Edgar Collins's page

Edgar let his hair grow long moving away from the military traditions, though his clothing still reflects the collars/buttons of military attire, he also appears of an entirely different era having a fondness for antiques. He looks as though he is about to go on a ride in the countryside or on a fox hunt rather than walking down the city streets.

1 - Heightened Senses
Secret Roll: Auspex, difficulty ???

The vampire can sharpen any or all of her senses, at will, for as long as she wants. However, traumas caused by sensory overload (IE very bright lights, loud noises, etc) while in this state last much longer. How this comes into play is decided by the Storyteller, who may describe details more fully. The vampire will also sense things that she would otherwise not sense, that might be important. How this danger sense is used is up to Storyteller whim.

2 - Aura Perception
Roll: Per. + Empathy, difficulty 8

The vampire may read the aura of another. If the vampire attempts a second reading on anyone, treat any failure as a botch (a wildly inaccurate reading). Conditions contributing to aura colors, and their corresponding effects, are in the chart below.
1 suc. = The vampire can tell if the aura is pale or bright, ie vampire or otherwise.
2 suc. = The predominant color can be distinguished.
3 suc. = Patterns can be recognized.
4 suc. = Shifts in color or pattern can be detected.
5 suc. = All aspects of the aura can be read.

CONDITION & AURA COLORS
Afraid = Orange
Aggressive = Purple
Angry = Red
Bitter = Brown
Calm = Light Blue
Compassionate = Pink
Conservative = Lavender
Depressed = Gray
Desirous or Lustful = Deep Red
Distrustful = Light Green
Enraged = Crimson
Envious = Violet
Excited = Rose
Generous = Vermilion
Happy = Black
Idealistic = Yellow
Innocent = White
Love = Blue
Obsessed = Green
Sad = Silver
Spiritual = Gold
Suspicious = Dark Blue
A Vampire = appropriate color is pale
Confused = mottle, shifting color
Daydreaming = sharp, flickering colors
Diabolist = black veins
Frenzied = rapidly rippling colors
Psychotic = hypnotic, swirling color
Magic Use = myriad sparkles

3 - The Spirit's Touch
Roll: Per. + Empathy, difficulty ???

The vampire may touch an object, and get psychic impressions of the last one who touched it.

4 - Telepathy
Roll: Int. + Subterfuge, difficulty Willpower

The vampire may read a target's mind. If the target is a vampire, a willpower point must also be spent. The thoughts perceived are in a stream-of-consciousness form, which reflects that reading minds is usually easier than understanding what is being read.

5 - Psychic Projection
Roll: Per. + Occult, difficulty ???

The vampire may leave her body, and travel in astral form. In this state, she may travel up to 500 miles per hour, connected to her physical body by a silver cord. The integrity of this cord is reflected by the number of willpower points she has; if she goes down to zero willpower points, this cord breaks, stranding her in the astral plane.

In this state, the vampire may use mental disciplines, but may not interact with physical reality, except that she may manifest as a ghostly form for one turn by spending a willpower point. Otherwise, she is nearly imperceptible in physical reality (except to those with Auspex, Mind 2, etc.). Due to the lack of a physical body, Wits replaces Dexterity, Manipulation replaces Strength, and Intelligence replaces Stamina. All damage causes loss of willpower points, rather than Health levels.

Dominate
1 - Command the Wearied Mind
Roll: Man. + Intimidation, difficulty Willpower

With eye contact, the vampire may give a one-word command to a target. This command may only be one word, but it may be used with slight emphasis in a sentence, to hide it. This command is obeyed instantly, unless it is ambiguous, in which case temporary confusion ensues.

2 - Mesmerize
Roll: Man. + Leadership, difficulty Willpower

The vampire can give commands to a target, which may be as simple or detailed as desired. Eye contact must be maintained throughout the command, but is not necessary once the command has been given.

1 suc. = The target will not act in defiance of her nature, or her usual behavior, but she is otherwise obedient.
3 suc. = The target can be made to act in ways that she otherwise wouldn't, except in the case of self-endangering behavior.
5 suc. = Nearly any command may be given, Storyteller nimdyd excepted.

1 - Cloak of Shadows

The vampire may be unnoticed by most, by hiding completely motionless in a shadow, or in a place that puts an object (not necessarily an object big enough to hide behind) between herself and others who might see her. No roll is required.

2 - Unseen Presence
Roll: Wits + Stealth, difficulty 6

The vampire may go unseen, and even be subconsciously avoided, by others. No roll is required unless someone is looking for the vampire, or the vampire is moving in an abrupt manner, as during speech or combat.

A type of supernatural toughness and vigor which allows Kindred extra advantages in reisiting the harm to which their kind is especially vulnerable. All vampires have a powerful constitution , and are able to shrug off the injury inflicted by guns and weapons of all sorts. However, most are very susceptable to sunlight and fire, and are easily harmed by them. Those with Fortitude are not easily bowed by even these elemental forces, and are even more resistant to "normal" injuries.

System: Fortitude provides the ability to resist sunlight and fire to those who possesses it. For each level of Fortitude a character possesses, he may roll one die to soak aggrivated damage. Fortitude is also added to a character's ability to soak other wounds.

Notoriety: (3 pt Flaw)
You have a bad reputation among the Kindred of your chosen city. This may be your own reputation, or it may be derived from your sire. There is a two-dice penalty to all dice rolls for social dealings with the city's Kindred. A character with this Flaw may not take the Merit of Reputation.

Dark Secret: (1 pt Flaw)
You have some sort of secret that, if uncovered, would be of immense embarrassment to you and would make you a pariah in the Kindred community. This can be anything from having murdered an elder to having once been a member of the Sabbat. While this secret weighs on you mind at all times, it will only surface in occasional stories Otherwise. it will begin to lose its impact.

True Love: (1 pt Merit)
You have discovered, but may have lost (at least temporarily) a true love. Nonetheless, this love provides joy in a torrid existence usually devoid of such enlightened emotions. Whenever you are suffering, in danger or dejected, the thought of your true love is enough to give you the strength to persevere. In game terms, this love allows you to succeed automatically on any Willpower roll, but only when you are actively striving to protect or come closer to your true love. Also, the power of your love may be powerful enough to protect you from other supernatural forces (Storyteller's discretion). However, your true love may also be a hindrance, and require aid (or even rescue) from time to time. Be forewarned: this is a most exacting Merit to play over the course of a chronicle.

Spirit Mentor: (3 pt Merit)
You have a ghostly companion and guide. This spirit is able to employ a number of minor powers when it really struggles to exert itself (see Haunted, below), but for the most part its benefit to you is through the advice it can give. This ghost is the incorporeal spirit of someone who was once living, perhaps even someone particularly famous or wise. The Storyteller will create the ghost character, but will not reveal to you its full powers and potencies.

Can't Cross Running Water: (3 pt Flaw)
You cannot cross running water unless you are at least 50 feet above it. "Running water" is any body of water more than two feet wide in any direction and not completely stagnant. A Kindred with this Flaw obviously believes too much in old wives' tales.

Eat Food: (1 pt Merit)
You have the capacity to eat food. It's an ability you developed at an early point in your undead existence, or perhaps it has been a latent ability all along. This is considered disgusting by other Kindred, but can be of great assistance in maintaining the Masquerade.

Misplaced Heart: (2 pt Merit)
Your heart has actually moved within your body, though no more than two feet from its original position near the middle of your chest. Those who attempt to stake you find it very difficult to find the right location (which should be your most tightly guarded secret).

Edgars family moved around mostly in the Northeast United States living in areas in and around Philledelphia, Richmond, Boston and Syracuse. Edgar's father made his living as a butcher, though the large scale slaughter-houses were terrible places to work, dumping heaps of rotting flesh into the nearby waterways.

The family was poor with middle class being some distant dream for them. The times themselves were lean for many and Edgar's family was no exception. A man working with Edgar's father "Francios Napolean" he called himself introduced Edgar to French, as Edgar worked to help his father this man began teaching Edgar French. Edgar's mother was the first to recognize his gift for languages his mother used Edgar's French to get him into a better school. This lead to the family enrolling Edgar in to a private preparatory school for his last year of high school.

Edgar enrolled in classes in at Syracuse University in the fall of 1936. The fall turned quickly to winter. The first two years passed with much studeous behavior on Edgar's part. The dusty tomes in the library his constant companions. Till finally he met Lenore a freshman that he very much wanted to corrupt in the most pure sense. Lonore completed Edgar and brought joy and emotion into his life, which had been devoid of both, he expressed himself through literature, borrowing others words. Lenore often joked that she had to save Edgar from himself.

Edgar graduated in 1940 obtaining his degree in translation and languages. Jobs were scarce and Edgar a fresh graduate had few alternatives, despite Lenore's protests Edgar entered World War II. They comprimised in that Edgar had to be an officer and had to be safe. Edgar was commissioned as a second luetenant in 1949, he became an intelligence officer working in and around the interception of enemy communications. During his work stationed at Camp pendelton Oceanside California he was there when the Navajo language based code was developed. During this time he also met the first 29 navajo recruits that entered basic training in May 1942. Edgar made several friends among them and heard many stories about the spiritual healers and shamen.

Through these years Lenore continued to attend the university. During leave Edgar surprised Lenore and asked her to marry him then and there. They got married, but Edgar had to attend to his millitary duties.

Lenore Collins graduated from the University in 1942, obtaining a more practical degree in nursing.

Edgar returned home after the war to his wife Lenore. The letters they had exchanged could fill a large box. Somehow for each of them it had been enough, they had remained faithful and honest with each other.

Edgar resigned his commission and then had extreme difficulties finding work, it seemed that somehow he did not quite fit into the world the way it was and often his mind wandered, and he spent time organizing his desk.

Lenore on the other hand had a successful career, and erned more than enough money to support them both. Edgar began to pity himself, likely in truth Lenore did as well. Lennore went to visit her sister and returned to find Edgar unable to take care of himself, he had even forgotten to eat.

Lenore saved money and one day announced they were taking a long overdue honeymoon...Secretly she hoped it would cure Edgar...

It was a Honeymoon Edgar almost seemed whole, almost seemed to be his old self again. They spent days exploring the Irish countryside, picnicing in open fields. The nights were full of passion.

All the days were full of sunshine, balmy winds, not a care in the world. With no thought other than the squishiness of the grass beneath our feet. On the final evening, a romantic moonlit walk was disrupted by a seasonal torrent of rain.

Lenore and I were far from anywhere we knew in that evening and the rain was driving down upon us. Through the strokes of lightening we spotted a dark country estate. The delapitated structure was in total disrepair yet we were able to take refuge from the rains.

We were startled by a man carrying a three-branched brass candelabrum with dimly flickering candles. He explained the storm had knocked out the power and that his master bid us welcome into his humble abode. The servant lead us into the main dinning chamber where a table was set with only goblets and wine. There was no scent of food anywhere.

An elderly man introduced himself to us, I even now do not repeat his name, never will I speak it though he has obtained final death.

The host plied us with wine and he himself drank only from his house reserve.. He toasted to the joys of true love. His ramblings became darker and he spoke of the death of his love. Then he looked at us and began to hint of payment that the death of love comes to all.

It became apparent that this old man was senile, crazy, mad, he called Lenore by another name, demanding all the time for a reason, just one reason she had left him.

We ran from his home as the rains slacked off, somehow in his loathsome madness, this decrepit man chased us from his home, into the rains, into the darkness, into the night, till on a narrow bridge both our lives ended. The crazed man caught us, pulling us up into his arms, with strength I was certain was fueled by sheer madness.

Lenores neck in his wrinkled hand just for a second though she was screaming, I recall the smell of burned flesh and he threw her into the swollen river, the waters drowned her screams.

Lenore's cross had burned him; what was this man I thought as he began biting and ripping at me. I felt my life fade to the last, but then the embrace, the becoming. I was no more I became as nothing and for a time lost a sense of myself, forgetting myself and even forgetting Lenore.

I sank into madness the madness that had always been a part of me, only now did I recognize it. I was lost and unable to do anything for myself, my sire thought me broken beyond repair and turned away.

I not knowing up from down or night from day hid myself away in a dark place. Ten years passed as I entered a state I had never known before. Lenore began to haunt my dreams and those dreams and Lenore became more and more real to me as my new existance became less and less real. Lenore was able to awaken me and explain to me all the years that had passed, she explained my new life to me and her new life as well, she always does so well helping me.

Mastering our newfound powers and working together, for five years Lenore and I tracked my sire, hiding as best we were able waiting for the opportunity to destroy my sire. Even as he died the final death it seemed he knew us not at all. I had been obsessed that somehow he would seperate Lenore and I again and I thought the only way to be safe was to kill him. Lenore and I decided to return to America. Edgar being most familiar with the Department of the Navy and the code talkers of the Marines found the trip by sea to be the best way to return to the states.

We arrived back in New York in 1963. Lenore and Edgar tried to return to a semblance of normality by going to a broadway show late one night, there Edgar met only one kindred a Ventrue named Anthony Capacoli, who spoke at length of the traditions and the sects, it was all so much for Edgar to take in that he thought surely a cure existed for his condition, sparking him to abruptly leave the city.

Lenore suggested we visit the shamen among the Navajo in case one of them could help us. Though presenting ourselves to the shaman violated the masquerade, we did so till one of them was willing to help us. Aditsan (Navajo for listener) went into deep trances and spoke with the gods of his people; Coyote and Raven, who instructed him through dreams. These exercises and potions strangely allowed Edgar to eat food and withstand sunlight (fortitude). Aditsan explained that likely the gods provided what was needed rather than what was wanted. We spent another decade with Aditsan hidden in the Navajo reservation, finding refuge in abandoned Hogans, old wells, caves and endless other hidden places, continuing to learn and perfect the Navajo language.

Lenore continued to push Edgar to returned to New York. In 1973 Edgar returned to New York and promptly presented himself to the Prince. It took a little longer to restablished ties to the university, fortunately one of his former mentors a professor and leader of skull and bones was interested in having additional power and influence in mortal society. Edgar was able to participate secretly wearing dark cloaks in dimly lit areas, Edgar could read auras and probe thoughts, thus preventing the entry of spies into the deeper mysteries of skull and bones.

Edgar initially started his campaign of dis-information, by simply being unprepared when he met the prince, not ready to answer questions he came up with them on the spot, such as claiming that his sire was unknown to him and he was embraced in Montana just last year.

Edgar contends he lost Lenore on his honeymoon and lived years without her. Edgar's disinformation seems for no other reason than just to do so, he often contradicting himself in the same sentence, has contributed to his general distrust by other kindred.

It became apparent to the prince that Edgar is of clan Malkavian relatively quickly, generally only neonates believe him for very long as he explains the import of the traditions in typical scholarly and Ventrue style.

Most kindred seem unbothered by his stories, lies and lectures on topics of the masquarade. Since his dereangements thus far do not involve neither pranks nor psychotic killing sprees.

Maintains contacts within fraternities/secret societies tied to the university, gives access to the university grounds/property/libraries/etc.
Maintains contacts with the family of Aditsan, on the Navajo reservation, some of the finest silversmiths and jewelry makers anywhere.

Secret societies have a blood sharing ritual, though the blood actually goes to Edgar.
15 vessels at any one time

Income from some key tranlations/copyrights and investments made long ago...
Cash-out value $50,000
Monthly $3,000