The Splinters of Dusk are feared throughout the city. In this, her first published work since her controversial resignation, Dread, founder and ex-leader of the Eventide, talks frankly of the origins of the Splinters and their links to the shadowy Immolator's Guild
The Immolators Guilds in Ravenblack City live primarily by a message that instills fear into most vampires: Power is not an aspect of blood. Their ruthless disregard for bloodpoints has brought us the power of Stamina, one of the arguably most versatile and effect powers in the city, giving a vampire with no blood and full Stamina more action point reserves than one without Stamina might have at a good three million bloodpoints. In short, it's ridiculously powerful.
When I created the Splinters of Dusk clan, 'power is not an aspect of blood' was our tagline. It was only quite a bit later that I realised how similar the two clans, the one player-driven and the other NPC-driven, really were.
In light of the similarity, I began to weave a history for the Immolators Guilds that would tangent our clan. It made no sense to me that we would not have spawned off that Guild, it was a natural assumption, and accordingly, that is how it stands.
Please note that I am no longer part of the Splinters of Dusk - in fact, I am not even the gamemaster of the Immolators Guild history anymore, I gave it to Dallas, a good friend of mine in the Sun Clan, who has served roleplaying well by being my co-gamemaster in Crimson Feather. How it will develope henceforth, I do not know, but I know I look at it with some eagerness.
For the curious, Umbrella and 44th really does harbour a lair called Steele Industries. It is mine and I will preserve it indefinitely, despite what I mentioned in the previous paragraph. I believe I owe the game that has changed my life so much at least that tribute.
I hope you'll find the pages of this book to be enlightening, and, possibly far more important, entertaining.
How exactly did the Immolators Guilds come to exist, who founded them, and what exactly is Steele Industries? This section deals with questions like these: Pure Immolators Guilds history, how the clan has grown and how it has developed internally.
1436, Narayan Steele is bitten by a vampire and turned. A few months later, he expands the bloodline to include his brother, Mercurian, and plots with him the downfall of their master vampire, who has up till then done them no good but give them the gift of immortality.
1439, Mercurian and Narayan lure the master vampire of their family line into their home with the promise of a truce. They come across as so convincing, the vampire in question falls for it, and is most viciously attacked by the Steeles and their friends, and left to die tied to the roof of a house. Not in any way having expected such maliceous acts (vampires just didn't hurt vampires back in those days), there is nothing to save him, and he dies at sunrise.
Later that year, the Immolators Guild is founded by Narayan and Mercurian Steele, one of the first proper clans of the time, numbering a full five members, namely those involved in the killing of the master vampire - and they base the entire clan philosophy and it's efforts on defence from exactly such acts, should they ever be plotted against them.
Accordingly, they have worked towards taking the vampiric immortality one step further to absolution - where before, the sun was their foe, now the Steeles are daywalkers, since roughly a century and a half. It is their greatest achievement, but they keep quiet about it mostly, and the powers such immortality may open up are unused. They have no interest in city domination - their wish is one of survival, not of destruction.
Steele Industries is known both in the vampire and the human world. The metallurgy company has been in existence as long as the Immolators themselves as a clan. They are the creators of transit rails, of the framework for skyscrapers and they create the aluminium hulls of the actual trains and of helicopters. They're an established business to the minds of the humans, who have no clue that the two most prominent members, the leaders themselves, are also the founders, rather than their descendants, and are daywalker vampires.
The Immolators Guilds are often rumoured to be evil, where in fact their true alignment lies more towards neutral. They attempt to stay out of politics as much as possible whilst maintaining enough presence to be feared and left alone. They have no alliances and only one official enemy, a stagnant, emotional war of hatred with the Thieves Guilds, who have kept causing shady trouble. Not that the IGs are clean of such accusations... but all in all, their politics are uneventful and revolve mostly around the capitalistic wanderings of Steele Industries. They're a very defensive clan and call many powerful secrets their own, of which they only publically share Stamina and Suction.
The philosophy of the Immolators Guilds is simple: What does not kill you makes you stronger. On levels of vampirism, it extends to what does not emotionally kill you makes you stronger - they teach themselves to endure pain, the only weaponary anyone could possibly have against them, to disarm enemies before even the first strike. It's horribly effective. Despite this numbing to such violent input as pain, many Immolators remain passionate, and there are many of them which will need centuries to reach a point of emotional purity where they are truly a master of their emotions, without them dying off.
Narayan Steele has probably the closest to the emotional mastery - he stays levelheaded and calm almost all the time, regardless what is thrown at him.
Mercurian Steele on the other hand is almost immune to pain, but his passion, paticularily for the clan, often runs away with him.
The Splinters of Dusk were founded by an ex-Immolator called Zyan Quetzal. Since then, their history has repeatedly intersected. This section deals with those moments in history where the two clans had to do with one another.
1904, Zerachiel Aquila joins the Immolators. Much to his surprise it only takes two days until he meets the man who runs all practical aspects of the guild, a certain Mercurian Steele, whom he excitedly befriends, finding they share many common interests beyond philosophy. Only a few weeks later, the two could be filed as 'best friends'.
Around August, Zyan's 'relationship' with Mercurian turns into a hissy tactical debate over the joining of a spy from the Thieves Guild. Zyan leaves the clan, full of anger for Mercurian's 'grave mistakes' in the matter, unable to tolerate that it happened in the clan he so admired up to that point in time.
Because he had quite a high status at this point and quite a few followers of his energetic and new approach to the Immolator concept, he recruits a few Immolators with ease into his newly created clan, Splinters of Dusk (September 1905), swearing to bring down the Immolators Guilds with the aid of their own apparent stupidity, calling himself a warring clan.
Mercurian tolerates the existence of the clan, as does Narayan, both in firm belief that a clan based on such harsh emotions and unstable moods could last any time or develope any credible amount of organization...
1929, Iyaria, pending second in command in the Immolators, is found to be a spy from Zyan's clan. It strikes Mercurian emotionally and tactically, a deep insult in his opinion, and the pain of it in it's intensity sparks of true hatred for the gekkonid clan (Splinters of Dusk). Iyaria is left to burn by the sun.
The 1st of January 1930, Zyan is attempt-assassinated. The vampire, however, has anticipated the move - he taunts the IGs and causes them to waste days in search of him, before he kills the two that were sent, ironically, to kill him. After that, the 'war' stagnates, and both sides resume hating each other from afar, quietly.
Between 1939 and 1941, five gekkonid spies are intercepted by the Immolators in total, two of them simultaneously from late 1940 to October 1941 - both undiscovered until they by chance are heard talking about gekkonid matters in a pub by an Immolator's newbie.
1942, the Immolators finally get a hold of Zyan, subjecting him to the same fate as Iyaria. The move is sudden and Zyan was not expecting it this time, so he was picked off. The gekkonids, without a leader, are shocked, and several leave the clan in fear the Immolators may now try to actively destroy them all. It never happens, but the gekkonids cease being important.
Unbeknownst to anyone but a handful and Zyan himself, Zyan survived, barely, and spends the next decades recovering with the help of strong magics and large quantities of blood to regenerate.
Since Zyan's downfall, the gekkonids have tried spying several times again, often for different reasons: once to test their strength, to see if it would be safe to come out again (intercepted), 1972, once for malicious reasons (intercepted), 1981, and once for reasons of mistrust in diplomacy, 2001, also intercepted. Mercurian, accordingly, feels no trust for the gekkonids whatsoever, and is frustrated that his brother will not okay a minor genocide.
The gekkonids, having started as chaotic evil, could officially be called neutral-evil in the 1960's, and traversed to neutral in the 80s, becoming detatched with the reign of Mictian in 2002. Despite their vow not to ally with anyone officially, the clan does harbour attempts of the sort to reaffiliate with the Immolators, feeling that both clans can learn from each other and put past conflicts aside.
Note that the gekkonids are unaware how much spying has been done exactly, as the records were never kept. Mercurian isn't very outspoken about it, leaving it to bubble inside him, assuming they do know, which makes him mistrust them even more.
Mictian's attempts to ally with the Immolators are more than genuine. He and Narayan get along so well that he feels himself an Immolator at heart, but as he grew up with the gekkonids, despite his first wishes to join the Immolators, he believes in staying a gekkonid until all past issues have been resolved and the branch-off clan can be reintegrated. He does not believe in redundant clans.
Zyan Quetzal these days lives in the labyrinth under Cemetary Hill, having cloaked it in magics that divert any locate attempts of those in the labyrinth to nothingness, as though the people in question were outside the city or dead. Those who know of it or have experienced it themselves (the magic cannot be felt otherwise than by noticing a failed locate) can assume vampires to be in the labyrinth, but they can never find out where.
Mictian d'Avarice, Neike Apollyon Satana, Black Unicorn, Lady Kayura and Sinister Glow are the only in the gekkonids that know for sure that Zyan lives and where he is. The rest assume it or have heard rumours at best, at least officially.
Zyan is not a daywalker, but he has more speed and is more knowledgable in illusional and manipulative magics than the Steeles - it would not save him, but it would do a lot of damage to the Immolators if they did try to attack...
Over time, various IC elements have popped up that can be used as a pointer for future plots. I've gathered a couple in this section, both for reference and, of course, and primarily, entertainment.
The material in this subsection is completely in-character. It charts the different pages of the folder (numbered) that was left in the Halls of Cerridwen. It was nestled in a destructive plot that nearly caused the Splinters of Dusk to be wiped out - the pages are provided as a character might read them, with no further OOC notes.
This folder is intended for educational purposes regarding Steele
Industries and the Immolators Guilds. For the sake of argument, the
two can be considered equal, but the details of their overlapping
will be made clear to those who consider reading the contents of
this folder.
I have left this information here in hopes of gathering alliances,
for I have reason to fear that my clan is in wake of a threat, and
assistance is something I would appreciate, though I dare not demand
it or beg for it. Fact is that this threat may be global, not just
restricted to my own clan, and so I have good reason to believe that
you, reading this, would sympathize and turn against our enemies as
we have done.
Regards,
Mercurian Steele
Greetings, fair vampire,
you have recently joined a clan ground in tradition and neutrality. We call ourselves the Immolators, based on our belief that what does not kill you makes you stronger, and it is that philosophy that you have likely joined us for.
We have come together to teach any vampire that wishes it the power of resistance, of strength, of stamina. That is all we are - to the outside. But the real secrets of mental craftsmanship are taught only to our members. Those outside our clan speak of levels, counting three for Stamina. Going by this system, within the clan, we can teach you up to level eight.
Unlike what we do in the city, our remaining courses are not as simple. They require lengthy training and such things cannot be aquired from one day to the next. Accordingly, in turn for the knowledge, you must be willing to be patient and have time.
Steele Industries is our main meeting point. Within, most our doings are coordinated. Accordingly, you will meet up with humans, and so it is now time you are told our code of conduct and our rules:
1. You do not bite humans in and around Steele Industries. Not only do we want to stay undercover, which any outside association may jeopardize, but Steele Industries is also our center of politics, regardless of with whom, so it is a requirement that it is completely neutral, even to humans.
2. You do not attack vampires unless they have paid for Stamina and you have been put in charge of them, or unless they have raised their hand against you or us as a clan first. We are neutral and we will never start a fight.
3. You will listen to your superiors and you will lead your inferiors to the best of your knowledge. We cannot realise a meritocracy, but no one should abuse the hierarchic structure, regardless of where they are. If your superior gives you a command to pass on, you will not change that command, you will simply do as you were told to.
4. No matter what the situation (even ones that would fall under law #3), you will never do anything to break the integrity of our clan. Included in that are: Publicising clanprivate information, allying with clan foes, spying, jeopardizing our neutrality by doing acts of war without express permission, and many other things. It is suggested you use your common sense here.
This may seem like a whole bunch of boring rules. Fact is, normally they will not tangent you at all. Whilst we are well-structured, we are numerous enough that all tasks normally have several people who could do them, and so it is likely you are rarely given commands to listen to.
Even if you do get one, please realise that it is, in the end, for your own good. We are a family and no one in this family would send you on a suicide mission or do something to harm you. Numerous or not, we would never consider a single one of us to be expendable. You are an individual, and it is exactly that individuality which is invaluable.
Regarding your new place in the hierarchy: You are starting at the bottom, but do not let that stop you from speaking to those at the top. I for one have a distinct interest in you personally - if there is anything you need clarified or discussed, feel free to get in touch with me.
Kind regards,
Mercurian Steele
[- page 1 -]
(logo)
[- page 2 -]
Steele Industries was established by the Steele brothers who gave the company its name in 1437. Despite our long history in the steel industry, we have never rested ourselves on the tradition of years, but instead have always glanced into the future and onto innovations and inventions. We have specialized ourselves and where others have split production and design, we have sought to kept it merged.
Today, our primary products are high quality, earth-quake resistant steel structuring for skyscrapers, resistant aluminimium alloy helicopter hulls with specially worked out streamlined design, and premium train tracks that were built for stability and durability.
Of course the applications for steel and metal alloys these days is far greater than just a handful of large products. Our main goal is and always has been the continued research of where we can best put out knowledge to use and how to expand our product depth in ways that pleases you the most.
Regards,
Narayan Steele
[- page 3 -]
PRODUCT LIST
The complete product category list (at time of printing):
FRAMES
-> HELICOPTER HULLS
-> TRAIN HULLS
-> STRUCTURAL FRAMES FOR BUILDINGS
PROPELLERS
-> HELICOPTER ROTORS
-> NAUTICAL PROPELLERS
PIPING
RAIL TRACKS
We also consider any and all inquiries about single make products should you have interest in such a project for your company or for private purposes should it not already be listed here.
For the most current list of availible high quality Steele Industries products or to commission us for project work, please do not hesitate to call 555-440-9999.
[- page 4 -]
RAVENBLACK CITY TRANSIT SYSTEM
Steele Industries are the proud makers and maintainers of Ravenblack City's transit system. We have had the priviledge to be commissioned by the city itself to keep this project active in the structural and technical aspect. It is our primary concern to make sure that the trains will never cease to run due to structural breaks, and that is our guarantee for Ravenblack City, which we have upheld since the early 1960's when this project was handed to us.
(picture of a train)
Picture © 2005 City Transit System [CTS]
[- page 5 -]
CONTACT
If you would like to contact us for any reason, be it a project commissioning, a request or concern, we'll be more than happy to listen.
ADDRESS
Steele Industries
Umbrella and 44th
Ravenblack City
PHONE
555-440-9999
FAX
555-440-9998
EMAIL
correspondance{a}esteele.com
My brother,
in your last letter you wrote me that you have discovered a spy from the Splinters of Dusk in your midst and dealt with her. I am appalled by your behaviour - was it neccessary to be so brutal? We are a diplomatic clan and whilst the behaviour on sides of the Splinters was inexcusable, surely death was not a neccessary measure to take? Even if you would find arguments to support that, you have written me that you wish permission to destroy the clan. I cannot grant you that, brother, for you have lost your mind. You are suggesting I allow genocide merely because someone found out a couple of more things than they should have. What has the rest of this clan done to you? I know you feel strongly about the fact that Zyan has left us and done these horrible things, but if you were to act like you wish, you would only lower yourself to his level. Don't you see that this is what he wants? His clan is in no position to seriously pose a threat to us, all he can hope to do is bring up the public against us.
Do not give him that satisfaction.
- Narayan Steele, 09.11.1929
My brother,
a compromise: I have put the Splinters of Dusk on our list of enemy clans and alerted our immediate and close friends of the matter. You are hereby given permission to hunt down Zerachiel for his betrayal. However, you will NOT touch the rest of his clan, for they have done nothing, and as said before, I refuse to jeopardize our neutrality.
Please meet me tomorrow in Steele Industries so we can talk about this. I know you realise that I still hope I can veer you from this path you are taking, but I will no longer stand in your way of the above mentioned goals. It pains me that you would even consider the destruction of an entire clan, or of any individual, but I understand that some action must be taken.
I am sorry, my brother, for the grief I must be causing you.
- Narayan Steele, 29.12.1929
I've turned the tables. Two to nil for me. I find it amusing you would think that a mere two men would be able to bring me down whilst I'm on my guard. It pains me to see how right I was about your level of stupidity. - Zyan
My brother,
I grow tired of this mental war. I am beginning to understand why you
choose not to debate but to act. Under the condition you cease to
bother me about this clan, you may do with them as you please. Two
men lost do not justify this choice, but I am sick of it. I shall
put my trust into your actions once more, and I hope you will not
disappoint me and besmirch the name of our clan whilst you seek
revenge.
- Narayan Steele, 24.01.1930
Advent, Advent, ein Vampir brennt, erst eins, dann zwei, dann drei, dann vier...
Fellow vampires of Europe, the mighty Immolators Guilds are a farce. For the past years since 1905, they have been focussing on a small and seemingly insignificant clan that has kept prodding them repeatedly, usually with very sharp sticks: Us!
What has this world come to, when one of the clans presumed most numerous and powerful clans lets their lives be dictated by one with a mere hundred members? How can this be?
Times have changed, and it is time for the Immolators to wake up from their pathetic hybernation. You will find nothing other than cowards and confused individuals in the dying old clan - if you really want to learn the meaning of 'what does not kill you makes you stronger', you should join the Splinters of Dusk instead.
Immortality and Immolators may start with the same four letters, but the two have never been as far apart as today!
Be part of the revolution.
- The Nova Splinter Zerachiel Aquila
The vampire Zyan Quetzal, known otherwise by his human name of Zerachiel Aquila, was assassinated in the year 1942. His clan, however, continues to exist today.
Beyond this page you will find photos of myself, Narayan, and those members of the Splinters of Dusk that have published their affiliation, aswell as a photo of Zerachiel Aquila for reference.
Make of this what you will.
Regards,
- Mercurian Steele
From: Lady Kayura
To: pinkgothic
Posted: 16 Jan 2005 07:01 am
Subject: (Sent a PM to Narayan but sending to you so you can see it)
A letter finds it’s way onto Narayan’s desk with his morning mail. The envelope is simple. Should he open it, he would find three pieces of paper. The first is white, written on with a tiny yet elegant script on white paper. A crest, of a stake piercing a heart rests in the upper left corner of the paper. It is addressed to the day walker.
‘Greetings Mr. Steele,’ it began.
‘My name is Natalie Chang and I am writing you in hopes that you might aid me and aid yourself. I am a vampire in the city only months old. My sire is a vampiress by the name of Kayura who it seems you may know.
I am writing in hope of finding your brother. I have some information I would like to pass on to him. I realize that there is no reason that you should help me without first knowing something of the nature of why I wish to speak with him.
Enclosed you shall find two copies of pages taken from my sire’s journal. I would send you the originals but I do not wish to damage the books she has written in. They may prove worth more whole than in pieces.
Your time is appreciated.
Truly,
Natalie Chang’
Should Narayan have read thus far, he would have found two more pieces of paper. The first was a photocopy of some journal, the writing was noticeably different. Larger script, curly and much less attractive, the page was filled with it.
Zyan. In a way, he is a lot like Mictian. Charming, seductive and much more powerful than I am. Than I ever will be. Meeting him was as if I were meeting Mictian again but under different circumstances. I was allowed to like Zyan where I couldn’t do that with Mictian.
Anything, save leaving as I wished was granted by him. The only bad thing that I can say about my time spent with him and Frederick was the lack of a bed. Brick and stone is hardly a good way to sleep. And neither Zyan or Frederick would agree to give me a massage.
It was so lovely to see Neike come and find me. Goddess, I didn’t realize how much I had missed her. But things have changed. So very much. Zyan let me leave after I joined the Splinters though that was not why I joined. I feel a kind of peace among the Splinters that I did not have with the VS. It was a kind of peace I found among the Scions.
I cannot wait to go back and find Zyan again to speak with him and see if he might advise me on how to become a daywalker. How ironic that now that I don’t have to go back, I wish to. Though I will be sure to take a flashlight with me so I don’t have to depend on fire to fight the shadows. And the sun is rising so I’ll end this.
The next page was written with the same messy script though messier than before, as if written faster.
He knows! Mercy knows about Zyan. I spoke nothing of him, I kept my silence but in that silence, I gave too much away. If he finds him, it will be my fault! And the only thing I can do to protect him is to stay away though I hate that.
Even if I don’t speak with him, it’s enough to just be in his presence. He gives me hope that I can achieve my goal. To not be able to go to him whenever I wish is killing me again.
I hate Mercurian Steele. If I had the power, I would kill him. Fuck neutrality. It would save my clan, I would do it. But I don’t have that power yet. I don’t even know if the bastard can be killed. Sunlight doesn’t harm him. Perhaps if someone removed his head.
I wish he’d just leave us alone. I wish he’d get a damn hobby that didn’t involve my clan or clanmates! I don’t understand his problem. He’s obsessed, that’s clear. And I know about obsession. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.
And so it ended with Nat hoping for a reply from either vampire. She was locatable and her return address was on the envelope. If they wished, they’d find her. And she prayed to anything that might listen to a lone vampire that they would.
Mercurian Steele
+ (daywalker) +
human name // Mercurian Steele
vampire name // Mercurian
year turned // 1436
apparent age // 28
clan // The Immolators Guilds
attitude // Mercurian's attitude has had just under six hundred years to develop into it's current form. Whilst he started out as the regular cliché of a party-loving student, little of that innocence has remained.
Since the vampire turning, Mercurian's bond to his brother has increased dramatically, turning into an absolute. According to Mercurian, Narayan can do no wrong - perhaps be naive occasionally (look who's talking), but never stupid. Anything his brother does automatically gains a levelof 'holiness', so to speak, and accordingly, Mercurian's current loyalities lie with the Immolators Guilds, whom he is passionate about to a point of extremism.
He has zero tolerance for any threat to the health of Narayan, any threat to the survival of his clan, and any potential threat to the survival of his clan.
He started out as someone well capable of not holding grudges, but now years of dealing with vampire clans and spies and lies and hatred have made him more than bitter - he trusts no one outside his clan, except if he is in too much of a rush to judge. Whilst he does not trust people on default, he does respect them. His daywalker status has not made him think less of other vampires - in fact, he seems oblivious to it, as though it were a sidenote in his life.
It should also be noted that Mercurian never fully grew up. He looks to Narayan like a child might to a father, and his happiness are childish joys, bouts of glee that burst into existence almost spontaneously sometimes.
His pain tolerance is completely up the roof - it is unlikely anything short of destruction would stop this vampire if he ever went on a rampage. He is almost immune to pain entirely, using the physical sensation as means to spur him on rather than letting it knock him down. When in pain, paticularily the physical sort, but also emotionally, he seems to have infinite energy.
Despite this, he has forgotten the pain that sunlight brings. If he remembers, it is because he is planning to subject someone to it...
The only thing that would stop Mercurian would be to destroy Narayan - taking Mercurian's hold to sanity from him, his support and pillar, his father figure, his mentor.
appearance // Mercurian is slightly taller than average, a lithe wandering cliché of a vampire: handsome, clad in black, thin but strong. He indulges in the cliché, knowing it is just that, but finding it safer to live out a poster life than displaying his own.
His hair is a short, spikey black and his eyes a deep, darkbrown. His clothing of choice is, as mentioned, black, and preferably silky. His brows are thin (not a line, though) but rather pronounced, and it is often that they furrow and the black hair stands out like the spikes of a hedgehog.
Astrally, Mercurian's appearance is most interesting. His marketing smile (a trick his brother taught him) is easily seen as fraud by any creature halfways empathic capable of tasting auras - Mercurian's is electric, a frightening storm of a mixture of magenta sparks and a glossy black mass of spikes.
Perhaps the aura is so violently destructive because Mercurian himself lives in a silent, everpresent pain of misunderstandings and backstabbings...
powers // Second-sight Suction Surprise Celerity(3) Stamina(8 ) Shadows(3) Thievery(3) Locate(3) Telepathy(3) Charisma(3)
sire // Narayan
childer // (none)
partner // (none)
Narayan Steele
+ (daywalker) +
human name // Narayan Steele
vampire name // Narayan
year turned // 1436
apparent age // 34
clan // The Immolators Guilds
attitude // Very much unlike his bother, Narayan Steele is a level-headed vampire. His philosophy is that everything can be decided rationally. His logics drive people up the wall occasionally, but he makes up for it by being exceedingly charming in all situations outside debating, making him hugely popular.
His past time consists of reducing past time - if he has a spare minute, it's most likely going to get spent worrying about the financial situation of the Immolators, of Steele Industries, or anything which needs worrying about, and even that which doesn't.
He detests interruptions to his trains of thoughts and lives mostly introverted, knowing the inside of his Steele Industries office more than anything else. The person he speaks to most is his secretary, a human by the name of Elizabeth, who knows of him being a vampire and daywalker, but has never voiced issues with it. In fact, she does not treat him differently than she would a human boss and friend at all.
He wields his charming, disarming smile mostly when he has to achieve some political or economical goal by talking with people, aswell at to friends in any situation. His mannerisms outside his job are warm and hearty, and whilst he tells no jokes himself, it seems no joke is dull enough to make him crack a smile.
Whilst wrapped up in work, he is hectic, multitasking and not awfully approachable - but rarely ever to a point of rudeness. He will ask people to leave if he is busy, pointing out how wrapped up he is - only if they ignore his wishes a couple of times (the number depends on his stress level in the situation; anything from one to twenty times) does he blow up at people, snarl, and threaten more deadly things than giving no cookies.
He has zero tolerance for intolerant people and for those who openly speak of the destruction of innocents, paticularily his friends (which are considered innocents on default).
He's often used by Mercurian as a mediator, a neutral element, as he truly does seem as neutral as Switzerland...
appearance // Narayan is a touch taller than his brother still, with the same physique, and almost the same strength hiding unseen behind it, a touch weaker than Mercurian, and far less determined extreme in rare cases.
He has a wavey blonde hair looking like gold silk that reaches down to just above his shoulders. His eyes are a bright, radiant blue sparkling with a mischievous sort of happiness and tons of charisma all the time. All in all, he looks amazingly aryan, almost disturbingly so. It is enforced by his vow to never slouch.
It is only his facial features, such at the aristocratically straight nose, which make it clear that he is related to Mercurian - that, and the natural litheness.
Unlike Mercurian, Narayan is horribly vain and thus picks his clothes with care - he does not look like a cliché at any moment in time, but always puts efforts into looking stylish and clan in modern yet never kitschy outfits.
powers // Second-sight Suction Surprise Celerity(3) Stamina(6) Shadows(3) Thievery(3) Locate(3) Telepathy(3) Charisma(3)
sire // (none)
childer // Mercurian and a couple of others (102 all in all)
partner // (none)
Zyan Quetzal
human name // Zerachiel Aquila
vampire name // Zyan Quetzal
year turned // 1901
apparent age // 22
clan // Splinters of Dusk 1904 - 1942
attitude // Zyan isn't very different from Mercurian at all. He has the same fiercely loyal passion and is just as moody and thick-skulled as the daywalker Immolator.
The main difference between the two is Zyan's pre-emptive manner - he does not wait for an event to trigger his negative emotions, he simply plows through life with little to no regard of how others might have meant something. In that, the world is quite endangered, as he interprets everything negatively that was not spoken by one of the Splinters of Dusk.
Regarding 'his' clan, the gekkonids, Zyan considers himself a protector. Due to his tussles with the Immolators Guilds in the past, he considers them a constant threat to the survival of his own clan, paticularily as he reckons that daywalkers have nothing to lose. Where outsiders normally have a chance in debates and discussions with Zyan, Immolators are barely allowed to breathe.
Back before 1905, Zyan was a pleasant individual who had embraced the concept of neutrality. When Mercurian's politics became too diplomatic with obvious enemies, Zyan's attitude changed to something far more agressive.
Since 1905, Zyan's alignment has not changed from chaotic evil.
appearance // Zyan was turned at the age of 23, and physically remained at this appearance. He has shoulderlength black hair he dyed an almost whiteblond colour, which give the strands of his hair a chaotic appearance as they'd grow out at different speeds - an effect he loves.
His eyes in contrast are a slightly bluish green, a bit like the sea, but very clear for a vampire's, and very light - the colouring make them look unreal and artificial, really, but it is what gave him his name - Zyan, for cyan.
Very thin even before having been turned, Zyan has exceptionally large hands and long fingers, which he emphasizes more by letting his fingernails grow - he paints them a glossy black.
His attire is mostly the classical black, except for the occasional kitschy splash of colour in form of a T-Shirt just showing under his black leather jacket.
The profile of his nose is a narrow triangle with a delicate tip - giving him a very regal appearance, paticularily together with his naturally narrow eyebrows and thin lips.
powers // Second-sight Suction Surprise Perception Celerity(4) Stamina(3) Shadows(3) Thievery(3) Locate(3) Telepathy(3) Charisma(3) Healing(1) Astral(1)
sire // (none)
childer // Frederick
partner // (none)