This is looking great! Wanted to jump in with my character, if there's still room. I saw that we already have a monk, so if it makes sense I could swap to another class and still keep most of my backstory. And if there are too many characters here, I could probably also work Vados into the Mageocracy pretty easily.
Vados Umbaran - Bondsworn of the Merchant's Guild
Name: Vados Umbaran
Race: Undine
Physical Appearance: 6'1", 185 lbs, fit and lean, 29 years old. Skin is a deep ocean green, with a series of white lines tattooed across his body. Two down the middle of his face, started at the crown of his head, centered on each eye, and running across his torso and down to his feet. Two more starting at the tip of his finned ears, running down the outside of his torso and legs. These four lines are repeated on his back as well. Finally, two running down each arm, the lines ending between the pinky and ring finger, and the thumb and pointer finger. His hair is cropped short, and is almost black, but reflects green and blue, like the carapace of a fly. His eyes are bright blue, calm, and transparent.
While in the field, Vados wears a heavy grey cloak with a hood which can easily conceal his features, clothing, and other items. Underneath he is fitted with a tight, black, matte fabric bodyglove, with a turtleneck collar. The hands and feet are mostly exposed, with a single loop around the middle finger and toe to keep the garment in place. Lines of coral red piping running along the suit accentuate Vados' musculature. In the halls of the Merchant's guild, he can be seen wearing an overdone navy blue dress tunic and jhodpurs with gold accents.
Class: Monk
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Vados often seems cold, as his training has taught to eschew outward signs of emotion. His clear eyes reveal nothing at first glance. However, he is no stranger to subterfuge, and can put on the right face when he needs to. While he doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve, he is not blind to the workings of the world, and his true emotions run very deep. He will put the Guild and their interests first, and will question those who don't seem to have those same interests in mind. He is unswervingly loyal to those whose goals align with his, and will seek out solutions to problems that provide a significant or new challenge to him, even if there are easier ways.
Vados hails from the capital city of Coran. He was born into the ranks of the Myrmidos, also known as the Bondsworn, a prestigious and tight-knit order of undine warriors. The Myrmidos are not bound to a creed of good or evil, instead seeking perfection through constant physical and mental challenge. An enterprising high-family of the Merchant's guild saw opportunity in this, and long ago provided the Myrmidos with facilities, funding, and most importantly challenging work. For generations the Myrmidos have been agents of the Merchant's guild, acting as bodyguards, spies, and enforcers. They are unswervingly loyal to their personal goals and regard their employer's wishes as law. The Merchants love them for this, not to mention that the exotic warriors make a great conversation piece at society gatherings. They number not more than 20, and rarely accept new members into their ranks, usually only for the purpose of continuing the bloodlines.
Vados' father and mother, Nurl and Lumir Umbaran, are both senior members of the order. Outward signs of attachment are discouraged within the order, and though Vados and Lumir have a quiet affection for each other, Nurl has only ever been Vados' teacher at best, and his harshest critic at worst. Vados sees Nurl as a personal challenge, someone that he must overcome if he is to achieve the perfection desired by every member of the Myrmidos. If it means he has to kill Nurl to prove his capabilities, then so be it.
Though a skilled operative and a fearsome combatant, Vados has, since his elevation to a full-fledged agent four years ago, been given duties that he sees as beneath him. His current occupation has been to oversee select Guild shipments at the docks, which Vados suspects may be smuggled goods, though he would never question his orders. He loves his position in the Myrmidos and with the Guild, and is eager to see his worth proven. He has taken all of the jobs to the backwaters of Issust Hold, Gumlat and Akleta that he is given, and done it with a smile. He has made contacts within various small-time merchants and underworld members in the cities of this region, though under a variety of guises, and none that he would call true friends. All it would take is one real challenge to prove himself not only to his order, but to the guild as well.
But perhaps his greatest challenge is that of young Vedra. 3 years ago, it was discovered that a member of the order had become romantically involved with a member of a Merchant guild house. To betray not only the trust of the order, but of their benefactors in the Guild, was a heinous crime, and the Merchant family had the offender put to death. What none of them knew then, was that a child had been born. Vedra, half-human and half-undine. Her mother approached Vados secretly and told him that her affair had happened years ago, and that her lover's discovery was only recent. He had been caring for the child to prevent his lover from being found out, and without him, Vedra had no caretaker. Despite his better judgement, Vados took Vedra, then just 5 years old, and ferreted her away in Issust Hold. There was a family there, dispatch couriers by trade, who he pays to look after the child. So far her existence has been kept secret, but Vados fears the day when he must either give up the child to save himself, or lose himself to save her.
Occupation:
*Bondsworn Monk in the employ of the Merchant's Guild
*Member of the Myrmidos Order
Primary Motivators:
*Challenge himself physically and mentally
*Fulfil oaths and duties to the Merchant's Guild
*Overcome his father Nurl, both physically or socially
*Protect Vedra
Fears:
*Being disgraced and kicked out of the order
*Never being able to best Nurl
*Losing Vedra