Shifter_Master

The Relics

The knife in the dark

Name: "Alphonse"

Age: Looks to be in his early to mid-40’s

Gender: Male

Faction/Allegiance: Himself first an always. His Allegiance can be purchased for a time however.

Relic Description: Nameless

Nameless is a rusty chain slave bracelet on his left hand. Due to Alphonse’s abhorrence to Relics, his has grafted itself to his hand by lacing its chains through his skin. If one looks closely they can still see the scars from when he first tried to remove it. It turns black while inert.

Powers:

• Blood crafting: This power allows Alphonse to create items out of blood. They are fully functional replications. The items created are deep red in color. Unfortunately this ability requires blood as fuel thus only small handheld items such as lock picks or a dagger can be created without placing the user in danger

• Life Steal: This ability allows Alphonse to leech the life from the living through any fresh wounds they have. Leeching this life rapidly heals any wounds Alphonse might be suffering from giving him the capability to recover in from crippling injuries in seconds as long as his victim has enough life within them. The fuel required is some of the very same life force it steals it takes it as a tax.

• Shadow manipulation: A simple ability that allows Alphonse to shroud himself in shadows, useful for stealth but little else. Currently Alphonse is unsure what fuel this takes and is hesitant to learn.

These powers are not without drawbacks however
- Due to the relics powers over life force and blood it requires routine feeding of those very same things about once a week, failure to feed the relic leads it to stagnate and become inert. While inert Alphonse is under constant pain from the chain-links embedded in his arm, he also feels more lethargic.

- The relic also seems to have stunted the rate as which Alphonse heals naturally causing him to suffer from wounds for a lot longer than anyone else. If his relic is inert his natural healing process stops all together

- The last drawback is Alphonse is sensitive to cold Iron; it irritates his skin if contact is maintained for too long and it leaves him feeling drained.

It is possible that his relic holds more secrets, but as he loathes using it, he refrains from using it as much as he can. Thus he will never willingly learn more about it.

Appearance: Alphonse is a very forgettable person; his features are very bland with little evidence to his age. He is of average height, with short brown hair and Hazel colored eyes. His cloths when he is traveling make him out to be either a wanderer or a small time merchant with not obvious weapons or protections. He is ambidextrous but was born a lefty. Under his clothes there are faint scars and fading tattoos scattered across his body but none are immediately visible.

Flaws:

• Apathy: There are very few things that Alphonse truly cares about, thus it takes a monumental effort to get him invested in anything that doesn't concern his goal of survival and even then he is only as invested as far as his life is concerned.

• Lack of morals: As he was raised by the underworld to be a tool for assassination Alphonse doesn't shy away from killing or stealing or any other illegal or ‘evil’ actions. He will do whatever it takes to complete his goals.

• Paranoia & Distrust: Time and time again Alphonse has been taught or learned the hard way that the only one that can be trusted is himself. People just try to use or remove others, there is no middle ground.
• Hate of relics and evokers: He was trained to be wary of them as they had skills he couldn't hope to match. He learned to be afraid of them when he was used as a test subject by a twisted Evoker who wanted to test his new powers. Then he was forced to be one as his relic dug in to his flesh, determined to never let him be free of it.

• Unsure how to function in society: He was raised to be an Assassin of unparalleled skill, to be pointed at a target and let loose. So he has issues dealing with the day to day normalcy and the point of social formalities.

• Skewed education: Due to his upbringing Alphonse did not have a proper education, everything he was taught was to help with his role as an assassination tool.

Skills: He was groomed to be a weapon by various people in the underworld, they succeeded, and all his skills are for assassination.
• Sharp mind: Due to years of being pointed at a target and let loose Alphonse has developed a very keen mind, he is able to quickly analyze and discern much about a situation with without prior information. He is also very perceptive, able to notice small details or hear faint noises that for others would pass up easily.

• Anatomy: Due to his training he has developed an acute familiarity with the human body allowing him to provide minor First aid as well as destroy or cripple his adversaries.

• Alchemy: one of the more esoteric skills that he has picked up, it allows his to craft a variety of useful items such as poisons and acids or small yield explosives

• Combat: In a combative situation Alphonse fights much as a duelist Preferring sabers and daggers for the grace and ease of landing a particularly devastating wound easily. He is not above dirty tactics however, and will readily employ underhanded moves at every opportunity that is afforded to him.

• Infiltration: His most impressive skill however is the degree in which he can infiltrate any location that he needs to without anyone truly knowing about it. He is a master of stealth, capable of rendering himself unnoticeable in nearly any environment; he is also a skilled disguise artist capable of altering his appearance and mannerisms to impersonate anyone who he would choose to, which is backed up by a tongue of pure silver. Finally locks or traps are little more than a minor hindrance as his skill at opening or bypassing them is second to none. Suffice it to say no building is truly safe From Alphonse if he is determined to gain entry.


Biography: Alphonse has not had the most blessed of lives. Born into slavery to a criminal organization in the heart of Othea his life was bleak. He grew up among other slaves, never knowing who he mother was, and he was looking to go nowhere. Till one day the head of the organization sold him off to an assassin as payment. The assassin took one look at the young boy and saw some small potential. So he started to train the boy in the art, but not to be an equal, not to be a companion, but a tool and nothing more. After a few years the mentor, having grown tired of him, sold him off as an expendable hit man; he would never have guessed what this would lead to. Alphonse’s next owner quickly pointed the young boy at a target and promptly forgot about him, until a month later Alphonse returned with his marks finger as proof. This was the beginning of than next part of Alphonse’s life, he was passed around sold and traded by the criminal underworld for decades. He was trained by most, ignored by some, and used as a fashion accessory by others. None care for him as anything more than a tool or a guard dog however, even as tales of his exploits grew more and more well known.

As he passed through various hands he inadvertently learned and was placed in to a variety of situations, he spent years in prison now and again, both as an inmate and to break someone out. He has spent time as a poison tester, as well as a chef assistant among other things. The most important even was shortly before he was set free. His last owner had just been killed in a hostile takeover and he had been placed in the hands of a psychotic Evoker. The man took great pleasure in torturing Alphonse doing everything he could to elicit a response from the Assassin.

Alphonse spent years in that crazed man’s possession, being little more than a play thing to the Evoker. These years pushed Alphonse to the breaking point of his self-control and willpower as years upon years of discipline and training were eroded by a growing hate and instinctive need to escape. It was a small miracle that, days before Alphonse snapped there was a raid by the Holy Order of Idris, looking to kill the Insane Evoker and free the slaves.

Later, after he had been treated by healers and had regained himself he approached the commander that had spearheaded the raid and learned who they are and what it is they do. He offered his services shortly after learning their stance on Evokers. He still has contacts with them when they require a more subtle touch when dealing with Evokers such as nobles or well-beloved figures.

Currently he is a wanderer seeking answers to various questions, offering his trade to pay the way.

Personality/motivation: Cold and jaded, Alphonse knows full well just how harsh life can be. He doesn't complain he doesn't brood and at times he just doesn't care. Except for two things: First those he deems an enemy are pursued ruthlessly, as he is willing to go to any means to insure they are dealt, often times choosing the cruelest method available to him. Second is the matter of his own survival, which he holds above all other things. Anything that poses a threat to his continued existence is considered an obstacle to be taken care of.

Final Point - Secrets:

• He is an evoker, this is a shame he does his best to forget about

• Alphonse is not his name. He was never actually given one, thus chose one upon being freed

EDIT: Minor edits to relic and a hider for compact viewing

The Relics

My Cs is almost done hopefully I will have it up later tonight

The Relics

So type fast and make something extraordinary and hope I can make it in gotcha

The Relics

This is open again? I remember reading over this a while back when it wasn't accepting new players. I have to get a Cs written up asap it seems

Progressive Arcanum

“Well... Urgent matters. I know you prefer taking care of yourself, anyway."
Adam just waved an absentminded hand in Aoife’s direction as she left, he was slightly disappointed that he wasn't able to watch her practice with his ‘Sight’ but reasoned he could ask to watch it later, after he figured out how to best explain it. With a shrug he returned to his speech making thoughts. A short while later the Headmaster was setting off the young man turned to follow as Miataea spoke up "Good luck to you, A . . . Adam, right? I didn't want to give that speech anyway. I hate crowds.”

“I’m disinclined towards this crowd as well, but nothing is gained by avoidance” He said softly as he nodded a farewell before moving to catch up with the Headmaster. The walk to the Grand hall was a silent affair as the young mage was busy silently formulating his speech. He was partially aware of the look on the teacher’s faces as the Headmaster explained the situation to them; the disbelief easily understandable as his reputation among the staff was not the most exemplary. Still the choice had been made and none of the staff would openly talk back to the Headmaster, so they saved their complaints for later.

Shortly after the explanations Adam was seated in the wings just off stage, his attention seemingly fixed to the floor just in front of him. Internally Adam was receiving a small appreciation for some of the con artists that he had run with, it was a surprising challenge to take his thoughts and put them to words in a way that would let him clearly voice his opinion while also masking it long enough that he wouldn’t be lynched where he stood.

“Adam, you’re up” said one of the staff helping running the opening rights, breaking him from his thoughts. Nodding he stood, took a deep breath and started walking towards the podium that had been set up for this occasion. It was an interesting event to behold as the crowd quieted down when they saw him walking towards the podium, only to break out in quiet murmurings as they began to recognize just who it was.

“For those who are not aware my name is Adam, I am one of the senior students here at Aledine. I am here today to bid you welcome to this reputable academy” He rasped, his voice being amplified by the enchantments on the podium in front of him. “In these halls you will receive the opportunity to grown and learn in academics, skills, habits, and traits that will help you excel in any aspect of life. There are classes and groups involving and dedicated to every branch of hobby and interest with staff that are just as involved and interested as you are. That being said you must prepare yourselves, as failure is inevitable. for nothing can be gained without sacrifice. For each accomplishment that can be acquired a debt must be paid for with perseverance. You will falter as you seek out your goals, some may find themselves buried under pressure, others will come to harm due to the nature of some of the courses that are taught, and a few will have dreams trampled upon. Failure shall walk alongside you always. Always remember the opportunity that has been offered, for learning and experience, only is worth as much as you willing to make it worth. So go and let your actions speak for themselves, as you work among comrades and fellow students, go and prove yourself for all to see.”

Adam’s voice was as even as he could make it as he spoke and everyone could hear the conviction he had in his voice. He was struggling to keep the smirk of his face however, for the context of which he spoke was not quite as innocent as it appeared. It was true that everyone would be given the same opportunity, but Adam knew that few would truly take that opportunity for all it was worth. Many would just pay lip-service to learning, content to coast on by, none truly ready to pay the cost required for true learning. The actions of the many told of a lack of commitment to what it took to master something. They would rise to the plateau of their peers and then be content to waste away.

He motioned to speak more but a rough cough stopped him “It seems I must end here for now, remember; you are only what you make of yourself” he said before turning to walk off the stage as another cough wracked his body. With a smile Adam returned to his seat and waited for the opening ceremony to end, he had just challenged and insulted everyone present. Challenged them to rise up and prove that they are worth the effort and insulted them by implying all they shall face is failure, best yet no one would notice until later.

Progressive Arcanum

Blerg, i dispise Mondays. I'm working on my speech post, not sure if that is before or after the skip but I'll make sure its done by tonight

Progressive Arcanum

Question: should I write up my next post with the speech or is there still a post or two before that?

Progressive Arcanum

Post is away

I look forward to reading the monster post

Progressive Arcanum

“So I am to give a speech about the overview of the school year to everyone?” Adam asked more for his own thoughts then for clarification. He would have never believed that he would be asked to do such a thing, believing his reputation would cause worry about what he might say. That meant the head master was not as opposed to how Adam learned then he originally thought. With a shrug he spoke “I’ll have to think up the speech on the way but it shant be any real issue”

The thoughts of public speaking pulled old memories to the surface, back when Adam was younger and much more criminally inclined, conning people was one of his best resources to get money. He was always more skilled and reading and convincing people then he had been at lifting goods from them. He found it rather humorous that a skill from his past life would come in handy now. It got him to thinkinking on what other mundane skills would be useful for a Magestrava to have. Ruefully he realized that answers he had been seeking earlier were dropping in to his lap left and right all because he had slipped in his control.

Brushing away thought of his past he fixed his gaze on the Headmaster “I know the entrance ceremony is due to start soon so I shall follow your leave” After that proclamation he returned to staring out the window, no longer see the landscapes however, now he was forming his speech. It was a novel experience for him he had never been tasked with vocalizing to the school at large; he couldn’t help but wonder what some of his class mates would think when they saw him at the podium. At the same time he realized that he couldn’t just say what he thought about the whole experience, not without upsetting a fair amount of people. Absently he wondered if politicians ever had similar thoughts.

Progressive Arcanum

It took less than a second for Adam to truly decide if he would take the Headmasters offer or not, he was going to, but it still took a few moments for him to answer. This was because he couldn’t clearly recall what the opening rites entailed as he was normally reading during them. “I’m willing to help; I just would just need to know what it is you need me to do. I’ve spent the last few rites brushing up on my reading so I’m not sure if it has changed since the first one.” He spoke up finally as he fully turned to face the other man.

As he conversed with the Headmaster Adam was running calculations in his head. He knew better than most that healing magic was not all powerful, not if you lacked intimidate knowledge of someone’s body, even than there were something’s that it would just not be able to fix completely due to the ever changing nature of the human body. Thus he was figuring out which of his injuries he would have to pay closest attention to after he was healed as to not agitate a still healing injury. Karma inflicted injuries tended to heal the cleanest; Xi was a mixed bag and Sakra injuries tended to last long after healing even if treated in the traditional sense. So he was likely to be dealing with chronic migraines for weeks if not months as well either sense of touch or smell would remain dulled for some time as well.

None of those prospects really bothered Adam; he had dealt similar consequences before, and likely would again knowing him. He was getting better at estimating what he could get away with magically as well as how long it would take for him to heal. In fact was it not for his inattention earlier he wouldn’t have had to come to the hall today. And if you asked him what he gained out of the ordeal was much more then what he lost. A plethora of remembered avenues that he could take his studies as well as a rather fascinating new discovery with his magical senses, If anything he would have backlashed worse if he knew what would have happened if only to see what else would come of it.