Father: Kincaid Reece, Sr.
Mother: Harmony Reece (who later changes her name to Cleo Durante)
Step Mother: Kathy Greenwood-Reece
Siblings:

• Blake Greenwood-Reece (m, 29)
  
• Sarah Greenwood-Reece (f, 27)
  
• Adrianne Reece (f, 25)
  
• Michael Reece (m, 22)
  

Age: 22

Origin: Chicago, IL, United States

Occupation: Master's Degree Student

Psychological Description:  Much like her older sister, Emily, Rachel is kind hearted and smiles often. Rachel cares and wants to see others happy has well.  She is easy to talk to, empathetic, and ambitious.  She is, however, quick to make decisions, often without thinking.

Physical Description:  Rachel stands at 5'10" tall (1.77 meters) tall.  She has blonde hair, slightly longer than shoulder length, with hazel eyes. She has an athletic build.

Characters Powers and Supernatural Powers: The ability to learn how to channel.

Current OP Strength: 0

Potential OP Strength: 20

Biography: Rachel was born to Martin and Victoria Shale in 2024.  The second of three daughters, she was often in competition with her younger sister, Mara. She was always close to her older sister, Emily, however.  Emily’s personality did make sibling rivalry easy, and the eldest often intervened to keep the younger two sisters from killing each other.  As they grew older, all three sisters grew closer.

As the daughter of wealthy parents, Rachel never wanted for anything.  Kind-hearted, she made friends easily in school and was involved in sports, music, and drama. Her friends soon found she was easy to talk to, and would often come to her to vent or even seek advice.  Rachel’s teachers encouraged this and some even advised her to consider going into psychology.  She did so, beginning a college degree at Northern Illinois University.

In 2045, life for the Shale girls changed forever.  Their parents died in a tragic plane crash while heading to Moscow for a business meeting.  Rachel took this hard, retreating into herself.  Her older sister Emily took over their company, and began planning a move to Moscow.

Rachel’s friends came to bat for her.  The girl that had been there during their troubled times came to her aid, encouraging her in her grief.  Despite all of this, she still felt uneasy in Illinois.  When the opportunity presented itself to move to Moscow with her sisters, she put in for a transfer to the University of Moscow where she earned her Bachelors in Pyschology.  She continued into their Master’s Program and hopes to one day be a licensed therapist.

On campus, she met Cruz Vega.  They quickly bonded and started dating.  Things are looking up for her and for the first time since her parents death, Rachel is starting to feel normal again.  Despite this, her grief lingers in the background.  In this time she has watched Emily grow from self-conscious and fearful to a confident and inspiring leader.  Rachel only hopes she can reach her potential as her sister has.

Early Life

Callista grew up in Moscow, being a baby when her parents first relocated to the city. She has fond early memories of an aunt with a lilting, musical voice, who used to talk to her about the strangest of fancies as though they were real, and who lit in Cali a great wonderment for the realm of mystery. Unbeknownst to her father, Aunt Oleander left Cali a secret trove of books when she fled, which she treasured above all else in the years before she joined the Brotherhood. Cali has never understood the reasons for her aunt’s departure, or why her father refuses to even acknowledge her name. But the fascination always stuck. She has always felt a deep connection to spirituality.

The Haarts lived a life of privilege. As a very small girl, Cali’s cherubic face was splashed across fashion magazines and ad campaigns modelling her mother’s infant clothing line, and she was often cooed over as a beautiful child for her fair colouring and her father’s curls. But by the time younger brother Liam was born and her father’s company was becoming a success, the family became more private about their affairs, and both children were sheltered from the world around them.

Where Liam was a little bit of well-meaning chaos, Cali was always an easy child and later an easy student, floating through life without much disturbing anything around her, for she was nearly always looking inward and contemplating the longing sense inside her. She sang in the school choir, and took dance lessons, finding some comfort in physical expression. Even from a young age she explored the notion of religion, drawn to the idea of ritual. Her father came from Irish Catholic roots, but had never practised. Neither did he ever indulge her curiosity, having little time for either of his children. They have never been close.

Enlightenment

Cali wasn’t introverted, but she certainly lived in her own little world. She had no interest in either of her parents’ vocations, and instead attended Moscow University to study theology. It was while on campus that another student gave her a copy of the Celestial Codex. She devoured it hungrily, and found herself ignited by an essence of that same feeling she had first felt tucked at her aunt’s side – as though there was a real truth to be found here. Afterwards she discovered Quillon was not a student at all, but a member of the Brotherhood. Between lectures Cali began to attend the sermons, and was soon enthralled by the world she discovered. It called to her like nothing she had before encountered.

When she later shared her intention to drop out of university, her father was furious and forbade it, much to Cali’s surprise at the time. He had never shown interest, or indeed any real reaction to much of anything she had done in the past. When Cali decided to go anyway, she was disowned, and arrived at the Sanctuary with nothing but the clothes on her back, and the box with her aunt’s things under her arm. It was for this reason she took on a new name as a Novam: Calliope.

The Brotherhood of the Ascendancy

Cali took to the life with fervour and devotion. Though Quillon won the prestige for bringing her in, it was soon towards the only female Veilwarden that Cali gravitated, a woman called Seraphis Arden, whom Cali continues to quietly admire. Upon her induction, she spent many months in study, meditation, and ritual purification, learning the Codex until she could recite it from memory. There are marked similarities between the texts her aunt left, and the prophetic figure of The Conduit the book speaks of. The ideas of sacrifice and protection call to Cali, and she truly believes the Ascendancy is the embodiment of their saviour. Who can deny the miracle of healing? Her heart tells her she is in the right place.

No one she discretely approached within the Sanctuary recognised the name Oleander, so while she was initially hopeful, she soon realised her aunt was not a member of the Brotherhood. But upon recognising that the legacy left in her care might be of value, Cali took her aunt’s texts to Quillon so that they might be presented to the Luminar. She knows all the words by memory already, and while it was still difficult to give that part of her up, she did it selflessly.

Cali can often be found in the Celestial Gardens, drawn most by ceremonies performed in natural settings. She has always felt a connection to earthly things, a link she cannot quite put into words, but only deepens her belief in the Ascendancy’s protection, especially after he averted nuclear disaster. Her blessings almost always involve natural things. She believes that through her devotion, the earth will flourish in its bounty. Recently, she has attained the title of Aethermancer. Privately she prays that she might be granted Ascendant gifts, so that she may serve the Brotherhood fully.

About

She has her father’s angelic looks, with big eyes, blonde hair, and a button nose, but where his charisma is a clever and convincing artifice, hers is full of warmth and naive enthusiasm. Cali is ardently devotional and as obsessive as all the members of her family tend to be. She is keenly spiritual, finds it easy to bestow trust, and is always curious to learn or try new things on her journey. She has a pleasant singing voice and is often involved in chant ceremonies. When she speaks it is the voracity of her belief that makes others listen, and rituals are always completed with such fervour and sanctity it is difficult to look away from. She holds the Brotherhood’s tenets dear; the perfect poster child.

Cali is twenty-years old and has the capacity to channel, but not the natural spark. Her Singer ability is minor, and something she has only become more aware of since devoting herself to the Brotherhood. She believes it is a divine gift, and that it signifies the world will flourish and return to its wilder roots; a utopia ushered in by the Ascendancy.

The journal entry had been enlightening. But Mia wasn't sure what she should look for.  She didn't quite understand what was going on.  The penmanship was not in her hand, but she clearly had written it only moments before she'd swiped the blue ink across the page.  The pen was still in her left hand.  Though she herself was a right hand.  It was all very confusing.

Mia jotted down the date, and her own entry.

Quote:Dear Journal,  I guess.  I don't know what's going on.  Or what I'm watching for or what you mean as strange.  Unless you mean things like I think I saw on the television.  The ascendancy of the CCD doing something, though I don't recall him doing more than giving a speech and then I woke up here.  What the fuck?

~Mia

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Looking for an a-bode near the Red Light District for our emissary of the gods.  They are reborn. The time is now, looking to our saviors of old for redemption. You can be saved.  Return them to their rightful power.  We are the key.

Residence must be empty or limited to one other person. We are willing to pay whatever the price.

The choice is yours.

Age: 19
Born: NY, NY, USA

Born Bianca White, or she would have been if her parents had survived the car crash that brought her into the world, instead she was adopted by a New York Business mogul who's dynasty fell when the Dayton Reactors blew. It wasn't a flaw in his company's software, but that's what got all the blame in the end.  Shaw Industries fell flat and Jeffery Shaw was being held accountable for the thousands of lives lost and the billions of dollars spent on cleaning up the melt down.

But that was after Bianca became Trinity Shaw.  And much later than she joined the military at the tender age of eighteen. It wasn't a surprise that Trinity went into the military having been sent to every Military School on the Eastern Seaboard.  To say she was a handful was playing nice.  It was almost poetic when when she joined the Navy.  And then when she went into Special Ops. Her father couldn't have been prouder. Her mother, Tina Shaw was always worrying and she had every worry confirmed three years after Trinity told her folks that she was going on a super secret I can't tell you anything more mission.

Trinity never returned. Not because she died, but because she was had enrolled in a super secret pilot program.  During the first three years, she could send messages back home.  And then suddenly they just stopped. Trinity vanished.  There were no paper trails, no death certificate.  Nothing, not even a body to bury when the Shaw's finally gave up the search for their darling daughter.

Trinity didn't just vanish, she became someone else. Someone she was trained to become.  Someone no one would suspect. 

There were many military candidates in the program. But only Trinity surpassed the credentials and the final tests -- one year deep cover.  So deep Trinity became Mia Wolf in everything not just the faked DNA, the finger prints, everything that had identified her as Trinity Shaw was now Mia Wolf.

Were there two of her in the system?  Only the deepest of delves could find the truth to the matter and digging that deep would flag every known agent to be deployed on the location registered. The secret was hidden inside other secrets -- lost to the world except for those who ran the program. And no one knew what program that even was.

Mia Wolf picked up a life. She traveled the world.  Mia saw the Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. She went on walk-a-bout in Australia. Mia lived a life that Trinity Shaw never dreamed of.  She found love in London, a bartender with a sorted family history.  Though he didn't love her back in the same way.

It was one night, they were curled up in bed after an afternoon spent there all day. The bar ran itself he said.  And Mia had no where else to be.  They watched as the Ascendancy shifted a building into something else on live television.  Something snapped in her.  Mia stood up leaving the love of her life on the bed calling after her.  "Mia.  Mia! What's wrong?  Mia"

She ignored him as she walked out of the room naked.  And out the door.  It wasn't until the police wrapped her up in a catatonic state and sent her to the hospital. Hours later she woke up from a sedative induced sleep.

The nurse asked. "Hun, can you tell me your name?"

"No, you may not." she said leaving the hospital much like she'd left his apartment this time barely covered with only the hospital gown for covering. 

Trinity walked the streets of London looking for something -- anything.  If she'd only stayed long enough to realize she'd made a full 360 back to where she'd fled, but in the window of Safe Harbour bar was the symbol she was looking for, a snake eating its own tale in the myriad of other etching on the side of the glass.  She walked in.

The bartender jumped over the bar and scooped her up in his arms. "Mia where have you been?"

Trinity put on a faked sweet smile.  "I need my clothes and a gun.  I have to go."  She tapped the tattoo on her left shoulder blade and pointed to a snake biting its own tail.  The same symbol that had been embedded in a the other etchings was buried with the artwork of her tattoo. "You can help me, right?"

The man frowned. "I don't have any guns.  Mia, what's going on?"

She looked at him "Don't worry about it. My clothes?"

"Upstairs in the dryer."

Trinity didn't wait as she fetched her clothes and walked out of the bar. Trinity didn't quite understand what was going on, but she had a sudden urge to be in Moscow where the Ascendancy was.

As she sat in the airport with newly acquired clothes, none of the frilly flowery stuff her other self had worn she understood why she was awakened from her state with such distain.  The three words had been spoken albeit on television by the very man with whom she now was seeking out.  But spoken none-the-less.  The gods had publicly awoken and were called to arms in a manner of speaking.  Her skills were necessary.

Assassinating the Ascendancy was much harder than she'd trained for.  She could never get close enough, the skies around the Kremlin were watched more than any other place Trinity had ever been. Enough that she gave up on the mission and started her journal.

Quote:Dear Mia, We find ourselves in London. A mission I cannot complete, failures shall not go unnoticed, but this particular one is off limits. Whatever the man meant to you, I'm sorry. But you should stay away from him, he's bad news.  Take it from me.

I have acquired us a place to stay, to watch. Wake me when things get strange, in an already strange world.

Remember, weakness and humility will reveal your true value.

Hey all! Posted Em’s wedding thread. If you think your character might have been invited, they probably were. Feel free to head on in - I just ask you wait until I post Jared first!

So excited to be coming back here!

Emily looked in the mirror and smiled.  She couldn't believe today was here.  Everything had changed quickly.  And today she was marrying her best friend.

A knock came to the door, and Rachel entered, wearing her Maid of Honor dress.  Rachel has taken Ayden's place as her Maid of Honor.  And despite all the happiness, Emily couldn't help but miss her friend.

"You are so beautiful!" she said, running to give her sister a hug. "It's almost time. Are you ready?"

Emily sighed. "I've never been more ready for anything in my life." she said sincerely.  "This all just feels so right."

Rachel smiled and gave her sister a hug before letting Emily a hug and leading her to wear her grandfather waited.  "You're so beautiful!" her grandfather said before his face turned a little somber. "Please don't take this the wrong way, Em, but I'm sorry that I have to be the one to walk you down.  Your father would have been so proud of the woman you've become and the man you've chosen."

Emily smiled and wrapped him in a hug. "I know and I understand, but you can't make me cry yet." she said with slight smile.

Her grandfather laughed and pulled away to look at her. "Ready?"

Emily smiled broadly. "Let's get me married!"

"AHHHHHH"

Giovanni screamed in anger, swiping his desk clean in the process.  A clay pot on his desk shattered on the floor.  Things were not going as expected.  No matter what, Al-Janyar wasn't making any headway.  At the very least, they weren't giving any ground in the process.  Giovanni paced the room, the weight of the Eye of Horus the only thing that kept him from lashing out further.  It did something.  Giovanni was sure of that.  Still he couldn't figure out how to work it.

"My Lord?" Aaliayah's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"This is my birthright.  All of this.  It's all there.  Why can't I take it!"

Aaliyah frowned.  The passing of time had made her more wary of her leader.  She had joined him because he had taken Ibrahim out of the picture.  An alliance with the new Al-Janyar leader was more to raise her own station than anything else.  Yet she wondered if this man was sane enough to actually move Al-Janyar forward.  Still - Giovanni was powerful and betrayal wouldn't be met well.  She would bide him time.  So for now, she was the only one who saw him like this.  In fact, she was the only one who knew he was calling the shots.  To the rest of the world - the Al-Janyar leader was a phantom.

"This is your doing," he said, pointing a finger at her.  His pacing intensified. "You're supposed to be my prophetess.  Why isn't it working?"

"My Lord, the world is in chaos everywhere.  Spreading your message alone is difficult.  I need acolytes."

Giovanni growled.  This would reveal his identity to more.

"My Lord?" Aaliyah asked again, wondering what she should do.

Giovanni's pacing stooped. "Chaos, huh." he said, a smirk hitting his face. "Perhaps if diplomacy is doing little, maybe we should try something else.  It's time."