Nur Zakmin
The Chronicler
Gather round, everyone. The sun has set, the hills are singing the songs of the night- hear the crickets sing, the wind brush against the leaves of the trees. The fire is warm- come sit besides me! Let me regale you with a tale of heroes long forgotten, epics of gods fighting to protect our world.
Nur Zakmin, better known as the Chronicler, is a historian and reknown story teller who travels the land of Arda Almyed, in search of little known myths, legends and prophecies. They consign these stories to the scrolls they carry, and each completed scroll is sent to the Rising Tower in Claireveille. Whatever stories they consigned, they took up the habit of telling them around campfires and taverns, delighting those who travelled with them with tales of wonder and magic.
Nur also made themselves quite a reputation as a chronicler for groups of adventurers and explorers. Many have asked them to join their adventures, so they may write down the tales of the groups they accompany and archive them in the library of the Rising Tower. Their chronicles are written in a beautiful and elegant style, making them famous not only among historians but among most of the lettered population as well.
The Rising Tower
At the age of six, Nur was adopted into the Rising Tower, the largest temple dedicated to Samara the Enchantress. Their family had died in a fire, and they were left with nothing but the mark of Kirïal the Silent and the clothes on their back. They quickly distinguished themselves amongst the rank of initiates at the Rising Tower, proving themselves to be a gifted child. They burned through quantities of books in the library, decending deeper into its depths at an impressing speed.By the age of 16, they had almost finished completing their higher education, and were made an official scholar of history at the Rising Tower. Throughout their life, Nur remained a devout worshipper of Kirïal the Silent, who had been the patron god of their parents. Their childhood had basked in the tales of the god's Mizamanium, and Nur wished to work towards a similar goal. They set out on the path of the mythseekers as soon as they were old enough, and left their academic life behind.
Sûmaiya Dedjerah, I thank you for the time you have spent by my side and the energy you have devoted to teaching me what I wanted to know. I will miss my time here, but I look forward to visiting you with tales of my life on the roads. May the goddess keep a watchful eye on you.
Life on the Road
by Ronan Furuta
For the following decade, Nur Zakmin travelled the roads of Arda Almyed. At times, they would stick along a group of merchants or adventurers, learning as much as they could from those with whom they shared their time, writing down with the utmost care and respect all stories they heard to the long paper scroll they carried on their back.
One evening, as they sat alone by their camp fire in the middle of the Al Tahas, a group of timid Serulians came from the shadows and asked to join them in their evening. Nur accepted without a second thought, for it was rare to meet the people of the forest, and eagerly asked them if they had any stories to share.
One evening, as they sat alone by their camp fire in the middle of the Al Tahas, a group of timid Serulians came from the shadows and asked to join them in their evening. Nur accepted without a second thought, for it was rare to meet the people of the forest, and eagerly asked them if they had any stories to share.
Little one, I fear you would not understand our stories, for they were not meant to be spoken in your tongue. But if it pleases you to listen, I invite you to open your eyes and ears...
Nur was then asked if they too could share a story of their people. Thoughtful, they considered the proposition- they had never taken the time to tell to others of the stories they had found, only sent them to be copied into books for the great library of the Rising Tower.
It would please me greatly to do so, but you will have to forgive my awkward retelling. Let me tell you the story of how our goddess Samara, charming Ghabeiun, came to loose her eyes...
The Serulians left during the night, and the next time Nur reached a town they purchased a simsimiyya- the instrument has never left their side since. Nur learned to play the instrument at the School of Eloquence and Music in Fleury, where they quickly learned to master it before setting out on the road once more.
Whenever Nur found themselves travelling with others, they would not hesitate to tell the stories they had learned, accompanied with by the melody of their simsimiyya. Of course, they still sought out old stories and legends, but they had found new joy through the act of sharing what is so dear to them.
Nur's fame quickly grew across the Danatelian Lands. Rumours and tales were told of the musician who could bring myths and legends to life, and everywhere they went Nur was greeted with open arms, as others hoped they may get a chance to hear a story.
Whenever Nur found themselves travelling with others, they would not hesitate to tell the stories they had learned, accompanied with by the melody of their simsimiyya. Of course, they still sought out old stories and legends, but they had found new joy through the act of sharing what is so dear to them.
Nur's fame quickly grew across the Danatelian Lands. Rumours and tales were told of the musician who could bring myths and legends to life, and everywhere they went Nur was greeted with open arms, as others hoped they may get a chance to hear a story.
Simsimiyya by Salvadordavy
Nur Taalib by Salvadordavy
Peculiar Last Name
Nur lost their parents when they were just a child. Their mother was a poet at the court of the Vazan of Claireveille, and their father was a musician who accompanied their mother. Both perished fire during the Great Fire of Claireveille: the family home was destroyed during the catastrophe, and Nur was left with severe burn marks all over their body. As an orphan with no living blood relatives, Nur was stripped of their family name in accordance with Danatelian customs. When they reached the age of 16, they chose their own family name: Nur Zakmin.
Calligraphy for Zakmin by Ynarkaelle
Personality
Nur live with their head up in the clouds, doubtlessly lost in deep reflection about some obscure myth. Their attention is only captured by stories they have not yet heard, and this tendency to easily grow bored has given them the reputation of being uncaring or even unfeeling.
In truth, Nur simply does not care for the formalities of society. Sure, they care deeply about their work, but so too do they care about their friends and close ones. But they struggle to get these feelings across- language and society have too many unseen rules, and Nur has found it easier to express their affection either through actions, or through the stories they tell.
- I told you I would do anything for you- what more do you need?
- Nur! We were 11 when you said this! We're almost adults now!
- So what? I never said I stopped caring. I don't know why you thought I did.
Apperance
Nur Zakmin is human with dark brown skin and deep earthy eyes, with silk thick and wavey black hair tied in braids and worn up underneath a headscarf. Their body is covered in many burn scars, remnants from their childhood, but their skin feels cold as a Dhülha morning. This and their eyes are the mark of Kirïal the Silent, whose sign they were born under.
Children
Nice character! That sounds like a fun life, getting to travel wherever they want and write down anything they find interesting :D Are they paid by the temple for this role or do they depend on people's generosity? I like the detail of orphan giving up their family name. Could they just retake it when they become adult or do they have to choose something new? More random questions: Were they treated any differently for bearing the sing of a god? Does that sign do anything? Like grant them the favour of the god, or give them an aptitude for music/poetry? Do they accept to join any group of adventurers who invite them? I imagine with how popular they are, there must be a lot! Do they have criteria or preferences to select them? Particular group of people in general they're more interested in getting to know?
Thank you for the kind words and the detailed questions! I answered most of them in tooltips, but I'll give you a brief summary :) Mythseekers rely mostly on the charity of temples, and they have to find other ways to make coin to afford inns and the like. Luckily for them, they are considered to be wise and knowledgeable people, so their services are often in demand (kind of like "oh i have a problem. you there you are smart please fix it"). Orphans rarely take new names, mostly because there is a power in choosing your own name. There are a few exceptions of course, but most orphans (be they abandoned or parent-less) will jump on the occasion of choosing their name once they are adults. People are not treated very differently when you bare the sign of a god. Its a bit more of a superstitious thing, like "cold hand means kirial likes you" and "blue eyes means argus favours you", that kind of deal. Sometimes though some people have very "intense" marks, like their fingers looked like they were dipped in gold, or they are born with white hair. This is kind of another level of mark which will for sure attract attention. Nur kind of just goes wherever their attention is drawn- it really depends on how they feel about specific people, and how interesting it looks like it will be. They spend a lot of time travelling alone as well- people are not always a company they enjoy, because people are hard. There, long comment answer, but thanks again for your really wonderful feedback!