Timeless

Adventuring through twisted time.

Gypsies

HISTORY
"Of adventure, love, and fate untold,
These hidden fortunes did unfold,
Mirrored in a crystal ball,
And secretly woven in their shawls.
Transient and Untouchable is all I saw,
Amongst the people and their shawls,
I shook my head to see things straight,
With no clue it was getting so late.
And when the candle melted low,
Upon a branch there came a crow,
Whose shrill caw stirred a terrible fright,
That sent me fleeing into the night."

Born in a time of war, the first caravan banded together to escape the turmoil the war in India had caused.

Desperately seeking serenity or something like it, but being met with hatred instead. And so, out of that hate they gained their name. Gypsy.

It was meant to tear them down; Label them as lowlifes and thieves. Travelers set on gypping you out of everything, but these newly coined Gypsies turned that around. Determined to find peace, they left their home and instead tried becoming the peace themselves as well as they could be. It was in Rome they thought they’d found it. They settled in and started businesses like street markets, gondola owners and operators, and street performers. Of course, they still traveled. It was in their blood to. They did what they could to bring peace where they went, but hate seemed to always follow like it was its shadow.

From out that shadow, danger reared its vicious head. The ruse which convinced the Gypsies to settle in Rome had come to crescendo. The stage was set and the Shakespearean massacre of war had begun. And yet, somehow, one young woman rose from the ashes of this tragedy. A one, Serena Kelly-Rahotep. She fled with the children and elderly as leader to bring them to safety, but in doing so left her family, her husband, and her home behind to fend for themselves in order to buy them time to get away safely which didn’t sit well with her.

There are stories of old that traveled amongst the Gypsies. As whispers. As bedtime stories. As witch’s tales. All different, but holding one common thread; The power of the wind. It could and had supposedly given and taken lives. The way it changed the weather and blew people together. The way it waywardly watched and controlled people’s lives without them knowing. All Gypsies knew these tales. All Gypsies feared these tales.

“The Wind is brutal and unforgiving.”

“It’s wayward.”

“It’s wicked.”

“It can’t be controlled.”


This brave young woman was desperate. She was able to hear the wailing sounds of agony from her now burning home and though her people’s warnings of the wind swirled through her mind endlessly, she recalled one story that stood out from the rest. The story of how the wind fell in love with a dandelion. She smiled to herself as she recalled the desperate attempts of this so-called wayward wind to get close to the meadow dandelion without blowing it away. Its panic and fear. Its heartbrokenness over the inability to be close to the one thing it loved. Ultimately, she recalled its desperation.

She knew the wind understood and so she called to it by name.

Striking a deal on behalf of her people that they would forever be called The Winds if The Wind protected them forever. She opened her heart to The Wind so that it might feel the family pain. And so, The Wind agreed with conditions and the condition that Serena be the mother to The Winds people. She would forever ensure that peace and love would be their lifestyle. Not having any options, she agreed and so sudden as she did, everything stopped.

The Wind stepped into the battle and fighting immediately stopped. It separated everyone and kept them in place before blowing those away that fought it and weren’t Gypsies and forced those that were to not move. “Please be still!” Serena’s gentle and nervous voice rang through her people’s ears, explaining what she had done. She was fearful they would outcast her or worse except The Wind wouldn’t let them. In fact, The Wind kept them still, letting them down one by one when it knew they had accepted their new fate.

As time passed and the Gypsies got to know The Wind, it blessed them for doing so. It found them a home, a land they call Nowhere. A place that is always warm, bright and sunny. A place for their caravans to return to when they see fit. A safe haven that can only be entered if The Wind permits. It also gave them gifts, gifts of its own power. Allowing even the plainest Gypsy to be something more.

Many moons had passed and the Gypsy Kings and Queens with them with peace riding in the wake of the Gypsies' travels. However, one day a mysterious man not like them or any they had seen before, approached their king carrying a large odd chest with him. He was charming. Smooth talking. Allured the Gypsy king with promises of his darkest desires.

“A goddess's wings you say?!”

He scoffed, but just like that he was hooked. Envious. He wanted to be the King who possessed something so precious becoming lost in the thought of the clout and grandeur that would come for him. And so, the glorious and victorious tales of the Gypsies procuring the wings of a goddess whispered and carried in The Wind throughout his people and spread to others.

He jumped at this peculiar opportunity, never consulting Mama or her husband. Or anyone. Somehow it even slipped passed The Winds omnipresence. The king boasted to any who would listen, telling tales of how he had the wings of some foreign goddess from a far-off land. He told of how she came wanting to invade and how he fought her off; Suddenly defending the Gypsies and their land turned into the fight for his life in the process and the wings were his proof of victory. 'An assured safety', he told his people and the Gypsies having faith and trust in their king had no reason to not believe him.

And so, word spread of The Gypsies newest prize, reaching the Valkyrie and in turn starting a war between the two. Many moons passed and this feud between the Valkyrie and Gypsies grew deeper. The new age of Gypsies born were taught a hate for the Valkyrie, engraved in them so they could sew it into the next generation. It did not help that any Gypsy sent to Kattegate returned beheaded or never returned at all and when the wicked king’s life abruptly came to an end, the truth about the goddess Freya’s wings ended with him and only him.

For no one but him and Odin knew the Gypsies never had the wings.
ABILITIES
WIND-WALKING
Gypsies can air walk unless you're forsaken (explained in traits); It's kind of like floating through the sky more than it is flying.

ILLUSION/PERCEPTION CONTROL
The ability to make things appear out of thin air or distort what a person has seen. I.E a Gypsy takes something out of your hands and throws it into the nearby pound, but the next thing you know, the thing they took and threw is in their hand again. So did it really happen?

MORPHING
The ability to look like someone else for a time. Can't be used for malicious reasons like stealing or framing someone else, but to help you get away, travel in peace if wanted, and playfully mess with people. Can be used to run from the cops, enemies, etc.

A GYPSY'S GIFT
The ability to bless one non-Gypsy with whom you know and care for deeply with one of your powers of your choosing upon your death. This can only be done if your character is truly dead- no faking your own death, no false alarms. Please refer to Madeline Esperanza-Collette as a example for this gift.

SPECIAL ABILITY
Gypsies have the option of choosing one of the following special abilities. Note: Only a Royal can have them all but, then they must be Mama(Madame Serena) and Leander's child. (The Queen and King of the Gypsies) -
Dreamwalking - The ability to enter peoples' dreams and control them. They can share dreams and memories with others.
Wind control - Think of an Air Bender from Avatar. Just keep in mind the theme of peace. Self defense is all this can be used for. The moment you try and go rogue, is the moment you lose your powers.
HEIGHTENED SENSES - The ability to see, hear, feel, taste etc. at a higher capacity than humans. These are coupled with whatever heightened senses the gypsy has from being a dual species.
FORESIGHT - Only works at night, in the light of a full moon. The Wind can speak to you and tell you a little bit about what's to come for your own life, no one else.

THE FORSAKEN
They are still Gypsies, but just forsaken by the Wind. This is extremely rare and in those rare moments, a choice of selflessness. You lose all powers with a chance of redemption and if you're a royal you keep one of the special powers.
THE WIND - As a forsaken, you can't feel the wind, just see its effects. You see how and what it does for everyone around you but for you, it's just a reminder of how you're jaded. It's bittersweet and a blatant reminder of how you're an outcast among your people the Gypsies. Ex: Luna Pistorius is Forsaken. She sacrificed her Gypsy-wind blessing for her families life and safety from her then-husband and most of his pack. In turn, though a noble act, she lost everything. As a royal, she still maintains the ability of heightened senses. Her family fears her but try and get past what they know she's done and the wind angers her. To her, a gentle breeze is like a slap in the face.
STRENGTHS
CHARACTERISTICS OF DUAL SPECIES
Whatever other species a gypsy may be, will carry over its strengths.

THE WIND
Beside the ability it shares it also communes with its people. It can warn them. Playfully annoy them or completely pick them up and drag them to a strange new land or even time. It can even heal them if it chooses but it is rare. It is however up to individual Gypsy to mould their relationship with The Wind.

SPEED
With The Wind at their backs a Gypsy can move as fast as the wind. Though it is debatable on if they are faster than other species with enhanced speed.

SPECIES IDENTIFICATION
Being well-versed in the world and with other species Gypsies can identify what other species someone might be. Able to spot their telling feature(s) after some time.

SELF DEFENSE/MARTIAL ARTS
Being world travellers and always on the go they picked up and learned many forms of marital arts. Rocking them together through the years to make a completely unique mosh pit fighting style. So, though they are peaceful they can indeed protect themselves to maintain that peace.
WEAKNESSES
CHARACTERISTICS OF DUAL SPECIES
Whatever other species a gypsy may be, will carry over its weaknesses.

MORTALITY
At the heart of it unless the Gypsy is a Dual Species, they are simply just a gifted human. Therefore, they can die and be mortally and gravely wounded. They can’t heal themselves.

BAD REPUTATION
Due to their well-known stereotypes a Gypsy may have a hard time trying to interact, socialize and do business with the rest of the world. They are not well received by others because they are often labelled as thieves and street rats and often hunted down or attacked. Yet somehow, they still get people to show up at their carnivals.

VULNERABILITY
Because of their feud with the Valkyrie, Gypsies are susceptible to their Confusion and Soul Absorption. They are also susceptible to fae and mystic magic (as long as they are not illusions), a siren’s song, a Lupine's empathy, an eternal's affinity, a drake's fear gaze and breath, and a banshee’s scream. Gypsies are also susceptible to other species' abilities, depending on their dual species. See those specific Species Pages.
TRAITS
DUAL SPECIES
You can be another species and a Gypsy, you will just have extra abilities and a bit of different lifestyle than others who are also a lupine, sanguine, siren etc. However, you cannot be an eternal and a gypsy.

APPEARANCE
Because Gypsies can also be other supernatural species, their appearance would depend on those specific traits. With the land of Nowhere being a hot and oasis like their skin is sun kissed (Sanguine are safe in the sun only when in Nowhere). Their eyes slightly glow in the moonlight, like a fire flickering at night. The wind is always on them in some way. Flowing through their clothes with the faintest of movements. Dancing in their hair and letting it cascade back down against their back like a feather floating through the air. Their boots are permanently covered in dust from the playa of Nowhere.

CARAVANS
The Gypsies do not stay in Nowhere obviously. They travel in groups and though the people in the caravan may not be related to each other they are still a family. Every Gypsy is a family member to another.

PEACEFUL
Due to Gypsies being created out of war, they have taken a vow of peace with the wind and in turn, the wind blesses that Gypsy with powers. This doesn't mean you can't be a part of shady doings/dealings. Gypsies are quite often also Cartels, Mob, Underground Fighters/Fight club owners, Illegal goods trading, making and transportation, and much more. The keyword is shady and more often than not killing and violence (outside of the underground fighting) aren't necessary.

LEVEL-HEADED
Since the wind is always with them, they are unusually calm in various situations. Where most people would panic and lose control Gypsies are able to keep their wits about them and respond accordingly.

STEREOTYPES
Everyone has heard of Gypsies. Heard about their magic’s. Fortune telling and carnivals. The Gypsies use those stereotypes to their advantage. Setting up their caravans outside of various towns and “putting on a show" using The Winds given abilities to amaze the crowds and make a living. No none Gypsy realizing that it is not make but just smoke and mirrors and of course the wind.

MYSTERY/ALLURE
While everyone has secrets and a mystery to them, The Gypsies seem more intriguing than most others. Unlike other species they are allowed to flaunt their abilities under the guise of the stereotype mentioned above. This makes them enticing and captivating and dark. Even Gypsies have skeletons in their closet, they also just have the wind helping to hide those skeletons.

MADAME SERENA
Every Gypsy must know Mama Aka Madame Serena. If you are writing in the present, she is The Queen of the Gypsies.You may incorporate her into your story if you wish and write as her in those moments if you choose to. She is very gracious, wise and motherly, naturally. She is also, however, very blunt and stern. Finding the right balance isn't hard. (Please feel free to contact Luca or Spade if you need help with her) She is Timeless due to the agreement she made with The Wind and cannot be killed off. She has two FCs because both ladies don't have many gif options and look enough alike to pass as the same woman. They are Susan Sarandon and Helen McCrory. If ever you'd like to incorporate her husband Leander, his FC is Alexander Siddig.


COUNCIL INFO
name. Luca Rahotep
application. Link


CODEA Timeless Original Species ⓒ

© 2024   Created by Libelle "Onyx" Ryoko - Council.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service