything behind, and ended up in AlleyVillage. Hopefully here, he would be able to start fresh. 

It was with this in mind, that Ethil decided to enroll in Devaan's Training ground. Ethil had no investiture he could use for a direct attack, so he had to learn how to use what he had if he wanted to survive. 

After his meditation session, he went to seek out Devaan.  Devaan was speaking to others, so Ethil waited silently out of sight, As soon as it looked like he was about to wrap up, Ethil began approaching. He caught Devaan between conversations, and stated "I want to learn to become a better spy. In addition to using Dueling canes, I would like to learn the dagger and the sword, as well"

[BitBitio he/him]

Rohan sheathed his swords and sprinted down the stairs. He vaulted through an open window and dashed down the street. He shot down an Alleyway, kicking off the walls to hit the roof. At the top, he pole-vaulted from building to building, using his swords to make the sharp turns. At last, he slid down the side of the building, and settled on the ground. He flipped a coin. He tapped it. Suddenly, Breath entered his body. About 7. He grinned. His plan was underway.

[BringerofShadows she/her]

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*Immediately starts to panic because Bit has a plan*

Silphio went to the Misted Mountains? Ida has been there before... *wink wink*

 

Edited July 23, 2018 by BringerofShadows

[Silva]

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I’m going away for a month, so Mejin will just exist but not do anything substantial. I leave tomorrow morning.

 

Edited July 24, 2018 by Silva

[Nohadon he/him]

Just before Devaan was about to train Ethil in the dagger. Drako sent the message

"Oh by the lord ruler!" Devaan shouted as the end of the message played

"Lord ruler?" Ethil asked

"Don't bother, I'll tell you later" Devaan muttered

"Silph!" Devaan said

"Yes?" The Herdazian popped up

"I'm going out, train with Ethil over here with the duelling cane and see if you two can learn how to use daggers without me for a bit"

"And where do you think YOU'RE going?" Mejin said, standing straight, holding a shortsword comfortably, she looked dangerous. Her training was coming along well

"I need to go fight in a battle that I suggest you all stay out of. If I don't come back after four weeks, go to the bunker under the house and open the vault. You each have a key fragment buried in your weapons."

Ethil jumped as a key popped out from one of his duelling cane's hilts. The same went for Mejin for her shortsword. Silph pulled one out from his pocket.

"In the vault contains artefacts that I intend to give you when you finish training, but if I die they are yours."

"Rashan!" He called to his friend

"You might not remember it but you had an oath to the ghostbloods. You swore it, look at me and know I'm telling the truth. You're coming with me!"

His friend walked out of the house, joining him

"farewell, students," Devaan told the three, taking out a tia card and teleporting away

Edited July 26, 2018 by Nohadon

[I think I am here. he/him]

Ghostbloods. The word rang in Caer’s head, even long after the stranger Devaan had said it. Personally, Caer thought it was a stupid name. Ghosts didn’t have blood, therefore, calling yourself the Ghostbloods was stupid.

He watched as the stranger Devaan pulled out a card, transporting him  and Caer somewhere else. Caer prepared his guard. He had to stop relying on his cognitive sight. Emotions could be faked, and besides, Caer wasn’t an expert in using it yet.

While he walked alongside the stranger Devaan to the Ghostbloods, he reminded himself of that. Just because someone said they were your friend doesn’t mean they were. Just because someone said you swore an oath doesn’t mean you did.

Who knew, maybe Caer had been the stranger’s friend, and he had sworn an oath, but there was no way of truly knowing, even with his odd cognitive sight. He couldn’t read minds, only see emotions.

So if it really came down to a life or death scenario, if the stranger Devaan turned on him or he sensed the Ghostbloods tricking him, he would have no qualms in killing them all.

none at all

[Nohadon he/him]

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So, Devaan and Rashan (Itiah) are now in the divided we fall thread. I'll post over here as my secondary character, Silph, still.

"So. are we going to wait four weeks to see what's in that vault of his?" Silph asked Mejin and Ethil

[CadCom he/him]

"That's what he told us to do. But, I by trade, tend to get into things that I shouldn't be involved in." Ethil said defiantly. "I do want to spar a bit with daggers, as I've never formally done that, but after that, anyone want to go see what's in that bunker? Or maybe track down Devaan?

[Nohadon he/him]

"Sounds good! Lets do some sparring first"

Silphio hovered over to the weapons rack and took out four daggers, picking up a serrated one with a hooked edge.

"Which one do you want?"

[CadCom he/him]

After looking over the daggers, Ethil chose a sleek styled one, rather long for a dagger, It had a fine wooden handle, and had a wavy edge. "Let's do this" 

Ethil and Silphio faced off in the center of the courtyard. "Now remember, we are just sparring, let's keep physical damage to a minimum, please."

Before Silphio had a chance to respond, he lunged toward Silphio, wielding the dagger as if it were a small dueling cane.

[Nohadon he/him]

Ethil lunged at Silph, catching him while he was off-gaurd. Luckily, Silph didn't have to worry about things like momentum or acceleration, he roughly launched himself backwards into the air, hovering before he hit the ground then coming back to his feet. Unscathed

"That was rude!" Silph said to Ethil, launching himself at his opponent, aiming high in a dive that didn't ever go dip, his knife held horizontally in front, ready slash. Flight had it's perks.

[CadCom he/him]

This is going to be a new experience. Ethil thought, as he saw Silph flying directly at him. Especially since he'd never really fought with daggers. 

"I had to have some chance to get a solid hit! I mean you fly for Harmony's sake!" If Ethil had his dueling canes, he would be able to block this attack easily, but this dagger only extended his reach by about 14 inches, and it was one of the longest daggers he'd ever seen. The dueling cane gave him nearly 3 feet of additional reach.

As Silph closed the Gap, Ethil prepared himself. He stepped into a rudamentary form of flamestance, of which he had learned an adaptation of for dueling canes, and tried to parry the attack. He almost missed, but mostly deflected Silph. Silph's dagger sliced through Ethil's sleeve, and knicked the back of his arm. drawing a small drop of blood, and a slight sting.

"Alright, Now that we've both had an unfair attack, what do you say we keep this within 6 feet of the ground? That gives you some leniency to learn the dagger while using your powers, and also allows us to actually spar, instead of delving into a game of investiture, which you would probably win" Ethil said with a chuckle. 

Edited July 27, 2018 by Cadmium Compounder

[Nohadon he/him]

"Sounds fair enough. You alright? I think nicked you on the arm" Silph asked, he didn't want to hurt his sparring partner too badly as they practiced, Silph had to be more careful, he had a lesser reach but the hooked and of Silph's blade could catch his enemies out.

Silph tried an obvious thrust just to the right of Ethil, baiting him to dodge or block it

[BringerofShadows she/her]

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Hey, could I “make up” something to add more depth to my character? It doesn’t affect any others characters, (Unless you put it on)  and is kinda sorta a weakness. (It doesn’t related to any of her other weaknesses)  It would also explain Ida-daughter-daughter-Rena eye color and personality...

There was a loud crash at the front door. It sounded like someone dropped a bag of marbles on the front deck. 

[CadCom he/him]

Ethil saw that Silph was intentionally baiting him, so he took the bait. He stepped to the other side. But while doing so, he also readied his dagger for a second defensive, then a counter-offensive attack. "I'm fine. It's hardly a paper cut. No need to worry about me. 

However, when they heard the sound at the door, they both hesitated. Neither partner finishing their maneuver. It didn't sound like a knock, so they decided it better to discreetly discover what was placed at the door. 

 

[Nohadon he/him]

Silph saw Ethil step right perfect he thought, flipping the dagger and bringing the hooked point through, catching Ethil in the back. But just before he did, he heard a sound from the house.

Silph froze, his blade inches away from Ethil's back

He looked up at Ethil

"Let's check that out" He whispered, standing up and clutching his dagger just in case.

He walked through the front door, hovering inches off the ground so as not to make a sound when he moved, and saw a shin woman on the deck, Ethil seemed to recognise her, and put his dueling canes down he retrieved earlier down.

"If you're looking for Devaan, he's not here right now" Silph called out to her

[Cyanic he/him]

A man in a brown, shoddy cloak and worn pants stepped onto the training grounds. His skin contrasted with his clothes, being a dull grey as if the color was sucked out of it. A Lifeless. Or specifically, his name was Deras, as he had taken to calling himself.

He looked around and saw a structure, but no one around. He didn't know what this place was or at all what was happening so he just stood and waited.

Edited July 31, 2018 by Cyanic