"Fall... Fall like him... And burn...!"
Klein Ehrlich
Hope's Embers
Race:
Undead (Half-Giant)
He has not left his armor for years even before he died, and he has yet to remove it since his resurrection. No one is aware of Klein's true identity, but his size indicates he was either an exceptionally tall Human, or a very short Giant.
God:
Reaper Caronte (Fell God of Hope)
God Perks:
The Body (Free)
Klein cannot die naturally, as he is not truly alive. He has no vital organs, and it would require the complete destruction of his body to truly end him. This has helped immensely, as he is almost constantly on fire - a condition that would kill him very quickly if he was still alive. He possesses a Phylactery, his own sword, but considering its composition and nature, completely destroying it is much more challenging than simply destroying his body.
"My Aelia... So long as I bathe in your light... I shall never die..."
Midnight One (Free)
Like all undead, Klein cannot stand the light of the sun. During the day he is weaker, his magic is flimsy, and the flames bite deeper into him. It isn't until night when he reclaims a portion of his former strength.
"Ahh... The light of the sun... It... It burns far harsher than I remember..."
Musicians of Bremen
Klein's equipment is almost permanently welded to his body, melted flesh sticking to his armor like rust. His word can be removed from his grip, albeit difficultly and only with his cooperation.
"Hm...? Ah... No, I shall not remove my armor... It is all that keeps the flames contained within... I shall not burden you with my penance."
Float Like Foam
Klein can sacrifice his thoughts and memories, burning them as fuel for his powers. The more he sacrifices of his old life, the stronger his attacks become - in conjunction with his other 'sacrificial' abilities, he can be one of the strongest of the resurrected... for a single strike.
"Hahh... Hahh... Hahh... You seek to take my mind as well as my body...? You never fail to amuse, my Aelia..."
A lifetime of Skill
Even in life, few could match Klein in combat with his Devoted weapon. Now that he has had even more time to train and refine his abilities, he is a true monster in combat, his skill in the Vicious Slashing Arts nearly unparalleled.
"I am unskilled in the blade... I only know the flames... They are my teacher, as I am now yours..."
Blessings:
Little Match Flame
Klein may burn more than just objects and enemies - even things as immaterial as the soul or life force may be used as fuel. The resulting flames are very powerful, especially when funneled through the Dying Light. But should he run out of the life force of others, he must burn his own soul for fuel.
"Demon... I wish for you... to feel even an ounce of my torture... BURN..."
General Perks:
Basic Job (Free)
3 Basic Feats
Advanced Job (Free)
2 Advanced Feats
Master Job x1
1 Master Job Feat
Rougish Build (Tough)
Toughness taken to the logical extreme for one's species.
Hoarder
+2 Starting Items.
Ignition
Can trigger Ignition, burning away mana for great power. Hurts to actively use, but you are far stronger while using it. Considering his abilities, Klein refers to this as his 'First Ignition', as it is the one he uses most frequently.
Reckless Disposition
Klein is a lot more resistant to pain than others would think.
Job:
Feather Knight (False)
A class geared around mimicking the fighting style of Birds, relying on speed to evade and land brutal strikes on the enemy. Klein's style has shifted significantly since his acquisition of the Dying Light, trading nearly all evasion and defense for a brutal style focused on overwhelming the opponent before the user takes too much damage.
Basic Feats:
Butcher Slashing Arts
Last Breath Style
Light Armor Arts
Advanced:
Devotion
Vicious Slashing Arts
Master:
Complete Mastery (Vicious Slashing Arts)
Extreme Devotion
"Yes...! Attack me...! Strike until we are both ash...!!!"
Magic:
Foundation Missile (Free)
A crude projectile, known by many but rarely used by proper Magi. Klein utilizes it rarely as a long-range attack, but prefers to either use Fire Clap or simply approach the enemy and engage in close-quarter combat.
"I am... unfamiliar with its use... I typically rely... on my flames..."
Foundation Barrier (Free)
A barrier to protect the user from harm. Useful to most, but Klein's fighting Style typically involves minimal defense and his mana is better spent on more offense. Still, he is more accustomed to its use than with his Foundation Missile.
"Don't stoke the embers... if you cannot handle their heat..."
Fire Clap
The ability to project and manipulate flames. Klein's most used spell by far, it allows him to increase the intensity of his natural flames for use in attacks. Can also be used to manipulate his flames to avoid damaging the surroundings, but this requires concentration that is difficult to maintain for long periods. Can also diminish the flames and give him temporary reprieve, but fully putting them out is nigh-impossible.
"Hm...? Yes, of course I possess this magic... How else did you expect me to not set every building I enter ablaze...?"
Weapon Ignition
The ability to greatly enhance a weapon's performance, at the cost of a large deal of mana and extreme concentration. Klein refers to it as his 'Second Ignition', as it is usually only used if the First Ignition is insufficient.
"N-now you demand my mana, Aelia...!? THEN TAKE IT...!!!"
A Soul Can Be Cut
A crude spell used by many who follow the Reaped Caronte. Allows the caster to affect souls directly with the magic and weapons, making it highly dangerous against foes that reside within the Astral Realm.
"The flames of hell... burn even your soul... Demon..."
Life Bargain
A spell typically used by other mages to transfer life force for healing purposes. In the hands of the undead, it drains vitality of the enemy, where it is stored within the body. This energy is of little use to most, but in conjunction with Little Match's Flame, acts as a 'battery' to fuel its function longer before Klein's own soul is drained.
"May this life force within me burn... burn like a Little Match's Flame..."
Gear:
Aelia - The Dying Light
Master Gear
-3 Gear
An ever-burning sword, forged from the Ashes of a Phoenix and wood of the Acacia tree it once nested in. It would be blunt if not for the obsidian lining the length of the blade. Repairs itself in a burst of flames when damaged, sending burning wood and obsidian shrapnel flying with every strike. So long as a splinter remains, it will return eventually - like a Phoenix from its ashes.
Can shift form at will, either into a burning bird, or a Human female. Klein is loathe to stray far from Aelia even in these forms, making their use in scouting an affair reserved for only the most serious of situations.
"Ah... My Aelia... I will give you everything you request of me... So please... Stay with me just a while longer..."
"Chirp! My Nest is far too needy~! Very well - you may borrow my power as long as you need!"
Main Materials:
Phoenix Ash
Acacia
"Quit your whining! I like my Nest warm, and these flames aren't too bad! Ah... Fine. If you're such a baby, I'll heal you a bit..."
Secondary Materials:
Obsidian
"Ugh... I was loathe to have my new form sullied by Stone and Metal... But whacking my body against demons like a burning broom would be all the more humiliating... Glass made from the Earth's fire was as much of a compromise as I would allow!"
Forging:
Mastercraft
Maiden Sacrificed
All-kinds-of-fur
Folded a Thousand Times
"Coo... Coo... Being forged into a blade was a... more pleasant experience than I assumed. The warmth of the forge, the rhythmic sound of hammering, the gentle yet firm grasp of the blacksmith..."
"Ugh..."
"Ah, are you jealous of a long-dead dwarf, my Nest? cheep cheep cheep!!!"
Traits:
Awakening ('Third Ignition')
Fusion Form
Reality Bending
Thinking
Evolving
"I do not wish to grant you such power, my Nest... You are so fragile... Let us flee for now. Just for-"
"Give it to me, Aelia... I wish to fly...! Aelia...!!!"
"Peep... Very well... My loyal Nest... 'Third Ignition'..."
Scattered Feathers
Basic Gear
-1 Gear
A far simpler construction than the Dying Light, the Scattered Feathers are composed primarily of Ignition Metal which is constantly ablaze (or at least scalding hot) from its wearer's flames. Tendons and feathers can be seen just beneath the surface, poking out through joints and small openings of the armor - whether they are from the same bird that gave its ashes to the Dying Light, or it is Klein's own melted flesh is anyone's guess. Ash and cinders flow behind the user's every step, choking the night air around them.
Main Material:
Ignition Metal
Secondary Materials:
Monster Parts (Weight: Light / Durability: Low / Resistance: High)
Ashes to Ashes
Forging:
Fleshy Bits
Repaired
Traits:
Elementary (Fire)
Floating
Blessing of Soothing: Increases regeneration while out of combat.
Burial Gifts:
Ornamental Sword
Head, Eye, Claw
A 'Pet' (Can light or snuff small flames around herself at will. Can fly with impressive speed.)
All three are his sword.
"You are my everything, Aelia... My light... My sword... My life..."
"And you're my house, Nest. Now hurry up and find me some sweets!"
Drawbacks:
Warbound
+1 Master Feat, Reckless Disposition. Lose 1 Perk. Chose Master Feat: Complete Mastery (Vicious Slashing Arts).
Klein cannot function in normal society. He burned for years before dying, and continues to burn now that he has been resurrected. Such torment has taken its toll on his mind, and he can only view others for the threat they pose, or their use in combat. Aelia typically performs the 'domestic' tasks, such as cooking for him, doing basic maintenance on their limited gear, negotiations, and putting out any fires Klein happens to miss.
"Ah... No thank you... I do not plan to visit the blacksmith... The sound of clanging metal reminds me of my battle with the Dragon Yinnash..."
Soul-Bound
+1 General Perk and 1 Advanced Feat. Chose Perk: Roguish Disposition, and Advanced Feat: Vicious Slashing Arts.
Klein's soul is forcefully bound to Aelia, a consequence of turning her into his Phylactery. She can control the amount of power he has access to, and often limits him in order to preserve his life and keep him from 'burning out' more quickly. She is unlikely to grant him access to more than one Master Trait at any time, unless he is on the verge of death or it is truly vital in the defeat of the Demon God. This is one of the few points in their relationship that cause serious tension.
"I invoke you... My Aelia... Grant me strength in my Dying Light..."
"Are you retarded? I'm not letting you use Fusion Form against fucking Imps! Cut their heads off or something."
Eternal Nightmares
+1 Perk or Blessing or Magic from Fell God of Hope. Chose Magic: Weapon Ignition
Klein cannot sleep on his own. He simply succumbs to exhaustion, the fatigue overpowering the constant pain of burning. In his dreams, he faces the demons that slaughtered his Master/Blade. The injuries he sustains appear present on his form when he awakens - how much of this is coincidence from his constant burning is anyone's guess. Suffice to say, Klein has not had a restful nights sleep in years.
"A bad dream, my Nest? Fufu, for one so old, you are spoiled like a child... Very well, I will sing a lullaby to you once more..."
Ablaze
+1 Perk or Blessing or Magic from Fell God of Hope. Chose Magic: Fire Clap.
His devotion to his blade has had an unfortunate side effect. Klein is perpetually aflame, even total submersion in water only quenching them for a minute at most. So long as he retains ownership of the sword, he will burn.
"Ahh... Ahh... Ahhhhhh..."
"Bear with it a bit longer, my Nest... Once your skin regenerates, I'm sure you'll feel better... I'm sorry..."
To be Unmade in Bliss
+1 Perk or blessing or Magic from the Unmade Goddess. Chose Perk: Float Like Foam.
A consequence of his new form, distant as it is from the Fell God of Hope. The flames slowly chip away at the essence that compose Klein. Each regeneration, a little is lost. Eventually, nothing will remain - and he will die. The burning can be slowed by harvesting enough life force, and is accelerated when using strong powers like Fusion Form of all of his Ignitions.
"...My Nest... H-have you ever considered discarding me? A-after all, you've grown quite hollow. I deserve a solid Nest, d-don't you th-"
"I will never... let you go... My Aelia..."
"...coo."
Biography
Klein Ehrlich was one of the most loyal knights of the Fell God of Hope. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by loyal Clergy of the God, and was taught in the ways of his worship. Originally desiring priesthood, his martial prowess and giant-heritage made him a prime candidate to become a Knight. He would pursue this at the request of his adoptive father, and eventually was granted passage into the Feather Knighthood - an order typically dominated by followers of the Unmade Goddess.
Klein's physical prowess and toughness made him adept in the practice of the Vicious Slashing Arts, but he lacked the evasion that was hallmark of his Order. Instead, he relied on reckless and near suicidal tactics to survive, slaughtering opponents before they had a chance to kill him. And while this was a difficult feat for the Order's Knights, he could cleave through the less agile demons with ease.
Aelia was one of the first Elder Beasts to be killed in the war, slain by the Demon General Ifrit dozens of times before allying with the Dwarves. Her ashes were forged into one of the strongest weapons made by Dwarven Kind, the Dying Light. It could command flames and grant its wielder strength only seen in the highest of Beasts. But anyone who took it up would be lit in an undying fire.
The Feather Knights were the first to be presented the opportunity to wield the blade, more a consequence of their naming convention than anything else. Of all the Knights, Klein was the only one willing to uptake the Dying Light. As soon as he grasped the handle, he was set alight... and spend the next 3 months screaming on the stonework floor. To be burned alive is one of the greatest pains that can be experienced - anyone who had fought the followers of the Dragon God knew this. And this man was condemned to suffer this fate for the rest of his life.
Eventually, Klein grew capable of bearing the pain enough to move under his own power again - and after a brief time recovering and sharpening his skills, he found himself to be a far more effective combatant than he ever was before. Demons fell before the the Dying Light in droves, and even the Dragons were forced to give pause to the flames that rivaled their own. Even the Ifrit was slain by the Phoenix he had killed so many times before. During his years of activity, the Phoenix within the blade was Klein's only companion - the knights of the order were never close in the first place, and the people he saved couldn't get to close without risk of being burned. Klein would slowly become completely obsessed with the blade, treating her opinion and demands over even his god's.
It wasn't until a particularly massive Dragon attacked him that Klein finally fell, their Evolving Scales a perfect counter to the Knight's Ignitions.
Klein died before any of the gods, and with his resurrection, he sees that only three retain their full glory. His body, once vibrant with life energy, was now a hollow shell of rotting meat, the burning flesh sealed within the metal shell of his armor.
Personality:
Klein has spent years constantly on fire, with his closest companion essentially being the ghost of a bird. This has, obviously, had an irrecoverable impact on his psyche, leaving him as a serious and sullen fighter. He is nearly suicidal in combat, throwing himself without restraint at the enemy until they die, relying on his inherent durability and regeneration to recover after the fact. He will gladly take grievous injuries so an ally will avoid flesh wounds, and against foes that are not immune to fire, he is a terrifying threat.
Out of combat Klein is soft-spoken and penitent. He rarely finds comfort in the words of others, and only interacts with his peers so that he may have allies when it is time for battle. He spends most of his free time practicing his swordsmanship, and spends little time in the city due to the concentration required to not burn everything around him. He was fond of baking when he was alive, and while the flames make it difficult, he can suppress them with his armor and magic enough to partake briefly. Sweets are something both he and Aelia are quite fond of, and gifting them exceptionally tasty treats are one of the best ways to ally yourself with the pair.
Having been resurrected by The Reaped Caronte instead of the Fell God of Hope, Klein is suffering a bit of an identity crisis. He still practices the faith of the Fell God, but while his new form is much more durable than his last, its composition is not as resilient to the flames and is slowly fading. When especially morose, he can rarely be heard over the cracking of his own flames, and he seeks isolation in the cemeteries of Anfitrian. He blames his 'abandonment' on his devotion to Aelia, who in life he held in higher esteem than his own god.
Pictured: The 17th slaughter of Aelia.
Pictured: Klein Ehrlich, moments before receiving the Dying Light.