Argus
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Character
Description
One of the Faceless Servants of House Armadeum, the devoted Cleric known only as Argus is most remembered for their loyalty, and their military-grade cabaret mask. Acting as the eyes, sword, and devoted hand to the family of the Empress, the mask he wears is more symbolic than tactical: Identity is second to action. Devotion to House Armadeum above all else. When duty calls, he will always be ready with a sharpened blade and a fresh teapot.
Seemingly content to stay out of the spotlight, Argus moves like a whisper, with a spell list dedicated to keeping nearby allies safe. That said, there are flickers of something more ferocious and calculating underneath the surface. This uncharacteristic darkness might be a side effect of unquestioning service for the royal family's needs at any cost, or it may have been the hidden face beneath the mask this whole time...
Argus is most commonly seen in a dark butler-like outfit with some classic frills of House Armadeum, and a rapier at his side. The mask he is so known for hugs the upper half of his face tightly, while obscuring his bright blue eyes underneath. This has the added effect of concealing his constant scanning of the world for threats. Argus is an Air Genasi with a faded gray skin tone and long white hair, most commonly pulled back into a tight ponytail while on mission. They change utterly when the mask is removed, once subdued features becoming accentuated. The hidden blue eyes swirl like a radiant corona when revealed, the waves of their hair bounce like clouds, and the sharp profile of their face projects a disarming confidence.
Storylines
Background
Once a street vagrant of the Empire of Arma, Argus had no hope or prospects in life. When the criminal organization known as the Nameless Blades discovered that this Air Genasi vagrant had the potent abilities of a Twilight Cleric, his innate spellcraft and scrappy instincts allowed him to nestle into their ranks for a modicum of safety and security.
It wasn't until a young Argus was charged with assassinating the Armadeums that everything changed. It didn't matter which one. The unpracticed Nameless Blade simply had to cause chaos, and send a message to the Empress. Infiltration was easy. Killing would be hard. Especially knowing that there was likely no getting out of this alive. But Argus had nothing else to live for. He was a weapon. An ideal Nameless Blade. But Argus was struck by a radiant visage in the garden. Princess Veyrah Armadeum took the assassin's breath away. He would turn himself in to the Empress. But surprisingly, she offered mercy. Argus would work with Prince Benjamin to track down and defeat the Nameless Blades.
The Empress was pleased with the pair's success. And so the weapon changed hands once again. Nameless Blade became Faceless Servant, as Argus was granted new life under the roof of House Armadeum. Serving as their devoted butler, the eyes of Argus now watched tirelessly to keep the beauty of the Armadeum family safe.
Castleton Part 1
Introduced on mission for the Empress prior to the Marching Season, Argus roamed lands far from the castle and stumbled upon the eccentric siblings Lyre and Arty Lark. Unsure of their intentions, Argus worked to flatter them until they reveal that they are not the nobility they were pretending to be; not helped by how frantic they acted to impress a servant of the Empress. When entering a teleportation rune to unite with the Armadeums at the coming Ball, Argus was struck by a thrown dagger with a letter attached for the family they were sworn to protect. After reuniting with Princes Benjamin and Tier, the dagger falls from Argus and they are healed as the message is revealed to be from the Nameless Blades, a group who has attempted assassination against the Armadeum family in the past.
Argus accompanied Veyrah Armadeum to the opening inaugural ball. When the floor separated and the ballroom became a bloodied battlefield, Argus and Veyrah were separated from one another. After using a hasty and oddly brutish stone shape to make his way to Veyrah, Argus was only saved from the retracting pillars that encompass the ground by their natural feather fall inclination as an Air Genasi. They spend the rest of the fight following closely behind Veyrah as she was gifted a bow, basking in her radiant light.
Argus next seen at a meeting of the Armadeum siblings, as Desta told them about the death of the Empress and that she will be stepping up to the position as soon as it is strategically safe. Argus was promoted from Faceless Servant to Captain of the Guard as a result of the meeting. In a show of loyalty and a confession of guilt, Argus revealed to the royals, save for Ben who had prior knowledge of Argus' involvement, that he was not only once a member of the Nameless Blades, but also the one sent to assassinate the Armadeum's for great pay if he survived. However, taken by the beauty of the estate, he instead confessed his intentions to the Empress, asking to be pardoned if he helped take them down. It was after this show of strength that the Empress took the former assassin under her wing, with Desta and Tier accepting his confession, but angry at the betrayl of her trust, Veyrah stormed off.
Argus has revealed to nobody that the beautiful sight that stopped him, the thing that changed his life and mind was Veyrah.
Castleton Part 2
Opening at the Cloud Ball, Argus appeared in a bizarre state: without a mask, as a flirtatious Air Genasi noble named Augustine. Disguised in plain sight, Veyrah's Declared Prince Gideon Torrent did not recognize the guard of his beloved. There is a light flirtation between them, seemingly a familiar one. Gideon shrugs it off out of loyalty to Veyrah, before "Augustine" offers the chance to help Gideon and Veyrah win. Finding a more private place atop a balcony, Augustine declared themself Protector of All Things Beautiful, claiming this refers to both Gideon and the Armadeums. Augustine teased a kiss, which Gideon accepted, saying it is the best type of contract.
The mood is broken when the King of Cerul entered to see his son publicly cheating on his Declared.
Credits
Juli (any/all) plays Argus, a Faceless Servant of the Armadeum Empire who acts as their eyes, sword, and devoted butler. Juli is a performer and comedian who has lived and performed in Osaka as well as all over their home of NYC, and a fantasy writer of works such as the multiple award winning audio drama The Realm Tree.
