[h1][center][color=9e0b0f]Father Styx[/color][/center][/h1][hr]
[center][img]http://www.epilogue.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/gallery_med/images/07/18/10422_1178424000.jpg[/img][/center]
[b]Name:[/b] Johnathan Harrier
[b]Age:[/b] 52
[b]Nationality:[/b] American
[b]Location:[/b] the World (but America in particular)

	[color=red][b]Personality:[/b][/color]
Johnathan is the prophet of his own dark church. He's insane, believing that his psychotic visions are an accurate representation of reality. In his old age he's taken on an attitude of condescending moral superiority, his belief so strong that nothing can shake it. To him the increasing number of Ultras is confirmation of his twisted beliefs. Everyone else is a mere sheep, blinded by their ignorance. He sees himself as their saviour, and he sees even his enemies as people to be saved. Unfortunately, he also believes that the only true route to salvation is death. As such he kills with a smile, comforting his victims as he lays them to rest. He grieves for their lack of understanding, and rejoices in their deaths. All opposition is merely a test of his conviction. All his enemies are either obstacles placed by the Nameless God, or 

	[color=red][b]Backstory/Origin:[/b][/color]
At a young age, Johnathan's family was abducted by a cult. Through a series of horrific sacrifices, the cult sought to summon their horrific god into this world. The atrocities committed by the cult did indeed manage to open a small portal to Tamura, through which an eldritch being sought to emerge into this world. But nobody accounted for Johnathan's stupendous personal arcane abilities. Johnathan's arcane talent manifested during the ritual, and disrupted the portal creation process. Before the cultists could make another attempt, heroes broke in and rescued Johnathan.

While he had been rescued from death, the nightmares of that day never left Johnathan. Perhaps some part of him was still connected to the horrors of Tamura. Or perhaps it was 'mere' mundane trauma. His nights were filled with horrific nightmares, visions of the things he had glimpsed through the portal. He began manifesting his powers, experimenting with his powerful innate magic. He saw many therapists during this time, and grew more and more depressed. He withdrew from the world, losing the ability to understand others. He hid to protect himself and in the process drove himself insane, piece by piece.

Nobody knows exactly when the killings began. It's possible Johnathan resorted to violence as an out for the emotions within himself. Or perhaps it was the start of his strange and twisted view of the world. First pets started disappearing. Then people. Children vanished in the area, and desiccated husks were found in nearby rivers. In this time when magic still was not well-understood by the general public the authorities had no hope of catching him. But the activity did catch the eye of a local enclave of Guardians, a group who followed the Sorcerer Supreme and sought to safeguard the world against magical threats. They imprisoned Johnathan, but they didn't kill him. Instead they saw his potential, and attempted to teach him to use his magic properly. To wield it to help others. They failed.

When Johnathan emerged once more into the world, he was darker and more fearsome than ever before. No longer a scared child, he new strode forth with confidence. He had found purpose in that conclave, something to dedicate his life to. The annihilation of the human race, the end of the world. A divine blackness. He was now the Shepherd, the bringer of death. He sought out followers with the miracles he created, and caused death and disease wherever he went. The Guardians who had tried to help him were no more, their ashes scattered to the wind, and on numerous occasions Styx faced the followers of the Sorcerer Supreme. Once he even faced the Sorcerer Supreme, although he was able to escape through the use of a hostage.

These days Styx and his Blackened Shepherds are an object of fear among the general populace. Known and feared across the world, they are among the most vile magic users one can find.

	[color=red][b]Skills:[/b][/color]
Of course Styx is a highly skilled magic user. But he's also a strangely charismatic individual, a skilled public speaker despite his psychotic mindset. He's a cult leader, and while there is nothing supernatural about his charisma he's capable of convincing people to do some crazy things.

	[color=ed1c24][b]Arcane Power:[/b][/color]
Father Styx's dark magic is based on two fundamental abilities. With his left hand Father Styx 'takes' things. He drains the strength of his opponents, drains their abilities and memories and emotions until nothing but an empty desiccated husk remains. It's a terrifying power that grows stronger the closer his target is. With a touch he can leave a human lifeless in a second, while at range he can inflict more and more debilitating conditions. While usually the effects of his magic are temporary his touch can permanently 'steal' things from his target leaving them blind, paralyzed, or without their memories. The ability can also be used on objects, stealing their colour and other properties as they grow rapidly more brittle. This magic is additionally effective in draining the energy of mages and magical creatures, and Father Styx grows more powerful with every mage he drains.

The second half of Styx's power is his right hand's ability to 'give' what he has taken with the left. Using the lives he has stolen he can heal practically any wound. Using the strength and skill he has stolen he can imbue others with superhuman powers. He can even steal and imbue Mutant and Psychic abilities, although he cannot 'Give' magical power. His power automatically consumes any magic he drains, making his own abilities more powerful. This ability is what allows Father Styx to perform his 'miracles', restoring sight to the blind and imbuing water with the taste and colour of wine. He cannot resurrect the dead, but he can bring back the dying. This power has similar limitations to the first power, becoming far more effective when he can touch a target.

Like with most mages Father Styx can perform rituals and spells to use his magic in specific ways. Runes, rituals and arcane implements can be used to enhance and alter his spells. By default assume that he can cast a spell really slowly in order to enhance it's effect (ritual) and he can make a spell more effective or versatile by combining it with runes or sigils. Such as being able to treat anyone struck by a cursed sword as touching him for the purpose of his left hand's power.