[The Lovers] Character Concepts and creation

Has Glenda and Wiki meet and bonded over abusive ex-boyfriends?

Possibly even the same dude?

Definitely the same dude! Perhaps Qralloq wants to make him a lieutenant in some badguys gang, its even better.

I'm completely down for this.

How is he going to work with the rest of the group?

How do you know that isn’t the false one? 😬 Although since these are rumors, all of them are a little exaggerated.

The club connection between Ishtar and Wiki definitely works for me. Ishtar's background makes her rather influential in her circles, so she would've been the ideal person to have helped Wiki out and set her back on her feet.

As for Glenda, interestingly, I had Ishtar needing a steady supply of pharmaceuticals, because she makes them into her own concoctions via Matter. So she'd definitely know Glenda very well. She might not yet know of the Glenda/Wiki connection.

I'm tempted to offer a initially adversarial relationship between Ishtar and Mordecai. Since her supposed inspiration is Old Testament pagan-inspired, that would put her at odds with Mordecai. On the other hand, she's probably the only one who knows what he's going on and on about. Her Time sphere actually sees some truth in his old fashioned god of the past, so she kinda relates.

One It. Bad Guy coming up, heh. Codename: Enrique Badbae

These are excellent ties, except for the rabbi. I like the tension that he'll bring to the group, but I feel a strong tie to keep him close as well would be beneficial. Maybe an addiction or vice that puts him in Ishtars orbit? A personal connection, with the players or Enrique Badbae?

There are definitely tantric parallels in the kabbalah...

I’m still working out the character in my head; I’m hoping to write him up tonight. I’ll start considering links to the other characters.

I’m imagining that Mordecai as a fairly old gentleman, so I see him being somewhat curmudgeonly and insular (especially with strangers) but it shouldn’t be an issue for the group. Since he has a pre-existing relationship with the cabal members, he’ll be more open with the other characters than he’d be with people he doesn’t know.

As I mentioned, the character is a rabbi and Hasidic Jew. My intent is to portray the character as respectfully as possible; I used to have Hasidic neighbors when I lived in NYC so I had the privilege of learning a lot about their community. But playing an accurate representation of a Hasid would potentially limit my behavior too much for this game; I’d be forced to abstain from a large number of activities due to religious strictures. Consequently, although Mordecai identifies as a Hasid, he doesn’t quite observe all aspects of Orthodox Judaism. In certain situations, especially if he’s desperate, he is willing to violate Halakha (Jewish religious law). You can assume this probably has a lot to do with why he was exiled. He’s a deeply flawed man of faith, and his transgressions are something he struggles with. It’s part of his journey.

Anyway, I felt like I should explain this so it doesn’t seem like I’m doing a half-assed portrayal of a very intricate, real world religion.

I totally dig Mordecai's portrayal (and full respect to real world Hasidics). Which is why what crossed my mind was the qabbalah angle, since that's way more unorthodox, and depending on what one subscribes to, potentially heretical as well. Perhaps Mordecai's studies of the sefirot leads him to Ishtar in some way, whom he would not otherwise associate with.

I'm still picking backgrounds to finish off my character, so conceivably Ishtar could have the Legend background, ie she's linked to the Akkadian/Sumerian religion in some way, and both Mordecai and her need to collaborate on some Old Testament related evil threat.

How are we doing? I had posted some npcs in a separate thread. Feel free to define a relationship with any of them. I can post more info as needed.These tradition mages are the brunt of the community of LV, outside of any specific npcs we need to bring in from your backstories.

Some of Wiki's connections

The Black Pyramid Chantry: Ralph Cannon (Sons of Ether)
She likes his style and some of the ideas the Sons of Ether has. She might not be in Chantry but does their data security, as well at Luxor hotel/casino.

Virtual Adepts: Syd Kowalcik, Skip McQueen
She knows them both and thinks they are oddballs, but 80% of what they say makes sense in a way she never known before. It was them that challenged her to hack a server that did not exist. It was her initiation ordeal after she awakened 5-10 years ago.
The server she hacked, was a Technocracy server, and she got away a rather big datadump. (Background: Library 2 dots)Online:
The online community of IllumiNaughty has a secret subforum for hackers/Virtual Adepts around the world.

Esther, or Ishtar, is a longtime resident of LV, and would know most of the Black Pyramid Chantry, and is likely to have worked with and/or had a relationship with at least one or two of them. She might even predate the chantry and its members. As mages they would also know of her background and legend, as she is a clear public figure in their circles, and has performed at the Luxor on various occasions.

Glenda is familiar with the Black Pyramid Chantry, but hasn't really made it a point to visit. She and Aurora have met once or twice, because they know some of the same people, but they're really more of acquaintances.

Glenda knows the members of the Big Spring Chantry, is on really good terms with Sarah. She helps Jerry Tanner obtain drugs for shamanic rituals, and they sometimes grab some food together. Jerry knows what Enrique Badbae's car looks like and makes sure to look out for him if he is hanging out with Glenda.

We have five characters submitted, /fistpump.

I'll review them now, let you now if I have any questions or concerns, and then get some Sin City shenanigans started.

Just surveying, who's putting points in Matter? I was thinking to do so, but also considered that if some of you have it, I'll put points in Mind instead. It'd be nice to see a range of powers. I'll have Time as well.

Wiki has Correspondence, Mind, Matter