Ancia (Updated)

[B]Name:[/b] Ancia Asterling

[B]Age:[/B] Unknown

[B]Sex:[/B] Female

[B]Race:[/B] Water nymph ([url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naiad]naiad[/url]), her body is formed of water, but her organs cannot be seen through it, nor is she entirely transparent. Warmth and cold can affect her people greatly. She lives better in freshwater than salt water, but can survive in both, as well as breathe underwater. She mostly survives on a diet of seafood and nectar.

[B]Height:[/B] 4’11”

[B]Weight:[/B] 98 pounds

[B]Eye Color:[/B] Deep green that appears to swirl like water.

[B]Hair Color/Style:[/B] Long, wavy, turquoise tresses that fall loosely to her mid-back, flowing beautifully like water, with a simple, golden headband engraved with Grecian symbols worn around her head. She has long, wavy bangs that frame her face on either side, unbound by the headband. Ancia sometimes likes to braid her hair and weave fresh flowers into it.

[B]Skin Color/Complexion:[/B] A light blue color, not actually skin, but a surface of clean water that covers her body and allows some sunlight to pass through. It is cool and ripples at the touch, but maintains surface tension and cohesion even greater than water, and is no more permeable than human skin. In the presence of great heat, it may produce some vapor; similarly, in great cold, it may develop a layer of frost. The watery surface replenishes itself regularly from Ancia’s magical energy and unique biological systems to remain clean and at the proper temperature.

[img] http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/sailormichiru/1profileancia.png[/img]
[URL="http://superaiko.deviantart.com/gallery/765176"]-More pictures of my characters, including Ancia, on my DA account-[/URL]

[B]General Appearance:[/B]
[U][i]Face:[/i][/U] Ancia has an ethereally lovely, innocent look, with wide, gentle, curious eyes, a small, rounded nose, and a small, but full-lipped mouth of a slightly darker blue than her watery complexion. Her chin is soft and rounded, and her cheekbones are as well, giving her a more round than heart-shaped face. Her eyelids are a little heavy, giving her a sleepy or more doe-eyed appeal. Her ears are pointed, but not elongated like those of some elves. She has bright white teeth, and long, black eyelashes to complement her pretty features.

[U][i]Body:[/i][/U] Light and petite, Ancia is of a healthy but somewhat waif-like frame, with small bosoms, a round bottom, and shapely, yet not very muscular legs. She has a very gentle figure, soft and graceful, with slender arms and legs, and a thin waist. Her hips give her shape some curve, but her shoulders are narrow and gently-rounded. High up on her left arm, she bears a tattoo-like marking of an intricate and aquatic-looking symbol, vaguely fish-like in shape, with swirls inside the outer lines. She recalls having this mark ever since she was very young, but does not fully understand its meaning.

[U][i]Clothing:[/i][/U] She most commonly wears a cerulean blue halter top with broad, golden lining around the neckline and straps, and a pair of loose-fitting, blue-green clamdigger trousers fastened at the waist with a golden belt. Both the belt and halter top’s straps and neckline are embroidered with Grecian symbols. On her right arm, she wears a thick golden armband adorned with similar designs. She walks barefoot, and when in water her feet will meld with the depths so that the water appears to be flowing into her from toe to head.

On the rare occasion that she changes her clothing, she enjoys wearing flowing robes and hand-woven gowns of blues and greens.

[U][i]Mannerisms and Movement:[/i][/U] Ancia has light and graceful steps, and often wanders about, almost seeming aimless to others in her curiosity-lead steps and dreamy drifting. She is very expressive and finds it difficult not to show her emotions at all times.

The water nymph smells of clean rivers, with a subtle hint of fragrant water lily.

[b]Theme Songs:[/b]
[LIST]
[*][url=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qw3m94NZPQ"]Water Symphony (Luin Theme)[/url] (Tales of Symphonia)
[*][url=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCy23-IvGRQ"]Izoold Theme[/url] (Tales of Symphonia)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj58GZLJKKI&feature=related"]Torent Forest[/url] (Tales of Symphonia)
[/LIST]

[b]Known Family: [/b]
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poseidon]Poseidon[/url] – father
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muse]Muse[/url] of the arts (name unknown, thought to be Artemesia) – mother
Keldar - cousin
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hades]Hades[/url] - uncle
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus]Zeus[/url] – uncle
[url=http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/characters-and-resources/70881-sakumes-friends-of-mental-instabilities.html]Arlen Drago Asterling – husband[/url]

[B]Familiars/Nonhuman Companions:[/B] Her husband Arlen’s bird friend, Chimeree, is her most constant animal companion. He is described below:
“A cheeky little fellow related to the bird of paradise family, used to tropical climate more than forestation, but he likes humid places so the water where Arlen often is suits him. He's quick to run his mouth even though he knows humans can't understand him and very protective of Arlen and Ancia as his two best mates. He speaks in a cockney accent as he was originally imprisoned as a chick and brought up in a market where people spoke broken languages. He's an adventurous sort, but he does not like to get dirty or have comments made about him negatively.”

[size=1](Thanks to Sakume for the description.)[/size]

Ancia is also friends with Arlen’s other animal companions, as listed in his profile.

[b]Homeplace:[/b] Phaedorna River, Phaedorna, Grecia, Panthea [i](river, country, continent, world)[/i]

[b]Current Residence:[/b] Her ceremonial residence is at the Shrine of the Guardian, behind a waterfall in the small fishing village of Phaedorna that borders the river of the same name, in the land of Grecia. However, she and her husband Arlen sleep and go about their daily lives in their hut in the village, not far from the shrine.

[b]Languages:[/b]
[LIST]
[*][i]The Common Language[/i] (English), spoken with a Greek accent
[*][i]Ancient Grecian[/i] (Greek), her native tongue, spoken amongst the gods and other nymphs
[*]The [i]language of sea creatures[/i], which is not entirely verbal, and mostly made up of sounds and motions and other qualities of water
[/LIST]

[B]Occupation:[/B] Guardian of the River of Phaedorna

[B]Weapons:[/B] An enchanted paintbrush approximately half her height capable of painting illusions and channeling water magic. Its handle is crafted of white stone and the bristles of strong, tan-colored equine hair. The “paint” is made of an unknown substance, and is renewed when dipped in a body of water or rained on. Ancia believes the paintbrush to have been a gift from her parents, and always keeps it with her or safe at her home.

[B]Armor:[/B] None

[B]Powers/Magic/Skills:[/B] Ancia can quickly paint illusions and uses some water spells with her paintbrush. She can also use a few other magical abilities inherited from her father, Poseidon. By coming into contact with water, she can sense impurities, currents, and other information about that body of water and the local, recent weather.

[I][U]~Spells and magical skills:[/U][/I]
[I]
Duplicate[/I]- Ancia paints multiple illusionary copies of herself, which fan out around attackers and are capable of movement. A maximum of twelve copies can be created before paint supply must be renewed. Illusions last up to ten minutes.

[I]Mirage[/I]- Ancia creates an illusion of another person, item, or place, which appear entirely real to her foe, but are not capable of actual physical contact with them. Illusions of people are capable of speech. Time each mirage takes to create depends on the size of desired illusion. Illusions of people and items may last as long as twenty minutes, illusions of places last for as much as ten. Paint supply must be renewed after this spell.

[I]Geyser[/I]- A hot jet of water and steam is blasted at the foe from the bristles of the paintbrush. Steam obscures vision, heated water jet can scald, and is intense enough to push an average-sized human male. Paint supply must be replenished after attack.

[I]Blessed Rain[/I]- A skill granted to Ancia as a water nymph, she may recite an incantation to call for rain. The rain recharges her paint supply, and will keep it from depleting for as long as the downpour lasts. Incantation takes 8-10 minutes, storms last 3-5 minutes in most conditions.

[I]Storm[/I]- When greatly angered, Ancia goes into a temper tantrum and can conjure up a mild storm using her abilities as a water nymph. Often these storms consist of heavy rain and startling thunderclaps, but no lighting has ever been created. Storm lasts from 3-5 minutes. Ancia is severely drained after storm subsides. Milder emotional distress can sometimes cause lighter rains or storms, especially if she is made to cry.

[I]Beckoning of the Tides[/I]- Without any conscious effort aside from the will to perform the act, Ancia can summon surging columns and blasts from any nearby body of water. The attack often drags in foes with strong tides down into the drowning depths afterwards.

[I]Groundquake[/I]- Ancia takes this ability of hers as further proof that she is the daughter of Poseidon--when angered, she is capable of creating mild tremors and quakes by will alone that can be devastating to singular foes.


[B]Battle Strengths:[/B] Ancia is skilled at evading and eluding foes, and can blend in with her surroundings easily in watery areas. As a water nymph, she is also capable of breathing underwater, and bending liquids to her will. She is very gifted with water magic, and can have strong effects on local weather. With Arlen to guide and calm her, she performs her magic and skills better, even under stress. She heals quickly, especially when in temperate and/or humid conditions, or in water. Bullets, arrows, and metallic weapons (such as swords) pass through her, with their speed and force greatly dispersed by her watery body. They only cause harm if they manage to strike an important organ, all of which are protected magically and with membranes of mystical water.

[B]Battle Weaknesses:[/B] Ancia is very weak physically, and not much of a natural tactician or fighter. She’s naïve and innocent, and easily tricked in trusting her enemies and letting down her defenses. Often, she chooses to flee rather than fight, and only engages in combat when she must in self-defense, or to aid a friend or Phaedornan villager. She also has some difficulty controlling some of her more offensive magic, especially when her emotions are running high. Extreme heat and extreme cold (above boiling and below freezing point respectively) can have an effect on her well-being, as she is primarily composed of water.

[B]Personality:[/B] Unlike her fellow nymphs, Ancia is neither seductive nor mischievous. She has been known to be very innocent and naïve, and has a very cheerful disposition. She is kind to both enemies and allies, and will try to make friends with most peoples she meets. She is also highly curious, and loves to explore and learn new things. When feeling threatened, she often tries to flee or withdraw, and is not very good at hiding her fear. She is gentle and responds well to tenderness and understanding in kind.

However, when pushed over the edge and under stress, Ancia becomes very emotional, and occasionally throws temper tantrums. The nymph is accustomed to getting her way and being treated with the utmost courtesy—this is not snobbery or selfishness, but purely the way that her culture has taught her about the role of her kind. She is pleasant and generous to her servants, but depends heavily on them, in more of the manner of an innocent princess who does not know any other life, rather than a bossy, spoiled, or domineering noble.

Ancia is very devoted and dependant on her beloved husband, Arlen, who is viewed as her king in their small village. She dotes upon him, and relies on his guidance and wisdom, and in return showers him with deep affection and respect. She loves to braid his hair and sing to him, and waits his return with a longing heart every time he must travel far away. The nymph is also very fond of his animal friends, and cares for them as if they were almost part of their family. Serving as the guardian of the Phaedornan river and shrine gives her a sense of purpose and belonging that she had lacked for a long time, after being abandoned by her parents.

[LIST]
[*][I]Likes:[/I] Flowers, singing, music, fish, nectar, butterflies, animals, water, swimming, diving, dancing, celebrations, spending time with Arlen, watching the sunset and sunrise, stargazing, exploring, braiding Arlen’s hair, getting dressed up for festivals, listening to stories, talking to Chimeree


[*]Food likes: Fish, shrimp, crawfish, crabs, lobsters, nectar, ambrosia, honey, sweet and juicy fruits, cool and clean water


[*][I]Dislikes:[/I] People who disrespect her father, people who threaten her husband or village, thunder, fire, ice, temperature extremes, being alone, being lost

[*]Food dislikes: More or less anything not listed in her “likes”, dry food, bitter food


[*][I]Fears:[/I] Being lost, having no family or loved ones, not belonging, savage storms, intense fire, never knowing her mother, rejection, weapons, war, losing control of her abilities


[*][I]Virtues:[/I] Loving, gentle, and always eager to learn. Accepting, forgiving, and friendly, cares about her friends and the villagers she protects, and is often willing to help others.


[*][I]Vices:[/I] Naïve, spoiled without realizing it, quick to tears, sometimes too dependent
[/LIST]


[B]History:[/B] Ancia has long been believed to be an illegitimate daughter of Poseidon and one of the nine muses of the arts. She was gifted her enchanted paintbrush by her mother, and her weapon was granted powers over water by her father, but neither endeavored to teach her the proper use of the item. She herself believes in the tales of her birth, and takes great pride in being the supposed offspring of a god. Thanks to the help of the elf Arlen, whom she would later marry, she has reunited with Poseidon and learned that he, indeed, is her father. But her mother’s full identity and whereabouts still remain a mystery.

Ancia was left at a river when she was young, and when found by people in a nearby village, she was hailed as the goddess of the body of water. Unsure of what else to do, she accepted her position, and interacted with the villagers often as a sign of her goodwill towards them. They became like a family to her. The people brought her offerings of food and fine clothing, and one of the village’s artisans took it upon himself to teach her to paint with her--unbeknownst to him--magical paintbrush. During each session of the tutoring, the nymph’s artwork would transform into very realistic illusions after each piece was finished, and this convinced the villagers even more so that she was a deity. They called upon her from time to time to protect the river from nymphs and lesser gods who came to conquer their life-giving source of water and use it for their own purposes. These envious creatures are often held back by the ocean when they try to mount an attack, making it seem as if the sea god Poseidon himself were protecting Ancia.

Ancia served as the guardian nymph, revered almost like a goddess, throughout several generations, and still continues to guard her river to this day. Briefly, she was removed from this post by a stronger, more cunning nymph, who easily defeated her for control and pushed her into the river to wash away to sea. She found herself in a port when she washed ashore, and there befriended a strange bear-like creature known as Jhans Frenn. The bear was on a quest, and requested her assistance—but it was Ancia who instead found the guidance and help she needed from Jhans. With his aid, she returned home, and encountered the elf Arlen in the forest on her way to seek her father’s temple. His silver hair awed her—never once had she come so close to one of the elves. He believed her to be an enemy, until she drew nearer innocently, not understanding the threat of his bow aimed at her. Arlen quickly lowered his weapon to ask her who she was. Her gentleness and kind, almost childlike manner endeared her to him on that first meeting. From then on, he agreed to protect her on her way to her father’s temple. But he had not counted on what Poseidon would request of him next.

Worried for his daughter’s safety should she try to retake her shrine, Poseidon saw to it that the elf would agree to become Ancia’s defender. Arlen was hesitant, but he was beginning to develop feelings for the naïve but sweet nymph, and eventually agreed. Ancia could not have regained her shrine or her home without him. Some time after, the two were married in an elven ceremony under the stars, where they pledged their love to one another. They live now in the village of Phaedorna.


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[b]Awards:[/b]
Coolest Character Power (“Storm”) - Fall BA 2009

[B]RPs:[/B]
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/battle-arena/74036-new-alston-aviators-altamira.html"]The New Alston Aviators[/url] (dropped)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/showthread.php?t=51051"]Lingering Time[/url] (complete)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/67753-grecian-family-reunion-altamira.html"]A Grecian Family Reunion[/url] (dropped)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/86682-water-oil-mix-alti.html"]Water and Oil Mix[/url] (dropped, but results of the ending confirmed)
[url]http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/the-crossroads/107918-dirty-lies-in-phaedorna-altamira-4.html[/url]
[url]http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/the-crossroads/117137-learning-curves-altamira.html[/url]