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PLAYER

NAME: Kai
AGE: 20+

CHARACTER

NAME: Magnus Bane
CANON: Shadowhunters (TV)
CANON-POINT: Season 2 Episode 10

DOSSIER

HISTORY: Shadowhunters Wikia

WHAT ARE YOUR CHARACTER'S STRENGTHS?:
Magnus, for all his talk of not opening up to people who will die long before him, is surprisingly dedicated to those closest to him. Because of his history of being confused and alone as a young Downworlder, rejected by his family at the age of nine, he has a habit of taking in people who are like him and in need of some guidance. Simon is one example as a recently turned vampire who is abandoned by his sire and refused help from the leader of the New York coven. Though Magnus doesn't know him very well personally, he agrees to help him even though that means turning on a former lover. He is also intensely loyal to Alec Lightwood, his mortal boyfriend, despite the rocky start to their relationship. Magnus was able to see how unhappy Alec was and worked hard to help him get to a point in his life where he was happier with who he was and how others treated him regardless of his sexuality. He also enjoys spoiling Alec with attention with both the time and efforts he puts into courting him.

This leads into one of his other strengths, an unexpected sense of duty as High Warlock of Brooklyn even though he markets himself as someone who only looks after himself and his financial interests. Magnus is very protective of other warlocks, giving them shelter or fighting to rescue them from dangerous situations. Despite disliking Shadowhunters and seeing no reason to work with them, Magnus allows himself to be pulled into the fray because he believes that he needs to help protect the Downworld from destruction. Arguably, this is due to a selfish desire to stay alive, but there are other examples of his sense of morality. When it's discovered that Camille, a former lover and long-term friend, has been breaking the law by turning humans into vampires unwillingly, Magnus aids in her capture and arrest. Despite his long history with her, memories of how she helped him in dark times, and lasting feelings for her, he still does what is right by turning her in.

Confidence is another strength that Magnus possesses in a wide range of areas. The first is that he has confidence in his abilities, knowing the strength of his magic and often flaunting it as a way to show off. Yet he doesn't trivialize it, using magic when fighting in necessary as well as being aware of the realistic limitations that he has. This makes him very practical about whether or not he is able to assist others with his magic, or in some cases whether he should in the first place. Secondly, he is confident in his bisexuality and doesn't allow others to look down on him because of it. This is one of the reasons he's able to realize the struggle that Alec has with his sexuality as well as help teach him to understand that there is nothing wrong with being gay.

WHAT ARE YOUR CHARACTER'S WEAKNESSES?: Though Magnus does have a history of taking care of his small found family, he has the tendency to distance himself from all others. Having lived centuries, he's experienced not only loss of those he allowed himself to be close to, but he's also seen a lot of the ugly parts of humanity, Shadowhunters, and Downworlders. Though he puts up the facade of feeling various surface emotions, most of them fleeting, he is largely jaded as well as callous to the point where it can be doubted if any of his feelings are genuine. He enjoys toying with others, flirting for momentary thrills, and otherwise distracting himself with hedonistic pastimes. He doesn't feel much compassion for people who end up in situations designed by their own stupidity, and he doesn't indulge others in unrealistic plans or fantasies because Magnus is surprisingly pragmatic, for all his decadent hobbies.

Another product of Magnus' long life and countless experiences is that he can be rather elitist at times. Magnus has a negative view of humans, or Mundanes, due to the fact that they have systematically feared and sought to destroy things that they don't understand, such as warlocks. This is outlined a little more clearly in the following section that outlines impactful events in his life. However, Mundanes aren't the only people who Magnus feels superior to. Shadowhunters are another race of people who Magnus dislikes, both because of their strict adherence to the unyielding and often unrealistic Law that guides their society and, ironically, because of their own elitist beliefs that Shadowhunters are superior to all Downworlders. There's an interesting play within Magnus between feeling elite because he is a warlock, and also some darker feelings due to his demon ancestry.

However, once Magnus does allow someone to get close to him, they can be considered a weakness as well. He operates on two extreme ends of the spectrum, either uninterested in helping those he is unattached to or willing to risk his safety for those he loves. The best example of this is Alec Lightwood, a Shadowhunter who Magnus is unexpectedly attracted to and starts a relationship with. Because of his interest in Alec, Magnus allows himself to be draw into dangerous situations that he would otherwise steer clear of due to his preference for remaining uninvolved with the politics and power struggles between Shadowhunters.

WHAT EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES IN YOUR CHARACTER'S PAST HAVE IMPACTED THEM THE MOST?:
Being more than four centuries old, this is a big and difficult question to answer. One of the earliest events that impacted Magnus was the discovery of being a warlock. When Magnus was nine, he developed his warlock mark in the form of cat eyes. His mother realized that she had given birth to the son of a demon and took her own life. This affected him deeply, making him struggle with forming bonds with anyone who didn't know what it was like to be a Downworlder and how that meant being despised by others. It is also one of the reasons he cares so deeply for his found family of other Downworlders who have felt lost and rejected in the past. This event offers a hint into the play between Magnus' pride of being a warlock who is both powerful and experienced, but despised by most of the world and thought to be inferior by Shadowhunters.

Another important part of his life, more of a circumstance rather than a single event, is his immortality. This has affected him and his lifestyle greatly, not only because it has allowed him to learn much and gain both power and influence. Magnus has seen the births and deaths, not just of people but of cultures and civilizations and philosophies. This makes it increasingly difficult for him to open himself up to new people in his life because he knows that, ultimately, they will leave him. His biggest past relationship was with Camille, a vampire and fellow immortal who was in so many ways safe for Magnus to fall in love with because they shared eternal life. However, the relationship didn't last and for nearly a century, Magnus chose to close himself off to anything that might hurt him again. Though he happily indulges in sexual escapades, he hasn't been known to allow himself to fall in love often due to his immortality.

Keeping this jaded, cold mentality in mind, one of the most critical events in Magnus' life was meeting Alec Lightwood. Due to the attraction he felt between them, possibly just physical at first, Magnus agreed to help some Shadowhunters though he originally had no desire to do so. This dragged him deeper into their world and fight against various evil forces, allowing him to get closer to Alec as he'd hoped from the first meeting. The more he flirted, and the more mixed signals that Alec gave him, the more Magnus realized there was something more to his attraction than just lust. He became invested in Alec's life, the way his mother constantly criticised him despite efforts to gain her approval as well as the fact that Alec was denying his homosexuality. Magnus, quite comfortably bisexual with a reputation for flaunting it and his hedonistic tendencies, encouraged Alec to stop denying that part of himself and learn to allow himself to be happy with someone he loved, not just a convenience of politics for his family.

Similarly, another moment he shared with Alec can be considered momentous to Magnus' recent life. During an attack on the Shadowhunter headquarters in New York, Alec was trapped inside without any help at hand. Magnus was willing to risk his life to save him, something out of character for an immortal who both feared death and disliked becoming involved in Shadowhunter affairs. Yet Magnus put himself in danger to help, though he was separated from Alec and neither of them knew if the other escaped alive. After the incident, they confessed their love to each other, something very rare for Magnus who, on multiple occasions, insisted that he didn't fall in love often or nearly at all in over a century.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOUR CHARACTER?:
Magnus is oddly motivated by his selfishness, though this can be both positive and negative. Day to day, he follows his passions and has no trouble pursuing the things he desires. Despite his dislike of most people, he is willing to do almost anything for the right price which can range from money to things or people he deems valuable. However, because he can also be motivated by a sense of self-preservation, Magnus will avoid dangerous transactions or conflicts. This is seen especially early on when he is unwilling to risk himself, or the safety of the other warlocks looking for protection, when asked to aid the Shadowhunters. As time progresses, his motivation shifts from a desire to avoid danger to a desire to eliminate danger to keep himself and others safe. This is partially inspired by Alec, but also Magnus' growing relationship with the other Shadowhunters fighting for the safety of the Downworld.

WHAT IMPRESSION DO OTHERS TEND TO HAVE OF YOUR CHARACTER?:
Magnus is, as he said himself, a lot to get used to. In terms of his outward appearance, he has very flamboyant tastes in fashion, loving to combine a wide range of styles, textures, and colors as well as heavy eye makeup and styled hair. His actions are also rather loud as he doesn't bother to filter his words or emotions, flirting or arguing openly without fear of consequence. This is added to by his magic and certain spells he'll cast at random as little reminders that he can, even if he doesn't need to. He also puts off a carefree, detached image of someone who no longer feels emotions, seen in a range of behavior from reckless frivolity to cold rejection of others.

IN WHAT WAYS DOES THAT IMPRESSION DIFFER FROM WHO YOUR CHARACTER REALLY IS?:
Though Magnus would prefer to appear emotionless, this is far from the truth. In his long past, feeling certain things for certain people have gotten him hurt, and it's far easier to cope by pretending he doesn't care. However, Magnus does care deeply for those close to him. As previously discussed, his found family of Downworlders as well as other warlocks make him feel very protective because of the love he feels for them. He also has strong feelings for Alec, a Shadowhunter who has unlocked a part of Magnus that wants to feel and, in many ways, open himself up to potential heartbreak again for a chance at happiness. This bond with Alec brings Magnus closer to other Shadowhunters who he developes tentative friendships with, further breaking down the cold impression that Magnus might give off at first.

HOW DOES YOUR CHARACTER HANDLE CRISIS OR ADVERSITY?:
As previously hinted at, Magnus' reactions to conflict can be varied. Without the proper motivation, he is likely to run and hide, protecting himself and those he cares about rather than facing the issue head-on. This is especially true in crises that last for extended periods of time as he many not have the stamina for long-term response. However, because many of the people closest to him are fighters, Magnus could be convinced to join a battle, or relief effort, especially to work alongside Alec. Magnus' protective nature would also inspire him to fight if someone he loves is injured or attacked, leaving them defenseless and in need of aid. The same can be said of times of adversity when he is likely to work as an advisor until motivated into action.

WHICH 5 THINGS WILL YOUR CHARACTER REMEMBER UPON ARRIVAL, AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THEM?:
1. His name was Magnus Bane, though he doubts that it's a birth name.
2. His cat eyes are a mark of being a warlock who can perform magic.
3. He dislikes average fashion and design, preferring quality and a little flamboyance.
4. Kissing Alec Lightwood at a wedding, both of them in suits, with the heavy sense of significance that leads him to believe it was his own wedding.
5. Though he remembers that Shadowhunters are half-angel mortals and he distrusts the majority of them, he can't recall specifically why.

The first three memories are key to his identity, not just his name but also important pieces of his life such as being a warlock. Because this is something that shaped all his other memories, it will be significant. The fourth memory is an important moment in his relationship with Alec, something that has shaped his recent actions and made him a better person. The fifth memory is a hint about his world and a bit more about how he fits into it.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU FEEL WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER?:
Magnus will have difficulty adhering to the rule of not talking about the past, seeing as he believes himself to be married to another man in the town. It won't make him hostile, or likely to leave, but it will make him protective of Alec as well as curious about the memories they both lost of a life shared together.

SKILLS, ABILITIES, & PHYSICAL WEAKNESSES: Magnus is a warlock, the offspring of a demon father and human mother. His demon heritage allows him to perform magic through using spells or creating potions. He is largely limited by what knowledge and supplies he has: he can't create a potion without all of the right ingredients, and he hasn't memorized every spell known to warlock-kind. Simple spells, such as conjuring something or slightly altering an appearance, can be done with a simple snap. He is also skilled with healing a variety of magical and non-magical ailments, creating glamours to change or conceal truths, and tracking someone's whereabouts as long as they are not actively concealed. Other spells which are more complex and not as often used require him to have a guide of a spell book. Most often his magic takes on a blue hue, and more powerful spells are a brighter white glow. Magnus relies primarily on magic for combat, able to bind and attack opponents with offensive as well as block with defensive spells. Usually, Magnus is able to create portals to take travelers to any destination they imagine, but this will obviously not be possible in-game.

Using magic weakens him, in direct proportion to the intensity of the spell, and because of this he is unable to maintain difficult spells for prolonged periods of time. He can borrow strength from other supernatural races, the most potent seemingly being a Shadowhunter; he is seen taking strength from Alec which gives him the power to keep a dying man alive long enough to make and administer a cure.

Magnus' demon blood also makes him a Downworlder, the term for supernatural races in his world who are part human and part demon. This allows them to exist both in the human world as well as give them certain advantages. Magnus has the Sight which allows him to perceive other Downworlders, see through common glamors, and identify illusions.

INVENTORY:
• black velvet suit jacket
• black skinny jeans
• patterns silk shirt
• various rings, including a large silver one with monogrammed "M"
• various necklaces

SAMPLES

PROSE-HEAVY: Magnus still doesn't quite remember who he is.
DIALOGUE-HEAVY: Do Shadowhunters get vacation days