Grigorius Bieloskytes (Served: 27972 - 32870)

One of the more recent of the Radiant Dawn to be named Sword of Paradise, Grigorius is also among the most controversial. Much of this controversy stems from his unique record full of unusual highs and equally unusual lows, culminating in his exile for egregious crimes. Indeed, even his exile itself can be considered controversial, as his actions garnered considerable sympathy, versus previous exiled Swords - most notably Zecien Anlain.

Despite his removal from both the position and Astrum itself, Grigorius' legacy remains influential in Astrum to this day, not least because of the ascension of his student to the title in his absence. He is remembered an effective leader, warrior and mentor, but also as insubordinate, stubborn and often absent. And, while it is true that he never failed to heed Astrum's calls for help, it is also true that every time it cried there were concerns about whether that would remain true.

— --{Sword: A Record of the Radiant Dawn's Most Celebrated Officers," by Eiryen Nesaleen


Overview

Sometimes meetings, however unlikely, can be classified as "fated" in retrospect. The meeting of rivals, or lovers, or allies. The kinds of relationships that reshape and restructure the world. Whether there is truly reality behind the concept of destiny or not, it can be difficult to think of these things as coincidental - these meetings that become unexpected consequential.

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A close-up of Grigorius Bieloskytes.

So is the meeting of Grigorius Bieloskytes and the three who would, for three thousand years, become his constant companions - Samael Asther, Mastema Amarandos and Astaroth Dracothis. These men of disparate character and backgrounds fell into one another's orbit and, together, became the most formidable alliance of powers that Incaendium had ever known.

Together, they would make history and remake the maps. But, while the fulfillment of these desires is to be expected from Grigorius's demonic cohorts, the question of why Grigorius himself - then a high ranking Celestial officer -- became involved remains unanswered to the world.

As does the question of whether he regrets that decision... now that it has resulted in his fall from grace.

History & Status

It's said that everyone yearns to be seen as "someone" - though what that means can and does vary from person to person. For Grigorius, growing up in a family with little means and little connection to the world outside of his native sky island, Keriwen, this meant being a hero. A pipe dream for someone in his situation (and for most other people, frankly), and one Grigorius had no expectation would come pass.

Until it did.

Gabriel's Notebook

Grigorius was the very first person I met when I woke up in this place. I just kind of rolled out of bed and suck my head out into the common room and there he was, full of energy and grinning in that way he does; turns out that's mostly just his personality. He and Cain were the first people I really connected to, but honestly! I think I wouldn't have been half as comfortable with Cain if it weren't for Gri. Cain can be a little aloof! Gri just brings the sunshine in.

He's very easy to get along with. It's kind of hard to explain why - I guess because he dresses like people back home?! Maybe it's the jeans?! I mean it can't just be because of home clothes, because Dante mostly does that too, but I'm not nearly as comfortable with him. Then again, leather pants aren't as inviting as denim, so ANYWAY...

He has a really warm... air to him, I guess is my point.

He's probably the first person I stopped thinking of like a book character. Even though! I have a very clear memory of him from the book... well, punching Samael in the face and then nearly getting into a fist fight with Dante. So there's that, too!

Gabriel
The Boy from Keriwen

In those early years, he spent much of his time engaged in physical labor, or being a protective big brother to his little sister, Islinora. Being both physically powerful and unusually temperamental, Grigorius found himself getting drawn into fights a great deal as a youth - often as part of attempts to defend his family's dignity or protect Islinora from harassment or bullying. By 15, Grigorius had reached a stature and strength that made others reluctant to clash with him. His seemingly natural talent for laying smackdowns certainly helped as well, .

A Trip to Parnassius

Unlike Grigorius, Islinora was not given to brawling and getting into trouble - instead, she showed an interest in academia. So, when Grigorius was in the last years of his adolesence, the family traveled to Parnassius to try and get a sense of whether it would be a good place for Ilsinore to live and attend classes... and whether they could manage the expense of her living away from them.

This trip was probably the most bored Grigorius had ever been in his life. That is, until he came across a mortal boy - a student at Parnassius - throwing rocks at Ilsinora and calling her names. Grigorius did what Grigorius does - he violently intervened. They were pulled apart by the guards, and the mortal boy was driven out of the city... but Grigorius was still expected to perform cleanup duties for violent actions inside Parnassius, where such things are not tolerated.

Grigorius as a young child.

It was while he was fulfilling his obligation that he was approached by a man who had come to Parnassius as part of a research trip for the Circle of the Sword. This Aurali Serat man, Sudryl Delsear, recognized Grigorius's intuitive understanding of fighting and movement and suggested that Grigorius would do well in the Radiant Dawn.

He was reluctant due to his family's generally anti-militaristic views... but Sudryl spoke to him of adventures and glory, and then offered to pay for Islinore's room and board in Parnassius if Grigorius signed up for a brief tenure to see whether he "got along well" with enlisted life.

Grigorius was convinced, and he joined the Radiant Dawn for a five year tenure - barely anything at all for a man with an infinite lifespan. Sudryl would serve as his patron and thus, for the period of his training and orientation, his mentor and teacher.

Young Adulthood with the Radiant Dawn

Once he had enlisted with the Radiant Dawn, Grigorius's truest nature began to emerge. The young man developed a reputation for being stubborn and difficult to control, but this was tolerated initially due to Sudryl's protection and then, as time went on, because of his immense talent as a combatat.

TeenGriSquare Portrait
Grigorius in his late adolescence at perhaps 17 or 18 years old.

Quickly, he began to rise in the esteem of the officers around him, and even drew the attention of the Sword of Paradise, Zecien Anlain, who had him brought into the Circle of the Shield. There, he would officially serve under Sudryl, who was one of Zecien's subcommanders. He would also meet an important figure in his early adulthood, Nysandor.

Much like Grigorius himself, Nysandor was a relatively new recruit who had gained attention for his talented. It should be noted that Grigorius is not a competitive person, and so he initially paid very little attention to Nysandor.

Nysandor, on the other hand, paid a great deal of attention to Grigorius. Sensing that his position as the up and coming star of the Radiant Dawn was under threat, Nysandor made an effort to try and compete with Grigorius or overshadow him - Grigorius on the other hand didn't really notice.

Sensing the tension between two of his more promising men, Zecien signed the two to work together on a mission and, forced to work together, the two began to warm on each other (or, in Gri's case, notice the other guy). A friendship soon formed - one that would prove highly consequential going forward.

Grigorius... yes, well, that one. He's a mindless brute - a great deal of brawn and very little brain... is what I would like to say. But it's not quite true, is it? No.

He has a mind in him - a blunt instrument of a mind, but a mind nonetheless. It's easy to overlook that because he's so unimaginably guileless, but... the way he looks at the battlefield - the way he formulates his strategies despite never seeming to have a strategy... it is remarkable, really. Most of us like to be prepared for things, but not him.

It makes him refreshing to be around when one is on good terms with him, and infuriating to deal with when one is not. Currently, we aren't getting along, so I may arrange for his downfall. Although, really, letting him stay where he is seems funny enough to let it stand.

— Astaroth Dracothis

Over the next years, Grigorius continued to discover himself - and his love for girls and boys and beer. All the time, he and Islinora stayed in close contact, writing letters to one another regularly as she pursued her education and Grigorius went about the business of monster hunting and bringing in dangerous criminals.

The Fall of Zecien

The last charge became personal when, for reasons that are still largely mysterious, Zecien appeared to "snap" and killed the leader of the Circle of the Shield at the time, instantly becoming a criminal. With Zecien's fall, Sudryl became the new Sword, and led an elite team to capture and imprison Zecien, including both Nysandor and Grigorius.

The danger and difficulty of this battle cannot be overstated. While Sudryl was newly appointed the Sword, and he led a significant force, Zecien was still significantly more powerful - and more experienced - than the others. Half of the apprehension team was killed before he was finally subdued and imprisoned. Even more were permanently maimed... including Nysandor, who lost his left leg and right arm, forcing him from the field permanently.

And as for Grigorius...

During the darkest parts of the battle, Grigorius had acted in instinct and produced both offensive fire production and magically-driven defensive shelds. For this reason, he emerged from the battle not only in remarkable shape after a remarkable combat performance, he had established himself as someone with the potential to master all of the major Ability Spheres, putting him directly on the radar of not just Sudryl but the Host Council as well.

The Building of Grigorius

In the coming years, Grigorius would be heavily trained and tested with a focus on not only developing his talents but enabling him to interweave them together, using one sphere to enhance another. During his training, Grigorius' nature as an Aurali Serat began to reveal itself as his abilities proved greater than expected... but controlling those abilities proved exceptionally difficult for Grigorius's wild personality.

Grigorius' Tattoos

Grigorius's signature tattoos serve a functional purpose by helping to stabilize his magical power when he, himself, cannot.

The Tattoos shift and change according to the state of his magic; at their most active, they cover most of his torso and both arms.

Typically, the tattoos will run down half of his arm, the upper parts of his chest and the lower parts of his abdomen.

Simply put, the wildness of unsystematized void energy could not be easily tamed by someone who had such a chaotic personality, himself.

In order to counter this, Grigorius began to learn Magic through an organized magic system - studying Expansive Magic mixed with a touch of rune magic. As part of his studies, Grigorius also took on his most famous feature: a series of tattoos that shift both position and color depending on his ability use.

Use of the Expansion System also helped to teach him self-discipline and control, making him a more effective combatant, and thus his star began to rise again. And, though Grigorius had learned to better control his temper, he was still who he was, at heart; his continued advancement attracted challengers and he was not one to turn them away. The pile of defeated and humbled challengers he left behind only made his star shine brighter... right up until the day it was forced to become the sun.

The Fall of Sudryl & The Rise of the Sword

In 27,972Y, Sudryl - the most formidable combatant in the Radiant Dawn - was found dead, struck down by some horrendous force that left him barely recognizable. With his death, Grigorius was appointed Sword of Paradise and given Aza'azor, the legendary blade used by the Sword going back to the first, Deses. He was unable to enjoy his promotion, as his immediate concern was finding the murderer of his mentor and bringing them to justice.

This would prove more challenging than anyone could have expected.

Islinora Bieloskytes

Grigorius's little sister. She had few career options until he chose to enlist with the Radiant Dawn to finance her dream of being a scholar in Parnassius.

   Sudryl Delsear
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A high ranking officer in the Circle of the Sword who recognized Grigorius' potential. Gri's mentor and commanding officer. He was executed by Atë.

 Nysandor Lestarien
A rival turned friend. He lost an arm and leg in battle with Zecien Anlain, but remained with the Radiant Dawn, eventually heading the Circle of the Shield.
The Sword and the Echo

In the aftermath of the battle with Zecien, Grigorius' old friend Nysandor, who was never one to let a setback derail him entirely, had pivoted from a field combatant to non-field command... eventually rising to a leadership position in the Circle of the Stare. Now, following Sudryl's murder, the new Sword joined forces with Nysandor to uncover the reason for their mentor's murder. Eventually their investigation would lead them to uncover a traitor at the highest levels of Astrum society: Atë of the Echoes, a First Generation Dei representing mystery and memory. She had decided to unlock the greatest of all the mysteries - the origin of the world - by tearing back the face of reality and seeing what lies beneath, even knowing this would likely destroy the world. Sudryl, having discovered this, confronted her only to be killed to silence him.

She would need to be stopped. But obviously going to war with a First Generation Dei alone or even with the Circle of the Sword alone, was not feasible. Grigorius petitioned the Seven for backing, causing them to unlock several of his internal limiters and lending him, temporarily, a portion of their strength... and also Imladi and Deses themselves.

Though the Circles of the Sword and Shield had been meant to enter the fray together along with Imlady, Deses, Grigorius and the leader of the Circle of the Shield at the time, Dennius - all confronting Atë before her psi-spells could break the world. But she had a guardian - having altered the memories of an ancient dragon and set it loose on her enemies to buy her time.

The Circle of the Shield would stay behind to contain the dragon, while The Circle of the Sword, the two Dei and the newly empowered Grigorius would move on the Dei of Echoes.

Victory was won - Grigorius using the last of the power gifted by the Seven to lock Atë's powers beyond her reach so that she could be safely imprisoned benath the Spiral Tower. It was an immense achievement for so young an Aurali Serat - and so recently appointed a Sword. But the experience left Grigorius unsatisfied.

Sword of the Inferno

It's fair to speculate that Grigorius, always an unrestrained man, was not wholly comfortable in the position of a subdivision head. While he was easy-going and thus well-loved by his Circle, Grigorius had never been one to appreciate regulations, rules, protocols or anything of the like, and so he struggled a fair bit within the confines of his leadership position. Moreover, the extremity of his first mission as the Sword had reinvigorated his natural restlessness.

For this reason, the Circle of the Sword became unusually active during Grigorius's first years as Sword of Paradise - seeking out and hunting dangerous beasts that would normally be left to local authorities, most of all. On one of these missions, he met an orphaned teenage girl of Aurali descent and brought her home with him to the Circle Headquarters. As she had nowhere else to go, she began training for the Radiant Dawn - and more particularly, she became Grigorius's protege. The girl was Valkiya Ohunaa, who would one day inherit the title from her mentor as Grigorius had from his.

While I understand your point, good sir, the answer remains the same. No, I will not hunt down the previous Sword. His punishment was exile, and he has adhered to that demand, at great cost to himself. You think he is a danger to us because he chose to settle where he chose to settle. I say he went there not to gather an army to march on the High City, but because that is his heart's home.

He has made mistakes. I know this. As have we all. But for all of his faults, Grigorius is a good man. That you would think him capable of enacting vengeance on us as he did with March tells me only that you do not know him, or understand him. I do, and I will leave him be.

Besides... you may be too young to fully understand what you suggest... but I remember him well. And I pity any Aurali of any status that tries to take him down.

— Valkiya Ohunaa

However, regardless of how he tried to keep himself occupied, it was impossible to deny how ill at ease he was. And when the opportunity came to go on a larger adventure, he grabbed it with both hands.

Road to Amaya

In 29,153Y, Zecien Anlain broke out of his confinement and fled Astrum, leaving a trail of destruction along the way. Eventually, informants in Incaendium reported that Zecien had come to the Third Realm, where he had seemingly gone into hiding.

This being considered a High Risk mission, Grigorius immediately volunteered to take it on, himself. He brought only a small entourage to help him route out the criminal, intent as he was on facing off with Zecien alone.

In time they tracked him to Amaya, where Zecien had disappeared into the rural areas of the Domain. At the time, Amaya was not the powerhouse it would become, and had only recently experienced a sudden changeover in leadership with the public murder of Gorgo Asther and the rise of his son, and killer, Samael.

Grigorius presented himself at court to avoid an interrealm incident, and was given permission to act as he must to apprehend Zecien. This would be a meeting that fundamentally changed Grigorius's life, however, as he immediately found himself drawn to Samael... and vice versa. During the months he spent in Amaya searching for Zecien, Grigorius and Samael became friendly, and then friends, and then more than friends-- and though their relationship would never actually, technically be anything more than casual hookup mixed with friendship, emotionally it carried a great deal more weight for both of them.

In time, Zecien was located, and Grigorius managed - just barely - to subdue him. The former Sword would need to be returned to Astrum immediately, so Grigorius and his entourage left Amaya and returned home... but Grigorius left his passion and his intrigue in Amaya not only in Samael himself and the small group of Samael's friends Grigorius had met while there, but in this new world beyond the world Grigorius himself had known.

 

The Fourth Pillar

Samael & Grigorius

Grigorius and Samael share a rather complicated relationship marked by mutual attraction and fascination as well as deep, perhaps irreconcilable, differences in worldview and values.

For Samael, life is a war that one must fight every day - a war with no rules or boundaries - and the price of rest is failure... and the price of failure is death. This he learned at the foot and fist of his father, Gorgo, as well as simply by living in Incaendium, where "might makes right" is the actual legal rule of law.

By contrast, for Grigorius life is to be enjoyed and conflict is, while exciting from time to time, generally only serious if there is something at stake beyond one's own pride and power. There is an expectation that one stick to a certain civil code, regardless of how ruthlessly one must act otherwise, and violence is meant to be applied for protection or for the maintenance of order.

Beyond that, Grigorius is highly motivated by loyalty, which Incaendian society is built to discourage... and Amayan society in particular is built to obliterate. The importance of Gri's loyalty is in evidence during the Endless War, which Grigorius fights at Samael's side largely due to the intense bonds that defined the Wisemen in their prime. Ironically, by increasing Amaya's size, power and influence, he assists in the entrenchment of a worldview he finds disturbing at best.

The chasm between their worldviews reflects the different philosophies of Astrum and Incaendium, and their alienness to one another informs both their initial spark and its inevitable guttering out.

For the coming centuries, Grigorius would split his time between Astrum and Amaya, returning to Incaendium whenever he had free time. He maintained his duties as the Sword and returned when called, but if he could be away he would be. In that time, the small group of friends that surrounded Dominus Regas Samael Asther became known as the Four Pillars of Amaya - the Wisemen. The title was somewhat ironic considering their tumultuous personalities.

In any case, the extremity of the power gathering in Amaya's court did not go unnoticed - the other Domains began to become concerned, the concern turning to tension, and the tension turning to Radiant Dawnility. It finally broke from sentiment to action when, during one of his many visits to Amaya, Narov Zozket (brother of the then-current Imperator, Abrazus Zozket) grievously insulted Samael who, in usual Incaendian fashion, killed the man. This sparked a violent retaliation from Abrazus, which sparked a declaration of war from Samael.

This declaration marked the first of many major disagreements between Grigorius and Samael... but in the moment, Grigorius chose to support his friend-lover. At the time he called it loyalty to himself and, to the Host Council, justified it as sowing discord within the Demons... in truth, there was a portion of him relieved to take on another extreme mission - and another extreme challenge.

He did not, at the time, expect that challenge to stretch on for literal millennia, becoming what is now known as The Endless War... or that, rather than containing one overly aggressive Imperator - a goal the Host Council found justifiable - it would end up creating a monster even greater than the one it felled.

By the end of the long war, Samael had made use of Exedis until he had devoured the strength of over a dozen archdemon lines. Amaya grew to encompass nearly half of Incaendium... and whatever romantic connection had been between Samael and Grigorius had faltered in the face of Samael's dark side.

During a prolonged hiatus in the fighting, Grigorius began considering whether to return to Astrum permanently. This was prevented by the arrival of a new person entering the Crimson Court: Samael's new flavor of the month, or so they believed at the time, Cain Amortus.

 

The Dark Star Heralds Peace

It's undeniable that asking Grigorius of all people to guard his new lover was an asshole move on Samael's part, but Grigorius knew him well enough to be wholly unsurprised when he did it.

When I say you must remember who it is we're dealing with, I am more serious than you might think. It may be that the two of us in tandem could overpower Samael himself, but it was Samael himself who, when explaining the why behind Zozket's insanity,said that power unbalanced should, at all times, lead to fear. I agree. We should fear. Because. as he also said, there is not one man in Amaya, there is four.

Well, three now that I no longer count.

Astaroth is one thing - if we are able to bring Samael to heel, we might be able to sway him. Yes, they are close, but he is a viper and I know him well - there is resentment in him that our Imperator cannot see, arrogant as he is, and blinded by love as he is. Astaroth is not the problem. Grigorius is.

You have not seen him on the field. I'd wager he did near as much damage as Samael himself. Also, as blustery and brash as he seems, there is no sharper mind when he is placed on a battlefield. And the worse of it all is, he is loyal. Loyal to the bone. Loyal like a dog even if you kick it.

If we were to go after Samael while Grigorius is present, we will have quite an issue on our hands, dear girl. There is no conceivable way to contain both Gri and Samael - and if we can't contain them, then certainly Astaroth will have no reason to flip.

So. Gri is dangerous. Think on that. Timing is key.

We will strategize at our next meeting.

Burn this note.

— Letter from Mastema Amarandos to Taladan Asther in preparation for a coup

Grigorius might have refused, except that Cain was such an innocent, fragile thing - just in his early 20s and human no less. He had never been to an Incaendian court, much less that specific one, and he did not know how "difficult" it could be to have Samael's eye. Whatever else he'd become, Grigorius was still a stand up guy at heart... most of the time... and so he agreed to keep Cain safe until he adjusted to his new home.

This was a highly consequential choice as Grigorius and Cain became extremely close, forging a complicated friendship that would remain rock solid from their meeting 500 years ago to the present day, and presumably beyond.

In the coming years, the alliance between the Pillars of Amaya, on the other hand, would prove less solid.

  A Traitor Shatters the Alliance

The long-time alliance of the Pillars eventually shattered when Samael's elder sister Taladan joined forces with Mastema in an attempt to overthrow Samael. The coup failed - a failure that resulted in Taladan's execution and Mastema's exile. Without the cohesion of the four wisemen to drive the Endless War, the short peace became a long peace and then an endless (to date) peace.

With the battle done, and the passion of battle passed, Grigorius found himself unsettled at what he had helped to do. By Astrumi law he had done nothing wrong necessarily - he had unsettled Incaendium which seemed to offer an advantage to Astrum... even so, with the war done and his old relationship with Samael having more or less petered out, Grigorius decided to return to Astrum permanently.

Despite the thousands of years between them, he did not keep in close contact with Samael, Mastema or Astaroth - only Cain. This was, as it turned out, a peek at the new status quo for Grigorius' relationships in Incaendium... because from his point forward, when forced to choose he would always choose Cain.

 

Return to Astrum

Grigorius had, of course been back to Astrum frequently - having spend perhaps fifty percent of his time there, plus or minus depending on the circumstances. However, when he returned after the close of the Endless War, it was the first time he had been back with a mind toward remaining. That being the case, he was able to better perceive the general movements of the politics at work in Astrum, and within the Radiant Dawn.

Grigorius & Valkiya

Somewhere in the twilight between teacher and student, father and daughter and bonded friends is Grigorius and his protege, Valkiya. Grigorius found her when her home village became the feeding ground for a Spirit Devourer

Grigorius slew the creature, but it was too late to rescue Valkiya's parents. Or rather, due to the nature of the attack, she had no way of knowing whether her parents are still alive.

Not wanting to leave her there, Grigorius took the then 14 year old girl her back to the headquarters with him, and she soon became his student and his protege.

She was an extraordinary - and dedicated - student, and ultimately his successor after his exile.

First and foremost being a general impatience with him as the Sword - a role he was certainly qualified for, but had not been treating with all of the seriousness it deserved. While he made an attempt to be a more responsible and responsive, to some degree this was an unsolvable aspect of his nature.

After his return, he focused a great deal more attention on preparing his subordinates, and especially Valkiya, whose talent was prodigious. Even so, it never quite suited his temperament, playing the mentor, or the general. In the end, he always seemed to be staring off toward the horizon where new experiences and adventures waited.

  Burning Pyres

Enter the March of Pyres - a small demon army that had invaded Astrum and begun ravaging the land, destroying small villages seemingly without cause. This proved a more interesting target for Gri than the political views of his superiors, and so he focused on them...

And once he did, once he met them for the first time on the battlefield, they focused on him, too.

In the months following their first direct clash with Grigorius, the March of Pyres burned down most of Keriwen - including his parents' farm... including his parents, themselves. After that, The March would ambush Islinora during a sojourn outside of Parnassius into the markets of the High City - she would disappear, leaving only blood, scraps of clothing, and fallen feathers.

These attacks were clearly intended to enflame Grigorius's hot temper... and it worked. Though he had learned to be more measured in his actions, at base Grigorius remained an impulsive man. So enraged, he reverted to his nature. Against the advice of Nysandor, Grigorius took a handpicked selection of his best soldiers on a recklessly unplanned mission to take down the March once and for all.

It was a fatal mistake.

 

The Unbroken Fall

Grigorius was the sole survivor of the March of Pyres' horrific attack. He was not pleased.

The March descended on the Sword's strikeforce in a brutal ambush that brought the full might of these mysterious attackers down on the unprepared soldiers.

This was a failing on Grigorius's part. Not only had he failed to think his attack strategy through, he had also forgotten who it was he was commanding. Unlike the Demons of the Endless War, Astrumi soldiers had been trained to operate on well-coordinated and considered strategy. In his rage, Grigorius had not only failed to properly prepare a strategy, he also failed to issue commands on the field, as he was too absorbed in his anger, and his own fight. Though they fought bravely, and despite the elite group's great power and skill, they were simply not experienced with that sort of battle... and even Grigorius could not fight the entire March alone and win.... at least, not then.

Grigorius' Limiters

A Limiter is a block internal to a Celestial that prevents and controls their accumulation of power. Limiters are unique to the person.

Below are some of Grigorius' known (broken) limiters, and the circumstances under which they were broken.

Protector of the Blood
One of the many brawls he got involved in ot protect Islinora.
Survivor of Grief
After Sudryl's death.
Great Defender
During the battle with Atë.
Pride of the Maker
The first time Valkiya landed a blow on him.
Reach Exceeds Grasp
During one of his more intense sparring sessions with Samael.
Unbreakable Bonds
After his first major campaign with the Wisemen.
Nothing left to lose.
During the final battle with the March of Pyres.

The battle left the entirety of the mission group decimated with Grigorius himself as the only survivor... still in terrible shape. The March had beaten him to the point of death and hacked his wings off before daring him to keep following them.

Of course, they knew he would not back down. And he did not. Grigorius continued tracking them. Injured and wingless, slowly healing his wounds on the animals and plants he could gather to eat, he tracked them back to their hideout in the long abandoned palace once inhabited by Atë of Echoes.

There, he found Islinora's body hanging from a pike, mocking him.

It is reasonable that they might not take the danger they were in seriously... given that they had destroyed his party and taken him down as well, and that he had not taken the time to heal or think this time any more than he had the last.

However, they were unaware of how effective Grigorius could be when he no longer had reason to worry about destroying everything in the area... or when he had finally unlocked his final known limiter: Nothing left to lose.

 

He left the palace, the forest, and the monsters inside it a smoking ruin. It was only when he tracked down the last survivor - a demon who had fled the scene during his battle with the March - that he found out the truth:

The March of Pyres consisted entirely of now Houseless survivors of archdemon families wiped out by Amaya's Endless War.

Though seeking revenge, they could not fight Samael, whose strength was, by then, uniquely unconquerable. They could not fight Astaroth, who was always by Samael's side... and they could not find Mastema, who had disappeared into Exile... and so they traveled to Astrum.

They had targeted Grigorius from the beginning, drawing him out with their attacks on innocents, and then enflaming his temper with attacks on his friends and family.

And, unfortunately for them, their plan worked.

The Final Fall

Grigorius returned to the Host Council to report the outcome of the mission... and they were not amused. Deses rendered judgment: By acting in savagery for the sake of vengeance, Grigorius had committed egregious crimes against Astrum. While his wings could have been restored, they would not be. Instead, he would be left scarred and exiled, driven from Astrum entirely, and permanently.

In truth, he would have cared more if there had been more left for him to care about.

 

Return to Amaya

Hey, Cain,

Long time no letter.

I didn't mean to take so long to write back, it's just that all kinds of bullshit has been happening, and it's been complicated. And stressful. Anyway, I'll explain when I see you next, which is the real reason I'm writing this:

I'm coming back to Amaya!

Yeah, it's good but it's not as good as it probably sounds. Again, we'll go over all that shit when I get there... but that could be a while since I've got to walk.

That's a long story, too.

Might want to let Samael know. I know he hates surprises.

— Gri

As for where Grigorius would go, having been driven out of his home, the answer was clear from the moment he left the Host Council meeting. He gathered his things and began the long walk across Empirica Sin, toward the heart of Amaya.

When he arrived, things had changed. There were... interesting people present, such as Dagon, which was fairly disturbing. Samael had a fallen Aurali as his personal assassin. Cain was no longer in favor with Samael - a fall from grace that had only just occurred. Cain was in a state of grief, while Samael publicly claimed to have no remaining affection for his former consort. However, Grigorius knew better - he recognized Samael's refusal to let Cain leave the hari suum basa for what it was: the need to hold onto him.

Samael subsequently made the same request of Grigorius that he had when he and Cain first met - he asked Grigorius to guard over Cain... and report his behavior back to Samael. Out of concern for Cain, Grigorius agreed and confused the world by seemingly joining the hari suum basa, though in reality he was there to look after Cain.

Status Quo

Grigorius in his personal chambers inside the hari tunwa.

At this time, Grigorius remains in exile from Astrum, and living among the Hari Suum of the Crimson Palace. This is a more complicated situation to be in than it seems - though he has been there for ages, watching over Cain, becoming closer to Cain and ultimately falling in love with Cain, Cain is not aware that he is technically there as Samael's spy. Moreover, he is unable to act on or even admit to his feelings, because he is knowledgable enough about Samael to know that his pretense of apathy is indeed a pretense, and that Samael would, to put it bluntly, lose his shit were Cain to become involved with someone else.

Furthermore, Samael himself has had some difficulty "remembering" that Grigorius is not actually a contracter servant and tends to drift into treating him as one.

He's known as a friendly face and an energetic presence in the Palace, and he gives people sword fighting lessons if they ask.

 

Grigorius & the World

Education

As a child, Grigorius had a minimal education mostly focused on basics like reading/writing and career skills. He taught himself to fight early on but had no formal training in much of anything until he joined the Radiant Dawn.

I told Mastema that I have no friends. It was a pithy come back, but it's not really true. It be can difficult sometimes to tell where friendship begins and the rush to make use of a person ends... but I've never worried about that with you.

You're the ony one in all this time... who never mocked me, or called me... faded star. Silly, really, these petty little things. But they matter. I remember them. I always will. It's just one of many reasons, Gri... that you are one of the two pillars of my heart.

For whatever that is worth.

—

Cain Amortus to Grigorius

Once he entered the Radiant Dawn, he received extensive formal training in all forms of combat as well as strategy and leadership. That said, they never did fill in the gaps of knowledge with things like art, music - the cultural education afforded to those with privilege enough to afford it, both in terms of time and money.

This doesn't mean Grigorius can't appreciate and enjoy those things... it just means that he does lack the vocabulay talk about them in an "elevated" way.

Employment

Originally he was working on his parents' farm in Keriwen. Since he was in his late teens, however, he has spent the vast majority of his rather long life as a soldier at one level or another.

Despite being a lifelong soldier, Grigorius has never truly fit well in the ordered environment of the Radiant Dawn. Initially he joined to help his sister accomplish her goals... after that he stayed because he was already there and had nowhere else he particularly wanted to go instead. His advancement through the ranks helped, particularly since it generally required little personal commitment as his uncommon talent for war carried him far on its own.

Grigorius & Cain

Cain is Grigorius's favorite person and, unlike Samael, Cain is not a complicated issue for him.

When Samael initially asked Grigorius to watch over and protect his new love, the two bonded over their outsider-status, and how strange and alien Amayan society felt. As they are both more straightforward and less inclined toward manipulation and deception than the Court as a whole, they quickly became an island of sanity in the ocean of madness that is the Crimson Court.

Since they have remained the rocks that anchor one another's lives.

However, while the friendship is wholly mutual, it is somewhat unbalanced: Grigorius's true loyalty belongs to Cain, with whom Grigorius is terribly in love. Cain, on the other hand, has yet to put anyone in his life ahead of Samael.

Since being exiled from Astrum, he hasn't technically had an actual job. He mostly slums it in the hari tunwa, letting people wonder why a hero became a Hari Suum... which he hasn't, not really. One could suggest that his current occupation is "Cain's secret keeper," since he is there to watch over Cain, protect him, and report anything problematic to Samael.

That said, he never actually reports anything.

Notable Accomplishments & Failures

The sad thing is, most of his really notable accomplishments were achieved with his friends in Incaendium than in his capacity as a protector of Astrum.

With the Radiant Dawn, he achieved some victories: he made his way through the ranks and helped his mentor Sudryl capture and incarcerate Zecien Anlain, undoubtedly one of the most formidable Swords of all time.

His single greatest accomplishment was leading the battle against, and managing to subdue, Atë of Echoes - truly a legendary feat.

However, as one of the Wisemen of Amaya, he helped to wipe out over a dozen Archdemon houses, and turn his then-lover's nation into the most powerful in Incaendium. He also helped facilitate Samael himself's rise from a fairly formidable but generally in the range of "normal" Archdemon to one of the most powerful beings in the world. Whether to consider this an accomplishment or a failure is a matter of perspective.

On a personal level, he has unlocked more of his internal limiters than any Aurali since Zecien.

 

Psychology

Grigorius has a reputation for being unwieldy and difficult to control for a reason. Since childhood, he has been willful and assertive - bordering on aggressive at times - prone to arguments and brawling of both the drunken and not-drunken kind.

Personal Inventory

Everyone has certain things that they value, of course, and Grigorius is no exception. Following is a list of notable items kept in his personal chambers:

Spellbooks
Written in Grigorius's own hand and containing many rituals, spells, etc. that he created himself.
Manuals on Magic Theory
To assist in the expansion of his knowledge.
Books on Meditation
To help him curb his temper.
Book of Cocktail Recipes
Written by Beelzebub, for the bar in Gri's bedroom.
Big Locked Trunk
Kept under his bed. Full of Mysterious things.
Ok But What's In The Trunk?
Okay okay. Bottles of Whiskey, extra boots, Gri's arsenal of magical items, spell components... and one special thing.
Wardrobe
Blue jeans and lace-up leather pants, a half-hearted collection of pirate shirts (for emergencies), black boots, waist capes, long coats. A shelf of hair ties and hair brushes.
On His Vanity
Being used as a bar
Desk
Candles, paper, pens.

It's all part of his general personality, which is best described as "larger than life." He is wildly extroverted - a free spirit chasing the next thrill, the next adventure, the next challenge. With his booming laugh, his charisma and his stature, he is a presence that is impossible to overlook or ignore - like a raging wildfire, he commands attention.

This external presentation is coupled with his unabashed physicality - as a fighter or a lover, his passion is unmistakeable. His physical actions are a natural extension of his largely uncontrolled emotions. He is sensual in a way that does not so much smolder as burn, and his body language convenys his comfort with himself and the absolute confidence that comes from his experience and strength.

Maybe as a result of his humble origins... or maybe just because he is fundamentally unpretentious, Grigorius is a plain speaker in all the best and worst ways. He speaks plainly and without holding back, and he doesn't play around with deception. He is a what you see is what you get sort of person, who refuses to bend that to the machinations of the Crimson Court, which is why he would be a terrible Player. Similarly, he hates court affairs, but loves to grab a mug in a bar; he's the kind of man who sings bar songs. He might even start the song. Suffice to say, he is wildly extroverted.

This means he is brutally honest, which can be both distressing and refreshing. It also means he doesn't hold back on his compliments or praise. You always know exactly how Grigorius feels about you... unless you're Cain.

Generally speaking, he presents as a laid back non-conformist. Even in his official capacity as the Sword, he was unable to truly tame his independent streak in order to serve properly. There are many reasons that he ultimately felt more comfortable acting with Samael than as the Sword, but the biggest one is that he felt unrestricted and free. Also, Demons are way fightier than Celestials on average and Grigorius does love to get physical in any form.

Old Friend Reunion

Grigorius

I gotta say... Amaya has changed since I was here before. It's nothing extreme, mind you. It's not like I'm saying I came back to someplace unrecognizable. It's just...

  Cain

There's a shift in the atmosphere? I think I understand, yes.

Grigorius

Yeah. ...maybe that's what happens when Samael gets stupid enough to do something like toss you out.

Cain

That's sweet. But I don't think... well. Our separation was... I don't know. I don't really know what happened, to be honest. But the darkness in Amaya... that's much older than my banishment to the hari tunwa. I think it has more to do with--

Grigorius

Astaroth being bored?

Cain

Yes. And trying to maintain his influence over Samael... who is also bored...

Grigorius

Yeah. Ain't that the way. I wonder, really... maybe we did him a disservice, making him the monster he is. Samael... he's always been... I don't know. He's always looking for things to keep his interest. And challenges. He looks for mountains to conquer. We were his... friends. So we helped him conquer every fucking mountain there was. Now there's no more moutains so he's just conquering his own people's spirits.

Cain

That's uncharitable. They love him.

Grigorius

Yeah. But they don't know anything else, either. What came before him? His violent lunatic father. What comes after him? No one knows. Maybe something worse. Amaya has always been cruel. At the time I didn't think about it that much... but we really spread that shit out, didn't we? Now its cruelty defines half the realm... and the rest is just scrambling to catch up.

Now, despite all this untamed chaos, Grigorius is not actually a destructive person. He is aware of the dangers of his personality quirks, and tries to curb them through the use of meditation - a skill he learned when pursuing his magical skills, which surprisingly became a cornerstone of his life. In his personal chambers, one can find books on meditation, as well as accessories to assist such as cushioned mats and incense. He has even invented a little spell to fill the room with soothing noise.

The loss of his family to the March of Pyres, as well as the loss of his mentor and the permanent maiming of his close friend, Nysandor, have built a protectiveness in Grigorius that can quickly override his normal behaviors, returning him to his role as a protector and guardian.

What's more, on the subject of the March, Grigorius has not fully internalized the reality of his own contribution toward that incident - his involvement in the war that destroyed the lives of those who would go on to destroy his. The thought comes to him from time to time, but thus far he has tried not to think about it at length. Even so, on a basic level he lives with, and rarely speaks about, the immense guilt of knowing his loved ones were killed as revenge against him.

Because it was extremely difficult for him to master void-dancing, he is a diligent student of the magical arts. He can often be found reading books on magical theory, and while he isn't a big reader in general, he gets endearingly excited about potential new discoveries or useful tips that might enhance his abilities in this field.

  Motivations

For the most part, Grigorius is moved by emotion, and by the craving for excitement. As a passionate person he wears his heart on his sleeve and, for better or worse, that heart is always visible, pulling him around. This can make him quite irresponsible sometimes - if his heart isn't in his duties. On the other hand, it makes him a friend and companion who would move the world for those he cares about. Indeed, now that his entire family has been wiped out, the drive to protect the few loved ones he has left is an enormous part of what drives him forward. After all, that's what has him tied to the hari tunwa to begin with.

Hopes and Aspirations

Grigorius really doesn't spend a lot of energy on hopes - while fairly optimistic he's also got a pragmatic streak that insists that he focuses on things that he can achieve, and how to achieve those things. When it comes to court politics, he is also just entirely unambitious, preferring to spend his time on things other than fragile social power provided by the most fickle fucking demon king in the world.

Fears and Items of Avoidance

His greatest fear, informed by his past experiences, is failing the few people he has left. This can be complicating, because his loyalties go in all directions that his heart leads him. He cares about Samael a great deal, for example, despite everything... but his feelings for Cain complicate his agreement to watch over and report on him.

Because while the goal of watching and protecting Cain is perfectly in line with both loyalties... when it comes to sending messages back to Samael about things Cain is doing or confiding in him, he has to choose which loyalty holds more weight.

Ethical Inventory

Despite being something of a wildchild by Astrumi standards, to most people Grigorius is a pretty standup guy. He is not strictly moral and doesn't adhere to a particular moral philosophy - you could say he operates on doing whatever has the best outcome (from his perspective).

Grigorius? Yes, that boy leaves quite an impression. And no, I don't know whether he's older or younger than I am! How can I not think of him as young man? Have you seen that fresh-scrubbed face?!

Well anyway, he leaves an impression. In my case, the best part about him is trying new recipes on him! He doesn't have a "refined" palate like Astaroth does, for example - that makes him a good test subject for feasts where not everyone has an entire tree branch shoved right up their-- anyway, also he has a big mouth, so you always know exactly what he thinks!

The last time he played test subject for me I rewarded him by writing up a book of mixed drinks. Now he keeps bothering me for a book on snacks! I might actually write one....

— Beelzebub

All of that said, while Grigorius is unusually upfront and friendly compared to those around him, it's always best to keep in mind that he's also a veteran warrior responsible for supporting massive campaigns of violence and destruction. This doesn't morally trouble him, because it's culturally normalized - even Astrum, while not generally approving of multi-millennia wars of conquest - did not object to his participation at first because it was assumed that the war would weaken Incaendium.

That being the case, Grigorius can be devastatingly ruthless when he needs to be - as suits an Empirican war leader.

Secrets & Lies

Being a more-honest-than-not type of guy, his primary secrets are just things about how he feels. Most notably, he's never told Cain the extent of his feelings for him.

Personal Taboos

Being a laid back, anything goes kind of guy the main thing that Grigorius does not go for is "anything that fucks over people he doesn't want to fuck over."

He feels strongly that trust and loyalty are essential to any reasonable interaction, which is why he hates 90% of the people in Amaya, if not more. For this reason, he always had a hard time with Astaroth, even when they were friends.

So you could say betrayal is the ultimate taboo.

 

Presentation

Grigorius is, it's fair to say, a very impressive physical presence.

Standing 6'5" barefoot, he has a muscular frame that reflects his background as a high level melee combatant - though his build lacks the extreme size and definition present in someone like Samael or Mastema. That said, his build is also much more openly visible than even Samael's, because one can probably count on a single hand how many people have seen him in a shirt within the past few years.

img-2024-12-20-22-17-27.png

A full body shot of Grigorius Bieloskytes.

His skin is tanned with warm undertone, which enhances the brilliant green of his eyes, and the crimson in his auburn hair. The hair itself is long - though perhaps not by the standards of Amaya! - and the color shifts closer to pure red when he uses his abilities... eventually actually pseudo-transforming into fire.

All of that said, and his kind of embarrassing handsomeness aside, Grigorius can be very intimidating - not just for his physically imposing appearance but for his immense presence - the result of thousands of years as a soldier, a commander, a war hero.

And yet, on a day to day basis... he mostly comes off as reluctant to move very much if he doesn't have to... given how prone he is to lounging and flopping wherever there's room to lounge or to flop.

  Apparel & Accessories

Ninety-nine times out of 100, Grigorius is just wearing blue jeans and maybe some kind of footwear - boots, or slippers. He does own shirts, but most of them haven't been seen outside of his closet in ages, if ever.

If he has to wear more formal clothing, he will generally wear the most casual, lazyass thing he can find that would suit the dresscode.

Special Equipment

Grigorius keeps a surprising amount of special equipment in his chambers - including a locked chest full of weapons and spell components, as well as his old armor from the Radiant Dawn in his closet, kind of abandoned in a corner. Of course, there is also one more thing - the most special equipment of all - that he keeps under his bed.

What might that be?

Well, who knows?

 

Social Inventory

Sex & Sexuality

Rumor has it one of the old heroes of Amaya, the oh-so-scorching Grigorius, has returned to Amaya! But don't get too excited, ladies and gentlemen - it appears he's no longer in the heroing business. Instead, he's... become a hari suum?! Oh dear, your guess is as good as ours, but it's fair to say that someone as storied and accomplished as he is can retire to debauchery if he likes!

— The Daily Drama!

Grigorius has a casual kind of approach to sexuality that befits his generally go-with-the-flow personality. He is both pansexual and open to various relationship configurations if it happened come up and happened to work. He doesn't generally have a lot of jealousy in him, and even if he did, he also doesn't have very much spite.

That said, if left to his own devices, he would have a lot of casual hookups between relationships, and would probably default to monogamy unless his partner brought up trying something else. He is adventurous and open-minded, yes...

But not strangely inexperienced in the art of true romance, whether it involves one or three or more. He in fact has had very few legitimate relationships... and one was his on/off entanglement with Samael, which ultimately ended with Samael picking someone else over Grigorius... who didn't seem to care as much as one might have expected after so long.

 

Relationships

Unfortunately, Grigorius no longer has any known family since his parents and sister were murdered by the March of Pyres during their revenge tour. However, when they were still among the living, he was very close to and protective of them - especially his little sister. It is Islinora's death that haunts him the most directly - largely because of the grotesque way he found her body.

The wandering wolf is coming home, you know. Our men have spotted him wandering through the woods, heading here, one... slow... step... at... a time... which is funny to see! He doesn't have wings anymore! Well, I suppose he may have magicked them away, but I've never seen him do that before.

Oh stop looking at me that way, you and I both know it's funny. Even so... it begs the question, doesn't it? What has brought old Grigorius back to this... what did he call it again? Something about chaos and dishonor?

— Astaroth Dracothis to Samael Asther
Friends

As a very extroverted and socially driven man, Grigorius has a great many friendly acquaintances - including more or less everyone in the hari suum basa. However, it is far more difficult for him to have a true bones-deep connection with someone - to make a "true" friend. Arguably, he has had only five: Nysandor, the other four Wisemen, and Cain.

That said, he's always willing to be friendly with anyone. Recently, he and Cain have taken Gabriel Shaen under their wing, so to speak - albeit Cain moreso than Grigorius.

Speaking of Cain, Grigorius' relationship with Cain is extremely complicated - moreso than Cain himself is aware of. Certainly Cain is Gri's closest friend, and has been for centuries. The want to stay in contact with Cain actually made him write letters regularly (via Living Books) - something he had only ever done for Islinora until then, because he doesn't like writing. However, there are unspoken issues there: Grigorius's conflict over his agreement to watch Cain for Samael, for one thing, but most notably the fact that Grigorius has fallen in love with Cain.

He hasn't told anyone this, of course.

It should be noted that Grigorius is on incredibly good terms with Blossom and Beelzebub, and as a result of this he can sometimes be seen randomly wearing a flower crown. His breakfasts are also extra tasty most of the time.

Don't pretend to be offended. Grigorius of all people was never one to be offended by chaos. Dishonor... well, he's not one to criticize about that. Even so...

I am curious. The prideful warrior, come back to the world he left behind... and on foot, no less.

I imagine we'll see quickly enough what drives his feet this way.

— Samael Asther to Astaroth Dracothis
Lovers

Grigorius has, in the past, been something of a casual lover - he went through his trysts and alcohol stage during his early days with the Radiant Dawn, experiencing the world for the first time. He never quite stopped - he's still up for a casual hookup - but he isn't nearly as active in pursuing hedonism as he once was.

His most impactful lover was, of course, Samael himself - though that never quite solidified into a true romance. Instead, it hovered around somewhere between friends with benefits and casual "dating" so to speak, with frequent trips into nothing at all, sometimes for decades at a time.

His feelings for Samael now are more subdued both in terms of their attraction and their friendship. He certainly still cares abouts about Samael but going to battle at his side made it evident that, while Grigorius may fight like a demon, he doesn't really feel comfortable with the extremes of demonic war-making.

Grigorius has been seen on the edges of Amaya, walking toward Ruavine on foot. I've always assumed that we would meet again, in time - I imagine, too, that one day I will need to put Mastema down once more. We repeat our patterns, for good or ill - this is natural to all living beings and Grigorius, whatever else he may be, is indeed alive.

But I am surprised, even so. He and I did not part on especially glowing terms - perhaps not at odds, but certainly acknowleding oceans of long ignored differences. I was unsurprised when he decided to return to Astrum permanently - he had become increasingly critical of my decisions anyway. The nature of an Aurali in the court of the Siv-Surasi.

And yet, when he seeks a place to shelter or rest, it is similarly unsurprising that he would find himself at my doorstep. Like the wolf Astaroth calls him after he is, for all his wild and untamed glory, a pack animal at heart.

— From the journal of Samael Asther
Enemies

Grigorius has every member of the March of Pyres on his internal hitlist... including any members that he doesn't already know about.

The captive goddess Atë can also be considered a direct enemy of his, as he spearheaded the effort to defeat and imprison her. If she were to escape, there is a nonzero chance she might seek him out for vengeance.

And finally, Zecien Anlain, Grigorius' former leader... is also directly responsible for the deaths of many of Gri's early friends, and the permanent maiming of his once-closest friend, Nysandor.

As it stands, Zecien is difficult to confront - while he is no longer imprisoned in Astrum, he is currently living as Dominus Regas of Cras - a sky island in Incaendium - after violently deposing the former controlling family. To seek him out would require Grigorius to leave Court - abandoning Cain - and... well, to fly up to Cras or find someone willing to bring him there. A hard bar to clear for the chance at a potentially suicidal run against one of the strongest Swords of all time.

Shitlist

Astaroth Dracothis and Mastema Amarandos are squarely in this area.

Grigorius can't quite hate them or consider them enemies because he was once so close to them. However, he does think they're massive dicks and he doesn't want to deal with them.

In the case of Mastema the disdain is particularly intense, as he is not just a dick (like Astaroth), he is also a traitor. Despite Grigorius's differences with Samael, he was always loyal as a friend and ally, and the idea of turning against someone he had been so close to is an anathema to Grigorius. ...also, he's pissed off because Mastema pretended to be a Fire Djinn the entire time, and the two of them had a little rivalry going with regards to their use of Fire elementalism. As it turns out Mastema was an Aether Djinn the whole time, which is such bullshit. (Says Grigorius.)

Pets

Grigorius's current living arrangement precludes him having personal pets, though he does like to play with Samael's Grymvuld.

 

Ability Inventory

Physical

As is to be expected from an Aurali Serat, Grigorius is an impressive physical specimen. His extraordinary physical strength and speed are his strongest areas -within the Court and its surroundings, it's safe to say that his physical strength is second only to Samael, and his speed second only to Astaroth. He is also fairly durable, making him an excellent all-rounder in terms of physical abilities.

In the past, he was able to fly, but this is no longer the case.

Grigorius making use of his elemental abilities.

Magic

Grigorius' most hardwon ability is his mastery of Magic. As a Celestial, magic did not come very easily to him to begin with... but the bigger issue was really his personality. His wildness and chaotic approach to life made it difficult for him to sort through the threads of Void and figure out what to "touch."

For the most part, Grigorius has adhered to the Expansive Magic system, using focus-skills and tricks to impose an order on the energy that makes it easier to manipulate. While he is capable of using magic in its "raw" form, that is usually a bad idea, as it will tend to spiral out of control and could end up creating unpredictable outcomes.

He has supplemented his practice of Expansive Magic with a touch of ritual and runic magic - the evidence of this can be seen on his skin in the form of his ever-changing tattoos. As a result of this, his spells often figure classic "magic circles" and symbols.

Where is Aza'azor?

The legendary weapon used by the Sword of Paradise suffered the same ignoble fate as its most recent wielder: having been used in the commission of Grigorius's vengeful rampage, it was considered tainted and banished from its long-held role. Grigorius thus took the sword with him when he left Astrum... but it hasn't been seen since his departure.

There is some speculation on the sword's location. Did he give it away? Lose it? Hide it somewhere? Those who like to imagine that Grigorius is broken up with remorse for his actions sometimes speculate that he may have felt unworthy of it and hidden it or thrown it away.

No one would guess the sword's true location: a locked trunk under Grigorius's bed.

As for what kinds of magic Grigorius takes to... as a straight-forward kind of guy, he excels in the most unsubtle forms of magic including the External War and Conjure/Manifest, with Empower/Enchant, Deconstruction and Internal War close behind them. He is nearly incapable of using deceptive magic such as Illusions and alteration... as well as what seems to be more passive or less action-oriented areas like Learning/Communication.

Through the use of rituals Grigorius can enhance his ability in spheres to which he is usually disinclined - with the obvious downside being that he has to sit down and perform a ritual to do it.

Because of the systems he has used to attain mastery, his magic-use is somewhat less flexible than someone who manipulates Void without any internal structures imposed... but it has also allowed him to attain a higher level of mastery than he could have just relying on his talent and determination, making him a roughly Vallus Magic-User in his strongest areas.

Psionics

A high-level Aurali Serat is, of course, almost certainly going to be a strong user of Od, and Grigorius is no different.

His abilities are mostly focused on affecting the world (e.g. psychokinesis) or affecting himself (metabolisis) - he does not tend to focus on affecting others via, for example, external od manipulation or Extra-Metabolisis.

Grigorius's strongest spheres include: Matabolisis, Psychokinesis, Creation, Destruction.

His abilities in Extra-Metabolisis, Communicationand Internal Od Manipulation are marginal at best.

Elemental

The area where Grigorius is most naturally gifted, and most comfortable, is Elementalism -though his abilities as an elementalist are much less variable than his use of other ability spheres. In fact, Grigorius has access to only one Elemental Sphere: fire. But what he lacks in versatility he makes up for in sheer strength and the skill to use it... as he is an exceptionally rare Vis level Fire Elementalist.

He will typically use fire to enhance his attacks. Such is his affinity for flame that he sometimes seems to be on fire, himself, when in the thick of battle.

Skills

In Life

Due to a combination of his background and his disinterest, Grigorius lacks most of the "high end" skills taught to aristocrats and nobles - he can't play fifteen instruments and doesn't know dozens of ballroom dances. However, he does know the things that are meaningful to him. This includes a number of survival skills - taught during training but largely sharpened in his long trek from Astrum to Amaya, on foot.

Valkiya,

I'm sorry to tell you this but no, I haven't heard from him in years, either. This doesn't necessarily mean anything has happened to him, mind you. I know you knew him well, but your relationship to him was very specific - he was, in many ways, your father as well as your teacher. Don't object, I was there.

My point is this: Grigorius is Grigorius. Nothing about that is going to change. He is difficult and impossible to manage. He's been going for a few centuries, but remember that he is far older than a few hundred years. Time can slide by quickly without the routine of day to day life to confine him, especially given how prone he can be to chasing his metaphorical tail.

His pride may be injured. He may be enjoying the freedom, too.

But he'll never forget you. Just give him time.

Or send an angry letter, that might also get his attention. Especially if you include a lot of curses.

— Nysandor to Valkiya

This means he is an exceptional hunter, and has a general familiarity with the plantlife, including which is edible, which is inedible, and which is sentient (shh).

He has a great deal of experience in handling and training animals, and is a skilled horseback rider. He can also ride a large cow, but why would he do that?

Though he doesn't know many formal dances, because he doesn't care, Grigorius has an innate sense of movement and rhythm - one of the things that contributes to his remarkable battle skills - and so he is generally able to adlib an acceptable dance when necessary.

One of his most valueable skills, however - at least to him - is his ability to teach others, communicating his knowledge and instincts into an understandable form. This is in part a result of having had to study so hard to master his magical skills - he has spent a great deal of time trying to break concepts down into a digestable form. Whether he's willing to teach someone something is a different matter and largely mood-based.

In Battle

Grigorius is, of course, famously a genius of physical combat with an intuitive sense of movement, strategy and tactics. His casual mastery of basic brawling as a teenager turned into his absolute mastery of formal combat once trained, and he remains one of the most skilled combatants in the known world.

All of that said, he excels most of all in the use of swords - indeed he has yet to find someone who can match his skill in this area.

His "past life" as a flying Celestial has proven to be an advantage as well - though at first the substantial change in approach to grounded combat vs. aerial combat tripped him up. Now that he has adjusted, he is able to better envision what a flying combatant sees and what kinds of maneuvers are possible from any given place in the sky.

General Combat style

During his time as Sword of Paradise, and even today to some degree, Grigorius was known as the Sword of the Inferno, or the Fire Blade, or other such titles. There was a reason for this.

On the battlefield, Grigorius is not unlike an uncontrolled wildfire, burning through everything in his path. His unmatched battle skills pair with his skill in utilizing his supranormal abilities to create a living weapon the world has rarely seen outside of battle deities.

He is most comfortable using large swords - either especially large single-handed swords, or two-handed swords that he nonetheless will tend to wield one-handed by default. Typically he will use his elemental abilities and magic to enhance everything from his own body to the damage done by the blade itself. When he is at his most serious - when the danger is the greatest - he will scorch the entire area and incinerate large groups of foes.

It has long been said that, in terms of sheer destructive power, Grigorius rivals the Imperator himself.

Threat Assessment:

Capable of deitic-tier fire manipulation, and with high levels of skill in psionic and magical abilities, Grigorius is an extraordinarily dangerous foe to make. While he is not a brilliant war-strategist like his old friend Astaroth (or new friend, Cain), he is unmatched in on-the-ground tactics, with a flexible mind that forms and adjusts battle plans smoothly and effortlessly. Considering this, as well as his arguably unmatched skill in the actual art of real world battle...

Grigorius can be considered a Vallus+ level threat.