A man obsessed may spend a lifetime seeking his goals. Every waking moment could be spent trying to arrange matters in just the right way. Eventually, either the plans come to fruition or the man perishes, his life's energies eroded away over time. But what if you could have more time? Time to teach and learn so many ideas, time to savor so many pleasures, time enough to accomplish ten lifetimes' worth of goals. If it was offered, would you accept? What might a person be willing to sacrifice for such a gift? What price is too high? One man knows, for he has made the sacrifice and paid the price. But was that scarifice by his own choice is was he betrayed?
Gerald Tarrant: philosopher, poet, priest, scientist, artist, lover, husband, father, monster, murderer, destroyer, and savior? For over 900 years, this powerful being, once known as the merely human Count of Merentha, has remained apart from the human settlers of his world. Venturing out only rarely from his meticulously crafted biological citadel, the Forest, Tarrant watches the evolution of humankind as they adapt to the changeling world they have adopted. A synthesis of opposites, Tarrant naturally manipulates the planetary force known as fae while seeking a way to to bind completely the dangerous magical force.
He once was hailed asa Prophet for his efforts to build and aid the church, but in return he was twice-excommunicated. One betrayal was for his magic-wielding nature, something out of his control, while the other was for his actions in seeking out those things the church veiwed as heracy.. Although his body craves darkness and fear, surprisingly he does his best and most lasting work in the pursuit of creating or preserving life. As a perfect blend of life and death, Tarrant, at once saviour and destroyer, is yin and yang in a single harmonious entity.
Many questions stand on the truth behind Tarrant's history, where does the it begin and the lies end? How much of the truth does he himself know? Some have said that he took on the nightborn horror he has become fully, that he accepted his choice to become this horror in defiance of what the church meant, the complete opposite of everything he had once believed in. That he sealed this bargin with the sacrifice of his wife, his daughter and his youngest son. He left only his first born to live and carry on the name but Never would any hold the Title of Count of Merentha but him.
But there are also those that question this so called truth. Whispers that it was not Tarrant's choice that brought him to become a dark angel, a killer, a feeder on fear and emotion. Those whispers say there is another reason for him taking on this state. For the deaths of his family. For his fear of true death. The truth lies somewhere as all truths do. But even if it can be found would it save those that die and find torture at his hand? Truth is a powerful weapon but sometimes it can also blow up in the face of those that use it. So far none have been willing to risk thier lives, thier world for a truth that may turn out to be what is already known or something worse than they can imagine in any nightmare.
Despite surpassing power and intellect, Tarrant has his flaws as a character. As a sort of vampire, Tarrant lusts after the blood and raw emotional terror of his victims. Yet he can and does show mercy and compassion towards those who must suffer to feed him, to the point of near-starvation at times. His honor is something he holds to him tightly, one of the deepest of his convictions and what keeps him from being just another dark demon feasting on the mortal world.
Tarrants Abilities
Gerald Tarrant is a mage of great skill, his ability to manipulate the fae comes to him naturally, a born sorcerer that has from birth been able to see those paticular power forms and use them. The fae are not fairies or sprites but in this case infinately tiny life forms that flow over the world, a base for the powers of many but seen by few, these creatures help make up ley lines, power points and many other bases of magical power. A adept such as Tarrant needs no words or components to achieve his end, he uses simply pure will.
Much of his power manifests itself in the form of a power named Cold Fire, a icy flame that burns worse than pure flame it'self. This has the ability to reach temperatures far below freezing and cause deadly damage to those it is turned on. His touch is cold, always his skin radiates that cold. His touch is actively turned on a person can have varied effects from mild frostbite to the ability to freeze one where they stand. Solid. Bringing almost instant death.
As well he hasthe ability to work the earth fae and use thier various ablities. Diffrent than the dark fae thier base lies in earth and nature, both of which can have both benefical or deadly consiquences when turned into the powers that are drawn from his mind.
Through utter belief in himself and in the fae that he controls Tarrant can assume other forms. For the most part he chooses birds of prey, a way to travel faster than he could by horse or most other means. As well these birds have the usual weapons of all of thier kinds, talons, beak, wings.
He can create ones nightmares or more so give them the dark fae to bring them into being. A persons worst fears brought to life, plucked out of thier own subconcious not by any power but thier own fear. He cannot read minds, he can't even often read thoughts unless they hold enough power for him to Work them. It is not even something he does selfconciously, it is part of that terrible nature that lives within.
Tarrant always carries with him a sword of Worked steel, a blade of pure Cold Fire. For years, centuries he has poured power into the blade, it is a vessel for his power should he ever find himself cut off from the dark ability he uses. When drawn it's cold is beyound intense, ifit cuts it sears like fire but it's freezing will not simply burn but continue to bite, working it's way through a body not healed of it's taint. There is enough power in the blade to blow out a hillside if it was loosed and more. But rarely would he seek to use it as such for to tap into that great a portion of it's powers would drain much of the blades powers.
Tarrant is as well a expert swordsman, trained from childhood the centuries have given him time to perfect this art. It is both something he finds pleasure in but as well such swordsmanship is a honorable way to meet a opponent, one on one, face to face. he will often set aside his powers, other than the Cold Fire Blade, to meet another in such a battle if they prove that they themselves hold honor.
It's about dealing with the consequences." |
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