Name: Steel Deer
Age: 27 - 28 (if I did my maths right)
Race: Galka
Gender: Male
Home World: Vana'diel
Class: Samurai
Sub-Class: Summoner
Weapons: Katana, Polearm, Sword, Club, Dagger, Longbow, Crossbow
Fighting style: Mixed. It really depends on the enemy.
Elements:
Primary: Aether
Secondary: Earth
Tertiary: Fire
Good Qualities: Like all Galka, Steel Deer has positively ABSURD vitality. Strength and Dexterity are also very good, and, surprisingly, his skill in what is called "White Magic" (Healing, Divine, and Enhancing Magic) in Vana'diel is about average.
Bad Qualities: Like all Galka, Steel Deer struggles with Black Magic (Elemental, Dark, and Enfeebling Magic). His MP management is terrible, and, as such, spells cost more. Countering his impressive physique, he is a VERY BIG TARGET, being large, even in Galkan terms.
Personality: "Gentle Giant". Never has more accurate a phrase been coined that could describe Steel Deer. Unlike most Galka, as coarse as the desert sand, and as quick to anger as a sandstorm is to blind, Steel is quite kind and gentle, even to Humes. Unlike most Galka, he always considered the things Humes asked that involved his stature or power as simple favors.
Appearance: Steel is large, even for his kind, being a full head taller than most of his kin. Where most Galka have hard, craggy faces, his is smooth, worn to a soft finish. His skin is a muted gray color, with charcoal colored hair. As for his clothes, if not in his armor (To be revealed later), he usually wears a Doublet.
A very average set of clothes, it's a holdover from his days as a Monk. However, when playing the part of a Smilebringer, his attire changes drastically...
History:
As with all Galka, Steel Deer's childhood was mostly spent in anticipation of his future, training mind and body. Usually, to his parents amusement/chagrin, he found a way to work them into the various holidays of Vana'diel. His absolute favorite, however, was the Starlight Festival, their version of Christmas. All the merry attitudes, delicious food, flashy decorations... But, most of all, he loved the Smilebringers. Kind, generous men all robed in red would get gifts for all the children of the world, and, late in the festival, would deliver them in the cover of darkness. He did love the Smilebringers. ...So, when the Smilebringer of Port Bastok was nowhere to be seen, in Steel's sixeenth year, he went looking. What he found set a future of charity and sheer kindness into motion. The Smilebringer, Nikholai, a well-known Tarutaru, banished from Windurst for taking up the Summoning Arts, had broken his leg. WHOLLY unwilling to let Starlight be ruined, he elected to deliver the gifts instead of Nikholai. And, what would've taken another Smilebringer eight nights, Steel did in six. During New Year's, the two struck a deal; Steel would begin Adventuring a a younger age, and send back crafting materials during his travels. In return, he would be the Port Bastok Smilebringer while Nikholai made the toys. Thrilled that he was able to be a part of his favorite holiday, he easily convinced his parents.
Not a year-and-a-half later, after a fair bit of adventuring, and learning the arts of the Monk, Steel's travels led him to Norg. He recieved a... STRANGE quest, if nothing else. Retrieve a sacred branch, and an ingot of bomb steel. As little sense as tha made, he was more bewildered by the HOW of the whole thing. In his search, Steel managed to anger a Treant. With no other alternative, he was forced to pummel the beast into a fine mulch. From the beast's corpse, he was able to scavenge a Sacred Branch. The next piece brought him to the Konschtat Highlands. There, a powerful Bomb known as The Forger was terrorizing passers-by, consuming their metal armor and weapons. Using an ingot of Orient Steel to lure it out, he immediately pummeled it with his staff. After getting it down, and cooling it with holy water, he cracked its body, breaking it into chunks. Only after returning to Norg did he realize what the purpose was. For three months, he trained with the legendary Samurai, Gilgamesh, Steel was taught the basics of the Bushido Way.
Of course, life goes on. Five years passed, and, with each passing year, Steel's enthusiasm spread. It seemed like EVERYONE was bringing Smiles nowadays. Even so, he, Nikholai, and Wataru (Steel's House Moogle) still kept up their work. They never got everything right... There's only so many hours. But everyone ended up with a smile. There was, however, one Starlight wish Steel had to see come true PERSONALLY.
- The Past wrote:
It was the 15th. Every year, he'd always come out, and set up a large chair, waiting for the children, a list in hand ready to take last-minute wishes. Usually, it was pretty standard.
Most asked for toys of one kind or another, especially the little ones.
Some of the older ones asked for things to give their sweethearts. Others asked for gil, to buy their parents something nice.
But, every now and again, there was a special wish, one that really hits you where you live. ...This was that wish.
This little girl couldn't have been much older than three or four. Pulling her onto his knee, he asked the questions he'd asked countless times.
"It's good to see you! What's your name, little girl?"
This Hume was different. Most were terrified of him at her age. ...But she'd come alone.
"I'm... I'm Carol."
"That's a WONDERFUL name!" Steel exclaimed, as he scratched her name onto his list. "And what can this old Smilebringer get you?"
Looking up at the mighty Galka with big, blue eyes, she gave the wish that would shake him to his very soul.
"I just want somebody to take me home, Mister Smile Guy!"
He stopped writing right there. ...That couldn't've been. He must've misheard.
"'Take you home'? But your mother and father do that, don't they?" He asked, his cheery voice cracking. She replied with a smile and a sweet tone.
"I never met my daddy... And Mommy went somewhere far away. I live with a bunch of other kids, and one of them told me the Smile Guys give you whatever you want on Starlight. I'm gonna be five, soon! I wanna have my birthday with a family of my own!"
...Steel was struck silent... No wish had ever struck him like this. Many of the things that he was asked for were simple wants. But... This little girl born during Starlight just wanted a family! Keeping himself from choking on his words, he replied.
"I'll do the best I can, Carol."
Stretching, the girl kissed his cheek cutely before hopping off his knee. Toddling off the way she came, she turned back and waved.
"I'll do my best to be really good, too!"
When she turned, Steel thanked Altana she was too far away to see his tears.
That was enough for him. That very night, he adopted little Carol himself. He didn't have the heart to leave her alone. The two of them, as well as Wataru and Nikholai, were a family. He still had to venture out into the world, to keep money coming in, but life was good.
And, five years later, it still is. Steel himself was given the means to Summon (Though he doesn't know it, yet.). Wataru became the unofficial bookman for the four, as, to supplement Steel's adventuring, Nikholai and Carol, his self-proclaimed apprentice, made toys in the off-season.
As time wore on, the dynamics changed. Nikholai made a decision that was a long tie coming: moving out to Aht Urgan, he retired, leaving his shop to Steel. The rebuilt Automaton, Asuka, was brought into his life, and he met Tira. Of course, with her sudden injury, he became her caretaker, and, possibly, more.
At the moment? Steel is, by no will of his own, on his way to Jeuno, with Carol and Asuka in-tow. The three of them serving as extra muscle for the President, hrichter Karst. They're on their way to a meeting, to establish the new Archduke. ...Or, Archduchess, as it were.
November 13th 2012, 3:07 pm by 
