| Jun. 19th, 2011 @ 01:35 am (no subject) |
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( OUT OF CHARACTER )
Name: DPF
Age: 23
Roleplaying experience: Assorted tabletop games for years and a few IJ games in the past few months.
AIM: DPF2006
( IN CHARACTER )
Name: Akhen-Set, legal name Victor Moreau
Nickname: Victor
Age: Estimated to have been born roughly three and a half millenia ago. Active roughly two hundred fifty years. Appears to be around 50 to those who have to guess.
Job: Legal representative for the carnival
Played by: Keith David
Species: Mummy
Personality: Akhen-Set likes to put on airs of friendliness, generosity, and joviality. He often wears a smile, being willing to joke around even if his sense of humor is a few decades behind that of most other people. He's glad to help in ways that won't inconvenience him, and seems polite at first glance. Though he may try to project an air of class, it's largely an act.
As one spends more time with him, it becomes clear that Victor isn't willing to go too far out of his way for others. He keeps a cool head at all times and will not hesitate to say "no" if he has to. Just beneath the surface, he's more than a little stern, and when he's in control of something, he's strict and demanding. Though he may seem light-hearted, he possesses great self-discipline and won't spend long with those who lack it.
In his heart of hearts, Akhen-Set regards himself above all others. He is filled with contempt for any who disrespect him in any way. As much as he tries to keep his true feelings hidden, the exception is a difficult hold on his anger. When someone really pisses him off, he WILL act on it, and any retribution he inflicts will usually be far greater than whatever act was taken against him, and even then he may still hold a grudge. The quickest way into his good graces or to his hit list is through his ego.
History: In his first life, a priest of Anubis served as an adviser to royalty. He helped to determine the course of the kingdom on the Nile, and he lived quite well for his part in it. Even in those times, he was less than pure, willing to do political favors for his own gain. He dabbled in magic as well, but as spoiled as he could make himself in those times, it was more of a supplement to his priestly duties than his real calling. The worship of the gods ensured his fine life. But the rise of a new pharaoh shattered the priest's life. Akhenaten desecrated the temples of the gods, declaring that his patron deity was the only one worthy of worship.
The whole of the priesthood was enraged by their leader's acts, and this priest of Anubis was no exception. But it was not reverence of Anubis that had drawn him to priesthood, but the power and luxuries it allowed him. To get what he felt he deserved, he made pacts with darker powers and took on the name Akhen-Set, servant of the most vile. He dove into the blackest of magics, seeking to regain what was lost. He was knowledgeable, but was then inexperienced. For all the sorcery he knew, he could not prevent his death from the poison of an assassin. He was mummified, entombed with his belongings, and forgotten.
In 1800, he was rediscovered. Napoleon's campaign in Egypt had drawn Europe's interest to the nation. People were excited to uncover what they could about the ancient kingdom. In particular, a small group of wealthy men had an interest in the occult and thought they had a good understanding of it. When the tomb of Akhen-Set was discovered with a wealth of arcane lore, they quietly had him and his property shipped to them. They had only the basest understanding of any of it, but slowly pieced together one of Akhen-Set's rituals, a guarantee of eternal life. Greed and curiosity lead them to perform it, but rather than preserving them, the mummy awoke.
Confused and angry, Akhen-Set lashed out at the men. Most tried in vain to fight him, but he was no longer a mortal man. Several of them died, but one man, paralyzed by fear, fell to his knees and grovelled at the mummy's feet. Despite the language barrier, Akhen-Set understood the gesture, and ceased his assault. The remaining members of the group, slowly understanding the power he wielded, hid Akhen-Set as he started to pick up their language. He started tempting them with offers of real power, and got access to all that they had gathered before that they had not understood.
Over the next century, Akhen-Set had gathered magics that he'd never dreamed of in life, and became a scholar of other fields as well. The remaining old men gained more like-minded followers interested in learning magic. They became a secret society, one that shielded Akhen-Set as he dropped crumbs of power to them, nothing too terribly useful. The novelty of magic satisfied them. As much as he built himself up in the shadows, however, he still missed the influence he has once held. Akhen-Set hatched a plan to rule in the open once more.
A ritual that caused the deaths of several of his followers restored him to a human appearance. His age gave him a sense of patience, and every year he added to his power. In the twentieth century, though, he faced several set-backs. War in Europe, immense and devastating, destroyed his places of power and killed his followers. Governments seeking to root out traitors damaged his group even further, until he no longer felt they would protect him. As quietly as possible, he left them behind with what he could salvage of his stores.
He still wished to rule, but had to change his plans from relying on monarchs to relying on republics. Upon arriving in the New World, he studied law fervently, quietly forging the documents stating that a Victor Moreau was born on U.S. soil. He chose to bide his time again, but had nothing to fall back on now. He spent decades on his own, trying to build something from nothing. His desire to rule diminished and became tempered, briefly, by a wish to fit in.
In time, Akhen-Set found a kindred spirit in Arkady Von Wulf. The traveler was studying the occult, and the mummy was willing to help, partly because he couldn't recall the last time he found anyone who understood it so well. Akhen-Set tried to keep tabs on the vampire, and when he heard of a carnival being founded, the mummy approached him. He'd gotten skilled in forging the appropriate documents and handling legitimate ones, and acting as the legal representative was a trifle he could offer for a chance to join.
Today the carnival does well in covering things up. But when they need to deal with the law, Victor Moreau appears from the shadows. Behind the scenes, he still refines his magics and jealously guards his secrets. Though he wouldn't admit it, he's started to take the carnival for granted and is starting to once more feel the need to rule...
Roleplaying sample: http://asylums.insanejournal.com/darkcarnivale/tag/rose |
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