Moonlight Magician
| The Moonlight Magician | ||||||||||
| Player: @Krescentwolf | ||||||||||
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| I am the Moonlight Magician, and the world is mine... | ||||||||||
| Biographical Data | ||||||||||
| Real Name: | Jezebelle Leonhardt | |||||||||
| Known Aliases: | "The Magician" | |||||||||
| Gender: | Female | |||||||||
| Species: | Human | |||||||||
| Ethnicity: | European | |||||||||
| Place of Birth: | Orleans, France | |||||||||
| Base of Operations: | Maintains bases around the world. Currently based in Millennium City. | |||||||||
| Relatives: | Parents: Janus and Helena Leonhardt (Deceased) Aunt & Uncle: Racheal & Jacob Leonhardt | |||||||||
| Characteristics | ||||||||||
| Age: | 24 | |||||||||
| Height: | 5'7 | |||||||||
| Weight: | 137 lbs. | |||||||||
| Eyes: | teal-green | |||||||||
| Hair: | black | |||||||||
| Complexion: | pale | |||||||||
| Physical Build: | Athletic | |||||||||
| Physical Features: | As the Magician:White Hair/Eyes | |||||||||
| Status | ||||||||||
| Fame: |
Legendary | |||||||||
| Alignment: |
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| Identity: | Secret, Suspected Association | |||||||||
| Years Active: | 30+ years (Keith) 5 years (Jezebelle) | |||||||||
| Citizenship: | Various European Countries | |||||||||
| Occupation: | Songstress | |||||||||
| Education: | Dual Masters in Art & Music History | |||||||||
| Marital Status: | none | |||||||||
| Known Powers and Abilities | ||||||||||
| Sorcery (Rank B), Formative Magic(Rank SS), All-Seeing Eye (Rank A) | ||||||||||
| Equipment and Paraphernalia | ||||||||||
| Melpomene's Mask, Game Deck, Tarot Deck | ||||||||||
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Reflexes |
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Regeneration |
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| Non-Physical Attributes | |||||||||
| Energy |
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Psionics |
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| Telepathy |
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| Sorcery |
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Technology |
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| Intelligence |
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Knowledge |
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Bravery |
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| MaekadaBox created by @Maekada | |||||||||
Contents
The Legendary Thief
History records many things about many people... But only rarely do figures appear who are so well known... so... prolific that they earn the title of legend. And in the Criminal Underworld, The Moonlight Magician is exactly that. A legend come to life.
Criminals rarely have what one might call 'lasting power.' Some might appear suddenly and leave their mark, all the while vanishing just as quickly. Some plot and scheme in the shadows, never truly there, but never truly gone either. But every so often there comes a figure who simply seems like they're 'always there.'
Appearing sporadically in the 1960's and rising to true fame in the 70's and on through the 80's, The Moonlight Magician was often described as a strange cross between 'Robin Hood' and 'Houdini.' However, towards the turn of the millennium, the Magician faded from the limelight.
When the United Nations had all but closed their files on him for good, a letter was delivered to their offices.
"It's been some time, but the show must go on."
At the end of the letter was a signature that caused many of the older UNTIL officers to drop their jaws in disbelief.
"Catch me if you can... -- The Moonlight Magician."
The First Generation
Keith Rennault, the original Moonlight Magician, spent nearly forty years wowing the world and frustrating law enforcement with one successful theft after another. Almost always sending an advance notice of where and when he would strike, the Magician was keen on turning his thefts into as public an event as humanly possible.
Several of his most notable heists have happened in broad daylight, and include audacious acts such as the theft (and subsequent return a day later) of the Mona Lisa, The theft of a Kings Crown from atop the kings head, and the 'return' of the Heart of the Sea, one of the worlds largest Sapphires that had gone missing during the Great War.
Styling himself in the manner of characters often seen in the slick & classy fiction of the early and mid-1900's, Keith utilized a vast array of trickery and mind games, and seemed to enjoy employing 'Stage Magic'-style illusions in his heists. He is sometimes referred to as a 'Real-world Arsene Lupin'... a reference to the fictitious Gentlemen thief created by French Author Maurice LeBlanc. It's an image he very much seemed to enjoy.
The Rennault Family
If Keith's image as a flagrant but skilled stage magician turned thief is his 'near-side' then his 'far-side' image holds the strangest fact of all. Keith is, in fact, a true mage capable of wielding arcane energies. This is something most average law enforcement officers do not know. Even the upper tier of UNTIL agents could only suspect that he was a true mage, as he skillfully weaved together general trickery, mind-games, Illusionist 'magic', and true 'magic' to form a nearly impenetrable barrier of confusion and mystery.
Born the scion of a famous but reclusive mage clan known as the Rennault family, Keith was considered a prodigal child practically from the first spell he ever uttered. He learned quickly, and adapted even faster, surpassing other mages in his relative age-group with ease. But, as is so often the case with magic, not all was as it seemed.
The Rennault family had long espoused the idea that true magic was something that should be kept from the world. They wished for a 'return to form' among Magi, that would have the worlds leading Magic communities return to the days where they remained hidden from the world. The phrase 'Magic is secrets and secrets are meant to be kept hidden.' was a phrase that was repeated over and over again during Keith's training as a mage.
However, for some reason, that phrase always seemed somehow... hollow to Keith. Perhaps he was simply more open minded than the rest of his reclusive family, or perhaps he was merely 'broken' in a way that could not easily be 'fixed.' The more he examined his family, the more the realization began to dawn to him.
His family had stopped -bothering- with being human. To them, magic and magical research was all that mattered. As he watched them shuffle down the ancient halls of their home, never once looking up from their notes and books, he realized something that would forever alter his outlook on life. His family was filled with people who were little more than corpses given motion. They were living, yes, but they did not seem 'alive.' And he had begun to realize that his family had taken to 'surviving' rather than 'living' in the metaphorical and philosophical sense.
Any objection to this status quo that Keith brought up was quickly derided as the foolishness of youth. And so, one night, Keith left his, what he called, 'haunted' house. And he never looked back. Having seen first hand how lifeless a life 'left unlived' was, Keith vowed to live his life to the fullest. It is here that the very core of the Moonlight Magician first began to take root. As he traveled through the world, he realized that even the common-folk were dangerously teetering over the ledge of merely 'surviving.'
He wanted to bring the awe of wonderment and the sheer joy of discovery to the world so that, in some small way, he could avoid seeing cases like his own family. But how? People throughout history had tried to do things very similar. Any attempt had been remedial at best... people still fell into the usual patterns of their days. 'Wake up, go to work, come home, eat, sleep. Rinse & Repeat.'
The Birth of the Magician
But Keith would bring his own spin to the idea. He'd always been a fan of the slick & classy figures seen so often in the fiction of the early 1900's. Figures like the dapper Sherlocke Holmes, or more to the point, the clever Arsene Lupin, were right up his alley. Giving the idea a little '50's spin' he donned a white suit, and slid on a white bowler hat. Sliding an Ace of Diamonds playing card into the band of his hat, The Moonlight Magician had been born.
Though his first few thefts might seem amateur in retrospect, he soon felt out his new purpose and his heists became increasingly audacious. He traveled the world, setting foot in nearly every country on the globe, and piling up theft cases in almost all of them. He brought together skilled people in the underworld who shared his idealistic views to help him make his 'stage-acts' even more audacious.
At the height of his career, with several -hundred- thefts to his name, he'd laid his hands on most of the worlds famous objects. From the Mona Lisa, to Durandal: The Sword of the King, to the worlds biggest Diamond... The list grew almost weekly. For the most part, these incredibly famous items were returned, however there are several cases of objects of lesser(though still incredible) value that he has kept.
Having vanished from the worlds view by the turn of the millennium, most law enforcement officers believe he finally retired. From beginning to end, however, he was never once caught and is, to this day, considered at large.
Use of True Magic
Keith is a skilled Mage, and excels at a variety of different types of magic. From elemental mastery to spirit summoning, he is every bit as skilled as any of the fore-front mages in the world. However, the thing that is truly of note, is his use of what is called 'Formative Magic.' Long derided by the magic community as a largely useless and wasteful magical art, 'Formative Magic' allows the user to create 'something from nothing.'
These 'constructs' can be anything from a kitchen knife to a mansion to strange otherworldly golems. However, typically speaking, these 'constructs' are heavily penalized. As they are born of the mind, an individual needs to know and understand just about everything there is to the object they make. The less they know, the more feeble the object they make is. All objects created through Formative Magic are temporary, and will eventually be dispelled. This is because Formative Magic breaks one of the basic rules of the world. 'Creation requires sacrifice.' The rules that bind reality together disallow such ideas as 'creating something from nothing.' The world will continually push 'pressure' on items created through Formative Magic, until they 'break' and vanish. In addition to these already hefty penalties, the average user of formative magic needs to use a great deal of magical energy in order to create something.
Keith, however, would unlock secrets of this particular art that none could have imagined. He realized that the basic core of this particular style of magic revolved around how humans 'defined' things. For example, a diamond was considered by most to be both incredibly valuable and amazingly durable. These were meanings 'given' to it by people.
Through this realization and use of catalysts that held such meanings... he could conjure feats through formative magic that most mages had thought impossible. He could, for example, create a nearly impregnable wall of diamond by channeling his formative magic through a diamond gem.
Relation to the Underworld
There is rarely 'honor among thieves' in the Underworld, however The Moonlight Magician is generally disliked by almost every organization there-in. This is because The Magician isn't afraid to target these organizations. He has, in fact, stolen from other thieves only to turn around and return the object to its original owner.
This morally 'grey' area that the Magician tends to walk in has given him considerable enmity in the Underworld. This is something that hasn't caused him to pause in the slightest. In fact, UNTIL agents following his tracks have, more than once, rounded up other criminal organizations as a result of their investigations.
The Second Generation
Towards the 1990's, The Moonlight Magician had been slowly fading from the limelight. This is mostly because Keith had grown older after nearly thirty years of thievery. Every once in a while, he made a grand appearance... but those were becoming rarer by the day. It was around this time, that he decided to steal The Lions Heart Ruby from its owners, The Leonhardt Family.
The Leonhardt's were an old noble family, with roots in just about every major European country. Making their fortunes from owning vast tracts of land, it has been said that the Leonhardt family owned more total land in Europe than some smaller countries. In their possession was an heirloom. A ruby with a fiery-orange core. This was the Lion's Heart that The Magician had made his target.
Unknown to Keith, however, intrigue was already afoot inside the Leonhardt mansion. The sister to the current head of the family, one Racheal Leonhardt, had designs on taking the family fortune for herself. Long before The Magicians advance notice had come to their doorstep, she'd been scheming to kill her brother and his wife, Janus and Helena Leonhardt, as well as their only child, Jezebelle.
When the announced hour had come for The Magician to make his appearance and take the Lions Heart Ruby, Racheal and her husband used the chance to kill Janus and Helena, right under the noses of the police. Although they'd missed a chance at Jezebelle, they were both sure that another chance would come... after all Jezebelle was merely a twelve year old girl. What they hadn't counted on, however, was how bright and observant a child Jezebelle truly was. For as long as she could remember, Jezebelle had -never- fully trusted her aunt and uncle. To her, their smiles never reached their eyes. Her observant nature saved her life that night, as she retreated to her room.
The Moonlight Magician, still fleeing the chaos of the theft and murders, put to use his incredible skill at disguises and masked himself as a butler of the house-hold. Ordered to bring Jezebelle some food her aunt had prepared, the masked Magician proceeded to the little girls room. But Jezebelle's observant nature, once again, won out. "It's poisoned..." She knew after only the first tiniest of sips.
"Indeed... It seems there are greater villains than I, in this house." Keith wasn't surprised that the small girl didn't even bat an eyelash when he pulled off his disguise. She'd already known he wasn't one of the butlers in her house. It took Keith but one glance at the bookshelf beside the girls bed to realize just how intelligent she was. The twelve year old girls bookshelves were lined with difficult mystery novels, including the likes of Sherlock Holmes and Arsene Lupin's adventures.
"I came for stone, and found a real gem..." He looked at her with kind eyes. An idealist at heart, Keith realized he couldn't in good conscience leave the small girl in this house that wanted to kill her. "I cannot give you back your parents, little one. I can, however, give you something else." He slowly moved over to the single large window in her room.
What could a thief give that she could possibly want?
Throwing open the window and standing in the sill, he stretched out a hand to her. "I can give you the world... and everything in it... Will you come with me?"
Struck with a palpable sense of awe at his figure bathed in moonlight, with his cape fluttering in the small breeze... Jezebelle realized, though she had a choice... she truly did not. She -could- stay here in this house filled with metaphorical monsters... But she'd likely not last the night. Even if she did... she'd have to dodge attempts at her life for who knows how long. Perhaps until they succeeded?
Either way, the small girl took the Magicians hand, and disappeared into the night with him.
Early Training
Keith realized from the onset that he'd found perhaps the most observant person he'd ever met. Those who followed him, however, had their doubts. Even a group of idealistic thieves paused at dragging a well bred little girl down into the underworld. In turn, Keith presented 'Belle' with a small safe. It was a safe of his own design, and one that even the best safe-cracker in his posse had been unable to open. The others scoffed. There was no way such a small girl could open what even they could not. Keith merely looked on quietly as Belle slowly ran her eyes over the metal box.
After a few quiet minutes, Belle released a pair of small, hidden, latches underneath the safe. This caused a part of the bottom to fall away, which in turn caused the two side walls of the safe to slide down. After that, Belle easily slid the top off and pulled the contents, a necklace, out of the box. "It only looks like a safe... it's actually a puzzle-box." Their group stunned into silence, Keith merely put the necklace around Belle's neck and told them of the girls situation. How her own kin had killed her parents... and tried to kill her.
Between her display of skill, and hearing of her situation, no one else in the group had any objections. From there, Jezebelle began training as she learned from the various members of The Magicians posse. And learn she did. Like a veritable sponge, she soaked up whatever knowledge they had to offer. Martial arts, safe cracking, moving about the underworld, infiltration, knowledge of objects and their value...
In a few years time she'd learned almost everything the group had to teach her, and she'd already started helping them out on their thefts. More than once, in fact, their enemies under-estimated the small girl the group had with them. And, like a clever hawk, Belle knew to hide her talons until just the right moment.
Training In True Magic
Keiths reputation among Mages was about the same as his reputation among criminals. Many magic-using organizations thought he was too brazen, too showy...and many had issued bounties for him. There were times, Belle noticed, that Keith would receive an injury that none of the other members knew how or when he attained it. They had long since realized that there was more to Keith than merely an average thief. But they chose to dig no further, because Keith did not seem to want them to.
But Belle's observant and inquisitive nature had to be sated. She followed him on a day he seemed particularly distant. And there, she witnessed something that would forever change her world. Magic. True Magic. Not merely the illusions of a stage performer, but rather the mystical and arcane arts that tore energy from the world and wielded them like a blade. She witnessed Keith dueling a mage who had come to make good on the bounty. Though he received an injury, Keith still managed to beat the other mage fairly handily.
It was here Belle revealed herself to Keith. Before even letting the girl speak, Keith merely smiled and answered the question that had yet to leave Belle's mouth. "You know well enough what you saw. The question is, can you accept it?" The response had been one even Keith hadn't expected. She'd asked him to teach her. She wanted to learn true magic. However, before accepting her as his student, Keith asked but one question:"What do you think is the true purpose of the Moonlight Magician?" If she was to truly become his apprentice, she had to understand what drove her master.
For some reason, the now teenage Jezebelle recalled the night she first met Keith. How she'd felt... overwhelmed at his presence standing there in the moonlight, offering her the entirety of the world... "Awe." It was only one word, but to Keith it meant everything. She understood. This incredibly intelligent and supremely observant girl understood his wish. Keith had found his 'heir.'
And, just like how she'd learned from those that followed Keith, Belle practically -soaked- up knowledge of the arcane arts. She quickly became fluent in all of Keiths best arts, and eventually took his mastery of Formative Magic for her own.
Curtain Call
It can be said that the cogs of fate turn every mans wheel of destiny. The job, like any of the hundreds of other Keith and those who followed him had done, was to steal a valuable statue on board a train passing through Hungary. What they hadn't known was who else was on that train, after that statue.
Tobias Rennault. Keith's father, who had long since extended his life through forbidden arcane arts, was on that train. The confrontation was inevitable. With him was a strange, silent, figure in a suit of armor. It took only one look from Belle to understand what that 'suit of armor' truly was... or rather... had once been.
Human. But human no more. Keith recognized it instantly. His brother, James, whom he'd left behind when he fled his home so long ago. But what had once been 'James' was 'James' no longer. It was an unthinking, unfeeling, magically fueled war machine. "The pinnacle of all the magical research that we, The Rennault Clan, have created." Tobias, the patriarch of the Rennault clan, boasted about it.
Belle felt sick. She felt sick because she understood what had been done to James. He'd been stripped of all rational thought... stripped of himself. And in place of his consciousness, a direct line to magical energy had been placed. She realize that the pain that would put on a human body would be unbearable... but the person in front of her had had his nerves removed. He felt no pain, and had no sense of self. Merely a supremely powerful puppet that moved at the whims of its puppeteer.
Jezebelle couldn't even begin to imagine what was going through her mentors head. But she didn't have time to ponder. The battle had begun. And it was a battle that would cost Keith, and those who followed him, dearly. A battle between mages is no place for regular people, no matter how skilled. Each of Jezebelle's friends... her surrogate 'family' were eventually cut down by the silent Knight.
As the battle raged on, only she and Keith were still alive to fight Tobias and the Knight. Eventually flung from the train out into the cold autumn night, Keith realized something. As he looked upon the monstrosity that had once been his brother, he realized... this was his curtain call. His final act. He slowly slipped off his iconic white bowler hat, and put it on Belle's head.
All she heard as she grasped onto the hat was "Sorry Belle. Shows over..." A bright flash of magical energy sent the girl into the air, and the world fell away as she plummeted down the nearby cliffs and into an ice cold river. The last thing she saw was a massive explosion of magical energy.
Interlude
Several days would pass, and Belle would awaken in a small house near the very river she'd fallen into. An old couple had pulled her from the river, miles from the spot she'd fallen from. They'd said she held on to the white bowler hat as though Death itself couldn't take it from her.
She eventually recovered enough to walk on her own. It was around this time, that her Aunt and Uncle, back in the Leonhardt Mansion had Jezebelle declared legally dead. She'd been missing for years now after all. The old couple, seeing the news of this event on television, realized who it was they'd saved. They scrambled to confirm it but, by the time they got to the bedroom where Jezebelle was supposed to be... she was gone. A note with a simple 'Thank you.' had been left on the table beside the bed.
She walked until she came to the spot where Keith had fought. Nothing but a crater and a few bits of metal armor remained. She couldn't confirm anything...but she knew. The last member of her 'family' was dead. All she could do was erect a small grave for him. For him and his brother James. She could tell the both of them were gone, just from looking at the former battlefield.
The cold autumn wind picked up, as Belle tried valiantly to stifle her tears. But, as it did so, the wind carried the white bowler hat off her head. She quickly retrieved it and, as she did so, she realized something. The hat had been something of a symbol for Keith. It was a part of what made 'The Moonlight Magician' who he was. And he had never given it to anyone. But he -had- given it to her.
It struck her then... what Keith's true message had been. He'd only said that the Show was over in front of his enemies to... protect her. The fact he'd given her his hat had been a symbol. He'd been passing on his true wish.
"The show... is only just getting started."
Opening Act
She fell back to an old safe-house that Keith had once told her about. And from there, with a renewed sense of purpose, she began to plan. She'd learned everything there was to know about 'The Moonlight Magician' and those who followed him. But in order to continue the fondest wish of her master, she'd require a great deal more than she had now. The slate had been wiped clean, in a sense.
It was time for her to reclaim all the things in this world that had been stolen from her. For her to be 'The Moonlight Magician' she realized she also needed to be 'Jezebelle Leonhardt.' She needed the stability of her family name and fortune. But reclaiming it from her treacherous Aunt & Uncle, who had only just recently declared her dead, would be tricky.
She went to the only contact of Keith's that she'd been able to find and asked for money. At first the contact, the owner of a particularly successful chain of nightclubs, scoffed at the idea. But Jezebelle grinned a grin that would give a whole new image to the Moonlight Magician. "I can get back what you lost. For a price."
The Club-owner widened his eyes. This girl knew. Somehow she knew. She knew that some evidence that threatened his entire 'empire' had ended up in the hands of his enemies. "You do that, and I'll give you double what you asked for."
"A deals a deal, then..." She looked off toward the club's stage, and saw an old man doing a magic act. "Let me borrow your changing room before I go." Not long after, a figure in a white top-hat and showy white clothing stood on the rooftop across from a 'store' owned by the club-owners rivals.
R.E.Emergence
Using the money she'd gained from the Club-Owner, she took a fake name and started up a business specializing in land analysis. From there, over the course of many months, she slowly approached her Aunt & Uncle. They were none-the-wiser. They hadn't seen Belle is almost decade. And even if they had, she had learned how to disguise herself from the best of the best.
Slowly, she earned Racheal and Jacob's trust, helping them to buy more land. And then, the opportunity she'd been waiting for knocked. Her aunt, Racheal, had asked her to start analyzing the land that the Leonhardt family owned, and see if it was sell-able.
All it took was a little bit of sabotage here, a fraudulent report there, and the right words whispered in the right ears, and one after another, the problems began piling up. The vast wealth that the Leonhardt family had in land was, as far as Racheal knew, spiraling the family into a debt so high as to drowned them.
But Belle couldn't play her hand just yet. She couldn't rush the act. She kept a friendly and sympathetic facade, further bolstering her trust in the eyes of her treacherous kin. On the surface, she was an upright and honest business-woman. But she was -still- The Moonlight Magician beneath. Soon, she had them exactly where she wanted them. And the clever hawk finally bared its talons.
With her aunt and uncle practically ruined financially, she started openly stripping them of one deed after another. Soon, she'd recovered almost the entirety of her family fortune, and left her aunt and uncle floundering in debt and dodging collectors. Racheal had finally recognized that this business-woman she'd been dealing with was a far cry from her 'friend.' Scowling at her, Racheal was forced to sign over the very last thing she owned, the Leonhardt Manor.
"There! Are you happy?! You witch! You've stolen everything I worked so hard to attain!" Racheal Leonhardt could only scowl. But her words caused the disguised Belle to pause.
"Worked hard? What would a vile rat like you know of hard work?" The venomous words from the usually professional business-woman had Racheal knocked back on her heels. The business woman turned and glared at her with unrestrained hostility. "You still don't recognize me... do you?" Belle pulled off her blonde wig, and reached into a pocket, taking out a golden brooch that was set with a fire-red ruby. Tossing the wig aside, she slowly attached the brooch that Keith had stolen so many years ago.
"Jeze...belle..." Racheal and her husband had all the color run from their faces.
"I've taken -back- everything you've stolen from me, Aunt... Uncle..." She closed her eyes for a single moment. "Everything that I can still -take- back, anyway." She walked passed them, as if dismissing them entirely. "I suggest you start running now. The police have re-opened the case of my parents death." There was steel in her words, like the edge of blade. "I've heard advances in technology have done -wonders- in solving cold cases..."
No sooner had they realized what she'd said, than the two of them started scrambling for the door, and then toward the gate that surrounded the mansion. They'd only just opened the gate when they found themselves surrounded by several police cars.
"Racheal Leonhardt... Jacob Leonhardt... You're both under arrest for the murder of Janus and Helena Leonhardt." Jezebelle heard the policeman yell out. But she paid it no mind. She slowly closed the gate and turned to look back at the Leonhardt mansion.
"I'm home... mother... father...Keith."
Show Time: The Legend Begins Again
It wasn't long there-after, that Jezebelle reclaimed her true name. She turned her (largely fraudulent) land analysis company into a proper charity, and took her place as the head of the Leonhardt family and its fortune. Strangely, any and all faults in the land that had caused Racheal and Jacob to spiral into debt, mysteriously vanished. Those who knew what had happened didn't bother to point it out.
However, it was also around this time that a mysterious message was delivered to the United Nations. With but two sentences Jezebelle had -everyone- at their headquarters scrambling. It was time for the -new- Moonlight Magician to make an appearance. It was time for her to strike awe and wonderment in the people around the world.
Millennium City
Though Keith had never bothered with hiding his true name, Jezebelle knew well that the Leonhardt heiress couldn't be overtly linked to the Moonlight Magician. She acquired a very special mask from an old antique dealer Keith had often dealt with. The Mask of Melpomene, named after the Greek Muse of Tragedy, is one of the best magical items when it comes to masking ones identity. Capable of literally changing features and colors on the face of its wearer, it also has a spell imbued into it that makes it hard for others to recall even those faked features.
She'd need it. After delivering her 'warning' to the United Nations, The new Moonlight Magician went on a 'world tour' of theft. One after another, a new age of law enforcement failed to stop her heists as this new phantom thief proved to be every bit as good as the old one, if not better. Along side this 'world-tour' of theft, Jezebelle made her debut as a songstress in concerts the world over, where she grew famous for her singing voice. Some time later would find Jezebelle buying a penthouse apartment in downtown Millennium City. She'd needed a new house in that general area anyway.
And the purchase of her new penthouse would come just in time for her to be invited to a concert held by the Champions own diva, Sapphire. Though the concert was later held to be a grand success, Defender would remember it for an all-together different reason. Without his noticing it, a note had been taped to his back. It was identical to a note later found taped on the front door of the UNTIL building.
"I've come to steal the hearts of Millennium City's people. Catch me if you can. -- The Moonlight Magician."
What would follow would be an endless stream of headaches for heroes and law enforcement alike, as the Moonlight Magician's world-renowned audacity would severely upset the balance of powers in the city. Sometimes she'd play the villain and target one of the city's wealthy elite, other times she'd delve into the shadows and target any one of the various seedy organizations that called the city home.
It didn't really matter to her. The objects she stole were never really the point. The art was in the execution. Staging 'thievery shows' that left the people awed and left the local heroes dumbfounded were the Magicians bread and butter. She was here to stay. At least until the heat grew too hot.
Rogues Gallery
--The Magic Bullet
Rodney Kernis, a.k.a 'The Magic Bullet' is an assassin specialized in hunting down and killing mages. Although a regular person in most regards, Rodney is trained in several different anti-magic techniques. He uses these skills to prey on Mages the world over. When he was just starting out, he was decisively defeated by Keith, and has since held a grudge against the Moonlight Magician. He wears the nickname 'The Magic Bullet' for his choice of arms, high-end rifles and guns, and also as a taunt toward his prey, magic users.
--Diablerie
Formerly a member of DEMON, Lisa Diaz made a deal with the devil. Literally. She took in a rogue Qliphothic entity and served as its anchor on earth. Able to channel the destructive powers of the creature, she became the villainesse 'Diableri.' She ended up crossing The Magician several times throughout her reckless and destructive search for magical artifacts.
--X-S Force
Jeff Rockwell, a.k.a X-S Force or rather 'Excess Force' for his -many- instances of such actions. Formerly a member of the MCPD, he was eventually fired after several of his cases were thrown out by judges due to his use of unnecessary force. He has a zero tolerance code when it comes to criminals and, after leaving the MCPD, suited up and became a vigilante out to strike down criminals. He views The Moonlight Magician as a flagrant and utterly arrogant criminal who flouts the fact that she commits crimes and has mercilessly pursued the thief since she came to Millennium City.
--The Spade Family
If the 'normal' criminal underworld has its Mafia, then the 'magical' criminal underworld has the 'Spade Family.' An old mage clan that has, in recent years, seen a massive resurgence, due in no small part to the criminal mastermind that is the head of the family. Baccarat Spade. The family consists of Baccarat, his daughter, 'Black' Maria, and her husband 'Black Jack', and their daughter 'Rummy'. Rummy is known to have a guardian that goes by the moniker 'Crazy Eight' who is ever at her side. The type to keep their fingers in almost every pie in existence, The Spade Family and the Moonlight Magician have come to blows -several- times in -several- places all over the world as they compete for artifacts both magical and mundane.
--Elysia
A creature from another dimension, Elysia is an agent of the the plane known as 'The Static World.' A plane of existence where nothing grows or changes, 'The Static World' is doomed to perpetuity, and its agents seek to convert other planes into mirrors of their own. The Rennault clan tapped into this dimension in order to fuel their magical war-machines. However, before they'd even realized it, the magic of 'The Static World' had infested and taken over them.
Inevitably caught in the fallout of her former masters differences with his family, The Moonlight Magician has fought several pitched battles against the Rennault family. In order to defeat her once and for all, they summoned Elysia from the Static World. What will become of their inevitable collision is yet to be seen.
Character Facts
--Food
While following Keith, Jezebelle traveled through Asia many times, and developed a taste for Asian cuisine. She is particularly fond of well made ramen.
--Music
Jezebelle is a lover of music. She has few actual preferences and manages to find some love for almost any kind of music. She learned to play both the violin and guitar and is known for her singing voice. Although her vast family wealth affords her the option of almost never having to work, she makes a living for herself as a songstress in addition to overseeing the lands that her family owns. She has released records ranging from hard rock to operatic to orchestral to jazz.
--Theatre
Jezebelle, perhaps showing her upper class roots, has an affinity for theatre. Though a great actor, having learned from Keith, she enjoys watching theatre, rather than partaking in it. She also has a fondness for theatrical masks, and has a large collection of them on display in her house. Ranging from modern masks, to antique greek theatre masks, to an assortment of other cultural theatre masks... her collection has been on display at museums on more than one occasion.
--The Mask of Melpomene
Although Jezebelle has black hair and a teal eye-color, the Moonlight Magician is known to have white hair and eyes.
This is caused by a certain magical item in Jezebelles possession, which is called 'The Mask of Melpomene.'
This mask,named after the Greek Muse of tragedy, vanishes from sight when worn and changes defining attributes of your appearance. It also has a spell cast on it that makes it difficult for other people to recall details about the wearers face.
--Game Deck/Tarot Deck
These decks of cards are Jezebelle's primary weapons. She still relies heavily on typical magic-caste spells however, when using Formative Magic, she uses first the Game deck, and later the Tarot Deck, as catalysts to create many wondrous miracles of magic. Incidentally, The Ace of Hearts, which she wears in her hat, is the second most powerful single card she has in the game deck, only falling behind the utterly unpredictable Joker card. The Ace of Hearts is capable of casting an illusion over a person or persons, and makes them see almost anything Jezebelle wishes. She rarely uses it, however, as she finds situations to be 'too easy' with its use.
--Sorcery (Rank B)
Rank B Sorcery showcases an in depth knowledge of the ways of the world and arcane energies. However, Jezebelle was unable to complete her training due to her masters untimely demise. As such, she doesn't have -full- mastery over general magic. Keith, being raised as the skilled first son of a famous family of mages, had ample access to materials and training, resulting in a Rank S level of his sorcery.
--All-Seeing Eye (Rank A)
The single most defining trait that Jezebelle possesses. 'All-Seeing Eyes' aren't actually eyes, but rather is a term mages use for people who have an almost supernatural sense of the world around them. It can be trained, to an extent, through highly rigorous martial or magical training. However, a person training to achieve an 'All-Seeing Eye' can only ever reach Rank-B in this skill. Rank-A 'All-Seeing Eyes' are only obtainable through being born with them. It is also one of a handful of skills that Mages recognize, that only goes up to Rank A. This is because anything beyond Rank A would move into the realm of pre-cognition, foresight, or divination.
Jezebelle's Rank A 'All-Seeing Eyes' allow her to almost completely understand, practically at a glance, the nature of an object, area, or even a person. She can, for example, see what looks like a safe, and recognize that it is, in fact, a puzzle-box. Other examples include seeing a room for an instant and recognizing the best areas to place an ambush...or reading the hidden worries of a person across from her. Or perhaps being able to tell at the first taste/smell/touch, if food is poisoned.
--Special Skill: Formative Magic (Rank SS)
Made possible by the synergy between this style of magic and Jezebelle's All-Seeing Eyes, Her skill in Formative Magic -far- exceeds even the level that Keith had managed with the art. If it can be said that Keith opened the doors to Formative Magic, then Jezebelle is the one who fully explored the room beyond that door. Her most powerful techniques, 'The World of Smoke & Mirrors' (Game Deck) and 'Journey of the Fool' (Tarot Deck) boarder on miracles that most average mages can't even imagine.
OOC Info
Keith is based almost entirely on the archetypal 'Gentleman Thief' a la Arsene Lupin. Jezebelle is, as well, based on this archetype, but with a twist. Female thieves in this kind of lore tend toward 'Cat Burglars.' However, this stereotype brings with it a particular set of images, such as the infamous 'cat suit' that I wanted to avoid with Jezebelle. She is, in a very real sense, a -female- 'gentleman thief.'
Theme of the Moonlight Magician:Nijuu Mensou No Musume - Kareinaru Nusumi No Theme
Keith's Themesong: Nijuu Mensou No Musume - Suriru no Kaze Wo Kitte
Jezebelle's Theme: Mirrors Edge - Still Alive
Nostalgic Scene Music: Valkyria Chronicles - Those Who Succeeded
'Curtain-Call' Scene Music: Wolf's Rain - Heaven's Not Enough
Jezebelle Thievery Scene Music: Cowboy Bebop - Cosmic Dare
Hard Fighting Scene Music:Crisis Core FF7 - Howl of the Gathered
Reversal/Jezebelle Counterattacks Scene Music: Fairy Tail - Theme of Erza
Jezebelle Using Ultimate Attack Scene Music: Fairy Tail - Theme of Mystogan
Also, all art found on this page can be found on my Deviant Art account. All the art is copywrited to Dan Ecklund/@Krescentwolf... so please don't copy :)
Homages
I've included several homages to several different gentleman thieves through out some of the media I've come across. Keith himself, as I said, is very much a homage to Arsene Lupin.
Jezebelle's story is heavily influenced by Nijuu Mensou no Musume, an anime starring Japans own super-thief, Nijuu Mensou (Twenty Faces)
Basic Design Inspiration for Jezebelles outfit is a homage toward Kaitou Kid, of Detective Conan fame. <3 dat tophat!
Also worth noting is that the latter part of Jezebelle's story takes a bit of inspiration from The Count of Monte-Cristo.
Tropes
To be added as I recognize em.
The Gentleman Thief- Uh... the whole thing? Keith very much. Subverted by Jezebelle.
Tuxedo & Martini - Keith again.
The Idealist - Keith... again...
Motifs - Kind of expected, but Mystery Novel, Illusionist, and Gambling Motifs ad nauseum
Pick a Card - One of Jezebelle's favorite one-liners. "Pick a card..."
Functional Magic - More for Jezebelle's story than her CO appearance.
Broken Masquerade - Jezebelle figuring out that magic exists... again more specific to her story than her CO appearance.
Figure it out yourself - Keith, on keeping magic a secret.
Big Fancy House - Jezebelle, definitely. Many of them.
By The Power of Grayskull! Jezebelle's ultimate techniques. Their names act as a trigger to make the the spell go boom.
Chekhovs Gun Jezebelle's Observant Nature(All-seeing eyes)
Dangerous Forbidden Technique The entire Rennault clan, sans Keith.
Eleventh Hour Superpower - 'World of Smoke & Mirrors' and 'Journey of the Fool'
Deadpan Snarker - The Moonlight Magician, VERY much so. It's kind of a tradition
