River

River is a Tabaxi Bard and a main protagonist of the Tier 3 campaign. She is played by Z.

## River

River (artist's representation). I do not own this artwork, nor could I source it- I will take it down at request. (source)

## Background

River was born on an island, mainly inhabited by Tabaxi, located off of the mainland. She lived in a nomadic band of transient musicians and performers. Her mother vanished when she was ten while on a trip to the Continent, sparking River's desire to leave the island.

River departed for the mainland in her early twenties. While there, she attempted to enroll in Peregrine University, but she was not accepted due to her race, class, and background. Unable to return to her caravan, she utilized her talents in music to earn money and buy lore books, from which she learned how to blend music with magic.

She met Bingle and Kefz when they passed through her town, and agreed to travel with them, as she needed accompaniment through the woods to reach Ogham University on the tip of the Continent. The trio were confronted by a group of faulty Duodrones on the path, and the travelers were stunned and taken to the Tier 3 Recruitment facility.

In the Recruitment facility, River passed the Red test, an argument with a stubborn simulation who had to be persuaded. As a result, she was enlisted as a Heart fighter, and placed under the instruction of Reggie. She and Kinney shared a dorm at Tier 3.

## Tier 3

At Tier 3, River befriended her roommate Kinney, and quickly put herself on the wrong side of the headmasters by playing bagpipes in the morning and harassing Old Man Blue, the librarian. River had a lack of respect for authority figures coming in to Tier 3, but learned to hold her tongue around them eventually. Bingle referred to River as "Rico" when they arrived, a habit quickly quashed by the Headmasters.

River was present at Tier 3 when Rico announced the placement of a bomb in the facility. River vowed to solve the riddle and find the bomb, working with her team to decrypt Rico's trail of hints and attempting to gain the favor of the Headmasters along the way. River spoke to Io several times while looking for clues, and talked with her about Rico and Halley outside instead of attending the Farewell Ball. She was one of the few recruits to remain after the ball, along with Bingle, Kefz, Io, Arrick, Belle, the Cat, Alejandra, and Nico.

Her team formed a tentative alliance with Arrick, Belle, and the Cat (ABC), but solved the riddle while working separately. She fought the final guardian, who took the form of Billy, in the simulation room alongside her team. Having won and defused the bomb, Rico and Halley abducted both her team and ABC, testing the teams, who they considered to have tied in effort, against each other in the Labyrinth.

## Rico's Labyrinth

In the Labyrinth, River assisted in solving a number of puzzles, such as the Sudoku door and the chest room, but also acted rashly several times, encouraging Kefz to drink the Zoomis holy water and accepting Rico's deal to bring Bingle back from the dead. River charged headfirst into danger several times in the Labyrinth, yet she was targeted the least of the three party members. River witnessed the death of the Cat in the Minotaur room, and asked Io if they could save Arrick and Belle, although to no avail.

## Diplomacy

Rescued by Io and Rem, the party was assigned to spy on Rico and Halley. Traveling to the castle Rico was negotiating at, River was disguised by Rem as an escort to Bingle, their spells altering her features, stature, and clothing. While at the castle, River became involved in the investigation of the Lord's murder, a difficult task to remain in disguise for, as she was supposed to be taking care of Bingle. Upon solving the mystery, River and the others attempted to flee the castle with Alejandra, but they were identified by Rico and all four fell victim to an unknown spell before Rem and Io could rescue them.

After she regained consciousness, River discovered she had been transported, alongside the other spell victims, to a green field. Her whereabouts are currently unknown.

## Stats

River is a Level 4 Bard. Her highest stat is Charisma, followed by Dexterity. Her lowest stat is Wisdom. She owns a lute, a viola, and some bagpipes, all three of which she can use as her Bardic instrument, typically favoring the lute. River knows how to speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Draconic, the least languages out of the three party members.

## Personality

River is persuasive, impulsive, and flamboyant, and is constantly drawing both good and bad attention to herself. She bonded with Bingle and Kefz during their time at Tier 3, and often distracts enemies to draw their hits away from her friends. River has a difficult time not saying what she's thinking, leading to trouble when she contradicts or criticizes someone based on an earlier impression of them. River is inquisitive and loves to learn, bringing her into conflict with Old Man Blue, the librarian at Tier 3 whom she voiced her frustration with on several occasions. She was occasionally jeered at by the other students at Tier 3, who would "meow" at her while she talked.

## Relationships

### Bingle

River only knew Bingle for two months before their time at Tier 3, but they quickly made friends in the teamwork-focused environment. River is both the fastest member of the party and can climb walls, so she carries Bingle in her backpack on most adventures, combining their strengths. Bingle initially referred to River as "Rico", but he has since learned how to say her real name. River encourages Bingle's romance with Alejandra.

### Kefz

River only knew Kefz for two months before their time at Tier 3. They have a friendly relationship on most terms, but River is frustrated by Kefz's arrogance and lack of gravitas, frequently asserting so. They do share a sense of frivolity at times, making on-the-spot decisions or saying things just to get a reaction. River and Kefz were forced to work together without Bingle both when Bingle hid in ABC's dorm and at the castle, strengthening their personal bond.

### Kinney

Kinney was River's roommate at Tier 3, and the two meshed well, as they were both extroverts who had a tendency to speak out of turn. Kinney did everything she could to make River feel welcome, along with the rest of her team, sticking with them in their first Arena battle. Kinney and River occasionally acted flirtatious around each other, although this appears to have been mostly unintentional. River was disheartened when Kinney left for her mission, and excitedly suggested the holomessage they received in the Labyrinth was from Kinney (its author was later revealed to be Io).

### Arrick, Belle, and the Cat

River was friendly towards the Cat and Belle, but disliked Arrick for his pompous attitude. She made friends with Belle, and the two spent study sessions in the library together, attempting to solve the riddle. Despite this bond, River was initially very suspicious of the three, and distrusted them during the makeshift alliance her team formed with them. River was the first to meet ABC, when the Cat was able to see through River's Minor Illusion during an Objective arena task.

### Io

River developed a relationship with Io during their time at Tier 3, but they never progressed quite to the level of friends. River spent some of her free time seeking out Io, and the pair had a long conversation about what happened to Io during the Farewell Ball, which neither of them attended. River acted in an apologetic manner around Io after Bingle awkwardly attempted to flirt with her.

### Reggie

Reggie is River's trainer. She learned well under him, although she acted hypocritically around him often, teasing or mocking him for his slight stature and stutter despite the fact she wouldn't stand for this if she saw somebody else doing this. The discrepancy is ostensibly caused by River's embarrassment at struggling to learn some of the principles of Heart fighting.

### Rico and Halley

River dislikes Rico and Halley strongly, albeit mainly because they put a bomb in the school. She sees the two in a dichotomy, with her party as good and them as evil. After talking with Io, River became very angry at Rico and Halley for deserting their former friend.

## Appearance

River is a tall, wiry Tabaxi with black stripes beneath her eyes, rounded ears, and piercing green eyes. She has sharp, tough claws, which she uses to climb walls. Her coat is yellow with black rosettes, resembling a leopard's, and she has a black-tipped tail. She wears crimson Heart robes given to her by Tier 3 over her old nomadic attire.

When in disguise at the castle, River adopted the persona of Bingle's escort and nanny. Rem changed her appearance, making her shorter, changing her facial structure, and converting her markings from leopard-like to grey tabby. She wore a brown and white dress and vest set to act as Bingle's caretaker. However, upon being hit by Rico's spell, the disguise was removed and River reverted to her old appearance and attire.

River is twenty-seven.