Devlin (AST)

**Devlin** is an Arch-mage under the apprenticeship of the Grand Magus Jasmine.

## Appearance

As a lich Devlin appears to be a skeleton, clothed only is a light robe covering his shoulders and arms, but leaving much of the rest of his form clear to see. Under the bones, in place of a circulatory system is a bluish flame, with a central core that pumped like a heart. He hides his true form under an illusion of an average Japanese man who wears a simple gray suit.

## Personality

Devlin is a bit of a joker, enjoying playing his nature as a lich as a gag. However, he can get very serious when the situation calls for it.

## History

Devlin is a 426 year old Arch-mage who has been under the apprenticeship of the Grand Magus Jasmine for about a century. He originally became a Lich due to losing a bet, though he feel he got robbed.

Jasmine told Devlin and Grenda meet her at the San Cheng Huang which why they were annoyed when Siren informed them that she wasn’t there upon greeting them. However, the wait was only momentary as Jasmine arrived shortly after. Siren was shocked when she introduced herself as she didn’t expect a twelfth circle mage to still be taking apprentices.

Jasmine met with Kasumi to make sure that she was fine with everything. Siren had already broken everything down for Kasumi so she knew things would be civil. With that out of the way the conversation moved to Ranko since her anti magical properties could be perceived as a threat she was asked to leave. Ranko after getting over the shock of seeing the Devlin and Grenda’s true form perfectly understood and went back to her dorm.

Kasumi showed Jasmine to a private room that she linked to one of her pocket dimensions. She gave control over it as well as the protective charm she placed on the restaurant. This also provided Kasumi with true sight allowing her the apprentices true forms for the first time. The two properly introduced themselves causing Grenda to jab Devlin in the shoulder after a bad joke. Kasumi got over her shock as the three were about to leave and asked Jasmine to look over Shampoo. so she left Devlin and Grenda to get things ready.

Later Gosunkugi and Kogane were talking with Devlin about Gosunkugi's potential magic and the possibility of giving Kogane a new living body. When they were interrupted by Shampoo in her spirit form after being taught such by Elder Soap. He offered to make Kogane a new body in exchange for Gosunkugi becoming his student. When Shampoo pointed out, that didn’t make any sense. Jasmine who had just arrived told them how apprentice mages tend to get worked like dogs for years by their masters.

It turns out that Devlin’s last apprentice was eaten, while he managed to reattach his limbs’ it would be awhile before he recovered. Despite this Gosunkugi said he’d think about it. When the subject of Lemon came up, Shampoo openly thought about going to 'haunt' her, but was discouraged by Jasmine who critiqued her by comparing Lemon's method to the Amazons' own to which Shampoo had no counter.

Later when Shampoo and Ukyo returned to the restaurant after having escaped a kitsune ambush. As the elders grilled them on what happened to Ranma, Kasumi and Cologne, Devlin tried to calm them down knowing that kitsune preferred spatial traps so the three mostly captured in ordered to be used as bargaining chips. Cologne showed up shortly afterwards confirming that they did not seem to mean serious harm.

Sensing a powerful entity at Furinkan Jasmine teleported there. This sudden departure didn’t go unnoticed and Devlin and Grenda started conversing quietly about what this could mean. When they sensed the restaurant being surrounded by a large group of kitsunes Devlin decided to take the lead went out and met Peach, the leader of the group of Kitsunes. He asked her if she planned on causing trouble, to which she replied not while inside. Reluctantly he let her in. Peach apologized for the earlier incident and freed Ranma and Kasumi. She then asked to see Lemon who Devlin escorted her to.

Peach returned and unexpectedly confirmed for everyone that it was indeed Lemon who had tricked Frost. Peach further apologized, disavowed any participation in Lemon's actions, and gave the life of Lemon to Kasumi as way of compensation. This confused Kasumi, thinking she meant for Kasumi to kill Lemon, but she clarified that Lemon's fate was for Kasumi to decide now, and Cologne further clarified that effectively Lemon was now Kasumi's slave. Peach confirmed this resolved the conflict between them and the Amazons and Cologne was forced to confirm it was. Then as earlier warned the topic turned to Herb and Peach requested they had over the princess. Naturally this was refused by Herb herself who finally appeared. Peach put on a false sense of disappointment and said they would be taking Herb, and departed to rejoin the other kitsunes.

Realizing how much danger they were in Devlin told Grenda to reinforce the barrier. When a confused Kasumi asked what was going on he explained that Jasmine was engaged with Eyebright at that moment, and the barrier would not hold indefinitely so they had only about an hour. He then off to seek reinforcements for the coming battle. However, only a few of the other magi were really up to this kind of combat, so he wasn’t expecting much.

With the arrival of Rippa as back up, Shampoo, Kasumi, Ukyo, Ranma, Rippa, and Herb convened in the pocket dimension to do the last bit of strategy. They would make a break for Siren's barrier by Frost, and with the repair of the kettle could restore Herb's male form preventing any forced marriage. Since Siren was an Amazon, the kitsune's could not attack Siren's barrier without provoking a response from the Amazons.

Devlin gave each a magic potion to drink which would allow them some added protection from the kitsunes as well as allow them to at least hurt them in physical combat for the duration of the effect. Teesha, another mage present who was helping, used her power to create numerous homunculi duplicates of each to act as distractions, and the group divided into pairs to accompany some of the duplicates to make the deception more convincing.

Devlin lead the Magi who agreed to help outside and as they arranged themselves to confront those around them, he tried to convince her to they didn’t have to do this. She responded by telling him to give her Herb. Sighing in defeat he motioned for them to attack while he himself focused on Peach. As the two clashed the replicas rush out, and begin to disperse in all directions. Realizing that they were Homunculi Peach had the kitsune split up some would go after them while she and the others dealt with the mages. The fighting quickly spread out. Several were drawn into phantom realms. Devlin and Peach, however, remained situated just outside the restaurant.

The kitsune was making a show of it, but clearly had little more intention than to simply keep Devlin busy. Several exchanges of magic occurred as the lich puzzled over the kitsune's strategy. However, when her attention suddenly shifted to her shoulder, Devlin knew that all was not well. He was surprised when Peach told him that she was leaving as she couldn’t teleport out and didn’t even know where Herb was. Not to mention the fact he wasn’t about to let her.

Suddenly another kitsune appeared, jumping off from Peaches shoulder as a tiny mosquito and quickly shifting to the form of a full grown human. Peach in turn reversed her replacements actions, shapeshifting into a mosquito and flying off, but not towards the groups. As Devlin was engaged by the other kitsune he quickly realizing his new opponent was far more determined than Peach had been, and while considerably younger, was no slouch. Before Devlin could make his way by her, Peach had retreated to the entrance of their own pocket dimension and disappeared. It wasn’t long before Devlin figured out what happened. Chastising himself for falling for such an obvious plow Devlin resolved himself to defeating his new opponent, having no options until the battle was complete.

He managed to send a message to Shampoo and Rippa explaining what happened. When she was checking up on Lemon Peach had snuck on small portal onto Herb, and used it to catch up to him. Now all of the kitsune who were chasing them were converging back on the restaurant preventing them from helping.

Despite still recovering from last battle Devlin agreed to aid Grenda in the rescue of Lemon. He explained that he wouldn’t be much help, but she mainly just wanted him to babysite Frost knowing that Jasmine would kill her if Frost got hurt on her watch. After learning that some of the Sailor Senshi would be helping as well he asked if he could scan them, and was shocked by how strong they were. Ixion introduced himself stating that while he couldn’t fight, he’d be a great distraction since the hunters wouldn’t be able to hurt him. Devlin figured he was a Geas of some sort.

Convinced they would be useful the group went over there battle plan. Shampoo gave a few details of the layout within and disbursement of the people within. During said meeting Grenda emphasized how they wanted to be quick and non-lethal as their enemy could hold a grudge. Devlin also provided everyone a potion that was essentially the magical equivalent of a ski mask. Once at the building he and Frost laid down an avoidance aura so no one would call the police once the fighting started.

After Lemon was rescued Devlin told Frost to stay put while he went in to go get Grenda. It turned out that a failsafe had been put on all the men that caused them to explode if they were defeated or surrendered. He found Grenda still sitting where they had defeated the leader. He confirmed to her that there were no survivors. Hanging her head at how badly she’d underestimated their enemy knowing that they’d all be dead if it wasn’t for Ixion. Devlin agreed, but pointed that they did manage to get Lemon out safely without anyone on their side dying. The main problem was that the hunter organization wasn’t going to let something like this go. There only saving grace was that they all died before communications could get out so they could leave out some details.

On Devlin’s suggestion Grenda laid down some traps and contacted the coulcil to ask for help in securing the place. As they were leaving Devlin noticed that something was missing from the spot they found Kasumi. Grenda went to the San Cheng Huang to brief the others on the fallout from their attack. By the time Devlin and Frost arrived to find her discussing a doorway they found in Kasumi’s mind with Shampoo. She revealed to Devlin that she had found the missing object who was just as puzzled as her at this discovery. Frost suggested she found the image of the door familiar. Realizing it was likely linked to the Moon Kingdom, Frost was tasking with looking into that while Grenda promised to decode documentation on the site that might mention it. They would also discuss what to do with this version of Kimiko Tendo, Devlin and Grenda agreeing she couldn't be the real version, and most likely some kind of copy although unknowing what type. They would suggest Shampoo attempt to visit her again and learn more, but only after getting some questions to ask her to prove her identity.

Devlin was preparing to go an pick up Frost as her training with Jasmine had ended when he was called by Grenda. The mage council was in the process of cleaning up after a brutal assassination. After passing through the illusionary barrier that kept the surrounding neighborhood blissfully ignorant of what had happened he made his way to Grenda. They were still in the process of investigating what had happened whichi is why she called him. Luckily he had got their after the bodies had been cleaned up, but given the magical reinforcements that had been casually broke through told him that this was serious.

Grenda showed him the surveillance video. There was no audio on the feeds, but they told a tale nonetheless. A man and a woman brutally walked through the mansions various guards as if they weren’t even there. After watching all the video feeds Devlin could just stare in horror before asking who the two were. It turns out that this was the home of the head of leader of section 7 before the Rouge Youma. Devlin began to panic upon being told this, but Grenda assured him that she had already had the site checked for traps.

Mans profile matched that of the Assassin as for the woman Grenda guessed that she was the Inquisitor. From what they saw it was clear that she wasn’t human, but she whatever she was it was powerful. The Assassin was just as dangerous and inexplicable. They two tried to figure out what the Organization would leave the video. Devlin initially tought it might have been for intimidation, but Grenda didn’t buy it as giving out info on their assets didn’t doesn't fit the organization's tactics. He then suggested more of a warning, and while she still wasn’t convinced Grenda did not want to fight either of them.

The two decided against telling Kasumi and the others paranoid that using them to track them down could be what this was all about. Despite that Devlin was planning on debriefing Frost. Grenda meanwhile would see what other info she can scare up and keep a close eye on things.

## Ability

Arch-mage, circle 10

While Devlin knows Necromancy his specialty is actually conjuring.