Demigod: Storm Khan (Assassin)
Summary: The Storm Kahn is a massive, majestic Gryphon, a sort of thematic counter, a light beast Demigod to counter the Unclean Beast. She is much more mobile than any other Demigod, with the ability to fly over obstacles that other characters cannot. This allows her to engage quickly, as well as make her way behind enemy lines to capture flags or harrass enemies. Her Thunderous dive ability lets her enter the battle with savage power. However, leaving battle is much more difficult, as taking off leaves her vulnerable for a time. If she can get airborne, however, she can usually escape. Her other skills are a blend of debuffs and savage attacks, as well as some powerful, if unpredictable, lightning attacks.
Listen well, for I will tell you the story of the Storm Khan, the sky-queen, our protector and king. The people of the steppes have lived for always on the green ocean called Rethaz-hur. In ancient times our herds were fat, our children healthy, and our men strong. Our women wove beads of peacetime into our leathers, and not steel of war. Khans were fair and just, and strife was nigh unheard of.
Lo, such paradise could not last forever. It came to pass that Hugriz, the wizard, toyed with forces that man should never touch, and created the abominable centaurs, chimera's of man and horse. They served him for a time, and were even considered noble. Hugriz was a harsh master, however, and their already brutish nature was hardened into savagery. Wielding them like a hammer, he began his conquest of the tribes.
As mighty as our warriors were with their steppe horses and their shortbows, the centaur were a fearsome foe. The wars raged across the plains for generations, long after Hugriz had died. Running battles became a fact of life. The remaining tribes banded together, and the combined might of all the peoples of the steppes was indeed titanic.
Leading the tribes was a man of great wisdom and virtue, Turez-Khan. Turaz was a paragon of men, and he lead the tribes to a stalemate with the centaur horde. An uneasy peace developed, but the people of the steppe could never rest or lay down arms, for fear of provoking an attack through their weakness.
Turez-Khan ruled for many years, justly, but by some sick prank of the gods he was cursed never to bear a son of a woman. He married, and when his wife came full with child, she would sicken and die. Three wives he courted, wed, and impregnated before he refused to marry ever more. The people lamented, for they would have no heir of Turez' noble blood to lead them forwards. Gathering the tribes together, the Shamen sent a mighty prayer to the heavens, begging whatever gods would hear for an heir.
Behold, it came to pass that night a woman came to Turez' tent. She was she was naked, fair to look upon, yet hard, with raven hair in a crest and piercing eyes. She lay with him, and in the morning, she was gone. Nine moons waxed and waned before she returned, bearing Turez an egg the size of a small foal. "Keep this, our child, for a year until she hatches, and she shall be your heir, the Storm Khan."
Turez was puzzled, and so were we, his people, for the people of the plains bore live young. However, knowing the command of a goddess when he heard it, he obeyed, and cherished the egg for the required year, never letting it from his sight. And behold! One year from the day it was brought to him, the egg hatched!
All of the people of the steppe came to watch as the egg cracked and the child emerged, and all of the people of the steppe gasped in wonder. For what emerged from the egg was no man or woman, but a Gryphon! Legendary beasts of the far northern plains, who ate whole horses and oxen each day. None living in the tribes had seen one, only heard tales. And here, their future Khan, sat before them. But that was not the greatest shock, oh no. For looking directly at Turez, the Storm Khan spoke! In a childs voice, to be sure, a simple "Father," but all the tales of the Gryphons spoke of them as beasts like any other with no intellect.
The Storm Khan grew rapidly. Within 2 years she was full grown, a majestic queen of the skies. her intellect grew as well, and if became apparent that though she had the body and instinct of a gryphon, she had the mind and emotions of a woman. When, on occasion the centaur proved aggressive, she needed hardly fight; she dove amongst the attackers, snatched one off for her meal, and the rest fled.
It was not until Turez-Khans death 30 years later, however, that her true power was revealed. Taking the reins of the tribal counsels, she never expected to find a massive centaur army so close to our lands. Emboldened by Turez-Khan's death, not even a mighty gryphon would deter them from our anihilation.
When the armies met, the earth shuddered. The cries of the men and centaur filled the sky, and I tell you now, hell could be no worse. Most frightening of all, however, was the Storm Khan. Hundreds of centaur lay torn asunder by her great beak and mighty talons. yet, still they came, an endless tide of abominations.
Seeing the fate of her people in the balance, the Storm Khan shrieked, so lound that the foe all around her fell, writhing. Launching herself into the air, she cried out her mother's name, which is forbidden to speak. Then, we saw the true fury of a god! In an instant, storm clouds filled the sky, and she was struck by an enormous thunderbolt. Far from being harmed, however, she seemed to grow, her iron-feathered wings crackling with lightning. She screamed again, and bolts of lighting began landing amongst the centaur army, throwing them high into the sky and raining down charred remains. Diving amongst the army once more wreathed in the fury of the storm, she resumed her slaughter tenfold.
I do not need to tell you the eventual outcome of that battle, for obviously we sit here now. I do not need to tell you that the centaur have left the steppes, never to return. And I do not need to tell you that, as long as the Storm Khan flies these skies, the people of the steppe need never fear for the saftety of our paradise. Our herds are fat, our children healthy, and our men strong. Our women weave beads of peace into our leathers. The Storm Khan is fair and Just, and strife is nigh unheard of.
Strengths: Extremely mobile, able to fly over obstacles others cannot.
Flight greatly reduces the damage she takes.
Weaknesses: Very mana dependant; flight uses up mana very quickly.
Takeoff and landing leave her vulnerable
Apearance: A mighty silver and blue-gray gryphon, with wings of steel feathers that crackle with electricity.
Abilities:
Soar/Prowl: Switches between Soar and Prowl mode. Soar allows flight over gaps in the map, but drains mana quickly. Damage taken is reduced 50%. Unable to attack. Prowl is default, land based mode. 1.5 second cast time. Default ability.
(Soar)Thunderous Dive: 600 Mana. Instant. Storm Kahn dives onto the battlefield, lading with a shockwave. Enemies she lands on take 300 damage. all other enemies within 20 feet get knocked back. Storm Kahn is stunned for 1 second on landing. Subsequen levels increase the damage up to 1000 damage and reduce the stun time to 0.
(Soar)Wings of the Storm: Toggle: The Storm Kahn's movement speed is increased by 10% and bolts of lightning randomly strike nearby enemies for 100 damage. Successive levels increase these values up to 25% and 250.
(Soar)Cyclone: The Storm Khan creates a cyclone beneath her that slows all enemy movement and attack speed inside it by 15%. Subsequent levels increase the penalty to 50%. Lasts for 10 seconds.
(Prowl)Scream: The Storm Kahn lets loose an earthshattering shriek, stunning all enemies for 1 second and decreasing their weapon damage by 20 for 6 seconds. Subsequent levels increase the debuff to 100.
(Prowl)Lighting Rod: Target becomes an attractor. Every 3 seconds for 12 seconds a lighting bolt hits them and anyone within 10 feet for 200 damage. If the target dies while this effect is active, and additional bolt will strike for 500 damage on the spot they die. Additional levels increase this to 400/1000 damage.
(Prowl)Maul: Storm Kahn leaps at her target, dealing 350 damage and silencing them for 2 seconds. Subsequent levels raise damage to 1050.
(Passive)Static: Any time the Storm Kahn is hit, attacker takes 50 damage, and all enemies within 10 feet of the attacker take 10 damage. This is a single rank ability at level 10.
(Passive)Gust: When the Storm Kahn takes off or lands, all nearby enemies are knocked back. Also reduces the mana cost of flight. Subsequent levels decrease mana cost of flight further, and add interupt (second rank) and 0.5 second stun (third rank).
