Balance

“For I am I...my own sphinx, conflict, chaos, vortex — asymmetric to all rhythms, oblique to all paths. I am the prism between black and white: mine own unison in duality.” - Austin Osman Spare
Biography John, a Chicagoan, has been in Prospect about three years now. For the past two years he's owned Off the Record, a local media shop and cafe that caters to quirky, intellectual occultists and obscure music aficionados; you aren't likely to find much in the way of massively popular music or 'literature' there. However, what he does have in stock is darkly entertaining, and the coffee's outstanding. Studious and acerbic, John's got a keen intellect, and he is far more perceptive than sometimes given credit for; sharpening his wits by indulging his drive to solve puzzles at any opportunity. He is being tutored by Stella Amunet, and holds the status of Third Degree Practicus within the Order of Hermes, with membership in the Chantry Fellowship of the Secret Word. Sometimes he DJs at Rhapsody, an all-ages club he owns. Recently he formed an LLC called A Balancing Act with Ethan Sienna, his manager at Rhapsody, and purchased Steamed and Hammered Tavern. Dreaming-side, he has a storefront, Rêves à Vendre, in the Lost in Time Market, where he deals in bespoke dreams. Also notable are the symbols he wears around his neck: the silver Owl of the Arcanum, the copper sigil of the Cult of Isis, and an unusual violet and silver starburst. Contacts Lee: Pączek. "Bring on the Dancing Horses" - Echo and the Bunnymen "Over My Head" - Blind Mr Jones "She Said" - Jackhammer Five Stella: Reverend Mother is here, purse first, to teach the children. "Socrates the Python" - Peter Murphy Ethan: Best friend, 'little brother' and business partner. I get to worry about you. "Nightclubbing" - Reznor/Murphy/White/Pop Nova: So this thing is an actual thing, now, Witch of mine. "City" - Legend, "Haunted When the Minutes Drag" - Love and Rockets, "Zebulon" - Einstuerzende Neubauten Simone: Wish granted? "Song to the Siren" - This Mortal Coil Nicky: You're needed here. Meet me in the frunchroom. "Thieves Like Us" - New Order Locke: While you eschew the formalities I now see you deserve the title. "Big Strong Boss" - Swans Ambrosine: It's gratifying when someone realizes your worth. Mortifying when you disappoint them. "Starblood" - Cranes Carolyn: I did what needed to be done. Nothing more, nothing less. "Every Colour You Are" - David Sylvian Larry: You're really good for her, Councilman. I approve. "Penthouse and Pavement" - Heaven 17 Chastity: He really digs you. And he's still an important part of our lives, too. Please remember that. "Blood Bitch" - Cocteau Twins Mitchell: Earnest. Young. Learning fast. "Shiny Shiny" - Haysi Fantayzee LaWolfe: You're lost and treading on shaky ground. Time for a reality check. "Cracked Actor" - David Bowie Harper: Oh, hey. It's another one. "Queenie" - Ethyl Meatplow Erin: Personal responsibility. Check into it sometime. "Whipped Cream" - Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Sterling: Pompous, fatuous, ridiculous, egregiously self-important snob and bore. "Common People" - Pulp RP Hooks Occultism: How far down that rabbit hole do you want to go? The Art of Divination: He practices it - to rather eerie and uncomfortable effect. He's no charlatan, but a Cassandra. Industrial Subculture: He's neck-deep in it. He'll deign to go to Neofolk/pagan and Goth events, too. Problem-Solver: Got an enigma to deal with? Perhaps a conundrum? He's brilliant with puzzles. Esoteric Media: Like weird books and weirder music? So does John. He could probably even sell you some. Mummies: It's odd that he's not exactly an Egyptian scholar, isn't it? How does he know what he knows? Hermetic House Merinita: Do you know of them? He is desperately seeking them out. Possibly for hereditary reasons. Nightmares: Do you suffer from them? He can help you with them better than drugs or a psychiatrist could. Welcome Wagon: He's the unofficial liasion between the Grove of Tethys, Rhapsody Freehold, Barony of the Shadowed Souls and Snow Fang Peak Mew and new arrivals. Barony of the Shadowed Souls - John is the sworn Squire to its Baroness Philomène Antionette De LiliJudicaël of House Beaumayn. Arcanum: He's currently the only active ranking member in the city. Does the Owl know you? Do you want to know the Owl? Alternative Entrepreneur: He's the owner of Rhapsody, an all-ages club, as well as co-owner of Steamed and Hammered Tavern, a steampunk bar. Stereotypes Changelings: Give sanity a longer leash, some of us have sharper teeth. Shifters: The tenderness of wolves. Vampires: Under shivering stars the sickness is gliding. Sorcerers: Seduce, let loose the vision and the void. Psychics: See the future leaking through. Mages: At the heart of it all. Wraiths: Who should I say is calling? Demons: This is not paradise lost, but paradise disowned. Mummies: Whilst I, my sovereign, watch the clock for you. Theme Songs "The Snow (Answers Come in Dreams II)" - Coil "The Missing" - Arcadia "Psychonaut" - Fields of the Nephilim "We Live as We Dream Alone" - Gang of Four "Sumerland" - Fields of the Nephilim "Dream Aid" - Haujobb "Noise Inside My Head" - Assemblage 23 "Mirrors Fade" - ∆AIMON "Mind" - Hyperdex-1-Sect Gallery Logs	John Balance Birthday: March, 1986 Occupation: Owner-Operator Off the Record. Nature Visionary Sphere: Sorcerer Sect: Cult of Isis/Arcanum Affiliation: Order of Hermes Race: Sluagh Kinain Craft Name: Cousin of Spiders, Torchbearer of Isis, Avatar of Tutu, Father of Dreams, Vanquisher of Nightmares. Paths/Magic Oneiromancy 6 Divination 3 Hellfire 2 Mind Shields 2 Pyrokinesis 3 Telepathy 2 Attributes Intelligence 4 Perception 4 Wits 4 Abilities Awareness 4 Enigmas 4 Fortune-Telling 4 Gremayre 4 Intuition 3 Investigation 4 Lucid Dreaming 5 Melee 4 Occult 5 Research 4 Lores Demon Lore 1 Fae Lore 3 Mage Lore 3 Mummy Lore 2 Sorcerer Lore 3 Vampire Lore 2 Wraith Lore 1 Merits/Backgrounds Chantry 2 Demesne 3 Dream 2 Kinain 4 Library 2 Oracular Ability 3 Resources 4 Title 1