Talisman
The Talisman are Keepers, and in rare instances Protectors with Keeper blood, who are prophesied
to arise only when the Earth needs them most.
Autumn Brody—Air Talisman (Earth Awakened)
Algernon Brody is my husband. He killed my parents, his wife and later his son. He is evil, but his day will come. Even though I am a Terran, young in my powers, Gaia came to me, chose me as her Air Talisman. I’ve kept the secret through the months of hell I experienced each day at Brody’s hands.
My strength to endure comes from the powers given to me and from the pure love of Trent Steed, a man who does not know the role he is to play. He is my Protector-Consort and together we will control the winds, help to save the world from devolving into chaos.
Donovan Callahan—Spirit Talisman (Redemption; Earth Awakened)
Donovan Callahan here, owner and operator
of Trocadero Security.
Yeah, I know, weird name for a security
company, especially in San Francisco. But in my defense, I named it after
a battle in Spain, not the ultra-hip gay bar here in the City.
I started this business after I got back from Cambodia,
and now we guard celebrities and the like. My powers
as a Terran Protector certainly make the job easier,
although lately I’ve been feeling fidgety, like
something is missing—I'm just not sure what.
Claire's Questions:
Q: In your opinion, what makes a hero?
A: Someone who puts themselves above their own self-interest.
Not a whole lot of that going around these days. Especially
these days.
Q: So, given your military background, do you
consider yourself a hero?
A: (laughs sarcastically) Maybe I had a glimmer of it
against Rommel, but after that, no way.
Q: What do you mean?
A: Well, in World War II I had a purpose-get my men
out alive. After Paris fell and we were captured,
all bets were off.
War was all I knew after that, so the French Foreign
Legion was where I landed. There are heroes there,
but I wasn’t one of them.
Q: Okay, so now it’s 1989, what do you do
for a living?
A: I own and operate a corporate security business.
You know, bodyguarding stars, athletes, captains of
industry, that sort of thing.
Q: And how does being a Terran help or hinder
that?
A: Oh, it definitely helps. Back when I was actually muscling
people around San Francisco, my size was supplemented by
the magic passed down by my ancestors.
Q: That’s right, you're half Earth Keeper
and half Protector. How does that work?
A: There’s not much to the Earth part of it,
since it doesn’t do me any good in my line of
work. Protectors have core magic and spells that help
them complete their primary mission.
Q: Have you ever been in love?
A: I’ve got a friend I spend time with when we
both get the urge, but I haven’t had a relationship
since World War II. Next question.
Q: So what set you on this quest for the Sorhineth?
A: Loma Prieta. Hurricane Hugo. The Exxon Valdez. Tiananmen Square.
Q: Would you care to expand?
A: No.
Q: One last question. Are you happy?
A: (shrugs) Until October 17th, I would have said reasonably so. Now?
Dunno.
Lily Redfern—Earth Talisman (Earth Awakened)
 I am an archeologist and an Earth Keeper. I enjoy my job working on ancient sites that have Terran connections. These are sites of power and they sing to me, revealing their long-hidden secrets. The humans I work with have no clue what I can do.
The day Gaia called me to serve as the Earth Talisman was the worst and best day of my life. Worst, because I had to deal with Darcy Miller, a man who stalked me relentlessly and had physically attacked me. Best, because I met Carr Madoc, my chosen Protector-Consort, who showed me what a real man is like.
From the first moment Carr touched my astral self with his, I knew he wasn’t like Darcy. Carr was considerate and concerned, but helped me get the job done. We stopped the Destroyer-generated quake in a long-stable fault system - - together. And he came to find me, battling fierce weather conditions to do so. He puts himself between me and danger, but treats me as a partner, someone to walk by his side. What a man. My man.
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