Name: Selena Orseau
Player: Sheila Blanton
Text by, Sheila Blanton
E-mail Addresses: BlackWarlock@webtv.net, BlkWARLOCK@aol.com
Chronicle: Monterey/Vampire
Nature: Dark Romantic
Demeanor: Socialite
Clan: Toreador
Generation: 13th
Haven: Mansion
Concept: Art Collector/Critic

ATTRIBUTES:
Physical: Strength-2, Dexterity-2, Stamina-2
Social: Charisma-4, Manipulation-1, Appearance-5
Mental: Perception-2, Intelligence-4, Wits-2

ABILITIES:
Talents: Acting-1, Alertness-2, Artistic Expression-2, Brawl-1, Seduction-2, Style-2
Skills: Escapology-1, Etiquette-2, Fencing-2
Knowledge: Art History-2, Faerie Lore-5, Mage Lore-5, Occult-1

DISCIPLINES:
Dominate-2, Presence-1

Backgrounds: Resources-4, Status-1
Merits & Flaws: Compulsion (Perfectionist -1), Compulsive (Safety -1), Art Gallery (+2), Fairie Affinity (+2), Intolerance (uneducated complacent masses of mankind -1), Iron Will (+3), Jack of All Trades (+5), Luck (+3), Mansion (+2), Occult Library (+2), Prestigious Sire (+1), Prey Exclusion (homeless - 1), Tortured Artist (-2)

VIRTUES:
Conscience-2
Self-Control-3
Courage-5

Humanity-5
Willpower-5
Blood Pool-5

Physical Apperance: Stands 5'9" and has a slender, attractive build. Blue eyes that often change color according to moods and environment. Long auburn tresses that accentuate her eyes.

Fashion sense: Dresses in designer fashions and has excellent fashion sense. Adores haute couture creations, and dresses appropriately for the occasion.

State Of Being: She is refined and cultured, but is likeable and not :"stuffy". Tastes in music range from classical, ambient,"gothic", eclectic, rock, and celtic. Is sensitive to art and beauty, but not always in a convential sense. Selena is always looking for the "unusual" and "strange" in art. She is attracted to the arcane and "gothic".

Selena has spent the entirety of her existence walking the fine line between the Left and Right Hand Paths. Selena has a romantic attraction for the "Darkside".

It has been rumored that she may be a descendant of Geneveve Orseau. That would certainly explain Selena's natural practice of supernatural abilities. Knowledgeble and highly skilled in occult practices. Selena has a prized occult library and a most impressive collection of arcane art, curtos, and ancient occult artifacts.

Her art gallery is frequented by the elite, both mortal and immortal. Selena is particularly loved and respected by the Toreador clan, and the affection is mutual. However, Selena does not shun other clans. She is often heard to say, "We all hunger. The methods in which we satisfy those hungers are what distinguishes ourselves from one another."

An appreciator of art and beauty--but not just conventional tastes. A quote she has adopted as a personal philosophy is, "It is the addition of strangeness to beauty that constitutes the romantic character in art."

Cultured and refined, traveling in social circles, but makes no class distinctions when it comes to true friendships. Her only intolerance is of the ignorant who make no effort to improve themselves.

Accomplishments:

Orseau Art Gallery

Orseau Collection Of Arcane Art--(currently on a buying trip in hopes to add more quality acquisitions to the collection. Preparing for a grand exhibition and perhaps a tour.

Written two gothic/horror novels, a volume of short stories, and a volume of poetry. Author of the best seller, "The True Nature Of Evil"

Equipment: Her mansion reflects her affinity for the darkness. She took a stately building that nobody wanted and transformed it into a dark, forboding paradise. Owns the Orseau Gallery of Arcane Art and has a public and private collection of occult books, artifacts, and ancient relics.
Wears a runestone of the rune "Daeg" that to Selena symbolizes transformation, dark into light--and the coexistence of both, fencing foils and equipment Jewel encrusted silver dagger, an incomplete collection of rare runestone jewels, 2 Jet-black limosines.

Romantic interests - Lives alone because she has yet to find the One who encompasses the dark mystique to feed her longings. She looks for a Beloved much like her art acquisitions. Mysterious, therefore, beautiful. (Personal note: Peter Murphy, Julian Sands, John Malkovich types.)

Professions: Art Collector/Curator/Critic, Occultist/Metaphysician, Author, Socialite

Previous Locales (havens): Florence, Rome, France, Turkey/Mediterranean, England, NY, Beverly Hills

Prelude:

For as long as she could remember, Selena had never belonged to mortal society. There was "something" different about her that seemed to compel others to exclude her from the banality of their humdrum existences. Selena's parents even seemed too wrapped up in their bickerings to notice that perhaps their child needed more than the very basic "care and feeding". Selena was ignored.
There was no logical reason for Selena's gentle ostracization from the world of mortal society. In fact, she met all the criteria for a more than welcome inclusion into their ranks. She was beautiful, intelligent, and seemed to have a talent for grasping vast amounts of knowledge of all things. Success was not an option for Selena, it was a certainty. People recognized her talents and sang praises of her accomplishments, but they did not offer her their friendships or comraderie.
At first, the loneliness was unbearable. Selena felt as if she was a stranger in a strange land. She would spend the evening hours sitting outside watching the bats circling the cathedral bell tower that stood majestically just mere yards from her home. Their song soothed her solitary soul.
Then the voices came. Selena was still a child, only five or six years of age. The voices nurtured the young one, telling her that she was not alone in this world of pain and suffering. Even though she was unable to see the source of these voices, Selena was assured that she need never feel alone--"they" would always be with her.
As the years progressed, Selena's spiritual guides spoke of the mysteries of her world and beyond. They taught her chants and the obscure workings of magick. They spoke of beings other than mortal and their domains. They spoke of Selena's true home...and her "real" mother!
The years passed and Selena grew into young womanhood. She had learned from her childhood experiences not to depend upon humankind for her happiness. There was something more to be cherished. Using her natural talents and the gifts from her spiritual mentors, Selena became quite a celebrity. She wrote of mysteries untold in poetic and story form. The masses, hungry for something to bring life to their tired exsistences, devoured the writings. Selena "broke through" when she published her novel, The True Nature Of Evil". In addition to her cult following, Selena's work began to touch the world. Her book signings and appearances were frequented by an unusual mix of fans; from the "gothic" community to college professors.
Having conquered the world of literature, Selena decided to share her love of art with the masses. She opened a gallery that housed the most unique acquisitions ever to be seen by man. Every piece was unusual by traditional standards, but all the same, intensely riveting. Selena had borrowed a quotation that she was fond of repeating, "It is the addition of strangeness to beauty that constitutes the romantic character in art"
Selena had acquired much of the artwork through the guidance of her spiritual mentors. Every piece was metaphysically significant in some way. Selena's private collection of occult tools, books, and artifacts rivaled the gallery's treasures. She was a practicing occultist, knowledgable in lore and technique.
Selena had found her niche in the mortal world, but she was still without companionship. She contented herself in the company of man, but not of it. One night would serve to change the way she looked at the world.
When she was 26 years of age, Selena was visiting a new nightclub in Florence, Italy. She would not have bothered except that the establishment promised that it catered to an exclusive clientele--those who embraced the obscure, the "darkside".
The club held true to their word. Few, very few, of the hopeful patrons were getting inside. Of course, they welcomed Selena with open arms. Selena took a secluded balcony table so that she could observe the goings-on of the crowd and immerse herself in her thoughts. Then something she hadn't expected happened.
A young man approached Selena and wordlessly took her hand. He was draped in a long black dress that resembled a robe. His large, deep-set eyes expressed a promise of something Selena had been longing for for all her life. She did not refuse the silent invitation.
He led her into a private lounge area where a beautiful, long brunette-tressed woman awaited. She smiled her welcome and her outstretched arms beckoned Selena to come into her embrace. Selena complied without question; she knew it was the right thing to do. As Selena was taken into the elite embrace, the pieces of the puzzle of her existence up until this moment began to make sense now. At last, Selena had a sense of belonging and kinship. Hereafter, Selena would take the last name of Orseau, from her spiritual mother and sire.

Thursday, August 3rd, 1995 11:17 p.m.

Once upon a time, which now seemed like a forever-ago, Selena's sire told her that it was not wise to become too comfortable or smug with wealth or status in society. It was risky enough in life, but foolhardy in Unlife. Fate is seldom kind to the Undead, sometimes even cruel. Sometimes what one takes for granted can be ripped away by what would seem to be an everyday circumstance. Selena hoped that her sire's words were not meant to be a prediction of her future. More so, she hoped the words were not a curse that accompanied this "vampire" package.
Selena shook the paranoia away. This is what happens when one is alone with with only their thoughts to keep them company. This is what happens when one is literally starving to death. (only 2 b.p.) Selena knew that she was being melodramatic, bit melodrama was easy to conjure in a place like this.
At one time, Selena enjoyed midnight strolls in cemeteries. Her friends felt that it was just another of her eccentricities. They were so wrapped up in their material worlds, how could they know the serenity she felt while she walked in communion with the spirit world, absorbing herself in the Gothic atmosphere and her own "dark" introspections.
How ironic that all seemed now. This place was far from comforting, certainly not conducive to peaceful meditations. Selena wandered aimlessly through the San Carlos Cemetery. The blanket of fog and lingering chill in the air only contributed to the dreamlike haze she entertained in her mind. The only thing that was "real" to her now was her intense hunger.
The Cemetery was an old place, having been in use well back into the 18th century when Spain still ruled California, though most of the oldest graves were from the Mexican period and onwards. Age and mildew coated the worn tombstones and the air was filled with a musty smell that made breathing unpleasant.
Under Silas Jones, who had been Prince of Monterey, the cemetery had been Elysium. Though not official anymore under Jackson, all kindred had still respected it as such out if respect or fear of the former Prince; and it was often used by those who wanted to have dark dealings with the Nosferatu Clan.
Since the upheaval many years ago when Jackson came to power, Toreador have probably been one of the least frequent and least welcome visitors.
Still, fearful of wandering out in the open, Selena had found her way to the quiet gardens of marble. She had hoped to find some sanctuary from the nightly turmoil and fear that stalked her when she was on the "outside". Yet, fear was her constant companion even in this place, the lesser of two evils. The slightest sound would conjure images of dark fiends on her trail. It became a ritual to play hide-and-seek between the broad sepulchers whenever a scrambling rat was mistaken for her expected diablerist seeking to do her harm.
Selena thought back upon the twist of fate that had brought her to this place and away from the comfort of her home and fellows. She had come to Monterey as a guest of Prince Sandra Jackson--only to be caught up in the turmoil and bloody chaos of Jackson's downfall. For two months now, she had lived the nightmare of vagrancy, fearing for her unlife, wandering out only to steal blood where and when she could, afraid of meeting other vampires. Prince Jackson had been destroyed and for all Selena could tell, all Camarilla vampires were systematically being hunted down and destroyed--by other vampires and their servants.
Selena had made attempts to leave this hellish place on more than one occasion. only to find her efforts thwarted each time. Through these trial and error attempts, Selena had discovered that no one could be trusted--save but for self, and with hope a faraway promise and emotions running rampant, trusting oneself is even a risky venture. All avenues out of the city were being monitored and the city services, including phones and the police, seemed to be under the control of the diablerists. With the ever-present knowledge that she has a better unlife away from this place, Selena knew that despite all obstacles she must find escape.
All the vampires she had seen, perhaps a dozen different ones, had been trying to kill each other--and her. At least one she was certain she had known from before; an associate of Jackson's who had been introduced to her at one of Jackson's many fetes. As a fellow Toreador (named Jan de Winter), Selena had thought she could trust him but he had turned on her has well, nearly costing her her unlife when he betrayed her to a group of strange, frightening kindred--kindred bent on murder and the dark passion of diablerie.
(Intelligence + Occult=two successes) Though she was no expert by far, Selena thought these vampires were Sabbat; though judging by the numerous fights she'd witnessed, their presence was being resisted--by either the anarchs from Salinas or by the Camarilla or both.
Selena shook her head at her thoughts. Ever since her embrace she had wondered why the race of Vampire was so divided against itself. With the threat of the hunters and other groups hungering for the destruction of the Undead, it made no sense to her that vampire would destroy vampire--despite their differing philosophies. Then she chuckled sadly to herself. The existence that came before her embrace had all the same elements.
Selena walked through a particularly old and dense patch of tombstones, when her wanderings took her to a clearing where several of the stones had been uprooted. Her nostrils filled with the vile stench of rot. She coughed throatily in an attempt to rid herself of the odor. (Perception + Awareness=two successes) The offensive smell was replaced by a familiar, more welcome scent. Selena bent down to a patch of torn ground. Her powerful senses discovered that blood and earth are mixed here. Someone, or something had bled a lot on the very spot on which Selena stood.
(Self Control=no successes) Hunger overcame reason, and Selena grabbed a fistful of earth and squeezed it. Her hands shook as she attempted to force the soiled vitae out of the earth. Having failed that pitiful attempt, desperation took over. She took some of the dirt in her mouth and started to chew like some starving animal. If there was any sustenance to be had from this site it would be hers.
(Intelligence + Willpower=nine successes)...But those were thoughts of a madman, and Selena was quite sane. Shocked, ashamed, and almost unbelieving the dangerous insanity of what she was doing, Selena spat the dirt out and wiped her mouth. Her face still showed the evidence of her crime against sanity.
Selena fell back and closed her eyes. Blood tears streaked her soiled face. Her thoughts formed words that voiced themselves in her mind.
"Caine, please deliver me from this cursed place. No good can come from this imprisonment . There are no lessons to be learned here, only endless despair. I cannot serve you while I remain here. Take me back to my domain and to those I hold dear. Give me the strength I need to persevere..."
Her entreaty was interrupted by a hoarse, grunting sound. Selena opened her eyes to discover a man leering down at her, laughing at her misfortune. His brown hair hung loosely about his face and into his eyes. Cheap liquor reeked from his pores as if he had bathed in it. At first she was startled, then relieved to see that he was only a kine--a drunken sailor amused at what must have seemed an odd and bizarre spectacle of a woman, dressed in a dirty, but once fine dress, spitting dirt from an overturned grave out of her mouth.
Having lost herself once already, Selena swore that she would not let her Beast out. But she felt the unrelenting hunger, and her feast stood above her. She thanked Caine for his bounty and began the seduction. (Charisma + Seduction + Presence=four successes) She rose to her feet and beckoned silently for the stranger to come near her. He could hardly stand as it was, and he tumbled into her, leaning in for a sloppy kiss. The man's blood scent overcame the odor of his night's revels. He was easy prey. Her fangs sunk deeply into his flesh, and his fountain of blood gushed into her mouth. Selena began to drink her fill, feeling a sense of overwhelming peace within her.

Thursday, August 3rd, 1995 11:59 p. m.

As Selena continued to feed, she began to feel her strength and vitality returning (now up to 4 b.p.). If she could drain this prey she could actually see herself coming to terms with her situation and making feasible plans to escape this place. But it was not to be. Selena was knocked from behind by a terrible blow that sends a fiery pain shooting through her skull. Her body became limp and she fell solidly to the ground from the shocked suddenness of the blow.(Injured/-1). Selena whirled to face her attacker, hoping to find another feast within her grasp. Instead she found herself facing another woman--a vampire!
The woman held a broken piece of tombstone in one hand as if she were wielding a weapon against other denizens of the night that she might encounter. The stone was coated with blood and hair--presumably Selena's. Her other hand grabbed Selena's meal and began to drag it off with her.
(Wits + Awareness=one success) Selena saw the look in the woman's eyes, and recognized the look from many a recent gaze into the yellow light of a gas station's bathroom mirror. Her vampire rival was starving also and she intended to finish off Selena's fortuitous meal for herself.
Before Selena could utter a word of warning, a dark figure rose behind the woman. The woman was not aware of the ominous form, but she was aware of Selena's surprised expression. A wry smile crossed her lips.
"Nice try..." she started to say. She never finished and a great clawed hand swiped the woman's head and sent her flying against the side of a mausoleum. She cracked against it and fell to the ground like a ragdoll, lying still.
The shadowy Nosferatu snatched up the stolen prize and disappeared into the night with the unfortunate kine, whose drunken misstep into the graveyard had probably cost it its life.
The woman groaned and rose slowly, her eyes looked around, finally focusing on Selena.
"Well, I guess I might as well introduce myself. My name is Eveline, clan Toreador. You are...?"
Selena rose herself up to full height and approached her fellow clan vampire.
"I am Selena...Selena Orseau, " placing special emphasis on the last name of 'Orseau', "and you, my dear, obviously do not place much value on first impressions."
Selena outstretched her hand to aid Eveline to her feet.
"It would seem that we are sisters in the clan Toreador. It's a pity that we couldn't have become acquainted under more desirable circumstances. In another time or place we could have shared a feast like the one that got away."
Selena looked at Eveline directly, "It's a sad state of affairs when clanspeople turn against one another for the sake of survival, when unity would serve our purposes more efficiently."
Selena continued, "Obvious you are displaced here, as I am. Care to tell me your story?"

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