nicepeacock

- World -

 - Generic fantasy setting. The planet has no specific name, but it is not Earth. It is genuinely a separate planet/world/existence from Earth, not one of those 'far in the future after the destruction of modern civilization' worlds, and so there is not any hint of the modern world to be found in it. Similar concepts and words are parallel evolution/coincidence/probably not the same word in-universe but it's being translated somehow by THE MAGIC OF THE UNIVERSE. (and me not wanting to come up with unique terms for everything)

- The world was once high fantasy, but it's been reduced to 'low fantasy' by the ambitions of one powerful person. There is a complex reason for this, but it is utterly unknown to Kennen. His knowledge is only that the person in question - a powerful queen - went mad and unleashed a cataclysm upon the world that caused untold death and destruction. Every person with an ounce of magic in them, and every magical creature, died at once, and their magic was absorbed into her to make her more powerful. Whenever something she missed surfaces somehow or a new child with magical talent is born she is swift to appear and devour them as well, and so magic has become associated with sour luck and a bad omen.

- The world is quite large, at least the size of Asia, and moderately well populated with many different cultures, but communication is nearly nonexistent between them and travel has reduced significantly due to the distance required to travel. Kennen resides in a particularly remote and isolated area, a mountain city that has mostly lost contact with the rest of the world since the loss of magic. Its winter season lasts most of the year, and there is almost no time when snow isn't on the ground somewhere.

- Random magical artifacts and items will still function, and they are still used by the population, but they're often extremely expensive and hoarded by the rich, due to the fact that it is impossible to make more of them. Kennen was once owned by someone rich enough to possess several such artifacts, but was rarely allowed near them.

- Slavery is legal in most parts of the world, but regulated so that only governmental bodies, law enforcement, and other such figures can strip or grant freedom to or from a person, and all sales or trade must be registered with the governing bodies to be valid. Unlicensed or unregistered trafficking carries the penalty of being enslaved themselves.

- There is no functional religion, there is only a vague concept of 'light' and 'heavens' being good and celestial, and 'darkness' and 'depths' or 'abyss' being evil and bad. If there were ever a formalized religion with tenets, it has been lost to time. It is, however, considered profane to refer to the mad queen by name, and generally impolite to invoke her in conversation.

- Kennen -

- Although Kennen was never officially 'freed', it is impossible for anyone to legally gain possession of him, due to the expiration of his previous owner and lack of any heirs. Probably if he caused enough trouble the city would find a way, but so long as he stays out of trouble, there is no motivation to make this attempt.

- The markings that cover Kennen's body not only signify his enslavement, but his purpose and the station of his owner. It's unlikely most common people would be able to translate this, however, even in his own world. Rather than hide them, Kennen uses the attractive design as a charm point, and proudly displays them as a part of the work of art he's fashioned his body into.

- Although abandoned on the streets by Kennen when he was caught stealing, his sister did not die. Their relationship is extremely poor all the same.

- Kennen's parents were not magic users, but were simply killed in the chaos following the mass death. His memory of them is so vague he couldn't reliably and honestly describe their faces or voices if he tried. Kennen primarily raised himself, without any replacement parental figures. It would be extremely unwise to suggest to him that the noblewoman who owned him could have filled this role even on a technical level.

- He wouldn't do anything if you did, you'd just definitely Not Be Friends afterward.

- Kennen isn't the violent type. He will usually flee rather than fight, because he is absolutely loathe to risk his life for any reason. It's possible he killed his previous master, or it's possible she died on her own due to an accident, but there is no question that if he were to become ensnared by another master somehow, their accident would be arranged and swift. His freedom and control is perhaps the only thing he values more than his life.

- Kennen is both a narcissist and something of a control freak. His pride in what he has made of himself is extreme, but in exchange he has no respect for what he was before, neither the innocent child nor the thief who attempted to provide for his younger sister. It is incomprehensible to him that anyone would have any interest or appreciation for such a version of himself. He has very little interest in the 'truth' of a person, and little concern for changing himself completely - on a surface level - for the benefit of others, as he sees no meaningful difference or value in a person's true self versus the masks they wear. If you can convince the world that you are one way, what does it matter if you're another way entirely, especially if the world likes the mask more than the man?

- The only love Kennen recalls feeling is that for his sister, but it is a distant memory long suppressed by guilt and forced indifference. He has no genuine understanding of any version of love outside of the infatuation directed at him by customers and the possessiveness his owner directed toward him.

- Although Kennen is still reasonably skilled in sleight of hand and could be a competent pickpocket or thief, particularly with his charming personality, he disdains the idea. The challenge of earning his coin is more entertaining to him. It's possible he might steal something on a lark, however, if for some reason he thought it would be entertaining to do so - this would almost certainly be for the benefit of someone else, for the purpose of seeing their reaction.

- He is both incredibly experienced and incredibly skilled at sex. While his 'services' extend beyond simple sex and into crafting an elaborate fantasy for his client to be swept up and away by, the sex is not a disappointment. He's familiar with a wide range of positions, techniques, and kinks ranging from the very mild and vanilla to the surprisingly depraved. He will generally decline to participate in any kinks which will result in his own injury, but will oblige roughness and even things like blade/bloodplay and other violent acts if he's not the one receiving it, so long as it is not so extreme as to cause him trouble in hindsight.

- Kennen is not his real name. Only his sister would know his name, and only if she remembered from when she was seven. After he was enslaved, he was given another name by his owner. Whether or not the name he now uses is that name or a new one is a question he will deflect without fail.

- He has a reputation among others in his line of work of being something of a troublemaker, not for direct actions by him but because when he rejects, loses interest in, or finds a client too extreme for his tastes he will generally find ways to dump them off on others while pretending to do so altruistically.

- If someone were to somehow manage to navigate their way through his miles of fake personality and truly touch his heart and form a connection with him, it's likely he would become unhealthily attached to them, utterly devoted to their desires in a sincere manner rather than simply to get something out of them. Such a person would become a priority so great to him that it would supersede all other desires, even that of his own survival. Although he cannot comprehend a scenario where someone would be overly fussed with or attached to his genuine personality, and the chances of anyone even having the opportunity to do this are extremely low, it would be a precious treasure to him beyond measure.

- Although any romantic love Kennen might one day feel would be unhealthily extreme, the only danger he would pose would likely be to himself, as the control this would afford over him to the person in question would be essentially unlimited.

- Kennen is a man of many contradictions. A narcissist who believes his only worth is in the false persona he crafts to dazzle and seduce others, a man who must always be in control that dedicates his life to appearing helpless and aimless, adapting himself to grant the desires of any he interacts with. A man who feels nothing for his lost sister, yet his deepest and perhaps only regret is his failure to protect and care for her. A man whose entire business revolves around 'love', but who has no grasp or experience with love whatsoever. A man who detests violence, but who will murder without hesitation or guilt, if it means regaining his freedom and control. A greedy and self-centered man who cannot help himself but reach out to help one who is in danger or crisis. A man who above all values his survival and freedom, but will readily throw away even his life itself for the one that he one day loves, and die with a smile on his face.