SJE/FloatingSummerOrchid
Floating Summer Orchid
Concept- Mysterious Trophy Widow / New Thaumaturge for the Forbidden Magics Dept.
Nature- Conniver/ Savant
Gender- M (Appears Female)
Caste- Eclipse
Str 1 Dex 3 Sta 2
Cha 3 Manip 5 App 5
Per 3 Int 4 Wits 3
Abilities
Martial Arts 5 Awareness 3 Dodge 3 Performance 4 Presence 5 Linguistics 2 Socialise 5 Ride 2
Lore 3
Occult 5 (Warding x1, Exorcism x2, Geomancy X1)
Backgrounds
Backing 1 Contacts 3 Influence 1 Resources 4 Mentor 3
Compassion 1 Temperance 2 Conviction 3 Valour 3
Willpower 6
Virtue Flaw- Heart of Flint (triggered when Orchid is frustrated by the Intemperae or Childish nature of the world- a.k.a. the Captain)
Essence 3
Personal Essence Pool -15, Peripheral 36
Charms
Reed in the Wind (Dodge)
Harmonious Presence Meditation (Presence)
Wise-Eyed Courtier Method (Socialise)
Mastery of Small Manners
Demure Carp Feint 4m to add 3 to dif to hit (Dreaming Pearl Courtesean Style)
Pearlescent Filigree Defence (1m per 1l/2B)(Dreaming Pearl Courtesean Style)
Lethal Paper Fan Attack (3m to treat props as weapon)(Dreaming Pearl Courtesean Style)
Motive Discerning Technique (6m to discover a persons true intentions)
Dreaming Pearl Courtesean Form (5m for +5 dice to Social Rolls and 3 persistent parries with MA as dice pool) (Dreaming Pearl Courtesean Style)
Listener Swaying Argument (1m/2dice + 1w to boost any Socialise, Bureuacracy or Presence roll)
Shadow Over Water (2m Full Dodge)
Flurry of Autumn Leaves (2m per ranged prop attack) ((Dreaming Pearl Courtesean Style)
History
Floating Summer Orchid is the scandalously young and wealthy trophy widow of Unnamed Old Rich Bloke. She's a bit of a shocking figure, as e-e-e-e-veryone knows she was a notorious actress/dancer and courtesan, a highly-skilled employee at one of the House of Salak's establishments for the discerning connoisseur. And you wouldn't believe the scandalous stories about how she ensnared her rich husband and how exactly he died... Not that any of this stops her being a fixture on the social scene. Everyone loves a hint of mystery and scandal.
So now you have this rich widow with more than a hint of scandal about her, who's quite capable of wrapping anyone she likes around her finger with her social-fu. And what does she do? She observes all the correct mourning protocols, she gives the dear departed a sumptuous funeral and she's the model of correct behaviour. Apart from this infuriating smile she occasionally gets that seems to say there's something going on behind that oh so respectable facade.
Then, a year and a day after her husband died, she joined the watch. What's more, she has enough money to have bought herself a really cushy posting, but instead she's gone in as a lowly constable. What in the hells is going on? Why? She has no need to do this; she's financially made for life. It's not even as if she's ever given the impression of being particularly compassionate or interested in social causes. Even if she was, she could do far more by just throwing money at things. Only she knows why, and she just smiles when asked...
But there's even more about Floating Summer Orchid that many people don't know. She's actually a boy. Some people know, and there are always wild rumours. It's just another of her little mysteries...
In personality, she's warm and always friendly, but there's a certain coldness behind it all if she doesn't get her way. She's surprisinly ruthless when she wants to be.
So what skills does Floating Summer Orchid bring to the watch? She's quite well-educated, so has a good smattering of lore, both occult and mundane. She's not exactly bright, but she's not stupid and she's pretty perceptive. She probably has a little kung fu, just enough to fend off a foolish mugger. But her main strengths are all social. She can wrap anyone around her little finger with, it seems, just the twitch of an eyebrow. It's not so much sexual, she just always seems to be able to talk people into being of some assistance. She has a few wealthy or influential men, and not a few women, in the palm of her hand, and she always seems to be able to find an acquaintance in the most unexpected places
Why Orchid Joined the Watch
Educated courtesans, though fewer in number, bring higher profits than common whores. As a result, House Sahlak operates some of the best schools in Gem. Orchid, being a slave who had been selected as suitable for training, received a classical education, in order that she would be a pleasing companion for the wealthy, powerful and discerning, whether they required conversation, music or other entertainments. Orchid revelled in the chance for education, and was drawn to hidden lore, to small magics and enchantments, though she had little opportunity to pursue such studies to any depth. Customers only require a courtesan to be adequately educated, anything further is surely a waste.
It came to pass that Orchid acquired a regular customer, who sometimes came to her as a young man, and sometimes as a young woman, sometimes claiming one name and sometimes another, but always with emerald bells at its ankles and sapphire flowers in its hair. After it had taken its pleasure, the Inconstant Hierophant of Five-Fold Adamant Pedagogy would talk to Orchid, instilling in her lore long thought forgotten and showing her thaumaturgy she could never have mastered alone. And one night, her head swimming from wine, pleasure and knowledge, Orchid accepted a bargain. If this god, for that is what she was sure it was, would continue to teach her, Orchid would repay it with but one favour, to come in the future.
One rainy winter evening, as Orchid plied her trade, the Inconstant Hierophant of Five-Fold Adamant Pedagogy came to her: "I remind you of the bargain we made." It asked but one favour from her, that she join the City Watch for at least a year and a day, this and nothing more.
Said Orchid: "I would happily join the Watch for you, but I am owned by House Sahlak, and they would never allow it."
"So be it," said the Inconstant Hierophant. "I shall ask again."
Within six months, Trasti Escalus, smitten, had set aside his wife, manumitted Orchid and married her. Now, in Orchid's sumptuous home in the Shades, the Inconstant Hierophant of Five-Fold Adamant Pedagogy came to her: "I remind you, for a second time, of the bargain we made."
Said Orchid: "I would happily join the Watch for you, but my husband would never allow it."
"So be it," said the Inconstant Hierophant. "I shall ask again."
Within six months, Escalus was taken by a sudden seizure. Now, while Orchid still wore her widow's weeds and observed the customary period of mourning, the Inconstant Hierophant of Five-Fold Adamant Pedagogy came to her: "I remind you, for a third and final time, of the bargain we made. I will not ask again."
Said Orchid: "I would happily join the Watch for you, but... No, I can think of no impediment."And it just so happened that the Watch stood in need of a thaumaturge. So here she is, her head full of dangerous lore and sorcerous knowledge and the nagging feeling that somebody has gone to great lengths to get her into this position.
But why hasn't Orchid questioned this, or tried to find out more about who she made the bargain with? It's hard to say, but she has genuine trouble with doing so. It's not that she can't remember that she joined the Watch because she made a promise. It's just that whenever she forms the intention of checking it all out more deeply, it just seems to slide away. Something always happens to distract her.
So who has Orchid made a bargain with? It could be that the Inconstant Hierophant of Five-Fold Adamant Pedagogy is being entirely honest with Orchid, but I doubt it. After all, that would be no fun. It could be anything: a mighty Raksha, a tricky city spirit, a Celestial god, a demon, a Sidereal messing with destiny, some other Exalt, who knows?
Current XP -15 (Total- 114)
Occult 4->5 (7) Dodge 1->2 (2), Manipulation 3->4 (12), Awareness 2->3 (4).
Per2->3 (8)Socialise 4->5 (7) Essence 2->3 (16) Mentor 3 (6xp) M.A. 3->4 (5) M.A. 4->5 (7) 2 Charm (16) Dodge 2->3 (3) Ride 2 (4)
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