Mage: The Awakening - OOC Planning Thread

[Committed Hero]

Cheryl Angelica "Angel" Jensen

Path: Thrysus
Order: Mysterium

Background

The only daughter of a doctor and county executive, Angel grew up in an affluent Boston suburb. She quickly became accustomed to having things go her way. Still, by the time she was a senior in high school she had quite an impressive list of accomplishments, including captain of both the debate and cross country teams. She is currently an underclassman studying pre-law.

Personality

As she matured, Angel was not above using her considerable powers of persuasion to get her way. But she places a distinction between others doing her favors and asking for help; to her, the latter is a sign of weakness. Despite struggling somewhat in college, she is too proud to ask for help from fellow students.

In contrast, she is quick to help others in need, if she feels she has the capability. This is what drew her to law school: the possibility to be an advocate for others.

Appearance

Angel received the benefit of her father's Nordic attractiveness and mother's Oriental mystique; as such she is not beautiful so much as distinctive. Sometimes this works to her disadvantage, making her seem aloof and even haughty.

Attributes

Intelligence: ●●
Wits: ●●
Resolve: ●●

Strength: ●●
Dexterity: ●●
Stamina: ●●●

Presence: ●●●●
Manipulation: ●●
Composure: ●●● (+1 for Favored Resistance)

Abilities

Mental
-Academics ●
-Computer
-Crafts
-Investigation ●
-Medicine
-Occult ●
-Politics ●
-Science

Physical
-Athletics ●●●●● (distance running)
-Brawl
-Drive ●
-Firearms
-Larceny
-Stealth
-Survival
-Weaponry

Social
-Animal Ken
-Empathy ●
-Expression ●●●
-Intimidation ● (cross-examination)
-Persuasion ●●● (motivational speaking)
-Socialise ●
-Streetwise
-Subterfuge ●●

Advantages

Defence: 2
Health: 8
Initiative: 4
Morality: 7
Size: 5
Speed: 9
Willpower: 4
Gnosis: 1

Virtue: Charity
Vice: Pride

Merits

Striking Looks ●●
Iron Stamina ●
Inspiring ●●●●

Arcana

Fate ●●
Life ●
Spirit ●●

 

[Tokiwong]

Looks good don't forget your rotes

 

[Lichtenhart]

Isn't she missing a dot in Arcana? Other than that she looks good. I like that we all have completely different Virtue/vice pairings. Mine will be Fortitude/Wrath.

Toki, should we figure out a common theme to our awakenings? Did they happen at the same time? What brought our little cabal together?

Now what do we do about the paths? My char doesn't really work as anything but an Obrimos, so I can't help you. Are two Thyrsus acceptable, are they different enough? Is there any chance Angel could work as an Acanthus too?

 

[Tokiwong]

Toki, should we figure out a common theme to our awakenings? Did they happen at the same time? What brought our little cabal together?

Your awakenings don't have to have a common thread, but definitely put some thought into how the cabal came together, they don't have to have a name yet and with an apostate member would probably not be fully recognized yet...

Now what do we do about the paths? My char doesn't really work as anything but an Obrimos, so I can't help you. Are two Thyrsus acceptable, are they different enough? Is there any chance Angel could work as an Acanthus too?

Two Thyrsus are fine, abit limiting in scope but there are so many concepts that they could work together without problem, but I would suggest with so few in he cabal that each one take their own path to cover more abilities... but they can work.

 

[Shayuri]

Well, it seems likely that Lichtenhart's character was Allison's "doorway" into the larger world of the Awakened. I hadn't given much thought to notions of a mentor... Maybe one of Gramsey's friends? I'm open to suggestions.

Also, I'll be tweaking my arcana...moving a dot out of Spirit and into either Space or Prime. So there shouldn't be TOO much overlap. I won't know as much Spirit as the other Thyrsus, and she won't know as much Life as me...

 

[Tokiwong]

Well, it seems likely that Lichtenhart's character was Allison's "doorway" into the larger world of the Awakened. I hadn't given much thought to notions of a mentor... Maybe one of Gramsey's friends? I'm open to suggestions.

Well you can have Litchenhart's character be the doorway to real awakened society whihc would make Allison a true random element and at the center of a bidding war to get her into one of the Orders and some distrust, since she has not chosen an Order... this could be a fun subplot. But the characters part of the Pentacle Orders definitely need a Master, you don't need the Mentor merit, but they should ave had someone that trained them in the Mysteries and the facets of their order

Also, I'll be tweaking my arcana...moving a dot out of Spirit and into either Space or Prime. So there shouldn't be TOO much overlap. I won't know as much Spirit as the other Thyrsus, and she won't know as much Life as me...

That sounds fine to me.

 

[Tokiwong]

James Cove

The town of James Cove is a quiet coastal New England town, with a rich colonial history. During the school year James Cove University increases the population by about five thousand to six thousand students; the town also makes a healthy living on tourism and fishing. The sprawling town has many secrets, most mundane but some are quite incredible indeed.

The Awakened community is small and prefers to keep things quiet in James Cove; the Consilium is a quiet entity that does not interfere in most affairs outside of those that affect the community at large. Officially there are six cabals that make up the Consilium in the region.

James Cove Cabals

The Galactic Order: A Free Council cabal of science fiction aficionados, at least that is what the other cabals believe. They are a friendly bunch, but not respected by the Consilium at large for their esoteric focus on the stars and the mysteries of the Universe. They also spend many hours pouring over science fiction novels, television series, and movies searching for supernal truths hidden the allegories of Science Fiction. Their leader of sorts is a thickly set woman; Starbuck is her shadow name, an Acanthus with modest skill. The Cabal numbers in four total and they don’t get too involved with the politics of the Consilium. They maintain their sanctum and hallow at the University Observatory, which is located outside the town, proper.

Order of the Wyvern: An old cabal that has deep roots in the region, the Order of the Wyvern has traditionally been a Guardian of the Veil cabal with loose ties to the Boston Consilium. The Order is fairly traditional and maintains constant vigilance on all things supernatural in the town, and a particular eye on The Galactic Order, who they feel may be the most likely group to reveal secrets to Sleepers. Janus is the leader of the Order and its public face to the other cabals when needed. He is fairly accomplished Master and well versed in the ways of the Mastigos. This cabal numbers in five, but the other four members wear masks at all times to hide their identities.

Sisters of Supernal Wisdom: The cabal of the current Hierarch, Ishtar, is a mixed cabal dominated by the genteel though somewhat ruthless Silver Ladder Thyrsus mage. She leads the trio with a soft though guiding hand, there was a fourth member; but she passed on just last year of natural causes. Ishtar maintains the legacy of her master, and simply tries to keep the peace and maintain god relations with their neighbors in Boston. Ishtar simply tries to keep the peace; she is no the most powerful mage in the region, but definitely an accomplished master in her own right. The cabal is also all female, one of the tenets set down by Ishtar’s master.

Project Eclipse: A Mysterium dominated cabal that embraces the modern techniques of research and field study. They have amicable relations with the Sisters, and are fairly active in the James Cove awakened community. They have clashed with the Order of the Wyvern on occasion, but only on matters dealing with protecting and securing awakened artifacts of a sensitive nature. Two brothers dominate the cabal of six members, nominally the largest official cabal in the Consilium. Luther is the elder brother, a Moros of considerable power; while his younger brother by two years is Martin, an Obrimos with considerable knowledge of Atlantean lore and High Speech. They run the cabal together, and are visible members in the community enjoying the seclusion the small coastal ton provides for their research and field work. Members of the cabal are often abroad on field work, so there usually there is only two to three members at any one time at their sanctum.

Dark Covenant: A young cabal of new mages, most of them awakened for no more then perhaps a year at most. They are typically self-described outsiders, and are not too involved in Consilium politics. They are typically looked down upon as miscreants and malcontents by the more established cabals but thankful they have not done anything yet to bring down real trouble on their heads. The nominal leader is a gothic yet charismatic outsider named Lestat, a Mastigos of the Silver Ladder. Dark Covenant also does double duty as a gothic metal band, with a growing following of fans especially among the disaffected students of the university.

Witching Hour: A traditional order of mages who have had a presence in James Cove for nearly two centuries. Their leader, an old and powerful Adamantine Arrow master, Burning Rose leads the cabal by his action, wisdom, and knowledge. He is perhaps the most powerful mage in the city and is rapidly approaching he end of his journey in this life. A sentinel in his younger years he has passed that torch to his protégé and student, Crash, a young and brash Obrimos of the same order. Only time will tell if he will live up to the legacy of his mentor. It is said that the Witching Hour guards a powerful secret that is pivotal to their founding and role in James Cove.

 

[Lichtenhart]

Toki: our mentors would reasonably be those prominent members of the Consilium, minor members of our own design or rather outsiders?

My char's (I know I am working quite slowly, but I am shaping him up) wouls still be rather new to the scene, even if not so much as Allison, and while formally enlisting himself with the Free Council, his choice was based more on a personal interpretation of the visions of his Awakening and the role and responsibilities that came with that, rather than true conviction. Also, he would have respectfully refused the offers (if offers came at all) to join the established cabals, needing time to think of himself and his perceived mission before deciding.
Could a member of those cabals, especially another Obrimos (one that understands the feeling of being on a divine mission) be a mentor for my char, even if with training they both would realize that he would be better suited for another order? I am thinking of Martin, but maybe you see him differently.


Shayuri: As an Obrimos, I would be naturally well versed in Prime. Space would perhaps be a nicer addition to our cabal, but go on with whatever better fit your concept.

 

[Tokiwong]

You can use the prominent members or even flesh out oher members of the respective cabals, or perhaps there masters are elsehwre from another city... I leave that open to the characters

 

[Shayuri]

Pnuema...I see you are correct, Lichtenhart. My concept doesn't really require any particular field of magic. Any combination of arcanum can fit the basic style of the character. And Space would work well.

So! A little more tweaking, and I should be ready to post V2.0 of the sheet.

Toki...one thing my brain is hanging up on is the contradictory notion of a character who is newly Awakened having a mentor. Thus far, I have only a few possible scenarios in mind to explain it, and they seem kind of...deus ex machiney to me. They all assume that Allison's granmama was Awakened herself (pretty much has to be if the library has a super-secret Batcave in it .

1) Awakened friend of grammy comes over and helps Allison out for awhile. Since he or she's not native to the area, there's no formal intro to the Counsilium for Allie just yet. Only to the Mysteries of magehood.

2) Lichten's Obrimos IS the mentor. A classic case of the one-eyed man being king in the land of the blind.

3) The Superman option. Grammy left some kind of posthumous construct/interactive recording/simulacra behind to give Allison the basics, keyed to activate when Allison entered the sanctum. Since the key to the sanctum is designed to work only for awakened, this would ensure that she doesn't get "educated" too soon.

4) Similar to 3, but a little less corny. Maybe Gramms had a Familiar. Her death freed it, but it acceded to her last wish and stayed behind to educate Allison. Once that was done, it moved on. Alternatively, maybe Allison inherited it (if I buy a familiar ).

5) Along the same lines, perhaps the knowledge of the mentor is stored in an object or artifact (which I then buy). This would actually be interesting...a sentient "spellbook" perhaps, or similar, which can tutor her in the ways of magic.

So! Any thoughts about which of these might be especially appropriate or inappropriate given the style, tone, and scope of the game?

Thanks!