| “ | "I don’t need an introduction. I already know everything there is to know about you." | ” |
| — Richard de Worde the Shadow of London | ||
Richard de Worde is the Nosferatu spymaster of Prince Mithras during the Dark Ages. Originally presumed destroyed pre-V5, he's become Primogen of London in V5 modern days.
De Worde’s underground empire is not only a way to give him a sense of protection, but also an attempt at gaining the respect he feels he deserves. He wants to rule but was never able to before he created his own kingdom.
Rumors of de Worde’s methods of luring mortals to their graves with false pretenses of a club for "outcasts" have come to the attention of younger Kindred in London, who find this behavior despicable. De Worde has used this method ever since he gained a contact in the local newspaper in 1923 and has no intention of stopping his propaganda.
Biography[]
| “ | "One Prince for London Above, another to rule the darkness below." | ” |
| — Richard de Worde the King of Shadows | ||
Original History Pre-V5[]
Dark Ages[]
During the dark ages, Richard de Worde was Mithras’ spymaster. He exploited a wide range of Cainite and mortal agents to gather information for his liege, but he is not a typical Nosferatu. He appears openly at the prince’s court, to the Toreador’s chagrin, and has a haughty manner more in line with a Ventrue or Lasombra.
Richard de Worde serves as the unofficial governor of the eastern districts of London, enforcing the Blood Laws and maintaining order among the Cainite inhabitants. The docks that line the Thames are particularly attractive to the Nosferatu, as are the remains of the Roman sewer system. The Promethean Nosferatu known as Ragged Jenny dominates the underworld of the city and operates a school for mortal and Cainite footpads. Seen as little more than a petty criminal by de Worde, Jenny’s influence in fact rivals his own and extends across Europe.
During his unlife as a vampire he embraced two known childer, Thomas the Rat and Harold Tanner, the latter of which resulted in his Final Death in the spring of 1356 due to contracting the Black Death.
V5 Timeline[]
Mortal Days[]
Richard was born into a large family, with 11 siblings and two struggling parents all living in a farmhouse outside Warwick in the early 11th century. Both of his parents were peasants and lived off whatever the earth provided for them and their children. Early into his childhood, Richard’s father passed away, leaving his mother unable to take care of all 12 children. After developing a severe depression, she sent her children away to fend for themselves.
He developed his first skills in social manipulation and sneaking as he struggled to survive as a young boy on the streets of Warwick. It did not take him long before he had a local townswoman, who was unable to conceive herself, take him and some of his younger siblings under her wing. He grew up cleaning streets, running errands, and escorting wares and goods from vendor to vendor, until he was offered the job of royal rat exterminator in Warwick Castle. From this, he gained a great sense of direction in even the darkest environments, and also knowledge of animal behavior.
Kindred Nights[]
De Worde spent most of the first decades of his unlife in the dungeons of the castle, feeding off rats and other vermin, not understanding what he had become. As he grew more and more disfigured due to the Bane of his clan, the dungeons became his hiding place, yet he yearned to be a part of high society. He often observed the brightly dyed dresses worn by the ladies in the castle, and the jewelry and long capes worn by their husbands and lovers. When a servant fell ill before an annual gathering of local lords, he did not hesitate to say yes when he was invited to clear the tables for the night. Although he had to wear a mask, he was thrilled to be included in the company of others.
Slowly, de Worde made his way through the ranks of the castle. From rat-catcher, to kitchen servant, to stable master, chamber servant, and at last the lord’s adviser. He built his own empire despite his garish looks and his vampiric needs. He quickly learned how to master manipulation, since his looks would not lead the way for social interaction. He became an excellent speaker, and would often be the center of attention at dinners and parties. Mortals fell in love with his words, and this was enough to get them alone in his chamber and use them to satisfy his Hunger.
De Worde’s existence seemed complete. He had all the wealth, connections, and reputation he could hope for, but a deeply rooted need to explore his identity never left his mind. He had yet to see any of his kind. It was only when Mithras came to visit Warwick Castle that de Worde truly realized what he was. Mithras had stared at de Worde and his mask during dinner, so much so that other guests joked about it around them, but this did not make his piercing eyes take leave. De Worde understood the meaning of his intrusive glare, and pulled Mithras aside after the dinner. This was where Mithras told de Worde what he was, and asked him to join his side in London. Having finally found someone of his own kind, de Worde left Warwick that very night with Mithras, never to return.
De Worde knew what his position in Mithras’ London would be, as the undisputed master of disguises and stealth, gathering information. He took it upon himself to become Mithras’ spymaster, using kine and Kindred alike to get the information his master needed. He served Mithras’ faithfully for hundreds of years, and assisted him in building his empire in London. He became a devout initiate in the Mithraic Mysteries, developing a talent for Blood Sorcery under Mithras’ tutelage.
As servant of one of Europe’s most powerful Princes, de Worde travelled frequently to the mainland to get a sense of the wider world. He often found himself appalled by the changing times through the Industrial Revolution, until repulsion grew to indifference. He stopped caring what happened outside his small circle of powerful Kindred, failing in his duties as spymaster, and developed a toxic sense of self-importance and arrogance. He distanced himself from his clan, often calling them “dirty” and not wishing to be in the company of such “unwashed animals,” and treated all new arrivals to London with similar disdain.
In the beginning of the 1900s, de Worde secluded himself even more, and took his leave into the newly-built London Underground system. He kept a constant eye on the growing system, mapping every single nook and cranny while sequestering bits off for his own use, and began to create an underworld empire where he could finally do as he pleased. Had de Worde still been an excellent spy master, Mithras may have forgiven this little show of freedom – but as it was, the master had hard words and punishments for his wayward servant. This provided Valerius, another of Mithras’ disenchanted servants, with the opening he needed to sway de Worde to his side as they betrayed Mithras together.
De Worde spent the next 70 years growing increasingly isolated, withdrawing from the world in favor of his Underworld. He occasionally ran advertisement campaigns designed to lead unsuspecting mortals into his parts of the tunnels, only to be devoured. He also created a set of laws, much like the ones he obeyed in his childhood, and created obscure ranking systems for his servants. All the while, he grew increasingly paranoid of Mithras returning and taking terrible revenge upon him.
Previous to the Fall of London, he was usually present at Elysium and rather a strong motivator to other Kindred. Many were surprised not to see him on the day of the Fall. No one knew how to get in contact with him, as they generally believed he turned up far too often. Most partygoers would off-handedly suggest wandering the London Underground, which they all agreed was de Worde's domain, or asking any Nosferatu they ran into.
During Operation Antigen, De Worde was allegedly destroyed by the Heralds of the Sun, who were seeking the ritual for Mithras' fate.
The King of Shadow[]
Rumor has it they ruled London’s darkest places even before the fall of Queen Anne’s court. If Richard de Worde survived his encounter with the coterie, this might be him. Otherwise, it must be another Nosferatu now claiming the underground tunnel network of the city center as their own.
Cleverly working through what seems like a legion of proxies and servants, few have ever met this self-proclaimed king. They claim no allegiance to the Camarilla or any other sect and have little concern outside of the city itself.
Although commonly thought to be a Nosferatu, nobody really knows for sure. In fact, if the coterie chose to rule London together, the characters might be sharing the mask of the King of Shadows.
Description[]
During the Dark Ages, as Mithras' spymaster, he exploits a wide range of Cainite and mortal agents to gather information for his liege, but he is not a typical Nosferatu. He appears only at the prince's court, to the Toreador's chagrin, and has a haughty manner more in line with a Ventrue or Lasombra.
Later, as the King of Shadows is a mysterious figure in London’s supernatural society. Variously described as a vampire, a criminal kingpin, a champion of the downtrodden, and a ghostly agent of retribution, few know the truth. The darkest and ugliest corners of London now belong to the King, and they suffer no insult and brook no competition.
While the King is not known to foster friendships, they have many agents and allies that serve them across the city, both on the street and below it. These agents can be found everywhere: near train and tube stations, on street corners and bus stops, outside all-night convenience stores, in hostels, under bridges, and in other more downtrodden places.
Many mortals and Kindred alike are in the King’s debt, and those that are foolish enough to become their enemy are seldom seen for long. To be in the King’s favor is considered a blessing by many, and certainly not something to be scorned.
There are many benefits to serving the King of Shadows. They always look out for their own, ensuring their agents are never hungry and never want for a roof over their heads. The King also offers security and sanctuary – many of London’s organized crime syndicates are aware of their existence, but few would dare to cross them.
Loresheet[]
Free Meals: The King of Shadows is aware their Kindred associates need to remain well-fed. To this end, they employ mortals across the city as willing vessels who can be made available to those in need. Once per game session, you may approach the Court of Shadows for sustenance. The vessel will be willing, of a random Resonance, and free of Dyscrasias. If you have any feeding restrictions, the vessel will be compatible with your predilections.- Rumor Mill: The Court of Shadows encourages a lively trade of information and rumors. Once per game session, you may approach the network to exchange useful information. The veracity and accuracy of the information given to you is left to the Storyteller’s discretion, but it should consider the value of the information that you trade in return. If you cannot pay in kind, you may be asked to perform a service for the King instead.
- Contraband: The Court of Shadows is also a place where you can find illegal narcotics, weapons, explosives, and other contraband. Once per story, you may approach the Court of Shadows for what you need. They will be willing to provide, but always at a price, which can be paid in hard currency or with barter – either information or other goods of an equivalently high value.
- Sanctuary: The Court has access to many buildings above ground across the city and many structures below ground, all of which are claimed by the King as their domain. The King’s agents know many hiding places, located where few prying eyes would think to look. Once per story, you may approach the Court of Shadows to request sanctuary. You will be blindfolded, and you will not know where you are taken, but you can be sure that you will be kept safe for as long as you need.
- Favored by the King: You are one of the few Kindred in London who has ever been in the presence of the King of Shadows. For some reason, they have taken an interest in you and regularly correspond and meet with you. The King wears a mask and remains an enigmatic figure, but you know more about them than many others. Once per story, you may call upon the King directly for aid. The manner and degree to which they respond is left to the Storyteller to determine, but it should materially serve your needs in some way.
Appearance[]
De Worde is a tall, lean white man of around 50 mortal years. He wears a pressed, albeit old-fashioned suit with white pinstripes on blue fabric and gold buttons. Everything from his fingernails to his skin looks clean, as if he has not spent any time at all in the underground. He refuses to exist like his clanmates and believes he goes against the stream by decorating his bunker. He always carries a cane around with him, which he keeps in pristine condition.
De Worde would be considered an attractive man by Western standards—if not for the clan Bane that changed him. The skin on the left side of his face lies in folds over his skull, and a flap of skin from a collapsed eyebrow covers his left eye, while his left lower lip droops and hangs, exposing his left fang amid cyst-pocked gums.
The entire right side of his face is dead tissue that does not regrow despite his attempts using the blood. A large number of his teeth on the right side are likewise exposed, as the lips and skin around them have simply disappeared, and his right eye has sunken into his skull as the eye socket is unnaturally deep. His body, arms, and legs are covered with cysts of various sizes growing in between patches of dead skin.
After his retreat to the Underground, de Worde stopped caring about the way he projected himself to the world. The only way he tries to keep the Masquerade is by not making it painfully obvious what his true intention is with his ads in the newspaper. He covers it up by making it a club for social outcasts, and this has worked for him for decades.
Character Sheet[]
Note: Richard de Worde has the highest statistical score among all elders released for the Fifth Edition. He surpasses the Methuselahs Nerissa Blackwater and Roger de Camden in attributes and skills. His number of disciplines is equal to that of Critias, and his overall stats could rival those of Mithras and Helena if his Blood Potency were higher, despite having fewer points in disciplines than both.
Trivia[]
- Despite being nearly a millennium old, for all practical purposes, he is considered an elder—not only because he is under a thousand years old but also because he is of the 7th generation. If using the Gehenna War system for Elders and Methuselahs, consider him an elder.
- The Nosferatu is usually present at Elysium in London and is rather a gadfly to other Kindred.
- No one knows how to get in contact with him, as they generally believe he turns up far too often.
- It is never elaborated on how Richard de Worde survived into the 21st century, despite his childe's character sheet, Harold Tanner, in London by Night stating that Richard de Worde met "Final Death in the spring of 1356" due to the Black Death.
- There are conflicting accounts of Generation between Richard de Worde and his respective childer due to his introduction into V5. Both Thomas and Harold Tanner are described as 9th Generation in Dark Ages: British Isles and London by Night, but Richard is described as 7th in Fall of London, when he should be 8th. The only logical explanation that one can assume is that Richard diablarised some unknown vampire at some point after he embraced both his childer.
- Mithras gifted an Egyptian dagger to de Worde, which he has kept on him ever since. Mithras allowed de Worde to keep it after his punishment, miscalculating that his spymaster would return to loyal duty rather than betray him. The dagger now holds powers vital to de Worde’s Underworld, and he is unwilling to give it up.
- Rea is de Worde’s childe and love interest. He encountered her as a potential victim when he lured her into the tunnels through his flyers on the street but took a liking to the girl and shortly after embraced her. The two have been inseparable ever since.
- No one knows what is truly going on in the Underground, and de Worde likes to keep it that way. Many wonder what it is he is trying to keep safe, and some Kindred believe he is making deals with serial killers to operate away from the prying eyes of the public in the underground. De Worde even managed to shut down CCTV for certain periods of time in parts of his tunnels.
- Among newer Kindred, doubts as to whether de Worde even exists have started to spread. He never shows up to Elysia, and even his own clan members have doubts—wondering if he has succumbed to final death or lies staked somewhere.
Gallery[]
References[]
- DAV: Dark Ages: Europe, p. 18
- VTM: Fall of London, p. 135-137
- VTES: Fall of London
- ↑ VAV: London by Night, p. 90
- ↑ VTM: Fall of London, p. 135
- ↑ VAV: London by Night, p. 90
- ↑ DA: Dark Ages: British Isles, p. 121
- ↑ VTM: Fall of London, p. 136