"The greatest victory is that which requires no battle."
– Sun Tzu

Background

Malcolm Cross was forged in the shadows. Raised in a city where justice often felt like an illusion and survival demanded cunning, he grew into a man defined by his intellect and resilience. Excelling academically, Malcolm gravitated toward the FBI, aiming to bring order to chaos. But as he rose through the ranks of counterintelligence, his idealism gave way to pragmatism. He learned the game of power—where secrets were the currency and control was the ultimate goal.9e0bc569-8362-46b1-9910-63eda544a04b.png

Malcolm earned a reputation as the man who got the job done, no matter how messy or morally gray the circumstances. He thrived in ambiguity, walking the tightrope between right and wrong. But his life changed irrevocably during a botched mission that cost his entire team their lives. Gravely wounded, he Awakened on the operating table, drawn to the Watchtower of the Iron Gauntlet. There, he embraced the harsh truths of the universe: power lay in understanding the unseen and bending it to one’s will.

Upon recovering, Malcolm left his FBI career behind, shedding his mundane life for the hidden world of the Awakened. Adopting the Shadow Name "Graycloak," he joined the Guardians of the Veil. Here, his skills in subterfuge, manipulation, and cleanup found their true calling. 


Personality

Malcolm is a man of paradoxes. He is both charming and disquieting, approachable yet aloof. His calm demeanor hides a razor-sharp mind always calculating the angles of any situation. He operates with a quiet intensity, speaking little but observing everything. Though he can be cold and manipulative, he is not without a code—his actions, however ruthless, are guided by the principle of maintaining balance and secrecy

Rumors and Effects

Public Effects

Guardian of the Veil Status 2: Malcolm may walk between the raindrops but Graycloak is a known and respected member of the Guardians of the Veil where he does "Cleaning" work for the Order.    

Occultation 1:  Malcolm, and by extension Graycloak, operate in the shadows and their magic is subtle to match  


Facts, Fiction and Rumors9e1e15a0-1b87-4039-b430-3dd82caf4af0.jpg

Former FBI: Malcolm was an FBI agent before his Awakening. Most assume he left under mysterious circumstances, but few know he was critically injured in a botched operation and woke up a different man.

Weight of Duty: Some say Malcolm’s FBI team died because of his mistake, while others believe he was the sole survivor because he cut and ran. The truth is he was on the operating table, powerless, while his team was slaughtered—and he’s never forgiven himself for it.

Calm, Cool and Collected: Malcolm is unnervingly calm. Whether in the middle of an interrogation, a firefight, or a heated debate, his voice remains measured. Those who’ve seen him truly angry describe it as worse than an open threat—because he doesn’t need to raise his voice to end someone.

Contingency Zero: Malcolm doesn’t just gather intelligence on Seers—he keeps records on everyone. His justification? "Knowing is surviving." The question is, does he share it freely or only when it serves his purposes?

The Late Goodbye: Despite his cold, pragmatic nature, Malcolm loves old detective films, particularly 1940s noir. The tragedy, the moral ambiguity, the doomed heroes—he never admits it, but it speaks to him on a deep level.

Secret Agent: Malcolm operates in shadows, trades in information, and doesn’t always toe the Guardian line. Some believe he’s secretly working with the Free Council, the Seers, or even a deeper, unknown power. If he is, he’s covering his tracks perfectly.

Nimbus

Long-Term

Long Kiss Goodnight: There's a tension on the air, the feeling of every tendon coiled and ready to snap.  There's an acrid smell, like a match lit in rain soaked air

Immediate

Primal Fear: Paranoia stirs in those around him and the shadows lengthen. Color seems to draw from the air, leaving the world awash in grays. 

Signature

The Late Goodbye: Like old cigarette smoke and regret, his lingering magic is an ending to things... a regretful parting

Tilt

Shadow of Doubt - -1 to Presence Rolls +1 to Manipulation