Adelaard

Aaeion is a living nightmare, and Adelaard’s constant companion - an Animunculus composed of a Dimenite core encapsulated within a ‘shapeshifting, self-replicating alchemical protoplasm’. In fact, it is not strictly known what Aaeion is composed of, for it is of no natural element and appears eldritch in origin - a disturbing precident. The core of his being - his brain - appears to be a beautiful, depthless sapphire etched, engrained and saturated with arcane ideograms, which is mounted upon a pendant hanging around Adelaard’s neck when Aaeion has cause to remain hidden. But most often, Aaeion can be seen in what he considers to be his ’Primordial Form’ - an inky, midnight-black thing the approximate size of a large cat, with comically stubby legs, a lizard shaped tail, a blunt head and a pair of gaping, glowing blue eyes. The substance from which his corporeal form is composed could only be described as ’solidified liquid shadows’. Somewhere nebulously between a liquid and a solid, it appears to shift and swirl faintly, as if just beyond the edge of sight. Despite this, the ‘protoplasmic substance’ is surprisingly, velvety soft to the touch - albeit with a subtly mind-bending consistency which no words can describe.

Not that touching Aaeion the Mind-Breaker would be in anyone’s best interest. Identifying as a male insofar as he has any gender, Aaeion’s shapeshifting capabilities mean that, among other things, he is able to spontaneously grow teeth - and a mouth to line them up in - a skill which he routinely uses to his advantage both in the event of combat or intimidation...And sometimes just to creep people out. He is a mischievous little thing, delighting in causing trouble and mayhem - but also has a soft spot for being scritched on the head.

Though Adelaard and Aaeion generally appear to act and interact as two separate individuals, such is not the case. In reality, they are merely two halves of a single entity which is divided physically between them - this entity’s name is, predictably, Adêla'eion. Such is the true nature of the ancient Dimensaani; just as a human being has two arms and two legs with which to interact with the world, so does a Dimensaani have two inextricably linked, if vastly differing bodies. The two share thought and sight not by means of a traditionally psychic link, but as one mind. They are in complete synchronization - though that fact is rarely apparent outside of battle - and are more than capable of moving and acting in tandem, as the single, combined entity they actually are.

Though Aaeion will often act spontaneously without the foreknowledge of his more humanoid half, making him unpredictable even to Adelaard hmself at times. Adelaard describes this phenomenon as a sort of 'unconscious, involuntary tick' which has plagued him his whole life. Among the Dimensaani of old, it might have been considered a sort of minor disability.

Each embodies different traits and aspects of the combined whole. Though there is in reality no need for them to ever communicate through traditional means, the pair generally does so anyway; in part as a means of appearing ‘normal’, but mostly because it is simply a more comfortable arrangement due to the nature of their physical forms. Aaeion, however, appears to be incapable of traditional speech, and will generally respond to Adelaard's words with small, guttural grumbling sounds and undulations of his sprouted tentacles which only the gunslinger can hope to consistently understand.



When in a position where such an apparently unnatural creature such as himself may not be tolerated, Aaeion will often remain silent, with Adelaard passing him off as his ‘demented cat’ - somehow managing to at least nominally pull off the explanation despite Aaeion looking nothing at all like any kind of feline. Generally he is assumed to be some kind of bizarre, exotic cave-dwelling critter from a strange and distant land. Despite his eerily glowing eyes, there is often a sort of ‘cognitive dissonance’ about the creature which vaguely obscures his seemingly unnatural nature. While there could be no doubting that one was looking upon a very strange, disquieting creature, often those who would usually react with panic or hostility at the sight of Aaeion will often be merely disturbed by his presence. This is in part due to a sort of symbiotic hypnotic quality shared between the two.

When this ruse will not suffice, Aaeion will shed his ‘protoplasmic form’ and recede fully into the gem at his core, mounted upon the silver amulet which Adelaard wears around his neck for that very purpose.

Though Aaeion’s shapeshifting capabilities are extensive and varied. He can alter his texture insofar as giving it a more or less solidified appearance, as well as condensing his matter into a kind of virtually indestructible bone. He is as fond of sprouting lengthy tentacles as he is of sprouting teeth, and will often use these techniques in defense of his other half, as well as his own amusement. It’s also good for reaching things on high shelves.

It is unknown how many configurations Aaeion is capable of maintaining, though larger and more powerful shapes require more energy and will tire him out quickly, causing him to maintain said forms only for short periods of time and when there is good reason.