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91
Epic Battle Characters / Re: Kitharsis
« Last post by Soul Reaver on October 12, 2022, 05:57:20 AM »
The above edit has been APPROVED.  With my approval, it has been folded into a completely rewritten character bio, which can be seen in the first post of this thread.
For archival purposes, Kitharsis' 'pre-separation' character bio is posted below:

----

Kitharsis


Where are you from?

Legund, a distant, primitive planet split between desert and swampland. 

Legund is populated by a race of humanoid reptilian beings.  They stand as tall as a normal human and they are covered in scales.  Jataka is the name of their people.  Their communities are small and spread out through the swamps.  Very few tribes live in or near the deserts.  Each village has a Shaman that leads and cares for the people.

They have not a care for technological matters yet they are quite advanced in affairs of spirituality and magic.  The young are shape shifters that live in the villages located in the swamps.  They are like any culture.  There are times of war and times of peace; times of plenty and times of hardship.  Most disputes are put to rest by the village Shamans before bloodshed occurs.  There are few traces of war between the Jataka.  In fact, the most damaging times to their people are when outsiders stumble upon their world.  It is because of these intrusions that there is little in-fighting among the Jataka. 


What are you? 

A Tirthandara.

Upon coming of age, the Jataka meet with one of their peoples Shaman.  He leads them on a ritual to find their true selves.  This is a ritual of transformation.  For most it is the last time their bodies will change shape, the process stripping away the magic of their youth and replacing it with something... else.  Many stay in their reptilian form without their shape shifting abilities.  Yet through the ritual they gain great magical prowess.  Those who go through this type of transformation return to the swamps to care for their colonies.  Some eventually become Shaman themselves.  On the day of his ritual Kitharsis changed into something altogether different.

The Tirthandara are an ancient subculture of the Jataka.  The few who would know of them would regale you with tales of terror and torment.  They would curse the ground that they once walked and spit on their graves.  The Tirthandara were not a peaceful people.  They are fueled by a dark and sinister energy that resides deep within their being.  Through using this energy their souls are corrupted.  With each use it erodes their sanity and washes away any goodness within them.  The horrors that the Tirthandara had inflicted upon the surrounding planets were grotesque and unforgiveable.  Quite a legacy to inherit for a champion of peace...

So why isn't Kitharsis marauding about the countryside - slaying innocents and laying ruin to great civilizations?  He possesses a unique talent allowing him to purify the dark, seething energy flowing inside of him.  At his core Kitharsis is just and good.  This spark of goodness is surrounded by the putrid energy of the Tirthandara.  Through meditation he can cleanse the Tirthandaran energy of its taint.  This pure energy is stored in his body apart from the darkness.  Having to cleanse the energy that he uses cuts short the amount that he can use.  While this is very limiting, it saves his soul from damnation.  His sanity remains intact and whatever company he keeps stays safe.  Safe from Kitharsis, at least. 

Curtailing the limitless energy inside of him is a fair trade off for sanity and goodness.  Should Kitharsis ever have to dip into the vile, unpure energy irreparable damage would be done.  Doing so too many times could spell disaster.  The need has to be very, very great for him ever to do so.


So great, you're full of evil.  What do you look like?

Large.

Kitharsis is 8 feet (2.44 Meters) tall and almost half as wide at the shoulders.  His skin is smooth, like an ancient marble statue and is colored a light shade of grey.  Muscles pop out of every inch of his body.  He rarely wears clothes or armor on his torso.  The only real protection he wairs are a pair of thick knee-high armored boots.  The metal on the boots was once shiny and polished, but through years of use it has been dulled.  They boots are quite resilient, having very few scratches or dents on the metal and no tares in the leather underneath.  Loose light brown pants made out of a burlap-like material are tucked into the tops of his boots.  A thick leather belt hangs from his waist, strapped with leather pouches.  Some pouches contain various trinkets he's picked up over the years.  While some are full of sand from various deserts he's come across.  He is nearly hairless, save a shaggy blond Mohawk sprouting from the top of his head.  No matter what he does to it, it always springs back straight to full attention.

The most defining trait that Kitharsis possesses, though, are his tattoos.  Black tattoos that start at his wrist snake down his right arm, stopping halfway up his bicep.  A black diamond sits on the back of his right palm.

On his left arm, there are also spiraling tattoos from his wrist up to his bicep.  They are more sparse than on his right.  Taking up the space where the spirals aren't is a wickedly grinning skull.  The eye sockets seem like dark holes into the abyss and the bone almost seems real, as if you could reach out and touch it.  In the center of his left palm is a tattoo of a circle.

On his right shoulder rests an ancient rune symbolizing speed.  And on his left is a rune for strength.

The spiraling tattoos on his arms and the skull appeared on his body during his transformation into a Tirthandara.  The runes, the circles and the diamonds were added later by someone Kitharsis trusts.  Having means to create more tattoos, he is always considering new things to modify his body with.  But the permanence and significance of such decisions makes him consider the changes for great lengths of time.  (Any new tattoos will of course mean some new ability.  These will be replies to this thread and will have to go through approval.)


That’s great, some big punk with a Mohawk, can you fight?

Yes, very well.

Melee Combat.

Kitharsis was trained to be very aware of his surroundings.  Individual movements can be broken down into small bursts of kinetic energy.  He is able to focus and anticipate people's movements by the changes in their energy.  This works very well on lesser foes.  For exceedingly fast or extremely subtle movements it is much more difficult to manage.  And of course, there are always those enemies who are so strong it doesn't matter if you know what they are doing or not, it will still hurt...

As a Tirthandara, he initially did not carry any physical weapons, relying on his body to deal damage.  As such he is an expert at hand to hand combat.  The strength behind his blows is enough to overwhelm foolhardy challengers very quickly.  The boots given to him by the Shaman amplify the power of his kicks through some minor enchantment.

Through his travels Kitharsis discovered an ancient war hammer used by Tirthandara in the past.  The ruins that he found it in were very well preserved.  He spent days there recording any findings he came across.  One day he stumbled upon what was once an armory.  There were many weapons similar to the war hammer.  All were meant to be wielded by Tirthandara.  He chose the war hammer, having wielded one quite proficiently while battling in the arena for the OGHRUN before his transformation.  The war hammer is more like a Horseman's Pick with a head the size of a fist and a large curved spike on the opposite side.  The head is capped with runes that whisper of ancient power.  The metal handle is wrapped in a pattern of twisting spirals much like his tattoos.  The handle is long enough to be held with two hands but still short enough to be perfectly wieldable with one.  He typically grasps it with only his left hand while fighting.  Two handed blows are saved for incidents where extreme strength is necessary.  When not in battle, Kitharsis keeps the war hammer in a harness on his belt with a sheath around the sharp spike.

For defense, Kitharsis's rock hard skin is for more than show.  He has been known to withstand direct hits from bullets.  This of course incapacitated him for a time, but no permanent serious damage was done.  His skin is so hard for a reason.  It needs to keep his energy in...  If his body is scratched or cracked open the unrelenting energy inside his body makes a bee-line for the opening.  This causes Kitharsis to have to concentrate on sealing the energy in.  This extra concentration can be very costly.  For whenever Kitharsis is this injured, it is very unlikely that whatever did it to him is going to stop any time soon...

Tattoos.

The more desirable way to release Tirthandaran energy is by the tattoos they have on their bodies.  When Kitharsis has enough purified energy available (and even if he doesn't, although it’s not advised...) he is able to use his tattoos as weapons.  The purified energy glows red and is very powerful. 

The tattoos snaking around his arms are able to burst into life as tendrils of energy.  They can act as whips to slash, ropes to bind, and any combination in between.  These tendrils are most effective in an open area where they can stretch out and effect as many foes as possible.  Maneuvering then in tight spaces or a crowd is more difficult and Kitharsis typically prefers melee combat in these situations.

The new diamond on the back of his right hand can extend into a blade, long or short, to aid in melee combat.  It can also expand and solidify to act as a shield while he is wielding his war hammer.  Sustaining the shield takes no extra energy once it has solidified.  After deflecting a great amount of damage it will need to be recharged or it will shatter.  Recharging the shield takes considerable less energy than erecting a new one.

The circle on his left palm can be used to shoot blasts of energy.  If Kitharsis ever waves to you with his left hand, be wary, as he might be aiming a red blast of death at you.  These energy blasts are a handy side effect of the real reason the circle was added. When he discovered the ancient war hammer he found that the weapon is able to absorb Tirthandaran energy and use it to empower its blows.  Once charged it must be used quickly otherwise the energy will dissipate and be wasted.  Timing is a virtue when using this technique and a failed blow can be quite costly.  The circle is always in direct contact with the weapon as he wields it with his left hand, so there is no delay when he wants to charge it. 

The runes for speed and strength can be activated by pumping energy into them.  They require a constant supply and as such are rarely used.  The drain of energy is often not worth more meager foes.  And if a battle is misjudged there is often not enough energy left to sustain the runes for long enough to make a difference.  Regardless, the mere presence of them on his body gives a weaker version of their effect.  Once they were tattooed onto his skin they immediately amplified his strength and speed.  Fueling them with energy exponentially increases their effect.

The desert.

Kitharsis's element is the desert.  During a rather dramatic confrontation with his Shaman in the desert of Legund, Kitharsis became attuned with the sand around him.  It heeds his call and follows his commands.  As such he can summon great sandstorms if left alone in a desert.  Or he can call upon it to guard him, deflecting blows as he retreats - or charges.  He always carries a few bags of sand with him on his belt for this reason.  If he tosses a full bag at you, it is probably going to explode.  The grains of sand grinding away your skin and bones before returning to its master.  Kitharsis, always being the compassionate heart to his friends, considers the desert more like a friend than something he controls.  Being away from it for too long makes him restless.

Being attuned to the warm desert, Kitharsis very much dislikes the cold.  Being in the cold for too long makes him sluggish and vulnerable.  And recovering from such takes quite a while.

Pets.

Like his other tattoos, Kitharsis can channel energy through the skull tattoo on his left forearm.  In doing so, he is able to summon skeletons to aid him in battle.  They can come in all different sizes and their abilities can vary depending on Kitharsis's need.  He has been known to summon tiny mages that have useful simple spells, and warriors with crude bone weapons and shields.  They are skilled fighters, and can follow orders.  Kitharsis seems to have a soft spot for them. Even so, does not think twice about using them to save himself or his companions if necessary, as painful to do so as it is.  Upon destruction, the skeletons crumble into fine sand.  Ready to be taken away by the wind to a desert of their own.

Trinkets

The pouches on his belt that are not filled to the brim with sand hold various trinkets and devices that Kitharsis has picked up over the years. 

The most important device he carries is a ceramic relic that his Shaman gave him during one of his many visits home.  This relic is capable of tearing open warp gates.  It is limited in the fact that Kitharsis has to either have been to the plane and place that he wishes to travel to, or he must be focusing on one of his companions' energy signatures to be transported close to them.  If he does not take these precautions, the warp will take him on a random jump through the multiverse.  While this can be an interesting experiment, the outcome can be deadly.

The other devices and relics he carries are much more mundane.  Some are merely good luck charms; others are objects of interest he found during his search for answers.


Transportation?  You can't always jump around in the warp with that little toy...

Kitharsis built himself a ship.

Well, he and a couple teams of skeletons built a spaceship back on Jataka.  It has no moving parts.  Runes are carved over every inch of the hull except for a few of the view ports.  A team of skeletons man the ship at all times.  They were created specifically for the purpose of maintaining and operating Kitharsis's vessel.  It is a small craft that can hold about 10 people comfortably.  It is usually over run by skeletons, so there's barely room from 2 or 3 others most of the time.  It has a few defenses, with one of the mages always sitting in the gunner position at the top, ready to fling magic missiles and meteors at any would be attackers.  It is an ugly ship, winning no awards for aesthetics, but it gets the job done.


So, you must have had an interesting life... eh?

Oh yes...

The word Catharsis's origins are:

Kátharsis - a cleansing.  Which is Equivalent to kathar - (variation of kathaírein: to cleanse. Derived of katharós: pure) + -sis (Greek suffice for a process, state, or condition)

The word's definition and uses deal with purification and purging.  It has been used to describe processes used to be rid of evil spirits, souls, and emotions like hate, pain and fear.

Kitharsis seeks the goodness in the universe.  Evil and darkness that wish to harm others and oppress should be stamped out.  Kitharsis acts as the catalyst that purges the evil in the world from existence.  He also purifies the dark energy in his body, performing personal catharsis frequently. 


Backstory

Growing up in the swamp, Kitharsis loved to trounce around in the mud and cause trouble.  On many occasions he could be seen doing menial tasks as punishment for his most recent adventure.  The elders would joke that, while he was doing these tasks he would be calm and collected, and remain so for a few days until some new adventure caught his fancy.  Soon they began calling his punishments his Catharsis, as they would calm him and purge his mischievous thoughts.  If only for a short while...  Being young he couldn't quite pronounce the word Catharsis correctly. It came out Kee-thar-sees when his friends asked him what he was doing.  It stuck and his name became Kitharsis (pronounced without the ees) ever since.

As he grew older he became a very talented shape shifter and was relied upon in his village.  His troublesome ways were in the past.  Kitharsis was part of a group of Jataka that was in charge of hunting for food for the village.  This group was also the first line of defense to ward off dangers to the village.  It was during the defense of the village that Kitharsis developed a sense of duty to a greater good.  Seeing the children and elderly that depended on him and his team for their very lives was daunting.  Even at this stage of his life he was a fighter for peace.  He never participated in tirades against other villages over petty arguments, making sure to be out hunting when the war band would leave.  When visitors to their planet landed they were always given a chance to prove their intentions.  This would sometimes end badly, but he could not give up his faith in goodness in the universe. 

When the invaders first appeared Kitharsis's village was the first to make contact with them.  He and his team met them far away from the village as a buffer for any violence that may break out.  During introductions one of Kitharsis's team shifted their form.  The invaders were acting skittish before this, and they took the shift as a threat.  They burst out in violence, their superior technology being quick and efficient.  The majority of Kitharsis's team was killed, unable to hold off the attack.  Kitharsis and a few others fought bitterly until they were neutralized and captured, presumably to be used for experiments or other twisted means.

The surrounding villages were warned of the invaders, but the losses were great.  Eventually they were driven off of Legund, but Kitharsis and a handful of the Jataka were taken into the invader's ships.  Most of them never to return.  In one last frantic push, the Jataka attacked the ships.  Hoping to free their countrymen, they inflicted irrepairable damage to the craft.  It was of no use, as the invader's were eventually able to take off into space.

The damage to the ships was great.  The invaders were forced to crash land on the closest planet in the galaxy.  Unfortunately, the OGHRUN inhabited this planet.  This time the invaders were not given a chance to strike first.  The considerable strength and skill of the OGHRUN quickly overpowered the weakened invaders.  The survivors were tossed into the arena, along with the Jataka prisoners found in the ship.  Kitharsis relished the chance to enact his revenge on the invaders, but the gravity of his situation quickly settled in shortly thereafter.

Having lost his shape shifting abilities due to the vortex gem, Kitharsis had to learn to fight without magic.  Failure to do so meant death in the arena.  He favored a war hammer when weapons were given to make things more interesting.  Many people, just like him, were taken from their homes and forced to fight.  At first Kitharsis mourned each and every person and creature that he was forced to kill in the arena.  But then self preservation began to take over.  The greater good would have to wait while he kept his head on his shoulders.  In his cell, contempt and hate were threatening to overwhelm his soul, but a small part of him continued to believe in righteousness.

When the companions appeared everything happened in a blur.  Before he knew it he was free and following them on a quest to aid a demon hunter.  Once this was over Kitharsis knew he must go back to Legund.  He was past due for his ritual with the Shaman.

Upon arriving home he could not associate with the small villages and the Jataka that lived there.  He quickly found a Shaman who lived in the desert and performed the ritual.  His change into a Tirthandara was shocking to both himself and the Shaman.  Warily, the Shaman instructed him on how to fight in his new form.  When not assisting the companions in their quests Kitharsis was training in the desert with the Shaman.

Thirsty for answers, Kitharsis built his space ship and began searching for traces of Tirthandara throughout the nearby universe.  On a remote planet apparently no longer inhabited by humanoid beings he found an ancient Tirthandaran compound.  It was called Trathid.  It had a wealth of knowledge and tools once used by the Tirthandara.  Kitharsis wished to stay here and restore the compound, but an ominous presence was lurking in the shadows and he thought it best not to tarry any longer than needed.  Whatever was hanging around the old ruins did not want company, and far be it from him to disturb something so ancient.

He plans to return to Trathid once he finishes with the bounty he has in his ship.  But until then he is travelling from planet to planet, restocking his supplies and assisting the locals.  Planets with deserts, of course, are given a more lengthy visit...
92
Board Battles / Re: The Three-Edged Sword: Rallying to War
« Last post by Kitharsis on October 11, 2022, 11:06:39 PM »
The markets of Dinlete were a wonder.  He was already feeling like a babe in the woods after The Separation.  Add in the coalescence of the multiverse in one marketplace, and the result was a nearly overwhelmed Kitharsis.  But it wasn't before long that he found a well fitting belt adorned with as many pouches as he could ever want. 

Another merchant was selling blank rune stones near identical to the ones he fashioned on his home world.  Trinkets, artifacts, even jelly candy soon lined the many pouches at his belt.

Last but not least, a tailor was able to fashion a sturdy cloak that actually fit.  He was in debt to Soul Reaver's coin.  A debt he was able to pay off quite rapidly.

On top of Soul Reaver's generosity, Phaerys followed through with his offer to construct him some equipment.  Kitharsis humbly requested a sword, and a set of light armor.  Phaerys responded by creating two marvels far surpassing anything Kitharsis was expecting. 

The sword was constructed from a bronze colored alloy, impeccably balanced.  It wasn't embellished, like a gaudy show piece.  But built like a proper weapon.  Its appearance hid a mechanism that heated to blade to molten temperatures, cauterizing and searing whatever it sliced through.  But only during a swing.

The armor was light, durable, and extremely heat resistant, mimicking Phaerys's own equipment.  Lightweight plates of bronze allow sit atop a black mesh underneath.  The combination of the two materials gave the perfect amount of protection, while still allowing freedom of movement.  Kitharsis dons it with pride, and is quite careful to not damage it.  If he can avoid it.

It may have been a simple gesture for Phaerys but it meant a great deal to Kitharsis, and he hopes to repay his new friend in kind some day.

The markets were but a prelude to the journey that Soul Reaver would soon take them on.  He was tested and tried, learning to cope without being attached to The Source, evil as it was.  He leaned heavily on the equipment he was able to procure at the markets.  Combined with his desert elemental powers, he was able to keep up with the others.  But not quite at his previous level.

His particular favorite destination was a lucky stop on an entire desert world, dotted with oasis's supporting the peoples living on it.  The entire planet would have heeded his call.  The conflict was resolved rather quickly, considering Kitharsis's involvement.

Oh but he could have stayed there and sunk into the sands and never returned.  It was invigorating, and he felt no guilt when he stalled their departure for a number of days while he communed with the desert.  Bolstering his strength and peace of mind. 

It was there that he discovered the power still within him.  Meters below the ground, enveloped in sand, Kitharsis found himself resonating with the desert like never before.  He felt invigorated, as a power flowed through his body.  Initially he believed it was the desert itself lending him its power.  But he found it radiating from within himself.  Indeed, the "spark" that he used to purify the darkness within him as a Tirthandara was still present.  Yet it was clearly no mere spark, but a mighty power of his own.  Having strained against the darkness for so long, it had grown into a substantial force in its own right. 

It was a welcome reunion.  He regained his full strength quickly, and was soon wading through battle akin to his old self.

More travels, battles, negotiations, and diversions.  Soul Reaver was relentless in his search for those in need.  More than once, Kitharsis thought to travel home to consult with The Shaman.  If nothing else but for an excuse to rest for a moment.  Yet each new destination was pressing.  Always a need for assistance, or a wrong that needed corrected.  He could hardly turn his back on those in need.



This constant stream of needs lead them here, holding position on a strategic bridge.  Kitharsis's chest heaved as he caught his breath for a moment.  Three days and nights they have held fast, deflecting a relentless horde of heavily muscled brutes.  Each of the three defenders was stained with sticky, black blood from the creatures.

Kitharsis swipes upward with his sword, and three amplified sandstone blades swipe upwards along with it.  The brute is sliced into pieces with body parts falling on either side of Kitharsis.  Summoning the sandstone blades was the most strenuous part, if he could even consider it strenuous anymore.  Maintaining and manipulating them was as easy as thought.

He returns his sword to neutral guard, preparing for the next brute to throw itself at him.  The sandstone blades hover at either side of him.  Specks of sand sprinkle the ground below where Kitharsis stands, a constant signature of his powers.

A sudden message from a familiar voice in his head.

My friends, I have need of your assistance at once.  Darkness is returning and my people can not face it fully on their own.  Time is of the essence and there is much I must see to.  I can explain everything in full once you arrive if you so choose.  My people are prepared to open entryways for you should you choose to accept.

A quick glance to Soul Reaver and Phaerys reveals they too have received the message from Jharm.  Indeed, Soul Reaver replies for all of them to hear.

I will stand with you.

Kitharsis shares the sentiment.  Their promise to the kingdom fulfilled, nothing held them from leaving to assist Jharm.

I may need a bath first, but you have my aid as well.

He responds, for the others to hear as well.
93
Board Battle OOC Threads / Re: The Three-Edged Sword: OOC Thread
« Last post by Kitharsis on October 11, 2022, 10:32:03 PM »
They are wonderful, thank you!

I will add them into my drafted up post and get something up soon.
94
Board Battle OOC Threads / Re: The Three-Edged Sword: OOC Thread
« Last post by Fallen Templar on October 11, 2022, 06:44:13 PM »
Took a little longer than I'd have liked, but my post's up now. Quite a bit to cover there.

Kitharsis, if you have any other questions about the sword and the armour, feel free to shoot me a PM and we'll discuss it further there.
95
Board Battles / Re: The Three-Edged Sword: Rallying to War
« Last post by Fallen Templar on October 11, 2022, 06:38:10 PM »
As Soul Reaver battled amid the front lines, a sphere of plasma arced overhead, landing amidst the next wave who were hoping to flank him. The projectile burst on impact and showered those unfortunate enough to be nearby. The luminant, superheated substance clung to its victims like tar as it melted flesh and steel alike.

Their incessant attempts to cross this bridge had left Phaerys somewhat bemused at this point. Thanks in part to the fortifications he had constructed, the oncoming hordes found little hope of breaching the defensive line, further compounded by how many had already died trying. Those who weren't hacked apart by Soul Reaver and Kitharsis were disintegrated from afar with the power of a blazing sun. Phaerys idly pondered who or what was directing these creatures' efforts, for them to willingly charge into certain doom. Even as he continued to eradicate them with silent, unnatural efficiency.

It had been a curious time indeed these past few years...

Soul Reaver had been quick to make good on his promise when he, Kitharsis and Phaerys departed through the portal together. Indeed, Dinlete turned out to be something of a godsend. So much to see, discover, understand. While Soul Reaver and Kitharsis rested from the ordeal they had endured, the tireless Ataran busied himself with furthering his research. Not a day went by without Phaerys leaving their accommodation in search for a new contact, anything that might turn up a new lead on his old compatriots.

He even proved to be a surprisingly adept haggler when bartering off unwanted fragments of exotic matter in exchange for arcane devices and lore on the metaphysical. In that time, Phaerys had greatly improved his understanding of Warp navigation, and through information gleaned from a number of other plane travellers, he finally had an idea of where to search for one of his fellow coven members. It was by no means an exact location – more like a sizeable list of probable dimensions – but it was a start.

The duo Phaerys had been travelling with were most intriguing specimens in and of themselves. Occasionally he probed them with questions but for the most part he was content to observe, as he did with many things. He had his suspicions of them at first. A fateful alliance of convenience in mid-battle was what saw their paths meet, after all. But as time passed, and their behavioural patterns had proven consistent enough to be trustworthy, Phaerys reconsidered the emergency escape protocol he had on standby and began to accept his position as the newest of the Companions.

Soul Reaver was something of an imposing presence in person, at first - the man wielded weapons and powers commonly found in the hands of far more inimical entities. But what caught the Ataran's attention was how he was so duty-bound to helping the helpless. In its importance, it was not unlike Phaerys' service to Xel-Atar. In the end, Phaerys concluded that the two of them were in some way not so different than appearances might indicate.

Kitharsis seemed to have been the more approachable of the two by comparison. His current condition had been yet another phenomenon Phaerys expressed interest in studying, even volunteering to run tests as he got used to his new state of being. And that was not all...

During their time in Dinlete, Kitharsis also took Phaerys up on that offer of personally fashioning some new equipment. Kitharsis' request was a modest one. A sword, and a set of armour that allowed for freedom of movement. Simple armaments for a humble warrior. Phaerys readily took to the task, and what he produced would have been considered quite remarkable even on the streets of Dinlete.

The armour appeared to be a fine mesh of carbon-black scales, over which larger metal plates of bronze-coloured alloy had been fitted to cover the vital areas. This alloy seemed to be the same material Phaerys' own armour was composed of, for the whole thing was lightweight, durable... and capable of surviving extreme heat that would see its wearer turned to ash. Fairly typical materials by Ataran standards, so it seemed.

As for the sword, this too was made of that same alloy. It was proportioned so that Kitharsis could comfortably wield it with one hand or two, and finely balanced with a degree of precision that only molecular manipulation might muster. For the most part, it was a fairly normal sword, but Phaerys had integrated a mechanism into the blade's edge so that it would flare up with molten heat... but only during the moment it was actually swung. The Ataran artificer neglected to say whether this was a safety feature or an issue with whatever power supply was contained within, but the end result was remarkable nonetheless – a reliable weapon that could cauterise flesh as easily as it sliced through armour. All in all, Phaerys had been quite satisfied with his work. Moreover, it enkindled a sense of pride within him to see Kitharsis treasure both armour and blade so.

Alas, the trio could not stay in Dinlete for too long. They each had their duties elsewhere to fulfill. Beyond the Spans Between, as Phaerys kept referring to it. And so his adventures with the Companions truly began. Just as his studies continued, in a sense. Sorcerous artefacts were obtained for later analysis. Techniques and manoeuvres were devised for combat conditions. A rare few enemies had the dubious honour of being dissected at the molecular level for rare compounds, all while still in the midst of battle.

Such was Phaerys' devotion to the purpose he was given by Xel-Atar.

As their current battle drew to a close, Phaerys felt a faint buzzing of psychic interference that resolved itself into a signal. A message. More specifically a call for aid from another companion. Looking to the others, Phaerys surmised from their reactions that both Soul Reaver and Kitharsis had also received this transmission. There was no questioning how they would answer it. Phaerys sent his own reply in short order:

Open the way.
96
Board Battle OOC Threads / Re: The Three-Edged Sword: OOC Thread
« Last post by Soul Reaver on October 09, 2022, 05:54:13 PM »
Saw your update, no issues with the content but I'm struggling a bit about how to best integrate it into your character bio.
I could do it myself but it would be a fair amount of rewriting, which I'm not sure I'm comfortable doing on your behalf.
Will be in touch.
97
Board Battle OOC Threads / Re: The Three-Edged Sword: OOC Thread
« Last post by Kitharsis on October 08, 2022, 10:32:48 PM »
Yep, I am waiting for your description of the sword and any pieces of armor Phaerys is creating before I put something up.

I did add an update to the character page for Kitharsis, waiting for mod approval.
98
Epic Battle Characters / Re: Kitharsis
« Last post by Kitharsis on October 08, 2022, 10:30:50 PM »
After The Separation, Kitharsis has undergone a drastic change.

He is still a large being.  Towering over most.  Yet his build is less extreme, having slimmed down from his former bulky self.  His skin is tanned, mimicking the golden sand of the hot desert.  His stark blonde mohawk has been subdued and now hangs loose, brushing his shoulders.  It has faded to a more golden brown as well.

His skin still maintains its rock hard durability.  Yet he has found that when wounded he no longer uncontrollably expels energy.  Rather unsettlingly, he bleeds like most other creatures.  Kitharsis is still undecided on whether or not this is an improvement.

Having spent time in the markets on Dinlete with Soul Reaver and Phaerys, Kitharsis was able to restock his belt pouches quite remarkably.  All manner of runic devices are kept on secured on his belt.  Most are quite utilitarian in nature, yet some do have dangerous and surprising offensive capabilities.

A cloak large enough to fit him properly, the light armor and sword created by Phaerys, and his heavily stocked belt are all the equipment he carries with him. 

Happily, he discovered that his ship was still in good shape.  Yet it was a bittersweet moment, as the skeletons manning the ship were all unmade during The Separation, as he is like to call it.

Abilities:

Having been cut off from the seemingly limitless well of Tirthandaran power, Kitharsis has needed to rediscover his strength.  His martial prowess is still very substantial.  One does not forget how to fight with fists and feet so easily. 

Harboring sour memories from before The Separation, he has abandoned the warhammer.  Kitharsis now favors a sword.  He wears it at his hip most always.  The sword was created by Phaerys himself, and is something that Kitharsis treasures.  The act of kindness by the stranger who had just joined companions is not something Kitharsis could soon forget.

Traveling with Soul Reaver on his journeys has given him ample opportunities to hone his skill with the weapon.  And while certainly no master swordsman of legend, he is no slouch either.

The desert, his faithful companion, still heeds his call.  He carries a large amount of sand with him at all times, using it in both offensive and defensive capacities.  Kitharsis has tapped deeper into his connection with the desert, using it to bolster his attacks and defenses.  He has found how to combine his own innate power with it allowing him to strengthen it exponentially.  A carved sandstone spear, bolstered by Kitharsis, could pierce the strongest of materials.  A wall of sand summoned to block an attack is like an immovable barrier.

What he thought was a mere spark cleansing the Tirthandaran darkness, has turned out to be much, much more.  The darkness was shrouding it, attempting to snuff it out.  Through meditation he was able to tap into the supposed spark to cleanse the darkness.  It was constantly straining against an impossible weight.  As such, the strength of the power within him has grown to considerable might.  His energy signature is now golden, rather than the menacing red of before. 

He has not tried to carve a tattoo onto his body since The Separation, shying away from the Tirthandaran way of drawing upon his power.  Instead he can use sand to create the patterns on his skin that he wishes to channel energy from.  This allows him more options, rather than the permanent tattoos of before.  The convenience of not having to form the patterns each time he wants to use them is enticing.  But he would prefer to differentiate himself from his evil kin as much as he can.  He doesn't use this method of attack very often, unless physical attacks do not affect his opponent.
99
Character Fiction / Re: The Eye of Terror: Epilogue
« Last post by Cameron on October 07, 2022, 06:35:46 PM »
Mary Argent sits on the bridge of the Starblade MKII and watches as the Eye of Terror slowly collapses in on itself. As it does, she can feel her energy levels finally subsiding. Shaking her head, she stands to her feet and looks at a nearby screen. The remnants of the Imperial fleet have made it out, along with a jalopy of a warship that can only be Ork in design and a large number of Eldar and Tau warships. It would appear as though the mission was successful. But where was Cameron and the others?

Mary is startled by a sudden flash and explosion of energy from just behind her. She wheels around just in time to see Cameron and the future version of herself crumple to the deck. They are both clearly injured.

“Cameron! And uh… me! What the hell happened? Where's everyone else?”

Mary tries to rush to their side but is cut off by a swarm of medical servitors that swarm in from the ceiling, chirping and scanning their two newly arrived patients. Cameron hauls himself to his feet, waving them off impatiently.

“Back off, back off, damn it. I’m fine.”

Cameron rests a heavy gaze on the current version of Mary while helping the future version to her feet. Both look like they have been through hell, and are covered in blood, only some of which is their own. They both look past Mary, out of the viewport to the section of space where they Eye of Terror once blazed, and is now almost gone. Cameron sighs.

“We finally did it.”

The Mary of the future glances down at the beat up data pad that she has been occasionally checking throughout the entire ordeal. Seemingly satisfied with what she sees, she thumbs a switch, clearing the screen, before sliding it back into the pack attached to her armor.

Yes. It’s almost over.

Mary shoots a look at her future self.

“Almost? What do you mean ‘almost?' Where's Karyl, Garr, and Kari? Where's Kalana?”

The future version of Mary does not respond. She steps to one side as Cameron limps past her, heaving himself into the command chair of the bridge. With a gesture, a number of controls appear in front of him. He begins tapping them, flipping through screens.

“I need to hail the fleet. Get a status report. Make sure the rest of the Chapter made it out. I need to…”

Cameron trails off as he eyes one of the screens, showing a scan of the tiny speck that is the remaining Eye. It is barely there, but something has stopped it from closing entirely.

“What is that?”

Cameron zooms in, and then zooms in again. He can clearly make out two massive power sources, although one is guttering like a dying candle. As he watches, there is a surge, and the only one power source remains. This one is twice as large as either of the other two were previously. Cameron closes his eyes and reaches out with his mind. The future version of Mary does not move, but the original version steps forward, a worried expression crossing her face.

“Cameron, what-”

Cameron suddenly recoils as if he was slapped. His eyes fly open, burning with elemental fire.

“Peterson.”

When Cameron stands, the limp and any signs of weariness are gone. He marches to the current Mary, his damaged power armor screeching in protest. He pulls a large blue crystal from one of his pouches and presses it into Mary’s hands so forcefully that she almost drops it.

“Take this. Get it back to Cellaris V.”

Mary stares at Cameron, and then stares at the object in her hands.

“This… this is the Source. Where did you find this?”

Mary has barely finished speaking this question when her own voice rings out from behind her. The future Mary’s words carry a hard edge behind them.

Cameron. Remember. You promised.

Cameron stares at the future version of his friend, the only reason he is even still alive at this point, for a long moment. It is absolutely clear that both of them know exactly where this is going. Cameron is the first to break eye contact, closing his eyes and bowing his head slightly.

“I’m sorry.”

The current Mary looks from her future self back to Cameron.

“Promised what? Sorry for what?”

Cameron turns his back to them both and barks a single command.

“Transport.”

There is a blinding blue flash, and both versions of Mary vanish. Cameron sighs audibly and makes his way back to the command chair. As he sits, he is already speaking additional commands to the starship’s computer.

“Engage engines. Raise all warp shields. Disengage all safety protocols. Give me full manual control.”

A set of transparent hard light pilot controls appear in front of Cameron, and he twists the throttle all the way open. The Starblade MKII shudders as the engines roar to life.



Both Mary and her future self appear on the bridge of the Imperial warship Revenant, surprising the already frazzled flight crew and the commander of the Imperial fleet, Admiral Benden.

“By the Primarchs! Where did the two of you come from? Where’s Lord Aileron?”

The future Mary gestures out of the warship’s massive viewport at a much smaller ship in the distance. It has engaged all of its engines and is burning towards the remnants of the Eye.

Right there.

Benden and the rest of the Imperial crew, along with the current Mary, can only watch in horror as the Starblade MKII plunges into the Eye of Terror seconds before it finally finishes collapsing and winks out of existance. Benden is the first to speak.

“But why? Why would he do that? That’s suicide!”

The future Mary seems nonplussed, though her past self can tell by the set of her jaw that she is hiding a barely repressed fury. She betrays none of this when she speaks.

Don’t worry. He’ll be fine. If I were you, I would set a course for home.

Benden turns to face her, ready to protest, but then pauses and nods once. He turns to his crew.

“You heard her. We’re done here. Radio the rest of the Fleet. We are disengaging.”

One of the flight techs is looking worriedly at a panel in front of her.

“But Lord Benden, there’s still combat happening. The Ork Krooza has been engaged by some massive power source and has opened fire!”

Before Benden has a chance to respond, the future Mary speaks up once again.

The strike team has that well in hand. All you interfering will do is provide extra collateral damage.

The future Mary turns to a different flight tech nearby and holds out a hand.

You. Data-pad. Now.

Cowed by the urgent and angry tone of her voice, the flight tech fumbles a bit before producing a small data pad. The current Mary can’t help but notice that it looks like a much less worn version of the one her future self was looking at earlier. She confirms her current self’s suspicions by walking over and handing the data pad to her.

Now it is done. Take this. There’s a lot to go over and we won’t have much time to do it.

The current Mary reluctantly takes the data-pad, frowning.

“What promise did Cameron break?”

The future version of herself sighs heavily.

He hasn’t. Yet. But he will.

“How do you know that?”

The future Mary stares out of the viewport for a long moment, absentmindedly running the edge of Danyael’s Everworld cloak in between two of her fingers.

Because that’s how time travel works. We can’t change anything. We can only make sure that what has happened does happen. Now listen.

As the future version of Mary dictates and the current version hurriedly types notes, the Revenant slips into the Warp, followed by the rest of the Imperial Fleet.
100
Board Battles / Re: The Three-Edged Sword: Rallying to War
« Last post by Soul Reaver on October 06, 2022, 06:16:23 PM »
Hot, black blood spatters up Soul Reaver's arms as his sword falls yet again, cleaving another heavily-muscled form almost in half.  His entire body, from head toe, is utterly covered in it.

Over three days and nights he, Kitharsis and Phaerys have held the bridge.  Most of the bodies had fallen into the fast-moving river below, but those that remained were piled so high it was impossible for the maddened brutes to get anywhere near the defenders without first clawing their way over a veritable mountain of slick corpses.  Not that that stopped them from trying.

The king's army would have evacuated all the villages by this point and be prepared for their counterattack.  Soul Reaver has vowed they would have their three days, and as twilight began to fall, he was satisfied in the knowledge that he'd given them more than that.

As Blooddrinker continues its rhythmic, deadly work, Soul Reaver casts his mind back to the last few years.

After the Eye of Terror campaign, he had taken Phaerys and Kitharsis with him to the markets on Dinlete.  The bustling bazaars were a riot of colour, sight and sound.  Peddlars crouched on rugs or standing behind rickety wooden stalls sold everything imaginable under the innumerable suns.  It was a place where hulking reptilian humanoids rubbed shoulder-equivalents with environment suit-wearing masses of sentient tentacles.  Even warp travellers from distant dimensions would seek out this place.  Soul Reaver knew Kitharsis would find anything he wanted, and he hoped it would serve as both and education and a source of valuable information for Phaerys on the nature of the multiverse.

Once their business had concluded, Soul Reaver spent a brief time recuperating from the strains of his recent campaign, but he could not afford to rest too long.  The multiverse was infinite, and he was always needed somewhere.  From within the sanctuary of his Obsidian Island he consulted the Eye of Justice, and soon Soul Reaver and his entourage were travelling throughout the Planes once more.

Warlords and evil sorcerers fell.  Plagues were stopped.  Tyrants toppled and freedom was granted.  A world in its death-throes against an incursion from Inferno saw an unlikely saviour in a raven-haired, black-armoured warrior who forced the invading daemons to their knees with words alone, then cut them down with mechanical efficiency.

He had done good, he knew.  He had made a difference to the people he had saved.  As always, he tried hard not to think of all the suffering happening elsewhere, that he could have stopped, if he were there instead of here.

During these years, Kitharsis would have had an opportunity to test the new limits of his powers and adapt to his new way of being.  It must not have been easy for him to learn to live anew.

And Phaerys - he was an interesting one.  Though Soul Reaver had brought him along to help Phaerys learn about the multiverse and assist him on his quest to find his coven, it had also been an opportunity of Soul Reaver to study him in turn.  He was clearly an energy being of some kind, driven by logic and curiosity.  His desire to locate his coven was his current fundamental directive - morality, it seemed, did not feature largely within that equation, but at the same time he had no desire to cause harm or destruction for its own sake.  Soul Reaver couldn't help wondering how easily he might have been led astray had he met a less scrupulous band of warp travellers.

The sword falls, blood sprays, another brute gurgles its last.  The last rays of sunlight glint off Soul Reaver's brow as a sudden message reaches him.

My friends, I have need of your assistance at once.  Darkness is returning and my people can not face it fully on their own.  Time is of the essence and there is much I must see to.  I can explain everything in full once you arrive if you so choose.  My people are prepared to open entryways for you should you choose to accept.

Soul Reaver glances over to Phaerys and Kitharsis - from what he could tell, they had heard the message as well.

Jharm would not ask for help unless he needed it, and this was one companion he trusted to act in ways both honourable and just.

He had done enough here, the king's armies would be strong enough to finish things on their own.  He nods toward his two allies, and ensures they can hear the message he sends back to Jharm.

I will stand with you.
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