Mortal Life

Michael was a firefighter by profession. As a fireman in Savannah, he had seen plenty of close calls. He often was asked why he kept running into those burning buildings while everyone else was running out. It wasn't that he liked fighting fires, no one does, he knew it was the feeling he got of doing something good that kept him going. To those he saved he was a guardian angel, a miracle sent to them, a second chance at life. He wasn't a religion nut by any means, raised a southern baptist, he believed in God and just tried to do good with what he was given. Some times fate just has other things in store. He had a crash with fate one night in '62, when he saved a young girl from a fire in an abandoned building, well the building was supposed to be abandoned.

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A Will Not His Own

That girl he saved happened to be the favored retainer of one of the cities infamous kindred. Whether it was intended as a curse or a blessing, that kindred decided that Mike was useful enough to keep around and made him a ghoul. He spent the next year as a ghoul to that monster, doing his bidding, things he would have never dreamed of doing as a man. The viniculum has a way of changing one's perspective though. He served his master diligently and eventually found great favor in his eyes. Things were looking up for him it would seem.

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The Requiem Begins

With his embrace he lost much more than a life. Gone too were the charming looks he once had. His skin grew to look like that of one horribly burned, more rugged leather than flesh. Most of his body was consumed by it. He had to learn the hard way that he could not blend in with the society he had once been a productive member of. He continued to serve his Sire, but as time dragged on he began to realize that his sire had no intention of ending the squabbles between other kindred in the city. In fact, things became persistently more violent for the two of them, but for the next few years, he tried everything he could to better their position in life. Finally, the time he was dreading came. He heard of a plot against his sire. Although he rushed to inform him, it was too late. Their haven was destroyed and his sire, nowhere to be found. Michael went into hiding, making his way secretly around town trying to locate the ones responsible. Within a few days, he felt the viniculum snap, and he knew his sire was gone. There was no place for him in Savannah and he knew it.

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Blowing in the Cold Wind

His travels brought him across the South, from Savannah, up to Tennessee, and as far down as New Orleans. He saw well more than his fair share of troubles along the way. He tried to set up in a few towns, but it never lasted very long. He was made it by working other nomads he met along the way, as well as the rare established kindred who would take him in for a while. He probably would have met a quick end had things kept up this way, but call it divine intervention or whatever you want, on a warm summer night in late '03 he had a run-in with fate. He had run into all kinds of weird things on the road, but he ran into one that was a little more than he was ready for and ended up torpored. Truthfully, he should have died. For whatever reason he made it; it was a damn miracle.

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Light at the End of the Tunnel

He woke up in the haven of a Gangrel Legate of the Lancea Sanctum. He had found him along the road and drug him to safety. The Legate was on his way to New Orleans and offered him to tag along. Along the way he learned more about the Lance and Longinus than he ever knew. It was like a whole new view on things was opened to him. His sire had called them bible thumpers, but this guy didn't seem to fit that description. He followed him to New Orleans and stayed a while, learning all he could about the Lance. When the time came for them to part ways, the legate suggested he seek out Montgomery and the Sanctified there. He decided to give it some thought and they parted ways.

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Learning the Ropes

He wandered around for a couple of years, milling on the thought of him as Sanctified. He was never really a religion buff, but it didn't seem like that legate was either. He decided to look into it. So, he made his way to Montgomery. He found a kindred by the name of Blaine Rhineheart, another Gangrel. He found a great mentor in this guy, but because of his standing with the Lance of the city, it was really to no avail. He stayed a while and just enjoyed being off the road. When he was ready to join the Lance, Blaine suggested he seek out the congregation in Atlanta. They were in need of strong members and Blaine felt Michael had much he could offer them. They bid their farewells and Michael made the trip to Atlanta, hopefully the last trip he would have to make for some time.

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Out of the Frying Pan, and Back in the Fire

And so, Michael went to Atlanta. After, some scrutiny by the local kindred, and more than a couple close calls, he was acknowledged into the city and joined the Lance, where he continues to serve.

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