Sombra

"I know where I come from and what I have done.  On the whole, I hope it was at least positive."

Santiago Alfonso Espada Ferdinand Cortez or better known as Sombra was an assassin in the turn of the 20th Century. Known as one of the greatest assassins of the time, Sombra was involved in numerous campaigns and crossovers, always leaving his mark. Sombra was a man of Spanish lineage who used two daggers (Silence and Passion) to cut through his enemies. He is best known when recalled with his partner; James McKnabb.

History

Childhood

The man that would become Sombra was born in 1862 Spain as Santiago Alfonso Ferdinand. As part of the royal family, Santiago was given every advantage for a man of the time and was a personal favorite of several members of Nobility. Unfortunately, he would not enjoy his privileged life for long as his beloved brother, Juan Ferdinand, framed him for the murder of three noble women and Santiago was found guilty. Santiago was stripped of his birthright and title and was to be publicly executed, a rarity as he was only 6 at the time. He was transported to Toledo, Spain, for his execution but never arrived due to the intervention of a Portuguese rebel party that attacked and overpowered his transport caravan. Left with nothing and no one to look after him, the young Santiago began to wander toward Toledo anyway, hoping to vanish in the crowds of Spaniards forever. As he was no longer a part of the Royal family, Santiago changed his last name to Cortez after a small family of pig farmers who allowed him lodging for a night. His name was now Santiago Alfonso Ferdinand Cortez.

Time with the Laughing Skull

Santiago succeeded in vanishing within the walls of Toldeo for a time, however hunger and boredom would often get the best of the very young man and he would risk getting caught for a an apple or the opportunity to chat with an attractive girl. It was the latter activity which connected the ex-Prince to the order of assassins called the Laughing Skull, which took him in. Trained as a child protege and given the opportunities to test his mettle, the young Santiago quickly started to become something dangerous. He was loyal and devoted to the group that had saved him, though the same could not necessarily be said about them, and he performed his assigned tasks with an extraordinary amount of flair. This bravado and great taste for the theatrics was what brought Isabella into his life. Isabella was another member of the Order and a very ambitious one at that. Roughly the same age and excited for their promising lives, she became everything to Santiago and they were known to be inseparable. It would seem that Santiago had everything he needed and thus years would go by, assassination after assassination, like a beautiful dream. It was during this time that Santiago would, unknowing, impregnate Isabella with his child. As he was now part of a group of assassins, Santiago added the word "Espada" to his name. Despite his incredible ability, there was a part of Sombra that was interested in cutting hair.

Betrayal 

"I understand it now. This is what happens when any two people are close."

Santiago was betrayed in the year 1886 while on a very prestigious assignment; the assassination of his uncle, Ricard De Santos. Ricard held himself up in a small castle by the border of Portugal and directly cliff-side to the Atlantic Ocean. The goal of the assignment was to scale the walls, locate Ricard and assassinate him. This particular assignment was of utmost importance to both Santiago and Isabella, as there was now a spot open in the upper league of the Order and it was likely to go to one of the two assassins who had taken out a high-profile target, such as Ricard. After completing their assignment, it began to rain heavily and Santiago, with Isabella, were stuck on the ramparts overlooking the Ocean. Isabella drew Santiago to her and they began to kiss passionately. As their mingling escalated, Santiago and Isabella near naked, she spoke to him. ''"I'm sorry, Poco Cazadore, I thought about it for weeks, I really did. What is more important in this life?" ''Santiago was confused for a moment before she sunk her dagger directly into his left shoulder and slashed his throat. Stepping back, injured, bleeding, and nearly naked into the cold rain, he slumped over near the edge of the Ramparts. He remarked that it was convenient for it to be raining, as tears are invisible in the rain, and threw himself from the Ramparts. As far as anyone could tell; this marked the end of Santiago Cortez.

Rebirth

Santiago had managed to float, during the storm, to a small Portugese boat who's crew was able to keep him alive. Giving the majority of his small fortune to the sailors who saved him, he began to try to pick a new life for himself. Still utterly devastated by the betrayal of Isabella and now convinced that betrayal is a matter of time, not character, he elected not to become close to the sailors and instead to seek somewhere new to live out his life. He selected South America so that he would not have to learn another language and, paranoid of letting others grow close to him, chose to call himself "Sombra" from that point on. He snuck aboard a small merchant vessel heading to South America and soon arrived at the small Village of Mirabi. He would live in Mirabi, assisting the villagers and making a crude living, for several years. He took particular pride in his work as a barber at this time.

Contact with the Hawthorne Expidition

Santiago, now going as the mysterious assassin "Sombra", was contacted by Mirabi's local medicine man, Cizin, and asked to participate in an expidition into a supposedly cursed Mayan City. The expidition was led by a woman named Iris Hawthorne, a college professor and scholar from the United States. As the payment was good, Sombra joined on as protection. It was here that he met the other half of the protection unit; James McKnabb. James was an ex-regulator and gunslinger who had seen quite a bit of devastation in his life. Initially, Sombra and James did not get along well, Sombra's distrusting nature and his belief that he could not die clashed with James' fatalism and depression. They would begin to rethink each other while, during the Expidition, they began to realize they were the only two who seemed prepared. During an accident in which Cizin released a monstrosity of lava which hurled itself at the small crew, James would begin to greatly trust his shadowy counterpart. With James being the closest to the monster; he was it's natural target and, already injured from previous exploring, was unsure if he would survive. As it happened, he was never hit at all; Sombra, believing that he could withstand the attack, placed himself in front of James and took the full brunt of the hit. He was dragged out, burning, and healed by Cizin before his wounds could become permanent.

Meeting with the Stranger / End of the Hawthorne Expidition

Sombra chose not to fight during the incident with The Stranger and his first assault, not wanting his full name to be revealed. He continued to work with the team as they made their way deeper into the cursed city and it's strange inhabitants. It was Sombra who originally suggested that Dr. Fu Man Chu might be at the heart of the corruption, backed by James McKnabb. Toward the end of the exploration into the city, they arrived at the temple Fu Man Chu was occupying and using for his archanology. Taking cover, they waited for the sinister mastermind to pass before trying to come up with a plan. This was cut short, however, due to the intervention of The Stranger, who demanded the expidition either leave or fight him. Thinking quickly, Iris suggested a duel between The Stranger and one of her team, one on one, to prove they were worthy of his service (or at least to get him to leave them alone). The Stranger agreed and Sombra was not selected as the 'champion' to fight. Sombra was shot, however, as the fighting escilated while he was attempting to administer first aid to James McKnabb. James and Sombra watched as the Stranger detonated explosives to save the group from the incoming WCL forces, blowing up Cizin in the process. The Stranger's FN Hi-Power ended up bending and landing near the duo, which they took in shock. Weak, injured, and bleeding, the two exchanged laughing words mimicing their initial conversation back outside the city.

Post Expidition / Pre Empire Crisis

Sombra, James, and Iris escaped the cursed city after removing Dr. Fu Man Chu's "Great Machine" from operating ability, but missed out on the chance to kill the mastermind that day. This would weigh upon Sombra and James more than Iris. As the only true friend he had ever had, Sombra chose to follow James as he moved to the city of New Empire. In New Empire Sombra set up a barbershop and was able to do what he adored for more than a few years. In 1914, Iris moved to New Empire and the remaints of the Expidition team lived in the same city. James and Sombra would remain close friends throughout the years, both still selling their skills under the table to those with good intentions and deep pockets. Despite his incredible ability, most people were unaware that the local barber was an international assassin of legend and Sombra seemed to prefer it that way. Due to the location of his barbershop being near the Red Light District, Sombra was able to come into contact with one of his more favored clients; Vincenzo. It was this client that would unknowingly drag James and Sombra into the center New Empire Crisis and give them their shot at killing Dr. Fu Man Chu once again. Before this would happen, however, Sombra met with a rather strange client...

Adam, the Library, and Constantina

A mysterious gentleman by the name of Adam paid Sombra a visit in 1913 and offered him 500 dollars if he would retrieve a certain book from a mysterious library. Though he did not give details on why he wanted the book or his intentions, Sombra saw no immediate reason not to take the offer and departed for the Library; which existed outside of his dimension. Sombra's first trans-dimensional journey was not without incident, the assassin first encountering a diety of sadism who he appeased with a bit of masochism, before he located his objective proper. A small group consisting of several deities, a knife salesman, and a woman with the mind of a 6 year old child were, he had been told, in possession of the book he required. He alerted them to his presence after watching for a few moments before informing them in Spanish that he intended to take the book, by force if it wasn't given immediately. Not knowing Spanish, the group had to content with a very deadly assassin until the intervention of Rancor and Constantina (the woman with the mind of a 6 year old) who were able to convince him that he had been mislead by Adam and paid him to get him to switch sides. After defecting to work with the group, albiet temporarily, Sombra began to bond briefly with the knife salesman and Constantina. After engaging Adam and completing his contract, Sombra returned to his normal life and said his goodbyes.

Participation in New Empire Crisis of 1922

Pushing 60, Sombra and James were unwittingly involved in the New Empire Crisis for more reasons than simply because they lived in New Empire. The serial killer Damien ended up in Sombra's care after he lost his girlfriend and reason for living. Sombra trained him briefly in "Beauty and Grace"; Sombra's unique style of combat, and sent him on his way. As Vincenzo and his support hunted down the dangerous cult and it's leader Mr. Salzburg, James and Sombra were investigating the death of Iris Hawthorne; who had been shot through the head with accuracy they had only seen once before. Luckily for Vincenzo, the duo was able to deduce that the Stranger had returned and was the one that had killed Iris. Moving quickly, they were able to incercept the Stranger moments before he would have assassinated Vincenzo. Their involvement became noted during the 4th Step in the Cult's plan, in which they caused the masses in the city to lose their minds and become hostile toward anyone who resisted. Sombra and James were both respectively closing their stories at the time when mobs of mindless citizens amassed around their doors. Putting on his old mask once more, Sombra remarked that it had been a long time since he had been given a proper chance to use his skills. Sombra met up with James outside his gun store and the two headed for Salzburg Tower.

The next time James and Sombra were seen was during the rescue of Vincenzo, James and The Stranger temporarily teaming up to assist the efforts of the main force while Sombra facilitated their progress from the shadows, cleanly slicing through anyone who intended to hinder them. It was directly after Vincenzo had been saved that the now rather large group split apart again, with James and Sombra moving to take out Dr. Fu Man Chu, rescue Esme, and settle their years-old score.

Assassination of Dr. Fu Man Chu

The details of how the duo managed to eliminate Dr. Fu Man Chu are hazy at best, but it is known that they managed to eliminate their old rival once and for all during the New Empire Crisis.

Tuberculosis and his lost daughter

Following the New Empire Crisis that shattered the peaceful life he had wished for yet again, Sombra decided that it was likely providence wished for him to use the skills he had developed and he decided to travel the world. Though 62 at the time, the old assassin had reason to suspect his skills were still quite sharp. With purpose and vigor in his old heart, the aging assassin set out on a series of small adventures and travels, assisting people he met and enjoying the world. It was during this time that Sombra discovered he had contracted tuberculosis and that a cure was unlikely. Driven mad by grief, Sombra settled in Casablanca until his old friend James McKnabb tracked him down. McKnabb had recieved a message meant for Sombra a while back and relayed it to him; Sombra had a daughter with Isabella and she was nearly ready to become an assassin within the Order of Laughing Skull herself. Despirate not to allow his daughter to live a life stained with blood as he had and hopeful for meaning in his life he asked James to accompany him once more as he set out to return to Spain. He had not been back to Spain in over 30 years.

Return to Spain 

Upon returning to Spain, Sombra and James were able to locate a small dwelling and set themselves up for the days to come. They were able to successfully track down Isabella, who was attempting to replace the current leader of Spain with Sombra's brother; Juan, however he was unable to locate information on his daughter. It wasn't until he decided to involve himself in plot to usurp the throne that he discovered his daughter was the assassin they intended to use to kill the current Prime Minister; Miguel Primo de Rivera. The details of this time are hazy but James and Sombra managed to prevent the assassination, Sombra assassinating the brother that had taken everything from him 50+ years ago and finally moving to confront Isabella. James fought off the Order as Sombra and Isabella engaged in a one on one duel, the aging assassin having to compensate for his illness with superior skill. After a tenuous fight; Sombra was able to stab Isabella in the stomach, she dropped her knives, and he brought her in for one last kiss before slitting her throat. Having just killed the mother of his daughter, his daughter was filled with hatred for her father and cast off his last name, fleeing Spain and seeking a new life for herself. While greatly hurt and dejected by the hate from his daughter, Sombra was overjoyed that she would not have to live the same life he did. He would send her money for the rest of his life, always hoping she might seek him out one day and they might reconsile, as he was never able to give her the entire story as to why he had done what he had done.

James's Revenge

Sombra assisted James McKnabb as he rode for revenge against the powers that had ruined his life and his final confrontation with the Stranger.

Garden and Death

Sombra, now rather old, retired once more just south of Mexico near the old no-longer-cursed Ruin and used his considerable wealth to have a small Ranch built for him. He was known to spend quite a bit of time tending to his garden in his twilight years. His only neighbor was another small manor purchased by James McKnabb, his closest friend. It is not known if Sombra's daughter ever did choose to visit the disease-ridden assassin. His tuberculosis caused him to become hospitalized in 1951, the 89 year old assassin quite impressed with his ability to have lived so long with illness, remarking that he wasn't spot on as a young man with the idea that he could live forever, but that perhaps he was close. Santiago Alfonso Espada Ferdinand Cortez died in 1951 immediately after saying his goodbyes to James. His legacy and skillset have been rumored to be immortal.



                                                                        Skills and Abilities

Sombra was one of the most deadly characters in the multiverse, having the ability to go first in virtually any combat situation and strike numerous times before anyone could react. He was known as the fastest man alive in game for a while due to three natural 20s rolled in a row for initiation. In addition, he had the ability to use pistols with great effecienty, though his preference was clearly knives. His dexterity and lethality were unquestionable and his critial threat range spanned 18-20. He used the style "Beauty and Grace" in combat, which has the following properties.

1: Twin Daggers Expertise

2: Block

3: Grappling Expertise

4: Block / Grapple

5: Block / Strike

6: Catch Weapon

7: Expert Disarm

8: Extra Strike

9: Ground and Pound

10: Enhansed Disarm

11: Break Weapon

12: Catch / Break Weapon

13: Nerve Strike: Stun

14: N.S. Pain

15: N.S. Blind / Deafen

16: N.S. Disable or Remove limb.

17: N.S. Long-Term Nervous System Damage

18: Unarmed Combat Expertise

19: Throw

20: Disengage

In addition, there were certain perks that could be taken while studying Beauty and Grace.

Groups

Sombra was involved in the following groups.
 * The Hawthorne Expidition
 * The Order of the Laughing Skull (Formerly)
 * The New Empire Savoirs
 * The Library Party

Character Themes









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