Quill
From Changeling Venue
Information
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Aliases: Quill Real Name: James Brodie (not commonly known) Current Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Age: 35 Seeming: Darkling Kith: Antiquarian Court: Autumn Virtue: Temperance Vice: Greed Concept: Occult Bookshop owner Mask: Quill appears as a middle-aged man, with a spreading paunch, and long hair which is thinning slightly on top. Mien: In his Mien, Quill appears to be incredibly pale, with almost translucent skin and black eyes. Whilst his preferred dress of a black tail coat and frilled white shirt, merely add to the strange air that he projects. Freehold: Dùn Èideann Motley: The Self Preservation Society |
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History
Basic Timeline:
1948 - Born in Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland
1969 - Abducted
1999 - Escaped through the hedge with Witte Wieven, returning to Edinburgh
2000 - Opens The Guttering Candle bookshop
2001 - Purchases Bramblethorn Manor
2004 - Becomes the Minister of Keys for the Freehold of Edinburgh
2008 - Joins the Motley known as The Self Preservation Society
Current Activities: Bookshop owner in Edinburgh, Scotland
Merit Details:
Background:
Quill lived a simple life before he was taken by the Gentry. Growing up in Crieff in the 1950's, he proved to be a bright and lively child, whose enthusiasm and curiousity was infectious. There was nothing that did not hold some fascination for him, be it the nature that surrounded his Perthshire home, or the books in his father's study. In particular he was fond of books on mythology and folklore, devouring stories of the supernatural in equal measure to those of the legendary heroes of old, then acting out scenes from those stories in the woodland around Crieff.
As he grew, so did his interest in history as well as folklore, and so he began to travel throughout his native Perthshire, now physically exploring the various ruins and glens associated with the stories he once explored only in his imagination, whilst either playing in the woods outside of town or whilst curled up in the big leather armchair, beside the fire, in his father's study.
Coming of age in the Summer of Love, he was not involved in the hippy movement of the time nor was he even particularly interested in the new 'pop' music that filled the airwaves. Instead Quill was looking forward to the autumn when he would begin his third year of study at Glasgow University and to the walking tours of ancient sites, with which he'd planned to fill his summer.
Taking an ordinance survey map of the area, an antique copy of Rev. Robert Kirk's book 'The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns and Faeries' and a nice picnic packed by his mother, Quill set forth on a bus from Crieff very early one morning, intending to explore again one of his favourite places from childhood, Tomnahurich Hill near Inverness.
By late afternoon, Quill sat reading in the shade of the war memorial, surrounded by the gravestones of the cemetery at the top of the hill, the picnic long finished, when a sudden gust of wind turned the pages of his book. Looking out across the countryside he could see the sky darkening to near blackness (despite a forecast for perfect weather). Deciding to seek shelter in Inverness, Quill quickly packed up his possessions and began a brisk walk downhill. As he strode, the clouds thickened to near impenetrability above him, blotting out all but the faintest glimmer of what had been a delightful afternoon's sun, whilst the trees seemed to change, twist and thicken around him, becoming more like brambles, just as he now grew certain that he was being followed...
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<Pain...Dark>... <Dark...Alone>... <Chained to a table. Illuminating a book. Can't understand>... <Beaten>... <So many books>... <Older now>... <Reading beside a fire. Can barely see it's so dark.>... ~Flicker of memory~ "Reading beside a fire!" "Father?" "Mum?" ~sobs~ <Escape...Running> <Pain...Brambles> |
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Emerging from the Hedge, Quill found himself changed - his exuberance stolen away with his soul - in Edinburgh, over ten years older and that it was nearly thirty years later.
Gratefully accepting some help from the local Freehold, Quill found the Fetch that had taken over his life was living unremarkably as a school teacher in Auchterarder. He found that his father had died of a heart attack some twenty years ago, and that his mother (now living in a home for the elderly) could no longer remember him.
Returning to Edinburgh, he worked hard, saving whatever he could. His parents were lost to him, as was his life, and so he turned to the thing that was his only comfort during his Durance, his love of books.
He somehow remembered that he was taken because of his curiousity...that he was punished because he had explored where he shouldn't, and in the possession of a book that he shouldn't have taken there. However his curiousity and love of learning were all he had left, and if he was to avoid being taken again the more he knew of Gentry, the more he understood, and the more he could teach others, then the less likely they were to suceeding him capturing him again.
Eventually saving enough money to open his own bookshop, Quill now runs one of the best sources for books on folklore and mythology, as well as obscure historical texts and unusual pieces of occult paraphenalia in Scotland's capital, and was recommended for admittance as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland by one of his grateful customers, with whom Quill shares a common fascination with folklore.
Quotes
- "I got used to him being there, around, he's part of my life whether present or not. He's also a pretty mean dancer, don't tell him I said that." - Witte Wieven
- "A useful person to know; if he doesn't know the answer himself, he has a book with it in or knows someone who does. I'm glad he let's me stay in that big old house." - Scarlet
- "He understands tea, and knows everything there is to know about keys." - Aleksander Sokol
- "He is certainly a font of knowledge, albeit a somewhat creepy one. Still, Witte vouches for him so he obviously has merit." - Graceful Aline
- "He's a good business partner. I'd be a damn sight poorer if it wasn't for our dealings" - Danny Axon
- "He's all leafy and can fly! It's cool!" - Sid the Slater
- "There's more to life than words, y'know." - Hoffman
Rumours
Motley
Motley - The Self Preservation Society
The Self Preservation Society is essentially a mercantile alliance, the main activity of which is hedge prospecting and exploration. Currently looking into a sideline in hollow construction and repair.
Friends, Allies and Associates
- Jim Darque - Details being worked out
- Shadowmere
- Witte Wieven - "Witte helped me remember who I was. For the longest time, there was only the book and the illuminations, then gradually I became aware of her watching me. Her presence and her stolen glances was what brought me back, she gave me stability, she gave me comfort, and most importantly she gave me something else to focus on other than the book. She is the first thing I clearly remember afterwards, us running - her hand around mine - and our lungs fit to bursting; and after we parted to return to our homes, I felt her presence still, this time filling my heart, my mind and my dreams. Simply put, we shared our Durance together, and we escaped together, and so we are bonded in a way that the word 'friendship' seems totally inadequate to describe."
Character Inspirations
- My father, the eccentric professor
Music
- Little Rare Book Room - The H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society
Related Links
Credits
Out of Character
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