Briarvale

GENERAL
Name:
Briarvale
Nickname:
Briar, Bri
Birthdate:
Late autumn
Age:
Older then the fall of Atlantis
Species:
Peryton
Gender/Pronouns:
Male


APPEARANCE

Briarvale’s current form reflects his one of old; from a distance, he appears slim, small and meek. Once you venture closer and gain a true look at him, you may think twice. He stands just shy of 6’ with a stream-lined physique. His shoulders are built more then any other part of him, though this can be guessed from his original form’s wings. The tone of his skin is a rich hazelnut color, accented by straight dark brown hair that sweeps down near his navel. A set of light, tawny eyes is framed by these darker locks, though his expression is usually set into one of jaded mistrust. As far as attire may run, he’s perfectly happy with a pair of worn cargo pants and a loose shirt – when he chooses to wear a shirt, that is. He’s more likely to wear a hooded sweatshirt then an actual shirt, however. Briar’s grown rather fond of a wide assortment of beaded and feathered necklaces and bracelets, though he keeps a sterling bracelet he picked up at a faire of the bringer of plagues – Pazuzu.


PERSONALITY

From first meeting this creature, one can glean a very mistrusting air about him. His eyes will follow a stranger – especially within the company of his nest. Briarvale’s more likely to be on his guard if Pazu is near. He is unlikely to trust someone within even a first handful of meetings – unless something drastic happens to sway his opinion.

Years spent roaming within a changing and adapting world, forcing himself to integrate within a society he considers food has put a rough, jagged edge to him – especially towards humans. After all, humans/humanoids are his prime source of food; why would he give up his proud cervidae heritage for those ignorant bipeds? Despite a change of heart some years ago thanks to Pazuzu, he is still not quite over this forced assimilation to his humanoid form and often is a main source for his ire.

However, if one were to leap the hurdles of his defenses, one would find that Briarvale is not so much of an angry, bitter person deep down.

At heart, he is quite affectionate and very in-tuned with his peryton nature. Being on the road constantly has made for a lot of internal conflict within Bri – mainly, peryton are nesters by nature. However, being a creature that preys on humans within a world of hunters has made that an impossible situation anymore. He’s come to terms with the van being a ‘mobile nest’, however if they come across a stationed, happy monster, well… expect a rather moody, sulky deer for a while.

Briarvale’s communication skills are rather sharpened – make no mistake, they are pretty average. But considering what they once were, they have improved greatly over time. With what became apparent of Pazuzu’s rather… lack of clear communication, Briar was forced to take up the plate at being more of a clear linguist then his partner. It helps a bit when they’re facing down a hunter who doesn’t accept their rather justified way of surviving.


HISTORY

Briarvale was born a solitary foal of a litter to a proud pair of parents in a tight-knit nest, in the depths of the island of Atlantis. His young years are the few happy memories he keeps to himself – a young little thing with a coat the color of stardust, and wings of coal. It was on this island that a young Briarvale was shown the once good side of humanity – how kind they could be, this early in their evolution. How they could be protected from the other creatures of the night, how they didn’t have to use these kind humans as their primary food source.

It made him happy to not kill a human during his early years, and to not have to earn his shadow. For he was happy to share the shadow of creatures so gentle and kind.

However, when Atlantis fell within a full day and night, sinking to the bottom of the ocean as he and his kin were forced to take to the skies and leave those kind humans to drown in their fate – his moral foundation started to shake.

It was as they remade their home outside of Rome, he and his parents, that he earned his shadow – and lost all respect for humans. For even while deals and pacts are made, and they protected the humans, humanity has this… inherent greed about it.

They came at dawn, slaughtering his nest. His blood, his kin – slaughtered for their silky pelts, regal antlers and downy feathers. As his parents fell, he lost himself in revenge – tearing the hunters asunder. Dawn rose, and gone was his humanoid shadow. In its place stood the proud shadow of a peryton hart against a blood-soaked clearing, and Briarvale was never more glad to see it.

This murderous morning left a blight in his mind in regards to humanity, seeing them as his primary food source – and he wasn’t stingy about thinning the crowd.

When Rome eventually fell and burned – he watched in near glee.

It was from there that this peryton became jaded and alone. Even his own kind evaded him, for he was not like the others. How could a nester be alone by choice? Estranged by his own kind, and driven to hiding by a rise of learning, evolving hunters, he was forced to take the shape of the one thing he hated, above all else – a human.

Years spent traveling alone, picking off easy and gluttonous kills nearly cost him his life – for one night, he stalked a pregnant woman under the protection of the ancient demon Pazuzu. Their fight was hard and painful (for him); however, the demon spoke of his morals. Of feeding off the scourge of humanity – the sinners, the unsavory, the damned. It awoke hidden depths within him, telling him to listen, pay attention, change.

He stuck with the strange plague-bringer who awoke a side in him he hadn’t felt in so long, and awoke a feeling of kinship he hadn’t felt in longer. Pazuzu eventually would steal what would eventually become a rolling artwork of an RV, and it helped to clip some of Briarvale’s budding senses of nesting. It isn’t exactly the most inconspicuous of vehicles, but it makes Pazu happy – so he’s happy.



EXTRA

Possessions:
~Mobile nest/van, that he refuses to call by its ridiculous name (The Psychedelic Jellybean)
Notable Family/Relations:
Pazuzu – The only other member of Briar’s mobile nest. Despite a conflict when they first met, he cares much more deeply for the ancient plague-bringer demon then he ever shows. Briar would lay down his life for Pazu, eagerly. Anything beyond that is speculative at best.
Trivia:
~Female peryton are able to reproduce by consumption of human hearts – this practice goes hoof in hoof with courting rites by the offering of one to one’s potential mate, and a rather intimate gesture at that. This makes Briar rather hateful of hearts, and generally the first thing he eats.
~Briarvale is still able to throw his original form’s shadow, as well as small-ranged flight and a rather strong kick.

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