The Half-Bone Lord

Sir Bradyn Mannering (a.k.a. The Half-Bone Lord)

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

If it weren't for his half skeletal form, Bradyn would be easily considered a handsome if thin young man in his mid-twenties. His power keeps him in peak physical condition without the need to eat, sleep or even breathe and any injuries or blemishes are quickly healed away, leaving him unchanging even after almost a millennium.

Identifying Characteristics

The most obvious physical trait that identifies the Half-Bone Lord is his namesake, the fact that his entire left hand side consists of only a bleached skeleton. This does not however, hinder Mannering's movements or abilities in any way as the fae magic that keeps him alive allows his body to act as though the other half were still there.

Special abilities

Bradyn's primary and most obvious power is his immortality. Bradyn almost immediately heals from any wound he suffers, with lost body parts or flesh quickly floating back to attach itself to his main form. This floating isn't unstoppable however and pieces can be secured to stop them reattaching at which point it will continue trying until freed again. Bradyn's wounds also don't bleed, with his power keeping blood from flowing away from his body, and if decapitated he doesn't lose consciousness, though it does render him unable to speak. Bradyn's secondary power is his grasp of practical and incantation-based magics. In combat, the Half-Bone Lord generally relies upon elemental spells, creating and manipulating fire, water, earth, air and lightning to attack his enemies, but with the use of the words of creation, Bradyn can create a number of other useful effects, assuming he's able to speak them that is.

Apparel & Accessories

Bradyn Mannering, while requiring no accoutrements for his powers or abilities to work, has a preference for long coats of brown or black and tri-corner hats, as they bring back memories of his sea-faring days.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Barely twenty-two at the start of the third crusade and newly knighted, the young Bradyn Mannering hadn't seen any actual combat before he was called upon to travel far from all he knew to take part in a holy mission of conquest and, while he'd been training for much of his life and was theoretically prepared to lay down his life for king and country, the harsh reality of battle was very different than he'd anticipated. When faced with true combat, his skills were sharp, but his unit was soon met with a seemingly insurmountable foe, an actual wizard by the name of Archantz. The men-at-arms and other soldiers slowly managed to push the wizard back to his tower and quickly made their way inside, but quickly fell prey to the wizard's traps and tricks, and eventually Bradyn was the last man standing. Bradyn, scared and alone was left all-but-blindly stumbling through the reality-twisting halls of the tower until he found himself in a great library wherein he found a shadowy creature held captive by the wizard. In return for freeing him, the creature promised to grant him a wish. Bradyn agreed, freeing the creature and wishing to not die in the tower. The creature offered him immortality but at the cost of a flesh and blood sacrifice. Not sure what it meant but not sure whether the wizard would be in at any moment, Bradyn agreed and his wish was granted, though the cost was seemingly not taken immediately. The creature simply disappeared, tittering to itself as it left him. Bradyn's newfound immortality helped him to defeat the wizard and take the tower for himself, using the library to learn a great deal about magic and the world at large as the flesh down his left side slowly rotted away down to the bone.

Education

During the 1100s in England, becoming a knight typically required several years of training and education. As a young boy, Bradyn Mannering was sent to a noble household to serve as a page, where he would learn etiquette, courtly behaviour, and basic combat skills. After several years as a page, he became a squire, and served as a personal assistant to Sir Leonard of Surrey, while continuing his martial training. This included mastering weapons such as swords, shields, and spears, as well as horseback riding and hunting. He learned the code of chivalry and the importance of honour and duty. In the intervening years, Bradyn has travelled the earth, picking up knowledge and skills wherever he went which has gone some way to making him one of the most knowledgeable people currently walking the earth. His martial skills are without a living comparison, and he has a wealth of practical knowledge including several crafts, languages and is one of the world's strongest incantation magic users.

Employment

Over the years, Bradyn has held many roles, primarily by local rulers hoping to make use of his powers and abilities for their own ends. Aside from his previous life as a crusader, he's also held roles as a privateer (and occasional pirate), ninja, sheriff, and more recently a corporate executive, making use of a fortune accrued over the equivalent of several lifetimes.

Mental Trauma

Bradyn Mannering is not insane. Not in the way that other villains can be at least. His use of magic and the oftentimes malicious influence of the dark fey that granted him his immortality can cause his personality to fluctuate, often gradually, but with growing rapidity as he gets older.

Gifted with immortality during the Third Crusade by the notoriously fickle and vindictive dark fey, Bradyn Mannering paid a heavy cost including half his flesh and the soundness of his mind. During the intervening centuries Mannering has wavered between bouts of extreme heroism and heinous evil, owing to the whims of his chaotic patrons and his own magical studies, carving his own scar across history and bringing him into conflict with superheroes all the way to the modern day.

Alignment

Chaotic Neutral

Conditions