About Alicarus Vorasik, "The Ripper"Alicarus Vorasik
Hit Points 14/17 (2d8+4)
Fortitude +5, Reflex +4, Will +6
Melee Mwk spiked chain +6 (2d4+1) OR
Ranged Dagger +5 (1d4+1/19-20/10 ft.) Special Attacks Judgment
Base Attack Bonus +1
Feats Weapon Finesse Traits Battlefield Surgeon, Fate's Favored, Kuthite Acolyte, Signature Moves
Trained Skills
Languages Common, Infernal, Shadowtongue Equipment:
Weapons
Masterwork spiked chain Punching dagger Daggers, 2 Armor
Other Gear
Money 52 gp
Spells:
0-Level Orisons
Acid splash Bleed Brand Guidance Stabilize 1st-Level Spells (3/day)
Racial and Class Features:
Aasimar Racial Features
Archon-blooded: +2 Con, +2 Wis, skilled changes Celestial resistance: Resist 5 against acid, cold, and electricity Darkvision: 60 feet Lost Promise: 2 claw primary natural attacks (1d4 damage) while evil Skilled: +2 racial bonus to Intimidate and Sense Motive Inquisitor Class Features
Backstory:
Alicarus van Zeredrinn Vorasik was born and raised in the shadowy theocracy of Nidal, his mother a priestess of Zon-Kuthon, and his father a drifter from Cheliax who'd come in looking for work. Of course, the fact that he was also a drinker and an apparent bearer of celestial blood--the latter fact coming to light when Alic was born--led to his "timely" death at the hands of the Kuthite church. Although so many aasimar are put to death soon after birth in the Umbral State, Alicarus was kept alive at the behest of his mother, who promised to raise him right in the Kuthite church.
And raised right he was, at least to seeming. Alic took to the church of Zon-Kuthon like a thief to the shadows, and soon blossomed into a fine man of the cloth. Certainly he had his outbursts of rebellion or oddity, attributed to his tainted blood, but overall he quickly became a prime acolyte to join the inquisition. So grim was his devotion, so complete his indoctrination, that even his angelic nature changed, causing him to grow hard, talon-like fingernails. Alicarus was always fanatical in his worship of the Midnight Lord, even among the fervent church of Nidal, and one of his crowning moments was his discovery of a Shelynite cult in a town near his temple. In reward of his devotion, Alic was gifted the opportunity to lead the raid on the den of holy sin, and he proved himself to the utmost on that day, flensing the heretics and gathering their contraband tomes to prevent the spread of such thought. But if Alicarus would have one failing in the eyes of the church, it was his curiosity and drive to learn everything about his religion and his unholy lord. After all, even for the zealous priests of Nidal, there are some facets of their faith that are deemed unnecessary, even dangerous, to be widely known. Some of these Alic had found inklings of during his original studies, to the chagrin of his teachers, and even their savage beatings and the occasional flaying hadn't been enough to drive him from his thirst for religious understanding. And now he had access to a trove of information regarding the mirror faith to his own, tomes that even divulged hidden lore regarding his own deity's origins. And Alicarus's mind was opened, and he began to engage in that most dangerous pastime of those living in tyranny: free thought. For a time, Alicarus remained an inquisitor in Nidal's government-church. He even traveled to Cheliax on business, representing Nidalese interests and using his training as a follower of the law--and the faith--to mete out justice and assist in investigations. It was during this period that he first spread his reputation to the Infernal Nation, and on a visit to Longacre he was mistaken for a mercenary and viewed as a dangerous, intimidating thug by locals unfamiliar with Zon-Kuthon's clergy. There he also first met the woman Cimri and engaged in a short dalliance with her. Their time provided each with what they sought: Alicarus was unafraid to give the woman the physical "stimulation" she desired, and she gave him an outlet for his more heretical ideas and thoughts, as well as interaction beyond his family and fellow clergy. Perhaps most importantly, though, Longacre would become a haven for him after his exile from Nidal. Thought turned to writing turned to doubt, and when Alicarus was brought before his elders (who planned only to reaffirm his faith and, perhaps, quell any doubts as necessary, knowing he'd read the heretical texts but not knowing the depths of his change), he could not help but put forward his "findings" and altered beliefs. Although Alic thought his new theology was only fitting, and perhaps a hidden truth he'd discovered about the Prince of Pain, the leaders of the church saw blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy. Alicarus fled from the temple and the country as quickly as he could, for his life and his beliefs. It might have been a crisis of faith, had he not called upon his profane powers to cut down other inquisitors along his way. Now, Alicarus has spent the last several weeks in Longacre, hiding from those who raised him to protect what he believes to be the true faith of Zon-Kuthon. He has begun writing out his new philosophy in his spare time, creating an addendum to the Umbral Leaves in hopes of guiding a new generation of Kuthite faithful. His reputation as a fearsome warrior and dangerous man has only strengthened, thanks to his intimidating looks, although his optimistic outlook and cheerful, if downright eerie, demeanor has removed thoughts of his being a common thug. In particular, his popularity and activities among the town's young people are equally charming and disturbing, as he teaches them life lessons in his own unique ways--which the children never fully divulge to their parents. And when he receives a call to visit the ruined Fort Estazano, to meet with his onetime lover, he accepts it as a call from his lord to continue his work and, perhaps, spread the faith beyond some village children. The Nature of His Heresy:
Alicarus's faith is viewed as corrupted by the main Kuthite church, although he himself believes it to be a truer, deeper appreciation of Zon-Kuthon and his tenets. (Whether this is actually true or not is up to the GM in the end, but at the least it's apparent that Alicarus amuses the Dark Prince, since he still has divine power.) This is because Alicarus has stolen and adapted some of the ideas of other faiths--particularly that of Shelyn--and merged them with Zon-Kuthon's original word, creating a new way to worship the Midnight Lord. While still as twisted, binding, and wicked as the original church, Alicarus has developed a faith that is on the whole more optimistic, if only more discomforting for it. Although this faith of "Revealing Darkness," as he calls it, is still being developed in terms of actual tenets and laws, there are some key differences and beliefs that can be pointed out.
--Zon-Kuthon is an ever-benevolent Lord. Although a firm believer in rough love (and boy is it ever rough), he ultimately desires for his faithful to be happy and to enjoy life. --That which does not kill makes you stronger. Although on the surface not altogether different from regular Kuthite practice, Alicarus's reasoning turns heretical: pain and suffering are Zon-Kuthon's love and favor manifesting in the material world. Misery makes you strong, hardens you to reality, and gives you new appreciation for all the good things in life. --Suffering is strength, but death is senseless. Zon-Kuthon does not wish to see widespread slaughter or the worthless murder of the undeserving; if he wanted death, he would bring it, and never would have offered aid to the people of Nidal. Capture, torture, and conversion are all preferable treatments to outright killing, when possible. If a mind is broken, it may be reformed, but outright destruction is only that. --Knowledge is power, and the deepest darkness hides the brightest truth. All things can be known, and all things must be known, if true understanding and enlightenment are to be reached. Zon-Kuthon reached his current state of divine power by looking from the outside in, viewing existence for what it truly is from beyond its very edge. So too must his followers question themselves, their world, and learn all they can of everything and everyone around them. --Beauty lies in all things. Not only agony, although this is one of the most exquisite aspects of existence, but also the things that others hold dear: light, warmth, comfort, joy. Zon-Kuthon does not despise these ideals; his alteration out past the Great Beyond did not blind him to their charms. It merely opened his eyes to the charms of everything else. --Never forget the Midnight Lord's past. Zon-Kuthon began as Dou-Bral, Shelyn's brother and a fellow god of beauty and love. These aspects are not gone from him now, only reshaped into a truer, fuller, more accepting version. Zon-Kuthon surely has not forgotten his past, from his herald to his continued relationship with his sister to his eternal desire for the return of his ancient glaive; why should his followers cast away these aspects? --Shelyn and her ilk may be redeemed yet. They are so close to recognizing the truth of the world, much as Dou-Bral was before his journey of enlightenment beyond the edge of existence. Zon-Kuthon continues relations with his sister, and so should his faithful interact with hers. If any Shelynite might be shown the truth, it is a great victory for the Kuthite faith and for love and life in the world at large. |
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