Jonathan Aaron Steele A.K.A. Legion

``Name;; Jonathan Aaron Steele
``Nicknames;; Legion.
``Age;; 57 (In this incarnation, looks younger)
``Gender;; Male
``Species;; Demonhost
``Magic? (Y/N);; Y
``Home Country;; Luxur Republic
``Sexual Orientation;; Straight

Appearance

Jonathan is a tall man, standing at a height of 6’3”, a trait which never really bothered him very much, quite to the contrary even. This height is capable of making him look a quite bit leaner than he really is, though his arms and body do not lack muscular development in any way. He has the physique of a swordsman, a boxer and a dancer, all things he practises often and enjoys very much. These, along with a more than passing familiarity with number of other arts, martial or not, have left a distinct mark on both his body and gait.

His face is quite fine, bluff and aristocratic in features with an angular form of the head. His nose is thin and straight, flanked by a pair of deep lying, slightly hooded and predatory eyes in a dark shade of brown. These stare into you with a sardonic, knowing air to them, a knowledge come from watching people for a long time, yet with an ever-curious twinkle. His brows are quite pronounced, forming wings aside a body of wrinkles between them. Beyond this, lies nothing but a high forehead, which he pronounces by combing his dark brown hair back, something he has been doing for years now.

In terms of daily attire, Jonathan is relatively constant. Unless forced otherwise by the situation, he will almost invariably choose to go about dressed sharply in something stylish, preferably in shades ranging from black to grey. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Demonhost maintains his somewhat military leanings in his clothes as well, often choosing something that is akin to a uniform and is built to withstand and allow combat. His taste in attire is quite conservative, only giving the slightest incline to the latest fashion and he prefers to be clean-shaven and well-groomed at all times, though he is not so vain to let that get in the way of his business…

Legion’s demonic form is that of a dark grey, tall, roughly humanoid shape, of which the edged are blurred and indistinct, wavering like a distorted image. The face lacks any distinguishing features, aside from a pair of dark eyes that seem to waver, creating an almost smoky trail around them. His hands become clawed and his voice receives the sound of many voices speaking at roughly the same time, echoing and overlapping one another. Aside from that, his change is rather unremarkable compared to many more spectacular demons.

Personality

``Likes;; Art, dancing, challenges (preferably when overcoming them), politesse, bargaining.

``Dislikes;; Rudeness, being told what to do, senseless brutality or debauchery, decadents.

``Strengths;;

-A wealth of knowledge and skills carried over from his previous incarnations
-Avid swordsman and hand to hand fighter, especially skilled with the sabre and dussack.
-Potent Magician.
-Legionnaires: Legion can, if he chooses to, decide to let the actual multiplicity of his existence bleed into the physical world, the matter that composes reality obeying the multitude of minds that commands it. The most potent form of this is creating a number of copies of himself, all ruled by a single mind. Presently, the number of clones he is able to maintain is limited to 9.
-Testudo: An extremely durable shield he can lay over his body, but cannot be projected more than an inch or so from the skin, making it a personal defence only.
-Skilled Dissembler, influential and unpredictable.

``Weaknessess;;

-Risk-taker, temperamental and somewhat reactionary.
-Painful memories: Certain impressions, memories or thoughts are too painful to contemplate, even after many lifetimes or maybe because of them. Objects, places or even random flashes of remembrance can be a torment to Legion, bringing strong emotions and painful impulses of the past to the forefront once more. Most of the time, these only bring a stinging headache, but can leave him nauseous, in pain or even incapacitated. Delving deeply into his own memories often has the same effect on Jonathan, bringing with it more input than a mind is equipped to handle.
-Fluidity of memory: Time moves differently for Jonathan than for most people, wresting cohesion and consistency from it is often a challenge. Having lived many lives before, it is sometimes hard to figure out where one is, reality can sometimes intertwine with memory in subtle ways.
-Slightly weaker than most of his kind due to the difference in birth and gestation.
-Cannot cross running water and weaker to magical items.

``Fears;;

Absolute loneliness, to lose his knowledge.

``Secrets;;

Large pieces of his past, especially how he died last time.

``Personality;;

The present-day Jonathan Steele is the result of a merge between an age-old demonic entity and the soul of an introverted young man, a rather strange combination that had equally unpredictable results, but on overall came out pretty well. Largely, this is because of the balancing nature of Legion’s many personalities. On overall, Jonathan today is a relaxed man with an air of silent confidence that borders on over-confidence at times. He has a slight streak of vanity inside himself and a larger one of pride, which has gotten him into trouble time and time again, something he does not repent for. After the years under his stepfathers thumb, he has learned that you should violently defend the borders of your own self-worth and what you think is your identity. He is almost unfailingly polite, urbane and non-judgmental, having watched things unfold numerous times before, but always interesting for variations in the way the story plays out. He prefers it this way, a cordial agreement is far more productive and enjoyable than a fight…And a mantle of genteel behaviour can often disguise one’s darker deeds.

Unlike most demons, Jonathan shows very little interest in what are considered demon staples of entertainment. The toying and torturing of humans does not light a warm fire in his belly and neither does unnecessary suffering. He is by no means a philanthropist or bleeding heart, he just finds the joy some of his brethren in kind take in that kind of thing rather base. Partially, this is because of a keen insight in business that tells him that chaos, confusion and insecurity only lead to failing sales, a sense of professionalism that tells him that a light touch is better than a shove…But mostly it is because of an insight he has gotten in mankind during the countless time he observed them and the numerous times he was forced through the trying process of growing up. They are possible of rapid growth and equally swift deterioration, the greatest kindness and the vilest jealousy. They are capable of a vast accumulation of power and an enormous weakness. Unlike most demons, they are never predictable, a trait he tries to emulate. Legion does not respect many of them as equals, but their stories of personal growth or destruction are interesting to observe and prefers not to interfere too much. He is however, quite willing to interfere when the price is right or there is profit for him in acting. Knowledge, power and riches are interesting enough to spur him from inaction and sometimes his greed is greater than himself.

There are however, some untamed demonic edges that still reside. His sense of humour is one such edge, but most revolve around certain hungers he feels more than most humans, the thrill of battle, the lust, greed, envy and suchlike. Especially the feeling of power can sometimes be intoxicating to him, causing him to break limits he had not intended to break, or be swept away by his aggression. This can lead to very nasty incidents, fights, broken bones, destruction of property or even death…

``History;;

The history of Jonathan Steele is actually a history of two, up until a certain point in time, very distinct individuals, of which Legion is the oldest and the boy, Jonathan Aaron Steele is by far the youngest.

The actual birth of the Demon Legion is still largely shrouded in mystery, also to himself as he has no actual memories from the time before his birth. All that can be surmised is that the tragedy and suffering that brought him into being were exceptional indeed, either in vehemence or in some other way. The first memory of Legion is that of a heartbeat far louder than his own, a presence of mind that was all new to him…And the voices of others awakening right beside him, within him, among him. Already from before his birth, Legion was never alone with himself, the multitude of presence within him only growing in strength as he was born and as he grew up. People in the village would think him strange, listening to voices that weren’t there, conversing in tongues they did not understand with men who weren’t present. His memories of the time are hazy, as if seen through a thick fog. Disparate and scattered, it seemed that none of the voices were united, that they all tug and ran in different directions…Wasting energy in a struggle against each other, muddying the waters of memory…

Clarity would only come in time, as Legion grew older, grew restless and travelled. How long he wandered he doesn’t know, but he still remembers the day he came upon them, the marching men in steel. Row upon row, seen from a hill overlooking their camp, it was a sight that stunned all the voices, brought them to silence. Each man was a separate man, yet the unity was undeniable…What stood there was no longer a group of men, but one man. Legion took the sight with him, the idea, even into his grave and with his return to the Netherworld, where he forged himself in that image. All of them would be one, yet apart. All of them would relinquish their names, to bear only one name. His name was Legion, for he was many…

Many would join him over the centuries, all drawn to join the Legion for different reasons, allowing the demon to melt with their souls and take control of their bodies. Mages, seeking power and knowledge, hearing his voice in the whispers of turning pages. Warriors, surrounded by panic and carnage, seeing his face in the flash of the blade and the spray of blood. Merchants, searching for wisdom and wealth, the ring of coins pleasing to his ears…All of these and more joined, each for different reasons, with different plans, but all were loyal to only the Legion…They all became Legion…

To tell the stories of all Legion’s incarnations over the centuries would take too long and lead us nowhere, so the story of his present incarnation should suffice. Jonathan Aaron Steele, the human name and visage he goes by this day, was born 57 years ago in the capital of the Luxur Republic, the city of Luxur The younger scion of a small noble house, Jonathan, was born the third son of Thomas Matthew Steele, an unimportant dynasty in the scheme of things. Thomas wasn’t a fair man, displaying open favouritism and more than a little disrespect for his younger sons, whom he saw only as bargaining chips in the great game of politics. Jonathan was frustrated, knowing that though he had all the advantages of a noble upbringing, manners, education and the name, he had learned early enough that there would be little more for him than the life in a golden cage, away from the rest of high society. He’d remain dependant on his father and eldest brother for his entire life, clinging on for the smallest crust of bread. A nobleman isn’t supposed to go into trade, or work a job. Tied by convention, family ties and fear for a different way of life, Jonathan turned to drink and other diversions, developing the tendencies so typical in a higher class untouched by work or any prospect of a real future. He drank, he gambled, he whored, even went as far as to participate in a number of duels. Jonathan became quite the shame to his fathers name and fortune, at the age of 16 already making ripples in high society, especially after duelling one of the scions of a far more powerful house and showing him that money spent on swordsmanship classes do not mean you’ll survive your first real meeting…

As a result, Jonathan was jailed for a few weeks, though even as a lowly nobleman’s son, he was almost guaranteed a senatorial pardon sooner rather than later. Prison usually isn’t a bad place for noblemen, who are treated quite gently by the wardens and able to buy almost anything as long as they behave. Thomas made certain Jonathan did not enjoy the same luxuries, a cell on the ground floor, a low barred window very close to the stockade…A curious gamble to try to scare his lost son straight. And it could’ve worked, if the eldest of the line hadn’t come in to gloat…The powerless rage, the lonely languishing in prison, the blood of those lashed on the stockade and the suffering of those locked in the depths of the prison…All it took was a curse, a desperate enough plea for aid from someone, anyone…And Legion spoke to the young man…Offered him friendship, power, a chance at freedom…Jonathan took it, gladly. A body isn’t worth much if you can’t be free to live it…

When his father finally came to collect him, Jonathan walked out of that cell a changed man. Colder, more decisive, he did not cringe or beg when the old man entered. He didn’t even look grateful or particularly glad to leave. The stay in prison seemed not only to have scared him straight, but almost scared every weakness out of him. Thomas became afraid of his son then, the eyes of the boy had become far older, far more menacing then before and though he continued to belittle him and the household continued to be one without love or comfort, it turned out into just a cold war, fought out daily over breakfast and dinner, where the father and his oldest son would sit across from the youngest in a venomous silence…A fragile cold war that would last long enough for the new Jonathan to accumulate his strength…

Legion struck out on his own five years later, using borrowed, stolen and saved money to buy a commission as an officer in the army, using it as a stepping stone back into the high society his father had kept him from. Making the most his charms, his skills and his knowledge, Jonathan advanced in ranks, investing his salary and his influence tin building networks of connections, trade and investment. He took up the arts to further the image of him as a gentleman and a warrior poet, duelled to protect his honour, washed away the blandishments of his past and finally withdrew from the army after a service of 15 years, the allotted time of his commission. By then, the youngest Steele was known as a rising star in high society, a pleasant guest and a welcoming host, not to mention a far richer man than he had started off as…And though there were hints of a darker side to his reputation, those only managed to enhance the interest he piqued…

Today, Legion is what he’s always been, a man with fingers in many pots, in the Republic but also beyond. A trader of secrets and services, a powerful person with few of the trappings that normally surround it. He influences, by wealth, power or blackmail, but keeps to his own council most of the time…Still, if you want something badly enough, no matter the price, Jonathan is always willing to bargain with you…Or just have a glass of wine with you…

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