Stefan De'Vries
I can hear it. A chill wind behind the reflection. A tremble in the glass. I am not mad…
Stefan De'Vries
Forum
» Character Vault / Wintereise
» Stefan De'Vries
Summary:
The Mirror-Mage
This is the closest picture I can find to Stefan. Obviously he would be moving through a mirror, not ze portal. Face isn't quite right. I actually enjoy the occult dangly bits even though he doesn't have any yet…I assume he will eventually.
The perfect pic would be a pic of him standing before a mirror, tilting his glasses down to look at you, showing his hideous eyes, perhaps with a drop of blood running down his face. Behind him, his reflection would show the Mirror Mage in full regalia. Can't forget the hairline scars on his face & hands either, or the cane. Possibly even a hint of icicles on the mirror…
I may pay an artist to do this if I survive my Vet test. Before I pay cash though, I'll give you guys first whack: I'll trade a 10 Gift write up for a quality picture that matches the above criteria. One or multiple characters, re-writes or new Powers.
Physical Description:
Height: 6' 1”
Weight: 177 lbs
Eyes: Milky White (Formerly Blue)
Hair: Light Brown, graying
Stefan is tall & reasonably attractive in a pale, scholarly kind of way. He is quite thin, unhealthily so, a fact he compensates for with concealing clothing. Traceries of razor thin, white scar tissue can be seen on his hands & face, & in fact mark the entire front of his body. His right leg is obviously crippled, showing extensive surgical scarring, & he walks with the support of a cane.
Physical anomalies include his flesh & blood, which maintains a consistent temperature of -26 Celsius, resulting in an epidermis both cold & rigid to the touch. Likewise, his tears are blood, startlingly crimson against his pale skin.
Typical Dress: Stefan wears well made suits of a wool/cotton blend, typically black or dark gray. He wears white cotton shirts, black ties, an under sweater of gray or brown wool, leather driving gloves, comfortable shoes & a long woolen scarf. He will always wear a pair of mirror shades, & occasionally will add a wide brimmed fedora matching his suit. His cane is made of teak wood, with a polished silver ball, sometimes accompanied by a slim black briefcase. He wears a golden wedding band & a faceted, stainless steel ring on his hands. His clothing is always immaculate.
Mannerisms: Invariably dour & stoic, Stefan often seems distracted or confused. Rarely speaking except when spoken to, he will quite frequently spend hours staring off into space if left to his own devices. The only time this behavior changes is when mirrors are discussed: he can become quite animated discussing mirrors to an exhaustive degree, totally unaware that the various methods, substrates, compositions, techniques, myths, legends, & so on are not quite as fascinating to others…or when becoming frustrated on missions.
On several occasions Stefan has proven to be totally, & in fact recklessly fearless, driven onwards with cold self-possession into the very jaws of death without any chance of escape. Some have questioned if he is not in fact suicidal. Totally lacking emotions, Stefan often overreacts to events he logically deems he should be offended by. This reaction, based on distant memories rather than true compassion, can lead him to become implacably dangerous without any apparent warning. Likewise, he will react to moments of pathos or sympathy often long after the moment has passed, or with abrupt suddenness: literally when it occurs to him that he should do so.
Despite a tendency to appear distant or absent minded, Stefan possesses a keen intelligence, capable of both intricate long term planning & snap decisions. Grim yet soft spoken, Stefan always has been more of a follower than a leader, & in fact finds himself rather put off by undue familiarity. In a group, his unwavering focus, resolve, & ingenuity can often be just as valuable as his unique Gifts.
Habits: Stefan has developed a nervous twitch upon hearing sudden, loud noises; a small crack in his glacial composure. Every once & a while his cell phone buzzes a reminder, at which time he lights a clove cigarette or pours a glass of Cognac. Lacking the desire for these comforts any longer, he maintains them to preserve a sense of normalcy long lost. Likewise, he has reminders set for meal times & several proscription medications from his private doctor.
The Mirror Mage-Description: When Stefan dons the eerie helmet dubbed “The Mirror Mask”, fully enclosing his head within it's gilded surface…several changes become immediately apparent.
Flowing robes of a strange greenish material engulf his body. Shot through with burnished copper threads, the garb includes gloves & boots, as well as a deep hood. All of which seems to materialize out of thin air. Likewise, the cane & other accoutrements vanish. The whole of the garment seems to shimmer & distort the light, giving off almost a heat-mirage. While this mystical transformation is startling, it is by far not the most disturbing part of the process just begun.
As soon as the Shroud & Mask are in place, the tall, stoic figure cast by Stefan seems to melt into this sinuous, lithe creature. Gone is the limp, & with fluid grace the creature whirls away, seeming to slide across the floor. With a deft whirl & flip it leaps like a panther, adhering to a sheer wall with apparent ease. The Mask seems to weave & bob in a serpentine, vaguely threatening manner. The same disturbance of the light is only enhanced by it's swift, whirling motions…it is difficult to tell where the creature is within the capering shroud.
A knife, polished to catch a brilliant sheen, might appear in it's hand as it leaps, sailing through the air as if merely a feather. Landing on one foot, it skates away, always facing you with that reflective non-face, flipping back up onto the wall. It's constant, almost feminine gestures seem to entice, to mock. It does not speak, yet it expresses strange, unknowable passions with every languid movement. It is beautiful, & somehow terrifying. It almost seems an expression of all the emotion denied Stefan, seen through the glass darkly, cast as some maleficent sprite.
As it circles closer, testing, stalking, hunting…you are certain it is definitely NOT Stefan. Should you stand your ground, resist it's capering threats, mind-bending magics, & very real attacks…it will wander off to seek other, more willing prey. If you should quaver, then the Mirror Mage will show you, in painstaking detail, all the horrors hidden beyond the looking glass.
Despite the “boogey man” quality, the Mage is not precisely a murderous creature, nor unwilling to work with others. It will simply do as it pleases, with capricious glee. It will be drawn to conflict & chaos. It is a creature that matches the thirst for causing terror with a sportsman's flair: children might be given a fright, but a so-called “Monster” will know the true depths of horror. All told, the Mirror Mage wields Stefan's magic with ease & panache.
/forum/t-284880/stefan-de-vries#post-
