Rachel is one of my all time favorite witches. For the last few years I have enjoyed all 12 books (now 13) in the series. I have watched Rachel, Ivy, Jenks, Trent and even the demon Algaliarept grow into interesting characters. It will be sad to see this at an end, but I am glad she is ending on the top of her game.
The Rachel Morgan/Hollows books are very much like another urban supernatural series I enjoyed and just ended on it's 13th book, the Women of the Underworld series by Kelley Armstrong. Both feature strong world building and great strong characters, male and female. But Rachel as a character grabbed me more than Savannah, Eve, Elena or Hope ever did. Armstrong's Savannah Levine might be the more powerful witch, but Rachel can think better on her feet.
My copy has not come yet. I listened to the audio books while driving to Gen Con by myself one year and fell in love with Marguerite Gavin's portrayal of the characters. So I have stuck with the audio books ever since.
Rachel Morgan for Classic Unisystem (WitchCraft/Armageddon)
I had done Rachel a while back for Cinematic Unisystem (Buffy/Ghosts of Albion) but in the later books she really becomes more and more a "WitchCraft" style witch. Even if there is really nothing like "Essence" in the books.
The Turn is, game wise at least, similar enough to the Reckoning discussed in WitchCraft and Armageddon to let me use the Armageddon book. There are no gods per se, but there are some beings of great power like the Goddess of the Elves and of course the Demons.
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| Camille as Rachel Morgan |
Rachel Morgan
Greater Gifted
Life Points: 39
Essence: 50
Strength: 3
Dexterity: 3
Constitution: 2
Intelligence: 4
Perception: 5
Willpower: 5
Endurance: 35
Speed: 10 mph / 5 yrds/sec
Qualities
Acute Senses (taste, smell) (Witches in the world are more sensitive), Attractive 2, Contacts 3 (Weres, Demons, Witches, FIB), Gifted, Hard to Kill 3, 1, Increased Essence Pool 4, Nerves of Steel, Occult Library 2
Drawbacks
Adversary 4 (nearly everyone hates her wants her dead), Honorable 2, Obsession (Help Ivy), Status -2 (she is a day walking demon)
Skills
Acrobatics 4, Craft (earth witch potions) 5, Guns (paint ball "splat" gun) 4, Humanities 3, Intimidation 3, Martial Arts 4, Occult Knowledge 8, Research 4, Riding (horse) 3, Rituals, Earth magic 3, Rituals, Ley Line magic 3, Rituals, Demon magic 5, Rituals, elf wild magic 1, Stealth 3, Streetwise 4
Metaphysics
Elemental (Earth Magic)
Lightning Bolt, Earth Tremor, Flame,
Find Person (Ley Line)
Shielding (Ley Line)
Essence Shield, Physical Shield,
Spirit Mastery (Ley Line, Demonic)
Summoning, Dismiss, Compact
Spirit Travel (Ley Line)
Equipment
Earth magic charms, Red Splat gun with Sleepy-time potion ammo, cell-phone, knife
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| Camille *IS* Rachel Morgan |
Until you get your book check out Camille's Deviant Art Page for all her great Rachel Morgan cosplays. One of the best, if not the best one I have seen.
Rachel Marianna Morgan is by far my favorite witch as well. I have been re-reading the series in anticipation of 13.
ReplyDeleteI was long intrigued by the titles, referencing Clint Eastwood movies. I finally got around to trying one. Unfortunately, I found things a little forced and unnatural. I don't mean the magic and such, but the characters actions, as well as many of the situations. I couldn't tell if this was set in a future that hadn't progressed, or an alternate present that wasn't altered enough. I tried, but just couldn't get through.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd drop her Perception (I'm not sure she's one of the top of the world at noticing things) but up her Con. She seems to bounce back a bit more than being "below average"
ReplyDeleteJeff, It took me till Book 3 to really see Rachel's charm.
ReplyDeleteThe books take place in an alternate present day where many of the humans have died out due to a genetically re-engineered tomato.
Silverlion, You have a good point here. Though I did give her levels of Hard to Kill.