Niemand Keiner
From Changeling Venue
| Seeming | Elemental Waterborn |
|---|---|
| Court | No Court |
| Freehold | Freehold of Azure Hills |
| Player | Steve N. |
Contents |
Overview
Alias(es):
Treasure: Early years in Arcadia as an attraction in "Fisher-of-Men's Terrific Terrarium of Terrestrial Treasures and Terrors."
Manta: Name used in The Lady Beneath the Waves' shadowed service
Alexander Murphy: New mortal identity
Real Name: Morgan MacDonald
Location: Boston, Massachusetts; The Freehold of Azure Hills
Apparent Age: Mid-thirties
Seeming: Elemental
Kith: Waterborn
Court: No Court
Virtue: Fortitude
Vice: Wrath
Concept:
Mask: Niemand is a man of average height with a slim, lithe and wiry build. He moves with a quiet grace and seems a man of few words on most any subject save his passions. He habitually dresses in a T-shirt, light pants or shorts, and running shoes, going barefoot whenever he's able.
Mien: Beneath the Mask, Niemand's skin takes on a slight blue tinge and his hair is wet and slick, as if he's only just surfaced. A hint of frost clings to his nose, eyelids, earlobes, fingertips, and basically all of his tips and extremities. The scent of salt and the ocean lightly follows him, just strong enough to suggest that the shore is just over the next rise. He moves with a flowing, lissome grace, at times moving as slowly as a small stream flowing out to sea, while at others moving with the speed and force of a powerful undertow. His expression is often as hard and cold as ice-flows on the Arctic Ocean, but on those rare occasions where he does genuinely warmly smile it can brighten a room like a summer's day at the cape.
Relevant Mechanics: Striking Looks x4
Character Livejournal: Shadowed Stories (Filtered LJ for all my PCs)
- Comment to be added to the appropriate filter.
History
Basic Timeline:
November 9th, 1975 - Born on Isle au Haut, Maine
- Child of a charter boat fisherman and a young tourist who fell in love with the island
Spring 1988 - The Taking
- While playing on the beach skipping stones and hunting through the sand for pretty rocks and shells, Morgan he finds a pristine, whole, strangely iridescent shell the size of his two fists close to the water's edge. Unable to resist its allure, he goes to pick it up and receives quite the surprise. His hands stick fast and he is suddenly pulled out into the ocean by an invisible line attached to the shell. He is pulled deeper and deeper beneath the waves, somehow protected from drowning, down to the one who has snared him with this pretty lure, Fisher-of-Men.
Spring 1988 - Early 1992 - Following the Currents
- Now called Treasure, Morgan is displayed in his Keeper's underwater traveling show, "Fisher-of-Men's Terrific Terrarium of Terrestrial Treasures and Terrors." He is displayed awake, asleep, at rest or in motion, made to weep or feel joy at a moment's notice, showing the audience the "flawed beauty" (as compared to the majesty of the Fae) to be found in all expressions of humanity.
- The show does make a few rare appearances on land as well, but Treasure is never allowed to see the transition. He's put to sleep before they surface and brought to the performance hall or guest quarters before being awakened. Enchantments are woven so that he sees water around him, and temporary measures that allow him to breathe as long as he stays on the estate are provided.
- Potential ties with anyone living in or visiting an underwater domain, or even any domain for one of the rare land visits. If you think you would have been at a court where Fisher-of-Men's show might have been welcome and want a tie, drop me a line.
Early 1992 - A New Home
- One year passes in Faerie, but no time passes in the mundane world
- When the show travels to a deeper court, in the darkest depths of the ocean, ruled by The Lady Beneath the Waves, Treasure attracts the eye of this august lady. She purchases him from Fisher-of-Men, who while reluctant cannot deny someone of such high stature. Treasure is set within a cage of rock and coral for display, and brought out to court on occasion to dance and sing.
Early 1992 - Lost in the Depths
- Two years pass in Faerie, but no time passes in the mundane world
- Treasure's voice cracks during a performance for the court of The Lady Beneath the Waves, and in her rage she banishes him from her sight...literally. He abruptly disappears and is not seen for five years.
- Fisher-of-Men had previously enchanted Treasure to keep the voice of his boyhood and his youthful grace even as he aged and specifically removed the working just before he sold Treasure to The Lady Beneath the Waves to spite her for taking him. In the absence of this magic, Treasure's voice and coordination mature in the normal fashion, though remarkably late.
- Hidden in the Shadows: Treasure is taken up by another servant of The Lady Beneath the Waves, Fanged-Shadows, and trained to serve their mistress in a different manner. He is schooled in the arts of stealth and assassination, sent out to redress slights made against her power and majesty. He is given the name Manta for his swift strikes, stealthy movements, and being so low in comparison to his mistress that he's but a thin hair above the ocean floor.
Early 1992 - The Ring
- One year passes in Faerie, but no time passes in the mundane world
- The Lady Beneath the Waves now has a taste for violence and bloodshed, and decides to construct an arena suitable for gladiatorial combat in her domain. Manta has grown out of his immature voice and some of the accompanying physical awkwardness and is allowed back to her court in a new role. She had taken her cues from the Romans, or perhaps them from her, and each time he descends into the depression surrounded by high walls and seats of sculpted rock and coral, he is given a new opponent and new weaponry.
- Manta primarily fights while still invisible, wearing an enchanted belt that allows those spectators who rent special glasses to actually see him rather than just the wounds he leaves on his enemies. He primarily fights with two blades, coated with poisons, and makes use of crippling strikes on arms and legs before ending a battle.
- For bouts away from his lady's domain in any arena above water, Manta is given a half-mask that covers his nose and mouth which allows him to breathe air. Particularly desperate or dishonorable opponents may have attempted to rip away that mask to gain an advantage as Manta is forced to hold his breath until he can get the mask back.
Early 1992 - The Escape
- A cold heart of a frost giant, worn on a chain around the neck as a trophy from a kill in the arena, beats against Manta's chest in response to witnessing one affront too many in the court of The Lady Beneath the Waves, and that cold hatred and rage fuels the heart to shatter the magic that has clouded his mind.
- Manta strikes out as fast as he can, strange newfound control of the powers of ice allowing him to strike and slow his pursuers until he finally squirms through underwater caverns, scrapes himself against coral and avoids being snared by the strange seaweeds which represent the Hedge beneath the water's surface.
- Manta finds he has surfaced off the eastern coast of Florida, many, many miles south of where he was originally taken.
Early 1992 - Late 1992 - Somewhere to Belong
- While Fisher-of-Men was not strong enough to warp the flow of time, The Lady Beneath the Waves certainly possessed such power. Time passed exactly as it did in the mortal world while Treasure served in the traveling show, but during the four years Treasure/Manta spent in his lady's court, no time passed on Earth.
- Manta stays in Florida only for a month, departing north and west and arriving in Denver, Colorado in February. He simply could not remain so close to the water, so he fled this ever present reminder of his durance.
- Manta discards his "slave name" for the name Niemand Keiner, literally "Nobody No one," as the Others stole his identity and his life. It serves as a reminder that continually fuels the cold rage he holds for all Fae.
- He spends nearly a year working with Mavis Thornsby at Cold One to establish a new name and home for himself. After a great deal of hard work, he earns his GED and moves east to the Boston area in December.
Late 1992 - Late 1995 - Still Searching...
- In Boston, Niemand finds a mentor in Saga and joins his motley, The Pride. Here he learns more of changeling life and comes to grips with his place in the world around him. He stays with the motley for three years.
- Niemand also joins the Brotherhood of Chains at this time, drawn by his fogged memories of a life of forced combat, violence, and blood. He vows never to be a prisoner or a slave again.
- Niemand continues his education at a small community college and earns his Associate of Science degree in Nursing in two years. He seeks to put his ill-gotten familiarity with human anatomy and ailments to good use, driven as well by an affection and concern for children. Niemand declares a specialty in Pediatrics and obtains a job in the pediatric and maternity wards in a local hospital.
1996 - 1997 - Something Worth Dying For
- Since his return from Arcadia, Niemand's hatred for the Gentry has grown each and every day. Plans that most changelings would consider mad are formulated and drawn up for strikes against this powerful foe.
- On January 1st, 1997, Niemand begins speaking to others and traveling to spread the word, seeking like-minded changelings to join him in a new organization calling itself Never Again.
Current Activities:
- During appearances at court and while visiting other freeholds, Niemand speaks passionately about the goals of Never Again and works to recruit others to this cause.
- Niemand continues his work at insert hospital name here, watching over the youngest scions of humanity.
Merit Details:
- Water flows. Niemand keeps up his skills training with BostonPK, a local parkour club.
Associations & Associates
Associations:
Founder of Never Again
Active member of the Brotherhood of Chains
Former member of The Pride
Associates:
Althea Sexton, who considers him a friend.
Caius Arctorus Paendragon
Gallowglass
Nemo
Saga
Tanith
Varyn Cumberland, who puts up with his crap and still hangs out with him.
