Nico Du'Raki
A former engineer for the Vel Anir military forces, Nico and his rook companion Val are in search of purpose and opportunity.
Appearance
At a glance, Nico is a slender Valentennian with dark features and attention to detail; keeping up appearances earns higher-paying commissions. Upon closer inspection, his face is gaunt and the strain of sleepless nights is gathered under his eyes. One might notice the lavender stains on his fingers from handling unsavory substances.
Skills and Abilities
Intellect
Literate in several languages, Nico pursues knowledge not driven by prestige or gainful skills, but pure curiosity. His overly active mind – along with a substance habit – keeps him awake at night, but it makes him a living.
Combat
With humble origins in Valentennia, Nico learned to use his mind as much as his wiry frame in a brawl. He later sought training with short blades, though he is no warrior.
Engineer/Gadgeteer
Nico has found the most profitable use of his mind is its military application, taking commissions to design war engines or chemicals, some of which he regrets. He usually has a few smaller mechanisms hidden on his person that would get him out of tight spots, and he can be handy in spotting and disabling mechanical traps.
Magic & Alchemy
Being knowledgeable enough to get by in arcane and alchemical practices, Nico has had a few mishaps. He manages weak elixirs and can conjure enough energy to augment a weapon or gadget.
Personality
Though reclusive at times, Nico has learned to be sociable when it suits him. When he is inclined to talk, he is sometimes described as arrogant or overbearing. His idiosyncrasies can often cause social conventions to fall by the wayside.
Nico has his ups and downs. He has used stimulants to keep him intensely driven for days, then withdrawn and irritable when the crash comes. Though he’s careful to avoid the situation, running out of Lessat pounce – the drug also known as moongrit given to soldiers of Vel Anir – can leave him less than functional.
He can come off as selfish or dismissive, but not hateful. While in the employ of the High Council of pre-revolution Vel Anir, he faced the moral implications of his work. All in all, he wants to be a decent person, though this doesn’t always align with his other goals.
Biography & Lore
Born to a working-class family in Valentennia, Nico staved off his boredom by taking odd jobs around the city as a means to study whatever he could while working for the diverse inhabitants.
At 17, Nico set out to various cities of Amol-Kalit, peddling his practical or novel inventions. After years of struggling, he turned to designing weapons and strategies for the warring Sheikhdoms. Soon, the city of Vel Anir recruited him as an engineer of war. During his tenure, Nico faced the moral weight of developing tools for the ruthless military force, though he was reluctant to leave his well-paid position.
Nico was named The Drake of Vel Anir – Du’Raki being archaic Valentennian for “of the drakes” – for the manner in which his engines swept through enemy forces. He finds no pride in the title.
After weathering the Revolution of Vel Anir, Nico took his leave of the city. He now has enough coin to search for a new purpose, though some nasty habits followed him.
Valianice
In his tower chambers in Vel Anir, Nico found a rook pullet abandoned outside his window. He nursed the bird to health, and in turn the rook has saved him in more ways than one. He named her Valianice, or Val, after the Valenntenian name for one of the northern Blood stars – his guiding light.
Val is highly intelligent and mimics speech with a skill that borders on language fluency. She can be found on Nico’s shoulder or scouting ahead while he travels dangerous roads.
Chronicles of Nico Du'Raki