The Malice Kings were originally Hunters of the Methuselah, handpicked by Aidan Clayce in order to assist the Voidseeker in leading the conspiracy. They were his men above anything else, ready to straighten the path towards the vision that he had for the Fifth World. As the conspiracy grew and the Wiseman’s Committee was established, the Malice Kings became Aidan’s blade, and the only group within the Methuselah whose authority was capable of vetoing the wishes of the Wisemen. As the Voidseeker withdrew from his own conspiracy in order to allow the Methuselah to run itself, the Kings truly started becoming forces of their own to contend with in the Vigil, often manipulating World of Light events and mortals mundane and supernatural to suit their agendae.
Regardless of anyone’s personal sentiments of the matter, the fact remains that the Fifth World is a world that rests perpetually in the shadow of the Malice Kings. Throughout history, in order to combat the influence wielded by the Malice Kings or out of the simple desire to change the way things are, Keepers beyond the Methuselah have ended up becoming powerful enough to be considered Kings themselves. The title has grown beyond its original connotations, and is used to refer to the god figures (or up and rising god figures) in tonight’s Vigil.
AIDAN CLAYCE Aliases: the Voidseeker, the Dragon
Affiliations: The Methuselah (United Vigil) Absolute power and will in the shape of a man, Aidan Clayce was once the brightest star of the Awakened in the Fourth World. His research led to the discovery of the Void, something that he hoped would help all the Realms rise to higher heights. What happened, instead, was the Void ended up tearing everything apart. Aidan is one of three survivors, and it is said that the cumulative grief and potential of the Fourth World was vested in him as punishment for the Fall.
Aidan set out with one plan: to work "backstage" from the Fifth World, and guide its denizens away from certain destruction. He founded the Methuselah with the purpose of controlling as much of the world's order as he could. Many have been crushed under the wheels of the Voidseeker's ambition, including those who once viewed him as a comrade or even as family. It originally appeared as though his guilt over all of that eventually made him withdraw permanently from everything, but recent events have proven that he's set his sights on a new goal: liberating the Fifth World from the God Machine.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Wesley Essex, a member of Team Death Wish, possesses a weapon that is capable of hurting the Dragon. Interestingly enough, Aidan was the one who gave it to him.
The dark truth behind Aidan's war against the God Machine is that it's a suicide mission for him. His very existence is tied to the God Machine. Destroying the thing means destroying him. Rilea has confirmed that the only thing that hurts the Dragon is the destruction of Cogs - that is, central parts of the God Machine. The United Vigil plans on looking into this as soon as possible.
On March 15, 2012, Aidan attempted to call for a vote in favor of removing the death sentence on the Blade King and acknowledging Zangyaku as allies in the Vigil. The Exarchs, however, struck Australia; they manipulated the God Machine, convincing it to strike Creation in retaliation against the Other World. The United Vigil has only recently recovered Aidan from the clutches of the Watcher in the Dark.
Aidan has agreed to become the leader of the Methuselah's representative forces within the United Vigil. How he feels about this? Nobody knows.
RILEY FALNER Aliases: The Daywalker, the Weeping Sword
Affiliations: The Methuselah, Netsach The King of Vampires, simultaneously revered and reviled by the Kindred of the Fifth World. He was one of the finest Rivers Hunters that the Fourth World had ever seen, a career that was tragically cut short by his Embrace. It was Aidan Clayce who pulled him up from the depths of his madness, and put him on the path to redemption. As one of the survivors of the Fall, Riley used to consider his work with the Methuselah as his penance. This belief did not really change for him, even after he achieved Golconda in his new world.
The Betrayal at Falner in 1865 drove Riley to despair, bringing about the early onslaught of his Deep Slumber. It was later discovered that the God Machine was manipulating things in its favor, keeping Riley asleep. A concentrated effort from Certain Groups That Will Not Be Named have roused the Daywalker. Now he seems intent on standing against the Methuselah, a conspiracy he was responsible for forming in the first place.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Riley's return has caused an uproar within Kindred politics. Vampires were left to their own devices all around the Fitfh World for 147 years due to his last cycle of Deep Slumber. Many went back to old habits since no Daywalker was watching them. One can only wonder how Riley plans on dealing with this, and how much of a shake up his "justice" will cause as a result. Of course, it's entirely possible that everyone in the Fifth World is a little too busy attempting to end the Apocalypse right now.
Riley's position within the World of Darkness has shifted quickly over the past few weeks. While he managed to establish Netsach, a conspiracy that was meant to be his response to the Methuselah's tyranny and the threat of the Rising Dark, he has recently left the group that he founded in favor of leading the United Vigil. Whether he plans to return to Netsach or not after all of this is over is yet to be seen.
FACE PEG: JAMES MCAVOY
Edited 2016-09-29 04:51 (UTC)
ORIN THE GREEN :: The First Keeper of the Labyrinths [Bull]
ORIN THE GREEN Aliases: the Last Legionnaire, the Man on the Mountain, First Keeper of the Labyrinths Affiliations: The Methuselah, Aegis Kai Doru The only surviving Tancred Golem of the Fourth World, Orin began to realize his "humanity" when Aidan Clayce - in open defiance of the traditions of his kind - treated Orin not as an autonomous weapon, but as a friend. Orin swore to follow the Voidseeker for the rest of his days. His loyalty was tested at every step after the birth of the Fifth World, and his devotion to Aidan is matched only by his current disgust at the Voidseeker's actions.
Orin originally founded Aegis Kai Doru to suit the Methuselah's purposes. He intended to be the steward of his world's Lost Legacies, and guardian of all of the Fifth World's Relics. In this sense, the conspiracy's role has not changed much. Only Orin and his Hunters seem to understand the full potential of the artifacts they seek out, right down to how - should they fall in the wrong hands at the wrong time - be capable of precisely the kind of destruction that brought about the Fall.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Orin, like all Tancred Golems, is made up entirely of void stones. This makes him one of the only forces capable of standing up to Aidan Clayce with any hope of survival.
Aegis Kai Doru's other role involves training operatives who specialize in taking down the powerhouses of the Vigil. Case in point: Malice Kings, and members of the Searing Wind.
Aegis Kai Doru, under Orin's leadership, was among the first conspiracies to join hands with Netsach. Its hunters continue to provide support for the United Vigil in spite of the fact that many of their Labyrinths are under siege or have been destroyed - including the First Labyrinth of the conspiracy. Some of the Keepers of the Labyrinth are upset by this, but feel paralyzed because Orin has made no clear move to call for its liberation. So Team Death Wish elected to send the Seer to Syria instead.
AMADEUS Aliases: Anri Obel, Mr. Wintersong
Affiliations: The Methuselah,The Brotherhood in Violence, Netsach The first Djinn to ever awaken to his nature in the Fifth World, Amadeus was taken in by the Prodigals of the Fourth World and given his name by Aidan Clayce himself. The Voidseeker took charge of raising him, and although Riley Falner and Orin showed Amadeus more affection and approval, it was Aidan's love that Amadeus constantly sought out for himself. Things came to a head after Amadeus witnessed Hikaru Shinta's treatment at the Methuselah's hands and how Aidan was complicit in it. He then left the Methuselah behind, and hid himself away for centuries to come.
Father Leslie Montero - Jesuit professor turned Brotherhood in Violence operative for the Dragon - is the first in a REALLY long time to be chosen by Winter's Cross, Amadeus' personal Relic. Amadeus speaks through the priest, and has thus become one of Team Death Wish's more ornery backers. He has become increasingly vocal, so much so that it is now clear that what ultimately pushed him to reveal himself is his desire to save his "family".
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
"Anri Obel" is just the latest shadow name that Amadeus has chosen for himself. This particular persona was originally occupied with playing Good Samaritan-cum-Avenging Demon to the little folk of Europe and Russia. The Midnight Riders of that area were about as familiar with him as casual occultists might be with the urban legends of their hometowns.
Amadeus ended up joining the Daywalker's "council" within Netsach, and has since retained his position on it even as the Golden Dawn itself scrambles to re-organize in the wake of the United Vigil's formation. It looks like he plans to conferring the same loyalty and respect to Netsach's new leader as he does to Riley himself.
MAES MORDECHAI Aliases: The Butcher, the Hound of God, the Witness
Affiliations: The Methuselah, The Brotherhood in Violence, Zangyaku Elaine's most humble servant, said to be her chosen knight in the same way that he once belonged to Yahweh. Maes is attributed with the founding of the Brotherhood in Violence, the compact whose sacred duty involves guarding the Well of Souls. Such a task is a direct result of Maes deceiving the Voidseeker himself in a show of love and loyalty to his God. Aidan hated Maes for that for a very long time, but the Butcher did not care. As things stand, he positioned himself as one of Aidan's most vocal critics for centuries, even when such criticism had real consequences for himself and his follows.
Not a lot of people know this, but Maes is one of the few Malice Kings whose efforts prevented a premature Apocalypse. He was instrumental during the Secret War of Heaven, and is said to have facilitated the merging of realms. He also witnessed Elaine's Coronation. Maes has also played not-so-minor roles within the Vigil, such as providing support for Aegis Kai Doru, Zangyaku, and the Midnight Riders. His reach extends much farther than one might be led to believe.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Although he's the older one, it appears as though Maes possesses a weaker connection with the Rivers of their clan than Alistair does. This might be because of his decision to fully devote himself to Elaine.
Maes is the one who has taken responsibility for keeping the Mordechai line alive. He usually does this, however, through adoption rather than finding a woman to settle down with. They say that he can't really bring himself to love anyone else since he lost Ariadne McNiven, his second wife.
On the day that he left the Methuselah, Maes stole as many of the Divine Relics and Sacred Weapons as he could from the conspiracy's vault. Alistair later added to that collection for him. At present, the Brotherhood has deals with Aegis Kai Doru and Zangyaku, allowing the compact first pick of any Relic or Lost Legacy that is inherently religious or spiritual in nature.
In spite of the fact that the Brotherhood in Violence was decimated by the God Machine on March 15, Maes has had his brothers and sisters step up their efforts to spread the word of Elaine. He seems undaunted by the Vatican's declaration of war against the World of Darkness and other "false prophets".
ALISTAIR MORDECHAI Aliases: the Seer, the Hound of God, the Fisher-King, First of his River
Affiliations: The Methuselah, the Brotherhood in Violence, Zangyaku, the Knights of St. George, the Midnight Riders, Taskforce Valkyrie, HECATON Special Operations The younger Mordechai, responsible for discovering the Alder Tree and straightening the path for his clan's River. Alistair has always been defined by his convictions and unshakable loyalty to the ones who have earned the right to wield him as they might wield a weapon. His first Kings were Aidan, Riley, and Orin. However, the Voidseeker's callousness pushed him to betray his conspiracy for Hikaru Shinta.
While Maes chooses to move things from the background, Alistair throws himself right into the thick of things with frightening drive. He leads the Kingfishers both for him and his brother, relentlessly pursuing his vision of a Kingless Fifth World. He believes that this is the only way that Hikaru and all those like him can be saved.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Alistair is the stronger Rivers between him and his brother Maes because he is the Erlking's chosen knight. Such power has come at a great cost, but as a result he is perhaps the only person in the Fifth World who is capable of commanding the full force of the Wild Hunt.
Alistair's murder sparked the Betrayal at Falner Estate back in 1865. Interestingly enough, he was one of the Kings responsible for trying to bring the rest of them together for negotiations.
At present, the Seer appears to have collected the most number of "pieces" in this latest batch of Hunters.
RILEA HEARTNET Aliases: Liberty's Belle, Gaea's Wrath
Affiliations: The Methuselah The first Living Land of the Fifth World, and the oldest surviving one yet. Her steadfast loyalty towards Aidan is grounded on the fact that the Voidseeker took responsibility for caring for her and mentoring her in the Arcane Mysteries. Her love and protective instincts for the Methuselah only increased after she met Elijah Duskrider, the first of her husbands, through her work with the conspiracy. With that sort of background, one probably shouldn't be surprised at the amount of bitterness she harbors towards many of the Kings who refuse to stand in line or outright left the conspiracy. She views their decisions as the ultimate betrayal.
Rilea was the Malice King who was placed in charge of conquering the Americas for the Methuselah. She landed in North America with the first Vikings, and prepared the way for the Dragon's conspiracy. She was the Methuselah's law on the continent, and the thorn in the sides of every other compact and conspiracy that dared to gain a foothold in her place of power. Suffice to say, much has changed since the Ides of March.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
The fate of the Duskrider Family is intimately tied to Rilea's existence. Because of the love she felt for Elijah, Rilea cast a permanent spell of reincarnation upon the succeeding generations of Duskrider men such that one in every other generation is born with the memories and potential of her previous husbands. Calintz is supposed to be her latest. Operative word: "supposed to be".
The real reason behind Rilea's increasingly erratic behavior has been pinned on the God Machine. She, like Zanygyaku's Assassin Tohru Fukuzawa, were "sleeper agents", mechanical angels of the Machine who grew up not knowing what they truly were. She has since been set free from the Machine, and is now working tirelessly to undo the damage she has done to the Fifth World.
In the wake of Aidan's rise to power as the leader of the Methuselah's representative forces within the United Vigil, Rilea has agreed to serve as his second.
SETSUNA SHINTA Aliases: The Fatespinner, the Shield, Sister Fox
Affiliations: The Methuselah, Zangyaku One of the first known cases of a pure Mage birth in the Fallen World, Setsuna suffered the fear and rejection of the people of Yamatai because of her gifts. She became the voice in the cave for her own little brother, and Hikaru's raison d'etre. Dreamwalking was the only way she could truly connect with the rest of the world and hone her abilities. As things stand, she met Aidan - the Voidseeker, and the man who would possess her heart - through her travels in the Dreaming.
Setsuna tried to become Aidan's moral compass. She did everything in her power to keep him from falling victim, yet again, to his hubris, so much so that she volunteered for Project Deus Ex Machina on the pretense that becoming one of the Vessels for the Endless Concepts would better aid her whenever she tried to help him. The darkness in Aidan, however, proved too great for even Setsuna. It took the tragedy of her sacrificing her life to begin shattering his resolve. Her physical death was a result of her stopping the initial descent of Nyx upon the Fifth World. At present, she is a Great Spirit of Fate and Time, manifesting only through an extreme amount of effort on her part or when she must intervene in the events of mortals.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
The strange eye color of the Shinta siblings aren't simply a genetic anomaly. Specialists hypothesize that somewhere down the line, their ancestors were products of sexual intercourse between powerful supernaturals and Amrita. This is likely one of the reasons why both of the siblings survived the bonding process of Project Deus Ex Machina.
Prior to the Ides of March, Team Death Wish managed to liberate both Setsuna Shinta and Minato Arisato from the Forgotten Shore. Setsuna has since become one of the two leaders of Zangyaku, and has been watching over the Wolf's conspiracy for her little brother.
Many have noticed the dragon choker that Setsuna wears around her neck. A few have asked about it. None of them have received answers.
HIKARU SHINTA Aliases: The Blade King, the Wolf of Zangyaku, the Weapon of the Methuselah, Izanagi of the Lightless Lands
Affiliations: The Methuselah,, Zangyaku, the Brotherhood in Violence, Taskforce Valkyrie, HECATON Special Operations Setsuna Shinta's younger brother, and the unfortunate(?) mortal who had been chosen to wield the Godslayer. Because of this, Aidan required Hikaru's cooperation to perform the Godslaying Ritual of Deus Ex Machina. Hikaru consented less out of respect for the Methuselah and more because he wanted to do everything in his power to set his sister free. He ended up getting grossly punished for this, as the loss of the original Vessel for Death caused Hikaru to receive the entity instead, and Death quickly dragged Matter into the boy's body the moment It was settled. The Methuselah proceeded to experiment on Hikaru in an attempt to keep him under their control. Zangyaku, his conspiracy, is the direct product of his anger and sense of betrayal over the Methuselah's actions.
Hikaru unabashedly fits the profile of a high-functioning sociopath. His "condition" allows him to retain the memories and skills of all of his previous lives, making him a formidable figure to deal with across the board. Furthermore, his ruthless pragmatism and perceived lack of empathy have made it clear, in the opinion of many, that there are few things that he cares about. All of this, however, may be a front that he uses to hide crushing insecurity, and a deep-seated belief that he should not be allowed to exist.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
The strange eye color of the Shinta siblings aren't simply a genetiuc anomaly. Specialists hypothesize that somewhere down the line, their ancestors were products of sexual intercourse between powerful supernaturals and Amrita. This is likely one of the reasons why both of the siblings survived the bonding process of Project Deus Ex Machina.
Few people know this, but it was the Blade King that started the fire for Team Death Wish. He continues to watch their actions with interest.
In an extremely quick turn of events, Hikaru has gone from Vigil fugitive to insane vessel of Death to perfected vessel of Death to leader of the United Vigil. He has, for all intents and purposes, seemed content with doing the Vigil's good work and liberating territories for humanity left and right. One can only wonder, though, if he's using all of this as a means to distract himself from how overwhelming everything has been for him.
FACE PEG: TAKESHI KANESHIRO (photo edited by Noey)
SHANE DUSKRIDER Alias: None
Affiliations: The Methuselah, The Midnight Riders Some of the other Malice Kings were reluctant to acknowledge Shane's place within their circle. Jonas Duskrider, Shane's father, had been the first of the Duskriders to defy Rilea Heartnet, the Mage whose fate was intimately tied to the family's existence. Shane was, of course, born without any of the love and devotion that other Duskrider men harbored for the woman due to her spell, and it did not help that he had only ever been exposed to the ill will that Rilea inspired on American soil. Nevertheless, he joined the Methuselah at Riley Falner's urging. The Kings always needed their conscience, and that was the role that Duskriders had always played in Aidan's circle.
Shane did the best that he could to serve the Methuselah's cause while curbing their darker practices. The more he discovered, however, the unhappier he became with his conspiracy and with the actions of Aidan and other Malice Kings. The Betrayal at Falner in 1865 was the last straw for him. He left with his son Calintz, and started the Midnight Riders. The Vigil was useless, he felt, if it could not protect the "little guys" beyond the Veil.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Even before he left the Methuselah, Shane actually DID try in small ways to veto Rilea Heartnet's more questionable plans for America. This initially drove a wedge between him and his own son Calintz - at least until the love Calintz had for Rilea was not enough for him to follow her.
Shane is an old family friend of Andrea Vazquez's father. He made it a point to check in with them whenever he found himself in the Philippines.
The Midnight Riders were among the first groups to join hands with Netsach when the conspiracy was founded. The support of their hunters has been invaluable to the United Vigil, as their conspiracy is the most familiar with grassroots operations and actual Hunter work.
FACE PEG: DANIEL CRAIG
Edited 2016-09-29 05:37 (UTC)
LIANDRIN DELACROIX :: Lady Swallowtail [Butterfly]
LIANDRIN DELACROIX Aliases: The Last Glass Walker, Lady Swallowtail, Madame Butterfly
Affiliations: The Methuselah, Zangyaku The only surviving member of the Delacroix Clan, a powerful family of Awakened who perfected the art of perfect assimilation with Acamoth. Bonding with her father's "old friend" Lorenzo effectively saved her life. Aidan and Riley were quick to give her a place in the Methuselah, and fuel her need for vengeance for the conspiracy's purposes. What nobody expected was that Liandrin would eventually find herself torn between her loyalties to the Prodigals and her love for the Blade King and the Seer. This ended in tragedy for her in 1865, when she murdered Alistair for Aidan's sake. That decision haunted her for years to come.
Liandrin is one of those rare specimens of Awakened who believe that there is no such thing as a creature or phenomenon that does not have a place in the order of the universe. There is no unnatural or natural for her, only possibilities. This viewpoint does not make her popular at all with her fellow Mages, and has been the source of a lot of grief in her life. The antagonism, however, has done nothing but fuel Liandrin's need to prove that her vision is one of the more enlightened perspectives in the Fifth World.
Given how things have all gone to shit after the Ides of March, however, people like Liandrin might be exactly what everyone needs right now.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Liandrin's guilt over the Betrayal at Falner Estate pushed her to work backstage and provide anonymous support for conspiracies like Zangyaku. She stayed with the Methuselah for as long as she could in order to be there for Aidan, stand in Rilea's way, and stymie the corruption within the Dragon's conspiracy.
If there is one man who comes close to frightening Liandrin, it would be Joshua Larue. Joshua managed to attack her in her own home back in 2010. She's still recovering from those injuries. ...And now they're expected to work together, close to the men they both love.
Liandrin became the leader of Zangyaku before March 15 in order to lead the conspiracy while Hikaru Shinta was sick. Her King, however, has left Zangyaku in her and his sister Setsuna's care.
Word on the street is that Lady Swallowtail has requested for a temporary suspension of her marriage to Hikaru and Alistair. Some suspect that this is because she wishes to acknowledge Josh's position in their lives.
LORENZO REYES Alias: Alastor, Black Dog, Billy Goat Gruff
Affiliations: The Methuselah, Zangyaku Given his tendency towards narcolepsy and rather extensive definition of what constitutes as "food", it may be hard for people to take Lorenzo seriously upon meeting him, and it my even be harder to believe that he's recognized as a Malice King. Lorenzo is the last tethered Acamoth of the Delacroix Family, bonded to Liandrin Delacroix. He walks with Lia as he once walked with her father, and his father before him. He is, simultaneously, Lia's guardian, clean up crew, mentor, brother, and pet.
Lorenzo led Liandrin to the Methuselah less because he believed in their cause or cared much for their people and more because he understood on a pragmatic level that it was the only conspiracy that could protect them both. He made his disapproval of Aidan's principles known whenever the opportunity presented itself, but never actively antagonized them because he knew how much the conspiracy meant to Liandrin. Zangyaku is the only conspiracy that has ever made Lorenzo feel at home, and he deeply regretted the fact that he and Lia were never able to stay with the Wolf properly. Suffice to say, he's rather pleased that they're back where they belong.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Lorenzo is currently waiting for the first opportunity to participate in a Ceremony of Measuring. He'd very much like to go back to being a part of the Searing Wind, thanks.
Andrea Vazquez and Kaye Fajardo - Hunters from Team Death Wish - have recently reunited the Delacroix Acamoths with Liandrin and Lorenzo. Lorenzo, however, has no interest in becoming the voice of his siblings. He's happy to leave Beleth to the politicking.
RETHE KYRIFF Aliases: Zaghiel, Haven's Finest
Affiliations: The Brotherhood in Violence, The Vice Conglomerate, The Methuselah Haven's best DJ, although it might be more correct to say that for a REALLY long time he was their only spinner. Everyone in the World of Darkness of the Philippines is aware of Rethe's reputation. He's the greatest information broker around these parts (and maybe even around the world), and all it costs for some intriguing leads on just about anything is a bottle of alcohol. Rethe's not picky about the kind either. One merely has to be prepared for how cryptic his responses are.
The God Machine originally assigned Rethe to be Aidan Clayce's "guardian angel" - that is, his satan and nemesis, custom-built as Rethe is to stop the Voidseeker from realizing his vision. What the Machine did NOT anticipate was mere proximity to the Dragon was enough to charm Rethe and make him dream bigger than his existence. Rethe continues to be loyal to Aidan, and is helping the Voidseeker fight against the God Machine by serving as a guide and ally to Gray Pieces who have taken Aidan's favor for themselves.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Rethe has never actually been recognized as a Malice King, and his loyalties were certainly never vested in the Methuselah in spite of his devotion to Aidan. Those "in the know", however, acknowledge the power and influence that he has at his disposal as on par with the other Kings.
In a recent conversation with Wesley Essex, Rethe revealed that he's not the only angel who has Fallen from the God Machine. This was confirmed during the fallout of the Ides of March, when Rethe called upon a huge host of "Demons" like himself to stop the Abomination that was rampaging in Syria. This was also confirmed with Chelsea's introduction to Team Death Wish.
Rethe's loyalty and devotion to Aidan have always been clear, so it should not come as a surprise to anyone that he plans on following the Voidseeker and assisting him with leading the Methuselah's remnants. Aidan's probably not going to like that, but Rethe has never cared much for Aidan's sentiments when he feels that the Voidseeker's being stubborn.
FACE PEG: FRANCISCO LACHOWSKI (photo edited by Noey Pico)
CALINTZ DUSKRIDER Alias: The Limitless
Affiliations: The Methuselah, The Midnight Riders Shane Duskrider's son and Rilea Heartnet's estranged husband. It is hard for him to tell whether the love he harbors for Liberty's Belle is a blessing or a curse, especially in light of the way she has been twisted by her beliefs. Calintz is the second-in-command of the Midnight Riders. He followed his father's lead and left the Methuselah in 1865 after the Betrayal at Falner Estate.
On top of being a Riskbreaker, Calintz was born with the memories and experience of all of the previous husbands of Rilea. In addition to this, he's even more resistant to magic and other supernatural abilities than Riskbreakers are. He's also expected to live a damned long time, provided that the Vigil (or Rilea, for that matter) doesn't end up killing him first. He intends, of course, to spend the entirety of his existence fighting for what's right. Putting the Midnight Riders together with Shane has gone a long way towards helping Calintz do that, thus giving him some peace of mind.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Calintz played his part in taking Rilea down during the Ides of March. The two of them seem to be working towards mending the broken bridges between them, and reconnecting properly as husband and wife.
JOSHUA LARUE Alias: Galahad
Affiliations: Taskforce Valkyrie,Netsach HECATON Special Operations, Zangyaku, The Vice Conglomerate The mysterious Kingmaker of North America, and a man who has played an instrumental role in every major conflict that the United States of America was involved in after World War II. He was one of the founding members of HECATON and is a part of Brianna Lopez’s latest batch of War Hounds. He, Alistair, and Hikaru fell in love with each other during World War II and its fallout, and Josh will stop at nothing to keep the people he loves safe. A huge example of this would be how he’s done the very thing that he’s been avoiding since 2001: acknowledge his position as a Malice King in the Fifth World.
Joshua's moniker is a play on the fact that he is the man who discovered the Grail, and was chosen to bond with it. The Lost Legacy could have killed him, but it appears as though everything that Josh is - the son of a Technomancer and a Lightningbug, a Sin-Eater turned Card, one of the greatest soldiers of the Fifth World, and lover to the Blade King - helped him survive the grafting process. He is, in many ways, more a weapon than he is a man.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Josh mentored Jessiah Vice and the other members of the Order of the Grateful Dead. He was also one of forces behind the creation of the Sleeping Knights.
The first move Joshua made as a newly minted Malice King was allying himself with Riley Falner. He became part of the Daywalker's "council", and was instrumental in setting the conspiracy up. He has only recently started to withdraw his support now that the Golden Dawn is picking up steam on its own.
With the return of Liandrin Delacroix to Zangyaku and her reinstatement as one of the Wolfborn (specifically as the wife of the Wolf and the Seer), it's hard NOT to think about where this might leave Josh.
...And on other equally difficult matters to consider, one can only wonder how Josh feels about the state of his home country. Team Death Wish has managed to save the President, but it looks as though paranois, suspicion, and the corruption of the God Machine/the Other World runs deep.
OSWALD LOWE Alias: The Sage
Affiliations: The Methuselah, the Brotherhood in Violence, Netsach Once one of this generation's only Inquisitor-Pawns - that is, a Hunter of the Methuselah who was in line to becoming a Malice King. Oswald is the current commander of the Order of the Mani dello Spirito Santo: it was the only position of authority that Oswald has accepted, as he is in the habit of declining promotions. He is the face of the Christian Vigil, although Jewish and Islamic Hunters view him with no small amount of respect.
True to his Christian beliefs, Oswald envisions a Vigil of Mercy, with its Hunters serving as instruments of peace. The way of the Vigil is a way of Death, but Oswald feels, rather strongly, that only the Lady – the Fifth World’s new Creator – has the right to determine who lives and who dies. True might is compassion; true justice can only be dispensed with empathy. He isn’t expecting all of supernatural kind – Hunters included – to agree with him. He can only hope that they will listen to what he has to say and understand where he is coming from.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Although Oswald trained with the Brotherhood and assists the compact in their holy work, his relationship with the Mordechais is strained at best. While he cannot question their zeal, he certainly questions their methods. On the other hand, Maes and Alistair acknowledge Oswald's importance as a symbol, but that might be as far it could go.
Diamond Dog acted on a lead from Liandrin Delacroix, and has bonded himself to Oswald in order to become an Uncrowned King.
Oswald has finally left the Methuselah and placed his full support behind Netsach. Riley Falner has since offered him a seat at his "council", and has promised to look after the refugee families who followed Oswald out of the Middle East.
The Vatican's disavowal of the World of Darkness and the Church of the Elaine has left Oswald distraught. Many are looking to him to lead them in this dark time, but the Sage has cloistered himself away in the Dragon Spires.
JESSIAH VICE Alias: The Hanged Man
Affiliations: The Methuselah, The Vice Conglomerate, Zangyaku, Taskforce Valkyrie, HECATON Special Operations Jessiah Vice is a celebrity figure both beyond and behind the Veil. He's the young CEO of the Vice Conglomerate, a weapons supplier to anyone who can offer him the right price, the man behind Network Zero, and the Card who ended the Grand Game of Fate for all of his kind. He also happens to be the head of the blade that stopped the Watcher in the Dark from manifesting in 2001. Officially, Jessie has left the life of a Keeper behind. In actuality, the fight never stopped for him.
Jessie’s experiences as blade leader of the Order of the Grateful Dead have completely colored the way he views the Methuselah and the World of Darkness. He strongly believes that the Veil is a flawed and corrupt thing, existing only for its own benefit, occasionally destroying innocent lives in pursuit of protecting its secrets. He wants to destroy the Veil as soon as possible, and while he’s not about to support the World of Darkness’ version of terrorism, he IS more than willing to make some really hard and dangerous choices in order to get what he wants. Furthermore, because he believes that the Veil must be broken, Jessie also believes in preparing the Fifth World for “the New Age”. A huge part of this is finding ways to broadcast the truth, and making the World of Light aware of the truth of things one family at a time.
Suffice to say, the destruction of the Veil is an event has not intimidated Jessie in the slightest, nor changed his mind. He's stepped up his game, positioning himself as the spokesperson for the United Vigil.
PLOT NOTES AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Jessie has been driving the political and social machinery at his disposal tirelessly since the 15th. Oddly enough, some of the nastier things that occurred prior to the Fall of Sydney worked really well in his favor: he was already on government radars due to his alleged acts of terrorism in 9/11. He's using that as his primary jump-off point for discussion on the Vigil and the World of Darkness.
Minato Arisato, his second in the Grateful Dead and the Boy Who Lost His Time, was more than just Jessie's best friend. He was the love of Jessie's life. Oddly enough, now that Minato is alive and well, Jessie doesn't seem to know what to do with that information.
GIO MALAAHAS Alias: Elias Tagabigay
Affiliations: The Methuselah, the Maharlika, Zangyaku, Netsach The actual face of Elias Tagabigay, and the single most talented Obrimos Mage from the Philippines in spite of his youth. Gio is the younger Malaahas twin, known for his cool head, calculating mind, and big heart. He risked a hell lot to go to the Methuselah, all because he wanted to find a way to help his brother Mio and because he wanted to understand what was really going on. He and the rest of Wolf’s Choice ran the moment their conspiracy turned on them, but Gio never stopped trying to do the right thing. Part and parcel of that, it seems, is rising up to the challenge of leading the Maharlika and extending his compact’s aid to Netsach.
The proliferation of a favor associated closely with Gio Malaahas’ family is, admittedly, not something that he planned at all. Gio does not yet view himself as a Malice King, especially since he’s incredibly young both by World of Light standards and within the World of Darkness, and he feels that there are men and women who better deserve the title. As such, similar to Setsuna, it is Gio’s followers who have formulated a vision based on personal admiration, or on Gio’s actions. For Gray Pieces of the Bakunawa, the Supernatural Accords must work towards abolishing the preference for the individual traditions of the supernatural groups that it seeks to protect. “When in Rome, do as Romans do” should NOT color the way that justice is meted out in the Accords, nor should supernatural groups go on politely ignoring each other unless their actions cross into Accords territory. It should be possible, someday, for children of the Fifth World to form some universal laws while respecting the culture and traditions of all denizens of the Darkness.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
The Legacy of the Bakunawa's Children is unique to the Malaahas line and any individuals who are Awakened and possess even a bit of their blood. Bakunawa's Children are known for exponentially increasing the abilities of their ka-dugo on the field through the use of sympathetic ties, and can grant some of their blessings upon people whom they recognize as family.
Gio is not going to forget the fact that Team Death Wish - particularly Andrea Vazquez and Leslie Montero - helped his brother out.
In a bittersweet parallel to what his Blade King is going through at the moment, Gio's position has shifted with alarming fluidity since the beginning of this year. As things stand, he's actually happy that he did not end up being voted in as the new leader of Netsach - but that doesn't mean that he has no intention of assisting Sophia Morgenstern with the Golden Dawn.
MINATO ARISATO Alias: The Fool, the Boy Who Slept
Affiliations: The Methuselah, The Vice Conglomerate One of the founding members of the Order of the Grateful Dead, Minato was one of the only Hunters in his cell that were not victims of Shinobu Kawamura. His insatiable curiosity led him to stalking Jessiah Vice and Hikaru Shinta while the pair were trying to investigate Shinobu's killings, which inevitably led to him discovering his Second Breath and slipping past the Veil.
Minato was the ghost that haunted the Vice Conglomerate since September 11, 2001, simply because, in life, his actions have determined everything that the group has done since Jessie took the reins. Minato sacrificed himself during his blade’s fight against the Watcher in the Dark, becoming the last seal protecting the Fifth World from Nyx. He was spotted sporadically in the Dark Hour within the past two years, and the sightings only started to increase around Cards with circumstantially strong ties to Jessie, like David Young of Wolf's Choice and Maddie Marcelo of Team Death Wish. Minato has since been freed from his exile in the Forgotten Shore, and has, without hesitation, gone right back to keeping the Vigil as if he had never died.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
Minato has never actually been recognized as a Malice King, and his loyalties were certainly never vested in the Methuselah even if it was the conspiracy he joined as a Hunter. Those "in the know", however, acknowledge the power and influence that he has at his disposal as on par with the other Kings.
While it has always been clear what Setsuna is, specialists are drawing blanks on how his Sacrifice and subsequent return have changed Minato's biological makeup. He SEEMS to be a really strong Card, and yet...
He hasn't said much, but those closest to Minato can tell that he's a little upset at how his old friends are doing their best to keep him off the field.
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wakingthedead2016-05-16 10:02 am
AIDAN CLAYCE :: The Voidseeker [Dragon]
Aliases: the Voidseeker, the Dragon
Affiliations: The Methuselah (United Vigil)
Absolute power and will in the shape of a man, Aidan Clayce was once the brightest star of the Awakened in the Fourth World. His research led to the discovery of the Void, something that he hoped would help all the Realms rise to higher heights. What happened, instead, was the Void ended up tearing everything apart. Aidan is one of three survivors, and it is said that the cumulative grief and potential of the Fourth World was vested in him as punishment for the Fall.
Aidan set out with one plan: to work "backstage" from the Fifth World, and guide its denizens away from certain destruction. He founded the Methuselah with the purpose of controlling as much of the world's order as he could. Many have been crushed under the wheels of the Voidseeker's ambition, including those who once viewed him as a comrade or even as family. It originally appeared as though his guilt over all of that eventually made him withdraw permanently from everything, but recent events have proven that he's set his sights on a new goal: liberating the Fifth World from the God Machine.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
The dark truth behind Aidan's war against the God Machine is that it's a suicide mission for him. His very existence is tied to the God Machine. Destroying the thing means destroying him.Rilea has confirmed that the only thing that hurts the Dragon is the destruction of Cogs - that is, central parts of the God Machine. The United Vigil plans on looking into this as soon as possible.FACE PEG: HENRY CAVILL (photo edited by Noey)
RILEY FALNER :: The Daywalker [Lion]
Aliases: The Daywalker, the Weeping Sword
Affiliations:
The Methuselah, NetsachThe King of Vampires, simultaneously revered and reviled by the Kindred of the Fifth World. He was one of the finest Rivers Hunters that the Fourth World had ever seen, a career that was tragically cut short by his Embrace. It was Aidan Clayce who pulled him up from the depths of his madness, and put him on the path to redemption. As one of the survivors of the Fall, Riley used to consider his work with the Methuselah as his penance. This belief did not really change for him, even after he achieved Golconda in his new world.
The Betrayal at Falner in 1865 drove Riley to despair, bringing about the early onslaught of his Deep Slumber. It was later discovered that the God Machine was manipulating things in its favor, keeping Riley asleep. A concentrated effort from Certain Groups That Will Not Be Named have roused the Daywalker. Now he seems intent on standing against the Methuselah, a conspiracy he was responsible for forming in the first place.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: JAMES MCAVOY
ORIN THE GREEN :: The First Keeper of the Labyrinths [Bull]
Aliases: the Last Legionnaire, the Man on the Mountain, First Keeper of the Labyrinths
Affiliations:
The Methuselah, Aegis Kai DoruThe only surviving Tancred Golem of the Fourth World, Orin began to realize his "humanity" when Aidan Clayce - in open defiance of the traditions of his kind - treated Orin not as an autonomous weapon, but as a friend. Orin swore to follow the Voidseeker for the rest of his days. His loyalty was tested at every step after the birth of the Fifth World, and his devotion to Aidan is matched only by his current disgust at the Voidseeker's actions.
Orin originally founded Aegis Kai Doru to suit the Methuselah's purposes. He intended to be the steward of his world's Lost Legacies, and guardian of all of the Fifth World's Relics. In this sense, the conspiracy's role has not changed much. Only Orin and his Hunters seem to understand the full potential of the artifacts they seek out, right down to how - should they fall in the wrong hands at the wrong time - be capable of precisely the kind of destruction that brought about the Fall.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
So Team Death Wish elected to send the Seer to Syria instead.AMADEUS :: Winter's Song
Aliases: Anri Obel, Mr. Wintersong
Affiliations:
The Methuselah,The Brotherhood in Violence,NetsachThe first Djinn to ever awaken to his nature in the Fifth World, Amadeus was taken in by the Prodigals of the Fourth World and given his name by Aidan Clayce himself. The Voidseeker took charge of raising him, and although Riley Falner and Orin showed Amadeus more affection and approval, it was Aidan's love that Amadeus constantly sought out for himself. Things came to a head after Amadeus witnessed Hikaru Shinta's treatment at the Methuselah's hands and how Aidan was complicit in it. He then left the Methuselah behind, and hid himself away for centuries to come.
Father Leslie Montero - Jesuit professor turned Brotherhood in Violence operative for the Dragon - is the first in a REALLY long time to be chosen by Winter's Cross, Amadeus' personal Relic. Amadeus speaks through the priest, and has thus become one of Team Death Wish's more ornery backers. He has become increasingly vocal, so much so that it is now clear that what ultimately pushed him to reveal himself is his desire to save his "family".
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: GASPARD ULLIEL (photo edited by Noey)
MAES MORDECHAI :: The Butcher [Kingfisher]
Aliases: The Butcher, the Hound of God, the Witness
Affiliations:
The Methuselah, The Brotherhood in Violence, ZangyakuElaine's most humble servant, said to be her chosen knight in the same way that he once belonged to Yahweh. Maes is attributed with the founding of the Brotherhood in Violence, the compact whose sacred duty involves guarding the Well of Souls. Such a task is a direct result of Maes deceiving the Voidseeker himself in a show of love and loyalty to his God. Aidan hated Maes for that for a very long time, but the Butcher did not care. As things stand, he positioned himself as one of Aidan's most vocal critics for centuries, even when such criticism had real consequences for himself and his follows.
Not a lot of people know this, but Maes is one of the few Malice Kings whose efforts prevented a premature Apocalypse. He was instrumental during the Secret War of Heaven, and is said to have facilitated the merging of realms. He also witnessed Elaine's Coronation. Maes has also played not-so-minor roles within the Vigil, such as providing support for Aegis Kai Doru, Zangyaku, and the Midnight Riders. His reach extends much farther than one might be led to believe.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: DAVID GANDY
ALISTAIR MORDECHAI :: The Seer [Kingfisher]
Aliases: the Seer, the Hound of God, the Fisher-King, First of his River
Affiliations:
The Methuselah,the Brotherhood in Violence, Zangyaku, the Knights of St. George, the Midnight Riders,Taskforce Valkyrie,HECATON Special OperationsThe younger Mordechai, responsible for discovering the Alder Tree and straightening the path for his clan's River. Alistair has always been defined by his convictions and unshakable loyalty to the ones who have earned the right to wield him as they might wield a weapon. His first Kings were Aidan, Riley, and Orin. However, the Voidseeker's callousness pushed him to betray his conspiracy for Hikaru Shinta.
While Maes chooses to move things from the background, Alistair throws himself right into the thick of things with frightening drive. He leads the Kingfishers both for him and his brother, relentlessly pursuing his vision of a Kingless Fifth World. He believes that this is the only way that Hikaru and all those like him can be saved.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: HUGH JACKMAN (photo edited by Noey)
RILEA HEARTNET :: Liberty's Belle [Cougar]
Aliases: Liberty's Belle, Gaea's Wrath
Affiliations: The Methuselah
The first Living Land of the Fifth World, and the oldest surviving one yet. Her steadfast loyalty towards Aidan is grounded on the fact that the Voidseeker took responsibility for caring for her and mentoring her in the Arcane Mysteries. Her love and protective instincts for the Methuselah only increased after she met Elijah Duskrider, the first of her husbands, through her work with the conspiracy. With that sort of background, one probably shouldn't be surprised at the amount of bitterness she harbors towards many of the Kings who refuse to stand in line or outright left the conspiracy. She views their decisions as the ultimate betrayal.
Rilea was the Malice King who was placed in charge of conquering the Americas for the Methuselah. She landed in North America with the first Vikings, and prepared the way for the Dragon's conspiracy. She was the Methuselah's law on the continent, and the thorn in the sides of every other compact and conspiracy that dared to gain a foothold in her place of power. Suffice to say, much has changed since the Ides of March.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: SUSAN COFFEY
SETSUNA SHINTA :: The Fatespinner [Fox]
Aliases: The Fatespinner, the Shield, Sister Fox
Affiliations:
The Methuselah,ZangyakuOne of the first known cases of a pure Mage birth in the Fallen World, Setsuna suffered the fear and rejection of the people of Yamatai because of her gifts. She became the voice in the cave for her own little brother, and Hikaru's raison d'etre. Dreamwalking was the only way she could truly connect with the rest of the world and hone her abilities. As things stand, she met Aidan - the Voidseeker, and the man who would possess her heart - through her travels in the Dreaming.
Setsuna tried to become Aidan's moral compass. She did everything in her power to keep him from falling victim, yet again, to his hubris, so much so that she volunteered for Project Deus Ex Machina on the pretense that becoming one of the Vessels for the Endless Concepts would better aid her whenever she tried to help him. The darkness in Aidan, however, proved too great for even Setsuna. It took the tragedy of her sacrificing her life to begin shattering his resolve. Her physical death was a result of her stopping the initial descent of Nyx upon the Fifth World. At present, she is a Great Spirit of Fate and Time, manifesting only through an extreme amount of effort on her part or when she must intervene in the events of mortals.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: MIWA ASAO (photo edited by Noey)
HIKARU SHINTA :: The Blade King [Wolf]
Aliases: The Blade King, the Wolf of Zangyaku, the Weapon of the Methuselah, Izanagi of the Lightless Lands
Affiliations:
The Methuselah,, Zangyaku, the Brotherhood in Violence,Taskforce Valkyrie,HECATON Special OperationsSetsuna Shinta's younger brother, and the unfortunate(?) mortal who had been chosen to wield the Godslayer. Because of this, Aidan required Hikaru's cooperation to perform the Godslaying Ritual of Deus Ex Machina. Hikaru consented less out of respect for the Methuselah and more because he wanted to do everything in his power to set his sister free. He ended up getting grossly punished for this, as the loss of the original Vessel for Death caused Hikaru to receive the entity instead, and Death quickly dragged Matter into the boy's body the moment It was settled. The Methuselah proceeded to experiment on Hikaru in an attempt to keep him under their control. Zangyaku, his conspiracy, is the direct product of his anger and sense of betrayal over the Methuselah's actions.
Hikaru unabashedly fits the profile of a high-functioning sociopath. His "condition" allows him to retain the memories and skills of all of his previous lives, making him a formidable figure to deal with across the board. Furthermore, his ruthless pragmatism and perceived lack of empathy have made it clear, in the opinion of many, that there are few things that he cares about. All of this, however, may be a front that he uses to hide crushing insecurity, and a deep-seated belief that he should not be allowed to exist.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: TAKESHI KANESHIRO (photo edited by Noey)
SHANE DUSKRIDER :: Mr. Duskrider [Bear]
Alias: None
Affiliations:
The Methuselah, The Midnight RidersSome of the other Malice Kings were reluctant to acknowledge Shane's place within their circle. Jonas Duskrider, Shane's father, had been the first of the Duskriders to defy Rilea Heartnet, the Mage whose fate was intimately tied to the family's existence. Shane was, of course, born without any of the love and devotion that other Duskrider men harbored for the woman due to her spell, and it did not help that he had only ever been exposed to the ill will that Rilea inspired on American soil. Nevertheless, he joined the Methuselah at Riley Falner's urging. The Kings always needed their conscience, and that was the role that Duskriders had always played in Aidan's circle.
Shane did the best that he could to serve the Methuselah's cause while curbing their darker practices. The more he discovered, however, the unhappier he became with his conspiracy and with the actions of Aidan and other Malice Kings. The Betrayal at Falner in 1865 was the last straw for him. He left with his son Calintz, and started the Midnight Riders. The Vigil was useless, he felt, if it could not protect the "little guys" beyond the Veil.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: DANIEL CRAIG
LIANDRIN DELACROIX :: Lady Swallowtail [Butterfly]
Aliases: The Last Glass Walker, Lady Swallowtail, Madame Butterfly
Affiliations:
The Methuselah,ZangyakuThe only surviving member of the Delacroix Clan, a powerful family of Awakened who perfected the art of perfect assimilation with Acamoth. Bonding with her father's "old friend" Lorenzo effectively saved her life. Aidan and Riley were quick to give her a place in the Methuselah, and fuel her need for vengeance for the conspiracy's purposes. What nobody expected was that Liandrin would eventually find herself torn between her loyalties to the Prodigals and her love for the Blade King and the Seer. This ended in tragedy for her in 1865, when she murdered Alistair for Aidan's sake. That decision haunted her for years to come.
Liandrin is one of those rare specimens of Awakened who believe that there is no such thing as a creature or phenomenon that does not have a place in the order of the universe. There is no unnatural or natural for her, only possibilities. This viewpoint does not make her popular at all with her fellow Mages, and has been the source of a lot of grief in her life. The antagonism, however, has done nothing but fuel Liandrin's need to prove that her vision is one of the more enlightened perspectives in the Fifth World.
Given how things have all gone to shit after the Ides of March, however, people like Liandrin might be exactly what everyone needs right now.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: OLIVIA WILDE
LORENZO REYES :: Alastor [Goat]
Alias: Alastor, Black Dog, Billy Goat Gruff
Affiliations:
The Methuselah,ZangyakuGiven his tendency towards narcolepsy and rather extensive definition of what constitutes as "food", it may be hard for people to take Lorenzo seriously upon meeting him, and it my even be harder to believe that he's recognized as a Malice King. Lorenzo is the last tethered Acamoth of the Delacroix Family, bonded to Liandrin Delacroix. He walks with Lia as he once walked with her father, and his father before him. He is, simultaneously, Lia's guardian, clean up crew, mentor, brother, and pet.
Lorenzo led Liandrin to the Methuselah less because he believed in their cause or cared much for their people and more because he understood on a pragmatic level that it was the only conspiracy that could protect them both. He made his disapproval of Aidan's principles known whenever the opportunity presented itself, but never actively antagonized them because he knew how much the conspiracy meant to Liandrin. Zangyaku is the only conspiracy that has ever made Lorenzo feel at home, and he deeply regretted the fact that he and Lia were never able to stay with the Wolf properly. Suffice to say, he's rather pleased that they're back where they belong.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: TOM FELTON (photo edited by Noey)
RETHE KYRIFF :: Zaghiel
Aliases: Zaghiel, Haven's Finest
Affiliations: The Brotherhood in Violence, The Vice Conglomerate, The Methuselah
Haven's best DJ, although it might be more correct to say that for a REALLY long time he was their only spinner. Everyone in the World of Darkness of the Philippines is aware of Rethe's reputation. He's the greatest information broker around these parts (and maybe even around the world), and all it costs for some intriguing leads on just about anything is a bottle of alcohol. Rethe's not picky about the kind either. One merely has to be prepared for how cryptic his responses are.
The God Machine originally assigned Rethe to be Aidan Clayce's "guardian angel" - that is, his satan and nemesis, custom-built as Rethe is to stop the Voidseeker from realizing his vision. What the Machine did NOT anticipate was mere proximity to the Dragon was enough to charm Rethe and make him dream bigger than his existence. Rethe continues to be loyal to Aidan, and is helping the Voidseeker fight against the God Machine by serving as a guide and ally to Gray Pieces who have taken Aidan's favor for themselves.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: FRANCISCO LACHOWSKI (photo edited by Noey Pico)
CALINTZ DUSKRIDER :: The Limitless [Bear]
Alias: The Limitless
Affiliations:
The Methuselah,The Midnight RidersShane Duskrider's son and Rilea Heartnet's estranged husband. It is hard for him to tell whether the love he harbors for Liberty's Belle is a blessing or a curse, especially in light of the way she has been twisted by her beliefs. Calintz is the second-in-command of the Midnight Riders. He followed his father's lead and left the Methuselah in 1865 after the Betrayal at Falner Estate.
On top of being a Riskbreaker, Calintz was born with the memories and experience of all of the previous husbands of Rilea. In addition to this, he's even more resistant to magic and other supernatural abilities than Riskbreakers are. He's also expected to live a damned long time, provided that the Vigil (or Rilea, for that matter) doesn't end up killing him first. He intends, of course, to spend the entirety of his existence fighting for what's right. Putting the Midnight Riders together with Shane has gone a long way towards helping Calintz do that, thus giving him some peace of mind.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: CHRIS PINE
JOSHUA LARUE :: Galahad [Eagle]
Alias: Galahad
Affiliations:
Taskforce Valkyrie,NetsachHECATON Special Operations, Zangyaku, The Vice ConglomerateThe mysterious Kingmaker of North America, and a man who has played an instrumental role in every major conflict that the United States of America was involved in after World War II. He was one of the founding members of HECATON and is a part of Brianna Lopez’s latest batch of War Hounds. He, Alistair, and Hikaru fell in love with each other during World War II and its fallout, and Josh will stop at nothing to keep the people he loves safe. A huge example of this would be how he’s done the very thing that he’s been avoiding since 2001: acknowledge his position as a Malice King in the Fifth World.
Joshua's moniker is a play on the fact that he is the man who discovered the Grail, and was chosen to bond with it. The Lost Legacy could have killed him, but it appears as though everything that Josh is - the son of a Technomancer and a Lightningbug, a Sin-Eater turned Card, one of the greatest soldiers of the Fifth World, and lover to the Blade King - helped him survive the grafting process. He is, in many ways, more a weapon than he is a man.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: SAM CLAFLIN (photo edited by Noey)
OSWALD LOWE :: The Sage [Unicorn]
Alias: The Sage
Affiliations:
The Methuselah,the Brotherhood in Violence, NetsachOnce one of this generation's only Inquisitor-Pawns - that is, a Hunter of the Methuselah who was in line to becoming a Malice King. Oswald is the current commander of the Order of the Mani dello Spirito Santo: it was the only position of authority that Oswald has accepted, as he is in the habit of declining promotions. He is the face of the Christian Vigil, although Jewish and Islamic Hunters view him with no small amount of respect.
True to his Christian beliefs, Oswald envisions a Vigil of Mercy, with its Hunters serving as instruments of peace. The way of the Vigil is a way of Death, but Oswald feels, rather strongly, that only the Lady – the Fifth World’s new Creator – has the right to determine who lives and who dies. True might is compassion; true justice can only be dispensed with empathy. He isn’t expecting all of supernatural kind – Hunters included – to agree with him. He can only hope that they will listen to what he has to say and understand where he is coming from.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: GARY OLDMAN
JESSIAH VICE :: The Hanged Man [Coyote]
Alias: The Hanged Man
Affiliations:
The Methuselah,The Vice Conglomerate, Zangyaku,Taskforce Valkyrie,HECATON Special OperationsJessiah Vice is a celebrity figure both beyond and behind the Veil. He's the young CEO of the Vice Conglomerate, a weapons supplier to anyone who can offer him the right price, the man behind Network Zero, and the Card who ended the Grand Game of Fate for all of his kind. He also happens to be the head of the blade that stopped the Watcher in the Dark from manifesting in 2001. Officially, Jessie has left the life of a Keeper behind. In actuality, the fight never stopped for him.
Jessie’s experiences as blade leader of the Order of the Grateful Dead have completely colored the way he views the Methuselah and the World of Darkness. He strongly believes that the Veil is a flawed and corrupt thing, existing only for its own benefit, occasionally destroying innocent lives in pursuit of protecting its secrets. He wants to destroy the Veil as soon as possible, and while he’s not about to support the World of Darkness’ version of terrorism, he IS more than willing to make some really hard and dangerous choices in order to get what he wants. Furthermore, because he believes that the Veil must be broken, Jessie also believes in preparing the Fifth World for “the New Age”. A huge part of this is finding ways to broadcast the truth, and making the World of Light aware of the truth of things one family at a time.
Suffice to say, the destruction of the Veil is an event has not intimidated Jessie in the slightest, nor changed his mind. He's stepped up his game, positioning himself as the spokesperson for the United Vigil.
PLOT NOTES AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: IAN SOMELHADER
GIO MALAAHAS :: Elias Tagabigay [Bakunawa]
Alias: Elias Tagabigay
Affiliations:
The Methuselah,the Maharlika, Zangyaku, NetsachThe actual face of Elias Tagabigay, and the single most talented Obrimos Mage from the Philippines in spite of his youth. Gio is the younger Malaahas twin, known for his cool head, calculating mind, and big heart. He risked a hell lot to go to the Methuselah, all because he wanted to find a way to help his brother Mio and because he wanted to understand what was really going on. He and the rest of Wolf’s Choice ran the moment their conspiracy turned on them, but Gio never stopped trying to do the right thing. Part and parcel of that, it seems, is rising up to the challenge of leading the Maharlika and extending his compact’s aid to Netsach.
The proliferation of a favor associated closely with Gio Malaahas’ family is, admittedly, not something that he planned at all. Gio does not yet view himself as a Malice King, especially since he’s incredibly young both by World of Light standards and within the World of Darkness, and he feels that there are men and women who better deserve the title. As such, similar to Setsuna, it is Gio’s followers who have formulated a vision based on personal admiration, or on Gio’s actions. For Gray Pieces of the Bakunawa, the Supernatural Accords must work towards abolishing the preference for the individual traditions of the supernatural groups that it seeks to protect. “When in Rome, do as Romans do” should NOT color the way that justice is meted out in the Accords, nor should supernatural groups go on politely ignoring each other unless their actions cross into Accords territory. It should be possible, someday, for children of the Fifth World to form some universal laws while respecting the culture and traditions of all denizens of the Darkness.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: DAVID ARCHULETA
MINATO ARISATO :: The Fool
Alias: The Fool, the Boy Who Slept
Affiliations:
The Methuselah,The Vice ConglomerateOne of the founding members of the Order of the Grateful Dead, Minato was one of the only Hunters in his cell that were not victims of Shinobu Kawamura. His insatiable curiosity led him to stalking Jessiah Vice and Hikaru Shinta while the pair were trying to investigate Shinobu's killings, which inevitably led to him discovering his Second Breath and slipping past the Veil.
Minato was the ghost that haunted the Vice Conglomerate since September 11, 2001, simply because, in life, his actions have determined everything that the group has done since Jessie took the reins. Minato sacrificed himself during his blade’s fight against the Watcher in the Dark, becoming the last seal protecting the Fifth World from Nyx. He was spotted sporadically in the Dark Hour within the past two years, and the sightings only started to increase around Cards with circumstantially strong ties to Jessie, like David Young of Wolf's Choice and Maddie Marcelo of Team Death Wish. Minato has since been freed from his exile in the Forgotten Shore, and has, without hesitation, gone right back to keeping the Vigil as if he had never died.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
FACE PEG: MASUDA TOSHIKI