Introspective

Like most new members of the Ordo Dracul I find it easier to look at others and study them, than it is to look inward and evaluate myself. However as I near my intended destination of Atlanta, I find that I must look at myself and evaluate where I am at before finding my place in this new city.

Like most average children I grew up in a two parent home. My mother is from Greece and is Greek Eastern Orthodox. My father eventually joined the church to please my mother and the both raised us in that manner. I have one sister and one brother. I was the quiet child of my family always content to sit along the sidelines as I watched my siblings excel in sports and other school activities. That's not to say I wasnt popular. It seems friends who are willing to listen are always in demand. It doesnt hurt that I have rather devastatingly good looks.

When I turned 18, I came to a decision to join the Navy, much to my parents chagrin. Unfortunately it didn't work out well and I decided to leave as soon as I could. I did learn some valuable skills from basic trainiung such as handling weapons, some minor ways to track down enemy troops and giving me a much needed overall physical overhaul. Even though I was the "pretty boy" in high school you'de be surprised how much other people resented that and would shove me into lockers.

It also me the added benefit of not having to ask my parents or my grandparents for money to go to school. Not to say they couldnt have afford it they are all stinking rich. It was just I knew what field I was destined to go into and my parents wouldnt have approved. My grandfather is a corporate lawyer for a very wealthy and successful law firm in Philadelphia and my father followed in his footsteps. I graduated from Penn State in Sociology and became a social worker. My father was livid. I expected as much. My grandfather is the one who surprised me. For all his go getter pep talks and "Can't wait to have you in the firm" speeches, he was surprisingly supportive and when he died several years later it was a definite blow to me. My grandfather left me with a huge chunk of money which, with the help of pals from college, helps finance me and used to allow me to travel more often. Social work for all the benefits I get out of it, pays jack shit.

I worked then, as I will when I get to Atlanta, in a hospital helping drunks, people who have tried to commit suicide, families of murder victims, rape victims, you name the human condition I have probably had to help them deal with it. It was at this time, during one of my night shifts, I was visited by one of the monks from a nearby church, who promptly chastised me for not attending much anymore. So I figured what the heck and began to attend more frequently.

Father Randolf took me under his wing and surprised me with how smart he actually was. He also attended to human suffering and his main goal in life was helping to ease the burden. It was during one of our weekly talks that he introduced me to his world and the pain an suffering of the undead and made me his ghoul so that I might eventually aid him in that task. He was a member of the Ordo Dracul and also a confessor. Instead of continuing his knowledge towards transending his condition he had become a Confessor. A man dedicated to help comfort and ease the hardships of those who were furthering their knowledge.

As such there wasn't much he could do in the way of mentoring me and left that up to one of the other Dragons. Andrea Logan Scholar of the Equilibrium would be my mentor. Her first tasks were to observe others and performing a vast number of experiments for her while also furthering my education of the Danse Madabre. It would be many years later before she helped me through studying the effects of fire on myself, mortals and even other kindred, some events more gruesome with others,, before she helped quide me to overcoming my fears.

A month before my Chrysalis Father Randolf told me what he really was. A Tismanu a comforter of those burdened. He explained to me what that meant and the signifcance of it. He also said I was old enough to start learning for myself the abilities that our bloodline posseses. In learning the first of the gifts he handed me his manuscript of which documented his journey to learning and Mastering this gift.

During my Chrysalis Andrea, Father Randolf and a few others were there to support me and welcome me to my new state of being. However the happiness didnt last long. A fellow Gangrel Slave, jealous of my progress attacked me soon after. I was about to be torn to bits when Father Randolf stepped in and for all his many abilities was cut down. The Slave was later torped and used for experimentation. However the loss filled me with a void I had never known. It wasnt until Father Randolf's sire arrived that I was able to cope. However he did give me a peace of advice, which now I am following. Father Randolf's sire told me to forge my own destiny and follow the many paths it has to offer. I have never looked back and now I am following a path to Atlanta. I can only hope to learn as much and offer as much comfort to those there as Father Randolf gave to me.

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