Taliesin (MTAw)

Taliesin is a Acanthus Guardian of the Veil from Chicago, Illinois.

Overview

Quote: "I have been many things in many lifetimes. What matters, though, is what I am now."

Taliesin's true background is unknown except for the bits and pieces he "lets slip" when speaking to people. He claims to be from Ireland and Wales. He gives his profession as a motivational speaker or an itinerant bard or a professional explorer and salvage artist. He has never been married, has had three wives (at different times), prefers men, is a priest who honors the vow of celibacy and has numerous children. He has lived in Belfast, Paris, Cardiff, New York, Atlanta, Toronto, Mexico City and Vancouver and almost any place else one would care to mention.

He has stories of working as a bus driver, a ranch hand, a professional escort, a "no questions asked" courier and a door-to-door salesman. He has practiced law, medicine and accounting, among other things, either professionally or as a fraud. Those who spend time with him in conversation come away believing they have just met a spy, an assassin, a Fed or a missionary.

To the members of Cassandra's Visions cabal, however, he is Mentor and guide, shepherd and teacher, friend and counselor. Only they know what is perhaps the truest of the true stories. Taliesin does not remember who he really is - or was. He believes that when he first Awakened, he was involved in something so dangerous or so horrendous that in order to atone for his actions he requested that the order wipe his memory of anything pertaining to his worldly existence. He then pledged himself to the Guardians of the Veil for the life of his soul, through all its incarnations.

Taliesin is respected by all members of his order as one of their most powerful and most effective living mages. He arrives where he is most needed and stays until whatever situation called him there has been resolved. He chose the shadow name "Taliesin" because, he says, "I could in truth choose no other."

Description

Taliesin has the face and build of a man in his 30s, but his clear blue eyes hint of many more years than that, even of many more lifetimes. His hair is black streaked with silver, though the silver seems to outweigh the black, and is worn almost to his shoulders, giving him the look of a professor or a poet. He dresses in casual clothes, as if always ready to travel, but even his casual clothing shows touches of adornment. His jeans are embroidered with animal shapes, his jackers and shirts have tassels and other embellishments. His voice is a soft, fluid tenor that never tires the ear of the listener, and his hands are the graceful hands of a musician. He walks with a slight limp, as if from a very old wound.

Taliesin's Nimbus gives off shifting lights through his eyes, like a kaleidoscope of ever-changing shapes and colors.

Stats

Dedicated Magical Tool: Delicate crystal goblet
Real Name: Padraig Abernathy (his last known identity)
Path: Acanthus
Order: Guardians of the Veil
Mental Attributes: Intelligence 4, Wits 4, Resolve 3
Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3
Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 3, Composure 3
Mental Skills: Academics (History and Literature) 4, Crafts (Knot-Working) 3, *Investigation (Subtle) 3, Medicine (Natural Healing) 3, Occult (Creation Myths) 4
Physical Skills: Athletics (Swimming) 3, Brawl (Dirty Tricks) 3, *Stealth (Surprise Entrances) 3, Weaponry (Sword) 3
Social Skills: Animal Ken (Befriending) 3, Empathy (Body Language) 3, Expression (Storytelling) 4, Persuasion (Silver-Tongued) 4, Socialize 3, *Subterfuge 4
Merits: Contacts (Storytellers, Entertainers, Animal Rights Activists), Hallow 5, High Speech, Library: Bookstore (British Isles Folk Wisdom, Chicago Magical Lore, Pagan Rituals), Resources 1, Sanctum: Size (Shared) 3, Status: Guardians of the Veil 4
Willpower: 6
Wisdom: 7
Virtue: Charity
Vice: Wrath
Initiative: 6
Defense: 3
Speed: 10
Health: 8
Gnosis: 5
Arcana: Fate 5, Life 4, Mind 3, Prime 4, Spirit 3, Time 4
Rotes: Fate - Quantum Flux, Fortune's Protection, Bestow Exceptional Luck, Sanctify Oaths, Geas; Life - Healer's Trance, Purify Bodies, Healing Heart, Shapechanging; Mind - Aura Perception, Mental Shield, Telepathy; Prime - Discern Phantasm, Magic Shield, Controlled Dispellation, Phantasmal Weapon; Spirit - Second Sight, Place of Power, Restore Lost Soul; Time - Perfect Timing, Temporal Dodge, Divination, Prophecy
Manna/per turn: 14/5
Armor: 5 ("Fortune's Protection," Fate **)
Magic Shield: 4 (Prime **)

References

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