Mehdi Alvarez

Name:  Mehdi Alvarez / Fletcher Brahimi              Needle:  Watcher                                      Seeming:  Beast Player:  Sphynxy                                                    Thread : Acceptance                                Kith:  Helldiver Chronicle:  Oxford By Night                                                                                                    Court: Autumn Concept:  Lost torn between his old life and the possibility of a new one    _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Strength:      oo                   Intelligence:       oo                     Presence:            o Dexterity:     oooo               Wits:                   ooo                   Manipulation:      o Stamina:      ooo                 Resolve:             oo                     Composure:        oooo ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Skills Physical  (-1 Unskilled) Athletics: oo Brawl: oo Drive:  Firearms: Larceny: o Stealth (Shadowing): ooo Survival: oo Weaponry: ____________ Mental  (-1 Unskilled) Academics: o Computer: o Crafts: o Investigation:  Occult (Hedge Lore): oooo Politics: Science:  ___________ Social  (-3 Unskilled) Animal Ken: o Empathy:  Expression (Sculpture): oo Intimidation:  Persuasion:  Socialize: oo  Streetwise:  Subterfuge: o _________________ Changeling Traits Seeming: Beast Blessings:  One additional point in a resistance attribute (Stamina)                     +3 Speed and Initiative                     Can choose to do Lethal Damage with Unarmed Strikes Curse:  Risk Clarity Damage with a dice pool equal to half Wyrd rounded up whenever acting without thinking hurts someone else Kith: Helldiver Blessings:  When using Larceny in any unearthly realm, 3 successes counts as an exceptional success Dive (pg. 54) : 1 Glamour / Dexterity + Occult / Turns = 10 - Clarity  __________________ Merits Acute Senses: o Fae Mount: ooo (HP 12/12)  Actormsask Burdenback Thornbeast Goblin Bounty: oo (5/6)   Hedge Sense: o Touchstone: o Alternate Identity: oo Hollow: oo Size Matters Phantom Phonebooth Autumn Mantle:  o __ __________________ Aspirations Make contact with his Fetch Form a Motley Attain the same level of notoriety within a social circle that he had before his durance _____________________________________________________ Advantages Health / / / / / / /    Current: (6/8)  Bashing: 0  Lethal: 2  Wounding: 0 ___________________________________________________ Willpower: ooooo Wyrd: oo Frailties: (minor bane) Fresh Plums _____________________ Glamour (Max 11) ooooo _______________________ Clarity: 10 9 8 7 o   6 o  Liam McCarthy -  An Oxford professor, and Vampire;   Mehdi pledged his service to for access to Oxford 5 o  The Fetch -  Living his life as Fletcher Brahimi, a graduate fine arts student at Oxford 4 o 3 o 2 o 1 o _______________________________________ Size: 5            Speed: 14 Defence: 5 Initiative Mod: 11 Beats: ooooooo Experience:  ________________________________________ Contracts Favored Regalia: Steed / Mirror Boon of the Scuttling Spider (steed, common) Cost : 1 Glamour / Dice : None / Action : Instant He can move along walls, ceilings, or slick surfaces normally too treacherous to cross, as long as they are strong enough to carry his weight. He can move at his normal Speed, and acts without hindrance while moving in this fashion.  Beast Bonus : He may use the restrain move in a grapple as though he had rolled an exceptional success, even if he didn’t. Loophole : Swallow a live spider Nevertread (steed, common) Cost : 1 Glamour / Dice : None / Action : Instant The changeling stops to cloak one of his footprints and the Contract changes all his footprints accordingly for the duration. This makes him impossible to track save by supernatural means, triggering a Clash of Wills, and altered tracks remain so even after the Contract ends. Beast Bonus : Up to 6 people traveling with him can benefit from the contract as well Loophole : The changeling leaves a note, bloody fingerprint, or other clue of his passing. He can hide this, but it must provide a clue to his identity if found. Glimpse of a Distant Mirror (mirror, common) Cost : 1 Glamour / Dice : None / Action : Instant  The changeling looks into any reflective surface, which becomes a window that looks out through another such surface that has reflected his face before. Anyone who looks into this window can see what’s on the other side.  Beast Bonus : He may also see out of any surface currently reflecting a person who has sworn a promise or pledge to him or invokes his name, even if the surface hasn’t previously reflected him. Loophole :  He looks into a mirror belonging to someone who has sworn enmity against him. He may steal this mirror and take it with him (or may have already done so in the past), as long as he does not claim ownership over it. Hostile Takeover (crown, common) Cost : 2 Glamour / Dice : None / Action : Instant The changeling declares her right to be on the premises, persuading the home that she belongs there. She may then bypass any mundane security systems — she does not show on cameras, for instance — and its doors automatically open for her. Animals and hobgoblin sentries stay out of her way. The changeling can extend this Contract’s benefits to a number of companions equal to her Presence, as long as they remain in her line of sight. Targeting a Hollow, or another supernatural dwelling, triggers a Clash of Wills with the owner or main resident. Beast Bonus : The Beast persuades animal sentries to actively serve her. Loophole : The changeling carries an object with him that belongs to the owner or main resident. Hostile Takeover   (crown, common) Cost : 2 Glamour / Dice : None / Action : Instant The changeling declares her right to be on the premises, persuading the home that she belongs there. She may then bypass any mundane security systems — she does not show on cameras, for instance — and its doors automatically open for her. Animals and hobgoblin sentries stay out of her way. The changeling can extend this Contract’s benefits to a number of companions equal to her Presence, as long as they remain in her line of sight. Targeting a Hollow, or another supernatural dwelling, triggers a Clash of Wills with the owner or main resident. Beast Bonus : The Beast persuades animal sentries to actively serve her. Loophole : The changeling carries an object with him that belongs to the owner or main resident Skinmask   (mirror, royal) Cost : 2 Glamour / Dice : None / Action Instant The changeling recites three things he knows about his target, who may be a mortal or any creature with a Mask: She’s tall, takes sugar in her coffee, and wears a red coat. He then assumes her outward appearance. If his target is a changeling, he copies both Mask and mien. Mimicking the target’s behavior still requires successful Social rolls. Beast Bonus : Any animals familiar with the person being imitated, such as a beloved dog or cat, are automatically convinced that the Changeling is actually the person they are imitating.                  Loophole : The changeling holds an object belonging to the character he wants to mimic when he invokes this               Contract. Chrysalis   (steed, royal) Cost : 2 Glamour / Dice : None / Action : Instant The changeling chooses two animals when the player purchases this power, and can transform into either one by invoking it. He must have seen the animal before (an accurate representation works), and it can’t be smaller than Size 1 or larger than Size 7. He can choose a mythical beast, though he gains none of its supernal powers only its physical form: Physical Attributes, Size, Speed, and Health. He can also use the animal’s mundane senses and modes of movement. While in animal form, the character can communicate with other animals of the assumed species.   Beast Bonus : Can choose two additional animals Animals : Owl, Rat, Horse, Panther Loophole : The changeling is in the natural habitat of his chosen animal and is near enough to touch at least one of them.

Backstory Born in Washington D.C. to an Algerian immigrant father and a hippie-dippie multiracial mother who both worked in non-profits, Fletcher had a very global upbringing. He lived in Northern California for a while, Costa Rica for a couple years, then London, then back to the states to study sculpture in New York. His work was based in the tradition of land art, inspired by the many natural locales he’d visited around the world. But Fletcher combined his natural and ephemeral sculptures with immersive soundscapes and video installation to create magical and surreal pieces that transported the viewers into magical realms and enchanted gardens where nature blended seamlessly with technology. His peers and professors lauded his innovative work, and Fletcher devoured their praise. Throughout his undergrad he easily fell in with the it-crowd of the local art scene, and could be found at every exclusive gallery opening and every elite afterparty. He rubbed elbows with all sorts of rising stars, from models to musicians, and he developed into exactly the sort of pretentious, affluent, party boy you’d expect him to be. After his graduation, he relocated to London with some friends. He intended to make his new flat a base of operations for a year of European exploration which would form the basis for a new body of work. He traipsed through Spain and France, then Germany. It was there, while exploring old growth forests and taking field recordings, that he wandered off from his group and stumbled into the oddest thing: a lone plum tree. He wasn’t familiar enough with the fruit to know where exactly they originated, but he knew it certainly wasn’t native to an ancient German forest. Perhaps some hiker had discarded a pit, and the plant was just tenacious enough to survive. After snapping a few lovely shots of the striking tree he walked up and picked one of the ripe purple plums.Without a second thought he bit into the plum, sending an unnatural amount of juice cascading down his chin and chest. The fruit was like candy, incredibly sweet but with the perfect tart finish. He couldn’t help but grin as he took another hungry bite, then another. More juice spilled out onto his bare chest. It took him another couple bites before he realized how odd it was that the sticky drops were hitting the skin of his torso. He’d been wearing a flannel, but now it was gone. The weight of his pack was also absent. And the soft mossy forest floor felt suddenly squishy beneath his bare feet. A giggle behind him sent his head spinning. Rows and rows of plum trees whirred past him as his vision swam before finally settling on a teenage girl, barely 18. Her skin was the same hue as the fruit but much paler, her hair a deep red-violet. Her clothes were ornate yet skimpy, in shades of blush velvet and shiny black leather. She was the Queen of Plums, and Fletcher didn’t realize it then but he had just signed away his body and his life to her. As they strolled through her orchard under the dusky light of a giant crescent moon, he spilled out every intimate detail of his life. The juice of the plums was sickly sweet now, and it made the answers to her questions slip out with no resistance. “So you’re a gardener? How perfect!” He wasn’t exactly a gardener, but even if he could there was no point in correcting her. And soon he learned why this projected profession was ‘perfect’ to her. Every mortal that the Queen of Plums snatched away became a gardener. They pollinated the flowers, and they ate the pests that plagued the plum trees and the orange lilies in her garden. They were gardeners, and pets, for they were her precious swarm of bats. Fletcher was lucky compared to many changelings: he didn’t feel his transformation. That didn’t make anything less confusing and terrifying though. Did it take Fletcher much time to acclimate to his new form? There’s no way of knowing really, as the new routine of flying around and hunting insects in his queen’s eternal night seemed to stretch on infinitely.  Though she had appeared much younger when he first met the Queen of Plums, she kept the appearance of a regal and severe woman most of the time. She would strut around the gardens and orchards inspecting each and every flower and tree, keeping track of every goblin harvester and bat gardener that she kept. For the bats, their only hope of elevation was to become one of the queens nightsingers. These bats got to perch in special roosts when she had guests, stringing together their high pitched tones into a theremin-like symphony. The bat that was once Fletcher squeaked with glee as she singled him out after weeks or months or years. He was overjoyed that finally he would be able to sing for his queen. He had been a musician in a past life after all… hadn’t he? “When I saved you from the woods, you mentioned having traveled all over your old world, isn’t that right my pet?” The bat nodded and flapped vigorously. He had, yes he had! “Good. I have a need for a travel-savvy bat, to be my eyes and ears across the realms. Would you like to help me?” Again the bat expressed his excitement. “Good boy. You’ll begin in the Hedge. I’ve heard whispers that there is a troupe of vampires traversing the Gloaming Wood. I despise those decrepit creatures, and I want to know what they’re doing in our realm. Who better to spy on bloodsuckers than a little bat?” she said with gleeful spite.  And so began the bat’s new duty as a helldiver, traversing the realms beyond Arcadia as a spy for his Keeper. The break from the monotonous orchard was revitalizing. Having purpose, any purpose, began to spark the human life he had nearly forgotten. The rest of his time as a pet was a blur, flashes that felt like seconds but were maybe actually closer to months. He found the vampires, who appeared to be seeking some artifact. He followed them from the Gloaming Wood into a Goblin Market, and then through a doorway into the Underworld, trailing his silver thread all the way. Their dealings were esoteric and they spoke a strange tongue, but at one moment he saw they were about to head back to the mortal realm. This was his chance, it was now or never. He revealed himself to the vampires and begged for help. While one of the trio was indifferent and the other suggested they kill the pitiful creature, one of the undead took mercy on the bat and convinced the others to help. With an axe forged from cold iron they severed the cord that kept Fletcher linked to the Queen of Plums. The transformation was immediate. His body reverted to a humanoid form though it still held many of the bat-like features in his warped flesh. His nose was still shaped like a large, flat leaf, and his ears retained their massive proportion and shape as well. His curly hair had returned but it was shot through with plum blossom petals, and a pair of vestigial bat wings had sprouted from his back. Still, it was more human than he ever thought he’d be again. He thanked the strangers for their help, and was informed that he was lucky they were in such a hurry and didn’t enjoy the taste of changeling blood. They left, and he waited a good while before following through the door.  Fletcher emerged in rural Scotland, where he immediately burst into tears and fell to his knees, kissing the ground. Sticking out like a sore thumb even as he tried to stick to the outskirts of the couple towns he drifted through, it wasn’t long before the nearest Freehold found the fresh-out changeling and took him in. With their hospitality and help, Fletcher learned it had been about seven years on the mortal realm since he had been stolen away. He learned that the Queen of Plums had created a replacement for him, and this Fetch was living his life as a grad student at Oxford. Conflicted and confused, Fletcher ultimately felt compelled to seek this imposter out. He was angry, but also curious. He wanted to see the Fetch for himself, almost hoping he’d be overcome with rage enough to murder the simulacrum on sight. Part of him knew that wouldn’t be the case though. He made his way to London without much of a plan, and when he arrived he spent his first few days stalking around campus using his helldiver abilities, watching Fletcher 2.0 from afar. The Fetch was the perfect replacement. His artwork hadn’t deviated or improved on Fletcher’s but it certainly maintained. The professors loved him, the undergrads loved him, he’d done an excellent job at picking up where Fletcher left off. Now he was even more conflicted. Part of him still hated the Fetch, but another part of him couldn’t bring himself to do the same. More than anything, he wanted to keep an eye on him. Maybe he hoped the Fetch would slip up somehow. Maybe watching his old life from afar was better than giving up on it completely and trying to forge something new. The perfect opportunity to continue his surveillance came from an unexpected source. As Fletcher lurked around Oxford like a ghost, he noted that the ancient institution was rife with supernatural activity. There were ghosts absolutely everywhere, that was unsurprising. But Oxford was also crawling with vampires. Their kind had helped him before, and knowing how much his former keeper reviled them added an extra sense of comfort. One in particular seemed incredibly charming and gregarious: the professor Liam McCarthy. So once again Fletcher found himself relying on the good will of a blood sucking stranger. One night while the professor was in his office, there was a knock on the door. Immediately Fletcher gave the man the whole spiel. It was a heartfelt plea, and in return for getting him an in to Oxford, Fletcher would pledge himself to Liam. A Changeling henchman with Fletcher’s abilities could prove quite useful, and vampires love having underlings right? The idea of being subservient once again was a big pill to swallow, but ultimately this was different. This oath was on his terms. He would be an assistant, a loyal ally, not a pet or a servant. Liam agreed, and it was easy enough for the vampire to pull some strings and coerce some admissions staff to allow Fletcher, now going by Mehdi Alvarez, to “transfer” and become the professor’s teaching assistant.  Now Mehdi waits and watches. His old life plays out at a distance while he tries to make sense of what possibilities he has for a new life. He tries to keep a low profile despite the fact that he’d love to be partying it up and soaking up the praise that his Fetch is. But even though he barely recognizes the face his mask shows now, there’s still a striking resemblance to Fletcher 2.0 and he doesn’t want anyone asking questions. There’s also the constant threat of his former Keeper, and the ever present fear of a Huntsman coming to drag him back to Arcadia. He’s learning there’s a much deeper reason that Changelings are also referred to as the Lost. Appearance      Before his durance, Fletcher was the racially ambiguous pretty-boy of many art students’ dreams. Beautiful brown complexion and an overall Mediterranean look from his Algerian father, coupled with full lips and curly hair from his mostly Afro-Latina mother. Hazel eyes, high cheekbones, strong jaw, clean cut and impeccably dressed. His Fetch still fits this description. His Mask still looks similar, but to anyone who knows the fae truth of what happened to him, they can see how he has changed. He looks older, more weathered. His ears are larger and his nose more prominent, echoes of the bat-like features his Mien has. His hair is shaggier and he sports a full, bushy beard. Considering the fact that he now walks the same grounds as his Fetch, it’s probably a good thing he looks different, haggard. It’s enough that their resemblance is closer to brothers or cousins, not twins.       For those that can see through the Mask, most would find his warped form hideous. His chiropterian features include a large, flat nose and gigantic ears, all of which show dark purplish coloration and leaf-like veins on their edges. His eyes are a vibrant blush hue, and his skin is the same muted shade of mauve as his former Keeper’s. The mane of hair that slightly trails down the back of his neck is constantly filled with plum blossom petals that seem to appear from nowhere. Those explain the pleasant floral scent that surrounds him, with subtle undertones of leather and warm musk. The most striking features though, are the vestigial wings and short, rat-like tail that sprout from his back.