Character: Howard

Once a physics major at Columbia University, he lived in a world of humans not knowing that there exists other Ethereals—fellow mages with like powers. He is innocently inducted into the notorious Brotherhood of the Melenovate, his young mind open and unresisting to their glamour and mental machinations. Yet, a few short months later, he ends up destroying the Brotherhood, nearly defeating its founder, the legendary Alacaster Camus.

Orphaned since birth, there are records of him under the name of Howard Lancaster, the twin brother to sister Hermia Lancaster, in connection to several foster homes. Little is known of his past. There are four foster homes associated with the twins, and all families decline to comment. Ultimately, he and his sister end up living with the de Salle’s, an affluent family in rural Vermont. He later adopts their surname.

Following the destruction of the Brotherhood and the disappearance of his sister, he drops out of Columbia University during the last term of his senior year, escaping to the city of Santa Rina, where he takes on the role of a police investigator. His motivation, as always, is unclear.

Yet, soon he finds himself waist-deep in the affairs of fellow Ethereals. The lesser known tabloids have features on him barely escaping the jaws of a suppressed golum gone berserk and being mesmerized off his guard by a changling faerie. Ultimately, he stumbles into Eva’s luxury studio apartment, investigating a case he’d believed to be merely a petty domestic fight—a simple affair amongst mere mortals.

He thus enters the full reality of the world of Ethereals. But, not without a bit of initial fear. His powers as a mage helps him manipulate the other beings. Moreover, the lessons in being discreet he learned from the Brotherhood helps him attain a low profile. No one would suspect him to be anything other than a mere human (albeit with a talent in telepathy).

He walks into the lair of the vampire, playing the role of the terrified fool. He walks out having created a liaison with one of the powers of the night with just a bit of psychic persuasion.

Fully acquainted with the power play of Santa Rina, he quickly ascends its hierarchy.

After promotion, he often walks the street with an army of police officers surrounding him. He apparently wishes to keep up the façade. Mages are, by definition, vain, and they would never hide their full power for the stake of their immense arrogance.

But, why doesn’t he want his identity known? What is he hiding? What is he up to?