More About Reian & Imbri!
May. 4th, 2007 12:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
breakfastofchampionsI am writing up this character info for an art trade, but anyone is welcome to read. WARNING: spoilers! Although no major plot spoilers or anything. This info is subject to change, although probably not very much. Also, I got lazy, so there's a bit less info about Imbri.
Reian Alteres:
The Wind & the Foxes is based on mythological/fairy tale archetypes, and Reian's archetype is the peasant boy who falls in love with a princess. Reian is a tallish man in his late twenties with dark skin, long dark hair, and dark gray eyes, typical coloration for his people. He wears a white or cream-colored headscarf pinned with a golden (but not very valuable) brooch decorated with moonstones. His clothes are generally loose and pale, although sometimes accentuated with soft colors.
Reian's people, the Kelisavians, are nomadic and tribal. Long ago, they commanded a great empire, but that is ancient history. Now they are scattered tribes, loosely united, lead by the princes of the most powerful tribes, who are known as Mirza. The Kelisavians have a caste system. Their castes are indicated by the color of the headscarves they all wear. Reian, as an unmarried tradesman, wears a headscarf of pale, unpatterned cloth. Going outside without one's head covered is both a social and religious taboo. Kelisavian religion involves worshipping aspects of nature, and covering one's head is a sign of respect towards the sky and its denizens the sun, moon, and stars. All adult Kelisavians (male and female) wear their hair long as a matter of pride (children's hair is kept clipped shorter). The unmarried wear their hair unbound or loosely tied back. Once married, Kelisavians bind their hair in braids.
Reian's tribe, the Lijen, are a relatively isolated group. They engage in only limited trade with outsiders. The more metropolitan tribes would consider them a "backwards" tribe. They primarily worship the moon, a form of the Kelisavian religion that is also seen as backwards. (Most Kelisavians primarily worship the sun or the wind.)
Reian's father is a storyteller. His mother is a shaman. For generations, his family has carried on the tradition of shamanism, which has died out in most other tribes. [Shamanism is differentiated from sorcery in the following fashion: sorcery is the manipulation of nature. Shamanism is communication with nature.] When he was eleven or twelve, the shamanistic gift manifested in Reian, taking the form of an ability to speak to birds. His mother planned to train him in the art, expecting him to become the tribe's next shaman, but as a teenager, Reian, tired of life among the members of his insular little tribe, ran away. He never returned home. He doesn't know if any of his younger siblings later manifested the gift, or if he left his mother with no one to follow her as the tribe's next shaman. He doesn't like to talk about his family, and he regrets his rashness, although he likes the life he made for himself.
Reian is now (years later) far too old to take up the training and become a full shaman. He can still talk to birds, however, and his shamanistic gift has perhaps another manifestation as well, for Reian finds it exceedingly easy to pick up human languages.
Reian's original name was Reian Lijen, but for business purposes (because that's kind of a weird name by his people's standards), he changed it to Alteres, a very common Kelisavian surname. Alteres means "From Teres". Teres is the Kelisavian "capital", a migratory city of tents that moves from place to place as the seasons change and the stars turn.
Reian, following some hard times, made a life for himself as a merchant, and sometimes--but only when it's strictly necessary, you understand--a thief. Other Kelisavians tend to perceive him as a smooth-talking, overly-handsome country boy. He's quite fond of the ladies, but prides himself on behaving gallantly towards them--to an almost silly extent at times.
When Reian was in his early twenties, chance brought him together with a Mirza's daughter named Pasha. They fell in love, but the Mirza was appalled by the thought of having a poor, backwards, smooth-talking son-in-law. Seeking to deter Reian (whose love he did not believe was sincere), he said that Reian had to perform seven tasks for him to prove his worth. Impossible tasks.
Reian is nothing if not pigheaded--and he's also crazy about Pasha. One by one, he is completing his tasks, although it is taking years of his life and continually exhausting all his resources. Because he doesn't have much money, he has to trade and steal his way to the places he needs to get to, which means that it takes him a while. When the story opens, he has just completed (or so he thinks) the sixth task. All six tasks have taken him eight years to complete. It is a subject he is a bit touchy about. He also hates stories about princesses and peasant boys.
In spite of a slightly dubious reputation, Reian is a goodhearted and generous person. He can be quite serious, but he usually behaves like a giant dork. He likes having a good time. And he loves his hammock, which he usually carries with him, unless he's forced to travel light. Aside from Pasha and Imbri, the "person" he's closest to is a crowlike bird named Kaleek, who is rather intelligent--well, for a bird. Where weapons are concerned, Reian carries two daggers, and he knows how to use them.
Imbri:
Imbri's archetype is the god who walks among mortals. He is pygmy-sized, as are all his people. He has gray hair and blue eyes. His skin tone is a bit reddish--not pale, but not as dark as Reian's. He tends to wear the clothes of a Kelisavian child, similar to Reian's in design, but with brighter colors.
Imbri is named after his people's trickster god, a Loki- or Momus-like figure. However, throughout the story, it is revealed that he may be the actual Imbri, a god who was banished from heaven and stripped of his powers, if not his immortality.
Imbri's people believe they are descended from foxes who were cursed, punished for acts of great hubris by being transformed into humans. The one who inspired them to that hubris was the god Imbri, and he was similarly punished. Imbri was a fox-god who could take on human form. According to legend, he is now trapped in human form, doomed to wander the world for eternity.
Although he does not have godlike powers, once in a while Imbri is able to do something unusual--usually in self defense--although such an act drains him, and after each time, he is unable to repeat the performance for some months.
In the course of Reian's third task, he meets Imbri in a tavern. That evening's events are rather foggy in both their memories, but somehow, before the evening is out, they end up in a jail cell together, which is quite a bonding experience. Then they break out together. This sets a pattern for their friendship: getting in trouble, getting out of trouble, then getting in new and improved trouble.
Reian and Imbri become business partners and best friends. They travel together, work together, and Imbri helps Reian with his tasks. Although they get along well, like many best friends, they also drive each other crazy. They can commonly found bickering with each other. Of the two of them, Imbri is the more wry and caustic, and Reian the one more likely to get his feelings hurt--although not seriously. Some suspect he just likes to complain. Imbri likes to pretend that he doesn't believe Reian can talk to birds, and on more than one occasion, Imbri has tried to eat Kaleek--but only when they were practically starving. Imbri never carries or uses weapons.
Imbri is sarcastic and can be a little cruel, but he is generally cheerful and can be depended on when things get tough.
Reian & Imbri (sketch). This is a later and more accurate face design for Imbri:
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/rei_im_sketch.jpg
Reian & Pasha:
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/rei_pash_dance.jpg
More Reian & Pasha:
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/reian_pasha.jpg
Reian (watercolored sketch):
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/reian2.jpg
More Reian and Imbri (Imbri does not really have fox ears, and this is an early face design for him):
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/reian_imbri.jpg
Imbri in an ugly outfit, proving I cannot design clothes:
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/imbrisketch_color.jpg
Imbri watercolor (early face design, cutesy yet incorrect fox ears and tail):
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/imbri_watercolor.jpg">
Reian finding out that pygmies think he's a freak:
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/lj.html/butimhandsome.jpg
Reian (not very well) drawn on my new tablet for practice:
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/reianpractice1.gif
All the main characters, yay!
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/lj.html/wfcast.jpg
Reian Alteres:
The Wind & the Foxes is based on mythological/fairy tale archetypes, and Reian's archetype is the peasant boy who falls in love with a princess. Reian is a tallish man in his late twenties with dark skin, long dark hair, and dark gray eyes, typical coloration for his people. He wears a white or cream-colored headscarf pinned with a golden (but not very valuable) brooch decorated with moonstones. His clothes are generally loose and pale, although sometimes accentuated with soft colors.
Reian's people, the Kelisavians, are nomadic and tribal. Long ago, they commanded a great empire, but that is ancient history. Now they are scattered tribes, loosely united, lead by the princes of the most powerful tribes, who are known as Mirza. The Kelisavians have a caste system. Their castes are indicated by the color of the headscarves they all wear. Reian, as an unmarried tradesman, wears a headscarf of pale, unpatterned cloth. Going outside without one's head covered is both a social and religious taboo. Kelisavian religion involves worshipping aspects of nature, and covering one's head is a sign of respect towards the sky and its denizens the sun, moon, and stars. All adult Kelisavians (male and female) wear their hair long as a matter of pride (children's hair is kept clipped shorter). The unmarried wear their hair unbound or loosely tied back. Once married, Kelisavians bind their hair in braids.
Reian's tribe, the Lijen, are a relatively isolated group. They engage in only limited trade with outsiders. The more metropolitan tribes would consider them a "backwards" tribe. They primarily worship the moon, a form of the Kelisavian religion that is also seen as backwards. (Most Kelisavians primarily worship the sun or the wind.)
Reian's father is a storyteller. His mother is a shaman. For generations, his family has carried on the tradition of shamanism, which has died out in most other tribes. [Shamanism is differentiated from sorcery in the following fashion: sorcery is the manipulation of nature. Shamanism is communication with nature.] When he was eleven or twelve, the shamanistic gift manifested in Reian, taking the form of an ability to speak to birds. His mother planned to train him in the art, expecting him to become the tribe's next shaman, but as a teenager, Reian, tired of life among the members of his insular little tribe, ran away. He never returned home. He doesn't know if any of his younger siblings later manifested the gift, or if he left his mother with no one to follow her as the tribe's next shaman. He doesn't like to talk about his family, and he regrets his rashness, although he likes the life he made for himself.
Reian is now (years later) far too old to take up the training and become a full shaman. He can still talk to birds, however, and his shamanistic gift has perhaps another manifestation as well, for Reian finds it exceedingly easy to pick up human languages.
Reian's original name was Reian Lijen, but for business purposes (because that's kind of a weird name by his people's standards), he changed it to Alteres, a very common Kelisavian surname. Alteres means "From Teres". Teres is the Kelisavian "capital", a migratory city of tents that moves from place to place as the seasons change and the stars turn.
Reian, following some hard times, made a life for himself as a merchant, and sometimes--but only when it's strictly necessary, you understand--a thief. Other Kelisavians tend to perceive him as a smooth-talking, overly-handsome country boy. He's quite fond of the ladies, but prides himself on behaving gallantly towards them--to an almost silly extent at times.
When Reian was in his early twenties, chance brought him together with a Mirza's daughter named Pasha. They fell in love, but the Mirza was appalled by the thought of having a poor, backwards, smooth-talking son-in-law. Seeking to deter Reian (whose love he did not believe was sincere), he said that Reian had to perform seven tasks for him to prove his worth. Impossible tasks.
Reian is nothing if not pigheaded--and he's also crazy about Pasha. One by one, he is completing his tasks, although it is taking years of his life and continually exhausting all his resources. Because he doesn't have much money, he has to trade and steal his way to the places he needs to get to, which means that it takes him a while. When the story opens, he has just completed (or so he thinks) the sixth task. All six tasks have taken him eight years to complete. It is a subject he is a bit touchy about. He also hates stories about princesses and peasant boys.
In spite of a slightly dubious reputation, Reian is a goodhearted and generous person. He can be quite serious, but he usually behaves like a giant dork. He likes having a good time. And he loves his hammock, which he usually carries with him, unless he's forced to travel light. Aside from Pasha and Imbri, the "person" he's closest to is a crowlike bird named Kaleek, who is rather intelligent--well, for a bird. Where weapons are concerned, Reian carries two daggers, and he knows how to use them.
Imbri:
Imbri's archetype is the god who walks among mortals. He is pygmy-sized, as are all his people. He has gray hair and blue eyes. His skin tone is a bit reddish--not pale, but not as dark as Reian's. He tends to wear the clothes of a Kelisavian child, similar to Reian's in design, but with brighter colors.
Imbri is named after his people's trickster god, a Loki- or Momus-like figure. However, throughout the story, it is revealed that he may be the actual Imbri, a god who was banished from heaven and stripped of his powers, if not his immortality.
Imbri's people believe they are descended from foxes who were cursed, punished for acts of great hubris by being transformed into humans. The one who inspired them to that hubris was the god Imbri, and he was similarly punished. Imbri was a fox-god who could take on human form. According to legend, he is now trapped in human form, doomed to wander the world for eternity.
Although he does not have godlike powers, once in a while Imbri is able to do something unusual--usually in self defense--although such an act drains him, and after each time, he is unable to repeat the performance for some months.
In the course of Reian's third task, he meets Imbri in a tavern. That evening's events are rather foggy in both their memories, but somehow, before the evening is out, they end up in a jail cell together, which is quite a bonding experience. Then they break out together. This sets a pattern for their friendship: getting in trouble, getting out of trouble, then getting in new and improved trouble.
Reian and Imbri become business partners and best friends. They travel together, work together, and Imbri helps Reian with his tasks. Although they get along well, like many best friends, they also drive each other crazy. They can commonly found bickering with each other. Of the two of them, Imbri is the more wry and caustic, and Reian the one more likely to get his feelings hurt--although not seriously. Some suspect he just likes to complain. Imbri likes to pretend that he doesn't believe Reian can talk to birds, and on more than one occasion, Imbri has tried to eat Kaleek--but only when they were practically starving. Imbri never carries or uses weapons.
Imbri is sarcastic and can be a little cruel, but he is generally cheerful and can be depended on when things get tough.
Reian & Imbri (sketch). This is a later and more accurate face design for Imbri:
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/rei_im_sketch.jpg
Reian & Pasha:
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/rei_pash_dance.jpg
More Reian & Pasha:
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/reian_pasha.jpg
Reian (watercolored sketch):
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/reian2.jpg
More Reian and Imbri (Imbri does not really have fox ears, and this is an early face design for him):
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/reian_imbri.jpg
Imbri in an ugly outfit, proving I cannot design clothes:
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/imbrisketch_color.jpg
Imbri watercolor (early face design, cutesy yet incorrect fox ears and tail):
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/imbri_watercolor.jpg">
Reian finding out that pygmies think he's a freak:
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/lj.html/butimhandsome.jpg
Reian (not very well) drawn on my new tablet for practice:
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/misc.html/reianpractice1.gif
All the main characters, yay!
http://foxaloxa.laleeloo.com/lj.html/wfcast.jpg
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2007-05-04 02:58 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-04 05:13 pm (UTC)