Cleobulus Malachi

Cleo after spending a month in the Wilderness outside Kilead

Wife - Dior Malachi

Son - Cleo Malachi Jr.

### Affiliation

The Seekers of the ForgottenSecond Sage Council of Old Vassos, The Underground Sages

### Allies

Alroy Malachi, Cleo Jr. Malachi, Casmus, Mithral Tagata , Gilheart the Fallen , Valok Fireheart , Captain Daniels, Missy Daniels, The Reaper, Markos Tidebringer, Balaras Nighthook, The Barber, The Crew of the Annabel Lee, Kel-Jora

## Physical description

### Eye color

Black

> ***"You see Mithral, that day in the sewer, that day I lost everything - I learned something. I learned that death is nothing more than an illusion. Death is not an end, not a permanent one at least. Some are brought back through noble powers, powers greater than we mortals can fathom. Some scratch and claw their way back from the abyss, and these wicked ones covet pure life - they seek to destroy what they can't have. Yet still I fear Mithral, for if death is an illusion, what, oh what, could life be? I Have yet been unable to find an answer to this question, but I will live the rest of my days trying to discover one - for this is my only purpose; along with exacting revenge upon the monster - the wicked man responsible for my deplorable state - Kain!" -Cleo to Mithral two months after the loss of his mind***
>
>

Cleo Malachi is a Druid who comes from the partial ruins of Old Vassos. Cleo was part of a council of wisemen elected to search and decipher old religious texts revealing the truth behind the Old Gods. While there, Cleo found a mysterious room with writing from hundreds of languages that he didn't understand within. In that room was a magical eye that burned itself into Cleo's head, allowing him to tap into the power of the ancient spirits.

Cleo left his home in Old Vassos when he saw visions of its destruction and smuggled ancient knowledge from the Sage Tower where he and the others sages conferred. During night he escaped from Old Vassos with his wife and child while he heard explosions and screams behind him.

## Description

Cleo is an elderly, wrinkled human man. He has a grey beard that nearly covers his mouth. He is about 5'10" and 140 lbs. His grey skin is covered by all different types of tattoos; tattoos of phrases and sayings in all sorts of different langugaes, some of which were are alien to Cleo and the people of the Isles.

Cleo's face is sunken and gaunt. Though his beard covers half of it, the other half of his face can clearly be seen as wrinkled and aged. His nose is long and large, leading up to his eyes, the left one of which is black as coal. The right eye is covered by an eyepatch, however when it's removed Cleo's once piercing blue spirit eye has become corrupted and too powerful for Cleo to control. Now, with the patch off, a wicked blue energy that appears similar to flame crawls up the side of Cleo's face.

Above his eyes are big, hairy, caterpillar eyebrows. Above that even is Cleo's patchy hair which covers some sort of runic writing on his forehead. From this wild and untamed hair protrudes a long and tall demon horn which curve and point towards the back of Cleo's head, parallel to the horn is a stump of the other horn, which was broken off in a battle against a Roc.

## Personality

Cleo is an old and wistful man. Much has happened to him in his life which have caused Cleo to have a cynical world view. Cleo often comes of as irritated, grouchy, or angry. Cleo speaks little to others, as he know how he comes off - as a bitter old man. He most only talks to his wife and son, though that does not mean he doesn't come off the same way.

Obsessed with knowledge and finding out what artifact burrowed in his head, he is haunted by the actions these traits caused him to take in Old Vassos. Ever since these events there is a noticable change in his behavior, making him even worse to be around than normal.

However Cleo has little to no problem getting along with the religous, historians, and other mages. He enjoys discussing and flaunting his knowledge of various subjects he studied in the arcanum. His best friends however, are often animals.

## Biography

### Early Life (birth-19)

Cleo was born to Ezekiel and Meredith Malachi. Ezekiel was also a high sage of Old Vassos and in part founded the elite group of wisemen. Meredith was a healer who knew much of the herbs and berries in the woods and so Cleo was born into a knowledgable family.

From his father Cleo learned to love learning and researching. His father was a stern man however. He often scolded and abused Cleo, demanding perfection - anything less and there was serious consequences. Due to this Cleo developed into quite a stern child himself. He mirrored his father, trying to behave more like him to gain his love.

His mother was more empathetic, but still she was a cold woman. She never outright abused the boy but she barely acknowledged him. Thus Cleo was often left alone and once he reached his teenage years he would often wander the woods near Old Vassos. It was during these solitary trips to the woods that Cleo first began to love nature and appreciate the unity of all living creatures.

### Young Adulthood (20-29)

As a young man Cleo claimed for himself an old uninhabited ruin of a house, detesting his parents and wishing to make something of his own. He tidied up the house and began building shelves which he lined the walls with. Eventually, he got the place looking decent. He began sneaking into the Grand Arcanum while his father slept so he could study lore of old, and the less important works - the ones that no one would notice he would take to fill his library.

Before long Cleo had assembled a tidy collection of books and novels in his collection and the residents of Old Vassos began to come to Cleo's book shop - "The Underground Arcanum." Naturally Cleo's father would have been furious if he had found out that Cleo was stealing knowledge from The Great Arcanum, so Cleo kept the entire store a secret.

For many years he was able to keep his underground library a secret and brought knowledge that was previously only given to sages to the common folk, generally making a more educated society. It was during this time he grew close to his two good friends, Diogen Sinorpe and Pittacus Myus. Pittacus had always been Cleo's friend since they had met as children. Pittacus was the son of Eziekel's friend Periander and thus the two spent much time together. Pittacus was a shy and introverted boy but still he had a brilliant mind. Pittacus showed Cleo how to improvise, how to use the items around him to his advantage and to think creatively.

Many afternoons as children Cleo and Pittacus would explore the forests, and they kept doing so well into young adulthood. When not in the forest, Pittacus helped Cleo in The Underground Arcanum. Pittacus and Cleo spent much of their time together, and their bond was quite close. One day while exploring the forests they found a a boy only several years younger then them; he was dressed in tattered rags and was all alone, lying unconscious in the woods. Pittacus and Cleo founds some strong branches and vines to craft a makeshift stretcher, with which they escorted the dying boy back to Old Vassos.

Once back in Old Vassos, they brought the boy to the healers who were able to revive him after many days of preforming healing rituals. When he awoke he said he remembers nothing but a few flashes; a peaceful village, a late night hunt, and fire. The only other thing he could tell was his name: Diogen Sinorpe.

Diogen had little to say of his past, but much to say about his new home. Diogen was known for being quite the cynic, criticizing near everything in his new home. Nonetheless Diogen formed quite a close friendship with his saviors and the three often studied together and explored the general area. The three also often snuck into the Arcanum together to steal more knowledge to give to the people.

### Adulthood (30-49)

Cleo's adulthood was marked by his alcoholism, brought on by a horrible series of unfortunate events that drove Cleo to a dark place. The first of these events was his rescued friend Diogen falling extremely ill. Though most citizens of Old Vassos disliked Diogen for his rude and abusive behavior, Cleo and Pittacus were deeply affected by his illness. The two men acted as though they were losing a brother, or a piece of themselves even.

Cleobulus and Pittacus now spent all their time for the five years researching, studying, trying to find a way to help their friend. They asked the local healers for all sort of advice and medicines, did all types of research on surrounding herbs and plants, and all sorts of old books. But they found the answer nowhere. Cleo and Pittacus were distraught and so Cleo turned to last person he ever wanted to.

Cleo begged, pleaded with his father to allow him search the deeper sanctums of the Arcanum, believing that the secret to saving his friend lie deep in the unexplored corridors. Ezekiel denied Cleo's request telling him that not even he or the other sages dared to go down into the Deep Sanctum for fear of what safeguards the old inhabitants of Vassos had created.

Cleo was crushed. Diogen died a week later. No one ever found out who he truly was or why he was there. They were foolish and didn't take his death to mean anything. But Cleo, well he knew that Diogen was there for a reason. Whenever they asked who he is, where he was from Cleo could tell he was holding something back. Now, he would never know. And he would never see his friend again.

To fill the ginormous hole in his heart Cleo turned to the bottle and Pittacus pitied him, tried to pull him fron his depression, but the depth of Cleo's unfathomable sadness was not due to Diogen alone. His own father denied him the request to try and save his friends life. He felt denied, betrayed. Worst of all was a feeling that Cleo had his entire life, one that he was raised with and that would stick with him his whole life he presumed - the feeling that he was alone. The feeling that he was unloved.

Only two short years after the death of Diogenes, Ezekiel discovered the Undergorund Arcanum which by now had many many tomes of lore transcribed from information stolen from the Arcanum. Ezekiel was furious, enraged. He want on a rampage, claiming that this information was for the eyes of the Sages only. The common folk, he claimed, do not know how to process or handle some of this information.

He took his torch and burned down the Underground Arcanum, every book, scroll, and pamphlet. Cleo sat in the ash, drunk from his days activities, mourning for his unusual and deceased friend, but most of all feeling a passionate and burning hatred for his father. He vowed revenge on his father.

As the worst decade of his life thus far came to pass and Cleo turned 40, he was left with nothing but burnt down rubble and alcoholism. For the next seven years of his life, Cleo retreated into the forest. He left behind Old Vassos and lived as a hermit away from the ruins, connecting with nature and learning to live in accordance with the gods vision of unity and order.

When Cleo finally returned to Old Vassos he was an outcast and a traitor to the people, their own Head Sage's son had abandoned them. Cleo did not care. It was not them he had returned for. He walked down the old cobbled path past the assortment of old and deteriorating ruins to a particular ruin he knew well, and inside on his deathbed was Pittacus, stricken ill with the same disease that had killed Diogen. Cleo vowed not to let his father stop him from saving his friend this time.

Cleo prepared for his journey and explored the Arcanum deeper sanctums, passing all sorts of traps on his way. However Cleo was wise and perceptive, saving himself much trouble. Cleo however knew he was on to something when he came to a long hallway at the bottoms of which acidic bubbling water rushed, and the only way to pass the corridor was large pillars of stones placed randomly around the room. As Cleo began to hop his way across he noticed strange winged creatures with long spider legs and eight red eyes as the began to assault him, and creatures in the water began to knock down the stone column.

Cleo was surrounded, and as the claws tore his flesh and bled poured from his body he wondered if he was going to die. Then, an old friend rescued him. Pittacus' father and Ezekiels best friend Periander had showed up to save the day, taking his shortsword and sheild in hand and defeating the flying mammals. He helped Cleo to the end of the passage-way, where he said he had fallen asleep doing research and his lantern oil ran out, leaving him slouched over at a dark table in the Arcanum. He was awoken by the sound of Cleo unbarring the door to the lower Arcanum and to the Deep Sanctums.

Periander knew Cleo had returned to help save his son so together they ventured further into the depths of the Deep Arcanum. Before long they came to another trap room, this one holding a large table with tapestries of adventure on the wall. There was a tree in the back of the room inscribed with old runes. Runes so old that neither Cleo nor Periander could read them.

However as they tried to solve this conundrum a third voice arose, the voice of Ezekiel. He knew his son too well, and after hearing by some that he had been seen in town and with Pittacus he knew he had to check the Arcanum. Ezekiel scolded the rebellious Cleobulus but Periander spoke up defending Cleo, practically begging Ezekiel to help them search for a cure.

Esekiel noted the runes were Golden-Era, and were runes of worship for Vasilias, founder of Vassos. Vasilias was the grand creator, the catalyst of existence, and the almighty record keeper. The runes ended by saying that it is in absolute destruction there wasn't death; only rebirth. They continued on past the disturbing runes into a large room.

The large room into which they had entered was large and circular, with a domed top that had many holes. Ezekiel warned the group he had a feeling they were about to experience the destruction part of the runes warning. And they did. Giant spiders rushed from the holes and the doors slid closed as the exorbitant amount of spiders came flooding out.

The spiders poured forth with no hope of letting up, filing out of the holes in the walls unceasingly. It wasn't long before Periander fell, consumed by a spider... his last words a pained scream calling out for his son. With only Ezekiel and Cleobulus left in the room, panic set in. The spiders numbers were indeed thinning but there were such an overwhelming amount, that one of them was even able to inject Cleo with a deadly venom. It was then that Cleo fell to the ground, unconscious.

He woke up later, on a cold stone ground. All around him arose magnificent bookshelves decorated with very old books, some of which were so old that Cleo didn't even recognize the language on some of them. A few feet away his father kneeled on the ground, clutching his head, crying. He was speaking gibberish... about it all being gone, about a man who took his brain to the Pits.

Cleo was confused. However he knew that his father must've defeated the spiders and found a way past them, into this sanctum. One of the fabled Deep Sanctums of the Great Arcanum. Cleo got to his feet and began searching the old tomes and found what he was looking for, a way to cure his friend Pittacus.

Cleo started talking to his father trying to make him understand - but something was wrong. He wasn't processing the information. It was then Cleo remembered those moments before his death.... a hand on his father's forehead. He knew what had happened.

### Middle Age (50-69)

After his experience in the Arcanum, Cleo was a changed person. Cleo was more cynical, seemed to be angry at the world. The only thing that kept him from leaving Old Vassos was his dedication to his father and weakened friend. It was during this time that Cleo decided to study druidic magics and become a guardian and Shepard of the nature he loved so much.

As part of the ancient rites he meditated in silence, at a remote point in the forest that only he knew. he meditated there for twenty four hours before a great and mighty Elk appeared before him. Cleo saw the elk, put his hand out. The deer inched forward and placed his head in Cleo's hand.

Cleo's eyes widened and he saw visions... He saw his father gasping for breath, he saw a man sitting alone in a tower studying old tomes, he saw a beautiful woman, and then he saw a young boy who looked strikingly similar to Cleo, lastly Cleo saw a burning bright blinding blue light, and heard sounds of destruction and screams of horror as the light consumed him.

Cleo snapped out it and knew he had seen his future. He also no longer could see the elk, but could feel that it had stayed with him. Cleo could sense the forest around him, he could feel it's life, and he could see its interconnectivity.

Cleo walked out of the forest, having had completed the druidic initiation. Now, Cleo could study druidic arts and practice to be one. He received the mark of the druid, an old tradition. Modern times, it's a much different process to become a druid. In ancient time however the one who wished to be a druid would sit in quiet meditation in a personally chosen spot, surrounded by nature and await the spirits of nature to commune with them. Once they did you were allowed to gain a mark to denote your position as a practitioner of druidic arts. Usually the mark would be relating to the animal that appeared to the meditator, so Cleo had the group healers magically implant Elk Antlers from a mighty Elk who had been killed by a bear and lie half eaten and forgotten.

Cleo, having now the druidic mark, venture to the sage tower to find any druidic tomes that might lie there. When he went there he met an old sage, a man that everyone thought was dead - Sithartho Gatteo. He had actuality had been studying in private for the past six years while the other sages slowly left their positions.

For a while Cleo would study with Sithartho, converse, and inform him what was happening in Old Vassos. As Cleo turned 53, he decided that his father's health was quickly deteriorating and ever since Periander's death and Ezekiel's loss of sanity the people of Old Vassos were in the dark. They had no guidance. Cleo decided to change that.

Cleobulus searched through the people of Old Vassos, talking to the teachers of the small settlement - ex-sages Chilon and Thales. They were able to help Cleo assemble a team of wise and clever people.

Socrum Calliope was the first person Cleo sought out. Socrum was a skilled alchemist and herbologist and was reknown in Vassos for his concoctions. He was the most recommended potion maker among healers and had quite the reputation. At first he was hesitant to accept the invitation to join the council, thinking that he did well enough for himself as a potion maker - but the promise of secret recipes or lost resources drove him to accept.

Ari Naaman was the first woman to be on the council and specialized in mastery of Ki energy. She was an extremely wise woman and had rebuilt the library that Cleo tried to have years earlier, since now there was no one to guard the Arcanum she could freely go down and take tomes to share with the common people. Cleo was impressed with this and unlike his father who would've been shocked, he congratulated, assisted, and offered a position to Ari.

Soren Rolavo was a bit an eccentric fellow and suspected warlock. He studied everything and anything dead... he found pleasure in studying old necromantic rituals and was considered for his extremely quick mind. Soren was hard to find but not hard to convince. Quickly after being offered a position as a sage he excitedly accepted.

Secor Havorum was a friendly and charismatic fellow. He was the only bard in all Old Vassos. He would sing songs and recite ballads of old heroes and Gods. Secor was another easy one to convince, Secor say it simply as an opportunity to write better songs.

Gorgias Nuovo was a powerful sorcerer. He had studied magic his whole life and specialized in elemental magics. He was hesitant about reforming the Sage Council but eventually agreed, deciding that the information they could uncover might be of extremely beneficial use.

Lastly his old friend Pittacus Myus. Cleo was hesitant to extend an invitation to Pittacus. He had been greatly weakened by the disease that had almost killed him six years earlier. However his mind was as strong as it had ever been and Pittacus joined the Sage Council as its head wizard.

Now that finally Cleo had found enough members to reform the council he spent the next three years studying under Sithartho, to learn the ways of the old sages. At the end of these three years the gnolls attacked, in greater numbers then they ever had before. It was normal for the gnolls to attack periodically but this time they seemed to be after something.

It was during this attack that the old man Ezekiel was stabbed by an angry gnoll. Cleo used an old Vasilian spell, Shillelagh, to fend off the gnoll that had attacked his father. He held in him in his arms as Ezekiel gasped for air, choking on his own blood.

The gnolls seemed to want only to cause chaos, as it was in their nature. However the whole time they attacked they seemd to be moving in a path of destruction towards the Arcanum. The new sages tried to fend off the large amount of gnolls, but in the end were almost killed. It was the eldest sage, who passed down the mantle to Cleo, that saved them that day.

For the first time in years Sithartho descended from the Sage's Tower and engaged in combat with the army of gnolls. He moved with incredible speed, and being a master of ki, he was able to single-handedly take down the entire gnoll army before succumbing to his own wounds, and dying.

Chilon and Thales led the funeral ceremonies, and all of Old Vassos was in attendance and in tears. Now with none of the Elder Sages left on the council, Cleo stepped up. He became new Head Sage, after Sithartho, who became Head Sage when Cleo's father went insane. Under Cleo's guidance the Sages searched The Arcanum, and finished studying all the tomes in the main library.

Once the main library had been fully explored a sage meeting was held to decide whether the sages should go exploring into the Deep Sanctums or they should seek knowledge elsewhere. In the end it was decided against Cleo's original wishes that the sages were going to search the Deep Sanctums for hidden information.

After five years of leading the sages, a curious woman came into Old Vassos. A woman who Cleo had only seen once before, in a vision given to him by a spirit of nature. She came to Cleo, the head of the sages, and inquired for information about Vasilias. She said that she found an ancient artifact imbued with his power and she was trying to find out how to restore his greatness.

Cleo led her down to the Arcanum, on the way learning this woman's name was Dior. He also learned she came from a nomadic tribe of people that had been wandering for many many years, a tribe called 'Family'. Cleo showed Dior the large amount of information they had on the Dead God. She immediately began work, and Cleo left her to read.

When Cleo returned the next day she was asleep, on top of a book about ancient rituals of worship for Vasilias. He gently roused her and offered her a place in his own home while she stayed to study information on the Dead God. However there was more in store for the two.

Dior made Cleo feel something he had not felt his entire life - he felt loved. Cleo loved Dior too, though he was often poor at showing it. However despite what people thought they worked well together, and grew very close. It was only two years later that they had a child together and named him after his father.

Cleo was happy with what his life had culminated to. He had a wife, a son, and he was the Head Sage of the Council of Sages. Cleo felt that he could finally enjoy the rest of his life in happiness. That all changed nine years after Cleo Jr.'s birth.

### Old Age (70-77)

twelve years after Cleo Jr.s birth, when Cleo Sr. was 75 something happened that would drastically change the course of his life. Cleo by now thought all the excitement was gone from his life. His friend Pittacus once again lie on his deathbed, and Cleo knew this time there was no saving him. Cleo was wisftul, and decided he was old. He wanted the rest of his life to be spent quietly with his family.

He announced to the other sages that after nearly twenty three years, Cleo was stepping down from his position as a Sage. He reasoned that he was old, and all the good he could do for the council had been done already. Although the other sages were sad to hear this news they understood and begged Cleo to join them on a last expedition to the Deeper Sanctums.

They led their wizened old High Sage to a giant door that Gorgias had been working on unlocking. On the face of the door was inscribed many languages which Cleo could not understand. Gorgias preformed several magic rituals and the stone door slowly slid open.

Once inside, the room seemed completely alien, a total departure from the architecture of the rest of the Arcanum. This room was large, spacious and very tall. The room was cylindrically shaped and at the very top of the room there was nothing but flat stone.

The room itself had phrases engraved in millions of languages, barely any Cleo knew, and even less he could recognize circling upwards towards the stone ceiling. In the center of the room stood a lone pedestal, the room was otherwise dark - but filled with golden era artifacts. Yet even in that darkness the letters on the walls glowed a faint greenish color. The color slightly illuminated the pedestal, allowing Cleo, who was the first to check out the scene (being the Head Sage) to see its three treasures. The first was a big, clear, celestial quote. It read "In the street of the blind, the One-Eyed Man is the Guiding Light." The second was a large scroll case. On the cap of the case was a strange rune. Golden Era, for sure. However, Cleo couldn't quite decipher it. Alas, it seemed to be a locking rune, and Cleo slung it across his back so the sages could tinker with it later. *It's not my job anymore* Cleo had thought *My only job now is jr. and Dior.* Cleo had these damming thought as he picked up the cool small marble shaped stone on the pedestal. He looked at it close. It was just a blue stone... but it was warming up. Cleo felt it get hotter, and hotter, and finally it began to burn his finger. He naturally dropped it, but the stone didn't fall, it began whirring around and shaking as it hovered in place. Finally a small blue fire appeared around the white-hot blue stone, and without warning it jumped to Cleo's right eye, burning and boring into his eye. The heat itself melted his eye before the stone even touched it. Then, the words on the wall began glowing bright blue, even bursting into flames. The cylindrical room's walls began to slowly spin downward, past the floor. As the words on the walls reached the floor the burning blue words flew off the walls, and attached themselves to Cleo's body. The room sunk slowly at first, but before long the walls of the room were rushing downwards. Soon, Cleo's vision went black, and he passed out.

When Cleo finally awoke, he was in the Sage Tower. the other sages had carried him there, bringing with him the scroll case. Cleo looked to the vine-covered walls, realizing that he could see life in a new way. His druidic ability had always given him the ability to be one with nature but the eye let him see life in a new way, almost like he could see it's life-spark. The eye also made Cleo feel more powerful, made him feel more connected to the earth.

However a dark feeling also pervaded his spirit. He felt a thirst to know more about the eye, to know what were the secrets in the case. Could they explain why the eye affected him so? Could they shed light on who made it? Where it came from? Why it existed? Cleo knew he ought to leave.... but the scroll case lured him. Teased him.

Cleo knew he had promised Dior however. He was no promise-breaker. For a year he tried to stay away. However one late night he had a prophetic vision. He dreamed of his home, Old Vassos, being annihilated. He saw everyone he knows being attacked, and he saw a great and mighty city with walls, and on it's docks he saw a fishing sloop with an ecstatic captain. He heard something strange... he heard a distorted voice. it said "This is your future. This is your beginning. This is your end."

Cleo awoke, his eye burning and forehead sweating. he woke up his wife and son in the night, and hurriedly escorted them away. Once they were a safe distance away, Cleo ran back quickly to the sage tower. He passed Pittacus. Who lie still on his deathbed. He lie there, in bliss, moments away from death. He saw Cleo, and said his goodbyes, and for one last time two life long friends wished each other the best. Pittacus handed Cleo a wax-sealed letter. Pittacus said that the note contained his last words to his best friend, words he was now too weak to be able to speak.

Cleo took the letter, took the scroll case and fled in the night. He met his family again and ran with them in the darkness. As he ran he could hear horrible sounds - sounds of destruction and horror, screams of pain and cries for help. Cleo felt a deep and horrible guilt. Instead of warning his sages, his friends, his people of the horror on its way, he ensured his safety. And the safety of a locked scroll case.

Cleo hurried his wife and child away, and they ran in the forest for what seemed to be hours. Eventually they found a wooden cabbin in the forest. Inside was a large bookshelf on maps and diagrams covering the walls. In the cabin was a large bed, on which the dead Old Sage Solon Atea lie.

    Solon seemed to have been dead for several years, his body was molding and barely any of it remained. All that remained of old Solon was a skeleton, his withered skin wrapped against his bones like shrink wrap. Cleo had known this man, in another life had been quite friendly with him. Now, he was dead. Dead, gone, and it seemed rather likely that the other Old Vassians were dead as well. Cleo and his son were the only ones left that had gone through the ancient rituals, that were connected to Old Vassos. Not that Jr. cared, but Cleo felt a heaviness in his heart. A heaviness that lies there still, and is shown in his every word.

It was in cabin that Cleo found a rough map of the Isles, and although it was not entirely accurate it gave Cleo a good idea of the Isles he lived in. Then he saw a circle drawn on the map, next to it scribbled in ink : "KILEAD: SAFEST CITY IN THE ISLES. GOOD PLACE TO START LOOKING." Cleo didn't know what this Kilead was, or what Solon was looking for, but the books on the bookcase confirmed his suspicion. Kilead was the name of the city which he saw in his visions.

He read the books on the shelves, they were much newer than anything Cleo dealt with at the Arcanum... the pages weren't disintegrating or in any ancient languages! The meager collection of books gave Cleo a understanding of the surrounding area and much about this Kilead. Apparently if he was to have any chance of making it in he'd have to show his worth, working on the docks or doing some similar duty. However Cleo knew what his job would be, and he knew he would be doing more than fishing.

After the events on Mushroom Island, Cleo's son ran off to journey with the Dark-Elf Kenny. Cleo grew more distant than ever from the rest of The Seekers, refusing even to leave the inn to go with the rest of The Seekers on a quest to save a child. He spent much of his time alone, in his and his wife's room, doing experiments on mus-infested shrooms - which Cleo had dubbed Musrooms.

However, four days after losing his son, he, Mithral, and Valok were transported to another realm. Here, they found none other than the Dark-Elf himself, along with Alroy. Alroy explained what had been only four days for them had really been ten to him, and that he had gone on many cosmic journeys during that time. The four went on a long and arduous journey, which all records of have been lost - none other than the four themselves know what transpired on this amazing journey.

With his son returned, and amends made, Cleo was back to being his old self. His research took on a new vigor as he was fueled by information from Alroy on the origin, nature, and effects of rifts and mus. However, closer crept the day when The Seekers old ally, The Reaper, was to be hung. Cleo had wanted to do something to help, but was weighed down by his guilt. Free from that, Cleo was considering what action to take when bloody old Balaras came storming in.

It was when the reached The Barber, who stitched up Balaras, that he, his son, and Balaras learned that The Barber also wanted to save The Reaper. Together, they formulated a plan, and The Barber hired a merc to help - Markos Tidebringer. The four of them met with Mithral and all decided to clear the sewers, in order to have a clear get-away.

It was there they met an old enemy, Cain. Him and his allies fought with The Seekers, and at first seemed to have the upper hand - when a Sea-Dwelling Crawler joined the fray and began causing trouble. However Cleo in gator form was able to distract it as Markos forced it into the mechanism of the subterfuge itself.

    Meanwhile Cain and his allies did battle with Balaras, Mithral, and Alroy. It was a tough fight but eventually The Seekers got the upper hand, killing the beast and Cain's allies. As the mercenary Markos and the remaining Seekers - Cleo, Mithral, and Balaras - hounded Cain; through a combination of Markos' precise maneuvering, Gator Cleo's ferocious chomp, Balaras' swashbuckling-swordmanship, and Mithral's mystical magic-casting; Cain looked up with blood running down his face and rage in his eyes. With all his effort he cast forth a dagger that landed in Alroy's heart.

As Cleo sat over his dying son, he was plagued by shadows of his own past, when his father held him in the same way - when Cleo had been mortally poisoned. Then he heard the same laughter from all those years ago - as he stood, eye to eye with the Devil Lord, Ba'al Berith.

He stood on the edge of life and death, and it was on the border between worlds that Cleo's mind was stolen - taken by the Lord. All in exchange for his son's life. He regained consciousness, believing himself to be in the past. Now, after The Fall of Kilead, Cleo wanders through the wilderness - searching for an unknown location and befriending snakes and other such animals.

## Relationships

### Dior Malachi

Dior, Cleo's once loving wife, is now gone. After Cleo lost his mind, Dior didn't see much point in being with him any longer. After long suffering through her husbands abuse, she had a way out. Things had changed between Dior and Cleo ever since he had gotten the spirit eye; he was no longer the interesting and passionate man he once was. Cleo had been reduced to an old grumpy man, who felt useless not working with his sages and thirsted for information on the eye. After their departure from Vassos, Cleo changed even more - became more unbearably abusive. Finally, after Alroy was sold to Kenny and killed only a few days later, their marriage had seen enough. The two hardly spoke to each other and before long, Dior left Cleo to go fight a holy war.

### Alroy Malachi

Cleo's son, Alroy, once saw Cleo's deepest disappointment and contempt. When Cleo first had his child, he dreamed of studying with him and teaching him all the Vasoan rituals and beliefs. However Alroy had no interest in Vasoan tradition, instead wishing to focus on discovering the outside world. This angered Cleo, and Cleo tried to forbid his son from exploring the outside lands. However, he could not stop his son and he knew it. The two grew apart.

After the exodus from Old Vassos, Cleo had become more angry with his son, more ill-tempered. As a result, Alroy grew angry and rebellious. He refused to follow his fathers commands and was a regular nuisance. Eventually this culminated into Alroy sneaking away with the Dark Elf Kenny, where he spent ten mortal years enduring the realms. After their reunion, the two came to terms with each other, and after Cleo apologized for his neglect, Alroy found it in his heart to forgive. Their relationship stronger than it had ever been, the loving family descended into the sewers where Alroy promptly died. Cleo, distraught, began to weep and curse the wicked Kain over his son's corpse; however as he did he found himself transported. The Devil Ba'al Berith gave Cleo an option: lose his sanity or lose his son. Cleo chose to save his son, but now as a result is cursed to not know Alroy's fate. He can't even recognize his son anymore.

### Mithral Tagata

Mithral has been one of Cleo's closest friends in The Seekers, as a fellow intellectual, Cleo and Mithral would often be the one to inspect artifacts and ancient writings. However, after the incident in the sewers, Mithral and Cleo's relationship has changed. It was Mithral who first approached Cleo when he awoke from his vision of Berith, Mithral who figured what had happened, and Mithral - as well as Balaras - who helped Cleo out of the sewers. Therefore, Cleo is able to recognize Mithral a bit easier than he can the others. Mithral also now holds all the important documents and information that Cleo once held - saving it until he can find a way to save his friend.

### Gilheart the Fallen

Cleo at one point relished having Gilheart accompany him - he was a strong and capable warrior. He almost single-handedly destroyed Pythia and saved the lives of Cleo, Dior, Mithral, and Valok. On his better days, Cleo genuinely hopes that Gilheart is safe, whereever he is. The two, though drastically different, had shared a few good memories - shared laughs and drinks. Cleo, like Gilheart, knew much about the Old Gods and shared a passion for knowing about them. On his worse days, Cleo mistakes Gilheart for his old intellectual enemy - Gorgias Nuovo. Cleo wasn't outright in his disdain for Gorgias - but instead saught to make a fool of Gorgias and his research.

### Valok Firefiend

Cleo recognizes Valok's skill and mastery of battle and fighting, but still Cleo feels some unease around the goliath. Cleo knew that Valok had some ties with an evil force when he witnessed him being sucked away on Mushroom Isle. After that Cleo was wary of Valok. Now after having been cursed, Cleo doesn't always recongize Valok, often mistaking him for someone from his past. When Cleo does recognize Valok, a small part of him blames him for the Devil Lord's interference with his life - he simply can't help it.

### Balaras Nighthook

Balaras is a bit of an oddity to Cleo, though he has no problem with Balaras. Cleo even has a small soft spot for the man - as he reminds him of his friend in youth, Diogen. At times, on Cleo's worse days, he even mistakes Balaras for the man. Cleo supports Balaras the same way he supported his old friend - just as when Cleo found Diogen dying in the wilds of Congeria he immediately brought him for healing, so did he bring Balaras to The Barber in his hour of need.

### Kel-Jora

The mighty illusionist Kel-Jora found Cleo living in the wilderness, feeding on fungus and spider-corpses. He brought Cleo from the thick woods, where Cleo made the wilderness grow 4x as thick and overgrown, to the Arcanum that he found. Cleo, having a place to lay his head and rest, as well as being back in a familiar environment, gave him some stability. With this stability came rehabilitation, and though Cleo will never lose his madness, he was able to grow to the point where he can remain coherent.

Living together for some time, Cleo and Kel grew quite close. Cleo would regale many old stories of his own Grand Arcanum to Kel-Jora, who had only seen the relatively small in comparison Grazoth Arcanum. They formed a close bond over their month living in the Grazoth wilderness. Together they would raid abandoned refugee camps that were reported by Cleo's animal information web, as well as collect information on Cleo's old allies.

When finally he had learned enough about his missing allies to determine a location, he set out to find them. Before leaving, Cleo told Kel-Jora to gather whatever tomes he needed and prepare himself for an adventure, as Kel had only ever lived in the forests of Grazoth. Once he had his affairs in order, Cleo told Kel to meet him and his allies in Goldport on the 5th of Highsun, where he could leave behind his past life and roam the isles with the rest of The Seekers.

### Markos "Tidebringer" Vesovis

Markos is a mystery to Cleo. Last that Cleo saw, Markos had engaged Kain in single-combat. However, Cleo knows not the outcome of the duel - having seen the battle skills of both Kain and Markos he figured it could go either way. In his sanity, Cleo saw Markos as little more than a hired hand to help the group - yet he retained a keen interest on the man's home; for the man claimed that he lived in an underwater city, and Cleo believed it for the man was obviously alien in some way.

### Captain Daniels

Cleo quite enjoys the Captain's company, as Cleo finds it quite useful. Further Daniels has been quite kind and hospitable to all the Malachis as well as The Seekers. Daniels knows much about Kilead and the surrounding areas, making him quite a useful member of The Seekers.

## Abilities

Cleo is a druid who focuses on the shepard circle. Using his Spirit Eye, he can channel his druidic ability into magic. Other than his quarterstaff he has the following abilities:

### Druidic Abiliies

* During his time studying as a druid at the Arcanum, Cleo learned the ancient language, a language used by the ancient Gods, the Gods of creation. The words from this language are the very words that gods used to create the earth.
* Druids are raised in the old ways, to believe in unity of all things, mortal and divine. Thus Cleo has a wealth of knowledge on History and Religion. Being an elderly man he is also very insightful and skilled at animal handling, having being trained in Druidic Arts and being a fan of nature.

* Having received a vision from the Old Spirits, Cleo has the All-Heart, or the ability to change into other animals.

### Defier of Death

* Cleo's supernatural knowledge of life and death gives him the ability to raise spirits from deceased enemies and allies, and manifest them as a yellow glowing orb which will surround Cleo in an aura of yellow glowing orbs.
* When Cleo summons spirits to attack, and they kill a fallen enemy, Cleo can will the attacking spirit to manifest the body of the deceased - the reanimated body can then join Cleo in battle

### Magic Items

* Gulfnin's Scepter of the Kuo-Toa - A Barnacle-encrested rod of wood, at the top of which there is a Conch Shell crudely attached. The Scepter has +1 to hit on attack rolls and does +1 DMG on DMG rolls.

## Possesions

Cleo's most notable possesion is his signature quarterstaff. When not in battle, Cleo uses this staff as a walking stick. The wooden staff was orignally found in the depths of the Arcanum, thought to be made from wood of the First Trees, the first natural life created.

According to druidic legend, It was from these first trees that the Gods of Creation first learned to create life. The trees however were lost, and many druids devoted their lives to finding this mystical woods. However to no avail, they died in vain. The trees now are believed to mostly have been destroyed long ago, perhaps even before The God's Malice. The Quarterstaff, Muna, is named for the tree from which it was taken from.

Cleo also has Gulfnin's Scepter, a scepter taken from the head-priest of the Kuo-Toa cult to a giant octopus named Dompaklomps. With the assistance of his party, Cleo and the gang destroyed the cult, killed Dompaklomps, and saved Gilheart the Fallen, who was being held by the monstrous beast.

In addition to all this, Cleo also has a backpack filled with things any explorer might need, such as a small knife he crafted at a young age in the woods, writing equipment, parchment, some books and clothes, a wooden shield, leather armor, and a compass.

## Quotes

* *Upon being offered jieshuan clay pots: "I love clay. That's why they call me Clay-O"*
* *To Casmus, after he showed Cleo how he uses his Mask of Many Faces to conceal his race: "You can hide who you are from others Casmus, but you can't hide who you are from yourself."*
* *About Kenny, three hours before losing his mind and going mad due to Ba'al Berith: "Kenny? That absolute madman? He's fuckin' insane! How can you trust anyone like that?"*