Ruko
The Leviathan Turtle, Ruko
Ruko is a Dragon Turtle, an enormous turtle whose shell is a moving island. He is an immortal creation of The Masked One, and the island on his back houses a spectral city. The gnarled vegetation curls through dozens of ethereal buildings of a dozen styles, and ghosts of all sorts and sizes flutter by. A material town inhabited by living people sits on one side of the island, complete with a little paper mill, printing press, and fishing port. This town is the headquarters of the Exorcist's Guild, and the spectral city is the receiving party for their magical paperwork. For any who deliver the proper paperwork to Ruko's spectral city can exorcise any ghost, no matter how far away.
As a person, Ruko is an old, cranky creature with a fierce demeanor and a gentle heart. He spends most days in a trance, simply swimming through the endless oceans. He travels the oceans of the world to prevent any one group from claiming him as their own, but he always makes sure that he is in reach of the Exorcists that rely on him to keep the world in balance.
He is a lonely creature whose deep and somber songs can be heard for miles across the ocean. The Exorcists and ghosts of the island keep him company when they can, but they are so busy and their lives are so brief. The other Immortals are so self important and manipulative that he has grown tired of their company. Every decade or three, Ruko returns to Stildane to meet with someone in his age range: Ustav, the ancient spirit of the land. Ruko also has a penpal in the crystal immortal of Mavara, though the two have never met in person.
Sailors and aquatic folk alike see Ruko as a guardian of the seas. Many have washed upon his shell when shipwrecked or wounded, and he has sent them on their way. But harass or intimidate him and he will strike with fury until you are gone.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Ruko was created in the Northern seas and raised by the ghosts on his back. They toured the coast, seeing the sights and talking for many years, but some of these ghosts eventually passed on and were replaced. Their replacements were nice enough, but Ruko felt the first tinges of loneliness. He lingered near mortal settlements, seeking excitement to fill the grief in his heart. The folk he talked to said that the biggest cities were down Southeast in Stildane, and so there he went. Unfortunately for him, Stildane was in the depths of a continent-wide crisis known as the Cursed Storms. Not quite the excitement Ruko was looking for.
Ruko soon encountered the legendary adventurer, Ustav, who came seeking help with a great storm of mutated spectres. The two began fast friends afterwards, and Ruko decided to settle down off the coast for a while. Ruko watched as Ustav transformed into his enigmatic, monstrous final self - and instead of leaving Ustav to revel in the chaos, Ruko kept near to try and care for his companion. Ustav's mind stabilized and after Ustav's temple-palace was destroyed by the Kivish, the two began living together off the coast.
Ruko hid off the coast of Stildane and Suneka for centuries. Ustav eventually moved out to embrace his relationship with the land, but the two remained close. Other mortals came and went, and established the Exorcist's Guild with Ruko's help.
But, in the 900s ME, Ruko's kindness and consistency made him an easy target for would-be conquerors. Sunekans, Kivish, and cult leaders alike began ambushing him across the coast and endlessly needled him to move into their territory. Some of them got quite violent. Ustav started avoiding him, to escape these pursuers. Stildane stopped being a home and started being a prison.
Ruko was reminded that he didn't have to stay by a group of wayward Solars, who had escaped kidnapping and asked Ruko for help migrating South. These solars encouraged Ruko to travel the world and meet with other solar groups, who are long-lived and well-traveled as well. This led to Ruko finally meeting the Gods Haru, Suwota, and Aysha.
For a century, Ruko tried joining this 'Immortals Club', but he joined at a very awkward time. Tension between Aysha and Suwota was at an all-time high, and they both seemed to be competing for his friendship. Every blessing they gave him seemed to come with some catch, and he started getting pestering calls from representatives of The Lunar Pantheon that saw him as a potential ally. That Ruko didn't have an empire or great magical powers seemed to constantly disappoint and frustrate his new friends. Ruko's mental health was faltering.
So Ruko went to Ustav for advice. The old ghost welcomed Ruko back and encouraged Ruko to leave these divine politics behind. After Suwota tried to pressure Ruko into joining her crusade and went so far as to use mind-effecting magic, Ruko realized Ustav was right. Better lonely than in these relationships that made him miserable.
And so Ruko has wandered, now the better part of a millennia, lonely and alone. But not miserable. And never cruel.
Divine Classification
Immortal
Year of Birth
500 DE
2520 Years old
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Aligned Organization
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