Zetsel
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-- Zetsel
A former scholar in magi-tech ostracized from the academic community, Zetsel wanders the world in search of something that could permanently counteract the parasitic side effects of a grafted augment of his own making. Motivated largely by his unrelenting ambition and sense of self-preservation, Zetsel is more than willing to make a gambit to achieve what he needs, even if it means making enemies and burning bridges as he does so.
Table of ContentsBackstoryZetsel had always been haunted by frustration at his pitifully mundane circumstances. He was raised not in squalor, but not in any sort of luxury either; he was predisposed to magic like most of his countrymen, but his connection so weak that children half his age surpassed him easily; and he lacked any outstanding qualities that might've made him of note. This realization scared him deeply, even while young: that he would achieve nothing, and is simply relegated to another face in the crowd surrounding those bound to be greater than him. So, he studied. He studied relentlessly to pursue even a fraction of the praise and opportunities that the prodigies and talented received. By the time he reached his college years, he had clawed his way into a spot at the most prestigious institute in the country.
Zetsel's drive followed him through his late education and early career, but with each passing year in Academia, his efforts began to bear less fruit. He was being overshadowed by people who had to work half as hard as he did, and the common knowledge regarding the weakness of his innate magic circulated so far as to become his defining trait in the circles of scholars and academics whom he worked with. He retaliated with small attempts at sabotage in turn, inviting the ire of his cohort. The tension saw his contributions being removed from some projects, portions of his work being stolen and people refusing to even acknowledge him as a possible candidate for collaboration.
Demoralized, the quality of his work began to slip and so did the little reputation left of his commendable work ethic. It was around this time that Zetsel turned towards a personal project, one he would deem the ultimate goal of his research: to find a way to fix the volatility of his magic. His next few years in his career saw him working days on end with little rest, experimenting and prototyping an apparatus that would be able to make up for his lackluster channeling abilities.
Once he was satisfied with a workable prototype, he had to secure funding and turned his eye to the Grand Colloquium to present his work and perhaps rally some sponsors for his project. The issue was that spots to present at the Colloquium were highly contested, but Zetsel was not phased by this. He would do what he needed in order to secure his place. And so began several months-long campaigns against select peers he identified as the weakest links and the easiest to remove from the running.
In the end, Zetsel got his presentation. He presented a grafted technological augment, magically bonded to its user by imbuing elaborate enchantments. It would be able to accumulate magical energy from its surroundings passively, and further, be used as a conduit through which its user's magic can concentrate. It was a near-perfect solution, save for the ethical questions raised regarding its energy acquisition methods. Zetsel boldly replied that the ability to entirely drain stored magic from sources without discrimination, including people, was part of the intent. With the crowd horrified, Zetsel was dismissed and expelled from the Academy for his bold violation of ethics.
Zetsel's career wasn't entirely destroyed by the proposition of his magnum opus, however. A shady weapons-manufacturing cabal with representatives present at the Colloquium took interest in the project. They offered him an opportunity to finish his work, but with the slight change that the augment needed to lean more into its ability to drain magic. Zetsel agreed to their terms and soon enough, the first and fully finished augment had been installed—on himself to his request. Everything turned out to be a complete success. A bit too successful for anyone's comfort. |
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Personality
Prickly, forceful but undeniably intelligent, Zetsel doesn't pay mind to people really calling him a curmudgeon or uncooperative. He approaches things on his own terms, answers to people as he pleases, and never hands out trust or loyalty for free. He carries himself with a bit of a distant pride, almost looming over others (figuratively) in most conversation but never overstepping to brag or flaunt. Despite the judgemental air and the occasional harsh criticism muttered under his breath, he enjoys a good conversation so long as it isn't at the cost of interruption.
Something that quickly becomes evident is that he is resolute to an insurmountable degree, fueled first by years of compounded spite and jadedness, but also self-preservation. The Amplifier has only exacerbated this, leaving him unable to simply let his guard down or idle too long before it threatens to consume him. With little care to begin with and desperation spurring him on, he is willing to hurt other people if it means gaining a foothold in his lifelong struggle to keep surpassing others. One shouldn't be fooled by the facade that he acts out of a will to survive; he acts with contempt first.
Likes
- Knowledge acquisition: researching, learning & reading
- Robots, machines, constructs, etc. [He thinks they're usually better company than most people...]
- Self-made people
- Discussions & debates
- Traveling [excluding for work/survival purposes]
- Coffee
Dislikes
- Elitism
- Authority figures
- Institutional academia
- Higher powers & deities
- Ethical boundaries
- Not being in control
- Being belittled or dismissed
- People that ask too many questions
- Not having personal space
Abilities
✦ Innate Magic
In spite of his limitations Zetsel is highly adept at energy manipulation. He can detect energy—magical or physical—and be able to further glean their type and identify "signatures". This allows him to identify commonalities between energies and further deduce their sources. Zetsel can also redirect energy between inanimate objects, whether it be in the form of powering a mechanism, acting as a conductor between a broken circuit, or transferring the potential of an enchantment from one object to another.
On the more offensive side, Zetsel can forcibly expel any magical energy he has accumulated and shape them to his needs. This release can manifest as a volley of destructive projectiles, they can coalesce together to form a glowing blade with physical properties, or he can just release it all as a large pulse in a radius around him that can disrupt most channeled magic and interfere with electronics momentarily.
✦ Grafted Amplifier-Parasite
The Amplifier-Parasite allows Zetsel to absorb more magic to be used for later and sustain the stability of his innate abilities without the risk of quick overexertion. It has also opened up the possibility for him to parasitise off his surroundings to further fuel his own magic with little to no regard for said magic's original source. The ambient environment, surrounding objects imbued with magic potential, living creatures and even other magic-sensitive people, will all be sapped away at slowly and fed into the Amplifier-Parasite. Passive drain speed is very slow, if not negligible for most people, but its speed increases with the threshold of the source (the more readily-available/overflowing, the faster) and proximity to Zetsel, with the drain being strongest if he is in direct contact with the source.
✦ Artifice
While not a master manipulator per se, Zetsel is shrewd and knows his way around getting a favorable deal out of others. He knows how to gleam information out of people in what might seem like a simple conversation and retain it well enough to be exchanged for a favour or two from someone else. In turn, he is able to cover his own tracks and protect himself from the same tactics.
Skills & Stats
Zetsel leans into the strengths he has, but leaves enough room to be flexible. He is more confident in his mental and magic based skills, but maintains a fairly healthy average in terms of general physical capabilities.
Weapons
- To help direct his augmented magic, Zetsel's left glove has short, retractable metallic extensions on his middle finger, index and thumb [used as a makeshift screwdriver or utility knife]. They're a bit sharp.
✦ General Stats
| ✦ Strengths |
✧ Weaknesses |
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✦ Imperative Strengths
- Knowledgeable: Magic, engineering, history... A lot of things expected to be taught in formal academia, but also survival knowledge from experience in traveling.
- Tinkering, metalworking and inventing things. Specialises in metal constructs and their maintenance.
- Great at negotiating.
- Adaptable. *Very* adaptable.
✧ Imperative Weaknesses
- If not supplemented enough, the Augment will feed off Zetsel's own shallow pool of magical energy. If all magic is depleted, it will then begin feeding on his physical energy, causing lethargy or even unconsciousness if left ignored.
- Zetsel's magical abilities are extremely offense and control-based. He has little defensive options and completely lacks any restoration or healing abilities.
- Underestimates non-taught/unorthodox magic applications or sources. Has even more disdain for people who rely on borrowed and "bestowed" power.
✦ Psychological Stats ✦
| Charisma | ✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧ | Kindness | ✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ |
| Patience | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ | Intelligence | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ |
| Confidence | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧ | Perception | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ |
| Discipline | ✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧ | Psych stamina | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ |
| Courage | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧ | Caution | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧ |
| Honesty | ✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ | Loyalty | ✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ |
| Maturity | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ | Creativity | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧ |
| Cleanliness | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧ | Work ethic | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ |
✧ Physical Stats ✧
| Physical Strength |
✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧
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Speed |
✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧
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| Magical Strength |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
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Constitution |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧
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| Physical Defense |
✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧
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Dexterity |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧
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| Magical Defense |
✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧
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Stamina |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧
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Stats with duo-colour denote the difference between Zetsel at base [ie. with the Amplifier not empowering him] and with the Amplifier's effects [provided that it is powered and not feeding on him].
Usage Notes
Feel free to use him however you need in the story reasonably within character. Major injury and/or killing him is also okay!
Also don't hesitate to ask/DM me questions if you intend to bring up any other sensitive subjects or other boundaries I haven't considered. ^^
Gallery
Fullbody reference by Logos Operandi.
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Author's Notes
✦ His personal voice-claim is GraveRobber from REPO! The Genetic Opera.
✦ "Zetsel" is a word in Dutch meaning brewed [coffee or tea]. This wasn't intended during the development of the character, but it was a fun addition.
✦ Bonus character playlist for the ~vibes~
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