Gatherer Viscal
Viscal is a Gatherer of the Usokufa. He spends his time travelling between settlements across Ardi-Kokufa, trading for and collecting dead bodies to bring back the Mortuary beneath The Gleaming City.
He was born in the Gleaming City, his parents were morticians, and all his ancestors had been Usokufa since the dawn of the Everfire, or so he had been taught as a child growing up in the Mortuary. As a youth, it was quickly understood that he did not have the temperance for the Mortuary itself. He had not the paitence or focus to be an Embalmer and his movements lacked the grace needed for the dancing of the Vivifiers. He also lacked the social skills needed by the Handlers as they courted clients and sold the bodyservants far and wide. Instead, he did what others of his station could, and devoted himself to gathering. He wore his nondescript white robes, and grabbed his cart - the ones the people called 'Body buggies' - and he pulled it up and down the banks of the Godswollen River, and into the dry expanse of the deserts, seeking the dead. Most of the time, he would accompany exbiditions of the Flaming Brand as they quelled dissent, or one of the Illuminators as they collected their tithes. There was always someone dying in the wastes and Viscal would pay fair price to those who needed the remains of their fallen dealt with. He learnt quickly to listen for rumours of strife. The dead who died before their time were a lucrative trade for the Gatherers. Viscal would follow these rumours, and find the bands of warlords as they raided. He would watch from a safe distance for the sands to settle and move in to take what he could. Viscal never killed. That was heresay. Only Mallius could decide whose time it was. Viscal would wait, and even tend to those who he knew would survive. Death was a patient master, and Viscal was in no rush. He had heard others had no qualms. The Gatherers who had travelled to the Lands of Twilight and beyond, and the rumours said they were forcing the deaths of those not ready, to bring exotic bodies to the Mortuary. Being so far from the Everfire must have frozen their minds. Viscal could not believe Mallius would condone such things. Perhaps the rumours were lies. But Viscal had seen the carts from beyond the Shimmerlands being offloaded. There were more and more every day. It wasn't right.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
From a very young age, all Usokufa are indoctrinated into the worship of the Fire Lord Mallius. His parents were Vivifiers in the Mortuary, and like other young Usokufa, Viscal was sent to creches to be schooled in worship, and taught the basics of Ossomancy and Somaturgy. Those with the most talents are quickly identified and groomed for roles within the mortuary as the manufacturers of Bodyservants.
To his parents dissappointment, Viscal was only able to master the basics of the magics used, and never progressed beyond the simple healing arts. As a result, it was clear from a young age that he would only be suitable as a Gatherer. From there, his magics were solely employed for thermal and motor controls with the Body buggies.
He was however, incredibly stuidous and devout in his acadameic and religious studies, often diving deep into ancient lore that others of the Usokufa would only skim over in favour oif their more flashy magic use. Viscal could recite the long history of the Usokufa from the time that Mallius took them into his employ. His studies led to a deep fascination in the mysterious relationship between the fine artistry of the Morticians with the more primeval nature of the Soulhusk Chimeras. Viscal found old records of oral histories from the Usokufa before Mallius, and the theory that the first Chimera were the creation of his ancestors.
The social heirarchy within the Usokufa meant that Viscal could no longer easily associate directly with his own parents, and through the decades since becoming a Gatherer, he has seen them only a dozen or so times. Each meeting is stiff and formal, with much discomfort on both sides.
Despite the initial dissappointment, Viscal has grown to enjoy his role as Gatherer. He values being outside, under the bright expanse of sun and sky. When within the Mortuary itself, he feels stifled and contained, a strong claustraphobia sets in whenever underground.
Over the years, Viscal has extended his core Gathering duties to that of a simple healer and carer. Unlike other Gatherers, he seeks to prevent death where possible. He will offer healing of wounds and sickness as muchy as he will care for the dead bodies he gathers. He has become something of a trusted visitor in the communities he visits, unlike many of his peers.
Also unusual for a simple Gatherer, Viscal has become a Klomerati Symbiote, though he keeps the symbiosis hidden externally. He bonded with a young Klomerati tendril on one of his early missions into the desert of Ardi-Kokufa, and uses the symbiosis to augment his healing powers. Through this symbiosis, he has developed a fascination with the Chimera, and seeks to udnerstand the relationship between them, the bodyservants and the more formal symbiosis employed by The Flaming Brand during the Feast of Welding.
Mental Trauma
- Discomfort bordering on claustraphobia whenever underground - such as within the Mortuary of the Gleaming City, or in the Stonesky Draianage.
- Self-doubt and recrimination whenver he struggles to achieve something and fails. This leads to risk avoidance, and a reluctance to take the lead. He is much more comfortable following orders.
- He secretly craves freedom from the strict confines of the Usokufa.
Intellectual Characteristics
- Highly curious, drawn to moments of intellectual investigation
- Is outwardly calm, if somewhat detached emotionally
- Has a deep compassion and respect for the sick and dying. Will offer healing to those in need, and make the passing of those he cannot save as easy as possible.
Morality & Philosophy
Viscal is a devout follower of Mallius, the Lord of Fire whose domain is that of the dead and the afterlife. He is not unquestioning in that devotion however, and has interrpreted it in a caring and compassionate way.
He sees death as inevitable, but not something that should be hastened before its time. He values all life, and seeks to make the passing into death a transition to be respected and embraced - not feared.
Current Status
Accompanying Lumin Serat on a mission into Ardi-Kokufa to investigate rumours of conflict and heresey brought about by the increasing invasions of the Soulhusk Chimera.
Current Location
Currently Boarded Vehicle
Species
Ethnicity
Professions
Age
53
Birthplace
Children
Gender
Male
Hair
bald, shaved
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Dusty, grey skin, with complex pattern of white scars, threaded with Klomerati
Height
Short stature
Weight
slim build
Owned Vehicles
Belief/Deity
Mallius
Aligned Organization
Comments