Algernon Mercer || née: Mixlin Professor, Author, Bookstore Owner
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I'm drawn to that sorta library magic whisperin through the dusty aisles watchin all the thinkers read Tryin to keep a grown man quiet’s like Pulling teeth on a winters eve Cracks and pulls and unfamiliar roads I am on this one to find out
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 12:44 pm
Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun. Shine on you crazy diamond. Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky. Shine on you crazy diamond. You were caught in the crossfire of childhood and stardom, blown on the steel breeze. Come on you target for faraway laughter, come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon. Shine on you crazy diamond. Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light. Shine on you crazy diamond. Well you wore out your welcome with random precision, rode on the steel breeze. Come on you raver, you seer of visions, come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!
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CRANKY BIBLIOPHILE
Algie is the living embodied stereotype of the English, tweed and sweater country gentleman. Except, while English, he's not in the countryside and he's nothing close to a gentleman in any way but his impeccable manners. Since his arrival in town- as a writer and part time lecturer of English at the college- he's seemed quietly disgruntled on this side of the ocean, but he's really too polite to say so to any but the closest of friends.
MAN OUT OF PLACE
Algie has never quite fit the molds he's tried to fit himself into. All his life he's strived to push himself into the role that others would need of him, whether it be son or academic or to mix with people above his station, and only as an adult made a place for himself as a popular writer of supernatural crime novels. He's always been a little too polite, a little too proper, and even young was called 'an old man'.
After coming to Ashdown he has carved himself another small niche, this time as a husband and a mentor to others. He still resists, though perhaps it is simply in his nature to doubt and be stubborn. Despite growth in his powers he remains ever feeling like he is floundering in the footsteps of 'others', perhaps other selves, who have come before. Even his place as a noble feels unnatural, like a choice he was forced to make to survive. Needed but not necessarily wanted.
He continues to be a man out of place- uncomfortably wading through a life that he sometimes isn't sure he's chosen for himself at all.
ANYTHING ELSE?
Algie has been in Ashdown for nearly 15 years. He's polite and courteous to those around town and known to students of the college as a rather lenient professor, but still keeps distance between himself and others. A few years ago, disappointed in the nature of the books at the college bookstore, opened his own bookshop in town with a much quieter atmosphere and a better selection. Still- similar to the owner himself, it's like stepping into a different time. No coffee shop attached, nothing too hi-tech, no comic section. The shop does share an entryway with his friend Eve's teashop, Equinox.
-Prefers going by Algie or Alg. -Algie is late forties, brunette with greying temples, and living in tweed. He has very green eyes and always wears glasses. He's got the paunch of sedentary life and middle age- domestic life and beer. He has an influence album here. -He secretly feeds neighborhood stray cats, and also has his own (magic) cat named Violetta. -He resides with his husband Jeremiah Mercer. -He likes a good cuppa and a good pint. -He becomes flustered easily when things don't fall into an expected pattern. This makes him fun to tease or rile up. -He's more bark than bite. -He's old fashioned, often commenting that gentlemen are a dying breed. -He is not very high tech though computers and cell phones he can handle at a standard level. -He resists concepts that don't follow an order that he can grasp.
A RED HERRING MYSTERY
Algie writes The Red Herring Mysteries - a series of supernatural mystery books, usually released in trilogies, that revolve around a detective named Red Herring (it's a running gag in the books, don't worry). Red is a grizzled skeptic caught in a world that dances on the edge of the supernatural. There has been a BBC miniseries adaptation of his first trilogy, The Swallowtail Saga starring Idris Elba.
Algie doesn't mind being asked about his books, or comments on them, but in depth criticism from strangers is not always welcome.
Looking for something? A quick fact or a date or a recipe? Algie always seems to just have the right book out (or magazine in his bathroom). It isn't always immediately apparent, but if the effort is made to find the answer the right material seems to be easily at hand.
BOY, YOU GOT THOSE HANDS THAT.. ~riser power & beyond upgraded~
Previously only able to soothe, Alg's hands now can affect a person's mood in any direction. With a touch he can influence a person to whatever mood he wills. This is not strong enough to change someone's mind or have them act different than their normal self, but those in distress may find comfort, fears could be eased, sadness offered hope, or more reactionary responses could be nudged along in tense situations.
Also as a residual effect of Algie's continued use of this power on his spouse, it's become an effective counter to Jeremiah's constant chill while they are within one other's vicinity.
PERCHANCE TO DREAM ~beyond 2 power~
Algie has the ability to insinuate thoughts and ideas into a person's head while they sleep. This is performed by physical contact and verbal command (talking, whispering, murmuring, etc into their ear). The person can not be made to do anything they wouldn't want to but they may given strange ideas that they hadn't had before, urges they never thought about, or a desire to go places they normally wouldn't without any knowledge why upon waking.
LOCKED POWER EXPANSION for PERCHANCE TO DREAM until quested for in combination with Soothe the Savage ability - Put to sleep with his own power, the subject is more open to his suggestions and may, in extreme cases, be triggered to perform an action in the waking world with a cue (like post-hynotic suggestion). Strength of will can break the command should the character be extremely adverse to the action.
in combination with Storyteller, Soothe the Savage, Magic Hands abilities- Algie may cast and hold a person in an illusionary dream state of his creation. The dream would seem and feel real to them through the combination of his abilities, but Algie would have to verbally cast the dream set up (again whispering in their ear) and remain actively touching them for the entirety of the dream. As soon as the character realizes/rejects the dream, the effect is broken and they would wake up. (Like all usage of Storyteller, this would likely need PREPARATION).
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THE POWER OF WORDS ~additional power~staff credits~
Any book in Algie's hands is a deadly weapon. Well, maybe not deadly, but he's especially adept with beating, throwing, and all around assault with a book as preferred tool of destruction. The books manage to not get messed up, don't open in the air, don't bend or break when used for whacking. They hurt only slightly more than any book would of equivalent size, wielded with Algie's natural strength, if only from the weaponized nature.
LIGHT IN THE LOAFERS ~additional power~RP credits~
Algie can float. Just slightly, no more than 3 ft off the ground and no faster than he could walk briskly. He can't make anything else float, just himself, and it's by no means flying. Things he carries still weigh the same to him and aren't any more difficult to carry than if he were standing on the ground. To attempt to go higher or faster would be intensely draining for him.
MENDING ~additional power~opt-in meta roll~
When your clothes tear, you can fix them. Just pinch the edges together--tadaa!! Like new!!
Alg can conjure a cluster of lightning through his fingertips and launch it at something up to an arm's length away. These produce enough electricity to short out electronics, immobilize a living target for a few seconds, or maybe jump start a car. It's a bit of a drain to use more than once in a short period, and eventually the bolts will fizzle out in potency if Alg tries to keep using it multiple times in a day.
So its not exactly unlimited power... but at least it looks pretty cool.
PRIMAL SCREAM ~october '16~event reward~
When you scream, people stop moving. They physically cannot move for 15 seconds. Not even to breathe.
Algie can coax the living shadows of other ashdown into forming a light source that doesn't harm or upset them.
INSTANT-INSTANT MESSAGE ~acquired through superlative nominations~
Adfero! ... You can now send brief thoughts or sentiments to other people within your line of sight. They can't message you back, but this would be killer in a game of Bullshit.
THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS ~feb/mar challenge month~
You may now pull a pair of bear arms out of hammerspace at any time. You are also never cold enough to need a sweater, freeing you to bear bear arms in your bare arms.
EQUALIZER ~ezra's deception~
Algie can smother the use of passive powers within his line of sight. Aleksy's Sight, Jeremiah's hardened skin, any magical talent that requires no action on the part of its user will be quashed for as long as he focuses on it. However, when he uses this power, it's everyone in his line of sight, including himself. As long as he can see you when this power is active, all passive powers are off.
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VIOLETTA ~familiar -- gifted from Autumn Smith~
Violetta is a sibling of both Bergamot and Hellbine. She is an othercat, that is a cat that shows magical traits. She is likely the least magical of her siblings and is not good for much more than being pretty and being lazy. She is intelligent like her mother and siblings but has yet to demonstrate any magical abilities beyond inadertently blooming flowers - moss specifically - and the small violets that crop up behind her ears when she's happy.
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Quote:
THE MERCER GRIMOIRE Algernon now has access to a grimoire written in two hands: one is his own, and the other belongs to an unknown party. Algernon can add to or edit this book at will, and it never seems to run out of pages. Ink never bleeds through and the pages are never illegibly stained. This book of spells will only permit Algernon to learn the skills that he is ready for (so he cannot immediately jump into planning the Apocalypse or something silly). Because it relies heavily on his memories and point of view, it is near-useless for anyone who doesn't know him extremely well. The grimoire's spells can only be used in Other Ashdown and cannot be used to give Algernon new powers unless those powers have already been purchased through the growth point system.
You must keep a record of every spell he uses from the grimoire in his journal.
The spells in the grimoire take the form of Algie's prose. They are key sentences or phrases in his particular writing style that cue and ellicit the proper mental tracts for him to perform the spell. Upon acquiring the grimoire he found spells he'd already performed as well as some new ones.
Return Home - The first spell Alg used from the book allowed him to travel from OAD back to Ashdown. This seems to bring him back to his and Jeremiah's home. Umbrella Barrier - One of the first spells Algie learned before acquiring his grimoire. An invisible barrier shaped much like an umbrella forms over his head to keep off the rain. It sounds, and feels to the touch, much like a regular umbrella. Thundercloud - Another spell Algie used before he acquired his grimoire. He is able to form a tiny thundercloud, with rain and lightning and everything, that hovers over his palm. Body Heat - Another spell used before acquiring his grimoire, and found detailed within. The air around his body is raised in temperature enough to evaporate most light moisture and precipitation. Should it start to pour, this is useless.
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 6:02 pm
NOBLE
POWERS
STORYTELLER ~noble power~
Algernon, through the power of his stories, can weave them into illusions. The illusion is written out and then recited to be ‘cast’, much like the spells in his grimoire. This power is not generally used on the fly or in a fight, as prep work is involved to be successful. Being illusions, they cannot hurt or harm, merely distract or hinder and the success and potency of the illusion is entirely reliant on how much the subjects caught within believe it.
SOOTHING THE SAVAGE ~noble power~
Alg can speak in a particular tone of voice that can lull someone into a peaceful sleep. This can only be used on one person at a time (not a room full of people) with the player’s permission. There is nothing special about the sleep besides that it seems particularly restful.
A MOMENT'S PEACE ~noble power~
There is always a quiet place available for Algie catch a breath and focus when things get too hectic.
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FETCH
ADZE
Adze is Alg's original fetch, defeated and pledged to his service. He most often wears the guise of an aged british man, a sunken reflection of his Lord. He is devoted and truly dedicated to the law of the court - that his place is to serve the better man. Alg's capacity to claim his own life showed his true right to live it and thus deserves his devotion and service. As such he is a bit of a 'fan' of all nobles who succeed in their noble paths. He excels at organization and lacks slightly in affairs of the heart.
current rp point tally 5 civilian rps // 26 visitor rps 4 shop events (challenge month, earth elemental quest, consent quest, meta 5)
HE DONE ******** UP
9
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 6:04 pm
I’ve waited a hundred years But I’d wait a million more for you Nothing prepared me for What the privilege of being yours would do
If I had only felt the warmth within your touch If I had only seen how you smile when you blush Or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough Well I would have known What I was living for all along What I’ve been living for
Your love is my turning page Where only the sweetest words remain Every kiss is a cursive line Every touch is a redefining phrase
I surrender who I’ve been for who you are For nothing makes me stronger than your fragile heart If I had only felt how it feels to be yours Well I would have known What I’ve been living for all along What I’ve been living for
Though we’re tethered to the story we must tell When I saw you, well I knew we’d tell it well With a whisper we will tame the vicious seas Like a feather bringing kingdoms to their knees
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ashdown (c) silverah & shibrogane dreamer & beyond art (c) shibrogane, riser art (c) endejester, beyond 2 art (c) cibarium & silverah, alt art (c) silverah algie (c) me faux instagram courtesy of peanutbutterpies alg facecast - Phil Macaulay teacup graphic (c) usagipinku @ deviantart
