Sur l'un des nombreux chemins pavés menant à la capitale Altéenne de Meridian, une seule calèche tirée par des chevaux traversa le sentier en direction de la grande ville. Le chauffeur regarda autour de lui et apprécia la vue panoramique sur les villages tranquilles et le paysage urbain au loin alors qu'il fouettait les deux chevaux.
Pendant ce temps à l'intérieur de l'habitacle, Varkasan Trenact et 3 autres Paladins étaient assis à l'intérieur. Ils portaient tous leur armure, bien qu'ils aient eu leurs casques et les ont coupés sous leurs mains ou sur leurs genoux. Varkasan avait son casque reposant sur ses genoux alors qu'il se massait la tête. C'était légèrement douloureux, et la voiture serrée et bosselée ne faisait rien pour aider. Il essayait de ne pas y penser jusqu'à ce qu'ils atteignent leur destination. Le Paladin assis à côté de lui a parlé d'une voix brumeuse.
"Ta tête fait toujours mal à Varkasan? Allez, ça fait déjà trois jours! Certainement personne n'est cette lumière d'un buveur" Il a dit en plaisantant. L'autre paladin avait un ours épais et portait une armure légère et avait son capuchon en acier dans les mains. "Zalfn, vous semblez oublier que nous avions décidé de mélanger une potion de Dwarven dans nos boissons de fête pour _'spice them up'_. Vous semblez aussi oublier que vous m'avez convaincu de prendre le premier verre." Varkasan répondit avec un sourire faible. "Vraiment vrai... Si ça te fait te sentir mieux, je ne m'attendais pas à ce que les effets soient _'ça'_ sérieux. Les autres hommes n'oseraient pas toucher à ces boissons après ce qui t'est arrivé et moi-même » répondit Zalfn. "Ah oui, tu en as pris un verre aussi." Varkasan a dit. "Bien sûr, c'était mon idée, donc c'était juste. Bien que si je puis dire, je semble avoir récupéré beaucoup mieux que vous. » Zalfn répondit avec un sourire. Un Paladin assis en face d'eux portant une lourde armure semblait amusé à leur échange et se contentait de secouer la tête.
Varkasan a continué à masser son front. Malgré la sensation de perte de la tête, la sensation était beaucoup moins grande qu'avant, et il se sentait lentement mieux à la minute. Il s'est donné peut-être une heure avant de se remettre de tout ce que... la concoction... lui a fait. Pour continuer d'essayer d'enlever son esprit des douleurs, il a pensé à la mission qu'ils avaient reçue.
En fait, c'était plus une convocation qu'une mission réelle. Ils l'ont reçu le lendemain de sa remise de diplôme avec plusieurs autres associés. Quatre d'entre eux ont reçu l'ordre de se rendre à leur quartier général pour y être affectés sous un capitaine et commencer leurs fonctions officielles. Le message disait aussi qu'ils avaient déjà une mission qui leur était assignée, mais les détails ne leur seraient communiqués qu'une fois réunis. Comme quatre d'entre eux avaient reçu la même convocation, ils ont tous décidé de partager les dépenses pour se rendre à Meridian. Varkasan ne savait pas ce qu'on leur demandait de faire, mais il avait entendu les rumeurs, sur la façon dont les avant-postes de Paladin à la frontière ont commencé à être perdus et détruits sans aucune piste quant aux auteurs. Il avait donc l'impression que leurs devoirs deviendraient bientôt plus sérieux. D'un bon côté, il savait qu'il reverrait d'autres recrues après la formation de l'unité, et il espérait qu'elles étaient des personnes avec lesquelles il avait des amis ou qu'il était associé. Si ce n'est pas le cas, cela n'a pas d'importance car ils auraient besoin d'apprendre à se faire confiance s'ils voulaient survivre sur le terrain. C'était juste une question de combien de temps cela prendrait.
Le Paladin assis en face d'eux regardait à l'extérieur de la fenêtre du chariot. "Nous sommes bien dans la ville maintenant, le quartier général ne devrait pas être trop loin" a-t-il dit. "C'est bon de connaître Aradus, je ne savais pas combien de temps je pouvais rester ici." Varkasan a répondu avec un chanfrein. Quelques minutes de plus sont passées en silence jusqu'à ce que la voiture s'arrête, et le conducteur dehors a commencé à parler. "C'est tout ce que je vais, les gars. Le bâtiment Paladin n'est pas loin d'ici. Juss suit la route." Il a crié de l'extérieur. "J'ai compris, merci pour la balade. Aradus dit que les Chevaliers Lumineux commencèrent à s'empiler hors de la voiture, et regarda le grand bâtiment en bas de la route. Les côtés de la rue étaient remplis de gens allant dans leurs affaires quotidiennes, mais aucun vent vers le siège des Chevaliers Lumineux.
« L'endroit a l'air aussi terrifiant que le premier jour d'entraînement! » Zalfn a dit à haute voix en plaisantant. "Ne demandez pas où est la salle de bain dès que vous entrez, cette fois." Aradus a répondu. "Bien sûr que non! J'ai déjà mémorisé où ils sont tous." Zalfn répondit en riant. Avec cela, le groupe des 4 se dirige vers leur destination, se demandant ce que leurs supérieurs avaient en réserve pour eux.
**Appearance:**
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Underneath the armor, He has short, neatly-cut, black hair, and rugged (nearly clean-shaven) facial hair. His eyes are a deep blue color, and he has a light skin tone. Whenever he isn't wearing his armor, he usually wears a combination of a white shirt, and brown leather pants, often accompanied by a white cloak bearing the insignia of the Paladins of Altea. Underneath the cloak is usually a brown belt carrying his sword and dagger.
**Name:** Varkasan Trenact
**Race:** Human
**Age:** 21
**Alignment:** Luminous Knights
**Personality:** Varkasan is a very approachable fellow, despite how some people may view Paladins. He is friendly to nearly everyone he meets, while still maintaining the image and discipline of Paladins as an elite fighting force of Altea. He tries his best to find a peaceful solution to conflicts, and will avoid violence if at all possible. However, this does not mean he is any less capable in combat. Varkasan is a skilled swordsman, perhaps not as good as some of the older warriors, but he is excellent in his own right. His skill is also backed by an unwavering drive to fulfill his duty as a Paladin. "Patriotic" would be a word to describe him. His loyalty to their cause is almost zealot-like, as he will do whatever it takes to ensure peace between the people and The Mages, or purge any magic that is deemed to be a great threat to his kingdom. Because of this, he is nearly incorruptible, and will most likely choose duty over any temptations and personal emotions. However, this also makes him susceptible to being manipulated if someone had the rank to command him, and the charisma to hide their ulterior motives.
**Bio:** Varkasan was born to a family who resided in the town of Paltrica, located near Meridian. His father was a soldier, while his mother was a simple housewife. He lived a relatively normal life for a boy like himself. Though he had always looked up to his father and aspired to follow in his footsteps. Not out of a drive for glory like most, but rather a subconscious sense of duty and responsibility to the land he was raised in; a kind of moral debt to Altea. His father often taught him different sword-fighting techniques in order to prepare him for the future, knowing fully-well he could not stop the boy from his dreams. At the age of 17, Varkasan enlisted into the military and quickly made himself known to his superiors with his combat skills, and unwavering loyalty to his kingdom and people. His ability to resist both great fear and temptation so that he can carry out his orders made him a candidate for becoming a Paladin. Since The Paladins are considered greater than the common soldiers, at the age of 19, Varkasan accepted the offer without hesitation.
He spent the next two years undergoing the special training needed in order to wield the power of Luminosity. The two years were some of the hardest of his life, but his zeal managed to carry him through where some would surrender. He was an amiable person to be around for several recruits and managed to make friends and allies out of them. Then there were some who took advantage of his loyalty. An example was when he was tricked into cleaning the bunks of a select group of recruits when they had planted evidence implying that the instructors assigned him for that task. Only when Varkasan had inquired to their superiors about being assigned to cleaning the same bunks for several days in a row was the deception discovered, and the guilty party punished. He heard the instructors say something like "If they ever pass, the shadows will be at their backs for certain..." Varkasan was unsure what this meant, but now he tries to remind himself to be wary of manipulation.
At the end of his training, he underwent the dangerous initiation needed to hold the power of Luminosity, and he survived. Varkasan was both joyful and relieved. Because of his skills and overall reliability, he was quickly assigned into a unit and given his first assignments.
**Initial Spells/Techniques:**
- _Luminous Blessing:_ Varkasan will enchant an object, covering it with the power of Luminosity, thus giving any normal piece of equipment anti-mage capabilities. This is usually used on his combat equipment, though he can also use it for other things if the situation calls for it. The duration depends on how concentrated he makes it.
- _Sunlight Flare:_ Using concentrated Luminous energy, Varkasan is able to create a floating sphere of light which he can move at will. Same as his previous ability, the duration of the sphere depends on how much energy he puts into it. The sphere creates an aura of Luminosity that slowly burns up mana within its radius. Contact with the flare itself is very dangerous for a Mage. For non-mages however, its effects range from the warm sensation of a hot summer day within the aura, to a sunburn from touching the flare itself.
- _Holy Armaments:_ Similar to Luminous Blessing, a piece of combat equipment is enchanted with energy. However, instead of coating it, the Luminosity takes a more concentrated form. For example, it can create spikes of light appear from the front of a shield to deter melee magic attacks, or create a transparent visor of light onto the openings of a steel helmet for extra protection. Takes the same amount of energy as Luminous Blessing, but he needs more energy and skill for greater armor and weapon additions. Varkasan has a mastery of this ability, in the sense that he can swiftly change the arms additions on his equipment as needed. However as a novice, his augmentation options are limited
**Skills:**
- _The Guardian:_ While not an entirely special skill, Varkasan's fighting style involves playing defensively, and using the opponent's moves against them. He usually lets the enemy make the first strike, and counters it. When an enemy tries to come for him at close range, he either blocks or parries the attack in an attempt to disarm them or throw them off-balance. He tries to see where the enemy attack will come from, and will respond with equal force in the opposite direction. Included in his tactics are outlasting his opponent in a battle of attrition and endurance, and advancing upon them once they feel the effects of fatigue. While blocking and countering, he tries to gauge how powerful his enemy is, and judging how much more he will need to wear them down before beginning his own assault. He may not be the one to make the first move, but more often than not, he will have the final say.
- _Titan's Endurance:_ In conjunction with his defensive tactics, Varkasan can withstand a large amount of fatigue and punishment. More so than other Paladins can. He can withstand long and tiring marches, as well as drawn-out battles. By the time most soldiers are losing their morale and energy, he can still maintain himself at full combat effectiveness. However, even he has a limit. It's just that it's quite higher than most. Some would say abnormally so. However, this also means that it takes much longer for it to fully recover as well. Varkasan needs this kind of endurance to make his Guardian style of fighting work to its full potential.
- _The Arbiter:_ Due to his preference of avoiding conflict, Varkasan is an able negotiator. He is capable of listening to others and inferring things about them based on what they say. With this information, he attempts to reach a common ground with the other party. He may not always agree with what the other believes in, but he can understand where it comes from, and he actively tries to find a way to settle things that would be in the best interest all who are involved.
**Combat Strategy:** Varkasan will always begin a battle by enchanting the necessary equipment with Luminosity. With his equipment now being deadly to Mages, he is capable using his fighting styles against nearly all enemies. He will usually let the opponent make the first move before responding with the necessary counters. If he has the time, he lets them continue their attacks until he thinks they have used up a lot of their energy and stamina, and thus, less capable of dealing with his own attacks. When dealing with multiple enemies, he uses his Flares to scatter them and lets the Flare's aura deter them from regrouping while he tries to deal with the separated ones. If given enough time, he can actually create a makeshift barrier using the Flares (though it would expend a lot of energy especially if it was made to last). He creates and removes various Holy Armaments to his weapons depending on the situation. He makes use of that ability more when he is pressed for time and must quickly eliminate enemies using a blitzing rush of attacks augmented by different Holy Armaments which he swiftly places and replaces to keep himself unpredictable.
**Unique Equipment:**
- _The Sentinel:_ The sword and shield set used by Varkasan. A wealthy friend and fellow recruit of his had it crafted for him as a Paladin graduation gift. It was designed to be more tough and durable than a majority of standard-issue weaponry. This complements his defensive fighting style as his weapons can stand large amounts of punishment without fear of breaking or degrading quickly. However, this also means they are heavier than usual gear, and take more energy to move.
- _Guardian Armor:_ A standard-issue variant of Paladin armor given to Paladins whose duties revolve around the defense of territory and crowd control. It has slightly more armor than the usual armor, however it also gives enough space for the wearer to move without restricting it by too much as most heavy plate-armor would. The difference between this and the standard set is only slight, however.