Marladeus Salis Mortique

''The blue clad arcanist stood braced low to the ground, stooping atop the wayward surface of a roughly hewn piece of earth which had long since broken free of Draenor to travel lost forever upon the nether winds. He shakily rose to his feet, claiming his balance in the dubious gravity of the place. He let his arms down to his sides. His features claiming the picture of pure passivity as he closed his eyes. One of his sweaty hands absently traced several lines of detail engraved onto the pommel of his weapon, while the other hanged free of any hold. At that moment, staring with closed eyes into the nothingness before him. Salis Bleakknolls dared look into the void as he had so many times, and the void looked back as it always did.''

''A burning sensation shot through his neural network as his human mind comprehended the vastness, the nothingness, and beyond all rational perception all he felt was desolation… Desolation and oblivion. The fiery sensation passed away, leaving only the cold.The harsh wind seemed to cut into his bones, slicing through his skin, raking at his veins with icy fingers. Great emptiness overtook the arcanist, and his legs gave in. His eyes opened, but his vision was blurred and hazy, shapes and forms came to invade his addled mind. But he rejected them, shakily maintaining himself on his knees. He felt his senses burning and boiling as great energies rushed through his weak mortal shell.He collapsed backwards against the bleak stone, gasping for breath as he tossed and turned in his temporary madness. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, and outwardly his hysteria ridden eyes were stretched wide.''

''Moments later he came to his senses. He was coughing violently, laying prone on his back. He let his vision clear, focusing on the stars and constellations above as he reoriented himself with the world around him. He tasted blood in his mouth, and he realized that he had coughed some of it up, leaning up he retrieved a handkerchief from one of his coat pockets.Frantically mopping up the sweat and the blood he was overtaken by another fit of coughing, he coughed into his hand.After removing his hand from his face he peered at the blood which had settled there with distaste in his features.''

''At that moment, the blood which had been clinging to his person separated from saliva and perspiration, sinking beneath his garments and into the mans body as the arcanist continued his desperate bid to keep his person intact. He felt more coughing coming on, and he reached desperately into a internal pocket in his jacket. Taking a flask of some unknown liquid and refreshing himself from it deeply. He wiped his lips with the handkerchief, staring up into the sky with bloodshot eyes. He had siphoned too much energy, his weak mortal shell straining to keep itself together. So he laid back, staring into the nether as he let his besieged body regenerate from its perils. He could not go on like this… He needed a way out…''

Marladeus Salis. Mortique is a arcanist who practices his craft with a dangerous fervor, having little regard for the sanctity of his soul he throws himself to the darkest of magics with ever-growing abandon. He currently finds employment among the Blackwind Collective, though this allegiance is merely profit-based and in the long-term they mean little to him. Despite his dark past, and rotten interior, Mortique is usually very polite and pleasant to those he comes in contact with, if he likes them or deems them useful. His outwardly demeanor could be described as that of an individual with a feline disposition.

He currently resides in a little camp in one of the many veils of Deadwind Pass, he travels quite a bit...Usually seen in Duskwood which is close to his camp, or even stalking the wilds of the Shattered Realm of Outland. He also spends a fair bit of time in the city, but he usually only goes there for supplies he cannot acquire anywhere else, or if he wishes to find some company. He currently is occupied with trying to spread his influence, all caught-up in the rat race. So far, he has encountered many setbacks in this regard, but due to a streak of good fortune he has found himself with a man’ari servitor known as Kazstraa Anir. He also has found himself employed in a Alliance of convenience with the Gravekeeper of Duskwood Nierdris, though most who know Mortique are under the illusion that he and Nierdris are enemies.

Appearance
WIP.

Attire
WIP.

Personality
Charming and pleasant might be the words the average person might find to describe Mortique. One might conclude further and claim him to be sly, fickle, adaptive, and regal, possessing the primary attributes and failings of a feline. He maintains himself in a outwardly dignified way, but it seems he has a sense of humor, and a sometimes brutal will to apply it when it is unwanted, as he takes great pleasures in antagonizing those he deems worthy.

Under the thin veil of politeness, and pleasantry...Mortique is deprived of happiness. He has few friends who see him in his true state. Deeply troubled the arcanist constantly struggles with ethical conundrums, fretting about the past and the future excessively. He has a deep lust for power, and an iron will to accomplish his goals… But beyond that even, he is deeply fatalistic, and he wishes more often than one would suspect that he could go back on past choices.

Beliefs
A man of dubious moral standing, Mortique has disavowed any faith he once held in the light long ago. For a time he saw himself as one of the pagan worshipers of the Gilnean Old Ways, but as his childhood waned, and as he wandered the streets he lost even this peculiar tradition, though it might be noted that he still has sympathies which lean towards it. Since then he has also rejected the objective morality commonly based on religious doctrine, instead his skewed perception of the world sees very few things as 'wrong'... Though he finds himself disgusted at unnecessary acts of cruelty, but the lengths to which he will go for his own means are excessive, bordering on insane.

Items of Interest
Mortique’s inventory is primarily taken up by necessities, tomes, or various magical essences and other reagents relevant to spellcraft. But there are a few items which stand out among his possessions, many hold a place in his history...

Kirin’Tor Dagger
This beautifully crafted steel dagger is often found at Mortique’s belt, or in one of his satchels. The intricate dirk is kept in prime condition and oiled and sharpened often, pointing to Mortiques appreciation for the item. Adorning the guard a finely cut piece of blue topaz can be found, on further examination several discrete lines which formed the crest of the Kirin’tor could be seen. This item has been with Mortique for a very long time, and it is one of his most treasured.

Pale Feline Effigy
This odd figurine seems to be of a fine make, its smooth surface is shaped into a vague feline form resembling something of a housecat. On close inspection it becomes evident that the figurine is composed of some sort of bone, though the intricacy of the carving would throw many off this conclusion. Set in the eye sockets of the bone cat two flecks of gleaming diamond can be found, glowing like pale stars in any light they could find. He usually keeps this item in the confines of his coat, if it has any special magical importance only its maker Kazstraa knows.

Bone-Link Chain
Wound around the upper part of Mortique’s arm, and concealed by his clothing a intricate chain of some indescribable bone can be found. The chains several pale links are painstakingly warped into a shape suitable for such a construct. Placed under the stress of magical scrutiny, the several links of the chain would reveal a darker purpose; it is likely that any who are versed in demonology would know the item to be a special object of binding likely crafted by a warlock with greater power than Mortique.

Tome of Lost Hallows
Often found on his person is a excessively large tome which chronicles many ancient rites and traditions pertaining to the Eastern Kingdoms. Though the text contains information about more harmless and accepted traditions such as the Old Ways (gilnean paganism), it also speaks of darker crafts, such as atal'hakkar worship, and perversions of the Emerald Dream. Recently, this text has led Mortique on several excursions into the dark forests of Duskwood.

Crystal Focusing Lense
This ebon foci has recently been gifted to Mortique following his new partnership with the Gravekeeper Nierdris. The worgen gave Mortique little explanation about the purpose of this instrument, and Mortique has had little time to study it himself.

The Blue Hat
One piece of his clothing seems to hold special respect with the arcanist. His starkly blue hat is often with him, and it is counted among some of his oldest possessions. The item in truth has some sentimental value to him.