[h1][center]NJC[/center][/h1] [center][img]http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/098/7/c/dapper_fox_by_kyoht-d3ditnw.jpg [/img] Two tails instead of just one, currently. [h3][color=silver]♤ Darius M Cain ♤[/color][/h3] [h3][color=silver][sub][sub][i]~[/i][b] “A tool is only as good as long as it serves its master, a lesson I've learned well enough.”[/b][i]~[/i][/sub][/sub][/color][/h3][/center] [hider=βio] [center][color=Silver][h3][sub]Darius M Cain[/sub][/h3][/color] [color=Silver][sub][sup]♤[/sup] M a l e [sup]♤[/sup] Heterosexual [sup]♤[/sup] 289 | 20s-30s [sup]♤[/sup] Licentia [sup]♤[/sup][/sub] [b][u]The Fox[/u][/b][/color][/center] [h3][color=Silver][sup]♤[/sup][color=333333]...[/color][i]A[/i]ppearance[color=333333]...[/color][sup]♤[/sup][/color][/h3][hr] Like some Licentia, Darius’ form takes that of one of the myths in human lore: a Kitsune. To those ignorant of his race, he appears to be a humanoid red fox with only two tails. Standing at 5 foot and 10 inches (weight 190), Darius’ narrow yellow eyes hold a slight oval pupil giving them a mischievous appeal. Along his muzzle, it’s slightly shorter than average fox’s, there are two black markings tracing the outside and fading to the white tip with a small black nose. White wings out over his lower cheeks, neck, and what is considered his belly. Black socks appear on his lower legs and tail ending in a white tip while none are on his large, paw-like hands. For the most part, his hand looks mostly humanlike save for the fur and small claws able to tear through flesh if needed, dotted with little harden pads for grip. Darius tries to fit into the expectations of society though he enjoys a mixture of lower and upper crust. Due to his ownership of a casino, he knows how important looks are and attempts to dress the part with a well-tailored suit, dress shirt, and slacks with suede custom made to cover his feet. He rarely is ever seen donning a simple, cheap shirt and jeans, the thought making him frown heavily when other options are available. This doesn’t go for when he’s forced to go into disguise. However, this preference doesn’t mean he won’t get his hands dirty and often wears trousers, button up shirts dated around the 20s, and cheap shoes during more constructive work since they can easily be discarded later. [h3][color=silver][sup]♤[/sup][color=333333]...[/color][i]P[/i]ersonality[color=333333]...[/color][sup]♤[/sup][/color][/h3][hr] TBA [color=Silver][h3][sup][sup]ஜ[/sup][/sup][/h3][/color] [color=Silver][h3][sup][sup]ஜ[/sup][/sup][/h3][/color] [h3][color=Silver][sup]♤[/sup][color=333333]...[/color][i]H[/i]istory[color=333333]...[/color][sup]♤[/sup][/color][/h3][hr] Japan was still isolated to the rest of the world and retained its feudal system during 1764, but the Licentia still roamed freely between several nations thanks to the bridges connecting their world to Medius. It was this world that Darius was born into as Tagaki, an Eximius due to reaching the rare nine tail stage, infected a samurai's concubine. In his sanity and need to procreate, he used her desire for her samurai lover to infect her pregnant womb then vanished into thin air leaving her to weep at being abandoned again. About nine months later, the embedded soul core developed into a new Kitsune and Darius clawed his way out of her womb. This naturally killed the woman and leaving him his first meal. Being nothing more than a mewling, helpless kit, he quickly chased off when several men arrived on the scene to investigate. To escape, his body became transparent and allowed him to blend into his surroundings. He slipped off easily without being maimed when the men vanished to seek out the killer. It was three months later that he found his way to a rice farm where a young, eight-year-old girl discovered him. She had bruises of abuse under her kimono sleeves and across her body from her drunken father. Surprisingly, despite the issues that would arise, she still took him in and cared for him. Here he ended his second year before entering his next trial stage, the result was him taking on the vision of an eight-year-old boy with one tail much to both of their surprises. This naturally caused the girl to panic as her father shortly found them causing her to panic and stop the man from bashing Darius’ head in. She was tossed hard against the wall in the struggle while Darius just stood there in fear. Anger seeped in the young kitsune upon seeing her still figure as he turned and tore into the man, his fangs tearing and ripping off the skin and muscle in such rage It was during this blindness, he failed to notice the young child trying to stop him. He flung her back into the nearest wall, her neck snapped on impact with a loud crack. After feeding on the father, then burying the girl, Darius moved on. For six years he wandered the Japanese countryside within his childish form and hid his tails to fit in among the poor. He would steal and fight, devouring anything from animals to humans in order to stay alive. His physical appearance didn’t alter but his mental behavior did. It matured. It was within 1770 when he crossed paths with his father, Tagaki, again. Encountered in a filthy alley of the country’s few cities, Darius failed to listen to his instinct and curiosity brought to investigate a struggle within. It was there Tagaki, insane and rabid, ended up hauling the struggling child back into the Torquen wilds. All the way, Darius was kicking and screaming in fear. This resulted in Tagaki snapping his arm as a warning he would kill him if he wasn’t silence. Until he was the age of 12, Tagaki ‘taught’ his son what it meant to be a Licentia as he played cat and mouse with Darius’ life. The younger kitsune learned quickly the best way to escape was to run and dig. However, like all things, his method of escape was only as good as his determination and caution. The final day he was with his father, he had gotten sloppy. Tagaki capitalized on it and managed to corner Darius. When Szayeis arrived, the younger Licentia had a broken arm and on the verge of being devoured. When the fight was done, Darius’ instinct caused him to attempt to flee, only to find Eximius preventing that. Only able to speak a few measly words, the child was more animal than Licentia thanks to his lacking education and isolation with his father’s cruel games. After falling unconscious, he awoke in a new place. His injuries had been patched and gradually healing. That was when he met Szayeis face to face. Being young and foolish, his instinct survive drove him deeper into the Eximius’ manipulation and finally he developed a pact with the nightwalker within the short time he met him. When he realized what this meant, Darius immediately attacked Szayeis. Naturally, a 12-year-old Kitsune wasn’t much of a match for an Eximius and he was easily restrained before he could draw blood. This continued for about two months, Szayeis keeping the kitsune’s shard crystal and implanting his Vis into Darius’ body. A simple act but it created so much pain and misery that he finally gave in obedience to his new pact holder. The Licentia become his caretaker, teaching a wide range of skills he applies to this day. Surprisingly, Szayeis’ cruelty usually came only when Darius disobeyed and creating mixed feelings over their relationship. Some might describe it to be almost a variety of Stockholm Syndrome as he began to accept his role as a tool. The years flew by and before he knew it, he was 89 years old. By this time he departed to Medius for the first time on his own. Naturally, he had visited it occasionally with Szayeis, but he was forced to keep close for his own safety and the few times he did stray away were met with unsavory results. However being here on his own choice was another story and more liberating. He did some traveling before settling down and becoming a founder of Ominar where he began establishing a casino known as the Lucky Sinner in the 1920s. He made trips between Torqueo and Medius throughout his life. These were usually back to Szayeis to update the shard and before he left, he made sure he had someone taking care of his affairs in his absence. In 2033, Aeris was released much to Darius’ surprise. He knew her well from the past and even tried to help her cope with her freedom, after witnessing the many gruesome experiences she went through unwillingly in the past. Much like himself during his childhood. Though he tried to sway Szayeis’ attention when he could, not all his past attempts were successful and sometimes it seemed to do more harm than good. Not a shock since the Eximius was a cruel bastard when not placated. Soon after, Aeris located Darius easily. It took some time to help her tame the woman’s Licenti half, which Szayeis had forced upon her. She often left scars during her failure as Darius took on the role of damage control upon himself. This required the biggest number of favors from Licentia and humans alike that he had ever made in history. Meanwhile, he was seeking out her brother at her request in hopes he might put her at ease and help mend the deeper scars. It was 2034 when half brother and sister finally found each other, and a love deeper than siblings began to blossom. Darius wouldn’t lie about saying he was comfortable with it (due to Aeris gaining a weakness for Szayeis to exploit) or about the complications they would see in the future. To Mairyell, it might’ve appeared as if he didn’t think the boy was good enough for her and a part of him felt he was right in that thinking. In some cases, Darius had become more of a father figure than he would admit so any male wasn’t good enough for Aeris. This behavior certainly wasn’t helped by the fact he was a kitsune. Nevertheless, he was happy for Aeris’ joy. He gradually helped her gain control over Kasio Korp using the skills that Szayeis had taught him and the ones he learned through his own experience. Currently, despite his heritage as a Licentia, he’s believed to be among the most influential individuals within Medius. This is due to a large part that very few individuals know about his connection to Szayeis as his pact-holder. His power is more dominate in Ominar since he was a founder and still retains a big standing among individuals in higher places there. Something obviously that many Prae or a few racist humans will try to hurt in the coming days. Recently the Prae seem dead set to imprisoning him with ‘legal’ evidence against his establishments but each time they have tried, it has failed due to a technicality or judging not willing to prosecute. He wouldn’t be surprised if he was next, at some point, to be made to ‘vanish’. [h3][color=Silver][sup]♤[/sup][color=333333]...[/color][color=Silver][i]B[/i][/color] elongings| [i]E[/i]quipment[color=333333]...[/color][sup]♤[/sup][/color][/h3][hr] [list] [*][h3][sub][color=silver]♤ Belongings ♤[/color][/sub][/h3] [list] [*][color=Silver]Lucky Sinner Casinos [/color]: An organization started back in the 1920s, with some difficulty. Now it’s chain of casinos gone global through it's prongs are within Ominar. Darius is not the owner (on paper) but CEO, actively running it as the head of operations. So often he would be found mingling among the customers and ensure the games are ‘fair’. Several precautions have been made since the increase of magic availability, especially among the human population, including nulling of all luck related magics. [*][color=Silver]Upscale Manor [/color]: A private estate was built around the same time he came to Medius, Ominar being the place most dear to him. With several humans and Licentia under his employment, Darius has little need for hiring out other means for security as his place is patrolled night and day. It’s a surprise how many want him actually dead despite his influence among the community. The manor itself is actually under Aeris’ name to prevent Prae rule from seizing it. [*][color=Silver]Warehouses | Additional Property [/color]: There are various locations, seemingly tactfully gained, throughout the city belonging to Darius. Most have indefinite leases of ownership given to select and trusted individuals who were placed in charge of keeping warehouses to dock front property running. It is obvious by his ability to manipulate the law that he’s done fairly well despite the Prae’s occupations through that would likely change. In addition, he’s showing a heavy interest in the area of technology lately, especially for humans and Licentia alike. [*][color=Silver] Darius’ Black Book[/color]: A hidden book many government officials within Medius would enjoy getting their hands on and burning it in the hottest fire. The reason is that within the book’s pages, there’s numerous dirty secrets from collected information about hidden affairs to illegal activities that he had managed to collect in secret. How he had mange is still a mystery to this day. With this item in his possession and fact he knows everything within it by heart, his ability to give through the legal issues of Medius has been rather easy. [/list] [*][h3][sub][color=Silver]♤ Equipment ♤[/color][/sub][/h3] [list][*][color=Silver] Glock 43[/color]: A specially designed gun to fit Darius’ less than human hands. It fires 9mm bullets without any enhanced abilities since even he would have issues explaining to the Prae how he got a permit for a magitech weapon when most of the population is lacking them. Additional features include a strobe light sighting for better aim and lowers the ability to trace back to the gun when he lines up for a shot. [*][color=silver] Tracker & App [/color]: A small, Vis powered chip is embedded within Darius’ skin. This chip’s purpose is to monitor his vitals and broadcast his location to a uniquely designed app still in development. This app has been given to a select number of individuals of Darius’ choice and when his vitals drop or condition changes for the worse, they are immediately alerted. While the chip’s signal and the app are difficult to hack, they aren’t impossible to jam or tamper with. Crushing the chip, located at his skull base, would obviously stop the transmitting data. [/list][/list] [h3][color=Silver][sup]♤[/sup][color=333333]...[/color][i]C[/i]apabilities[color=333333]...[/color][sup]♤[/sup][/color][/h3][hr] [color=Silver]♤ Mental ♤[/color] [indent]Darius does have a wide range of intelligence when it comes to different races, through the actual details vary in each. He knows the least about Prae due his lacking experience with them and is wise enough not to risk trying to increase it any more than needed. Due to an incident several months back when a Licenti with telepathic abilities tried to pry into his mind, Darius started to learn tactics to increase his resistance to future attacks. However, the defenses offer only limited protection and will crumble over time. [/indent] [color=Silver]♤ Physical ♤[/color] [indent][color=Silver]Vis Shard :[/color] When a Kitsune creates a pact, they split and give the pact holder about 1/4th of their Soul Core. This Soul Core condenses down into a shard like item and holds the genetic blueprint of the Kitsune for the Vis to use later. The pact holder, in order to retain the current contract, must protect and keep the piece safe or risk breaking the link between them. A few obvious ways of breaking the pact is via the following: blood was drawn between each other, the shard being consumed/destroyed, or the Kitsune dying and being reformed within it. Kitsune shards have a single, invisible thread that is connected at all times between the kitsune and the shard. Usually, by default, the shard is within their pact-holder’s possession, but it’s not a requirement. When the kitsune is killed, their 3/4th soul core dissolves and becomes Vis then returns to the shard in any chosen direction. When recollected within the shard, the Kitsune begins to reform himself again. This new body has the same abilities, skills and more from the moment the shard had been created or updated, but the memories are connected to his present mind. In this fashion, a Kitsune can actually create a shard then not update it for several years and still retaining the present memories when he reforms. The only thing he loses is the progression in his abilities and physical traits. A small price for cheating death. After the shard is used, the Kitsune’s pact has been declared full filled. This means they are able to recreate a new pact with another being and won’t lose any gained progression. Any Kitsune at this stage is in serious danger because without a shard if they are killed then they will die. Few Kitsune ever stay long without a pact because their instinctive natures drive them to re-establish another pact ASAP and eventually that instinct wins out in the end. [indent][color=Silver]Strengths:[/color] ✔ When a Kitsune dies, their remaining Vis can’t be absorbed but is snapped back into the shard made from the 1/4th of it. This prevents the Licenti from dying and able to come back to their original form, namely when the shard was last updated. A shard can be updated as often as needed and without penalty. However doing so requires a bit of energy from both parties to be poured into the shard in order to prevent it from shattering. ✔ The Pact establishes some perks to both individuals. [list] [*]Darius can sense when Szayeis is lying, through this doesn’t mean he will know the truth or have an exact idea where the lie is within the sentence. [*] Blood can’t be split between them which simply means neither Darius or Szayeis can physically harm the other enough to draw blood from the vein. [*]They are both aware of each other’s condition, so if one is injured then the other can sense it. This only works if the other is focusing on the link between them and pouring a trace amount of Vis through it for the information. It doesn’t have location, however. [*]They are also able to share their own Vis between each other within a set distance of 6 meters, the farther the two are apart than the weaker the exchange and less effective the boost will be. [*]Szayeis can sense the shard’s location anywhere and also when the shard’s pact is broken. It usually is announced with a slight, unpleasant pain rippling through his being and the shard crumbling from the effect. [/list] [color=Silver]Limitations:[/color] ✘ Capturing or tampering with the Vis can delay the reconstruction process, preventing Darius from reforming within his shard. This leaves the Kitsune in a dangerous limbo as his mind is very aware of what is happening but unable to fix it. A few Kitsune have gone mad from this event and none ever want to find themselves in this situation. Only when his Vis is release than can he resume his reforming process, any help in escaping the limbo will have to be from outside forces. ✘ Breaking the Shard in any way shatters the pact and weakens Darius over all. When the 1/4th part of his Soul Core is lost, he can gradually recover it over time, but the experience is more painful and tormenting than the result. The shard itself is sensitive enough that even a slight application of negative Vis from the pact-holder’s fist to harm it can easily create discomfort and pain. This is why all Kitsunes have to be careful who they give their shards or risk being destroyed in the process. ✘ Through Kitsunes can give or receive a Vis boost, the effect of it varies through distance. A distance of 6 meters is ideal. However, anything beyond that set range will start to trickle and lower the effectiveness of the boost. At almost double the amount, 12 meters, there’s barely any Vis being pushed through to call it much of an aid to the Kitsune. [/indent][/indent] [color=Silver]♤ Magical | Techology ♤[/color] [indent][color=Silver][h3][sup][sup]ஜ: Camouflage [/sup][/sup][/h3][/color] Kitsunes are able to vanish within plain sight at early stages of their lives. It’s a defensive ability and enables them to survive for long periods when the world around has a habit of wanting them dead. Their bodies first become transparent and somewhat reflective enough to blend into their environment, allowing the vision of what’s on one side to pass through to the other side. This gives the appearance of invisibility through it has its flaws. [indent][color=Silver]Strengths:[/color] ✔ The visual camouflage can adapt to almost any scene, including a chaotic one. He merely activates it and his body melds into the environment without much trouble. While not combative worthy, Darius can easily be standing in the same room as a human and the individual would never know he was there. ✔ This ability is his oldest and most used abilities, so it takes the least amount of effort and Vis to retain. He can stay invisible up to hours at a time through going past 12 hours tends to exhaust him. ✔ Anything or one he touches will also become invisible. The same rules apply to any individual he brings along, but he has to remain in continual contact with them. Once his hand is removed the effect ceases. [color=silver]Limitation:[/color] ✘ Doesn’t hide heat, scent or sound (though he can hide his Vis readings) and makes it so any individual with these abilities to detect any of the three could easily find him. ✘ Movement makes spotting him much easier as his form bends the surroundings, breaking the illusion. Should he run, it would be impossible not to see his outline and determine his location. So the best way to use this ability is while standing still which risks his discovery if his placement is terrible. ✘ However, including one other living being into the mix, draws more Vis from him than he’s used to and cuts his max ability down to 9 hours at best. The more involved, outside his clothes, then the less time he is able to keep up and with each mass about the size of a normal human (of average height and weight) then another 3 hours is cut and more likely he is to collapse afterward. Beings of larger status require more effort as well and varies on the cut down of the time possible. ✘ Darius is still solid. This means elements like extreme light causes him to create shadows, rain hitting him can outline his figure, and much more. [/indent][/indent] [indent][color=Silver][h3][sup][sup]ஜ: Elemental Manipulation (Pacted Currently-Shadow | Pactless-Fire)[/sup][/sup][/h3][/color] Kitsune are able to create and manipulate an element using their Vis. Due to the nature of their species, their elemental type is influenced by their pact holders due to the shard exchange process. If there's no current pact holder then it defaults to fire. With Szayeis’ current nightwalker nature, Darius’ element is shadows and he can create a large source of shadows out to a 5-meter radius around himself. Using only this source, he can alter its shape into any number of simple things such as melee weapons to restraints. [indent][color=Silver]Strengths:[/color] ✔ The number of objects are unlimited and retained as long as Darius keep his focus on it. Darius has been able to hold an item’s shape easily up to ten hours through depending on the item’s size, doing so has provided great strain he’s working on overcoming. ✔ Darius can create an elemental source at any time with a single word since the source he manipulates is from his own Vis. This means he’ll always have a handy source at any time on his person and doesn’t need a light source to create it. ✔ The shadow items are solid and strong due to Darius continually pouring Vis into whatever item he creates. Their strength varies depending on how much Vis Darius pours into it, able to increase if the need calls for it. [color=silver]Limitation:[/color] ✘ Only simple items can be made. This means no guns, complicated machines or hi-tech devices are possible. Another thing not possible is living creatures of any type. ✘ The item’s strength and existence depends on Darius’ focus on it. If he’s hit seriously enough, the item’s strength can waver and die. If he’s out cold then it will vanish, leaving the aftermath of its existence behind. An example is damage done by a weapon. ✘ Darius can only manipulate that source of shadows since it is created purely from his own Vis. Any other sources he can’t influence or manipulate in any way or shape, though others can willingly manipulate his own if they have the means to. ✘ Light and Purity magic can evaporate the shadows Darius creates. When this actually happens, it will take a few moments to recollect the Vis to recreate the source again. [/indent][/indent] [indent][color=Silver][h3][sup][sup]ஜ: Shapeshifting [/sup][/sup][/h3][/color] Kitsune are known tricksters and deceivers by nature, a variety of shapeshifters within numerous myths usually. These tales are not without merit because like all Kitsune of Darius’ breed, he’s able to make changes to his own body in two different ways. First, one is taking another’s identity and morphing his body to match, lasting up to 6 hours per change. This side of the spell is rarely ever used in combat since between each form, he is forced to change back into his original shape before taking another form. The process takes much more time and effort than he would have in combat. The target race matters little since he only takes on the physical appearance and any natural aspects relating to the target. There is one strange trait: The Vis reading will match the subject’s own reading on light examinations, making his disguise almost flawless. The second way to use this spell is merely by focusing on one feature of his figure to morph and transform, enabling him to use his body as a weapon itself. Simple biological changes can range from strengthening his fur into strength similar to chainmail to adding spikes to make his point, even adding additional arms to aid him in fighting. Possibilities often are dependent on what comes to his mind at the moment during the attack or event. Due to the limited focus, these changes are often brief and quicker to apply than completely changing his form. [indent][color=Silver]Strengths:[/color] ✔ Darius can shift himself into nearly anyone with enough knowledge about the target. This includes scent, Vis reading (at a glance, on closer and deep examination it could be detected as different), appearance and other physical traits. On some inspection, he’s able to fool nearly anyone as long they don’t look too closely at his Vis. ✔ Darius can ‘regenerate’ by pouring Vis into his cells, influencing their rate of growth in order to change the appearance of his image. This allows for the possibility of regenerating ability such as healing over light wounds to regrowing limbs. In his original form, he naturally heals over time to make the change permanent. However, the process is more akin to the first use of the spell and so takes time to do. The greater the damage, the more time that is required to mend and afterward he’s left greatly weakened by the effort. [color=silver]Limitation:[/color] ✘ Darius can only take on the physical appearances of individuals, the mental personality, and magical abilities are not included. The only abilities Kitsune can mimic have to follow a natural science of sorts (Aka, they can’t be made to work by magic) and are physical based. This means that any defining or beyond skin deep applications are fully Licentia. ✘ Darius needs intimate knowledge of his subject. This means everything from how the individual looked to how their race is put together or there will be flaws in his attempt. Most the knowledge in this area was gained Szayeis, with a few of his own past experiences adding to it, but even that source had its limits and not all Licentia are recorded upon discovery. This makes knowing all Licentia impossible for him, especially with new subspecies cropping up every few years. ✘ In order to shift between two features or forms, Darius always have to return to his original state before shifting again. This usually takes moments but during that time, he loses any protection, offensive abilities or whatever that feature/form can provide. And in a fight, a moment can mean the difference between life and death. [/indent][/indent] [/hider]