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by TwinDeath on Fri Nov 28, 2008 10:44 pm
((I post this with full realization that Xaul might be overpowered, but here it is. And yes, he is not new. I have used Xaul before, but I hate retiring a character when I've used them in only 2 posts.))
Name: Xaul Knofker
Race: Human.
Age: Unknown and unidentifiable. Looks anywhere from 25 to 45 under his scars and tattoos.
Height: 6' 2"
Occupation: Warrior.
Kingdom: Holds allegiance to none, and has no permanent home. If forced to choose, either the Northern or Eastern, as he grew up surrounded by the cultures of both.
Appearance: Xaul is a thin, shadowy presence swathed in a tattered leather trench coat. He has dusky black skin that is almost transparent with black hair and dark eyes, legacies from Resheph’s influence. Also, his entire body is covered in ritual scars from the many modifications made to his body to allow him to contain Resheph, as well as normal scars that accumulated from the years of fighting. Xaul normally wears dark tattered clothes that hide him almost completely when he is in darkness. In the day, these clothes are shabby and ugly, but do a very good job of hiding the chain mesh that he wears underneath. Over everything, Xaul's favorite item is a beaten, battered, and oft-repaired dark leather greatcoat.
Bio: In his small village on the border between the Northern and Eastern Kingdoms, Xaul lived a peaceful life. He was a good farmer and a fine man, and nothing would change that. One day, though, he was out in the fields and saw smoke…
They came tearing across the fields, laughing brutes on wild horses. I was overrun, beaten to the ground as they whirled past me, their torches blackening the sky. I could hear the screams of those that were already dead, those that had not yet realized the truth of their wounds. Worse were the screams of the living, the women and children that were ripped from their homes, torn from their pasts and taken to a new life. They were the ones who were worse off. I lay in the field among my plantings, among the ruins of my old life, and raged silently at fate as I slipped away.
When I came to, I heard voices. “Brother,” one said, a woman, but not human. “This one is not fully in my realm, nor is he in yours. What say you?”
This time an inhuman man spoke. “His time is not yet done, sister. Leave him, he will be yours later.” They left soon after, and I could not call to them, to ask them what had happened.
I came to again, staring at a god. The bloody being, his form indescribable, leaned down and laughed at me. “You should be dead. You should be, but you’re not. Strong little man.” I blinked at him, and tried to speak, but only a pitiful croak left my mouth. He laughed again, his mirth booming across the field where I lay. “I’m dying too, little man. Little Xaul. Did you know that? Did you know that gods could die? Here we are, two dead beings, waiting for the sweet end… Except, I’m not ready for that. Neither are you. Unfinished business, yes? Want to find the people who killed your family? Let me help. Accept me in, and I will give you my power. In return, you will give me the chance to live on, with you as my avatar.” Tears streaming from my eyes as I thought of my village, I nodded, and the god Resheph flowed into me.
The next thirty years saw one of the bloodiest wars in history, especially considering that one side consisted of only one man. What do you expect, when someone cannot die? What do you expect, when spells simply slide around their intended target? What do you expect, when you make the perfect fighting machine hate you? What can you do, but die? Xaul and Resheph went on a rampage across the lands, mercilessly slaughtering every bandit and brigand they found.
Eventually, Xaul realized what he was doing. Waging a battle in his own mind, he traveled across the lands, fighting to regain control of himself from Resheph. Somehow, he found his way to the Monks of the Banir, who, for their own reasons, took Xaul in, caring for him and quenching the pyre of hate that had fuelled his very existence. At the hands of the Banir, Xaul learned about Honor and Chivalry, ideals that he took to heart. The Banir are the people who laid the Kounnar spell on Xaul, and they are the ones who kept him sane. While he knew hat he owed them much, they simply told him to repay his debt by “aiding others, as we have done for you.” With this new purpose, Xaul went out into the world once more, this time his own man.
Personality: When he is not fighting, Xaul is intelligent, honorable and loyal, but only for those who win his trust. He often seems aloof and detached, however, this is mostly due to the fact that Resheph's influence grows at the slightest slip, and Xaul must therefore keep himself under the tightest control. When he is in a fight and his Kounnar activates, though, Xaul is insane. He is feared by the entire world in this state, if only because he is completely unpredictable. A demon in every sense of the word, Xaul in full bloodlust enjoys slaughter and torture, and will fight whomever he wants. This is due to Resheph beginning to influence Xaul. One should note that, while Xaul wants to be good, needs to be good, he is only pretending. The god inside him sees to that.
Equipment: Throwing knives, thief tools, caltrops, poison blow darts, and a light net.
Coat: Xaul's favorite coat is magically enhanced to allow him to always have a pocket that will fit what he needs to carry. He stores everything in this coat, and can pull out the strangest things from it. Often, these items are just what he needs to win a fight.
Uška, a multi-bladed Urumi that is linked to Xaul's Kounnar. The increasing level of rage causes the blades of Uška to superheat and scorch anything they touch, including Xaul.
Drshil and Haingre, two hooded splitting Katars (favored weapons). These, too, are linked to Kounnar.
Drshil causes a wound to hurt more than normal, increasing with time. At higher levels, Drshil can cause pain simply from proximity, and even cause old scars to re-open. Xaul is immune to this pain.
Haingre causes a wound to instantly begin rotting, and leaves a horrific stench in its wake. Xaul has become used to this smell after years of use. Also, Haingre can cause metal to rust, and wood to rot, simply through contact.
Abilities:
Fighting Style: Xaul is constantly in motion during a fight, always landing light hits and harrying his opponent, until he sees an opportunity, in which case he will dive in and strike. Also, he will often pull items like caltrops or nets out of his coat's pockets and use them to his best advantage.
Kounnar: Xaul has terrible, horrible rage, another legacy from Resheph. This manifests mostly in fights, to the point of taking over his body. When his rage manifests, glowing red sigils tattooed all over his body appear, an enchantment laid onto Xaul with his consent by the Banir. Without these tattoos, Xaul would revert to a state of pure fury, and Resheph would have full control over him. When the Kounnar is active, his fighting style becomes fiercer and more chaotic, to the point where it is impossible to predict his movements. (One observer was heard to describe Xaul as a "Whirling Ragdoll of Death.") The Kounnar is linked to his three magic weapons, and directly affects the level of power that they have. It is notable that while fully possessed by Resheph, Xaul could apply these effects to any weapons, but this is no longer within his power.
Last edited by
TwinDeath on Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
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