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All things from three fundamental concepts:
force, form, and consciousness.
Of course, at times these go by other names,
but the core principles remain the same. |
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— Himself |
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Born the son of a dragonic sorcerer and a fae lady, Mallory was never much bound by the limits of the human world. For centuries he's moved through the worlds, especially frequenting Sangria and Arcadia. He often poses as an "uncle" of the Greythorne line, making sure his family is looked after, and otherwise often has dealings in the workings of the worlds. He has quite a reputation in certain circles as a powerful and accomplished mage.
Personality
Writers love to wax poetic about the natures of various iconic personalities, describing them as having the souls of poets or hearts of true valor. In the case of Mallory Greythorne, Lord of House Greythorne and half-fae dragon, his personality doesn't lend itself much to poetry. Shrewd and inquisitive, he has the intellect and disposition of a scholar, but he lacks the obsessive nature to dedicate his life to study of all lore, ever. He is adventuresome, but he's too practical to be a wandering hero. He is even lusty, but he lacks the insatiable desire to really make his mark as a romantic winner and breaker of hearts. In truth, he's a fairly well-balanced personality with many facets, and age has given him a tendency toward stubbornness and theatricality, but he's just not the sort of personality that lends itself to grandiose, effusive description--or so, at least, he quite staunchly insists.
Background
The Greythorne family can trace its roots back for centuries, to the dark ages of Britain's past and beyond. The sire of their line was Draconar Greythorne, a sorcerer who was famed for being able to change into a dragon--though, in reality, it was the other way around. Draconar was a warlord, controlling a large span of lands in Brittany before it became a province of France. He vanished from the world, never to be seen again, when he became enamored of a lady known among mortals as Ceinwen, though she was in reality a daughter of a fairy king. Over many generations, the Greythorne line often interbred with the Fae, keeping close family ties, and so the family line continued. Many of them never died, simply crossing over into the fairy realm of and vanishing amongst their immortal relatives when they grew too old to remain in the human world.
The eldest son of Dragonar and Ceinwen was named Mallory, born during the late middle ages, around 1200 AD. He grew up traveling with his parents, sometimes in his father's various dens and sometimes at the court of his mother's father, the fairy king. From a young age, Mallory showed a great aptitude for magic, as well as a tendency to take after his father's side more strongly. (Toddlers are one thing, but a toddlers who can cast magic and turn into a dragon hatchling? Suffice to say, it was an interesting time for everyone.) In due course, Mallory came of age and into his own power. He devoted himself heavily to study, and it was a love of lore that first led him to a life of adventure. Before he knew it, he'd been swept up by the currents of fate, and the passing years had turned to centuries. His parents vanished away into the Spirit World to seek new adventures, and Mallory found himself guardian of the family line.
When, in the modern era, Adalric and Raquel Greythorne were killed in a magical accident, Mallory took it upon himself--presenting himself as an "uncle"--to looking after their children. While Mal may not always be the most capable parent, he is at least a stalwart protector and has ensured the safety of the family's interests and legacy. The younger sons were enrolled at Queensmouth Academy, while those old enough were sent out into the world to find their fortunes. As for Mallory? Well, he's had centuries to get involved in all sorts of shenanigans, from Sangria to Arcadia, and he's not about to stop now.
SKILLS
ACADEMICS - Expert: While his knowledge varies a bit based on what world he's in, Mallory has an expansive knowledge of classical art and science. He is explicitly knowledgeable of the cultures and history of Arcadia and Sangria, though he is less familiar with the other worlds. Where modern technology is concerned, he has only an average level of knowledge at best, and he might not be able to use a smart phone without help.
ALCHEMY - Expert: There is perhaps no potion Mallory could not brew. He has a vast number of these memorized, from healing draughts to deadly poisons, and he can mix them all without the need for measuring instruments. Given time, there is almost nothing within reason that he cannot do with herbs, chemicals, and magic ingredients.
COMBAT - Competent: Mallory is reasonably familiar with various forms of physical combat. As he is not the most capable fighter in this arena, he is instead a treacherous one. Every advantage is pressed, every weakness exploited. He can similarly wield a staff or cane with capable skill, he is also proficient in the use of various varieties of whips and grappling weapons. He prefers to avoid such uncivilized methods, however.
EXPRESSION - Competent: Mallory has a reasonable talent for various forms of expression, from composition to visual art. However, his skill is more technical than visionary. He is likewise a competent but not extraordinary musician, and much more of a cultured observer than a participant.
LORE - Expert: Mallory most certainly does not have universal knowledge of the supernatural, but he is an accomplished magus and very well-studied in a wide array of paranormal phenomena. What he does not know, he stands a reasonable chance at being able to research and discover something about.
PRESENCE - Expert: If he puts his mind to it, Mallory can be reasonably charismatic. Usually, he is more of a strong, forceful presence than a friendly one. He can be pursuasive or intimidating, manipulative to a degree, and is generally good at using his voice, body posture, and other emotive techniques to display exactly what he wants to.
POWERS
AWARENESS - Supreme: Sharp normal senses coupled with a strong magical essence make Mallory supremely well-suited to detecting and deciphering spells, enchantments, or other mystical effects. As one would expect from a magus of his power and experience, he is highly sensitive to magical creatures, mystical effects, and the ebb and flow of magical energies. He is also quite adept at scrying, seeking, and other forms of magic sensory projection and observation. It is very difficult to fool his senses or to hide things from his awareness.
DRAGON - Supreme: Given his age and magical nature, Mallory has by default Enhanced levels of strength, toughness, and dexterity. He heals from most injuries quickly enough to be visible to the naked eye, and his mind is protected by a carefully constructed mystic barrier that shields him from mental or spiritual attacks, including any powers of compulsion or suggestion. Untouched by time, he suffers no harm from age, is untouched by disease, and is generally immune to toxins of all sorts. At will, Mallory can also transform himself into the draconic form that was natural to his father's species.
In dragon shape, Mallory becomes a tremendous winged black reptilian creature. Its size varies, always at least the size of an automobile, but potentially bigger than a battleship. Notably, his size does not much affect his power, only his bulk. In dragon form, he gains supernatural level strength and toughness, the ability to fly at subsonic speeds, and a potent breath weapon that can either project or absorb heat, burning or freezing opponents. However, he loses access to most of his magics in this form, save for his sensory-based powers, such as Awareness and the communication-based elements of Mentalism and Spiritualism.
SORCERY - Supreme: Born with the gift of sorcery, Mal has honed his craft over the centuries. He can accomplish essentially any feat of magic, from common offensive spells or command over the elements to barriers or wardings, the summoning or banishment of various spirits or creatures, transmutation of matter or energy from one form to another, mystic travel between locations or realms, and many other effects. Notably, the more power he uses at once, spread out over the number and potency of active effects, the more focus and energy he must have. In terms of what he can do, Mal's abilities are conceptually almost endless, but they're limited by how he can adapt them to fit each situation, as well as his power and focus. Obviously, some applications of this power are heavily governed by consent.
ADVANTAGES
CASTLE OF DELIGHTS The Castle of Delights is a magical palace located in the depths of the Enchanted Forest, accessible from many mysterious places in the deep forests of the various Worlds. The castle is ancient, a great deal older than Mallory himself, but he was granted dominion over the castle by its previous owner. The castle is a virtually impregnable magical fortress whose power shields him and sustains him, making attacking him there quite a fool's errand, but in exchange he must also offer hospitality and the delights of the castle to anyone who is able to find it. Even in Mallory's absence, the castle is always open to visitors who come in peace and behave respectfully.
CONTACTS/REPUTATION Between the magical communities of Sangria and countless individuals in Arcadia, Mallory is very well-connected. In Sangria he is widely known in mystic circles as an elder, if reclusive sorcerer, and his family is well-known for operating a magic shop. In Arcadia he is famously whispered of as "The Sable Dragon," feared by many but revered by others, since he has generally worked to oppose war and preserve life--though he's not above terrifying people to make his point. Even those who are not kindly disposed towards him are likely to know of him. Still, in many circles he is fairly influential, able to achieve a fair bit by exchanging requests and personal favors alone.
HOARD Long years of placing careful caches of wealth here and there have granted Mallory almost limitless wealth. The value of his hoarded resources defies calculation, such that he will most likely never lack for funds in either Sangria or Arcadia, no matter how long he lives. For him, money truly is no object--ever.
These hoards also include various artifacts, ranging from minor magical baubles to reasonably rare and powerful enchanted weapons. They also contain many curiosities and various memorabilia, and in truth they are as much personal museums and libraries as they are arsenals or vaults.
WEAKNESSES
LOYALTY Once Mallory's allegiance or friendship is given, he considers this a bond that cannot be broken except by the blackest of betrayal. Because of this, he will go to great lengths, ignoring what is best or safest for himself, to help a friend in need. This is doubly true if the person is directly related to him by blood. His loyalty is not given freely or even easily, but once earned, it is absolute. The only thing that could force him to compromise such devotion would be an Oathbond he had willingly sworn.
OATHBOND When Mallory gives his word to someone, he literally cannot break it. He will be compelled to do all he can to fulfill his oath, no matter what the cost or difficulty to himself, until the bond is fulfilled or he is released from his vow. Notably, he cannot make a vow which is impossible, and if he cannot promise to do something, then it is a very good sign that it is beyond his power. If he can promise to do something, then it is potentially within his grasp, but that does not mean it will be easy to accomplish.
RULE OF THREE Mallory's magic carries a kind of karmic balance to it. If Mallory works to serve the greater good and help others, then things tend to go quite well for him. However, anything he does that is undeservedly malicious will be revisited upon him threefold. (Notably, this does not mean acting to please others--it means sincerely acting in their best interests. What a person believes they want is not always the same as what they need, after all. Further, he is always free to act in self-defense or to protect others, but selfish uses of magic that do not aid others or serve the greater good may come back to haunt him later.)
