unheiring

Grove Magic:

Blessing of Conjuration

• Tier One — Grandfathered In
  
  • Summons a red-breasted black bird, able to grant companions a piece of armor or weapon, able to summon a small item from your home within the Grove to your hand. Summons last 1 hour.
  
  
• Tier Two - 1 | 2
  
  • Can _____
  
  
• Tier Three - 1 | 2 | 3
  
  • Can _____
  
  
• Tier Four - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
  
  • Can _____
  
  
• Tier Five - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
  
  • Can _____

Dragon Blessing

- TBA

Maybe I'll make this look better later but for now -

Nerfs and other Notes
- As with general healing powers in this game go, Luca's healing won't be able to instantaneously heal him, even with the Phoenix's help
- Immortality? what immortality it's gone-
-Phoenix voice is muffled, sort of like talking to someone when you're two rooms away kind of dealio

PLAYER INFO
Name: Aspen
Pronouns: They/Them
Contact: ashtriferous
Permissions: Here

CHARACTER INFO

Name: Luca Aurelius
Canon: OC
Canon Point: Shortly after his return to Renova
Age: Almost 25
Species: Blessed Human (Human with Phoenix Traits)

History: From a young age, it was clear that Luca — the sole remaining heir to the Blessing of the Phoenix — was destined for power and responsibility. His father, Cyrus (who had been skipped by the Phoenix due to his own poor constitution) thus chose to raise his son with compassion, determined to ensure his son was prepared to meet the harshness of the world with kindness.

The first time this backfired was at the age of seven when Luca, who had spent months bringing sick animals home to nurture, brought home a child instead. Given the heavy snows and Cyrus's own health, it was agreed that the child, Kiera, would stay with them until the Spring, at which point they could seek out their family in the city — by the time this came to pass, however, Luca, his father, and their caretaker had come to love her as one of their own, and thus welcomed her into the Aurelius family.

For nearly a decade, the family lived in mostly youthful bliss, though unbeknownst to them, a fellow member of the Renovan Council (Augustus Caelius), had grown dissatisfied with Cyrus’s politics and had begun collaborating with outside agents in order to bring the family to its knees. On Luca's seventeenth birthday, this plan was carried out, ending with Cyrus leaping in front of the poisoned dagger meant for his son. Luca begged the Phoenix to Bless his father and keep him alive, but was ignored, leading him to take matters into his own hands; he would be found later in a catatonic state (which he would remain in for nearly a week), still clutching the dagger.

When Luca woke, Kiera confessed the truth of their own origins: born as a Castillan Prince and intended to be a spy, they.blamed themself for not noticing the actions of her own people and promised to hunt down those responsible, much to his horror. Shaken though he was, Luca was still the bright-eyed boy with a bleeding heart, and he begged his sister not to do it; only once this promise was secured did Luca leave Renova entirely, having blamed himself for the deaths and other actions taken by those around him.

Initially, Luca had only intended to leave long enough to allow things to settle — however, a year into his sojourn, he suffered an accident and nearly drowned within the frozen waters of Cataega. Several hours after the incident, he woke on the shore, with the ice around him entirely melted, all of which he initially attributed to good luck or a kind hearted stranger. It wasn’t until several weeks later, when he was attacked in his camp and stabbed in the chest that he realized the truth — as the last remaining heir to the Phoenix's power, he was the only remaining tie the Beast had to the physical world.

Realizing that his father’s death had been for naught due to this ability, Luca became consumed with rage and despair, and promptly swore revenge not just on those that had harmed him, but the Phoenix itself.

Over the next eight or so years, he would cross paths with the most dangerous faces in all of Domcera — including Castillan assassins and the feared Cataegan Emissaries — and from them would learn just how far the conspiracy against his life went. He would also learn of Cataegan agents being installed within Renova’s Capitol itself, and became determined to return home to put things right, no matter the cost.



Personality:

✽ What is your character's main motivation? What drives them and keeps them going?

The belief that one day, he won't have to keep fighting. He's been through hell and back, never mind been killed multiple times, under the belief that he's close to finding a way to die permanently. It's why he's faced some of the most dangerous entities in the world, the Cataegan Emissaries, who possess the power and might of the most fearsome of Beasts -- the leviathan. His repeated dealings with one of them in particular, Alazon, has been with the hope that their organization would be able to purge the Phoenix entirely. In his eyes, this is the only way to be free, and if he has to continue to haunt the earth, he'll do so solely to find a way to bring the Phoenix down for all it's done.

✽ What is their biggest regret? Why?

The needless death of his father weighs heavy on Luca's soul. Nearly every day, he feels the weight of the knife in his hand and hears the pained gurgles of his dying dad. He's replayed what happened over and over again within his head, wishing he'd somehow taken the knife and then been pulled back from the brink.

✽ What is their worst fear? Their greatest comfort?

Luca's greatest fear is the idea of living forever beneath the Phoenix's claws. He's tried many, many times to break free of his own accord (often at the cost of his own life), and failed each and every time as a result. As a result, the Phoenix has grown more spiteful, often leaving Luca partially injured or causing him pain. The idea of living his life like that for all eternity is a terrifying one for him.

In theory, family is his greatest comfort. They've always supported him and held him up. If, he were to turn to them, then they would surely understand his struggle and lend an aid to him. However, he refuses to allow himself this comfort, believing that his family and friends, all who have worshipped the Phoenix their entire lives, would turn their back on him as he condemned their beloved deity.

✽ Top three strengths?
-Resilience/Physical training- Forced or otherwise, Luca can take hits and devastating blows both physically and emotionally without succumbing to the burden. This is in addition to the work he did as a trainee knight, which taught him not only how to take said blows, but how to fight back.
-Survivalism- Distinctly different than the above, in that he has trained himself to survive in the many climates of the world. He may not like the cold, but he's learned the best ways to get by in the harsh northern winters, as well as the extremely hot and humid climes of the southern rainforests.
-Compassion- Though he would deny it to his last, the soft-hearted boy who spent his youth rescuing injured animals is still in there. He's been beaten back by circumstance, but he still lingers.

✽ Top three weaknesses?
-Water/Ice- Though he is more than capable of swimming and surviving the cold, when it comes to these specific magics, Luca is often bested (if not outright weakened) and has to rely on brute strength.
-Distrust - Though healthy to a degree, having had his faith shaken to the very core has left Luca quick to jump at the slightest provocation. Strangers are met with cold gazes, while even family is doubted at their very word. It takes a lot to convince Luca to let down his guard, even from those who have never done anything to him or have even provided him aid.
-Isolation - Despite having chose this life willingly, Luca spent the better part of his life being loved and loving others. Being alone and fighting his own battles is not his natural proclivity, and despite insisting otherwise, he struggles with this daily.


✽ What was their last lie?

"The boy you loved is dead."


Inventory: +Broadsword: A weapon nearly Luca’s height when accounting for blade, pommel, and hilt. It seems far too large and inelegant for the man who wields it.
+Polaris. A Renovan hawk with ruddy brown plumage that often looks red within the sun. She has been trained in delivering messages to friends and dead mice to Luca (thanks Kiera).

Abilities:

• Pyromancy: Able to summon flames along the length of his body. He can do some minor throwing, but it isn't like a constant flamethrower. More like "I have made this fist a fire fist now." With some strain he can extend it to weapons, but they're still gonna hurt like hell to hold.
  
• Talon Transformation: Idk what to call this. He can turn his fingers into fiery slashing claws, but it takes up quite a bit of energy.
  
• Regeneration: Minor wounds heal within hours, while major wounds take no more than a day and leave only faint scars. Grievous/mortal wounds can be healed rapidly, but will result in Luca losing all of his energy and passing out.
  
• Immortality: The Phoenix can't keep his body if he dies of old age! ;)
  
• The Phoenix: Though not an ability in and of itself, Luca maintains a psychic connection with his Patron Beast, the Phoenix. Unlike other Beasts, who give a fraction of their power to their Blessed, strange circumstances require that the Phoenix lend its entire self to its Blessed. Thus, it is able to communicate telepathically with Luca, and even extend some influence of whether or not his powers even work. It’s been known to punish Luca by not healing his wounds.

Sample: Here!