Willow

BACKSTORY

Willow was once an angel that served as part of a large battalion for God during the war in Heaven. Back then he was known as Salicaes, and was a powerful war dancer; able to grant boons to his allies and cast devastating destructive spells through ritual dances, sometimes even miles from the frontline of battle. He and his kind were an invaluable asset that turned the tide of many a conflict, but eventually the war began to corrupt Salicaes and turn his heart to evil.

Salicaes had never truly caught sight of the enemy, safely tucked inside the heart of his battalion's stronghold as he was, and his part in the war left him lonely and isolated from all but other dancers and wounded soldiers. It was from the latter that he was fed tales of battles and of the nature of their enemy, stories weaved with exaggeration and subjectivity. Salicaes was led to believe that the rebelling angels were cruel, bloodthirsty and warped, and the injuries sustained by some of his allies only bolstered these claims.

Over time, Salicaes curiosity for the enemy developed into desire, and then obsession. Whether it was a way for him to cope with his fear, or just some manifestation of some flaw in his being, his lust for danger, for conflict, for evil became all encompassing. He grew incredibly envious of every soldier that came back injured after a clash with the enemy, wanting nothing more than to be in their position. But locked up so tightly in the stronghold, it seemed as though he would never get his wish.

Eventually, Salicaes grew too restless, mind warped and senses choked by desire. When it came time again for him to aid his allies in battle he instead turned on them, along with the help of his friend Nefeloma, bolstering the enemy and doing irreparable damage to the most vital parts of their battalion. Naturally, when the stronghold was breached by the enemy and he was discovered, he pledged himself to Heosphoros and his cause, albeit for his own selfish and twisted pleasures.

When God finally intervened in the war and wiped out the rebellion, Salicaes was one of the numerous angels cast into Hell. Along with being stripped of all divinity, he was also removed of all destructive capabilities as punishment for turning his God-given gifts on his allies. Further still, he was cursed to derive pleasure from physical mutilation and pain. Just as how his desire for evil had destroyed his soul, he would now destroy his body over and over whenever he chose to indulge in the sin of Lust.

IN HELL

For Salicaes, his fall left him understandably broken and humiliated. His magic had been his only source of self worth and it had now been significantly crippled- he was now only able to access his supportive magic and could not even use non-magical tactics to harm another being.

For a while, he made the most of what was left of his abilities and danced to increase productivity as the fallen angels constructed what would come to be known as the district of Lust. When the majority of building work was complete, however, Salicaes found himself seeking greater validation, left insecure by his injuries. It was then that he decided to make his dancing a more direct source of income, performing in the numerous clubs of Lust and taking on the new name Willow to symbolise his transformation from angel to demon.

CURRENT LIFE

Willow now uses subtle magic during his performances to amplify positive emotions for his audience, an effect that can last up to hours after the end of the dance. Many liken the experience to a kind of drug, and in line with that Willow offers performances of various intensities and effects- from dances that simply relax to ones that cause overwhelming euphoria and hallucinations.