Felyx Frograx
Felyx Frograx
Felyx is a young dragonborn bard-in-training with an inherent talent for wind instruments - rumor has it that he's one of the most skilled musicians the Hamure Tribe has to offer. However, he also suffers from persistent stage fright, so not very many people can confirm his talent for themselves.
His mother, the doting and affluent influence broker Madam Thildua Frograx, hopes to make either a stage performer or a bard-for-hire out of her son, and enrolled him at Ioth Academy when he was thirteen to get him some proper magical training. As with most things, Felyx is a reluctant attendee, but is at least enjoying spending some time away from home, and has found himself coming into his own as he progresses through his studies.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Comparatively smaller and more slender than most dragonborn his age (though still imposing in his own right). Sloped shoulders made more defined by his tendency to slouch.
Body Features
Green-scaled skin that's cool to the touch, and copper horns.
Facial Features
Bright yellow eyes and a slender, round snout. Sharp teeth that he tries to draw attention away from, since he knows non-dragonborn sometimes find it intimidating.
Physical quirks
Holds himself with the demeanor of somebody who wants to be seen as smaller than he actually is - usually slouches or pulls his body close into itself, and walks like he's worried he'll bump into something.
Special abilities
Able to breathe out poisonous energy at will as a result of his draconic ancestry. Capable of basic-to-intermediate bardic magic (hopefully he keeps up with his studies, so he can become capable of even more).
Apparel & Accessories
Leans towards finery - velvet is his favorite fabric. Likes jewelry, especially with gemstones. Often seen in a large, dark overcoat. His favorite color is purple, so he frequently incorporates it into his outfits.
Specialized Equipment
Typically seen with a wind instrument of some kind, since he uses them in his training - he favors the bagpipes, but also plays the horn, the shawm, and the flute.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Born in Hamure territory in 6843, Felyx is the only son of Madam Thildua Frograx, a well-known information broker. His father, Ilkad, was killed when he was a year old; as such, he doesn't remember him well. Thildua's line of work has made the family quite wealthy, and Felyx is accustomed to having every want and need taken care of in a pinch. When he's not attending Thildua's many art auctions, masquerades, and tea parties, he's usually pursuing his own hobbies - especially music.
By the age of five, Felyx had discovered his inherent talent on wind instruments, and Thildua enthusiastically supported his interest with the help of the Canar Tribe's finest instructors. Though he's well aware of his skill, Felyx also suffers from persistent stage fright, and most people he knows have never even seen him pick up an instrument. Even among his tutors, he is only able to play properly with his eyes closed, and prefers to have people turn away entirely. This has put him at odds with his mother, who expects him to use his (quite expensive) training either as a stage performer or as a bard-for-hire.
Thildua ultimately opted to enroll her son at Ioth Academy, hoping that he could obtain some proper magical training and perhaps work on his social skills. He began his schooling in 6865, when he was thirteen, and is currently wrapping up his fourth year. As with most things, Felyx is a reluctant participant in Ioth Academy's school life, but he's found that he's enjoying spending some time among people who have less lofty expectations for him.
Sexuality
Biromantic asexual.
Education
Studying bardic magics at Ioth Academy.
Employment
Current Ioth Academy student; considering becoming a writer of instrument manuals.
Mental Trauma
Severe stage fright and moderate social anxiety.
Intellectual Characteristics
Extremely skilled in musical theory, composition, and mechanics. Has a working understanding of art history, linguistics, and diplomacy. Partially aware of the strategies involved in influence brokering as a party to his mother's line of work.
Morality & Philosophy
Believes that violence can and should typically be avoided; as a result, deeply resentful of the Infernals' rule and penchant for aggression. Living among courtiers has revealed that there are more effective (and interesting) ways of being powerful than simply using force.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Wants to make life decisions on his own terms. Always seeking ways to become a better musician, but wants to feel like he's doing it for his own reasons.
Likes & Dislikes
Likes: Classical art, good storytellers, the smell of lavender, patient people, roasted vegetables, gemstones.
Dislikes: Thunderstorms, sour foods, nosy or pushy people, pranks.
Virtues & Personality perks
Considerate, curious, a quick learner.
Vices & Personality flaws
Wishy-washy, suspicious of people's intentions, a bit of a pushover.
Hygiene
Takes pride in his appearance, but tries not to go overboard in the morning routine. Tends to overuse cologne.
Social
Religious Views
Follows the belief system of Anacra's Elemental Sovereign. Not particularly religious, but spiritually interested.
Social Aptitude
Deeply self-conscious and struggles with social anxiety. Craves deeper connections with people who will understand him, rather than want him to change, but has no idea how to begin.
Mannerisms
Taps his claws against a surface or against each other when thinking deeply; habitually glances to the right while speaking to somebody.
Speech
Standard volume level is somewhere between soft-spoken and outright mumbling. Trails off when he feels embarrassed or thinks nobody's interested. Overuses "right, yeah, so..." or any combination of those words.
A young musical prodigy with devastating stage fright. Currently attending Ioth Academy to obtain more structured magical training, though he's thankful for the opportunity to escape his mother's high expectations.
View Character Profile
Alignment
Lawful Good
Age
17 years old
Date of Birth
6846
Birthplace
Sunswept Lands (Hamure Territory), Anacra
Children
Current Residence
Ioth Academy, Anacra
Gender
Male
Eyes
Yellow
Hair
None
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Green
Height
6'4"
Weight
270
Afterthought
6863 (Year 5)
They’re saying a lot out there. They’re saying that the threat is past, that people saw Ioth repairing the hole in the sphere, that things are different now. I only know the last one for certain. There’s this lingering feeling in the air, and I’m not just talking about the chill left over from the storm.
I can’t bring myself to say that what happened with Boreas and his minions is over now, but I’ll acknowledge that there’s a pause. A moment of respite. Classes are canceled for the week – privately, I’m a bit disappointed that I don’t have them as an excuse to just bury my head in a book and take my mind off of things. I’m sure I’ll be thankful for the rest in retrospect, though.
In the meantime, I’ve just been...biding my time. I sent a letter home early – as insular as the academy is, my mother still has her whisperers, and I’d rather she hear about what happened from me. Best to tell her I’m alive and well so she doesn’t bring her own wrath down upon this school. Since then, I’ve just been trying to keep my hands busy. I’ve been spending a lot of time in the gardens, playing my instruments when no one’s around, reading when they are. I managed to get enough space in the kitchen to make some spiced biscuits – they’re not quite as good as the ones at home, but they scratch the nostalgia itch well enough. I force myself to talk to at least one student every day, even if it’s just to ask how they’re doing. I’ve gotten some strange looks, but had some good conversations too. I want people to know that I see them.
I can’t parse what I’m feeling about it all, really. I’m not an infant – I know that for all the academy’s safeguards, the world is too dangerous for some of it not to slip in every now and then – so it’s not that I’m shocked, or that I feel betrayed. I think I would rather feel something strongly, even if it was anger. I just feel a bit...hazy. Like I’m witnessing this aftermath from somewhere outside of my body. I went to one of the counseling sessions, and the caretaker I spoke to was very compassionate, but I still struggled to find the words for how I feel. I keep wanting to grab myself by the shoulders and shake, tell myself I didn’t even see the worst of it, that other people got hurt, other people saw things far more terrible than myself. I know it’s not fair to me, but the pesky thought keeps making its way back.
It helps to play songs. I still can’t bear to have anyone watch me play, but I try and do it by open windows, or outside. Maybe someone will understand what I’m feeling if they hear it that way. Maybe it’ll make them feel something, too.
And now this Dokkalfar Sage is here, so people are naturally talking about that too. They say she’s here to root out potential infernal corruption within the academy, and I suppose we’ll see if that’s the case. I’ve come to understand that no one is necessarily just doing the thing they say they’re doing, so I anticipate there’s more to this. If you ask me, I’ve had enough secretive strangers with unknowable intentions just showing up around here to last me a long while.
I don’t like feeling so cynical. When people started saying they saw Ioth during the storm, I heard people asking why he appeared to fix the sphere, but not to help us. I couldn’t help but wonder – who expected him to help? He’s been gods-know-where doing gods-know-what for however long now, leaving the academy to the people we actually know – the people who died protecting this school. They’re the ones who will actually stand up when things get difficult the way they did. And if there’s one thing I learned from these past few days, it’s that we can rely on each other more than anything. We don’t need him, so the timing of his appearance doesn’t matter.
But I should do my best not to let bitterness seep in. I wonder if Dart has any tea at the ready. I could use some.
Into the Storm
6863 (Year 5)
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my years at Ioth Academy, it’s that the school has a way of attracting strange events. I suppose it’s to be expected, by the very nature of things here, but things still manage to surprise me. Sometimes I even manage to surprise myself.
Vindur’s attack ripped through what had been an entirely unremarkable night. I had finished my readings, cleaned my bagpipes, and wrote down my to-dos for tomorrow. I was getting ready to turn in for the night when the air grew unbearably cold. Unnaturally cold, in retrospect. I went to close the window, figuring it was just a night wind blowing through, and that’s when the trouble started. I could barely see past my snout with all the wind and snow, and I could feel the chill all the way through to my bones. Just as I pulled the window shut, the first lightning hit, and that’s when I realized this was no ordinary storm.
I’ll always remember the moments afterwards, where my classmates sprung into action. One moment we were sticking our heads out into the hallway, trying to figure out what happened, and the next everyone had spread out. People got to checking in on each other, and when we realized the storm was battering the refugee camp down below, we got to work making food and relief packages to take down there. In all the rush, I couldn’t keep track of who was and wasn’t there, but I’m not sure it matters. People needed us, so the students of Ioth Academy rose to the challenge.
Between the blizzard, the lightning, and Vindur’s minions storming the area, we knew it was dangerous, and the wardens were antsy about our plans to go out, but what were we supposed to do? The way I saw it, we were in danger no matter where we were, and I would rather be in danger trying to do something good than in danger just twiddling my thumbs in the dorms. So I went outside with the others. I linked up with Cora and Mazoku to head down to the camp and see what we could do – a surprising team, to be sure, but I’m glad we had each other’s backs out there. Cora had a close call with some ice mephits, but Zoku thought fast and brought up an illusion to distract them and let her get to us safely.
Further down the path, we found two refugee girls trapped under the rubble, and I’m so thankful that we were able to work together in that moment – I’ll admit I panicked a bit, hearing the fear in the one girl’s voice as she explained that her sister had been knocked unconscious, and I’m not sure I could have faced the challenge alone. Zoku’s spellcasting helped with the heavy lifting (as an aside, I wonder if I could learn that Arms of Hadar spell, it was extraordinarily helpful!), and Cora was able to wedge herself underneath the debris to pull the two girls out. For once, I didn’t think about who would hear me play, or what they would think – I just knew that my music could help get them back from the brink of death, so I grabbed my bagpipes and played until I bought them enough time to get them back to the Academy. It wasn’t ideal – I still wanted to get to the camp with the kits, after all – but Cora pointed out that we needed to get them some proper aid, so we started the long trek back up through the storm. We ran into some wardens who were certainly not pleased to find that we had gone out against their orders, but they were fortunately more focused on the injured refugees in our care, so we managed to avoid a lecture for now. I’m sure they’ll track us down when things are a little less hectic, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.
But for now...I’m back in the Academy, waiting in the common area to see what else I can do. Something about the cold outside was so unnatural that I’m really struggling to warm back up, although the tea is helping with that a little bit. The wind is still howling, and I can feel the building shaking a bit against the force of the storm, but people are starting to come back inside. I’m not particularly close with anyone here, but I still feel this pang of relief in my chest every time I see a familiar face return in one piece. I keep thinking about how none of us were really trained for something like this, and how it didn’t matter. How I normally have to run every worst-case scenario through my head before doing anything, and yet I went out into the storm without even really thinking about it.
I’m realizing I could have died out there. Any of us could have died out there. My hands are shaking, but I can’t tell if that’s the cold or the adrenaline wearing off. I had no idea I was capable of being so sure of anything the way I was today.
I hope I can hold on to that confidence. Maybe it’s that the storm’s still raging, but I have a feeling we’re not in the clear yet. And I want to help. I want to make a difference.
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