HARTHOTH

Physical Appearance: Harthoth is something of an
imposing presence – tall and handsome, he is built much like `Future
Tense' Brooklyn. His charcoal skin is offset by gold highlights
(especially around the wing ribs and eyes), and his white hair
(which he often wears in an Egyptian style braid). His eyes betray
a studious calm, and also the weight of millennia within them;
anyone looking into them long will know that they face a creature of
immense age (and probably power).

His human form is much the same in shape (modified by
him being human) with white-blonde hair and somewhat swarthy skin;
many would mistake him for having some small amount of Arab blood in
his veins.

Harthoth's apparel conforms to whatever surroundings he
is in, but is always well-made, expensive, and understated. In his
gargoyle form, or when engaging in rituals, the gargoyle will tend
to dress in ancient Egyptian style, which for him means a simple
white linen kilt, as well as perhaps some gold jewelry (if he feels
in the mood). Another outfit he takes to (especially when he wants
to produce the effect of a powerful wizard) is in sorcerer's robes
of black trimmed with gold.

Personality: Harthoth's personality is dominated by an
intense calm and disinterest in the world. He is so old, and has
seen and experienced so many things so many times that inwardly he
has grown bored; the correct term would be `ennui'. He has managed
to keep himself going on, and keep himself from spiraling into
depression and madness, by fixating on refining his magical craft
and serving his master (it has largely been the only thing giving
his life meaning for millennia, and goes a long way to explaining
why he serves such a loathsome creature). He also entertains
himself with Isfet's `antics'; she keeps him on his toes, as well as
provides an excellent warning to him that he could be in worse shape.

Beyond this ennui lies a highly intelligent and
inquisitive person, especially where magic and magical phenomenon is
concerned. He is more than willing to set aside what he is
currently doing to track down some obscure fact or bit of magic,
provided what he intends to find is worth it. He also brings this
hands-on approach to other things he does; he tends to want to
oversee his projects personally (partly because he wants to make
sure it succeeds, partly to do something to relieve the ennui), and
is more than willing to fight his own battles.

There is also something of arrogance in it as well; being an
immensely powerful wizard for so long has given him a right to think
himself superior, and while he's politic enough not to rub it in, it
isn't hard for him to belittle others. (In fact, he understands
what the fay are to the point that they no longer arouse awe in him,
or even much respect.) Still, he is a gargoyle of his word and a
man of honor; if he says something, then he means it, even if he
speaks to someone he considers a dire foe.

On a less serious note, Harthoth is also a gargoyle of culture; he
grew up in one of the great civilizations of ancient times, so it
comes easily to him. He is well-read, very polite, and tends to act
the part of the congenial gentleman. And he is very lonely; Isfet
is hardly a boon companion, and working for Apep has made him more
than reluctant to reach out to anyone for friendship and
companionship (one reason he has the occasional adversarial
relationship with Brooklyn is so the Timedancer will not get sucked
into the pit Harthoth is in). He has never known love, and probably
wouldn't know how to act (probably he would be even more reluctant
to get involved, considering his `occupation').

Abilities: Harthoth's greatest strengths are his high
intellect and his past-mastery of the magical arts. Having grown up
in a land steeped in magic, been trained by the Egyptian god of
knowledge himself, and then spent several thousand years perfecting
his art and traveling the world, the gargoyle is practically an
encyclopedia of spells, rituals, and artifacts. If he doesn't know
about it, it either doesn't exist or been so well-secreted that few
of the `gods' themselves (Oberon's Children) would know about it.
He also has a massive collection of artifacts, spell components, and
wealth scattered in various places around the globe. (For the
writer, the basically means that anytime Harthoth wants to cast a
spell or use an artifact that isn't truly esoteric or biblically
powerful, he will have such things immediately on hand or be able to
get them in short order).

That said, Harthoth is by no means all-powerful. As far
as magic is concerned, he is still considered a mere mortal, and so
when he needs to use powerful spells he needs to perform the proper
rituals and use the proper components. He needs to make sure
the `stars are in proper alignment', so to speak, and so this does
put a major limit on what he can do. Still, he could probably
trounce a full-strength Merlin in a one-on-one duel or even take on
a minor fey in magical combat (although the effort would exhaust him
completely for several weeks).

Beyond that, Harthoth has the natural strength and
combat abilities of most gargoyles, honed somewhat over the course
of his immensely long lifespan. And there is also the spell/curse
of immortality granted by Apep – while Harthoth can be killed
permanently, it would take a good deal of effort by a being with
powers on the level of Oberon to accomplish (though Harthoth could
be temporarily slain by more mundane means).

History: In the land of Kemet (the term used by ancient
Egyptians to describe their land), there were once many gargoyle
clans, each serving one of the `gods' of that land; in later days
they would be immortalized in the rows of `sphinx' statues set in
front of temples. Among the clan that served the fay lord Thoth
(Egyptian god of wisdom) was a particularly bright and eager young
gargoyle who came to be known as Harthoth. He had earned his name
due to his loyalty, as well as his skill in the magical arts and his
ability to learn, and in time became one of his lord's favorites.

The influence of the Timedancer and Isfet shattered this
existence, though. When Brooklyn arrived in ancient Egypt, he and
Meryt-Isis drew Harthoth into a plot to free the ancient Apep from
his imprisonment; ultimately the dragon was re-imprisoned, and his
agent Isfet was captured. In the process, Harthoth and Brooklyn
became good friends, And Harthoth learned a little of the future
world (not that he expected it to ever have any practical use for
him). This friendship deepened over the next two years, until they
were almost as rookery brother, but the good times would not last.

A botched intrigue by Isis wound up freeing Apep
temporarily, and allowing the wizard Uraeus to rampage through the
land. In the process, Meryt was mortally wounded and there was
nothing the `gods' could do; in desperation, Harthoth made a pact
with the now-spirit Apep. If the dragon would revive Meryt,
Harthoth would become his slave for eternity. Unfortunately, due to
the fact that Meryt had been named by a fay, Apep could only
transfer her soul into a statue; even so, he had fulfilled the
letter of his end of the bargain, and Harthoth found himself trapped
as the slave of the Dragon King.

Harthoth left Egypt almost immediately after this – he
knew his existence was forfeit if the gods knew of his pact – and
pragmatically began his work in trying to free his new master. Of
course, bringing life back to that which has none is impossible,
even for the fay, and so Harthoth's studies went from taking years…
to decades…to centuries…then to millennia. Through this time his
only real companion was the vicious assassin Isfet, one of the ones
who had gotten him into this mess in the first place, though
sometimes he ran into Brooklyn or – when visiting his old homeland –
Meryt. He became more and more personally powerful and
knowledgeable even as he struggled to keep his soul from collapsing
into ennui. He even began to emulate the fay to a degree, finding
playing `games' and intrigues helped fill some of the empty
centuries.

Though he also accumulated wealth and magical lore and
artifacts, Harthoth preferred to stay out of `the limelight' until
the 21st century, when he began to use his resources to enter
commercial enterprise; this became especially enticing with the
power vacuum created by the dissolution of Maddox Technologies. By
the late 21st century, he was now one of the most powerful men on
Earth (even if he was still a recluse and `eccentric') – his magics
allowed him to take human form from time to time, so it was easy
enough to play the part of human businessman. And all the while he
struggled to free his master from the astral realm.

Then, in the mid-22nd century, he finally achieved his
goal; using life-force drained from various halflings, Harthoth
managed to bring Apep back to life. While this might have normally
been good news, Harthoth soon realized that Apep was now insane, and
that the dragon's vision included plans that would lead to the
destruction of all that was on Earth. Harthoth didn't care much at
this point, however, and dutifully went about his business.

That is, until he met a beautiful and spirited young
woman by the name of Gwenyvere. At first merely interested in her,
he soon found himself falling in love with the woman, and she with
him; when they each found out that the other was in fact a gargoyle,
the last barriers between their relationship crumbled, and they soon
decided to wed. Unfortunately, there were still Apep's mad schemes,
and Isfet was well aware of the effect Gwen was having on Harthoth's
resolve. While Harthoth tried to think of a way out of his bondage,
the dragon and his other minion thought of ways to corrupt (or,
failing that, slay) Gwenyvere…

Goals: Harthoth ostensibly serves his master, Apep,
trying to free the dragon from the bonds of death and enact his will
in the living world. Beyond that, there is nothing more that
Harthoth would like to do than find release from his servitude and
his unending life. Once he meets and marries Gwenyvere, he wants
more than ever to leave Apep's service, though now he plans to spend
the rest of his days with his beloved mate rather than commit
suicide.