Name\Title: Vladimir Moroz , The Count of Russia , Clocktower Teacher
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Short Bio/Synopsis: Ded Moroz, the man the Russians may know as 'Father Christmas.' Sometimes referred to as a demon, long before the word meant something sour. Something evil. He was a hero who fought Baba Yaga, healed the sick, and created a granddaughter from snow. That is the story, and the legend of the Moroz family.
The family lives in Veliky Ustyug, the homeplace of Ded Moroz. He was a wizard of the winter times, who would trek through the snow to bring gifts on the day of New Years. His legend is ingrained into Slavic folktales, and his descendents have followed suit. For some of them, they keep the tradition alive. Putting on a red suit, and traveling out into the cold winters. Placing gifts down chimneys, and leaving before they can be found. Some over the generations have even made claim to using their magic to keep the hag Baba Yaga trapped in her home. Performing the ritual required once a month.
But Vladimir, the latest in a long line of Moroz’s is an addict to the old ways. As if it’s an addiction, and he drinks from it regularly.
A member of the mage association, he was heralded as a genius at a young age. He proved his talents in early competitions, and married at the age of 23. If you looked at him from the outside you’d say he was an example of a perfect man. Loved, talented, and ingenious. Even teaching the next generation of mages. But, that is an outsider’s perspective.
His research though has become stale. He spent years trying to replicate the exact method in which a golem could be created to know and understand the concept of love. Much like the original version of Ded Moroz's Snegurochka. The girl made of snow who melted when she felt love. Despite his hard work, he has failed countless times to make progress. Because of this, he spends great deals of his time outside of teaching to chase any case that might allow him to follow through on his ambition. Long stays from school where students might have a substitute staying for a long period of time are not uncommon before he returns back to the Clocktower with minimal advancement.
Perhaps, that is why the Holy Grail sings out to him.
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Magecraft:
General Craft
The Basics of Magecraft. Vladimir has spent a great deal of time into understanding the fundamentals of magecraft. Understanding, and molding it to his will.
Snegurochka Craft
A variation of Familiar-craft, based around the myth of Sengurochka. The myth of Snegurochka is that of a maiden made of snow. Think Frosty the snowman with boobs. The story of Sengurochka is that of tragedy, and yet beautiful. A tale of a girl made of snow, who dies when she learns of love, and her warming heart dissolves her body. Under the guidance of Vladimir Moroz, this is the creation of a unique kind of familiar, closer to a golem. Closer to Volumen Hydrargyrum. This is the method of creating Sengurochka, a powerful mystic code that is rivaled by nearly none.
Part of the craft involves the use of his own DNA, and snow that has been gathered. Performing a ritual, he is able to create a kind of snow doll, that can transform it's body to act and react to attacks. In that regard, each doll is his own child. Though the dolls he creates are inferior to the one he inherited from his ancestor.
Familiar Craft
When not making power snowdolls, regular familiars have been designed. Using the basis of the snowdoll, he has constructed less snow-animals. Though he has other ways to do this.
Golem Craft
An advancement of the knowledge gathered through familiarcraft. It is the basis of the Snegurochka, and thus the basis of his greatest strength. It is the understanding of Golemcraft that allowed his ancestor Dez Moroz to create the original Snegurochka. It is possible for other golems to be made using other materials, but there is a clear preference for those of the Snegurochka.
Russian Alchemy
An alchemy that finds itself less in the making of precious metals, and more in the making of life. An alchemy more fundamental in creating homunculi, or poisonous cocktails than in turning coal to gold. Poisons, acids, things that kill. Liquids that preserve the body, or are designed to undo pain.
Demon Craft
Unique to Russia, but once upon a time, there was no negative connotations to attach to the word demon. To them, crafting a demon is the same as a golem, or a familiar. In truth, it is the making of a familiar into a demon that is the purist of Russian traditions. It is only the attributes of Christian faith that makes the demons crafted in Russia into something… Wrong.
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Mystic Codes:
- Magic Talisman: A unique kind of Talisman, designed to protect the wearer against magic. In particular, this talisman is meant to protect the wearer against Baba Yaga, the mythical witch of Russia. While not as powerful as the one wielded by Ded Moroz, it is just a bit stronger than a traditional talisman.
-Magic Wand: A Mystic Code used as a tool for performing magecraft, amplifying the user's magical energy to assist with spells and strengthen them. Filling it with magical energy allows for it to be utilized as a magic wand at any time to form magic circles and affect physical divine mysteries.
- Cloak of Grandfather Frost: The cloak that Vladimir Moroz wears at almost all times. This cloak is handed down to the head of the Moroz family line, and acts as a symbol of safe passage. Essentially marking the wearer as 'Traveling to bring joy' and protecting him from harm that might befall him. With this coat on, it also acts as a magical lockpick. Allowing the wearer to enter any building, locked or not. Because he just might be bringing presents. It's simple nature is mostly because it's a replica, and not the original. The original is safely stored in the Moroz family estate, where Vladimir brings it out only once a year to perform the ritual required of his family line.
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Misc/Other/Trivia:
- Vladimir's age is 42, he just doesn't look it.
- Russian Folklore is a major interest of his, and he would love to meet a real hero of Russia.
Special Boon:
- Snegurochka - The Snow Maiden
The original, if it can be called that. A doll of snow that is without a doubt, one made by Dez Moroz, but may not be the true original spoken of in stories. This snow girl has been passed from member to member of the Moroz family, and is considered without a doubt the most powerful doll of its kind. It can transform it’s limbs and body into razor sharp blades, that slice through stone and rock like a knife through butter. Or to move around like fine snow. This creation is one of the greatest mystic codes of the Moroz family, and some claim it was made using ice from the ice age. A mystery that makes it nigh invulnerable to anything but the strongest of fires.
In a way, it is comparable to the Volumen Hydrargyrum in possession of the Archibald line. The primary difference being the materials used, and the mystery attached to each. While Volumen Hydrargyrum requires a full usage of a mage's circuits, Snegurochka is a golem, and is already animated. A mage can activate more magical circuits to increase Snegurochka's performance, but is not a constant requirement.
