The Lockmaster

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==Description==
Standing at a height of around 6 feet tall, The Lockmaster has greasy dirty-blonde hair and a short beard with an English moustache. His choice of attire is rather unique, with a dark golden leather jacket and dark tan button-up shirt, brown shoes, grey jeans suspended by a harness of chains, and bandaged hands with lockpicks attached to each fingertip.
The Lockmaster wears a permanent scowl on his face, and his eyes always seem to wander about the environment as if formulating new schemes in his mind. His voice carries a deep, raspy tone, and he tends to speak slowly. He has often been described to have a "dark, menacing aura" about him which intimidates others.
==Abilities==
The Lockmaster is best known for his master thievery, holding the highest record of stolen items based on the combined inventory reports the groups he's robbed. His degree of skill in stealth, deception, lockpicking and code-cracking almost seems paranormal, and he himself even claims it to be so.
The Lockmaster is highly calculated and strategic, carefully planning every intricate detail of his heists beforehand. Closely studying his environment grants him a tactical advantage over opponents, allowing him to employ guerilla warfare without directly fighting anyone.
Regardless, The Lockmaster is more than capable in a fight, exhibiting proficiency in hand-to-hand combat. His physical capabilities such as strength, speed and agility greatly exceed those of an ordinary human, with a degree of pain tolerance that allows him to shrug off blows that would incapacitate if not kill normal humans. 
The more eccentric aspects of The Lockmaster's attire serve more practical purposes beyond intimidation, and he often makes use of them to achieve his goals. The lockpicks on his fingers can pick actual locks, but also be used as weapons to disarm and incapacitate opponents. One witness report recounts The Lockmaster completely disassembling an opponent's gun in mere seconds with his lockpicks, before stabbing him in the throat. He can also use his chains to whip or ensnare opponents. 
However, The Lockmaster seems to be overly dependent on these tools, being considerably weaker without them. And in spite of his strength and resilience, he is still biologically human – meaning he can indeed be incapacitated if enough damage is inflicted upon him. 
===Death Lock===
The chain fence surrounding the perimeter of Level 170 is adorned with padlocks bearing the names of all who have been killed by The Lockmaster. However, The Lockmaster will merely call it a "fence of memories" if questioned about it. In truth, these padlocks serve as prisons for the souls of those slain by The Lockmaster, who draws power from them and empowers himself with these trapped souls. This was a technique which he supposedly learnt from his mentor. Occasionally, vague apparitions of the trapped souls can be seen radiating from the padlocks.
==Personality==
By all accounts, The Lockmaster feels no compassion or remorse, and conducts himself without honor. He only seems to find enjoyment in the thrill of a successful heist, and the reactions of his victims. He most often targets items of value or significance, either for personal use or resale.
The Lockmaster has a long track record of employing manipulative tactics to get what he wants, ranging from seduction to gaslighting.
However, The Lockmaster's ego and arrogance can be his downfall. He is overconfident and often underestimates his opponents. In addition, he is quick to anger, leading to possible oversight of his own flaws. His poor temperament can cause him to act recklessly under pressure. in spite of this, he still should not be underestimated.
==History==
Hemlock Hartell.
The past of The Lockmaster is shrouded in mystery; most of what is known comes from rumors and hearsay.
The Lockmaster's former identity is rumored to have been "Hemlock Hartell", a human living in The Gelid Isle. One day, he ventured into the Eterfol Mountains, later returning as something completely different. Apparently, something within Castle Crey had “changed” him. Some claim that he was once a good person, and that his transformation had twisted and corrupted him. Others claim that he always harbored greed and sadism, and that his transformation was what finally allowed him to act on it.
Regardless, The Lockmaster went on to pursue ambitious goals...perhaps too ambitious. He first attempted to challenge The Keymaster, only to be quickly humbled. He barely walked away (or rather fled) from the confrontation with his pride intact, realizing the hard way that he bit off more than he could chew.
After retreating into hiding, The Lockmaster realized that he needed to view the bigger picture of his goals, and work towards achieving them from the shadows rather than directly. It was then that he went on to found the Lock Breakers, a group of thieves working under him to steal items all over The Backrooms.
As of present, the ultimate goal and motive of The Lockmaster remains a mystery. However, he is not to be underestimated, and is to be regarded with extreme caution.
==Relevant Tales==
*Exmortis
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Category:Person of Interest
Category:The Lock Breakers
Category:The Keymaster
Category:The Lockmaster