Site name and link: The Irenic Institute
Site genre: Original modern supernatural dark-fantasy
Site info: Irenic has been going strong for 8 months now on our Premium JCINK board. We are a relaxed and friendly creative writing community where no one is made to feel unwelcome. What we don’t have are word counts or activity checks. We are a seriously chilled group that just loves developing character driven storylines and throwing ideas around all the time. The setting is modern day London where a covert occult war is being fought and humanity is the prize. Our stories are mainly character orientated but we plenty of drama and adventure driving them forward. Our primrary genre is dark-fantasy with a twist of supernatural sci-fi and strong Lovecraftian undertones.
Your name: B
Contact info: PM me here, give me a shout out on the site CBOX or AIM (seriousglib)
Role(s) requested: These are requests for my character, Mordecai Ghast, a Necromancer with a serious grudge against all the otherworldly creatures running around the place and the beginnings of a plan to save humanity. Except, of course, it’s going to involve becoming rich, powerful and dropping a few of bodies along the way. Each of these characters has loads of potential for developing all kinds of personal storylines throughout the board as well as being involved in
mayb
e saving the world.
I'm also the sort of player that's more than happy to adapt the plot as things progress across the board. So, if your character wants to amend the plan or throw a spanner in the works I'll happily roll with it. Think along the lines of Hustle meets the Blacklist meets Supernatural with a healthy dose of Lovecraftian vibes on the side and you're not a million miles off what I'm shooting for.
Keep in mind that these are just some of the misfits and miscreants that Mordecai has gathered together. I'm completely open to other suggestions as well, so throw them at me! With centuries of funds, a notorious reputation and an impressive array of connections behind them just think of all the mischief they can get into!
All play-bys are suggestions only. As I said I'm more than happy to discuss any ideas you might have, so just drop me a PM here or give me a shout out in the OOC CBOX. I’d also be happy for any pre-existing characters to get involved as well or if you’ve an idea for someone else you think ought to join this merry little band of cutthroats.
THE MUSCLE
131 | Revenant | Dark
Suggested: Tom Hardy
Think of Harris as the captain of Mordecai's troops and a friend. He has appeared in a couple of important posts (here and here) as an NPC but I would love for someone to take him on. It'd be great to have him running about the place for the plots to come. Harris’ backstory is thus; he was once a fanatical follower of the Light and an assassin. In 1885, the Seraph, Cassiopeia, sent him to kill Mordecai. Not only did he fail his mission he died the process. And then to really spit in Cassiopeia's eye, Mordecai raised Harris as a Revenant and turned him into his bodyguard. The two have been together since.
Though I’ve imagined Harris joining the security department whilst Mordecai was with the Institute, it’s really up to you how he's occupied his time. I doubt he would have strayed too far from his master, though. I’m also happy to discuss exactly how much he knows of Mordecai’s plans etc. Seriously, I picture him as one of the more integral pieces on Mordecai’s board, so it’d be fantastic to have him played.
THE TREASURE HUNTER
20-60 | Summoner | Dark/Open
Suggested: Helena Bonham Carter
She comes from old money but more importantly a long line of Dark supporters. The Treasure Hunter has a privileged background and a family name that gets her noticed. It's given her an enormous sense of self-worth and a taste for the finer things in life. And when life didn't immediately provide the finer things then she was more than happy to take them for herself.
She's a Summoner, capable of opening Rifts between the Realms and transporting things between them. Not just things but creatures too. Creatures, magical items or rare elements that she then sells to the highest bidder. Or in this case to help the team.
I'm imagining some sort of historical family connection between Mordecai and the Treasure Hunter, making them very distant relatives. Or perhaps he was simply a family friend before he went into exile. But that's not altogether fixed and I’m happy for it to change. Either way, the Summoner will be one of the integral parts of Mordecai's schemes, so it's likely that he has been courting her interest for a while. If you take her on there will be plenty of scope for lots of plots, not just with Mordecai but also other personal storylines making use of her talents.
THE CHARMER
22-42 | Empath | Dark
Suggested: Gaspard Ulliel
His history is entirely open. Maybe he did have a troubled childhood or maybe it was blissfully mundane. Perhaps he grew knowing about the supernatural world around him or it may have all come as a terrible shock. The one thing that’s for certain is that he (or she if you’d prefer) can barely remember a time when people didn’t want to please him. He constantly uses his Empathic powers to nudge the people around him. There’s no doubt about it, he’s manipulative and decidedly egocentric, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he has to be evil. There are so many ways you could take this character and I’m keen to see it!
The Charmer is the
rogue
intelligencer of the group. He gathers information, opens doors for them and more often than not takes the first crack at any interrogations. The exact details of how he came into Mordecai’s employ is up to you. I’ve imagined that perhaps he was recommended by a mutual acquaintance in the Dark community some time before Mordecai left the institute. They may have met and somehow Mordecai managed to convince him to sign onto his mad hat crew. It could have been the money, Mordecai’s reputation or the challenge of what it might entail that lured him on side. Or maybe it was Mordecai himself? As old as he is, Mordecai is a very self-possessed chap (even his Daemon ex-girlfriend had trouble manipulating his emotions) so it’s possible the Charmer was intrigued by the challenge. We can plot it out however you want.
THE NEWCOMER
0 | Revenant | Dark/Neutral
Suggested: Lupita Nyong'o
James could be her first or last name, it’s just the one that Mordecai uses. She’s been mentioned in a couple of threads but beyond that is still very much open. She’s Mordecai’s newest Revenant and the first that he’s had any intention of keeping in a long, long time. Everything up until the point that she was raised in mid-April 2016 is entirely up to you. I’m happy to follow your direction and have Mordecai know as little or as much of her history as you’d like. Along with how much of that past he shares with her and exactly how he ended up coming into possession of her corpse in the first place.
As a new Revenant, she will be dependent on her creator in the beginning and I can see her struggling to come to terms with their relationship. Revenants and Necromancers have a very close bond - he’s literally poured some of his own life into her after all - but that doesn’t necessarily mean that she has to like it. In fact, I’d kinda love for her to have some mixed feelings about Mordecai, her situation and the path that he’s taking her down. And you can be sure it’ll be a dark path. She will need combat skills.
Ultimately, I’d love for James to become a strong, badass lady. The path that leads her there though can be as long or as short as you want.
THE FIRECRACKER
26-56 | Elementalist | Open
Suggested: Boyd Holbrook
I’ll admit, the Elementalist of the group is probably the most open to interpretation. I’ve vaguely pictured him as being the most hot tempered of the gang. The most unpredictable. But his reasons for being so could be absolutely anything. Maybe he’s just built that way and has always been the hands-on extroverted one.
I don’t mind what element he specialises in whether he remains a jack of all trades. It would be useful if he had some sort of technological background as he fulfils the munitionist role in the group. He creates traps, wards and weapons as well as using his powers in the field. So, his will be quite a practical role with a strong element of research as well. I’ve absolutely no clue as to how he came to be involved in these madcap schemes but I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
THE HUNTER
45-55 | Psionic | Open
Suggested: Tilda Swinton
She is one of the longest standing members if Mordecai's merry band of cutthroats. And cutthroat is definitely the right term here. She’s an assassin by trade and they began their relationship when he hired her to eliminate some old rivals (or someone a rival cared for to prove a point). She helped to maintain a certain presence for Mordecai’s organisation whilst he was secluded in the institute. She is efficient, thorough and most of all professional with her work. All qualities Mordecai appreciates. In return he pays exceptionally well and as a Necromancer can help her with any injuries or pesky Ghost problems she might incur through her work.
I’m suggesting a Psionic because I honestly think a Psionic assassin would be the coolest thing. The ability to nudge in a different direction bullets mid-flight, for instance, would be very useful for a sniper. Or to push piles of bricks over the edge of buildings in seemingly unfortunate accidents for instance. But I’m completely open to you picking another Graced ability or making her Mundane Human even if you’d prefer. Just not another Necromancer because Mordecai can take care of that side of things himself happily enough.
Her history, the bulk of her personality and everything outside of their working relationship is totally open to interpretation. Whatever works for you. I’d like for her to be reasonably steadfast and even dogged in the pursuit of her work. If she takes a job then you can guarantee she’ll get the job done. It’s what he’s relying on her for. A lone wolf assassin would be all well and good, but keep in mind that at some point these guys are all going to have to pool their skills to get shit done. So make sure she can play
reasonably well
with others.
THE HACKER
18-35 / Open / Open
Suggested: Daniel Bamdad
Mordecai would be the first to admit that he’s a bit of a troglodyte. It was always clear he was going to need someone who understood computers and electronics if he was going to succeed in the modern world. Enter the Hacker. Mordecai likely began courting the Hacker long before he left the institute (he began laying the groundwork around 1989). I've pictured their shared history a little something like this:
An actual whizz kid, the Hacker made a name for himself from an early age. He may have even got into some trouble. Along comes Mordecai with an offer to help. He'll pay for the Hacker's equipment, his education and hell even his accommodation if he needed it. In return, the Hacker works for Mordecai providing digital and technological support to the team.
On a more personal level, I figure that this is the guy that eventually even talked Mordecai into getting DAB radios and a broadband connection. He's the one that taught him, through some trial and error, how to use a smartphone. If you go with my idea for how they met then they will have known each other for a while. The exact nature of their relationship is open to interpretation though and I'm happy to throw around any ideas you might have.
Closing Notes: Although I would of course adore to see these guys filling out the ranks of Mordecai's organisation, they are far fro the only people involved. If you've an other idea for a character that you think might work then I would be more than thrilled to hear about it. Irenic is a very relaxed place and there are some truly exciting plots in the works. Every single writer has the ability to change the entire world if they can plot it out and get others onboard. So, please, do come and share your ideas with us.