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| Weapon/Attack | Init | Atk | Dfn | Dam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Sword | +3 | +33 (+18 versus Divine and Elementals) | +17 | +12 (+16 versus human or animal bodies) |
Soak: +8 (Stamina, Dragon Tattoo)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20), Dead (21+)
Abilities: Artes Liberales (Astronomy) 2, Awareness (Ambush) 3, Brawl (Dodge) 3, Concentration (Combat) 3, Criamon Lore (Path of Strife) 3, Enigmatic Wisdom (Meditative Weapon) 10, Finesse (Vim) 3, Hunt (Tracking) 3, Infernal Lore (Combating Demons) 6, Latin (Threats) 5, Magic Theory (Perdo) 10, Parma Magica (Supernatural Attacks) 7, Penetration (Perdo) 7, Philosophiae (Metaphysics) 3, Second Sight (Seeing Invisible) 3, Speak German (Threats) 5, Stealth (Moving Quietly) 2, Survival (Black Forest) 3
Arts: Cr 20, In 5, Mu 16, Pe 20, Re 10, An 6, Aq 6, Au 6, Co 18, He 6, Ig 10 (3), Im 6, Me 6, Te 6, Vi 20
Twilight Scars: Shivinaya has had numerous Twilight episodes, controlling them all as a Criamon should. The majority of them act as auras around him, providing him and allies nearby with very minor beneficial effects (+1 bonus on Recovery, Concentration, and Brave rolls) and one that causes his enemies to become careless with fear (-1 on Defense). With his last Twilight he acquired the Minor Virtue Life Boosted Magic and realized his time had almost come.
Equipment: Great Sword (Talisman; Attunements: +3 Block, +4 Damage Human/Animal bodies; Powers: Demon's Eternal Oblivion, PeVi 20 [Range is Touch], Penetration 40, 6 uses per day, trigger: Strife Labyrinthine combat movements, Total Enchantment Level: 43. Causes target to lose 25 Might; Wave of Demonic Oblivion, PeVi 25 [Target is Group], Penetration 34, 6 uses per day, trigger: Strife Labyrinthine combat movements. Causes targets to lose 15 Might, Total Enchantment Level: 45), Tattoos (Symbol of St. Michael's Flaming Sword [small tattoo] provides constant +18 Recovery Bonus [CrCo], Total Enchantment Level: 29; Symbol of a Dragon [small tattoo] provides constant +5 Soak bonus [MuCo], Total Enchantment Level: 39; Symbol of the Taurus [small tattoo] provides constant Endurance of the Berserker [ReCo], Total Enchantment Level: 19)
Path of Strife Bonuses: The Avenue of Faith in Strife and the Station of the Eater of Sin (obtained at age 36) - can use Enigmatic Wisdom as Magic Sensitivity, can use Enigmatic Wisdom as a chosen Weapon Ability (Great Sword); The Avenue that Splinters and the Station of Blood and Bronze (obtained at age 85) - can destroy up to 5000 feet of mundane items/materials with Labyrinthine movements, can multiply attack bonus of chosen weapon by 4 [Penetration is 55], can strike creatures only affected by magic weapons but not usable against the Divine or creatures of animated elemental materials.
Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Spells Known:
*Thrust of Strife (PeCo 20), R: Voice, D: Momentary, T: Individual. Causes a Medium wound to the target in the form of stab from a sword.
**Harvest of Chronos (PeCo 50), R: Voice, D: Momentary, T: Group. Kills a targeted group of people; they literally drop where they stand. The cause of death is impossible to determine by mundane detection.
Description and Background:
Mathias Holgrim was kidnapped in the night from his Vienna home. His family saw it as a blessing; he was far too strange and afflicted. His master Rogharem did not even speak with him for the first few months as his apprentice, but he allowed him to be taught by monks at the Cave of Twisting Shadows. His master only took an interest in his education when Mathias was contacted by one of the many ghosts that haunted it. The ghost plagued him with visions of murder and death, intending him to be the next to kill the Primus, which was also why Rogharem chose him. Mathias rebelled against the visions and the belief of the Criamon that their fates were destined to repeat endlessly. Many considered this to be merely fear or typical rebellious youth. However, when it became obvious that Mathias would not behave as expected, his fate led him down the Path of Strife anyway. He was cursed for his arrogance with knowledge of how and when he would die, which caused his loss of Self-Esteem; it's hard to have Confidence when you know your ultimate fate. Later he would come to believe that it was actually a demon that may have plagued him as an apprentice and still plagued him after.
Mathias finished his Gauntlet; the riddle's answer was similar to what Alexander the Great was presented with; the quick solution was when Mathias cut the knotted cord presented to him. He took the name Shivinaya, in honor of an Indian god/aspect of destruction and chaos. He returned to his native Germany and was accepted into a promising Summer covenant. He spent his time training and combating the demons that tried to vex him. He deliberately spent time in a lab outside of the Aegis to draw them out. He also came to realize what it meant to be an eater of sin and took it upon himself to defend the other pacifistic Criamon. He successfully pursued three Wizard Wars against magi who had attacked or insulted Criamon magi. He also killed a Criamon Gorgiastic who had been Marched. All of his enemies were slain by his great sword and his incredible skill with it. Since then wizards of the Rhine tread carefully around the Criamon, lest they attract the ire of Shivinaya.
Shivinaya refuses to train an apprentice or take a familiar; when he finally dies he wants no legacy to be left behind. He is thought to be an Archwizard by some, but since he hasn't trained an apprentice, nor sought to curry the favor of Magisters, he is in truth not even an actual Magister. However, he is given great accord by the Archwizards for all he has done; he even technically qualified as passing Phillipus Niger's challenge when he captured and killed the Gorgiastic. The Archwizards have even given a bit of thought to encouraging him to join them, but they don't want to risk the loss of prestige should he refuse to do so.
Shivinaya's covenant and the lands around it are pockmarked with patches of dead and destroyed ground, often where huts, trees, or boulders used to be. His progress on the Path of Strife is quite damaging to the land, and his covenant-mates refuse (gently) to allow him to practice within.
Recently Shivinaya's Death Prophecy has resurfaced. After his last Twilight, he gained the ability to link his magic to his life force; this presages the coming of the wizard who will slay him. When that Twilight ended, he finally cast a vote to allow wizards into his now Winter Covenant, in the hopes that he would find the one to slay him. He must die so that the world will not be plagued by the great evil he will unleash should he go into Final Twilight.
Shivinaya is a small and wiry old man with skin like leather. His movements are lithe and smooth. His skin is covered with a myriad of twisting and glowing runes, sharp and jagged lines mostly; three tattoos (two on his chest and one that circles his neck) are the only parts that stay where they are. When traveling he covers himself as much as he can with robes and a cloak, casting them off should he need to fight. He carries only his great sword (which has no name) and allows some grogs to accompany him and take care of other needs. Due to his tattoos, he must take care so as not to accidentally hurt himself and not realize it (he often has minor wounds that he doesn't acknowledge), and he must adhere to a regular regimen of sleep and meditation, even though he never feels tired.
Text copyright © John Padavic 2006.