Under the guise of the old Master, Nealaphh leads these enterprising souls on the path to true power in the hopes of preventing the collapse the Multiverse...
Description
Xvander's natural shape is somewhat amorphic, a black tar like creature. However since arriving near Wing City he assimilated the body and knowledge of a local weapon's dealer. He has taken in the man's work with a passion. The vanity of his race not letting him pick someone who isn't attractive by local standards.
Tall and broad shouldered the body is powerful. Short black hair and a close trimmed beard, his nature expresses itself in the man's appearance through a sinister air to the man. When he grows agitated or otherwise is threatened his skin becomes pale and black veins rise to the surface.
Personality
Xvander is a ruthless man, and will go to any lengths to get what he desires. He is ambitious and has large goals, both on and off planet. He is patient and willing to wait for his goals to become more achievable, while setting things in motion for long term pay outs.
Xvander's people have a natural psychic webwork that draws them to one another so they may hunt and/or mate. Being young he cannot consciously use it yet, however this does not diminish his ability. He comes across as having a powerful presence, charismatic, attractive, alluring and dangerous. It also makes him highly aware of any psychic happenings around him.
He is drawn to violence and finds it a perfect expression of his race. The more violent, the more desirable the person is, either as an ally, mate, or possibly target for assimilation. However directionless wrath and destruction are something that he frowns on, finding them distasteful.
Equipment
The basic ability package for his people is one that they all begin with. However they have a form of active evolution that takes positive traits from other species to build into their own skills. Xvander is still quite young and has a limited set at the moment, but he hopes to grow with leaps and bounds in such a... genetically diverse setting such as Gambits.
He is still quite young and mostly restricted to the human form that he has taken, however he has already expanded on the abilities of the mere human. Pushing the peak of strength, stamina, durability, and dexterity along with his own regenerative capabilities and senses have made him formidable to any who expect a normal human. However when he exerts himself in any way his inhuman nature begins to reveal itself: His skin starts turning lighter to shades of white while his veins become more pronounced and instead of red are black to the naked eye. As he matures he will be able to control this, however he is still young.
Xvander's people have a natural psychic webwork that draws them to one another so they may hunt and/or mate. Being young he cannot consciously use it yet, however this does not diminish his ability. He comes across as having a powerful presence, charismatic, attractive, alluring and dangerous. It also makes him highly aware of any psychic happenings around him.
To acquire an ability he must first observe the target and get a sample of their genetic makeup. His primary method of sampling is a sharp nail and a scraping of skin, blood, or even hair. While others of his species seduce others with their mind or bodies he is not yet powerful enough, in his own mind, to leave the sampling up to chance. From there it takes time to replicate the DNA within his body to usable quantities. If the ability is compatible he ads it to his general matrix. He is not automatically proficient with any ability he gains and must also spend time practicing his newly acquired ability.
A gift of his progenitor his has a battle form to help him survive if things get dire enough for him that even his enhanced shell cannot withstand. His battle form lets him briefly draw on his ancestral DNA to its fullest potential and his body shifts into a thing of war and death. However the transformation is painful and short lived, he cannot maintain it for long or else his energy expires and he may die.
http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs39/i/2008/321/3/a/Symbiote_by_mseprini104.jpg
History
Xvander comes from a powerful race of creatures spawned from the toxic pits of a distant massive world, located deep within Wild Space, where the gravity is several orders of magnitude greater than on Earth. The creatures of that planet were forced to cope with the lack of sustenance by being able to hunt down any and all sources of food and being able to exact every last nutrient out of them. From this toxic quagmire arose a particularly vicious species, the Uradu. Though small in number they more than make up for it with their natural abilities and diabolical cunning.
The Uradu developed from a symbiotic species that would live among the large predators of the world using their own abilities in conjunction with the hunters. However when they developed their own sapience being second fiddle would not do. They began integrating their bodies with those of the predators, taking them over, eating them from the inside out and, inadvertently, taking their genetic material with them, bonding it to their own. From there the Great Culling began and the Uradu spread. They began devouring every species on the planet, multiplying and absorbing. Each generation more powerful than the last incorporating the various species benefits into their own. It took only a single solar cycle, some 12 Earth years, before the planet was almost entirely barren of life, save the Uradu.
There was a brief period of peace, about ten whole minutes, before the Second Great Culling began and the Uradu turned on each other. This battle was much longer lasting and brutal that the first. Their abilities multiplied as they devoured their own kind and only the most intelligent and cunning were able to adapt to the influx of genetic material without becoming overwhelmed by the information stored within their genes and going berserk.
After 100 cycles, 1200 years, there were only six Great Families, and the original numbers that covered the world has been reduced by more than 99.999%, leaving a population of roughly 50,000 globally. Each family is the direct descendant of the still living Head of their line, the sole remaining survivors of the First Generation: Mekyl, Clombak, Rith-eon, Pilomak, Zevquori, and Ravlyn. Though there are minor Houses they are subservient to the Great Houses. An uneasy truce exists between them with complicated politics existing between each House. The leadership of the race transferring from one House to another every cycle.
They are still the ruthless hunters and given that all other species were eliminated the only source of sustenance was cannibalism. Until the Visitors arrived. An alien exploratory vessel investigating the possibility of mining the apparently barren world, unaware of the intricate network of volcanic and natural tunnels under their landing spot. Their ship's weight collapsed one such tunnel as they were exiting their ship and in an instant they were beset by the Uradu. A particularly quick thinking Uradu took one of the prospectors prisoner and spirited him away to the court of the leading Great House at the time, Ravlyn. The prospector was tortured for information, however they did not have a translator and communication was impossible. Impossible until one member of the court, one Jerash, an older and highly skilled member of the court, offered to merge with the alien and see what could be gleaned though the process.
It was an unmitigated success as Jerash learned all that there was to know from the prospector, taking all his memories and skills for his own, even taking on the alien's form as his own until he chose to reject it. With his newfound knowledge he was able to take a few likewise cunning members of the court and enter the ship, merging and assimilating the remaining crew. With their queen's permission they left the planet with a raiding party. By acting as a ship in distress they were able to lure in several other ships, then the raiding party would take them over and take them back to the home world. From there the ships were dismantled and the Third Great Culling began. Spreading out across the planet with off world weapons and technology House Ravlyn conquered the other Great Houses. However even the off world weapons were unable to slay the immensely powerful First Generation. Ravlyn was able to capture them and have them moved off world with the captured ships and each left on a different moon where they would have to hibernate just to survive the lack of atmosphere. Thus Ravlyn became the only free member of the First Generation and the defacto queen of the entire race of Uradu.
From there the first great setback of their kind. A raiding party attacked an outpost on the edge of Wild Space and were unprepared for the technologically advanced response. This new race outstripped those that had first been overcome by the Uradu and they were slaughtered. A single survivor was found floating in space, hibernating in the vacuum by an unsuspecting mineral transport ship and the survivor was able to get back to the home world. More incidents like that occurred until there were few of their captured ships remaining, as yet unable to build ships of their own, though the industry, built by slaves and designed by those who had consumed various engineers and those few ship designers they had been able to capture.
Ravlyn's policies changed and the infiltration began. It was clear that thy were not as technologically advanced as other races and there was only so much knowledge they could take at any time. So they would wait and build their power slowly. Raiding parties became more cunning and would take live prisoners to the home world as slaves, though few survived the harsh environment. The rumors of this warlike race have spread among those that venture into the torturous area known as Wild Space and those unlucky ones who come looking for them are rarely heard from again.
-Personal Bio-
The creature now known as Xvander was spawned for the sole purpose of spying on the area known as the Multiverse Convergence. A rocky pod was made to contain and protect his larval form until he descended through the atmosphere near Wing City and crashed into the coast. He swam through the waters, devouring what fish and prey he could, for nutrients refusing to absorb the genetic material of what were clearly 'lower lifeforms' until he came across a human, a man by the name of Alexander Price, a weapons dealer. He had happened to swim into the private beach of the man and none of the man's guards gave the small inky shape, mostly invisible against the rocks any thought. Until Alexander shouted in alarm that he was being attacked. He went down and by the time he was pulled ashore he had slipped into a coma. The only sign of attack a bite had been taken out of his leg, though one of the guards said that they saw something slithering into his leg shortly before he blacked out.
Alexander spent two weeks in a hospital while doctors tried to diagnose what was wrong with him. All the while Xvander grew, spreading along his neural pathways and devouring them, replacing them with his own cells, absorbing the genetic material of the man, infesting his brain and gaining his knowledge and skills. After two weeks all of Alexander's core had been replaced and Xvander woke in his place. He immediately went about a new and aggressive business strategy, eliminating other local weapons dealers, his predatory mentality not allowing any competition. In the weeks following he has completely replaced the man's every cell with his own aggressive ones.
However he has received his directive and has moves his business into Wing City proper, using what connections he can gain to gather genetic material from across the multiverse. Some he takes for himself, trying to increase his own power. Other samples he sends to his homeworld through a currier.
So begins...
Xvander walks into the tavern, checking the cuffs of his suit. It was newly made and while it fit perfectly to his body, the body itself was still somewhat new to the alien mind that has taken it over. He scans the room with green eyes, noting a few powerful looking individuals. He walks towards the bar with a measured stride, conscious of the movements that he must make and the sensation of the clothing over his skin. Though he moves perhaps a little oddly there is a definite sinister air to him, and though he carries no obvious weapons there is a distinct danger to his presence. Xvander Price has come to make a name for himself. (NEW CHARACTER! FIRST APPEARANCE!)
Xvander gets to the bar but does not sit. He runs a hand over the touch pad menu there and flips through it, raising a brow at the enormously wide assortment of drinks available. He pauses as he comes across something that he finds interesting. He makes his order, paying with one of the credit cards that belong to his host. In a few moments the bartender carefully brings out a glass with a lid, half full of a clear liquid that bubbles a bit as it passes under a light. He smiles at it and takes the glass bare handed, though very careful not to spill any of the acid on his new suit. He lifts it to his lips and sips. At first it burns painfully in his mouth before the veins darken and his flesh toughens and he is able to actually drink the acidic mixture.
Xvander sits back and sips the acidic drink. A little bit running down from the corner of his mouth leaving a line of red flesh that turns black and heals almost instantly. He reaches up and wipes the acid away, covering up the healing. He doesn't wish to give away what he is quite yet. He smirks a little and takes another sip, careful not to let any of the acid escape this time.
Xvander sits in a corner now. Observing the room. A few business cards in front of him. They were redone slightly after his... transformation. His name, Xvander Price, gold embossed with a winding black border. On the back is contact information and a code, the code is different for each card. He believes strongly in doing business with the right people. He gathers up the cards, squaring them together against the table as he watches Nichole come in. However she does not appear to have what he is looking for in a target.
Xvander watches the procession enter Gambits. He is curious about the various species that appear present. [/i]This world has a good deal of differing species,[i] he thinks to himself as he sips his acidic cocktail. That means a good mount of differing DNA to harvest. He watches the people and smiles. This was more like it. He came here to gather information, contacts and most of all, samples. The new fellow who came in also looks like a prime target.
Xvander strides into the bar, not bothering to look around at the people inside, until he has at least gotten one drink. He is wearing an immaculate charcoal suit and crimson tie tonight. He adjusts his cuff links as he walks over to the bar, each of them contains a powerful acid. He finds the local weakness to such acids to be quite amusing, though he says nothing about it. It would damage his reputation, which, since he had stolen the identity of the smuggler and arms trader was under enough scrutiny as it was. He puts a hand on the bar, running a finger over a touch screen to activate it and place an order for a drink. He had come to appreciate a fine red wine, and ordered as such. Making sure to order a steak as well, rare.
Xvander turns to look around the room. It was more lively than his first entrance, that was certain. However it did not have that air of violence that he had heard about. He taps his fingers on the bar top as his wine arrives. He sips and watches. There is a dark aura to him, nothing visible, but something felt, certainly by those who are psychically attuned. He gazes around the room, well perhaps there are targets if there is to be no fighting. His eyes pass over several, eying them for their genetic superiority, if one exists.
Xvander removes a business card from inside his jacket. Spinning the card idly between his fingers. Well, an opportunity to do business was still what he had come to the bar to do. The sharp shooter was an easy to identify possible. He choses to wait, however as his meal has arrives. He removes his jacket, draping it over the back of his chair and displaying a muscular physique under the white button up shirt. His manners are impeccable as he takes his time to enjoy the steak and wine, the cook was quite good, though not quite as good as the one on his estate it was more than passable.
Xvander finishes his steak and savors the last morsel with a sip of wine. He tilts the glass gently from side to side before he swallows and drains the last of the red wine. He nods and sets his utensils together, enjoying a few moment's peace before rising from his seat. He pulls his jacket on, taking a moment to straighten his cuff links and deal with a twist in his tie. Once everything is perfect he picks up the business card and walks over towards Jaxon. He nods to the women with the man. "Pardon me ladies," his voice mellow and pleasant, but he still has a sinister air to him which carries through his movements and voice. "I was wondering if I might have a moment of this gentleman's time." His grey green eyes turning on Jaxon to wait for his reply.
Xvander smiles at Jaxon, a smile reminiscent of a predator on the prowl. "My name is Xvander Price," he holds out a business card. On one side his name is embossed in gold surrounded by a black twisting border. On the other side is a website and code. "I am a dealer in weapons and other services," he smiles, a little wondering if Jaxon will understand that he is a middleman and weapons dealer for various guns for hire and mercenaries. However he continues without waiting for a reply, acting on the assumption that he will understand. "I am expanding my business a little, and I was wondering... are you looking for work? If so all you need to do is go to the website and provide a bit of information, skills, accomplishments, all is secure so you have no worries there." Alien technology made sure his database was secure, he made sure of that. "And contact information, of course."
Xvander smiles and takes a moment to adjust his cuffs again. He was still getting used to the body on some level, and though the clothes were all perfectly tailored to his form, he was still unused to the concept of formal clothes such as these. "The code expires in three days. But if you give me some information now, I may have a job available by the time you fill in the data." He rests his left hand in his pocket while his right hand is extended as though waiting to receive or offer up something. "I see you favor the Cheytac M200 and M&P 9L," his eyes appreciating the weapons for a moment. "They are well cared for, but warn from good use, even I can see that. I can provide newer weapons should you need. Are you alone or do you work with a group?"
Xvander listens intently, jotting it all down to memory without difficulty. "I'll get a full copy of your records and have confirmation in a day or two if everything you say is true. Once you fill out the contact information and job desireabilities I'll get you a list of current jobs." He looks at the long arm and hmms softly to himself. "I have some access to off planet armaments. I may have something more powerful if you desire. But a replacement can be easily aquired, call it a signing bonus." He smirks a little and pulls out two more cards, placing them on the table in front of Jaxon. "If you know anyone else looking for work, give them these cards. I'm looking for a wide variety of skills, mystic, tech, weapons, and investigation. But I am only looking for the best. You will get a bonus too if they sign up and are what I am looking for."
Xvander smiles and nods to the man. "That's what I like to hear. I have taken up enough of your time. Enjoy your evening." He takes a moment to nod to the ladies individually, making eye contact instead of leering at them at all. He turns away without another word and makes his way towards the bar door. His movements a little off, as he is actually thinking about every move he makes, it is unnaturally smooth movement, however still remaining elegant, with a definite edge, like a blade ready to be drawn or a wild animal pacing before a hunt. He heads out quickly, making his way through the night without fear.
Xvander steps into the tavern wearing an immaculate suit, a black briefcase in one hand and black leather gloves. Each item is tailored perfectly to his size or custom made for him. He looks around the room standing perfectly still like an apex predator getting ready to pounce on its prey. When he does move it is with the unnatural grace of someone thinking about every single movement he is making. He pauses mid way into the bar and nods to Jaxon as a craftsman to another, and not as employer to employee. He makes his way over to the bar and sets the briefcase on top of it as he sits. He surveys the other people at the bar, his blue grey eyes resting for a moment on Heart as he removes his gloves, folding them and putting them in a pocket before ordering. "The bottle of 1946 Macallan. I had it brought over from my private stores earlier today."
Xvander glances at Jaxon as the 52 year old scotch is placed in front of him. "Rock glass with ice," he intones to the bartender before turning fully to the man. "Xvander Price, but Xvander will do. I looked over your resume. I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. But there were some complications with another matter that I had to deal with. I attend to the assignments personally, you see." He is a very hands on man, taking part in the running of his business, though he does take time to enjoy the fruits of his labors as he is now. "I sent you a few dossier the other day. Jobs for you to look over. I also have with me a property lay out. I'd like you to check it over for intrusion points for a different job. You will be compensated for your time, of course." He reaches over and unlocks the briefcase without even looking at the combination. Pulling out a folder with pictures and geographic lay out.
Xvander smiles and picks up his glass. (It was a 65 year old scotch, not 52, I was thinking of a very particular bottle) "My... company was consulted on the defensive points of a property. We've made improvements on the detection grid, but I thought that another set of eyes on the project wouldn't hurt." His smile is brief, but there long enough to be noticed. "As for that job, there is the matter of the date to accomplish it by as well as the signature to leave. If you accept it you have," he checks his watch, yet another expensive item probably worth several thousand dollars but it isn't ostentatious, but elegant instead. "One week, three days, four hours to get it done." Another brief smile. "They were quite insistent about the time." But this does indicate an intimate knowledge of probably all his paperwork, and past dealings.
Xvander nods and sips his scotch, enjoying the rich fullness of the flavor and texture of that ancient and one time flavor. With his eyes still closed, savoring the gradually fading taste he reaches into his briefcase and pulls out a knotted charm in a Chinese style with red silk and jade beads worked into a complicated pattern, some dark stains have been scattered across one side of it, probably old blood. He puts it on the bar top in front of Jaxon. "The stipulation is that this be found on the body. It isn't mentioned how, or why, just that it be done." He had done some personal research though, to satisfy his curiosity. It was the targets own signature for when he did a job. He opens his eyes and sets the glass down, tilting his head slightly as if to better catch a particular sound before quickly glancing to the side at Heart. He gazes at her for a moment, impassive, but then he smiles quickly, a decidedly predatory aspect to his smile before it fades once more into a neutral mask.
Xvander smiles and pulls out a data pad, flicking through the entries there he selects a few things and sends them. "The full dossier is available on the secure site for you to look over at your leisure. And take your time. You still have one week, three days, and three and a half hours to complete the job. Best make sure it is done right the first time. With this target, you may not get another chance.. Get back to me when you can about the breech points of that compound, there isn't a set deadline on that." He turns back to his scotch and sips it, enjoying how the ice has gradually changed the flavor of the scotch. "Have a good night Jaxon."
Xvander motions for the 1946 Macallan to be taken away. "Lock it up for me. That bottle is for me alone." He smiles briefly and fondly as the bottle is taken away. He finishes his own glass and thinks about it for a few moments. "I'd like something more dangerous now. A glass of Nitric Acid." The bartender asks for confirmation as it is an acid that does not tend to react well with organic mater, sometimes explosively in fact. "Yes, I am sure." He smiles briefly in anticipation and taps his fingers against the bar top gently, pausing to adjust his cuffs. It was a queer thing, to feel out of place in his 'own' body. But there it was. Even the best tailors suits and clothes felt peculiar against his skin. So he finds himself constantly making minor adjustments. He can suppress the action from time to time, but it sneaks back in.
Xvander immediately notices the presence of Elsa watching him. He slowly and carefully adjusts the cuffs of his shirt and jacket, the movements quite deliberate as he slowly flexes one shoulder then the other, testing the limits of the material. If it gets to a confrontation he would rather not ruin a perfectly good suit with too much motion. The glass of acid is place down in front of him and he gives a quick smile to the bartender. Xvander lifts the glass and places it to his lips, sipping the bitter acid. A webwork of black rises against the skin of his lips, the thick liquid of his alien blood rising to compensate for the damage the acid does inside his mouth, though there is no additional sign of what the acid has done. The action seems to stain his lips black for a few moments before he lowers the glass and it slowly fades. A drop slips down from the lip of the glass and sizzles against his finger. He glances down and rubs at the spot with his thumb and all evidence of the small injury is removed in an instant. His fingers curl around the glass again, at least if something were to go wrong now he has a weapon and doesn't necessarily have to give away his abilities.
RPG
