"The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day." -- David Foster Wallace, "This is Water"
OVERVIEW
Oleksandra Vasylovna is starting over. Her old life was lived in service to something she couldn't believe in any longer. The things that happened to her before are certainly many and various, but they're also not something she's much interested in dwelling on too terribly much any longer. She does speak of her old life, and she does speak of her old thinking. But it's often done to counsel others not to think as she used to. Or to present someone around her with a new way of viewing the same old problems.
She came to the Children of the Tree as a refugee from war and the Guardians of the Veil, and it's a story she'll tell you freely and several people around know well enough to share, besides. But, again. It's not something she advertises per se, and it's not something that she evidences any pride in. Whatsoever. Not even in the leaving of it. Under the mentorship of Balm, she became one of the first non-indigenous Tears of the Martyr's Tree the world had ever seen. Which isn't special, she is quick to point out, and is genuinely bleeping sad.
These days she mills about the Lodge and the Assembly, or haunts the Tree, waylaying people at random for conversations most tend to find unexpected. She exhibits a profound gift for nonlinear thinking, and as a theory-crafter of Arcane praxis, she is perhaps one of the more highly developed minds in the Assembly. The number of times she has put a pin on a problem without ever casting a direct effect at it is, at this point, a matter of public record. She's good at solving problems, and she's good at doing it quietly.
Now, she's even good at sleeping at night afterwards.
As the Lorekeeper of the eurotrash Cadre, the Firebirds, she seems an odd choice. A bit touched in the head as many Acanthus get, clearly distracted by the thoughts in her head, and having obvious difficulty just relating to the world around her in some very fundamental ways anymore. But she knows where last years taxes are, apparently. She is married to Little Fox, and also spends a substantial amount of time being a small village in western Ukraine. Which isn't a joke. Lesja is often known by the name Myrne, commanding the spirit court of the village of the same name.
Rumors:
Brought the sleepwalker "Ray" Clearwater in from the cold.
Commanded the assault team which attacked the beshilu warrens in Centralia.
Brought a truly massive spirit of decay under his sway. When she had no Spirit magic to speak of.
Participated in the investigation and commanded the mission that brought the Scelestus Uvaush before the Interfector.
Redacted a Veil breach caused by a Seer impersonating the Interfector and apprehended the Seer in question.
Left the Guardians of the veil under circumstances becoming increasingly mum.
Apprehended the Seer operative "Squid" during the technical murder of Simon Dubois. (He got better.)
Aided a Lost ally of the Children of the Tree in battling off a squad of four Mark II APUs.
ROLEPLAY HOOKS
Ukraine - Lesja is member of the Ukrainian home guard. She talks of a past life leading men in Donbas and Luhansk back in 2014. She, her rifle, and her radio still patrol the river valley ridge of the Myrne valley. The only uniformed spotter between Odessya and the border with Moldova.
Former Spook - Lesja lived a life in the espionage business. Quite literally. Adolescence to middle age. Although she uses that knowledge for counter-espionage these days, it's entirely possible you ran into her during her time serving in Europe and abroad.
Fallen From Grace - There was a time Lesja sat at a council table and pronounced the Lex Magica's sentences. A long, long time ago. In a country that no longer exists, in any real sense. There was a time she was respected by the Guardians. There was a time she was a sentinel. For an Acanthus, there are many times. Now is the time she is a farmer and a shaman.
Weapons - Lesja has a wide variety of firearms and explosives in her arsenal. She no longer has quite the affection for them once she did, however. All they're good for is a cordial death.
Tikkun Olam, Motherfucker! - Lesja is almost preternaturally attuned to the world around her these days. Tiny spirits flock around her in twilight as though she were a haven, even when walking materialized in the fallen world. Rather like an introvert with a dog at the party, she will absolutely start chatting up your fetish axe before introducing herself to you.
AWAKENED INFORMATION
Long Term Nimbus - A tendency to discover loose change in unexpected places, particularly silver coins.
Immediate Nimbus - The caster appears briefly translucent, as the threads of all fate and time are visible tangled up within. The Acanthus seems to shimmer if not vibrate with the leashed potential it holds back. This sight comes with a sense of calm resolve, the ability if not the willingness to see things from another's point of view. (+2 Composure, +2 Empathy)
Signature Nimbus - A tingle as though from licking a battery, but quite gentle and more or less all over. Like you're being gently needled from within by potential seeking an escape.
Recognized Title - Fourth Degree Master Contact Four, Tear and Enchanter on the Path to Arcadia, Supernal Realm of Fate and Time, and abode of Fae, Scion of the Watchtower of the Lunargent Thorn, Master of Fate, Time, Spirit, and Mind, Lorekeeper of the Firebirds, Emissary of the Worldspark for the Children of the Tree of the free peoples of the Unnamed Nations.
Oontz Oontz
Oontz Oontz appears variously as a free floating ball of blue-white electric light which buzzes and crackles by means of speech, and a human person that identifies as a boy, appears rather effeminate, enjoys music, dancing, and playing electronics, and also completely failing to get on with other humans. Mostly.
Pupyat
Pupyat is a humble rescue mutt from the exclusion zone around Chernobyl. A gift from Mei, the pup is a fixture around the farm in Myrne. Sometimes he's seen around Philadelphia, but home is in a farm west of Odessya. He loves to play, eat, chew on things, and play.
Kevin
Kevin is a jerk. A little black goat that runs around head-butting Lesja in the ankles constantly until picked up and cooed and and pet and hugged and told nice things. Just the worst animal on the farm, really. Absolute prick.
