Marc Levesque is a Brujah childer of Balthazar who, after being supposedly killed, returned as Gérard, but he is not good at keeping a low profile. Sure, he is diligent about keeping his face covered, and over the years he has grown accustomed to being called "Gérard" instead of "Frenchie," but he does not have the temperament to keep his head down. Instead, he is prone to rash acts of destruction and violence. More than once he has nearly struck down Balthazar or people who mention Balthazar's name, so he seeks a way to maintain self-control.
Biography[]
| “ | Non sire, ce n’est pas une révolte, c’est une révolution. | ” |
Mortal Days[]
Levesque is a proud French Canadian, from a long line of proud French Canadians. As a radical Québécois, he longs for independence for Quebec. Such a movement wasn’t well organized in the late 1860s when he was growing up, but he was still fiercely devoted to the cause.
His first rebellious act was to paint a mustache on a bust of Queen Victoria at the tender age of 12. As he matured, his plans grew more sophisticated, such as throwing paint or acid on English citizens, or bombing their homes and businesses at night.
During a trip to Quebec to recruit soldiers for the Confederate cause, Thomas Ewell met Levesque, and Ewell was attracted to the Québécois’ revolutionary fervor. The two became friends, and when the American Civil War broke out, Levesque helped Ewell acquire supplies and explosives to send back south. After Ewell was Embraced as a vampire, the two maintained a regular, friendly correspondence.
In 1870, Ewell helped Levesque plan his most daring act of sabotage yet: the bombing of a post office. The plan was foolproof, but things went wrong when Levesque’s companion tripped while throwing a bundle of lit dynamite. The Québécois barely managed to dive behind a carriage before the explosion killed his compatriot. While Levesque survived, he was badly injured. Not wanting to seek medical treatment and risk arrest, he managed to limp and crawl his way back to the basement of his hideout. Levesque was on the brink of death when Ewell discovered him several nights later.
Kindred Nights[]
The two slept in the basement, and the following evening Ewell — named “Balthazar” in his immortal state — took his new childe Levesque to meet Balthazar’s sire, Alexis Blanc. Within moments Levesque was smitten by the beautiful French vampire, but the woman was angry. It wasn’t until much later that Levesque learned he had been Embraced without Alexis’ knowledge or permission. Balthazar was sent away, and Alexis offered her vitae to Levesque over the next three nights. During that time, she was comforting, witty, and elegant, and Levesque feel deeply in love with her. Eventually Balthazar was forgiven, and the three of them became fast friends.
They talked a lot about uprisings, politics, and the creation of a Brujah state, but Levesque didn’t need to be sold. His sire was his friend, and his grand-sire was the love of his life — for them, he would go anywhere. Then, it all went wrong.
He was lying next to his true love, his grand-sire, becoming sleepy as the sun threatened to peek over the horizon. One moment his eyes were closed as he enjoyed the gentle pull into torpid slumber, and the next he heard a scream. He turned to see Alexis with a stake buried in her chest, and Balthazar holding it. Levesque could smell smoke and hear the crackle of flames as their haven was put to the torch. Balthazar grabbed his childe and threw him out the back door, telling him to run. With the first rays of the sun peeking over the horizon, Levesque had little choice.
It wasn’t until months later that Levesque learned what had happened: Balthazar sold them out to the Ventrue in exchange for money and a comfortable position within the Camarilla. For several years the mere mention of Balthazar’s name spurred Levesque into frenzy. Levesque also learned about the Blood Bond, but refused to believe that what he shared with Alexis was anything but pure and spiritual love. He continued to collaborate with the local Anarchs, particularly Anita Wainwright and her lover and sire, Dooley.
The Lupines attacked in the ‘90s. Havens and Elysia were all raided by the werewolves, and many Kindred died in the conflict. Anita’s Anarch group was hit as well, and Levesque managed to help Anita get to safety before he fell under their claws. He spent the last of his blood to merge with the Earth, but not before the sun had started to burn his flesh, leaving the grass covered in ash.
Levesque spent years in torpor under the ground, recovering. Eventually the ground ejected him near a group of mortals looking for a geocache. Without thinking, Levesque murdered all of them and drank their blood, before slipping away. He wandered aimlessly until he found a basement in an abandoned building. A glance in a broken mirror over a rusty sink told him the claws of the Lupines added even more scars to his face. Once again, he escaped a burning building. Once again, he was horribly injured and scarred. Once again, he recovered in a basement.
By the time he had fully recovered, he learned the Kindred of the city believed him to be dead, but his hated sire was still alive. Hiding his face and going by the name “Gérard,” after the poet Gérard de Nerval, he claimed to be a Caitiff new to the city. Learning Anita also survived but also lost her lover, Gérard spent several months proving she was trustworthy before revealing himself to her. Now the two Anarchs plot and scheme, but at cross purposes. Anita is trying to play all sides against each other to further the cause, but Gérard only wants one thing: to kill Balthazar with his own hands.
Appearance[]
At one time, Gérard looked like a dashing young French-Canadian. Upon his Embrace, he gained several scars all over his body, including his face, but they simply added to his roguish charm, making him appear dangerous. After the Lupine attack, even more scars cover his face, making him almost unrecognizable. These nights, Gérard tends to wear hoodies, balaclavas, bandanas, fashionable medical masks, or other items of clothing to hide his face. He claims it’s to keep people from being disgusted with his scars, but in truth it’s to make sure no one recognizes him. Gérard is the Mask. When he has to pose as a mortal, he adopts the guise of a war veteran, an international student, or a tourist recently involved in a car accident.
Character Sheet[]
CbN 1nd Edition[]
Image: A dashing young French-Canadian with several noticeable scars on his face.
Roleplaying Hints:: You speak with an exaggerated French-Canadian accent, proudly emphasizing your heritage. Frequently use phrases like: Coup de grâce (the deathblow); Nostalgie de la boue (yearning for the mud); Éminence grise (the power behind the throne) ; Ménage à trois. You despise your nickname (Frenchie) and will become enraged if anyone uses it in your presence.
Haven:: A house near Chicago Stadium, where the Blackhawks play.
Secrets:: C
Influence: Levesque’s retainers are fellow French-Canadians who serve as drivers, bodyguards, and informants.
Fifth Edition[]
Galery[]
References[]
- VTM: Chicago by Night, p. 69-70
- VTM: Chicago by Night, p. 60, 77
- VTM: Chicago by Night 5th Edition, p. 99-101
- ↑ VTM: Under a Blood Red Moon, p. 54
