Ceren Alstrahl
A mind sharpened in libraries, and tempered by the weight of what endures.
Ceren is a scholar who trades the safety of libraries for the wilds she studies. Her work bridges aetherology and ecology, seeking to understand how aether shapes the living world. A refugee granted Sharlayan citizenship later in life, as a child she walked the city’s marble halls an outsider until her dedication to knowledge earned respect where her birthplace did not. Measured in speech and steadfast in purpose, Ceren carries a calm strength that grounds those around her even as she chases the unseen patterns of the natural world.
Portfolio
A CLOSER LOOK
Ceren is, at first glance, a composed and focused professional. These are traits shaped by years of relentless study and vigorous fieldwork. She moves with the composure of someone who trusts her own mind and allows that to ground her. Instead of filling a room with conversation for the sake of it, she is comfortable in the silence between her words–preferring to explore the wisdom of those around her as much as contributing.In truth, she is a woman of quiet duality. A scholar of the heart as much as the mind, she is unwavering in her pursuit of understanding while unable to ignore the threads that tie her to others. In this, she is in a constant flux–desiring connection, while trying to maintain a guarded distance. But you'll feel that inexplicable pull from her in the way her gaze feels as if it moves through you. The way her words convey warmth by means of their earnestness and certainty.Hers is a hushed strength. The kind that anchors others and calms frayed edges simply by being present. People often find themselves leaning on her without realizing they’ve done so, and Ceren bears their weight without a second thought. Her empathy doesn't come with strings nor is it loud. Rather it's shown when she steps in–without prompt–without being asked and offers support.Even then, she lives with the vigilance of someone who's seen how quickly life can turn. She knows how easily things can unravel–paths forever altered by the unforeseen. As much as it has fostered her compassion, it has also forged in her a keen sense of survival and a discerning mind. Critical, most often of herself, she's unable to easily release the exacting standards carved into her by her upbringing. And when others fall short of those standards, she struggles to accept them, especially when their choices stray from what she deems right.Ceren is the sort that believes that knowledge can heal, that people can connect beyond differences. Beneath all her precision lies a deep and constant belief in the goodness of others, and she walks her path reaching for moments of genuine understanding, certain they are worth the effort it takes to find them.
GENERAL
Full Name || Ceren Alstrahl (SEH-ren all-STRALL)
Race || Hyur Midlander
Gender || Cis-Female (she/her)
Nameday || 26th Sun, 5th Umbral Moon (Oct 26th)
Patron Deity || Thaliak
Orientation || Omni, Panro
Relationship Status || Involved
Place of Birth || Gyr Abania
Nationality || Sharlayan
Residence || Sharlayan
Occupation || Agercite
Discipline || Arcanist / Healer
Inventory || Codex & More
PHYSICAL
Age || 30 years
Height || 5 fulm, 2 ilms
Weight || 110 ponzes
Build || Petite
Hair || Long, Red
Eyes || Sage Green
Features || Freckled (Face & Body)
Scents || Chamomile, Sandalwood, Clove, Honey
Voice || Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay)
PERSONA
Virtues || Empathetic, Idealistic, Principled, Altruistic, Insightful
Flaws || Perfectionistic, Critical, Blunt, Inflexible, Judgmental
Likes || Cold weather, Exploration, Practical clothing, Thoughtful conversation, Apple pastries, All shades of green
Dislikes || Willful ignorance, Ostentation, Senseless violence, Being interrupted, Misuse of magic, Overly sweet scents
SUMMARY
Inventory
KEY POSSESSIONS
| Item | Description | Stored |
|---|---|---|
| Scholar's Ledger | Set of leather-bound journals, loose parchment, pencils | On Her Person |
| Arcanist Codex | Well-kept brown tome, bronze gilded | On Her Person |
| Aetheric Surveyor's Kit | Aetheroscope, thaumometric compass, flux calipers, leychart map | On Her Person |
| Herbalism Pack | Clippers, mortar and pestle, and pouches and phials | On Her Person |
PERSONAL
| Item | Description | Stored |
|---|---|---|
| Woven Bookmark | Faded once vibrant cording woven into a 2x4" band | Journals, Books |
| Silver Locket | Partially tarnished locket, medium silver chain | Worn |
| Emerald Bracelet | Small marquise emerald, dainty silver chain | Worn |
MISCELLANEOUS
| Item | Description | Stored |
|---|---|---|
| Chocobo Barding | Leather saddle and halter, travel bags | Stables |
| Traveler's Kit | Bedroll, blanket, flint, tin pot, small hatchet, candles, soap | Chocobo Bags |
| Alchemist Set | Curved retort, alembic, tincture spoons, tongs, reagents | In Residence |
| Books | Expository, encyclopaedias, novels | Varies |
Sharlayan Agercite
Pronunciation
ager has a g like in gentle, ager-site
Etymology
ager, m., noun, meaning field, land, or terrain
Sharlayan Agercites, commonly called Agers, are field researchers sanctioned by the Forum and employed through the Studium, tasked with undertaking expeditions in the study of aetherology and ecology.An Ager gathers data through methods such as observation, interviews, and surveys, later presenting their findings to further enrich Sharlayan’s vast store of knowledge. They may also publish works, and have been known to use their research in a thesis when applying for professorship within the Studium.Agercites spend much of their time abroad, though many maintain a residence in Sharlayan—small one- or two-room flats optionally provided by the Studium.
PUBLISHED WORKS
Bloom in the Burn: A Study of Flowers Growing on Aether-Scorched Land
On flora that survive in areas saturated by the unstable, crystalized aether in Mor Dhona.Predation by Pulse: How Certain Beasts Track Aetheric Signatures
On predators who hunt through aetheric sensitivity.Web of Currents: Elemental Interconnection in the Black Shroud
On treating forest flora and fauna as one vast aether-sharing network, where imbalance in one species affects others.In Progress || Mutable Essence: On the Instability of Aether Within Living Systems
A theory that aether in flora/fauna is never static but constantly fluctuates—potentially explaining mutations, corruption, or spontaneous changes.
Player Note
The Sharlayan Agercite is a completely original concept I created as an alternative to the gleaners. While I love the gleaner role, it felt a little too closely tied to the main story for the kind of RP I want to explore. I still imagine that Sharlayans would have field researchers out in the world, and the Agercite grew from that idea.
If you're interested in making your character an Agercite, you're more than welcome to. I just ask that you let me know. A note of credit is always appreciated, though not required.
Arcanist
"Adepts of the art of arcanum derive their might from symbols of power born of geometric techniques. Held within occult grimoires, these symbols lend shape to the arcanist's aether, thereby allowing them to produce myriad powerful spells."
ABILITIES
Conduit || Grimoire
Abilities || Combative, Restorative
Focus || Restorative, Protective
Alone, Ceren bears both shield and salve, weaving arcanima to strike and to mend as need demands. Yet she knows her limits, and when among others, she yields the front lines to her allies–settling into the quiet strength of a healer’s art, where her magic becomes both balm and blade in service to her companions.
ARCANIMA
Arcanima is the science of employing “arcane geometries”, intricate patterns that map the unlocked mysteries of existence, to draw forth and manipulate the body's aetheric energies.The roots of arcanima can be traced back to the esoteric calculations practiced by the people of the south sea isles. It was these island folk that first discovered a method to express natural phenomena in mathematical terms.Building on this process, the existing mathematical formulae were further developed into arcane geometries─precise patterns that allowed a practitioner to weave aether into specific magical effects. The mages who invoked this new form of magic became known as “arcanists,” and the school of arcanima was born.
Player Note
Ceren is what you can think of as a Scholar-leaning Arcanist, specializing in protective and restorative magics. Canonically, soul crystals are very circumstantial and particular to their stories, and so I personally prefer to not use them. In that same vein, Ceren doesn't employ the use of a carbuncle. Instead, her abilities are more spellcasting focused with the use of a grimoire as the conduit.
Hooks
PLOTS
Detailed Storylines.
PUBLIC
Openly Shared.
She Travels Not Alone
Hiring adventurers and local guides for research and exploration is a common practice for Ceren. With that frequent travel and team-based work, she naturally gravitates toward healing magic–both to support others and to meet the demands of the field.Healer by Nature
Drawn unfailingly to the hurt and vulnerable, Ceren answers every injury with a healer’s hand. She simply can't turn away from the wounded or ill, whether stranger or friend, she's always pulled into action.Echoes of Intellect
As a field researcher–an Agercite–Ceren regularly collaborates with current and former colleagues who study the aetheric effects on life and the environment, along with other intellectuals working in related or adjacent fields.Of Moss and Mystery
Ceren’s passion extends beyond her research to the natural world itself, from plants to creatures. If there is an opportunity to interact with or study something she hasn't yet, she likely won't let it slip by.
SELECTIVE
Selectively Shared.
Worn Journals
Ceren keeps journals not only for her research but also for herself. Writing serves as a form of catharsis, and it isn’t uncommon to find her scribbling in a journal in nooks and quiet spaces.Ties that Weigh and Bind
Ceren was born and raised in Sharlayan, a city rich with history and knowledge. Her ties to fellow Sharlayans are complex, marked by both camaraderie and tension, shaped in large part by her family’s history as war refugees.Threaded Together
Try as she might to keep others at a distance, the shadows of Ceren's past have carved a longing for connection that draws her closer to those who walk beside her.
PRIVATE
Rarely Shared.
New Plot Here
New Plot Here
Notes from the Black Ledger
A legendary plant, Volyood Aefriscus, also known as The Queen’s Ruby, is rediscovered deep in a contested, unstable aetheric zone in Mor Dhona. Once thought extinct, the plant’s petals can either amplify healing magic to miraculous levels or be refined into an incredibly destructive aether-based toxin. The plant is extremely rare and grows only in areas of aetheric turbulence.Ceren, as a trusted field researcher with expertise in magical flora-fauna interaction, is tasked by her institution to retrieve and study the plant. But the plant’s rediscovery quickly attracts dangerous attention from black market collectors, city-state funded agents, and even a few scholars looking to secure fame or profit.The only way for Ceren to safely transport a live sample for study is by enlisting help from those who understand the inner workings of the seedy underworld.
The Verdant Dragon
Ceren is sent to investigate an ancient forest in Dravania where flora and fauna have undergone unprecedented aetheric co-evolution. Plants glow with bioluminescent sigils, animals demonstrate strange, possibly magical intelligence, and entire micro-ecosystems exhibit harmonic aether synchronization.At the forest’s heart lies the reason: a Verdant Dragon, a creature long believed extinct. It is not merely a guardian–it is the keystone of this evolved ecosystem. Its breath is known to trigger spontaneous symbiotic growth between species, and its slumber radiates stabilizing aetheric energy that keeps the forest alive.But the peace is unraveling.
Web of the Hollow Lords
Deep in the mist-choked jungles of Tural lies an ancient ruin overtaken by vast, cathedral-sized webs. These are not normal webs. They pulse faintly with aetheric energy, resonating like memory crystals, recording visual and emotional impressions, some going back centuries. Within these webs live the Hollow Lords: massive, semi-intelligent spider-like beings that don’t speak, but observe.Ceren is sent by a reluctant academy to study the site–part archaeological interest, part damage control after rumors that the spiders are manipulating minds or “weaving false pasts.”
Letters to the Lost
Though her days are filled with fieldwork and travel, Ceren finds time to pens letters. Some go to archivists, others to libraries, outposts, or local contacts who might recall a face, a name, a rumor. She's searching for any trace of her brother–the one who vanished during the Ala Mhigan resistance.All she knows is that he was never listed among the fallen. No grave. No closure.
Scars of Invasion
While Sharlayan clung to its doctrine of non-intervention, Ceren bears the scars of what inaction cost her family. Just a child, she and her mother fled Gyr Abania amid fire and steel, leaving behind her father and older brother, both of whom joined the early stages of the what would become the Ala Mhigan resistance. She never saw them again.Though she now serves Sharlayan with diligence, redirecting her research from the field back to the city-state, she harbors a quiet defiance against its dispassionate ideals. She walks the line between duty and dissent, believing knowledge must be used, not merely preserved.
More than her Work
Ceren is often found devoting her days to the wonder of studying aether in the wild, how it pulses through strange flora, hums beneath the skin of rare creatures, and weaves unseen patterns through the world. Her demeanor is warm and steady, a kind professionalism that makes her easy to overlook in a crowd of louder voices. But beneath the meticulous notes and measured observations lives a dreamer's heart.In rare unguarded moments, she imagines herself swept up in new-found purpose and adventure, and of connections that feel like home.
Gallery
Out of Character
SEEKING
✧ Long-term plots and storylines rich in organic character development and interesting dynamics.✧ Themes such as adventure, exploration, academic, dark, and/or whimsical, with action, romance, and slice of life mixed in.✧ Adventures and unlikely scenarios for her to get swept up in.✧ Characters and settings that'll push Ceren out of her comfort zones. Antagonists welcome.✧ All connections–current and past. Acquaintances, friends, enemies, partners, colleagues, rivals, etc.✧ Found family is my weakness. Let's create bonds.
ROMANCE & EXPLICIT
Ceren is currently involved romantically.I'm open to romantic connections for my character that occur organically as a story/plot progresses through bonding, experiences, and shared time together. I'll be upfront in that I love a slow-burn.I'm also happy to discuss potential past romantic connections between Ceren and others if you have ideas for that.As for explicit scenes, I do ask that we pause if things start to go that route to check in with one another to be sure boundaries are being respected.
ABOUT ME
Name || Bri
Pronouns || she/they
Age || 21+
Timezone || Central (CST)
Data Center | World || Crystal | Zalera
Discord || On Request
Mods || Light. For RP Partners only.
I genuinely love collaborative storytelling, and I'm most interested in diving into long-term, evolving storylines–ones that aren't afraid to take our characters on both physical adventures and emotional rollercoasters.I'm always open to brainstorming and discussing new ideas, so do reach out!
RP PREFERENCES
✓ 21+ Players
✓ Descriptive/1-3+ Paragraph
✓ Lore Bending
✓ Long-term > Short-term
✓ In-game > Discord
✓ Scheduling RP
✓ Screenshots of the RP
✗ Persona-play
✗ IC =/= OOC
✗ AI Posting
✗ One-liners, Only dialogue
✗ Meta-Gaming
✗ MSQ scenarios/characters
✗ Modern/IRL settings
✗ Lore Breaking
✗ Plotless ERP
