Sebastian the Ochre

From Egs Mayhem

Current revision as of 23:20, 17 February 2009

Brief Description

Sebastian is my character for Swift Nebulons' Free-Form Fantasy RP. He is an old & powerful wizard, who likes to manipulate things for his own benefits. He isn't afraid to get his hands dirty, but prefers to operate either through gullible saps or his conjured Etherials.

Sebastian has recently has been recruited to serve as an agent of an Entity known as He Who Watches. This Entity has some issues with the EGS Defence Force. In return for service, Sebastian received a warning about an approaching army & two powerful new spells, that take up a whole book each. He communicates with He Who Watches with a magical scroll.

P.S. He's now dead.

Physical Description

Sebastian is over a century old & looks it. Picture Herbert from Family Guy, but dressed in an ochre coloured robe, completely white eyes & an ebony walking stick instead of a Zimmer frame.

Personality

A bad tempered old man with power. He's a natural curmudgeon who is smarter than most people and isn't afraid to let other people know it. Also he is incredibly amoral & calculating, always looking out for himself.

However, he is wise & erudite. He can also be charming when he feels the need, though he would rarely lower himself to use false charm to get what he wants. Not when verbal bullying works so well. But, if he truly meant someone he could respect, then they would see a very different side of him.

Powers

Physically, he is a VERY old man. He is only alive due to magic. Also, his senses are similarly impaired, though again magic is used to compensate. As a result, he can't hear anything that doesn't come from a living source, has a very weak sense of touch, and no sense of smell or taste.

Magically is another matter. He uses a magic system very similar to El Goonish Shive & knows many spells. In fact, his spell selection is so great that he has multiple spell books. In addition, he knows many esoteric skills, techniques & secrets, plus has access to, and the ability to enchant, Items Of Power. Unfortunately, away from his home much of this is either invalid or inaccessible.

What he can do can be categorized into three groups.

• Spells: These are relatively quick effects that are powered by Sebastian's Spiritual Energy.
• Rituals: These take longer to perform and/or need material components or similar. Additionally, not all require the expenditure of spirit energy or even magical ability.
• Items: This is an item of power that Sebastian possesses.

The powers that he has demonstrated will be listed here. The list will grow.

Spells

• Astral Projection: Sebastian's equivalent of the fairy doll spell. The difference is Sebastian's mind exists purely in the Spiritual Plane while this spell is active. However, he can manifest an Illusionary Form to communicate with the physical world. Also, his body doesn't glow when the spell is active, nor can it remain standing, but it can sit.
• Awe: Also known as Look Badass, this spell simply does that. Wind, lights, whatever it takes happens to make Sebastian look as impressive as possible. For an old man, at any rate. When combined with Power Display, the results can be truly remarkable.
• Battle Form: This spell shifts Sebastian into a form more suited for combat. The appearance is vaguely demonic, with ochre coloured scales, talons on the end of the fingers & toes, fangs, forward pointing horns & a spine-covered tail. In addition, this form grants increased strength & agility. However, one thing it can't do is reverse the ageing process. This fact, coupled with its high cost to cast, means it hasn't been used in some time.
• Blessing of Cliora: When asked as to why he would know such a spell, Sebastian's responce is generally on the lines of "I wasn't always an old man." This spell fires a beam that 'enhances' any woman hit, to Sebastian's tastes, ie, shorter, bustier, longer hair, wider hips, fuller lips & lustier. However, the beam will only effect those that Seb would be interested in the first place, ie, adults & human looking. For example, it wouldn't effect a centaur or anthro, but would an elf or Manga cat-girl. Incidentally, Cliora is a goddess of female beauty in one of the lands back on Seb's world, though the spell has no connection to her other than name & effect.
• Confound the Hunter's Might: This spell is a specific application of Sebastian's Illusionary Mastery. When cast, multiple illusionary copies are Seb are created & immediately scatter. These copies are identical to his normal Illusions except they can function beyond his sensory range. Also, they are programmed to flee only.
• Distract: This simply spell only effect the weak willed. It simply causes them to lose mental focus & become distracted for a few seconds, regardless of what they were doing at the time. They remain full recollection of the event afterwards & depending on the situation or individual may realize they were enspelled. Finally, Sebastian can target multiple individuals at once with this, but the cost increasing exponentially with each target beyond the first.
• Force Field: Sebastian is constantly protected by a telekinetic barrier, even when asleep or unconscious. This field can stop all weak attacks, up to say a 9mm handgun, and covers his clothes and possessions too. Its effects also stack with Sebastian's more active defences.
• Illusion Mastery: This is Sebastian's first mastery, thus his greatest magically ability. However, he takes care not to overuse this & definitively doesn't advertise, letting everyone believe that telekinesis is his focus. There is really no limit to what Sebastian's Illusions can do. They can even act on their own if imbued with an aspect of his personality. However, there are restrictions. All Illusions must remain within Sebastian's sensory range, though this can be extended magically. Also, as the Illusions are phantasms formed from bent light, any physical contact will dispel them. Finally, Sebastian can't make himself invisible with this spell.
• Inventory: Despite his physical weakness, he can can carry many items, like a RPG Console Character. However, he can only carry something that he is physically capable of carrying.
• Invigorate the Mortal Coil: This spell is one of the reasons Sebastian is still alive & requires constant maintenance. Basically, it knocks a few years of his age, so he functions as a 100 year old man, not a 111 one. A small but crucial difference. However, if Sebastian over exerts himself, then this spell will start to fail. Similarly, if he is ever without any Spiritual Energy, then the system shock could kill him, especially if it was a sudden drain.
• Invoke Pathos: This spell allows Sebastian to influence someone's emotions, but not to a great extent. For example, someone who is naturally brave couldn't be made to fear in most situations, but a coward could always be sent screaming. Also, if the change is to out of character, they are likely to realize they were spellbound, as they are if they resist.
• Portals: Though a spell, this incantation can only be used in conjunction with Scrying, ie, a portal can only be made to an area being scryed. The portal itself is either the reflective surface being used or, with double the cost in Spirit Energy, a magical projection from the surface that is a little bigger. These Portals can also be used to go from one dimension/reality/universe/whatever to another, though this is more expensive.
• Power Display: This isn't a spell per se, more a natural ability of all Magic Users. Sebastian can focus his Spiritual Energy, similar to Nanase with her Chi, which increases the amount he has readily available & puts on a impressive display. Think Gandalf from the LotR film when Bilbo accused him of being a thief, or Gladriel when she was offered the ring by Frodo. Also, this doesn't require 'concentration', so another spell can can be used at the same time. The down side is though it increases the Energy on hand, it burns through the reserve quite quickly.
• Sense Magic: This spell allows Sebastian to detect the presence of magic, determine its strength & analyse its nature. This spell has an impressive range & can either detect all around him or have its area focused to increase its range even more. The two analytical functions work by concentrating on the magical presence after its detected.
• Shift Single Physical Feature: Sebastian can change one of his physical traits, but only within normal human parameters. For example, hair, eyes & skin are all valid options, but growing wings or gills isn't. Also, gender shifts are too great a change for this spell, though he can make himself a few years younger. (Like it makes a difference at his age). Again, as Sebastian isn't a shapeshifter, any other change will overrides, not stack with, this spell.
• Sphere of Protection: This spell brings forth a sphere of energy that stops everything except light & sound, up to just over one kiloton in force. However, it is immensely draining thus cannot be maintained for extended periods. As a result, Sebastian normally uses his staff to maintain it, which is cheaper anyway. In addition, as it stops air, it is theoretically possible to suffocate while the spell is active.
• Telekinetic Mastery: Sebastian has a whole spell book devoted to what he can do with this. He has enough control to thread a needle & enough power to lift 1000 lbs without effort. He can also use this spell offensively, by throwing objects, grabbing and crushing, or by firing a beam of condensed force that has the speed & strength of a Barrett rifle. He can also send out a semi-circle of force, similar in effect to a 'Soul Fury' (tm) attack. Also, this is how Sebastian flies. It can also be used to passively reduce the impact of attacks & collisions, but not very efficiently. However, there is only so much this spell can do at once. For example, if Sebastian is both flying & restraining someone, then there will be less force to protect him.
• Touch Of Pain: With but a touch of the hand or a poke from his stick, Sebastian can ignite the nerves of that area touched with agony. However, no real damage is being done & the pain ends as soon as contact is broken, though its memory is sure to linger.

Rituals

• Aegis of Mortal Blows: This powerful protective ritual inures Sebastian to all kinetic force. However, this has many drawbacks. Firstly, anything even slightly magical is unaffected. Secondly, all other forms of damage work normally, which means that bullets can still cause burns, for example. Finally, while this enchantment is active Sebastian is unable to exert non-magical kinetic force himself, so for example can't walk. Luckily, gravity still applies. One final note, like many of Seb's Rituals, this one can't be dismissed prematurely.
• Alacrity of Passage: This ritual takes no components & is relatively quick to cast. First, Sebastian picks a direction. Then, he begins to chant. The longer the chant, the more power is built up. When ready, Seb simply stops chanting & moves in the desired direction. Provided he moves under his own power, normally by foot or flight, then his speed his increased by the amount of power built up. The enchantment stops when Sebastian either stops or changes direction. Fortunately, reactions are increased to cope with the increased speed, as collision are as painful as you would imagine them to be.
• Alchemy: With this ritual Sebastian can create various magical liquids, with various effects. The brewing process is incredible time consuming, though it doesn't constant maintenance. Obviously, Alchemical paraphernalia, in addition to the actual ingredients, are needed for this. The actual substances have varying shelf lives, but are usually hermetically sealed soon after creation & stored in Inventory Space.
• Armour of Earthly Fury: Calling upon the very land itself, Sebastian encases himself in a 10ft rocky shell. While armoured up as such, Sebastian has full access to all his magical abilities, as well as increased strength & toughness. In appearance, this form appears as some kind of Earth Elemental or Golem, with craggy 'skin' red, glowing eyes.
• Bind 'Golem' Etherial: Sebastian can summon & bind many Spirit Entities. This Ritual brings forth a powerful, yet lesser, spirit that has to inhabit a physical object/substance to effect the physical world. However, the resulting amalgam is quite strong & intelligent. Sebastian can only maintain one of these at a time & must remain in his Ritual Circle or risk losing control.
• Bind 'Lesser' Etherials: Sebastian can summon & bind many Spirit Entities. This ritual brings forth up to seven lesser spirits. These spirits are weak & not even sentient, but easy to summon & control. First special candles, one per spirit, must be prepared. Then, they must be lit within a Lunar Month to summon the spirit. The form of the spirit is determined at the preparation stage. Also, Sebastian must remain within his Ritual Circle to control them, otherwise they do nothing, but can see through there eyes while doing so. Unfortunately, they can never speak or make any other form of vocal sound.
• Binding of Tongues: This ritual has two forms. The first requires no components, invocations or gestures. All Sebastian has to do is concentrate on the mental exercises as he reads or listens to an unknown language. This will cause each word to become known to him as if he was a native speaker. However, it doesn't cover sentence structure & other forms of grammar. The second form allows Sebastian to imbue the knowledge of any language he knows to another. This does require the usual rigmarole & takes a minimum of four hours to perform.
• Blade Venom: Sebastian can temporarily imbue any bladed or piercing implement with the ability to excrete a magical toxin. This toxin has the following effects: against shapeshifters it acts like Lespuko Venom; against Magic Users it hampers their magical abilities; & against spiritual/magical creatures it acts as a painful neurotoxin. If the victim falls under multiple categories then the effects stack. The enchantment lasts up to a day, but the toxin can be removed from someone's system before that by the usual methods.
• Call the Earth's Scream: This ritual creates & directs massive vibrational energy. This isn't enough to cause earthquakes or knock down buildings, but it will shatter glass & crystal easily. Also, if used against a living target, it can stun or kill easily. The vibrations can also be used to create sound, eg, a sonic boom, just as easily.
• Channel Pouriston: One of the spell books given to Sebastian by He Who Watches. Pouriston is a malignant Entity with an affinity for Fire, Rage and Pain. However, it is NOT demonic. It is also highly intelligent, and very powerful. This dangerous & complex spell allows Pouriston to enter the the present reality, but under conditions. Most of the casting time is stating these conditions. However, it in no way compels Pouriston to accept the invitation. Alternatively, the spell can be used to safely communicate with Pouriston without allowing it access to reality. However, it does not compel truth in any way. Using this spell requires no spirit energy, regardless of form.
• Commune with Beasts: This Ritual allows Sebastian to talk with any warm blooded natural animal. However, he has no command over them.
• Crafting: As mentioned before, Sebastian can craft Items of Power. This is an expensive, time consuming & potentially dangerous undertaking. Also, despite his great skill & experience, these Items are never as he completely intended, if they even work at all. Therefore, throughout his long life, this most basic of wizardly abilities has probably been used the least of all his many talents.
• Elemental Resistance: Sebastian can, with a lengthy & expensive ritual, enchant his body to protect him from one source of harm. This can be anything except physical attacks or something like magic, which is too generic. However, it could be fire, lightning, etc. To do so requires a representation of the source to be guarded against. The protection lasts up to a day & Sebastian can only have one active at a time.
• Greater Shapeshifting: Sebastian can, with a lengthy & expensive ritual, transform himself into an animal, an anthro animal, change his gender, change his appearance, or some combination. However, each specific form must be researched individually, which takes about as long as it does to manually code a new form for a CMD from scratch. Also, in addition to generic expensive components, which equal the cost of a CMD per shot, samples that connect to the form desired must be attained. These too are expended with the casting. The Forms last up to a month, but can be dismissed at any point. Finally, Sebastian is limited by the fact he isn't a natural shapeshifter in what is possible with this Ritual.
• Invoke Ignatius' Fury: This is truly destructive magic, that brings forth flames of intense magnitude, just short of white hot. When the ritual is completed, the fire can strike anywhere that Sebastian can perceive, magically or otherwise. At this point he has no control over the inferno. The initial conflagration has roughly a 10' radius.
• Mantle of Ignatius: Another invocation named after a Deity of Sebastian's home world. This one imbues his touch with a white hot heat while simultaneously protecting him from lesser temperatures. Any items present at the time of casting, as well as any items bonded to him, are unaffected by the heat. This can last indefinitely once active, but can be dismissed at a moments notice.
• Mantle of Pelsius: This ritual, though relatively quick to invoke, is expensive. It also has a very short duration, lasting at most a few hours. While active, Sebastian is supernaturally charming & persuasive. Incidentally, Pelsius is a male deity of beauty, but again, his magic has no direct connection with him.
• Might of Adonio: Adonio is a deity those influence includes strength. Therefore, this ritual gives Sebastian super strength & toughness. A variant, combined with Sebastian's enchanting skills, was what was used to increase [1]Charlie's might.
• Regenerative Trance: By entering a meditative state, similar to the one used to increase the recovery of Spiritual Power, Sebastian can speed up his bodies naturally healing by a factor of 3. This is normally done within a Ward or similar, but that is not required. In addition, this method prevents the formation of scars & similar.
• Rune Of Annihilation: This ritual is simply & quick to cast. All Sebastian has to do is inscribe the Rune with specially prepared chalk, paint, etc, & speak the appropriate Power Word. This costs all his spiritual energy, plus any in his walking stick. The Rune will then suck in magically energy, glowing brighter & brighter as it does so, until it reaches critical mass, at which point it explodes with the force of one kiloton bomb. However, there is no radiation or other similar, only the damage of the explosion itself.
• Scrying: This ritual requires a specially prepared reflective surface. Currently, Sebastian is using an Orichalcum backed hand mirror. Also, the accuracy of this magic is very low & requires a great deal of time & concentration to enact & maintain, unless some form of link is established to the location first. Otherwise, Sebastian can choose a direction & distance to look in & hope what he wants is there. He can also look into another dimension/reality/universe/whatever, but this is both more expensive & difficult a task.
• Sleep of Ages: Sebastian can place himself in a deathlike state indefinitely. While in this state, for all intents & purposes he is dead, except his body doesn't decay & his soul is trapped. He will remain like this until the effect is dispelled somehow or the release condition is met. This condition is set at the time of casting & can be anything. Finally, both going into & coming out of the trance is agonizingly painful.
• Summon Assistant: One of the spell books given to Sebastian by He Who Watches. This complex spell allows him to mystically search the Realms of Mayhem for people that are likely to agree to work for the caster, & then bargain with there subconscious. It also allows the caster to bring them to him, after they have agreed, at which point they become aware of the terms of agreement. The spell can also return them, if necessary. This spell requires large amounts of spiritual energy, and is draining in other ways, too.
• Wards: He can inscribe mystical circles for various purposes. Some of these require energy, others don't, depending on the effect desired. None of these wards can effect something that is purely physical.

Items Of Power

• Bands of Dominion: Sebastian possesses three of these jewel studded platinum headbands. See the Circlet of Mastery for their effect & their history.
• Circlet of Mastery: This is a simple copper headband. When worn, the user can telepathically control or influence any wearer of a Band of Dominion. This involves mastery them in a battle of wills. Also, if complete control is assured, the user can even use the vessels perceptions & similar. However, these psychic battles can be detrimental to the mental health of either participant. Both types of Circlets were created by an enemy Wizard defeated by Sebastian's order. Sebastian claimed the Circlets as his prize.
• Ebony Walking Stick: His Wizard's Staff. A focus of his power. It can do many things. These shall be listed below. Also, the staff knows its owner, even though it isn't sentient, so only a REALLY powerful being can use it. Apart from Sebastian, of course. And finally, using more than one power from the staff at a time is as difficult as using more than one personal power, however, there is no difficulty in using a staff power & a personal one simultaneously.
  • Duo Mind: This is perhaps the staff's most useful, & certainly most used, ability. Sebastian simply casts one of his spells through the staff & the item maintains the magic for him, freeing his concentration for other tasks. Note that only spells can be used this way, but Seb can use to use either his own reserves of Spirit Energy or the staff's, at no extra difficulty.
  • Full Invisibility: When this power is activated, any form of detection that involves something interacting with him, such as normal sight, ultrasound, ect, doesn't work. However, it doesn't mask Sebastian's natural sounds, smell, etc, so he can still be detected that way.
  • Pass Unseen: This is mental invisibility, though a very powerful one. However, it has no effect whatsoever on machines or similar, Sebastian image can be recorded normally & anyone viewing him remotely will be unaffected. However, anyone present, but using some technologically device, will be effecting, so not acknowledge the readings.
  • Power Reservoir: The primary function is to act as a extra source of Spiritual Energy for Sebastian to call upon, effectively doubling his power. In addition, the power from the staff always recharges as if Seb was at full health & sleeping. Finally, it takes no concentration to call on this power.
  • Shield of the Immortals: Quite simply, this magnifies Sebastian's magic resistance to phenomenal levels, making all but immune to magic. However, each attack will drain the staff's reserves, in addition to the drain from maintaining the effect, will stronger attacks draining a larger amount. Also, highly resistant is not the same as completely immune, so some attacks may still get through, even if they are drastically weakened.
  • The Unfelt Touch: The mightiest power of the staff is also the most subtle, as befits a Master of Illusions. Any power from the staff, whether innate or one of Sebastian's own, is completely undetectable as magic. This doesn't stop it being magic, and people can work out is source obviously, but anything that detects magic will give a negative reading, as if it was a completely mundane effect.
  • Visage of the Mirage: Another mental illusion, like the Pass Unseen power. This when causes all who view Sebastian to perceive him as something specific, for example, an ordinary peasant. Any details not mentioned will remain the same, so in the peasant example Seb will be viewed as an old peasant. All the restrictions that apply to PU apply to this too. Also, it's a area effect, so can't be tailored to show different people different things.
  • Walking the Unwalkable Way: This poesy sounding power allows Sebastian to pass through physical objects. However, while in this state, nothing physical can effect him or his possessions. This includes air, so he'll have to hold his breath, but not light, so he remains visible.
• Eye Charms: These hand sized disks, made out of semi precious metals & gems, are completely featureless on one side & possess a eye design on the other. They act as locator beacons for Sebastian's Scrying & don't need to have the eyes side facing the target, though that does make it easier. However, they have to be completely undamaged & can't be buried. Finally, Sebastian is capable of crafting & enchanting these himself.
• Parma Magicka: This precious amulet, constructed of Orichalculum & a single perfect sapphire, is circular & big enough to fit perfectly in Sebastian's palm. It must be worn over his heart to function, which is facilitated by carefully designed leather straps. When worn in this many it increases the wizards already impressive magic resistance to even greater levels.
• Robe of Eternus Weavings: Sebastian's robe is made from a special material. This material is completely indestructible against anything non-magical. However, it otherwise functions as cloth in all ways.
• Shield Charms: These are specially prepared lengths of Rowan's Wood, each 6 inches in diameter in length & 1 inch in diameter, covered it intricate & exact runic inscriptions. All Sebastian has to do is break one & his Magical Resistance is magnified to truly Epic proportions, but only for the next few seconds.
• Shifter's Wand: This green wooden wand, crafted by a colleague of Sebastian back on his own world, allows Sebastian shapeshifting magics to be used as a beam. Everything else about the invocations remains the same.
• The Monocle of Masterful Visions: A creation of Sebastian's long dead mentor, handed down to the pupil one many years ago. When worn, it allows the wearer to use one of the following: to see magic; to see in the dark; telescopic vision; or close-up magnification. The user changes functions via thought.

Mary Sue Rating

34:

Fanfiction authors beware - Mary's on the loose. There's still a chance you can save this character with some TLC, though. Role-players and original fiction characters, you should also strongly consider giving your character a work over.