Altus Vulcanis
Altus Vulcanis is a Mastigos Silver Ladder from Chicago, Illinois.
Overview
Quote: "If you want me to defend you, you had better be innocent. If you aren't, then you have come to the wrong place."
Born to wealthy African American parents in San Francisco, Nathan Perriman decided early in life that he wanted to be a lawyer, indoctrinated by the many popular legal and criminal dramas in the movies and on television. His father, a doctor, and his mother, a social worker, had no objection and did everything they could to clear his path to law school. Nathan received his law degree from Stanford, passed the California bar exam and entered the competitive field of trial law. When he received his first high-profile case, a prominent businessman accused of the murder of a call girl, Nathan faced a moral dilemma, Retained by the businessman to defend him, Nathan found his investigations only confirmed his client's guilt. When Nathan confronted his client, he was reminded that he had been hired to win the case, not uncover the truth.
Nathan tried to withdraw from the case, but his client refused to release him, saying it would prejudice the judge and jury. When Nathan insisted that he couldn't in good conscience defend a guilty client, the businessman shrugged and told Nathan that he hoped he would change his mind. That evening, the campaign of terror began. Nathan's car was stolen; when it was found abandoned, it exploded just before Nathan touched the door handle. His apartment was next. This time, Nathan found a note in the ruins of his front door indicating that his family would be next on the list.
Nathan spent a sleepless night trying to decide what to do. As the sun rose, Nathan had made up his mind to refuse to be intimidated, but he knew he had to get his parents out of harm's way. He walked out of his apartment and found himself in a different landscape, a nightmarish realm of justice without mercy and willful madness. He followed a path leading to the Watchtower of the Iron Gauntlet and the Path of the Warlock.
Almost before he could react to what had just happened to him, Nathan's Mentor found him - one of his law professors at Stanford and a member of the order of the Silver Ladder. When Nathan explained his moral dilemma, his Mentor told him to watch and wait. Within 24 hours, the businessman confessed to the murder of the call girl and to three other crimes, including embezzlement, money laundering and trafficking in drugs. From that example, Nathan learned the power of magic.
Once he had demonstrated his considerable capabilities both as a mage and a lawyer, Nathan received orders to go to Chicago and bolster the dwindling numbers of his order in the Windy City. He soon met Eleagia, and together they formed the cabal known as the Castle. Though Eleagia held the position of cabal leader, Nathan, now known as Altus Vulcanis, became the order's Councilor in the Consilium, choosing his protege, a young mage called "L'Etranger," as his Provost.
Description
Vulcanis is an attractive, if somewhat heavyset African American in his mid-30s. His short hair and clean-shaven face mark him as a professional. He has a broad nose, a high forehead and dark, intelligent eyes. His voice is deep and has a pleasing timbre, a quality that helps him in court. He exudes confidence.
His Nimbus consists of alternating bands of black-and-white - with no shades of gray.
Stats
Dedicated Magical Tool: Small brass gavel
Real Name: Nathan Frederick Perriman
Path: Mastigos
Order: Silver Ladder
Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 4, Resolve 3
Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3
Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 2, Composure 3
Mental Skills: Academics (Law) 4, Computer 1, Investigation (Legal Research) 4, Occult 2, Politics (Local) 3
Physical Skills: Brawl 2, Drive 2, Firearms 2
Social Skills: Empathy (Victims) 3, *Expression (Trial Arguments) 3, Intimidation (Of Witnesses) 3, *Persuasion (Closing Statements) 4, Socialize (Cocktail Parties) 2, *Subterfuge (Legal) 4
Merits: Contacts (Judges, Law Enforcement, Order), Hallow 3, High Speech, Library (Shared) (Faerie Lore, Finance, History: Chicago, Law, Magic Lore) 4, Resources 4, Sanctum: Size (Shared), Status: Councilor 5
Willpower: 6
Wisdom: 7
Virtue: Justice
Vice: Wrath
Initiative: 6
Defense: 3
Speed: 11
Health: 8
Gnosis: 4
Arcana: Forces 4, Matter 3, Prime 4
Rotes: Forces - Read Matrices, Unseen Shield, Control Electricity, Friction Knife; Matter - Detect Substance, Unseen Aegis, Repair Object; Prime - Analyse Enchanted Item, Counterspell Prime, Ley Lines, Supernal Distillation
Manna/per turn: 13/4
Armor: 4 ("Unseen Shield," Forces **)
Magic Shield: 4 (Prime ****)
References
- CofD: World of Darkness: Chicago, p. 333-334