Tephraus
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
Contents |
Creation
A circle of thorns mage was attempting to create a a golem to act as a magical battery for abilities for the mage to utilize. The mage's intention was for the golem to be mindless in an attempt to halt the possibility of it's creation ever rising up and attempting to cross it's maker. Should it have been a success the mage would have created more. To form the creature the mage sacrificed two Mu descendants. One, with the capability of fire manipulation formed his core, he gave the initial heat and spark of movement. The other sacrifice gave Tephraus the control over the earth, this formed his shell and general defense. Unfortunately for the mage, the golem was sentient upon creation and made its first decision by destroying it's creator and siphoning it's magic capabilities to add to it's own. Unsure of itself, or the world it fled the thorn mage's hovel and wandered paragon city. While not an unusual sight in the city of heroes, it quickly learned that killing was frowned upon staying within the city would only hamper it's ability to gain more magic potential. Having heard of the Etoile Isles, and it's might makes right attitude he made his way there to sate his thirst for magic, leaving corpses sucked dry in his wake.
Current events
Recently Tephraus has contacted and joined the United Underworld, a group of like-minded individuals bent on various acts of mayhem and villainy.
Abilities
Earth Manipulation
Tephraus can manipulate stone, and smaller mineral components in a field around itself. It's concentration and level of control are limited to 20 feet around itself. Tephraus utilizes this power by making sediment based weapons to augment his attacks. It often super heats the rock to make magma based weapons to increase effectiveness.
Fire Manipulation
Tephraus can manipulate and create fire. The field of control, like Earth manipulation is limited. It's field of fire manipulation is much smaller and can only be manipulated 5 feet around itself. Often it utilizes this power to create a defensive field to lessen the damage and force of incoming blows.
Super Strength
Tephraus is a large stone based creature and it's strength reflects that. While not having traditional muscles the magic that gave it movement coupled with it's large size gives it a limited form of super strength.
Invulnerability
It's skin is comprised primarily of a variety of stones making it slightly resistant to damage.
Magic Absorption
Tephraus's only actual original power. It is capable of taking latent magic power and adding the strength to it's own. Tephraus hypothesizes that the stronger it becomes, the stronger magic users can be that it siphons from. Tephraus is unsure if it can also gain new latent abilities from siphoning magic, thus far it has been unable to acquire new abilities this way. Those who have yet to tap their latent Mu magic properties are easier for it to leech from. Siphoning magic requires the victim to be pliable, and in most cases in a physically weakened state. This magic transfer kills the victim.
Shape Shifting
Tephraus has a limited control over it's body and can manipulate the stone to change shape into slightly various forms as a product of it's Earth Manipulation. As it's powers grow this ability should like-wise increase.
Weakness
While Tephraus can learn to control and fine tune his powers to gain an actual increase in raw magical potential he must steal or "leech" it from others to increase his own. If he never tapped anothers magic again he would never increase above his current station.
Tephraus's fire control is negligible under water.
Trivia
Tephraus was originally a mutant whose head was always on fire and masqueraded as a volcano god.
Tephraus's insides are mostly lava.
Tephraus is capable of consuming alcohol, whether or not he can become drunk has yet to occur.
Tephraus has recently grown a fondness for social gatherings and owns a suit.