Sep

The Relics

**Name:** Kheris

**Age:** 59

**Gender:** Male

**Faction/Allegiance:** Kingdom of Othea

**Relic Description:** The Relic is the bracelet that has been embedded in his skin. His relic differs from most others, while holds similarity to others. His relic does not so much grant him abilities as it does unlock his upper brain functions, and allows him to see the energy from which the universe is made. Using this his power is understanding, viewing other relics in use or studying the actual item he can figure out new powers and abilities to his arsenal which makes him uniquely dangerous. However there is a major downside, the Relic only had enough energy in it for very few tasks so Kheris must obtain the energy via other means. He can absorb electrical energy, and energy through eating and as of yet has not found any other means. While electrical energy grants a great boost he has only managed to do so once in his years of having the relic due to the unpredictability of the only electrical power source, lightning.

Given time and a source he could easily become one if not the most powerful Relic Users however right now he could probably take on a squad of troops with ease and not much more.

**Appearance:**

**Flaws: **

-Takes time to gain charge for his relic, his body is old and without using the Relic to empower him moving is a struggle. If he uses energy that the relic does not have it drains the energy from his own, already ailing, body which petrifies cells in his body. While he can chose what cells are petrified they are not repairable by any simple means even if he found someone with a healing relic. His right hand has hardened and has turned a grey colour due to overuse of the relic. This has made it nearly useless except when he is using his relic to power his muscles.

-Age: His advanced age unless he uses his relic to give him additional strength he must use a cane for walking and is slow and frail.

-Scholar: While this is also one of his skills and advantages the fact he is a scholar, and has been for all his years. Means that he has neglected the combat side of things other than hand to hand training. Give him a weapon and he wouldn’t really know what to do with it.

-Ineffective right hand: Mentioned above.

-Known figure: Unless actively in disguise despite his few public appearances many people know him due to the fact that he is part of the royal family. Luckily this doesn’t extend far out of Amaryth.

**Skills:**
-Mind over matter: Through both his relic and the years he has spent studying the world of Azukhar his mind is one of the most skilled in the realm. With knowledge at his fingertips to act as his weapon or shield.
-Hand to hand: Despite his age and frailty, years ago he was made to train in hand to hand combat. Though this training is only effective with the assistance of his relic.
-Tactician: Partially through training, partially through his relic and partially through his studying he has become quite the tactician.
-Survival training: Being in the royal court again he was given some of the best survival training. Many of these skills he continues to hone to this very day, this is assisted with him being a scholar.
-Medicinal: This is an area where has not studied as much over the years, however he can still remember many herbs that can be off assistance in various situations.
-Politics/Subterfuge: In this time they are one of the same. He hasn’t only studied books all these years, but has studied people. Plays on their weaknesses, fears, goals, wishes. He also used to have a knack for sneaking around until he got older.

**Biography: **
From a young age Kheris learnt the power of his position. Though he never felt need to use it. He was always a thinker, while he could use his title to give him power out of nowhere came a sense of gaining that which he got given. The older of two sons he was next in line for the throne. A title he felt he had to earn, while his younger brother was always with his father learning the trials of combat and working his way across the Kingdom in bouts against bandits. At the same time as his younger brother was learning 101 ways to decapitate an outlaw, Kheris was studying the history. Not just of Othea, but of Azukhar itself. He began to piece together pieces of text based on myths of the Old Kingdom. Many of which he obviously kept hidden from the agents of the Order of Idris that were within the royal court. This lead to a division between himself and his brother, who felt he was giving up his right to rule for knowledge and that strength was the way forward. This division would remain until he was much older.

Always a forward thinker he did not see why the Kingdom could not use these relics in order to strengthen it against future turmoil, internal as well as external, to allow it to grow and prosper uniting all the kingdoms in Azukhar into one as it was over a thousand years ago. A noble goal indeed, and to demonstrate it, the fiefs under his control began to see change. Lords of villages were no more this bit might need fixing. Did he demote the nobles? skip promoting new ones when the old died? revoke inherited right to rule?, instead he allowed the people to chose their own leaders. It took years to find a way that would include adequate protection for the towns under his control, and before the system of beacons and militias was completed a bandit raid managed to raze one of his villages all in all it was an unpopular move to the Nobles throughout the kingdom but the commoners accepted it without protest feeling that they at last had a chance for power. That was when he received a document from one of his new “Mayors”. An old map marked with archaic symbols in thanks for what Kheris had done for the town. It took him months to decipher it, as his younger brother continued to chase bandits and hone his combat abilities. Talking with those he had to talk to in order to improve his chances of becoming King when the time came. This was when Kheris undertook his journey into the Spires of Malloch in search for the destination the map lead to. The journey was treacherous, and possibly deadly and while he did not have combat experience he had not neglected survival training. Travelling tooks months as most of the original route was destroyed and the destination was unclear, hardening his body. While he was twenty venturing into the range his body was molded by it finishing his change from boy to man. The baby fat left him, a beard grew and his features become more chiselled.

He finally found the entrance of the temple in question, though it was sealed. He moved to the door running his hand over it, the runes above the door lighting in a red door. Stating that it could only be opened by those worthy of becoming the keeper of the temple. In the rush of euphoria at finding the temple and without thinking he placed his hand on an indentation on the door in the shape of a hand. Which retracted pulling his arm into the door. He could feel sharp edges running along, but not quite cutting his flesh. Though knew that there was a chance that what happened next could be the end of his life.

However instead he felt something cool tighten around from his wrist covering his entire left forearm to just before the elbow. He then fell back unconscious on the ground. When he awoke the temple door open, but everything was different. He could see golden, red and blue light everywhere. He could see the energy of the world. We’d think he wouldn’t immediately understand what he was seeing. Perhaps initially it drove him a touch insane? Also, relics generally unfurl their power a bit more subtly. He knew immediately that he had been bestowed with a relic and had become the gatekeeper. While there was a rush of excitement he was also worried about the chance the Order of Idris would discover this. However he shrugged off the thought. While he had largely ignored the politics of a royal court he knew them well enough to keep secrets, and as such decided to explore his new domain.

Upon return to the capital of Othea he found that his father had died and the court in the middle of choosing which of the two princes would become King. This feels a bit odd. He’s been gone for months, why would the court even be considering him? Perhaps instead the father is on the deathbed and the court scurrying for position for the upcoming crown competition? He knew he did not want it though went through the rituals as he should, trying half heartedly trying to gather support for himself. Knowing that no matter what he did, even if he had wanted to become King to Othea he would never have gotten it. Too many nobles felt threatened by his insistence to allow commoners to regulate themselves and their towns. Though this worked to his advantage, he had other duties to perform such as the creation of the Kings Hand, a secret order he would base out of the hidden temple he had found deep within the Spires of Malloch. While his brother was becoming a pawn of the Order of Idris, no doubt allowing them to control his moves he himself began to seek the betterment and increase of power for his own people, with his ability to see energy he could seek out those who held relics and find where their loyalties were. Those who would not assist Othea were imprisoned or sent to the Dominion.

Following his brother’s coronation, most of the nobles began to ignore him. With his frequent trips away from the capital to the temple and the secrecy surrounding them, that suited Kheris well. In time he learned that not only he could see energy but that he could manipulate it using himself as a conduit. This was how he lost most function in his right hand, ten years after obtaining his relic. Using far too much power for far too long he began to feel his cells petrifying. How did this make him feel? In order to prevent widespread damage he drew power from his right hand leaving it a withered out husk. It was around this time his brother began to have suspicions about where he was going and what he was up to. While his brother had used him as a trusted advisor for years with his extensive knowledge on both the current world of Azukhar and the Old Kingdom, he now sent spies after Kheris, who found the temple. When Hrodlaf was led there by the spies, his faith was shaken.

He feared that Kheris intended to lead an uprising against him, using evokers to do so, seizing the throne and killing the soon to be born heir to the throne. Despite the fact that he should have known that Kheris entertained no notions of becoming King, wishing only to guide and shape it for the better of everyone. A fight ensued between Kheris and his brother, a battle of words. Hroldaf worrying that Kheris would bring the kingdom to ruin by the hand of Idris in a bid for the throne. Kheris waited and finally thought back, he had never sought power. He had never made an attempt to take control and the Shadows had operated for ten years without attracting the attention of Idris. While this did not alleviate all of the King’s fears, he nonetheless gave reluctant consent for his brother to continue his work, but only on the condition that Kheris would keep this between them, and not tell the heir to the throne until he or she came into his or her inheritance.

And so it was, for the past twenty-nine years Kheris has trained and built up the secret order of guardians for the kingdom, letting no word about its existence escape except through accidental rumors. Deploying them on missions throughout Othea and even beyond its borders, he kept the kingdom relatively stable and safe. Over these years, he has gathered a handful of new tricks, though despite his best efforts, he still struggles against the fact his relic does not have its own power source and seems incapable of tapping into the many sources of power other relics are attuned to. Due to this he mainly uses his relic to find other evokers, and find relics themselves when he is not aiding his Brother in the royal court and coaching his Nephew in the way of the world. Without of course allowing the young prince to find out about the Shadows or the fact that his uncle is an evoker.

**Personality/motivation:** Accumulation of knowledge and to some extent power. And the betterment of the Kingdom of Othea

He can sometimes be seen as eccentric, and other times arrogant. He sees himself as a teacher, and a scholar and with good reason.
**Relations:** Brother to the King of Othea, Uncle to the Prince

Theme Song: [Theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUiWIBiVH4U)