Sounds interesting, but I think I've been nudged away from that aspect anyway. Otherwise, I'd look into it more. Even still, I don't think its quite what I was looking for. The awakening isn't as important as the means of doing it: pouring magic into sleepers and hope it does something. While forcing them to awaken using life/death situations sounds interesting, its not what I was going for (although now that I think about it, it fits much better with the altered character). By the way, is that actually in Mage? I had thought I'd looked at the legacies...
In any case, I wouldn't have him start as one, especially because of the order requirement. He has mind and time, so if it comes up in game, then he can persue it then.
Also, is your character, or a description thereof, posted on the thread anywhere? I may have just missed it when reading through, but I can't recall him/her.
Here's my sheet so far. Not completely complete, but getting there. Comments welcome.
Juno Reyes
Real Name: Juno Reyes Shadow Name: Concept:
Age: 18 Height: 5'6" Weight: 130 lbs. Hair: Black Eyes: Green
Place of Birth: Albuquerque, New Mexico Relatives: Hector Reyes (Father), Hugo Reyes (Uncle) Mentor: "Papa Chango" (AKA Hugo Reyes) Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Store Clerk Current Residence: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Sounds interesting, but I think I've been nudged away from that aspect anyway.
Upon further consideration, I think the idea is workable. It's not a bad idea for a character, by any means; I was just concerned that he might not jibe with the rest of the group. But since Shayuri's character was Awakened through purposeful action, and Annalist's character is a member of the Silver Ladder (who ostensibly favor Awakening all of mankind), I don't think it'll be much of an issue. Besides, our first chapter will be about bringing you all together in a Cabal, so there will be reasons besides philosophical sympathy for you all to work together.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shayuri
Here's my sheet so far. Not completely complete, but getting there. Comments welcome.
Nice! I really like "Papa Chango" as a Shadow Name for your Uncle Hugo. Is he a member of the Adamantine Arrow, too?
Hee! I will have the full story up soon. Also the 6 "levels" of freebie rotes we start with.
'Papa Chango' is not just his Shadow Name...it's the name he runs his shop under, though not his legal name. One of the weirder things he does is dress up in a Chinese getup and actually has one of those long thin goatee-type mustaches and the whole bit. Then he talks in a fake Chinese accent.
He's pretty obviously a Hispanic guy pretending to be Chinese though.
I suspect he's either Adamantine Arrow or Mysterium...I am still brainstorming him. Suggestions are always welcome.
One of the reasons I'm making Juno so young is to justify her lack of dots in Sanctum and Resources. I do plan on spending early exp on those things, to represent her becoming more independent.
Ruling Arcana: Forces 1, Prime 2 Common Arcana: Space 1, Spirit 2 Inferior Arcanum: Death
Dedicated Magical Tool: Splinter of the True Cross (Pendant) Rote Specialties: Expression, Persuasion, Subterfuge Spirit Rotes:1 dot: Coaxing the Spirits, Exorcist's Eye, Second Sight, Spirit Tongue; 2 dots: Ephemeral Shield
Oblation: Ritual Prayer
Mage Merits: High Speech, Unseen Sense (All) Social Merits: Status (Consilium) 1, Status (Silver Ladder) 1, Striking Looks 2
Character Extras
Shadow Name: Gabriel Concept: Neophyte Spiritualist
I'll be playing Mitchell Ward, a twenty-one year old seminary student working on his Masters degree in Theological Studies at the Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge. He had initially wanted to pursue a career in Law Enforcement, no doubt influenced by the fact that his father is a county sheriff back in their hometown, but plans took an unexpected turn academically when he Awakened a year ago. The days leading up to his Awakening were filled with visions full of religious symbolism - bleeding crucifixes, the reverberating sound of Gregorian chant when there was no one else around, Biblical passages written high in the night sky in fiery script, and more.
As these alien visions increased, things progressed to a point where Mitchell, while walking back to his apartment, stumbled into the closest public building - a church - and passed out in a pew at which time he truly Awakened. And in a moment of chance? or destiny?, he was found by the man who would become his mentor in all things arcane, Father Albert Evans, or, Melchior the Exorcist, as he was known to Boston's Consilium.
Now, faced with more questions than answers, Mitchell has enrolled at the school that Father Evans teaches at to begin his training as a Mage.
(My character is essentially an Obrimos, Silver Ladder Mage working towards joining The Scions of God Legacy.)
Description:
Age: 21 Height: 6'0" Weight: 180 lbs. Hair: Brown Eyes: Blue
Place of Birth: Carlisle, Massachusetts Current Residence: Cambridge, Massachusetts Occupation: Seminary Student (Harvard Divinity School)
Mentor: Melchior the Exorcist (Father Albert Evans, Obrimos/Silver Ladder/The Scions of God) Relatives: Michael Ward (Father/Carlisle County Sheriff), Mary Ward (Mother/Concord-Carlisle High School Teacher), Margaret "Maggie/Mags" Ward (Younger Sister/Junior at Concord-Carlisle High School) Marital Status: Linda "Linnie/Linz/Lin" Wentworth (Girlfriend)
Background: Mitchell had had his life all mapped out. He was going to go into Law Enforcement just like his father, but on a grander scale. After securing his undergraduate degree in psychology within the span of two years, he had planned on attending the FBI Academy at Quantico with the hopes of specializing in criminal profiling. But his unexpected Awakening a little over a year ago changed all of that.
It had first started with sporadic visions full of religious symbolism, such as fiery scripture burning in the night sky. But then the hallucinations began to grow in frequency and intensity until they became too overwhelming. Suffering from a headache so great that he needed to sit down, Mitchell stumbled into the first public building that he could find which happened to be a Church. He passed out in a pew and was later found by a kindly old priest. You are Awake. Those were the first words spoken to him by Father Albert Evans when he had finally regained consciousness. However, it wasn't until much later that he came to realize their dramatic significance.
And now in the present day, with Melchior's continued help and guidance, he has begun to come to terms with his life as a Mage.
Motivation: Since Awakening, Mitchell has become acutely aware of just how dangerous the world can be. The Darkness is real. And he seeks to increase his arcane knowledge so that he'll be equipped as best he can to defend against it.
Academic Goals: Complete Master of Theological Studies Degree Awakened Goals: Continue Melchior's Work Protecting Sleepers from Malevolent Spirits/Join The Scions of God Legacy/Become a Sentinel Personal Goals: Keep Family, Girlfriend, and Friends Safe
Character Complications
Mage-related Complications
Re: First Two Years at Harvard College
Although Mitchell did well in high school, he knows deep down that he's not exactly Harvard-level material. So it's always bugged him in the back of his mind: how he got accepted and how his parents can afford the tuition. However, he's never really broached the subject with them. Yet.
(As far as getting into Harvard Divinity, he assumes that that was Father Evans' doing. And in this case, he's correct.)
The Twist: Michael, Mitchell's father, actually knows the Dean of Admissions, Professor Dale Hamilton, and incidentally also knows Father Albert Evans. It was no coincidence that Father Evans was the one who found Mitchell when he Awakened. However, Mitchell doesn't realize that his father personally knows any of these people.
So how do they all know each other then?
Both Michael and Professor Hamilton are members of the Knights Templar (Magical Traditions, pp. 81-95). And they both believe Father Evans to be a member too, but in reality he's more like their Silver Ladder-appointed chaperone keeping an eye on the group for Awakenings.
Anyway, Mitchell has no inkling of his father's involvement with the Knights Templar. He simply believes that he sometimes goes to Mason lodge meetings, as a sort of social club function. And he figures that since his father's the sheriff, he's just trying to keep a public profile within the community and is using the meetings for exposure.
However, since Mitchell's Awakening, his father has been wanting to "induct" him into the Order but Father Evans has actually been keeping the Knights Templar at bay, for now. At least until he can train Mitchell and establish his foundation of Awakened knowledge before it gets muddled by the doctrines of a Sleeper tradition.
(Mitchell has also always wondered why his father never argued with his decision to drop Quantico in favor of Harvard Divinity. He still believes that he has disappointed him on some level in regards to that, when in actuality his father couldn't be happier with the change of situation.)
Mundane Complications
And just for fun...
Linda "Linnie" Wentworth is Harvard-level material. She's smart, comes from a wealthy New York City (Manhattan) family, and her father is a Harvard Business School alumnus. He's also co-CEO of Wentworth, Prescott, and Montgomery Investment Counsel. And he dislikes Mitchell because he doesn't feel that the boy is good enough for his daughter. "Isn't he studying to become a priest for chrissakes? Why not marry an investment banker?" is something he's always fond of saying to Linda.
And in fact, he keeps trying to set Linda up with his business partner's twenty-five year old son, Kyle Prescott, who works for the company and is an elitist jackass. In other words, Mister Wentworth's ideal son-in-law.
So while Mitchell really isn't in any danger of ever losing Linda to Kyle, it certainly doesn't make visiting her parents any less stressful.
Character Fiction
Higher Calling
The light was on.
It was nearly three in the morning and Mitchell had hoped that he'd be able to sneak into bed unnoticed. But Linda, his girlfriend, never left the light on in their bedroom unless she was still awake. This is not going to be good, he grimaced. Steeling his resolve, he eased open the door and walked in.
There she was, sitting up in bed, the blankets pulled up to her waist, and a wad of crumpled tissues in her clenched fists. She looked up as he entered, her red-rimmed eyes staring at him accusingly. "Where have you been?" she rasped. Her voice was hoarse from all the crying she had done.
Mitchell instinctively raised his hands up in a placating gesture of innocence, "I was just hanging out with the guys. You know, our usual poker night get-together. I'm so sorry that I lost track of time. I meant to be home sooner than this." He really hated lying to her.
"You're lying," she said, knowing him all too well. "Bobby stopped by earlier looking for you. He said that you didn't show up for poker night. What's going on, Mitch? Are you seeing someone else?!"
"No! Of course not," he assured her. But what could he say to explain where he had really been? Certainly not the truth. Linnie, I was with my Theology Professor all evening. You know, Father Evans. Not only is he my teacher but he's also an honest-to-God Exorcist. Like in the movies but with better lighting. And at his request, which I couldn't say no to, I had to assist him with performing an actual exorcism ritual tonight. Because evil spirits are real and they really do possess people.
Yeah, he definitely couldn't tell her the truth. At least not that truth.
"Then where were you?" Linda persisted. She was still angry but her face had softened just a bit.
"I can't tell you," he answered honestly. "Not because I don't want to but because I'm trying to protect you. The less you know the safer you are. I know you only have my word for it, but I promise you that that is the truth." Trying to reconcile his mundane life with his Awakened one was quickly becoming a monumental task. One that Mitchell wasn't sure he was prepared to handle.
But sometimes, loved ones were capable of surprising you. "I believe you," she whispered. "But I want to protect you too. I don't want anything bad to ever happen to you. Promise me that you're not involved with anything illegal, like drugs, or something worse."
"No, Linnie. It's nothing like that at all. I swear. It's like," he fumbled for the right words, "...a higher calling. I'm just out there trying to help those people who aren't able to help themselves." He knew that it was a woefully inadequate explanation, but his girlfriend seemed to grudgingly accept it, for now.
Important NPCs
Real Name: Albert Evans Nickname: Father Evans, Professor Evans Shadow Name: Melchior
Just an update on my character, so I don't loose it, and also so other people won't miss it as easily.
I've started on an image of my character... a medical forensics examiner (mutable point) who is inducted into the Guardians of the Veil, but doesn't fit in as well as hoped. Mentored by a member of the Faceless, whom he never finds out what his name nor his actual appearance, face, or personality is (although he has suspicions). Understands the purpose and the necessity of the Veil and other distasteful aspects of the Guardians, but feels they try too hard to cover up too much purely for the reason of covering it up. Disliked for being a Guardian in the first place (and can't be trusted in another Order 'cause he could be a mole), and shunned by fellow Guardians because of his interest/contacts in the Eleventh Question, he's a hot potato who ended up in Boston's newest cabal because no one else really wants him and the new cabal either can't afford to or straight out can't say no.
-------------------------
To give my nameless character a little more detail at his current stage of life, he was, as said above, mentored by one of the Faceless, a faction of the Guardians of the Veil infamous for being able to become literally anyone, so much so, that they themselves become nobody - people with a neutral state of a hodgepodge of assumed personalities clobbered together into a pseudo-functioning state until he/she has a reason to stay in character. Now imagine that there is an entire cabal of these people, who regularly show up in your life as friends and family. In addition, these people have a tendency to violate minds, either by lifting memories from those they are impersonating, or heading straight to the source if they are good enough to get away with it (Read the Depths - Breach the Vault of Memory - and the first thing you forget is the fact you are being attacked mentally). And even if he manages to figure out if someone isn't who they say/seem to be (by throwing up a higher potency Mage Sight than the veiling in question and/or a good Gnosis + Mind roll while you have a Mental Shield up), there is no way to actually know who is talking to you (because with spells like Imposter, you don't get to see who is behind the mask without taking down the spell first - and even if you do have the Prime to dispel it, these people are Subtle Ones [MtAwk 352], and their Legacy attainments can't be dispelled).
Needless to say, he has developed a healthy (for a Guardian) sense of paranoia, while his more mundane social skills have atrophied at the same time. Many of his relationships have also suffered, irreparably at times, as he rants and raves at people with false memories, false expectations, and growing sense of isolation as he never quite knows when the next face he sees isn't another Veil. In response, he has grown more composed and reserved, carefully choosing his words and considering their impact before responding. On the other hand, he has drawn up his sense of ethics as one of the grounding principals in his newly awakened life, and the Eleventh Question's dedication to the truth attracts him. By the start of the story, he may or may not have made a Vow of Truthfulness.
---------------------
PS. Tellah, if you want to discuss some of the inspirations and roots of my character, PM me.
__________________ I hate to interrupt, but I believe we're being followed. The Mimes on the street corner. No, don't look. ~ Mycroft, Broken Diamond
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Upon further consideration, I think the idea is workable.
Alright, I refixed the story to put it back in. That being said, what do you think of the legacy? I would be happy to use the other, since it fits with the hatchet idea i have going, but I as of now, I lack the book, and can't say for sure if it fits. That said, I'm happy to change or remove the theoretical fourth attainment, because it is rather much. But the other two I really liked, along with the oblation (is that what the ritual for mana is called?). Its fine if you say no, but I want the character to build up to either, so I'd prefer to have an answer before we start.
Annalist, where do you find those pictures? Do you just image search and pick ones you like?
Annalist, where do you find those pictures? Do you just image search and pick ones you like?
Yeah, I just use Google Image Search. Depending on the character, I'll try to think of what he or she looks like in my head, then search using an appropriate actor's or actress' name. It's worked like a charm so far, and once I find a pic that I like, I just crop and/or resize it as needed.
Who's Who
Mitchell Ward = Chace Crawford
Father Albert Evans = Rutger Hauer
Linda Wentworth = Alona Tal
Michael Ward = Dennis Quaid
Mary Ward = Sela Ward
Margaret Ward = Lucy Hale
And I have pics of Jessica Alba that I'm dying to use. I just have to come up with a NPC that can do her justice.
Oh man, I really want to make a Banisher who looks like Harrison Ford come chasing after your mentor! You have a real eye for these character portraits--I hope my own NPCs will measure up!
Quote:
Originally Posted by magic_gathering2001
That being said, what do you think of the legacy? ....I'm happy to change or remove the theoretical fourth attainment, because it is rather much. But the other two I really liked, along with the oblation...
I think the legacy is balanced and will work for your character concept. The fourth attainment, making a Sleepwalker, is powerful, but I think it will take us quite a long time to get that far, so if it needs changing we'll decide on that later. The oblation is really cool, but to be honest I usually use oblations as a background, downtime activity. I'll try to remember to get you some mileage out of it, though, because it's a novel and fun idea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueLotus
woot! I got the book today. I'll be pouring over the material and I'll try to refine Sandra and post an updated version of her ASAP.
Excellent! Feel free to post any questions you have here or in PMs. If you need a primer on the basic rules found in the core rulebook, there's a PDF of introductory rules for Mage on White Wolf's website: http://download.white-wolf.com/downl...hp?file_id=395
Oh man, I really want to make a Banisher who looks like Harrison Ford come chasing after your mentor!
I was actually torn between using either Gabriel Byrne or Rutger Hauer for Father Evans' look. But it was catching a rerun of Blade Runner on TV that nudged my decision in Rutger's favor. I'm pretty happy with the choice, although Gabriel Byrne in priestly attire (such as in Stigmata) would have also worked well.
I think the legacy is balanced and will work for your character concept. The fourth attainment, making a Sleepwalker, is powerful, but I think it will take us quite a long time to get that far, so if it needs changing we'll decide on that later. The oblation is really cool, but to be honest I usually use oblations as a background, downtime activity. I'll try to remember to get you some mileage out of it, though, because it's a novel and fun idea.
Alright, I'll put up the other attainment once I think of it. Actually, if anyone has any ideas that would help, but if not I'll come up with something.
As for the oblation, at the very least, its a way to roleplay that aspect of the character without taking too severe a penalty more than anything else. That is to say, Joseph will probably make an opportunity to do so, even if you do not explicitly include it in the story. If you roleplay downtime at all, there's that, but there are uses for it regardless I think. After all, sleeper rituals are certainly a place where you can gather unusual information that a sleeper may have overheard or seen, even if they don't know its significance. Not that I'm complaining if you want to incorporate it into the campain or anything.
On a completely unrelated note, what is the punishment for overstepping your ranks in arcana when improvising? Does it cost mana, cause a paradox, fail entirely, some combination thereof, or something else entirely?
After all, sleeper rituals are certainly a place where you can gather unusual information that a sleeper may have overheard or seen, even if they don't know its significance. Not that I'm complaining if you want to incorporate it into the campain or anything.
Oh, I'll definitely find a way to use it in service of the story, no worries there. I just haven't quite thought of it yet.
My girlfriend has informed me that I have a (bad?) habit of thinking out loud and writing things just to make up my own mind on the subject. My comments on your Legacy specifically and character concept more generally were of that variety; I put my thoughts out there, publicly, in an attempt to better know my own mind on the subject. Know that I am not trying to dissuade you from taking your character in any direction you please. I'm making up my mind on how to include the character in the story, and I'm making that thought-process transparent. This is usually a sign that you've brought me something to think about, which is definitely good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by magic_gathering2001
On a completely unrelated note, what is the punishment for overstepping your ranks in arcana when improvising? Does it cost mana, cause a paradox, fail entirely, some combination thereof, or something else entirely?
Rules Lawyer Answer: As far as the rules are concerned, dots in Arcana are an upper limit on what you can attempt, so if I were parsing the rulebook as a logical function, I'd have to say "null/does not compute." Attempting to cast a spell despite not having enough ranks to cast it just cannot be done. Solarious might be able to give a more satisfying or correct answer to this; s/he has clearly read more deeply in Mage than I have, enthusiastic as I am for the system.
Oh, I'll definitely find a way to use it in service of the story, no worries there. I just haven't quite thought of it yet.
I'll look foreward to it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hella_Tellah
... I'm making up my mind on how to include the character in the story, and I'm making that thought-process transparent. This is usually a sign that you've brought me something to think about, which is definitely good.
Alright I'll try to remember that for next time. I've just always taken everything on a forum at face value, cause its so difficult to imply emotion reliably. I'm glad I gave you something to think about though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hella_Tellah
Rules Lawyer Answer: As far as the rules are concerned, dots in Arcana are an upper limit on what you can attempt, so if I were parsing the rulebook as a logical function, I'd have to say "null/does not compute." Attempting to cast a spell despite not having enough ranks to cast it just cannot be done. Solarious might be able to give a more satisfying or correct answer to this; s/he has clearly read more deeply in Mage than I have, enthusiastic as I am for the system.
Thats what I was thinking, but with improvised (read using the creative thaumatergy or whatever the name of it is) spellcasting, we won't know until after the spell is cast.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hella_Tellah
Storyteller Answer: Try it and see what happens.
I guess I'll find out... Joseph will probably do it at least once before he learns his lesson.
We're pretty close to done with recruiting now, although we're still taking applications. Here's an update on everyone's status:
Application Statuses (Stati? Do I get to be a Latin geek when it's a Mage game? I think I do.) Here's where everyone stands on their applications. Remember, get them in and complete by Thursday at midnight to join!
Annalist
Character sheet: complete
Character concept: complete Writing sample: complete
BlueLotus Character sheet: complete (that is, if you want to use the "translation" I did)
Character concept: complete Writing sample: complete
magic_gathering2001 Character sheet: complete
Character concept: complete Writing sample: complete
Shayuri Character sheet: complete (except for a shadow name)
Character concept: complete Writing sample: complete
Solarious Character sheet: not yet submitted
Character concept: complete Writing sample: complete
Walking Dad Character sheet: nearly complete
Character concept: complete Writing sample: not yet submitted
Don't get the impression that, once submitted, your character is set in stone. I usually let people in my real-life games fiddle with their character sheets for the first two sessions, so you folks are welcome to move and change things freely within the first week. Just get something we can run with for now.
Cabal Stuff Here's what we have on the Cabal so far: Name: The Midnight Vigil? Shadow Hunters? Shadow Seekers? Location: Cambridge (so far this is the consensus, at least) Great Rights: Right of Crossing - 2 Yes
Right of Emeritus - 1 No, 1 Maybe
Right of Hospitality - 2 Yes
Right of Nemesis - 2 No
Right of Sanctuary - 2 Yes
This makes for an odd-sounding cheer but, "Hooray, the end* is near!"
This might be an odd question (irregardless of the fact that it has little to do with the quoted text, but when is november 13? and when is midnight in GMT? (I can't figure out/am not motivated enough to change it...)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annalist
*In reference to the chargen deadline, and not the biblical Armageddon. 'Cause that would be bad.
I don't know about that. After all, it would make a great 10 minute story to tell all of the other dead before you all get resurrected. And it would be a great I told you so moment.
This might be an odd question (irregardless of the fact that it has little to do with the quoted text, but when is november 13? and when is midnight in GMT? (I can't figure out/am not motivated enough to change it...)
For me, it's midnight tomorrow. That would be 8AM GMT on Friday...I think.
When I was studying abroad in Spain, I had an awful habit of calling people back home in the wee hours of the morning, so bad was I at converting time zones! I can explain the economic trends and policy decisions that lead to the fall of the Spanish Empire, but an eight hour time change flies straight over my head.
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