[var]malina amberlight[/var]
Malina is an experiment in rejuvinating the diminished bloodline of an old Thagretian family. She was an incomplete success--she has been told that her terrible appetite makes her unsuitable for civilization.
Appearance
Rare are the moments when Malina does not look exhausted, even on good days. Her stark red hair is pulled into a ponytail behind her, bags heavy under her eyes, a guarded, weary expression worn like a mask over her face. Her eyes gleam red, slitted, like a lizard's...except for the way they glow in the dark.
Malina's of average height...and surprisingly strongly built, if one gets a glimpse at her body. Which is rare, as she tends to dress in loose clothing, easily pulled free, including a brown cloak and a tunic--a little more fine that you'd expect for a wandering like her...Especially the bands on her wrists, neck and ankles. Those with an eye to see would know them to be magic tools, and an enticing catch if they weren't likely so dangerous.
Those less lucky might come to know Malina's other face. A dull-scaled red wyvern, with sharp claws. A burning light radiates from behind her sharp, toothed maw, and her wingspan is twice as long as she is tall. Her eyes have the same glow.
Malina's of average height...and surprisingly strongly built, if one gets a glimpse at her body. Which is rare, as she tends to dress in loose clothing, easily pulled free, including a brown cloak and a tunic--a little more fine that you'd expect for a wandering like her...Especially the bands on her wrists, neck and ankles. Those with an eye to see would know them to be magic tools, and an enticing catch if they weren't likely so dangerous.
Those less lucky might come to know Malina's other face. A dull-scaled red wyvern, with sharp claws. A burning light radiates from behind her sharp, toothed maw, and her wingspan is twice as long as she is tall. Her eyes have the same glow.
Skills and Abilities
Malina's resurgent draconic bloodline is potent...but unstable. She is able to take the form of a wyvern, in whole or in part, manifesting sharp claws and teeth, extraordinary strength...or even wings to fly. However, such manifestations also give her the hunger of a wyvern, leaving her ravenous, in ways that can only be satisfied by meat, cooked by the heat of her own breath.
If she ever wants to be more subtle--and often she does--Malina will invoke bands around her wrists, ankles and neck designed to collect and then later release the heat of her own breath in feats of skilled pyromancy, casting and shaping flame with a wave of her hand--or claw. But eventually, they will need to be recharged, and when they are, it is best that she have a feast at hand.
Even when not in the shape of a wyrm, Malina's senses are well-honed, with vision sharp enough to pick up details on the ground from high up and a nose every bit as keen as a bloodhound's. The harsh sun does not appear to sway her much at all, even though her skin seems fair...
While she has little use for it now, Malina is well educated in moving through high society and move in refined circles. Her skill with needlework, at least has proven necessary in patching up her own clothes, and she's had a great deal of practice doing so. But she has not touched a lute since the day she left her home.
Personality
Malina is beaten down, tired and deeply lonely. Skittish, like a cat, she will find herself drawn inexorably toward travelers, drawn by the human thirst for company and companionship, even if doing so burns her. Socially maladjusted and lost, she's happy to talk--but always tries to turn the conversation away from where she came from, or what she is, basking in the stories she hears from others.
Beaten back through desperation and abandonment is a bitter, proud young woman who's had her future decided for her--and discarded, along with the bulk of her humanity. It's painful for her to linger long on what she's lost. And what she may yet lose.
Beaten back through desperation and abandonment is a bitter, proud young woman who's had her future decided for her--and discarded, along with the bulk of her humanity. It's painful for her to linger long on what she's lost. And what she may yet lose.
Biography & Lore
By order of the Holy Elder Dragon, raids were launched across the sea, pillaging wealth, and magic, and power. Among those, an enterprising captain slew the lord of a forgotten city, and claimed a glowing orange gem of radiant warmth.
Holy Drakormir saw this gift was much pleased, and thus shared his blood and power with the penitent, whose family everafter bore the name of Amberlight.
But that was a long time ago.
Ancient draconic magic faded with their blood over the centuries, and by a thousand cuts, the other families took from the Amberlight in a drawn out and bloodless battle of bureaucracy, inch by inch. The head of the family is ambitious, jealous and hungry, trading in poached Thanasian eggs, draconic parts and cunning spellwork--kept afloat as a supplier to the Cabal of Ascension.
The failing Amberlight House has had nine heirs.
Malina is the second youngest among three heirs who have made a debut into society. Like the others, her latent draconic magic has shown a marked an inexplicable surge, a miraculous reemgergence of the old magics.
What became of the other six not known. It is not asked.
It is said that there as a terrible accident with a prestigious teacher in the Amberlight house, leaving them quite dead. Whether out of mercy, disgust or something else, Malina's father cast her out with a small pension, excluding her from succession and exiling her until such a time as the next heir had taken power.
Since then, she has wandered, spending scarce little time in the civilized world.
A wild, lonely, hungry thing.
Holy Drakormir saw this gift was much pleased, and thus shared his blood and power with the penitent, whose family everafter bore the name of Amberlight.
But that was a long time ago.
Ancient draconic magic faded with their blood over the centuries, and by a thousand cuts, the other families took from the Amberlight in a drawn out and bloodless battle of bureaucracy, inch by inch. The head of the family is ambitious, jealous and hungry, trading in poached Thanasian eggs, draconic parts and cunning spellwork--kept afloat as a supplier to the Cabal of Ascension.
The failing Amberlight House has had nine heirs.
Malina is the second youngest among three heirs who have made a debut into society. Like the others, her latent draconic magic has shown a marked an inexplicable surge, a miraculous reemgergence of the old magics.
What became of the other six not known. It is not asked.
It is said that there as a terrible accident with a prestigious teacher in the Amberlight house, leaving them quite dead. Whether out of mercy, disgust or something else, Malina's father cast her out with a small pension, excluding her from succession and exiling her until such a time as the next heir had taken power.
Since then, she has wandered, spending scarce little time in the civilized world.
A wild, lonely, hungry thing.