Tiberiu

Tiberiu, the messenger was a Gangrel under the service of Voivode Radu of Bistritz and later, Dracula himself (to this day), in Transylvania.

He acted as messenger, diplomat, spy and carriage coachman throughout the centuries.

Biography
After the violent death of his sire, Tiberiu chose to serve Arnulf, the Gangrel Inconnu who sired Mitru and dozens of other Gangrel throughout Eastern Europe. Once, Transylvania was an uncivilized land constantly overrun by invading barbarian tribes. This is the way most Gangrel remember the voivodate – brutal and violent.

By the end of the 12th century, Arnulf and his most trusted childer were ashamed, for the cities of Transylvania were encroaching upon the wilderness. For the humans, survival depended on overbreeding and farming, not the glorious achievements of feral creatures. Arnulf’s childer spread throughout the land, waiting for the day when the cities of the East would be laid low and the barbarians returned.

Tiberiu was first employed as part of a campaign against the mortal city of Hermanstadt. With typical Gangrel fury, Arnulf’s newest prodigy was eager to command the packs of wolves in the forest and assault a nearby castle built on a hill overlooking the town. He was so skilled at commanding  these packs that the Cainites residing in the fortress overlooking the city (Zelios the Master Mason and Marusca,  his newly created childe) never discovered the tactician behind these assaults.

Tiberiu was fearful of retribution from Zelios. When the Master Mason’s childe, Marusca, eventually killed the Eastern lord who was to inhabit the castle, Tiberiu’s fear increased. Radu offered Tiberiu sanctuary as he plotted his next scheme. When news of the Council of Ashes at last reached the two Cainites, Radu decided to petition to join the council. In doing so, he would keep his staunchest ally close and his enemies closer. Thus, he would learn far more than if he simply waged war against them.

Through Radu’s politicking, Tiberiu became the messenger between the Seven Domains. As the other princes never suspected Tiberiu’s past, the Gangrel was able to make sure they never found out. Of course, the other princes never suspected that Tiberiu had since declared a Blood Oath to Radu. They were unaware that the messages carried across the dark forests were often relayed to Radu later. Their conspiracy continued, and Tiberiu were informed of many of the most important decisions of the Cainite princes.

(...)

Even after the fall of the Council of Ashes, Tiberiu possessed a modicum of status among the members of his clan, as he was the former messenger of the coterie of elders who once rule Transylvania. However, bound by oaths of blood, he betrayed many of the secrets he was asked to carry to Count Radu, the Tzimisce who held him in thrall.

Since then, Tiberiu has since risen in status. He has become instrumental in carrying the plans of Tzimisce elders from knezate to knezate. As the Fiends become more concerned with mortal politics, their Gangrel servant not only becomes more useful, but also develops diplomatic skills. Mitru, Marusca and Ruxandra still consider him a staunch ally, as he periodically gives them choice morsels of information. Ultimately, however, were it not for his bond to Radu, his true loyalty would be to himself first.

Tiberiu often travels by coach, proudly commanding the team of fell beasts that draw it. Closer examination of these mounts reveals that their muscular tissue has been sculpted, undoubtedly by Vicissitude. Most passengers don’t realize that these beasts have portions of human bodies grafted into their physiognomy. Once each week, they are fed with vampiric vitae, magnifying their strength and stamina to obscene proportions.

As time moved on and centuries passed, Tiberiu continued to acted as a scout and messenger to the most remote realms of Eastern Europe. Throughout the 19th century, he remained a faithful servant to both Radu Bistri and Vlad Dracula. When Radu left for the New World, Tiberiu stayed in Transylvania to serve Dracula. Throughout the Victorian Age, those who wished an audience with the Son of the Dragon summoned Tiberiu to Bistria. The mysterious Transylvanian cautiously took them in a rickety coach through the dismal mountain roads leading to Borgo Pass.

While Radu remained an anachronism in a rapidly changing world, Vlad Tepes wanted to evolve with this new age. In a vain attempt to side with the Camarilla, the Son of the Dragon attempted to set up a series of havens in the heart of London. Tiberiu himself led a solicitor named Renfield, the poor fool who later became Dracula’s favored ghoul, to the castle in Borgo Pass. Just as Tiberiu assisted Vlad in escaping across the Carpathians in the 15th century, the Gangrel minion worked with Renfield to organize his master’s voyage from Varna to Whitby. Dracula’s scheme failed utterly, however, and within a few years, Tiberiu again aided the Son of the Dragon when he fled back to Transylvania.

Cardinal Radu was overjoyed to hear of his rival’s failure and immediately returned to Transylvania to exploit further political opportunities. There he learned of the unwholesome activities of the childe of Vassily Taltos, recent victories of the Inquisition and an ancient tome called the Incunabulum Kupalam. Tiberiu was then enlisted to deliver messages to many of Radu’s old confidants, including Nova Arpad and a rather remarkable conspiracy of elders from Transylvania.

In the century that follows, Tiberiu continues to serve as a messenger for what is left of the Council of Ashes, a conspiracy of vampiric once weres from the Dark Ages. He also fares poorly in the struggle against the Beast over the intervening centuries, and takes on many aspects of the bears, wolves and bats of his homeland at the foot of the Carpathians.

Backgrounds
Note: Tiberiu displayed those backgrounds during the period of 1450 to 1500 AD.

Image: This messenger is tall, pale and scarred. He looks as though he survived the worst that Transylvania has to offer. Flowing dark hair trails behind him as he runs through the woods. His demeanor has become increasingly inhuman. His eyes are bloodshot, and his skin grows more pallid with each passing year. When he hears the cries of wolves in the night, he yearns to follow them.

Roleplaying Hints: Across the years, you have become cold and uncaring. You no longer consider the results of his actions; only your obedience to Radu matters. Nothing shocks you, and you stop at nothing to fulfill your master’s desires.

Secrets:  Unknown  to  Radu,  Tiberiu  still  has  occasion  to  visit  the  former  members  of  the  Council of Ashes. The  viciousness  with  which they’ve turned on one another does not surprise him. Still, he occasionally relays a choice bit of news to one of his former allies. This demonstrates a marginal amount of freedom and allows him a small bit of revenge against those who would try to exploit him. He has also had opportunities to speak with Lupines. Tiberiu has risked his life by traveling to the Sept of the Night Sky in the southern Carpathians.

Influence: Tiberiu trades information with a host of contacts throughout Transylvania. This is a considerable advantage, as he is privy to many secrets others would dearly love to know. Much of what he hears, however, is whispered to his master, Count Radu.

Destiny: One night Radu will learn of one of Tiberiu’s indiscretions. He will grow furious, exacting his anger on his servant’s very flesh. After Radu’s torture, Tiberiu will become stooped and hideous. He’ll learn to fear the kiss of a whip and the back of his master’s hand.

Character Sheet
Note: Tiberiu displayed those traits during the period of 1450 to 1500 AD. Clan: Gangrel Sire: Harnuth Nature: Survivor Demeanor: Loner Generation: 10th Apparent Age: 23 Physical: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 4 Social: Charisma 3, Manipulation 3, Appearance 4 Mental: Perception 3, Intelligence 2, Wits 2 Talents: Alertness 2, Brawl 2, Dodge 2 Skills: Animal Ken 3, Melee 2, Ride (Drive carriage) 4, Stealth 2 Knowledges: Investigation 2, Occult 1 Disciplines: Celerity 5, Animalism 2, Protean 4 Backgrounds: Allies 4, Contacts 5, Mentor 4, Status 2 Virtues: Conviction 3, Instinct 3, Courage 4, Road: Beast 6 Willpower: 6