Skylar Marcurio

### Description

Skylar Marcurio, PhD is a 34 year old scientist determined to find answers regarding the mysterious death of the paragon of alchemy, Lucian Azuris.

##### Race

Dr. Marcurio is a Halfling; half human and half minotaur.

##### Physical Appearance

Dr. Marcurio is 6 feet and 9 inches in height due to her minotaur genetics. She is of average build, with a stockier appearance than most human women, but significantly smaller than full-blood minotaur women. Dr. Marcurio has pale skin, brown eyes, and light brown hair.

Dr. Marcurio is typically wearing a black lab coat, a medium length skirt, and knee high white stockings. She does not obscure her horns, often cutting her bangs to ensure they're visible at all times.

### Background

##### Early life

Skylar was born in the wilderness of Veilguard, the minotaur and goliath sanctum south of Aberon. In year 33XX, Skylar was born to Dorian Marcurio, a full-blood minotaur, and Moira Regulus, a human. As a halfling, Skylar was discriminated against in Veilguard. Although she remembers nothing of her life in Veilguard, her father recounted the family's time in the country as tumultuous. The family was ostracized by most minotaurs, causing the family of three to move to Aberon when Skylar was seven months old.

Skylar's mother, an Aberon native, demanded the family to have a "normal" life in Aberon. Although her parents often disagreed with one another, Dorian agreed that the best upbringing for Skylar would be a typical Aberonian lifestyle. Skylar's family settled in Cypria, a small mining village close to Aberon's capitol of Apryus. Dorian worked as a miner, mining coper in Cragstone Mine. Moira remained at home to raise Skylar.

Once Skylar began her schooling at age four, it was apparent that she enjoyed learning. Skylar was exemplary throughout her early education, receiving perfect marks every year. Because of her minotaur traits, Skylar's intellect was significantly higher than most human children, making her early education undemanding and tedious. In an effort to engage her intellect, her father taught her advanced understandings on subjects such as biology and anatomy. Skylar was enamored by science and it's applications in the real world, often conducting her own experiments with her father after school.

When Skylar was 12, her father died in the Cragstone Mine incident of 33XX. The death of her father affected Skylar deeply as she lost the only person she knew who not only shared her love of science but also her minotaur ancestry. Although she was always standoffish to others, Skylar began to isolate herself from others, including her mother. Finishing her early education with no friends and very little personal contact with her mother, Skylar began to seek higher education. Academia was how Skylar avoided her emotions regarding her loneliness and her father's death.

##### Education

Inspired by her father's teachings, Skylar attended Emerlant Academy studying science at age 18. Her excellent grades continued throughout her time in higher academia, with receiving almost nothing below perfect scores. Skylar spent her off-semesters in Aberon, living on campus with internships in local laboratories. By her second to last year, Skylar was granted permission by Emerlant Academy to use their facilities to conduct her own experiments. Skylar accomplished numerous achievements throughout her time at Emerlant Academy, including her experiment that resulted in the invention of the froglight; a slimey light source that is produced by frogs when fed magma slime.

Despite her success academically, Skylar had trouble developing friendships throughout her time at Emerlant Academy. Until, in her final year of her doctorate program, she became roommates with Alice Archeron. Alice, a fellow academic with similarly perfect scores, is a halfling who studied archeology. The pair became close, bonding over their similar childhoods, race, and educational prowess.

After six years at Emerlant Academy, Skylar received her doctorate degree in applied sciences with a specialization in biology. Skylar, now donned Dr. Marcurio, finished her education with the highest honors bestowed by the academy.

Emerlant Academy extended their gratitude to Dr. Marcurio and her research by offering her a place of residency as one of the associate professors of biology. Dr. Marcurio accepted the position and began working for the academy in the Folius semester of 33XX.

##### Azuris Reconstruction

Upon arriving to the desolate village where Lucian's remains were kept, Dr. Marcurio proposed the idea to Dr. Archeron to reconstruct the village in order to gain the funds necessary to experiment on Lucian's body. Though reluctant, Dr. Archeron agreed to the scheme and helped reconstruct Azuris, growing the inconsequential village to a booming industrial settlement in just shy of two years. Dr. Archeron, more creative than Dr. Marcurio, planned the aesthetical changes to the village whereas Dr. Marcurio, more goal oriented, drafted the institutional and governmental aspects of the village.

### Relationships

#### Alice Archeron, PhD

Alice Archeron was Skylar's roommate during their final year at Emerlant Academy. Though naturally more reserved and introverted, Skylar became attached to Alice throughout their time rooming together. The two had a number of similarities between them, such as their race; both halflings. As well as their interests in higher academia; both highly intellectual and creative with inspiring minds that dream of something bigger. Skylar and Alice became incredibly close throughout their last year of their studies, and settled down together after graduation while the pair worked until their departure for Azuris.

Though she has never had romantic interests before, Skylar has developed an attraction to Alice. By the end of their final year at Emerlant Academy, Skylar noticed her feelings for Alice were more than purely platonic. However, in order to not ruin their friendship, Skylar vowed that she would never tell Alice her true feelings.

Throughout the reconstruction of Azuris, Dr. Marcurio is protectful of Dr. Archeron, promising to protect her as the villages proclaimed Dr. Archeron Senator of Azuris. Although Dr. Marcurio still oversees most of the political issues in Azuris, Dr. Archeron is the face of the settlement due to her easygoing and charming personality.

#### Lucian Azuris

Lucian Azuris, the paragon of alchemy, mysteriously disappeared over two centuries ago after his short but infamous career. Not long after graduation, Dr. Marcurio discovered the alchemist and his legacy through Alice Archeron, her close friend and roommate who's father studied Lucian. Upon learning about the alchemist and his mysterious past, Skylar began to research Lucian closely, often ignoring the work that was required of her at her place of employment.

Lucian's legacy of alchemy, magic, and necromancy intrigued Dr. Marcurio to the point of obsession. As a lover of science, Dr. Marcurio believed Lucian discovered something so remarkable, he never wrote it down, or it was what had caused him to disappear. Infatuated by the idea of a mysterious scientific discovery left hidden by time, Dr. Marcurio delved into Lucian's only ever recorded files, reports written about him and his work, and the possible witnesses who claim to have seen him days before his disappearance.

Dr. Marcurio and Dr. Archeron became obsessed with the mysterious figure; the pair often disregarded their work, family, and friends in order discover information in scrolls and ancient texts depicting Lucian's career and disappearance. Upon learning of a location in which his remains may have been kept, the two doctors quit their jobs and left Aberon in search of the truth. Once found, the doctors plan on reanimating his corpse to restore the paragon of alchemy and necromancy to his former glory and learn of the ancient knowledge he had before his death.

#### Moira Regulus "Mother"

Due to Skylar's minotaur traits, Moira had great difficulties relating to her daughter. Outside of her outward appearance, Skylar has very few human qualities. Like most minotaurs, Skylar is stubborn, short-tempered, introverted, and highly intelligent. Her behavior and personality conflicted with Moira's understanding of human children, causing the two to grow distant as Skylar aged.

After Dorian's death, Moira and Skylar grew more distant as Skylar clung to her grief and Moira attempted to move on through other men. Of the men that Moira courted, almost all of them were fully human. Being the only halfling in her mother's bloodline, Skylar felt as though her mother was courting human men to regain the respect of her family, setting aside the true feelings she had for Dorian.

Skylars isolation after her father's death extended well into her adult years. In order to further isolate herself, Skylar attended Emerlant Academy in Aberon, creating a large distance between her and her mother. Once Skylar began her studies, she had very little communication with Moira. Because Skylar never returned home during the off-semesters, she rarely saw Moira during her six years at Emerlant Academy.

The pair still have extremely limited communication, and with Dr. Marcurio now busy overseeing the reconstruction of Azuris, she has very little time for relationships outside of Azuris. Moira has attempted to communicate with her daughter in the years since her graduation, but Dr. Marcurio has not responded to her letters in several years.

#### Dorian Marcurio "Father"

Despite her differences with her mother, Skylar was very close with her father. As minotaurs, the pair often engaged in intellectual debates and tests of strength. Skylar developed a love of science from her father, who had once attempted to gain an education in Aberon before meeting Moira. The pair enjoyed frequenting the Cypria Archive to read books. Dorian tutored Skylar from an early age in advanced topics in order to engage her minotaur intellect.

Dorian's death deeply impacted Skylar and her perception of life, the government, and politics. Seeing her father's death as part of a political scheme, Skylar grew a hatred of corruption and greed.

##### Pets

* Butters - A calico cat found on her way to Azuris, adopted in 33XX.
* Bread - An all black rabbit found in the village of Azuris during reconstruction, adopted in 33XX.
* Judas - An all black race horse bought from travelers visiting Azuris post-reconstruction, bought in 33XX.