Diane Basset

Diane Basset is the owner and operator of Neutral Grounds, a coffeehouse and book shop near Johns Hopkins. Raised in the supernatural community by her mother, Basset is a practicing Wiccan and possesses some degree of magical talent. Her clientele at Neutral Grounds have dubbed her a “caffeinomancer,” and some customers are more than a bit serious. They say she adds the right spice and a minor effort of will to give the strong coffee she brews a bit of something extra.

Basset opened Neutral Grounds in 1988 and has been welcoming of anyone from the supernatural community in Baltimore. She petitioned Queen Mab to grant the coffeehouse Accorded Neutral Ground status, and Mab assented to the request; in thanks, Basset gives female customers a free espresso every Midwinter’s Eve, assuming that one of them might be Queen Mab.

• Kitchen Witch (HC)
• Caffeinomancer
• Accorded “Neutral Grounds”

• Great(+4)

  • Conviction
• Good(+3)

  • Rapport
  • Empathy
  • Discipline
• Fair(+2)

  • Notice
  • Athletics
  • Contacts
  • Scholarship
  • Lore

• Occultist (Lore – Fae): Basset gains a +2 to Lore rolls when performing research related to fae creatures.

• Occultist (Lore – Magic): Basset gains a +2 to Lore rolls when per forming research related to mortal magic.

• Ritual (Crafting) [–2]
• Marked by Power [–1]
• Focus Items

  • A hazel wood wand (+1 to Crafting strength), used to stir coffee when she is brewing a spell into a cup.
• Enchanted Items

  • Diane’s Cuppas (2 potions) Diane has dedicated both of her enchanted item slots for potions. She can brew two extra potent “cuppas” (using her wand) to create a Superb (5-shift) potion effect.

Fair initiative, Fair defense, but she’s not a fighter—and folks who step into her Accorded Neutral Ground coffee shop/bookstore had best be careful not to be as well.

Total Refresh Cost: –5