Latest revision as of 09:17, 20 November 2014

Varian apBlanc duMonde
Varian apBlanc duMonde
Information
Title(s)	Prince, Baron (Formerly of New Dauntless)
Archetype	Aristocrat, General, Monster
Hair Colour	Black
Eye Colour	Orchid
Height	6'4"
Build	Thin, Muscular
Notable Features	Notably pale, Orchid-colored irises, Smells of lilacs
Born	Date: Estimated ~1210 A.I. Location: Colonial New Dauntless
Died	Date: Possibly ~1237 A.I. Location: Somewhere in Thessilane
Spouse(s)	Astraeana duMonde (former wife), Zzaryn Mitric duMonde (former wife)
Children	Mierra duMonde (daughter)
Profession	Baron Emeritus, New Dauntless
Religion	One True Faith

Description

The Man

Varian is tall, at 6'4", with a lean, but muscular physique. His features tend toward aquiline, to a somewhat exotic degree and his complexion is pallid, without appearing unhealthily so. Typically, his coal-black hair is kept long, but pulled back from his face. The irises of his eyes are a startling, deep-orchid color.

As befitting a nobleman, Varian tends to dress the part. His wardrobe consists of rich, expensive fabrics, usually dyed darker shades of blue, black, purples and reds. Less often, he might be seen wearing piecemeal armor and may sport an elegantly crafted rapier and main gauche.

The Vampire

Immediately, there are few differences between Varian's more preternatural state and that of most other vampires. His eyes may appear as a darker shade of their usual, orchid color, or they may be entirely consumed by an inky blackness. More noticeably, Varian's fangs protrude from his upper, lateral incisors. These "blood teeth," as they are sometimes referred, are very long, very thin and have a slow, backward arch, like those of venomous snakes.

Background

Origin

Childhood

The story of Varian's origin is one of few known details. By the account of Varian's elder brother, Tristen apBlanc, and to some extent, that of duMonde himself, he was born in somewhere in New Dauntless. The boys had a strict father and a doting mother, presumably with the surnames of either apBlanc or duMonde. Their father was an adept farmer that worked land owned by a local baron and the family made a menial living, but did not want.

As the boys grew older, they grew apart. Their interests differed significantly. Tristen became obsessed with power, money and women. Varian was subordinate and hard-working. When they were adolescents, their father was fatally wounded in a fight that broke out in a nearby tavern, while attempting to broker peace between the combatants and he later died from his injury. With no one to work the land and provide for them, the family soon became impoverished. Their mother grew ill in her age and succumbed to hunger soon after.

Distraught, the boys left their childhood home with hardly a word to one another. Neither expected to see the other again.

Adolescence

Though still a young man, Varian quickly found that being alone in an unfamiliar world has a way of expediting one's need to mature. Soon, the nights he had spent tormented by the memories of watching his mother slip away were replaced by calculated attempts to steal food from farms or rob small caravans of items he could use or sell. These meager raids were successful sometimes, other times they were not.

On one particularly disastrous night, Varian found himself caught for theft by mercenaries that had masqueraded as wandering merchants. They clapped the young man in irons and chained him to several other would-be thieves that they intended to sell into slavery of one sort or another.

As luck would have it, a feud between two realms of Trae Kelsa broke out before his captors could auction of their prizes and local constabularies ordered them to free their prisoners, that they would be enlisted in the militia ad send to battle.

Varian found that he was a natural soldier. He obeyed orders, could effectively wield a sword and often displayed the ability to even command the others fighting at his side. As the battle went on, Varian honed all of these skills and found new ones to add to his repertoire, such as mastering battlefield tactics. Soon, there was talk of the end of war and Varian found himself wondering what would become of him when there was no fighting left to be done.

Adulthood & Death

When war subsided, the older Varian found solace in work as a sellsword, policing small, ongoing skirmishes. It paid well enough that he could rent a room in an inn, drink himself into a stupor and, on occasion, share his bed with a woman. It was a life that required little effort and even less thought.

One evening, Varian found himself heavily inebriated in a tavern he had never been to before. While this was no new occurrence, the night of drinking and whoring would end in a wholly different manner. As it grew later and later, the crowd within the place continued to thin, until the drunken soldier, the two women who shared his table and just one other man remained.

Varian, as drunk and as sure of himself as he was, paid no mind to the fourth occupant. He laughed and flirted with the women for a handful of hours more, but soon found that his companions would abandon him. Left alone, he staggered to his feet, paid his tab and left for the inn in which he'd previously procured a room. Unbeknownst to him, the man from the tavern followed closely behind.

As Varian sluggishly, clumsily made his way down the unlit road that connected the two establishments, he was attacked. Struck from behind with such force that it collapsed his knees and took his breath away. Another strike slammed his face into the matted, dirt path and shattered his nose, filling his mouth with blood and his eyes with tears. He struggled to regain his ground, reached for the sword at his side, only to find the scabbard empty and his feet no longer in contact with the ground.

Held there, aloft, by his throat, he knew his life would end. He clutched at the wrist of the man that pinned him against the trunk of a tree. He growled, gnashed his teeth and spit his own blood in the face of the creature whose grasp felt like iron around his neck. His attacker never demanded his money, never cursed him for the murder of a family member, never uttered a word. Soon, Varian's strength waned and gave out, as consciousness began to slip away. The final sensation when the creature sank his fangs into his throat was the last thing he would feel as a mortal man.

Myrken Wood

The Broken Dagger

Decades passed since the night Varian's mortality was stripped away. In that time, Varian was once again forced to mature in the truest sense of the word. From a fledgling vampire with no knowledge of what he had become, he discovered all of the terrible truths about his new existence. Slowly, he came to terms with everything he must do to survive and began to master a whole new set of skills.

Without guidance, Varian progressed from a clumsy killer of farm animals to a precise and stealthy hunter. He became cautious and moved from place to place, never staying in one location for too long, lest he be discovered for what he was. He frequented all of the places he had in life, watching and waiting, just as he had been stalked by the monster that took his life.

Those years of nomadic hunting eventually brought him to Myrken Wood, where he would find one of his most lucrative hunting grounds in an inn known as The Broken Dagger. It was also within this inn that he would first encounter another of his kind and make a startling discovery.

Reunion

Varian became a fixture in the 'Dagger.' In his years of travel, he had fine tuned methods of blending in with humans, passing himself off as one of them and presenting an image of himself that was often misleading enough that none would question his eccentricities. To this end, he purchased fine clothes, drank expensive wine and even ate their mundane foods.

One night, as he ate and drank within the inn, he also watched its patrons and planned for his hunt. As his intended victim departed, he followed in short order. He stepped where they stepped, always so careful to stay within the shadows of trees and alleyways. He lept to a vantage point, from which he would descend upon them and take from them what it was that he so desperately needed.

As he prepared his attack, there was a voice from behind him. It seemed impossible that anyone, anything would be so bold or so skilled as to take him by surprise. An unknown feeling washed over Varian, something within him that told him that this man, this creature was a vampire. This was not Varian's territory to hunt.

Varian had never fought another vampire and, while Varian was fast, the other was faster. Varian was strong, but the other was stronger. They collided, warring like wild beasts. They slashed at each others flesh, dealt strikes that would devastate any other creature and stood again to continue the battle.

At a point, Varian gained the upper hand. He wrapped his eager hands around the throat of his foe and began to squeeze. He slammed the vampire against the floor of the forest and clenched his teeth as he sought to crush the life.. or whatever it was, out of the monster. As the monster laughed maniacally, Varian stared into a face he had long since let slip into the catacombs of memory.

The Brothers apBlanc

Tristen was alive. It had been so long since they had parted ways as children. Enough years had passed that any other man that they had known then would have long since died. Yet, Tristen was "alive." He too had become a vampire, in a sick twist of fate both brothers had been forced into undeath by would-be predators. And it had happened to Tristen years before Varian's fatal encounter in the woods.

After the shock of this realization faded, the brothers found comfort in each others presence. Varian found a mentor in Tristen, something he had never known in the time it had taken him to become what he was. Tristen discovered things within his younger sibling, skills and abilities that Varian had never dreamed he was capable of. Together, they mastered their arts and perfected their hunts.

Soon, though, Tristen proved that even in death, some things can never be changed. The final skill that Varian learned from his brother was how they could create others like themselves. Tristen embraced a human woman that he had fallen in love with and, together, the two of them left Myrken Wood with no intentions of returning.

Evolution

When Tristen left, Varian had never known such sorrow. It was as if being a vampire intensified only negative emotions and did so exponentially. This was yet another obstacle that Varian learned to overcome.

As years passed, more vampires passed through Myrken Wood and The Broken Dagger. Varian found, more often than not, that he was the elder to these other creatures. They came to him. Sought him out. There were those who did so with malevolent intent, but rarely did those foolish creatures prove to be a challenge.

As Varian's reputation in their world grew, so it did within the mortal world. He procured an estate within the Dauntine region of the Sikasoon Mountain Range, constructed a home and was bestowed the title of 'baron.' He made it law that any vampire that entered his territory must present themselves to him, before they would be given permission to hunt. This was only the first of many of these laws that he would pass. Soon, he had established a court of those he felt he could trust above all others.

It was then that Varian first met Lucian, a vampiric mage of lesser known origins than even himself. Lucian would prove to be a most potent ally and close friend. He was Varian's confidant and self-proclaimed protector. It was a rare occurrence that Varian would venture out without Lucian at his side.

Love

During the height of his newly begotten empire, Varian met another vampire, Zzaryn Mitric. At first, their relationship was a tumultuous one. Zzaryn even conspired with others to kill Varian, that she might claim his throne for herself. This task proved far more hazardous than she was willing to take on.

In the wake of her failure, Zzaryn begged for Varian's forgiveness and it was granted. They fell in love and Varian took Zzaryn as his first wife, but with Zzaryn came her past. Among those that followed her to Trae Kelsa was her mother, Malgorzata and a long forgotten nemesis by the name of Astraeana, another vampire.

Astraeana proved to be a formidable foe. She was so capable in her deceit that she seduced Varian and drew him away from Zzaryn. Zzaryn, enraged, attempted to kill them both. Once again, she failed in her endeavors and Varian banished her from Trae Kelsa. Varian and Astraeana were wed soon after.

Betrayal

As Varian's power grew, so did the power of those that stood at his side. Lucian had become obsessed with demonic magic and often used Myrken Wood and its citizens for sacrifices. When Varian learned of his friend's practices, he confronted Lucian. The mage did nothing to deny the claims and went so far as to threaten Varian with his infernal powers.

Varian and Lucian fought. Again, Varian was forced to combat one he had thought he could trust. Lucian came close to defeating Varian, but Varian severed one of the mage's hands and Lucian was forced to flee. After the battle, word of the mage and his activities became less and less frequent, until Varian came to believe that he had simply left Trae Kelsa entirely.

Peace

With Lucian's departure, there came a sense of calm. Varian's domain had become one of peaceful complacency, wherein those vampires that committed themselves to abiding the law of their lord could hunt at will.

Varian and Astraeana soon grew tired of Myrken Wood and Astraeana left Trae Kelsa to find a new domain. Soon after, she sent word to Varian and he followed, leaving the vampires of his homeland to fend for themselves without a ruler.

Return to Trae Kelsa

Since his initial departure, Varian has come home to Trae Kelsa on a number of occasions and for a number of reasons. At one point, he had a home built for himself, as well as his cousin Kinneret. While the two lived in Myrken, Varian also spent a small fortune on the construction of the playhouse, the Gilded Lily. After placing the young woman in charge of the establishment, Varian again slipped into obscurity.

In this most recent instance, he has returned to Castle duMonde, his estate in New Dauntless, and begun to restore his neglected home. During this time, his exposure to Myrken Wood and its people has been intermittent, his intentions unclear.

Castle duMonde, Sikasoon Mountains, New Dauntless

Merits & Flaws

Varian has existed in vampire form for over two centuries. His age affords him certain skills and abilities, some of which he has honed to perfection over this time. There are also some abilities that he is not so skilled at wielding. In addition to these beneficial attributes, Varian also has flaws, including the drawbacks that most vampires face.

Merits

• Varian possess preternatural speed and strength. His reflexes are far faster than those of a mortal man, as well as faster than most species of elves.
• Varian has the ability to eat and drink, just as humans do, though these things do nothing to sustain him.
• Through eye contact, Varian can exert dominance over most humans. This ability can allow him to intimidate, persuade or seduce his target.
• Varian has an affinity with shadows. While his mastery of this skill is not absolute, only those with very finely tuned senses can detect him when he conceals himself in darkness.
• With concentration, Varian can toughen his skin. This ability does not make him invincible, but it can lessen the damage of a blade, or other weapons. This can also hasten his body's already quick healing process.
• Due to his age, if Varian is freshly fed, he can withstand indirect sunlight for varying periods of time.
• When freshly fed, Varian's otherwise pallid complexion reflects a dull blush which can aid him in his masquerade as a human.
• Varian can sense undead. He is extremely keen to the presence of other vampires and less so, but still aware of other forms of unlife.
• Varian has the ability to feed from other vampires, but undead blood cannot sustain him for long.
• Through his bite alone, Varian can decide whether to change a victim into a vampire. His progeny do not need to drink of his blood to become vampires.
• When feeding from a victim, Varian can make the process pleasurable or painful, at will. He can also introduce thoughts, memories, even images into the minds of his victims.
• He is a talented swordsman and was such before he was turned into a vampire.
• He is well educated and a master battlefield tactician.
• Varian physically has no heart in his chest.

Flaws

• Varian must be invited into a residence before he is physically capable of entering.
• Varian has no reflection in any surface that might act as a mirror.
• His skin is noticeably cold to the touch, unless he's freshly fed and in a large quantity.
• He cannot pass over flowing bodies of water outside of a casket.
• Varian must drink mortal blood to sustain himself.
• When sleeping, he must do so in a casket that is surrounded or buried beneath Trae Kelsan soil.
• He cannot endure direct sunlight for more than a matter of seconds without becoming severely burned. Burns from sunlight are the only injuries he cannot almost immediately begin to heal.
• Varian is susceptible to determent by religious artifacts, if the wielder is devout and their faith is stronger than his own. The religion does not matter.
• Varian has an addiction to fae/elven blood. If able to overcome the urge to drink from fae for an extended period of time, this addiction goes into remission.
• Drinking fae or elven blood results in Varian entering a hallucinogenic state. Though this blood heightens his abilities to their apex, they become difficult to control and can turn him feral.
• He is afflicted with a strange curse that elicits the scent of lilacs when his vampiric instincts are aroused. Varian cannot detect this scent on himself, but it is apparent to other creatures that may be nearby at the time.
• Varian has an aversion to open flames.
• Varian has an aversion to iron.

The images above; "Alcazar" by Cil Cheung and "Varian" by Clint Wilson, are commissioned artworks and wholly owned by their creators.