Vanathell Whitwood

[MiracleKa]

Vanathell Whitwood

Introduction

An old man with a dark secret, who hides from the world as he searches for an end to his self-inflicted curse. For a master of death, it's ironic how terrified he is of the Reaper.

Basics

Name: Vanathell Whitwood


Age: Too old to remember


Race: Undead


Gender: Male


Sexual Orientation: Asexual


Occupation: Lich

• Appearance
• Personality
• Magic/Spells
• Skills

• Appearance
  
  Height: 5'9"
  
  
  Weight: 84 lbs.
  
  
  Hair: What little of his dark hair that is left clings to his thin scalp in long, dry strands that have not known natural body oils for years, nor seem to have been cared for in recent months.
  
  
  Eyes: Mossy green; completely obscured with cataracts
  
  
  Body: Skeletal, though some flesh and sinew remains
  
  
  Attire: His clothing, if not for the fading of age, look as though they may have once belonged to a nobleman or even royalty. A soft doeskin jerkin over his torso is now faded and worn, his emerald kilt frayed at the edges. If not for the thick belt pulled so tight around his pelvis as to curve to the shape of his bones, it almost seems as if his clothing could fall away. A matching cloak, embroidered with gold filigree and woven with a crest so ancient as to be unrecognizable hangs around his shoulders, held in place by a jeweled, golden clasp. It is quite oversized, as well as hooded, making it perfect to conceal such a tiny frame beneath its folds.
  
  
  What flesh remains on Vanathell's body appears patchy and discolored, and from more than the steady decay of time, as if random pieces have been stitched together over his bones again and again. But the lack of flesh now suggests he's more or less . . . given up, on whatever process it was he used to piece himself back together. One side of his face still seems more or less human, albeit gaunt; the other is naught but greyed skin peeling away from dull, charcoal bone beneath. The skull--nor the rest of what is left--is black from burns, though. No soot or missing pieces indicate the victim of a fire. Rather, it is a symptom of his age. While not completely black like others of his kind, he is very long-lived.
  
  
  
• Personality
  
  Distant and calculating, Van shields himself from others through an objective, dismal perception of the world. Nothing is fair. War has no meaning. Death is the only constant. A history of manipulation and conniving have sharpened his own perceptions of others' intentions, but he deems himself no judge. He knows well enough everyone has their reasons for doing what they do, and everyone should learn in their own time that the ends do not always justify the means. The plight of the unfortunate holds no sway over him, no damsel in distress can turn his hardened heart. People die. But he won't--even if he wants to.
  
  
  
• Magic/Spells
  
  As Vanathell is a lich, he is a highly skilled sorcerer and necromancer. Years of knowledge gained with his unnaturally long life span make him a formidable foe indeed. All of Vanathell's magic requires life energy of some kind, which he lacks in his undead state--but he has no trouble "borrowing" it from others, willing or not.
  
  
  Destruction (Offensive) Spells
  
  
  • Noxious Flames
    Vanathell conjures ethereal flames to blast an enemy within 10-15 feet of himself. The flames burn both the physical body and a person's mental state, inciting terror or dread to weaken their defenses. More willful targets may suffer less of its secondary effects, if at all.
    
  • Desecration
    The ground surrounding Vanathell becomes infected with necrotic energy, rapidly decaying lesser life forms such as flora or insects, up to a radius of 2 feet. Hardier life forms such as large animals and people suffer similar effects at a much slower rate the longer they are in the circle. Undead creatures may be healed.
    
  • Blight
    The victim becomes infected with an unnatural disease that poisons the blood and incites symptoms similar to the Black Plague if left untreated for more than 24 hours. Stronger immune systems may stem off the effects for longer, but magical treatment is required.
    
  • Decaying Touch
    Vanathell grapples an enemy and drains their life force, adding their strength to his at the cost of exposing his fragile body. The effect is rapid, but not unstoppable, and it is also typically a last resort. The life force drained repairs Vanathell's body, or is stored for later use.
    
  
  
  Entropic (Supportive) Spells
  
  
  • Unsettling Aura
    Try as he might to mask it, Van's dark magic causes him to radiate a sense of unease. Most people avoid him for it, but keener minds may be able to detect its cause. On the other hand, weaker wills may be subject to possibly panic if left too long in his presence.
    
  • Silver-Tongue
    A merchant long before he was a necromancer, Vanathell has disciplined himself in the art of using more magical means to persuade individuals to his way of thinking. It's been quite some time since he's used it, however, and he's become a bit rusty.
    
  • Death Rattle
    Vanathell unleashes a supernatural cry that sounds slightly different to everyone that hears it. Anyone closer than ten feet suffers a significantly greater chance of being stunned or knocked out from the shrillness of the sound, while others may be dazed or flee in panic. Great for dispersing busy crowds and annoying onlookers in a hurry.
    
  • Common Bond
    As an undead, Vanathell has a great affinity for the departed. Being in the presence of the recently dead or in places where many lives were lost such as battlefields or cemeteries fills him with vigor, allowing him to gradually regenerate without an excess of life energy. Regenerating this way is incredibly slow and can take days or even weeks.
    
  • Subjugation
    Vanathell is a highly accomplished necromancer, and few undead can resist his control, with the exception of other liches or undead commanded by more powerful ones. However, wresting control of an undead from another entity is far more taxing than its worth.
    
  • Raise Dead
    The staple of any necromancer's arsenal. At the expenditure of his energy reserves, Vanathell is able to call upon the deceased to bend to his will, be it to fight for him, search for him, or whatever else he needs at that moment. This spell is, of course, useless without a body of some sort present, but the strength and durability of his minions vary with a variety of factors. More complex undead require more intact bodies and energy, while simple ghouls and skeletons--though frail--are easy enough to summon. He can maintain up to five lesser undead at a time, and three or fewer greater undead.
    
  
  
  
• Skills
  
  • Resilient
    Vanathell does not feel pain as the living do, and is therefore not as easily slowed by physical wounds. Where a cut to the leg might slow a mortal man down with pain and fear of blood loss, Vanathell would press on, more or less unfazed. This is not to say he's invincible, of course, and pain inflicted through mental or magical means is another matter entirely.
    
  • Once A Merchant. . . .
    Despite the years passed since his time as a merchant, Vanathell has a keen eye for the worth of various items and trinkets.
    
  • Ghost Whisperer
    Being a necromancer isn't just about raising the dead or spreading death and decay--it means bridging the gap between this life and the next. With the right tools and/or circumstances, Vanathell is able to hear the voices of the deceased and even commune with more intelligent spirits.
    
  • Lich-bound
    There is one thing that separates liches from simple undead mages, and that is an item known as a phylactery. A "container" of sorts for a lich's soul, as long as this powerful and resilient artifact remains intact, the lich bound to it can regenerate and rise even if their bodies are utterly destroyed. Doing so can take years, but it is what makes every lich truly powerful and seemingly immortal.