Sterling Meriwether
arcade_test
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- 1 year, 8 months ago
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Sterling Clarke-Meriwether
EVERYBODY FINDS LOVE
In the end
[Please note - this character is played in a homebrew tabletop game based on several Final Fantasy titles. While information such as locations (ie. Burmecia) exist within this setting, they are vastly different from those found in the original games.]
Sterling is distant, secretive and incredibly academic. He speaks in an austere manner, preferring precise motions and plans. However, he understands that one of his main passions in life, magic, is often difficult to predict, especially when it comes to the nature of unknown catalysts and spells.
As the Archmage of Burmecia, he is something of a government funded scientist, researching how aether and related schools of magic. While in a position above mages found within his kingdom, his position of Archmage is not regarded as highly as those of the Dreamseers and the dragon knights, or dragoons. Dragoons are well respected as the slayers of dragonkin after a centuries long war, and the people of Burmecia have an abiding belief in the power of dreams and the potential to make them a reality. This has caused Sterling to be somewhat skeptical of dreams - preferring the tangible results of magic over what dreams can probably bring.
His personality is a product of cynicism brought on by the state of the world, and realizing that what few dreams he had would never come to fruition. Despite his prickly exterior, he finds great joy in small, fleeting things; particularly the happiness of others that he considers close friends - his affections for them are fierce and impassioned, to the point where he'd give his life for them. However, to most others, he's rude, short-tempered, and and even somewhat dismissive of other worldviews. Despite this, his demeanour seems to be slowly changing as he's left Burmecia to save his closest and oldest friend; the Star Sibyl.
Trivia
| DoB: | Nov 3rd | Element: | Ice |
| Constellation: | Scorpio | Colours: | Grey, steel blue |
| nATIONALITY: | Burmecian | Flower: | Edelweiss |
| Occupation: | Archmage | Motifs: | Rain, old books, snow, tea |
| Orientation: | Heterosexual (Supposedly) | Voice claim: | 🔊 |
MAGNETIC • JEALOUS • SECRETIVE • INTUITIVE
Likes
- Black tea with cream and sugar
- Books and libraries
- Arcanery
- Things above your pay grade
Dislikes
- Being called a rat or a mouse
- Heights
- Dragons and drakes
- Being touched
Moodboard
Apocalypsis Magnatus
Sterling was born to minor Burmecian nobles in his homeland of Burmecia. His mother, a talented dragoon, secured training for her young son once she was able. However, the young Sterling was quick to display a crippling fear of heights, making him unable to use the dragoon's famous attack; jumping. Despite this, Sterling also had a natural aetherical aptitude which was endorsed by his father, a royal knight of Burmecia's High Court.
As a young boy, he studied under Burmecia's Archmage, Angelus, becoming a mage within ten summers of his life. During his time within the castle, he quickly forged a bond with a young member of the Dreamseers - Milluda Neev'brea. Milluda, the descendant of the powerful St. Lahabrea, was to be the next Star Seer. This relationship was seen favorably by Burmecia's high courts as neither Sterling nor Milluda had companions or siblings their age, and each one could foster their interest and talents in magic. This inevitably led to the pair to get into trouble quite often. Milluda was strictly forbidden from leaving the castle due to her incredible creation-related powers coming into fruition, but this did not stop Sterling from indulging Miluda's thirst for adventure. The pair would attempt to sneak out of the castle, away from prying eyes, to see the world that they had only read about in books in their youth.
One night, Milluda and Sterling crept far out into the forests outside of Burmecia's castle to look for lunar flowers, blossoms that would only open after sunset. Milluda asked Sterling to be her knight and protector for the 'adventure' which the young magus was happy to accept, as he always had. While they waited for night to fall, Milluda's creation powers accidentally created a powerful, shadowy dragon that attacked the pair. Together, they were able to combat the beast, but not without receiving grievous injuries. Despite not being very physically inclined, Sterling carried Milluda back to the castle, where their relived parents and castle staff tended to the children's' wounds, and their adventures came to an end. From that night forward, Sterling saw himself as Milluda's protector (nevermind the fact that Milluda's eventual abilities far surpassed those of Sterling's own).
Growing up in the confines of Burmecia, Sterling would gradually become aware of the world outside of his country as well as the inner workings of the politics that ran its machinations. Dignitaries and other political figures would attempt to gain favor with the Star Sibyl, wishing to use her oneiromancy for their own ends. This, paired with Sterling's bittering relationship with his unstable mentor, Angelus, caused him to grow up into a rather acerbic, jaded mage who ultimately chose to keep to his family, Milluda, a handful of close friends, his ex-fiance, and himself. His talents would allow him to ascend to his station as Burmecia's Archmage when Angelus departed, allowing him to be at Milluda's side at any moment that she would allow him to.
In one of his rare travels outside of Burmecia's castle for further education, he met with a strange figure who taught Sterling some aspects of dark magic, particularly draining spells and the ability to see spirits of the dead. Another travel would bring him to the kingdom of the fae in Burmecia's highlands where he attempted to search for his former teacher. He didn't curry any favor with the strange magical beings, nor did he find what he wanted.
Since then, there have been many gossiping voices speaking of Sterling's true relationship with Milluda; the position of Star Sibyl demands a vow of chastity, and Milluda and Sterling's closeness only fostered rumours of the pair sharing a more carnal link (yet another constant annoyance that Sterling dislikes discussing). This small rumour transformed into a furious blaze of conspiracy as Sterling left his station within the castle to seek the Star Sibyl when she had gone missing during the shadow of an oncoming war.
His travels would find him as part of the "warriors of light" - an adventuring group that he at first reluctantly joined to find Milluda, but gradually warmed to as friends.
Design Notes
- His hair is long, silky, and black with noticeable grey hairs. In the past, he had a black mustache (which grew independently of his fur) but has recently shaved it off.
- The two pairs of earrings (small diamond-shaped glass beads) he wears are a gift from his mentor, Angelus, and he rarely removes them - only when bathing and sleeping.
- He prefers to have his head covered and only his eyes visible, like a traditional Final Fantasy black mage.
- While it appears as a glow under his hat, the 'glow' his eyes give off underneath his hat is actually tapetum lucidum.
- The staff he wields resembles the Vanargand.
- Sterling is occasionally seen with an eyepatch; this is a black mage tradition.
- Despite his mage background, Sterling's body is athletic, with visible muscle tone on his abdomen, chest and arms. This comes from a nervous habit he has of doing squats or push-ups when stressed, and a poor diet.
- He is missing a fist-sized patch of fur on the back of his left calf due to an accident with fire magic as a child.
Trivia
- Sterling speaks with a proper British accent (like his voice claim, Adam Coasdell's performance as Ignis) but will often punctuate his sentences with vulgarities.
- Sterling's relationship with Milluda is inspired by Ignis' devotion to Noctis in Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ignis.
- Sterling's failed relationship with his only fiancé is loosely based on the first marriage of Hergé to his first wife, Germaine Kieckens - though Sterling's ex-fiancé, Ofelia, does not have as much ire for Sterling as Germaine did for Hergé when they divorced.
- Due to this, Ofelia is likely one of the few people to truly understand the relationship Sterling has with the Star Sibyl.
- He is unable to see in colour. This is not a species characteristic.
- While not always depicted, Sterling has whiskers, and orange incisor teeth like feral rats.
- He has never bitten someone, but if he were to do so at a proper angle, he could likely sever a finger, ear, or tail.
- The hyphenation of his surname is from both his parents, though on most legal documents and in speech he omits the "Clarke" part of his name for brevity.
- Sterling has a particular hatred for dragons from his childhood adventure with Milluda. While it was her abilities that brought the dragon into existence, he blames dragons for "being frightening" and "traditional enemies of Burmecia" rather than blame Milluda.
- Despite his opinions on dragons, Sterling doesn't think they should be eliminated and that dragons "can live their lives" apart from him specifically.
- Sterling hates pranks, fey folk, and anything related to the realm of fae, as he does not find their arbitrary rules and sense of humour "conducive" to his affairs.
Milluda Neev'brea
[ Lifelong Companion - Hume Sorcerer]
Milluda Nee'vrea (Mi-mi, to Sterling) has been one of his only friends since his early childhood, fostering his love for magic, nature and adventure. True companions bonded by a connection that goes beyond that of romantic love, Sterling's affection for Milluda and his want of her happiness eclipses his own. Where one falters, the other is sure, when one has fears, the other is there to soothe them, and where one goes, the other is never far behind. She's the only one allowed to call him "Ster" - any others are threatened with immolation.
Despite rumours that fly about the pair, Sterling and Milluda have never held an equally romantic or even physical relationship. While Sterling had romantic feelings for Milluda in the past, he has set them aside as a childish impossibility, replacing these emotions with a ferocious promise to protect her.
Ofelia Courtlandt
[ Trusted Friend and former fiancé - Burmecian Dragoon]
The houses of Meriwether and Courtlandt hoped to forge a favorable marriage by attempting to pair Sterling with a young dragoon named Ofelia. While the pair had a heated fling born from Sterling's frustrations, the pair later parted after failing to maintain a romantic relationship for the better part of a decade. They parted amicably after many years of companionship and remain friends to this day, though nowhere near as deep and passionate as Sterling's relationship with Milluda. It is rumoured that Sterling's close bond with the Star Sibyl is what led to the demise of their relationship.
Angelus
[Mentor - Hume Mystic Knight]
Angelus was Burmecia's Archmage before Sterling took over their station. Sterling and Angelus' relationship as student and mentor was incredibly turbulent, with Angelus acting erratically and inappropriately toward their student, though details on what they had done to Sterling have been kept secret. Once they had trained Sterling to the best of their ability, they left suddenly without so much as a goodbye, vanishing to the highlands of the fae. Since Angelus had walked out of his life, Sterling has been desperate for some sort of closure with his former teacher.
Grey Brother
[Friend - Hume Summoner]
A Summoner from eastern lands, Grey Brother sought out Sterling to help tame his unusual aether when they were both teenagers. Despite Grey Brother's lack of formal education, the pair had many common interests, and maintain a friendship via letters to this day. It is a poorly kept secret that both of them had a fling as young adults that ended amicably.
Revfelkan Quetzalskar
[Teacher? - Au Ra Dark Knight]
Rev seemingly visited Burmecia on a whim. Dark Knights are not common in the kingdom, but Sterling sought the Raen as a newly stationed Archmage many years ago. Hat in hand, Sterling begged Rev to teach him how to speak to the spirits of the deceased. Rev was surprisingly, very eager to teach the young Burmecian what he wanted, though Sterling didn't perfect this ability until much later. The Raen left Burmecia once his task had completed, and the pair continue to correspond via letters.
Y'Rhika Tia
[ Adventuring Companion - Miqot'e(?) Dancer]
At first, Sterling simply assumed that the Miquot'e dancer was just like every other shifty nightclub employee - out to broker information and scam him. However, as Y'Rhika further embroiled themselves in Sterling and Aki's quests, they proved themselves not only a trustworthy ally, but someone as lost and confused and as angry as he is. The root of Y'Rhika's distrust came from the fact that they were actually a Jumi in disguise, and Sterling had very little knowledge of Jumi. The pair bonded over their travels by exchanging secrets (and sometimes punches) and perhaps, sharing the most trauma. By the end of Sterling's path, he had the most respect for Y'Rhika out of the group for their convictions.
Akihiro Quartzshield
[ Adventuring Companion - Lupin Paladin]
Similarly to Y'Rhika, Sterling presumed that Akihiro was both untrustworthy and a dullard. However, Akirhiro quickly proved not only his intelligence, but also his strength and bravery - defending every member of their party whenever they could. Sterling also found that Ahkihiro and himself had similar motives to leave their respective countries; both the Lupin and the Burmecian disliked the state of their homes and countrymen, but also believe in the capacity for both to change. While Sterling never got the chance to tell Akihiro this, Sterling admired the Paladin's strength, kindness, and moral qualities. The Burmecian truly believed that Aki had the power but also the compassion to change his homeland for the better on his own.
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