Belka

*"Vilte called us her parish. We, reluctant weapon, wrathful revolutionary, empty vessel, and errant god, all no longer fit for purpose. Before the village at the end of the world we stood together, stubborn and unsure; and with half-learned language on our tongue, we called ourselves it for her. We are the Parish, and, after it was said, it was a truth of the world. We follow Vilte."*

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*"There are principles in every story: joy, sorrow; growth, decay; trust, doubt; prophecy, memory; chaos. I have known each one so intimately; and there, in the empty sky and strangers' faces I saw them all. Vilte had followed the story to the Sharrow, to Ninut; I am sure of it. We who left our paths, though... mmm, we had followed something else. We were not what we should have been; but we made a new thing of ourselves, then.
 In a version of history, I had been a Keeper. I had become a Heart. I had stepped into the sorrow of the story and ensured that the fabric of the world is, was, and will be. Any story is only as true as its telling, though; and when I un-became myself, I was told I have an entry in the archives. My telling moment is written down. The sound of it is tomb-dust on my tongue now when I speak it. Only a name that knots up in the throat. When Vilte says it, though, grief and pride in her voice, I cannot understand. Sounds... almost alive... in the untold, the space between idea and reality, spirit and body; the space between a story. There is much uncertainty. And now, I think, there is the Parish."*

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*Belka*"

## Description

Nonbinary, with an ambiguous yet earnest or even fervent demeanour.

### Humanity

Relatively tall (around the same height as Bris). Belka's humanity, like many of the people of Ur-Taal, is horns. They have two sets of horns; one set on the top of their head curving backwards, and the other set curving forwards and back around towards the ears. Between the sets of horns, Belka has large goat ears. Chains and strings hung with bells run through, embedded in, and between the horns and ears (a feature that had been an important part of dance routines for the Keepers). Their hands are worn.

### Personality

* Repressed anger
* Attentive

### Clothing and Equipment

Chains and strings hung with bells run through, embedded in, and between the horns and ears. No matter what they wear, they always have on a very long piece of fabric. They usually wear it over the head and horns, flowing down their back like a cape, but its positioning is variable. It is embroidered with two stories, one on the outside and one on the inside; the stories of the Beginning and of the End.

## Relationships

### Other

* Vilte found Belka in a time of uncertainty, and believed in and supported them. Belka is very loyal to Vilte and the Parish. Many of Belka and Vilte's early conversations revolved around Belka not considering themself a part of humanity, even after having left the Keepers (who see themselves as separate). Vilte was very clear that she considered Belka to be a person, and is the first person to have really made that clear to Belka.
 Belka looks out for Vilte as she sleeps, concerned that it's been several months. They try to be around Vilte much of the time, sitting with her, singing to her, and generally watching over her.
* Challa
* Venz
* Bris
* Karuun, or the Heart of Growth, was Belka's mentor and supporter during their time as a Heart. Karuun is the only one that did not see Belka's departure as an utter disgrace, and in fact was the one that convinced Belka that it was alright to leave the Hearts if they weren't certain of their place in life, having gone through a similar inner struggle themself.
* Ayof is Belka's first real friendship, and they convinced him to join and find a place in the Parish.
* Kallan Onata, a young man of Ninut, starts out as a point of interest for Belka- they see potential in him for interesting truths and secrets. However, after talking with him a number of times, they come to see him as something of a friend and feel sad that he is struggling with low mood (apparently since his trip south of Ninut).

## History

Originally from Ur-Taal, Belka chose their name when they came of age. They trained as a Keeper there, and became the Heart of Sorrow, one of the nine Hearts; a sort of storyteller and archivist. Their role was to witness stories happening; when a story was finished, it would be written down, at which point it would no longer be a living entity. Stories tied their whole world together; their role was not to be an active player in the world, with agency, but to witness and collect happenings. As a Heart, Belka was also training up some Keepers in the art of sorrow.

After many years they left the Keepers, something rarely done. There was no open animosity, but the Keepers and Hearts weren't happy with their decision. Belka's time as a Keeper was written down (their story is done, finished and dead), and they had their formal name taken from them. Belka left the Keepers as a disgrace.
Belka found Vilte soon after leaving, and remained with the Parish all the way to the Sharrow. The Parish represented something new to think about, and by the start of the story they have not yet processed what their disgrace with the Keepers means. They have a lot to learn- they seem not to know much about how to go through life, but they are very skilled at what they've been trained in. They are still trying to work out how they connect with their skills and training now they are no longer a Keeper, or even if they want to any more.

## Mechanics

### Playbook

The Heart

* Expression: When you take something you feel, a concept or idea, and express yourself by way of your chosen art (whether performed or presented), and it is experienced by others, roll. 10+ choose 3; 7-9 choose 1: People understand what it is you intend to convey; one person present must meet you; you spike out the state of your choice in someone present; your statement either begins to change popular opinion or otherwise alter a sense of self in those that witness it or inflict trauma on those opposed that experience it
* Words that sting: When you choose to inflict trauma using your Expression, you may choose to target a particular person and inflict +1 trauma to them.
* Confidante (bond move): When someone tells you a personal story or secret they've not told anyone else, gain a bond on them.

**Advancement 1**

Soothing Way: when you spend time with someone and listen to their trauma, roll. On a 10+ choose three, 7-9 choose two:

* *Clear out all of their spikes in one emotion*
* *Heal a point of trauma*
* *Ask them a question from Read Person; they must answer truthfully*

**Advancement 3**
These Objects Hold Stories: Whenever you handle or examine something interesting, roll. 10+ hold three, 7-9 hold one (on a fail a question may still be asked, but something bad might happen as well):

* *Who handled this before me?*
* *What is its history?*
* *What strong emotions have recently been near this?*
* *What words have been said recently nearby this?*
* *What has been done recently with or to this?*
* *What's wrong with this and how might I fix it?*

### Emotional stats

* Scared: +1
* Powerful: +1
* Mad: -1
* Peaceful: 0
* Sad: +2
* Joyful: 0

### Bonds

Pre-story:

1) *If a person shared a tender personal story with you that spoke to a truth in your heart, gain a bond on them.*
 Belka has a bond on Karuun, the Heart of Growth.

2) *If you convince someone to abandon a value that would have caused them harm, gain a bond on them.*
 Belka has a bond on Ayof, the young magic user in the Parish.

3) *If you revealed an uncertainty to someone about a value you previously held to be true, they gain a bond on you.*
 Vilte has a bond on Belka.

### Beliefs

Tiding 03:

"The Weaver's tale must be unwound." (most important)

"My story won't be told to the stones." (longstanding)

"Choose careful words for Venz, pulling together or apart." (interpersonal)

## Quotes

*These Flimsy Rituals is distributed under a CC BY-NC-SA license. This wiki contains excerpts of scripted text and official shownotes, and is considered to be under the same license. Official artwork is not to be used on this wiki. Fanart pieces are distributed under licenses determined by the artist- please check the caption or alt-text.*