Post by mephisto on Jun 7, 2011 8:36:26 GMT -5
MAIN USERNAME: Mod Nascent
CHARACTER NAME: Mephistophiles
NICKNAME: Mephisto
CURRENT ALIAS: Cyrus Rosales*
RACE: Kishin
CLASS: Kishin Egg
ADVANCED CLASS: ---
AGE:
[/ul]Actual: Roughly 1200 years old
GENDER: Male
APPEARANCE:
" 'They' also say that the goatee left the diabolic look when Generation X started branding their faces with it later in life; here, I must respectfully disagree. It's more subtle nowadays, true, but a well-trimmed beard and mustache have always been signs of influence and power going back for centuries... that, and when you finally look a fated soul in the eyes and give them that bone-chilling malevolent grin it frames out the expression quite nicely. But that's just my opinion."[/color]
Mephisto, far from appearing like a wild murderous monster, comes off as a man of sophistication and taste. He has long free-flowing dark red hair that hangs down all the way to the small of his back, a tall and broad-shouldered build, and a simple yet stylish taste in clothes. He seldom ever goes out without some kind of long-coat or trench coat on and always wears the same style of elegant Italian tall leather boots. His face is framed by a carefully maintained goatee -- he takes great pride in his appearance -- and has a set of strong, sharp crimson eyes... eyes that, when angered or using the full extent of his powers, radiate a white-hot light.[/size]
CURRENT PARTNER(S): n/a
WEAPON FORM(S): n/a
MADNESS THEME:
ABILITIES:
TYPE: Active
STRENGTH: Average
KEYWORDS: melee, thrown, blades, infinite supply, madness
DESCRIPTION:
Mephisto can, at will, generate foot-long double-edged daggers of black metal from his own madness energies. These daggers are strong enough to block and parry with most Demon Weapons but cannot stand up to the stronger strikes of a Death Scythe. They are useful both in melee and as throwing weapons.
UNBOUND SOUL PERCEPTION
TYPE: Passive
STRENGTH: Resonance
KEYWORDS: extreme Soul Perception, penetrates Soul Protect, nulls Weak and Average soul wavelength attacks; weak vs Strong, Resonance, and Epic Resonance wavelength attacks
DESCRIPTION:
Various levels of the Soul Perception ability are known to exist in humans... but what is less commonly known is that this trait can also been acquired by those who've become Kishin Eggs. In fact, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that this is a sign of Mephisto's evolution towards Kishin-hood. Unbound Soul Perception is an extreme form of Soul Perception, developed to such an insanely high level that the user no longer has the ability to "turn it off". It has invaded every aspect of their persona; those with Unbound Soul Perception not only feel every soul around them for miles and see the soul within a person, but can literally smell and hear souls within a certain distance as well. Mephisto uses this overdeveloped sixth sense like a bloodhound, enabling him to track the movements of a person by the "trail" their soul leaves behind.
Skills such as Soul Protect are futile gestures in the face of such awareness and Mephisto can also adjust his own soul wavelength to completely nullify a Weak or Average Ability soul wavelength attack used on him. This talent does have limits, however. Strong, Resonance, and Epic Resonance level wavelength attacks can still cause him considerable damage and overpower his senses for a short time, leaving him exposed and virtually defenseless. Direct Soul Resonance attacks (IE: Witch Hunter), while not causing such disruption, can still cut cleanly through his "soul guard" and could be potentially fatal to the would-be Kishin. And, should he be struck by two separate wavelengths simultaneously his defense would be rendered a moot point.
SHADOW SKIN
TYPE: Active
STRENGTH: Strong
KEYWORDS: black skin armor, thin shell
DESCRIPTION:
When forced into combat, Mephisto's true strength lies in the defensive role. Although appearing fully human most of the time the monstrous side of this demonic man emerges when he fights, turning his skin pitch-black and hard as steel. In this state regular weapons simply have no effect and all but the most powerful Demon Weapons are forced to slowly chip away at his rock-like "armor". This is, however, just a surface defense -- below this outer layer lies regular flesh and blood, and a penetrating hit will make him bleed.
Shadow Skin also has the disadvantage of slowing Mephisto's movements, making him a fairly easy target. For this reason he sometimes forgoes it in battle; though his agility isn't anything special it's still better than being a sitting duck.
SOUL TELEPATHY
TYPE: Active
STRENGTH: Average
KEYWORDS: mind-speak, one mile radius
DESCRIPTION:
In most spiritual traditions, demons are identified as evil spirits who whisper into the minds and hearts of sinners -- and sometimes even saints -- leading them delicately down the path of damnation. Mephisto sees himself as no exception to such a venerable (and effective) age-old tradition.
This isn't the variety of telepathy that allows one to read another person's thoughts... at least, not on its own (see 'Path of Corruption' Ability for details). Rather, this simply allows Mephisto to "speak" directly to someone's mind, able to express himself with words but also by directly conveying images, sensations, and even memories in full or partial. This is attained by Mephisto focusing his mind upon a single soul within a one-mile radius and connecting, in a very minor sense, to the person's wavelength.
A person communicating with Mephisto via Soul Telepathy is able to respond in kind, sending everything from actual sentences to vague impressions and strong memories. Someone with a strong enough will can block out his "whispers", but this is indeed an act of willpower on the receiver's part. Soul Protect also serves as a barrier to this technique, due to how it is executed. Any sensations "sent" via telepathy are muted -- even an expression of extreme pain is at most a distraction, completely incapable of sending the other person into a fit of anguish.
Only a Strong Ability or higher version of Soul Perception, or a similar Ability, can see the connection forged by Soul Telepathy well enough to trace it back to Mephisto's location.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
TYPE: Passive
STRENGTH: Strong
KEYWORDS: teleport "summoning"
DESCRIPTION:
As an old proverb warns, "speak of the devil and he doth appear". In Mephisto's case, there is a grain of truth in this terrible admonition. His full name, Mephistopheles, has power when spoken out loud; regardless of distance, whether whispered or shouted, this dark individual is instantly aware of being "summoned" by someone through the mere mention of his name. What's more, a foul "soul connection" is established between the self-styled demon and the speaker which can last for up to ten minutes after utterance -- provided Mephisto doesn't sever the connection, which he can do at will. This can be used as a conduit for long-distance Soul Telepathy or, more terrifying (and useful), as a means for Mephisto to transport himself bodily from wherever he may be to the speaker's location in the blink of an eye. Though this can be seen as a type of summoning ritual Mephisto is by no means compelled to appear just because someone wants him to -- that remains his decision to make. However, he cannot establish this connection himself; someone else MUST call upon him in order for the old devil to instantly teleport in such a manner.
Only a Strong Ability or higher version of Soul Perception, or a similar Ability, can see the connection forged by this Ability well enough to trace it back to Mephisto's location.
THE PATH OF CORRUPTION
TYPE: Unique
STRENGTH: Unique
KEYWORDS: grants Corruption powers to other characters
DESCRIPTION:
In combat, Mephisto is certainly not the most menacing Kishin-to-be that lurks in the world... no, it is rather outside of direct conflict where his self-granted title of 'The Corrupter' shines most clearly... and his centuries-old powers work their wicked ways.
His role is distinct from the Clown and its black blood counterpart in that, while they generate the power of madness and use it infectiously on their victims and followers alike, Mephisto seeks instead to drag to the surface the "natural madness" within a person, drawing predominantly on fears and lust for power to accomplish this end. He actively hunts for individuals susceptible to his influence and then pulls them in with grants of exotic (and addictive) power, each "gift" strengthening his connection with the victim in steadily increasing measure. His favorite targets are young Meisters and Weapons who've bitten off more than they can chew in a fight and face the immediate possibility of death. The influence Mephisto exerts is a choice on the part of his victim... initially, at least. This, of course, belies the obvious nature of making such an offer when the most likely outcome without it is a gruesome end.
The Path of Corruption has several stages, as outlined below:
STAGE 1: Tainted
A character becomes Tainted immediately upon agreeing to let Mephisto "lend" them his power.
Victim gains ONE use of the following power:
The user of this power feels an incredible rush of energy fill their body, granting them a significant boost to their usual level of speed and strength as well as a hyper-alert, almost twitchy state of mind. For Demon Weapons this enhances their attack speed and damage in weapon form as well. While in this state the character can mentally shrug off the pain from all but the most serious wounds; however, once the power fades all of that pain will come crashing back into their mind at once. There are no actual signs of corruption, either in the character's body or their soul, from using this power. Tainted Surge lasts until the end of combat.[/ul]
Mephisto gains no advantages at this level.
STAGE 2: Sinner
The first taste of power is given as a "freebie", as bait meant to lure the character into acceptance of Mephisto as a "benefactor". The second taste... has a slight bitterness to it as genuine Corruption begins to set in.
Victim gains ONE USE PER BATTLE of the following power:
The user of this power feels an incredible rush of energy fill their body, exactly the same as Tainted Surge (see above). While in this state the character can mentally shrug off the pain from all but the most serious wounds; unlike Tainted Surge, however, the pain only comes back as a dull ache after the power suppressing it fades. Tainted Might lasts until the end of combat.[/ul]
Tainted Might brings with it a withdrawal phase similar to that experienced by drug users. The effects are comparatively light -- lessened physical energy and ability to focus, the occasional sleepless night -- just enough to "set the table" for later addiction. Aside from this, there are no signs of Mephisto's influence either physically or in the person's soul.
Mephisto's connection to his target is strengthened in this stage. He can freely use Soul Telepathy to speak to the character regardless of physical distance and he becomes harder to push out of the person's mind.
STAGE 3: Child of Iniquity
At some point, Mephisto will "cut off" his victim, rendering them no longer able to use Tainted Might. Instead, he offers to take the person "to the next level"... while mentioning that "certain compromises" will be necessary. Until the victim accepts they experience much stronger withdrawal symptoms -- almost complete inability to sleep or focus, high irritability, and loss of appetite -- all of which conveniently fade away once they cave in and accept. (Before this stage may be the easiest point at which to break free of Corruption, if one is so inclined.)
At stage three, the victim gains ONE USE PER BATTLE of the following power:
When used, this power surrounds the character's body (or weapon form) in a large cloud of shimmering black fog. This fog closely follows the character as they move, rapidly re-forming if interrupted by either a strong burst of wind or a powerful attack. The fog serves to cut the strength of any hostile wavelength, magic, madness, or energy-based attacks by half while also making the character a difficult target for ranged or melee weapons. The character him/herself, however, can see straight through the fog as if it were barely there, thus it doesn't obscure their aim or the use of their abilities.
Additionally, as the corrupted character breathes in the black fog it fills them with an intense physical and mental energy, allowing them to both think and react faster than a regular human ever could. Along with this heightened state comes an almost giddy exuberance that feeds on whatever emotions the corrupted character experiences -- happiness becomes absolute euphoria, sadness turns into over-dramatized despair, anger becomes murderous rage, the slightest wants become covetous lustings to take, own, possess, and dominate. All fear, however, seems to vanish within the fog... except, that is, the fear of leaving the fog, which becomes heightened to absolute paranoia in the mind of the corrupted.
Those not corrupted who have the misfortune of breathing the fog for more than a few minutes begin to experience nightmarish hallucinations. In terms of posts, this side-effect comes into play after being in the fog for more than two posts at a time. Catching a quick breath of fresh air and diving back in doesn't slow or negate the effects of the black fog; someone has to remain outside the fog for just as long as they were inside it for the hallucinations to fade. These nightmare-hallucinations are controlled by Mephisto himself (will be posted by this user account) and will get steadily worse with prolonged exposure to the fog.
While the fog can re-form quickly if hit by a gust or burst, it does have one critical weakness that can be exploited. Should the black fog and the corrupted character be completely physically separated from each other somehow, the fog will vanish... and the corrupted character will be left a jittering, frantic, terrified mess of nerves.
In the case of a Weapon and Meister team where only one character is Corrupt, the partner is safe from the negative effects of the fog as long as they remain in physical contact with the corrupt character.[/ul]
Also, at this point the power of Corruption takes on the nature of a full-scale addiction that the corrupted character must battle with. The soul of the corrupted character also appears now as if there are black thorns growing on it, causing the soul to "bleed" in places.
Predictably, Mephisto's influence is far stronger at this stage than before. He is able to sense the exact location of his victim wherever he/she goes, get a general impression of their surface thoughts and emotions, and even intrude upon their dreams. He can also lessen or increase the withdrawal symptoms they experience at a whim, one more tool to drive them deeper onto the downward spiral of the Path of Corruption.
STAGE 4: Heretic
Advancing to this stage of corruption is in the hands of the victim -- if they struggle against or experience fear of their new-found cravings a character could indeed remain at the Child of Iniquity stage for a very, very long time. But the moment those cravings are accepted a change happens... and the heretic within awakens.
At stage four, the victim gains ONE USE PER BATTLE of the following power:
Having been exposed to corrupting power for so long causes this character's soul to begin generating a form of that power on its own. This is the essence of the Armor of the Damned -- corruption made manifest. At a whim the character's shadow seems to liquefy and crawl up their body, taking shape as a gleaming black suit of armor (or whatever form the wearer wishes). This protective layer bears several startling similarities to the infamous Black Blood. It responds to the will of the corrupted, taking on whatever shape is desired at the time, even able to form itself into weapons and tools. If broken or damaged it will puddle on the ground until the corrupted character exerts their will on it, meaning that this "substance" can be used for all manner of traps and ambushes or even for sealing wounds. While wearing the Armor (in whatever form) the corrupted's speed and strength are almost doubled and their defense against physical attacks of Weak or Average Abilities (including regular melee / ranged attacks) is absolutely flawless.
Strong, Resonance, and Epic Resonance attack Abilities can temporarily disrupt the corrupted's control of the Armor, rendering them exposed and greatly weakened. The corrupted character can, however, also channel their own Wavelength abilities through any part of the armor, whether attached or not, making it possible to strike from multiple angles simultaneously. It is critical, however, that the Armor of the Damned and the corrupted character maintain at least partial physical contact -- if the armor is somehow stripped away entirely it reverts to being a harmless, ordinary shadow.[/ul]
At this point the victim's entire nature is influenced by Mephisto's corrupt energies and may, in fact, be waist-deep in madness. They are almost helplessly addicted; any attempts to leave the Path of Corruption at this level will REQUIRE the intervention of another person's character and something akin to a Healing Wavelength / Regeneration Magic ability being used on the character. What's more, a truly epic battle within the corrupted character's soul can also be expected. For anyone who successfully pulls this off, I will gladly award you with a healthy boon of Points to match the stellar character development of such a trial.
A character at this stage of corruption has an ashen, pale look about them and eyes that glow faintly in the dark. Their soul is trapped within a cage of black thorns. If they are part of a Weapon/Meister team, their partner is automatically eligible for the first stage of corruption at any time they wish.
Mephisto, for his part, gains a terrifying new power when in the presence of a Heretic-level corrupted character:
At this point, the victim's corruption runs so deeply that Mephisto can easily manipulate their soul's wavelength, rendering him not only the perfect Meister for a corrupted Demon Weapon but also able to induce his own form of Chain Resonance, known as Soul Blasphemy, with his victim. Mephisto's speed and strength will match that of his corrupted "teammate" -- this is particularly effective while the corrupted character is using Armor of the Damned -- and, more horrifyingly, will give him the ability to use ANY and ALL of his victim's powers and abilities for a short time. This includes the partial transformations of a Demon Weapon. However, unlike true Chain Resonance which grows stronger with each Meister involved, Soul Blasphemy can only be used with one corrupted character at a time.[/ul]
Mephisto can also read a Heretic-level character's thoughts as he pleases and even manifest himself within their "soul landscape" (which, consequentially, is now impossibly overgrown with thorns). He can induce crippling pain or the heights of pleasure in his victim with nary a whim, but does not yet have the power to kill them outright with his influence.That comes later...
FINAL STAGE: Grand Abomination
This is literally as close as Mephisto's influence can bring a person to becoming a Kishin Egg -- the few small steps that remain are up to them. To reach this point a person must do more than accept their craving for the power of corruption; they must accept Mephisto as their master. Typically this isn't a hard decision; when one approaches this stage there is no hiding the madness and perversion within. Partial transformation into a monstrous new body may have already begun or be imminent, a wild craving to consume the souls of innocents runs unchecked through the person's mind, and their sickly disposition is plain to see. Such an individual is likely already on Shinigami's list of souls to be hunted. The character's soul is wreathed in shadows and thorns, and salvation is next to impossible. Given the circumstances, it is no longer a question of "can I trust him?" but rather "is there any other choice?". And once the choice is made...
... there is no turning back.
A victim who has reached this stage gains an upgraded version of Armor of the Damned, as outlined below:
Similar in appearance to Armor of the Damned, Hell Aegis is both a vast enhancement and defensive power -- taken up a notch. This "armor", which now pulses with a crimson glow, possesses a life all its own. Unlike its previous incarnation, the Hell Aegis material is a mix of liquefied shadow and a small measure of the corrupted's blood, rendering it fully able to move and act as a separate body while still granting the same benefits of improved speed and strength. In fact, a Hell Aegis can travel up to ten miles from its host body; anything more, though, and it dissolves and must be remade. This stronger version is highly resistant to anything less than Resonance-level attacks and cannot be disrupted by soul wavelengths. The only apparent weakness of the Hell Aegis is that killing the corrupted will bring its violent rampage to an end.[/ul]
Mephisto also benefits from having "created" a Grand Abomination, gaining a new attack power.
A sick parody of the famed Witch Hunter move, Soul Hunter combines the soul energy of Mephisto with that of at least one Grand Abomination-level corrupted character to create a large crescent-shaped blade of crimson energy. This blade hovers in the air and is "wielded" directly by Mephisto's mind, making it a dangerous threat to anyone he faces. What's more, the power and size of the blade can be dramatically increased when more than one Grand Abomination's power is pooled for the attack. The Grand Abominations that Mephisto taps to create Soul Hunter needn't be anywhere nearby their master; they don't even have to be willing participants. They simply have to be. Mephisto can conjure and dispel Soul Hunter at will and there is no time limit on its use.[/ul]
At this point in the Path of Corruption, all that remains is for Mephisto to recognize that his prey is just about to become a full-blown Kishin Egg... and then consume them. It is worth noting that none of the powers gained from the Path of Corruption can be effectively used against Mephisto, as he can cancel them out without even a thought.
(For characters that make it this far: eventually Mephisto will turn on you. As a warning: there will be a very real chance of character death once you reach this point, but that's the price of "free" power. If your character manages to survive/escape somehow, you're free to go. If not... your soul is mine.)[/ul]
When a character is on the Path of Corruption the following banner, along with info on what stage of corruption the character is in, will be added to the character's profile (by Mod Nascent):
To free a character from the Path of Corruption requires a special Mission. If this is your intention, send a PM to either this account or 'Mod Nascent' to set up the scenario. This will become far more difficult the further down the Path a character gets, and is no longer an option once the final stage, Grand Abomination, is reached.[/ul][/size]
SOUL CONSUMPTION
TYPE: Passive
STRENGTH: Average
KEYWORDS: healing via eating souls
DESCRIPTION:
Being a Kishin Egg, Mephisto has a natural inclination towards the consumption of souls. Over the ages, however, he has tamed this ravenous hunger and turned it towards his own ends.
When Mephisto consumes a soul it has the immediate effect of regenerating any bodily injuries he's sustained. He does, of course, need to have enough of himself intact to actually consume the soul for this to work, and extreme injuries such as the loss of an arm or leg can take hours to heal even after devouring a soul. The stronger the soul, however, the quicker he can recover.
[/ul]
EQUIPMENT:
TYPE: Weapon
STRENGTH: Average
DESCRIPTION:
The Glock series of semiautomatic pistols are amongst the most commonly owned firearms in the world. Firing 9 millimeter shells from a 17-round magazine, these weapons are effective sidearms and can do reliable damage to a target with standard human vulnerabilities. Their effectiveness is diminished against the superior training and physical conditioning Shibusen offers, and their usefulness against witches, Kishin Eggs, and other supernatural beings is also far from top notch. Nonetheless, a few rounds of hot lead at just the right time can still be an effective deterrent, even in a world of supernatural weapons and unpredictable magics.
Mephisto keeps two of these pistols concealed on his person at all times.[/ul]
MINIONS:
VEHICLES:
LOYALTY: Self
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
Likes: Philosophy, literature, certain types of music (preferably with dark overtones)
Dislikes: Fighting any battle that wasn't his choice, arrogant witches, Shibusen and Shinigami
Strengths: Highly experienced and cunning, high durability, naturally charismatic and persuasive nature, exceptional knowledge of history, easily able to blend into society/crowds, unique powers of corruption, perception, and telepathy
Weaknesses: Barely more than human-level strength and speed, extreme reaction to high-level Soul Wavelength attacks, will often choose to flee rather than stand and fight, exaggerated sense of vanity, pride and self-importance, cannot use high-level attack powers without a deeply corrupted minion
Hobbies: Reading (or re-reading, rather) old books, meditation, wine connoisseur . . . and did we mention the whole "devil in the shadows" soul corruption thing?
PERSONALITY:
... a devious, soul-consuming old sage who specializes in corrupting the hearts and minds of others.
Mephisto above all else relishes the twisting of strong, noble souls into perverse Kishin Eggs, and has made doing so both an art form and his life's work. He is peculiar amongst those on the path to Kishin-hood; instead of plucking up the nearest soul and devouring it in a bloody feast Mephisto preys almost exclusively on souls teetering on the edge of becoming Kishin Eggs, flavored with deep, rich fears and stewed in their own madness. His attraction to this particular soul-state right on the brink of a wicked transformation is on the level of an extreme fetish; while he will sometimes "snack" on innocent souls or even other Kishin Eggs when his hunger is strong, he LIVES to devour souls at the height of purely human corruption. The reasons behind this are not entirely clear. Though he claims it is simply a matter of relishing the taste of a soul in moral collapse it is possible that there is much more to this sinister "hobby". After all, a more aggressive approach could have let him ascend to a full Kishin long ago... though there is something to be said for how easily he can "fly under the radar" of organizations like Shibusen, and may be a factor in his having survived for so long.
Mephisto is a silver-tongued serpent who can weave his way into unsuspecting hearts and minds with ease. His "natural" charisma is actually the result of centuries worth of experience combined with an extreme talent in Soul Perception, which is one of his specialties. He can rapidly evaluate the souls of even complete strangers, getting a general idea of personalities in a matter of moments. Most of all, however, he has a talent for sniffing out fear; as one who specializes in corruption, the desperation which comes with strong fear is one of his favorite tools.
When not involved in some carefully constructed plot of corrupting influence, Mephisto is typically to be found relaxing at clubs or idly walking the streets of whichever city suits his fancy. He occasionally picks out a book, but loses interest quickly -- all the "good literature", in his opinion, was written at least a hundred years ago... and he's already read it. All of it. He has a mixed outlook on witches, willing to work cooperatively with them but ever wary of becoming somebody's "pet demon". This comes from a strong sense of independence; Mephisto is no one's minion or puppet, a fact he makes utterly clear when forming any sort of alliance. He views Shibusen and Shinigami as if they, and he, were players in a game -- he especially likes to pick out Demon Weapons and Meisters as targets for his corrupting influence and seems, at least on the surface, to regard the lord of death as a distant threat at most.
[/size][/ul]
HISTORY:
"There aren't many who survived the Grim Times, you know. Some might say I'm lucky to have been overlooked in Shinigami's great purge of the world... others might accuse me of being too weak to merit his cold ministrations. I assure you, all such presumptions are fallacy -- I was neither ignored, nor powerless."
"For power, you see, takes many forms. There is power that destroys; blades that rip and tear, hammers that smash into a million pieces, spells and energies that scorch the earth with their passing. There is power that creates; the sculptor at his clay, the painter at her canvas, the mind which dreams and schemes up the future. And then, there is power which manipulates... which twists and turns and spins around, which makes black white and white black, which takes what others have fashioned and applies it in ways they never imagined. That is my power. Let others rise up and cast down... ultimately, it all works to my benefit."
"I have seen the world change a hundred times over in my lifetime; very little of it truly impresses me anymore. One thing I am certain of, however, is this: with every gleam of light is born a shadow. In my case, it was December 25th in the year 800 AD -- the very day that Charlemagne was crowned by the Pope, the very hour that the so-called 'Holy Roman Empire' came into existence -- far to the east, in a village that has all but been erased by the passing of the ages. In this remote place, far from the reach of Christendom and its ilk... was a demon born."
"Even before I left my humanity behind, I was a hunter. Sometimes of deer and fish... other times of men. The warfare of that age was a brutal, bloody affair, full of idiots. They would charge through the trees, screaming, shouting... never expecting the ground beneath them to turn into leaves and broken twigs, never expecting the earth to swallow them up. Yes, even back then I was a layer of traps, and I was good at it. Damn good."
"I don't know when the change began, really. Maybe it was always inside me, waiting until I was ready to embrace it. Others on this path talk about a turning point, something that made them SNAP like a twig and turn them towards monstrosity. I never experienced such a thing... maybe that's why I still look every bit as human as I did back then. Some stray or stumble onto the path, others find and embrace it, but not I."
"I was born on the path of damnation."
"When the hunger came over me, I went to war. In my youth I thought it was just that simple, a mere bloodlust like so many others had. But when my bow had found its mark and my traps had gathered their fill I still felt... restless, unsatisfied. So instead of waiting for war to find me I went looking for it. In the cities to the east I found my calling, turning desperate peasants into brutal murderers. In time I formed an underworld kingdom for myself, training all manner of scoundrels to work for me: thieves, thugs, harlots, assassins. An empire of shadows and blood that made the city my plaything. And yet, always the hunger gnawed at the back of my mind, teasing me like a whisper or the memory of a caress."
"And then the Crusaders came, and everything went to hell."
"I watched my city burn. I watched my minions turn, first on each other, and then on me. Had I not caught the eye of a powerful witch this tale may indeed have ended upon a bloody, treasonous dagger. She came to me with promises of power and revenge, telling me that a great power slept inside of me that only she could awaken. I would be the master of shadows again, the claimer of every bloody prize this world could offer. She offered me everything in exchange for my loyalty... but hatred, you see, is a very powerful thing. More powerful, at times, than magic. She had arrived too late to seize an advantage over me... for when hunger is fed by malice a monster is born."
"The weak little witch, who thought to make me her plaything, gave such a crisp sound when I snapped her neck. Rather like celery, or a carrot. That day I feasted on my first soul... and was awakened onto my true path."
"Years passed. I occupied myself with this and that, never staying anywhere for very long. I quickly found that indulging my hunger for souls too long in any one place brought Crusaders, witch-hunters, and other trouble which was best to avoid. Fortunately for me, they all looked for murderers or monsters; when they saw I didn't look like a beast and spoke as a man of learning they typically moved on, though there were still a few close calls now and again. It was during this time I came to realize my sway over others, turning good men into coarse heathens and weak minds into strong killers. All it took was a nudge... and a little bit of dark power. Where other would-be Kishins hoard their power for their own purposes I quickly discovered that it is, indeed, better to give than receive -- the end results are so much more fruitful. In time, however, rumors began to spread of a devil roaming the lands... and, not being one to turn down such a compliment, actually played up the tales towards greater infamy. Why be a mere man of flesh, after all, when you can be an alluring, terrifying messenger from hell itself?"
"And of course there was that whole business with the good Doctor Faust. I'd grown tired of toying with the rabble and thought I'd try for someone of a bit... higher nature. The tale of what transpired has been rather embellished over the ages, mind you -- any talk of unlimited knowledge, Helen of Troy, or angels swooping in to save him at the last moment is reactionist tripe -- but the gist of it is true enough. He made a deal with who he thought was the devil... and in the end I took his soul. Some of my best work, that little episode. Make no mistake: Faust was a great man... but a far better meal."
"Of course, nothing is ever easy. Though decades and centuries passed me without blemish or wrinkle, though souls great and small fell to my wiles... eventually a storm came: a purge of such scale and intensity as to make all the wars of the Crusaders look like a mere skirmish. Death itself descended on the world, clawing at the shadows and devouring monsters both ancient and young. I may never know exactly what caused him to step in, but in those dark times my legend, which I had built with such pride and arrogance, became as a chain around my neck. Notoriety has a way of coming back to bite you, and demons incarnate are no exception. When Shinigami and his allies came hunting for the evil called Mephistopheles, well... I ran. What was I to do? I had no army, no earth-shaking powers with which to strike down a god. Even so, they came for me eventually. Still, I had my share of battles; no victories, and far too many close calls. In the Grim Times everyone was desperate -- Shinigami was desperate to rid the world of Kishins, Kishins were desperate to kill anyone and everyone they could, and we 'lesser demons' were desperate just to survive the whole cursed mess."
"I'm embarrassed to admit it, but eventually it got so bad I had to fake my own death. Not that it was the first time, mind you... but it doesn't get any more pleasant with experience. I'll never forget that day, that bleak, cold day for as long as I still live."
"Eight hundred years have passed. I've been very, very patient. But the hunger never really goes away. Now, with Shinigami tied down to his little town and the world growing more and more tumultuous by the day, I find myself able to start taking chances again. This time will be different. This time, Shinigami will be made to pay for all I've endured. Not right away... not directly. I work like a poisoned apple, you see; start in the eyes, the mind, a little taste of forbidden fruit, a tingle here and there... and once I've worked my way in, the heart belongs to me."
"For I, my friend, am Mephistopheles -- born into this world that the light may know darkness, the pure might know the utter corruption of their false morality, and that even the blood of gods might flow in the streets."
MORE INFO:
This ancient corrupter wields black-bladed daggers as his weapons, usable both at close range and as thrown weapons. These he generates using his own malevolent energies, granting a nearly infinite supply. He has also taken it upon himself to gain proficiency with most types of pistols and keeps a pair of fully loaded Glock 17s on his person at all times. This is primarily to supplement his rather limited attack power in combat.
Overall, however, it is Mephisto's policy to avoid any confrontation where he isn't confident of his own success. He has narrowly escaped death one too many times to go putting his life on the line for hollow gains.[/size]
RP Sample:
The more things change, the more they stay the same. This, he concluded with cold indifference, was the ultimate truth of life.
The city buzzed with life all around him, a vast hive of humanity stirred to perpetual activity. The feeling of nigh-countless souls, all jammed into one narrow corridor of streets and towers, brought with it a flood of memories: the hallowed streets of Rome, the canals of Venice, the walls of Constantinople... in his long lifetime it felt as if he'd been everywhere at least once. The demon-incarnate mentally chided himself; no, not everywhere. Ticking off a mental list of exotic destinations he decided to make his way to Toyko at some future point. Japanese was such a beautiful language... that, and the people there were agreeable to so many things. It almost made his mouth water, imagining what he could get away with.
Sipping idly at a glass of white wine, Mephisto looked out upon the skyline. In his mind each skyscraper was a Tower of Babel and each rooftop an altar to some unnamed god. The world of short-lived human lives reached endlessly for whatever it could take hold of, each generation seeking to out-do the last -- if not outright destroy what those ancestors had built. This was "progress", then, this running around in circles to the point of nausea. He laughed at the thought; all was, indeed, mere vanity and striving after the wind. It was doubtful any of these short-sighted people even knew what they wanted out of their meager existences; that was the curse of living a powerless life, something those in seats of authority had long ago realized. No longer were whips and chains needed to drive slaves onward to build the obelisks of their masters, no. The modern way, a title and a paycheck, was so much more efficient... and just as ephemeral in the end.
He took another sip, then held the drink over the edge of the balcony and let it drop. For a moment the sun caught the plummeting glass and its trail of liquid contents just right, turning the goblet into diamond and the liquid into a broken string of pearls. Then both slipped into the shadow of a tall building and were lost from sight. He breathed in deeply, anticipating the terrified cry of some innocent below, and smiled grimly when it reached his ears.
Beautiful.[/ul]
--------------
CHARACTER NAME: Mephistophiles
NICKNAME: Mephisto
CURRENT ALIAS: Cyrus Rosales*
RACE: Kishin
CLASS: Kishin Egg
ADVANCED CLASS: ---
AGE:
[/ul]Actual: Roughly 1200 years old
GENDER: Male
APPEARANCE:
" 'They' also say that the goatee left the diabolic look when Generation X started branding their faces with it later in life; here, I must respectfully disagree. It's more subtle nowadays, true, but a well-trimmed beard and mustache have always been signs of influence and power going back for centuries... that, and when you finally look a fated soul in the eyes and give them that bone-chilling malevolent grin it frames out the expression quite nicely. But that's just my opinion."[/color]
Mephisto, far from appearing like a wild murderous monster, comes off as a man of sophistication and taste. He has long free-flowing dark red hair that hangs down all the way to the small of his back, a tall and broad-shouldered build, and a simple yet stylish taste in clothes. He seldom ever goes out without some kind of long-coat or trench coat on and always wears the same style of elegant Italian tall leather boots. His face is framed by a carefully maintained goatee -- he takes great pride in his appearance -- and has a set of strong, sharp crimson eyes... eyes that, when angered or using the full extent of his powers, radiate a white-hot light.[/size]
CURRENT PARTNER(S): n/a
WEAPON FORM(S): n/a
MADNESS THEME:
- - -
ABILITIES:
TYPE: Active
STRENGTH: Average
KEYWORDS: melee, thrown, blades, infinite supply, madness
DESCRIPTION:
Mephisto can, at will, generate foot-long double-edged daggers of black metal from his own madness energies. These daggers are strong enough to block and parry with most Demon Weapons but cannot stand up to the stronger strikes of a Death Scythe. They are useful both in melee and as throwing weapons.
UNBOUND SOUL PERCEPTION
TYPE: Passive
STRENGTH: Resonance
KEYWORDS: extreme Soul Perception, penetrates Soul Protect, nulls Weak and Average soul wavelength attacks; weak vs Strong, Resonance, and Epic Resonance wavelength attacks
DESCRIPTION:
Various levels of the Soul Perception ability are known to exist in humans... but what is less commonly known is that this trait can also been acquired by those who've become Kishin Eggs. In fact, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that this is a sign of Mephisto's evolution towards Kishin-hood. Unbound Soul Perception is an extreme form of Soul Perception, developed to such an insanely high level that the user no longer has the ability to "turn it off". It has invaded every aspect of their persona; those with Unbound Soul Perception not only feel every soul around them for miles and see the soul within a person, but can literally smell and hear souls within a certain distance as well. Mephisto uses this overdeveloped sixth sense like a bloodhound, enabling him to track the movements of a person by the "trail" their soul leaves behind.
Skills such as Soul Protect are futile gestures in the face of such awareness and Mephisto can also adjust his own soul wavelength to completely nullify a Weak or Average Ability soul wavelength attack used on him. This talent does have limits, however. Strong, Resonance, and Epic Resonance level wavelength attacks can still cause him considerable damage and overpower his senses for a short time, leaving him exposed and virtually defenseless. Direct Soul Resonance attacks (IE: Witch Hunter), while not causing such disruption, can still cut cleanly through his "soul guard" and could be potentially fatal to the would-be Kishin. And, should he be struck by two separate wavelengths simultaneously his defense would be rendered a moot point.
SHADOW SKIN
TYPE: Active
STRENGTH: Strong
KEYWORDS: black skin armor, thin shell
DESCRIPTION:
When forced into combat, Mephisto's true strength lies in the defensive role. Although appearing fully human most of the time the monstrous side of this demonic man emerges when he fights, turning his skin pitch-black and hard as steel. In this state regular weapons simply have no effect and all but the most powerful Demon Weapons are forced to slowly chip away at his rock-like "armor". This is, however, just a surface defense -- below this outer layer lies regular flesh and blood, and a penetrating hit will make him bleed.
Shadow Skin also has the disadvantage of slowing Mephisto's movements, making him a fairly easy target. For this reason he sometimes forgoes it in battle; though his agility isn't anything special it's still better than being a sitting duck.
SOUL TELEPATHY
TYPE: Active
STRENGTH: Average
KEYWORDS: mind-speak, one mile radius
DESCRIPTION:
In most spiritual traditions, demons are identified as evil spirits who whisper into the minds and hearts of sinners -- and sometimes even saints -- leading them delicately down the path of damnation. Mephisto sees himself as no exception to such a venerable (and effective) age-old tradition.
This isn't the variety of telepathy that allows one to read another person's thoughts... at least, not on its own (see 'Path of Corruption' Ability for details). Rather, this simply allows Mephisto to "speak" directly to someone's mind, able to express himself with words but also by directly conveying images, sensations, and even memories in full or partial. This is attained by Mephisto focusing his mind upon a single soul within a one-mile radius and connecting, in a very minor sense, to the person's wavelength.
A person communicating with Mephisto via Soul Telepathy is able to respond in kind, sending everything from actual sentences to vague impressions and strong memories. Someone with a strong enough will can block out his "whispers", but this is indeed an act of willpower on the receiver's part. Soul Protect also serves as a barrier to this technique, due to how it is executed. Any sensations "sent" via telepathy are muted -- even an expression of extreme pain is at most a distraction, completely incapable of sending the other person into a fit of anguish.
Only a Strong Ability or higher version of Soul Perception, or a similar Ability, can see the connection forged by Soul Telepathy well enough to trace it back to Mephisto's location.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
TYPE: Passive
STRENGTH: Strong
KEYWORDS: teleport "summoning"
DESCRIPTION:
As an old proverb warns, "speak of the devil and he doth appear". In Mephisto's case, there is a grain of truth in this terrible admonition. His full name, Mephistopheles, has power when spoken out loud; regardless of distance, whether whispered or shouted, this dark individual is instantly aware of being "summoned" by someone through the mere mention of his name. What's more, a foul "soul connection" is established between the self-styled demon and the speaker which can last for up to ten minutes after utterance -- provided Mephisto doesn't sever the connection, which he can do at will. This can be used as a conduit for long-distance Soul Telepathy or, more terrifying (and useful), as a means for Mephisto to transport himself bodily from wherever he may be to the speaker's location in the blink of an eye. Though this can be seen as a type of summoning ritual Mephisto is by no means compelled to appear just because someone wants him to -- that remains his decision to make. However, he cannot establish this connection himself; someone else MUST call upon him in order for the old devil to instantly teleport in such a manner.
Only a Strong Ability or higher version of Soul Perception, or a similar Ability, can see the connection forged by this Ability well enough to trace it back to Mephisto's location.
THE PATH OF CORRUPTION
TYPE: Unique
STRENGTH: Unique
KEYWORDS: grants Corruption powers to other characters
DESCRIPTION:
In combat, Mephisto is certainly not the most menacing Kishin-to-be that lurks in the world... no, it is rather outside of direct conflict where his self-granted title of 'The Corrupter' shines most clearly... and his centuries-old powers work their wicked ways.
His role is distinct from the Clown and its black blood counterpart in that, while they generate the power of madness and use it infectiously on their victims and followers alike, Mephisto seeks instead to drag to the surface the "natural madness" within a person, drawing predominantly on fears and lust for power to accomplish this end. He actively hunts for individuals susceptible to his influence and then pulls them in with grants of exotic (and addictive) power, each "gift" strengthening his connection with the victim in steadily increasing measure. His favorite targets are young Meisters and Weapons who've bitten off more than they can chew in a fight and face the immediate possibility of death. The influence Mephisto exerts is a choice on the part of his victim... initially, at least. This, of course, belies the obvious nature of making such an offer when the most likely outcome without it is a gruesome end.
The Path of Corruption has several stages, as outlined below:
STAGE 1: Tainted
A character becomes Tainted immediately upon agreeing to let Mephisto "lend" them his power.
Victim gains ONE use of the following power:
The user of this power feels an incredible rush of energy fill their body, granting them a significant boost to their usual level of speed and strength as well as a hyper-alert, almost twitchy state of mind. For Demon Weapons this enhances their attack speed and damage in weapon form as well. While in this state the character can mentally shrug off the pain from all but the most serious wounds; however, once the power fades all of that pain will come crashing back into their mind at once. There are no actual signs of corruption, either in the character's body or their soul, from using this power. Tainted Surge lasts until the end of combat.[/ul]
Mephisto gains no advantages at this level.
STAGE 2: Sinner
The first taste of power is given as a "freebie", as bait meant to lure the character into acceptance of Mephisto as a "benefactor". The second taste... has a slight bitterness to it as genuine Corruption begins to set in.
Victim gains ONE USE PER BATTLE of the following power:
The user of this power feels an incredible rush of energy fill their body, exactly the same as Tainted Surge (see above). While in this state the character can mentally shrug off the pain from all but the most serious wounds; unlike Tainted Surge, however, the pain only comes back as a dull ache after the power suppressing it fades. Tainted Might lasts until the end of combat.[/ul]
Tainted Might brings with it a withdrawal phase similar to that experienced by drug users. The effects are comparatively light -- lessened physical energy and ability to focus, the occasional sleepless night -- just enough to "set the table" for later addiction. Aside from this, there are no signs of Mephisto's influence either physically or in the person's soul.
Mephisto's connection to his target is strengthened in this stage. He can freely use Soul Telepathy to speak to the character regardless of physical distance and he becomes harder to push out of the person's mind.
STAGE 3: Child of Iniquity
At some point, Mephisto will "cut off" his victim, rendering them no longer able to use Tainted Might. Instead, he offers to take the person "to the next level"... while mentioning that "certain compromises" will be necessary. Until the victim accepts they experience much stronger withdrawal symptoms -- almost complete inability to sleep or focus, high irritability, and loss of appetite -- all of which conveniently fade away once they cave in and accept. (Before this stage may be the easiest point at which to break free of Corruption, if one is so inclined.)
At stage three, the victim gains ONE USE PER BATTLE of the following power:
When used, this power surrounds the character's body (or weapon form) in a large cloud of shimmering black fog. This fog closely follows the character as they move, rapidly re-forming if interrupted by either a strong burst of wind or a powerful attack. The fog serves to cut the strength of any hostile wavelength, magic, madness, or energy-based attacks by half while also making the character a difficult target for ranged or melee weapons. The character him/herself, however, can see straight through the fog as if it were barely there, thus it doesn't obscure their aim or the use of their abilities.
Additionally, as the corrupted character breathes in the black fog it fills them with an intense physical and mental energy, allowing them to both think and react faster than a regular human ever could. Along with this heightened state comes an almost giddy exuberance that feeds on whatever emotions the corrupted character experiences -- happiness becomes absolute euphoria, sadness turns into over-dramatized despair, anger becomes murderous rage, the slightest wants become covetous lustings to take, own, possess, and dominate. All fear, however, seems to vanish within the fog... except, that is, the fear of leaving the fog, which becomes heightened to absolute paranoia in the mind of the corrupted.
Those not corrupted who have the misfortune of breathing the fog for more than a few minutes begin to experience nightmarish hallucinations. In terms of posts, this side-effect comes into play after being in the fog for more than two posts at a time. Catching a quick breath of fresh air and diving back in doesn't slow or negate the effects of the black fog; someone has to remain outside the fog for just as long as they were inside it for the hallucinations to fade. These nightmare-hallucinations are controlled by Mephisto himself (will be posted by this user account) and will get steadily worse with prolonged exposure to the fog.
While the fog can re-form quickly if hit by a gust or burst, it does have one critical weakness that can be exploited. Should the black fog and the corrupted character be completely physically separated from each other somehow, the fog will vanish... and the corrupted character will be left a jittering, frantic, terrified mess of nerves.
In the case of a Weapon and Meister team where only one character is Corrupt, the partner is safe from the negative effects of the fog as long as they remain in physical contact with the corrupt character.[/ul]
Also, at this point the power of Corruption takes on the nature of a full-scale addiction that the corrupted character must battle with. The soul of the corrupted character also appears now as if there are black thorns growing on it, causing the soul to "bleed" in places.
Predictably, Mephisto's influence is far stronger at this stage than before. He is able to sense the exact location of his victim wherever he/she goes, get a general impression of their surface thoughts and emotions, and even intrude upon their dreams. He can also lessen or increase the withdrawal symptoms they experience at a whim, one more tool to drive them deeper onto the downward spiral of the Path of Corruption.
STAGE 4: Heretic
Advancing to this stage of corruption is in the hands of the victim -- if they struggle against or experience fear of their new-found cravings a character could indeed remain at the Child of Iniquity stage for a very, very long time. But the moment those cravings are accepted a change happens... and the heretic within awakens.
At stage four, the victim gains ONE USE PER BATTLE of the following power:
Having been exposed to corrupting power for so long causes this character's soul to begin generating a form of that power on its own. This is the essence of the Armor of the Damned -- corruption made manifest. At a whim the character's shadow seems to liquefy and crawl up their body, taking shape as a gleaming black suit of armor (or whatever form the wearer wishes). This protective layer bears several startling similarities to the infamous Black Blood. It responds to the will of the corrupted, taking on whatever shape is desired at the time, even able to form itself into weapons and tools. If broken or damaged it will puddle on the ground until the corrupted character exerts their will on it, meaning that this "substance" can be used for all manner of traps and ambushes or even for sealing wounds. While wearing the Armor (in whatever form) the corrupted's speed and strength are almost doubled and their defense against physical attacks of Weak or Average Abilities (including regular melee / ranged attacks) is absolutely flawless.
Strong, Resonance, and Epic Resonance attack Abilities can temporarily disrupt the corrupted's control of the Armor, rendering them exposed and greatly weakened. The corrupted character can, however, also channel their own Wavelength abilities through any part of the armor, whether attached or not, making it possible to strike from multiple angles simultaneously. It is critical, however, that the Armor of the Damned and the corrupted character maintain at least partial physical contact -- if the armor is somehow stripped away entirely it reverts to being a harmless, ordinary shadow.[/ul]
At this point the victim's entire nature is influenced by Mephisto's corrupt energies and may, in fact, be waist-deep in madness. They are almost helplessly addicted; any attempts to leave the Path of Corruption at this level will REQUIRE the intervention of another person's character and something akin to a Healing Wavelength / Regeneration Magic ability being used on the character. What's more, a truly epic battle within the corrupted character's soul can also be expected. For anyone who successfully pulls this off, I will gladly award you with a healthy boon of Points to match the stellar character development of such a trial.
A character at this stage of corruption has an ashen, pale look about them and eyes that glow faintly in the dark. Their soul is trapped within a cage of black thorns. If they are part of a Weapon/Meister team, their partner is automatically eligible for the first stage of corruption at any time they wish.
Mephisto, for his part, gains a terrifying new power when in the presence of a Heretic-level corrupted character:
At this point, the victim's corruption runs so deeply that Mephisto can easily manipulate their soul's wavelength, rendering him not only the perfect Meister for a corrupted Demon Weapon but also able to induce his own form of Chain Resonance, known as Soul Blasphemy, with his victim. Mephisto's speed and strength will match that of his corrupted "teammate" -- this is particularly effective while the corrupted character is using Armor of the Damned -- and, more horrifyingly, will give him the ability to use ANY and ALL of his victim's powers and abilities for a short time. This includes the partial transformations of a Demon Weapon. However, unlike true Chain Resonance which grows stronger with each Meister involved, Soul Blasphemy can only be used with one corrupted character at a time.[/ul]
Mephisto can also read a Heretic-level character's thoughts as he pleases and even manifest himself within their "soul landscape" (which, consequentially, is now impossibly overgrown with thorns). He can induce crippling pain or the heights of pleasure in his victim with nary a whim, but does not yet have the power to kill them outright with his influence.That comes later...
FINAL STAGE: Grand Abomination
This is literally as close as Mephisto's influence can bring a person to becoming a Kishin Egg -- the few small steps that remain are up to them. To reach this point a person must do more than accept their craving for the power of corruption; they must accept Mephisto as their master. Typically this isn't a hard decision; when one approaches this stage there is no hiding the madness and perversion within. Partial transformation into a monstrous new body may have already begun or be imminent, a wild craving to consume the souls of innocents runs unchecked through the person's mind, and their sickly disposition is plain to see. Such an individual is likely already on Shinigami's list of souls to be hunted. The character's soul is wreathed in shadows and thorns, and salvation is next to impossible. Given the circumstances, it is no longer a question of "can I trust him?" but rather "is there any other choice?". And once the choice is made...
... there is no turning back.
A victim who has reached this stage gains an upgraded version of Armor of the Damned, as outlined below:
Similar in appearance to Armor of the Damned, Hell Aegis is both a vast enhancement and defensive power -- taken up a notch. This "armor", which now pulses with a crimson glow, possesses a life all its own. Unlike its previous incarnation, the Hell Aegis material is a mix of liquefied shadow and a small measure of the corrupted's blood, rendering it fully able to move and act as a separate body while still granting the same benefits of improved speed and strength. In fact, a Hell Aegis can travel up to ten miles from its host body; anything more, though, and it dissolves and must be remade. This stronger version is highly resistant to anything less than Resonance-level attacks and cannot be disrupted by soul wavelengths. The only apparent weakness of the Hell Aegis is that killing the corrupted will bring its violent rampage to an end.[/ul]
Mephisto also benefits from having "created" a Grand Abomination, gaining a new attack power.
A sick parody of the famed Witch Hunter move, Soul Hunter combines the soul energy of Mephisto with that of at least one Grand Abomination-level corrupted character to create a large crescent-shaped blade of crimson energy. This blade hovers in the air and is "wielded" directly by Mephisto's mind, making it a dangerous threat to anyone he faces. What's more, the power and size of the blade can be dramatically increased when more than one Grand Abomination's power is pooled for the attack. The Grand Abominations that Mephisto taps to create Soul Hunter needn't be anywhere nearby their master; they don't even have to be willing participants. They simply have to be. Mephisto can conjure and dispel Soul Hunter at will and there is no time limit on its use.[/ul]
At this point in the Path of Corruption, all that remains is for Mephisto to recognize that his prey is just about to become a full-blown Kishin Egg... and then consume them. It is worth noting that none of the powers gained from the Path of Corruption can be effectively used against Mephisto, as he can cancel them out without even a thought.
(For characters that make it this far: eventually Mephisto will turn on you. As a warning: there will be a very real chance of character death once you reach this point, but that's the price of "free" power. If your character manages to survive/escape somehow, you're free to go. If not... your soul is mine.)[/ul]
When a character is on the Path of Corruption the following banner, along with info on what stage of corruption the character is in, will be added to the character's profile (by Mod Nascent):
[right][IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/SpecterTH/Flickering%20Souls/CORRUPTION_banner.png[/IMG][/right]
To free a character from the Path of Corruption requires a special Mission. If this is your intention, send a PM to either this account or 'Mod Nascent' to set up the scenario. This will become far more difficult the further down the Path a character gets, and is no longer an option once the final stage, Grand Abomination, is reached.[/ul][/size]
SOUL CONSUMPTION
TYPE: Passive
STRENGTH: Average
KEYWORDS: healing via eating souls
DESCRIPTION:
Being a Kishin Egg, Mephisto has a natural inclination towards the consumption of souls. Over the ages, however, he has tamed this ravenous hunger and turned it towards his own ends.
When Mephisto consumes a soul it has the immediate effect of regenerating any bodily injuries he's sustained. He does, of course, need to have enough of himself intact to actually consume the soul for this to work, and extreme injuries such as the loss of an arm or leg can take hours to heal even after devouring a soul. The stronger the soul, however, the quicker he can recover.
[/ul]
EQUIPMENT:
TYPE: Weapon
STRENGTH: Average
DESCRIPTION:
The Glock series of semiautomatic pistols are amongst the most commonly owned firearms in the world. Firing 9 millimeter shells from a 17-round magazine, these weapons are effective sidearms and can do reliable damage to a target with standard human vulnerabilities. Their effectiveness is diminished against the superior training and physical conditioning Shibusen offers, and their usefulness against witches, Kishin Eggs, and other supernatural beings is also far from top notch. Nonetheless, a few rounds of hot lead at just the right time can still be an effective deterrent, even in a world of supernatural weapons and unpredictable magics.
Mephisto keeps two of these pistols concealed on his person at all times.[/ul]
MINIONS:
VEHICLES:
- - -
LOYALTY: Self
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
Likes: Philosophy, literature, certain types of music (preferably with dark overtones)
Dislikes: Fighting any battle that wasn't his choice, arrogant witches, Shibusen and Shinigami
Strengths: Highly experienced and cunning, high durability, naturally charismatic and persuasive nature, exceptional knowledge of history, easily able to blend into society/crowds, unique powers of corruption, perception, and telepathy
Weaknesses: Barely more than human-level strength and speed, extreme reaction to high-level Soul Wavelength attacks, will often choose to flee rather than stand and fight, exaggerated sense of vanity, pride and self-importance, cannot use high-level attack powers without a deeply corrupted minion
Hobbies: Reading (or re-reading, rather) old books, meditation, wine connoisseur . . . and did we mention the whole "devil in the shadows" soul corruption thing?
PERSONALITY:
... a devious, soul-consuming old sage who specializes in corrupting the hearts and minds of others.
Mephisto above all else relishes the twisting of strong, noble souls into perverse Kishin Eggs, and has made doing so both an art form and his life's work. He is peculiar amongst those on the path to Kishin-hood; instead of plucking up the nearest soul and devouring it in a bloody feast Mephisto preys almost exclusively on souls teetering on the edge of becoming Kishin Eggs, flavored with deep, rich fears and stewed in their own madness. His attraction to this particular soul-state right on the brink of a wicked transformation is on the level of an extreme fetish; while he will sometimes "snack" on innocent souls or even other Kishin Eggs when his hunger is strong, he LIVES to devour souls at the height of purely human corruption. The reasons behind this are not entirely clear. Though he claims it is simply a matter of relishing the taste of a soul in moral collapse it is possible that there is much more to this sinister "hobby". After all, a more aggressive approach could have let him ascend to a full Kishin long ago... though there is something to be said for how easily he can "fly under the radar" of organizations like Shibusen, and may be a factor in his having survived for so long.
Mephisto is a silver-tongued serpent who can weave his way into unsuspecting hearts and minds with ease. His "natural" charisma is actually the result of centuries worth of experience combined with an extreme talent in Soul Perception, which is one of his specialties. He can rapidly evaluate the souls of even complete strangers, getting a general idea of personalities in a matter of moments. Most of all, however, he has a talent for sniffing out fear; as one who specializes in corruption, the desperation which comes with strong fear is one of his favorite tools.
When not involved in some carefully constructed plot of corrupting influence, Mephisto is typically to be found relaxing at clubs or idly walking the streets of whichever city suits his fancy. He occasionally picks out a book, but loses interest quickly -- all the "good literature", in his opinion, was written at least a hundred years ago... and he's already read it. All of it. He has a mixed outlook on witches, willing to work cooperatively with them but ever wary of becoming somebody's "pet demon". This comes from a strong sense of independence; Mephisto is no one's minion or puppet, a fact he makes utterly clear when forming any sort of alliance. He views Shibusen and Shinigami as if they, and he, were players in a game -- he especially likes to pick out Demon Weapons and Meisters as targets for his corrupting influence and seems, at least on the surface, to regard the lord of death as a distant threat at most.
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HISTORY:
"There aren't many who survived the Grim Times, you know. Some might say I'm lucky to have been overlooked in Shinigami's great purge of the world... others might accuse me of being too weak to merit his cold ministrations. I assure you, all such presumptions are fallacy -- I was neither ignored, nor powerless."
"For power, you see, takes many forms. There is power that destroys; blades that rip and tear, hammers that smash into a million pieces, spells and energies that scorch the earth with their passing. There is power that creates; the sculptor at his clay, the painter at her canvas, the mind which dreams and schemes up the future. And then, there is power which manipulates... which twists and turns and spins around, which makes black white and white black, which takes what others have fashioned and applies it in ways they never imagined. That is my power. Let others rise up and cast down... ultimately, it all works to my benefit."
"I have seen the world change a hundred times over in my lifetime; very little of it truly impresses me anymore. One thing I am certain of, however, is this: with every gleam of light is born a shadow. In my case, it was December 25th in the year 800 AD -- the very day that Charlemagne was crowned by the Pope, the very hour that the so-called 'Holy Roman Empire' came into existence -- far to the east, in a village that has all but been erased by the passing of the ages. In this remote place, far from the reach of Christendom and its ilk... was a demon born."
"Even before I left my humanity behind, I was a hunter. Sometimes of deer and fish... other times of men. The warfare of that age was a brutal, bloody affair, full of idiots. They would charge through the trees, screaming, shouting... never expecting the ground beneath them to turn into leaves and broken twigs, never expecting the earth to swallow them up. Yes, even back then I was a layer of traps, and I was good at it. Damn good."
"I don't know when the change began, really. Maybe it was always inside me, waiting until I was ready to embrace it. Others on this path talk about a turning point, something that made them SNAP like a twig and turn them towards monstrosity. I never experienced such a thing... maybe that's why I still look every bit as human as I did back then. Some stray or stumble onto the path, others find and embrace it, but not I."
"I was born on the path of damnation."
"When the hunger came over me, I went to war. In my youth I thought it was just that simple, a mere bloodlust like so many others had. But when my bow had found its mark and my traps had gathered their fill I still felt... restless, unsatisfied. So instead of waiting for war to find me I went looking for it. In the cities to the east I found my calling, turning desperate peasants into brutal murderers. In time I formed an underworld kingdom for myself, training all manner of scoundrels to work for me: thieves, thugs, harlots, assassins. An empire of shadows and blood that made the city my plaything. And yet, always the hunger gnawed at the back of my mind, teasing me like a whisper or the memory of a caress."
"And then the Crusaders came, and everything went to hell."
"I watched my city burn. I watched my minions turn, first on each other, and then on me. Had I not caught the eye of a powerful witch this tale may indeed have ended upon a bloody, treasonous dagger. She came to me with promises of power and revenge, telling me that a great power slept inside of me that only she could awaken. I would be the master of shadows again, the claimer of every bloody prize this world could offer. She offered me everything in exchange for my loyalty... but hatred, you see, is a very powerful thing. More powerful, at times, than magic. She had arrived too late to seize an advantage over me... for when hunger is fed by malice a monster is born."
"The weak little witch, who thought to make me her plaything, gave such a crisp sound when I snapped her neck. Rather like celery, or a carrot. That day I feasted on my first soul... and was awakened onto my true path."
"Years passed. I occupied myself with this and that, never staying anywhere for very long. I quickly found that indulging my hunger for souls too long in any one place brought Crusaders, witch-hunters, and other trouble which was best to avoid. Fortunately for me, they all looked for murderers or monsters; when they saw I didn't look like a beast and spoke as a man of learning they typically moved on, though there were still a few close calls now and again. It was during this time I came to realize my sway over others, turning good men into coarse heathens and weak minds into strong killers. All it took was a nudge... and a little bit of dark power. Where other would-be Kishins hoard their power for their own purposes I quickly discovered that it is, indeed, better to give than receive -- the end results are so much more fruitful. In time, however, rumors began to spread of a devil roaming the lands... and, not being one to turn down such a compliment, actually played up the tales towards greater infamy. Why be a mere man of flesh, after all, when you can be an alluring, terrifying messenger from hell itself?"
"And of course there was that whole business with the good Doctor Faust. I'd grown tired of toying with the rabble and thought I'd try for someone of a bit... higher nature. The tale of what transpired has been rather embellished over the ages, mind you -- any talk of unlimited knowledge, Helen of Troy, or angels swooping in to save him at the last moment is reactionist tripe -- but the gist of it is true enough. He made a deal with who he thought was the devil... and in the end I took his soul. Some of my best work, that little episode. Make no mistake: Faust was a great man... but a far better meal."
"Of course, nothing is ever easy. Though decades and centuries passed me without blemish or wrinkle, though souls great and small fell to my wiles... eventually a storm came: a purge of such scale and intensity as to make all the wars of the Crusaders look like a mere skirmish. Death itself descended on the world, clawing at the shadows and devouring monsters both ancient and young. I may never know exactly what caused him to step in, but in those dark times my legend, which I had built with such pride and arrogance, became as a chain around my neck. Notoriety has a way of coming back to bite you, and demons incarnate are no exception. When Shinigami and his allies came hunting for the evil called Mephistopheles, well... I ran. What was I to do? I had no army, no earth-shaking powers with which to strike down a god. Even so, they came for me eventually. Still, I had my share of battles; no victories, and far too many close calls. In the Grim Times everyone was desperate -- Shinigami was desperate to rid the world of Kishins, Kishins were desperate to kill anyone and everyone they could, and we 'lesser demons' were desperate just to survive the whole cursed mess."
"I'm embarrassed to admit it, but eventually it got so bad I had to fake my own death. Not that it was the first time, mind you... but it doesn't get any more pleasant with experience. I'll never forget that day, that bleak, cold day for as long as I still live."
"Eight hundred years have passed. I've been very, very patient. But the hunger never really goes away. Now, with Shinigami tied down to his little town and the world growing more and more tumultuous by the day, I find myself able to start taking chances again. This time will be different. This time, Shinigami will be made to pay for all I've endured. Not right away... not directly. I work like a poisoned apple, you see; start in the eyes, the mind, a little taste of forbidden fruit, a tingle here and there... and once I've worked my way in, the heart belongs to me."
"For I, my friend, am Mephistopheles -- born into this world that the light may know darkness, the pure might know the utter corruption of their false morality, and that even the blood of gods might flow in the streets."
MORE INFO:
This ancient corrupter wields black-bladed daggers as his weapons, usable both at close range and as thrown weapons. These he generates using his own malevolent energies, granting a nearly infinite supply. He has also taken it upon himself to gain proficiency with most types of pistols and keeps a pair of fully loaded Glock 17s on his person at all times. This is primarily to supplement his rather limited attack power in combat.
Overall, however, it is Mephisto's policy to avoid any confrontation where he isn't confident of his own success. He has narrowly escaped death one too many times to go putting his life on the line for hollow gains.[/size]
RP Sample:
The more things change, the more they stay the same. This, he concluded with cold indifference, was the ultimate truth of life.
The city buzzed with life all around him, a vast hive of humanity stirred to perpetual activity. The feeling of nigh-countless souls, all jammed into one narrow corridor of streets and towers, brought with it a flood of memories: the hallowed streets of Rome, the canals of Venice, the walls of Constantinople... in his long lifetime it felt as if he'd been everywhere at least once. The demon-incarnate mentally chided himself; no, not everywhere. Ticking off a mental list of exotic destinations he decided to make his way to Toyko at some future point. Japanese was such a beautiful language... that, and the people there were agreeable to so many things. It almost made his mouth water, imagining what he could get away with.
Sipping idly at a glass of white wine, Mephisto looked out upon the skyline. In his mind each skyscraper was a Tower of Babel and each rooftop an altar to some unnamed god. The world of short-lived human lives reached endlessly for whatever it could take hold of, each generation seeking to out-do the last -- if not outright destroy what those ancestors had built. This was "progress", then, this running around in circles to the point of nausea. He laughed at the thought; all was, indeed, mere vanity and striving after the wind. It was doubtful any of these short-sighted people even knew what they wanted out of their meager existences; that was the curse of living a powerless life, something those in seats of authority had long ago realized. No longer were whips and chains needed to drive slaves onward to build the obelisks of their masters, no. The modern way, a title and a paycheck, was so much more efficient... and just as ephemeral in the end.
He took another sip, then held the drink over the edge of the balcony and let it drop. For a moment the sun caught the plummeting glass and its trail of liquid contents just right, turning the goblet into diamond and the liquid into a broken string of pearls. Then both slipped into the shadow of a tall building and were lost from sight. He breathed in deeply, anticipating the terrified cry of some innocent below, and smiled grimly when it reached his ears.
Beautiful.[/ul]