Sylum: Co-Leader

Born Warrick Calhoun in 1687 AD, in Port Royal, the third child in a family of seven. His father, William Calhoun a free black man, took his family to the small island of Jamaica to keep them free from the risk of slavery, but his hopes for his family were not to last long. William died from an unknown illness when Warrick was nine years old, leaving the family vulnerable.

Warrick watched as his older brother and sister were captured and sold into slavery, whilst he protected the youngsters, and saved his mother.

To avoid that fate himself, Warrick ran off and became a cabin boy on a Pirate ship, taking a berth on the Red Stallion on the eve of his tenth birthday.

He grew up to become a feared Pirate, under the tutelage of Captain Jericho Brown, for whom he became a valued and trusted First Mate. Upon tiring of the Pirate life, Brown ran off with a merchant’s daughter to settle down in Spain, leaving the ship to Warrick.

As Captain, Warrick became a well known Pirate Hunter, and a true gentleman of the sea. If a Pirate needed to be caught, Warrick was the one usually contracted for the job. He brought in every man he set out to claim bounty on. His friend and Quartermaster was James Brass, who would tell anyone he knew the Red Stallion better than her Captain.

While boarding a small merchant vessel in 1723, he found himself with more than mere treasure, for Fate had brought him face to face with Nicolaus Valerius Meridius.

(Dilios Note: recently rumors have started that the story of who Warrick is, has started to adjust and change … it would seem the pirate was hiding more than we all knew)

Sylum: Clan Leader

Yes I think everyone pretty much knows who Nico is :).  As we’re approaching Advent and the final of Clan War and intro of the rework of ‘Grave Danger’.  We thought be fun to highlight … those who started it all.

Born Nicolaus Valerius Meridius in 399 AD, Rome, Italy, youngest son of Vitus Crescentius Meridius, he was the younger brother to Artorius Flavius Meridius.

He followed in his brother’s footsteps and entered the Army, where his dedication and strategic mind moved him quickly up the ranks. At the age of eighteen he bought a Persian slave, Sofya, from the market and made her his wife. His father had at first forbid the match, but Sofya’s sweet nature and charming smile won him over. Julia, wife to his brother Artorius, took her in and taught her how to be a proper Roman wife. On their wedding night she became with child, much to the delight to the Meridius household since Julia had not yet been able to conceive.

Meridia was the first born daughter of Nicolaus Valerius Meridius and she was the apple of her father’s eye. She had her mother’s olive skin and eyes that would pierce your very soul. She had the household wrapped around her little finger and knew it.

Nico had gone to visit his father, leaving Sofya and Meridia at their villa in the city of Rome. As Nico and Artorius made the way back to Nico’s home, they heard shouts and saw smoke billowing into the sky. Fear clutching their hearts, they ran the rest of the way only to find the building engulfed in flames. Nico and Artorius moved to the back of the house, but the fire was hot and the smoke thick, but through it he could make out his wife’s body lying on the floor, and he could hear Meridia’s screams. It took all his brother’s strength to keep him from running into the burning home. He collapsed to his knees when his child’s cries stopped, and his own scream echoed through the surrounding buildings as the roof of the villa collapsed.

No one knew who had attacked his young wife. Rumors spread that people were angered that Nico had taken a Persian slave as a wife. Others said it was retribution for perceived past injustices.

Nico left Rome and returned to the Army with his brother, throwing himself into his career, hoping to forget the screams of his little girl, but it wasn’t long before tragedy struck the Meridius family again. Artorius was killed in battle, and upon hearing of his oldest son’s death, their father’s heart gave out and he followed his son and grandchild to Elysium.

Nico found himself Patriarch of the family Meridii, and he took Julia as his wife to maintain her ties with the Meridius line. They had a good, strong marriage. She gave him four children: Elena, Antonio, Gloria, and Theodosis. He lost Julia in childbirth with Theo, her loss a further devastation to him, for she had become a good wife and faithful friend. It was the companionship of his lover Razi, a former Gladiator, and his handful of children that made life joyous.

Two years later devastation hit the Meridius family once again. His military Second in Command, Marcus, consumed by anger and jealousy of Nico’s position and power, rode straight into the villa with troops. Razi fought by his Master’s side, only to be cut down along with the family tutor, Cyrus. Marcus slit Antonio and Gloria’s throats in front of Nico. As the soldiers Nico had once commanded beat him to the ground, he was forced to listen to Elena’s screams as she was beaten and raped. A young soldier, who was himself betrothed to Elena, died trying to save her. Their blood mingled as they laid dead at Nico’s feet.

Nico was stripped and crucified, with the bodies of his family laid out at his feet, and in one final act of defiance, Marcus stole Theo from his family to raise him as his own son.

Sylum: Member

Born into a Chosen Family, Don has grown up around Vampires. He’s had a heavy responsibility on him all his life, between being the son of a decorated Police Officer and a respected Chosen One. He followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Detective for the NYPD.

Though always a Chosen One, he hasn’t had full contact with either Sylum Clan and/or Tallikut Clan. It wasn’t until his friend and colleague Daniel Messer was attacked and Turned Without Consent that he was pulled into the inner workings of a Vampire Clan. Soon after Danny’s Turning Don was reunited with Hannibal King and informed he was the Hunter’s Mate.

Sylum: Hunter

The King family had a small farm just outside Lawrence, Kansas.   Hannibal’s father died when he was barely twelve, leaving him with his mother to run the farm.   It wasn’t a life he wanted, but he wouldn’t leave his mom.

When the war broke out, he stayed put despite the fact he wanted to fight for the Union.  He had never liked slavery, seeing some of the horror of it first hand, and even worse he despised traitors and as far as he was concerned the Confederates were traitors.

His mother begged him not to go, that she needed him there at the farm.  And also pointed out the fighting between the sections was bad enough at home.   So he stayed and worked to protect not only his mother’s farm, but those around him.

He watched in horror as Quantrill destroyed the town and killing all men of every age.  The only reason he had survived, was because a young black man had tossed him into a hay pile and ended up taking the shot meant for him.  The Raider shot at him, wounding him in the shoulder and leg, he played dead until they Raiders left the area.

Hannibal crawled out of the hay pile to find a young man with long hair, help the black man up, telling him they would get help from Lucinda.  He was happy to see that he was okay, later learning that the long haired man was James Hickok, Lucinda’s brother.  He had always like the Hickok’s, the woman had been good to his mother.

He recovered from his wounds, and fought more battles to protect the area.  When the war ended, he felt a sense of relief, only to tragically lose his mother a few years later.

Hannibal headed West, drifting from town to town, his skills with a gun improving over time.   He found himself facing off with some cattle rustlers, protecting the small ranches that were trying to survived.  He confronted them, and they attacked, and the only difference was they got back up after Hannibal shot them. Hannibal wasn’t sure if he was going to get out of the situation alive, and as he moved towards the back door he ran into another man. Surprised to see a well armed black man, he paused and watched as he took on the rustles, who turned to dust after their head was taken clean off.

That was new.

Afterwards Hannibal demanded to know what the hell was going on. Eric Brooks explained to him about Vampires and that he Hunted them. Hannibal just took it at face value and ended up travelling with the Hunter to hunt down the rest of the Rogues. During a Hunt, when Hannibal was mortally wounded, there was no question. Eric Turned him.

Sylum: Hunter

His parents are Paul and Rebecca Messer. Paul leads a life of crime following in the Messer tradition. While his mother did love him, she ultimately sided with her husband and left Danny without support or direction to make a change in his life.

For a time, Danny fell in with the Tanglewood Boys and Sonny Sassone, only realized his mistake when he watched them kill some wannabe kid.  Danny convinces Sonny that for him to go to college, he needed to leave the Tanglewood Boys. Sonny granted him an outdate figuring Danny would fail and come crawling back.

Once Sonny realzied Danny wasn’t coming back, and was starting a career in baseball, he broke his wrist ending it, think it would pull him back into the Tanglewood.

Danny threw himself into his studies and got his degree, then joined the NYPD, working his way through overt and covert discrimination caused by bearing the Messer name and became a CSI.

When he turned his back on the Messer name and what it stood for, Paul Messer disowned him.

Sonny, became impatient for Danny to come crawling back to him, and went after his prize.  Sassone attacked Danny in his apartment and Turned him Without Consent.

Sylum: Hunter

As the Afternoon Fic is finished and now in a full edit before release during Advent – I figured to post the new bios for this month’s Sylum Inspiration.

Mac Taylor was born and raised in Chicago.  His parents David & Kristen both worked, and provided him with a good childhood.

He was mostly raised by his Uncle Dan Taylor, a Vietnam Veteran.  He learned a lot about life, and ended up following his footsteps and joined the US Marine Corps.  After boot camp he learned that his uncle had passed, leaving him everything.   Not needing the money at the time, he set up charities in his uncles name, and set some aside.

Once he left the Marine Corps he joined the NYPD – working his way up to Lieutenant in the Crime Scene Unit. He met Claire and the two married and settled into life in New York.

Mac lost his wife Claire in the 9/11 attacks. He threw himself into his work, avoiding feeling anything. The only one who stayed close to him was his friend and colleague Stella Bonasara.

His Uncle had told him about Vampires, having fought with a unique group during the war.   So when he arrived at Daniel Messer’s home to the scene of Sonny Sassone Turning the young man, he reacted instantly.

Lucky for him Erik Brooks (Blade) was pursing Sonny and finished Daniel’s Turning.

Less than 24 hours later, Mac was Turned and Mated to Danny.

Sylum: Hunter

Noah was born a free black man in Missouri, to Henry and Martha Dixon. Noah was the youngest of four children (Gregory, Elizabeth and Hannah), and his mother died when he was born. His father died when he was a young child, when slavers burned down their farm. Sally, a slave his father had bought then freed, raised him and his siblings to appreciate his freedom and do what he can to help his brothers in slavery. Noah was educated by a local Pastor, Derria Book, who became a father figure for his adult life.

He joined the Pony Express at the pushing of James Hickok, who he had met when he got tangled up with slavers. The two men became fast friends, Noah not knowing about Jimmy’s nature until a fateful trip into Kansas.

Noah was captured along with Book, both being auctioned off for slavery. He was saved when Jimmy with the help of his Clan Leader Nicolaus Valerius Meridius, Warrick Calhoun, Antonio Crisafi and Timothy Quinn showed up to help with the situation. During the escape both Noah and Derria were wounded and subsequently Turned.

Sylum: Hunter

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 Clan: Emmet Brown

Emmett’s family then known as the Van Braun’s fled Germany after World War 1.  He was a young man in his early twenty’s, who found a home New York and went back to University to get a degree in Physics.

His eccentric attitude had made him an outsider in the scientific community.

He became friends with Albert Einstein one day at a coffee shop in Austria, when he was traveling European Universities looking for someone to fund his research on an idea he would later be called the ‘flux capacitor’.  Einstein encouraged to travel to Italy, where he met Leonardo.

When he discovered the fact Leo was actually Leonard DaVinci, Emmett demanded answers to his theory that Leo somehow traveled to the Renaissance Era and was the famous painter until he came home.  Leo informed him that no he hadn’t time traveled but he was DaVinci because he was a Vampire.

Then offered him the same opportunity.

Sylum Member: Marty McFly

Note: We’re doing something new this year.  Instead of a Calendar, we’ll be showcasing characters that have new images this year, along with updates and edits to their bio.  These will all be characters that have not been showcased on Sylum Inspiration Mondays.

Marty was born in Hill Valley, California in 1966 to a family of Irish descent. He is the youngest of three children from George McFly and Lorraine Baines-McFly. He has a brother Dave McFly and a sister Linda McFly. As the baby of the family he never found his place.

Marty was famous for setting the living room rug on fire when he was 8.

When he entered high school his life began to change.  He met Dr. Brown who taught his science class, after finally asking why he ran away every time Marty walked into the room, Doc began to take the boy under his wing and let him flourish.  It was Emmet that realized Marty’s talent for music.

The summer before his 18th Birthday, Doc took him to Sylum Manor … telling him it was a camp for city kids.  It was there Marty met James Hickok and the two became good friends.  He was devastated to leave early, when he discovered that Biff had destroyed the family car, and he wouldn’t be able to start night classes, to help with getting into college.

On the weekend of his 18th Birthday everything changed.

Sylum: Member

Rogue followed a boy out west.  He ended up dead, she ended up working in the Saloon.   A few years later she met the infamous James ‘Wild Bill’ Hickok’, and instantly made a friend.  He was working undercover in the brothel, and she helped him out – becoming a Chosen One soon after.

Over the years she stayed good friends with her ‘boys’ and as the west developed, she bought the place she worked, and built her own Empire.

In time she knew what her role was, and it wasn’t watching the West fade into the Sunset.

So she requested her boys Turn her.

Sylum Clan: Member

Cecil grew up in the Bronx and had always been interested in history, but was never able to go to college.  As a teenager he got a job working at the National History Museum as a docent, and then as the years went by he moved to guard, and when he came close to retirement moved to night guard.

He is well learned, read everything he could get his hands on, but never formally educated.  He never married, his taste in partners wasn’t accepted by society so he decided to be a bachelor than live a lie.

He became a Chosen One not long after the Tablet of Ahkmenrah arrived at the Museum.  He ended up meeting Ahkmenrah not long after.  He then became friends with Blade, then Hannibal and now gives special tours for Cameron Poe’s kids.

He was set to retire, and was training Larry to take over his job.

Everything was good, until the Museum was robbed.  As he lay wounded he took one look at Hannibal and just rolled his eyes, of course he wanted to be Turned, truthfully he should’ve done it years ago.

Sylum: Member

Holly March is the daughter of Holland March.

She lost her mother when she was young, and was raised by her father.   In time she felt as if she was raising her father, and finally got help when they met Jackson Healy.

The only time she was truly scared for her new family was when Healy had disappeared and she saw a part of father, she really hoped never to see again.  When they got Healy back, she discovered the world of Vampires.

It wasn’t long before her dad was Turned, and they were a real family.

She did what most girls did.

Went to college.  Fought for equal rights.  Decided to have kids.

She just didn’t get a man to have kids with.  Her dad still brings out the Turkey Baster out at Thanksgiving …

The biggest tragedy she had, was loosing one of the kids during birth.  (Dilios Note: Discussing with Healy, there seems to be more here, but no one is sure yet)

When it was time for her to be Turned she went to Bruce Wayne to be Turned.  He had been there for the past years, dealing with the ‘Nice Guys’ and well he was her dad in a past life.

Sylum: Hunter

Laura & Lily Jupiter lost their father when they were four years old.  They don’t remember much, but knew their mom cried a lot, until Riddick came into their lives and helped where he could.

They knew something happened to their Uncle Riddick, he was gruffer and more reserved after the nice blonde man had died.

He came in and out of their lives, always making sure mom and them were taken care of.  After mom died, he stayed in New York intent to find them good husbands.  They disagreed.

He took them back to New Orleans and handed them over to Queen Moussette so they could finish their education and be proper ladies.  He had no idea she was also teaching them how to fight, bringing in the warrior he saw roaming New Orleans a few times that only talks to Nico.

They finally approached him and informed they both wanted to be Turned.

He really couldn’t say no.

Sylum: Hunter

Sylum: Member

After being Turned Carol moved into Wayne Manor to learn how to handle being a Vampire. Bruce taught her how to defend herself, he also told her that she had the soul of one of his daughters.

She continued with her education, and in 1941 graduated with a Nursing Degree. A few months later Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Without hesitation Carol signed to work for the Army Nurse Corps. She ended up on the Front Lines working within the ‘chain of evacuation’. She served under fire in the field and evacuation hospitals – along with hospital ships, flights and other medical transports.

It was here she met Doug Ross a doctor from Chicago, Illinois. The met on the front lines, trying to save as many as they could, working seamlessly. After the battle, Doug offered her a drink. The two ended up in a hot and heavy affair, able to keep it a secret from the superiors. She knew he wasn’t her Mate, but knew they had a connection.

She watched in horror as their Evacuation Hospital out tents were bombed. She knew Doug was in the tent along with at least five wounded soldiers. She ran for the destruction, tears in her eyes as she tried to get to him. She had to curtail her sense at the blood and destruction that was scattered over the area. She found Doug to the side, bleeding tremendously. She knelt down in the mud and blood and told him he was going to let her save him.

The two worked side by side through the war. In time Doug had found his way to Sanctuary Clan and Carol stayed in Los Angeles.

Bruce gave her free reign to operate the Medical Facility at the Studio, and in time Wayne Studios was considered one of the safest and heathliest studios. Carol branched out over the years, working to open clinics through Los Angeles, and encouraging woman to get an education. Bruce had introduced her toLucretia, both woman advocates from woman’s rights and reproductive health.

Carol having to disappear from Los Angeles for a while, moved down to New Orleans at the request of Nicolaus Valerius Meridius. He offered her backing to start opening clinics in the city, along with financial backing from Lucretia.  She worked with Dr. Janet Frasier and Gregory House to start a network for low income medical.

She was at the Manor when it was attacked by Richelieu, and helped protect her family.  She was devastated when Jack and Rose were killed in front of her, but the Rogues soon learned she wasn’t a pushover, having been trained by Ra’s Al Ghul.

When Hurricane Katrina hit, she refused to leave the area, finding her way to the Super-dome where she helped anyone she could from applying bandages, giving out medications, and easing peoples suffering.

Today she continues to work in New Orleans with her clinics.