SchreckNet Data File
- Real/Birth Name: Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova
- Known Identity/Mortal Alias: Nastya / Anastasia Nikolaevna (or Anya Nikolaevna)
- Place of Origin: Peterhof Palace, St Petersburg, Russian Empire
- Height: 5'2" (158 cm)
- Occupation: Medical Director, Ashford Heart Hospital
- Apparent Age: Late-teens (Natural/Anastasia) / Mid-40s (Anya)
- Embraced: July 17, 1918
- Kindred Status: Ancilla
- Sire: Isabela (Bat-Zabbai)
- Notable Descendants: Christian McMahon (Childe)
- Clan: Senya (Childe of Light and Shadow)
- Clan Status: Lorekeeper
- Sect: Camarilla
- Sect Status: Respected Ancilla
- Player: NPC
Appearance
In her natural appearance, Anastasia is well below average height, and quite slender, with her physique making her look younger than she is. She has fair skin, long auburn hair and Romanov-blue eyes. Anastasia, however, is an acknowledged master of the Clan Senya signature Discipline of Apparitionem and can change any of this with barely a conscious thought. Like most Senya, Anastasia maintains more than one identity - one for use in mortal society, and their "normal" appearance usually employed around Kindred. Her two primary identities are:
Anya Nikolaevna - Anya is the known owner and medical director of the Ashford Heart Hospital, and has been known as such for years. As such Anja appears as a woman in her early-50s standing around 5'7" tall with a stately figure. Her hair is a more golden colour, usually with wavy fringes and styled into a bun or other practical or formal style. She has blue eyes, although a slightly darker shade than Anastasia's. Kindred historians have noted that Anya's appearance strongly resembles that of her mother, Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna, although in a more idealised and modern-day context. Anya is known as a friendly and caring doctor, although with a tendency towards gallows humour. Ultimately, whilst Nastya is good at playing the role and has matured since her enfant terrible infancy, her innate natural trickster personality cannot be denied.
Anastasia Nikolaevna - of late Anastasia appears to have semi-retired Anya, keeping her around mostly for practical usage at her hospital, or with her network of contacts, as required. But for the most part, Anastasia remains in this form, which is a slightly more idealised form of her natural appearance - the look she had at the time of her embrace when she was 17, but the physique she had when she was 15 before the two years of captivity that took a toll on her health. Her hair is long and auburn, though kept a few inches shorter than it was during most of her life (her hair was actually quite short at the time of her death, having only recently regrown it somewhat after losing all her hair to measles during the beginning of her captivity), and her blue eyes compliment it and her fair skin nicely. Anastasia looks (and acts) the part of a teenage girl, wearing a variety of clothing from jeans and baggy t-shirts, to hot pants and bikini tops, to casual dresses or ball gowns, depending on the occasion.
Background
Childhood
For the last century, there has been the mystery - did Anastasia Romanov, the youngest daughter of Russia's last Tsar, survive the execution of her family as the rumours abound? The answer is a concrete - no. Anastasia did die that day with her family, but her story would not end that day.
Born Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova, the youngest of four daughters, and penultimate of five siblings (she had a younger brother, Alexei), Anastasia was born and raised in the comfort of the royal Peterhof Palace in Saint Petersburg, in what would be the final years of the Russian Empire. Contrary to public expectations, Anastasia, or Nastya, as she was called at home, and her siblings were raised in fairly simple, at times spartan, conditions as her father, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia desired for them to grow up unspoilt. They shared rooms, slept on hard camp cots without pillows, except when they were ill, took cold baths in the morning, ate unremarkable meals, and were expected to tidy their rooms and do needlework to be sold at various charity events when they were not otherwise occupied. Her early life was quite monotonous, with strict schedule of breakfast at 9am, lunch at 1pm, tea at 5pm and dinner at 8pm, with much of the day spend being tutored by tutors Pierre Gilliard and Sydney Gibbes. The evenings would be typically spent playing games such as charades, and doing needlework whilst their father read for them. Only Sundays lent some kind of variety to their everyday life as the young ladies used to spend time at the children's balls that their aunt organized to amuse them; and to non-intrusively accustom them to the real balls and the proper etiquette accepted there. Sometimes, young Anastasia was even permitted to dance with young officers.
Anastasia's formal education began when she was eight years old. It included the study of Russian as well as the French, English and German (of which she was descended ancestry from her mother's side, being the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom) languages; history, Russian Orthodoxy religious studies, geography, art, dancing, music, mathematics, grammar, etiquette and the natural sciences. Her tutors described her as intellectually gifted, although she was far from a studious child, and hated grammar lessons, misspelling everything that was possible to misspell. She was a lively and vivacious child, a highly mischievous tomboy that was once described by Princess Nina Gerogievna as "nasty to the point of evil" and would cheat, kick and scratch her playmates during games. She liked climbing trees for amusement, and sometimes, out of sheer naughtiness, refused to descend when she was called. Once, during a soiree organised by her parents, she and her brother Alexei crept under the table and started acting like dogs, pinching the guests and making her father very cross with her. She was also known as a talented and highly humorous actress and would perform parodies of her relatives and family friends which were never offensive, but funny and touching. She was advised to become a true actress, but Anastasia would smile and refuse, saying she preferred to save her abilities for her family and friends and that she had other responsibilities. She was a passionate reader capable of spending days with a book and counted Schiller and Goethe, Molière and Dickens and the Bronte sisters amongst her favourite authors. She was also a talented pianist and would entertain family and guests playing Chopin, Grieg, Rakhmaninov and Tchaikovsky.
Anastasia was a true animal lover – her first pet was a tiny pom named Shvibzik. Anastasia loved the dog so dearly she flatly refused to go to bed without it, and when she couldn’t find the dog in the huge palace, she would bark to attract its attention. In 1915 the dog died, and Anastasia was inconsolable for its loss – she would not eat and cried all the time. Later she bought another dog, which she called Jimmy, but she never forgot Shvibzik.
When the Great War began, many of the rooms in the Aleksander Palace were turned into a hospital for the wounded. Her elder sisters Olga and Tatiana worked in the infirmary following the lead of their mother, but Maria and Anastasia were considered too young for such hard work and were appointed patronesses of the hospital. Anastasia and her sisters donated their money to the disabled to buy medications and tried to entertain the wounded by reading out loud to them, playing chess and cards with them and even knitting winter clothing so that the soldiers stayed warm. For those that couldn't write or had hand injuries, Anastasia wrote letters home to their dictation. She spent evenings sitting beside injured soldiers and teaching them to read and, a sensitive girl, became upset and depressed when a soldier she had spoken to a day or two earlier before died of his injuries. The war period was tough for Anastasia, and although she learnt only a little about medicine during her time there, that period (along with caring for her brother Alexei, who was a haemophiliac and required much medical attention, nearly dying once from a haemorrhage caused by a powerful sneeze) would serve as Anastasia's inspiration to eventually become (in unlife) the medical expert she would become.
The Revolution
But although Anastasia and her sisters' actions in the war were well-received, the war was a disaster for Russia. The major military losses in the war , along with harsh actions to keep control of the army, resulted in much of the Russian Army being ready to mutiny. In the chaos, members of the Russian parliament assumed control of the country, forming the Russian Provisional Government in 1917. This led to a period of dual power between the Provisional Government who held state power and the socialists, who had the allegiance of the lower classes and left-leaning urban middle class, causing frequent mutinies, protests and strikes, which led to revolution. During this time, Anastasia and her siblings all fell ill with the measles, with Anastasia being the last to fall ill. As the revolution in Russia reached full swing and the palace was surrounded by rebel troops, Anastasia's mother lied to the children so as not to alarm them, telling them that the troops outside the palace were on military exercises. This lasted until on the 9th of March 1917 they learnt that (on the 2nd) their father Tsar Nicholas II had been forced to abdicate and, a few days later, the former Tsar and his family were taken into custody and placed (initially) on home arrest. Despite the arrest, the children continued to receive their home education.
On 12th August, the family were placed on a steamboat and taken to Tobolsk, arriving on 26th August but having to spend a week living on the steamboat as the mansion they were supposed to occupy was not yet finished. Life at the mansion was monotonous and boring and the only entertainment was watching people walking in the street from the window, sewing and painting, and doing homework. Occasionally they were allowed to go for a little walk with their father and organise home theatricals; and in the winter take their sledges and slide outside. Anastasia also loved sewing and spent many long winter evening engaged in this peaceful pastime. Only in September were the children allowed to go to the nearest church, accompanied by their parents and surrounded by soldiers at all times.
After the Bolsheviks seized majority control of Russia in April 1918, Alexandra, Nicholas and Maria were summoned to Moscow, where the former tsar was supposed to be present at his trial; but by May 1918 it became clear the visit to Moscow was at best postponed, and at worst cancelled, and he was moved to the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg. During their time in Yekaterinburg, Alexandra wrote to her children numerous letters, in which she implored them to hide the jewels the family owned as well as possible - so Anastasia came up with the idea and she and her sisters sewed them into their clothing in the hopes of hiding them from their captors, as Alexandra had warned them that on arrival in Yekaterinburg they had been searched and their valuables confiscated. When the children left for Yekaterinburg, they were forced to say goodbye to their tutors and maid, and even their doctors were no longer allowed to go along with them. Life in Yekaterinburg was boring, and the sisters learned to bake bread so as to while away the time doing so. They were under constant surveillance and in summer the privations of captivity affected Anastasia so grievously that at one point she became so upset about the locked, painted windows that she burst one open to look outside and get fresh air. A sentry saw her and fired a shot, narrowly missing her. She never tried it again.
Death and New Beginnings
On July 17 they were woken up and asked to descend to the cellar and asked to sit in the chairs. The girls took their hand-bags with them, and Anastasia even took along Jimmy, her beloved dog. There a group of bolsheviks brought out pistols and revolvers and one of them informed Nicholas that he and his family were to be executed. Nicholas only had time to look in surprise at his family when the men opened fire on the unsuspecting family. It was a horrendous scene - most of the Bolsheviks had been drinking to gain the courage for the act, and many opened fire on Nicholas first, giving the children a moment of horror in which they attempted to flee, and had to be shot in pursuit. Although Anastasia was shot several times, she did not die. Severely wounded an in pain, the diamonds she had sewn into her dress had prevented her death. As their bodies were taken out and dumped on a cart to be taken for disposal, however, the pain caused Anastasia to cry out in pain. This made one of the killers, a drunk man known as Peter Ermakov, stab her in the chest with a bayonet - yet once again the diamonds prevented the bayonet from cleanly killing Anastasia. Realising the dress was interfering with his executing Anastasia, Ermakov drew his Nagant M1895 revolver and pressed it against her head to finish her off, with Anastasia futilely attempting to push the gun away whilst struggling to breathe and hold on to life.
Unbeknownst to them a clan Senya elder known as Isabela was disguised amongst them. She had been spending time amongst the Russian nobility prior to the revolution, and had become interested by the gifted, mischievous and spirit, yet kind hearted Anastasia. Isabela had decided to embrace her, but the time had not yet been right; Isabela had intended to monitor and observe a few more years until Anastasia was a full adult before Embracing her, but events precipitated her to first follow them in disguise, and now to intercede to prevent her death. Isabela easily took control of Ermakov's mind and disabled him, then first gave Anastasia enough of her blood to ensure her survival; then sank her fangs into the young girl, draining her to the point of death, then giving her more of her own blood to turn her into one of the kindred. When Anastasia awoke from the change, with a hunger beyond imagining and control, Ermakov became her first victim - drained hollow. Blood for blood. Isabela then used her discipline to convert Ermakov's corpse to resemble Anastasia (and vice-versa) and as the Romanov corpses were being dismembered, covered with sulphuric acid to deform beyond identification, and buried in a shallow grave, no-one noticed them burying the wrong corpse, believing the deed was done. Then Isabela secreted her away from Russia to Paris, where she began Anastasia's education as a Senya.
In the years since her Embrace Anastasia made a new start. She spent her Agoge (adoption period) in the clan learning the classical languages common amongst her clan's scholars and elders, and learning the lore of her kind. Fascinated by her new condition, including some non-standard side-effects of the Embrace, she began to learn more about the medical and scientific arts under the tutelage of her sire, and clan Lorekeepers and although she had once not been a studious child, time, her experiences, and her new condition tempered her - and she found a new determination to learn and excel. As Isabela suspected, Anastasia had all the makings of a future Lorekeeper.
Anastasia would remain by her sire's side (or nearby reach) for many years, and travelled with her to America, which was Isabela's domain as Councillor. She spent several years in Chicago, where in 1969 she embraced the talented Christian McMahon, a compassionate plastic surgeon; until she moved to Ashford at the behest of her sire who had ordered many of her favoured childer to different locations in California for reasons unknown (some believe either to establish footholds in the Sabbat-Anarch-Camarilla conflicted territory, or somehow anticipating the problems that would happen a few decades later). Anastasia was the third Senya to set up residence in Ashford after Clarissa Jade and Braxton Donahoe, where after familiarising herself, she set up the Ashford Heart Hospital.
The death of Clarissa Jade in the Sabbat Crusade hit her hard. A fellow lorekeeper, and the Clan whip in Ashford, Jade and Anastasia had become good friends and allies. Many Senya have noticed that Anastasia's recent seemingly-retiring her Anya personality which runs the hospital, seems to have occurred after Clarissa's death, and wonder if her friend's death has somehow changed Anastasia's priorities and ambitions. Since then, she has been keeping a close eye on Willa Jade, Clarissa's progeny and biological grand-neice, becoming her Anádochos (Godparent).
Mortal Society
For many years Anastasia used a string of mortal aliases to operate in the kine world, using her Apparitionem to age them appropriately, then retiring them and passing on her holdings to the daughter, neice or other family descendant when the time became appropriate. This has most recently been the identity of Doctor Anya Romanova; who splits her time between studying medicine, biology and the Kindred condition, and developing her business, the Ashford Heart Hospital which she established in 1999, to it's current position as Kern County's leading Heart and Vascular hospital, and one of the top ten in the nation. The hospital's daily operations are run by Anastasia's ghoul, Michelle Oxford, who has now served as the President and CEO for several years (and was vice-president prior, and a senior director since 2008). Anya is still known as the official owner but is rarely seen these days, spending most of her time in apparent research and private practice, although she is known to occasionally turn up for the most difficult operations or special consultations. Anya also has ties with the medical fraternity in Kern County, including contacts with the Center for Disease Control, other hospitals and the Coroner's office. Although the hospital is renown for its cardiovascular expertise, it is fully equipped for most other medical and surgical patients. It currently claims:
- 47 Private inpatient beds
- 3 operating rooms with complete facilities for heart and vascular surgery
- 4 cardiac catheterization labs with 1 lab equipped for electrophysiology
- 11 outpatient surgery beds
- 8 bed emergency department, including:
- First and only California-accredited Heart Failure Center and Certified Chest Pain Center
- Technologically advanced Cardiovascular equipment
- Pediatric Advanced life Support
- Outpatient services
- Interventional Radiology
- Dialysis/Vascular Access
- Endobronchial Ultrasound Bronchoscopy (EBUS) and Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy (ENB)
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
- Center for Wound Healing
- Over 300 employees in addition to the medical staff
- Highly trained, caring clinical staff
- Over 20 of the leading cardiologists and cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons in Kern County
- Advanced patient monitoring system
- Online physician web access for easy medical record and test result retrieval.
Most of the time, Anastasia now uses her new identity of Anastasia Niolaevna (formally Anastasia Niolaevna Romanova, although she drops the Romanova in typical usage), whose appearance is a close resemblance to that of her mortal origin. With it she engages in her own unknown activities; although it has been noted that of late she has been spending more time with Dr Philip Ford, the Ventrue pathologist, with other members of her Sanguinus coterie, or caring for her Thetós (Adopted) Willa Jade. In this appearance, she uses her real name around most people, including kine, and masquerades as Anya's teenage, home-schooled daughter. She has obtained all the legal credentials to back this up, including social security, driver's license and (if needed) passport.
Personality
Time and experience have tempered Anastasia somewhat, so she is not quite the little monster she used to be in her youth; and most people know her to be an affectionate and caring kindred, one who seems to still value mortal lives beyond that of sustenance and utility, and is willing to aid kindred in need - as long as doing so is permissible within the domain's laws (that is, the person seeking aid is not the target of a blood hunt). Of course, no health care in the USA is free, and any kindred seeking help should expect to pay for her aid - but this is not likely to be a monetary payment. Some people have likened her to Lady Jane Grey of Clan Senya in her readiness to (medically) assist those in need regardless of age or status; but unlike Lady Jane, Anastasia keeps count. And sa a clan Lorekeeper, who in addition to being (as the name implies) keepers of knowledge, also act in a manner similar to Camarilla Harpies, she is good at keeping tally of debts owed. Still, most consider it a fair price to pay - as owing a debt means still being around to pay it rather than meeting Final Death.
For the most part, when she is in her Anya persona she has a more stoic outlook - some wonder if this is just a front to appear professional for her job or a natural reaction on focussing on her job, but a sharp wit comes through on occasion. Those that know her well claim that she almost invented deadpan humour with her mischievous and humorous side yet stoic demeanour. As the Anastasia persona (and herself) she is more openly light-hearted, mischievous and wittily sarcastic. Helen Quinzel, the Malkavian Primogen and renown Psychiatrist who is considered one of her closest friends once said of her "[she] would drive me crazy, if I wasn't already!" Her friends rarely call her Anastasia, and instead call her any of a litany of names that her family used to call her during her mortal days. Most of her friends and clanmates call her Nastya, which was the most common name used by her family for her, although Nastas and Anastasie (the french version of Anastasia) are also common. Her really good friends, usually when they're on the receiving end of her mischief, often call her shvibzik which means Imp in russian, and was a nickname given to her during her particularly mischievous years (it was also the name of her first dog, who she loved dearly, and the name of her Homunculus).
Despite her overall charming and friendly personality, she has no compunctions about stating savage truths; not necessarily with the intention to cause offence, but certainly regularly offending the sensibilities of those who tend to be overly-sensitive, or not like honest truths about their failings pointed out so bluntly.
When not learning lore and carrying out medical or scientific studies, Anastasia still loves various of the things she did in her mortal days - she occasionally knits (finding it both useful and relaxing), paints and enjoys photography, has kept up her piano skills; and loves the theatre and opera. So much so, that she has become on friendly terms with the Kimberley Kristen, a neonate of her clan and theatre actress. She has even been known to join her at times on her theatrical performances (usually disguised unrecognisably using Apparitionem, but sometimes as one of her main personas when it is a charity event or similar).
Other Notes
Isn't the name obvious?
Some cautious kindred have accused Anastasia of flirting with the Masquerade by using her real name in her current identity. She denies this allegation by stating that the various movies, animations and now a broadway musical made of her story have helped turn her into a mythical figure much like Count Tepes' Dracula. Many Americans do not even realise that Anastasia was a real person, and believed her a fictional character of a Disney animation (she points out that many do not realise it was not actually a Disney animation either). She also points out that according to the 2010 American census there are 389 people in the US with the last name Romanov, and 16,269 with the first name Anastasia, so some degree of "coincidence" is to be expected. If any vampire hunters do piece the truth together, she has so far been good at resolving the issues. She states that only twice have people commented on her name being like the duchess? to which a simple confirmation that she was named after the ill-fated duchess has sufficed.
Medical Condition
It is not common knowledge as the various pop culture representations of Anastasia's life tend to leave them out, but the Romanov family suffered from health problems. Anastasia's mother was a carrier of haemophilia, known as "the Royal Disease" which was inherited from her family from Queen Victoria's side, and Anastasia and her sisters were also carriers and had varying degree of symptoms. Her brother Alexei suffered from Haemophilia B, a rare and debilitating type of Haemophilia of who sufferers rarely lived past the age of 20.
In Anastasia's case, she suffered from some physical health issues such as having painful bunions which affected both of her big toes, and a weak muscle in her back for which she received twice-weekly massages which she hated so much she used to hide under the bed or in cupboards to put off the massage. Like her mother, Anastasia bled more than normal and took far longer than normal to heal. Whilst the Embrace usually negates and alleviates most mortal symptoms, in Anastasia's case her mortal haemophilia appears to have affected her transition. As such although her blood functions normally in most regards as to empowering her physical attributes or disciplines, when it comes to healing her blood is less effective than it should be; requiring Anastasia to spend twice as much blood to heal as normal, and taking longer to recuperate from aggravated wounds. The effect of a physiological medical condition on what is a supernatural state of being, has long intrigued Anastasia who believes that the Embrace is a metaphysical event that has both scientific and supernatural elements. She dubs this The Kindred Condition and has been studying it ever since her Embrace, along with the clan discipline of Apparitionem which she feels has a blood connection to the issue. Her back problems were negated by the Embrace, however, and she corrected her feet issues with her powers once she learnt the ability to do so.
Birds of a Feather
Anastasia gets along well with Lady Jane, who she greatly respects and sees in many ways as a kindred spirit and older sister. Many even outside the clan have noted various similarities between the two. Both Anastasia and Lady Jane have the same sire and became clan Lorekeepers. Both were Royalty descended from the British monarchy (although Lady Jane actually became Queen of England for 9 days). Both are natural redheads and embraced during their 17th year of life, on the day of their mortal executions (although Anastasia morbidly jokes that in her case her sire cut it a little close this time). As Braxton Donahoe, who is also resident in Ashford, was embraced in-between the two, they joking refer to themselves as siblings, with Braxton being the grumpy brother' (a fact that the normally jovial Braxton denies, as he simply looks at the two women as respected clanmates and not family, which they amusingly point out simply proves their opinion).
In the relationship, Lady Jane tends to appear as the more mature, religious and studious sister; whilst Anastasia (especially of late) the more mischievous, agnostic but naturally gifted sister. This is reflected not just in their mannerisms, but their clan blood-allegiances and general outlook on what it means to be kindred. Even in mortal society they now claim to be distantly related, and pretend to be mortals of the same year group; often providing an alibi for each other's daytime unavailability as having spent the time together.
Finally, both Lady Jane and Anastasia have shown affection for Braxton's progeny Valerie Leigh who they both refer to as their niece, and have advised and mentored individually and independently of each other. The irony that Valerie naturally appears older than the two older Kindred is not lost on them.
Pooka and Shvibzik
Throughout the years Nastya has retained her love for dogs (and animals in general) and even learnt the Feral Whispers power of the Animalism Discipline to be able to calm and communicate with them. Since semi-retiring her Anya persona, as Nastya now spends less time working at the hospital and more on recreational, self-improvement or scientific study, she has ghouled a pet dog which she has named Pooka. Pooka is a salt and pepper coloured Australian Shepterrier (Cairn Terrier/Australian Shepherd Mix) with clear blue eyes, weighing about 25 lbs (11 kg), and was adopted from Adrian duBois' Fur & Feathers pet store and animal shelter at approximately one year of age. She is visibly besotted with Pooka and takes him everywhere unless situations where taking Pooka would be problematic or dangerous for Pooka (such as Elysium or working at the hospital as Anya). Pooka seems equally loyal and fond of Nastya, even were he not influenced by the Blood Bond.
A surprise revelation to those not in the know is the existence of Shvibzik (meaning Imp), Nastya's Homunculus. Homunculi are common in Tremere chantries (though rare outside as their very existence threaten the Masquerade if seen by the kine) as they are typically magical creations involving Thaumaturgy (or similar Blood Sorcery) and kindred vitae. The strange thing about Shvibzik is that he was not created through any form of Blood Sorcery, but from Nastya's mastery of the Apparitionem Discipline. It is in their clan lore that their Antediluvian was able to split himself into two (or perhaps more) forms, and some clan Methuselahs have shown this or similar powers. Whilst Nastya cannot do this, she is capable of a lesser version of this - willing it into creation from her flesh and vitae. Shvibzik appears in all respects like a three inch tall version of Nastya, easily mistaken as a lifelike replica figure if she stands still enough - which is rare as Shvibzik's personality is a warped version of Nastya's own, which is dynamic enough as it is, and keeping still or quiet does not come naturally to either Nastya or Shvibzik. Functionally, Shvibzik appears similar to Tremere Homunculi - she is physically more enduring than might appear for her size, being about as capable as an average mortal and, even though she does not have the ability to use Disciplines, Shvibzik has all of Nastya's knowledge, abilities and mental and social attributes. This makes her a very smart and capable companion and lab/medical assistant to Nastya, as well as a playful companion to Pooka, often seen riding him around the place like a mount. Shvibzik speaks in a small, pitiful voice and is prone to pranks and cruel amusements - much like Nastya used to do in her younger days. Despite her slightly cruel, mischievous personality, Shvibzik is quite dutiful and doting and very intelligent, capable of acting in Nastya's stead, concealing her existence to protect the masquerade or Nastya's best interests, and anticipating Nastya's needs.
Combat Style
As she is young in appearance, petite in height and skinny in frame, and works in a humanitarian field, people often underestimate Anastasia. When she was young she was a tomboy and used to scuffle with her siblings and friends a lot, regularly scratching, kicking and similarly being violent to cheat; and as she got older her father used to spend time fencing and sport shooting with her. She may not have been a combatant, and may have been embraced young, but the essential skills had a start in her youth. Then she died a violent death, and was Embraced by a legendary warrior queen. The surprise is not that Anastasia is quite capable of handling herself, but that she isn't actually a combat master like other of Isabela's childer.
Due to Isabela's expertise and proclivities, Anastasia's main form of self-defence is with armed and unarmed combat. Anastasia has been a practitioner of Savate de Rue since her time in Paris after her Embrace; which also incorporates La Canne stick-fighting techniques. She also continuing practicing traditional fencing, especially since a few years ago she managed to obtain her father's Shashka saber, still in good condition and has had it restored; and is now training in its use.
Despite this, melee weapons are not what she would commonly have around her if forced into battle, and therefore not principally used unless there happened to be something on hand to which she could apply her La Canne or fencing techniques. Her most commonly used weapon is a Nagant M1895 revolver - the very same revolver used by Peter Ermakov that ended the lives of her sisters Olga and Maria, and her dog Jimmy, and nearly Anastatias - which she has kept ever since as a reminder of that night and her past, lest she ever forget. She is a competent shot, but has little real-world experience with it outside of shooting ranges; although she has been training more since the Sabbat Crusade. As she generally prefers avoiding combat, this is her typical first resort, both as a last-ditch intimidation effort to avoid conflict, and as a way to keep distance from her foes. But in close quarters she will rely on her Savate knowledge.
Anastasia focused her efforts heavily on her clan disciplines, lore and medical training after her embrace; with her martial training being simply maintained once she reached competency level, and Anastasia is not known to have either celerity or potence, but being elder-blooded can quickly empower her strength and dexterity to levels that would make it appear as if she does. Despite her underwhelming physical appearance, however, Anastasia is above-human-average physical shape and has multiple levels of Fortitude. This, plus her mastery of the Apparitionem discipline makes her substantially more resilient than others expect, and therefore underestimate her survivability; something Anastasia uses to her advantage. Still, in combat she will usually take a supporting role and defer to a more experienced tactician for leadership.
During the Sabbat Crusade Anastasia revealed a terrifying and previously unseen power, witnessed by at least the Malkavian nurse Linda Taggart when Anastasia's hospital was attacked by a pack of Sabbat, including Szlachta war ghouls. Although Anastasia defended herself well, the numbers were against Anastasia being able to both defend herself and successfully protect Linda Taggart. Until, that is, Anastasia revealed this power. Employing what is assumed to be an ability enabled by her elder mastery of the Apparitionem Discipline, Anastasia underwent a lupine-like transformation into a huge, monstrous form half her height again and triple her weight, with monstrously fanged maw and claws. The new form was an amalgamation of her own form and that of a mythical beast, resembling the Strzyga of Slavic mythology. In this form, Anastasia was considerably stronger and faster than normal and quickly eviscerated the pack with relative ease - and sending poor Linda into Rotschreck in the process. This is the only time Anastasia is known to have taken this "Strzyga form" and admits to not employing it often as the rush of power in this bestial form makes her more prone to Frenzy. The ability is not common knowledge, so it is a powerful, tactical element that she employs only when she feels the situation is dire.
Social Style
Anastasia is really easy to get along with. She is polite and friendly with everyone, regardless whether she is in her Anya persona or otherwise, and always willing to help those with genuine need. They may owe her a boon as a result, but that is just Camarilla convention to be expected, and she is known to not abuse of them, or lord it over debtors.
She doesn't seem to favour a particular type of person or characteristic, with perhaps those with artistic, musical, academic or scientific knowledge or interests finding it easier to gain her favour, as they would have something in common with her passions; and therefore something to converse about. Patience is likewise perhaps the key trait for someone attempting to befriend her, as Anastasia is renown for being mischievous to those she begins to favour - and losing patience and becoming angry at her mischief is likely to make the budding relationship take two steps backwards. She is renown to be long-standing good friends with Helen Quinzel, the now-Primogen of the Malkavian clan. The two kindred are doctors, fairly close in age, share a passion for science, music and the arts, and have easy-going and quite fun-loving personalities that compliment each other. Ironically, Helen is usually considered to be the "quieter" one of the pair, which is not what one would expect from a Senya and Malkavian pair.
Some have noted that although Anastasia is always respectful and polite to all, there is a marked reservedness when she socialises with Brujah. In their presence, she seems colder and more reserved, and some have claimed also appears greater likelihood of risking frenzy and her tolerance level before becoming contemptuous is significantly lower. This especially applies around Brujah who identify as iconoclasts. If true, this would indicate it would be difficult for a Brujah to earn her friendship. The now-Prince Thomas Wingfield, a Brujah who identifies as an idealist and a long-time ally of Lady Jane, and an academic himself, has managed to make some headway and is not treated with contempt any longer (though not with friendship - and some wonder how Thomas recently becoming the Prince will affect matters).
A good indicator of relationship status is Anastasia's name. Anastasia is her formal and generally used name, but her entire life she was called either Nastya or Nastas by her family and friends, or Anastasie (the french variant of Anastasia). Her telling people to call her Nastya is a good indicator of a growing relationship. Generally, only Helen Quinzell and Lady Jane are known to call her Nastya, typically when in private.
Signature Equipment
- Leather jacket
- Nagant M1895 revolver
- Shashka saber (at haven)
- Porsche 718 Boxster
Signature Quotes
- "A soldier told me if you hop up and down on one leg it makes you grow taller!"
- "She's so bossy that we call her The Governess."
- "I want people to look and see me, Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova, not the caboose on a train of grand duchesses."
- "It's different now, like pushing the stop lever on my camera until nothing except the war can squeeze through the lens."