Setting:Modern/Victorian Age
Name: Nicolai Valentine
Age: 200
Sex: Male
Race: Vampire
Marital Status: Single
Weapons: Rapier | Vampiric powers

Description: A six foot figure of porcelain flesh and cold veins, though his body was long dead his eyes still glowed vibrantly. A fierce red that penetrated the darkness.

Personality: Nicolai is stubborn and proud, he doesn’t give in easily and he doesn’t handle rejection well. It’s not beyond him to use his power and influence to manipulate others into moving or acting as he pleases. He was the least inclined to believe in God, having faith in only his own abilities and the abilities of those that benefited him most. To keep up appearances and good reputation of the noble family, however Dante attended masses and Sunday lessons like the rest. Outside of Badrick, Nicolai had fathered a few illegitimate children, which was kept quiet for the sake of their reputation. As a brother, he was loyal and reliable. Tasks were done as easily as they were given. As a man, Nicolai was distant and unforgiving. He found it hard to give his heart to any woman and when he found the one woman to give it to, it was rejected and he harshly punished her. As a friend, he was fickle and had little concern for his peers.

Nicolai didn’t have much in the way of fist fighting, but his sword fighting was feared and admired by many. He couldn’t hold his liquor and was usually laughed at for it.

As a vampire, Nicolai became cold and calculating. Cruelly dispatching any that showed even the slightest bit of opposition. Though they rarely agreed on anything, Nicolai only answered to Alexander as his superior. Beneath the hard exterior, Nicolai hopes to find another that will accept his heart.

History: The aristocratic family of Valentine was a small but thriving one that ruled over Badrick, a large piece of land just east of Europe. The territory was known for its fertile soil and fresh gardens that grew in and around the city, the majority of the city’s citizens were middle class with only a handful of high class who primarily watched over their businesses and employees. The family was well respected and as such their company was sought after by many, all wishing to implore them for business, influence or to simply have a chance to be closer to the nobles.

Duke Frederick Valentine, a former knight to the King, was often regarded as a kind but gluttonous man. A frequent guest at banquets and dances, he was known for his hearty appetite and generous nature. His rule over Badrick was long and prosperous, he was well adored by many. His wife, Duchess Miriam Valentine, was a very loving mother but strict. A devout Catholic, she passed the same devotion onto her children in hopes that they would live their lives on the path of righteousness. Miriam tried to instill the same onto her husband in an attempt to stop his gluttony but to no avail. Frederick’s gluttony finally caught up to him when he suffered a heart attack during Sir Frederick’s knighting ceremony. His health continued to decline and on the day of his death, he named his eldest son, Damien, Duke of Badrick and in turn Frederick II became Baron.

Stricken with grief, Miriam lasted only three months through the winter before succumbing to illness. The next night, Dante was absent from his grieving family. Pursued by a pack of starving wolves, his horse was overcome by the horde and killed. Nicolai was only able to kill three before he was injured, Helpless in the snow, Nicolai awaited his death. However, Alexander intervened and saved him from the pack of wolves. Totting him back on his own horse, Alexander promised his return to him, “This is not the last of me, we will meet again.” Then marked him with a single bite to the neck.

Damien, Nicolai, Frederick and Elizabeth mourned quietly for some time, watching over their city of Badrick. Ruling as their parents did before them. After a time, the slaughter of people at the edge of the city grew steadily, eventually throwing people into a panic. The victims were usually drained of their blood, which prompted people to believe a vampire was responsible. As a knight to the crown and guardian of the people in Badrick, Frederick took up arms and went out to pursue the vampire with five other groups. Though they were able to kill a majority of ghouls, they fell prey to the vampire itself whom was revealed to Miriam. With the last of his strength, Frederick stabbed her in the heart with a silver dagger. The vampire now dead, Frederick passed away in peace.

Two months after the incident, Nicolai was visited by Alexander who confessed that he had been the one to sire Miriam to have by his side. Unfortunately, she had been more driven by bloodlust and had been killed as a result. Furious, Nicolai swore he would avenge his mother. Alexander confessed his love for him and admitted that if his death were to make him happy, he would die with a smile. For many nights thereafter, Alexander returned and attempted to swoon Nicolai only to fail each time. While Nicolai struggled against the vampire’s relentless advances, he also struggled with his desires for his sister Elizabeth. Though she felt the same, Elizabeth never acted on her feelings nor did she accept his advances. Nonetheless, she remained loyally by his side.

After Damien’s death, Nicolai took the title of Duke and asked Elizabeth, for a final time, to be his wife. Once again, she refused to accept and begged him to find another more suitable. Heartbroken, Nicolai sent Elizabeth away to Bedlam where she remained and waited for the day Nicolai would free her. The night after, he finally accepted Alexander and was sired. Nicolai continued to rule Badrick, but discontent fell upon the city. The soil no longer welcomed them as warmly as before, children began disappearing and because of the rumors tourists began to visit less frequently, which steadily caused many businesses to go bankrupt.

The discontent was soon fanned in a flame. Badrick’s unfortunate turn for the worst was blamed entirely on Nicolai and the people demanded for change. Revolt threatened the land and they promised to kill him if they had the chance. For a long time, Nicolai had ruled from the shadows to hide his vampiric appearance from the public. However, the people demanded change or blood, he could not stand idly by any longer. Before the people, Nicolai unveiled himself and promised a new age of prosperity under his guidance, those that opposed him would suffer his wrath. Unconvinced and stricken by the horror of their Duke, the people of Badrick fought and burned the estates to the ground under the belief that Nicolai had burned with it.

In truth, he had escaped and lived in the catacombs below until Alexander found him. With no other alternative, Nicolai allowed Alexander to take him under his wing as his fledgling.