TB: Character: Daniel Locke

No...Daniel writes tripe...Though he might also do actual scholarly work...Doesn't bother with a pseudonym like so many of the "Scholars" of the period who slummed it writing fiction.

 Just to be a dick, he might have been the one to out Westcott as a member of Golden Dawn, forcing him to either resign as a London Coroner, OR from the Order.

(he resigned from the Order...Funny how noble our vows and ideas hold up to a bank note, is it not?)

 Perhaps a bit of medical training, but not a full on Doctor..At least not of medicine.

 Now, he might have the equivalent of a Ph.D, in a couple of topics, and maybe even the medical knowledge of at LEAST a Nurse, but nothing finalized.

As in, he went to medical school for a while, but never finished, worked on an advanced degree here...and one there...in different subjects...Studied with so-and-so for a year in Turkey....On to Vienna for this other thing.

 Comes from money, but not the "First Son," so none of the responsibility, but HATES the idle rich..

 So, rather than bounding about the continent from one party to another, he bounds about the continent in search of more knowledge.

Writes, is often read, but not openly respected by the Academy.

 He's not one of them...Outsider, trouble maker, has blasphemous ideas, and even more outlandish manners.

(but secretly, lots of scholars think his work is solid and well thought out.)

Victorian hunting whip, (nicer and longer than that one,) silver handle that conceals a long, thin stiletto blade.

 He is an occultist...Just doesn't play well with others.

 Mostly elementals...Demons and angels too...shit you encounter dealing with Solomonic and Enochian, (which was just REALLY coming to light at this time,) stuff.

 Not as comfortable in dealing with shifters or Fae, but he knows enough to either A. Get himself out of trouble or B. Protect himself with that fails.

Concept: Thomas Book

Original 6/7/2005

Thomas Book

Adventure Serials

Character Quirks
- Indiana Jones
1. Whip
2. Several past failed relationships (romantic and otherwise)
3. Well-Traveled
4. Well-connected (he's got friends in every town from here to the Sudan)
5. Generally well-liked
6. Tries to do the right thing
7. Unresolved issues with his father
8. Mother died when he was young
9. Likes to challenge authority
10. Noble calling
11. Speak much, read some, write less

Dean Corsoe
1. Merchant Mercenary
2. Doesn't trust anyone much
3. Several contacts, few friends
4. Respected for his accomplishments, but generally well liked
5. Almost no relations with his parents
6. Few personal, material or social ties to hold him in any one place.
7. Well-traveled
8. General Bullshitter
9. He believes in his percentage
10. Read much, speak little, write less.

Thomas Book - Character Sketch
1. No relationship with his parents
2. Several contacts, few friends
3. Few personal, material or social ties to hold him in any one place for long
4. Read much, speak little, write more
5. Well-traveled
6. Unresolved issues with his Uncle Julian
7. Questing Nature
8. Shaolin Staff Fighting?
9. Loves kung-fu movies and Chinese food - learned most of his kung fu from the movies.
10. He has a Mailboxes Etc. account where he sends his completed journals while he's over seas. This way he knows that they're just waiting for him. He tries to get back to the account once in a while to pick up the journals and put them into safer storage.
11. He has another account at a coffee roastery where he stores his beans until he needs them. Inside the bean account, he has a passport and a few thousand dollars as an escape plan.
12. Always a back door. Always a plan
13. One journal for each 'quest', dig
14. Satchel of useful things
15. History of failed relationships with women, some success with men
17. Uncle Julian became a surrogate parent and big brother to Book when his parents died in one of the planes of 9/11. By this time, Book was in college for his Master's degree so it was just to give him some sense of connection.

The Adventures of Thomas Book in 1920's?

Titanic 1912
King tut 1927

Neo Victorian
The world is still small
There are still blank places on the map
Steam Ships
World War I
1890 - 1930 Period
1929 Stock market crash

This would make Uncle Julian an Occultist
British Museum
Royal Geographic Society

He can never seem to actually write his Dissertation to get his Ph.D.
Every time he tries to get it done, something jumps up that he can't miss.

Uncle Julian has money the old fashioned way - he inherited it. Thomas' journals are mailed back to Julian for safe keeping. Julian has been all over the world several times and then, when Thomas turned 25, he came home and hasn't really left. He's poured himself into his research.

When was the Anenerbe founded? Thule Society?

Templar gold - scotland
Curse of the Mummy - Egypt
Machu Pichu - peru

Fountain pens?
Communication mediums? Radio, telegraph, telegram
Travel - Steamship, Dirigible, Rail,
Linburg - 1927 Trans-Atlantic
Submarine?

Allies
Submarine Pilot - Capt. Roark (ret)
Steamboat Pilot -
Airplane Pilot - (Midwest Barnstormer)
Professional Jewel thief (Ariana)
Steam Engineer - Chloe

Movies:
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Rocketman
King Kong
The Adventures of Jules Verne
The Mummy (Part 1 and 2)
Alan Quartermain (King Solomon's Mines)

Satchel:

Canvas with leather strap

3 Journals (Current, Reference, Blank)
- Thin journal, probably a modified size 2
Fountain Pen and 2 bottles of ink (in a wooden case)
Envelopes and letter paper, sealing wax
Mag glass
Compass (military or otherwise)
Match case
Small Camera


Jewelry
1. Signet Ring
2. Necklace (Malachite (something egyptian))

Tattoos
1. Ankle band? (South American)

Childhood -

Uncle Julian was his guardian after his parents died in an accident. His uncle was an explorer (occultist) and traveled the ancient world extensively looking for bits of this and bits of that. He went to China, Japan, South America, all over Europe, and always drug young Thomas along with him.

At first Thomas was confused that they never seemed to stay put in one place, but then enjoyed the 'adventure' of always going from one place to another.

Summers were always spent traveling with Julian or finding him on some trip. During his Master's degree, the two started to split up but remained connected. Julian became more secretive about his research and the details of his trips and suggested that Thomas might enjoy some adventures of his own.

Thomas speaks Mandarin and Arabic with passing fluency.

Mother, Emma, was British and Father, Maxwell.

Emma is sister to Julian Blackwell

Assisting Characters
1. Karl Gagen - Friar from VanHelsing. Inventor
2. Bridget X - Saphron from Serenity. Thief.
3. Adira - Anara from Serenity. Thief. Agent. Society member

Timeline from 1890 to 1939 (Invasion of Poland)

Thomas lives in New York in 1921, above a bookstore

Jade Dragon Shipping Company - front for the organization that killed his parents. Xian Yu, leader

Thomas played piano in a New Orleans Jazz club for a year, it's where he met Ms. Susan - a HooDoo woman.

Thomas is a big fan of Zorro and always wanted to have some version of the Fox's Lair of his very own. So he has something like the Phantom's lair under the bookstore as a trophy room and 'sanctuary'. The loft apartment above the bookstore is more for guests and lovers to see.

See also:

1. Thomas Book: Characters

2. Thomas Book: Locations

3. Thomas Book: Props

TB: Character: Rick Hunter

Half of the Thomas Book stories involve friends that he's either made along the way or will make through the course of the journal. These friends are often larger than life and sort of like Thomas' own Seven Samurai if he ever had to pull in help. One of these friends is a character by the name of "Eric (Rick) J. Hunter".

Rick Hunter, one of Thomas' best friends and guides in the Amazon

I'm not sure how they met, but I'm guessing it involved some kind of adventure in a forgotten Mayan temple. Maybe Rick helped Thomas get out or Thomas used his contacts to bail Rick out of a Columbian jail. Anything's possible but I like the 'bailing him out of jail' idea. Rick strikes me as the kind of guy who would get ankle deep into trouble before he got his boots laced up in the morning and would end up waist-deep in trouble before lunch if there was a friend involved.

Rick and Thomas have the kind of relationship where half of their conversations involve "Remember that time when..."

It would be very bad if any of Thomas friends back in New York were to ever get Rick drunk enough to start telling stories about their trips together. While in NY, Thomas tries to keep an image of respectability and professionalism, but a few bottles of some scotch (Rick's favorite drink) and he'd be more than just a little embarrassed.

TB: Character: Amelia Stone

Professor Amelia Stone is a noted Historian and Archaeologist who specializes in Egyptology. Trained in America, she was recently invited to lecture and consult at the British Museum.

Professor Stone wears a scarab necklace given to her by an Egyptian Pharaoh. The necklace contains the memories of each of her many past lives and serves as a 'memory archive' that she can occasionally tap into allowing her to temporarily "remember" skills and knowledge that she has acquired for each.

The scarab also acts as a spirit director. Should any ghost, wraith or other spirit enters her presence she will instantly know it.

I'm thinking poison, delivered by something small and pointy

hairpins for street use, as well as maybe a blowgun

Your Egyptian name: Amaret. Ah-mer-et

TB: Character: Robert Amos

Robert Amos
Captain Robert Amos is captain of the Mermaid's Tear, a clipper ship that ran cargo for Thomas' father's company. Captain Amos was charged by Book's parents to deliver him to Melbourne where he would be transferred to another ship for the trip back to London.

Thomas Book: Jade Dragon

A picture of the Jade Dragon figurine

The Jade Dragon is one of the lost 13 treasures (or something there about). The dragon originally appears as the white, creamy jade but for each soul it takes it becomes more and more green until it's "full" and can rewind the clock on an intended target, returning them to their youth.

 The Jade Dragon is a toxic item; anyone whose flesh touches the statue loses their soul to it and is reduced to a fleshy husk of a corpse that's covered in an oily black film. The film is also toxic, causing a violent plague upon any around it. Any who are consumed by the statue become Wraith

TB: Character: Elizabeth Longstreet Sommerset

Miss ..... Elizabeth Longstreet Sommerset

"Of the Savannah Sommersets, if you please, sir. Atlanta is so low; all that new money."

Bachelor's degree majors in Ancient Greek, Latin, etymology. Master's degree in Symbolic Logic.

Doctorate in Ancient Cultures.

Working on a second Doctorate in linguistics.

She has her own theory (The Babel Theory) that all languages are connected to a unique, extinct root.

She's an expert swordswoman - lettering in Fencing (foil and epee) while at Mt. Holyoak and Wellesley University. Even to this day she is known to show up and teach Yale's fencing club a lesson in humility. When out and about, she carries a lady's umbrella with a hidden epee blade.

cryptography being her hobby/obsession

When she publishes, it's under the name "Peter Longstreet." She's like a grand niece of General James Longstreet (called Pete by his friends), and uses his name when she writes.

JOTB: The Winter Rose

The third book for Thomas Book (well, possibly third book) is the introduction of the Fae into his world.

The story takes place while he travels to... somewhere by train.

Thomas Book: The Fae

The Fae of Thomas Book


The Fae of Thomas Book are organized into Four different Courts, each one based off a different season.

The Summer Court, ruled by Lady Titania, Lady of Light and Fire
The Autumn Court, ruled by Lord Oberon, Lord of Forests and the Hunt
The Winter Court, ruled by Queen Maab, Queen of Night and Air
The Spring Court, ruled by Lady Aurora, Lady of Storms and Regrowth

Brief History:

Originally there were two Queens of the Wilds: the Mother of Summer, known simply as Ember, and the Mother of Winter, known simply as Alba. They each had two daughters; Titania and Aurora for Summer and Mab and Kerwyn (whom the mortals renamed 'Keridwyn') for Winter. In time each of the daughters took a season to rule as their own and the Wilds of the world of the Fae were split into Courts.

Lady Titania was appointed as Ember's successor when she took Lord Helios, Lord of the Sun, as her Consort. Not to be out-done, Lady Mab took Lord (SOMETHING), Lord of Ice and Snow, as her Consort and became the ruler of Winter. To balance these two polar opposites, the Mothers then appointed their other daughters as the respective rulers of Spring and Autumn with the Lord of Storms for Aurora and the Lord of the Forest and the Hunt for Kerwyn.

Rulership

Each of the Courts built for themselves great palaces on the fringes of the Wilds of Fae, each standing as polar opposites to the other against the rocky cliffs that mark its borders. All those who dwell within their domain are under the rulership, and the protection of the Lady of that season.

As the seasons change, the strength of the two courts rise and fall with the Solstices being the time of great power for both and the equinoxes being times where the strength of one court is equal to the other - often when small battles occurred.

The four courts will squabble with each other during the year but sometimes unify to defend their realms within the Umbra from the brood of creatures that would attack and corrupt them.

Politics

The summer court opposes the Winter Court's campaign to sew destruction in the mortal world and reclaim it as their own. The Winter Court continually attempts to take down the technological authority on reality that mortals have had for the past few centuries. If Winter had her way, she would freeze the mortal world in a season of ice (that lasted a few years) until they were willing to accept her authority once more.

The Autumn and Spring courts, as it is a season of change, accepts that things must change and attempts to maintain their place within the Umbra.

See also:

1. The Wilds
2. Fae Typology
3. Fae Courts

JOTB:The Curse of the Jade Dragon

-Revised 12/12/14

The Jade Dragon is an introductory story about the search for an item among many competing factions; each one wants it for their own purposes.

Thomas Book's parents were stationed / living in Hong Kong in the mid 1800's. They were heavily involved in the diplomatic mission to China but also had commercial and economic interests in Asian Trade. Book's family was of the status of British Society who were 'known' but on a minor level. Thus their position was delicately balanced upon public opinion.

Book was sent back to London to live with relatives a few years after he entered puberty. His parents wanted him to attend a proper English school and, though not publicly, wanted to keep him out of the public eye. Thomas' ability to "know" things about people and objects was difficult for him to control and he tended to blurt out what he knew rather than keep it to himself.

When he was sent back to London he was sent in the company of Aunt Lilly and Uncle Chu, servants of the family who had basically raised Thomas.

As they are leaving Hong Kong (his parents do not see him off), there is a scuffle on the docks and a man is killed right in front of Thomas. Thomas is thirteen and is not exactly trying to get in the way but the man is close enough that the two touch as the man is dying.

DEATHBED SCAN!

This is Thomas' first 'read' of a man's greatest secret (how he dies). He learns of a name; the one that the dying man was most afraid of. When he asks his 'aunt' and 'uncle' if they know anyone named "Lord Wu" both look fearful and change the subject.

Characters Introduced:

-Hong Kong
Aunt Lilly
Uncle Chu
Lord Wu

-Melbourne
Robert Amos

Items Introduced:

-Jade Dragon

See also:
-Jade Dragon Pages

TB: Character: Bloodthorn

BloodthornA Wildling Fae that Thomas Book has dealt with before.

Appearance:

Bloodthorn appears to be a young boy somewhere in his early teens with long, elven ears and a big, red, burlap sack slung over his shoulder like a weird version of Santa Claus.

Bloodthorn's skin is somewhat tanned, though not 'baked'. Considering that most of the Fae have very fair skin, the bit of sun that has given him some color makes him stand out as if he had lived in a tanning booth. The near-tanned complexion marks him as a member of the Wyld Fae - the unaligned peoples of the Wilds.

Bloodthorn stands a bare three and a half-feet tall when he manifests to his fullest height. With the lean and well-muscled features of a track and field runner, his frame is slender and defined. His eyes are a shade of green similar to fresh acorns and his hair is a dirty blonde, the color of staw-colored autumn leaves. Wherever he stands there's the faint smell of fall about him; the smell of a pile of dead leaves.

Bloodthorn patrols the Umbra but rarely enters the city unless he's on an errand for the Lord of Autumn, Oberon. He prefers the solace of trees and the forests but has been summoned within the confines of a cemetery once - since there were so many Oak Trees there it was a "City Forest".

Bloodthorn is one of the Wild Fae, technically unaligned to the Courts, but has worked for Oberon on a few times and is usually the one contacted if the Lord of Leaves wishes to speak to the Wilder Brood.

Thomas has used Bloodthorn once to direct him towards a spirit within the Umbra.

"Why you seek Crow?"

He speaks like a younger version of Yoda; and rarely gives anyone a straight answer.

Generally speaking, he doesn't wear much when he's coming and going. Aside from a loincloth of deer skin and his red, burlap bag of infinite holding, he doesn't wear much. Thomas gave him a tear-drop pendant of green amber for helping him out once and Bloodthorn carries it as a favorite piece of jewelry.

Bloodthorn's abilities include:Wild growth (causing any plants to spontaneously grow rapidly and up to a giant size within moments)Nature's Grace (Absolute Elven Grace. Walk on the smallest branches, leaves no trace, breaks no leaves, etc.)Bramble Thorns (Ensnaring thorny vines to grasp and hold people)

Bloodthorn's Allies:

1. Oberon
2. Thomas Book
3. Titania

Bloodthorn's addictions:
1. Honey Roasted Peanuts

Bloodthorn's Bribery:
1. Amber of any kind but prefers green
2. Sack of Acorns

Bloodthorns' Enemies:
1. Queen of the Winter Court & her Emissaries
2. Tree-Killers

Gear: Thomas Book's Flashlight

According to Wikipedia: The invention of the dry cell and miniature incandescent electric light bulbs made the first battery-powered flashlights possible around the year 1899 A.D. So it's not impossible that Book had his own, special, flash light prior to this time but it would have been made by some mad scientist who was experimenting with the combination of light bulbs and batteries. The light isn't that strong but it's more than what you would see from a few dozen candles. (as there's no reference for how bright early flashlights were). However, since this is a steam-punk verse, the flashlight "could" have three settings: off, on and HOLY JEEBUS!