Fantasy Prestigious Members of the Literature Club

[Vampunk]

Name: Bethany Mary Anne Stoker
Age: 57 (25)
Gender: Female
Species: Vampire
Occupation: Reclusive Owner of the prestigious Literature Club

Appearance: On first glance Miss Stoker appears like any ordinary high-class Lady. Her skin is fair, and resembles porcelain more than living flesh, her head is covered by luscious raven hair that cascades unto her lower back and seems just as thick as a starless night.
Her eyes are a gentle hazel at times, but this is where her monstrous side slowly surfaces.
For most of the time they are crimson in color and resemble an alley cat's more than a human's, with almond-shaped pupils that can narrow even further into predatory slits. Underneath her welcoming smile there lies a set of sharp fangs designed to draw blood.

She is a vampire and her appearance reflects this predicament as an unholy combination of human and monster, a walking corpse that lacks pulse or life for that matter. But even then there's still a certain glow about her, a reflection of her still treasuring the living curiosity and joy that makes human life worth living.
Height: 5'7
Unusual Marks: There is a crucifix-like mark below Miss Stoker's collarbone, situated over her chest where a heart once beat
Clothing style: Miss Stoker's wardrobe consists of mostly dark clothing, usually black and rich crimson. She dresses with class, wearing frilly blouses, red corsets and black vests. When she is working she dons a set of gray riding trousers instead of her usual gown. She usually wears a heavy black leather coat draped over her shoulders, spinning a different story each time someone asks her where she got the clothing from.

Species Description: Vampires are undead creatures of the night whose history is as old as human civilization. For they are no race of their own but simply an echo of human life, reminded by it solely by the taste of blood on their lips as it's their only connection to humanity. They are dead and thus cannot age, die or sire offspring of their own other than spreading their own curse. A Vampire is born of a human virgin drained off all life by another vampire, but there are other, more sinister ways for vampires to be born.
Their affliction is a curse and some Vampires were born of unfulfilled promises, of sinful individuals or other witchcraft that taints the very essence of life.

Strengths:
Vampires are masters of the night and possess a superior sense of smell, taste and eyesight to those of humans, making them the apex nocturnal predators.

They are undead and thus cannot be killed by regular means, making them nigh-invincible.

Vampires possess the capacity of dark arts such as limited necromancy and control over other creatures of the night like wolves, bats, rats and owls

They are able to influence those weak of mind and control those that have taken in their blood, making them thralls

Some older vampires can transform into hazy mist as well as monstrous creatures that no longer resemble humans

Some Vampires are capable of flight or levitation

Vampires grow stronger the more blood they consume


Weaknesses:
Despite popular belief, Vampires do not always die when exposed to sunlight but are greatly weakened
If they fed recently they are not really bothered by sunlight but those who did not do so will be extremely irritated by it, if not even burn on touch when not sufficiently fed

Their hearts may not beat but if damaged they are unable to regenerate, instead succumbing to their wounds if not treated

Silver weakens their powers greatly and is able to inflict serious damage on their bodies

Holy magics, wards and other religious practices can influence vampires, bind them or inhibit them in other ways

They cannot enter places under the protection of god, unless being invited in

Personality: Just as her appearance may suggest, Miss Stoker might come off as your typical aristocrat, seemingly always preoccupied with the next big event she has to attend as a honored guest. But most of the times do these events include her dabbling in the many secret affairs of her 'club'.
She is somewhat vain and prideful about what she does, and this often includes her choice of fashion too, coupled with a flair for the dramatic, Miss Stoker can be best described as some kind of Showman who likes to let others share in her work.

Something that she is not always able to do with her dealings being more of the mysterious kind. Even then, when going about her business, Miss Stoker can be extremely professional, knowing how to deal with supernatural threats with more than just superior strength alone. Knowing that sometimes a skillful choice of words, the proper indulgence and the right friends an make all the difference.

Her sense of humor is somewhat macabre and she's very unladylike when conversing with people she already deems her equals, more often than not indulging in playful banter over strictly work-related relationships.
If someone does threaten her, her friends, or something else she treasures, she can become quite protective and nasty, cruel almost, allowing herself to deal with the matters however she sees fit.

Virtues/Vices:
+Cunning
+Resourceful
+Loyal
+Sociable
+Kind

-Prideful
-Vain
-Wicked temper
-Can be Spiteful
-Cruel


History:
Not much is known about Miss Stoker's past, only that she was born in Ireland to the Stoker family and that one of her relatives popularized the vampire mythos for humanity.
If someone asks her about how this all came to be, Bethany always seems to spin a different story.
Ranging from her being Bram Stoker's Cousin who fell in love with the un-living incarnation of Dracula himself to her being the basis for the Novel herself. What is known though is that she inherited a mansion and a proper fortune in London and moved there a few years ago, building up a reputation for being a Lady of Class that had oh so many admirers courting her, Male and female alike.

Her Literature Club emerged during that time and soon garnered a lot of attention from all the High Lords and ladies.
And yet she was very picky in who she'd allow to join, seeing that the Queen herself seemed involved in the Club's affairs.
Affairs that were all of the Supernatural kind as there was a real reason for Miss Stoker to move to London.

A reason that required the effort of people like herself to contain and make sure that the common people could sleep save and sound in their beds, not worrying about what may lurk in the darkness.

 

[Trompe lOeil]

Name: Sophia Madeleine Beckett
Age: 29
Gender: Female
Species: Human (Invisible)
Occupation: None; a rich widow who dabbles in scientific pursuits.

.

Appearance: Sophia is of average height for a lady, and that’s the only feature that one could describe as average. Her features themselves aren’t notable except as a canvas for make-up, with which she is an artist. She is always heavily made up, and is never seen without it. She favors dark eyeliner and lip colors, and often wears a black beauty mark below her right eye. The lipstick paints a sharp contrast with her usually pale skin, and her lips, though thin, have a dramatic cupid’s bow. Her eyes are most often dark blue, though she owns a number of colored contact lenses.

Sophia owns a staggering collection of wigs, hats, and veils. Her hair was light blonde before the experiment, so when she appears in society she wears blonde wigs, though she prefers to wear varying colors when possible. The wigs are usually made up in half-up styles, with braids or buns cascading into loose curls.

Height: 5'5

Unusual Marks: The one area in which Sophia has failed to conceal her invisibility is her mouth. She paints her teeth with a waterproof white paint, but hasn’t discovered any way to make her tongue visible. Close inspection will reveal a void when she opens her mouth, though she is careful not to do so.

Clothing style: As a widow, Sophia dresses exclusively in black. She favors dresses with high collars and long sleeves, though not without ornamentation: they usually have ostentatious ruffles, bows, and lace. Her wardrobe is highly dramatic, and she makes use of hats and veils to draw attention away from her painted-on face whenever possible. Despite the eye-catching nature of her clothing, her taste in clothing is demure, showing barely any skin.

Species Description: Sophia is technically human, so she has no unique characteristics or strengths.

That said, she is completely invisible. Nothing Sophia has tried yet has managed to change this; the invisibility seems to be permanent. The invisibility is limited to her body; clothing she wears does not become invisible. Paints, cosmetics, and other various substances adhere to her body and stay visible. While invisible, she still has weight and makes sound.

Strengths:

• Because she has no base appearance, save for her facial features and build, her appearance is highly variable. She possesses a wide range of cosmetics for this purpose - she can disguise her age, ethnicity, and even gender at will.
• Through careful experimentation, Sophia developed a set of clothing that was also invisible. This allows her to comfortably move around while invisible. However, the clothing was expensive and time-consuming to create, and she only has one set.
• A side effect of Sophia’s chemistry research is a robust knowledge of poisons and chemicals. She carries a select number of these substances on her person, as well as a selection of knives. If she has to fight, these are what she uses.
• Sophia is, above all, a scientist. She possesses remarkable intelligence and endless curiosity.
• Sophia also possesses the social graces to navigate Victorian high society. She frequents parties and social gatherings, and has carefully revitalized her reputation as Mrs Sophia Beckett.

Weaknesses:

• Sophia possesses no supernatural abilities other than her invisibility, and is as frail, mortal, and fallible as any human.
• Sophia practices the sneaking around that invisibility lends itself toward, but she has no great talent for it. She’d rather be seen at a party or spend time in her lab than skulk around.
• Sophia has to keep people at a distance - literally. Very perceptive people, or people in close proximity, notice that something is...off...about her.

Personality: Sophia is a very private person, and steers conversations toward trivial matters whenever possible. She considers attending social events a necessity for keeping up appearances, but she doesn’t enjoy them. Her real interest is scientific discovery, especially finding a cure for her invisibility. She has a curious mind, and is especially fascinated by chemistry.

She’s a talented conversationalist, especially if she happens to be talking to someone who shares her unique interests. The more exciting social pursuits - dancing, cards, singing - hold no particular interest to her. She’d rather talk to someone than engage in what she considers frivolity.

Sophia greatly values Miss Stoker’s Literature Club, as she considers it one of the very few places she can truly be herself. She had to dismiss most of her servants in order to preserve her secret, and without the Club she would certainly be lonely. Moreover, she loves solving cases, and loves learning about the occult world she’s stumbled into. She doesn’t particularly enjoy the danger or the dirty work, but she’ll do what has to be done.

Virtues/Vices:
+ Intelligent
+ Curious
+ Sociable
+ Perceptive

- Secretive
- Serious
- Delicate
- Heartbroken

Background: Miss Sophia Ainsworth was a normal, if unusually bright, child. She was born to rich merchants, and grew up on the fringes of upper society. Growing bored of her governess, she begged her parents to allow her to go to boarding school, which was somewhat rare for a girl. It was there that she discovered her passion for the sciences.

She met Winston Beckett at a university lecture, and they were married soon after that. Winston was an avid physicist who specialized in refraction. It didn’t hurt that he was also independently wealthy. The two pursued several projects together, the last of which was an experiment to see if they could make an object invisible.

Unfortunately, frequent experimenting with radiation exposed Winston to fatal levels, and he died before the project could be completed. Sophia was devastated and shut herself in their manor for the better part of a year. She threw herself into the project, and after several months of obsessive work she succeeded, first on a knife, and then on a cat. She still owns the cat, as far as she knows.

Consumed by grief and obsessed with completing the project, Sophia tried the experiment on herself. It worked, and Sophia was forced to admit that her experiments had gotten out of hand. She needed to get back into the world.

The Sophia Beckett who emerged from her manor, nearly a year after her husband’s death, was very different from the woman people had known. She joined Miss Stoker’s Literature Club as soon as she was invited, thrilled to receive the prestigious invitation. Since joining, she has thrown herself into the world of the supernatural with a scientist’s curiosity.

 

[AI10100]

Name: Sebastian Lowell

Age: Appears to be 25 [true age to be added]

Gender: Male

Species: Formerly human; now ghost

Occupation: Member of Miss Stoker's Literature Club - both pre-death and post-death

Appearance: Apart from his semi-transparent figure, nothing is too off about Sebastian. He looks very much like a human who emits an ethereal glow. Taking on the form he had when he died, he appears to be a young man with immaculately clean features with remnants of facial hair to adorn his face. He has warn chocolate brown eyes and light brown hair that are usually spiked up. Because his appearance cannot be altered through normal means, his hair always stays like that. He's muscularly built thanks to his years of training.

Everything's normal about him apart from his ethereal glow and semi-transparent body. With years of practice, he's managed to look human at times. He can keep the glow at minimum and look like an authentic human. However, when people come close or try to touch him, it's time to say goodbye to that disguise.

Height: 6'0

Unusual Marks: He doesn't seem to have any unusual marks on him. But that's because he's focused on hiding it. When he's caught by surprise or is too tired, three arrows would appear embedded on his body - one on his chest, another on his left shoulder and the other on his right leg.

Clothing Style: Sebastian mainly appears in the armor in which he died on. However, he can switch between that and a formal suit. Aside from those, however, he doesn't seem to appear in other clothing normally unless ordered to by Miss Stoker - as she was known to be quite choosy in terms of clothing.

Species Description: Ghosts are the souls or spirits of deceased humans (or other species) who have not passed on to the afterlife. There are many reasons as to why they decided to stay on Earth - most stay because of a regret and others simply stay because they want to. Humans tend to think of them as having various types - but all ghosts have the same capabilities, some stronger than others. They are typically invisible and can only move objects, but once old enough (or if their blood has a strong bond with the spiritual plane), they are able to appear as semi-transparent figures. With time and practice, they are able to look almost human but most are too wary to do that.

Strengths:

• Because of his bloodline, he is now able to access his almost human form and can appear in the visible plane.
• He's not a very strong poltergeist, but he is capable of lifting a full bookcase.
• He can phase through things. Through anything really - from walls to other living beings.
• He is capable of possessing inanimate objects - or objects without any souls in them. He is also capable of taking over a living being, but it is much more difficult and is not always guaranteed to work.
• He can levitate, as most ghosts are known to do.
• He is very sensitive to supernatural auras because of his witch heritage.
• He can now blend in with humans, but he must be careful to not touch anyone, not get too close to anyone as they might see that he's semi-transparent, and be careful to coordinate him touching an object with his poltergeist abilities.
• He is a trained soldier and has good battle instincts. He's extremely proficient with a sword.

Weaknesses:

• He cannot seem to lift living beings. And the heavier the object he's trying to lift, the more energy it would take.
• He cannot use his poltergeist abilities with fine control, which means that he cannot wield a sword like he does when he's physically touching it. It also continually seeps energy if he keeps objects levitated or under his control.
• Extreme focus must be placed upon taking a human form so he's not able to use any of his other powers.
• He cannot control his phasing power. If someone were to try and touch him, they would just phase through him.
• Possessing living beings is difficult because he has to fight their own soul to take control of the body. When the target has a weak will or is very distracted so that he is able to take the soul by surprise and possess them. Even then, he might get kicked out abruptly. He is only able to stay in a human for about an hour. He is able to stay in an animal's body for three hours.
• He is unaware of the reason why, but he cannot stray too far from any of the members of the Literature Club. If he does, he doesn't regain any energy. This is part of the reason why he accompanies members of the club when they're not inside the club. His target is most often Miss Stoker, as she might need some help.
• Holy wards greatly weakens him. He also can't enter places under the protection of a God, unless those he attached himself onto are able to. Even then, it affects him and he will be forced to conserve his energy.

Personality: Sebastian is actually a pretty lighthearted guy who doesn't take many things seriously. This was amplified when he came back as a ghost since he believes himself to be near invincible. He can come off as arrogant because of this, and he truly believes in his own skills so much that he might as well be. He can be knocked down by someone he knows. He usually jokes around despite the seriousness of the aristocratic members of the club. However, this didn't mean that he doesn't know how to act like one. After all, he was one of aristocratic birth.

Sebastian is easily bored, however, so he tends to joke around. Scare some people a little bit, but not too much. Sometimes, he would even risk someone seeing him just to quell this boredom. But when he's not feeling up to it, he studies up. He frequently reads books that can be found littered around, whether it be fiction or non-fiction. This caused him to be particularly interested towards those who are making scientific pursuits, and would very much like to hear from them personally. Though, he doesn't like to be seen reading for some odd reason or another, and rarely says anything about what he reads. However, this also means that he can talk about a variety of things - as he does try everything to continue a conversation.

He owes everything to Miss Stoker and is forever loyal to her, and the members of her club. He doesn't trust people quickly, but if Miss Stoker says they're alright, then they're alright. He is easily put off by people he deems odd and tends to keep his distance from them until he gets used to them. Despite his friendliness, he sometimes acts awkwardly.

Virtues/Vices:
+ Lighthearted
+ Friendly
+ Loyal
+ Empathetic
+ Knows when to treat people with respect

- Bears grudges
- Secretive
- Distrustful
- Arrogant
- Unpredictable

Background: Sebastian was born to two normal people - or at least, he assumed they were. His father was a personal adviser to an influential man, so the Lowell family was rather rich. His other relatives were of somewhat good social standing as well. Since he was not the oldest, he was pretty free on what he wanted to do. While his brother was studying up to become the replacement adviser if their father would die, Sebastian was training up to be a soldier. His parents approved since he was aiming to be part of the Queen's Guard.

He was talented when it came to fighting. When he entered the academy at fourteen years of age, he started off as the average trainee. As years passed, he began to shine from his fellow trainees and he graduated by the time he was eighteen and was placed in the army. He was dispatched every now and then to quell some unruly happenings with another squad. There were multiple times that strange occurrences happened during some of these events - and Sebastian could feel these and get his fellow soldiers to escape. He could never explain it but he was greatly appreciated because of this. His outstanding performance in school and his upstanding reference coming from the general got him into the Queen's Guard. It was a complete honor for him and his family.

But there was one thing that he didn't know. Sebastian's mother knew the Queen, herself, personally through this mysterious Literature Club that has only been around for a year or so. As he was part of the Queen's Guard, his mother thought it would be ideal to have him invited to the Literature Club, himself. It took months to convince that he was going to be a good addition to the club, but he eventually got invited. Sebastian was originally skeptical about it, but he joined anyway. That was when he found out about his mother and the Queen's... secret escapades in this club. This was also when he found out about his own heritage. Aside from his battle instincts, the reason why he was invited in was because he was very sensitive to 'magic' and the 'supernatural'.

His mother was able to hide him from the supernatural when he was young by convincing him that it was nothing - that he was just imagining it. She told him that ignoring it would be best for him. She then continued on to explain that whenever he feels something is 'off', it usually meant that something supernatural is close by. Because of his witch heritage and particularly strong magical aura (though he cannot use magic himself), some supernaturals were drawn to him. This was the reason for the strange occurrences during his time in the army.

Now, with this new connection, the Queen would ask for him personally in manners involving the club. After a year, she ordered him to be a full time member and he followed. That was when he became loyal to Miss Stoker. His mother died when he was twenty four due to an illness that none of them could heal. Sebastian continued on, however. When he was twenty-five, he met his own demise due to multiple circumstances. His own memory of it was hazy as he only remembers the pain of dying. The only thing he clearly remembers being shot by three arrows and then slowly dying in the middle of the battlefield.

He first woke up a few weeks after his death. But he was invisible. His frequent encounters with ghost kept him calm as he knew what he happened to him. He began to wander around until he returned to Miss Stoker's Literature Club. Because he was still invisible at that time, he made his presence known by picking up a sword every now and then and sometimes causes a ruckus. When they finally pegged it to be Sebastian, he was allowed to stay as long as he helped out with cleaning. As time passed by, he began to get his ghostly powers in check and appear. When he found out that he could possess suits of armor, and so he began to serve as a fighter once more.

Armors often used: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

 

[Shadow Alpha]

Name:


Silvanus
Lagneía (Known as Silva to friends)




Age:



95, appears to be no older than 26




Gender:

Male




Species:



Incubus


Occupation:

Well-known actor in the Queen's theatres





Appearance:



Silvanus is a fairly tall man with a muscled physique that appears more inviting and protective than overtly menacing. He has a dark mane of wavy hair that has the appearance of dark silk and is usually found tied into a low ponytail. Silvanus' skin is a nice even bronze color that seems to radiate warmth which pairs well with his startling emerald eyes that are often twinkling with mirth.


Without the human façade, Silvanus' incubi features can be seen. A pair of small horns sprout from each side of his head, a pair of bat-like wings emerge from his shoulder blades, and a velvety tail that ends in a spade-shaped tip show that he is indeed not of this world.




Clothing Style:
He has been known to have good taste in clothing and prefers different shades of reds, blues, and green to add some color to a mostly black or grey outfit. An example of this would be a pair of black trousers paired with a patterned vest over a green button up, of course he would leave the 2 buttons near the top undone with the sleeves rolled up to his elbow. Silvanus believed that the somewhat tousled rouge look went well with his overall appearance.




Height:

6'3



Unusual Marks: Silvanus has this symbol along with his name written in the center in a demonic language. It is a symbol of his summoning and is located on his back in between his shoulder blades.






Species Description: Incubi are demons that feast on the soul/essence of other beings to sustain themselves. There is the misconception that they only use humans to procreate because they are unable to produce young with other lust demons. The truth is that incubi/succubi have a special ability that allows them to have offspring with humans and other demons. Incubi also release concentrated pheromones that attract others to them, the effect varies by species and will power. Most average humans are swept along as if they were in a daze. Another misconception is that their prey dies from feeding, Incubi are capable of taking enough to sustain themselves while leaving the human in a state of lethargy and amnesia on what had occurred. They are also able to give the taken essence to someone else if they are advanced enough.




Strengths: The ability of flight, everything about Silvanus' being draws humans in, quick regeneration, stronger than a human, can pick up on more primal emotions by scent alone, and quite persuasive.



Weaknesses: Incubi can live for quite a long amount of time but they are not immortal in the slightest, Holy artifacts will drain his vitality and leave harsh burns that he may be able to heal from if he manages to feed, his tail is strong enough to lift objects yet it is painfully sensitive (horrible incident with children when he was first summoned), and he needs to feed in order to keep his strength up and to not fall into a feeding frenzy. Decapitation and have more than 40% of his heart destroyed will be the end of him.


Personality: Silvanus embodies the usual incubus traits while being less traditional than some of his own kind. He always seems to be in a light hearted mood regardless of the situation because of the smile on his face. Silvanus usually just makes the most out of every situation or he'll make jokes to lighten the mood. The cruelest trait of his would be the chilling look he gets in eyes once his pupils dilate into slits with the same smile on his face. Silva is known as the 'Sadist General' by demons that have attempted to hunt on his territory without his knowing or consent. There is no mercy for those that continue to challenge him although it just makes him come as childish at times.



Virtues:


+ Playful


+ Gentlemanly

+ Easy-going

+ Reliable when it counts

+ Easily trusted


Vices:


- Stubborn


- Loves to tease/be overly flirty

- Malicious tendencies

- Prone to showing off

- Does not follow orders well

- Tends to get distracted



Background:
Silvanus

Lagneía spent a majority of his life in a realm known to the mortals as 'Hell' until he was summoned by chance. One of the Queen's ministers had been dabbling in the occult in order to earn her favor and in the hopes of achieving a higher rank. He had done some research and gathered all of what he knew in order to summon a lowly demon that would bend to his will without any resistance. The poor fool had no clue what he was in store for as he invoked Silvanus and attempted to bind his will. Silvanus spared him a distasteful glare that onw would give a maggot before raising the man up by his neck. In a futile attempt to save his own skin, the minister said that his Queen was the one that ordered his summoning. Having nothing better to do, Silvanus played along and went with the man to meet this so called 'Queen'.






The guards that attempted to rush at him as they approached the Queen's quarters were quickly disposed of before she decided to call her men off. The shaking minister proceeded to ramble about how Silvanus had come into being and the Queen disregarded him, saying that Silvanus was free to have the man's soul for going behind her back on such serious matters. Her concise judgement intrigued him and he chose to stay in this world longer, he offered the Queen the contract of summoning in exchange for protecting London from other night crawlers and a safe place to feed without killing. humans. She agreed to the terms and also asked him to perform in theatres due to his charm and foreign features that would surely draw more people in. The last part of the agreement was that he would join a certain literature club to ensure that he would be under a careful eye and to help the others in dealing with occult/supernatural crimes.

 

[Cinderlily]

Name: Lady Emmaline Alice Van Helsing (Friends call her Emma)

Age: 31

Gender: Female

Species: Human

Occupation: Antiquary

Height: 5'10

Appearance: Emma is a sturdy woman, tall and athletic. Her facial features are sharp and proud, the Van Helsing face. Her hair is jet black and goes to her mid back. The length annoys her as do the curls which tangle too easy. Her eyes are warm brown, her mother's eyes, but that is the only thing warm about her. Emma hardly ever smiles, she is almost always scowling or wearing a look of disdain. Her face always looks rather stern. Despite all this she is still beautiful.

Unusual marks: A hunting accident when she was thirteen, her first supernatural hunt, lead to her almost being mauled to death by a werewolf. Luckily her father killed the beast before it could bite her and Emma escaped with a wound to the neck and abdomen. Three long, jagged claw marks raking across each area.

Clothing style: Emma prioritizes comfort and practicality. If possible she would not wear dresses at all, preferring trousers above all else. But as society frowns upon she sticks to dresses that don't restrict her movement, no corsets or tight skirts, and shoes that allow for her to take off at a moments notice, she of course always has a weapon or two concealed on her person at any time. She saves her most fashionable and fancy clothing for special events and occasions, though she is loathe to wear them. Still she understands that a woman of her position is expected to look and behave a certain way.

When hunting or travelling she wears comfortable trousers, sturdy boots and a simple blouse. She keeps a gun holstered to her side and a few knives tucked away for good measure. She wears a black leather coat and ties her hair back.

For her tenth birthday her father gave her a crucifix that belonged to his mother, her grandmother. Emma always carried it with her.

Species description: Emma looks like your average adult human female. Nothing of much interest.

Strengths: Being born into a family of legendary monster hunters has it's perks. Emma was trained in hand to hand combat since the age of five as well as weapons mastery. She has excellent eyesight, good aim and steady hands all of which make her a good marksman. Her physique is sleek and athletic and her physical strength is formidable. She has a high pain tolerance and has shown to be very resilient. Emma is confident and in control of herself, she has an unwavering faith in her abilities that has gotten her through very dark times in her life. She is very intelligent, well travelled, well spoken and well read.

Weaknesses: Sometimes her confidence gives way to cockiness that, on more than one occasion, has gotten her into trouble. Though she may appear to be level headed that is just a mask that hides brashness and rage that often blinds her when it is vital to pay attention to her surroundings. She can never admit when she is wrong. Stubborn to a fault, Emma doesn't allow herself to rest, even when she needs to. The phrase "taking it easy" is foreign to her. Often she works herself until she collapses. She seems to be allergic to asking for help, which some might see as her not being a team player but is really a deep seated need to prove herself.

Personality: Emma has a rather cold demeanour. This isn't to say she is uncaring; she can be remarkably kind when it counts. She is very stern and has a very low tolerance for misbehavior and idiots. She is very respectful towards those who have proven themselves worthy of her respect such is the case for Miss Stoker and the other members of the literature club. Her temper is one of her greatest hindrances, her fuse is short and she especially hates it when people tell her what she can and cannot do. One of her more endearing qualities is her curiosity which goes hand in hand with a thirst for knowledge. She suffers from insomnia.

Virtues:
+ Intelligent
+ Loyal
+ Will protect her friends and family at any cost.
+ High social standing; connections
+ Knowledgeable

Vices:
- Vengeful
- Short fuse
- Refuses to rest
- Doesn't take well to criticism
- Unable to ask for help
- Inferiority complex

History: Emma is the youngest child and only daughter of Lord Edward Alexander Van Helsing and Lady Pauline Mary Alice Van Helsing (neé Hare) She has three older brothers. Growing up her mother tried to teach her to be a proper Lady, urging her to be sociable and polite. This didn't interest Emma. She was drawn more to the monster hunter side of her family and learning about the outside world. Despite being a girl and much younger than her brothers, she soon overtook them in lessons and physical capability. They told her that the supernatural world was no place for a woman so she became determined to prove them wrong. Which she did. When she was thirteen her father decided it was time to take her on to the field, only her. It was a simple hunt, a lone werewolf who wasn't particularly big or dangerous but was spooking the general public. Emma wasn't prepared enough and ended up being gravely injured, almost losing her life. Her father saved her before the beast could bite. This incident caused Edward to doubt whether she should be allowed to continue hunting. From then on Emma worked even harder.

When she was nineteen she came home to find her parents and brothers murdered as well as the staff on duty at the time. She searched the manor to no avail, the murderer was long gone. With no other relatives left she inherited the entire Van Helsing fortune and estate. She's never stopped looking for the entity that killed her family, which she believes to be supernatural. Overtime she developed an interest in unusual objects and antiques and started travelling all over the world in search of these items, amassing quite a collection over the years. Sometime during these years she became a member of Miss Stoker's Literature Club, offering them full access to her "antiques" room and armory.

She has just come back from a year long trip to Romania and will be taking a hiatus from any further travelling due to health reasons.

 

[archur]

Name: (Lilith), Phoebe Valentine, Valerie Bundt

Age: (7), 20, 23

Gender: Female

Species: (Mind Swallower) Human

Occupation: None, both are the lucky children of wealthy parents.

Appearance:

Spoiler: Appearance Inspiration

Valerie is a average sized girl, with long black hair, a sly smile, and a very petite, small, very fragile, body. This doesn't bode well for the things Lilith has planned for her, but beggars aren't choosers. Valerie since her recent possession by Lilith has had a few physical changes, such as gaining the black eyes with red pupils, but, also a set of pointed teeth, like that of a vampire. However, it's function isn't to draw blood, nor does Valerie require blood. This doesn't mean that she doesn't enjoy the metallic tang, but has no blood ingestion quota every few weeks to uphold an immortal lifespan or something along those lines.

Phoebe however, is noticeably smaller than Valerie, with curt light blonde hair, borderline comparison of ceramic white. She too has a very small frame, which Lilith despises, but also doesn't act to change via exercise, or excessive eating. She has to remain in character enough so she wouldn't rouse suspicion from the average folk, part of the reason why she's still alive. She, besides from the eyes, has very sharp teeth. Unnaturally so, and periodically, they fall out and are replaced by a new row of teeth, not unlike a shark. Because of this, Lilith has learned to keep Phoebe's mouth shut at almost all times, besides from when she needs to talk, or is let loose in the literature club.

After the reins were handed to Lilith, both girls are seen smiling more often than not. One could say they do so quite happily, but some may mistake that for a suspicious smile, which when question, leads to a dialogue of 'Oh, I was just thinking about the wonderful weather we're having today!', or something along the lines of that. But in reality, Lilith is smiling because she had just learned the secrets of who she just brushed past, and is ready to tell the world.

Height: 5’11, 5’6

Unusual Marks: Asides from otherwise uncharacteristic behavior for either girl, their eyes are of clear demonic origin, the sclera colored black, and the iris colored red, little symbols of hexes and other demonic wording to keep the minds of the original owner’s bodies repressed, and keep Lilith in control.

Clothing Style: Lilith prefers to dress her bodies in things more practical than anything particularly formal, besides when it of course suits the atmosphere to wear something incredibly over the top fanciful. Usually however, Lilith likes to clothe her bodies with dresses that free her legs, flat footed shoes, and above all else, sleeveless anything. And though she does garner a few sideways glances, she cares very little about what mortals might think of her, refusing to acknowledge even the littlest sign of disrespect from anybody, holding herselves almost haughtily in demeanor.

Species: Phoebe and Valerie are both normal, average human beings. Or at least, were.

Lilith however, is a ‘Mindswallower’. Aptly named, they are demons that once summoned, quickly inhabit the mind of the one(s) who have summoned it to the material plane. Really, there is no other purpose for the mindswallower to exist, other than to sow distrust and read and reap the minds of others.

Strengths: Being an infernal spawn of hell does have some perks. Firstly, due to the type of demon Lilith is, she is able to read the minds of others within only a few feet from her vessels, and even temporarily slip into their mind for minutes on end, their eyes sharing the same demonic qualities of her current vessels. Lilith is also a two bodied individual, she is able to speak to multiple people at once, or is even able to have somebody speak to one of her bodies, and have that message sent along to somebody else nearby her other body verbally, a very useful form a communication. The inhabitants of the two bodies is also a viable spellcaster, able to create illusions that trick two of the five senses, the eyes and ears, wonderful for concealing or distracting. She hasn't had much else training in the arts of magic, nor has that much of an interest in it besides what she finds immediately useful. Besides all of these things, the actual vessels she inhabits are quite wealthy, and are of some importance in upper class society, no thanks to the money inherited by their oh-so-suddenly deceased parents.

Weaknesses: Despite being an infernal spawn of hell, Lilith does not have complete control of her own bodies, as she stole them from already living beings, their consciousness being overwhelmed as they watch their own actions stolen from them, forced to watch as the mindswallower does whatever bidding they please. When Lilith does let free her vessels for however long the agreed time is, usually, the vessel cries, screams, or is reduced to speaking gibberish, or pleas for help from ‘the monster inside them’. This doesn’t really bode well for publicity when the child of a well known businessman suddenly starts screaming the second they leave the bathroom.

This, coupled with the fact that her vessels are mere humans, she finds that if she were to get into an actual fight, she would have a lot of trouble defending herself without the aid of magic or allies, to which she fully expects would leave her to die if it ever came to that.

Personality: Lilith is a aloof individual, seeking to do things that only serve herself, and solely herself. However, due to the contractual obligation she has with the literature club, she is forced to act on the well being of the other members of the literature club, or face dire consequences. Because of this, she complains quite frequently on doing things for the benefit of others, but will offer no complications when performing a task requested of her.

She can be very 'naughty', having a sick sense of humor (moderate for most demons), and delighting in seeing others uncomfortable or in pain. She can also be described (by the deranged) as playful, or by those who see her for what she truly is, bored. She has no true friends, and feels as if she will never find one, not that she minds, or particularly cares. The people that she works with are nothing more than her handlers to her, and that's just fine by her.

Virtues/Vices:
+Reasonable
+Wealthy
+Smooth talker
+Loyal
+Great at gathering information very, very quickly.

-Unfriendly
-Aloof
-(Darkly) Playful
-Uncaring
-Distrustful
-Untrustworthy
-Passive subjects her vessels to insanity

Background: Phoebe and Valerie were close friends. They went to the same school, had the same classes, their parents knew each other well, and soon enough, they had something of a strong relationship with each other. They grew up as snobbish young women, looking down upon those who didn't have as much money as they did, and being the children of some of the wealthiest families in London, it was quite easy to look down upon everybody.

It was one weekend, that the girls were out partying, shopping, the usual, that they stumbled upon a strange little shop that had just opened up on the corner. It was a dark little place, shoddy, stank of mold and other fungi. What was this place doing on their fancy strip? Why were they still there? Even they didn't know the answers to their own questions as they were entranced to a strange book. They bought it from the dusty old place, and the second they turned to leave, the place was gone, just another abandoned building amid some of the other closed places.

It was until they got home, and decided to flip to a random page that they were in for a treat. A strange page was in a language they hadn't seen before, and they decided to say it aloud to each other, as if to correct each other on the words being said, as they often did with each other. But as they read, they felt something was off. And with each word uttered, they felt more and more complacent to sit, and keep reading, their legs becoming numb as they became bewitched, soon, their fingers dropped the book, and the words came out on their own, until finally, their lips lost feeling. The only thing either girl could comprehend was seeing themselves raise their hands simultaneously, before they both got up to inspect themselves in the mirror, to see horrible disfigurements to their beautiful forms, and a wide, unnerving grin on each of their faces.

Valerie cried, and as the tears fell down her smiling face, Phoebe went downstairs to the kitchen was to end their parents in an elaborate fashion.

Shortly after the murder of both families, Miss Stoker's Literature Club found themselves dealing with a demon. After some words were exchanged, Lilith, as the demon inhabiting the bodies of Phoebe and Valerie called herself, pleaded for her own existence, pledging herself through written demon pact to Miss Stoker's every command (with a list of addendums and other legal clarifications, as per a demon pact would be.), and who could deny such a powerful ally, at the cost of two otherwise worthless snobs?

And thus, Lilith became a part of the Literature club, always under close watch by it's members.

 

[Shame]

Name: Magdalina “Dalina” Lupei
Age: Twenty-four (Estimated to actually be about two hundred and sixty)
Gender: Female
Species: Her species has many names. Most often they are called Vilas, Samodivas, or Iele.
Occupation: Courtesan
Appearance:
Dalina is an average woman of her species, though there is nothing average about her. She is a slender woman with an hourglass figure and a waist so small a man can easily wrap his hands around it. She is hard to miss, standing at the towering height of six foot, with her amber eyes that seem to pierce through your soul. Her skin is alabaster white, seeming to almost glow (or is it really?), and her golden hair falls in loose waves to her curvy hips.
Height: An even six foot
Unusual Marks: Parallel scars run the length of her back where her wings once were.
Clothing Style:
If Dalina had her way, she would wear the sparkling white dresses or blue robes of her people every day. But she has been told that they are “too revealing and inappropriate for a woman of high society”, even if she is a courtesan. However, her suitors keep her well supplied with the latest fashions from all over the world. She has no shortage of magnificent gowns, hats, gloves, or jewels. When she goes on missions, though, no one can stop her from wearing her blue robes or white dresses. She claims they are magical and transform with her when she shapeshifts. No one knows if she is telling the truth.
Species Description:
An all-female species of Fae with Slavic and Romanian origins. They are ethereal beings, sprung into existence with the appearance and mentality of young women. They reside in clouds, trees, or around rivers, springs, mounds, and hills. Usually, they take on an immaterial form, dancing in groups (of three or seven) in the skies and forests with their beautiful, powerful wings. When they do choose to interact with humans, they are described as beautiful, tall, slender women with pale, glowing skin, fiery eyes, and long, loose, blonde hair. Their voice is as beautiful as the rest of them, and acts as the channel for their powers.
They are known for their frivolous personalities, rarely serious and constantly flirting. Despite their feminine charms, they are fierce warriors. The earth is said to shake when they do battle. Their tempers are ferocious and will inflict terrible punishments for those that illicit their need for revenge.
Strengths:
+ Her kind has an affinity for the elements, each one mastering one of the four.
+ They are neigh immortal beings, incapable of aging or getting sick ordinarily.
+ Besides their transparent and human forms, they can also transform into a swan, snake, falcon, wolf, or horse.
+ Mortals who gaze upon her kind fall instantly in love (or at least in lust), and some have been known to take their own lives at the sight of such beauty. However, this species’ power isn’t just that they are beautiful. They can absorb their lover’s life energy and they subsequently become obsessed with the ethereal maiden, chasing her relentlessly, unable to think of anything else.
+ Even in their human form, they retain their godlike strength, endurance, and senses.
Weaknesses:
- Mugwart and garlic ward against her kind. They cannot go within twenty feet of the plants.
- If their wings are cut from their body, they become stuck in their human form, unable to steal away life energy from their lovers. They cannot retain the human form for longer than a human can live without the use of the stolen life energy to preserve it. This makes them basically mortal, able to die from wounds or “old age”.
- If their hair is cut, they perish. Luckily for them, their hair can only be cut by silver shears rubbed with graveyard soil.
- Their voice is the source of their powers. Render them unable to sing, they cannot summon their element nor drain life energy.
- Very noticeable, always. A beautiful, ethereal maiden is pretty hard to ignore.
Personality:
Dalina has the reputation of a party girl. Always up for a good time, always cheerful, kind of vapid, vain and materialistic. She is always in the latest fashions, always at the best social events, always with the most famous people. This is how society knows her, but it is a carefully constructed image. She does everything possible to maintain this image. She hardly has any rumors spread about her, and even manages to keep in the good graces of her suitors’ wives. She is well liked and well wanted, able to draw a crowd to any venue she is spotted at. She knows all the ins and outs of the social scene.
Despite her appearance, she is very intelligent, though her connections help a lot. She has a one track mind, unchanging, and will focus all of her attention on only one thing at a time, letting nothing derail her. This is especially true in relation to revenge. She will stop at nothing until she feels that the offending party has received an equal punishment to their offense. However, that being said, she is, by her kind’s standards, very easy going and slow to anger, though this anger is more akin to unbridled rage. She is known to forget that humans aren’t inanimate objects – that they have feelings and can be injured or hurt. This doesn’t mean she wishes them any harm, it’s just that sometimes she accidentally puts them in dangerous situations. This also extends to herself and her rather new mortal body when she frequently puts herself in harm’s way for another’s sake. She is also easily swayed by sweets, her greatest weakness.
Virtues/Vices:
+ Easy going
+ Intelligent
+ Well connected
+ Focused
+ Caring/ Loyal

- One track mind
- Unbridled rage
- Vindictive
- Massive sweet tooth
- Forgets that humans aren’t immortal
History:
Before she met him, Dalina enjoyed the carefree life with her sisters. She mostly stayed among the clouds in her wispy form, preferring not to interfere with the mortals below. Then, one day, as she peered down below from her place in the sky, her eyes found him. To this day, she can’t quite say what drew her to him. He wasn’t the most handsome fellow she had seen. Maybe it was the way he carried himself, confidant and tall. But, she fell in love with him, a strict taboo among her kind. Mortals change too often, love too frequently, love too brightly, trying to soak up all experiences in their short lifetime. Dalina listened, at first anyway, watching him day after day from the clouds. She finally resolved to meet him in person. She took on her human form and flew down on her beautiful, honey wings. It could be said that he fell in love with her, too. Every day, they were never apart, talking and laughing, but just never close enough to kiss. Then, one day, he took her to an inn and filled her with her favorite round cakes until she was full. He took her up to a room and he took something special from her. When she awoke the next morning, or maybe it was even the morning after that, she was in immense pain. Her gorgeous wings had been cut away and stolen. A storm raged through Romania that day. The ground shook, wildfires ravaged, tornados formed, the Black Sea swelled. Her sisters mourned her mortality. She plotted revenge. She set off to find him, but hit every dead end. The name he had given her was a fake. She knew very little of the human world. Her body now wanted food and sleep. But when she thought it was her end, in Italy, she met Church. At first, she was weary to trust him, but he took her under his wing. He gave her his last name, a place to stay, helped her find her start as a courtesan, and even introduced her to the Literary Club. Now, two years later, she has become one of the most famous courtesans of the time, with dukes, marquises, and earls (and even a prince and emperor if rumor serves true) as her lovers, and is a new addition to the Literary Club. She uses the influential people of her life to track down her wings and the one who took them.

 

[Shame]

Name: Church Lupei
Age: Appears young, perhaps around twenty-two or three. Actually over a thousand years old.
Gender: Male
Species: Hellhound
Occupation: Both the famous gentleman thief Arsen and the Scotland Yard detective on the case
Appearance:
As a human, Church is a rather intimidating young man, easily towering over all of his friends and colleagues. His muscular form is not easily hidden and his gold eyes seem hard and piercing. His skin is a dark, sun-kissed color, not making him appear less intimidating among the Londoners that prize pale skin above all. His hair is also rather unusual, a black at the roots but extending to white to the tips. It is cut in such a way that his right side hardly reaches past his ear while the left extends past his shoulders. He hides this in public by tying it in a strategic ponytail.
In his dog form, he is massive and intimidating, looking more like a wolf than a dog. His eyes are a bright red and his fur is as black as coal. He has shaggy fur, tall ears, a long tail, and huge paws. He stands taller than an average human’s waist. However, while he does look frightening, it is obvious he is a dog and could be argued to be normal and not of supernatural kind.

Spoiler: Dog Form

In his Hellhound form, however, normalcy goes out the window. He grows to the size of a horse and his fur seems to move and drip like oil, but never leaves behind any such mark. He now has four eyes, which glow like burning embers. This burning glow extends to his mouth and the pads of his paws, and seems to also come from under his oily fur. In this form, he leaves behind burned pawprints.

Spoiler: Hellhound Form

Height: 6’3”
Unusual Marks: Around his neck is a strange band that looks to be tattooed to his skin. This band is a sort of collar, marking that he is tied to a person or place.
Clothing Style:
While acting as his Detective persona in public, he wears the clothing of a stylish gentleman. Usually he is seen in a black town coat with only the top button fastened, revealing a black waistcoat and a silver pocket watch. The only thing to be seen of his white shirt is his low cuffs and high collar, complete with a red or gold tie. The tall boots he always wears are concealed by his loose black trousers. He keeps his long hair, which is often the butt of jokes among his colleagues, tied back into a ponytail that covers his pierced ears.
When in the privacy of his home, acting as the thief Arsen, or out on missions, his clothing is a lot more ostentatious and a lot more, well, him. His tall boots with their gold embellishments are on display, his tighter trousers tucked into them. A red fabric belt with beads of silver encircle his waist, at the end of his grey shirt. Short black gloves hide his hands and a flamboyant coat completes the ensemble with its high collar and golden accents. In this more relaxed form, he keeps his hair down and his necklace, a strange thing with black stones, is prominently on display.
Species Description:
Hellhounds are demonic dogs, associated with death, graveyards, and the underworld. They are said to be as black as coal and smell of burning brimstone. Their eyes are a deep, bright red like burning coal and their teeth are razor sharp. They sometimes appear to have fire-based abilities and appearance, tending to leave behind a burned area wherever they go. According to legend, seeing one leads to a person’s death. In other tales, they are considered benevolent, in a role of protector rather than a portent of ill omen. They are often assigned to guard entrances to the underworld, or undertake other duties related to the afterlife or supernatural. These include hunting lost souls, guarding a supernatural treasure, preventing an untimely death, or guarding the secrecy of supernatural creatures from the world. Their howls are often an omen of misfortune and a key on how close they are. If their howls or growls are loud, they are far, but as they draw nearer, they grow softer and softer.
Strengths:
Hellhounds have the ability to become invisible.
They can never get lost. They always know the way, even if they have never been to a place before. They can also find anything or anyone by smell if familiar with the scent.
Can sense approaching death.
Have super strength, senses, stamina, and speed.
Their teeth are said to be able to cut through anything.
Live extended lifespans and are notoriously hard to kill, even beheading them will not make them falter.
They can command hellfire.

Weaknesses:
While invisible, they can be seen by those that are close to death (whether they themselves will die soon, someone they know will die soon, or they will witness a death). As such, undead creatures can see them always.
Bound to one person or place unless banished by the person or the master of the place. They can also be banished by a priest or similar holy man. If banished, they will never be seen or heard from again. It is unsure if this kills them.
The smell of sulphur always accompanies them in both dog forms.
Absolutely cannot get wet in either dog form. Will wash away as though made of oil.
If they catch the scent of the plant Devil’s Shoestring, they cannot walk until they can no longer smell it.
Cannot cross a salt line.
Must return to the spot or person they are bound to after a certain amount of time or they will vanish.

Personality: Church seems to be this intimidating, serious young man. In reality, he is a lot like a dog in personality. He acts as the mom friend of the group. He is extremely protective and affectionate, even at the most ridiculous and inopportune times. He worries often about the affairs of others, but is rather neglectful about himself. He bears no grudges against affairs concerning himself. However, if one were to harm someone he cares about, that is a completely other story. He is loyal to a t, ready to return again and again to those he cares about after being kicked. He believes in second, third, and sometimes even fourth chances. He has very good intuition about other people, able to decide in an instant whether he likes someone or not. He cannot bear for someone to be sad and will do everything he can to cheer someone up. He becomes distracted easily, much to his annoyance, as he is still very much a dog.
Virtues/Vices:
+ Fiercely Loyal
+ Skilled in thievery
+ Dedicated
+ Affectionate
+ Intuitive

- Over-protective
- Easily distracted
- No personal space, ever
- Worrier
- Very little self-regard
History:
The Hellhound came to be in London at what was at the time a church. It is said that he appeared after a dog was buried in the graveyard to become a guardian of souls. He haunted the site, never able to stray far before he had to return. For a while, he didn’t know what his role was, only that people screamed at the sight of him and that shortly after they did see him, there was a new addition to the graveyard. He didn’t like being this omen of death and misfortune so he sought to become a protector. After this decision, the distance he could stray and the time he could stay away grew. He took to his new role, guiding people away from danger, protecting them from robbers, and saving those whose time was not yet up. He became a comfort to those with the mark of death on them, trying to give them a peaceful death. He hunted villains and forewarned with his barks of the incoming storms. But, as time went on, the little church that was his home received fewer and fewer patrons as those that did attend passed away and potential patrons went to the newer, grander churches and cathedrals. Then, one day, a most important visitor stepped foot on the hollowed grounds and called for him. No one had ever called to him before and, curious, he came. The visitor greeted him and thanked him for his services, but said that his precious domain was to be torn down to make way for a mansion. A sorrowful howl could be heard throughout London, and even, some say, throughout England. The hellhound was going to lose his home and with no master, what would become of him? He was tied to this place. The visitor consoled him, telling him that she was the owner of this land. If he would assist her, she could make it so that he could stay. A contract of sorts was formed and the Hellhound, now called by his new mistress Church Lupei, had a collar around his neck. He was to assist the future resident of this mansion in protecting London’s mortal citizens. It wasn’t long before Miss Stoker moved in and he became like a loyal dog to her, set to protect her and the other members of the Literary Club. After his contract with his new mistress, he found that he could now go throughout England and to neighboring countries so long as he returned to the mansion after a certain period of time. He took on human form and as asked of him by his mistress, became both a thief and a detective, hunting and securing items of supernatural powers from unwitting or dangerous owners. While in Italy, he came across the despairing Dalina. He took her under his wing, gave her a place to stay, gave her a start as a courtesan, and even introduced her to the Literary Club.