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no_love_potionsOOC Information:
Name: Nick
Are you over 15? Way over
Contact: AIM at YamiKuja or Plurk at Dr_Nicksano.
IC Information:
Name: Harry Dresden
Canon: The Dresden Files
Age: 40
Preincarnation Species:Human
Preincarnation Appearance: Image. Very tall at around 6’9”, gangly with a lean runner’s build. He’s usually wearing a heavy, leather duster and often has a few days of stubble. Later in the series he has an ugly scar across his face from where a Native American demon had decided he didn’t need all that skin.
Any differences: Not much. No scars and a little less rough-looking.
Preincarnated History: Found here.
Reincarnated History: Harry grew up in a small country town as the oldest brother of the Lyre family. His childhood was relatively uneventful, doing his best to be a responsible older brother and keep his younger siblings out of trouble and, unlike a certain sister of his, he actually made grades good enough to get into college. So, after high school, the country boy headed off to the big city with plans to pursue a career in journalism.
Once again, his life in college remained pretty uneventful. His main focus was on his studies so he didn’t spend a great deal of time pursuing the party life, although he does have a story or two he’d rather keep under the rug. He worked hard, visited home to help out during his breaks and was soon on his way to achieving that goal. The most eventful part was meeting the woman he would marry and have a child with.
Things were looking up after graduation. Harry married out of university and quickly got a job with the city’s newspaper and within a few years, his daughter was born. Robyn Lyre. The next half decade would be the happiest of Harry’s life. Even though issues quickly began to crop up with Harry spending more and more time away from home covering stories and events around the country. But it was his life and his work was nearly as important to him as his family.
Then things changed. With conflict ramping up in the Middle East, papers around the country were looking for people willing to cover it and Harry took the job despite his wife’s vehement protests. Gone with no contact for weeks or months at a time, Harry saw and ended up involved in some terrible things. Bombings, shooting, combat. All these things took a toll on Harry Lyre and when it was over all he wanted to do was get home to his family.
Upon returning to the States, Harry was served with divorce papers. His wife, tired of the wedge being driven between them, had packed up and left. This was bad enough but got even worse around two years later when the two of them left for California.
The next few months were hard. The loss of his family on top of his warzone experiences left Harry in a massive downward spiral of depression and an uncharacteristic sort of self-destruction. Although his career had been successful enough to give him a decent amount of money to fall back on, he lost a lot over that time, and was in real danger of losing the career he’d worked so hard for.
Still, in the end it was his family that let him pick himself back up. Even if Robyn was far away, she still needed a father and he’d do his best to be that for her. For the next three years, he did his best to keep in touch. Never missed a birthday phone call or a gift, and never once faltered on paying to help support her.
So it continued for those few years, until Harry got a phone call that changed everything again. His ex-wife was headed off to Europe for work and she had decided it was better for Robyn to stay in the US instead of changing entire continents in the middle of high school and that she’d be heading back to Locke City to live with her father. Harry didn’t hesitate in agreeing and while he definitely has his issues with Robyn being forcibly relocated yet again, he’s determined to be a better and more present father than he was for the first part of her life.
Now, it’s just a question of readjusting. Especially when the Numbers come in to complicate matters.
First Echo: A Tier 2 Echo caused by his daughter, Robyn, being snatched by the mafia. Harry will remember receiving this phone conversation:
“They have our daughter.”
“What?”
“You heard me, Harry.”
The second part of the Echo is regaining part of the power Harry Dresden obtained to rescue his daughter. Specifically, he’ll find himself with moderate command over ice and cold thanks to the partial return of the Mantle of the Winter Knight.
If the Winter powers makes this too much then just the memory up above would be fine.
Preincarnation Personality: The first thing anybody will notice about Harry Dresden is that he’s an unapologetic smartass. Corny jokes, quips, one-liners, nobody from his closest friends to the highest and mightiest authority figure to the most terrifying nightmare creature is safe from Harry’s rapid-fire mouth. The latter two are especially a target and if Harry gets even a whiff of somebody holding power or authority over somebody else’s head it gets dialed up to eleven almost by instinct. He seems to make it his personal mission in life to knock people like that down a peg or a dozen. He definitely has no fear of mouthing off and will stand his ground against anybody, calling them a cutesy nickname and making fun of their wardrobe the whole way.
The next thing you might notice is stubbornness. Harry is rockheaded and stubborn as a mule and there is no deterring him once he sets his mind to something. This is a guy who takes an attempt to kill him as a positive sign that his investigation is going well. The more adversity you heap in his path, the more he digs his feet in and refuses to budge. Threats, blackmail, coercion, these things only encourage him to fight harder.
All of this comes from one primary factor that drives Harry Dresden: he wants to help people. Most people don’t even know that there really are things that go bump in the night, much less how to deal with them when they rear their ugly heads, and Harry has taken it upon himself to be the person people can turn to when they do. As one of the relatively small number of humans on the planet with the knowledge and power to stand up to the unimaginable and impossible he feels a tremendous responsibility to do just that. He never turns his back on somebody who needs his help and when innocent lives are on the line, he’ll fight to the bitter end.
Still, although he’s a good man at heart, Harry is not without his flaws. For one thing, the same bullheaded stubbornness that allows him to stand his ground and spit in the eye of Powers far beyond mortal ken makes him pigheaded and resistant to change and new ideas. He’s just as prone to making mistakes and misjudgements as anybody else and when he does, he often only learns it the hard way, if at all. By then, the damage has probably already been done.
There’s also a very dark side to his character as well. In Harry’s own mind, he’s not one of the good guys, he’s just on their side. His line of work brings him up against creatures and people with no mercy and no respect for human life and Harry sees no reason to offer it to them. He’s tortured an enemy for information, killed in cold blood, and condemned a ghoul to an agonizing death by fire ant stings. He’s a dirty, opportunistic fighter and has no problem using underhanded tactics to win in a fight. After all, in his experience when people talk about keeping a fight fair, they usually mean fair for them.
All of this means Harry keeps a strict hold on his impulses and a close eye on his own moral compass. He knows how easy it is to slide over to the dark side, and how the easier path is always the tempting one. His code is a simple one: it’s the “buts” that get you. “I know this is wrong, but…” or “I know there’s a better way, but….” These are the thoughts that Harry watches out for, and the ones that can get him to put a full stop on whatever he’s doing next.
But the core of Harry’s character, when all is said and done, is that he’s a hero. He’ll argue to his last breath against it but his actions prove it. He’s the one who stands up for the little guy, who gives the lost and hopeless a place to turn to. When things get strange, when what goes bump in the night flicks on the lights, when no one else can help you, give him a call.
He’s in the book.
Any differences: The biggest difference between the two, by far, is that Harry Lyre grew up with and has a real family. He never spent time in the system and never found himself dealing with the same loneliness his preincarnation did in his younger years. He still has the same sense of protectiveness and responsibility, but the source comes from a different place. He’s an oldest brother and a father now, not a lonely man seeking to shield others from the darkness that almost consumed him.
He’s also less hardened by a life not spent fighting a war with the forces of darkness. He’s seen war but never taken part in it, seen killing but never done it and that alone makes him a different person from his old self. This also brings along a slight more respect for legitimate authority, although he still hesitates very little when it comes to shooting down anybody who starts getting too big for their britches.
Abilities:
Oh, God….
Magic: Harry Dresden is a wizard and, thus, his primary ability is magic. In his universe, magic is the ultimate expression of human will. Manipulating the elements, altering reality, and making things happen through willpower and imagination. As such, the primary source of a wizard’s power comes from within, from their own emotions and force of will but the potential sources are nearly limitless. Power can be drawn from natural currents (volcanoes, storms, raging rivers, places of power, ley lines), willing and unwilling donors (supernatural beings, other magic users, sacrifices) and even holy and unholy sites. Even so, magic is taxing to use and often leaves the wielder both physically and mentally drained and using too much, too fast can lead to serious harm.
In terms of raw power, Harry Dresden is easily the strongest wizard of his generation and estimates himself to be among the top twenty or thirty wizards alive today. He can call up enough power to shake buildings to their foundations, split the earth and rain down fire and lightning as if they were his personal playthings but, as even he would be quick to point out, being able to call up a crap-ton of power is easy, the real trick to magic is in using it.
And that’s where the real power comes in. Dresden’s brand of magic is nearly limitless in application. Knowledge is power and a wizard with enough of it can do anything with enough preparation, time and energy. They’re a jack of all trades and no two wizards wield magic in quite the same way. In Harry’s case, though, the subtle side of magic doesn’t come easily and most of his work involves dumping a lot of energy into it and hoping for the best. Even so, he’s managed some impressive stuff and is quite skilled at crafting magical items, brewing potions and creating magical focuses.
To actually use magic, a caster needs to do two things: call up the needed power and craft a “construct.” A construct is what shapes and channels the power into the form the wizard wants it to take and can be entirely mental but usually consists of several things like words, objects and implements. This is why the typical image of a wizard is of someone calling out incantations and waving around a staff or a wand to use their power, all of these are parts of a construct. The more components to a construct, the easier it is to control energy in motion and using magic without one will lead to an uncontrolled and volatile explosion of power (hence Harry’s first Echo).
There are a few ways to cancel out or destroy magic as well. Fire, being a purifying force, will utterly destroy any magical workings and running water will “ground out” and wash away magical energy. Even casting spells over a body of water is difficult because of this grounding effect. In addition, different energy is available during night and day and a simple sunrise will undo most magical effects that aren’t bolstered against it because of its “renewing” properties.
The other big problem with magic is its negative effects on technology. Technology does not fare well in the presence of magic and just being around complicated technology like phones or computers can cause them to break down or malfunction in weird ways. The newer and more advanced the technology, the worse this “techbane” effect is. This is theorized to be a side effect of a wizard’s ability to directly influence the reality around them and it’s said that it’s gone on as long as new things were being invented. Go back long enough and you can find wizards causing simple oil lamps to fail just be being nearby.
There are many, many schools and subsets of magic but all of it can be divided into two basic schools: thaumaturgy and evocation.
Thaumaturgy is the complex ritual side of magic. Circles, chanting and objects are all staples of thaumaturgy magic. The witch speaking in rhyme over a bubbling cauldron, the old wizard waving gnarled hands over a crystal ball, the witch doctor sewing hair into a doll these are all examples of thaumaturgy. Thaumaturgy is slow and complicated but the effects are far-reaching and potentially endless.
To cast a spell via thaumaturgy requires a number of implements. Nearly anything can be used but the most important parts are an object used to contain the energies, typically a circle or something in a similar shape, and another object representing the target of the spell. The object is the most important part as it creates a link between the spell and the target. Personal or important objects work, as do True Names (the person’s full name, first, middle and last as spoken from their own lips) but the best is an actual “piece” of the person. Blood forges the absolute strongest link and a wizard in possession of a fresh, viable blood sample can wield nearly absolute power over somebody. Fresh blood is hard to come by though, and most wizards will make do with a person’s hair. The link is not as powerful but it’s much easier to get your hands on.
Harry’s talent in thaumaturgy mostly revolves around tracking and location spells. He’s good enough with them that he can cast one on the fly, using a thaumaturgical representation and a hastily made circle. Usually drawn with a marker in his pocket.
Evocation is the loud, explosive, flashy side of magic. Hurling fireballs, calling down lightning and calling up wind and raw force are all forms of evocation. Evocation is line-of-sight, point-and-shoot and requires no big ritual to perform. Still, it’s tough to control and can easily go awry. This is where implements like a wizard’s staff and wand come in. Evocation is usually done by pointing the chosen focus at an object, speaking a word (always one in a language that is not the wizard’s native tongue lest they start casting magic in every day speech) and unleashing the gathered power.
Evocation magic can be easily split into the elements of fire, earth, water, wind and force. Harry knows a trick or two from each element but specializes in fire, wind and force.
Fire is quick and explosive and hella useful in a fight, because nothing says you mean business like a fireball. It does have its more subtle uses though. With the right application fire magic can actually draw the heat out of water and other substances and create ice slicks.
Wind magic is control over air currents and the like. Gusts of wind as well as subtle manipulations are all possible, as is creating a vacuum around a target. Though again, Harry’s lack of fine manipulation means he tends to stick with the hurricane force winds with this element.
Force is manipulation of pure, kinetic energy. Blasts of cannonball-like force as well as manipulation of objects Jean Grey-style are all done with this element. Telekinesis is tricky though and you’d better be careful unless you want holes in all your walls.
Earth and water are a little out of his element but he knows a couple of tricks from the earth department anyway. Earth magic is heavy and ponderous and requires tremendous amounts of energy to use, but on top of flinging dirt and rock around it can be used to manipulate the forces of magnetism and even gravity.
Water is the force of entropy and erosion and is a little too subtle and complicated for Harry’s caveman-like brain. The only trick he knows with water is creating a big wave and smashing it on stuff.
The greatest danger of magic, however, is not how taxing it is or the potential fallout from lack of control. No, the greatest danger of magic is falling into the trap of black magic.
Magic comes from within and defines the person using it as much as they define it and bending it towards harmful spells can leave a definite mark on a wizard’s soul. Casting death curses, invading and twisting the mind of another, tampering with necromancy, all of these are examples of black magic. “The Black” is an insidious, addictive, corruptive force and using it even once can lead a wizard down the dark path. Power corrupts and magic is power itself, and even the best wizard struggles against the temptation of black magic.
The Sight: Known by a myriad of names like the Sight, the Mind’s Eye and so on. When opened the Sight allows Harry to see mystical energy in motion and gives him a peek at the spiritual side of the world. It can break through illusion, reveal spells and curses in place and gives a glimpse of a person’s true self at a glance. The Sight, however, is something that must be used sparingly. Anything Seen through it can never, ever be forgotten and time will never dull the memory. Everything seen through the Sight remains in one’s memory, as fresh and vivid ten years later as it is at the time and not everything Seen is pleasant to look at. Overusing the Sight has driven more than one wizard to madness.
Soulgaze Related the Sight, a soulgaze triggers when a full wizard makes prolonged eye contact with another human being. Exactly what it says on the tin, a soulgaze is a look at another person’s mortal soul. A mind and a soul are separate so it’s not a way to read thoughts, or hopes or dreams but there’s no better way to learn a person’s true nature and it’s a quick way to spot any serious mind-altering enchantments. Soulgazing is also a two-way street and not only does the wizard see the other person’s soul but vice versa as well. There’s no hiding and no secrets, everything about a person is revealed.
It is a one-shot deal though. Once a wizard has “Gazed” a person, they can never do it with that person ever again.
Soulfire: As close to “holy magic” as anything at his disposal, soulfire is a sort of magical reinforcement, adding a significant boost to the power of spells and even giving the ability to craft evocation spells into a shape. Harry’s first use of soulfire was crafting a simple force spell into a large, silver-blue hand that he controlled directly. The trouble is that soulfire is drawn from his very soul and can actually deplete it with unclear but doubtlessly dire consequences if it’s all used up. Fortunately, a soul can be regenerated over time and this regeneration can be accelerated by doing things that are “good for the soul,” spending time with friends and family, listening to positive music all gradually rebuild one’s supply of soulfire. Even so, magic cast with soulfire is decidedly more taxing than regular magic and should be used sparingly.
Mantle of the Winter Knight: Due to a number of circumstances, Harry Dresden found himself employed as the Knight of the Winter Court of Faerie, one of the most influential and powerful sources in the supernatural world. With this, Harry’s already impressive reserve of magical energy has been bolstered by Faerie Magic. The Winter Court is the destructive, predatory side of nature and this magic reflects that. Winter magic involves ice, cold and darkness and is almost universally lethal in nature. In addition, the Mantle makes him supernaturally strong, tough and fast and makes him all but immune to pain and fatigue. At his best, Harry can bench press upwards of 400 kilos, or in the neighborhood of 880 pounds.
It also comes with a few side effects and one serious drawback. Iron is highly toxic to creatures of Faerie and while it isn’t lethal to Harry, being pierced by iron or steel is extremely painful and effectively switches of all the benefits the Mantle offers him. It’s also a total barrier to Faerie magic and will break any spell cast with it.
Finally, on the mundane end of things, Harry is a skilled investigator with a sharp eye and mind. He’s good at ferreting out the truth. He also has some hand-to-hand combat skills, including staff fighting, and is an accomplished marksman with most small-arms with his gun of choice being a .45 revolver.
Implements!
Staff: A six foot oak staff carved with runes that Harry uses to focus and control more delicate evocations magic, such as moving things around or creating controlled air currents. Also a handy tool for beating stuff over the head.
Blasting Rod: A plain two-foot long length of wood. The blasting rod is a focus for the not-at-all subtle evocations. In other words: he points it at stuff and it goes kaboom. Usually used for his trademark ”Fuego” spell, it’s also been used to direct blasts of force and lightning bolts.
Shield Bracelet: A long of chain with several shield charms made from various metals. The shield bracelet is designed to focus defensive evocations. In other words, he uses it to create forcefields! Harry’s shields are pretty effective and can be shaped into a simple plain of force to a complete dome around himself and can block kinetic force and even heat and energy.
Force Rings: A set of five rings on each hand, each one composed of three strands of metal tightly woven together. These rings are enchanted so that each time Harry moves his arm they hold back and store a little bit of that kinetic force. On a mental command, they can then release all the stored up force in a direct blast of raw kinetic power. When fully charged, each ring contains three charges (one for each band of metal). A single charge from one band can blow a full-grown man across the street and unleashing all the charges from one hand at once blew a medium sized boat clear in half.
Silver Pentacle: A heirloom from his mother, a simple silver pentacle (five-pointed star in a circle) on a leather cord that Harry wears around his neck. The symbol is meant to represent the five elements bound by the circle of human will. Harry uses this pendant as a focus for thaumaturgical spells. It also has a red gem planted in the center that contains an encyclopedia of Ways through the Nevernever, the spiritual world connected to Harry’s Earth. By accessing this knowledge, Harry can effectively reach anywhere on the planet.
What kind of involvement would you like your character to have in Save the Earth?: Well, he's already Robyn's dad and I wouldn't mind seeing him trying to look after all the other kids running around. Otherwise, he's probably best off doing what he does in canon. Sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong and nearly getting it shot off on a regular basis.
Roleplay Sample - Third Person: Test Drive.
Roleplay Sample - Network:
[Text]
To Do List:
Look into getting some more info on this whole Numbered thing. See if you can’t offer to help some of them get their stories out. You owe them, Harry, and it’s the least you can do.
Clear out shelf space for Robyn’s rifle scythe. Thing.
What do you call that anyway? Scyifle? Rythe? Rithle? Getting sidetracked.
Buy a shed.
Check out the meaning of these numbers. 938724106. Related to Numbered?
Work in a trip to Burger King somewhere in there.
Buy socks. I think they’re on sale this week.
Mmm… Whopper.
Name: Nick
Are you over 15? Way over
Contact: AIM at YamiKuja or Plurk at Dr_Nicksano.
IC Information:
Name: Harry Dresden
Canon: The Dresden Files
Age: 40
Preincarnation Species:Human
Preincarnation Appearance: Image. Very tall at around 6’9”, gangly with a lean runner’s build. He’s usually wearing a heavy, leather duster and often has a few days of stubble. Later in the series he has an ugly scar across his face from where a Native American demon had decided he didn’t need all that skin.
Any differences: Not much. No scars and a little less rough-looking.
Preincarnated History: Found here.
Reincarnated History: Harry grew up in a small country town as the oldest brother of the Lyre family. His childhood was relatively uneventful, doing his best to be a responsible older brother and keep his younger siblings out of trouble and, unlike a certain sister of his, he actually made grades good enough to get into college. So, after high school, the country boy headed off to the big city with plans to pursue a career in journalism.
Once again, his life in college remained pretty uneventful. His main focus was on his studies so he didn’t spend a great deal of time pursuing the party life, although he does have a story or two he’d rather keep under the rug. He worked hard, visited home to help out during his breaks and was soon on his way to achieving that goal. The most eventful part was meeting the woman he would marry and have a child with.
Things were looking up after graduation. Harry married out of university and quickly got a job with the city’s newspaper and within a few years, his daughter was born. Robyn Lyre. The next half decade would be the happiest of Harry’s life. Even though issues quickly began to crop up with Harry spending more and more time away from home covering stories and events around the country. But it was his life and his work was nearly as important to him as his family.
Then things changed. With conflict ramping up in the Middle East, papers around the country were looking for people willing to cover it and Harry took the job despite his wife’s vehement protests. Gone with no contact for weeks or months at a time, Harry saw and ended up involved in some terrible things. Bombings, shooting, combat. All these things took a toll on Harry Lyre and when it was over all he wanted to do was get home to his family.
Upon returning to the States, Harry was served with divorce papers. His wife, tired of the wedge being driven between them, had packed up and left. This was bad enough but got even worse around two years later when the two of them left for California.
The next few months were hard. The loss of his family on top of his warzone experiences left Harry in a massive downward spiral of depression and an uncharacteristic sort of self-destruction. Although his career had been successful enough to give him a decent amount of money to fall back on, he lost a lot over that time, and was in real danger of losing the career he’d worked so hard for.
Still, in the end it was his family that let him pick himself back up. Even if Robyn was far away, she still needed a father and he’d do his best to be that for her. For the next three years, he did his best to keep in touch. Never missed a birthday phone call or a gift, and never once faltered on paying to help support her.
So it continued for those few years, until Harry got a phone call that changed everything again. His ex-wife was headed off to Europe for work and she had decided it was better for Robyn to stay in the US instead of changing entire continents in the middle of high school and that she’d be heading back to Locke City to live with her father. Harry didn’t hesitate in agreeing and while he definitely has his issues with Robyn being forcibly relocated yet again, he’s determined to be a better and more present father than he was for the first part of her life.
Now, it’s just a question of readjusting. Especially when the Numbers come in to complicate matters.
First Echo: A Tier 2 Echo caused by his daughter, Robyn, being snatched by the mafia. Harry will remember receiving this phone conversation:
“They have our daughter.”
“What?”
“You heard me, Harry.”
The second part of the Echo is regaining part of the power Harry Dresden obtained to rescue his daughter. Specifically, he’ll find himself with moderate command over ice and cold thanks to the partial return of the Mantle of the Winter Knight.
If the Winter powers makes this too much then just the memory up above would be fine.
Preincarnation Personality: The first thing anybody will notice about Harry Dresden is that he’s an unapologetic smartass. Corny jokes, quips, one-liners, nobody from his closest friends to the highest and mightiest authority figure to the most terrifying nightmare creature is safe from Harry’s rapid-fire mouth. The latter two are especially a target and if Harry gets even a whiff of somebody holding power or authority over somebody else’s head it gets dialed up to eleven almost by instinct. He seems to make it his personal mission in life to knock people like that down a peg or a dozen. He definitely has no fear of mouthing off and will stand his ground against anybody, calling them a cutesy nickname and making fun of their wardrobe the whole way.
The next thing you might notice is stubbornness. Harry is rockheaded and stubborn as a mule and there is no deterring him once he sets his mind to something. This is a guy who takes an attempt to kill him as a positive sign that his investigation is going well. The more adversity you heap in his path, the more he digs his feet in and refuses to budge. Threats, blackmail, coercion, these things only encourage him to fight harder.
All of this comes from one primary factor that drives Harry Dresden: he wants to help people. Most people don’t even know that there really are things that go bump in the night, much less how to deal with them when they rear their ugly heads, and Harry has taken it upon himself to be the person people can turn to when they do. As one of the relatively small number of humans on the planet with the knowledge and power to stand up to the unimaginable and impossible he feels a tremendous responsibility to do just that. He never turns his back on somebody who needs his help and when innocent lives are on the line, he’ll fight to the bitter end.
Still, although he’s a good man at heart, Harry is not without his flaws. For one thing, the same bullheaded stubbornness that allows him to stand his ground and spit in the eye of Powers far beyond mortal ken makes him pigheaded and resistant to change and new ideas. He’s just as prone to making mistakes and misjudgements as anybody else and when he does, he often only learns it the hard way, if at all. By then, the damage has probably already been done.
There’s also a very dark side to his character as well. In Harry’s own mind, he’s not one of the good guys, he’s just on their side. His line of work brings him up against creatures and people with no mercy and no respect for human life and Harry sees no reason to offer it to them. He’s tortured an enemy for information, killed in cold blood, and condemned a ghoul to an agonizing death by fire ant stings. He’s a dirty, opportunistic fighter and has no problem using underhanded tactics to win in a fight. After all, in his experience when people talk about keeping a fight fair, they usually mean fair for them.
All of this means Harry keeps a strict hold on his impulses and a close eye on his own moral compass. He knows how easy it is to slide over to the dark side, and how the easier path is always the tempting one. His code is a simple one: it’s the “buts” that get you. “I know this is wrong, but…” or “I know there’s a better way, but….” These are the thoughts that Harry watches out for, and the ones that can get him to put a full stop on whatever he’s doing next.
But the core of Harry’s character, when all is said and done, is that he’s a hero. He’ll argue to his last breath against it but his actions prove it. He’s the one who stands up for the little guy, who gives the lost and hopeless a place to turn to. When things get strange, when what goes bump in the night flicks on the lights, when no one else can help you, give him a call.
He’s in the book.
Any differences: The biggest difference between the two, by far, is that Harry Lyre grew up with and has a real family. He never spent time in the system and never found himself dealing with the same loneliness his preincarnation did in his younger years. He still has the same sense of protectiveness and responsibility, but the source comes from a different place. He’s an oldest brother and a father now, not a lonely man seeking to shield others from the darkness that almost consumed him.
He’s also less hardened by a life not spent fighting a war with the forces of darkness. He’s seen war but never taken part in it, seen killing but never done it and that alone makes him a different person from his old self. This also brings along a slight more respect for legitimate authority, although he still hesitates very little when it comes to shooting down anybody who starts getting too big for their britches.
Abilities:
Oh, God….
Magic: Harry Dresden is a wizard and, thus, his primary ability is magic. In his universe, magic is the ultimate expression of human will. Manipulating the elements, altering reality, and making things happen through willpower and imagination. As such, the primary source of a wizard’s power comes from within, from their own emotions and force of will but the potential sources are nearly limitless. Power can be drawn from natural currents (volcanoes, storms, raging rivers, places of power, ley lines), willing and unwilling donors (supernatural beings, other magic users, sacrifices) and even holy and unholy sites. Even so, magic is taxing to use and often leaves the wielder both physically and mentally drained and using too much, too fast can lead to serious harm.
In terms of raw power, Harry Dresden is easily the strongest wizard of his generation and estimates himself to be among the top twenty or thirty wizards alive today. He can call up enough power to shake buildings to their foundations, split the earth and rain down fire and lightning as if they were his personal playthings but, as even he would be quick to point out, being able to call up a crap-ton of power is easy, the real trick to magic is in using it.
And that’s where the real power comes in. Dresden’s brand of magic is nearly limitless in application. Knowledge is power and a wizard with enough of it can do anything with enough preparation, time and energy. They’re a jack of all trades and no two wizards wield magic in quite the same way. In Harry’s case, though, the subtle side of magic doesn’t come easily and most of his work involves dumping a lot of energy into it and hoping for the best. Even so, he’s managed some impressive stuff and is quite skilled at crafting magical items, brewing potions and creating magical focuses.
To actually use magic, a caster needs to do two things: call up the needed power and craft a “construct.” A construct is what shapes and channels the power into the form the wizard wants it to take and can be entirely mental but usually consists of several things like words, objects and implements. This is why the typical image of a wizard is of someone calling out incantations and waving around a staff or a wand to use their power, all of these are parts of a construct. The more components to a construct, the easier it is to control energy in motion and using magic without one will lead to an uncontrolled and volatile explosion of power (hence Harry’s first Echo).
There are a few ways to cancel out or destroy magic as well. Fire, being a purifying force, will utterly destroy any magical workings and running water will “ground out” and wash away magical energy. Even casting spells over a body of water is difficult because of this grounding effect. In addition, different energy is available during night and day and a simple sunrise will undo most magical effects that aren’t bolstered against it because of its “renewing” properties.
The other big problem with magic is its negative effects on technology. Technology does not fare well in the presence of magic and just being around complicated technology like phones or computers can cause them to break down or malfunction in weird ways. The newer and more advanced the technology, the worse this “techbane” effect is. This is theorized to be a side effect of a wizard’s ability to directly influence the reality around them and it’s said that it’s gone on as long as new things were being invented. Go back long enough and you can find wizards causing simple oil lamps to fail just be being nearby.
There are many, many schools and subsets of magic but all of it can be divided into two basic schools: thaumaturgy and evocation.
Thaumaturgy is the complex ritual side of magic. Circles, chanting and objects are all staples of thaumaturgy magic. The witch speaking in rhyme over a bubbling cauldron, the old wizard waving gnarled hands over a crystal ball, the witch doctor sewing hair into a doll these are all examples of thaumaturgy. Thaumaturgy is slow and complicated but the effects are far-reaching and potentially endless.
To cast a spell via thaumaturgy requires a number of implements. Nearly anything can be used but the most important parts are an object used to contain the energies, typically a circle or something in a similar shape, and another object representing the target of the spell. The object is the most important part as it creates a link between the spell and the target. Personal or important objects work, as do True Names (the person’s full name, first, middle and last as spoken from their own lips) but the best is an actual “piece” of the person. Blood forges the absolute strongest link and a wizard in possession of a fresh, viable blood sample can wield nearly absolute power over somebody. Fresh blood is hard to come by though, and most wizards will make do with a person’s hair. The link is not as powerful but it’s much easier to get your hands on.
Harry’s talent in thaumaturgy mostly revolves around tracking and location spells. He’s good enough with them that he can cast one on the fly, using a thaumaturgical representation and a hastily made circle. Usually drawn with a marker in his pocket.
Evocation is the loud, explosive, flashy side of magic. Hurling fireballs, calling down lightning and calling up wind and raw force are all forms of evocation. Evocation is line-of-sight, point-and-shoot and requires no big ritual to perform. Still, it’s tough to control and can easily go awry. This is where implements like a wizard’s staff and wand come in. Evocation is usually done by pointing the chosen focus at an object, speaking a word (always one in a language that is not the wizard’s native tongue lest they start casting magic in every day speech) and unleashing the gathered power.
Evocation magic can be easily split into the elements of fire, earth, water, wind and force. Harry knows a trick or two from each element but specializes in fire, wind and force.
Fire is quick and explosive and hella useful in a fight, because nothing says you mean business like a fireball. It does have its more subtle uses though. With the right application fire magic can actually draw the heat out of water and other substances and create ice slicks.
Wind magic is control over air currents and the like. Gusts of wind as well as subtle manipulations are all possible, as is creating a vacuum around a target. Though again, Harry’s lack of fine manipulation means he tends to stick with the hurricane force winds with this element.
Force is manipulation of pure, kinetic energy. Blasts of cannonball-like force as well as manipulation of objects Jean Grey-style are all done with this element. Telekinesis is tricky though and you’d better be careful unless you want holes in all your walls.
Earth and water are a little out of his element but he knows a couple of tricks from the earth department anyway. Earth magic is heavy and ponderous and requires tremendous amounts of energy to use, but on top of flinging dirt and rock around it can be used to manipulate the forces of magnetism and even gravity.
Water is the force of entropy and erosion and is a little too subtle and complicated for Harry’s caveman-like brain. The only trick he knows with water is creating a big wave and smashing it on stuff.
The greatest danger of magic, however, is not how taxing it is or the potential fallout from lack of control. No, the greatest danger of magic is falling into the trap of black magic.
Magic comes from within and defines the person using it as much as they define it and bending it towards harmful spells can leave a definite mark on a wizard’s soul. Casting death curses, invading and twisting the mind of another, tampering with necromancy, all of these are examples of black magic. “The Black” is an insidious, addictive, corruptive force and using it even once can lead a wizard down the dark path. Power corrupts and magic is power itself, and even the best wizard struggles against the temptation of black magic.
The Sight: Known by a myriad of names like the Sight, the Mind’s Eye and so on. When opened the Sight allows Harry to see mystical energy in motion and gives him a peek at the spiritual side of the world. It can break through illusion, reveal spells and curses in place and gives a glimpse of a person’s true self at a glance. The Sight, however, is something that must be used sparingly. Anything Seen through it can never, ever be forgotten and time will never dull the memory. Everything seen through the Sight remains in one’s memory, as fresh and vivid ten years later as it is at the time and not everything Seen is pleasant to look at. Overusing the Sight has driven more than one wizard to madness.
Soulgaze Related the Sight, a soulgaze triggers when a full wizard makes prolonged eye contact with another human being. Exactly what it says on the tin, a soulgaze is a look at another person’s mortal soul. A mind and a soul are separate so it’s not a way to read thoughts, or hopes or dreams but there’s no better way to learn a person’s true nature and it’s a quick way to spot any serious mind-altering enchantments. Soulgazing is also a two-way street and not only does the wizard see the other person’s soul but vice versa as well. There’s no hiding and no secrets, everything about a person is revealed.
It is a one-shot deal though. Once a wizard has “Gazed” a person, they can never do it with that person ever again.
Soulfire: As close to “holy magic” as anything at his disposal, soulfire is a sort of magical reinforcement, adding a significant boost to the power of spells and even giving the ability to craft evocation spells into a shape. Harry’s first use of soulfire was crafting a simple force spell into a large, silver-blue hand that he controlled directly. The trouble is that soulfire is drawn from his very soul and can actually deplete it with unclear but doubtlessly dire consequences if it’s all used up. Fortunately, a soul can be regenerated over time and this regeneration can be accelerated by doing things that are “good for the soul,” spending time with friends and family, listening to positive music all gradually rebuild one’s supply of soulfire. Even so, magic cast with soulfire is decidedly more taxing than regular magic and should be used sparingly.
Mantle of the Winter Knight: Due to a number of circumstances, Harry Dresden found himself employed as the Knight of the Winter Court of Faerie, one of the most influential and powerful sources in the supernatural world. With this, Harry’s already impressive reserve of magical energy has been bolstered by Faerie Magic. The Winter Court is the destructive, predatory side of nature and this magic reflects that. Winter magic involves ice, cold and darkness and is almost universally lethal in nature. In addition, the Mantle makes him supernaturally strong, tough and fast and makes him all but immune to pain and fatigue. At his best, Harry can bench press upwards of 400 kilos, or in the neighborhood of 880 pounds.
It also comes with a few side effects and one serious drawback. Iron is highly toxic to creatures of Faerie and while it isn’t lethal to Harry, being pierced by iron or steel is extremely painful and effectively switches of all the benefits the Mantle offers him. It’s also a total barrier to Faerie magic and will break any spell cast with it.
Finally, on the mundane end of things, Harry is a skilled investigator with a sharp eye and mind. He’s good at ferreting out the truth. He also has some hand-to-hand combat skills, including staff fighting, and is an accomplished marksman with most small-arms with his gun of choice being a .45 revolver.
Implements!
Staff: A six foot oak staff carved with runes that Harry uses to focus and control more delicate evocations magic, such as moving things around or creating controlled air currents. Also a handy tool for beating stuff over the head.
Blasting Rod: A plain two-foot long length of wood. The blasting rod is a focus for the not-at-all subtle evocations. In other words: he points it at stuff and it goes kaboom. Usually used for his trademark ”Fuego” spell, it’s also been used to direct blasts of force and lightning bolts.
Shield Bracelet: A long of chain with several shield charms made from various metals. The shield bracelet is designed to focus defensive evocations. In other words, he uses it to create forcefields! Harry’s shields are pretty effective and can be shaped into a simple plain of force to a complete dome around himself and can block kinetic force and even heat and energy.
Force Rings: A set of five rings on each hand, each one composed of three strands of metal tightly woven together. These rings are enchanted so that each time Harry moves his arm they hold back and store a little bit of that kinetic force. On a mental command, they can then release all the stored up force in a direct blast of raw kinetic power. When fully charged, each ring contains three charges (one for each band of metal). A single charge from one band can blow a full-grown man across the street and unleashing all the charges from one hand at once blew a medium sized boat clear in half.
Silver Pentacle: A heirloom from his mother, a simple silver pentacle (five-pointed star in a circle) on a leather cord that Harry wears around his neck. The symbol is meant to represent the five elements bound by the circle of human will. Harry uses this pendant as a focus for thaumaturgical spells. It also has a red gem planted in the center that contains an encyclopedia of Ways through the Nevernever, the spiritual world connected to Harry’s Earth. By accessing this knowledge, Harry can effectively reach anywhere on the planet.
What kind of involvement would you like your character to have in Save the Earth?: Well, he's already Robyn's dad and I wouldn't mind seeing him trying to look after all the other kids running around. Otherwise, he's probably best off doing what he does in canon. Sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong and nearly getting it shot off on a regular basis.
Roleplay Sample - Third Person: Test Drive.
Roleplay Sample - Network:
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To Do List:
Look into getting some more info on this whole Numbered thing. See if you can’t offer to help some of them get their stories out. You owe them, Harry, and it’s the least you can do.
Clear out shelf space for Robyn’s rifle scythe. Thing.
What do you call that anyway? Scyifle? Rythe? Rithle? Getting sidetracked.
Buy a shed.
Check out the meaning of these numbers. 938724106. Related to Numbered?
Work in a trip to Burger King somewhere in there.
Buy socks. I think they’re on sale this week.
Mmm… Whopper.
