Spyro 'Miracle' Calumus
If all the world is but a stage, why do anything else but be the most entertaining?
This is the mantra that Spyro Calumus was raised on, and the one he adheres to in every waking moment of his life. Raised in the bustling theater district of the leisure city of Vel Ospra, Spyro spent his earliest days watching the grandest stories in history being told on a stage through song and dance, under guise of mask and disguise, in front of hundreds strong.
It should be no surprise that such a childhood molded him, then, into a natural born performer in his own right. It wasn't long at all before he was on the stage with them, hiding his face and donning a new name to play characters from fantasy and history alike. To the world outside of the curtain, he became Miracle.
A Miracle he was. At only ten, he could captivate an audience with effort so minimal it stole from the luster of his elders. So good, was Calumus, that those who found themselves in competition with the boy insisted his talents must be the product of trickery, of magic.
It was not until Miracle was whisked offstage one day by those bearing the insignia of the Dreadlords that they realized how correct their complaints had truly been. But while you can take a performer out of the limelight, you cannot take a performer off of the stage.
Because, after all, the entire world is but a stage. Through the mysterious power flowing through his veins, and the gilded mask that covers his face, Miracle now tells his own grand tales with the blessing of the Republic behind him. God help those written to be the villains.
Appearance
Miracle is a slim, pale skinned boy with feathered black hair, carefully cared for and pampered so that it can be shaped and tousled however the boy wishes it to be. True to his roots as a performance artist, Miracle is rigorous with his self-care, and bordering on flamboyant when it comes to his appearance.
Often to the chagrin of the more old-fashioned minds in the Academy, Miracle routinely uses makeup, paint, dyes, and excessive amounts of jewelry in his daily ensemble. Even his issued uniform has been 'decorated' with glimmering golden paints, the logo of the Dreadlords the only thing left untouched.
On the field he allows this wild sense of character to be somewhat subdued, opting instead for flat blacks and little else. This is more for comfort and ease of use for his magic, however, stemming from...
Often to the chagrin of the more old-fashioned minds in the Academy, Miracle routinely uses makeup, paint, dyes, and excessive amounts of jewelry in his daily ensemble. Even his issued uniform has been 'decorated' with glimmering golden paints, the logo of the Dreadlords the only thing left untouched.
On the field he allows this wild sense of character to be somewhat subdued, opting instead for flat blacks and little else. This is more for comfort and ease of use for his magic, however, stemming from...
The Gilded Mask
The Gilded Mask is the catalyst through which Miracle utilizes his magic. It is a half-mask, comprised of long slivers of gold shaped to fit perfectly over the right side of the Initiate's face, with the stem of a flower meeting the bridge of his nose, and golden horn extending from his ear.
Without the mask, Miracle's power is limited to that of suggestion and charm. He can beguile and sway the weak minded, convince them to believe obvious lies and empty promises, or captivate them with tales grand and fantastical even when they would otherwise be his foes. This innate ability is quite similar to that of his classmate, Daniella Von Fleet, but not nearly as powerful.
It is with The Gilded Mask, forged over the course of years by a young and ambitious Spyro, that his magic truly blossoms. When placed over his face, the mask bonds with Miracle's skin, spreading across his head and body like a second skin. This layer of gold shifts and changes color and shape to Miracle's will, allowing him to take on the appearance of anything and anyone that he has witnessed with his own eyes before.
This ability has limitations, of course. The effect is not indefinite, and shortens relative to how active Miracle is while wearing the disguise. Fighting while concealed, for example, will quickly sap him of his power and leave him exposed far faster than travelling or standing idle.
These disguises can also be imperfect, as the shape Miracle takes is reflected by his memory of the intended guise. For example, Spyro could have difficulty recalling which finger an individual is missing, leading to an obvious tell of his deceit. He also has no way of replicating that which he has not seen. Scars or tattoos hidden by clothing, exact body proportions, and skin tone all must be decided on by Miracle on a moment's notice, and thus are prone to occasional error.
Miracle often limits the chances of these errors with more practical means of disguise. In addition to practical weapons and tools, he often carries makeups and dyes on his person at all times, allowing him to correct mistakes and make adjustments while on the field. On missions with suitable transport, he may also bring clothing items with him, to better assemble a fitting outfit when needed.
Without the mask, Miracle's power is limited to that of suggestion and charm. He can beguile and sway the weak minded, convince them to believe obvious lies and empty promises, or captivate them with tales grand and fantastical even when they would otherwise be his foes. This innate ability is quite similar to that of his classmate, Daniella Von Fleet, but not nearly as powerful.
It is with The Gilded Mask, forged over the course of years by a young and ambitious Spyro, that his magic truly blossoms. When placed over his face, the mask bonds with Miracle's skin, spreading across his head and body like a second skin. This layer of gold shifts and changes color and shape to Miracle's will, allowing him to take on the appearance of anything and anyone that he has witnessed with his own eyes before.
This ability has limitations, of course. The effect is not indefinite, and shortens relative to how active Miracle is while wearing the disguise. Fighting while concealed, for example, will quickly sap him of his power and leave him exposed far faster than travelling or standing idle.
These disguises can also be imperfect, as the shape Miracle takes is reflected by his memory of the intended guise. For example, Spyro could have difficulty recalling which finger an individual is missing, leading to an obvious tell of his deceit. He also has no way of replicating that which he has not seen. Scars or tattoos hidden by clothing, exact body proportions, and skin tone all must be decided on by Miracle on a moment's notice, and thus are prone to occasional error.
Miracle often limits the chances of these errors with more practical means of disguise. In addition to practical weapons and tools, he often carries makeups and dyes on his person at all times, allowing him to correct mistakes and make adjustments while on the field. On missions with suitable transport, he may also bring clothing items with him, to better assemble a fitting outfit when needed.
Personality
The mindset of a performer never left Spiro Calumus, even after he was taken from his home of Vel Ospry to become a Dreadlord Initiate. Even while training to become a walking weapon of war, he insists upon being referred to by his stage name of 'Miracle', both by peer and proctor alike, and near-constantly acts as if he is putting on some sort of a performance for someone, with exaggerated gestures and voices, flamboyant and outlandish outfits, and a seeming detachment from reality.
There is some speculation among the proctors that Spiro suffers some sort of mental ailment. The boy's constant highs and lows border on schizophrenic, and while he is proficient in what field work he has taken part in and receives relatively high marks in training, he does not seem to associate the work of a Dreadlord with anything more than yet another performance.
In truth, Spiro shields himself with his persona and personality intentionally. Perfectly aware of what he is and what he aims to become, Calumus knows that the weakness of a performance is when those viewing already know the ending. To allow his peers to peel back the curtain and know him beyond 'Miracle' would be to undermine the very talent that makes him who he is.
There is some speculation among the proctors that Spiro suffers some sort of mental ailment. The boy's constant highs and lows border on schizophrenic, and while he is proficient in what field work he has taken part in and receives relatively high marks in training, he does not seem to associate the work of a Dreadlord with anything more than yet another performance.
In truth, Spiro shields himself with his persona and personality intentionally. Perfectly aware of what he is and what he aims to become, Calumus knows that the weakness of a performance is when those viewing already know the ending. To allow his peers to peel back the curtain and know him beyond 'Miracle' would be to undermine the very talent that makes him who he is.
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