PERSONALITY

Inky is not a normal person. That much should be evident when one sees it for what it is. Inky has little or no concern for the well being of others. It is concerned solely with it's own self perpetuation. It will use any and every means possible in order to achieve those prescribed ends. It will manipulate, seduce, betray, kill, lie, cheat, steal, torture and even mutilate in order to compel a target to commit an act of cruelty worthy of a large sum of Malevolence. 

Inky refers to itself in the third person, as It. It is gender fluid as it's body is no longer a truly living thing, though ititdoes seem capable of recreating a living body's entire organ system for show or "function" when the need arises. In accord with his fluid appearance and function of body, it can go from perfectly sane to stark raving mad in a very short tme and with little warning.

Inky is not without flaws and quirks. It is partial to a few specific forms that itittakes on a regular basis and changes from this form only when necessary. It is also plagued with the memories of Aren Treizbont, who haunts him as a specter just outside his vision; constantly urging him away from his dark path. Inky is also a pragmatist of the highest order, and prefers his own survival over pride and even over his dedication to committing acts of evil. If the world were threatened, ititwould actively aid in saving it so it can coninue to feed him.

APPEARANCE

If Inky had a true "personal" appearance, it would be the face of Aren Treizbont, who was a dark skinned young person in their late teens. They had medium length dark hair and bright blue eyes that clashed starkly with their hair and complexion. That said, the true form of the "beast" that is Inky is far, far more horrific. Inky's true form stands at nearly ten feet tall, with long, branch-thin arms that end in wickedly long and equally thin fingers. It's entire body is gaunt, twisted and warped, ending in a head out of one's nightmares. Its head is split in half where the mouth should be, rows of fangs justting out from the upper and lower halfs of it's head. It's eyes are like pits of blackness with tiny pin-pricks of silver light piercing out of them.

Otherwise, It's appearance changes at a whim.

"It can be whomever you want it to be...."

SPECIES ABILITIES

Malevolence Incarnate ~

Malevolence is the best word that people have come to use to describe the particles that make up the performance of black magic. This is an imperfect understanding, but it will suffice for the purposes of understanding the nature of Inky's abilities. Inky is comprised entirely of malevolence, it could almost be described as a living spell, every single particle is one given will. Malevolence can shift through all three forms of matter, Gas, Liquid and Solid. It is also finite inasfar as that when it is used, it must be restored and replenished.

Gas - Inky can take the form of and produce a gas or mist, expanding throughout an area. It can fill an area of one hundred square feet. It can spread itself very thin to the point where it is difficult but not impossible to see, the mist is, and always will be, an opaque black-purple color. Standing within the mist or inhaling it risks Malevolence poisoning. Inky can fly, slip past barriers and 'speak in whispers' in it's gas form.

Liquid - Inky can take the form of and produce a liquid form of Malevolence. Imbibing malevolince is obviously an easy way of contracting Malevolence poisoning. The liquid form appears as a glossy dark-violet liquid. 

Solid - Inky's most natural state is it's solid form. It can shape, alter and reposition it's own structure to assome whatever form or 'assumed' biology it desires within the restrictions of how much Malevolence it posesses at any one time. It cannot reproduce a biology it is unfamiliar with (i.e. it must kill and dissect an example) it cannot perfectly replicate a person it has not personally observed from a short distance.

Pure Magic - Despite how each of it's three phases appear, Malevolence is pure magic, plain and simple. At any time it can convert any part of it's body into one of these states, but despite the obvious advantage that gives it, Inky's very being is one gigantic fatal flaw. It is comprised of pure magic. It can be driven away and even killed if one knows the proper anti-magic measures. Though if even one particle escapes, Inky has an opportunity to reconstitute itself. Capturing and binding Inky is the most effective means of controlling the threat it poses. Holy powers and faith are another means to harm him, though not nearly as efficient.

The Hunger - Inky is comprised entirely of malevolence. It must restore it's finite supply in order to survive. However, Inky's curse prevents it from creating malevolence on it's own. It must force other beings to perform acts of evil to create malevolence. 

POWERS

Malevolence

Malevolence is a corruptive agent, it is the embodiment of evil in its purest and most undiluted form. Not influenced by law, chaos, entropy, time or causality. It simply is. Malevolence brings out the darkest qualities of anything and anyone it afflicts, acting like a disease that can corrupt even the most stalwart and magical entities. If a creature is capable of even the smallest act of evil, it does not have a perfect defense against this disease. 

Malevolence can and will corrupt people and even powers, twisting them into utterly wrong versions of their former selves. When used on a person directly-for example-their strongest sin could be drawn out front and center. If a power is the target such as pyrokinesis, it turns the fire into a black, poisonous flame. An individual can even request to be corrupted (and empowered) by making a deal with the Malevolent one, shaking hands with them and willingly taking in the corruption. 

Inky tries to begin each day at about 50% (an abstract) of it's necessary Malevolence reserves. Dropping beneath 25% begins to show on it's body as a tattering in it's form. He does not reset to 50% in the morning. Inky's reserves burn through slowly throughout the day but the burn is minor, it will starve to death if isolated from populated areas where people are constantly committing minor acts of evil.

Producing Malevolence - In the previous section it was explained that Inky cannot subsist without producing Malevolence and that it must influence others to feed. Acts of evil each can be quantified based on the intent of the act and the outcome. The amount of malevolence produced varies, with a single truly heinous act filling it's belly and minor acts of evil doing little to satisfy. Inky does not need to specifically convince an individual to commit an act of evil, only be present. However, a victim of it's manipulation committing such an act is always more satisfying.

Inky actively seeks to attempt to entice others to commit the highest level acts on this list through the use of Malevolence as a corrupting agent, verbal and situational manipulation and even his own acts of evil. 

Malevolence Poisoning - The most basic form of infection. When poisoned either by direct or indirect contact with malevolence, a being will experience effects based on length of exposure and amount of malevolence exposed to. Large amounts can show results almost immediately, a single whiff could take weeks to take root. The process takes no longer than a year to go through. Regardless, Malevolence Poisoning Disease goes through stages;

Stage 1: Contraction - The infected experiences a brief period of weakness and lethargy. The effects can fade away rather easily if identified early and given treatment. A nights rest accompanied with a few nightmares can actually purge the infection. However, if the infection is neither identified or treated with rest and recuperation it will eventually proceed to Stage 2.

Stage 2: Manifestation - The infected begins to exhibit behaviors that seem erratic compared to their prior behaviors. On average it takes several days to go from Contraction to Manifestation.

Stage 3: Deadly Sin - The infected's personal deadly sin or negative trait comes to the forefront, amplified, it becomes incredibly difficult to resist temptation. On average it can take weeks to go from Manifestation to Deadly Sin.

Stage 4: Corruption - The infected's appearance begins to change, their behaviors begin to completely change, they openly commit acts that they may have been hiding before. The condition is still treatable at this stage. On average it can take weeks to go from Deadly sin to Corruption.

Stage 5: Assimilation - Rarely to infected ever survive to this stage, they are either killed by allies, security or they are cured. When an infected reaches assimilation they experience "Dark Corruption" (below) and fully embrace their new state. Time of assimilation varies, based on when the will of the infected is broken. Reaching the Assimilation stage is something the player chooses, they may never reach the stage IC.

The Cure - Curing corruption is all about catching it before the victim begins to enjoy their new state of mind or abillities. Wanting to be cured is the most crucial part of the process. Following that, a series of simple purification spells tied with therapy, and careful treatment with various anti-magic charms will eventually ease the corruption out of the body. Keeping an infected away from a possible outlet for an evil act is also advisable. It usually takes a week of treatment to purge the malevolence from someone if caught before the actual corruption stage. The corruption stage can take considerably longer. If a patient reaches Assimilation it is incurable.

Dark Corruption - Dark Corruption is directed at an individual or their powers. A particular trait or ability becomes tainted and begins to change into an 'evil' version of itself. As an example, Inky corrupts a healer who uses holy light to mend the wounds of allies. The infection spreads and eventually it reaches the corruption stage. The healer's magic begins to only temporarily heal her allies, while it in fact is actually slowly draining them of their vitality, an insidious conversion.

Manipulating Malevolence - This is Inky's primary method of attack and defense. Inky can use excess malevolence to create weapons, produce spell like effects and even defend itself. Common uses include-

Malevolent Rapier - 5% - Inky creates a rapier out of malevolence and gives it solid form.

Malevolent Barrier - 10% - Inky protects itself from a projected attack using a wall of pure malevolent energy.

Malevolent Blast - Varies - Inky fires a shot of pure malevolence at the target, intending to cause physical harm, burning skin, and infecting the target.

Deal with the Malevolent One - The Rarest, Purest, and Darkest manifestation of Inky's abilities. Nothing is more wrong than intentionally accepting malevolence into one's own body. Even so, some people have chosen to shake the dark one's hand and accept it's mark, becoming it's agent and experiencing Corruption and even Assimiliation without going through the downward spiral. Making a pact with an individual is actually rather draining on Inky, and can reduce him by almost 50%.

BACKGROUND

According to record, an individual named Aren Treizbont was born an indeterminable amount of time ago. It is believed they were male, or possibly female, the truth has yet to have been truly determined. Aren was born into an affluent family where they were raised with complete knowledge of what went on behind the veil. Their family also served as guardians, powerful wizards and arcanists who served a greater good than their own lives.

True to form, Aren was just like their family, embracing their destiny with a passion and zeal not seen in many young people. They studied at an academy not unlike Starlight. They walked library halls and had friends and family. They fell in love, they experienced the joy of serving a greater good. They threw themeselves into their duties, eventually becoming an accomplished hunter of magical criminals.

It was during one such hunt that Aren encountered a sorcerer by the name of Moira. Moira was attempting to summon an eldritch god whom ititbelieved was the original god of evil, the personification. Aren did what they did best and put down the sorcerer, taking the sorcerer's posessions for safe keeping and study. Yet that very act came with it's own consequences.

Moira's allies were enraged by what had happened, they sought out Aren and their family, they burned the home to the ground, they committed atrocities on the innocent and the defenseless, they slaughtered anyone who came to stop them and they waited for Aren to return home. Aren killed each and every attacker in a fit of grief only to turn to his work as a crutch.

Aren dedicated his life to understanding how dark magic worked, to finding a way to use it to destroy itself. Aren dug deeper into the darkest spellbooks, the most unholy secrets, looking for some understanding. Finally, desperate, they drew on Moira's spellbook. They secluded themselves in a fortress, surrounded themselves with spells and traps and set to work.

Aren's comrades came to stop them, but it was too late. Many died in an effort to prevent Aren from completing the spell. The spell was cast, and a being emerged from the eldritch depths of reality. It called itself Zekaious, the Old One, who was born when creation was born. Creation's defect, the wrongness that has existed since the dawn of reality. Aren demanded understanding, comprehension, from Zekaious.

Zekaious granted it.

Aren's body was destroyed, their mind sent into the void, their being scattered across the world. It took decades for it to pull itself together. Yet by the time it had assumed some semblance of self, it was no longer Aren. It was an inky blackness, a perfect demon, a pure blotch on reality, a living chrysalis for the possible rebirth of it's dark creator. So it took a name, and giggled;

Inky.