Zykída Miliades
Appearance
As a chosen of Zia, Zykída's divine blood was apparent from a young age. With remarkably clear skin and lustrous black hair, her crystal blue eyes would often glow gold whenever danger was sensed or smote. Further still, the few scars she now bears upon her warrior's body have healed over golden instead of a red that fades with time. The most notable example of this is the massive scar running across her face and down her throat, earned during one of her earliest missions. Her current appearance, however, feels far more celestial than human; huge wings of gilded feathers have grown from her back, a halo rests everpresent above her head, and the once human blue eyes have been entirely replaced with solid gold orbs that reveal no emotion. Combined with her gleaming armour, unbreakable shield, and shining sword, she looks more akin to a warrior angel from ancient paintings than a living creature of the modern age.Personality
Before her transformation, Zykída was self-assured but easily frustrated and quick to action, while at almost all times remaining at high alert and ready for danger. Yet despite her upbringing she was not quite so arrogant as to be deaf to criticism. In moments of chastisement or argument, she did her best to listen and learn regardless of a lifetime spent being told she was always right. With a fierce sense of justice and a protective love for her friends, she was and is eternally the first to take to the battlefield against evildoers. After her transformation she has struggled with losing her sense of humanity, unable to balance "The Mission" with her own life and loves. The pull of her deity and the ever-growing weight of the world upon her shoulders has led to her becoming withdrawn, often only speaking when spoken to or to issue threats against monsters. And whether by the influence of her god or her own mentality, her celestial blood burns hotter than ever; what were once simple frustrations in the past seem ready to spark violence at a moment's notice, and those who would call her an ally do so with either tension or sorrow now, fearful of what she may yet become. For all the changes, a true constant has been noticed from both before and after her celestial change - despite serving the God of Glory and her path leading her to becoming one of the most famous names on the continent, Zykída has a disdain for large crowds or too much attention. In the past she would become agitated and seek to escape the situation, while in her new form she seems aloof to them, trying to simply ignore the stares from thousands of onlookers as though they aren't there.Abilities
A font of radiant magics and trained as a warrior since birth, Zykída has all the abilities expected of a gods-blessed hero or angel of legend. She is able to heal and protect those around her, while soaring through the sky on holy wings to smite the unworthy with terrifying might. Her gifts have grown only more potent with time, especially when combined together with her fellow Champions. Legends abound in The Varolian of how almost every foe the trio have faced, from cruel mage gargantuan demon, falls to a single explosive blow that can be heard from miles away.History
Raised in Virtue
Her birth was foretold in the passing of the stars, though her parents would not be able to enjoy the occasion for long. Soon after the radiant child was born, priests of The Champion arrived, explaining to her parents the great destiny that lay before her. Heartbroken but filled with pride, Zykída's parents were forced to give up their daughter in service to the world. For the many years to follow Zykída would be raised at the Great Temple of Zia in Amphousa. With every waking hour filled with religious lessons, spellcasting practice, or combat training, The Luminary had many mentors but no true friends or family.A Friend from High Places
Spending every day training for combat in a courtyard is a dull existence for a child, no matter how many adults spend their time fawning over you. Painfully lonely and suffering under massive expectations, Zykída was fortunately visited one day by a boy on a flying disk. Katamenos Xanómenes was perhaps one of the only children in the city who could relate to her issues, and the pair became fast friends after he helped her sneak away from the temple one day. Even as adults they balance each other well, with Kída reigning in Kat's wilder impulses while in the city, and Kat reminding Kída that she is allowed to relax once in a while, to enjoy the world that she so regularly aids.Disastrous Beginnings
By the time she was barely a teenager, the higher ups at the temple began sending Zykída out to battle monsters that had killed men twice her age. Zombies and skeletons to begin with, soon upgrading to dire wolves and large goblin hordes. While the first missions went well, she encountered a creature far above her ability to destroy far too early. It tore her face in two, and would have killed her without the intervention of her church. To this day she carries a frightening scar right across her face from the battle, but has told only her closest friends about the encounter at all. In the months following the near-fatal mission, Zykída would be sent out again and again, regularly finding she was outmatched. Frustrated and constantly wounded, the confidence of Zykída and the temple both were shaken. There were conversations then that perhaps the priests who had found her were mistaken, that some other holy child was meant for glory instead...Becoming The Luminary
Feeling forsaken by her god and her church, a distraught teenager sat at the edge of despair for some time. Katamenos had done what he could to cheer up his friend since her injury, but due to his own responsibilities could not help as much as he wished. Until an idea struck him: leave this place for a while. While he was thriving in his environment, Zykída was clearly being crushed under the weight of the church, pushing herself far too hard instead of taking time to rest. A long conversation was had, with Kat promising to take the responsibility when Kída simply disappeared from Amphousa. Eventually being convinced, she left the her home for nearly a year. What happened while she was away? Again, only those closest to her know, but something had returned her confidence and willingness to train. She exploded back onto the scene by saving one of her old mentors from a pack of savage beasts, finally assuming her place as a paladin of heroes.Festival of Change - 664 MA
Pushed to enter Chyreum's Festival of Change by her temple as a way to test and prove herself anew, Zykída did as she was told to avoid squandering any goodwill she had left after her previous disappearance. Though the competition was fierce, by the glory of Zia she was victorious. Too busy to enter the following year, and lacking interest for the next few afterwards, she returned the crown without fighting for it in 665, and would not return to reclaim it for nearly a decade.The Oracle
In the months after her victory in Chyreum, Zykída would continue her duties, travelling all over Kosí on assignment after assignment, until one day her mission would lead her to Pylona, City of Oracles. It is said to be the birth place for all the greatest fortune-tellers of The Varolian, with the Head Priestess there rumoured to be a sphinx in disguise. The city was in an uproar before Zykída arrived, for many of their younger priests and acolytes in training had gone missing. After some adventuring and gaining aid from the Archpriest of Time, all the missing people were returned. Amongst them was an extremely talented young woman named Cassandra, who had seen a glimpse of both Zykída's supposed destiny, and the fact that she was bound to that fate, tasked with ensuring its resolution. Despite being inexperienced and terrified of the wider world, Cassandra joined forces with the woman who had rescued her, and the two would travel together forevermore.The Hermit
Some time after Cassandra and Zykída became companions, they followed a series of dreams Cass had been having to a forest. Filled with undead, smoke, and shadows, they battled their way through and discovered a stranger meditating in the center of a clearing. Around their age, he stood and introduced himself as Alek, stating that he had spent many years in these woods pondering the nature of Death. With their arrival, he declared that his philosophical thinking was complete, and asked for their help in fully clearing all of the undead around them. The task went well, and Alek asked to accompany the others to their next destination, and perhaps further. A lifelong friend was made then, and the three have been near inseperable since.The Champions
As a trio the group were able to shore up any individual weaknesses, and develop new strategies to deal with any foe. Zykída on the front line with the others healing and strengthening her from safety ensured that no single monster could pose a threat. Together they travelled the world, righting wrongs, slaying evildoers, and culling monsters wherever they went.Festival of Change - 673 MA
At some point as they travelled, they agreed to the idea that they, as a group, should make an attempt at reclaiming the crown Kída had left behind almost 10 years before. Interested in practing their coordination against non-monstrous foes, they entered the tournament in Chyreum. It was here that they met The Exotics, and competed against them amongst many others. During the festival an attempt on Cassandra's life was made, and The Exotics uncovered a plot to assassinate the queens. Zykída helped however she could, and when the time came for battle, she was ready. Leaping into the fight she destroyed the undead involved in a single blow, and greatly helped The Exotics in driving off an Ashen Rider that had been summoned in its place. After the scheme was ended, a grand finale led to The Champions securing victory in the festival, leading to the second year that Zykída has earned the crown.Demon Siege of Pylona
For a few months after the Festival The Champions travelled around on their usual questing, before Cass began having terrible visions of danger encroaching on her home city. They travelled as quickly as they could, and found the City of Oracles under attack by cultists and demons. They lept to the defence, and soon after fighting broke out the city was bathed in golden light. Zykída alone was not fully blinded, and within the light she saw a figure. Who, or what, it was remains unknown to this day, but they saved Pylona. After the light washed away, every single demon and cultist in the area had been turned to dust while everything else remained unharmed.Demon Siege of Acidon
Too soon after Pylona was attacked, they learned of a similar danger threatening Acidon. It too had been attacked by cultists who had somehow opened a portal to The Underworld, letting loose countless demons, and by the time The Champions arrived they found The Exotics had already been hard at work protecting the city for days. Zykída learned that Odessa had been turned into an undead and was aiming to become a lich. The aasimar gravely threatened and warned Odessa, leading the skeleton to swear an oath to avoid harming innocents on her path to becoming a master of undeath. Regardless of personal misgivings, the teams worked together and put an end to this dreaded danger before Osera Teráka could scorch the land clean.The Dragon
The next major event between the more common monster slaying tasks was a treck into the mountains near Amphousa alongside half of The Exotics. They sought a piece of The Destroyer, an ancient war machine that another group hoped to use as a weapon against the Gods. Many dangers were faced on the way, and in the end it required all the skills of both Champions and Exotics to survive the battle against the half-dragon monstrosity who guarded the piece. But the piece was retrieved, and in the hours afterwards Zykída went through some form of transformation.Ascension
Every monster destroyed, every person saved, every city protected, all improved Zykída's standing in the eyes of her God. So much so that Zia began to bring the aasimar closer to divinity, slowly transitioning her into a fully celestial angel of glory. And yet, doing so would rip The Luminary away from the friends that she held so dear. So, not for the first time, she defied her deity and the weight of the church on her shoulders. She refused to let go of her companions time and again, constantly "failing" at this last hurdle to becoming the prophesied hero the world was waiting for. The rising and falling of divine power continued for long months, before she gained aid from a most unlikely source. Odessa had been sent into Kída's dreams by Olsír to assist the ascension. Conversations were had, information about the threat The Mithral Knight poses was granted, and with Odessa's guidance the last hurdle was cleared; Zia's light was accepted on the complete and utter agreement that Cass and Alek would not be left behind. To force a God's hand like this is a rare thing; the event should likely not be mentioned aloud in case the Archonslayer is listening...The Eternal Battle
With The Luminary finally assuming their role, The Champions became busier than ever. Zia began transporting the trio across the world to right wrongs in dozens of different places. To begin with it was a rare occasion, once ever few weeks at most to save a town from a might beast. And then it became more regular: cultists in Détras at the start of the week, a rogue tiefling mage in Kanios halfway through, and a rampaging volcano monster in Prótos by the end. Not only was Zia breaking divine etiquette by personally teleporting her heroes everywhere, but the group grew exhausted without time to properly rest. When it seemed like the rules and The Champions both were at breaking point, Zia began transporting only Zykída herself, sending her to defeat terrible odds all alone. It granted the mortals a chance to recuperate, but plunged Zykída into the exact form of lonliness and danger she had been so desperate to avoid.Festival of Change - 674 MA
Even the Festival of Change, a competition that honoured Lady Zia and expected her chosen one to attend, would not be enough to grant her chosen one a break. Alek and Cass went alone to Chyreum, competing with their captured monsters and assisting The Exotics with various troubles, until the final night. A monster created by Aesk the Ever-changing was unleashed as the climax of the tournament, but was so powerful that it might have escaped and slaughtered thousands. Alek and Cass aided attempts to slay it or at least buy time until Zykída could be teleported in. And so arrived The Luminary to save the day! The relief was there for only a moment before the monster maimed her, taking her down twice in a row and dealing severe internal damage in the process. Not since the teenaged mission that earned her facial scar had she been so utterly bested. The Exotics managed to slay the creature despite Fearghal, emerging as victors and leaving The Champions in 2nd. A wound to Kída's pride matching the damage to her body. Defeated, her laurel crown was handed back, and her friends took her away to repair her many wounds. As they left, Odessa spoke of a way to perhaps defeat Fearghal; talk him down. Zykída thought the effort would be wasted, but agreed to try nonetheless.
Children
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