Cyneric - Messenger of Hermes
(Art by Niere)
Cyneric's Main Story:
(First five chapters are Cyn telling his history in 1st person,
sixth part picks up in 3rd person as the start of a longer future story.
In character, about his past.)
Part 1- The Black Sheep
Part 2- A Gift from a Fox
Part 3- Called by a God
Part 4- Breaking the News
Part 5- Always Trust a Fox
Part 6- And Here Begins a Lifetime of Pranks
Miscellaneous Writing:
Calling in a Favor
It's Not Easy Being Green
~Cyn's personal entries and letters~
In character, current time.)
About Cyneric:
Name: Cyneric Conroy
Race: human
Home Country/Region: Great Centeria
Birthday: August 23rd, 678
(11 years old in Adventures of a Young Messenger,
29 in It's Not Easy Being Green, 34 in Calling in a Favor)
Astrological Sign: Virgo
Tarot Card: Knight/King of Pentacles
Height: 5'11"
Appearance: longish black hair, blue eyes, dusky complexion
Occupation: Messenger (priest)
Alignment: Neutral Good
Highest Stat: Wisdom
Weakest Stat: Strength
Favorite Hobby/Skills: researching magic (and mischievous items),
chatting with woodland creatures
Favorite Color: rusty orange
Detailed info:
Cyneric Conroy is a priest of Hermes, otherwise called a Messenger. In that world Hermes is the god of mischief and messages (okay, that's probably obvious) and His symbol is a winged fox; the actual holy symbol, a token which the Messengers keep secret, is a small amber pendant with a feather imbedded inside. Hermes is one of only two deities remaining from the old pantheon in this part of the world- the other is Apollo. That pantheon has slowly waned over the centuries, but these two gods likely stuck around when the new deities arrived because their followers are useful. Healers and Messengers are always needed.
Cyneric is the youngest son of a noble family; he comes from a long line of knights and is actually the first male in his family (as far back as their memories go, at least) to break tradition and not be a warrior of some sort. Though they're local, he doesn't talk about his family much and to say that he doesn't get along with them would be a vast understatement. The only person in his family who he talks to on a regular basis is his slightly older brother. It isn't so much that he truly hates his kin as he has absolutely nothing in common with most of them and prefers the company of those he considers his real family: the other Messengers.
Had things shifted slightly in his youth, Cyneric probably would have become a druid because he has a very strong connection to plants and animals, but he was Called by Hermes instead (which probably worked out in Cyneric's favor because who's ever heard of an aristocratic druid?). Fortunately, two of Hermes' spheres of influence are plants and animals, so Cyneric is able to use these to his advantage when he travels. If it's possible for a human noble to feel a connection to a location, he has that; he gets horribly homesick when he has to be away from Woodland (the city in which he has spent most of his life) for an extended period of time, which is somewhat odd considering a career path that takes him all over the continent. At the moment he is just an average Messenger, but he will become the Head Messenger (High Priest) of his mosque when the current head of his order steps down. This would most definitely be his dream job.
In terms of personality, most people see only the traits Cyneric is inclined to reveal: he's authoritative, intelligent, stubborn, and somewhat dull, detached and pretentious- while also being impish and silly. (He follows Hermes, so just like his brothers and sisters-by-oath his personality can be rather mercurial at times, in his case fluctuating heavily between bland detachment and oddball mischievousness.) On the other hand, if someone has managed to earn Cyneric's respect and trust enough that he feels comfortable being himself around them, they will see the positive characteristics that he tries to keep somewhat hidden: he's also kind, helpful, protective, and noble in the best sense of the word. Very few people get to see all of these positive traits, however, and those that do are generally those in his religious order because they're the people he trusts most (which explains why his significant other is another Messenger). Much like Clover or Seph, Cyneric will always keep his personal life and background mum and will never voluntarily talk about himself. It's not so much that he's secretive as he doesn't think this is anyone's business.
Although he's technically an adventurer (and a member of a mercenary's guild), he doesn't consider himself one; the reason he travels is to carry deliveries and to be helpful, not for fame, wealth, or excitement. He'll be quite happy when he's promoted and able to stay permanently in his home town, no longer having to worry about foolish and rash party members or marauding enemies. Cyneric will never attack (or even defend) with a weapon unless he absolutely has to, and, even then, he's likely to apologize to whatever he's hitting. He's spent his entire life trying to not be a fighter so he's certainly a reluctant adventurer. He will use magic as a defense, but prefers to talk his way out of a possible bad situation. Don't get on his bad side, though! He's constantly prepared with many mostly-harmless (and some not-so-innocuous) spells and isn't above summoning insects or calling vines/roots if irked.
Cyneric has a habit of collecting animals and strays, much to the annoyance of his traveling companions. At the moment he has a red fox (Loxie) and a raven (Lëo) as well as a kobold (Chip); his goblin (Gribble) is currently working for a mage friend. The two orcs he's befriended (SwampFox, his bodyguard, and WhiteBoar, SwampFox's shaman) don't count as strays because they're practically family, but they add to the list of people and creatures that Cyneric has "adopted".
Cyneric is also a character in a D&D game, so you'd like to know more about the campaign adventure, the group blog can be found here.
CONVERSATION