Erik Dranglein, Sage Bound to the Flame
Name: Erik Dranglein
Nickname/Alias: Lightning Priest, Sage
Age: Unknown. Centuries at best estimate.
Race: Hollow
Height: 6'8''
Weight: 265 lbs
Occupation: Wandering Sage
Personality:
Pragmatic, quiet, and studious. Erik has seen and endured much - but traveling to a new world is unique to him. So he seeks to learn and study this new place, this strange new land.
History:
Erik is a member of the race of Hollows, or Undead. Bound by an eternal curse, he is cast out from death and cannot find its embrace. So he has wandered for ages, exploring the far reaches of his world and learning, ever studying, advancing his knowledge of arcane arts and trades. He shunned the call many of his kind heeded, and did his best to avoid falling into the unending cycle that they are bound to; but eventually his refusal to heed his gods' decrees was noticed. In punishment, his powers were sealed and he was cast away - not such an ordeal it would seem, save for one thing. Banishing him from his world, from the cycle that it is caught within, has forevermore doomed him to life unending. The chance of release no longer exists for him as he knows it - leaving Erik a tad bitter. Still, despite this, he has found himself in a new land for the first time in many, many years, and he is eager to see what secrets this place holds. The adventurer's blood that once flowed in his veins has quickened once more, and he heeds the call to explore.
Appearance:
When he appears Human, Erik is a stout, well-built man with dark brown hair and light blue eyes. Tanned skin and a wide smile are often seen, and though he doesn't speak often, when he does he possesses a pleasantly light baritone. When he is Hollowed though, his flesh is rotten and decaying, sinking inwards as his state deteriorates. At its worst, his skin is so tight across his bones that each and every muscle, sinew, vein, and artery can be seen in clear detail. His voice in this form is a rasping, ugly thing, and he almost never speaks if he can help it. His eyes become pitted husks, and inside of them burns an eldritch flame, pinpricks of an intense white that looks like it should burn him from the inside out.
In either form, he tends to wear voluminous robes - covering up the armor he wears beneath it quite handily. The robes are pale blue and white; and billowy, and have a hood that he throws back when human, but keeps tight about his head when Hollow.
Skills:
Survivalist: While he cannot die permanently, Erik can 'die'. To prevent this when ranging away from civilization, he has trained to recognize poisonous plants and animals, to avoid eating them. He can cook, but his meals are oriented solely towards providing nutrition - their flavor tends to be lacking.
Combat Trained: Erik Has learned how to use many weapons to some degree of proficiency. His preferred choice, when not using a catalyst, are usually a shield and long sword. He is lacking however, in how to use ranged combat - when at range, he tends to prefer using his magical abilities.
Teacher: As a wandering Sage, Erik has been asked many times to teach others what he knows. While he may not be the best at this, he has trained and been somewhat successful in teaching others. As he knows several branches of magic, he tends to specialize in teaching others to be generalized in their magic, but also in how to unlock it if they possess it but cannot already use it.
Sage Arts: Erik has studied for a long, long time. While his powers are locked to him, his knowledge can never be rent asunder. While he is still learning about Althanas and its unique peculiarities, even now he can recognize many different things, even if they are not the exact same as he once knew.
Abilities:
Bound to the Flame:
Erik suffers the Curse of Undeath. When he dies, it is not permanent - instead it saps his sanity, and his vitality, forcing him ever more into a Hollow - unless he can survive long enough to regain what he once lost. The damage to his mind and Soul are less immediate than those to his flesh - often allowing him to return and use his hard-gained knowledge against the foe that just slew him. While in his world this was common, here it is a tad more unexpected. Additionally, he does not come back at the exact location of his death - instead he awakens at the last place he slept.
Currently takes a full day for Erik to bring himself back to life. This power is primarily meant for story-threads.
Sage Arts: Miracles of Lightning
The first of the Sage Arts that Erik managed to recover. In his land, tales of the Gods invoke their powers - usually in the form of Lightning, or Healing. While Erik can use the Miracles once more, he is still restricted to rudimentary abilities at best. This irks him.
Known Spells
Lightning Bolt - From his catalyst, a javelin of weak lightning forms around Erik's hand. He can then hurl this bolt to blast a foe with electricity. Uses Per Day/Thread: 3; slightly stronger than a normal personal level taser - one javelin will injure and debilitate a target, two will incapacitate. Strikes are effective so long as they hit the body - no specific area grants increased damage.
Minor Heal Erik kneels and utters a prayer, invoking the power of the Gods to restore him. This is greatly reduced in efficacy in Althanas, but the Gods do still heed the prayer - and a small circle appears on the ground around Erik, and heals those within it. Range: 3 feet. Minor wounds are healed, moderate wounds are reduced to minor, cannot affect severe or grievous injuries or broken bones. Uses per day: 3
Equipment/Weapons:
Iron Longsword: A simple weapon, designed and maintained sheerly for functionality. A four foot long blade, with a six inch crossguard and a simple leather wrapped handle. Basic, plain, and effective at its task, which is all Erik cares about from it.
Iron Shield: A simple iron kite shield, with straps on the inside to allow Erik to have the shield run from his elbow to his hand. While the grip is different from a normal shield's it has no other special functionalities aside from being designed with his combat style in mind.
Silver-filigreed Chime: An iron cross with silver decoration upon it, and with two small simple bells hanging from the sides. This item is Erik's primary catalyst for his Miracles, and he often uses it to focus them for effect.
