The Faces of Damnaticia

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Soban
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The Faces of Damnaticia

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The Faces of Damnaticia

The world of magery is one unto itself. Mankind goes about its daily lives, unaware of the mysterious plots and events going on right under their noses, between individuals and beings of unimaginable power. As there are major players on the world stage of international politics so are there major players on the stage of cosmic politics, negotiating things that could affect the lives of billions of people, oblivious to it all.

Yet that obliviousness is what is desired, for when the walls between the societies of supernaturals and mortals fall away, the results can be catastrophic. Within the global community of magery there are those who seek to remain apart, those who actively work to ensure our worlds remain apart, and those dangerous few who seek the precise opposite; either for their masters, or to further some mysterious plot only they know the outcome of.

Here we will take a unique look at the faces of this other world, and peer into what drives thier actions.
Last edited by Soban on Wed May 21, 2008 7:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Faces of Damnaticia

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Solomon Ardelean

Aliases: The Black Skull, High Warlock, Damian Luca

Amongst the most powerful magic practicioners in Europe, Solomon Ardelean is considered Number One on the Ordo Procella's hitlist; a position he has held for roughly the last five hundred years. A warlock, Ardelean has a personal pact with Belial, which grants him eternal youth and sorcerous knowledge in exchange for doing the Shaitan's dirty work in the world of mortals.

Charismatic and immensely powerful, Solomon Ardelean is the singular heir to the legacy of the infamous Black Endre, a warlock (some claim "necromancer") that was killed in the 14th Century after a long and grueling battle against the Ordo Procella's Mage Hunters and fanatical Sisters of the Holy Word.

It is said that Ardelean betrayed the infamous Plague Herald, ensuring his own survival and escape. Even if this isn't the case, Ardelean used the attack against his master to flee into the night, avoiding the Ordo's retribution. Solomon Ardelean managed to evade the Ordo for close to a century, before word of his survival reached the ears of Mage Hunters. In all probability, the only reason Ardelean managed to avoid facing massive Ordo retaliation was thanks to the Inquisition, which deemed the Ordo Procella and Sisters of the Holy Word heretics in the 16th Century.

With the Ordo forced underground, Ardelean was able to remain mostly uncontested in his increasing rise to power, as he continued to gain the good graces of his dark master, Belial. As the magery community was subjected to massive uphevals, tribulations, and deaths at the hands of medieval Christians, Ardelean and the other truly powerful practicioners chose to remain silent during this period; Ardelean himself remained holed up in a series of castles in Transylvania and Wallacia until the 18th Century, when he began to get involved in Supernatural affairs once again, asserting his place with alarming force and aggression.

But it wasn't until the late 20th Century that Ardelean made a controversial move, gathering a group of young men and women from across Eastern Europe to instruct as apprenti. As the practice of having apprenti had been mostly dead for centuries, this caused quite a stir amongst Ardelean's colleagues.

But Ardelean wasn't content to remain quiet or uninvolved, and an accident in Bucharest caused by one apprentice gained renewed attention from the Ordo Procella; in particular one of their crack Mage Hunters, Veligan Renata. Within less than a year's time, Veligan and her men had captured or killed all but one of Ardelean's apprenti, the last of which was killed when they stormed his hideout in Constanţa, Romania.

A massive shootout followed, where numerous Mage Hunters were massacred by Ardelean's magical fury. Veligan herself narrowly avoided being killed by him, after which she ordered Mage Hunters and Romanian police to set fire to his structure. Ardelean escaped, but centuries of work was lost, in addition to the complete destruction of his much more recent efforts to raise apprenti. It is believed that an incensed Ardelean has set up anew somewhere else, but Ordo Procella agents have yet to acquire his new whereabouts. Wherever he may be, the Ordo is highly prepared for what will likely be a bloody showdown with the warlock, and hope to finally bring him down. As Ardelean has long been considered a rogue by the magery community, no one has apparently come to his aid. Most figure he can handle himself, and if he dies, he isn't to be likely missed.
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Re: The Faces of Damnaticia

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Nizarah Arak

Aliases: The Hand of Lilith, The Sorceress of Anatolia, The Loremistress

Possibly one of the oldest living beings in our world, Nizarah is considered amongst the most powerful practicioners of magic, and certainly the most knowledgeable. A traveler, skilled diplomat, and one with a little too much time on her hands, Nizarah took it upon herself to gather and catalogue all magical knowledge and safekeep it. One could say she is an archivist of such things, and judging by her "cute" looks and eternally youthful manner, one could say she quite perfectly fits the archetype of a young librarian or bookworm.

Under her facade of naughty charm lies a powerful and incomprehensively wise being, however, one who is so powerful and knowledgeable that she quite simply requires the same sort of etiquette and care required when dealing with a "true" Supernatural. Lilith's granddaughter and current co-ruler of the lilu alongside her husband Damal Mur, Nizarah is often the final word on many affairs between magi and Supernaturals, being respected by mortals and Supernaturals alike.

Nizarah is not often one to flex her magical might, but one must understand how powerful Nizarah, one with so many Supernatural alliances and archived lore, is. It is commonly believed that Nizarah is in fact the most powerful magic practicioner alive, short of "actual" Supernaturals, and that ignores her supernatural powers as a lilu; although since both are tied to the same spirit energy, Nizarah is much more prone to use her spells over any sort of inborn talents.

However, being "on top" has its drawbacks; as one would quickly find out if they were to sit down with Nizarah and share a conversation. Before the Ordo's campaign that culled the numbers of magi in Europe and beyond, she was often the subject of harrassing attacks by weak pracitioners seeking her stored knowledge and relics. Nizarah has a bitter rival in Solomon Ardelean, who is one of the few practioners capable of standing up to her. While Ardelean has far less expansive knowledge than she, he has a much more personal tie with a major Abyssal power that somewhat evens the playing field. Nizarah keeps a close eye on Solomon Ardelean, but knows that he is more a threat to himself than to her or her family.

Nizarah has seven daughters and two sons, all born before the mysterious post-deluvian event that left the lilu infertile. While it is believed the lilu do not have additional children on purpose, rather than being cursed, no lilu is willing to share the truth; Nizarah included. She appears to be one who has seen, done, and learned everything; yet Nizarah enjoys everyday life and simple pleasures, and is by no means bored.

Nizarah is normally found at a massive library in Istanbul, known to mortals as just a very cute librarian that is very particular about making sure borrowed books aren't overdue. But few have the opportunity to see the true treasure of Nizarah's library; a vasy archive of magical knowledge, grimories, bestiaries, and other priceless relics of magic from throughout history. As someone who is a bit obsessed with archiving, cataloguing, and safeguarding the most precious magical secrets, Nizarah has accumulated an arcane archive that stretches for vast distances and goes several floors down into the earth.

It's a bit of a mystery how her archive has survived earthquake-prone Turkey, but none can help but marvel at Nizarah's accomplishment. While even she will admit that her archives do not have everything, she intends to get it, or a copy thereof, eventually.
Last edited by Soban on Sat May 24, 2008 12:24 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: The Faces of Damnaticia

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Damal Mur

Aliases: The Knight of Eternity, Guardian of the Lilu

One of the oldest beings on earth alongside his wife Nizarah, Damal does not practice magic, but rather focuses on the day to day runing of lilu affairs, protecting Nizarah and her stores of arcane knowledge, and overseeing the various businesses that keep Nizarah and Damal both wealthy and able to support their various activities around the world.

Damal is a master tactician and warrior; like Nizarah, his thousands of years of life experiences lend well to knowing more than any mere mortal. Along with the fact that lilu can't die, it's easy to come to the conclusion that Damal is the most unstoppable soldier on the face of the planet.

Unlike his wife, Damal is far more prone to use his innate lilu powers; the ability to become ethereal, psychic abilities, and shapeshifting make him a powerful opponent in any fight, or even to avoid an unnecessary confrontation. Having honed many of his abilities over the millenia, Damal is the most physically dangerous lilu save the lost Elders and Lilith herself. Damal, like Nizarah, rarely uses his talents against an enemy, but most reasonable people understand that he is a force to be reckoned with. While a non-practitioner is little threat to a magus, Damal and Nizarah rarely part company, meaning that the Loremistress is ready to put down any wielder of magic that would attack him.

Damal is strong but reasonable to the other lilu, and he is often one to offer wisdom to those who lack it. His first and last concerns are Nizarah, and even though she is incapable of dying he will see to it she is not harmed in any way. Hurting Nizarah is a sure way to earn a brutal death from Damal.

Damal quietly despises Solomon Ardelean, though he respects Nizarah's opinion that the warlock serves some purpose that is yet to be fully realized. Otherwise Damal's primary concerns are with the global community of lilu, themselves, and seeing to it that they remain truthful to the laws he and Nizarah set out with the assembled lilu after the Elders were captured and bound by the nephilim. These rules include ensuring that the lilu do not use their powers or magic to harm or enslave mortals.
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Re: The Faces of Damnaticia

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Veligan Renata

Aliases: Renata Veligan (non-Hungarian version of name)

A senior member of the Ordo Procella's elite Mage Hunters, Renata is a little more than driven toward her cause. She is a fanatic with a zeal for combating use of magic, and a major admirer of the old Sisters of the Holy Word; a secretive organization of nuns that operated under the Ordo's wing from the 13th to 16th centuries, before being disbanded as its members were hunted down under accusations of heresy. Renata fancies herself as the first of a new wave of Sisters, and has allegedly found many secretive, "heretical" relics and books once belonging to the SHW and presumed lost.

Born in 1975, Renata was recruited by the Ordo while she was still an adolescent; despite Hungary's being behind the so-called Iron Curtain, the Soviets had little concern with rooting out the Ordo as they only actively promoted anti-magical motives, not blatantly religious ones. Renata caught sight of a mysterious supernatural event believed to be the work of mischeivous crones, and Ordo investigators determined that she had been made sufficiently "Aware" to prevent her from disbelieving the event. She was debriefed on the events and given an offer to help control such "dangerous" activities, and agreed simply because it allowed her to leave her village. Over years of indoctrination and training, a young and impressionable woman was turned into a fanatic.

Renata worked on a series of minor cases throughout her early carreer, before earning a place as leader of her Mage Hunter unit. After successfully leading an operation to disrupt a cult that had accessed knowledge of dangerous rituals, she was promoted to the position of Senior Mage Hunter. Her most successful act in that capacity was the 1999 capture and arrest of a couple trafficking occult relics and grimoires, which was followed by her being added to the case to capture or kill the warlock Solomon Ardelean. In 2004 she led a major raid against Ardelean's warlock coven in Constanţa, leading in the deaths of his apprenti and disruption of his operation. Renata remains assigned to the case to eventually end the threat Ardelean poses, and as of writing was actively cooperating with various law enforcement authorities and government intelligence agencies to ascertain his current whereabouts.

Renata's zealotry overshadows her otherwise nonchalant attitude, and those working with her often express concerns that she doesn't take her job seriously enough. She seems to look at her current case as a game of cat and mouse, and often observes her operations in a laid-back manner. When it comes down to the business of actually raiding her target, however, Renata has shown no sign of being anything but a honed and professional operator.
Last edited by Soban on Mon May 26, 2008 9:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Faces of Damnaticia

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Helena Ruane

Aliases: None

Born and raised in New York City, Helena Ruane appears in every way to be a mundane, young mortal woman. A college dropout, Helena went on to work various low-paying service and retail jobs while living with her on and off boyfriend, Andrew. In 2005 she and Andrew elected to team up with a pair of friends, forming a metal band known as "Murderblazt", playing at various bars and clubs in an attempt to "make it big".

Helena was a poor lyric writer and doubly cursed for a metal vocalist; she was not "intense" sounding enough to attract heavy metal fans, and her voice was not beautiful enough to work from that angle. Murderblazt was destined to never be more than an unnoticed local act, which has caused a desperate and cash-strapped Helena to become ever more desperate, including considering hiring a writer or finding lyrical inspiration from poetry and even stranger sources.

Helena has a very frustrated relationship with Andrew, with the two frequently breaking up and having arguments, yet somehow keeping the band together. It is obvious that they love one another, but the frustrations of finance, the band, and what they want in their relationship keeps them perpetually unhappy.

Helena is also close with a former college friend, Rin Nakano, who once expressed a homosexual interest in her. As Helena had no such desire, the two remained close - if strained - friends until Rin found a girlfriend and moved in with her. Rin has threatened to leave the band several times, only for Helena to beg her to stay; at least for the time being.
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Re: The Faces of Damnaticia

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Nadia Chaboteaux

Aliases: None

A native of New Orleans, Nadia desends from a long line of voodoo practicioners that can be traced back through generations in southern Louisiana and various Carribean islands. As someone who has been exposed to a magical practice with as much misinformation and outright nonsense as modern voodoo (although ironically, less nonsensical than Thelema or wicca), it is somewhat surprising that Nadia has discovered true magical techniques, and she has acquired a reputation amongst some people as a medium and oracle.

Nadia has certifiably communicated with spirits of the deceased, and there are a number of desendants of old antebellum New Orleans business families that claim she or an ancestor has put their families under a powerful curse. Nadia denies cursing anyone, and claims that her practice is entirely harmless. She is at times sought by magically aware members of law enforcement who wish to gain insight from victims of a crime. Even if such evidence isn't admissible in court, it can help end a killing spree or solve a "perfect" crime.

There is, of course, a rumor that tells of Nadia actually being the long line of voodoo priestesses she claims as ancestors; that "Nadia Chaboteaux" and those ancestors are merely aliases for a woman who has lived for centuries, known as the "Queen of the Magic". Of course Nadia dismisses such rumors as nonsense, although she knows of many magical practicioners who are centuries old.
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Re: The Faces of Damnaticia

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Thurston Ryer

Aliases: The Alchemist, numerous other aliases throughout history

Thurston Ryer is the "youngest" member of the Seven Crowns, the most powerful practitioners of magic and "guardians" over the field and its practitioners. He is considered the most powerful and knowledgeable user of alchemy, and is the unofficial emissary of the Elementals before the Seven Crowns.

Thurston, under numerous aliases, originally lived mostly in European countries aiding select alchemists during the height of that field's popularity. However as alchemy waned, he became one of the only individuals known to still practice it, eventually moved to America during the early 18th century. He is considered the chief guardian of magical affairs over the Americas, yet it is a capacity he rarely acts upon; unsurprising, when one considers how relatively rare magical practice is in that part of the world.

Thurston's arts of alchemy differ from typical magic in that he communicates with the Elementals, rather than more powerful spirits. While the angels and jinn most commonly approached by magic practitioners offer the knowledge of rituals and powerful Words of Creation in exchange for service, Elementals typically offer knowledge of substances, rituals of an alchemical nature, and invoking their powers to manipulate substances.

Thurston is a somewhat obsessive man, spending hours to days perfecting some substance or elixir, and keeping all his notes and books arranged in whatever way he feels is best. He is often considered a "dry" personality by those that know him; Ardelean considers him "trifling", while Nizarah notes him as "one to give lectures that put me asleep; quite an accomplishment, that". Considering his more public occupation as a college professor, one must feel pity for his students.
Last edited by Soban on Mon May 26, 2008 9:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Faces of Damnaticia

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William Tarek

Aliases: Tariq al-Khaled (original Arabic name)

Born in Saudi Arabia, Tariq al-Khaled came to the United Kingdom in the 1980's to receive a quality education. During his time in college Tariq had a strange fascination with the occult, reading about such things as Thelema, Hermetism, Satanism, and other mystical subjects. Tariq elected to pursue history, religion, and other subjects, rather than the sorts of business-related courses his petroleum baron father wished.

Eventually becoming a citizen of the UK and having his name changed to William Tarek, he became engrossed in a personal project to study and research the occult; he originally began it as a personal insight into the human mind and why it invented such oddities as magic, finding the nonsense of "Astral Projection" and "inner divinity" strange and morbidly fascinating. Eventually he dedicated his life to debunking mysticism and magic; until he made a frightening discovery.

Tarek's research into the occult yielded interesting results until 1997, when he came upon a coven of supposed warlocks in the Romanian port city of Constanţa. Tarek studied this group in depth, observing their disturbing reverence for the great demon prince, Belial, who was much like the Iblis of his own religion. He would meet the High Warlock of that coven, a man named Solomon Ardelean, and began to make more and more frightening discoveries; the "magic" these men and women practiced was real.

By 2000 Tarek departed Romania and spent time reasearching more of the false aspects of magic, in a dedicated effort to seperate fantasy from fact. He reportedly angered a group of wiccans by his questions, especially those related to Aleister Crowley's influence on their "religion". After angering wiccans, LaVeyan satanists, and others, Tarek returned briefly to the UK to organize his thoughts into book form. At this point Tarek made no mention in his notes of Ardelean's warlocks, although one very disturbed journal entry was made.

Around 2002 Tarek spent time in Istanbul, Turkey, speaking on the matter in private with an old friend he met in London. By chance, or so he thought, Tarek had this coversation in a quiet public library; one whose librarian was a woman named Ferah Umar. Ms. Ferah silently listened in on his conversation, before interupting him by telling him to come with her. "Ferah" demanded to know where Tarek had learned so much about the occult, and after a long conversation revealed herself to be Nizarah Arak, the sorceress. She had been watching Tarek for years, and felt he knew enough to be warned of the dangers.

Although Nizarah was not the most forthcoming, Tarek commonly spoke with her, learning as much as he could; which was not much, considering the Loremistress' opinion that he was researching things he wasn't ready for. By 2004 Tarek returned to the UK, authoring several books and essays about the occult. Most of his writings were on the certifiably false aspects of magic, such as Thelema and Hermetism, but Tarek was very far into a book that spoke of the aspects of true magic.

That book was never submitted to be published, however, as a group from the Ordo Procella personally visited Tarek at his home, warning him of the sort of dangerous thing he was doing. He was threatened with arrest if he allowed his works on true magic to leave his private care; especially his essays on lilu and the Ordo itself. Tarek's wife was horrified to come home and see him surrounded by men in suits, and afterward asked him what was going on. Tarek, being ever the kidder, said it was the CIA. Reportedly, actual CIA agents watching Tarek for unrelated reasons were unamused by this.
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