Draco Laskarsis
GOD IS DEAD, AND I HAVE KILLED HIM.
I KILLED WITH THE THINGS THEY GAVE TO US BUT LACKED THE POWER TO GROW.I KILLED HER WITH CULTURE HARNESSED INTO A MIRACLE: INTO MAGIC.
CLAIM YOURSELF THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE ALL YOU WISH, IT IS WE WHO TURN THE WHEEL OF A TRILLION HEARTS. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MANY DOMAINS YOU RULE OVER, WE ARE THE CREATORS WHO GIVE REALITY SIGNIFICANCE, AND THUS POWER.LONG LIVE THE REVOLUTION OF LOVE! ALL HAIL THE ERA OF THE MORTAL!
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A Primer, for the UnenlightenedThe context provided is fundamental to Draco, Banafsaj, and all of the other members of the Ninth Tail. The Great Revolution of Love may be ancient history, but it defines how and why they choose to exist in every moment.
It has been millennia since Black Moon spoke these words after she pulled an obsidian revolver from her chest and pulled the trigger, marking the beginning of the overthrowing of the gods and the Great Revolution of Love. That time has long passed. All hail the New Era. The mortal understanding of magic has reached a revolutionary pinnacle. Now interpreted as the dormant power residing within the twofold mortal elements of their understanding of the world on a logical level (science) and emotional level (art and culture) and studied on a universal level, mortal society has found the strength to overthrow the deities that once ruled over them. Fireballs and telekinesis are no longer derived from arcane incantations, but synthesized emotions, understandings of identity, phrases rooted in the languages of past and present, and choreographed movements like dances.
In the wake of the revolution, the Union was founded, a loose coalition of thousands of dimensions in the greater multiverse united through a singular purpose: provide people with the power to pursue happiness and purpose through magical enlightenment. Of course there was conflict, there was strife. Suffering is just a constant of mortal existence, but through the Union progress was made at rates never seen before. In a sea of countless universes, it shone like a glass shard amidst a beach at the shore of an infinite ocean. That was, until the fragments were discovered. It was like the gods still hated them. Like they had one last contrived moral dilemma conveniently shaped into a magical macguffin just to spite the freed.
After the revolution, expeditionary parties noticed one unusual constant across the dimensions. White fragments that flickered and danced manifested in truly random places by chance. Each held the same magical signature, the same physical form, and the same inertness if unrefined. But through trial and error, these anomalies in the fabric of reality were discovered to be refinable into something wearable, conveniently fit on the head of most humanoid mortals. Crowns for royalty, crowns that when worn, gave their bearer a supernatural level of wisdom, intellect, and charisma impossible to replicate through any magic or divine intervention. Beacons of truth in a time filled with so much hope yet still plagued with uncertain direction.
Was this the next step for civilization like magic? This time, the response was not universal.
And so mortal society found itself in a universal war not with gods, but with themselves.
There are two key factions in the Transcients' War. The Stalwarts, whose multidimensional fighting force is managed by PARMA (also known as the Needle), look to recover and safeguard all fragments and prevent such an arrogant ascension to a power that so little is known about. The Crowns are just a way to reverse the flow of the Great Revolution of Love and return the world to one of gods and non-gods. The Heralds, whose multidimensional fighting force is managed by PARMA (also known as the Needle), seek to use all available fragments to lead mortal society another step away from suffering. We fear progress naturally, and that just perpetuates our struggle. Mortal society must learn to embrace these new things to work towards a reclamation of purpose in the face of painful absurdity.
This is not a war fought merely in the inner and middle rings of the Union's incorporated dimensions, but far outside of it as well. Specially conditioned soldiers blessed with the very specific combination of psychological traits needed to easily navigate dimensions without the titanic infrastructure of portals hunt down fragments and each other far, far from home.
Hence why we find a group of twenty-four soldiers lost somewhere unfamiliar...
After a successful incursion on the God-Eater's Crossroads to retrieve a fragment due to failed negotiations, twenty-four soldiers found themselves captured and placed under an unusual contract. Despite their transgressions against her lands, the nine-tailed goddess decided to be merciful and offer them a deal as a result of either her sheer boredom or massive capacity for kindness (possibly both). In exchange for never leaving the confines of her dimension (and the ones surrounding it, which are conveniently quite a few) without express permission, and thus never returning to the war until the God-Eater felt like it, they would be allowed to live and continue to make their military expertise useful as a special division who would keep her Crossroads safe. Yes, she could technically just do the defending herself, but where's the fun and character development in that?
Tafari Ayelde, the unofficial leader of this group of soldiers shook on that deal rather begrudgingly. As the years passed and the promise of escape seemed increasingly unlikely, the soldiers began to focus on continuing the mission of the Union in their new environment. More funding and recruits came in to bolster their forces. They began to conduct humanitarian aid missions to assist magical communities in crisis. Subdivisions were created for the express purpose of educating the residents of the Crossroads in new magic (exactly why the God-Eater allowed this sort of magic that directly challenged her rule is still not well understood). The war somehow became a distant memory. Five years later, it was almost like a new Union had emerged leagues away from its origin. A little seed slowly grows, thrusting its branches into adjacent worlds.
Even with an infinitesimal fraction of the power of the original Union and relatively small influence when put up against monolithic organizations like TITAN and the Crossroads, their mission is the same as it ever was and has been: enlighten the uneducated and protect the practice of magic wherever they can.
And the Bifrost Terminal, slowly waking from its slumber, is another opportunity to extend that will. |
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One of the original twenty-four capture soldiers of the Crossroads incursion and founding members of the Ninth Tail, Draco Laskaris is the former Director of Magic of the Ninth Tail and current Director of Expeditionary Actions. A genius when it comes to the utilization of magic with a wide variety of skills, specializing in countermagics, the occult, and spiritual communion as a result of being the mother (not in a metaphorical sense, yes he was pregnant, it is rather complicated) of his bound daemon and daughter, Leviathan.
Although he initially passed up Cain's invite to the terminal, new reports on a supermassive magical pulse resonating from the peak of Mount Pathena suddenly shifted this issue from a footnote in a board meeting to one of the most critical opportunities for the Ninth Tail's intervention.
But the storms are kicking in, and pretty much any attempts to scale the mountain have either ended in merely hours, left the travelers isolated at the Terminal or left the travelers lost to the snowy wastelands of these peaks. The winds are becoming supernaturally brutal. Even with all their technology, the Ninth Tail remains cut off from the terminal and unable to fulfill their mission.
Draco is getting nervous. Whatever is going on at the terminal is powerful, and thus dangerous if left unchecked and unregulated. There are eight groups of people remaining at the top of that mountain, with their own agendas and morals. An alternative route must be found as soon as possible. The teleporter is fixable, but not without a week's worth of undivided focus. It could be bypassed, but how? There might be some sort of path through the storm as well. That doesn't seem any more likely than the teleporter either.
By the time that happens a travesty could have already occurred that would doom the population to an abusive use of power, a sort of crime he is intimately familiar with. Control of the situation has been cast to the hands of fate, not his own. Not something that will settle easily with him. All Draco can do now is help the locals and investigate every nook and cranny of this plane for some skeleton key that can carve a trail to the top before things spiral out of control.
Is there a way? He needs to keep looking.
Table of ContentsBackstorySee A Primer for the Unenlightened for context.
Documents are classified to avoid defamation of this individual. Concerning yourself extensively with this individual's background is subject to punishment. |
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Personality
Honest and Humble - Analytical and Creative - Altruistic and Caring - Cautious and Shy - Reserved and Kind-Hearted // Participative Leadership
With a straight spine, slighted smile, and hands folded below his waist, Draco puts forth the image of a composed and almost servant-like figure when met face-to-face. His words are sparse, subtle, yet honest. They are primarily to provide insight and commentary though, so others may have the necessary information to take the lead. Such mannerisms extend beyond just social situations though. Draco is known, almost notorious among his fellow soldiers for never being sure of any possible statements he puts forth (even if he is the most educated on a topic in a room).
Underneath that demure face lies an intellect of unparalleled caliber. Draco is the former head of magical affairs in the Crossroad’s “Ninth Tail” special division and an Archmaster of Magic in the Needle's military for a reason. His unique combination of high logic, empathy, and creativity allow him to navigate the intricacies of a social situation as easily as a game of chess. Draco's strategy is not cold. It solidifies and flows with the situation, adapting based on all sorts of factors both environmental and personal. That lends him a remarkable edge in the more clerical side of magic that involves research, analysis, and the crafting of spells.
If you asked the Ninth Tail for descriptions of Draco, the first couple of words would sound something like "genius," "mastermind," and "invaluable," and the third would be "spineless,” or "quiet.” The psyche of Draco is powerful; it is not strong. When put up against a confident voice or high volumes of stress, it tends to fold in on itself. Often that means crippled aggression as Draco's caution takes hold of reasoning. That means a tendency to isolate beyond his already introverted self and a habit of slowing his impressive work ethic to a jog or a crawl. Often overanalysis of the situation, especially in desperate moments, can be his downfall. He is at his worst when the chips are down.
Likes
- [Entry]
Dislikes
- [Entry]
Leviathan and the Abyss
✦ The Black Ocean - Draco's Source of Magic
תהום, Abyssus, ἄβυσσος, Tehom, Tiamat. The Abyss goes by many names, and has a myriad of interpretations, but to Draco, it is the sea that represents raw emotions untamed by focus. A primordial sort of lake from which the world is protected from. Any entity who enters it, excluding Draco and Leviathan, will be made miserable as discordant thoughts of self-hate enter the mind. Chaos incarnate. Full of hate.
Now the Abyss does not exist physically. It is a domain that can be accessed by other entities, but is otherwise confined to Draco’s mind. This is the source of his magic. By communicating with the Abyss and letting parts of it out into realspace, Draco is able to perform potent magical techniques that inflict emotional damage. This type of magic is very very prone to psychologically harm him in the process due to the high stress associated with using the Abyss.
✦ The Beast - Leviathan, Daughter of the Abyss Queen
Demon princess of envy, herald of gloom, and the demon that Draco himself gave birth to after being impregnated by the Abyss, Leviathan is the primary ruling body contained within the Abyss. A snake hundreds of kilometers long, and dozens of meters in diameter, it swims through the Abyss looking for any prey it can consume.
She is no mere beast though. Leviathan is very much a sentient, intelligent, semi-mortal entity locked inside of the Abyss. Leviathan is able to communicate with Draco, and does so frequently. She is highly critical of anything her mother does, and expects nothing less than excellence from Draco. Leviathan does not do this out of virtue, but sadism. In order to be freed from her domain, she needs to torment Draco so much that he breaks down and gives up, allowing her to be set free, and push her agenda of ire on the world.
✦ The Psyche - Leviathan's Personality
Leviathan demands authority, and it shows. It always shows, in both the most subtle and direct of ways. She may have a divine body and exceptionally potent magical capabilities, but Leviathan relies first and foremost on her voice and socioemotional intelligence to assert herself. Tiamat is most often empty of others, save for Draco. Thus, this desire manifests in the form of being extremely judgmental of others. In pointing out all of their flaws to Draco, Leviathan hopes to give her mother an edge over whatever situation they finds themselves in, as well as justifying that person's worthiness of Tiamat. Such a practice frequently extends to herself, Draco, and current circumstances. Authority can only thrive if its weaknesses are purged, and Leviathan is a tactician (a trait inherited from her mother).
Criticisms are the foundation of Leviathan's rule, and aggression leads its expansion. Leviathan speaks with a razor-sharp tongue, and her words sting like acid, never backing down from any position she acquires. She is a relentless attacker whose pressure and offense are overwhelming, a philosophy valid just as much in social settings as it is in combat and even the workplace. A strategy that is effective thanks to how she thinks, but undeniably one with severe costs. Of course, said costs are negligible, as the individual is only useful for their actions and capacity to live up to ideals. Nothing more.
But above all else Leviathan is driven by her envy. She hates all sentient beings in one way or another (she is easier on her mother though), but hates herself the most for everything Leviathan lacks, fails to accomplish, or accomplishes with what she perceives as 'subpar effort and results.' No matter how many victories she has regarding her ambitions, Leviathan is always dissatisfied and demanding more effort and sacrifices. Envious of her ideals and the past, Leviathan remains frustrated regarding why after so much effort she cannot attain the perfection necessary to finalize her plan. It is why Leviathan is so virtuous. Her life is based on ideals, no matter how cruel they are, because those ideals are better than any of them will ever be and her envy nature binds herself to their pursuit. Consequently, Leviathan craves reassurance, usually from her mother, Draco, but rarely accepts it in full. Her criticisms also stem from this insecurity, always targeting one's inability to be like someone (usually herself), or a value they hold.
✦ The Risk - Madness and Chaos
Draco’s magic is simply more powerful, even among the magical adepts that are his fellow soldiers. Oppressive, versatile, esoteric, but not without a cost. Any use of magic beyond a mild level will cause the afflictions of the Abyss to seep into Draco’s mind. At first, this will only manifest as impaired judgement and the inability to notice fine details, which may make tasks such as sniping more difficult. Eventually, this cascades into full-on hallucinations of the world. Overuse of magic will usually lead to a fractured and severely depressed/paranoid psyche.
In addition, Draco is in a constant battle to retain control over himself. Leviathan is constantly berating him, something that intensifies the more he uses his magic. He needs to do his best not to be bothered by the criticisms and not give up, despite what Leviathan keeps telling him.
Union Soldier Standards
✦ Anomalous Brain Patterns
Context
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Normally, multidimensional travel for the military is impractical because the act of setting up a gate between two “adjacent” dimensions to allow for transportation en masse is a gigantic public works project that takes an incredible amount of resources, time, and still makes travel times take around a day.
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In other words, travelling far beyond the reaches of mortal society to far-away dimensions is a logistical impossibility. At least, normally.
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Certain individuals with specific brain patterns are able to transit throughout the multiverse through use of magic. They are known as “anomalies,” and compose the entirety of PARMA and Gibraltar’s fighting forces as they are the only individuals who can actually operate far beyond mortal society.
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Draco is one of these anomalies.
Impact
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Draco can freely transit between adjacent dimensions through use of magic. This is not an instant process. Transit only creates a portal to a "waiting room” that exists outside dimensions to wait in as the other dimension loads. Only a certain amount of weight/space can be brought through transit as well.
✦ Anomalous Brain Patterns
Context
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The soldiers of PARMA and Gibraltar have received heavy enhancements to their normal physique, allowing them to perform superhuman feats.
Physical and Psychological Enhancements
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All aspects of Draco’s physique, from his strength to his agility, have been enhanced.
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Psychological enhancements do not necessarily give any soldier “super smarts,” but rather help to prevent soldiers from freaking out and make them focus in the heat of combat/stress of war along with enhanced precision. Anyone can still mentally break down though.
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In tandem with cybernetics allows Draco to attain superhuman physical prowess.
Self-Sustaining Survival Systems
- Lacks many critical organs such as a digestive system.
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Draco does not need to eat or sleep, but doing both of these is important for psychological health.
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Usually this means one meal a day in a social environment and around 2-4 hours of sleep.
Psyche Wards
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To prevent classified information from suddenly being leaked through telepathy, all soldiers have wards applied to the psyche that prevent access to memory.
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Reading current thoughts is still possible, but the memories they reference are unreadable.
Skills & Stats
[Description of the character's skills and such]
Weapons
[If applicable, descriptions and information on the character's weapon(s)]
✦ General Stats
| ✦ Strengths |
✧ Weaknesses |
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✦ Imperative Strengths
[In depth explanation of important strengths]
✧ Imperative Weaknesses
[In depth explanation of important weaknesses]
✦ Psychological Stats ✦
| Charisma | ✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ - 1 | Kindness | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ - 7 |
| Patience | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ - 7 | Intelligence | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ - 10 |
| Confidence | ✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ - 1 | Perception | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ - 8 |
| Discipline | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧ - 6 | Psych stamina | ✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ - 3 |
| Courage | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ - 7 | Caution | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ - 7 |
| Honesty | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ - 8 | Loyalty | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ - 7 |
| Maturity | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ - 8 | Creativity | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧ - 9 |
| Cleanliness | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ - 8 | Work ethic | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧ - 6 |
✧ Combat Psyche ✧
The basic capabilities of the psychological profile of a soldier influence in what ways their magic flows, and thus in what ways the find strength and face weakness in combat. These are more applicable to the soldiers of the Union because of how their magic functions, but technically can apply to just about any warrior. Physical capabilities are meaningless, for those with a Psyche of iron will can wear the armor of titans with proper focus.
In the book On Violence and Warfare by Gormongor Haadax, Sgt. Haadax divides the capabilities of any combatant into a few distinct categories. Many have attempted to provide their own classifications based on new data; however, his work is still regarded as the most universally accurate way of assessing the "Combat Psyche" of a given soldier.
These categories are useful to soldiers of all roles. A kinetic ("physical") fighter can benefit as much from memory to know techniques as they can from power to wield the biggest weapons and don the most heavy armor. Conversely, a backline magical support battery can make great use of power to wield gigantic conduits to amplify their techniques or memory to have a versatile array of spells for any situation.
This part is a WIP because I thought it would be funny if I gave my OCs rpg stats based on the magic system.
| Strength | ✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ - 3 | Memory | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧ - 9 |
| Load-bearing capabilities for implants, bodily enhancements, heavy armor, weapons, and other equipment. | Ability to memorize large amounts of spells, cultural touchstones, strategies, techniques, and anything useful to combat. | ||
| Intuition | ✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧ - 4 | Willpower | ✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧ - 4 |
| Physical and mental dexterity, reaction times, agility, and the speed of actions. |
Speed of regeneration of defensive measures (I.e. shields), physical stamina, and magical stamina. |
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| Fortitude | ✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ - 2 | Intellect | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ - 10 |
| Influences ability to take damage, resist effects of injuries, resist afflictions and max magical stamina ("mana"). |
Ability to analyze techniques and strategy to counter hostile techniques or adapt one's own or ally techniques to a situation. | ||
| Focus | ✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧ - 5 | Empathy | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ - 8 |
| Perception of environment and precision that actions are made with, especially when under high stress. | Stabilization of particularly stressful and dangerous actions. | ||
✧ Physical Stats ✧
| Physical Strength |
✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧ - 5
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Speed |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ - 7
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| Magical Strength |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ - 10
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Constitution |
✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ - 2
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| Physical Defense |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ - 8
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Dexterity |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ - 7
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| Magical Defense |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ - 8
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Stamina |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧ - 6
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Usage Notes
[State clear hard 'no's and/or permits with character usage, if applicable]
Gallery
[main reference image]
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Author's Notes
✦ The only art of Draco Laskaris is in bunny suits. No, this was not my decision.
✦ The union may not restrict the ethical practice of magic on any basis, including but not limited to passing legislation; promoting cultural practices such as holidays and speeches; discrimination against certain groups such as ethnicity, sex, and species; "divine" acts enforced by divine entities (the existence of which is restricted under the 2nd clause of this section); and supporting antimagical groups.
This is the highest right a mortal can hold. To move against this notion in any way, shape, or form is to declare oneself anathema to the pursuit of happiness in the face of a universe.
It is the responsibility of every citizen of the union to uphold this value for everyone's sake. This power is extended to unincorporated citizens of the union who remain in diaspora as the to rise against any antimagical oppressor to establish the necessary. To those Reading this in such a situation, this is your calling to begin the walk on the path to enlightenment, even through violence if all other routes are deemed impossible.