Manus the Scizor

## Biography

Thrown through the trials of travel, the tedious trade of violent vagabondage, Manus made due on the road. Certainly not a stranger in a strange land by any means, he found it hard to consider settling down and making due with what he's got. When his wife and a chunk of his village died years ago, due to a relatively contained plague, he found little reason to stay rooted in shelter and a township. At first, it was grief that kept his feet trotting the sodden path, perhaps trying to outrun the survivor's guilt- then it was gain and necessity. Being a lonesome rescuer garnered funds that perpetuated his wandering nature. Going from township to township- doing odd jobs and putting his self-taught martial skills to use. Picking up trades here and there, from minor carpentry to basic trap making. Not to mention the tools he commissioned to suit his claws; for eating, trapping, repair, and scouting.

Naturally, this means he has a varied, sometimes impressive, most of the time mundane past. Rich with interesting stories sprinkled about. Nothing amazing mind you, no slaying of dragons or discovering a long lost city. Merely taking out petty outlaws, finding a lost child or two, and at best uncovering a lesser crime syndicate. But, given his more advanced age, he feels his joints protesting and his lungs giving out faster than usual. Yet, he presses on.

## Personality

Gruff and old, Manus is a kind, but non sentimental sort. He isn't one to refuse anyone sitting close to a fire he made, nor them keeping items he willingly gave- even if they had potential sentimental value. As far as he's concerned, most of the important things with emotional attachments went tits up when he left his life behind. If someone needs his old leather cape to bind their wounds, he's going to give his old leather cape. Even if that damn thing has been with him for six years and counting- he could always buy a new one.

In regards of values and beliefs, he's a non-mystical sort, never really venerating the Legendaries nor Gods. They didn't help him when he needed them most- and will only really respect their power and nothing else if he ever comes face to face with one. And, while he does value companionship and general altruism, he won't go out of his way to pick fights with unsavory folks he knows he can't win against. He isn't naive like that anymore. Too many scars and divots on his metallic chitin to keep him that naive. He does value comfort and comradely, but understands when you're deep inside of a rank smelling cave with team members who are whining, complaining with them doesn't make the rescue any easier. He simply makes due with what he's got in the present, even if that means selfish preservation or quiet discomfort.

Socially and Romantically he's a bit of a stiff. Dead wife and friends from ages past tends to do that to a person. He has a hard time relating to other people given his wandering hermit lifestyle, where he's more focused on food, comfort, and safety, rather than what is typically concerned with like luxury, sex, and power. Not to say these concepts are alien to him, he is a functional, biological, sapient pokemon after all. He just values them less. In the end, it results in him being rather centric on his immediate surroundings, happenings, and himself. He doesn't need to be king to be happy, just enough coin to buy him a good feast and booze. Doesn't need a relationship to be happy, just a stomping ground that he can get a bit of shut eye. He, simply cares about the simple things in life, and isn't an ambitious Scizor beyond that.

## Combative Abilities

Like any rescuer worth their weight in salt, Manus is decently experienced in combat abilities and skills. Unlike a few, he didn't exactly train to be effective in combat, he merely survived and overcame. His hard chitinous shell with his swordsmanship is what really kept him through til the end. Even at the ripe age of thirty-eight, where Dialga's Miasmic influence corrode his joints and flab his muscles, he is still able to hold his own. Quick thinking, endurable pain tolerance and acceptance, and deft clawed hands wielding a sword is his main expertise. Not that it's elegant, no. He, again, didn't train with any masters or by himself. It's, at best, unorthodox and suited for his insecticide build and style. If he was unarmed, he'd be a brawler, not a monk.

Defensive wise, as stated before, he is acceptable in combat. His chitin, like all Scizors, are metallic in nature, and provide ample armor for himself. Though, the divots in his shell shows weakening of his natural armor- which is troublesome as the scarring and pockets of dents will only grow in time with use. Of course, fire attacks are devastating to him, so he is naturally on the reflexive defensive when engaging with such foes.

Considering he's not blood thirsty, even to horrific outlaws, he will often spare a foe if given the chance. Of course there are exceptions to this- but he doesn't see the point in spilling more blood than there already has been spilt. That, and most outlaw rewards are higher if they're alive than dead.