Grimpen Mire
From Changeling Venue
| Seeming | Wizened Chirurgeon |
|---|---|
| Court | Autumn Court •• |
| Freehold | Vale of the Hidden Door |
| Player | Kyle Mallinson |
True Name: Unknown
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Apparent Age: 40
Seeming: Wizened
Kith: Chirurgeon
Court: Autumn (Mantle 2)
Titles: "Squire"
Physical Description: An extremely short individual, who waddles with excitement wherever he goes. He has giant eyes that are commonly covered by dark goggles or equally giant glasses. The many pockets of his white coat are stuffed with various unidentifiable objects.
Known Information
Grimpen Mire is a Chirurgeon, through and through: he is a very adept doctor (with extensive knowledge of both field-medicine and theoretical medical science) and a mechanic, with a history of creative innovation, able to rig just about anything that needs doing. However, he was so displaced in time when he escaped in 2005, that his knowledge of science is notoriously obsolete. He has since been racing to update his knowledge of modern times, from medical science (wherein state-of-the-art techniques and cutting edge theories go obsolete every six months), to the revolution in research and communications ("A compute-r? Why don't we just use a calculator? I have a pencil!") He is known to have a workshop and home somewhere around Main Street. He also has a column in The Vancouver Sun ("Flichhunting: the Art of Debunking through Science"), and in The Globe and Mail ("Science is Your Friend"), about science and debunking the paranormal. His Sun column, while usually sincere in it's quest to find more rational explanations for the irrationalism in society, is occasionally a way to conceal supernatural goings-on in the city by coming up with prosaic explanations and justifying them. He has inadvertently done a service for all supernaturals in the city, without even knowing of their existence. He writes these columns under his new mortal name, John Holmes.
Known History
Having escaped in 2005, he was found by chance by Queen Sonja and enticed into the Autumn Court. He identified himself as a doctor and a mechanic, and he believed it to be 1945. He has since found a place in society, or rather, more than one. First, he became a freelancer repairman. Second, he got his papers so in order that he has restored his previous standing in the scientific community, or at least is recognised for his expertise. Third, he is in a weekly column in the Vancouver Sun, regarding science and rationalism. In the column, he talks about current events, in particular paranormal phenomena, and debunking the beliefs with scientific theory, giving alternative mundane explanations. While this is normally sincere, he has been known to use this role to explain away the conspicuous goings-on of the Freehold.
In early 2008, he unwittingly became the object of distrust and scorn when he refused to let his love of science and his compassion for human health be influenced by politics. He has since run afoul of the Summer Court, in particular Alexander and John. In April of 2008, he encountered "Prince" William Avery, a man recently arrived through the Hedge, and agreed to help him find Princess Angelina; in William's eyes, this was an oath to join him (get recruited) on his "quest to find his 'princess'".
The good doctor isn't much like the other members of his Court, not being as inclined as most of them to inspire fear directly. Nevertheless, people slowly begin to fear him or be wary of him, for he sometimes appears quite mad, has decidedly no bedside manner (to say the least), often inspires horror with the ideas he jovially vocalises (everything from building weaponised robotics to having offered brain surgery to at least one member of the Freehold), and when he is even present one seems permanently on-guard for no apparent reason.
He also constantly engenders confusion when he speaks. Grimpen is what is known as a "sesquipedalian" - a person who uses large words when little words will do. Being very preoccupied with mundane science (the only part of his old life he noticeably holds onto), he always uses very precise and technical terms to describe the most mundane things. Many blink and merely give up on determining what he is saying, though the mysterious Changeling known as Shui Long often takes Grimpen's verbose ways as a challenge and they constantly engage in verbal duels about nothing. This almost always ends in a stalemate.
Associations & Associates
- Autumn Queen Sonja - Among the members of the Autumn Court of the Freehold of the Vale of the Hidden Door, Grimpen Mire seems to be Queen Sonja's favourite. He is often seen taking care of her during her less dignified moments, and, uncharacteristic of proper Autumn-Court etiquette, she is often seen showing affection to the small man.
- "Prince" William Avery - William adopted Grimpen as his "squire" against his will; in other words, the apparently confused (though jolly) man arbitrarily named Grimpen his "squire", and the false title inadvertently began to stick. Grimpen has been angrily trying to absolve himself of this title.
- Bishop Katie Owen - Grimpen has formed a working relationship with this woman, in some sort of covert Freehold business.
- Kisa Kot - a young Beast who for a time was always at his feet. She seems fiercely loyal to him, though fleeting in her attention. She has not been seen for months.
Quotes
- "I'M NOT YOUR SQUIRE HELL CRAP ME!"
- "So, I hear that in your time, it's customary to... sugarcoat warnings of pain." [pauses, smiles and then dives into wound]
- Grimpen Mire: (Looks at Shui Long's pair of Chinese singing globes) "Erm, why is it then that you play with those balls?"
- Shui Long: "Well, why is it that you drink that soda?"
- Grimpen: "Ah! because the glucose content inside the soda enters my brain and acts as an endorphinal agonist, mimicing the behaviour of true endorphins by activating my neurotransmitters, specifically those that control emotion and excitement, thus tricking my brain into creating a more joyous demeanor! Brains run on glucose! the solution travels up the cerebellum and into the mitochondrial furnaces responsible for your brain power! Thus, I drink the soda, because it keeps me smart and makes me happy!"
- Shui Long: "Ah... I play with my balls... because it makes me happy."
- Hex, to Grimpen Mire: "I'm a better reflection of fear than Sonja. She's a drunk. But I cause fear. You flinched when you saw me."
- Grimpen Mire: "So; you're saying you intend to assume leadership of the Autumn Court."
- Hex: Welcome to the conversation."
- Grimpen: And you're platform is '[You're] creepy'."
- Hex: "Why not?"
Rumours
- Grimpen Mire is playing along with William and Angelina's fantasy because the adventure makes him feel young again.
- Grimpen Mire is really not as intelligent as people might think. He has a Fish Familiar that sleeps in his ear and feeds him big words so that he has the appearance of being smart. If you say 'araka coraka' into his ear and clap loudly twice it will stun the Fish long enough to stump him.
- Grimpen Mire gives Trick-or-Treating children who have been naughty pictures of himself wearing a leather mask (and very little else) on Hallow's Eve.
- Grimpen Mire's Sick Room is a Little Shop of Horrors.
- Grimpen Mire is building a robot army.
- Grimpen Mire has gone mad with his gluttony for technology.
- Grimpen Mire is the thread that keeps Sonja in the throne; he keeps her grounded and sober long enough to appear in public.
- The cat beast that has sometimes been seen at Grimpen's feet was his own creation, a hybrid bred for fighting and sex.
- Grimpen Mire is engaged in an evil conspiracy involving Cole, and "The Wizard", two Bond-like villains in appearance, much like him.
OOC Information
Player: Kyle Mallinson, CA2007-03-0103
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Characters
- Awakening - The Troubadour
- Forsaken - M.C. Avery
- Lost - Grimpen Mire
- Requiem - None
Character Inspirations
- Gormenghast: Truly a great book with unprecedentedly developed characters, Gormenghast is ripe with good Changeling concepts. Wanting to meld the dual concepts of mad scientist and creepy courtier, I attempted to combine Gormenghast's two greatest characters, Dr. Prunesquallor and Secretary Barquentine, into one character concept. The difficulty is in making them simultaneously work, instead of just bouncing between the two personalities.
- Titan: AE: If you're creating an eccentric scientist who's both brilliant and creepily eccentric, there's few better places to look than John Leguziamo's character, Gune. As time goes on, I'll find ways to modify my outfit to look more like this character. I'll explain that IC as a steady increase in Wyrd.
- Barry Beyerstein: a real-life scientist of great standing, this man was the president of the BC Sceptics association. He devoted his life to debunking the paranormal by observation, investigation, and explanation. His mastery of science continuously cast doubt on, if not confirmed against, magical explanations for natural phenomena. He taught a new generation that when you see hoof prints, you think "horse" before you think "zebra"; and certainly before you think "unicorn". This optimistic spirit for science blended with a boisterous hunt-and-destroy approach to irrationalism, gave my character true appeal and realism.
