Nikolai Gorschov was born to a Russian family in the height of the USSR’s ongoing conflict with the USA. Wanting a better life for his new son, Alexandir Gorschov led his young family out of Soviet Russia and to the home of the purposed enemy. Unwelcome in both countries, Niko’s father had to work extra hard to provide while keeping a low profile.
Niko was given the opportunity that no Gorschov had before; education, and he took to it like flame to a match. His curiosity and aptitude of learning gave him further opportunities; academic scholarship to one of the best science colleges in the world, located in Northern California. Even there though, Niko couldn’t find the answers he was looking for; things in the universe forever unexplained by measurable means.
It is here that he Awakened; by daring an expirement on his own during a rare thunderstorm, he proved to himself that there are things that occur solely because some higher force willed it. He was coincidentally struck by lightning and brought comatose. In his slumber, he saw his home of Russia, forever trapt in cold and ice. The country warmed however, as evidenced by the ice melting and the snow falling off the rooves of buildings. From the heart of the country grew a brilliant flame that spread throughout the land, but did not destroy. He peered into the fire and than saw himself older, smarter, more powerful. He also saw himself accompanied by the Princess Anastasia Romanov, dressed in alabaster white and with the wings of an Angel. Even among fellow Mages, none believe that the Russian Noble family was privy to Awakening. He maintains the (unsubstantiated) claim that Rasputin was a Seer, eliminating not just fellow Awakened, but a powerful empire in order to maintain the Lie.
Seeing this as prophecy, Nikolai became very active in the education of those without. The fact that they were forever Sleepers mattered not to him; the Fallen World, and the land of his father, would not see it’s former glory unless the people knew that such a thing was even possible. His championing of rights not only got the attention of the Free Council, but of a member of the Order of Fire, which took him as a pupil. This man, going by the title of Legend, helped him not only understand the brave new world that he has plunged into, but show him what it truely means to be a hero in this day.
Nikolai, while opinionated and knowledgable, keeps quite and closed off to those who he doesn’t have a close relationship with, which in this day is proving to be difficult. Nikolai’s father, Alexandir, died of cancer while at school. His mother Barran resents him for not being able to see him, and has turned to the drink to fill her husband’s void. With no female relationships to speak, nor any interest in them, he gives off the impression of a antisocial loner.
However, his mentor Legend, and the Sleeping children where he volunteers, know that when it comes to something he is impassioned about, he becomes a much warmer individual. When it comes to scientific or political debate among the Free Council, he comes into great form and will not stop until utterly victorious, or defeated. Some have been known to witness Free Council meetings just to provoke Nikolai and observe his reaction. Even on his most vocal rant, Nikolai Gorschov maintains a polite, professional attitude the best that he can. His ‘casual’ appearance is a buttoned shirt, sleeves rolled up, traditional cut blue jeans, and boat shoes. While working he is normally seen in a formal suit.
Despite his oblivious appearance concerning the opposite sex, there is one girl who has eye. A fellow classmate, of Irish descent, named Bridget Donnolly. Her brilliant red hair and green eyes, on multiple occassions has distracted from his studies when nothing else could. While she’s a beauty, she’s a selfish, privelaged brat, and has no interest in the problems beyond her own. As of yet, he has not even introduced himself. He sees so many people of his age, like her, engaging in permiscuous behavior and is disgusted by it. To fumble around with so many people looking for romance, hoping to eventually find the right one, to him is similar to a fatal game associated with his homeland.
Russian Roullette
Nikolai subsides largely off of scholarships, grants, and federal assisstance. He tutors fellow students on campus, but most of his teaching is volunteer work at foster homes or schools for the underprivelaged. They do pay him for his time (it’s required by city ordinance), but he always puts some of it back into the organizations. Nikolai lives a humble but comfortable life. He bicycles rather than drives a car, he cooks all his own food, and uses what is needed rather than what is convenient. He saves money for the future; he wants to build a better future for his offspring like his father did.
Views On:
Sleepers: “Do you blame the blind man who can’t see, or the man with sight who refuses to guide the way?”
Guardians of the Veil: “They know that knowledge is the most universal currency. They hoard it to keep themselves in power and pretend its for our safety.”
Adamantine Arrow: “If people knew what they were capable of, Soviet Nukes would seem primitive”
The Silver Ladder: “You are repeating History and expecting a different outcome. I suggest a different approach…”
Mysterium: “Easier to start over from scratch than crawling through crypts and old books for scraps of power”
Vampires: “May I suggest Siberia?”
Werewolves: “A shame that such a thing should come to you by mere chance”
Changelings: “You can’t take the blue pill and pretend it never happened.”
Sin-Eaters: “Would you mind looking for someone in the land of the Dead?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOAtz8xWM0w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hycicmMfQdo
