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But then, when all hope had died, and the hour of doom seemed at hand...
a young boy clothed in green appeared as if from nowhere.
Wielding the blade of evil's bane, he sealed the dark one away and gave the land light. |
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— Sylvanian Legend |
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Link, the Hero of Sylvania, was born in a distant village. He stumbled into a magical quest when he was just a boy, and he was named the traditional hero of his nation as a result. Since then, he's learned much, always out to do good deeds and protect others.
These days, Link divides his time between living in Sylvania and wandering the wilds of Arcadia, always looking for those in need whom he can help or protect. He also pursues clues about the existence of the mysterious artifact known as the Triforce, which he's heard rumored.
Personality
What makes a hero? In Link's case, it all starts with a simple, rustic upbringing deep within the woods of Sylvania. Growing up amongst the fairies, he formed a fundamentally social, playful nature and a great comfort with being himself. Often, he seems so comfortable in his own skin that he hardly needs to say anything at all, though he's anything but silent much of the time. There he also learned a reverence for Nature and a respect for magic, as well as a strong sense of community and dedication to others. This was forged into a stronger resolve when he undertook his first quest, and each trial and journey since has made him more determined to protect people against the forces that would harm them. Apart from his heroic nature, he has a tremendous innate curiosity. Always inclined to look into a mysterious urn or peek beneath an oddly placed stone, he loves to explore, and he has an exceptional weakness for puzzles and mysteries. He loves to meet new people and try new things, and is generally always eager for all life has to offer.
Background
Born in a small village in Sylvania, Link was orphaned at a very young age. The fate of his parents is uncertain, but he was found by the fairies of the Sylvan Woodlands and raised among them. The older he grew, the more clear it became that he was different. By the time he was about ten years old, he had begun to wander far and wide from the fairy village, and that's what led him to discover that the great Ithil Tree of Sylvania was endangered by a curse.
Investigating the source of this malady required him to awaken the spirit of the tree and commune with it, which was no small task in and of itself, and that was only the beginning of his adventure. From there, he embarked upon on a quest to recover three sacred artifacts, each requiring him to solve a complex dungeon and defeat its evil master. Upon completing this quest, he used the artifacts to lift the curse from the Ithil Tree, and he came to live with the elves of Mithalu as the Hero of Sylvania.
Over the ensuing years, Link took on many adventures. He won the magic pendants that let him claim the legendary Master Sword, discovered and explored a number of ancient labyrinths around Arcadia, and collected an impressive array of magical artifacts. He has grown up quite a lot since then, becoming a hero in deed as well as in name, and has earned the respect of most of the elven people. His name carries significant impact even in the Laellu Empire.
Through it all, however, he has remained essentially the same cheerful and kind-hearted adventurer as ever, and no matter how many epic quests he undertakes, he's still willing to take time out of his day to help a local farmer round up his wayward chickens.
SKILLS
ATHLETICS: Expert -
LORE: Competent -
PUZZLE-SOLVING: Competent -
RIDING: Expert -
SPELLCASTING: Competent - Link is a capable spellcaster, but he is not yet what could be called an expert. He has experience with both bardic and evocation magics.
SURVIVALISM: Expert -
WEAPONRY: Expert -
WILLPOWER: Expert -
ABILITIES
SYLVANIAN SHIELD: Supreme-level Gear - This heater shield was made from mystic elven silver, making it virtually indestructible. The edges are left polished silver, while the front is glossy blue. It bears a sigil of three pyramids of power in gold, as well as a crimson eagle to represent the ancient order of the Knights of Sylvania. The shield repels most forms of attacks, both magical and physical, and it resists being heated by even the hottest of flames.
BARDIC MAGIC: Enhanced-level Magic - Link is able to play a variety of magical songs on his fairy flute. At present, his repertoire of songs is fairly limited, though he learns new magical songs quite quickly when the opportunity arises.
Epona's Song: Playing this simple melody will summon Link's faithful steed, Epona, from any distance. She is transported by magic, though she seemingly arrives of her own volition.
Song of Storms: This song allows Link to summon storm clouds, thunder, wind, and rain around his immediate location. Once the storm is summoned, however, this song grants him no control over it.
Sun's Song: This song simulates day or night, depending on how it's played. If the day version is played, then it conjures mystic sunlight that affects all conditions and creatures as though it were real, natural sunlight. If the night version is played, it masks daylight and creates localized conditions that resemble the black of night.
Travel Songs: Link is able to return to anywhere he has been by composing a brief song while he is there. After that, any time he plays that song, he will be magically transported by an enchanted whirlwind to the place where he first composed and played it.
EVOCATION: Enhanced-level Magic - Link is a gifted but largely untrained magic-user. With concentration and a proper focus, such as his fairy flute, he can cast basic force blasts or similar straightforward evocations. He can work elemental magic, whipping up a storm, calling a bolt of lightning, or causing the earth to quake.
HEROIC SOUL: Supreme-level Power - The various adventures of Link's past have left him marked in a mystic way. He has risen to face challenges, been gifted with mystic boons, and otherwise accomplished feats to grant him a soul of uncommon potency. As a result of this, he cannot be robbed of his free will by any means, he cannot be transformed into other forms against his will, he cannot have his soul altered or stolen by any means, and he cannot be affected by instant-death style magics, such as are common in some forms of necromancy. A fireball will harm him normally, whereas a "death spell" will simply fail. Similarly, a mind-blast might hurt him, but a compulsion spell would do nothing. For considerations of being pure of heart or potent of soul, he is supremely qualified.
HEROIC TRAITS: Enhanced-level Power - Thanks to various mystic gifts, boons, or training Link has received, he has a number of unusual physical traits. Of course, as an elf, he is already ageless and resistant to illness, but he is also very hardy, resisting harsh elements and toxins without great difficulty, and has exceptionally keen, sharp senses.
Granted by the Power Bracelet: Though his strength is otherwise fairly normal, he can lift massive weights, up to massive boulders that would normally be far beyond him.
Granted by the Roc's Feather: He can leap dozens of feet in the air.
Granted by the Pegasus Boots: He can dash up to a few dozen yards at blinding speed.
Granted by the Saphhire Ring: His body. mind, and spirit are exceptionally resistant to damage, thanks to the magic of this enchanted ring.
Granted by the Silver Scale: He can swim as though he were part fish, enduring underwater for extended periods of time.
TWILIGHT FORM: Enhanced-level Power - In the course of his adventures, Link touched a plane known as the Land of Twilight, sometimes called the Dark World. While in that dark land, Link was transformed into a feral beast, a wolflike form that he at first found very difficult to control. However, there he discovered a magical artifact known as the Moon Pearl, which allowed him to preserve his normal form and, eventually, return home. Since then, he has learned to use the magic of the Moon Pearl to summon the beast form at will, transforming Link temporarily into a massive wolf.
In his wolf shape, Link's physical attributes are easily the equal of what they are in his normal form, only they need no augmentation from magical artifacts. The from grants him exceptional strength, agility, toughness, and stamina. He also gains even stronger enhanced senses, as well as Enhanced-level physical regeneration and the ability to run at high-end Basic speeds. He also has a fearsome and intimidating presence in this form, such that even many predators will completely leave him alone in this shape. This shape also grants him a certain level of affinity with wild wolves in nature, who are often likely to treat him as more friend than foe.
BOMBS: Enhanced-level Weapon - These bombs, which are commonly available in many parts of Arcadia, are of standard quality for controlled detonation and are popularly used to open small passages in cavern or ruin walls. They can also be picked up and thrown, making them fairly effective projectile weapons.
FAIRY BOW: Enhanced-level Weapon - This finely crafted bow was crafted by the fae as a gift to the elves of Sylvania, who bestowed it upon Link when he recovered it from a creature who had stolen it. The bow is highly resistant to damage while also exceedingly accurate. A relatively short bow, its ideal range is only about fifty to one hundred yards. It's able to fire nearly any variety of arrow with ease and accuracy.
HOOKSHOT: Basic+-level Weapon - Recovered from an ancient ruin, the hookshot is an enchanted chain whip that retracts into a handle and can be used as a grappling hook up to dozens of feet long. It lets him swing through treetops, launch himself across chasms, or grapple distant objects and pull them to him. It has limited use as a weapon, though it can stun or fend off some enemies, but mostly it works as a means of crossing obstacles. As a potent magical artifact, it is effectively indestructible.
MAGIC BOOMERANG: Basic+-level Weapon - In the course of his adventures, Link obtained a magic boomerang from the ruins of an ancient dungeon. Able to fly many times farther than a normal thrown weapon, it is also attuned enough to him that he can steer it via his thoughts with concentration. When it strikes, it may stun weaker creatures, but generally it does not do significant damage so much as put enemies off-balance, knock a weapon from a hand, or possibly throw a switch in a hard-to-reach spot. It always returns to his hand when thrown, and as a potent magical artifact it is effectively indestructible.
THE MASTER SWORD: Enhanced+-level Weapon - The ancient Master Sword is a hand and a half sword forged by elves in ancient days. Charged with mystic power, it is a powerful weapon that can harm even many of the toughest creatures. It flashes with an inner light when wielded, and it can be charged with magic to fling magical missiles at one's foes at a range of up to ten yards away. It can be used to deflect or parry many dangerous physical attacks, and indeed its greatest power may be its ability to defend, rather than to attack.
ADVANTAGES
ADVENTURING GEAR - Link routinely carries a variety of basic gear, ranging from his ring of skeleton keys to his elf-made clothing, to various survival equipment. He also sometimes uses a small sailboat of elvish make, and various other simple or commonplace items, such as alchemical bottles for storing items and various tools, such as a hammer, shovel, etc. Another special piece of gear he often carries is a collapsible device called a paraglider, which allows him to glide down safely from high places and across open spaces.
ELF-LAMP - Not so rare or magical an item as many of Link's other usual gear, the elf-lamp is a finely made light source from Sylvania. It can provide light even in the darkest of places, and it can be used to light small fires, such as a torch or campfire. It is very resistant to damage, being of fine elf-make, and some types of dark-dwelling creatures may be driven back by the purity and brightness of its light.
EPONA - Epona is a horse who was raised by a childhood friend of Link's. She is a steed of exceptional strength, stamina, swiftness, and loyalty who will generally not permit anyone but Link to ride her.
FAIRY FLUTE - Link was given the fairy flute by woodland fairies. The flute is less obviously useful than some of Link's gear, save for being exquisitely made and producing a lovely, crystal-clear sound. Made from mystic silver, it is an excellent means of performing music-based magic, and it doubles very nicely as a wand for spells that require a more somatic focus. Its melody seems to easily soothe and lull the senses, but not to any degree that cannot be resisted with a minor act of determination. As a potent magical artifact it is effectively indestructible.
HERO OF SYLVANIA - By gathering the magical Seeds of Sylvania when he was a boy, Link completed an ancient and magical quest that brought increased prosperity to the land and ensured the ongoing health of the great Tree of Sylvania, banishing an evil that sought to destroy it and the elves' forest. He gained many of his magical treasures along the way, and since that time he has enjoyed a certain measure of fame and goodwill amongst the Sylvanians, even carrying the formal title of Hero of Sylvania.
THE BOOK OF MUDORA - The Book of Mudora is an ancient tome of mystic knowledge, including a variety of spells, information for translating ancient runes, and various other magical lore. Believed to have been created by an ancient sorcerer named Mudora, its power is not truly known. However, it has proven generally indestructible and proof against the ravages of time.
WEAKNESSES
CURIOSITY - Link is unable to resist anything mysterious, interesting, or unusual. This could be as simple as looking under suspicious rocks or peeking into random urns. More notably, this extends to exploring ancient ruins, uncovering hidden dungeons, and venturing deep into various dangerous places.
GEAR DEPENDENT - Sometimes it's said that "the clothes make the man." In Link's case, this is somewhat true. He's not trained in unarmed combat, and he's hopeless at magic without specific artifacts as a focus. So, without at least a basic weapon or other equipment, Link is reduced to running, hiding, or helplessness.
HERO OF SYLVANIA - As the Hero of Sylvania, Link is also saddled with the downside of such a reputation and position. When trouble comes, it's his duty to deal with it. He can never quite settle down, because something always crops up that requires his attention. Besides that, there's always some villain or other out there who's looking for a way to make a name for himself, and taking down a renowned hero always seems a popular option.
