Thomas Aildon

Name: Thomas Aildon
Gender: Male
Age: 30
Sexual Preference: Heterosexual, but open minded and/or voyeuristic
Conspiracy: Independent
Origin: Scion of Atlantis
Concept: Not As He Appears
Disciplines/Sciences/Knacks: Arcane Veil, Mental Domination, Phantasms

Physical Description: At just over 6’ tall and just under 190 lbs, Thomas is tall and fit, though not overwhelmingly so.  However, he carries himself with that full height and a regal bearing as though pulled by invisible strings reaching out from the Deep Ether.  His dark hair is always a bit windswept, even though he rarely ventures outside and though he does his best to tame it, slicking it back regularly, it rarely behaves.  Fortunately, he keeps it short enough that even when it acts up he looks well-kempt.  The same is true of his attire and he only wears the best tailored clothes, following a tradition he had set for himself without labels or tags, though he’s more than willing to give up the name of his tailor and cordwainer when asked.

His eyes are blue, ranging from sky bright to sea dark, something which may be a sign of his mood or just simply a trick of the light.  Regardless, they are knowing and observant, even when not looking directly at someone.  They are curious, as though he’s constantly trying to understand something only he can see, and considering, as though he’s pondering his next move.

Personality: Thomas is a firm believer in the freedom of the human spirit (or any other sort of spirit).  However, despite this staunch independent streak (the American in him he might say somewhat unconvincingly), he’s more than happy to support each of the Conspiracies in turn.  In fact, it could be argued that he’s a Unificationist in that regard, though he’d prefer deconstructionist (he’d really prefer reconstructionist, but it has too many unsavory connotations).  As such, he has a deep and personal interest in all the mysteries and welcomes anyone interested in sharing them, either overtly, or simply through the osmosis of their presence.  He also has a soft spot for the newly initiated, though he is equally disappointed in those that initiate the unprepared.

Often a watcher, he’s usually found in his booth at The Gold Room or seen as a shadowed form in the darkened window of the office above.  A bit like Gatsby?  A lot like Gatsby.  However, he is far more social, often mingling among his guests, inviting visitors to the club or simply making the rounds of the town (usually alone).  Socially, he enjoys music and dancing and rambling discussion of philosophy and artistic merit, but isn’t above participating in the heady strategy sessions, sharing dark whispers or developing dangerous plots.

Quite protective of the Secret Histories, he doesn’t take kindly to people who overtly show their hands to the outside world or as noted, those who purposefully or inadvertently initiate the unprepared.  He is far more gentle and supportive of those newly initiated, often seeking them out and bringing them in before working to find them an appropriate mentor, among the independents, or one of the Conspiracies when necessary.

History:  It’s sometimes said the greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.  If so, it could be said that Thomas’ greatest trick was persuading the world that he had always existed (Thomas, not the Devil).

No one could quite say exactly when he first arrived in New York City, though it’s generally believed it was shortly after The Great War.  A greater question was where he had come from.  No, not what country, he was almost certainly American, probably, maybe, it was hard to tell, but rather, which faction.  It was clear he had training and unbound knowledge, though no Conspiracy could claim to know him beyond how they knew him now, through The Gold Room and his interest in their various affairs.

“Maybe The Explorer’s Society?” someone would say.  After all, he was a strong proponent of Unification and deeply interested in uncovering the still hidden Secret History of the World, albeit from the comfort of his booth in the club, the private bar further back or the office above.

“But he commissions explorers from the Society, so clearly he’s probably not an Explorer himself,” someone might deduce and they wouldn’t be wrong.

“The All Seeing Eye then,” someone would guess.    After all, he had an interest in Atlantis, especially their golden artifacts, hence his association with the Society, as well as less scrupulous treasure hunters who frequented New York’s markets and back rooms.  Plus, one might suspect, he almost certain understood the Disciplines as well if not better than most.  The All Seeing Eye certainly seemed a fitting origin, the student or servant of some secret Archmage.

“Perhaps the Mafia?”  He certainly had no compunction against dealing with shadier side of society.

“What were we talking about?”  The questions about where he had come from usually ended in that fashion, forgotten for a time and when it was raised again, it would usually end up the same.

If asked directly, he wouldn’t say and was in fact quite skilled about dancing around the subject, diverting with charm, drink and when necessary, a small little mystical nudge.  Among the less easily persuaded, it became a game, a flirtation, tempting them with secret knowledge just out of their reach, but far closer than the Deep Ether or Hollow World.  Still, he knew it was only a matter of time before someone figured it out.  He just hoped he could prove the value of his efforts before they did.

It wasn’t quite clear where The Gold Room had come from either, though it carried with it the sense that it had been there a very long time.  Carved out of a ‘misplaced’ section of the Plaza Hotel, the nightclub included a stage, dance floor, seating, games of chance and one of the best appointed bars in the city.  It also had a suite of rooms set aside in the hotel, suitable for drunken slumber, clandestine meetings or romantic trysts.  Though no one might recall exactly when Thomas emerged from wherever he had been hiding or who had run The Gold Room prior to his arrival, most seemed to accept that someone had and a few older patrons even seemed to recall coming there even before the Plaza had been built in 1907.  Of course, those of a particularly strong mind might know that wasn’t entirely true, but most seemed willing to accept the lie.

The entrance to the club was not easily found by the uninitiated or uninvited.  In fact, it often required several visits before it could be found without help or luck.  Fortunately, there were plenty of strange things in the world, let alone New York, so all but the most pernicious historians were happy to let the matter of his origin and the club’s architecture go as just another mystery.  And besides, they made the best martinis in the city, so why mess with a good thing.

On top of that, sometimes the why was less important than the what.  Thomas seemed ready to support just about any reasonable cause, whether it was a grand adventure or a grimy construct and he quite frequently didn’t ask for any reward except the full story when it was done.

Family/Friends/Foes: Thomas views connection as currency and cultivates them, both actively and passively.  Actively, he seeks out the wild, wonderful and strange, often inviting them to visit The Gold Room with an enscrolled card that would help them find their way.  As a result, while not ‘friends’ per se, he’s connected enough to call upon or contact most of the various figures in any recognizable zip codes and a few unrecognizable ones as well.  However, his philosophies are in direct opposition to the ‘enemies of freedom’ and occasionally at odds with the Conspiracies.  He also suspects he’s not friends with the King of Lost Items and Stolen Dreams as he’s found better homes for one or two the King’s outcasts and come into conflict on one particular occasion with a rather dutiful and Raggedy Knight.  He’s had some friendly encounters with a member of The Sanguine Court, though hasn’t learned much of their secrets and hasn’t yet determined whether they can be trusted.  Similarly, he’s unsure as to his feelings towards the Petragon, a group he’s only recently discovered and doesn’t yet fully understand, but considers potentially important to his cause.  He has no family that he speaks of, though he has family and it’s only a matter of time before they find him and come calling.  The only question is what form that visit or call will take.

In Atlantean Garb