The Herald
A cloak of liquid shadows. A body of dull black ice. A scepter stained with red. Eyes of burning cold. Anosios, the Messenger, the Bitter Skald, Bearer of Ill Tidings. No one knows from hence hails the Herald, but his coming presages doom. He is the reaper of secrets and the harvester of grim truths. Those who stand in the Herald's presence relive their greatest failings, deepest shame and most bitter regrets.
The Herald appears as a figure covered head to toe in robes woven of nearby shadows, liquid, almost oily smoke condensed into substance. When his body can be seen beneath the cloak it grinds and crunches like ice. The Herald's physical body can melt into a greasy black ooze and then evaporate into a cloying smoke, allowing him to come and go at will.
In his hands he clutches a scepter of black ice veined with streaks of sanguine red, topped with a sphere and three points. This implement focuses and hones The Herald's cryomantic and necromantic powers, and opens the Path to Dream whenever he commands.
Above his mask and beneath his hood burn two eyes of glacial, hateful blue light. His hands are claws of crackling ice.
The Herald rarely walks, preferring to melt and evaporate before reforming wherever he arrives, on the occasions he deigns to make a physical appearance. Most of the time, The Herald manifests through the fifth kingdom of dream, invading the mindscape of a sleeper and delivering a horrifying message.
Though his origins, powers and motivations are shrouded in mystery, The Herald claims to be a messenger of truth and an enemy of lies. He manipulates his agents into revealing the failures, misdoings and shame of others, revealing their hypocrisies and tearing down their life's work.
Physical Description
Special abilities
- Aura of Despair: Those in the Herald's presence are drained of their will to fight and forced to relive their greatest failures and shames.
- Oneiromancy: Wielding his magic scepter, The Herald has the unique ability to open a physical portal and bodily enter the Fifth Kingdom of Dream.
- Perceive Shame: Given prolonged mental contact, The Herald becomes aware of the failures, fears, shame and despair of those nearby.
- Cryomancy: Control over ice, projection of cold-based attacks, draining heat
- Necromancy: Generation and projection of necrotic energy, life draining, creation of undead.
Specialized Equipment
- Caduceus Agathys: A scepter of black ice veined with red, the Caduceus allows The Herald to open doors to dream and enhances his necromantic and cryomantic powers.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Unknown.
Gender Identity
None (male)
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Truth. The Herald claims to be an enemy of hypocrisy and seeks to reveal the failures and flaws of those esteemed by others.
Alyxander's infernal patron. A sneering, hateful voice, a freezing source of malevolent power, a presence that drains joy and meaning from those it encounters.
View Character Profile
Divine Classification
Infernal
Alignment
Neutral Evil
Current Status
Inhabiting the mind of Alyxander
Current Location
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Anosios, The Messenger, Bitter Skald, Bearer of Ill Tidings, Despair's Herald
Age
Unknown
Date of Birth
Unknown
Circumstances of Birth
Unknown
Birthplace
Unknown
Children
Current Residence
Pronouns
He/Him
Gender
None (Male)
Eyes
Burning blue light
Hair
None
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Black Ice
Height
6'10"
Weight
Unknown
Quotes & Catchphrases
"If you really cared, you would have succeeded."
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