Editing Character:Shalzalon

[[Category:Character|Shalzalon]]

A character for ''Nephilim'' 2nd (aka the Chaosium) edition, created by [[User:G026r|g026r]]. <br>

== Campaign ==

Salzalon exists best in a campaign where the ultimate goal is the quest for Agartha, or one concerned with uncovering knowledge and secrets.  A heavy-action, "fight the Secret Societies" campaign probably wouldn't be a good choice for the character without a party composed of numerous more martial-oriented heavy-hitters to help protect him.

== Character Stats ==

:'''Name:''' Shalzalon
:'''Major Arcanum:''' Arcanum IX: The Hermit
:'''Dominant Ka:''' Air
:'''Previous Incarnations:''' 4
:'''Actions:''' 3
:'''Damage Bonus:''' +0
:'''Ch'awe:''' 20
:'''Hit Points:''' 19

===Ka===
:'''Dominant:''' Air, 12
:'''Major Neutral:''' Fire, 9
:'''Minor Neutral:''' Water, 7
:'''Minor Opposed:''' Earth, 5
:'''Major Opposed:''' Moon, 2

=== Characteristics & Rolls ===

{| class="wikitable" border="0" style="text-align:left"
!  !! Simulacrum !! Bonus !! Total || Roll || %
|-
| '''Ka:''' || - || - || 12 || '''Vision:''' || 36
|-
| '''Strength:''' || 9 || +3 || 12 || '''Effort:''' || 36
|-
| '''Constitution:''' || 17 || +2 ||  19 || '''Resistance:''' || 57
|-
| '''Intelligence:''' || 17 || +3 || 20 || '''Idea:''' || 60
|-
| '''Dexterity:''' || 11 || +2 || 13 || '''Agility:''' || 39
|-
| '''Charisma:''' || 15 || +1 || 16 || '''Persuade:''' || 48
|}

=== Skills ===
----
====Nephilim====
::*Arcanum Lore: 40%
::*Art (Dance): 10%
::*Art (Poetry): 40%
::*Art (Sing): 50%
::*Astrological Lore: 20%
::*Bargain: 30%
::*Business: 30%
::*Craft (Sew): 30%
::*First Aid: 90%
::*Hermetic Lore: 50%
::*History: 20%
::*Life Experience (Middle Kingdom Egypt): 70%
::*Life Experience (Assyrian): 55%
::*Life Experience (13c France): 60%
::*Life Experience (London, 1910): 40%
::*Listen: 50%
::*Medicine: 50%
::*Natural Lore: 50%
::*Read/Write (Hieroglyphics): 20%
::*Read/Write (English): 50%
::*Religion (Middle Kingdom Egyptian): 50%
::*Religion (Cathari): 50%
::*Religion (Church of England): 20%
::*Religion (Classical Greek): 10%
::*Scan: 50%
::*Scrutinize: 90%
::*Speak (Middle Kingdom Egyptian): 85%
::*Speak (Persian): 80%
::*Speak (13c. French): 75%
::*Speak (Occitan): 30%
::*Speak (English): 75%

====Simulacrum====
::*Anthropology: 10%
::*Archaeology: 20%
::*Biology: 10%
::*Computer Use: 35%
::*Fist/Punch: 30%
::*Geology: 10%
::*History: 20%
::*Kick: 20%
::*Psychology: 20%
::*Read/Write (Modern English): 45%
::*Research: 35%
::*Speak (Modern American): 35%

=== Techniques ===
----
==== Sorcery ====
:'''Lower Magic:''' 90%
:'''Higher Magic:''' 90%
:'''Grand Secret:''' 50%
:'''Spells:'''
::{| class="wikitable" border="0" style="text-align:left"
!  !! Circle !! Threshold !! Element 
|-
| '''Shoal of Air''' || Higher || 30 || Air
|-
| '''Hermetic Satori''' || Higher || 50 || Air
|-
| '''Pyretic Body''' || Higher || 80 || Fire
|}

==== Summoning ====
:'''Seals:''' 90%
:'''Pentacles:''' 30%
:'''Keys:''' 0%
:'''Spells:'''
::{| class="wikitable" border="0" style="text-align:left"
!  !! Circle !! Threshold !! Element 
|-
| '''The Invoking Voices of the Luminous Desert''' || Seals || 10 || Air
|-
| '''The Shadow-cloaked Sages from the White Mountain across the Misty Shores''' || Seals || 90 || Air
|}

==== Alchemy ====
:'''Black Stone:''' 30%
:'''White Stone:''' 0%
:'''Philosopher's Stone:''' 0%
:'''Spells:'''

===Stasis===
:'''Location:''' Research Lab
:'''Epoch & Description:''' Thebes, Egypt c.1350BC, papyrus
:'''Ka:'''
::*'''Fire:''' 17
::*'''Air:''' 15
::*'''Earth:''' 20
::*'''Water:''' 16
::*'''Moon:''' 7

===Metamorphosis===
:'''Type:''' Angel
::*'''Head:''' Golden hair, 4
::*'''Hands:''' White, 6
::*'''Skin:''' Feathered, 4
::*'''Odor:''' Honey, 2
::*'''Voice:''' Melodious, 0

===Simulacrum===
:'''Name:''' Megan Carls
:'''Solar Ka:''' 11
:'''Age:''' 20
:'''Gender:''' Female
:'''Social Status:''' 4
:'''Opportunity:''' 12
:'''Education:''' 14, Sophomore
:'''Life Experience:''' 42
:'''Profession:''' Student, Humanities Major
:'''Family Relationship:''' 9, distant parents
:'''Culture:''' Modern American, Academia

=== Previous Incarnations ===
----
====Thebes, Egypt c. 1350 BC====
:'''Simulacrum Name:''' Merit
:'''Occupation:''' Priestess
:'''Simulacrum Age:''' 70
:'''Final Age:''' 40
:'''Total Age at Death:''' 110
:'''Stasis Event:''' Died peacefully in old age.
=====Skills=====
:'''Skill Points:''' 280
:'''Skills Learned:'''
::*Art (Dance): 10%
::*First Aid: 50%
::*Hermetic Lore: 50%
::*Life Experience (Middle Kingdom Egypt): 70%
::*Listen: 50%
::*Read/Write (Hieroglyphics): 20%
::*Religious Lore (Middle Kingdom Egypt): 50%
::*Scrutinize: 50%
::*Sorcery, Low: 0%
::*Sorcery, High: 0%
::*Speak (Middle Kingdom Egypt): 85%
=====Magic Learned=====
:'''Occult Development Points:''' 80
:'''Arcanum Lore:''' The Hermit: 30%
:'''Magic Techniques:'''
::*Sorcery, Low: 50%
::*Sorcery, High: 0%
=====Summary of Experience in This Life=====
:First incarnation.  Though some initial links were made with the Major Arcanum, for the most part Shalzalon failed to see the need for them at this time and stayed separate from the politics of the day.
----

====Babylon, Persia c. 650 BC====
:'''Simulacrum Name:''' Nidintu
:'''Occupation:''' Tribal Aristocrat, Female
:'''Simulacrum Age:''' 55
:'''Final Age:''' 40
:'''Total Age at Death:''' 95
:'''Stasis Event:''' Died old and calm.
=====Skills=====
:'''Skill Points:''' 220
:'''Skills Learned:'''
::*Bargain: 30%
::*Business: 30%
::*Craft (Sew): 30%
::*First Aid: 40%
::*Life Experience (Assyria): 55%
::*Nature Lore: 50% 
::*Scrutinize: 40%
::*Speak (Persian): 80%

=====Magic Learned=====
:'''Occult Development Points:''' 80
:'''Arcanum Lore:''' The Hermit: 0%
:'''Magic Techniques:'''
::*Sorcery, Low: 40%
::*Sorcery, High: 40%
::*Sorcery, Grand Secret: 0%
=====Summary of Experience in This Life=====
Incarnated into a tribal aristocrat.  Though initially resistant to Zoroaster, eventually agreed with the path purposed.
----

====Montsegur, France 1453====
:'''Simulacrum Name:''' Gabrielle d'Ari&egrave;ge
:'''Occupation:''' Noble Widow
:'''Simulacrum Age:''' 60
:'''Final Age:''' 75
:'''Total Age at Death:''' 135
:'''Stasis Event:''' Killed by Crusaders.
=====Skills=====
:'''Skill Points:''' 240
:'''Skills Learned:'''
::*Art (Sing): 50%
::*First Aid: 0%
::*Life Experience (13c. France): 60%
::*Medicine: 50%
::*Religious Lore (Cathari): 50%
::*Scan: 50%
::*Scrutinize: 0%
::*Speak (13c. French): 75%
::*Speak (Occitan): 30%

=====Magic Learned=====
:'''Occult Development Points:''' 150
:'''Arcanum Lore:''' The Hermit: 10%
:'''Magic Techniques:'''
::*Sorcery, High: 50%
::*Sorcery, Grand Secret: 10%
::*Summoning, Seals: 50%
::*Summoning, Pentacles: 0%
::*Alchemy, Black Stone: 0%
:'''Inscribed Spells:'''
::*Invoking Voices of the Luminous Desert
::*Shoal of Air
::*Hermetic Satori

=====Summary of Experience in This Life=====
Incarnated as part of the Cathari attempt to assist Nephilim on their quest for Agartha. Began dabbling in Summoning at this time, and made formal links to the Hermit Arcanum. The persecution of Perfecti caused Shalzalon to recognize the importance of inscribing spells into its being.  Though killed during the siege of Montsegur, Shalzalon's Stasis object was successfully smuggled out prior to the fall of the mountain-top fortress.
----

====London, England, circa 1900====
:'''Simulacrum Name:''' Mary Woolcroft
:'''Occupation:''' Poetess
:'''Simulacrum Age:''' 40
:'''Final Age:''' 85
:'''Total Age at Death:''' 125
:'''Stasis Event:''' Died peacefully in bed.

=====Skills=====
:'''Skill Points:''' 160
:'''Skills Learned:'''
::*Astrological Lore: 20%
::*Art (Poetry): 40%
::*History: 20%
::*Life Experience (London, 1910): 40%
::*Listen: 0%
::*Psychology: 0%
::*Read/Write (English): 50%
::*Read/Write (Spanish): 0%
::*Religious Lore (Church of England): 20%
::*Religious Lore (Classical Greek): 10%
::*Ride: 0%
::*Speak (English): 75%

=====Magic Learned=====
:'''Occult Development Points:''' 170
:'''Arcanum Lore:''' The Hermit: 0%
:'''Magic Techniques:'''
::*Sorcery, Grand Secret: 40%
::*Summoning, Seals: 40%
::*Summoning, Pentacles: 30%
::*Alchemy, Black Stone: 30%
::*Alchemy, White Stone: 0%
:'''Inscribed Spells:'''
::*Dowse Air Plexus
::*Pyretic Body
::*The Shadow-cloaked Sages from the White Mountains across the Misty Shores

=====Summary of Experience in This Life=====
Incarnated into a minor aristocrat who had purchased its Stasis Papyrus due to dabbling in the occult and poetry.  It was in this lifetime that Shalzalon first became aware of the possibilities of Alchemy.  Had some interaction with the Golden Dawn, but mainly ignored mankind in favour of continuing the quest for Agartha.
----

== Character Description/Background ==

===Shalzalon===
From the notebooks of member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, discussing a conversation with Shalzalon, London, 1906:

:''&quot;The secrets of the universe can be found only through determined study. You, with your pathetically short lifetimes, have no chance of ever uncovering them. Even were you to start from birth, you would never learn them and your hopes of unlocking them are even smaller.''

:''&quot;But the secrets are there.  I've spent lifetimes working on it.  From the days of pharaohs I've worked. Single-minded in my goal. If it means something has to be destroyed to unlock its secrets, then so be it.  I will find the secret, and then I will be perfected.&quot;''

===Megan Carls===
Sophomore history major.  Dabbles in karate in her spare time.  As part of her part-time research assistant job, received access to a collection of ancient Egyptian papyrus. Having unknowingly placed them in a nexus, she released Shalzalon from within its stasis, and became the host. Her room-mates and professors have noticed a recent change in her personality and disinterest in her usual hobbies and studies.

== Commentary ==
Christ, this was long.  Next time I'll take the skill-point and occult-point hits and stick with one or two previous incarnations.