TwinDeath
12-17-08, 10:48 PM
Name: Xaul Knofker
Age: Unknown and unidentifiable. Xaul looks anywhere from 25 to 45 under his scars and tattoos, and does not know his own age thanks to the time period in which he was under Resheph’s influence.
Race: Human
Height: 6' 2"
Hair Color: Grey-black.
Eye Color: Deep Blue.
Weight:187 lbs.
Personality: When he is not fighting, Xaul is intelligent, honorable and loyal, but only for those who win his trust. When he is in a fight and his Kounnar activates, though, Xaul is insane. He is feared by the entire world in this state, if only because he is completely unpredictable. A demon in every sense of the word, Xaul in full bloodlust enjoys slaughter and torture, and will fight whomever he wants. This is due to Resheph’s influence on Xaul.
Appearance: Xaul is a thin, shadowy presence swathed in a tattered leather trench coat. He has dusky black skin that is almost transparent with black hair and dark eyes, legacies from Resheph’s influence. Also, his entire body is covered in ritual scars from the many modifications made to his body to allow him to contain Resheph, as well as normal scars that accumulated from the years of fighting. Xaul normally wears dark tattered clothes that hide him almost completely when he is in darkness. In the day, these clothes are shabby and ugly, but do a very good job of hiding the chain mesh that he wears underneath. Over everything, Xaul's favorite item is a beaten, battered, and oft-repaired dark leather greatcoat.
Weapons:
Basic: Ten throwing knives, six bags of caltrops, and a light net. With no magical effects to any of them, these weapons are Xaul’s backups. The net is about three feet square, and is kept folded in a pocket of Xaul’s coat. Each bag of caltrops can cover a four foot diameter circle, piercing the foot of anyone careless enough to step on them. The throwing knives are small and light enough to be thrown very quickly and accurately, although they lose some damage because of this.
Drshil and Haingre, two hooded splitting Katars (favored weapons). These are linked to Kounnar, with the increasing level of rage fueling their effects. Both are basic steel katars that have been warped by Resheph’s presence.
Drshil causes a wound to hurt more than normal, increasing with time. At higher levels, Drshil can cause pain simply from proximity, and even cause old scars to re-open. Xaul is immune to this pain. Drshil’s blades are jagged and sharp, with cruel spikes covering the top and sides of the hood.
Haingre causes a wound to instantly begin rotting, and leaves a horrific stench in its wake. This rot can be stopped by removing the affected area, through various curative processes, or any method of sterilizing the wound. Xaul has become used to the smell after years of use. Also, Haingre can cause metal to rust, and wood to rot, simply through contact. Haingre’s blades are twisting and sinuous, twining their way down to the hood, which has an open, slavering mouth thrusting out of it.
Armor: Xaul eschews heavy armor, preferring instead to simply move out of the way. To this end, he wears several layers of ragged shirts, hoping that enemy weapons will catch in the fabric.
Coat: Xaul's favorite coat is magically enhanced to offer some protection from all forms of energy, granting 2.25x resistance to magic and energy-based weaponry. Can take a maximum of three shots from light hand weapons. (Anything other than light hand weapons or the magical equivalent will get through.) The ripped, torn, and repaired coat drapes itself around Xaul’s shoulders, the shadowy colorless hide making him look not unlike a carrion crow.
Chain Mesh: Light steel chainmail that can turn knives and some arrows. Unremarkable other than the fact that it is hidden under the ragged shirts.
Boots – standard leather, but have treaded soles for grip, and have thin metal plates in the soles to allow Xaul to ignore his own caltrops.
Bio: In his small village, Xaul lived a peaceful life. He was a good farmer and a fine man, and nothing would change that. One day, though, he was out in the fields and saw smoke…
They came tearing across the fields, laughing brutes on wild horses. I was overrun, beaten to the ground as they whirled past me, their torches blackening the sky. I could hear the screams of those that were already dead, those that had not yet realized the truth of their wounds. Worse were the screams of the living, the women and children that were ripped from their homes, torn from their pasts and taken to a new life. They were the ones who were worse off. I lay in the field among my plantings, among the ruins of my old life, and raged silently at fate as I slipped away.
When I came to, I heard voices. “Brother,” one said, a woman, but not human. “This one is not fully in my realm, nor is he in yours. What say you?”
This time an inhuman man spoke. “His time is not yet done, sister. Leave him, he will be yours later.” They left soon after, and I could not call to them, to ask them what had happened.
I came to again, staring at a god. The bloody being, his form indescribable, leaned down and laughed at me. “You should be dead. You should be, but you’re not. Strong little man.” I blinked at him, and tried to speak, but only a pitiful croak left my mouth. He laughed again, his mirth booming across the field where I lay. “I’m dying too, little man. Little Xaul. Did you know that? Did you know that gods could die? Here we are, two dead beings, waiting for the sweet end… Except, I’m not ready for that. Neither are you. Unfinished business, yes? Want to find the people who killed your family? Let me help. Accept me in, and I will give you my power. In return, you will give me the chance to live on, with you as my avatar.” Tears streaming from my eyes as I thought of my village, I nodded, and the god Resheph flowed into me.
The next thirty years saw one of the bloodiest wars in history, especially considering that one side consisted of only one man. What do you expect, when someone cannot die? What do you expect, when spells simply slide around their intended target? What do you expect, when you make the perfect fighting machine hate you? What can you do, but die? Xaul and Resheph went on a rampage across the lands, mercilessly slaughtering every bandit and brigand they found.
Eventually, Xaul realized what he was doing. Waging a battle in his own mind, he traveled across the lands, fighting to regain control of himself from Resheph. Somehow, he found his way to the Monks of the Banir, who, for their own reasons, took Xaul in, caring for him and quenching the pyre of hate that had fuelled his very existence. At the hands of the Banir, Xaul learned about Honor and Chivalry, ideals that he took to heart. The Banir are the people who laid the Kounnar spell on Xaul, and they are the ones who kept him sane. While he knew hat he owed them much, they simply told him to repay his debt by “aiding others, as we have done for you.” With this new purpose, Xaul went out into the world once more, this time his own man.
Soon Resheph began to whisper in Xaul's ear once more. I may have lost control of you, little Xaul, but I'm still here. You know, there is a way to rid yourself of me. Go through the Rift, and fight in the tournament. Win, and get one wish. Xaul raced to the Rift that had appeared in front of him, not hearing Resheph speak again. Lose, and you will have to unleash me once more...
Skills:
Fighting Style: Xaul is constantly in motion during a fight, always landing light hits and harrying his opponent, until he sees an opportunity, in which case he will dive in and strike. Also, he will often pull items like caltrops or a net out of his coat's pockets and use them to his best advantage. Xaul will employ lateral thinking in many fights, allowing him to gain the upper hand through an unorthodox move or three.
Katars – Mastered, but becomes beyond masterful if Kounnar is activated enough.
Knives – for throwing, Xaul is advanced. If held, Xaul is merely a low above average.
Unarmed – given that the motions and techniques for using katars closely mirror unarmed combat, Xaul has become an expert with this skill, using powerful, brutal strikes to quickly incapacitate his foes.
Dual Nature: Xaul can allow Resheph to exert a little more influence over him in order to effectively add another presence to a battlefield, distracting and disorientating mages and ESPers who are sensitive to that sort of thing. This skill can only be used a few times, however, for fear of Resheph breaking free and returning to the world.
Abilities:
Kounnar: Xaul has terrible, horrible rage, another legacy from Resheph. This manifests mostly in fights, to the point of taking over his body. When his rage manifests, glowing red sigils tattooed all over his body appear, an enchantment laid onto Xaul with his consent by the Banir. Without these tattoos, Xaul would revert to a state of pure fury, and Resheph would have full control over him. When the Kounnar is active, his fighting style becomes fiercer and more chaotic, to the point where it is very difficult to predict his movements. (One observer was heard to describe Xaul as a "Whirling Ragdoll of Death.") The Kounnar is linked to his two magic weapons, and directly affects the level of power that they have. It is notable that while fully possessed by Resheph, Xaul could apply these effects to any weapons, but this is no longer within his power.
Age: Unknown and unidentifiable. Xaul looks anywhere from 25 to 45 under his scars and tattoos, and does not know his own age thanks to the time period in which he was under Resheph’s influence.
Race: Human
Height: 6' 2"
Hair Color: Grey-black.
Eye Color: Deep Blue.
Weight:187 lbs.
Personality: When he is not fighting, Xaul is intelligent, honorable and loyal, but only for those who win his trust. When he is in a fight and his Kounnar activates, though, Xaul is insane. He is feared by the entire world in this state, if only because he is completely unpredictable. A demon in every sense of the word, Xaul in full bloodlust enjoys slaughter and torture, and will fight whomever he wants. This is due to Resheph’s influence on Xaul.
Appearance: Xaul is a thin, shadowy presence swathed in a tattered leather trench coat. He has dusky black skin that is almost transparent with black hair and dark eyes, legacies from Resheph’s influence. Also, his entire body is covered in ritual scars from the many modifications made to his body to allow him to contain Resheph, as well as normal scars that accumulated from the years of fighting. Xaul normally wears dark tattered clothes that hide him almost completely when he is in darkness. In the day, these clothes are shabby and ugly, but do a very good job of hiding the chain mesh that he wears underneath. Over everything, Xaul's favorite item is a beaten, battered, and oft-repaired dark leather greatcoat.
Weapons:
Basic: Ten throwing knives, six bags of caltrops, and a light net. With no magical effects to any of them, these weapons are Xaul’s backups. The net is about three feet square, and is kept folded in a pocket of Xaul’s coat. Each bag of caltrops can cover a four foot diameter circle, piercing the foot of anyone careless enough to step on them. The throwing knives are small and light enough to be thrown very quickly and accurately, although they lose some damage because of this.
Drshil and Haingre, two hooded splitting Katars (favored weapons). These are linked to Kounnar, with the increasing level of rage fueling their effects. Both are basic steel katars that have been warped by Resheph’s presence.
Drshil causes a wound to hurt more than normal, increasing with time. At higher levels, Drshil can cause pain simply from proximity, and even cause old scars to re-open. Xaul is immune to this pain. Drshil’s blades are jagged and sharp, with cruel spikes covering the top and sides of the hood.
Haingre causes a wound to instantly begin rotting, and leaves a horrific stench in its wake. This rot can be stopped by removing the affected area, through various curative processes, or any method of sterilizing the wound. Xaul has become used to the smell after years of use. Also, Haingre can cause metal to rust, and wood to rot, simply through contact. Haingre’s blades are twisting and sinuous, twining their way down to the hood, which has an open, slavering mouth thrusting out of it.
Armor: Xaul eschews heavy armor, preferring instead to simply move out of the way. To this end, he wears several layers of ragged shirts, hoping that enemy weapons will catch in the fabric.
Coat: Xaul's favorite coat is magically enhanced to offer some protection from all forms of energy, granting 2.25x resistance to magic and energy-based weaponry. Can take a maximum of three shots from light hand weapons. (Anything other than light hand weapons or the magical equivalent will get through.) The ripped, torn, and repaired coat drapes itself around Xaul’s shoulders, the shadowy colorless hide making him look not unlike a carrion crow.
Chain Mesh: Light steel chainmail that can turn knives and some arrows. Unremarkable other than the fact that it is hidden under the ragged shirts.
Boots – standard leather, but have treaded soles for grip, and have thin metal plates in the soles to allow Xaul to ignore his own caltrops.
Bio: In his small village, Xaul lived a peaceful life. He was a good farmer and a fine man, and nothing would change that. One day, though, he was out in the fields and saw smoke…
They came tearing across the fields, laughing brutes on wild horses. I was overrun, beaten to the ground as they whirled past me, their torches blackening the sky. I could hear the screams of those that were already dead, those that had not yet realized the truth of their wounds. Worse were the screams of the living, the women and children that were ripped from their homes, torn from their pasts and taken to a new life. They were the ones who were worse off. I lay in the field among my plantings, among the ruins of my old life, and raged silently at fate as I slipped away.
When I came to, I heard voices. “Brother,” one said, a woman, but not human. “This one is not fully in my realm, nor is he in yours. What say you?”
This time an inhuman man spoke. “His time is not yet done, sister. Leave him, he will be yours later.” They left soon after, and I could not call to them, to ask them what had happened.
I came to again, staring at a god. The bloody being, his form indescribable, leaned down and laughed at me. “You should be dead. You should be, but you’re not. Strong little man.” I blinked at him, and tried to speak, but only a pitiful croak left my mouth. He laughed again, his mirth booming across the field where I lay. “I’m dying too, little man. Little Xaul. Did you know that? Did you know that gods could die? Here we are, two dead beings, waiting for the sweet end… Except, I’m not ready for that. Neither are you. Unfinished business, yes? Want to find the people who killed your family? Let me help. Accept me in, and I will give you my power. In return, you will give me the chance to live on, with you as my avatar.” Tears streaming from my eyes as I thought of my village, I nodded, and the god Resheph flowed into me.
The next thirty years saw one of the bloodiest wars in history, especially considering that one side consisted of only one man. What do you expect, when someone cannot die? What do you expect, when spells simply slide around their intended target? What do you expect, when you make the perfect fighting machine hate you? What can you do, but die? Xaul and Resheph went on a rampage across the lands, mercilessly slaughtering every bandit and brigand they found.
Eventually, Xaul realized what he was doing. Waging a battle in his own mind, he traveled across the lands, fighting to regain control of himself from Resheph. Somehow, he found his way to the Monks of the Banir, who, for their own reasons, took Xaul in, caring for him and quenching the pyre of hate that had fuelled his very existence. At the hands of the Banir, Xaul learned about Honor and Chivalry, ideals that he took to heart. The Banir are the people who laid the Kounnar spell on Xaul, and they are the ones who kept him sane. While he knew hat he owed them much, they simply told him to repay his debt by “aiding others, as we have done for you.” With this new purpose, Xaul went out into the world once more, this time his own man.
Soon Resheph began to whisper in Xaul's ear once more. I may have lost control of you, little Xaul, but I'm still here. You know, there is a way to rid yourself of me. Go through the Rift, and fight in the tournament. Win, and get one wish. Xaul raced to the Rift that had appeared in front of him, not hearing Resheph speak again. Lose, and you will have to unleash me once more...
Skills:
Fighting Style: Xaul is constantly in motion during a fight, always landing light hits and harrying his opponent, until he sees an opportunity, in which case he will dive in and strike. Also, he will often pull items like caltrops or a net out of his coat's pockets and use them to his best advantage. Xaul will employ lateral thinking in many fights, allowing him to gain the upper hand through an unorthodox move or three.
Katars – Mastered, but becomes beyond masterful if Kounnar is activated enough.
Knives – for throwing, Xaul is advanced. If held, Xaul is merely a low above average.
Unarmed – given that the motions and techniques for using katars closely mirror unarmed combat, Xaul has become an expert with this skill, using powerful, brutal strikes to quickly incapacitate his foes.
Dual Nature: Xaul can allow Resheph to exert a little more influence over him in order to effectively add another presence to a battlefield, distracting and disorientating mages and ESPers who are sensitive to that sort of thing. This skill can only be used a few times, however, for fear of Resheph breaking free and returning to the world.
Abilities:
Kounnar: Xaul has terrible, horrible rage, another legacy from Resheph. This manifests mostly in fights, to the point of taking over his body. When his rage manifests, glowing red sigils tattooed all over his body appear, an enchantment laid onto Xaul with his consent by the Banir. Without these tattoos, Xaul would revert to a state of pure fury, and Resheph would have full control over him. When the Kounnar is active, his fighting style becomes fiercer and more chaotic, to the point where it is very difficult to predict his movements. (One observer was heard to describe Xaul as a "Whirling Ragdoll of Death.") The Kounnar is linked to his two magic weapons, and directly affects the level of power that they have. It is notable that while fully possessed by Resheph, Xaul could apply these effects to any weapons, but this is no longer within his power.