Fun Fact

• Eldritch Chosen: speaking a Fun Fact about a supernatural entity greatly enhances Hemlock's connection to said entity.

Knowledge is Power

• Infernal Knowledge: Conjured book is hand-delivered by a Low power demon that will remain for the Ability duration but has its own will.
• Pact of Binding: The demon is bound to the user's will.
• Bloodthirst: The demon's power ranges based on quantity of nearby blood.

Catalog

• Zealous Research: cataloged items fly about violently, striking anyone in range and is likely to cause minor injuries.
• Inscription: inscribes an eldritch symbol on the ground in the affected area
• Leyline: standing within the symbol greatly empowers the user's next Arcane Manifestation or Energywork

5”8 slim build. Black hair, slicked back.

[Librarian] Scholarly Raiment. Skin: gray twill suit

• Black bow-tie with an intricate silver design that is impossible to follow with your eyes if you try to focus on it.

[Librarian] Glasses. Skin: black, thick-rimmed

• For nearsightedness, always worn.

[Librarian] Scanner. Skin: silver ring with black obsidian band

• Obsidian band inscribed all the way around with runes. The band can spin freely and will “lock” in on a rune when activated.

[Thane] Mantle. Re-skin: black hooded cultist cloak.

[Thane] Banner. Re-skin: demonic summoning staff, summons demons.

• A light but strong ebony wood shaft, completely carved with demonic runes. The head of the staff features a mounted demon skull, humanoid but with ram horns and fangs. Leather thongs with various bits and bobs (blade fragments, teeth, claws) hang from it. The heel comes to a blunt tip, suitable for planting the staff.

[Thunderbird] Lightning Bolts. Re-skin: blight beetles. Necrotic damage.

• Beetles that crawl over the user’s body. When thrown, transforms into a magical swarm and flies at great speed over good range. Deals great magical necrotic damage to whatever the swarm lands on. The swarm can be redirected by prominent features and bright light sources.

[Illusionist] Wizarding Hat. Re-skin: mempo oni half mask (bottom).

• Crafted from the jawbone of a demon, Hemlock’s patron whispers advice to him through it.

[Vessel] Ritual Knife. Re-skin: obsidian ceremonial kris dagger

• Infused with demonic energy. its wavy blade is made of impeccably carved obsidian.

[Vessel] Shadow Blade. Skin: Demon claw gauntlet (sheathed: studded bracelet)

• While sheathed, a bracelet worn on the right wrist, when "drawn" forms around the user's hand (default form: clawed gauntlet)

[Lithomancer] Circling Stones. Re-skin: Belt of Skulls

[Raubritter] Knecht. Skin: Demon Squire

• a member of Hemlock's demonic horde

modern setting
Real name: ROT13(Whyvna Jbezjbbq)

Hemlock was a theology professor at a prestigious university when one day he witnessed an Enclave event. He learned that magic was real and it turned his world upside-down. He yearned to discover the secrets of wielding magic and delved deep into every avenue he could find… including the occult. He discovered many flavors of magic but the allure of the dark arts nearly consumed him. He cut his teeth first sacrificing animals. Then humans, justified to himself by only using criminals. On the brink of murdering a child for blood sacrifice, he realized he couldn’t go that far. Appalled by his near downfall, he killed that coven and sought to dismantle any other cells practicing the sacrifice of children. Since then he has made efforts to find more positive outlets for his talents and was recruited by the Enclave.

Maybe not to be trusted around objects of power / opportunities to wield considerable power.

Aloof and a bit sociopathic, very much an “the ends justify the means” type. However, he has a particular soft spot for children and will go to considerable lengths to protect them.

After the mission: Scavenger Hunt

Hemlock surveyed the Nome castle grounds ahead of him. Alone, under the cover of night, as it used to be, as it had always been... He wondered if having those Enclave fellows as partners was something he was actually getting used to. They've certainly proved powerful allies at times, but this, this is something I MUST do.

The castle grounds were quiet. He scanned for guards. The doors were guarded, but the parapets above seemed clear. He made his way to a side of the castle. Casting his mind through his spikard, he recalled a spell he had learned when researching Viashino religions. They used a climbing spell that allowed one's fingers and toes to dig into stone, creating hand and footholds easily.

He whispered the incantation, "Sandmother, your servant climbs toward your embrace, may the stone guide my path." The arcane power flowed through his body and manifested around his hands and feet, a green claw-like aura surrounding them. He quickly shimmied up the wall, as easily as climbing a sand dune.

From the castle rooftop, he dodged a sleepy guard before slipping inside. He worked as quickly as he could, though there was much to be done. He crept along slowly, touching every object, the dim light of his scanner turning a crackling blue whenever it touched an ornament that contained a soul. He focused on these, feeling their resonance. One by one, he collected the ornaments containing children. He wound his way stealthily throughout the castle, making his way to the throne room as he filled a sack.

At the throne room, he put down his hoard. He reached into his bookbag and pulled out a book. He'd spent weeks tracking down obscure texts, but he'd finally found it: a complete Soul Unbinding ritual. He looked about the throne room, scoffing at the king's pile of treasure. He raised his arms, wrinkled his nose, and said quietly, "This won't do at all..." before throwing his arms outward, cataloging the area.

Ornaments danced and swirled about the room as he turned his focus to the sack of ornaments he'd collected. He had a special place for those. The sack opened and ornaments came floating out. They neatly arranged themselves in a rough circle in the center of the room.

He reached into his bookbag once again, this time pulling out a squishy bag full of fluid. He took out his kris knife and punctured it, the all-too-familiar scent of copper filling his nose. At least it's not my own this time, he thought to himself. He re-checked the diagram of the ritual, then began inscribing a large eldritch symbol upon the ground with the ornaments at its center.

Obtaining the demonic summoning staff

Hemlock trudged through a hellish landscape. He'd discovered this place after joining Enclave and learning the secrets of navigating Manifold. It was here he'd found the imp brood and bound them to his service. Since then, he'd learned much about the denizens of this plane.

A ramshackle palisade of wood and scrap metal rose before him. As he approached, a red-skinned demon with thick bull horns protruding from its head stepped out to block his path. Hemlock drew himself up, his mantle blowing in the wind.

"Stand aside. I am here to challenge the Skarn by the Rite of Crucible."

The beast looked him up and down, then laughed heartily. "Oh, this should be good," it growled in rough Metro. The creature turned its back and headed in, allowing Hemlock to follow. As they walked, it talked loudly in a guttural language to other demonic beings. Rough barks of laughter followed Hemlock as he was led into an open yard.

At the far end, a large bronze-scaled demon with curling ram horns and broad bat-like wings lounged on a battered couch. The gatekeeper demon growled out, "My lord... this... human has claimed the Rite of Crucible and wishes to... challenge you as Skarn."

The demons broke out in a chorus of laughter. The Skarn demon stood up and strode quickly toward Hemlock. "So you think you know something about the rules here, do you?"

"Oh, I know all sorts of things," Hemlock smirked slightly as essence welled up within him, the next words crackling as they left his lips. "Did you know... human blood is extremely poisonous to demons?"

He drew his kris dagger and slashed the palm of his hand, coating the blade in blood. The demon charged forward relentlessly and swiped a massive clawed hand at him. Hemlock took a gash to the shoulder but managed to swing his blade around and bury it into the demon's arm. It yanked its arm back as if burned and stumbled, swiping at the wound, knocking the dagger aside. It roared and lurched back to its feet.

Hemlock extended his hand. "Fluid Dynamics." A sudden poof of smoke and flame, and a winged imp appeared, delivering the Fluid Dynamics book to Hemlock's outstretched hand. As the demon charged, Hemlock absorbed the information from the book, the knowledge flowing directly into his brain. With that knowledge, he could now move small amounts of fluid in his vicinity through a fluid system with only the power of his mind.

The Skarn was upon him. "I'll tear your arms off, rat-thing!" it gripped Hemlock, stretching out his arms painfully. Hemlock persevered, his glasses glinting, focusing his mind on the fluids in the demon's body. He located all the traces of his blood and moved it up through the bloodstream, directly to the creature's foul brain.

At nearly the point of muscle tearing, the demon's grip suddenly loosened. It dropped down to a knee and began convulsing. Hemlock stood, battered and bleeding deeply from his shoulder.

"By Rite of Crucible, I claim Skarn over this horde."

One by one, the demons of the horde, sneering and reluctant, acknowledged his claim.

"Bring me the head," Hemlock commanded. "I need a powerful totem bound to this place, and that skull ought to do nicely."