Castis Orlien
Castis Orlien
Castis Orlien
(kah'-stihs ohr'-li-ehn), , is a Ma'ab Human born to the extremely privileged First Flesh Caste of Ennikar, the Ma'ab Empire capital city located in The Far North.
Castis is a handsome example of his people, with fine features, dark eyes, and the black hair and speckle-free white skin of his people. He also possesses a similar height and size to other breeds of Humans, while also standing head and shoulders above the women of Ennikar.
However, Castis appears deceptively small when standing next to many of the military Bone Caste on account that his life has been easy compared to most, training as a civil mage in the First Flesh Caste of his parents rather than a battlemage of the Bone Caste.
Background
Despite his early potential and broad connections for one of the First Flesh to serve either the civil or military side of the Empire, Castis proved as a young man to be soft of ambition. Although he seemed highly interested in joining the Artisan's Archives, to better track the Ma'ab genealogy and monitor their fertility, his loss of focus seemed to coincide when his "lesser" childhood Flesh entered the Bone Caste at a much later age than most recruits.
His parents noticed Castis's aimless direction but held a powerful enough position to tolerate and protect him while he frequently changed his mind about his specialty or how his life would best serve the Spirit Caste of the Ma'ab.
"It's honorable that he seeks only the best for the Ascended," proclaimed his mother whenever subtle insults or jabs leaked from those in their own caste.
The way the small woman had smiled at him as she spoke made him feel ill.
"In any case, even a free-flowing Blood like him can still help three or four other mage-lines before he returns to the Ascended, easily!"
Young Castis didn't know what he was meant to be to the Spirits, but a brood stallion wasn't it.
Current
Kurn Divigna had been gone through three brutal winters, with only that one midnight visit to prove he still lived.
Soldiers die in training every day, even if they aren't aiming for the Hellhounds.
Fearing what he may find out one day, Castis buried himself in archives and accounting. He stumbled upon an intriguing trail of imbued gems under refinement by Blood sorceresses in the Bone Caste.
They create the magical weapons and tools for the military but are still Atwal, the Blood and Flesh of Ennikar…
If it seemed imminent that Kurn would join the Hellhounds, Castis would ask his mother if there were any apprenticeships with these sorceresses, if she could get him in. If they needed the lowest of jobs performed, he would do it if he might see Kurn attain his dream.
Perhaps I could help in some way to create his spiked chain…
Five more harsh winters – and just as many visits from his friend of the Flesh – would come and go before Castis determined this was not to be his long-sought-after path, either.
Yet, when Kurn next needed his help, more desperate now to find a way to live than they had ever been, Castis saw their solution among these same Atwal sorceresses.
He needs to leave. He is ready to leave.
And the life-destroying hag who'd just kicked Kurn out of where he belonged also possessed a ruby which could assure that escape.
For both of us.
Something Extra
Patreon exclusive content: Added secrets or insights about the Character. May include adult themes.3075 S.E.,
Atwal Enclave, Flesh Caste
Ennikar, capital city of Ma'ab Empire
The Far North
Affiliations
The Ascended of Ennikar
Artisan of Blood,
(aka the Divine Artisan)
Atwal (First) Flesh Caste of Ennikar, noble
3100 S.E., in the Midmountains
north of Troshin Bend
Parents
Roshelna Orlien,
Bloody Flesh Caste (mother)
Lohn Orlien,
Bloody Flesh Caste (father)
Siblings
unnamed
Mates
Kurn Divigna (unrequited)
Children
none
