Ishmael
"A man of few words and violent, decisive action, Ishmael's keen mind and emotionless personality make him a dangerous man to cross. His command of the dark arts is greater than any of the other Chosen, and he uses that power and knowledge to decimate anyone who opposes him. His enemies die suddenly, and horrifically, usually having little or no chance to fight back. Those that do find that Ishmael has the distinct ability to counter almost any attack. If he has a weakness it is on his dependence on his magic, which has caused many of his other skills to atrophy."
--Blood II: The Chosen Website
Ishmael is one of the four Chosen. He is recognized as the most intelligent of the four and specializes in the dark arts, eschewing conventional weapons. He and Ophelia are the only ones with the magic capacity to use The Orb's alt-fire. He was voiced by Mike Shapiro.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early Years
Little is known of Ishmael's early life, except that he at one time played "Jo-Jo, the Idiot Circus Boy". He mentions that he had engaged in cult work beforehand, though for which cult was left unsaid. We do know that it was after he lost such employment that he was forced into the joining circus. He originally took pride in his job, until the abuse and general humiliation of being a circus freak turned him into an emotional wreck.
During this time he received a message from Tchernobog through a picture in his dressing room, commanding him to kill the circus staff and come to his side, telling him that there was "much work to do". Ishmael escaped the circus, killing many of its inhabitants and workers, and through his devoted service rose to become one of the Chosen, the elite generals of the dark god Tchernobog and the evil cult Cabal.
[edit] Betrayal and Death
Sometime between 1871 and 1928, Tchernobog summoned the four Chosen to the Hall of Epiphany, Tchernobog's chamber. Instead of giving them orders as the Chosen had expected, Tchernobog told them that they had failed him, stating that he disavowed them all. The four were stunned as Tchernobog sent his lieutenants to take the Chosen out one by one. Ishmael was set on fire and then eaten by Cerberus. After his resurrection, Caleb would later avenge his friend's death by slaying Cerberus, and blowing up his carcass into pieces with remote-control detonators.
[edit] Resurrection and the Ancient One Invasion
More than a hundred years after his death, Ishmael himself becomes resurrected in another faulty attempt to kill Caleb using the Singularity Generator by Gideon and his companions. Ishmael seems to be the only one that understands what's going on, being the only one truly knowledgeable of the responsibilities of The One that Binds and of the growing rifts between the worlds.
He tells Caleb that another reality is forcing it's way into ours, and that Caleb is the only one that can stop it, since he inherited the dimensional binding power after he killed Tchernobog. Ishmael appears numerous times, warning Caleb that it is his responsibility to seal the rifts, as well as to inform him that Ophelia is being held at Gideon's Temple. He and the other Chosen eventually reunite on the other side of the rift after the defeat of the the Ancient One.
[edit] The Nightmare
During their journey back home, the four Chosen stop at a campfire and tell ghost stories. Ishmael tells of the time he escaped from the circus, as well as revealing that he also likes weenies and marshmallows.
