Post by Dirge on Jul 25, 2018 19:15:09 GMT
The Silent
Name: Stygian.
Alias: The Silent. The Serpent.
Race: Ascended human.
Age: Looks about 28.
Height: 5'9''.
Weight: 169lbs.
Hair Color: Formerly raven black. Currently shimmering gold.
Iris Color: Formerly crimson. Currently topaz.
Usual Attire: Prefers dark raiments to blend in with the darkness of the night. Originally, Stygian dressed in light leather shoulderpads reinforced with fur, a leather vest with details in gold, black leather pants, and black leather long boots. Leather bracers protected Stygian's wrists and arms all the way up to his elbows, and his visage was generally hidden by a crimson cloth attached to his leather hood. The frontal part of his attire often held two pieces of cloth with special properties and, dangling from his belt, was a multipurpose dagger that served most of his mundane needs along with his yew bow and handcrafted arrows.
In recent years, however, Stygian has been bestowed a new attire by the War Serpent, Quetzalcoatl, to complement his growth. Such attire consists on armor wrought of an unspeakably light black alloy with details in blessed gold. A black scarf keeps his facial features hidden save for his piercing golden gaze. Additionally, a heavy-duty belt houses the scabbard of his dagger, The Retaliator, with a strange crimson cloth wrapped underneath it and around the assassin's waist. Quivers can be attached to the belt if necessary.
In recent years, however, Stygian has been bestowed a new attire by the War Serpent, Quetzalcoatl, to complement his growth. Such attire consists on armor wrought of an unspeakably light black alloy with details in blessed gold. A black scarf keeps his facial features hidden save for his piercing golden gaze. Additionally, a heavy-duty belt houses the scabbard of his dagger, The Retaliator, with a strange crimson cloth wrapped underneath it and around the assassin's waist. Quivers can be attached to the belt if necessary.
Weapons
Gandiva: A hand-made bow crafted by Stygian out of blessed yew wood that holds the same name as Arjuna's bow. Light as a feather, this is the preferred weapon for missions that require him to move and kill swiftly. Best at medium range, Stygian can channel many elemental abilities upon this bow, even imbuing them with the powers of his people's gods and other deities he's made pacts with. It is virtually indestructible, though the string can break, rendering the weapon useless. Its sharp, pointed edges can serve to stab and slash in a pinch, though it's nowhere near as effective as a bladed weapon. This bow emphasizes raw speed over power, enhancing the velocity of projectiles shot by it through constant razor-sharp wind currents surrounding the fired arrow.
Gandiva: A hand-made bow crafted by Stygian out of blessed yew wood that holds the same name as Arjuna's bow. Light as a feather, this is the preferred weapon for missions that require him to move and kill swiftly. Best at medium range, Stygian can channel many elemental abilities upon this bow, even imbuing them with the powers of his people's gods and other deities he's made pacts with. It is virtually indestructible, though the string can break, rendering the weapon useless. Its sharp, pointed edges can serve to stab and slash in a pinch, though it's nowhere near as effective as a bladed weapon. This bow emphasizes raw speed over power, enhancing the velocity of projectiles shot by it through constant razor-sharp wind currents surrounding the fired arrow.
Dragonslayer Greatbow: Found in the ruins of an old city whose people specialized in light magic, specifically in a small colosseum-like zone, this greatbow has the capability to shoot arrows far bigger than the standard projectiles. Its long range makes it excellent for sniping, and the size of the projectiles leaves little room for missing. It requires a great deal of strength and focus due to the way it's crafted. Stygian will not always be able to perform other physical actions when handling this bow. It can be used as a blunt weapon if the enemy being targeted manages to get in close quarters combat with Stygian.
Garm: A crass, gnarly crossbow. It is a relic of an old, forgotten age, that fires three bolts with a single shot and which, miraculously, does not require reloading. The extraneous bolts are placed in the groove through dimensional magic; they are pulled from a space holding seemingly infinite numbers of projectiles. These bolts can then be imbued with elemental capabilities by Stygian, or used to execute various techniques. The weapon itself appears to be virtually indestructible, as Stygian has tested its resilience, though the string can - and will - break if handled improperly.
The Retaliator: The ornate dagger that Stygian carries upon his right hip is a gift from his village's elders, obtained by them in an inspection towards the furthest corners of the planet. As he'd managed to ascend through the assassin ranks, a mission of top priority was bestowed upon him - find new lands for his people. The empire that held most of the island they lived in was slowly making advances upon Stygian's people's region, taking the land from underneath their feet little by little. The dagger gives the wielder the power to command the wind element, which further aids Stygian's archery.
Abilities
Archer Extraordinaire: From a very small age, Stygian had shown prowess with the bow. His people, in tune with nature, had learned how to adapt perfectly to the vast jungles and the open plains around them, and it was mostly through hunting and foraging that they made a living. As such, Stygian practiced his archery every time he could while out in the fields, hunting for food to bring back to his village. It wasn't long before the elders noticed his ability with the bow and offered him training from the best assassins in tow, successfully initiating the young boy as an apprentice in the village's 'guild'. Stygian could nail a flea perching upon a dog's hair without harming the latter given a proper bow and arrow.
Duelist: Even though Stygian's proficiency rests in the bow, possessing utmost accuracy and uncanny precision from a long range distance, he has also been trained in the arts of the sword. As actual swords are too bulky for his preference, Stygian carries The Retaliator for close quarters combat. Experienced in the arts of assassination, he can make short work of anyone foolish enough to close distances with him, choosing speed over power.
The Silent: Be it from far away or close up, Stygian never leaves any trace of his presence other than the momentary sound of an arrow coursing through the air. By the time the victim hears it, it's usually too late. Stygian has earned this title through his multiple successful assassinations and the inability for any person to track him and his whereabouts. "They'll never know what hit'em." is one of his favorite lines before setting out on a mission.
Quetzalcoatl's Knowledge: Nobody knows how the War Serpent came into contact with Stygian. Some infer that his skill in the battlefield and the many victims he left behind enacted some sort of connection between the deity and himself. It understood his village's struggle and offered to aid Stygian with military expansion, and bestowed him several abilities which mainly revolve around the four primordial elements and various sub-elements. Stygian has adapted these abilities to warfare and developed skills of his own which change depending on the weapon he's using at the time:
» Highly Responsive To Prayers: The first and foremost skill gifted to Stygian. The Silent has the ability to lock onto his target's energy or aura signature - to lock on to their lifeforce - before, while, and after firing an arrow. The missile will pursue the target in question until it either collides with it or with another object. The homing ability of a single arrow decreases exponentially as the speed carried by it in its flight increases. This is normally a passive ability.
"Bet they won't expect this."
~When Gandiva is equipped...~
» Punishing Fire: Although not directly a skill bestowed upon him, it is a technique developed by Stygian dealing with the knowledge of the fire element the War Serpent gave him. The tip of the arrow or bolt is coated in sacred fire, which eventually spreads to the entire projectile. Upon collision, a muffled explosion occurs and vibrant white flames engulf the target.
"It is especially effective against undead creatures."
» Flight On Tears: Yet another skill developed by Stygian utilizing the knowledge Quetzalcoatl has given him on the water and lightning element. Firing a hail of arrows upon a designated area, Stygian will first cloud the target's view by darkening their surroundings, completely blocking out the sunlight with dark clouds. As water droplets begin to fall, lightning bolts strike the flying projectiles, which then see a further increase in their overall speed and piercing power. Upon touching the ground or the target, the electricity is released into network of lightning around a fixed area.
"Ideal for dealing with large groups."
» Plain Asia: This skill deals with the earth element. Stygian can fire several arrows into the earth, which then travel underground and trail wide arcs before ascending and catching an enemy by surprise, effectively shooting upward from the land along with several pieces of debris and dust.
"You thought the ground was safe? Think again."
» Crystallize Silver: Exactly what it says on the tin... For the most part. Technically part of the water element techniques, Stygian can fire a large volley that, upon impacting with a target or several, freezes a small area around the impacted spot. The effects are cumulative. If many arrows hit the same target, they'll eventually find themselves trapped in an icy tomb.
"Cold? I'll show you cold."
» Fractal Night: Be it during the night or day, Stygian can trick enemies with illusions projected upon the sky. That rainbow seems a little too close, the aurora borealis isn't supposed to be on the sky, is it? That bird is coming towards us! Through cleverly using mundane objects as camouflage for his arrows, Stygian can catch even the most avid of preys by surprise.
"... Well, I gotta have fun sometimes."
~When using Dragonslayer Greatbow...~
» Burning Big Bridge: The great arrow fired out of the oversized bow is supercharged with fire elemental energy. As the projectile flies through the air, an imaginary 'line' of its trajectory is left behind. This 'line' is immolated as though it were gunpowder, releasing an enormous burst of heat around it. The arrow executes a silent explosion upon impact.
"Linear. Quick. Flashy. Silent. For quick executions from afar."
» Liquid Sky: Stygian channels the water elemental abilities Quetzalcoatl bestowed upon him into a great arrow which, when fired, releases a large, wide torrent mid-flight. If fired towards the skies, it'll create a huge liquid blob with the sole aim of flattening everything underneath it upon landing.
"The usefulness of water attacks depends mostly on the environment. Cannot use this lightly."
» Sacred Power Of Raging Winds: Fairly self explanatory. The great arrow is imbued with holy light and powerful wind currents that further enhance its speed. Once it's fired, the wind currents are gradually left behind in the form of a linear tornado which continues to boost the projectile's speed through centrifugal force. After a short delay, the currents left behind will shoot outward in the form of sickles, attempting to slice through anything or anyone in the vicinity.
"Bit noisy. Easily shreds through groups. Excellent on roads, clearings, and forests."
» Light My Way: Stygian imbues three great arrows with lightning elemental energies before shooting them outward in a fan-like fashion. The lightning bolts create a flat net between the arrows which proceeds to slice and electrocute anything or anyone that comes in contact with it. Upon impact, the great arrows release the stored lightning in a mini-supernova-like effect, obviously many times less powerful than the real thing.
"Extremely flashy. Might save it for a party."
» Thousand Chain: Stygian fires an arrow that bursts into a multitude of metal chains mid-flight. These chains have a pointed tip that will attempt to automatically pierce through the nearest object or enemy and firmly lodge themselves into flesh, bone, or any material that can be penetrated by them. These chains remain connected through thin metal wires so that a web-like pattern is created once all the tips are hooked. The metal is then blasted by an extremely powerful electrical discharge which carries with it an absolute zero effect. It can very well said that this attack contains the numbing properties of an electric attack without the inherent heat commonly associated with it. The entire point of this technique is to disable and immobilize in a possibly perpetual manner, considering the targets are continuously frozen after the initial discharge.
"If killing them just won't do the trick... Seal'em up for a lifetime."
~When Garm is equipped...~
» Back Fire: As Garm is a weapon for close to mid range, the projectiles that are fired by it are several times quicker than the arrows Gandiva or the Dragonslayer Greatbow can use. This technique utilizes the borders of width, length, and height for the projectiles to travel directly behind an enemy without fail. You could say each bolt forcibly undergoes a change in the variables of their width, length, and height to the point of completely disappearing from the line of sight of an alert enemy, assuming they were glancing directly towards Garm's wielder at the time. Each projectile is warped and the distance between them and the enemy is taken into account at the time of the disappearance. It is at that time that the warped bolts reappear behind the target. If a projectile disappears ten meters in front of an enemy, that very bolt will surge ten meters behind the opponent.
"A dirty tactic for honorable people... It is a shame that the only honorable thing about them is their death."
» World Of Stone: The bolts fired by Garm become enchanted through supernatural means, allowing them to explode on impact and release a petrifying gas that conceptually distorts the objects and creatures it touches. Living and non-living matter the gas affects down to an existential level is turned to stone in the span of several seconds. The War Serpent has bestowed Stygian particular protection against this effect, as such, the assassin can freely walk through and even breathe in this gas without any problems.
"None shall forget, glancing upon their fossilized visage."
» The Clock Ticks On: Stygian fires off a set of bolts that disappear as soon as they leave Garm, descending into one of the lesser planes of existence through miniature portals that encompass each and every single one of the projectiles' molecules, proceeding to freefall for what would amount to an eternity. After a fixed span of ten seconds - or the equivalent to two posts - these bolts make are 'warped' back to the material plane where Stygian resides, retaining an immense amount of kinetic energy and speed. Additionally, while the bolts can pierce through flesh, they also shatter on impact, causing severe wounds inside an individual or merely showering the area in supernaturally reinforced shrapnel.
"Time stops for no man."
Background: Soon. Maybe never.