Arghast, Herald of the Abyss
Name
Arghast
Age
39
Gender
Male
Sexuality
Heterosexual
Land of Origin
Carim
Covenant
Darkwraiths
Personality
Arghast carries himself with a subtle confidence, seemingly unperturbed by the horrors of Lordran. He takes advantage of his sinister appearance, often unnerving those mild-hearted undead. His dealings with others are often shrewd, with Arghast making clear his absolute hatred of weakness, hollows and the gods. He may, at times, impart his knowledge from time spent in Lordran's depths and lend his blade to an undead in need. Something of a zealot, he speaks ill of the old gods, blaming the pantheon for the Darksign and the undead curse.
Despite what should be a transparent persona, the most oblivious conversationalist may still feel Arghast does reveal all. Among these concealed truths, his status as a Darkwraith is one.
While suspicious of the undead prophecy, he nonetheless seeks to unravel its meaning. All the while, engorging himself on the humanity of his fellow undead.
Arsenal
Fitting of his wicked nature, Arghast wields a serrated machete and a hatchet. When necessary, he will augment the edge of these weapons by slathering them in rotten pine resin, a foul substance that serves to poison the blades. An estus flask, in the shape of a goat's horn, dangles from his waist-side. As a Darkwraith, he can harness the sinister Dark Hand; dark energy envelopes either hand and allows him a degree of defense, while providing the means to enact the cruel act of Lifedrain.
"The Darkwraiths, incited by Kaathe, use the power of the dark soul to absorb humanity, an art shared by this weapon, which also acts as a special shield. The ancients, particularly, could sap the humanity of even a replete saint in the blink of an eye.
Magical Traits
Arghast buds with stolen humanity. This saturation of soul energy allows him to cast rudimentary dark magics without the use of a catalyst, all at the expense of humanity.
The art of Lifedrain allows the Darkwraiths a means to thieve humanity for themselves. By seizing an undead with in their grasp, the servants of dark leech humanity from their victims, bringing them closer to hollowing and empowering their own life force.
Biography
Those stricken by the dark sign are irrevocably cursed; pasts wilt away, leaving naught but a shadow upon a bleak mind. Of those few things which may slow this process, none can restore what has been lost. A purpose, something to strive towards, and humanity, fragments of the fateful dark soul, both may sooth the flesh and mind of the accursed undead. Arghast, once a nameless bloodletter in service to Carim’s court intrigues, found hollowing a more detestable demise than death itself. The Dark Sign made the great weak, the wise vapid and Arghast eternally spiteful of the gods for bringing it upon man.
Even while spilling over with humanity, he sees only fragments. Legions lead in chains to the Undead Asylum, escape to the land of silent gods and a prophecy he could not achieve. In time, his ventures through the netherworld of Lordran, guideless and hollowing, brought him to the feet of the Darkwraith, Caitlyn. From her, he learned to crave humanity, for it remedied his curse and weakened the gods of fire. When bestowed with the knowledge of Lifedrain, Arghast had found a purpose in Lordran.
Hunger soon gives way to gluttony, and Arghast found that seizing it from the inept undead around him all too tempting. And though his hollowing was deadened and his life force invigorated, there were virulent effects to harboring an abundance of humanity. Like the firekeepers that fed the bonfires, Arghast’s flesh grew malformed and ridden with sores, disfiguring his face. As his abhorrence for hollows and the flame grows, he may yet peer into the Abyss.
Miscellaneous
Arghast’s skin is riddled with horrid scars, sores and tears. Those who contain too much humanity within them, like the Firekeepers, are disfigured by it.
The Darkwraith loathes the use of his estus flask, and refuses to donate his humanity to kindle bonfires.
