Athis Lundor - Human/Anthro Worlds Character

[Leon]

HUMAN/ANTHRO WORLDS CHARACTER

Name: Athis Lundor

Gender: Primarily Male (can shift at will)

Race:  Anthropomorphic Wolf (was human originally)

Sub-Race:  Shape-Shifter

Appearance: Due to his forced change into a shape-shifter, Athis' view on a permanent form is mixed. He knows that he was originally human, standing roughly six foot, three inches tall, and had a rather lanky build. He remembers having long, shaggy black hair with silvered striations (those having been done himself with hair color), his “mane” of hair falling down his neck and partly down his back, reaching the nape between his shoulders. His face was covered in a light, scraggly beard, with a goatee and mustache wreathing his mouth. Above his narrow and pointed nose rested two pine green eyes under slender eyebrows. His features seemed almost sad, his eyes pinching ever so slightly due to his poor sleep habits, his mouth in almost always a frown or semi-grimace.

Not to say that he was sad, quite the contrary. Being an active person, though society can hardly call one who is up primarily in the evening or the early morning as “active”, Athis enjoyed many different things. Skate-boarding, parkour, free-running, and a variety of other physical activities, as well as gaming, reading, and chatting with people, Athis was always on the up and up about keeping his body in good condition. Having a lanky build, Athis focused on keeping his frame on the lighter side. An active gym patron, Athis can easily be described as fit, toned, and strong. To say this now, after his change, is, however, ironic, due to the nature of being able to become generally whatever he chooses, within reason, of course.

After the events that would disquiet his normal life rather jarringly, Athis has since taken primarily to the form of a large, bipedal anthromorphic wolf. His choice in this was due to his pointed interest in wolves, and in part to were-wolf mythology, stories, and anthro artwork of werewolves. Seeing this as almost second nature, and having the ability to become one as he so chooses, Athis changed into his inner view of what he would look like as an anthro wolf. Standing nearly 8 and a half feet tall, Athis the wolf anthro retains his lanky, but well tone build well. His facial features are rather obvious, having the long canine muzzle, the triangular ears atop his head, and the shaggy mane that falls from the top of his head, down his neck, and to his neck. His fur color is primarily black, retaining the silver coloration that his hair had when he was human. Seeing the color as “flair” he kept it during his change. His eyes retain the same pine green color they had been before, but now hold a much more piercing gaze to them, much akin to that of a predators.

Athis' pelt hangs close to his skin, giving him almost a starved look. Being thin and tall, his presence seems to be somewhat alien. This is is primarily why he chooses to wear looser clothes. His thought about this is to make himself look more “normal”. Though he can shape-shift, the minute and finer aspects of changing his appearance elude him. In addition to wearing looser clothes, Athis had to learn, in a rather embarrassing way, that normal clothing wouldn't do. When he shifts, his form is engulfed in flames. Much like the dancing and bending of flames, so does his form. After becoming what it is he had shifted into, he discovered that the clothes he had been wearing before had gone up in the flames he had produced. With this knowledge, and the embarrassment behind him, but still stingingly hot upon his cheeks, Athis began to search for materials that would withstand the inferno that was his transformations, and conceal his form. It would be nearly four months later that he would find someone who could help him with his problem. A man with plenty of money and plenty of time to invest in an intriguing venture, the two sat down and began work on clothing that would shift and meld with his body as he did, while being flame retardant. As the two worked, their business relationship developed and the two became fast friends.

Athis has a surprising command over the power of fire, though not able to control the destructive force perfectly. When he goes about using his powers, various appearance changes occur. If he is producing a somewhat small flame, the point of ignition is wreathed in flames, his black fur becoming alight as if it were the flames themselves. (I.E. if he is creating a flame in his hand, his hand is wreathed in flames, from the wrist to the tips of his claws.) Should he create a larger or more violent flame, more of his body is engulfed in flame, eventually becoming a walking, wolf-looking inferno amalgam.

Magic/Element:  Fire

Being a conduit of the primal element of fire, Athis draws upon mental and physical fortitude to conjure the flames that inhabit his body. This is physically draining on him due to his inexperience with his powers. Having only a year and a half of time with these powers under his belt, Athis has experimented with only a few things, such as changing his form, creating small to medium fires, and trying to move about in different ways. Most of these have been so taxing on him that he nearly loses consciousness, becomes unable to move due to exhaustion, and in several cases, violently retching and doubling over in pain.

Athis requires different amounts of time depending on how much energy he uses, ranging anywhere from a short rest, to days or a week to regain his lost and spent strength.

-Spells: 

Fire Resistance – Though not total protection, Athis does not seem to be affected by intense heat. Open flames that are of a normal nature do not effect him in the slightest, having even sat within a blazing hearth before to test this. This does not, however, mean that he is immune to the effects of fire. Anything of a magical nature, or something that is not of the regular plane of existence (extra-plainer or magical) can and will hurt him if that is their intent, though he does not know this.

Fireball - As the name suggests, Athis creates a ball of fire, typically in his hand. With this, he can launch the flame as if it were a ball. Should he focus, Athis can enlarge the ball into larger and larger spheres, though this requires both of his hands to pour more energy into the flame. As the ball gets bigger, however, the distance that he can lob it shortens. This is one of the easier spells for him to use, but still requires him to focus, and through this can sap his strength.

Flame-thrower – Another rather straightforward spell, Athis conjures a gout of flame to shoot forwards. Having only ever tested this with this with his hands and mouth, Athis is uncertain as to how far he can produce the flame. This spell requres more effort than the last, but he thinks that it is easier to control, due to him either closing his mouth, or balling his hand to stop the flame. He also commented, on the last time he “breathed fire” that everything tasted like Ozone for several hours.

Pillar of Fire – Athis considers this his “ultimate ability”. Wreathing his entire body in flames, Athis summons every ounce of his strength to create a towering pillar of flame. The inferno surrounding him towers up into the air, becoming a veritable tornado of light and fire. The ground around him, for several yards becomes super-heated, and the air loses its moisture. Though this can be considered a defensive skill, anyone or thing caught near or within the blaze will suffer severe burns and possible immolation.

Skills:  Having taken good care of his body before his change, and his out-doors adventuring, Athis has a generally good sense of direction. He can denote direction from the sun and typical lay of the land (if he knows it) due to his time outdoors. In addition to this, Athis retains his parkour skills and his agility. These, he has noticed, are enhanced while in his wolf anthro form, allowing him to scale larger walls with greater agility, as well as land from greater heights, and move quicker. Lastly, his senses are enhanced in his wolf form, leaving him with a wider sense of smell, hearing, and somewhat better sight.

Personality: Before his change, Athis was somewhat drawn and quiet, though not outwardly dramatic or depressed. He preferred to keep his mouth shut and his eyes open (as far as they could get that is). He kept to himself often, though in the company of some of his closer friends he would become more talkative and more open. A quiet person who wanted to live life how he chose, Athis tried to remain aloof to the general inquries and dealings of others. Working for a record store, Athis was seen more of a loner that a public person.

When he would be talked to, however, Athis was a rather friendly type of guy. His outward demeanor would make way for a kinder person on the inside, and this was what allowed him to make some of his closest friends. Not outwardly complaining, having a cheery inward look, and wanting to always better himself allowed Athis to now have the typical views on the world, allowing him to avoid a more depressed mentality. His love of the outdoors also allowed him to have ways to break away from stress and problems that were facing him, give him time to think, and gave him the chance to come back at something with a clearer view.

Biography:  Athis' story isn't overly long. Having grown up in the country, Athis was never burdened with the worry of having a million others around him all the time. His family was happy, living on a decent chunk of land in the country, surrounded by fields, hills, and fairly quiet neighbors. Living on a main road, Athis was able to get around fairly easily as he grew up. The town in which he lived wasn't overly populated, and many of the children whom lived there attended the same small school district. Early in his educational life, and nearly through to the end, Athis was viewed as an outsider. His personality of trying to go through life happy made others avoid him, going so far as to call him disillusioned.

He ignored this. Some were put off by this cheery attitude, while others were enticed with it. He was given quite a bit of freedom by his peers because of this, and it allowed him to focus on what was important to him. Not being super intelligent, but smart enough to piece together solutions for many of the problems and trials that faced him, Athis made it through the different years of school, learning all the way. During this time, Athis adventured about, going on many different walks through the areas around his home, going with friends to the mountains, on hikes, biking, and general outdoorsmanship. He developed interests in physical realms, such as keeping himself in shape, learning how to live in the outdoors, and even began to practice parkour by himself. Spending all this time by himself began to make people see him as a “lone wolf”. This was ironic due to his fascination with wolves as an animal.

Athis knew that being physically fit was important, but also knew that keeping his wit sharp was equally important. He would often be found reading a book in his free time, either outdoors, inside, in a car, sitting in a tree. Where ever he cold find a comfortable spot to sit and to open up a book, Athis would do so when he wasn't running about in the outdoors. Stories of adventure inspired him, stories of science intrigued him, tales of mythical beings thrilled him. His fascination with literature allowed him to keep his mental edge, occupying his time, and allowed him to focus on other things than the mundane and depressing.

As he finished High School, Athis knew that college was the best place for him. So, deciding on an Audio Engineering degree, Athis applied to a local college, was accepted, and continued his life as a college student. It was in college that Athis was able to find a lot of common ground with several of his closest friends, as well as meet a girl who would affect his life in a major way. His whole life, he had intermingled with various other races. Vulpine, Canid, Equestrian, Avian, Human. Through his high school career, he had never been interested in anyone in particular, having grown up with the majority of them his entire life. In college, however, new opportunities presented themselves to him, allowing him to get a wider scope of others. This would lead to him meeting a girl that would take his breath away.

It was a typical day at the college for Athis, sitting in the cafe and chatting with his friends about plans for the weekend, when she walked in. In an almost comical fashion, Athis made a double-take as his attention came to rest on her. To him, she was beautiful, though she was somewhat alien to him. She was a wolf anthro, dressed in dark blue jeans, a tank-top, and a light outer shirt. Her features were delicate, but also held a strong nature about them, his mind already linking the grace and power that a wolfs held. The next few instants were a blur to him, as she caught his gaze, smiled and walked over to him and his group of friends.

Luck was on his side as she said hello to one of the guys sitting with Athis. They began chatting about one of the classes that they were in together, and then moved to introductions. She was introduced to the others as Angela Fieldings, and each in turn introduced themselves. Athis was the last to say anything, and stammered as he did, calling a laugh from the group. She laughed as well, not in a cruel way, but out of amusement. Through this simple introduction, their friendship began.

Two years down the road, Athis and Angela grew closer together, eventually becoming a couple. They both graduated from college at the same time, held similar interests, and enjoyed being in each other's company. The two decided to move into a small apartment together, both glad to firstly be out on their own, and secondly, wanting to take their relationship a little further. Nothing drastic, but the feelings for each other continued to deepen each passing day.

Unfortunately, this love story doesn't have a typical happy ending.

The two had been living together for nearly two years, Athis proposing to Angela nearly a month ago, to which she happily said yes to. The feeling of elation had not left the two, their love for each other apparent to many that saw them. The wedding had been decided to take place the following summer, plans and the like already being made. It was already June, and the summer weather was in full swing. Athis, wanting to show his love for his finance, decided to take her out on a small romantic weekend trip into the mountains. The two loved hiking, so this was something that they could easily spend the weekend doing together. They drove towards their normal campsite, fully expecting to have an adventurous weekend in each others company. As they neared the campsite, however, they found that the road to the camp blocked off by a fallen tree. Taking a detour, the two followed an old road through the untouched land. The trip was pleasant, bright and sunny, and the two were just happy to be there. The road continued on for a decent way, finally ending at a small turn around that was overgrown and filled with leaves. Parking the car in a spot that was out of the way, the two gathered their packs, supplies, and gear, and began to make their way up into the hills and trees.

The two hiked for nearly two and a half hours before they called for a rest. During the climb, however, the weather had begun to turn and rain threatened to fall. They both looked about for a place to get out of the weather and wait out the storm. Angela called over to Athis, having found a small grotto, and the two hunkered down within the shelter to wait out the storm. The grotto was recessed into a hill, and the two decided to adventure deeper into the depths of it. The further they went, however, a deeper feeling of danger and dread began to take hold over both of them. They found the back of the now cave with the help of their flashlights, but what they found there, they wished that they hadn't. Upon the floor was a series of runes and signs, written in a tongue they didn't know. Angela had accidentally set her paw down on one of the runes, and light began to trace the signs and etchings. Fear found the two of them, and the desire to escape the area made them begin to run towards the entrance. Before they could reach even the half way point, however, a wall of searing flames erupted before them, blocking them from their goal.

The flames began to march towards them, seemingly with a mind of their own, forcing the two to retreat towards the runes and signs. In the center of the runes, a circular ring of fire had formed, and was spiraling larger and larger. From the center of it, eyes peered forward, looking towards the two with interest. The being within the flame reached forwards and opened the flames further, creating a doorway into their world. Athis and Angela were forced backwards, closer towards the flaming doorway, their fear growing every moment. From the midst of the flames, a towering being made of flame emerged. It's visage was humanoid in shape, but ethereal, flickering, shifting. Feeling that this was the end, Athis wrapped his arms around his love, looking towards the being with hate and defiance. He shouted a challenge towards the being, vowing to sacrifice himself in order to protect Angela.

The being, having never been to this realm before, and feeling it's magics weakened in this world, stopped its forward advance. Curiosity piqued its interest. None who had stood before the flames had ever stood their ground and shouted defiance at it before. Perhaps it was the weakened magics that kept it in this world, or perhaps it was this particular creature before it, but the desire to know what this thing would do if presented with an option. So, the fire elemental posed a choice to the two. The first was their doom and the elemental's return to its own plane, or, one could sacrifice themselves to it, allowing the other to escape. Thinking that the two would turn and try to flee, to their own demise in any case, the elemental had resigned itself to returning to its own realm, returning to its full power. It had not considered that Athis would agree. It could not understand the concept of the love one could have for another, willing to throw away their life in order to protect another. And that is what Athis did.

Athis knew that the two would die here if they chose any other option, so he knew in an instant that he should sacrifice himself to protect Angela. He would turn and look at her, saying that he loved her and that she should leave this place and live. He would see that her eyes welled with tears and her grip on him tightened, but the look of understanding and of sadness shone deeply in her eyes.

The elemental looked at the two, more curious than before. How could one possibly sacrifice themselves to protect something that would die anyway? It didn't make sense. None of it made sense. But, the more it processed it, the more the elemental wanted to know what this creature was, and why it made the decisions that it did. It posed an option to the two. It would make Athis a conduit for the elemental's power, in exchange for the knowledge and understanding that he had, not only concerning the emotions that he had, but of the world, and the logic patterns that he held. In addition, Athis would be taken away from this world, to a place where the elemental's power was not diminished.

Surprised by the turn of events, Athis looked to Angela and smiled. The flames behind the two died, opening the path out of the cave. Holding Angela close to himself once more, he kissed her before telling her to go and that he'll be alright. If it was within his power to do so, he would come back and find her.

Angela, despite the tears in her eyes, smiled at him and told him to be safe or else. She hugged him close before turning and leaving the cave. No one was going to believe such a crazy story, even she herself was having a hard time believing it. But, she knew that Athis never went back on his word, thankful to still have her life, and heartbroken that the love of her life veritably sacrificed himself to protect her.

Athis, feeling very similar emotions as well, looked towards the flaming elemental and nodded. It had held up its end of the bargain, it was time he held up his own. He stepped towards the being, resigning himself to whatever fate had in store for him.

~

The next thing that Athis knew was that he stood on a grassy plain, standing in the middle of a burnt ring of leaves, grass, and stones. He stood, clothed as he had been what seemed like a moment before, but something about him was different. A feeling within him, a warmth that had not been there before. That warmth spread to his hands, becoming so real that flames began to lick up from his fingers. It wasn't painful, but was still surprising none the less. The flames continued to grow, his interest in them drawing more and more of the flames that ran through his body, out. Soon, both of his arms were engulfed in fire. It was then that he noticed that his clothing had begun to burn as well. Swatting at this clothes only spread the flames. Soon, the only things that covered him were the jeans he had been wearing, and burnt strips of his shirt. But, this didn't bother him. He was somewhere he had never been before, the excitement of adventuring in this open area quieting his fears.

In the back of his mind, a feeling rose. An almost feral feeling, like that of a wolf. His body began to react to this thought as he strode forwards, becoming more wolf-like. His change was masked by flames, but as they died down, he was no longer the human that he had been before, but a tall werewolf, cloaked in black and silver fur, prowling the grounds about him, in search of adventure.

~

It took Athis about two weeks before he had found the closest semblance of civilization, but he was taken aback as to the level of technology that he had found... or rather, been brought to. During one of the nights he had been scouting about, he had stumbled onto a small camp site. Poking around the tent itself, Athis accidentally tripped an alarm the owner had placed. Within an instant, the point of a sword rested on his throat. Without knowing what else to do, he summoned all of the fire he could muster, pouring it out into the area around him, certain that he had beaten back his assailant.

He had not, however, considered, the abilities and resourcefulness of the man whom he had stumbled across. The man was a powerful assassin and fighter, so having someone pull out a trick like this was old news to him. He simply warped away from the blaze, seating himself on a rock, and waited for the flames to die out. Athis, having put too much effort into cleaning the area of anything that might be a threat, overexerted himself and fell into an exhausted blackness. When he woke up, he was laying in a comfortable bed, in a room that he had never seen before. It was well kept, the carpet a deep navy blue, the walls a matching shade of royal blue, even the drapes fit well, black to hold out the light. On the edge of the bed was a fresh pair of clothes, left as a gift. Donning the well fitting clothes, Athis started out into the strange home that he had found himself. It was there that his encounter with the assassin, and his new good friend took on the face to face part.

Now, Athis has been living and working with the man, known as Leon, for quite some time. The two have developed clothes that will not burn when Athis summons his abilities, will shift and grow (or shrink) as he does, and he has been taking the time to practice his ever growing control over the flames that inhabit his body. He is still looking for a way back to his beloved, but at the same time, is interested in seeing what this world has to offer to him in terms of adventure.

[Mokobo]

The only note I have is that the Pillar of Fire skill has no negative effect for such a powerful spell, however it is of a defensive nature. I'm giving this the Monkey stamp of approval based on sheer awesomeness. ^_^ I look forward to seeing your next character Leon.

-PS. After further review, I notice the "-Athis summons every ounce of his strength-" bit, and so my earlier note is null =3