Gefion
Appearance
Gefion is a curious sight; the rare Etenn is a race of bulky humanoid cat, of which sports digitigrade feline legs designed to absorb falls, the wide dilated halos that are their eyes, and a distinctly short snout and overall flat face. Gefion himself is of an unnamed Etenn subrace that traces origin from the hot deserts of western Liadain, a heritage that offers him thick sand-colored fur save for the fur on his face, which is black. His yellow eyes are commonly found on his face, staring out at the world with immeasurable curiosity and giving him a contradictory air of childlike innocence. One might find Gefion lacking a tail, and if they knew anything on the subject of etenn physiology, would note that this was abnormal.
Gefion wears a thick, hooded tan tunic that completely encapsulates his arms, hands and all, with a unique design that incorporates gripped gloves into the tunic itself. The brown hood is large enough to hide Gefion's already black-furred face almost completely in shadow, making it hard to distinguish cat from inner material. He also wears baggy khaki pants, thank the gods, that are tucked into the shin guards of his boots, designed to comfortably hold digitigrade cat legs in a plantigrade boot structure and armor style without hindering digitigrade movement, sporting a single solid shinguard composed of multiple layers of dark blueish platemail. This shinguard hides the top and front of the foot housing, and wraps halfway around the front of Gefion's lower legs.
Gefion wears a thick, hooded tan tunic that completely encapsulates his arms, hands and all, with a unique design that incorporates gripped gloves into the tunic itself. The brown hood is large enough to hide Gefion's already black-furred face almost completely in shadow, making it hard to distinguish cat from inner material. He also wears baggy khaki pants, thank the gods, that are tucked into the shin guards of his boots, designed to comfortably hold digitigrade cat legs in a plantigrade boot structure and armor style without hindering digitigrade movement, sporting a single solid shinguard composed of multiple layers of dark blueish platemail. This shinguard hides the top and front of the foot housing, and wraps halfway around the front of Gefion's lower legs.
Skills and Abilities
Etenn are often found to compulsively master a single practice at the cost of neglecting their skills in most every other field. For Gefion, that practice is his swordsmanship. Most find him a difficult opponent in melee combat, making up for his slow speed with superior tactics and swordplay, as well as his own sheer weight, sword, boots and all.
His boots, the Mortal Coils are heavily armored and designed by a great ancient smith, who once challenged a young, annoying Gefion to a duel for spiting him. The boots are designed to be much heavier than the materials used to create them, as much a burden as a whetstone. Gefion has since invented acrobatic maneuvers with their momentum, and Gods forbid he connects a kick. The armor itself has so far proved to be impervious to conventional weaponry and stubbornly refuses to even dent. However, Gefion cannot take the Mortal Coils off and however creative he might get with two impossibly heavy weights on his legs, he can't quite move as fast as he would like.
Gefion's sword takes the mysterious name XXI. It is a claymore that reaches five and a half feet tip-to-pommel, made of an unidentifiable bronzeish colored metal. It's handle is three handholds long, ending with a round pommel that mimics the map of all Arethil, yet curiously includes small continents not present on any conventional map. The weapon sports a very short crossguard, and a wide tapered blade upon which the numeral XXI is engraved. At the will of it's wielder, XXI takes on an impossible weight, the likes of which prevent even Gefion from lifting it until the effect is deactivated. Gefion can trigger this effect at the end of a downward slash, crushing as much as cleaving his target.
His boots, the Mortal Coils are heavily armored and designed by a great ancient smith, who once challenged a young, annoying Gefion to a duel for spiting him. The boots are designed to be much heavier than the materials used to create them, as much a burden as a whetstone. Gefion has since invented acrobatic maneuvers with their momentum, and Gods forbid he connects a kick. The armor itself has so far proved to be impervious to conventional weaponry and stubbornly refuses to even dent. However, Gefion cannot take the Mortal Coils off and however creative he might get with two impossibly heavy weights on his legs, he can't quite move as fast as he would like.
Gefion's sword takes the mysterious name XXI. It is a claymore that reaches five and a half feet tip-to-pommel, made of an unidentifiable bronzeish colored metal. It's handle is three handholds long, ending with a round pommel that mimics the map of all Arethil, yet curiously includes small continents not present on any conventional map. The weapon sports a very short crossguard, and a wide tapered blade upon which the numeral XXI is engraved. At the will of it's wielder, XXI takes on an impossible weight, the likes of which prevent even Gefion from lifting it until the effect is deactivated. Gefion can trigger this effect at the end of a downward slash, crushing as much as cleaving his target.
Personality
Gefion is a curious being. He knows little of his own people due to lack of exposure, and takes comfort in simple things such as the fleeting company of others, the sentiment of gift giving, and scenery. He isn't known at all, but if he were, he definitely wouldn't be known for shirking from a good challenge so long as it somehow involved his sword. The big cat tends to be a bit scatterbrained, which could come off as either endearing or downright annoying, depending on the onlooker. However, when it comes down to single combat, Gefion's battle instinct and tactics are almost as sharp as his sword. He values morality greatly, and believes that a law must benefit those that follow it in order for it to be taken seriously. Although a good philosophy on paper, this way of thinking has gotten Gefion into plenty of trouble.
Biography & Lore
For an Etenn, 72 is young. There are rumors of living Etenn that have witnessed the dawn of creation, but there are also rumors that Etenn are a race of gods, and that you can attract one as a servant by leaving cake topped with honey-glazed fish fillet on your doorstep at night, both of which prove to be mere fairytail.
Gefion's memory is a blur of blades clashing and adventures worthy of the greatest bards, but a blur nonetheless. Of all things that he can recall, the two most clear memories of his are the acquisition of his boots the Mortal Coils, and the discovery of the mysterious sword labeled XXI.
When Gefion was young - at least, younger than he is now - he came to a legendary blacksmith-hermit with the intention of leaving with armor that would make him indestructible. The foolhardy cat demanded such armor from the hermit, who didn't take him in the slightest bit seriously. The hermit's mistake was in saying so, and Gefion's mistake was in trying to steal some, repeatedly. The fed-up hermit's armory depleting little by little, he finally decided to end this stupid cycle and agreed to Gefion's demands, but only if Gefion could defeat him in an honorable duel. Gefion, clad in mismatched plate armor that was much too heavy for him, agreed without hesitance, and met an unarmored hermit wielding a simple mace. The duel consisted of Gefion struggling to keep up with his opponent, who dented in his armor little by little until the pressure inside was too great. Gefion fell to his knees and begged the hermit to free him of his suffocatingly tight armor. Instead, as punishment for Gefion's defeat, the hermit removed each piece of armor one by one, forging them directly onto the boots that Gefion wore and weaving them with an enchantment that maintained the collective weight and durability of the armor used while leaving the boots' profile unchanged, and thus the Mortal Coils were born.
As for the sword, Gefion had spitefully stolen it from the hermit after the whole duel ordeal was over.
Gefion's memory is a blur of blades clashing and adventures worthy of the greatest bards, but a blur nonetheless. Of all things that he can recall, the two most clear memories of his are the acquisition of his boots the Mortal Coils, and the discovery of the mysterious sword labeled XXI.
When Gefion was young - at least, younger than he is now - he came to a legendary blacksmith-hermit with the intention of leaving with armor that would make him indestructible. The foolhardy cat demanded such armor from the hermit, who didn't take him in the slightest bit seriously. The hermit's mistake was in saying so, and Gefion's mistake was in trying to steal some, repeatedly. The fed-up hermit's armory depleting little by little, he finally decided to end this stupid cycle and agreed to Gefion's demands, but only if Gefion could defeat him in an honorable duel. Gefion, clad in mismatched plate armor that was much too heavy for him, agreed without hesitance, and met an unarmored hermit wielding a simple mace. The duel consisted of Gefion struggling to keep up with his opponent, who dented in his armor little by little until the pressure inside was too great. Gefion fell to his knees and begged the hermit to free him of his suffocatingly tight armor. Instead, as punishment for Gefion's defeat, the hermit removed each piece of armor one by one, forging them directly onto the boots that Gefion wore and weaving them with an enchantment that maintained the collective weight and durability of the armor used while leaving the boots' profile unchanged, and thus the Mortal Coils were born.
As for the sword, Gefion had spitefully stolen it from the hermit after the whole duel ordeal was over.