Even, The Shivering Savant

Name:
Even

Nickname:
Even is not at all fond of nicknames, least of all nicknames directed towards him. His fellow Dark XII have a slew of them for him, but he prefers not to make note of them… Lest they be repeated.

Dark XII Title:
The Shivering Savant

Age:
Late Thirties… in appearance at least. He’s been a Heartless for near ten years.

Gender:
Male

Species:
Humanoid Heartless

Position:
Neutral Evil

Powers/Abilities/Techniques/Skills:

Passive Skills
• Corridors of Darkness – An innate skill that all those who dwell in the shadows possess. Even can open a dark door at will that will take him to nearly anywhere in the Multiverse he so desires.
• Summon Heartless – Being a more complex Heartless, Even can summon lesser Heartless to do his bidding, particularly his own personal kind of lesser Heartless known as the Murder. In actuality, the Murder is not one Heartless but several, all bird-like with feathers of deepest darkness and golden glowing eyes.
• Cersei and Shared Sight – Outside his Murder flock, Even has a more personal Heartless familiar that aides him in battle and on missions. A creature of his own creation, Cersei, a Magpie Heartless, looks similar to the birds of the Murder, mostly black with white on her breast, tail and wing tips, and blue on its wings. As part of an experiment, Even removed one of his eyes and replaced it with one that could tap into Cersei’s own vision, allowing him to use her to scout for him so he could analyze a situation at a safe distance before acting. However, this shared sight only works if he and Cersei are on the same world.

Active Support
• Study – As a brilliant scientist and scholar, Even is apt at studying subjects and analyzing them quickly to spot weaknesses and strengths. While he’s studying a subject Even use any other skills, and so must distract a foe through other means until he is ready to protect himself. [2 Turn Cast Time]
• Creeping Cold – When damaged, Even’s weapons and armor can repair themselves. The effect is instant, but can’t be done in quick succession. [3 Turn Cool-down]

Active Attacks
• Blizzard/Blizzara/Blizzaga – Rains shards of ice down on a foe/foes, varying in area of affect and power depending on the level of the spell used. The more powerful the spell, the longer the cool-down until he can use it again. [2/3/4 Turn Cool-down]
• Roar of the Northern Winds – An attack that is invisible to the eye. Even casts forth a blast of frigid air, stunning for a turn all frontal targets caught in the blast that aren’t dressed warmly enough. [5 Turn Cool-down]
• Winter’s Aura – A skill used more for defense than attack. In a stationary, circular area around him of about five meters Even drops the air temperature to freezing depths. Any who enter the Aura and are dressed poorly are stunned for as long as the Aura is up plus one turn after it falls. [Lasts 3 Turns; 7 Turn Cool-down]
• Freezing Touch – Even touches a weapon or body part and freezes it, rendering it completely useless for a short time. [Lasts 2 Turns; 5 Turn Cool-Down]

Limit Break
Maw of the Arctic – Even’s Heartless form and last resort where all other options have been exhausted. Upon using his Limit Break, Even is devoured by a primal Darkness, changing him into a more animalistic form: a great black form shrouded and billowing shadows like black flames, with ice armored, claw-like hands and feet, a wild mane of ghostly gold, and an icy, skull-like helm with curved horns and flaring eyes. While in this form Even becomes immensely, physically powerful and can move very quickly, but he is unable to control exactly what he can do, acting purely on instinct. Even is unable to use any of his other special attacks while in his Heartless form, save for Roar of the Northern Winds which, while in his Heartless form, has a reduced cool-down (2 Turns). [Can only be used once per battle. Last for 10 turns, or until his helm is shattered, reverting him to his Humanoid form.]

Weapon/Items:
Vainglory’s Vanguard – A pair of war axes, seemingly fashioned out of ice. In appearance they look rough, not at all elegant or smooth, and are slightly transparent. What the lack in looks, however, they make up for with their unique ability. Should the axe heads shatter or snap off, a new blade “grows” in its place, like an icicle forming.

In addition to his axes, Even can also don ice-like armor: a pair of pauldrons and vambraces to protect his shoulders and arms. Like his weapons they are rather crude in appearance, jagged in places so that slamming his shoulder into a foe is as viable a tactic as using his axes. Also like his axes if any part of this armor is broken it can repair itself almost instantly.

Picture:
//\\ <-That’s my picture. >3> No, you’ll get one later.

Appearance:
Even looks much like he did as a human – tall, slender, fair skinned and haired with high cheekbones – with but a few differences in the wake of being twisted into a creature of the Darkness. His skin is far paler and his hair, after a near decade of dwelling in darkness, has grown out quite a lot, reaching down near to his knees. Far more concerned with his work than his looks, Even never really bothered to cut it or do anything spectacular with it, so to just keep it all out of the way he oft times wears it all – or as much as he can get, with several rebel strands cascading over his shoulders held out of his face with silver hairpins – pulled back in a tight braid that he either slings over his shoulders or lets hang down behind him.

Perhaps the most striking of his features are his eyes. One is a bright, poisonous green while the other is akin to a Heartless’, glowing gold on pitch black. This eye is of his own creation, removing his original and replacing it so that he may “share sight” with his Heartless familiar, Cersei.

As attire he favors a high collared jacket with slender sleeves, its length reaching down to mid-thigh; it’s dominantly black in color, with the white near the hems of the sleeves and coattails. Black gloves, pants, and calf-high boots finish off his outfit.

Personality:
Though a Heartless, Even shares much in common with his Nobody counterpart. He is an excessively proud individual, highly intelligent and highly clever, that at times can become very resentful. He hates not being recognized for his brilliance and his hard work, and positively detests individuals of a much more meager intellect be given stations of higher authority over his own, though he is careful never to let such sentiments of his come to light to his fellow Heartless. It is here that he starts to differ from the hollow shell the bears his semblance.

Even is far better at controlling his temper than his Nobody, careful not to let it flare around others where would warrant him unwanted attention and ridicule. He is more patient, more cautious, willing to watch and examine a situation for a long while before weighing his options as to best avoid folly. In addition he is far more distrusting of his fellow Heartless, hearing tales of what happened to Vexen in Castle Oblivion and keen on not meeting a similar, grisly fate. One last way in that he differs from his Nobody is that where Vexen preferred to manipulate others into doing his work for him and hiding behind a shield to protect his own hide, Even is not at all afraid to get his own hands dirty if he needed to. He prefers to take a firm hold of a situation, steer it towards his own desired outcome, instead of letting it rest in another’s hands and let it all spiral out of control.

Within the ranks of the Dark XII he harbors little to no fondness for his Heartless brethren, keeping a professional relationship with most of them more than anything. He prefers to be a loner, to handle his mission solo, and when not on missions takes to the solitude of his lab, seldom coming out unless summoned by the Seeker of Darkness or in case of a most dire emergency. One could forget that he’s a member of their ranks with how aloof he is, but out of all of them he can be seen as the most loyal of Heartless to the causes of the Dark XII… if only because he fears Ansem and his power above all else.

Original World:
Radiant Garden

Current World:
The World That Never Was

Movie/Video Game(s):
WD Canon OC

History:

Pre-KH Series
The earliest Even ever goes when it comes to recounting his history is to the time when he first became one of Ansem the Wise’s apprentices - his life before he deems as quite uninteresting, irrelevant, and absolutely none of anyone else’s business.

Recognized in his early twenties for his cleverness, intellect, and his curious and inquisitive nature, Ansem the Wise, the ruling King of Radiant Garden, took Even under his wing to serve him as his apprentice, aiding him in various tasks in running the kingdom as well as his own own personal research, the subjects ranging from the scientific to the magical. As the years passed more individuals joined the ranks of Ansem the Wise’s apprentices, and while others took on roles concerning activities outside Radiant Garden’s labs – Aeleus, Dilan, and Braig taking on the roles of the Royal Guard to protect King, castle, and kingdom – Even was the only one to remain completely focused on advancing his Lordship’s research. Because of his dedication over the years to his Lordship’s studies, Ansem the Wise regarded Even as his foremost apprentice and in time saw fit to involve him more intimately in one of his more ambitious studies: unraveling the mysteries of the Heart.

Not at all referring to the blood-pumping organ that resided in one’s breast, Ansem the Wise believed in a Heart more mystical than literal, a strange power from within that defined who a person was, what they could be, will be, and the special abilities that they possessed. Ansem the Wise wanted to unravel the mysteries surrounding what dwelled inside each and every one of them, specifically the “darkness of the Heart,” and Even was all too eager to help his master in his endeavors. Where Ansem the Wise wanted to study the “darkness of the Heart” to find a means to stop its cancerous spread, however, Even’s interest was far from benevolent and was more out of selfish gain.

Since he was young, Even was praised for his brilliance as a student and scholar, and that praise seeded pride within. If he was to help his Lordship study the “darkness of the Heart” he did not merely wish to study it just to find a way to abate its spread, but rather he wanted to know all that there was to know about the Heart, to delve to its brightest barriers and darkest depths, and not rest until that knowledge was within his hold. As he pressed on with his studies into the Heart, the Darkness started to consume his own.

After a time, however, Ansem the Wise’s research into the “darkness of the Heart” began to slough, and with it Even’s involvement. They were running out of topics to look into and specimens to study, and eventually Even was pulled off the project completely to handle a completely different assignment.

His Lordship was sparse on the details, but one evening he called Even up from the labs. Upon heading his King’s request, Even found that Ansem had a young child with him. The boy, Ansem explained, was called Ienzo, that he had lost his parents, that from then onward he would be staying at the castle, and that he would like Even to look after the boy.

Needless to say Even was quite displeased that he was taken away from his valuable research just to look after a child. He wasn’t even all that good with children, never having liked them, never having wanted any of his own. But the child proved manageable enough. Ienzo was a quiet thing and curious at that, but to his credit he was not curious like other children were. Where other children would ask countless stupid questions and try to stick their hands in everything Ienzo’s inquiries were few and well thought out, and the child never put his hands where they did not belong. In time the boy also proved to be extraordinarily bright, reminding Even a bit of himself when he was younger. Eventually he became the littlest bit fond of the child, and expressed to Ansem the Wise that perhaps they should let little Ienzo aid them in their studies, and perhaps begin their research into the “darkness of the Heart” once again. Ansem consented to letting the boy work in the labs with them, learn things first hand, but he was not quite sure if they should start back up their studies into the Heart again.

Things, however, were about to change completely, and it would force them all back down that road.

Birth by Sleep
They had no idea where they all came from, but overnight Radiant Garden found itself swarmed by the strangest of creatures – monsters rather – black as night and vicious with eyes of red.

Ansem had the Royal Guard do what they could to abate the situation, and asked Even to just look after Ienzo until the monsters could be banished. Even would have liked to gotten a better look at these beasts; captured one and looked at it up close, but he headed his Lordship’s request: he was not too keen on the idea on these creatures, whatever they were, getting their claws into him.

Sometime during the plague of monsters, strangely dressed individuals started to show up in town. Young people wearing strange armor and wield strange key-shaped weapons. He wanted to get a closer look at them, to see just who they were, and in time he got his opportunity to do so.

On his way to fetch Dilan and Aeleus at Ansem’s orders, he caught the two just about to abandon their posts to chase after one of the strange visitors: a young boy. Sending the two on their way, he took a moment to study him, and having spent so much time studying the Darkness in peoples’ Hearts, he sensed that the boy had no darkness in his Heart at all. Rather, it was ripped away entirely.

Not longer after, Even met the very same boy again during his search for Ienzo who, against his request, left the safety of the castle grounds to see the monsters swarming the surrounding towns. After thanking the boy for saving Ienzo, he expressed he had a feeling they may meet again. He would make sure of it, if he had to. A boy without any Darkness in his Heart bore much relevance to his research.

When the monsters finally vanished from their world, Braig called Ansem out of the castle to see something that he found in the courtyard. When Ansem and his Royal Guard returned, Even found that they hand brought back a young man with them. One with tan skin and silvery hair.

Even would come to know this young man as Xehanort.

Post-Birth by Sleep
Once Xehanort was accepted as one of Ansem the Wise’s apprentices the young man wasted no time pressing Ansem into delving deeper in his research into the Heart and replacing Even as the King’s foremost apprentice. Even resented the younger man for it, while at the same time respected him, but above all Even came to fear the man.

Xehanort carried with him a power and authority over the subject of Hearts and Darkness as aweing as it was terrifying, and a determination to carry through with their research whether Ansem the Wise cared about it or not. It soon became evident to Even that Xehanort, and a number of others, had made plans to highjack Ansem’s research for their own gains, and in time himself and little Ienzo were dragged into the treachery as well. And why shouldn’t they, Xehanort had inquired of him. Ansem would only hold them back in their research, while in secret they could do as they pleased.

Willingly enough, Even joined Xehanort and with the other apprentices turned traitors started to perform a series of grisly inhumane experiments on human subjects, many of whom were citizens of Radiant Garden stolen away in the night. In time Ansem the Wise found out, but Xehanort made quick work of him soon enough. Even had no idea what the younger apprentice did, and he quite frankly he really did not want to find out first hand.

Their dabblings into the Darkness of the Heart only lasted a short time, though, as one night, during one specific experiment, something happened that Even could not put his thumb on as to what went wrong, or what even happened for that matter. Most of it was blur, but what he does recall was a sudden flash of light, a blade like a key, Ienzo’s surprised yell, and then Darkness.

A Decade of Darkness – Kingdom Hearts and Beyond
When he next woke, Even found himself no longer human.

Whatever had happened had changed him, or at least part of him, into a creature of the Darkness: a Heartless. At first the change perturbed him, but in time he grew not to mind his transformation at all, rather he grew to relish the new powers that he found himself possessing in the Darkness’ wake.

And it wasn’t long until he found him again: Xehanort. Only he was changed as well, a Heartless like he was. And he was no longer Xehanort, but Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness. The Seeker asked him to join his fold, his Dark XII that he was forming, as one of his researchers, and Even did instantly. Not out of respect or reverie for what had been a brilliant scientist, but out of fear of the creature he had become, had always been.

Role Playing Sample:
It was a curious edifice, and out of place as well, in the likes of Traverse Town.

A castle, surrounded by evergreens and winter-locked, it’s snows tumbling forth and spreading its icy grip throughout the town of eternal night and outcasts. Seemingly empty at that, he suspected, seeing naught a human soul. But he did see wolves. Silent guardians that looked up and met Cersei’s as she circled overhead, met his gaze for that matter, and then were gone as they vanished as a whir of evergreens flew past and the Magpie’s wings carried her to another part of Charn.

Closing his eyes Even massaged the bridge of his nose, severing his shared sight with the avian Heartless. He had seen enough.

“Cersei, to me,” he commanded to empty café in the first district, the denizens on the Town long since retired for a night that never came but always was, and in a whirl of dark tendrils the Magpie appeared, gliding passed mere inches from his head and then circling back, landing silently on his shoulder.

“Wolves!” she shrieked, folding her large wings as Even put a finger to her beak.

“I saw,” he said to her, “now hush.” The Witch undoubtedly knew they were coming; he didn’t need all of Traverse Town, and any nosey heroes of the Light, knowing they were there as well.

With a sigh he turned towards the direction of Charn and started his way there on foot, delaying, he knew, the inevitable.

He did not know why the Master even bothered assigning him to the mission, to treat with the White Witch that now had turned all of Traverse Town into a wintery scape. Diplomacy was never his forte. Socializing period was never his forte. Yet here he was, en route to some powerful denizen who toppled one castle and built another in hopes of forging an alliance of sorts with her, with the Dark XII.

He suspected it was because he and the Witch had something in common. Tiredly he regarded the frosted world around him. Yes… something elemental.

This could only end in complete disaster and Even locking himself in his lab for the next week. But a mission was a mission, and he would see that he strived for the best results, as always.

Arriving at Charn at long last, snow crunching under his boots and Magpie rustling on his shoulder, Even regarded the wolves and quietly commanded of them, “I’ve come to speak with your Mistress. Bring me to her… Or do I have to force my way in?”

Questions/Comments/Suggestions?