Nikolas Umber

Nikolas Umber *(played by Hero of Time)* is the son of Deimos and has been at Camp Half-Blood for 3 years.

## Biography

Nikolas was born on a stormy night in Eastern Philly to a short, lean
man and a beautiful woman with ebony hair. The doctors used to say they
were going to have a rough time on their hands, for nothing they did
could stop his crying. As he progressed into his childhood, his father
was away on business often, and it was his mother who sat with him late
into the night when his nightmares kept him from sleep. Nikolas used to
weep in childlike confusion; he didn't know what he did to deserve the
dreams he had.

When he was 11, his mother decided he was old
enough to be alone more, so she took more shifts at the local diner to
save up for a surprise trip. Nikolas found out - it was easy to find
things when you could barely sleep - but he didn't say anything. He was
so very thankful to his mother for always being there for him in spite
of his father almost never showing up.

And yet when he did show
up, Nikolas was never happier. The nightmares seemed to stop for the
duration of his father's time at home, and family truly seemed like
family. This did not last, and his father eventually had to leave for
another business trip.

The night was stormy when his mother,
cradling him as he sat sleeplessly on the floor told him it was time for
 their trip. She told him his father was moving them out East to Long
Island, and Nikolas eagerly jumped at the opportunity. They packed their
 things and begin driving the next morning.

The trip was
relatively easy until one car crash changed his life. There was a flash
of light and the next thing Nikolas knew, his mother had been thrown
from the windshield. He ran to the corpse, weeping and cursing any god
that would listen until he heard a noise behind him. A growl.

He ran as fast as he could. *Long Island.... Long Island...*

As
 it so happens, he arrived at Camp Half-Blood on his 13th birthday, and
he's been there ever since (except for a few unapproved outings). He was
 claimed by Deimos a few months later.

## Physical Appearance

Nikolas stands 5'10" with shortish black hair and pale skin. He has pointed features, bright green eyes, and a thin nose.

He is relatively lithe and tends to walk with a slight slouch. Nikolas also wears a dark signet ring on his right ring finger and his knife at his back.

## Personality

Deimos feels almost cursed by his power. Though he's learned to live
with it to some degree, having everyone's fears dance through his head
feels *wrong.* He innately knows so much about someone, and it's
terrifying to him. For the most part, he tries to be nice, but he's
always on edge when he's around people. He wants so badly to be
included, yet he always manages to feel on the outs. He decided years
ago to never use his powers against someone without reason.

## Strengths

**Speed**: Despite not being a child of Hermes, Nikolas is pretty
quick. He usually dresses light and is very light on his feet in
general.

**Judgment**: For good or ill, having such an intimate grasp on a
person's feelings gives him the advantage of judging a person based off
of both what they say and what they fear - who they innately are.

## Weaknesses

**Weak**: In mind and body, his strength comes from speed and
cunning. His nightmares have degraded his mind to the point where his
own fears tear him down on a daily basis. He finds himself wrought with
emotion more often than not, and he lacks anything but a lithe
musculature.

**Fear**: His own fears haunt him to his very core. Loss, being outnumbered, a great darkness... these things prevent him from thinking clearly and have for many years.

## Powers

### *Major -*

* **Phoboception**: Nikolas innately is aware of the greatest fears of those

around him. His entire life, he has known what is most frightening to
people.

* **Terror**: Though it drains him greatly, Nikolas can focus the power of his

 father within himself and alter his appearance to something that causes
 fear in those around. The appearance is different to everyone (think
Mirror of Erised but for being scared), and he retains his own
physicality while this illusion is in place.

### *Minor -*

* Occasionally, he is granted lucidity in his nightmares. This is when he feels the most powerful, as he can control that which drives so much fear through his heart.

## Weapon

* He has a small Stygian Iron knife that he keeps on a scabbard on his back.

## Trivia

* He often lies to keep his heritage a secret