Abraxas

Abraxas is the self-styled God-King of the Divine Empire. He has ruled the empire since its founding some thirteen hundred years past, and personally presided over every stage of its founding and subsequent expansion. He is very much at the center of his world; he defines those he rules as much as his enemies, thanks to the sheer force of his presence and will. He is famous throughout his world, both as a leader and warrior of divine and superhuman power.

Nature

Abraxas is far from human. The form he takes most often and presents as his true form is that of a man with golden hair, perfect in physique and shockingly beautiful. He appears human in form, though not in stature or in sheer force of presence. Abraxas stands some sixteen feet in height, and his hair and eyes have a metallic sheen to them. He seems to constantly be surrounded by an aura of glowing, golden light. He often wears armor of a similar golden color, but covers it rich red garments.

Abraxas' power is immense. In combat, he is a monster; he has personally led the Divine Empire to victory is every major battle they have fought in. He wields an immense, gold-plated broad sword that is as long as him. He can also project raw power with his mind, creating fires and storms with equal ease. His power seems to go beyond magic, as it comes to him easily and wordlessly. His flesh is also resistant to weapons of normal make; to date, he has never been injured, and swords of even the finest steel shatter when they touch his skin. Weapons using magitechnology have never been tested upon him, but he has been observed to withstand an entire mountain collapsing atop him.

However, his fearsome prowess in combat is not what makes Abraxas feared. He has personally held his empire together through superhuman traits. Most notably, Abraxas can teleport across the world in an instant. He has shown himself reluctant to teleport into the midst of enemies, but he has effectively fought in three battles simultaneously through carefully timed teleportation. However, it is his domination of others and his ability to communicate that truly tie his people together.

Abraxas is amazing to behold; those who gaze upon him often have their own wills chipped away at. The sheer presence of the God-King commands respect; even his worst enemies, when seeing him in person, have paid him heed and tribute. Those who serve him have been known to bow in worship just at his sight. He can never cause perfect obedience - but he does make those around him have a compulsion to serve him. This is compounded by the fact that he can understand any language, and whenever he speaks, his words are heard in the listener's native language. He can also see out of the eyes of those who swear their service to him, and even take control of them - speaking and acting through them when need be (though without the vast power he commands in person, including the subtle compulsion to please him).

It has been through this, as well as his Avatars, that his empire is held together. Abraxas, simply put, is much of his empire's government. His ministers and officers act independently at times, but are often possessed by his spirit - sometimes simultaneously - and allow him to personally lead his empire. If a problem is truly dire, then Abraxas can teleport in and handle a problem personally.

Avatars

Abraxas can imbue individuals with a part of his power. The extent to which they receive power varies a great deal, but all individuals imbued with a fragment of his power are called Avatars.

The strongest of his Avatars also possess little free will. These individuals are often capable of incredible feats of magic. While they are not capable of instantly creating magical effects like Abraxas himself, they can use most any spell that he knows (and, rest assured, he knows quite a few). Most can see mana strands, as well, and can see supernatural phenomena like ghosts, spirits, and demons easily. They also are of incredible stamina, proving near impossible to poison, and naturally resistant (but not immune) to simple physical forms of damage. They are supernaturally strong, dexterous, and fast. The exact capabilities vary from Avatar to Avatar, but they are of similar might.

However, these Avatars are the ones that Abraxas is most likely to control - both directly, by taking over their bodies and working through them, and indirectly through command. He pays attention to them carefully, and regards them as resources to be used. It is rare that he will have more than ten of them at any given time.

The more common form of Avatar can be found in the middle to upper levels of the imperial bureaucracy and officers. Abraxas will gift mid-ranked officers with more basic sets of powers. He may make a bureaucrat who handles ledgers able to think more quickly. A shaman may have access to healing magic. Sorcerors will be given a selected set of spells to be used in battle. Soldiers will be stronger, harder to kill, and faster than some. He gives most all of them the ability to speak any language and understand any language, as well, and he can choose to see from their eyes and hear from their ears whenever he wishes. There are generally two to three thousand such individuals at any time.

Abraxas can take an Avatar's abilities away at any time.

Personality

Abraxas presents an outward persona of being a divine, magnanimous being. He prefers to maintain an air of being far above human. To most he meets, Abraxas will speak and act as a God. Simply being in his presence involves a great deal of ritual. Servants bow low to him, and soldiers swear lengthy oaths of fealty to him. Abraxas likes to speak in cryptic words and leave men in awe.

He does not show his real personality to many. It is clear that he regards humans as something underneath him; while he tries to protect them, he also believes it is his right to rule over and even dominate them.