Name: Ryker D’Orlan
Occupation: Scout
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Race/Species: Mithrakh

Appearance: Ryker stands at 5’10” with a very dark look. It is as if the shadows he controls are part of him, from his dark, neat hair to his dark gaze. He is built for stealth with a thinner form with lean muscle that allows him to slip into and out of where he needs to go. Eyes nearly as black as night usually carry an intense gaze, and when he activates his powers, a symbol forms around his eye, faded dark swirls that seem to ebb and flow like fog moving in the night.

Ryker can be found in one of two outfits, either dark clothing that fit comfortably without much movement to them and those necessary for entering the Royal Chambers. These remain dark, denoting his House like much of his wardrobe. The jacket bears a wide collar and golden clasps. Generally, underneath is a deep red shirt, though not nearly bright enough to be much more than a slight accent.

Personality: Ryker is a warrior first and foremost. He is often called on as a Scout due to his ability to blend in so well in the darker areas, and as such his personality is subdued. He is the quiet, intense gaze watching from the corner of the room, easy to look over at a glance, and able to hold himself disturbingly still for far longer than any person should.

Very few know he is even capable of a smile, let alone a sense of humor, as such things are considered weaknesses in his culture. Yet, it remains for those private moments when such things are allowed.

Ryker is searching. For what, he doesn’t quite know, but life in the shadows isn’t quite as fulfilling as he would like. On the job, he remains vigilant, unable to distract, and intensely focused. Other times, he is more relaxed, and interested in the world he has visited, but knows such an interest could hold s sentence of treason unless portrayed correctly in public.

He is perfectly comfortable in the darkness, more so than when around people because he is the monster hiding in those shadows and is secure in that knowledge.

Abilities/Skills:
Controls shadows/darkness - Ryker can wrap himself in darkness as if it were a fine cloak allowing him to blend in and become essentially invisible at night.

Stealth - He can move silently even without his powers, often surprising people that didn’t realize he is there.

Trained Assassin - Ryker is not the one you want to meet on a dark night if you are the one he was sent to dispatch. He will blend into the shadows and slit a man’s throat without them even knowing they just died.

Calls Items - like most Mithrakhi, with a mere thought he can call an item to him, be it a blade or shield, piece of rope, or anything else. As long as he can picture the item, he can call it to his hands.

History: Ryker was born into the D’Orlan House, carrying the name to those Houses that would utilize his skill. He grew up knowing his role in the world, knowing that his realm was that of darkness, and he embraced it like no other. He understood that his abilities would be what saved him in the end, whenever that end came. Battles between Houses raged often, swift and brutal, and one must always be ready, as he was taught. So he trained from the moment he could walk, practically, learning to move silently, to attack without notice, and to use the darkness as his best friend.

As he grew older, Ryker’s skills were noticed by the young Orothax. He sought out this shadowman to bring him to his side in an attempt at the throne. Ryker joining his ranks proved to be the turning point, allowing Orothax to learn what he needed to know in order to strike against the M’Tegue House and gain the throne for himself. During this battle, Ryker had been sent after the young son and those dispatched to protect him. However, when he went to do just that, the young son was nowhere to be found.

Through the years, Ryker noticed things, as was his training. He noticed the way  ruled through fear, something he despised even if he wrapped himself in a reputation others feared for his own protection. Orothax decided his reach wasn’t large enough and chose to head to the surface, however, such a move needed careful planning. He sent scouts up first, learning about the surface dwellers, those that they would have to defeat.

The House D’Orlan, with its scouts and stealth, were called on to assist in this as the ones sent to the surface to learn what they could. Ryker knew after a few visits that there was no way such a battle would work. The man was trained in warfare, after all, and knew the humans were far too strong, far too advanced, and far too populated. He tried to explain to Orothax that this move would be the death of them all, but the King would not listen.

Instead, Ryker moved towards a different game of strategy, convicing the king that it was not time yet, that they needed to prepare more, that it took more energy to transport a single person to the surface than it did, making Orothax think he needed more with that ability than he did and had to wait until they were born and/or trained. He discreetly pushed for more of them, they always needed more. All the while, he fed false information from his scouting trips, working to thwart the plan before it even started, and desperately hiding so much at the same time. He knew the moment Orothax was onto him, it was his own back he would have to watch for once.