Editing The Dragon Star (section)

==Malthias Darken==

''reveres Ashar (Goddess of Thieves and the Night)''

'''Careers:''' Alchemist 1, Physician 2, Sorcerer (Necromancy) 1, Thief 0

'''Attributes:''' Strength 1, Agility 2, Mind 2, Appeal -1

'''Combat Abilities:''' Brawl 1, Melee 1, Ranged 0, Defense 2

'''Equipment:''' Battle-Harness (holds his physician & mortician tools, Protection 1), Leather Skirt (Protection 1), Dissection Knife (1d3+1, common alchemical item <+1 damage on Mighty/Legendary Success>), Medical Kit (includes 2 alchemical healing powders and preservative/embalming fluid), Notebooks with anatomical drawings and research

'''Lifeblood:''' 4/9

'''Hero Points:''' 4/5

'''Arcane Power:''' 10/11

'''Armour Protection:''' 2

'''Boons'''
* Disease Immunity ''(Because of his work with the sick, injured, and corpses he is immune to all diseases, even magical ones.)''
* Sneaky ''(He is particularly quiet and adept at moving without making a sound or lurking in dark places. Roll an extra die where stealth is important.)''
* Trademark Weapon ''(Dissection Knife; As long as he is using this weapon, he uses an extra die in combat.)''

'''Flaws'''
* City Dweller ''(He is not very savvy when in the wilderness. Roll an extra die in situations to do with outdoor survival.)''
* Delicate ''(He is as slender as a wand, deduct two from Lifeblood total.)''
* Unsettling ''(His appearance and some other imperceptible things are disturbing to anyone in his presence. Even beasts are edgy around him. Roll an extra die in social situations.)''

'''Sorcery''' (Necromancy)
* Cantrips
** 1 arcane power
** no requirements
** Difficulty: Easy or Moderate <+1 or +0>
* 1st Magnitude Spells
** 3 arcane power
** Requirements: Line of Sight, Obvious Technique <Gestures, Guttural Chanting>, Special Requirement <Necromantic Fetishes; mummified heart, necklace of fingerbones>
** Difficulty: Moderate or Difficult <+0 or -1>)

Malthias was born in Albena and raised by his father when his mother died when he was young. His father made his living as an alchemist; providing medical powders, potions, and ointments to the local healers. His father educated him in the alchemical arts but he was more curious about the applications of their products to healing. Spending time with the healers he learned a great deal about anatomy and likewise honed his alchemical skills. During the conflict with Radu and the subsequent occupation he put his skills to use first with the wounded and later to the preparation of the dead. He enjoyed his time with the dead as he was able to experiment and learn even more about the body although he had to be careful not to be caught as resurrectionists were held in suspicion. His alchemical skills enabled him to improve upon preservative liquids already in existence and his skills preparing the dead were in high demand after the conflict. Interring corpses in underground crypts he came upon a unmarked crypt. Making sure he was unseen he entered into it and looked in the ornate sarcophagus. The body was mummified, a very unusual thing, and numerous warding symbols were on the sarcophagus. He felt something drawing him and found a mummified heart and a necklace of fingerbones that just felt right to him as well as some ancient scrolls. Taking them he resealed the sarcophagus and crypt, making his way back up to his chambers.

Already slender and overpale, Malthias's readings of the scrolls and experimentations of what he learned there increased his pallor further and lent a strange air about him that set people on edge. Little by little he unearthed the arts of necromancy, allowing him to improve his mortician skills by leaps. The almost lifelike appearance he gave to the bodies he worked with made him the envy of other morticians and he worked diligently to keep his secrets hidden. When he is seen out in public he is often scribbling in notebooks he carries. Although he unnerves many people his skills with healing still draw those to him who require medical ministration and he eagerly practices that as well, taking diligent notes all the while. He found that although he is slender his repeated work with the sick and the dead seems to have made him unable to get sick, at least as far as he can tell so far. Between his secret dabblings with necromancy, his healing work, alchemical research, and mortuary work he is very busy and not often seen. He has taken to private reverence of Ashar, praying for her to cloak his nighttime activities in her deep shadows so he can work undisturbed.

Physically although Malthias is of average height and slender he has a wiry strength about him, probably from moving and arranging corpses in his work. His slender fingers are graceful and he has a sharp mind. His pale appearance, sunken eyes, and bald head tend to make people uncomfortable around him. That is coupled with the strange smells about him and stains on his fingers as well as on the leather skirt he wears while he works on corpses and the sick. On his upper body he wears a set of harnesses that hold both his medical and embalming tools, all well-used. A marvelously-crafted dissection knife never leaves his side and he sometimes stares at it while moving it in his hands. His voice is raspy and soft and he is not seen to smile often though he likewise has never been seen angry. He seems to blend into the shadows everywhere he goes and usually avoids being outside when it is bright, being used to working in dim conditions.

<blockquote>''“My son....I don't even know that I know who he is anymore but he has talent that has surpassed mine. His skills have been an asset to the sick, the poor, and the dead here in Albena after the conflict with Radu. I wish I knew more about how he learned as much as he has so quickly...”'' — '''Alaric Darken''', his father</blockquote>

<blockquote>''“How those animals from Radu butchered my boy.....I couldn't let his mother see him like that. I had heard stories about Malthias's skill so I looked him up. The work he did.....unbelievable....he transformed a tattered corpse into a vision of my son sleeping. I owe him more than the money I paid, he worked a miracle.”'' — '''Veetoh Kohrleone''', head of the Merchant's Guild of Albena</blockquote>

<blockquote>''“What can I say, he looks not much different from the corpses he works with but without his healing skills my wife and newborn child would both be dead. He came during a violent storm, when no one else would, and with his talents snatched them both from Death's grasp. People may gossip, but I would give anything to help him in gratitude for what he did for my family.” — '''Gerat Norreth''', local farmer</blockquote>