Name: Lawrence Spades
Age: 25
Race: Hostis Humani Generis: A being who has been changed to serve an eldritch monster of unknown species. He remains mostly human aside from a few base changes and exists to sell humanity short. The most apparent change is the fact that he does not sleep, he merely waits. The name literally means, ENEMY OF ALL MANKIND, and, incidentally, divine beings cannot see him. True to form, he seems to be growing in every way a threat should, and his dreams reflect this… they stamp and shout that he will soon be numerous in himself.
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Height: 8’1
Weight: 220
Lawrence is that horror which still fancies itself above others, and indulges its vanity with a meticulous care, his hair worn well-combed backward in the most aerodynamic of styles. The brows over each eye are thinly lined with dark hair, and the nose is upturned at the bridge and none existent beyond that point his nostrils simply dry caverns set into his face. The eyes are open, unblinking, yellowing in their corners, blood shot everywhere else, and ultimately narrowed into dark points of ill intent.
The cheek bones press the skin to high extremes, and the lips are drawn tight over the vast width of his mouth in a standard expression of contempt. Should those lips part, sterling peaks of pointed teeth can be seen set against each other in a vicious grinding struggle. Tongue is appropriate, a lengthy, pale thing that snakes as he speaks.
Imagine a black carapace stretched over the bones of an eternally hungry, but now extinct soul. The contours of the body remain are dictated by a purely skeletal design, the joints bulging, each knuckle, elbow and knee defined in the harshest of manner. Notice his massive hands, which can be gentle, but are always clenching and strong.
Imagine if you will a towering corpse.
*Occupation: Caretaker/Specie Traitor/Smuggler/Mass Murderer/Charity Worker/Cultist/Mover and Shaker/Thief/Good Samaritan/Bad Samaritan/Actor/and someday soon, your mother.
*Personality: A man with high ambitions, but little hopes he has a cynical look on life and a dark intentions for the future. Lawrence views being the means to his young master’s end as wicked, an unforgivable sin, he has long since moved on. Ever careful he takes the pursuit of victory in general with varying levels of anomie, when he wants to win ruthless inhumanity is assured. Naturally a chameleon, and wholehearted liar, Lawrence tends to change his face often. While he may be responsible for atrocities, he will almost never be recognized.
Lawrence fears death to an extreme and more than once proclaims that he will live forever. This very well may be the case as he has ceased to age since the day he was devoured. It is not something that interferes with his ability to take the most unsavory jobs, but it does fill him with a strange amount of physical energy to be terrified. Not much needs to be said about what happens when Law’s fears come into play simply that someone is going to get stabbed. He also fears twitchy things, making eye contact is simply something he rarely does, and sea food.
A love for perfection and symmetry has left him with something of a habitual desire to be perfectly clean and his surroundings immaculate. This leads to severe OCD. He can control himself, but as time goes by this becomes steadily harder unless he takes up an act, which will be mentioned later. When pushed Lawrence may bypass tact and guile, often to commit murder. Phasing between methodical and manic he can be a very dangerous individual, especially with his very hands on approach to life.
As a hobby Lawrence is quite fond of weapons and collects them. He also sings opera fairly well until he knows someone is listening; his throat then promptly closes up. He likes to ride horses, but by habit is fairly reckless and a danger to himself and everyone within galloping distance.
A public speaker/actor he is very compelling and is rarely disbelieved. Efficient, while acting on a level that rarely leaves room for excessive foolishness he is always fairly calm. One thing about him is obvious; he is always paying attention, never openly given to reminiscing or acting in a counterproductive manner. Lawrence learns as much about everyone as possible. When in danger or with a weapon in hand he is much more animated. Uncontrollably prone to monologue, stab happy, and filled with joyous laughter. There is no point where he kills a man however, souls are precious things, and they have a key purpose.
Lawrence seeks knowledge, energy, and life. His young mistress beneath the waves is growing continuously, but knows nothing of the world. Able to consume the very make of a person and absorb all that they are, all she needs is a meal. Lawrence facilitates this, impersonating leaders and forming cults. Childs play. Moving on to bigger and better things Lawrence Spades intends to build up a personal following of entire nations, all to lead thousands into Egr’msalchek’s many mouths.
In response to his mistress he is overly kind, even fussy over her meals and works to ensure she gets the best. This is odd as she is extremely cold toward her servant.
In private deep in the darkness of his mind he is megalomaniacal, willful, persistent and a perfectionist. The things he takes pride in are his abilities to convince, and to lie. Combining the two with his goals this has led to the creation of the acts. Each act is the shift physically and mentally into a different person with different attitudes. Each act is fundamentally the same gaining no new powers. An act is built overtime as Lawrence thinks of them and applies them. Currently there is only one.
Ace: Lawrence has decided to create a persona. One by which he can act the hero. Ace is rather incomplete at the moment and will require real world interaction and development. The development is done; a human being has been born. Ace has grown into the fire of young blood, a persona which engages all with a carefree attitude, even in the face of violence or death. He is the seeker of glory, and his presence is one which draws others to him. Upon the surface of Lawrence’s darkness he is the benefactor of blinding light, and inheritor of grand ambitions. Irreverent while polite, charming even as he becomes the adversary, he is the first persona.
Echidna: A strange girl, she is the next to be formed in mind and body.
History: He was born for the arts, both the part he played before and after his remaking in his master’s image. Teresa, Fredric, his parents, born poor, propagating the poor, and raising their children in poverty. They lived, they loved, and they grew close as a family and by disease thinned and grew apart. Louise, Lawrence, Frederica found themselves alone as their parents succumbed to the Consumption of the times and only a few family to care for them they were divided, Lawrence and Louise to their mother’s mother and Frederica to their aunt.
Roberta Spades. She ran a small acting company under her deceased husband’s name but times being as they were it was a rag tag group of hooligans and misfits claiming to perform. Nearly thirteen at the time the boys were put to work to which Lawrence showed his talent, but his brother… They played in parts, together and apart as friends, enemies, soldiers and rivals for a town with little love for the art, but for a break in their lives. These were happy and somewhat remarkably hungry days. They were often without incident except for one moment in their many duels, where Lawrence’s hand was run through on the point of his brother’s sword. It healed poorly, almost crippling in the use of his fingers.
It was the end for nothing, but Louise’s acting career by his and his domineering and willful grandmother. He joined the militant army of Fallien and became what he and his brother jokingly referred to as “a real hard man.” It was in this way that they saw each other rarely, but kept each other in mind. The world turned and Lawrence played on its stage, his hand pained him and made him unfit for acting in all but the most menial tasks. The money ran dry and actors forced to work for their bread. It was a dark day to discover himself eighteen with no trade or work to set himself to. What else was there, but crime? It was the cornered final solution, one that paid well for all its ludicrous risks.
By way of a friend he became a smuggler sailing the waters with illicit cargo from the lord’s sweat mercies to those seeking easy passage across the borders. These were not happy times and Lawrence soon doubted they would ever come, as his less than reputable friends navigated the waters, their hands never far from their weapons in the silence of night. It was by luck alone they were not arrested and jailed for their crimes, be they from smuggling to borderline treason.
In retrospect, and all things in clear view, things could have been much worse. A night three years ago they had sailed down the river into the bay to meet a ship not yet ready for port. The boxes lowered into their schooner were small and threats in idle chatter of how men’s were nothing to their priceless cargo. Should have been simple delivery from there. Sadly, no. The sea heaved. The ocean seemed to rise in the distance and draw near at speeds that nothing so big should have. Tentacles, paws, it was a blur of blue flesh and teeth before each and every man was dragged below ship.
They awoke shivering in the darkness only the dirt and stone walls apparent. It was apparent that something else was their dominating the darkness with its presence. It was round by all guesses, warm too and helped to stave off the cold. Then it broke, at first slowly startling all then finally free it released the squelch of a newborn monster. What followed was a long and drawn out meal. It was the size of a man to be sure and its eyes were seen as pits of even deeper black. It took one of the sixteen and ate him with fresh teeth. They fought back of course, but there were no weapons and their fists proved merely an annoyance.
Every man that day perished. All, but Lawrence, who was forced to live. It bonded with him. It worked its magic and bits of its power beneath his skin and when it was done he was a new man. Egrim’salchek was its name and its mother had come from the stars to leave her offspring. There Squeaky, as his mistress dubbed him, found himself wrapped in the reproductive cycle of a being who thought so little of mankind. He became a lure, for what his new mistress’s desired most were souls. Not immortal, but an unchanging nurse maid.
He has done many things, and has recently begun infiltrating any establishment with power. All to gather increasing numbers of people for his mistress.The travels he has ventured upon have taken this man to the very heart of the Dansdel and Citadel, and in each he has taken the measure of man, and overcome the obstacles placed before him. Gaining proficiency in combat, Ace has gained a minor celebrity in Radasanth, and the stands fill more with every battle, and conflict upon conflict swells his following. Soon there will come a time to reap the harvest of battle, and when that time comes it shall come once, and the foundations of that city will be crushed, and the land devoured.
Skills:
Speech: The way he sculpts his words is a magic in itself. He conveys reason and twists logic to a breaking point. If left to talk he can cause people to believe his words and the only defense is to be deaf, to ignore him with all your power, or to shut him up. With practice in its use, Lawrence can speak to multiple people, and with verbal skill articulate into their minds the importance of what he speaks. While it is not mind control, he disguise the very words he speaks as one’s very own thoughts.
The Fruits of Meticulous Labor: Having stood in the public eye, and performed on the battle field often, Lawrence Spades has gained a minor glamor. When he chooses to conduct himself in a certain way he is known, what he does is observed, and the strange smiles he shares fill people with a strange sense of contagious mirth. This ability seems to be born from confidence, sheer aural confidence.Gained Here.
Camouflage: The ability to blur his appearance into his surroundings, in the light of day it is often plain and common, but in the darkness, and at large distances he becomes almost invisible. Seeing him can be a problem depending of distances.
Ability?:
Master of Disguise: With much, albeit painful, concentration he shifts the structure of his body. He can change the color of his eyes, and skin. Shatter and reshape the bones beneath his flesh. Even grow between ten feet and four feet in height. Lawrence can impersonate nearly any person he chooses or become someone entirely new. Effectively, he can be anyone he wants to be, and look just like everyone else. Even children.
Strength: Far more than anyone man should have, but not to the point of the superhuman. Merely gracing its borders. The muscles beneath his flesh seem to offer up some protection showing his body to be tougher than the average man. Apparently 3.0 times stronger than a human being.
Danger, High Voltage: There have been many changes to his body the most prevalent being the electrical voltage he can generate in his hands. By no means powerful enough to fling lightning from his palms but more than enough to cause horrible spasms in the bodies of others. Intense and painful, and heart palpitations with prolonged contact.
Dexterity: What a strange quality, an attribute so vexingly meaningful that it must be redefined, or done up in fast assumptions. Simply put, it as a deftness of the body to shift, stand, and fight with intent, and growing ease. Speeds where speed matters, so to speak—when applied directly of course to any adversarial object be it the projectile from afar, or the sword in one’s own hand. It is of course directed by the mind, and thus a conscious decision, but that decision is itself all the more like lightning. Aspiring to legerdemain, it remains above the standard, but below greatness at 2.0 times that of your average man. Are you an average man, sir?
Venom: His saliva is highly toxic to any living being causing a blistering and burning in humans. When injected via “La Kiss” or just plain biting it causes the breakdown of cellular walls and damage to the nervous system. In short, it slowly causes internal bleeding and organ failure. There are cures and antidotes, but when someone dies by it, even animals won’t go near the corpse. It grows in potency as he levels.
The Limits of Control: What does a shape-shifter possess that mortal men do not? A great wealth of choice. With sheer conception, Lawrence can stop the blood flow from open wounds by sealing and decommissioning arteries and blood vessels. Bleeding ultimately becomes a decision in and of itself, though actual damage which would normally precede bleeding cannot be stopped. This of course only extends to those body parts still connected, and does nothing for pain.Gained Here.
The Allure of Death: From Lawrence's body, he exudes an attractive aura that renders those close to Lawrence soft in the mind, the shape-shifter's very presence a soothing force. This is in part due to Lawrence exuding the chemicals of a minor opiate, and the shape-shifters very scent is a mild drug. Gained Here.
Equipment
A minister’s robes: Ordained in whites and reds he appears as a high member of a nondescript religion. This is mostly an arrangement of rich colors and rare fabrics always changing to avoid being recognized. The symbols he wears are likewise always shifting. They are always worn in a fashion that is easy to change or even strip off instantly should he need to flee.
White mask: A white face worn over his own. Its eyes are oddly emotive when worn seeming to widen and narrow with emotion and the lips smile kindly or draw back into a yellow toothed scowl. It’s a fine piece and made to last.
Chain mail: Rings of steel enclose his chest… and extend to his elbows and knees. Not the best armor but effective against most bladed weapons.
Idol of the Feline: A figurine of a cat cast in the motion of bounding, it is a figurine of green rock with simply a chain for means of security. It gives double dexterity and grace when it is worn. The catch is that it only doubles your base grace and base dexterity. Gained Here.
Tent: A large tarp and poles that fit together to cast it up and over. Ideal for those rainy nights or when those abominable stares glare down too brightly.
Mauvaisia: A rusted spear composition is as follows: A redwood was felled not long ago, and from its heart the shaft was carved, seven feet in length, two inch diameter. Its scarred surface has lost the polish and freshness of its birth as a fighting weapon, and the wounds that mar its supple wood are wounds of steel suffered with indomitable strength. At its bottom, it is fitted with a counter weight shaped in the form of a thice pronged bronze flame, and at its head is a blade that flares outward from the head of the wood, and down from its tapered tip to form something of a hand guard. It has a massive bronze spearhead too large for mortal men to reliably throw. It is a spear of combat, a spear of war. It possesses no special powers of any use, but it radiates the aura of a clearly dead demon, and those who have the power to sense evil will find it hard to distinguish the ambiance of this weapon from the subtleties of Lawrence Spades. Gained here.
Ten feet of chain: The total weight of thirty pounds speaks for the strength of this addition to Lawrence's inventory, in length it is a simple ten feet of thick rusted links. Gained here.
Stolen Virtue: This is a dirk acquired in a rather one-sided transaction between Artemis Eburi and our hero, Lawrence, after a quick duel. A work of excellent quality it is chiefly made of steel, an eight-inch blade tapering in all sides to leave it both trustworthy and keen. Forged with a cross-guard that extends over the fingers, it provides minimal protection for the dear hand that holds its leather grip. Utterly devoid of any patterns or designs, it has only the chiseled scar of “VIRTUE” engraved upon it. Seeing fit to acquire a full package, Lawrence also appropriated from his opponent the sheath, a black lacquered wood with a chain to for ease of convenience… of course, that is if chains and weapons are the fashion of the time. Gained Here
Black Mesa: An eggshell white short sword of twenty five inches with an ebony hilt riveted with bronze, and an extremely sharp edge. Similar to a gladius, it has a stout blade and a fat pommel.
The blade’s composition includes dysprosium titanate, tungsten, boron, hafnium, and at least several other metals and minerals, which have no earthly analogs. Made from the shell of Egr’msalchek’s egg it has absorbed the unadulterated solar radiation of dead stars. It has been vulcanized by the very heat of entry into our world, and the subsequent earth shattering collision with the sea floor.
It corrupts blood into poison, causes a number of diseases from leukemia to cancer which will quickly metastasize. As time has gone by over the years, it has been proven that the blade is getting hotter. Healing is by no means ever quick or painless.
No one knows exactly where Lawrence keeps it, but it is always in his hand when needed. (Third paragraph locked till later levels.)(Currently as strong as steel.)
Familiar:
Egr’msatchek: That monster from so long ago has grown quite large, but still needs to feed before it can leave this forsaken world. Capable of much, she chooses to sleep on the ocean bed, her breaths causing new currents to form. Outside the waking world her dreams are clairvoyant and it watches this earth constantly an eye always on his faithful servant. Though it has some affection it will rarely come to his aid simply thinking of him as entertainingly expendable. To describe her is all her magnificence is impossible the sheer scope of it all being too much, rather she is seen in only the closest details. Her deft, sinuous reaching tentacles are beyond compare. Egr’msatchek’s many mouths are ringed with teeth to shame the finest steel. Nearly a dozen glowing yellow eyes watch the world unblinking. To be perfectly clear, Lawrence is her familiar, a familiar willing to destroy the world for her affections.
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