Xerxes Nightvale

Name: Xerxes Nightvale.
Nickname: If you can manage to use one, go for it.
Age: 17.
Gender: Male.
Sexuality: The mirror??
Birthday: April 7th.




Race: Werewolf.
Powers: Xerxes does not have the ability to shift at will unless he is in pain or emotionally compromised. The full moon works just like for any other, however, and Xerxes makes use of the large forest behind Finix Academy to run it out of his system. 




Height/Weight: 5'8", 159 lbs.
Appearance: Picture above.
Markings?: There are tribal tattoos up his arms, black and outlined with a faint silver that seems to make them shimmer.
Hindrances: Xerxes has a slight limp due to an accident when he was younger. It resulted in a broken leg and the bone healing funny. 

Faceclaim: Haine Rammsteiner from DOGS, Bullets, and Carnage.



Personality:

Xerxes is foul-mouthed and isn't afraid to throw around words. He's easy to rile up and doesn't discriminate in his fights. If you piss him off it doesn't matter what you are; man, woman, student, or teacher, he doesn't let comments slide. He has a teasing side, poking fun at anyone that he really can. Xerxes loves getting a rise out of people as much as other people love getting a rise out of him. While not really a flirt, per se, he has a way with words that seems to rustle the jimmies. Alright, that's a bit of an exaggeration, as he doesn't realize he's going it most of the time, but Xerxes doesn't mind either way.

When Xerxes was younger, his older brother broke his leg. Due to the bone healing funny he was left one of the lowest ranks in their pack, giving him a dark view on life. Xerxes is cold due to this and doesn't believe in miracles. He refuses to even listen if someone mentions them, walking away immediately. His lame leg is part of the reason he acts the way he does, as fighting and becoming "tough" was the only way for him to survive among his siblings. Xerxes is guarded around strangers and has issues trusting pretty much anyone. He acts prideful and tries to mask the pain his leg still gives him, refusing to show any sort of weakness if he can help it.

Health Issues?: His lame leg often causes him pain but he has grown pretty used to hiding it over the last few years.




Parents: Ghalia Nightvale, mother, and Lucus Nighvale, father.

Siblings: Corvaine Nightvale, oldest brother, Ashlan Nightvale, brother, Vitani Nightvale, sister, and Eri Nightvale, younger sister.

Other Relations: N/A.

History:

Xerxes was born as Halin with his two littermates into the world of werewolves. They grew up together and got along perfectly aside from the typical sibling bouts. Their pack wasn't that big but it was still a decent size at that time. He grew up in the forests across Europe with his family. At the time, he had no idea why they needed to move so much. Young Xerxes simply new that there was a new home every few months and it was often moving time in the middle of the night, despite how tired they were. These new places didn't really upset him though; moving meant new sights and smells. For a young pup, it was everything he could've ever wanted. 

His life was perfect until he turned seven. To this day Xerxes has a hazy memory of the event, but he remembers one moment being fine and the next his leg alight with pain. He remembers Corvaine standing over him with a grin he still, to this day, doesn't understand. But after that, his life became a living hell.

The broken bone didn't heal right. He became an outcast within his own pack, his own family shunning him. "The son of an Alpha can't be lame," his mother had elaborated. So Xerxes was stripped of his status and even his own family. Xerxes became the target of ridicule and bullying within his pack. Often times if someone was angry, their anger and rage was taken out on him. This in turn made his personality take a drastic turn, and Xerxes became angry and upset at the world. Why him? What had he done? They were thoughts that began to fester within him; he quit believing in miracles. It wasn't long before Eri, his younger sister, was born to take his place. 

His brothers and sister barely looked in his direction, and his parents wouldn't even acknowledge his presence. Xerxes grew thin and frail from lack of food. His lack of parental guidance and family care turned his idea of "family" into a twisted vision which resulted in his distrust and hate for the trope that family can be made. From this stemmed trust issues and his inability to open up to anyone at all.

Xerxes spent years living like this, up until he turned thirteen. It was around this time he was began listening in and understanding things. He learned of why they moved so much. He learned what this pack, what the Nightvale's, were running from.

Hellhounds, "fake werewolves," as his father called them.

Perhaps it was because his parents had run from their death. Or perhaps it was because they'd wrong one of the foul creatures in the past. Either way, they were on their trail, and everyone in the pack seemed to know it.

Xerxes began to get attached to Eri around this time. They did everything together. Hunting, playing, and sleeping, they were always together. Their parents, of course, disapproved of this and Xerxes was often left bloody and unable to move at random times. But Eri was his only friend; he refused to give in. Life was spent like this for another few years.

By this time, Xerxes was sixteen.

It was also around this time the hellhounds finally caught up with his pack. He knew what they were by now. Bringers of Death with bites as cold as the grave. Seeing one signified your time was ending. 

They were upon his pack instantly. Xerxes barely knew what was happening around him. But there was blood and screaming and the scent of rotting flesh. He would never forget that smell. In the end, it was his leg that prevented him from helping - and getting killed. Eri was torn apart right before his eyes. His brothers, his sister, his parents, all of them were slowly destroyed without a moment's hesitation. And maybe, just maybe, the rotten creatures could smell the abuse he went through, but no matter the reason, Xerxes was spared. He was left to look upon the death left behind by the Bringers of Death.

Xerxes cried.

They may not have treated him well, but they had been his family; his everything. They were all he had ever known in his entire life. Especially Eri. 

His crying lasted for nearly an hour and he vowed he would one day get revenge for his fallen sister. Not the pack, no, because they didn't deserve it for what they had done to him. But for the sweet little werewolf, barely old enough to experience the world, he would avenge her death.

He found his way to Finix Academy shortly after what happened and changed his name to Xerxes. The werewolf, to this day, still remembers the faint scent of rotting flesh.



Alliance: Finix or Resistance.

--- For Finix: Student.