Post by Angry Sandwich on Feb 7, 2007 7:05:52 GMT -5
Ok, I wrote up this nice big character bio for a guy I play on City of Heroes and it feels a waste not to share it with as many people as I can. As such, here it is!!
Notes : Healixx and Angelikus are other heros I team with semi regularly with. The Wings (Wings over Paragon) are a super group I belong to. ( Or Guild, or Clan depending what game you come from )
_________________________________________________________
A newly formed demon, bred to be a powerful leader in hell's army that was . . .misplaced. Somehow, the egg it gestated in ended up on a completely separate plane of existence than its guards. Not just any plane, but our plane. And not just in any location, but the toy crib of a young girl. When she saw the big shiny egg (about the size of an ostrage egg) in her crib, she named it Sven and dressed it up. Until this day the hellspawn was immersed in hate, pain and anger. This was essential to its development for while within the egg, it absorbed the ambient emotions.
For a solid two years it was loved by that small girl. It grew and matured, waiting for a catalyst. A sharp spike in emotions to fuel its birth. Sadly, that triggering emotion was fear. The fear when villains broke into the girls home. Her screams echoed through the house as the Hellspawn broke forth from its egg. The hate of hell was focused on the that silenced the source of love. The girl perished. The villains wished they did.
The creature dropped the second intruder too the ground. It's gaze drifted over the other three men dressed in strange robes, twitching on the ground. Their minds all but shattered, lost in a personal realm that the creature created just for them. Never again would the beast be able to put forth such effort to form a new layer of hell for this act nearly destroyed it, weakening it considerably. He felt some kind of kinship with them. A an echo from before he had memories. He growled with disgust that the wretched things could have any connection to him. Turning his back on the four men, he returned to the foyer where the body of the small child lay.
He looked down on the small figure and felt, confused. On the one hand, he was a creature of hell. Born of suffering and pain the death of an innocent filled him with power, strength and joy. But all was not right. Something that he could not understand was wrong here. This little thing, so small and delicate, had sheltered and nourished him. He did not want for her to go away. He did not want to feel stronger. He wanted her love back. Bending low, he gently picked up the small form, so light in his arms.
"Wake" he said. "You will come back, now!" But the form remained motionless. With a roar of rage he smashed the near by grandfather clock but careful to keep the child from being harmed by the flying splinters. "I forbid you from leaving!" he shouted. "I am Azerous!! Grand General in hells army and you shall obey me!!" he declared and knew, somehow, that it was true. Or rather, that it should have been true. "I'm too late" came a whisper from the door. Azerous looked up and standing there, in the doorway was another mortal. This one not dressed like the other four, but rather in dark black and brown colors. Female he thought, although he knew not what that word meant.
For but a second she took in what she saw. The room was trashed with wood splinters everywhere. More importantly was the creature standing with a visage of pure rage in the centre of the room. Large demonic wings, blood tipped horns protruding from a fleshless skull and, most horrifying, holding the limp form of a child. It is most understandable that, when responding to a call about Circle of Thorn members, she immediately decided that this creature must be vanquished.
But Azerous was born to be a great leader and one does not lead in hell if one can't put down the occasional revolt. He saw her steel herself and in that fraction of a second he dropped the limp body and entered a defensive stance. The soft thud of the child, so loud in the silence, caused Azerous to wince. Not even an hour old he was still born to kill and it did not slow his assault. Such an unexpected gesture did, however, catch the heroin off guard.
She hesitated, suddenly unsure of what she was fighting. She knew what a Behemoth was and although this beast was similar, it was not what she was familiar with. That hesitation not only saved both her life Azerous' but determined the path Azerous' soul would take.
A hellspawn is at its strongest immediately after its birth. The creatures of hell thrive on torment and love consuming the souls of the weak. A newly formed being is often slightly confused and vulnerable. As a survival trait it enters a "life or death" mode and is able to perform amazing feats of strength. Often, the strength of a creatures display dictates its rank in the armies for the rest of its life. Azerous had already created a layer of hell. There are countless layers, but creation of a new one would have garnered him immense respect. Now however, it had only served to weaken him.
Born to kill, bred to slaughter Azerous charged the female figure. Claws ready rend her limb from limb, mouth hungry to swallow her still beating heart this fight would expel the last of his energy. He would destroy the woman, but be destroyed in turn. Except, she wasn't fighting back. The fractions of a second that he was in the air, charging her, she did not respond. Even the most trained and finely tuned martial artists reveal some sign of an impending strike.
She was not afraid, Azerous would have drank of her fear if she was. She was confused and, something else. Sorrow? Unable to halt his momentum, he through her aside. The impact woke the woman from her slight hesitation and as she turned she called forth her illusionary army, ready for the the inevitable counter attack. But Azerous was gone.
Fleeing as quickly as he could, Azerous thought about what had happened. He couldn't do it. She was helpless. There was no way she could have reacted in time to stop him from destroying her. He would have feasted on her soul. Devoured her strength and drank of her blood. Her very being would ripped her from the fabric of the universe and never again would she exist.
He would have done to her, what those men did to the child. His fleshless, cold, unmoving skull stared on, emotionless. Inside his heart, tears of rage and anger flowed freely.
Healixx watched out the door for a few seconds, still unsure of what had happened. Then with a start of realization she ran to the body of the child. Laying her hand on the still body's chest, she washed it in healing light. Willing the soul to return and rise again. She had done this a hundred times before. And never before had she failed. Frowning, she tried again. The soul of a child is young, vibrant and strong. It can endure hardships that would crush most adults. It should still be here, wanting to return. But she could not find it.
A small, tired sigh escaped her lips as she laid the body of the child back down and closed it's eyes one last time. Standing with a visage of determination she moved to inspect the rest of the house. A small groan drew her to the small office in the next room where four circle members lay. By their robes she knew them to be Death Mages. Looking back over he shoulder, Healixx couldn't help but wonder how close to death she had come.
"So was it a thorn demon or wasn't it?" asked Angelikus not unkindly after hearing Healixx recount what had happened later that day.
"I'm not sure. It may have been a summoning gone wrong but it just doesn't seem right." replied Healixx "Whatever it is, its defiantly powerful."
"Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I'll keep an eye out for this thing and put the word out what threat level it seems to be. Wherever it is hiding, we will find it and make it pay for its crimes." Angelikus said, thinking he was being comforting. Another demon in the world, but this one will be taken out soon enough. Seeing nothing more coming from Healixx he nodded to her and left to complete whatever task he was on this time.
Healixx watched him go, somewhat comforted by his rock hard conviction towards hope, justice and freedom. Somewhat, but not completely. She couldn't help the feeling that the other Wings were over simplifying matters. There was so much more to this demon and she knew it. She just had to find it before the others did, regardless how dangerous it might be.
Azerous perched on the side of a building, staring out as the moon rose on its endless voyage. This world was new to him and he was lost. A demon is born with all the knowledge it could ever need, but knowing what a sunset is and seeing one with you own eyes are two completely different things. He could feel the strength of his birth flowing out of him. Soon her would be weak. Weaker still for this strange world he is in. In Hell, the feats of power he displayed would have earned him thousands of souls to feast upon, but here, here there were none.
He could feel the souls of the innocents below him and he hungered. It would be so easy to swoop down and begin feasting. Azerous' dark instincts urging him, he almost gives in, almost falls down the path that would doom him forever. But, as he breathes in the wash of emotions, his mind goes back to the limp figure, so small and fragile, laying in his arms. The image hurts. Sorrow is not a feeling creatures such as him were meant to feel and the pain nearly causes him to stumble and fall. Regaining his balance, he again perches on the edge and watches the moon continue its voyage.
Sitting there, tasting the emotions, feeling the souls around him, Azerous watches the moon climb and fall. Just as the sun breaks the horizon, he notices some of the souls feel. . .familiar. A growl rises unbidden in his throat. He knows that feeling and once again, the image of the child flashes in his mind. This time bringing not sorrow, but anger. Hellspawns know anger well. They feed on anger but rarely feel it themselves. Azerous however, was a washed in rage. Unfurling his wings, he dived towards the feeling. There, a circle of 8 figures and a form in the middle.
Fear and pain flowing from the central figure as it floated. The eight figures circling it chanting. It was an old man being sacrificed, but that’s not what Azerous saw. What he saw was a you girl, no longer limp and cold but writhing in agony and filled with the heat of agony. Focusing the last of his birth strength into his natural abilities, Azerous warped reality and began crushing the life out of seven of the eight figures. One, in much more elaborate robes than the others, resisted his efforts and turned to him.
"You fool, I shall destroy . . . you." He said, trailing off in the end. He recognized what he faced. He saw the few remaining shells from Azerous' egg still clinging to the beasts fur. Even as the embodiment of Azerous' rage coalesced as a thundercloud, the Ruin Mage knew he was doomed. The white hot bolt of electricity arched out and obliterated the mage and sent the remaining seven thorn members flying.
"Thank you! I thought I was doomed." said the old man, after picking himself up.
Azerous could no longer taste any fear in him. Azerous knew what he looked like and yet the old man looked at him with admiration and gratitude. With a snarl, Azerous spread his wings and leapt off the building. Only too crash down in the alley bellow. That last battle had drained the last of his birth strength. He could not even fly to safety. For the first time since his birth, he was afraid. Nothing had gone well for him. The first being to love him perished. He was attacked immediately after and instead of destroying the attacker, left her standing. Just now, he saved an innocent and demanded nothing in return. All of these going so far against his base instincts.
Alone and confused he lay in the alley. He grieved for what he lost and the simple act of grieving wracked him with pain. There, curled up in a ball, Healixx found him. There, she laid a hand on his shoulder and whispered comforting words into his ear. Long has she sought to ease the suffering of others. The soothing green glow washed from her onto Azerous' wracked frame. She knew how to heal cuts and broken limbs, but this, this was something different.
This poor thing was fighting against it's very nature. An incarnation of hate and death feeling remorse, sorrow, despair. Should she even be helping such a thing? Should she not just put it out of its misery? Make the world a better place? Such doubts flashed through her mind for less than an instant before she dashed them to shreds. "I'm here to ease suffering. To bring hope and light to where it is needed most." she whispered. The words were meant for herself, but Azerous heard them. He heard them, he took them in and he made them part of himself.
Healixx reached deep within herself, reached deep within the beast. There was no connection. No similarity between her and the creature, so she made one. She took a fragment, the smallest shard of her soul, and placed it within Azerous. It was a risk. Never before had she even thought such a thing possible. There was always the chance that the creatures nature would consume it and, following the souls silver cord, consume the rest of her soul. But that did not happen. The shard grew and melded with Azerous' parasitic soul. Her purity easing his soul's endless hunger. No longer would it require the souls of others to grow strong. Now, Azerous' soul could grow if its own accord.
For several more hours Healixx knelt beside Azerous, finally able to mourn in peace. She warned away several heroes who had heard about this "Thorn demon" until she was able to contact more Wings members. It took many more days before Azerous' body and soul were fully attuned and during that time he was weak as a kitten. Weaker in fact, completely unable to defend himself. During that time, it was Healixx that ensured he came to no harm. Some wanted to question Azerous. Some thought that regardless of what Healixx had done (not that they understood) a demon should at the very least be locked up and warded. She would have none of this. "He is my patient, my ward. I will have no harm come to him. If you want to get to him, you must first get through me.” Safe to say, no one wanted to make Healixx truly mad with them.
When Azerous finally regained his strength, Healixx personally escorted him to be registered as a Hero. She could think of no better way to ensure he'd be protected by other misguided heroes. Azerous was silent through all of this. He saw what she did for him. He understood the significance when Healixx vouched her own name for his enrolment. Risking her own name that he would not turn evil, even though it was no risk in her own mind.
Walking out of City Hall he looked at Paragon City. His new home. "Thank you" he said, looking at Healixx. She simply smiled at him.
"Misplaced Hellspawn?" asked a voice behind him. "My names Susan Davies, I'm your first contact" said a woman as Azerous turned. "Are you ready for your first mission?"
Azerous looked around but Healixx was gone. He could still feel her, somewhere, and was comforted. "I guess I am." he said, and walked with Susan back into the building to discuss the details.
Healixx watched him go and smiled. Paragon City had gained a new hero and she had high hopes for where he will go.
___________________________________________________________________
Question? Comments? Undiluted Praise? Diluted Praise?
Notes : Healixx and Angelikus are other heros I team with semi regularly with. The Wings (Wings over Paragon) are a super group I belong to. ( Or Guild, or Clan depending what game you come from )
_________________________________________________________
A newly formed demon, bred to be a powerful leader in hell's army that was . . .misplaced. Somehow, the egg it gestated in ended up on a completely separate plane of existence than its guards. Not just any plane, but our plane. And not just in any location, but the toy crib of a young girl. When she saw the big shiny egg (about the size of an ostrage egg) in her crib, she named it Sven and dressed it up. Until this day the hellspawn was immersed in hate, pain and anger. This was essential to its development for while within the egg, it absorbed the ambient emotions.
For a solid two years it was loved by that small girl. It grew and matured, waiting for a catalyst. A sharp spike in emotions to fuel its birth. Sadly, that triggering emotion was fear. The fear when villains broke into the girls home. Her screams echoed through the house as the Hellspawn broke forth from its egg. The hate of hell was focused on the that silenced the source of love. The girl perished. The villains wished they did.
The creature dropped the second intruder too the ground. It's gaze drifted over the other three men dressed in strange robes, twitching on the ground. Their minds all but shattered, lost in a personal realm that the creature created just for them. Never again would the beast be able to put forth such effort to form a new layer of hell for this act nearly destroyed it, weakening it considerably. He felt some kind of kinship with them. A an echo from before he had memories. He growled with disgust that the wretched things could have any connection to him. Turning his back on the four men, he returned to the foyer where the body of the small child lay.
He looked down on the small figure and felt, confused. On the one hand, he was a creature of hell. Born of suffering and pain the death of an innocent filled him with power, strength and joy. But all was not right. Something that he could not understand was wrong here. This little thing, so small and delicate, had sheltered and nourished him. He did not want for her to go away. He did not want to feel stronger. He wanted her love back. Bending low, he gently picked up the small form, so light in his arms.
"Wake" he said. "You will come back, now!" But the form remained motionless. With a roar of rage he smashed the near by grandfather clock but careful to keep the child from being harmed by the flying splinters. "I forbid you from leaving!" he shouted. "I am Azerous!! Grand General in hells army and you shall obey me!!" he declared and knew, somehow, that it was true. Or rather, that it should have been true. "I'm too late" came a whisper from the door. Azerous looked up and standing there, in the doorway was another mortal. This one not dressed like the other four, but rather in dark black and brown colors. Female he thought, although he knew not what that word meant.
For but a second she took in what she saw. The room was trashed with wood splinters everywhere. More importantly was the creature standing with a visage of pure rage in the centre of the room. Large demonic wings, blood tipped horns protruding from a fleshless skull and, most horrifying, holding the limp form of a child. It is most understandable that, when responding to a call about Circle of Thorn members, she immediately decided that this creature must be vanquished.
But Azerous was born to be a great leader and one does not lead in hell if one can't put down the occasional revolt. He saw her steel herself and in that fraction of a second he dropped the limp body and entered a defensive stance. The soft thud of the child, so loud in the silence, caused Azerous to wince. Not even an hour old he was still born to kill and it did not slow his assault. Such an unexpected gesture did, however, catch the heroin off guard.
She hesitated, suddenly unsure of what she was fighting. She knew what a Behemoth was and although this beast was similar, it was not what she was familiar with. That hesitation not only saved both her life Azerous' but determined the path Azerous' soul would take.
A hellspawn is at its strongest immediately after its birth. The creatures of hell thrive on torment and love consuming the souls of the weak. A newly formed being is often slightly confused and vulnerable. As a survival trait it enters a "life or death" mode and is able to perform amazing feats of strength. Often, the strength of a creatures display dictates its rank in the armies for the rest of its life. Azerous had already created a layer of hell. There are countless layers, but creation of a new one would have garnered him immense respect. Now however, it had only served to weaken him.
Born to kill, bred to slaughter Azerous charged the female figure. Claws ready rend her limb from limb, mouth hungry to swallow her still beating heart this fight would expel the last of his energy. He would destroy the woman, but be destroyed in turn. Except, she wasn't fighting back. The fractions of a second that he was in the air, charging her, she did not respond. Even the most trained and finely tuned martial artists reveal some sign of an impending strike.
She was not afraid, Azerous would have drank of her fear if she was. She was confused and, something else. Sorrow? Unable to halt his momentum, he through her aside. The impact woke the woman from her slight hesitation and as she turned she called forth her illusionary army, ready for the the inevitable counter attack. But Azerous was gone.
Fleeing as quickly as he could, Azerous thought about what had happened. He couldn't do it. She was helpless. There was no way she could have reacted in time to stop him from destroying her. He would have feasted on her soul. Devoured her strength and drank of her blood. Her very being would ripped her from the fabric of the universe and never again would she exist.
He would have done to her, what those men did to the child. His fleshless, cold, unmoving skull stared on, emotionless. Inside his heart, tears of rage and anger flowed freely.
Healixx watched out the door for a few seconds, still unsure of what had happened. Then with a start of realization she ran to the body of the child. Laying her hand on the still body's chest, she washed it in healing light. Willing the soul to return and rise again. She had done this a hundred times before. And never before had she failed. Frowning, she tried again. The soul of a child is young, vibrant and strong. It can endure hardships that would crush most adults. It should still be here, wanting to return. But she could not find it.
A small, tired sigh escaped her lips as she laid the body of the child back down and closed it's eyes one last time. Standing with a visage of determination she moved to inspect the rest of the house. A small groan drew her to the small office in the next room where four circle members lay. By their robes she knew them to be Death Mages. Looking back over he shoulder, Healixx couldn't help but wonder how close to death she had come.
"So was it a thorn demon or wasn't it?" asked Angelikus not unkindly after hearing Healixx recount what had happened later that day.
"I'm not sure. It may have been a summoning gone wrong but it just doesn't seem right." replied Healixx "Whatever it is, its defiantly powerful."
"Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I'll keep an eye out for this thing and put the word out what threat level it seems to be. Wherever it is hiding, we will find it and make it pay for its crimes." Angelikus said, thinking he was being comforting. Another demon in the world, but this one will be taken out soon enough. Seeing nothing more coming from Healixx he nodded to her and left to complete whatever task he was on this time.
Healixx watched him go, somewhat comforted by his rock hard conviction towards hope, justice and freedom. Somewhat, but not completely. She couldn't help the feeling that the other Wings were over simplifying matters. There was so much more to this demon and she knew it. She just had to find it before the others did, regardless how dangerous it might be.
Azerous perched on the side of a building, staring out as the moon rose on its endless voyage. This world was new to him and he was lost. A demon is born with all the knowledge it could ever need, but knowing what a sunset is and seeing one with you own eyes are two completely different things. He could feel the strength of his birth flowing out of him. Soon her would be weak. Weaker still for this strange world he is in. In Hell, the feats of power he displayed would have earned him thousands of souls to feast upon, but here, here there were none.
He could feel the souls of the innocents below him and he hungered. It would be so easy to swoop down and begin feasting. Azerous' dark instincts urging him, he almost gives in, almost falls down the path that would doom him forever. But, as he breathes in the wash of emotions, his mind goes back to the limp figure, so small and fragile, laying in his arms. The image hurts. Sorrow is not a feeling creatures such as him were meant to feel and the pain nearly causes him to stumble and fall. Regaining his balance, he again perches on the edge and watches the moon continue its voyage.
Sitting there, tasting the emotions, feeling the souls around him, Azerous watches the moon climb and fall. Just as the sun breaks the horizon, he notices some of the souls feel. . .familiar. A growl rises unbidden in his throat. He knows that feeling and once again, the image of the child flashes in his mind. This time bringing not sorrow, but anger. Hellspawns know anger well. They feed on anger but rarely feel it themselves. Azerous however, was a washed in rage. Unfurling his wings, he dived towards the feeling. There, a circle of 8 figures and a form in the middle.
Fear and pain flowing from the central figure as it floated. The eight figures circling it chanting. It was an old man being sacrificed, but that’s not what Azerous saw. What he saw was a you girl, no longer limp and cold but writhing in agony and filled with the heat of agony. Focusing the last of his birth strength into his natural abilities, Azerous warped reality and began crushing the life out of seven of the eight figures. One, in much more elaborate robes than the others, resisted his efforts and turned to him.
"You fool, I shall destroy . . . you." He said, trailing off in the end. He recognized what he faced. He saw the few remaining shells from Azerous' egg still clinging to the beasts fur. Even as the embodiment of Azerous' rage coalesced as a thundercloud, the Ruin Mage knew he was doomed. The white hot bolt of electricity arched out and obliterated the mage and sent the remaining seven thorn members flying.
"Thank you! I thought I was doomed." said the old man, after picking himself up.
Azerous could no longer taste any fear in him. Azerous knew what he looked like and yet the old man looked at him with admiration and gratitude. With a snarl, Azerous spread his wings and leapt off the building. Only too crash down in the alley bellow. That last battle had drained the last of his birth strength. He could not even fly to safety. For the first time since his birth, he was afraid. Nothing had gone well for him. The first being to love him perished. He was attacked immediately after and instead of destroying the attacker, left her standing. Just now, he saved an innocent and demanded nothing in return. All of these going so far against his base instincts.
Alone and confused he lay in the alley. He grieved for what he lost and the simple act of grieving wracked him with pain. There, curled up in a ball, Healixx found him. There, she laid a hand on his shoulder and whispered comforting words into his ear. Long has she sought to ease the suffering of others. The soothing green glow washed from her onto Azerous' wracked frame. She knew how to heal cuts and broken limbs, but this, this was something different.
This poor thing was fighting against it's very nature. An incarnation of hate and death feeling remorse, sorrow, despair. Should she even be helping such a thing? Should she not just put it out of its misery? Make the world a better place? Such doubts flashed through her mind for less than an instant before she dashed them to shreds. "I'm here to ease suffering. To bring hope and light to where it is needed most." she whispered. The words were meant for herself, but Azerous heard them. He heard them, he took them in and he made them part of himself.
Healixx reached deep within herself, reached deep within the beast. There was no connection. No similarity between her and the creature, so she made one. She took a fragment, the smallest shard of her soul, and placed it within Azerous. It was a risk. Never before had she even thought such a thing possible. There was always the chance that the creatures nature would consume it and, following the souls silver cord, consume the rest of her soul. But that did not happen. The shard grew and melded with Azerous' parasitic soul. Her purity easing his soul's endless hunger. No longer would it require the souls of others to grow strong. Now, Azerous' soul could grow if its own accord.
For several more hours Healixx knelt beside Azerous, finally able to mourn in peace. She warned away several heroes who had heard about this "Thorn demon" until she was able to contact more Wings members. It took many more days before Azerous' body and soul were fully attuned and during that time he was weak as a kitten. Weaker in fact, completely unable to defend himself. During that time, it was Healixx that ensured he came to no harm. Some wanted to question Azerous. Some thought that regardless of what Healixx had done (not that they understood) a demon should at the very least be locked up and warded. She would have none of this. "He is my patient, my ward. I will have no harm come to him. If you want to get to him, you must first get through me.” Safe to say, no one wanted to make Healixx truly mad with them.
When Azerous finally regained his strength, Healixx personally escorted him to be registered as a Hero. She could think of no better way to ensure he'd be protected by other misguided heroes. Azerous was silent through all of this. He saw what she did for him. He understood the significance when Healixx vouched her own name for his enrolment. Risking her own name that he would not turn evil, even though it was no risk in her own mind.
Walking out of City Hall he looked at Paragon City. His new home. "Thank you" he said, looking at Healixx. She simply smiled at him.
"Misplaced Hellspawn?" asked a voice behind him. "My names Susan Davies, I'm your first contact" said a woman as Azerous turned. "Are you ready for your first mission?"
Azerous looked around but Healixx was gone. He could still feel her, somewhere, and was comforted. "I guess I am." he said, and walked with Susan back into the building to discuss the details.
Healixx watched him go and smiled. Paragon City had gained a new hero and she had high hopes for where he will go.
___________________________________________________________________
Question? Comments? Undiluted Praise? Diluted Praise?
