Gwendolyn

"The 'science' in 'science fiction' isn't just physics and engineering. It can also be linguistics, anthropology, and psychology." ~ Ann Leckie Biography Gwen is a midwestern girl from Cleveland, Ohio. A sturdy young woman forged by the mundanity that comes from being from "America's heart" and those brutal cold snaps from the Great Lakes, she has a toughness about her that belies her pale-skinned, red-haired exterior. Always a hungry mind, Gwen excelled in history and language arts from a young age. This earned her a grant in order to pursue her career of choice in anthropology. She was accepted to UCLA and made her way out west right out of high school, moving into a single-room apartment above a restaurant in Chinatown. This was an excellent opportunity to save money and immerse herself in Mandarin Chinese; a notoriously difficult language to learn. She's since moved on to Arabic and Russian. California was not initially kind to her, though. Just like many who come to state seeking their destiny, Gwen has been chewed up and spat out. Now, she is a post-grad student of Ethnobiology who is excelling at a rapid pace. She has found her footing, found her voice, and found a career path that motivates her ever onward. A forever-academic with one foot in the far past and one stepping toward a distant future. RP Hooks Anthropology - It's all connected. Polyglot - Too many languages and counting. Curious - Comes with the good and the bad. Archivist - Preserving what shan't be lost again. Curator - Come look at these cool things and learn. Lucerna ex Nihilo Cabal - Where There Is No Path, We Build One. {Expand/Collapse} Literally "A Lantern from Nothing", this cabal was not formed out of rebellion, but out of necessity. Its members come from different backgrounds, beliefs, and Traditions, yet they share a defining truth: they saw Los Angeles’ mages struggling and chose to act. Some members lacked mentors entirely, forced to navigate the mysteries of magic alone. Others had guidance but found themselves without clear purpose as those they trusted faltered. Many simply watched as the city’s magical community drifted apart, weakened by uncertainty and division. Rather than waiting for leadership to emerge, they built something new—a shared light in uncertain times, a reminder that no one has to walk this path alone. They believe leadership is not about rank, age, or tradition but about commitment, action, and the willingness to grow. The failures of the past were not always due to malice or incompetence—many fell short simply because they did not know how to move forward. Strength is not found in standing alone but in forging a path as a collective, where different perspectives sharpen and refine one another. Their members do not seek conformity but embrace their differences as a source of resilience, challenging each other to think, adapt, and evolve. Still, they acknowledge that directionless power is as dangerous as stagnation. Magic, like any force, requires purpose. Their goal is not to tear down the structures that came before them, but to reinforce what is strong, rebuild what has crumbled, and illuminate a path for those who feel lost. Some will resist change; some will question whether a new path is truly needed. The Lucerna cabal does not claim to have all the answers: only that they refuse to let the city’s mages fall into obscurity or isolation. The Traditions do not lack strength; they only need the will to move forward. ---CURRENT MEMBERS--- Gwendolyn - Mage - Etherite Julian - Mage - Hermetic Kurt - Companion Danil - Consor Dane - Mage - Euthanatos Viktor - Mage - Euthanatos Gizmo - Mage - Cult of Ecstasy Gallery Logs No logs found! Gwendolyn Allard Nature Survivor Demeanor Director Position Graduate Student Archivist/Curator Age Mid 20s Height 5'9" Hair Copper Eyes Brown Soundtrack Hy-Brasil My great grandmother was     a magic weaver Came across the water and     caught the fever Wondered if her mother could     hear her when She sang the words she     learned to say In the blue camhanaich all     shimmering still Dame Calluna, low Lady     of the Hills Cup of cold sun and a winterpill Send me back on my way Seven black rabbits of Hy-Brasil Twenty-one petals of daffodils Thirteenth note of the     blackcap trill I'll fly home today Connections Julian Allard Husband - Gwen met Julian during her senior year of undergrad. He was assigned to her as a tutor for her statistics class. As a Teacher's Assistant, Julian was foul-mouthed, dismissive, and so utterly full of himself that Gwen loathed him. But as they got to know each other, first impressions gave way for deeper understanding and eventually love. Now the two share an incredibly close and fulfilling relationship that has endured many trials. They are often seen together either bickering or canoodling or somewhere in between. Sophia Fairbrook Lost Idol - Sophia was every bit the role model Gwen needed. Powerful, confident, assured. She was patient and disciplined and a perfect leader for the Lodge. Gwendolyn was there the day Sophia was ousted, and while Gwen couldn't do anything then, she definitely can now. Though Sophia is gone, her memory and influence are not. No one will forget Sophia Fairbrook's name for as long as Gwendolyn lives. Kurt Althaus Protector - Gwen was one of the first people Kurt met when he came to LA from New Orleans. She considers this a fortunate crossing of fates because Kurt is a compelling man. His story is not hers to tell, but she's taken it upon herself to aide in his salvation. In return Kurt has promised to shield Gwen against the worst the city and beyond can throw at her. Or die trying. That promise, in particular, seems very easy for him to make.. Danil Igorov Блатной - Guarded. So incredibly guarded. Danil is the kind of man who looks older than he is and of whom you don't ask too many questions. So, of course, Gwen asked a few. Regardless, she is smart enough to avoid certain questions and instead leaves them as unspoken understanding. Danil is a strong, dour man, and Gwen refuses to judge him too harshly for what is below the surface. Sometimes life demands dirty hands. Dr. Solis Esteemed Colleague - Though he flits between LA and wherever his work takes him all over the world, Gwen has an adoring respect for Dr. Solis. He is fascinating with a unique and captivating view of the universe that reverberates with Gwen. They've shared deep conversations about everything from the cosmos to gut bacteria and all things in between. He comes and he goes, and he leaves behind an afterimage each time. Viktor Kozlov Peer - Unlike many Russians she has met, Viktor is a bit more outgoing. That's not saying much as he is still rather... well, Russian. Still, he and Gwen share as much in common as they differ. Both have an affinity for life as opposed to death, though it is clear that Viktor is frighteningly capable of the latter, as well. When Gwen called for others to help her take the fight on the offensive, Viktor joined her side. That will not be forgotten. Gizmo Bad Influence - They met in an alley in Hollywood. It's a long, crazy story. Somehow -- and Gwen is still unsure how -- she and Gizmo became friends. Which is surprising to her given how absolutely opposite they are of each other. An academic and an anarchist. They butt heads quite a bit yet have a lot in common, too. Now he's one of a chosen few who are very important to her. They are still polar opposites, but work quite well together. Mostly. NPCs Dr. David Maddox Statistics Professor - Gwen barely knows Dr. Maddox. He is a tenured professor at UCLA and... that's pretty much all she knows. The man is incredibly pragmatic and solitary, never speaking of himself or offering more in words than necessary. He is also incredibly intelligent. He works mathematics and probability like some kind of wizard. Sadly, that doesn't make his classes any easier. Lysander Evans Archivist - Lysander is a fidgety archivist at the Central Library. A very disheveled man who is constantly nervous, she's only ever seen him at the library. He must've sensed some kind of kinship with her because he's more willing to share with her all the mysterious records and knowledge he's attained. Most of it is occult or conspiracy in nature. Serge Markov Store Owner - Serge is a Russian man and, given his heavy accent, likely an expat from the Motherland. He runs the ``One Stop Deli`` corner store close to Gwen's apartment. His English is passable and his Mandarin is non-existent leaving Gwen to wonder what in the hell he's doing in Chinatown at all. She's fairly convinced he's tied up into something criminal, but she's never dared to ask. Quack