|
Post by Venator on May 15, 2014 16:22:16 GMT -5
Skoteini Ropalo Description: This bat-like creature sports leathery purple wings and deep scarlet fur. These creatures are gigantic compared to ordinary bats, with an oval-shaped body roughly four feet in diameter and a ten-foot wingspan. These monstrosities have a massive jaw filled with jagged teeth for tearing and grinding prey. Unlike common bats, their beady black eyes are actually decent for sight. Their clawed feet are just large enough to support their weight when balancing on a tree branch, and more than large enough to swipe small animals.
Location: These creatures have been sighted most frequently in the branched of and around Crann Mor, though some have been spotted deeper in the forest.
Abilities: The Ropalo can emit a screech that causes discomfort and can break concentration. Other than this, the bats have only their physical prowess to rely on, but for the unprepared mage, this will be enough.
Weaknesses: The Ropalo are easily blinded by bright lights, which is useful as they cannot rely on sound as much as ordinary bats do. The Fire element is their greatest enemy.
|
|
|
Post by Venator on May 13, 2014 18:02:59 GMT -5
Venator's patrol path for the night led him out to the lake. There were very few enforcers in the hollow, and fewer still that ventured out into the forest on a regular basis. This was, however, a necessity, as many mages ventured into the forest for various reasons at various times, and someone needed to make sure they weren't up to trouble or getting killed by monsters. Venator volunteered for the position, and no one challenged him. Either they were hoping he'd get killed by a monster on one of his rounds or felt his physical strength made him more capable of handling what the forest could throw at him. Venator wouldn't have been surprised if it was a combination of the two.
Venator stood at the lakebed, scanning the nearby shores. Nothing yet- wait! There! A man and a woman, talking to each other. One of them seemed to be using fire (presumably with his own powers; such fickle users of their power, these mages were!) to dry off his shirt. Venator grunted with disapproval. It was dark, there were monsters around, and these mages were going for swims and casually talking to each other. Venator began to wonder if the man had earned those scars through bravery or stupidity, though younger men like him tended to have a hard time distinguishing between the two. Now the girl seemed to be writing something. It was people like this that made Venator's job more frustrating.
But, it was his sworn duty. He had made an oath - one that he renewed each morning. So Venator stood by his position at the lake, alert and ready. He would let these mages have their time together for a few moments longer, but not let them venture too far from him to protect, if necessary.
|
|
|
Post by Venator on May 13, 2014 0:36:52 GMT -5
| Mage Killer Thirty-five (35) March 11
| Male Heterosexual Enforcer
| Venator Nigrum
|
★ APPEARANCE Venator's actual appearance is not one people get a good look at as he is never seen in public without his full suit of iron armor on. Gauntlets, helmet, leggings, he's covered from head to toe. The armor has some bulk to it, giving the already 6'1" man an intimidating size. As testament to his physical strength, he is always carrying a bastard sword in one hand and a large steel shield in the other. Slung across his back are various weapons and staffs, "trophies" he had acquired in his past life (all staffs now inert of magic and practically useless).
Underneath his helmet is a gaunt and drawn face that has forgotten how to smile, eyes almost seeming to bulge due to the thinned out layer of skin. His hair is black, but fading to grey, and his eyes a paled blue. Despite the miserable appearance of his face, the rest of his body is remarkably well-built, as is necessary to carry his armor and armaments without wearing him out or seeming to slow him down too much.
★ PERSONALITY Venator is dedicated to upholding law and order in the hollow, and can show significant intelligence in urgent situations, especially when combat is necessary. Most people who interact with him will list these as his only good points. He tends to be cold and emotionally distant from those around him, out of a combination of his lingering hatred of magekind and his own guilt for his past. Said past has also given him a very cynical and pessimistic worldview, and will have a snarky comment on hand for anyone who utters the phrase "peaceful solution."
Though Venator is more restrained than his past self, the hot passion of hatred fading into a cold resentment, he holds the belief that settling a conflict the violent way is quicker and more efficient than talking things out, and will opt to teach someone a lessen by kicking their ass instead of providing a lecture. That said, Venator seeks penance for his past actions, and has a sincere desire to protect the people he is charged with. Whether or not they like him or he likes them...that's not something he much cares about. At least not consciously.
★ HISTORY Venator was born into a community that, unlike most at the time, supported mages and believed their persecution to be unjust. However, when Venator was just five, a dark wizard took advantage of the community's trust and slaughtered everyone Venator knew, and had almost killed Venator himself. However, the wizard was not very thorough with his killings, and Venator survived, but with heavy injuries. As he lay dying, a burning hatred for magic was born inside of him. He vowed that if he should survive, he would not make the same mistake as his community, and would hunt down and kill all mages. He passed out, and awoke in the morning, most of his grave injuries healed and possessing the strength to stand. He took it as a sign from the gods that his vow was righteous, and had the blessing of the divine.
For years he trained, worked for food and shelter, and fed his hatred of magekind. When he was thirteen he tracked down the wizard that had killed his family. During the battle, the dark wizard flung a spell at Venator, who held up a shield in desperation. Strangely, the shield seemed to deflect the attack, and a similar spell was flung back at the wizard, killing him. Venator did not think too much on his surprising victory, perhaps because somewhere deep down, he knew the implications, but was not yet ready to face his own magical ability. Instead, he continued to travel from town to town, picking up tales of dangerous mages and hunting them down, sometimes defeating them with blade, sometimes by turning their magic against them. By the time he was eighteen, he was known throughout the land as Mage Killer.
Though he was a vigilante, hunting mages outside the law, no community dared arrest him, as anti-mage groups proclaimed him a hero and a champion to their cause. Some who were less gung-ho about the persecution of mages questioned his status as a hero, as not all of his marks had committed atrocities or necessarily deserved to die. But everything changed one fateful day.
It was like most other hunts, with him slaying a witch with her own magic, but one key element was different: someone witnessed his method, and knew it to be magic. Upon learning this, the anti-mage community was outraged, feeling betrayed that their hero was himself a mage. As proficient as Venator was at single combat, the mob that came after him was more than he could handle. They chased him into the forest, and with heavy spears and a nearly fatal shot from an experimental weapon, he was left for dead, his hunters assuming his remains would feed the monsters. Venator passed out, expecting to never open his eyes again. But his time had not yet come.
Three days later, he awoke in the home of an elderly wizard. This old man told Venator that he was in Dorcha Hollow, a place of refuge for people life them: mages. The old man told Venator that this was the second time he had saved the hunter's life: indeed, this very healing mage had been the one to tend to his wounds when he was just a boy. For Venator, the revelation that he was a mage and that a wizard had saved his life was heavy indeed. For another week he was bedridden, in conflict with himself and what he had believed his entire life.
The elderly wizard spoke to Venator again when his recovery had made more progress. The old man told Venator that many in the Hollow knew who Venator was, and despised him. Many had called for an execution, but the old man had a better idea. He knew Venator could be a good man, no, a great man, if he could use his powers for the good of his people. The hollow was a peaceful place, but it would only be a matter of time before troublemakers and mages abusive of their power would come and disrupt that peace. They needed law enforcement, and who better to keep these troublemakers in line than the Mage Killer himself?
For a while, Venator wanted to reject the offer, a combination of guilt and lingering hatred of mages made him want to die instead. But then one day, one such troublemaker arrived at the village, and attacked the elder healer in the midst of a crime. Venator rushed to his savior's aid and killed the attacker, but the elder had been fatally wounded. Yet he smiled as he died, and his final request was for the mages to pardon Venator for his sins, and for Venator to protect the people of the Hollow in his place. The community had deep respect for the old man, and acknowledged his last request. People still disliked Venator and were frequently rude to him, but no one ever suggested killing or exiling him.
And to this day, Venator starts his rounds by visiting the old man's grave, renewing his vow to protect the hollow from those who would bring it harm.
★ MAGIC PRIMARY SPECIALIZATION - MAGEBANE (Offense) Venator's abilities are tailored for the purpose of battling other mages. The spells in this specialization grant him the ability to counter the spells of enemies and disrupt their ability to use magic. INTERMEDIATE MANA DISRUPTIONIn the heat of combat, Venator can imbue his sword with a dark power that disrupts the flow of mana. When a target is struck by Venator's blade while he can maintain concentration for this ability, they will find that casting spells has become more difficult until the wound is treated. Sometimes it is harder to concentrate, and other times attempting to use magic causes sickness; both are effects of a mage whose mana has been tampered with. How much this ability hampers the target's abilities depends on how grievous the wound is. Venator cannot maintain this ability for too long (3 posts), for this spell is a double-edged sword (get it?), and his own mana becomes disrupted simply by holding the weapon. Dark Element. BEGINNER COPYIf Venator is able to clearly witness a spell with an instantaneous effect (it cannot be a spell with a continuous effect), he may cast a weaker, Dark-element version of that spell provided he does so immediately (by the very next post). This is easier for Venator to pull off if it is an offensive spell, and easier still if he was the initial target. At its current level, Venator can only copy Beginner level spells. Dark Element. BEGINNER DARK LUNGEVenator's strength allows him to move quickly in his heavy armor, but under special circumstances, he can perform a leaping charge that is faster than any man should be able to perform, with or without armor. This spell launches Venator at the closest magic source in his line of sight with alarming speed, allowing himself more momentum for a charge attack, and less time for the target to dodge. Dark Element. SECONDARY SPECIALIZATION - DARK AEGIS (Support) Venator is skilled at defending himself from magical attacks. The spells in this specialization allow him to protect himself and others from harmful spell effects. BEGINNER DEFLECTIONVenator can imbue his shield with the same disruptive energy as his sword. While his shield is thus enchanted, it can block and negate magical attacks, except for those of the Light Element. As with it's offensive counterpart, maintaining this spell for longer than 3 posts at a time will start to take its toll on Venator's own abilities. At its current level, Venator's shield can only block Beginner level spells. Dark Element. BEGINNER BREAK ENCHANTMENTVenator can undo the negative effects of a spell on himself or an ally. How long this takes depends on the nature of the spell, though he cannot affect spells of the Light Element. Venator must maintain complete concentration for the duration of this ability, or there will be no change. At its current level, Venator can only undo the effects of Beginner level spells. Dark Element. DARK SOULS II | The Pursuer, VENATOR NIGRUM PLAYED BY PANTSGREY coded by electric of gangnam style
|
|