Strider
“Magicians perform miracles through personal contracts made with demons.”, Sententiae, Thomas Aquinas (ca. 1227–1274)
General Information
Warlock of the Silver Ladder
Born: January 29, 1980
Age: 33
Rank: Adept of Space
Titles/Memberships:
- Acolyte of the Silver Ladder
- Herald of the Brisbane Consilium
- Banner of the Archons cabal
Various nicknames and aliases:
Concept: Cryptopoly information provider (Virtue: Hope, Vice: Pride)
Physical description: A paragon of business-like efficiency: white shirt, black tie, black jacket, sunglasses.
Magical Tools: Strider is known to carry a small brass mirror.
Nimbus: Burning flames filled with eyes, surrounding and watching from every direction; distant screaming from behind; sulphur.
Timeline
Awakened: 2002
Initial Master: Harp (NPC), estranged
Current Master: Lamia (NPC)
Background
The Lie
- 1995-1999 Teenage life, not a time Strider reveals much about, but obviously he did something to gain the notice of the Silver Ladder. Given the level of interest, it is likely he comes from a wealthy family (in fact if you spend enough time researching you will find his face on the very rare occassion in the background of a "society photo"), but he has never revealed any details of this.
Gaslight Mansion Years
- 1999-2002 Becomes increasingly involved in providing information and services to the Cryptopoly, although Strider doesn't go into a lot of detail he does say it included working with occult groups for Elizabeth McNamara, but that he didn't yet know the Truth. If pressed he says that he "provided services such as research on various topics and occasionally acquiring items on behalf of Ms McNamara". Those who spent time at Gaslight Mansion over this period may have been aware of Strider's presence.
- 2002 Strider turns up (literally appears) on the doorstep of Gaslight Mansion in the early hours of the morning, harrowed from his Awakening as a Mastigos and passage through Pandemonium, the realm of nightmares. Once he has recovered from his ordeal he joins the Silver Ladder as an acolyte of the Lighthouse.
- 2003-2005 Early apprenticeship, assisting Harp, Agent Shrike, and the Silver Ladder. Strider continues his involvement in the Cryptopoly, while also getting to know the others that frequent, or live at, Gaslight Mansion, including Cuffs, Dornelia and Freak.
- 2005 Strider swears the oath of service, and the very next month is awarded the title of Liegeman. Giving the award, Harp alludes to Strider's many years of dedication including services rendered before he Awakened.
Independence
- 2006 Tragedy strikes and a younger acolytes, Harmony is killed, but Strider survives and is cleared of any wrongdoing. The incident is ruled and unfortunate result of paradox. Strider leaves his apprenticeship with Harp and strikes off on his own, disappearing overnight, while some of the other students of the Lighthouse form the Archons cabal.
- 2007 Strider returns to Awakened society and joins as the Banner of the Archons, but keeps at a distance from the Lighthouse. It is not initially widely known what Strider did during the intervening year, but he begins spending time with Lamia, a Silver Ladder solitaire.
The Archons
- 2008-2009 Strider continues to build his Cryptopoly network and assist others, sharing assets with other Silver Ladder mages (including Harp, whom he still works with in the Silver Ladder caucus). Strider spends a lot of his time at the Archon's new sanctum, recording the lore of the new cabal and building a library of Lex Magica. He also reveals an interest (and talent) in Geomancy, and starts inquiries into the ley lines of the city, often stating he is investigating the relationship between ley lines and cracks in reality.
- 2010 It becomes known that Strider has joined the Reality Stalkers and gained the first attainment. His master is Lamia, a reclusive Mastigos solitaire, currently of the Silver Ladder but formerly of the Mysterium, who is occasionally seen in Brisbane.
- 2010 Strider assists the Hierarch at the trial of Joseph, guarding the leader of the cabal of Free Council mages that openly attacked a group of vampires in the middle of the city, violating the Precepts of Secrecy, of Hubris, and of breaching the Concord.
- 2011-2012 Strider networks with other mages and cabals, using the assets of the Cryptopoly to pass information on to contacts such as Watchlight (and Ardent Compass) and Smithy.
Recent events
2011
Floods have a way of covering up things, but they can also uncover things better left hidden. In the wake of the 2011 floods, Strider received reports through his network of some strange happenings in western Brisbane, possibly something revealed by the water that had remained hidden since the Gaslighters had dealt with it in 1890s.
Strider passed the information on to Watchlight, as he has done many times in the past, who was then able to arrange an investigation, discover the history of the site, and find a spirit that had been released and taken over a local gang leader and preparing to sacrifice some hostages on the site. After Strider did a bit more investigation to find the gang's current whereabouts, Watchlight and some other mages, including members of the Ardent Compass were able to confront and defeat them, rescue the hostages, and then heal the possessed person, driving the spirit from them.
It is not longer after that Watchlight is recognised for his many contributions to Awakened society and joins the ruling Consilium.
2012
Strider learnt through his contacts about a number of disappearances and assaults around the Treasury Casino, culminating in a death which the police were trying to keep quiet due to some occult aspects. Not being able to find much more out through scrying, but confirming with his contacts that it was a "monster", Strider contacted Smithy and filled him in on the situation, knowing he worked with a few other mages who might be able to look into the situation.
It can be difficult for Strider to work out what Smithy might go for, and sometimes the answer comes back as “not interested” (which tends to frustrate Strider), however in this case Smithy agreed to look into it.
Smithy led a group of other mages staking out the area each night. It wasn't long before they found a supernaturally enhanced high roller (possibly something related to the Death arcana, with a paleness to their aura) who was taking some recent losses rather personally. Even with their magic and enhanced guns, it took quite a bit to take the big guy down.
It is clear by this stage that Smithy, and the Saints of Grace have also matured as another important cabal of the city.
2013
March
Strider attends the funeral of Zaphkiel, arriving with his cabal mates. At one point during the evening he had a few terse words with Cricket, but Cuffs quickly intervened to ensure the proper respect for the occasion was maintained.
June
?
Out of character information
A look into Strider's thoughts, as he performs his morning devotions (a combined Space 2 Untouchable and Prime 2 Magic Shield, each with a prolonged duration of 24 hours):
Strider gathers the power of magic to him, practicing the rotes like he does every day. In the Imago he calls forth the demon of prime, and the demon of space, and slowly binds them togther. Once they are trapped, he makes his bargin - they will provide him protection, and in return he will release them the following sunrise. They cannot resist the summons that he performs, but the demon of prime bargins with him, as it does each day: each time it protects him, he must feed it magic; following the ritual, Strider agrees, as he always does. The demon of space he has much more control over; it cannot ask for anything. Although he must wear the demons for the day, Strider knows it is worth it, for the protection they offer.
Note: The 'demons' are not full spirits but the minor, temporary creations that Mastigos deal with whenever they draw power from the realm of Pandemonium, as described in Tome of the Watchtowers, p.57.
Known Associates
.jpg)
- Agent Shrike - As a fellow Silver Ladder, Strider is often seen working for Shrike, and both were previously involved with Gaslight Mansion.
- Cuffs - Strider and Cuffs both served their apprenticeship at Gaslight Mansion over a similar period, and they have remained friends since.
- Watchlight - Watchlight has an interested in newly Awakening mages, something that Strider is more than happy to help him with. Strider has provided Watchlight with useful information in the past, but he thinks some others of the Ardent Compass cabal seem undisciplined.
- Smithy - Strider is happy to provide information to Smithy and his cabal, the Saints of Grace, but finds the Irishman can sometimes be difficult to deal with.
Quotes
Quotes by
- "The demons that I summon are *different* from those of the lower depths or the Abyss -- well, I'm pretty sure, but I'm *not* an expert."
- -When questioned whether Mastigos really do summon demons.
Quotes about
Conversations
- "He's following me!"
"Will you calm down, he doesn't need to follow you to watch you or hear you"- -Cuffs, making a poor attempt to calm Strider in reference to Cricket
- "No, don't tell me what happened, just answer me, when is it ok to use vulgar magic?"
- -I. P. Smith, interrupting strider mid-explanation.
Rumours
- Had run ins with the law when he was a teenager and has a police record.
- Is actually the heir to a massive fortune.
- Has contacts throughout the Silver Ladder Cryptopoly and spies on everybody.
- Killed the other acolyte, Harmony, and the Silver Ladder covered it up.
- Is actually a servant of the Abyss.
- Knows how to summon demons
- Well, duh, doesn't every Mastigos
- Doesn't use Atlantean, but instead calls upon demons when casting spells
- Knows how to summon demons
- Has ties with the Italian mafia.
Inspirations and Soundtrack
- The Matrix
- Men in Black
- Jumper
OOC Info
| Member Information | |
| Player: | Sly Gryphon |
|---|---|
| Number: | AU 2013010009 (9861-132) |
| Domain: | Brisbane |