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Toska
01-21-14, 02:35 PM
NAME: Byron Matthias Locke
AGE: 19
RACE: Human (Undead)
HAIR COLOR: Brown
EYE COLOR Blue
HEIGHT: 6’
WEIGHT: 175 lbs.
OCCUPATION: Floundering hedge magician, gypsy, emissary of dying gods

PERSONALITY:

Once bright and carefree, superficial and prone to idle infatuation, Byron has since become solidary. Withdrawn, often lost in thought, he is an introvert, shying from contact when possible. His youthful romanticism fled, leaving distrust and cynicism in its wake. He retains little empathy, replaced instead with a casual propensity towards cruelty and general apathy.

APPEARANCE:

Tall, pale, and gaunt. Strong jaw and high cheekbones, but the flesh surrounding them is taut and milky, dusted with stubble. A thin frame with comparatively wide shoulders, and long, lanky limbs. Eyes of a dry cobalt, and dull, lusterless brown hair cropped short and falling in waves to the nape of his neck.

HISTORY:

Son of a knight, Byron grew to adulthood in a privileged house in the backlands of Scara Brae. The Lockes were a family of minor nobles who lived in tempered luxury, wanting for little over the generations. Byron, their only child, was raised in his father’s image; drilled in swordsmanship daily, tutored by the best scholars the township could offer, and taught the etiquette to survive in court. His studies taught him the joy literature could bring, and imparted on him a fascination with language itself. It held a certain mysticism he enjoyed. He was particularly enamored with magic, which his family historically held little aptitude for. The lack of apparent talent drove his desire for it, but to no avail. His best efforts were not enough to bridge the gap, and coupled with his father's disapproval, he relented.

This changed when he came of age. His ceremony coincided with local festivities, and he was implored to take advantage of the opportunity. There, beneath the harvest moon, he met a young gypsy clothed in silk and beads, dancing before the bonfire. Captivated, he hardly realized as the circle opened and the crowd devoured him. They spent a night of dancing and deviancy together, and Byron was convinced he found love; for what else could it be? On the third night of the festival they eloped, fleeing the town for the gypsy troupe's refuge.

And so he opened a new chapter in his life, free of the expectations and constraints of privilege. The woman, Cassandra, entertained his fascination with magic, and taught him the basics of how to apply that to the stage. He threw himself into these performances, the mysticism of sleight-of-hand satiating his hunger for knowledge. The crowd's awe was enough for him, he thought. Between his love for the stage and Cassandra, he found a satisfaction he never experienced. He was comfortable here.

But his halcyon days had barely begun when they came to an end.

A decrepit sorceress came to call. Cassandra shrunk from the hag, who spoke of broken promises and insults that needed to be paid. Byron struck out at the hag, angered by her persistence; goaded by his lover's coos of falsehood and slander. She dissipated like smoke, a dry, throaty chuckle reverberating throughout the room in her wake. Uneasiness filled Byron at the sound, and his fears became a reality when he gazed upon his lover's form: twisted limbs, beady eyes, chitinous flesh. A creature he'd never wished to see. It struck him down, rending his flesh over and over, mouth bloody as it gnawed on his remains.

His consciousness slipped away, only for him to awaken in the Fade. There, between life and death, his story truly began.


SKILLS:

Hedge Magic - Minor tricks learned in his stint as a stage magician. Mostly sleight of hand and deception, these tricks hold no magical power, but are suitable for fooling children and less intelligent adults.

Swordsmanship - A mediocre swordsman, Byron was trained by his father and various other instructors in the art of combat to a base degree of proficiency.

Literacy - Able to read and write in his native tongue.


ABILITIES:

Fadewalking - [NON-COMBAT] Byron is sensitive to supernatural phenomena. His dreams whisk him to a realm of undeath, and his experiences there have granted him the ability to passively view and communicate with spirits. By extension, he may also enter the Fade in physical form, allowing brief jaunts across distances no greater than 200 meters.

Blood Magic - A ritual of self-injury to appease the souls that grant him power. The severity of the injury determines the amount of power granted.


Splatter - A spray of blood imbued with a corrosive taint capable of eating through wood and most organic compounds, including: skin, muscle, and bone upon touch. Limited velocity makes it inefficient beyond five meters. Byron may only use it three times per day. Subsequent uses cause him to lose consciousness.


Unlight Arrow - Unlight Arrow - Projectile formed from shadowstuff surrounded by a faint glow. Approximately 40 centimeters long, less than four wide, the projectile has a maximum effective range of 60 meters and can pierce leather armor. Byron can use this ability twice per day on average. A third attempt is possible, but would drain him considerably (i.e. loss of stamina and, if already tired/injured, consciousness).


EQUIPMENT:

Besides the standard traveling necessities, Byron is known to posses:

Iron dagger
Light iron and leather armor
Fade amulet - A token from the Fade’s guide, the amulet has a thin, circular shape, forged from tarnished silver. Nonsensical inscriptions are carved along the edge, and the visage of an obese man sits in the center. Offering prayer to the statue, Byron may return to the Fade or call an emissary to grant him commune.

Max Dirks
01-22-14, 11:04 AM
Hello and welcome.

Can Byron use "Fadewalking" during a battle/combat situation? If so, the ability to quickly teleport 200 meters is too powerful at level one. Please clarify that for me. With "Unlight Shield", what would constitute a "strong attack?" A weak attack from a level 15 character could be equal to a strong attack from a level 1 character, so I need you to clarify that as well.

Toska
01-22-14, 04:41 PM
Right, my apologies. :)

"Fadewalking" cannot be used instantly (although I never thought about using it in combat so I didn't specify just how long it takes), and does not allow for instantaneous travel. Going from point A to point B in the Fade would take roughly the same amount of time as doing so in the physical realm for him.

As for "Unlight Shield," hm... I'm a bit unsure myself. Any suggestions there would be appreciated. I envisioned it as a simple shield, capable of absorbing most basic attacks, but collapsing as his stamina reaches its limits. It seems complicated in that light, and if that's the case I wouldn't mind replacing it with something else if you'd prefer?

Edit: Removed "Unlight Shield" and replaced it with "Unlight Arrow" with clearer limitations.

Max Dirks
01-23-14, 08:11 PM
Everything looks good!

Approved.