Slayer of the Rot
08-15-11, 08:52 PM
Name: Dan Lagh'ratham
Aliases/Nicknames: The Red Beast
Age: 32
Sex: Male
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 215 lbs.
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Right - Gray, Left - icy blue and azure
Occupation: Slayer, hunter, destroyer, traitor, "adventurer"
Personality: Greedy and intensely violent, Dan Lagh'ratham is motivated only by power, money, and the search for his daughter. He is noted infamously for his exceedingly violent responses to even the most minor of annoyances. Cocksure and arrogant to a fault, Dan does not believe that a force exists in the world that can (permanently) kill him; his blind fearlessness makes him extremely lethal when he has set his sights on a single target. He has shown numerous times that he will go to great lengths to acheive his goals, mutilating his own body to harbor relics and artifacts of power. Dan tends to make bad decisions quickly, choosing the wrong side for promises that always tend to be false, only for the hope that in the end, he will be reunited with his daughter again. He has developed, over the most recent years, an intense bloodlust, a nearly overwhelming drive to kill and destroy and feed, though at the moment, he has yet to wonder why, or investigate it. He enjoys it far too much; he does not simply enjoy battle, or the art of killing, he enjoys humiliating others in their defeat, often mutilating or destroying the corpses of the fallen. Despite it all though, he has never admitted, or even acknowledged that he has gone beyond even his own control, that he has become one of the greatest monsters of Althanas. He will unfailingly respond with an explosion of fury and brutality if kept from any of his vices. Dan is also very lazy, preferring to loun ge about and smoke drugs all day rather than work, and usually will refuse to fight or help oters unless provoked.
Appearance: Dan‘s appearance changes often due to his cellular control. Having little use for pretenses or vanities, he usually simply chooses to walk the world with his real face; a tired, pale man in his thirties, with black, slightly wavy hair, granite-gray eyes, and a thin lipped mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Time and violence has not aged him well, and it would be difficult to consider him a good looking man especially with the scars that carve abstract designs over his flesh. He is usually dressed in the Cremation Suit given to him by Xem'Zund, or the mandarin collared black vlince longcoat embroidered with red and marked with the Necromancer's Eye.
Weapons: Primarily, Dan enjoys the use of a large, mythril bladed great axe with a delyn core and haft. The weapon has a thick, cleaver like blade, which is forged of a heavier mythril ore than most weapons made with the metal, and thus has a duller, grayer shine to it.
While less used, the slayer also owns a prevalida kodachi, which is usually bound to his belt in the small of his back, and an iron revolver worn at the right side of his hip with approximately ninety lead bullets. He also owns a sword-mace, a weapon in the shape of a katana, with a curved, studded, cylindrical prevalida weight in place of the blade. It was designed to be used as a sword, playing to his personal strengths, while still allowing the option of breaking other weapons without damaging its own blade, as well as crushing bone instead of cleaving flesh.
((Purchased here. (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?21887-SuperBuick&highlight=)))
At a visit to the Auction House, on the same day he bought Tal'Erbaugh's Eye, Dan bid on a new item of interest - a knife the auctioneer called The Blade of Death. Dan gleefully bidded against Letho Ravenheart for the weapon, the lawman wanting to destroy the cursed thing, while Dan only wanted to possess the weapon and dominate it. The weapon is of titanium construction, with an odd looking, hollow, glass-like hilt. The legend behind the knife, as told to him by the auctioneer, tells of two lovers who were also warriors, one died in the midst of battle and it sent the other into a blood rage. He killed friend and foe alike until he found the gauntlet of his lover, spoke his own epitaph, and took his own life. If the legend is indeed true, the weapon has essentially been baptized in blood and fury and regret - concepts all too familiar to Dan. When held in hand, the blade pulls and pushes his hand, seeking out everything living and breathing around him in an intense and nearly incomparable bloodlust. It demands a sacrifice, two quarts of blood to be bound, and once it has had its fill, it will be finally sated. Of course, Dan has denied the weapon its fill repeatedly, greatly preferring it in its rampaging state. If the weilder sacrifices half his blood, and half another's, they will be telepathically linked to the other forever - Dan did so with the man he bought the weapon with, Eric Anglekos, though the man seems to have vanished, and his blood has disappeared from the knife's hilt. There is a small notch on the tip of the blade, and when thrust into the body of another, the blade drinks from the victim in this way, sucking their blood through the notch. It was sold with a gauntlet that calmed the weapon, but Dan did not recieve it.
((Won at the auction house here. (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?21125-The-Auction-House/page14)))
Armour: When he wishes to actually bother avoiding damage, he uses the Shield of Vanguard, a living shield of indeterminate material with the strength of mythril and unknown properties. The soul of a daemon was sealed into it several years ago, and its mouth is centered on the front of the shield. It’s fickle, and picks its owners of its volition, depending on strength. It has the power to chew up weak spells (lvl. 0-1), as well as projectiles such as arrows or bolts, and spit them back at the casters.
Dan also visited the bazaar quite recently and bought twenty four eight inch delyn rods. Using his terramancy's affinity with metals, and of course a knife, he has fused the rods with his body, implanting all of them into his extremities and torso (8 in his legs, 8 in his arms, 6 in his torso, 2 in his shoulders). Due to delyn's unique properties, the unusual and unorthodox "armor" acts as an anti-magic network for projectile magic - while they may not be able to ward off everything, they do their job well enough. The rods act basically the same as any normal delyn armor - a whole chestplate would have worked in the same manner - but the small size of the rods make them light, easy to wear under his suit, and are placed on the "hotspots" of the body, the places where people tend to aim when firing at another.
((Purchased here. (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?21887-SuperBuick&highlight=)))
Items:
Kikurin
A small jade plaque with three small, white indents carved into its otherwise ornately decorated face, this artifact, upon being invoked, allows Dan to become invisible to the naked eye, for five minutes at a time. Once all three indents return to the color of jade, however, the artifact must be exposed to moonlight for an entire night before recharging. Dan has impanted it into the very center of his chest.
Ether Band
A gold ring inset with three amber stones. Allows short distance teleportation of 8 to 10 feet per use. Inlaid with 3 amber stones which turn to onyx each time it is used to teleport. The stones may be used at once to teleport long distances, such as from The Citadel in Corone to Anebrilith in Raiaera. Requires three hours in direct sunlight to recharge its power after all of the stones turn to onyx. Dan has implanted this into the center of his right hand.
Angelic Emblem
A pair of silver plates, slightly dented, as wide as a man's spread hand. Used together, the plates emit a pair of ethereal wings which change appearances between possessors. The wings allow flight although draining the user's stamina as if actively flapping the wings - Maximum duration depending directly on possessor's stamina. The wings can be damaged as normal bird's wings would and require several hours of rest to repair the damage. Dan has implanted these directly into both his shoulder blades.
Smaug's Pipe
A long, thin, silver tobacco pipe once used by the great dragon when walking the human world in their sheep's skin. The pipe can of course be used to simply indulge in a nice smoke; however, whether it be simple enchantment or some of the dragon's power having worn off on the pipe, at least twice a day, upon taking a drag from its contents, its posessor may breathe a plume of fire while exhaling that can cause painful burns to anyone caught in the blast. In order for its power to recharge, the pipe must be set and left in hot coals for one hour.
((Purchased here. (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?21887-SuperBuick&highlight=)))
The Eye of Tal'Erbaugh
"The mummified eye of the Mystic Tal’Erbaugh still gazes at the world with an unnatural intensity. Its ice blue iris and surrounding area is still smeared with veined streaks of the azure blood of the man who the eye once belonged to, and if held in the palm of one’s hand the eye pulses uncomfortably, as if somehow still alive. If the Eye is set into a piece of jewelry and prominently displayed then it grants the wearer one use per day of the Mystic races signature Mystic Protection spell, completely blocking a single strike by forming a shield of glass around the wearer which fades once the attack is blocked. If the bearer of the Eye actually removes their own eye and replaces it with Tal’Erbaugh’s then the glass shield formed by the Mystic Protection spell actually explodes outwards into shards of glass as a living Mystic’s would, causing harm to everyone around the Eye’s owner unless their foes immediately drop to the ground."
The words straight from the mouth of the auctioneer himself, Dan of course cut out his own eye as soon as he purchased it, and replaced it with Tal'Erbaugh's plundered own. That means that once a day, Dan can surround his entire body in a shield of glass called Mystic Protection, the trademark of the Orlouge family. This shield will shatter outwardly in an implosion of wickedly sharp glass shards when struck by an external force, fileting any poor sucker that's standing around him.
((Won at the auction house here. (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?21125-The-Auction-House/page11)))
Cremation Suit
A minor gift from Xem'Zund for Kross/Dan's work against Cydonia, this is a black suit of slacks, suspenders, jacket, and a white shirt with it's collar turned up over the jacket. It is enchanted so that anything that would defile it (blood, ink, slime, mud, water, etc.) will simply roll off of it's surface. If it is ever damaged, the suit is capable of completely repairing itself, even if a small scrap of the original remains. It's been labeled the Cremation Suit, and there are obvious qualities hidden it yet to be exploited.
Audeamus Ring
One of the rings given to the members of the criminal organization Audaemus. This ring is Dan's own and holds the Saraelian hieroglyph for nothing inside of an unbreakable "glass" stud. The stud is white, and has the Saraelian symbol of "Genesis" in its center. The ring allows Dan to control an object's atomic structure by touch, but it's scope is very small at the moment.
Mass: Allows Dan to change either the size or weight of any object he touches. The object may be inanimate or animate, though if animate, he must have consent first. Dan may cause an object to either grow four times it's original size or diminish four times it's original size. It is the same for weight.
Strength Leaves
A set of three special leaves, which are taken from ground saturated with magic. Upon chewing these leaves, a person’s strength is doubled for an hour, as well as prevent them from succumbing to poisons. Additionally, after being chewed, if applied to wounds, the leaves help the healing process.
Skills
Non-Combat
Barbaric Knowledge
There aren't many who have ever met the slayer who would say that he exuded in intelligent air - and that's precisely how he likes it. While Dan may not be as polished or crammed full of equations and poems as a scholar from Beinost or the Radasanthian academies, he knows practically every legend and myth there is concerning each nation. He is familiar with the lore of many races and clans. He is also familiar with magic, and can recognize many common and uncommon spoken and written incantations, runes and glyphs - he may not be able to use it, but he has always taken notice when anyone has used it on him, or around him. And due to his time under the Forgotten One, Xem'zund, Dan has learned many things he shouldn't have, and also has some knowledge regarding the Eternal Tap and its nature and history.
Literacy
In his travels, Dan has learned to speak, read, and write a number of present, commonly spoken languages of Althanas, from, of course, the widely used Common to Raieran Elf to the Fallien tongue. His years spent amongst the people of the desert nation as Renuanupadin has allowed him to learn several different dialects of the languages which the tribes use. He has also learned the dead tongue of his Saraelian ancestors, and being at the side of Xem'zund helped him learn how to speak Infernal and Demonic tongues. While he's received no sorcerous training of any kind, Dan knows how to allow his elemental magic to leak into his voice, or press it into it if he wished, allowing his voice to give a greater impact than before.
Combat
War Machine
Dan has spent almost more than half his life in combat, his experiences intensifying in more recent years. It has shaped him to fit into a dangerous mold; he no longer flinches, or hesitates to spill blood, and seems to enjoy it. Dan has become legendary with a sword, though prefers his own blades (bones, kodachi, sword-mace). He's very well versed in the use of an axe and a knife, as well. While he has no discernable, specific discipline, Dan's mixture of savagery and massive brute strength makes him deadly in both unarmed and close combat.
Awareness
Being connected to the earth beneath his feet has given Dan a new outlook and insight. Some call it strategy, some call it paranoia, but Dan prefers to just look at it as being aware of your options at all times. Dan is always taking in his surroundings, always aware of what's around him, from the dirt beneath his feet to the stone cieling above him to the hills around him. He is fast to use anything and everything around his body as a weapon or shield, whether it's stone or another person.
Abilities
Greater Cellular Control
Dan's demon blood allows the activation of a thus dormant ability to regenerate damaged tissue. Wounds heal under the slayer's discretion, unless it is damage that hinders his ability to think to activate it (Such as a strong blow to the head). Thus, smaller wounds often go unnoticed or simply shrugged off.
((Smaller wounds, stabbing, surface cuts, light burns, and slight lacerations and the like, can be healed in a few minutes (1-2 posts). Larger wounds, such as severe burning, strong poisons, deep cuts, bullet wounds and the like can be healed within seven to eight minutes (3-4 posts).))
With a greater understanding of his body and blood’s complex working, Dan understands how to control the regrowth of dead and dying cells into new and different things. He can regress muscle tissue into fatty tissues to alter his shape, change the tone of his skin by forcing the pigments of the new skins cells into darker or lighter colors, remove or grow new scars, cause his hair to lighten, darken, become straight, wavy, or curly, or grow longer. He cannot change eye color, the sound of his voice, or finger prints oddly enough, however. Dan can now greatly accelerate the deterioration and regrowth of his cellular structure in such patterns that he could now be considered a shape shifter, and can change into any humanoid form he wishes, of any age or shape, though his eyes stay the same. Considering this is an enormous undertaking of his strange metabolism, he can only change form so many times before becoming fatigued, following the same principle as a coal furnace. If he runs out of energy while in another form, he will not change back to his normal shape, but stay in the changed form.
Slayer's Bond
Dan has acquired a strong connection with all of his weapons, even the most recent. He can summon them from thin air, and have it vanish in the same manner. Also, he can summon it to his hand if it is at most, thirty feet away. This skill has a chance to fail if Dan is attempting to summon the weapon(s) under situations of extreme duress or intense pain.
A greater understanding has come to him with the duration of time he has been familiar with this ability. Dan has realized that he is simply phasing his belongings into and out of a small pocket dimension, whose origins are unknown. Between transit from the pocket and current dimension, they are in a form of shapeless phantom particles, and form shape with Dan’s memories of them (If he should forget he possess a weapon, and tries to summon it later without a clear picture in his mind, he’ll only summon a perfectly square block of metal). With this knowledge, Dan has become capable of summoning some of his weapons in combined forms. He is incapable of summoning a combined weapon if it’s component is already in use in another, and if he doesn’t have a clear picture of the combined weapon in mind, he’ll simply summon the two normal individual weapons. A combined weapon is made of the strongest metal of the normal combined weapons (i.e. combo of steel chakram and delyn knife, get delyn ring knife)
The Black Noah A prevalida gunblade, fashioned more into the shape of a sword than it’s firearm component, this is a combination of Dan’s iron revolver and the prevalida kodachi. The blending of the black and blue metals create a shade of blue so dark that, when not in the light, it simply appears to be the color of coal. Its handle resembles a curved sword grip and hilt, with the trigger emerging just under the crossguards, with a metal knuckleguard running down its length. The body of the weapon resembles a five inch wide double edged sword, with its deadly tip replaced by the barrel of the gun.
Erupting Fist
Summoning up his new affinity with earth magic, Dan strikes the ground with either his fist or foot. The ground in a twelve foot radius shudders and cracks, cratering at impact as energy tears through it. Those of lower levels will receive large painful bruises and welts, as well as possibly broken bones, and will be thrown to the ground or into the air. Those of close or equal levels to Dan will receive lighter blows, but the result is still nonetheless painful. This can also be used in a linear attack; by swinging a weapon vertically, Dan can summon spines of stone to rise up from the earth and travel for a total of ten feet in a straight line to smash or cut anything its way.
Devour
A black tattoo now marks the top of Dan's tongue. It is the mark of The Mad Gourmand, and fits him well. Dan may now indiscriminately consume any material that has the misfortune of entering his mouth with no ill effects - including magic. He can swallow magic, projectile or otherwise, and be unharmed by it's effects so long as it falls close to his own power (lvl. 4 and below). Occassionally, the spell may become volatile while devoured, and may set off in Dan's mouth. Dan's teeth are capable of shattering and chewing up any material equal to or beneath the strength of damascus. Once down his throat, the material is showered with a powerful corrosive and quickly digested to fuel his incredible metabolism. Dan may devour up to six hundred pounds of material before feeling sick and nauseous from overeating. With his cellular control, he can also cause his jaws and teeth to grow five times their regular size to take larger bites. Dan cannot bite directly through magically created shields, however, unless they are able to be pierced through normal means. If he ingests materials made of wood, lower tier oak and yew will cause him to become nauseous, while higher tier woods like liviol will cause intense fever, internal bleeding, and other severe symptoms until exepelled from his system.
Bones of the Behemoth
This ability was first discovered when Dan began to change his size with his Cellular Control. It was noticed when he realized he was capable of altering the shape and size of his skeletal system at will. For now, he is hesitant in it's use, for fear that tampering with his bones may cause permanent deformation. Currently, Dan may produce two fixed blades from the back of his hand, the size of an average knife, or produce up to four "longswords" or two "head cleaving swords". Additionally, he can create plates of bone, no larger than his out spread hand, beneath his skin to act as armor - but no more than four at a time. These plates and blades are made of densely compacted calcium, and are the tensile strength of damascus. If he attempts to produce any additional swords beyond his limit, the arm he draws them from is immobile for the remainder of the thread. Through further experimentation, Dan discovered he was capable of producing radical, disgusting results by tampering with his skeletal structure. Through a great deal of concetration, the slayer is able remove his spine to use as a weapon. His cellular control allows him to instantly regrow the bones at an incredibly rapid rate, keeping him from paralyzing himself. The spine can be manipulated further once freed from the body, and can be used as either a spear or a whip by twisting the bones into blades, and even extend the column up to a length of eight feet. However, due to the energy and blood that must be expended into this act, he is only capable of doing it once in a great while (once in any thread, battle or quest), and can tend to be vulnerable while removing the spine.
Stone Heart
Dan's body has been strained to the breaking point so many times that it has actually adapted to his dangerous life. He can lose twice as much blood as the normal man before passing out, and greatly increases his pain tolerance, which means so long as he has a reason to, Dan will not stop rising to his feet until he is killed. His body produces practically no fatigue toxins during physical activity. Dan can exert himself for a period of three days time without sleep, food, or water before beginning to tire. His body is also highly resilient to damage, and the only ways to kill him seems to be immolation or decapitation – a pierced heart can be regenerated.
Titan's Body
Dan is six times stronger than a man who participates in intensive daily exercise, he is three times faster and agile than said man, and is able to bend/break/rip/destroy materials equal to or beneath damascus. With his newfound agility and balance, Dan is able to twist and contort his body into unnatural positions that no normal man could place himself into, save for a yoga practitioner. With this he’s able to avoid blows and make unorthodox attacks. Furthermore, Dan's five senses are more attuned to his surroundings than normal human beings, equating to the level of an elves.
Terramancy
The innate ability once possessed by all Terran Saraelians to manipulate the earthly elements, which include stone, dirt, plant life, sand, metal, and glass. Structures or items created by Dan with this ability have the strength of dehlar so long as he holds influence over them (if he would happen to drop a knife he created out of stone, it would break just like stone). His ability to manipulate metal is average, allowing him only to alter the direction or movement of metal with his signature on it (things belong to him) by employing magnetic fields. He can even simulate wingless flight by pushing against the earth. His ability to manipulate dirt is fairly simple; he can sterilize it and use it to help speed along the healing process of his wounds or others, and can either sterilize a forty by forty foot patch of land or force it to flourish. By touching plant life, he can either kill it or cause it to grow, or even mutate it (changing its natural colors, causing it to grow fruits that it otherwise wouldn’t, grow unnatural flowers, produce bioluminescent chemicals). Glass is a simple element to manipulate; Dan can create simple and complex statues amongst others. Dan also has a fairly decent control over the magnetic fields of Althanas, which was first exhibited in flight. He can now project his control in concussive blasts that manifest in a transparent, blurred ripple. The force of these blasts can create a ten by ten foot crater in the earth. The mass of earth he is capable of manipulating is tied directly to his physical strength - so a spell which cripples his body, will in extension, diminish his teremancy.
Saraelian Form [Root]
Dan’s birthright, after the Seal of the Hybrid was removed rather roughly by his brother, Dan bled out the blood that made him human and swallowed the earth to become a Terran. When invoking this form, Dan’s skin alters into demon hide (teir ten hide, comparable to sea serpent scale) and takes on the color of lead, with many cracks running through it, glowing green from an inner light. His eyes lose definition and burn a chartreuse color, and rough obsidian horns emerge from his forehead. While he remains in the form, both Soul Link and Cellular Control are locked, and any weapons currently summoned into reality with his Soul Link are dismissed. However, he is able to create a spear of strange jade stone that is warm to the touch, and has the tensile strength of steel. He can manipulate its form with his Terramancy, and add additional blades and spikes to its body. If broken, the spear can be remade.
As he has only just eased himself into his full power as a Saeralian, Dan can only hold this form for six posts at a time without risk to his body.
There are several changes to his biology with the ascension to a full blooded Saraelian demon. If kept out of the sun for more than three days, Dan’s body will essentially wilt; becoming skeletal, robbing him of all of his strength. This is a jealously guarded secret however, and he will give it to no one. More so, if he is resting in clean water, or in the sunlight, for over an hour, his wounds, even fatal injuries, will close. In the summer, his hair will darken to a black color, in the fall auburn, in the winter, a light brown streaked with gray, and in the spring, a rich brown.
Saraelian Form [Branch]*
A further mutation of his Saraelian D.N.A., its unknown if any of, at least, the Terran subrace of the species has been capable of achieving this next step in evolution. In this form, Dan’s height is increased by nine feet from his usual height, for a total of fifteen feet, and his mass is increased to nearly two tons. The lower half of his body takes on an equine form and dully shining chitinous plates the strength of young dragonhorn manifest on his lower body, torso, arms, and face. Though his strength remains doubled from its base amount in his human form, the real power of the Branch form is its new adaptability. Dan’s arms can alter their shape to meet with new, threatening situations. He can access the form of an axe, a shield, a three pronged short claw, and a lance. Additionally, he’s able to form a bow, and can form stone arrows with his Terramancy. The pull on the bow is nearly one ton of force. Though it’s unclear if it’s possible, it feels as though there’s even farther to go, beyond the Branch form.
*Must remain in the Root form for two posts before activation, lasts for four post.
History
It should have been another stupid, simple day. He should have gotten up, showered, dressed, ate breakfast, and went to school like any normal fifteen-year old. Instead, he woke up to a dead family, dead friends, zombies, demons, vampires, overturned cars, fires, and a gloomy, blood-rust colored sky. Though frightened out of his wits, one of the last surviving members of the human race, then known as Dan Wilson Gosnell, decided it would be best to stay on the move, and threw his shoes on, grabbed his keys, and ran out the door.
He had taken no more than two steps when something fell upon his back, knocking him to the ground. Hitting the ground hard, the soon-to-be slayer was stunned, numbingly feeling the rotting fingers clutch at his neck. As the putrid breath washed over his face, he cried out, wanting to live, and pushed, slamming his elbow into it's jaw. He was rewarded with a grunt, and a wet snap, and the thing tumbled off his back. Scrambling to his feet, Dan ran towards a police car, abandoned in the middle of the road, only looking back once. He wished he hadn't.
Scrabbling at the concrete walk was something that was impossible, a dead man, somehow animated. His skin was spongy, and fell off in places, colliding with a wet slap on the concrete. His filmy eyes rolled aimlessly in moldy sockets, trying to find its prey. It's broken jaw still moved, trying to snap chunks of something out of the air. He shuddered, and yanked open the cruiser's door.
In the seat sat a blood soaked body, the badge pinned to his shirt breast was the only thing that allowed Dan to identify him as an officer of the law. After hesitating, wary of the body, Dan snatched the dead man's .45, two extra clips, and slammed the door, running around the side of the house. He quickly started his car, and left his house forever.
Doubting that the gun would work on....zombies, the only word that came to mind, he set his destination as a nearby weapons shop, knowing they had good swords, daggers, and knives. The store was quiet, and during his search he remained unperturbed. Carrying arms and pocket full of weapons, Dan began to head to the door, but dropped them all when he noticed a glint of well tempered steel and lacquered cherry wood in the shadows of the storeroom.
It was a katana. A very well designed sturdy katana. Ignoring the other weapons, he took it and quickly left. Later, listening to an old, automated rock station on the radio, with the car stopped, Dan unsheathed the blade and looked it over. He was unaware that the blade was of the Wilmhearst Family Slayers, and was also unaware that he himself was Wilmhearst. He decided at that moment, as he sheathed the sword, that he would survive. And to do so, he would kill.
So, over the next eleven years, he gained expertise, scars, and muscle mass, burning away his child's fat. At twenty-five years old, he was a strong warrior, though ignorant socially, and was ready for greater opponents than what earth was offering him. It was then that news of the portal and the monks of Ai'brone reached his ears.
The monks had heard news finally of the tragedy of earth and had come to the devastated planet to offer refuge to the strongest. They boasted that their land, Althanas held some of the strongest that time could name, and intrigue, powerful weapons. Of course, this drew Dan like a moth to a candle flame, and before he knew it, he was on the green grass and under the blue sky of Althanas.
Over the next year, Dan learned he was of the Wilmhearst family, and their twenty-seventh generation. He crossed swords with many of Althanas' warriors, participated in both the Serenti and The Cell, aided the Alliance in the Bazaar War, coming out on the winning side, and enjoyed a brief stint as the second in command of the Order Within Chaos. During the course of The Cell, however, two of Althanas' most powerful killers came to his attention as a mercenary, bounty hunter, and slayer; Max Dirks, a man good with his gun, and Valentina Snow, a vicious cannibal who Dan discovered to be the Weendigo. Through way of a cheap shot, and a well placed shadow portal, both thrust him from the tournament and bought them his constant, vigilant, vengeance.
After the Cell, Dan began to train in the Citadel, felling a few powerful opponents, including Luc Kraus, an arrogant geomancer who strives to gain the slayer's respect. After he had his fill of battle, Dan joined the Black Hand, combat sign of the Red Hand and a clan of elite warriors. A few months later, he caught a messenger trying to sneak out of Keller Hall, hoping to avoid the man with the huge sword's attention. Dan learned from him that Lord Ithermoss was dying, and was at the half-drake's side in only a few moments. The Red Hand's founder gave him one of his first weapons, a broad-bladed iron katar, one of the many gifts given to others who had assembled. Inspired by Ithermoss’ rough life, the slayer set out again, even more determined to return the Earth to what it had been at one time.
After a money making scheme at a prize fighting ring whose name he forgets, Dan met the impossibly strong Godhand Striker, as well as Claire and Sonya, who were even stronger, to the point of ridiculousness. They're all currently living in his apartment at Radasanth. His strange feelings for Claire, and the trustworthy camaraderie of Godhand have made the slayer begin to rethink his outlook on life. Could an individual's life be precious? Something not to be taken away? Can he trust the three? If it came down to it, would he lay his life down for them? His heart says yes, but his instincts scream no. And his instincts have gotten him very far up to now.
However, this wasn't discovered yet as soon after, his workload began to make him buckle beneath it's weight. Gild vanished and Damon Kaosi took the title and position of Aegis, giving the slayer the position of The Captain of the Sword. Also, with the Shards of Valori suddenly coming to light, his free time was occupied by Theatre of War battles to acquire the shards. Soon after he registered for the Althanas Adventurer's Crown alongside Seth Dahlios and Oberon Detruire. The three, under the name of The Black Hand, were charged with finding the legendary Lightbringer, the Calan Silaer. It was no more than they set foot into Hrenta Nodos that several explosions rocked the city, and the Demon Army flooded it. They arrested the slayer and took him to Telas Bauhaus, the public execution grounds, and forced him to fight The Raven King, quite a bit more powerful, who he had believed to have killed years ago. When it was apparent Dan was on a fast track to a brutal death, he went through a bloody metamorphosis that showed his half demon characteristics all too well. After killing the monstrosity, Dan was set free due to ancient laws, and caught up to Seth. He passed out, and during this time, a mysterious Demon who was of a high rank in the Demon Army spirited the Lightbringer away to Salvar. After awakening, he had an urge to enter the crypt, were the reanimated corpse of the demon prince Prellatar told him of his past, and his Saraelian demon descendents, and gave light to the lies the Wilmhearst family had been telling him. After sealing the crypt to give Prellatar rest, Dan and Seth made way to Salvar and met up with Oberon, who had went ahead to follow the army. The three made a daring raid on the camp of the six thousand strong force, and just when it seemed they had recovered the legendary weapon, the mysterious demon appeared and broke it, revealing it to be fake. He froze time around the three, and locked them away to deal with them later. With a promise to recover the Lightbringer, and having been beaten so easily, a hellish fury is soon to be dropped onto Belial's head...
After being rescued by the Tel Quissir, Dan and the other two members of the Black Hand succeeded in spiriting away the Calan Silaer. However, during a council of all the teams and the monks in Radasanth, the demons came again, seeking the other Calans, and though fighting bravely, they were all incapacitated. Afterwards, they were liberated again, and the Black Hand broke away from the tournament, sick of the constant attack, and their position as the tournament's whipping boy. When Dan split off from Seth and Oberon, he went back to his apartment, and in the following weeks found himself tied up in an assassination attempt to kill him by the Phoenix Syndicate, who wanted him out of the way so they could use his genetically altered clones to take over the world. They also kidnapped the girl he was keeping an eye on, Linda, and despite his best efforts, she was killed by the Syndicate's head, Jaken, moments before his escape. In a rage, Dan killed Jaken with the Rotslayer and was nearly destroyed in a humungous blast that leveled the Syndicate's headquarters, the Tsukioke Bulding in the upper east end of Radasanth.
Feeling the need for reflection, and solitude, Dan retired to the sands of Fallien, not bothering to tell any of his acquaintances. Without hesitation, his twisted brother, Delerion, inserted himself into his usual life’s routine, and began to ruin his good reputation. Slowly at first, acting as a reckless vigilante, then made it come crashing down all at once, launching a brutal attack on Radasanth, sinking a ship with at least one thousand people aboard while engaged in a battle with a Wilmhearst slayer. Eventually, when news reached Dan’s ears, he rushed back to the place he called his home, and Delerion fled, leaving him with a life in shambles. With no way to fix the damage, and unable to track his brother, Dan left for Fallien again.
Three years pass, and Dan Lagh’ratham faded away.
In time, a tribe in Fallien comes to boast about a Hunter with the strength of a titan. He came namelessly, and when he had proven himself, they gave him the title of Renuanupadin, or Sand Searcher. The soldier’s of the desert nation, upon watching him kill Arta while on a sortie from the Keep, came to name him Ren the Beast. The man named Ren was distant to all, so it came as little surprise when he proposed a leave from the tribe, widely rumored to be one of either redemption or peregrination. He garbed himself in black, and left the sands...for now.
Suffering from numerous irrational thoughts, madness, and dangerous psychotic episodes, a misguided Dan Lagh’ratham formed a criminal ring named the Audeamus, using it to plague citizens and hatch insane plots. After his black outs and episodes became worse and even more frequent, he came to in the small cottage that his lover and daughter lived their pleasant lives in. After realizing he had murdered them both, a sobered Dan Lagh’ratham buried their bodies and set off East, in aimless, guilty wonder. It wasn’t long before his twin brother Derium met him and after a short skirmish, informed Dan that his daughter had at least escaped. Immediately, he began to talk as though the two had spent childhood together, and destroyed a seal keeping Dan from accessing his power. After a brush with death, Dan become a full blooded Saraelian and set forth into Althanas in a desperate for his child.
His efforts however proved to be fruitless. During a sweep of Raiaera, he had a curious dream; a dream of age old evil, talons, and a stone spear. The Forgotten One, Xem’Zund, had carved his mark in Dan’s heart with the promise of power and his assistance in the search for his daughter. Altering his appearance to a man with overlapping scars through his left eye down to his chin, and across his nose and over his left ear, Dan took the alias Kross and followed as a protector when Skie dan Sabrial, daughter of the Starslayer, tried to usher students of Istien out of the country. After a trying battle against one of the Necromancer’s servants, Cydonia, and with a small army gaining on them, Kross finally revealed his true colors and abducted Skie, intent on delivering her to Xem’Zund as a gift.
Dan took some time at this point to deal with some personal business of his own. After killing a half dragon by the name of Jame Whitizard, Dan entered the Dajas Pagoda at a Master level. During his tenure, he was challenged by Sarah Dahlios, one of the most hated parts of his past. After slaughtering her with little effort, Dan contacted his old ally, Luc Kraus, also taking occupancy in the Pagoda. Deciding that current world affairs were favorable, the two once more formed the organization, Audaemus, but found the rings gone when they went to retrieve them. The thieves were bitter agents of the first incarnation of the organization. Dan and Luc tracked them quickly and slaughtered them, though not before some of the rings were lost in a rift. At one point, the seal barring the Saraelian State and his ability to manipulate the earth returned, locking them temporarily.
The slayer's activities in recent times are widely unknown. Rarely seen, even in his ever favored Bazaar, Dan's seeming disappearance has set many of his enemies and the like at edge. He appeared only briefly as a favor to an old friend, Godhand Striker, to help the old mercenary destroy the remainder of Xem'zund's Necrosition. This is largely considered a rumor, since it's well know that the slayer is a part of the Necromancer's forces, but it is likely he aided in the massacre for his own means. During this time, it appears that he has managed to destroy part of the seal, giving him his terramancy back.
The fall of Xem'zund at least left Dan with a bitter taste in his mouth from the betrayal, and once again, nothing but himself at his disposal in his search. Changing his appearance entirely with his cellular control, Dan went into "hiding", taking stock of his options while gathering knowledge on artifacts and relics that may help him find Meredith, his daughter. His moment of respite did not last long; he is currently being hunted by the Raiaeran Bladesingers, presumably for his role in the last war.
((The mandatory tournament update for 3.0. I have addeed in his recent purchases, seperated his abilities and skills, removed an ability or two, added basic cosmetic skills, fleshed out his personality some. I didn't color the skills I added, but if you want me to, I will.))
Aliases/Nicknames: The Red Beast
Age: 32
Sex: Male
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 215 lbs.
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Right - Gray, Left - icy blue and azure
Occupation: Slayer, hunter, destroyer, traitor, "adventurer"
Personality: Greedy and intensely violent, Dan Lagh'ratham is motivated only by power, money, and the search for his daughter. He is noted infamously for his exceedingly violent responses to even the most minor of annoyances. Cocksure and arrogant to a fault, Dan does not believe that a force exists in the world that can (permanently) kill him; his blind fearlessness makes him extremely lethal when he has set his sights on a single target. He has shown numerous times that he will go to great lengths to acheive his goals, mutilating his own body to harbor relics and artifacts of power. Dan tends to make bad decisions quickly, choosing the wrong side for promises that always tend to be false, only for the hope that in the end, he will be reunited with his daughter again. He has developed, over the most recent years, an intense bloodlust, a nearly overwhelming drive to kill and destroy and feed, though at the moment, he has yet to wonder why, or investigate it. He enjoys it far too much; he does not simply enjoy battle, or the art of killing, he enjoys humiliating others in their defeat, often mutilating or destroying the corpses of the fallen. Despite it all though, he has never admitted, or even acknowledged that he has gone beyond even his own control, that he has become one of the greatest monsters of Althanas. He will unfailingly respond with an explosion of fury and brutality if kept from any of his vices. Dan is also very lazy, preferring to loun ge about and smoke drugs all day rather than work, and usually will refuse to fight or help oters unless provoked.
Appearance: Dan‘s appearance changes often due to his cellular control. Having little use for pretenses or vanities, he usually simply chooses to walk the world with his real face; a tired, pale man in his thirties, with black, slightly wavy hair, granite-gray eyes, and a thin lipped mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Time and violence has not aged him well, and it would be difficult to consider him a good looking man especially with the scars that carve abstract designs over his flesh. He is usually dressed in the Cremation Suit given to him by Xem'Zund, or the mandarin collared black vlince longcoat embroidered with red and marked with the Necromancer's Eye.
Weapons: Primarily, Dan enjoys the use of a large, mythril bladed great axe with a delyn core and haft. The weapon has a thick, cleaver like blade, which is forged of a heavier mythril ore than most weapons made with the metal, and thus has a duller, grayer shine to it.
While less used, the slayer also owns a prevalida kodachi, which is usually bound to his belt in the small of his back, and an iron revolver worn at the right side of his hip with approximately ninety lead bullets. He also owns a sword-mace, a weapon in the shape of a katana, with a curved, studded, cylindrical prevalida weight in place of the blade. It was designed to be used as a sword, playing to his personal strengths, while still allowing the option of breaking other weapons without damaging its own blade, as well as crushing bone instead of cleaving flesh.
((Purchased here. (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?21887-SuperBuick&highlight=)))
At a visit to the Auction House, on the same day he bought Tal'Erbaugh's Eye, Dan bid on a new item of interest - a knife the auctioneer called The Blade of Death. Dan gleefully bidded against Letho Ravenheart for the weapon, the lawman wanting to destroy the cursed thing, while Dan only wanted to possess the weapon and dominate it. The weapon is of titanium construction, with an odd looking, hollow, glass-like hilt. The legend behind the knife, as told to him by the auctioneer, tells of two lovers who were also warriors, one died in the midst of battle and it sent the other into a blood rage. He killed friend and foe alike until he found the gauntlet of his lover, spoke his own epitaph, and took his own life. If the legend is indeed true, the weapon has essentially been baptized in blood and fury and regret - concepts all too familiar to Dan. When held in hand, the blade pulls and pushes his hand, seeking out everything living and breathing around him in an intense and nearly incomparable bloodlust. It demands a sacrifice, two quarts of blood to be bound, and once it has had its fill, it will be finally sated. Of course, Dan has denied the weapon its fill repeatedly, greatly preferring it in its rampaging state. If the weilder sacrifices half his blood, and half another's, they will be telepathically linked to the other forever - Dan did so with the man he bought the weapon with, Eric Anglekos, though the man seems to have vanished, and his blood has disappeared from the knife's hilt. There is a small notch on the tip of the blade, and when thrust into the body of another, the blade drinks from the victim in this way, sucking their blood through the notch. It was sold with a gauntlet that calmed the weapon, but Dan did not recieve it.
((Won at the auction house here. (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?21125-The-Auction-House/page14)))
Armour: When he wishes to actually bother avoiding damage, he uses the Shield of Vanguard, a living shield of indeterminate material with the strength of mythril and unknown properties. The soul of a daemon was sealed into it several years ago, and its mouth is centered on the front of the shield. It’s fickle, and picks its owners of its volition, depending on strength. It has the power to chew up weak spells (lvl. 0-1), as well as projectiles such as arrows or bolts, and spit them back at the casters.
Dan also visited the bazaar quite recently and bought twenty four eight inch delyn rods. Using his terramancy's affinity with metals, and of course a knife, he has fused the rods with his body, implanting all of them into his extremities and torso (8 in his legs, 8 in his arms, 6 in his torso, 2 in his shoulders). Due to delyn's unique properties, the unusual and unorthodox "armor" acts as an anti-magic network for projectile magic - while they may not be able to ward off everything, they do their job well enough. The rods act basically the same as any normal delyn armor - a whole chestplate would have worked in the same manner - but the small size of the rods make them light, easy to wear under his suit, and are placed on the "hotspots" of the body, the places where people tend to aim when firing at another.
((Purchased here. (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?21887-SuperBuick&highlight=)))
Items:
Kikurin
A small jade plaque with three small, white indents carved into its otherwise ornately decorated face, this artifact, upon being invoked, allows Dan to become invisible to the naked eye, for five minutes at a time. Once all three indents return to the color of jade, however, the artifact must be exposed to moonlight for an entire night before recharging. Dan has impanted it into the very center of his chest.
Ether Band
A gold ring inset with three amber stones. Allows short distance teleportation of 8 to 10 feet per use. Inlaid with 3 amber stones which turn to onyx each time it is used to teleport. The stones may be used at once to teleport long distances, such as from The Citadel in Corone to Anebrilith in Raiaera. Requires three hours in direct sunlight to recharge its power after all of the stones turn to onyx. Dan has implanted this into the center of his right hand.
Angelic Emblem
A pair of silver plates, slightly dented, as wide as a man's spread hand. Used together, the plates emit a pair of ethereal wings which change appearances between possessors. The wings allow flight although draining the user's stamina as if actively flapping the wings - Maximum duration depending directly on possessor's stamina. The wings can be damaged as normal bird's wings would and require several hours of rest to repair the damage. Dan has implanted these directly into both his shoulder blades.
Smaug's Pipe
A long, thin, silver tobacco pipe once used by the great dragon when walking the human world in their sheep's skin. The pipe can of course be used to simply indulge in a nice smoke; however, whether it be simple enchantment or some of the dragon's power having worn off on the pipe, at least twice a day, upon taking a drag from its contents, its posessor may breathe a plume of fire while exhaling that can cause painful burns to anyone caught in the blast. In order for its power to recharge, the pipe must be set and left in hot coals for one hour.
((Purchased here. (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?21887-SuperBuick&highlight=)))
The Eye of Tal'Erbaugh
"The mummified eye of the Mystic Tal’Erbaugh still gazes at the world with an unnatural intensity. Its ice blue iris and surrounding area is still smeared with veined streaks of the azure blood of the man who the eye once belonged to, and if held in the palm of one’s hand the eye pulses uncomfortably, as if somehow still alive. If the Eye is set into a piece of jewelry and prominently displayed then it grants the wearer one use per day of the Mystic races signature Mystic Protection spell, completely blocking a single strike by forming a shield of glass around the wearer which fades once the attack is blocked. If the bearer of the Eye actually removes their own eye and replaces it with Tal’Erbaugh’s then the glass shield formed by the Mystic Protection spell actually explodes outwards into shards of glass as a living Mystic’s would, causing harm to everyone around the Eye’s owner unless their foes immediately drop to the ground."
The words straight from the mouth of the auctioneer himself, Dan of course cut out his own eye as soon as he purchased it, and replaced it with Tal'Erbaugh's plundered own. That means that once a day, Dan can surround his entire body in a shield of glass called Mystic Protection, the trademark of the Orlouge family. This shield will shatter outwardly in an implosion of wickedly sharp glass shards when struck by an external force, fileting any poor sucker that's standing around him.
((Won at the auction house here. (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?21125-The-Auction-House/page11)))
Cremation Suit
A minor gift from Xem'Zund for Kross/Dan's work against Cydonia, this is a black suit of slacks, suspenders, jacket, and a white shirt with it's collar turned up over the jacket. It is enchanted so that anything that would defile it (blood, ink, slime, mud, water, etc.) will simply roll off of it's surface. If it is ever damaged, the suit is capable of completely repairing itself, even if a small scrap of the original remains. It's been labeled the Cremation Suit, and there are obvious qualities hidden it yet to be exploited.
Audeamus Ring
One of the rings given to the members of the criminal organization Audaemus. This ring is Dan's own and holds the Saraelian hieroglyph for nothing inside of an unbreakable "glass" stud. The stud is white, and has the Saraelian symbol of "Genesis" in its center. The ring allows Dan to control an object's atomic structure by touch, but it's scope is very small at the moment.
Mass: Allows Dan to change either the size or weight of any object he touches. The object may be inanimate or animate, though if animate, he must have consent first. Dan may cause an object to either grow four times it's original size or diminish four times it's original size. It is the same for weight.
Strength Leaves
A set of three special leaves, which are taken from ground saturated with magic. Upon chewing these leaves, a person’s strength is doubled for an hour, as well as prevent them from succumbing to poisons. Additionally, after being chewed, if applied to wounds, the leaves help the healing process.
Skills
Non-Combat
Barbaric Knowledge
There aren't many who have ever met the slayer who would say that he exuded in intelligent air - and that's precisely how he likes it. While Dan may not be as polished or crammed full of equations and poems as a scholar from Beinost or the Radasanthian academies, he knows practically every legend and myth there is concerning each nation. He is familiar with the lore of many races and clans. He is also familiar with magic, and can recognize many common and uncommon spoken and written incantations, runes and glyphs - he may not be able to use it, but he has always taken notice when anyone has used it on him, or around him. And due to his time under the Forgotten One, Xem'zund, Dan has learned many things he shouldn't have, and also has some knowledge regarding the Eternal Tap and its nature and history.
Literacy
In his travels, Dan has learned to speak, read, and write a number of present, commonly spoken languages of Althanas, from, of course, the widely used Common to Raieran Elf to the Fallien tongue. His years spent amongst the people of the desert nation as Renuanupadin has allowed him to learn several different dialects of the languages which the tribes use. He has also learned the dead tongue of his Saraelian ancestors, and being at the side of Xem'zund helped him learn how to speak Infernal and Demonic tongues. While he's received no sorcerous training of any kind, Dan knows how to allow his elemental magic to leak into his voice, or press it into it if he wished, allowing his voice to give a greater impact than before.
Combat
War Machine
Dan has spent almost more than half his life in combat, his experiences intensifying in more recent years. It has shaped him to fit into a dangerous mold; he no longer flinches, or hesitates to spill blood, and seems to enjoy it. Dan has become legendary with a sword, though prefers his own blades (bones, kodachi, sword-mace). He's very well versed in the use of an axe and a knife, as well. While he has no discernable, specific discipline, Dan's mixture of savagery and massive brute strength makes him deadly in both unarmed and close combat.
Awareness
Being connected to the earth beneath his feet has given Dan a new outlook and insight. Some call it strategy, some call it paranoia, but Dan prefers to just look at it as being aware of your options at all times. Dan is always taking in his surroundings, always aware of what's around him, from the dirt beneath his feet to the stone cieling above him to the hills around him. He is fast to use anything and everything around his body as a weapon or shield, whether it's stone or another person.
Abilities
Greater Cellular Control
Dan's demon blood allows the activation of a thus dormant ability to regenerate damaged tissue. Wounds heal under the slayer's discretion, unless it is damage that hinders his ability to think to activate it (Such as a strong blow to the head). Thus, smaller wounds often go unnoticed or simply shrugged off.
((Smaller wounds, stabbing, surface cuts, light burns, and slight lacerations and the like, can be healed in a few minutes (1-2 posts). Larger wounds, such as severe burning, strong poisons, deep cuts, bullet wounds and the like can be healed within seven to eight minutes (3-4 posts).))
With a greater understanding of his body and blood’s complex working, Dan understands how to control the regrowth of dead and dying cells into new and different things. He can regress muscle tissue into fatty tissues to alter his shape, change the tone of his skin by forcing the pigments of the new skins cells into darker or lighter colors, remove or grow new scars, cause his hair to lighten, darken, become straight, wavy, or curly, or grow longer. He cannot change eye color, the sound of his voice, or finger prints oddly enough, however. Dan can now greatly accelerate the deterioration and regrowth of his cellular structure in such patterns that he could now be considered a shape shifter, and can change into any humanoid form he wishes, of any age or shape, though his eyes stay the same. Considering this is an enormous undertaking of his strange metabolism, he can only change form so many times before becoming fatigued, following the same principle as a coal furnace. If he runs out of energy while in another form, he will not change back to his normal shape, but stay in the changed form.
Slayer's Bond
Dan has acquired a strong connection with all of his weapons, even the most recent. He can summon them from thin air, and have it vanish in the same manner. Also, he can summon it to his hand if it is at most, thirty feet away. This skill has a chance to fail if Dan is attempting to summon the weapon(s) under situations of extreme duress or intense pain.
A greater understanding has come to him with the duration of time he has been familiar with this ability. Dan has realized that he is simply phasing his belongings into and out of a small pocket dimension, whose origins are unknown. Between transit from the pocket and current dimension, they are in a form of shapeless phantom particles, and form shape with Dan’s memories of them (If he should forget he possess a weapon, and tries to summon it later without a clear picture in his mind, he’ll only summon a perfectly square block of metal). With this knowledge, Dan has become capable of summoning some of his weapons in combined forms. He is incapable of summoning a combined weapon if it’s component is already in use in another, and if he doesn’t have a clear picture of the combined weapon in mind, he’ll simply summon the two normal individual weapons. A combined weapon is made of the strongest metal of the normal combined weapons (i.e. combo of steel chakram and delyn knife, get delyn ring knife)
The Black Noah A prevalida gunblade, fashioned more into the shape of a sword than it’s firearm component, this is a combination of Dan’s iron revolver and the prevalida kodachi. The blending of the black and blue metals create a shade of blue so dark that, when not in the light, it simply appears to be the color of coal. Its handle resembles a curved sword grip and hilt, with the trigger emerging just under the crossguards, with a metal knuckleguard running down its length. The body of the weapon resembles a five inch wide double edged sword, with its deadly tip replaced by the barrel of the gun.
Erupting Fist
Summoning up his new affinity with earth magic, Dan strikes the ground with either his fist or foot. The ground in a twelve foot radius shudders and cracks, cratering at impact as energy tears through it. Those of lower levels will receive large painful bruises and welts, as well as possibly broken bones, and will be thrown to the ground or into the air. Those of close or equal levels to Dan will receive lighter blows, but the result is still nonetheless painful. This can also be used in a linear attack; by swinging a weapon vertically, Dan can summon spines of stone to rise up from the earth and travel for a total of ten feet in a straight line to smash or cut anything its way.
Devour
A black tattoo now marks the top of Dan's tongue. It is the mark of The Mad Gourmand, and fits him well. Dan may now indiscriminately consume any material that has the misfortune of entering his mouth with no ill effects - including magic. He can swallow magic, projectile or otherwise, and be unharmed by it's effects so long as it falls close to his own power (lvl. 4 and below). Occassionally, the spell may become volatile while devoured, and may set off in Dan's mouth. Dan's teeth are capable of shattering and chewing up any material equal to or beneath the strength of damascus. Once down his throat, the material is showered with a powerful corrosive and quickly digested to fuel his incredible metabolism. Dan may devour up to six hundred pounds of material before feeling sick and nauseous from overeating. With his cellular control, he can also cause his jaws and teeth to grow five times their regular size to take larger bites. Dan cannot bite directly through magically created shields, however, unless they are able to be pierced through normal means. If he ingests materials made of wood, lower tier oak and yew will cause him to become nauseous, while higher tier woods like liviol will cause intense fever, internal bleeding, and other severe symptoms until exepelled from his system.
Bones of the Behemoth
This ability was first discovered when Dan began to change his size with his Cellular Control. It was noticed when he realized he was capable of altering the shape and size of his skeletal system at will. For now, he is hesitant in it's use, for fear that tampering with his bones may cause permanent deformation. Currently, Dan may produce two fixed blades from the back of his hand, the size of an average knife, or produce up to four "longswords" or two "head cleaving swords". Additionally, he can create plates of bone, no larger than his out spread hand, beneath his skin to act as armor - but no more than four at a time. These plates and blades are made of densely compacted calcium, and are the tensile strength of damascus. If he attempts to produce any additional swords beyond his limit, the arm he draws them from is immobile for the remainder of the thread. Through further experimentation, Dan discovered he was capable of producing radical, disgusting results by tampering with his skeletal structure. Through a great deal of concetration, the slayer is able remove his spine to use as a weapon. His cellular control allows him to instantly regrow the bones at an incredibly rapid rate, keeping him from paralyzing himself. The spine can be manipulated further once freed from the body, and can be used as either a spear or a whip by twisting the bones into blades, and even extend the column up to a length of eight feet. However, due to the energy and blood that must be expended into this act, he is only capable of doing it once in a great while (once in any thread, battle or quest), and can tend to be vulnerable while removing the spine.
Stone Heart
Dan's body has been strained to the breaking point so many times that it has actually adapted to his dangerous life. He can lose twice as much blood as the normal man before passing out, and greatly increases his pain tolerance, which means so long as he has a reason to, Dan will not stop rising to his feet until he is killed. His body produces practically no fatigue toxins during physical activity. Dan can exert himself for a period of three days time without sleep, food, or water before beginning to tire. His body is also highly resilient to damage, and the only ways to kill him seems to be immolation or decapitation – a pierced heart can be regenerated.
Titan's Body
Dan is six times stronger than a man who participates in intensive daily exercise, he is three times faster and agile than said man, and is able to bend/break/rip/destroy materials equal to or beneath damascus. With his newfound agility and balance, Dan is able to twist and contort his body into unnatural positions that no normal man could place himself into, save for a yoga practitioner. With this he’s able to avoid blows and make unorthodox attacks. Furthermore, Dan's five senses are more attuned to his surroundings than normal human beings, equating to the level of an elves.
Terramancy
The innate ability once possessed by all Terran Saraelians to manipulate the earthly elements, which include stone, dirt, plant life, sand, metal, and glass. Structures or items created by Dan with this ability have the strength of dehlar so long as he holds influence over them (if he would happen to drop a knife he created out of stone, it would break just like stone). His ability to manipulate metal is average, allowing him only to alter the direction or movement of metal with his signature on it (things belong to him) by employing magnetic fields. He can even simulate wingless flight by pushing against the earth. His ability to manipulate dirt is fairly simple; he can sterilize it and use it to help speed along the healing process of his wounds or others, and can either sterilize a forty by forty foot patch of land or force it to flourish. By touching plant life, he can either kill it or cause it to grow, or even mutate it (changing its natural colors, causing it to grow fruits that it otherwise wouldn’t, grow unnatural flowers, produce bioluminescent chemicals). Glass is a simple element to manipulate; Dan can create simple and complex statues amongst others. Dan also has a fairly decent control over the magnetic fields of Althanas, which was first exhibited in flight. He can now project his control in concussive blasts that manifest in a transparent, blurred ripple. The force of these blasts can create a ten by ten foot crater in the earth. The mass of earth he is capable of manipulating is tied directly to his physical strength - so a spell which cripples his body, will in extension, diminish his teremancy.
Saraelian Form [Root]
Dan’s birthright, after the Seal of the Hybrid was removed rather roughly by his brother, Dan bled out the blood that made him human and swallowed the earth to become a Terran. When invoking this form, Dan’s skin alters into demon hide (teir ten hide, comparable to sea serpent scale) and takes on the color of lead, with many cracks running through it, glowing green from an inner light. His eyes lose definition and burn a chartreuse color, and rough obsidian horns emerge from his forehead. While he remains in the form, both Soul Link and Cellular Control are locked, and any weapons currently summoned into reality with his Soul Link are dismissed. However, he is able to create a spear of strange jade stone that is warm to the touch, and has the tensile strength of steel. He can manipulate its form with his Terramancy, and add additional blades and spikes to its body. If broken, the spear can be remade.
As he has only just eased himself into his full power as a Saeralian, Dan can only hold this form for six posts at a time without risk to his body.
There are several changes to his biology with the ascension to a full blooded Saraelian demon. If kept out of the sun for more than three days, Dan’s body will essentially wilt; becoming skeletal, robbing him of all of his strength. This is a jealously guarded secret however, and he will give it to no one. More so, if he is resting in clean water, or in the sunlight, for over an hour, his wounds, even fatal injuries, will close. In the summer, his hair will darken to a black color, in the fall auburn, in the winter, a light brown streaked with gray, and in the spring, a rich brown.
Saraelian Form [Branch]*
A further mutation of his Saraelian D.N.A., its unknown if any of, at least, the Terran subrace of the species has been capable of achieving this next step in evolution. In this form, Dan’s height is increased by nine feet from his usual height, for a total of fifteen feet, and his mass is increased to nearly two tons. The lower half of his body takes on an equine form and dully shining chitinous plates the strength of young dragonhorn manifest on his lower body, torso, arms, and face. Though his strength remains doubled from its base amount in his human form, the real power of the Branch form is its new adaptability. Dan’s arms can alter their shape to meet with new, threatening situations. He can access the form of an axe, a shield, a three pronged short claw, and a lance. Additionally, he’s able to form a bow, and can form stone arrows with his Terramancy. The pull on the bow is nearly one ton of force. Though it’s unclear if it’s possible, it feels as though there’s even farther to go, beyond the Branch form.
*Must remain in the Root form for two posts before activation, lasts for four post.
History
It should have been another stupid, simple day. He should have gotten up, showered, dressed, ate breakfast, and went to school like any normal fifteen-year old. Instead, he woke up to a dead family, dead friends, zombies, demons, vampires, overturned cars, fires, and a gloomy, blood-rust colored sky. Though frightened out of his wits, one of the last surviving members of the human race, then known as Dan Wilson Gosnell, decided it would be best to stay on the move, and threw his shoes on, grabbed his keys, and ran out the door.
He had taken no more than two steps when something fell upon his back, knocking him to the ground. Hitting the ground hard, the soon-to-be slayer was stunned, numbingly feeling the rotting fingers clutch at his neck. As the putrid breath washed over his face, he cried out, wanting to live, and pushed, slamming his elbow into it's jaw. He was rewarded with a grunt, and a wet snap, and the thing tumbled off his back. Scrambling to his feet, Dan ran towards a police car, abandoned in the middle of the road, only looking back once. He wished he hadn't.
Scrabbling at the concrete walk was something that was impossible, a dead man, somehow animated. His skin was spongy, and fell off in places, colliding with a wet slap on the concrete. His filmy eyes rolled aimlessly in moldy sockets, trying to find its prey. It's broken jaw still moved, trying to snap chunks of something out of the air. He shuddered, and yanked open the cruiser's door.
In the seat sat a blood soaked body, the badge pinned to his shirt breast was the only thing that allowed Dan to identify him as an officer of the law. After hesitating, wary of the body, Dan snatched the dead man's .45, two extra clips, and slammed the door, running around the side of the house. He quickly started his car, and left his house forever.
Doubting that the gun would work on....zombies, the only word that came to mind, he set his destination as a nearby weapons shop, knowing they had good swords, daggers, and knives. The store was quiet, and during his search he remained unperturbed. Carrying arms and pocket full of weapons, Dan began to head to the door, but dropped them all when he noticed a glint of well tempered steel and lacquered cherry wood in the shadows of the storeroom.
It was a katana. A very well designed sturdy katana. Ignoring the other weapons, he took it and quickly left. Later, listening to an old, automated rock station on the radio, with the car stopped, Dan unsheathed the blade and looked it over. He was unaware that the blade was of the Wilmhearst Family Slayers, and was also unaware that he himself was Wilmhearst. He decided at that moment, as he sheathed the sword, that he would survive. And to do so, he would kill.
So, over the next eleven years, he gained expertise, scars, and muscle mass, burning away his child's fat. At twenty-five years old, he was a strong warrior, though ignorant socially, and was ready for greater opponents than what earth was offering him. It was then that news of the portal and the monks of Ai'brone reached his ears.
The monks had heard news finally of the tragedy of earth and had come to the devastated planet to offer refuge to the strongest. They boasted that their land, Althanas held some of the strongest that time could name, and intrigue, powerful weapons. Of course, this drew Dan like a moth to a candle flame, and before he knew it, he was on the green grass and under the blue sky of Althanas.
Over the next year, Dan learned he was of the Wilmhearst family, and their twenty-seventh generation. He crossed swords with many of Althanas' warriors, participated in both the Serenti and The Cell, aided the Alliance in the Bazaar War, coming out on the winning side, and enjoyed a brief stint as the second in command of the Order Within Chaos. During the course of The Cell, however, two of Althanas' most powerful killers came to his attention as a mercenary, bounty hunter, and slayer; Max Dirks, a man good with his gun, and Valentina Snow, a vicious cannibal who Dan discovered to be the Weendigo. Through way of a cheap shot, and a well placed shadow portal, both thrust him from the tournament and bought them his constant, vigilant, vengeance.
After the Cell, Dan began to train in the Citadel, felling a few powerful opponents, including Luc Kraus, an arrogant geomancer who strives to gain the slayer's respect. After he had his fill of battle, Dan joined the Black Hand, combat sign of the Red Hand and a clan of elite warriors. A few months later, he caught a messenger trying to sneak out of Keller Hall, hoping to avoid the man with the huge sword's attention. Dan learned from him that Lord Ithermoss was dying, and was at the half-drake's side in only a few moments. The Red Hand's founder gave him one of his first weapons, a broad-bladed iron katar, one of the many gifts given to others who had assembled. Inspired by Ithermoss’ rough life, the slayer set out again, even more determined to return the Earth to what it had been at one time.
After a money making scheme at a prize fighting ring whose name he forgets, Dan met the impossibly strong Godhand Striker, as well as Claire and Sonya, who were even stronger, to the point of ridiculousness. They're all currently living in his apartment at Radasanth. His strange feelings for Claire, and the trustworthy camaraderie of Godhand have made the slayer begin to rethink his outlook on life. Could an individual's life be precious? Something not to be taken away? Can he trust the three? If it came down to it, would he lay his life down for them? His heart says yes, but his instincts scream no. And his instincts have gotten him very far up to now.
However, this wasn't discovered yet as soon after, his workload began to make him buckle beneath it's weight. Gild vanished and Damon Kaosi took the title and position of Aegis, giving the slayer the position of The Captain of the Sword. Also, with the Shards of Valori suddenly coming to light, his free time was occupied by Theatre of War battles to acquire the shards. Soon after he registered for the Althanas Adventurer's Crown alongside Seth Dahlios and Oberon Detruire. The three, under the name of The Black Hand, were charged with finding the legendary Lightbringer, the Calan Silaer. It was no more than they set foot into Hrenta Nodos that several explosions rocked the city, and the Demon Army flooded it. They arrested the slayer and took him to Telas Bauhaus, the public execution grounds, and forced him to fight The Raven King, quite a bit more powerful, who he had believed to have killed years ago. When it was apparent Dan was on a fast track to a brutal death, he went through a bloody metamorphosis that showed his half demon characteristics all too well. After killing the monstrosity, Dan was set free due to ancient laws, and caught up to Seth. He passed out, and during this time, a mysterious Demon who was of a high rank in the Demon Army spirited the Lightbringer away to Salvar. After awakening, he had an urge to enter the crypt, were the reanimated corpse of the demon prince Prellatar told him of his past, and his Saraelian demon descendents, and gave light to the lies the Wilmhearst family had been telling him. After sealing the crypt to give Prellatar rest, Dan and Seth made way to Salvar and met up with Oberon, who had went ahead to follow the army. The three made a daring raid on the camp of the six thousand strong force, and just when it seemed they had recovered the legendary weapon, the mysterious demon appeared and broke it, revealing it to be fake. He froze time around the three, and locked them away to deal with them later. With a promise to recover the Lightbringer, and having been beaten so easily, a hellish fury is soon to be dropped onto Belial's head...
After being rescued by the Tel Quissir, Dan and the other two members of the Black Hand succeeded in spiriting away the Calan Silaer. However, during a council of all the teams and the monks in Radasanth, the demons came again, seeking the other Calans, and though fighting bravely, they were all incapacitated. Afterwards, they were liberated again, and the Black Hand broke away from the tournament, sick of the constant attack, and their position as the tournament's whipping boy. When Dan split off from Seth and Oberon, he went back to his apartment, and in the following weeks found himself tied up in an assassination attempt to kill him by the Phoenix Syndicate, who wanted him out of the way so they could use his genetically altered clones to take over the world. They also kidnapped the girl he was keeping an eye on, Linda, and despite his best efforts, she was killed by the Syndicate's head, Jaken, moments before his escape. In a rage, Dan killed Jaken with the Rotslayer and was nearly destroyed in a humungous blast that leveled the Syndicate's headquarters, the Tsukioke Bulding in the upper east end of Radasanth.
Feeling the need for reflection, and solitude, Dan retired to the sands of Fallien, not bothering to tell any of his acquaintances. Without hesitation, his twisted brother, Delerion, inserted himself into his usual life’s routine, and began to ruin his good reputation. Slowly at first, acting as a reckless vigilante, then made it come crashing down all at once, launching a brutal attack on Radasanth, sinking a ship with at least one thousand people aboard while engaged in a battle with a Wilmhearst slayer. Eventually, when news reached Dan’s ears, he rushed back to the place he called his home, and Delerion fled, leaving him with a life in shambles. With no way to fix the damage, and unable to track his brother, Dan left for Fallien again.
Three years pass, and Dan Lagh’ratham faded away.
In time, a tribe in Fallien comes to boast about a Hunter with the strength of a titan. He came namelessly, and when he had proven himself, they gave him the title of Renuanupadin, or Sand Searcher. The soldier’s of the desert nation, upon watching him kill Arta while on a sortie from the Keep, came to name him Ren the Beast. The man named Ren was distant to all, so it came as little surprise when he proposed a leave from the tribe, widely rumored to be one of either redemption or peregrination. He garbed himself in black, and left the sands...for now.
Suffering from numerous irrational thoughts, madness, and dangerous psychotic episodes, a misguided Dan Lagh’ratham formed a criminal ring named the Audeamus, using it to plague citizens and hatch insane plots. After his black outs and episodes became worse and even more frequent, he came to in the small cottage that his lover and daughter lived their pleasant lives in. After realizing he had murdered them both, a sobered Dan Lagh’ratham buried their bodies and set off East, in aimless, guilty wonder. It wasn’t long before his twin brother Derium met him and after a short skirmish, informed Dan that his daughter had at least escaped. Immediately, he began to talk as though the two had spent childhood together, and destroyed a seal keeping Dan from accessing his power. After a brush with death, Dan become a full blooded Saraelian and set forth into Althanas in a desperate for his child.
His efforts however proved to be fruitless. During a sweep of Raiaera, he had a curious dream; a dream of age old evil, talons, and a stone spear. The Forgotten One, Xem’Zund, had carved his mark in Dan’s heart with the promise of power and his assistance in the search for his daughter. Altering his appearance to a man with overlapping scars through his left eye down to his chin, and across his nose and over his left ear, Dan took the alias Kross and followed as a protector when Skie dan Sabrial, daughter of the Starslayer, tried to usher students of Istien out of the country. After a trying battle against one of the Necromancer’s servants, Cydonia, and with a small army gaining on them, Kross finally revealed his true colors and abducted Skie, intent on delivering her to Xem’Zund as a gift.
Dan took some time at this point to deal with some personal business of his own. After killing a half dragon by the name of Jame Whitizard, Dan entered the Dajas Pagoda at a Master level. During his tenure, he was challenged by Sarah Dahlios, one of the most hated parts of his past. After slaughtering her with little effort, Dan contacted his old ally, Luc Kraus, also taking occupancy in the Pagoda. Deciding that current world affairs were favorable, the two once more formed the organization, Audaemus, but found the rings gone when they went to retrieve them. The thieves were bitter agents of the first incarnation of the organization. Dan and Luc tracked them quickly and slaughtered them, though not before some of the rings were lost in a rift. At one point, the seal barring the Saraelian State and his ability to manipulate the earth returned, locking them temporarily.
The slayer's activities in recent times are widely unknown. Rarely seen, even in his ever favored Bazaar, Dan's seeming disappearance has set many of his enemies and the like at edge. He appeared only briefly as a favor to an old friend, Godhand Striker, to help the old mercenary destroy the remainder of Xem'zund's Necrosition. This is largely considered a rumor, since it's well know that the slayer is a part of the Necromancer's forces, but it is likely he aided in the massacre for his own means. During this time, it appears that he has managed to destroy part of the seal, giving him his terramancy back.
The fall of Xem'zund at least left Dan with a bitter taste in his mouth from the betrayal, and once again, nothing but himself at his disposal in his search. Changing his appearance entirely with his cellular control, Dan went into "hiding", taking stock of his options while gathering knowledge on artifacts and relics that may help him find Meredith, his daughter. His moment of respite did not last long; he is currently being hunted by the Raiaeran Bladesingers, presumably for his role in the last war.
((The mandatory tournament update for 3.0. I have addeed in his recent purchases, seperated his abilities and skills, removed an ability or two, added basic cosmetic skills, fleshed out his personality some. I didn't color the skills I added, but if you want me to, I will.))