Erik Grimrson
Ventrue
Background:
Born in Gotaland just after the turn of the millenium, Erik Grimrson came into this world under good signs and indeed, for the most part the signs showed true as he grew up healthy, strong, and good with an axe. But the village was crowded, and as young men often do, he decided to join a viking raid. Bringing back wealth and prestige from his first raid of a germanic town, Erik grew to love viking and began to go with crews that were ranging out further and further, eventually leading him to Novgorod, where he heard of the immense wealth to be had in the land of the Romans.
Sailing down to Constantinople, Erik became a mercenary in the employ of the Roman Empire and served under Harold Godwinson as he pillaged his way across half of the Mediterranean. Erik amassed a vast sum of treasure, experience, and fame from the venture and as Harold moved on, planning to return to the land of his birth, Erik was offered a position among the Varangian Guard. Erik joined up and proved both his ability and loyalty, as well as an ability to not drown in the politics that played at full force in the courts. The Cainites of the city thus decided to give him a taste of the world behind the veil, turning him into a ghoul in the service of both themselves and the state.
Eventually, he found himself promoted for his service, eventually becoming a leader himself, and he joined the Emperor when he confronted the Turks at Manzikert. The result was a disaster, and Erik was one of the few Varangian who survived, and even that was thanks only to his superior fortitude as a ghoul. Despite decent treatment from his captors, Erik never forgot the insult of this battle, and to this day has a burning hatred of the Turk which he seeks to avenge any time he is given the opportunity. Returned to Constantinople in the face of an uprising, he was met personally by the recently returned Belisarius. The ancient vampire said nothing, and only stayed for perhaps a minute, but it was a meeting destined to change Erik's life. When Belisarius called the council and set about fixing all that was wrong with the Empire, he quickly became the favored son of Constantinople, something he used to great effect in many ways, one of which was requesting that Erik be added to the ranks of cainites. He was embraced by Nikolas of Adrianopolis, a descendent of Antonian, bringing Erik into one of the most prestigious families in the city.
Erik's star rose with Belisarius, he joined the man's personal guard, and though he could not be called a confidant, he is a constant ally to the man and some whisper he is his next right-hand man. Indeed, Erik is loyal to Belisarius first and the Antonian's Second. Still a member of the Varangian Guard, Erik has become the reclusive leader of the group, though like many vampires he lets mortals do most of the legwork. He know's little of Michael's dream for the city, and personally holds no interest in it, but if that is what Belisarius wants, then he will do his best to achieve it. Erik's loyalty has come at a cost however, namely his relationship to his sire. The two have grown immensely distant, and in fact Nikolas believes he has been ignored by Erik who treats Belisarius more as a sire than he ever did his true sire. This resentment on both sides has led to a great deal of strain in recent years. Furthermore, his undying hatred of the Turks has shown itself on more than one occasion, perhaps egged on by the spirit of one of the men under his command that he ordered to their deaths in an attempt to clear an escape for the Emperor.
Name: Erik Grimrson
Clan: Ventrue
Generation: 10th
Nature: Defender
Demeanor: Survivor
Attributes
Strength 4 (Reserves of Strength)
Dexterity 3
Stamina 3
Charisma (3+1) 4 (Witty)
Manipulation 3
Appearance 2
Perception 2
Intelligence 2
Wits 2
Abilities
Alertness 2
Athletics 1
Brawl 2
Dodge 1
Expression 1
Intimidation (3+1) 4 (Pulling Rank)
Leadership 3
Etiquette 2
Melee (3+2) 5 (Axes)
Stealth 2
Survival 1
Sagaman 2 (2:1)
Law 2
Linguistics 1 (Native- Norse, Greek)
Politics 2
Backgrounds
Mentor (Belisarius) 4
Generation 2
Fame 2
Resources (3+1) 4
Influence 2
Status 3
Disciplines
Dominate 1
Fortitude (1+1) 2
Presence 2
Potence 1
Virtues
Self-Control 3
Conviction 3
Courage 4
Path of Tyrants 6
Willpower (4+1) 5
Merits and Flaws
Former Ghoul (-3)
Vengeful (Turks) (+2)
Resentful Sire (+1)
Haunted (+3)
Freebies
+3 from Flaws
9 on Backgrounds
5 on Attribute- Charisma
2 on Skill- Intimidation
4 on Skill- Melee
7 on Discipline- Fortitude
1 on Willpower
Equipment
Maille-Splitter- Erik's signature Battle-Axe. He has carried it with him since his time in the North. Made of old iron, forged in a great hall, it is not only a strong axe, but a beautifully crafted one.
Hatchets- Not an expert of the bow, Erik uses these hatchets to get a little bit of range on his enemies.
Fang- Dagger, sometimes the fighting gets close, and it's best to have a weapon suited for such situations.
Heavy Armor- Like many Varangians, Erik prefers to wear heavy maille to keep him safe from harm.
Edit: Eliminated Domain and raised Resources.
Vampire: The Masquerade
Moderator: B4UTRUST
#26 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Last edited by Charon on Wed May 23, 2012 11:56 am, edited 9 times in total.
Moderator of Philosophy and Theology
#27 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Ignacio de Seville
Clan: Toreador
Background:
Ignacio was born in 1095 an illegitimate child of Alfonso VI King of Leon and his mistress Zaida de Seville. His mother died during childbirth and his father made arrangement for his son to be raised in a manner befitting of his bloodline. Ignacio was raised in Leon and was given every opportunity and advantage that his siblings enjoyed if away from the public eye. His father did not openly acknowledge him but those that cared for him treated him as if he were Spanish nobility. His existence quickly become an open secret to those in the upper circles of Spanish nobility.
During childhood he was taught to read and write by the same tutors that taught his more fortunate siblings. He was educated, cared for and trained in a similar manner to his famous half-brothers and sisters. In the shadows of Leon, his knowledge expanded as he was slowly trained to take his place in the coming world. His place of course would never be alongside his legitimate brothers and sisters. However, his father intended to give him every opportunity to find his own place in the world. When Ignacio was of age, he expressed an interest in attending the university of Salamanca. His desire made its way to the right ears and he was quickly enrolled.
His time in the University of Salamanca was a time of learning and exploration. By the end of his first year, he had shown an interest in mathematics, economics and theology. It was in art however, that his true passion and skill laid. By the end of his second year, he was one of the most talented painters in the University. By the end of this third, he had matched many of his teachers and surpassed others. His world quickly began to orbit around his art and the focus of his studies shifted from mathematics and economics to iconography. During his fourth and final year in the University of Salamanca, his talent was no longer contained within the University itself but was carried throughout the Kingdom proper in the lips of former students and instructors alike. By the end of the year, when it seemed that Ignacio was ready to leave the University and begin his career as an artist tragedy struck as his lover of two years Isabella Reyes died.
The loss of his lover was a profound shock to Ignacio. He stopped painting, left the university and sought seclusion for over a year. Fifteen months after the loss of Isabella, he emerged ready to transition into the priesthood seeking comfort in the embrace of the divine. He spent exactly two and a half weeks in the clergy before he was found by one of his teachers in the university. When his teacher's words could not sway him to pick up his brush, his teacher a Toreador that was unwilling to allow one of the greatest mortal talents he had seen in his life toss his gift away turned him.
The transition to a vampire was not an easy one for Ignacio. At first, he was shocked, mortified and incensed at what had transpired. He was furious with his sire but at the same time, the changes that his new form had brought about were full of potential. It was during these dark days of contemplation, where he found his focus on art rekindled. His first pieces after his embrace where some of his darkest work as he focused inward and tried to explain the new beast within him. It took him over a year for his relationship with his sire to be anything but strained but as time passed he found that he was in many respects thankful to his sire for allowing him to rediscover his talent as a painter. He made no effort to return to Leon, aware that his current circumstances would not be understood by those that had raised him. For over three years, he watched from the shadows as attempts were made to discover the cause of his disappearance. In the end, he did not allow himself to be found and Ignacio de Seville was presumed dead.
He followed his sire for several decades moving from one place to another. He visited the various kingdoms of the Iberia, visited Rome, Sicily as well as Venice and a dozen other cities including some of the cultural centers in the Muslim world. All the while, he practiced his trade ever seeking to refine his talents. His sire made certain that he was exposed to a myriad of people, cultures and styles of art. In January of 1165 everything changed. His sire, the one constant in his life since his embrace vanished. She left a note indicating that she could no longer stay with him. Ignacio was no longer a childe and was now capable of taking care of himself. She thanked him for having shared her life over the six decades that they had spent together, but now it was time for him to find his own way. Her final gift to him was a suggestion that Constantinople might be a suitable location for him to establish himself and left a single piece of advice.
Seek Michael's court.
Upon arrival upon Constantinople in 1175 the Vampire called Ignacio wasted little time in establishing himself. He had arrived with a pair of twins a boy and a girl each no older than sixteen years old or so. Within a decade, he had established himself as one of the preeminent artists in a city with the reputation of being the artistic and cultural center of the world. By 1190, he was one of the richest, most renowned and in demand artists in the city.
Attributes 7/5/3
Social: (Primary)
Charisma: 1+3 (4) [Charming]
Manipulation: 1+2 (3)
Appearance: 1+2 (3)
Physical: (Secondary)
Strength: 1+1 (2)
Dexterity: 1+3 (4) [Lightning Reflexes]
Stamina: 1+1 (2)
Mental: (Tertiary)
Perception: 1+1+1 (3)
Intelligence: 1+1 (2)
Wits: 1+1 (2)
Abilities 13/9/5
Skills: (Primary)
Crafts (Painting): 3+2 (5) [Details]
Etiquette: 3
Melee: 3
Ride: 1
Stealth: 2
Survival: 1
Talents: (Secondary)
Empathy: 3
Expression: 1+1 (2)
Dodge: 2
Alertness: 2
Subterfuge: 1
Intimidation: 1
Knowledges: (Tertiary)
Academics: 2
Politics: 1
Theology: 1
Linguistics: 1
Virtues:
Conscience: 1+2 (3)
Self-Control: 1+3 (4)
Courage: 1+2 (3)
Backgrounds:
Generation: 3 (4 points) (9th Generation 14 Blood Pool/2 Blood Use)
Resources: 1+3 (4)
Herd: 2 (7-10 reliable vessels)
Retainers: 3 (2x above average retainers)
Domain: 2
Fame: 2
Disciplines:
Auspex: 3
Celerity: 2
Presence: 1
Willpower: 4+3 (7)
Blood Points: X/14
Road: Humanity 7 (Aura: Normalcy)
Experience
Gained: 17
Used: 8
Remaining: 9
Freebies: 25
+1 Perception (-5)
Resources (-3)
Retainers (-3)
Herd (-2)
Craft (Painting) (-4)
Expression: (-2)
Domain (-2)
Fame (-2)
Willpower (-3)
Experience
Celerity 1 -> 2 (5xp)
Intimidation 0 -> 1 (3xp)
*Post Game Start Edit: I fucked up and forgot that I did not pick up acting or expression. I lowered empathy from 4-3 (reclaiming the 2 freebie points) and lowered subterfuge from 2-1 in order to add 1 point in expression which I then turned to two with the 2 freebie points I reclaimed from empathy.
Clan: Toreador
Background:
Ignacio was born in 1095 an illegitimate child of Alfonso VI King of Leon and his mistress Zaida de Seville. His mother died during childbirth and his father made arrangement for his son to be raised in a manner befitting of his bloodline. Ignacio was raised in Leon and was given every opportunity and advantage that his siblings enjoyed if away from the public eye. His father did not openly acknowledge him but those that cared for him treated him as if he were Spanish nobility. His existence quickly become an open secret to those in the upper circles of Spanish nobility.
During childhood he was taught to read and write by the same tutors that taught his more fortunate siblings. He was educated, cared for and trained in a similar manner to his famous half-brothers and sisters. In the shadows of Leon, his knowledge expanded as he was slowly trained to take his place in the coming world. His place of course would never be alongside his legitimate brothers and sisters. However, his father intended to give him every opportunity to find his own place in the world. When Ignacio was of age, he expressed an interest in attending the university of Salamanca. His desire made its way to the right ears and he was quickly enrolled.
His time in the University of Salamanca was a time of learning and exploration. By the end of his first year, he had shown an interest in mathematics, economics and theology. It was in art however, that his true passion and skill laid. By the end of his second year, he was one of the most talented painters in the University. By the end of this third, he had matched many of his teachers and surpassed others. His world quickly began to orbit around his art and the focus of his studies shifted from mathematics and economics to iconography. During his fourth and final year in the University of Salamanca, his talent was no longer contained within the University itself but was carried throughout the Kingdom proper in the lips of former students and instructors alike. By the end of the year, when it seemed that Ignacio was ready to leave the University and begin his career as an artist tragedy struck as his lover of two years Isabella Reyes died.
The loss of his lover was a profound shock to Ignacio. He stopped painting, left the university and sought seclusion for over a year. Fifteen months after the loss of Isabella, he emerged ready to transition into the priesthood seeking comfort in the embrace of the divine. He spent exactly two and a half weeks in the clergy before he was found by one of his teachers in the university. When his teacher's words could not sway him to pick up his brush, his teacher a Toreador that was unwilling to allow one of the greatest mortal talents he had seen in his life toss his gift away turned him.
The transition to a vampire was not an easy one for Ignacio. At first, he was shocked, mortified and incensed at what had transpired. He was furious with his sire but at the same time, the changes that his new form had brought about were full of potential. It was during these dark days of contemplation, where he found his focus on art rekindled. His first pieces after his embrace where some of his darkest work as he focused inward and tried to explain the new beast within him. It took him over a year for his relationship with his sire to be anything but strained but as time passed he found that he was in many respects thankful to his sire for allowing him to rediscover his talent as a painter. He made no effort to return to Leon, aware that his current circumstances would not be understood by those that had raised him. For over three years, he watched from the shadows as attempts were made to discover the cause of his disappearance. In the end, he did not allow himself to be found and Ignacio de Seville was presumed dead.
He followed his sire for several decades moving from one place to another. He visited the various kingdoms of the Iberia, visited Rome, Sicily as well as Venice and a dozen other cities including some of the cultural centers in the Muslim world. All the while, he practiced his trade ever seeking to refine his talents. His sire made certain that he was exposed to a myriad of people, cultures and styles of art. In January of 1165 everything changed. His sire, the one constant in his life since his embrace vanished. She left a note indicating that she could no longer stay with him. Ignacio was no longer a childe and was now capable of taking care of himself. She thanked him for having shared her life over the six decades that they had spent together, but now it was time for him to find his own way. Her final gift to him was a suggestion that Constantinople might be a suitable location for him to establish himself and left a single piece of advice.
Seek Michael's court.
Upon arrival upon Constantinople in 1175 the Vampire called Ignacio wasted little time in establishing himself. He had arrived with a pair of twins a boy and a girl each no older than sixteen years old or so. Within a decade, he had established himself as one of the preeminent artists in a city with the reputation of being the artistic and cultural center of the world. By 1190, he was one of the richest, most renowned and in demand artists in the city.
Attributes 7/5/3
Social: (Primary)
Charisma: 1+3 (4) [Charming]
Manipulation: 1+2 (3)
Appearance: 1+2 (3)
Physical: (Secondary)
Strength: 1+1 (2)
Dexterity: 1+3 (4) [Lightning Reflexes]
Stamina: 1+1 (2)
Mental: (Tertiary)
Perception: 1+1+1 (3)
Intelligence: 1+1 (2)
Wits: 1+1 (2)
Abilities 13/9/5
Skills: (Primary)
Crafts (Painting): 3+2 (5) [Details]
Etiquette: 3
Melee: 3
Ride: 1
Stealth: 2
Survival: 1
Talents: (Secondary)
Empathy: 3
Expression: 1+1 (2)
Dodge: 2
Alertness: 2
Subterfuge: 1
Intimidation: 1
Knowledges: (Tertiary)
Academics: 2
Politics: 1
Theology: 1
Linguistics: 1
Virtues:
Conscience: 1+2 (3)
Self-Control: 1+3 (4)
Courage: 1+2 (3)
Backgrounds:
Generation: 3 (4 points) (9th Generation 14 Blood Pool/2 Blood Use)
Resources: 1+3 (4)
Herd: 2 (7-10 reliable vessels)
Retainers: 3 (2x above average retainers)
Domain: 2
Fame: 2
Disciplines:
Auspex: 3
Celerity: 2
Presence: 1
Willpower: 4+3 (7)
Blood Points: X/14
Road: Humanity 7 (Aura: Normalcy)
Experience
Gained: 17
Used: 8
Remaining: 9
Freebies: 25
+1 Perception (-5)
Resources (-3)
Retainers (-3)
Herd (-2)
Craft (Painting) (-4)
Expression: (-2)
Domain (-2)
Fame (-2)
Willpower (-3)
Experience
Celerity 1 -> 2 (5xp)
Intimidation 0 -> 1 (3xp)
*Post Game Start Edit: I fucked up and forgot that I did not pick up acting or expression. I lowered empathy from 4-3 (reclaiming the 2 freebie points) and lowered subterfuge from 2-1 in order to add 1 point in expression which I then turned to two with the 2 freebie points I reclaimed from empathy.
Last edited by Marcao on Sun Sep 01, 2013 9:17 pm, edited 33 times in total.
The Peddler of Half Truths.
"Not OP, therefore weakest." - Cynical Cat (May 2016)
"A dog doesn’t need to show his teeth as long as his growl’s deep enough, his food bowl is full and he knows where all the bones are buried." - Frank Underwood
"Not OP, therefore weakest." - Cynical Cat (May 2016)
"A dog doesn’t need to show his teeth as long as his growl’s deep enough, his food bowl is full and he knows where all the bones are buried." - Frank Underwood
#28 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
The Seedling That Joined the Hall of the High Mountains to Greet the Ardorner of the Earth
The Raging Destruction of the Sapling Seals the Destiny of the Sword Tree
The Desire of the Howler and the Rage of the Swift Fire of the Highest Storm Tent
The Night of Odin is Forgotten in the Blood of the Child that Would be a God, and the Valley Trout’s Breath Chills the Bones of the Land
The Slender Helmet Reed Sets Flight for the Dark Coiling Fish of the Heather, Uncaring of the Sky’s Brood
This Tale Ends, and the Hunt Begins...
Character Details
Name: Helgi Isarnbjorn Ognherdi (For short)
Clan: Gangrel
Generation: 10th 9th (His Sire was as the Valkyries of the tales, ancient and powerful, though she was herself the Child of the Younger of her Tribe.)
Concept: Swedish Pagan
Nature: Barbarian (The Old Ways are true, no matter what the teachings of the “civilized” people would tell us to blunt the blades of our ambitions and dim the fires of our hearts.)
Demeanor: Barbarian (Do you expect a true son of the north to hide what he is from the world? You shall see its glory and respect the strength that brought a continent to its knees!)
Description: The Beast of the North is twenty and five stones, towering just over twenty and one hands tall, with a thick beard and mane of gilded brown hair, both kept with careful hands and braided with the care one gives such things. When he prepares for his weekly bath, the scars of his earthly trials litter his body, and the hair of own hide is liken that to a great bear of the wilds. His voice carries with it the steadfast intent and clarity of thunder, and from it flows words as rain into the river.
Attributes (Total Cost 5 Free Points):
Physical (7): The Einherjar do not commonly entertain the sickly among their number, and one who was named the Iron Bear in life does not receive such a kenning-name without first earning it.
Strength: 4 (Reserves of Strength) Dex: 4 (12 xp) Stamina: 3
Social (5): A teller of the tales is like a maker of food, preparing the word-feast to the tastes of those gathered around the fire, and what better way to inspire one’s fellows to the greatness Odin deserves than to feed them the tales of the heroics of their forebears?
Charisma: 3 Manipulation: 3 Appearance: 2
Mental (3) + 5 Free: While the teachings of the runes and hearth are important, having one’s wits in battle, be it with axe or words, is of the utmost importance should you be caught unawares.
Perception: 3 (8 XP) Intelligence: 2 Wits: 3 (2+1*5)
Abilities (Total Cost 4 Free Points):
Talents (13) + 2 Free:
Alertness: 2 (Being able to spot a trap allows one to rush in confident of what to expect)
Athletics: 2 (A march up the mountain will do you good, little one, remember to be fresh enough to fight for your supper when you return)
Brawl: 4 (3+1*2) (Claws) (Only a fool faces the mountain with his fists, and many fools have died on the claws of the world)
Awareness: 1 (Even the mountain can be chipped away, but clever ones learn to convince the wind to be elsewhere)
Empathy: 1 (Their ways are not ours, but learning when steel should be drawn is valuable) (3 XP)
Expression: 2 (The telling of tales is one thing, but being understood and piercing the kennings of other men’s minds can be just as vital, particularly when you must convince them of the rightness of your cause or your ways)
Intimidation: 2 (When reason fails, all fear the shedding of a mountain’s flesh)
Subterfuge: 1 (In the land of vipers, only a fool charges the fangs) (3 XP)
Skills (9) + 2 Free:
Animal Ken: 2 (1+1*2) (Knowing the ways of the beasts lets you understand your own, and the kinship that we share.)
Melee: 3 (The way of the Axe, Sword, and Spear have served me well, if only now for a disguise that I might whisper in the Middlegard) (4 xp)
Sagaman*: 5 (Cost 2) (Improvisation) (The stories of old have power and wisdom, never forget this, or you shall forget yourself. Now sit, and I will tell you of the hero of your people. You know of King Eric, The Victorious? His Saga begins thusly...)
Stealth: 2 (And yet to the untrained ear, the bear can sound as though a deer, and be dismissed as harmless until its jaws are at your throat)
Survival: 3 (4 xp) (One does not survive in the northlands by being wearing silks and having another chew one’s food. When winter comes on a lean harvest, one lives or dies by the land)
Knowledges (5):
Academics: 2
Hearth Wisdom: 1 (What do you mean she tripped upon the threshold, did you not carry her? Oh you terrible fool, did you learn nothing of marriage before you decided upon it? Oh this is an ill omen indeed)
Investigation: 1 (Odin has but one eye and can see all of Midgard. Surely with two, one can see that this blade is not of this land.) (3 XP)
Law (Norse)*: 2 (Cost 1) (Do not worry, I have dealt with the Thing before. Explain the reasons you killed him and at worst you’ll pay the fine to the family. Half the town heard him call you a coward and what was said of your sister. Had it been a proper flyting, you might be in more trouble, but no one could call what he said proper poetry)
Enigmas: 1 (Greek, Latin, Arabic, Egyptian, Persian, Hebrew) (2 XP) (Bah, what mangled tongue is this? Who makes a way to speak that sounds as though one has an urge to spit on his fellow man?)
Occult: 2
Rune Lore*: 4 (Cost 2) (Clarity) (The runes have truth and power in them, and they mark the telling of some of our greatest tales, and over my years I have left many an accounting of my travels behind, and many more I intend to leave, such as the tales of my vengeance upon the walls where the land-trout hide)
*Indicates Specialized Skills
Advantages (Total Cost 11 Free Points):
Disciplines: (The gifts of the All Father flow through me, granting me refuge in Middlegard, the claws and eyes of Fenrir, Sigurd’s Skin, and the voice of the beast that I may yet treat with them.)
Clan (5) + 7 Free:
Protean: 4 (2+1*7) (15xp) Fortitude: 3 (15 xp) Animalism: 3 (10xp)
Potence: 1 Obfuscate: 1 Presence: 1
Serpentis: 0 Setite Sorcery: 0
Backgrounds (5) + 1 Free
Allies: 1 (Brand: A son of the North who remembers the fire in his blood is truly a brother, and we have seen each other as kin. When in the City of Constantine, he will aid me in my duty.)
Generation: 2 (Kara is was not the eldest of the Valkyries, but by the All Father, she was a Spear-Maiden)
Resources: 3 (In life, wealth was of little concern, and now, the dead have little use for coin)
Contacts: 1 (They at least appreciate the stories and the aid, if not the truth of my words, they may be of help in the nights to come)
Virtues (7) + 3 Free: (The Mountain feels the iron within to stand to any foe, the cliffs are solid and know their place, and little falls from the stairs to Aesirgard without reason)
Conviction: 4 (6xp) Self-Control: 3 Courage: 5 (4+1*2)
Road of Aesirgard: 6 (Holy Aura) (The All Father’s Chosen Warrior knows his way, and while he may yet have more to prove to the Hoary Bearded Host of Spears, he is above most men of this age)
Willpower: 8 (5+1+1) (13 xp) (One does not question the resolve of the north, but one does not also pretend to know the grief of its loss)
Merits and Flaws (Total Cost: 5 Free Points):
Huge Size +4 (The Iron Bear, the Mountain, The Terror of the Dwarves, these are but names, to see him is to know what they mean)
Kenning-Wise +2 (For every situation, a phrase, a riddle of words that paints the picture in ways few others understand)
Enchanting Voice +2 (The teller of tales has enchanted hundreds of hundreds around hundreds more fires, to hear a saga from his lips is perhaps as close to Bragi’s own arts as one is likely to hear in life)
Prestigious Sire +1 (Within his lands, the Valkyrie are of high regard, and few would test the fury of Brunhilde and her Spear-Maiden Childer)
Inoffensive to Animals +2 (They recognize this chosen of Odin and do not fear those gifted by the graces of the gods)
Eat Food +1 (When one tells stories in mead halls, by Odin one drinks MEAD!)
Iron Will +3 (One does not force nature to its will, one can only ever hope to beg it to be merciful, remember that in your death, Coward of Christ)
Multi-Lingual: Greek, Latin, Arabic, Egyptian, Persian, Hebrew
Outspoken Pagan -4 (Did the Christ Child save Rome? Does it save you? Odin kept our halls untouched by your people, and in return all he asks is our service to fight in the most harrowing of battles in which the Gods may well die! He does not request us mutilate our manhood nor forgo food in times of need!)
Vengeful -2 (You killed my sire! You poisoned my land! You are the filth beneath Jormungandr’s belly that it might slither to Aesirgard, and I will cleanse you from the Middlegard that your foul stench never reach the mead halls of my ancestors!)
Hunted -4 (You mean to force my people under your cross through pain and death? I care not what your name is, let it be forgotten by the sages and your ancestors forever shamed that the final act of their blood brought your vile wretchedness into this world!)
Belongings
Tyr’s Beard: A hand-axe of some age and strength. In a lesser man’s hands, this might almost be a two-handed weapon, but Helgi carries it with ease. (Hand Axe)
Chooser of the Slain: Kara’s Spear, the last memory he has of his love, that which has also shared his blood with hers, which will taste the blood of her killers in her memory. (Spear, One-Handed)
The Hide of the Bear: When he joined the ranks of the Einherjar, a new armor was made for him from the hide of a bear, inlaid with bits of metal from the tatters of his old armor. (Composite Armor)
Iron Shout: This throwing hatchet is often how Helgi may start a fight, and often times how he inscribes the remembrance of it. (Throwing Hatchet)
The Teller of Tales: This chisel has left the mark of Helgi’s runes across the north and now beyond. (Chisel)
Friend of the Hunt: This hunting knife has seen much use over the years, but is rarely if ever seen in battle. (Knife)
Keeper of the Tangled Veins: A finely crafted comb that Helgi uses to tend to his great beard and mane when he bathes every week. (Comb)
Miners of the Capped Mountains: A set of toothpicks, for one must care for the teeth, and now fangs, that sustain us. (Toothpicks)
Blood Pool: 8/14
Can Spend 2 Blood Per Round
Current Willpower: 7/8
Damage:
Bruised: 0
Lethal: 0
Aggravated: 0
Bruised 0:
Bruised 0:
Hurt -1:
Injured -1:
Wounded -2:
Mauled -2:
Crippled -5:
Incapacitated (Fuck):
Animalism Tracker: 1
XP: 99
Spent: 98
Deyr fé, deyja frændr,
deyr sjalfr it sama.
Ek veit einn at aldri deyr:
dómr um dauðan hvern.
- Hávamál
"Cattle die, kin die,
we ourselves die also.
I know one thing that never dies:
the honors of all the dead."
* Baron Thomas Furrow: (Norman Gangrel) Petrion Citadel
* Petronius, Arbiter of the Toreador
-Hates the Emperor
-Hates Genoans
-Really hates Venetians
*Isabel the Gangrel (Teen Wolfpire), Baron’s agent, awesome
*Fathi - Lasombra Pirate of win and awesome (Tunis, Valencia)
Introduced self as “Vargseðjandi Bǫðsvellandi Hrafngreddir” in Alexandria
Spoiler: show
Spoiler: show
Spoiler: show
Spoiler: show
Spoiler: show
Character Details
Name: Helgi Isarnbjorn Ognherdi (For short)
Clan: Gangrel
Generation: 10th 9th (His Sire was as the Valkyries of the tales, ancient and powerful, though she was herself the Child of the Younger of her Tribe.)
Concept: Swedish Pagan
Nature: Barbarian (The Old Ways are true, no matter what the teachings of the “civilized” people would tell us to blunt the blades of our ambitions and dim the fires of our hearts.)
Demeanor: Barbarian (Do you expect a true son of the north to hide what he is from the world? You shall see its glory and respect the strength that brought a continent to its knees!)
Description: The Beast of the North is twenty and five stones, towering just over twenty and one hands tall, with a thick beard and mane of gilded brown hair, both kept with careful hands and braided with the care one gives such things. When he prepares for his weekly bath, the scars of his earthly trials litter his body, and the hair of own hide is liken that to a great bear of the wilds. His voice carries with it the steadfast intent and clarity of thunder, and from it flows words as rain into the river.
Attributes (Total Cost 5 Free Points):
Physical (7): The Einherjar do not commonly entertain the sickly among their number, and one who was named the Iron Bear in life does not receive such a kenning-name without first earning it.
Strength: 4 (Reserves of Strength) Dex: 4 (12 xp) Stamina: 3
Social (5): A teller of the tales is like a maker of food, preparing the word-feast to the tastes of those gathered around the fire, and what better way to inspire one’s fellows to the greatness Odin deserves than to feed them the tales of the heroics of their forebears?
Charisma: 3 Manipulation: 3 Appearance: 2
Mental (3) + 5 Free: While the teachings of the runes and hearth are important, having one’s wits in battle, be it with axe or words, is of the utmost importance should you be caught unawares.
Perception: 3 (8 XP) Intelligence: 2 Wits: 3 (2+1*5)
Abilities (Total Cost 4 Free Points):
Talents (13) + 2 Free:
Alertness: 2 (Being able to spot a trap allows one to rush in confident of what to expect)
Athletics: 2 (A march up the mountain will do you good, little one, remember to be fresh enough to fight for your supper when you return)
Brawl: 4 (3+1*2) (Claws) (Only a fool faces the mountain with his fists, and many fools have died on the claws of the world)
Awareness: 1 (Even the mountain can be chipped away, but clever ones learn to convince the wind to be elsewhere)
Empathy: 1 (Their ways are not ours, but learning when steel should be drawn is valuable) (3 XP)
Expression: 2 (The telling of tales is one thing, but being understood and piercing the kennings of other men’s minds can be just as vital, particularly when you must convince them of the rightness of your cause or your ways)
Intimidation: 2 (When reason fails, all fear the shedding of a mountain’s flesh)
Subterfuge: 1 (In the land of vipers, only a fool charges the fangs) (3 XP)
Skills (9) + 2 Free:
Animal Ken: 2 (1+1*2) (Knowing the ways of the beasts lets you understand your own, and the kinship that we share.)
Melee: 3 (The way of the Axe, Sword, and Spear have served me well, if only now for a disguise that I might whisper in the Middlegard) (4 xp)
Sagaman*: 5 (Cost 2) (Improvisation) (The stories of old have power and wisdom, never forget this, or you shall forget yourself. Now sit, and I will tell you of the hero of your people. You know of King Eric, The Victorious? His Saga begins thusly...)
Stealth: 2 (And yet to the untrained ear, the bear can sound as though a deer, and be dismissed as harmless until its jaws are at your throat)
Survival: 3 (4 xp) (One does not survive in the northlands by being wearing silks and having another chew one’s food. When winter comes on a lean harvest, one lives or dies by the land)
Knowledges (5):
Academics: 2
Hearth Wisdom: 1 (What do you mean she tripped upon the threshold, did you not carry her? Oh you terrible fool, did you learn nothing of marriage before you decided upon it? Oh this is an ill omen indeed)
Investigation: 1 (Odin has but one eye and can see all of Midgard. Surely with two, one can see that this blade is not of this land.) (3 XP)
Law (Norse)*: 2 (Cost 1) (Do not worry, I have dealt with the Thing before. Explain the reasons you killed him and at worst you’ll pay the fine to the family. Half the town heard him call you a coward and what was said of your sister. Had it been a proper flyting, you might be in more trouble, but no one could call what he said proper poetry)
Enigmas: 1 (Greek, Latin, Arabic, Egyptian, Persian, Hebrew) (2 XP) (Bah, what mangled tongue is this? Who makes a way to speak that sounds as though one has an urge to spit on his fellow man?)
Occult: 2
Rune Lore*: 4 (Cost 2) (Clarity) (The runes have truth and power in them, and they mark the telling of some of our greatest tales, and over my years I have left many an accounting of my travels behind, and many more I intend to leave, such as the tales of my vengeance upon the walls where the land-trout hide)
*Indicates Specialized Skills
Advantages (Total Cost 11 Free Points):
Disciplines: (The gifts of the All Father flow through me, granting me refuge in Middlegard, the claws and eyes of Fenrir, Sigurd’s Skin, and the voice of the beast that I may yet treat with them.)
Clan (5) + 7 Free:
Protean: 4 (2+1*7) (15xp) Fortitude: 3 (15 xp) Animalism: 3 (10xp)
Potence: 1 Obfuscate: 1 Presence: 1
Serpentis: 0 Setite Sorcery: 0
Backgrounds (5) + 1 Free
Allies: 1 (Brand: A son of the North who remembers the fire in his blood is truly a brother, and we have seen each other as kin. When in the City of Constantine, he will aid me in my duty.)
Generation: 2 (Kara is was not the eldest of the Valkyries, but by the All Father, she was a Spear-Maiden)
Resources: 3 (In life, wealth was of little concern, and now, the dead have little use for coin)
Contacts: 1 (They at least appreciate the stories and the aid, if not the truth of my words, they may be of help in the nights to come)
Virtues (7) + 3 Free: (The Mountain feels the iron within to stand to any foe, the cliffs are solid and know their place, and little falls from the stairs to Aesirgard without reason)
Conviction: 4 (6xp) Self-Control: 3 Courage: 5 (4+1*2)
Road of Aesirgard: 6 (Holy Aura) (The All Father’s Chosen Warrior knows his way, and while he may yet have more to prove to the Hoary Bearded Host of Spears, he is above most men of this age)
Spoiler: show
Merits and Flaws (Total Cost: 5 Free Points):
Huge Size +4 (The Iron Bear, the Mountain, The Terror of the Dwarves, these are but names, to see him is to know what they mean)
Kenning-Wise +2 (For every situation, a phrase, a riddle of words that paints the picture in ways few others understand)
Enchanting Voice +2 (The teller of tales has enchanted hundreds of hundreds around hundreds more fires, to hear a saga from his lips is perhaps as close to Bragi’s own arts as one is likely to hear in life)
Prestigious Sire +1 (Within his lands, the Valkyrie are of high regard, and few would test the fury of Brunhilde and her Spear-Maiden Childer)
Inoffensive to Animals +2 (They recognize this chosen of Odin and do not fear those gifted by the graces of the gods)
Eat Food +1 (When one tells stories in mead halls, by Odin one drinks MEAD!)
Iron Will +3 (One does not force nature to its will, one can only ever hope to beg it to be merciful, remember that in your death, Coward of Christ)
Multi-Lingual: Greek, Latin, Arabic, Egyptian, Persian, Hebrew
Outspoken Pagan -4 (Did the Christ Child save Rome? Does it save you? Odin kept our halls untouched by your people, and in return all he asks is our service to fight in the most harrowing of battles in which the Gods may well die! He does not request us mutilate our manhood nor forgo food in times of need!)
Vengeful -2 (You killed my sire! You poisoned my land! You are the filth beneath Jormungandr’s belly that it might slither to Aesirgard, and I will cleanse you from the Middlegard that your foul stench never reach the mead halls of my ancestors!)
Hunted -4 (You mean to force my people under your cross through pain and death? I care not what your name is, let it be forgotten by the sages and your ancestors forever shamed that the final act of their blood brought your vile wretchedness into this world!)
Belongings
Tyr’s Beard: A hand-axe of some age and strength. In a lesser man’s hands, this might almost be a two-handed weapon, but Helgi carries it with ease. (Hand Axe)
Chooser of the Slain: Kara’s Spear, the last memory he has of his love, that which has also shared his blood with hers, which will taste the blood of her killers in her memory. (Spear, One-Handed)
The Hide of the Bear: When he joined the ranks of the Einherjar, a new armor was made for him from the hide of a bear, inlaid with bits of metal from the tatters of his old armor. (Composite Armor)
Iron Shout: This throwing hatchet is often how Helgi may start a fight, and often times how he inscribes the remembrance of it. (Throwing Hatchet)
The Teller of Tales: This chisel has left the mark of Helgi’s runes across the north and now beyond. (Chisel)
Friend of the Hunt: This hunting knife has seen much use over the years, but is rarely if ever seen in battle. (Knife)
Keeper of the Tangled Veins: A finely crafted comb that Helgi uses to tend to his great beard and mane when he bathes every week. (Comb)
Miners of the Capped Mountains: A set of toothpicks, for one must care for the teeth, and now fangs, that sustain us. (Toothpicks)
Blood Pool: 8/14
Can Spend 2 Blood Per Round
Current Willpower: 7/8
Damage:
Bruised: 0
Lethal: 0
Aggravated: 0
Bruised 0:
Bruised 0:
Hurt -1:
Injured -1:
Wounded -2:
Mauled -2:
Crippled -5:
Incapacitated (Fuck):
Animalism Tracker: 1
XP: 99
Spent: 98
Deyr fé, deyja frændr,
deyr sjalfr it sama.
Ek veit einn at aldri deyr:
dómr um dauðan hvern.
- Hávamál
"Cattle die, kin die,
we ourselves die also.
I know one thing that never dies:
the honors of all the dead."
* Baron Thomas Furrow: (Norman Gangrel) Petrion Citadel
* Petronius, Arbiter of the Toreador
-Hates the Emperor
-Hates Genoans
-Really hates Venetians
*Isabel the Gangrel (Teen Wolfpire), Baron’s agent, awesome
*Fathi - Lasombra Pirate of win and awesome (Tunis, Valencia)
Introduced self as “Vargseðjandi Bǫðsvellandi Hrafngreddir” in Alexandria
Last edited by Hotfoot on Mon Nov 24, 2014 7:16 pm, edited 48 times in total.
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SirNitram
- The All-Seeing Eye
- Posts: 5178
- Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2005 7:13 pm
- 19
- Location: Behind you, duh!
- Contact:
#29 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Name: Bardrsson The Unwavering, Baptized Camiel.
Clan: Salubri
Background: In the 870s, Bardrsson was a warrior under the command of the King of Wessex, Alfred The Great. He had remained with the king as a bodyguard as they evaded the Great Heathen Army, and assembled the West Saxon forces. And under normal circumstances, he would have been yet another corpse felled in the Battle Of Edington....
One of Samiel's disciples found Bardrsson there, bleeding but not dead. Truthfully, the vampire had been watching him for months now, the skill at arms, the experience in battle, the conviction.. And most importantly, the Precept Of Samiel. No records or tales of his blooding and duties remain during the years of his time in Britain, save for rumors of a warrior that appears at night, striking down raiders and theives, never caught by the sun's rays. Some vampires dismiss the idea the Warrior Caste could be this one, as never did a fallen foe have a mark of being drunk from. Bardrsson never spoke of these deeds, a humility unheard of when it comes to the Warrior Caste of Salubri in the modern nights where they hunt Tremere with wild abandon.
What is known of the Salubri warrior is his caring for the Malkavians, attempting to ease the worst bouts of madness and guiding them to the goals their mad visions present. The Usurper's mad schemes have not stopped this, though there are rumors that the Tremere hunting him have suffered horrifying visions. The Usurpers, of course, reveal not a word of any such failure. Against all odds, Camiel has arrived in Constantinople, still one step ahead and three alliances deep from his Tremere hunter. Oddly, he lacks the zeal and fury most Warrior Caste have to take down the Usurpers, saying nothing on the topic aside from a small smile.
He operates as a warrior-priest once again, for the good of the city's Kindred, slaying those who threaten the existance of the many.
(Mechanics coming later, assuming approval.)
Clan: Salubri
Background: In the 870s, Bardrsson was a warrior under the command of the King of Wessex, Alfred The Great. He had remained with the king as a bodyguard as they evaded the Great Heathen Army, and assembled the West Saxon forces. And under normal circumstances, he would have been yet another corpse felled in the Battle Of Edington....
One of Samiel's disciples found Bardrsson there, bleeding but not dead. Truthfully, the vampire had been watching him for months now, the skill at arms, the experience in battle, the conviction.. And most importantly, the Precept Of Samiel. No records or tales of his blooding and duties remain during the years of his time in Britain, save for rumors of a warrior that appears at night, striking down raiders and theives, never caught by the sun's rays. Some vampires dismiss the idea the Warrior Caste could be this one, as never did a fallen foe have a mark of being drunk from. Bardrsson never spoke of these deeds, a humility unheard of when it comes to the Warrior Caste of Salubri in the modern nights where they hunt Tremere with wild abandon.
What is known of the Salubri warrior is his caring for the Malkavians, attempting to ease the worst bouts of madness and guiding them to the goals their mad visions present. The Usurper's mad schemes have not stopped this, though there are rumors that the Tremere hunting him have suffered horrifying visions. The Usurpers, of course, reveal not a word of any such failure. Against all odds, Camiel has arrived in Constantinople, still one step ahead and three alliances deep from his Tremere hunter. Oddly, he lacks the zeal and fury most Warrior Caste have to take down the Usurpers, saying nothing on the topic aside from a small smile.
He operates as a warrior-priest once again, for the good of the city's Kindred, slaying those who threaten the existance of the many.
(Mechanics coming later, assuming approval.)
Half-Damned, All Hero.
Tev: You're happy. You're Plotting. You're Evil.
Me: Evil is so inappropriate. I'm ruthless.
Tev: You're turning me on.
I Am Rage. You Will Know My Fury.
Tev: You're happy. You're Plotting. You're Evil.
Me: Evil is so inappropriate. I'm ruthless.
Tev: You're turning me on.
I Am Rage. You Will Know My Fury.
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Cynical Cat
- Arch-Magician
- Posts: 11930
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:53 pm
- 19
- Location: Ice Sarcophagus outside a ruined Jedi Temple
- Contact:
#30 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Not approved. Being Salubri means Ben has to kill your ass while living in the same city as one of Clan Tremere's head honchos, which makes not doing so a huge problem for Ben. Since I approved Ben's character back when both of you had stated you were playing Tremere, I'm not going to rescind my approval of his character because you changed your mind. Choose some other character that doesn't make murderous player strife mandatory (as opposed to optional).
It's not that I'm unforgiving, it's that most of the people who wrong me are unrepentant assholes.
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Comrade Tortoise
- Exemplar
- Posts: 4832
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- Location: Land of steers and queers indeed
- Contact:
#31 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Biography of Adrianus van Brugge
Adrianus van Brugge was born in the Flemish city of Brugge (Bruges in English) in 1130, as the third son of a merchant who imported goods such as spices and silks from the Mediterranean (particularly Venice) and exported cloth. As the third son, he stood to inherit precisely nothing, and was sent at the age of seven to apprentice with Gustaaf, his father’s childless cousin who lived in Ghent. It was in his cousin’s service that he met a French scribe—paid for in lodgings in the undercroft of the house—to teach him his letters, as well as a great many other things, some of which were heretical such as hermetic gnosticism. And fed his own already well-developed ambition. By the time he reached the age of majority, Adrianus was well schooled in certain aspects of the occult, as well as how to maneuver politically.
In 1150, Gustaaf would be dead, having failed to outlive his older brother and succumbing to disease.
This left Adrianus’ father, as his master’s cousin and next closest male relative to inherit, and left Adrianus back where he started, though with a much better skill set. Within his older brother’s business—father died in 1152 from dysentery in his old age—he negotiated trade agreements across Europe, making contacts as far away as Alexandria and Jerusalem while managing to survive the dangers of the road and sea (which necessitated him learning where the pointy end of various weapons goes). Long sojourns gave him the spare time to write a few chronicles of his travels while he was at it.
By 1163 he expanded the family business from a modest trans-channel and overland operation to one that had significant stake in a small private fleet and tendrils spread across mainland Europe, while his brother—an unskilled lout—raked in most of the profits, squandered them on frivolities, and would eventually have children with his second wife (the first having died in childbirth along with the infant, much to Adrianus’ relief).
The employees were loyal to Adrianus. The wool merchants and weavers did their business with him, the ship captains and the men who guarded caravans were paid (handsomely) by him. His stake was only 20% in the profits and strictly speaking he did not nominally hold interest in investments. The business was his in all but name, and no effort was made on the part of his brother to maintain his good will, or ensure him that he was anything more than a replaceable seneschal. So, he engineered the demise of all his male relatives.
This is not as horrific as it sounds. There were only two male relatives left in the line of inheritance, his two brothers Gottfried and Egbert, so it is not as if there was a wholesale slaughter.
Egbert was easy enough to turn. His violence toward his wife was only equaled by his apparent love of other women. His only hope for any sort of heir to his own business was through bastardry in both behavioral and lineal form, as his wife tended to be absentee for obvious reasons. So, it was arranged to put one of his own servant girls in his brother’s bed, one who would encourage said brother to kill his elder sibling and take his property. This went about as can be expected, and Gottfried was found beaten to death after one of Egbert’s more historic tavern binges.
The obvious first suspect was the next in the male line, as fratricide was not exactly uncommon. When tortured, he confessed that the murder had been instigated by a young servant girl, who was never to be seen or heard from again and who may or may not even exist (she was simply relocated to Frisia where she had a distant cousin, and paid very very well for services rendered). Egbert was hanged. This left the “grief stricken” youngest brother in sole possession of a much expanded shipping business, as well as his own fullery. Vertical integration certainly is grand.
About a year later, engaged to be married himself now that he had actually inherited wealth and returned the Dowries to his brother’s respective wives, a Frisian traveler came to the door of his country estate (no ennoblement, but he was wealthy enough to pay a country knight for the use of land) and asked for his hospitality. One does not refuse to give hospitality to travelers, but in this case, Adrianus got more than he bargained for. The traveler, Albert, wheedled his way into Adrianus’ confidence even though he kept very strange hours and integrated himself into his business, much to the chagrin of other aspirants to the position of the master’s business partner. The man was not a simple traveler, but a vampire in house Tremere. Once the vampire decided that Adrianus was a good recruit rather than a simple puppet, he surprised the merchant in his bed-chamber one evening, and embraced him. His sire put him to work for the Clan without changing anything but the hours Adrianus kept as far as the world was concerned. Though, in fairness, this did not come without certain benefits. Adrianus knew some hermetic lore, but was never able to do much definitive with it that could not be explained through non-magical means. With his embrace and what Albert taught him, he had real arcane power.
The decade from 1163 to 1173 was good for Adrianus, even if he would never again see the light of day. However, for all that this time was good, everything after that was horrendous. War broke out between Henry of England, his sons, France, Flanders, and Brittany. Nottingham and Norwich, both primary sources of wool were torched by rebels against the English crown. This was a problem down his supply chain, there was absolutely nothing he could do for two years until peace broke out in England. War broke out in Italy between the Guelphs and Ghibellines and this state of war more or less stayed that way.
The King of France cancelled all debts held by jews and expelled them, cutting off Adrianus’ financing. His only other options were Italian merchant banks controlled by, of all things, the Lasombra and Cappadoceans who engaged in the platonic form of predatory lending against the upstart Tremere. To make matters worse, Henry was dead and one of the worst kings of England ever took the throne in 1189, destroyed the wealth of England, driving up prices, and then invaded France and pillaged its wealth. Combine this and the crusades and lines of import and export, in addition to finance were severely curtailed.
In the end, he was simply forced to liquidate many of his assets, particularly in eastern Europe and northern Italy, as internecine warfare endangered them. It was simply better to sell off assets to locals than to risk everything being burned when one city or another was sacked or experienced rioting or revolts when he was too far away to react to protect said assets. There were also internal issues, that looked for all the world, as he desperately tried to keep his investments solvent, like there was some concerted effort to confound his ability to operate effectively. Still, he did eventually manage to find his mercantile feet again and start rebuilding.
That is until a fire broke out in Brugge, like was apt to happen in a medieval city. Warehouses, the fullery, and essentially all of Adrianus’ real estate but the country house that contained the bulk of his hard currency was destroyed. It was the final straw in a long series of upsets. At that point, with no base of operations and the district of the city where a new one would be housed in ruins. There was simply no other option but to start rebuilding from nothing but scratch, a merchant fleet out of Genoa he still owned stock in, and a sum of money almost sufficient to swim in.
It was then that the Powers that Be, in their wisdom, sent him to Constantinople. He sold off his country house, packed up his belongings and relocated, taking the road to Carcassonne, then Genoa, setting sail on a ship to Constantinople (miraculously surviving piracy and storms) and landed late in 1195. There he re-estasblished himself at considerable expense in a fortified manse (fucking rioters) and began the labor of love that was rebuilding a trade empire and awaited further instructions from his Dark Overlords.
Personality and Intellectual Development of Adrianus van Brugge
Adrianus grew up in a heavily structured society, one which recognizes the three Estates established by God as the natural order of the world. The priests are the Voices of God who guide and direct the population, the nobility are the Arms of God who protect and defend the priests and both defend and govern the population. The commoners are the Legs, which support the voice and arms. These Estates form a sort of caste system where one's station in life is determined largely by birth, or in the case of priests birth order. Said stations are the Will of God, who arranged society thus with a purpose. This idea never got very far with Adrianus. For starters, status as nobility could be lost inside someone's lifetime, with noble lines dying out or going commoner on a periodic basis. How then are these noble lines replaced? From the commoners of course. How did this happen? They buy their way in, of course. God has nothing to do with it. The nobility does not defend the church or the population either. They tax the peasants into destitution, raid and pillage the territory of rivals in order to take his lands by denying their income and ability to defend their fortresses. The church? Should they not be like Christ? You know, impoverished? These were questions that plagued him when he was an oddly perceptive and critically minded child, and finally someone was able to give him an answer, his childhood tutor. The answer given that in retrospect now seems insane to him, though only because it has too many moving parts for his rational mind to consider the most likely answer, is that the universe is corrupt. But the fall of man? Really? Why should the fall of Adam ruin all of creation?
Rest of this section will be completed shortly
[hr][hr][hr]
Adrianus Lakenfabrikant, van Brugge (Adrianus van Brugge)
Clan: Tremere
Generation: 12
Demeanor: Pedagogue--Adrianus manages through teaching. He instructs, be that gently or not, and whoever it is he is instructing learns and performance improves. Occasionally, that lesson is followed closely by death or ruin and there is no performance to improve, but that is another matter.
Nature: Survivor--At the end of the day, Adrianus will live, and if he has anything to say about it, will thrive. It does not matter how. It does not matter who or what stands in his way. He did not kill his brothers (by proxy) for the sake of wealth and power, only to be cut down by some rioting greek peasant.
Virtues (7)
Conviction 3
Self Control 3
Courage 4
Willpower: 8 (from 4 Base)
Via: 6 (Via Consuasor)
Despite being a (formerly revoltingly powerful) merchant, in his heart (such as it is), Adrianus is a scholar. His path was chosen for him by others from the day he was born, and he lives with it, and even has found a significant measure of joy in his work. However, while some individuals of his profession might follow the Road of the Merchant, he goes one step further back in the causal chain of power. Money can lead to power. However, knowledge can lead to both. It is also always better to be the ruler behind a throne. Accolades are irrelevant, and being the one at the forefront only makes one a target for rivals. It is thus better to operate behind the scenes, and ensure the fulfillment of his will from a position of concealment, this may be through money, it may be through favors, advice, or any other indirect means.
Note: both road of the merchant and vizier work for him, but it is a matter of emphasis and this works better for his personal temperament.
Hierarchy of Sins
10--Neglecting duty
9--Treating a peer with disrespect
8--Openly usurping
7--Breaking word to peer
6--Behaving shamefully before peers
5--showing a lack of knowledge before inferiors
4--failing to answer a challenge to integrity
3--disrespecting a superior
2--breaking word to superior
1--breaking a sworn oath
Physical Description: 1.7 meters,68 kg, grown hair and hazel eyes, medium frame.
Attributes
Physical (3)
He is pretty bog average in all physical respects.
Strength 2
Dexterity 2
Stamina 2
Social (5)
He has cultivated social skills, but really, he would rather be reading a book.
Appearance 2
Charisma 3
Manipulation 3
Mental (7)
He is a scholar by nature.
Perception 3
Intelligence 4 (Knowledgeable)
Wits 3
Abilities
These should all be fairly well determined by character background.
Talents (9)
Expression 2
Intimidation 1
Dodge 2
Empathy 2
Leadership 1
Subterfuge 1
Skills (5+1)
Etiquette 2
Melee 1
Commerce 4 (Expertice: Cloth, Specialty: Negotiation)
Knowledges (13+1)
Academics 3
Investigation 1
Theology 1
Linguistics 3
Occult 2
Politics 1
Seneschal 3
Law 1
Languages Spoken
Dutch (Native)
German
English
French
Arabic
Italian
From Academics
Greek
Latin
Disciplines (5)
Thaumaturgy-4
Rigo Vitae(4)
Dominate-2
Auspex-1
Rituals
Deflection of Wooden Doom
Ward vs Ghouls
Incorporeal Passage
Ward Vs Cainites
Backgrounds
Resources 3--Mow most of his assets are tied up in land and re-investing in trade.
Retainers 3
Mattheus (Above Average, Business Intermediary and Manager. Long term blood bonded ghoul)
Mattheus has been with Adrianus since the early 1160s, brought in and ghouled shortly after his embrace to act as a mortal intermediary for things that must happen during the day. He is untrained in combat (Beyond knowing which is the pointy end and where it goes), but possesses a keen intellect and a way with people that makes him an effective manager and good at dealing with suppliers, ship captains, and potential buyers, and is knows the law well enough to navigate through it. However, outside of the existence of vampires, he knows next to nothing of the horribleness that stalks the night.
Sir Guillaume (Above Average, Breton Bodyguard, commands mercs, Blood Bonded Long-Term Ghoul.)
Was once a relatively poor Knight in Brittany, who lost his lands when Henry II conquered the region in 1166. He therefore did what many such disposessed knights did. Turn to brigandage and mercenary work, it was in this miserable state that Adrianus found him. Sir Guilliame made the trip north from Lyon with one of Adrianus' caravans and came to receive his wage. Adrianus took a liking to the man (probably because he is very straightforward and Adrianus can let his guard down) and they became close. Ghouling him helped. How he takes personal charge of the physical well being of his patron.
He is very good at all manner of combat, and is clever enough to be interesting. However, he lacks the guile to be a danger socially. He is the sort of man who says what he thinks (unless speaking at all is an obvious error, and he knows that secrets must be kept) and means what he says. Benefiting from a decent education, he can speak in latin, and stumble through greek. Other than that, he speaks his native Breton as well as French and Flemish from exposure.
Domain 2
Kasteel Lakenfabrikant: One of the first things that Adrianus did when getting to Constantinople was to buy up land in the Latin Quarter and build a fortified villa in the center as his haven. It is not by any means up to the standards of an actual castle, but care was taken for its security. The villa itself is four stories high and built in the roman style with (reasonably thick) brick outer walls and a central atrium. The first story has no outer windows, while the windows of the second and third stories are small and barred, with embrasures built inside to let in light (not for his own sake, obviously, but for the comfort of his extensive household and to keep up appearances). The fourth story is actually just a gallery build over the otherwise tiled roof of the third floor with the regularly spaced windows taking the place of battlements, but being unobtrusive to observers. It is also a good place to catch a breeze, and is often used for entertaining guests, or to house musicians when a party is thrown in the atrium. The entrance is protected by a stout oak door reinforced with an iron grill.
The outer courtyard consists of outbuildings such as warehouses and stables incorporated into a 15 foot high and two foot thick outer wall with a covered wall walk for guards to patrol. The gate in this case is a strong wooden door built into a two-story structure in the same architectural style as the villa.
Adrianus also owns some of the surrounding land, which he leases to shopkeepers, craftsmen and other merchants to provide for some of his income and build good will with locals by extending his protection to them both at night via his terrifying vampiric presence, and during the day by way of well paid mercenaries patrolling the streets (who get punished should they step out of line and mistreat the tenants). This police work is not altruism. He feeds on these people. Making sure that they are kept safe from harm is no different than making sure foxes are excluded from a hen house. Safety also tends to increase business, which means he can charge higher rent, and the population is better fed which makes them less susceptible to disease. The good will of the locals may also be useful when making trade agreements with their respective guilds. He considers the value worth the investment in the long term.
Herd 2
The "herd" such as it is is made up of Adrianus' eleven long-term mercenaries. They guard his Manse and keep order in the surrounding demesne that he has claimed as His within the latin quarter. They are neither asked or expected to do anything but typical guard duty (unless something beyond the grace of god attacks the Manse, in which case their loyalty and courage may be tested indeed). In return for providing them with free room and board (in a well appointed Manse) and paying them decently, he feeds on them on a rotating basis. The financial incentives and the sensation of the embrace keep them willing.
Merits and Flaws
Eat Food--1 pt
It is a small blessing for one who may need to pass as human that he can join them in feasts and both extend and receive hospitality.
Freebies 25
7--boost blood magic to 4
2+4=8--Boost willpower to 8
5--Heard and Domain 2, Retainers boost to 3, from 2)
4--Commerce to 4, Academics to 3
1--Eat Food Merit
Current XP:10
current blood: 10
(Primary Ghouls fed 4/28/13)
Things we know:
St. Celamina is involved somehow--We are looking for Bogomils, who believe Celamina is the sister of Caine and holy unto god. They deny the divinity of Christ and are generally trouble makers. Those in the city are lead by vampires. They believe they are chosen of Celamina, while the rest are the damned children of Caine. They tend to be Caitiff. Attacks by mobs are common, they use fanatics as trebuchet fodder, often use day walking witch hunters as well. Catspaws.
Things we need to find out:
How do we find the Bogomils.
Nosferatu, Churchmen,
Train of thought
Based in latin quarter. Common tactics are mobs, which need to be whipped into a fervor from somewhere and by someone. Most of these individuals are bulgarian. Mortal hunters are often used as proxies.
Set Trap.
Seracine--fourteen year oldish boy. Has contacts that can get information. Really really wants to be Ignacio's friend.
Things we need: Who has been attacked, is there a pattern? Where a mortal hunters? We may be able to track the paw to the proverbial cat. We do have contacts for this. Steve's priest friend. Tev's sire, The Bishop, the Varangians. The chief question is: Who Benefits?
Adrianus van Brugge was born in the Flemish city of Brugge (Bruges in English) in 1130, as the third son of a merchant who imported goods such as spices and silks from the Mediterranean (particularly Venice) and exported cloth. As the third son, he stood to inherit precisely nothing, and was sent at the age of seven to apprentice with Gustaaf, his father’s childless cousin who lived in Ghent. It was in his cousin’s service that he met a French scribe—paid for in lodgings in the undercroft of the house—to teach him his letters, as well as a great many other things, some of which were heretical such as hermetic gnosticism. And fed his own already well-developed ambition. By the time he reached the age of majority, Adrianus was well schooled in certain aspects of the occult, as well as how to maneuver politically.
In 1150, Gustaaf would be dead, having failed to outlive his older brother and succumbing to disease.
This left Adrianus’ father, as his master’s cousin and next closest male relative to inherit, and left Adrianus back where he started, though with a much better skill set. Within his older brother’s business—father died in 1152 from dysentery in his old age—he negotiated trade agreements across Europe, making contacts as far away as Alexandria and Jerusalem while managing to survive the dangers of the road and sea (which necessitated him learning where the pointy end of various weapons goes). Long sojourns gave him the spare time to write a few chronicles of his travels while he was at it.
By 1163 he expanded the family business from a modest trans-channel and overland operation to one that had significant stake in a small private fleet and tendrils spread across mainland Europe, while his brother—an unskilled lout—raked in most of the profits, squandered them on frivolities, and would eventually have children with his second wife (the first having died in childbirth along with the infant, much to Adrianus’ relief).
The employees were loyal to Adrianus. The wool merchants and weavers did their business with him, the ship captains and the men who guarded caravans were paid (handsomely) by him. His stake was only 20% in the profits and strictly speaking he did not nominally hold interest in investments. The business was his in all but name, and no effort was made on the part of his brother to maintain his good will, or ensure him that he was anything more than a replaceable seneschal. So, he engineered the demise of all his male relatives.
This is not as horrific as it sounds. There were only two male relatives left in the line of inheritance, his two brothers Gottfried and Egbert, so it is not as if there was a wholesale slaughter.
Egbert was easy enough to turn. His violence toward his wife was only equaled by his apparent love of other women. His only hope for any sort of heir to his own business was through bastardry in both behavioral and lineal form, as his wife tended to be absentee for obvious reasons. So, it was arranged to put one of his own servant girls in his brother’s bed, one who would encourage said brother to kill his elder sibling and take his property. This went about as can be expected, and Gottfried was found beaten to death after one of Egbert’s more historic tavern binges.
The obvious first suspect was the next in the male line, as fratricide was not exactly uncommon. When tortured, he confessed that the murder had been instigated by a young servant girl, who was never to be seen or heard from again and who may or may not even exist (she was simply relocated to Frisia where she had a distant cousin, and paid very very well for services rendered). Egbert was hanged. This left the “grief stricken” youngest brother in sole possession of a much expanded shipping business, as well as his own fullery. Vertical integration certainly is grand.
About a year later, engaged to be married himself now that he had actually inherited wealth and returned the Dowries to his brother’s respective wives, a Frisian traveler came to the door of his country estate (no ennoblement, but he was wealthy enough to pay a country knight for the use of land) and asked for his hospitality. One does not refuse to give hospitality to travelers, but in this case, Adrianus got more than he bargained for. The traveler, Albert, wheedled his way into Adrianus’ confidence even though he kept very strange hours and integrated himself into his business, much to the chagrin of other aspirants to the position of the master’s business partner. The man was not a simple traveler, but a vampire in house Tremere. Once the vampire decided that Adrianus was a good recruit rather than a simple puppet, he surprised the merchant in his bed-chamber one evening, and embraced him. His sire put him to work for the Clan without changing anything but the hours Adrianus kept as far as the world was concerned. Though, in fairness, this did not come without certain benefits. Adrianus knew some hermetic lore, but was never able to do much definitive with it that could not be explained through non-magical means. With his embrace and what Albert taught him, he had real arcane power.
The decade from 1163 to 1173 was good for Adrianus, even if he would never again see the light of day. However, for all that this time was good, everything after that was horrendous. War broke out between Henry of England, his sons, France, Flanders, and Brittany. Nottingham and Norwich, both primary sources of wool were torched by rebels against the English crown. This was a problem down his supply chain, there was absolutely nothing he could do for two years until peace broke out in England. War broke out in Italy between the Guelphs and Ghibellines and this state of war more or less stayed that way.
The King of France cancelled all debts held by jews and expelled them, cutting off Adrianus’ financing. His only other options were Italian merchant banks controlled by, of all things, the Lasombra and Cappadoceans who engaged in the platonic form of predatory lending against the upstart Tremere. To make matters worse, Henry was dead and one of the worst kings of England ever took the throne in 1189, destroyed the wealth of England, driving up prices, and then invaded France and pillaged its wealth. Combine this and the crusades and lines of import and export, in addition to finance were severely curtailed.
In the end, he was simply forced to liquidate many of his assets, particularly in eastern Europe and northern Italy, as internecine warfare endangered them. It was simply better to sell off assets to locals than to risk everything being burned when one city or another was sacked or experienced rioting or revolts when he was too far away to react to protect said assets. There were also internal issues, that looked for all the world, as he desperately tried to keep his investments solvent, like there was some concerted effort to confound his ability to operate effectively. Still, he did eventually manage to find his mercantile feet again and start rebuilding.
That is until a fire broke out in Brugge, like was apt to happen in a medieval city. Warehouses, the fullery, and essentially all of Adrianus’ real estate but the country house that contained the bulk of his hard currency was destroyed. It was the final straw in a long series of upsets. At that point, with no base of operations and the district of the city where a new one would be housed in ruins. There was simply no other option but to start rebuilding from nothing but scratch, a merchant fleet out of Genoa he still owned stock in, and a sum of money almost sufficient to swim in.
It was then that the Powers that Be, in their wisdom, sent him to Constantinople. He sold off his country house, packed up his belongings and relocated, taking the road to Carcassonne, then Genoa, setting sail on a ship to Constantinople (miraculously surviving piracy and storms) and landed late in 1195. There he re-estasblished himself at considerable expense in a fortified manse (fucking rioters) and began the labor of love that was rebuilding a trade empire and awaited further instructions from his Dark Overlords.
Personality and Intellectual Development of Adrianus van Brugge
Adrianus grew up in a heavily structured society, one which recognizes the three Estates established by God as the natural order of the world. The priests are the Voices of God who guide and direct the population, the nobility are the Arms of God who protect and defend the priests and both defend and govern the population. The commoners are the Legs, which support the voice and arms. These Estates form a sort of caste system where one's station in life is determined largely by birth, or in the case of priests birth order. Said stations are the Will of God, who arranged society thus with a purpose. This idea never got very far with Adrianus. For starters, status as nobility could be lost inside someone's lifetime, with noble lines dying out or going commoner on a periodic basis. How then are these noble lines replaced? From the commoners of course. How did this happen? They buy their way in, of course. God has nothing to do with it. The nobility does not defend the church or the population either. They tax the peasants into destitution, raid and pillage the territory of rivals in order to take his lands by denying their income and ability to defend their fortresses. The church? Should they not be like Christ? You know, impoverished? These were questions that plagued him when he was an oddly perceptive and critically minded child, and finally someone was able to give him an answer, his childhood tutor. The answer given that in retrospect now seems insane to him, though only because it has too many moving parts for his rational mind to consider the most likely answer, is that the universe is corrupt. But the fall of man? Really? Why should the fall of Adam ruin all of creation?
Rest of this section will be completed shortly
[hr][hr][hr]
Adrianus Lakenfabrikant, van Brugge (Adrianus van Brugge)
Clan: Tremere
Generation: 12
Demeanor: Pedagogue--Adrianus manages through teaching. He instructs, be that gently or not, and whoever it is he is instructing learns and performance improves. Occasionally, that lesson is followed closely by death or ruin and there is no performance to improve, but that is another matter.
Nature: Survivor--At the end of the day, Adrianus will live, and if he has anything to say about it, will thrive. It does not matter how. It does not matter who or what stands in his way. He did not kill his brothers (by proxy) for the sake of wealth and power, only to be cut down by some rioting greek peasant.
Virtues (7)
Conviction 3
Self Control 3
Courage 4
Willpower: 8 (from 4 Base)
Via: 6 (Via Consuasor)
Despite being a (formerly revoltingly powerful) merchant, in his heart (such as it is), Adrianus is a scholar. His path was chosen for him by others from the day he was born, and he lives with it, and even has found a significant measure of joy in his work. However, while some individuals of his profession might follow the Road of the Merchant, he goes one step further back in the causal chain of power. Money can lead to power. However, knowledge can lead to both. It is also always better to be the ruler behind a throne. Accolades are irrelevant, and being the one at the forefront only makes one a target for rivals. It is thus better to operate behind the scenes, and ensure the fulfillment of his will from a position of concealment, this may be through money, it may be through favors, advice, or any other indirect means.
Note: both road of the merchant and vizier work for him, but it is a matter of emphasis and this works better for his personal temperament.
Hierarchy of Sins
10--Neglecting duty
9--Treating a peer with disrespect
8--Openly usurping
7--Breaking word to peer
6--Behaving shamefully before peers
5--showing a lack of knowledge before inferiors
4--failing to answer a challenge to integrity
3--disrespecting a superior
2--breaking word to superior
1--breaking a sworn oath
Physical Description: 1.7 meters,68 kg, grown hair and hazel eyes, medium frame.
Attributes
Physical (3)
He is pretty bog average in all physical respects.
Strength 2
Dexterity 2
Stamina 2
Social (5)
He has cultivated social skills, but really, he would rather be reading a book.
Appearance 2
Charisma 3
Manipulation 3
Mental (7)
He is a scholar by nature.
Perception 3
Intelligence 4 (Knowledgeable)
Wits 3
Abilities
These should all be fairly well determined by character background.
Talents (9)
Expression 2
Intimidation 1
Dodge 2
Empathy 2
Leadership 1
Subterfuge 1
Skills (5+1)
Etiquette 2
Melee 1
Commerce 4 (Expertice: Cloth, Specialty: Negotiation)
Knowledges (13+1)
Academics 3
Investigation 1
Theology 1
Linguistics 3
Occult 2
Politics 1
Seneschal 3
Law 1
Languages Spoken
Dutch (Native)
German
English
French
Arabic
Italian
From Academics
Greek
Latin
Disciplines (5)
Thaumaturgy-4
Rigo Vitae(4)
Dominate-2
Auspex-1
Rituals
Deflection of Wooden Doom
Ward vs Ghouls
Incorporeal Passage
Ward Vs Cainites
Backgrounds
Resources 3--Mow most of his assets are tied up in land and re-investing in trade.
Retainers 3
Mattheus (Above Average, Business Intermediary and Manager. Long term blood bonded ghoul)
Mattheus has been with Adrianus since the early 1160s, brought in and ghouled shortly after his embrace to act as a mortal intermediary for things that must happen during the day. He is untrained in combat (Beyond knowing which is the pointy end and where it goes), but possesses a keen intellect and a way with people that makes him an effective manager and good at dealing with suppliers, ship captains, and potential buyers, and is knows the law well enough to navigate through it. However, outside of the existence of vampires, he knows next to nothing of the horribleness that stalks the night.
Sir Guillaume (Above Average, Breton Bodyguard, commands mercs, Blood Bonded Long-Term Ghoul.)
Was once a relatively poor Knight in Brittany, who lost his lands when Henry II conquered the region in 1166. He therefore did what many such disposessed knights did. Turn to brigandage and mercenary work, it was in this miserable state that Adrianus found him. Sir Guilliame made the trip north from Lyon with one of Adrianus' caravans and came to receive his wage. Adrianus took a liking to the man (probably because he is very straightforward and Adrianus can let his guard down) and they became close. Ghouling him helped. How he takes personal charge of the physical well being of his patron.
He is very good at all manner of combat, and is clever enough to be interesting. However, he lacks the guile to be a danger socially. He is the sort of man who says what he thinks (unless speaking at all is an obvious error, and he knows that secrets must be kept) and means what he says. Benefiting from a decent education, he can speak in latin, and stumble through greek. Other than that, he speaks his native Breton as well as French and Flemish from exposure.
Domain 2
Kasteel Lakenfabrikant: One of the first things that Adrianus did when getting to Constantinople was to buy up land in the Latin Quarter and build a fortified villa in the center as his haven. It is not by any means up to the standards of an actual castle, but care was taken for its security. The villa itself is four stories high and built in the roman style with (reasonably thick) brick outer walls and a central atrium. The first story has no outer windows, while the windows of the second and third stories are small and barred, with embrasures built inside to let in light (not for his own sake, obviously, but for the comfort of his extensive household and to keep up appearances). The fourth story is actually just a gallery build over the otherwise tiled roof of the third floor with the regularly spaced windows taking the place of battlements, but being unobtrusive to observers. It is also a good place to catch a breeze, and is often used for entertaining guests, or to house musicians when a party is thrown in the atrium. The entrance is protected by a stout oak door reinforced with an iron grill.
The outer courtyard consists of outbuildings such as warehouses and stables incorporated into a 15 foot high and two foot thick outer wall with a covered wall walk for guards to patrol. The gate in this case is a strong wooden door built into a two-story structure in the same architectural style as the villa.
Adrianus also owns some of the surrounding land, which he leases to shopkeepers, craftsmen and other merchants to provide for some of his income and build good will with locals by extending his protection to them both at night via his terrifying vampiric presence, and during the day by way of well paid mercenaries patrolling the streets (who get punished should they step out of line and mistreat the tenants). This police work is not altruism. He feeds on these people. Making sure that they are kept safe from harm is no different than making sure foxes are excluded from a hen house. Safety also tends to increase business, which means he can charge higher rent, and the population is better fed which makes them less susceptible to disease. The good will of the locals may also be useful when making trade agreements with their respective guilds. He considers the value worth the investment in the long term.
Herd 2
The "herd" such as it is is made up of Adrianus' eleven long-term mercenaries. They guard his Manse and keep order in the surrounding demesne that he has claimed as His within the latin quarter. They are neither asked or expected to do anything but typical guard duty (unless something beyond the grace of god attacks the Manse, in which case their loyalty and courage may be tested indeed). In return for providing them with free room and board (in a well appointed Manse) and paying them decently, he feeds on them on a rotating basis. The financial incentives and the sensation of the embrace keep them willing.
Merits and Flaws
Eat Food--1 pt
It is a small blessing for one who may need to pass as human that he can join them in feasts and both extend and receive hospitality.
Freebies 25
7--boost blood magic to 4
2+4=8--Boost willpower to 8
5--Heard and Domain 2, Retainers boost to 3, from 2)
4--Commerce to 4, Academics to 3
1--Eat Food Merit
Current XP:10
current blood: 10
(Primary Ghouls fed 4/28/13)
Things we know:
St. Celamina is involved somehow--We are looking for Bogomils, who believe Celamina is the sister of Caine and holy unto god. They deny the divinity of Christ and are generally trouble makers. Those in the city are lead by vampires. They believe they are chosen of Celamina, while the rest are the damned children of Caine. They tend to be Caitiff. Attacks by mobs are common, they use fanatics as trebuchet fodder, often use day walking witch hunters as well. Catspaws.
Things we need to find out:
How do we find the Bogomils.
Nosferatu, Churchmen,
Train of thought
Based in latin quarter. Common tactics are mobs, which need to be whipped into a fervor from somewhere and by someone. Most of these individuals are bulgarian. Mortal hunters are often used as proxies.
Set Trap.
Seracine--fourteen year oldish boy. Has contacts that can get information. Really really wants to be Ignacio's friend.
Things we need: Who has been attacked, is there a pattern? Where a mortal hunters? We may be able to track the paw to the proverbial cat. We do have contacts for this. Steve's priest friend. Tev's sire, The Bishop, the Varangians. The chief question is: Who Benefits?
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
-
Cynical Cat
- Arch-Magician
- Posts: 11930
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:53 pm
- 19
- Location: Ice Sarcophagus outside a ruined Jedi Temple
- Contact:
#32 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Status:
Hotfoot: 0
rhoenix: 1
Charon: 3
Tev: 3
Comrade Tortoise: 1
General Havoc: 0
Marcao: 3
Hotfoot: 0
rhoenix: 1
Charon: 3
Tev: 3
Comrade Tortoise: 1
General Havoc: 0
Marcao: 3
It's not that I'm unforgiving, it's that most of the people who wrong me are unrepentant assholes.
-
SirNitram
- The All-Seeing Eye
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- Location: Behind you, duh!
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#33 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Don't wait up for me, I need to start from scratch.
Half-Damned, All Hero.
Tev: You're happy. You're Plotting. You're Evil.
Me: Evil is so inappropriate. I'm ruthless.
Tev: You're turning me on.
I Am Rage. You Will Know My Fury.
Tev: You're happy. You're Plotting. You're Evil.
Me: Evil is so inappropriate. I'm ruthless.
Tev: You're turning me on.
I Am Rage. You Will Know My Fury.
-
rhoenix
- The Artist formerly known as Rhoenix
- Posts: 7998
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- Contact:
#34 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
You know, Hotfoot came up with a good one a few days ago. You could make a Follower of Set who... has disagreements with the Settites in Constantinople already. You'd start out disliked, but the party could at least work with you on taking care of the Settites in the city on this, however temporarily. And, it would give you an excuse to have magic as a character, since Settites get Dark Thaumaturgy.SirNitram wrote:Don't wait up for me, I need to start from scratch.
"Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes."
- William Gibson
- William Gibson
Josh wrote:What? There's nothing weird about having a pet housefly. He smuggles cigarettes for me.
#35 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
That was less an idea for a character and more an exercise in how far the limits of a party unity could be pushed re: my character. Who is, you know, hunting Setites. Even a Setite working counter to the group I'm hunting would be a tough sell given that I would likely see them as a Servant of Jormungandr, but I wouldn't be necessarily obligated to Blood Eagle the character per se if they played their cards right (i.e. were themselves Loki).
Regardless, I'm sure it will get sorted.
Regardless, I'm sure it will get sorted.
-
Cynical Cat
- Arch-Magician
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#36 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Rhoenix, when someone says "even Bad Idea X is better than Current Idea Y" THIS DOES NOT MAKE BAD IDEA X A GOOD IDEA AND SOMETHING YOU SHOULD SUGGEST.
It's not that I'm unforgiving, it's that most of the people who wrong me are unrepentant assholes.
-
rhoenix
- The Artist formerly known as Rhoenix
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#37 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Yeah, that's fair.Cynical Cat wrote:Rhoenix, when someone says "even Bad Idea X is better than Current Idea Y" THIS DOES NOT MAKE BAD IDEA X A GOOD IDEA AND SOMETHING YOU SHOULD SUGGEST.
"Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes."
- William Gibson
- William Gibson
Josh wrote:What? There's nothing weird about having a pet housefly. He smuggles cigarettes for me.
-
Cynical Cat
- Arch-Magician
- Posts: 11930
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:53 pm
- 19
- Location: Ice Sarcophagus outside a ruined Jedi Temple
- Contact:
#38 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Everyone who hasn't already declared what their haven is, who has one, post it or PM it to me.
It's not that I'm unforgiving, it's that most of the people who wrong me are unrepentant assholes.
-
rhoenix
- The Artist formerly known as Rhoenix
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#39 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Havoc found an awesome map of Constantinople.
"Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes."
- William Gibson
- William Gibson
Josh wrote:What? There's nothing weird about having a pet housefly. He smuggles cigarettes for me.
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LadyTevar
- Pleasure Kitten Foreman
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#40 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Haven PMed
Dogs are Man's Best Friend
Cats are Man's Adorable Little Serial Killers
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LadyTevar
- Pleasure Kitten Foreman
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#41 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Hell, Havoc! How are we supposed to make a post that beats that?! 
Dogs are Man's Best Friend
Cats are Man's Adorable Little Serial Killers
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Comrade Tortoise
- Exemplar
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#42 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
post edited to give Cyncat a more complete itinerary.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
#43 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Robert de Vassy, member of clan Cappadocian and former knight in service to the of Order of Hospitallers
Robert de Vassy first drew breath in the year of our Lord 1090. As the second son of William de Vassy, baron of Evreaux, his early life was one of privilege. From an early age, Robert was regaled with tales of his father and elder brother, the heroic crusaders. He was afforded a quality education in topics academic, ecclesiastical, and martial. His quiet dedication was born out of a desire to emulate the pious actions of his elders. As he saw them, Robert’s abilities were a gift from God, to be used in bringing His glory to the heathen Saracens.
At the age of twenty five Robert found himself unable to wait any longer for a chance to follow in his father’s footsteps. With the family blessing, he took his horse, armor, sword and shield and pledged himself to the service of God as a brother-knight in the Order of Hospitallers. For fifteen years he served honorably, defending pilgrims, the sick and the injured from the depredations of heathens. Robert found that his education served him well, and he learned much in the way of medicine and from years of working closely with the order’s lay brothers.
By 1130 he was a grizzled veteran, well acquainted both with the art of dealing death and keeping others from its icy clutches. As the years had passed, his piety, skill at arms, and clear sense of duty were recognized by other members of the order. Robert had seen much in his time as Hospitaller, and the more he saw the more he was convinced that God’s work would never be done. When his knight-commander placed him in charge of the protection of a group of lay brothers traveling from Jerusalem to Constantinople, Robert simply swore that all his charges and their cargo would arrive safely.
When making camp on their journey, Robert found himself conversing frequently with the foremost of the brothers-in-service he escorted, a fellow Norman by the name of Hugh de Blois. The common thread that all their conversations seemed to return to was death; that despite the best efforts of learned men like themselves there was nothing they could do to prevent it. What had they actually accomplished? What would remain of their works when they were gone? Pushing forty, these thoughts began to weigh heavily on Robert, though his companion seemed troubled not at all.
The journey north was uneventful, by the standards of caravans travelling the holy land in between crusades. That changed in central Anatolia. The party was attacked with nigh overwhelming force while encamped for the night. Brothers, both knights and otherwise, were cut down without mercy by a ferocious foe. Robert himself was unarmored at the moment of attack, but threw himself into the fray regardless.
The fight was vicious, fought in darkness broken only by the embers of scattered campfires and the stars above. Robert felled a half-dozen of the attackers, all the while trying to organize the stunned Hospitallers. By the time it was over, Robert had acquired a gaping wound to his abdomen
He crawled towards a dying campfire, leaving a dwindling trail of blood as he went. As the pounding heartbeat faded in his ears all Robert could hear were the moans of the dying. The two groups had annihilated each other in an orgy of blood and violence. He blacked out.
When he came to, he was greeted by the welcome sight of Hugh de Blois. The pain of his wound had faded, and Robert felt as weak as he'd ever been. He knew that death was fast approaching. With one last, labored breath, he begged de Blois to save him. De Blois only smiled, revealing his fangs.
Thus was a life of devotion to the Lord rewarded with damnation most foul thanks to but a single moment of weakness.
Robert’s journey to Constantinople was one of horrifying discovery. His days were spent in de Blois’ carriage, already protected against sunlight and driven by two of de Blois’ ghouls. His nights were spent being instructed on the rules of his new existence. Believing his soul was now eternally damned, Robert’s mood rapidly waxed melancholic. It was not improved when he was forced to turn his loyal warhorse into a ghoul before it would let him ride.
When the two Hospitallers reached the Hospital of St. John the Almsgiver in the Latin Quarter of Constantinople, Robert dedicated himself to his duties, seeking what little redemption he could. His time was spent primarily serving in an administrative capacity, as the order had relatively need for a knight at arms in Constantinople. The rest of his time was dedicated to studying the vampiric condition alongside de Bois.
His fervent hope was that he would find the means to save his soul. Robert’s dedication in this regard grew nearly to the point of obsession. The experiments he participated in while pursuing his salvation would have been enough to damn him, but he was (and remains) blind to these “minor” blasphemies in the face of the greater blasphemy of his existence. To Robert’s mind, it was just another aspect of his service to God.
When the Massacre of the Latins swept through the quarter, the Hospitallers were not spared the wrath of the Greeks. Precious few Hospitallers escaped fiery destruction of their facility, and even fewer patients. Robert and a few others did. De Bois did not.
Robert set up shop in a deserted mausoleum near another hospital, which he still uses as an occasional source of subjects for his own experiments. His existence is largely that of a recluse, but he does venture out into the city to feed and acquire texts and other sources of knowledge. He shares his haven with his horse, though he has little use for it, and his ghoul assistant Heinrich. Though not wealthy, he occasionally utilizes his medical skills to help mortals in exchange for a nominal donation to his cause. His Hospitaller past has left its mark however; Robert still feels compelled to defend those incapable of defending themselves and he can be swayed to acts of charity.
Character Details
Name: Robert de Vassy
Clan: Cappadocian
Generation: 9
Concept: Death Knight
Nature: Caretaker
Demeanor: Defender
Attributes (5 freebies)
Physical (7 + 5)
Strength: 4 (3 +1 [5])
[tab=30]Strong Grip
Dexterity: 3
Stamina: 4
[tab=30]Enduring
Social (3)
Charisma: 2
Manipulation: 2
Appearance: 2
Mental (5)
Perception: 3
Intelligence: 3
Wits: 2
Abilities (18 freebies)
Talents (9 + 3 [6])
Alertness: 2 (1 + 1 [2])
Athletics: 2
Brawl: 3 (2 + 1 [2])
Dodge: 3 (2 + 1 [2])
Leadership: 2
Skills (5 + 5 [8])
Animal Ken 1 [2]
Melee: 4 (3 + 1 [2])
[tab=30]Swords
Ride: 4 (2 + 2 [4])
[tab=30]Mounted Combat
Knowledges (13 + 2 [4])
Academics: 2
Linguistics: 3
Medicine: 3
Occult: 3 (2 + 1 [2]
Seneschal: 2
Theology: 2 (1 + 1 [2])
Languages:
Norman-French (Native)
Latin (From Academics)
German
Greek
Arabic
Advantages (5 freebies)
Disciplines (5)
Auspex: 2
[tab=30]1 - Heightened Senses
Fortitude: 2
Mortis: 3
[tab=30]The Grave's Decay (Primary Path): 2
[tab=30]1 - Destroy the Husk
[tab=30]2 - Rigor Mortis
Rituals:
Mortis:
[tab=30]Level 1: Revivify the Cold Vitae
Backgrounds (5 + 2)
Contacts: 1
Generation: 3 (base cost 4)
Retainers: 2 [2]
Virtues (7)
Conviction: 3
Self Control: 3
Courage: 4
Road of Bones: 5
Aura of Silence
Merits and Flaws (Net + 3 freebies)
Merits (3)
Exceptional Steed (ghoul warhorse): 3
Flaws (6)
Prey Exclusion: Pilgrims (1)
Prey Exclusion: The sick (1)
[tab=30]He was a Hostpitaller... once.
Smell of the Grave (1)
Touch of Frost (1)
Deep Sleeper (1)
[tab=30]Cappadocius' spawn are one step closer to death than other Cainites.
Nightmares (1)
[tab=30]Visions of the salvation denied to him by his condition haunt his dreams; he must watch as all things joyous turn to ash.
Belongings
Bastard Sword
Lance
Mail Hauberk (heavy armor)
Light Helmet
Cavalry Shield
Nondescript monks' robes
Tattered Hospitaller surcoat
Summary of Freebie Expenditures:
Strength + 1 [5]
Alertness + 1 [2]
Brawl + 1 [2]
Dodge + 1 [2]
Animal Ken + 1 [2]
Melee + 1 [2]
Ride + 2 [4]
Occult + 1 [2]
Theology + 1 [2]
Retainers + 2 [2]
Willpower + 3 [3]
Merits [3]
Flaws [-6]
Heinrich Maler, former Hospitaller Sergeant and ghoul in service to Robert de Vassy (Above average retainer)
Heinrich is a native of the South German town of Erlenberg. His merchant family considered him too clever by half and twice as ambitious for a fourth son. Their fears that he would usurp his brothers’ claims made them collectively inclined to remove him from the picture. He joined the Hospitallers to avoid his family’s murderous intentions. Once in the order, Heinrich leveraged to full extent his talent for book-keeping and his knack for knowing exactly the right thing to say to exactly the right people to get things done. He occupied a position of some influence within the Hospital of St. John the Almsgiver in Constantinople when Robert arrived there.
Robert needed a capable assistant to keep an eye on him during the day and Heinrich was an obvious choice. For his part, Heinrich saw no problems with attaching himself to a prestigious knight. The benefits of ghouldom made for a nice additional benefit. By the time the hospital was stormed and put to the torch by rioting Greeks, the blood bond was in full effect. It was partially due to Heinrich’s ingenuity and survival instinct that Robert was able to able to escape.
Though his primary abilities lie in the area of guile and manipulation, he spent years as a sergeant in a military order and is a capable, if unspectacular combatant. He favors a large spear or a hand axe and shield, as circumstances dictate. Lacking the high scruples of a knight, he has no issue with discrete applications of violence in dark places when it serves his purposes. His time is primarily occupied with keeping the haven secure while Robert sleeps and occasionally acquiring test subjects for his master.
Aeton, Ghoul Warhorse
Aeton is a study, jet black stallion of some 16 hands. He has served Robert faithfully since his time the Holy Land. There they survived numerous battles together, forming a close bond. As is the way of animals and vampires, Aeton was terrified of what Robert had become. Nevertheless, he followed Robert for miles. Robert was eventually able to approach long enough to feed Aeton some of his vitae, strengthening their bond even further and allowing him to ride once again.
Haven
Robert occupies a small mausoleum and crypt belonging to a long extinguished family of minor nobility. It is located in a graveyard near the monastery of Christ Pantokrator in region XI. The relative seclusion of the area provides a welcome relief from the prying eyes of mortals while the proximity to the monastery, with its hospital and library, provide access to both information and research subjects. Though not many can claim to be friendly with the Obertus Tzimisce in the monastery, Robert has a contact there capable of occasionally providing a fresh cadaver from the hospital or a tome from the library.
The haven itself has two floors, the above ground mausoleum and the crypt below. The exterior of the mausoleum is mostly untouched, the better to preserve appearances. The interior has enough room to serve as an improvised stable for Aeton with a little storage space left over.
The crypt below is accessed through a plain, out of the way trap door in the mausoleum floor. The majority of the space is open, with burial alcoves around the perimeter walls. Most of these are used as storage for cadavers in varying degrees of freshness. One is dedicated to a small collection of moldy tomes while two others serve as bedding for Robert and Heinrich.
Contacts
Symeon, monk in the monastery of Christ Pantokrator.
Update 4/22/2013: Starting blood 8, fed to 14/14. Gain 3 xp.
Update 5/27/2013: Accounting for previous sessions, down to 9 blood. Gained 2xp, for 5 total.
Update 6/2/2013: Blood pool at 14/14 after feast. +2 xp, 7 total.
Update 6/9/2013: +2xp. Road score down to 5.
Update 6/24/2013: +2xp, 11 total.
Update 6/30/2013: Bought Mortis 3 for 10. 1xp remaining. Down to 12 blood.
Update 7/14/2013: +5 xp, 6 total. Net blood changes to 11.
Update 8/25/2013: Waking up for 2 nights: 2 blood. Spending blood to in increase attributes in a fight: 2 blood. Somehow finding a way to make Helgi hate me even more: priceless (blood pool down to 7).
Update 9/1/2013: Fed up to 14 blood, spent 1 waking. +2xp, total of 8xp.
Update 9/23/2013: Spent 1 blood waking, down to 12. +3xp, total of 11xp. Bought Auspex 2 for 10xp, 1xp remaining.
Robert de Vassy first drew breath in the year of our Lord 1090. As the second son of William de Vassy, baron of Evreaux, his early life was one of privilege. From an early age, Robert was regaled with tales of his father and elder brother, the heroic crusaders. He was afforded a quality education in topics academic, ecclesiastical, and martial. His quiet dedication was born out of a desire to emulate the pious actions of his elders. As he saw them, Robert’s abilities were a gift from God, to be used in bringing His glory to the heathen Saracens.
At the age of twenty five Robert found himself unable to wait any longer for a chance to follow in his father’s footsteps. With the family blessing, he took his horse, armor, sword and shield and pledged himself to the service of God as a brother-knight in the Order of Hospitallers. For fifteen years he served honorably, defending pilgrims, the sick and the injured from the depredations of heathens. Robert found that his education served him well, and he learned much in the way of medicine and from years of working closely with the order’s lay brothers.
By 1130 he was a grizzled veteran, well acquainted both with the art of dealing death and keeping others from its icy clutches. As the years had passed, his piety, skill at arms, and clear sense of duty were recognized by other members of the order. Robert had seen much in his time as Hospitaller, and the more he saw the more he was convinced that God’s work would never be done. When his knight-commander placed him in charge of the protection of a group of lay brothers traveling from Jerusalem to Constantinople, Robert simply swore that all his charges and their cargo would arrive safely.
When making camp on their journey, Robert found himself conversing frequently with the foremost of the brothers-in-service he escorted, a fellow Norman by the name of Hugh de Blois. The common thread that all their conversations seemed to return to was death; that despite the best efforts of learned men like themselves there was nothing they could do to prevent it. What had they actually accomplished? What would remain of their works when they were gone? Pushing forty, these thoughts began to weigh heavily on Robert, though his companion seemed troubled not at all.
The journey north was uneventful, by the standards of caravans travelling the holy land in between crusades. That changed in central Anatolia. The party was attacked with nigh overwhelming force while encamped for the night. Brothers, both knights and otherwise, were cut down without mercy by a ferocious foe. Robert himself was unarmored at the moment of attack, but threw himself into the fray regardless.
The fight was vicious, fought in darkness broken only by the embers of scattered campfires and the stars above. Robert felled a half-dozen of the attackers, all the while trying to organize the stunned Hospitallers. By the time it was over, Robert had acquired a gaping wound to his abdomen
He crawled towards a dying campfire, leaving a dwindling trail of blood as he went. As the pounding heartbeat faded in his ears all Robert could hear were the moans of the dying. The two groups had annihilated each other in an orgy of blood and violence. He blacked out.
When he came to, he was greeted by the welcome sight of Hugh de Blois. The pain of his wound had faded, and Robert felt as weak as he'd ever been. He knew that death was fast approaching. With one last, labored breath, he begged de Blois to save him. De Blois only smiled, revealing his fangs.
Thus was a life of devotion to the Lord rewarded with damnation most foul thanks to but a single moment of weakness.
Robert’s journey to Constantinople was one of horrifying discovery. His days were spent in de Blois’ carriage, already protected against sunlight and driven by two of de Blois’ ghouls. His nights were spent being instructed on the rules of his new existence. Believing his soul was now eternally damned, Robert’s mood rapidly waxed melancholic. It was not improved when he was forced to turn his loyal warhorse into a ghoul before it would let him ride.
When the two Hospitallers reached the Hospital of St. John the Almsgiver in the Latin Quarter of Constantinople, Robert dedicated himself to his duties, seeking what little redemption he could. His time was spent primarily serving in an administrative capacity, as the order had relatively need for a knight at arms in Constantinople. The rest of his time was dedicated to studying the vampiric condition alongside de Bois.
His fervent hope was that he would find the means to save his soul. Robert’s dedication in this regard grew nearly to the point of obsession. The experiments he participated in while pursuing his salvation would have been enough to damn him, but he was (and remains) blind to these “minor” blasphemies in the face of the greater blasphemy of his existence. To Robert’s mind, it was just another aspect of his service to God.
When the Massacre of the Latins swept through the quarter, the Hospitallers were not spared the wrath of the Greeks. Precious few Hospitallers escaped fiery destruction of their facility, and even fewer patients. Robert and a few others did. De Bois did not.
Robert set up shop in a deserted mausoleum near another hospital, which he still uses as an occasional source of subjects for his own experiments. His existence is largely that of a recluse, but he does venture out into the city to feed and acquire texts and other sources of knowledge. He shares his haven with his horse, though he has little use for it, and his ghoul assistant Heinrich. Though not wealthy, he occasionally utilizes his medical skills to help mortals in exchange for a nominal donation to his cause. His Hospitaller past has left its mark however; Robert still feels compelled to defend those incapable of defending themselves and he can be swayed to acts of charity.
Character Details
Name: Robert de Vassy
Clan: Cappadocian
Generation: 9
Concept: Death Knight
Nature: Caretaker
Demeanor: Defender
Attributes (5 freebies)
Physical (7 + 5)
Strength: 4 (3 +1 [5])
[tab=30]Strong Grip
Dexterity: 3
Stamina: 4
[tab=30]Enduring
Social (3)
Charisma: 2
Manipulation: 2
Appearance: 2
Mental (5)
Perception: 3
Intelligence: 3
Wits: 2
Abilities (18 freebies)
Talents (9 + 3 [6])
Alertness: 2 (1 + 1 [2])
Athletics: 2
Brawl: 3 (2 + 1 [2])
Dodge: 3 (2 + 1 [2])
Leadership: 2
Skills (5 + 5 [8])
Animal Ken 1 [2]
Melee: 4 (3 + 1 [2])
[tab=30]Swords
Ride: 4 (2 + 2 [4])
[tab=30]Mounted Combat
Knowledges (13 + 2 [4])
Academics: 2
Linguistics: 3
Medicine: 3
Occult: 3 (2 + 1 [2]
Seneschal: 2
Theology: 2 (1 + 1 [2])
Languages:
Norman-French (Native)
Latin (From Academics)
German
Greek
Arabic
Advantages (5 freebies)
Disciplines (5)
Auspex: 2
[tab=30]1 - Heightened Senses
Fortitude: 2
Mortis: 3
[tab=30]The Grave's Decay (Primary Path): 2
[tab=30]1 - Destroy the Husk
[tab=30]2 - Rigor Mortis
Rituals:
Mortis:
[tab=30]Level 1: Revivify the Cold Vitae
Backgrounds (5 + 2)
Contacts: 1
Generation: 3 (base cost 4)
Retainers: 2 [2]
Virtues (7)
Conviction: 3
Self Control: 3
Courage: 4
Road of Bones: 5
Aura of Silence
Willpower: 7 (4 + 3 [3])Via Ossium wrote: Hierarchy of Sins:
10 - Needlessly preventing a death or refusing to kill. "All things must die eventually."
9 - Refusing to feed when hungry. "You must attend to the necessities before you can concentrate on your research."
8 - Failing to study death when provided an opportunity to do so. "The pursuit of knowledge is your sole purpose."
7 - Refusing to pursue experiments. "Knowledge is more important than any single life."
6 - Succumbing to frenzy. "You must rule the Beast, not be ruled by it."
5 - Allowing emotion to sway your decisions. "Wisdom and rationality are the basis of all scientific pursuit."
4 - Refusing to share insight with others on the road. "Only together can we hope to unravel the greatest mysteries."
3 - Showing fear of or aversion to death. "Death is a natural part of the cycle to which all things belong."
2 - Risking your existence unnecessarily. "You have important work to do."
1 - Giving your loyalty to anyone else above your road and clan. "Your first duties are to faith and lineage."
Merits and Flaws (Net + 3 freebies)
Merits (3)
Exceptional Steed (ghoul warhorse): 3
Flaws (6)
Prey Exclusion: Pilgrims (1)
Prey Exclusion: The sick (1)
[tab=30]He was a Hostpitaller... once.
Smell of the Grave (1)
Touch of Frost (1)
Deep Sleeper (1)
[tab=30]Cappadocius' spawn are one step closer to death than other Cainites.
Nightmares (1)
[tab=30]Visions of the salvation denied to him by his condition haunt his dreams; he must watch as all things joyous turn to ash.
Belongings
Bastard Sword
Lance
Mail Hauberk (heavy armor)
Light Helmet
Cavalry Shield
Nondescript monks' robes
Tattered Hospitaller surcoat
Summary of Freebie Expenditures:
Strength + 1 [5]
Alertness + 1 [2]
Brawl + 1 [2]
Dodge + 1 [2]
Animal Ken + 1 [2]
Melee + 1 [2]
Ride + 2 [4]
Occult + 1 [2]
Theology + 1 [2]
Retainers + 2 [2]
Willpower + 3 [3]
Merits [3]
Flaws [-6]
Heinrich Maler, former Hospitaller Sergeant and ghoul in service to Robert de Vassy (Above average retainer)
Heinrich is a native of the South German town of Erlenberg. His merchant family considered him too clever by half and twice as ambitious for a fourth son. Their fears that he would usurp his brothers’ claims made them collectively inclined to remove him from the picture. He joined the Hospitallers to avoid his family’s murderous intentions. Once in the order, Heinrich leveraged to full extent his talent for book-keeping and his knack for knowing exactly the right thing to say to exactly the right people to get things done. He occupied a position of some influence within the Hospital of St. John the Almsgiver in Constantinople when Robert arrived there.
Robert needed a capable assistant to keep an eye on him during the day and Heinrich was an obvious choice. For his part, Heinrich saw no problems with attaching himself to a prestigious knight. The benefits of ghouldom made for a nice additional benefit. By the time the hospital was stormed and put to the torch by rioting Greeks, the blood bond was in full effect. It was partially due to Heinrich’s ingenuity and survival instinct that Robert was able to able to escape.
Though his primary abilities lie in the area of guile and manipulation, he spent years as a sergeant in a military order and is a capable, if unspectacular combatant. He favors a large spear or a hand axe and shield, as circumstances dictate. Lacking the high scruples of a knight, he has no issue with discrete applications of violence in dark places when it serves his purposes. His time is primarily occupied with keeping the haven secure while Robert sleeps and occasionally acquiring test subjects for his master.
Aeton, Ghoul Warhorse
Aeton is a study, jet black stallion of some 16 hands. He has served Robert faithfully since his time the Holy Land. There they survived numerous battles together, forming a close bond. As is the way of animals and vampires, Aeton was terrified of what Robert had become. Nevertheless, he followed Robert for miles. Robert was eventually able to approach long enough to feed Aeton some of his vitae, strengthening their bond even further and allowing him to ride once again.
Haven
Robert occupies a small mausoleum and crypt belonging to a long extinguished family of minor nobility. It is located in a graveyard near the monastery of Christ Pantokrator in region XI. The relative seclusion of the area provides a welcome relief from the prying eyes of mortals while the proximity to the monastery, with its hospital and library, provide access to both information and research subjects. Though not many can claim to be friendly with the Obertus Tzimisce in the monastery, Robert has a contact there capable of occasionally providing a fresh cadaver from the hospital or a tome from the library.
The haven itself has two floors, the above ground mausoleum and the crypt below. The exterior of the mausoleum is mostly untouched, the better to preserve appearances. The interior has enough room to serve as an improvised stable for Aeton with a little storage space left over.
The crypt below is accessed through a plain, out of the way trap door in the mausoleum floor. The majority of the space is open, with burial alcoves around the perimeter walls. Most of these are used as storage for cadavers in varying degrees of freshness. One is dedicated to a small collection of moldy tomes while two others serve as bedding for Robert and Heinrich.
Contacts
Symeon, monk in the monastery of Christ Pantokrator.
Update 4/22/2013: Starting blood 8, fed to 14/14. Gain 3 xp.
Update 5/27/2013: Accounting for previous sessions, down to 9 blood. Gained 2xp, for 5 total.
Update 6/2/2013: Blood pool at 14/14 after feast. +2 xp, 7 total.
Update 6/9/2013: +2xp. Road score down to 5.
Update 6/24/2013: +2xp, 11 total.
Update 6/30/2013: Bought Mortis 3 for 10. 1xp remaining. Down to 12 blood.
Update 7/14/2013: +5 xp, 6 total. Net blood changes to 11.
Update 8/25/2013: Waking up for 2 nights: 2 blood. Spending blood to in increase attributes in a fight: 2 blood. Somehow finding a way to make Helgi hate me even more: priceless (blood pool down to 7).
Update 9/1/2013: Fed up to 14 blood, spent 1 waking. +2xp, total of 8xp.
Update 9/23/2013: Spent 1 blood waking, down to 12. +3xp, total of 11xp. Bought Auspex 2 for 10xp, 1xp remaining.
Last edited by Karrick on Sun Sep 22, 2013 10:19 pm, edited 22 times in total.
-
rhoenix
- The Artist formerly known as Rhoenix
- Posts: 7998
- Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 4:01 pm
- 18
- Location: "Here," for varying values of "here."
- Contact:
#44 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Attempting Aura Perception on the merchant (ComTor), the boy (Havoc), and the merchant's bodyguards.
"Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes."
- William Gibson
- William Gibson
Josh wrote:What? There's nothing weird about having a pet housefly. He smuggles cigarettes for me.
-
rhoenix
- The Artist formerly known as Rhoenix
- Posts: 7998
- Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 4:01 pm
- 18
- Location: "Here," for varying values of "here."
- Contact:
#45 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Attempting Aura Perception on Naomi (little girl Havoc's character is protecting).
"Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes."
- William Gibson
- William Gibson
Josh wrote:What? There's nothing weird about having a pet housefly. He smuggles cigarettes for me.
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Comrade Tortoise
- Exemplar
- Posts: 4832
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:33 am
- 19
- Location: Land of steers and queers indeed
- Contact:
#46 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Oh this is fucking hilarious. A comedy of not knowing...
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
- Theodosius Dobzhansky
There is no word harsh enough for this. No verbal edge sharp and cold enough to set forth the flaying needed. English is to young and the elder languages of the earth beyond me. ~Frigid
The Holocaust was an Amazing Logistical Achievement~Havoc
#47 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
I was informed last night that there's something wonky with my specialties. The core book I've been using says they cost 1 background point and you can have a max of 3 per ability (you only ever get one bonus die if they over lap). The core book Havoc, Hotfoot, and Tortoise apparently used says you get one for free when you have an attribute or ability hit 4 dots, but can't buy them. Apparently I've been using the "revised" book?
After another looking over I think the rest of my character's crunchy bits are in line with what everyone else has done and what CynCat specified. So... how would you like specialties to work?
After another looking over I think the rest of my character's crunchy bits are in line with what everyone else has done and what CynCat specified. So... how would you like specialties to work?
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Cynical Cat
- Arch-Magician
- Posts: 11930
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:53 pm
- 19
- Location: Ice Sarcophagus outside a ruined Jedi Temple
- Contact:
#48 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
You get one free when you hit 4, you can buy additional ones after character creation.
It's not that I'm unforgiving, it's that most of the people who wrong me are unrepentant assholes.
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Cynical Cat
- Arch-Magician
- Posts: 11930
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:53 pm
- 19
- Location: Ice Sarcophagus outside a ruined Jedi Temple
- Contact:
#49 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Karrick, you're good to go as soon as you've put out the bare bones on your retainers and haven.
It's not that I'm unforgiving, it's that most of the people who wrong me are unrepentant assholes.
#50 Re: Vampire: The Masquerade
Sorry for the delay, I will be posting today. I spent most of Friday afternoon dealing with a car issue and then I had to take the car back after work on Saturday and that swallowed up most of my day and evening. ~_~;
The Peddler of Half Truths.
"Not OP, therefore weakest." - Cynical Cat (May 2016)
"A dog doesn’t need to show his teeth as long as his growl’s deep enough, his food bowl is full and he knows where all the bones are buried." - Frank Underwood
"Not OP, therefore weakest." - Cynical Cat (May 2016)
"A dog doesn’t need to show his teeth as long as his growl’s deep enough, his food bowl is full and he knows where all the bones are buried." - Frank Underwood