Aldric Syltharis

Prince Aldric Syltharis (a.k.a. Al)

Species

Human,
Divine Descendant

Ethnicity

Mixed Eluzian

Age

16 years

Class

Royal,
Crown Prince
of the
Kingdom of Accia

Status

Training in the
Accian Military Training Program

Division

Infantry and Command,
Close-to-Mid Combatant

Birthplace

Accia,
Kingdom of Accia

Weapons

Sword and Shield
Bow

Residence

Accia

Affiliations

Kingdom of Accia
Syltharis
Accian Military Training Program
Unit C210-Royal Unit

Racial Magic

Ithisda's Body

by Lee Stepp

Ithisda's Body allows Aldric to convert his entire body into liquid water. While he can maintain his human shape in this form, he is also able to freely manipulate his shape or merge into any freshwater in his environment (but not salt water), travel along it and

reform elsewhere. He can move around or interact with surroundings in whatever way water can. However, anything that damages, alters or destroys water will harm him or even destroy his flesh similarly to a Form manifestation. He must reform into human shape before converting back. This is an extremely rare ability which is considered the ultimate expression of Ithisda magic.

Vokda's Aura

Vokda's Aura allows Aldric to generate or summon void. This can be in the form of a void pocket, expanding void or concentrated void. Concentrated void can be used to generate void shields for

by Lee Stepp

protection while expanding void can be used to destroy on its own or to create void blade. Shields and weapons eat up energy more quickly than pockets.

Aldric is the crown prince of the Kingdom of Accia but he will play a pivotal role in the life of Tia Minx as well. In the beginning, neither have much to do with each other as Tia Minx and Aldric Syltharis. However, due to a fateful encounter, they wind up becoming secret friends like Tia had when she lived in Nippon. They become very close, meeting in secret nearly every night to talk about their troubles freely, without knowing who the other is.

Because of who Aldric is and the incredible expectations placed upon him, he has come to act, behave and appear in very specific ways—a unique form of masking. Whether this is public appearances, interactions with other people of political importance or even with those he considers his close friends, Aldric takes on the persona of who he has been raised to be. He also keeps everyone at arms length and, despite constant social interaction, has developed his own form of loneliness. His only close friend is Florio Espina but even this has its limits because of their positions. So, when he starts this peculiar form of friendship with Tia, neither of them knowing each others real identities, it is a massive relief and thrill to be able to drop his constant facade.

While acting as prince, Aldric is composed, dignified, adaptable, clear-headed, polite, detached and has worked diligently on his ability to form a positive relationship with everyone he meets. While he can be cold and expectant from trying to imitate his father, he has a rapport with each and every house heir, save Tia as she arrives just before assessments. Despite his reservations about the romantic intentions of the female royals and

how he despises their ambitions, he still tries to form relationships of respect with all other royal heirs that have been recruited with him. Despite all of these connections, only a handful of people are close to him and he has many automatic habits to maintain this emotional insulation. He also has a marked discomfort and frustration with romance, something that has begun to come between him and Florio. Given their age, many of his peers are focused on romantic pursuits. Aldric finds himself uncomfortable with doing so as his romantic future seems plotted out for him already, fated to marry politically for the sake of the kingdom's stability, surrounded by and constantly pursued by the intended options.

Underneath the facade, Aldric is much softer, more altruistic, earnest, warm, compassionate, loyal and laid back of a person. He enjoys reading, experiencing the natural beauty of Accia and taking part in cathartic activities when he can get away with it. He also has a number of troubles and burdens he struggles to work through, such as the death of his mother which everyone else seems to have moved past. He has dreams for Accia that are far more peaceful and innovative than his father has taste for, keeping them to himself for fear of losing his father's respect. He dreams of a country without constant war or domination and one where his people can pursue happiness without the constant loss of life that has become normalized for them. While a capable fighter, Aldric prefers diplomacy. He also possesses a strong empathy and sympathy for those around him, grasping peoples struggles and how it affects their motivations and actions—even the worst of people. And while a simpler life would bring him peace, he feels the weight of responsibility presented to him and strives to use his opportunities for those he has come to care for.

Aldric possesses a rare racial magic, Ithisda's Body. Ithisda's Body is a magic inherited by descendants of Sylthari mixed with Accian blood. Because of this, it runs in his family frequently. However, it has been a long time since the celestial blood has been renewed in

the Syltharis line. Aldric's grandmother was the last before him to inherit Ithisda's Body and he did not inherit the other typical characteristics—he may very well be the last Syltharis with enough celestial blood to inherit Ithisda's Body. His father inherited none of the characteristics or magic.

When fighting, Aldric prefers to wear his opponents down. He is able to summon void including creating a space with less or no oxygen called a void pocket, blades which can cut anything and impenetratable shields , all of which is invisible to enemies! He stalls opponents while the lowered oxygen wears them down, projecting his aura into his ordinary sword and shield and making himself seem invincible without broadcasting his magic. He doesn't go onto the offensive until his opponent has exhausted themselves. Aldric isn't afraid to use Ithisda's Body to evade attacks which cut into holes in his defense but only converts whatever part of his body is in the path of the given weapon, masking his actual magic and passing it off as a Slip manifestation. Only when he is pressed into a corner does Aldric go all out, using his magic to its fullest extent, capable of either drowning an opponant with his water or suffocating them in a space-like void. Aldirc has had the best trainers availbable over the course of his life so fighting comes naturally to him.

Physical Appearance

Aldric is tall, broad shouldered and husky for a teen. While physically fit, he is chubbier than many peers his age, most teen warriors lean or even lithe. However, his father has him wear an enchanted ring which alters his appearance to be more princely. The noble heirs believe Aldric outgrew his baby fat while traveling in the previous year. Aldric has striking emerald green eyes and wavy black hair. His true face is a bit broader than his disguise and he has less classically handsome features. Since the ring adjusts his appearance, he often goes without shaving or cutting his hair. His magic form, when not converted into water, is azure from head to toe. Pitch black stripes mark his whole body as well, including his eyes which go completely black with blue sclera.

Gender

Cis Male
(He/Him)

Eyes

Emerald Green

Hair

Black, Long
and Wavy

Skin Tone

Pale Ivory

Height

5'10"

Weight

185 lbs

Enchantment

King Ambrose had Allmage Annie Nash construct an enchanted ring which would alter Aldric's appearance very specifically. It would make him resemble Ambrose at his age, much more slender and traditionally handsome as he feels a prince ought to look. He claims this is to better Aldric's chances of securing an engagement with one of the princesses placed into his unit and make him seem more dignified. It can be uncomfortable for Aldirc to wear the ring for long periods of time but while wearing it, his appearance is precisely as designed.

Aldric has discovered he doesn't need to cut his hair or shave with the ring on and often goes without doing so. He still has to have Annie readjust the ring every few weeks as he continues to grow, being a teenager.

Background

by Lee Stepp

Aldric has always felt the weight of responsibility throughout his life. Whether by cautious grooming or never ending expectations. Ever had he felt his father's eye, always assessing his worth but never seeming quite good enough. He would have preferred and been happier with a simple life but he knows others would kill for the influence and ability to change the world which will one day fall to him. However, what has burdened him the most is the loneliness of his role, the barrier or emptiness lingering between he and all around him. The necessity of it. He has even been forced to abandon friendships which meant the world to him simply because they weren't considered suitable.

Aldric used to be quite close to his mother, she was one of the few people who was real and vulnerable with him—his sole human connection. She died shortly after giving birth to his little sister Abigail. He struggled to cope with her death and as he failed to get over this as quickly as Ambrose had expected, his father sent Aldric away to travel and get away from the capital so he could grieve without prying eyes. It was Florio's family he travelled with, strengthening his bond with Florio over this period. He still never fully got over his mother's death but he pretends to have so as to save face and not disappoint his father. He also hadn't thinned out as his father had hoped he would. With Ambrose's plans to marry Aldric off into a political marriage, he began expecting Aldric to wear an enchanted ring in public which altered his appearance to appear more princely, trying to make him seem more appealing to potential fiances. The other heirs assume Aldric lost weight during his travels or simply know better than point out the change in his appearance.

Personality

Aldric is sharp and observant, having a very honed ability to read people. He has a kind heart and is easily wounded, tending to push away anyone who gets too close in order to protect himself even when it does more damage than good. He is a man of many facades, losing himself in these personas in order to build rapport or maintain the expected level of respect a prince ought to invoke. He has a soft spot for people who are earnest, quirky and altruistic even when he doesn't show it. He is far more altruistic himself than he lets on, holding bright hopes inside until his time comes to enact them. Of course he didn't grow up royal and have no marks of such. He can be judgemental, snooty, assume the worst of certain people, be preferential and carries a number of prejudices despite his attempts to dismantle them. He can be stiff and cold and severe, very difficult to approach. It is only Tia's ability to cut right through all of his defenses with her candid, acerbic nature who seems able to pierce his heart.

Trauma

Aldric has developed considerable insecurity over his actual appearance, forced to don a disguise in public. His father has always been critical of Aldric, whether his appearance or his softness. Aldric assumes his father's cold shoulder and harsh words are his way of readying Aldric for the throne but deep down he knows something is amiss. He unwittingly lies to himself, desperate to become what his father wants from him. He will struggle under his father's shadow, even long after he passes away. He will struggle to be his own man and not make the same mistakes his father fell into. To be the king Accia needs and an ally who can be counted on, even if his heart is out on the line. He will need to learn to drop the facade, the man his father tried to force him to be, or fall into the same rut.

Romance

As a prince, Aldric has always known a political marriage awaited him and this became increasingly imminent as his father took more interest in diplomatic alliances. Despite this, Aldric always adored reading romantic fantasy if not actual romances. He and Florio became close friends over this shared interest, dreaming of the day they would find their own exciting adventure. However, as various acceptable matches for him were introduced, rather than finding an exciting romance he has simply been smothered in disingenuous and ambitious young woman. He has developed a revulsion for these zealous suitors and had sworn off romance. Until Tia barged into his heart.

Tia and Aldric, or Tsuki and Al, meet up with each other nearly every night as secret friends. In this arrangement, Aldric has been allowed to be his true self without reservation. Tsuki is candid, earnest and vulnerable in ways he has never encountered given who he is. Before he even realizes it, she has wormed past all of his

defenses and plucked up his heart, leaving him reeling for control of his runaway emotions. It scares him just as much as it thrills him. Unfortunately, he drags his feet and denies his feelings until it is too late. Another snatches her up and the waters of their friendship become more turbulent. Especially as events unfold and the secrecy of their relationship is ripped away. Aldric is forced to face all of his scars and his insecurities, all the while hoping to win Tia over as his true self. Not purely as the prince or purely her sweet Al. And hopefully he can learn to expose his true heart, because Tia will need her closest ally to face what lies ahead.

Flaws

He has a tendency to push away or preserve a distance between himself and those around him. Very few ever make it past these defenses to become close to him. Primarily, these are Florio, Abigail and Tia. He partially got this from observing his father but it is also a side effect of his connection to Vokda. These habits and defenses have developed in order to protect himself from the manipulations and disingenuous nature of those around him, seeking their own ends using him or attempting to gain his favor as prince. Sometimes, he takes this too far or has less control over these behaviors than he would like. He also has a habit of pushing away things that make him happy as these make it harder for him to prioritize the kingdom over himself and he can make himself miserable.

Hobbies

Aldric's favorite hobby is reading, particularly fiction, as a form of escapism. He enjoys being able to leave his identity behind for a period of time and getting lost in a good story. He enjoys various other forms of art for the same reason. He also has his own cat which wanders the castle.

Motivation

Aldric does all he can to live up the role he is expected to fill. He takes this very seriously even though a less complicated life would make him happier. He knows not everyone has the same opportunities to better the world and works hard to use his advantages responsibly. He wants to make Accia better in his future as well as more peaceful. Despite his composure, he doesn't look forward to the sacrifices he knows he will need to make as he gets older. Particularly in regards to marriage. He has always been a romantic at heart and laments he likely won't see anything his heart yearns for.

by Lee Stepp

Friends and Allies

Aldric's closest friend is Florio Espina but he is on good terms with all of the house heirs except for Leon. He can't stand Leon, merely tolerating his arrogant cohort. He often spends time with Florio, Danut and Faustin. Aldric used to be close to Albert Monet and while they seem to be on good terms, something clearly happened between them. Regret lingers in his eyes when he sees Albert alongside uncomfortable silence between them. Unlike most recruits, he does not like spending any more time with his unit, Unit C210, than he has to.

Unit C210

Organization | Jan 10, 2024

Aldric's Unit, most of their members royal. They each have unique and often devastating abilities.

Family

King Ambrose is his father and he has a single younger sibling, Princess Abigail. His mother died a few years prior and Abigail is still a toddler. Like all Syltharis, he descends from the Aethid Sylthari and Accia Syltharis but the celestial blood in him is especially thin. Sylthari has not returned to strengthen the line since the kingdom began its expansion. Aldric has a strained relationship with his father who is especially cold and distant, yet how can Aldric not look up to his father? Little does he truly understand about the Syltharis legacy.

by Lee Stepp

Aldric Syltharis

Prince Aldric Syltharis (a.k.a. Al)

Species

Ethnicity

Age

Class

Status

Division

Birthplace

Weapons

Residence

Affiliations

Racial Magic

Physical Appearance

Gender

Eyes

Hair

Skin Tone

Height

Weight

Al and Ithisda

Al Chibi

Al or Aldric?

Al without ring

Al's Smile

Aldric Close Up

Aldric Disguised

Aldric no Disguise

Aldric Syltahris' True Face