The Shadows Keep Watch

Wind in the black wolf's face, clean and crisp. Grass and soil under his paws. There was a barely a noise as he passed by, silent as a wraith. He wasn't hunting tonight, but the scent of deer made his stomach rumble anyway, and he was tempted to give chase. It had been far too long. Far, far too long since he allowed himself the freedom from the leech to do what he was meant to do. When a large buck was flushed from the underbrush, he turned follow it without a second thought. The buck was fast but he was faster, and with a growl he leapt, sinking his teeth into the buck's neck. When the animal quit struggling, he tore into it, his growls changing tone to contentment.

It was strange, being free of the leech. It had been...decades. Decades since he'd been free of Alessandro Romero's influence. And while he didn't regret the work he did, pushing the leech to attack the enemies of the Sept, it was strange no longer feeling the leech's influence in his mind and thoughts. Hell. No longer having his blood was having an effect on him. The wolf growled as he tasted the buck's blood, and he sought out more of it almost automatically. It was hot and tasted of the deer, not cold vampire blood, but it still helped to ease the cravings that were still wracking him. It would have been worse had he not been able to break the leech's blood bond.

What Alessandro had been thinking, going to the Fae, the wolf hadn't a clue, but he suspected it had something to do with Alessandro's new fling, Oni. A Garou. A Silent Strider, and one not particularly in high regard in the Sept. Hmm. The wolf thought about it as he tore into the buck's muscled leg. The vampire had gone to the Fae with something their king desperately wanted, and in return he'd been...changed. Not human, but Fae. Acceptable to the Garou, and no longer suffering the blood hunger. Which was fortunate for him, because he'd been nearly to a point where human blood wouldn't sate him at all. 

No, the wolf decided. Oni may have been a catalyst, but she was not the cause of this, and it was fortunate that her presence had spurred the leech on to do what he did. The wolf hadn't relished the idea of having to put that one down. He was far too old, far too powerful. He licked his muzzle as he stepped away from the half-eaten buck. He could hear other animals nearby, waiting for the bigger predator to leave so they could eat their fill as well, and he walked away, towards a clearing where there stood a small house.

The wolf laid down then, watching it. It was quiet right now, in the early morning hours, but he could smell them in there. Oni, her pack, her human charges, and the big ocean-scented Fera. He curled up with his head on his paws and his bushy black tail covering his nose. With his stomach full, now was the time to think, while birds just started to wake and the world started to come alive again.

Edmund. Edmund was going to be a problem. The wolf could sense it and what's more, so could Alessandro. The former vampire had confided as much to him earlier. Edmund had taken to his new place as Prince of New York without so much as a hitch, like a duck to water. What's more, he still worked against Alessandro. Both Alessandro and the wolf could sense things hunting them in the dark, but nothing either did would reveal them. Meanwhile, Edmund was working behind the scenes of the local government. The mayor was in his pocket, for sure. Probably others. It worried him, as it had worried Alessandro earlier.

And so he was here. Something had to be done to curb the Malkavian's power. A good attack would bring on Edmund's madness, or so Alessandro said as he plotted to do something himself. But it was dangerous for the Fae now. No. The Garou couldn't count on Alessandro to do something. They needed to make sure. They might not be able to kill Edmund, but they could very likely make sure he'd not be a problem for a while.

With the sun up higher and the Fera and three of the human charges, the doctor and the two children, off to do whatever they did during the day, the wolf got to his feet. He threw his head back and howled, loud and long. There was a supernatural edge to the howl, a sense of the Wyld. A summons for Oni herself, or at least someone in her pack.

Bio for Morbid Aristocracy

Name: Daniel "Fangs-of-Shadow" Sorrentino
Date of Birth: November 23, 1922
Apparent Age: Late 40s
Place of Birth: New York City
Current Home: New York City
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 215 lbs
Sex: Male
PB: James Hetfield

Nature: (A character's basic personality, their fundamental behavior and perception of the world.)

Gallant: Gallants are flamboyant souls, always seeking attention and the chance to be the brightest star. Gallants seek the company of others, if only to earn their adoration. Attention drives the Gallant, and the chase is often as important as its end. Nothing excites a Gallant so much as a new audience to woo. Performers, only children, and those with low self-esteem often embody the Gallant Archetype. Kindred Gallants may be Harpies, or they may have enormous herds of doting thralls.

Demeanor: (The image the character projects to the outside world.)

Rogue: Only one thing matters to the Rogue: herself. To each his own, and if others cannot protect their claims, they have no right to them. The Rogue is not necessarily a thug or bully, however. She simply refuses to succumb to the whims of others. Rogues almost universally possess a sense of self sufficiency. They have their own best interests in mind at all times. Prostitutes, capitalists and criminals all embody the Rogue Archetype

Jewelry: Wears a ring on his left hand. It's a heavy, old fashioned gold ring with a large garnet in the center held by a dragon's claw. The decorative bits of the ring are, in fact, sharp enough to draw blood.

Race: Garou
Tribe: Shadow Lords
Camp: Bringers of Light
Auspice: Galliard
Personal Totem: Seadrake
Occupation: Bodyguard ("Consigliere" or chief advisor to one of the local Mafia bosses)

Merit:

• Gall - Audacity, guts, pluck - whatever it's called, you've got it. You aren't afraid to stand up to anyone, from naughty children to tribal leaders. This isn't brash, foolhardy behavior; you're still polite, after all. You simply don't get the shakes when the Silver Fang Ahroun comes over to speak to you. Many respect you for your honesty and forthrightness. Add an extra die to any Social roll involving a display of backbone.
• Black Market Ties - You have special ties to the underground shopping network, ties that help you acquire hard-to-find equipment. This Merit adds one die per point to your Streetwise roll when trying, for instance, to obtain black market weaponry. Difficulties for such rolls are left up to the Storyteller (typically 7 or higher). The point cost reflects how "connected" you may be. The Storyteller may allow you to use your black market connections during the game to provide you with needed or useful equipment. Such connections will not simply hand you whatever you want — these things don't come cheap! It is up to the Storyteller to determine the quantity, quality and availability of the equipment. He may feel free to disallow it entirely if such connections would unbalance the game.
  One point — Small items: ammo, low-clearance ID badges, good software
  Two points — Average items: guns, hi-tech software, special ammo
  Three points — Fancy items: antique cars, explosives, automatic weapons
  Four points — Hefty items: heavy weapons, high-security IDs or access codes
  Five points — "Yeah, right. Maybe next game.": hi-tech military weapons, high explosives, military vehicles
• Underworld Ties - You have both influence over and contacts in the local Mafia and organized street gangs. This provides you with limited access to large numbers of "soldiers," as well as extensive links to the underworld of crime. The more often you use your ties with the criminal element, the weaker they grow.

Flaw:

• Cast No Reflection (automatic for Lasombra) - You actually cast no reflection, just like the vampire of legend. This can have a very detrimental effect when trying to pass as a human. Vampires of Clan Lasombra automatically have this Flaw (and you may be mistaken for one of them if you possess this) and cannot take it to gain Freebie Points.
• Poseidon's Call - Your self-control varies with the weather. Make rolls to resist frenzy at -1 difficulty in completely calm weather, but +1 difficulty on rough seas, +2 in thunderstorms and +3 in hurricanes.
• Addiction - You are addicted to any one of a variety of things. A one-point Flaw would be a mild addiction to an easily obtained substance, such as caffeine, nicotine or alcohol. A two-point Flaw would be either a severe addiction to any easily obtained substance, or any "mild" drug, such as painkillers, sleeping pills or marijuana. A three-point Addiction involves the heavy street drugs or hard-to-find drugs. The need for these drugs varies from once a day for some to two to three times a day for others, depending on the strength of the drug and the addiction. If, for whatever reason, you are denied access to the drug, you lose the number of dice equal to the level of your addiction (one, two or three) until you receive your "fix." If you are deprived of the drugs for an extended length of time, you will be forced to make a Willpower check (difficulty of 4 for the first day, + 1 for each additional day). If you fail, you will forgo everything and forcibly go seeking the drug. This would be an easy way for you to be either controlled or forced to do favors for your supplier, especially if the drug is hard to obtain due to its rarity or price.
• Dark Secret - You have some sort of secret that, if uncovered, would be of immense embarrassment to you and would make you a pariah among your peers. While this secret weighs on your mind at all times, it will only surface in occasional stories. Otherwise, it will begin to lose its impact.

( Cut for TL;DR about Gifts )

History: Daniel Sorrentino was born on November 23, 1922 in the predominantly Italian neighborhood of East Harlem. He is youngest son of Italian immigrants who arrived in New York from Sicily in 1914. His father was a Shadow Lord, a Garou. His mother was kinfolk. He lived in a run-down, crowded little apartment with his parents and six older brothers and sisters. Along with his siblings, he was on track for a life of crime in the overwhelmingly poor neighborhood when WWII broke out and he was drafted into the Army.

Daniel's unit fought in the war in Europe, first in France, then up through Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. Shot in the leg early in 1945, once Italy was freed from German control and Daniel could move on his own, he convinced his commanders to allow him to check on relatives in Sicily before he returned to the US. He was able to visit several cities in Italy before making his way down to Sicily to see relatives.

After learning he was to be discharged from the army, relatives in Sicily helped him get in touch with mafia connections in the US. When Daniel returned to the US, he spent a brief period in a military hospital while doctors checked his leg, before being discharged. He returned home to New York City soon after, and began his career in the mafia.

It was in the year after his return to New York, as he was establishing himself in the local Mafia, that Daniel suffered his First Change. Having been ambushed by a pair of vampires working for a rival gang, he thought he was done for...until the Rage clouded his mind and he felt himself changing. He came to with three of the local Shadow Lords, including his father, surrounding him, telling him what he was. After passing his Rite of Passage, the young Garou drew the attention of the Bringers of Light.

Daniel Sorrentino met Alessandro Romero in the early 1970's. A fairly successful capo in charge of several soldiers in the family, Daniel's leadership, ability to turn a profit, and a talent for avoiding notice by the police drew the attention of the family's mostly-invisible vampire patron. Convinced Daniel would make a useful tool, the vampire gave him no choice but to accept his blood. Daniel allowed it, in part because Alessandro was considered one of the most potent threats against the Garou in the area, and having an eye on him could only benefit the Garou if something should happen. He played the part of a loyal ghoul.

Daniel's performance in the family increased considerably after that. The ghoul showed a talent for learning vampire Disciplines that pleased Alessandro. Thanks to adept use of Garou Gifts and vampire Disciplines, Daniel's profits for the family and his commitment to keeping the police out of family affairs eventually caught the eye of the underboss of the family, who made Daniel his advisor once he ascended to lead the family.

Daniel Sorrentino currently serves as Alessandro Romero's bodyguard and head of security, in addition to his duties as advisor within the crime family. Though one of his duties to the mafia boss is to keep an eye on Lazarus Corporation activities, as the family makes a tidy profit off of Alessandro Romero's business, it usually ends up being one of the primary means for Alessandro to keep tabs on and control the family's business. Daniel makes unashamed use of various abilities to ensure Alessandro's will is carried out.

As Alessandro's bodyguard and head of security, he's in charge of security for both Lazarus Corporation buildings and Alessandro's yacht, Spectre. Though his job includes very little actual bodyguard work, except in rare cases of meetings with other Kindred, he is often given fairly complex tasks, some of which Alessandro is unwilling to do himself.

After being caught in a drive-by shooting at a funeral for one of Lazarus Corporation's clients, Alessandro made the decision to turn Daniel, rather than risk losing his most valuable tool. Though the vampire thought he turned Daniel, the Garou was faking it, and later was able to fake the signs of being a vampire, himself. It does, however, take a toll on him. The longer he keeps up the charade, the more vampire-like habits and corruption threaten to stick to him.

Personality and Skills notes:

• As the son of Italian immigrants his knowledge of Italian was mostly limited to the spoken language when he was younger, but he is now a fluent speaker, though he speaks it with a New York accent.
• He has about as much use for computers as Alessandro, and uses smart phones and computers only grudgingly. It's usually easier to convince someone else to hack a computer than to learn to do it himself.
• Excellent shot with both hand guns and larger rifles. He's been taught how to use a sword by Alessandro and regularly trains with the former vampire. He has a gladius similar to Alessandro's that he carries when he's on business for him.
• He finds mirrors creepy, especially since he stopped showing up in them, and avoids them like the plague.
• Though his first duty is to Alessandro, he enjoys rock, especially classic rock, and tries not to miss major concerts.
• Has been investigated numerous times for his crimes in relation to the crime family, but mysteriously, each and every investigation has ended in the early stages and evidence tends to go missing. Has never been convicted or jailed.
• The fact that he's in his 90s but hasn't aged a day since the early 1970's is an open secret among those high up in the crime family. Subtle use of both Gifts and threats guarantees that no one has talked. His current driver's license lists him as 46 years old.
• Though he's a Garou, he has a hunger for blood, particularly human or vampire blood, that is a direct result of being a vampire's ghoul for so long. Around someone bleeding, he has to maintain iron control or he risks frenzy.
• Most of the local Garou sept knows him as Fangs-of-Shadow. He's kept his true tribe and auspice a secret, and so they mostly assume he's a lupus, probably Shadow Lord.