[h1][b][i][color=39b54a][center]Karlus Marsh[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h1]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/QDp85hM.png[/img][/center]
[h3][b][i][color=39b54a][center]Character Summary[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h3]
[hider=Karlus Marsh]
[b][color=39b54a]Name:[/color][/b] Karlus Marsh 

[b][color=39b54a]Titles:[/color][/b] N/A
 
[b][color=39b54a]Aliases:[/color][/b] Karl the Flame, The Half-Mage, The Half-Mad, The Half-Mute.

[b][color=39b54a]Age:[/color][/b] 29

[b][color=39b54a]Race/Ethnicty:[/color][/b] Human

[b][color=39b54a]Continent of Origin:[/color][/b] Carthus

[b][color=39b54a]Gender:[/color][/b] Male

[b][color=39b54a]Class/Subclass:[/color][/b] Mage, Ruination

[h3][b][i][color=39b54a][center]Stats[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h3]
[b][color=39b54a]Strength:[/color][/b] 10
[b][color=39b54a]Dexterity:[/color][/b] 16
[b][color=39b54a]Constitution:[/color][/b] 8
[b][color=39b54a]Intelligence:[/color][/b] 20
[b][color=39b54a]Wisdom:[/color][/b] 9
[b][color=39b54a]Charisma:[/color][/b] 12

[h3][b][i][color=39b54a][center]Physical Attributes[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h3]
[b][color=39b54a]Height:[/color][/b] Five feet and seven inches.

[b][color=39b54a]Weight:[/color][/b] Seven stone and nine pounds.

[b][color=39b54a]Appearance Description:[/color][/b] Karlus the Half-Mage is a small, thin, waif-like man. He has not seen his thirtieth year, but bears many of the hallmarks of a much older man. His pale face seems unduly worn, his swept back hair is brittle and prematurely white. Deep bags hang beneath his strangely luminous green eyes and this, along with his general air of weariness, confirms that Karlus sleeps little each night. The features upon this gaunt and drawn face are fine and effeminate, and could be considered handsome in another life. Handsome that is were it not for a hideous scar that mars the right side of his face. 

[b][color=39b54a]Day To Day Attire:[/color][/b] He dresses in faded black leathers beneath which the clink of mail can be heard, covered by a grey hooded great cloak clasped with a silver ring pin. From Karlus's sword belt hangs more silver, a silver-hilted short sword, its pommel set with a green cats eye stone. It seems to glow unnaturally in darkness. His left arm is bound and bandaged beneath his cloak.


[b][color=39b54a]Strengths:[/color][/b] [list]
[*] Knowledgeable in many academic subjects, particularly those related to the arcane.
[*] Relatively powerful mage.
[*] Skilled in countering other magical users.[/list]

[b][color=39b54a]Weaknesses:[/color][/b][list]
[*] Emotionally unstable and subject to periods of mania and depression.
[*] Suffers from a sickly constitution and often physically unwell.
[*] Mistrustful of others.[/list]

[h3][b][i][color=39b54a][center]Psychological Attributes[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h3]
[i][color=39b54a][center][b]Eurdite * Compassionate * Unstable * Secretive * Ruthless [/b][/center][/color][/i]

[b][color=39b54a]Sexuality:[/color][/b] Unknown

[b][color=39b54a]Relationship Status:[/color][/b] Single

[b][color=39b54a]Personality:[/color][/b] Karlus is a person who often comes across cold and reserved when first met, not in a cruel or uncaring way, but as if separated from all others around him by an immense unseen chasm. Distant is probably the lasting impression that he leaves on acquaintances. He has a habit of gazing off into the middle distance, almost as if he’s looking right though someone to something beyond. Normally he’s quiet, in particular about himself and his history, and when pressed upon a subject he does not want to discuss will be highly evasive. Despite this its easy to see that he someone of considerable learning and intelligence by the cerebral nature of his conversation. If Karlus were to smile it would normally be a sad one, his laughs are harsh and a little unhinged. He sleeps little, haunted by nightmares that make him wake in fits of terrible screams.

There is some hint madness in him as well, one that manifests in periods of energetic mania followed by deep and dark depressions. During his mania he will often rant and rave on the nature and theory of magic to anyone who will listen to him, and is prolific in the creation of treatise, papers, plans and schemes. During his inward periods he becomes even more uncommunicative, scarcely eating or sleeping, burying himself in his books and maintaining absolute solitude. 


[b][color=39b54a]Habits:[/color][/b][list]
[*] Scratching at the scar on the side of his face or at his bandaged arm.
[*] Plays with fire when bored, passing a single flame from finger tip to finger tip.
[*] Staring out into the middle distance for extended periods of time.
[*] When nervous paces and moves incessantly. 
[*] Fitful sleeper.[/list]

[b][color=39b54a]Hobbies:[/color][/b]  [list]
[*] Amateur antiquarian/historian.
[*] Calligraphy[/list]
 
[b][color=39b54a]Fears:[/color][/b][list]
[*] Tightly enclosed spaces or being restrained.
[*] His mentor.
[*] Muting.[/list]

[b][color=39b54a]Likes:[/color][/b][list]
[*] Learning new things.
[*] Shadows/night time.
[*] Children and animals.
[*] Personal Space.
[*] Hot baths.
[*] Good wine.[/list]

[b][color=39b54a]Dislikes:[/color][/b][list]
[*] Being touched.
[*] Sleeping.
[*] College trained mages.
[*] Vulnerability.
[*] Telling the truth.
[*] The muted.[/list]

[h3][b][i][color=39b54a][center]Skills[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h3]
[list]
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Arcana:[/color][/b] The knowledge of all things related to magic and its practice.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]History:[/color][/b] The knowledge of the past ages.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Perception:[/color][/b] The ability to keep watch and notice things.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Short-blade:[/color][/b] The use of daggers and short swords.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Multi-lingual:[/color][/b] Languages include Common, Old Speak, Elven and Old Elven.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Keen memory:[/color][/b] The ability to recall details and information with ease.
[/list]

[h3][b][i][color=39b54a][center]Magic[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h3]

Ruination focus with an emphasis on fire magic and rending. 

Spell list: [list]
[*] Produce Flame - a gout of flame created in the palm, can be thrown offensively.
[*] Burning Hands - a large burst of flame in a cone like projection.
[*] Hold Person - using rending magic to prevent a person from moving.
[*] Telekinesis - using rending magic to move, manipulate and levitate small objects.
[/list]

[h3][b][i][color=39b54a][center]Possessions[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h3]

[b][color=39b54a]Possessions Generally On Person:[/color][/b]
[list]
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Dagger:[/color][/b] A short utilitarian knife.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Waterskin:[/color][/b] A flask for containing water or another liquid.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Coin-purse:[/color][/b] A pouch containing money and valuables.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Good Boots:[/color][/b] A pair of unusually nice and expensive boots.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Journal:[/color][/b] A leather bound journal tucked into a pocket of Karlus's cloak.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]A pocket mirror:[/color][/b] To check and maintain appearance.
[/list]

[b][color=39b54a]Armor:[/color][/b] 
[list]
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Chain-shirt:[/color][/b] A shirt of chain mail.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Leather Jerkin:[/color][/b] A black leather sleeveless jacket.
[/list]
[b][color=39b54a]Pack Contents:[/color][/b] 
[list]
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Bedroll:[/color][/b] A bedroll for sleeping rough.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Walking stave:[/color][/b] A staff for walking extended distances.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Books and scrolls:[/color][/b] Mostly relating to arcane matters 
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Ink, paper, quill:[/color][/b] Used for writing
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Rations:[/color][/b] Food for one or two days.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Ritual Components:[/color][/b] Chalk, incense, crow feathers etc.
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Fresh Bandages:[/color][/b] For changing the covering on his left arm.
[/list]
[b][color=39b54a]Magical Items:[/color][/b] 
[list]
[*] [b][color=39b54a]Green Flame Blade:[/color][/b] The silver hilted short sword at Karlus's hip. The blade burns with green fire when activated.
[*][b][color=39b54a]Alchemical Potion:[/color][/b] A thick creamy white potion in a small glass vial.
[*][b][color=39b54a]Alchemical Potion:[/color][/b] A clear potion with a slight yellow tint in a small glass vial.[/list]

[h3][b][i][color=39b54a][center]History[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h3]

[b][color=39b54a]History:[/color][/b] A mage-blade known as Karl the Flame arrived in Carthus from the lands of Penault around five years ago. He said he was trained in the arts of ruination by the Elves of that land. He quickly found employment as a bodyguard and adviser to various small time crime bosses and underworld figures who valued the protection against magical threats a pet mage provides. There are many inconsistencies in the story he presents as his past, why would a man from Penault speak in with an Astorian accent? Why would an elf trained mage leave to work in the much more oppressive environs of Carthus? 

But stranger still are whispers that the Karl conceals that brands of the muted... yet still somehow practices magic. And then there are the other whispers, those of the college mages that disappear or are found dead in gutters wherever the Karl the Flame goes.

[hider=Secrets and Lies]
[b][color=39b54a]Magic:[/color][/b]
As well as being a user of ruination magic through an adjuration pact, Karlus is also a practitioner of Apparition magic.

Expanded Spell List:[list]
[*]Minor Illusion
[*]Disguise Self
[*]Darkness
[*]Invisibility [/list]

[b][color=39b54a]Expanded History:[/color][/b] Karlus the Half-Mage was not always Karl the Flame, before that he was Karlus Marsh. Karlus Marsh was born in southern Astoria to peasant family. He remembers them little as he his talent for weaving light and shadow into illusions manifested itself when he was only a young child. He was taken to Cambridge and the college there to be educated as a college trained magician, a responsible servant to the crown and people of Astoria. 

As he grew older he grew to hate the gilded cage of his existence. He grew to disdain the path that was set out for him, forced to weave only illusions for the rest of his life because of a decision made for him as a child. He grew even more to the wise fools who believed this was the best way to control their own kind. Those who should rail against the injustice that was done to those of the craft, but instead became the enforcers of that very system. They revelled in their perfection of their discipline and rigour, praised the tightness of the shackles with which they bound themselves. Those who took pleasure from cruelty were rewarded in the college.

He would undo it, bring it down. But in order to do that one needed power. Real power, not simply illusions and tricks.

But how does an Apparitionist acquire such power under the eagle eyed regime of the masters of the college? Adjuration. The art of reaching beyond the veil to bargain for power beyond one's own abilities. Something that could be pursued by all members of the college if they showed aptitude. Most would seek patronage to enhance their prowess within their focus, but what if one sought other powers instead? What if one used their bargain to gain mastery over more than one kind of magic? 

And so Karlus deceived the masters... or at least he believed he had. 

They took him at night in his sleep, bound his hands and gagged him. Chained him in a warded cell until they ready. They strapped him to a table. Began to cut. Began to burn. The Runes. The Runes of Erasure. The Runes of Muting. Into. His. Skin.

And then it happened. The fire. It swept through the college. Many died... but Karlus did not. In the chaos he escaped. He did not know it at the time, but most of those who had been preforming the ritual, those who knew it was not complete died that day. Those who knew are lived had more pressing concerns than a witch novice who almost certainly burned to death.

Then began a lifetime of running and hiding. He glamoured the brand on his cheek and with great pain and hardship went about relearning what arts were available to him. After many years he came back to Astoria as Karl the Flame and began to take his revenge. He hunted down those enforcers of the gilded cage and made them pay for their cruelty with their lives. 

But it seemed his secret was not burned away in the flames. A letter from the North Astorian Trading Company, addressed to Karlus Marsh. They knew his secret and they were unhappy with him. One of the mages he had killed had been important to them somehow, unless he helped the company in some manner he would be exposed. They would kill him... or finish the Muting that he had so narrowly escaped. Karlus wasn't ready quite ready for that yet.[/hider][/hider]