LUCIO DANTE
"He today who sheds his blood with me shall stand as my brother, eternal."
-Diego Cervantes, the Spear of Aquilonia
NameLucio Dante
NicknamesLord-Commander of the Imperial Military, the Angel of Death, Hammer of the Emperor, the Blood of Aquilonia
AgeRoughly 1,100
GenderMale
RaceVampire
KingdomImperia, Vassal-City of Aquilonia
AppearanceTo the citizens and enemies alike of Imperia, Lord-Commander Dante is an implacable and awe-inspiring figure. A tremendous man that stands nearly seven feet high, he is never seen in public unless clad in ornate regalia. Widely known for donning the golden Armor of Saint Lucas, his personal raiment of crimson and gold is known as Angelo Testarossa. Such is the might of Dante's magic that he seems eternally cloaked in the light of his Iron Halo, and he is known to soar on angelic, ivory wings that ceaselessly bleed through their feathers. In private company, Dante wears simple robes of red and white, and keeps his face uncovered. His many years are clear in his features, as his long, fine hair has turned completely white, and the lines of centuries of warfare are etched into his face. Even so, he has an ethereal, otherworldly beauty with chiseled features, ivory skin, eyes like rubies and long, white fangs. Dante often adorns himself with writings of scripture, golden medallions, mementos of his fallen comrades, and other such trinkets, and displays his personal heraldry (a drop of blood framed by alabaster wings) on many of his belongings.
Equipment- Armor of Saint Lucas: the inherited armor of the previous Lord-Commander of the Imperial Military, fitted to meet Dante's heroic size. Burnished gold in color, the armor is crafted to display a sculpted, statuesque physique, complete with a death-mask cast into an eternal warcry. A masterwork of artifice, the armor has all the strength of steel at far less weight, allowing the agile Dante to weave through battle as he is known to do.
- Angelo Testarossa: Dante's personal armor, more ceremonial in design but just as practical in battle as the Armor of Saint Lucas. Red steel, inlaid with gold filigree, the armor is dense and heavy, but lends terrific protection against enemy arms. A man without Dante's strength would be unable to move in such armor, but the Lord-Commander is an unstoppable juggernaut when on the charge in this raiment.
- Aquila: the legendary Spear of Aquilonia for which Deigo Cervantes, Commander of the Eighth Legion, was famed. A masterwork spear, gold in color and emblazoned with the heraldry of ancient Aquilonia, it is a priceless work of art as much as it is a deadly weapon.
- Sangue Tenebre: the personal weapon of Lord-Commander Dante, commissioned prior to his first campaign as Commander of the First Legion. A greatsword gilded in Dante's heraldry, and built to withstand his tremendous strength. The crimson blade of the sword is of a special construction, able to cut through steel and flesh with equal ease, and moves through the air at such speed that the metal seems to sing.
MagicDante is a noted master of the Book of Blessing, though with the remarkable exception that he cannot use his magic to heal. Unknown to most, this handicap is an extension of his vampiric nature, as such monsters cannot create life. Even so, Dante makes use of holy magic to smite his enemies with purifying light, carry himself aloft on angelic wings that weep martyr's blood, and protect himself from enemy magics with the use of a luminous "Iron Halo" that surrounds him.
PersonalityBy most standards, Dante is a reserved and withdrawn fellow. He speaks little, though when he does so, his words are utterly profound. Personal glory matters little to the Angel of Death, as he has been honored enough for several lifetimes over his many years. Quiet professionalism and dignity surround him, but he is not standoffish. Though to many he is a legendary and unapproachable figure, he cares strongly for those under his command, and is a calm and patient listener. Humility and composure are his hallmark traits, as his many years have brought him great wisdom and inner strength.
However, one should not mistake his reserved nature for submissiveness. Dante holds his honor and his values strongly and uncompromisingly, and woe befall those who threaten his faith, his king, or his country. He is not afraid to speak out against convention or authority when he knows he must. Though his vampiric nature is vicious and bestial, Dante keeps his darkest urges well-contained. Even in the heat of battle, Dante's fury is cold and tranquil; viciously rending his foes without undue malice or enjoyment. That is not to say that his inhuman instincts are easily ignored, as they press against his mind at all hours, and it is his supreme willpower that allows him to retain control.
Traits- Master strategist, veteran of hundreds of military campaigns.
- Unparalleled warrior, with centuries of experience in battle.
- Master of the Blessed Book, though unable to use healing spells.
- Imbued with unnatural strength and vitality, as well as immortality through vampirism.
HistoryVampires are strange and reclusive creatures that lurk in the underbelly of many societies throughout Deaus. They came into being an eon ago through the bargaining with daemons for the gift of immortality. These monsters creep through the night and drink the blood of men to perpetuate their unholy lives. The closest that vampires come to living openly are the Sangue Nostra of the city of Aquilonia. As old as the venerated city itself, the Sangue Nostra forms a hierarchy of the criminal underworld of the city, keeping crime tightly controlled, but also under their protection. Lucio Dante was born as yet another daemon-blooded scion of the Sangue Nostra some eleven-hundred years ago. Like most vampiric youths, he was plagued by nightmares for his first years as his otherwise human flesh came to terms with the unholy potency in his veins. Dante suffered more than most, and often had to be locked away in a coffin during his daylight sleeping hours as his nightmares were vicious and caused him to lash out physically. Often he would be unlocked from his casket to find that he had clawed the inside of the lid unti his hands had gone bloody. The elders feared that the child would not survive his first decade, such was his torment.
However, Dante held strong by the inspiration of a childhood hero. Diego Cervantes, a famed knight and leader of Imperia's Eighth Legion (known as the Sons of Aquilonia), was the idol of a young Dante. Cervantes, called the Spear of Aquilonia, was the victor of many campaigns against savage monsters and foreign invaders. An avatar of chivalry and justice, Dante kept faith in his neophyte years by aspiring to become such a hero. Wearing a hood, mask and robes to shield himself from the sun, Dante ventured out one day to meet his idol, and upon finding Cervantes in the city plaza, demanded to be made his squire. Cervantes laughed, asking what knight would wear a mask, thus keeping him from taking rightful credit for his mighty deeds. Dante replied that he would not fight for glory or gold, but to protect and inspire the masses. Impressed by his answer, Cervantes took on the young man as his squire, all the while ignorant of his true nature.
For years Dante grew up under the watchful guidance of the Spear of Aquilonia. He continued to wear a mask and heavy robes, though donned a full helm and armor in battle, and so years passed without Cervantes ever seeing his squire's face. Dante learned quickly, and his unholy strength made him a force to be reckoned with in battle. His greatest issue laid in controlling his temper, which was fueled by his vampiric bloodlust. Even so, Dante eventually was knighted by Cervantes, and was considered a true warrior of Imperia and Aquilonia. However, some short years after, a devastating campaign against a foul daemon horde nearly destroyed the Eighth Legion. Cervantes, as well as much of the legion's senior leadership, had been killed by the campaign's end. Be it through luck, skill or divine providence, the young Ser Dante was the senior-most knight left in the legion, and so was appointed by default as the Commander of the Eighth Legion. Such an inauspicious appointment was seen as a grave omen by the remainder of the legion, who feared that their ancestral banners would soon be retired forever. Deep in mourning for his lost master, Dante took up the man's famous spear, Aquila, and took the angelic wings of his heraldry and made them part of his own; adding a drop of blood to show the sacrifice given for the good of the people.
As the Eighth Legion was slowly rebuilt, Knight-Commander Dante looked inward to resolve his own personal struggles. He would not due his legion justice if he continued to be ruled by his instincts. Dante took to the church, spending much time learning scripture and meditation from the priests and chaplains. It was in these long hours of inner reflection that Dante discovered the Book of Blessings. Seeing it as antithesis to his vampiric nature, he took up the study and practice of holy magic, hoping it would lead him away from his darker urges. Dante took well to learning these magics, which also aided him in learning to curb his urges and impulses. By slight degrees he grew less brash and became a stronger man for it, and so his legion became stronger. Dante led numerous successful campaigns of retribution against daemons and other such monsters over his centuries of service commanding the Eighth Legion. His vampiric nature had extended his lifespan well beyond that of a normal man, and he was still loathe to share his dark secret with his soldiers. He explained away his longevity by claiming that his prowess in holy magic had extended his lifespan; a rare feat but not one unheard of. This simple lie has protected the secret of his blood even to this day.
The might of the ancient Knight-Commander Dante eventually reached the ears of the Emperor of Imperia. Upon the Emperor's invitation, Dante passed on command of the Eighth Legion to a worthy successor, and went on to lead the prestigious First Legion: the Hammer of the Empire. His continued success as the legion's commander brought him even further prestige and accolades, and he began personal correspondence with the Emperor. Dante's true nature as a Vampire eventually could no longer be hidden from the Emperor, and though the revelation was shocking, it was not the end of Dante's service. Seeing the man to be faithful to the gods and to Imperia, the Emperor decreed that only his family and their closest advisers would know of his true heritage, and by them would be considered an honorary human. Eternally grateful to the royal family, Dante continued to serve them dutifully, and eventually his fame and prowess surpassed the prestige of the First Legion. Dante was appointed as Lord-Commander of the Imperial Military, the highest military official in the Empire, and the direct adviser to the Emperor on martial matters. For hundreds more years Lord-Commander Dante has retained this tremendous honor, lending his expertise to many Emperors and continuing to venture onto the battlefield to lead his men from the front lines.
