Cephelo's page

Standing a couple of inches over six feet and with coarse black hair, Cephelo paints an imposing figure. The threatening stance is quickly broken by the man’s smile, a good-natured, contagious smile, usually followed by kind word or quip.

Normally dressed in brown leathers, with a few knives in a bandolier criss-crossing his chest, the man could easily be mistaken for a Varisian. But close inspection reveals no trace of Varisian blood, hinting more of a Kellid heritage.

The man’s axe is always close at hand and he dons a silvery chain shirt when expecting trouble.

Reference Image

BACKGROUND
Cephelo was picked up by a band of sczarni and raised as one of their own when he was a small child. The Carini’s are the only family he had ever known. The sczarni took advantage of the child’s natural skills and made an expert horse rider and handler out of him.

He traveled all over Varisia, never staying too long in one place. The band made their living performing, trading, and mostly ‘acquiring’ and selling horses. Aside from his animal handling skills, Cephelo learned how to fast-talk his way out of anything and learned to read people’s moods and thoughts, essential skills for a successful trader.

One night, while the family was celebrating with music and dancing, something terrible crashed into their camp. Teeth and hook-like claws tore apart three gypsies before anyone could even raise a weapon. Bolts bounced off its hide and blades were turned aside by its sheer bulk. The old soothsayer of the band screamed ‘demon’ as the otherworldly beast tore into her liver. Before he was even aware of what was happening, Cephelo changed…

His hands warped and inch-long nails grew from his fingers. His face took on a horrible look, bestial but not of any beast that ever called earth its home. Protrusion like horns split his thick mane but the most terrible mutation was of his body. His already large muscles grew in size, thick veins threatening to burst from his arms.

Enraged, the young man charged the demon and tumbled in a mess of teeth, claws, and grunts. A few seconds later, he got up, his clawed hand dripping with a piece of entrails. The demon no longer moved and Cephelo slowly turned back to his old self, his chest heaving as he gulped in air. As much as the experience terrified him, it was his family that rent the deepest wound into the young man.

The gypsies implored Desna for protection, eyes wide open with fear. They slowly backed away, making wards against evil and whispering under their breath.
Cephelo heard things like ‘tainted’ and ‘cursed’ and those words hurt much more than the demon’s talons.

The Varisians broke camp in a flurry and left Cephelo alone. Luckily, living on the road for so long had served him well and Cephelo soon hired himself on as guard and made it to Korvosa. That was five years ago.

RECENT HISTORY

Cephelo eventually arrived in Korvosa where he returned to one of his loves, horses. He hired on as a stable hand for one of the oldest noble families in Korvosa, the Palino Family. However, it wasn’t long before Julio, head of the household, recognized Cephelo’s true potential. From stable hand to head of equestrian activities, the young man became involved in picking and training horses. Julio then trusted him to teach the young Palinos how to ride and love horses. The plague and turmoil hit the Palinos hard and only Julio and his young daughter Helena survived.

PERSONALITY
Cephelo is quick with a smile as soon as he deems the situation is not dangerous but can really play the imposing, threatening character when needed.

He enjoys social gatherings where he shows off his budding dancing and percussion performing skills. He’s a young man and is vain when around women.

He hasn’t told anyone about his turning into a demon and deep inside thinks that he is really ‘cursed’ or ‘tainted’. He is afraid of losing control to the demon inside of him and dreads hurting those he loves.

Growing up as a Varisian, he’s very superstitious and sees omens everywhere.

The young man loves animals, especially horses, but is concerned because canines mistrust him, even as far as growling at him, after he ‘turned’. This just reinforces his belief that there is something evil inside of him.

NPCs
Julio Palino, head of the Palino noble family, older gentleman, currently morose and detached because of the death of his wife and two children due to the plague.

Helena Palino, young heir of the Palino noble family, headstrong, well-intentioned, teen-aged girl who bites off more than she can chew and inadvertently gets into trouble. Although Helena is infatuated with Cephelo, he sees her as a little sister and is very protective of her.