Name: August Altham- | -Celestial Name: Malphas- | -Player: Mortarch
Nature: Architect- | -Demeanor: Autocrat- | -Concept: Lord of the Underworld
House: Slayer (Halaku)- | -Faction: Cryptic- | -Visage: Ereshkigal, Visage of the Realms

Attributes

PhysicalSocialMental
Strength2Charisma3Perception (Discerning)4
Dexterity3Manipulation3Intelligence (Analytical)4
Stamina3Appearance3Wits2

Abilities

TalentsSkillsKnowledges
Alertness1Animal Ken0Academics2
Athletics3Crafts1Computers0
Awareness3Drive0Cosmology0
Brawl1Etiquette0Finance0
Empathy2Firearms0Investigation2
Expression2Melee3Law0
Intimidation2Performance2Medicine3
Leadership2Stealth1Occult2
Streetwise0Survival0Politics1
Subterfuge1Technology0Science0
Other TalentsOther SkillsOther Knowledges
Carousing0Martial Arts (HEMA)1Enigmas0
Intuition0Hypnosis0History0
Seduction0Meditation0Poisons0
 0Riding0Thanatology0
 0Traps0Rites0

Additional Abilities:
Lore (Spirits): 1

Resources

Faith: 3
Torment: 4
Willpower: 5

Lores

Death: 3
Forge: 1
Fundament: 1
Realms (Primary): 4
Spirit: 3

Backgrounds

Contacts: 1 (Adams Sisters)
Eminence: 2
Fame: 1
Legacy: 4
Pacts: 1
Paragon: 2
Resources: 2

Virtues


Conscience: 1
Conviction: 3
Courage: 2

Merits and Flaws

Merits:
Angelic Gaze (1)
Atavistic Form (Grim Reaper) (2)
Good Listener (1)
Eidetic Memory (2)
Famous Liege (Charon) (2)

Flaws:
Driving Goal (Restore order to the Shadowlands) (3)
Low Self Esteem (3)
Low Alcohol Tolerance (1)

Description

Physical Description:
Mortal Form: August stands tall, at 6’3” with medium length black hair and a clean shaven face. His skin is pale, and he has a lean, mildly athletic build. August favored a somewhat casual manner of dress in life, often just wearing a dress shirt with black jeans and sneakers. He’s generally considered attractive, however there is a great age and determination that seems to show in his bright white irises.

Apocalyptic Form: In his Apocalyptic Form, Malphas takes on a form evoking fear and reverence within the mortals who view him as they are confronted with the image of the Grim Reaper himself. His skin thins, darkening and becoming transparent as it pulls back, revealing the bones underneath. His bones take on a lunar glow, shining through his skin, becoming visible for all to see. His eyes shine with a similar ghostly white light. The black robes which cloak his form seem to be made from the night itself, trailing wispy dark shadows behind him wherever he walks.
Backstory:
Millenia ago, Malphas once stood as a proud member of the Heavenly Host. As an Angel of the Seventh House, it was his God given duty to examine the creations of the other Houses and determine when each had served its purpose. With gentle care and solemn respect, he would give death to each such piece of creation, shepherding it on into the Second World. He took a grim pride in his work, for through his efforts and that of the other Halaku, the detritus of creation was removed and it attained an ever more perfect state. Each and every organism was given the utmost care and attention as it was trimmed from creation, and he committed to memory all those that he helped pass on. He continued on like this for years beyond counting and it seemed that he would be entirely content to fulfill this role for eternity in service to the Creator. It was with the dawn of Mankind that this firm belief would be eroded.

Malphas would often watch Mankind from afar when he carried about his tasks, observing carefully these new beings outside of his jurisdiction and wondering at their purpose in the world yet to come. Like many of the Elohim, Malphas found Humanity’s limitations in mind and body puzzling. How could such fragile and ignorant creatures serve such an important purpose in the Second World? Nonetheless, he felt a fondness for them, and their anguish at the work of him and his House pained him. Surely if they but knew why the Halaku brought death and of the world to come, they would not suffer such needless pain. He desired to speak with them of these things, to enlighten them as to the order of nature, but such was not his purpose.

One day when Malphas was returning from his duties, one of his fellows came to him, giving news of the meeting between Lucifer and the Rebellion he now championed. Malphas at once felt conflicted in his heart, for God had ordered them not to interact with the Humans. However, what evil could there be in enlightening the poor creatures and lessening their pain? Was it truly good to sit and watch as they suffered, knowing that it need not be so? He felt conflicted for some time as he ruminated on the matter. Eventually through hearing the words of Azrael, he was convinced of the Rebel viewpoint and aligned with them, for better or worse. Surely the Creator would understand the purity of their purpose.

So it was that with the other rebels he descended from the Heavens and joined with Man, enlightening them to the nature of Death and its delicate balance with life. It was a time of joy and peace, for at last he thought, they would suffer no longer. It was not to be, for soon the Creator brought retribution and it was terrible to behold. Malphas had joined the rebels to alleviate Humanity’s fear of Death, and now by the Creator’s edict he was forced to bring it to them. When war broke out with the loyal angels, Malphas took up his sword and committed fully to the fight. If God would force the Seventh House to bring Death to those they loved most, then he was no longer deserving of the title.

When the Legions were formed, Malphas joined with many of his brothers and sisters in the Alabaster Legion. Charon was his Liege, and that would shape much of his role to come in the War. While Malphas could at times be found amongst the warriors of the other Houses, cutting a bloody swathe through the Loyalist Host with shadows and death, more often he would be found fighting against the Reapers for the souls of man. This consumed much of his efforts, until plans for the City of Kasdeja were announced. Malphas descended with many others of his Legion, shaping the City for the beloved dead of Mankind. All the souls that he had collected up to this point in the war were then retrieved and brought back to the city built in their honor. Eventually however, the City came under siege from the loyal Angels, and when Azrael, Charon, and Cerberus rode forth in wrath, Malphas charged forth alongside his liege to defend their charges and slaughter the invaders.

After the battle, when Charon departed for the creation of Haven, Malphas joined him alongside others of the Legion. He took part in much of the creation of Haven, from the legendary Veil which protected it, to the memories of that which had passed from the mortal world. He worked greatly with the Malefactors of the Alabaster Legion during this time, and came to be quite learned in some of their Lores. No longer was he a mere destroyer, but a co-creator in an ambitious new world. This change pleased him, and he poured all his passion into the creation of Haven. As he pursued this great work, Malphas found his form changing. Over time he shed his wings and more angelic trappings, with his features darkening and reflecting his new role. Where was once a shadowy angel, now stood the walking embodiment of Mankind’s dreams of Death and the Underworld. The Angel Malphas faded into oblivion, and in his place was born Malphas, the Grim Reaper.

Just as its predecessor Kasdeja fell, so too would Malphas’ beloved Haven in time. Town by town was laid to siege by the Heavenly Host, and as valiantly as Malphas and the others fought, they were inevitably laid low by the fury of Usiel and his Reapers. Malphas saw Charon as he descended through the Byway, but before he could follow Cerberus sundered it, and Charon was lost to Malphas and the Fallen forevermore. With Haven shattered and the dreams of the Alabaster Legion with it, Malphas found himself bound by the invading angels and cast into the Abyss. He had hoped that Charon and the others would free them, but no such relief came. Centuries turned into Millenia as he waited, writhing in torment within God’s Prison. Noble Ambitions turned into a hateful and cruel desire for dominance, as all that he once was became twisted and degraded.

Eventually however, his time in the Abyss came to an end. Cracks began to open within their hellish prison, and Malphas surged forth with all his might through them. The spirit of Malphas entered forth onto the Earth once more, and as it hovered above the Earth for the first time in millennia, it felt a pull towards Jacksonville, Florida. Deep amidst a sprawling maze of aged and crumbling tombstones, Malphas would be drawn to one August Altham. August was a poet, dedicated to writing on the dark and the macabre.

August had earned a degree of renown amidst the local circles for his work, but his career had begun to stall and like many dedicated poets, he had a hard time making ends meet. August went to dark places mentally to draw inspiration for his work, secluding himself in places of death and decay. He would eventually turns to drugs and alcohol as his financial issues continued to pile up. He had to be careful when he did so, for he was naturally sensitive to such substances and had ended up in the hospital on more than one occasion.

On the night that Malphas found him, August had drank far more than he was capable of, and he laid dying slumped against a vomit covered tombstone. August’s skin had turned a sickly blue tint, and he was near a coma from the alcohol poisoning he had induced. This combined with his deep depression regarding his circumstances provided a perfect window for Malphas, a window that he seized without hesitation as poured his blackened essence into the young man. Malphas claimed August’s body as his own, dominating it utterly. However, the young poet had yet been alive, and so part of his soul remained with the conqueror of his flesh. August was forced into the back of Malphas’ mind, only capable of commenting on his surroundings with no true control over anything. Over time this has begun to drive August mad, and his slow descent into a gibbering madman seems inevitable as he begins to assault Malphas with demented verses.

Since this time, Malphas has done well for himself in his new existence. His time in the Abyss, along with the suffering he endures from the state of Haven and all that was lost has provided ample fuel for August’s Poetry Career. The Halaku have long had a great knowledge of Humanity and their hopes and fears, they simply had trouble interacting with them. Through August’s career, Malphas has been able to make great use of that knowledge and achieve greater and greater success. However, his mind is always drawn back to the state of Haven and all that must be done to restore it. After linking back up with his old comrade Somnael, the two of them have begun to lay plans to restore order to the Shadowlands. Where once he was a gentle guide, he has become now an Autocrat bent on dominion. The Halaku are the true lords of Death, the Firstborn embodiments of Entropy and the Dead shall be made to kneel once more as their masters have returned...
Additional Notes:
Pacts (1): Sophia Simmons
Sophia was one of many of the fake psychics which plague society. She often made money by taking advantage of those in mourning, offering to channel their lost loved one and any messages they may have for them. Malphas had heard of her, and grew curious as to if her abilities were real, and if mortals have developed such connections. He of course learned the falsity of her claims, but saw potential within her. In return for her continued faith, he gifted her with the ability to truly become a conduit for the beloved dead of her clients. (Clairvoyance, Damned and Decieved pg 70)

Equipment: Enhanced Longsword (diff 4, Strength+6 damage), Knives