Nothing is True. Everything is Connected.
Category: <span>Character Introduction</span>

Sylum Inspiration: Ezio Auditore da Firenze

Vampire Council Hunter: Ezio Auditore da Firenze

(You might want to go ahead and check the bio on the wiki … just sayin’)

Ezio was born in Florence on 24 June 1459, as the second son of Giovanni and Maria Auditore. He appeared to be stillborn, but, after some words of encouragement from his father, he began to cry, leading his father to call him a “fighter”.

Up until the age of 17, Ezio lived a life of luxury amidst the members of the Florentine noble class; he was apprenticed to the renowned banker Giovanni Tornabuoni, who worked alongside Giovanni Auditore’s banking business, but was all the while unaware of his father’s allegiance to the Assassin Order.

In the year 1476, Ezio, his older brother Federico, and friends of the family fought with Vieri de’ Pazzi and his gang. Just before the fight, Ezio received a gash down across his lip – caused by Vieri throwing a stone – which would scar, and remain for the rest of his life.

Ezio’s mother introduced him to an artist that she patronized, Leonardo da Vinci. On the walk home, Leonardo struck up a conversation, beginning a friendship between the two men that would last throughout their later lives.

Ezio returned home after a errand for his father to find his home ransacked, his father and brothers missing, and his mother and sister dead. Learning that city guards had been ordered to arrest Giovanni and all of his sons, Ezio made his way to the Palazzo della Signoria, where his father and brothers were being held.

Climbing the building and speaking to his father through his cell window, Ezio was instructed to find a chest hidden in his office, take everything out of it, and deliver a sealed letter to Uberto Alberti, Gonfaloniere of Florence and a close friend of the Auditore family. Doing so, Ezio found his father’s Assassin robes, a broken Hidden Blade, and a letter containing details of a plot against the city of Florence and the Auditore family.

Ezio brought the incriminating documents to Uberto, and was assured that his family would be released the following day, when the information was presented as evidence of their innocence. Ezio then traveled to the home of Cristina Vespucci, where he spent the night once again.

The next day, Ezio returned to the Piazza della Signoria to find Uberto presiding over the execution of his family.

Giovanni declared their innocence, citing the information given to Uberto as evidence, but the Gonfaloniere denied any knowledge of such information. Ezio shouted that Uberto was lying, but his efforts to prevent the execution were ultimately in vain.

Ezio could only watch helplessly from the crowd as his father and brothers were hanged. When he attempted to charge the gallows to avenge his kin, Uberto ordered the city guards to kill him.

Ezio fled the Piazza della Signoria and sought shelter in a brothel run by the sister of the Auditore housemaid, a courtesan named Heather. He then fled Florence to his Uncle Mario’s home Monteriggioni. It was here he learned about the Assassin Order, and his heritage.

After learning of his heritage from his uncle, Mario Auditore, Ezio began his Assassin training and set about on his quest for vengeance against the Templar Order, and their Grand Master, Rodrigo Borgia, who had ordered the execution of his kin.

During his travels, Ezio managed to not only unite the pages of the Codex, written by Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad, Mentor of the Levantine Assassins, but also to save the cities of Florence, Venice, and Rome from Templar rule.

It was in Venice he discovered about Vampires.

Sylum Inspiration: Shao Jun

Shogun Hunter: Shao Jun

Jun was born into imperial captivity and was raised to become a concubine in the Forbidden City during China’s Ming dynasty, under the lackluster rule of Emperor Zhengde.

At first she was one of the lower ranking concubines who hoped to become Empress, a wife of the Emperor. To this effect, Jun was taught the traditional arts displayed by the ladies of the imperial court, such as embroidery, singing and reading, but showed exceptional talent for dance and music early on.

As a child, Jun witnessed Liu Jin’s execution and torture with the Ling Chi technique (“slow slicing”, or death by a thousand cuts), a punishment for betraying the Emperor, which she would never forget.

Zhengde, known for his juvenile nature and lack of interest in the urgent matters that concerned his country, regarded Jun highly among his concubines after she had reached her teenage years, for her agility and cat-like discretion fascinated him. Living a decade of her life under Zhengde, he often used her as his spy or thief and to stage jokes against eunuchs and ministers.

By the age of thirteen, Shao Jun had risen to the rank of Imperial Concubine through her talents and Zhengde’s affection. Along with her best friend Zhang, she was poised to become Imperial Consort or even Empress. Jun always won her friendly competition with Zhang using her cat-like grace and talents against her foot-bound and breast-bound friend. Even then, Jun had never visited her Emperor’s bed who preferred the intimate company of prostitutes and other ladies he invited in.

When Zhengde fancied himself as a warlord and went to fight the Mongols in the north, Shao Jun was one of the concubines he took with him. Jun traveled with him to his expeditions in various places and met many foreigners; to serve mostly as his spy, and finally, for his personal leisure.

However, after Zhengde’s death in April 1521, when Shao Jun was sixteen, the royal ministers fell into disarray and bickered over who should succeed the heir-less Zhengde; Jun realized that her opportunities to becoming an Imperial Consort would be lost, unless the new ruler took a liking to her. She used her spying talents to find a way to maintain her Imperial Concubine priveleges, and uncovered a secret war between the Tigers which were working for the Templar Order and a Brotherhood of Assassins. Soon, Jun fathomed that the Tigers were plotting to control China by using their power to place their puppet on the throne. She saw a chance for freedom in the Assassins and since the Tigers already controlled the most influential people in the court, she decided to contact the Assassin Order through Wang Yangming and joined them. Shao Jun was rescued along with several other concubines after the Assassins broke into the royal palace.

Years after her rescue, Jun and her Mentor decided to save the remaining concubines whom she had grown up with. After breaking into the Imperial Palace, Jun discovered that most of her friends had been tortured and killed through the use of Ling Chi, by order of Zhengde’s cousin and successor, Jiajing. Jun and her Mentor then fled the palace.

Before leaving, Shao Jun took the incredible risk of infiltrating the Forbidden City to free her friend Zhang. Although she knew the place by heart, the eunuch guards would have slaughtered her if she’d been caught. Fortunately, the level of security was lower than usual for Jiajing was often away in his own private palaces. Jun found Zhang and was astonished to hear that she wanted to stay, even if the Emperor was a brutal man. Zhang was lucky enough to please him and was now the Imperial Consort. She told her old friend to leave in peace.

Jiajing sought to detain and execute any opposition or possible threats against his rule. Shao Jun could only flee for her life.

Isolated, Shao Jun decided to leave the country in order to seek the help of Italian Mentor Ezio Auditore. She came up on the Villa outside Rome, where she was confronted by two men, demanding to know why she was there. She explained her story, and how the few Assassins that were in China were now destroyed. She sought training to seek revenge against those that were hurting her people.

She later discovered the companion was Nicolaus Meridius, a fellow Assassin. She stayed at the Villa for a few weeks, recouping from her journey. Ezio came to her to tell her she could travel with him, he knew a place to go. She was smart enough to let Ezio and Nico have their farewells without her presence.

Ezio and her traveled to Masyaf.

The arrived in the middle of the battle. Determined to show her skill, Ezio pushed her to the side told her to stay and strode into the middle of it. She knew then – he was the one that could train her.

She ended up Trained at Masyaf, holding her own against men who felt that a woman couldn’t do the job. It was Tamara that encouraged her, and Dastan laughed as she held her own against the ‘bigger’ men.

Before she left to go back to China she requested Ezio Turn her.

Sylum Inspiration: Aveline de Grandpré

Sylum Hunter: Aveline de Grandpré

 

Aveline was born in New Orleans on 20 June 1747 to Philippe de Grandpré and his African placée bride, Jeanne. Granted freedom along with her mother at birth, Aveline grew up in a caring and considerate environment, protected by her father’s wealth and influence within the city. However, when her father’s business began to suffer, he married Madeleine de L’Isle, the daughter of one of his investors, in 1752.

(Dilios Note: Rumor has it that her grandmother is Annemarie, famed Pirate who sailed with Captain Jack Sparrow)

While this act put a strain on the relationship between her parents, both Aveline and her mother Jeanne were permitted to stay at the de Grandpré mansion, with Madeleine becoming responsible for the young girl’s education.

Aveline’s carefree life as a youth was cut short two years later, when Jeanne inexplicably vanished, leaving a void in the girl’s life. Despite the fact that Madeleine quickly adopted the role of doting stepmother, Aveline continued to be troubled by the loss of her mother. As a result, she frequently had nightmares about the events surrounding Jeanne’s disappearance.

Simultaneously, Aveline’s feelings and observations regarding the prevailing contrasts present within her city eventually spurred her into action. In 1759, she attempted to free a slave, but was caught in the act and set upon by sailors employed by the slave’s owner. Thanks to an intervention from Nicolaus Meridius, Aveline and the slave managed to escape unharmed. Deciding her commitment to freedom and justice was beyond compare, Nicolaus took Aveline under his wing.

Following a few months of intense training, Aveline would act as Nicolaus agent in New Orleans, using her skills to help people in need and rid Louisiana of the Templars.

Her first assignment under Nico, was to locate and find Shay Patrick Cormac, who had come to New Orleans specific to have a safe haven for Templars. They discovered that Shay was working with Governor d’Abbadie, who was determined to keep the city and providence under French Templar control.

Between the two of them, they removed the Templar influence.

She discovered his nature when, she found him with Warrick. Upset at first, at hypocrisy she was seeing, she confronted him, only to find herself faced with the Vampire. He explained who he was, and that the man she saw was Warrick, his Mate.

Seeing great potential in her, Nicolaus knew that she would need further training. In 1769 he sent her to Masyaf, along with a letter and trinket for Dastan and Altaïr.

Aveline proved her skills by taking on novices being trained. Altaïr taking Nicolaus word, set out to train her.

She learned much in Masyaf, became fast friends with Tamara.

It was her work, that established a network of woman assassins.

Aveline returned to New Orleans in 1775, and discovered Nicolaus was in New York. She traveled up to the city, to find him.

It was here she met Connor Kenway, and worked with him in dealing with Templars roaming the Eastern Seaboard.

She found Nicolaus in 1776, commanding troops. Impressed by his skills as an Assassin, a General, and the fact he had a black Mate, she requested he Turn her.

Sylum Inspiration: Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad

Medjai Hunter: Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad

Altaïr was born to Assassin parents: a Christian mother, and a Muslim father, Umar.

While Maud died in childbirth, Umar was executed by the Saracens during the First siege of Masyaf in 1176, in retribution for him killing a Saracen nobleman. Altaïr frantically called out to his father before the execution, but was prevented from seeing his father’s death by Ahmad Sofian, the Assassin who had revealed Umar’s name to the Saracens under torture. Crushed by guilt over Umar’s death, he infiltrated Altaïr ‘s quarters some time later, apologized to Altaïr for his weakness, and committed suicide with a dagger.

Altaïr ran to Al Mualim’s quarters with haste, informing him of what had occurred. Al Mualim told Altaïr not to disclose anything about the incident to anyone – not even to Ahmad’s son Abbas, who would be shamed by the truth of his father’s death. Altaïr considered Al Mualim as more of a father figure than his own biological father, though he was aware that Al Mualim’s love was “weak and dishonest,” and agreed to do as the Mentor commanded. Altaïr and Abbas joined the Order as novices soon after, grew up together and became good friends, always at each other’s side.

One day, after noticing Abbas’ continued grief over his father’s death, Altaïr told him the truth in an effort to console him. Upon hearing it, Abbas turned over in his bed, not saying a word. The following day, the two didn’t speak to each other until Abbas asked their combat instructor Labib if they could fight with real swords, instead of the wooden practice ones. It was then that Abbas revealed his hatred of Altaïr, believing he lied about Ahmad, before attacking him in a rage.

As the two grappled, Abbas held his knife to Altaïr’s throat and yelled that Altaïr had lied about Abbas’ father to shame him. The commotion caught the attention of the other Assassins, the villagers and Al Mualim himself. Trying to quell Abbas’ anger, Altaïr falsely admitted that he had lied, and the two were taken to Masyaf’s dungeon. There they spent a month in confinement before resuming their training. With his crimes deemed more severe, Abbas was forced by Al Mualim to spend an extra year in training, whilst Altaïr graduated to the rank of Assassin.

By the following year, the Holy Land was in the midst of war. In early 1191, Altaïr and his comrades Malik and Kadar Al-Sayf were tasked with retrieving an artifact from the Templars in the Jerusalem Vault beneath the remains of Solomon’s Temple. While progressing through the catacombs, Altaïr broke the first tenet of the Assassin’s Creed by killing an innocent man in their path. Malik admonished Altaïr for his recklessness, but Altaïr arrogantly dismissed him.

Upon seeing the archenemy of his Order, Robert de Sable, Altaïr broke the second tenet of the Creed by confronting his enemy directly. Attempting to openly slay the Grand Master, Altaïr was easily thwarted and thrown from the temple, leaving Malik and Kadar alone with the Templars. Altaïr escaped from the temple and returned to Masyaf to report his failure to the Order.

Once the attack was over, the matter of Altaïr ‘s actions in Solomon’s Temple was addressed once again. It was decreed that in breaking all three tenets of the Creed—as his actions brought the Templars to Masyaf and endangered the Brotherhood Altaïr was marked as a traitor to the Assassins. After declaring his judgement to the entire Order, Al Mualim stabbed Altaïr in the stomach with a dagger.

Altaïr awoke from his “sleep of the dead” and questioned Al Mualim about his survival, with the Mentor answering that Altaïr had only seen what he had wanted him to see. He then stripped Altaïr of his rank and possessions before offering him a chance at redemption, tasking him with hunting down the traitor within Masyaf who had allowed the Templars entrance. Once Altaïr successfully completed the mission, he returned to Al Mualim and was rewarded with the restoration of his Hidden Blade and sword. An official member of the Order once again, Altaïr was offered a trade: assassinate nine men from the ranks of both Saracens and Crusaders, taking their lives in exchange for his own.

Altaïr was able to assassinate the first eight and discovered that his last target was Robert himself. He made his way back to Jerusalem where he met Robert. However, as he removed the helmet of the Templar, he found out that he had not faced Robert but a girl. He allowed her to live and she told him that Robert had made his way to Arsuf. Altaïr followed and finally killed Robert, who revealed that Al Mualim was actually a Templar. Altaïr returned to Masyaf, where Al Mualim confirmed what Robert had said. Altaïr , aided by a number of other Assassins, fought his way to Al Mualim, who had used to the artifact from Solomon’s Temple to enslave the people of Masyaf. Altaïr and his mentor battled each other and Altaïr finally killed him, taking his place as mentor.

(Dilios Note: The artifact is a well kept secret I’ve heard it called ‘the apple’ from time to time but I have not seen it or can I verify it’s existence)

It was at this time Dastan arrived back at Masyaf wondering what had happened. Altaïr told him of Al Mualim’s betrayal. Dastan settled back into Masyaf, and with Altaïr ‘s help rebuilt the Assassin Order.

He set out to find Maria Thorpe ,the woman who had disguised herself as Robert de Sable, and bring her back with him. When returning to Masyaf he married her and in time she bore him a son Darim. A few years later she became pregnant with Sef. It was during her pregnancy that she lashed out at Altaïr . He missed his footing and fell off one of the towers, landing several feet below.

Dastan knew the Assassin Order needed Altaïr, and Turned him.

Sylum Inspiration: Jayadeep Mir

Sanguan Vitae: Hunter (India)

(In honor of Irrfan Khan)

Jayadeep doesn’t know anything about his birth father, and has vague memories of his mother who was always sad.  And as far as Jayadeep is concerned his father is Arbaaz Mir, the man who saved him from a life of slavery.

Arbaaz raised him since he was eight years old, making sure he had an education and a future.  He knew from a young age, that his ‘father’ was a Vampire, and had been introduced to Alexander The Great and his Mate.   He would sit at their feet and listen to many of their stories, learning history from the men who forged it.

It wasn’t until he was a teenager he understood the physical training Arbaaz had put him through.  He was introduced to Dastan, and told about the Assassins.

He knew then this is what he was destined to be.

When he was in his mid-twenties he was introduced to Ashoka.  The two had looked at each other and laughed.  Ashoka, had claimed him as family, though knew Jayadeep’s loyalty was to his father.

Azbaar understood how hatred could fester in oneself if one don’t look beyond the pain and hurt.  Jayadeep wanted the English to pay for what they did to his people, so to teach him a lesson he was sent to London to train with the Frye siblings.

He stared at the two of them in shock.  Jake had slapped him on the shoulder, welcoming him to the Rooks, while Evie had rolled her eyes and dared him to keep up.

In the ten years he spent with them, he learned more about life than he thought he would have.

It was during the fourth year of being in England a mission went to hell, and he had been mortally wounded.

Evie didn’t hesitate.

 

Sylum Inspiration: Evie Frye

Camelot: Hunter

After being Turned, Jacob and Evie were sent to Masyaf, and then to Egypt with Proximo.

It was there that they learned skills to enhance their natural fighting styles.

When they returned to London, they took over Nico and Sherlock’s job of protecting the City.  A few years later, Jayadeep was sent to them for training.  They thought it ironic, but took him in no less.  Evie knew the kid (despite the fact they were the same age) had a small crush on her, but she made sure he understood her preference didn’t lean towards men.  They ended up good friends.

Leading to her Turning him, when he was mortally wounded.

Evie was glad to have Guin in her life, not having had a woman’s influence since she was young.  The two became firm friends, and if ever needed, she guarded the Queen.

She also took to Galahad, the two becoming friends who enhanced each other’s youthfulness.

She knows Jacob stays more aloof to other Clan Members, his loyalty strictly for Nico, she can relate as she has a soft spot for her Sire.

Rumor has it she may have had a child before she was Turned, but this is only hearsay.

Sylum Inspiration: Arbaaz Mir

Sanguen Vitae: Hunter (India)

Arbaaz Mir was born in Kashmir in northwestern India during the early 19th century to a Muslim family. His home region was conquered by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire in 1819, leading to the death of numerous Muslims in Kashmir, including some of Arbaaz’s kin.  This led Arbaaz to grow up with a resentment towards Singh, considering him a cold-blooded killer.

His revenge led him to go after Singh only to be thwarted by the Assassins. He was taken from India and handed over to Dastan and Altaïr. Both saw potential in him, but also his anger.  They worked to train him, and in time they watched him grow into a steady Assassin.

Dastan escorted him back to India, hearing rumors about his old enemy, the Hassassin. When they arrived he discovered that Templars were using the British Government to influence the Maharaja so they could control the land and wealth.

Arbaaz had to face his own emotions when he came face to face with Singh.

He realized they were trying to poison the Maharaja, and knocked the tea out of his hand, instead of watching him die – but it was already too late.  The Templar escaped but Arbaaz stayed with the Singh, and told him he forgave him.

Ranjit smiled and died peacefully.

Arbaaz barely had time to react when the Templar returned.  He defected the blow, but ended up with a mortal wound before he gave the killing blow.

Dastan found him and gave him a new chance.

Sylum Inspiration: Jacob Frye

Camelot: Hunter

 

Jacob and Evie are fraternal twins.  They were born in Crawley, in 1868 AD.

Their parents moved to the City of London to find work and support their family.  When they were five years old, their mother died of illness, and at twelve, their father was killed in an industrial accident.

Jacob found a job to make sure his sister had food.  She worked right next to him however, refusing to leave him behind.  They supported each other fiercely, and fought anyone who got between them.  Their actions brought them connections with local street gangs who could protect them from the law and potential threats of a less than legal nature.

Jacob moved up the ranks of the fiercest gang, his direct approach and use of brass knuckles taking out all opponents, while Evie always got the ones who snuck out the back.

Fate intervened when they met Nico and Sherlock.  (Dilios Note: Not that I know the two of them were running through London… Nope, not me)

Nico saw potential in both of them. He offered them a chance, and a future.

The siblings took it.

Sylum Inspiration: John Grimm

Border: Hunter

 

John Grimm is the fraternal twin of Dr. Samantha Grimm. Their parents were geneticists and began teaching their children their trade at an early age. Early in their childhood their parents were killed in a tragic accident.  The siblings were outside in the playground, when an explosion ripped through the lab killing their parents.  John would never forget the screams of the people trapped inside. As a result of the accident, John and Sam were bounced around from foster home to foster home until their grandparents could finally get custody of them. Both have a knack for genetics, but Sam is the only one to follow this path. John decided he wanted nothing to do with the research that killed them and joined the military.

At the age of 18 he joined the Marines, quickly moving his way up the ranks and is recruited for the elite Rapid Response Tactical Squad. Where he met his commanding officer, Sarge, a man who would do anything to succeed. Although he hasn’t spoken with his sister in years, he kept up on all of her research and how she was doing. She was the one weak spot for the hardened Marine. He was tagged with the nickname ‘Reaper’ by his squad mates and quickly moved his way up to second in command of his unit.

In 1998 Sarge informed the squad of a special program they had been volunteered for.  It was supposed to make them faster and nearly invulnerable. This program was being operated by Donald Lydecker, head of the MANTICORE Corporation. After finding out what the experiment entailed, John decided that he didn’t want to take part in it, but was informed that refusing wasn’t an option. They held his sister over him as leverage and he reluctantly agreed to take part in the experiments in order to keep her safe. He was given different injections that allowed him to perform under various conditions. He was finally injected with something called Chromosome 24. Unfortunately, his body, like all others before him, began to reject the treatment after a few days. Lydecker ordered that he be Turned by a rogue vampire he had working for him because he didn’t want to lose one of his best test subjects.

Sylum Inspiration: Jason Doyle

Border: Hunter

Jason Doyle was born in 1802 to Pamela Winthrop and Sean Doyle, in Indiana. When he was twelve, a man named Chris Larabee arrived in town and became a farmhand on his parents’ farm. When he was nineteen, Doyle found out by accident that Larabee was a Vampire, and became a Chosen One for him. At the age of 31, after both his parents passed, he asked Chris to Turn him, because he was all the family Jason had left.

Sylum Inspiration: José Chavez

Border: Co-Leader

José’s mother was Navajo and father was from Mexico.  When he was young, his father disappeared, never to return, and his mother took him back to her people, where he learned about his Navajo heritage.  After they return, he was invited into the Medicine Man’s sweat lodge, and was told that one day he would meet a man who had survived death, and his life would be forfeit to him, but it would bring him eternity with his soulmate.  Soon after, his small village was destroyed by a band of Apache.  He survived the attack and was found by Mexican farmers, who took him to the nearest town.  José was given his father’s name and educated by the Catholic Church.

He ran away when he was sixteen, and spent years stealing food and money for shelter until he was caught by Tunstal.  The Englishman took him in and gave him a place to stay on the agreement he help worked the Ranch.  His life changed, the moment he met Josiah Scurlock and fell in love.  He didn’t know how to express his feelings to the other man, and over time he became content to be next to Josiah.

Fate soon found him riding with Billy the Kid and the Regulators.  As each day passed he felt the life the Medicine Man had described, slip  through his fingers.  He lost all hope when he watched Doc get shot down.  Wounded himself, he rode out into the desert to die in peace only to look up into the brilliant eyes of his soulmate.

Sylum Inspiration: Trinity Monroe

Border: Researcher

Trinity Monroe was born to Steve and Marie Monroe in 1963 in Santa Barbara, California. She grew up with a normal, happy childhood and did her undergrad at USC and her graduate work at UCLA.  She worked as a researcher and archivist at various museums, while having a second job as a part-time trainer in various types of martial arts, which she had been training in since she was in pre-school.

Her parents died at different times while she was in her twenties, so she was alone for some time, having been an only child. Then Thomas Anderson walked into her life. She agreed to date him and a couple of months after they started dating, he revealed that he was a Vampire and that she was his Mate. She agreed to be Turned and Bonded to him shortly thereafter.

Sylum Inspiration: Thomas Anderson

Border: Lead Hunter

 

Thomas Anderson was born in 1890 to John and Michelle Anderson. He grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and lost his parents to a house fire in 1895 while he was off visiting relatives. His uncle, unable to care for him along with his own seven children, sent him to live with his grandparents in London. He enlisted in the military in 1914 and was part of the African theatre in World War I. During these skirmishes, he befriended Morpheus, who Turned him when he was mortally wounded.

Sylum Inspiration: Michael Dundee

Oceania: Scientist

Michael Dundee has no idea who his father was. He was raised on the edge of town by his mother, who had been shipped to Australia because she was pregnant. She worked hard and he will always remember her smile.

She taught him to read and write. But mostly taught him to value himself and everyone. When she died, he set out to find where his place was in the world.

He traveled out to the Outback and found himself.

Dundee came back into town, and ended up meeting Max Cadbury. He liked the guy instantly, trusted him. Max returned the trust by letting him know about the truth of what he was and along with his companions.

It was this Michael knew he was destined for.