She had time now. It's not like she didn't make her own hours anyway. Between school and work and the shop she had a lot on her plate, but one of those things was also learning how to channel. It was an important part of her work, actually.

They hopped on the metro and made their way down to the Red Light District. It beat walking in the bitter cold of the beginning of a Moscovian winter. It wasn't even at it's peak yet, and Ilesha was already missing the warmth of her shop and apartment.

The Red Light district was never quiet. But it wasn't as bad now as it would be in a few hours when all the clubs opened and all the workers hit the street. And Kallisti wasn't far from their stop.

The front view was on as always and she wondered what was headlineing but she didn't make her way to see the marquee.  Instead she took Cadence down the side alley and rapped on the side door.  It took a little bit before someone peered through the camera and then there was a buzz. No words, they knew Ilesha.  And she had been here several times before opening.

The man greeted them. "All the girls are in the lounge practicing." He said.  He made a double take at her guest but he said nothing. He was probably used to famous people coming into Kallisti and not making a big deal out of it.

They were back stage and the girls and guys costumes and gear wear all in disarray back stage as they hurried about looking for things. Juls and the others weren't here they were out front in the empty lounge practicing. Could be any number of things.

The lounge was emtpy, it felt strange walking into a should be crowded room full of music and people noises to the giggling of children. Not just Sterling but a gaggle of kids Ilesha didn't know.  Juls noticed her first. "Ilesha. How wonderful.  You brought a friend."

"This is Cadence, she's like us."  Ilesha said.

Sterling came over with a big grin. "I know you." she took Cadence's hand and tugged her to the middle of the room.  "Juls, is showing us how to weave fire and illusion.  Come."

A dark haired girl sat next to Sterling and looked a little shy though she wasn't much older than Ilesha she seemed a bit more resevered. "Who are all these kids, and can they all...."

"No, these are all Nox's strays. He's not in town, and Sterling brought them all over for practice. Olivia is the only one who can channel, she's a healer. It'll be good to have her around as soon as we can get her to open up with the other. The kids all had it rough."

Ilesha had never actually met Nox. He was hard to miss at Kallisti, he did everything -- except bartend, though he was often found behind the bar as much as he was in front of it. "How does he even have any time?"

"He barely sleeps. Avoids his nightmares. And Ashton and Liv and Liam all help out with the younger ones." Juls pointed out the names as she said them. [color=#red]"I need to get back there or they'll wonder where I went."[/color] She laughed softly and made her way back to the stage and started dancing and showing weaves of fire and illusion. It was pretty.

Ilesha joined Cadence next to Sterling. "You okay?

It was a strange feeling to want solitude but also crave company at the same time. It was how Eddie felt that night as he found himself in Manifesto. He wasn’t as rich as some of the people here, but he was certainly well off. He approaches the bar. ”Id like a scotch please - old enough to order its own scotch.”

The drink was brought to him and he turned around to watch the other club goers in their nightly activities. People came to places like this for a multitude of reasons, to escape, to meet people, or to find some one night fling. For Eddie, tonight was a distraction. Sometimes in life you needed a change of pace. That was Eddie, and now he needed a break from contemplating the choices he could make. 

Eddie thought he knew what he wanted. He had sent in his resume. The only thing left to do was wait. So he waited and observed. For now it would suffice.

Edwin Roland Dean

Age: 27

Origin: London

Occupation: Soldier, Currently Seeking Employ with Pervaya Liniya Security

Pyschological Description: Edwin always enjoys a good joke and loves making others laugh, but turns serious whenever on assignment.  He takes his work very seriously. Outside of work, he prefers to go out and socialize, often enjoying a glass of scotch.  He has a tendency to act rashly in situations, especially if people he cares about are involved, often not thinking of the consequences of his actions beforehand. He can also be moody, sometimes feeling very down without there seeming to be a reason why.

Physical Description: 5’9” tall, he is athletic and always has his brown hair cut short. His eyes are brown.

Supernatural Powers: Learner

Current Strength: 0

Potential Strength: 25

Biography:

Edwin Roland Dean was born in London on January 9, 2019.  His father was a military man, and it was his plan to follow in his father’s footsteps.  He studied hard in school, working to get good grades, but also kept his physical fitness up through sports and exercise (mostly track and soccer).

At 18, he joined the military.  Through his training he was found to be skilled at marksmanship, hand to hand combat, and urban operations. After basic training he was assigned to a British unit and served until he was transferred to Moscow in 2043.  In Moscow he felt like he was stagnating.  He kept his skills up, but didn’t feel like he was getting anywhere and decided to seek other options.

Edwin considered remaining in the employ of the state, looking into the potential of moving to more specialized forces.  There were a multitude of options to consider, but eventually he decided his change of pace needed more of a change than just branch of service.  He learned of Pervaya Liniya, and seeing their mission to protect people rather than things, he made the decision to see if he could enter into their employ.  He sent in his resume and is awaiting results.  If it is refused, he’ll pursue other options.

Past Lives
In the 3rd Age, Edwin was born as Ignis Caleum, Warder to Kira Valyrios, Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah.

((Continued from here))

Cadence was covered as much as she could be. That was the nice thing about winter was that it was easy to hide your appearance.  It wasn't that Cadence didn't like her fans seeing her.  The issue was she was close to having anxiety and panic attacks that the attention might trigger it.  It was a miracle she had left the house in general.  She wore a thick coat and a scarf covered the lower part of her face and nose.  She wore a hat as well.  She found herself at the GUM, and was going to spend the day looking at stores, not really planning to buy anything at all.

She found herself in a bookstore and began to peruse the stacks.  Perhaps she would buy a book after all.  She was in the sci/fi-fantasy section, and saw lots of familiar titles.  Tolkien had never lost it's luster - even after nearly a century.  She saw the Ender books by Orson Scott Card as well.  Star Wars books were still a thing.  Cadence smiled beneath her scarf, feeling better as she thought of how these books told of a magic and wonders.  She knew that magic existed.  Some of the technology in the sci-fi stuff existed, but still - not as much as they thought. 

It was strange what brought people out of their funks.  For Cadence, merely looking at books had made her feel good.  She took her scarf down, feeling hot, and willing to engage with fans if she saw them, but she continued to look through the books, wondering what book she could start.

Hey all! Work is entering peak season and we don’t have enough carriers to fill all the routes. Basically I’ll be busy busy busy. I’ll be around, but might be slow to reply to threads, and if I’m short or anything in PMs or chat - in just super tired and I apologize in advance. I love you all!

Theron Finnegan was born in 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, into an influential Irish Catholic family. The Finnegan family was also deeply embedded within the ancient network of the Di Inferi that traced its origins to the Age of Enlightenment. For centuries, the Di Inferi had pursued knowledge not just to preserve life, but to transcend it. They believed death could be overcome, and they would use any means necessary—whether scientific, magical, or mystical—to achieve that goal. For centuries, the Finnegans were outwardly loyal to the Catholic Church, with various sons joining the clergy over the years, and one elder member of the family is a current Archbishop. 

Theron was born an identical twin, alongside his brother, Leon, both of whom exhibited the rare ability to channel in their early 20s, a gift that allowed them to tap into the mysterious aether that the Di Inferi coveted so strongly. Their family considered this a sign that the twins were destined for greatness in the Di Inferi’s ultimate quest. From a young age, Theron and Leon were educated in both the traditions of the Di Inferi and the more public life of aristocratic privilege, mastering the secrets of the organization while keeping up appearances in polite society.

Despite their privileged upbringing, there was always a tension underlying their relationship. Leon, more introspective and gentle by nature, became increasingly withdrawn after being diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 15, and his body slowly weakened over the following years.

The family arranged for the oldest brother, Cillian to marry Helena Asquith, in tradition of Di Inferi families carefully interbreeding in hopes of producing the immortality they believed was locked in humanity’s genetic code. When Cillian died under mysterious and sudden causes, Helena was already with child, one that she intentionally lost, and with it, the promise of a potential immortal. Furious, the Finnegans and Asquiths disowned Helena, and the Finnegans turned to the next in line.

The Finnegans, now not only desperate to preserve Leon’s life, discovered a latent channeling ability of his own, arranged for Leon to be sent to the Von Metternich family, another Di Inferi bloodline known for their radical experiments in Austria, and accomplish what the oldest brother could not through union with a Von Metternich child. The Von Metternichs specialized in the study of prolonging life, and conducted numerous experiments to find the secret of immortality within the guise of a Sanatorium for the old and infirm. To the Finnegans, this was a last hope for a cure for their son and an offspring, but to Leon, it became a nightmare.

Leon’s condition worsened dramatically during his time with the Von Metternichs, though the full extent of what was done to him remains shrouded in mystery. When Leon died, the exact cause was unclear. The official explanation was that his body had been consumed by the strain of both the ALS and the inherent dangers of channeling. The Finnegan family accepted this version of events, believing Leon’s death was the result of natural causes compounded by his overuse of the aether.

For Theron, however, this explanation never sat well. Leon’s death left a void in his life and raised questions that no one in the family seemed willing to ask. In the months after Leon’s passing, Theron visited the Von Metternich’s sanatorium in the Alps, hoping to learn more about what had really happened. However, he found the once-grand Von Metternich Sanatorium shuttered and abandoned. The Von Metternichs had disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only rumors in the nearby village—whispers that the Von Metternich daughters had vanished, and that something had gone terribly wrong. There were no answers, only more mysteries.

Leon’s death became a defining moment in Theron’s life. Directed by his family, who still believed in the Di Inferi’s grand quest for the source of immortality, Theron was pushed toward a new path; he was the last son remaining.

They saw another opportunity in Moscow itself, following the footsteps of a collaborator and fellow Di Inferi conspirator, Ephraim Haart, and the budding religion growing in the city’s center.

Under the directive of his family, Theron was dispatched to Moscow to infiltrate the growing religious movement known as the Brotherhood of Ascension, which worshipped the Ascendancy as a divine figure.

Theron quickly integrated himself into the Brotherhood, his calm demeanor, sharp intellect, and profound knowledge of both esoteric practices and spiritual doctrine allowing him to rise to prominence. It was under his leadership that the Brotherhood transformed from a loose grassroots movement into a full organized religion. By the time a leaked video revealed the Ascendancy’s miraculous recovery from near-death and saving the city from nuclear warfare, the Brotherhood had grown in stature and power.

As the Brotherhood’s first Luminar, Theron was invited to the Kremlin, where he met the Ascendancy and his closest advisors. He demonstrated his ability to channel, and earned the Ascendancy’s blessing to lead the Brotherhood. From this position, he would now have direct access to the Ascendancy and control over the spiritual direction of the entire movement. It is unclear how often these meetings actually occur.

Despite his public devotion to the Ascendancy, Theron remains loyal to the Di Inferi and their mission. His true purpose within the Brotherhood is to uncover the secret behind the Ascendancy’s powers—particularly his immortality—and report back to the Di Inferi so they may be tapped by anyone. He is a man driven by both personal and familial ambition: the desire to avenge the reasons for his brother’s death, and the larger goal of achieving immortality for himself and the Di Inferi. Only time will reveal what he uncovers.

Theron views the Brotherhood as a means to an end. While he publicly preaches sacrifice, devotion, and ascension to the masses with all the fervor of his Catholic upbringing, he privately sees the organization as a tool to further his own quest for power and knowledge. He plays the role of the devoted spiritual leader flawlessly, never allowing any hint of his true intentions to slip. To the Brotherhood’s followers, he is the embodiment wisdom, the one who interprets the divine will of the Ascendancy. But in his heart, Theron remains a calculating and patient figure, waiting for the right moment to claim what he believes is his birthright.

Past lives:

Born in the late 4th Age and lived into the 5th Age as the emperor-god known in the middle world as El, Anu, Ra, and Ahura Mazda. His story is the inspiration for the warning imparted by the fairy tale of Rumplestiltskin.