VASYL TOMETCHKO
"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
As the Soviet Union was crumbling to pieces, a young Ukrainian boy followed his father northeast towards St. Petersburg from Odessa. When the KGB was giving way to the FSB, a young Vasyl Tometchko was entering army service. He earned himself distinction in a rifle company, became an intelligence officer, and swiftly discovered himself wrapped up in a Labyrinth of the St. Petersburg Guardians of the Veil. His awakening on the Path to Arcadia was an unexpected surprise, and an asset soon became an ally.
For over 20 years, Vasyl served Russia in the vain hope that his homeland of Ukraine would benefit from the work he did. Under the Shadowname of Yaroslav the Wise he shepherded the formation of a new consilium as one of its first Councilors, and eventually abdicated his post to resume his work as a Susceptor. East of the Danube, he earned the sort of reputation Guardians rarely achieve; egalitarian, conscientious, and patient. The latter an even rarer trait among Acanthus.
But when the Russian army annexed the Crimea and backed right wing paramilitary separatists in Donbas and Donetsk, Vasyl's dual loyalties came into conflict. With the blessing of his Epopt, he traveled to Ukraine to-- officially --confront and contend with a pylon of Seers of the Throne who had been operating with impunity in the war torn region. With the help of his cadre, the Firebirds, he was able to dismantle the Pylon member by member. Much of the violence in the east of the country ceased, and his Epopt attempted to recall him.
But seeing the writing on the wall and realizing he had cast the dice, he fled west. Through Europe, from Consilium to Consilium, moving from cover to cover, masque to masque, until at last he stepped off a gangway in New York and caught the Amtrak to Philadelphia. Since his arrival he has been involved in a great many intrigues, supported both the consilium and the Assembly, but for the most part pursued his own peculiar devices in tracking down the Seers and confronting their activities.
Early in 2022, having helped to uncover a plot in the middle of the consilium's security apparatus, he renounced his membership to the Guardians of the Veil and the Consilium both, electing to join the Assembly as a Free Councilor of all things. While the move was unexpected to most, it has so far caused minimal political strife. There seems to be an air of 'he's your problem now' about the matter.
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. He has 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.
- Narced on his superiors in the Guardians of the Veil and then quit the consilium and the guardians both on the same day.
- Part of his change of order was ditching his russo-larping. He goes by Vasyl now.
ROLEPLAY HOOKS
- Refugee - Vasyl recently fled Ukraine for the United States. He is active in the Ukrainian expatriate community and can be found at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Ukrainian Sports Center up in Bucks County quite regularly.
- Intelligence Operative - Vasyl used to serve as a rather highly placed officer of the FSB at their offices in St. Petersburg, Russia. Then he quit. His later career was largely concerned with the administration of CENTRAL, the Guardian Labyrinth housed within St. Petersburg's FSB, but he was no stranger to fieldwork. Perhaps you were there that one time in Budapest, or remember the time things went sideways in Vienna, or helped him beat the clock that one time in Berlin.
- Fallen From Grace - Vasyl was well placed and well respected once upon a time. He was the Acanthus Councilor in St. Petersburg, and a Susceptor for the Guardian Caucus there. Whatever shreds of that former life he managed to rebuild here in Philadelphia he burned in fleeing to the Free Council. He's notorious at this point, demonstrably fickle, and possessed of questionable loyalties.
- Weapons - Vasya has a wide variety of firearms and explosives in his arsenal. If you need someone to get you a shiny new boomstick, he's a good one to ask. He's also a good one to ask if you need to take out a tank for whatever reason.
AWAKENED INFORMATION
- Long Term Nimbus - A tendency to discover loose change in unexpected places, particularly silver coins.
- Immediate Nimbus - Time stutters and warps around the Acanthus, making him seem to be undertaking dozens of actions at once with disorienting results. (-1 Wits, -1 Composure, -1 Resolve)
- Signature Nimbus - A coppery taste on the tongue, the zing of licking a battery, a whiff of cordite.
- Recognized Title - Third Degree Adept Pavlichenko, Guardian 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, Adept of Fate, Time, and Mind, Lorekeeper of the Firebirds
BURN NOTICE
On agreement with the Epopt, the total redaction of the Masques granted to Yaroslavl the Wise along with the times and memories related with such operation with voluntary verification and periodic monitoring for a period of one year will ensure Guardian protection of either the cessation of all counter-espionage against these masques, and the assumption of all duties and responsibilities formerly enjoyed by these masques. He will be permitted to walk away with nothing, so long as it stays that way.
CONTACTS
GALLERY
QUOTES
- "I love him more than breath and heartbeats, even if he doesn't understand why. He is home, and he always comes home." - Fox
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PROFILE
Many Names:
- Vasyl Andriyovich Tometchko (Василь Андрійович Тометчко)
- (Alternate Identity 3)
- Vasya (Вася)
- Pavlichenko (Павліченко)
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Apparent Age:
- Late 40s
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Venue:
- Mage
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Virtue & Vice:
- Tenacity & Nihilism
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Path:
- Acanthus
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Order:
- Free Council
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Legacy:
- Red Guards (Красная гвардия)
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Cadre:
- Firebirds (жар-птица)
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Position:
- Citizen Agent
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Faceclaim:
- Jude Law
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Player:
- DadHoc
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Public Effects:
- Consilium Status 1
- Free Council Status 2
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Soundtrack
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"The Fly", U2
- It's no secret that a conscience
- Can sometimes be a pest
- It's no secret that ambition
- Bites the nails of success
- Every artist is a cannibal
- Every poet is a thief
- All kill their inspiration
- And sing about their grief
"The Weatherman", Dead Sara
- His skin was soft as leather
- I'm the weatherman
- There's no one else worth the dedication
- I'm the weatherman
- 'Cause hey kid
- You got the heart without the ache
- Pretentious thieves
- Have you believe it's theirs to take
- Addicted to the love of ourselves
- I'm the weatherman
- And tell no one else
- I'm the weatherman
- So go for the kill
- 'Cause no one else cares
- Go for the kill, go for the kill
- Go for the kill, go for the kill
- Go for the kill, go for the kill
- Go for the kill, go for the kill
"Wish You Were Here", Pink Floyd
- So, so you think you can tell
- Heaven from hell?
- Blue skies from pain?
- Can you tell a green field
- From a cold steel rail?
- A smile from a veil?
- Do you think you can tell?
- Did they get you to trade
- Your heroes for ghosts?
- Hot ashes for trees?
- Hot air for a cool breeze?
- Cold comfort for change?
- Did you exchange
- A walk on part in the war
- For a lead role in a cage?
"Doubting Thomas", Nickel Creek
- What will be left when I've drawn my last breath
- Besides the folks I've met and those who know me
- Will I discover a soul saving love or
- Just the dirt above and below me?
- I'm a doubting Thomas
- I took a promise
- I do not feel safe
- O' me of little faith
- Sometimes I pray for a slap in the face
- Then I beg to be spared cause I'm a coward
- If there's a master of death I bet he's holding his breath
- Cause I show the blind and tell the deaf
- About his power
- I'm a doubting Thomas
- I can't keep my promises
- Cause I don't know what's safe
- O' me of little faith
- Can I be used to help others find truth
- When I'm scared that I'll find proof that it's a lie
- Can I be led down a trail dropping bread crumbs
- To prove I'm not ready to die
- Please give me time to decipher the signs
- Please forgive me for time that I've wasted
- I'm a doubting Thomas
- I'll take your promise
- Though I know nothing's safe
- O' me of little faith
- O' me of little faith
"Uncle Sam Goddamn", Brother Ali
- All must bow to the fat and lazy
- The fuck you, obey me, and why do they hate me?
- Only two generations away
- From the world's most despicable slavery trade
- Pioneered so many ways to degrade a human being
- That it can't be changed to this day
- Legacy so ingrained in the way that we think
- We no longer need chains to be slaves
- Lord it's a shameful display
- The overseers even got raped along the way
- 'Cause the children can't escape from the pain
- And they're born with the poisonous hatred in their veins
- Try and separate a man from his soul
- You only strengthen him, and lose your own
- But shoot that fucker if he walk near the throne
- Remind him that this is my home, now I'm gone
- Welcome to the United Snakes
- Land of the thief, home of the slave
- The grand imperial guard where the dollar is sacred, and power is God
- Welcome to the United Snakes
- Land of the thief, home of the slave
- The grand imperial guard where the dollar is sacred, and power is God
"Whispers & Ashes", Dead Sara
- Well it's my mistakes, that comfort me
- Mysteries leave the blind
- Guessing to explain
- While I'm safe from the wreckage
- My memory's torn
- On what is worth fighting for
- Then I'm safe from the wreckage
- I don't feel safe anymore
- Just floating above the earth, alone
- Whispers and ashes, behold
- Whispers and ashes
- Cry over your pretty lies
- Make them see a certain heat
- Can you see through me
- As dust just settles on
- Whispers and ashes
- I reach for the ceiling, to the sky above
- How am I still living
- Safe from the wreckage, I remember everything
- All the freedom to follow
- Stay faithful to me
- Keep your words kind, I will never forget
- I'll be just fine
"The Eye", Brandi Carlile
- I am a sturdy soul
- And there ain't no shame
- In lying down in the bed you made
- Can you fight the urge to run for another day
- You might make it further if you learn to stay
- I wrapped your love around me like a chain
- But I never was afraid that it would die
- You can dance in a hurricane
- But only if you're standing in the eye
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