Infusco von Kempelen, Malkavian Vampire

[Az]

Infusco von Kempelen

Clan: Malkavian
Nature: Fanatic
Demeanor: Loner
Sire: Unknown
Generation: 9

Attributes:
Physical:
Strength: **
Perception: **
Dexterity: ***

Social:
Charisma: **
Manipulation: ***
Appearance: ***

Mental:
Intelligence: *****
Stamina: *
Wits: ***

Abilities:
Talents:
Alertness: *****
Athletics: **
Dodge: ***
Subterfuge: ***

Skills:
Throwing: *****
Stealth: ***
Survival: ****

Knowledges:
Investigation: ****
Law: **
Linguistics: **

Advantages:
Disciplines: (Details Below)
Auspex: *****
Obfuscate: ****
Dementation: ***

Backgrounds:
Contacts: **
Sources: **

Virtues:
Conscience: *****
Self Control: *****
Courage: ***

Colour:
Humanity: *******
Willpower: *****
Bloodpoints:************

Merits:
Can summon connection to the Cobweb at will if there is a smooth surface nearby
Flaws:
Schizophrenic: Sudden moodswings, Hallucinations, Unable to make correct emotional connections
Paranoid: Unable to trust people, Will see anything unexpected as an attack

Appearence:
Infusco is always wearing some kind of grey robe, nearly black, to keep out of sight. On the few occasions that he forgets who he is, he loses the robe, revealing an outfit from the 1700's, fit only for the nobles. It looks old, the white has turned yellow, and a few small tears have gotten into it, but overall it looks nice.
Infusco has a pretty face, and being dead, he no longer has to worry with shaving. The expressions on his face shift per the minute, so if one is spending a long time with him, it could get annoying. His eyes are a dark red, but light up when he has just fed or is particularly angry. His hair is long and dark brown.

Mannerisms:
His manner changes as often as a baby switches diapers. Infusco is a loose cannon, reacting violently and agressively one moment, kind and concerned the other. What is always consistent though, is that he doesn't trust a thing, and is certain the Tzimisce and Lasombra are still out to get him for what happened all those years ago. Still, the intensity of this paranoia comes and goes, so he might trust some for a while, then only to treat them as tricksters the other.
Infusco is not a hero, and will do his best to avoid combat whenever he can. His Auspex powers make him more a scout than anything else, but if he's pressured into attacking, he will not hesitate to bring his few dementation powers to bear, often with horrible results. Infusco is very clever, and knows exactly when to utilise his powers to maximum effect. However, if he is unable to use his powers, or simply does not feel like it, he has a few dozen knives stashed within his robe. In almost every fold, he holds a knife, ranging from large butcherknive to small scalpels. He has learned to throw these with deadly accuracy, should the situation demand it.

Disciplines:
Auspex:
Heightened senses: Simply increasing the power of your senses. It does not add features (you cannot suddenly see through walls, or hear ultrasone waves) but it increases the power. (you can see sharper, smell a drop of blood a mile away, or understand a whisper on the other side of the building) However, with more sensitive senses, they can be overloaded quite easily. Shoot a gun around a Malk when he's got his ears peaked, and he wont hear a thing for hours, or even days.
Aura Perception: The ability to read Aura's. Infusco has it on constantly, though he generally interprets every aura as "Hostile". However, by the shimmering of the aura, he can detect emotions, as wel as most lies.
Spirit's Touch: Used on an Item this Discipline grants the user a boost of information about the last person who held it (or, about the person who held it for a long time. If a brand new Item in a pawn shop is touched, it will more likely show the person who held it before the shopkeeper, than the shopkeeper himself.)
This is mostly used when tracking a person, or by annoying the police at a crime scene.
Telepathy: Speaks for itself. Thoughts can be planted in any unprotected mind, but thoughts can only be stolen from the weak minded (most peasantry or common soldiers*
Psychic Projection: An ethereal projection is loosened from the Vampire, while he/she slips into a medative trance. This projection is no more than a shadow, and can move great distances, at over 1000mph. In conjunction with Heightened Senses or Minor Dementation Powers, this is the perfect weapon/spy

Obfuscate:
Cloak of Shadows: When in the dark, and behind an object (doesn't have to be big enough to hide the vampire) it makes the caster hidden in shadows.
Unseen presence: The same, but the vamp can now move, and doesn't need an object. Anyone looking for the vampire in specific will be able to see him.
Mask: Being able to take the looks of someone else. Perfect for starting rumours, wrecking relations or inciting chaos. However, if someone suspects the Vampire is not who he seems, and concentrates a bit, he will be able to break the spell.
Vanish from the Mind's Eye: It makes one invisible, and more. Well...invisible isn't the right word, but it simply blocks the information that the vampire is there. Therefore, when the vampire picks up an object (calmly, when no-one's paying specific attention to it) it will not be seen floating in the air, but it will be ignored. People will walk around the vampire, not giving it a second thought and will ignore his presence. The spell is broken however if the vampire undertakes rash and/or obvious actions (like falling over someone, screaming, tipping a table over). Also, the more intelligent and alert people will find that they suddenly have developed a blind spot somewhere, and will investigate.

Dementation:
Passion: Strenghens emotions. If someone is angry, he'll become murderous. If someone is amused, he'll roll on the floor laughing.
The Haunting: Will project images in the mind of the victim, at the corner of his eyes, showing his fears. (Was that a spider on the wall? Oh, it's gone...no there it is! No.....wait! There! No....) It lasts for one night.
Eye of Chaos: Forces the target to give in to it's desires. If someone is holding back the urge to kill someone, it is released. If someone is trying not to kiss his lovely neighbour lady, he'll get a lawsuit.

[Az]

Biography Infusco von Kempelen

During the day, when Infusco is asleep, you notice that he has dropped a small black book. You decide to take your chances, and scoop it up. It says:

12th of August, 1765
The last week has been profitable. Frank had spotted some new people in town, who were quite wealthy and deserved a good picking. They were even easier than normal, I didn't even have to resort to the "Magic Beans" strategy. Anyway, even though the people were pushovers, they had a dog. Thankfully, guard animals are Kurt's specialty, so that obstacle was overcome as well. They picked some nice candles, silverware and Frank even got the vault open. I'm glad he took those classes with that "Guild" he mentioned. Made him much more efficient. In either case, it took them but a small hour to empty the house, more than enough time for me to enthrall the owners with "My tales of adventure, bravoure and daring". Idiots. Some people don't deserve wealth. Unlike us, heh.
Oh, look at the sun, it's getting late. Must rush home, lest Gretchen think I'm overworking on "my accounting". Maybe I should tell her the truth? Nah, it'd only hurt her, and we need the money.

15th of August, 1765
Taking the kids to Gugerhart. They've got to see the fair, I've heard it's grand! Then again, Laura would just stare at the boys there. I hate that growing up thing children do. Oh well, soon we'll find a nice husband for her, and that behaviour will be all over. Gretchen said she'd use the trip to visit her mother, who lives there. As long as I don't have to go, I've got nothing against it.

21st of August, 1765
Read an interesting book. Was about a man called Robin, in the woods, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Sounds familiar.

27th of August, 1765
For once, *I* found some people to liberate their belongings from. I overheard some people at the market talk about 2 men having bought that huge mansion on the ouskirts of town. About time this backwater town got some new richies. Hubenfrucken was beginning to dry out. I'll tell Frank and Kurt about it this evening. I'd love to inform them now, that we can raid them this evening, but those bastards are always "Busy" at normal hours. Pheh, busy sleeping their drinks off probably. It's about time they settle down too, but who am I to tell them what to do.
I'll subtely hint at it all the time though. That'll show 'em.

28th of August, 1765
How dare they!? I found the perfect targets, and they told me to stand back and let them do the looking. Something about "Those guys being bad company". By the Lord, they won't have know WE did it, so why the trouble? From what I've seen (And I've seen a lot yesterday evening), their security could not have been more lax! If I hadn't been such a sport as to wait for Kurt and Frank, I could have robbed the place blind myself.
Pheh, I will do it myself. Who needs them.

7th of September, 1765
I thoroughly investigated the house, it's security and the routines of the people who live there. I may be doing this solo, but I'm not doing this without proper preparation.
Like Kurt and Frank, they spend most of their daytime inside, and go out on the town at night. How do party people like that get so rich? Maybe they're in the same line of work as we, and that's why they wanted to stay away from them. Oh well, they won't know I did it. I've seen Frank and Kurt do it a million times. I'll just wait for them to leave this evening, and I'll come in and take the booty of a lifetime. I might even get an honest job after this, from what I've seen.

7th - Addendum
I was right! I've got enough items to last me a lifetime! And like I thought, there was practically no security after those two left. I think they assumed the place itself would scare people off, or the decoration. I don't like to criticize, but dear Lord, that must have been the worst furniture I've ever seen. Wine stains all over it too. I don't feel the least bit bad about what I did, these people should learn to work for their money.

Here, clippings from a newspaper are folded in the diary. They are yellowed by age, and hard to read, but with some difficulty, you can understand what they say.
__________________________________________________
Brutal Murders at Von Kempelen Residence
Written by Tomas Gagner
Yesterday morning was mild and sweet. But not for Franz von Kempelen,
who saw his world shatter after he came home from what he said was
"a business trip". He found that his family had been the victim of brutal
murders. The entire house was turned upside down, and there was not
a piece of valuable material left. But von Kempelen did not even notice
this until the local watchmen had dragged him away from the scene.
It was a brutal, sadistic slaughterfest. Warning: Coming description is not
for the faint of heart.
The room had been covered in blood, as if someone had intended to make as
much mess as possible. The lady of the house had been nailed to the wall,
stripped of her clothing and her body forming an X. Under her arm,
on the left was her 4 year old son in the same way. On the other side,
her other 8 year old boy. Both were also nude, and placed in the same X.
But that was not the shocking part. Their skin had been opened from the
side, was almost peeled off, and nailed to the wall behind the unfortunate
victims, like they were intended to lay upon a sheet of their own skin.
How the internal organs were kept from falling out is not known.
This reporter could only have a quick look at the scene, before he had
to rush outside. Guards and investigators say they have no leads as of yet,
but a case like this is bound to have clues lying all over the place.
Also, it appears that von Kempelen had another daughter, who is
currently missing.
We will keep you updated on any news concerning this horrible event.
_______________________________________________________________


25th of September, 1765
I think I have my thoughts organized now. The doctors have let me go. The say that if the devil should take away my spirit, soul and sanity again, I should come to them immediately. I don't care. I can't care. I can't care about anything. Everything I had was taken from me. The monetary items are of no concern...but they took the one thing that I valued most, and that was my family. And it is my fault. It is all my fault. The watchmen found blood and pieces of my love's clothing in the house I robbed that very evening. While I was going through their riches, those monsters were at my house...doing what they did. Either they have seen me around the house the week before, or they came back early and I hadn't noticed, it doesn't matter. What matters is, my sons are dead, my love defiled and destroyed and my precious girl missing.
She is gone, but she is the only one I can get back.
The monsters have not been seen in town since that night, and neither have Kurt and Frank. My disaster must have scared them off. Shows what friends they are. Still, I have some contacts, and I know how to get information. I will find the ones who did this, and my girl.

Then follow a few pages describing how von Kempelen traces the ones who killed his family, using every contact he has, and every lead he finds. You flip to where it gets interesting.

15th of December, 1768
I found them! Kurt and Frank! I had to travel all over the land, and while they weren't my priority, I was definitely searching for them. I saw them walk into a bar this evening, but as I just arrived in town, I was too tired to face them now. I asked a local wench, and she said they had been here for over a year, so they'll stick by a day longer I think. I'll meet them tomorrow night.

[Az]

17th of December, 1768
I must write down what I have seen and done last night, for if I do not now, I might consider that I am indeed insane, and then I won't be able to write anything.


I went to the bar last night, to face my former friends. When I entered, I saw they were already there, but when they saw me, they quickly got up, and went out the backdoor. Not wanting to lose them again, I quickly followed outside, where the evening had clearly fallen rather quickly. However, there was a good pack of snow, and I could follow their tracks easily. I came upon a large house, the front door still open. Either they forgot to close it solidly, or they were begging me to follow. I had little choice, so I went in. It was dark inside, and the only light in the hall, or in any of the hallways came from 1 torch, loosely held by a bearer on the wall. The ceiling was rather high, so I didn't worry about the place burning down, and took the torch with me down the hallway that had the wet footsteps. I went down a few stairs, up a few, and down some more. I judged that I must have been underground, for the building did not look this big from the outside.

After a while, I entered a room which resembled a combination of a torture chamber and a sewer. The floor was one big grate, with fine holes. On the walls were shackles and various items clearly made to inflict as much pain as possible. On higher plateaus were chairs, adorned with spikes, hooks and other vicious looking adornments. Was this the kind of place my friends hung out? I looked around, to see where they had gone. Their footsteps had vanished from the floor some time ago, but it was pretty much one way I could go then.

Suddenly, behind me I heard Frank speak. He was standing on one of the plateaus, and spoke of old times, where we used to look for rich people, and find versatile ways of making them a bit poorer. Then, suddenly, from a shadow next to him, Kurt appeared, and went along with his friends story. I interrupted him, saying I didn't care about old times, and demanded to know why they left me, and what they were doing in a place like this. But in mid-rant, it was like the shadows themselves came alive, and suddenly my torch was ticked out of my hand, and it floated through the air, carried by darkness to Kurt, who asked me to shut up.
Terrified, but not relenting, I asked what the hell happened. I was cut off by a potent voice from behind me. On a plateau on the other side of the room stood 2 men. The 2 men I had hunted for three years. Yet, they were different. Their clothes were the same, black, expensive, chique. But their faces had changed. One had a far longer face, almost too long to be human. His eyes were set close to each other, and his nose was slim and small. The other's face was not easily visible, as he kept to the shadows. Yet, he began to speak. He said that I should not have come, and that I should never, ever have entered their home. I interrupted him, and yelled at him that he had killed my family, had taken everything away from me, and that he had destroyed my life, and that I demanded to know where my daughter was. Surprisingly, he let me finish. When I had little more to say, he motioned his hand, and the torch floated over, carried by a shadow again. Then I could see his face. It was horrible, it looked like it was made of clay in stead of flesh. Not yet dried clay. His face was like a monstrous piece of art, with swirling curves and deep valleys. His nostrils were hooked, and his forehead showed a picture of something I could not discern from my distance.

While I gasped for air, he laughed, and told me he had a surprise. He flicked his fingers (He had six on each hand I now realise), and from a dark corridor came my girl. My sweet, sweet Laura, exactly as I remembered her. Which was also what was wrong with her. In the three years we had been separated, she should have grown. A lot. But she hadn't. While I realised that in the back of my head, I was too overjoyed to see her, and I rushed to her, took her in my arms, and attempted to make up for three years of not hugging her. However, she felt cold, and while I held her, she did not react to it. I let her go for a bit, and held her in front of me. Her face was pale, and her eyes looked icy cold. The words she said to me then, I will never forget. It were the words I had feared for the last three years, the words I had hoped she would not utter. "You failed me daddy." And with that, she slashed me across the face with fingers and nails that were far too long, and which threw me back. A second later, she had sprung on me, gripped me by the throat, and she looked up, asking the man with the distorted face if she could finish me. He replied that she could do whatever she pleased, and when she looked me in the eyes again, hers were filled with hatred, and sadistic joy.

I did not want to die. And I didn't plan to, so I threw her off me (Trying not to hurt her too bad) and jumped on her, keeping her arms down beside her. I told her how I loved her, and how I had missed her, but in reply, she kicked and struggled. After a while though, she calmed down, and closed her eyes. I thought that whatever demon had taken over my girl must've gotten tired, and settled down. When I softly spoke her name, she opened her eyes again, and this time they were bloodred. "Stupid father" she said "You are blind to the world, and blind to those in power. If you don't want to be with me, fine, but rest assured that we will see to it that the rest of your life will be a living hell!" And with that, it was as her body became liquid, and a second later, her material form had transformed into blood, which splashed through the grate in the floor to whatever darkness lay below.

Whether she killed herself, or whether the demon inside her used some foul sorcery to escape, I do not know. All I know is, that a moment later, I was engulfed in darkness, and I lost consciousness.

I woke up outside, in the middle of the village square. When I looked around, I saw the house I had been to in flames. Whoever I had seen in there, was long gone. And my girl with them.

And now here I am, at an inn, at a loss what to do. My last hope destroyed, and I am fearful of my sanity. I do not yet feel the pain of loss, but I know that it will come in time. For the moment, I feel nothing. Nothing at all.

12 of July, 1769
I have not given up. For months have I lived the life of a vagrant, a bum, but no more. Franz von Kempelen is not giving up his girl! She is alive, I can feel it, and she needs me. I will find her, find the ones that harmed her, and bring them to justice! Especially Frank and Kurt. Shows how good you can trust your friends, vile shadow monsters.

Why this renewed zeal? It is because of a man I met this night. He was obviously insane, but gave a good view of the world, and seemed to know far more of these powers than I. He referred to the 2 men as Fleshcrafters, filthy cretins and blind mongrels. I also know they have a name; Tzimisce. As for my former friends, he reffered to them as shadowmancers, nightrapers and darknesshuggers. Or Lasombra. When I asked for more information, he said he could not give it, but he knew a lot of people that could. The price was high however; I had to give up everything I had. Hah! Like that is much. I am going to tell him I will accept his offer this evening.

16th of July, 1769
I feel cold. So cold. I can no longer feel my heart beat in my chest, so that must mean that I am dead. The man that gave me this "gift" is gone. Should have known. People tend to leave when I am around. He's probably getting his friends to slaughter my family right now. Little does he know I have none, HAH!

But there is an advantage. While my thoughts obscure eachother, there is a clarity. No, not clarity, not yet. But I see things like I've never seen them before. And not only because my sight has improved, but also how I look at things. I have sat staring at a fire for 4 hours yesterday. It was pretty.

But now I can follow my nemesisses! Or is it Nemesi? In either case, I can hunt them down, now that we are on even ground. I hear voices, small whispers that tell me what I seek, yet I cannot discern them yet. One line is clear though. They ring it in chorus, all singing it. "Tui Animus Infusco Est, Tui Animus Infusco Est, Tui Animus Infusco Est".

Latin is not my strongest point, yet I understand what they are saying. My soul is blackened. My mind is blackened. It is damaged beyond repair. Ego Animus Infusco Est. Ego Infusco Est. Franz von Kempelen Mortis Est.

Infusco von Kempelen Prognatus Est.

[Bearpaw]

Okay, so either his daughter is already at level five in the Visscitude discipline after only three years, or some other fleshcrafter who's really sadistic(and aren't they all) took the form of his daughter just to mess with him. Either way, that's screwed up man. Just the way it should be.

You are the master of character creation! I bow down to the mighty Az, god of storytelling!

[Az]

Thankee :-D