Sortinous Bael
Appearance
Sortinous Bael is a tall, muscled man with a proud posture bearing a shaped grey beard on a stony face hardened by a life on the road, sunken eyes holding years of experience. His simple clothes are deceitful of his status, a tunic over pants that are tucked into leather boots, but his nobility is unquestionable by the long cape framing his lean, strong form. For battle and duels he sports only a sleek breastplate and matching bracers, relying on his agility and quick blade-work to keep him from harm. His smile, when it spreads over his face, is most often calm and comforting, but on occasion his true nature shines through his form. His smile is wicked as what creeps in the night, his eyes like the tip of his sword piercing into one's soul, his stature dominating the room where he stands; and may whatever gods there be save the poor creature before him.
Skills and Abilities
From a young age Sortinous was privileged to have all manner of knowledge at his disposal, thanks to his family's collection and connections across Espressa's schools and libraries. His favorite pastime, though, was swordplay. He quickly picked up the art of dueling with finesse weapons, preferring rapiers and small-swords to two-handed heavy weapons most seemed to enjoy. His other martial skills were by no means lacking, but his true strength lied in his one handed sword.
As one of the more public faces of House Bael he also acquired a silver tongue and charming presence to deal with commoners, other nobles, and to entertain crowds at dueling tournaments. All of his political face, however, was to cover his darkest secret: dark magic. House Bael maintained a long history of secret practices of magic, and he was no different. He typically used it in the subtlest of ways - gaining edges on his opponents, causing faint illusions, bending the minds of others to not notice subtleties - but in rare cases, when it was necessary, he would invoke the darkness within to perform wondrous acts of power.
But this, like all magic, does not come without its price, and that is perhaps his greatest weakness. Rituals mandate a living sacrifice each time Lessat eclipses the sun, casting the world in shadow and bringing the inner darkness to full fruition in those inducted to House Bael. This sacrifice is not all that is given, however. Part of the practitioner's soul must be sworn to the darkness, and the more he uses its power the stronger it grips his mind. With every use of this power Sortinous risks slipping further into madness and giving in to the darkness. As the time draws near for the ritual three times a year he must be every careful not to fall victim to this patron source, but it can be so hard to resist.
As one of the more public faces of House Bael he also acquired a silver tongue and charming presence to deal with commoners, other nobles, and to entertain crowds at dueling tournaments. All of his political face, however, was to cover his darkest secret: dark magic. House Bael maintained a long history of secret practices of magic, and he was no different. He typically used it in the subtlest of ways - gaining edges on his opponents, causing faint illusions, bending the minds of others to not notice subtleties - but in rare cases, when it was necessary, he would invoke the darkness within to perform wondrous acts of power.
But this, like all magic, does not come without its price, and that is perhaps his greatest weakness. Rituals mandate a living sacrifice each time Lessat eclipses the sun, casting the world in shadow and bringing the inner darkness to full fruition in those inducted to House Bael. This sacrifice is not all that is given, however. Part of the practitioner's soul must be sworn to the darkness, and the more he uses its power the stronger it grips his mind. With every use of this power Sortinous risks slipping further into madness and giving in to the darkness. As the time draws near for the ritual three times a year he must be every careful not to fall victim to this patron source, but it can be so hard to resist.
Personality
House Bael was known for their generosity and knowledge, and Sortinous has been honest in his portrayal of these traits from a young age. He always saw himself as a cut above the average, but mostly because of his status and access to knowledge and power. Even though he is respectful of all, especially for those above him, that respect only comes with a single misuse before someone loses his favor forever. His pride, too, runs deep in his veins. As the sole survivor of his house he will fight to defend his title of Count and restore his family's blemished honor. Despite a good heart growing up, the combination of House Bael's dark arts and the murder of his family have bred in him a vengeful thirst that threatens to throw him deeper into his inner demons.
Biography & Lore
Looking over the rocky cliff shores in the southern range of the Spine and near the Allir Reach stands the ruins of Chateau Secré, a manor once alive with the knowledge and wisdom of House Bael. The noble family motto read "hominem unius libri cave," or "beware the man of one book." They collected artifacts and tomes from anywhere they could and donated whatever they made copies of to libraries and universities across Espressa. Their secret, though, was the double meaning of their motto. Deep within their chateau, secret rituals were enacted to evoke dark sources of magic learned from the single tome they prized above all others, the source of their power. They derived strength from the darkness that was cast over the world thrice a year by the passing of Lessat over the sun.
Sortinous Bael, eldest son to the head of the house Count Val Pallidus Bael, was one of the most prominent public figures of the house as a skilled swordsman. In spite of his continual denial to claims of his family’s use of dark magic, he secretly held his own resource of power that he channeled into his dueling. He only fell back on this when it was necessary, especially when scrutiny came to him and his house, but each time he did it dipped him deeper into the lustful feeling of power rushing through him. There were even a few times when someone came to know too much, and he had been tasked with the pleasure of eliminating the threat by his own blade.
However, not all loose ends were tied, and there came a day when House Bael was betrayed. Someone within their own walls sold out their secrets with proof of forbidden texts and letters between the house and cults, all offered to the family's patrons and allies. They turned their backs on House Bael. Eventually an anonymous employer hired assassins to infiltrate and kill House Bael; and they did just that, leaving Chateau Secré a flaming ruin.
Sortinous had been away, sent by his parents to discuss political affiliations with a potential alliance with a noble house that was hosting a fencing tournament. When he heard the news of his family’s demise he was crushed, mournfully taking on the title of Count Bael, soon to be nicknamed by the public as Lord of Ruin. Upon his return he found the chateau barren and desolate, his family’s most prized possessions stolen or destroyed. He saw the traces of something deeper than an accident, but it wasn’t time yet to counter attack. He needed to sit back and assess the board, planning his moves ahead, readying himself for the game ahead. There in the heart of a once great manor Sortinous vowed to avenge his family, to restore their name and to take revenge against their murderer, no matter what it would take.
Sortinous Bael, eldest son to the head of the house Count Val Pallidus Bael, was one of the most prominent public figures of the house as a skilled swordsman. In spite of his continual denial to claims of his family’s use of dark magic, he secretly held his own resource of power that he channeled into his dueling. He only fell back on this when it was necessary, especially when scrutiny came to him and his house, but each time he did it dipped him deeper into the lustful feeling of power rushing through him. There were even a few times when someone came to know too much, and he had been tasked with the pleasure of eliminating the threat by his own blade.
However, not all loose ends were tied, and there came a day when House Bael was betrayed. Someone within their own walls sold out their secrets with proof of forbidden texts and letters between the house and cults, all offered to the family's patrons and allies. They turned their backs on House Bael. Eventually an anonymous employer hired assassins to infiltrate and kill House Bael; and they did just that, leaving Chateau Secré a flaming ruin.
Sortinous had been away, sent by his parents to discuss political affiliations with a potential alliance with a noble house that was hosting a fencing tournament. When he heard the news of his family’s demise he was crushed, mournfully taking on the title of Count Bael, soon to be nicknamed by the public as Lord of Ruin. Upon his return he found the chateau barren and desolate, his family’s most prized possessions stolen or destroyed. He saw the traces of something deeper than an accident, but it wasn’t time yet to counter attack. He needed to sit back and assess the board, planning his moves ahead, readying himself for the game ahead. There in the heart of a once great manor Sortinous vowed to avenge his family, to restore their name and to take revenge against their murderer, no matter what it would take.
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