M'rak

The Beast of Darkness

M'rak is one of the eight Mana Beasts, a manifestation of the inner darkness in all people, residing only in the Dark Plane, one of the eight Elemental Planes of the Goddess of Knowledge Sia. The utter worst of all people is brought out by the goadings of M'rak when he lends his power to mortals.

Powers and Abilities

Shatlita Gunn by Jarhed

M'rak's general power is the same as all Mana Beasts: to bind to a host and grant them his power.
The power is like Item Magic, a magic that is not natural, but flows from an external source into the user so that they gain a new magical affinity.
M'rak can also, however, decide to renounce his host and draw out of them, unlike the permanent binding of Item Magic. Therefore, he can flee them and leave them powerless, seeking out a new host.

M'rak Magic

M'rak's power, titled generally as "M'rak Magic" grants its user increased mana and magical control over all darkness, as well as a boost in their strength, speed, endurance, and durability.
What M'rak Magic also does, however, is draws out the inner darkness of the host. Their flaws come to the surface, be it rage, fear, utter confidence, or mind numbing brainlessness. Often this can lead to great tragedy.

History

For most of history, M'rak is believed to have remained in the Dark Plane. If he ever took a host, it was not a person who walked Totania, but instead perhaps one of the Elemental Planes.
The assumed story is that a Dark Genie had once wielded M'rak, perhaps invading the Light Plane and causing havoc there before he was killed and sent back. No historical evidence exists of this, but it is unlikely that M'rak had just sat still for so long until he was truly allowed out of the Dark Plane.

The Half-Orc

Shatt Gunn, a Half-Orc boy known best as a member of the Magic College Class of 550 and the Marshal of the Revolution for the Army of the Revolution, found himself trapped in the Dark Plane in 548. He had been studying at the Celestial Palace and was in the Dòngxué Hēi'àn when he accidentally fell into a portal that led to the Dark Plane.
It was pitch black and Shatt was unable to make out his surroundings. He was lost, but hope was not. He still had the willpower to move forward.

M'rak by RovaRed

The Mana Beasts

M'rak is one of the eight Mana Beasts, the most powerful creatures of the Elemental Planes, who can lend their powers to mortals. The other seven are, as follows:

• Phoenix- The Flame of Life, a Bird that resurrects itself from the Fire Plane.
• Raijū- Lightning Fast Instinct, a Wolf from the Lightning Plane.
• Kurma- Level Headedness and Responsibility, a Turtle from the Earth Plane.
• Seraph- The Inner Lightness, a six winged creature from the Light Plane.
• Charybdis- The Escape of Fate, a gaping maw from the Water Plane.
• Jormungandr- Accepting One's Fate, a large serpent from the Ice Plane.
• Tengu- Mischief and Arrogance, a Demonic creature from the Air Plane.

M'rak smelled opportunity, and appeared to Shatt in the darkness. His smile shown through the pitch black of the Dark Plane.

Shatt Gunn by genuinetrickster

"Do not deny me, Shatt Gunn. Accept your darkness, as your mother does. The world does not need heroes, the world only serves those who look to serve themselves. I can serve you if you serve me... accept the darkness in your heart."

— M'rak

Shatt refused, but M'rak managed to stow away in Shatt as he escaped the Dark Plane.
For two years, M'rak continued on with Shatt. When Shatt's rage took over, M'rak managed to use this to his advantage and cause Shatt to accidentally kill one of his enemies: Unlucky, the son of Lucky the Monion.
M'rak had possessed Unlucky temporarily, not being in control of Shatt at the time, but instead leaving Unlucky when Shatt attacked, letting the Goblin die. Shatt, horrified at what he had done, sent M'rak away.

Monster of Urd Grabad

M'rak, however, had a backup plan. He fled to Shatlita Gunn, Shatt's mother, who was also known once as the Monster of Urd Grabad for her rage and ferocity. M'rak offered her that chance again and Shatlita, who had gotten a taste of bloodshed recently in the Battle for Southern Elone after joining the Army of the Revolution and the Southern Elone Treaty Organization, agreed.
Under M'rak's influence, the Monster of Urd Grabad began wreaking havoc on the people of Draconian territory, living up once more to her title. M'rak was happy to experience such rich inner darkness as existed within Shatlita Gunn, something that was much more developed than the darkness of her son, Shatt.

Appearance

M'rak, unlike other Mana Beasts, does not have a true body necessarily. He is darkness itself. His standard appearance consists of a smile piercing through the dark, maliciously egging on those who witness it to give into their base desires. Some say the smile of M'rak is his body, and that he can simply control darkness, while others say the very concept of dark is his being.

Knowledge

M'rak is able to know the hearts of all who hold inner darkness. He knows their names and their deeds, knows where they are and where the sites of their dark actions were. He uses this to his advantage, making people into puppets for his dark will which is, in reality, an extension of the host themselves.