There is always a cost to power. Always.— Xael, Theurg.
A well-traveled theurg, Xael will not speak of the things that drove him to carve the jagged symbols into his flesh or the quest he now pursues. The only clue he has ever offered his friends are that not all of his scars were made by his own hand. The quiet, unassuming man still struggles to control the power he now wields.
Personality
Whatever past that haunts him has made Xael a careful man. He is slow to act and speak, always taking the time to consider the situation. When Xael does speak, it is because he feels it is necessary to do so and expects others to listen. Being ignored rankles him, and it is a quick way to get on his bad side. He trusts few and especially few who 'talk too much.'
Xael is well aware of the consequences of power, wearing the marks of Thaumaturgy on his body. He is suspicious of any who flaunts their power, no matter its source, and one thing that can reliably stir him to action is the powerful abusing the powerless. The magic he commands has given perspective to more than a few local bullies and thugs, but this habit has gotten him in trouble more than a few times. Unless there is need, he has learned to use other tools than his Thaumaturgy.
Behind his quiet confidence, there is a nagging sense of inevitability. Every time he draws the reality-warping ichor through the brands on his body, he can feel the strain on his flesh and mind. He is already showing signs of the first mutations from his Thaumaturgy and fears, deep inside, that he is destined for complete degeneration.
Appearance
Xael is a lanky man of medium height with an average, unassuming build. He keeps his black hair short, though often neglects to really groom his scruff except when it becomes long enough to annoy him. He prefers simple and practical clothing, with no jewelry. He is never without a weapon, typically a short stabbing blade, and never without a satchel that contains a single, ancient page from pressed hattick. No matter his outfit, he always wears an iron vial around his neck on a string.
Xael's body bears the scars of all theurgs. Arcane symbols carved into his flesh, they allow him to pierce the veil of worlds and channel magic through his own body. On occasion, these scars excrete a black goop, and he sometimes complains that they ache when it is very cold. Not all of his injuries are ritualistic, with the poorly healed marks of a scourge visible across his back.
Skills & Abilities
Before anything else, Xael is a theurg. He is skilled at Thaumaturgy, and his focus is primarily on using stone, though his frequent visits to the Drowning City have made him pick up the trick to manipulating water as well. The art of Pyromancy and Shroomomancy eludes his grasp, however.
He is decent with his blade, and while he is no match for a
Kaia, his long travels have taught him how to survive in the wild tunnels of Araea well enough.
Xael has a secret weapon. The vial around his neck contains the poison of a fearsome Far Deep predator, strong enough to require the occasional replacement of the container. When times are truly dire, Xael uses his mastery of water manipulation on the liquid venom to terrifying effect.
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