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Inside the Gun
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History: The second born to the King and Queen of Black, and the last to be born heir to the throne as Queen Lorraine passed soon after. Perhaps it was due to this fact that his father was unusually cruel to the boy, but there was no excuse worthy for the man who had put him through such hell as a child. From a young age the only times he had seen his Father were either to dine as a family upon the rare occasion or for the sake of public appearances and when he had done something of disapproval. Bad marks in his lessons for instance warranted him lashings. A roll of the eyes? Blackened ones to be sure. He was always told the same lines over and over:
"You will never amount to anything!"
"Wretched brat!"
And his father's most desirable insult, "It should of been you." Usually this one was growled after a stern lecture and severe beating. How Stefan wished he had been the one to die that fateful day. As he grew he found his only means of escape from his Father and constantly vigilant Uncle (Whom he suspected often was the cause of his Father knowing of his misdeeds as the man seemed to revel in his pain.), was to be found out in The Yard practicing with the Knights. It was from them he learned to wield a sword and how to fight bare-fisted, and among them he felt the most accepted. However, even this group held those who disliked the Prince. One so much so that he picked up a sword while the Prince wrestled another and struck at him. Luckily it was only an ugly gash that he was given. But as he glared from the balcony watching as the man swung from the gallows something in him seemed to snap that day. Soon he found himself watching the spectacles of torture and beheading...and he relished in it. To see those who had done wrong to him or others suffer the utmost, it brought him great satisfaction. None so great though as the day his Father passed.
The tough old bird had hung onto life with a stranglehold and as his health failed he seemed to realize if he had any chance of a good life in The After redemption was his only salvation. Stefan was forced to stay at the b*****d's bed side for days and nights on ends listening as he hoarsely croaked every sin he had committed. He reached for his hand holding it in his withered wrinkled bones
"You do forgive me. Don't you Stefan?"Stefan remained sitting as unmoved as he was the day he had forst heard those words from his Father's mouth and finally when the old man began to convulse he moved to his feet. Placed his hands over his mouth gasping for air or for help, and pushed against the geezer's sinking maw. When it was finally over he smiled. The first he had ever had in a long time. When the time came to put his Father to rest he refuse to allow them to sever the head, believing that refusing him this right would be his final defiance. That night as Stefan flopped into his bed he tossed the crown he had received from his coronation from hand to hand. (It was said that five Hatters were inadvertently hung or beheaded for their terrible designs.) But his gloating was interrupted by a horrid sight. There before him stood the ghostly visage of his father. How the old man screamed and hollered that Stefan was unworthy and had killed him. Terrified that someone other would hear the screams he took off for the Hall of Hatters grabbing a sword which hung from the hall on his way. He raised the sword and with one whack severed the head of his Father from its body. The head rolled about the floor before coming at the feet of a servant. The Prince turned eyes wide and a crazed smile turned to a maniacal laugh.
"Is he finally dead NOW?! No, No, NO! NO I THINK NOT!"The sword scraped along the black marble as he approached the servant who in turn cowered from the crazed new King. But the servant wasn't Stefan's target. Instead he picked up the head and proceeded to crack the jaw in his hands, then he grabbed hold of the tongue and gave it a mighty yank holding the slippery mass in his hand above his hand with a triumphant yell.
"Those without tongues can not speak! And so say I shall be the same of you..."And with that he simply handed the King's head to the servant and shouldered the sword. Retiring back to his room as if nothing had happened.
In the years which followed he resumed training with Knights, and reveled in his power. But also he was plagued by the growing distress of his endowments. Every outing to a pleasant shop resulted in the sight of another lingering soul, and soon Stefan found that not even the gruesome sights bugged him.
How interesting. Seems this Hatter gouged his eyes with needles. Perhaps now blind he sees?But it was because of his cold and growing dark sarcasm that he often found himself having to force people in his company. Which added to his loneliness. A ghost of a man is how he felt, and being King he knew he should have been able to have his whole kingdom at his feet. Stefan knows and hears the rumors that are told of him and while some are true most are not. He doesn't dine on the flesh of his beheaded or tortured. But decorate with their skulls or hands? Yes, of course!
Personality: Stefan is the kind of man able to condemn one to torturous implementations during interrogations while cracking a joke and wearing a grin. His madness is top notch among others in his keep, and is due in large part to his upbringing. Straddling the fence when it comes to trials and major decisions he often is able to take a step back and see both pros and cons of a situation. Which would seemingly make him the least likely candidate to rule, if not for the fact that his loyalty to his people is unwarrantable. He will do whatever it takes in order to see to their prospects. The man has a sadistic humor, and is able to see beauty in morbid sights. Mainly suffering from Mania; excessive happiness at inappropriate
sweatdrop times, excitement, irritability, restlessness, increased energy, less need for sleep, racing thoughts, high sex drive, violent outbursts, and a tendency to make grand and unattainable plans.
Appearance: 
While he may not be dressed as anything but a commoner of his lands, his stride of purpose and his stern set jaw may be indicator of his nobility. Under his rather darkened attire however tells a different story of this handsome brute. He is riddled with scars along his back and a large gash across his chest from injuries sustained in his youth. Stefan also boasts a muscular physique.
Armor: While wearing what looks to be typical medieval styled armor each piece seems to be etched in silver scrawling, the back of the chest plate bears the royal seal. Each pauldron (shoulder) has a sculpted pile of skulls with needles protruding from them. The
helmet is shaped to resemble a Jabberwocky's skull and is also a dark black metal, the top jaw unhinges with a small lock so that it can be pushed back and worn as a armored collar.
Weapons: An all black diamond bladed sword with sharpened protruding edges, as if the design wasn't enough to intimidate any foe the size of four feet from hilt to tip should.
Powers: Pain Suppression- Stefan is able to block pain at will making him incapable of feeling pain and highly resistant to physical pain of any kind, allowing him to think clearly and continue to move despite grievous injury.
Undead Manipulation- Command over the souls and deceased bodies of individuals. Like morbid rag dolls shuffling across a chess board. Usually under Stefan's control, but because the corpses are likely mindless they have to be carefully monitored. However, he is also capable of creating a few semi-sentient undead puppets. Once fallen or concentration is broken this affect becomes null and void.
Spiritual Affinity- Able to see and hear ghosts/spirits of the deceased and communicate with them. Is able to employ an armada of ghosts. Unfortunately this is not a power he can always control and is nearly constantly plagued with visions of the dead around his dwelling and lands. The only refuge from this plague is seemingly the Hall of Hatters.
