John Opal

John Opal, born John Michael Christopher Potts, June 15th, 1830 AE, is the father of Vincent Opal and teacher and guardian of Leona Ruby. At 6' 2" tall, John, Master Opal, has dark brown eyes, black and grey hair and a straight, "hawkish" nose. An air magician and descendant of House Opal, John moved from Albion to the Caribbees to give his son and himself a fresh start. He claims not to believe in the Legend of the Lost Cities.

John was born in Albion in a neighbourhood of Londinium, the son of a middle class family. He is a descendant of House Opal on his mother's side and changed his name as a young man to honour his ancestry. He married a young woman of a wealthier family who dies when their son, Vincent, is still a young child. In the Caribbees, John earns a living as a teacher and consultant with the colonial government. It is through this profession, as tutor to Cedric Miller, that John meets Leona and takes the girl on as apprentice.

Air magicians typically wear white, though John does not usually do so, and disavows any connection to the Zodiac Society. He does have a familiar, the sylph, George. He also has a human housekeeper, Ma De Four, who takes care of Leona. As Leona's tutor, he treats the girl as an Imperial magician and expects that she behave accordingly, which allows Leona to grow outspoken and somewhat, haughty. He wants Leona to win a scholarship at her Exhibition so that he can take her to Londinium.

John Opal is a stern, gruff man who is quite indulgent of his ward. He is also a powerful air magician who scoffs at the Zodiac Society and dreams of the restoration of the Order of the Stone. While his son is not expected to become a magician but rather an attorney, John is nonetheless quite proud of the boy's achievements.