Raise the Earth Application for Yurick

OOC Information

Player: Tseil
Contact: chalicesoul@yahoo.com or Plurk
Age: 27
Characters: Yumoto Hakone/Blaise Pyre

IC Information

Name: Preincarnation - Yurick / Reincarnation - Jacob Howland
Canon: The Last Story

Preincarnation Information

Appearance: Take a look here.

History:
His father was the captain of a sea crew and commandeered a large ship. He and his mother usually stayed home while his father was traveling, and most likely they lived somewhere on the coast. Yurick's father was involved in a dangerous mission, and did not return home. Rumors started, saying that Yurick's father had run away as a coward, having the knowledge that the village was going to be attacked. Yurick did not believe these rumors and tried to convince others that his father stayed and fought on. Despite this, Yurick and his mother left their village, and not long after, his mother passed away.

Yurick decided to study the arcane arts after the incident, but despite his best efforts he was unable to master magic. He decided to replace his right eye with a magic stone which gave him greater power, though he feels like he might lose control of this power if he reveals the stone in battle (why he wears an eyepatch). The stone made his fire magic second to none.

He joined Dagran's mercenary group, aiding them in battle with his fire magic.

Yurick spends a good portion of the story passive, being occasionally snarky. He's quick to suspect things where logic doesn't apply. Though he seems to show the closest bond to Zael, he does come to care for all of his friends. This becomes most evident after he finds out what happened to his father, as he steadily warms up to his team. Finding what happened to his father is the first time he shows real emotion in the story.

The beginning of the story has Zael obtaining the Outsider, a mysterious legendary power. From there, he meets Lisa (Lady Calista in disguise) who is running away from home. She quickly gets to meet the other mercenaries. Later on, when the mercenaries are hired for guard duty at a royal ball, announcing Lady Calista's engagement, Zael comes to learn Lisa's true identity. It is at this time that the Gurak attack, when they haven't done so in nearly a century. Yurick and Mirania are taken as prisoners on a warship, which Calista and Zael stow away on, along with Dagran. The mercenaries storm the warship and take it over for themselves, releasing all slaves and prisoners.

In the Shipwreck chapter, Yurick attempts to go visit an old wreck on his own. Zael insists it is too dangerous to go alone and tags along. Yurick tries to persuade Zael not to come, caring little for his own safety but not wanting anyone else to get hurt in his reckless adventure. Barely into the wreck, they both are attacked by a gargantuan species of "crab" and Yurick becomes poisoned, leaving Zael to seek an antidote. After Yurick is cured, the two are joined by Dagran and Mirania. They come to discover that the wreck is Yurick's father's old ship. Yurick says he knew this already and tells the story of his father's disappearance, saying he must find out if it's true that his father fled.

At the end of the chapter, Yurick finds the Captain's Log and learns that his father tried to return to the island, but was unable, shipwrecked, and his crew perished. In his father's log, it tells that they fought off a monster of such caliber, that only his crew could defeat it, ultimately saving the island and dying as heroes. Yurick's voice breaks as he finishes reading it aloud, proud that his father did not flee the island. He gives a smile and a thanks to his friends for helping him find the truth, moving on from the past that kept him distant for so long.

After they return to Lazulis Island, they destroy the Guraks' enemy base to prevent them from taking over Lazulis Island. After they finish the battle, the other mercenaries learn the true identity of Lisa. Then, by false accusation, they are taken prisoner by the Lazulis Knights, on trial for kidnapping Lady Calista. Dagran and the head knight prove the innocence of the mercenaries and they are released. Zael is given an offer at this point to swear allegiance to Count Arganan, Calista's uncle, and all of the mercenaries will be given Knight status as well as Zael having a chance to marry Calista. The decision is saved for later.

In the Haunted Mansion chapter, the Mercenaries are enlisted to help find a trader's, Horace's, wife. Yurick is very hesitant to go into the mansion, showing early signs of his fears, to which he's pestered for not helping a damsel in distress. Yurick snips a remark and enters the mansion with everyone. The door closes behind them and a chandelier nearly falls on Yurick, pulled aside by Zael at the last second. One by one, the team is pulled through mirrors and smoke by a black skeletal figure, making them disappear. Yurick's fears become strongly evident after two team members are lost, leaving himself, Zael, and Horace. Yurick demands the truth from Horace, and it is finally revealed that the mansion is cursed, known as a Man-eating Mansion. Yurick and Horace are taken as well, leaving Zael.

Zael finds everyone in tombs in a graveyard just outside the mansion. Most of the team is okay, but Yurick whimpers when he is freed. They find glasses in another tomb, belonging to Horace's wife, which he pleads that they save her.

Throughout the mansion, journals of the former residents can be found, telling the tale of a cruel man and a sacrificial plot to get revenge and cast a curse, costing the lives of the family. The Black Skeleton makes constant reappearances to take away team members in a battle.

At the end of the chapter, the mercenaries battle a vampyre, successfully saving Horace's wife and breaking the curse on the mansion. Yurick is happy that they killed it and they can go home. He even plays it cool as they leave the mansion, as though he wasn't afraid at all. Lowell notes that he pissed his pants, to which Yurick quickly defends that it's sweat.

Zael chooses to serve the Count and is given a sword. The Count then declares official war with the Gurak, using Zael as his saviour. After the announcement, Calista tells Zael that they shouldn't see each other anymore and leaves.

The following day, the Count declares they are departing immediately and has Zael pass a trial in order to obtain control of a legendary fortress that moves like a ship. The reason is that only Zael can see the mysterious spirit of the Outsider in the castle depths to succeed the Realm of Ascendency. Dagran and Mirania go with him to help. At the Realm, he releases a light that pulses and releases the floating fortress. He hears the voice of the Outsider again, and learns how to invoke them. The legendary fortress turns out to be the island itself and they sail toward the Gurak's homeland. Zael undergoes General Asthar's, the leader of the knights, special training and receives a medal from him.

At the end of the Dark Spirit Passage chapter, Zael finds Yurick thinking about his past and the children at the castle library. He discusses his own childhood where he had a difficult time with learning magic. He shows Zael his stone eye that he traded, making his fire magic second to none. He says he has no regrets about it, but does mention the fear that his eye is trying to unleash all of the power he has and that it might take over his body. He mentions he has no interest in dying and goes back to Zael's details.

Later on, the Gurak are attacking Lazulis Island again while it is mobile. All of the mercenaries fight back the Gurak along with the knights of the castle, defending the Count and the Lazulis cannon this time. For the first time they encounter Coffins, which fits a similar description, but are armed with a stinger and assault the mercenaries. Dagran goes off on his own to fend off the reinforcements, leaving the others to protect the Count.

Therius, one of the lead knights, tells the Count that they should leave the castle. As they get ready to head on, the ceiling collapses and Therius pushes the Count out of the way. He tells the others to go on ahead, saying he and the Count will find another way through. Zael moves on to go protect General Asthar. When Zael reaches him, General Asthar is wounded badly. He tells Zael that the medal he gave him is the key to the castle's secrets and that he can't let the Count see it. Asthar says he believes Zael can save the island from a horrible fate and says that "that man" is dangerous, without revealing who it is before he dies.

At this point, Calista's previous betrothed, Jirall, walks in. Again, under false accusation, Zael is arrested for the murder of General Asthar. The Gurak are again defeated for the time being and Zael must escape prison. Zael swears to himself to find the General's killer. Calista lets Zael out of his cell and helps him escape. She explains her conversations with Asthar and is willing to help him again. Zael finds out the Outsider may be linked to the death of the land.

Back at the tavern, the mercenaries determine to stay and find out the story behind the Outsider and find Asthar's killer. Dagran believes the killer to be Jirall and determines to search for evidence. In Jirall's room, they find a sword with blood on it and a paper confirming dealing with the Gurak. The Count walks into the room, along with Jirall, at which point Dagran displays the evidence. Zael's name is cleared and Jirall is thrown in the dungeon, screaming that the claims are false. Therius comes forth later personally to Zael and says that he doesn't believe Jirall could have been the murderer. Zael finds out that Dagran framed Jirall for the "survival of the mercenaries."

The island finally arrives at the land of the Guraks and the war begins officially. Immediately, they storm the Gurak Castle. But they are surprised to not see enemy Gurak soldiers, but women and children of the species fleeing. Without any Gurak men, the Lazulis knights start killing the women and children. The mercenaries resent the knights for being "no better than common bandits." The mercenaries continue on to try and find the king of the Gurak, Zangurak (No, not Ganondorf). Instead, they find survivors. They find out the truth, that Zangurak is only trying to help his people survive, because their land is dying as well. The mercenaries help the survivors escape and head home.

In Lazulis Castle, Zael hears a voice singing and follows it to the Place of Secrets, where the Outsider and the General's medal both react, opening a door filled with light. Both Calista and Therius accompany Zael through this door. They find that the Outsider was supposed to end war, but it's actually draining all of the life from the planet. They also learn how to send the Outsider "back to the stars."

At the official knighting ceremony, Zael calls out the Count for starting the war for personal purposes and he refuses to serve the Count any longer. When the other knights go to retrieve him, Therius stops them and says they will have to strike him down to get to Zael. Zael and Calista go to stop the war, first by destroying the cannon. But the Gurak have returned to finish the war, with a second moving island. Count Arganan goes to the core of the Outsider and dies trying to control it. With his last breath, the land falls to ruin and the Gurak take Lazulis Island in victory.

The mercenaries and the remaining knights still willing to fight try to defeat any enemies they find to save the island. Therius falls in battle. Swearing it is only a flesh wound, he gives the mercenaries a key to the sewer to help any survivors in hiding. The mercenaries then infiltrate Fortress Island, the Gurak's fortress, and encounter Zepha and Zesha, Zangurak's right hand men.After the battle, before Zepha and Zesha retreat, the mercenaries find out that Zangurak is back on Lazulis Island, attempting to take the Outsider. On their way back to Lazulis Island, Calista is taken by Zangurak.

In the Last World chapter, the remaining five mercenaries decide to split up through three separate doors, increasing their chances of reaching Zangurak faster. Yurick goes off to one door on his own, to which he says his father's blood runs through him. Lowell shakes his head and says that Yurick just needs a hug before they all go through their respective doors, promising too meet each other again.

In his own room, Yurick fights down his enemies and sits sadly for a moment. He tells himself that he can't rely on others forever and promises to make his dad proud. He then continues forward and meets up with Zael and Mirania in a battle with Zepha. He quickly helps out by breaking the barrier around Zepha. At the end of the battle, Yurick smirks and finishes Zepha off by casting Meteor, to which Zepha's response is that human incantations can't work on him. But hidden inside Meteor was Yurick's father's knife, which penetrates Zepha and ends his life. Yurick laughs at Zepha and says he "begs to differ." Yurick is thanked by Zael, to which he says that they're friends, aren't they. And the favour is quickly returned when Zael pulls Yurick out of the way of a falling wall.

The team meets back up, only to have Lowell die. They finish of Zesha and Zael goes forward to face Zangurak. When the remainder of the team catches up, they finish Zangurak off. As Zangurak is fighting for his last breaths, he rips off his arm, and tells it to go revive him, to which the arm just happily scurries off to some unknown place.

Continuing onward, Dagran steps out from the shadows and claims the other half of the outsider from Zangurak's hand. He reveals that he is the one that was collaborating with the Gurak. Yurick yells at him saying he thought they were friends. Dagran's betrayal is taxing on everyone. They follow Dagran through the shadows. Dagran reveals that he is the one that killed General Asthar, because Asthar killed his family. The team then proceeds to fight Dagran in the Final Battle.

During the Final Boss battle, Dagran puts up an impenetrable shield and knocks everyone down. As Yurick stands up again, he tells Zael that he needs time to show his true power. He uncovers his right eye and says that he can now use it's power properly, with no regrets. With the command, Yurick upgrades his Meteor attack to "Big Bang", which shatters Dagran's impervious barrier for massive damage. He feels good with the power and becomes rather proud of it. When they defeat Dagran, Dagran gives his thanks for stopping him, his apologies for what he put everyone through, and his final wishes as he passes on. As the mercenaries escape from the crumbling depths, Syrenne stops by Lowell's body, insisting that she will take him out of here. The team says it's suicide, but she's heartbroken. But then, a light comes and revives Lowell, as Dagran's last gift.

When they resurface, the war is over. The Gurak retreat and there's peace in Lazulis Island again. They create a treaty, ending the wars for good. The two nations form a common land where humans and Gurak alike work together. Slowly, the land starts regaining it's life back and they return the outsider to the sky.

Personality:
In the beginning, Yurick does not talk much, and when he does it is usually a sarcastic remark. He treats mercenary work as a means of survival. He appears to be very aloof and does not attempt to get to know his peers better or to socialize, saying his services "don't extend to socializing in the pub." His antisocial behavior concerns Zael, as he considers Yurick a friend. He is shown to have a soft spot for children on more than one occasion. In battle he is very engaged and proficient in magic.

After finding out what happened to his father, Yurick puts his past behind him and slowly begins to open up to everyone. He is more supportive, and shows a soft-hearted and caring side of him he initially hid. He is also good at giving advice, especially to Zael. Yurick is well studied as he knows many facts in the game, including knowledge of the Gurak & Human relationships which even General Asthar didn't know.

He is afraid to reveal the stone in his eye because of the risk the power carries, but at the end of the game, Yurick discovers that the magic stone was trying to release what was really hiding behind Yurick: an ultimate power that surpasses almost anyone's magic. This power is used against Dagran during the final battle, when the spirit attack Big Bang is used.

Yurick is easily frightened when faced with something terrifying, such as ghosts or bats, to the point that he even wet himself (which he said was sweat to defend himself). Yurick is deathly afraid of ghosts, despite having no problem blasting undead skeletons in earlier chapters. When they defeat the Vampyre in the Haunted Mansion chapter, Yurick jumps up and down and cheers, "We killed it! We can go home, now!"

When he performs Meteor, he cackles insanely as monsters blow up, while in casting Big Bang, he screams at them to burn in Hell.

Abilities:
The source of Yurick's power comes from a magic stone placed in his eye (under the eye patch).

- Flare: Flame magic. Can be combined with other players magic for combos.
- Prominence: Superior flame magic. Also can be used in combos, additionally lowers enemies' defenses greatly. Upgraded version of Flare (replaces it in the game when learned.)
- Reverse: Inversion magic. Converts enemy heal circles into damage circles and converts enemy damage circles in to heal circles.
- Meteor (Spirit Attack): High Grade level flame magic. Deals great damage to enemies.
- Big Bang (Spirit Attack): Ultimate flame magic. Deals insane damage and destroys force-fields.

Yurick has the highest Magic, the third highest Magic Defense, and the third highest Agility (alongside Mirania & Calista) stat in the game. Though he has the 2nd lowest Attack, and the lowest Defense in the game.

Reincarnation Information

Age: 22

Appearance:
Before the echoes, his eyes are light blue and he has blond hair, tied in a ponytail, that reaches down to his shoulders. He stands at 5' 9" and is slender. He has some natural muscle and tone. He tends to layer his clothes, his favourite outfit having a long-sleeved black shirt under a short-sleeved button up, leaving the front open, with jeans and workers boots. He occasionally likes to wear jewelry as well. His ears are pierced three times on either side. After the echoes, his hair becomes silver and his right eye obscured by the stone from his previous life.

Starting Location: Shepherd's Haven

History:
Jacob is the third of four children under a single mother. His eldest sister took a job as soon as she was able to help support the family. Yes, things were tight, but they were always taken care of. Jacob often picked on his other siblings in attempts to get attention.

However, when Jacob was still in grade school, he saw his baby sister getting picked on in the sandbox. After defending her, he felt something of a sense of responsibility toward his family. Even if he couldn't earn money, he tried to help by protecting them and started eagerly helping around the house.

Before he could reach middle school, his eldest sister fell deathly ill. It was at this time that Jacob found a love for flowers, and he always brought them to his sister's bedside to cheer her up and wish her to get better. Even though she was ill, she taught him how to arrange flowers into pretty bouquets. This went on for months. Jacob rushed through the door one day to show his sister his latest flower arrangement only to find his family heartbroken from her passing away.

Their mother eventually began dating again and relied on the support of many of her boyfriends to help the family keep from ending up on the streets, but she never remarried, saying that she didn't want the temptation to have another child. Many of her boyfriends didn't stick around either.

Even with his sister gone, he kept practicing his bouquets and knew exactly that he wanted to own a flower shop. He breezed through school, acing the classes that mattered most to him to manage a business. The second he turned sixteen, he applied to florist shops anywhere he could find. The part time job brought in money to help make his little sister's and mother's life easier, his other older sibling already grown and moved out. When he graduated high school, he jumped right into college for accounting classes. By the time he turned twenty, he became the manager of the flower shop he worked at. Shortly before becoming manager, he had moved out on his own into an apartment near the top floor.

Somewhere in the years between graduating and becoming manager, he had woken up one morning to find his hair had turned silver and a persisting number he could not forget. If anyone asked about his sudden hair change, he passed off the excuse that he wanted to dye it, trying to ignore the fact that it happened out of nowhere. Shortly after he became manager, another appearance change occured - his right eye had changed dramatically. His sclera was black and the iris a sandy colour. Not knowing what else to do, he started wearing an eye patch to hide it from a world of questions. If anyone asked what happened to his eye, he just laughed off an excuse and changed the subject.

Up until about a year ago, he had spent his time confused about what was happening to his body, or trying not to think about it. There was talk on the news of something called Numbered, and he felt the same confusion toward them. He was walking out of his shop one evening, heading home for the night. In an alley he heard someone yell and went to check on them. Around the corner he saw someone getting mugged. A memory of how to use magic appeared and he quietly cast a spell to attack the mugger. After watching the victim to make sure he was okay, Jacob ran off as quietly as he could, trying not to be seen. When he bolted through the door to his home, panting, the reality sunk in: he was one of them - a Numbered.

He decided to keep his abilities secret and live life as normally as he could, happy to run his flower shop. He only moonlighted as a hero when someone needed help and often in disguise.

Personality:
Keeping Yurick's cool and calm demeanor, Jacob is significantly warmer than he was in his previous life. He can't stand to see someone get hurt and will do anything he can to help them. He's rather sociable and is quick to warm up to virtually anyone. He is, however, the kind of person to say he's fine even if something is bothering him. His expressions are likely to give him away, though. And he can worry himself sick easily.

Jacob speaks the language of flowers and uses it often for anyone close to him. Flower arranging is his passion, thanks to his eldest sister. Many flowers can be found around his home, usually potted.

Jacob is intelligent and values common sense. He knows not to take candy from strangers and doesn't try to bite off too much more than he can chew. Like his preincarnation, he enjoys studying to a fault, learning whatever interests him. He takes a great sense of self pride, keeping tidy after himself and doing whatever needs to be done himself. He is prone to being pensive, his thoughts drifting anywhere the whim takes him.

Although he is fair, he doesn't like to play mediator and will often stay out of other people's arguments unless intervention is required. That's not to say that he will stay passive in his own arguments when they occur, though. He is hardly quick to anger and tries to be amiable beyond the shadow of a doubt. If his temper should be triggered, it is often icy with a sharp tongue.

Jacob echoes back being afraid of ghosts and mirrors many of the actions involving them from his preincarnation. Jacob is also afraid of illness, since he saw his eldest sister die from an illness at such a young age. He keeps his medicine cabinet well-stocked and even keeps a small amount of over-the-counter drugs on hand, such as cold medicine and fever reducer. He does additionally show great concern if anyone he knows shows signs of illness and will do what he can to help them get better faster.

Starting Echoes:

First echo: He gains his silver hair and memories of a castle with his Number.

Second echo: He obtains the stone in his right eye, the source of his magical power.

Third echo: In attacking a mugger in secret, he recalls a time when attacking a monster in secret, casting a fire spell. He gains memories of using, and the ability to use, his fire magic at the most basic level.

Fourth echo: He regains the memories of his fear of ghosts.

Goals for RtE: For the most part, Jacob seems to live a rose-coloured glasses life. I'd like maybe for that to get turned upside down on him in a way, though not in the most extreme sense. I want him overwhelmed, not Blue-screen-of-deathing. To push his limits a fair amount and see if it changes his perspective on some things. Experiments and plotting are extremely welcome with this character.

Samples

Third-Person Sample
Jacob and his youngest sister walk down the street as the sun starts to set. She tells a joke and they both laugh. As they pass by a public trash can, Jacob throws his empty soda cup in it. They talk about their daily lives and just enjoy catching up as siblings. When they get to the bus station, he gives his little sister a hug.

"It's always good seeing you. Tell mom I say hi."

She promises she will and, as she gets on the bus, he waves goodbye. When the bus finally vanishes from sight, he starts his walk home. The night is just starting to show some stars. He ponders a great many things as he walks down the street. Though, he's not crazy enough to think any of it aloud, like some people do.

He walks up the steps to his apartment and fondles his keys for the correct one. He unlocks the door and steps in, flicking on the lights. The fluorescent bulbs give off a faint hum as they come to life. He opens the cupboard, gets out coffee and some filters, and gets his coffee pot running. A rather odd behaviour at this time of night. He takes his with milk, no sugar, and eases onto the sofa. The TV stares lifelessly back at him and he pulls around some magazines he has on the table before letting out a heavy sigh and taking his first deep drink of the coffee.

"Sometimes, it feels lonely around here. Empty," he says to no one in particular. But, finding someone to share his life with just didn't seem doable right now. Or would it ever be? He could have stayed with his family, but living in that old house seemed even emptier. His mother was always out on a date, and his youngest sister was out of the house often. Somehow, it seemed more lonely to live in a house that should have people in it.

He finishes his coffee and pours himself another cup before heading onto the balcony. The night air felt slightly chilly, but welcoming. He gazes down onto the city as he sips, watching the night life below him.

First-Person Sample
[He sits in front of a webcam, urged by one of his friends. He gives a rather curious look to his friend, which the camera catches, and his friend urges him from the side. Jacob clears his throat as he turns back to the camera.]

Hello, my name is Jacob. My friend thought... God, I can't do this...

[He rubs his face in embarrassment as his friend snickers and whispers for him to continue.]

My friend thought I should try an... online dating service. And right now he's stifling his laughter, making me think this is a joke... Anyway.

I like flowers, they're my life story. Would you shut up? If you want me to do this, stop. I'm pretty social and like to read. I'm not really what you would call a nerd, though. And if anyone takes this seriously, I'll be extremely surprised. Thanks for looking.

There, I did it. Now how do I turn it off?

[There is some faint conversation as he's shown what to do and the video feed turns off.]