Cory Vandermere
aliveCory Vandermere
Player: Jeremy Magyar Groom On-screen character: Elias Vance
Actor (Off-Screen, 2015)
44, Los Angeles. The "Glitch" kid from Nebula Station: Orion's Edge (1989–1999). Almost-famous working actor. Warm, generous, deeply prepared. One brief marriage, no kids. Beloved on the convention circuit. Box 13 is his most interesting audition in fifteen years.
Vibe: The grown-up. Stable. Sober-curious. Skeletons: None major.
Actor Bonds
| Bond | Person / Thing | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Person (friend) | Marian — ex-wife, landscape architect, Pasadena; remarried to David (has a daughter); knows the dark stretch of Cory's early 30s; the person he'd call at 2 AM | 25 |
| Person (colleague) | Diane Kessler — agent of 15+ years; sent him the Box 13 audition with a note saying "this one's interesting" | 30 |
| Anchor | The Craft — twenty-six years of being a good working actor: prepared, kind to the crew, showing up at your best | 45 |
Bond Phase, Session 1: unresolved — skipped.
Actor Relationships
- C.W. Patrick (Carlton): Careful, kind, watchful. They auditioned for the same role in 1988 — Carlton got it, Cory was relieved. Only cast member who knew Carlton when. Has clocked the flask; hasn't said anything yet.
- Daniel Boulton: Big-brother energy. Daniel reminds Cory of himself at 25. Probably the closest thing to a friend on this set, though Cory hasn't admitted that.
- Beckett Blank: Genuine fondness, a little careful. Engages Beckett on chess (Cory is mediocre but earnest), listens to the info-dumps. Thinks Beckett is a deeper actor than his career has allowed.
- Wade Keegan: Surprising affinity, slightly destabilized. Wade keeps saying quiet, unsettling things between takes. Cory has started paying close attention. Wade has noticed that Cory listens.
On-Screen Character: Elias Vance
Forensic researcher, Box 13's "occult systems specialist." Survived something in 2011 that the official report called a gas leak seven times. Three colleagues went missing from that incident. Treats the impossible like a printer that won't print. Keeps a notebook with everyone's blood type. Knows enough to be useful, not enough to be safe.
Specialty: Pattern recognition, makeshift containment.
Character Bonds
| Bond | Person / Thing | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Person (friend) | Hannah — younger sister, civilian, the only person who remembers Elias before 2011 | 16 |
| Person (colleague) | Marcus — former colleague from before 2011; left the field, still answers the phone | 25 |
| Anchor | The Method — the world is investigable; rigor is the path through | 51 (was 55; −4 Session 2 bond phase) |
Session 2 Notes (Elias Vance)
- Hard Success identifying the Taurus constellation in Alan's painting (Astronomy / Spot Hidden).
- Collected blood sample from Gallery A floor.
- −1 Sanity on entering Gallery B and seeing the Thul Cathul statue.
- Failed Occult roll on the statue — no additional information obtained.
- Pale and unable to speak during police arrival; pointed officers toward Kip.
Bond Phase — Session 2
Action: Attempted to draw on The Method — analyzed the blood sample as a coping mechanism. Roll: Failed. Result: The Method (Anchor): 55 → 51 (−4).
Character Relationships
- Palmer (C.W. Patrick): Quiet protective instinct. Probably the one teammate Elias visibly likes. Brings Palmer coffee without being asked. Finds Palmer's chaos restful — it's normal-shaped trouble.
- Kip (Daniel Boulton): Patient irritation, masked as instruction. Loops Kip into problems when nobody else will; Kip catches things Elias misses.
- Mordecai (Beckett Blank): Wary respect. Professional understanding nobody else has access to. Trusts Mordecai's hands, not his interpretations (right ~50% of the time). Have had exactly three conversations about chess.
- Gus (Wade Keegan): Mutual recognition, kept at arm's length. Gus has the right kind of brain to find Elias's paper trails. The 2011 incident has paper trails. Both have considered telling the other what they really know. Both decided not to.
Equipment — Tool Pouch
Leather roll-up pouch, well-worn. Lives on his desk; travels with him at all times.
- Small Maglite (metal, heavy enough to be a weapon if needed)
- Folding multitool (Leatherman)
- Loupe / jeweler's magnifier
- Small spiral notebook (everyone's blood type is in here)
- Several pens, including a grease pencil
- Roll of small evidence bags
- Box of sidewalk chalk (for containment; reads as innocuous)
- Tape measure
- Salt packets — diner variety, 3–4 (don't ask)
- Small dental mirror
- Length of paracord
- Film canister of iron filings (for testing magnetic fields, or reasons)