Epoch

this is not supposed to be here.

Digital drawing of a character named Epoch falling through a dark void. They're wearing a wizard hat, robes, and boots, all in blue, and have damaged gauntlets on their hands. Their outfit conceals their entire body, and their face is entirely in shadow save for their glowing yellow eyes. A length of chain is affixed to their hat at various points. Papers that would normally be attatched to their hat by this chain are flying everywhere, and Epoch is grasping at them.

Pronouns: They/them

A wandering mage, mysterious and more than a little eccentric. Epoch was summoned to aid in a crucial quest, persuaded with the promise of rewards, opportunities to gain knowledge, and the fact that they were magically bound to participate and didn't actually get a choice.

Epoch's magical abilities seem to center around enhancing their own physical capabilities well beyond mortal limits, as well as shooting powerful beams of light. They carry a simple metal staff, ostensibly to focus their magic, though it is primarily used to hit people with.

The Countdown

Though they're incredibly powerful, Epoch's powers carry a steep price: Every usage of them cuts away a piece of their lifespan. Physical force only drains it a bit faster than it would otherwise, but their beams can take away hours or days at a time.

Epoch knows exactly how long they have left at any given time, or at least how long they would have if they didn't use their powers. Knowing how long you have left and how much you're taking away is probably better than it being a black box, at least.

It doesn't feel that much better when you know you have less than 5 years left.

  • The notes attatched to their hat (mostly) aren't for magic. Rather, they're reminders Epoch adds to deal with their terrible memory.
  • The notes also mostly aren't in any language anyone else in the setting can identify, much less read.
  • Added patterns to their cloak and cape with bleach.
  • Spends a lot of their off time working on a project that might allow them to replenish their lifespan.
  • Nobody's seen under their cloak, and Epoch plans to keep it that way.
  • No healing magic can help what little physical damage they receive, though other kinds of magic can work. Such magic can't restore their lifespan, either.
  • Has almost no detectable magic presence, though it's not unheard of for people to hide their magic.
  • Genuinely nice to be around, though the amount they hide from others can be a bit of a barrier to interactions.