The Wandering Serpent
“Chaos was the law of nature; Order was the dream of man.”
The Serpent
╂ Alias: Dancing Viper, Serpent Guru, Vali'a of the 66 venoms.
╂ Age: 36 || 1st sun of the 1st Astral Moon
╂ Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
╂ Religion: The Twelve, Forsaken Gods
╂ Birthplace: The Black Shroud, Snakemolt
╂ Clan: Marsi clan
╂ Serpent Seer of the Marsi Clan
╂ Affinity: Ice || Dark || Earth
╂ Voice Claim (Regular Voice) Vol'Jin link text
(Loa/Ancestors Overlapping) Spirit Vol'jin link text
╂ Spoke Languages
✦Fragmented Common
✦Marsian Tongue
✦Hunt speak
| Skills and Traits | Description |
|---|---|
| Neaj'mae Blessing | Upon becoming the serpent seer he is bathed in the wealth of knowledge and blessing bestowed upon him by the Queen of serpents. Making him a living beacon for her children and the strange immunity to all of their poisons and venoms. |
| Way of the Serpent | As a serpent seer, he must first be a master in the clan's art of combat taught only to seers. Vali'a is a devoted master of the way of the serpent, using his fist his skills surrounds Evasion, Avoidance, Camouflage, Speed, Accuracy and Fluid motion. |
| Medical knowledge | As a practitioner of his people's style he needs to have vast medical knowledge, understanding how the body functions and operates. While the vast majority of his knowledge is to maim or kill he has used for more medical situations as well. |
| Serpent Seer | Born with the immense spiritual awareness at birth like most serpent seer before him he was charged and trained young to become his peoples greatest asset. As a serpent seer, he is one of the few Masters of the Dark Arcane (commonly referred to as Voodoo). |
| Spiritual Vision | As a serpent seer and his vast awareness of the spiritual world, he is capable of sensing Loa and spirits alike around him. Allowing him to give these spirits greater or lesser as well Loa the respect they deserve before traveling onward. |
| Art of un-involvement | As a devout follower of his goddess and a practitioner of the way of the serpent, he is holding the meaning un-involvement at its core. Developing a keen trait to vanish from the line of sight as if fading off into the shadows. |
The man
Born within the furthermost of the Southern Shroud, Vali’a was molded at a young age to adapt to The Way of the Serpent. Among the three sons born to the Marsi Clan, as the eldest, his tutelage was seen to with the highest consideration, instilling not only the knowledge of their clan, but the mastery of the clan’s combative art to ensure it was carried on through the generation of Serpent Seers.However, over his years of training, he witnessed the alarming decline of his kin; first brought on by the deaths of his sisters due to illness, and the dwindling number of kin returning from expeditionary hunts through the reaches of The Black Shroud. Urgency to keep the way of the Marsi alive and well called many a male hunter home from their excursions, however their efforts were for naught as even the most able were cut down before reaching sanctuary. Male after male fell prey to ambush until only the eldest son remained. Though without his people and only the knowledge entrusted to him to guide him, he wandered from their once thriving culture into the Shroud, moving from Keeper clan to clan in the hopes of replenishing his once revered people.
Way of the serpent
The Way of the Serpent is a style of combat perfected by the Marsian and passed down from generation to generation among the adept Serpent Seers. Their deeper spiritual connection with The Loa make them more susceptible to the philosophical elements accompanied with the techniques, as well as maintaining a malleable mind and form necessary to implement the movements of the style’s namesake. Each movement is carefully controlled and balanced, conducted by the individuals own rhythm. The ebb and flow of movement is enacted with purpose and a refined eye for precision; knowing when and where to strike with a measured amount of power. Practitioners are often kept to themselves, obsessively perfecting their art until the full breadth of their ability reaches their mentors’ satisfaction.
Principles of the Serpent
Un-involvement. Not being there, Physically, Mentally and or Spiritually is the Serpents way. If the serpent option of un-involvement and the ability to be absent is taken away, then the Serpent is deadly!
Superior Knowledge. knowing how to maximize effect for minimum effort; simply knowing how to succeed. Without knowledge no action can be truly successful.
Absolute attitude. The Serpent is Absolutely and Definitive. There is no evasion, no quarter and there is no time. What needs to be done has been done.
Perfect Skills. The Serpent has not a broad base of skills, more narrow but these are mastered to perfection. And once a skill is mastered, the next may be mastered, but not before.
Order Creator. Order and Control are the keys to the serpent practitioners success; it is also the building block of co-existence, cooperation, civilization and Enlightenment. Order is the absence of Surprise, the absence of chaos and the absence of mischief and thus of peace and happiness (for the serpent). Without order there is chaos, strife and pain.
Serpent Seers
Masters of the Dark Arcane (commonly referred to as Voodoo) the Serpent Seers, at their core, are the heart and soul of the Marsi clan. On the whole, their abilities straddle the line between Light and Dark arcane, spanning the breadth of knowledge from healing the afflicted to cursing their enemies; whatever is needed to ensure their people maintain their longevity.All Serpent Seers are practitioners of The Way of the Serpent; a physical combative artform using either blade, lance or fist. They are also revered for their aptitude for communing with the spirits and heed the call of the Ancestors and The Loa. Because of this and their collected wisdom, practiced ‘Seers are often seen at the side of Leadership or among the Council of Elders.Birth of a new Seer is heralded with a large celebration lasting for days and nights on end, yet among the jovial spirit is a wariness for the new soul. It is said that The Loa and even the Ancestors can commune through the ‘Seers to exact their will. This is assumed to be made possible through the resting soul of a ‘Seer among the Houses of the Ancestors.Disclaimer: When Vali'a wears his Ghul'vul (ritual/ceremony Mask) the Loa/Ancestors will speak through him. In this case rather then using "..." I will use […] to simplify the transition
Rituals and Sacrifices
Bloodletting
Bloodletting or Taz'lok is a large part of Marsi clan culture in faith and politics. While the practice is mostly seen through the Serpent Seers and their worship to the Loa and Spirits alike it isn't uncommon to see the High matron and other upper-echelon leaders conducting these rituals as well. To elevate themselves to higher positions or a showing of good faith to their betters. With this said Vali'a uses Bloodletting through his rituals and has different degrees of severity depending on the occasion. While some rituals are to venerate and pray to the gods there are others to summon the Loa and spirits into his vessel as the serpent Seer was designed to do.
Bloodletting Tools
Serpent Seer ritual dagger that was said to be forged within the molten venoms of the Queen of serpents many children venom and lifeblood. Used ONLY for rituals and nothing more. To draw both his blood and pieces of his aether.Ghul'vul or ritual mask, it is essential for the Serpent seer to wear their ceremonial mask when conducting their rituals and sacrifices to the gods and spirits.Bark paper to collect the blood spilled from the seer, depending on the ritual there may be more bark paper needed. It is commonly seen that a seer will use more bark paper in accordance with stronger rituals.Rosemary to hone the senses of the Seer further and allow him to straddle the line of the ethereal realm and physical. Increases his concentration and through his blood and burning Copal Incense shall he be granted that hidden sight.Copal Incense to burn the blood-stained bark paper and Rosemary and create the pungent scent of burning blood and the odor of the now burning 'Blood of the tree'. It is the pungent crimson smoke that draws the aether collected from the blade to both powers further and call upon the Loa and spirits.Dream Ink to add after the chant designated to the ritual, it is to be poured slowly in the flames so that it may not die out. Blending its essence and slowly pouring the serpents seers aether into it further before finally inhaling deeply the pungent scent that surrounds their immediate area to then draw in the summoned or to conclude the ritual.Sacrifices To feed the flames of along with what have already been spilled, to give onto the gods a worthy sacrifice along with the seers aether to beckon them to the physical plane. Depending on the ritual the sacrifice must fit the ritual. In better terms "Any eye for an eye, Tooth for a tooth."
RP Hooks
Traveling Merchant- Vali'a had only recently begun taking up the merchant trade in an effort to acquire funds outside of hunting. It is his hope to both educate the less enlighten of keeper culture as well make gil to fuel his expeditions to new lands undiscovered by him.
Tribal Seer Vali'a is a serpent seer of his people but a seer to all people. If any traditional Keepers is in need of guidance and aid he shall help no questions asked.
Hunter While he is primarily a seer he is just as deadly a hunter. If he is needed to hunt he shall within reason.
Wanderer By traditional he is a wanderer but more commonly will be found within the shroud roaming about.
Seeker of Knowledge Every the follower of his patron he seeks greater knowledge and things that have been left hidden to man or beast. To find this untap well spring of unspoken or even taboo knowledge so that he can bathe in its succor.
