Planet Zar: Nexus

Jaseu

STANDING AT THE CHECKERBOARD BALL

BASICS

Name	Jaseu	Gender	Male
Species	Euclides	Pronouns	he/him
Age	Adult	Affinity	inspiration
Height:	5'10" (human) | 1'9" at shoulder (feral)	Rank:	Marionette
Residence	Anygh, Terra	Occupation	Dealer of fine goods

Note

Completely blind. The monocle he wears has magical properties that allows him to see in shades of grey. The monocle is also capable of detecting lies and deceits, illuminating these in bright red. 

Personality

Prestige is Jaseu's driving force. He wants to be known, revered, perhaps even feared. He wants to be invaluable,  important to important people, and he's unscrupulous in pursuing this end. He's a cunning liar, acting the empathetic father-figure when it suits him, when he's truly apathetic toward anyone but himself. He cares for his son and grandson only in-so-much as they are useful to him and come from a peculiar bloodline that's proven valuable in the New World. Jaseu indulge's in the luxuries his wealth affords him - he loves fine clothes, fine food, and comfortable living. The image he presents is just as important as the foundations of his fencing business. He's discrete and economical, taking careful precautions to keep his pride from getting the best of him.  He's trustworthy insofar as he always keeps his word regarding business deals. But he does not make friends and he vets his allies religiously.

Jaseu doles out vengeance with grim stoicism. He has no desire to be cruel toward others, but his image is important. He cannot allow people to double-cross him without facing consequences. In turn, he provides his allies with benefits and luxuries to keep them close. He values honesty and makes it his practice to never lie to business partners - and he expects the same courtesy in return. He doesn't let it be known that his monocle allows him to suss out deceit. He simply... disposes of those who aren't trustworthy. Jaseu is perfectly capable of evasiveness and discretion when the wrong sort come asking questions. He's not backstabbing and it takes a great deal of threat (or promise) to push him into deceiving his clients.

History

Centuries old, Jaseu was born on the Old World, where he had free reign to hunt humans at his leisure. He met a similar predator during his young adult days - a vampire/werewolf hybrid who proved too captivating to resist. The man's name was Leto, and he and Jaseu had a brief but fiery relationship that resulted in a pair of euclides-hybrid bebes. Their children were cursed with both lycanthropy and vampirism, ostracized from all three societies. Jaseu was horrified with his sons and abandoned them - and Leto - shortly after their birth.

He didn't reconnect with them until the Great Move to Anygh. This was Jaseu's chance to reinvent himself, free from the scorn his past relationships caused him. Jaseu took residence in Terra and set out to make a name for himself. Through experience and an eye for detail thanks to his magical monocle, Jaseu became a trader of illicit goods. Discreet, intelligent, and crafty, he became one of Terra's best dealers - in both artifacts and trading human bodies.

Several years into his enterprise he ran into a grandson he didn't realize he had: Zarujse. A fellow marionette with exceptional shapeshifting abilities, likely bolstered by his vampire/werewolf heritage. Zarujse deliberately sought Jaseu out after learning of the inspiration-euclides exceptional business.

Ashamed at having originally abandoned his family, Jaseu was uncertain how to interact with Zarujse. Zarujse wished to work for his grandfather, and he had all the subtly and ruthlessness someone in his line of business needed to excel. Zarujse produced a few rare artifacts - murdon blessed gems - to prove himself. Jaseu agreed.

Zarujse revealed that at least one of Jaseu's sons was also on Anygh: Nathaniel, Zarujse's uncle. Nathaniel was a treasure hunter who could also benefit their enterprise.

Jaseu left Zarujse in charge of their business in Terra and left to find his son. Few abyss born with humanoid lineage had come to Anygh, so following the whispers of a vampiric hybrid wasn't difficult, now that Jaseu knew to look.

He found Nathaniel in Turacha, the southern ice nation, where strength speaks the loudest. His feral form was nearly identical to Jaseu's and the bright read "Father's Folly" scrip beneath his eye was unmistakable. Nathaniel pit himself against some of Turacha's gladiators in order to win an unbound nakotua - a sapient insect capable of great power once bonded. Very valuable. Jaseu was no fighter, and Nathaniel outranked him in power and ability, but Jaseu found he couldn't stand seeing his son getting bloodied in the pits. Jaseu paid one of the servants to slip Nathaniel an ability enhancing potion - from an anonymous sponsor. This released Nathaniel's vampiric and lycanthropic powers, allowing him to obliterate his opponents.

Jaseu revealed himself at the end of the tournament. Nathaniel was furious. His father had abandoned him, his brother, their other father. Nathaniel spat at him and stormed away. Jaseu couldn't deny a single accusation. He'd hated the children he created. Abominations. But here, on Anygh, anything with a touch of human blood was rare and valuable. Jaseu wanted the prestige that would come with having Nathaniel in his corner.

He apologized profusely, told Nathaniel sweet lies of being afraid, worrying he'd be a terrible father, thinking his sons would be better off without him. Eventually, with coaxing and skepticism, Nathaniel agreed to go back to Terra with Jaseu.

In attending the Checkerboard Ball, Jaseu is eager to make connections outside of Anygh that might help further his fame and prestige. It's been a very long time since he's been around a great number of humans but he's promised to be on his best behavior and mingles courteously with everyone. Truthfully, he's terrified of bonding a dragon - he's relied on himself for so long the prospect of sharing his mind with another person is daunting. What if he bonds someone he can't trust? What if he doesn't remember how to trust? Jaseu will stand with his fellow candidates despite his fear and use all his skills to mask his trepidation.

Abilities

SHAPESHIFTING

human, anthromorphic, and feral forms

INSPIRATION

Jaseu can provide bursts of creative inspiration up to once per day, directed at a single recipient.

CREATIVE BLOCK

Jaseu can block creativity and motivation in up to 3 targets, the sensation lasts up to 3 days.

SOUL STRAND MAGIC

The euclides were given the power of keeping 'soul strands,' which earned them their ranking system theme of puppeteers. All sentient beings have soul strands, and a euclides may temporarily extract this from an individual's conscious, rendering them immobile and helpless. The euclides may then use these soul strands to puppeteer their victims - giving the euclides full control over their bodies. The individual is conscious of this, and views it as an out of body experience. Higher ranking euclides may have control over several soul strands at a time, for longer periods, but all must eventually be given up.

On average, a soul strand can be held for up to 48 hours. Puppet Master and directors who have had adequate practice can hold them for much longer, but the time takes its toll on the user. The soul strand will be trying to "fight back" against the thief, causing headaches, dizziness, nausea, hallucinations, moments of confusion, and so forth. Too long, and permanent brain damage can occur. The mind needs a rest after taking over a soul strand, and is left raw and open for several hours once the strand has been returned. It is especially open to other forms of mind control and telepathy.

Physical proximity is required in order to obtain a soul strand. Higher ranking and well-practiced individuals do not need to physically touch those they're stealing from, but closeness is required. A soul strand is very rarely taken willingly, and will struggle against a euclide as hard as it can. Individuals weak of mind or temperament (timid, nervous individuals, for example) or those suffering from ill health are much easier to steal from than a healthy, confident individual.

Stories

Negotiation

Bielyr offers an exchange of services to Jaseu and his family.

Click to Read

Lineage

Siblings unknown	Emnib inspiration marionette lynx
	Pharuje inspiration director hyena/highland cow patchwork

Connections

Nathaniel

ESTRANGED SON

Jaseu's hybrid son, abandoned in infancy, only to be "welcomed" back in Jaseu's arms when he determined Nathaniel might be of use to him.

Zarujse

GRANDSON

"Beloved" grandson and business partner. Jaseu has something of a blind eye toward Zarujse's own nefarious machinations.

Bielyr

ASSOCIATE

Long-term business partner. As trusted as any of Jaseu's trade associations can be.

Gallery