Aquamundi
Aquamundi is a Thyrsus Guardian of the Veil from Chicago, Illinois.
Overview
Quote: "Magic is the world's water. Without its sustaining energy, the world would dry up. But only balance upholds the cyclic energy of magic, just as balance is needed in the water cycle. Like water, magic can be tainted and purified of taint."
Mischa Oscik grew up in Chicago's Lithuanian community. As a teenager, she was drawn into the subculture of Lithuanian death metal and paganism, professing to worship the gods of light and darkness rather than adhering to the Orthodox Christianity of her parent's generation.
With her companions, she explored as much of the occult as she could, everything from Ouija boards to tarot to the Kabbalah. She also experimented with hallucinogens, seeking an ever-greater spiritual high.
Her Awakening came quickly and violently during one such experiment, resulting in a trip to the emergency room where she had to be physically restrained to keep from clawing her eyes out.
She refused to speak of what happened to any of the physicians and psychologists who saw her during her hospital stay, finally making up a story of paranoia and nebulous bogeymen to stop their incessant questions. In fact, she had traveled to a realm of Primal nature and had come to the Watchtower of the Stone Book, at the end of the Path of Thyrsus. She has been transformed into a giant cat and a river fish and had experienced the horror of humanity's pollution of the earth's lands and waters. In atonement, she had tried to mutilate herself as the planet had been savaged.
Her parents, when they heard of her involvement in drugs, had no sympathy for a daughter they did not understand and could not reach. They disowned her as a witch and a Satanist.
Mischa's self-destructive tendencies were enough to warrant a stay in a mental institution as a ward of the state. The confinement and treatment were hard on her, since she had to control her impulse to use raw magic in response to the grueling interviews, therapy sessions, drug therapies and electroshock treatments to which she was submitted.
Finally, she had a visitor who claimed to be her sister. Although Mischa had no sister, she went to the meeting with hope and curiosity in her heart. Cassandra was waiting for her. She has seen Mischa in one of her visions and had done her best to locate her through her brother Rebus' problem-solving abilities. Cassandra told Mischa that she would be leaving the institution soon and that Cassandra would give Mischa a home.
Two days later, Mischa was released from the institution. No reason was ever given for her release, but she was pronounced "cured" of her psychotic, self-destructive behavior. Mischa found a cab waiting for her. The driver took her to Cassandra's Visions Bookstore, where she was given a job in the bookstore, a place to live in a basement apartment and an initiation into the order of the Guardians of the Veil. She chose the shadow name Aquamundi to symbolize her dedication to magic and to the life of the planet.
Description
Mischa is often mistaken for a boy because she has a lean, straight-hipped body with no breasts to speak of. She wears her henna-dyed hair in a short shag with bangs that fall into her eyes. Her features combine Eastern high cheek bones and a generous mouth with a waif-like expression. She has a volatile temper and is trying to learn more control of her emotions.
Her Nimbus appears as a wave of water running through a cycle of pollution to purification. The "quality" of the water also varies, depending on her mood.
Stats
Dedicated Magical Tool: Mirror of highly polished, beaten copper
Real Name: Mischa Karolla Oscik
Path: Thyrsus
Order: Guardians of the Veil
Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 3, Resolve 2
Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3
Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 3, Composure 4
Mental Skills: Crafts (Beadwork) 2, *Investigation 2, Occult (Lithuanian Paganism) 2, Science (Environmental Studies) 3
Physical Skills: Athletics (Swimming) 2, Brawl 2, Firearms 1, Larceny (Shoplifting) 2, *Stealth 3, Weaponry 1
Social Skills: Animal Ken (Overcoming Hostility) 3, Intimidation 2, Socialize (Group Rituals) 2, Streetwise 3, *Subterfuge 1
Merits: Contacts (Pagans) (Environmentalists), Hallow 5, High Speech, Library (British Isles Folk Wisdom, Chicago Magical Lore, Pagan Rituals) 4, Resources 1, Sanctum: Size (Shared) 3
Willpower: 6
Wisdom: 5 (Vocalization, mild: 5)
Virtue: Faith
Vice: Wrath
Initiative: 7
Defense: 3
Speed: 10
Health: 8
Gnosis: 3
Arcana: Life 3, Mind 1, Prime 2, Spirit 3
Rotes: Life - Cleanse the Body, Heal Flora and Fauna, Control Median Life; Mind - Third Eye; Prime - Supernal Vision, Magic Shield; Spirit - Coaxing the Spirits, Ephemeral Shield
Manna/per turn: 12/3
Armor: 3 ("Ephemeral Shield," Spirit **)
Magic Shield: 2 (Prime **)
References
- CofD: World of Darkness: Chicago, p. 328-329