Name: Tacrith Stage: Scholar Race: Yaeli Gender: Male
Age: 26+ Height: 4'6" Status: Single -plotted-
3 Base Traits: Studious, Reserved, Passionate
Personality: Tac is most comfortable when hidden within the pages of a book. He's always hungry to learn more about the world around him. For him, reading is a small way to keep connected to his father. It's also a way to avoid the scrutiny of others around him, still self-conscious about his rumored curse thanks to being teased as a youngling as well as the loss of his family. When not behind a handful of pages, he is very observant and sharp, picking up on little clues to give him a bigger picture that others might miss.
Tac hardly ever raises his voice, even when angered. He's not completely expressionless, but he does tend to keep his emotions on the inside. Not reacting to what's around him is better than overreacting, he was told once by his grandfather. Expressing himself isn't his forte, preferring the silent buffer between himself and others. In part, it was a self-preservation act to counter his brother's overwhelming energy... However, this also borders on the line of isolated. He fears putting himself out there to risk relationships that might result in loss. He prefers to keep others at a safe distance from his 'curse' rather than expand on relationships with others, and that suits him fine.
With age has come understanding, and understanding has redirected a once anxious youth into a passionate young man. He has thrown his whole life into his work. Being a doctor is not just a job to him, and he faces every medical challenge as directly as he can. That being said, it takes quite a while for that passion to light his drive for anything outside of the medical field.
Cornetified
Precious Loiterer
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Cornetified
Precious Loiterer
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 10:26 am
Starting History:
Long before the alkidike extremists ever made their way to Sauti, a little family lived peacefully in Yael. They were nestled in the settlement of Pajore, safely tucked away in the country's capitol. Their story is one of great love, as well as great tragedy...
It all began with a young mage who frequently traveled for training and more knowledge in his art. Eager in his studies, Parheath had wandered in a nomadic fashion, going from village to village with his books and notes. After hearing tale of an accomplished teacher in Ilidan, Parheath journeyed to seek him out. Such a man was found, but declared no time or patience wannabe pupils. However, the scholars’s daughter, Miv, was smitten instantly. Parheath was a rugged man with a quick wit to boot. She was of the softer sort, and playful; a perfect match.
The young mage had found something much more precious in Ilidan than knowledge. His love for Miv had been strong, and he was overcome with joy when she announced she was expecting. Magic was set aside in favor of a merchants job; something simple and quick to see coin. It didn't bring much fortune to the couple, but the stability earned them a place to live.
The birth of Tacrith came with great joy and great sorrow. Miv passed mere moments after bringing her son into the world, but not before her child gazed upon his mother. It was a simple act; one of an innocent babe seeking out it's mother, and yet, it was enough to give Miv peace. Unable to muster enough energy to be scared of her coming end, Miv passed easily into death with her arms wrapped tight about her infant son. Heartbroken, Parheath took his son back to the settlement of his birth, and thus his adventuring days came to an end.
Our story continues with the growing of young Tac. He was raised with the assistance of Parheath's parents, and grew into a quiet sort of boy. Reserved, with an eagerness to learn that matched his father's. Tacrith spent his days amidst the tomes of old, avoiding the very same children that sought to mock him simply for being himself. There were a lot of concerned rumors circulating about Tacrith's origins, the most prevalent being that he was cursed and that was the reason his mother had passed during his birth. It certainly didn't help that the boy would rather have spent his time studying than socializing, thus giving more fuel to the rumor mill. It seemed to be a never ending cycle, one that Tacrith had long since accepted. At the time, his studies and family were enough for the boy. Little did he know that life would take an interesting turn.
Shortly after his third name day, Parheath took his son to meet what would soon be his new 'mother'. She was a very warm, very plump Limbara tamer by the name of Yuura. The younger woman had come to love Pajore so much that she moved from Jodove just to live there. She had little in the way of family, and with no strong attachments to those who remained, the move came easily enough to her. For years there was little to occupy her beyond her scaly friends; the young were as good as her own children, and their parents were trusted confidants. Lovers came and went with the seasons. That is, until she met him.
There was a time in which Parheath had been the pursuer, but this time it was not so. Yuura had set her sights on the man from the moment they first spoke. She was the bold sort; the kind of creature who got what she wanted in the end. And indeed, Yuura was very pleased when Parheath finally came around. Not only was she gaining a husband, but a son as well! Young Tac, who was apprehensive at first, soon came to understand that Yuura didn't care about his 'curse'. As far as she was concerned Tac was a blessing, and a wonderfully charming young man. She accepted him as he was; as a true mother should.
It wasn't long after the union of Parheath and Yuura that unto this budding family was born a second son. The babe was to be named Finnufarinel, after the great Limbara tamer of old who is said to have been born from the soil itself. He whose legends had resonated so deeply within Yuura that it shaped her very way of life.
In what seemed like mere moments the babe grew and grew some more. Young Tac found himself smiling whenever he saw his brother. He could see his father's back strengthen, and his own followed. He still felt the sting of his 'curse,' but it was easier to forget with so many people to say "I love you" to each night. For a time all was well.
But alas, as the saying goes, "all good things must come to an end".
When the 'strangers' landed on Yael, Parheath and Yuura were exploring the Western reaches of the island. While the family home remained in Pajore, the family had decided to explore the land as Parheath had done in his youth. It seemed a good way to expose their sons to nature, and to show them basic survival techniques. At the time they were unaware of the dangers they were moving closer and closer towards.
It was only when the family moved closer to the coast that they discovered the horrible, ugly truth; they were not alone. A scouting group of alkidike happened upon their camp in the dawn's light, and attacked. What Limbara Yuura had brought with her battled the warriors as best they could, alerting the still sleeping family very quickly as to what was happening just outside of their tents. Parheath reached for his runes while his wife grasped her whip. Both parents struggled with leaving their sons, but it was ultimately decided that they had no choice. They would have to fight these creatures, or be killed themselves.
While his brother cried for them to stay, Tac sat still, just watching his parents with wide eyes. He didn't want them to go, but he wouldn't be able to help... Seeing how distressed his youngest had become spurned Parheath into stepping forward. He presented his sons with identical necklaces; simple things, really, but the pendant was a true rune stone. He touched the runes, illuminating them with light as he murmured a protection spell. He knew that the rune couldn't hold the magic, but he said not a word of it to the boys. In the heat of the moment, he was simply desperate to provide comfort.
"Wear these, and know that we're with you always. Talk to them as you would us; tell them your joys, your fears, your sorrows and your victories. Your runes are the same, and do you know why? They are to remind you each day that the greatest spells in the world can never match the sanctuary given to you by your brother."
Parheath embraced both of his boys before exiting the tent with his wife on his heels. Brow knitting sharply, Tac wrapped his arms around Finn and held tight. He couldn't see what was going on, but the sounds coming from outside...the screaming, the explosive sounds of magic, the charging Limbara...
All at once Yuura returned, coated with blood both from her wounds and those of her enemy. She scooped Finn into her arms, grasped Tacrith's hand and told them both to run. His mother whistled thrice, summoning the family’s pack mule to come to her side. Finn asked over and over where their father was, but Yuura couldn't answer. How was she supposed to explain that Parheath was dead, when they very well might follow him soon? Most of Yuura's 'battalion' were mortally wounded or dead, only having taken down a handful of the freakish attackers. She placed Finn atop the pack beast, then helped Tac atop it's back. The action had already drawn more than a few looks their way, and Yuura wasted no time in ordering the mule to run. When it hesitated she used her own whip on its flank, jump starting the beast into a dead run.
Any thought of escape was cut off by the pounding thuds of an alkidike rider chasing after them. The mule took hard turns, trying to throw off its pursuer, but the strange thing she rode was faster, even on such unfamiliar terrain. On one such curve the mule jumped into a shallow ravine, and the force of the landing knocked Finn from his seat. Tac could barely hold on to the panicked creature, and his heart skipped when he felt the sharp turn, and his brother slipping. The alkidike rider sailed over the ditch, instead taking the high ground on the opposite side to catch up with the mule, and both disappeared from Finn's sight.
Tac looked over his shoulder, but the flora was whipping by too fast. He couldn't see Finn! The scary giant popped out from the brush though, making him scream and hold tighter to the mule he rode. A furious howl sounded from behind, and a spear flew by his head. It landed right in their path, the mule stumbling over it. Tac rolled, just barely avoiding being crushed by the tumbling creature, too exhausted to rise again. Tac's leg hurt so bad from the tumble.. he couldn't run.. The monster was lurching toward him, yanking its spear out of the ground. He was going to die... He cried out for his parents, for Finn, and crossed his arms over his head.
Tacrith felt a soothing warmth over his belly, and he heard a dull thud next to him. The spear that had been aimed right for him had missed! Tac looked down upon where the rune laid from around his neck. The power had come from Tacrith's innate magic, but he believed with all his heart right then that it was the power of his father that had protected him.
The monster gave an infuriated shriek and charged forward, and Tacrith did the only thing he could think of. Grabbing the spear, he yanked it up and swung it around to protect himself. ..The monster's blood was hot as it dripped down the spear and onto the young boy's trembling hands.
Staring at the dead monster, Tac wasn't sure if he should have been relieved or not. The crazy monster had been after him rather than his brother! Did that mean Finn had been spared? Was his brother back in that ditch alive? With the faithful mule dead, he tried to follow their tracks back to the ditch. However, they'd traveled far, and his broken leg would take no pressure. He looked to the rune around his neck, but it was dull and would never glow again. He found a hollow under a tree to spend his the end of that morning, regaining his strength.
It was another group of explorers fleeing the giants that found Tacrith; the boy burning with fever. They took him to Pajore, dropped him at one of the clinics, and headed home. With no way to pay for the treatment, Tacrith had to stay on as an assistant to work off his debts.
In education, Tacrith flourished. He was allowed to read whatever book he could get his hands on. He followed the medical procedures closely, and was soon rivaling those ahead of him in training.
In himself though.. recovery was slow. His leg had healed, but the pain that remained was chronic, causing him to keep a cane with him at all times. He remained distant from those around him, interacting with more than a few words rarely, and only to learn and follow directions. He was already viewed as odd, but being such a quick learner, his strange manner was tolerated. After all, aside from his distance from everyone, he was gentle and polite. It wasn’t a bother to them that the young man spent his time pretty much only between the clinic and his home.
Ever in the back of his mind.. was the sight of his hands holding a spear, and that spear piercing the monster that had been after him. The monster had bled like anyone else... He'd learned since then about the Alkidikes, but the knowledge did nothing to settle him. Monster or not, he never wanted another's blood on his hands out of hate or fear again.
He'd already been a curse to his family. He wanted to make sure that he wouldn't be a curse to anyone else.
Stage 4; Scholar X [WE] Summer Festivals - W/Finn *5points X [WE] Honoring Those Who Are Gone - W/Nadiya *5points X A Reason to Return - W/Finn *5points
Stage 3; Monk X The Tyrant - W/Ozzrick *5points X The Man For The Job - W/Ozzrick *5points X A Change On The Breeze - W/Ozzrick *5points X The Captain's Mouse - W/Ozzrick *5points X As The Sea Howls - W/Ozzrick *5points X Golden Horizons and Moonlit Shores - W/Ozzrick *10 points X [WE] Coming Together solo entry *5points X Waiting for the Thunder - W/Finn *5points X Silent Melody - W/Nadiya *5points X Every Second Counts - W/Finn *5points X [WE] Tendaji Treats - Solo entry *5points X Phoenix Rising - W/Finn *5points X [WE] Tendaji Tricks - W/Aaricia *5points X Placements - W/Adenah *5points Converted battle: X *2points Stage 2; Healer: X Reinventing the Wheel (Chair) - With Zekiel/Ottolo *5points X From The Same Tree We Fell - W/Finn,Zekiel *5points X Dinner Night - W/Zekiel *10points X Skirts and Skepticism - W/Jacline *5points X The Priest of Ilidan - W/Zekiel *5points X Bilge Rats and Physicians - W/Ozzrick *5points X The Next Generation - WKieran,Taijana *5points X (WE) Honoring Those Who Are Gone - W/Zekiel *5points X A Tailored Fit - W/Ozzrick *5points Prentice: X Dark Pasts - W/Kieran *Complete *5points X Night Play - W/Taijana *Complete *5points X Paths - W/Fallon *Complete *5points X Not Long For This World - W/Zekiel *Complete *5points X ...Walk Into A Church - W/Zekiel,Tumelo *Complete
The offer was hanging in the air, tantalizing and sweet with its tantalizing promises. Contracts. Respect. Stability. Routine. A future. All of it dangled in front of him, written out so neatly on the piece of paper. There would be no more of crossing the entire city to reach his patients outside of an emergency. Serving at seedy and unpleasant places like The Pit would be a thing of the past. Late night walks home would be few and far between. There would be a schedule. Order. It was everything Tac had been missing since he had first been displaced and dropped in Oba. To be back in the clinical setting like a respectable healer such as he was meant to be in.
Yet, there he sat at the dining table, looking over the job offer for the fiftieth time with hesitation.
Despite how unorthodox and disorderly and exhausting it was to be a healer for hire, it was also, much to his surprise, actually enjoyable. He could hardly believe it as he sat there. Were those truly his thoughts going through his head? Perhaps he was experiencing some sort of phenomenon where his thoughts were coming out the opposite of what they should be? Perhaps it was the various levels of upheaval in his life finally cracking him, or the necessity of adaptation, or even simply having gotten used to the life he currently had. Whatever it was, something was making him look at the job offer of his recent dreams and honestly debate turning it down. Him, Tacrith! It made no sense at all!
Thinking about returning to the strict and dignified life of a clinical healer was as tempting as it was stifling. If he accepted, he would have no time for anything else.
Now that was an interesting thought as well. Since when did he want to make time for anything outside of work? It was certainly not as though his hours were filled with wild times, but he had gotten used to the flexible hours and taking time for himself as needed. He had always felt driven to be the best of himself that he could, and had always been satisfied with his progress and place in life. No matter the curveballs thrown at him, he continued to get back up and move on with hardly a misstep.
Boarding that ship had been the hardest fall of his life since he’d been a youngling, and had been similar to falling down a flight of stairs. Getting back up had been difficult, to say the least. When he had gotten up this time, there had been no way for him to continue on the same path. He had been forced to alter everything he had ever known, facing the challenges beyond what he’d imagined. It had been terrifying.
Here he was though, staring at the paper promising peace of mind and seriously thinking about throwing it away. He.. really was not the same man he had been when he had arrived in Oba. His trips around town had made him physically stronger. The shady characters and unusual patients he had been made to deal with had fortified his mental acuity. Finding his brother and helping the young man find his feet had been a healing balm on his soul that he had once thought superfluous. He could actually see the world around him, and he was reluctant to lose sight of it again.
With a final sigh, Tac pulled over his ink and pen and a blank paper. On it, he scrawled out the letter that would seal his fate.
‘I cannot express how much I appreciate your offer to work at the clinic. However, at this time, I fear that I must decline….’
(( Word count: 628 ))
Conclusion: Tac raised himself to value routine and stability and blandness. In this, he is facing how much he has changed and is shedding the ultra-stiff skin he had once encased himself in to embrace his new life.
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