Hail (Accord)
|
Hail left the Ghatte (his species) island shortly after is older brother did. Even though he didn't have much training in the Elites*, he could see it was becoming corrupted as the new King took his place. They and a few others--some with talismans*, some without--crossed the sea from their island* on a leftover human boat.
However, they didn't get too far before the King's guard--including Muru and Dawon--came after them. Muru would capture those that she could, and Dawon would kill those who slipped by his partner. Hail and his brother slipped past them both and made it to Egypt before Dawon caught up to them. While Hail was away hunting, the Elite killed his brother and left his corpse behind as a message.
That's when he met Wheat, who had found the dying Ghatte and had tried to save him. She couldn't help, however, and when Hail came up to her, she showed affection for the grieving feline, and she buried his brother, not knowing what had really killed him.
Knowing he couldn't win against Dawon and that he'd be safer further away from Egypt, Hail revealed that he could "speak" to humans to the kind, young woman. He convinced her to bring him along to America and her home of Bering City, and from there, he helped her as best he could--only revealing his bestial form to her when she most needed it.
They've been fighting criminals side-by-side ever since--him under the guise of Accord and Wheatly going by Duskfeather--but Hail feels that one day, his past will come back to haunt him.
However, they didn't get too far before the King's guard--including Muru and Dawon--came after them. Muru would capture those that she could, and Dawon would kill those who slipped by his partner. Hail and his brother slipped past them both and made it to Egypt before Dawon caught up to them. While Hail was away hunting, the Elite killed his brother and left his corpse behind as a message.
That's when he met Wheat, who had found the dying Ghatte and had tried to save him. She couldn't help, however, and when Hail came up to her, she showed affection for the grieving feline, and she buried his brother, not knowing what had really killed him.
Knowing he couldn't win against Dawon and that he'd be safer further away from Egypt, Hail revealed that he could "speak" to humans to the kind, young woman. He convinced her to bring him along to America and her home of Bering City, and from there, he helped her as best he could--only revealing his bestial form to her when she most needed it.
They've been fighting criminals side-by-side ever since--him under the guise of Accord and Wheatly going by Duskfeather--but Hail feels that one day, his past will come back to haunt him.
Hail/Accord is a Ghatte, which is a species of ancient feline that is full of magic, intelligence, and power. They are the ones which the Egyptians admired and based their love of cats off of. After many centuries of mainly residing in the Middle East, they found themselves pushed out by humans as they developed past their respect for animals and old gods. Eventually, a small group (composed of only a couple hundred Ghattes) left and made their own, secluded society on an island in the Arabian sea. There, humans were banned and redirected when they would snoop around--though in more recent years, they are killed outright.
They speak telepathically and live in a society led by castes of felines which are often organized by power and intelligence. Thus, only the craftiest and strongest may rule at the top. Those with such wit or brawn are allowed magic talismans which gift them "bestial" forms, according to their skill sets and personalities. These bestial forms may then be activated by removing the talismans, and they gain large forms of big cats (and other mid-sized wild cats) mixed with non-mammalian species. However, the talismans must be put back on (transformations begin as soon as the magic-infused stone nears or leaves the skin) before long or the Ghatte could die from exhaustion, as the transformations take a terrible toll on the body. If a talisman is broken, it is guaranteed that the Ghatte will die.
It is rare, but sometimes, those not so strong or smart will gain talismans, if they can prove themselves worthy of them. Those with more influence tend to gain forms which are more impressive and dangerous, leaving even more class disparity between the Ghattes. In any case, those with talismans are used by the King in whichever way he pleases. Past Kings have used their talisman-wielding Ghattes (or Elites) for serving the community, but the current leader uses his Elites as more of a military force.
They speak telepathically and live in a society led by castes of felines which are often organized by power and intelligence. Thus, only the craftiest and strongest may rule at the top. Those with such wit or brawn are allowed magic talismans which gift them "bestial" forms, according to their skill sets and personalities. These bestial forms may then be activated by removing the talismans, and they gain large forms of big cats (and other mid-sized wild cats) mixed with non-mammalian species. However, the talismans must be put back on (transformations begin as soon as the magic-infused stone nears or leaves the skin) before long or the Ghatte could die from exhaustion, as the transformations take a terrible toll on the body. If a talisman is broken, it is guaranteed that the Ghatte will die.
It is rare, but sometimes, those not so strong or smart will gain talismans, if they can prove themselves worthy of them. Those with more influence tend to gain forms which are more impressive and dangerous, leaving even more class disparity between the Ghattes. In any case, those with talismans are used by the King in whichever way he pleases. Past Kings have used their talisman-wielding Ghattes (or Elites) for serving the community, but the current leader uses his Elites as more of a military force.