Editing Nevermore:Espejo


== Espejo, Viscount of Reflections ==

There was a time, not so long ago, that an angel decided to take a walk along the shore of an isolated beach in Mexico.  Now, it may seem like an odd place to see an angel taking a stroll, but even the keepers of paradise need to take a holiday from the infinite beauty of Heaven on occasion.  As the angel walked along the beach, he came upon a small tidal pool, the water so still and clear that it served as a mirror that reflected the pale blue expanse of the sky and the clouds that rested eternally above it.  It was a thing of beauty, and as the angel knelt before it he caught sight of his own image.  Now, this may sound strange, but the residents of the blessed realm have no need for mirors.  After all, when you are one of the most beautiful of all creatures in creation, what need have you of such things?   <br/>

The angel stared into that pool and saw his own reflection, his likeness staring back at him.  Transfixed, the angel sat there by that pool, staring at himself in rapt wonderment.  Days passed, and the angel did not move as he studied each contour of his visage.  He contemplated the perfections of his face and form, and under such scrutiny even an angel can find flaws.  By the time he rose to leave, the reflected image had gained a life of its own.  With yearning arms, the reflection pulled himself out of the water and breathed air for the first time.  His first memory was that of his creator, his true self, walking away. <br/>

"Wait ... take me with you." the reflection called out to the angel. <br/>

The angel stopped momentarily and turned to look upon his simulacrum with a gaze filled with the awe-inspiring radiance of Heaven. "I cannot.  Heaven is the realm of the angels, and although you are beautiful, it is not your place. You are just a shadow of something greater."<br/>

"Than what I am to do here?" the reflection asked.

"Do what it is in your nature to do.  You showed me the imperfection within myself. You revealed to me the myriad levels of perfection that I could aspire to.  That is what gave you life, and in this flawed world, this will be your purpose.  Show mankind who they are.  When they see you, they will see the beauty that they themselves can aspire to." <br/>

With that, the angel spread its wings and ascended to the heights of the Mythic World, leaving the reflection to stand there on the beach.

The reflection wandered away from that beach and made his way into the world.  He took the name "Espejo" for himself, after the Spanish word for mirror.  After a time, he started to forget his divine origins as the reflections of all those he encountered started to superimpose themselves upon his body.  He left Mexico and made his way into the United States, and where ever he went he learned more.  For a time, he spent his life as a drifter, moving from town to town and impacting the lives of all he met all the while learning of the complexities of humanity. <br/>

A decade later, Espejo found himself in New Orleans and in the company of Tiffany McKenna. Tiffany was an entertainment agent, and was enthralled by Espejo's natural charisma and keen observational wit. She encourage him to take to the stage and soon he found himself working as a comedian, standing on a stage and holding a metaphorical mirror of satiracal humor to his audience.  His keen observations of society rang true to his fans, and he became a regular at comedy clubs and bars through the United States.  During one of his early shows, he met Erin Doucet, a woman in love with the sea and the wind.  He felt a connection with her, as her transient nature seemed to define his formative years.  Approaching her was easy enough, and the casual relationship she wanted with him served Espejo well enough.  Whenever Espejo was in town, he would ring her up and tell her the stories of places that he traveled to and performed, and the next day he would be gone. <br/>

During his travels, Espejo encountered an individual strikingly similar to himself, not only in the physical sense, but also in personality.  However, the man seemed to invert the principles that Espejo found important.  It was almost like he was a dark reflection of himself.  He encountered this strange doppelganger in New York City, on the set of a Late Night Talkshow.  The man was a photographer named Edward Santiago, and his work seemed to be the polar opposite of all the things that Espejo found holy.  His art reflected all the negative traits of his subjects, glorifying the corrupt and wicked things and vaunting it as something to be worshiped.  <br/>

The two men met after the show in the green room, and immediately hated each other.  When their eyes met, the memories of their creation resurfaced.  Espejo was not only the reflection to pull himself from the water.  

"Even angels cast shadows, nothing is perfect, brother," Edward said with a sly smile. "I am the darkness that lingers in the wake of beauty.  When idealism fades, there I will be."

"Idealism can only grow, it is the darkness that must fade in the face of the light" Espejo replied, the expression on his face a mirror of the grin on his brother's face. "You can't kill hope."

"Well, I can certainly try." came Santiago's retort.

"It'll be a fun game."

=Stats:=

: ''Aspect'' 3 (Inhuman) (5 AMP) 
: ''Domain'' 2 (Viscount) (7 DMP) 
: ''Realm'' 3 (Warden) (5 RMP) 
: ''Spirit'' 0 (Candleflame) (5 SMP)

=Gifts:=
Glorious
Espejo, born as he was from the reflection of an angel, possesses the Glorious Gift of Aspect. Those who gaze upon Espejo see within him the most beautiful aspects of themselves, their highest ideals and hopes made manifest. To look upon his face is to know what you have the potential to be or what you once were. This has a dramatic effect on mortals, one that can move a stoic, cut-throat CEO to tears or cause a hardened criminal to change their life for the better. 

=Handicaps:=
Manifestation

:* Those who cannot see their reflections are immune to Domain miracles cast by Espejo. Whether this stems from the fact that they are blind, or in an area of darkness, matters little. In order for Espejo to use his Estate against others, he first needs to know that they can see what he is able to reflect. 

Double 
:* Another creature was born when the angel saw his reflection in the water. Unlike Espejo, however, he embodies the negative aspect of the Estate. Self-hate, mockery, and narcissism are the metaphorical associations that he governs. He is a subtle creature, though, and whom he serves remains a mystery.

=Design:=
A twining circle made from the branches of a cherry tree, the cherry blossoms themselves seem almost petalless as if they are not in full bloom. The dark green leaves of the branch are whorled. At the center of this circle of cherry blossoms is an Amaryllis, the flower of physical beauty, in full bloom. The petals of the Amaryllis are a beautiful black gilt at its center with white.

=Affliation:=
The Code of the Angels.

:* Beauty is the Highest Principle
:* Justice is Beauty
:* Lesser Beings Should Respect Their Betters

=Bonds:=
:* The ongoing feud with his double, Edward Santiago. 5
:* The sanctity of his Estate. 5
:* His agent, Tiffany McKenna 4
:* The Chancel. 3
:* His ability to emotionally affect others through the power of reflection. 2
:* His collection of rare, antique mirrors. 1

=Description:=
No one sees Espejo the same way, as his Glorious Aspect tends to make people see within him traits that they wish they possessed. However, on the most mundane of levels, Espejo appears to be a young man possessed of smooth features and dark curly hair. In a way, he appears akin to a painting of a Boticelli angel.

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