Skarzag the Wretched

[Svirneblin]

Name: Skarzag the Wretched

Species: Skeleton
Gender: Male

Alliance: Good

Age: 475

Human Age Equivalency: 475

Mature Adult at Age: 18

Appearance: Standing a little under six feet tall, Skarzag is clad in a long, dark-brown cloak with the hood pulled low, obscuring all facial features in shadow. Heavy armored boots and gauntlets cover his hands and feet. A battle-axe is strapped to his back.
If one were to remove the cloak, they would see a scorched and charred humanoid skeleton. The eye sockets seem to hold blue, multi-faceted jewels which burn with a magick fire.

Personality: Skarzag is a thoughtful, introspective creature. Many years of “life” have taught him to think and act carefully. He is extremely wary, due to the fact that undead are often regarded as dangerous, hence the heavy cloak and emphasis on concealing his form.
Skarzag will step up to a good cause without hesitation, and is honorable in battle and in all things he does.

Abilities: Skarzag possesses unnatural strength, the magick power holding his form together grants this. He does not feel pain, he does not get hungry, thirsty, or tired in the traditional sense. For a skeleton, he is agile enough to be a threat on the battlefield.

Disadvantages: Skarzag must rest every few days, in an almost hibernation-like state. This allows the magick powers which help him “live” to regenerate. If he does not rest, he will begin to lose mobility and eventually simply fall apart into dust.

Family: Whatever family he had are long, long dead.

History: Skarzag was the son of a farmer. In his late teens, a magician came to town. Skarzag attended the show, and became acquainted with the magician himself. Gathering his things and running away from home, Skarzag joined the magician as an apprentice. Little did he know, the man was a true mage, and his practice was much darker than sideshows.
Skarzag participated in the dark rituals, each one becoming more and more twisted. Murders, kidnappings, evil rituals were abundant. Eventually, the mage and the boy found themselves involved in a summoning ritual. A demon was summoned, killed the mage, and Skarzag was captured and pulled into the demon’s nether-home. For decades he was subject to extreme cruelties at the hands of the demon.
Somehow, a gateway was opened into the hellish world. Skarzag escaped his tormentor. The passage between the immortal and mortal planes burned away his flesh and all but his skeleton remained. The pain was excruciating, yet Skarzag remained awake to watch the process happen. The man who opened the gate was a priest, and managed to contain the newly-made undead. Skarzag’s new captor sensed his good nature and offered to help Skarzag regain his mortal form. The process would be long, centuries perhaps, and arduous. The only way to eventually gain back all that was lost and to allow him to become mortal, and to die that way, was to atone for what he had done.
Now, Skarzag wanders the world, fighting and destroying whatever evil he could seek out in his seemingly endless quest.

Anything Else We Need to Know?: Nope. He’s a cool guy, no bones about it! (Couldn’t resist).

IC (In Character) Entrance:
Thump… thump… thump….
Machine-like, measured steps punctuated the dead landscape. Heavy boots imprinted a long, almost straight pair of prints for miles. It did not waver, only curving gently around whatever obstacles were in the way. The dark cloak around the being fluttered in the breeze. Birds chirping overhead at the entrance of the forest grew quickly silent as he approached.

The shadows obscuring his face remained like a mask as his head turned upward and about, surveying everything before him. The birds slowly, tentatively continued their chirping. Those around him could feel a slight chill on their skin, though not altogether unpleasant.

“Perhaps this is where, at last, I find my mortality.” The voice from within the hood was rich, deep, laced with a keen sense of longing.
Skarzag passed the threshold between the wasteland and the forest. He paused for a moment, observing the trees and wildlife. He had rested a day or so ago, and did not yet feel pangs of the weariness within him. How an undead creature felt anything of the sort was beyond his comprehension. But it was comforting, knowing and identifying with an old part of his humanity assured him that one day he would gain it back.

[Windra]

There was something else in these woods. It watched the roving figure with keen eyes, vibrant and wide ... but unnoticed. Whatever this unlikely predator was, it moved in silence, intent on remaining hidden ... but not for very long.

Suddenly there was a sound - a poof, like a tiny gust of wind being summoned to one particular spot just beyong the Wasteland Wanderer's vision, blowing faintly, and vanishing. And then, right next to the figure ... a second plume of air sending blades of grass dancing. It was a cloud of air, pale brown and transluscent. The off-color espers dispersed in the time it took one to blink. Left in it swake was a small and very unusual character. Tiny, maybe three feet tall at the most. It's skin was brown and mottled with warts and patches of tan and black. Tiny quills extended from the back of its skull, trailing down the spine and halting as it neared the tailbone's end. The arms were long and lanky. It closely resembled a monkey, though it was hairless and emaciated. Eyes as large as dinner plates and as brght as the moon peered up to the cloaked figure, vibrant yellow irisis reflecting what it saw.

The Graveling was drawn here by the detected presence of something otherworldly. Whatever this stranger was reeked of it. And it was very familiar ... It sniffed briefly at thick iron boots and drew back sharply. A wide grin spread across its face, followed by what could only be described as a witch's cackle, though much lower in pitch.

And then it vanished again.

Only to reappear upon the cloaked stranger's head ... holding a fireaxe above its head and preparing to strike down on the fragile skull!

[Svirneblin]

The skeletal warrior sensed something, but the feeling passed quickly. Whatever ethereal force provided him hearing was not as keen as human senses. He thought nothing of it, but continued yet to trudge through the trees. Twigs and leaves snapped and crunched underneath, a welcome sound after the dull crunch of dead grass for miles upon miles. Again, the feeling of another being nearby persisted.

One gauntlet-covered hand reached back and flicked the strap off which secured his axe in place, just in case. A hiss of surprise escaped as he felt the creature appear atop his head.

"Begone, foul imp!" Skarzag growled, yanking the battleaxe from its scabbard across its back and swinging it in a tight arc above his head.

[Windra]

The axe met home! Well, not really. The Graveling was able to duck the incoming blade. He sat up to jeer and taunt the lout beneath him, only to smash his head against the axe's blunt side as it passed over. Too bad he didn't look before he leapt. It would have saved him a great pain.

The ethereal being slumped over backwards, teetering over his current perch to land limply on the ground below. "Graaaah ... " The whisper spilled out before total unconsciousness seized his body and mind. A thin trail of drool crawled out of his gaping mouth. Total lifelessness. An unpredictable spasm every now and then was the only thing hinting at the presence of life.

He was something unsavory to look at. But the gaunt, frail frame often attracted more sympathy than was warranted. With ribs protruding against the thinly stretched skin, the Graveling looked starved and neglected. Eventually the beast came out of his coma. Eyes gradually rolled back to the front, gazing woefully at the newcomer. An arm as puny in diameter as a stick reached up towards his would-be assailant. Feeble, animalistic moans enunciated the fact that he might be begging for mercy ... or help.

[Svirneblin]

"Be grateful that mercy has found you this day, beast." Skarzag proclaimed, clasping the axe back into its scabbard. He'd seen thousands of imps and demons during his capture, and this one was akin to many of them in terms of ugliness. Seemingly weak, he knew how deceiving looks could be.

"What precedence have you for attacking me, creature?" He growled. There was no fear or even curiosity in his spectral voice, just indignation. If this was a creature of evil habit, he would slay it in due time. As far as he was concerned, it was his duty to do so, no matter the size of the enemy. "Can you speak, imp?"

Skarzag ignored the outstretched arm. One boot gritted into the dirt and he clenched his fist, as if to tell the Graveling that death was a heavy stomp away.

[Scoot134]

"Well now, this is fun to watch!" spoke an overly excited voice, it was the Coyote-Man-Thing, Sly, as he leaped into the air crossing his legs and used his shaggy tail as a balancing post! As multiple laws of physics were broken just right there, Sly could only watch the carnage unfold for a short while, until, WHAM! The skeleton's face was never revealed, but the charred bones of his arms were.

Twiddling his thumbs and toes, watching as the Monkey-Thing got swatted like an annoying fly, Sly couldn't help, but laugh hysterically at the pouted face the Graveling was giving the warrior. "It's a lie, it's a lie, do or die, it's a lie!" Sly came close to actually singing.

The world around Sly kept changing for him, he saw more than just a monkey-thing and tasty bones to pick at when it shatters, he saw birds singing Sinatra, Trees weeping about lost friends and long distance (across the forest) relatives, the gophers screaming, "I'M BLIND!!!", Cats and Dogs getting along! OH MY! It's a wonderfully fascinating sight for those whom can see.

"So, the loser gets the honor of being my dinner, right? Or is it the other way around?" Sly inquired with a hissing whisper.

"Oh ho ho! What a wonderful way to spend my day, now if only they would give me a Death Ray!" Sly's words were strained on the last part, if you couldn't tell...

[Windra]

Maybe the skull-man would've been expecting the so-called 'imp' to cower beneath the boot, ready to give way and beg for forgiveness. And then all would be well. Or maybe the beastie was going to attack, throwing aside all forms of civilised behavior to rip his enemy's face into ribbons. Feral or dimune, who knew? But clearly ... the skeleton had never met Terry before,. Or any of his kind.

So when the newcomer didn't extend a hand to aid the Graveling to his feet, Terry huffed and stuck out his tongue. His plan couldn't be enacted, so ... time to improvise! The Graveling vanished in a plume of smoke, materializing a heartbeat later in front of the cloaked face.

And Terry slapped him.

Yes. Slapped.

The little beast would have landed with a haughty laugh at his genius plan of trickery, if it hadn't been for the sudden pain in his hand. Good lord! Had he struck steel?! Whatever it was, it was hard! Terry clutched his throbbing palm and howled, prancing about the tree roots in an 'owowowowowowow' dance.

Then he was hoisted into the air as another figure appeared. This one wasn't wily or mangy-looking. There were certainly no wolfish ears or a beast-like muzzle. But there was a dragon's tail trailing behind a figure that was irrevocably human. Silver-hide talons and a silver-hide tail, tipped with cream-yellow prongs that would have been, at one time, a spaded-tip had time and circumstances not shattered it. Brown hair with three bright yellow bangs, green eyes, and semi-tanned skin t=that belonged to someone who was one native ... there was an air about this female that marked her presence as something more than a mere half-bred.

She held the Graveling by the scruff of his neck. It didn't hurt him. But it did cause a flurry of irritation as Terry flailed his arms and legs, screaming indignation.

"Serves you right, you sorry joker," commented the girl with a grin. Though Terry had the option of teleporting away, he instead pouted with both arms crossed. There was hatred brimming in his eyes. The Graveling was positively glowering at the cloaked man. Flicking her tail, the humanoid looked at the newcomer. "Sorry ... he didn't hurt you, did he?"

She had to look at the other oddity. Was he singing? Really? Did the Forest hold no bounds when it came to creatures one card short of a full deck?

"You're weird. Just thought you should know."

[Svirneblin]

OoC: Sorry for the delay guys! Some stuff came up in real life (blast it!). I should be back and able to post on Sunday.

[Windra]

OoC

Figured something was up when ya didn't post right away.
Good luck, and we'll see you when you get back!

[Svirneblin]

"I have not been harmed." Skarzag rasped. "But further indiscretions may lead to violence on my part." He observed her quietly, his gauntlet-covered hands clenched into tight fists. The chilled air around him grew a bit colder, as if to match his disposition. The cloaked head turned to regard Sly as he made his theatrical appearance. If Skarzag had a face, and that face would have been visible, it would have most likely cocked an eyebrow and frowned (an expression he often used in life).

"It is not wise to cause such abundant noise, there may be foul creatures afoot." Skarzag scolded the Coyote-Man-Thing, as if he were a housemaid scolding insolent children for avoiding their naptime.

Skarzag turned to regard the female. "What are you, and what is this place?" Enough time in undeath had dulled his sense of curiosity, him having grown rather bored with the existence he lived, save for the brief flashes of battle he sought out. However, his curiosity had been piqued a bit by these three interesting members of what seemed to be a rag-tag welcoming party.

[Scoot134]

"It may not be wise to mock those whom you don't understand Haaa!" The coyote fae replied. His motions became erratic as his body began to jerk to the right. He then drew in a deep breath and his head...swelled? Gods that be! His head swelled twice its size and he spoke again, "You wouldn't have an idea of what was evil unless it truly made itself apparent you do-gooder knave!"

His tone was harsh and he started to rasp with his breaths as he began to drool from the mouth. Sly then clapped his hands together and looked towards the other newcomer. His hands detached from one another only to twirl his index finger in the air in a circular motion. Sly's gaze then turned to be wide eyed and pointed (like the evil monkey) at the girl with teeth barred.

"No! You're weird!" he responded with a maniacal laughter and then summoned a black hole... Not the type that really sucks you in, just a hole in the ground... underneath him. And the Coyote disappeared.


Only to emerge near the Knight Errant trying to reach for one of the femur bones...


((OOC: Sorry it took me so long, I couldn't really connect with the character lol and this is the best I've got... ))

[Windra]

OoC

Hey. Any plans of dropping Tinin anywhere? Or just waiting until the plotstuff is over?

[color=red--[/color]

“I have not been harmed. But further indiscretions may lead to violence on my part.”

Naira nodded. ”Fair warning.” She made a face when Terry decided now was a good time to disappear. The woman waved the cloud of smoke away from her face while it worked on vanishing itself. ”Though maybe now would be a good time to warn you … I can’t control what Terry does. He has a nasty habit of pranking the undead, since they can’t die and all … Gravelings will do that.” She briefly recalled one Halloween in New York City, and how many Reapers were sent running from their hangout in flames and confetti … It was painful at that moment, but hilarious looking back on it.

The coyote thing was working on his own antics. In fact, he had just blown his head out of proportion, being several sized too big to be supported by his body. Yet he stood fine and dandy, without much trouble at all. Naira didn’t find that vexing as much as she found it amusing. Good to know that Deep Forest was slowly raising the bar on insane creatures. In no time at all, this place would turn into an asylum.

”Right you are. Glad that you noticed.” Grinning at the obvious Family Guy reference, she looked somewhat puzzled when the stranger of strangers disappeared. This was waved off by a clap of her hands. ”Normally, I’d find that odd. But it’s been a bizarre enough day already.” To the skeleton, ”You’re in Deep Forest, home to a hundred odds and ends that found their way here intentionally or by accident. Nothing is quite what it seems in this place.” She pointed a thumb to her chest. ”I’m a Soul Reaver. And you’re not technically alive, are you?”

At that precise moment, the coyote-being rematerialized next to the cloaked man. His clawed fingers were reaching for the newcomer’s upper leg. Naira pointed at this event.

”Heads up.”

[Scoot134]

((OOC: Skip me this time please! >.<;; I ruined the order cause I didn't know who was gonna post next, I'll get it right here in a second, just go ahead Skarzag!))