Uriel de Lenormand
From Changeling Venue
| Seeming | Darkling Gravewight |
|---|---|
| Court | Autumn Court •• |
| Freehold | TBD |
| Player | Brandi Dunn |
Contents |
This character is pending approval.
Overview
Alias(es): Uriel, Maestro, Orpheus, Sir
Real Name: Uriel de Lenormand
Age: 34 but appears in his late 20s
Concept: Sadistic Voyeuristic Occultist Alien Gentleman
Seeming: Darkling
Kith: Gravewright
Virtue: Prudence
Vice: Gluttony
Motley: Hellfire Club
Character Information
Mask: Even before he was taken, Uriel looked anything but normal. Now that he has returned, his unnatural features have been accentuated. His extremely fair skin and near white hair would have most believing his is albino, although his intensely blue eyes leave piercing proof as to the misnomer. When he is not perfectly still, which is often, his long fingers seek things, seeming as though he understands the secrets of the world through touch alone. But in truth, Uriel is a constant observer, keen eyes rarely blinking and always fixed on something. Often something that he desires. The voice that passes over his full lips is ethereal and breathy, little more than a sigh, but is completely able to hold the promise of something dark and sinister as well as command obedience. He almost always dresses in full black ensembles, making the contrast of his visage all the more extreme. Uriel is conspicuously found in non-revealing clothing. Often the only hints of skin are his cold face and pale hands. He is regularly surrounded by a faint halo of clove smoke, as he has a predilection for clove cigarettes.
Mein: To the fae, Uriel is a bit thinner and a bit paler, cold and unfeeling. His bony fingers end in long sharpened nails. On rare occasion that he shows true emotion, or heaven forbid, becomes impassioned in some way, black veins begin to worm their way above the collar and out the cuffs of his shirt beneath his alabaster skin, hinting to something beneath the constant layers of black silk.
Mantle: While enacting contracts, faint strands of silken web are carried on a small breeze, tickling and sticking to the skin of anyone nearby. There is also the sound of the blades of the scythe singing, reaping the autumn harvest. He smells of the coming cold, the damp wetness of the tomb and chilled stone that promises of impending frost.
Merit Details: Striking looks x2, Court Goodwill x2 (Winter)
Character Livejournal: uriel_darkling
I remember…less than I would like. That being said, what I do remember is darkness and pain. Long hours shackled to a dusty floor, grinding and scrubbing and pouring and mixing. Being burned and cut and beaten. And blood. It seemed to flow endlessly. I smelled it in all things and can still recall the metallic taste on my lips.
Such endless tedium brings with it a honed patience, an ability to wait for that which is most valuable. Now if only I could remember…remember those secrets stolen from beneath her very nose, if in fact she had one. I cannot seem to recall, though I spent hours simply staring. All I have is twin black eyes to haunt my thoughts, even darker than the pitch in which I toiled. It was like a vacuum and yet smothered one at the same time. In such darkness, even the faintest glimmer shows, the ethereal shimmer of a specter or glint off some demonic scale that would otherwise only pull in the light. One would think that such things would drive me blind, and yet I found that I could only stare harder, waiting for that hint of…something. For in that faintest promise of something other than pure emptiness, that was what I toiled for. For insatiable curiosity. I hunger without end.
Known History
Basic Timeline:
1974 – Born in Liberia to Gabriel and Jacqueline de Lenormand
1989 – Abducted by Moma, a True Fae in the guise of a Haitian vodun priestess
2003 (Spring) – Returned home after he was released by Moma only to find a fetch in his place and his father dead
2003 (Summer) – Killed his fetch and assumed his rightful place with his mother
2004 (Early Spring) – Mother was institutionalized after insisting that Uriel was not her son
2004 (Summer) – Moved to United States and came into the company of Dominic Jackson Hunter and Catherine Wheel
2004 (Fall) - Introduced to Rebecca Tulane. They begin a strict, if productive, mostly-professional relationship.
2006 - Entrusted with the care and education of Christian
Current Activities:
Uriel spends much of his time as a semi-recluse studying the occult and the spirit realm. He also partakes of some less than savory extracurricular activities and is rumored to have a relatively high turnover of servants in his household. Apparently he is a bit…off-putting and some of his help, especially pretty young women, find that too much to bear. He understands the importance of playing nice with others however and is known to attend social functions of changeling and human alike with meticulous manners, even if he is still a bit eccentric. He is known to make people...uncomfortable, although it is unclear how much of it is intentional.
His time with his Keeper left Uriel with an unusual outlook on religion. He is deeply spiritual, but it is a twisted and personalized affair. The philosophies of it and its practice are executed in private, but bits of its ritual seep into much of his lifestyle. Even though he is loathe to share its testaments with others, it does not mean that he will not use its standards to pass judgment on others.
Uriel has a predilection for photography that goes beyond simple hobby and into obsession. His favorite subject is portraiture and he's always looking for new subjects. He has extensive personal portfolios, although normally they are kept from prying eyes. He values his privacy more than most. But with Uriel, everything has a price. All you have to do is be willing to negotiate. And pay.
If he is not at home, he often travels, seeking more knowledge, contacts and items to further his studies.
Themes: Exploring personal darkness, finding the occult in the mundane, individualized religion, exerting will on others, mastering one's own fears and inflicting them in others
Associations
Uriel is a man with a taste for the dark and the exotic. He is fascinated by historical objects and occult findings and is wealthy enough to trade in both regularly. He also has some more unique and darker predilections concerning photography and pain. (Open to others, please feel free to contact me.)
Christian – A stray that needed a place to rest. An interesting fellow, if a bit hasty. He could be so much more than he is if only he would take the time and put in the effort. Some people. They just don’t know a good thing when it opens its door to them.
Dominic Jackson Hunter - A man that knows what he wants. And more importantly a man that knows how to get it. The extents of his methods are quite inspiring. And useful. It is good to have someone that understands the value of things.
Catherine Wheel - A sweet flower indeed. If only I had a heart to give. But a heart is bad for business. And it never allows you to get what you want. It is amusing enough to watch her struggle though. Poor thing. If only she could see how such things were in her best interest.
Noman - Catherine's shadow, Jack's hand. This broken little man is useful in so many ways. Despite his obvious insanity, he is incredibly reliable when dealing with... certain matters.
Clockwork - A relationship that lies somewhere in between mutual suppliers and friendly professional rivalry, he's been working with me on text location, investigation, and translation for a few years. Nice enough old man, if you can handle his sarcasm, insults, and tactless humor.
Sebastian Wulfhiem CEC - A man that is all too kind to indulge. His enterprises provide some much desired stimuli and his late night conversation is always entertaining. The Hedgeapple is worth the stop by for certain. Just leave one of the back tables vacant. It's mine.
Adra – A darling pupil if ever there was one. There is something to be said in helping others on occasion, especially when the price is right. Anything is worth cultivating when it comes time for the reaping. Keep up your studies, my darling.
Sliver – Never have I met a fellow so willing. His philanthropy is a bit…unnerving, but his heart is in the right place. On my scale. I know the value of it and what he is willing to offer in return. And I’m relatively certain that I am still getting the better deal.
Nycto Feraz – A like mind. So refreshing in this age of charity. It is always a pleasure to have dealings with him when I might. He’s teaching me many things…about cameras.
Mavis Thornsby – It is important to respect one’s elders. They have often learned enough through the years to aid you when you least expect it. And need it most. And they tend to be the most unrelenting when scorned.
Ronyo Cruxis – Exquisite in all things. She makes the marks she bears into a tapestry worth a whole portfolio. A lovely creature.
Rebecca Tulane - Quite the splendid bird for such a gilded cage. She knows her place. And her skills. It is refreshing to be indulged without...complications.
Did Uriel buy or trade something with you?
Did commission a portrait from him of yourself or someone else?
Are you interested in exploring how fear and pain might not always be such a bad thing?
Did he introduce you to some of his more interesting friends, perhaps someone in the Winter Court?
Are you visually interesting (scarred, tattooed, modified in some way)? Uriel finds such things very interesting.
Did he just give you a bad dream?
Character Inspirations
William Eden (the Sin-Eater), The Order
Satan, The Prophecy
Jean-François de Morangias, Le Pacte des Loups
Brick Top, Snatch
Agent Smecker, Boondock Saints
Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil, Dangerous Liaisons
Marquis de Sade
Mistress Midori
Soundtrack
Timo Mass - Flat Pictures
Timo Mass - First Day
Rammstein - Weißes Fleisch
Rammstein - Halleluja
Rammstein - Bestrafe Mich
Rammstein - Sonne
Rammstein - Rosenrot
Nine Inch Nails - Sin
Poe - Trigger Happy Jack
Placebo – Infra-Red
Rasputina – Signs of the Zodiac
Vampire Beach Babes - Dark Kind of Ecstasy
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Red Light
Mars Volta - The Widow
Smashing Pumpkins – Eye
Depeche Mode – Strangelove
The Cure - Lullaby
Quotes from Uriel
(Open to public edit)
“More…always more.”
Quotes about Uriel
(Open to public edit)
- "Of all the decadence I've seen since I entered your house, of all the sins I've witnessed or partaken in, the one whose obsession with I am sure will damn my immortal soul is that of those devilish thousand count sheets." - Christian
- "A quick student with a fine eye. Uriel shows much promise, and I look forward at seeing that progress." - Nycto Feraz
- "I make no illusions that I am a saint, or that my actions are morally perfect. My relationship with Uriel is a professional one, and I am willing to say that the ends justify the means." - Sliver
- "To see without understanding is to be blind. Slowly Uriel removes the shadows from my eyes that I may truly look upon the world." - Adra
- "Uriel? Now there is a man who looked at God and found him wanting. I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if some day we were all worshipping him..." - Virginia Wolfe
Rumors
(Open to public edit)
Uriel possesses a camera that captures part of one's soul when a person is photographed. It's why he is so eager to do so and keeps his collections private.
The heart of Christian isn't frozen. It's missing, removed in some strange ritual by Uriel and stashed away for some unknown purpose.
Dominic Jackson Hunter is beholden to Uriel for taking Christian off his hands and thus eliminating a potential problem with Jack's plans for Catherine.
Uriel begins every day with a cup of Utterbarb tea. He does this for some mystical reason that he will not disclose, but it is the cause of his characteristically hushed voice.
Uriel's house has two dungeons, one where he keeps relics and odd ends, hoping to extract the spirits from ancient artifacts. The other may have far fresher visitors.
Uriel has never taken a lover, mortal or changeling. He does however occasionally keep the company of wards or students, which he instructs in etiquette or the occult or both.
The reason he is celibate is because Uriel is an ordained priest. Of what religion seems unclear.
Uriel once attempted to teach Adra to appreciate tea, resulting in her stead fast belief that tea leaves are in intricate part of any occult practice.
Despite the fact that Uriel is rarely seen during the sunlight hours, he doesn't sleep most days. Only once a week, resting on the seventh day.
Uriel is a member of a secret society where he takes part in strange rituals and ghoulish ceremonies. Rumors of everything from cannibalism to summoning demons have been heard.
Uriel has captured the interest of Rebecca Tulane, inflicting an obsession on her that has her barely able to move after each of their photography sessions due to her struggle to satisfy him.
