Yormungand
01-01-07, 01:58 PM
Overview
Name: Thoth Shiva
Aliases: Yormungand; The Serpent
Race: Half-Elf
Gender: Male
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 133 lbs
Eyes: Lack irises and pupils
Hair: Dim white
Birthplace: Raiaera
Appearance
Thoth's skeletal frame is always covered by bellowing robes of pure onyx. He prefers to be hooded at all times, even if it is only to cover his pointy, Elven ears or the disfiguring scar running vertically through his left eye. A jagged face lies beneath the shade, with smooth and young skin, its natural paleness the only unveilable sign of Thoth's semi-Elven heritage. After several short journeys, Thoth has also acknowledged the usefulness of armor for lone travellers. Thin pauldrons of darkened steel encumber his shoulders, reaching up past his neck, protecting him from any fatal strikes to the jugular.
Personality
Thoth is brash to the point where even humans find him reckless at times. It need not be said that he is an outcast in Elven society, a scourge on the patience of his superiors. Although his mother is a pure Elf, many view him to be solely human, and treat him as such: disdainful at best. This has turned Thoth into a rather lonesome adolescent, who was forced to resort to violence to gain any kind of respect amongst his peers. At least enough for bullies to leave him alone. Consequently, many now view him as mentally instable, far too much led by emotion and intuition than by rational thought. He is chaotic neutrality personified, doing exactly what he likes to do at the most inopportunate of times.
History
Thoth Shiva was born to an Elven seamstress and a Human mage. His father left him and his mother in Raiaera when he was two years old, off to find an adventure from which he would not return. Although his Elf mother took a long time to mourn the loss of her beloved - or perhaps it only seemed that way to Thoth, being a halfblood. Still, Thoth experienced as delightful a youth as many a human. There were no problems until he hit the threshold of puberty. He did so far earlier than any other Elf of his age - an effect of his blood being mingled with human mortality.
Magical study in Raiaera is quite widespread. And so it was that Thoth received training in the arcane arts. Howevers, where the pure Elf children revelled in subtly manipulating plants and flowers to grow, an healing small wounds, Thoth's human nature felt more attracted to the more destructive side of magic. Many arguements would drive a wedge inbetween Thoth and the other Elves - even his own mother. However much his teachers tried, they could not drive Thoth from the path of destructive magic. He researched tomes and scrolls, delved deeply into the subject of elemental magic.
The strife between Thoth and the Elves culminated when he was pursued throughout the grasslands by several bullies. As a half-human, Thoth could easily stand toe-to-toe with most frail Elfkin when one-on-one, but against five, he too found it more appropriate to walk away unscathed. However, his tormentors pursued him, and a fight ensued. One of his eyes was nearly cut out that day; Thoth still bears a hideous scar to remember it by. When he lay harmlessly on the ground, the five still kicking into him, he finally decided to let go, do what his feeling told him to do.
The five bullies turned to ash within seconds.
The story spread, and Thoth was forced to flee. Wherever he went, he was no longer the object of jeer and laughter. People feared him; it was then that he discovered what a powerful force terror could be. He dropped his elemental studies completely and began the studying of an even more dangerous and illegal subject: necromancy. So began his journey down the path of phobomancy. He still wanders the endless valleys of Raiaera, in search of new knowledge, or in pursuit of any goal that he deems worth chasing after. To protect himself from unwanted intention, he often introduces himself as Yormungand, or the Serpent - since use of his old name warrants arrest for murder.
Equipment
The Serpentine Staff
This staff was crafted from hardwood, although the exact origins of its materials are impalpable. At the top, the charred wood bends around a glimmering pearl - a jewel that seems ablaze at all times. It eventually ends in a blackened, serpentine head. Its jaws are open, its gaze malevolent, and although motionless, the pearl's incandescent glow scintillates through the serpent's eyeholes and mouth, making it very much alive in the eyes of others.
Phobomancy
A form of magical specialization, derived from its ancient ancestor necromancy. Phobomancy is usually not as fiercely opposed as its darker progenitor, mainly because it does not directly deal with death or undeath. In addition, phobomancers are not necessarily stereotyped as neutral or evil; they do work with ‘evil’ fear, but they can take as well as give. Phobomancers have been known to turn the tide of many a war, for a legion of fearless soldiers is a reckless and terrible force to behold indeed. Although magical in nature, the following application of phobomancy will be viewed as skills and not as spells, for they have no inherent mana cost, and they are only limited by the phobomancer’s physical fitness (unless otherwise stated):
!! Notice that skill levels needn’t necessarily correspond to the level of the character !!
Inspire Fear [Level 0]
The most basic and perhaps practical application of phobomancy is to cause a sense of horror in hostile beings. At level zero, the phobomancer can inspire instinctual fear in several surrounding animals – the amount of creatures scared depends on the threat the beast in question poses to the caster. A thousand cockroaches can be easily turned, but a single lion or elephant will prove difficult to frighten. The caster can also inspire fear in a single humanoid (with no inherent resistance to fear (demons) or racial bravery (dwarves, minotaurs)). The feeling evoked can be described as:
Level 0 - Utmost uncomfortability, to the point where one would rather leave the place one is currently in.
Drain Fear [Level 0]
A phobomancer can thrive off what others experience as nightmarish phantasms. At level zero, the phobomancer can only take away an ally’s fear. The energy gained is not enough to heal any kind of wound, but does serve to slightly reinvigorate the phobomancer in terms of fatigue.
Read Fear [Level 0]
True masters of phobomancy gain near-telepathic insight into their opponents’ most horrible nightmares. This skill generally allows a phobomancer to visualize or verbalize the things its victim perceives as frightening. At level zero, a phobomancer can not read any kind of fear. The caster is only more proficient at recognizing fear in others, even when the victim is trying to hide it.
Aura of Fear [Not available at Level 0]
Advanced phobomancers are able to imbue fear wherever they go. This passive ability automatically casts Inspire Fear of two levels below Aura of Fear’s level on any within a radius of eight yards. This ability is not available at level zero.
Spawn Fear [Not available at Level 0]
For master phobomancers, the line between a victim’s nightmares and reality is merely a blur. With great expendages of magical power, a phobomancer can enliven a target’s greatest fear, as an illusion, or – with extreme skill – as a part of reality. At level zero, a phobomancer should not even dream of such prowess.
Name: Thoth Shiva
Aliases: Yormungand; The Serpent
Race: Half-Elf
Gender: Male
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 133 lbs
Eyes: Lack irises and pupils
Hair: Dim white
Birthplace: Raiaera
Appearance
Thoth's skeletal frame is always covered by bellowing robes of pure onyx. He prefers to be hooded at all times, even if it is only to cover his pointy, Elven ears or the disfiguring scar running vertically through his left eye. A jagged face lies beneath the shade, with smooth and young skin, its natural paleness the only unveilable sign of Thoth's semi-Elven heritage. After several short journeys, Thoth has also acknowledged the usefulness of armor for lone travellers. Thin pauldrons of darkened steel encumber his shoulders, reaching up past his neck, protecting him from any fatal strikes to the jugular.
Personality
Thoth is brash to the point where even humans find him reckless at times. It need not be said that he is an outcast in Elven society, a scourge on the patience of his superiors. Although his mother is a pure Elf, many view him to be solely human, and treat him as such: disdainful at best. This has turned Thoth into a rather lonesome adolescent, who was forced to resort to violence to gain any kind of respect amongst his peers. At least enough for bullies to leave him alone. Consequently, many now view him as mentally instable, far too much led by emotion and intuition than by rational thought. He is chaotic neutrality personified, doing exactly what he likes to do at the most inopportunate of times.
History
Thoth Shiva was born to an Elven seamstress and a Human mage. His father left him and his mother in Raiaera when he was two years old, off to find an adventure from which he would not return. Although his Elf mother took a long time to mourn the loss of her beloved - or perhaps it only seemed that way to Thoth, being a halfblood. Still, Thoth experienced as delightful a youth as many a human. There were no problems until he hit the threshold of puberty. He did so far earlier than any other Elf of his age - an effect of his blood being mingled with human mortality.
Magical study in Raiaera is quite widespread. And so it was that Thoth received training in the arcane arts. Howevers, where the pure Elf children revelled in subtly manipulating plants and flowers to grow, an healing small wounds, Thoth's human nature felt more attracted to the more destructive side of magic. Many arguements would drive a wedge inbetween Thoth and the other Elves - even his own mother. However much his teachers tried, they could not drive Thoth from the path of destructive magic. He researched tomes and scrolls, delved deeply into the subject of elemental magic.
The strife between Thoth and the Elves culminated when he was pursued throughout the grasslands by several bullies. As a half-human, Thoth could easily stand toe-to-toe with most frail Elfkin when one-on-one, but against five, he too found it more appropriate to walk away unscathed. However, his tormentors pursued him, and a fight ensued. One of his eyes was nearly cut out that day; Thoth still bears a hideous scar to remember it by. When he lay harmlessly on the ground, the five still kicking into him, he finally decided to let go, do what his feeling told him to do.
The five bullies turned to ash within seconds.
The story spread, and Thoth was forced to flee. Wherever he went, he was no longer the object of jeer and laughter. People feared him; it was then that he discovered what a powerful force terror could be. He dropped his elemental studies completely and began the studying of an even more dangerous and illegal subject: necromancy. So began his journey down the path of phobomancy. He still wanders the endless valleys of Raiaera, in search of new knowledge, or in pursuit of any goal that he deems worth chasing after. To protect himself from unwanted intention, he often introduces himself as Yormungand, or the Serpent - since use of his old name warrants arrest for murder.
Equipment
The Serpentine Staff
This staff was crafted from hardwood, although the exact origins of its materials are impalpable. At the top, the charred wood bends around a glimmering pearl - a jewel that seems ablaze at all times. It eventually ends in a blackened, serpentine head. Its jaws are open, its gaze malevolent, and although motionless, the pearl's incandescent glow scintillates through the serpent's eyeholes and mouth, making it very much alive in the eyes of others.
Phobomancy
A form of magical specialization, derived from its ancient ancestor necromancy. Phobomancy is usually not as fiercely opposed as its darker progenitor, mainly because it does not directly deal with death or undeath. In addition, phobomancers are not necessarily stereotyped as neutral or evil; they do work with ‘evil’ fear, but they can take as well as give. Phobomancers have been known to turn the tide of many a war, for a legion of fearless soldiers is a reckless and terrible force to behold indeed. Although magical in nature, the following application of phobomancy will be viewed as skills and not as spells, for they have no inherent mana cost, and they are only limited by the phobomancer’s physical fitness (unless otherwise stated):
!! Notice that skill levels needn’t necessarily correspond to the level of the character !!
Inspire Fear [Level 0]
The most basic and perhaps practical application of phobomancy is to cause a sense of horror in hostile beings. At level zero, the phobomancer can inspire instinctual fear in several surrounding animals – the amount of creatures scared depends on the threat the beast in question poses to the caster. A thousand cockroaches can be easily turned, but a single lion or elephant will prove difficult to frighten. The caster can also inspire fear in a single humanoid (with no inherent resistance to fear (demons) or racial bravery (dwarves, minotaurs)). The feeling evoked can be described as:
Level 0 - Utmost uncomfortability, to the point where one would rather leave the place one is currently in.
Drain Fear [Level 0]
A phobomancer can thrive off what others experience as nightmarish phantasms. At level zero, the phobomancer can only take away an ally’s fear. The energy gained is not enough to heal any kind of wound, but does serve to slightly reinvigorate the phobomancer in terms of fatigue.
Read Fear [Level 0]
True masters of phobomancy gain near-telepathic insight into their opponents’ most horrible nightmares. This skill generally allows a phobomancer to visualize or verbalize the things its victim perceives as frightening. At level zero, a phobomancer can not read any kind of fear. The caster is only more proficient at recognizing fear in others, even when the victim is trying to hide it.
Aura of Fear [Not available at Level 0]
Advanced phobomancers are able to imbue fear wherever they go. This passive ability automatically casts Inspire Fear of two levels below Aura of Fear’s level on any within a radius of eight yards. This ability is not available at level zero.
Spawn Fear [Not available at Level 0]
For master phobomancers, the line between a victim’s nightmares and reality is merely a blur. With great expendages of magical power, a phobomancer can enliven a target’s greatest fear, as an illusion, or – with extreme skill – as a part of reality. At level zero, a phobomancer should not even dream of such prowess.