[CHAR] Nicoli V.S The Guardian

Name: Nicoli "D'angelo" Salvatore
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Rank: Civilian

Basic Appearance

Hair: Kept very short, and is a deep black.
Facial Hair: None. Clean shaven.
Eyes: Dark Blue
Build: Thin, Toned, Corded
Height: 5'9
Weight: 175 .lbs
Special Features: Scars all over his body, arms, and legs. 

(This picture was specifically designed/created for Nicoli.)

Combat Credentials

Combat Style: Nicoli is a tactical genius capable of finding even the smallest advantage offered him on the battlefield, or even create said advantage if given the opportunity. Nicoli is also an extremely fast learner that is capable of observing a particular combat maneuver just once or twice and adapting it to his choice of weapons. Nicoli is an extremely deadly warrior when one combines his ability to dissect the battlefield, thievery training, weapon skills, and Radiim technique.

Abilities
 
The Art of Assassination: Nicoli is well versed in how to kill, he is very familiar with anatomy. He is a novice at the creation and use of poison and rarely employs the tactic. He is a master of using subtlety and misdirection in and out of combat and has honed his base senses to perfection in order to prevent himself from falling prey to his own tricks.

Weapon Familiarity/Mastery: There aren't many weapons Nicoli has seen that he can’t effectively use. Even if such were the case, his time spent with weapons would allow him to familiarize himself with it in moments and use it to it’s full capacity. These ‘weapons’ also include Nicoli’s body, fully capable of fighting off armed and armored opponents with his bare hands.

Thievery Training: Nicoli is extremely adept at many thieving skills to include lock picking, disarming traps, setting traps, disabling devices (magical and mundane), acrobatics, disguise, and more. He relies on his own skill rather than magic to get the job done, ensuring that he never loses his edge.

Radiim: The technique known as Radiim is really two techniques used for one purpose. The first is not simply the ability to block out pain, but to register it on a different level, like breathing, pain became a natural part of Nicolis life. The second, and true purpose the first half of the training, Nicoli has learned to control the flow and potency of his adrenaline. While this does make Nicoli faster and stronger, capable of accessing a hundred percent of his potential, it does come at a cost. Shortened bursts of this, if used in succession make him tired and fatigued. While prolonged usage can result in permanent nerve damage, a heart-attack and even death. All of this is compounded on top of the normal threats one faces in any battle.

Anti-Arcane: This is not so much an ability as it is weakness. Because of a ritual his father attempted on him, Nicoli does not benefit from Arcane based spells. A spell meant to harm him works as intended. But a spell to make him invisible would be wasted on him, an enchantment to make him stronger or faster would only cause him pain. Attempting to drink a potion for similar affects would wrack his body with pain as it was rejected. Even holding a magical weapon with a blade meant to burst into flames would function as a regular weapon in his hands, while grabbing a cursed weapon would carry out its curse as it was intended. (The weapos/items still retain their full power and ability, Nicoli simply cannot activate them.)

Gear

Full Description/ Info:

-- Head: N/A
—Shoulders: All Weather Cloak
-- Torso: Leather Straps.
---- Underclothes: Simple Garments
-- Legs: Leather
---- Underclothes: Simple Garments
-- Right Arm: Steel Bracers.
-- Left Arm: Steel Bracers.
-- Primary Weapon: Long Sword
-- Secondary Weapon: Short Sword

-- Combat Items: Small Throwing Daggers x 10, Chain Whip 10ft., Hand Cross-bow, Three Foot Metal Collapsible Rod X 2.

-- Non-Combat Items: Ocarina (Instrument), Lock-Picks, Adhesive Gel 2 ink-wells worth, fine glass powder, light silk cord, small grappling hook x2, ink, quill, parchment, whetstone, flint & steel, Smoke Bombs X 4.   

Long Sword -- Kardia -- This long, ash grey, and slightly curved blade has a handle of polished obsidian carved into the likes of a black bird of fire, a black phoenix. The creatures wings are folded backwards to create a guard for the hand, the head pointed downwards holding a clear gem. The wings make the swords cross guard with the hilt crafted to depict delicate feathers of flame.

Short Sword -- Tooth -- This weapon appears to be crafted from the tooth of a very large carnivorous creature. It is a vibrantly white, straight, thin and wide short sword. Both sides of this wicked looking weapon are covered in many small jagged barbs that tear flesh. The hilt is a simple construct of bronze wrapped in brown faded leather. (This is the tooth of some very large carnivorous creature, the likes of which Nicoli hasn't the slightest clue.)

Bio/Back-story

The story of Nicoli Salvatore is not for the feint of heart, it is one filled with sadness, deception and death. He was born on the small temperate island of Alexandria. His father was Machiavelli Salvatore, an influential adviser to the King as well as a very accomplished Magus. Nicolis mother was a simple women, another mage and once Machiavelli's apprentice. Though, through child birthing she was lost and it is nothing short of luck that Nicoli survived.

Being born to an adviser of the King certainly had its privileges and Machiavelli was certain to take advantage of them. Once Nicoli was old enough to walk he began of tutors and teachers of many kinds, the sort that teach the basic things, and at an early age they often acted as more of a guardian or nanny. But as Nicoli got older, around five and six, his teaching became more complex and involved.

While Machiavelli did not play an active role in the early years of his sons life, not directly at least, he was very particular on what his son would and would not learn. From the learning how to read and write, to simple arithmetic. Whats more, is that Nicoli was kept from other children and failure to learn or grasp a subject often resulted in physical reinforcement. To say that some of Nicoli's instructors were cruel would be an understatement.

By the time Nicoli was twelve it became painfully obvious to Machiavelli that despite the magical heritage of both his father and mother, Nicoli had no talent for spell-casting. He grasped the idea and finer nuances of what was needed for spell-casting, the boy simply lacked the spark. To Machiavelli his son was a great disappointment, and he was not shy about voicing this to him.

Deciding to take a calculated risk Machiavelli thought that perhaps he could use a dangerous ritual to make his son more resistant, maybe even immune to magic. That way he could have a loyal assassin, able to destroy his competitors with. Afterall, if the boy could not wield magic than of what other use could he be?

Machiavellis hubris had always been his downfall, and his belief in his own skill and power was misplaced. The ritual failed utterly, not only did Nicoli not become immune to magic, but arcane weapons and armor ceased to be effective in his hands. Arcane potions would only make him incredibly sick and even spells meant to aid would be reduced in their effectiveness, while those meant to harm would work as intended.

Not one to admit failure and ever being an opportunist he would not let a potential tool pass him by. If Nicoli would be of no use in the Arcane sense, then he would simply need to be fitted to a different mold and at the age of thirteen Nicolis teachings began a vastly different route.

His study of the Arcane was brought to a trickle his lessons were instead focused on how to identify and avoid spells. Nicolis true focus instead became learning the finer nuances of the court life. He was taught diplomacy, proper etiquette, how to steel his features and keep emotion from his face. His instructors taught him how to lie with a silver tongue and how to tell if others were lying to you. Whats more, Nicoli was taugh the subtle uses of a dagger. Such a weapon could be easily concealed and could just as easily kill as a sword.

His tutelage was much more than simple classroom lectures and it wasn't long before Nicoli was required to attend diplomatic functions with his father. He was expected to learn the people of the court, and to be his fathers eyes and ears. In this task Nicoli did not fail, as a young boy wanting nothing more than his fathers approval he excelled at his training and found it quite easy to assume different roles and change his demeanor based on who he was speaking to, or more often than not, who he was listening too.

As skilled as Nicoli thought he was, he was still only sixteen years old, and not truly tested. But like many young adults Nicoli thought he knew best and he took it upon himself to attempt to spy on the King. He learned that day that there is always someone more skilled than you, there is always somebody better.

Nicoli was caught hiding in the Kings private chamber one evening while he was entertaining a monarch from across the sea. Because Nicoli had heard nothing of importance the penalty for such a crime could only be one of two things, banishment or imprisonment. Since he was still a boy in the Kings eyes and since his father had dedicated years of faithful service to him he decided to banish the youth from the isle.

Truth be told Machiavelli could not care less that his son was caught, to him it was like loosing a dagger, a pity bu easily replaced with the resources he had at hand. He made no move to speak on Nicoli's behalf beyond a token gesture and his concern was only a showing so that he would not appear to be too callous in the courts eye, he was after all loyal only to the crown, and choosing loyalty to King over blood was seen as the ultimate test of loyalty, only advancing his own standing.

Nicoli was given a small amount of coin and was quickly sent on a ship with only what he could carry. He noted that day his father hadn't even come to send him away, instead it was the city guard escorting him. He left the isle that day, vowing to return and pay them all in kind. He was brought across the sea to the nearest port city, Kellport.

Kellport was a brutal place and for one accustomed to the riches of a castle it was a rude awakening to what real life was like. Despite being a man at sixteen Nicoli was not very large, he was short for his age and thin. He had to learn to survive on the streets and it became apparent after several failed attempts at pick-pocketing, one nearly costing him his hand, that he could not do it alone.

Using what skills he did have he was able to join with a small band of miscreants, Nicoli would provide the distraction, usually by pretending to be interested in buying something or causing some other commotion so that others could steal what they needed. Still, it was not enough, Nicoli wanted more, he wanted what he once had.

As luck would have it one night while Nicoli was staking out the next target for the small band of thieves he belonged to he heard the sound of muffled talking. Perched on a roof he crept to its edge and peered down. There, he saw two man confronting one. He could tell quickly by how the man by himself was dressed that he had been up to no good. His dark clothes and many daggers, not to mention the black veil he wore across his features. This man was an assassin, only they wore the Black-Veil like that.

Being one part brave and two parts dumb, Nicoli took his dagger from his belt and dropped the twelve feet in silence. His dagger catching one man in the neck as he fell. The impact wrenched him free of the weapon, but luckily his target had caught most of his momentum and so he only had his breath knocked from him when he struck the ground.

The second man, caught by surprise turned to face the newcomer, only to be run threw by the Assassin. Only after his actions, sprawled out in the alley before the black veiled assassin did Nicoli think that his actions were a mistake. Much too his surprise the man whom he would come to call Blade offered him a hand up and together they left alley.

Nicoli learned that blade was indeed a Veiled One, and that with Nicoli saving his life he was in debt to the young man and the Veiled One's always repaid their debts. In return for saving his life Blade would give him the skills to begin a new one.

His life as a petty thief was all but over and Nicoli threw himself with a zealous into his training. It allowed him to push his past far behind him, which was something that Blade demanded. Nicoli had to learn to let go of his anger and hatred, something that he extreme difficulty with.

Becoming a Veiled-One was not merely becoming an assassin. Any fool could pick up a dagger and coat it with poison. The Veiled-Ones eschewed the use of poisons and followed a tradition based on a thousand years of lore. The training regiment was unlike anything Nicoli had ever faced or heard of.

They believed in training how you fight, and so death was a knifes edge away. Failure generally meant loss of life, limb or death, it meant that only the most skilled of men and women joined their organization. Nicoli trained day in and day out with a variety of weapons and sometimes with nothing but his hands and feet.

The Veiled-Ones were also the guardians to a secret technique they called, Radiim. It required a mastery over yourself that few could accomplish. The training for that was horrifying and painful. Luckily for Nicoli Divine magic would work on him like any other man, and the Veiled-Ones were masters of their craft.

Eventually, after having been subject to some of the most physically and mentally painful experiences the minds of demented tormentors could think of Nicoli began to register pain on a different level. Pain was overcome, an after thought that did not detract from his task. This was the first step to Radiim.

The second half of the training required an understanding of oneself that was thought to be the domain of mystics and monks secluded in monasteries or the wild. It as also far more lethal than any of the training he had undergone because only he could judge his limits, and too push too far too quick would result in death.

Nicoli spent thirteen years training as a Veiled-One and perfecting his techniques. His dedication and single mindedness allowed him to traverse the ranks quicker than anyone in their history, to the point that in that short amount of time he ranked as second in the organization, surpassing his previous master Blade and becoming the Left Hand of the Grand Master. His birth name was tossed to the side, and as is befitting tradition he took on a new name to be used within the organization, he became D'angelo.
[CHAR] Nicoli V.S The Guardian

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ShidenBlades Here to have fun!
