Michael

"Every defeat is a lesson, and every foe a teacher."

-Michael Godbreaker, Lord Seraphim of the First Angelic Legion

Michael is the first son created by Ynoch, shortly after he had formed the realm of Eden. The first of the Ynochim, the angels, Michael assisted his father in raising his younger Seraphim siblings. He was given command of the First Angelic Legion, the Godbreakers, who derive their name from Michael's own title of "Michael Godbreaker". When Michael's closest brother Lucifer discovered Ynoch's true origin, and lead over half of their brothers in rebellion against their father, Michael remained loyal to Ynoch, and lead his loyal brothers in a brutal civil war against their traitorous siblings. He has also remained as the de facto ruler of Eden since Ynoch entered his slumber during the early Iron Age (though he leaves much of the actual administration to his brothers), and as such, is one of the most prominent figures in the godly community. Many gods still remember his lethal prowess as a warrior and general, and the calculated deadliness with which he and his legion crushed all opposition. As such, the name Michael Godbreaker invokes feelings of fear wherever it is spoken among the godly pantheons.

Early Life
Michael was born about a quarter of the way through the Silver Age, crafted by Ynoch shortly after he had reinvented himself from Ra. Michael came into being in the realm of Eden, which Ynoch had shaped into a verdant paradise. Ynoch and Michael lived quite simply during the latter's early years, in a plain cabin high in the mountains, hunting, fishing, and doing chores. Having no children his own age for company, Michael grew extremely attached to his father, who doted upon him, playing all manner of games with the boy. Michael's favorite was his father acting as "the tickle monster" and chasing him while he ran and hid, with the result of being caught resulting in a bout of tickling. As he grew, however, Michael developed into a somewhat reserved and very dutiful boy, who knew admiration and obedience to his father, and little else.

Great Pilgrimage
"The gods were content to squabble amongst each other and preen their own vanity as their mortal children, born out of their own unconstrained lust and abandoned like fallen leaves, fought and died for the merest moment of notice from their progenitors, the smallest word of praise. How could beings such as that, indolent, arrogant, and corrupt, have any right to rule?"

-Michael, regarding the False Gods

When Michael was ten, he and his father began making trips to the other realms, disguised as simple travelers. Though the pantheons in the Silver Age were not as violent as they were when his brothers made their own Great Pilgrimages in the Bronze Age, centuries later, Michael was still distraught at how many of them behaved. They warred amongst themselves, within their own families, and constantly toyed with their mortal worshippers.

At the age of seventeen, Michael left his father's side for the first time, after Ynoch prompted him to make his own way for a while, and to step out from his shadow. Initially hesitant at leaving the person he was most attached to, Michael did strike out on his own, and spent much of the Silver Age adventuring among mortals, befriending many halfborn heroes. Most of them died horrible deaths, which Michael blamed on the negligence and pettiness of their godly parents. Continually, his heart hardened against them, even as he honed his combat prowess and tactical skill by constraining himself continually with a weak Avatar, shunning the use of his magical powers for the purposes of remaining inconspicuous. He made occasional visits to his father in Eden over the years, regaling him with tales of his adventures, and seeking his council about the injustices he witnessed.

Michael at last returned to Eden and his father's side for good near the end of the Silver Age. By then, he had developed an intense desire to see the gods unseated, and he pleaded passionately for his father to help him in casting them down. Ynoch, moved by his son's plea, accepted, and shortly thereafter, with Michael's help, reclaimed his memories as Ra. Michael was shocked by the revelation that his father was once the feared Primordial tyrant, but Ynoch explained what had become of him in his new life. How raising Michael had changed him. Ynoch laid bare his memories to his son, and Michael experienced firsthand the change that he had undergone, and the love that his father felt for him. He explained why he had wanted Michael to set off on his own: to witness the injustices and corruptions perpetrated throughout Creation. And Ynoch showed Michael a vision of the Dream that Michael had inspired. A world of order, peace, and enlightenment, where the false gods were cast down, and Ynoch and Michael would guide Creation into a new Age of Wonders that would last for eternity. Eagerly, Michael pledged that he would do whatever he could to help his father's Dream be realized.

But they would not be able to do it alone.

Dutiful Son, Dutiful Brother
"I had travelled across the realms, clashed with the mightiest warriors to be found, slain monsters beyond count, and witnessed wonders and terrors beyond imagining, but never had anything stirred my heart so much as the first time I held my brother in my arms."

-Michael, regarding the birth of Lucifer, his first brother

The first of Michael's brothers was crafted in the early Bronze Age, after he and his father had built a palace abode in Eden's mountains. His name was Lucifer, and to Michael, his birth was a wonder. As soon as he learned to talk, however, he began to cause trouble. Lucifer was bold and inquisitive as a child, rambunctious and full of mischief, always sneaking off and getting into trouble. Michael, being a responsible big brother, took charge of hunting him down and scolding him, and was forced to do the same for many of the siblings that followed. Michael was always a powerful source of authority for his numerous little brothers, stern and dutiful, but always willing to give praise when it was deserved, and assistance when it was needed. Ynoch was often preoccupied with making plans for the Dream, which took up much of his time, leaving Michael to oversee the duties of raising his brothers for most of the day.

As Michael's brothers matured, many of them helped shoulder some of Michael and Ynoch's burdens, entering the same circle of trust with their father that previously only Michael had occupied. Foremost among these were the oldest of Michael's younger brothers, Lucifer and Raphael, who both came to be trusted confidants of his.

As his brothers grew, one of Michael's key functions was serving to instruct them in the arts of war that he himself had learned. When each of his brothers came of age, Michael would induct them into combat and strategic training, drilling them in the practice yard and in various war games. Eventually, Lucifer, Uriel, and Abaddon came to assist him as secondary trainers for their younger siblings, while some of the others provided lesser assistance in training the others, for instance, Raphael serving as an example of a physically strong opponent, or Gabriel as an extremely fast one.

Early Training
A few of Michael's brothers flouted the tradition of beginning combat training at ten. Uriel, a rowdy, hot tempered boy, had engaged in a brutal slaughter of a tribe of mortals, after they had killed and eaten his pet fish, Bubbles. As punishment, Lucifer convinced Michael and Ynoch that he should begin his combat training early, at age seven, and be subjected to long and especially brutal hours of combat training, which incidentally, provided an outlet for his temper and energy. Gabriel, two years his elder, who had fought with Uriel about the incident, and eager to make him pay for his atrocity, joined in as well, and Michael saw to their instruction. Later, Michael would also introduce Uriel to the art of blacksmithing, where his brother would eventually surpass him.

Abaddon's Painting Practice
When Michael's brother Abaddon was eight, he stole a set of Michael's painting supplies, in an attempt to fabricate artistry of his own. Abaddon was found by his father, who brought him to Michael in order to apologize for the theft as he was in the midst of combat training with Lucifer, wherein Michael chided Lucifer for his reliance on magical tricks, and decapitated him. Michael went over to Abaddon, heard his brother's apology, and then explained to him that the reason he painted was for the purpose of honing his focus and discipline. Lucifer reformed from his Avatar's destruction, and warned Abaddon not to become a boor like Michael, as Raphael had. Ynoch also reminisced about his days with Michael as a child, and playing the game of "the tickle monster", much to Michael's embarrassment.

Gadreel's First Practice
When Gadreel, aged ten, first began his combat training under Michael's watch, he set Gadreel against Abaddon, then a three year veteran of the training grounds. Michael provided the boys with weapons, advising Abaddon to temper his arrogance, while giving a nearly imperceptible gesture of approval for the caution he demonstrated against his opponent. After Gadreel's unexpected victory using underhanded tactics to prevail over the physically and martially superior Abaddon, Michael commended Abaddon for his skill, advising him to be more cautious next time. When Ynoch approached, Michael informed his brother, then left them to talk, while he went to chide Azazel, who had been attempting to influence the fight in favor of Gadreel. Gadreel briefly attempted to dissuade Michael from chiding Azazel, but was cowed with a simple word from his eldest brother.

Physical Appearance
Michael appears to be a tall, powerfully built man of about thirty years, covered in dense and compact muscle from head to toe. His skin is quite tan, and his eyes are a vivid amber in color. Michael usually wears his bronze colored hair long, down to his shoulders. When manifesting his wings, they also appear bronze in coloration.

Personality
Michael is the archetypal warrior and general, stern, obedient, and proud. He is not prone to any sort of flowery speech or exchanging pleasantries, and when engaging in conversation, he is blunt and direct, though usually fairly cordial. Unlike many of his brothers, Michael is almost completely bereft of charm, and his intractable demeanor makes him poorly suited for diplomacy.

Michael's reserved nature means he is not very open in showing affection or praise. When giving his approval, he is usually terse, and miserly with his compliments, but never gives underserved praise to anyone. Indeed, he has no qualms about pointing out flaws and failures, but in the case of allies, he will also give his honest judgement on how such failings can be rectified.

Despite his typically taciturn demeanor, Michael is still possessed of a powerful and commanding presence. Rooms tend to fall silent when he enters, and when he gives orders, people are compelled to obey. So potent is his presence that even courageous and proud deities have been known to quail at his merest glare, and any instance where his usual cold control is broken by anger is truly terrifying to behold.

Fortunately, angering Michael into a loss of control is rare. Cool and calculating, Michael's anger is usually cold, applied using his analytical and adaptive mind to surgically dismantle his foes. For truly, the Firstborn of Ynoch is like a cunning predator, with a keen eye for weak points, and a focused, brutal savagery that few can withstand.

Yet like a king of beasts, Michael is also proud, quick to answer insult with insult, and able to turn to violence in a heartbeat when prompted. Still, he is not without honor, and once he gives his sworn oath, he abides by it utterly. The only issue is that he rarely swears to anything, in his ruthless pragmatism, preferring never to limit his options. Additionally, while he does not lie, Michael also has no compunction about keeping secrets and withholding information if he deems it necessary. When asked questions he does not wish to answer, he will simply refuse to do so, and stubbornly keep to his course until he decides to alter it.

Stubbornness is another of Michael's defining qualities. He rarely changes his mind once it is made up, an unfortunate trait he passed on to several of his brothers. He is slow to forget and slow to forgive, and will nurse slights and brood on enemies forever, until he feels the matter resolved. Yet Michael's intractability is also one of his foremost strengths. In him is a will unbreakable, a drive unrelenting. Surrender is foreign to him, and betrayal anathema.

And that is why the betrayal and loss of over half his brothers forever burdens his heart.

Skills
In might of arms, there is no being in all of Creation who can match the skill of Michael. Having spent centuries travelling the realms fighting with minimal use of magic, Michael has utterly mastered innumerable weapons and fighting styles. Combat comes as easily as breathing to him, his movements driven by razor honed instinct and a mind that is calculating and highly adaptive. In battle, he possesses a predator's awareness, always keenly tracking his own vulnerabilities and ready to pounce upon any he sees in an enemy. Michael's ability to completely alter his fighting style in order to perfectly eviscerate his opponent.

As a general, Michael is much the same, possessing the same predatory cunning as he does in direct combat. As a tactician, his ability is astounding, for he is able to analyze the flow of a battle and rapidly improvise brilliant countermeasures. In any conflict where he is directly present and in command, his forces are nigh unbeatable, unless the odds are truly dire. On a larger scale of strategy and logistics, Michael is still a cunning and ferocious commander, able to prosecute campaigns of tremendous competence, but his skill there is nowhere near as astounding as it is in the smaller scale.

Michael is also a capable leader as well as battle commander. Whilst no one would ever call him charming, he is possessed of potent personal aura. He radiates a powerful air of authority and intimidation. His stares can silence most any voice, and when he speaks, his lessers hurry to obey. Not only that, but Michael's aura of confidence and the cold discipline with which he conducts himself erase doubt in his subordinates. Discipline and fear are his tools, used to command his subordinates and cow his foes.

Notable Equipment
Retribution: His sword

Stats
Power Level: 4

Traits
Strength: 10

Dexterity: 11

Endurance: 12

Intelligence: 11

Charisma: 12

Perception: 11

Skills
Academia: 7

Artistry: 6

Brawl: 12

Charm: 3

Command: 13

Craft: 8

Deception: 8

Empathy: 7

Intimidation: 11

Intrigue: 6

Leadership: 8

Marksmanship: 9

Medicine: 7

Melee: 13

Occult: 7

Performance: 2

Seduction: 4

Stealth: 9

Stewardship: 7

Survival: 10

Torture: 5

Magic
Dominion of Aura: 8

Dominion of Chaos: 0

Dominion of Frost: 3

Dominion of Darkness: 0

Dominion of Death: 4

Dominion of Earth: 6

Dominion of Fate: 0

Dominion of Fire: 11

Dominion of Forge: 9

Dominion of Life: 4

Dominion of Light: 10

Dominion of Order: 12

Dominion of Realms: 10

Dominion of Sky: 7

Dominion of Thought: 10

Dominion of Time: 0

Dominion of Water: 3

Dominion of Wild: 2