Personality

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Friendly, kind, helpful. Naïve. Doesn’t handle rejection well.

Blunt – Though intelligent, Ichabod is not known for being charismatic. He is intensely blunt and straight to the point. While he is capable of using flowery language, it simply doesn’t interest him. Known for action over words.

Hard to Read – Ichabod developed a tough exterior as a result of his childhood. Though he is friendly, his face often gives the opposite impression. Instead, most are likely to view the bull as cold and rude until they get to know him.

Surprisingly vain, materialistic, and gluttonous. Enjoys the finer things in life, even if he’s only had a small taste of them. Shiny trinkets, well-brewed alcohols, and expensive fabrics delight him.

Proud of his magic, grades, and rank. Too proud to accept help when he most likely needs it.

Seeking to reclaim control over something – anything. Fearful of that same control.

148 words

History

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Nyeme, 1197. A healthy, yet hairless, child is born to military parents. Both mother and father are thrilled with the birth of their first son. They name him Ichabod. As the years go by, he is doted on, supported, and challenged by his parents. Often, one of them is away, tending to matters in far off Nyemenian cities or Ivras. Whenever they return, Ichabod listens to stories of “those wretched mages and their devilish magic.” Part of him is terrified of the mages, the other fascinated. He learns to ask questions in a way that reflects disdain and fear after his mother reprimands him once, and only once, for suggesting any support for them.

Nine years later, Ichabod has grown significantly already. He is much taller than most of his peers and his tail has elongated. His parents attribute the growth to their genes and his hairlessness and think nothing more on the subject. Soon, they focus on the increasing complaints their son has about headaches. The headaches turn into migraines. Ichabod is sent to doctors and healers, all in search of a cure, a reason. None is discovered. Ichabod is given medicine for the symptoms. Sometimes, without taking the medicine, and only when he stands stock-still, his migraines aren’t as painful.

Ichabod’s parents were still active military. They supported Nyeme with their whole hearts, minds, bodies, souls; they wanted the same from Ichabod. He was to be their legacy, better than them, a hero to Nymene. Whatever that meant, Ichabod would think. Still, he wanted to please his parents, to bring glory to Nymene. The young bull poured his attention into his studies. Friends were hard to come by. Though he tried, his odd, naked appearance made him more of a local freakshow and the main attraction for bullies. Ichabod took the rejection as well as the bullies took his punches. They left him alone, unlike his migraines, and Ichabod retreated into his schoolwork.

One morning, blinking through a splitting headache, Ichabod woke to his parents staring down at him. No, glaring down at him. “How dare you?” his father asked. He could see, surprisingly well, that his mother had tear stains down her face.

Namarest, 1208. Ichabod arrives on the steps of the Order. His parents, feeling betrayed by their own flesh and blood, turned him over to Ivras upon discovering an extra pair of eyes sitting atop his forehead. The oddity was more than enough to ship their son off, though they ensured Ichabod understood that they no longer considered him kin: “You’re a wretched mage and a traitor to Nymene.”

It doesn’t take long for Ichabod to settle into life at the Order. Here, he is taught that his skills are wanted, though they aren’t quite sure what they are yet, and that Ivras wants him most of all. There are fellow mages to befriend and coursework to delve into. His peers are just as odd looking as he is, but Ichabod still keeps his emotional distance, still wary of judgement. Again, he chooses to focus on his studies.

It isn’t until Ichabod finds himself in a fight with another student that his magic is discovered. At first, the student’s own blows do not cause the bull to flinch. He bleeds and bruises, but nothing moves him except a literal kick to the head. The action filled Ichabod with a new form of rage, and he stampedes the student. They are left trampled in his wake. Both students are punished. Ichabod is placed in classes to focus on controlling his abilities. As he nears his teen years, Ichabod chooses to become a battlemage. His magic is honed for destruction and self-preservation. He receives near-continuous praise and revels in it. His coursework receives excellent marks. Eventually, Ichabod is recruited into the Ivratian navy, and steadily climbs the ranks.

Secretly, he still hopes to make his parents proud.

650 words