Manipra

Manipra is a Mastigos Guardian of the Veil from Chicago, Illinois.

Overview

Quote: "Forget the consequences you've afraid of. Let me deal with that. How can we work together to make this happen?"

Over 30 years ago, Theodore Walsh and his wife, Vanessa, took part in one of those breeding rituals discussed in hushed tones by the local members of their order. Throughout her pregnancy, however, Vanessa seemed to waver in her resolve after finding out that she was not merely with child, but was carrying twins. She felt that putting two children up to the rests and scrutiny of their order would not allow them to mature with any sense of personality beyond that which was expected of them.

Theodore comforted her through this time, and assured her that the Guardians had no intentions of tampering with the development of their progeny until they were awake like their parents. After all, there was no guarantee that they would be mages, since the magics they performed before conception were experimental, at best.

"Then what?" Vanessa would insist, never giving in to being cajoled into complacency. "So we then discard out own children like rubbish for the morning carrier? Or do we love them and nurture them, as parents are expected to?"

Eventually, his wife saw that her constant questioning was not getting her anywhere, and she made up her mind to take matters onto her own hand. Some accounts say she fled her husband, her order and her past, intending a safer life for her children. Wherever she went, Theodore Walsh must have found her.

Theodore has always downplayed Vanessa's doubts and weaknesses, though, especially to the twins, Michael and Cynthia. Theodore's version of the story says that after their births, their mother fell victim to strange Paradox forces due to the powerful ritual that surrounded her pregnancy. She went mad, he says, and eventually vanished without a trace - possibly to some strange pocket realm, facing the consequences of this unnatural reproduction. When asked why he didn't suffer the same effects, his response is always one of melancholy: his wife knew she would be the primary target, and she wanted their children to have at least one parent to guide them, so she used what was left of her power to ensure that she alone suffered. Theodore rejects the notion that she ran from him at all, and assures the children that things are exactly as she would have wanted.

Cynthia has always behaved as though she believes this account of events, and she draws great strength from the idea of her mother's resolve. If Cynthia's ever thought otherwise, she's kept her mouth shut, knowing better than to question the methods of the order she grew up beneath.

Michael is another story. Though, growing up, he learned the same lessons as his sister, rebellion came easier to him.

He Awakened later than she did, and suffered from a desire to catch up and prove himself while retaining some sense of individuality and dignity. He did eventually accept the tenets of the Guardians of the Veil, but his approach has always been a cautious one.

For this reason, Theodore was always particularly harsh with his sone, until they left England for Chicago. Once in the United States, Theodore's focus was dedicated to his company and finding out anything he could about the Celestial Glange that supposedly caused the Mage War of '87.

The truth about what happened to Walsh's wife may never be known, but one thing is certain: the Hierarch of Chicago never does anything without an agenda, even things that seem to be acts of compassion. Michael suspects that the only reason his father has been so accepting of his son's departure from the company and allegiance with the Hip Flask is that now, through his son, Theodore has a strong connection to the oldest cabal in the city.

Michael Walsh is nearly correct. Theodore would certainly have preferred to have both of his children at his side running the family business and working to further the agenda of their common order, but, knowing his son to be far more capable while asserting his own individuality, Theodore has intentionally led Michael to believe that he accepts his son's absence begrudgingly. To think that his father, not to mention the Eye of the Dragon, would let Michael continue his life without close scrutiny would be folly. Still a member of the order, Theodore's son proves to be more valuable in an unintentional manner than he might ever have been otherwise.

Once Walsh Industries grew its American base of operations, and Theodore had established himself as leader of the city, it took a whole to cement the rest of the Consiliar mages of the city into a comfortable routine. With a shadow name like Manipra (the solar-plexus chakra and seat of the body's power in Hindu spirituality) and a background with the order best known for strict adherence to secrecy, many of the city's mages took a long while accepting Theodore in a leadership role.

For nearly a decade and a half, he has proven to be a solid leader, though, if nothing else. His understanding of bureaucratic procedure and parliamentary methods of dealing with dissent and personal conflict have countered allegations that he's only here to expand his personal wealth and power at the expense of the city's other occultists.

Now his focus on finding the artifact that drew him here in the first place is reaching a peak. Rumors are surfacing again, and with his web of connections and powerful allies, Manipra expects it won't be long before his connection to the Supernal Realm will be unrivaled in Chicago.

Stats

Dedicated Magical Tool: Brass pentagram necklace
Real Name: Theodore Walsh
Path: Mastigos
Order: Guardians of the Veil
Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 3
Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 2, Stamina 2
Social Attributes: Presence 2, Manipulation 4, Composure 3
Mental Skills: Academics (Business) 3, Computer 2, *Investigation 3, Occult 3, Politics (Consilium) 4
Physical Skills: Drive 1, Firearms 2, Survival 2
Social Skills: Intimidation 4, Persuasion (Closing the Deal) 4, Socialize 3, *Subterfuge (Misdirection) 4
Merits: Contacts (Big Business, Local Government), Eidetic Memory, High Speech, Resources 5, Sanctum (Shared) 5, Status: Consilium (Hierarch) 4, Status: Guardians of the Veil 3
Willpower: 6
Wisdom: 5
Virtue: Fortitude
Vice: Greed
Initiative: 5
Defense: 2
Speed: 9
Health: 7
Gnosis: 4
Arcana: Mind 5, Space 3, Forces 2, Prime 2
Rotes: Mind - Aura Perception, Third Eye, First Impressions, Mental Shield, Misperception, Telepathy, Breach the Vault of Memory, Psychic Domination; Space - Spatial Map, Ward, Ban; Forces - Nightsight, Invisible Object; Prime - Analyse Enchanted Item, Transform Aura
Manna/per turn: 13/4
Armor: 5 ("Misperception," Mind **)

References

• CofD: World of Darkness: Chicago, p. 320-322