Description
The first thing you notice about this duergar is his impeccable
grooming, given that you can only barely detect the odor that usually
accompanies those of his race. He wears a short beard that has been
neatly trimmed and is cut close to the face. It narrows to a sharp,
almost severe point at the base of his chin. Long ago it must have
been the color of coal, but time has taken its toll and the man's
hair is now streaked liberally with gray. His face is craggy, with
ashen skin that has begun to wrinkle. Whereas age grants some men a
sort of regal quality, in this case it has only rendered its victim
more hideous. Beady black eyes perch atop an crooked nose, the
latter of which appears to have healed improperly from some past
break. When he eventually notices your appraisal, the duergar scans
you with those dark eyes before making the Imperial salute.
Role
addendum
Added Fri May 11 22:19:53 2007 at level 51:
Waserax is a bit "off" after his recent religious experience. More of a
crazed zealot than well-reasoned, thoughtful priest.
rebirth
Added Fri May 11 22:08:50 2007 at level 51:
The Codex was not in the Throne Room, and the shame of it burned in
Waserax's mind. Not one to simply fume in impotent rage, he set
about the task of retrieving it. Bit by bit, whittling down the
Tara'bal until it was no more. But the Fortress was not without
defenders, and Waserax knew that with each ambush of the Tara'bal he
risked his life. Once, twice, all went according to plan. The
paladin and shaman did their best, but try as they might they could
not end him.
No, that they left to Waserax himself. One prayer too many was all
it took. They fell on him like a pack of dogs, holy fire burning
into his flesh as he sought in vain to escape. He did not. Though
the victors kept only bits of what he wore, he could sense their smug
gloating as they stood over his fallen form, with each bit of armor
they dropped it became more and more palpable, like a foul taste in
the back of his throat.
And so, in a moment of weakness, Waserax did the unthinkable. He
turned his back on Daevryn. Violated the Oath he swore so many years
ago. All these he forsook as he sought to end his own existence.
Was it fear of further death that brought him so low? The loss of a
few material things? No, neither of these. It was shame. Shame at
his own foolishness. Shame at having given the victory to those so
inferior to he, who serve inferior deities and fight for a cause that
is ultimately doomed to failure.
And so he floated, formless, in Limbo. His body, mind and soul
relaxed, drifting towards an oblivion from which he would never
return. And yet not. It began slowly. So imperceptible was its
increase, that upon noticing it Waserax could scarce recall when it
had first begun. A sort of tugging, he supposed, would be the best
way to describe it, though the comparison hardly made sense given his
formless state.
But it grew. And grew. How naive Waserax had been to suppose that
Daevryn, Lord of Ambition, Lord of the Earth, would so readily
release the one whom had been his Hand upon Thera. How naive to
suppose that the Blood Oath he had sworn was so weak as to be broken
at his whim. It was these, then, that pulled at him as he drifted,
demanding that he finish what he had started. In them he heard
reiterated the very words he had spoken to the War Master just days
previous, "Your life is not your own to take." In them he saw a hope
for vengeance\; the destruction of those who had benefitted from his
hubris.
And so Waserax was reborn, as naked as when he entered the world for
the first time. Naked, and out for blood.
more recent happenings
Added Tue Feb 20 12:07:41 2007 at level 51:
Waserax ages, but one plan, at least, has come to fruition. The
Immortal Lords of Empire have heard the lament of the Divine, and
Rodalrina is cast down from her position as leader of the Sect.
Having been elevated in her place, Waserax now finds himself in a
position to participate in the choosing of the next Emperor.
Khargurln ages, and has already begun to talk about preserving her
legacy in the Imperial history books. Soon she will be no more, and
a new Emperor will need to be chosen. The question on Waserax's
mind, then, is whether to honor his agreement with the War Master or
attempt a power grab of his own. Hunsobo has the respect of many, so
such a gambit carries much risk. But...the throne!
Another matter of great concern to Waserax is the sad state of the
Sect he inherited from Rodalrina. How can one be considered a leader
if there are none to lead? To that end, he has begun to scan the
ranks of the Shamans' and Healers' guilds, searching for those who
might be valuable in service to the Throne. So far there are none to
be found, but the search continues.
recent happenings
Added Tue Jan 23 21:28:39 2007 at level 42:
Illegal name, try another.
Name: x first swore the Blood Oath, and
much has happened since then. Even as he has risen in prominence
within his Sect, he chaffes at the leadership of the High Priestess,
Rodalrina, whom he considers imperious and inept. So too has Waserax
begun to covet the Throne for his own. To that end, he has forged a
lose alliance with the WarMaster, Hunsubo, whom he considers to be
the most capable of the current council members and most likely to
replace the Empress, Khargurln, whe she steps down or is deposed.
Under the terms of this agreement, should Waserax reach the pinnacle
of his guild before Hunsubo assumes the throne, the WarMaster will
suggest to the Empress that Waserax replace Rodalrina as leader of
the Divine Sect. Should that happen, Waserax will, in exchange, ca
support Hunsubo's bid to replace Khargurln on the throne.
Imperial intrigue aside, Waserax now acts as the Hand of Daevryn, a
role which he relishes moreso even than his duties as Imperial
Priest. He has been tasked with preaching the faith to those in the
Fortress and destroying those who pray to Rayihn. Partially
successful in the first regard, Waserax had a lengthy discussion with
the assassin, Zephon, though it is unknown whether his urgings were
ever acted upon. On the second front he has not yet enjoyed success,
though he has identified several targets for destruction. Soayel,
Aurenna, Phryxal and Halistanis, to start, though there are surely
more. When all is quiet, in his reverie, he plots their doom.
Waserax's general attitude has also changed somewhat since he first
exited the Underdark. His anger and desire for destruction are now
more focused, chiefly on the enemies of Daevryn and those of the
Empire. He has learned some measure of humility, bitter pill though
it was, and for the most part no longer holds the unrealistically
high opinion of himself that he once held. At the moment his primary
goals are to advance in his guild (in order to trigger the conditions
of his agreement with Hunsubo and bring him that much closer to the
Throne), and carrying out the two tasks given to him by Daevryn.
psyche
Added Thu Dec 14 10:03:14 2006 at level 2:
Waserax is an angry, jealous, conceited individual who delights in
destroying those he considers inferior, making a spectacle of their
inferiority for all to see. For the most part he is unaware of the
fact that his high opinion of himself may not be wholly accurate, and
any suggestion to that effect would be received extremely poorly.
Waserax has a knack for rationalizing his own shortcomings and those
of duergar in general. Elves aren't necessarily "smarter" than
duergar, they're just "better at magic". Giants aren't actually
"stronger" than duergar on a pound-for-pound basis, they're just able
to carry more because they're "so big". Also, because of his past,
Waserax has a special disdain for anyone who occupies a position of
authority based on familial inheritance, unless that person has
demonstrated that he (or she) deserves it.
background
Added Thu Dec 14 10:02:41 2006 at level 2:
Waserax grew up in the royal household of the King of Arin'Gird, his
family bound in service to the crown since before even the war with
the dwarves began. He grew up watching his father and brothers
constantly suck up to the royal family, each vying for a position of
greater authority. Even Waserax was caught up in the intrigue,
though against his will. You see, the King's favorite son was
approximately the same age as Waserax, and owing to his father's
position the two boys shared the services of the royal tutor.
Unfortunately, this arrangement necessitated certain delicacies that
didn't sit well with Waserax. It was imperitive that he never give
the appearnce of exceeding the prince in anything, regardless of his
actual skill or measured performance. The royal tutor, for his part,
was sure to adjust Waserax's marks down so this grave offense never
occurred. It was an obvious farce, and everyone but the prince knew
it, making it all the more frustrating.
When not attending sessions with the tutor and his idiot pupil,
Waserax spent most of his time in the temple library. As he perused
the ancient texts, many of them describing deities not commonly
worshipped among the duergar, there was one in particular to whom he
began to feel especially drawn. One who stood for the very thing he
most wished for, and who might become for him a source of strength
and power. A deity under whose auspices he might break free from the
miserable existence he had known thus far...