Spirits of the Earth

Prologue
+ NAME + Mercuxio Meridian Idris Rastognlir
+ ALIAS + Merric
+ AGE + 29
+ GENDER + Male
+ STAR SIGN + The Eagle's Eye
+ BORN + Winter
+ ORIGIN + Avielle, Bellkrath, Connloath
+ SPECIES + Human
+ RESIDENCE + Connlaoth
+ OCCUPATION + Priest / Confessor
+ COUNTENANCE + Black hair / Ice-blue eyes
+ STATURE + 5'11" / 205 lbs.
+ SEXUALITY + Heterosexual


CH. I – Painting a Portrait
Mercuxio has always been rather tall for a Connlaothian, with a mildly stocky build.  He retains the broad shoulders of his father, but moves with more of a cat-like grace, like that of his mother.  He's well-built for a priest, with a lean but strong physique.  Much like his father, he has dark, dusky black hair, cropped short with manageable length, always carefully brushed and kempt.  He has deep narrow eyes beneath a slender brow with sharp, angular eyebrows.  His nose is pointed, almost regal with a faint aquiline bend just over full lips.  His top lip is slightly bow-shaped and a broadened jawline.

His skin is clean and unmarred, free of tattoos or blemishes.  He prefers to remain clean shaven though his sideburns have grown just a little over his cheekbones.

CH II – Mental Make-up
Mercuxio  is a quiet, reserved man.  He speaks softly when spoken to and when performing his priestly duties.  He is more observational and nearly always thinks before he speaks, and when he does it's because it is usually quite relevant and important to the present conversation.  He cannot stand idle conversation, speaking just to hear one's own voice, and becomes easily annoyed around those that do enjoy it; and does not suffer the company of fools.

He's well-educated, coming from  a well-to-do background as well as being raised in the employ of the Church of Ansgar, and well-mannered.  A humble gentleman in the least.

But there is nothing he takes more seriously than his work as a Priest of the Church of Ansgar and as a Confessor of the Order of St. Agratha.  With a little more than ten years in service to the Churh, he is loyal to the Order to which he is bound.  And with that is revealed an aggression most would deem as unfit for a member of the Church.  He's ruthless to his enemies, willing to torture to get what he needs.  There is a small spark of sadistic pleasure taken from his work, but it is something he does his best to push out of his mind.  He will only ever kill when he has to, as well.  At his core, he is astute and ambitious, striving to excel, determined and headstrong.

+ FAITH +
Mercuxio has been devout to the Church of Ansgar his whole life, so much that he's dedicated his life to its service.  While he's long since believed magic is a terrible infestation of the soul, he's no longer as idealistic as he once was, and understands life places people in certain circumstances beyond their control.  He also acknowledges ones choices are of even graver importance.

+ HABITS +
He does not give into vice of any kind, as a Priest and Confessor.  He's quenched his desire for temptation in his youth, or so he would argue.  But it is not uncommon for those of the Cloth to secretly quench their need for vice, and some make it less of a secret than others.  As for Mercuxio, he first made love to a girl he was courting when he was sixteen, unbeknownst to both of their parents.  They remain acquaintances to this day, if distantly so.


CH III – Social

+ RELATIONSHIPS +
Family
Duke Dardanus Eldrich Rastognlir, Father, 54, Alive

A stout man and powerfully built, and his demeanor differs little from his physicality.  He's forthright and stern with a mild sense of humor, and rarely ever smiles.  He's the patriarch of the Rastognlir clan and wanted Mercuxio to become a brilliant military tactician or perhaps even a famous general.  He was the one most opposed to his first born son joining the priesthood and remains adamant of his opinion to this day.  Though he has not disinherited his son, his relationship with Mercuxio is strained at best.

Duchess Christine Veronique Rastognlir, Mother, 48, Alive

Mercuxio's mother, whom he'd always adored and been close to.  She is an intelligent woman and not afraid to show it; and generally the one that kept the books in the household.  She is sweet when it counts and ster when she needs to be and takes no nonsense from anyone, least of all her family.  It was she that stayed Dardanus from completely disowning Mercuxio after he decided to become a priest.  Though she does not necessarily agree with her son's decision, she does feel he is old enough to live his own life as he chooses.

Severine Morrigan Rastognlir, Eldest Sister, 30, Alive, Married

First born of the Rastognlir children, Severine was the apple of Dardanus' eye when she was born, but all his doting turned her bookish and dowdy.  She's smart, much like her mother, and as opinionated as her father.  Her relationship with Mercuxio has always been relatively good and she doted on him when he was young.  Currently she is married to a minor lord in Western Helvion, Lord Jon Talbot.

Jaimes "Jaimie" Theodoric Rastognlir, Younger Brother, 27, Alive

Much more social as a young man than Mercuxio had ever been, Jaimie has always had a high-spirited energy.  He's since mellowed out in his maturity, but maintains he same playful demeanor around those that know him well.  He's always looked up to Mercuxio, his older brother, but he didn't have the same guts to stand up to Dardanus.  He joined the army when he was 16 and has since finished his service after a few  years, and honorably discharged as a Major.  While he and his brother have always been close, he was disappointed in his brother's decision to become a Priest, believing he was giving up much more than he was gaining.

Darian "Dani" Elsabet Rastognlir, Youngest Sister, 17, Alive

The youngest of all the Rastognlir children, and certainly the most restless among them.  She butts heads with anything and anyone to get her way, and wants to live only as she pleases.  Being seventeen has made her more than a handful for her aging parents.  She is much closer to Jaimie than she has ever been to any other sibling, particularly Mercuxio, calling him a "bore" and a "frumpy priest."  His feelings toward her are likewise at best, though he has more respect when he shows it.

Lucian Andris (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=23237.new#new), Friend, Fellow Priest and Confessor, 33 Alive

Markham Wallace's nephew and inducted into the Order just a few years prior to Mercuxio.  He befriended him when he joined and has since been his companion and rival.  Lucian worked hard to earn his rank, when he wasn't frequenting the brothels in Uthlyn and resents Mercuxio for rising to Templar so quickly, skipping two ranks in the process.

Markham Wallace, Mentor and Priest, 68, Deceased

A man older and wiser than Mercuxio could hope to be, and something of a second father to him.  He was the first to introduce him to the Confessors and had served as his mentor.  His recent death has given Mercuxio reason to return to Lluin in Falkenrath to pay his last respects.

Attalia Arrant (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=15556.msg155397#msg155397), an old Friend, Alive

The first girl Mercuxio ever loved and courted when he was a teenager.  Though communication is distant, occasionally he still makes contact, and keeps a watchful eye on her for reasons of his own.

CH IV – Abilities / Skills
+ DIVINE RETRIBUTION +
A blessing to some, a bane to many, a gift believed to be bestowed by Ansgar himself.  A confessor may trap and absorb the very magical essence a mage or magic user, rendering them completely ordinary.  It takes much energy to use such a power and can be utilized gradually or all at once.  The subject in question often experiences weakening as their essence is pulled away, taxing both physically and mentally.  If the essence is taken away too quickly – and particularly violently – the body may enter a catatonic state from shock.  It may only be utilized by direct contact and with total focus by the Confessor.
-Though rare, it is possible to extend this gift to allow temporary absorption of any magic cast at its user.  It takes a great deal of concentration and practice, being difficult to hone, and has a slim chance of working.  How much can be absorbed depends on its user, but what energy is absorbed must be used quickly through physical or mental exertion, lest they suffer a burn out.

CH V – Gear / Equipment
+ EBONY MACE +
A mace fashioned from gleaming ebony steel, and as beautiful as moonlight on water.  It is approximately two and a half-feet in length with a flanged design on its head.  The crown of the weapon is opened and pronged at the tip of each flanged section.  Along the handle, the grip is leather bound and threaded into each other with a weighted pommel to allow for excellent balance and leverage.  It is a medium sized weapon, weighing approximately thirteen pounds, which Mercuxio can easily handle with one hand for devastating blows.

+ GREATSWORD +
Though Mercuxio favors the mace as his weapon of choice, he also carries with him a battle ready great sword. It is much lighter than it appears, but highly capable of devastating blows. It has a 13 inch hilt, leather bound with a broadened fishtail pommel. The cross guard is of a similar length, and the blade has small horns protruding from the edge about 8 inches from the cross guard. He's capable of using the weapon one handed, although it is a bit impractical.

+ PENDANTS +
Around his neck are three pendants, each with its own sentimental value.  One is a rounded emblem with the crow of the Rastognlir family crest, the other the Spear of Ansgar, and the other the torchlight symbol of St. Agratha.

CH VI – Reflections of the Past
Being a priest was not his father's first choice of a future for his eldest son.  If the Rastognlir family's influence could have swayed more than in trade and court, his father would have it so that his son was a soldier, like he was and his father before him, rather than joining the priesthood.  But he supposes there were worse things Mercuxio could have chosen.  Still the decision has put a strain on their relationship, and they seem almost mere acquaintances than father and son.

Mercuxio's family is one of extensive heritage, of which many believe dates back to the very war that forged Connlaoth, and helped rebuild it from the ashes.  The Rastognlirs have always been a noble family, staunch anti-mage, loyal to Connloath, and provided one or two Grand Dukes in its history.  They pride themselves in their lineage and legacy.

He was raised in a proper household as the first son after his sister Severine, the eldest and given the best privileges money could buy.  He was schooled in all the basic training of all young noble men: combat, hunting, falconry, horseback riding and gentility and took to scholarly work like fire and to oil.  But he felt he was destined for something more than what he'd been born into.  He joined a small monastery in the small town of Calder in the southern section of Bellkrath, near his home, when he was just seventeen.  His first contact with the Oder of St. Agratha came on a pilgrimage to honor the Saints of Ansgar.  He was drawn by their teachings of mercy and humility and soon joined the nearest chapel, Rorian Abbey, leaving his first monastery.

It wasn't long after that, that his devotion and loyalty had not gone unnoticed by his superiors from his work in helping the local poor and an incident concerning a mage that took penance there.  Previously the man had nearly killed a small child from an outburst of magic, nearly burning her to a crisp.  He then went to Rorian Abbey to seek help for his condition.  The mage was set to labor in the gardens and stables; but broke under mental strain, unable to suppress his powers, feeling as if he would burn alive.  He attacked two monks, fatally wounding one of them.  Mercuxio found him in the chapel and subdued him with a bash to the head.  The mage was given to the Mordecai and out of the care of the Church.

Soon he was met with another Priest, Father Markham Wallace, who asked him why he joined the Church, when he could have so much more with his place as the son of a duke.  Mercuxio explained he'd always felt his life was devoid of any real meaning, that he could be of greater service to the Church, than he could as a noble.

"If you're looking for the meaning of life, Brother Mercuxio, you're in the wrong place," Markham explained.  "Marry a farmer and see then that your purpose is clear.  But I see that look in your eyes, I know it well.  It reminds me of myself those countless winters ago.  I'd hate to see your youth wasted tilling fields, cleaning stables, and serving subpar stew to the poor wretches that come crawling on their knees to the Abbey."

Mercuxio almost couldn't believe his ears.  "Your problem is that I'm too young to be here?  I have every right to make this my vocation if I so please.  You may be the ruling superior here, but excuse me if I disagree with you."

"Calm yourself, Brother," Markham laughed.  "My meaning is not to remove you.  But I do think your time is better spent elsewhere.  There are places better fitted for one such as yourself, your demeanor, the way you carry yourself when you walk.  You will always be a duke's son, Mercuxio, no matter how you try to hide it.  I have seen many like you before, but only a few with your aptitude.  Many come here because they feel as if they are fulfilling some divine calling.  For most that's how we start and it's not long before we realize the world is a much larger and more wounded place than we could ever hope to heal.  For those that are content with the knowledge that they contribute to the world as it is made no matter how small, this is enough for them.  Then there are those that depart with regret in their decision to come in the first place.  And then those that aspire beyond the raw toil, and those that deserve it.  They are not always one and the same.  You will never belong here.  You're a Rastognlir.  But don't think I will turn you away because of it.  I do think however, there are better places for you to perform your duty, beyond Rorian Abbey."

Mercuxio was taken to the underground Sanctum beneath the Abbey, hidden and preserved for those he was to become.  And it was within the ranks of the Confessors that he was truly able to excel where he hadn't before.  There he met Markham's nephew, Lucian Andris, and bonded over their mutual ambition.  And it wasn't long before Mercuxio swore his oaths and was Exalted from the Rank of Brother to Templar, passing over two ranks inbetween.  It was no unheard of, it is extremely rare for one to rise so quickly within less than ten years.  Lucian followed not long after, but he hid his resentment and envy toward his friend.

Despite his success however, Mercuxio has recently felt as if he's become distant to the things that he once held dear, namely his family and the reasons he'd joined the priesthood in the first place.  He currently has returned to Lluin in Falkenrath, taking a leave of absence from his work as a lay priest in Uthlyn, when he heard the news of the death of his mentor Markham Wallace.