Barrett

Phantom Crew

Bloody robots Ben thought, scowling at ANDI's interface. Who gave that thing the right to keep me here? He'd never been one to move before he knew what was what, however, and decided to check the rest of the ship out before drawing any conclusion. As he was about to leave the room, Rain started talking. The best? Bah, I've seen pilots who could fly circles around her, I don't doubt. Still, it's good to be confident. When she was done, he gave a shrug. "I wouldnae want to make any claims so bold as being the best pilot there ever was but I'd say I'm fair good to have in a scrap, so long as I'm on your side. Yon computer says we'll be docking in three hours, so I suggest everyone acquaint themselves with the ship then suit up and warm up."

With that, he walked out and made for what was 'his' room. Arriving in it was... strange. Ben had a sense that he'd been here before but couldn't place any of the details. The little cabin was spartan, with no more comforts than a bed, a desk and a chair. The rest of the room was taken up with exercise machines; dumbbells, a chin-up bar, a balance board. All were serviceable and well used though Ben didn't recognise them. On the desk sat a stylus and some paper, alongside a set of tools Ben definitely remembered. The box contained his maintenance gear, a collection of tools, specialised and otherwise, for repairing and maintaining everything he owned. There were needles, thread, polish, brushes, screws, tweezers, sprays and an array of clothes for a myriad of different uses. With this kit he could keep his guns in pristine condition, his boots sealed and tough, his clothes thick and warm and his mind in good shape. Nothing helped soothe the agitation of purposelessness than caring for something he owned. Even looking at the kit now, he could feel some of his frustration at the mysteriousness of his current situation melting away.

Can't stand around doing nothing all the live long day he thought with a sigh. First things first, he reclaimed all the small holdout weapons he liked to have concealed on his person, all of which had been carefully laid out in one of the desk drawers. Knife, pistol, knife, flashbang, knife, grenade, knife. All slotted away into different places in his suit and boots. With them equipped, he felt considerably more self assured. Anyone attempting to put him away in cryo-sleep again would have another thing coming. Secondly, he decided to make a few... precautions. Selecting a suitable blade, he went back to the cryo chamber and concealed it within his pod, near the floor. It wasn't immediately obvious to the naked eye but a quick search of the pod would reveal it. He'd have to hope they were less thorough about searching the pods than they would be about his searching his clothes.

Next stop, the armoury. Despite living his entire life surrounded by them and using them constantly to great effect, Ben wasn't particularly fond of guns. People thought of them as symbols of power and might, as things that instantly made your problems smaller. In old Ben's experience, guns mostly just brought a whole new world of problems with them. Still, he wasn't going to let some silly self examination stop him from examining the contents of the armoury. Stepping inside, he immediately knew one thing; whoever paid for this ship was loaded. There was everything; breaching charges, assault shotguns, laceration mines, sniper rifles, tear gas, rail guns. And in the corner, leaning against a wall, Ben's constant companion; Nessie. A treasured assault rifle, Nessie was one of the few guns still in common use to fire solid slugs rather than lasers or plasma. Of course, she didn't just shoot lead, her bullets were hollow-points containing small explosive packages that could blow the head of a rhino. Still, Ben always felt a twinge of superiority when laser guns fizzled and failed but Nessie kept on blazing away.

Quickly moving through a few routine checks, such as snapping back the slide and adjusting the sights, Ben spoke aloud to the ship computer. "ANDI, you there? I want to know a wee bit more about this 'research station' and who will be on it. I'm no going to go into a firefight blind, d'ya ken?"

The Grim Crusade [Warhammer 30,000 RP]

I have already given @Yennefer's additions a look, they're good by me.

And it's worth reminding everyone that all those of us who thought our legion sheets were complete need to add two more categories, one small, one big; Legion strength (just a couple of words) and Dramatis Personae (a whole lot of words). Every legion needs a least a handful of named important NPCs, like company captains and veteran astartes. The details are in the legion sheet template on the first post in the OOC.

The Grim Crusade [Warhammer 30,000 RP]

@BCTheEntity
It has happened in the cannon but they're always weaker than your average space marines. I think several of the Dark Angel senior command around the time of the Heresy were old friends of the Lion from his childhood. I may be wrong though...

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Jedi Templar (ACCEPTING)

Grevious actually wasn't force sensitive, I believe. He was just so heavily modified, so angry and so skilled he could compete with Jedi at their own game.

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Jedi Templar (ACCEPTING)

@Overlord24
I'd also advise making him either older or bumping him from Knight. Being a Knight before roughly 25 years of age is pretty exceptional, given the amount of training and ordeals that a prospective Jedi has to go through. Being an apprentice is a different character in some ways but gives a nice angle for interaction with another character.

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Jedi Templar (ACCEPTING)

@Overlord24
@Zeroth
I agree with pretty much everything here, couldn't have said any of it better myself. No one wants to discourage characters but this one feels both underdone and like it needs a bit of work to be less gary stu.

Character Sheets, old and new!

Andronicus Griffiths-Hopkins

Andronicus Griffiths-Hopkins

---

---

---

Basic Information

| Name |

Andronicus 'Andy' Griffiths-Hopkins

| Date of Birth |

12th October 1997

| Gender |

Male

| Sexuality |

Homosexual

| In-Depth Appearance |

Standing at around average height, Andy tends to slouch a bit so most people think of him as small. He doesn't mind and has, in fact, taken steps to make sure that image of him is reinforced in people's minds. He sometimes deliberately wears jumpers a size too big or makes sure to look down at his feet, all to make sure he seems non-threatening. Apart from that, he likes warm clothes in a variety of colours, sometimes following styles and sometimes whatever's comfortable. He smiles often and laughs loudly, not afraid of seeming silly or of embarrassing himself or others.

---

---

---

---

---

---

Who Am I?

| Personality |

♦ Intelligent ♦ Manipulative ♦ Caring ♦ Lazy ♦

Given his upbringing, Andy would say he's come out pretty well. He's not a heartless monster, he doesn't see people as chess pieces to be sacrificed and he's never once talked someone into committing suicide. As Andy might say, he'll talk someone into giving him the last cookie but hurting others is where he draws the line, much to his father's frustration. Where his parents have missed a trick, however, is that they never quite understood that frustrating them was one of Andy's favourite outlets for his own anguish. As an only child who almost never saw his parents, a combination of anger at them and a desire for their attention caused him to have an almost pathological need to not meet their expectations.

As a person, Andy might not seem unique. There's one child in every class who is smarter than their fellows and never lets anyone forget it, not even for an instant. And upon first inspection, it would be easy to think that's who he is. A more careful study shows that, on the contrary, Andy does everything he can to make everyone forget how intelligent he is. For if people realised that their hand movements and sighs telegrapher their mood and intentions to him, they would probably be much less willing to talk to him. Thanks to his parents, Andy has inherited a dangerous ability to read people and use what he sees along with a tactical mindset that searches every situation for the optimal advantage and the most vulnerable pressure points. His skill at hiding this is incredibly important to him, because who wants to talk when they think they're being analysed or be friends with a user of people? No, better to keep some things hidden.

Of course, there's also the matter that Andy is incredibly lazy. As much as his parents have defined him, both through intention and inadvertently, they never managed to pass on their towering ambition. The name Andronicus is split between the meanings 'man' and 'victory' but Andy was content to drag his heels through school, party on the weekend and wander home to be reprimanded for the hickeys and the smell of smoke. "No ambition!" his father would storm, as his mother looked in silent judgment. But another part of their son they didn't understand was Andy's view of people. Where his father saw forces to be manipulated and his mother saw pieces to be positioned, Andy sees unique works of art, each one subtly different from the next and all beautiful in their impermanence. Occasionally he's tried to explain to others how incredible it is to watch someone until you understand them, the gaze into them until you can almost see yourself reflected. Whether Andy genuinely cares for people or just hates to see something so sublime ruined is hard to say, even for him, but it's safe to say he is more nurturing and kind than his parents will ever approve of.

---

---

---

---

---

---

| Likes & Dislikes |

✔ Happiness and the sound of laughter.
✔ Sweet things and sugary treats.
✔ Hot chocolate, marshmallows optional.
✔ Cooking and baking.
✔ Any game that is reaction based, he generally loses.
✔ 80s Action films, the cheesier the better.
✔ TV shows, the longer the better.
✔ Smoking, it annoys his parents.
✔ Drinking, it doubly annoys them.
✔ Telling people what to do and seeing them do it.

✘ Salty snacks, salty foods and salty drinks.
✘ Bad characterisation in fiction.
✘ Tactical games, he never loses.
✘ Having to clean up after cooking or baking.
✘ Insects, they're horrifying and irritating.
✘ People not prepared to listen to him.
✘ Having to play people to get them to listen to him.
✘ Being called Andronicus

---

---

---

---

---

---

| History |

Growing up is difficult for everyone. Rich, poor, smart, dumb, no one has an easy time navigating the pitfalls of childhood or the traps of adolescence. And, as Philip Larkin once said, they fuck you up, your mum and dad. In the case of Andronicus (no one but his father calls him that, everyone else uses Andy at Andy's express request), his parents could hardly have done a better job with the fucking up. As two people with towering ambition and incredible abilities, they decided that a child could be the perfect instrument to combine their two skill sets and further their legacy. So when he was born, George named him Andronicus and told him the world could be his. As soon as Andy could talk, the training began. It wasn't physically gruelling or abusive but it was constant, inescapable. Every interaction he had with anyone not his parents was assessed, graded and critiqued. Before he could properly walk, he knew how to persuade other children to let him have the toys he wanted without hitting them.

What was difficult for Andy was that the only contact he had with his parents was in the context of these examinations. They never played games with him, never took him to the park or told him stories. At first, he craved their attention and worked hard to get it through success on their terms. He studied psychology manuals, the art of war and every significant treatise on how to bend others to one's will written in the last few hundred years. He practised cons, tricks, characters, strategies and anything he thought might impress his parents. There's another saying though; the reward for digging the biggest hole is a wider shovel. Every accomplishment seemed to bring only more work and less face time with his parents. Andy was not to know that their plans, and those of the Syndicate, were accelerating and required them to be still more active in their various arenas. Had he known, he probably wouldn't have cared. All he saw was that no matter what he did, his parents didn't seem to care.

So he went in the opposite direction. If success wouldn't please them, he'd make them pay attention through thoroughly refuting all their lessons. Instead of careful interaction and long term planing, Andy did his best to live in the moment and react instinctually. He made friends and enemies quickly, getting drunk in the middle of the day and running from school whenever he felt like it. Needless to say, his parents were appalled and not just because of his activities. His antics were bad enough but what was more distressing to them was that he was now too well trained in both their strategies for manipulation that he could see them coming. For the first time in a long time, both George and Linda had to talk to someone without being sure what they were thinking. Predictably, it did not go well. Their attempts to put Andy back on the straight and narrow (from their perspective, anyway) did nothing more than push him farther away from it.

Unsurprisingly, someone as intelligent as Andy had long since worked out that his parents had been grooming and training him for something. He'd assumed they wanted him to run for President or the Senate one day and dreaded having to deal with their reaction when h eventually told them there was no way he'd be doing something like that. Of course, when he discovered what he had really been raised to do, he almost wished he'd been right.

---

---

---

---

---

---

| Family |

George Griffiths

Personality:
Andy's father, George, is perhaps the most calculating and manipulative person to live since Niccolò Machiavelli. His ability to gauge people's buttons and then press them in such a way that they do precisely what he wants them to do is second to none, allowing him to manipulate adults like a parent governs their child. Body language, micro expressions, fractional changes in the tones of voice are all signs to him about what a person is feeling and how he might use that to twist them to his way of thinking. As such, he hates people in general and views them as stupid sheep, ubiquitous and easily scared but easy to herd into place.

Role in the Syndicate:
George has used his abilities to go far, building up political influence and power in America but especially New York City for years. His official title is 'senior political advisor to the Mayor' but those who truly know him know too that the Mayor hasn't made an important decision without George's approval since he was elected. Mr. Griffith's influence goes far further than NYC, however. Along with the rest of the Syndicate, he has power over half the congressmen, senators, lobbyists and candidates in Washington, as well as the criminal organisations over most of America. Whereas some of the members enforce, assassinate or cover up, George's job is perhaps more terrible than any of them; he is the face of the Syndicate, the person that visits those people who resist the organisation's wishes. He cajoles, threatens and bribes people into bending to his will and therefore the will of his shadowy partners.

Linda Hopkins

Personality:
Linda Hopkins has always had a very singular view of the world; it's a board and the people are the pieces. You put them into position, you line them up and you send them to fight for your cause. Even in her earliest memories, she pitted friend against friend in school, coming out unscathed and ever more popular. She honed her skills in first the political arena and then as a director of covert military operations, finding both to be stimulating but neither quite challenging enough. Upon meeting her husband and joining the Syndicate, she finally found an endeavour worthy of her talents. Unlike her husband, Linda doesn't hate the people she uses, she simply doesn't see them as more than assets.

Role in the Syndicate:
While the Syndicate comes together and collectively chooses policies and goals, it is Linda's job to formulate plans to pursue them. She knows the strengths, weaknesses and capabilities of each other member intimately and plans accordingly. She is utterly ruthless, prepared to destroy any enemy in any way and sacrifice any operative for the sake of success. Without her guidance, the varied members of the Syndicate would still be forces to be reckoned with and the organisation would retain much of its power. With her as its brains, the Syndicate has undermined the process of law, order and democracy in the most powerful country in the world. All without any but a few meddling kids noticing. Check and mate.

| Abilities |

Andy has no magical or abnormal physical abilities and is not a mutant or an alien. As a specimen, he is simply a human being. His strengths lie in his far exceptional intelligence and extensive training in the fields of social manipulation and tactical leadership. Almost as soon as he was able to have meaningful social interactions with others, he was trained to make sure the interactions were steered by him to his own advantage. Similarly, he has spent an undocumented but nevertheless ridiculous number of hours running through complex strategy simulators, honing his skills as a commander if not a fighter.

| Strengths |

• Good with people and good at getting people to be good.
• Extremely intelligent, picks things up fast and solves problems well.
• His skills are tempered with empathy, a conscience and a desire to help people.

| Weaknesses |

• Is lazy, often resists doing things simply because he can't be bothered.
• Has limited physical talent, below average hand-eye coordination and no personal combat skills whatsoever.
• Little to no real life experience with commanding others or leading a team.

---

---

---

---

---

---

The Other

| Theme Song |

Goodbye Mr. A – The Hoosiers
_{”So busy showing me where I'm wrong,
You forgot to switch your feelings on, (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
So, so superior, are you not,
You love a little bit but you forgot ”}

| Extra Information |

Has a driving license but is a very nervous driver.

Andy's Relationships

Andy

Tish
"Our little party Princess is good to have around. She's like a lucky charm or a mascot, she guarantees good cheer and can be squeezed into whatever space Jay hasn't already taken up. I kid, she forces us to be happy or else."

To be honest, I think Tish is dealing with recent events better than any of the rest of us. She's upset but nowhere near as confused about it as Malcolm seems to be or as broken up as Lia. I don't like playing psychologist too much with people but I'd guess her shifting lets her feel like she's bullet proof, like nothing can catch her or stick to her. She doesn't like talking about her parents and didn't even before we all suddenly had this great reason to not want to talk about or parents, so I'd guess her relationship with them was a little strained and her issues with authority probably come from that. Though who am I to talk about parents and authority issues, I imagine my own familial history would give most psychologists a field day.

Anyway, she's happy as anything, whenever and wherever we are. Lia keeps us sane and moving on but it's Tish constantly leading us in song or games of I-Spy who keeps us happy. And her shifting is ridiculously useful for us, no one is going to recognise her. Once she gets a bit better at the more difficult parts, we might end up relying on her for a lot more.

They're ready to go now they got their surfboards, And they're going to the discotheque Au Go Go
But she just couldn't stay she had to break away, Well New York City really has is all oh yeah, oh yeah

Jay
"Jay's cute. I mean cool, he's cool. We've met a few times when the parents get together but I haven't talked to him much."

Alright, he's totally adorable, I admit it. His whole 'I'm such a rebel' thing is dorky and absolutely hilarious because he seems to really believe. But he somehow still makes it hot and I am only semi okay with that. We haven't talked that much but he seems to like skateboarding a lot (could be fun, I could take lessons from him) and mentioned Battlestar Galactia in the same tones most people mention god. As luck would have it, I haven't seen that. Is that good (we could watch it together) or bad (I can't talk to him about it)?

But as gorgeous and charming as he is, there's something off about him. I don't know, he seems a little bit more aware of people's motivations than he has any right to be. Eh, it's probably nothing.

On his thin and wispy spindles, He was deft and he was nimble, His eyes were scientific, And his dancing was terrific

Malcolm
"He's alright, is Malcolm. A bit straight laced and it always feels like he's watching you but we've all got our funny little ways.”

I don't know much about animals but it's clear to see that Malcolm has lived his life in captivity. It comes out in lots of ways; disapproving looks at alcohol, raised eyebrows at at saucy jokes, wrinkling his nose whenever I smoke. If I had to guess, I'd say it was his father who enforced rules around his house. It's just a hunch, something in the way he looks away when Tish jokes about me being the father of this little band. Or, as she puts it, the papa bear. I don't think I've ever been called a bear before.

One thing that really comes through loud and clear about him is the way he watches things. I mean, I watch because I was taught to but he looks at us chatting like a hungry child looks into a sweetshop window. He's drinking in everything we do and say, because he wants to understand and he wants to join in. We'll have to see if we can get him to loosen his straight laces (not like that, mind, gutter, out), especially if he's going to be any help in the future.

I want to break free from your lies, You're so self satisfied, I don't need you
I've got to break free God knows, God knows I want to break free.

Ophelia
"Ophelia, no, I mean Lia, is the best. She keeps everyone moving, keeps everyone sane and even manages to keep us all happy. Without her, I think Tish would already have strangled me several times for sure but Oph--Lia makes it out like we're all just on a crazy road trip and acts like a playleader. And when you think about what's happened to us recently, what we've learned and lost, it's pretty incredible that we all join in."

In a way, Ophelia is like me or dad, only far less calculated. She doesn't think about why someone is sad or angry and she doesn't look for a pressure point to calm to them down. She just acts naturally and does her best to make everyone's day that much brighter. Ha, brighter. Because, you know, fire. Come on, it's funny. Fine, be that way, I don't care.

I think she's taking the... incident pretty hard. None of us are exactly happy about discovering our parents are cackling megalomaniacs bent on world domination but not all of us were that close to them. I mean, my dad hasn't given me anything close to a compliment since I was eight years old and mom told me sentimentality is a strategic weak point on my birthday once but I think Ophelia's parents looked after her and taught her how to not burn the house down. From what I can tell (I've really been trying not to watch her actions too much, I have, but it's hard to switch your brain off) she feels doubly betrayed because her parents are hero cops that set an example for her, only now she knows it was all a ruse. So she doesn't want to go back and wants to make sure none of us have to either.

Mostly though, she cares about us all and wants to keep us alive. She drives (I just can't do highways, too many cars, too scary) all the time, listens to me talk about anything, keeps Tish from driving us all insane. Without her, I'm pretty sure we'd already be back in NYC with our parents.

The ice we skate is getting pretty thin, The water's getting warm so you might as well swim
My world's on fire. How about yours? That's the way I like it and I'll never get bored.

Glo
"Glo's great, who doesn't like having their every move photographed while on the run? I mean, right? Seriously though, she's as good at looking after us as Lia is, we'd probably starve without her cooking skills. I mean, I'm not a bad cook but it's a lot of hassle..."

Glo is interesting in how she seems to have reacted to what I understand of her upbringing. Apparently she practically raised herself in a pretty bad neighbourhood, while keeping her grades high enough to stay in a pretty high end school on a scholarship. So she's a self made woman who pulled herself up by her bootstraps (we all know I'd probably have preferred to lay down and wait for someone to bring me a drink) but that's left her with a curious mix of nurturing instincts (doesn't want others to have to work too hard?) and trust issues...

Gah! I almost went full psychology! Better tone that down. On a personal level, Glo is just like Lia; she looks after us, makes sure we don't make a mess or starve but also doesn't let us take her or anyone else for granted. As many of our little group have had pretty comfortable lives (cough Jay cough) that's very important for us.

Cody
"It's the quiet ones you've got to watch, am I right? Cody a good kid, likes to listen and doesn't like to fight. Maybe the world would be a better place if we were all like him? It would certainly be a less noisy place."

Is there anyone in this little group that doesn't have issues with their parents? I say that both as someone with their own issues and as someone who knows everyone is affected by their parents in one way or another but man, we could pretty much perform group therapy. Anyway, Cody seems happy to keep himself in the background and take in conversation but not quite in the same way Malcolm does. I think Cody is more comfortable in the role as the quiet one than Malcolm is, probably because the former has been able to interact with people during his life and let that role develop naturally where the latter simply hasn't had enough experience in social situations to fulfil any other role.

I mean, I like getting a good bit of attention, talking, having people listen and so on but I can understand if others prefer not to be in the spotlight. That's fine as a thing to do, so long as it's a choice and not forced on them by lack of confidence or anxiety. So we'll see what Cody's really like before I try to give him nudges in any direction.

Oh no love! you're not alone
You're watching yourself but you're too unfair
You got your head all tangled up but if I could only make you care
Oh no love! you're not alone

Amy
"Amy, Bella, Izzy, I don't like to let her settle on any one nickname. She's a good kid, always has been, but she's very much a kid. You know the expression 'born ancient'? That's me but I think the opposite is Amy. I reckon she'll still be acting pretty much the same way in thirty years or so."

Yeah, we used to see each other before the incident, now and then. Dad and mom liked her creepy parents, for whatever reason. It's weird though, her folks are weird on so many levels (their body language and micro-expressions are all wrong, not even starting on their language usage or tones) but Bella is just normal seventeen year old. Fun, creative, doesn't pull her punches (literally of figuratively, I have bruises) but not particularly unusual. I'll have to work that one out, one day.

Character Sheets, old and new!

Freddie Milton Hughes-Jackson

Freddie Milton Hughes-Jackson

Basic Information

| Name |
Freddie Milton (for his mother's favourite musician and his father's favourite author) Hughes-Jackson.

| Age |
21, born in the year 1999.

| Gender |
Male.

| Sexuality |
Not sure, would quite like to fine out, hasn't managed anything of that... sort yet.

| Occupation |
Librarian.

| In-Depth Appearance |
Taller than average, Freddie stands at just the right height for most people to be talking to his chin rather than his face and to bang his head on door frames but not quite tall enough to be stand out. Similarly, his hair is just red enough that it can't be described as brown but not red enough to merit anything interesting adjectives like 'crimson' or 'scarlet'. In fact, much of Freddie's appearance has someone hit a sweet spot between attractively average and interestingly extreme, landing somewhere in the vicinity of embarrassing, though hopefully endearingly so. His dress sense is, like most things in his life, a product of his mother's extremely careful upbringing. If one is going to dress, she is want to say, one aught to dress well. Freddie spent a lot of his childhood in bracers, ties and woollen tank tops. He's managed to rebel somewhat no he lives alone but meticulously drilled habits die hard.

When seen in public, his back is generally bent by a weighty book bag or heavy box full of newly acquired mystical merchandise. Or extremely bent because he's just dropped whatever he's carrying and is desperately trying to gather it up and continue on his way before his ears catch alight from concentrated cringe. Even when caught without a bag or box, his posture is still terrible. His stance suggests he's in a permanent state of apology, with hunched shoulders, a slightly lowered head and hands almost always covering his mouth. However, Freddie's manner and voice depend very much on his surroundings. When in the hallowed halls of the library, he walks confidently and talks with a quietly authority. If in the confines of his own home and talking about his magical work, he's energetic, rambling and supremely enthusiastic. Anywhere else, however, and he becomes the more familiar bag of nerves, mistakes, blushes and apologies.

---

---

---

---

Who am I?

| Personality |

♦ Dedicated ♦ Shy ♦ Enthusiastic ♦ Apologetic ♦

Freddie really, really likes magic. The sight of a newly animated teapot pouring itself, the sound of enchanted brushes polishing boots in another room or the taste of a cake infused with magical tastes beyond human understanding, they all excite him. It was probably his constant tinkering with spells as a child that caused him to forget to make friends. Or talk to people. Or even go outside. As an adult, he's not much different; he still spends most of his life on a groove between the library where he works and his home where he animates, avoiding people and human interaction on the way wherever possible. It's not that he doesn't like people, it's just that he makes such a fool of himself every time he's with them that he'd rather just spare himself the blushes.

What he lacks in social acumen, however, he makes up for in enthusiasm. Once Freddie has decided he's going to do a thing, a dam breaks somewhere in him and a flood of energy, excitement and ideas come bubbling forth. Whatever the task, he sets his whole mind and body into making sure it's carried out to the best of his abilities. It's just a shame that generally only those people who are extremely interested in the theory and practise of magical animation every see this passion and even then only if they hang out on the more esoteric of internet forums.

Recently, Freddie has been doing his best to 'put himself out there' and 'go out and see the world'. It's definitely because he thinks he aught to see some more of the world and definitely not because his mother is applying a gentle pressure to make him leave the house for a social interaction at least once a day. So he's now not an uncommon sight in local cafés and bars, sitting in a corner nursing a drink and looking quickly away should he catch anyone's eye.

| Likes & Dislikes |
✔ Magic, Magic, Magic!
✔ Hot tea with milk.
✔ Autumn leaves.
✔ Fantasy novels.
✔ The smell of old books.
✔ Well ordered book shelves.
✔ Messy, ill organised floors.
✔ Magic again, he loves it that much.

✘ People who talk loudly.
✘ Mistreated books.
✘ Coffee (read: caffeinated dirt).
✘ Fog and mist.
✘ Angsty Fantasy novels.
✘ physical sports.
✘ Games of chance.

---

---

---

---

| History |
As the only child of two witches, one might expect that the youngest member of the Hughes-Jackson household to quickly accept magic as a natural part of life. But both parents practised their trades but rarely, preferring to write about the theory than actually cast spells. As such, Freddie grew up with a fascination for magic even greater than most of his classmates. In their non-magical homes, his contemporaries never expected to see magic once the world stripped them of the idea it was real. In Freddie's home, magic was not only possible but the focus of much of his parent's conversations. He survived on the occasional glimpse of a divination, the odd sight of a talking animal, but the restrained style of his parents made him hungrier for magic than he was for anything else. It came as no surprise to them when he started making a study of magic at the age of ten.

Now, it must be understood that the Hughes-Jacksons were serious people and did not intend for their son to simply grab a wand and start throwing fireballs in his first week, good gracious no. Instead, he was given two years worth of text books to read. When he had finished them, he was treated to a gruelling interrogation about the minute details of each one. After that, more text books and lengthy, lengthy essays. After this, his parents reasoned, Freddie would surely have grown out of this foolish and vulgar fascination with the practise of magic and have grown to share their love of the theory. They were surprised, therefore, when he asked for permission to attempt a simple piece of animation on his fifteenth birthday. Given he had written a PHD sized piece of writing on this specific spell, they could hardly say no. It was everything he'd imagined and somehow even more.

From then on, he managed to work even harder, squeezing the day for every possible hour. What few friends he had retained before now ceased to see him anywhere other than school and even then his mind seemed to always be somewhere else. Before he was allowed to use even the simplest of spells, his parents required him to have read every relevant thesis on the subject ever committed to page and after he was done he would need to write detailed analysis's of the shortcomings of all previous works on the topic. Freddie didn't mind though. Whatever work he needed to do to earn a few moments of tentative spell casting was worth it for the joy of the spell and the satisfaction of seeing the results exactly as he pictured them.

On his eighteenth birthday, however, he realised something; it didn't have to be this way. If he didn't live with his parents, if he was his own person, he could do magic whenever he liked. A thought so electric, so powerful, so... magical that it almost seemed unreal. But from that moment of realisation, he shifted his considerable abilities from studying theory to making this daydream reality. He got a part time job, then a full time job and then another part time job to do on the side. Freddie saved, Freddie scraped and Freddie made it. By his twentieth birthday, he had enough for a deposit on a small flat in London. He decided on the Edgetoun area and eventually got a place in Faraday Heights, flat 24B.

So here he is, newly settled into his very own flat and his new job as assistant librarian at on of London's more central libraries. During the days, he works hard at the library to make sure he has enough money to buy new sorcerous supplies. In the evenings, nights, mornings and weekends, he revels in the joy of being able to animate what he wants, when he wants. There are currently almost no non-enchanted objects in his flat.

| Family |
Cynthia Evergreen Hughes
Strict, calm and fiercely intelligent, Cynthia has ruled over every room she's been in for her whole life. While she managed to instil her powerful work ethic into her son, she didn't quite pass on her cool and collected self control. As he's now something more of a mess socially, she's now rectifying this by pushing him to be more active and adventurous. She more or less treats everyone in this way, making them fix their lives whether they want her to or not. And woe betide the person that goes against her attempts to better their existence.

She is an expert at Divination but finds the practise of magic to be far less intellectually stimulating than the theory, an attitude she has, for once, failed to pass on to her son. The Hughes family are longstanding members of the Mutandum Coven.

Marcus Obadiah Jackson
Strong, silent and thoughtful, Marcus took a much less active hand in raising Freddie than his wife. He would have preferred to allow him to make a few more of his own choices, maybe even to practise magic more freely. But he long ago discovered that going against his wife's idea of the right course of action is an exercise in futility. Despite having the strength of will necessary to be a powerful elementalist, he can offer no more resistance to her than a picket fence can to a steam roller.

| Strengths |

• Excellent understanding of the theoretical basis of magic.
• Well practised at magical animation.
• Puts his heart and soul into everything he does.

| Weaknesses |

• Socially inept and incredibly shy.
• Has lead a sheltered life and is a little naive
• Hasn't had to cope with failure or rejection much.

---

---

---

---

The Other

| Theme Songs |
I am a Rock – Simon and Garfunkel
_{I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.}

Put the book back on the Shelf - Belle and Sebastian
_{You wrote a book about yourself
The people left it on the shelf
You’ll write another one
Now you’ve got a story that’s worth talking about}

| House Number |
Farady Heights, 24B

| Extra Information |

• His parents are members of the Mutandum Coven but Freddie has learned much from the Circle of Sorcery's internet resources and occasionally contributes an article to their forums.
• He plays a mean game of chess.

Freddie's 'relationships'

Blake Preston
"I overheard someone says she has a Youtube channel, which is really great. She's got a look in her eye though..."
Freddie hasn't exchanged more than the smallest of greeting with Blake yet but she currently scares him.

Daniel Belson
"He seemed a little prickly but maybe he was just having a bad day?"
You wouldn't judge someone based on one snarky remark, would you? I mean, would you? Well Freddie wouldn't.

Alistair Queen
"The landlord? He was really nice to me, really kind and a little bit flirty."
You don't have to flirt with Freddie to make him boil, drop his keys, fall over while picking them up and then apologise for scratching your shoes with them. But it might be the most direct route.

Mariska Costas
"The singer? She must be good, there's a way people move when they're confident in themselves."
It's often easier to spot something you don't have.

Nikita Yankovsky
"I don't think she liked me very much. Maybe she doesn't like anyone very much?"
Nikita seems to be quiet like a volcano about to go off. Freddie is quiet like a hare about to take off. Opposites don't always attract.

Mordred
"It's January and he was wearing sunglasses."
In the Hughes-Jackson household, one wouldn't think of wearing sunglasses on the sun.

John Taylor
"You know the expression 'Old soul'? That's about him."
You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to tell there's something eating at this guy.

Eve Lumiére
"Uh... she's... uhm... and... yeah."
Imagine putting the bunny's hutch outside the wolf's den. That's Faraday Height's 24A and 24B.

Catherine Reid
"I'm not saying she reminds me of me of my mother... but mum used to tell me I was too skinny as well."
Self reliant, decisive and supremely confident? Freddie has met one of those people before and it took him many, many years to escape her.

Opallum
"Generally you get an impression that the homeless would rather be somewhere else. Not that guy."
There's nothing more self assured than being able to walk off in the middle of a conversation. Unless it's because you're too embarrassed to continue it. Freddie's been there.

Andrew Mordekai
"I always though smouldering was something that happened at the end of a fire, not in someone's eyes. Wait, did I say that out loud?"
Freddie hasn't been exposed to a lot in life so injustice as a concept is pretty new to him. Someone who fights against injustice with mind, might and magic? Mother probably wouldn't approve but Freddie thinks he does.

Suriel Anne White
"Healing people is about as noble as you can get, isn't it?"
Freddie hasn't had a day of illness in his life wouldn't hear a bad word said about those that work to prevent them in others.

Miles Catrose
"His clothes were quite something, very... imaginative."
Before coming to London, Freddie would have assumed only super-villains wore clothes like that. He's quite happy to be wrong though, in this case.

Yukiko Abe
"I don't think I'd manage to talk to her very well."
Remember the bunny/wolf comparison from earlier? Foxes eat bunnies too.

Mona
"Was she lying to me? Because I'm pretty sure that the Queen hasn't got a long lost daughter."
Naive, yes. Thick as a post, No.

Faron Romane
"Maybe I should try and make friends with that one, we witch child survivors must stick together."
If anyone knows what it's like to need to escape the all encompassing influence of one's parents, it's Freddie.

Nicolas Black
"Detective inspector must be a dangerous job. Somehow I'm not worried about him though."
Freddie's never met a werewolf before but there's something wolf like in Detective Black's manner.

Maggie Spencer-Adyemi
"She seems very quiet. Oh, that was the pot calling the kettle a recluse, wasn't it?"
Maybe all Witches don't get on with their parents? Freddie might start to suspect he's actually the lucky one.

Megumi
"She seemed a nice little girl, very friendly. Very perceptive too, especially for her age."
Freddie isn't much of an enigma and someone with the experience of Megumi probably didn't have to look twice to understand him.

Stefani Roche
"She seems like your average teenager; happy one moment, stopping the next. Still, we were all young once."
Not entirely accurate, Freddie's childhood and teenage years were mostly spent carefully studying magical textbooks with nary a tantrum in sight. Still, he understands that sometimes people need to vent.

Ari Amari
"I think he was patronising me but I think he also let something slip about the fall of Rome so maybe it was justified."
Freddie doesn't tend to get offended, not least because he's too busy being deathly self conscious.

Katharine Haynes
"Speaks her mind and does what she thinks is best. I'm sure the world would be a better place if we were all like that."
As nice as she is, Freddie has picked up on the deep undertones of sadness in her. Were he a more confident type, he'd probably try to make sure she stays on this side of despair. Unfortunately, he's not.

Felix Underwood
"She's a librarian too, isn't she? Great, we can swap dewey decimal tips. Oh, and I've read some of her articles on the nature of the afterlife! Fascinating stuff, far more grounded than much of the rest of that fields canon."
Though he practises Animism, Freddie's education in the magical arts was broad and he tries to keep up with recent developments in all the different fields.

Elise Callaghan
"Quiet is fine by me."
Freddie would be the last person to complain that someone else is too quiet. Literally, he'd be the last because that's far too much of a remonstration for him to even consider saying it.

Claire O'Malley
"Loud people are a nuisance in life. At least in the library you can get them to leave."
Don't shout, don't be a lout and don't muck about. Rules to live by.

Barachiel Alexander Eamon
"Some people have got real presence, real gravitas. Alexander is one of those people."
The Hughes-Jackson's were very pointedly not religious so Freddie wouldn't know an angel unless it revealed its wings in front of him. Even then, only maybe.

Ethan Cooper
"A doctor and a librarian? And he looks like that? Wow."
Even without such impressive credentials and such a lovely personality, Freddie probably wouldn't mind spending more time in Ethan's general vicinity.

Alfie Liau
"Chocolatier must be a nice trade. I wonder if you start to hate the sight of chocolate though? I know I like books less since I started working as a librarian."
Much like Miles Catrose, Freddie had never seen people dress quite so flamboyantly before coming to London. He can't say they don't look good though.

Astrid Kitchener
"Doing the thing that makes you happy is all any of us can hope for. Even if we have to wait tables or look after books to pay for it."
Work hard now so you can work harder later at what really matters.

Michael Harel
"I don't really listen to records but maybe I should look into his store anyway? He seems really friendly."
Opposites sometimes do attract, even if it's a supernova of confidence and a black hole of lack of confidence.

Aila Atleo
"Another one of my neighbours, another one that scares me a little."
Survival senses tell Freddie that this one might be better not to annoy. And he thinks he might annoy her by being near her but hey, that's just him.

Emerson Maddox
"He was rude about my freckles but maybe he's right, they are quite distracting."
At least Emerson is very self confident, even if it could be channeled in less abrasive ways.

Talia Halbrook
"I felt like she was looking through me, not at me."
Another predator, Freddie should probably invest in some personal protection.

Loki Van Stenberg
"Some people look at you like they're thinking about you, others like they're thinking how to get away from you. This guy looked more like he was thinking about how to use whoever he was looking at."
Criminality isn't something that's even entered Freddie's sphere of experience but it's not hard to pick up the dangerous magnetism coming off of Loki.

Liam Woodsworth
"This is going to sound hypocritical coming from me but he really needs to eat more."
Indulgence is fine in Freddie's book, or it would be if he'd gotten to that chapter yet, but one should look after one's health all the same.

Aiden Phillips
"I haven't talked to him yet... but I'm sure I'll make a fool of myself when I do."
Does a blush count as a rise? If so, Aiden can have hours of fun just talking to Freddie.

Ryan Croft
"I felt like I was being sized up, recorded and put under surveillance. And he only said hello."
Laid back intensity is a powerful aura to have but Ryan has it in spades. More than enough to put Freddie on edge.

Eternity Illuria Loveless
"Some people are loud with their voices, some people are loud with their personalities. Somehow, some people manage to be both."
Freddie finds people that put themselves out there to the point of interfering in other people's business quite difficult.

Patrick Kershner
"We haven't had a chance to talk yet but... I think he might be a kindred spirit."
There's something about the walk, the downcast gaze and the slightly slumped shoulders that tell Freddie he's looking at someone a lot like him. Now if only one of them were brave enough to introduce themselves to the other, things might improve for both.

Nicodem Kaminski
"I didn't think that faces scarred like that, I thought there was a maximum amount that a face could take."
You don't have to be as closested as Freddie to be surprised at Nicodem's collection of wrinkles and scars.

Anastasia Psomas
"So many of my neighbours are artistic, maybe I should take up an instrument?"
Freddie is a little envious of all the talented musicians in his block, given that he himself ditched the recorder in favour of magic at the age of eleven.

James Bright
"Excuse me, who?"
Uh, I don't know him either.

Naomi Ishiguro
"Uhm, I haven't talked to her. Is it rude to say she creeps me out?"
Rude or not, Freddie's fight or definitely flight instincts are on the money in this case.

'Kei'
"Don't think we've met, does she live in Faraday Heights?"
What, he can't be everywhere!

Zoey Alston
"She seems like a bit of a party girl. Not that that is a bad thing!"
Freddie hasn't really done parties yet but one can live in hope.

Ramiel
"Aheh, he talk a lot, doesn't he? And yet, somehow, you end up talking too."
Even Freddie starts talking when Uncle Rammie starts listening.

Freddie's Appearances

All IC posts about or mentioning Freddie.
Waking up
Shutting Down
Cooling Off

Nicodem Kaminski

Nicodem Kaminski

Basic Information

| Name |
Currently Nicodem Kaminski, adopted the name a century ago in Poland.

| Age |
Unsure, likely born somewhere around 1000 A.D.

| Gender |
Male.

| Sexuality |
Asexual Aromatic

| Occupation |
Deputy Police Commissioner.

| In-Depth Appearance |
Turned late in life, or at least late in life for the period, Nicodem gives off the impression of someone who has been tired for a long, long time. His face is lined and his eye sockets sunken, a few old wounds buried under the weight of wrinkles. His whole body hints at a past full of fights and criminality, in fact, faded tattoos and ancient scars jockeying for position all over his chest, back, arms and legs. Yet he simultaneously projects the air of a coiled spring, ready to unleash energy at a moment's notice. His gait says something similar, every step measured and assured, feet landing precisely where they're supposed and never moving faster than he wants to. Nicodem stands with his back straight and shoulders held high, like a man constantly on the parade ground.

In the past, Nicodem would normally wear whatever was cleanest or whatever suited his current job. But today, even those with average jobs can afford to dress in well tailored clothes, beautiful ties and shiny shoes. So he chooses to dress in nice coats, fine suits, an array of formal ties and boots or shoes that he personally cares for like children. In the course of his duty, his outfits occasionally become become spattered with blood or smeared with grime which is, of course, annoying. On the other hand, at least no one washes clothes in a river with a handful of sand anymore. Nicodem's long hair tends to start the day gelled back across his head and, depending on how stressful the day is, slowly frees itself to swing free, much to his annoyance. His voice is deep and earthy but his accent an enigma. If European accents were spices, Nicodem's accent is what happens when you accidentally knock the spice rack over into a ditch; there's traces of Russian, Spanish and English in there, along with unplaceable touches of rural slur and old fashioned syntax.

---

---

---

---

Who am I?

| Personality |

♦ Pragmatic ♦ Weary ♦ Disciplined ♦ Unsympathetic ♦

Nicodem judges people with the standards that he places on himself and therefore sees them as falling into two categories; those who control themselves and are to be respected; and those who don't and aren't. For him, control is the one true measure of worth and of success. If you can control yourself, you can do anything, be anything. And if you can't, you're not worth the time it takes to insult you. The philosophy arose from his own long history of drink and anger fuelled violence, which wrecked one stable lifestyle after another. He doesn't drink anymore and if he gets angry, you'd never know it to look at him.

Nicodem's self control manifests itself in a few ways. For one, his face is impassive and immobile unless he wants it otherwise. Another, he has certain schedules that he sticks too with unflinching perseverance. Rise, exercise, languages, training, work, study, sleep. Leisure time and meals have their own set times, balanced his other obligations. Thirdly, he doesn't drink human blood, not ever. Rat blood might taste like mud, piss and vinegar but that's what Nicodem survives on. To remove temptation from his life, he habitually files down his fangs. It's a painful process (though not as bad as the bayonet in the guts he got in Warsaw) but means that's he's got no choice but to harvest blood with a syringe and drink it from a glass. It's also responsible for his belief in the sanctity of law; if you can't make sure you follow the laws, you deserve the punishment.

Apart from that, he's generally kind to those who need kindness and indifferent to those who don't. It's not that he doesn't like people, it's just that he doesn't particularly feel the need for companions past those he already has. He doesn't like seeing people suffer and will lend a helping hand to anyone who needs a step up, whether that means giving them a sofa to stay on or helping them to find a job through his contacts at work. If you ask him for help, you better be sure you need it though. If you tell him your problem and he decides it's all your own fault, he's more likely to shake his head and walk away than anything else.

| Likes & Dislikes |
✔ Cigarettes, brand and flavour irrelevant.
✔ Black drinks, tea or coffee.
✔ Historical fiction.
✔ Television shows, the longer the better.
✔ Sugary Sweets.
✔ Dressing well, hasn't always been possible.
✔ Ties, both smart and silly.
✔ Well maintained shoes, treat 'em right and they'll treat you right.
✔ Modern sausages.

✘ Vampires and Dhampires.
✘ Human blood.
✘ Rat blood, but he drinks it anyway.
✘ Being called 'Nic', 'Nico' or 'Demi', makes an exception for Ryan.
✘ Milk, tastes all wrong nowadays.
✘ People who encourage violence.
✘ Hot weather, ties become uncomfortable.
✘ Alcohol.

---

---

---

---

| History |
Up until about five years ago, Nicodem had no idea when he was born or for how long he had walked the earth. He knew he'd been around for some time and seen a lot things change but numbers and dates eluded him. Since then, he spent some weeks in a library, first chronicling his living memories and then trying to relate them to real life events. Unfortunately for Nicodem, history books can only take you so far when your earliest memory is of being a full grown man, fighting in a muddy field for a long forgotten cause. After almost a month of searching and wracking his brains for any scrap of recollection, he sighed and gave it up as a lost cause. Should anyone be searching enough to ask him his age, he'd tell them he's too old to start answering questions like that. On the rare occasions he's discussed such matters with other immortals, he's been surprised at how well they remember being alive. He can barely even recall what his name was back then, let alone where he grew up.

What he does know is that in his life, he's had a lot of jobs. He ran a tavern in Sicily and market stall in Madrid. He collected debts in Moscow and scars in St Petersburg. He fought for money in Poland and for revenge in the New world, now called America. In fact, there are few cities on the face of the earth to which Nicodem is truly a stranger. Equally, there are few jobs that he hasn't tried his hand at once or twice, from banker to bouncer to butcher. There's only ever really been one constant in his life; violence. When he was a mercenary, Nicodem wouldn't think twice about killing a man. That was the job. When the job changed though, somehow the man didn't. He gave scaffolding a go, working on the construction of a great cathedral in Italy but left within a month after a barroom brawl turned bloody. He tried again with different jobs but the outcome was always the same.

For a time, Nicodem simply accepted that it was his lot in life to be stained in blood. God wants what god wants, he used to say. But eventually he could no longer blame the blood on circumstance or or fate. It was unpleasantly clear to him that the only reason people died around him was his own lack of control. A spilled drink, an unkind word, a nasty look, anything was enough to set Nicodem off when he was in the mood for a fight. Or had a skinful of alcohol. Or both. Since this revelation, Nicodem hasn't touched a drop of alcohol (this was somewhere in the 1800s) and has dedicated almost every waking hour to learning indomitable self control. It started with small things, ritual exercises and the like, before moving to tougher endeavours, like holding hot coals, before moving to the big ones, filing down his fangs and weaning himself off of human blood.

Today, Nicodem's will is an iron bastion and his daily routines are engraved in stone. Somewhere along the line, he picked up the idea that languages are important and you have to keep speaking them in order to not forget how. So he spends an hour a day running through monologues in the handful of tongues he speaks and listens to 'teach-yourself-[insert language here]' tapes whenever he can. He's also decided that, on the whole, he's not ready to stop moving around yet and would like to make sure no one can make that decision for him. As such, he exercises to keep in peak condition and trains in the use of blades, both with knives and a Polish Hussar's cavalry sabre he brought with him to Britain before security was so tight. He knows he's unlikely to participate in a cavalry action any time soon but he'd rather not be rusty should the occasion arise. Nicodem was given the job of Deputy Commissioner by Ryan Croft, who saw potential for good in the vampire's control. In this position, Nicodem helps pursue whichever case currently has Ryan's attention and pitches in with making sure the police station runs smoothly. The job has made him far more suspicious and methodical than he previously was and he eventually took a leaf out of Ryan's book, keeping notes on who is who in Edgetoun.

| Family |
None living that he knows of. Has no wish to sire a Dhampire, might be interested in adopting a child.

| Strengths |

• Physically fit and extremely well trained.
• Incredible discipline and self control, would make a good teacher/trainer.
• Doesn't mind taking on burdens to help those who are unable to help themselves.

| Weaknesses |

• Not particularly skilled at social interactions, apart from intimidation.
• Personal philosophy doesn't leave much room for what he perceives as weakness.
• High standards that he expects everyone to aim for.

---

---

---

---

The Other

| Theme Songs |
The Cruel Wars – The Dreadnouhgts
_{The recruiting sergeant marched away
From the Inn near town at the break of day,
Johnny came too with half a ring
He was off to be a soldier to go fighting for the King
In a far off war in a far off land
To face the foreign soldier,
But how will you fare when there's lead in the air,
Oh poor Johnny what'll happen to ya?}

| House Number |
14 Pratchett Road, Faircourt.

| Extra Information |

• Speaks English, Spanish and Italian fluently, conversational in French, Polish and Russian.
• Hasn't been a soldier since the time of muskets, still practises with his cavalry sabre.
• Has been smoking tobacco, either in pipes or cigarettes, for centuries and it has never occurred to him to quit.
• Keeps a group of six rats in a hutch in his garden, occasionally takes blood from them with a syringe. He hasn't named them but still cares for them, feeding them often and occasionally letting them free to run around the house.
• Been on the wagon since the early 1800s.

Nicodem's Assessments

The following assessments and notes are scrawled into a small notebook Nicodem keeps on his person at all times. Some names have photos next to them, other merely brief descriptions. For those who work for the police, small stars are drawn by their names. Those who Nicodem suspects of illicit activities get skulls.

Blake Preston
"Almost certainly human. Seems confident in herself, perhaps a little too much?"
Nicodem doesn't boast or challenge people to fights. If you're going to fight, fight. Don't tell people that you're going to fight them before hand though.

Daniel Belson
"Doesn't quite smell human, looks at the people around him like they're his property. Demon?"
The latter trait isn't necessarily demonic.

Alistair Queen
"Definite Vamp, Owns property, seems sharp enough. He smiles well, very good at hiding his fangs."
Nicodem knows that filing your fangs off isn't for everyone and applauds the skill it takes to smile but not make people instantly move to protect their neck.

Mariska Costas
"Very strange, can't place the smell. Good singing voice?"
Nymphs don't tend to hang around battlefields, barrooms or police stations so Nicodem hasn't met one before.

Nikita Yankovsky
Star
"Smells like sex, constantly. Her time, her business but she doesn't smell all human, probable demon."
Nicodem doesn't go in for that sort of thing personally but doesn't judge those who do.

Mordred Hame
"Definite demon, probably not a threat though."
Some people exude charm, others menace. Demons tend to give off both and Nicodem isn't bad at spotting them.

John Taylor
"Another strange one, wouldn't like to have to fight him without more information. Demon? Werewolf? Unsure as of yet."
Not an expert in supernatural creatures (despite being one), Nicodem wouldn't know a Wendgio if it Wendiwent.

Eve Lumière
"Either a succubus or completely insatiable. Unlikely to be a threat."
Hey, whatever you need to survive, some of us have to drink rat's blood.

Catharine Reid
"Definite vamp, works events managing, least criminal business possible."
Come on, can you imagine anything sinister happening while someone plans an event?

Opallum
"Living homeless during an Unseelie winter, not human, demon?. Smells of smoke, all the time. One to watch."
Nicodem has been homeless himself often enough in his existence to not want to judge but it's god damned cold and Opallum doesn't seem to have noticed. One to watch indeed.

Andrew Mordekai
"Witch, smells of smoke all the time, fire? Activist leanings, should be watched for own protection."
Changing the world is all well and good but burning people is against the law for a reason.

Suriel White
"Reminds me of Ryan, unsure why. Healer, strangely good at job?"
We all need healers, occasionally, but Nicodem can't help but be suspicious of a success record like Doctor White's.

Miles Catrose
"Smells delicious, why? Plenty of bravery, lacks common sense. Occasionally in scuffles, nothing major."
Getting into fights at pubs isn't important enough to warrant the official attention of the Deputy Commissioner but Nicodem tries to notice everything.

Yukiko Abe
"Definite hints of foxes, some sort of fox werewolf? Investigate further, not pressing though."
Tattoo artists might be rock 'n' roll but they're generally not criminals.

Mona
"Walked through a wall, seems to be a ghost. Might need her murder solved? Ask if encountered again."
Nicodem has some other experience of ghosts who can't move on.

Faron Romane
"Definite Witch, possible drug user, likely to be small time."
Nicodem has no time for people who give in to physical addictions.

Nicolas Black
Star
"Smells like wet dog, likely a werewolf, also a good officer."
Werewolf, vampire, ghost, everyone except slackers are welcome in the Edgetoun police department.

Maggie Spencer-Adyemi
"Student, works a part time job. Smells of earth and plants, some sort of druid?"
The intricacies of Witchery are alien to Nicodem.

Megumi
"A child and a vampire. Old, much older than she seems. Should be watched as all children should."
Nicodem has never had children but instinctively wants to protect them as they are, by almost any definition, helpless.

Stefani Roche
"Another young vampire. Is a vampire choosing to target the young? Worrying."
Nicodem would be most displeased to find such a vampire. The other vampire would probably end up pretty damned displeased as well.

Ari Amari
"Smells of cats, might own cats, might be a werecat?"
Nicodem hasn't talked to Ari enough to pick up the intolerable air of smugness some people get from being old.

Katharine Haynes
"Student, works as a barista. No threat."
What? It you aren't a criminal or potentially dangerous, you don't get much space in the book.

Felix Underwood
"Publishes articles on the internet on witchery, definite witch. Unlikely to be a threat."
Not hiding terribly well, says the man that openly drinks rat blood.

Elise Callaghan
"Quiet, doesn't smell like food, no ideas yet, continue watching."
Do Sirens smell of anything other than human?

Claire O'Malley
"Teacher, possible witch? Continue watching."
Normally Nicodem wouldn't suspect teachers but he just finished watching Breaking Bad.

Barachiel Alexander Eamon
"Human? Strange but doesn't smell wrong and strange is normal today."
Using gender neutral pronouns are a new one on Nicodem but he's willing to learn.

Ethan Cooper
"Seems to be human but smells of wolf. Small mystery, solve in time."
Not high on the list of priorities, Aila is to be trusted in her judgement.

Alfie Liau
"Probably vampire, always smells of chocolate so blood and decay are masked."
Nicodem never thought of chocolate as masking agent.

Michael Harel
"Related to Michael? Can't work out how they're connected but they... feel similar."
They might not be quite the same but there's certainly something similar about the two of them.

Aila Atleo
Star
"Definitely a werewolf, I suspect violence in her past. Would make a damn good officer, must talk to Ryan about that."
Nicodem doesn't just watch people he suspects but also people he likes. Because he suspects them first.

Emerson Maddox
Skull
"Very self assured, apparently a lawyer, slimy enough to need watching."
One of the few jobs Nicodem has never tried; Lawyer. He has a prejudice.

Talia Halbrook
"Smiles like a demon and smells inhuman, could be up to no good with her housing business?"
Let's face it, you don't need a reason to be suspicious of a real estate agent.

Loki Van Stenberg
Skull
"Definite Vamp, old acquaintance, not to be trusted and almost certainly into something"
They met once, back in the day, and played a game of poker. Nicodem won but Loki cheated, something Nicodem hasn't forgotten or forgiven.

"Low Key", "The Kingpin", "Trickster
"Probable other, deals in narcotics for others, keeps his dealers at arms length. Smart, Ryan and I's no. 1 priority case."
We'll see how long it takes for things to come together.

Freddie Hughes-Jackson
"Most likely a witch, smells nervous all the time, up to something?"
Nerves don't necessarily mean criminality but they're a good indication.

Liam Woodsworth
"Definite Dhampire, seems to have a deathwish, fine by me."
Nicodem doesn't like Dhampires much. He doesn't like Vampires either but he has to put up with at least one.

Aiden Phillips
Skull
"Definite Vamp, apparently a doctor, check credentials, smells of blood from different creatures, no. 2 priority"
One explanation for the smell of different people and other types of blood on Aiden might be that he runs a small others only healing business. But it's not the one that jumps to a suspicious mind.

Ryan Croft
Big Star
"Smells human, isn't. Have tested silver and wolfsbane, not a werewolf at least. Needs further investigation."
He may live with him, work with him and owe him a lot but Nicodem still wants to know just what the hell Ryan is.

Eternity Illuria Loveless
"Human? Unsure, smells confusing, ice, cold, strange, tasty. Investigation pending."
Fae are not a common sight but Nicodem will work it out, eventually.

Patrick Kershner
Star
"Definite werewolf, tested with silver, good at his job, nervous. Needs help?"
Nicodem appreciates anyone who works well and only stings them with silver very lightly to make sure he's right. And now it's confirmed, he'd be happy to help any nervous young men with any problems they might have that can be resolved by a scarred, intimidating vampire.

Anastasia Psomas
"Not human, I don't think, feels wrong, no ideas on what she is though, investigation pending."
Phoenixes? Nicodem didn't know about fae until a few weeks ago, phoenixes are going to take a while.

James Bright
"Definite Ghost, wants own murder solved, priority no. 3, investigation ongoing."
Nicodem doesn't like murder and especially doesn't like murders that make the victim have to deal with the after effects.

Naomi Ishiguro
"One of the strangest others encountered. Smells human but also of insects, I think. Needs close watching."
Spiderwomen of obscure Chinese lore? Good luck with that one, Nicodem.

'Kei'
"Probable human, smells of... ice cream? Sweets? Strangely smells delicious. Seems unlikely to be a threat."
Nice people have nothing to fear from the police or, at least, this specific officer.

Zoey Alston
"Human. Young, impatient, headstrong, smells of alcohol and recreational drugs. No threat, minor offences"
Nicodem doesn't approve of recreational drug use but you're not getting dragged to the cells for it either, not unless you're distributing.

Ramiel
"Excessively friendly, extremely French. Human? Strikes me as very old but smells of human. And cake."
If Nicodem knew there were three Archangels wandering around Edgetoun, he'd start getting suspicious. Luckily for everyone, he doesn't.

Nicodem's Appearances

All IC posts about or mentioning Nicodem.
Rise and Run
Breakfast
Further Breakfast
Still Breakfast
Breakfast Ends

Ramiel

Ramiel

Basic Information

| Name |

"Ramiel but you must call me Uncle Rammie, mon chéri."

Ramiel or Uncle Rammie, as he insists people call him.

| Date of Birth |

"Ah, too old for you my darling."

Who knows? Around the Boulangerie there are pictures of him from long, long ago that he doesn't talk about.

| Gender |

"Does it matter? I am who I am."

His true form is essentially a genderless spirit though his mortal body would traditionally be considered male.

| Sexuality |

"Why, are you looking for tips? Then you came to the right place!"

Asexual panromantic, not that you'd know it from his bawdy jokes, knowledgeable tips and general air of sexual confidence.

| Occupation |

"Working hard or hardly working, non?"

Owns and manages a boulangerie in Edgetoun called Heavenly Treats.

---

---

---

---

| In-Depth Appearance |

"Uncle Rammie keeps himself healthy, even amidst all this sugar, I'm sure you've noticed."

Clean cut features that settle easily into a grin or laugh suit Ramiel well, he's very pleased with his earthly form. So pleased that he makes sure to keep it fit and healthy though not always clean shaven. He's experimented with a pencil moustache and a roughish five o'clock shadow but always gravitates back to a smooth jaw line within a week or two. There's something about the honest appearance of being well shaved that appeals to Ramiel, he thinks it makes him look more approachable. For the same reason, he likes to wear glasses when reading, despite having extremely good eyesight, because it humanises him. He prefers to dress in clothes that are comfortable, well fitting and slightly revealing. Shirts with the top three buttons undone and well cut v-neck jumpers are two of his favourites. For colour, Ramiel likes starched light whites offset by blacks or pastel paint colours like chalky reds and cloudy blues. Cheerful colours that make you think of boating on the Thames in the sunshine on a summer afternoon.

Perhaps Ramiel's best tool for putting people at their ease is his voice. It's like syrup to the ear, sweet and soothing. His accent is almost aggressively French, h's disappearing and r's going on forever. Though he's technically not French, he's spent enough time in France and speaks the language fluently enough to not really see it as lying to pose as a Frenchman. To be fair, he doesn't actually tell people he's French, they just hear his accent, notice the French words he uses in regular conversation and see that he runs a boulangerie and make their own assumptions.

Who Am I?

| Personality |

♦ Caring ♦ Friendly ♦ Bawdy ♦ Nosey ♦

"I'm just a man, just a baker. Here, have a croissant."

If you come into Heavenly treats, the first thing that hits you is the delicious smell of baked goods. The second things is the riot of pastel colours, from the marigold floor to the rainbow hued pastries shelf. The third thing will be the boisterous, heavily accented voice calling "Bonjour! Welcome to Heavenly Treats! Are you here for sweet food or some naughty gossip because, darling, I have plenty of both!" And you have entered the world of Ramiel. He'll leave one of the young employees to work the till, sit you down, pour you some of his delicious coffee, put an eclair in front of you and draw out your deepest, darkest secrets with a knowing smile and a cheeky wink. And you'll tell him, because the longer you sit there and talk, the more you feel a warmth in your chest and a smile on your lips. So you'll throw your secrets into the deep well of Uncle Rammie's twinkling eyes and leave the boulangerie feeling like you're walking on clouds. He'll welcome the next person into the shop, do the same thing again and never tell the secrets entrusted to his care. Instead, he deals in gossip that doesn't matter to anyone (what Sharon is naming her new child, what Damien's new tattoo will say, whether Lucy will enter the talent show), trading silly jokes with leather wearing bikers and woollen clad grannies alike.

That's Ramiel, Archangel of hope. To him, there's nothing more important than listening to you talk yourself into a better mood and nothing more enjoyable than trading in trivial gossip. Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves, he says as he puts another delectable baking masterpiece in front of you. One might think he's given up on the great fight between good and evil but in fact he's decided to... creatively reinterpret his own role in the battle. He's seen the hope of millions crash and burn, the dreams of the people crush them and the heroes of the past become the twisted villains of history. So now he works on changing the little things and spreading hope on a personal level. Happy people make a happy world and lovely cakes make happy people, though he'll help with more than cakes and a shoulder to cry on. Ramiel has more than a few contacts, old friends who owe him a favour or two, who are happy to offer a job to anyone recommended by Ramiel. So if you need help not thinking dark thoughts or paying your rent, come and talk to Ramiel, knowing that the only price is that you do the same for someone else when he asks you to.

He doesn't just deal in your anxiety and woe, though. Did you forget your fiancé's birthday? Don't worry, Ramiel is waiting for you in the shop with their favourite cake in their favourite colour with a personal message from you to them in icing. He knows you'll do better next time and that the two of you will be very happy together. Did your class run late, your bus get delayed, your lunch not quite happen and you're late for your night job? Don't sweat it, he's got your favourite sandwich in a bag and refuses payment until you're back on your feet. He doesn't forget your birthday or wedding anniversary, he remembers your favourite food and drink, what days you tend to run late and forget to eat. He'll do his best to smooth over the crinkles in your life and shake it off with a grin and a wink.

---

---

---

---

| Likes & Dislikes |

"I like what any cultured person likes and dislike what every sensible world citizen dislikes."

✔ Good food, fine drink and lovely company.
✔ Gossip, the more trivial the better.
✔ Making people feel happy.
✔ Romantic comedies, the cheesier the better.
✔ Karaoke, though his singing voice is awful.
✔ Making people blush with his jokes.
✔ Anyone who can have a laugh.
✔ Puns, the more awful and corny the better.
✔ Cigarettes, for full the image of the French Man.

✘ Cheap, mass produced fast food.
✘ Action films, too loud and too boring.
✘ People who can't keep a secret.
✘ Angels that judge other angels.
✘ Humans that judge other humans.
✘ People that takes themselves too seriously.
✘ Cigars, eugh!

| History |

"I've been here and there, done this and that. Now enough about me, let's talk about you. How are you feeling?"

What is the history of any Archangel? Ramiel was put on the earth, along with his six siblings, to champion the cause of his virtue in the lives of mortals. Hope was Ramiel's cause, the light in the hearts of all men and women that helps them walk when tired, fight when weary and laugh when all is lost. And, in the name of the divine, Ramiel was the light of hope for many, many years. Hero, champion, leader, healer, Ramiel trained many of them to bring hope to the people and did his duty as he saw it for a long, long time. For the most part, he played the role of mentor and teacher, occasionally stepping into the limelight to play a small but pivotal role.

But things didn't seem to change. Heroes became villains, dreams became burdens and hope never seemed to prevail. History paints a sad picture of hope being the crutch of the desperate and the fantasies of the delusional and one day it got to Ramiel. The inherent hopelessness of his task bore down upon him and he teetered on the brink of falling. Some might consider that he did. To Ramiel, however, he merely choose a new approach to the mission. Rather than work at an international level where the consequences of failure are dire for millions, he chose to work at a personal level, bringing hope to one person at a time and sending them out into the world to spread it.

About ten years ago, he opened the Heavenly Treats boulangerie in Edgetoun's centre and has done a brisk trade in pastries, cakes, bread, gossip and hope since then. It has a high staff turnover as Ramiel deliberately employs ne'er do wells who have no job or prospects, taking them under his wing, training them up and then sending them on to higher paying positions in more central bakeries and restaurants. Is his method the most efficient way of pursuing his mission? Perhaps not but those people whose lives have been touched by his words can attest to its effectiveness.

---

---

---

---

| Family |

"Ah, you are are all my family, darlings! Everyone that comes in, for cake or for chatter, you are all part of my clan!"

Ramiel has six siblings, created at the same time as him and given their own missions. Two live in Edgetoun, a Police Commissioner and a record store owner. Apart from them, Ramiel has no children or significant others. As he says, he considers almost everyone he talks to a family member and genuinely tries to help each and every one of them.

| Strengths |

"As long as I've a cigarette in one hand, a glass of wine in the other and Cherry by my side, I'm as strong as I need to be!"

• Charming, empathic and good at making you feel good.
• Kind, likes nothing more than lightening another's load in whatever way he can.
• World class chef, baker and listener.

| Weaknesses |

"I can resist anything. Except temptation!"

• Apathetic about large scale, world changing events.
• Doesn't really listen to people saying "No, I'm fine" or "I want to handle things myself".
• Doesn't know how to deal with negative emotions, prefers to ignore them.
• Finds it hard to accept thanks or payment.

---

---

---

---

The Other

| Theme Song |

Memories – Waldeck
_{”All those souvenirs in my memories
got me going down in strike
all those souvenirs in my memories
got me ruining my soul.”}

| House Number |

"Are you going to come and visit me? Should I lock my doors and windows or leave them wide open?"

Probably somewhere in Faircourt.

| Extra Information |

"No, no, no! I'm the only one that gets to know all the juicy secrets! You've got this the wrong way round!"

• Has excellent hearing and vision, good at picking up small details and things said under one's breath.
• Loves a good French wine but will settle for an inferior nation's wine in a pinch.

Ramiel's Relationships

Blake Preston
"Her blogging and youtubeing are very nice, I sometimes watch a video now and then. She's a little angry though, maybe she's frustrated? I will have to talk to her about it and see how she feels, maybe she needs a partner."

Hmmmm... Why not her roommate Eve? Yes, yes, she's a demon, I know, but she seems like a nice girl and she is French. I will talk to Blake and then maybe put a word in Eve's ear.

Daniel Belson
"Daniel and Ehtan, poor boys. Have they resolved their ‘confusion’ about the girl yet?”

Ethan helps Daniel, I believe, and the both of them help Aila.

Alistair Queen
"Ah, Alistair. He works hard and plays hard and who is to judge? The little girl, she has been a good influence on him, I think, and I imagine that another constant in his life might not go amiss either."

But who? Well, he seems fond of Loki but I'm not sure that he is a positive influence. If I am not mistaken and I rarely am, he and Nikita have done the deed once or twice but feel no particular fondness for each other. One to think about.

Mariska Costas
"Mariska seems to follow my own heart, the heart of hopeless romantic. Perhaps she would get on well with Elsie? Hmmm... I will talk them both."

Nymphs, what beautiful creatures! I remember other times when their songs were not such rarities. But that was yesteryear, we must concern ourselves with the now.

Nikita Yankovsky
”Apathy can be a sexy quality, ask all those mopey teenage pop-stars. It is not a healthy though and leads nowhere pleasant.“

I have no doubt she could be made to feel rather more content with her existence than she currently is but she would need to want it.

Mordred Hame
”I haven’t seen him around here recently, his loss.“

If he wants Uncle Rammie’s help, he’ll need to show his face now and then.

John Taylor
”Ah, John. A tragedy in motion, like a car hurtling towards a wall. I can help many people in many ways but I do not think I can help him, not yet.”

In fact, I think there’s only one way that anyone will be able to help him.

Eve Lumière
”Another citizen of the republic on this dreary little island? Hourra! True, she is a little bit too quick to make friends but I have never been one to judge too harshly. She is always welcome to my little corner of heaven.”

And she is so prolific in her work! Spreading the joy in her way might not get the divine seal of approval but it gets mine.

Catharine Reid
”She used to come in here all the time but I have not seen her in a while. Perhaps she moved?“

A shame, such a nice girl.

Opallum
”Such fire! A very hot individual, as I am want to point out now and then.“

Some demons try to hide their nature from mortals, especially before we ’others’ were outed but not this Ifrit, he’d prefer everyone see him sit in the cold of winter with not a visible sign of discomfort. At least he seems satisfied with his position, otherwise I might have to step in.

Andrew Mordekai
”Merde, I am sweating! I think we must find him a friend before I succumb to temptation!”

True to tell, it will take something more than a beautiful man to make me ‘fall’ but he is still beautiful. Fire in the heart, fire in the soul. I am sure there are many others who would appreciate such a man.

Suriel White
”Sometimes, I think that I am wasting my time with these delicious delicacies, you know? Mostly I feel that way after talking to Suriel. They work so hard and help so many people. I hope they know the work they do is so ”

“Some angels preach or overreach, but some are kind and humble
Forgive and forget they say, no matter the trip or stumble”

Miles Catrose
”Sometimes little people want to take up the whole world, because it’s that or be overlooked. Miles is a good boy who needs to be a little more sure and a little less insecure.”

Pixies are capricious and arrogant but good hearted. I am sure there’s someone around the place who could calm his temper a little. I should talk to him, I need a haircut…

Yukiko Abe
”What is the song, it goes “Heeey, foxy lady!” It’s funny, non?”

Well, I thought it was funny. Her kind are old and tricksy but not necessarily bad. I am sure she will be careful with her partners.

Mona
”Sad girl, I hope she finds herself. Or at least finds the way forward.”

Ghosts, poor creatures. Humans fear death so much that sometimes they opt out of the natural process, whether they meant to or not. If she comes to the shop, I will see what I can do for her but I’m not sure she will. Some people do not want to move on.

Faron Romane
”Sometimes it’s hard to escape from one’s parent’s shadows, I think. You should meet my parent one day. Or rather, you certainly will, eventually.“

People call him a fool or an idiot and I wonder whether some parts of him believe them. I am glad he has moved out into independence but perhaps he needs someone to build his self confidence.

Nicolas Black
”It is traditional for a Frenchman to object to the police on principle, particularly one with no discretion and a suspicious nose.“

He wishes to do good, I think, and how can I object to that? He has the look of a man with bad things in his past, things that are yet to leave him alone. Unfortunately he’s also one of those people who would rather suffer quietly than find a therapist. I must think on this.

Maggie Spencer-Adyemi
”I had a friend named Fiacre who loved plants very much, a long time ago now. He taught me a few little tips, small things he passed on to me which maybe I should pass on to her.“

Witches are like brandies; some are good, some are bad but they all pack a punch! That said, Maggie seems like she cares about doing the right thing and working hard.

Megumi
”A charming young lady with excellent manners. I find children who shriek and scream for cakes very annoying, none of that from her.”

But then, most children have not been children for as long as her, have they? I am glad she has found Mister Queen, they will be good for each other.

Stefani Roche
”A sweet child but a little moody, non? Ah, teenagers, we all remember those days, non?“

Another young vampire? Sad creatures in many ways, because they age but do not grow, get old but can not mature. I am glad both her and Megumi have found friends and carers though.

Ari Amari
”You know, I don’t like cats very much. They hunt for fun and sleep when they could be working. Why not get a dog? They’re hard workers and don’t kill for enjoyment.“

I did not think there were any Sphinxes left and I can not say I am particularly pleased to be mistaken. Many a stupid traveller was picked from the teeth of a sphinx in the old days. Still, he seems to have turned over a new leaf here. Let us hope it is sincere.

Katharine Haynes
”A charming young lady but I haven’t seen her in my shop recently.“

Does she still live here?

Felix Underwood
”Librarians are important, a society without librarians is just a group of people with no idea where to file things.”

Talking to the dead is… complicated. Some of my fellow angels do not like it, they see it as disturbing those who have earned their rest. And while I see why they might think that, it gives hope to those who can talk to their loved ones. And who am I to stand in the way of that?

Elise Callaghan
”Quiet people, I know I should not resent them but I always feel like they’re ignoring me. Me!”

Sirens, the call on the dark sea that drags you down and down. I had never heard of one that doesn’t sing, until now. One to watch, I believe.

Claire O'Malley
”I don’t know much about her, perhaps she doesn’t know much about herself?“

We’ll see if she drops into the shop at some point.

Barachiel Alexander Eamon
”Working with children is a noble calling. You build tomorrow by crafting the future’s builders.“

Like myself, Barachiel continues to fight the good fight but has put down the flaming sword.

Ethan Cooper
”Ouff! What a beefcake! I wonder if he has a sweet tooth…”

Lives with a demon and a werewolf but knows neither of their natures? He’s either dense or kindly doesn’t pry. Either way, I imagine he is a positive influence on both of them.

Alfie Liau
”My only rival in the field of sweet treats for the people of Edgetoun! I shall have the better of him yet!“

He seems to be a good sort, I hope he continues to enjoy chocolate more than blood.

Astrid Kitchener
”Artists, they work much better when they have little to eat!“

She seems more accepting of ‘others’ than her father, as always seems to be the way. Generations upon generations, each one struggling to try and make the next accept their ideals. She is a hopeful step, however.

Michael Harel
”A handsome man, non? Well be careful what you say about him, he’s my… he’s an old friend.“

Brother, we are more alike now than ever before. I wonder how the one above thinks of us, working down here in the squalor of humanity. I hope he understands why, if he even thinks about us at all.

Aila Atleo
”A lovely girl, she buys her bread from me and laughs at my jokes! And as we all know, that’s all you have to do to make Rammie your friend for ever.“

Her past is fraught and fractured but she seems to be happy here. A job, friends and two almost fathers. Let us hope things stay that way.

Emerson Maddox
”Lawyers, pah! If they are defending you, you’d better hope you paid them more than the prosecution did.“

He seems arrogant and sharp tongued, two qualities I can’t stand. I do hope he comes into the shop one day, so I can find out a little more about him.

Talia Halbrook
”I haven’t seen her around for a while, I wonder how she is.“

Demons, they seem to be everywhere these days.

Loki Van Stenberg
”A handsome man and we all like having those around, do we not? I am not sure he is one half so pretty under the surface.“

In fact, I am certain he is not. Were I forced to guess, I would hazard he lives off others in more ways than drinking blood, probably through theft or other criminal activities. Vampires, too many of them are the monsters from the night to remember those who aren’t.

Freddie Hughes-Jackson
”We all like books but people can give conversation too! I think young Freddie forgets that sometimes.“

A good boy who studies hard and wants nothing more than to be left alone to do his magic, what could be better than that? Of course, I still like making him blush when he comes in for a little treat.

Liam Woodsworth
”Another child with apathy issues, another day.“

Dhampires, yet more victims of the plague of vampirism.

Aiden Phillips
”A pretty boy, he can take my temperature whenever he wants!”

Another vampire, though this one seems a little different to Queen and Stenberg. He has a secret, that much I’m sure of, but I doubt it is a dark one.

Ryan Croft
”Ah, our hard working police commissioner! I’ll stand him a drink of coffee and doughnut whenever he comes this way.”

I think the end may be coming, the reckoning might be on the horizon. And when the rapture comes, I wonder if we will stand together or apart, brother. Justice and vengeance, rarely do they inspire hope.

Eternity Illuria Loveless
”What does she do? Night crawling? I think we are thinking of different things when you say that, mon ami.”

Fae, I cannot say I like them. They are outside of the jurisdiction of Heaven and have no interest in the morality of humanity.

Patrick Kershner
”In every group, there’s the one who’s quiet because they know what happens when they open their mouths, sadly.”

And in every pack, there’s a runt. At least he is now part of two packs, the wolves and the police. And the latter seem a little more ardent in protecting their members.

Nicodem Kaminski
”What a face, what a voice! I’ve clearly got a challenger for Edgetoun’s most attractively exotic older man.”

A vampire that files down his fangs and is accepted by Raguel is more than a curiosity, he is a minor miracle. One to watch indeed.

Anastasia Psomas
”She looks like she certainly needs a good night’s sleep and a healthy meal.”

Phoenixes, tragic beings. They burn on and on, no end in sight and no respite on the horizon.

James Bright
”He doesn’t come over to the shop anymore. A shame, I was considering employing him.”

I hope he finds his killer and his peace, he deserves it.

Naomi Ishiguro
”A little strange, non? You don’t feel quite safe near her? There’s a reason for that.”

Were I a younger being, still full of wrath and righteous fury, I would fall upon her with Heaven’s own might. Now… I only hope to steer her prey away from her.

”Kei”
”Happiness is good, whatever the source. It’s net gain for the world, I think.”

Happy fae are not always happy because something good has happened, however.

Zoey Alston
”How many bartenders can Edgetoun possibly need?”

And how many witches? I hope there’s not some sort of occult or alcoholic conspiracy going.

Aednyx (Never Used)

Basic Information

| Name |
Aed, of the first circle of the world
Nyx, of the breeze blown tune

| Age |
Older than the drums in the woods and more ancient than the song on the wind.

| Gender |
Male, in all likelihood.

| Sexuality |
Aesexual.

| Occupation |
After picking up the art of banking in the city of Babylon, Aednyx has become quite adept at moving money around to make it transform into more money. He has a considerable fortune at his disposal during his current holiday period and is acting as a patron of the arts and general layabout.

| In-Depth Appearance |
White of skin and hair, Aednyx's features are never quite settled. Today, the nose is sharp and straight, tomorrow short and cute as a button and so on. There are a few constants of course, favourite shapes like others have favourite clothes; elfin features, sharp cheekbones, a smirking mouth, deep eyes and sunken sockets. One might even theorise that his favourite shapes have, through the years, influenced the tradition of calling such features elfin or faelike.

He is generally quite tall (all the better to look down on you my dear) and thin. In previous years and centuries, Aednyx favoured sable black tunics and flowing cloaks that brought with them the dark of decades past. Nowadays, he prefers loose fitting cardigans, black T-shirts, skinny jeans and pointy shoes. Moving with the times is incredibly important to him and he wouldn't like to seem out of date. When he deigns to dress in a colour other than black, he likes reds, browns and oranges; the warm colours of autumn.

Like all fae, what people see of him is more glamour than not. But as a particularly old and noble faery, Aednyx's glamour is as thick as the age of wood and even harder to penetrate. Nothing less than a serious iron inflicted injury would force him to drop it so it is unlikely any will ever see what lies beneath. What all can be certain of, however, is that he will have no wings. When he gave up name and title, he cast those off as well and will never wear wings again, even in glamour. The skies are for others, Aednyx has contented himself with the earth. All of it.

---

---

---

---

Who am I?

| Personality |

♦ Patronising ♦ Caring ♦ Manipulative ♦ Teacherly ♦

It is a truth almost universally acknowledged that being old grants one certain privileges. Not having to wait for a seat on the bus, discounts at the cinema, bigoted thinking being hand waived and so on. When one is older than the society that enforces these rules, one comes to expect a different kind of special treatment and, equally, one acts in a certain way towards those so much younger than one's self.

As a faery of noble blood, Aednyx probably couldn't tell you exactly when he was born but it is safe to say that he is very old, if such a word can be applied to an immortal. It is because of this, then, that he is more than a little patronising to those younger than himself. Of course, that's not quite accurate. He's just as patronising to anyone his age and even those older than him, they're just much rarer. His manner isn't overly rude though, just implies a perspective that thinks in different terms to mortals. Where a human thinks in brackets of ten, twenty or fifty years, Aednyx might be thinking in terms of the next handful of centuries or the next few millennia.

Another cause for this demeanor might be his station in life. For the first portion of his existence, he was a prince of the Seelie court. For the past few ages, he has been the driving force in many events of human history, an immortal flame in a sea of mortal candles. It is rare that he meets his equal in mystical might or ancient ambition. That has largely changed since the incident of 2020, as now one can find archangels and demons on every street corner, practically. Aednyx is conflicted over how to feel about this. He quite likes having so many supernatural beings out in the open, as the clash of different species and magics forces more and more creativity and creation out of society. On the other hand, he quite liked being a genuinely mysterious figure of impenetrable mystery. These days, most people just assume he's a weird vampire.

Aednyx sees people not as pieces on a chessboard but rather as characters in a story, not an uncommon viewpoint for a fae. As long as an action or inaction betters the overall story, what does temporary inconvenience matter? True, you might dislike spending five years homeless as you study for a degree but won't it be an incredible story to tell your children? And speaking of children, Aednyx has seen how you look at so and so, and he's sure he could get the two of you together, just say the word. What, you'd rather he not interfere? Ah, bit too late, he's already scheduled a blind date for the two of you and paid for everything, surely you won't back out now...And so on. Aednyx truly believes that what he does is in everyone's best interest. After all, mankind has benefited plenty from his presence, why would individuals be different? It helps that he mostly prefers happy stories and doesn't inflict undue suffering on any of his 'characters'.

Apart from that, Aednyx likes people who respect him and are suitably interested in whatever it is he has to say. He likes teaching people things they didn't know and likes it when they're prepared to admit the gaps in their knowledge. He likes people who create and change, people who warp and shift. Stagnation is death, creation is life.

| Likes & Dislikes |

✔ People creating, be it poetry or painting, song or story.
✔ Rituals and traditions, especially old ones. Christmas grinches beware.
✔ Hot tea and heavy rain.
✔ Red autumn leaves and the season of change.
✔ Shipping people Playing matchmaker.
✔ Teaching others.
✔ People who listen to him.

✘ People who discourage creativity or progress, especially those who are narrow minded.
✘ When people don't examine their actions for their internal motivations.
✘ Snow and winter chills, frozen lakes, icy grass. Winter is the season of stagnation.
✘ Having his ships matches broken.
✘ People who ignore him or are easily offended.
✘ Unexpected gifts and token gestures of respect.
✘ Games of chance.

| History |
Long, long ago, there was the circle. It was a petty little thing, scraped in the dirt by a being more monkey than man and lined with scraps of flint. When it was done, the man's friends came and danced around it to the beat of their savage drums. As hidebound drum and thumping foot reached a fevered crescendo, something stepped into the circle from the other side of forever. The newcomer was pale as snow and looked waiflike compared to the proto-humans before him. And yet they cowered back at his sudden appearance, stumbling to distance themselves from the circle.

The newcomer looked at the strange beings whose music had attracted his attention. Huge hands, stunted limbs, large heads and wide brows. True, they seemed slow and thick, their skulls more suited to cracking nuts than thinking. There was something in them, something more than the need to eat, sleep, drink, mate. Or, at least, the seed of something else. Perhaps, with the proper guidance, they could learn to sing.

On that day, a fairy of Titania's own family did cast down his title, take leave of his duties and drop his wings into the mud. And for what? To dance with brutish monkeys? To teach them tunes and build them instruments? Madness. There again, what faery can said to be sane? He took up a new name, built of the circle and forged of the tune. Aednyx, a name that can be traced through all the ages of the world.

To follow his path through human history isn't easy, for he was ever shy of the spotlight. When men first put ink to page and made letters, he was dictating. When women first strung a strand of entrails between two horns to strum out a tune, he was conducting. When people first told legends by the fireside, he was doing shadow puppets. His role was the kindly teacher or helpful muse, giving great men and women the shape of the next revolutionary idea and letting their minds fill in the gaps. Music, the written word, theatre, and many more innovations since the first days were conceived under his gently guiding hand.

Less than loved by other faeries, Aednyx's insulting dismissal of his courtly ties burns in the hearts of many proud Seelie as hot today as it did so many years ago. His name was his own to lose and no other can find it, so they have no choice but to address him, should they meet, by his new title. But in their hearts, the more traditional of Seelie Court think of him as coward, craven and crook. To choose the man-things over the court of the Fair Folk... unthinkable.

For the past century or so, Aednyx has been taking a holiday. Mankind have taken his lessons well and are inventing like never before. It's gratifying to see them race forwards, new devices, knowledges and crafts being thought up every day, like a toddler who has gone straight from walking to sprinting. Someday soon, he's sure he'll get back to work and push humanity into the next era of progress. Really, any day now. At the moment, however, he's indulging locally in perhaps his favourite passion; the arts. As beautiful now as they were in a muddy forest near ten millennia ago.

| Family |
During his time with humanity, Aednyx has had many faery visitors. Some wanted to see his little project for themselves, alternatively laughing or marvelling. Others wished to 'avenge his insult upon the Seelie court' and challenged him to duels and contests. To their surprise but not his, they found that he had given up none of his power when he gave up his wings. The ashes of most of his challengers are spread across the earth, though some were allowed to go free. After all, what good is an example if there's none alive to spread it?

Though he has many siblings and uncountable cousins, Aednyx's family seem unwilling to visit. Most likely because none of them are prepared to go against the most prominent family member's example. Aednyx's mother, Titania the second and former Queen of the Seelie court, has never deigned to visit her wayward son. She has many others and at least this one isn't plotting to assassinate his brothers and sisters. Still, it is a little undignified for one of noble blood to squat upon the earth with such an uncivilised people. Perhaps one day she will arrive as a terrible tempest and wash away their cities before bringing him home. Not today though.

| Strengths |

• Absolutely ancient, with all the old knowledge and mystical secrets that implies.
• As powerful a magician as any fae, but with the advantage of long years of experience.
• Well practised at getting people to do what he wants them to do, with sly words and guile.

| Weaknesses |

• As vulnerable to iron as any other Faerie, it burns and strips him of his glamours
• Unpractised in personal combat, more used to using magic or using people to fight his battles
• Has very few allies to call on, most Seelie Faeries still hold a grudge about him leaving.

---

---

---

---

The Other

| Theme Song |
The Voice – Celtic Women
_{”I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice, I will remain”}

Character Sheets, old and new!

Welcome to my collection! Here you can see my addiction to hiders, gifs, Fontmeme.com, British faceclaims and DRAMA. Maybe One day I'll get my act together and create a table of contents...

_{It's worth noting that these aren't all the character sheets I've ever used on this site, just the ones I'm most proud of.}

Free Sorcery: An Alagaësian Roleplay

@Ceta de Cloyes
To be honest, I'm probably in too many RPs as it is. So if you PM me when the part reaches Du Weldenvarden, that would be great.