Name: Mozenrath
Counterpart/World-Without-Magic Name: Arsalan Ahmadi
Occupation: Magic/Djinn Hunter (formerly), Portal Jumper,
Age: Between 33 an 35 years
Hair Color: Dark Brown/black
Eye Color: Dark Brown
Height: 6'2"
History: Mozenrath retains no memory of his parents or any actual family he has. From an early age he displayed magical ability -- unusual in its own light for a human, who are given to learning and using magic but not necessarily having magic themselves, though there are exceptions (such as Emma Swan). He was taken at an early age by the sorcerer Destane and raised to follow in his traditions. Destane saw great potential in him and therefore saw in him a worthy offering to his deity, a god of death and decay called Aaguul (but known by many other names). A priest of his order, Destane had been faithful in its tenets but had yet to see a true vision of the deity or be offered its favor. He believed that fashioning an apprentice of such considerable magic would surely be what earned him an answer (as Aaguul himself was an eater of magic, and the most prized souls left to decay in his realm were those of magical creatures and magic users). Mozenrath's tutelage was one fraught with abuse, both physical and psychological, with his most powerful advances being those that are dragged out of him through torment and stress. The demands placed upon him led to a natural distrust of his mentor (and a certainty that when the man no longer enjoyed hurting him, he would kill him), a hatred of magic (and thereby himself, as Destane taught him that he is magic), and a desire for power that would allow him to overcome those that would harm him. The only thing that kept him at bay for so long was an instilled fear of the superior power his teacher held and the knowledge that if he were to flee, there would be nowhere he could hide, nowhere that Destane would not follow.
At around the age of 15 or 16, Mozenrath was allowed to leave Destane's Citadel in the Land of the Black Sand alone for the first time, and was given a mission: He was to blend in with the locals of a nearby city and to attempt to locate the sanctum of the fabled Witches of the Sand, a dying order of magicians with magical control over the very desert itself. Destane wanted from them a necklace, an object of immense power that would allow him to unlock their secrets. It was Mozenrath's duty to steal it from them, though he went to the city hoping he might learn some of their magic himself -- something to grant him some edge over his master. Unaccustomed to living on his own and in poor health besides, he was not capable of surviving for very long by himself -- something Destane hoped would encourage him to find what he wanted faster. He had the good fortune to meet a girl who understood the streets better than he did, named Sadira. The most he allowed her to learn of him was that he'd run away from home and that he was afraid of being found. Her first instinct was to help him hide.
He was immediately aware of her interest in him, insofar that he had grown up able to sense when someone wanted something from him. Not sensing the usual danger that came with that, however, he came to conclude she meant him no real harm, and seemed interested, even, in impressing him. Soon she confessed to him that she was a magic user and displayed to him her grasp of manipulating sand with it.
He had stumbled upon a Witch of the Sand.
Some things remain unclear as to what took place after their fateful meeting and why. What is known is that Mozenrath convinced Sadira to show him the sanctum, and that he also told her that the Witches of the Sand would eventually kill her when they tired of her. He knew masters. This was just what they did. Perhaps he made her promises, said they would run away together once they could be assured she would not be followed. Perhaps the depth of his own fear of the master he left behind showed her enough to believe he knew what he was talking about. It was also possible that, coincidentally, the women who had been raising and training her all this time happened to show (at just the wrong time) their uglier sides to her.
Whatever the case, she stole the necklace he was after, an amulet of considerable power, as well as a magical staff. With the staff, she trapped the Witches of the Sand in what she told Mozenrath they called the Realm of Mists (a place of death and much dread for their people) and broke the talisman, so there would be no hope of their escape.
Mozenrath took the necklace from her, as well as a few scrolls for study, but before any promises (whether they were made or not) could be kept, Destane appeared, congratulating his pupil on a job well done, commending him on going above and beyond the call of duty. He had not only retrieved the amulet for him, but he had also seen to it that a constant threat to his power had been essentially eliminated. Mozenrath accepted his praise, showing no outward fear of him, and before returning home with him was ordered to dispatch the last witch. The magical blow he dealt that was meant to kill her obviously did not, but Destane did not know, and Mozenrath has shown no sign that he knew either.
His manipulations became almost as strong a focus in his studies as magic, itself. He showed fear when he had to, even a willingness to please when he knew it would get him what he wanted, and for all Destane knew, Mozenrath had after his mission finally come to embrace his lot in life. Mozenrath allowed him to believe he had tasted the power that could be had if he were his best servant and wanted more. In secret, he studied the scrolls he'd stolen but found he could work no magic on the sand in Destane's realm. His health began to improve, because Destane let his guard down and allowed him more privileges, including greater access to food and medicine.
Some years after the demise of the Witches of the Sand, after Destane obtained their precious necklace, Mozenrath was visited in a dream by none other than Aaguul himself, thanking him for the new brides and offering the young man a necklace of his own.
Should he accept it, he knew he would be granted power to throw off the yoke of his master, whom the god had found to be less than worthy, far less than that of his apprentice, but it would come at a price, for magic always comes at a price, even if you are magic.
The fight that took place between Mozenrath and Destane showed the elderly sorcerer benefited from his experience, which far exceeded that of his student. Mozenrath was indeed clever and resourceful, but no matter how many weaknesses he had uncovered and fostered in his enemy through recent years, each one that he had, mental or physical, were ones that Destane himself had carefully cultivated over what spanned nearly two decades of abuse. He was not strong enough in body or in power to win the battle, and very nearly conceded defeat.
It was only when mere words were all that stood between Destane and breaking his student's spirit forever, he saw that the boy was, indeed, wearing a necklace -- not the one he had him steal, but one he had only ever seen in illustration before, one of especially clear meaning, a boon that no one currently living or in recent memory had ever been offered, and whatever force lay in it would not allow him to tear it from Mozenrath's whimpering neck.
It had been centuries since the last time the Lord of Decay had taken a living consort, and in his rage and denial Destane must have forgotten that Aaguul guards the ones he chooses ferociously.
From the Nether slithered a form, a sizable beast swimming through patches of darkness -- like the creatures of the deep brought upon dry and alien land, but thriving. Ravenous and vengeful, the Cambrian monstrosity fell upon its prey, and as it gored his mentor, Mozenrath, unrealizing, felt his strength returning to him, his injuries healing, wounds closing. As he watched, relishing the display, he slowly realized that as the creature took nourishment, so, too did he. When Destane flailed helplessly in some attempt to dislodge it, he felt every buffet, every minor bruise as they slowly healed themselves, but it devoured his power.
Aaguul had gifted his new consort with a Thirdac -- a magic eater, to be precise.
When he ordered it away, the deep creature obeyed. Destane yet lived -- and he continued to, for some time. Each time his magic ebbed and began to regroup, with the help of his gift, Mozenrath and his new companion -- dubbed Xerxes -- drank it in like wine, only ever mending the old man's body just enough to keep him living. When at last he was satisfied that he was no longer thirsty for the fallen sorcerer's pain -- however long that was -- Aaguul accepted his soul with gladness.
This is what is known of Mozenrath's early origins. It is uncertain when he gained the ability to move between worlds, save that he left the world shortly after Destane's death and that it is a power Aaguul grants him -- paths through darkness that his familiar helps him to navigate. At his hands numerous creatures and beings have died and found themselves damned to his master's realm, others subjugated, their time to face eternity still distant for so long as his whims determine. With Aaguul's blessing, Mozenrath was at last granted the ability to manipulate black sand -- dead sand -- and among other abilities and machinations gleaned, there came also his perfection of anti-magic glass and cold iron, powerful tools used to collar and contain his most dangerous enemies, and at last: the gauntlet. A talisman of his own invention, when worn it can draw magic from a radius around the wearer, intensifying magical attacks and spells with the power of his own enemies, but also (when needed) healing injuries or sickness with that same power.
Over time he has developed a particular liking for genies, who take much longer to kill (and they can be killed, at least enough that Aaguul can get his claws on them), but part of it is that he purposefully targets beings of massive power. It's not about being a challenge. He just thinks they deserve to suffer more (and they will). His latest quarry of note was a genie of the lamp, which (frustratingly) evaded capture some years ago. However, he's tenacious, and capable of multitasking. He knew he would have to wait, and there are plenty other fish in the sea, in the meantime.
Personality: Much of Mozenrath's existence revolves around feeling as little genuine emotion as possible unless they're emotions that push him to satisfaction, such as anger, and anger is something he indulges in to an alarming degree. He generally keeps himself on a low boil, and he's good at hiding his agitation -- generally -- so that when he finally decides to be openly angry it's like someone suddenly bursting into flames. Sometimes, the odd person can get under his skin a little quicker, especially if they're clever, and the usual facade doesn't hold up. He gets increasingly agitated in this state, and it's impossible for him to hide. Pestering him to react takes longer than most would expect, however, because he's accustomed to taking a lot before the dam finally breaks, in general.
The only being in existence that ever gets the chance to really see him as he is, without pretense, is Aaguul, and that's because he's not permitted to mask himself, and he suffers more if the layers have to be peeled away. Mozenrath, without veneer, is afraid and desperate for his armor -- for the ability to smile charmingly and redirect, or to feign interest, or even impassiveness. He's also still angry, but it's a helpless kind of angry that leaves him feeling violated when it's drawn out of him. Feeling hurts, even when it should be good, because it's temporary. Pretending feels better, because he gets to decide when he stops, but Aaguul will not suffer pretense. What's worse is that as much as he hates feeling, as afraid as he is, something deep within him may long for lasting human bonds, for something resembling happiness. What his Master gives him is enough. With his blessing he will live long and stay young as he wishes to be, and should he ever be killed he will be granted a rest that Aaguul affords almost no souls that pass into his realm. Isn't that enough like "love" and "happiness" for it to matter?
Despite his grasp of the craft, Mozenrath deeply resents magic. More specifically, he hates powerful magical people, because he thinks they're all manipulative, abusive, murderous people. Like him, really, but if he had to be honest he'd claim that is only because his hand is forced. Beyond his choice to serve his Master by giving him magical souls when it's demanded of him, he kills because it would only be a matter of time before they would do the same to someone else (likely him), or worse. This is an inevitability to him, especially when it comes to magic, and if anyone has ever attempted to shake him in this regard, there has been someone or something (usually Aaguul) to make sure said attempts failed. The way he treats his targets is tied up in that attachment to anger he has. It feels righteous. He deserves to be angry, but what he assumes to be the source of that anger (Destane) is already dead, so this gets concentrated into how he treats the people and creatures he decides to kill and/or enslave; his methods are notably sadistic in nature, especially the more dangerous they are. The ones that are innocent, despite his warped perceptions, are people he's saving from becoming the monsters they'll eventually become.
Sadira is one small exception to this world view, because she was like him. He genuinely believes he saved her when he convinced her to get rid of the Witches of the Sand, and even though she's become a powerful sorceress in his own right, he can't bring himself to see her the same way. If nothing else he oddly pities her, because she won't see things the way that he does, and sometimes he resents her because he didn't kill her, and she obviously wasn't treated the same way he was treated. He's certain that someday he will either kill her, or he will finally convince her that he was right all along.
The persona that Mozenrath puts forward is far removed from what's described above. He seems cool, nonchalant, and to some can be seen as very charming. He's friendly, inviting, enjoys social calls, drinking, music, dancing. He seems indiscriminate about his personal liaisons, when in reality he's just learned over time that his body is just one more thing people can want from him, so he uses it to his advantage. On the outside he almost has the air of a libertine -- live life to the fullest, enjoy yourself at any moment, because you are going to die someday. Possibly young. He puts this out there because that's how he wants the people around him to feel. He wants people to give into their baser urges, because for the time being they can, and when they're in this state they're easier to take advantage of, for whatever reason. What's more, however, is that when he's playing this part, it's the closest thing to happy that he ever approaches. It's fleeting, however, and demands repeated use for that reason.
The subject of his "religion" should also be addressed. Mozenrath is, because he accepted Aaguul's amulet, for all intents and purposes, what is called Aaguul's "consort," though that's really only as much as it sounds if framed in the context that he is a human and Aaguul is very much not, and Mozenrath is regarded only slightly less as a pet, if any affection is actually present (and not a front in its own right to make him behave.) Though called "him" and "he" by most that know Aaguul in the mortal plane, form is only something taken when necessary, and the concept of gender is rather fluid. Mozenrath is very rarely called into his Master's presence directly, where a physical form would be necessary (an experience that always leaves Mozenrath shaken and in need of time to recover), and at all other times speaks either through Xerxes or directly into Mozenrath's mind. This is a problem when he goes to bed with people, because Aaguul tells him what to do -- unless he's so drunk that he can't hear him. He is accepting of his lot in this respect because it's the only one he was allowed to choose for himself, and that is extremely important to him. He is grateful for his boon, and there is the understanding that the necklace he wears is one that can only be removed if he chooses to take it off, himself. He is actually too devoted (and still too soft on the concept of saying "no" to what he perceives as a god) to do this.
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