Martan il Llim-dool, Weaver of Sorcerous Sunderings and typical Mage
Name: Martan il Llim-dool, Darkest of the Dark, Caller of Terror, Weaver of Sorcerous Sunderings, and Practicioner of the Arts Arcane
Age: 57
Sex: Male
Height: 6 feet, 1 inches
Weight: 182 lbs.
Hair Colour: Dirty, dark brown.
Eye Colour: Black
Occupation: Weaver of the mystic Web, Summoner of That Which Lies Beyond, Binder of the the All-Energy, Mage
Personality: Hateful and distrustful, always on the guard for treachery and deceit, Martan il Llim-dool is a vile, despicable man. It is unclear if any measure of hope or goodness lies in his blackend soul, but if it does it lies under a venerable emotional mountain of cruelty and violence. If something does not effect Martan directly, it is unlikely any force in the known world will move him to act. It is with that sort of mentality that Martan lives his life, and to the casual bystander it may appear that he actually enjoys it.
Appearance: Martan has a immense wardrobe he has accumulated over his nearly 30 years of professional magecraft. Ranging from scholarly robes to garments suited for a royal court, his appearance can vary widely. Unfortunately, either due to his incredible hatred or perhaps meddling with powers beyond his understanding, he suffers from terrible back pain and has permanent disfigurement in several parts of his body. This requires him to walk with some small assistance either from a cane or staff, and prevents him from participating in any sort of rigorous athletic activities.
He is otherwise clean-shaven, with a gaunt face and eyes slightly sunken inwards as is the case for many scholarly folk. His hair, which he only cuts when it irritates him(which can be any time) is normally tucked beneath the skullcap he commonly wears.
Normally, when seeking or expecting confrontation, he will wear his customary enchanted robes and vestments and walk with his prized magical staff.
Weapons:
Aside from his priceless magical staff, Martan conceals a small dirk on his person.
"Priceless Magical Staff"(Staff of Power) - This normally powerful item, while in relatively good condition, is merely a shadow of its former glory. The staff is a 6 foot pole of a strange dark wood, etched with all manner of runes and symbols, and each end is shod in simple iron. Sadly, it serves mostly as a threatening tool and walking aid rather than as an instrument of arcane might these days. In the device's diminished state, it is capable of performing the "Knock" spell, a simple sorcery to undo normal locks and basic closing enchantments, and even this expenditure drains the device so much that it can only perform this feat once per day. Despite Martan's best efforts, he cannot restore the mighty item to its fully-charged state.
Armour:
Skullcap of Sinisterious - Ornate magical skullcap, prevents Martan from being instantly slain by Vorpal weaponry.
Robes of the evil arch-magi - Probably Martan's most powerful magical item in his collection. These robes act as leather armor instead of what their cloth structure may suggest, and grant Martan slightly greater endurance in his adventurous pursuits(to make up for his weakened physical state). This endurance also aids in Martan's spellcasting limits. Spellcasting taxes both the mind and body, and this robe does much to alleviate the rigors of magic.
Brooch of Language Comprehension - Allows Martan to understand any vocal communication, but he is unable to speak or write any language understood through the brooch's power unless time is spent to learn it naturally.
Ring of Wizardry - Grants Martan additional endurance in regards to his spellcasting limits. Spellcasting taxes both the mind and body, and this ring does much to alleviate the rigors of magic.
Ring of Feather Falling - This magical ring has saved Martan's life in more than one occasion, preventing a fall of a distance of anything greater than 10 feet to be magically slowed as if he were falling to earth as a feather.
Spell Component Pouch(multiple) - Whether cloth satchel, pouch around his waist, or pockets carefully hidden within the inner linings of his robe, these containers hold all the mundane to rare implements needed to work his Art.
Skills and Abilities
Martan is a magic-user, one of those rare few gifted with the ability to tap the mysterious power of the cosmos. Through intense study and discipline, he has gained a great deal of power in his relatively short lifespan.
The spells that Martan can call upon fall within distinct schools of magic.
Alteration – Spells that specialize in the changing or movement of matter. Hare to Hydra, Rock to River, such is the fantastic power of Alteration.
Evocation – Spells of manipulating energies. Spells which channel the elements into their more destructive forms fall under this school.
Conjuration – Calling something from nothing, this school involves magic which create, and those spells that summon beings from different planes of reality.
Abjuration – Protection spells, Abjuration is the school of wards and counterspells.
Necromancy – Magics that draw their strength from the grave and beyond, these dark sorceries are those most favored by Martan. Yet these insidious magics are not without cost, as most find out…
Divination – Sorceries of foresight and fortune-telling, magics that detect and reveal the hidden and unseen.
Enchantment – Imbuing the inanimate with mystical powers, or ensorcelling the unwilling.
Illusion – Magics of trickery and misdirection, the spells within the Illusion school deal with all that is unreal.
It is from these schools of magic that a mage categorizes his spells.
However, the limits of mortal man prevent one from wantonly hurly magic about at will. The amount of preparation and concentration required to cast each spell, ranging from several seconds to a full minute, make the act of spellcasting something one doesn’t take lightly. In addition to the time needed to cast each spell, magic takes a toll on both the body and mind of those that use it. As such, a mage can only utilize part of his repertoire before becoming exhausted – at which point he is all but helpless. Depending on the strength of spell used, or the number of spells cast, the point of a mage being utterly spent can vary, yet a wise foe seeks to exhaust any wizard of their spells before moving in for the kill.
Martan can be considered an average user of all listed schools of magic. None of his known sorceries can be activated by will alone, and nearly all of them require preparation of some sort before use.
History:
Little is known about Martan’s past, save for that he keeps well enough to himself and avoids others as much as possible. Haughty and uncaring, egotistical and eccentric, it is probably best that he seeks seclusion from the world.
Rumors suggest that he was abandoned as a child, due to his sickness and poor health, and that he turned to magic as a comfort and tool to better his life…and take revenge against those that wronged him long ago.
Others suggest that he was once a kind hearted man, with both wife and family, until one day a terrible tragedy robbed him of all that and his good health. Left bitter and decrepit, he turned his talents towards spreading suffering and darkness.
And still others hint at that perhaps he isn’t a man at all, but a vessel of some greater evil – a mere puppet in the hands of some darker power.
Whatever the case, the history of Martan il Llim-dool can be guessed at best. And in all honesty, who wishes to know more about someone so wretched as he?
