Perseus Von Eshkabel

Perseus Von Eshkabel (Eshkabel for short) is a Cleric Played by Keith Novack for the Vindication of the Merchant Nation campaign.

“Given the choice between death and power, the broken will always choose power.”

Description
Middle-aged man who’s appearance would give way to the fact he looks a lot older than he is. Silver hair, stern face, decedent robes, pasty skin, and a muscle less physique.

Personality
Cold to those hes unfamiliar with but becomes more respectable as he adjusts. Never reveals his real motives until the time comes.

Family & Relationships
Mother & Father = Unknown (presumed deceased)

Uncle = Deceased

Disciples of Eshkabel = A group of lost souls and corrupted clerics taken under the wing of Eshkabel to train and learn what Cyric has to offer.

Early Life (Born – 8)
Eshkabel was born into a rich family in the high end parts of Saerloon. His birth was purely accidental as his parents did not want him to impede on their budding wealth. Eshkabel would lead a life of distress; as his greedy parents would not spend a copper to make sure he was safe, and healthy. By age 6, the already intelligent and gifted Eshkabel was feeling trapped both physically and creatively, as if he were a stray dog that nobody wanted. He began to sneak around when nobody was looking and learned the piano in his alone time, playing and composing miserable pieces to help ease his torment. One time he was caught and was punished brutally with a whip for his insolence, then forced to live in the cellar for months, receiving nothing but scraps for meals.

To say by this time Eshkabel had lost faith in religion would be a gross understatement. He loathed the thought of religion as he was given such a cruel life. Eshkabel would soon hatch a scheme to get out of this living hell. He had done some research and found out one of his uncles was living in the slums of Saerloon. One night, when he was 8, he made his break. When he was leaving he saw a silhouette of his father in the window, it seemed to be looking at Eshkabel then it faded away as if he wasn’t worth chasing. Eshkabel would arrive at his uncle’s house 3 days later.

A Dark Teaching (8 – 13)
On his way to his uncle Virgus, Eshkabel would pass by a churches dedicated to Bane as well as other gods and would spit on them. Finally when he arrived he found his uncle in a state of disarray. The house he was living in was rundown and filthy, and judging by Virgus’s appearance he had been living there for years, it’s as if Virgus was just another piece of furniture in the house. Virgus accepted Eshkabel’s plea and allowed him to stay there for as long as he could. The first 3 years were borderline unbearable as the smell of rotting wood and decaying stone filled the house, however Eshkabel would soon learn to accept these shortcomings and settled in.

Eshkabel learned much about his uncle for the years after. Like how he was once a powerful and feared warrior, and how fighting destroyed his soul and his mind. He explained how after so many battles, he could simply talk his opponents into submission; breaking them and watching them kill themselves. He explained about how all he had done caused him to go insane, thus using up his usefulness and fading into the shadows where all his accomplishments meant nothing. Eshkabel was frightened by his story, about his uncle, and was a swirling torrent of emotions: should he stay? Should he try to flee? After careful thought Eshkabel became too intrigued to run and asked his uncle to teach him this.

“You and I are cut from the same cloth. And I warn you that this power is not for the weak minded. Do not become what I have.”

For 2 long years, Eshkabel’s mind was put through a rigorous torture. He was explained the construction of the mortal psyche, the law of power vs. death, and the threshold of human suffering; giving many graphic examples and demonstrations. It was rough, but Eshkabel absorbed every sentence of it.

The time had come for Eshkabel to test his knowledge. Virgus explained one fateful night that he knew Eshkabel would have come, and that he wanted to pass his gift to him. As a final test of mental strength, and to end his own suffering, Eshkabel was forced to talk his own uncle into submission.

“I’m afraid that of all the people I’ve killed with this power. The only one I regret not killing was I….”

It took him 10 hours, but he finally did it. He broke his own uncle’s heart and soul to pieces, and with one final thank you, Virgus picked up a dagger and pierced his own heart with it. Virgus lie dead on the floor and Eshkabel was the only one to have witnessed it. Eshkabel broke down into tears for what he had done, such a young boy twisted and spiraling into psychosis. The guard rushed to the scene of the incident and placed Eshkabel under arrest. But there was no evidence that Eshkabel had any involvement in the crime, and was let go. He was forced to go back to live with his parents but bolted away and went into seclusion.

Without any place to live or no reason to even live, Eshkabel clung to life by a thread. Many times when coming home, he would pass by the church to Bane and watched as people would go in and out. Having done some research on religion while his uncle was alive he learned a little about the history of the church of Bane, and, given his current situation, went inside to prey. He recalled that his uncle went regularly to prey there so what better place to go. On his knees, crying for mercy, his loud prayers would be soon heard by one of the top priests of the church, a man by the name of Malshus Mavarick.

In a teary confessional, Eshkabel told Malshus the gruesome details of his uncle’s murder. Malshus seemed shocked but moreover impressed with the young boy’s unique talent and decided to adopt him under his wing.

“Yes, Virgus was a good man. But he was suffering for years. You should not hold yourself responsible for bringing him a well earned death. Your talents are most impressive, so in exchange for your safety you will serve for this religion and become my apprentice!”

Eshkabel accepted his offer and became a member of Bane.

New Faith (13 – 27)
6 years of intense studying and practice under Malshus transformed Eshkabel into a fine member of the church. No longer an apprentice, but close allies at 20, Eshkabel started making a name for himself within the church as a cold ruthless member. By this time, most of his troubled past became nothing but a feint shadow. Eshkabel became a vital member for many of Bane’s crusades, but mostly for his casting prowess rather than mental strength. The power and privilege we’re immense but Eshkabel wanted more, he felt limited.

One day his old friend Malshus approached him with an idea. He explained that for several years he was planning a book that would change the way people could be affected psychologically, a new kind of mental warfare. He dubbed the book as the Maleficent Manifesto or “Curse Book” for short. He had the necessary materials but came to Eshkabel to lend a hand since he was recruited for his psychological talents. Unfortunately creating the book while under the religion of Bane would pose a difficulty.

There were talks of leaving Bane amongst the two. Started off as merely impossible but as Eshkabel approached 27 it became more to scheming than dreaming. However there was one person who overheard there conspiring, a cleric/assassin by the name of Larip Rotwhelp overheard bits and pieces of the plan, and the Curse Book in general. Larip believed that the book and its contents should be destroyed and banned any kind of texts to be written within the authority of Bane. When Malshus resisted, he was put into confinement while the text went into seclusion. Of course Larip would have no way of convincing Eshkabel to relinquish the position of the book and was forced to settle for one imprisonment.

The troubled times would approach soon. And with Eshkabel’s mentor in prison, the oppressive power of Bane began to tear at his soul. He would then write and compose two songs to ease his torment, one entitled “Insolent Almighty” and another one called “Senescent Comrade de la Inviolable” Eshkabel would sneak regular visits to his mentor rotting in the prison cell sneaking him food and drink. At one point Malshus spoke of the one known as Cyric, how he would ascend to the level of god, and how he would be the most powerful god in existence. At first Eshkabel was skeptical but as he heard on he knew that Cyric would be the religion they would align themselves with upon the coming of the Troubled Times. Eshkabel would once again devise a scheme to get them to safety as Bane battled amongst other gods. They were both fully aware that if Bane were to die, their powers would be locked for good.

As the troubled times approached Bane, as well as many other gods would wage war on each other. Eshkabel saw this as a time to break his dear friend out of his cell, and so he did. Denouncing their allegiance to Bane, Eshkabel with the broken and tired Malshus by his side attempted to escape from Banes oppressive clutches, unfortunately they were trailed by a familiar foe, Larip Rotwhelp.

Resting from running, Eshkabel went to get the malnourished Malshus some food and water, unaware that lurking in the shadows was Larip ready to attack. Upon Eshkabel’s return he saw a beheaded Malshus and a stoic Larip standing at his body. Eshkabel dropped to his feet clutching his shoulders writhing in agony, as Larip assumed Eshkabels lost mentor vanquished his sanity Larip approached with the dagger he killed Malshus with. As he loomed over his head ready to strike, Eshkabel sprung back to his feat with a dagger of his own, with as much strength as he could muster parried Larips and disarmed him. Eshkabel pinned him in the alley and began to use his gift he suppressed for years now.

“Your religious ambitions are dead, your god is doomed, and as his loyal follower you do not stand a chance. No one will ever accept you, and you are doomed to a life of mediocrity with your legacy destroyed.”

By the time 20 minutes had passed with Eshkabel, Larip had done himself in by stabbing himself in the chest.

Eshkabel buried Malshus and took the Curse Book with him to his new home.

Eshkabel’s Disciples (27-41)
Eshkabels mentor is dead, his former religion abandoned, and the “Curse Book” remained unfinished. Eshkabel didn’t really know what to do with the book though. It was Malshus who started it, and it was Malshus who wrote it, he only contributed his knowledge and wisdom so, for now, the book would remain unfinished. Eshkabel started fresh under his new lord Cyric. For several months Eshkabel contemplated it all, and came to a conclusion that would benefit both himself and Cyric.

“This religion is going to spread like a plague, and my part of it all is to sicken as many people as possible.”

With that, Eshkabel went on a crusade to spread the knowledge of Cyric. For the most part Eshkabel used his powers for nothing but death, but now came the time to use it for a greater good. As the religion sprouted and took root, Eshkabel found it as a personal service to recruit as many broken souls as possible. Given the gift he learned from his uncle he would take captured men and place them in a position where there very limits of faith and hope and dreams would be tested and eventually broken by their feet, although he did it in a very unphysical way, at least he didn’t do it directly. It is by this method Eshkabel grew the nickname of the “Corrupter of Faith” breaking the spirit of a person and rebuilding them from the ashes.

Eshkabel had a special reserve. He sought a challenge of a worthy mind, and thus went after many clerics of other religions. And one by one, cracked every one of them. Some of his most renowned places are as follows:

Southern Amn     - Vhail’Crux

Westgate(DC)     - Than’Beth

Saelmur          - Dok’Doa

Mintar           - Ris’Sho Lor’Vril

Almraven         - Yus’Mal, Ran’Lan, Por’Thek

Theymarsh        - Vix’Ake, Log’Rye, Dyet’Cauke

Though Eshkabel did manipulate many non-clerics these 11 are part of Eshkabels Disciples. Most of the other corrupted souls came from these regions as well. As Eshkabels family grew, so did his reputation for being one of the most influential members of the Cyric faith. Adding hundreds of members in the span of about 13 years, he led them on many crusades to spread his belief, capturing more people and repeating the process. Until….

Battle at the Citadel of the Raven 1374
It was an infamous day, when Cyric called all of his clerics to join him in this infamous battle to fight along side him. Eshkabel jumped at this opportunity, oblivious to the bloodshed and horrors that awaited him.

10 of the 11 disciples showed up to the battle of the Citadel of the Raven and Than’Beth ran in fear of death. Every one of the disciples fought and later succumbs to the onslaught that awaited them. Even in a religion such as Cyric, Eshkabel couldn’t help but shed a tear for each of his disciple’s deaths, and shortly enough, Eshkabel would stand alone.

Not renowned for his spell prowess Eshkabel only managed to take down a few clerics himself before succumbing to the assault. Unconscious but not dead, he clung to life with the will of Cyric pressing him forward.

Days turned to weeks as Eshkabel lie there fading in and out of death. He dreamed of a vision, the spirit of Malshus guiding him through a tunnel of light and at the end of the tunnel, he witnessed a familiar site. The Maleficent Manifesto lies by his feat with the page open to the conclusion. Apparently Malshus had intended Eshkabel to complete the book in his absence, but Eshkabel didn’t know what to even write. Perhaps Malshus’ spirit would guide his hand to make the words that would finish the Curse Book once and for all. Finally awake from near death, Eshkabel limped home, following the setting sun, clueless of the blood that was just spilt.

Power in Prayer (41 – 46)
As the days past, the memories returned, recalling of watching clerics fall before his feat as well as his own ally’s bloody murders. It later was discovered that Cyric had been killed in the onslaught, and thus Eshkabels holy powers were rendered inert. Without them, Eshkabel, a mere shell of his former self, finally managed to get back to his abandoned sanctuary bruised mentally and physically. Even though Cyric was killed in the action, Eshkabels faith was unwavered from him. He would finish the book, and resurrect his fallen family. It would be a tenuous process to finish writing the Curse Book especially without any kind of magical influence. When he finally got to the books hiding spot, he would realize a deathly mystery: the Curse Book was stolen.

Eshkabel’s rage was unparalleled but he realized that there was nothing he could really do about it. He was powerless and… mortal. Eshkabel contemplated his mortality, and realized that if he were to become more powerful, he would need to give up his chains of mortality, he knew the answer lied in that book; something that Malshus put in it, but it was out of his grasp. For the next few months Eshkabel hid in his quarters beneath the temple, preying, scheming, contemplating who would take the book, and composing.

Eshkabel would write a piece of music and entitle it “Requiem to Mortality” to signify that one day, he would no longer be human, but something more. He would rarely make trips to the surface and gather supplies, hiding himself well. It upset Eshkabel that his legacy was reduced to hiding and trying to survive. He clung onto hope though, as he wasted away in his quarters, waiting for some kind of sign.

Until the day came…

Eshkabel felt a powerful sensation come back into his rotting body, a power that at this point seemed very foreign. Eshkabel felt awake after about 3 1/2 years of seclusion, his dormant powers awakening again, although they felt much weaker. Spending so much time in seclusion, powerless left his body sapped and colorless. Eshkabel would break to the surface once again and smell the fresh air, with a menacing grin on his face he would rise up and be able to accomplish something now, his legacy would slowly return. Also the 3 1/2 years gave the public time to drop their guard for the new horrors to await them.

Eshkabel was unaware of how his powers returned and it arose many questions, all he knew though was without his family of allies anymore, he would need to try to get into contact with them again, and begin to decide on the next course of action. Eshkabel was also oblivious to why his powers had returned to him, if it was power in prayer or something else.

Fresh and enthusiastic Eshkabel now had a few missions to complete:

To strengthen his previously dormant powers. To reconnect with lost Cyricites. To find the Curse Book. Eshkabel would play the card of a normal old man for now, blending in and helping out his soon to be comrades, as he manifests his knowledge and strength until that fateful day comes.

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Perseus Von Eshkabel (Eshkabel for short) is an evil Cleric and the current leader of the church of Cyric.

Battle Theme (Quick): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koqAe7iGQvE

Battle Theme (Slow): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfTX1R7FvS4