J'ska, 'Eloi' the Xeno-Kwal

[Eloi]

Name: J'ska (Eloi)
Species: Xeno-Kwal
Gender: Female
Age: 38
Native Language: Kwalish

Physical Description: Nobody knows what she truly looks like; all that can be seen of her is the beautiful intricate armor that covers her entire body as a sort of exoskeleton. This amazing artificial skeleton is a pearlescent white color, with many intricately carved markings. These markings are deep royal purple in striking contrast to the near milky color surrounding them. Tiny crystals, billions of them, are growing within the carved markings, creating the striking purple color visible to the eye. No doubt, creating this armor was a very elaborate and time consuming process.

Not that anyone would know that this strange metal casing was armor at all. Other than another Xeno-Kwal, few would even stop to think that the gorgeous covering was in fact armor, and not merely a part of her body. It fits her amazingly well, allowing for the full dexterity she enjoys without wearing it. Though, she would never take it off, especially not in this strange place. There are extremely few creatures, even other Xeno-Kwal, who have seen her without it, and it will probably remain that way for a very long time.

Unique and beautiful, her helmet is one of the most interesting parts of her armor, just as with any of her species. The eyes on it are large and purple, glowing slightly. A very ornate and delicate part of the mask covers her mandibles, still allowing them full range of motion. Built into this mask of sorts is something that almost seem like long ears, curled at their end. Upon closer inspection, the tendrils seem more like antennae than ears, though it’s unknown whether they are merely decorative or serve a purpose.

Though she has six legs, only four of them are usually used for walking. Two unused for walking are made into hands, though any of the six would easily enough serve the same purpose. The front two are most frequently used as manipulators simply because it’s easiest to balance that way. Sometimes, when it feels safest for her to do so, she will walk on all six of her legs for the most stability possible.

Small translucent wing casings, usually hidden, are not even close to the size needed to carry her. It seems that they carry a purpose entirely different than that of sustaining flight. Rarely seen, they are quite the sight to behold. Normally, they’re hidden behind a part of her armor designed for that purpose. When they do manage to come out, and the light catches them, they show an entire spectrum of light translucent colors.

Eloi - By Darky

Mental and/or Social Description: Eloi is a strange and alien creature. She is endlessly curious, and will go to great lengths to pursue knowledge. The things of this world make very little sense to her - but her aim is to change that. To learn the mysteries of this strange new world. As such, she is almost always asking questions and reading books. Things most those who lived here their entire lives would take for granted, Eloi finds endlessly fascinating.

While still in her homeland, she read many, many books about the 'land that touches the sky', as she calls it. Though most of them were just fairy tales, she sometimes doesn't know the difference. Most of what she knows of this world that she didn't learn through personal experience, she knows from books. In fact, the nickname she gave herself was from a book, as are many of the names she gives her creatures. Her understanding of the common language was obtained from these books; while she can read or write it flawlessly, speaking it aloud is another matter entirely.

Because her culture is so different from the one here, she has trouble understanding a lot of things. Concepts that would seem obvious to a common person are still beyond her grasp at times. She simply doesn’t get why one must pay for food, or why anyone would want to make someone else build things for them. Mysteries like these are what keep her searching and exploring. She wants to know everything about this new world, even if it doesn’t always make a whole lot of sense.

Eloi is almost hopelessly friendly and optimistic. Though she is wary of other cultures, she is also intrigued by them. However, she is a bit naïve in that she believes all humanoids are out for the ‘greater good’ and will be helpful and truthful to her at all times. She has almost no ability whatsoever to tell when someone is lying to her, as she cannot easily comprehend why someone would lie to her.

It is very rare to find Eloi without her beloved Malii, Kezune. In fact, if it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have even come out here. He often acts as her translator, as she doesn’t have a great handle on the language yet. More often than not, she is asking him a million and one questions about everything she comes across. He always answers with tolerance and patience, even if he doesn't quite know the answer she’s looking for.

If she is nothing else, Eloi is dedicated. She never lets a job go unfinished, no matter how small or insignificant others may see it as. She is an incessantly hard worker, always looking to do the best job she can do. She is also incredibly reluctant to receive assistance from anyone - even if she has no clue about what she is doing. She would much rather ask someone how to do it, and do it herself, than let anyone help her or do it for her. As such, she puts a lot of pride into her work. After all, it is perfect, isn’t it?

Eloi has a sense of wanderlust and adventure that surpasses even that of most Xeno-kwal. It was that very taste for exploring that led her here, to this amazing land that touches the sky. Always looking for new adventure, Eloi can be found in the queerest of places. Often led blindly into danger by her curiosity, she finds herself able to identify with the world much better with each trip she takes.

Goals: Discover the mysteries of this new world…

Stats:
Level: 1.1
Stamina: 3
Strength: 3
Resistance: 4
Dexterity: 4
Mentality: 3

Attribute: Nightvision

Traits: Jack of All Trades, Self-Confident, Phobia, Turtle's Blessing, Feline Curiosity, Concentration

Skill Groups: Jack of All Trades

Skills: 0 Points Left
Foreign Language (Common - 1)
Foreign Script (Common - 2)
Literacy

[Eloi]

History: Eloi’s life as a child was nothing spectacular. Well, that is to say nothing spectacular for a Xeno-Kwal. She was from a decently small community in which everyone worked with the goal of keeping the community as a whole thriving. Each person was treated equally, no one group socially or economically ahead of any other. A group of elders made decisions that would affect the whole group, and though they were revered for their wisdom, they too were on the same social plane as everyone else. Food, and other essential resources were widely available for everyone, and everyone contributed their unique skills to the community without a need for monetary gain. Social taboos such as lying, hurting others, and thieving were punished harshly, making them all but unheard of outside of children who did not know better.

One thing in particular, however, always bothered young Eloi. The only people in her community, even visitors, were all Xeno-Kwal like herself. Whenever other peoples were brought up, the subject was quickly discarded. Though she loved her people, she always wondered what else was out there. It was common knowledge that other peoples existed, but they were not discussed or, as far as she knew, even welcome within the limits of their territory. Young Eloi always dreamed about what other people must be like. Did they look like her? Act like her? So many questions, all to go unanswered in her xenophobic society.

As she grew older, Eloi sought out more and more reading material. There were a large number of books that she could access, though most of them were written in a strange and foreign script. Determined, she learned to read the language these books were in with the help of the kind old librarian, and spent many hours of her younger life reading everything she could get her hands on. More than anything else, she loved to read the books about the humans and their kin. They had many books, telling many fantastic stories, many of which she was unaware were just that - stories.

It seemed like no time at all until it was her coming of age ceremony, where she would don the full armor she had spent so much time making for the first time. Along with this display of adulthood, the adolescent Xeno-Kwal were assigned the jobs they were to do for the rest of their working lives. Usually, Xeno-Kwal are assigned a job based on the skills they showed as children, and Eloi was no exception. To her delight, she was assigned to be the new librarian, eventually to take the job from the elderly male who held the position longer than she had been alive. With all of her spare time spent reading, it was no surprise to anyone that she was to be the new bookkeeper.

If there was anything she loved more than books, it was adventure. It was this love of traveling that brought Eloi, still young by ‘Kwal standards, to the turning point of her life. A roar shook the cavern she was traveling through, and some primal instinct told her to go towards it instead of running away. A smear of blood marked the ground, leading to the creature that had made that terrifying sound. She was awestruck by the sight of the creature, huge and dripping with blood. Its fangs and horns were sharp and dangerous, along with its many claws. It had a long tail with a thick club on the end, and huge leathery wings.

Though never knowing true danger in her somewhat sheltered existence, she found herself extremely afraid of this creature. Truly terrified, for the first time in her life. It was not that creature she was concerned with, however. Whatever it was hovered over a limp black form, barely noticeable save for its bright blue markings. In a twist of fate, she decided that this creature was worth risking her life for. Running full speed on all six limbs, she rushed toward the creature, grabbing it just in time. As she turned to run away, the creature whipped its tail at her, but she had gotten just far enough away that it didn’t manage to penetrate her strong armor. Knowing the terrain very well, she was able to take a shortcut back to her home, loosing the creature along the way.

This creature was like none she had ever seen. It was fuzzy and black with many long tails and four limbs that she considered rather short. It had large ears, small eyes, and a sharp horn. Eloi worked tirelessly to nurse the creature, who had been badly wounded by whatever that thing was. At first, she had no idea how to care for him, so she searched through dozens of books about the anatomy of surface creatures. The ones called ‘cat’ and ‘dog’ both seemed to be vaguely similar, so she used the notes about them to aid her in curing him. Lucky for him, it worked well, and he was up and moving around in no time.

When he first opened his eyes, which she quickly noted had no pupils or irises, he growled and clawed at her. It took a lot of convincing to make him realize that she was indeed helping him, especially when he kept shouting something she did not understand. Quickly, the two discovered that they were speaking two entirely different languages, which didn’t help matters much. He would continue to dislike her for a long time, though she had started picking up his language quickly.

Eloi called the creature Kezune, and he did not seem to want to protest it. Eventually, she figured out that the language he was speaking was the same one in her books. This made it much easier for her to learn, as she was able to recognize familiar patterns. It was still slow and painful work, however. Kezune, still too wounded to take care of himself, walked her through each step of learning the language patiently. As much as he had been uncomfortable with her at first, the two were becoming quick friends.

When Eloi finally learned enough of the language to share large information with Kezune, she asked him where he was from. He explained that he was from the world that touched the sky, though he did not call it that, and he was created by a place called the Magical Menagerie Laboratories. All he would tell her about how he got here was that an awful human man had kept him as a slave, and forced him to travel here with him. He would not reveal his old name, either, preferring the newly appointed Kezune instead. Eloi was fascinated by the fact that he was from the surface world she had read so much about, and bombarded him with questions almost nonstop.

With Kezune fully healed, the two of them started making plans to travel to the land that touches the sky. While adamant about never wanting to see that human again, Kezune still missed the land he was from, and Eloi was excited to finally get a chance to travel to the land she had read so much about. Deciding that she needed a more human sounding name, the Xeno-Kwal adopted the name 'Eloi' from one of her favorite books. Before long, they were ready to make their grand journey back to his original home.

It took them a pretty long time to travel all the way to the city around the labs, but it was worth it. There, they established a home and even adopted a few creatures together. They have since been inseparable.