If thats the case then I suppose a watered down warrior culture that exists on the outskirts of the world nation, with only mere myths and fables of the great dragon that once harbored their people, be alright then? I was also thinking that due to him being a dragon, with how mosntrous the reputation of such beasts are, the censorship district rewrote kilgarrah as a rutheless demonic tyrant as to further tarnish his reputation to prevent his tales from inspiring those that may follow his example in future generations, and sort of spites against all the glory he and his tribe had spent an eternity building upon battles and honor? Just a thought as that side of the story is your department as well.
Do you think I should start on another character for fun?
If you were being serious earlier about creating a King in Yellow type character, I'd be happy to collaborate with you on a third, more powerful demon king type figure. Just throwing that out there, no worries if that's not what you're looking for.
I'm surprised no one made a demon sided character of serpents and poison. I think I might make a second character about that as a sort of blood rival to Kilgarrah.
Kalik’s name has numerous interpretations. He is the Kaala Vaala—The Black One; the Vishaal—The Titan; the Raakshas Bhakshak—The Demon Eater; the Kaee Hathiyaar—The One with Many Arms; Vidhvansak—The Destroyer; Vaalee Veeraanee—The Drinker of Desolation; Parivartak—The Bringer of Change. He is a fearsome warrior whose skin is as black as space and seems to absorb all light like a black hole. His eyes are as red as coals and spheres as bright as the sun burn within them. His body appears as though it were sculpted from stone. His calves are as thick as the oldest elms and muscles as hard as the finest steel. About his waist is a belt of the finest ore and gems, and a white sarong of the most precious cloth hangs down to his knees.
Vishaal; Kalik can appear as tall as the tallest mountain or as small as a mouse. Some can see the god standing on the horizon like a great statue or shadow. In the center of his forehead burns a symbol ॐ. Hanging from the stretched lobes of his ears are two hoop earrings. Raakshas Bhakshak; he has an appetite for the blood of demons and is the Vaalee Veeraanee. He adorns his neck with a necklace of the skulls of demons and not just demons. There are some angels who had disagreed with his ethics.Kaee Hathiyaar; it is unknown how many arms the demigod has, but he is seen on occasion with eight total. In each of his hands, he carries various weapons and some not so much as weapons as they are objects. He wields swords, spears, bowls, scales, shields, lances, axes, tridents; mirrors; scrolls; and snakes—each weapon possesses the power to best most gods for he is the Aton of Destruction and Change.
All that has a beginning has an end. This applies to all things and not just life. Kalik has destroyed things unrelated to battle such as sadness, fear, and pain. Thus, his shakti though destructive, it can be purifying. When one isn’t blinded by emotions or obsession, then one is able to see the world more clearly. His destruction brings about creation; change; and opportunity as the body, mind, spirit, and the cosmos heal and renew itself. Kalik can always be found facing East, waiting until the day that the sun will refuse to rise for that day will be The End.
Kalik does not boast about his power or his strength. He is antisocial and is more of the type to speak when spoken to, and prefers to listen more than speak for he listens constantly to those who pray to him. He possesses a near ever-lasting stamina and patience. When he stands facing the east, birds, beasts, and mortals sit at his feet unafraid, and fearful only when the demigod is active. He is a bringer of destruction, but he is also a healer who can destroy those things that cause harm and suffering.
He is a superior warrior whose strength can divide the sea. The swing of a sword could split a mountain and some objects he possesses can separate space to draw those who oppose him and his ethics from hiding.
The symbol on his forehead opens to a Third Eye that allows him to see all around him. He can see hidden enemies or traps, and can see through the illusions of his enemies with that eye. With his numerous arms, he can battle a warrior whilst remaining in place. His arms can reach great distances and when severed, it is uncertain if the demigod regenerates the missing limb or if another one of his many arms takes its place.
His black flesh is like a suit of armor and cannot be scratched, scraped, or stabbed so easily. The demigod does not bleed, but his body cracks when damaged and can shatter. Because of this, his pain tolerance is extraordinarily high and he bears a stone-like stoicism. Rarely does Kalik smile, but he does frown and that expression alone is unsettling.
Kalik has been known to transform those servants who have been selflessly loyal to him. They will be transformed by his shakti into beings that mimic his image. These beings are called the Zura and they are mighty creatures of great skill and shakti. When they were transformed, their minds understood Shakti. Eldritch words that allowed them to harness great power. They are the words of Kalik for he is one of the few children who speaks a unique tongue. For this, Kalik’s tongue is as white as heated metal and when he speaks Shakti, his words resonate with power. There are few children who speak and comprehend Kalik’s language. Those who understand him are usually an ally, a lover, a rival, or one who has spent patient hours with the demigod.
Kalik is most notably seen standing on the horizon like an immense shadow with his multiple arms. While some misleadingly believe that that is the only size he is able to take, he can actually shrink himself to small proportions to be as small as an ant or mouse. He can hide in the pockets or throats of mortals, and they say a mortal possessed by Kalik will speak Shakti. They will also bear the demigod’s symbol somewhere on their body—usually the forehead or throat.
The child drinks and devours the blood and flesh of demons. Due to “demons” being ambiguous for an angel could just as easily become a demon or a demon an angel, it can be said that he also devours the blood and flesh of angels. He is a cannibal and will always consume those who fall to his blade. Lately, it has been those children who do not agree with his destruction who have contested him.
Water color painting of the Zura by Zurian Painter Nodus Khaleem.
Original Tribe
The Zura were not just the name of the multi-armed servants of Kalik, but the people who built a glorious city around the titan, and he stood like a statue over the city forever facing dawn, which was the direction in which the Zurans prayed. They adorned his feet and the earth where he stood with offerings and flowers. They wore serpents about their necks and colored their scales for fashion and at times, the snakes proved to be symbolic.
An albino snake was always looped about the neck of a bride at weddings. Venomous snakes were draped about the necks of criminals who would be bitten and suffer a slow and agonizing death. The Zura built their culture around Kalik. Zurans were allowed to seek vengeance against those who had caused them great suffering or pain and they would offer their bodies to the demigod, pleading their case, which would bring them either peace or rebuke. The demigod was the supreme judge when it came to crime in Zura, if a case ever required his attention. Thus, Zurans were a vengeful people when scorned, but only the purest would pray to Kalik to destroy their anger so that they would be able to forgive.
Because of Kalik, the Zurans lived into the hundreds, which was much longer than most people. He destroyed their every affliction, but he could not destroy time. He could only prolong it. Those most loyal to him were transformed into beings called Zura, and the Zura were mighty warriors that guarded the city and destroyed any army that dare attempt to take it. The Zura were all that was necessary to deal with most nations for their skills were nearly unmatched. The Empire of Zura with but its prosperous few were able to hold off legions of armies. For every one Zura a hundred soldiers died so the legends say.
Unable to bleed, Kalik poured his shakti into the bowl during the Age of Betrayal. When the demigod was imprisoned, his missing statue was regarded as an omen. Prophets began to preach of The End, spooking the people despite the sun continuing to rise each day. The Zura were transformed back into mortals and the Zurans fell victim to their own madness. As crime continued, there was no longer a fear of rebuke. They slaughtered each other and eventually overthrew the government to descend into senseless anarchy. The once adamant civilization was trampled on by invaders who nearly exterminated the entire race of peoples in their conquests. The empire burned and blood soaked its streets. Zura was never the same.
Kalik was an uncomfortable being to approach about such matters as “whose side would he choose?” He had been disliked by Angel and Demon alike. Some were not pleased with his ethics and behavior. It was solely because of the compassion he had for his people that he chose the side of the Angels and gave them the shakti they needed to crush the Demons.
Legend says that when Kalik joined the fray, the world quaked with his charge. He crushed demons under his feet and the swinging of his blades created cyclones of razor destruction that painted the world red with blood. He disgusted his kin by drinking and devouring the blood and flesh of fallen Angels and Demons. They say he fought savagely with a Demon’s throat between his teeth and when the Demon’s allies attempted to save him, they were shredded by Kalik’s numerous arms. He fought endlessly for days without rest, gorging on the fallen that scholars believed were what fueled his endless stamina. When the battle was over, Kalik had three bands of skull necklaces about his neck. He licked the blood from his skin and weapons like a beast and…faced the East.
Hey everyone, I can’t wait to read your opinions and write with you all. Let me remind you in the case you missed it but Kalik has a special tongue and therefore speaks his own unique language. The Zurans spoke this language, but scholars might have probably listed it as a dead language over the centuries. If your character hasn’t spent much time with him, then they more than likely won’t understand him.
Nefas Sen, Lady of the Deep, Mother of Abominations, The Sunken Queen.
"Hush, little lost one. Your struggles are over, child...you are welcome in the Deep, for the Deep accepts all, and rejects none..."
Description:
What does every lost little child ever want? A loving mother to care for them. Feed them. Look after them. What does every outcast, scorned soul, and lost man or woman want? A place to call home. A place to belong, a place to feel camaraderie from ones peers. Every injured, dying, and wounded man wishes to be saved. To live, to fear that abyss known as death. What do the Wrathful, Gluttonous, Envious, Prideful, Lustful, Slothful, and Greedy want? A balm, a soothing hymn to ease their souls and sinful want.
That is what Nefas Sen is. A loving mother. A person who will always accept you for who you are. A healing salve that will heal wounds and save one from death. A soothing hymn that will make men forget their lusts, envy and other sins. She accepts all into her bosom, and rejects none. All are drawn to her beauty, unnatural charisma, and soothing hymns and silken voice. All one must do...is give her your undying loyalty.
To pledge oneself to the Sunken Queen, is to give up ones humanity and become an abomination. To Oppose the Mother of Abominations, is to incite the wrath of the Deep itself. To incite the wrath of the Deep, is to incite the wrath of the Lady of the Deep, Nefas herself. The Deep demands loyalty, and loyalty it will have. Once ones soul is tainted by the Deep, there is no stopping it. Any human soul will eventually succumb to it, and be turned into an abomination themselves, thinking of nothing other than serving the Sunken Queen.
The Lady of the Deep appears to all as a tall, feminine figure with palest of skin, only beaten by the Pastel Lord, and the blackest, and most silken of hair that falls to her waist. She easily is taller than most humans, save for the tallest of men. Her skin is smooth, almost unnaturally so, and any who have the permission to touch the flawless skin, will forever find themselves longing for the soft touch. She is far from human looking, however. No, it is quite obvious she is not human. She has nothing to hide, and wishes to hide nothing from the humans. Her eyes are gold in color, serpentine slits for pupils upon pitch-black sclera that seem to shimmer with starlight. Extending from the back of her head are four large, black horns. Two curve around her head to the front, with two smaller ones extending upwards. On her head rests a pale green emerald. Upon her collar rests a black mantle with a sapphire inlaid into it. She has four arms. Two extending from her human shoulders, with two more extending from her back, giving further hint to her inhuman nature.
Those who incite her wrath, and those who possibly have a high affinity for things which humans are unable to see, she will appear very different too. Standing at a massive four stories tall, the Sunken Queen is a terrifying, and possibly impossible to comprehend existence. Mere men are unable to see her true, glorious form unless she wishes it. The transformation into this otherworldly beast is something of a tribulation itself for those watching, if only because such an act can cause those watching to be driven mad from the sight.
Six arms sprout from her back, with two spindly legs to stand on and a small tail. Two of her arms have numerous tentacles on them, able to extend their reach even further. Her head is an almond shape with holes all around it, with numerous tentacles writhing and falling from the bottom of it. Every hole contains an eye, and can see you almost wherever you are. A fleshy, tan hide covers her with small hairs growing all over her body. Four, bone like protrusions extend from the side of her neck, curving forwards to the front, and two curving towards the back, almost forming a protective shell around her neck and head.
Powers:
To put in simple terms, Nefas is the Lady of the Deep, and Mother of the Abominations that that spew from its depths. She is their Loving Queen Mother, and they her loving children. Among her most notable powers, is to turn any living creature - so long as it has a soul - and claim it as the Deeps by enveloping it in her loving embrace. Those who receive such a boon directly, will be turned into the strongest creatures of the Deep, that will only become stronger and stronger by bathing in the deeps cold embrace. She is not the only creature of her ilk able to do such an act either. Some are specifically bred to dominate the minds of humans, and slowly turn them into denizens of the deep, whether they wish it or not.
For once they turn, they will think of nothing else but their Queen. The most common, is a small slug like creature that will bite, and inject a human with their blood. Such an act, eventually causes those of weaker mind to seek out the Deep...or be driven mad by resistance, and turn anyways unless they receive a cure.
The effects of such an act vary from creature to creature, and there may be variations even among creatures of the same species. However, one thing remains constant. It will hush the creatures instincts, desires of wrath, vengeance, and greed...and turn their thoughts to nothing but serving the Deep and their new Queen. They become the most loyal soldiers anyone would ever have need of. Unflinching, unyielding, and never would betray their Queen, no matter what duress they are put under.
Do not mistake her for a frail queen who sits upon her throne, either. While she prefers to leave the fighting to her precious, loving children, she will not hesitate to fight those who harm the Deep and those who dwell within. Aside from her ability to corrupt those, dominate their mind and soul with madness until they succumb to her, one should not underestimate her physical abilities, she is quite physically strong, even in human form. However, while she is most likely stronger than your average human, any demi-god who's sole facet is strength would likely outclass her.
Additionally, she is quite adept at things of the Arcane nature, and commands the very stars and cosmos to some extent, able to channel their powers from her hands and eyes, the latter of which constantly seem to sparkle with starlight.
Original tribe:
The original tribe of Nefas Sen, was a small island tribe that called themselves the Su'Akur, originally far removed from the troubles of the mainland, and even before the wars of the Children, it was considered to be somewhat of a legend. The people of the island worshiped no gods, and were ignorant of many things outside of their tiny little slice of heaven. However, what they did have, was a labyrinthine system of caves that extended far, far, deep, beneath the earth and the ocean itself. Sometimes...monsters would come from there, and the citizens would kill them.
However, they got too curious, as was human nature. They sought that which was unknown to them. Armed with only crude spears and clubs, they delved, sealing the fate of them and their people.
It was going well, at first. The monsters they encountered were relatively weak and easily dealt with, even for them. They progressed, eventually coming to a large, open cavern. It looked, to most, to be the end of the cave system. A large, open chamber, with only one thing situated in the center of it. A large, circular, ritualistic pedestal with stains of red, and and two small indentation suspiciously the size of human eyes. They smashed the obviously evil thing, confident that they had solved the trouble with the beasts.
They didn't notice the thing clinging to the ceiling, curiously watching the humans.
Sometime later...something odd happened to the people of Su'Akur. They originally called it a 'Sickness'. A sickness of the mind, something that gnawed away at a persons sanity, giving them visions of some creature. Making them desire to seek it out. They head to seal the cavern because the people would attempt to flee in there, and after several never returned...they were more than a little wary of it. They were able to keep the afflicted safe, for the most part for a few years.
But someone, like always, grew too curious for their own good. Perhaps they had good intentions - find out what had happened to those who disappeared in the caverns, but the city would never find out. As soon as they unsealed the cavern...those that had been lost inside...came out, almost completely sane, cured of their mania. In fact, for a few days they lived completely normal, and no one seemed to question.
...and then the murders started. Those afflicted with madness, grew worse and worse, muttering something about 'The Lady of the Deep', saying yelling at others to free themselves from their bonds so that they may be with her. With this and the murders...the town was in chaos. And eventually, everyone either succumbed to the madness, becoming the first Denizens of the deep, or were killed for their resistance.
And eventually, the city fell. A large chasm opened beneath the island on the sea floor, dragging the city beneath the waves to be with their Loving Mother. There was nothing left of the city on the surface, only waves and a calm sea....
Now that the Lady of the Deep had loyal followers, she commanded them to build herself and them a grand city beneath the earth, and so they did. There, the citizens of the deep lived mostly in peace. They had no desire to harm others, or to expand their territory, for their territory was what lied beneath the earth. They would let the others fight over whatever silly territory they wanted to above. Any who was lost, sick, or otherwise shunned from the world above was welcomed to her grand city.
When the war started, she tried her best to stay neutral. She had no desire to bring her children to harm, and any who lived within her domain were promised a peaceful life, free from the troubles of the surface. She was confident she could remain neutral, but eventually even she had to choose a side in the war, and she felt her best chance for peace for her people...laid with the Angels.
It was quite the surprise to many demons and even Angels. How could one who's very nature was to dominate humans and forcibly turn them into loyal followers, ever side with the Angels? Needles to say, she wasn't the most popular during the war, but that was fine. She trusted that after this, that her and her people would be able to sleep peacefully beneath the waves.
Her children were a great boon to the angels in the war, fighting loyally and unyielding, even at the risk of death. She was certain they would have deserved a great rest after this, and she would have given it to them. Let them sleep for eons beneath the waves.
And then she was betrayed.
Trapped within the pit. Perhaps she should have expected it, but it didn't matter. Her children were hunted mercilessly for simply being what they were - Different. Those who survived were the strongest of them, falling into a deep slumber as their queen also slept. The Sunken City if Su'Akur was eventually abandoned, becoming nothing more than an overgrown ruin, destined to crumble into nothing.
Years of brooding and being alone with her thoughts, has made her more than a little angry towards the humans. She has never particularly been fond of humans. Always shunning things they don't understand, or killing them. That opinion hasn't changed, but before where there was indifference to them so long as they did not harm her or her children, it has been replaced with nothing but scorn and hate.
She will find those of her children who are left, and who have survived...and rebuild Su'Akur. Raise it to the surface, and make the humans understand their foolishness for going against a God.
Faction:
Nefas sided with the Angels, if only so her people could get some semblance of peace. She was betrayed in the end, and she is unlikely going to forgive them any time soon....
Anecdotes:
Her role in the war was a very straight forward one, even if she didn't like fighting herself. She and her people were more of front line fighters, with her overwhelming lesser demons and men with her otherworldly form and magic and her people doing whatever they were the best at. A corrupted Minotaur, bulldozing through the ranks of some demons. A human mage using some form of magic they learned within the Sunken City to summon parts of an otherworldly creature to rend enemies asunder.
At the end of battles they won...she would tempt those wounded and that were still dying to become part of the deep, bolstering her ranks further.
One thing to note, is that even though she sided with the Angels, she was never specifically loyal to them and only took part in a few battles if victory would hinge on her peoples participation. Some theorize she was simply using the angels to further her own goals, but whether that is true or not...is a mystery left to the sands of time.
~The age of War~ Have any of you ever been to the deep? No? Figures. With all this fighting going on, I suppose you wouldn't. After all, you wouldn't believe those...things talk of being neutral, would ya? Those...creepy tentacle things or whatever that live down there. Anyways, Well, I've got a story for all of you. I'm a retired traveler now. I traveled all over the world before I took an arrow to the knee. I always heard stories of the deep. Of what was down there, and me being slightly curious was wondering if there was any truth to them. A last little adventure for me, if ya will.
You hear all the time if ya go down there you'll never return. Well, I know goddamn why. I'll get to that in a second. So I found a merchant who had been there before. He said he was never going back either. When I asked him why, he said he was just scared of the place. It was just...it felt wrong. Well, that was backing up everything I heard so far. He gave me a map to the place.
So it led me to some cave in some backwater coastal city. After asking around, it seemed like creatures of the deep definitely came and went occasionally. They mostly kept to themselves, but anyone who came in uninvited was driven out. Never harmed, but driven out, so the village more or less left it alone.
Being the curious bastard I was, I went in. I fought quite a few Deep creatures in there, and almost lost my life by the time I traversed to the end of the cavern.
And what I found, was a magnificent metropolis under the sea. A shining jewel, calling brightly to me. I then understood what the merchant had meant as soon as I laid eyes on it. I wanted to leave. I wanted to leave. Everything was telling me to leave.
But there was also a little voice, urging me to go further. See this city...visit the palace.
Visit the Lady of the Deep herself.
And so I did.
I never left. -Excerpt from the ramblings of a local madman.
- The exact location of Su'Akur has been lost to the annals of history. Only those devoted to the Lady of the Deep would have any inkling of where the city would even be located. Not that anyone would really dare to search for the ancient site, however. When Nefas was imprisoned, the city was shortly abandoned.
Things still lurk in the deep, however. Not all are sleeping. Masterless abominations, who forget their loyalties...
Opinions:
Will finish later, wanna go ahead and put this up.
Other Notes:
~Mostly to clarify a few things~ -Being turned by the Deep is neither a certain thing, nor an instant thing. Only those willing will be turned immediately. There are many cures out there, such as seeking the protection of another god, and those strong of will, mind, and body will always resist the effects, and in some cases can shrug them off completely.
-Deep Creatures come in many shapes in sizes. Many humans retain a human like appearance, at least on the surface. It is quite difficult to tell some of them apart from a normal human sometimes. Additionally, some are indeed eldritch abominations, beasts, and other creatures.
-Being corrupted must happen directly. Either by being turned by Nefas herself, or some other creature of the deep that has the ability to do such a thing through some manner.
-Anything at all can be corrupted and turned into a creature of the Deep, so long as it has a 'soul'. She has never tried it on another god, for she had no reason too. After all, they would likely be immune, and she doubts any would willingly give themselves to her.
-Despite her commanding things of the 'arcane nature' she's not going to be beating any master mage in a showdown of magic. While she is fairly decent with things of the pure arcane and cosmic sort, she isn't going to be outclassing any master mage.
-Likewise, she is never going to beat another god in terms of pure strength. She is more of a 'jack of all trades, master of none' in terms of skill set.
-Nefas is in fact, neither Male nor Female. Take that as you will.
-Has trouble communicating with humans at times. Either because she is in fact, mute, or any form of communication with her is difficult for humans to do.
-Her actual motivations are sketchy at best. She says she wants nothing but peace for her people, but sometimes...her actions are questionable.
-It should be noted, that creatures of the Deep are not mindless husks some might assume. They still have free will, personalities, and things like that. Most of which, are similar or the same as when they were human. However, they can never disobey a direct command from their queen, and any attempts to turn against her will be almost futile.
Annnd there she is. Gotta finish the Anecdotes and Opinions, but I'll get those up later. Do tell if there are problems. I still have a few things to add, but for now I think you all can get a general feel of her.
Mostly done, then!
I think I'ma wait to be accepted to fill out the opinions section.
@dragonmancer Immediately, I can see our characters not being friends lol.
He's probably not very popular at parties. Wu Dan will definitely be wary of him as perhaps his opposite, where one dances a dance of destruction, the other defends the world from destruction.
Oh and Zhystkrexas probably will laugh at his attempts to eat and drink of the children. The kin return you see, their mortal coils are mere vessels to dine upon. But to capture and devour their soul, their essence...
Ideally, everyone should have on big "Rival" that they hate.
Wonderful~
I shall make her opinions on everyone immediately after some food. I can already say she will find Zhystkrexas amusing, though. Tempting mortals with what their desires, while Nefas does basically the exact opposite.
@The Grey DustBecause this game doesn't allow them to actually die, I don't see how capturing and dining on their souls and essence to be any different than eating their bodies. That's like saying my character likes fruit and yours likes vegetables because either way, the children always resurrect. :)
I shall make her opinions on everyone immediately after some food. I can already say she will find Zhystkrexas amusing, though. Tempting mortals with what their desires, while Nefas does basically the exact opposite.
They will probably have an interesting rivalry.
Zhystkrexas finds Nefas' methodology to be worthless. Why change someone into an abomination? Why turn them into something they are not? These mortals are already the monsters Zhystkrexas sees in them, merely reaching in and giving a bit of a shove. And even her children cannot resist his allure, for even they have a desire to serve their queen. That is the true beauty of her work, the devotion she instills upon them, the control she has over them. And that is why he wants to take them from her.
Zhystkrexas finds Nefas' methodology to be worthless. Why change someone into an abomination? Why turn them into something they are not? These mortals are already the monsters Zhystkrexas sees in them, merely reaching in and giving a bit of a shove. And even her children cannot resist his allure, for even they have a desire to serve their queen. That is the true beauty of her work, the devotion she instills upon them, the control she has over them. And that is why he wants to take them from her.
He can try and take them from her all he wishes, but his results will be less than stellar.
Truly, the way Nefas see's things, humans are nothing more than either lost children or animals that need a guiding hand. And what better person than her? She will guide them. She will bring out their talent, their worth...their true selves. She shows them the so called darkness within themselves...and offers to take all of those things away. Replace their desires and their wants with contentment.
An undying devotion to her, their Queen. Give them a purpose in life. Make them content with their lot, working for a perceived greater good.
All for the low low price of their Free Will, should she demand something.
I'll update Aylin and Ash's opinions tonight hopefully, finally xD I have time to actually read through everyone elses character now that I've finished my hardest exam of the month.
Means I can think harder about who they'd really not like
