Naberius MacLaughagan

The demonic patron of Tainted Samuel Fischer.

## Description

#### **Personality**

MacLaughagan is a devious and charismatic demon from the Lower Plane. His actions and mannerisms are often larger-than-life, and he relishes in the theatrics of his occupation. He is extremely intelligent, but prefers to keep those around him ignorant to his schemes. He spends almost all of his free time in the Prime Plane, where he has established a cover identity as a popular crime fiction author, as an escape from pressures and politics of his life in the Lower Plane. MacLaughagan is vain and, though he rarely gets angry, his wrath is surely damning to anyone unfortunate enough to end up in the way of his careful plans.

#### **Appearance**

Like many demons, MacLaughagan has multiple forms to facilitate his various jobs and hobbies. During work hours, when his actions might compromise his cover identity, MacLaughagan takes the form of a large, black crow with bulging human eyes, and a beak full of square teeth. In this form, he is unexpressive; the crow never blinks and its mouth never opens.

When assuming his cover in the mortal world, or in a space where he feels comfortable enough to stretch out, MacLaughagan has a striking, human form. As a demon, he is noticeably larger than the average human, and best estimates place his height at about 7' 2" without his eight inch platform-heeled boots. MacLaughagan has a slim build, proportional to his height. He has very tan skin with moles speckling his person, and mahogany-red hair that he wears in bangs that obscure his eyes and a low ponytail. He wears almost exclusively formal wear, being especially fond of vests, pinstripes, and elbow-length finger-less gloves, in shades of grey and maroon. The most noticeable component of his outfits, however, is the enormous black, feathered cape with a gold chain clasp. He has yet to be seen without the swath of black feathers sweeping behind him. Black fingernail polish, a few gold rings, spacer earrings, knee-high platform heels, and a fanged grin complete the look.

Mac has recently revealed another, much more threatening, form. Drawing on an apparently-off-limits power/identity, Mac can assume the form of a gargantuan, three-headed hellhound. Between the numerous spines, the whip-like tail, and the general aura of hellfire, he possesses an imposing silhouette.

## Abilities

As a demon, MacLaughagan's power may well be unquantifiable. However, he has demonstrated that he is capable of changing his form at will, teleporting (both between planes, and within them), reviving the dead (in the sordid case of Sam Fischer), manifesting physical objects at will, and more.

## Relationships

#### **Samuel Fischer**

    MacLaughagan is responsible for Sam's resurrection after his brutal murder at the hands of a demon possessing Anthony Wilson. Sam and MacLaughagan's professional relationship strained at best, as Sam was far from grateful for the chance to exact revenge on his father figure, and MacLaughagan struggled to understand Sam's difficulty fulfilling his obligations as a Revenent. Despite their personal differences, when Samuel's dealings with the rest of his party threatened to leave them all at the mercy of their enemies upon the completion of his contract, MacLaughagan and Sam both came to the conclusion that continuing to work together would be mutually beneficial. The demon generally regards Samuel with a begrudging acceptance, being that Sam is MacLaughagan's only legal means of extending protection to his (far more fun) allies.

#### **Neera Guinn**

MacLaughagan has taken on Neera as a contractor on the Prime Plane after revealing Valefor's betrayal and schemes to her. He has done his best to support the shaken Neera, while also offering her a means of making up for her past failings in his service.

#### **Valefor**

Originally his fiance, Valefor earned themself MacLaughagan's ire when they betrayed his trust, made an attempt on his life, and proceeded to enter a relationship with Raum immediately afterwards. MacLaughagan has burnt the candle at both ends to ensure Valefor would suffer and die for their wrongdoings. He struggles greatly with the conflicting feelings he still has for Valefor, but acknowledges that his hand was forced.

#### **Nyx Fletcher**

After bonding with Nyx during their preparatory day out before the Gala, MacLaughagan has developed a soft spot for the apathetic oracle. Her assistance in engaging Samuel with his obligations has been invaluable to Mac, as well as her willingness to allow him to vent in her general direction. The demon is perhaps a bit disappointed that Nyx seems more interested with his work than building a friendship, but he'll take what he can get.

#### **Ben Richards**

In desperate need of some sort of emotional outlet, Mac found a steadfast kindred spirit in Benjamin Richards. The two have racked up hours of phone conversation during the late nights and mid mornings Samuel Fischer was out of earshot. Mac originally only planned to contact Ben in the hopes of stabilizing Sam's relationship, but when he realized both the toll the relationship was taking on Ben, Mac stepped up to offer emotional support in exchange for a listening ear. While the two have never really met in person, their unlikely friendship offers some much-needed relief for the strung-out MacLaughagan.

#### **Raum**

Raum was MacLaughagan's boss in the Lower Planes, whom MacLaughagan has fostered a seething, bubbling hatred for. He was implied to be holding a stolen personal possession over MacLaughagan's head, which Naberius has since recovered. MacLaughagan successfully assassinated Raum with the help of Samuel Fischer, a fact he is ecstatic about.

#### **Orias**

A long-time friend of MacLaughagan who seems to be closer to the extravagant demon than any other known NPC.

## History

Naberius is the Lower Plane's Minister of Defense, and has previously served as a bodyguard to Lucifer, King of Hell. He has also professed to be the best defense attorney in the Lower Plane.

MacLaughagan has, in a drunken fit of mourning and celebration, revealed that he and Valefor were engaged to be married before Val, whom Mac has asserted was using him to get to Lucifer, assassinated both Lucy and MacLaughagan. Mac spent a number of subsequent years buried beneath the in-ground swimming pool in his own backyard before clawing his way out of his premature grave. To conceal his presence and buy himself some time to recover, Naberius took a risk and divided his soul into pieces: a small, nearly-unrecognizable core of himself would carry out an infiltration of the Network, while the decimated remains of his soul were hidden in the Prime Plane.

## Sessions Present

* Session 03
* Session 07
* Session 09
* Session 10
* Session 14
* Session 15
* Session 18
* Session 19
* Session 23
* Session 24
* Session 28
* Session 29
* Session 31
* Session 32
* Session 33

## Quotes

"Let's all get fucking *trashed*."

"Dare I ask if you've bought my fucking book? I almost don't want to know. . ."

"You, sir, are incredibly lucky to have made the enemies you’ve chosen."

"It’s because you’re a loser-baby, but we love you anyway."

"I'm not picking up chicks from my Revenant's emo friend group."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I don’t cry, so *probably* a hallucination."

"I. . . took another mental health day, after I was hypothetically at Nyx’s house, and then I spent, like, two days hungover."

"If you put the only executioner in the entire Lower Plane on trial, and you find them guilty, and demand capital punishment—are you going to ask- are you gonna ask him to off *himself*? Like, no, fuck you!"

"Yes, well, it’s also fucking miserable for me, too. Definitely not the sort of thing you usually *survive* doing. But I was really pissed, so it worked out."

“So… Wait, hold on. You’re what—fourth gen, fifth gen? Allow me to introduce myself. Naberius. MacLaughagan. Businessman, lawyer, doctor, Minister of Defense, you know, guardian of the Lower Planes, wielder of the Morningstar horns—oh, and fucking *King of Hell*, bitch. *Maybe you’ve fucking heard of me.*”

## Trivia

* MacLaughagan has published 23 novels in the last few decades. Of his works, 16 have received awards in literature, and no more than 5 have been published under the same publishing subsidiary.
* MacLaughagan's voice has an echoed, ethereal quality, and has no discernible point of origin. No other demon thus far has exhibited this trait.
* There is speculation that MacLaughagan participates in clown husbandry as a hobby. This claim is completely unfounded.
* The Hallow's Eve Bash invitations, and the covers of his novels, give MacLaughagan the first initial 'N.' This is due to the fact that his name is Naberius.
* MacLaughagan's name is pronounced mǽklǽθəgɛ́n. He does not care that said pronunciation is not reflected in his name's spelling.

## Character Art

Art by InitialVelocityArt by InitialVelocityArt by InitialVelocityArt by InitialVelocity.MacLaughagan and Nyx at the Winter Ball. Art by InitialVelocityMacLaughagan's hellhound form. Art by InitialVelocity