Sundancer El-Ni

Written by jmann154

When a boy grows to be a man, and the influences of his life leave him without answers, what is there to do but find them? Before El-Ni was a Sundancer, he was a thief, a scoundrel, and a sellsword. A voyage at sea changed this. His mind would be shaped by the many tasks El-Ni accomplished to become the legend he would be known as. El-Ni's legacy is a lesson to all the people of A'h Enfrys: Nobody is above saving, and anybody can be a hero with the right motive and encouragement.

Physical Description

Facial Features

Many considered El-Ni's perfectly symmetrical face, keen eyes, and hairless head to be offputting, but among Enfrysians it carries a different meaning. El-Ni's skin was the embodiment of perfection; no hair, no blemishes, a beauty untarnished by the world until his last breath. He was also generally gaunt and thin, a conditioned opposed by the power granted by being a Bios Agent.

Special abilities

As a powerful Oathbound, El-Ni's physical prowess rivalled that of the Giant Clans while still maintaining the supernatural poise and agility of a street performer. He could also use paralytic magic to capture his opponents, though his aspect of him is hidden from the public.

Apparel & Accessories

As a Sundancer, El-Ni wore a gold plating over an enchanted gold chestplate and pauldrons. A fur coat helps protect against the biting winds and freezing winters of A'h Enfrys. His red and gold colour scheme stood out from the public, marking him clearly of a higher station.

Specialized Equipment

El-Ni carried two blades at all times, one of polished silver and the other of black cobalt. These two blades signify his dedication to the Bios, with the silver blade (the Dawnblade) representing the absolution of the sun and the black blade (the Duskblade)representing the chaos of the moon. He also carried a book of scripture to help and educate anybody in need.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

El-Ni was born with the name "Ferinaer of Eyen Thii", a coastal city that has since fallen to plague. He grew up among the ruffians and organised crime that filled the city, earning his name as a natural enforcer. When the Bios Agency rooted out the crime syndicate, Ferinaer was granted a second chance, a second chance he squandered.
He became a travelling sellsword. For years he earned a living through violence and protection services. At one point, he was hired to protect a young ambassador on his voyage to another country. After two days at sea, they faced a band of pirates, from which Ferinaer fought off mostly on his own. Instead of leaving on an escape boat when most of the crew were killed off in the attack, Ferinaer manned the ship made up the difference by doing the job of twenty men on his own. Throughout their voyage, the ambassador read aloud from Bios scripture and spoke passionately on their philosophy. When a sea monster swallowed Ferinaer whole, he killed it from the inside, cut his way out, and swam back to the ship. When the land was finally in sight, a sudden storm capsized the ship, and Ferinaer swam, carrying the ambassador to the shore. When they finally reached the shore, it was revealed that the ambassador was secretly Nightbringer Fel-Ta, a chaos-orientated Bios Recruiter, and they had travelled in one great circle. In a moment of profound realisation, Ferinaer joined the Bios Agency. He had realised that he would never find actual companionship or meaning in being a mercenary and that living life "to the fullest" meant more than drinking and fighting. From that point onward, he would no longer be a sword for hire; he would be a hero.
When he joined the Bios Agency, he swore the Agent's Oath and renounced his past. He forswore the name Ferinaer and became Sundancer El-Ni. As a Bios Agent, he was widely respected and feared across A'h Enfrys. His story of overcoming great struggle became a legend taught to children and adults alike. The word of his ascension sent shockwaves through Eyen Thii and the criminals who lurked therein. Some of his old associates begged at his feet for a second chance, a second chance he ensured they would not squander. Through his years he worked to establish Eyen Thii as an actual city, rather than a den of thieves and vagrants. 
Old age did not spell doom for El-Ni as it would for an ordinary man, he lived long into his eleventh decade and still looked and fought like a young man. However, his boldness grew too much for him, and his work began to hinder the Sanguine Tribunal. It was not long until El-Ni, a hero of a legendary tale and a man of great strength was found dead in the early hours of the morning. Each storyteller describes his death differently, some claiming it was the work of the Tribunal's elusive patron, an assassin of equally mythic proportion, whereas some claim it was a small army of assassins that El-Ni took most of with him. Whatever the case, he was dead.

Accomplishments & Achievements

El-Ni found most of his accomplishments aboard the Tide's Kiss, assisting Nightbringer Fel-Ta in a series of nautical challenges. Facing pirates, sea monsters, and storms, El-Ni was stalwart through them all. While people like to focus on his battle against pirates or the slaying of a Spawn of Archonthyle, a many-armed sea beast, his mettle was tested most in the aftermath of the pirate battle. When El-Ni chose not to flee the ship and instead to man the ship mostly on his own, he showed a dedication to getting the job down that was unheard of among regular mercenaries. It was at that moment that Nightbringer Fel-Ta was certain El-Ni had the spark of greatness inside him.

Failures & Embarrassments

El-Ni considered most of his youth an embarrassment. He ran with a poorly crowd and learned his skills from the wrong people. When he was granted a fresh start in neighbouring city Asyna Thalor, El-Ni went right back to smuggling and theft. It is one of the few failures in El-Ni's life, and is one of the only circumstances El-Ni actually regretted, believing the others were a "practical learning experience".

Personality Characteristics

Savvies & Ineptitudes

El-Ni was a master swordsman, but among other things, he also learned skills in oration. Most of a Bios Agent's job is conflict and conflict resolution, and the skills he learned from the Agency only reflect this.

Vices & Personality flaws

El-Ni's youth was full of problematic habits. Before he changed his name, El-Ni was prone to violence and distant from society. After he joined the Bios Agency, the innate magic of swearing the Agent's Oath seemed to strip that weakness from him. He went from violent to pacifistic, distant to engaged. Later in life, it seemed El-Ni was flawless.

Social

Family Ties

While nothing is known of El-Ni's parentage, his descendants continued into three prominent families; the unofficial Stalasi family, the Eruniir, and the Ayfros. These families have since spread across A'h Enfrys and uphold their public image. Most of the Stalasi family are hereditary members of the Bios Agency, but their theology forbids family names so it is only through the few family members who elected not the join the Bios that carry the surname. The Eruniier family began a business of protection services in Northern A'h Enfrys. The Ayfros family align themselves with the military and are split between weaponsmiths and masons. There were originally more family lines, but many grew distant and could not be as easily traced as the aforementioned three.

Religious Views

While El-Ni always followed the Bios theology of cosmic balance, it was not until he took up the organisation's mantle that he shaved his head and committed to it. As a Bios Agent, El-Ni believed in a careful balance between law/safety and chaos/freedom. For this reason, few trusted him in communities as they did not know if his commitment meant he would sporadically commit crimes just to disturb the natural order to encourage growth. However, as a Sundancer, his role is more to establish law in uncivilised areas, whereas Nightbringers keep said law in check.

Social Aptitude

In his early years, El-Niwas socially distant and was snappy when addressed. However, after taking on a Bios mentor, he became more charismatic and extroverted, picking up skills in oration and calm discussions. Later in life, he was regarded as generous and would talk for hours if he got excited.

Speech

El-Ni spoke in a soft, soothing tone as if there was nothing that worried him. His voice was always perfectly calm and level in spite of the great dangers usually present. He speaks with the usual phrases of other Bios Agents, such as bidding farewell with "Sky guard you" during the day and "Shadows guide you" during the night and speaking in aphorisms.

Honorary & Occupational Titles

El-Ni's focus was returning of law to the land, and as such earned the title Sundancer.

Life

516 633 117 years old

Circumstances of Death

Assassinated by the Sanguine Tribunal

Birthplace

A'h Enfrys

Gender

Male

Eyes

Wide and perceptive, golden irises

Hair

Fully shaven; no body hair

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Extremely pale, flawless skin

Height

6'2" (1.8m)

Weight

151 lbs (64 kg)

Quotes & Catchphrases

"My sacrifice will ensure this world grows stronger tenfold. Can you say the same?"

alleged final words to the Sanguine Tribunal

Aligned Organization

Bios Agency

Known Languages

All