Dr. Alex Ruse
Alexandria Marie Lapen (a.k.a. Dr. Ruse or Doc)
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Dr. Ruse is muscular, but lean. They are very athletic.
Identifying Characteristics
Dr. Ruse is heavily tattooed and has some piercings.
Special abilities
Dr. Ruse can cast spells. Some immediately and some that takes a lot of prep and materials.
Apparel & Accessories
Dr. Ruse wears a mix of dapper modern and modern African garb.
Specialized Equipment
Dr. Ruse has a gris-gris, an amulet to ward off evil spirits and bad luck. She also has a component pouch.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Origin Story
1885
Marie Laveau II (ML2) is in Maison Noire in a cabin in a clearing near Lake Pontchartrain. It is raining very heavily and there is water and debris everywhere. ML2 is performing a ritual and puts on a gris-gris when the cabin washes away.
Fast Forward 56 years later (1966)
Jeanette and Elizabeth enter the same clearing with the ruins of the cabin and a newer, but old shed. They set up for a ritual to call Marie Laveau I, but something goes wrong. Before the ritual is finished Jeanette's water breaks and she ends up having the baby in the clearing.
Day 1-3 AL
The baby is very unusual. She does not cry and can track movement with her eyes. Jeanette thinks something is terribly wrong with the baby and tries to leave her at an orphanage every day, but the baby ends up back on her doorstep a few hours later.
Day 4 AL
On the morning of day 4 the baby finally cries and is now acting like a normal baby. Jeanette decides that whatever happened must have worn off.
Alex turns out normal, but Jeanette raises her with a nervous cautiousness, because she can't quite forget those first 3 days. Alex is very smart and goes on to med school. She learns some healing magic from her mother and uses this as well as her training to help people.
1996
Alex is working a late shift at the hospital on her birthday. As Alex walks into an empty room she stops. There is a rush of magic and Alex is transformed, clothes and all. She walks out of the hospital as someone else and no one sees Dr. Alex Lapen ever again.
1996-2018
Dr. Ruse traveled the world studying black magic and voodoo.
2018
Settles in Carma City.
Current
Despite being 65 years old, Dr. Ruse uses black magic to retain her appearance from the transformation.
Gender Identity
Dr. Ruse is gender fluid.
Sexuality
Dr. Ruse enjoys the company of women and femmes.
Employment
Dr. Ruse owns Ruse's Rites, a large tourist trap Voodoo shop.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Dr. Ruse is an accomplished voodoo practitioner despite her young age.
Mental Trauma
Dr. Ruse is actually the spirit of Marie Laveau II in Alex Lapen's body. Alex has some awareness that her body has been taken over for 30+ years by her ancestor.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
To manage the city through information, blackmail, and magic.
Vices & Personality flaws
Dr. Ruses anger can get the best of them when things don't go their way.
Personality Quirks
Dr. Ruse absentmindly pets her snake Zombi who can usually be found somewhere on her person.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Dr. Ruse is polyamorous. They current partners are Kamaria Njeri, a Kenyan Elf, and Daniela Braga, a werefox from Brazil. They also have an on and off relatioship with Lesa , a Fae.
Family Ties
Dr. Ruse has no known family. Most of her background is shrouded in mystery.
Social Aptitude
Dr. Ruse is a very charming and confident person. They are a smooth talker with a bit of an ego, but also an air of humbleness makes it appealing.
Hobbies & Pets
Zombi is a small venomous Eastern Coral Snake that is always with Dr. Ruse. He slithers around on her body or in her hair.
Speech
Dr. Ruse has a mix on accents with the dominant one being New Orleans. They have a low voice, but not too deep. He uses interesting New Orleans based metaphors, some that haven't been around for ages.
Wealth & Financial state
Dr. Ruse owns Ruse's Rites, which is very successful, but their real money comes from trading in information and blackmail in the underground.
Species
Age
28
Birthplace
New Orleans
Children
Current Residence
Unknown
Pronouns
Any
Gender
Gender Fluid
Presentation
Andro Masculine
Eyes
Medium brown
Hair
Jet black shoulder length dreads with feathers, beads, and bones, shaved sides and back, worn down or up
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Dark brown
Height
5'11"
Weight
180
Belief/Deity
Vodun
Aligned Organization
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