Roland is a Gangrel of 8th Generation from Tierburg, Indiana.
Biography[]
Roland was born in a farmhouse near Tierburg. Although his father was of German descent and his mother had French blood in her ancestry, they were both American. His parents did not believe in formal education. They taught him to read and write English but encouraged him to learn through practical experience. Indeed, over the years Roland has worked as carpenter, construction worker, farmhand, and lumberjack. He has seen much of Indiana and Illinois, and experienced a good part of the 20th century. But he has always returned to familiar Tierburg. In his retirement, he bought a small home near town and began hobby farming.
All his family and friends are dead. He has never been very social and is now afraid to invest his feelings in others. A reputation for being a loner saves him the trouble of dealing with people. Roland is actually very emotional but feels trapped by the traditional idea of masculinity. He refuses to admit that he loves children, and will not permit himself to cry. He bought a dog to keep him company, and Durendal has since been a faithful friend.
During his long life, he has witnessed some strange events, most of which occurred near Tierburg at night. As a result, he readily accepts the "unnatural", from ghosts to the Loch Ness monster. These beliefs were reinforced when, two weeks ago, Bigfoot started to come around his house at night. At first, Durendal would bark and Roland would hear noises coming from the woodshed. He was reluctant to let Durendal - his only friend - outside, in case the skulking creature was a wolf or bear. Then one night the creature looked in his kitchen window. It scared the hell out of him. He saw it for but a second, but the furry man-like creature could only be a Sasquatch!
Five nights ago, after about a week of nightly visits from Bigfoot, Roland decided to introduce the creature to his shotgun. He knew the creature was nearby when Durendal hid under the kitchen table and started to whine. Stepping outside with flashlight and shotgun, Roland though he saw something up by the barn, but it moved so quickly - could it have been his imagination? Suddenly he was grabbed from behind and felt a pain in his neck. The shotgun went off. The flashlight rolled around on the ground, stabbing the darkness like a miniature lighthouse. As he lay on his driveway, watching the stars wink out as the life drained from his body, he though: "Now they'll believe in Bigfoot."
Roland woke with a stiff neck. But he felt infinitely more alive and full of energy. Even his eyesight seemed better than before - he could almost see in the dark! Forgetting the strange events of earlier that night, Roland had a sudden urge to go hiking. During this aimless walk he arrived at an unused sand pit and discovered a horribly mangled corpse. He immediately returned home and phones the police. The rest of the night passed while he answered their questions. When his rosters announced the coming dawn, Roland realized he was exhausted and that the light gave him a headache. Almost unconsciously, he ended up sleeping in a basement closet.
When "Bigfoot" returned the following night, Roland was not afraid but drawn to it. Since then, this creature and Roland have spent every night together in the wilderness, speaking of things which no mortal should ever hear. When his Sire became too tired to visit the house, Roland would walk out to Pine Rock Ridge for the night.
Roland is much more than he first appears: he is an old man, and at the same time still a Childe; yet he is stronger and more knowledgeable than either. He claims that good eating habits, regular exercise, and the clean country air keep him healthy. That may have been true when he was mortal, but now it has more to do with the potent vitae coursing through his veins. His gruff exterior serves him well in this new existence by keeping humans away. He does not have to deal with certain urges, but can survive as a farmer (in more ways than one).
Image[]
An old, wrinkled man with a tanned and wiry body. He has a full head of white hair, a white-stubbled chin, and deep-set gray eyes. He always wears green coveralls, a red and black checkered jacket, and work boots.
Character Sheet[]
First Edition[]
References[]
- WWM: White Wolf Magazine 32, p. 47-48