A secretive wanderer whose past lurks in the shadows.
Star sign: Sagittarius (Nov. 25)
Favorite food: Samosas
Favorite drink: Peppermint Milk Tea
Favorite flower: Milkweed
MBTI: INFP
Height: 6’ 2”
Familiar: Blackout, a Fresian Clydesdale cross
Lis: Nadia Satrinava, Lucio Morgasson
I finally made a bio for my apprentice!
Family members: Sundiata and Ajuma Mutuku (maternal grandmother and grandfather respectively), Kageran Myrd (father), Jendayi Mutuku (mother), Nkechi, Jelani, Khalawe Mutuku (sister and brothers), Marcella (stepmother), Pan and Day (half sisters)
Crystallania is a friendly and supportive person. This often puts her in situations with people who believe she is a pushover but make no mistake, she is rather deceptive. She’s extremely selective with who she lets in her inner circles however due to a tumultuous early life. She actively tries to learn more about the people around her while not letting facts about her slip. Crystal, despite this, is fairly positive and tries to be a positive light in others’ lives.
Background:
Crystallania was born into the Yanekic royal family on her mother’s side. Over the first few years of her life, her father did everything he could to take power from the royal family and the Ayalids, a special race of magic users she and her her mother belonged to. She was six years old when her mother was killed and her father remarried a mere year later.
She fled the capital at 12 and joined the 5 Moons Tribes to avoid being captured by her father’s men. There she met her adoptive family, Lehi and Irving, who gave her Ayalid tattoos. She lived with the Nyaga tribe until she turned 19 where she honed her horseback riding and archery skills making her an accomplished horsewoman and archer throughout all the tribes.
She left after Lehi’s insistence on her protection and her father’s constant threat of the tribe’s lands and people. One of her father’s counsel men took her in because of his close dealings with the original royal family and his desire to keep them safe. She was forced out again two years later after an attempt on his life made her realize how dangerous it was for anyone to protect her so she set out alone. After a few months of traveling, she finally arrived in Vesuvia and her aunt, Zoya, welcomed her with open arms. Her aunt disappeared one day and no one knows where she went. Crystal suspects that her father kidnapped her. She is 26 by the start of the game.
Notable things about Crystallania:
She has three noticeable scars on her face, the largest of which is covered by her hair.
She has two tattoos. One is on her left shoulder and looks like a sun in a mosaic style. The other is technically two with protective runes along her ankles.
Oddly enough, she likes most of the courtiers except Valerius and Vlastomil. Vlastomil is too similar to many of the members of her father’s own corrupted court and she thinks Valerius is just an ass.
Before she died, she worked as a vet in Vesuvia. After she regains her memories, she becomes a vet for Lucio’s menagerie.
Her main magical abilities are her pyromancy and her soul magic, which she has yet to reawaken.
Her ears and tail are similar to a cheetah’s and she can transform into one!
So a central part of who Crystal is or how she presents is based on the fact that she’s an Ayalid so I figured I should expand on what and who they are.
I mostly based them off of the Kikuyu tribe with their traditions and dress. On the other hand, a lot of what they are I just thought of randomly. Ayalids are a race of magical beings who’s origins are unknown. Their “creation” story is that they approached their sun deity and asked him how they would become better in tune with the land. The sun gave them a part of his soul which is how they gained the ears and tails of wild cats and their other magical abilities. Of course every deal has its downsides. If they stay in one form for too long (human or cat) they can forget how to change back. Their magic can be powerful but with too much use can easily destroy the users body (Crystal’s grandfather went blind at a young age because his magic was so volatile). The biggest drawback would be that communication with the dead is made possible because many people don’t pass over. Some souls go free and become stars, some are bound to certain areas, a few even attach themselves to other ayalids which causes sudden moments of them controlling that person in a desperate attempt to deliver jumbled messages.
This playlist prompt was completely from @more-oc-questions so make sure to check them out as well!
Apprentice Life Playlist
Crystallania Star
A song that represents their childhood.
Buy the Stars - Marina and the Diamonds
Crystal spent her childhood being ignored by her father. He was extremely materialistic and equated grandiose gestures with showing affection. Crystal in turn learned to hate how he placed more emphasis on how he bought things for her instead of spending time with her or showing her love.
A song that represents their general outlook on life.
Sunday Best - Surfaces
Despite the adversity she’s faced in life, Crystal sees no point letting it bring her down. Sure, life started rough but there’s no reason for it to end like that.
A song that would play over a montage of them getting ready in the morning.
The Way I Am - Charlie Puth
Her mother was known mostly for her odd ways and Crystal developed some of her own as a result. For example, four piercings in one ear and three in the other, her love for crazy food combinations, mismatched gloves and socks, and a love of collecting old fairy tales and legends so she can put them in writing. Ill reception over the years has made her rather anxious to share her interests but if you’re close to her she’s weird and unapologetic.
A song that represents their happiest moment.
Kids again - Artist vs Poet
She’s lost friends and family and gained friends and family over the years but that’s what she loves about her time with the Tribes. She was young, finally able to explore a world she’d been blind to, and most importantly with people who cared about her for the first time in her life.
A song they would listen to to cheer themselves up.
All the Stars - Kendrick Lamar, SZA
In Yanek, her home country, stars are a large part of the culture. They are believed to be souls of past ancestors living in the sky, watching over their families. When upset, Crystal turns to the stars for guidance, comfort, and anything else she might need. It truly makes her feel like they are closer to her.
A song that represents a struggle in their life.
Waiting for Love - Avicii
Earlier, I said she didn’t get love from her father often which was true. In fact, most of the attention he gave to her was negative. He pushed her to be smarter, stronger, more graceful, less aggressive, a lady. He never allowed her out of her room without company and never to the city without him personally. This led to a lack of proper boundary-setting despite her mother’s best attempts at trying to undo this damage. This lack of boundaries led to an unhealthy relationship with love. A lot of which she still cares to this day.
A song they would dedicate to a loved one.
Hallelujah - SafetySuit cover
Mostly to her late mother, but she would dedicate this song to all the people she’s lost over the years. Her father and her adoptive families that she feels she had a hand in ruining. Her friends and tribesmen that she brought unnecessary trouble to. People she’s met but hates herself for not remembering. Her siblings she feels like she’s abandoned. The Ayalids. Really everyone she wants to say I’m sorry to but can’t, either physically or mentally.
A song that represents a current relationship/love interest.
I won’t let you down - Erin McCarley
She would never want to put someone through what she’s experienced. Sure, it makes her a bit awkward as far as romance goes, but she means well and intends to make them feel supported no matter what.
A song that represents a past relationship/love interest.
Happier - Marshmello ft. Bastille
Crystal looks back on relationships with a positive light regardless of how they ended. She does acknowledge that in the end they didn’t work out for each other, but she wants them to be happy whether that’s with her, someone else, or alone. It hurts sometimes but she’s happiest when everyone gets a good ending.
A song they would request a DJ at a party to play.
I’m actually going to omit this one but you’re welcome to add something!
A song that represents their saddest moment.
These are the Lies - The Cab
She’s tried to deny what happened. She’s tried to deny that her mom is gone. She’s tried to deny that she died the way she did. She really has, but her mom is everywhere. She sees her in her reflection, in her behaviors, in her expressions, in the corner of her eye. She tried to tell herself she wasn’t bothered and it worked for a while. Of course, lies come back and hurt you twice as much as the truth.
A song that would play over a training montage.
Champion - Fall Out Boy
Crystal has survived her father, the Tribes, constant traveling to evade trouble, hell, even death has no grip on her. If she can do all that, she can handle everything else.
A song they would sing in the shower.
Gypsy Bard - Friendship is Witchcraft
I imagine that this song was something her mother taught her when she was sad to show her that even when it’s bad, there are good things in life. She often sings this to herself as reassurance. She might sing it to her li if she felt comfortable.
Wow this was harder than I thought!
Tags: @zenith-the-apprentice @vesuviansunshowers @apprentice-delta @apprenticeoflight (hope you guys don’t mind) anyone else that wants to join can! I need to make more friends!
Scars are stories of the past, are they not? Let’s learn a bit about Crystal’s...
How long has it been, exactly? How long has she been sitting in this room, paralyzed by both fear and pain?
Her mother sat beside her disorganized bed, keeping watch and tending to her hand and foot for the past two days. She was a comforting presence surely, but Crystal feared she couldn’t feel any kind of comfort for many weeks to come.
It was a warm summer’s day when her accident happened. The sun shone and kissed the forest floor with its rays, making it all the more inviting. The leaves whistled a tune in the breeze and danced along. Even birds seemed to be enjoying their day as their song soared above the earth. The villa wasn’t too far away, but still, she was outside, free, and, most importantly, not studying. Sure, her dress was still cumbersome and often got in her way, but she didn’t much care. Her mother sat on a stone bench nestled underneath an arbor, reading a book and calling out to Crystal occasionally.
Crystal herself was wandering among the trees and picking flowers she found to bring them to her mother. She knew better than to wander, but she was seldom allowed to leave even her room and cherished the wide open air of the woodland.
“Cub, we can’t be out here much longer! Your father expects you back in your study by noon!” Her mother’s voice reached out to her and brought her out of her dream-like state.
“Ok, mother, just a little longer!” Crystal responded going deeper and deeper into the dense underbrush.
She didn’t wait for her mother’s answer as she slipped away to an area where the sun weakened and no animal dared touch. Crystal could sense the shift but shrugged it off. How could she not? Fewer animals meant less trampled flowers. She failed to notice the pair of eyes watching her in the thicket, however.
It stalked her, kept with her, traced her every movement. It wasn’t until Crystal turned to follow her trail back that she saw her pursuer. A wolf at least as tall and powerful as herself stood in her path, watching with hungered eyes. She recognized this beast though. It was her father’s, a gift from his father she believed, and it was vicious. Her ears flattened, did it remember her? Is that why it hadn’t attacked yet?
“H-hey, Vyder-“ the wolf growl and snapped at her before she could finish.
It all happened in slow motion as she saw him lounge at her throat only to be met with the pine tree behind her as she dodged to her right. She took to the opportunity to put as much space between her and canine before it caught her after a few strides. It pounced, knocking her on her back, and barked hot breath onto her face. When she landed, she realized that the left side of her vision was blurred and fading rapidly. Finally, it occurred to her that the wolf had attempted to disarm her and scratched her eye to the point of blinding her. At least, that’s what she assumed when she felt warm streams of red pouring down her face.
She felt the weight lift off of her chest as her vision grew darker. She forced herself to sit up as she saw her mother, fully a leopard now, attacking the wolf before dealing a fatal blow to it’s before turning back to face her. Crystal could make out anything her mother said as all she could hear was ringing. The last thing she noticed was her mother clutching her slide ahead of her becoming completely limp.
Her delusional state was interrupted when her father all but barged in and marched his way to her bed.
“You cost me one good hunting wolf, girl,” her father crossed his arms while reprimanded her sternly.
“Kageran, is this really the time?” Her mother moved to shield her as Crystal shook and her tail lashed, a response she developed after the attack.
“As for you, Jen, I can’t believe you killed my best hunter!” Her father’s temper flared as he grew enraged. “You couldn’t stop him without killing him?”
“Kageran, are you serious? Your daughter was in a life or death situation and all you care about is a dang dog?” Her mother was nearly in tears now as Crystal cowered under her covers. Didn’t they notice they were just making this worse?
“Whatever, and what of my daughter, hmm? What’s wrong with her?” Her father gestured vaguely towards her.
Crystal slowly lowered the soft pink covers surrounding her to display her injuries. A once pristine bandage was wrapped around the left side of her head and covered her eye. Red coated the space her eye should be and painted a grotesque picture. Her father stood aghast and, Crystal noted with slight hurt, more than a little appalled. She shrank back into her covers as her father continued to stare until her mother dragged his attention back to him with a synopsis of her wounds. Head trauma, a large scar at best, and most likely a blind eye.
“Nyo,” her father put his hand up and set it in front of him like he was about to wave. He took a marble off of her bed stand and gave it to her. “Can you toss this marble into my hand?”
Crystal took the orb and tossed it to what she believed was his palm. To her horror and dismay, when her ball made contact, despite looking head-on, she found that it missed his hand a few inches to the right. Her father watched the ball roll away, utter disdain painting his face.
“Of course, your perception is practically ruined. I should have known,” the man straightened and grew even more agitated. “I should have known you’d be useless now.”
Crystal flinched at his scorn as her mother yowled. “How dare you? She just lost her eye and gauging how useful she is now? Is she just another soldier to you?”
“A queen has to be alert and a dead shot with any weapon you hand her! If she’s blind, she will be seen as weak! I will not pass off my empire only for her to make it a joke!” Her father turned away as Crystal began tearing up. She covered her eye, partly in shame, partly in fear he might do something even worse to it.
Her father had crossed her room and made contact with the door before casting his gaze upon her one last time, the same fury and animosity fueling the fires in his eyes.
“As though my expectations of you weren’t low enough.”
There was nothing her mother nor anyone on this earth could do to stop the tears from rushing out of her eyes for the rest of the day.
꧁ꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥ꧂
Gosh this was a fight to finish! I want to start officially working on her life before Vesuvia and I felt like this was a good place to start.
I can not for the life of me tell you what possessed me to write this at 3 am but here it is. I tried to make it angsty, I hope you all like it!
Word count: 1,247
Tw: death, mentions of alcohol, mentions of dead bodies
Pain, they said, was only temporary, and yet how could humans feel it so constantly? Pain, though, was much less terrifying than the death that followed it.
The plague was rampaging, tearing through the city and claiming lives like a current. The symptoms were unmistakable. Nowadays, if you had red eyes they didn’t even bother trying to treat you. The lazaret was full but its fiery mouth was so hungry. The bodies of the deceased were the only things that seemed to satisfy it.
Crystal trudged through the darkened streets with Julian by her side, only glancing at each other every few minutes. They’d been working together for only a couple weeks, but they were growing closer each time they descended to the dungeons to research. Crystal was called in as the last resort. The count was dying and anyone who knew how to hold a scalpel right was called to find a cure to the disease that had laid siege to the city. She worked much better with dogs and cats, but she knew the basic rundown of human anatomy. She wasn’t prepared this but it’s not like she could say no.
“You’re doing really well, by the way,” Julian finally spoke.
“Sorry, what?” Crystal muttered. This was new.
“Your research. You’re doing well. Much better than some of the past doctors,” Julian looked away. Crystal realized she’d never heard how long he’d been working at the palace himself. He was there before her, before any other volunteer doctors and after many of them too.
“I mean better than, of course. It’s just you’re so used to all of this chaos and I’m not and I-“ Crystal grew more flustered as more excuses flew out of her mouth until Julian set a hand on her shoulder.
“I’m just teasing, Crys. I don’t think I’m holding up all that well personally but I’m glad that I can at least act the part. All those years at the theatre seem to finally be doing me some good,” he joked.
“You know, you never told me much about yourself when you hired me. What is Dr. Devorak like?” Crystal couldn’t help but be curious. Was it professional? Surely not but hey they might as well know each other if they’re slaving away together.
“Oh, I didn’t think you’d care to know, but if you insist. I own a house, I live here, I work at the palace-“ Julian grew flustered and Crystal cut him off.
“I’m serious Julian. Know thy neighbor you know?” They took the final turn down the road leading to Julian’s house as she chided.
“Ah, but we’re not neighbors.” Julian moved to unlock his front door before turning back to Crystal. “Care for a drink?”
“No, I don’t drink, sorry. I make terrible choices without it really.” Crystal smiled.
They said their goodbyes and Crystal took her leave. She traversed through stalls and alleyways to return to her magic shop. As she walked, she saw bodies lining the street, some still feebly clinging to whatever life they had left. Crystal kept her head low and her sorrow lower while passing through the streets every day. It didn’t change their conditions but she didn’t exactly have the heart to stare them in the face.
She fished her key out her pocket while whispering to unbind the door, unlocked it, and slipped inside. Closing the door behind her, she noticed that there were fewer coats on the rack than usual. That was never a good sign. She set her satchel on the counter and took off her gloves. As she went about her sterilization routine she noticed Asra coming down the stairs.
“Good, you’re back. The sooner the better,” he grabbed a few things from behind the counter and moved to hug Crystal before she stepped back.
“The sooner the better for what?” she questioned.
“We’ve have to leave the city. It’s not safe here! Haven’t you seen how many people are dying?” Asra’s demeanor fell.
“Of course I have, I’m not blind,” Asra flinched at her tone. “Sorry, it’s just- where would we go? What are we gonna do? We can’t just shut down the store, we wouldn’t have any funds left. I just don’t think it’s a great idea.”
“Well I could use some of the money I saved in Nopal and we’ll just hang out there until it’s passed,” Asra brushes off her questions. She hated it when he was like this.
“And if it comes to Nopal? Will we just turn tail and run again. Forever stuck in a cycle of evading death?” Crystal was steadily getting angrier. Didn’t he understand? If they stopped it here before it could get worse, they wouldn’t have to leave.
“Crystal, listen, I understand that this seems like running to you, but-“ that was her breaking point.
“No, you don’t understand. You don’t understand what it’s like to watch people slowly die around you! Be complacent while others suffer! Have the ability and the resources to help people but punish them for your own impertinence! I’m not doing that again!” Crystal was on the verge of tears.
Asra was shocked, to say the least. She was always so calm and logical. Did she really not see that this was for her own good?
“Ok, maybe I don’t understand but you have to pick and choose your battles and this is a battle we can’t win. Please, Crystallania, please I only want what’s best for you,” Asra pleaded and attempted to hold her hands in his own but she had heard enough.
“Listen, if you want to leave, that’s fine, but I can’t abandon my people again,” something in Asra broke when he heard that.
“These aren’t even your people! How can you be so willing to lay down your life for them? Most of these people don’t even know you!” Asra retorted.
“I have to know people to care about them? Wow, I never knew you were this shallow, Asra. I’m staying. End of conversation,” Crystal was angry and not going to hide it. She was hurt and she lashed out but she couldn’t bring herself to back down now.
“You know what? Fine.” Asra grabbed his bag, his coat, and his hat before looking at Crystal one last time. “Some times I wish you’d just listen to me.”
Asra slammed the door as he left and stormed down the street. It took her a minute to comprehend what happened, but once she had, she couldn’t stop sobbing. Her only true friend, her closest companion, the closest thing she’d felt to love just walked away. Crystal had half the mind to chase him down but she knew it wouldn’t change anything. She held on to the door for dear life. She’d hurt another person she cared about and now they’ve left, likely never to return. Even if he did, he had every right to be mad, to not want to communicate with her, even refuse to see her altogether. She slid down the door unbeknownst to Asra on the other side, who had returned to apologize, take it all back, fix what he could but when he heard her crying he knew that the damage was done. Hopefully, after a while, he could come back and everything will be alright. Hopefully, she’d be happy, bright-eyed, and healthy. Hopefully, it will all be ok.
(I really said you can get some backstory, but that's it, huh?)
