Post by Stanislav Kovac on Jan 10, 2017 10:27:20 GMT -6
 | PLAYED BY NOVEM NINETEEN (19) NOVEMBER (11) | MALE VYTAL SENIOR HUMAN |
| STANISLAV KOVAC | ||
★ APPEARANCE
Distinctive, would be quick way of describing Stanislav, or Stan as his friends call him. Maybe it's the fact he stands just shy of six foot seven, with arms the size of small trees, and shoulders that makes getting through door ways a hassle. It could be the dense plume of prematurely grey hair sprouting out the top of his head, in stark contrast to his bronze skin tone. Either way it's hard for the young man to be subtle. Built like a true powerlifter, with a waist about as broad as his chest, with the vaguest form of definition around the pectorals. If for whatever reason he were to take his shirt of, you’d be able to see the twisted and grey mess of burnt scar tissue lining the backs of his shoulders, a memento on frivolous use of his semblance, though repeated treatments means it no longer interferes with his range of movement, it still stings when pressed against.
Stanislav has never been one to feel the heat, funnily enough, to the point where it's rare not to see him bundled under layers of scarves and clothes. Typically you’ll see him with no less than two shirts, a hoodie, and his distinctive four-pocket waxed jacket, with his hair bound in some manner of daedalian braid (that takes up the majority of his morning routine to fix up) hidden behind a ushanka, chullo, or beanie.
When the time for war as at hand, Stanislav will can be found knee deep in the fighting, dressed in the suit of armour passed down the family line since Zsigmond, the first Kovac himself. His hair unbound and left flying in the wind, kept out his face with a tall gold crown ending in five upward spires, with a grey visor clasping down over his eyes and nose, with a battered scarf wrapped around his mouth and neck. A dense fur tunic under a thick golden breast plate offers protection from glancing blows and weather, with a belt of gold tipped pteruges ending just above his knee, along with the tunic. A wide waist cloth protrudes from under the belt, ending just shy of the ankle at the rear, and just above the knee at the front. Rough trousers continue on a little further, until they end at the mid calf, leaving thick bindings and a pair of caligae to guard his feet against the ground, along with a pair of golden anklets, to match the golden manacles he sports on each wrist, a single chain link hanging from each. Finally, his left hand is bound in a grey cloth tape to help his grip.
★ PERSONALITY
★ HISTORY
If you were to take a trip away from the main streets of Setek, down through the side streets, you’d come across a small wooden shotgun shack, sturdy and well maintained but otherwise unimpressive, in fact how modest it looks is what makes it stand out. This is the Kovac Workshop: “Friends to Hunters” and producers of some of the finest bespoke arms and ammunition available on the market. While its location has moved around from every corner of the world to the next, there’s never been a day where its doors haven’t been open to a hunter. Founded by Zsigmond Kovac during the very earliest hunts, after he grew dissatisfied with the state of hunter’s equipment during hunter’s first awkward steps. Ever since then, the Kovac family has taken up his torch, and every year dozens of finely crafted weapons roll out their door, some pricy commissioned pieces, many however are donations. The bread and butter of the business tends to be upgrading and customising off the wall weapons, a weapon made from scratch from the workshop is a rare thing indeed, typically in the hands of the very rich, or the very needy.
Typically, it's the firstborn who inherits the business, but it's the second born who inherits the family sword and armour, after all, typically speaking a Kovac Hunter doesn’t get to live long enough to run the business. Stanislav was one of these lucky second born, meaning his childhood was a fairly awkward one, after all it's not like many people grow up knowing they’re going to die before they hit forty years old. Rather than despairing, or even trying to run away from this fact, Stanislav embraced it fully, he knew he would end up paying the heaviest price there is, but as far as he was concerned it was worth it. If he spent the next fifty years fighting the things that went bump in the night, his last thought wasn’t going to be that evil had triumphed, it was going to be that he got to live like a god for five decades. Sure the last ten minute might end up sucking, but a man can’t have everything. He was going to be the best there ever was, a hero worthy of the Kovac title, people were going to sing his songs for a thousand years. That was the beauty of his situation, if he survived he got to be a king among men, and if he died, he got to be a legend.
And so he threw himself into his studies and practice, breaking and mending himself over and over until it was time to begin his formal education. His footwork became steady, he learnt not to cling to victory, he stopped thinking of his life, his obligations, the outcome of the battle, his hatred for his opponent, his training, his pride in his mastery, polluting his mind with such things, would make him an imperfect vessel for his terrible Semblance. He no longer clinged to his instruments. He knew it is better to have a sword and gun, but victory had to lie under his fingernails if need be. He had to learn victory with his elbows, victory with his knees, and victory with his thumbs and fingertips. But most importantly, he learnt to love the world he grew up in with a passion, staying up up into the wee hours of the morning, chatting feverishly about some dusty old scholar's theory of the shape of the world. He came to see that the world held value enough to not only die for, but to fight for, which helped curb the rather zealous search for martyrdom. It’s a pity that he never learnt to encompass Faunas in this broad love of humanity, viewing them as competition at best.
When he was finally old enough to attend Vytal, he was carted off almost immediately, much to his own excitement. Initially he was rather cocksure about the whole affair, after he had spent nearly ten years training for this, what could they possibly throw at him that could challenge him? A lot, was the answer, they could throw a lot of challenges at him. While he was physically talented, a mercurial fighter, he knew nothing of the theory behind tracking and fighting an opponent, he had even neglected nuturing his own aura. Simply put, he had spent his life learning to be a warrior, not a hunter. The next three years were an exercise in swallowing his pride setting aside what he knew, and starting again from scratch. In time, after being saved by them on more than one occasion, he even learnt to accept Faunas as allies of convenience, rather than enemies that haven’t tried to kill him yet, which was really quite the step for him.
It’s now his final year at Vytal, he’s nearly a fully fledged hunter, all that’s left is to run out the clock.
Distinctive, would be quick way of describing Stanislav, or Stan as his friends call him. Maybe it's the fact he stands just shy of six foot seven, with arms the size of small trees, and shoulders that makes getting through door ways a hassle. It could be the dense plume of prematurely grey hair sprouting out the top of his head, in stark contrast to his bronze skin tone. Either way it's hard for the young man to be subtle. Built like a true powerlifter, with a waist about as broad as his chest, with the vaguest form of definition around the pectorals. If for whatever reason he were to take his shirt of, you’d be able to see the twisted and grey mess of burnt scar tissue lining the backs of his shoulders, a memento on frivolous use of his semblance, though repeated treatments means it no longer interferes with his range of movement, it still stings when pressed against.
Stanislav has never been one to feel the heat, funnily enough, to the point where it's rare not to see him bundled under layers of scarves and clothes. Typically you’ll see him with no less than two shirts, a hoodie, and his distinctive four-pocket waxed jacket, with his hair bound in some manner of daedalian braid (that takes up the majority of his morning routine to fix up) hidden behind a ushanka, chullo, or beanie.
When the time for war as at hand, Stanislav will can be found knee deep in the fighting, dressed in the suit of armour passed down the family line since Zsigmond, the first Kovac himself. His hair unbound and left flying in the wind, kept out his face with a tall gold crown ending in five upward spires, with a grey visor clasping down over his eyes and nose, with a battered scarf wrapped around his mouth and neck. A dense fur tunic under a thick golden breast plate offers protection from glancing blows and weather, with a belt of gold tipped pteruges ending just above his knee, along with the tunic. A wide waist cloth protrudes from under the belt, ending just shy of the ankle at the rear, and just above the knee at the front. Rough trousers continue on a little further, until they end at the mid calf, leaving thick bindings and a pair of caligae to guard his feet against the ground, along with a pair of golden anklets, to match the golden manacles he sports on each wrist, a single chain link hanging from each. Finally, his left hand is bound in a grey cloth tape to help his grip.
★ PERSONALITY
POSITIVE - Polite - Self Possessed - Meticulous - Brave - Driven | NEGATIVE - Human Supremacist - Bellicose - Vindictive - Martyr Complex - Stubborn |
★ HISTORY
If you were to take a trip away from the main streets of Setek, down through the side streets, you’d come across a small wooden shotgun shack, sturdy and well maintained but otherwise unimpressive, in fact how modest it looks is what makes it stand out. This is the Kovac Workshop: “Friends to Hunters” and producers of some of the finest bespoke arms and ammunition available on the market. While its location has moved around from every corner of the world to the next, there’s never been a day where its doors haven’t been open to a hunter. Founded by Zsigmond Kovac during the very earliest hunts, after he grew dissatisfied with the state of hunter’s equipment during hunter’s first awkward steps. Ever since then, the Kovac family has taken up his torch, and every year dozens of finely crafted weapons roll out their door, some pricy commissioned pieces, many however are donations. The bread and butter of the business tends to be upgrading and customising off the wall weapons, a weapon made from scratch from the workshop is a rare thing indeed, typically in the hands of the very rich, or the very needy.
Typically, it's the firstborn who inherits the business, but it's the second born who inherits the family sword and armour, after all, typically speaking a Kovac Hunter doesn’t get to live long enough to run the business. Stanislav was one of these lucky second born, meaning his childhood was a fairly awkward one, after all it's not like many people grow up knowing they’re going to die before they hit forty years old. Rather than despairing, or even trying to run away from this fact, Stanislav embraced it fully, he knew he would end up paying the heaviest price there is, but as far as he was concerned it was worth it. If he spent the next fifty years fighting the things that went bump in the night, his last thought wasn’t going to be that evil had triumphed, it was going to be that he got to live like a god for five decades. Sure the last ten minute might end up sucking, but a man can’t have everything. He was going to be the best there ever was, a hero worthy of the Kovac title, people were going to sing his songs for a thousand years. That was the beauty of his situation, if he survived he got to be a king among men, and if he died, he got to be a legend.
And so he threw himself into his studies and practice, breaking and mending himself over and over until it was time to begin his formal education. His footwork became steady, he learnt not to cling to victory, he stopped thinking of his life, his obligations, the outcome of the battle, his hatred for his opponent, his training, his pride in his mastery, polluting his mind with such things, would make him an imperfect vessel for his terrible Semblance. He no longer clinged to his instruments. He knew it is better to have a sword and gun, but victory had to lie under his fingernails if need be. He had to learn victory with his elbows, victory with his knees, and victory with his thumbs and fingertips. But most importantly, he learnt to love the world he grew up in with a passion, staying up up into the wee hours of the morning, chatting feverishly about some dusty old scholar's theory of the shape of the world. He came to see that the world held value enough to not only die for, but to fight for, which helped curb the rather zealous search for martyrdom. It’s a pity that he never learnt to encompass Faunas in this broad love of humanity, viewing them as competition at best.
When he was finally old enough to attend Vytal, he was carted off almost immediately, much to his own excitement. Initially he was rather cocksure about the whole affair, after he had spent nearly ten years training for this, what could they possibly throw at him that could challenge him? A lot, was the answer, they could throw a lot of challenges at him. While he was physically talented, a mercurial fighter, he knew nothing of the theory behind tracking and fighting an opponent, he had even neglected nuturing his own aura. Simply put, he had spent his life learning to be a warrior, not a hunter. The next three years were an exercise in swallowing his pride setting aside what he knew, and starting again from scratch. In time, after being saved by them on more than one occasion, he even learnt to accept Faunas as allies of convenience, rather than enemies that haven’t tried to kill him yet, which was really quite the step for him.
It’s now his final year at Vytal, he’s nearly a fully fledged hunter, all that’s left is to run out the clock.
★ COMBAT NOTES
WEAPONS
Obelus: Obelus is was the first weapon to have left the Kovac’s workshop, consisting of a long sword and pole, it is embodiment of their design doctrines: simple concepts executed immaculately. The greatsword was constructed by braiding lengths of metal and dust crystal together, plated in hardened steel. With an overall length of five feet four inches, the sword is remarkably well balanced, if a little bit weighty for smaller wielders, a problem that never plagued Stanislav.
In addition to the sword, Obelus comes with a four foot long pole, which by use of a bayonet socket can be affixed to the pommel of the sword, greatly lengthening the weapon into some form of sword-spear, boasting a monstrous nine foot six inches length. The extra length and weight allows the wielder far greater destructive power, range, and leverage in a fight, at the cost of speed. This form is typically reserved for fighting Grimm or other slower, tougher foes.
The three forms of crystal braided in, namely wind, fire, and lightning dust, grant the blade a variety of potent effects when activated with one's aura. The wind dust gives the blade its own propulsion, typically used to help hurl it over distances in its “Spear” form, though its great we. It can however, be used to send waves of buffeting gales, kicking up great clouds of dirt and debris as they travel, a visually impressive, if largely useless trick. The lightning and fire dust are rather straightforward in use, wreathing the blade in either golden arcs of lightning, or flames. In order to replenish the crystal deposits, it needs to be left in a “bath” of dust infused fluid for a few hours after a fight.
In addition to Obelus, Stanislav carriers a pair of firearms for engagements at range:
Pilcrow, a 10mm handgun, was originally a standard off the shelf model intended for law enforcement or self protection, however has been modified beyond recognition by the Kovac Workshop. The feeding ramp has polished to a mirror sheen, improving reliability, as well as the itself slide being reinforced to tolerate Stanislav’s high power rounds. Mating of frame and slide provides a precise, tight fit, with the frame itself having been iron-welded and scraped down multiple times, for maximum precision and accuracy. To accommodate Stanislav’s large hands, it's been fitted with a long-type trigger, with holes drilled into the trigger shoe to reduce bouncing from the recoil. Finally, a beveled magazine well for easier and swifter reloading has been hand machined and fitted. Intended for taking man sized targets at ranges of around fifty meters.
Its staggered magazines pack a respectable sixteen round capacity, with the thicker profile making for a better fit in Stanislav’s hands. Like any proper member of the Kovac’s family, Stanislav prefers to handload his own ammunition, modifying shapes, composition, and powder load to fit the needs of day. But typically, he’ll be firing Overpressure Semi-Wadcutters, flat faced bullets with greater stopping power than average, at the expense of armour penetration, which is compensated for slightly by the greater velocity.
Fulcrum is his prefered weapon for long range engagements, or for taking out far tougher opponents; a lever action rifle chambered in 45-70. designed and built by Stanislav himself. Much like Pilcrow, it sports a highly polished feeding ramp, with the octagonal barrel offering greatly improved strength, a must have for the oversized bullets it fires. The lever handle has been greatly widened to facilitate one handed cocking and firing, a technique rarely used for such a heavy gun, outside of showing, off or firing with one hand injured. A simple leather wrapping around the stock acts as a cheek rest and shell holder, making for more comfortable shooting and faster reloads. To help keep the gun in peak condition, the wooden furniture has been treated with oils, and the metal components blued. Finally, the gun is fitted with a toggleable feed interrupter, allowing him to feed a round directly into the chamber.
In order to cut overall weight and length, the barrel and tubular magazine have been cut down, leaving it with a greatly diminished capacity of five rounds in the magazine, as opposed to the typical nine or ten seen by such weapons. Like Pilcrow’s 10mm rounds, Stanislav handloads his ammunition, customising the round to the needs of the day. The extraordinary variety of rounds that the gun can field, from sabots to shotgun shells, is what makes this item such a precious tool to Stanislav. Although typically he’ll simply feed Overpressure Semi-Wadcutters into it, much like Pilcrow.
MISC.
Typically carries six standard magazines for Pilcrow, with one extended magazine, along with a large pouch of loose cartridges to be fed into the magazines once empty, all in all he’ll be carrying roughly 250 rounds on him in typical fight. Amidst his large pockets, he’ll be carrying around 100 rounds of ammo for Fulcrum. Also likes to keep some reading material on him, never know when you’ll have to be waiting for a long time. All of this is typically kept in various pouches hanging from his belt, or from straps beneath his wasist cloth.
The more obvious effects of Stanislav’s Aura are a pale grey light, and the strong smell of ozone, or chlorine. The best way to describe Stanislav’s Aura would be a sobering, sensible, solemn even, like someone has just pulled the blinders off you. It’s not dissimilar to when you have a puzzle explained to you, a sort of vague, “Ahh, that’s how it works.” Little strips of information, half watched documentaries, lessons you didn’t really listen to, they all stream together into a sparkling cocktail of useful information. You don’t feel buzzed or emboldened, not even calmed down, just lucid. You know what you have to do and how to do it, not because of some sort of new information, but because you’re processing what you have more efficiently.
Defensive Enhancement: Stanislav can summon up small barrier to defend himself, though it takes far greater effort due to neglect and general underuse. (15 Aura Points per use)
Offensive Enhancement: A new addition to Stanislav arsenal, and a well loved one at that, allowing him to deliver absolute hammer blows. (7 Aura Points per use)
Mending: The first power Stanis mastered, mostly out of necessity, given his inability to defend from heavier blows when he first entered Vytal. (5 Aura Points per use)
BELLIGERENT ELEGIA
Remember: All life is fundamentally fire, Kovac’s semblance is a testament to this fact. Ever since Zsigmond, the first Kovac, first took action against the Grimm, many of his progeny have sought of succeed him, and this inherited semblance has long been considered their mantle. The precise mechanics aren’t quite understood yet, but the effects are simple enough: the user bursts into flames.
While the user is sheltered from the heat, if used for long enough the heat can build to the point of self-immolation, not that the user would care of course. For the duration of its use, the user’s aggression centers are lit up like christmas trees, with the pain receptors seemingly shut down, as well as the subconscious restraints on one's physical strength. The result is a faster, stronger, highly aggressive, flame engulfed fighter, with neither the ability to feel pain, nor care about his own wounds. A charming combination, and the reason most Kovac Hunter’s live tragically short lives.
45 AP to activate, with a steady 5 AP drain per minute until depletion.
WEAPONS
Obelus: Obelus is was the first weapon to have left the Kovac’s workshop, consisting of a long sword and pole, it is embodiment of their design doctrines: simple concepts executed immaculately. The greatsword was constructed by braiding lengths of metal and dust crystal together, plated in hardened steel. With an overall length of five feet four inches, the sword is remarkably well balanced, if a little bit weighty for smaller wielders, a problem that never plagued Stanislav.
In addition to the sword, Obelus comes with a four foot long pole, which by use of a bayonet socket can be affixed to the pommel of the sword, greatly lengthening the weapon into some form of sword-spear, boasting a monstrous nine foot six inches length. The extra length and weight allows the wielder far greater destructive power, range, and leverage in a fight, at the cost of speed. This form is typically reserved for fighting Grimm or other slower, tougher foes.
The three forms of crystal braided in, namely wind, fire, and lightning dust, grant the blade a variety of potent effects when activated with one's aura. The wind dust gives the blade its own propulsion, typically used to help hurl it over distances in its “Spear” form, though its great we. It can however, be used to send waves of buffeting gales, kicking up great clouds of dirt and debris as they travel, a visually impressive, if largely useless trick. The lightning and fire dust are rather straightforward in use, wreathing the blade in either golden arcs of lightning, or flames. In order to replenish the crystal deposits, it needs to be left in a “bath” of dust infused fluid for a few hours after a fight.
In addition to Obelus, Stanislav carriers a pair of firearms for engagements at range:
Pilcrow, a 10mm handgun, was originally a standard off the shelf model intended for law enforcement or self protection, however has been modified beyond recognition by the Kovac Workshop. The feeding ramp has polished to a mirror sheen, improving reliability, as well as the itself slide being reinforced to tolerate Stanislav’s high power rounds. Mating of frame and slide provides a precise, tight fit, with the frame itself having been iron-welded and scraped down multiple times, for maximum precision and accuracy. To accommodate Stanislav’s large hands, it's been fitted with a long-type trigger, with holes drilled into the trigger shoe to reduce bouncing from the recoil. Finally, a beveled magazine well for easier and swifter reloading has been hand machined and fitted. Intended for taking man sized targets at ranges of around fifty meters.
Its staggered magazines pack a respectable sixteen round capacity, with the thicker profile making for a better fit in Stanislav’s hands. Like any proper member of the Kovac’s family, Stanislav prefers to handload his own ammunition, modifying shapes, composition, and powder load to fit the needs of day. But typically, he’ll be firing Overpressure Semi-Wadcutters, flat faced bullets with greater stopping power than average, at the expense of armour penetration, which is compensated for slightly by the greater velocity.
Fulcrum is his prefered weapon for long range engagements, or for taking out far tougher opponents; a lever action rifle chambered in 45-70. designed and built by Stanislav himself. Much like Pilcrow, it sports a highly polished feeding ramp, with the octagonal barrel offering greatly improved strength, a must have for the oversized bullets it fires. The lever handle has been greatly widened to facilitate one handed cocking and firing, a technique rarely used for such a heavy gun, outside of showing, off or firing with one hand injured. A simple leather wrapping around the stock acts as a cheek rest and shell holder, making for more comfortable shooting and faster reloads. To help keep the gun in peak condition, the wooden furniture has been treated with oils, and the metal components blued. Finally, the gun is fitted with a toggleable feed interrupter, allowing him to feed a round directly into the chamber.
In order to cut overall weight and length, the barrel and tubular magazine have been cut down, leaving it with a greatly diminished capacity of five rounds in the magazine, as opposed to the typical nine or ten seen by such weapons. Like Pilcrow’s 10mm rounds, Stanislav handloads his ammunition, customising the round to the needs of the day. The extraordinary variety of rounds that the gun can field, from sabots to shotgun shells, is what makes this item such a precious tool to Stanislav. Although typically he’ll simply feed Overpressure Semi-Wadcutters into it, much like Pilcrow.
MISC.
Typically carries six standard magazines for Pilcrow, with one extended magazine, along with a large pouch of loose cartridges to be fed into the magazines once empty, all in all he’ll be carrying roughly 250 rounds on him in typical fight. Amidst his large pockets, he’ll be carrying around 100 rounds of ammo for Fulcrum. Also likes to keep some reading material on him, never know when you’ll have to be waiting for a long time. All of this is typically kept in various pouches hanging from his belt, or from straps beneath his wasist cloth.
AURA
The more obvious effects of Stanislav’s Aura are a pale grey light, and the strong smell of ozone, or chlorine. The best way to describe Stanislav’s Aura would be a sobering, sensible, solemn even, like someone has just pulled the blinders off you. It’s not dissimilar to when you have a puzzle explained to you, a sort of vague, “Ahh, that’s how it works.” Little strips of information, half watched documentaries, lessons you didn’t really listen to, they all stream together into a sparkling cocktail of useful information. You don’t feel buzzed or emboldened, not even calmed down, just lucid. You know what you have to do and how to do it, not because of some sort of new information, but because you’re processing what you have more efficiently.
Defensive Enhancement: Stanislav can summon up small barrier to defend himself, though it takes far greater effort due to neglect and general underuse. (15 Aura Points per use)
Offensive Enhancement: A new addition to Stanislav arsenal, and a well loved one at that, allowing him to deliver absolute hammer blows. (7 Aura Points per use)
Mending: The first power Stanis mastered, mostly out of necessity, given his inability to defend from heavier blows when he first entered Vytal. (5 Aura Points per use)
SEMBLANCE
BELLIGERENT ELEGIA
Remember: All life is fundamentally fire, Kovac’s semblance is a testament to this fact. Ever since Zsigmond, the first Kovac, first took action against the Grimm, many of his progeny have sought of succeed him, and this inherited semblance has long been considered their mantle. The precise mechanics aren’t quite understood yet, but the effects are simple enough: the user bursts into flames.
While the user is sheltered from the heat, if used for long enough the heat can build to the point of self-immolation, not that the user would care of course. For the duration of its use, the user’s aggression centers are lit up like christmas trees, with the pain receptors seemingly shut down, as well as the subconscious restraints on one's physical strength. The result is a faster, stronger, highly aggressive, flame engulfed fighter, with neither the ability to feel pain, nor care about his own wounds. A charming combination, and the reason most Kovac Hunter’s live tragically short lives.
45 AP to activate, with a steady 5 AP drain per minute until depletion.
AURA POINTS: 175
DARK SOULS III, Nameless King as Stanislav Kovac PLAYED BY NOVEM
coded by electric of gangnam style
