Arkhivom
Where Arkhivom came from, and what he is, is a mystery. He does not resemble any of the known peoples of Arethil, nor does he seem to have any affiliation with them. Beyond some vague descriptions of a creature resembling him being sighted in The Spine in the last century, none have seen anyone like him.
He is determined, and ruthless, and he will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
Skills and Abilities
Fear: His mere presence exudes a fright which grasps the hearts of Men and sways the minds of darkness. His words carry like the beat of a mighty drum, and his very steps cause even the most stalwart a champion to grow feint. He does not experience fear. It is what he is.
Strength: His power laughs in the face of even giants – a mocking, and terrible force. Even the most fortified a structure eventually bows to his unrelenting and furious might. There is no escape.
Magic: An affluent user of dark magic, from his manipulation and perversion of various elements to a terrifying form of necromancy.
Transmutation: Undoubtedly Arkhivom's most terrifying capability. In an act that resembles necromancy, Arkhivom is able to reshape both the living and the dead into monsters of his machination. These creations can be formed from anything from wildlife, to people, and even flora to a degree.
Dark Forge: Dark magic fuels his very being and gives him the power to conjure weapons out of the darkness at will. While he can do this during the daytime, it is significantly more difficult and less effective.
Telepathy: Arkhivom is able to commune with others through thought alone, able to form connections with others even over distances to a degree. In this way, however, he is unable to glean information from those unwilling should he wish it. To do so, physical touch and a type of mental interrogation is required - a process which usually leaves the victim in a state of madness.
Strength: His power laughs in the face of even giants – a mocking, and terrible force. Even the most fortified a structure eventually bows to his unrelenting and furious might. There is no escape.
- With ample strength, in one arm he carries a shield as wide and nearly as tall as he made of the bones of some unknown creature resembling that of a dragon, with horns at its top and sharpened teeth around its lower brim. In his other arm, made of similar bone he carries a menacing flail - with sharpened spikes and razor talons and of terrifying size, easily the weight of several men.
Magic: An affluent user of dark magic, from his manipulation and perversion of various elements to a terrifying form of necromancy.
Transmutation: Undoubtedly Arkhivom's most terrifying capability. In an act that resembles necromancy, Arkhivom is able to reshape both the living and the dead into monsters of his machination. These creations can be formed from anything from wildlife, to people, and even flora to a degree.
Gwathui: The monsters made from Arkhivom's ability of Transmutation. Having no ability to truly create, Arkhivom merely takes that which already is and reshapes it. These creatures come in a variety of forms, being shaped from either an individual creature or several made into one. Often grotesque, there is no mistaking them for anything other than a monster.
There are, however, a breed of Gwathui that have existed for over a century. These creatures walk on four legs and behave in almost feline ways despite appearing far from such a thing, and appear to have a far more refined appearance than Arkhivom's most recent creations. These creatures appear in packs and seem to display more wild tendencies unless directly called upon by their master.
Dark Forge: Dark magic fuels his very being and gives him the power to conjure weapons out of the darkness at will. While he can do this during the daytime, it is significantly more difficult and less effective.
Telepathy: Arkhivom is able to commune with others through thought alone, able to form connections with others even over distances to a degree. In this way, however, he is unable to glean information from those unwilling should he wish it. To do so, physical touch and a type of mental interrogation is required - a process which usually leaves the victim in a state of madness.
Personality
Many who have encountered him have described him with a word. Evil. There are few creatures in this world that he would view in equal esteem, and very few that he would not aim to destroy. Despite these facts, he is calculated and often decisive, however fueled with hate. All of his goals whether they be carried out subversively or blatantly, are rooted in destruction. In the end there is no discussion. There is only death - for those who oppose him. To many, he seems to be focused on only the destruction of everything in his path, and at a glance this would likely seem true. However, his motivations run far deeper.
Regardless of any truth in it, Arkhivom believes himself to be the resurrected form of a Dark One, manifested in a body of flesh bound to the Laws of Magic, and able to dwell in the world in this way. With this understanding, he regards the Celestial Gods as invaders and subjugators, who had come to Arethil so long ago as conquerors. To him, their influence has devolved the world and condemned its people to suffering.
Because of this, he strives to eliminate all influences of the Celestial Pantheon.
Arkhivom exists in two states: the first is that of the leader, the dark lord he portrays himself as, the king of shadow who rules his dark monsters from high in his evil tower. The other is a ravenous, bloodthirsty berserker that will destroy anything in its path.
Appearance
Arkhivom is an absolute monster. He stands over 8 feet tall and weighs a considerable amount for even this immense size. Long and red dread like tendrils flow from behind a unique and distinctive cranium. Behind four fanged mandibles hide razor teeth from where dark words are uttered. With glowing red eyes, dark grey skin and a shadow of darkness that seems to follow wherever he travels, he truly does bear a resemblance to fear itself.
Often he appears with his chest and arms bare, and his face in full display. Other times he covers himself in a long and encroaching cloak. Also too, when dressed for battle, he appears fully clad in a ghastly, spiked plate armour complete with a helmet, made to suit his unique features.
Often he appears with his chest and arms bare, and his face in full display. Other times he covers himself in a long and encroaching cloak. Also too, when dressed for battle, he appears fully clad in a ghastly, spiked plate armour complete with a helmet, made to suit his unique features.
