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| Benjamin van der Stoep; Follower of Set | |
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| Topic Started: Sunday, 14. June 2015, 16:20 (1,472 Views) | |
| Benjamin van der Stoep | Sunday, 14. June 2015, 16:20 Post #1 |
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Scaly entrepreneur with license to corrupt
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Player Handle: Matomi Name: Benjamin van der Stoep Age: 64 years old Place of Birth: Franschhoek, South Africa Age of embrace: 27 Clan: Follower of Set || Clan Setite Sect: Independent from all the sects that claims heritage and fear of some ridiculous Judeo-Christian myth… Species: Vampire (Not to be confused with the so called Cainites, no sir, not at all.) Derangement: Megalomania Disciplines: Appearances: One handsome young man, Benjamin looks like a person that obviously takes good care of his appearance, be it his ebony black hair being neatly backcombed or his collection of tailor-made suits and snakeskin shoes. Walking with what seems like a constant swagger, Benjamin looks like a man that can walk the walk just fine and the smug bastard knows it all too well. Keeping his head tall and chest puffed out, Benjamin nevertheless tends to meet with a well-trained polite smile dancing upon his lips, not all too different from a well experienced salesman. Measuring in with a height of 1,84 meters, Benjamin is of average height with a body build that witnesses of a man that once were of quite decent shape but has since let himself go somewhat, with a waist that just start to hint of a pair of love handles. All in all, his physical flaws are just all too easy to cover up with a well-made suit or blazer. Once getting close enough to notice, those of great sense of smell or just complete lack of respect for personal space will notice a constant ooze of a mixture from tobacco and eau de Cologne surrounding him. Typhonic Avatar Haven: Currently happily making use of a campervan, partly for the convenience of a mobile home as well as the sheer practicality of having both his home and transport for smuggled goods all in one. Despite its "romantic" possibilities, his favorite spot for his home usually is in underground parking houses, both for the protection against nosy people and investigators as well as protection from the cursed light of Ra. History: Benjamin started his life in a reasonable privileged Boer family in South Africa, a family owning a lesser winery that produced a fine red wine made of the famous Pinotage grape. During his early life he was homeschooled by a private teacher giving Benjamin a solid academic ground without having to consort with "The lesser people" and God forbid, with people of the pure genetically stock that decided to associate themselves with these lesser people. Even though the focus on the tutelage was on "useful" subjects such as economics, botanical science and jurisprudence since the plan was for young Benjamin to at some point take over the family winery, it quickly became apparent that his interest resided in subjects such as History, Art (Art history), and philosophy as well as previously mentioned, jurisprudence. Being understanding and supportive parents, the Van der Stoeps decided to do whatever they could to support their son in his choices, so when the time came and he was old enough, he applied with the help of his parents and their good name to the University of Stellenbosch to study both Art History and Law. Applying to the university proved to be a double edged sword for Benjamin. The University of Stellenbosch may have been a university for the white and privileged, not associating itself with the chaotic lower spawn of the black people, but that does not mean that young Benjamin did not suffer quite a severe culture clash. Originating from a sheltered childhood at the winery gardens of Franschhoek highlands it sure was a readjustment to come face to face with the heavily segregated reality of the South African city and its university life. For the first time in his life Benjamin had to really face all the social issues, the racism and segregation but also the anger and the violent tendencies of the lesser standing and barbaric, borderline animalistic black population. Hardly surprising such an introduction to the real and proper world would not leave young Benjamin unaffected, it was an eye opener and a meeting that would come to affect the course of his life. Standing at a crossroad he had the chance to become a symbol of hope and reformation from a position of privilege, or take the path of darkness, anger and resentment. At first it seemed like Benjamin indeed would choose the path of hope and reformation for a new South Africa. The same fate befell him as most other young men entering a new life of scholarship within the protective walls of university, he found and fell in love. The woman, a fellow Boer, was Winifred Barends, his senior in life-experience by growing up in the environment Benjamin so far had been protected from. Winifred was both a friendly and protective bosom for Benjamin to seek shelter in, but also a fellow lover of higher learning and education. In return Winifred saw in Benjamin both enthusiasm and passion. Seeking to become a teacher, Winifred talked and preached to Benjamin about the danger of ignorance and that the greatest power mankind has at its disposal in education. This was all in all a fine combination with Benjamin's love for culture and the perseverance of the past and people's heritage and legacy, a match made in heaven to be sure. However, this was not to be a fairytale come true. The reality hit Benjamin eventually, the same truth that hit every aspiring academic in humanities once their studies are over, labor and the market for actual jobs. Normally life would have been rather trying and offering a couple of months or even a year of strained personal finance as well as unemployment. However things were currently not normal, ANC with Nelson Mandela had just recently gained political power (even though he was still in jail) which signalized the start of post-apartheid South Africa. Hardly surprising this meant that Benjamin's previously privileged status in society suddenly dropped like a rock, especially since he was interested in job within the culture sector. To say that his existence turned into a trial would be an understatement. For someone that viewed himself as something of a genius and person of natural authority, to suddenly readjust himself to a life of poverty was not an easy task. The readjustment was not helped by Benjamin's perspective, the subtle and not always so subtle reversed racism in the society at large, forced to once more seeking shelter in the warm bosom of Miss Barends. Winifred with the benefit of a teacher exam was fortunate enough to find a job with relative ease and speed, something that further burdened upon the now fragile self-confidence of our young Van Der Stoep. One day marked the turning point more than any other and in more ways than once, Benjamin's high and mighty attitude had finally dragged him into problems that were not so easily avoidable. He found himself beaten, kicked and even stabbed by the rallied, angry and self-righteous gang of black African youngsters with winds in the sail, finally standing up for themselves against all the injustice they had previously been forced to endure from their cruel Boer oppressions. Already having a low opinion on the black population due to his upbringing, as well as his belief of intellectual superiority (and a keen intellect is all that matters after all), it was not surprising that he caught the ire of a mob of angry black people who saw him as a symbol of their old oppressors. The fight was short but brutal, leaving Benjamin in a figuratively dark alleyway with a broken and bleeding body, in dire need of medical treatment. Benjamin met there the person that in later years would turn out to become the most important person in his life. Dr. Mikha'il Karim, Egyptian cultural attache found him and took pity on the young Boer, taking him in and offering him much needed medical treatment at his own estate by his private physician. However, the goodness of Dr. Karim did not stay with the medical treatment, claiming to see both potential and the burning passion for cultural treasures and their values in the eyes of the young Van Der Stoep. He ended up offering Benjamin a job. Perhaps not the most glamorous job, the position as the personal chauffeur to a highly esteemed cultural attache seemed enough to placate the young Boers ego for the time being. Finally being able to see Winifred as an equal and fellow provider, Benjamin was ready to try and settle down and arrange a life for them both. What started out as a job and a way into the "cream elite" of high society suddenly turned out to be so much more than just that. Everyone working for Dr. Karim as well as their own families seemed to be viewed as part of his family as well. Benjamin's and Winifred's private life started to bleed over into Benjamin's professional life, something that Benjamin hardly seemed to care too much about seeing how Dr. Karim knew how to arrange the most lavish of parties with exotic dancers, fine wine and psychedelic substances that turned life a color more intense. That was not what primarily drew Benjamin into this new family however, instead it was the marvelous collection of Dr.Karim, filled with glorious treasures, pieces of art and gold from an ancient era. It was all a new kind of drug for Benjamin, of course the traditional drugs helped to appreciate the splendor even more but that is hardly the point! Through these ancient treasures and lavish parties to the honor of old and esteemed cultures the down spiral of Benjamin's ethical sanity took its start. For each new painting Benjamin admired, each new jewelry Benjamin acquired through his job to his girlfriend, each new sensory height he reached together with his love, he heard Karims whispering in his ears, of the degradation of morals and ethics to benefit the weak in modern society, how it had degraded the glory of the past and made their heights unreachable for the ambitious ones. Naturally Winifred noticed the change this cult, this movement meant to be only a job for her dearest Benjamin changed him, altered him, twisted him, like poisoned fruit. Like the snake of Eden it twisted Benjamin's thirst for knowledge and education into an abomination. Not only did it twist her love, but it also degraded her into another treasure and thing for display and reverence for Benjamin and his colleagues. Being a woman of action she did what she could do, she fought for her love, tried to reason with him and have him quit his work, they could live on their savings and find another job somewhere else. When that didn't work to sway Benjamin over to her side, she took it a step further, she arranged for a change of scene. She moved away, to Europe and to England, applying for a teacher job there, begging and imploring Benjamin to follow her. Things would be different there, there would be more jobs to choose from and they would be free from the racial social issues. Free to be together, the two of them and be happy and at peace. In hindsight one could argue through mortal eyes that it was here Benjamin made his biggest mistake, he refused her offer. Not only did he refuse the offer, he turned furious, spiteful and downright threatening. On instincts taking up his straight razor, the one he used for shaving every morning, cornering his love, trembling in fury from such a monumental betrayal, spurn on by the power of jealousy to bring him down in shackles once more in a position of dependency on her, down in the mud where she wanted him! Luckily the tattered remains of the shackles of morality stopped Benjamin from slitting her throat there and then, sadly the veil of power and drugs was too firmly attached upon his sight to see the truth in her words, so a "compromise" was reached. He told her to leave, to run away like the pathetic scared little girl she was and if she ever saw him again he was not responsible for his actions. Hardly surprising she fled, leaving the next day and if we are to trust Benjamin's perspective never did she try and look back at what she left. Having the last thing that shackled him to the mortal torn away from him, leaving him broken down, cast away, alone and "free" he was finally ready, ready for Dr.Karim to introduce him to the true nature of his gallery of arts of ancient treasures. His company, his "family" was a gathering of the select few, the chosen elite of enlightened individuals, cast out by the slavering light of modern society, arranged by the cruel God Ra! Ra who above all else demanded order, obedience and brainwashed slaves to act as his army of mind drones to let the oppression of "true freedom" stay strong and steady throughout the ages. It was slavery and oppression that Dr.Karim and his family would accept no longer since they had seen the truth, they were indeed blessed since they were the followers of Set! As an initiated follower it was finally time for Benjamin to meet his real boss, the real Karim, the head vampire in charge of the whole organization and movement instead of the front figure and puppet ghoul that he so far had interacted with in good conscience. As someone now of the inner circle and someone who had seen the lies of morality established in this modern society of slaves, Benjamin's chauffer job turned a whole lot more interesting. Instead of transporting his employee and boss around he started to transport various items of value and questionable legality in and out of national borders and the oppression known as custom service, in short he became a smuggler. Smuggling everything between tobacco to guns to diamonds and Krugerrand, Benjamin's high education and well-groomed appearance made him into someone not easily suspected for such actions, living more on his social intelligence than on any deeper knowledge of his to avoid controls and suspicion to begin with. As a smuggler for the followers of Set proper Benjamin also found a new drug, one that made the use of all other drugs pale in comparison. The sweet nectar of knowledge and power, given from his master Dr.Karim as an intermedium of the glory of Set himself, called vampire blood, a word that can hardly express the glorious sensation of this divine substance. A substance Benjamin would tread between heaven and hell to acquire, these words on a piece of paper cannot properly explain the things he had to do and the horrors he had to witness to earn another drink from the well of the dark God and his power. Everything from smuggling the treasures of his master to lowering himself to appease the deprave taste of pleasure for his master and his acquaintances. The worst experience of it all according to Benjamin himself must have been the degradation of his belief and statue of a higher and superior being to the lesser primates sadly too commonly mistaken as human beings, by forcing him to study and later on speak Zulu with these animals referred to as natives. Each word spoken and uttered was another degradation and violation to his soul and very being. It was however an experience that taught him both the value of control and power through influence, how his master could force him through such a horrible and humiliating experience through the hold he got on Benjamin through the drug of vampiric blood and the key to the life Benjamin desired. However he also experienced the power he in return acquired over these lower lifeforms by “befriending” them by using their own language as well as invading in their private spheres by understanding what was said when they communicated with themselves in their own language. A lesson learned how power and knowledge can be acquired by faking either a faked sense of respect for the heritage and legacy of a specific group or a faked inability to understand their language. By his own degradation, humiliation and temporary enslavement of body and mind he had indeed grown in insight of the world. Truthful to his masters' words, the degradation of his body helped to hone the purity of his mind and soul, one fateful day when a new low had been reached it was like the Dark God himself spoke to the mind of this ghoul. By the whispers of his dark patron, Benjamin saw clarity in the pitch black darkness that the God have adopted as his own holy spirit of salvation. By the fear of rejecting the last ounce of morals taught by his parents, to cling on to his roots and childhood Benjamin had himself ensured himself as a slave and a servant to those that with clarity wield the truth as the hammer and sickle it is, to build and to harvest of what the world have to offer. Disgusted by his own fear and how he blindly had constrained himself to a position far beneath of what one of his caliber are worthy Benjamin made a vow to with guile and wits climb the social ladder and free himself of the shame, horror and self-pity that the weak use to shield themselves from their own vice. He would show himself worthy and instead of being exposed he would expose others with the vices of the world, that people have forgot or tried to hide away. God may be dead but Benjamin would strike a hammers blow in the united effort to make God live once more. True to his word Benjamin began his work, by social maneuvering and well-timed betrayals and sabotage to undermine the work and especially results of his fellow ghouls, above and below him in social rank and status. To arrive as a savior riding on the wings of darkness did he ensure his convenient presence and help to fellow cultists and their business partners to make sure that deals and operations could be carried out with excellence despite the problems that first seemed so overwhelming. On an August night in 2001 his hard work finally paid off, by the grace of his master and now sire, Dr.Karim did he receive the kiss and blessing, to become an immortal brother of faith and follower of Set. As a vampire, Benjamin's life changed somewhat, drastic in some aspects and hardly at all in other aspects. With his sire as a mentor Benjamin continued to work within the industry of old artefacts and trinkets from old civilizations. Not to forget his smuggling of more mundane items such as weapons and jewelries, building up a small stash of money and interesting items for when he would move out in the world and make a name for himself. A rather negative change in his life that demanded a certain adapting to was the denied hours of the day when the sun of Ra reigned supreme in the world, to quite literally be contained to a world of darkness. It required a certain amount of purely logistical change to his life, that's to be sure, however where other vampires may feel a slight psychotic break of being left out to only darkness, Benjamin felt relief. To live in darkness is to be left out to only yourself, in the light you are always surrounded by hapless fools who, together in combined shackles, uphold the illusion of compassion and the new take on goodness. In darkness you are left with only yourself, your actions, your thoughts and your desire. It is in darkness you struggle with your own greatest failures, fears and regrets but it is also in darkness where you find your greatest strength. True to his vow to never be a slave to anyone ever again (not even Set, a close guarded secret kept in the darkest pits of his own darkness), Benjamin also made sure to intently study the way of a vampire and its powers, the powers granted by their god. During this studying he realized and felt how the Vampiric disciplines became his and empowered him in his role upon earth, how a dose of presence was enough to wrap a vigilant guard or law enforcer to his finger. How obfuscate aided him to be there when other people faced their own darkness, left out to their own regrets and desire. Finally but not least, serpentis, the power and divine nature of great Set himself, how it can break through the shackles people have wrapped around themselves as if they were nothing, how it can frighten and terrify those still blind to the truth to give in to his demands. Lord Set giveth, lord Set provides, Lord Set is the path to life how it is meant to be lived. Finally ready to take on life alone, strong in body and in soul Benjamin has left his smuggler operations in South Africa to steer his gaze towards the great metropolis of merry old London. Still active within the smuggling industry, Benjamin has as an ambition to open up his own operation within the borders of England and in time establish his own pawn shop in London. From the pawn shop, his obfuscated hammer strike will shatter the shackles of both kines and kindred, and in their own vice and dark ambitions find their own freedom from guilt and regrets. By the promise of either treasures to fellow treasure seekers as well as financial aid to those in economical plights as he himself has suffered, he will by the veil of night corrupt everyone into the soothing darkness of Set. Not only for the sake of business, there is another reason to steer his new dominion towards London. The day of reckoning have arrived and it is time for Winifred to come to terms with her monumental betrayal of weakness. She rejected him, she rejected a God and the power and wisdom it provided. She shall pay and in the end her soul shall weep of regrets. The strike of retribution and penance shall however not primarily strike at her and her own used up old body, no his eyes have set themselves on another prize. The daughter of Winifred, a young and fresh girl by the name of Wilma, a supple bosom and firm well trained buttocks, with a body in-between to die for, unlike her mother she have not been riding for many miles at all. It is with her, the greatest treasure Winifred has ever known that retribution shall be met, and by the gods, if Lord Set does not have a sense of humor, seeing how Wilma is a law enforcer in training. A young woman, treasured daughter to Winifred Barends, dedicated to upholding the virtues of slave morality. A more worthy prize did not exist and mark his word, this treasure shall find itself nakedly exposed to the gaze and embrace of Benjamin Van Der Stoep before the end, Winifred and the world shall know the folly of their words and actions. In the darkness we shall all come to terms with the world and with ourselves. Notes -Benjamin is multilingual. He speaks English, Afrikaans, Dutch, German as well as Zulu, an ability that helps him greatly in his profession as a trader and researcher of cultural artefacts, primarily of African origin. He studies Egyptian Arabic in his free time and when he feels inspired but currently it's on a very basic level. Despite his knowledge in various languages he speaks with quite a heavy accent, likely too proud to give up on his heritage completely. -Benjamin's megalomania has worsened ever since he was turned into a vampire. This, coupled with his inherit racism, finds an outlet in his tendency to view people as inferior even if he often masks it with a polite salesman shell. Contrary to popular belief, he does not primarily look down on kines, they are ignorant to the power of Set (at least most of them) and thus cannot be blamed for their actions. Kindred however should know the power of set and can be held accountable for their stupidity in ways kines cannot. -One of Benjamin's most treasured belongings is actually not any ancient artefact or scroll of set, instead it is an old copy of Friedrich Nietzsche's The genealogy of morals, a book that has and still offers him guidance whenever he feels lost or down. -Preferring to solve problems and confrontations with wits and guile, it should not come as a shock that Benjamin does not exactly come heavily armed. He does however carry with him an old straight razor in pristine condition that has proven the bane of a fair few kines and kindred alike that have been caught off-guard. Edited by Benjamin van der Stoep, Thursday, 17. November 2016, 17:01.
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| Renard | Monday, 22. June 2015, 16:05 Post #2 |
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Master Chief
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Hm, Setite... Interesting, interesting ! Please open a thread in the mod concerns / influence actions so we can discuss the app ^^ |
![]() Verba docent, exempla trahunt ! | |
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| Benjamin van der Stoep | Thursday, 2. July 2015, 12:28 Post #3 |
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Scaly entrepreneur with license to corrupt
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Okay, listened to the feedback and added two paragraphs to the story as asked. Once more ready for review
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| Renard | Thursday, 2. July 2015, 16:49 Post #4 |
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Master Chief
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I hereby declare this character [APPROVED] |
![]() Verba docent, exempla trahunt ! | |
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| Benjamin van der Stoep | Friday, 3. July 2015, 23:22 Post #5 |
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Scaly entrepreneur with license to corrupt
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Serpentis: - Enchanting Gaze: Your eyes gain a hypnotic and an alluring feature that can draw people to the vampire while they also find themselves greatly struggling to break eye contact with the Setite. (this ability cause Benjamin who even before his embrace worked very much with the display of emotions through his eyes have gained the habit of hypnotic seduction be it for carnal desire or any other sort of lust and pleasure a setite might offer their clients) - Typhonic Maw: Extend the jaws up to the chest, as well as growing pointed teeth and a sharp forked tongue whose caress brings the pleasure of the Kiss, and you can lap your victim’s blood up as efficiently as if you had sunk your fangs into their neck. Finally, your tongue acts as an additional sensory organ, allowing you to function effectively in darkness. (Please do notice that each transformation, the jaw and the tongue has an activation cost each. The wielder can choose to only activate one of them or activate both of the transformations and thus having to pay twice the activation cost). - Serpent's Flesh: The vampire becomes more flexible and her skin toughens to the point where the wielder can survive an impressive amount of beating (equal to that of the first point in Fortitude and slip through small openings. However, your body will also gain extra resistance against fire and light as the blessing of Set protect his own. (Please note that the resistance in no way enables fantastic feats such as day walking, the protection of Set only enables resistance, not outright immunity). - Typhonic Avatar: Assume the form of the "Typhonic Beast", either as an animal or as a human-animal hybrid with increased physical capabilities as well as a poisonous bite. Only one of the two forms can be chosen, both of them with their unique advantages. The animal form takes the form of a Typhonic beast which takes on a distinctly canine bodily form with anthropomorphic qualities (which allows them to temporarily stand on two legs, being quadruped in nature), a spiked and forked tail capable to be used as a weapon while the face is extended into a long snout barely containing their fanged teeth and acid saliva. The Animal-human hybrid takes on the form of a giant man-serpent hybrid with the lower part of an enormous serpent while the upper body takes on more humanoid features such as arms while your teeth turns into that of a serpent with acid based toxins ready to be spit or injected in enemies. Both of the forms cause terror with their presence as something distinctly monstrous. (Benjamin have chosen the form of a great black and brown Typhonic beast) Obfuscate - Cloak of Shadows: You can hide yourself from the notice of others, so long as you stay silent, still, and out of the way. If you move or enter into direct light, or if an observer is particularly suspicious, your deception will fail. - Unseen Presence: You can now move without being seen; shadows seem to move to cover you, and people subconsciously avert their gaze as you pass by. Any physical contact or noise, however, will still break the spell. Presence - Awe : You can turn on a sublime magnetism that makes people want to be closer to you, and more receptive to your point of view. It can make you more attractive, more persuasive, or more intimidating depending on the context. - Dread Gaze: You can bare your fangs and terrify a victim with the sudden revelation of your vampiric nature, cowing them or causing them to flee in terror. - Entrancement: You can may enchant the target, causing them to feel devoted to or exceptionally fond of you for a period of time ranging from an hour to a month. - Summon: You may compel another person come to you. You must have met this person at least once, and it is easier the better you know him. Note that summoned vampires will not endanger their unlives to answer a summon. You cannot summon someone into an obvious trap. Edited by Benjamin van der Stoep, Friday, 14. April 2017, 22:25.
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8:36 PM Jul 11