The Magnificent and Mystical Emperor Moebius, First of His Name

[Squeeman]

Name: Moebius the First (Birthname Samuel, son of Mort)
Age: Adult (between 28 and 35)
Race: Human (???)

Description:

Physical - Moebius appears to be a short, hunchbacked man that always wears a wooden mask over his face that has been carved and painted to look like a white, grinning skull. The rest of his clothing seems to consist of a single, large robe that was cobbled together from a handful of burial shrouds, made so that the sleeves droop past his hands, and the hem always drags behind his feet. Many believe that Moebius wears these things to disguise some birth defects, for his eyes are a bright and bloody red, and his body is always bent so that his face is well below the hump of his back, and he usually moves via a strange shuffling... Others, however, swear that Moebius is much taller than he seems to be, and that his robes are that long so they can cover his feet when he "stands up straight". His hands, whenever they pop free of his sleeves, seem to be far too long with knuckles that look like knobs on his bony fingers, so these latter claims may have some truth to them. Either way, none have seen Moebius' naked face after he took his new name.

Personality - Moebius is a madman with delusions of grandeur. He insists that he is not merely a novice necromancer and mage, but an emperor and the rightful ruler of the city of Marn and its territories. He speaks to animals as if they are people and to empty air. He claims knowledge of a world that never was, and babbles about cities full of buildings taller than mountains made of steel and glass. He also expects to always be addressed as "The Magnificent and Mystical Emperor Moebius, First of His Name", followed by a host of other titles and a list of accomplishment that changes from day to day. Usually, he will accept the title of "Emperor Moebius" or will give people leave to just call him "Moebius" or "Your Majesty". He is, however, not stupid. He has a naturally curious mind and a keen intellect that has allowed him to unlock some secrets of both sorcery and science and a strange charisma

Possessions: Moebius owns very little. He has his robes, his mask, his old shepherd's crook, and a few odds and ends and useful tools from his time as a shepherd.

The most interesting thing that he owns, however, is a strange book that he can always pull from some hidden pocket in his robes and which always disappears from the hands of thieves or guards that try to confiscate it. It is bound in black leather, and its parchment pages are covered in scrawls of incomprehensible red ink. To commoners, it appears as total gibberish, but to those with some training in magic, the pages almost make sense and bits of the title are legible.

Powers or Strengths:

Astral Projection - Moebius can project himself into the Astral plane, much as elves and various magical creatures do. However, he has not yet learned the art of entering the Astral physically, and so he leaves his body behind when he projects.

"Little Tricks" - Despite his grandiose claims of a mastery of the necromantic arts, most of Moebius' magical knowledge extends to little more than minor tricks. He can light and snuff out fires, cause sources of light to dim (within reason, he can't make the sun less bright), make his eyes glow, give his voice more volume and timbre, create small gusts of wind, make a room unnaturally cold, and cause small sounds.

Summoning of spirits, demons, devils, and the dead - Moebius does know the rituals required to call creatures of the Astral plane into the physical, and to summon the souls of the dead from their "sleep". He also knows the ways to bind them in place, and has a variety of methods to coerce them into aiding him with their own supernatural powers or to give him wisdom and knowledge from earlier ages and distant planes.

Keen Mind - Above all, Moebius has a keen intellect that is only mildly hampered by his strange madness. He is good at solving problems, has a deep knowledge of stories and folklore, and a natural curiosity about the world and people around him. It is how he has mastered magic in a short time, and begun unraveling secrets of the mundane world.

Weaknesses and Flaws:

Physical Indenture - Whenever he projects his spirit into the Astral Plane, Moebius must leave his body behind. While in the Astral, Moebius' spirit is vulnerable to attacks from native denizens, or to getting lost in the dreamlike realm. Meanwhile, his body will be completely insensate and unable to protect itself from violence, or just being grabbed and moved.

The Uncooperative Summons - While Moebius can call demons, devils, ghosts, spirits of the land, and beasts of nightmare into the physical world, and bind them to a circle, he cannot control them all. His few current servants are the ghosts of poor wretches who crave what little sacrifice Moebius offers them, low-ranking demons that are cowed by the threat of returning home, and spirits who are willing to bargain.

And He Grew Proud - Above all, Moebius is proud of his power and sure of his eventual success. He thinks he is the smartest man in any room, which means he can be fooled by those that play into his fantasies. He can also be undone by those that he dismissed as too stupid or weak to be a threat. Or, sometimes, he can simply overlook a glaring flaw in the first draft of his plan. Perhaps with time, he will be humbled. Until then, Moebius is often his own worst enemy.

History: Once, Moebius was a humble shepherd named Samuel, who guided his flock around Thar Shaddin. His father, Mort, had told him that their line traced back to the First Settlers, and that they were nobility by right... Well, they would have been if it wasn't for their grandfather's father's collection of magical tomes and items, which was sloppily hidden in a small room in the family mansion. This did not matter to Samuel. He was the son of a shepherd when he was born, and a shepherd when his father died. He knew where the pastures were, and when to visit them so that his sheep would eat. He knew how to navigate by stars and landmarks. He knew where secret springs of water were, when he was too far from the river to water his flock. This was enough.

Every so often, Samuel would arrive in Shim to sell shorn wool, or in Marn to give the meat, bone, and horn that was taken from the culling of his flock. He spent many days and nights alone in the wastes, with only sheep for company. It was a blessing, then, that he was taught how to read and write as a young boy. For he could carry books with him, and journals, and read of grand adventure or of knowledge or of illuminating philosophical debate. He could also write He would regularly trade with literate men and women of Marn, so that he always set out with a beloved or new volume or two. The stories, knowledge, and philosophical arguments within sustained his mind, and filled his dreams and thoughts with grand adventure. And it gave him something to talk about with those that he met...

Until, one day, Samuel set his head down underneath a tree for a nap... Only to feel something against the back of his head. It was a strange book, titled in old script and archaic spelling so that, if it were written in English, the title would look something like, "A Guide to the Artes Necromantick". The book was bound in black leather, and its parchment pages were covered in red ink that was at first impossible to decipher. But... the longer that he stared at it... the more that Samuel began to understand the writing. The more he understood, the more he was able to read and the longer he was able to stare at the pages.

Samuel came to Shim a week late, with far less sheep than he should have had. He ranted, he raved. He called himself "Moebius" and declared himself Emperor of Thar Shaddin and true ruler of Marn. He ordered the villagers to erect shrines in his honor, and proclaimed the men and boys to be his army before he made camp in the cemetery. After being chased out, Samuel, now "The Magnificent and Mystical Emperor Moebius, First of His Name" fled to Marn's Historic District. There, among the shanties and ruins, he speaks in tongues to long-dead soldiers and spirits that sleep beneath the earth and demons who dwell in dreams and nightmares. All the while, studying his guide book, and the world around him, so that he might master the two arts of Sorcery and Science, and overthrow the Judges and the noble families of Marn so that he might take the throne he believes he is owed.

[Squeeman]

I'm really hoping that this board isn't dead, because I'm finished with my application and ready for review.