Angel

"Where does the sun rise?" "In the East, Mama." "Where does the sun set?" "In Gineh, Mama." "Who has the power?" "The Living among the Dead!" "Who CONTROLS the power?" "The DEAD among the LIVING!" -The Zombies of Sugar Hill

Angel, Sans Wings

Full Name: Angel Arroyo Diego Gonzalez Apparent Age: Late Teens Occupation: Vodoun Sorcerer Sphere: Vampire Demeanor: Visionary Flaws of Note: Permanent Fangs, Animate Shadow Advantages of Note: Blush of Health Plot Hooks ♦ Sorcerer: ♦ Sabbat: The Marketplace of Souls "It is one thing to bury the bodies and then get on with one's business. Even lying about them is fine. But to attempt to gaslight yourself and claim that there were never any bodies to bury in the first place? That's the sort of thing that will bite you in the ass when those bodies dig themselves out of their graves and you are completely unprepared for it." "And this is what you get when those bodies you said never existed dig their way out of their graves." "In the dark, I think you can hear my gods whispering the truth about your god to you. Can you hear them? They say 'Your god is dead. Your god is dead. Your god is dead.' What more revenge do I need?" "Only a fool sticks his head into the mouth of a beast and taunts it to bite him. That's not a metaphor." "Power always has a price. Always. The more power, the bigger the price. You can't put your thumb on God's scales and think He won't notice." "I will help you however I can; this is my task, it is my charge." Gallery Some notes on Wanga (until I can pretty them up) - these notes come from reading I did in days past and need some topping up. "Wanga" is a diminutive, a term for a charm or a spell, usually black or destructive magic. Compared to words like "Thaumaturgy" (to perform miracles) or "Dur-An-Ki" (Mastery of Heaven and Earth) it's kind of insulting. Better terms for it would be "Sevis Loa" or "Service" (as in rendered and paid in full). As a magical system these practices tend to be transactionally-based. People want and need things from the spirits, spirits want things from the world of men, the magician stands at the crossroads and can facilitate transactions for everyone. This middle-point is known as "the marketplace", at least in Vodoun. As a magical system these religions come from disparate sources brought together into a sophisticated practice. Vodou, for instance, comes from the religious practices of West Africa, Roman Catholic ritual and liturgy, the practices of the indigenous Taino (the Taino created sand-glyphs which evolved into the Veves used in vodou, for instance, and the reverence for Zemi thunderstones and other fetish objects also comes from the Taino) and European occultism and mystery practice, including Ceremonial Magick, Freemasonry and other sources. A practitioner of Wanga would do many of the same rituals a Tremere sorcerer does, the same way. Differentiate from Thaumaturgy in that Paths = Intimate relationships with the spirits you have developed. Rituals = one-and-done transactions with the spirit world. Wangateur would be taught to be careful about delving too deeply into too many Paths before you have developed spiritually/resourcefully, lest you wind up in hock to too many spirits - This is bad. Note Dr. Facilier in "The Princess and the Frog", all the different colors he's wearing. In Vodou, this is a HUGE red flag, he's made too many long-term deals with too many spirits! Rituals = One and done arrangements. Simple as that. Obligations made, ritual performed, services rendered. Primary path = your bond with the spirit with whom you share the closest bond. In Vodou this is the "Met tet" ("Spirit of the Head"). Can also be reflected with Totem, Spirit Mentor, etc. Examples of Paths and the spirit they might reflect a relationship with, primarily Vodou/Voodoo (I've read the most about it). Nowhere near complete. Spirit Manipulation: Papa Legba/Ellegua. St. Peter. The Flow of Ashe: The Marassa. Damballah/Ayida Wedo. Ayizan/St. Claire. Loco/Loko. Curses: Carrefour/Kalfou. Corruption: Ti Malice/Anansi. The Dry Nile: Bacalou. Marinette. Ti Malice. The Snake Inside: Zarabanda. Marinette. Weather Control: Shango/Chango/Xango/Siete Rayos. Diable Tonnere. Bedessy. Azaka Tonnere. Lure of Flames: Ogun. Ezili Danto. Sepulchre Path, Bone Path, Ash Path: The Ghede (Baron Samedi, Baron Kriminel, Baron LaCroix, Maman Brigitte, etc.)