Magistrate Vex Shadowmend stands as an imposing figure, his skeletal form draped in an immaculately tailored black coat that seems to absorb light itself. Where flesh should be, there is only pristine bone, his skull polished to an ivory sheen through centuries of existence. His eye sockets pulse with an otherworldly purple radiance that flickers like distant stars in the void, casting eerie shadows across his skeletal features. The coat he wears is adorned with intricate silver runes that occasionally shimmer with the same purple energy that emanates from his eyes, their patterns telling tales of forgotten magical knowledge.
His movements are deliberate and graceful, defying the expectations one might have of an animated skeleton. Each gesture of his bony fingers is accompanied by whispers of arcane energy, and when he speaks, his jaw moves with unnatural precision, his voice resonating with both authority and an echo that seems to come from somewhere far beyond the mortal realm. A peculiar habit of his is the constant adjusting of a monocle that isn't there, a remnant gesture from his mortal life that has persisted through his transformation.
Vex was once a renowned scholar in the Grand Academy of Thaumaturgical Arts, whose pursuit of immortality led him down a path few would dare to tread. His transformation into his current state was not an accident but a calculated choice, though the price was steeper than he anticipated. Now, he seeks to unlock the secrets of life and death itself, believing that the boundary between the two is merely an artificial construct that can be manipulated and ultimately destroyed.
The Magistrate's laboratory is filled with ancient tomes and artifacts, each carefully cataloged and maintained by his skeletal hands. He has an peculiar obsession with collecting timepieces, though time no longer holds any meaning for him in his undead state. His quarters are kept at an unnaturally cold temperature, not for his comfort, but to preserve the numerous magical reagents he works with.
Despite his terrifying appearance, Vex maintains an air of aristocratic refinement. He speaks in perfectly formed sentences, often using outdated formal language that betrays his age. His knowledge of arcane matters is vast and terrifying, though he guards his secrets jealously. Those who have dealt with him speak of his unexpected politeness and his habit of offering tea to visitors, despite his obvious inability to partake in such pleasures himself.
The purple glow from his eye sockets intensifies with his emotions, particularly when he's engaged in complex magical workings or when his temper flares. His skeletal hands are adorned with numerous enchanted rings, each serving a specific purpose in his ongoing magical research. The hem of his coat occasionally moves against non-existent winds, suggesting that the garment itself is imbued with powerful magic.
What truly sets Vex apart is not just his appearance, but the weight of centuries of knowledge and power that seem to bend reality around him. His presence alone is enough to make magical artifacts respond, and his very existence seems to challenge the natural laws of the world. Yet beneath his intimidating exterior lies an intellectual whose curiosity about the nature of existence has never dimmed, even after centuries of unlife.