Wizard of the Flying Palace
The Wizard of the Flying Palace, Mazido is a mage who lives in a palace that flies through the sky. His home has become a symbol for freedom in many lands, a cause Mazido ceaselessly champions.
Background
Mazido was born long ago, in one of the desert kingdoms. He took to magic at an early age and began to enrich himself by studying it. Inevitably, these studies took him beyond the bounds of his hometown, and eventually beyond the borders of the kingdom. In his travels to learn more about magic and its history, and the powers of the land, he continued to visit many places, learning about their practices and traditions and developing his own worldview.
Inevitably, Mazido clashed with authority during this quest for knowledge. His clashes with kings and peasants both motivated him to put his immense magical knowledge to use in creating his palace. He decided that the palace would fly through the air, far beyond the reach of any kingdom, and never permanently in the grasp of any place.
Since then, he and Lodestone Keep have become a symbol of freedom, since wherever he goes, Mazido tends to become involved in any conflict where people are oppressed. The flying palace inspires all who see it that there is always a way to defy those who would control you.
SKILLS
Alchemy - Expert Level
Athletics - Competent Level
Fighting - Novice Level
Healing - Competent Level
Intimidation - Competent Level
Knowledge - Expert Level
Notice - Competent Level
Occult - Expert Level
Performance - Novice Level
Persuasion - Competent Level
Repair - Competent Level
Riding - Novice Level
Spellcasting - Expert Level
Stealth - Novice Level
Survival - Novice Level
ABILITIES
Arcane Heritage
Though born human, long years of exposure to magical energies have transformed Mazido into something more. This altered arcane heritage ensures that Maz does not age past physical maturity, that he is immune to disease, and that he is highly resistant to supernatural forms of darkness and corruption. He has especially developed a strong attunement to and aptitude for using magic.
Innate: Awareness - Enhanced Level
Mazido's senses are all of Enhanced level, and he is generally quite alert and usually attentive to his surroundings, though his particular aptitude tends to lean more toward magical energies and mystic phenomena, such as perceiving and understanding spellcasting that happens around him.
Innate: Dexterity - Enhanced Level
Thanks to natural nimbleness, enhanced by his arcane heritage, Mazido's innate dexterity and agility are fairly strong. While he has not focused heavily on refining these gifts, he is still generally very nimble and swift, sure of his footing and in particular very graceful. He also has a natural sense of rhythm and timing, which makes him a gifted dancer.
Innate: Mind - Enhanced Level
Born with a keen intellect and a naturally strong will, Mazido has refined these qualities over time. His long practice of mental focus and various magical skills have made him quite strong in terms of the mental virtues, highly capable of understanding complex phenomena or resisting powers that might influence or manipulate a lesser mind.
Magic: Spellcasting - Supreme Level
Mazido is a supremely gifted magical practitioner. From years of study and practice, he is able not only to compose spells independently, he is also able to compose and cast them on the fly, like a virtuoso of magic. Extemporaneous spellcasting can sometimes result in a less polished experience and, sometimes, a less powerful magical effect than it might otherwise be, but that's balanced out by being able to accomplish something miraculous on the fly. Given adequate preparation and the materials he needs, few things would be truly out of Mazido's reach from using magic.
Innate: Vitality - Enhanced Level
Mazido is quite vital and his health quite robust, in large part due to his arcane heritage, making him more resistant to toxins, harsh conditions, and so forth.
ADVANTAGES
Alchemy
As an accomplished Alchemist, Mazido has access to a wide variety of alchemical supplies, equipment, reagents, and preparations. This often takes the form of potions or similar items, which can be used to create "bottled" magical effects of varying sorts. Essentially, these are much like stored spell effects that have been bottled up, so they may be given to others or used later. Alchemy can take its time and take less energy than high-level spellcasting, so this lets him have some powerful draughts that require much less intense expenditures of power than casting the equivalent spells would.
Beast Master
Animals tend to take to Mazido, on the whole, quite quickly and easily. They tend to treat him as friendly unless he gives them some reason not to, which he generally would not do anyway. He often has animal companions, who tend to gather at his home or around him in general, and animals around him tend to remain healthy, avoiding ailments or weakness or the ravages of time or old age. Given his fondness for them, his home, or anywhere he spends much time, tends to become quite the menagerie.
Equipment
Mazido maintains a variety of personal equipment, including a cloak of environmental protection, a magic ring that offers him enchanted defense akin to wearing armor without having to actually wear any and also cushions his impact if he ever falls from great heights, and a masterwork curved blade sword. He also uses an enchanted gem, called the Eye of Opal, which usually hovers beside him and serves as an enchanted ranged weapon, able to cast arcane bolts at enemies without Mazido having to devote his personal energy to spellcasting in the moment.
Familiar
Mazido's familiar is a wondrous creature named Shobdo, who takes the form of a tiny pink elephant. Much like a variant of a fairy dragon, Shobdo is a highly magical flying creature, essentially immortal and virtually indestructible. He is quite nimble, though his physical strength is negligible, and he can be exhausted if made to exert himself for too long, so Mazido take good care of him. Shobdo has human-level intelligence, though the only person he usually speaks to is Mazido. As a magical creature, Shobdo can also cast a few spells of his own, such as spells causing charm or illusion, invisibility, light or darkness, entangling, or protection. He is also able to dispel commonplace magics or enchantments, and he is able to teleport to Mazido's side across nearly any distance.
Hero
Loyal throughout and a great supporter of the oppressed, Mazido rarely stays on the sidelines. When he discovers a situation where his power can be used to right a terrible wrong or help someone, he will almost always involve himself until it can be resolved. He is very reliable, and so many who have met him trust him completely. He has a good reputation for being a faithful friend and a true ally, so much that anyone with something bad to say about him is more likely to be regarded with distrust.
Lodestone Keep
Mazido's home is an enchanted flying castle, which he calls Lodestone Keep. Built atop a shard of magical floating ore, often called lodestone, the keep's name flowed quite naturally from its origins. Mazido built it up over time with his magic, adding advanced alchemical contraptions to pilot and control it, including a massive windmill that allows him to propel the keep where he wishes. The structure is so suffused with magic at this point that it often seems to cast basic spells in response to the desires of those within it, usually making sure they are comfortable and their needs met. It's also a fully functioning magical stronghold, including powerful mystic defensive wards, extensive supplies, gardens, and all the other things a wizard might need from his tower.
Resources
From a long life filled with adventure and magic, Mazido accumulated significant resources. His richness allows him independence from the earthly kingdoms, while not having to worry about any new land he finds or any needs he may have. This wealth is not limited to just precious metals, jewels, or handcrafted treasures, but also the ability for his palace to be very sustainable. The natural resources from his palace's rich soil also can help Mazido give to others in need, without concern for himself or the others who live in his palace.
WEAKNESSES
Eccentric
Mazido is a big personality. He does few things by half measures. He is very confident and assertive, unaccustomed to encountering any situation that he cannot handle. This might be perceived as arrogance or just oddness, but even for those well-disposed toward him, Mazido can be difficult to understand, especially for more average or mundane people.
Hero
While Mazido does not, from his personal perspective, especially see this as a weakness, he is a deeply loyal person. He will prioritize the needs of those he cares for over his own, and if those he cares for are ever in any trouble, he will stop at nothing to ensure their safety. This loyalty, of course, extends as well to his animal friends. In addition to being very loyal, Mazido is what might be broadly termed a heroic person. He is generally honorable and fair in his dealings with others, but most significantly, he will not refuse to help anyone who is truly in need, rendering whatever aid he can, especially to those who are weak or helpless.
Independent
Prizing himself on his independence from any other society or culture, Mazido is fiercely individual. This can, at times, bring him into clashes with authority in more controlling regions. It can also sometimes give people in positions of power concern, if they have not met him and are not aware of his personal stances on things.
