Raith Karanis

Skills, Lore and Capabilities

• Varasin was, and remains, a Necromancer. This is not the raising of Zombies and such, but the older meaning of the term, common up until the Renaissance. He uses Necromancy for weal, rather than woe. This Necromancy has it's origins in the pre-Christian tradition, is refeenced also in the bible, although Varasin's scholarly pursuits permit him to be familiar with other metaphysical and theological paradigms.

For more information see Necromancy in Komturei Lore. Typical examples include healing friends, warding them (their mind, body and/or spirit); harming or weakening foes; communing with someone's spirit and so on.

• Demonologist. A scholarly pursuit Varasin had pursued with vigour since a relatively early age.
• Apportation. Varasin can apport small items (from somewhere else) quite easily. He tends not to be flashy about this. (See Detective Parker if you want flashy.)
• Diabolist. The summoning, binding, and also dismissing of various categeories of demons and otherworldly beings. It usually requires knowledge about the being concerned, the more knowledge the greater the chance of success. Diabolism is always a dangerous undertaking. Once again, a scholarly pursuit. When actually practiced, an immesnse will is always required; usually along with paraphenalia such as circles, wards, sigils and complex mandalas.
• Priest. Varasin was an ordained priest of the Roman Catholic church. In his mind and heart he remains so. However, he will no longer publically practice his vocation, given his soul is forever gone. In private, or at the need and request of those who understand, he will, of course. He is unable to not give of himself in this way when asked.
• Languages. English, Latin, Greek, Hebraic, Aramaic, Akkad, Russian. In varying degrees of skill.
• Illumination and Cartography. Varsin is skilled at illumination and cartography.
• Technology. Varasin is at best average with technology. The one exception being devices relating to teleportation and portals. He was forced to invest time in learning this to complete his task, and has an almost genius level aptitude for such.
• Peacebringer. Raith Karanis is not classed as a Peace Bringer by the Paragon authorities. He is very careful while in the city to only be seen to behave accordingly, as he slowly develops a relationship with the (mostly) slumbering Nictus within.
• Theologian, metaphysician, anthropologist. Following in the footsteps of Teilhard de Chardin (his exemplar), Varasin has a deep and abiding passion for these lores, with degrees in each; alongside his Doctor of Divinity.
• Analyst.
• Assassin. For a time after coming to the Isles in early 2008, Varasin became an accomplished assassin, apparently working for Arachnos. He was however clandestinely following the lead of Olivia Adams. He left theor service after several months, having achieved both his goals and the necessary information and lore he required. He no longer has the physical abilities he had at that time, but retains the knwledge and experiences it gave him.

Demeanor and Social

Varasin is a humanist in all senses of the word; this is possibly his defining trait. "humanist: a person having a strong interest in or concern for human welfare, values, and dignity; a person devoted to or versed in the humanities; a student of human nature or affairs; a classical scholar. Humanist: any one of the scholars of the Renaissance who pursued and disseminated the study and understanding of the cultures of ancient Rome and Greece, and emphasized secular, individualistic, and critical thought; a person who follows a form of scientific or philosophical humanism."

Assets

• His friends and allies
• The Komturei, and it's resources and capital located on the continent
• His knowledge and lore
• The Annexes, specifically the awakened structure that the physical Annexes are part of
• His library, accessable only to him and two others.

Zahir and Aleph Creating a Zahir or Aleph is probably one of Varasin's favorite ways to try and hinder or help someone; it always has been. At times the Zahir or Aleph is what he says, at other times it is a physical or arcane thing. Loosely put, a zahir is "person or an object that has the power to create an obsession in everyone who sees it, so that the affected person perceives less and less of reality and more and more of the Zahir, at first only while asleep, then at all times." And Aleph is "a point in space that contains all other points. Anyone who gazes into it can see everything in the universe from every angle simultaneously, without distortion, overlapping or confusion." (Please note the player is a huge fan of the author Jorge Luis Borges magical realism; as well as Italo Calvino. The Zahir and Aleph motifs appear repeatedly in any signiciant RP these charcters have.)

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