Aure's last approved profile at level 6. All EXP added to account.
Name: Aurelianus Drak'shal

Alias('s):
Aurelius, to his friends
'A friend of Aran Sicht' to his Anarchist brethren, and the witch-hunters of the Sway Church
Je'hal, in Fallien (translates loosely as 'The Viper')
Iharkav, in Salvar
Lyesmith, in Ettermire
Redin Coran, in Serenti

Age: 27 years, approximately

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Race: Tiefling

Hair: Aurelianus' hair is kept in an.. unusual style; he keeps the sides of his head shaved down, his quills forming a high red crest down the centre of his head. The only other exception are the patches he has left (for no particular reason) in front of his ears - he has a bad habit of chewing on these spikes without realising. With this outlandish mohawk, he cannot help but resemble a demonic hedgehog.

Eyes: Aurelius' eyes are definitely not those of a normal human. In fact, they are decidedly serpentine. With orbs of purest black, broken by lambent yellow-gold irises, and slit pupils, the tiefling's eyes mark him out as one of the plane-touched.

Height: 5' 9''

Weight: 152 lbs

Occupation: Warlock, Soul Broker, Planewalker, Anarchist

Skills:
Knife-fighting (master)
Ambidexterity (master)
Dirty fighting (master)
Unarmed combat (master)
Deception and subterfuge (master)
Emotional manipulation (master)
Perception (master)
Lockpicking (experienced)
Lore (history, legends, myths, etc.)
Linguistics (Spoken: Planespeak, Althanas common, Infernal, Aleraran, Haidian, Salvaran. Written: Planespeak, Infernal, Althanas Common.)
Literacy
Tracking (experienced)
Harmonica playing (master)
Sleight of hand (master)
Escape artistry (experienced)
Study of portals and transdimensional gateways
Weapon and armour maintenance
Trap-detection
Torture (experienced)
Industrial sabotage (practiced)
Stealth (experienced)
Surgery (practiced)
First aid (practiced)
Pickpocketing (practiced)

Abilities:

Invocations

Shahab's Lash - This invocation summons swathes of Hellfire anywhere within a thirty foot radius, which Drak'shal can then launch at his enemies. He has learned how to shape these unholy flames into roaring walls, searing whirlwinds and even coiling whips of black fire. Or simply the tried and tested cone launched from his palms or mouth. If any unfortunate is caught in these flames, the white-hot Hellfire will cling like napalm, rather than normal fire - the warlock can extinguish these flames with but a thought. Aurelius himself is almost completely immune to the flames he conjures forth, though the longer he keeps up the blast the harder it becomes to resist their infernal heat, until eventually they will burn his flesh almost as much as those of his foes. He can maintain a full six minutes of sustained fire before his flesh starts to blister and burn, and less than two after that before his wounds become crippling. He can still use it to cauterise wounds, etc should the need arise. To those who manage to extinguish the flames in time, Shahab's Lash only causes severe burns. If not, they will continue to burn, causing excessive damage. With understanding of the nature of this Hellfire, Aurelius has learned how to use it to sear not only a body's flesh, but also its soul. Against those of a good disposition, the effects are incredibly effective, bringing about an agony that can last for much longer than the actual burns. This invocation has become as much a sickness of the soul as it has a tool of brute destruction. Against those of a "good" nature, Shahab's Lash is one-and-a-half times as effective. Due to the unnatural origin of this Hellfire, natural resistances to fire and heat are only about half as effective against Shahab's Lash.

Freki's Shield - This spell allows Aurelius to summon forth a protective bubble of magickal heat, which can deflect missiles, blades, and even other spells with a radius of three feet. Aurelius is immune to the heat he creates. He can keep it active long enough to stave off four powerful attacks (roughly triple human strength), six medium attacks (double human strength) or eight weak attacks (normal human strength), though a significantly strong one can shatter it in a single blow. [Usable- 4x per thread]

Eldritch Blast - This is a simple invocation all warlocks know - essentially just a blast of pure arcane energy, which Aurelius has learned to use both defensively and offensively; either blasting at his foes with the force of a strong punch at triple human strength, or smashing aside an incoming blade. Again, his near mastery of this invocation allows the warlock to control the size of the blast- from focused bursts for targeting weapons, specific limbs, etc. to walls of force that can smash multiple opponents from their feet. [usable 6x per thread.]

Merihim's Breath - picked up from a demonic servant of Merihim, a Demon Lord of plague and disease, this invocation allows Aurelius to open his mouth impossibly wide and vomit forth a huge swarm of angry insects; the little vermin will proceed to attack anyone in range (other than Aurelianus himself), stinging, biting and burrowing into their flesh in a thrashing cloud. The effects of this spell last for a minute, after which the swarm falls to the ground, all dead. But the various infections and larvae they leave in their victims will last long after the swarm has died - symptoms include itching, swelling, blurred vision, nausea and all manner of other unpleasantness. [Usable 3x per thread].

Pain Mirror - this invocation grants the warlock the handy ability to take any wound that someone causes him, and reflect it back at them - he was inspired to create this ability after being shot by Resolve Curie during the Cell, and spending the following weeks fantasising about all the ways he could pay her back. When used, it creates a sympathetic bond between Aurelius' own flesh and that of the attacker so that if a sword slices him, the cut instead manifests on the other person's body. After two serious or four moderate injuries, the mirror is lessened in effectiveness, meaning the following two wounds appear on both Aurelianus and his opponent. The canny tiefling can also use this invocation maliciously, deliberately wounding himself to bring harm to an enemy. While still learning how to properly utilise this power, Aurelianus can't use it to reflect, or deliberately give immediately fatal wounds - some sod decapitates him, he'll still lose his head. What's more, Aurelius has to see the attack coming in order to use the Pain Mirror, and the target must be within 15 feet.

Sanguinem Inferno

Natural Born Cager - In the the deadly slums of Aurelianus' home city, everyday is a constant fight for survival. Generally, there are two types of cutter in the worst areas, where the tiefling grew up - fast sods or tough sods; those fast enough to get the first attack in, or those hard enough to survive a knifing and still retaliate. The canny plane-touched realised young there was only one way to guarantee survival in a place like that- be both. These natural abilities have been greatly augmented by his demonic heritage, to heights beyond most humans. Aurelius has 6x the agility and 7x the physical toughness of any normal human. This means he can react and attack with blinding speed beyond what most humans can match, and can dodge arrows and even bullets fired at him from up to ten feet away. He has been known to use it in brief bursts to increase his speed, mainly to unnerve those he suddenly appears behind, etc - but his smoking pretty much rules out a sustained sprint using his speed. His inhuman pain-threshold also means he can be beaten, broken, stabbed, burned, bludgeoned, and so on, for much longer than an average cutter, before he finally succumbs to his wounds. This endurance aids him in maintaining his speed, true - but it mainly applies to his tolerances for pain.

Soul Bind - "Never make a bet with a tiefling"- this is a popular planar proverb. And Aurelianus is a walking example of this warning. Throughout his many travels Aurelius has struck many deals with all manner of creature, and more than a few times has been cheated of his due. But by utilising the demonic vitae flowing through his veins, along with sheer willpower, the conniving half-demon has learned how to force others to stick to the bargains struck with him. So long as both parties spill their blood when the deal is made (willingly or otherwise), Aurelius binds the other party's very soul to the tenets of the agreement; forcing them to stick to it no matter what. Failure to do so forfeits their soul to Aurelianus, to do with what he will, and not even his death relinquishes his ownership of it. Of course, the tiefling is playing with the deck stacked firmly in his favour - his own soul is the possession of something much more terrible and powerful than himself and has been for many years now. In short, Aurelius does not have a soul. This means his own cannot be lost in forfeit, and that abilities affecting the soul have no effect on him. This is not to say the deal cannot be cheated by particularly canny wording, or other underhanded methods.. but to peel the tiefling is no mean feat. And woe betide any poor sod Aurelius catches trying to bob him of his due.

Witch Sight - this power is a byproduct of the demonic blood flowing through Aurelianus' veins. It allows him to shift his perceptions into ethereal realms no mortal is privy to - in short, it allows him to see a body's very soul. This comes in handy in all manner of ways; from sizing up the power of a foe, to seeing what a body fears, and even allowing the tiefling to perceive creatures hiding behind the veil of reality. Another little perk Aurelius has found endlessly useful is the ability to "read" a body's darkest sins, and greatest joys, directly from their souls. Obviously this is of great use to the manipulative bastard.

Fleshcrafting - Whether he already had the power to force his will on reality to this degree, or whether the events in Shrikehold unlocked the power within him, Aurelius has come to love this latest development. This ability allows the warlock to force flesh, sinew and bone into new shapes via touch alone, turning them like molten wax under his fingertips - whether bending someone's bones into unnatural new shapes, or remoulding a face to have an entirely new visage. Trial and error has taught the tiefling that during battle, these effects (while hideously agonising) are only temporary. The crafting will revert back to its original shape within ten minutes. But, given enough time (hours usually, depending on the work being done) and the appropriate blood-fuelled bindings, Aurelianus can leave his mark on the flesh for all time. Using this power, Aurelius can even create flesh-creatures to do his bidding, or transplant rare and exotic organs into other creatures - new eyes, retractable claws, extra limbs... Suffice it to say, this has made the House of Sin that much more nightmarish for the faint of heart.

Miscellaneous

Unbreakable Will - over the years, the tiefling has learned there are many sources of power in the multiverse. His personal favourite is sheer willpower; it is this drive, this force that powers his warlock invocations, and that allows him to traverse the planes and keep his sanity intact. Without it, the half-breed would have been dead many times over- Aurelius possesses 7x the willpower of the average human. This level of inhuman focus grants the half-demon a high resistance to fear, panic, confusion and all manner of things that would cow the average mortal, as well as almost impenetrable mental barriers to keep out unwanted psychic assaults and intrusions, and to control exactly what people see when he allows them in - these defenses can still be breached by those with higher willpower than Aurelius, though what they will find there will no doubt test their composure; after seeing Hell itself, most people tend to stay out of the plane-touched's mind.

Appearance: His heritage is not as apparent as some of the denizens of his home city, but to most in the many planes he has visited he is a foul half-breed. With his snake-like eyes, a long, black fork-tongue, pronounced fangs, and pointed ears, the tiefling is met with outright hostility by some. But, the most obvious sign of his "tainted" blood are the four black, slender horns rising from his brow like a crown of thorns. Though not as huge, or elaborate as the horns of some others of his kind, they nonetheless set alarms bells ringing with most.

More often than not, Aurelius looks rather weather-worn and roughed up; his unsettling eyes are ringed by dark circles, a pale contrast to his alabaster flesh; and Aurelianus is usually bruised or cut from some altercation or other. But, if not for all of these, the tiefling might almost pass as handsome. His features are oddly regal-looking, and charming. This, coupled with his mesmerising eyes, makes it quite easy to charm women: a common hobby for Aurelius.

His physical fitness makes this easier as well. The warlock, despite his magickal ability, likes to keep his body ready for physical combat. He may look slight, but Aurelianus' muscles are toned and well-trained. He's no barbarian, but the tiefling is more than ready for a vicious little knife-fight.

After a lifetime of hard-living, first on the streets of the Hive (Sigil's deadly slums), then later on his travels through the planes, even so far as Baator, and finally to Althanas, the warlock's body is marred with countless scars. Some are from simple knife-fights, back-alley shivs or battle with fiends; while others are products of Drak'shal's Art - burned by the Hellfire he summons. The most noticeable of his scars are the burn marks on his hands. The tiefling's palms are marked from old fires, despite his demonic heritage.

Still, it is in his minor self-mutilation that the masochistic warlock finds pleasure. Aurelius has a liking for piercings and tattoos, his body decorated with plenty of both. He has his right eyebrow pierced with three obsidian rings, volcanic glass from the Hellish realm of Avernus, as well as a steel nose ring, simple steel bars through his nipples and several small fangs and bones hanging from rings through his elf-like ears. In addition, hanging from his left ear is a handy little item; upon closer examination it can be seen that these thin metal earrings are actually a series of well-crafted lockpicks - with the proper movements, these can be detached and used. But, nestled among these other earrings is a small gold glyph- one of the four marks of the Anarchists, dangling from his left ear. The other three are hidden about his person, one on a leather cord round his neck, one disguised as a buckle on his armour, and the final one has been worked into a ring, worn on his left forefinger. As for tattoos, these range from kabalistic sigils, to ganger kill-markings, to demonic seals and glyphs encircled by unholy litanies and wards of binding. They reach over his shoulders, his back, his torso, and arms, and he even has a pair of three-headed hydras inked along the sides of his shaved scalp - all done in ink, mixed with Aurelianus' own blood- the exact purpose of these is unknown to all but the plane-touched himself. The demonic glyph branded on his left forearm is the mark of the Demon Lord, Skar'am'Bhuls- the source of Drak'shal's warlock abilities, and the owner of his soul.

Personality: Aurelius believes whole-heartedly in chaos and violently opposes those who would force their rule on others. This volatile nature has, from an early age, brought the tiefling into trouble with law enforcement of every stripe and creed, giving him an almost palpable hatred of authority, and their perverted idea of justice. He would like nothing more than burning every gods-damned court to the ground, preferably with the self-proclaimed "Judges" still inside.

Now, while he may hate those who believe in "law and order" passionately, the Anarchist is not some simple-minded killer. He has friends and companions across several planes, and has even managed to make some since arriving on Althanas a few years ago. More often that not, he plays his games from behind the shadows, manipulating people, brokering deals (that benefit him first and foremost, of course), and deceiving and double-crossing to achieve his own ends. While rather.. unfriendly at first, once you get through his shell, you'll find a womanising, arrogant, paranoid, power-hungry, half-demon with a love of knife fights, and a penchant for burning people and things... it is understandable why many people agree you're safer not penetrating Aurelianus' shell. But, if that's the course you're set on, alcohol does help a great deal.

While the warlock may possibly be one of the most unpleasant creatures ever to grace the planes, he can be very open and friendly when he needs to appear that way. But, not far under the surface still lives that hive-ganger child who trusts no-one, and killed daily to survive - and that kid has a cruel-streak a mile long. If one were to rouse his ire, they would soon meet the sadistic bastard that inhabits Drak'shal's blood - his demonic side, so to speak. It is better not speaking of the atrocities committed on those who cross the warlock. Suffice it to say, when your enemy trafficks with demons, your soul is not even safe in death.

Earning Aurelius' respect isn't easy as he views the majority of people as idiot whoresons. His exact words on the subject were, "Wouldn't piss on 'em if they were on fire." And if Aurelius had his way, many of them would be. Always looking for a thrill, or a decent fight, the tiefling is brave to the point of recklessness and never backs down; while this may seem almost heroic to his comrades, it has left the warlock closer to death than he would like, on more occasions than he would care to recount.

Usual Garments and Armour: The eclectic mix of clothing and armour the warlock wears mark him out as not being a local of Althanas. Many of the pieces hail from different planes entirely.

His basic clothing consists of a simple sleeveless leather tunic, leather breeches, fingerless leather gloves and a pair of hobnailed boots. The vast majority of the time, Drak'shal will also be seen wearing his knee-length coat- the dark brown, almost black leather being modified with many straps and buckles, like his armour. The inside of the coat has been sown with dozens of extra pockets and pouches for storing the multitude of things Aurelius usually has stashed about his person. These days, with his wanted status in so many of the world's cities, the tiefling will often hide his features beneath the wide-brimmed capotain hat he stole from the witch-hunter Sariel Lekmann.

Along with these are the collection of fetishes, tokens, fangs, claws, locks of hair (or fur) and mystic knick-knacks the plane-traveler always wears. Round his neck hang many cords, all bearing some form of curious talisman or amulet. The same goes for his wrists and forearms. Some of these could pass for simple jewellery, while others are obviously arcane in nature.

When it comes to armour, though, his attire marks him to be a little different; the tiefling's armour consists of hardened (yet still supple) black leather plates, held in place with dozens of straps and buckles. These plates are decorated with all sorts of blades, barbs, spikes and hooks. To get too close to Aurelius in a fight is an oft-times painful mistake. The suit protects his left arm thoroughly, with a series of interlocking plates, leaving the right bare for no apparent reason, along with protecting the torso, thighs, shins, shoulders and knees. This asymmetrical armour is further modified with the addition of certain kill trophies, and collected mementos; numerous fangs, claws and even ears hang across his frame. It provides excellent resistance against slashing and stabbing weapons, while the weight is minimal at best.

He does not always wear his trademark items, though. When it comes to his more.. subtle wardrobe, fashion definitely takes a backseat to practicality; His usual attire in this guise consists of simple, heavy-duty clothing; mainly leather or rough-spun materials sourced from many different planes. The clothes themselves are basic, with neutral colours suitable for staying unnoticed in urban or woodland environments, but as a factotum of the Revolutionary League, he has many little tricks to change the appearance of the outfit; from removable sleeves, to a collar that unpins to become a hood, to the jacket that, if turned inside-out, has a different colour on the inside. These are only a few examples of the myriad tricks and trinkets Aurelius uses when he needs to give himself a fairly good disguise at short notice.

Weapons: Personally, Aurelius knows that his invocations are his most powerful weapon - while not as versatile as, say, a sorcerer or mage, the warlock can call upon his powers almost as often as he damn well pleases. But he learned young, never go anywhere unless you're armed to the teeth, and old habits die hard. To this end, he has several weapons he carries about his person.

His first and foremost weapons are the twin knives strapped to his lower back; these weapons are forged from the famed Baatorian Green Steel - this ore makes for strong blades, which keep their keen edges much longer than normal steel, and are considerably lighter. The blades themselves are slightly curved, their cutting edges lined with vicious serrations, and the grips are wrapped in the tanned skin of slain demons. They were a gift from the fiend who granted Aurelianus his powers. Through some rituals and incantations he picked up from a Blood Mage in Dheathain, the tiefling has enchanted these blades; the wounds they cause bleed for twice as long as they normally would, the magicks worked into the green-steel preventing clotting.

Always handy as a back-up, the warlock keeps a cleaver strapped over his right shoulder, or to his calf. This blade is simple steel, with a broad machete-like blade and a saw-back edge. Drak'shal's other back-up blade is the wickedly curved and hooked blade hanging from his belt. Looking more like a surgical tool, than an outright weapon, it has been used as both many-a-time. Originally, it belonged to a friend of the tiefling, another plane-traveler who died on their travels many years ago. Herzaa, may you rest in peace.

Another weapon in Aurelius' arsenal is the quarrel of steel shurikens holstered under his left arm. Each projectile is a three bladed disc, each with barbs and serrations aplenty. They may enter flesh easily, but will tear it to bloody rags upon removal. An Eldritch Blast behind one of these nasty little toys is enough to ruin anyone's day.. or internal organs.

Years of practice have left the tiefling quite adept in the use of all his weapons.

Recently, the tiefling picked up another blade at a bazaar down in Radasanth. The vicious looking throwing knife is simple steel, but it bears an enchantment allowing Aurelius to return it to his hand with a simple gesture.

Another new addition to the staggering arsenal is the razor gauntlet. This titanium-bladed nightmare bears an enchantment that is already yielding positive results in the House of Sin. Any wound caused by the blades causes the victim to feel a pleasure proportional and equal to the pain they feel. So while a small gash may feel mildly pleasant, being impaled on the razors borders on the orgasmic. This can cause pain addiction quite quickly, furthering the half-breed deviant's works.

Inventory: Harmonica, chained earrings (lockpicks), ivory flask of t'keela, silver cigarette case (always kept full), bone spike, vial of tainted Swaysong, vial of angels' tears

Ring of Decoy - This handly little trinket allows Aurelianus, once per thread, to summon four illusionary versions of himself to disorient and confuse the enemy. These illusions all act exactly like Aurelius himself (thought not all in the same way at the same time). They can't harm anyone, and will shimmer out when attacked. As a failsafe, also once per thread, when the tiefling requires it or when he falls unconscious, Aurelianus will shimmer into invisibility and the illusions appear, each fleeing in a different direction.

The Cane of Desire - Where he picked up this item, Aurelius won't say. But the cane has become his scepter of authority in The House of Sin. The cane itself is hollow, enchanted to keep his drinks cool; so the warlock can enjoy his little creature comforts during his travels. When someone's reflection is caught in the amethyst mounted atop the cane, Aurelius can see their burning desires for that moment. A handy tool for the purveyor of the flesh.

The Broker's Ring - This beautifully simple little trinket was commissioned by Aurelius for one simple reason. To aid him in acquiring more souls. A simple band of silver worn on his right fore-finger, this item can produce two small needles on the inside and outside faces upon Aurelianus' mental command. It has been further enchanted to pierce any material up to strength of mythril, allowing him to shed the blood required by his Soul Binding much more slyly.

Junior: During the ride in Ettermire, Aurelius managed to "acquire" something out of the ordinary; an albino elf fetus.

Now, never one to waste anything, the warlock has taken a few incantations from the Nine Circles, and granted the little creature life... after a few modifications, of course; the creature's eyes have been stitched shut with mortuary thread- the senses its dark awakening granted are beyond human comprehension, a preternatural other-sense; its teeth have been replaced with steel fangs, like tiny needles, allowing the little parasite to feed on the blood of other creatures; its fingers, too, have been replaced, with miniscule scalpel blades; the final additions to the tiny familiar are the talon like feet, and more importantly, the pair of crow wings grafted to its back. The extra musculature was exceptionally difficult to craft, but it was all worth it - now the abomination is able to fly, perching on the tiefling's shoulder when not flapping around him, chittering dark secrets into its master's ear.

Why Drak'shal created this sin against nature is unknown, but he has taken to the revolting little monster with genuine affection, dubbing it 'Junior'.

Recent History:

Shrikehold Prison Blues - Taking his Anarchist brethren, Aurelius makes to burn down a CAF records building, but is captured in the process by Otto Bastum. Put through trial and sentenced to imprisonment, the tiefling is sent to Shrikehold Prison. Why then, does he seem so happy about it?

Wishing Well - Summoned to a small border-town in Akashima, Aurelius is drawn into an adventure that promises to be rewarding. But all is not as it first seems.

Conference of Criminals - Aurelius' infiltration of the Ixian Knights finally pays off, as he hears of a shipment of black powder up for grabs. But the tiefling can't pull this heist off alone...

Catching Up With A Friend - Following the debacle that was the Eiskalt War, Aurelius meets up with his old ally Madison Freebird to discuss the future. And piss off the Ixian Knights while they're at it.

Crimson Hands Tournament, Round One - Called to shed blood once more by Lichensith Ulroké, Aurelius puts plans into motion that could tear the Order apart. But not before he crosses blades with everyone's favourite faun-whore.