eachdraidh app.

[vigilantist]

( PLAYER ★ INFORMATION )

NAME: Jessica
AGE: 20
CONTACT: goatsong
CURRENT CHARACTERS & LATEST AC: N/A!

RESERVATION LINK: Here!

( CHARACTER ★ INFORMATION )

DOES THIS CHARACTER MEET SKELETAL BASICS? Yes!
NAME & AGE: Yuri Lowell; 21
CANON & CANON POINT: Tales of Vesperia; after being stabbed by Cheria.
CANON INFORMATION: His wiki page, though it only covers part of the game. The entire game's plot.

PERSONALITY:

❝yuri lowell. how do i even begin to describe yuri lowell-- wait you want an actual personality? uh❞
- the apper

❝That's it. I'm cursed. I know it.❞
- Yuri
Born and raised in the poor streets of the Lower Quarter, Yuri's equipped with wit and a bristly personality to boot. Strangers, good friends, authority--nobody's spared from his quips. The long-suffering knights of the Schwann Brigade have to bear his ridiculous nicknames for them ("Tweedle A and Tweedle B") and even the party has to suffer a few prods from his dry humor. Whether they're breaking into a city of scholars or setting a trap for eggbears, Yuri's there to offer a dash of snark to the situation. He's quick to resort to sarcasm regardless of the situation, and frequently pokes fun of others in good humor. Karol and Rita often bear the brunt of his teasing, though he's not above calling the others "old man" or messing with Estelle's naiveté. For better or for worse he doesn't beat around the bush, preferring to be direct and blunt. He's a man who doesn't minces words, or a man who gives big speeches. His manner of speaking is highly informal and bordering on rude, with no respect given to even those he should respect. His attitude towards most of the nobles and knights in Zaphias are, to put it simply, disdainful.

His ire, though, is well-placed. For a good chunk of his life he and those close to him lived in poverty while the nobles above lavished luxuries and hoarded resources, something he saw as grave injustices. With little power in his hands, Yuri developed a pessimistic view of the Empire. His short time as a knight only rectified this outlook, especially with the death of his then-mentor, Niren. The bureaucratic chokehold of knighthood frustrated Yuri, and he saw little chance of change by working within the system. From how he saw it, honor and pride were only empty mottoes used to hide the dirt beneath. Once he left the knights he turned to a life of petty crime, often stooping to small things such as tossing tax collectors into the river or harassing any knights he deemed to be riding on a high horse. If he couldn't do something by working with the Empire, he'd act as a thorn in its side in metaphorical (and sometimes literal) gestures that stuck it to the man.

Trouble is practically Yuri's middle name, and it's something he's conscious of. He bemoans his bad luck, going so far as to call himself "cursed." Talking to the NPCs around the Lower Quarter has many of them scolding Yuri for being reckless or asking if he's landed himself into a tussle with the knights again. It seems that, no matter where he goes or what his intentions are, Yuri can't keep his head down. If there's something that rankles him the wrong way, he won't hesitate to step in. Pick on the wrong person, act like a jerk, whatever. He's impulsive by nature, choosing to go with his gut feelings first and foremost. Hearing about the blastia thief has him running off to the nobles' corner to break into a mansion for a clue. Years of seeing those in the Lower Quarter bend to accommodate the heel of the Empire has him resolved never to be a bystander when injustice is happening. He's learned to be cynical of authority, to rely on himself first and foremost when he finds himself in a bind. The Empire has never cared for its poorer citizens. Knowing this, he'll treat them with the same amount respect. If it means butting heads, so be it.

❝Yuri’s so single-minded when it comes to protecting others. He’s willing to sacrifice himself to do it.❞
-Flynn, to Estelle
Deep down, Yuri is a bitter man who wants to protect the good he finds in the world. He made a promise with Flynn when they were children to fight to make people smile. It was part of why he joined the knights in the first place, seeking some way to better the lives of those suffering under the Empire. Though he complains about Estelle breaking their cover, he doesn't hesitate to save a little girl--and her doll--from a hoard of monsters. When a man prepares to risk his life to hunt down a monster to pay off his debts, Yuri stops him and goes to fetch the monster's horn for the man. He consistently refuses gifts or rewards from others if it's not guild business, even more so when it's clear that the gifts in question are more generous than the person should give. He's never boastful or showy abut his deeds. In fact, he's the opposite. He's more likely to wave off an excuse to slip away to do what's right, or to put on an apathetic mask to disguise the fact he's trying to help. Getting Yuri to brag about the good he's done would be like trying to squeeze water from a rock.

His focus on helping others gets to the point where he's willing to put himself through physical, mental, and emotional danger. When Estelle questions whether or not her power truly was the world's poison, Yuri doesn't hesitate to cut open his hand to force her to heal him and show her otherwise. He willingly takes Flynn's place in Dahngrest's prison, though he knows that if his friend fails to show up, he'll be put to death. There's a sense of duty he holds towards people he sees as "good" in the world, one he won't shy away from. If he can help someone who deserves it-- if he can save them in some way-- Yuri's willing to risk everything to see it through. The cost doesn't matter.

One thing's for certain: Yuri has a good heart beneath that prickly surface of his. Although his actions can be questionable, his intentions are good. He's not concerned about prestige or power, as he explains to Flynn. Giving the credit to his best friend is something he doesn't mind. It's not acknowledgement he seeks, but justice for those who can't protect themselves. Where the knights can't go, he will.

❝Are you afraid of me, Estelle?❞
-Yuri
Yet Yuri is far from resolved. His encounter with Flynn in Capua Torim reveals his insecurities regarding his vigilantism. When he's confronted about just what he has managed to accomplish since he quit the knights--if he's made any big chances since leaving--he's rendered speechless and storms off in anger. He questions himself when it comes to the "goodness" of his justice, recognizing that not everyone will view what he's doing as right... and those thoughts lead him to wonder if he'll be considered "wrong" by those important to him. While he's determined to do the right thing at any costs, he struggles with what exactly is the right way to accomplish these means. He can't sit by and let terrible things happen to good people, yet what he does could be considered terrible in itself. And Yuri recognizes this painfully well.

It leads to his lone wolf attitude, the belief that as long as he shoulders the burden no one else will have to. When he and the party's presented with the conflict of stopping Alexei and possibly killing Estelle, Yuri chooses to try heading back to the capital himself, figuring it to be a job that "nobody else wants to do." He decides to kill Ragou and Cumore himself, being careful not to include the rest of Brave Vesperia in his plot. Nobody else will have to dirty their hands but him. He's willing to become the darkness to allow the light of others to shine, to make the tough calls that no one else will for the sake of administrating what he sees as justice.

Yuri doesn't want to be alone. But he'll choose to be, if it means keeping the others from taking the responsibility of his actions. Estelle eventually approaches him about the murders, and he warns her right away that he may turn his blade on her one day. It's clear he doesn't see himself as a good person. Dangerous, yes, but not a shining model like Flynn. But the one question he asks her--and his subsequent relief at her affirmation that nothing's changed--shows that he doesn't want to be seen in that light. He may never been seen as "good," but he wants to do "good" by those important to him.

❝Wow, so you went and gave our guild a name with a lot of baggage.❞
❝Now that you know the story, you should strive to make your guild shine as bright as the star.❞
❝Yeah... we’ll have to tell Karol about this. We’ll definitely have to live up to the name.❞
-Yuri and Estelle
It's why he's so fascinated by the guilds as the game progresses. Since they operate outside the influence of the Empire under their own rules, led by "free" people who relinquished their rights as citizens, Yuri views them with great respect. His meeting with Don Whitehorse leads him to admire the way the guild leader held fast to his beliefs and lifestyle. When he agrees to establish the guild Brave Vesperia with Karol, he's constantly engaging him in conversations to figure out their "rules." What exactly would their brand of justice be? What would they deem as the "right" thing to do? While the reasoning behind these talks is to help Karol gain his confidence as guild leader, being a part of Brave Vesperia has given Yuri the guidelines to finding his own purpose. Alone, he may not be sure about what he could do to help others. But with his guild, he feels as though he has a shot at making a good impact on the world.

And for a man who spent nearly all his life breaking the rules, he holds steadfast to Brave Vesperia's codes, refusing to let anything tarnish its image. "Do justice, and punish the unjust" is their simple motto, and he works his hardest to make sure they live up to it. Yuri actively tries to understand guild culture and the business that typically came with managing a guild, constantly advises Karol on how to make their guild grow, and even runs a few odd jobs here and there to spread their guild's reputation. Brave Vesperia is different from the imperial knights: it's formed by the those who believe in the same future as he does, by those willing to push for its inception. While he can't trust bureaucracy, he can trust the hearts of his friends to guide their guild upon the right path.

❝You are strong.❞
❝Yeah, well... that's because I'm not alone.❞
-Duke and Yuri
Which brings us to our final point: Yuri cares. He cares too much about an unjust world, cares too much about Brave Vesperia, too much to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others or to slip into a completely cynical view against humanity. And gradually, as the game progresses, he learns to open up and trust in the people surrounding him, to believe in their strength as well as his. He trusts Judith enough to keep her secrets. He keeps an eye out for Karol and helps him grow in confidence to become the guild leader he knows he can be. While he expresses surprise and amusement at Estelle's sheltered personality, the two become close friends who help each other find new ground to stand upon. He warms up to Rita and learns to rely upon her technical skills, and helps Raven in finding reason to continue living.

Even if he's unsure of the future, he believes in what Brave Vesperia can create and wants to be a part of it. That is what drives him forward, despite the doubts he has, and he will not waver from the path his friends have chosen for them all.

In short:


COURT ALLIANCE & REASONING:
Unseelie fits Yuri the best, as their virtues align best with his own views.

CHANGE IS GOOD.
In Yuri's eyes, those who adhere to an oppressive system is at fault. There are times when change must be applied in order to better the whole. He quits soon after joining the knights when he recognizes the corruption within the ranks, chooses to operate outside of the strict constraints of the Empire's law to do the most good he can. People can and will change, and change will in turn reshape the world. By the game's end, he's willing to help in a plan that would essentially rid the world of all blastia.

GLAMOUR IS FREE.
Power should not be reserved for the few and elite. Resources such as magic and blastia deserve to be distributed fairly and freely among the population. He shows disdain for the nobles that hoard knowledge and wealth to themselves, and believes that everyone should have a fair chance.

HONOUR IS A LIE.
Chivalry is an ideal held by many but rarely enforced. Yuri views the idealism of honor as an excuse for covering despicable acts more often than not. The world isn't so rosy or simple from how he sees it.

PASSION BEFORE DUTY
You keep your word the best you can, but you can't let who you serve bind you from doing the right thing. Yuri believes in following his idea of justice through, no matter what enemies he may make or what the consequences will be to him.

ABILITIES:
BODHI BLASTIA
When utilizing blastia, a device that consumes his world's form of magic aka "aer", Yuri's able to increase his endurance, speed, and power. Without a working blastia, however, he's simply an average human being. Yuri's is the yellow cuff.

MASTER SWORDSMAN
Yuri has a unique blend of street fighting and swordplay that renders him a powerful opponent, even without his blastia. He's also skilled with an axe.

ARTES
Artes are a general term for skills and magic utilized in magic. The majority of Yuri's artes are physical. For the sake of conciseness, I'll be writing a short summary of any artes with magical/notable attributes while grouping together his fancy sword/fisticuffs tricks. There's videos of both his XBOX 360 artes and PS3 artes.

Base Artes
Base Artes are basic attacks. These are "starter" artes that are typically the weakest.

Azure Edge: Has the wind attribute. Yuri slashes his weapon through the air, creating a blue shockwave.

Destruction Field: Has the fire attribute. Yuri slams his weapon into the ground, causing a ring of fiery energy to explode around him.

Ghost Wolf: Yuri attacks the enemy from the front, then phases behind them to land his next strike.

Physical Moves: Cerberus Strike, Fang Strike, Wolf Strike, Shining Fang, Tiger Blade.

Arcane Artes
Arcane Artes are powerful artes learned through constant use and practice of certain Base Artes. They can be considered artes gained through experience.

Azure Wolf Strike: A combination of Azure Edge and Wolf Strike. Yuri sends a burst of blue energy before slamming the opponent with his weapon and fist.

Crushing Eagle: Has the earth attribute. Yuri stabs his weapon into the ground, creating a shockwave around him to catch enemies off-balance.

Raging Blast: Yuri gathers energy in his palm and releases it to blast enemies back.

Lone/Rendering Wolf Charge: Punches the enemy before hitting them with a blast in the shape of a wolf.

Final Gale: Has the wind attribute. By slashing the air, Yuri creates a blast of wind energy that flies through the field of battle. This arte has not yet been learned.

Physical Moves: Dragon Swarm, Severing Fang, Shining Dragon Swarm, Brutal Fang, Wailing Havoc

Skills
In Vesperia, weapons can be crafted to hold certain skills in them. By repeatedly using them, the fighter may even be able to gain the skill to use without having to wield that particular weapon.

Altered Artes
When fighters inherent skills embedded into their weapons, they have a chance of utilizing something called altered artes. These are the ones that Yuri can use/learn.

Azure Storm: Launches two wind-based shockwaves at the opponent. A stronger version of Azure Edge.

Azure Blast: Yuri slams his weapon into the ground to create a burst of upward energy.

Guardian Field: Branches off from the arte Crushing Eagle. Creates a field of light when he stabs his sword into the ground that heals his allies and damages his enemies.

Pyre Havoc: Yuri launches into the air and kicks at his opponent while wreathed in fire.

Lone Wolf Storm: Yuri slams into the enemy with wind energy shaped like a wolf.

Frigid Blast: While slashing at the enemy, Yuri's movements are followed by explosive ice energy that can knock back his foe.

Physical Moves: Cerberus Blast, Shining Fang Drop

Fatal Strikes
With practice, Vesperia characters are able to pinpoint weaknesses or opening in monsters that allow them to essentially OHKO any enemy that isn't a boss. This skill is implied to be difficult to master, though Yuri is able to pick it up in no time flat. Building up to a fatal strike requires catching the foe off-guard.

Over Limit
An ability which increases a user's physical and magical capabilities. This can only be achieved through constantly dealing and taking damage and takes time to build up. When activated, however, it can give the fighter increased damage, increased speed/reduced time between attacks, can negate the cost of TP for artes, and can prevent damage for a short period of time. With the item Limit Quartet, Yuri is able to achieve Level 4 Over Limit.

Burst Artes
Burst artes can only be utilized when a character uses the Over Limit ability. The following are burst Artes Yuri can use.

Divine Wolf
A series of powerful slashes. With certain skills equipped, it can take on elemental variations, listed below.

Blaze: Adds fire to Yuri's moves.
Crush: When Yuri strikes the ground, he can summon spikes of earth to hurt the enemy.
Storm: At the end of his attacks, Yuri releases a burst of wind.
Flood: Yuri punches and strikes the ground, causing a burst of water.

Mystic Artes
Mystic Artes are the most powerful artes in the game that require the "Special" skill to be learned. The user must be in Over Limit and must use it after an arcane arte. Yuri has three.

Savage Wolf Fury: Yuri attacks the foe from all directions with an onslaught of slashes and increasing speed, eventually landing one last, powerful strike on the enemy.

Tenshou Kouyokuken: Yuri must have the sword the Second Star and be in Over Limit to use this arte. He will not be able to use this in-game. Yuri summons a glyph beneath his feet that charges his sword with white light that causes it to grow to tremendous heights, which he then slams on the enemy. It creates a burst of light energy once it dissipates.

Bushin Soutenha: Yuri must be fighting with Flynn and be in Over Limit to use this arte. He will not be able to use this in-game alone. Yuri and Flynn create a massive glyph on the ground that damages their enemies and then attack with a charged blast from their swords.

And, finally, the most important skill he has:

A BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE LAW
What it says on the tin.

INVENTORY:
-1x Dein Nomos, a sword that has the ability to control and consume aer.
-1x bodhi blastia.

( WRITING ★ SAMPLES )

NETWORK SAMPLE:

VOICE (UNSEELIE)

Hey. Is this thing working? [Beat. With some dry humor:] I hope so, otherwise I'll look like a nut standing around, talking to a piece of jewelry.

To anyone who's listening, I'm a swordsman looking to make some pocket change. [He doesn't even bother to try hiding his sarcasm.] Castle's nice and all, but it's not exactly my ideal summer home. I'd like the chance to look at what else this world's got. As long as you're not asking me anything weird, we can work something out.

[... a bit awkwardly:]

That's all. Later.

[Yeah, he's shutting the locket now. Fairy communication is weird.]

LOG SAMPLE: Test drive meme, a Bakerstreet thread with Judith, and a general Eachdraidh voice test.