Synshaw Malkahn
Player: Mike
Background:
Prelude:
North America, Magic Zone, The Federation of Magic, Kingdom of Dunscon, Nostrous
A tortured young boy sits and watches as his step-father makes a deal with a travelling carnie. As the carnival master hands the man a cred stick, he looks back over his shoulder at the boy and motions him in the direction of the carnival. The carnie walks over, "C'mon, boy! You belong to me now." ~I should be happy.~, young Synshaw thinks to himself. For years, he's put up with his step-father's cruel abuse, harassment and heckling. Ever since the mysterious death of his mother, which now he's sure his step-father had something to do with, he's treated the boy harshly. There was a time, when he looked up to this man and admired him. He was, after all, a great and powerful mage.
Synshaw wanted so much to be respected like his step-father was in public. It wasn't until later that he'd find out how wicked his step-father truly was, and learned the difference between respect and fear. He begged his step-father to teach him his magic, but the old man merely laughed at him. "You? Haw! You have neither the ability nor the talent to become a mage such as myself.", he would gloat. ~We'll see about that. Some day, old man!~, Synshaw thought to himself, but not now. Now he was being sold to the traveling show for a few measly credits. His step-father told him, "It's time I re-coup'ed some of the money I've had to spend putting food in your miserable mouth and keeping you alive. Now, you're going to be someone else's worry!"
Synshaw would spend the next few years doing much the same things he had done for his step-father. Cooking, cleaning, mending and sewing for the carnival's performers. After a couple years, he had picked up a few tricks and skills, and was even allowed to perform in some of the shows. He turned out to be a strong and handsome young man, so he was even fairly popular, but his true ambition stayed the same. He wanted to learn magic! His favorite of all the carnies was Merlin, a mystic who signed on with the circus telling fortunes and performing magic shows. Synshaw tried to learn anything about magic he could from Merlin, but unfortunately, his step-father had been right about one thing.
For whatever reason, Synshaw just didn't have the knack for wizardry. Merlin felt sorry for the boy because it ate at him so, but he also tried to be careful for he saw something very dark in the young man's future. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't seem to grasp the magic that flowed all around him. It was almost as if it was taunting him just to try to catch it. Merlin guessed that was part of Synshaw's problem. He wanted it too much, he was trying too hard. The harder he tried, the further away it seemed to slip from him, and the more it ate at him inside. "Try to relax. You can't force it to happen.", Merlin tried to advise him, but he just couldn't. It wasn't just something he wanted, it was something he needed! Some part of him yearned for the magic to make him whole.
Present
Atlantis, Splynn
Lord Splynncryth of Atlantis had gotten word of someone in search of an ancient artifact or relic that he may be interested in, and had decided to look into it. What he needed was a pawn, a spy who could find out what it was they were after and for what purpose. He decided to enlist help, and with that decision he sent forth a fragment of his essence towards North America to seek out a likely willing subject.
What it found was a desperate young man by the name of Synshaw Malkahn, who wanted nothing more than to know the secrets of magic, and to show his step-father how wrong he was. He wanted these things more than life itself. That night, in a dream, a being of immense power made contact with him. "I have come to deliver you.", it told him. "I am that which you seek! Will you embrace me and my gifts to become one with you?", it asked. His answer came swiftly and completely. "Yes!", he replied.
In that instant, Synshaw knew more power than anything he'd ever known before. The energy that consumed and engulfed him was incredible. In that instant, he and his whole world changed. He stood and felt the power of the gods themselves coursing through his veins and knew that from that night forward nothing would ever be the same. That night he took his things and left the show. He had a show of his own to perform for a captive audience of one. Within days he had reached his old home, and faced his step-father.
The old man spat, "You! What are you doing here? I thought I rid myself of you!" Synshaw grinned, "Oh no, old man. I've come back to repay you for all you did for me as a child." The old man hissed, "You should have stayed away. Now, I'll teach you!" Synshaw's eyes flashed, "No! This time it is I who shall teach you!" It was over in less than a minute. The old man never stood a snowball's chance in hell. By the time it was over, the old man lay dead in a pool of his own blood. All his magic was nothing to Synshaw now.
Synshaw couldn't even begin to understand what he ever thought he saw in the feeble old man that commanded so much fear. No matter. He would never be afraid again. Such is life in Nostrous. As he took what he needed from his boyhood home, a part of him stirred and told him now that he had his revenge, he had work to do. A precognitive flash in his mind's eye showed him a vision of what was to follow. He knew what he had to do from there, and for the time being he would be the eyes and ears of the Master of Atlantis.