Apollo

• The world, and exploring it
• Flowers of all kinds
• Animals/etc. Birds, in particular
• Grapes
• Carpentry
• Spriggans

• Sitting still for too long (Unless it's with Hyacinthus)
• Stuffy meetings
• Giving up or seeing others give up
• Hurting others. This includes creations
• Being called short
• Being on healing duty

• Carpentry and Carving - One of Apollo's most regular pastimes from a young age. Apollo is the pioneer of some instruments still used to the modern day.
• Written Word - Writing poetry is one of Apollo's main passions.
• Whisperer - He's a natural at handling animals and knows a lot about a staggering amount of animals.
• White Liar - Making up cover stories is something Apollo is both good at and is forced to do regularly. (The "Grapes" incident was a cover story. His true goal was to protect the people. The grapes were a convenient excuse; he does like grapes, and people expect eccentric actions out of him. Those of Amaurot have a very non-confrontational mindset and often refuse to intervene and help others outside of the city.)
• Planner - Quick thinker, creative, can make up plans on the fly. Sadly not the best at communicating these plans, requiring other parties to simply trust in him.

History

In Delos, a townland but a breath away from the towering heights of Amaurot, lived a lonely young boy by the name of Apollo. His parents were dedicated, hardworking and overachieving individuals, yet he, bless his soul, had not a scrap of talent for the art of creation magic; a magic which was held as paramount in one's worth (At least, as far as Delos and his parents were concerned.) As such, they had little time for him, and his peers, likewise, scorned him for his inability.

Rejected by those around him, Apollo took to the outskirts of the town on days he felt especially lonely. There, he would speak with the lights he would see on the outskirts of the town where the air was crisp yet quiet. One afternoon, a strange woman happened across him there and, unlike the other adults, she knelt down to speak at his level, and seemed to take an interest in what he was doing. Not wanting to disappoint the nice woman, Apollo did not tell her about his inability, and instead talked about the lights. It was then she, herself, revealed what she understood about them: they were elementals, and although some of them were created, there were mysteriously many of which spontaneously came to be and, additionally, were notoriously fickle. She mused that Apollo must be something special for them to favor him and be so kind to him, which caused him to burst into tears, believing he didn't deserve such high praise while also being moved that someone would finally say something kind about him.

During the months that followed, the woman, who revealed herself to be the Seat Of Azem, impulsively decided to take Apollo to become her apprentice. Though flabbergasted by such a request, his parents accepted an offer from the esteemed Convocation right away. Apollo, equally as confused as he was delighted, became Azem's first, and only, apprentice.

However, he was still but a child, and the work of Azem was dangerous indeed. Explaining that while she would love to have him by her side from the beginning, it would take some time before he was ready to journey at her side. She introduced him to one of her closest companions, Watcher*, who would be his caretaker whenever she could not bring Apollo with her.

(Due to The Watcher not having a given name, I will simply use his title as his name.)
For the first time in his life, he flourished, and no longer did that timid, easily startled child remain. Through both Azem and Watcher's teachings and training, Apollo discovered that although his creation magic was abysmal, his elemental magic was astounding. He began to pour his efforts into mastering this craft, as well as learn how to defend himself so he could travel with Azem as soon as possible.

Watcher, becoming concerned as he observed the young boy fixating on this while having no friends his own age, began to push for him to play more and more frequently. Though Apollo insisted he did not need anyone but he and Azem, Watcher argued that they were often busy and Apollo could use some company. It is during these play sessions that he meets Hythlodaeus and Hades; the two friends who would remain at his side for countless years to come.

Early into the Ancient equivalent of his young adult years, returning from an excursion with Azem, Apollo bumped into a man his age tending to the newly constructed plant nursery. As the man glanced in Apollo's direction, he found himself so stunned he ended up tripping into one of the gardens. Though the man came to scold him, the worry in his voice betrayed his supposed intention. Laughing, though more flustered that he expected, he apologized for ruining one of their gardens while also asking for the man's name. After a sigh of...relief or frustration, Apollo couldn't tell, as he oft received many of both, he introduced himself as Hyacinthus.

As time passed, Apollo found himself completely drawn to Hyacinthus and would make a number of excuses to go and see him, ranging from saying he was just passing by to bringing Hyacinthus plants he found on his travels. Though it took some time, thanks to his closest friends, Hythlodaeus and Hades, he realized he had a crush on him. It was a new and exciting feeling, one which he seized and did all he could to make his feelings known- of which eventually Hyacinthus responded in kind.

Alas, years later, Hyacinthus' health severely declined. Having a rare condition that prevented healing magicks from working on him, they eventually exhausted all of their medical and herbal treatments.

After his death, Apollo grieved for a long time, completely shutting himself away from the world. Though his loved ones all tried to coax him out, Hades and Hythlodeaus, in particular, made a daily effort to speak with him through his closed door, even without response. Eventually, Hades couldn't take enabling it anymore and burst the door down, embracing Apollo and refusing to let go until he cried his heart out.

Despite this, it still took some time before Apollo was ready to face the world again, but he felt comforted knowing that although his friends could not understand his pain fully, (given that in this world the end of one's life was normally a choice, a choice Hyacinthus was denied,) they were still there for him every step of the way.

Apollo revealed that while grief was one aspect keeping him inside, the other was a special project he was working on- a creation, a flower, in Hyacinthus' honor. His friends looked at one another, knowing of their friend's ineptitude for creation, and offered to lend him their strength when the time came. After numerous failed attempts, Apollo accepted their assistance, so long as he led the process. Together, they created the Hyacinth, which allowed Apollo to finally come to terms with the loss and get the closure he desperately needed.

From that day forward, knowing Hyacinthus would hate to see him so dour, Apollo swore to live every day of his life to the fullest in his memory. Looking to the horizon, his greatest hope was that someday, perhaps in another life, they would meet again.

The Fourteenth Seat of the Convocation: Azem

WIP/TBC

• Apollo dislikes ranged combat, and feels he has more control up close.
• He finds it difficult to calm himself down. He usually has to leave and cool off elsewhere.
• Apollo's DOB/Star Sign/etc is listed as "Unknown" due to FFXIV not having a clear calendar system for the Ancient version of Etheryis. Typically, when I conceptualize a character, their birthday is listed as the date I first created/drew them. This means that, as I completed 5.3 on the 6th of August, purely by some unbelievable coincidence, Apollo shares the exact same birthday with his reincarnation; Noa'li.