Niall/Leach || Puppet Master || WIP

[βolt.]

My character is still a WIP so the bigger sections are filled in with jot notes for now. Some of these decisions may change as he develops, however. Suggestions are welcome via PM.
~ Bolt

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12418

Leach
Niall Leach Durant

AGE
Born 85 years ago. Appears to be 28. [January 13^th]

GENDER
Male

SPECIES
Puppet Master

ALLEGIANCE
Zukai

RANK
Low Ranked Defender/Reaper

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APPEARANCE
[Leach 001 - By Arky]

Leach has extremely pale skin like the rest of his race. A pair of bright and piercing green eyes give off a constant, faint glow- hinting at his connection to the spirit realm. He makes sure to keep his brown hair short, since long strands distract him when he's trying to concentrate, fight, or flee. The Zukai has a ridiculously thin body- so thin, in fact, that one can easily make out his spine and ribs when he's moving about. This is also due to being a Puppet Master- because he must provide his Night Puppet, Icarus, with energy from his own being, his physical form has grown smaller and weaker.

To display his knowledge of the power of the dead, and to demonstrate his minor tolerance for pain, he possesses many tattoos throughout his body. They're scriptures from old, spiritual texts and used to keep him connected to the dead at all times. He can always see the dead, who crowd the streets, and need only close his eyes and concentrate for a few moments to fully interact with them. Leach has claw-like hands, that are more for looks than actually hurting, and quite a few body piercings, which are also for looks. The Puppet Master is sometimes seen in a slouched position, even more often when he's in battle- it's part of his fighting style.

For clothing he wears simple things. More often than not he goes about his day shirtless to display his tattoos. It's pretty easy to tell what he does for a living because of this. When he does where a top he doesn't care much for what it is, and it will either be really huge and baggy or skin-tight thanks to his unique body type. His pants are loose-fitting and comfortable, often very simple and without much design. In an effort to keep them from slipping off they are belted into place at the hips by a long, decorative loincloth, as well as above and below the knees by simple belts. To spread some type of theme over the rest of himself he'll sometimes where belts as wristbands and chokers too.

As for footwear, he shies away from boots and heavy shoes. Instead, he opts for sandals that are strapped to his legs in order to keep them secured into place.

His orb is set into the top of his loincloth, at the front of his waste, where a belt buckle would be.

PERSONALITY

Tries to be very clear and specific with his wording. He will say 'yes' or 'no,' as opposed to 'yeah, nope, etc.'

Creepy. Friendly. Creepy. Very interested in the abilities of his species and the spirit world. Creepy. Doesn't seem to take the war as seriously as he should. Creepy. Rarely involved in pointless violence. Creepy. Always has a goal. Creepy.

To Zukai:
N/A
To Lao:
N/A
To The Neutral:
N/A
To Friends:
N/A
To His Night Puppet:

• Serious but Friendly
  
• Loving
  
• At times playful
  
• Protective, sometimes overly so
  
• Somehow proud and fond of Icarus
  
• Can become strict with him if he must
  

In General:

• Always fiddling with something, like one of his piercings
  

HISTORY
Born to a large and respected family, Niall got very little trouble from the other residents of his world (except for once or twice in his teens where he got involved in a scrap concerning his family's esteem). In fact, the Durants were usually 'sucked up to' and brought gifts because of their special abilities involving the dead. Even when most members voiced the fact that they didn't need to be paid for their surfaces many still did so. Of course, there were always a select few Durants who tried to make a business out of their abilities, but those were few and far between even with an oversized family. Still, they were a very careful bunch of Demons, and taught their young members to stay out of trouble- which was why Niall got into fights in his teens. Apparently his schoolmates didn't think they had guts, and therefore unworthy of communicating with their ancestors and passed loved ones. Apparently it was dishonorable and embarrassing or something. Bastard school kids... The irony is he broke one of his family's most important beliefs to defend it.

At the very young age of three Niall had developed the ability to see some of the dead. Sometimes he could even hear and talk to them. As per family tradition he was immediately pushed into being tutored in the ways of the Durants and other Puppet Masters. It was like an extra class at school except this one was done at home by the elders to pass on to the next generation. It was hard work, but being able to communicate with the dead made the boy feel special and so he pushed on, determined to perfect his spiritual abilities. By the age of thirty he knew everything from how to see into the otherworld to how to push bothersome spirits back into the other dimension. From how to create and "kill" Night Puppets to how to control them completely. Then there was everything in between. Niall was a full-fledged Puppet Master.

Of course Niall- a somewhat promising Demon- was expected to and taught how to stay away from danger. Naturally, as Puppet Masters, most members of the family possessed at least one Night Puppet. Niall and a very select few didn't bother to summon up spirits for protection when they became of age. Each had their own reason but one of Niall's reasons was the fact he was surrounded by loved ones and their puppets, and therefore there really was no need for him to waste energy on his own. Another explanation was the fact he wanted to choose the spirit that would be protecting him very carefully if he were to be around it for so much time. Until that chosen soul came along he would be fine depending on the family for protection from the general dangers of life.

For forty-one years this way of life was just fine.

But then the humans had to come along and start a war.
[Skipped ahead, I'll fill in the rest laterrrrr~]

With most of his family wiped out by the war eating his world everything was left to him- the oldest known survivor of the Durants. Niall was lead to the documents containing information on money and items he was inheriting. Who lead him to such papers? Why, his family, of course! What one must remember is the man is part of a family of Puppet Masters, meaning Niall can speak with the dead. Luckily for him his family was always the careful type too, so in case something happened to them every member was required to do up a will during their early thirties. Sadly, though, he was left with no real protection. No Night Puppets. With his family members dead their puppets were gone too.

Sure he could seek out the spirits that served to protect his family for years, some were every poking and flailing for his attention in the spirit world. However, those entities had already been given a chance to live and protect his loved ones, and they had failed. He would not be the one to bother with those individuals again.

He was too angry with them.

So for the first year of the war Niall spent his time trying to stay out of it. In order to stay away from trouble he kept far away from any sort of battle and spent most of his time hidden away indoors. Niall didn't mind keeping to himself, and he never got lonely because there was always the spirit world to converse with if he felt the need. He still talked to other who approached and meant no harm, though he was still wary without the protection of a puppet. He would even help out with transferring souls for those who requested, as he was older and more experienced than most other Puppet Masters in the area. However, he still had to venture out every once in a while for food or money- he couldn't just curl up in a hole and wait for who knows how long for the war to end. And there was nothing indicating to him that the Zukai would win anyway.

[WIP... still nothing about Icarus is up. Laaaame.]

ATTRIBUTES
Weapons:

• Niall has a small, very old seven-inch knife that he keeps sheathed and attached to the back of his waste belt. It's an antique he inherited from his family, and so it's one of his very few, treasured possessions. It is only for back-up if things get too heated or close, as his Night Puppet is the one that ordinarily does the fighting.

Powers:

• The demon, being a Puppet Master, can take direct control of his Night Puppet(s).
  
• He can see spirits and the spirit world at all times.
  
• Can communicate with the dead.
  
• Has the power to create and kill Night Puppets.
  
• Niall can see past the flesh of the living, to gaze directly into the soul.

Abilities:

• Quick and agile, he can flee from most situations without issue.
  
• Very focused and generally has no trouble concentrating when he must.
  
• Patient and normally clear when it comes to communication.
  
• Works well with Orbs, the precious things that are- often- the only things keeping Zukai alive.

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OTHER
Tattoo Locations:

• Upper and lower arms
  
• Chest
  
• Stomach
  
• Back
  
• Legs
  
• Cheeks of the face

Piercing Locations:

• Nine on each ear, one on each gauged
  
• Bridge of his nose
  
• Tongue
  
• Right of his bottom lip
  
• Both nipples
  
• Three on the right eyebrow