Aarcus Seraphim - Notes on Progress

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This will be mostly OCC while I determine if he will be played more often.

• Aarcus has been using his Long sword constantly, and also criticizes those who claim other weapons.
• Aarcus always presents himself as a humble servant of Toran, often citing mishaps and inconveniences as tests from Toran.
• He often bemuses a sense of weakness, particularly at not being able to feel what his mother described as Toran's constant presence.
• Seeks to prove himself to Toran, and often cites the truer purposes of Toran's calling to those who accuse him of bigotry and rashness.

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• Aarcus often finds himself in the company of people of different faiths, or no faith, yet always holds true to his faith in Toran.  He does often let on that he feels as if Toran is not watching him, and not favored by him.  He often turns it into motivation, however, saying that it (and any hardship he faces) to be a test given to him by Toran which he must pass.
• While he has had no formal training with his sword (besides anything his mother might have taught him) he find the longsword the perfect weapon, and believes it so because it is Toran's weapon.

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• Aarcus recently ran into Daniella Stormhaven, and the two talked about things including being self sufficent.
• Aarcus is in awe of the Paladins of Toran, but he also feels he doesn't deserve to be in their presence.  Daniella pointed out that right now Aarcus needs to worry about being able to help himself, before he can truly begin doing Torans work.
• Daniella also validated Aarcus belief that hardships in life are tests, but also pointed out that his current test is to see if he can take care of himself, though that he thought his armor problems were a test of patience wasn't said to be wrong either.

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• Aarcus has been practicing his sword skills on skeletons recently, as well as on the other denizens of Fort Vehl's crypt.

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• Due to his chat with Daniella he is a bit more confident.
• Aarcus led a group of Toran's friends and Allies into the Gloom woods and came across a Necromancer, which they fought and destroyed.
• With a new Iron Long Sword, Aarcus has been testing his skill against sturdier opponents.
• After a time spent with Voraxian Agmundr Nokkadrumbaer, the two spent some time in the Vehl Arena to practice their skills, Aarcus fighting defensively to counter 'Noks'' aggressive style.

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Aarcus rests in the Temple of Toran, watching the Paladin's spar.  For years he used to watch his mother train with the villagers they lived with, teaching the eager young men the ways of the sword.  He also would watch his mother cry when the bandits would come and the same brave young men would stand up for their home only to die due to inexperience.

He now wondered if he would be part of that tradition, being one of Toran's servants who in trying to help others would lead them unintentionally to death.

The recent battle in Hurix made him wonder more.  He arrived with the Army late to see any action, but he wondered what Daniella Stormhaven felt in the face of such an enemy.  Did she have any command there?  Did the heroes who stood by her listen to her?  What is it like to have Toran watching over you, answering your calls for help, guiding your sword to the hearts of his enemies?

And then a different feeling enters him...  Lilyvaen...  She was an Aeridinite, and a somewhat naive one, but she made Aarcus feel like he had a purpose.  He had to keep her safe, but not just from violence to her person, but to her mind.  She did not take battle well...

Suddenly an older Paladin taps Aarcus on the shoulder.  "Would you mind helping me, sir?  I've seen your swordwork and I was wondering if you could help me a bit with my footwork.  In exchange I'll teach you a trick I learned when I was young."

"I would be honored, Paladin."  Aarcus smiled and fumbled for his sword.  Never had he imagined a Paladin would ask him for help, but then he remembered the wise words of another Paladin...

"Right now, Aarcus, Toran wants to see that you can take care of yourself.  Prove that, and Toran will know you can serve him well."

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Recently Aarcus spent an evening training with Argos at the Fort Vehl arena.  At first they merely spared, metel against metel, which Aarcus was better at.  But Argos invoked Toran's power, and showed Aarcus what that could grant him.  Aarcus felt saddened by that.  Toran did not bless him so, despite his unwavering devotion, and yet Argos, someone younger then him, was blessed by it.  But it mattered little.  Aarcus learned what he could from the fighting, trying to pick up where his defense was weak, and how he could better strike his opponent.

Argos then took Aarcus aside to show him something Argos' father had taught him: how to knock an opponent down.  It was not something Aarcus felt was necessary, as he seemed uncivilized, but he was not so naive to think the evils of the world played by any sort of rules.  He followed Argos' instructions, and tried to imitate him as best he could against a practice dummy, but he also knew he was not ready to use it against an opponent.  He had no experience with the motions, and it was still clumsy.

His blade work did improve though, if slightly.  Days later he accompanied a rag-tag group through the Dragon Isles, among whom was his dear friend Lilyvaen.  They travelled far  across Caersin into the hills, following a creature called Daring, along with Miss Zarianna, a young Elf girl whom he had met previously.  They eventually came to a cave, but that was were Aarcus' skills were tested to the fullest.

And he came up wanting.  He was no match for the Minotaurs of those hills, and quickly fell when the group was overrun with them.  He did not fall in vain, however, as he managed to delay them enough for the others to escape.

Upon waking in Fort Vehl, with a massive headache, he decided one thing: that he would devote himself to his training and his weapon until he was sure he could truly master it's technique.

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In lue of a real post...

• Aarcus met Lance at the Fort Llast Temple.  Lance was tending to a wound and yelped, drawing Aarcus over to see if he was alright.  Lance then introduced himself and they started talking.
• Aarcus somewhat informally asked Lance for help with his sword work, after hearing about a how Lance used to train young knights and paladins.  Lance then asked why Aarcus wants to learn the sword so badly.
• Aarcus then told Lance his story, and how he doesn't feel Toran's hand on his shoulder to guide him.  He also knows he does not feel as if Toran grants him power, like he does Paladins (hence being a fighter).  He then explained that he feels he must prove his worth as a swordsman, like the Blade of Toran.  Lance warned him thought against being prideful and assuming that he (Aarcus) could become better then the Blade himself.
• Lance then took him to a grove on a hill/mountain side, where Lance has a shrine set up among two graves, one of a dead squire named Scott, and another of a goblin, named Big Juju, whom Lance encountered that desired to be good (according to Lance).
• Lance then asked to see Aarcus sword, and began to pray over it.
• Later Lance asked to see Aarcus' stance, then wanted to see what Aarcus would do in order to break through the guard of an opponent.  Lance then made suggestions as to what an opponent would do in response, as well as how to better protect yourself while still attacking.
• Lance then had Aarcus try to hit the same place on a tree ten times in a row, but he couldn't.  After a few hours they stopped.

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Aarcus opens an old brown covered book by Title "Thougths about Chivalry By Linus Swordshiner" that was lent to him by Lance Stargazer.
[INDENT]The knight must remain pure on his heart and deeds because such purity is the his best weapon against corruption that polutes the world, A knight must be noble an true to his words, he must think twice before act, and use the words first and the sword last, Act swift in the name of justice , but don't allow this a rash beheavior that brings chaos nor injustice, One of the most common faces of evil is sometimes virtue, the knight must learn to look with his heart and mind thru this disguise, a endevour only a true knight could achieve if he has faith as a shield.
[/INDENT][INDENT] Who need most of a Knight. A land invaded by raiders, or a litle girl with no parents. The answer of this is both, each in a particular way and perspective, The raiders will cause a great pain to a land and destroy goods and material matters, a knight must stand fast to defend the village and help them to stand defense for themselves, putting his life on the edge if it's needed, but in time the raids will be over, So we must know that the damage done to the village will pass soon and in time it will restored. The girl will need help of the Knight in a very different way, She has no inmediate physical threat, is her soul who is in danger, The knight must help her to not falling in madness and evil, The knight must teaches her and helping her into a good way of living, know this well Knight of Toran, that our god is good and just, he never refuses help to those who look at him. So the temple could help in this matter, The knight must help her to understand the joy of helping others, So she needed the help in a deeper way than then village, because if the soul of the girl is lost, it will be hard to recover it...
[/INDENT]Borrowed from Lance's CDT with his permission

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Travelling with an assorted band of 'do-gooders' while taking a reprieve from training, Aarcus gets tangled up in a hunt for Green Dragon Cultists.  Chasing them thanks to a set of wagon tracks, they travel across Mistone, always seeming just a few steps behind.  Eventually, however, they come across a group  of suspicious men, standing near a wagon full of barrels and a dying bison.  Perceiving no immediate threat, Aarcus simply kept watch for danger, until a companion, a Rofireinite, caused them to become slightly hostile.  And judging by their sneers and glares, he started to feel uneasy.  Hearing the sound of horses, Aarcus ran to get aide, and ended up finding a small regiment of fellow Toranites.  Informing them of what he had come across, he fell in line with his brethren and marched to investigate.

In the end Aarcus did very little more then watch as his comrades apprehended two of the Cultists, along with the contents of the wagon: more cultists.

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//Just adding a link here to point to Aarcus Training CDT: http://forums.layonara.com/development-journals-discussion/244502-valor-honor-aarcus-training.html