Post by wildshunter23 on Nov 2, 2012 0:48:31 GMT -5
Name: Kris Reaver
Nicknames/Alias: Spirit Gunner
FF: Final Fantasy XII
Age: Unknown (looks 25)
Height/build: 5’ 11” / Tall, lean build
DoB: Taurus 13, Year Unknown
Race: Hume (Supposed to be a long-lost descendant of the people of Giruvegan)
Weapon: Shinpan no Tamashi (Judgement of the Soul) – modified version of Shemhazai’s weapons. The guns are crafted from a dark metal found only in the Underworld where Shemhazai guides the souls of the dead, with crystallized souls lining their barrels. The gems pulse purple, glowing with the energy of vengeful souls. The weapons use no bullets; instead, they shoot pressurized Soul Energy contained within those purple gems. In time, the energy runs out, but Kris could always charge the gems with the souls of his felled enemies. One soul equals a full mag. As a personal code, he only absorbs souls tainted by sin and malice, and only at the moment of their host’s death. If by circumstance there isn’t any viable source in the immediate area, Kris could sacrifice some of his life force to reload his guns. One year of his lifespan equals a full mag.
Level (Anywhere between 1-100): 50
Strength (Triple level. Add 50 extra points if level is 80-89; add 100 extra if level is 90-100.):
(Split the strength up between physical, magical, and agility.)
Physical: 50
Magical: 30
Agility: 70
Special Skill(s):
Being the bearer of Shemhazai’s glyph, and bolstered by her influence, Kris’ fighting style is unique among others. Utilizing the deftness and accuracy (and sometimes wild abandon) of the dashing gunner, while empowering his skills with forbidden Soul Energy (Mist mixed with the essence of souls), the Spirit Gunner is a harbinger of death, and the scion of vengeance. His skills strike at the very soul of the opponent himself.
Active Abilities:
1) Soul Strike – A twin shot charged with the malice of the dead, it bypasses armor and damages health. It also has a chance to inflict one of the following status effects: Blind, Silence, Poison, Confuse, Reverse.
2) Soul Barrage – A salvo of soul strikes, hitting each enemy up to eight times with a chance to inflict all the status effects mentioned above. Depletes one mag for each gun.
3) Soul Absorb – Kris takes time to reload his guns, taking one felled soul to replenish one magazine. (Another option is that he depletes his own HP by 80%)
4) Soul Drain: A bullet that links the opponent’s life force to his own, replenishing his health while damaging the enemy.
5) Soul Bind – Taking his own afflictions within the bullet, Kris transfers any status effects he has on him with a chance of modifying the opponent’s health according to his current level.
6) Soul Burst: If an opponent is inflicted a status effect with either Soul Strike or Soul Burst, this attack buries deep into the affliction and makes it implode upon itself, greatly damaging the opponent but removing the status effect from him.
7) Soul Deterioration: A shot that spreads a deadly poison through the soul, which reflects in the physical state of the enemy, inflicting him with Disease.
8) Soul Tear: Kris’ bullets pierces through the soul itself, damaging both HP and MP with a chance to KO. Expends one mag.
9) Requiem: The souls cry out for the blood of the unrighteous, their howls rising in a deathly chorus that affects the entire battlefield. Decreases damage, elemental and status effect resistance for both parties, with a chance to inflict random negative status effects once every turn.
Quickenings:
1) Reckoning: Using Soul Energy, Kris rips out the soul of the enemy from its physical body. A storm of bullets then assaults the vulnerable soul, tearing it down until nothing is left, ending the attack with two explosive shots. He then returns the soul back to its body, and the damage repeats itself, culminating in an explosion that seems to come from the depths of the enemy’s soul.
2) Vengeance: Chains of deepest black wrap around the opponent, rendering him motionless. The chains raise him up into the air and pulls at his limbs, making him appear nailed to a cross. The Soul Guns dismantle then reform themselves around his arms, turning into mini cannons radiating with Soul Energy. Kris points the cannons at the enemy, and then blasts him with two highly-concentrated volatile spheres of vengeful souls. The spheres collide with the chained enemy, bursting in a column of malignant purple energy.
3) Redemption: Kris jumps onto a cliff, looking longingly at the full red moon against the black sky. His guns pulse madly with Soul Energy, and they dismantle, reforming on the entirety of his right arm as a long cannon that appears to be merged with his flesh. Black spikes jut out from his shoulder, crackling with purple lighting, before gathering souls to charge the cannon. Kris looks at his enemy for a moment, as if lamenting his existence. The cannon finishes charging energy, and then fires. Silence hangs in the air as the projectile flies through the air towards the opponent. Then a bright explosion occurs, expanding out in a dome of purplish destruction, before rapidly imploding upon itself. What’s left on the ground is nothing but a deep crater.
Other Skills:
1) Botany – For all the death and dead guys surrounding his role as Shemhazai’s reaper, Kris turns to certain hobbies. One of those happens to be taking care of plants. He doesn’t know their scientific names (and sometimes even their real names) but he knows well enough to take simple care of a flower, particularly a lily. He is fascinated by the beauty of life he sees in the brightly-colored petals, and it makes him momentarily forget about that dead guy hanging above his shoulder.
2) Perception/Awareness – With the assistance of the souls swirling about him, Kris has access to information impossible to gain by normal means. The vigil of the souls also keeps him on his toes, fully aware of hostile presences around him.
3) Spirit Talk – As a servant of Shemhazai, Kris can converse with spirits. To others, it’s like he’s talking to himself.
4) Spirit Vision – Again, part of being a Spirit Gunner is the ability to see spirits, and the soul within a living creature. This is vital in his fighting style. But viewing souls within living creatures takes effort compared to lingering spirits, and it drains him more and more as he fights.
Magic:
White Magick: Kris knows the value of a life, and will not leave an innocent soul to fend for himself. While he unleashes vengeful justice among the evil ones with ruthless efficiency, his proficiency in White Magick ensures the ones he protects lives on to see another day.
- Cure, Cura, Protect, Shell, Reflect, Life, Regen, Sacrifice (unique White Magick that sacrifices his health to fully heal others)
Summon: Shemhazai, the Whisperer
Appearance: Kris has a slim face, thin lips, and a straight nose. His sharp eyes are tinged purple from Shemhazai’s influence. With snow skin and short, wavy hair the color of endless abyss, Kris looks every bit the part of a reaper. Anyone who looks at him can either shiver with an unexplainable chill, or gawk at his unearthly beauty. His choice of clothing complements him well; a black leather jacket lined with white fur, over an unassuming white undershirt; black leather gloves with silver studs; pair of gray denims held in place by a silver skull belt; and white Chucks. A silver necklace hangs from his neck, with a blue crystal bearing the glyph of Shemhazai. However, when he assumes the role of reaper, his eyes glow brighter, his skin becomes patterned with black tattoos that’s reminiscent of a certain disgraced ninja, and the glyph burns with the light of a thousand souls.
Personality: Being the servant of Shemhazai, you’d think he’d be the emo, gloomy sort. But he’s proven himself to be the exact opposite. Outspoken and optimistic to a fault, Kris manages to see the silver lining in almost any situation. Generosity is a huge part of him, and he can’t resist giving alms to those who need it, or healing some unlucky adventurer for free. He also has these sacrificial tendencies, jumping into a deadly fray just so he could save someone. Despite having no past, no memories of his own, he doesn’t seem affected much by it. In fact, he’s excited about writing his own story, and serving the repentant Esper who guided him in his first waking moments.
Kris rarely gets angry, but when he does, he expresses it in freezing silence, letting the guns do the talking for him. He only gets angry when someone directly insults/harms/manhandles/harass his friends very harshly, when someone talks bad of Shemhazai, and when anyone dares to steal his food.
But despite his cheerful exterior, Kris gets his melancholic moments. When he’s alone, he finds himself thinking about his past, his memories, the family, friends, partner… he never had.
History: The individual named Kris has no recollection whatsoever of his past. His first waking memory was the cavernous halls of the Great City of Giruvegan, lying down on the cold floor with nothing but the clothes on his back and a crystal necklace. Without a sense of purpose or memories, Kris relied solely on a soothing female voice to guide him.
As he walked, he saw beasts of terrifying stature and savagery, growling at him, waving their claws and crude weapons at him as he passed. But somehow, they stood their ground, as if battling their very nature in order for him to pass through unscathed. The greatest spectacle that he saw was that some of the beasts actually knelt as he walked by, in reverence.
Within a few minutes of walking he finally reached the bottom levels of the Great City. And he found himself gazing upon the colossal crystal floating in mid-air above the abyss. Unconsciously he gripped the crystal on his own necklace, and felt a shimmer of power radiate in his palm. Sensing that he could find some semblance of a purpose within the shining crystalline folds, he pushed on.
Walking deeper down the depths of the crystal, Kris saw many more wonders, a few of them more majestic yet at the same time more monstrous than the beasts he encountered outside. When he glanced up, he thought he saw a womanly-figure with golden wings. The first thought he had was that she was the owner of the voice, but the real voice said otherwise. She even warned him that he might die a very painful death if he went up where she was. So he just followed the voice’s instructions and moved on.
Finally he arrived at the deepest level of the crystal, and he was met with a marvellous sight; a white-haired woman, clad in clothes of purple, standing proud and tall with the grace of a goddess. But that was not all he saw. The woman’s arms were shaped like cannons, and it appeared that she was fused with a larger being he could only identify as a horse. As he tried to contemplate on what manner of creature she was, a strange sensation burst inside him like blooming flower.
Fear.
He was afraid.
The power this creature emanated was so great he could actually see waves of it distorting the air around them. And when he looked closer, he swore he could see the ghostly outlines of people walking towards her, around her, through her. His body tensed, instincts driving him to flee before the might of the creature standing still in front of him. He had no doubt his body would be torn to pieces, if the creature so decided.
“Do not be afraid, young one.”
And yet he stood his ground, hearing that same soothing voice that guided him from his moment of awakening up till now. He realized it was coming from the womanly creature, now walking – trotting – towards him with ease. All at once his muscles relaxed, fear seeping from his body like an open faucet. His eyes gazed at the blank ones of the woman, even as a question started forming in his mind.
“Where am I?”
“The Great Crystal, wherein lies the gateway to the Ancient Ones. Before me is the gate, and I am its Guardian.”
“Oh… Who are you?”
“I… am Shemhazai, the Whisperer, She who Rules the Wandering Souls of the Underworld, Guardian of the Ancient Ones.”
“…Why am I here?”
“That… is a mystery even I cannot solve. Forgive me.”
“…Then, who am I?”
“You are… I cannot begin to fathom who you are. My sincerest apologies,” the woman seemed to bow her head in shame, and the horse followed suit.
He shook his head, smiled, and said with gratitude, “It is of no consequence, Great One. Your guidance is more than enough. Perhaps it is I who should be offering my apologies for troubling you.”
A shadow of a smile passed through Shemhazai’s face. “I may not know your identity, or your name, but I can at least tell you what I know.”
Hope glinted in the man’s eyes. “I am eager to listen.”
The woman motioned for the man to sit down, and he followed, youthful enthusiasm glittering in his deep-black eyes. “It all began with something called the Merge. It is a great rift in space-time that broke all known rules, bringing worlds and dimensions together into one domain, intertwining destinies and overwriting histories. For unknown causes, I was released from my servitude, finding myself back here where the Creators originally had me bound.”
Then her eyes filled with much shame and regret, and the man thought he saw something twinkle within her eyelashes. “I used to be a creature with a noble cause, guiding the lost souls through the vast expanse of the Underworld. But Ultima tempted me, and I fell into temptation, and alongside her waged war against the Creators. Ultimately we lost, and I was bound here as punishment, forced to submit to any warrior strong enough to subjugate me. Such a warrior came, and my glyph I surrendered to her. But the Merge somehow altered that, and as I’ve told you I found myself back in my prison.
“The first feeling I had was deep regret, for my traitorous actions, neglecting the duties placed upon me. I looked back on the twisted deeds I had accomplished in the name of Ultima. For many days I grieved for my insolence and stupidity, allowing myself to become drunk with hollow wishes of power. Right there and then I wished redemption, a way to absolve myself of my sins. But I am bound here to this place, doomed to a lifetime guarding the way to the Ancient Ones while the lost souls run rampant in the mortal world.”
Compassion bloomed in the man’s heart, and he placed a hand against the cheek of the woman. Resolution burned in his eyes as he said, “Perhaps I can help you redeem yourself in the eyes of your Creators. It is the only thing I can think of to repay you for my safety.”
“Do you have any idea of the words you speak? Of the responsibility of my duties? You are a nothing but a mere mortal! A young child! I cannot even think to have you shoulder my burdens. They would crush you!”
“No, I can do it,” the resolution in his eyes surprised even great Shemhazai. “I do not know how, but something deep within compels me. I do now know how, but I can do it.”
Recognition flashed in the woman’s eyes, finally realizing the secret behind the man’s identity. The Merge changed many things, but never would she have conceived of this; a descendant of the Giruvegan, the people closest to the Creators themselves, those with untold power and potential. A smile graced her lips at this new revelation, but her conscience still drove her not to get the innocent man involved.
“Please, do not even think of it. I cannot imagine the horrors you will face when you shoulder my mantle. People will fear you, shun you. Your body itself will be twisted by my influence. You will face thousands of terrors in a lonely crusade without end; a crusade against the sinful and tainted souls of the world. It will be a long journey, and a thankless one. Your achievements will not garner you any merits, only hidden within the shadows of obscurity. No one will remember you for what you did to them. And despite all of that, are you still willing to help me?”
“Yes,” the man answered without hesitation. He knew this was the purpose he was seeking. He had felt it the moment he stepped foot in the gigantic crystal. Without memories, without a past, he needed something to cling on. And this was it, helping a poor soul who was trying to seek redemption. For him, a nobler purpose couldn’t be found.
It was at this point that Shemhazai’s resolve crumbled, seeing the shining beacon of redemption right before her eyes. Perhaps the Merge wasn’t just a random occurrence, a whim by the Ancient Ones or some other beings. This was destiny.
Shemhazai took a deep breath before saying, “How can I deny an earnest request in the face of such determination? I will ask you once again. Are you willing to take on the burdens of Shemhazai?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then close your eyes.”
As soon as he did so he felt a current run through him; soft at first, like the humming of a bird. But then it got stronger and stronger until it was a raging storm of power swirling within him, threatening to burst out of his physical shell. The souls circling around Shemhazai converged on him, and the force of it almost knocked him unconscious. Eventually his knees gave way and he fell on the ground, twisting and twitching as he tried with all his might to contain Shemhazai’s energy within him. The white-haired woman could do nothing but watch as the man struggled with her gift… both a blessing and a curse.
When it was over, the man lay down on the floor, barely conscious. It took him a while before he gained enough strength to stand up. When did so he immediately noticed something different about himself. He could actually feel energy coursing through his body, giving him untold power. Then he felt a weight in both his hands, and when he brought them up he saw two jet-black contraptions, studded with purple gems. He also saw a faint glow in his crystal, and when he looked there was a strange-looking symbol etched on it.
“I have blessed you with my power, and the right to judge souls as you see fit,” Shemhazai pointed to the weapons in his hands. “Those are crafted from the same material as my guns. They are your weapons against injustice and a shield to the innocent.” She then pointed to the crystal necklace around his neck. “I have also given you my glyph, so that you can call upon me in the darkest of times. I will come to your aid without fail, ready to fight alongside you.”
Then her expression saddened. “But you are cursed to see and hear the spirits of the dead, without rest and without distinction. You also bear my aura around you, and others without enough power will be inclined to fear you and avoid you.”
The man simply shook his head at her warnings and kneeled down in front of her, like a knight would in front of his queen. “I thank you, Shemhazai, for these gifts. Rest easy in the knowledge that I will use them for a noble cause, so that you may find redemption through my actions.”
“I am honoured to have you as my champion, young one. But doesn’t it bother you?”
“What does?”
“That you don’t have a past. No memories. No family, no friends, nothing. You came to me as you are, but aren’t you bothered that you don’t have a story?”
Standing up, the man simply chuckled, bringing about a look of confusion from Shemhazai. “Actually, it does bother me. I don’t know who I am, much less my name. I don’t know where I came from, and how I came to be here.”
He then looks on at Shemhazai, the fire of conviction still in his eyes. “But now that I have a purpose, a reason for living, those other things don’t matter to me anymore. When I came here I am but a blank book, ready to be written on. You gave me the pen I need I author my own story, and my gratitude for that is beyond words.”
When she heard those words, Shemhazai knew nothing she could say would deter the man and his resolve. She had never been surer of Fate until now, and she could already feel the pureness of his intentions ease away at her guilt. Worries about his safety and well-being were pushed to the back of her mind, knowing that whatever challenges he might face he can overcome.
There was just one last problem though.
“Wait. Before you leave you need to have a name others can identify with.”
“A name… I’ve already thought of one.”
“Really? Please, do tell.”
“Kris. Kris Reaver. A fitting name for a Soul Reaper, no?” Kris said with a wide grin.
Nicknames/Alias: Spirit Gunner
FF: Final Fantasy XII
Age: Unknown (looks 25)
Height/build: 5’ 11” / Tall, lean build
DoB: Taurus 13, Year Unknown
Race: Hume (Supposed to be a long-lost descendant of the people of Giruvegan)
Weapon: Shinpan no Tamashi (Judgement of the Soul) – modified version of Shemhazai’s weapons. The guns are crafted from a dark metal found only in the Underworld where Shemhazai guides the souls of the dead, with crystallized souls lining their barrels. The gems pulse purple, glowing with the energy of vengeful souls. The weapons use no bullets; instead, they shoot pressurized Soul Energy contained within those purple gems. In time, the energy runs out, but Kris could always charge the gems with the souls of his felled enemies. One soul equals a full mag. As a personal code, he only absorbs souls tainted by sin and malice, and only at the moment of their host’s death. If by circumstance there isn’t any viable source in the immediate area, Kris could sacrifice some of his life force to reload his guns. One year of his lifespan equals a full mag.
Level (Anywhere between 1-100): 50
Strength (Triple level. Add 50 extra points if level is 80-89; add 100 extra if level is 90-100.):
(Split the strength up between physical, magical, and agility.)
Physical: 50
Magical: 30
Agility: 70
Special Skill(s):
Being the bearer of Shemhazai’s glyph, and bolstered by her influence, Kris’ fighting style is unique among others. Utilizing the deftness and accuracy (and sometimes wild abandon) of the dashing gunner, while empowering his skills with forbidden Soul Energy (Mist mixed with the essence of souls), the Spirit Gunner is a harbinger of death, and the scion of vengeance. His skills strike at the very soul of the opponent himself.
Active Abilities:
1) Soul Strike – A twin shot charged with the malice of the dead, it bypasses armor and damages health. It also has a chance to inflict one of the following status effects: Blind, Silence, Poison, Confuse, Reverse.
2) Soul Barrage – A salvo of soul strikes, hitting each enemy up to eight times with a chance to inflict all the status effects mentioned above. Depletes one mag for each gun.
3) Soul Absorb – Kris takes time to reload his guns, taking one felled soul to replenish one magazine. (Another option is that he depletes his own HP by 80%)
4) Soul Drain: A bullet that links the opponent’s life force to his own, replenishing his health while damaging the enemy.
5) Soul Bind – Taking his own afflictions within the bullet, Kris transfers any status effects he has on him with a chance of modifying the opponent’s health according to his current level.
6) Soul Burst: If an opponent is inflicted a status effect with either Soul Strike or Soul Burst, this attack buries deep into the affliction and makes it implode upon itself, greatly damaging the opponent but removing the status effect from him.
7) Soul Deterioration: A shot that spreads a deadly poison through the soul, which reflects in the physical state of the enemy, inflicting him with Disease.
8) Soul Tear: Kris’ bullets pierces through the soul itself, damaging both HP and MP with a chance to KO. Expends one mag.
9) Requiem: The souls cry out for the blood of the unrighteous, their howls rising in a deathly chorus that affects the entire battlefield. Decreases damage, elemental and status effect resistance for both parties, with a chance to inflict random negative status effects once every turn.
Quickenings:
1) Reckoning: Using Soul Energy, Kris rips out the soul of the enemy from its physical body. A storm of bullets then assaults the vulnerable soul, tearing it down until nothing is left, ending the attack with two explosive shots. He then returns the soul back to its body, and the damage repeats itself, culminating in an explosion that seems to come from the depths of the enemy’s soul.
2) Vengeance: Chains of deepest black wrap around the opponent, rendering him motionless. The chains raise him up into the air and pulls at his limbs, making him appear nailed to a cross. The Soul Guns dismantle then reform themselves around his arms, turning into mini cannons radiating with Soul Energy. Kris points the cannons at the enemy, and then blasts him with two highly-concentrated volatile spheres of vengeful souls. The spheres collide with the chained enemy, bursting in a column of malignant purple energy.
3) Redemption: Kris jumps onto a cliff, looking longingly at the full red moon against the black sky. His guns pulse madly with Soul Energy, and they dismantle, reforming on the entirety of his right arm as a long cannon that appears to be merged with his flesh. Black spikes jut out from his shoulder, crackling with purple lighting, before gathering souls to charge the cannon. Kris looks at his enemy for a moment, as if lamenting his existence. The cannon finishes charging energy, and then fires. Silence hangs in the air as the projectile flies through the air towards the opponent. Then a bright explosion occurs, expanding out in a dome of purplish destruction, before rapidly imploding upon itself. What’s left on the ground is nothing but a deep crater.
Other Skills:
1) Botany – For all the death and dead guys surrounding his role as Shemhazai’s reaper, Kris turns to certain hobbies. One of those happens to be taking care of plants. He doesn’t know their scientific names (and sometimes even their real names) but he knows well enough to take simple care of a flower, particularly a lily. He is fascinated by the beauty of life he sees in the brightly-colored petals, and it makes him momentarily forget about that dead guy hanging above his shoulder.
2) Perception/Awareness – With the assistance of the souls swirling about him, Kris has access to information impossible to gain by normal means. The vigil of the souls also keeps him on his toes, fully aware of hostile presences around him.
3) Spirit Talk – As a servant of Shemhazai, Kris can converse with spirits. To others, it’s like he’s talking to himself.
4) Spirit Vision – Again, part of being a Spirit Gunner is the ability to see spirits, and the soul within a living creature. This is vital in his fighting style. But viewing souls within living creatures takes effort compared to lingering spirits, and it drains him more and more as he fights.
Magic:
White Magick: Kris knows the value of a life, and will not leave an innocent soul to fend for himself. While he unleashes vengeful justice among the evil ones with ruthless efficiency, his proficiency in White Magick ensures the ones he protects lives on to see another day.
- Cure, Cura, Protect, Shell, Reflect, Life, Regen, Sacrifice (unique White Magick that sacrifices his health to fully heal others)
Summon: Shemhazai, the Whisperer
Appearance: Kris has a slim face, thin lips, and a straight nose. His sharp eyes are tinged purple from Shemhazai’s influence. With snow skin and short, wavy hair the color of endless abyss, Kris looks every bit the part of a reaper. Anyone who looks at him can either shiver with an unexplainable chill, or gawk at his unearthly beauty. His choice of clothing complements him well; a black leather jacket lined with white fur, over an unassuming white undershirt; black leather gloves with silver studs; pair of gray denims held in place by a silver skull belt; and white Chucks. A silver necklace hangs from his neck, with a blue crystal bearing the glyph of Shemhazai. However, when he assumes the role of reaper, his eyes glow brighter, his skin becomes patterned with black tattoos that’s reminiscent of a certain disgraced ninja, and the glyph burns with the light of a thousand souls.
Personality: Being the servant of Shemhazai, you’d think he’d be the emo, gloomy sort. But he’s proven himself to be the exact opposite. Outspoken and optimistic to a fault, Kris manages to see the silver lining in almost any situation. Generosity is a huge part of him, and he can’t resist giving alms to those who need it, or healing some unlucky adventurer for free. He also has these sacrificial tendencies, jumping into a deadly fray just so he could save someone. Despite having no past, no memories of his own, he doesn’t seem affected much by it. In fact, he’s excited about writing his own story, and serving the repentant Esper who guided him in his first waking moments.
Kris rarely gets angry, but when he does, he expresses it in freezing silence, letting the guns do the talking for him. He only gets angry when someone directly insults/harms/manhandles/harass his friends very harshly, when someone talks bad of Shemhazai, and when anyone dares to steal his food.
But despite his cheerful exterior, Kris gets his melancholic moments. When he’s alone, he finds himself thinking about his past, his memories, the family, friends, partner… he never had.
History: The individual named Kris has no recollection whatsoever of his past. His first waking memory was the cavernous halls of the Great City of Giruvegan, lying down on the cold floor with nothing but the clothes on his back and a crystal necklace. Without a sense of purpose or memories, Kris relied solely on a soothing female voice to guide him.
As he walked, he saw beasts of terrifying stature and savagery, growling at him, waving their claws and crude weapons at him as he passed. But somehow, they stood their ground, as if battling their very nature in order for him to pass through unscathed. The greatest spectacle that he saw was that some of the beasts actually knelt as he walked by, in reverence.
Within a few minutes of walking he finally reached the bottom levels of the Great City. And he found himself gazing upon the colossal crystal floating in mid-air above the abyss. Unconsciously he gripped the crystal on his own necklace, and felt a shimmer of power radiate in his palm. Sensing that he could find some semblance of a purpose within the shining crystalline folds, he pushed on.
Walking deeper down the depths of the crystal, Kris saw many more wonders, a few of them more majestic yet at the same time more monstrous than the beasts he encountered outside. When he glanced up, he thought he saw a womanly-figure with golden wings. The first thought he had was that she was the owner of the voice, but the real voice said otherwise. She even warned him that he might die a very painful death if he went up where she was. So he just followed the voice’s instructions and moved on.
Finally he arrived at the deepest level of the crystal, and he was met with a marvellous sight; a white-haired woman, clad in clothes of purple, standing proud and tall with the grace of a goddess. But that was not all he saw. The woman’s arms were shaped like cannons, and it appeared that she was fused with a larger being he could only identify as a horse. As he tried to contemplate on what manner of creature she was, a strange sensation burst inside him like blooming flower.
Fear.
He was afraid.
The power this creature emanated was so great he could actually see waves of it distorting the air around them. And when he looked closer, he swore he could see the ghostly outlines of people walking towards her, around her, through her. His body tensed, instincts driving him to flee before the might of the creature standing still in front of him. He had no doubt his body would be torn to pieces, if the creature so decided.
“Do not be afraid, young one.”
And yet he stood his ground, hearing that same soothing voice that guided him from his moment of awakening up till now. He realized it was coming from the womanly creature, now walking – trotting – towards him with ease. All at once his muscles relaxed, fear seeping from his body like an open faucet. His eyes gazed at the blank ones of the woman, even as a question started forming in his mind.
“Where am I?”
“The Great Crystal, wherein lies the gateway to the Ancient Ones. Before me is the gate, and I am its Guardian.”
“Oh… Who are you?”
“I… am Shemhazai, the Whisperer, She who Rules the Wandering Souls of the Underworld, Guardian of the Ancient Ones.”
“…Why am I here?”
“That… is a mystery even I cannot solve. Forgive me.”
“…Then, who am I?”
“You are… I cannot begin to fathom who you are. My sincerest apologies,” the woman seemed to bow her head in shame, and the horse followed suit.
He shook his head, smiled, and said with gratitude, “It is of no consequence, Great One. Your guidance is more than enough. Perhaps it is I who should be offering my apologies for troubling you.”
A shadow of a smile passed through Shemhazai’s face. “I may not know your identity, or your name, but I can at least tell you what I know.”
Hope glinted in the man’s eyes. “I am eager to listen.”
The woman motioned for the man to sit down, and he followed, youthful enthusiasm glittering in his deep-black eyes. “It all began with something called the Merge. It is a great rift in space-time that broke all known rules, bringing worlds and dimensions together into one domain, intertwining destinies and overwriting histories. For unknown causes, I was released from my servitude, finding myself back here where the Creators originally had me bound.”
Then her eyes filled with much shame and regret, and the man thought he saw something twinkle within her eyelashes. “I used to be a creature with a noble cause, guiding the lost souls through the vast expanse of the Underworld. But Ultima tempted me, and I fell into temptation, and alongside her waged war against the Creators. Ultimately we lost, and I was bound here as punishment, forced to submit to any warrior strong enough to subjugate me. Such a warrior came, and my glyph I surrendered to her. But the Merge somehow altered that, and as I’ve told you I found myself back in my prison.
“The first feeling I had was deep regret, for my traitorous actions, neglecting the duties placed upon me. I looked back on the twisted deeds I had accomplished in the name of Ultima. For many days I grieved for my insolence and stupidity, allowing myself to become drunk with hollow wishes of power. Right there and then I wished redemption, a way to absolve myself of my sins. But I am bound here to this place, doomed to a lifetime guarding the way to the Ancient Ones while the lost souls run rampant in the mortal world.”
Compassion bloomed in the man’s heart, and he placed a hand against the cheek of the woman. Resolution burned in his eyes as he said, “Perhaps I can help you redeem yourself in the eyes of your Creators. It is the only thing I can think of to repay you for my safety.”
“Do you have any idea of the words you speak? Of the responsibility of my duties? You are a nothing but a mere mortal! A young child! I cannot even think to have you shoulder my burdens. They would crush you!”
“No, I can do it,” the resolution in his eyes surprised even great Shemhazai. “I do not know how, but something deep within compels me. I do now know how, but I can do it.”
Recognition flashed in the woman’s eyes, finally realizing the secret behind the man’s identity. The Merge changed many things, but never would she have conceived of this; a descendant of the Giruvegan, the people closest to the Creators themselves, those with untold power and potential. A smile graced her lips at this new revelation, but her conscience still drove her not to get the innocent man involved.
“Please, do not even think of it. I cannot imagine the horrors you will face when you shoulder my mantle. People will fear you, shun you. Your body itself will be twisted by my influence. You will face thousands of terrors in a lonely crusade without end; a crusade against the sinful and tainted souls of the world. It will be a long journey, and a thankless one. Your achievements will not garner you any merits, only hidden within the shadows of obscurity. No one will remember you for what you did to them. And despite all of that, are you still willing to help me?”
“Yes,” the man answered without hesitation. He knew this was the purpose he was seeking. He had felt it the moment he stepped foot in the gigantic crystal. Without memories, without a past, he needed something to cling on. And this was it, helping a poor soul who was trying to seek redemption. For him, a nobler purpose couldn’t be found.
It was at this point that Shemhazai’s resolve crumbled, seeing the shining beacon of redemption right before her eyes. Perhaps the Merge wasn’t just a random occurrence, a whim by the Ancient Ones or some other beings. This was destiny.
Shemhazai took a deep breath before saying, “How can I deny an earnest request in the face of such determination? I will ask you once again. Are you willing to take on the burdens of Shemhazai?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then close your eyes.”
As soon as he did so he felt a current run through him; soft at first, like the humming of a bird. But then it got stronger and stronger until it was a raging storm of power swirling within him, threatening to burst out of his physical shell. The souls circling around Shemhazai converged on him, and the force of it almost knocked him unconscious. Eventually his knees gave way and he fell on the ground, twisting and twitching as he tried with all his might to contain Shemhazai’s energy within him. The white-haired woman could do nothing but watch as the man struggled with her gift… both a blessing and a curse.
When it was over, the man lay down on the floor, barely conscious. It took him a while before he gained enough strength to stand up. When did so he immediately noticed something different about himself. He could actually feel energy coursing through his body, giving him untold power. Then he felt a weight in both his hands, and when he brought them up he saw two jet-black contraptions, studded with purple gems. He also saw a faint glow in his crystal, and when he looked there was a strange-looking symbol etched on it.
“I have blessed you with my power, and the right to judge souls as you see fit,” Shemhazai pointed to the weapons in his hands. “Those are crafted from the same material as my guns. They are your weapons against injustice and a shield to the innocent.” She then pointed to the crystal necklace around his neck. “I have also given you my glyph, so that you can call upon me in the darkest of times. I will come to your aid without fail, ready to fight alongside you.”
Then her expression saddened. “But you are cursed to see and hear the spirits of the dead, without rest and without distinction. You also bear my aura around you, and others without enough power will be inclined to fear you and avoid you.”
The man simply shook his head at her warnings and kneeled down in front of her, like a knight would in front of his queen. “I thank you, Shemhazai, for these gifts. Rest easy in the knowledge that I will use them for a noble cause, so that you may find redemption through my actions.”
“I am honoured to have you as my champion, young one. But doesn’t it bother you?”
“What does?”
“That you don’t have a past. No memories. No family, no friends, nothing. You came to me as you are, but aren’t you bothered that you don’t have a story?”
Standing up, the man simply chuckled, bringing about a look of confusion from Shemhazai. “Actually, it does bother me. I don’t know who I am, much less my name. I don’t know where I came from, and how I came to be here.”
He then looks on at Shemhazai, the fire of conviction still in his eyes. “But now that I have a purpose, a reason for living, those other things don’t matter to me anymore. When I came here I am but a blank book, ready to be written on. You gave me the pen I need I author my own story, and my gratitude for that is beyond words.”
When she heard those words, Shemhazai knew nothing she could say would deter the man and his resolve. She had never been surer of Fate until now, and she could already feel the pureness of his intentions ease away at her guilt. Worries about his safety and well-being were pushed to the back of her mind, knowing that whatever challenges he might face he can overcome.
There was just one last problem though.
“Wait. Before you leave you need to have a name others can identify with.”
“A name… I’ve already thought of one.”
“Really? Please, do tell.”
“Kris. Kris Reaver. A fitting name for a Soul Reaper, no?” Kris said with a wide grin.