Saturday, February 2, 2013

You Know We Can't Love

Veronica and Terrance lay in bed, holding hands and waiting for the sun to rise. They could feel their senses dulling. The stolen blood in their bodies was beginning to congeal and soon they would fall into a dreamless torpor.

     Terrance turned his head to face his sire and asked, “Do you love me?”

     “You know that we can’t love,” she said drowsily.

     “I know. It’s just that unless I’m hungry I don’t feel anything. I feel numb, like an observer in my own body. I need to know that someone still cares about me.” Terrance sounded desperate, almost panicked.

     More alert now, Veronica looked at her progeny. What a pretty bauble. Such a good, sweet boy! “I don’t love you, my childe, because I can’t feel love. But I’ll look after you the same way a mother or lover would. Now kiss me and go to sleep.”

     Terrance did as he was told, but felt no surge of emotion as their lips touched. There was nothing inside him any longer, just hunger.


Veronica Gallegos
     If asked what she thinks about humans, Veronica will flash a flirtatious smile and say, “Humans? Humans are easy.”

Through the decades, Veronica has found that seduction is the key to fulfilling most of her needs. An added bonus of sex is that it makes it much easier for her to feed. For this reason alone, group sex is always preferable to monogamous engagements.

     Veronica was turned in 1970. At the time she was working as a dancer at the Whiskey A Go-Go in West Hollywood. Her sire was a notorious Daeva incubus named Scott Spears. Scott preferred to prey upon the increasing number of young, gay men, but he needed a female companion for both protection and to help him feed on heterosexual targets. The two worked together for ten years before Veronica wandered north.

     Veronica ended up in San Francisco and spent two rather dreary decades there. She missed the free love era of the 60s and 70s and found the 80s and 90s to be rather dull. Veronica matured somewhat during those years, learning how to use her sexuality and seduction skills for material gain. Her affairs were strategic, rather than self-indulgent.

     While in the Bay Area, Veronica met an aspiring Ventrue named Hailey Galloway. Hailey had just been asked by the Prince of San Francisco to assume control over the small city of Santa Fina. Hailey was looking for a charming, attractive Daeva to act as her herald and Veronica was the perfect candidate.

     Veronica has done well in her role. While Santa Fina is quite small compared to Los Angeles and San Francisco, she enjoys getting to know all of the important political and business figures. Veronica is loyal to Hailey Galloway - now Lady Galloway - and has recently joined the Invictus. Veronica hopes to leave Santa Fina one day in order to assume a similar role in a larger, more prestigious setting.

     As Lady Galloway’s envoy, Veronica comes into frequent contact with the other covenants in the city. She is chided by Barnabus of the Circle of the Crone and sneered at by the progressive Carthians. Only the members of the Lancea Sanctum are civil, since they respect the authority of the Invictus. However, behind their polite smiles is a cold, calculating cruelty.

VERONICA GALLEGOS 
Concept: Seductive Daeva who uses her sensual talents for strategic gain
Virtue: Hope
Vice: Lust
Clan: Daeva
Covenant: Invictus

Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 3, Resolve 3
Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2
Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 4, Composure 4

Mental Skills: Academics 1, Computer 1, Investigation 3, Occult 3 (vampire lore), Politics 2 Physical Skills: Athletics 1, Brawl 2 (teeth), Drive 2, Firearms 2, Stealth 3, Weaponry 1
Social Skills: Empathy 3, Expression 2, Persuasion 4 (flirting), Socialize 4 (clubbing), Streetwise 2, Subterfuge 2

Health: 7
Humanity: 6
Derangement: Fixation
Blood Potency: 4
Vitae: 6
Willpower: 7
Size: 5
Speed: 10
Initiative: 7
Defense: 3
Armor: none

Merits: Allies (Invictus) 2, Allies (Daeva) 2, Barfly, City Status 3, Clan Status 2, Contacts 4 (business leaders, politicians, club promoters, club goers), Covenant Status 2, Herd 2, Language 2 (Spanish), Resources 3, Shared Haven 4, Striking Looks 2, Toxin Resistance

Disciplines: Celerity 2 (p. 123), Majesty 3 [Awe, dice pool 8; Revelation, dice pool 11 - subject’s Composure + Blood Potency; Entrancement, dice pool 10 - subject’s Composure + Blood Potency] (p. 129-130), Vigor 1 (p. 141)

Weapons/Attacks: 
Bite, (0)L, dice pool 5
Smith & Wesson Model 908, 2(L), dice pool 7

All page numbers refer to those in Vampire: The Requiem.


Terrance Mays
     Terrance didn't realize that careers ended at 18. Looking back, Terrance wishes that someone would have warned him, but in a way it doesn't matter. Terrance left that life—and life altogether—several years ago.    

     Terrance Mays grew up in Los Angeles. As a child he was an aspiring actor and appeared in many commercials, as well as making guest appearances on shows aired on Nickelodeon and the Disney channel. In his teens, Terrance was well-liked, charismatic and was confident that his career as a child actor would lead to starring roles in television and perhaps film.    

     Unfortunately for Terrance, a fundamental truth of child acting awaited him on his 18th birthday. He soon discovered that the novelty of being a cute, witty teenager had gone. He now had to compete with actors from all over the country who were just as good looking and equally—if not more—talented.    

     Instead of a steady schedule of photo shoots, commercials and hanging out at sound stages, Terrance had to hustle for auditions, work as an extra, wait tables and take expensive acting classes. Like so many child actors before him, Terrance was soon forgotten by his fans and struggled to make ends meet. All of that changed when he met Veronica Gallegos.    

     While working as a P.A. on a low budget indie film in Santa Fina, he caught the Daeva’s eye in a bar. Veronica quickly moved in to feed, captivated by Terrance’s perfect smile, onyx skin and boyish charm. The two spent a passionate evening together. Within Terrance she sensed a frustration borne of broken dreams. Veronica couldn’t help but feel an echo of sympathy.    

     Intrigued by his potential, Veronica convinced the Prince of the city, Lady Galloway, that Terrance would make a valuable addition to the Kindred. During a meeting between Terrance and Lady Galloway, the young man was offered eternal good looks, money and power in return for unwavering servitude. Terrance accepted without hesitation.    

     In return for years of loyal service, Veronica was allowed to sire Terrance. He now serves as Lady Galloway’s personal assistant. Terrance is close to Veronica, but does his best to remain silent regarding the secrets of both women.    

     Terrance is a cautious predator. When feeding he takes great care not to drink too much. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone and worries that the Beast will take over if he indulges himself.    

     Terrance has reluctantly committed a single act of murder. Lady Galloway had asked Terrance to kill a troublesome thug as a favor to a political ally. Normally, she would have had her bodyguard, Adam Rupp, attend to such matters, but she wanted to see if Terrance would obey. He flatly refused, prompting Lady Galloway to threaten him with the Vinculum. He begrudgingly killed the man and will not soon forget the humiliation, as well as the dishonour it brought to Veronica.

     Terrance has not pledged himself to a covenant. He is drawn to the free-thinking Carthians, but he would never betray Veronica since she is a member of the Invictus. For now he is trying to simply make his way among the Kindred and to come to terms with his transformation.

TERRANCE MAYS
Concept: Cautious neonate who refuses to take unnecessary risks
Virtue: Prudence
Vice: Pride
Clan: Daeva
Covenant: Unaligned

Mental Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 3, Resolve 2
Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 2, Stamina 2
Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 2, Composure 3

Mental Skills: Computer 1, Investigation 2, Occult 2, Politics 2
Physical Skills: Athletics 1, Brawl 1, Drive 1, Firearms 1
Social Skills: Empathy 2, Expression 3 (acting), Persuasion 2 (flirting), Socialize 2 (clubbing), Subterfuge

Health: 7
Humanity: 6
Derangement: Narcissism
Blood Potency: 2
Vitae: 4
Willpower: 5
Size: 5
Speed: 9
Initiative: 5
Defense: 2
Armor: none

Merits: Allies (Daeva) 1, City Status 1, Contacts 1 (vampires in Santa Fina), Resources 2, Shared Haven 4, Striking Looks 2

Disciplines: Celerity 1 (p. 123), Majesty 2 [Awe, dice pool 8; Revelation, dice pool 7 - subject’s Composure + Blood Potency] (p. 129-130)

Weapons/Attacks:
Bite, (0)L, dice pool 3

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