I know my username is different, but I managed to set a different password to the one I thought I'd set (no idea how :/), so I had to make another account.

In response to your concerns, he's not capable of using ten cores at once. At the moment, he can combine two or three at most, with basic cores. Stronger cores require more of his concentration. He'll still be able to draw on any core at least a little, because that's the whole point of his affinity, but without training extensively and studying the core in question, he can't draw on them much. He's reached a high level with the five elemental cores and the kinetic core, and he's fairly good with common ones, but the rare and powerful cores were always under heavy security so he couldn't get in and look at them. That means that it would take him months, if not years for a very powerful core, to learn to use a new one properly.

As for strength in versatility, that's what I'm aiming for. His strength doesn't come from strength (if that makes sense), it comes from skill. He trains constantly with the cores he has access to and learns to use them better. By doing so, he's learnt to use them in new ways that are more powerful, but that doesn't mean he uses brute force as his primary asset (although I'm hoping to have some epic-core-sorcery moments where he brings out some probably-OP powers, with GM approval.)

In the edit, I've altered the description of Core Mastery and added a list of the cores melded in the Corestaff. I've kept a small ability to channel cores naturally, but the higher levels only come with hefty training and a lot of meditation. The basic channeling is very minor - even with a really OP core like gravity he couldn't do much more than throw a small chunk of rock, only about the size of two clenched fists. Likewise with other cores - he's only got very minor access to them until he's really put some effort in.

[hider=Thanar v2.0]
[b]Name:[/b] Thanar Zey
[b]Age:[/b] 23
[b]Gender:[/b] Male
[b]Birthplace:[/b] Argos, Arcarus Province
[b]Current Home:[/b] Zey Manor, in Argos

[b]Personality:[/b] Scholarly and always looking for the next piece of knowledge, Thanar's courage belies his physical stature. He is not afraid to venture into dangerous places and bad situations if he thinks there's something worthwhile at the end of it. His near-obsession with cores causes him to be something of a loner, but he is fiercely loyal to the few friends he manages to make. Although generally quiet, he isn't afraid to speak up when he has to, and is generally worth listening to.

[b]Biography:[/b] Born to the wealthy Zey family, Thanar was expected to grow up and take over the family trade: core brokering. The Zey dynasty have become extremely rich through transporting and selling cores, despite the fact that they never had any interest in the things. Thanar proved an exception, delighting in the powers of cores from an early age and showing a natural ability with them. He would spend long hours experimenting, and quickly became skilled in their use.

His father, though not a cruel man, despaired at his son's complete disregard for the mercantile world, and began to resort to increasingly harsh punishments to get Thanar to "stop playing with those damned cores and get on with some real work." When he threatened a beating, Thanar finally snapped and ran away. Aged only thirteen, he had to live on the streets. The cores he had with him kept him safe, and he continued his research, managing to earn some money from fixing and improving the core technology of passers-by.

Six years later, when he was nineteen, his father died. The sole remaining member of the Zey family, he proved his bloodline with the family ring he had received from his dying mother and inherited everything. Selling Zey Cores to another business, he used the money to fund his ever-increasing body of research and development. Delving into the ruins of the floating city, he began to glean hints of great powers beyond what he had already found. Deep in the ruins, he discovered the secret of fusing cores, found knowledge of core harmonics (resonating and cancelling to increase or block a core's power respectively), and forged his Corestaff. Since then, he has run a small business dealing in core repairs and alterations to provide funds for his ongoing research.

[b]Appearance:[/b] [img=http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/assets/192865/Niles_the_Relentless.jpg]

He is fairly short and a bit weedy.

[b]Traits:[/b]
[i]Core Mastery[/i] Thanar has a natural affinity for cores. He can sense them, and has developed a technique called "pulsing" where he literally sends a pulse of spirit energy at them to see how it resonates. He can draw a little on their powers naturally. If he meditates over a core, he can sense inside it and glean knowledge and understanding of its powers and limitations, helping him to use it properly. The more he meditates and practices with a certain type of core, the more he can use of it. He is at a high level with fire, wind, water, land, lightning, kinetic and sound, and has some ability with most of the common types.

He can fuse cores, both of the same type and of different types, though the latter is harder. He also has knowledge of core harmonics - how the power of cores resonates. He can amplify or cancel out the power of a core with a resonance of his own, although it is difficult and tiring to do so.

[i]Scholar[/i] Thanar is knowledgeable on many subjects, and often has just the right piece of trivia in his head. He can read ancient languages.

[i]Spirit Strength[/i] Thanar's spirit is extraordinarily strong, far above the human norm. This is what gives him his [i]Core Affinity.[/i]

[i]Tinkerer[/i] A skilled mechanic, Thanar is adept at fixing, custom-building and altering all sorts of technology.

[b]Equipment[/b]
[i]Corestaff[/i] Always in his hand is Thanar's long staff. It seems to be a uniform silver, as if made of steel, but under bright light it shimmers in many colours. It's actually made of cores, worked and fused into a long pole. On close examination, there are strange patterns carved lightly into it. Its component cores are: land, wind, water, fire, lightning, kinetic and sound.

[i]Core Rings[/i]
The five rings Thanar wears each have a different colour jewel in. Though they look ordinary, they are actually cores cut down to resemble gemstones. He has a fire core, a wind core, a water core, a lightning core and a land core.

[i]Shield Amulet[/i] A kinetic core set in a necklace, this amulet produces a kinetic shield about twice as strong as normal thanks to the patterns that Thanar engraved into the setting and core.

[i]Zey Ring[/i] A ring carrying the Zey family crest, this piece of jewelry was given to him by his mother when she was on her deathbed.

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[b]Kage Type:[/b] Kamikage
[b]Kage Name:[/b] Sulaan
[b]Kage Primary Power:[/b] Spirit Share Sulaan can intermingle her spirit with that of Thanar's to increase his strength and control. This allows him to draw more power from cores with less concentration and danger. He can also make use of stronger cores that he couldn't normally.
[b]Kage Secondary Power:[/b] Awareness Sulaan's bond with Thanar boosts his senses. His senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste are at about twice the level of an ordinary human. He can also process sensory data much faster than the average human, allowing him to read at a dizzying pace and take in the main features of an area in little more than a moment's glance.
[b]Kage Personality/Description:[/b] Bubbly and inexperienced, Sulaan often comes across as ditzy, but is actually quite sharp. She is a young Kamikage, and enjoys seeing new things and learning new information. This allows her to get on well with Thanar, who likewise seeks knowledge and experience. Thanar often lets her take over his mouth, as he is quiet by nature.[/hider]