IN> The Mosaics of Manny Vega

[William Keith]

( http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/nyregion/25citywide.html for the 
source material )

A self-taught muralist and mosaicist takes to candomblé in Brazil in 
the 80s; he finds love, loses her to sickness, commemorates her in his 
work, and adds to the identity of the Puerto Rican community in the 
city with mosaics that hark back to the tradition of Sicily and the 
Byzantine era.  His murals are rich with the techniques of Europe, the 
culture of the Caribbean and the religious symbols of Africa -- an 
astonishing blending of influences that produces beautiful art in stone 
and glass, from rejoicing, pain, and hard work.  A very human mixture, 
and a powerful statement by a devoted believer, his artwork has 
generated a Tether.

The Mosaics of Manny Vega
Tether: Guinee (the Loa) (usually)
Forces: 5, invested by several members of the pantheon
Locus: the mosaics, scattered about the city
Capacity: normally 25
Flow: 1 Essence per 10 minutes

Features: Elastic, Inconvenient, Friendly

Influence: mild.  People who pay attention to the mosaics a while feel 
more warmly toward foreigners, strangers or general oddities for a bit.

Word-Bound Seneschal: Ibeji, minor Orisha who oversees twins; ethereal 
Family strand spirit

In order to use the mosaics as a Tether, a user must absorb himself in 
the activity depicted.  Sometimes this is a party of dancers, sometimes 
fish swimming in the sea, or something else; regardless of how unusual 
it might look, the user must spend about a minute imitating the 
activity of at least some actor in the mosaic.  When he feels the 
connection "hit," he moves toward the mosaic and ascends.  This leaves 
behind a small alteration in the stone, depicting the user joining in 
the activity, which fades back to normal after a few minutes.  The 
Seneschal is aware of someone attempting to use his Tether, and if not 
at the particular mosaic being used, will extend his awareness into the 
Tether to use his abilities to check on who is doing so.  He will 
attempt to resist use by demons, and summon backup if necessary.

The Vega mosaics, born of such a range of influences, have a very 
interesting adaptability: with the willing cooperation of Ibeji, they 
can be redirected toward an affiliated celestial Superior.  He must 
ceremonially assist the user in performing the Theme of a given 
celestial Word, in a fashion reflecting the activity of a given mosaic. 
  The upper locus momentarily redirects to the Cathedral or Principality 
of the appropriate celestial Word.  Thus, for a mosaic depicting 
drummers and dancers, he might be able to assist an angel in ascending 
to the Cathedral of Creation or Flowers (considering Novalis' dance 
Rite).  He can be forced to assist in opening his Tether to a Demonic 
Principality, but he will fight violently to resist doing so.  He knows 
demons are willing to destroy a mural if they are flatly denied the use 
of it, though, so he merely makes it widely known that a demon will 
have a fight on his hands to earn the right.  Most demons are willing 
to accept that bargain, figuring they'd win if they needed to.

The actual mosaics described are in New York City, but something like 
them can be placed in any modern cosmopolitan city with a diverse 
immigrant population including some from the islands.

William