BASIC INFO
Name: Arkos "Ark"
Gender: Male
Species: Human (part Manakete)
Age: 28 (appears 18)
Birthday: January 1st
Orientation: Straight
Theme: Shadow of the Colossus - The Opened Way ~ Metal/Rock Remix
COMBAT
Class: Knight
Weapons: Bronze Lance
Items: Vulenaries (3)
APPEARANCE
Armor: Arkos dons the crimson plate armor of his father, hoping it will imbue him with the same courage and strength his father once provided for him. The stylish draconic appearance is due to his father's love for dragons, and a myth in the family legacy that suggests their lineage was born of dragons. The sleek set of heavy armor was designed and forged by a master armorsmith to be less cumbersome than the traditional plate mail worn by most Knights and Generals throughout the land. A matching shield and lance were also crafted, but the tip of the lance has gone through many modifications since its creation. The resources to return the lance to its previous peak condition are incredibly costly - and without his noble funds to repair it - a bronze tip is all Arkos can afford to have maintained.
Casual: He still owns several sets of fancy and elaborate clothes, even though he is no longer connected to his other noble assets. In his current state of poverty he works diligently to keep his attire clean and tidy, while making sure his hygiene and hair are also kept in prime condition. His desire to carry on the family legacy helps him stay self-conscious and aware of his appearance to others, as he never knows when the time will come to rely on his charm for the sake of the greater good. He spent a great deal of time in his heavy armor when he lived like a nomad on the run from Ignis. It wasn't until later when he settled upon Zephyr that he really began to wear his fine silks and noble garb once more.
BACKGROUND
Noble: First descendant of Gedeon, the Fierce Dragon General of Ignis -- a colossal man who inspired legends based on his miraculous deeds and feats of strength on the battlefield. Though the family heritage lacks immediate blood relation to any draconic species, there is a myth passed to each generation that claims their lineage began with dragons, but no evidence supports the theory. There was also once thought to have been a manakete in the family long ago, but no proof of this exists either. Any correlation to the term "Fierce Dragon" stems from Gedeon's armor and mannerisms, as he is indeed mostly human - a contradiction to the myths. However, members of the family do seem to age rather well...
His mother, a calm and supportive woman, died giving birth to his sister. Both father and son took her death poorly, and Gedeon retired from the military shortly after to care for his son and newborn daughter. The two of them made a pact to protect her at all costs, and all seemed to go well for several years after. Arkos learned about combat and survival from his father, preparing for the event that Gedeon might not be near when the girl would need someone to defend her. They all grew close over the next several years, and she later joined her brother in his sparrings and lessons. The three were capable of sustaining themselves off the vast expanse of land that surrounded their estate, and the family's struggles had nearly been vanquished -- until one of Gedeon's old military contacts arrived in a panic...
The clearly troubled man couldn't stop shaking as he spoke of ruthless atrocities that were being committed by Ignis soldiers. The army had seemingly been reformed, and devious tactics that ended countless innocent lives had come to be the frequent solution against anything or anyone that threatened the nation's security. Opposed to the immoral stratagems and rules of engagement that had been established since his absence, Gedeon left his children at the homestead to confront the kingdom's leadership. That was the last time Arkos saw his father...
Ignis soldiers arrived at the estate later that night, seizing everything on the property for themselves as they set the land ablaze. Ark managed to escape with his father's regalia and a few other basic survival supplies, but he became separated from his sister in the midst of the chaos. The young boy was devastated by the loss of his family, and distanced himself from society to live alone for several years. His father's equipment became precious attachments to him as he grew to wield them efficiently by the time of his adulthood. He would seldom come into contact with others, aside from the occasional trip into town for supplies. Rumors, bounties, and mercenary work kept him provided with meager funds as he neared his mid-twenties, and he also used the opportunity to gain information about Ignis. He never ventured back into Ignis territory, always cautious of their movements for his own safety. He had planned to run from them for the rest of his life, until he heard of a secure and peaceful nation across the sea -- Zephyr...
Arkos felt as though he'd finally escaped Ignis when he arrived on the shores of Fae, and the relief allowed him to settle back into a more civilized style of survival. He enlisted with Zephyr's forces, and has managed to readapt to the noble life he'd left behind. Only a few years passed before Ignis arrived with their destructive ways, and the life that he'd rebuilt was once more endangered. With no place left to run there could only be one path left for the son of a legend to take, and it meant the family lineage could end if he fell... But he knew that would happen if he didn't fight at this point anyway. It was time for him to take a stand, and put a stop to this nemesis once and for all.
PERSONALITY
The Protector: Arkos has a rare gift of intuition and insight that combines with his natural empathy and care for others that he feels are deemed worthy of his time and effort. He desires long lasting friendships with people who have values that compliment his own principles, and cares little for people who contradict his values. While his morality is shaken from the events of his past, he does still differentiate between people who are malicious with those who have the best of intentions. He doesn't always step in to debate what's right and wrong, or object to every act of injustice, but when he does -- it's most likely due to an eruption of intense passion.
His passion has been known to spark some intense flames of anger in himself, whether it be in a conflict with friend or foe. Foresight of regret tends to keep him bottled up, and often times he'll do his best to avoid conflict with friends altogether. His ability to view issues from many different angles can sometimes backfire, especially with his selfish need to survive and carry on the family legacy. With so many viewpoints, sometimes the wrong individual could unintentionally be seen as the person at fault for any issue in his life. He tends to hold onto grudges, and can also be slow to forgive both himself and others.
LIKES
Dragons: Like his father, Arkos loves dragons, their appearance in particular. He has always wanted to ride one into battle, but rarely confesses to such a desire. The stones carried by manaketes are a particular fascination for him, as they leave him with a deep sense of belonging when around them.
Tales: He particularly enjoys the stories of his father's many epic exploits. Though he knows the truth behind most of the events, he still finds the exaggerated versions to be more exciting. He hopes that one day he'll meet the monumental expectations set by his father, and inspire legends of his own.
Tails: Arkos has a fascination with humanoids who feature tails. Fluffy kitsune and tageul tails bring a sense of warmth and comfort to him, while the tails of wyverns and dragons make him feel brave and inspired. He likes to predict how their tails wave through the air, and respects those who take good care of their tails.
DISLIKES
Ignis: Arkos hates the entire nation of Ignis with a deep intense loathing. He blames them for the loss of his family and countless others. He believes that the kingdom must be put to a stop, but ran from them for most of his life. Though he grew up in the nation, he had rarely met anyone of decent value, and he thinks that any of the good people that once lived there have either been changed or killed. Now in a position to stand against them with an army at his side, Arkos strives to fight them to the bitter end.
Anger: There are plenty of things that upset him, and he does his best to control his frustration in order to keep himself from lashing out at others. He tends to regret his actions and destroys relationships when his charged anger explodes with imbalanced passion, which can further cause him to spiral into an even deeper rage -- something he'd prefer to avoid when allies or innocent citizens are present.
Starvation/thirst: Whether it be him or someone else, Arkos hates the torturous suffering caused by a lack of consuming food. He is capable of fighting on an empty stomach, but performs much more effectively when bolstered by the benefit of a nutritious meal. When seeing others starving he'll try to assist them, but otherwise he doesn't usually go out of his way to help just anyone.
FEARS
Starving/dehydrating: A slow and painful death sounds like a terrible way to die, and while torture is another greatly undesired way to go, his own body consuming itself until it's no longer capable of functioning just seems rather disturbing to him. He can take the sight of a corpse that perished of starvation or dehydration, but it does make him a little unsettled.
Shaving: He hasn't had to shave yet, and he hopes he won't start growing facial hair anytime soon. Something about a bladed object rubbing against his face just isn't a thought he finds very comfortable. He has been known to intently focus on someone in the act of shaving, as though he is studying their technique for when the dreaded day finally arrives where he must also shave his own face.
Abandonment: Friendship does not come easily to Arkos, as he seeks others with worthy values to form long lasting bonds. He fears that one day he'll be forced to abandon a friend, whether it be on the battlefield or for survival out in the wilderness. He still doesn't know if his father abandoned them on that fateful night, or if his sister abandoned him when they became separated. He sees himself as the one that abandoned his sister that night, and never returned to their estate to see if maybe their father had just been slowed down getting back home or if his sister was kidnapped like he'd led himself to believe. Maybe they were still alive? Maybe he abandoned them, or they all abandoned each other? Ark couldn't know for sure, but he kept a tiny spark of hope in his heart that they were both still out there somewhere -- alive.
