Links Tyrell

[Dan Dark]

Name: Links Tyrell

Age: 54

Sex: Male

Species: Island Fox (1/4) / Arctic Fox (1/4) / Tundra Wolf (1/2) Hybrid

Appearance: Links is a mottled character, not belonging to one specific species or even two. His mother was a cross breed vixen and his father a wolf causing Links’ genes to be highly mixed. Due to his Island Fox and Tundra Wolf heritage his tail is considerably shorter than others of vulpine race but not as short as a wolf. In the same way, the mix of species has resulting in a very odd fur pattern and various other features.

His muzzle is more defined than most and has inherited an icy blue colour from his mother’s arctic half. His main fur colour is a mottled mix of blues, greys and whites that tend to change due to each strand being a mix of the various colours. As such his fur pattern is never constant. Some part of his fur do remain the same colour though, these tending to be the white tip of his tail and the icy blue that covers much of his muzzle and chest.

This said not a lot of his fur is often on show as Links wears a large blue patterned jacket that covers much of his person. Under this he wears a black shirt and dark blue trousers in addition to a pair of boots or other such similar footwear. He also a cape that reaches his ankles and is coloured a very bluish purple. He had no accessories or jewelry with the exception of his staff and a single gold ring he wears on his left ring finger.

Personality: Links’ is a very strange creature in terms of his outward appearance towards others. Having been exposed to, and practiced, magic for so long his body has been infused with it and as such his magic tends to react to his moods. Links himself is a very reserved person, not openly displaying his thoughts and feelings to many and instead simply remaining indifferent. In some situations he may sigh or fold his arms, this being about the limit of his physical expression.

This said his magic still reacts to his inner feelings. Whenever Links experiences a strong emotion, whether he shows it or not, his magic reacts to it, certain patterns and lines on his body glowing a different colour to his fur. If one can learn to read these patterns it becomes slightly easier to tell what he is feeling inside, although this is easier said than done.

Links has no issues associating or working with others, his age allowing him to understand that everyone has something they can contribute and being well aware of his own defects and failings. He is, however, not afraid to voice opinions about situations around him and has a habit of ‘sticking to his guns’ on issues he is knowledgeable about. Even so he has not been described as arrogant because of it.

Family:
Arthur Tyrell
Relation: Brother
Age: Deceased at 29
Species: Island Fox
Arthur was always a steady rock Links could rely on. He died during a rather tragic event in Links past.

Jonathan Tyrell
Relation: Father
Age: 81
Species: Tundra Wolf
Jon is feeling the effects of his age now, earlier injuries in his life meaning he is now just about permanently bed bound. He still laughs and jokes but suffers from bouts of depression.

Nina Tyrell
Relation: Mother
Age: 79
Species: Island/Arctic Fox
Nina has always been and always will be a caring mother. She is a little reserved now, old age and the experiences of her life dampening her outward personality a little. Still she is always full of smiles.

Alindel Lorien
Relation: Partner/Fiancée
Age: 52
Species: Black Munchkin Cat
Alindel is very much like Links’ mother but without any reservations. She is openly friendly and caring, wanting nothing more than people around her to be happy. She cares for Links deeply and is currently engaged to him.

Transport: Links has the ability to control the wind to such a degree he can create currents strong enough to lift him from the ground. As such, Links generally travels by wind power. This costs two ‘bars’ (see magic section below) to use. He can also transport up to three others along with him at an additional one bar per person.

Weapons: Links carries with him a long staff that serves as a focussing tool for his magic. The blue gem set in the tip is actually the raw material from which rings are formed. As such Links’ can use this to draw his energy directly from the planet through this material.

The staff itself is a simple wooden construction with a set of curved blades at the tip. These aren’t especially sharp but certainly hold an amount of kinetic energy when swung. The gem is set between these blades.

Magic: Links’ magic is a hybrid mix of a variety of magic types and techniques. Being the age he is, he has had experience in a number of fields and learned a great deal about others. To this end he has been able to almost master the use of several types of magic and combine them together into a new type of magic.

This new magic takes on elements from both elemental and non-elemental types but ultimately Links’ strongest power is elemental control of the wind, the magic he was born with. This magic works by absorbing energy, or mana, directly from the surrounding area and focusing it through his body into spells. In such a way Links acts a conduit for this energy and his body is continuously saturated by it.

Technical Workings: In game terms, Links’ magic is based on pre defined power levels, referred to as ‘bars’. These vary based on the size and power of the spell. Links can have a maximum of ten ‘bars’ charged at any time. Due to Links’ body being so saturated with this energy he has become dependant on it over the course of his life and a drastic decrease will result in unconsciousness and/or death.

When in battle Links looses a bar or power every two posts. He also consumes bars of energy to perform his spells, the more powerful the spell the more bars it consumes. He can recover these bars in combat by spending an entire post focusing the energy. This cannot be done if he is dodging or performing another action in the same turn.

He does not loose any bars whilst charging and recovers 2 for each post he spends charging. If Links charges outside of battle he can recover five bars of energy.

If his power levels reach zero he can no longer cast spells until he recovers his energy. However, the use of spells, and the loss of bars over posts, can take him below zero with the following effects:

-1: Headache, dizziness, loss of balance and shakes.
-2: As above in addition to sharp pains as if suffering from multiple electric shocks.
-3: As above but with incapacitating pains.
-4: Unconsciousness.
-5: Death

Spells/Moves:
All of Links’ moves and spells are instant cast or use, however, he must have the required charge level to use them and must then spend time charging back up again after using them.

Stun Palm: This is a close combat move that makes use of Links’ magical energy. By focusing energy into the tip of his staff he can deliver a crippling blow upon impact. However, whilst powerful this spell is highly visible when activated and slower than regular melee swings.
Power Level Required: 1

Wind Blast: A powerful, shotgun like explosion of wind energy directed in a given direction. This spell has the ability to send a target flying several tens of meters (depending on weight of course, robots or similar may only be knocked over) although does no physical damage itself apart from impact damage. This spell is directed from the tip of Links’ staff and so must be aimed.
Power Level Required: 2

Elemental Tornado: Links can create a small (about 5m high) tornado and infuse it with a particular or multiple elements. The more elements infused the more powerful it becomes but the greater the required charge. Elements also have different effects as follows:
Lighting will delivery a static shock to those it hits.
Ice will chill and sometimes freeze a target (organic targets cannot be frozen but will be chilled and slow).
Fire will provide burning damage.
Water will give the spell a much greater hitting power.
Power Level Required: 3 for initial spell and one element, +1 for each additional element used.

Force 9: This hybrid spell uses the power of wind to create a large gale force storm. The wind is mixed with water and lightning to form a powerful area effect spell that can be maintained over numerous posts.
Energy Level Required: 5 to cast, 2 for each turn maintained afterwards

Elemental Screen: This spell uses the multiple elements to create a thin screen of energy that can cover a 180 degree arc. The barrier is a swirling mass of colour and can withstand all magical attacks, either melee or ranged. It cannot, however, protect against solid attacks from melee or ranged weapons. Energy based weapons are an exception to this, the barrier will absorb a majority of the energy but the attack will pass through given time and pressure.
Power Level Required: 4 to cast, 2 for each turn maintained

Spirit of Pholon: This spell is one that Links has had bad experiences with in the past. The spell takes the form of a ghostly image of himself and cannot be hurt itself. It is incredibly powerful, able to blast its way through solid concrete or metal plating and finally detonates with a powerful blast. The reason for this is the spell is a direct projection of Links’ mind meaning he can direct the spell very efficiently. It is, however, a very dangerous spell to use simply because of the amount of energy it requires to use.
Power Level Required: 13

Skills:
Elemental Mastery: Whilst having near total control over wind, Links is also knowledgeable in the other elements. In this way he is capable of making use of them in non-combat related ways. This includes lighting fires, jump starting a machine and conjuring water from nowhere. Any such action consumes a bar of his energy.

Common Sense: Whilst perhaps not a special skill of sorts Links is all too aware that most people are as dumb as a cement block…or at least too excited to think straight. As such he’s normally the one pointing out the pitfalls in situations.

Strengths
+ Links is a very learned fur with knowledge of a variety of different situations and topics. There is little he can’t at the least advise on.
+ Links has superior resilience to magic and elemental type of attacks, spells and situations.
+ Being aged Links knows his boundaries and when to back down.

Weaknesses:
- Being old Links has limited stamina and physical strength compared to those around him.
- Links’ non-expressive personality has a tendency to make people a little untrusting of him.
- Due to the effect his spells have on him Links often refuses to use his larger spells, even in dire circumstances.

Biography:
Born to a mixed family Links was, and has never been, what one could call normal. He hails from the north, further afield than even Never Lake, amongst the frozen peaks of the northern mountain ranges. This said he didn’t spend his childhood freezing, far from it. Nestled away in the mountains in an area of intense geothermal activity was a small town, isolated and very much alone. Known as Jylat, this is where Links grew up and spent a majority of his younger years.

The town had been built up from virtually nothing, supported by an active geothermal spring that provided heat and warmed the ground just enough to allow crops and plants to grow. On every side mountains rose, capped in snow and ice but the geothermal vent kept the town alive and flourishing. Being so isolated the town was a haven for the lost or the forgotten, people who wished to simple disappear and live out their lives in peace. It also attracted all manner of unsavory people, those on the run and those with ulterior motives.

Links himself was a normal child, born and raised by a pair of loving parents, who’s love for each other had caused a rather big rift in their families. His mother, a mixed breed fox, and his father, a pure breed wolf, had fallen for each other after meeting by chance in the market. Both had been young and naïve and their love had grown without any knowledge of events around them. This was much to their disadvantage. The two families involved had a rather unsavory past and feuds between them had been common and many.

As such their love sparked a massive explosion when the discovery of who each of them was. Both families were thrown into chaos and the two lovers were almost ripped apart by the events that followed. Even so they defended each other and eventually fled north where they could be together without worrying. They lost contact with both their families, starting a new life together with only the clothes on their back as possessions.

For many years they struggled to survive, their love and caring for each other supporting them through the worst of times. By the time Nina was 23 they had managed to scrape a living and a wondrous piece of news was received, Nina was pregnant. At first they were both concerned about how they would support a child but they both vowed to do their best and try. Nine months later Links’ brother, Arthur, was born. A cross breed fox like his mother it was soon found that he had an unusual skill. Although not apparent at first it gradually became more noticeable as the first year dragged on…he could influence fire. Not much but he could certainly do it.

His parents were worried, unsure about what it meant or what was happening. They received a further shock as Nina fell pregnant again, giving birth to another boy, Links, a little after Arthur’s second birthday. Again, their second child began to show traits of element control, this time wind. Desperate to find out what was going on they managed to contact a member of Jonathan’s family who was slightly sympathetic to their situation.

He explained that both families had long ago dabbled in the realms of magic and myth. It had been where the rivalry between them had started and some still experimented in their field themselves. It would seem that they had inherited parts of both families magical talent and this had come out in their children. Still concerned with their situation, Links’ parents did their best to try and normalize the situation.

This was not easy and both children grew up being constantly watched and supervised by either their parents or others they could trust. The random use of their powers was common place and neither child seemed able to control their skill. This caused continuous problems for the entire family but nothing significantly dangerous happened.

This was until the two boys began to experiment. As they reached double figures in age they began to realize they were not like the other children around them. More often than not the other children were afraid of them, many of them hearing or spreading rumor about them. Neither Links nor Arthur understood why it was happening, but the lack of other friends made them very close as brothers, closer than most anyway.

This close bond continued through their teenage years, both of the brothers spending untold amount of time trying to figure out their skill together and where it had come from. As time progressed they eventually became able to control the random outbursts, something that pleased their parents greatly. With a level of control under their belts the brothers began to explore other aspects of life. Links became interested in history and dreamy pursuits such as astronomy and reading. His brother meanwhile became a very sporty person.

With a fair education behind them and a seemingly bright future ahead of them, the two brothers entered their twenties. It was during this time that thing began to break apart. After such a close friendship, caused by their skill, Arthur was starting to become a lot more outgoing. Links on the other hand remained the same, content to be close to his brother and not craving any kind of outside friendships. To be honest Links still held feelings of fear and distrust towards others due to his isolation as a child.

When Arthur became infatuated with a local girl Links became very disheartened. His brother had been his only friend and now he hardly ever saw him, the older fox always disappearing off to be with his new love. Links was a young man himself but truthfully he still felt like a child a lot of the time and the absence of his brother began to affect his mentality. His parents became worried, trying to explain as best they could and encouraging Links to go out and make friends of his own.

It never happened and slowly Links and Arthur began to drift further and further apart. Eventually Links hardly ever saw him and slowly began to suffer from bouts of depression. When it happened it did so without notice and so suddenly that Links found himself unable to do anything for days afterwards.

During a visit to his parents Links found the front door hanging ajar. Curious, he walked in, calling out to try and catch attention. He caught more than simply attention as, upon entering the kitchen he was hit by a flame blast that sent him flying across the room. A scream followed, his mother. Glancing up from where he had landed Links saw his brother standing over his parents with an angered look on his face. His mother was cradling his father who seemed to be in a great deal of pain. Even at a distance Links could see the charred ends to his fur and the burn marks that covered his skin.

Links was so shocked he barely noticed a second flame blast heading straight for him. A short conversation followed, questions of why going unanswered and being responded too with gloats and sneers. Something was different, his brother wasn’t the same as he had been earlier in life. There was a sense of uncaring, a deep loathing, and it was all directed towards his father. Links had no idea why but he was scared, incredibly scared. He tried to run but his brother was faster, slamming him against the wall with another fire blast.

He had only been in the room maybe thirty seconds but he looked just like his father, bruised, battered and in pain. As his brother approached he lost the control he had established over his skills and it happened. With the force of a tornado a gale force wind ripped through the house. As well built as it was the structure couldn’t stand up to such a powerful blast of air and with the sickening sound of twisting metal and splintering brick the house collapsed.

Links awoke sometime later, his mind foggy and hazed by the events that had occurred. He was in a bed, his mother sitting over him with a saddened look on her face. Although he asked questions he was given no answers for days. When they finally came he wished they hadn’t. His father was alive, injured but alive. He had suffered heavy burns to almost his entire body but they would heal in time. When the house had caved in a section of the wall had collapsed over them, protecting them from any harm. Links had luckily survived with simply a few broken bones and minor injuries. His brother had not been so lucky, part of the roof had landed straight on top of him, crushing his lower body and causing intense internal bleeding. By the time the emergency services had arrived he was already dead.

Links had never felt so alone in his life. Even when his brother had become distant he had known he was still there…now he was gone. What was worst was the fact that it had been his loss of control that he was dead. His mother tried to comfort him, saying if that hadn’t happened they might all be dead instead of him. The question of why hung on Links’ mind.

After some investigation it was found that Arthur’s lover, a vixen named Juanita, had been related to a family who were close friends with Links’ mother’s family. It seemed that they still held grudges against her and her husband for running away as they did and had hatched a plot to teach her a lesson. Over the curse of the years they had manipulated Arthur from the shadows, slowly coaxing from him feelings that would have otherwise been left buried. They sowed anger and resentment, disgust and hatred. Eventually Arthur had snapped, his personality twisted by those of his own family. Being a fox himself he had gone for his father first and would likely have killed him is Links’ hadn’t interrupted.

The news sickened Links and his parents. Arthur hadn’t even been to blame for the incident, not their Arthur at least. It made Links feel even worst, questions of whether he could have stopped Arthur by some other means, tried to reason with him, get through to the brother he knew. It was all futile thinking of course, nothing could change what had already happened. Links was also trying to come to terms with the fact it had been him that had ended his brothers life, his loss of control.

In the end this played a big part in his future. It was about a year later when Links announced that he was leaving. His parents could half understand why but tried to stop him all the same. Links refused, claiming he would come back when he knew how to control his powers and had some way of making up to them for what had happened.

So at the age of twenty seven Links set out into the world around him. He kept himself to himself, lending his skills in various fields to make money and trying his best to survive. He used this time alone to practice with his skills, all his free time going into studying or examining his skills and how he could control them. As time dragged on weeks turned to months and months into years. Links didn’t seem to notice that passage of time, every day was similar to the last, surviving and learning.

It was over a decade later, Links being into his forty first year on the planet when things began to change. During a trip to a local market he caught sight of a new stall and decided to investigate. The owner was an aging feline, likely a few years younger than himself, and Links was for a moment stunned. She was elegant despite her age and smiled in a way that made Links’ skin tingle. He bought some provisions quickly and left, trying to come to terms with his new feelings.

Having not had many friends apart from his brother and never having had a relationship the feelings were uncomfortable for Links and he didn’t know what to do. For a few weeks he kept coming back to the market to try and see her again but never plucked up the courage to speak to her properly. When he finally did he found the situation a little unnerving and strange. He had rarely talked to girls before and certainly not one he had feelings for. Still he did his best but couldn’t help but clam up and start acting defensively when his past was brought up. In the end the feline, who had identified herself as Alindel, left feeling a little hurt by Links’ hard words and Links himself was left feeling dejected.

It was a few days after this that Links was out in the fields around the town he lived in. He had been feeling unwell for much of the morning and had decided to get some air to try and help it along. Instead it only seemed to make it worst. Deciding to head back home and rest Links never made it.

He woke later in bed, having the strangest sense of déjà vu from an earlier point in his life. He was a little stunned to find out he was in the house of Alindel. A chance meeting? Perhaps. She had been out in the fields herself that day and had found Links unconscious on the ground. With the help of one of her friends she had dragged him back to her house and tended to him. It seemed that he had been suffering from severe food poisoning from something he ate and had been out for a few hours.

It was only a few days that Links was bed bound but it was long enough for his defensive attitude to drop and for Alindel to pull a few details from him. Links didn’t give her any serious details but it was enough for Alindel to understand his behavior and she began to feel a little sorry for him. Once Links was back on his feet the pair continued to meet once every so often. Each meeting made being open a little easier for Links and, although it took a further two months, he finally explained everything to Alindel…including his feelings for her.

The feline couldn’t help but smile, she had guessed something like this had been hidden under the veil of mystery Links threw up around himself. Much to Links’ delight she also returned the feelings, herself having curious thoughts and feelings about him ever since they first spoke. They remained close for a while after that, Links had finally found someone he could talk to openly about his life and Alindel was all too happy to listen.

Gradually their relationship began to deepen and finally, a year and a half after their first meeting, Links proposed. It was a little uncomfortable for him and he didn’t really know what he was doing, but Alindel understood and accepted. Even so, neither of them spoke further of it, maybe just knowing that they would be together forever was enough for them? Maybe simply the presence of the other being there was enough without a fancy wedding? Whatever the reason the pair never formally wedded and still wear their engagement rings.

They eventually moved in with each other and have since been a family to each other.