Basilisk of the Sunless Grove

Basic Information

Name: Basilisk of the Sunless Grove
AKA: Shaman, Basil
Type: Dragon-Blooded Exalt
Age: Unknown (First contact with G.S. in R.Y. 738.)
Player: NPC
Aspect: Wood
Concept: Member of the Hallowed Order of the Grass Spiders
Motivation: Unknown
Political Affiliation: The Hallowed Order of the Grass Spiders
Anima: A tree of life bursts from the ground, but all life around it withers and dies.
Likes: Drinking, Talking to himself, Giggling
Dislikes: The imaginary ghost of his dead brother that haunts him

Background

Basil is probably the only Grass Spider that was never recruited. His relationship with the organization started long ago. While searching for rare ingrediants in the far east, a group of spiders stumbled upon a tribe of Wyld barbarians living around a jade obelisk in the Bordermarches. The spiders approached the group, hoping to trade for some of the things they were looking for. They were pleasantly surprised when the tribe was both friendly and in possession of many of the ingredients they needed. The shaman was more tainted then most, but the assassins were confident they could defend themselves if it ever proved necessary.

Over the next few decades, a regular trading relationship was established, and the shaman managed to procure more and more of the reagents the Grass Spiders required. Then one year, the trading convoy arrived and the shaman was the only one there. The rest of the tribe was gone, as if they had never existed. The shaman was sitting against the jade obelisk, talking to himself and drinking. Next to him was a tree that had hundreds of plants and animals grafted onto its branches. When the shaman saw his visitors, he started bawling and babbling about his brother.

The Grass Spiders could make no sense of what he was saying, or what ha happened, but it became apparent that he didn't want to be left alone. Unsure of what else to do, they agreed to help him leave the Wyld and settle somewhere else. Extremely grateful, the shaman prepared to leave with them. In an act that astonished all in attendance, the shaman bent over, pulled the tree out of the ground, and placed it on his back. The trees roots wrapped around the shaman and pierced his body, which seemed to hurt but leave him no worse for wear.

He easily managed the grueling trek out of the Wyld, but whenever the Grass Spiders suggested a place for him to settle, he would whisper, "A little further..." Eventually they tried both losing him and scaring him off, but like a puppy, he continued to follow. When it became apparent that he was going to follow them back to the Range Homes, a long debate ensued. Eventually the spiders decided to let him follow and have the Three Elite Fiends determine his fate.

After a long interview with Gyoki, it was determined he could transplant his tree into the manse garden and tend to it as an associate. The decisions turned into quite the boon for the Grass Spiders. Despite the damage the Wyld had done to him, Basil didn't cause any trouble. In addition, he had grafted many useful plants and animals onto the Tree of Life and Death, which greatly reduced the need for expeditions into the eastern Wyld.

Over the next few years, Basil deveolped relationships with most of the older members of the organization, including Gyoki (they played Go), Rizuka (she checked in on him often), Oak (he often wanted specific things from the tree), and Makoto Seta (who was curious about his nature). On the downside, his madness and substance abuse seemed to worsen.

Eventually, the Grass Spiders received a contract that was going to take them into the eastern Wyld. After much debate, arguing, fighting, and general agonizing, it was decided that Basil would accompany the team. On the morning the team was going to depart, Basil arrived shockingly sober and coherent. The mission turned out to be extremely dangerous, and Basil was instrumental in its success, not just because of his expertise, but as a full member of the team. Upon completion of the mission, the members of the team petitioned for his promotion to Made Member. Both the Fiends and the Harvestmen were hesitant, but upon proving himself on a number of test missions, they finally acquiesced.

When not on a job, Basil is always inebriated and insane. Luckily, he is quite enjoyable in this state, and it doesn't hinder his ability to tend to his tree. Before jobs he ingests a concoction that clears his mind. Unfortunately, this allows his extreme physical pain and profound sadness to surface. He never complains, however, and always performs admirably. Upon returning to the rang homes, he consumes an elixir that returns him to his altered state.

In both states of mind, he has expressed his desire to be useful and not fade away. If left out of missions for too long, his depression begins to surface past the substance abuse and madness. When recently returned from missions, however, both the drug usage and madness are lessened, and he seems in a far better mood.

Basil's age is unknown and probably irrelevant because he has spent almost his entire life in the Wyld, where traditional measures of time are inaccurate.

What He's Been Up To

The Veil War is largely irrelevant to Basil. He is simply incapable of thinking beyond his missions and the Tree of Life and Death. Sadly, he has begun to slow down, and he may have to retire from missions in the next few years, if he lasts that long.