Zetsel [WIP]

If you live long enough, the world beats every last drop of compassion out of you. Those who outstretch their neck for others without expecting anything in return beckon cruelty's cleaver the most. -- 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 Contents Backstory Personality Abilities Skills & Stats Usage Notes Gallery Author's Notes Backstory [Character backstory]

Zetsel Bearer of Artifice Aliases/Nickname(s) "The traitor" Profile Race Human Pronouns | Gender | Sex | Sexuality He/him | Indifferent | Male | 'That's between me and somebody else.' Age 47 Weight | Height | Build 72kg (158.7lbs) | 177.5cm (5'10") | Athletic, wiry Hair | Eye | Skin Color Black, greying | Brown | Sepia Distinguishing Features ✦ Amplifier core embedded in chest ✦ PartiallyLeft-handed augmented left arm Job/Vocation Researcher (lapsed) Hobbies ✦ Metalworking/tinkering ✦ Reading  ✦ Chess   Creator Calamitea.

Personality

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Zetsel appears aPrickly, forceful but keenlyundeniably intelligentintelligent, curmudgeon,Zetsel quickdoesn't pay mind to levelpeople criticismreally wherecalling him a curmudgeon or uncooperative. He approaches things on his own terms, answers to people as he seespleases, theand opportunitynever withouthands consequence.out trust or loyalty for free. He isn't easily threatened by others and carries himself with a proudbit demeanour,of thougha distant pride, almost looming over others (figuratively) in every conversation but never withstepping tooto muchbrag swaggeror flaunt. Despite that and justthe enoughoccasional condescensionharsh tocriticism tickmuttered offunder his breath, he enjoys a good conversation so long as it isn't at the short-tempered.cost Despiteof hisinterruption.

difficult

Something tendencies,that hebecomes evident about Zetsel is surprisingly open to conversation if approached when he's not in the middle of something. Experience and instincts lead Zetsel into most situations with a few contingency plans in mind, andthat he is even more cautious when it comes to making agreements or dealings with people. Neither his trust nor loyalty can be earned permanently though as they do not exist.

Zetsel is resolute to an insurmountable degree, fueled first by years of compounded spite and envy.jadedness, Whilebut also self-preservation. The Amplifier has only exacerbated this, leaving him unable to simply let his goalsguard down or idle too long before wereit entirelythreatens self-centered,to theconsume loominghim. threatWith oflittle thecare Amplifierto onbegin hiswith ownand lifedesperation has pushedspurring him toon, desperation in preserving himself. Hehe is willing to hurt othersother people if it means anothergaining a foothold in his lifelong bidstruggle forto power;keep surpassing others. One shouldn't be fooled by the facade that he wantsacts nothingout moreof thana will to surpasssurvive; thosehe bornacts in positions more advantageous than his own. Hiswith contempt towards these people is unsubtle, and if someone were to reveal themselves as falling into one of those cases, he'd be more than happy to take a more direct approach to confrontation.first.

Likes

• Gathering knowledge
• Robots & machines
• Discussions & debates
• Warm, dry weather
• Traveling [excluding for work/survival purposes]
• Eavesdropping on others
• Coffee

Dislikes

• Elitism
• Authority figures
• Institutional academia
• Higher powers/deities
• Ethical boundaries
• Not being in control
• Being belittled or disregarded
• People that ask too many questions
  
• Not having personal space

Abilities

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✦ Innate Magic

Zetsel, in spite of his limitations, is highly adept at energy manipulation. He can detect energy, magical or physical, and be able to further glean their type and "signature", letting him discern certain origins. He can also redirect energy between inanimate objects, whether it be in the form of powering a mechanism or enchanting an item with a spell.

Zetsel can concentrate his magical energy as a volley of destructive projectiles; as a blade with physical properties; or just as a pulse that momentarily disrupts most magic in a radius around him.

✦ The Grafted Amplifier

The Amplifier allows Zetsel to both empower his innate magic and sustain their usage without overexertion passively, but it has also granted him a remedy for his weak magic stamina: Parasitism.

The Amplifier can drain the magic from Zetsel's surroundings to empower his own abilities, with little to no regard for that magic's source. The ambient environment, surrounding objects, living creatures and even people, will all be sapped slowly to empower Zetsel and the Amplifier. The drain speed increases with amount and proximity to Zetsel, being near-instant if he is in direct contact with a limited 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

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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, ZetselZetsel's wearsleft longglove gloveshas withshort, lines of the sameretractable metallic compositionextensions extending to the tips ofon his pointermiddle finger, index and middlethumb fingers,[used as wella asmakeshift hisscrewdriver thumb.or Theseutility "conductive"knife] stripswhich endcan be used for scratching or stabbing in claw-likeany points, which he might (ideally) use for ease of tinkering, but are also sharp enough for swiping at things.
  emergencies.

✦ General Stats

✦ Strengths	✧ Weaknesses
Extremely determined Slightly above human average strength Knowledgeable in various academic subjects Good memory/recall Cautious Acquiring information from conversation	Augment will feed on own energy if not externally supplied Exhausts magic easily without amplifier Willing to manipulate or betray others Selfish Dishonest

✦ 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.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 mana.magical energy (mana). If all mana 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 offensive and control-based. He has little defensive options and completely lacks any restoration or healing abilities.
• Kind of underestimates non-taught/unorthodox magic applications or sources. Has disdain for people who rely on borrowed or external forces behind someone's abilities.

 

✦ Psychological Stats ✦

Charisma	✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧	Kindness	✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧
Patience	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧	Intelligence	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
Confidence	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧	Perception	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧
Discipline	✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧	Psych stamina	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧
Courage	✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧	Caution	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧
Honesty	✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧	Loyalty	✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧
Maturity	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧	Creativity	✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧
Cleanliness	✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧	Work ethic	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦

✧ Physical Stats ✧

Physical Strength	✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧	Speed	✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧
Magical Strength	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦	Constitution	✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧
Physical Defense	✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧	Dexterity	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧
Magical Defense	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧	Stamina	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧

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

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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

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[main reference image]

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Author's Notes

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✦ TheA personal voice claim for Zetselhim is GraveRobber from REPO! The Genetic Opera, but this is just a personal headcanon from Calamitea.Opera.
✦ "Zetsel" is a word in Dutch meaning brewed [coffee or tea]. This wasn't intended during the development of the character, but isit was a fun fact that had to be mentioned.addition.