Path to Grandmaster Reaving application - Masagh Creth
• Is this a skill that defines the character? Is it something that you can imagine them without?
Masagh was born into House Creth as the youngest son of their leader. Masagh holds the station of Knight, who are all in possession of a Rune of Reaving as the primary requirement. You can see a raid they conduct using Reaving to great effect here, Blood & Ichor, Part I & Blood & Ichor, Part II. He was raised to fill this role and knew as a child he would one day possess the rune. He was initiated upon reaching adulthood and has trained with and used the Reaving Rune constantly since then. Masagh is defined by his use of the Rune, it is his first and most intuitively understood tool for many situations.
His future as defined by his family, his identity as defined by himself, and his methods as defined by his experience all hinge on his familiarity with the Reaving Rune.
• How often do they use the skill? If it is something used infrequently, it is likely not a candidate for Grandmaster.
The Reaving Rune is the defining feature of his role as a Knight of House Creth, combined with the two handed sword skill. Masagh has other duties as well, but in combat it is the primary way he fights. He focuses on Reaving so much that he may even ignore the use of his other master level runes in favor of its familiarity at times. As he has matured and become more skillful, he also train younger knights in the uses of Reaving. They are expected to maintain a high level of readiness and competence so he approaches training with the Rune as part of his daily schedule.
• What efforts has the character put into developing their own perspective and unique approach to using the skill? What is their trademark use of it?
While not unique to him, he eschews the use of any pact blade but the greatsword. In his family they believe an absolute mastery of one weapon is more powerful than a lesser familiarity with many. This has led to him diving deeper into what a greatsword pact can do, or what multiple greatsword pacts can do.
He is also a master Traverser. Masagh differs from his fellow knights in that he has been developing new and creative ways to use Dancing with Traversing portals to be able to attack his enemies from different angles. One of his signature moves is an expert control of Dancing, which he uses with his greatsword to great effect, ie: Favors. He plans to continue the development of this fighting style during his path to grandmaster and perfect his strikes on every angle. Weaponmaster is an example of that fighting style.
The imposting greatsword is used with finesse and brutal strength to break through the defenses of some of the larger monstrosities the House might interact with or beat down enemy mages by dismemberment. Dancing allows a higher level of versatility and range, requiring a strong sense of spatial awareness. Masagh is attempting to incorporate his understanding of space through Traversion to create a more erratic and indecipherable way of going on the offense with his Reaving.
• Is this a skill that others immediately attribute to the character? If not, consider fostering a reputation involving its use.
As a ghoul in hiding from most of the world, his Reaving Rune is part of the reason he is one of those whose responsibility it to be a face with the few outsiders they do interact with. He is chosen for this role because of his mastery of the Reaving Rune and his sword so that he can defend their interests or intimidate those who may be hostile. He is one of the few sent out to meet with the Goblin King’s minions to conduct trades for the House. On many instances he uses clever tricks of Reaving to get the jump on enemies, which has built some infamy around his use of the skill. An example is when he used Projection to ambush some Rathari in River Rats.
• How have you used the skill in your writing to impact not just your own character but others?
Masagh has always been dedicated to protecting his family and the undead under their charge from the living who hate them. He is a warrior who is defined by the day he received his Reaving Rune and with it, a responsibility to his people. It is a mark of power but also a path to realizing a dream of a sanctuary for the undead. He has rescued undead civilians by carving a path with his sword here Unbound, Part I & Unbound, Part II.
Masagh hopes to expand on his understanding of the nature of the Pact and how the other aspects of his soul imbued within it can expand his use of Reaving to protect and provide for his people. I hope through grandmasters I can expand on his blending of his other strengths into his Reaving and continue his path to the goal of a sanctuary for the undead.
Please let me know if you need anything else from me!
