Agatha Eridan
Power and fame mean little to me. I spent most of my life watching men lose their lovers, and mothers lose their babes. That is why I cling to that dream. That dream that no child will die cold and alone from this war.Agatha Eridan
Overview
Agatha Eridan is the Empress of the Ithican Empire and a renowned champion of Solistra. Growing up during the events of the Sun and Moon War, the tales of misfortunates afflicted from both sides were endless. From families losing their homes to children becoming orphans themselves, she often bickered with her father, hoping her words would cease his warmongering ways. Her attempts, however, proved futile. The opportunity for peace nevertheless arose after succeeding her father, but the betrayal of her friend, Zieren, extended the war. With the loss of her husband and sister, the many years of strife left Agatha, a virtuous ruler with noble intentions, jaded and cynical. It was only after adopting the same ruthlessness as Zieren and her father — which she had previously condemned — and murdering her former friend that she ushered in an age of peace.
Physical Description
Body Features
Agatha is a tall, well-built woman with a defined jawline and a vertical scar resting on her left eyebrow. Her dark brown hair frequently hangs in a low bun, and her sharp, amber eyes intimidate many. As a pyromancer within the Ethereal Realm, her golden eyes have two white rings with a diagonal slit crossing her pupils.
Special abilities
She possesses a Sun Constitution, specializing in the schools of evocation and arcane magic. As a fourth-tier magic user, she can learn a maximum of eight spells. Universal abilities do not count.
Read List of Spells
Arcane:
Ethereal Flow (Universal)
Triggers a surge of mana to flow throughout the mystic's body, creating a luminescent glow in their eyes. This sharpens their reflexes and agility while producing superhuman strength and activating their regenerative abilities.
Regeneration (Universal)
A passive that naturally tends to open wounds. Severe injuries generally take longer to heal, but the stronger the mystic, the faster the process. There are some situations where this passive cannot operate. For example, one cannot regenerate lost limbs due to severed nerves.
Siphoning (Universal)
The process of channeling mana from ley lines or through other users and souls.
Suppression (Universal)
The act of weakening the flow of mana or outright concealing it. It is usually as a means to avoid detection by others but is generally ineffective against shamans stronger than the individual due to their perceptive abilities.
Purifying Light (Restoration)
This spell allows the mystic to hurl out a ray of light, increasing the regenerative abilities of the targeted person. Unlike those with a Spirit or Reality Constitution, the mystic does not need to physically touch a person. Needless to say, the spell must be spent with care since the practitioner is drawing from their own life energy.
Solistra’s Blessing (Restoration)
Summons a sunlike beacon over the mystic, dispersing a wave of light and increasing the regenerative abilities of anyone nearby. Must be spent with care.
Searing Flames (Enchantment)
Engulfs the blade of an enchanted sword with fire upon imbuing it. Allows the wielder to then slash their enemies with flames.
/*Call of the Void
Swarms the mystic with a shadow aura, exponentially raising their spell power upon channeling the soul fragment. Changes the fiery nature of the spells to that of pure void energy.
*/
Call of the Void
Swarms the mystic with a shadow aura, exponentially raising their spell power upon channeling the soul fragment. Changes the fiery nature of the spells to that of pure void energy.Evocation
Inferno (Destruction)
Swarms the pyromancer with an aura of flames, burning anyone nearby.Combustion
Produces a powerful blast that leaves flames in the surrounding area. Can easily exhaust the caster if used too often.
Hellfire (Destruction)
Calls down a rain of fire onto the target area.
Aegis (Abjuration)
Surrounds the mystic in a protective barrier and can expand in size to help shield another person. This defensive spell, however, can shatter if it absorbs too much damage.
Earthen Heart (Abjuration/Conjuration)
Conjures a shield, to which the mystic can use to defend themselves.
Apparel & Accessories
by cobaltplasma
Agatha has a strong suit for elegant dresses, preferably ones that are white or orange. As an empress, she often wears a golden laurel wreath to symbolize her sovereignty. She also likes to embellish herself with other golden jewelry, but she holds a special fondness for an emerald amulet given to her by her late husband.
Specialized Equipment
Since the events of the Sun and Moon War, Agatha wields Solistra's Wrath, a special heirloom belonging to the Eridan family. As an enchanted weapon, flames engulf the blade each time its wielder imbues it with her magic. Although she rarely uses it nowadays, Agatha also carries the solar fragment, a luminescent shard capable of augmenting a mystic's powers to unprecedented levels. When using it, the flames of her sword become violet.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Read RiseYou learn the greatest lessons in life from your enemies.
Rise
Born as the eldest daughter of Emperor Darius, Agatha showed promising signs as the future ruler of Ithica. She devoted much of her youth learning the arts of kingship and pyromancy in preparation of the Sun and Moon War, should her father fall in battle. However, tensions between the Volaines and Ithicans quelled when Zieren Ravenwood became the king of Volana at the age of 14. She befriended the timid boy during a diplomatic trip, and their friendship inspired her with the prospects for peace. Unfortunately, Zieren was assassinated during the process of a peace treaty, causing his uncle to take over. The Volaines, beliving the assassination plot had been ordered by Darius, resumed the war.
Agatha later ascended the throne after her father was killed in battle a year later. She then spent her first two years as empress pushing back the enemy forces from the borders of her empire. During that stressful period, she found solace with Zepheus the Blade, an exceptional shaman who wielded the lunar fragment, and soon married him.
In the twist of events, Zieren, now 17 years old, “returned from the dead” and brutally executed his uncle for treason. He became known as the Revenant King from there on, and tensions once again came to a halt.
Agatha later ascended the throne after her father was killed in battle a year later. She then spent her first two years as empress pushing back the enemy forces from the borders of her empire. During that stressful period, she found solace with Zepheus the Blade, an exceptional shaman who wielded the lunar fragment, and soon married him.
In the twist of events, Zieren, now 17 years old, “returned from the dead” and brutally executed his uncle for treason. He became known as the Revenant King from there on, and tensions once again came to a halt.
Read Reign
Reign: The Sun & Moon War
With Zieren's return, her hope for peace reignited. The two rulers formulated a trade agreement, whereby the Volaines would share a portion of Mordrassil with the Ithicans. As such, the end of the war was nigh. She established a permanent settlement for her people near the heart of Volana, and the next two years was met with little conflict.Agatha mothered Zepheus' child during that resting period. Unable to attend to her political affairs, as a result, her husband took her stead. It was then that Zieren massacred the settlement, murdering Zepheus and stealing the lunar fragment for himself. Distraught on why her friend — known to be so kind and charming before then — would betray her, this left Agatha devastated with guilt for her naivety.
The Sun and Moon War thus continued for the next fifteen years.
Throughout the war, Agatha sought to remain honorable. She refused to kill any innocent civilians, including any Volaines, and often granted clemency to her enemies — all of which Zieren frequently used against her. After many betrayals, including from those she had spared, her sister's death drew the last straw for her. It was only after so many preventable losses that she developed the same pragmatism as Zieren. This, combined with various technological innovations and other militaristic advantages, proved a turning point in the war's stalemate.
After much bloodshed, Agatha emerged victorious. She and her army slaughtered Zieren and his forces during an invasion of Volana, and she ordered her troops to execute the remaining members of the Ravenwood family, including Zieren's twelve-year-old son.
In the end, she wasn't any different from her father.
However, Agatha secretly encountered a boy who was, without a doubt, Zieren's other son. Despite her previous orders, she couldn't bring herself to personally kill the child, ultimately allowing him to escape alive.
Regardless, Agatha captured Volana and, with it, Mordrassil, bringing an end to the twenty-nine-year war.
Read Legacy
Legacy
Agatha is hailed as a war hero, fostering an era of peace after many years of conflict. In a nation previously dying due to the scarcity of mana reservoirs, magic is now abundant all thanks to the World Tree. As such, the Ithican empire is prospering like never before. Agatha moreover integrated Volana to one of the empire's major cities, Astrea, through the establishment of roads and courier services. Doing this improved the empire's overall communication and economy, pioneering a vast commercial network while promoting modernization in Volana.
Many also ascribe her as a liberator, especially among the racially mixed community. Prior to their annexation, the Volaines would often brand any "mongrels" with facial tattoos. Such was a means of ostracization, to strip them of their human rights. Fortunately Agatha outlawed the native's inhumane practice, emancipating the faceless ones from their demeaning status.
Overall, Agatha holds a place in the hearts and minds of her people through her deeds and accomplishments.
Many also ascribe her as a liberator, especially among the racially mixed community. Prior to their annexation, the Volaines would often brand any "mongrels" with facial tattoos. Such was a means of ostracization, to strip them of their human rights. Fortunately Agatha outlawed the native's inhumane practice, emancipating the faceless ones from their demeaning status.
Overall, Agatha holds a place in the hearts and minds of her people through her deeds and accomplishments.
Social
Religious Views
My only ambition is to do what is right. For my country and for my Goddess.
Agatha is a devout follower to Solistra, the Sun Goddess of the Ithicans. She seeks to uphold the religion's principles, but unlike the past, she will discard her morals under desperate situations.
As empress to a culturally diverse nation, Agatha is welcoming to Eulara, the lunar deity among the Volaines. However, she refuses to fully acknowledge the Volaine faith, believing that the animal cults and their paganistic practices threaten the monotheistic integrity of Solistra. She does not actively persecute the Volaine traditionalists at the very least.
Relationships
Alignment
Chaotic Good
Species
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Empress of the Ithicans
Year of Birth
1034 A.E.
41 Years old
Birthplace
Ithica
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
Solistra's Embrace
Gender
Female
Eyes
Amber / Gold (magic)
Hair
Long, Brunette
Height
173 cm (5'8")
Weight
61.3 kg (135 lb)
Further Reading
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Off to a strong start! Your opening quote works well!
She bickered often with her father— which implies that she did so much more than once. I'd change this to "attempts" here, to pluralize it as it sounds like it was multiple attempts.Try reading this without the bits between the em-dashes, doing so, you end up with Which doesn't really work. I'd replace "did" with "that."
A pyromancer wearing white/orange with gold/green tertiary colors? A+ choice.
In "Rise" you mention the Sun and Moon War— what was the Sun and Moon War? Is there an article for it? If not, a tooltip over that name could help! If there is, you may want to link it there!
You may want to swap that out for "resumed".
Neigh is the sound horses make, you may want to switch that for "nigh".
Inciting is encouraging or urging someone else to do something, but Zieren went there himself. Unless the massacre was carried out by locals or someone else, I'd switch to something along the lines of "Zieren massacred the settlement".
This reads a bit awkwardly, I'd reword this bit of the sentence to something more like "It was only after so many preventable losses that she developed..."
I would like to know more about what these innovations and advantages are! If there is no room within the word limit, there's always potential for an article on the war!
While technically, yes, invasions are in the area they are...invading, you generally want to use "invasion of" the location. Unless of course the invasion was intended for a farther location which another was merely in the way of.
I do like the idea of the Faceless Ones here!
Overall I think you've written of an interesting character here, pretty much all I can give feedback on are those typos and grammar flubs above!
I'll look them over. Thanks for the read! :)