UNDERGROUNDS APPLICATION

[knowstheworld]

Player information
Name: Teresa
Contact: PM or lycanthropy101
Are you 18 or over? Yes!
Other characters played: Faolan (reticence)

Character information
Name: John Childermass
Age: 44
Date of Birth: October 30, 1971
Canon: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Species: Witch
Role: Circle Daybreak, Norrell's coven doing most of his work for him there just like he does everywhere else for him TBH
Rank: 2
Background:

John Childermass was born in the East Riding of Yorkshire to woman named Black Joan (her street name). She ran a ring of pickpockets and thieves and thus Childermass himself was inducted into the life of crime from an early age. He never knew his father, though his mother did know his identity (it’s where he ended up getting his last name, despite the fact that he up and disappeared on her and the two of them were never even what one would consider “an item”).

A highly accomplished pickpocket by the time he was a teenager, Childermass was ambitious -- he wanted more to his life than petty crime. Of course, being of little education, it was rather hard to get very far. He went to Whitby and worked in the docks for a year or two but ultimately moved on from there. It was in Whitby, however, where Childermass discovered magic and his own talents for the arts.

Eventually winding his way back to Yorkshire (always a Yorkshireman at heart), Childermass poked around thieving and doing what investigating he could into magic until he finally decided to take matters into his own hands. He knew what he wanted -- to know more, to be more, and to do more magic, and there was only way to accomplish that: Gilbert Norrell. A practical magician, living in a place called Hurtfew Abbey, Norrell was a small, suspicious person who rarely entered the world at large and the world at large hardly encountered Norrell himself for that matter. But Childermass was nothing if not smart. He found a way to weasel his way into his household. Charming the other workers. Becoming friendly with a few of the ladies of the house. Figuring out when the man was going to be making an appearance in town. Setting him up to be stolen from and then making certain to be there to rescue him. Making certain that he said and did everything he should to win the man’s favor.

And win his favor he did, as well as a new job, as his housekeeper and assistant. In Norrell’s mind, he was merely hiring a man for a position that had gone too long unfilled. In reality, that was because that was what Childermass had led him to believe. But the household liked him and even Norrell liked him, really. In his own, Norrell-y way. And so Childermass remained, in Norrell’s services, managing his affairs but also gaining access to everything Norrell himself had access to -- all of the magical materials that he hoarded, all of the books, all of the knowledge. Learning and practicing magic in secret, with Norrell only attempting to teach him a handful of spells personally (mostly for the purpose of the protection of his books). He was privy to all of Norrell’s business, all of Norrell’s magical discussion, most of Norrell’s thoughts, most of Norrell’s writings. For nearly two decades he learned and grew as a magician thus, before he got it into his head that they should go to London. Convincing Norrell into believing it was his idea in the first place, before heading there together.

Personality:

John Childermass is a practical man. He has money although he hardly spends it, certainly not on himself or on his appearance. He is instead very businesslike. Indeed, although he made his way into Norrell’s household of his own accord, in truth the other man could not have found a more appropriate man to handle his affairs. He carries himself with an authority he may not necessarily have, given his position and background, and is friendlier to people on the same level as himself than he may appear to those who are supposed to be considered on a higher tier. He values balance, equal representation of the differing opinions on magic -- in his opinion there is no “right” and “wrong”, merely different ways of looking at things. It is part of his natural pragmatic way of approaching life.

As an individual, he’s rather solitary and independent. He’s friendly with those others who work for Norrell, and they like him, but he does not seem to forge deep connections with others no matter how long he might know them. Indeed, he has known Norrell for over half his life now, but one would probably hesitate to call them “friends”, given the way that Norrell thinks of Childermass and the way that Childermass at times uses Norrell. That is not to say that he does not have a fondness for the other man, however much he vexes him at times. He is, in turn, incredibly loyal, especially to Norrell. He does not always agree with the other man, and he does not always follow the other man’s orders, but he is faithful to him, in his own way. In truth, he feels almost protective of the man -- for all that he is a great magician, he has about him a sort of naivety. He may not always like Norrell, but he would guard him with his life.

In this way and others, Childermass is courageous and robust. Having grown up in the way he did, with the background he has, essentially having been a vagabond for some time in his life, he had to be. He is not afraid of a little mystery, a little adventure. He is not above challenging himself and facing the unknown. He is quite stoical against pain and discomfort, and perhaps the only thing that would get under his skin is if one were to do exactly that -- have one over on him. He likes to be in control of himself and his own person at all times, and he hates having to turn that control over to anyone else, regardless as to who they are and whether he trusts them or not (chances are he doesn’t).

As far as relationships go, although Childermass is definitely not looking for one, apparently he is quite the charmer. Whether he means to or not he has attracted the affections of several ladies over the years, for better or worse, including (but not limited to) other mens’ wives...

Powers & Possessions:
Given Childermass’ access to learning and the length of time he’s been studying, he would know all low-mid level spells. Other than the Cards of Marseilles and one or two books of magic that may or may not have been gifts from Norrell, he does not possess anything that would tie him back to being a magic user.

As far as abilities go, Childermass is by nature very sensitive to magic -- in canon he even goes so far as to have a difficult time around those affected by Fae magic, his mind flashing between the Faerie realm and the scene in front of him, causing him to be shaky and unsteady on his feet, which he would never be otherwise. Additionally, he is very adept at prognostication using the cards, whether this be predicting the future or the answer to a question in turn.
Samples:

TDM thread with Norrell

TDM thread with Reno

World building
Locations:
Items:

The Cards of Marseilles
mid level ♦ arcane/dark spellbooks
Not unlike tarot cards, they are a set of cards that can be used to reveal the past and foretell the future when laid out in spread -- one lays out nine cards in a line face down and then turn them over one by one, interpreting them as you go. The first card represents the "present", then progressing in the story of the answer of the question through them until the ninth, which represents the "future". Generally frowned on by “respectable” magic users.

Magic:

Belasis' Scopus
mid level ♦ basic/arcane spellbooks
A spell used to detect whether magic is occurring. It requires a glass filled with water. If magic is occurring, a light will glow within the water -- the closer the proximity, the brighter the glow. It does not however identify what magic is being done or who by.

Chantlucet
high level ♦ arcane spellbooks
An an ancient spell that would be used to “encourage the moon to sing”. The song of the moon, it is said, could be used to cure leprosy and madness. Whether this is a literal singing of the moon or a figurative one is little known, for the magic itself is complex and little known.

Daedalus' Rose
mid/high level ♦ arcane spellbooks
A spell used to entrap human qualities (such as cowardice, courage, love, lust, etc.) into a semi-solid medium (such as beeswax, honey, amber, wax, etc.) in such a way that when this substance was heated it would release the qualities it contained. Either to one’s benefit or the detriment of one’s enemies.

Stoksey's Vitrification
high level ♦ arcane spellbooks
A spell used to change the subject it is cast upon (animate or inanimate) into glass.

Spell to Disguise Oneself as a Shadow
mid level ♦ arcane/dark spellbooks
A spell cast to take on the apperance of a strong shadow. A cloaking, obscurement spell, however one that a person might be able to see through, if one has a keen eye. For example, the shadow will not always fall in the same direction or with the same strength as the rest of the shadows around it do.