Post by Jay on Nov 22, 2022 20:06:22 GMT
OTHIS
design © abyss
artwork © me
Basics
Full Name: Othis
Nicknames: N/A (open)
Gender: Male
Age: 6 ½ years (autumn-born)
Sexuality: Heterosexual and emotionally unavailable
Pack: Sanzin
Rank: Ace of Spades
Appearance
Othis is cut from slate, recognizable by his tall stature, stately posture, and austere countenance. His body is top-heavy with broad shoulders widening his barrel chest and a waist that tucks inward towards strong thighs. He is lanky for his weight but the definition along his legs shows that his lank is all muscle and despite his silvering coat, he is in top form. His fur is predominately brown with rich deep taupes and beige on his paws, underside, and face. It is relatively short on top and longer around his chest, incredibly dense as it hugs his figure, layered in two, acting as an ideal shield. It is thickest around his neck where more layers fall in long heavy strands. There is a scruffy quality to him, especially on his chin and nose but not in a way that implies uncleanliness. A heavy brow, thick eyebrows, and a squarish jaw bring attention to his face and the austerity of his expression is made more frightening by critical silver eyes and the deep scars that run underneath his jaw, serving as a fearsome testament to his strength and rank.
Personality
Key Traits: Clandestine, insidious, coercive, phlegmatic, disciplinary, diligent
His counterpart is a ghost among the meadows who basks in glory, and Othis is her shadow who never strays too far, haunting the nearby plains to ensure cutthroat control is maintained. Typically the elderly are seen as incapable but the Ace of Spades is anything but as he has not yet lost his edge. A strong, steady force unable to be ignored, he is a formidable ally and an unforgiving enemy, who is as loyal as he is fickle; as untrustworthy as he is reliable. He does nothing in parts and everything in whole, fully committed to the cause of serving those he ranks under, second only to himself. Unlike others in the Sanzin, he did not rank so high by means of laziness or charisma. He climbed his way to the near top with unrelenting willpower and deadly strength. Though ultimately he does not desire the pinnacle of power and is content with being a weapon below his wielder. A lion lounging at the feet of his commander, prepared to dole out punishment with a single indicative glance; Othis is an ideal second-hand; a conduit through which ironclad principles are instilled. No matter who reigns supreme, he pledges his allegiance—and if not to the individual, then to the pack as a whole.
Despite being raised in a pack as trigger-happy as the Sanzin, Othis prefers to avoid conflict when possible, choosing to instead observe on the sidelines. But if it comes to him he has no qualms about resorting to violence. He takes deep pride in his position and when challenged he is eager to remind those who dare cross him of the results of the hardships he has faced. With great power comes great responsibility. As long as he stands, he will continue to be the barrier standing before the height of success, and the unkind reminder that effort is demanded to reach him. In this way, he can be a harsh teacher. He regards those who challenge him with icy dismission as though they are no more than the manner-deprived youth. Such insolence is never dealt with lightly. He is far from pretentious as he elects to end disputes swiftly but defeat is an opportunity to learn. So long as Othis can inspire discipline through action, he doesn’t mind putting on a show. However, if disrupted from his peace or duties, his tolerance is next to nothing. When the commotion is too rowdy he is quick to snuff it, either as the phlegmatic venerable warlord he is or the scathing militant that lurks underneath. Brute force works only so much; words can easily cut deeper.
Othis is an insidiously sharp, secretive man who tends to be everywhere at once and nowhere at all. Where he walks he leaves nothing of himself behind and whether that speaks to his grace or suspicion, is unknown… or, perhaps a bit of both. His elusive behavior may be pinned as unnerving by those he lets aware of his presence, or those he catches off guard. Somehow, he is always privy to others' secrets. He excels in coercion, utilizing his intimidating rank, stature, empty smiles, and loaded threats to gain the psychological advantage. While his secrecy could be seen as a betrayal to the Suit, he views it as fodder for extortion at his leisure. When fear festers that he will disclose his findings, he can be quite the unexpected confidant. But that should never signify a change of heart. He will freely hand over his dirt on someone if he deems withholding it to be a threat to his agenda. Othis views it as a twisted exchange; he withholds their secrets — they stay out of his way. He takes pleasure in giving his victims the idea that they have the upper hand, because ultimately their fate lies with his whimsical mood. It is hardly personal. He is merely a cruel strategist who will break the will of others to stay a step ahead.
Where he is apt to keep secrets, he is apt to tell lies. His specialty is lying by omission; not telling an exact lie but not revealing the full truth. It is a defense mechanism that was ingrained in his youth and he can weave a pretense without a second thought. Thus, he can be incredibly deceptive and can lie without any real reason other than to extract information. When asked about what he knows, Othis may fabricate a new narrative to disarm hostility and suspicion, or feign knowledge when in reality he is blind to the truth. It can be as simple as asserting a false reality to weasel out of breath-wasting or uncomfortable situations. He follows a “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” mentality due to the Sanzin’s “strength culls” ideals, and as a result, lacks many friends. What was once treasured can easily become trash, the task of trashing often taken into his own paws when a friendship ceases to be of use to him. Fortunately, among the Sanzin rabble, friendships are more so a means to an end than something long-term so his discarding of a friendship may not risk the other party exacting revenge, or even made known to them, as he just might slip away like a wraith in the night.
However, that is not to say Othis is unable to be a genuine friend. He harbors no desire to get close to others but he can find respect for those he deems capable or likeminded. They don’t have to be particularly strong or even fully loyal to himself or the Suit to garner his regard. The ruthless facade he wears is the cover that shields the bruised underbelly that is his humanity, which he regrettably never fully lost. An uncharacteristic warmth lies within him that can only be lit by pups. By no means is he an ideal father figure or nurtures a desire to be one, but he cannot contain the persistent tenderness that is roused by their emotional, guileless existence. Many are left to their own devices without proper guidance or counseling, forced to learn life's harsh truths before they can even learn to understand themselves. He has been disillusioned, practically expecting all of those around him to be trigger-happy, unintelligible, and egotistical, but occasionally, the youth remind him that not all Sanzin-born are cut from the same mold. Othis may not feel urged to go out of his way to be the youths’ guiding light but when one or two emerge different, separate from the hive mind of violence, he does feel urged to watch over them from afar to ensure their development is not hindered.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Relationships
Parents: Ramesses (NPC father; Jack of Spades; deceased), Auset (NPC mother; Jack of Diamonds; deceased)
Siblings: Idogras (NPC brother; former Suit; deceased), Asenath (NPC sister; high numbered Heart)
Lover(s): N/A
Offspring: N/A
Notable Figures: Helva (niece; Zero), Antares (nephew; Zero), Cadalus (nephew; Zero), Ranora (niece; Zero)
RP Interactions:
Antares ● ●● ●● ● ●
His fiery nephew who enjoys tussling with and bullying his siblings, Othis sees a lot of potential in him, but also a darkness that never seems to disappear.
Artemis (@/abyss) ●●● ●● ●●● ● ●● ●● ○
She is his Suit and he is her Ace, but she is also one of his only true friends. They share a bond not typical of Sanzin Suits and Aces, but one they have cultivated for a few years, founded on the close similarities they share in their view of the world and their duties as Suit and Ace. He feels he can let down his guard a little around her and has no shortage of loyalty. But, that doesn't mean she is completely exempt from his secrecy.
Cadalus ● ●● ●● ● ●
TBD
Helva (@/cheshire) ● ●● ●● ● ●
Othis's far quieter and more reserved niece, unlike her siblings, Othis has noticed she prefers the sidelines as opposed to the battle. It has sparked curiosity in him.
Idogras ● ●●● ● ●● ●●
His brother and a pathetic excuse for a Suit, in all honestly Othis is rather relieved he is dead because his long useless reign is over, and he can never corrupt his children. Othis remained loyal to him despite his quiet disdain for him, but his loyalty was nominal. Othis rarely put emphasis on maintaining family bonds so when Idogras fell, he was able to move on very quickly.
Ranora ● ●● ●● ● ●
A spitball of a young girl, and his youngest niece. Though she may be small she certainly isn't afraid to fight back. She reminds him a lot of his younger sister.
History
Previous Affiliations: N/A
Previous Ranks: Zero, numbered Spade
Both of his parents held respectable high ranks simultaneously and managed to maintain them for a long time. Perhaps their shared strength was what drew them together. But they were far from the ideal parent. Ramesses was an icy Jack of Spades who was as emotional as he was cruel. He was far more forward and earnest about his ways, rarely resorting to underhanded tactics as brute force was often enough. He sported deep scars all around his snout which added a menacing quality to him. He earned his title through sheer force of will and relentless strength and he held no prisoners. Unlike him, Auset’s rank called for dirty tricks and manipulation of all sorts. Her strength lay within and she climbed her way up through tastefully executed murder, sitting comfortably as a Jack of Diamonds.
Auset was a very emotionally unavailable mother. She spared her children little of her time, uninterested in the sentiments of motherhood, constantly deployed on missions beyond the borders. Ramesses, however, glimpsed potential in his children (his sons specifically), and took up the mantle of training them. He did not want them to become more power-hungry Sanzin drones, but to learn hard work and grueling effort. Nothing was ever handed to them. He regularly worked them to the bone day after day, infamous for his intense disciplinary regimen. Even without his supervision, the brothers butted heads, initially as stubborn young boys but competitiveness gave way to rivalry. Not only did Othis have to contend with Idogras but also other strong young males who saw Othis as a threat. He learned that in order to stay on top, he would have to get crafty.
But soon Othis stopped entertaining Idogras’s rivalry all together after growing bored. Instead, he turned his focus to his younger sister, Asenath. They were more alike than he gave her credit for, originally believing her to be just another soft-spoken, frail girl. She was anything but frail. While she had no interest in fighting, she did take a strong interest in poisons and doctoring suspicious substances until they reeked. When rowdy boys tried to scare her with their taunts and bullying, she would utter a few cryptic words and they would turn tail. While not physically strong, her mind was a razor and she was wise beyond her years; a little eccentric. But she took deep pleasure in experimentation, no matter how… unethical, and eventually she went down the path of a doctor. A “witch doctor.” She was the only individual young Othis felt grounded near.
Othis greatly admired his father and his admiration sparked frustration toward Ramesses. To him, his father was the epitome of strength. He could climb as high as he desired for all Othis cared. But he never did. He settled into the rank of Jack. The older he became the more he considered it a glaring flaw in the man he once considered perfect. But this only motivated Othis more. While he picked up on his father’s ascetic regimen and began slinking away upon nightfall to hone his skills, Idogras was becoming insubordinate; more arrogant and hostile, and getting distracted during training. No longer was he fun to thrash around. Ramesses gave up on him, not wanting to waste any more of his time and he turned to Othis entirely. Idogras never seemed fazed as he began to occupy himself with mindless Sanzin drivel, picking fights and using illusory charm to enrapture the ladies.
Ramesses was eventually bested by a younger, more spry male but Othis continued down the path his father set him on. He would make him proud even in death, and his ascetic training never lightened. During the time he spent to himself, however, Idogras was garnering quite a fearsome reputation. Around their second birthday, he had slain the Suit during the Chance Games. Othis was not particularly shocked. While Idogras was disinterested in training, he had natural battle instincts, and thus Othis knew he had it in him to succeed the Fool. But, he also knew his brother was weak. Maybe not physically, but he had a hunch that his younger brother would fall victim to the luxuries of leadership. When he inevitably did, any respect that he had gained from his brother was snuffed. Not long after, their mother was killed during a Diamond raid.
During the next year’s Chance Games, Othis took a stand. He had one goal: defeat the Ace of Spades, by any means necessary. He called for a duel and they tussled, their blows both packing a punch but Othis had the upper hand. When he had the Ace pinned, they aimed for his throat, but the Spade anticipated their actions and reeled his neck back. It had been a trap. The Ace managed to reach up and snag Othis’s whole lower jaw. When they yanked down, their strength heightened at that moment, blood rained. The pain was searing and Othis felt numb for a second, but the unruly crowd around him centered him, lighting a fire in his soul as he dove blindly down, rage-induced, using the split moment the Ace was distracted by his spraying blood to clamp down on their throat, ending their reign in one swift motion.
Just as his father instilled in him, he took his job as an Ace seriously, wearing his new nasty scars with pride. While some claimed they signified weakness, to the new Ace it was a testament to his triumph, and to his father. Meanwhile, his foolish brother and Suit, Idogras, descended into indolence. Though Othis kept his feelings behind a veil of loyal disinterest, disdain was growing, and all the while he nurtured his fierce reputation. Amongst a pack full of dull blades, there was one individual who he was able to match wits with, just like he and Asenath had. She was slightly younger than him, solid white in color with flecks of red and gold accenting her strength. Artemis. They shared a mutual respect, then a friendship. She was strong as proven through their sparring sessions but he never doubted her strength, and in time she was promoted to the Ace of Clubs. As Aces, they spent a lot of time together and eventually grew close.
Othis and Artemis held onto their ranks with an iron fist, staying as Aces for a respectable amount of time. They were undefeated. But soon, Artemis became unlike herself, both in mind and body. Her stomach was expanding and she made odd claims that it was because she was eating more. It was not entirely a lie; Othis’s keen eye connected the dots. She was pregnant. By who? He did not know. She never told him and he never pried. He knew she had her reasons for keeping such a secret and given his history regarding secrecy, he was not one to judge. It wasn’t until she lured him to the meadows with a fresh litter of pups that he was caught off guard. Artemis said she had seen a mother giving birth but ran off upon her approach. He knew she was lying. Their coloration, though dull, told of their origins. But again, he never pressed for answers and followed her narrative.
When the Chance Games commenced not long after that, the Ace of Clubs formally challenged Idogras, a turn of events that also wasn’t entirely shocking to Othis, but was one he was greatly interested in. It did not wholly matter to him who came out on top; he would follow regardless. He knew the loser would fall to death. But in the back of his mind, he placed bets, and his intuition told him he had no reason to be concerned. And as he watched, his expression sat in neutrality, never once twitching as he watched his brother be reminded of the true strength of a competent leader. The false Suit fell. Othis remained an Ace while the rest were stripped of the title and under his new leader, he felt a sadistic sense of relief that the Second Coming of Sana the Fool no longer ruled. He thought Artemis to be a more fitting suitor to the role.
With his nieces and nephews presently amongst the pack, he feels as though he must watch over them from a safe distance. They never asked to be brought into this harsh world or to have a pathetic cur for a father. Othis never corrected anyone who believed him to be the father either as he felt their identity should be protected, otherwise they may be targeted by those who lust for power. He has never interacted with them but would spare them a solemn glance when they achieved impressive feats. Whether or not they will ever interact is unknown to Othis, but in the meantime, he continues to be their shadow.
Misc
Voice: Velvety rich and gruff, spoken just above a whisper; hardly ever raised unless order must be established
Scent: Sandalwood and a dull metallic tang
design © abyss
artwork © me
Basics
Full Name: Othis
Nicknames: N/A (open)
Gender: Male
Age: 6 ½ years (autumn-born)
Sexuality: Heterosexual and emotionally unavailable
Pack: Sanzin
Rank: Ace of Spades
Appearance
Othis is cut from slate, recognizable by his tall stature, stately posture, and austere countenance. His body is top-heavy with broad shoulders widening his barrel chest and a waist that tucks inward towards strong thighs. He is lanky for his weight but the definition along his legs shows that his lank is all muscle and despite his silvering coat, he is in top form. His fur is predominately brown with rich deep taupes and beige on his paws, underside, and face. It is relatively short on top and longer around his chest, incredibly dense as it hugs his figure, layered in two, acting as an ideal shield. It is thickest around his neck where more layers fall in long heavy strands. There is a scruffy quality to him, especially on his chin and nose but not in a way that implies uncleanliness. A heavy brow, thick eyebrows, and a squarish jaw bring attention to his face and the austerity of his expression is made more frightening by critical silver eyes and the deep scars that run underneath his jaw, serving as a fearsome testament to his strength and rank.
- Health: Alive, healthy
- Height: 39 in (99 cm)
- Weight: 140 lb (63 kg)
Personality
Key Traits: Clandestine, insidious, coercive, phlegmatic, disciplinary, diligent
His counterpart is a ghost among the meadows who basks in glory, and Othis is her shadow who never strays too far, haunting the nearby plains to ensure cutthroat control is maintained. Typically the elderly are seen as incapable but the Ace of Spades is anything but as he has not yet lost his edge. A strong, steady force unable to be ignored, he is a formidable ally and an unforgiving enemy, who is as loyal as he is fickle; as untrustworthy as he is reliable. He does nothing in parts and everything in whole, fully committed to the cause of serving those he ranks under, second only to himself. Unlike others in the Sanzin, he did not rank so high by means of laziness or charisma. He climbed his way to the near top with unrelenting willpower and deadly strength. Though ultimately he does not desire the pinnacle of power and is content with being a weapon below his wielder. A lion lounging at the feet of his commander, prepared to dole out punishment with a single indicative glance; Othis is an ideal second-hand; a conduit through which ironclad principles are instilled. No matter who reigns supreme, he pledges his allegiance—and if not to the individual, then to the pack as a whole.
Despite being raised in a pack as trigger-happy as the Sanzin, Othis prefers to avoid conflict when possible, choosing to instead observe on the sidelines. But if it comes to him he has no qualms about resorting to violence. He takes deep pride in his position and when challenged he is eager to remind those who dare cross him of the results of the hardships he has faced. With great power comes great responsibility. As long as he stands, he will continue to be the barrier standing before the height of success, and the unkind reminder that effort is demanded to reach him. In this way, he can be a harsh teacher. He regards those who challenge him with icy dismission as though they are no more than the manner-deprived youth. Such insolence is never dealt with lightly. He is far from pretentious as he elects to end disputes swiftly but defeat is an opportunity to learn. So long as Othis can inspire discipline through action, he doesn’t mind putting on a show. However, if disrupted from his peace or duties, his tolerance is next to nothing. When the commotion is too rowdy he is quick to snuff it, either as the phlegmatic venerable warlord he is or the scathing militant that lurks underneath. Brute force works only so much; words can easily cut deeper.
Othis is an insidiously sharp, secretive man who tends to be everywhere at once and nowhere at all. Where he walks he leaves nothing of himself behind and whether that speaks to his grace or suspicion, is unknown… or, perhaps a bit of both. His elusive behavior may be pinned as unnerving by those he lets aware of his presence, or those he catches off guard. Somehow, he is always privy to others' secrets. He excels in coercion, utilizing his intimidating rank, stature, empty smiles, and loaded threats to gain the psychological advantage. While his secrecy could be seen as a betrayal to the Suit, he views it as fodder for extortion at his leisure. When fear festers that he will disclose his findings, he can be quite the unexpected confidant. But that should never signify a change of heart. He will freely hand over his dirt on someone if he deems withholding it to be a threat to his agenda. Othis views it as a twisted exchange; he withholds their secrets — they stay out of his way. He takes pleasure in giving his victims the idea that they have the upper hand, because ultimately their fate lies with his whimsical mood. It is hardly personal. He is merely a cruel strategist who will break the will of others to stay a step ahead.
Where he is apt to keep secrets, he is apt to tell lies. His specialty is lying by omission; not telling an exact lie but not revealing the full truth. It is a defense mechanism that was ingrained in his youth and he can weave a pretense without a second thought. Thus, he can be incredibly deceptive and can lie without any real reason other than to extract information. When asked about what he knows, Othis may fabricate a new narrative to disarm hostility and suspicion, or feign knowledge when in reality he is blind to the truth. It can be as simple as asserting a false reality to weasel out of breath-wasting or uncomfortable situations. He follows a “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” mentality due to the Sanzin’s “strength culls” ideals, and as a result, lacks many friends. What was once treasured can easily become trash, the task of trashing often taken into his own paws when a friendship ceases to be of use to him. Fortunately, among the Sanzin rabble, friendships are more so a means to an end than something long-term so his discarding of a friendship may not risk the other party exacting revenge, or even made known to them, as he just might slip away like a wraith in the night.
However, that is not to say Othis is unable to be a genuine friend. He harbors no desire to get close to others but he can find respect for those he deems capable or likeminded. They don’t have to be particularly strong or even fully loyal to himself or the Suit to garner his regard. The ruthless facade he wears is the cover that shields the bruised underbelly that is his humanity, which he regrettably never fully lost. An uncharacteristic warmth lies within him that can only be lit by pups. By no means is he an ideal father figure or nurtures a desire to be one, but he cannot contain the persistent tenderness that is roused by their emotional, guileless existence. Many are left to their own devices without proper guidance or counseling, forced to learn life's harsh truths before they can even learn to understand themselves. He has been disillusioned, practically expecting all of those around him to be trigger-happy, unintelligible, and egotistical, but occasionally, the youth remind him that not all Sanzin-born are cut from the same mold. Othis may not feel urged to go out of his way to be the youths’ guiding light but when one or two emerge different, separate from the hive mind of violence, he does feel urged to watch over them from afar to ensure their development is not hindered.
- Alignment: Lawful Evil
- Likes: Being in control, order, secrets, seeing a fighting spirit, pups, the shade, taking action, staying on top of his duties, just punishment, downtime, some damn peace and quiet
- Dislikes: Nonsense, rowdy crowds, insubordination, “blood is thicker than water,” hubris, inefficiency, wasting his time or breath, liars (sweet irony), when power is taken for granted
Strengths
- Clear size advantage aids in intimidation and combat
- Graceful and light on his paws which he uses against those who underestimate his agility
- He slinks more than he walks, lending to eerily heightened stealth
Weaknesses
- He can tire quickly if forced to cover a lot of distance in one big burst of energy. He prefers short bursts over a long period of time
- Close friends and/or allies may not always appreciate his secrecy
- Othis is an old man now, and while he wears his years proudly, his body sometimes cannot fully keep up with the strenuous activity that is demanded from a Spade. He hides this well, however
Relationships
Parents: Ramesses (NPC father; Jack of Spades; deceased), Auset (NPC mother; Jack of Diamonds; deceased)
Siblings: Idogras (NPC brother; former Suit; deceased), Asenath (NPC sister; high numbered Heart)
Lover(s): N/A
Offspring: N/A
Notable Figures: Helva (niece; Zero), Antares (nephew; Zero), Cadalus (nephew; Zero), Ranora (niece; Zero)
RP Interactions:
| blood relation ● | ||
| heard of ● indifferent ● unsure of ● impressed by ● respect ● fond of ● attraction ● wary ● uneasy ● irritation ● jealousy ● miss ● | met in passing ●● curious ●● comfortable ●● admires ●● loyal ●● friendship ●● crush ●● awkward ●● distrust ●● dislike ●● resentment ●● sorrow ●● | familiar ●●● sympathy ●●● trust ●●● aspires to be ●●● devoted to ●●● practically family ●●● love ●●● avoid ●●● fear ●●● hate ●●● vengeful ●●● grief ●●● |
Antares ● ●● ●● ● ●
His fiery nephew who enjoys tussling with and bullying his siblings, Othis sees a lot of potential in him, but also a darkness that never seems to disappear.
Artemis (@/abyss) ●●● ●● ●●● ● ●● ●● ○
She is his Suit and he is her Ace, but she is also one of his only true friends. They share a bond not typical of Sanzin Suits and Aces, but one they have cultivated for a few years, founded on the close similarities they share in their view of the world and their duties as Suit and Ace. He feels he can let down his guard a little around her and has no shortage of loyalty. But, that doesn't mean she is completely exempt from his secrecy.
Cadalus ● ●● ●● ● ●
TBD
Helva (@/cheshire) ● ●● ●● ● ●
Othis's far quieter and more reserved niece, unlike her siblings, Othis has noticed she prefers the sidelines as opposed to the battle. It has sparked curiosity in him.
Idogras ● ●●● ● ●● ●●
His brother and a pathetic excuse for a Suit, in all honestly Othis is rather relieved he is dead because his long useless reign is over, and he can never corrupt his children. Othis remained loyal to him despite his quiet disdain for him, but his loyalty was nominal. Othis rarely put emphasis on maintaining family bonds so when Idogras fell, he was able to move on very quickly.
Ranora ● ●● ●● ● ●
A spitball of a young girl, and his youngest niece. Though she may be small she certainly isn't afraid to fight back. She reminds him a lot of his younger sister.
History
Previous Affiliations: N/A
Previous Ranks: Zero, numbered Spade
Both of his parents held respectable high ranks simultaneously and managed to maintain them for a long time. Perhaps their shared strength was what drew them together. But they were far from the ideal parent. Ramesses was an icy Jack of Spades who was as emotional as he was cruel. He was far more forward and earnest about his ways, rarely resorting to underhanded tactics as brute force was often enough. He sported deep scars all around his snout which added a menacing quality to him. He earned his title through sheer force of will and relentless strength and he held no prisoners. Unlike him, Auset’s rank called for dirty tricks and manipulation of all sorts. Her strength lay within and she climbed her way up through tastefully executed murder, sitting comfortably as a Jack of Diamonds.
Auset was a very emotionally unavailable mother. She spared her children little of her time, uninterested in the sentiments of motherhood, constantly deployed on missions beyond the borders. Ramesses, however, glimpsed potential in his children (his sons specifically), and took up the mantle of training them. He did not want them to become more power-hungry Sanzin drones, but to learn hard work and grueling effort. Nothing was ever handed to them. He regularly worked them to the bone day after day, infamous for his intense disciplinary regimen. Even without his supervision, the brothers butted heads, initially as stubborn young boys but competitiveness gave way to rivalry. Not only did Othis have to contend with Idogras but also other strong young males who saw Othis as a threat. He learned that in order to stay on top, he would have to get crafty.
But soon Othis stopped entertaining Idogras’s rivalry all together after growing bored. Instead, he turned his focus to his younger sister, Asenath. They were more alike than he gave her credit for, originally believing her to be just another soft-spoken, frail girl. She was anything but frail. While she had no interest in fighting, she did take a strong interest in poisons and doctoring suspicious substances until they reeked. When rowdy boys tried to scare her with their taunts and bullying, she would utter a few cryptic words and they would turn tail. While not physically strong, her mind was a razor and she was wise beyond her years; a little eccentric. But she took deep pleasure in experimentation, no matter how… unethical, and eventually she went down the path of a doctor. A “witch doctor.” She was the only individual young Othis felt grounded near.
Othis greatly admired his father and his admiration sparked frustration toward Ramesses. To him, his father was the epitome of strength. He could climb as high as he desired for all Othis cared. But he never did. He settled into the rank of Jack. The older he became the more he considered it a glaring flaw in the man he once considered perfect. But this only motivated Othis more. While he picked up on his father’s ascetic regimen and began slinking away upon nightfall to hone his skills, Idogras was becoming insubordinate; more arrogant and hostile, and getting distracted during training. No longer was he fun to thrash around. Ramesses gave up on him, not wanting to waste any more of his time and he turned to Othis entirely. Idogras never seemed fazed as he began to occupy himself with mindless Sanzin drivel, picking fights and using illusory charm to enrapture the ladies.
Ramesses was eventually bested by a younger, more spry male but Othis continued down the path his father set him on. He would make him proud even in death, and his ascetic training never lightened. During the time he spent to himself, however, Idogras was garnering quite a fearsome reputation. Around their second birthday, he had slain the Suit during the Chance Games. Othis was not particularly shocked. While Idogras was disinterested in training, he had natural battle instincts, and thus Othis knew he had it in him to succeed the Fool. But, he also knew his brother was weak. Maybe not physically, but he had a hunch that his younger brother would fall victim to the luxuries of leadership. When he inevitably did, any respect that he had gained from his brother was snuffed. Not long after, their mother was killed during a Diamond raid.
During the next year’s Chance Games, Othis took a stand. He had one goal: defeat the Ace of Spades, by any means necessary. He called for a duel and they tussled, their blows both packing a punch but Othis had the upper hand. When he had the Ace pinned, they aimed for his throat, but the Spade anticipated their actions and reeled his neck back. It had been a trap. The Ace managed to reach up and snag Othis’s whole lower jaw. When they yanked down, their strength heightened at that moment, blood rained. The pain was searing and Othis felt numb for a second, but the unruly crowd around him centered him, lighting a fire in his soul as he dove blindly down, rage-induced, using the split moment the Ace was distracted by his spraying blood to clamp down on their throat, ending their reign in one swift motion.
Just as his father instilled in him, he took his job as an Ace seriously, wearing his new nasty scars with pride. While some claimed they signified weakness, to the new Ace it was a testament to his triumph, and to his father. Meanwhile, his foolish brother and Suit, Idogras, descended into indolence. Though Othis kept his feelings behind a veil of loyal disinterest, disdain was growing, and all the while he nurtured his fierce reputation. Amongst a pack full of dull blades, there was one individual who he was able to match wits with, just like he and Asenath had. She was slightly younger than him, solid white in color with flecks of red and gold accenting her strength. Artemis. They shared a mutual respect, then a friendship. She was strong as proven through their sparring sessions but he never doubted her strength, and in time she was promoted to the Ace of Clubs. As Aces, they spent a lot of time together and eventually grew close.
Othis and Artemis held onto their ranks with an iron fist, staying as Aces for a respectable amount of time. They were undefeated. But soon, Artemis became unlike herself, both in mind and body. Her stomach was expanding and she made odd claims that it was because she was eating more. It was not entirely a lie; Othis’s keen eye connected the dots. She was pregnant. By who? He did not know. She never told him and he never pried. He knew she had her reasons for keeping such a secret and given his history regarding secrecy, he was not one to judge. It wasn’t until she lured him to the meadows with a fresh litter of pups that he was caught off guard. Artemis said she had seen a mother giving birth but ran off upon her approach. He knew she was lying. Their coloration, though dull, told of their origins. But again, he never pressed for answers and followed her narrative.
When the Chance Games commenced not long after that, the Ace of Clubs formally challenged Idogras, a turn of events that also wasn’t entirely shocking to Othis, but was one he was greatly interested in. It did not wholly matter to him who came out on top; he would follow regardless. He knew the loser would fall to death. But in the back of his mind, he placed bets, and his intuition told him he had no reason to be concerned. And as he watched, his expression sat in neutrality, never once twitching as he watched his brother be reminded of the true strength of a competent leader. The false Suit fell. Othis remained an Ace while the rest were stripped of the title and under his new leader, he felt a sadistic sense of relief that the Second Coming of Sana the Fool no longer ruled. He thought Artemis to be a more fitting suitor to the role.
With his nieces and nephews presently amongst the pack, he feels as though he must watch over them from a safe distance. They never asked to be brought into this harsh world or to have a pathetic cur for a father. Othis never corrected anyone who believed him to be the father either as he felt their identity should be protected, otherwise they may be targeted by those who lust for power. He has never interacted with them but would spare them a solemn glance when they achieved impressive feats. Whether or not they will ever interact is unknown to Othis, but in the meantime, he continues to be their shadow.
Misc
Voice: Velvety rich and gruff, spoken just above a whisper; hardly ever raised unless order must be established
Scent: Sandalwood and a dull metallic tang
