Sales, Vampire: The Masquerade

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Children of the Revolution was a fun book to write for. Taking atypical concepts and fleshing them out to give a new perspective on Vampire was great, such as a black metal Setite neonate. This character in particular was one that came through open development, one of the many reasons why I love this kind of collaboration with our community. Here are the stats for Svein Fortinbras.

Svein “Azrael” Fortinbras

Sire: Brynjar

Clan: Followers of Set

Nature: Visionary

Demeanor: Monster

Generation: 12th

Embrace: 1991

Apparent Age: Early 20s

Physical: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3

Social: Charisma 3, Manipulation 3, Appearance 2

Mental: Perception 2, Intelligence 3, Wits 2

Talents: Brawl 1, Expression 3, Intimidation 3, Streetwise 2

Skills: Drive 2, Firearms 3, Melee 3, Performance (Black Metal) 4, Stealth 2, Survival 1

Knowledges: Occult 4, Investigation 1

Disciplines: Presence 3, Serpentis 1

Background: Allies (band and groupies) 3, Fame (black metal guitarist) 2, Resources 2, Retainers (road crew, record label) 2

Virtues: Conscience 1, Self-Control 4, Courage 3

Morality: Humanity 5

Willpower: 6

Blood Pool/Max per Turn: 11/1

Image: Azrael is larger than life in just about every way. He is close to seven feet tall and he wears thick, bulky boots that make him even taller. His vibrant red hair is regularly died raven black, and hangs over his face like a death-shroud.

Whether on stage or mingling in Kindred society, Azrael looks like an unholy cross between a goth biker and a modern Viking: long, black leather coats, black and silver furs around his shoulders, white shoe-polished logos on the back and sleeves, and lots of morbid silver jewelry. He has polished stainless steel studs through his ears, eyebrows, nose, and lip. Even his gloves have pointed silver spikes on the knuckles, and his guitars are often solid black with white and silver accents. Every inch of remaining visible skin is painted to make him look (even more) like a walking corpse, but as time goes on, he finds he needs the makeup less and less.

Outside of “the uniform,” Azrael looks much less intimidating. He generally keeps to T-shirts and jeans over heavy-duty work boots, and the amount of silver jewelry dwindles to a handful of rings and a necklace, all displaying some element of his Norse faith. Those familiar with his ostentatious appearance are often surprised as how quickly and carefully he moves. He is a big man in a world just a little too small for him, and he has the studied movements of someone who has spent decades making sure he doesn’t accidentally run into or break things.

Roleplaying Hints: Azrael is bizarre, opinionated, and divisive. He treats his band and his fans like worshippers, all praying to the altar of Fuck Authority. While he is still very young for a Kindred, his fanaticism and lack of fear of Final Death propel him into actions that other Kindred find incomprehensible. His actions make perfect sense to him, but between his self-constructed belief system and his Embrace in an extremely violent and chaotic subculture (as well as a dose of paranoia), it’s not surprising that his actions seem manic to the more stolid vampires around him.

Those who know of Azrael only by reputation or through his stage persona are often caught off-guard by how soft-spoken he is in person. Far from the stereotype of the loud, profanity-spewing, renegade fledgling, he is quiet and thoughtful, often pausing as if considering each thought. On the other hand, he doesn’t see the point in saying anything but what’s on his mind, and the opinions he shares are often just a hostile as any vitriol-laden rant.

Despite (or perhaps because of) his revolutionary and borderline sociopathic opinions, he is surprisingly humble. He doesn’t think of himself as the leader of Ynglinga but rather the first among peers. In his mind, everyone in the longboat is pulling at the oars — he’s just the one counting out the strokes. His natural inclination toward pure democracy makes him particularly attractive to the Anarchs (and dangerous to the other sects), but Azrael doesn’t consider it to be any sort of radical governmental structure. It’s just how he does things, and he’s often disappointed and angry when others don’t see it that way.

Haven: Due to his constant touring and escapes, Azrael has a number of small, improvised bolt-holes throughout North America. Many motel rooms and truck stops that end up “destroyed” by the band are actually hastily secured havens used to keep sunlight and hunters at bay. Azrael does have a few safe houses scattered across the country that he uses for storage or a more secure place to hide when necessary. Overall, though, he tries to stay as mobile as possible. He has a contact on the American West Coast, a fellow Setite named Liliane Chastain, who occasionally provides him with information and a temporary haven, but only when he visits the Century City domain. She has offered to put him in contact with other Setites in the Anarch Free State, an offer he would be wise to accept.

Influence: As his fame continues to become more and more cultic, various elders are forced to decide if Azrael is a pawn to court or an enemy to crush. They would find either option difficult: So far, Azrael hasn’t found much need for sects, and whether due to beginner’s luck or divine providence, he’s managed to come out unscarred by much of the Jyhad. With the adoration of the Anarchs, the concern of the more orderly sects, and the pragmatic manipulations of the independent clans, though, someone is going to take a swing at Azrael, and soon.

Assuming the Society of Leopold doesn’t get to him first, of course.