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dawnshadowlegacies · 3 years

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Demetrius Dawnshadow

Face Reference: Jon Snow, Dante from the Devil May Cry series, Tom ellis, and Kate Beckinsale Mix.

Name: Demetrius Dawnshadow

Race: Sin’dorei

Gender: Male

Age: Adult

Class: Demon Hunter/Rogue

Height: 6’0

Weight: 175 lbs

Body Shape: Athletic

Occupation: Demon Hunter, Adventurer, Rogue, Lord, Captain, Spy (formally)

Nicknames: Deme, Dem, bastard, Tatsu Longwei, Pain in the Arse

Titles: Lord of House Dawnshadow, Slayer, Dragon of the Illidari, Captain of the Red Siren Count of Starhaven (fromaly)

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Appearance:

Demetrius is a toned athletic elf with long dark shoulder length hair and a pale complexion overall with a reddish demonic hue around his hands and lower arms. He has a rugged roguish look to his facial features that some may consider charming especially when he dons his trademark grin showing the barest hint of his tiny fangs. He has a black Dragon tattooed on his right shoulder, while on his left is an elvish sword that bears a resemblance to his own weapon. His eye sockets are an almond shape with fel flame that can turn crimson when excited. He keeps a well groomed goatee on his face further accenting his roguish charm. He has various scars across his body from years of fighting, the most prominent being the scars under his eye sockets, a scar near his heart, and a burnt scar tracing up his lower right arm. Clawed nails tip his fingers and from time to time his reddish wings are out and folded round him like a cloak. While in his demon form his skin takes on a dark red color, his feet become cloven hooves, and horns grow from his head.

He wears dark black and red leather clothes with minor nether dragon scales on the sides and a coat made of the same materials with a sewed on black hood. An onyx etched dragon shaped pendant with ruby eyes hangs from his neck while his onyx and ruby shaped wedding ring that bears his house's emblem rests on his left ring finger. He keeps his family heirloom dragon hilted sword Dragonkin at his side. His belt holds his bag of holding as well his trinket to summon his fox friend Dexien. He wears the standard black Illidari blindfold as well. From time to time he can be found wearing his coat tied around his waist and a set of warglaives on his back.

Personality:

Demetrius’ personality can be best described as outwardly as both brooding and fun loving as well as bold, creative, mischievous, and reckless. Dem is devoted to his family and his friends doing what he can to safeguard and protect them. He follows his own code of honor choosing to defend the innocent and avenge the dearly departed. While he is known to brood and seem standoffish once he gets to know a person he tends to open up more and show that more playful side of his. Dem tends to enjoy a good fight and will taunt and display a devil may care attitude to most foes unless the fight is deeply personal or what he would consider serious. He is creative and will improvise new ways to attack enemies and look good doing so as well as create strategies on the fly. He is reckless and impulsive to the point sometimes he will do something because it seems fun to him at the time.

Dem enjoys swordplay, riding on the back of a dragon, fox, or his mechano hog, adventuring, writing, reading fantasy novels, sailing, games, and playing his lute. He hates monsters and people who would prey on the innocent, Blood Knights, demons, undead, and most void entities as well as all their former minions though he is not above giving them a chance to redeem themselves.

Gear:

Dragonkin: Dragonkin: A prismatic elementium, titansteel, and dragon bone runeblade crafted in a joint effort between the Kaldorei and the Black Dragonflight before the War of the Ancients in the arcane forge of the aspects in the elven style. The curved blade is 27 inches long and was folded 16 times to pound out the impurities in the metal. The blade has a dull silver to blackish sheen to it after being polished. The Hilt is made of the fang of a dragon and coated in the same material as the blade and is 13 inches long. The hilt is shaped in the head of a dragon with the tail wrapping along the groves of the hilt. The eyes of the dragon are made of hardened sapphires that depending on the mood of the wielder can turn blood red in an instant. The tsuba or hand guard is formed into the shape of a dragon claw plated in true silver and gold.

The curved blade is enchanted to drain the life of its wielder’s enemy if they are living. It used to choose its owner binding itself to them until their true death. It was gifted to the Starshadow family by a Black Dragon before their corruption and contains a fragment of his soul. The blade would be passed down to the Dawnshadow family till Demetrius obtained it. Recently it was broken during the first battle on the broken shore and then reforged by the Netherwing Pyreaku and now is bound to Demetrius’ own soul for eternity and thus is able to deal shadowflame damage as well as appear in Dem’s hand with a thought. If Dragonkin is broken or destroyed Dem can still call on it again after a period of time has passed.

Demetrius’ Clothes and Waistcoat (Grab of the Dragonfox): Demetrius normally wears a pair of black leather pants with netherwing scales swon between the leathers and inside the cloth of the pants. His black boots are made of the same material with white fur lining on the top and elementium steel toes. His shirt is a simple black shirt with an exposed neckline and sleeves that reach to his forearms. His waistcoat is a sleeveless red and black leather piece with high collar and a black hood within it. This ensemble is dubbed the Garb of the Dragonfox. It is heavily enchanted to protect him in battle as well as repair itself should it become damaged as well as adjust its size when he transforms into his demon form. The hood is enchanted to withstand mind based attacks and compulsion while the mask filters out poisons and diseases. Despite the nature of his boots, when he clicks them together the sound from his footfalls is muffled to be near silent. Minor slits in the back open up so that Deme’s demonic wings can push through when needed. Due to the inherent properties of the outfit, Deme can summon it back to him through his bag of holding.

Jewelry: Deme wears two rings, an amulet and a piece of eight. His amulet is an onyx etched dragon shaped pendant hanging from a true silver chain. His ring on his right hand is a true silver band and red dragon eye gem. On his left he wears an onyx and ruby shaped wedding ring that bears his house’s emblem. It was given to him by his wife Gwenda'lyn Starshadow. It is enchanted with fire resistance and a magical link private mind link between him and Gwen. The Piece of Eight he wears is an enchanted Elunite Coin signafing his place on the Midnight Corsair’s council. It is enchanted to defend him from time magics, and should the need arise hasten his movements for a limited time.

Miscellaneous Items: Deme wears a black leather belt that has three pouches one of them being a bag of holding. His bag of holding contains food, water, tent, bed roll, healing potions, first aid kit, a set of thieves' tools, a small portable alchemy station among other things. The rest of his pouches contain various other tools. He wears simple black gloves, a white wrapping on his upper right arm down to the top part of his lower arm. From time to time he wears a black and white furred cloak.

Armaments and Trinkets: Besides his own physical and magical abilities as well as Dragonkin, Deme has a few other weapons at his disposal to help in his adventures and quests.

Clipped with an elementium and netherscale wrapped chain is a white fox tail. With it Deme can summon to his side the Fox Spirit Dexien from the Emerald Dream to fight beside him or mount for 24 hours. If Dexien is knocked unconscious his essence will return to the tail and Deme must wait 24 hours for him to recover. If lost or stolen Deme can concentrate to pull the tail back to him.

Abilities:

Besides his own physical and magical abilities as well as Dragonkin, Deme has a few other weapons at his disposal to help in his adventures and quests ranging from an array of swords, daggers, and his own set of warglaives.

Demetrius is a Demon Hunter and thus has the physical abilities they all possess. His strength is at the point he can stab a dagger into a bolder down to the hilt. His speed, agility and dexterity has been boosted to be greater than mortal standards . His body also heals faster due to his damned blood, healing most wounds in a manner of seconds and some of the greater wounds in minutes and the most severe in a matter of hours or days. He can call upon his own wings to glide and fly around if needed and bite down on an enemy with his fanged canines. His skin though not scaled is thick enough to ward off some cuts and slashes. Thanks to his furthering demonic nature Deme can grow bone spikes or as he calls them hidden blades from his wrists and has claws for fingertips.

Due to his training and adventures as well as being hailed as a prodigy with the blade he has become a master swordsman, a competent assassin, a master of parkour and freerunning, as well as having knowledge in the Temple of the White Tiger style of unarmed combat, and an adapt marksman. He has developed a keen sense of tracking, deductive reasoning, and a knowledge of anatomy. He has also learned how to navigate and sail a ship as well as fight on his fox or wolf mounts. He is also a Dragon Rider and has learned to use his glaives and felmagics when riding on Pyre’s back. He is a decent writer though has terrible handwriting thanks to his claws. He is also a master swordsmith and has begun to study more alchemical pursuits.

From a magical standpoint thanks to his blood he can control and bend shadows to the point of fading away, shadow stepping and dropping a field of shadow to conceal himself and others. Like other demon hunters he is able to conjure green fel fire and the chaotic forces of the fel and has the ability to temporarily become a demon elf hybrid. He has begun to master combining his fel flame and shadow flame together due to his link with the darkness flame. He can manipulate it to form the shape of a black and fel accented dragon to devour and burn away his enemies. He has begun to learn how to create barriers using his magical abilities or soul magic as well as create sigils with his fel, shadow, or own blood.

History:

Demetrius was born alongside his twin Ambrose into the Dawnshadow minor noble family. Being born a bastard most of his life he was looked down upon by others his age for his heritage and not knowing who his father was. He had few friends growing up. Dem and Ambrose were raised by not only their mother Lana’thel, but also by their Grandparents Avadeth and Kayleen Dawnshadow. While Ambrose took more to a studious education, Dem felt more at ease with the sword which helped him channel his intal childhood running along the walls' energy. This didn’t mean he wasn’t educated in history, writing, reading, and his least favorite subject math. Under his Grandfather's guidance Dem grew into something of a child prodigy with the sword.

In time Dem would spend time with the more criminal element of Silvermoon during his late late teens and early adulthood. His tutelage from his Farstrider Grandfather paid off and he fell in naturally with the more roguish elements of the city and became something of a spy for one family or another as to make some coin while at school and away from home. Eventually his mother and Grandparents found out thanks to Ambrose who since childhood never approved of Dem and his antics. Dem was soon steered towards another more noble path, that of the Farstrider. And thanks to his roguelike skills and swordsmanship Dem was made a scout in the order after another year of training. Dem would excel in it and find his new role adventurous especially when it came to skirmishes with the Armani. Eventually Dem would meet a young Priestess his own age named Gwen and became smitten with her. After a humorous first meeting with him failing a backflip landing thanks to a log with mud on it he began to court Gwen and eventually marry her.

Over the years Dem would rise within the ranks of the Farstriders as a Captain and join Alleria Windrunner’s unit to fight in the second war. After the War he and Gwen would finally have a child of their own named Melisande. Minus skirmishes here and there Dem spent the rest of his time with his family in peace. That was till Arthas came leading a tidal wave of death through Eversong with his Scourge army. Dem witnessed a Dreadlord named Dagrim slay his Grandparents during the chaos of the time. Ambrose and his mother also disappeared in the carnage. Dem took up his family's Elven dragonforged runeblade Dragonkin and eventually chose to leave Gwen and Meli and venture forth with Prince Kael’thas’ forces eventually fighting up in Northrend and forced to retreat to Outland.

Dem was chosen to undertake the trials in becoming Demon Hunters. As part of Dem’s trial he was confronted by the Nathrezim Dagrim, the one who killed his Grandparents. After a battle that nearly claimed him, Dem used Dragonkin to carve out the Demon’s heart and ate it as well as drank its blood. After a long battle of wills and seeing the horror of the Legion and their involvement in creating the scourge, Dem pledged his life to the Illidari cause. He was tasked with hunting demons and rogue Illidari who turned to the Legion. Over time He along with other adventurers including his Great Great Grandfather of the same name as him; would free enslaved Netherwings and he would befriend the Onyx Netherwing Pyreaku. For this Dem was sent on separate a mission as a form of semi exile from the rest of the Illidari. This act saved Dem from being captured alongside his other Illidari by the Wardens.

Dem soon killed the demon he was sent after and learning of the Fall of the Black Temple he returned home and blended with Sin’dorei society as best as he could. He would stay with Gwen and Meli as well his recently discovered Kaldorei ancestor. Pyre would join him and together with Gwen he would answer the call to arms and head up to Northrend to take the fight to the Lich King once more. Dem and his group would find themselves helping the Red Dragonflight in the Nexus war, Witness the calamity of the Wrathgate, fight near the Titan complex of Ulduar where Dem would discover the titan forged void corrupted sentient blade Blackrazor. Eventually Dem would discover a horrible truth. A Death Knight loyal to Arthas confronted him up near Icecrown. The Death Knight was his long lost twin, Ambrose who had willingly submitted himself to the Scourge for more power and as he stated a more natural order. The twins would fight before Ambrose stabbed Dem through the chest. If not for his demonic healing factor and Ambrose just missing his heart he would have died. Instead he was imprisoned within the Crimson Halls of the San’layn with the Darkfallen draining him of his demonic blood and attempting to figure out a way to convert him to their order in undeath. Being bound to a Dreadlord which was for all intents and purposes a demonic vampire Dem did already show signs of vampiric tendencies. Luckily Gwen came and saved him along with Pyre during the Siege of Icecrown Citadel. Dem would heal up and immediately hunt down his brother and find him. It was then that Dem learned Ambrose as part of a show of his allegiance had killed their mother. The twins battled once more with Dem seemingly killing Ambrose with Dragonkin and Blackrazor.

The next couple of years were spent with Dem and his family, both Sin’dorei and Kaldorei aiding in the defense of MT Hyjal where Dem saved and bound the spirit fox named Dexien to an item to preserve his soul from death for all time. All the while thanks to his time captured and the whispers of Blackrazor Dem would eventually begin to lose control of his inner demon before locking up Blackrazor after the defense of Wyrmrest Temple. When Garrosh bombed Theramore and Dem’s cousin Darron’s died in the defence of the city, Dem planned and failed to hatch a plot to assassinate Garrosh Hellscream. Recovering on a Bloodsail ship the Demon Hunter began to find it hard to control his inner demon once more. It didn’t help that the captain of the ship was also a slaver. Once recovered Dem killed the captain and took the ship for himself and released the slaves in Alliance lands before finding his wife and daughter. Dem became a privateer assaulting Garrosh’s ships. He also hatched an Onyx Cloud Serpent named Shen’long whom Pyre considered a little brother. Dem would even sail to Zandalar after one of the Garrosh loyal ships where after a misunderstanding and a valiant escape, Dem found himself with a portal curse and wanted on Zandalar. Dem, Gwen and others would soon join the Siege of Orgrimmar on the side of the Alliance the Vol’jin’s resistance. There they would save a young enslaved Sin’dorei child named Seraphina. The husband and wife would adopt her and even take in her menagerie of wolves.

Instead of initially going to Draenor Dem sought out and received a pardon for his privateer actions against Horde ships. He would also make new friends and along with Gwen’s sisters learned to control and merge his soul fully with his inner demon. Yona provided him her expertise as a monk and trained him in their ways despite his lack of control of chi. As for Gwen’s older sister Farei she would provide him a hood that would protect his mind from intrusions and the whispers of the void and other sources though it would cost her her life eventually. During Dem’s training with Yona he would befriend the Orc named Zuggrum Skullspliter and the Matriarch of House Shadowfel Valanthriel. Gwen would also take up the path of the Monk after Blackrazor resurfaced and nearly destroyed Dem, herself, and their friends. With her last act as a Priestess she shattered the blade. Dem would eventually discover his birth father named Antheleos who tried to bring forth the Legion but failed thanks to Dem bringing in friends and allies alike. Part of that Alliance would fall apart after Dem broke a blood oath with the Lady Shadowfel and ultimately her potential control of him.

Eventually the Legion did return in full force. Demetrius would clash with his father on the Broken Shore and once again was nearly killed with Dragonkin shattered. Thanks to Pyre Dragonkin would be reforged and forever bound to Dem. Afterwards he would rejoin the Illidari and learn of a special form of fel and shadow magic fused together as shadowflame. Dem with the rest of the Dawnshadow clan would join forces with an Old Rival House known as House An’velas and their head of family a Blood Knight Knight Champion named Admmari An’velas. Despite House An’velas’ pledge House Dawnshadow found itself alone till Dem found his Great Great Grandparents once more, Demetrius and Gwenda’lyn Starshadow. The united family would help fight the Nightmare before heading to Suramar. An’velas would soon show up. Instead of helping the people of Suramar from the Legion, they would instead commit war Crimes something Dem stopped them from doing and planned to report to Silvermoon. Before he could two major events happened. Dem and his friends and family were greeted by Antheleos once more and after a long battle including a frostwyrm and a portal to the ruins of the original Dawnshadow estate, Dem was able to slay his father and trap his soul in a soul stone, but not before he revived Ambrose from the dead. The other event was Dem and Gwen adopting the Shal’dorei orphans Aliden and Leysase. An’velas took these events as a boon for themselves and framed House Dawnshadow for the warcrimes they themselves commited such as murder and pillaging of the people of Suramar. Dem and his family were forced to abandon their home but luckily the Starshadow clan took them in. Dem and Gwen would soon discover she was with twin children.

Despite it all Dem focused his attention on the Legion. Soon he would hear rumors and along with others part of a group called the Raven’s Watch would discover Ambrose undergoing the ritual to become a demon hunter. With the help of the Heridents, a group of traitorous Illidari Dem sent to the nether with the sole exception of their leader Sensi; Ambrose succeeded and became a hybrid of a Death Knight and a Demon Hunter. The Heridents along with Ambrose would head back to Argus. Dem along with the Raven’s Watch steal a legion ship dubbed the Millenium and would hunt each of them down. Despite it all, Ambrose feigned seeking redemption and together, he and Dem would fight Sensi only for Ambrose to steal Antheleos’ soul stone and take all of the twin’s father’s power for himself. Sensi was slain and Ambrose took his spot as leader of the remaining Heridents betraying Dem once more.

Dem knew he couldn’t defeat Ambrose at that moment and instead focused on his training. Over time he would begin to control a variation of shadow flame called the darkness flame thanks in no small part to Pyre. During his training Gwen would give birth to baby Darron and Anastasia. The time had come at last and during the final battle on Antorus the twins battled once more and Dem with his new control over the Fel and Shadow used a special type of shadow flame called the Darkness Flame which in honor of both his bond to Dragonkin as well as with Pyre he molded into the shape of a dragon’s maw. With his new technique in hand he would confront Ambrose during the final siege of Antorus. The twins would battle nearly killing one another. Despite being the better swordsman Dem was still at a disadvantage against Ambrose and his new powers. When all seemed lost the Demon hunter would unleash the Darkness Flame having it consume Ambrose before falling into a coma.

When he awoke from his coma, Dem discovered Meli his eldest daughter along with his Great Grandmother Darcynia had been consumed by the void and became Ren’dorei. He also learned Meli had become engaged to her childhood friend Nihlis, a Sin’dorei paladin pledged to the Silver Hand. Due to his mastering of the Darkness Flame and the shape it took along with his efforts against the Legion, Dem was bestowed with the titles of Slayer; the highest honor a Demon Hunter can achieve with only a few before him obtaining the honor and, Dragon of the Illidari by the rest of the remaining Illidari. For a time Demetrius Starshadow had given Dem the title of Count of Starhaven and he looked over it before handing back the title both because he longed to restore his own House and also to spend more time with Gwen and the children. Once Azerite was discovered some began to appear in the Starhaven mines which drew the attention of House An’velas. Dem longing for revenge against this house found and fought Admmari and slew the man breaking his ancestral sword Kel’faloom. Thanks to the notes and letters found on the ship Dem found the evidence he needed to prove his and his families innocence for the frame up as well as discovered Admmari was the last of his own line due to his wife dying before giving birth during the war with the Legion. Before he could bring the evidence to the Magisters of Silvermoon the call to war was sounded once more. And once again Dem was forced to watch and be on the losing side of another elven genocide as he along with family and friends tried to defend the Kaldorei people from Sylvanas’ Horde. Dem fought as a Privateer for the Alliance and learned more about the Inquisitors of Drustvar and the Drust as well as deal in piratetics in Freehold.

He would join the Kaldorei and Starhaven forces in their retaking of Darkshore thanks to a gambit created by Demetrius the older. It was then that Dem discovered Ambrose survived Argus and was working with Sylvanas but for his own secret goals and mission. Even in winning Darkshore Dem knew he would be forced to face Ambrose again in the future. Before he could follow Ambrose’ trail he joined his Kaldorei kin in Nazjatar and after the fall of Azshara he provided the proof of the An’velas family and their cohorts framing the Dawnshadows. Dem continued to aid both the Alliance, and Saurfang’s rebels where he could till the end of the fourth war. Despite his Kaldorei kin still wanting vengeance against the Horde he was able to convince them to focus their efforts in hunting Sylvanas and their loyalists instead of blindly attacking the Horde for the time being at least. With his family and himself acquitted of the war crimes they were framed for and the Alliance and Horde establishing a tentative peace, Dem for the first time since the start of the last war with the Legion returned to Silvermoon City openly as a Demon Hunter and also as a Grandfather. Meli had married Nihlus and gave birth to a child of her own. With his return Dem began to focus on three things, finding and reuniting with his old friends and allies such as Zuggrum, restore his house and finally embrace his role as Lord of House Dawnshadow, and find Ambrose and try to redeem him or put him down forever. He would eventually discover his sister Ash and became close with her during an accidental trip through with the rest of his family save Ambrose and Meli. During the time travel adventure Dem and Gwen would separate and upon their return divorce.

After his divorce Dem focused on the House and hunting down evil before the Shadowlans opened up. He would go on an Odyssey leaving his twin children in his sister’s care. During his odyssey he would discover the part of Ambrose that remained in the Shadowlands, a Foreworn version who nearly killed Dem and tossed him into Torghast. Dem endured various tortures before escaping and ending the soul of Admmari An’velas once and for all. He would find his way to the plane known as Revendreth and reunite with his mother. After overcoming his open pride and envy and going through Venthyr training Dem fought the Foresworn Ambrose one last time and win. He returned with that portion of Ambrose’s soul and began to focus more on his family leaving the heroics to others for a time.

@elvenwitches-things

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workmaninprogress · 5 years

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Last month I volunteered to read at a service for Transgender Day of Remembrance. What I didn’t realize is that I would end up speaking for the closing remarks. My responsibility went from reading off of a paper to trying to come up with something worthy of the occasion.

There was something that I had written a few months ago that I didn’t get as involved in as I wanted to because I didn’t have the words for it yet. I used it as a caption for a photo several posts ago so it’ll sound familiar. I combined that with what I had written last year for TDOR. Then, of course, finished with a quote from ABBA.

I don’t necessarily ~have~ to share my speech more publicly than I already have, but I felt it important to document it as part of my transition.

For time, I ended up reading only the names of the transgender individuals from the US at the service. But there were 347 names I did not read. Meaning there were 369 deaths total within the past year.

Here’s the speech (not sorry for length):

“I remember being little and standing on the metal step stool in front of the bathroom mirror.

I remember “shaving” my face using popsicle sticks as my razor.

I remember hours in front of that mirror, tucking my hair behind my ears, moving my bangs to the side so that all I saw was short hair.

I remember playing outside with a childhood friend. We were playing with water balloons, he took his shirt off, I wanted to but couldn’t, and didn’t know why.

I remember wanting boy shoes but getting the same pair of white keds with flowers several times in a row instead.

I remember being a double agent for the boys so I could steal dolls and teddy bears from girls on the playground.

I remember the exact day, the exact moment, and the exact red and black striped shirt that I realized I had boobs.

I remember the embarrassment of my first period.

I remember the peer pressure and teasing from my classmates until I shaved my legs.

I remember the time spent pretending to like a boy just to have something to talk about with girls.

I remember wanting to hold hands with all of the girls, that I realized later, I had crushes on.

I remember needing to hide in bathroom stalls while changing in the locker room and feeling the overwhelming desire cover every inch of my skin when it came for swimsuit season.

I remember being called a dyke in the high school cafeteria.

I remember just how little I remember of 13 years of mennonite school after repressing most of it.

I remember cutting my hair short for the first time.

I remember the several hairstylists that said “oh you don’t want that, that’ll be too masculine.” every time I went in to get it cut shorter.

I remember coming out as bi on Facebook and my aunt immediately accusing me that all I wanted was sex.

I remember my math professor splitting the class up between girls and guys as an example of percentages.

I remember her counting wrong 3 times before she realized I wasn’t a boy.

I remember verbally expressing my interest in transitioning for the first time.

I remember my best friend not believing me.

I remember when it finally clicked in her brain, and she became one of my first supporters.

I remember telling another so called best friend.

I remember the night she told me that there was no room for a sick person like me in her life.

I remember telling my sister and her reaction of pure disappointment and fear of tearing the family apart.

I remember telling my brother and his not so eloquent way of telling me he will always support and love me.

I remember getting stuck in my first binder.

I remember the summer morning that my father tried to kick me out of the house and said he wanted nothing to do with me because of a binder.

I remember the feeling of relief after my breast reduction.

I remember the disappointment of waking up, knowing I’d still be wearing a binder every day.

I remember the mother of my first girlfriend who said I was insane to try to make someone else go along with my lies.

I remember getting dumped over the phone. Listening to her voice almost laughingly say “I just think I’m a lesbian.” as she blamed my gender identity for the breakup.

I remember the nurse being late to my appointment for my first shot of testosterone.

I remember learning how to do my own shots.

I remember the anticipation for it to be shot day again.

I remember that anticipation dwindling and becoming a mundane, often forgotten, task.

I remember every moment spent arguing with the pharmacist so that I can get the correct needles to do my injections.

I remember my voice starting to crack, counting my chin hairs in the mirror, and wanting to eat everything in sight.

I remember shaving my face for the first time with a real razor instead of pretending with popsicle sticks.

I remember my coworker at the deli thinking it was outrageous that customers called me “sir.”

I remember a nurse at a hospital telling me “you had me fooled as a man, and you should take that as a compliment,” meaning I passed well as a cisgender male.

I remember opening up for the first to a room full of strangers during group therapy.

I remember the 71 year old man shaking my hand, giving me a hug, and telling me what an inspiration I was to him.

I remember my mother standing in the kitchen as she fumbled her words saying “you’re a good girl. Er. Boy. Thing. Person. You’re a good person.”

I remember the feeling of receiving a standing ovation, just two weeks ago, from another (much larger room) full of strangers after I told my story in hopes to help bring awareness to educators.

Soon I will be able to look back and remember this moment. File it away as another step in my transition.

I remember how far I’ve come. I remember the little girl with long red hair wearing dirt covered overalls. She’s still in me and I work hard every day to try to make her proud. But we’re not here for me and my memories. Because I’m just the one reading a list of names.

A list of names of the children and adults that have died within the past year. Transgender and gender non-conforming people. I read maybe twenty or so names. Twentyish names out of the three hundred and sixty nine documented people that have lost their lives within the year.

369.

That number is hard to swallow, but we shouldn’t forget about them. We should mourn their loss. We should become activists for those that have been silenced. More importantly we should offer love, hope, and support for those that can’t speak up.

I’m able to stand here reading this after injecting my 71st shot of testosterone into my thigh last night. I’m able to stand here because I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by loving and supportive people. With every name added to that list, I’m reminded of how incredibly difficult this journey is and how incredibly blessed I am to be able to live an open life. I choose to be open and vulnerable for those that don’t have that ability.

I don’t really know what words to string together to make this moment seem ~okay~ so I suppose I’ll just stop talking. I’ll leave you with some words from my all time favorite band, abba:

“People need hope, people need lovin'

People need trust from a fellow man

People need love to make a good livin'

People need faith in a helping hand”

369. Remember them.”

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bowlerhatwearer · 5 years

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Pema the Fox

Name: Pema the Fox

Nickname(s): Pem, Square Head (the latter jokingly by her co-worker Philomena)

Job: Employee of an Adoption Centre near Station Square.

Gender: Female

Age: 20

Species: Tibetan Sand Fox

Family: Mother (passed away), Father

Sexuality: Homosexual

Relationship: Single

Misc:

Gives the children dancing lessons (as a form to entertain them and to keep the occupied)

Is rumored to be actually a witch because she seems always to know if someone causes troubles and due of her emotionless facial expression (it’s actually her good hearing )

She likes swing music and the dance

The only person in the whole orphanages who likes to drink bitter lemon soft drinks (it’s her favorite refreshment actually)

Appearance:

Pema is a young Tibetan Sand fox with a height of 110 cm (3.60 feet*) and weights around ~35 kilogram (77 pounds**)

The color of her eyes is a heavy orange-yellow similar to Mirabelle plums***

Her hair is shoulder long and an in-between of the majority being straight but also slightly curly hair which grows a bit lighter around her forehead , her eyebrows appear to be tender and also slim. Her natural hair color is a mix of sand brown and Spanish grey which overall seems to be the color of her whole fur. (The brown is more dormant on the backside whilst the grey is stronger on the front side with the exception of the tummy area which bears a white oval spot)

Casual she wears a caramel colored silk vest with shining metallic buttons under it is a morning blue colored shirt, the trousers are made out of plain grey fabric and bear the same color like her dancing shoes (flat soles) with laces.

In winter Pem prefers an ash grey winter coat with charcoal black buttons, dark grey moon-boots together with butterscotch colored wool socks.

For summer on a hot day the Tibetan Sand Fox wears a short sleeved carmine red shirt together with a trousers that go to the knees and have a lighter shade of grey than her casual trousers. Her shoes are switched to sandals with the same grey as her pants.

Personality: People, especially children would say one first glance that Pema seems to be a person that follows the rules she as a caretaker in the orphanages is obligated to by the book. She is strict, has a personality that might seems to be a mix of being coldly and done with the world at the same time but like her co-worker Philomena she takes her job very seriously, even if sometimes it might not appear to be the case. Different than her colleague she prefers to have a job done as soon as possible so she can focus on something else, which does not mean that if a child is in need she ignores them, instead she prefers if it’s possible to find a good, fast but also lasting solution both can be happy with.

Instead of coffee the Tibetan fox seeks exercises like dancing or singing as a way to keep herself motivated but also awake. If time allows a little break she’s mostly found outside of the orphanage either way in the forecourt or the kitchen since cooking is next of dancing a hobby of the fox.

Despite her cool, sometimes bored sometimes even uncaring facial expression Pem like her co-worker tries everything to keep the children away from any harm and danger seeking to make sure every child is save before trying to fend off whatever ill intentioned being tries to harm the orphanage together with the children. Due of her inexperience she had a long time towards children but also other people she appears at first to be shut inside herself but opens up with time. Al thought not as good with children as her co-worker, given her younger age she tries to be there for the children if they have questions or just want to talk with her as long as time allows it. (meaning if not something more important or crucial happens at the same time).

Like Philomena she likes to sing with the children or dancing with them but also like to play with them games, outside either way sports or showing them nature, if it’s too cold, it’s raining or it gets too dark she does not mind reading a book with them or playing board games.

Unlike her co-worker grizzly bear her patience is not as strong as the bears, loosing it does not result in screaming but rather in giving them fair warnings or in the worst case giving them cleaning duty (dusting of the windowsill or the floor) ,extra duty of washing the dishes with her, to cook with her or to sort the books (who often get mixed up) Often it’s not the children that make her frustrated but either way when news about the Eggman Army comes into the news or if the government of Station Square comes up to say that two people alone with a building full of children are clearly enough to take care of the orphanage. Filling her with a bit of anger she cools of by walking around the house.

Skills/Strengths:

Agile

Strict

Musical and Dancing Skills

Cooking

Caring

Good hearing

Weaknesses/Limitations:

Physically weak

Inpatient

Inexperience with children (still tries her best)

Easily to be annoyed (by adults)

Gets barbed (snarky) to others if criticized

Suspicious

History:

Originally from a small mountain village in Yurashia that belonged to a small peaceful country there , her parents had to flee with a young Pena when their country met the same unfortunate fate like many by being invaded by an aggressive militaristic clan and later by Eggman via his Eggman Clan Army led by the feared conquering storm. Having to witness her mother dying due of the straining escape, the loss of her home together with a serious wound it shaped the young sand fox forever. Together with her father they went for help to Northamer and like many others remained there where they would move to Station Square. Influenced by this new and at first strange culture Pena grew up with a fondness for dancing and Northamer music especially in the jazz and Swing genre of the past but also the present (“modernized swing”) but also liking music in common.

Due of her interests her father, working in a pottery (later after attending evening classes he became a journalist) fulfilled her wish to send her to a Junior High School with the focus on music and acting where she also learned how to play the clarinet. Having finished the school one of her music teachers recommended to her that in her time of committed military service (law in Northamer requires that every 18 year old attends nine month of military basic training) to chose playing in the military music which according to him would, if she did good give her positive recommendation that would help her to be let in a higher school.

Although at first reluctant to let his only daughter go into military service given his experience with the militaristic clan he agreed after a long talk only if she would promise him to really chose a “more peaceful” department like the from her already favored marching band , medic or being in the field kitchen.

Ready to do her service and only a few steps away from her goal her mirror got shattered when on the medical examination she got declared by the doctor as unfit for serving the military (due to a clerical error and the doctors believing her to be a very short Maned Wolf but also due of differences between the meaning and reason of war she had with some military higher up during a discussion) Having no other option left Pema chose the alternative civic service who promptly appointed her to a nine month service to an Orphanage outside of Station Square solely led by a middle aged grizzly bear with the name Philomena.

Working for the first time with children was for the sand fox a pain in the back, not because she had something against them, but rather due of being an only child and her inexperience with people who where many years younger than her it made her look cold, harsh and strict. Plus a misunderstanding with Philomena (the bear sought to help her but for Pema it felt more like as if she was patronized if even not taken seriously by her and felt treated like a child) the air bristled for quite a time with sharp tension.

It took its time but the more the fox worked with the bear and saw how she most of the time overworked herself (drinking dangerous amounts of coffee) but also slowly the children who began to like her (and especially her cooking) Pema decided to stay with Philomena at first as an assistant but only a short time later as a co-worker (after a longer talk about parenting and education both realized that the majority of their misunderstandings happened due of communicational errors and misjudgement both saw the other different than they really were)

Now being responsible for the cooking (Philomena was very grateful for this given that the only thing she knows how to cook where eggs, how to make sandwiches or pudding and most of the times was too exhausted to learn new recipes) Pema does everything she can to support Philomena and the children. Whilst the grizzly teaches them the basics the sand fox is responsible for sports, music and dancing and as already mentioned for the cooking and refreshments for the young ones.

Although she claims that she took the job due of the worry the bear might work herself to death one day, both, Philomena and the children know the truth even if Pema won’t admit it for now that the children, her co-worker and the building really grew to her.

~~~~~~

*/** I used converters from centimetre to feet and kilogram to pounds here, all information provided without guarantee, please correct me if numbers are wrong.

*https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Mirabellen.jpg (Eye Color)

Special thanks to @nuttyrabbit who always has an open ear for me when I suddenly get a new idea and he listens to my constant and spontaneous rambling

@robotnik-mun Who gave me the Idea to make a Tibetan Sand Fox after she posted several pictures of them and inspired me to create an OC based on this kind of foxes.

Philomena the Bear © the Bowlerhatwearer/Bowlerhatwearer/Bowler/Melonentraeger

Sonic, locations and characters etc. related to Sonic the Hedgehog © SEGA, Team Sonic

Please do not steal, thank you.

~~~~~~

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emmaekay · 6 years

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Galaktikon II - Post Lyric Release Analysis

Hello friends! If you follow this blog for Dragon Ball content, avert your eyes from what is about to be a full critique, breakdown, and analysis of my favorite metal album of the last 5 years.

Released on August 26, 2017, Galaktikon II is the 2nd studio album of Galaktikon, combo metal outlet of Brendon Small, Gene Hoglan, and Bryan Beller. I say “combo metal” because what the fuck even is this, other than holy?

At times, melodic death, at times speed metal, at times operatic metal - it’s everything good about all those subgenres and none of the trite or campy elements. This weekend, to celebrate the year’s anniversary of the release, the official lyrics were released to the album - that’s a big deal for a lot of reasons.

See, Galaktikon II is special in another way, too. It’s the unofficial end to the Metalocalypse story. Criminally cancelled before the story could draw to its planned close, fans everywhere have protested, petitioned, spammed, come just this side of rioting... and a certain exec at Adult Swim just can’t be arsed. Small has said in this-side-of-legal ways that Galaktikton II is the true end to Metalocalypse.

But when I listen to it, I hear something else, too. I hear the story of someone who spent 10 years building a world, only to have it burned down by someone else. I hear a love letter to the fans, but also a plea to let the end be the end. To accept that that world is over. From The Ocean Galaktik to Rebuilding a Planet, this is Small’s story, of trying to find the right combination of factors that would force that network to allow him to finish his tale, to his own acceptance of the fact that that will never happen. He has been clear about that in interviews - it’s over, and he’s ready to move on to the next project - the next world - he’s ready to rebuild. In this album, I hear an ask - will you, my friends and fans, come with me to the next?

So, here it is - everything I heard and everything I think about each track on Galaktikon II. SIDENOTE - this review is in the VINYL track order, which is also the “story” listening order. The CD/digital track order will not be followed here, and I really recommend listening to it in the vinyl order only.

1. Some Days Are For Dying

This track picks up right after the end of The Doomstar Requiem. The “Doomstar” is not the same thing as the Dethlights, which is the power that the band gains control of when they get Toki back. There is a huge asteroid or meteor heading for the earth. It’s freaking people out, destroying satellites, causing chaos. It’s being predicted that it will hit the Earth and destroy the planet.

Triton is nearby, but doesn’t appear to want to get involved.

Fuck this, never was my occupation.

He sings, correctly, since he’s not a planet savior but a bounty hunter.

On the Earth, various forces are mobilizing, militarizing, magnetizing. Nathan is still drawn back to the Whale goddess in the sea: The voice in my heart still speaks to me / It beckons me back to the deep. Nathan seems to want her help, for the first time - he doesn’t want the planet to be destroyed and actively wants to seek out that “Right Song” that has been eluded to since season 4. Any gift in this haze that the gods bestow / remove the blindfold, enlighten my soul / Would aide in the poetry I’m to sing.

The Church of the Black Klok is predicting the end of the world. We forsee blackness. We forsee doom.

Both the soldiers in the Falconback project AND the Gears are assembling for a serious battle. Fall in - Fall in - Fall in. (This cadence is echoed in Could This Be the End when Nathan asks the band “Alright?”) Prepare your captains. Prepare your flag. Prepare the battlements. Prepare the bloodied ram.

The song ends with a threat.

I will make you twist and burn. (Nathan)

I have waited, clock must turn. (Halfman)

Who is threatening who? I take it as both the Halfman and Nathan threatening each other, noted above, but it’s the Halfman who gets his say in the next song.

2. Nightmare

Full disclosure, this is my favorite track on the album. Man, this manages to be powerful and sinister even as it touches on a poignant key of sadness.

This song is a soliloquy by the Halfman. He was cursed with this demonic affliction, but says he isn’t the devil - Mephistopheles isn’t me - he sings, though people have made him into the devil. He explains how he died, then came back from the grave... half alive. Half of what he used to be. Based on later tracks, one can infer that Vater Orlaag is who brought him back to life and imbued him with the powers and overall creepiness he displays.

He doesn’t want to let go of the half life he has, but the impending star will change that life into something entirely different. Even while expressing feelings that he was misunderstood and even of fear, he still stands out as a villain. He seems to vascillate in the context of the song between fearsome and fearful. He has, after all, lived this way - waiting to see what would happen - for a very long time.

This cold heart keeps on beating

I’m the darkness you’re feeling.

The delivery of that lyric, at the same time powerful and ominous even as it hints at uncertainty. The song ends with the Halfman’s trademark “we’ll see” sort of sentiment.

I still wait

Time will tell

Falcon flies

Magnetize

3. The Ocean Galaktik

This song, I think, is where Small really gets the most personal on the album. This is the story of both Nathan’s return to the deep to find the music - the right song - and of Brendon’s own quest to release the end of this story, to come to terms with the falling out on the network, and to find the right way to release this music, these songs, and to end this story.

Some hearts will grow cold (The network)

Some of them outshine them all (the fans and the band)

Show love through it all (Small himself)

Breathe through my soul (Release the story the only way he can - through the music.) Leave this all behind, and look within (stop trying to get the 5th season)

Though we must all die, we don’t all live (Everything has an end, not everyone gets to do 4 seasons + a rock opera on tv, so he’s grateful for what he DID do)

and of course, the obvious: “Could this be what I need to set me free?” Small is asking himself, could this denial from the network, and also this album, be what sets him free from doing the same thing over and over - allowing him to invent and explore?

“I’m ready to serve my planet now.” I also hear the word “storm” laid over “serve” in this lyric. Officially, it’s serve, but Small is a tricksy little minx, so I’m not ruling out storm. In fact, the dual lyric makes the most sense - Brendon is ready to storm the planet with his next project. The “storm” thing comes into play later in the album, too. But also, Nathan, storywise, is ready to serve the planet because after meeting with the Beast Queen (who I think is Abigail but might just be that cool ass whale, who I’ve taken to referring to as the Whale Goddess) he has THE Song.

4. The Agenda

This is, simply, Vater Orlaag and the Halfman programming a poisoned Murderface to do some fucked up shit.

Oh - be anything I want to be?

Oh - is this just a dream?

Oh - give away so willfully

Oh - please carry me away.

These lines are Murderface himself, seeing the immortality and adoration offered by the two villains. Already poisoned, Murderface falls for it.

“Just lock the door, and trap accused. Just flip the switch & light the fuse.”

5. My Name is Murder

Well, yeah, it is. This song describes Murderface luring the rest of the band into a trap where they nearly die. The idea is that when the rest of the band dies, the Dethlights will all flow into him, which I can only assume Orlaag and the Halfman intend to take from him at that point. Murderface runs away after lighting Mordhaus on fire, the Gears chase his ass down though. He thinks about taking his own life. He chooses not to - I interpret this as Murderface himself breaking the possession/poison a bit. The Gears appear to catch him.

6. Exitus

Oh man, if this song doesn’t give you chills, check your fucking pulse.

The rest of the band tries to think of how to cure Murderface. The reason that “there’s gotta be a relationship between the water and” the Halfman based on the fact that water has been protective and healing for the band in the past, and appears to have driven the Halfman out of “the man in green” which I think is General Krozier.

The Gears & the Band take Murderface to the cove from the end of Season 4 and literally fucking drown him. Brutal.

I have always thought this next verse was from the perspective of Ofdensen:

Come back to me.

Blink if you hear me.

You gotta fight to breathe.

Hold my hand - look in my eyes. The klok within your chest gives back your life.

Too soft for Nathan. Anyway, Murderface is cured and comes back to life. Holy shit this bit kills.

You live, you live in your body

You live, you live in your soul

You live, you live in your heart

And we live, we live with you.

And now we stand here believers - a pentagram of black faith.

So Murderface is back with the boys and the Dethlights are powering up again. Next stop? FUCKIN SPAAAAAAACE BOYYYYY

7. Icarus Six Sixty Six

The boys literally go to space? Based on the video for Nightmare, where the whale goddess meets up with Triton, I’m guessing that Triton shows up and is the “UFO” referred to in the lyrics. He helps the boys rig a fucking planet wide sound system like the one in the Dethkones Israel/Palestine episode but EVEN BIGGER. (This is also the current cover photo on the Metalocalypse Facebook as an additional clue.)

Louder than the world believes

Defying physics all perceive! Shit goes tits up and they end up having to eject from a crash landing on their way back to Earth.

Not now! Eject? Not now! Eject? Not now! Eject? BUT NOWWWWW.

Thanks for helping the boys save the planet, Triton.

8. Become the Storm

Nathan literally uses a planet wide PA system to notify the whole population that the Earth is about to get fucked up royally by the Doomstar - a possessed star with a demon inside it that’s going to take up residence in the Halfman’s body and really, really wreck up the Earth

Nathan inspires people all over the world, civilians and fans and Gears, to unite and “become the storm” that will wipe this evil out.

From the land to the sea

There’s no them - only we!

That might be the warmest thing said on this entire album, not leastwise because I’m starving for some kind of unity in humanity lately. No division here - it’s the people of the planet vs. Orlaag & the Halfman.

Also there are robots on Orlaag & the Halfman’s side. That’s the Falconback project. Robots that will serve them and the demon - literally soulless people who have been mechanically augmented. Bwomp. And also there appears to be some kind of big machine at work - also hinted at in Some Days Are For Dying and later in the album in Could This Be The End?

“We march forth to his throne

We will die for our home.” The Army of humanity heads for the Halfman. Look out, motherfucker!

9. To Kill a God

Well, the title says it. They’re heading out to kill a god - or really, prevent the birth of a new one. Orlaag and the Halfman are holed up in a snow covered mountain range. The band sends the main wave of soldiers to “dismantle their magnetized machines.” The sky will part to let the demon soul descend.

Yep. The star is a demon. And it’s coming to chill inside the Halfman’s body. The rest of the song is a battle between the robotic Falconback soldiers and the Storm. Nathan urges them to fight on - “Don’t leave the gods alive.”

10. Could This Be The End?

This song is a fucking rollercoaster. Okay:

The Storm is fighting outside and the band is waiting in place. They turn the Falconback magnetized weapon against the star, trying to destroy it or override the machinery. It, of course, goes tits up. The band decides to use the Dethlights against the Doomstar, even though it will probably kill them. They form a “pentagram of power” and basically go toe to toe with this fucking demon asshole. They’re willing to die. The machinery is overloading. The star gets nearer and nearer to anchoring in the Halfman. Oh oh, leave their souls. We were always meant to go.

Let it be one last strike with our sword

Save them

Call the lights

We must die

But we lived our lives

They choose to save the Storm soldiers and all of the planet, opening themselves up completely to the destructive power of the Dethlights.

The Falconback machine explodes.

The demon tries it.

Doesn’t win. Dethlights fuck it up totally.

Because of their bond, their commitment, their pure brutality - the Dethlights are strong enough to repel the demon WITHOUT killing them.

Nathan compels everyone to hold on - “We know that we must die,” he says, “But for now we live! ”

Alright

Alright, we live!

He asks each of them and by context gets an affirmative answer.

The song closes with the question - Could this be the end?

11. Rebuilding a Planet

This is totally instrumental, so you know, imagine whatever scenario you want. Do they return to playing music? Do they rule the world? Do Nate and Abigail have the most metal wedding ever? Do Toki and Skwisgaar still pretend to hate each other? Whatever you want “rebuilding” to mean, it can and it does. This, maybe even moreso than The Ocean Galaktik, is truly a love letter to the listener. A gift. An absolute salve on the burn we’d all felt for so many years of unresolved plot line. A promise, that Small isn’t done and Galaktikon will be rebuilt with new stories and new potential. Overall the tone is hopeful, peaceful, soothing - a satisfying goodbye to five goofballs Small loved, and that we all loved, too.

#metalocalypse #galaktikon #galaktikon ii #galaktikon ii lyrics #metal music #album anniversary #metalocalypse season 5 #long post

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noiseartists · 3 years

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FLEUR DU MAL: A perfect blend of Shoegaze, Post-Rock and 80s indie pop

FLEUR DU MAL is a duo from Paris, France, created in 2019.

“We offer a seamless blend of a wide array of sounds, from French "chanson" to Post-Metal, and everything in between.”

It is an apt description. I am really fond of their music that cleverly includes some of the music I have loved (and still love) with clear influence from 80’s French Pop (Etienne Daho), French Shoegaze (Welcome to Julian, Dead horse One) and French Post-Rock (Alcest) .

It seems an unlikely mix, but FLEUR DU MAL managed bringing everything together, never copycating, creating their own unique blend of music. They may be the only band to have suceeded such an extraordinary feat. Etienne Daho would been proud (listen to the cover below).

Their way they singing also reminds me of one of my favourite French Shoegaze bands of the 90s, the Sigh, that you can find in exclusivity on Noise Artists Bandcamp portal (LP is available, EP will be soon).

Needless to say that I quickly became a huge fan of their music, with so many sounds I love and so many memories arising from listening to their music. I recon that many French indie fans of my generation will have the same reaction and hopefully all the following generations.

The music work to date is:

2020: Spleen II, EP

2019: Spleen I, EP; Regrets, single; Soleil, single

Their 2 EPs have a similar structure:

An intro mixing electronica an guitar indie without Lyrics but with simple and captivating melodies and structures.

Song 3 is a cover (Etienne Daho and Jean-Louis Murat respectively, 2 of the godfathers of the French 80’s Indie movement).

Song 5 is a finale with a more Postgaze feel that draws longer, over 7 minutes

And now the (great) interview.

Who are the group members?

The band is comprised of Obermann and Faber. We are two veterans on the Parisian indie scene, played in too many bands to mention them all. Suffice to say we played almost everything, from French pop to Stoner.

How did you meet?

We met through friends and began to go to concerts together and talk about music. When you’re both fans of Prince and Deafheaven, there’s a lot in between to chew over!

How did you come up with your name?

FLEUR DU MAL, the name as well as the overall concept, was Obermann’s idea. We wanted to have something literary, which refers to French classicism with a hint of subversion thrown into it. And romanticism, too. Our nicknames, also, refer to literary figures.

What is your music about?

Our music is mostly about feelings and atmospheres as opposed to tangible things. We favour escapism and sentiment over reality. Besides, we prefer to have people make their own minds about our lyrics, which are very general and open to interpretation.

What are your goals as an artist artistically/commercially?

First, we want to play for ourselves and the people we love. Almost all good music, from Stax soul music to old school hip hop, has been created to bring people together, not to make money. That being said, we want to be heard by as many people as we can.

What are you trying to avoid as a band?

Doing things solely for commercial purposes, copying things that are fashionable. Being really indie and getting to a certain age brings you some perspective. We probably won’t get rich doing this so why bother doing things that get in the way of artistry just for success?

Why do you make the music you make? Is it in you? Is it your environment?

Both, we guess. We don’t believe in revelation, this idea that music comes at us naturally and that we’re just vessels for it. It’s first and foremost a lot of work. That being said, once we come up with a new idea for a song, things progress very quickly.

What inspire you for the music or for the Lyrics?

We are ardent fans of music. We listen to a lot of things and love “pop culture” in the largest sense of the term. For this project, specifically, we dug deep into the records we were listening to when in our teenage and early adult years: 90s alternative rock and metal, early post-rock, etc. Our lyrics, on the other hand, are very personal and always in French. It makes for an interesting encounter, we think.

Tell us what you are looking when trying to achieve your sounds. Do you experiment a lot or have a clear idea of what you want?

From the very start, we had a very precise idea of what we wanted to achieve sound-wise: a mix of shoegaze, post-rock and alternative metal. Very early in the creative process, we decided we would do this without live drums because a drummer tends to impose a specific aesthetics that would have undermined the overall coherence of our sound.

Also, because we sing in French and French has a specific sound that does not always match rock music so well, we wanted to have our voices slightly higher in the mix than what is usual heard in this type of music. This, we think, renders our sound more original than most non-Anglo-American Shoegaze and Indie Rock bands, who rarely sing in their native language.

One way to make sure our sound would have some personality was to record covers of our favourite French artists. We treated those songs as if they were originals and this helped us sharpen our sound.

Describe your palette of sound.

There is duality in everything we do. On the one hand, there are ethereal sounds, overdriven guitars that are drenched in delays and modulation effects.

On the other hand, there is a ground- shaking bass sound and heavily saturated rhythm guitars, both reminiscent of 90s alternative metal. Our gear is pretty straightforward, though.

We mainly use Boss and Electro-Harmonix pedals, either stock or modded, as well as a few fancier toys, but not too many. Drum machine sounds are kept as minimal and dry as possible, to provide a space of expression for anything else.

Who would you want as a dream producer, and why?

One of our pride has been to be able to produce a highly personal and recognizable sound without the help of a producer. We just have someone working on our mastering. But if we had to choose someone, and because we’re talking about dreams, here, why not Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross?

If you could guest on someone else’s album, who would it be and why? What would you play?

What would be fun to do would be to bring our heavily distorted and ethereal sound to artists that do not usually have this sort of musical universe, like a country or pop singer. If Etienne Daho, the godfather of modern French pop, wants us to produce his next record, we’re ready for this!

What musical skills would you like to acquire or get better at?

It’s great to play within your own limitations, right. That being said, we always like to try new things: practice palm-muted rhythmic parts at high tempos, for instance. Obermann likes to train playing technical prog death metal.

Which other musician/artist would you date?

We do not make music in order to get laid!

Is there a band that if they didn’t exist you wouldn’t be making the music you make?

Hard to name one but Alcest has been particularly influential to us. Neige has invented a style of music that merged the spirit of Black Metal with elements of Shoegaze and Dream Pop and there is no word to express how indebted we are to him. We strongly identify with his artistry and work ethic.

Also, he proved you can be French and make a strong impact abroad.

You are from France what are the advantages and inconvenient?

France has long had a bad image as a rock making country. John Lennon famously made fun of us by comparing French rock music and English food. But as English cuisine itself has gotten better and better throughout the recent period, French rock music has also improved a lot and does not pale anymore in comparison to the scenes in other European countries for instance.

Straightforward rock music sung in French will always sound quite appalling but French musicians are very good when it comes to step aside and mix rock with other elements, electronica for instance. Besides, French metal is now wonderful.

Bands like Gojira or Blut aus Nord are leaders in genres they sometimes contributed to forge. Simply put, there’s no inconvenient in being a French band, only advantages.

What are some places around the world that you hope to play with your band?

Anywhere possible .We had a couple of articles published by South American webzines. It would be great to play there.

When is the next album/EP due?

Our first EP was released in September on Shore Dive Records. The new one just came out , also on Shore DIve Records. It’s relatively brighter than the previous one. There will be a third, darker and metal-indebted one to complete the trilogy. Then, we’ll see… [it was released on Shoredive Records on 24th October]

Some artists you recommend.

Dead Horse One [hopefully soon on Noise Artist ndle], Computers Kill People, Venice Bliss, Brusque, Opium Dream Estate, Catherine Watine, La Féline, Pauline Drand, all good French bands/artists and, more importantly, people we love and respect as human beings. Check them out.

Anything else you want your fans to know?

We already revealed too much!

Where to find Fleur Du Mal:

Bandcamp

Facebook

Youtube

#Noise Pop #Indie Pop #Indoe rock #Paris #France

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kwispayne · 4 years

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The Top 10 Albums Of The Decade (2010-2019)

I got requests to pull a decade list together, so this is my attempt. This wasn't as easy as I thought, as opinions do change, but I'd like to think this is the best. Also, it is a stark realization that I really love the modern British rock scene. Go figure.

So here are some rules:

1. I may have changed my opinion from previous lists. Sometimes things stick...sometimes they don’t.

2. I didn’t hear every album this decade. But I am open to recommendations.

3. This is all personal opinion. And my tastes are odd.

10. Enter Shikari - The Mindsweep

Year Of Release: 2015

Genres: Post Hardcore, Electronica, Electronicore, Pop Rock, Experimental Rock, Alternative Rock, Mathcore

Country of origin: England

As I have said in the past, Enter Shikari are in my opinion a part of the best of the British rock scene at the moment. While their follow up The Spark did see the band experiment even further down the pop and electronic circles, this was very much the best of both worlds. This album very much holds everything great about this band. It's heavy, screamy, poppy and experimental enough. But the epicness of this album really is what grabs my attention. With the use of atmospheric strings and a production which makes the sound almost symphonic, it still makes the hairs on my neck stand to attention. Musically speaking it is the bands strongest effort, and definitely Rou Reynolds best vocal performances. While their debut is still a classic, this album is the bands masterpiece.

9. Black Peaks - Statues

Year Of Release: 2016

Genres: Post Hardcore, Post Metal, Progressive Metal, Experimental Rock, Progressive Rock, Math Rock, Sludge Metal, Hard Rock

Country of origin: England

While their latest album All That Divides is a fantastic album, nothing will beat the staying and natural power of their debut. This band came out of nowhere, and I remember within the first few minutes of listening to the opening track, I knew this band was special. I remember the first time I had heard this album, I tested myself to see if I could find one track on it which I disliked. And there isn't one. This album is bone crushingly heavy and just complex enough to not hinder it from the material at large. But the biggest draw for attention is Will Gardner's vocals. I remember going to see this band live in Belfast not shortly after the release, and being just blown away by the power and determination of this band (Will at one point had to sit down from screaming so much). Definitely the best debut album from any band this decade.

8. Devin Townsend Project - Sky Blue

Year Of Release: 2014

Genres: Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, Pop, Electronica, Post Metal, Experimental Metal, Alternative Metal, Art Rock

Country of origin: Canada

Looking back at the body of work Devin made around this time and later, this is definitly the album that stands out the most to myself. When it was released, it was more of a bonus disk which followed the newer Ziltoid project. But, surprisingly it contained his most focused and honest work. A personal concept album dealing with death and loss, Devin put down the inward telescope, and held a hand with his audience, to know that he was there with them going through their loss (I'm not sure if he lost someone at the time himself, if he didn't, then this album is mostly a brilliant act of kindness). Also this is what I feel to be his poppiest release, and I love when he pushes forward the pop element of his sound. And as usual, the music and production is first class.

7. Everything Everything - A Fever Dream

Year Of Release: 2017

Genres: Pop Rock, Pop, Art Rock, Electronic, Progressive Rock, Experimental Rock, Indie Pop

Country of origin: England

These album was prophetic at the time, but it still stings. But I am afraid the uncomfortable nature of this album is still lingering in our political and general atmospheres. The band did release an ep of songs after this which were good, but overall I think this album is the band's greatest pop achievement (they will appear again later on in this list). One of the criticisms thrown at this album at the time was the cleaner production, but I think it bodes well to the bands sound. One of the slight criticisms would be the lack of complexity, but overall I think the material outshines what the band used to be and I am looking forward to listening to whatever they have planned next.

6. Idles - Joy As An Act Of Resistance

Year of release: 2018

Genres: Punk, Hardcore Punk, Experimental Rock, Noise Rock, Art Rock, Post Punk. Comedy

Country of origin: England

This album is just packed full of tunes. How could I not leave it out? Ok, it is a little bit more than that. The album itself is one of the most positive messages out there to deal with the modern world we live in. And it's also really funny at times. This album is very much like a drug that I would recommend to get rid of sadness. But then there are sad and somber moments on it too. But then again, we all need a bit of sadness in our lives. Positive punk! What should be an oxymoron is now a cure for all ails. I really hope at some point I can see this band live, and I will be shouting along each word of this album back at the band.

5.Jamie Lenman - Devolver

Year of release: 2017

Genres: Post Hardcore, Punk, Pop Rock, Pop, Indie Rock

Country of origin: England

Like the Idles album, this album is just a collection of brilliant tunes. But, with a twist. Now after having made this album, Jamie did release a covers album this year which was a nostalgic look at his past, but this album is also a nostalgic look at his past too and in my opinion is the greatest piece of work he has released. I still put this album on and I'm still blown away by the production. The guitar tone on this album is heavy as hell, and the riffs and songwriting on the project are all killer. Jamie is another example of one of the best creative artists coming out of England. A singer songwriter who is able to really rock and kick ass.

4. Everything Everything - Get To Heaven

Year of release: 2015

Genres: Art Rock, Art Pop, Experimental Rock, Electronica, Indie Rock, Pop Rock, Pop, Progressive Rock, Math Rock

Country of origin: England

Yes. They are on the top 10 list. This band is just this good. Now, come on. Look at this cover. This is kick ass. But the cover itself is a bit of a distraction, because underneath the oddness of the opening visual, the album itself opens a dangerous and complicated world. A world that 4 years ago were living in, and now has become deformed. This album was able to get a top 40 UK hit while detailing the trail of an Islamist terrorist. I don't think any modern band have the balls or even the talent to pull this off. But luckily this album exists to dispel and exert this fears. Musically complex, raw at times and even a bit odd at times, this is the band's finest work, as it mixes the best parts of their pop and experimental sounds.

3. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience

Year of release: 2013

Genres: Pop, Neo Soul, Soul, Symphonic Rock, R&B, Experimental Rock, Hip Hop

Country of origin: USA

Ok. Let me explain this one. I have always kind of had a soft sound for lil old Justin. But his albums always lacked I found. Or were too long. Or too overblown. And on this project, it is all the problems I just mentioned. This is the oddest pop album ever. Pretty much most songs on this album are close to or over the 8 minute mark, they go on weird experimental jams, at times the song is finished, and Justin is not ready to finish it like a child desperate for attention. But what he wants to tell the audience is so good, he just has to get it out there. And his presentation is just beautiful. Epic soaring strings, heartfelt lyrics, great beats and fantastic musicianship throughout. Justin has always been great at getting multi layered vocals (possibly from his boyband times) on tape and his range on this is superb. The joy that comes from this album is intoxicating. Also, when this album came out, I was put in the middle of a rather uncomfortable situation, and this album really got me through it all. Also, one of my all time favorite albums is Songs In The Key Of Life, and I feel this is a big tribute to that album.

2. David Bowie - Blackstar

Year of release: 2016

Genres: Art Rock, Experimental Rock, Progressive Rock, Jazz, Post Rock, Adult Contemporary, Electronic, Art Pop

Country of origin – England

This one still hurts. The last masterpiece created by one the greatest artists that ever lived. And while it deals with dark subject matters and musically it is rather odd, there is a twisted sense of joy behind it all. As if Bowie knew this was the end and he wanted to make sure his audience was kept well looked after. But this album is still miles ahead of his modern contemporaries. I can't see any artist able to make something so experimental, but yet so accessible at the same time. This album emotionally connected to me because I heard it the day I found out he died. And instead of losing someone, it felt as if I was meeting them for the first time. In an eternal loop. And this is why this album has still stuck with me all these years. In his long and lustrous career it is his greatest work and it is the greatest swan song ever created.

1. Anathema - Weather Systems

Year of release: 2012

Genres: Progressive Rock, Symphonic Rock, Pop Rock, Experimental Rock, New Prog, Art Rock

Country of origin: England

So here we have it. The best album of the decade. Now let me explain. When this album came out, I was dealing with the death of a family member and dealing with other challenges...and this album was the biggest help. This is one of those albums were it is so open ended, you can take it to mean whatever you imagine. Personally I think the album deals with death, but it could also be interpreted as a look into how people deal with personal changes. Musically this album is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard. The raw emotion of Vince Cavanagh's vocals underlayed by the beauty of Lee Douglas' crooning, the orchestral back gushes forward and slams straight into your chest. They did follow this album with 2 great releases, and before this album they had 2 great releases, but personally I believe this to be the bands strongest work, and one of the greatest albums ever made.

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geek-patient-zero · 5 years

Text

Part 1, Chapter 9

Or: Just Spaghetti, Boss

Blood War: Masquerade of the Red Death Trilogy Volume 1

Sicily—March 12, 1994

Sicily is famous for four things: Beautiful beaches, the pride in which Italian-Americans of Sicilian descent take in the island despite having never been there, getting invaded by every country with access to the Mediterranean, and La Cosa Nostra. This chapter’s about the last one.

Don Caravelli, Capo de Capo of the Mafia, rose to his feet as his four guests were ushered into the huge banquet hall. It was a gesture of respect coming from the supreme crime lord in the world, and the quartet of visitors grinned at each other in pleasure. It had taken months to arrange this meeting, and this slight display indicated that their trip was not in vain.

“Gentlemen,” said their host, a huge man well over six feet tall, his broad shoulders stretching the limits of his impeccably tailored jacket, “welcome to my home.”

The four U.S. mobsters, members of an American Syndicate, set this meeting up in an attempt to get their organization closer to “Caravelli’s minions.” Caravelli gestures to some empty chairs and says that a “special meal" is being planned for them.

Caravelli grinned, flashing white teeth in contrast to a deep tan. “I, of course, will not join you.”

The four men said nothing. They all knew that Caravelli was a vampire.

There was a whole sourcebook about the World of Darkness’ version of the Mafia and how it interacted with the supernatural, so there’s basis for some fancy Italian crooks casually knowing that vampires exist without anyone worrying about potential Masquerade breaches. Mobsters must take the whole “no snitching” thing even more seriously here.

The mobsters don’t care that the absolute head of their organization is an undead parasite of infinite evil eternally cursed by God. They’re weirdly cool about it.

They only cared about his criminal empire. His taste in food was none of their concern. They considered themselves businessmen, dealing with the harsh realities of the world. If necessary, they would deal with the devil if it was good for business.

And maybe black people, but only if they really had to.

What? Mafia guys are racist.

As the Don’s explaining why he didn’t meet them at the airport, two Kindred bigger than their McCann-sized boss stand at either side of him, while two more guard the door. With the four mortal dons voluntarily entering the lair of a powerful vampire and his big-ass vampire bodyguards and being all casual about it, I’m starting to wonder how the American Mafia lasted this long.

As explained last time, Don Caravelli’s stuck in his mansion because Madeleine Giovanni’s trying to kill him for killing her father. He probably deserved it, being a Giovanni and all, but Caravelli’s not the nicest guy in Italy either.

“My advisers insist I stay within this fortress until she has been found. While I am no coward, I have barely survived three previous attempts on my life by the bitch. I prefer not to offer her an opportunity for a fourth try.”

Tony “The Tuna” Blanchard, head of the east coast branch, the least intimidated by the Don due to visiting him several times before, and going by the name, part-time Dick Tracy villain, correctly guesses that Caravelli’s talking about “that crazy Giovanni dame.” The Don nods, then sends one of the guards at the door away to get his guests a bottle of red wine, and says they’ll talk about their business proposal after dinner.

After two bottles of wine, they talk about Madeleine some more.

“I’m not sure I understand your problem, Don Caravelli,” said George Kross, the Midwest representative of the cartel. A big, red-faced man with beady little eyes, he spoke with a distinctive Indiana twang.

His dialogue still reads like he’s from 1930′s Chicago.

“Some crazy broad is out to get you? Why don’t you just ice the dame? Fuck, you’re boss of bosses. You could order the death of the President of the whole damned USA if you wanted by liftin’ a finger.”

With the state D.C.’s in, Bill’s likely to get taken out accidentally by a random Sabbat goon, so that ain’t saying much.

“Unfortunately, your commander-in-chief is much easier to reach than a high-ranking member of the Giovanni Clan,” said Don Caravelli smoothly.

Over the past sixty years, Madeleine had taken out six of the Don’s best assassins. Kross asks if she could be bought, “everyone has a price” and all that.

Don Caravelli nodded. “My sentiments as well. However, the Giovanni are a tightly-knit band of troublemakers. They lust for the power I control. And,” the Don shrugged in mock despair, “I made the unfortunate mistake of executing her father many years ago. Madeleine neither forgives nor forgets.”

“Yeah,” said Taylor. “Dames are like that.”

Harvey Taylor, west coast boss and obvious hit with the ladies, knows enough about Kindred to then ask if the Don can’t just ask her clan elders to make her back down. Caravelli says that would work with any other clan, but not the Giovanni.

Don Caravelli rose from his chair. “Let me relate to you gentlemen a bit of Kindred lore unknown to most humans. It will make the situation I face much clearer.”

I’ve seen the word “lore” used so many time in online discussions, both seriously and mockingly, that it’s weird reading it in an actual book.

Yep, this is another lore-dump chapter. This time we’re gonna learn about the cheerful practice of diablerie. But first, Don Caravelli has to set the mood.

The mafia lord walked over to the fireplace. He removed an iron poker from the fireplace tools. Holding the metal rod in one hand, he slapped it rhythmically into his other palm as he spoke.

“As you are well aware, we Kindred live on human blood. It provides us with all the nourishment we need. Vitae, as we call it, is the elixir of life. However, while mortal blood is as wine, Kindred blood is our finest brandy. We call it the darker drink.”

Caravelli smiled, emphasizing each word with a whack of the poker.

Took me a bit to realize that he was just emphasizing the three italicized words and not that whole intro. “As *whack* you *whack* are *whack* well *whack* aware *whack*, we *whack* Kindred *whack*”

“When the opportunity arises, my friends, we Kindred are cannibals. The Sixth Tradition of Caine forbids vampires from drinking the blood of their own kind, but it is largely ignored. The strong obey their own laws.”

Slowly, the mafia chief circled the table, stopping briefly behind each Syndicate chief. None of the four appeared very comfortable with Caravelli standing behind them.

Oh, that’s cute. They all remember the baseball bat scene from The Untouchables.

“Diablerie describes the act of one vampire draining the blood of another. The pleasure derived from such cannibalism is beyond description. More important, however, is the result when it involves a vampire of any generation who drinks the vitae of one of a lower generation. Remember, among my race, the lower the generation, the greater the power!”

...”The life fluid consumed is such a powerful drink that it gives the attacker all of the powers of his victim! It is as if a child suddenly becomes his father, with all of the adult’s vitality. In other words, a sixth-generation vampire who practices diablerie would himself become a fifth-generation Kindred. And gain all of the greater power and strength of that level.”

Don Caravelli leaves out an important detail. See, when a Kindred commits diablerie, they don’t just suck out their victim’s blood. They suck out and absorb the victim’s soul. It’s the soul that lowers their generation. It results in the complete destruction of the victim, and is one of the main reasons why it’s considered such a heinous act. Personally, I find the destruction of a soul in any setting with a confirmed afterlife to be horrifying, but that’s just me.

The Camarilla outright forbids Diablerie, their stated reason being that it’s an evil act. The cynical reason is that the Camarilla system is meant to keep the older and mostly lower generation Kindred in power while the younger ones stay in their place at the bottom. Allowing diablerie would be... detrimental to that system.

There’s an unspoken exception when it comes to the subject of a Blood Hunt, when a Prince of a city puts a hit out on an offending vampire. If you’re allowed to soul-suck the bounty, well that’s just a nice bonus. And if you do, no one will say anything.

The Sabbat on the other hand are cool with diablerie and don’t make any pretenses about it. It fits in with the social darwinism of the Lasombra, the edgelordiness of the Tzimisce, and the overall short-sighted stupidity of the entire sect.

Caravelli continues, saying that from there the newly fifth-gen vampire would have to diablerize a fourth-generation Methuselah for another power boost, and from there having to locate and kill one of the world-ending Antediluvians. He stops there. He doesn’t say anything, but we know that the second generation are all dead, and... I mean in theory it’s possible but, no, you can’t diablerize Caine. The man’s like a tiny god. It ain’t gonna happen.

“I get it, said Sol Cohen, the Syndicate boss of the South who had thus far kept silent. “It’s like moving up the corporate ladder. Or taking steps in our organization. To rise to a level of greater wealth and control, you gotta take out the guy ahead of you in line. That’s the only way to step into his job.”

That’s... not how the mafia’s meant to work, Sol. All that mob talk about oaths of loyalty might not be so unbreakable when the feds get a hold of you, but you’re at least expected to not kill your boss. And it’s probably not a good idea to let the Boss of All Bosses know you think organized crime runs on the Keep What You Kill rule of promotion.

But the don humors him, then sits down again while still holding the poker. He explains that since he’s a fifth-generation Brujah, and Madeleine’s sixth-generation, she’s got further incentive to kill him beyond revenge.

“Man, oh man,” said George Kross. “No wonder you Kindred are so paranoid. Not only are there two sects at war, thirteen distinct clans struggling for power, but every vampire on the block is looking to murder his boss, drink his blood, and then take his place.”

George’s mention of the thirteen clans, which he knows about for some reason, launches Don Caravelli on another lecture about diablerie, Antediluvians, and how that’s also related to his conflict with the Giovanni. He says that while the thirteen Antediluvians were the founders of the modern clans, some of them are not as old as the others, if you catch his meaning.

“Whatcha mean?” asked Sol Cohen. “You’re saying that some other Kindred went and did this diablerie thing on one of the top honchos?”

Caravelli laughed, a full-bodied deep sound that echoed in the chamber. “Honchos! You Americans use such wonderful terms. I must remember that word. It has a certain ring I like.”

The Don’s so amused by our American lingo he finally ditches his poker.

The four Syndicate bosses breathed a sigh of relief. They were all well aware of the fact that they were deep inside an impregnable fortress where Don Caravelli’s word was law. Though their host had been gracious to a fault, none of the quartet felt quite at ease.

The Don continues, talking about how several times over the millennia an original Antediluvian has been diablerized by a fourth-gen vampire, before stopping again.

“You must be hungry. I shall order dinner prepared.” He waved a hand at one of his lieutenants. “By the time my story is finished, it will be here.”

“No disrespect, Don Caravelli,” said George Kross, “but my stomach’s been feelin’ kinda jumpy last few minutes. Combination of that wine and this cannibalism talk. Mind if I take a trip to the john?”

“Of course not,” said the vampire. “Nicko, on your way to the kitchen, show Mr. Kross the facilities.”

Kross wobbled out of the room, his face a pasty green. “George never could handle wine,” remarked Sol Cohen with a laugh. “He’s a beer man from way, way back.”

“I am sure he will be fine.” said Don Caravelli.”

He continues, starting with his own clan, the Brujah. He claims they’re really descended from Troile, a fourth-generation Kindred who killed his sire, the original Brujah Antediluvian.

“In truth, our clan should be named Troile instead of Brujah.”

Not that a clan necessarily has to share their name with their progenitor Antediluvian. The Brujah Antediluvian’s also been called “Ilyes” and “Troile the Elder,” but “Brujah” is another alias for him and that’s the name this story uses.

Tony Blanchard asks the Don what happened to Brujah’s other 4th-generation childer after his death. Caravelli answers that they effectively became clanless, and are rumored to have disappeared into the far east, but no one knows or cares one way or the other. We’ll find out what happened to at least one of those childer later on in the story. As for Brujah’s other childer as a whole, in canon, that has a pretty interesting answer. That’s for even later, though.

“I bet the Giovanni weren’t among those original thirteen,” said Harvey Taylor. “I don’t think there was anybody with a name like that around before the Middle Ages.”

Great observation by Harvey here, but maybe not the best thing to draw attention to unless you want readers to notice that three actually ancient clans also have modern sounding names; the Spanish words for “witch”, “bullfighter”, and “the shadow”.

Don Caravelli tells them how the Giovanni and Tremere came to be. I already told you the Tremere Clan’s origins back in the prologue, but here’s how the Don explains it.

“The Giovanni and the Tremere Clans are comparatively young ones,” stated Don Caravelli. “Their leaders, both extremely ruthless men in life, became equally ruthless Kindred in undeath. Giovanni and Tremere lowered their generation by one act of Diablerie after another. Until finally, when they were fourth generation, they each hunted down an Antediluvian and drank their blood. Thus they gained the full strength of a third-generation vampire for their clan. And thus, by Kindred law, established themselves as a true bloodline.”

According to the wiki, Augustus Giovanni and Lord Tremere skipped lowering their generation to four and went straight for the big guys. Giovanni was already fourth-gen, having been sired by the very Antediluvian he would diablerize. Tremere, meanwhile, just broke into Saulot’s tomb and ate his soul while he was in torpor.

Don Caravelli further explains, when asked about it by Tony Blanchard, that the two new clans then hunted down the rest of the clans whose leaders they just killed. By the time the Camarilla noticed and ordered them to stop, there were only a handful each of the original clans, displaced, newly clanless, members of an extinct bloodline, and now unimportant in the new status quo.

These were all two separate events, by the way. It’s not like Augustus Giovanni and Lord Tremere formed some sort of Asshole Alliance and rose up at the same time.

“Which leads us to what?” asked Harvey Taylor. “I know there’s a point to this story, but I ain’t sure what it is.”

Smart, Harvey. Tell the superpowered undead Godfather to get to the point. I ask you again, how did the American Mafia last this long?

“The lesson is quite simple, Mr. Taylor,” said Don Caravelli. “Of thirteen clans, just these three are descended from vampires who are not eight or nine millennia old. Even immortality becomes boring after six thousand years. The Brujah, the Giovanni, and the Tremere bloodlines are younger, stronger, and more dynamic than the other ten. Though our elders are not as ancient, they possess powers equal to the leaders of any other clan. We are not as weary of undeath. Far fewer of our number have retreated into an eternal torpor. Or abandoned all hope and watched the sun rise.”

Troile’s diablerie happened back during the time of Enoch, the First City, when Caine was still ruling over vampirekind instead of collecting fares in L.A. When it comes to age, there’s very little difference between the Brujah and the very slightly older clans. But hey, here’s the Don acting like his people are the hip new kids in town along with the Tremere and Giovanni. The way I’m tempted to read this is that despite being Master of the Mafia he’s insecure about being a boring old Brujah, and not even the lovable rebel kind, so he’s hyping up the clan to make himself look cooler by association.

“The elders among these three clans know that one of our bloodlines is destined someday to rule the Kindred. Though we forge uneasy alliances, even pursue common goals, we understand that the other two clans are our true rivals among the Cainites. So while I wish Madeleine Giovanni would cease her endless pursuit, I know it will never happen. The Brujah, the Tremere, and the Giovanni are engaged in a secret battle to the death. It is a Blood War. And, in such a fight, there are no compromises.”

You’d think the fact that she’s not randomly killing off every other Brujah and Tremere around would tip Caravelli off that Madeleine’s just pissed about her dad.

“George’s been gone for a long time,” said Tony Blanchard. He chuckled. “Hope he didn’t fall in.”

“I am sure Mr. Kross will be joining us momentarily,” said Don Caravelli. He rose to his feet. “Ah, supper has arrived.”

Three huge Kindred entered the room wheeling a gigantic rolling serving table. On it were three huge silver platters covered in immense lids.”

That’s a lot of spaghetti.

Lifting them off the cart, the attendants placed a platter in front of each of the Syndicate bosses.

“Hey,” said Sol Cohen. “What about George? He should be here.”

You all know what’s coming, don’t you?

Don Caravelli smiled and nodded to his men. Each lifted the lid of a platter. The horrified screams of the three gangsters rebounded off the walls of the chamber for several moments. George Kross had returned, but in pieces. The shocked look on his face, staring with opened eyes from the tray in front of Tony Blanchard, indicated his death had not been a pleasant one.

Or: Just Corpses, Boss

Normally the psycho character pulling this would wait until the other guys ate a few bits of their friend before the reveal, but I understand the Don and his men were working on a time limit.

Don Caravelli reveals that while he was monologuing, one of his men was reading their minds and found out that George was planning for months to learn all the secrets of the Don’s mansion during this meeting, then sell it to the highest bidder.

“The fool. He thought to play me for a fool.”

The Mafia capo grinned savagely. His face no longer appeared the least bit human. His bright eyes glowed blood red.

“His trip to the bathroom was the result of an overwhelming suggestion placed in his mind by my agent. ”

Going by how the story’s portrayed similar powers so far, he did this by thinking “Tummy Ache. Tummy Ache.” at George really hard while having a Mighty Will.

“I thought it best to deal with Mr. Kross outside. It would have been inhospitable to butcher him during our talk.”

The Mafia chieftain gestured and the covers were replaced on the platters. “You gentlemen came to bargain in good faith. I appreciate that. Please be aware that I expect negotiations to run smoothly. I think you will find my terms for your organization most generous.” It was not necessary for the the Don to threaten them any further with the body of George Kross resting in front of them on the table.

Gotta admit, I’m a big fan of that whole “fake politeness” act some villains do.

“In any case, you now know much too much about the Kindred to leave here unchanged,” he declared as the table was cleared. “My second-in-command, Don Lazzari, will shortly feed you some of his blood. The transformation from human to ghoul is quite painless. It will guarantee your silence on what I have told you tonight. And ensure your loyalty to my every wish.”

“I was happy to let you all work on the Honor System, but nooooo, Georgey had to ruin it for everybody.”

So here’s the one time in this book that ghouls are portrayed as slaves to the will of their vampire master instead of just buffed up humans who work for vampires for the perks. There’s one more implied moment later, where one character wonders whether or not another character really is a ghoul, but this is the closest the story gets to explaining it, in that exposition-heavy style it uses to explain everything else about the setting.

Anyway, how will this work? These shmucks are going back to the states, so does that mean Don Lazzari now has to regularly make three vials of his own blood and mail them overseas to keep them loyal? Is this standard procedure for the Mafia? It’d be easier for everyone if the vampire mobsters upheld the Masquerade more and acted like the whole organization’s just mortal Sicilians from the top down.

Don Caravelli nodded at his still-trembling guests. “Perhaps now you understand why Madeleine Giovanni and I cannot make a bargain. Neither of us,” and he laughed and laughed, “is very good at forgiving.”

#vampire the masquerade #vampire: the masquerade #vtm #vtmb #world of darkness #blood war

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