In Somnis Veritas

It was on a trip to nearby al-Merayah that Sorin realized that he wasn’t alone. Young men, visibly armed with assault rifles, shotguns, and other deadly implements followed him through the winding streets. None of them had the ashen complexion and blank cattle stare of the Atenists. Five of them followed him, watching him like snakes about to strike. Sorin looked over his shoulder, realized too late that another blocked his escape and it was too far to get to the Council of Venice encampment. He gave a soft, heartfelt curse in Romanian as he raised his hands to defend himself. Lightning crackled between his fingers.

Sorin’s Journal - Solomon Island, Maine, USA

There is a strange, visceral horror to reality as seen by the Dreamers. A truly terrifying glimpse of the mind of something so vast and so alien as to be unrecognizable, even for one such as myself. Perhaps especially for one such as myself, so used to dealing in half-realities and waking dreams. Mine are the dreams of Gaia, the warmth of life and the sweet flow of anima like honey. The Dreamers are entirely different, and to be pulled into their dream is...jarring. The world around like yet unlike that of Solomon Island, twisted by the alien subconscious of a sleeping giant. Covered in black, oily corruption possessed of the beating heart and breathing form of a creature of nightmare.

I don’t know how long I wandered, a moth caught in a gale. How pitiful were my attempts to free myself of this dream?  I may as well have spit honey in the face of a bear than use my own Gaia-fueled power to free myself of that being’s curiosity. I think that was the most horrifying thing, really. It was curious about the world outside its prison. The Filth, the fog, all just its way of reaching out through its dreams, the film of condensation on the glass separating us from disaster.

Only, this corrupted water brings with it subjugation and death. I can feel it settling into my bones, tightening my lungs. I think, when I leave here, I will probably be monumentally ill. I...do not know whether to fault any of the mortals for failing to warn of the danger that lies beneath the island. However, I do know I dare not step foot into the mine, or I will indeed become deathly ill. That place, so full of corruption, can be left to others. I shall inform my Illuminati contacts at once. Doubtless they will be upset, but doing as much as I have has cost me a great deal of energy, energy that must be regained. Too, I am still being followed while I am away from Solomon Island. I warned them off, but doubtless they will be heedless of all but their own ideals. Such zealots usually are.

Agent’s Note: This is a work-in-progress. Most of this guy’s records are on hard copy, a lot of those from before World War I, so it’s not like we can ping Cassini for this shit...

• Character Name: Sorin Zaharia

• Nickname / Alias: ?? None assigned as of yet by HQ. Goes by “VeiledDreams” on Twitter.

• Species: Alfar. Elf, in English, but not your typical Christmas elf. These guys are the Norse equivalent of the fairies of Celtic myth. More specifically, we’re leaning towards Svartalfar, but the folklore is a mess and some of it uses the term to refer to dwarves, which he most certainly is not. Think Unseelie fairy.

• Date of Birth: Unknown. Possible references in folklore matching this guy’s MO date back to the mid-1400s. Unknown if folklore refers to the same person or to family members.

• Place of Birth: Again unknown, but heavily hinted to be outside Romania. Possibly Scandinavia or northern Germany.

• Residence: Somewhere outside Harbaburesti, Romania. We know the general area but the place is warded and agents on the ground can’t get a good fix on it.

• General Appearance: Short and lean. His fashion is dated. Though the clothes look new, the style went out of fashion in the late 1800s. We’ve noted the same style bone amulet on both Sorin and his son, Andrei. Unknown if it has any significance. Naturally red hair, slightly below shoulder length and worn half up. Naturally red eyes. We checked, it’s not albinism. Eyesight is well above human average. Usually wears a Venetian-style mask.

• Height: 5’6”

• Weight: 145 lbs

• Hair Color: Red

• Hair Length: Long

• Eye Color: Red

• Handedness: Right-handed

• Jewelry: A silver ring on his left hand.

• Tattoos / Marks: Scar above his right eyebrow.

• Key Relationships:

Andrei Zaharia - Son - Known Templar. Much like Sorin, appears much younger than he is. We have a birth certificate on this guy from July 21, 1919. Theorized aging slightly faster than Sorin, as they appear to be similar age, unless aging stops at adulthood for these types. Known to have inherited some of Sorin’s abilities, but lacks the same finesse and control. Unknown if he shares Sorin’s other habits.

Irina Zaharia - Wife - Daughter of a Russian judge, she fled Moscow along with her siblings during the Russian Revolution. They got as far as Transylvania before they were forced to stop and find a place to hide, due to the war. Irina posed as a maid in the Zaharia household, and after the war, married Sorin. Died in 1978.

• Education: Unknown. Very knowledgeable, impressed interviewing agents. Has a working knowledge of technology but little desire to use more than a cellphone on a daily basis. Speaks Romanian, English, Russian, and German fluently. Has a working knowledge of Icelandic and Danish. Magical knowledge is high enough to teach a couple different classes at Innsmouth if he wanted to.

• Work History: Unknown. Is wealthy enough that he doesn’t have to work and has enough knowledge of financial matters to put that wealth to good use. Has a fortune squirreled away in off-shore accounts, property, and investments.

• Skills: Able to travel through Agartha. Very strong command of elemental magic, not a surprise. Strong command of necromancy, transfiguration, and illusion magic, as well as defensive magic. Agent’s Note: Basically, this guy is used to using magic in place of technology for even everyday small things. Think Harry Potter, only in fucking fairyland. We’re only beginning to understand the thing the Templars use Andrei for with dreams, but we suspect very strongly that Sorin is able to manipulate actual or perceived reality to a much greater extent than Andrei with less ill effects.

• Phobias / Fears: Avoids certain types of iron or steel. Has been observed that some, but not all, iron or steel can cause a negative physical reaction. Dislikes churches, sanctified ground in general, and church bells. Had a very strong negative reaction to being in New York. Tolerable, he claims, but the nausea did give one or two junior agents a bad afternoon. Possibly linked to the lack of natural environment in New York and particularly in the Labyrinth, as he was observed complaining about that.

• Bad Habits / Vices: Temper is mercurial at best. Tends to particularly hold grudges against those that have insulted him in the past. Polite usually, but has a violent streak that is not particularly well-hidden.

• Quirks: Moral code is entirely alien to normal human morals. Seems to view humans as another, possibly lesser species. Or at least seems to view humans as a prey species and reacts accordingly.

• History: Frankly, not much is known beyond what he’s revealed on Twitter. He’s Alfar, from somewhere north of Romania, very old, and has links to one of several different Wild Hunt myths. We’re taking his quotation of Goethe’s Erlkönig poem seriously, he has a lot of habits in common with the Elf King, including a particular attraction to prey that is young or dying.

• Goals and Motivations: Beyond removing vampire, Orochi, and/or Filth influence from his land, unknown. Has no love of human society but claims to care about Gaia. Similar, in some respects, to other fairy creatures from the region.

• Morality / Ethics / Religion: Probably still holds to some sort of variation of pagan Norse beliefs. Has been observed making comments that suggest something to that effect. Morality is all over the place and is, as stated before, not at all human. Sees humans as a prey species.

• Style of Speech: Slight Romanian accent.

• Additional Information:

From Templar files on Andrei: The full extent of his ability with dreams is unknown, but he has been documented inducing a dreamlike state, controlling dreams, and in one particular case killing someone via a dream. Assumed Sorin’s ability meets or exceeds this benchmark, as his other magical talent exceeds Andrei’s observed talent.

Preys upon humans. Rarely, but it does happen, and agents should be aware this is a possibility. Has been observed by agents engaging in some sort of psychic feeding. Subject is usually left dazed, with no memory of the event, and is often kept and fed upon for a great deal of time. Theorized correlation between this feeding and the folklore surrounding humans losing years while in the company of fairies.

Folklore suggests that at least some humans can be raised or become new Svartalfar by some means. Unknown if Sorin knows this practice, but the Erlkönig story, folklore, and his own attraction to the young and to the dying suggest a possible pattern.

Note: “Elf shot” is a thing. A curable thing and it doesn’t do more than ruin a bee’s day, but don’t be stupid around him, k? As KG would say, ciao ciao.

Some things popped up on Twitter and I think they deserve a bit of explanation.

I play a lot of villains and shady types. Most of them are likable enough, as I enjoy being able to fit in with a large amount of other kinds of RP, as well. But I do play characters that eventually might find themselves involved in IC drama. Even sometimes, with the right partners, IC fights and IC death.

I’ve been burned quite a bit in other games over those things. Met people whose characters were awesome and clicked pretty well with mine, but OOC they were not quite as easy to get along with. Others, we still get along well OOC, I like their characters a lot, but for whatever reason, my characters and theirs just don’t click so we don’t RP. Some people, well, it’s probably best we parted ways.

Bottom line is: I reserve the right to not RP with you. It may be, as I said, our characters just don’t click. It might be that the type of RP we like is different and I don’t feel like playing that way. It might be OOC reasons. I don’t ever mean anything personal by it. RP is, at the end of the day, meant to be a fun group activity.

I have a lot going on in real life right now and, honestly, I don’t have the mental space to deal with things going sideways in my chosen method of escape as well.

• Character Name: Andrei Zaharia

• Nickname / Alias: DreamFixer

• Date of Birth: July 21, 1919

• Place of Birth: Hunedoara, Romania

• Residence: London, UK

• General Appearance: Average height. Often wears glasses with colored or darkened lenses to distract from his red eyes. Hair is a reddish-brown. Face appears scarred, with what appear to be fairly distinctive claw marks on the left side of his face. Typically friendly demeanor at odds with appearance.

• Height: 5’10”

• Weight: 175 lbs

• Clothing Choices: Claims to prefer black mostly to save on laundry costs. Often dresses in bikers’ leather and boots.

• Hair Color: Red

• Hair Length: Medium

• Eye Color: Red

• Handedness: Right-handed

• Jewelry: A silver ring on his left hand.

• Tattoos / Marks: Distinctive facial scarring. Claw marks on left side of face.

• Key Relationships:

Sorin Zaharia - Father - Old money nobility from Romania, rumored to be harboring some deep, dark secret. Much like Andrei, Sorin appears to be much younger than he is. Romanian state records have been tampered with more than once, and Sorin’s actual age is unknown. Known affiliation with the Illuminati.

Irina Zaharia - Mother - Daughter of a Russian judge, she fled Moscow along with her siblings during the Russian Revolution. They got as far as Transylvania before they were forced to stop and find a place to hide, due to the war. Irina posed as a maid in the Zaharia household, and after the war, married Sorin. Died in 1978.

• Education:Tutored privately in his home until he was 17, then attended a university in Moscow. Attended medical school in the UK, specializing in psychiatry. Speaks Romanian, English, and Russian. Medium-level competency in German.

• Work History: Went to medical school in the UK and practiced medicine for many years before retiring abruptly, possibly due to his physical state becoming noticeable.

• Skills: Fairly strong and instinctive command of elemental magic. Has claimed to Templar agents in the past that his command of magic and his odd ability with dreams runs in his family and is not related to bees.

• Phobias / Fears: Dislikes insects. Reacts fearfully to certain types of iron and steel work, as well as church bells and sanctified ground in general. Can physically tolerate all of those things, and Templar files note the fears seem to be mostly psychological. It has been strongly noted, however, despite anima-assisted healing, Andrei reacts badly to bullets. Has also been noted in his file that his health suffers when he has no access to nature.

• Bad Habits / Vices: Enjoys alcohol a bit too much for his superiors’ comfort. Temper is mercurial at best. Service record is exemplary but has a well-noted violent streak. Tends to particularly hold grudges against those that have insulted him in the past.

• Quirks: Has been well-noted in his file that his humor and the biker look hide a keen mind whose thought processes are not always entirely normal or human.

• Best Qualities: Usually caring and considerate of others. Tends not to like to sacrifice for the greater good. Amiable, if competitive, relationship with several Illuminati and a few Dragons.

• Worst Qualities: Chaotic and particularly sensitive to insult. When angered, has a definite violent streak and a tendency to rationalize damage or injury caused.

• Key Childhood Experiences: Visited many of the so-called “Dracula’s Castle” locations in Romania with his parents when he was young. Developed a strong belief in the supernatural and the occult. It wasn’t helped by documented haunting in the old family home.

• Key Teenage Experiences: Attended university in Moscow, then medical school in the UK.

• Key Adult Experiences: Attended medical school in the UK, then went on to establish a practice in the UK in a small village in the west of England. Sold his practice and retired many years later. Became a citizen of the UK in the 50s and renounced his Romanian citizenship. Has lived in various places around the UK, most recently in London since he’s joined the Templars.

• Sexual Background: Bisexual

• Favorites:

 Favorite food: Lamb stew.

Clothing: Though he very often wears black bikers’ leather, he claims to enjoy color and dressing up. Has the closet to back it up. Usually wears Templars uniform when assigned to London. Occasionally wears it during field work.

Music: Jazz

TV Show: Once Upon a Time, Mythbusters, Doctor Who

Movie: Enjoys films of all kinds, particularly kids films. Has a secret stash of Disney films. A not-so-secret stash of Harry Potter films.

Book: It’s a toss up, but The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley is one of them. The Harry Potter series is another.

• Goals and Motivations: Claims to work with the Templars because he enjoys travel and discovery. Possibly not the whole story.

• Morality / Ethics / Religion: Publicly claims not to follow any organized religion too closely. Privately has been seen leaving offerings for land spirits but is not forthcoming with religious views. Morality is mercurial at best. Overall tends to do more good than ill.

• Style of Speech: Slight Romanian accent.

• Words/Slang/Jargon: Is fond of quite a few American films and shows and sometimes uses American slang.

• Additional Information:

The full extent of his ability with dreams is unknown, but he has been documented inducing a dreamlike state, controlling dreams, and in one particular case killing someone via a dream.

Is loathe to use that power over dreams unnecessarily. Claims it leaves him vulnerable and is dangerous for him.

Has a natural talent for illusion magic that was honed long before he started working with the Templars.

((Now updated for Secret World Legends!))