Biography
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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 and his girlfriend Nova share a storefront, Rêves à Vendre, in the Lost in Time Market; he deals in bespoke dreams on the ground floor, while she operates a chimerical tattoo studio upstairs. Also notable are the symbols he wears - the silver Owl of the Arcanum and the copper sigil of the Cult of Isis.
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Contacts
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- 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 and "Haunted When the Minutes Drag" - Love and Rockets
- Simone: Wish granted? "Song to the Siren" - This Mortal Coil
- 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
- Lee: Welcome to town, Green and Gold. Thanks for not being there. "Bring on the Dancing Horses" - Echo and the Bunnymen
- Chastity: He really digs you. And he's still an important part of our lives, too. Please remember that. "Blood Bitch" - Cocteau Twins
- LaWolfe: You're lost and treading on shaky ground. "Cracked Actor" - David Bowie
- Gate: The shambling horror speaks! I'll invest in an actual working gas mask for future parleys. "Nemesis" - Shriekback
- Cara T.: Welcome to Prospect! I promise it's more interesting than I made it sound. "Surfin' USA" - Jesus and Mary Chain
- Salimah: I should be helping you, but instead you are helping me. Thank you. "Hand of Fatima" - Muslimgauze
- Eloise: Nice that you've developed a taste for serious coffee. Nope, not giving you the recipe. "Witchcraft" - Book of Love
- Erin: Personal responsibility. Check into it sometime. "Whipped Cream" - Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
- Blaze: The Field Marshall's goals are frightening, but she is still fascinating. I hope I don't piss her off. "Feurio" - Einsteurzende Neubauten
- Martine: Being in love is no excuse for selfishness. Do not force the Warlord's hand. "Selfish Rubbish" - Public Image Limited
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RP Hooks
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- 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, Caer Tenebrous and Snow Fang Peak freeholds and new arrivals to the County.
- 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 Enterpreneur: He's the owner of Rhapsody, an all-ages club, as well as co-owner of Steamed and Hammered Tavern, a steampunk bar.
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Stereotypes
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- 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.
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Theme Songs
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Gallery
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Logs
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John Balance
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Birthday:
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March, 1986
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Occupation:
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Owner-Operator Off the Record.
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Nature
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Visionary
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Sphere:
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Sorcerer
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Sect:
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Cult of Isis/Arcanum
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Affiliation:
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Order of Hermes
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Race:
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Sluagh Kinain
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Craft Name:
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Cousin of Spiders, Torchbearer of Isis, Avatar of Tutu, Father of Dreams, Vanquisher of Nightmares.
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Paths/Magic
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Oneiromancy
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6
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Divination
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3
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Hellfire
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2
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Mind Shields
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2
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Pyrokinesis
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2
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Telepathy
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2
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Attributes
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Intelligence
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4
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Perception
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4
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Wits
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4
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Abilities
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Awareness
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4
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Enigmas
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4
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Fortune-Telling
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4
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Gremayre
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4
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Intuition
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3
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Investigation
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4
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Lucid Dreaming
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5
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Occult
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5
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Research
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4
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Lores
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Demon Lore
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1
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Fae Lore
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3
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Mage Lore
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3
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Mummy Lore
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2
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Sorcerer Lore
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3
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Vampire Lore
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2
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Wraith Lore
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1
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Merits/Backgrounds
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Chantry
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2
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Demesne
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3
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Dream
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2
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Kinain
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4
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Library
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2
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Oracular Ability
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3
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Resources
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4
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Title
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1
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