Description
This bulbous creature might be, or once have been, a saurian...it's
something else now. Short for that race, but nearly as wide as it is tall,
Nakoqixth's scales are bloated and smushed and resemble loose skin. Fleshy
folds seem to follow some other law than gravity. The hideous mass, so black
as to devour light, is barely supported by squat lizard legs and lizard feet.
A similarly distended head sits atop, neck buried in the dark folds of fleshy
scale. Teeth are where they should be, nose slits too, but the eyes... oh,
the eyes. Pale grey, lidless, and by count a dozen more than nature intended,
they seem to move independently of each other.
Role
Nothing is permitted
Added Wed Oct 30 14:21:14 2024 at level 44:
Upbringing
Nakoqixth was born under a different name in a saurian tribe in far-off
eastern marshes. Solar and lunar horoscopes dominated life with good and evil
inclined saurian focusing on the former and latter. Astrology was everything
for them. His sign is Concealment and he was born during a solar eclipse with
indications of Mystery. He got lots of attention for his jet black scales and
began to think of himself as better than his peers. As he sought any edge to
advance his studies of the Night sky, often at odds with the natural bent of
the tribe, he developed a personal motto:
Nothing Is Permitted
This started as a childish complaint - he wanted to use magic to enhance his
eyes for stargazing and it wasn't allowed. He did it anyway, and the motto
evolved into a classic dark mage trope: rules and morality are constructs of
the weak and foolish. Power is seized, not awarded to the meek and compliant.
Into Shadow (1 of 2)
Gaze into darkness long enough, and it will gaze back, right? Nakoqixth
became obsessed with the Sun's interference with his readings. Imagining what
he could do with a permanently dark sky, he dreamt so strongly of
extinguishing it that he attracted attention. In his lucid dream, someone
wordlessly passed him a darkened lantern. Using this to shroud the Sun's
light he walked on an invisible staircase on his terrible mission. But the
path became confusing, a haze leading to a ring of stars.
Into Shadow (2 of 2)
Nakoqixth's nascent magic exploded as he passed through the ring of stars,
shredding his ordinary saurian form and leaving him a bulbous mass. Flesh
distended, stuffed by magical power, he was graven into a natural
shapeshifter to suit nightmare's realm, an aberration to his tribe. He
suffered near total self loss, his memories chopped and spliced with other
sights witnessed by the watchers therein. He retained his motto and his
obsession, and enough of his own memories that he has the basics of his
upbringing. He lost his name, so he made one up that didn't appear in any of
his memories. And his mannerisms changed to be much less natural saurian and
more arcane. All in all, he didn't get what he sought following the darkened
lantern, and lost nearly everything. He did gain enough eyes to watch the
stars in any direction and that just made him hate the Sun more.
Interests
Nakoqixth really likes eyes. They are incredibly complex organs, fascinating
him both as a practitioner of shapeshifting and as essentially art. He'll
admire a nice pair and likely try to add them to his collection. He also has
an interest folk stories, and will give more time to simple-minded fools than
some dark mages might. However, this isn't out of camaraderie. Rather he has
memories time and time again of someone seeing something and not
understanding it, so he believes there's nuggets of information for a
practitioner willing to sift through the inane and savage masses.
Nothing is permitted (cont'd)
Added Wed Oct 30 14:21:40 2024 at level 44:
Intrigues
Minor intrigues are a weakness. He tries them out and gets bored quickly if
they don't trigger anything. One example was his form. He'd initially tried a
series of minor shifts to appear more ordinary, even going back and forth
from "ordinary" to "unnatural" in front of people to get a reaction, but
found most only interested in themselves. He also spent a few days trying to
get a magistrate and a reaver to travel together. But these are simple
amusements. He's a dark lizard wizard, not a secret agent.
Astronomy
Nakoqixth's core motivation remains the degradation and extinguishment of the
Sun's influence in Thera. He is too changed and has seen too much to believe
strongly in the prescriptive astrology he was raised with, but remains an
avid astronomer. He questions whether all stars are like the Sun or whether,
like in Dreams, some or all are outsiders looking in. He would like to
capture a star and study it to develop better plans of attack against his
chosen nemesis. All these things, and any more that come up, will have his
focus.
Relationships
He doesn't hesitate to manipulate situations, use people, and keep things
from others to make them means to his ends. This seems to work fairly well
early on, right up until the point where they start asking him about what
rules he does or doesn't follow, or to disavow his interests. As a result
he's making enemies and developing a reputation among the chattel that's
starting to limit their usefulness as tools. While he'll engage with most in
context of seeking an edge for himself, his particular hatred of Acolytes and
Wardens is probably obvious, and he has nothing but mocking scorn for them.
Scions
An alliance with the Scions follows his main motivations. He doesn't know
everything about them and the Ccul'gra, but has proven he will tolerate
uncertainty and has the will to endure change brought on by nightmares.
"Nothing is permitted" guides him to focus on acquiring power: primarily, to
defeat the Sun and secondarily, to thrive in the aftermath. Like reading the
stars, joining the Scion is largely an information play to inform and empower
his dark obsession.
A Nudge (Alternatively: In Which Kteng Is A Complete Dick)
Added Fri Nov 1 14:13:51 2024 at level 51:
Nakoqixth made his way into Kteng's lab to see if there was any knowledge to
be gleaned there. While he was there the wraith told him what an
uninteresting piece of lizard crap he was. To be fair, he didn't realize it
was quite so incredibly powerful or sentient, and he started it with an
offhand comment about its confines. He remains convinced it's a little stuck
in the trappings of the mundane, and isn't cosmically concerned with its
approval, but resented the encounter.
Kteng's wraith says 'You are a dustmite telling yourself a story to feel more
important than you are.' That did wound him. And yet, the wraith must have
been a mite as well at some point.
Sitting on a mountain perch a few nights later, he watches the sky and sifts
through scattered memories, assesses the paths he's traveled and others he
remembers. He thinks about perspective. He concludes he's been lucky twice
now engaging with greater powers without clear intent. Escaping the Dream
with scars and engaging Kteng without suffering any misfortune except a
bruised ego are better than most would do, he thinks, but he doesn't aspire
to be most.
Naturally more intuitive then analytical, as he seethes over wraith's the
dismissal of his obsession his thoughts turn to the latter. He needs
something specific, something mortals and greater powers can understand and
make use of, something that makes him interesting to those like him who only
care about their own interests. He'll maintain his obsession and continue to
be a lizard of many interests. But he's taking the nudge and moving to ensure
his next interaction with greater powers isn't a third strike.
What a Lizard Wants
Added Fri Nov 1 14:14:26 2024 at level 51:
Our scaly, many-eyed protagonist is taking the leap and committing to a path.
He thinks it will incrementally advance his obsession with degrading the
Sun's influence while making him more valuable in the near term as an ally of
worthy mortals and greater powers and prepare for the coming Night. A
win-win-win.
| 1 He will conduct research on magic which causes and relies on physical
| darkness.
| 1.1 Initially this can involve looking at the various mortal guilds and
| their magic, cabal powers, magical creatures, planar magic including
| the Shadow plane, etc.
| 1.2 He will evangelize the benefits of physical darkness and encourage
| others to partake.
| 1.3 He wants this knowledge for himself and does not plan to publish,
| but expects his research will allow him to advance a field of study
| that will make him valuable to others in situations where he
| needs to bargain.
|
| 2 He will destroy bringers of physical light.
| 2.1 His commitment to this path is such that he will never wear (glowing)
| gear.
| 2.2 Thinking of the big picture and bringing about a night that will snuff
| out all light, he'll tolerate glowing gear on those who are helping
| with that cause.
| 2.3 He will seek to desecrate and despoil glowing magical items.
| 2.4 He'll try to get at what lightwalkers care about on a personal level,
| storing that knowledge for a next phase where he can use it to make
| them suffer and dim their aura.
Practicum
Added Tue Nov 5 19:15:46 2024 at level 51:
So it was to be a test.
Nakoqixth reviewed his research. He could think of a few mundane ways he
might darken armor, or weapons, and had utilized them here and there in his
studies. But this was no time for minor tricks. His field work had taken him
to the siege camp... that was a start. Then Maethien... Azuremain... the
Chasm itself... those all pointed at one source of grasping darkness, active
material, not just the lack of light he prefers in his usual haunts but a
tangible well of shadow.
And if his theory was to be proved, only a powerful light would do for
testing.
So he went after the storm giant champion. Tougher than the Fortress Watcher.
Symbol of hope for his people's nasty mission in Kiadanah-Rah and elsewhere.
Wielder of the eternal flame of champions, meant to light the way in that
dark place and inspire his guild to victory. Magical, ever-burning, and
horrifically bright. Even shrouding the accursed thing in the semi-
transparent black gauze he generally uses for such did little to make it
tolerable.
A fight at the Fortress supplied the power he needed. With two objects of
shining Light in hand, he sacrificed one to make his way to the Shadow,
noting who followed and who remained. He did not know if the test would work.
Or if he would return from that place alive and unchanged. A risk judged
worthwhile to advance his studies, it paid off in short order as the
enervating darkness devoured and changed the so-called eternal flame.
He explored a bit with the drow who came in with him, but that's another
project for another day... proof of his advancing mastery of darkness in
hand, he returned to the prime with the flame of Eternal Night.
PK Wins
Oct 29, 2024|Lv 43|Organia, the Veil of Shadow|Taivu vs 3: [41] Krkla (10%), [43] Nakoqixth (24%), [42] Antorac (64%, stab)
Oct 30, 2024|Lv 48|Galadon|Havii vs 1: [48] Nakoqixth (100%, slash)
Oct 31, 2024|Lv 48|Thar-Acacia|Shoolnenup vs 1: [48] Nakoqixth (100%, slash)
Oct 31, 2024|Lv 49|Loch Terradian|Shoolnenup vs 1: [49] Nakoqixth (100%, slash)
Nov 3, 2024 |Lv 51|Feanwyyn Weald|Havii vs 1: [51] Nakoqixth (100%, KB)
Nov 4, 2024 |Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Awgra vs 2: [51] Ehra (38%), [51] Nakoqixth (61%, KB)
Nov 4, 2024 |Lv 51|Galadon|Jerlan vs 3: [51] Ehra (11%, KB), [51] Hildt (66%), [51] Nakoqixth (22%)
Nov 4, 2024 |Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Havii vs 2: [51] Ehra (67%, slash), [51] Nakoqixth (32%)
Nov 5, 2024 |Lv 51|Galadon|Jerlan vs 2: [51] Lifrella (20%), [51] Nakoqixth (79%, KB)
Nov 6, 2024 |Lv 51|Galadon|Taivu vs 1: [51] Nakoqixth (100%, KB)
Nov 6, 2024 |Lv 51|Galadon|Qeb vs 2: [51] Nelfykh (34%, claw), [51] Nakoqixth (65%)
Nov 6, 2024 |Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Qeb vs 3: [51] Nelfykh (27%), [51] Nakoqixth (23%), [49] Mirka (48%, immolation)
Nov 7, 2024 |Lv 51|Galadon|Tinthius vs 1: [51] Nakoqixth (100%, slash)
Nov 7, 2024 |Lv 51|Galadon|Jerlan vs 1: [51] Nakoqixth (100%, KB)
Nov 8, 2024 |Lv 51|Galadon|Xthys vs 2: [51] Ahmuun (34%), [51] Nakoqixth (65%, KB)
Nov 8, 2024 |Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Isoegaob vs 2: [51] Nelfykh (55%, claw), [51] Nakoqixth (44%)
Nov 12, 2024|Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Frennya vs 1: [51] Nakoqixth (100%, slash)
Nov 16, 2024|Lv 51|The Outlander Refuge|Merathila vs 1: [51] Nakoqixth (100%, slash)
Nov 16, 2024|Lv 51|Domain of Eternal Night|Merathila vs 1: [51] Nakoqixth (100%, slash)
Nov 23, 2024|Lv 51|Domain of Eternal Night|Gortivan vs 1: [51] Nakoqixth (100%, KB)
Nov 23, 2024|Lv 51|Domain of Eternal Night|Gesoros vs 1: [51] Nakoqixth (100%, slash)
Dec 11, 2024|Lv 51|Fortress of Light|Ashmierre vs 3: [51] Nakoqixth (10%), [51] Hufgars (69%), [51] Ahmuun (20%, claw)
PK Deaths
Oct 27, 2024|Lv 21|The Ancient Road to the Wastes|vs 1: [28] Kurpich (100%, freezing cut)
Oct 31, 2024|Lv 48|Galadon|vs 1: [48] Havii (100%, crush)
Nov 20, 2024|Lv 51|The Outlander Refuge|vs 1: [51] Faesta (100%, claw)
Dec 10, 2024|Lv 51|Fortress of Light|vs 2: [51] Nhragard (77%), [51] Ashmierre (22%, icy needle)