Name/Titles: Gargax, The Lifeless, The Corpsewaker, the Corpsewalker, Pale Death, The Lichlord, The Ancient, The Returned,
Domains: Undeath, Necromancy, Immortality, War, Corruption, Change, Tyranny, Vermin, Poison, Secrets
Appearance: Gargax is skeletal like all Liches. Despite his lack of muscle he is till a highly imposing figure. This is no doubt due to his nature, and the fact that he stands up to 10 feet in height. His skull and bones are a grayish color, like that of stone. His skull has a pair of void-blue flames burning in the depths of his sockets, appearing as though from a great distance. He has large fangs as well, seeming larger because they have no skin or flesh to hide them. He also has a pair of horns on his head but these are covered by the elaborate head-wear he sports. Gargax dresses regally, with finely crafted armors and well made clothes that he keeps clean via magic. These usually sport bone and skull motifs as well as other staples of necromancy and undeath, and he usually keeps several bones on his person as well usually hanging from his dark colored regal clothes. He also sports many wands and rings as well as pendant, with a wicked looking ritual dagger, carved with runes that hurt the eye to look on them. He has a vague Ensi caste to him, but like the rest of his flesh the ages has eroded them to but the barest hints.
Personality: Gargax is an ancient and powerful creature, and as such Patient and Wise are perhaps the best words to describe him. He is also powerhungry and ambitious, but most of all he seeks knowledge and to extend his immortality forever. To this end Gargax seeks out ancient power and knowledge to extend his own life and make it all the harder to end him. While not overtly cruel, Gargax is merciless in meting out his justice, and makes note to repay all debts in time, though it may take millenia to set such plans in motion.
Background: Gargax was once an Ensi. He died ages and ages ago, and was raised during Vespers first use of Necromancy, the grand spell that raised so many dead at once, Gargax was perhaps one of, if not the first of the Undead to be created. After that he was attacked by the Rastulian Ensi, and he would have died had it not been for Barin. When Barin came and preached his message of protection Gargax, who's true name is lost to the sands of time, listened. He followed Barin, and grew in power. Over time, he eventually became one of the first among his servants. He saw the ages pass and the Under Empire to grow. What once started as a loose confederation of the powerful Dvergar kingdom, and the newly formed undead fort, spread into a full-on Empire, with the Dvergar, the Undead, and eventually the now-Psionic Ensi, and even eventually the Awakened Animals created by Barin from the creatures of the forest. In the later years Gargax felt a tug of power. Though a loyal servant to Barin, he was still tied to his ancient forefather, his races creator: Sesketh. He felt the stirrings of great power below the sands of the desert, and believed it was Seskeths restless tomb. Taking a team of several undead and psionic Ensi he headed out into the desert. After meeting a group of Krystallin. Eventually they found their way to the place of power, but Gargax never discovered if it was his creators tomb. The war of the gods against Vesper had begun to take its toll on the world, and it began to fall apart, as did the tomb, Gargax was cheated of his ultimate discovery, and as the tomb fell all around him, he vowed to find the power to return to this dying world, and discover the powers hidden in the tomb.
Starting Race: Intelligent Undead (Ensi)
Holy Symbol:My symbol is like a bugs skull, with horns and multi-faceted black gems for eyes (in which blue flames burn) and it has an eight sided star in the center (of course that doesn't mean anything in this universe... yet :smallamused:) and fangs as well as mandibles, the skull faces toward the viewer, with a scorpions tale rearing behind it, a scimitar and a skull-tipped sceptre (or long wand) are crossed behind it.
For reference, by "Bug Skull" I mean something like this:
http://kerberos-productions.com/foru.../zuulID_11.gif
except facing towards the viewer.
Races:
Ensirex:
The Ensi of Gargax's following had changed over time. Their chitin were darker shades, with Black and Dark Red, particularly the shade of gore being common. They now had grown carapaces, that while not covering nearly as much as Ikassi's people, further protected the Ensi from harm, this carapace had the sheen of the Ensi's black blood. Their flesh now too took on new color, it carried many shades, but most common were the pallor of dead flesh, the color of a darkened and dead sky, and a porcelain white. Their long antennae grew, and they now sported mandibles on their faces that were cruel and predatory, and their multi-faceted eyes glistened black. Now they not only had a connection with other Ensi, but with the dead, able to feel the bodies and spirits of the deceased with their antennae. Their carapaces now covered their backs, black and shiny like a beetles. The people were more gaunt, with longer limbs and bonier faces. The Ensirex have a second pair of arms and hands that unfold from behind their beetle-black carapaces, these, unlike the original hands, had extra digits, and each of the fingers was longer and more slender than normal, the arms were covered in dark chitin, and they were unnaturally elegant
The Changed:He also crafted a new breed of creatures out of the spirits of the dead, both mortal and beast alike. He took them and made them into otherworldly creatures, he made the spirits of the mortals into cunning and cruel creatures, who toyed with the minds of all mortals and plotted intricate plans, they were also creatures of savage joys, smelling death on the wind from miles away. He gave them the ability to increase in power by corrupting mortal souls and devouring them. He created them so that their ability to manipulate the world of the living depended upon their power and their favor with either him or the more powerful ones of their kind. They could manifest themselves physically either with the blessings of a powerful lord of their ilk, or at the behest of powerful mortal summoners. The beasts he twisted into snarling creatures of infinite animal cunning, and bestial tendencies. They cared only for the will of their masters and lords, Gargax being the first among them, and thus he created for himself and his disciples a breed of powerful hounds and pets.
The Changed, as he collectively called the spirits he twisted, lived on the outside of reality, truly existing in the lands of death. They manifest themselves in the form that pleases them, though they are bound by the constraints of their power. Their forms rarely resembled their original bodies. Gargax made it possible for mortals to become Changed, and by garnering favor with the most powerful of their kind they could elevate themselves above the rabble of the Changed, making them above the common of their kind, but well below the most powerful. The Changed were creatures of spirit, but were not spirits themselves, and roughly 1/10 of all Gargax's followers' spirits who died became Changed.
Arbiters:
Ensi were already a race with a strong psychic talents. Those who where saved by Khasis were transformed into The Arbiters. They appear to mortals as mysterious veiled beings dressed in black and white cloaks. In fact, they are ethereal creatures able to manifest for long periods of time. In the ethereal plane, they look like ghostly blue Ensi. While the psychic powers of the Krystallen are either defensive or harmless, those of the Arbiters are more offensive in nature. They possess a few harmful energy powers and are excellent at manipulating minds. The Arbiters serve as negociators, bodyguards and sometimes judges.