| Richard Avarde; Aristocratic Warlock | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 4 2009, 08:01 PM (119 Views) | |
| Triamilos | Sep 4 2009, 08:01 PM Post #1 |
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Name: Richard Avarde Age: 31 Race: Human Gender: Male Occupation: Vagabond, Warlock Appearance: A lithe, lightly-built man, almost none of Richard’s body mass is dedicated towards fat, refusing to let his body to go waste like so many in his profession do. Instead he is lean and supple, keeping himself fit and in shape through a rigorous and regular set of exercises and, not surprisingly, life-or-death fights. His ice blue eyes are keenly observant, sucking in everything they can, while his features are sharp and cool. Almost in defiance of the amount of travelling he does he is a few shades paler than most, although he certainly does not maintain himself this way. Normally, he keeps his light brown hair finely combed, and it falls to just past his shoulders. From there, he ties it back in a ponytail using a silver clasp, to keep it out of his eyes when he is working. Finally, there is a set of claw marks across his chest, long since healed but the scar tissue remains. Personality: One of Richard’s most defining features, to those who know him, is his thirst for knowledge, and arcane knowledge in particular because of it’s practical applications. Where many would take coin for their services, Richard would settle for a manuscript or tome, or unlimited access to a library or some such place for a time. This passion for learning has turned him into a mine of information, with a wide range of knowledge on most subjects. He believes firmly that magic, in and of itself, is not inherently evil as some would see it – rather it is the uses to which magic is put to which can be applied the label of good or ill. He does admit that there are some spells he refuses to perform under any but the most dire of circumstances, because of the components required or the outcome of such sorcery, but would more than happily study and memorise such dark spells in any event. He is quite ambitious, freely admitting this to any who ask, and makes no secret of his aspirations to grow more powerful. He does not desire to become stronger simply for the sake of power or conquest, however; instead, he sees greater power as nothing more than the stepping stone to greater knowledge, which he admittedly does acquire for its’ own sake. He does have a few… other reasons for wanting to grow in his arcane prowess, not the least of which being it will enable him to better protect others who may suffer from the new regime and will enable him to strike back at his enemies with far more potency. Richard’s love for books and information is surpassed only by the depth of his hatred for the new religion sweeping and controlling the land. They have hurt him and the causes he espouses too greatly for him to ever consider forgiving them, and will do everything in his power to hurt them in return, to avenge all the friends he has lost to their pyres and the uncounted others who fell afoul of their idiocies. On a more personal note, when he is working with others his companions have found him to be a reliable and stalwart ally in most cases, as he refuses to betray his allies except in the most dire of circumstances. He has no compunctions with breaking an oath if he sees it as the best course of action under the circumstances, such as a mission which originally appeared to be just and true taking a turn for the dark. His morality in general is certainly flexible, depending on the situation. Richard is convinced that there is no iron-cast set of rules by which one must act no matter what, and sees this as yet another reason for him to learn the forbidden rituals, for he cannot deny their potency and only hopes that he will never have to use them. One thing will remain constant in his conduct however – should he be forced into an action which he views as evil, then he will only do so if it means that overall a greater majority would benefit or be saved because of it. And those who forced him into such a situation, no matter how powerful their wards or how tough their guards, would pay dearly for their error… Finally, Richard usually affects the persona of an urbanite, fitting with how he portrays himself as an aristocrat. He speaks with a dry wit, carries himself with dignity, and his every move is made with a care and elegance that is far at odds with the common mercenaries he usually works with. This, combined with his fastidiousness, has often had the unintended side effects of convincing his more uncouth associates to believe he is a mincing pansy who will balk at the first sign of real danger – a belief he has manipulated for his own benefits on more. Clothing and Accoutrements: Richard partly conforms to tradition in that he wears a set of fairly voluminous robes, but that is mostly because most scholars also wear robes, the profession he claims to practise when questioned about what he does for a living. The robes are a dusty black with a deep red trimming, the sort of black worn by people who do not want stains to show rather than a more fashionable, glossy black, although to be honest he cares not for fashion. The hood can be pulled up to obscure his face, although he almost never does this if the elements are not against him, and he sometimes thinks he wears the robes only to mock some of the people he has ran into in towns and cities over the years. Namely, the rabidly fanatical who accuse everyone of being a witch or warlock – here, right in front of them, was exactly what they claim to deplore and is dressed just as they would expect a practitioner of the black arts to be. The robes have several inside pockets, allowing him to stash objects or ingredients he may need fast access to. He has also found that it doubles as a perfectly acceptable blanket in most weather. He usually leaves the robes open for preference, rather than using the red sash that comes with it to tie it closed. Underneath the robes, his shirt and trousers – the same dusty black with the red trimming as the outer garment, showing consistency if perhaps not good colour sense from some views – are well tailored to a surprising quality considering the small amount of money he carries around with him. It would seem likely that his second priority (after purchasing any arcane tomes or artefacts he can find) is to ensure that he has the highest possible standard in practicality for himself, keeping a small sum aside for food and accommodation. This seems to be working out quite well for him, as his clothes are both of a fine make and unlikely to be damaged by anything short of a sword blow. The shirt has six buttons up the front, and from looking at him one would expect him to be an aristocrat or wealthy merchant. Within his inner pockets, he usually carries some of the more readily accessible ingredients for the more powerful spells – gemstones and the like – but he also has a few enchanted amulets and trinkets with him. He keeps these for emergencies, in case he needs a quick boost of power in order to fend off an attacker or complete a particularly taxing ritual, and as such most of them are shattered or lifeless from his recent duel and capture. Of the few that remain intact and active, only one is in plain sight – a rich, purple gem, set in gold on a chain around his neck. He claims he did not use it to aid his escape because he did not have the time to tap it, but he seems to have an inordinate fondness for the piece, and will spend quite a long simply staring into it, lost in thought. Weaponry: Richard carries a perfectly serviceable knife in a leather sheath at his hip, usually, but this is just for show. His knowledge base is far more skewed towards magical and cultural knowledge rather than how to gut someone with a blade, and therefore does not know how to use it beyond the very basics you pick up within five seconds of looking at the thing. He keeps it only as a deterrent against thugs and muggers – seeing a blade within easy reach should keep most off him, and against those who still try and assault him a few words or a gesture can send them flying away without a face if need be. Other possessions: Richard is usually seen with a bag over his shoulder, in which he carries a few books he has not yet finished memorising or does not want to give away yet as well as a number of other arcane objects should he need to perform one of the more elaborate rituals in his repertoire. Powers: Richard’s powers do not rely on simple willpower and thought. There are several magicians for which this is the case, and he has encountered a couple, who can simply focus their attention on the enemy and incinerate them with but a flicker of their mind. Richard, on the other hand, requires somewhat more preparation to be able to accomplish the same feats of destruction. Richard requires something to focus his powers. This can take the form of anything from a few gestures and arcane words to a far more elaborate ritual hours, days or even weeks in the preparation. This can make it somewhat difficult for him to cast spell after spell, but he is of the opinion that it gives him far more flexibility than most other magicians. Indeed, the only real limitation he has found to his magic is whether he knows the right incantations and such, but given the scarcity of such tomes in this day and age that is a damning limitation in and of itself. He fears that there are many hundreds of volumes that have been lost to the flames, untold spells which will only be rediscovered long after he is dead and buried. Out of what he does know, he has to admit most of his abilities are devoted towards death and destruction, or can be employed in that capacity. When he goes to battle, Richard usually finds himself using a mixture of flame spells and mental assaults to achieve his goals (in combination with the usual wards and defences of course, since he does not want to be burned to a crisp himself). He does have even darker secrets buried within his skull, secrets that have marked him for death in many circles. The fell arts of necromancy and demonology are by no means beyond him… ((Alright Jack, there you go. Don't worry folks, I have a very clear-cut idea of what he can and can't do in my head, it'd just take way too long to describe it all. I am not going to let him get overpowered, believe me on that.)) Edited by Triamilos, Oct 12 2009, 05:32 PM.
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9:01 AM Jul 11