Appearance

Physical Description

Mercutio has a strong, athletic, and resilient build with prominent muscle and many brands, scars, incisions, and tattooed occult markings that span across his entire body.

Body Features

Strong, resilient build with prominent muscle and brands, scars, insicions, and tattooed occult markings across his entire body. Tall and very athletic, he has wide shoulders, thicker thighs, upper arms, and pecs, and a waistline that is a bit thinner in proportion, still dense with the muscles in his abdomen, but creating the effect of a more triangular middle. Ziko has tan skin that will become paler in the winter without influence of sunlight, and significantly bronzer in the summer, and inhumanly dark red hair, though looking dyed to the average person, any hair on his body is in shades of this color.

Facial Features

Ziko's eyes are a bright shade of gold that become more and more reddened upon influence of either Abaddon or Kalorii. Instead of the redness blending into this color, it appears more in abnormal flecks that increase over time or suddenly. When possessed, his eyes go totally black, reflecting red similar to the way a cat's do when a light is shined on them in the dark.

Identifying Characteristics

• Occult brand markings across his entire body.


• Scar on his left cheek.


• Golden eyes.

• Deep red hair, kept shorter with a slight undercut on one side.

• Tall, muscular.

• Sharp canines.

• Doesn't cast a shadow in sunlight, but does in firelight.

Physical quirks

• Dimple only on the right cheek.


• Weirdly sharp canines.


• Nails grow in slight points if he doesn't clip them.


• Nice ass.

Apparel & Accessories

Casualwear: Ziko's typical outfits tend to consist of a white button up shirt, never buttoned all the way, tailored black or brown pants, a jacket depending on the weather, and many holsters for his weaponry (dual swords, handaxe, whip, hunting knife).


lance-knight-insignia.jpgUniform: The Aspída Lodge Lance Knight's uniform is a formal military outfit with a tailored waist length coat, sash adorned with badges earned and the rank insignia, slacks, and a dress shirt. The color scheme is a dark desaturated blue base with accents in deep red and platinum. Ziko will slick his hair back in a more business-style fashion for events in which he'd wear this uniform.

Special abilities

• Scourge Aasimar: When enraged by something personal/vengeful or inspired by way of Kalorii's intervention, Ziko will explode in flames with intense radiant power. His eyes will go red or white with light as blinding as the sun and he will scorch everything he touches, including himself to a certain extent. Anyone in his way will be seared with radiant fire and he will go berserk if the situation calls for it.


• Demonic Possession: Abaddon takes over on occasions where Ziko has lost his self control to being overly violent, unfaithful, angry, or vengeful. His eyes will flick to solid black and Abaddon will murder and mutilate anything he sees fit until Ziko comes to. In this time Ziko is practically unreachable, however Abaddon can not kill Ziko without fearing being trapped in a lifeless body he can not control.

Mentality

Personal history

Mercutio is a headstrong mercenary from the poor, but rustic island-strewn city of Aivolos, Kankou. He grew up doing any odd jobs he could get his hands on from a very young age, mostly finding work assisting on small shipping boats, unloading the ships of passing merchants, sailors, and pirates and small fights in taverns and other settings. He didn't keep most of his money to himself, as he found it more important to keep the younger kids at his orphanage, the Ásylo tou Aivolos, from going hungry or being unattended to, as the staff were preoccupied constantly. Eventually Mercutio found himself more and more alone in this orphanage, until one night he realized he was the last one left in his room, previously cramped with a handful of other kids. At the age of around 16, he woke up tied to a strange operating table surrounded by a few members of the staff in excruciating searing pain– not supposed to be awake, he was quickly re-sedated, but beforehand thrashed and strained in a fit of terror and rage. Upon blacking out he eventually awoke to find himself in a field, surrounded by a singed circle of ash, just north of town.


At around the age of 18, Mercutio was picked up by a protectorate called Aspída Lodge; a militant group acting as a sort-of international policing system based in Nourítíaní, Kankou, but spread throughout the continent, especially in the countries bordering the Sovereign State of Kankou. Being found through a fight while he was temporarily in Nourítíaní, he showed potential due to the strange switch that flipped towards the end of the skirmish– suddenly becoming vicious and merciless as if possessed. Hydra, Commander of Aspída Lodge, found the whole ordeal impressive and took him on as a Privateer, and two years later being promoted to Lance Knight upon a successful raid with his partner, Malacai. As a Lance Knight he became more solitary and serious in his work– Lance Knights do not tend to travel in groups, and with the exception of raids or leading militias on occasion, they do not tend to have others assigned with them on their missions. Mercutio was assigned a job during this time that entailed that he cross the desert and transport a client from Iris Creek. A strange request for someone of his rank in some ways, he found himself meeting a small girl named Cake and becoming her guide, crossing the continent and protecting her from whatever he needed to upon the dangerous journey. At the same time, she began to re-familiarize him with traveling with a companion and all the enjoyable things that come with it– campfire stories, admiration, and cute little games he'd never heard of before.
The Kingdom of Luquoia isn't completely foreign to Mercutio, as it's not far from his own home country and definitely not a place that's out of the picture for a member of his Lodge to be assigned to. However, it's foreign in that it's attitude towards just about everything is massively different than somewhere like Kankou. The place is cold– in temperature, definitely, but more importantly in feeling. The government is strict, the people are distrusting, and the forests are full of terrible dangers. Mercutio is used to danger, that's his job, but the things that lurk here feel as if they truly don't belong. There is an abundance of work here, and Mercutio hopes that as a fighter he can be someone of help.


In this country "Ziko" has found his true name– Merkoutío Makarí, the name of the devil that is bonded to his body and soul– Abaddon, his place as a Captain of The Odysseus, a best friend in Delphine Forest, a hopeful spark of romance in Chance, and a hint towards what he truly is as an Aasimar to a god he must find. As more things unfold before him, as more tragedies and complications arise he becomes more determined to tie these loose ends or at the very least see where they lead, but also he becomes tortured by his own mind, his own actions and his own choices– the ones he's already made and the ones he will inevitably have to make.
Naturally, Mercutio is a strong leader type that values respect of those who've earned it, fighting for those who can't fight for themselves, and taking out anyone who dares commit acts of injustice towards innocent people. He doesn't trust the government of Luquoia, nor any large government he's seen in his life, as they tend to not like him and his guild for their steadfast self-governing and laws of their own. He loves people– talking to people, hearing their stories, connecting and leading and being generally enthralled by how unique and different people can be.

He's not easygoing– quite the opposite, he feels as if he needs to be helpful or useful at all times, and that the world is running at a pace where if he stops he won't catch up– however, when he's calmed down and around people he trusts he can be far more fun, and the daring parts of him can make for interesting things that come out of that "fun". He tries to be very charming and, though wanting respect and authority for what he justly deserves, is very down to earth, knowing well his origins and being humbled by them.

Education

No formal education.
Learned to Sail: Captain Syracuse, Aivolos.
Formal Martial Training: Aspída Lodge.
Woodworking: Delphine Forest, Luquoia.

Employment

Aspída Lodge; Lance Knight.
Captain of the Odysseus

Accomplishments & Achievements

Promotion to position of Lance Knight, Aspída Lodge.
Officiated as Captain of the ship Odysseus, Luquoia.
Front Lines Commanding Officer of the Aspída Lodge responsible for the Recapture of Pharedeux

Failures & Embarrassments

Almost stabbed to death in his sleep by a notorious murderer; Old Thabes, Ybel.
"The chocolate milk incident"; Rigent, Areya.
Arrested for Disrespecting a Luquoian Guard, Ville Du Savoir; Luquoia.
Murder of the divining psychic Deva by way of demonic possession; Pharedeux, Luquoia.

Mental Trauma

• Symptoms of PTSD are evident, specifically related to the night upon the operating table and all that followed. He has occasional flashbacks both from his own mind remembering things that he'd previously blocked out, from the devil Abaddon's recollection, and celestial influence from Kalorii's actions. Ziko has a deep rooted discomfort with operating tables, sedation, being paralyzed, and sudden memories of atrocities he's committed.
• From his upbringing lacking in any structure or resources to actually raise or educate him, Ziko maintains a workaholic's attitude, constantly needing to be useful and as efficient and survivalist as possible. He puts anyone else before himself and will throw himself into dangerous situations if it means that he's useful and doing it for a just purpose.
• Also from his upbringing, Ziko has been through most of his life struggling to get by with what he could, being looked down upon as a bastard child from the slums with no respect to his name. As such, upon being taken up by Aspída and upon earning his title as Lance Knight through hard work, effort, training, and many battles and other painful missions– he is easily aggravated when his rank is not respected. He feels secure in having authority and power and craves it when it seems to be lacking, sometimes resulting in frustration or harsh action.
• Ziko naturally has anger issues and they come up on occasion when frustrated or when certain triggers occur. Often they are influenced by Abaddon's presence, but Ziko is unaware how much of his anger comes from Abaddon and how much is his own nature. When extremely angry, mostly in battle, he can become vengeful and violent.

Intellectual Characteristics

Without a formal education, Ziko seems unintelligent. However, he's not naturally unintelligent so much as he's just that– uneducated. Ziko is good with navigation, star charts, schematics, architecture, and even aspects of engineering. His skills are mainly practical, as he only has had time in his life to do what he has to, not many hobbies or anything learned outside of what is necessary. He is naturally analytical, which would seem surprising upon first thought by someone who knows him– really, he's not extremely creative and his talents lie more in things that are technical, such as architecture, engineering, sailing, navigation or carpentry. Even in drawing portraits or landscapes, his work is very precise to the exact thing he's drawing rather than any kind of interpretation or artistic rendition.

Morality & Philosophy

Chaotic Good. The morals Ziko stands by are those of fighting for those who cant fight for themselves, destroying those who dare to be unjust towards the innocent, and putting others' wellbeing before his own. Ziko is not bound to any government and doesn't particularly respect any government, as they tend to be corrupt and soulless. He swears his allegiance instead to Aspída and Hydra herself, and follows the philosophies of the Lodge. Ziko views death as inevitable, and in some cases that it is necessary for those who don't deserve to continue living on earth. People who hurt, kill, or corrupt enough others that the scale is weighted in a way that the world is better off without them. These cases aren't a constant, of course, but when they come about he will show no mercy and do what has to be done. Ziko wants to be as helpful as possible. He wants his life and his actions to mean something and he wants to be good to other people, not just for respect, but because he believes innocent people have so much to give to the world, that they're all unique and they deserve all he can give. He wants to do all he can, but the world is not black and white and his actions are mainly in the grey area, as someone who fights and even kills for a living.

person.sexuality

Bisexual/Biromantic (Kinsey; 3)

person.gender_identity

Male | He/Him

Taboos

• Operating tables or anything similar.
• Sedation.
• Humanoid Experimentation.
• Paralysis/Complete Restraint. (complete lack of control over his body)
• Setting his bed on fire again.
• Suspicious Chocolate Milk.

Known Languages

Personality

Motivation

To assist with potential revolution, as the injustice in Luquoia disgusts him.


Vengeance against those who turned him into the demonic host that he is and caused the atrocities he has committed because of it.


Finding out who and what he is– family, race, religious ties as an aasimar, his overall fate, etc.

To be a good Aspída representative and live up to his rank. To prove/earn his authority.

To protect and be a good Captain to his crew and to show himself as honorable in his position.

Quotes & Catchphrases

"Etingi!"

"Don't worry about that part, Abaddon– haha... Anyone like that... After what they've done? I want to find the ones who remain as much as you do. I want to find them and I want to fucking rip them apart limb from limb."

"Chance. Listen to me. Look. This is a folding boat. I've wanted this thing for a long time. No matter what anyone else says, I care about you more than this folding boat."

"It was just a nightmare, Cake... I know... When people we love are gone, we see them in dreams and that's normal. That's part of mourning for them. And that's okay. Now come on and get in the bed."

Mercutio: How are you going to apprehend my ship without a captain? Luquoian Officer: We don't need you to sail that ship– Mercutio: Oh, I didn't mean me.

Luquoian Officer: Now you listen here, Aspída– your group has no authority here. We're the royal guard, we have the control here, it's our job to have that control and you have no place bringing your militant chaos into our country. We're going to keep doing our job here. Go back to where you fucking come from. Mercutio: Sure. As soon as I see you actually doing your job.

"God he's aggravating... It sucks that I want to sleep with him."

Likes & Dislikes

Vices & Personality flaws

Temper; Mercutio, when worked up about a topic or particularly deeply offended or effected by something can maintain an unpredictable, volatile sense of anger, sometimes to the point of unreasonable violence. This is primarily not a part of everyday life and rarely is more extreme rage towards anyone who is totally undeserving, however his aggravation and frustration is evident in the work he chooses to do for sure. Though he's not proud of his temper or most of the things he's done out of anger, it historically has helped him in times of struggle and it makes him more powerful and effective in battle, even going so far as to help him through the ranks to the point he is now as a Lance Knight.
Symptoms of PTSD; The night Abaddon was bound to him scarred him deeply both physically and mentally. The more visions and flashbacks that occur, the more it bothers him– even if it was more raw around the time that it happened, the fact that he occasionally is forced to remember parts of his trauma that have been blocked out or torn away for certain reasons makes recent nightmares, visions, memories, flashbacks, and so on still a massive hindrance on his mental state. Though he's tough and resilient by nature, the more they occur and depending on the situation and people around him these symptoms can worsen and send him into states of overtly reckless and self-sabotaging behavior, extreme self loathing, or aggravation. He tries not to openly express much to people regarding these events' affects on him, as he finds any form of him breaking down to be a burden.
Authority Complex; Mercutio grew up without any status or real power to his name and by the time he realized fighting was his career path, he began to realize the status that came with working hard and gaining skill to be appreciated and looked up to. He grew up in a place where he and his type held no authority and instead needed to either follow or be invisible to survive. In addition– he experienced events which deeply affected him that formed within him a deep-set fear of not having control– his life being completely in the hands of another without his consent or any option otherwise. As such Mercutio eventually ended up with a certain affinity for authority. He feels most comfortable, most enduring of himself and deserving of what he has when he is in a place of control, such as as a Captain, or as a Lance Knight commanding crew or subordinates. Even in a relationship, especially if serious, he prefers strongly to be in a place where he is the more administrating, initiating force, potentially even physically stronger. This can be a good trait; he is a responsible, charismatic leader who is good at commanding and administrating a group of people. However, it can be a pitfall as well, as being enthralled by the concept of having authority, and being aggravated easily when what he's earned is not respected can make him less reasonable, straying from his morals and true sense of self. In a relationship sense it can make him somewhat possessive and protective, though this contradicts with his personal issues with commitment and causes him to fall into an acute distress.
Rebelliousness; Tying in with his temper from time to time, certain injustices are extremely repulsive to him and cause a reaction of sheer revolt. If a group is being oppressed, or if something is going on to blatantly hurt or disenfranchise people, he will step up and generally, despite the odds, act against the force in power. Again, this is one trait that can be very positive as well, but on the more negative end of things it can get him into situations of trouble, such as disobeying and/or disrespecting a corrupt power getting him imprisoned, in a battle, and so on.
Abandonment Issues / Commitment Issues; Though Mercutio is a very charismatic and generally friendly people person, he struggles to get truly close to people quickly and easily in a committed sense due to having a background of fleeting, unstable relationships and being fundamentally alone in his formative years. He is used to people coming and going in his life, he is used to traveling from place to place meeting people and moving on, he is familiar with betrayal or abandonment, and he is used to a culture that doesn't see some kinds of commitment as particularly obligatory– for example, sexually or romantically. As such, he often assumes the worst when it comes to people and how they think of him and how they will inevitably leave him in the end. He finds it hard to be optimistic with people in his life staying and/or caring about him truly or deeply despite some of his flaws. Used to bouncing around when it comes to relationships, he is unfamiliar and not very practiced with the foreign custom of strict, immediate monogamy, where dating someone, no matter how early in the relationship, means only dedicating yourself wholly to the one person both romantically and sexually. He is not used to this mindset and at the moment he doesn't know how he feels about certain parts of it and what he personally would want in a relationship. He loves people deeply and definitively and would sacrifice much for someone of that caliber, but tends to view sexuality as definitively separate from romance no matter if he wants to or not. Mercutio's abandonment issues extends to his self loathing and lack of ego quite a bit, in that he doesn't usually feel deserving of the people around him nor their trust in him or devotion, adding up to his overall nihilistic view of his interpersonal connections.
Insatiability; Ties in directly to commitment issues. Mercutio has a chronic tendency to get distracted when it comes to people he takes interest in, being very in the moment and very often coping with certain things by using these distractions and pursuing them. On top of this, physically speaking, he has a somewhat abnormally, yet natural higher sex drive than the average person which can be attributed to something within his lineage and a certain amount to the culture he is used to. This can come to be an issue of discussion when it comes to foreign ideals of "loyalty", and becomes especially present during longer journeys where a threshold isn't met and potential tensions and frustrations build.

Social

Birthplace

Aivolos, Kankou

Current Residence

The Odysseus

Contacts & Relations

Honorary & Occupational Titles

• Lance Knight Makari


• Lance Knight Mercutio Makari 


• Captain Mercutio Makari


• Captain Makari


• Captain Ziko


• "Ziko"

Family Ties

None biologically

Religious Views

Raised in a Nuritian culture, but not religious particularly.

Social Aptitude

Ziko is very sociable and extroverted, enjoying the presence of others and finding it relieving and reenergizing. He is a good and solid leader who respects and does all he can for his crew. Ziko comes off as very confident and charming, and in terms of being charming that part is pretty true– he is good with people and it shows in how he speaks, acts, and approaches things– however his confidence is false and quite fleeting a good portion of the time. Ziko's ego is not very good, and it sometimes breaks upon his failures or upon feeling useless, disrespected, or stupid. Overall he is a charismatic young man who finds people fascinating.

Mannerisms

Being strong, breaking things, chopping things, or any feats of strength are things he enjoys and finds fun or redeeming. Ziko is rough or firm in just about everything he does and seems to jump right into the middle of battle or any dire situation.

Hobbies & Pets

• Carpentry
• Sailing
• Fishing

• Sparring

• Campfires

• Woodcarving

• Guitar

• Stories/Storytelling

• Social Dancing

• Sketching/Schematics

• An abundance of other things he likes to do: barbecuing, hunting, Chance, card games, etc.

Speech

He speaks in a rougher baritone most of the time and does not have the vocabulary of a scholar, however he's good with what he knows and his vernacular flows very well when around anyone other than nobles or the highly educated. He speaks with confidence and imposing force when in serious situations, but lets his guard down when talking to those he cares about when needing to be more empathetic becoming more docile and low in his tone.