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annihilist) wrote2017-03-26 11:06 pm
annihilist) wrote2017-03-26 11:06 pm
Devin Parker | Tushanshu Application
Player Information:
Name: Seal
Age/18+?: 25
Contact:![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
sealrat
Other Characters Played: Pepper Potts (Iron Man: Armored Adventures)
Most Recent AC Link: Here
Character Information:
Name: Devin Parker
Canon: Twice Bidden (Original)
Canon Point: After blowing up a popular vampire bar in New York City and getting himself a little maimed in the process. He had to be inside to do the mission, okay?
Age: 124; appears about 25
Type of Character: Original
Reference: CW: Blood, child abuse, murder (hi I'm terrible to him)
The youngest son of Elias and Acelina Parker, Devin was born nearly two centuries after his previous sibling and was considered something of a miracle. He was to be their triumph, they said. His siblings were similarly thrilled. At first, anyway. As members of British vampire high society, there were certain things that Devin was expected to uphold. Some of these expectations were humdrum: learning to dance, dressing a certain way, etiquette and so on. The attitude expected of him did not go over well, however.
Vampires are arrogant almost by nature, and because they use humans as food they consider themselves 'better', more evolved. They are predators, and humans are there to be used as vampires see fit, either for food or for fun. Even as a child, this did not sit well with Devin. He sympathized with humans, and asked why they had to be harmed as part of feeding on them. Such questions earned him his first serious injury at the hand of his father. At the age of six, he gained his first scar, and it was then that his family realized something was very, very wrong with him. Not only did Devin scar, he was also slower than he ought to be compared to other vampires, and far weaker - almost as weak as a human. Worse still, Devin began to express a dislike with having to consume blood. It became clear that he was some sort of aberration, particularly in the eyes of his father.
Elias couldn't just kill Devin, however. There was an image to maintain, after all. Instead, he took to beating him and then chaining him up and whipping him repeatedly. Half the time he beat Devin was out of hatred, and the other half was to test him - to see how much Devin could stand, how long it took for him to recover and how he would react. Elias was attempting to force his son into being a proper vampire, but in the end only saw Devin as something to be ashamed of. The rest of his family was not physically abusive but regularly reminded Devin that he was something less, that he didn't belong, that there was something wrong with him. That he was broken. At the age of eleven, Devin finally decided he had had enough.
When a vampire is starved long enough, they reach a state of extraordinary savagery. For a short period of time they become extraordinarily strong as well. Devin refused to drink blood almost a month straight, hiding it from his family, and allowed himself to turn into an animal. His father was startled enough that Devin was able to kill him, and then Devin burned his family's mansion to the ground, murdering everyone inside. He didn't escape entirely unscathed, and he still bears a massive burn mark across his back, but it was a small price to pay for freedom. At eleven, he became a vampire elder, the last to bear his surname. Overwhelmed, Devin ran until he couldn't run anymore, leaving a trail of carnage in his wake.
It took him years to get a handle on himself. By the time he was seventeen, he was almost permanently angry but finally in full control of his abilities. Driven by hatred of himself and his race, Devin took up hunting his own species, aiming to eradicate them from the earth.
It was around then that the Spirit appeared and quite literally knocked him on his ass: the very first meeting with a god nearly put Devin in a coma. The Spirit explained to Devin that it was the reason he was unique among his own kind, having chosen to keep Devin's soul out of Hell not only to protect him, but to protect the being he contained. He was the vessel for a dormant aspect of the Angel of Death, Abaddon, and as such Devin's life was of universal importance.
Predictably, this news did not go over well. If anything, it made Devin feel even worse about his life. Not only had he fallen prey to people who were supposed to love him, but he was being used as a tool without his consent. He basically told the Spirit to get lost and leave him alone, and for about eighty years it did just that, keeping the vampire at arm's length and only occasionally checking in with him as needed.
And then Devin met Bobby. Bobby was a human vampire hunter; wickedly smart and relentlessly persistent, she wouldn't let Devin get away when she figured out he was the rumored vampire that hunted other vampires. Bobby was not human, however. She was, in fact, the daughter of Lucifer, and her real name is Beelzebub. Her attraction to Devin was out of a desire to use the aspect of the angel Abaddon within him for purposes unknown - to get back into Heaven, to end the world; he's still not certain. Devin managed to defeat her, weakened as she was by spending so much time on the plane of the living, but Beelzebub very nearly cut his heart out. Ten years later, Devin was still hunting his own kind and making plans to join up with an organized group of hunters in New York for a very specific purpose: to end his race, once and for all, and then have them kill him.
Setting Concepts:
Forces — Certain basic forces are at work that weave through the world, such as creation, destruction, chaos, and so on. Creation and destruction are foremost; all other forces are essentially subsets of these two. These forces are not strictly sentient on their own, but through the influence of belief by mortals, the forces can be shaped into beings that do carry sentience and agency. An extremely small number of the most powerful shaped beings can then shape other beings themselves.
The Light/Heaven — Similar to the realm identified in Christianity, the Light is a plane of existence woven into reality. It's where angels, the Spirit, and other beings primarily shaped from creation reside. While generally considered 'the good place', The Light can also be extremely hierarchical and rigid, though this is intended to prevent the force of creation from getting out of control.
The Shadows/Hell — Another plane of existence, the Shadows are the inverse of the Light: dark, destructive, ostensibly considered evil, but flexible in many ways that the Light isn't. Lucifer and his children, as well as all other demons and fallen angels are bound there. Beelzebub, or Bobby as she goes by, is one of Lucifer's daughters and is bent on escaping the Shadows for nefarious reasons unknown. All vampire souls are bound here with the exception of the souls of the original generation.
The Spirit — What Christians call 'God', this being has gone by many names and held many shapes over the course of history, depending on the faith and the image that faith lent to it. It is a being shaped from the force of creation - near omnipotent, but not omniscient, gentle and fierce by turn. It rarely chooses to act directly, as such actions have far-reaching consequences. It is, in many ways, responsible for Devin's existence, and the closest thing he has to a real parent. Much to Devin's chagrin, it has an aggravating penchant for irony and puns.
Vampires — Having existed almost as long as humans, vampires are predators that feed on human blood. They can go without blood for about a month before going into a feral rage (they'll die shortly after if they don't get blood in that state), but most feed daily. They cannot walk in sunlight, have no heartbeat, are burned by silver and symbols of any faith, and are effectively undead. They are, however, quite strong and quite fast, with enhanced senses (particularly hearing and smell), and they heal rapidly. Their souls belong to and reside in Hell even while they walk the earth. As a minority that needs to remain hidden in order to survive, vampires are also extremely territorial and self-policing.
There are two types: vampires that have been turned and those that are born. The latter variety are extremely rare, and require live-born vampire parents all the way back to the progenitor of the entire vampire line, from the original generation. Other than status, however, being live-born provides no additional powers or benefits (except, Devin will attest, enough arrogance for a small country).
Vampire Race Magic — Vampires can Claim humans, which essentially identifies them as property to other vampires, and this can be done either temporarily or semi-permanently. With the exception of elder vampires, all Claims must be committed through a use of a blood ward (see Enochian below). They can also Bind humans, which essentially enslaves them, and is usually a precursor to turning them into new vampires. The older a vampire is, the more powerful they are.
Elders — These are the eldest of a line of vampires, and with age comes strength. All of the normal powers that vampires have are enhanced: they are the fastest, strongest, and most dangerous of all vampires. Unlike regular vampires, elders can commit temporary (24-hour) claims by touch only. Elders are also the hardest to kill, but if they are eliminated then the next eldest in the line - either a live-born child or the first vampire (that's still living) turned by that particular elder - automatically gains both the rank and the power. Vampires can secede their claim to elderhood by breaking magical ties to their surname using Enochian. Despite being near-immortal, elders are typically heavily protected, and are always surrounded by an entourage.
Hunters — Humans who are aware of vampires and actively seek to eradicate them. While many are independent, there is a loose international network of hunters that share information and resources, but they exist in the background of society in order to prevent detection and elimination by those they hunt.
Enochian — The language of the angels. It can be used by humans and vampires alike for certain limited kinds of magic, primarily warding spells to keep people contained or keep them out of a place. Single Enochian symbols are used to commit Claims and Binds, using different combinations of human and vampire blood. Like the Light, however, the language is pretty rigid and if one doesn't know what they're doing, there can be loopholes left open for exploitation.
Abaddon — The original Angel of Death, Abaddon is a being whose name means 'destruction', and who is basically described as appearing so damn scary-looking that every single angel is terrified of him: eyes and face like a wheel of fire, teeth half a cubit long and pointing in all directions, fingers like sharp reaping-knives, seven heads that constantly change; his breathing is like the sound of hellfire, and when he speaks it's like the rolling of thunder. Abaddon is destined to bind the Devil during Armageddon, and is thus feared by the Shadows more than almost anything else in the universe.
Oh, and there's a bit of him inside Devin.
The Aspect of the Angel — Abaddon once went by the name Muriel, an angel who was the only one willing to bring the Spirit the clay to create the race of men. He was rewarded for his loyalty by being allowed to learn how to create life, too, and when men 'fell' he volunteered to become the Angel of Death.
Or so the story goes. Muriel did learn to create life, but his role was primarily to help shape the force of creation at certain points in history. His ascension to the Angel of Death occurred after Muriel abused his powers, and created the original race of vampires. Both as a punishment and to hide Muriel from being captured and used for his creative abilities, he took the name and form of Abaddon. The rest of creation save the Spirit believes Muriel to be gone, subsumed into the seven aspects of the Angel of Death. In truth, the aspect that is Muriel has been hiding, dormant, in the bodies of vampires for millennia. This actually serves an important function, as the aspect cannot reside next to a soul without destroying it so vampires are perfect hosts; and hiding part of Abaddon this way keeps the angel from being located and controlled by the Shadows.
Personality:
Devin is a loner. Rejected by his family for being an aberration, Devin has considered other vampires to be his enemies since he was very young. His life has been spent hunting his own kind as a result. This loathing for other vampires also extends to himself; Devin hates being a vampire and all that that encompasses. In particular, he hates having to consume human blood to live. Though very ill-advised, Devin deals with that problem by only consuming blood every two weeks or so (unless he's going into a fight and needs to be at full strength). This puts him at an increased risk of a) being unable to heal if things should unexpectedly go awry, and b) starvation, if someone captured him and didn't read The Idiot's Guide to Care and Feeding of Your Vampire.
Despite believing that the eradication of his species is a necessity, murder is still murder, and he's killed thousands. Devin would much rather he could be unfeeling about the whole thing; it would be a lot easier to do his job if he just didn't care, and he's never truly understood why he still does. As he's not aware that it's specifically Muriel using his body as a convenient hiding spot, he's therefore not aware that he has a piece of the force of creation keeping him alive. The core of his being is, quite literally, full of light. Muriel, meanwhile, is being carried by a man that is bent on destroying the species the angel created, and even in dormancy that stings. Devin's mind and body interpret that as his own guilt, and not something that belongs to another being.
As a rule, Devin avoids all attachments: it would be far easier to hurt people he cares about than himself, and he would never want anyone harmed on his behalf. He's a monster, and that makes him far less important than the lives of humans - those lives that are actually living. The rule would be unnecessary if Devin didn't know, on some level, that he would rather have friends, and perhaps even a family.
In order to keep people at a distance, Devin is intentionally antagonistic, hoping to come off as a jerk such that no one will care about him and that no one will feel bad for not caring, either. This is the most pragmatic option, in Devin's eyes. His avoidance of relationships with people is in part a form of self-punishment: he doesn't deserve to enjoy life with all that blood on his hands. If Devin starts being more of an ass to someone than usual, it's probably because that person is beginning to like him, or vice versa.
The antagonism is also about not getting hurt. Devin has lived far longer than any human can, and may yet live for a thousand years or more. He has made friends with men in his military units during both World Wars, despite himself, but only ever kept in touch with them by post after the wars ended. Even across that distance, it has been painful for him to watch those friends fade and pass on. Allowing himself to get close to any human means he must also allow the inevitable pain of loss. While that grief might be spanned by decades of life and joy, Devin is genuinely uncertain if he could survive that much sorrow over and over again. Functional immortality sucks, as it turns out. It is simpler to be lonely.
It's also less deadly. The one time Devin allowed himself to be truly open was, of course, the one time he would get burned. After meeting Bobby, Devin became infatuated with her, and she very nearly convinced him to give up the lifestyle of a hunter and his elder powers. He thought he was in love, despite previously believing that love was well beyond him, that he was too broken for it.
Learning she was actually the demon Beelzebub and intended to use Devin to her own ends was the ultimate betrayal, even setting aside her attempt to cut his heart out of his chest. She ruined the tiny glimmer of hope that he could be happy someday, and that he might find people who would genuinely care for him despite his blood-stained past. Between his lifestyle and what Bobby did to him, Devin does not trust easily, and will assert that no one should trust him, either. Trust will only lead to someone getting hurt.
Bobby is the one thing Devin fears more than himself. He fears being starved again, losing control of his abilities and killing innocents; but he hates being a vampire more, so he continues to limit his intake of human blood despite the risk. Bobby, on the other hand, is entirely outside his control already. Her motivations are unknown to him, other than she wants the aspect of the angel, and her ability to find him when he was meant to be hidden is flatly terrifying. Devin has no love for the Spirit, but it's looked after him even though he's given the being a lot of shit over the years. If the Spirit can't keep her away permanently, then the end of the world - and eternal torment for Devin - might very well be around the corner.
Behind all of his walls and outer asshattery, Devin is still capable of being kind. Should anyone get him to open up again, either to friendship or to love, he would be fiercely loyal and protective. There is very little he wouldn't do to keep someone he cared about safe, even if it means he gets seriously injured. He'll go out of his way to protect humans if it's within his power, and while he'll defend his own life against a human he'll do his absolute best not to permanently harm them.
If he were coaxed, Devin would express a great love for books. As he is mostly self-taught, books are friends and teachers that can't be used as leverage against him, and help him to understand people and the world around him. Devin has learned how to feign being comfortable around people and though he's quite suave most of the time, his social skills were largely developed out of a necessity to fit in during hunts. When he stops acting the part for the mission, his social graces are somewhat diminished, and his own emotional self-awareness is rather poor.
Appearance:
Reference image.
At 6'2'' with dark hair, pale skin and bright blue eyes, Devin has a way of standing out. He's muscular without being bulky, and has the chiseled sort of good looks that he seems incapable of playing down. He tends to favor suits and dark colors; rarely can he be seen in anything that isn't blue, green, or black. When the occasion calls for it, he'll wear more practical clothing designed for maximum mobility. Mostly he goes clean-shaven, but Devin travels quite a bit and will sport scruff from time to time. His hair rarely extends far enough to cover his eyes.
Devin has spent most of his life fighting other vampires, and he scars while other vampires do not. They cover a significant portion of his body, but the most severe are the crosshatch marks and the burn across his back. These are also his oldest scars. He also has a series of ultraviolet-sensitive tattoos of over a dozen religious symbols that only appear under a blacklight and are usually hidden by clothing.
As a vampire, his top canines are slightly elongated and sharpened by default and he is capable of extending them at will. When he does so, his eye color also shifts to a clearer, icier blue.
Abilities:
Blood Breed — Devin has a variety of racial skills from vampirism. He's capable of moving at several times the speed of a human, to the point of being a blur (especially over short distances). Strong enough to break human bones, Devin has developed a very fine degree of control over his use of force. He has enhanced hearing that he can turn up or down, and excellent night vision. When he elongates his fangs, all of his senses become heightened; however, it's also a state of less emotional control and can prove detrimental if Devin becomes extremely upset or angry. He refuses to use his ability to Bind, however a permissions post is likely a good idea for both Claiming and Binding just in case something weird happens to him and he goes on a crazy spree.
Because he contains an aspect of an angel, Devin also has some human-like disadvantages: he doesn't heal as quickly as normal vampires (unless he consumes blood daily), and he can (and usually does) scar from injuries.
Youngest Elder — Devin is not only a vampire but an elder, the oldest of his line. It enhances and expands all of his usual vampiric traits, as mentioned above.
Daywalker — Apparently unique among his species, Devin is capable of walking in sunlight without being burned.
Fists of Fury — Devin is an avid boxer, which is his favorite style, but he's also proficient in Krav Maga.
Silver Tongue — In addition to his native tongue of English, Devin can also speak French and is fluent in Latin. He knows a smattering of Gaelic, Arabic, Spanish, and Mandarin.
Suppression — Devin has developed the ability to suppress his emotions for days at a time when he's on particularly challenging missions where emotion could cloud his judgement; he's capable of doing so for several weeks, but the repercussions are significant. Even just doing it for a few days is unhealthy for his mental state. Not that he really cares about the damage it does. Idiot.
The Aspect — Devin contains one of the seven faces of Abaddon, the Angel of Death. It's entirely dormant, and he's unable to access any of the power it holds (as far as he knows). Theoretically, with time and concerted effort (and by spending some AC points), he might be able to integrate with the aspect which would allow him to do things like translate and be understood in any language, interact with souls, and access other planes. At this point in time, however, he has none of those abilities.
Inventory: Slacks, dress shirt, blazer, two daggers, a silver cross necklace
Soul Gem: Tapered bloodstone pendant on a plain silver chain.
Writing Samples:
Third Person:
The city was nice enough, for all its strangeness. From what he could tell, it was devoid of any others of his kind - he'd yet to encounter anyone lacking a heartbeat as they strolled between the market stalls. That should have been something of a relief, Devin reflected. No other vampires meant no need to kill, but it also meant that he was adrift without purpose. What was he supposed to do with himself? Almost all of his energy back home had been spent hunting. Devin couldn't remember the last time he took a vacation.
So this city was as much a temporary freedom as it was a new prison. He was trapped here, for the time being, and he would have to adapt. The biggest problem he faced now was finding a way to source his extraneous nutritional requirement without having a significant impact on anyone. It didn't seem like there was a great ability to store blood in the city, and what could be stored ought to be given to those who needed it most, who were undergoing surgery or the like. In all likelihood, he'd have to go the live donor route, which made him sick to his stomach.
If Devin could find a volunteer, some good Samaritan willing to trust someone like him, it might not be so bad. He would have to find some way to get blood regardless. The vampire sighed; the Healer's Guild might not be the worst place to start. Perhaps people would be less judgmental there, and they'd be willing to help, for not only his health and safety, but that of others.
Network:
[This is so counter to everything Devin normally does, but there's no point in beating around the bush. Best to tell the truth and then let the chips fall where they may. He's good at acting, however, so he manages to plaster on his classic smirk to hide the discomfort.]
It's not generally my custom to announce myself so formally, but I believe this will save me a great deal of time and energy. My name is Devin Parker, and I am a vampire. [He grins, revealing a slightly elongated set of canines to make his point.] If you're even remotely aware of any variety of my species, you're probably also aware we need to consume blood to live. Sadly, I'm no exception to this rule; that said, I don't hurt people to get what I need, so you've no need to worry that I'm going to jump out at you from a dark alleyway late at night. [The smirk turns a little wicked.] I can do that in daylight.
[He's joking. Probably.]
Questions? Comments? Concerns?
Additional Information - CRAU Characters:
Game Origin:
CRAU Changes:
Additional Information - Canon OCs:
Character Premise:
Canon Relationships?:
Name: Seal
Age/18+?: 25
Contact:
Other Characters Played: Pepper Potts (Iron Man: Armored Adventures)
Most Recent AC Link: Here
Character Information:
Name: Devin Parker
Canon: Twice Bidden (Original)
Canon Point: After blowing up a popular vampire bar in New York City and getting himself a little maimed in the process. He had to be inside to do the mission, okay?
Age: 124; appears about 25
Type of Character: Original
Reference: CW: Blood, child abuse, murder (hi I'm terrible to him)
The youngest son of Elias and Acelina Parker, Devin was born nearly two centuries after his previous sibling and was considered something of a miracle. He was to be their triumph, they said. His siblings were similarly thrilled. At first, anyway. As members of British vampire high society, there were certain things that Devin was expected to uphold. Some of these expectations were humdrum: learning to dance, dressing a certain way, etiquette and so on. The attitude expected of him did not go over well, however.
Vampires are arrogant almost by nature, and because they use humans as food they consider themselves 'better', more evolved. They are predators, and humans are there to be used as vampires see fit, either for food or for fun. Even as a child, this did not sit well with Devin. He sympathized with humans, and asked why they had to be harmed as part of feeding on them. Such questions earned him his first serious injury at the hand of his father. At the age of six, he gained his first scar, and it was then that his family realized something was very, very wrong with him. Not only did Devin scar, he was also slower than he ought to be compared to other vampires, and far weaker - almost as weak as a human. Worse still, Devin began to express a dislike with having to consume blood. It became clear that he was some sort of aberration, particularly in the eyes of his father.
Elias couldn't just kill Devin, however. There was an image to maintain, after all. Instead, he took to beating him and then chaining him up and whipping him repeatedly. Half the time he beat Devin was out of hatred, and the other half was to test him - to see how much Devin could stand, how long it took for him to recover and how he would react. Elias was attempting to force his son into being a proper vampire, but in the end only saw Devin as something to be ashamed of. The rest of his family was not physically abusive but regularly reminded Devin that he was something less, that he didn't belong, that there was something wrong with him. That he was broken. At the age of eleven, Devin finally decided he had had enough.
When a vampire is starved long enough, they reach a state of extraordinary savagery. For a short period of time they become extraordinarily strong as well. Devin refused to drink blood almost a month straight, hiding it from his family, and allowed himself to turn into an animal. His father was startled enough that Devin was able to kill him, and then Devin burned his family's mansion to the ground, murdering everyone inside. He didn't escape entirely unscathed, and he still bears a massive burn mark across his back, but it was a small price to pay for freedom. At eleven, he became a vampire elder, the last to bear his surname. Overwhelmed, Devin ran until he couldn't run anymore, leaving a trail of carnage in his wake.
It took him years to get a handle on himself. By the time he was seventeen, he was almost permanently angry but finally in full control of his abilities. Driven by hatred of himself and his race, Devin took up hunting his own species, aiming to eradicate them from the earth.
It was around then that the Spirit appeared and quite literally knocked him on his ass: the very first meeting with a god nearly put Devin in a coma. The Spirit explained to Devin that it was the reason he was unique among his own kind, having chosen to keep Devin's soul out of Hell not only to protect him, but to protect the being he contained. He was the vessel for a dormant aspect of the Angel of Death, Abaddon, and as such Devin's life was of universal importance.
Predictably, this news did not go over well. If anything, it made Devin feel even worse about his life. Not only had he fallen prey to people who were supposed to love him, but he was being used as a tool without his consent. He basically told the Spirit to get lost and leave him alone, and for about eighty years it did just that, keeping the vampire at arm's length and only occasionally checking in with him as needed.
And then Devin met Bobby. Bobby was a human vampire hunter; wickedly smart and relentlessly persistent, she wouldn't let Devin get away when she figured out he was the rumored vampire that hunted other vampires. Bobby was not human, however. She was, in fact, the daughter of Lucifer, and her real name is Beelzebub. Her attraction to Devin was out of a desire to use the aspect of the angel Abaddon within him for purposes unknown - to get back into Heaven, to end the world; he's still not certain. Devin managed to defeat her, weakened as she was by spending so much time on the plane of the living, but Beelzebub very nearly cut his heart out. Ten years later, Devin was still hunting his own kind and making plans to join up with an organized group of hunters in New York for a very specific purpose: to end his race, once and for all, and then have them kill him.
Setting Concepts:
Forces — Certain basic forces are at work that weave through the world, such as creation, destruction, chaos, and so on. Creation and destruction are foremost; all other forces are essentially subsets of these two. These forces are not strictly sentient on their own, but through the influence of belief by mortals, the forces can be shaped into beings that do carry sentience and agency. An extremely small number of the most powerful shaped beings can then shape other beings themselves.
The Light/Heaven — Similar to the realm identified in Christianity, the Light is a plane of existence woven into reality. It's where angels, the Spirit, and other beings primarily shaped from creation reside. While generally considered 'the good place', The Light can also be extremely hierarchical and rigid, though this is intended to prevent the force of creation from getting out of control.
The Shadows/Hell — Another plane of existence, the Shadows are the inverse of the Light: dark, destructive, ostensibly considered evil, but flexible in many ways that the Light isn't. Lucifer and his children, as well as all other demons and fallen angels are bound there. Beelzebub, or Bobby as she goes by, is one of Lucifer's daughters and is bent on escaping the Shadows for nefarious reasons unknown. All vampire souls are bound here with the exception of the souls of the original generation.
The Spirit — What Christians call 'God', this being has gone by many names and held many shapes over the course of history, depending on the faith and the image that faith lent to it. It is a being shaped from the force of creation - near omnipotent, but not omniscient, gentle and fierce by turn. It rarely chooses to act directly, as such actions have far-reaching consequences. It is, in many ways, responsible for Devin's existence, and the closest thing he has to a real parent. Much to Devin's chagrin, it has an aggravating penchant for irony and puns.
Vampires — Having existed almost as long as humans, vampires are predators that feed on human blood. They can go without blood for about a month before going into a feral rage (they'll die shortly after if they don't get blood in that state), but most feed daily. They cannot walk in sunlight, have no heartbeat, are burned by silver and symbols of any faith, and are effectively undead. They are, however, quite strong and quite fast, with enhanced senses (particularly hearing and smell), and they heal rapidly. Their souls belong to and reside in Hell even while they walk the earth. As a minority that needs to remain hidden in order to survive, vampires are also extremely territorial and self-policing.
There are two types: vampires that have been turned and those that are born. The latter variety are extremely rare, and require live-born vampire parents all the way back to the progenitor of the entire vampire line, from the original generation. Other than status, however, being live-born provides no additional powers or benefits (except, Devin will attest, enough arrogance for a small country).
Vampire Race Magic — Vampires can Claim humans, which essentially identifies them as property to other vampires, and this can be done either temporarily or semi-permanently. With the exception of elder vampires, all Claims must be committed through a use of a blood ward (see Enochian below). They can also Bind humans, which essentially enslaves them, and is usually a precursor to turning them into new vampires. The older a vampire is, the more powerful they are.
Elders — These are the eldest of a line of vampires, and with age comes strength. All of the normal powers that vampires have are enhanced: they are the fastest, strongest, and most dangerous of all vampires. Unlike regular vampires, elders can commit temporary (24-hour) claims by touch only. Elders are also the hardest to kill, but if they are eliminated then the next eldest in the line - either a live-born child or the first vampire (that's still living) turned by that particular elder - automatically gains both the rank and the power. Vampires can secede their claim to elderhood by breaking magical ties to their surname using Enochian. Despite being near-immortal, elders are typically heavily protected, and are always surrounded by an entourage.
Hunters — Humans who are aware of vampires and actively seek to eradicate them. While many are independent, there is a loose international network of hunters that share information and resources, but they exist in the background of society in order to prevent detection and elimination by those they hunt.
Enochian — The language of the angels. It can be used by humans and vampires alike for certain limited kinds of magic, primarily warding spells to keep people contained or keep them out of a place. Single Enochian symbols are used to commit Claims and Binds, using different combinations of human and vampire blood. Like the Light, however, the language is pretty rigid and if one doesn't know what they're doing, there can be loopholes left open for exploitation.
Abaddon — The original Angel of Death, Abaddon is a being whose name means 'destruction', and who is basically described as appearing so damn scary-looking that every single angel is terrified of him: eyes and face like a wheel of fire, teeth half a cubit long and pointing in all directions, fingers like sharp reaping-knives, seven heads that constantly change; his breathing is like the sound of hellfire, and when he speaks it's like the rolling of thunder. Abaddon is destined to bind the Devil during Armageddon, and is thus feared by the Shadows more than almost anything else in the universe.
Oh, and there's a bit of him inside Devin.
The Aspect of the Angel — Abaddon once went by the name Muriel, an angel who was the only one willing to bring the Spirit the clay to create the race of men. He was rewarded for his loyalty by being allowed to learn how to create life, too, and when men 'fell' he volunteered to become the Angel of Death.
Or so the story goes. Muriel did learn to create life, but his role was primarily to help shape the force of creation at certain points in history. His ascension to the Angel of Death occurred after Muriel abused his powers, and created the original race of vampires. Both as a punishment and to hide Muriel from being captured and used for his creative abilities, he took the name and form of Abaddon. The rest of creation save the Spirit believes Muriel to be gone, subsumed into the seven aspects of the Angel of Death. In truth, the aspect that is Muriel has been hiding, dormant, in the bodies of vampires for millennia. This actually serves an important function, as the aspect cannot reside next to a soul without destroying it so vampires are perfect hosts; and hiding part of Abaddon this way keeps the angel from being located and controlled by the Shadows.
Personality:
Devin is a loner. Rejected by his family for being an aberration, Devin has considered other vampires to be his enemies since he was very young. His life has been spent hunting his own kind as a result. This loathing for other vampires also extends to himself; Devin hates being a vampire and all that that encompasses. In particular, he hates having to consume human blood to live. Though very ill-advised, Devin deals with that problem by only consuming blood every two weeks or so (unless he's going into a fight and needs to be at full strength). This puts him at an increased risk of a) being unable to heal if things should unexpectedly go awry, and b) starvation, if someone captured him and didn't read The Idiot's Guide to Care and Feeding of Your Vampire.
Despite believing that the eradication of his species is a necessity, murder is still murder, and he's killed thousands. Devin would much rather he could be unfeeling about the whole thing; it would be a lot easier to do his job if he just didn't care, and he's never truly understood why he still does. As he's not aware that it's specifically Muriel using his body as a convenient hiding spot, he's therefore not aware that he has a piece of the force of creation keeping him alive. The core of his being is, quite literally, full of light. Muriel, meanwhile, is being carried by a man that is bent on destroying the species the angel created, and even in dormancy that stings. Devin's mind and body interpret that as his own guilt, and not something that belongs to another being.
As a rule, Devin avoids all attachments: it would be far easier to hurt people he cares about than himself, and he would never want anyone harmed on his behalf. He's a monster, and that makes him far less important than the lives of humans - those lives that are actually living. The rule would be unnecessary if Devin didn't know, on some level, that he would rather have friends, and perhaps even a family.
In order to keep people at a distance, Devin is intentionally antagonistic, hoping to come off as a jerk such that no one will care about him and that no one will feel bad for not caring, either. This is the most pragmatic option, in Devin's eyes. His avoidance of relationships with people is in part a form of self-punishment: he doesn't deserve to enjoy life with all that blood on his hands. If Devin starts being more of an ass to someone than usual, it's probably because that person is beginning to like him, or vice versa.
The antagonism is also about not getting hurt. Devin has lived far longer than any human can, and may yet live for a thousand years or more. He has made friends with men in his military units during both World Wars, despite himself, but only ever kept in touch with them by post after the wars ended. Even across that distance, it has been painful for him to watch those friends fade and pass on. Allowing himself to get close to any human means he must also allow the inevitable pain of loss. While that grief might be spanned by decades of life and joy, Devin is genuinely uncertain if he could survive that much sorrow over and over again. Functional immortality sucks, as it turns out. It is simpler to be lonely.
It's also less deadly. The one time Devin allowed himself to be truly open was, of course, the one time he would get burned. After meeting Bobby, Devin became infatuated with her, and she very nearly convinced him to give up the lifestyle of a hunter and his elder powers. He thought he was in love, despite previously believing that love was well beyond him, that he was too broken for it.
Learning she was actually the demon Beelzebub and intended to use Devin to her own ends was the ultimate betrayal, even setting aside her attempt to cut his heart out of his chest. She ruined the tiny glimmer of hope that he could be happy someday, and that he might find people who would genuinely care for him despite his blood-stained past. Between his lifestyle and what Bobby did to him, Devin does not trust easily, and will assert that no one should trust him, either. Trust will only lead to someone getting hurt.
Bobby is the one thing Devin fears more than himself. He fears being starved again, losing control of his abilities and killing innocents; but he hates being a vampire more, so he continues to limit his intake of human blood despite the risk. Bobby, on the other hand, is entirely outside his control already. Her motivations are unknown to him, other than she wants the aspect of the angel, and her ability to find him when he was meant to be hidden is flatly terrifying. Devin has no love for the Spirit, but it's looked after him even though he's given the being a lot of shit over the years. If the Spirit can't keep her away permanently, then the end of the world - and eternal torment for Devin - might very well be around the corner.
Behind all of his walls and outer asshattery, Devin is still capable of being kind. Should anyone get him to open up again, either to friendship or to love, he would be fiercely loyal and protective. There is very little he wouldn't do to keep someone he cared about safe, even if it means he gets seriously injured. He'll go out of his way to protect humans if it's within his power, and while he'll defend his own life against a human he'll do his absolute best not to permanently harm them.
If he were coaxed, Devin would express a great love for books. As he is mostly self-taught, books are friends and teachers that can't be used as leverage against him, and help him to understand people and the world around him. Devin has learned how to feign being comfortable around people and though he's quite suave most of the time, his social skills were largely developed out of a necessity to fit in during hunts. When he stops acting the part for the mission, his social graces are somewhat diminished, and his own emotional self-awareness is rather poor.
Appearance:
Reference image.
At 6'2'' with dark hair, pale skin and bright blue eyes, Devin has a way of standing out. He's muscular without being bulky, and has the chiseled sort of good looks that he seems incapable of playing down. He tends to favor suits and dark colors; rarely can he be seen in anything that isn't blue, green, or black. When the occasion calls for it, he'll wear more practical clothing designed for maximum mobility. Mostly he goes clean-shaven, but Devin travels quite a bit and will sport scruff from time to time. His hair rarely extends far enough to cover his eyes.
Devin has spent most of his life fighting other vampires, and he scars while other vampires do not. They cover a significant portion of his body, but the most severe are the crosshatch marks and the burn across his back. These are also his oldest scars. He also has a series of ultraviolet-sensitive tattoos of over a dozen religious symbols that only appear under a blacklight and are usually hidden by clothing.
As a vampire, his top canines are slightly elongated and sharpened by default and he is capable of extending them at will. When he does so, his eye color also shifts to a clearer, icier blue.
Abilities:
Blood Breed — Devin has a variety of racial skills from vampirism. He's capable of moving at several times the speed of a human, to the point of being a blur (especially over short distances). Strong enough to break human bones, Devin has developed a very fine degree of control over his use of force. He has enhanced hearing that he can turn up or down, and excellent night vision. When he elongates his fangs, all of his senses become heightened; however, it's also a state of less emotional control and can prove detrimental if Devin becomes extremely upset or angry. He refuses to use his ability to Bind, however a permissions post is likely a good idea for both Claiming and Binding just in case something weird happens to him and he goes on a crazy spree.
Because he contains an aspect of an angel, Devin also has some human-like disadvantages: he doesn't heal as quickly as normal vampires (unless he consumes blood daily), and he can (and usually does) scar from injuries.
Youngest Elder — Devin is not only a vampire but an elder, the oldest of his line. It enhances and expands all of his usual vampiric traits, as mentioned above.
Daywalker — Apparently unique among his species, Devin is capable of walking in sunlight without being burned.
Fists of Fury — Devin is an avid boxer, which is his favorite style, but he's also proficient in Krav Maga.
Silver Tongue — In addition to his native tongue of English, Devin can also speak French and is fluent in Latin. He knows a smattering of Gaelic, Arabic, Spanish, and Mandarin.
Suppression — Devin has developed the ability to suppress his emotions for days at a time when he's on particularly challenging missions where emotion could cloud his judgement; he's capable of doing so for several weeks, but the repercussions are significant. Even just doing it for a few days is unhealthy for his mental state. Not that he really cares about the damage it does. Idiot.
The Aspect — Devin contains one of the seven faces of Abaddon, the Angel of Death. It's entirely dormant, and he's unable to access any of the power it holds (as far as he knows). Theoretically, with time and concerted effort (and by spending some AC points), he might be able to integrate with the aspect which would allow him to do things like translate and be understood in any language, interact with souls, and access other planes. At this point in time, however, he has none of those abilities.
Inventory: Slacks, dress shirt, blazer, two daggers, a silver cross necklace
Soul Gem: Tapered bloodstone pendant on a plain silver chain.
Writing Samples:
Third Person:
The city was nice enough, for all its strangeness. From what he could tell, it was devoid of any others of his kind - he'd yet to encounter anyone lacking a heartbeat as they strolled between the market stalls. That should have been something of a relief, Devin reflected. No other vampires meant no need to kill, but it also meant that he was adrift without purpose. What was he supposed to do with himself? Almost all of his energy back home had been spent hunting. Devin couldn't remember the last time he took a vacation.
So this city was as much a temporary freedom as it was a new prison. He was trapped here, for the time being, and he would have to adapt. The biggest problem he faced now was finding a way to source his extraneous nutritional requirement without having a significant impact on anyone. It didn't seem like there was a great ability to store blood in the city, and what could be stored ought to be given to those who needed it most, who were undergoing surgery or the like. In all likelihood, he'd have to go the live donor route, which made him sick to his stomach.
If Devin could find a volunteer, some good Samaritan willing to trust someone like him, it might not be so bad. He would have to find some way to get blood regardless. The vampire sighed; the Healer's Guild might not be the worst place to start. Perhaps people would be less judgmental there, and they'd be willing to help, for not only his health and safety, but that of others.
Network:
[This is so counter to everything Devin normally does, but there's no point in beating around the bush. Best to tell the truth and then let the chips fall where they may. He's good at acting, however, so he manages to plaster on his classic smirk to hide the discomfort.]
It's not generally my custom to announce myself so formally, but I believe this will save me a great deal of time and energy. My name is Devin Parker, and I am a vampire. [He grins, revealing a slightly elongated set of canines to make his point.] If you're even remotely aware of any variety of my species, you're probably also aware we need to consume blood to live. Sadly, I'm no exception to this rule; that said, I don't hurt people to get what I need, so you've no need to worry that I'm going to jump out at you from a dark alleyway late at night. [The smirk turns a little wicked.] I can do that in daylight.
[He's joking. Probably.]
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