Characters – Archived
In the House…
Erik Weitz
Birthday: Dec. 26, 1368
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Grey, White
Room: 102
Magical Status: Innate
Major Arcana: The Tin Soldier (The Fool)
Minor Arcana: 6 of Hearts (Forgiveness)
Temperament: Phlegmatic
Features: Green, sense of humor, silver patch and gold metal eye
Mordecai’s child. Due to an accident, has difficulty speaking, flips his letters around, and gets random updates from the gods. Cheerful demeanor totally unwarranted by his experiences.
Mordecai Eidel
Birthday: Mar. 30, 1319
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Brown, White
Room: 102
Magical Status: Innate
Major Arcana: The Musician (The Emperor)
Minor Arcana: 9 of Hearts (Substitution)
Temperament: Melancholic
Features: Red, smallish, three piece suits w/ tie
Erik’s uncle. Reformed manipulative bastard and participant in two wars, one of which he started. Severe emotional issues and curdled idealism hiding under a thin layer of sarcasm.
Hyacinth
Birthday: Sep. 1, 1330
Gender, Pronouns: F, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Blue, Blonde
Room: 203
Magical Status: Learned
Major Arcana: The Medic (The Empress)
Minor Arcana: 5 of Diamonds (Abandonment)
Temperament: Choleric
Features: Goggles, cheap shoes, needs conditioner
Practicing ex-medic, virtuoso metalworker and compulsive fixer-of-things. Dumped in the custody of a bipolar drag queen after a childhood head injury. Prone to blaming her brain damage and ignoring her emotional damage.
Milo Rose
Birthday: May 24, 1353
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Brown, Red
Room: 201
Magical Status: Learned
Major Arcana: The Engineer (The Tower)
Minor Arcana: Ace of Spades (Failure)
Temperament: Phlegmatic
Features: Glasses, suspenders, doesn’t talk
Makes cheap watches on an assembly line, part-time. Likes pretty dresses and shoes, when in a dress he changes into a completely different person: Ann. Gets himself across with preprinted cards, gestures, and quick drawings.
Ann Rose
Birthday: Jul. 1368-Feb. 1369
Gender, Pronouns: M, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Brown/Red
Room: 201
Magical Status: Learned
Major Arcana: The Singer (The Star)
Minor Arcana: Queen of Hearts (Adoration)
Temperament: Sanguine
Features: Frilly dresses, pretty shoes
Sings at the Black Orchid, a drag club, part-time. Essentially Milo in a dress, but more than the sum of her parts — a reflection of what he is, and what he is not. Everyone is her “dear friend.”
Barnaby Graham
Birthday: Jul. 3, 1300
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Grey, White
Room: Attic
Magical Status: Learned
Major Arcana: The Seer (The Hierophant)
Minor Arcana: 7 of Diamonds (Focus)
Temperament: Choleric
Features: Messy hair, robe and slippers, hates you
An ex-state augur who is no longer capable of controlling what he sees or when he sees it. Hides in the attic with his papers, dispenses strange portents, and hates Hyacinth the least.
Calliope Otis
Birthday: Oct. 31, 1354
Gender, Pronouns: F, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Brown, Black
Room: 103
Magical Status: None
Major Arcana: The Artist (The Magician)
Minor Arcana: Ace of Clubs (Inspiration)
Temperament: Phlegmatic
Features: Reading glasses, freckles, paint stains, black trousers
An artist who got herself fired from her commercial job for deciding to give single-motherhood a try. Knows she’s weird and seems to have made her peace with it. Has a vendetta against a cartoon ant, among other things.
Lucy Otis
Birthday: Oct. 9, 1376
Gender, Pronouns: F, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Brown, Brown
Room: 103
Magical Status: None/Learned (by the end)
Major Arcana: The Baby (The Sun)
Temperament: She’s a baby. Give her some time.
Features: Tiny, pigtails, has a spider mecha
A pretty chill baby. Calliope is ‘Mama’ and Milo is ‘Da.’ Her highchair/pram is a spider mecha because the kitchen is too small. (This is Milo’s logic, he built it. It sticks to walls.)
Dave Otis
Birthday: Sep. 10, 1381
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Room: Attic
Magical Status: Learned
Major Arcana: The Designer (alternate for the Moon)
Temperament: Phlegmatic
Features: Just a brief cameo, in accordance with the prophecy. Has red hair, is shy, and likes big words and princesses.
Maggie D’Iver
Birthday: Jun. 17, 1366
Gender, Pronouns: F, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Brown, Brown
Magical Status: Learned
Major Arcana: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Strength)
Minor Arcana: King of Spades (Confidence)
Temperament: Choleric
Features: Braids, dark blue dresses, turns into a magpie
Spends most of her time upstairs with her mother, learning complicated magic and the art of warfare. Has her father’s sense of humor and her mother’s skill, which gets her into a lot of trouble.
The General
Birthday: Jan. 23, 1338
Gender, Pronouns: F, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Brown, Brown
Magical Status: Learned
Major Arcana: The General (The Chariot)
Minor Arcana: 2 of Spades (Decision)
Temperament: Melancholic
Features: Heavyset, military bearing, turns into a golden eagle
One part cold logic, one part idealism, and two parts sheer stubbornness. Her military records are incorrect, so she sets her pension cheques on fire every month. She is Maggie’s primary caregiver and teacher.
Sanaam Sadiq
Birthday: Dec. 17 1336
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Brown/None
Room: 202, sometimes
Magical Status: None
Major Arcana: The Sailor (The Hermit)
Minor Arcana: 6 of Spades (Trade)
Temperament: Sanguine
Features: Big and tall, stretched earlobes, gold tattoos
Captains a small, fast vessel repurposed for trade after the war. Is not often home. Miraculously able to reconcile his freewheeling personality and sense of humor with the General’s stiffness. Has a strong marriage in spite or because of his frequent absence.
Room 101
Birthday: One assumes?
Gender, Pronouns: Probably
Eyes, Hair: Maybe
Magical Status: Unknown
Major Arcana: TBA
Minor Arcana: TBA
Temperament: Unknown
Features: Eats three meals a day, is quiet, has not eaten any people that we are aware of.
Even Erik and Barnaby can’t seem to figure out what it is. Hyacinth usually feeds it. When Mordecai attempts to do so, he breaks dishes, but nobody can ever recall hearing him scream.
In the Neighbourhood…
Soup
Age (Year 1-3): 11-13
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Blue, Blond
Magical Status: Learned
Major Arcana: The Urchin (The Devil)
Minor Arcana: 7 of Spades (Pragmatism)
Temperament: Choleric
Features: Red bow tie, chequered driving cap
Can be found looking for food and fun on the streets at all hours, with no supervision or family. Teaches Maggie (and sometimes Erik) petty larceny in exchange for magic lessons. Always hungry. Full name: Anthony Rinaldi
Seth Zusman
Age (Year 1-3): 36-38
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Grey/White
Magical Status: Innate
Major Arcana: The Teacher (Temperance)
Minor Arcana: 7 of Hearts (Acceptance)
Temperament: Phlegmatic
Features: Blue, tall, thin, plaid sport coat with elbow patches
Strawberryfield’s answer to Mr. Rogers. Lives and teaches school under a bridge in Cinders Alley. Make frequent police reports and home visits. If you mess with him, the neighborhood children will get you.
The Toussaint Family
Names: Ted (36-39/M), Maria (33-35/F), Bethany(4-6/F), and Pablo (0-1/M)
Temperament: Resilient and weirdness-averse
Features: Ted – Yellow with gray overalls. Maria – orange with hoop earrings. Bethany – Pink with long curly hair. Pablo – Red with sailor suit.
Bethany is the only coloured child Erik’s age within walking distance. She can be a bit aggressive and he probably wouldn’t play with her very much otherwise.
Steven Yaojing
Age (Year 1-3): 32-34
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Brown, White
Magical Status: Innate
Temperament: Phlegmatc
Features: Pink, gold mergers in palm of right hand, wishes Hyacinth would stop stealing his calendars
Owns the dry-cleaner’s and rents one of the apartments above to the Toussaints. Third-generation Xinese immigrant who is terrified of his grandmother’s cooking.
Hayes
Age (Year 1-3): 21-23
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Brown, White
Magical Status: Innate
Minor Arcana: Joker
Temperament: Sanguine
Features: Purple, short, loud plaid clothes
Second generation Iroquoi immigrant and ex-starcatcher. Runs a greengrocer’s with his adoptive identical twin brother. Fields a lot of awkward questions due to being colored AND black. Full name: Frederick Moon-Raven Halsey of Coyote Clan.
Donovan
Age (Year 1-3): 24-26
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Brown/White
Magical Status: Innate
Minor Arcana: Joker
Temperament: Sanguine
Features: Yellow, tall, loud plaid clothes
Ex-starcatcher, ‘kidnapped’ and adopted by a colored family living outside the city during the siege. Helps run a greengrocer’s selling his family’s produce. Pretends to be an identical twin. Full name: Georges Rat-with-Wings Bellamy of Coyote Clan.
The Street Kids
Names: Cornflakes (Sarah), Kelly, Edie, Joe, Charlie, Josette, Emily, Henri, Petey, etc.
Temperament: Pragmatic and resourceful
Features: Dirty clothes, few safe places to sleep
Many can take care of themselves on an individual basis, but their group situation is filthy, neglectful and dangerous. A lucky few have homes and families. Seth and the street school provide an imperfect alternative, but better than a workhouse or jail.
In the City…
John Green-Tara
Age (Year 1-3): 16-18
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Brown, Black
Magical Status: None
Major Arcana: The Paint Man (The Hanged Man)
Minor Arcana: 9 of Spades (Guilt)
Temperament: Melancholic
Features: Big dark eyes, embroidered shirt collars, lost expression
Technically owns a convenience store but his mother, Gita, runs it. Has a younger brother and sister, Tommy and Jenny, and a dog, Argos. Is trying very hard to make amends after he and another boy, Eddie, hurt Erik.
Sean Addison
Age (Year 1-3): 25-27
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Brown, Sandy Brown
Magical Status: None
Minor Arcana: Ace of Hearts (The Murderer Actor)
Temperament: Sanguine
Features: Nice suits, dented top hat, beauty mark under left eye
Actor who gets regular supporting (and occasional starring) roles at the Slaughterhouse, San Rosille’s answer to the Grand Guignol. Made friends with Ann and Milo after Ann landed a role in a play. Kind, but a bit vain and flighty.
Cerise Poirier
Age (Year 1-3): 25-28
Gender, Pronouns: F, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Green, White
Magical Status: Innate
Major Arcana: The Silver Swan (The Wheel of Fortune)
Minor Arcana: 8 of Spades (The Dancer)
Temperament: Choleric
Features: Dark pink, cherry barrette with rhinestones, endless supply of cotton candy pink wigs
Works as a dancer at the Black Orchid, friends with Ann and Milo. Must dress as a man for her housing and other job. Tends to be abrasive, overdramatic and overdefensive, and has difficulty maintaining her relationships. When dressed as a man, goes by ‘Charlie.’
Florian del la Fontaine
Age (Year 1-3): 41-43
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Blue, White
Magical Status: Innate
Minor Arcana: Ace of Diamonds (The Materialist)
Temperament: Phlegmatic
Features: Yellow, nice hair, runs towards screaming
Ex-medic and competent self-taught material-worker. No credentials, no pension, and no job prospects outside unskilled labor like dishwashing. Met Hyacinth because her house was the nearest magic storm shelter.
Corinne Santee
Age (Year 1-3): 33-35
Gender, Pronouns: F, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Grey, Blonde
Magical Status: Learned
Minor Arcana: 10 of Spades (The Broken Sword)
Temperament: Phlegmatic
Features: Bad teeth, right arm made of white marble (later metal composite) and carried in a sling
Caught a bomb meant for the General and sustained injuries which make her life very difficult. Often homeless, but too proud to accept much charity. Later makes friends with Lola through Ann, Milo and the General.
Christoph Treves
Age (Year 1-3): 18-20
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Blue, White
Magical Status: Innate
Minor Arcana: 4 of Diamonds (The Beggar)
Temperament: Phlegmatic
Features: Blue, fake glasses, low self-esteem
Calliope’s ex and Lucy’s biological dad, but more of a friend/babysitter to both of them now. Does large art installations but has a tiny personality, except during magic season. Typical starving artist who only works to afford studio space and supplies. Calls Calliope “Mars” from her middle name, Marshmallow
Lalage & Barbara Cavendish-Rafferty
Age (Year 1-3): 59-61 & 62-64
Gender, Pronouns: F, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Blue/Brown & Brown/Black
Magical Status: None
Minor Arcana: 2 of Cups (Partnership)
Temperament: Sanguine & Choleric
Features: Cute couple, more kindness than business sense
Own and run the Black Orchid, but spending more time playing with their new grandson these days. Their son Harry minds the club four days a week.
Bill Clear-Water Levitt of Heron Clan
Age (Year 1-3): 37-39
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Brown, White
Magical Status: Innate
Minor Arcana: Jack of Diamonds (The Technician)
Temperament: Choleric
Features: Orange, reads magical notation, playfully unhelpful until there’s a real emergency
Sanaam’s favorite first mate, a legacy from the war like Sanaam’s favorite boat. Also functions as Maggie’s Boat Mom. Volunteered his skills and has very little military training or discipline. His attention to detail and technical ability are an asset. Always calls Sanaam ‘Cap.’
Pierre Savatier
Age (Year 1-3): 26-29
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Brown, White
Magical Status: Innate
Minor Arcana: 8 of Clubs (The Innovator)
Temperament: Sanguine
Features: Blue, short, tap shoes, thinks he’s funny
A dancer at the Black Orchid. Often paired with Cerise because they’re both very good and look cute together. They despise each other.
Lola Garafolo
Age (Year 1-3): 23-25
Gender, Pronouns: F, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Brown, Blonde
Magical Status: Learned
Minor Arcana: Jack of Diamonds (The Modifier)
Temperament: Sanguine
Features: Glass left eye, metal left arm, gloves for formal and casual wear
Met Ann at the Black Orchid’s bar. An ex-starcatcher, had an accident during the siege which ended her career. Now does metalwork and custom mods.
Otto Holtz
Age (Year 3): 30
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Brown, Brown
Magical Status: Learned
Minor Arcana: Two of Diamonds (The Handyman)
Temperament: Choleric
Features: Agile, slightly under four feet tall, surrounded by lights and electrical cords, refrains from strangling the “talent” solely due to a sincere love of horror fiction.
The Slaughterhouse’s new electrical guy, hired sometime after Ann’s performance and before Milo’s. Both acting and actor-averse, but happy to play around with anything technical.
In the Distance…
Euterpe Otis
Age (Year 1-3): 18-20
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Brown, Black
Magical Status: None
Minor Arcana: The Lunatic (The Moon)
Temperament: Sanguine
Features: Looks a lot like Calliope, but he has a hat
Calliope’s favourite little brother, considered the weird one in the family. Often a drifter with no real address. His middle name is Circus Peanut.
The Otis Family
Names: Steven (58/M), Rinswell (56/F), Thalia (33/F), Melpomene (33/M), Urania (31/F), Clio (29/F), Erato (27/M), Terpsicore (25/F), Polyhymnia(25/F), Calliope (23/F), Euterpe(20/M), and Hikaru “Raquel” Fujita (78/M)
Temperament: Single-minded, self-confident and weird
Features: Dark hair (except for Steven), interesting middle names (except for Raquel) and interesting jobs
One flew South, one flew West, and Euterpe flew over the cuckoo’s nest. Terpsichore is the Jack of Spades (The Scientist). Polyhymnia is the Jack of Hearts (The Humanist).
Jacinda Belmonte
Age (Year 1-3): 36-38
Gender, Pronouns: F, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Brown, Black
Magical Status: None
Minor Arcana: 7 of Clubs (Perseverance)
Temperament: Choleric
Features: Long dark hair worn in a coiled braid, large pistol
An enlisted soldier assigned to Sanaam’s boat during the war. Still sends a card on Yule.
In the Past…
Alba Weitz
Deceased: 1368, Age 19
Gender, Pronouns: F, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Grey, White
Magical Status: Innate
Major Arcana: The Driven (Justice)
Minor Arcana: 9 of Clubs (The Paladin)
Temperament: Choleric
Features: Pure white, sense of humor, bloodstained uniform with a single smear of gold paint.
Erik’s mother, died shortly after he was born. Called gods to help hold the wall during the siege, was quite good at it. Mordecai looked after her in particular, she asked him to take care of Erik.
Diane Desdoux
Deceased: 1371, Age 52
Gender, Pronouns: F, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Green, White
Magical Status: Innate
Major Arcana: The Monster (The High Priestess)
Minor Arcana: King of Hearts (Faith)
Temperament: Sanguine
Features: Blue, faith in humanity, Our First Colored Prime Minister
Stayed in San Rosille during the siege and volunteered to help hold the wall. Seems to have had a relationship with Mordecai.
David Valentine
Deceased: 1351, Age 49(?)
Gender, Pronouns: M, he/him
Eyes, Hair: Green, Black
Magical Status: Learned
Major Arcana: The Firebird (Death)
Minor Arcana: 3 of Spades (Endurance)
Temperament: Deeply Unstable
Features: Long hair, striped trousers, blown pupil in right eye
Hyacinth’s guardian. Saved her life when she was injured, then took her to live with him when her parents were displeased with the results. Not a particularly kind or stable personage, but a brilliant metalworker who taught Hyacinth his skill. Sometimes wore dresses, among other idiosyncrasies. Had a long and mutually destructive relationship with Barnaby, whom he called “Gray.” He called Hyacinth “Alice.”
Nina Pasternak
Lost: 1367, Age 34
Gender, Pronouns: F, she/her
Eyes, Hair: Brown, White
Magical Status: Innate
Minor Arcana: 5 of Hearts (The Road Not Taken)
Temperament: Sanguine
Features: Dark blue, knotted yellow bandana with red flowers, sense of humor, Screamin Jay Hawkins cylinders
Partnered with Hyacinth during the war and often called Auntie Enora to help. Maybe the only woman who ever really loved Hyacinth. Hyacinth deserted the army to get away from her.
Mordecai’s “Kids”
Lost: 1368
Names: Janice, Jim, Jimmy, Linda, Kurt, etc.
Temperament: Fun-loving and fatalistic
Features: Blue uniforms, low ranks
Young soldiers who went with Mordecai on supply runs during the siege. Undoubtedly all dead before age 27. Jim or Jimmy may have been Erik’s biological father. Jim and Janice died with Alba and Mordecai at the hotel.
Hyacinth’s Siege Family
Lost: 1371
Names: Gregory, Bill, Natasha, Babbette, etc.
Temperament: Determined and willing to help
Features: Hungry, sick and injured, dirty clothes
Gregory was colored and in a relationship with Bill. Natasha and Hyacinth fooled around, but nothing serious. Babbette was an old woman who helped take care of Erik and did not survive the siege. Those who did survive certainly can’t be blamed for fleeing the city and abandoning Hyacinth yet again.