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♛ THE ARISEN:

NAME: Reverie Orlaith AGE: 23~26 (orphaned, it's difficult to know precisely and her aging is slightly different as a half-elf) RACE: Half-Elf PRONOUNS: She/Her PREFERRED VOCATION: Warfarer - Archer, Thief, Magick Archer, Mystic Spearhand - in that order (I'm cheating oops) FAVORED GIFTS: Moonblooms, books, knives, seashells, blank journals. FAMILY: Father (elf), Mother (human) - The Nameless Village

POSITIVE TRAITS: Caring, protective, determined. Very laid-back and gentle-natured, has a 'hopeful, romantic' perception and approach to most things, but not without a good, balancing pinch of realism. Can, at times, be surprisingly shrewd and calculating, as if out of old habit, though it's rarely cold in nature. NEGATIVE TRAITS: Stubborn, reckless, cares more for others than herself which isn't always a good thing. Occasionally prone to accidents (and resulting injury). Comes across as lazy on the surface at times (though it couldn't really be further from the truth, but first impressions and all), she is however very sleepy and lethargic and sometimes has very muted expressions that may give a wrong impression. Has a hidden vicious streak when provoked. LIKES: Rann, seeing rare sights, romantic stories, music (listening, singing, and playing the lute), griffins, autumn, when she catches Rann looking at her. Has a slight, odd, fascination with the sea. DISLIKES: Ogres, ogre drool, being covered in ogre drool and having no access to brineless water. Most of the weather/conditions in Battahl. Mistreatment of Pawns, giving orders to Pawns, being put on a pedestal, others being put in harms way for her sake.

♟︎ THE PAWN:

NAME: Avierann 'Rann' Trevelyan AGE: ??? (possibly in the hundreds or even thousands, but his memory does not accurately reflect this) RACE: Pawn - Elven PRONOUNS: He/They PREFERRED VOCATION: Mage/Sorcerer, Fighter, Archer (in that order) FAVORED GIFTS: Books, tea leaves, bath salts and soaps, magical items. INCLINATION: Kindhearted (+ a touch of Calm because that's how he started)

POSITIVE TRAITS: Steadfast and attentive, he's quick to spot trouble and just as quick to solve the problem. Very sharp memory (despite some questionable foggy spots concerning his past). As a chirurgeon he's also good at discerning illness and other ailments, able to swiftly administer aide be it through magical or herbal remedies. Polite and dutiful, he possesses a kind and caring heart, and even comes across as charming in his own way, and he often helps folks with all manner of problems around town when they're at home. (As a result of this, despite being a Pawn, he seems to have a small 'fan following' among some of Vernworth's populace.) There is also a degree of cleverness, and a studious mind inclined deeply towards learning. NEGATIVE TRAITS: Protectiveness at times borders on possessiveness. A little vain at times tbh, he likes to dress well and keep up with his appearance which really isn't the worst thing but he feels at times that it's unnecessary to his duty. Though he keeps it quiet and you'd be hard-pressed to spot it, he secretly harbors a mostly 'scientific' but definitely slightly sadistic interest in the ways offensive magic 'reacts' with living creatures (this is solely in regards to their enemies though, he wouldn't pursue it beyond that). That may also stem somewhat from that protectiveness... As the story progresses, he shows a subtle but increasingly playful habit of gently teasing Reverie (he seems to enjoy flustering her). LIKES: Reverie, tea, learning pretty much anything - so books and new experiences are highly valued, the hot springs, listening to the music at inns and taverns, stargazing. Even in a city he tends to find some place he can enjoy the stars for a while at night. DISLIKES: Ogres, schemes involving Reverie - or any who would take advantage of her, the Godsway, very heavy/bulky (see: unflattering) armor - also wearing anything over his hair, dishonorable Arisen, drakes. The Pathfinder. He also has complicated feelings towards the former Arisen of this world that border close to dislike, but is more akin to discomfort.

Long Q&A Answers below!

1. What was their life like before becoming Arisen?

In a cycle before this one, she was born to a traveling merchant who'd chanced to have a rather intimate affair with a handsome elf. Details about that cycle are scarce at this point, but as Arisen she got very close to the truth of the world before failing. In this cycle, she seemingly washed ashore from nowhere, not far from the Nameless Village. She was very young, though it was difficult to determine her actual age on account of her elven lineage. Though not formally adopted by any one person, she was more or less cared for by the entire village, and grew up like any other child there learning the craft of thievery. For the most part she lived on an assumption of contentment; she had people who cared for her, people she cared for. Life wasn't always easy, and their lives were far from virtuous, but she was happy for all intents and purposes. Or at least, she had no overt reason to be unhappy. And yet she had a sense of wonder that went beyond that life. In her work she saw the world through a mask of sorts, caught glimpses of what life was like for paupers and princes alike - always held at a careful distance, because getting too close to any of it was a risk. But oh did she want to touch and taste all of it, to experience the world without the mantle of subterfuge. There was also a deep sense of 'something missing', but she often chalked that up to her origins; she had no recollection prior to washing ashore of where she'd come from. There were, however, the tattooed marks and scars on her body that seemed to weave a tale in a language foreign. Even before Disa stole her memories, she'd had a sense much of her life that she was forgetting something important. Then she got a job to infiltrate the guard stationed at Melve - ostensibly to gather information on the goals of Disa and her scheming (though to what end, is unremembered). It was of course there she came face-to-face with the dragon, became Arisen, and would soon after have memories of all else washed away.

2. How do they handle being Arisen, and the responsibilities that come with it?

She takes it all in stride, trying to focus on one task at a time. Having no memories means the present and the goals set before her are, initially at least, 'all she has (to go on)'. At the start of things, she is almost Pawn-like in her lack of personal input, despite an underlying twinge of discomfort that she would only fully understand a little later on. As a fuller awareness and grasp of things begins to come into effect, she is almost grimly resolute. The lack of her beating heart in her chest, the charge she is given, all of it weighs heavy on her. Part of her holds onto a sliver of naive hope (she knows it's naive, though how she isn't sure, it's a twisted feeling in her gut) that it'll turn out like the storybooks and legends say: She'll defeat the Dragon, become Sovran, and all will be well. Either way, it's something only she can do, and do it she must.

3. What are their thoughts on Pawns in general?

At the beginning, they felt similar to her, seemingly devoid of purpose or goal. The quietness in her mind and soul felt a comfort initially - and then the more she interacted with humans she felt a slight schism, and became more aware of what she was actually missing. But her thoughts and feelings on Pawns themselves are born of great love. She loathes the idea of commanding them, and refrains as much as possible from doing so in a way that would demean them (the occasional sharp order in the heat of battle to save them notwithstanding). Even knowing that they cannot 'truly die', seeing them perish or in pain grieves her deeply, and it's something she scarcely seems capable of getting used to. She will absolutely put herself between them and harm, and despises seeing any ill treatment of them. Though perhaps 'hopelessly naive', she wishes to believe there could be so much more for them than the lots they've been given.

4. What's their relationship like with their main Pawn?

"Sacred simplicity". She didn't summon him with any real intention or desire - she barely had a clear idea of what she was doing, though it was somewhat instinctive. At best, she had a feeling akin to faith that fumbling in the darkness, a hand would take hers. Having little idea of pretty much anything that was going on, Rann was her lifeline. It wasn't like she was incapable of taking care of herself in those early days, but she was definitely pretty bad at it: realizing she was exhausted and overdoing it, forgetting to eat or bathe, etc. Fortunately she did pretty quickly catch onto the most basic of things, but she can still comfortably rely on him for many things she lacks in (like navigating Vernworth's labyrinthine streets). Though she's made connections with others, it's Rann that has been with her through everything, and there's no replacing that. She feels most at peace when he is near, and uncomfortable when they're apart for any reason or length of time. To say there's a degree of co-dependency wouldn't be entirely false, but they both gradually learn from that dependence and grow 'through' it. Early on she struggles with her own emotions at times and making sense of how they 'fit in her', in a sense, as someone with scant memories to reference them from. Though it's a little messy at first, she does gradually and clearly recognize her feelings for Rann, and to a small extent begrudges them. She mislikes the idea that he'd never truly refuse her, so she feels she can't be entirely honest about those feelings. He'll often enough say outrageously sweet things that fluster all hell out of her, and she begrudges him for that too at times. Yet all the same, she will at times tell him she loves him, with all the outward appearance of friendship and warmth because that is absolutely part of it, and because she thinks it's important to share that kind of sentiment with someone, and that he needs to hear it. It's one of the few ways she can repay him for all he does for her, though she would surely do anything for him.

5. Do they have any interest in being Sovran? What are their opinions on the politics of the world in general?

In a word, 'no'. She's somewhat resigned to it? In a matter-of-fact sort of way; she sees how corrupt things are at the moment so she has a pretty """easy""" path to (trying/starting to) correct that. She wants so very dearly to improve things for Pawns everywhere, though, and if being Sovran meant she might be in a better position to do that, then she finds it more appealing, even if still not something she'd prefer. In her eyes though she'd rather 'warm the seat' for Sven, more or less.

6. Who are their love interest(s) and/or closest friends?

She has a good working relationship with Klaus, and as she was gradually getting a handle on 'being a person' again early on, there may have been some playful flirting going-on there, that she later had to regretfully clear up when she realized she'd unintentionally misled him - though they remain on good terms. Sven is probably her closest friend apart from Rann, though. She helped him without much thought (and again, purely intuitively), but as they met and spoke more, with her gradually coming out of her fog, she found talking to him 'grounding' in a sense. Perhaps surprisingly, looking at his position and 'limitations' made clearer to her the freedoms and power available to her. She sees how genuinely he wants to help and make things better, and that encourages her to do more where she is able. She has a fast friendship with Glyndwr and Doireann, feeling almost a sense of 'a home and family she never had'. There's this slightly warm, slightly bittersweet longing and comfort around the Sacred Arbor, feeling at once like she might have found a place of belonging there, and also that she never truly will. Things are a little complicated with Srail... They clearly have history together, but he's evasive about it despite obviously having some care for her. As far as the thieves of the Nameless Village are concerned, her becoming Arisen was a dangerous complication - and her loss of memory more or less fixed that. So while they do still care for and support her from the shadows, they're reluctant to go sharing all her history and secrets with her. Likewise, while she feels a sense of 'home' and comfort around them, especially Srail, she also feels genuinely abandoned, that they just 'cut her loose' and left her in a terrible situation to fend for herself. Nonetheless, what little she has managed to glean of her past through them does give her comfort and some better understanding of herself. (For his part, Srail believes that she's free now, to live a life better suited for her.) Last but furthest from least of course is Rann. I got into it above needless to say she desires for nothing so long as he is with her. Even her lack and loss of memories becomes less of a discomfort and distress and simply a void easily enough filled with him. Though she has many she cares for, and indeed fights for, at the end of the day she's as much compelled forward by him and he is her.

7. What drew them to their preferred vocation? Do they have history with it?

Reverie is lethal with a bow, of that there can be no mistake. This may, perhaps, come from an extensive history with the weapon: in a prior cycle, she was raised on the road, and hunting was a helpful craft to have - on top of this, she and her mother would at times visit her father, and he would teach her the elven approach to archery as well. But what is known to have had a clear effect is that in this cycle, her skill with a bow was nearly peerless among those in the Nameless Village. Whenever they had need of a sharpshooter, she was tasked with the mission at hand. Just what some of those jobs might have entailed is perhaps better left forgotten. Free of such memories and responsibilities, it's something that 'feels right', something she excels at and can put to use in tangible ways protecting her allies and foraging for food. (Naturally, she is similarly good with dual blades, and it does feel comfortable to her, but she is prone to getting a bit too reckless in the thick of things much to Rann's dismay.)

8. Do they have any hobbies? Any way of relaxing between all that monster-slaying and traveling?

When they first started traveling Rann encouraged her to journal as a means of keeping her thoughts and goals straight. It was a bothersome chore at first, but it's since become a comforting past-time, something she does every night before bed: Taking note of the things they did, saw, battled, the people they met and spoke to, the special little memories or things said and shared with her traveling companions. (She also loves reading, but in particular romantic books she'd be Very embarrassed to be caught with her nose pressed into.) Similar to how naturally she picked up the bow and daggers, she also found herself drawn to the lute - though with significant less prowess. She understood the basics, though, and Klaus and Rann both helped her hone those skills further. She doesn't like the idea of carrying her lute with her on her travels, sadly, afraid that it would get destroyed, but it's one of her favorite things to do when they're home. Less of a hobby but she also just quite enjoys napping. A peaceful sun-warmed nap beneath a tree in the middle of the day, or curled up in bed or under a tent while the rain patters gently, or dozing off with her head on Rann's shoulder on an oxcart - what could be more relaxing and rejuvenating?

1. What was their life like prior to being summoned by their Arisen?

The murky depths of the Rift stretch out like a dream, touching the edges of the recognizable world. There, they clarify into form, but nothing beyond what he needs here, and now. Before his cognitive self took shape, his 'heart' came from the Pawn of another world. Within the rift he waited, until Reverie called upon him - but that was in a Cycle before this one. With her they journeyed, fought, and nearly reached the truth of the world - but instead stumbled upon Bitterblack Isle. What exactly happened there is likely forever lost, but for the sake of an answer, they traveled with another Arisen, Vincent, and something happened to Reverie... What resulted was Vincent and Rann emerging from Bitterblack Isle and taking up the fight into a new Cycle. Together they traveled, coming closer still to the truth of the world - But this too would be lost, 'unnecessary' for a Pawn to remember in the advent of the next Cycle. What he remembers is fighting a terrible foe alongside an Arisen he did care for deeply, perishing, and then... the stretching darkness of the Rift. He has recollections of traveling with soldiers, mercenaries, adventurers, even other Arisen - of traveling the world looking, waiting, preparing for her. But the only thing that matters now is this present reality.

2. What is their opinion on the Arisen? How do they view their relationship?

To use a classic, she is the sun and he is the moon. "He shines with the light she gives him", or so he feels. He feels he has sought her out his entire life, and now that he has found her it has truly begun. Yet, unlike the understood order that Pawns exist to aid the Arisen in their fight against the dragon, he finds he is most fulfilled in the more mundane tasks: Shopping for supplies, tidying their abode, cooking meals, making sure she doesn't get lost around the city. When he sees her playing with the orphans in the slums or making deliveries for her friends, there is a sense of: 'This is what our lives should be like,' without looming threats and grand responsibilities hanging over their heads. To be clear, most of it starts and stems from her. 'She' should have peace, and simple pleasures, and the freedom to do all that she wants - and then gradually he does include himself into that ideal painting as well. As she often tells him how she cares for him, and how happy she is to have him by her side, he cannot deny her - or himself. He loves her so much it consumes him. The gentle, calm grace of her, the whirlwind of violence she can embody, the kindness she offers - he loves all of it. She is so fiercely independent to the world and yet she relies and leans on him like no other, and that is an honor he will spend his life happily living up to. But there is absolutely a hurdle there that he is actively tripping over almost all of the time. He is often in a sort of conflict between his own initial lack of will, his inevitable growth of feelings, his belief in his duty and their greater destiny, and more importantly his belief in her. Ultimately he comes to hope that they can achieve their goals, thereby freeing themselves from their duties.

3. Is there anything about the Arisen they find troublesome? Be it a small quirk or bad habit? (Or are they obviously flawless?)

Her recklessness, certainly, or the fact that she worries more for the Pawns' safety and well-being than her own. He's tried to remind her many, many times that they will be fine even if they are 'killed', but that the same cannot be said for her. Though, by this point, he's all but given up, instead dedicating that energy to accommodating what he cannot change. It also troubles him when she goes off on her own, though he understands it to be necessary at times.

4. What is their specialization and is there any story behind how they cultivated that skill set?

Rann is a chirurgeon, though how he came to such a calling is a bit vague. If asked, he would answer that it was of course for the Arisen -for Reverie- as she tends to get a bit reckless from time-to-time, and that on account of his spellwork sometimes falling short in their early days, it was only natural to fall back on curatives. Once upon a time, in another cycle, this was true. And yet, in the cycle that followed, his pursuit of all magic, all research into the potential of curative potions, became a desperate, frenzied madness. Such memories have been lost to the ages he slept in the rift, however. As things are now, it's something that simply comes naturally to him, and serves the same purpose as ever. He takes a measure of genuine satisfaction in researching the various uses of herbal remedies, and how they can be combined to different effects.

5. Do they have any thoughts on the politics of the world and their place in it as a Pawn - or how Pawns are treated?

"It is what it is," mostly. There is no higher honor than serving the Arisen, and at last he has found his Arisen. (In some strange, twisted way, it's almost as if the roles of 'Arisen' and 'Pawn' are merely hyper-convenient excuses, because he feels with unrelenting certainty that even were he an ordinary man he would swear himself to her always.) He does believe that the Arisen is deserving of the position of Sovran given all that they do, but beyond that he doesn't have a personal interest in politics - yet he will absolutely study up on any necessities to better assist Reverie. That said, he is keenly aware of how Pawns are treated from one place to the next, and is rather uncomfortable when travels take them to Battahl. The more he begins to grow into his own feelings and will, the more he wishes this for all Pawns, and genuinely echoes Reverie's wishes to see them treated equally as men.

6. Does their journey with the Arisen change them in any significant way and how?

Ahah, yeah. So first of all, to pull back the curtain a little, he had already undergone a degree of 'Bestowal of Spirit' in previous cycles, so in some ways he had a 'head start' on that. (To pull the curtain much further, "Rann, Yume, and Vincent" are characters from my OG verse who are inextricably bound, so while Vincent's role in DD is 'minor', his impact is very significant.) This is their 'happy ending, everything works out after lifetimes and lifetimes of trying to get it right and failing terribly'. At last he has culminated a will of his own, albeit from pieces of his two masters. So this slightly delves into my "ideal dream post-game scenario", but no overt spoilers: 'To be loved is to be changed', and he basks in the warmth and light of her love. All the array of emotions he's felt, the desire -not just the Pawns urge but his- to protect her and give her a future. It went beyond mere duty and became his hope and dream - and furthermore to share that future with her. He becomes more confident and independent, assured in his sole significance to Reverie; if she is the sun, it's natural the only one fit to stand beside her is the moon, surely. He even occasionally teases her (lightheartedly) to get a reaction out of her. Early on, he understood that there was a barrier between them: she had feelings for him, but felt that she couldn't 'trust' his feelings for her - and he had no idea how to properly convey those feelings in a way that would be satisfactory to her. Teasing and occasionally 'defying' her is usually how he does that. (Things like, picking her up and carrying her around despite her flustered protests.) (On the flipside of all the sweetness, he also got more sadistic [albeit subtly, gracefully even] about destroying their enemies. He wants anyone who would dare to hurt her obliterated and takes a smug satisfaction in doing so.)

7. Is there a reason they chose their preferred vocation?

(OG Rann is a magitech specialist and court mage, so in my heart-of-hearts, peeling back the matryoshka doll of reincarnation stories, OG Rann exists even before DD1 Rann and that all rolls down into DD2 Avierann, so-!) "It simply felt natural to him", though that's not entirely true. He was always drawn towards magic and the wonder of it - the myriad possibilities for healing, protection, destruction. It makes an obvious go-to for service to the Arisen. (But because this worlds magic is different, and his underlying soul was reaching towards the familiar-) He had a hard time actually getting a grasp on magic initially. Yet it's precisely because he had to go through and really work hard at even the most basic levels that he's become a master capable of creating new, ground-breaking spells that most humans would balk at a Pawn being capable of (I like to imagine he originally perfected some of the maister skills himself). It's also what makes him such a good teacher!

8. Do they have any hobbies or preferred past-times?

He enjoys making his own blends of teas, and perfecting drinks that soothe any number of ailments from colds to sleeplessness. He also genuinely enjoys magic and medical/medicinal research, and finding new ways of applying old techniques to new fields. Learning, in general, is probably the broadest yet most comprehensive answer. He eats everything up, and has a nigh-"photographic" memory. Be it reading books, exploring ruins, or listening to storytellers or bards, he loves piecing together history and shared knowledge. Branching from that, he has an appreciation for stargazing and charting the stars. (Reverie loves to listen to stories about the constellations, and in truth it was actually Vincent who shared most of those stories with Rann once upon a time.) Finally, music. It's a strange one, for sure. He feels drawn to it like magic, but as if there's a wall within his very soul that keeps him from truly connecting with it. It's only gradually, as Reverie asks him to teach, play, and sing with her, that he begins to feel his joy for it be nourished.