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H e r o e s a l w a y s g e t r e m e m b e r e d
B u t y o u k n o w l e g e n d s n e v e r d i e .
Name
Mikhail Rochdale
Nicknames
Misha (close friends and family only, seriously)
Age
After all this time, does it really matter? (Appears to be in his twenties)
Gender
Male
Sexuality
Whatever he needs to get you hooked, baby
Relationship Status
Single
Species
Born Vampire
Appearance Details
Mikhail is a tall man with a lithe build, not muscular but not skeletal either. Like his siblings, his features bear a striking resemblance to a frozen corpse: frosty pale skin with the slightest tint of deathly blue, unruly snow-white hair, and a set of piercing, ice-blue eyes. He looks great for his advanced age, the very picture of youth, and he can usually be seen with a cunning smirk on his lips and a dangerous glint in his eye. Royalty suits him well and he isn’t afraid to show it, wearing only the best and often adorned with rings and other finery.
Personality Traits
Extremely charismatic with a haunting talent for reading people, Mikhail's outward personality can be whatever he needs it to be to get what he wants. He can just as easily play the part of friend or lover as he can tormentor or authority figure, and this two-faced tendency of his has worked more in his favour than against it over the years. While his sister may not believe him, Mikhail is genuinely devoted to the King and the Black Iris Society at large, though his motivations, sincere or otherwise, are unclear.
Mikhail is the type of man who is either a joy to talk to, or absolutely infuriating. A trait that some admire and some despise, he has a way of talking that ensures that whoever he's talking to only knows as much as he wants them to know. There are those who love him, those who hate him, and those who fear him, though they all seem to agree that he has the sort of smile that doesn't quite reach his icy eyes.
Mikhail is the type of man who is either a joy to talk to, or absolutely infuriating. A trait that some admire and some despise, he has a way of talking that ensures that whoever he's talking to only knows as much as he wants them to know. There are those who love him, those who hate him, and those who fear him, though they all seem to agree that he has the sort of smile that doesn't quite reach his icy eyes.
Skills
- Extremely charismatic
- Formidable negotiator
- Good at getting things out of people (idk the word for that, sue me)
- Physical prowess that comes with vampirism
- Special talent for pissing off his sister
Weaknesses
- A poor fighter (as vampires go), but who needs to throw a punch when you have the full force of the Royal Guard at your disposal?
- His reputation as a talented manipulator precedes him and can (and often does) inspire doubt and suspicion, even when his intentions are sincere
- Struggles to get close to people; assumes the worst in everyone and sees them as pawns in a game rather than people, and as such is prone to paranoia and isolation
- Probably has several dozen people plotting his assassination as we speak
History
“History, legend, constructs of memory… after this long, who can tell which is which?”
The many, many years of Mikhail’s life have blended and blurred together, but it works out in his favour; he isn’t one to cling too closely to the past. Still, the basic details remain: he was born alongside his sister Irina long after his brother Dmitri, second in line for his father’s throne and perfectly content with that. His talent for manipulating people came out in his youth, one he spent getting into trouble only to weasel his way out of the consequences, much to his dutiful twin’s considerable chagrin. Not the leader his brother was and lacking the martial talent of his sister, Mikhail settled comfortably into the shadows, capitalizing on his unmatched skill with people and spinning a vast web that grew over the years to entangle just about everything in the Society's domain.
Centuries of making connections, allies and enemies alike have put Mikhail in the enviable position of ‘knowing a guy’ for just about everything, trading both in gold and favours, ever plucking the strings of the underworld and knowing just the ones to pull. Well on his brother’s good side, he’s set for a position of high influence should his father die or abdicate, and is well equipped to use every puppet at his disposal for the benefit of himself and the Society alike.
The many, many years of Mikhail’s life have blended and blurred together, but it works out in his favour; he isn’t one to cling too closely to the past. Still, the basic details remain: he was born alongside his sister Irina long after his brother Dmitri, second in line for his father’s throne and perfectly content with that. His talent for manipulating people came out in his youth, one he spent getting into trouble only to weasel his way out of the consequences, much to his dutiful twin’s considerable chagrin. Not the leader his brother was and lacking the martial talent of his sister, Mikhail settled comfortably into the shadows, capitalizing on his unmatched skill with people and spinning a vast web that grew over the years to entangle just about everything in the Society's domain.
Centuries of making connections, allies and enemies alike have put Mikhail in the enviable position of ‘knowing a guy’ for just about everything, trading both in gold and favours, ever plucking the strings of the underworld and knowing just the ones to pull. Well on his brother’s good side, he’s set for a position of high influence should his father die or abdicate, and is well equipped to use every puppet at his disposal for the benefit of himself and the Society alike.
Misc.
91B5D5
Mikhail is judgemental in general, and prone to thinking less of 'lower' species, though he isn't so naive as to underestimate them.
As eternal life can grow dull even with one's ear to the proverbial ground, Mikhail peppered his life with bouts of travel, unconsciously following chaos around the world and as such, has borne witness to a number of important historical events. Even now he finds it fun to spice things up with the occasional personal undertaking of a Black Iris Guard mission, or even just shedding the title of prince for a while and seeing what he can find among the commoners. Of course, a bit of arrogance and an air of self-importance usually cuts those little excursions short.
He doesn't go hands-on often, but those in the know have heard that he often employs and even delights in cruelty, though whether this is purely for fun or to send a message to those who oppose him is up for speculation.
Mikhail is judgemental in general, and prone to thinking less of 'lower' species, though he isn't so naive as to underestimate them.
As eternal life can grow dull even with one's ear to the proverbial ground, Mikhail peppered his life with bouts of travel, unconsciously following chaos around the world and as such, has borne witness to a number of important historical events. Even now he finds it fun to spice things up with the occasional personal undertaking of a Black Iris Guard mission, or even just shedding the title of prince for a while and seeing what he can find among the commoners. Of course, a bit of arrogance and an air of self-importance usually cuts those little excursions short.
He doesn't go hands-on often, but those in the know have heard that he often employs and even delights in cruelty, though whether this is purely for fun or to send a message to those who oppose him is up for speculation.
Natasha is the latest of Mikhail's little semi-centennial chaos projects, odd jobs here and there he dips his fingers into to keep life from getting too boring. Natasha began as a walk through a seedy part of town looking for a live meal no one would miss, a rare deviation from the neatly prepared blood Mikhail usually opted for. He'd gone out looking for some excitement, and as it turned out, it wasn't difficult to find; why, she'd practically been draped in front of him on purpose, a vulnerable young lady with her life clearly in shambles, taking her last laboured breaths as her heart struggled to keep beating. What a pathetic sight she was, swathed in filth, sprawled out against a wall in an alleyway like another piece of common trash. Normally, that's just how Mikhail would have regarded her, but not that night. That night, he saw an opportunity.
Draining her of her blood was simple enough, though Mikhail did lament a bit that she didn't have the faculties to struggle or even respond. The particularly strong hit of... whatever it was that she'd decided to overdose on that night did addle his brain, though; an externality he considers responsible for the girl's predicament as a half-blood rather than a regular Turned. Nonetheless, a sloppy job is still a job done, and the girl's life would be saved. Or, perhaps traded; traded for a new life, free from the trivial clutches of human concerns.
That's what he told her, anyway.
When she awoke, clean, unharmed and taken care of, Mikhail told her all about what had occurred; how he'd found her in that alley through pure luck and couldn't bear to see such a young, vibrant woman pass away in such undignified circumstances. He saw fit to give her a second chance, and a third when he protected her from extermination by the Black Thorn. He gave her a new life, and a new name to mark it: Natalia, "reborn". Suitably dignified, in his opinion. He never asked for her original name, anyway.
Ever since, she's proven herself quite the wise investment; Natasha worships the very ground he treads on, and Mikhail is not one to let such a blessing go to waste. He cares for and guides her as something almost akin to a pet, and in return she has given him unwavering, unquestioning loyalty. In Mikhail's opinion, she couldn't have turned out better, mind you that she still has much to learn. But there's plenty of time for that. He has her wound more tightly around his finger than most of his rings, and she knows well the debt of gratitude she owes him. Of course, he'd never let her forget.
Draining her of her blood was simple enough, though Mikhail did lament a bit that she didn't have the faculties to struggle or even respond. The particularly strong hit of... whatever it was that she'd decided to overdose on that night did addle his brain, though; an externality he considers responsible for the girl's predicament as a half-blood rather than a regular Turned. Nonetheless, a sloppy job is still a job done, and the girl's life would be saved. Or, perhaps traded; traded for a new life, free from the trivial clutches of human concerns.
That's what he told her, anyway.
When she awoke, clean, unharmed and taken care of, Mikhail told her all about what had occurred; how he'd found her in that alley through pure luck and couldn't bear to see such a young, vibrant woman pass away in such undignified circumstances. He saw fit to give her a second chance, and a third when he protected her from extermination by the Black Thorn. He gave her a new life, and a new name to mark it: Natalia, "reborn". Suitably dignified, in his opinion. He never asked for her original name, anyway.
Ever since, she's proven herself quite the wise investment; Natasha worships the very ground he treads on, and Mikhail is not one to let such a blessing go to waste. He cares for and guides her as something almost akin to a pet, and in return she has given him unwavering, unquestioning loyalty. In Mikhail's opinion, she couldn't have turned out better, mind you that she still has much to learn. But there's plenty of time for that. He has her wound more tightly around his finger than most of his rings, and she knows well the debt of gratitude she owes him. Of course, he'd never let her forget.
Name
Dmitri Rochdale
Nicknames
Dima (friends and family, though he won’t balk if you call him that)
Age
As far as the years have dragged him, his goal still lies ahead (Appears in his thirties)
Gender
Male
Sexuality
Asexual
Relationship Status
Single
Species
Born Vampire
Appearance Details
Dmitri is fairly tall, a bit shorter than his younger brother Mikhail but makes up for it with a more solid, muscular build. He shares the same white hair, pale skin and ice-blue eyes as his siblings, but looks the part of eldest, appearing somewhere in his thirties. He usually wears something between a kind expression and a solemn thousand-yard stare, rarely outwardly emoting beyond a polite smile or disappointed glare. He keeps himself neat and tidy and wears clothes that are simple, but refined; he takes pride in his position, but doesn’t flaunt, usually avoiding jewelry and extravagant clothes unless necessary.
Personality Traits
First and foremost, Dmitri is a gentle soul. Calm and quiet, he takes more after the gentle touch of his mother than the iron fist of his father. Still, he has a commanding presence; though he speaks softly, people tend to listen. Subdued by the centuries of hardship, conflict, and suffering he witnessed his people subjected to, he can seem quiet, even a little somber at times. Still, with others around he does his best to portray the persona of a strong, reliable heir to his father’s throne.
His calm and mellow demeanour often clashes with his brother’s airy confidence and his sister’s intensity, and he often finds himself playing mediator, a skill that has served him well diplomatically in the past. While he questions his father’s methods and intentions, Dmitri remains loyal to his father and the Society, holding duty above all else.
His calm and mellow demeanour often clashes with his brother’s airy confidence and his sister’s intensity, and he often finds himself playing mediator, a skill that has served him well diplomatically in the past. While he questions his father’s methods and intentions, Dmitri remains loyal to his father and the Society, holding duty above all else.
Skills
- Serenity: Dmitri can keep calm in all manner of situations. Only a few times in his long life has temper or panic gotten the better of him, and he’s great in a crisis.
- Approachable: Despite his royal standing, Dmitri has a talent for putting people at ease, a useful skill for an heir trying to build rapport with those below him.
- Leadership: Dmitri is a born leader, people easily fall into step behind him and he holds the responsibility of leading sacrosanct.
- All the physical prowess of a born vampire
- Dmitri is trained in a number of combat styles, ranging from traditional swordsmanship and axe weilding to warfare tactics dating back to WWI, and has seen enough action to have prompted him to hang up his sword in favour of peaceful diplomacy.
Weaknesses
- Merciful: Perhaps not a weakness for most, but definitely considered as such by his father, Dmitri is prone to assuming the better in people and usually errs on the generous or merciful side when dealing with them.
- Trusting: Dmitri is quicker to trust than is wise for someone in his position, specifically of those he believes to be of good character. As an example, his sister would point to Dmitri’s oddly unwavering trust in his brother Mikhail; luckily, this faithful nature has yet to bite him too badly.
- Naive: Dmitri holds onto an optimistic, naive hope for peace, not just among the supernatural subjects of the Black Iris, but between them and the humans as well. Even through his hundreds of years and near-constant exposure to vicious, senseless conflict among all manner of people, he is still disappointed when it happens, and still thinks his vision of a world of species united could become a reality.
History
Dmitri clings more to his memory than his brother does, though lacking the uncanny retention of his sister, it still blurs in places. Some memories are crystal clear, like the day his father and the Council commanded all members of the Black Iris Society to retreat into the shadows or the night that he lost his first friend to the stake. Other times, his memory slips; the smoke and shouting of the night his home was raided by villagers with stakes and torches sometimes slides into the hellish cacophony of mortar fire pounding above as he fought in the trenches of World War I. Over the years he’s kept careful journals, and the pressing details of his life are well recorded.
He was the first child of King Astris Rochdale and his wife, a Russian vampiress whose heritage shone in the names of her children. Dmitri was born some time before the Society ordered its members into hiding, and as such he remembers a time when supernatural species did not hide their nature from their human neighbours. Or at least, not on Council command. But he saw firsthand the barbarism and scorn with which the humans persecuted his people, saw how his own kind and other supernatural species consumed, butchered and cursed them in return. He saw neighbourhood healers strung up as consorts of the Devil, saw entire villages wiped out by gluttonous werewolves, saw vampires steal children only to have themselves and their whole families strung up in the sun for their crimes. What tortured him, though, was that he also saw his people and the humans coexist; a coven of witches who warded their town from evil, a vampiric scholar who uplifted his village with knowledge, werewolf packs who hunted dangerous game for their fellow man when food was scarce, and all along he saw humans who would defend their mythical allies from those who would see them burn.
Dmitri was heartbroken when the order came to hide from humans, but he understood why it was given; though he had hope that his people could coexist peacefully with humans, it was a time when fear and distrust infected humans and the supernatural alike like a plague, poisoning any and all interaction and dooming it all to conflict. As the years wore on, though, he kept waiting for a time when the world could develop enough for a second chance at coexistence, only to find that history had a dastardly way of repeating itself.
With members of the Black Iris long faded into myth and superstition, those he saw as war-hungry humans did what they always did and turned on each other. Bloody battles raged with the supernatural safely in the shadows, though they were not impervious to infighting either. The years between conflicts blend together, but one he remembers well was the First World War, a conflict the scope of which neither he nor anyone had ever seen before, nor expected to see again. Unable to escape conscription without arousing suspicion, Dmitri ended up in the trenches, fighting alongside human soldiers. By then he had grown jaded, seeing humans as vicious warmongering beasts beyond salvation, and he expected the deadliest war in human history to only further confirm his suspicions. But, as he fought as well as he could without drawing attention to his superhuman abilities, the incredible determination, courage, and sacrifice of his fellow soldiers showed him a side of humanity he hadn’t seen since before the Black Iris order was given. The lengths they went to to protect and save each other were astounding, and their impossible ability to hold onto morale in the jaws of hell without even the assurance of superhuman resilience to cling to stuck with him long after the war was over. He knew redemption was possible. He just needed to find a way to effect it.
He abandoned combat altogether after the war ended, turning his focus to diplomacy. There was much work to be done internally before he could even think to turn his intentions to reconciliation with the humans, but to this day he works tirelessly toward his goal, deaf to the disapproval of his father and his peers and eyes focused firmly on the future.
He was the first child of King Astris Rochdale and his wife, a Russian vampiress whose heritage shone in the names of her children. Dmitri was born some time before the Society ordered its members into hiding, and as such he remembers a time when supernatural species did not hide their nature from their human neighbours. Or at least, not on Council command. But he saw firsthand the barbarism and scorn with which the humans persecuted his people, saw how his own kind and other supernatural species consumed, butchered and cursed them in return. He saw neighbourhood healers strung up as consorts of the Devil, saw entire villages wiped out by gluttonous werewolves, saw vampires steal children only to have themselves and their whole families strung up in the sun for their crimes. What tortured him, though, was that he also saw his people and the humans coexist; a coven of witches who warded their town from evil, a vampiric scholar who uplifted his village with knowledge, werewolf packs who hunted dangerous game for their fellow man when food was scarce, and all along he saw humans who would defend their mythical allies from those who would see them burn.
Dmitri was heartbroken when the order came to hide from humans, but he understood why it was given; though he had hope that his people could coexist peacefully with humans, it was a time when fear and distrust infected humans and the supernatural alike like a plague, poisoning any and all interaction and dooming it all to conflict. As the years wore on, though, he kept waiting for a time when the world could develop enough for a second chance at coexistence, only to find that history had a dastardly way of repeating itself.
With members of the Black Iris long faded into myth and superstition, those he saw as war-hungry humans did what they always did and turned on each other. Bloody battles raged with the supernatural safely in the shadows, though they were not impervious to infighting either. The years between conflicts blend together, but one he remembers well was the First World War, a conflict the scope of which neither he nor anyone had ever seen before, nor expected to see again. Unable to escape conscription without arousing suspicion, Dmitri ended up in the trenches, fighting alongside human soldiers. By then he had grown jaded, seeing humans as vicious warmongering beasts beyond salvation, and he expected the deadliest war in human history to only further confirm his suspicions. But, as he fought as well as he could without drawing attention to his superhuman abilities, the incredible determination, courage, and sacrifice of his fellow soldiers showed him a side of humanity he hadn’t seen since before the Black Iris order was given. The lengths they went to to protect and save each other were astounding, and their impossible ability to hold onto morale in the jaws of hell without even the assurance of superhuman resilience to cling to stuck with him long after the war was over. He knew redemption was possible. He just needed to find a way to effect it.
He abandoned combat altogether after the war ended, turning his focus to diplomacy. There was much work to be done internally before he could even think to turn his intentions to reconciliation with the humans, but to this day he works tirelessly toward his goal, deaf to the disapproval of his father and his peers and eyes focused firmly on the future.
Misc.
0355AD
Dmitri doesn’t make judgement on species; he sees value and potential in all of his subjects, whether they’ve realized it or not.
Dmitri doesn’t make judgement on species; he sees value and potential in all of his subjects, whether they’ve realized it or not.
Name
Irina Rochdale
Nickames
“That’s Commander to you.”
Ira (friends and family); Zima (by Mikhail cause he’s a dick); the King’s Rose; Commander
Ira (friends and family); Zima (by Mikhail cause he’s a dick); the King’s Rose; Commander
Age
348 (Appears in her late twenties)
Gender
Female
Sexuality
She really doesn’t have time to spend figuring out something so unimportant
Relationship Status
Single
Species
Born Vampire
Appearance Details
Irina is tall for a woman at 5’7” with a lithe figure possessing more strength than meets the eye. Usually stone-faced or scowling, she shares the same hair, skin and eye colour as her brothers, with the exception that she can often be seen with her eyes coloured gold with bloodlust. She is the very embodiment of “serious”, standing rigidly straight and moving with purpose. She cuts a surprisingly imposing figure in her Black Thorn Commander’s uniform, ironically coloured white to identify her as commander rather than a regular officer. She hasn’t worn a skirt since 1700 and doesn’t intend to, wearing only clothes she could fight in and preferring the sharp cut of her uniform. She does, however, have a soft spot for dark lipstick and eyeliner.
Personality Traits
In a word, Irina is intense, and the first thing many people notice about her is a piercing, judgemental gaze that seems to go right through you. That is accurate to her personality as well: she sizes up everyone she sees, gauging their strengths and weaknesses. Rigid, blunt, cold, and ruthless, she fulfills the stereotype of a military commander to a T. She speaks quickly and concisely and only wants to hear you talk long enough to get the information she needs, having no patience for pretty words or idle chatter. Mercy isn’t a word in her vocabulary and she takes her duty deadly seriously, and God help anyone who stands in her way.
Skills
- Excellent memory.
- Martial Expert: Irina has been training tirelessly ever since she could hold a weapon in every combat form she could find, and is adept with pretty much anything that can be used to inflict harm, both modern and archaic. Her personal preference, however, is fencing.
- Bloodlust: Centuries of discipline have allowed Irina to trigger her bloodlust on command, and control herself under its effect in order to use the enhanced physical prowess it provides to her advantage in combat. To facilitate this, she consumes as little blood as she can stand, fasting so that she is always just on the edge of bloodlust. She triggers it by biting her tongue.
- Strategist: Self explanatory; Irina is a talented strategist and tactician when it comes to combat missions.
- Rider: Irina is a skilled equestrian, able to wield various weapons while mounted. Now that horseback riding has become largely obsolete, she’s also become a skilled driver of various vehicles, both on- and off-road.
- All the physical prowess that comes with being a born vampire
Weaknesses
- Tactless: Irina never could wrap her head around the art of conversation, and thus has stopped trying. She’s blunt to the point of rudeness and would be a huge liability in negotiation.
- Restless: Irina gets itchy when she’s in one place for too long, and has a tendency to work herself too hard, outright resenting rest.
- Paranoid: Irina never feels comfortable without her back against the wall, and is always on the lookout for threats even when none should be present.
- Temper: Irina’s temper is quick and hot, and God help anyone in its path. Unfortunately, this can make her vulnerable to goading.
- Especially vulnerable to her twin’s bullshit; he knows where all her buttons are and precisely how to push them.
History
Born alongside her twin Mikhail a few decades prior to the King’s command, Irina doesn’t remember much about the days before the Black Iris segregated itself from humans. With Dmitri centuries older than her and occupied in his duties as heir, and Mikhail entirely insufferable, Irina looked to her militant father for companionship. With his guidance, she turned her temper into something constructive, and put her determined, discipline-hungry mind to good use by learning combat. From the moment she picked up a bow as a child, she fell in love with the art of battle, learning to wield any weapon she could get her hands on and finding a particular friend in the rapier.
As she grew older, her potential grew clearer and clearer to her father, and soon he allowed her to join the Society’s armed force, the Black Thorn. Her capability was quickly proven and her skill shone among her peers, and she rose through the ranks quickly, eventually taking her place at her father’s side as Commander of the Thorn. As Commander, she controls the Thorn and directly commands its most elite forces. While the bulk of the Thorn investigates and tries law-breakers within the Black Iris, Irina and her highest officers take on the most dangerous threats, be they powerful Black Iris members or human Hunters getting a little too close.
As she grew older, her potential grew clearer and clearer to her father, and soon he allowed her to join the Society’s armed force, the Black Thorn. Her capability was quickly proven and her skill shone among her peers, and she rose through the ranks quickly, eventually taking her place at her father’s side as Commander of the Thorn. As Commander, she controls the Thorn and directly commands its most elite forces. While the bulk of the Thorn investigates and tries law-breakers within the Black Iris, Irina and her highest officers take on the most dangerous threats, be they powerful Black Iris members or human Hunters getting a little too close.
Misc.
00AFEC
As part of her uniform, Irina at all times wears a rapier on her left hip. The handle and guard are decorated with white enamel and a few rubies, and its name is Ukus Zimy, “Winter’s Bite.”
As part of her uniform, Irina at all times wears a rapier on her left hip. The handle and guard are decorated with white enamel and a few rubies, and its name is Ukus Zimy, “Winter’s Bite.”
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