Cortez Macabre

Cortez Macabre, feared by many Lightonians even after his capture. In his prime he was one of the most powerful warriors ever produced by the Dharkanians and served as one of the commanding Phantoms of the Dharkanian Army. While not necessarily a prodigy, he was certainly of note for his devotion to the cause and for upholding the values of his people. This pushed him to grow more powerful day by day in his youth, hailing from a family which had been involved with the war since its early years. His strength in raw darkness was considered unmatched even by the government's own ruling family.   With his power he was able to move mountains and change the very environment itself, folding the universe to his whim. Though these remarks are believed to be highly exaggerated, those who have faced Cortez in battle do remark that he used to be an unyielding force never pushed to his true limits. Much like his disciple, Cortez was feared for more than simply his raw power as it was also his cunning and battle tactics that made him into a formidable general. It is said that Cortez was able to survey the battlefield and devise a victory without ever drawing blood at his best.   Cortez was noted for having escaped the collapse of his people and spent many years in the shadows. Within the last century and a half Cortez was captured, with the exact means of this capture being for now withheld from public knowledge. He currently resides within the prison fortress Nospheross.  

Appearance

Current

Cortez has aged considerably since his prime. Due to constantly having his energy siphoned to prevent him from casting spells, he has aged and become relatively elderly. Appearing to be in his sixties to seventies. In captivity his appearance has become ragged- long dull gray hair split on all ends, a long beard down to his chest and just as ragged, down to mostly bones, eyes that have turned dull and grayish.  

Youth

In his youth during the height of the war, Cortez was considered average in build. Though he was a warrior, he was first-most a tactician and a spell caster. Above average height, taller than he is now. His skin was darker, better tanned, better toned. His eyes back then were greener, brighter, fuller; and his hair was longer, better kept, conditioned, and the color black.   He generally wore battle mage attire of the time- cloak and cowl, black tunic and under shirt, black caster gloves, combat pants, combat boots, and like other commanders of the Dharkanian Forces he wore the blood red star of his people. At no point did he wear true armor, instead wearing only cloth.  

Personality

In the past he was described as reserved, ghostly, a thin veil of presence upon the air hard to detect. He kept to himself despite the fire within him, preferring to hold his cards close to his chest. He cared for his subordinates, he was always willing to throw himself into the line of fire given his mastery over darkness. Diplomacy, while always a consideration, was never his first thought or action- instead he would rely on force and power, allowing tactics and fear to win him the battle.   In his new age he seems far less composed, less endearing. More than ever he keeps to himself and rarely expresses his own thoughts. The Phantom General has become a definite physical phantom, dead to the world or wishing that he were. Still he caries the venom of his people and a hate for what befell his empire.  

Abilities

In the past Cortez new the highest levels of magic and held total mastery over the elements. He was a powerful warrior capable of hand to hand, a blight in the midst of combat who could challenge several Dragon Generals of the Lightonians at once. A brute, a juggernaut, a tank, an unstoppable force feared by all for how wide spread his spell casting and physical might truly was.   After his years on the run and certainly the unknown amount of time he has been in Nospheross, his abilities are unknown. Should he ever be allowed to freely wield his powers again, it is unknown just how mighty the once powerful Ace of the Phantoms would be again.  

Background

Cortez is considered the Ace of the Dharkanians. Their most powerful warrior, feared by all. Though his apprentice, Leon, is considered the embodiment of Death itself- Cortez in his prime was considered stronger still. It is unknown which is truly stronger in the current era, and it has become irrelevant.   His career began near the latter stages of the Warring Era of both Lightonians and Dharkanians. His power grew over many centuries, battle after battle. While not the prodigy that his future apprentice would end up being, he quickly took to battle as stink takes to a corpse. He excelled in combat as a tactician and later as a spell caster- eventually becoming versed in hand to hand just as well.   He became a Phantom prior to the Final Burst, the era of the war which was considered the harshest and the bloodiest. He served constantly in an era of war; though by his own words, what came before that Burst was relatively peaceful and stable.   Cortez vanished after the fall of his empire. A flee on sight order was issued and little effort was put into hunting him down in those early years as none believed it possible to defeat him without luck and coordination. At some point he was captured, the details of which being unknown, by Holly Bell. Currently he is imprisoned in the Lightonian Prison of Nospheross, awaiting his sentence.  

Character Facts

Despite his deteriorated state, most still consider Cortez to be one of the most dangerous fighters out there.   His favorite color is a deep turquoise, finding it calming like the sea itself.