[hider=Valen Astor][center][img]http://i.imgur.com/taFN80j.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/DFB8sR5.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/7wDiGqp.png[/img] [/center] [img]http://i.imgur.com/kKWJsqH.png[/img] [center] [img]http://i.imgur.com/EDASjwH.png[/img] [indent]Tall and board-shouldered, Valen’s interest in swordsmanship at a young age has done wonder for his physique. His body, however, was marred by burn scars and gouges, allegedly reported to be from the fire, along with thin white tattoos that could look even metallic under certain light. They have the tendency to give out an ominous glow every time he uses his power. The brighter the glow, the closer he is to his limit. As a nobleman, Valen does dress to impress. Nothing but finest silk and velvet adorned his person, however, he does have more practical outfits when the occasions call for it. [/indent] [img]http://i.imgur.com/CcKd7XH.png[/img] Enhanced Human/Possessed [img]http://i.imgur.com/6yFECa0.png[/img] 22 [img]http://i.imgur.com/B1U9ddJ.png[/img] 6 feet and 196 lbs [img]http://i.imgur.com/idVyOv6.png[/img] Male [img]http://i.imgur.com/i8Ea9Kg.png[/img] Nah. [img]http://i.imgur.com/zaMqQwB.png[/img] Valen does believe in the existence of gods and demons and the likes. He just never feels the need to worship them. [img]http://i.imgur.com/X1kS2MF.png[/img] Lord of Aldebaran Diplomat [/center] [h2][center] [img]http://i.imgur.com/SRG9pBr.png[/img] [/center][/h2] [indent]Valen was born into his position, and it shows. He is well-spoken and dignified, enough grace in his gait to set him apart from the commoners. At all times, his manners are meticulous, his appearance immaculate and perfectly fits someone of his station. When it comes to his domain, he is devoted enough to garner respect from his subjects, yet not so much that it becomes a weakness. But regardless, he treats those loyal to him well, and he shows honour to his allies and enemies alike. But those were borrowed things, from a Valen before. The him now was something bargained. Something lost. At his core, he was confused. There was only enough of him left to be confused. There were so many missing parts of himself, so he took what he could from Valen to fill those gaps. The more he does, the more he is, but the less he is himself. He would have been bothered, had more of him remained. The him before was ruthless. Dangerous. Volatile and ambitious. Vicious and proud and [i]so much more[/i]. Now, the hardened edges of his personality were dulled by disuse, so he kept them beneath his skin, only calling on them when Valen isn’t enough. [/indent] [h2][center] [img]http://i.imgur.com/NrXygmx.png[/img] [/center][/h2] [indent]Valen Astor was the fifth son of Aldebaran’s former lord. Too far down the line to expect any worthwhile inheritance, he grew up carefree and unburdened by any responsibility or ambition. Years came and went, and as his father’s domain grew, the man became increasingly obsessed with power and riches. Aldebaran had treated his family well; its abundant natural resources and favourable position was the foundation upon which the Astor’s fortune stood. Yet, the old lord wanted more. Far more than what mundane wealth and power could give him. So, the man dabbled in dark and forbidden magic, collecting twisted artefacts of unspeakable power. There was little Raegar Aster wouldn’t do for the promise of eternal life. A ritual to bind a demon to his bloodline went off without a hitch. He sacrificed Valen for it, but it was a reasonable price in exchange for a demonic servant. What Raegar didn’t expect though, was that the demon, or whatever entity that inhabited his son, could speak. And the first thing it did was refused him. A caustic thing of magic and rage and hunger, it refused a human master. Enraged, Raegar casted a spell to trap the thing where it was. To bend its will and its knees. But something went terribly awry, and the spell splintered whatever in Valen’s body. It broke him. He came back to his senses hours later, surrounded by Astor’s blood. He came back, but he did not come back [i]whole[/i]. There were parts of him missing; not enough to kill him, but enough to tell him he had lost far too much and that was worse, somehow. He wanted release. He wanted his freedom. He wanted his mind back. But Valen Astor was all he had left. All he was. The costumes were all there, so he wore it, and he wore it well. A cover story was released, instead. A fire had broken out in the residential quarter, and it had consumed all but the fifth son. Little did they know, he set the fire himself. Valen Aster became the new lord. No one really knew what happened, save for a certain gardener. And he would like things to stay that way. At least until all of him was back. Then this damned kingdom could burn to the ground for all he cared. There are rumors that Valen murdered his entire bloodline for a position of power. But those were easy enough to quell, without proper proof. Coming into Lancelot’s service was a political choice, if anything. The land was torn asunder, and as proud as his father was, the old lord was not blinded to his limitations. The man swore fealty to Lancelot, and Valen had seen it fit to retain that fealty when he came into power. [/indent] [h2][center][img]http://i.imgur.com/bsxjO9S.png[/img] [/center][/h2] [hider=Race Description] [indent]Valen was a human, but the ritual changed him. The entity that inhabited his body gives it enhanced physical proprieties: he is stronger, faster and more durable than a regular human. The added strength is noticeable, but hardly enough for him to compete with other races famed for their strength such as orcs or beastkins. He also possesses the innate ability to detect magic when it presents nearby. [/indent] [/hider] [hider=Power Description] [indent]The entity inside Valen can devour magic. This renders him immune to many types of magic, even benevolent spells. Magic cast directly on him won’t work; he will just absorb it instead. But magic cast on objects around him or on him will still work fine, even though it won’t be able to affect him directly. [/indent] [/hider] [hider=Strengths/Skills/Talents] [list] [*][b]Mark of The Dreamer[/b][indent]Through a lengthy and taxing ritual, Valen can place a mark upon a person. Said person will benefit from that mark by sharing a fraction of Valen's innate magical immunity and absorption. However, all the absorbed magic will go to Valen instead of the host. Only one mark can be up at all time.[/indent] [*][b]Devourer[/b][indent]Valen can consume untethered magic to power himself. Magic from a spell or magic in an enchantment; those are all fair game to him. There is a limit to how much he can absorb though. The more he does, the more his tattoos flared and heat up. Too much, and he runs the risk of boiling alive in his own skin. He also cannot store power in him for too long. Left to its own device, the strength converted from magic he devoured will just evaporate eventually. [/indent] [*][b]Guardian[/b][indent]The silver lines that marred Valen’s skin could be peeled back and stretched out into a bubble , protecting all those within from physical or magical damage. Plus, any magic that hits its surface will be absorb and used to power Valen. The shield will retract after a certain amount of damage had been taken.[/indent] [*][b]Seeker[/b][indent]Valen can certain detect magic around him, but his sense does more than that. Each magic is unique to him, and after he has devoured it, he can recognize the source as well as the magic itself, should he encounter it again.[/indent] [*][b]Breaker[/b][indent]Along with his shield, Valen can also conjure up an invisible dampening field around him. All magic casted inside the field would be considerably less effective. He cannot use his shield and his dampening field at the same time.[/indent] [*][b]Parasite[/b][indent]As mentioned above, Valen can increase his strength, endurance and stamina considerably with the absorption of magic. Additionally, he will also gain a moderate healing factor at the height of his power.[/indent] [*][b]Swordsman[/b][indent]A competent fighter with his sword, though Valen prefers to partake in combat at all.[/indent] [/list] [/hider] [hider=Weaknesses] [list] [*][b]Backfire[/b][indent]Magic is his drug, yet his poison. Too much of it, and he will be burnt alive by the marks of his own power.[/indent] [*][b]Cold-blooded[/b][indent]Valen’s tolerance to heat is poor, to say the least. He avoids the midday sun, shuns the campfire for the majority of the time and prefers to just have embers in the fireplace in his bedchamber. Heatstroke comes easily for him, and their effects are often far more serious.[/indent] [/list] [/hider] [hider=Equipment] [list] [*]A simple steel sword[/list] [/hider] [h2][center] [img]http://i.imgur.com/jmmsgLS.png[/img] [/center][/h2] [center][b]Star Misch[/b][/center] [indent]Star Misch started as a curiosity. He was not human, yet he acts like one and lives like one and will probably die like one someday. For Valen, or whoever he is, this was someone who shared his fate. But that’s it. He doesn’t have an answer for that searching looks the fae sends his way every once in a while. [/indent] [h2][center][img]http://i.imgur.com/uQGBRKg.png[/img] [/center][/h2] [center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAI5GSyXMjA]Wolves Without Teeth - "Of Monsters And Men"[/url][/center] [center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beiPP_MGz6I]Love Love Love - "Of Monsters And Men"[/url][/center][/hider]