The Collector
From Changeling Venue
Contents |
Overview
The Collector is a connoisseur of beauty and perfection. He Collects those that catch his eye, always with a mind to their place in his household. A well trained student Nurse, an accredited Scholar, an acclaimed Actress or lauded Singer.
At times his selections may seem somewhat random, a young human selected because he wants to mold them into a particular role, or even chosen on whim and later given a role. The more unusual items tend to hold his interest for the greater lengths of time, but always in the end he grows bored.
Very few of those from his Collection actually escaped Arcadia. When he loses interest, he gives them to other True Fae, or simply has them cast back into the real world. A final act of cruelty, perhaps, as those who were thrown away always carry the smallest lingering doubt as to their own worth... and most often find themselves holding some form of Loyalty to their old Keeper.
After all, it is one thing to hate your Master, call him a Tyrant, and flee to safety. It is quite another to be considered suddenly unworthy of his attention and thrown out with the trash... Any battered housewife can tell you how demoralizing it is, always having to wonder if it was something you did, something you could've done, if there was some way that you might still make him happy again...
Those are thoughts that you can never escape, because Serving Him was so thoroughly ingrained during your training. They are thoughts that you can never trust; because if the other Lost knew, or even suspected, you'd be branded a Loyalist and cast even from their company. A misfit among misfits, condemned forever to wander in search of some purpose or meaning... Until one day you look up and there he is, with that smile of his that tells you he's pleased to see you again and hopes ever so much that you aren't about to disappoint him. Again.
Description
The Collector most often appears as a tall, rather distinguished sort of Gentleman.
You might easily imagine him in Victorian days standing with a glass in hand as he studied the latest crop of beauties to be presented to society. A rake, to be sure, one who would surely ruin at least one young hopeful's reputation this Season, but still one who is so well titled, monied, and connected that the Hopeful Mama's can't help but present their daughters to him. Of course, he hasn't yet shown any indication of any intention to wed, but this might be the chance, my precious daughter might be the one to catch his eye... And the resulting ruination? Well, there are any number of impoverished Gentlemen who might take the chit off our hands, especially as He tends to offer generous compensation. No hope of entrapping him into matrimony, but still... Worth the risk. (Not to mention, we can't afford to snub him!)
Still, he is no Prince Charming, not unless Satan has a son... And even then, you might think The Collector found himself in Arcadia because even the King of Hell could not bear the competition...
His desires are dark, running through the very depths of terror and creating a few new flavors of depravity. His tastes are varied, and fickle. He likes to leave marks, bruises, scrapes, scars. He's been known to brand his pets, so that they wouldn't forget who they belonged to. He likes it when they beg for mercy, when they scream in terror... But he loves you best of all when you cry...
He is manipulative in the extreme, violent, cruel, perhaps even someone who can be held up as the definition of true Evil. He will find your weakness, your fear, your secret fantasy, and use it all against you. Sex is a punishment, a pleasure, a reward. If withholding it will bring you further under his control, then you will spend hours beneath his skilled ministrations begging for a release that will never be permitted. If you fear the dark, you'll find yourself a month at the bottom of an oubliette reveling in those patches of light that come only with your daily ration. Do you fear spiders? You'll wake to find yourself tied naked to his table as the 8-legged critters scramble and skitter across your flesh. Shudder at the touch of a stranger? You'll be bound and gagged, put on the table as a centerpiece at a party where the guests are free to take whatever liberties they like.
There is nothing that The Collector won't subject his pets to, if it amuses him. Nothing that he will not force them to do, if it pleases him to watch them do it. There is no lows, depths, or lengths that he will shy away from in his efforts to keep entertained.
For all the pain, the torture, the manipulation, humiliation, degradation, servitude, submission... For all the time spent in his Dungeons dedicated to both pleasure and pain... For all the vagaries and whimseys of his moods, it is his Boredom that the pets fear most. For it is when the Ennui sets in that they learn the truth of the saying that no matter how bad things are, it can always get worse...
Pets
- The Clown, a Loyalist changeling who, for whatever reason, continues to serve even after his release. He watches for humans of any particular beauty or grace that might meet with his Master's approval. Once found, he kidnaps them and keeps them until The Collector comes to look over the offerings. As The pedophile Clown's own preference for the young and innocent tends to play a part in who he takes, it is rare for the Master to actually take interest in one of these poor humans... and those found unworthy of His attention are left to The Clown's mercy. The dubious honor of being chosen is but another cruel trick used in the eventual degradation and subjugation of his Pets. Perhaps even more cruel, The Clown leaves behind no Fetch, those that he takes simply... disappear.
- The Mime, his Masterpiece, and his greatest failure. Its no fun when they stop screaming... When she went silent, when it became clear that she took pleasure in his violence, he was intrigued. What a novel idea, the pet that submits because it pleases her to please him... How fascinating, how entertaining, how... INFURIATING! The novelty faded after a while, and he passed her about to other Fae in hopes that someone among them could bring her screams back, he gave her to the Hunts in hopes that the raging Beasts could terrify her back into being fun, he even sent her to The Pen in hopes that the Jailers could think of some new punishment that would un-break his toy... In the end, they all failed, and it was with disappointment (and no small amount of petulance) that he took back the collar that had marked her as his property, and had her cast out of Arcadia. "What a waste, she was so very lovely when she cried..."
Associates
- The Overlord of Manacles and Coins The Collector has been known to do business with this Fae, highly praising the Overlord's exquisite taste in captives. He even once sent his wayward Mime Cerulean to be kept at The Pen for a time in hopes that someone there could bring back her screams...
OOC
Background ties are open to anyone who thinks that their PC might have been part of the Collection, even if only briefly (perhaps he grew bored and traded them off to someone else). Or to any who think their Fae might be one of his associates or rivals.
Ties open also to the pc Cerulean (Fairest/Muse) the pet Mime that he passed through several other Households as he offered other True Fae the opportunity to break her and make her scream again. A number of wagers were laid down on the matter, all of which were lost.
Contact Shanon Smith
