Appearance

Physical Description

Tal is tall with a fit and atheletic build from their upbringing, which focused on them being in tip top shape. That isn't to say that they are rippling with muscles, it is a softer muscle and many people find them to be rather unassuming.

Body Features

Tal has their family symbol etched into their back, as most families do when a child comes of age.

Facial Features

Tal has a long angular face and sharp jaw. Their nose is long and flared, and somewhat bird like. They have high cheek bones and plump lips. Their eyes are slanted slightly upwards with a heavy lid. Their eyebrows are rounded and short.

Identifying Characteristics

After their enlightening, Tal has been marked by the Usurper, a legendary being thought to bring destruction and death. Their upper torso and arms are covered in black tattoos that resemble wings and blades, something that Tal often tries to hide from people, and from themselves as it brings up bad memories.

Physical quirks

Tal is ambidextrous, and walks confidently but softly, barely making a sound. Since their Enlightenment, their hair defies gravity and just undulates about their head.

Apparel & Accessories

Tal loves wearing loose fitting clothing and slim fitting pants. They have a love of scarves and long sleeves, especially puffy ones. They enjoy the color purple and similar shades. Prefers to wear flat shoes, even when they might not be the best choice.

Specialized Equipment

Usually carries a knife given to them by their parents.

Special abilities

Since his Enlightening. Tal has discovered that they have the ability to manipulate shadows and create shadow creatures that serve them. He also has access to the Usurpers blade, a sacred weapon hidden away from everyone.

Mentality

Personal history

The first born to (???) and (???) Tal grew up in a loving home and was very well off. From a young age their parents enrolled them in the best schools and hired the best tutors. They knew that their child was destined for greatness, and it wasn't long before it was revealed that Tal would have a chance at being chosen from the Enlightenment. To ensure they were ready for that when it occurred, they ensured that Tal had the mental and physical state to deal with such a responsibility. There was no if Tal was going to be chosen to become Enlightened. They were, and their parents were going to ensure it.
 
Despite all the training, hard work and long hours Tal made sure to spend time with his siblings whom he saw as the light of their life. They were a constant reminder that they could be normal, even if only for a few moments. Their siblings didn't envy them at all, and instead used the fact that their older sibling would be chosen as a way to perpetuate their own lives, sometimes to Tal's annoyance.
 
As Tal grew older though, they did become a bit more distanced and cold, especially after their confirmation occurred which sealed the fate of becoming Enlightened. Thought to be an honor, Tal often felt like running away. Soon their body would no longer be just their own. They would house some remnant of god or hero of old within. And they would have to work for the city, the whole country as a scion. But it would bring honor to their family, and if it meant a better life for them as well. And it was all their parents wanted.
 
Unfortunately, upon the Enlightening things went out of control. It was determined that the chances of Tal getting one of the great heroes was great, instead Tal was attacked by what he thought was to be the hero who would embody them. Instead the Usurper came in and saved them and the two ended up fusing, leaving Tal dazed and confused. Immediately the leaders turned on them, and tried to kill them. But the Usurper once again stepped in and the two fled together.
 
Tal would eventually find themselves banned from the city and was to be hunted by the other heroes and Enlightened. Fearing for their life and feeling like they failed, Tal has been in seclusion ever since, simply wanting answers to what went wrong that day so many years ago.

Education

• Tal was homeschooled for a large chunk of their life.

• Upon reaching their teenaged years they were accepted into the military academy.

• Tal was taught a number of different magics and had a real knack for manipulation magics, so much so that they majored in it at the academy.

• Their minor was in healing, with a general focus on alchemy.

Employment

If Tal had succeeded in their enlightenment, they would have been employed by the state and taken up some important spot from his predecessor and had been further trained by them. But alas that never happened.
 
At the moment, Tal lives a few hours away in seclusion, hidden within the shadows for their own protection. They are nomadic moving around and living off the land.

Accomplishments & Achievements

• Chosen for Enlightenment at a very young age.

• Graduated top of their class in the military academy.

Failures & Embarrassments

• Failed the Enlightenment. At least in their eyes.

• Failed their family.

• Became the enemy of his people.

Mental Trauma

Because of their past, Tal has a hard time trusting new people. He is also very wary of new people and it takes him a long time to really warm up to people. Beyond that Tal suffers nightmares from the night of their Enlightenment, all of it becoming something akin to a fog that just will not clear.
 
They fear the light, as it brings trauma and a reminder of the way that they failed. Also fears the dead and that they killed someone.

Intellectual Characteristics

Tal can speak a couple of different languages thanks to their schooling.
Mentally they are able to strategize when it really comes down to it.
Has a great memory.

Morality & Philosophy

• Tal believes that everyone is meant to find their place and that things happen for a reason.

• Protect those who are smaller and weaker, no matter what.

• Question authority. It might just save your life.

person.sexuality

Tal is questioning. Whilst in the academy they had started to develop feelings for one of their fellow chosen, but things never got a chance to pan out. And now they are enemies. If anything Tal classifies themselves as perhaps being demiromantic.

person.gender_identity

Tal identifies as being non-binary. Pronouns: They/Them.

Taboos

• Tal will not kill children.

Personality

Motivation

• Tal wants to live free and no longer live in fear. But he also wants the truth to come out.

• Meeting Afua and discovering that like themselves, she has had a tough upbringing but she is deciding her own fate. So perhaps they can as well.

• Learning the truth about the Usurper.

Quotes & Catchphrases

You are quite offensive.
I don't have time for this.
I suppose...

Savvies & Ineptitudes

• Great at making a good pot of tea

• Good with drawing up maps and remembering where everything is.

Likes & Dislikes

Likes

• Tea

• Stars

• Warming summer evenings

• The way the sky shifts from green to blue and turquoise as night falls.

• Heat. All types

• Authority.

• Being in large crowds or in a group of people they don't know.

• Being ignored.

• People judging them before they get to know him. (They are kind of a hypocrite because they do the exact same thing. Takes them a while to admit this.)

Hygiene

Tal takes care of themselves. They never want to smell bad and they always want to look their best. It is a well known fact that they smell good all the time.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Afua - Afua is the first friend that Tal has had in quite some time. Eventually they become close friends and partners when dealing with Magister things. Though feelings begin to blossom and Tal isn't quite sure what to do with them.
 
Hakin - A close friend from the academy and a fellow chosen. The two hit it off well before everything went to shit. Now, Hakin doesn't even to recognize that they were once friends and plans to hunt them down and kill them. No matter the cost.
 
Kanan Dieve - The Usurper God or Lonesome King. The only person who even knows Kanan's name is Tal as they have had time to converse albeit not much as Tal doesn't want anything to do with this so called god. But Kanan understands what Tal is going through and wants off this planet more than anything. They are aware that their history has been twisted and they are seen as the enemy, but the fact that he was able to even be summoned and used is a sign that things are about to change, if only Tal had more confidence in themselves.

Family Ties

Tal is the oldest of three children. They were fairly close to their siblings wanting only the best for them. But after their enlightening they haven't been able to see them at all. They do keep an eye on them via the dragonflies, and it hurts to see that they are also being mistreated because of what happened to them. 
 
Meanwhile Tal holds a rather bitter view towards their parents. When they needed them most they turned their backs on them without a second thought. They haven't reached out to them and Tal later learned that they were removed from the family tree, making them even more of a disgrace and unwelcome in the city in which they call home.

Religious Views

Like most of their people, Tal worships the First Gods and Heroes those who have risen to greatness and their essence and powers have been reincarnated at least once. Those who become enlightened are said to embody these gods and heroes and act as leaders, protectors and scholars for the people. The past is just as important as the present and future, and keeping these gods and heroes close is very important. Many families believe that certain gods and heroes are associated with certain months of the year and that god will be who that child will pray to for guidance, but one can choose to pray to as it is not that strict. 
 
Tal believes all of this. Even more so after becoming an Enlightened.

Social Aptitude

Before their enlightening Tal was fairly quiet, polite and held themselves in great regard. Everyone knew that Tal was competent and professional and Tal made sure that they always looked this way. They were good at speaking but not overly charismatic, but they held a confidence with them whenever they did speak and it wasn't uncommon for everyone to look at them when they spoke and silence a room when something they thought was important happened to pop up.
 
After their enlightening though Tal becomes something of a recluse. They are a bit more bitter and standoffish. They are more impatient when it comes to dealing with people. In fact they would rather not deal with anyone, for fear of hurting them or that they would hurt them. He still holds onto the way that they were raised, but beyond that they haven't spoken in so long, they don't even remember what their voice sounds like.