Ment
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Evgeny Atotit
-- Dad, maybe we shouldn't disturb the dead?
-- Son... You are a slow learner, of course, but I will repeat this one last time. They died, that's it. They don't care. They die -- we live. That is how it works. Now come on, raise the corpses of your departed mother and grandmother, and stop playing dumb.
-- Um...
-- Yes, I know nothing will work the first time. But that is how we learn! Come on, your little friend Sophia has already raised a dog skeleton; if you and I succeed, we'll outdo her! Go on!
-- Eeeeee...
-- Pssst, Evgeny, -- this was said by the boy's grandfather. -- You could at least play along for your daddy. He is just waiting for the moment you grow into a true death mage.
-- Grandpa Origen?
-- Well, what are you waiting for? -- the grandfather continued, but the boy had already run toward the house, bursting into tears.
-- Seems we overdid it a bit with the pressure on the lad, -- groaned the dead Grandpa Origen.
What could be said about the little guy, who at that moment was soaking his pillow with burning same tears? Well, he was quite a kind boy, justifying his name in that regard. All this deathly theme was somewhat foreign to him at the time: he couldn't understand how death could be something good. In his mind, he thought only that he would never in his life die, or at least try very hard not to. It was simply terrible: you are here, here, here, and then hop -- and you're gone! Yes, people die so others may live, but surely there is a way to combine the two?
But the culture of the Halehids did not allow for such a way of thinking. The child lived and grew accustomed to the fact that his dead Grandpa Origen sometimes woke him up in the mornings, not so much with a hoarse shout of "Wake up!", but rather by the smell that preceded said shout. He studied the art of death, and although he was far from being as virtuoso as his father, he still managed to obtain the position of "Speaker with the Dead" while still a teenager.
Their city, Argopolis, was unique in this. Many death mages know that information remaining in the dead (in their head, but not only there) can be used one way or another, but in Evgeny's polis, special importance was attached to this. Local sorcerers found it insufficient to use their dead as servants; they made them their assistants, practically exact copies of their departed dead, at least regarding behavior; their undead said and did what the living say and do. And even a long-dead person whose brain was beyond restoration could be made relatively "alive"; the best of the best could achieve even that. That is why they were called "Speakers with the Dead" -- people from other polises invited "speakers" when they needed someone dead, and not every death mage could provide this for them. However, often people wanted psychological help from deceased friends and relatives, or rather testimony in legal disputes.
Be that as it may, the Speakers with the Dead helped with this. And one day, Evgeny was called to help. Strictly speaking, he was still considered inexperienced enough and his father had been summoned, but at that very moment a misfortune befell him, namely, he died. Such things happen sometimes... Grandpa Origen told Evgeny that this was his chance and the young mage must answer this call himself. Well, Evgeny set out on his journey.
He never reached the client.
***
-- So, our goal is to surrender the entire world to the Void! Unfortunately, there are very, very few of us, which complicates the task. But when we kill the commander of the Fortress of Eternity, which is not far from here, people will start talking about us... -- this loud whisper was clearly audible in the basement; it wasn't as if there were so many gathered that the speech was drowned out by anything. And yet, in the background, a fat Madian was animatedly arguing with a man of more athletic build.
-- Why did we trust this guy? Surely a spy for the Setranomicon! We should have killed him immediately!
-- Just as you did with the previous three volunteers, right?
-- Well, yes!
-- ...
-- What, reputation, by the way, is more important than these greenhorns! When the Setranomicon realizes that it's better not to mess with us, then... He won't be messing with us, that's it!
-- Yes, buddy, but by that time, I feel like no one will be "messing" with us at all.
-- That is enough from you, -- noted a young Halehid woman standing in front, next to Evgeny. -- I already said that I vouched for him.
The guy just stood silently and listened as they discussed him. However, he tried more to listen to the one who was talking about the upcoming attack on Eternity. And yet... It was quite interesting -- no sooner had he become interested in joining some Void sect than his old acquaintance Sophia was right there. She had always been held up as an example to him; she had been a genius death mage since childhood, and now... However, perhaps the philosophy of the Void is not so far from the ideas of the Halehids, is that it?
-- Pssst, Evgeny!
The Halehid started. That was how Grandpa Origen usually addressed him, but this time it was that athletic mage. What was his name again?
-- I am Sophocles. I'm kind of a mentor here, and I like you. So we will study our... wisdom together.
-- I just...
-- Forget it, you've only just joined us, they won't send you there. You can ignore him.
-- It wouldn't hurt to listen.
-- As you wish... Today at seven, alright?
Evgeny nodded.
***
This did not last long. Sophocles gave Evgeny many useful tips. Unlike many Void mages, Sophocles believed that in battle one should pay great attention to their own defense. Yes, everyone will eventually enter the Void, that is true. But the goal of the Hollowers is for this to happen to their enemies faster than to themselves. Sophocles gave Evgeny his shield -- light but effective. And as much as the guy wanted to keep it, as well as his father's incredible staff -- the most powerful of the Speakers with the Dead! Alas, the order subsequently took everything.
One could tell how it happened, how the Hollowers themselves ended up hollowed out... But in reality, it was simple. Their daring attack failed (although some say that the commander of Eternity did perish in that battle), and those remaining were gradually caught until everyone was captured. Most of those Evgeny had met did not survive. Among the dead were Sophia and Sophocles... This whole mess turned out to be a one-way ticket, although... Who knows, maybe there are still Hollowers in other cities and countries?
Evgeny ended up in the order's prison and remained there for years. Although he managed to learn much from his mentor, the imprisonment overall affected the guy, now a fully grown man, clearly not in the best way. Many skills were lost, the sharpness of thought was no longer the same... Practicing magic was impossible for obvious reasons; almost only the spells of the Hollowers remained in Evgeny's head, deeply etched into his consciousness. However, the Halehid made an effort to stay physically fit. He remembered Sophocles' lessons...
Now, sitting in prison, he is indignant and does not understand why? Why did he end up here and lose many years of his life? He never caused anyone harm. Yes, while in the sect, he killed several people (primarily those who were raiding them), let's say. But this cannot be called murder, for he simply returned them to the Void. Over all these years, Evgeny clearly understood for himself that the Void is indeed life, that eternal life which he had so wanted as a child. And the life that people have here is nothing more than a temporary error that must be corrected. The Void is not nothingness; the Void is Everything. Not the absence of time, but when you don't need any time at all. Not understanding these simple things, people simply try to delay the inevitable. They mistake their temporary death for life, and eternal life for death. Of course, sooner or later the Void will set everything in its place, but it doesn't hurt to help it.
-- Hey, empty-head! Out you go!
Evgeny rose from his bed, if it could be called that.
-- Is it time already?
-- There will be no lunch today; instead, you'll take a little trip.
-- Just don't tell me on an empty stomach, -- sighed Evgeny. He knew that this guard possessed a minimal sense of humor and would not pay attention to such a small piece of cheek, though sometimes one wants to say something like that anyway. He had forgotten too much what it was like to be human.
-- Empty stomach? You're supposed to love everything empty, right? -- smirked the guard. Well, his sense of humor was better than some of his colleagues, but far from ideal. -- Anyway, let's go, and no nonsense.
-- I'll pack my things...
-- Ha! Ha-ha!
***
Already being in another prison, in Ryjorvalia, Evgeny learned that the Voidists had recently become active and had seriously crossed the order. The latter did not think long, found one of the Voidists in their prison and decided to execute him, either as a warning to other sectarians or for some other reason... Only they themselves probably know. Well, it was still no life for Evgeny Atotit, in every sense. Maybe now everything will change?
Origin and Religion:
Halehids: +5 to Will; additional 4 skill points; free Art of Death skill; damage/2, own damage absorption not exceeding the value of Will (65).
Void / Sect of Hollowers: spells of Hollower magic do not consume mana. Spells of other schools cost twice as many skill points and consume twice as much mana. Mana regeneration outside of combat.
Characteristics:
Constitution = 30
Intelligence = 18
Strength = 25
Dexterity = 36
Speed = 16
Will = 65
Perception = 10
Skills and Abilities:
Hollower Magic
Life Drain. Drains life from the opponent, restoring health to the caster (Will, %).
Reflected Damage. For three turns, damage dealt to the Hollower is returned to the opponent (x2).
Hollowing. Hollows out the opponent, leaving only their skin. The opponent dies (x3).
Combat Magic
Stone Skin: -50% enemy damage (-300) (x2)
Shields
I Shield proficiency, block chance (Dexterity).
Art of Death
-
Additional Abilities
Quick Mind:
I The caster is able to use two spells per turn (x3)
Battle Mage: +15 to Strength, +15 to Dexterity (x3)
Wizard:
I +50 to Magic Power, amount of magical energy increased by 1.5 times (x4).
Inventory: (unclear what was preserved due to the story. But something might have been kept as physical evidence or something like that)
staff of the Speaker with the Dead, Sophocles' shield, mask and outfit of a Hollower (light armor worn by mages in the sect)
Arandor