[Character Name:]
Erastus Var’Tullain
[Personality:]
Erastus is a quiet man, more comfortable with books and words than with other people. Having spent most of his life observing magical phenomenon leaves him at a loss socially, so in most situations, he is content to observe and record. Many take him as rude, or even haughty in his silence, but he struggles to express himself vocally more often than not. Conversely, he is confident as a scholar, and has no such reservations when expressing himself on paper. He generally thinks well of others, despite his difficulty in interacting with them, and has no ingrained prejudices towards angels, demons or otherwise. Still, he is cautious with those he is not familiar with, as there has been several incidents in which others have attempted to take advantage of the information he has access to.
Erastus is deeply attached to those he considers friend, owing that to their being comparatively few in number. He often does his best to assist them in their endeavors, so long as that doesn’t interfere with his research, even should dangerous situations arise. Though his preference is to not become entangled in altercations, he is not a coward, and will rise to the occasion should his own, or a friend’s safety be threatened.
His defining trait is his overwhelming dedication to magic, and his desire to learn about the ever evolving art. It is one of the few things over which he will become outwardly passionate about, and a topic that can easily shatter his social reservations. Though he is always vigilant, ever watching for new things to record, Erastus’ topic of research is lost magic. Of particular interest is history just passed, when tyrants and kings tore the skies asunder, great beings rose to power, and battles, ones that shook the fabric of reality, were waged. Only whispers of that time remain now, and the once great name of CRUXIS is little more than faded graffiti…
[Appearance:]
Erastus Var'Tullain
[Height:]
5’11”
[Weight:]
140 lbs.
[Race:]
Human
[Age:]
Thirty Four
[Allegiance:]
Neutral
[Equipment:]
Arcana Histoire:
The Arcana Histoire is perhaps Erastus’ most notable possession, and one that defines him more than any other. As its Archivist, he answers to a higher calling, one that demands his devotion and obsession. The Arcana is simultaneously a library in a class of its own, and an empty volume waiting to have new magics scribed within its blank pages. The Arcana Histoire is a single tome of the Grant Library from which it traces its origins, but also comprises its own section of the transdimensional library. For all intents and purposes, it exists as both a single, empty book while also sharing its existence with countless others stored within the shelves of the Grant Library. When a page is filled, the ink darkens both the pages present within Erastus’ volume and another that is also the same book, shelved in the library.
As bearer of the Arcana Histoire, Erastus’ hope and dreams are focused towards a singular purpose: his compulsion is to record the evolution of magic as it occurs, or to rediscover previously lost magic. He is to write the invocations, the theory and mechanics, or otherwise all other components necessary for the casting of these spells upon its pages. Should ever a day come that he is unfit for this role, the tome shall leave his possession and be assigned to another, more suitable bearer, though the process of this is quite vague and is little understood by outsiders.
Quill & Feather:
Quill & Feather serves as Erastus’ means of recording information within the Arcana Histoire, but is also his magical foci, through which he casts his spells. It needs no ink, for it draws upon Erastus’ raw mana to carve runes and letters of pure magic, Erastus’ primary way of writing and casting both. By tracing the outlines of sigils and runes into effectively any surface or object, Erastus removes the need to perform complicated chants and other unnecessary components of a spell. An artifact in its own right, Quill & Feather appears to always be within pristine condition, and would require significant power to damage, much less destroy.
Archivist’s Keep:
A sort of matching ring that is commensurate with ownership of any volume from the Grand Library, the Archivist’s Keep is a nondescript ring of brass, inlaid with silver. The text is obscured for any but its owner, and appears to constantly shift, which it truly does with every passing moment. The writ upon its surface is the key to the Grand Library, and as only the rightful owner is able to read its cant, only those belonging to the library may enter it. Upon reciting whatever that moment’s chant may be, a transdimensional door is opened to the Library, allowing the passage of the holder of a ring, and those that would travel with them. As each Archivist is singularly dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge as contained within their own volume, unwarranted entrance into the Library is generally not a concern, though there are recordings of past incidents.
The Grand Library itself is a fathomless, self-contained dimension, in which an ever-growing infinite of books continues to fill. It is autonomously managed by powerful magic, with each book filed away meticulously by unseen hands. If there is a Librarian, no one knows, nor does it appear to ever have been recorded in any page within the Library. Even its Archivists are unaware of this information, and it is counted as one, amongst several, of the Library’s mysteries. Included with these is the original purpose of the Grand Library: it currently appears only to exist for the sake of accumulating knowledge, a purpose which suits the Archivists well.
An odd, if dedicated group, the Archivists’ numbers are unknown, though it is suspected that there is, similarly to the books within the Library, a countless number of them that exist across countless times and dimensions. The archivists are unable to overtly communicate with each other within the bounds of the Library, and should two Archivists chance upon another in the outside world, they are physically incapable of discussing the Library, due to powerful enchantments laid upon them when they accept their mantle. Finally, though the Library itself appears to exist outside of any singular time or space, exiting from the Library only seems to ever result in returning back to the exact time and place from which you entered…
[Spells:]
Erastus bears the title of Archmagus, as is fitting of the current Archivist of the Arcana Histoire. A master of his trade, Erastus excels not only in casting powerful magic, but also in its analysis and research so as to better further his goals. He is a master of Enhancement and Protection magic both, allowing him to observe powerful magics unaccosted and unharmed. As for the other schools of magic, of which there must be a thousand and one, Erastus has dabbled in countless, though he is generally limited to little more than cantrips of those schools, his knowledge almost purely theoretical and certainly not practical.
Of the Enhancement and Protection schools, he is known for his iterations of several spells: his Elemental Ward, Greater Barrier, Gravitic Boost and Expanded Mind stand in a class of their own. Beyond that, his normal repertoire includes other spells that grant flight, shelter an area and other similar magics. Lastly, Erastus’ most powerful spells are Record Break, which draws directly from the information stored within the Arcana Histoire to nullify other spells, and Deus Ex Machina, which allows Erastus to transform the written word into something akin to memory.
[Spell Information:]
Elemental Ward:
Utilizing the information stored within the Arcana Histoire, Erastus casts a unique version of the Elemental Ward spell. Whereas other practitioners might simply erect a magical barrier, capable of fending off elemental attacks, his counters dangerous spells with a spell of an opposing element and of similar power, torn straight from the pages of his book. For example, should a bolt of lightning be directed at a person protected by his Elemental Ward, it would trigger a response of a geyser of pure water to spew forth, stopping the electricity in its tracks.
Though powerful, and able to halt most medium strength elemental spells, the Elemental Ward suffers from several flaws. For one, it’s fully incapable of taking two attacks of two distinct elements simultaneously: one might be negated, but it’s unable to react to both spells in the same instant. Moreover, spells of pure force or energy do not trigger a response from the ward, entirely bypassing it. Finally, once the ward has been triggered, its protection is expended and it must be cast again.
Greater Barrier:
In the same vein as the Elemental Ward, the Greater Barrier spell is intended to shield its target from external harm. Unlike Erastus’ Elemental Ward, however, it does not utilize the information available within the Histoire. Indeed, the reason Erastus is known for his casting of this spell is due to its raw strength and the speed with which he casts it. Unlike his other spells, this is one of the few in which Erastus will use a chant, in addition to the runes he scribes. With the combination of both, he if effectively able to increase the complexity and strength of the barrier.
Once cast, its target is given a second skin, one formed of thick, multilayered barriers of force and mana. It moves as seamlessly about the body as would clothing of supple cloth, offering no resistance or impediment to that which it protects. The barrier itself is difficult to detect, physically appearing as a slight shimmer, or a mirage surrounding the body. The Greater Barrier is capable of shrugging off most light strikes and low caliber projectiles without much trouble. The Barrier can also absorb several other, more determined blows before shattering, though it would likely shatter after deflecting a high caliber sniper round or the impact of a C4 charge explosion, if only the kinetic force.
As is the case with most spells, the Greater Barrier has a few exploitable weaknesses. Though it’s able to absorb more than a single attack, unlike the Elemental Ward, it still cracks under pressure, and its protection is not absolute. While it might absorb a high amount of impact, it does not completely nullify it: a transport vehicle would plough through a person, regardless of whether they were protected by this spell, though it might slow by a margin. Finally, the barrier is unable to protect against energy based attacks, radiation, and elemental attacks that do not rely on kinetic force.
Gravitic Boost:
Erastus’ Gravitic Boost is a precise spell, able to localize adjustments to an object or person’s gravity. It is cast on a general target, and Erastus can alter how specific areas of that target are affected: he might lessen the effects of gravity on a person’s body, while choosing to increase its effects upon their weapon once it is swung. In this way, he can both speed and strengthen the attacks of someone under the effects of Gravitic Boost. Likewise, he could increase gravity for a target to an unbearable amount, forcing them to a halt.
Gravitic Boost is a spell that can only be placed on something with which he is in immediate contact. Once the rune is laid on a surface, however, it will continue to affect that object until the spell is released or broken, up to an area of roughly six cubic feet. Additionally, Gravitic Boost acts as a multiplier of gravity that is already present: he cannot entirely remove its effects, nor is he capable of generating a gravity field in a place without its own.
Expanded Mind:
Expanded Mind is a powerful enhancement spell that increases the sensory input of a body, heightening all of its senses by an order of magnitude. It allows the body to experience all things more acutely, while also increasing its ability to process this new flood of information. While affected by this spell, an ordinary human might be able to hear the distinct beating of a fly’s wings, count each leaf on a tree hundreds of feet away, and track the passing of a creature by a smell several hours old. Erastus can maintain the spell for hours, or even days if needed, and its benefits certainly provide great incentive to do so. However, once the spell is released, the body is left exhausted, having been forced beyond its normal capabilities. The exhaustion scales with the length of time spent under the effects of this spell, during which sensations are dulled, and all might appear to be gray and sluggish.
Record Break:
Record Break is a unique spell, one that could only be cast by the holder of the Arcana Histoire. By using the written data within the Histoire, where everything comprising a spell is recorded, Erastus is able to dispel specific magic by casting its polar opposite. Once he observes and records a spell upon a page, he can tear this page from the book, at which point he takes the raw data stored therein, casting that spell through a reverse sequence and consuming the page. The targeted spell, and his own, entirely negate each other, disappearing as if they had not existed at all.
Deus Ex Machina:
Deus Ex Machina is Erastus’ original creation, one which uses his ability to process information quickly and breathes life into it. A spell that requires all of his concentration, and a sum of mana that scales with the amount of information being processed, Deus Ex Machina allows the transformation of written information into practical knowledge. When the spell is complete, and the seed of information born, Erastus implants the information into its intended target. This seed becomes ingrained within that person, as if it were true memory, to the depth that some of it may affect them on an instinctual level. Assuming Erastus had the time and mana, the target might become a master historian, or even a skilled martial artist.
Of course, such memories come at a cost. As is natural with the mind, some information is lost over time as new memories are gained: such is the case with Deus Ex Machina, as new memory cannot fill that which is already full. As of yet, Erastus has little control over what a person might lose to this memory loss, though it appears to be localized to older memories. Some might be recovered over time, like remembering a long lost friend, or a favorite pet, but there does not appear to be a way to trigger a return of all the memories. That said, small amounts of information usually don’t result in memory loss in a major way. Still, it’s difficult to determine what exactly is lost, if one retains no memory of it…
[Special Abilities:]
Beyond his abilities as an archmagus, Erastus is human. He is of lean build and is only about as strong as the average human, and while he is of considerable intellect, even that pales in comparison to some. Erastus is thoroughly mundane, perhaps even below average, if you factor in the number of non-humans that now walk Earth’s soil. Excepting his studies of the arcane, he does not mind mediocrity and in some way welcomes it: with greater power comes the attention of those that wish to exploit it. As it were, he is mostly able to escape notice, both due to his human heritage and his lack of explicit features of note.
[Armor:]
Erastus’ robes are significant of his rank and status, and less a tool meant to protect him. Bestowed upon him once he inherited the mantle of Archivist, the robes are imbued with some minor enchantments. The focus of said magic, however, is generally to protect the fabric from soiling and the metal ornamentation from tarnish, or otherwise oxidizing. Erastus has considered hiring an Enchanter to lace the robes with more powerful runes, but has thus far not found a need for such frivolity.
[History:]
Erastus Var’Tullain
[Personality:]
Erastus is a quiet man, more comfortable with books and words than with other people. Having spent most of his life observing magical phenomenon leaves him at a loss socially, so in most situations, he is content to observe and record. Many take him as rude, or even haughty in his silence, but he struggles to express himself vocally more often than not. Conversely, he is confident as a scholar, and has no such reservations when expressing himself on paper. He generally thinks well of others, despite his difficulty in interacting with them, and has no ingrained prejudices towards angels, demons or otherwise. Still, he is cautious with those he is not familiar with, as there has been several incidents in which others have attempted to take advantage of the information he has access to.
Erastus is deeply attached to those he considers friend, owing that to their being comparatively few in number. He often does his best to assist them in their endeavors, so long as that doesn’t interfere with his research, even should dangerous situations arise. Though his preference is to not become entangled in altercations, he is not a coward, and will rise to the occasion should his own, or a friend’s safety be threatened.
His defining trait is his overwhelming dedication to magic, and his desire to learn about the ever evolving art. It is one of the few things over which he will become outwardly passionate about, and a topic that can easily shatter his social reservations. Though he is always vigilant, ever watching for new things to record, Erastus’ topic of research is lost magic. Of particular interest is history just passed, when tyrants and kings tore the skies asunder, great beings rose to power, and battles, ones that shook the fabric of reality, were waged. Only whispers of that time remain now, and the once great name of CRUXIS is little more than faded graffiti…
[Appearance:]
Erastus Var'Tullain
[Height:]
5’11”
[Weight:]
140 lbs.
[Race:]
Human
[Age:]
Thirty Four
[Allegiance:]
Neutral
[Equipment:]
Arcana Histoire:
The Arcana Histoire is perhaps Erastus’ most notable possession, and one that defines him more than any other. As its Archivist, he answers to a higher calling, one that demands his devotion and obsession. The Arcana is simultaneously a library in a class of its own, and an empty volume waiting to have new magics scribed within its blank pages. The Arcana Histoire is a single tome of the Grant Library from which it traces its origins, but also comprises its own section of the transdimensional library. For all intents and purposes, it exists as both a single, empty book while also sharing its existence with countless others stored within the shelves of the Grant Library. When a page is filled, the ink darkens both the pages present within Erastus’ volume and another that is also the same book, shelved in the library.
As bearer of the Arcana Histoire, Erastus’ hope and dreams are focused towards a singular purpose: his compulsion is to record the evolution of magic as it occurs, or to rediscover previously lost magic. He is to write the invocations, the theory and mechanics, or otherwise all other components necessary for the casting of these spells upon its pages. Should ever a day come that he is unfit for this role, the tome shall leave his possession and be assigned to another, more suitable bearer, though the process of this is quite vague and is little understood by outsiders.
Quill & Feather:
Quill & Feather serves as Erastus’ means of recording information within the Arcana Histoire, but is also his magical foci, through which he casts his spells. It needs no ink, for it draws upon Erastus’ raw mana to carve runes and letters of pure magic, Erastus’ primary way of writing and casting both. By tracing the outlines of sigils and runes into effectively any surface or object, Erastus removes the need to perform complicated chants and other unnecessary components of a spell. An artifact in its own right, Quill & Feather appears to always be within pristine condition, and would require significant power to damage, much less destroy.
Archivist’s Keep:
A sort of matching ring that is commensurate with ownership of any volume from the Grand Library, the Archivist’s Keep is a nondescript ring of brass, inlaid with silver. The text is obscured for any but its owner, and appears to constantly shift, which it truly does with every passing moment. The writ upon its surface is the key to the Grand Library, and as only the rightful owner is able to read its cant, only those belonging to the library may enter it. Upon reciting whatever that moment’s chant may be, a transdimensional door is opened to the Library, allowing the passage of the holder of a ring, and those that would travel with them. As each Archivist is singularly dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge as contained within their own volume, unwarranted entrance into the Library is generally not a concern, though there are recordings of past incidents.
The Grand Library itself is a fathomless, self-contained dimension, in which an ever-growing infinite of books continues to fill. It is autonomously managed by powerful magic, with each book filed away meticulously by unseen hands. If there is a Librarian, no one knows, nor does it appear to ever have been recorded in any page within the Library. Even its Archivists are unaware of this information, and it is counted as one, amongst several, of the Library’s mysteries. Included with these is the original purpose of the Grand Library: it currently appears only to exist for the sake of accumulating knowledge, a purpose which suits the Archivists well.
An odd, if dedicated group, the Archivists’ numbers are unknown, though it is suspected that there is, similarly to the books within the Library, a countless number of them that exist across countless times and dimensions. The archivists are unable to overtly communicate with each other within the bounds of the Library, and should two Archivists chance upon another in the outside world, they are physically incapable of discussing the Library, due to powerful enchantments laid upon them when they accept their mantle. Finally, though the Library itself appears to exist outside of any singular time or space, exiting from the Library only seems to ever result in returning back to the exact time and place from which you entered…
[Spells:]
Erastus bears the title of Archmagus, as is fitting of the current Archivist of the Arcana Histoire. A master of his trade, Erastus excels not only in casting powerful magic, but also in its analysis and research so as to better further his goals. He is a master of Enhancement and Protection magic both, allowing him to observe powerful magics unaccosted and unharmed. As for the other schools of magic, of which there must be a thousand and one, Erastus has dabbled in countless, though he is generally limited to little more than cantrips of those schools, his knowledge almost purely theoretical and certainly not practical.
Of the Enhancement and Protection schools, he is known for his iterations of several spells: his Elemental Ward, Greater Barrier, Gravitic Boost and Expanded Mind stand in a class of their own. Beyond that, his normal repertoire includes other spells that grant flight, shelter an area and other similar magics. Lastly, Erastus’ most powerful spells are Record Break, which draws directly from the information stored within the Arcana Histoire to nullify other spells, and Deus Ex Machina, which allows Erastus to transform the written word into something akin to memory.
[Spell Information:]
Elemental Ward:
Utilizing the information stored within the Arcana Histoire, Erastus casts a unique version of the Elemental Ward spell. Whereas other practitioners might simply erect a magical barrier, capable of fending off elemental attacks, his counters dangerous spells with a spell of an opposing element and of similar power, torn straight from the pages of his book. For example, should a bolt of lightning be directed at a person protected by his Elemental Ward, it would trigger a response of a geyser of pure water to spew forth, stopping the electricity in its tracks.
Though powerful, and able to halt most medium strength elemental spells, the Elemental Ward suffers from several flaws. For one, it’s fully incapable of taking two attacks of two distinct elements simultaneously: one might be negated, but it’s unable to react to both spells in the same instant. Moreover, spells of pure force or energy do not trigger a response from the ward, entirely bypassing it. Finally, once the ward has been triggered, its protection is expended and it must be cast again.
Greater Barrier:
In the same vein as the Elemental Ward, the Greater Barrier spell is intended to shield its target from external harm. Unlike Erastus’ Elemental Ward, however, it does not utilize the information available within the Histoire. Indeed, the reason Erastus is known for his casting of this spell is due to its raw strength and the speed with which he casts it. Unlike his other spells, this is one of the few in which Erastus will use a chant, in addition to the runes he scribes. With the combination of both, he if effectively able to increase the complexity and strength of the barrier.
Once cast, its target is given a second skin, one formed of thick, multilayered barriers of force and mana. It moves as seamlessly about the body as would clothing of supple cloth, offering no resistance or impediment to that which it protects. The barrier itself is difficult to detect, physically appearing as a slight shimmer, or a mirage surrounding the body. The Greater Barrier is capable of shrugging off most light strikes and low caliber projectiles without much trouble. The Barrier can also absorb several other, more determined blows before shattering, though it would likely shatter after deflecting a high caliber sniper round or the impact of a C4 charge explosion, if only the kinetic force.
As is the case with most spells, the Greater Barrier has a few exploitable weaknesses. Though it’s able to absorb more than a single attack, unlike the Elemental Ward, it still cracks under pressure, and its protection is not absolute. While it might absorb a high amount of impact, it does not completely nullify it: a transport vehicle would plough through a person, regardless of whether they were protected by this spell, though it might slow by a margin. Finally, the barrier is unable to protect against energy based attacks, radiation, and elemental attacks that do not rely on kinetic force.
Gravitic Boost:
Erastus’ Gravitic Boost is a precise spell, able to localize adjustments to an object or person’s gravity. It is cast on a general target, and Erastus can alter how specific areas of that target are affected: he might lessen the effects of gravity on a person’s body, while choosing to increase its effects upon their weapon once it is swung. In this way, he can both speed and strengthen the attacks of someone under the effects of Gravitic Boost. Likewise, he could increase gravity for a target to an unbearable amount, forcing them to a halt.
Gravitic Boost is a spell that can only be placed on something with which he is in immediate contact. Once the rune is laid on a surface, however, it will continue to affect that object until the spell is released or broken, up to an area of roughly six cubic feet. Additionally, Gravitic Boost acts as a multiplier of gravity that is already present: he cannot entirely remove its effects, nor is he capable of generating a gravity field in a place without its own.
Expanded Mind:
Expanded Mind is a powerful enhancement spell that increases the sensory input of a body, heightening all of its senses by an order of magnitude. It allows the body to experience all things more acutely, while also increasing its ability to process this new flood of information. While affected by this spell, an ordinary human might be able to hear the distinct beating of a fly’s wings, count each leaf on a tree hundreds of feet away, and track the passing of a creature by a smell several hours old. Erastus can maintain the spell for hours, or even days if needed, and its benefits certainly provide great incentive to do so. However, once the spell is released, the body is left exhausted, having been forced beyond its normal capabilities. The exhaustion scales with the length of time spent under the effects of this spell, during which sensations are dulled, and all might appear to be gray and sluggish.
Record Break:
Record Break is a unique spell, one that could only be cast by the holder of the Arcana Histoire. By using the written data within the Histoire, where everything comprising a spell is recorded, Erastus is able to dispel specific magic by casting its polar opposite. Once he observes and records a spell upon a page, he can tear this page from the book, at which point he takes the raw data stored therein, casting that spell through a reverse sequence and consuming the page. The targeted spell, and his own, entirely negate each other, disappearing as if they had not existed at all.
Deus Ex Machina:
Deus Ex Machina is Erastus’ original creation, one which uses his ability to process information quickly and breathes life into it. A spell that requires all of his concentration, and a sum of mana that scales with the amount of information being processed, Deus Ex Machina allows the transformation of written information into practical knowledge. When the spell is complete, and the seed of information born, Erastus implants the information into its intended target. This seed becomes ingrained within that person, as if it were true memory, to the depth that some of it may affect them on an instinctual level. Assuming Erastus had the time and mana, the target might become a master historian, or even a skilled martial artist.
Of course, such memories come at a cost. As is natural with the mind, some information is lost over time as new memories are gained: such is the case with Deus Ex Machina, as new memory cannot fill that which is already full. As of yet, Erastus has little control over what a person might lose to this memory loss, though it appears to be localized to older memories. Some might be recovered over time, like remembering a long lost friend, or a favorite pet, but there does not appear to be a way to trigger a return of all the memories. That said, small amounts of information usually don’t result in memory loss in a major way. Still, it’s difficult to determine what exactly is lost, if one retains no memory of it…
[Special Abilities:]
Beyond his abilities as an archmagus, Erastus is human. He is of lean build and is only about as strong as the average human, and while he is of considerable intellect, even that pales in comparison to some. Erastus is thoroughly mundane, perhaps even below average, if you factor in the number of non-humans that now walk Earth’s soil. Excepting his studies of the arcane, he does not mind mediocrity and in some way welcomes it: with greater power comes the attention of those that wish to exploit it. As it were, he is mostly able to escape notice, both due to his human heritage and his lack of explicit features of note.
[Armor:]
Erastus’ robes are significant of his rank and status, and less a tool meant to protect him. Bestowed upon him once he inherited the mantle of Archivist, the robes are imbued with some minor enchantments. The focus of said magic, however, is generally to protect the fabric from soiling and the metal ornamentation from tarnish, or otherwise oxidizing. Erastus has considered hiring an Enchanter to lace the robes with more powerful runes, but has thus far not found a need for such frivolity.
[History:]
