Alaric Thane
Name Alaric Thane
Position Teammate
Second Position Resident
Character Information
| Codename | Draconis | |
| Gender | Male | |
| Species | Mutant | |
| Age | 20 | |
| Affiliations(s) |
Physical Appearance
| Height | 5ft. 11in. | |
| Weight | 172 lbs | |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown | |
| Eye Color | Brown | |
| Physical Description | Alaric has a rugged, roguish appearance. His dark and slightly wavy hair, often styled in a tousled manner, adds to that appearance. His brown eyes can convey both charm and danger. He usually sports well-groomed stubble, enhancing his rugged look. Typically, he’s seen wearing a long, black leather coat with intricate details, often accompanied by a red, detailed vest, a white shirt with a wide collar, and dark pants. His attire is completed with high leather boots. He also wears various rings and pendants at times. Sometimes on Earth he wears a simple black undershirt, denim pants, boots, and a leather coat. For the most part, he doesn’t care what others think when he wears his ‘Limbo clothes,’ as he calls them. At other times, he magically changes into sorcerer’s robes more befitting Earth. The DarkFang form: Alaric’s voice, when transformed, deepens into a guttural tone and his eyes take on a yellow, ethereal glow. In this partial transformation, dark, curving horns erupt from his forehead. The menacing horns arch backward over the crown of his head in a smooth, flowing, spiral curve reminiscent of a mythic beast from ancient legends. From his back, a pair of large, leathery wings sprout; looking as though they belong to a creature torn from the underworld. The leathery membrane between each bone is tattered and frayed in a couple of places like battle-worn sails, suggesting a history of violence and conflict in the brutal realms of Limbo. The wings are a deep, smoky gray-black, with veins of dark purple running through the membrane. His skin retains its natural color except at his lower back where it takes on iridescent tones of dark purples, blacks, and deep greens. At this spot, scales begin to form as his tail extends from the base of his spine, coiling and snapping with serpentine grace. The tail is long, muscular, and flexible, tapering to a pointed, but not sharp, tip. When the DarkFang moves, his tail lashes behind him with alarming speed and precision, a deadly extension of his will. It can be used both as a weapon and as a tool to maintain balance in the midst of combat or flight. In flight, he carries an eerie grace, adding to the nightmarish vision of the DarkFang. |
Family
| Spouse | ||
| Children | ||
| Father | Scott Summers | |
| Mother | Aurora Essex | |
| Brother(s) | ||
| Sister(s) | ||
| Other Family | Stepmother: Jean Grey-Summers Alex Summers - Uncle Raised by Lorna Dane (Mother Askani) in Limbo after the age of three and considers her to be family. |
Personality & Traits
| General Overview | Alaric Thane is a person shaped by both loss and mysticism. He exudes confidence, often as a way to mask the inner turmoil caused by his time in Limbo. He is often seen with a sly smirk or a glint of mischief in his eyes. His wit is sharp, and he possesses a rather dark sense of humor. He often uses it to deflect from his past traumas and serve as both a shield and a weapon. Having been in Limbo since a newborn, the young boy was forced to learn dark sorcery to survive; constantly adapting in a world where danger lurked around every corner. This experience hardened him and honed his abilities, but also left deep emotional scars. Upon his return to Earth, he struggled to fit into normal society, even during his first year living at the X-Mansion. There, he learned about the customs and cultures of Earth as well as teamwork and peer socialization. Beneath this roguish exterior, however, lies a man deeply scarred by his experiences in Limbo. The years spent in that dark, hostile dimension have left him with a lingering distrust of others. He often struggles with feelings of displacement, torn between the world he grew up in and the Earth. Despite the darkness he had to embrace, Alaric possesses a strong morality and an unyielding sense of justice. He is driven by a desire to protect the innocent and to prevent others from suffering as he has. This can be attributed to a combination of having only Lorna to physically care for and raise him in Limbo after three years and the genetic traits passed down to him from his father. This sense of duty often puts him at odds with his own instincts for self-preservation. |
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| Mutant Power(s) | Mutant Power(s) Teleporter/Shadow Gates: () = In short, he is a teleporter. He has the mutant ability to summon and control "Shadow Gates," which allows him to teleport himself and others. Shadow Gates are corrupted, dark, arcane versions of a teleportation portal. They appear as portals of faint grayish shadow through which one can see their destination. They are rimmed with ghostly glows of violet or deep crimson. The edges of the gates seem to crackle with an eerie energy, giving off an ominous hum that grows louder as one approaches. Alaric can teleport himself and others via these circles of shadow. His demonic corruption has corrupted the Gates themselves. Skills Sorcery: Alaric’s sorcery is the dark arts that he learned in Limbo, where he was set to rule as Belasco’s heir. He used the dark arts to cast binding spells and energy blasts, heal, wipe memories, project an astral form, and other talents. However, on Earth, his magic is weaker. Soulsword: A mystical weapon forged from the raw, arcane essence of Limbo itself. It is a living weapon bound to the soul of its wielder. Now under the command of Alaric Thane, the current ruler of Limbo, the blade has become a manifestation of his dominion and inner strength. After defeating and beheading the demon sorcerer Belasco, Alaric claimed the rule of Limbo. The blood magics of the realm were satisfied with the sacrifice and Limbo accepted Alaricus Tantus as the new lord. With this act, the blade was reborn. Its form reflected Alaric’s will: sleek, dark, and laced with pulsing violet runes. It disrupts magical energies, severs enchantments, cuts through illusions, and banishes infernal beings. As ruler of Limbo, Alaric’s bond with the sword allows him to command its full power, making it not only a weapon of mystical precision but also a symbol of his right to rule. However, the Soulsword remains tied to the volatile magic of Limbo, each strike echoes with the realm’s chaos. Limitations: * Mystical Limitations: Alaric's magical abilities are far more limited in Earth's dimension. He did not formally train as a sorcerer on Earth when younger, so he does not fully understand his Earth-bound powers. His connection to Limbo’s chaotic magic and ethereal atmosphere means that spells requiring calm, focused energy, don’t come naturally to him. * Shadow Gate Burden: There is a persistent risk of Limbo's corruption seeping into the real world when a portal is opened. This corruption could manifest as dark energy, twisted landscapes, or even demonic entities slipping through the gates. Alaric cannot open a portal to a random place he has not seen. Even if it is as simple as a photograph, he can open a portal there. But he has to see it to know where he is going. * Dark Half: A continual use of dark magic or intense emotions, particularly anger and fear, can cause the demonic ‘DarkFang’ form within him to manifest in the form of dragon-like horns, tail, and wings. His voice also deepens, taking on a more guttural tone and his eyes glow as an ethereal yellow. |
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| Profession(s) | ||
| Strengths & Weaknesses | (+) Alaric is protective, driven by the memory of Lorna and the protection she provided since he can remember. He is fiercely so of the innocent and the vulnerable as he understands their suffering on a personal level. He has had to live with the pain of his own lost innocence. He will also go to great lengths to shield others from harm. Alaric’s ability to face his inner demons head-on, despite the fear they instill, shows a strong inner courage. This inner bravery along with his morality is what allows him to wield his dark powers without letting them consume his humanity. (-) Despite his formidable abilities and often grim demeanor, Alaric is not without his vulnerabilities. He harbors deep-seated fears regarding his own humanity and the darkness he's embraced. These inner demons are a constant source of tension, driving him to seek redemption and a sense of belonging that he fears may always elude him. Alaric is haunted by the innocence he lost, though these moments of vulnerability are rarely shared. However, they are the driving force behind his unwavering commitment to protecting those who cannot protect themselves. Just as Lorna did for him while in Limbo. |
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| Ambitions | To really live. | |
| Hobbies & Interests | Alaric spent his life in Limbo simply surviving. There was no time for hobbies or interests outside of learning how to stay alive. He is not opposed to developing some now as he is free from being trapped in Limbo. The Earth is a whole new world for him. | |
| Mutant Mastery | X-3 |
| Origin Story | Alaric Thane is a mutant sorcerer whose soul is bound to the demonic realm of Limbo, where he was to rule as Belasco's heir. He was sent there as a baby by Lord Sinister and raised by his birth mother for the first three years of his life. He is the son of Scott Summers and Aurora Essex, who both decided to name him Christopher. Yet, he was called the Alaricus Tantus by Belasco and eventually anglicized as Alaric Thane. Limbo, a place where the physical laws are primarily magical and highly variable, takes the appearance of its current ruler’s power and personal taste. It can look like an otherworldly paradise, or rocky, sulfurous perdition. Belasco, the former ruler of Limbo, created a castle for himself, and certain desert-like areas were shaped after the Savage Land, where he had been defeated by Ka-Zar. Other regions of Limbo were made of dark caves and tunnel systems under Belasco’s rule. The ether is much thinner than that of the normal universe, allowing for a greater spectrum of magical powers and effects. As such, the one using the dark arts learned in Limbo while on Earth will find it very difficult. There is generally a morally and spiritually corrupting influence over the denizens of Limbo. If human, a resident of the realm will slowly metamorphose into a demonic entity. This change enhances the magical powers of the individual at the cost of their soul. Persons of great moral courage and wisdom can stave off the change for decades, but it is considered inevitable. The transformation usually progresses in stages initiated by the evil acts Limbo demands for survival. Time in Limbo does not flow as does time on Earth. Decades could pass in Limbo while only weeks or months pass on Earth. Its ‘present’ is relative to the individual. In the brief time that passed on Earth, Alaric aged two decades in Limbo. This process allowed him to study the dark arts prior to his mutant abilities manifesting. Alaric sensed the emotional changes and saw the physical changes that would manifest themselves as he used Limbo’s dark sorcery. If he completely gave himself over to vengeance and anger and the passion they ignited, his darkness would manifest itself as dragon-like horns, tail, wings, a deep, guttural voice, and glowing yellow eyes. This change may have enhanced his magical powers, but it cost a little part of his soul. His moral courage along with Lorna’s moral compass are what kept him from completely giving in to the darkness within and losing his humanity altogether. Alaric didn’t have what anyone would consider a normal childhood. He was secluded in Limbo for his own safety since he was an infant. After Limbo and the demon armies were devastated by the Phoenix blast, Lorna took in refugees from Genosha and rescued slaves along with the young Alaric. It was a great risk to take Belasco's heir, saving and shielding the child from him. They all lived and survived in an ancient Askani temple, steeped in powerful magic and shielded by wards. There, they were protected from corruption. Alaric was raised in a world, a dimension where bad and negative emotions were praised and valued as they were the source of strength for the demons living there. Journeying down that road would have been extremely easy for him had it not been for Lorna and his own inner morality. Those two things kept Alaric from fully becoming the DarkFang. Though he has embraced it at times and more so than someone else might have. One of Alaric’s early memories is that of a night filled with unending darkness, deeper and more oppressive than anything he had known before. At least it seemed that way as he was just a small child, barely able to grasp the full terror of the realm he had been thrust into. The ground beneath him was cold and damp, and the air was thick with the scent of decay. He hadn’t meant to stray so far, but the eerie stillness of the nights there had a way of distorting distances. Panic began to set in to his little mind as heard the growls. The beast’s claws were on him in seconds, its hot breath washing over him. He then heard Lorna’s voice piercing the night. She attacked the creature with her mutant powers and watched it run away, screaming in pain. She scooped him up and brought him back to the ancient temple that had become their home. Once behind the walls and wards of the old Askani temple, she held Alaric close and whispered reassurances. But Alaric knew deep down that the innocence of childhood had been shattered in that dark encounter. It was replaced by a grim understanding that Limbo was a place of darkness that would devour them if given the chance. And from that night on, Alaric knew that survival would be a battle he would have to fight every single day. So Lorna began instructing the young Alaric in what she knew at the time she’d entered Limbo. Alaric had to constantly battle demons and the other inhabitants of that realm to survive. The monsters were real. Alaric began to practice the dark arts of Limbo at a very young age. He learned quickly and was able to add more as time went on. The boy grew into an adept and skilled sorcerer. But there were other methods of fighting of which he also had to avail himself. He had to learn how to defend himself as he had to fight demons on a regular basis. An instance that will be forever burned into his memory was in a crumbling fortress in Limbo. He was standing in the dim, shadowy corner, gripping an old, rusted sword Lorna had scavenged from a long-forgotten battlefield. His small hands trembled, not from fear, but from the weight of the responsibility thrust upon him far too soon. He could hear the guttural growls of the demon closing in; its glowing eyes piercing through the darkness. Lorna’s voice echoed in his mind, reminding him of the skills she had taught him. As the demon lunged at him, Alaric’s body moved instinctively, sidestepping the attack and driving the blade into its chest. It let out a screech and ran away, sword buried. Unfortunately, growing up with monsters, demons, and the other inhabitants of Limbo was normal for Alaric. This created an immunity of fearing what normal children on Earth had fears of, monsters under their beds for example. As a child, it was still scary for him, but not nearly as much as he had grown up around them. They were run-of-the-mill for his childhood. As a young teenager, Alaric discovered his mutant power of teleportation which allowed him to summon unique interdimensional portals called Shadow Gates. The only explanation Mother could come up with was that the magical, demonic properties of Limbo and physical changes they brought on affected his mutant X-gene as it lay dormant during his development. Alaric progressed with his mutant ability, adding it to his sorcery. He found that he could use the portals in combat in many ways. Belasco had been rebuilding his army and repairing Limbo for nearly two decades when a strange event occurred. A blue mutant found his way into Limbo. At that time, there was nothing outside the temple they called home. No one dared to leave, except patrols and scouting parties. So when a blue demon was reported to have suddenly appeared near the Askani temple and then vanished again in a poof, Alaric was sent to investigate. It took some skilled persuasion on the part of the intruder as no one ever trusted any denizen of Limbo. Eventually, Alaric brought him inside their stronghold. The blue demon turned out to be a mutant from Earth. He met Mother Askani, Lorna, and the two Clan elders, powerful mutants from Genosha. Alaric and the others came to know his name as Kurt as they heard his story. Kurt earned their trust for the length of time he was with them. Unfortunately, they were unable to help him, but the fact that he'd entered Limbo and could leave was not lost on the Elders. No one entered or left Limbo that easily, so he offered to show them the old portal. Alaric needed to find a way to get Clan Askani out of Limbo and into a safe place. From what Kurt said, Earth seemed like a viable option. He accompanied Kurt to the portal, but it was a battle to get there. Eventually, Kurt went through the dark fire and Alaric followed, but the portal closed. Alaric was in a mystical city with Kurt and another mutant. Kurt quickly got to the Blackbird where Alaric met the mutants from his bedtime stories. Alaric was given a room at the Xavier mansion while they learned all they could from him and he learned about Earth. He was still intent on bringing his Clan out of Limbo. But in this new environment, he could connect with peers and learn to manage his powers in a more social, team-oriented setting. He could focus on the different aspects of his identity and form bonds with others who understood his dual nature. It was at this time, thanks to being forced to socialize with people closer to his age, that Alaric’s humanity came to the forefront of his life. He had fought to survive for his entire life. Now he no longer had to do that and everything felt alien to him. Living at the X-Mansion did little to help early on, but it became easier as he spent time with mutants closer to his own age. In addition to that, Alaric had to grow accustomed to life on Earth. Extreme culture shock was the name of the game for quite some time. The others had a heavy workload of showing him exactly how great life can be. Alaric had many ‘firsts’ during this time; first ice cream, first snowfall, and first horror movie night – which had very little impact on him. It was a patient task, teaching him social skills and about life on Earth. Alaric learned almost immediately that he was not nearly as powerful a sorcerer on Earth as he was in Limbo. Also, using the sorcery he’d learned in Limbo fed his dark side each time. Alaric never really knew his birth mother, even after coming to Earth. From her perspective, it had only been a matter of weeks since she had left him in Limbo. For Alaric, seventeen years had passed since she'd abandoned him. And then there was the task of getting to know his father and step-mother. During a battle at the mansion, Alaric recognized the relic that empowered Alex as the Soul Sword. He took it, transformed into the DarkFang, and continued to fight alongside the heroes of the stories from his youth. Once the battle was over and everyone was safe, he returned to his human form and explained, to a degree, what the relic was. And that he would use it to free Lorna and the others from Limbo. Alaric and the team took the sword and flew to Kamar-Taj. After a battle to break through the city’s defenses and armies, Alaric used the sword to open a portal into limbo. Once inside he led Lorna and his people to the portal and safety. He transformed into the DarkFang and fought against the two demon princes of Limbo and their armies. Then he killed Belasco, removing him as the ruler of that realm. The ancient blood magics of Limbo accepted the sacrifice and Alaric became the new ruler. As the new ruler of Limbo, Alaric could return at will to that realm. He also had a place of honor among the fledgling society at Kamar-Taj. He would use the Shadow Gates to visit Lorna and the others at Kamar-Taj on occasion. An illness called the Legacy virus began to spread among the mutant population of Earth. One year quickly passed as Jean Gray became the new headmistress of Xavier's. The first class of X-Men had contracted the virus and was placed in stasis pods in one of the Mansions sub-basements until a cure could be found. Alaric continued to fight alongside and protect the younger X-Men. |
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| Past Exploits |