Name: Raymond Cross
Player: Jeremy Lahnum
Text by, Jeremy Lahnum
E-mail Address: vex89@hotmail.com
Chronicle: Monterey/Vampire
Nature: Director
Demeanor: Architect
Clan: Tremere
Generation: 13th
Haven: Destroyed
Concept: Negotiater

ATTRIBUTES:
Physical: Strength-2, Dexterity-2, Stamina-2
Social: Charisma-3, Manipulation-3, Appearance-2
Mental: Perception-2, Intelligence-4, Wits-4

ABILITIES:
Talents: Diplomacy -4, Intrigue-3, Leadership-3, Subterfuge-1
Skills: Melee-2
Knowledge: Bureaucracy-2, Debate-4, Investigation-2, Law-2, Linguistics-2 (English, German, Russian), Occult-2, Politics-5

DISCIPLINES:
Dominate-1, Thaumatergy-2

Backgrounds:
Merits & Flaws: Enemy (?) (-2), Prestigious Sire: (+1)

VIRTUES:
Conscience-3
Self-Control-3
Courage-4

Humanity-6
Willpower-7
Blood Pool-5/10

Thaumaturgic Rituals: Communicate with Kindred Sire

Physical Apperance: Height: 6'0'', Weight: 175lbs, Eye Color: Brown, Hair Color: Black, Apparent Age: late 20's

Description: Raymond usually dresses in a sweater, Dockers, and either dress shoes, or sneakers whichever are more appropriate at the time. To blend in more with the mortals, he wears lightweight cotton dress shirts in the summer. On the occasion that it gets cold enough, he also has a mid-weight fleece jacket which he can wear. Although he doesn't try to be on the cutting edge of fashion, he trys to wear modern styles. He has short cut black hair which is always nicely combed. He has no facial hair, or any other distinguishing marks on his face. He is of medium build without much muscle tone. He isn't overweight, but he is larger than some men his size. He still wears his class ring, and a necklace with a cross on it. Although he isn't really religious, his mother gave it to him, and he has carried it ever since.

Prelude:

Raymond was born in 1960 in a small town called Waverly outside of Syracuse, New York. His father was a middle management executive for Westinghouse, and his mother was a nurse at he local hospital. When Raymond was 10, his father was transferred to Westinghouse in San Francisco, California so his family packed up and moved away. His father soon earned a promotion and was making decent money by this point around 45,000 a year. Life was good for Raymond and his family, things went well for him and school, and he always earned good grades. In 1978, Raymond graduated from High School with honors, and had at this point decided to attend college at the California State University of Monterey Bay. Here he would enjoy a four year scholarship, and study Political Science as his major. He quickly adjusted to college life, and devoted most of his time to his studies. He earned a high GPA in all his courses, and was consistently on the Dean's List.
During his third semester at CSUMB, he became enrolled in a night course at the University, because he didn't have time in his day to take the course. The course itself dealt with an in depth analysis of different governmental structures, and the benefits and drawbacks of each. He quickly became friends with the instructor of the course Dr. Vladamir Kostikov, a Russian professor who had defected to the U.S. during the late 1950's. He had been considered a radical back in Russia fighting against Communism and encouraging Democracy. It was rumored he had been scheduled for execution by the government, and had just barely escaped the country alive. The two often talked after class, and it was Dr. Vladamir who encouraged Raymond to pursue his doctorate.
Several more semesters passed, and Dr. Vladamir who at this point was Raymond's academic adviser, asked Raymond to help him with some of his private research. Raymond quickly agreed, in hopes that the experience would be helpful in his own research for his thesis. Dr. Vladamir revealed that he'd been researching a theoretical governmental structure divided into groups based on age and kinship. One person, not necessarily the oldest of any particular family would rule over a city, and would in turn be advised from one member of every family around the same age as him/her. These groups in turn answered to older members of the families who could regulate laws put forth by the individual rulers of cities, and even bring punishment to these individuals. Finally these people answered to a group of the families composed of the oldest members known to be alive, these individuals held supreme power over any decision. Vladamir had then devised theoretical problems for this group and tried to find efficient ways to solve them utilizing the various assets of this governmental system.
Little did Raymond realize that none of this was theoretical. Vladamir often times solved problems for the Tremere regent of Monterey, and these theoretical problems were problems presented to him by the Regent for him to solve. After his first night helping the Doctor with his research, Vladamir fixed them both a glass of wine to refresh themselves after a long night's work. Raymond drank the wine without any thought, and noticed it had a weird taste to it. He thanked the Doctor, and went back to his Dorm. This continued until, Raymond was a ghoul for clan Tremere, and was blood bound to Vladamir, all the while without revealing anything of his true nature to Raymond.
Raymond's final semester came around, and he wrought his thesis, including some of the principles Dr. Vladamir had used in his own research. He did extremely well, and passed his doctorate examinations easily. That day, Raymond went to the Dr's house to tell him the good news. He didn't normally go there during the day, because the doctor slept days and taught nights at school, and then worked very late on his own research. Raymond didn't care today though, he arrived, and was met at the door by Vladamir's butler Richard. He informed Raymond that the Dr. was ill and couldn't talk now, but Raymond could come back later that night and speak with him.
Raymond returned to the house,and was shown up to the doctor's room. They talked for awhile, and Vladamir congratulated Raymond on his achievement. Suddenly, Vladamir flew up from the bed, and attacked Raymond. Raymond blacked out as something sharp entered his neck. He awoke, to Vladamir face, and the iron taste of blood in his mouth, at first he was shaken, but then as Vladamir explained what had happened he began to realize the gift he'd been given. He gladly recited the code of Tremere.
On December 12th 1988, Raymond did the hardest thing he'd ever done; he faked his death. His parents who were flying out to attend the official ceremony for his reception of his Doctorate were devastated when they heard the news that Raymond had been killed in a large auto collision on the highway while headed to a friend's house in Santa Cruz. (It was actually a ghoul of Vladamir's who had displeased him, by selling info to the Anarch's of the city.) The body was mangled and burnt beyond recognition, so that even dental I.D. was impossible. So, Raymond began his unlife amongst the Tremere.
After a long apprenticeship to Vladamir in which he learned not only his disciplines, but about the inner-workings of the Camarilla Raymond became fairly autonomous for the first time in his life. He still had to answer to the Chantry, and was working under orders by the Chantry quite often, but he was truly on his own for the first time in almost 30 years of his life. His unlife was much like his life, a life of study and reflection, but it had changed in one key regard, he learned to act politically amongst the Kindred from Vladamir, and together they would often influence the Regent's votes on the Primogen council, when things they wanted to change were open for discussion. Raymond also learned to manipulate the weaker members of his clan, and Camarilla. From the lowly Caitiffs to the weak minded, and lazy Tremere Regent. He was on his way to being a successful member of clan Tremere.
Recently, Vladamir was sent away by the Regent to attend a clan meeting in Seattle. So, when all hell broke loose in Monterey he was spared, when the rest weren't. Raymond has spent his nights in hiding, after the destruction of his haven, and the death of many of his clan members. He's been hiding with a friend of Vladamir's from the college, Dr. Brighton Smith. An old and retired Archaeologist, who doesn't ask to many questions about his friends protege, and his activities. Raymond is strongly starting to suspect that Smith knows much about the kindred, but won't speak of it out of loyalty to Vladamir. Raymond has stayed in contact with Vladamir through his ritual, and has learned that Clan Tremere wishes someone to step in and bring things in Santa Cruz into hand. Vladamir volunteered Raymond seeing the need for the clan to send someone not of great status to ensure the other clans wouldn't react poorly to the power grab that the Tremere were attempting in Santa Cruz. So Raymond was briefed on the situation, and told to begin taking action as soon as possible. So Raymond is left with the dilemma, How to get out of the city alive, and then bring order to what he could only see as madness in Santa Cruz.

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