One x One (CLOSED) Heir of Magick, Characters

[Stickdom]

WIP

 

[Stickdom]

Ephraim Percival Blevitt, _Esq.​

Age: Appears in early 40’s, but actually closer to 450 years old

Occupation: Wizard and Alchemist

Appearance: Ephraim is a striking figure with an ageless complexion, smooth skin that betrays none of his true years. His hair, a tousled mop of dark curls, falls just above his bright, intelligent green eyes, which twinkle with mischief and ancient wisdom. He favors well-tailored, slightly eccentric clothing—often a tailored waistcoat adorned with alchemical symbols, crisp white shirts, and an array of colorful cravats. His long coat, a deep indigo, has hidden pockets lined with enchanted charms and vials of potions.

Background: Born in the late 16th century, Ephraim was once a promising young wizard in a quaint village, devoted to the study of magic and alchemy. His thirst for knowledge led him to strike a fateful bargain with a fae, seeking greater magical power. Unbeknownst to him, this deal would grant him not only immense abilities but also an unnaturally prolonged life, leaving him to navigate the passage of centuries with the burden of his choices. Over time, he watched friends and loved ones age and die, while he remained ever youthful, fostering both a profound wisdom and a deep sense of isolation.

Personality: Ephraim is charming, witty, and often playful, a reflection of his youthful appearance. Yet beneath this facade lies a profound melancholy; the weight of centuries has made him introspective and occasionally cynical about the world. He is deeply curious, always eager to learn and adapt, and possesses a knack for clever manipulation of magical forces. Ephraim is both a mentor and a rogue, relishing in the thrill of adventure while often grappling with the ethical implications of his vast power. Despite his longing for genuine connection, he struggles to form deep relationships, wary of the inevitable loss that time brings.

Skills: A master of alchemy and a formidable spellcaster, Ephraim excels in crafting potions that can heal or harm, often experimenting with new concoctions in his hidden laboratory. He has extensive knowledge of ancient texts and forgotten spells, and his long life has afforded him a deep understanding of various magical traditions, particularly those of the fae. His charm and charisma make him adept at navigating social circles, both mortal and magical, allowing him to gather information and forge alliances when necessary.

Motivation: Ephraim’s journey into the depths of magic was irrevocably shaped by the tragic death of his mentor, Grand Magician Alaric, a revered wizard known for his profound wisdom and mastery of the arcane, but also his kindness, generosity, and love of the human spirit. Alaric’s sudden demise during an attack by a dark wizard's cult left Ephraim devastated, igniting a desperate hunger for knowledge and power that overshadowed his grief. Consumed by the fear of loss and the desire to never again be helpless in the face of mortality, Ephraim sought out a faerie, hoping to gain the extraordinary abilities that could prevent such a tragedy from befalling him again.

In his eagerness, Ephraim entered a bargain that granted him immense magical power, allowing him to wield spells that could avenge his master's murder, and protect against more loss of innocent life . However, the faerie's terms were cruelly intricate; in exchange for this power, he would be granted a life unbound by time. The irony of his wish became clear as he realized that while he could manipulate life and death through his magic, he would forever watch those he cared for age and pass away, just as he had with Alaric. This paradox of his newfound gifts that turned into a curse left Ephraim grappling with the emotional weight of his actions, compelling him to seek a deeper understanding of life, and the consequences of power in a world where time no longer felt like a friend.

Now, Ephraim seeks to reconcile his past mistakes, hoping to find a way to break the cycle of loneliness that his bargain has wrought. He dreams of discovering a means to balance his prolonged life with the ability to form lasting connections, often embarking on quests to seek ancient knowledge or forgotten faerie pacts that might lead to redemption or resolution. Above all, he yearns to uncover the truth about the bargain that changed his fate and to reclaim his lost humanity.

Magic:
Ephraim’s magical abilities are vast and multifaceted, but his true specialty lies in the art of transmutation. With a profound understanding of the principles of change and transformation, he can alter the very essence of matter, converting one substance into another with remarkable precision. His talent in this field allows him to transmute base metals into gold, a skill he employs sparingly, wary of the ethical implications and the greed it might inspire in others.

Ephraim’s transmutation is not limited to physical objects; he can manipulate the properties of materials to enhance their characteristics. For instance, he might reinforce the strength of a fragile item or imbue a mundane object with properties that render it magical, such as a simple cloak that becomes invisibility fabric when activated. His alchemical prowess further enriches his transmutation skills, enabling him to concoct potions that can temporarily transform individuals or even alter their emotional states, reflecting his understanding of the intricate connections between matter, spirit, and intention.

To perform transmutation, Ephraim utilizes an elaborate array of symbols, incantations, and intricate gestures that channel his magical energy into the desired transformation. He often engages in elaborate rituals, gathering rare ingredients and infusing them with his own essence to enhance the efficacy of his spells. Yet, despite his considerable talent, Ephraim remains mindful of the delicate balance of nature; he approaches each transformation with a sense of reverence and responsibility, knowing that even the slightest miscalculation can lead to unintended consequences. This awareness reflects the wisdom accumulated over his long life, reminding him that true mastery of magic lies not just in power, but in understanding the world’s intricate tapestry of life.

 

[SkyGinge]

Flora Emily Ravensden

Age
19
Appearance
Some people are naturally blessed with good looks, though in Flora’s case, this blessing has often been a curse. Her general image is of a fashionable, albeit slightly unkempt, young lady. Her long blonde hair is usually kept in a ponytail – no matter how much time she spends meticulously platting it together, there are always loose strands of fringe to bother her. Young men seem to love it, but it drives her crazy. Her button nose and small lips are the ingredients of many noblemen’s dream lady, and she’s slender and well-proportioned, flattered by the popular s-shaped dresses of the time and always well groomed. Though she likes to follow the latest trends, her attire is usually somewhat simple, and clearly un-ironed on close inspection, giving her a slightly bedraggled look. Despite this, she dedicates time and care to her appearance – if she’s going to attract unwanted male attention anyway, she may as well feel good about how she looks herself.​

Nevertheless, there’s an edge to her unbecoming of a ‘proper’ lady. She slouches, yawns without decorum and speaks loudly and brazenly. Her limbs aren’t the fragile twigs of a sheltered princess, strengthened by years of sneaking out to play outside. She wears her emotions openly on her face, even emotions she’d prefer to keep hidden. And her cold, blue eyes glare not with demure delicacy, but the passion and intensity of a working man. Her default unimpressed expression matches a phenomenon later philosophers will term ‘resting bitch face’.​

Her manner of speech has been flatteringly described as ‘unique’, blending cockney slang with precise, received pronunciation, topped off with a layer of northern Lancastrian twang. She expresses herself with colourful, energetic language, often blending tones and registers with reckless, yet endearing, abandon.​

Personality
Passionate, fiery and brash, the strong-willed Flora is very much a rejection of the common expectations of an upper-class lady. Though good-natured, she presents herself with a hardy roughness, often unintentionally being rude or dismissive to people. There’s a certainly down-to-earth straightforward realism to her manners and outlook: she’ll speak her mind freely and openly, often without first thinking about what she wants to say, which has landed her in trouble in the past. This also extends to a reckless tendency to act before thinking, the consequences of which she’s quick to bury her head in the sand about. Sometimes her thoughts move at such a pace that she’s prone to forgetfulness and clumsy moments.​

What you’ll get from her depends very much on the circumstances. Around her friends, she’s chipper, cheery and a little happy-go-lucky, fiercely and self-sacrificially loyal to those she values and admires. She can be kind, courteous and even, rarely, quiet. Around those she dislikes on the other hand, she’s sour, cynical and spiteful. There’s very little filter, very little attempt to cover up her true feelings. What’s the point in hiding behind the complex façade of manners and politeness when they’re going to figure out you think they’re an ignoramus anyway? She’s an awful liar, anyway. If something makes her angry or agitated, she’s not going to hide it, instead likely to blow up a hot-headed outburst.​

Despite all this, Flora is far more of a product of her upbringing than she would ever admit. She still values the luxuries of nobility, and she still sometimes sees a gap in importance between herself and the working masses, an internalised sense of pride which sometimes hampers her decision-making. She’s also terribly naïve, often taken by surprise by new people and scenarios which challenge her sheltered upbringing. Though diligent and hard-working to a surprisingly extreme degree, she’s not the deepest thinker, and complex concepts can prove beyond her intelligence, both academic and emotional. Her tendency to place value in what other people think of her – despite being outspoken in how much she values personal independence – can lead to her being taken advantage of and manipulated.​

Underneath it all, Flora is deeply restless. She’s fled from a life she was deeply discontent in, but she doesn’t yet know what she’s looking for. Change, certainly, but of what flavour, she doesn’t know.​

Backstory
Flora was born the second and youngest child of the Ravensden family, who own an estate just north of Manchester. The Ravensdens shot from middle/merchant-class anonymity to the upper echelons of high society during the industrial revolution, where her grandfather Silas found fortune and patented a machine which would come to be influential in increasing industry of the north. Their sudden rise left them spurned by​

several historical noble families for coming from ‘new money’; nevertheless, Silas and Bertha immersed themselves in upper-class culture and aimed to bring up their children seeped in the values and pride that come alongside bountiful wealth. Their new-built manor, with supplementary surrounding gardens and forests, was constructed to make the most of the technological advances, as if to directly spit in the face of the traditionalists who had spurned them. And the marriage of their eldest son, Edward, to the highly desirable youngest daughter of the influential Chatsworth family finalised their acceptance into the land of high society.​

To many, growing up with such wealth and freedom would be heaven. To Flora, it was a lonely prison.​

Flora’s earliest, fondest memories are of the days in her early childhood spent running amok around the estate with her older brother, Ambrose. The pair made quite a troublesome duo, trampling over flowers, climbing trees, hiding in cupboards and generally making a nuisance of themselves. There came a time however when Flora noticed a sudden shift in the way she and her brother were treated and disciplined. Ambrose’s mischief was overlooked with a smile, apparently indicative of his ‘strong masculine instinct’ and a natural part of his transition to a dignified man. When Flora copied the same things, she’d be scolded far more heavily, with frequent remonstrations about how her behaviour was ‘unladylike’ and brought ‘shame’ to the family.​

Growing up, Flora had the expectations of a ‘right and proper lady’ drilled into her head by her parents, her aunts, her governess, random nobleman her dad had round to visit… pretty much everybody and their dog had a clear vision for what sort of person she should be, and what sort of life she should lead. She was to be quiet, submissive and, most importantly of all, marriageable. The little girls she met were all filled up with visions of a dashing Mr Darcy arriving at their doorstep and sweeping them off their feet. But Flora had no desire to become another Jane Eyre. At balls and dinners, she’d sooner be found playing sports with the other young lads than discussing fashion and reading books quietly in the corner with girls her age. Scolding, beating, whatever discipline her mother and her governesses tries, nothing could dissuade her. ‘She has her father’s stubbornness,’ they’d say, shaking their heads.​

As she grew up, the more her parents compared her to her brother, the more she rejected their instructions. Ambrose and his ilk were transforming into quite the perfect little sneering noblemen, and Flora found herself increasingly disgusted by the self-interested behaviour of her male peers. Instead, Flora found herself making friends with other rich young girls who shared similar sentiments to her, who would refuse to dance at formal balls, and who were similarly aggrieved at the idea of being pawned off to some horrible chap for political, financial reasons.​

Behind the scenes, the family were learning that new money does not last forever. As technological advances rendered Silas’ invention redundant, the Ravensdens suddenly lost their primary source of income. Soon-after, the lavish abandon of their lifestyle began to catch up to them. Whilst Ambrose was encouraged to pursue business, Flora was being pushed more and more to find a suitably wealthy young bachelor and bat her eyelids at him convincingly enough to bring in some proper dowry. Naturally, the steady stream of nobleman being introduced to her (including some proper old gentlemen in their 40s – perish the thought!) proved ineffective in convincing her to change her mind. One of Flora’s closest friends had gotten involved with the birth of the WSPU, a radical organisation of likeminded young women who were determined to improve women’s political voting rights. Flora couldn’t care less about voting, but she found solace in their company all the same, and she admired the boldness of the way they spoke about societal transformation.​

Eventually, Edward and Margo’s patience dried up. Knowing that their daughter would never consent to it, they decided to arrange a marriage for her. A certain Julian Brookewright was to be her husband, a gentleman Flora had only met once before. The names and faces of all the men who had been paraded in front of her had blurred into one, and she barely even remembered that meeting, much less had she noticed just how deeply smitten with her the young master Brookewright was. They’d have to keep the arrangement a secret, at least until preparations were complete enough that their daughter would have no choice but to follow through with them.​

At least, that was the plan. Flora, however, had already came to a decision of her own. No more would she tolerate this maddening imprisonment! Thus, packing her clothes and grabbing what money she could find, the young Ravensden ran away. She’d not experienced much of the outside, working world, but from what she did know there was one place she’d be able to make a new start – London.​

Arriving by train, Flora used her pilfered funds to buy a small house on a busy London street, thanks also to the support of an WSPU friend who had also recently moved down. The difference in living conditions from her pampered mansion upbringing were stark, but strangely exciting. She was eager to put the past behind her, even starting to adopt a cockney accent to feel more at home in the city. Nevertheless, her stolen money wouldn’t last forever, and so she began to search for work. The process was arduous, lingering subconscious pride from her station making her attitude flippant and fickle. Eventually, she spotted an advert in the newspaper which caught her eye – an opening for a position as a housemaid in the mansion of some bloke called Mr Blevitt. She’d never done much housework before, but surely it couldn’t be that hard? After all, she’d seen her own maids at work enough times, and she’d always been good with her hands.​

Little does young Flora know that this innocuous decision will see her life and destiny metamorphosize in a manner quite unlike she’d ever have expected…​

Family & Other Characters
Ambrose Ravensden: Flora’s older brother. Though they were once close, they have despised each other since teenagers, Ambrose loving and embracing the expectations placed upon him that Flora has so strongly rejected. Despite his ‘proper’ manners, he shares her hot-headedness and recklessness, and unbeknownst to his parents has made friends with a group of morally-bankrupt fellow noblemen, spending many Godless nights gambling and enjoying the pleasures of ‘wine, women and song’ in rather unsavoury establishments.

Annabelle Weir: An old friend of Floras, who has similarly abandoned her family’s expectations and moved to London from the north. There, she has set up London’s first branch of the WSPU, which is currently gathering membership and ambition. She is co-leader along with a lady called Emily Smythe, who is herself married, though she and her husband share ‘liberal’ values.​