(Age: 68)
Emperor Ephram Arnot is the living embodiment of House Oni’s legacy — a titan of will, feared as much as he is revered. To his subjects, he is not merely a monarch but a force of nature whose presence bends the world around him. Where other rulers rely on bloodlines, wealth, or sorcery, Ephram embodies raw dominion: the crushing pressure of his indomitable will, honed by a lifetime of battle. He does not see the throne as a birthright, but as the ultimate arena — the stage upon which the strongest prove themselves in the endless “grand game” of emperors.
Build: Towering and broad at 23 feet 10 inches, Ephram’s physique is the stuff of legend. Though in his late sixties, his body carries the density of a mountain — each movement deliberate, each gesture radiating restrained violence.
Face: His features are carved in severe lines, more statue than flesh, with eyes of molten bronze that seem to glare through every soul they meet. Deep scars slash across his body and face, each one a story of survival, each one a warning.
Attire: Unlike the ornamental robes of other courts, Ephram dresses in black and crimson war garb, with dragonhide pauldrons and a long mantle fringed with gold. His crown is simple, a circlet of hammered steel — more trophy than ornament.
Will Made Flesh: Ephram does not believe in magic because he embodies a power more primal. His aura alone can shatter the resolve of armies, and his mere gaze makes seasoned generals falter. Where others wield words or spells, he imposes his reality by force of existence.
The Grand Game: He treats the throne not as stability but as challenge. He delights in the constant churn of ambition — where emperors may last a day or a century, where commoners and warlords alike might ascend if they dare. To Ephram, the chaos of succession is not weakness, but proof that only the strongest deserve to rule.
Merciless yet Fair: Ephram is neither cruel nor benevolent. He rewards strength, cunning, and audacity, whether they come from lords or peasants. Weakness earns contempt, but resilience and ambition are always respected.
Unshakable Confidence: His laughter is as infamous as his wrath — booming, unrestrained, echoing like thunder before battle. In both triumph and defeat, he exudes the unbreakable assurance that he cannot be toppled, only delayed.
Rule of Presence: Where other monarchs rely on law or bureaucracy, Ephram rules by the weight of his will. His court bends around him, and even dissenters find themselves silenced under his gaze. His decisions are swift, brutal, and absolute.
Champion of the Strong: Nobles of House Oni are expected to embody combat mastery, not idle luxury. His higher vassals are walking legends, each terrifying in their own right. The Desert Legion — House Oni’s lower nobles and soldiery — form his hammer, while the High Lords are his peerless champions.
Eternal Challenger: Ephram does not guard his throne jealously — he dares others to try for it. Every challenge strengthens his legend; every pretender who fails proves his supremacy anew.
House Oni’s Burden: His bloodline carries the heaviest strain of giant ancestry, trading away magic for colossal willpower. Among his kin, the further one ascends, the more terrible their presence and power become.
Children of Titans: Ephram raises his heirs not with soft privilege but in the crucible of battle. They are expected to endure his trials, to carve their names into legend, or be cast aside as unworthy. Weak sons are discarded without hesitation; strong daughters may command armies.
Respect through Fear: To serve Emperor Arnot is to live in constant awe. Even his allies walk carefully, for his standards are merciless. Yet his reign is stable, because those who thrive under him are the strongest, bound together by fear and ambition rather than empty loyalty.
Unbending Rivalries: Ephram welcomes rivals to his face. In his court, challenges are not treason but tradition — a bloody ritual that keeps the throne alive with meaning.
The Living Colossus: At 68, Ephram shows no sign of slowing. His body defies age, his will crushes empires, and his hunger for challenge only deepens. He is the immovable pillar of the present age, the storm that defines his era.
Legacy of the Game: To Ephram, the true measure of his reign will not be in monuments or peace treaties, but in how fiercely the world fought against him. His reign is both crown and battlefield, and when he falls, it will be only to one greater — as it has always been in the cycle of emperors.
Emperor Ephram Arnot is not remembered for gentleness, nor even for prosperity — he is remembered as the man whose very will ruled an empire, whose laughter and fury alike could shake kingdoms, and whose reign made even giants seem small.
Concept: The ability to impose one’s sense of order onto reality through sheer conviction.
Effect: When Ephram exerts Dominion Will, those weaker in resolve find their actions slowing, their confidence cracking, their very instincts betraying them. Weapons feel heavier, limbs respond sluggishly, and even thoughts falter under the crushing sense that resistance is futile.
Signature Use: Entire battlefields grind to stillness as soldiers hesitate, unable to muster the resolve to move against him.
Concept: A will sharp enough to cut without a blade.
Effect: Ephram can focus his will into a tangible edge, capable of slicing through defenses—physical, mental, or spiritual. This is not energy but conviction manifesting as precision. Shields splinter, lies unravel, and even techniques rooted in another’s belief can be “cut down.”
Signature Use: Reducing a towering wall to rubble by simply pointing at it and commanding it to break.
Concept: Authority as chains — the power to compel obedience.
Effect: Through sheer dominance, Ephram can anchor an opponent in place. This does not physically restrain them, but locks their spirit, making them unable to take an action that contradicts his imposed command.
Signature Use: Forcing an enemy general to kneel mid-battle, not through magic or trickery, but by overwhelming their ability to choose otherwise.
Concept: His will harmonizes with those who fight under him, amplifying their strength.
Effect: Ephram’s presence alone bolsters allies, sharpening their resolve and giving them strength beyond their natural limits. Fear is erased, doubt obliterated, and even exhaustion pushed aside.
Signature Use: Turning an outnumbered, ragged force into an unstoppable phalanx simply by standing with them.
Concept: The apex of his philosophy — reality bends to the strongest will present.
Effect: In moments of true exertion, Ephram’s will does not just dominate others; it warps the very battlefield. Flames dim, storms part, and chaos itself yields, creating an environment where only his law exists.
Signature Use: Standing unscathed in the center of a collapsing fortress, with every falling stone veering away from him as if refusing to strike.
⚔️ Style Note:
Unlike supernatural powers, Ephram’s Will Techniques are not “gifts” — they are manifestations of discipline, presence, and sheer indomitable belief. They work because those around him cannot deny them. His strength is the perfect marriage of technique and conviction: he is not “enhanced,” he is simply more human than anyone else dares to be.