Anthoni Cole

[Anthoni Cole]

Anthoni Cole Appearance Race: Human Gender: Male Age: 24 Birthday: 23rd day of winter, 495 AV Birthplace: Sunberth Appearance: Anthoni is taller than most people standing at six feet two inches. He has a lean athletic build like that of a long distance runner which is due to both his active lifestyle and his constantly hungry stomach. Just by looking at him one could easily tell he isn't sitting on a pile of gold. His hair is long and dark, save for a few shades of grey. Trimmed facial hair follows his jawline, chin and upper lip which gives him the fresh look of a young man. He can usually be seen in solid colored clothing prfering darker tones to more loud and expressive colors. This dark clothing also has the benefit of hiding the poverty that seems to plauge Sunberth, and him. More often than not Anthoni's clothes are dirty and well worn, making darker colors more practical at hiding his poverty. In addition to his clothing Anthoni's lifestyle has also had a direct impact on him. Living in a city such as Sunberth has crafted him into a survior above all else. As such Anthoni has his fair share of marks that the city impressed upon him. A deep scar runs over his right eye and cuts down his cheek. It's easily Anthoni's most recognizable feature and if not for his youthful blue eyes, it may be intimidating to some. To Anthoni however, it's simply a reminder of just how hard living can be in such a free city. Character Concept Anthoni was born and raised in Sunberth, as such he shares most of the qualities others have after living in such a lawless city. The harsh and brutal reality of growing up where everyone is out to get the better of you has forged Anthoni into a survivor. Parinoa strikes deep within him, bleeding off into his social life on almost every account. He is slow to trust others, normally this would be a fault if he lived anywhere else, but he lives in Sunberth. As such his slow trusting nature has helped him more than hindered him; or at least that's how he sees it. He tries to keep people at arms length unless he's grown used to their company over time. People tend to stick around or they don't, some leave in subtle ways and others simply disappear altogether. He's grown used to this seemingly non-stop fluctuation of people, as such he's learned to keep his emotions at bay. He doesn't want to make a friend that might get stabbed in a back alleyway by a random street thug. More often than not Anthoni sticks with people that have a solid use. Perhaps a merchant he can sell stolen goods to, or a street contact where he can hear the latest rumors, or a lover he can have one good night out of the week with. His life is his own, he's learned not to share it with others on a deep and meaningful level. This is because his reality is a cold and unforgiving one. Most nights he goes to bed hungry and wakes up tired. Anthoni long abandoned the navie sense of moral right and wrong. In Sunberth you take what you can to survive and if you do it right, you'll never get caught. So he hangs out with the wrong crowd, steals his way to a full stomach, fights his way out of a street beating. Anthoni does what he does to protect him and his own, it may not be the 'right' thing, but it works, and that's good enough for him. He'd rather be the villian if it means keeping him and his little sister alive and well. He's a free spirit and does what he pleases, he hates being told no, or that he can't do something. It's hard for him to swallow and it rattles him deep inside. When he wants something he gets it, period. He doesn't let anyone or anything stop him from accomplishing his goals. There may not be much honor amoung theives but Anthoni keeps his word. When you have nothing, and grow up dirt poor, your word is all you have. So when he shakes someones hand and tells them he'll do something, he does it. It's given him a good repuatation on the streets, thus people trust him to do jobs, which in turn puts coin in his pocket and food in he and his sisters mouths. His little sister Keiyara, the one person he holds above all others, is the reason he does the things he does. It's not only for his and her survival but it's for their dream to one day rise above the cold ashes of Sunberth. His little sister brings the color to him in a world of grey and black. He loves her, and he hates to dissappoint her and watch her suffer. Returning to their tiny home is a burden in and of itself because everytime he goes back and sees her there, with little food and ragged clothes, he always feels like he failed her somehow. Anthoni may be a dangerous street criminal, but all he does, he does for Keiyara. Character History Anthoni was born a bastard to a tavern wench in Sunberth. His father was a no show his entire life, he could hardly blame the man though, he doubted even his mother knew who the man was. As such he was no stranger to the rough crowds or the poverty stricken way of life that plauged Sunberth. Even as far back as his earliest memories Anthoni had nothing fancy to show for. He was simply born and raised poor, living a life he thought was normal. He had some good memories with his mother, a woman that was genuinely kind and loving to him. Even though she was a wench, someone who sold sex for money, she kept her business life away from her son as much as she could. Even though she tried her best to keep it from Anthoni he still figured out fairly easily. Growing up he was constantly reminded by thugs of just how his mother earned her living. It would anger him, which only led to fghts that more often than not led to Anthoni being beaten somewhere. However Anthoni would always fight, returning home to his mother only to catch an earful from her. It was a hard life being the son of a whore. Most nights he'd be alone which only invited him to explore the streets. It was dangerous, of course, but after all it was Anthoni's city. He'd find some kind of trouble, getting into fights, stealing something tasty, throwing horse dung at someones house. Anthoni was a rebel and he learned quickly, at a young age, just how to survive in Sunberth. His mother didn't like that but, in all honesty, there was nothing she could really do about it. Besides he knew, even if his mother wouldn't say so, that they were barely surviving as is. So a little extra coin from Anthoni's schemes was welcome. By the time Anthoni was in his mid teens he was already involved with a group of street thieves. They'd pickpocket rich merchants, mug newcomers to the city in back alleys, do odd jobs for bigger gangs and muscle their way to protecting the wealthy. Everything was for a price, of course, and Anthoni was starting to become a regular criminal. Of course all of this was while his mother kept doing the only thing she knew how, to whore. All of that changed though when one of the worst things that could possibly happen, happened. His mother started to have the morning sickness and her belly began to grow even though they barely ate. She was pregnant with her second child. As such she had to quit whoreing, which meant no money would come in from her. The weight had finally fell directly on Anthoni's shoulders, he had to now support both himself and his pregnant mother. He did this the only way he knew how to do. His daily activites and nightly adventures only got worse, he began to steal more, mug more and the criminal gateway opened up in one big drastic way. He put his name out in the grapevine and suddenly all kinds of questionable work came looking for him. He started to smuggle, pickpocket, rob homes, collect debts, all kinds of things. Sometimes things would end badly, he'd return home with a brusied body or busted lip. His mother would take care of him, tears in her eyes as she didn't want this kind of life for her son, but that's the way it was for a long time. Eventually though the hard time of the pregnancy was over and Keiyara, his sister, was born. Again Anthoni's mother didn't know who the father was, and it was certainly not the same man that fathered Anthoni, but it didn't matter to either of them. Anthoni had a baby sister and that's all that mattered. As if the hard times would never end now came the responsibility of a baby. His mother was sick for a short while after having Keiyara, so Anthoni still had to carry the burden of being the only source of income. On top of that his mother was busy with the baby and after having two kids, her whoreing days were over. Which was fine with Anthoni as of that point he was bringing in enough coin to keep the family out of any serious trouble. So that's the way it was for a long time. Even if it wasn't the best way to live, it was a living. As the seasons passed his mother got old at a young age. The way she lived in her past years had finally caught up with her, she grew sick often, moody, and slept for much longer than usual. Keiyara was young at the time, but old enough to care for herself while Anthoni was away. As much as he tried he simply could not both feed and shelter his family, then also afford a doctor to regularly check in on his mother. He had to choose which was more important. Anthoni's biggest trial to date was when he had to bury his mother. She grew to sick and died in her sleep one night. Anthoni was left to care for his ten year old baby sister alone. At first his grief wasn't shown openly, Anthoni simply took more dangerous and risker jobs than usual. After a short while though the reality of his mothers absence set in. He'd raise his baby sister alone and he'd provide for her the only way he knew how. He's been providing for him and his little sister Keiyara for three years now. Language Fluent Language: Common Poor Language: Fratava - Learned a little bit from communicating with the ferryman, whom would boat him across the river at his need. Thread List Link your current & past threads here!

[Anthoni Cole]

Skills

Skill	EXP	Total	Proficiency
Acrobatics	15 RB	15	Novice
Brawling	10 SP	10	Novice
Larceny	30 SP	30	Competent
Persuasion	5 SP	5	Novice
Weapon: Dagger	5 SP	5	Novice

Lores

Lores:
Lore of Sunberth Street Layout
Lore of Sunberth Culture

Possessions

1 Set of Clothing
-Simple Shirt
-Simple Pants
-Simple Undergarments
-Simple Cloak
-Simple Boots
1 Waterskin
1 Backpack which contains:
-Comb (Metal)
-Brush (Metal)
-Soap
-Razor
-Balanced Rations (1 Week’s Worth)
-1 eating knife
-Flint & Steel
-Dagger, Sap Pommel
-Bone Dice Set
-Thieves Tools
64 Gold Mizas

Heirloom: A coin his mother gave him when he was young. It's his lucky coin.

Housing

Location: Sunberth

House: An apartment in the Sunset Quarters.

Ledger

Purchase	Cost	Total
Starting	+100 GM	100 GM
Dagger, Sap Pommel	1 GM	99 GM
Dice Set, Bone	5 GM	94 GM
Theive's Tools	30 GM	64 GM

[Anthoni Cole]

The Mark of Death

Anthoni woke to the sound of thunder cracking, hard rain drummed against the wooden roof of his family home. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and used his forearms to prop himself up. The dirt floor brushed across his skin. Erica, his mother, rested on their straw bed with Keiyara pressed tightly against her. The sound of soft snoring brought a sad smile to Anthoni’s face but he pushed the thought out of his mind. Rising to his feet he began to quietly brush the dirt off of himself. He walked to the corner where he kept his clothes allowing the moonlight which pierced through the poorly built home to guide him. The young man began to dress in his usual attire, plain colored robes, thick pants and socks which were riddled with holes.

He then walked over to the bed where his boots were placed underneath. Kneeling down beside the two sleeping women he collected them and began to put them on. His baby sister shifted in her sleep and nestled closer against her mother's breasts. Another loud roar of thunder and Anthoni locked eyes with Erica. He could see her pupils darting across his face, soaking in his look. She was awake as well it seemed but neither of the two said nothing to each other. Words alone wouldn’t do justice to their situation. After putting on his boots he moved to the table, all the while feeling his mother’s gaze upon him. He collected his dagger and sheath, heard Erica let out a longsigh, then tucked the blade to his belt. Looking over his shoulder he saw his mom’s head leaning up staring back at him, brushing Keiyara’s curly blonde hair.

He began to walk towards the door when he heard his mother's voice over the sound of the storm outside. “Anthoni,” she whispered to him “I’m sorry son.” It was a simple statement yet Anthoni’s heart momentarily ceased beating. He couldn’t find the words so silence lingered a few moments longer than it should have, until his mother broke it. “I hear Dira calling me, she comes to me in my dreams now. She tells me it’s okay.” Anthoni looked at his mother and saw tears falling down her cheeks, she kissed Keiyara’s head gently before she looked back up at her first born. “Say something Anthoni, please, for me.”

“Like what?” He asked her, unable to meet his mothers eyes “what’s there to say?” He bit his tongue hard and didn’t stop biting until he tasted blood. “It ain’t fair Ma, none of it’s fair. I hate her,” he said as he tried in vain to stop the tears falling from his own eyes. “I do, her and Kihala both. Why do they allow this? This ache I feel constantly inside me. Do they not care or are we just playthings for their amusement? Something to laugh at as they look down at us and see what we’ve become. This city is nothing but a big joke” he jabbed pointedly, and as soon as the words escaped his lips thunder roared. As if the divine themselves were listening which Anthoni could care less if they heard what he had to say. He was being true, “and it ain’t a funny one. Not at all.”

He quickly wiped the tears from his eyes before finally returning his mothers gaze. He desperately wanted Erika to stay, to help him through this but over the past few days she acted like she wanted this to be the end. She’d reached her limit, held out for as long as she could and hungered to meet Dira. Which Anthoni resented but never could work up the courage to tell her. She was in pain, doing her best to hide it but Anthoni could see it in her eyes. The healer had said she didn’t have much longer, the sickness was eating up her insides, killing her slow. Keiyara told him yesterday that she caught her coughing up blood. His sister didn’t know the half of it, he could see her still holding onto hope and Anthoni nor Erica had the heart to tell her. How could they?

“Promise me something son,” his mother's voice snapped him back into reality. “When I’m gone-”

“Ma, don’t do this.” He pleaded to her, his voice breaking and pouring forth the emotion he tried to hold back for so long. Erica visibly flinched at his words.

“Don’t interrupt me boy, not now.” She waited before she continued allowing a long pause to settle the tension. “When I’m gone promise you’ll take care of your sister, don’t send her to that Orphanage in the sunset quarter.” She looked down to the dirt floor, Anthoni could tell she was reliving memories she couldn’t bury. “I also want you to grow old son, your so good, so good and deserve more than what you were given. More than what I could give you. But I know your strong,” he could see a smile on her face as she finished “don’t let this city take that from you.”

“Is there anything else?” His voice soft, almost drowned out by the storm.

“There is,” his mother said to him as she sank back into the small bed, curling herself around Keiyara’s delicate frame. “Please don’t hate me.” The two didn’t look at each other again. All was said and anything more would be wasted breath. Anthoni pulled his hood over his head then reached for the door. He couldn’t be there, refused to be there. The storm caught the door and swung it open for him, the rain landed hard and flashes of lightning painted the Sunberth skyline.

“I promise,” then with a heavy step Anthoni walked out into the night. He had no place to go, no distance could outweigh his thoughts. The rain hid his tears from him, he didn’t want to admit it, not even to himself. He walked and walked and walked allowing the storm wash him clean, perhaps fix him, or drown him, yet nothing could. He welcomed the sound of thunder momentarily abducting his attention, his drifting mind. Keiyara’s face crept into his mind's eye, how could he explain this to her? What would he say? What could he say to her? Suddenly his bones turned to ice and he couldn’t make another step forward. His heart began to beat violently in his chest, blood rushing to his ears and he barely fought back the urge to scream up towards the heavens.

Anthoni spun around on his heels and ran faster than he ever thought he could. The rain blinded his vision, forcing him to hold his hand over his eyes. The storm winds made it hard to breathe and with the light of each lightning strike Anthoni found his way back home. The door was just barely ajar, drifting open and closed with every stray breeze. He stood outside for a long while, unable to make the single step inside. He lowered his hood and his teeth began to chatter, the cold only just now becoming evident to him. A long exhale then he ran his hand across the wooden door and pushed it open.

He looked immediately towards the bed and saw the two of them. Keiyara’s arm wrapped around the waist of her mother, still sleeping through the storm. Erica lay facing up, her eyes still open and a candle freshly lit on the table next to the bed. The light of the fire wicked in and out, blowing every which way the breeze sent it. He could see his mother's arm dangling off the bed, her hand clenched tightly to a small vile Anthoni had stolen for her the night before. He had no more tears left in him, but nonetheless he sank to his knees and crawled to her bedside. He leaned up against the table with the candle and took the vile from his mother's hand. He twirled it in his fingers, there was but one drop left at the bottom. He’d heard the poison was painless, one would fall asleep, drift off into their dreams, then never wake again. Anthoni made a silent prayer to Dira for his mother's sake asking the goddess to guide her to the afterlife. Hoping his mother truly did hear Dira calling to her.

“You did a brave thing Anthoni, few would have carried the same burden.”

His head jerked up to where he thought the voice came from and his mouth opened in astonishment. Sitting on the wooden chair in the corner was a woman unlike any he’d seen before. A silk dress blanketed her as dark as a starless night sky. Her pale skin was a stark contrast and long brown hair dangled to her waist line. However it was her golden eyes Anthoni couldn’t look away from as they burned through him like an unforgiving summer sun.

“Tell me child, why did you do it?”

He didn’t know what to say, could it really be Dira?

“Of course it’s me you fool, now speak.” He pressed his back harder against the table but escaping was not an option. “It’s a simple question, why did you steal the poison for your mother?” Anthoni looked over to the bed beside him, Keiyara still sleeping and his mother lay lifeless. He answered the goddess with the truth, unable to look away from his dead mother.

“She was in pain,” he said as he twisted the vial around in his hands. “She told me she couldn’t bare another day.” Gently Anthoni moved his dangling mothers arm onto the bed. “And I didn’t want her to.” Anthoni looked back at the goddess who was smiling now. She rose to her feet and slowly walked towards him.

“Death comes for all,” she whispered “some welcome it, others fight it to the bitter end.” Anthoni’s gaze tracked the goddesses movements as she spoke, all the way up until she towered above his sitting frame. He couldn’t help but look at the dirt he sat on, no longer able to return her gaze. Dira leaned down and took his hand in hers then relieved him of the vial. A sigh escaped his lips before she continued. “Death is everywhere, inherent in everyone Anthoni.”

“I know,” he said, his head tilting up and looking at her once again.

“Which is why I mark you child,” the goddess leaned in close and cold lips kissed the back of his right hand. “Continue to carry the burden Anthoni, embrace it, for one day i’ll come for you.”

She then rose to her feet still holding Anthoni’s hand and together they rose from the ground. When he pulled his hand free from her grasp Anthoni found a black tattoo which wrapped around to the palm of his hand where a scythe rested. He followed her to the door which she opened with the flick of her palm, the storm still raging outside. A flash of lightning illuminated two figures which stood unmoving outside. A solid black jackel and a pure white one and Anthoni’s heart stopped when he saw the ghostly figure of his mother standing between them. A sad smile formed on Erica’s face, Anthoni unable to look away. He thought she mouthed the words thank you.

“Hopefully we will meet again Anthoni,” the goddess spoke over the rain “until then.” Another flash of lightning and they were gone. The door slammed in his face, he looked down at his tattoo, then over to the bed. The corpse of his mother and his sister Keiyara still lay there...

A long silence before he knew what he had to say.

“Keiyara.”