Post by Nikolai Kort on Aug 21, 2008 23:42:51 GMT -5
Name: Errah Merovingian
InGame Name: Errah
Age: 812
Sex: Girl
Sire: Tejas
House:
Clan: Not telling
Looks:
Hair: Chocolate Brown
Eyes: Emerald Green
Height: 5'8"
Marking: Still working on her collection of tattoos
Personality: firey tempered, but laid back and slow to anger. easy to get along with.
Other:
History:
Errah sits at an antique desk in the corner of her room. From a drawer she pulls a bit of parchment and her father’s ink and quill set and sets about a task she never thought she would do.
‘My story is not unique. At least, not in the way of vampire stories. You see—I am young, but I am not so young. My life began over a nearly a thousand years ago. In January of the year 1197, I was born Eimear Deidre Róisín Clarendon. I was daughter to a Nobleman in the northern lands of what is now England. My father was of Roman and Anglican blood, but my mother was an Irish-Saxon maiden. My father fell deeply in love with my mother, and though it was forbidden at the time, they were married in secret by a sorcerer. I was born not long after.
‘I took after my mother in looks—deep, wine red hair and icy blue eyes that could pierce through to any man’s soul—my father always told me that. And he was always so happy for that fact. You see—shortly after I was born my mother fell ill. The ladies in the village said she was a witch—associating with strangers would make you more enemies than friends in that time—and that having me, the bastard child of a heathen marriage, had been her undoing. Perhaps those women were right. Perhaps my mother was a witch, but there was no spell she knew that could save her life.
‘I was seven when she died. My father never recovered from the loss. In the months after her funeral, I traveled with him back to the land of England. He kept me hidden from Noble society because he had not told his family that he had married a Saxon woman. It was a shame to mix the bloodlines. Especially one so pure. My father loved me, in his own way—but, he was the kind that didn’t know what to do with girls. He mostly paid for my room and board at a local inn, and he secretly bought any books or learning materials I wanted. I can’t say I ever really expected much more from him—considering the times, and the society he was a part of.
‘It was when I was 22 that things changed for me. Most of my friends were married but I had turned the few suitors down who came to call on me away. I knew there was more for me outside the Inn’s walls. And so, one night in the summer of my 22nd year, I packed what precious little I claimed as my own, and took the main road out of town.
‘I left the little island land of England—where wars were constantly being fought between my father’s people and my mother’s people, and ‘I traveled into unknown territory. I didn’t know where I was going, or why—but I felt pulled to keep traveling, I felt that somehow, I was being led somewhere… led home.
‘By early fall I found myself in Germany. I was amazed at the different cultures I had so far encountered. Though nations had not yet been solidified, and wouldn’t be for many centuries, there was a definite difference in the people who inhabited the different lands. I’d traveled much farther than any in my time could ever claim, I knew, but still, I felt something calling me on. It was spring when I found myself in Italy. I had traveled through what now is Russia and Austria, though at the time, they had much different names and landscapes. I had been traveling with a caravan of men and women who were searching for the Promised Land, when I found myself in my father’s fathers’ land. Rome.
‘It was mid summer of 1220. I was 23 years old, and had experienced more than any other young woman my age. But still, I felt there was more to see and more to feel. It was Rome where I met Kael. He was much different than any I’d encountered in my journeys. He seemed so much wiser than any of his age (and indeed he was, though I was to learn the reason later). He appeared to be in his early thirties, and yet, he was unmarried. He didn’t seem the soldier-type, which at the time was a rarity among Noblemen. And his ancestry would claim Scandinavian before Roman or Greek. His dark hair had only faint hints of grey, and his goatee was trimmed in an expert fashion. But what I noticed first, were his eyes. They were the palest blue I’d ever seen. They rivaled my own.
‘My eye had caught him around the city a few times—visiting shops or coming out of an alehouse—yet, it wasn’t until my second month in the city of Rome that he approached me.
‘I was putting my horse into a stable stall, when I turned to leave and found him staring in at me with those glassy blue eyes of his. He startled speech from me, and he chuckled softly as he introduced himself.
‘He said he could recognize a traveler in an instant, and from my hair and eyes, he would guess that I was a Saxon lass. His brogue was somewhat Germanic, though he spoke the Olde Wordes more often than not. Still unable to find my tongue, I nodded. I was still more shocked when he called my name—said he’d overheard the innkeeper in the weeks I’d been staying with her.
‘I nodded again, and replied that it was customary for me to make friends with the innkeepers I lodged with—as I usually paid for my stay by doing small favors for them. Kael only nodded, as if he already knew this, and motioned for me to walk with him. Curious—as was my nature—I obliged.
‘We must have walked the city over that night. I don’t remember time passing as slowly as it did. And I don’t remember a thing I said to him—for it was he who did most of the speaking. Oh, he spoke of arts and science. He spoke of the cultures of the Eastern worlds not yet discovered by Modern Man. He spoke in languages I did not recognize and the smooth baritone of his voice carried me, weightlessly, from corner to corner until, before I knew it, we were back to where we had started. It was only just before dawn when he bid me a farewell, apologizing for keeping me awake.
‘To say a lady was wooed was an understatement. Kael always knew just what to say to make any lady his. I do not know what decided him to focus his attentions upon me, but for a several weeks, this same sort of thing occurred night after night.
‘Eventually, he began to ask me to join him at certain places. An alehouse, gardens; it was not long before he invited me over to his own home. By the time that invitation came, I had no reason in my mind to say no. I simply nodded, and allowed him to pull me into his carriage.
‘His estate was located outside the city walls. Somehow, it seemed fitting that Kael would live where no one would bother him. We adjourned to his sitting room, and he handed me a glass of red wine. I remember that night probably better than I should.
‘He asked me what I wanted in life. I answered that I wanted to see everything I could—to do everything I could. I wanted to live life to its utmost. It seemed I had answered favorably enough, because Kael nodded and gazed out one of the bay windows at the moon—his questions continued. He asked me what I thought about the possibility of living forever. I said that was impossible, of course. It was then that he turned those pale eyes on me, and whispered, “But what if it weren’t?” I did not understand him, but he continued. He talked long that night, about what one could do if one simply had all the time in the world. I must say, in a strange way, he had me convinced before the night was over.
‘Several times I went to his home, and several more times did we have that same discussion. I began to think that this was some obsession he had—that perhaps he had read about the ability to become immortal in one of the texts he’d found in the East, when the night came when he decided to turn me.
‘The night began as it always had; in that sitting room, with him gazing at the stars, a glass of wine in one hand and a question on the tip of his tongue. But this night, what he said to me was different from his usual rantings. He asked me a simple question, after a great pause between us, “Eimear, my dear, I can make you immortal. Would you like me to do that?” I did not answer for a long time, not really understanding what he meant, but, when his eyes found my own again, it seemed that the only right answer was yes. And so that was the answer I gave.
'The night of August 24, 1220, I gained immortality and a new name. "Errah" It was Gaelic for ‘Ireland’ and Kael thought it fitting—that I should be named for the land that I was born in, for in his eyes, I was the embodiment of all things Saxon—all things most pure. In the years after our bonding, Kael and I stayed together as travelers and as companions. He helped me to adjust to my new body and my new life. He trained me up in the ways of the Olde Ones; he told me of his heritage—which was now my heritage also. He had been turned by Gregori Mandolov who was a dear friend and father figure to him. Gregori taught Kael and Kael taught me what it was to be a vampire.
‘Soon, I found that I had powers no human possessed. I was able to move things with just a wave of my hand or a snap of my fingers. So I learned that Gregori Mandolov was able to do the same—and as his newest descendant, I must have gained the trait as well. I found that I had a proficiency with short swords and daggers—that was Kael’s teaching. He shared the love of the blade, and he taught me all he knew. He also taught me how to walk among the living without being noticed. The art of camouflage was one the Olde Ones learned early. He taught me the language of the Olde Ones—the tongue I found so foreign when we first met. We fought together and we hunted together whenever possible.
‘Nearly a year after my Turning, in April of 1221, Kael and I bound together as one. Gregori ordained the union himself. Gregori survived only long enough to see me become bound to Kael, before he was attacked by another clan of pyres seeking revenge for the loss of a loved one. Gregori was wrongfully accused—at least that is what I believe—but he did not survive the attack.
‘After the attack, Kael and I found ourselves in the Eastern Lands—far away from any animosity that might have spilled over into Kael’s generation. We lived in solitude for nearly a century in the mountains of China. It was at that time I received my familiar. Kael said a Chinese sorceress who occasionally wandered through the little town we lived outside of carried with her this animal—and Kael recognized it immediately as a special sort. He lifted the tiger cub from the sorceress for a hefty sum, and presented it to me as a gift of courtship. The white tiger, which I called Sofiya—Russian for wisdom, has been my constant companion. Kael and I grew as close as any bound couple could, and I can only say that we never got to spend enough time together.
‘Kael and I had only been together 77 years when the hunters found us. We were in an estate just outside of what is now Moscow, when the trackers stole into our haven and took Kael from me. I watched as they staked him, cut his head from his body, and left him in the morning sun to burn. I realized, too late, that Kael had sacrificed himself to hide me from the men. He had taken a few of them out—but there were simply too many for him. One of them got him from behind. That day was the first time I ever cursed being immortal. I’d lost both my sire and my lover in the same instant.
‘In the centuries after that incident, I moved aimlessly from village to village never remaining in one place long enough to arouse suspicion. Sofiya was my constant companion—my only friend. It was summer of the 500th year of my unlife that I found my way back to my homeland. Things had changed so much from when I had seen it last. As a child, I could only remember the flowing meadows, the cliffs that plunged straight down into the sea and the forever green fields fresh and ripe for planting crops. Things had certainly changed in the centuries of my absence.
‘Everywhere I looked I saw poverty. I felt sick for my own human parentage—was this really where I’d come from? Not being able to stomach the blood of rebels and rascals, and emaciated ones at that, I boarded a boat bound for the Americas. I hid myself in the storage bins, fed on livestock, and kept Sofiya close to me at all times. That trip was one I do not care to remember.
‘New York was a city of promise. Sure, it had the street rats that every over crowded civilization had, but it made picking off unnoticibles easier. And there were shadows that hid one so well. I always quartered myself outside the city walls, away from the crowds, because it was easier to remain unnoticed that way. Sofiya was not an ordinary cat—she was fiercely protective of me—and still is, and it wasn’t something one usually saw, a woman walking down the street with a tiger by her side.
‘I spent most of my time in cities along the Eastern Seaboard, and I was in one such city—Ravenblack when a fellow vampire, one I’d never heard of before, handed me a note that simply had an address on it. In all my years my curiosity had never left me—so I followed the note, and it led me up the steps of the Ordo Illuminati School. I met with the elders and they saw me fit for entrance to their noble dojo. I found myself with a teacher who encouraged me to continue the teachings I’d started under Kael. Lady Starreagle invested personal time and effort to making sure I was the best I could be. It was the first time in 7 centuries that anyone had offered me help and a home.
‘Then, as an Adeptus Major Practicus, I helped my former teacher in her classroom. It was a trying time, learning and growing up through the dojo. But with the support of my elders, and the unwavering belief Lady Starr had for my success, I graduated into the main clan. But graduation was just the beginning.
‘Shortly after my entrance into the OI main clan, I asked if Lady Starr would be my sire. She accepted without hesitation, and we were bound in a joint ceremony one Sunday evening. That night, I not only gained a mother and father, I gained several brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles. The Merovingian dynasty is large, and ancient, and I am truly honored to have become a part of it. That same night, I entered into Merovingian linage along with two others. I joined my soon-to-be brother and niece in the hall of binding where words of loyalty to family were spoken, and with reverence, I accepted Merovingian blood. Lady Starr became my mother, and her partner, Lord Gevurah became my father and for the first time in nearly a thousand years I had a home.
‘After that, once could say time sped by. I was made an instructor in the OIIT school—I also was made a member of the Priory de Scion. I helped Raven with the All Seeing Eye—our schools’ news paper—and I helped other pyres and pyresses with locating shops and guilds. I found a true sense of purpose in my work, and even though we’ve had a struggle or two, I have found that my family stands firm behind me, and encourages my success in all endeavors.
‘Shortly after a fateful LLCB incident, in which a simple mistake and a compound misunderstanding lead to Raven and myself being publicly disrespected, the Priory decided it was time to stand on their own two feet. Raven and I headed up the project, shopping by our selves late into the night on more than one occasion. We’ve remained dedicated to keeping guilds and shops updated—though now, She’s the 2ic of the Priory, and I have been made Magister Templi of the Catacombs of Gehenna. We have a lot more help now too—our clan and family continues to grow at an impressive rate.
‘Not long ago, I was promoted to Magister Templi—as I have said—this house, the last stop for any pire before they are expelled from the clan—has been neglected over the many months its been in disuse. The night I was appointed, several others received leadership positions as well. Bug became Magister Templi of the Ambassador House, Samantha became 2ic of the Black Hand. Raven got 2ic of the Priory, and, later, I promoted JokerofLust as my very own 2ic. Together we have made much progress with the jail-house. We even have a few prisoners within our walls.
‘Now, however, the demons are the ones who run it, and my responsibilities there are very few, though my title remains intact.
‘On the side, I still teach in the school and have my own classroom. This was my first job in the clan, I was an adeptus major practicus before all else, and I finally was moved to be an instructor of my own set of skills. There the students are active, and the atmosphere is never dull.
‘Though my promotions have been steady and exciting, I have found my greatest joy in my family and clan-family. On March 21 of 2008, Raven and I said our vows, and bound together. Our bond is strong, and I care for her a great deal. We make a pretty unstoppable team, I think, and I’m proud to call her my own.
‘Between the two of us, We have a beautiful daughter and a handsome son, Vanadesse and Fador. Fador bound to Raven shortly after Raven and I bound, and Vanadess bound to me on June 14 of 2008. There is also another prospective chylde on the way—Danica Rayne—she has had my promise of siring her for quite a while now. The Merovingian family is constantly growing.
‘In June of 2008 OI saw its next all out war between itself and the rogues of Sypheronias. This was my first full fledged battle, and on the 16th of that month, I received my first battle wound under the OI banner. The thrill of the chase brings back memories of times I shared with Kael, and I am proud that I now stand at the sides of my fellow clan and family members and fight for justice. We are always seeking to better ourselves for battle building our weapons and blood points.
'Just recently, in July of 2008, I found myself a member of the Catacombs. The demons took a special liking to me, the creator of their home, and I received vip service as only demons can provide. I found myself having to do the assignments I, myself, had created. The only good news, was that I was merely there to set an example. I am one of the few who has....powers over the demons. I know secrets not many know.
'However, it was that journey into the bowels of purgatory which inspired my first physical change. 811 years had I retained the looks given to me by my human birth parents. Now, my wine colored hair flowed dark as chocolate, my ice blue eyes melted into a piercing pale emerald green. My fair porcelain skin took on an olive complexion. I retained my height and body type, though my face changed to resemble a more latin-esque heritage. When I was released, I feared that My Raven would dislike the change... but, as always, she accepted me with open arms.
'The new look is still wearing on me. It takes a moment to recognize myself in a mirror. But it is something I needed to do. The outward appearance now resembles the change being made on the inside.
‘All in all, my life here at OI has been a positive experience. I have found a clan with deep-seated morals and solid founding principles. OI has very hard working, and caring leaders, who strive to make everyone the best they can be. I am proud to be among the number that reside within its halls.
‘Most of all, it is here in Ordo Illuminati and the Merovingian Dynasty I have found the family that I never had. Here there is always someone with a word of encouragement and a joke to put a smile on my face. Truly I have not been this happy since Kael.’
With a great sigh befitting her 788 (812 years altogether) years of Vampyric existance, Errah dips the quill in the ink pot one last time and signs her name.
Errah Merovingian
In life known as
Eimear Deidre Róisín Clarendon, Daughter of the Noble Edward of Clarendon
InGame Name: Errah
Age: 812
Sex: Girl
Sire: Tejas
House:
Clan: Not telling
Looks:
Hair: Chocolate Brown
Eyes: Emerald Green
Height: 5'8"
Marking: Still working on her collection of tattoos
Personality: firey tempered, but laid back and slow to anger. easy to get along with.
Other:
History:
Errah sits at an antique desk in the corner of her room. From a drawer she pulls a bit of parchment and her father’s ink and quill set and sets about a task she never thought she would do.
‘My story is not unique. At least, not in the way of vampire stories. You see—I am young, but I am not so young. My life began over a nearly a thousand years ago. In January of the year 1197, I was born Eimear Deidre Róisín Clarendon. I was daughter to a Nobleman in the northern lands of what is now England. My father was of Roman and Anglican blood, but my mother was an Irish-Saxon maiden. My father fell deeply in love with my mother, and though it was forbidden at the time, they were married in secret by a sorcerer. I was born not long after.
‘I took after my mother in looks—deep, wine red hair and icy blue eyes that could pierce through to any man’s soul—my father always told me that. And he was always so happy for that fact. You see—shortly after I was born my mother fell ill. The ladies in the village said she was a witch—associating with strangers would make you more enemies than friends in that time—and that having me, the bastard child of a heathen marriage, had been her undoing. Perhaps those women were right. Perhaps my mother was a witch, but there was no spell she knew that could save her life.
‘I was seven when she died. My father never recovered from the loss. In the months after her funeral, I traveled with him back to the land of England. He kept me hidden from Noble society because he had not told his family that he had married a Saxon woman. It was a shame to mix the bloodlines. Especially one so pure. My father loved me, in his own way—but, he was the kind that didn’t know what to do with girls. He mostly paid for my room and board at a local inn, and he secretly bought any books or learning materials I wanted. I can’t say I ever really expected much more from him—considering the times, and the society he was a part of.
‘It was when I was 22 that things changed for me. Most of my friends were married but I had turned the few suitors down who came to call on me away. I knew there was more for me outside the Inn’s walls. And so, one night in the summer of my 22nd year, I packed what precious little I claimed as my own, and took the main road out of town.
‘I left the little island land of England—where wars were constantly being fought between my father’s people and my mother’s people, and ‘I traveled into unknown territory. I didn’t know where I was going, or why—but I felt pulled to keep traveling, I felt that somehow, I was being led somewhere… led home.
‘By early fall I found myself in Germany. I was amazed at the different cultures I had so far encountered. Though nations had not yet been solidified, and wouldn’t be for many centuries, there was a definite difference in the people who inhabited the different lands. I’d traveled much farther than any in my time could ever claim, I knew, but still, I felt something calling me on. It was spring when I found myself in Italy. I had traveled through what now is Russia and Austria, though at the time, they had much different names and landscapes. I had been traveling with a caravan of men and women who were searching for the Promised Land, when I found myself in my father’s fathers’ land. Rome.
‘It was mid summer of 1220. I was 23 years old, and had experienced more than any other young woman my age. But still, I felt there was more to see and more to feel. It was Rome where I met Kael. He was much different than any I’d encountered in my journeys. He seemed so much wiser than any of his age (and indeed he was, though I was to learn the reason later). He appeared to be in his early thirties, and yet, he was unmarried. He didn’t seem the soldier-type, which at the time was a rarity among Noblemen. And his ancestry would claim Scandinavian before Roman or Greek. His dark hair had only faint hints of grey, and his goatee was trimmed in an expert fashion. But what I noticed first, were his eyes. They were the palest blue I’d ever seen. They rivaled my own.
‘My eye had caught him around the city a few times—visiting shops or coming out of an alehouse—yet, it wasn’t until my second month in the city of Rome that he approached me.
‘I was putting my horse into a stable stall, when I turned to leave and found him staring in at me with those glassy blue eyes of his. He startled speech from me, and he chuckled softly as he introduced himself.
‘He said he could recognize a traveler in an instant, and from my hair and eyes, he would guess that I was a Saxon lass. His brogue was somewhat Germanic, though he spoke the Olde Wordes more often than not. Still unable to find my tongue, I nodded. I was still more shocked when he called my name—said he’d overheard the innkeeper in the weeks I’d been staying with her.
‘I nodded again, and replied that it was customary for me to make friends with the innkeepers I lodged with—as I usually paid for my stay by doing small favors for them. Kael only nodded, as if he already knew this, and motioned for me to walk with him. Curious—as was my nature—I obliged.
‘We must have walked the city over that night. I don’t remember time passing as slowly as it did. And I don’t remember a thing I said to him—for it was he who did most of the speaking. Oh, he spoke of arts and science. He spoke of the cultures of the Eastern worlds not yet discovered by Modern Man. He spoke in languages I did not recognize and the smooth baritone of his voice carried me, weightlessly, from corner to corner until, before I knew it, we were back to where we had started. It was only just before dawn when he bid me a farewell, apologizing for keeping me awake.
‘To say a lady was wooed was an understatement. Kael always knew just what to say to make any lady his. I do not know what decided him to focus his attentions upon me, but for a several weeks, this same sort of thing occurred night after night.
‘Eventually, he began to ask me to join him at certain places. An alehouse, gardens; it was not long before he invited me over to his own home. By the time that invitation came, I had no reason in my mind to say no. I simply nodded, and allowed him to pull me into his carriage.
‘His estate was located outside the city walls. Somehow, it seemed fitting that Kael would live where no one would bother him. We adjourned to his sitting room, and he handed me a glass of red wine. I remember that night probably better than I should.
‘He asked me what I wanted in life. I answered that I wanted to see everything I could—to do everything I could. I wanted to live life to its utmost. It seemed I had answered favorably enough, because Kael nodded and gazed out one of the bay windows at the moon—his questions continued. He asked me what I thought about the possibility of living forever. I said that was impossible, of course. It was then that he turned those pale eyes on me, and whispered, “But what if it weren’t?” I did not understand him, but he continued. He talked long that night, about what one could do if one simply had all the time in the world. I must say, in a strange way, he had me convinced before the night was over.
‘Several times I went to his home, and several more times did we have that same discussion. I began to think that this was some obsession he had—that perhaps he had read about the ability to become immortal in one of the texts he’d found in the East, when the night came when he decided to turn me.
‘The night began as it always had; in that sitting room, with him gazing at the stars, a glass of wine in one hand and a question on the tip of his tongue. But this night, what he said to me was different from his usual rantings. He asked me a simple question, after a great pause between us, “Eimear, my dear, I can make you immortal. Would you like me to do that?” I did not answer for a long time, not really understanding what he meant, but, when his eyes found my own again, it seemed that the only right answer was yes. And so that was the answer I gave.
'The night of August 24, 1220, I gained immortality and a new name. "Errah" It was Gaelic for ‘Ireland’ and Kael thought it fitting—that I should be named for the land that I was born in, for in his eyes, I was the embodiment of all things Saxon—all things most pure. In the years after our bonding, Kael and I stayed together as travelers and as companions. He helped me to adjust to my new body and my new life. He trained me up in the ways of the Olde Ones; he told me of his heritage—which was now my heritage also. He had been turned by Gregori Mandolov who was a dear friend and father figure to him. Gregori taught Kael and Kael taught me what it was to be a vampire.
‘Soon, I found that I had powers no human possessed. I was able to move things with just a wave of my hand or a snap of my fingers. So I learned that Gregori Mandolov was able to do the same—and as his newest descendant, I must have gained the trait as well. I found that I had a proficiency with short swords and daggers—that was Kael’s teaching. He shared the love of the blade, and he taught me all he knew. He also taught me how to walk among the living without being noticed. The art of camouflage was one the Olde Ones learned early. He taught me the language of the Olde Ones—the tongue I found so foreign when we first met. We fought together and we hunted together whenever possible.
‘Nearly a year after my Turning, in April of 1221, Kael and I bound together as one. Gregori ordained the union himself. Gregori survived only long enough to see me become bound to Kael, before he was attacked by another clan of pyres seeking revenge for the loss of a loved one. Gregori was wrongfully accused—at least that is what I believe—but he did not survive the attack.
‘After the attack, Kael and I found ourselves in the Eastern Lands—far away from any animosity that might have spilled over into Kael’s generation. We lived in solitude for nearly a century in the mountains of China. It was at that time I received my familiar. Kael said a Chinese sorceress who occasionally wandered through the little town we lived outside of carried with her this animal—and Kael recognized it immediately as a special sort. He lifted the tiger cub from the sorceress for a hefty sum, and presented it to me as a gift of courtship. The white tiger, which I called Sofiya—Russian for wisdom, has been my constant companion. Kael and I grew as close as any bound couple could, and I can only say that we never got to spend enough time together.
‘Kael and I had only been together 77 years when the hunters found us. We were in an estate just outside of what is now Moscow, when the trackers stole into our haven and took Kael from me. I watched as they staked him, cut his head from his body, and left him in the morning sun to burn. I realized, too late, that Kael had sacrificed himself to hide me from the men. He had taken a few of them out—but there were simply too many for him. One of them got him from behind. That day was the first time I ever cursed being immortal. I’d lost both my sire and my lover in the same instant.
‘In the centuries after that incident, I moved aimlessly from village to village never remaining in one place long enough to arouse suspicion. Sofiya was my constant companion—my only friend. It was summer of the 500th year of my unlife that I found my way back to my homeland. Things had changed so much from when I had seen it last. As a child, I could only remember the flowing meadows, the cliffs that plunged straight down into the sea and the forever green fields fresh and ripe for planting crops. Things had certainly changed in the centuries of my absence.
‘Everywhere I looked I saw poverty. I felt sick for my own human parentage—was this really where I’d come from? Not being able to stomach the blood of rebels and rascals, and emaciated ones at that, I boarded a boat bound for the Americas. I hid myself in the storage bins, fed on livestock, and kept Sofiya close to me at all times. That trip was one I do not care to remember.
‘New York was a city of promise. Sure, it had the street rats that every over crowded civilization had, but it made picking off unnoticibles easier. And there were shadows that hid one so well. I always quartered myself outside the city walls, away from the crowds, because it was easier to remain unnoticed that way. Sofiya was not an ordinary cat—she was fiercely protective of me—and still is, and it wasn’t something one usually saw, a woman walking down the street with a tiger by her side.
‘I spent most of my time in cities along the Eastern Seaboard, and I was in one such city—Ravenblack when a fellow vampire, one I’d never heard of before, handed me a note that simply had an address on it. In all my years my curiosity had never left me—so I followed the note, and it led me up the steps of the Ordo Illuminati School. I met with the elders and they saw me fit for entrance to their noble dojo. I found myself with a teacher who encouraged me to continue the teachings I’d started under Kael. Lady Starreagle invested personal time and effort to making sure I was the best I could be. It was the first time in 7 centuries that anyone had offered me help and a home.
‘Then, as an Adeptus Major Practicus, I helped my former teacher in her classroom. It was a trying time, learning and growing up through the dojo. But with the support of my elders, and the unwavering belief Lady Starr had for my success, I graduated into the main clan. But graduation was just the beginning.
‘Shortly after my entrance into the OI main clan, I asked if Lady Starr would be my sire. She accepted without hesitation, and we were bound in a joint ceremony one Sunday evening. That night, I not only gained a mother and father, I gained several brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles. The Merovingian dynasty is large, and ancient, and I am truly honored to have become a part of it. That same night, I entered into Merovingian linage along with two others. I joined my soon-to-be brother and niece in the hall of binding where words of loyalty to family were spoken, and with reverence, I accepted Merovingian blood. Lady Starr became my mother, and her partner, Lord Gevurah became my father and for the first time in nearly a thousand years I had a home.
‘After that, once could say time sped by. I was made an instructor in the OIIT school—I also was made a member of the Priory de Scion. I helped Raven with the All Seeing Eye—our schools’ news paper—and I helped other pyres and pyresses with locating shops and guilds. I found a true sense of purpose in my work, and even though we’ve had a struggle or two, I have found that my family stands firm behind me, and encourages my success in all endeavors.
‘Shortly after a fateful LLCB incident, in which a simple mistake and a compound misunderstanding lead to Raven and myself being publicly disrespected, the Priory decided it was time to stand on their own two feet. Raven and I headed up the project, shopping by our selves late into the night on more than one occasion. We’ve remained dedicated to keeping guilds and shops updated—though now, She’s the 2ic of the Priory, and I have been made Magister Templi of the Catacombs of Gehenna. We have a lot more help now too—our clan and family continues to grow at an impressive rate.
‘Not long ago, I was promoted to Magister Templi—as I have said—this house, the last stop for any pire before they are expelled from the clan—has been neglected over the many months its been in disuse. The night I was appointed, several others received leadership positions as well. Bug became Magister Templi of the Ambassador House, Samantha became 2ic of the Black Hand. Raven got 2ic of the Priory, and, later, I promoted JokerofLust as my very own 2ic. Together we have made much progress with the jail-house. We even have a few prisoners within our walls.
‘Now, however, the demons are the ones who run it, and my responsibilities there are very few, though my title remains intact.
‘On the side, I still teach in the school and have my own classroom. This was my first job in the clan, I was an adeptus major practicus before all else, and I finally was moved to be an instructor of my own set of skills. There the students are active, and the atmosphere is never dull.
‘Though my promotions have been steady and exciting, I have found my greatest joy in my family and clan-family. On March 21 of 2008, Raven and I said our vows, and bound together. Our bond is strong, and I care for her a great deal. We make a pretty unstoppable team, I think, and I’m proud to call her my own.
‘Between the two of us, We have a beautiful daughter and a handsome son, Vanadesse and Fador. Fador bound to Raven shortly after Raven and I bound, and Vanadess bound to me on June 14 of 2008. There is also another prospective chylde on the way—Danica Rayne—she has had my promise of siring her for quite a while now. The Merovingian family is constantly growing.
‘In June of 2008 OI saw its next all out war between itself and the rogues of Sypheronias. This was my first full fledged battle, and on the 16th of that month, I received my first battle wound under the OI banner. The thrill of the chase brings back memories of times I shared with Kael, and I am proud that I now stand at the sides of my fellow clan and family members and fight for justice. We are always seeking to better ourselves for battle building our weapons and blood points.
'Just recently, in July of 2008, I found myself a member of the Catacombs. The demons took a special liking to me, the creator of their home, and I received vip service as only demons can provide. I found myself having to do the assignments I, myself, had created. The only good news, was that I was merely there to set an example. I am one of the few who has....powers over the demons. I know secrets not many know.
'However, it was that journey into the bowels of purgatory which inspired my first physical change. 811 years had I retained the looks given to me by my human birth parents. Now, my wine colored hair flowed dark as chocolate, my ice blue eyes melted into a piercing pale emerald green. My fair porcelain skin took on an olive complexion. I retained my height and body type, though my face changed to resemble a more latin-esque heritage. When I was released, I feared that My Raven would dislike the change... but, as always, she accepted me with open arms.
'The new look is still wearing on me. It takes a moment to recognize myself in a mirror. But it is something I needed to do. The outward appearance now resembles the change being made on the inside.
‘All in all, my life here at OI has been a positive experience. I have found a clan with deep-seated morals and solid founding principles. OI has very hard working, and caring leaders, who strive to make everyone the best they can be. I am proud to be among the number that reside within its halls.
‘Most of all, it is here in Ordo Illuminati and the Merovingian Dynasty I have found the family that I never had. Here there is always someone with a word of encouragement and a joke to put a smile on my face. Truly I have not been this happy since Kael.’
With a great sigh befitting her 788 (812 years altogether) years of Vampyric existance, Errah dips the quill in the ink pot one last time and signs her name.
Errah Merovingian
In life known as
Eimear Deidre Róisín Clarendon, Daughter of the Noble Edward of Clarendon