abraxas application.

OOC INFORMATION

Player Name: Jen
Are you over 18?: Yes
Contact: PM | aurajen
Other Characters in Game: N/A

IC INFORMATION

Character Name: Stephen Strange
Canon: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Canon Point: Post-Endgame
Background: HERE

Suitability:

By default of being a protagonist in the MCU, Stephen is a character with heroic tendencies which will guarantee he interacts with the metaplot on the whole. Whether through information gathering, magical studying, finding creative ways to solve small and large problems, protecting the people/world/reality as they know it, or gathering connections to strengthen all of the above, there is a no chance that he will remain idle and simply watch events pass him by.

Notably, plot hooks that will pique his interest the most revolve around magic, and unearthing the mysteries that surround the Singularity — and likely following that, how to parse the moral burden of what to do with it. But other interests will include getting himself into a position of at least middling influence, to better to give aid and push deciding factors in one direction or another. The title of Sorcerer Supreme may not count for much in this universe, but the responsibilities still exist and he still bears them with the same seriousness as before, just as he will act on them with the same persistence as he did on Earth. This time, he just has to find a way to navigate or keep his head above all the politicking.

Powers:

SORCERER SUPREME — Stephen is a very proficient magic-user in his canon, arguably the most powerful in his particular organization of sorcerers — and if not that, then definitely the quickest learner. If he applies himself, he picks up on new ideas or skills incredibly fast, bolstered by his photographic memory, intellect, and flexible ingenuity. Despite his initial inexperience, he rockets himself from student to Master in a short amount of time that’s basically unheard of. Yet even beyond the studious application of effort, Stephen has a gift for magic that supersedes sticking his nose into a book hours at a time — it’s stated with some befuddlement that he was simply born for the Mystic Arts, which is ultimately hard to argue against, given his natural mastery over the craft.

It is much easier to view Stephen’s magical repertoire as a Swiss army knife, applied to whatever the plot needs at any given time. Thus, it’s worth noting that the following spells are not all that Stephen is capable of, only what has been clearly displayed in canon. Additionally, with each appearance in the MCU, Stephen is shown to do more, or mix-and-match his talents with his trademark adaptability, which makes it difficult to cement his powers into a neat, unchanging list. I will do my best to adhere to what is reasonable, of course, and I’m always open to mod input; for now, however, here’s what is unquestioningly available to him:

ELDRITCH MAGIC MANIPULATION — Most of Stephen’s spells perform under the category of Eldritch magic, which is essentially an umbrella term to describe the aesthetic: light-based magic classified by a warm amber glow, plenty of sparks, intricate mandalas, fiery constructs, and specific hand gestures to cast — though this isn’t always the case, as only some or none at all may be present for any given spell.

PORTAL CREATION — With the use of a Sling Ring artifact, Stephen can create portals that can transport himself or others to different locations, whether in the present world or in other parts of the multiverse. This spell will be unavailable to him initially since he will not have his Sling Ring, but it’s worth noting, as he’ll likely try to recreate something similar given enough study. This would be subject to any and all game/plot restrictions. No portaling his way back home, etc.

LOCATOR SPELL — With an item of significance related to an individual, Stephen can create a spell to locate said individual. Can be used in-tandem with the portals mentioned above for easy travel to their location, too.

ELEMENTAL SPELLS — From the instantaneous conjuring of fire, to summoning a wind spell to clear a whole street of smoke and detritus, to opening a fissure in the earth, Stephen has shown the ability to manipulate the basic elements to small and large degrees both.

PROTECTIVE SPELLS — The ability to protect an item from outside intervention, “locking” it away from all but the spellcaster. Used in canon to keep the Eye of Agamotto impenetrable from enemies trying to steal the Time Stone out of it. There are also variations of protective spells that can be applied to a person, though these act more like shielding, and can be whittled away with enough force and effort. Think of it like invisible, magical armor.

WEAPON AND ENERGY CONJURATION — Stephen is able to conjure a variety of offensive and defensive spells. These mainly take the form of whips, bindings, large mandala-like shields, energy blasts, tendrils that erupt from the ground, etc. This is another “and the kitchen sink” ability, highly dependent on the fight/situation at hand, but mostly utilized in battle. The strength of these are just as variable, but they all share the same fiery look of Eldritch magic.

ENERGY TRANSFORMATION — The ability to change one form of pure energy into another; i.e. taking an enemy’s energy blast and turning into a swarm of harmless, magical-energy butterflies.

DISPELLING — Assuming he is sufficiently familiar with a conflicting, passive spell (such as wards, protective shields, etc.), Stephen is able to dispel them, negating their effect completely. (Obviously will not be applied to very plot-relevant things unless otherwise discussed.)

MIRROR DIMENSION MAGIC — The ability to access the mirror dimension, a parallel dimension in which those within may function without disturbing the real world. This allows for the clearance to practice dangerous spells or to fight enemies, though leaving it requires the use of a Sling Ring. A skilled sorcerer may also manipulate the world structure and architecture of the mirror dimension while in it, which can make for some very Escher-like landscapes. (Note: I’m fine with this not even being a thing in Abraxas, if the existence of another dimension altogether within the game setting is too overcomplicated.)

FLIGHT — What it says on the tin: the ability to fly! This originally required the Cloak of Levitation, so flight will remain unavailable to Stephen until he is able to find a spell suited to the job instead; this attempt is likely to happen, because being permanently grounded is really inconvenient.

DUPLICATION SPELL — Making one thing into many. This can apply to objects or people, in which the duplicates function similarly to the original — they are, however, intrinsically tied to it, and easily dispelled if the original is disrupted or incapacitated.

TRANSMUTATION — Turning one physical object into another, nigh instantaneously. Restricted to smaller objects (or a spontaneous wardrobe change) unless otherwise noted in a larger-scale plot with previous OOC discussion.

CONJURATION — Conjuring inanimate items into the present space, whether or not they had existed nearby or at all before. Will also be restricted to smaller objects unless otherwise noted in a larger-scale plot with previous OOC discussion.

ASTRAL PROJECTION — Stephen can separate his astral, spiritual form from his body, which allows him access to the Astral Dimension, another parallel dimension. Here, time is slowed down in the “real world” and an individual can affect the physical world through their actions. This leaves his body effectively unconscious, however, until he returns to it, and his spirit is still inexorably linked to his physical form. Lose one, and the other dies. (Note: Again, if the prospect of other dimensions in Abraxas is a no-go, then Stephen just existing as a spirit outside of his body works just as well.)

TELEPORTATION — The ability to teleport immediately from one place to another, though the implied restriction is that Stephen can only do this within a space he is intimately familiar with, and has some domain of magic over.

TELEKINESIS — Not with his mind, but with magic. The ability to move items around without touching them; helpful for pulling books off of high shelving.

PERSONALITY QUESTIONS

Describe an important event in your character's life and how it impacted them.

Though Stephen has experienced many salient events by his canon point, none were so affecting in overall scope, nor so strongly influenced the path he would tread in life, as the childhood tragedy of his sister’s death. Donna Strange drowned after suffering from cramps while swimming, and a young Stephen was unable to do anything to prevent it. The trauma from this event instilled in him a deep need to control—fate, destiny, death itself—and this eventually manifested into his pursuit of a medical career, to save lives and therefore circumvent death in ways he could not as a child. As such, the sudden passing of his sister was the foundation of other important attributes: the crux of his main character flaws early in his arc (a desire to control out of fear of failure), and the motivation leading to his eventual core identity as a doctor, which he still adheres to even as a sorcerer.

Does your character have a moral code, or other set of standards they try to live by?

Stephen’s moral compass had always been rooted in his decision to become a doctor, centered around the concept of helping people and saving lives. Though misled by his own hubris early in the narrative, this facet of his character was unchanging; Stephen never lost the propensity to care for people, further evidenced once he learns to shirk off his fear of losing control. However, with his personal growth comes a newfound flexibility, too. Once mortified of breaking his Hippocratic Oath, it’s Stephen’s inherent adaptability that allows him to view moral quandaries through more malleable lenses, willing to make sacrifices in order to save the most people, or for the sake of the greater good. Though this might paint him as utilitarian—and maybe to some degree, he is—his decisions are made with a great capacity to care: for his world and reality and the people living in it. He is willing to put himself in danger at the expense of his own well-being to help others, and generally prefers pacifism over blunt-force violence if given the choice.

Overall, Stephen’s role as protector is one he takes very seriously, even if that sometimes means making difficult decisions that are more far-reaching than what is obvious in the immediate moment, or realizing that not every solution to every problem is black-and-white and inflexible.

What quality or qualities do they admire most?

Stephen admires intelligence and creative-thinking, but moreover, he admires those who apply these traits towards aiding others. Having once lived a life of success wrought from his intellect and skill, but marred by arrogance and the single-minded pursuit of boosting his reputation, he knows the value of compassion that isn’t strangled by pride. As a doctor, he values empathy; as a sorcerer, he understands the delicate balance keeping the universe together and the life thrumming through it. None of these resonate with being self-serving, and he admires those who also see the value of the world and the people living in it.

Do they have a part of themselves they dislike?

Stephen dislikes his propensity to allow the fear of failure to guide his actions when he feels a lack of control. This was a major flaw of his for a while—manifested as his perfectionist, arrogant nature as a surgeon—and what drove him to seek a way to heal his hands through desperate means. Stephen’s fear of personal failure had defined him in unflattering ways that he came to regret in time. That said, this failing does not apply quite as readily anymore, given that he has recognized it in himself and has accepted that he cannot force the world to revolve around him. Even so, there are pieces of this trait still active in him, the part that drives him forward and lends to his stubborn nature. In circumstances that remain extreme, stressful, or world-shatteringly difficult, this fear is likely to still exist; the difference being that it no longer hinges on his own hubris, but a devotion to his responsibilities as Sorcerer Supreme.

What is their sign, and why?

While the Magician and the High Priestess are both apt choices for Stephen, I ultimately would like to go with Death because it encompasses an integral part of his personality: his endless persistence, ability to focus on the larger picture, and his diligence in finding creative solutions to difficult problems. Considering this is likely an attribute he will have to lean hard into in Abraxas, it's doubly fitting.

SAMPLES & ARRIVAL

Samples: TDM top level | TDM thread

Arrival Scenario: Thorne