Tag: The Vampire Council

Vampire Council: Legal Counsel

Hetshepsu is the fraternal twin of Shepsit Hemet Amun-Ra.  A rare occurrence and considered a blessing to all.  They were removed from the home, and taken to the city and raised in the Temple of Ra.  Both equal in beauty, and admired by all.

Shepsit became a Priestess of Ra, while Hetshepsu was taken in by Ra’s Al Ghul and trained in the Courts.  He married Al Ghul’s oldest daughter Talia, and had four children.   He and his sister stayed extremely close, despite the fact she was isolated in the Temple.  When he discovered she was pregnant, he confronted her on her stupidity.  She assured him she was safe, and no one knew who the father was, and all assumed it was Ra.

Despite the fact he still didn’t like the situation he was devoted to his nephew Nekau, and was devastated when he was killed.

He watched in horror along with everyone else when Ra slit the young boy’s throat.  He knew at that moment the war had begun.  He made his way back to his home, to find his wife dying next to his children.  A warrior leveled his sword against the youngest when Hetshepsu attacked.  He disarmed and killed the guard, then scooped his child up and ran for his father-in-laws home.  Ra’s Al Ghul pulled him off the street and hid him away from passing guards.  They barely made it out of the city and towards the Medjai camp.

It was once they stopped he realized he had been wounded, collapsing into Ra’s Al Ghul’s arms, and he apologized for not saving Talia.  Ra’s Al Ghul Turned him, later telling him his penance was to wait with him until their family returned home.

Vampire Council: Council Member

Hua Mulan’s story is a well known legend in Japan, but the actual facts of the story are still in debate.

The poem starts with Mulan worried, as one male from each family is called to serve in the army. Her father is old and weak and her younger brother is too young, so she decides to take his place and bids farewell to her parents. After twelve years of fighting, the army returns and the warriors are rewarded. Mulan turns down an official post, and asks only for a swift horse to carry her home. She is greeted with joy by her family. Mulan dons her old clothes and meets her comrades, who are shocked that in their years traveling together, they did not realize that she was a woman.

She will tell you that most of it is true.

The story that continues is not as heroic to state that when the Emperor discovered one of his best warriors was a woman, he offered her to be his concubine or a death sentence.  She refused stating that when she dressed as a man, she was good enough to die in honor, and the Emperor should respect that.  On the eve of her execution, an older gentleman came into her room, and offered her a new life of freedom.

She took it.

Vampire Council: Second-in-Command

Hector was a Trojan prince and the greatest fighter for Troy in the Trojan War. As the first-born son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, a descendant of Dardanus, who lived under Mount Ida, and of Tros, the founder of Troy, he was a prince of the royal house and the heir apparent to his father’s throne. He was married to Andromache, with whom he had an infant son, Scamandrius (whom the people of Troy called Astyanax). He acted as leader of the Trojans and their allies in the defense of Troy, killing 31,000 Greek fighters in all.

In the European Middle Ages, Hector figures as one of the Nine Worthies noted by Jacques de Longuyon, known not only for his courage but also for his noble and courtly nature. Indeed Homer places Hector as peace-loving, thoughtful as well as bold, a good son, husband and father, and without darker motives. When the Trojans are disputing whether the omens are favorable, he retorts: “One omen is best: defending the fatherland.”

According to the Iliad, Hector did not approve of war between the Greeks and the Trojans.

For ten years, the Achaeans besieged Troy and their allies in the east. Hector commanded the Trojan army, with a number of subordinates including Polydamas, and his brothers Deiphobus, Helenus, and Paris. By all accounts, Hector was the best warrior the Trojans and all their allies could field, and his fighting powers were admired by Greeks and his own people alike.

Diomedes and Odysseus, when faced with his attack, described him as what was translated as an ‘invincible headlong terror’, and a ‘maniac’.

In the Iliad, Hector’s exploits in the war prior to the events of the book are recapitulated. He had fought the Greek champion Protesilaus in single combat at the start of the war and killed him. A prophecy had stated that the first Greek to land on Trojan soil would die. Thus, Protesilaus, Ajax, and Odysseus would not land. Finally, Odysseus threw his shield out and landed on that, and Protesilaus jumped next from his own ship. In the ensuing fight, Hector killed him, fulfilling the prophecy.

At the advice of his brother, Helenus (who also is divinely inspired), and being told by him that he is not destined to die yet, Hector managed to get both armies seated and challenges any one of the Greek warriors to single combat. The Argives were initially reluctant to accept the challenge. However, after Nestor’s chiding, nine Greek heroes stepped up to the challenge and drew by lot to see who was to face Hector. Ajax wins and fights Hector to a stalemate for the entire day. With neither able to achieve victory, they express admiration for each other’s courage, skill, and strength. Hector gave Ajax his sword, which Ajax later uses to kill himself. Ajax gives Hector his girdle, which later was used to attach Hector’s corpse to Achilles’ chariot by which he is dragged around the walls of Troy.

Another mention of Hector’s exploits in the early years of war was given in the Iliad book 9. During the embassy to Achilles, Odysseus, Phoenix and Ajax all try to persuade Achilles to rejoin the fight. In his response, Achilles points out that while Hector was terrorizing the Greek forces now, and that while he himself had fought in their front lines, Hector had ‘no wish’ to take his force far beyond the walls and out from the Skiaian Gate and nearby oak tree. He then claims, ‘There he stood up to me alone one day, and he barely escaped my onslaught.’ A 2004 film version of Troy has Achilles slaying Hector following a duel, whereas in the Iliad it is rather different. Hector remains outside the walls, while his army flees into the city. As Achilles approaches, Hector stands his ground, fights and dies upon looking up at Troy. The film version of his death more resembles the single combat between the champions mentioned by Achilles in the Iliad, book 9.

In the tenth year of the war, observing Paris avoiding combat with Menelaus, Hector upbraids him with having brought trouble on his whole country and now refusing to fight. Paris therefore proposes single combat between himself and Menelaus, with Helen to go to the victor, ending the war. The duel, however, leads to inconclusive results due to intervention by Aphrodite who leads Paris off the field. After Pandarus wounds Menelaus with an arrow the fight begins again.

The Greeks attack and drive the Trojans back. Hector must now go out to lead a counter-attack. His wife, Andromache, carrying in her arms their son Astyanax, intercepts him at the gate, pleading with him not to go out for her sake as well as his son’s. Hector knows that Troy and the house of Priam are doomed to fall and that the gloomy fate of his wife and infant son will be to die or go into slavery in a foreign land. With understanding, compassion, and tenderness he explains that he cannot personally refuse to fight, and comforts her with the idea that no one can take him until it is his time to go. The gleaming bronze helmet frightens Astyanax and makes him cry. Hector takes it off, embraces his wife and son, and for her sake prays aloud to Zeus that his son might be chief after him and become more glorious in battle than he.

Hector and Paris pass through the gate and rally the Trojans, raising havoc among the Greeks.

Hector chooses to remain outside the gates of Troy to face Achilles, partly because had he listened to Polydamas and retreated with his troops the previous night, Achilles would not have killed so many Trojans. However, when he sees Achilles Hector is seized by fear and turns to flee. Achilles chases to him around the city three times before Hector masters his fear and turns to face Achilles. But Athena, in the disguise of Hector’s brother Deiphobus, has deluded Hector. He requests from Achilles that the victor should return the other’s body after the duel, but Achilles refuses. Achilles hurls his spear at Hector, who dodges it, but Athena brings it back to Achilles’ hands without Hector noticing. Hector then throws his own spear at Achilles; it hits his shield and does no injury. When Hector turns to face his supposed brother to retrieve another spear, he sees no one there. At that moment he realizes that he is doomed.

Hector decides that he will go down fighting and that men will talk about his bravery in years to come. The desire to achieve ever-lasting honor was one of the most fierce for soldiers living in the timocratic (honor based) society of the age.

Hector pulls out his sword, now his only weapon, and charges. A raging duel ensues, and eventually Achilles finishes it. He slices at Hector’s armor, throwing him off guard and spinning him around. Achilles spins around too, and when Hector turns around completely, Achilles grapples him, stabbing him through the belly with his sword and throwing him a short way over his shoulder. Hector, in his final moments, begs Achilles for an honorable funeral, but Achilles replies that he will let the dogs and vultures devour Hector’s flesh. Hector dies, prophesying that Achilles’ death will follow soon.

Triumphant Achilles dragging Hector’s lifeless body in front of the Gates of Troy.

For More Information Contact the Vampire Council Library

Vampire Council: Spy Network

Carlos (Cougar as he prefers) doesn’t talk much about his past. He was one of the youngest in his family, and though very deeply religious didn’t have the personality for priesthood. As he was good with a bow and arrow, he set out for a life as a mercenary.

He traveled through small towns and villages, entering into a variety of tournaments, living on prize money and a few jobs he acquired.

It was at one of the Tournaments that he met Robin for the first time. The archer had bested him, taking away the prize money he desperately needed. He bowed graciously then moved on, only to go up against the same man in the next competition.

He finally confronted him, no one was that good!  Robin told him he was a Vampire, Cougar felt vindicated that Robin wouldn’t have beat him if it was fair.

Robin Turned him two days later to prove Carlos’ theory wrong.

Vampire Council: Spy Network

Jonathon was born in Paris, France. His has few memories of his mother, just that she had a soft smile, dark curls, and always wore a pale blue dress to Mass.  He was eight when she died.

He grew up learning to be a Blacksmith, having his father’s larger build. By sixteen he could wield a hammer easily and had the ability to create more than horseshoes and wheels.

When his father was killed for the few coins in his purse, Jonathon closed his father’s shop and by a twist of fate, became an Inspector. His strength and cunning moved him up the ranks as an Inspector.

He met his wife, Maria, who was a waitress in a bar.  She had green eyes, blonde hair, and was wearing a pale blue dress. He kept coming back and ordering a drink, until she finally stopped serving him, demanding he respect the uniform he wore and do his job. He laughed, pulling her into his lap and whispering that he was there only for her.

A few months later they were married.

A year later she announced she was pregnant. Jonathon was worried with the way society was starting to decay, but trusted her beyond reason. She never recovered from the birth, and slipped away quietly when his son was a few weeks old.

He raised his son, Arnaud, as best as he could, making sure the boy had an education that she would be proud of.  When Arno was eight, he was dragged back to their home by a fellow Inspector, stating that the boy had picked his pocket.

Jonathon looked at his boy, ‘I thought I told you not to pick pocket fellow Inspectors’. It was the beginning of his friendship with Javert.

In 1789 his life changed.

He watched in horror as his son was dragged up to the Guillotine. He yelled at the soldiers to stop, the mob to stop, but no one listened – the scream of agony rocked through the square in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

A few days later, Javert pulled his drunk ass out of the of the gutter and Turned him.

Council: Hunter

Born in 1976, Jacob Andrew Jensen was the second child of Stephen and Hannah Jensen. His sister, Jessica, was three years older and has always tried to make sure her math and computer geek of a younger brother was safe because at two he started spelling words with fridge magnets and just after his fourth birthday he started grade school. And then there was the whole incident with taking the microwave apart.

Tragedy hit the summer Jake was eleven and his parents were killed. Jake didn’t speak for almost a month. He and his sister moved in with his father’s mother, Margaret (“Peggy”) Carter Jensen –Grandma Peg for short– where Jake was able to excel and learn people skills with her help. Grandma Peg was always providing him with the newest technology while still keeping him grounded by signing him up for baseball and the Boy Scouts and teaching him how to dance, Latin, and how to drive. She allowed Jake to skip grades in school but Jake refused to be placed into the same grade with his sister because he wanted his sister to get to live her own life and not be the “sister of the boy breaking all the curves”.

Jake thought his Grandmother Peg was the best. Teaching him enough German and Russian to get around and sending him to Math and Space Camp. At Space Camp he met Chris Beck and instantly became friends; best friends. They have stayed in touch –first through letters, then phone calls, and later email ever since. Grandma Peg encouraged the friendship and the long distance phone bill. She was always there for Jake even when he started MIT at sixteen. He was devastated when she passed away from a heart attack when he was twenty-two.

Eight months prior to Grandma Peg’s death, his sister lost her fiancé in a tragic accident; only to find out days after his funeral that she was pregnant. Three days after their grandmother’s funeral his niece, Maggie Dylan Jensen, is born (1998). Jake then decides to quit MIT two classes and one final project short of finishing his Master’s degree to make a life altering decision and enlist in the Army.

He just turned twenty-three when he finished boot camp and began his Army career as an Army Computer Tech. He was promoted from Specialist to Corporal at twenty-six when he began working for Air and Missile Defense. He was in Afghanistan for Tony Stark’s Weapons Demonstration and in Stark’s Humvee when the convoy was attacked.

It was pure luck that he was found by his two Mates or he would have bled out and died.

The Vampire Council: Archivist/Librarian

Minerva was born into a small family working for an influential family. She was trained by her mother, to be a head servant and nurse to a powerful family. When she was old enough, she was hired onto to take care of the young children of a Magistrate.

It was here she met her husband, who was the kid’s tutor. He wooed, then asked for her hand in marriage, and despite the fact he had no lineage, she married him.

They lived with the family, having children of their own who were given greater opportunities than they had. Their oldest son went into the Army. Their daughter married a Merchant. Their third child, a son, remained as a retainer to the family, teaching the next generation.

The Magistrate family gifted them with a small house when they retired, where they were set to live out their remaining years.

She was shopping in one of the smaller markets, when Imenand approached her, and asked if he could accompany her. She informed him that she was married, and walked away. He sought her out the next week at the same market. This time he explained to her about Vampires and Mates. She listened intently, but at the end she went home to her husband. The next week she returned with him.

In the end, her husband let her go.

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.

Vampire Council Member: Jim Phelps aka Mr. Secretary

(Dilios Note: Not to be confused with the asshole)

Jim Phelps comes from a long line of Phelps, and is named after his grandfather.   Born in England, he worked for the Special Operations Executive known as the SOE … nicknamed Department of Dirty Tricks.

Not happy with his role in the beginning workings of MI:5, he ended up in the United States working within the CIA, then building IMF (Impossible Mission Force).  He ended up recruiting Ethan Hunt, not long after.

His skills were so valuable, that Lamont gave him a retirement option.

Council: Member

Tongilius came from a wealthy connected family.   He was groomed for politics, and in time he found himself following the words and actions of Lucius Sergius Catilina.

It was rumored they had become lovers, but it was never proven.

Tongilius believed in Catilina and followed him all the way into battle and death.

Vampire Council: Member

Catiline was born in 108 BC to one of the oldest patrician families in Rome, gens Sergia. His parents were Lucius Sergius Silus and Belliena. Although his family was of consular heritage, they were then declining in both social and financial fortunes. Virgil later gave the family an ancestor, Sergestus, who had come with Aeneas to Italy, presumably because they were notably ancient; but they had not been prominent for centuries. The last Sergius to be consul had been Gnaeus Sergius Fidenas Coxo in 380 BC. His great-grandfather was Marcus Sergius. Later, these factors would dramatically shape Catiline’s ambitions and goals as he would desire above all else to restore the political heritage of his family along with its financial power.

An able commander, Catiline had a distinguished military career. In 89 BC, during the Social War, he served with Pompey and Cicero, under the consul Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo. He is mentioned on the Asculum Inscription, a bronze tablet which was once nailed to the wall of an unknown public building in Rome, which records the names of Pompey Strabo’s council (consilium) when he granted citizenship to several auxiliaries in his army. During the regime of Gaius Marius, Lucius Cornelius Cinna and Gnaeus Papirius Carbo, Catiline played no major role, but he remained politically secure, married to the niece of Gaius Marius. He later supported Lucius Cornelius Sulla in the civil war of 84–81 BC. According to accusations made by Cicero, during Sulla’s proscription Catiline helped Quintus Lutatius Catulus avenge himself upon Catiline’s brother-in-law, Marcus Marius Gratidianus, the prosecutor who had caused the death of his father. Catiline maimed and killed his brother-in-law at the tomb of the elder Catulus, then decapitated the corpse. Catiline proceeded to carry the head through the streets of Rome and deposited it at Sulla’s feet at the Temple of Apollo. Catiline was also accused of murdering his first wife and son so that he could marry the wealthy and beautiful Aurelia Orestilla, daughter of the consul of 71 BC, Gnaeus Aufidius Orestes. In the early 70s BC he served abroad, possibly with Publius Servilius Vatia in Cilicia. In 73 BC, he was brought to trial for adultery with a Vestal Virgin, a capital crime. Catulus, by then the principal leader of the Optimates, testified in his favor. Catiline was acquitted.

He was praetor in 68 BC, and for the following two years was the propraetorian governor for Africa. Upon his return home in 66 BC, he presented himself as a candidate for the consular elections, but a delegation from Africa appealing to the Senate, indicting him for abuses, prevented this as the incumbent consul, Lucius Volcatius Tullus, disallowed the candidacy. He was finally brought to trial in 65 BC, where he received the support of many distinguished men, including many consulars. Even one of the consuls for 65 BC, Lucius Manlius Torquatus, demonstrated his support for Catiline.  Cicero also contemplated defending Catiline in court. Eventually, Catiline was acquitted. The author of the Commentariolum Petitionis, possibly Cicero’s brother, Quintus Cicero, suggests that Catiline was only acquitted by the fact that “he left the court as poor as some of his judges had been before the trial,” implying that he bribed his judges.

There are at least two conspiracies from his life, which led to his glorious death, well until Hector stepped into the picture.

For More Information contact the Vampire Council Library.

Pearly Soames is not a nice Vampire, but he isn’t a Rogue either.

He does what he wants, when he wants to, but will not set out to harm innocents on purpose.

He has a gang called the Short Tails who have always traveled with him.  They do his bidding with no questions asked.

He will negotiate with you, if you want something, but he is a shrewd individual, and rarely will anyone else come out on top.

(Dilios Note: It is known he has a soft spot for Nicolaus, and that the Roman can handle him to some degree)

Sanguen: Spy Liaison

Oenone was a mountain nymph (an oread) on Mount Ida in Phrygia, a mountain associated with the Mother Goddess Cybele, alternatively Rhea. Her gift of prophecy was learned from Rhea. Her father was either the river-gods, Cebren or Oeneus. Her very name links her to the gift of wine.

Paris, son of the king Priam and the queen Hecuba, fell in love with Oenone when he was a shepherd on the slopes of Mount Ida, having been exposed in infancy (owing to a prophecy that he would be the means of the destruction of the city of Troy) but rescued by the herdsman Agelaus. The couple married, and Oenone gave birth to a son, Corythus.

When Paris later abandoned her to return to Troy and sail across the Aegean to kidnap Helen, the queen of Sparta, Oenone predicted the Trojan War. Out of revenge for Paris’ betrayal, she sent Corythus to guide the Greeks to Troy. Another version has it that she used her son to drive a rift between Paris and Helen, but Paris, not recognizing his own son, killed him.

The only extensive surviving narration of Oenone and Paris is Quintus Smyrnaeus, Posthomerica, book X.259-489, which tells the return of wounded Paris to Oenone.  Mortally wounded by Philoctetes’ arrow, he begged Oenone to heal him with her herbal arts, but she refused and cast him out with scorn, to return to Helen’s bed, and Paris died on the lower slopes of Ida. Then, overcome with remorse, Oenone, the one whole-hearted mourner of Paris, threw herself onto his burning funeral pyre, which the shepherds had raised. A fragment of Bacchylides suggests that she threw herself off a cliff, in Bibliotheke it is noted “when she found him dead she hanged herself,” and Lycophron imagined her hurtling head first from the towering walls of Troy. Her tragic story makes one of the Love Romances of Parthenius of Nicaea.

For more information contact the Vampire Council Library

Vampire Council: Second-in-Command

Hector was a Trojan prince and the greatest fighter for Troy in the Trojan War. As the first-born son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, a descendant of Dardanus, who lived under Mount Ida, and of Tros, the founder of Troy, he was a prince of the royal house and the heir apparent to his father’s throne. He was married to Andromache, with whom he had an infant son, Scamandrius (whom the people of Troy called Astyanax). He acted as leader of the Trojans and their allies in the defense of Troy, killing 31,000 Greek fighters in all.

In the European Middle Ages, Hector figures as one of the Nine Worthies noted by Jacques de Longuyon, known not only for his courage but also for his noble and courtly nature. Indeed Homer places Hector as peace-loving, thoughtful as well as bold, a good son, husband and father, and without darker motives. When the Trojans are disputing whether the omens are favorable, he retorts: “One omen is best: defending the fatherland.”

According to the Iliad, Hector did not approve of war between the Greeks and the Trojans.

For ten years, the Achaeans besieged Troy and their allies in the east. Hector commanded the Trojan army, with a number of subordinates including Polydamas, and his brothers Deiphobus, Helenus, and Paris. By all accounts, Hector was the best warrior the Trojans and all their allies could field, and his fighting powers were admired by Greeks and his own people alike.

Diomedes and Odysseus, when faced with his attack, described him as what was translated as an ‘invincible headlong terror’, and a ‘maniac’.

In the Iliad, Hector’s exploits in the war prior to the events of the book are recapitulated. He had fought the Greek champion Protesilaus in single combat at the start of the war and killed him. A prophecy had stated that the first Greek to land on Trojan soil would die. Thus, Protesilaus, Ajax, and Odysseus would not land. Finally, Odysseus threw his shield out and landed on that, and Protesilaus jumped next from his own ship. In the ensuing fight, Hector killed him, fulfilling the prophecy.

At the advice of his brother, Helenus (who also is divinely inspired), and being told by him that he is not destined to die yet, Hector managed to get both armies seated and challenges any one of the Greek warriors to single combat. The Argives were initially reluctant to accept the challenge. However, after Nestor’s chiding, nine Greek heroes stepped up to the challenge and drew by lot to see who was to face Hector. Ajax wins and fights Hector to a stalemate for the entire day. With neither able to achieve victory, they express admiration for each other’s courage, skill, and strength. Hector gave Ajax his sword, which Ajax later uses to kill himself. Ajax gives Hector his girdle, which later was used to attach Hector’s corpse to Achilles’ chariot by which he is dragged around the walls of Troy.

Another mention of Hector’s exploits in the early years of war was given in the Iliad book 9. During the embassy to Achilles, Odysseus, Phoenix and Ajax all try to persuade Achilles to rejoin the fight. In his response, Achilles points out that while Hector was terrorizing the Greek forces now, and that while he himself had fought in their front lines, Hector had ‘no wish’ to take his force far beyond the walls and out from the Skiaian Gate and nearby oak tree. He then claims, ‘There he stood up to me alone one day, and he barely escaped my onslaught.’ A 2004 film version of Troy has Achilles slaying Hector following a duel, whereas in the Iliad it is rather different. Hector remains outside the walls, while his army flees into the city. As Achilles approaches, Hector stands his ground, fights and dies upon looking up at Troy. The film version of his death more resembles the single combat between the champions mentioned by Achilles in the Iliad, book 9.

In the tenth year of the war, observing Paris avoiding combat with Menelaus, Hector upbraids him with having brought trouble on his whole country and now refusing to fight. Paris therefore proposes single combat between himself and Menelaus, with Helen to go to the victor, ending the war. The duel, however, leads to inconclusive results due to intervention by Aphrodite who leads Paris off the field. After Pandarus wounds Menelaus with an arrow the fight begins again.

The Greeks attack and drive the Trojans back. Hector must now go out to lead a counter-attack. His wife, Andromache, carrying in her arms their son Astyanax, intercepts him at the gate, pleading with him not to go out for her sake as well as his son’s. Hector knows that Troy and the house of Priam are doomed to fall and that the gloomy fate of his wife and infant son will be to die or go into slavery in a foreign land. With understanding, compassion, and tenderness he explains that he cannot personally refuse to fight, and comforts her with the idea that no one can take him until it is his time to go. The gleaming bronze helmet frightens Astyanax and makes him cry. Hector takes it off, embraces his wife and son, and for her sake prays aloud to Zeus that his son might be chief after him and become more glorious in battle than he.

Hector and Paris pass through the gate and rally the Trojans, raising havoc among the Greeks.

Hector chooses to remain outside the gates of Troy to face Achilles, partly because had he listened to Polydamas and retreated with his troops the previous night, Achilles would not have killed so many Trojans. However, when he sees Achilles Hector is seized by fear and turns to flee. Achilles chases to him around the city three times before Hector masters his fear and turns to face Achilles. But Athena, in the disguise of Hector’s brother Deiphobus, has deluded Hector. He requests from Achilles that the victor should return the other’s body after the duel, but Achilles refuses. Achilles hurls his spear at Hector, who dodges it, but Athena brings it back to Achilles’ hands without Hector noticing. Hector then throws his own spear at Achilles; it hits his shield and does no injury. When Hector turns to face his supposed brother to retrieve another spear, he sees no one there. At that moment he realizes that he is doomed.

Hector decides that he will go down fighting and that men will talk about his bravery in years to come. The desire to achieve ever-lasting honor was one of the most fierce for soldiers living in the timocratic (honor based) society of the age.

Hector pulls out his sword, now his only weapon, and charges. A raging duel ensues, and eventually Achilles finishes it. He slices at Hector’s armor, throwing him off guard and spinning him around. Achilles spins around too, and when Hector turns around completely, Achilles grapples him, stabbing him through the belly with his sword and throwing him a short way over his shoulder. Hector, in his final moments, begs Achilles for an honorable funeral, but Achilles replies that he will let the dogs and vultures devour Hector’s flesh. Hector dies, prophesying that Achilles’ death will follow soon.

Triumphant Achilles dragging Hector’s lifeless body in front of the Gates of Troy.

For More Information Contact the Vampire Council Library

Council: Spy Liaison

(Note: There has been some adjustments made to the Troy/Greek characters due to Bob being an asshole … so make sure to look back over a few of them just in case)

Paris was a child of Priam and Hecuba. Just before his birth, his mother dreamed that she gave birth to a flaming torch. This dream was interpreted by the seer Aesacus as a foretelling of the downfall of Troy, and he declared that the child would be the ruin of his homeland. On the day of Paris’s birth it was further announced by Aesacus that the child born of a royal Trojan that day would have to be killed to spare the kingdom, being the child that would bring about the prophecy. Though Paris was indeed born before nightfall, he was spared by Priam; Hecuba, too, was unable to kill the child, despite the urging of the priestess of Apollo, one Herophile. Instead, Paris’s father prevailed upon his chief herdsman, Agelaus, to remove the child and kill him. The herdsman, unable to use a weapon against the infant, left him exposed on Mount Ida, hoping he would perish there (cf: Oedipus); he was, however, suckled by a she-bear. Returning after nine days, Agelaus was astonished to find the child still alive, and brought him home in a backpack (πήρα, hence Paris’s name, which means “backpack”) to rear as his own. He returned to Priam bearing a dog’s tongue as evidence of the deed’s completion.

Paris’s noble birth was betrayed by his outstanding beauty and intelligence; while still a child he routed a gang of cattle-thieves and restored the animals they had stolen to the herd, thereby earning the surname Alexander (“protector of men”). It was at this time that Oenone became Paris’s first lover. She was a nymph from Mount Ida in Phrygia. Her father was Cebren, a river-god (other sources declare her to be the daughter of Oeneus). She was skilled in the arts of prophecy and medicine, which she had been taught by Rhea and Apollo respectively. When Paris later left her for Helen she told him that if he ever was wounded, he should come to her for she could heal any injury, even the most serious wounds.

Paris’s chief distraction at this time was to pit Agelaus’s bulls against one another. One bull began to win these bouts consistently, and Paris began to set it against rival herdsmen’s own prize bulls; it defeated them all. Finally Paris offered a golden crown to any bull that could defeat his champion. Ares responded to this challenge by transforming himself into a bull and easily winning the contest. Paris gave the crown to Ares without hesitation; it was this apparent honesty in judgment that prompted the gods of Olympus to have Paris arbitrate the divine contest between Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena.

In celebration of the marriage of Peleus and Thetis, Lord Zeus, father of the Greek pantheon, hosted a banquet on Mount Olympus. Every deity and demi-god had been invited, except Eris, the goddess of strife (no one wanted a troublemaker at a wedding). For revenge, Eris threw the golden Apple of Discord inscribed with the word “Kallisti” — “For the fairest” — into the party, provoking a squabble among the attendant goddesses over for whom it had been meant.

The goddesses thought to be the most beautiful were Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, and each one claimed the apple. They started a quarrel so they asked Zeus to choose one of them. Knowing that choosing any of them would bring him the hatred of the other two, Zeus did not want to take part in the decision. He thus appointed Paris to select the most beautiful. Escorted by Hermes, the three goddesses bathed in the spring of Mount Ida and approached Paris as he herded his cattle. Having been given permission by Zeus to set any conditions he saw fit, Paris required that the goddesses undress before him. (Alternatively, the goddesses themselves chose to disrobe to show all their beauty.) Still, Paris could not decide, as all three were ideally beautiful, so the goddesses attempted to bribe him to choose among them – Hera offered ownership of all of Europe and Asia; Athena offered skill in battle, wisdom and the abilities of the greatest warriors; and Aphrodite offered the love of the most beautiful woman on Earth, Helen of Sparta. Paris chose Aphrodite— and, therefore, Helen.

Helen was already married to King Menelaus of Sparta (a fact Aphrodite neglected to mention), so Paris had to raid Menelaus’s house to steal Helen from him (according to some accounts, she fell in love with Paris and left willingly). The Greeks’ expedition to retrieve Helen from Paris in Troy is the mythological basis of the Trojan War. This triggered the war because Helen was famous for her beauty throughout Achaea (ancient Greece), and had many suitors of extraordinary ability. Therefore, following Odysseus’s advice, her father Tyndareus made all suitors promise to defend Helen’s marriage to the man he chose for her. When she disappeared to Troy, Menelaus invoked this oath. Helen’s other suitors—who between them represented the lion’s share of Achaea’s strength, wealth and military prowess—were obligated to help bring her back. Thus, the whole of Greece moved against Troy in force. The Trojan War had begun.

The one thing Paris hadn’t expected … Helen was a Vampire.

For more information contact the Vampire Council Library