SchreckNet Data File
- Real/Birth Name: "Emily" (unconfirmed).
- Known Identity/Mortal Alias: Chloe Kohlver
- Place of Origin: Worsley, Greater Manchester, England
- Height: 4'5" (135 cm)
- Occupation: Home-schooled Student/Mental health patient
- Apparent Age: Early Adolescence (embraced aged 11).
- Embraced: Unknown (believed early-18th Century.
- Kindred Status: Respected Elder
- Sire: Damien Hobbs.
- Notable Descendants: None known.
- Clan: Malkavian
- Clan Status: Influential elder.
- Sect: Camarilla
- Sect Status: None
- Player/Type: NPC
Appearance
Chloe was embraced when she was a child on the verge of adolescence and has never changed. She claims that, before her embrace, she was raised as a noblewoman, with the intention of one day being politically married to a family in good standing, and so entered unlife in good health and physical condition. She is generally described as being a very pretty girl with long, dark hair, clear brown eyes, a lovely smile, and friendly, innocent-looking features - even for a child. She stands around four and a half feet in height - just below average for a girl of her age these days (though tall for the time she was embraced) and is quite slender, but seems taller than she is because of what some have described as a noble bearing that she carries herself with. When Obfuscating herself to look older, she resembles a young adult version of herself, elegant and attractive, carrying herself with her trademark grace.
Chloe finds it difficult to keep up with modern fashions - when she even has an interest in doing so, which is to say: almost never. She has traditionally depended on others telling her what to wear - Damien, her sire, used to dress her much like a doll to suit whatever purpose he wanted to direct her to, and regressive Chloe generally enjoyed the attention, whilst non-regressive Chloe seemed to generally find it convenient to have a Damien-supplied wardrobe of appropriate clothing for the current societal trends. Under Helen's influence, Chloe's wardrobe became more modern - and many would agree more conservative and appropriate (as Helen sought to protect and integrate Chloe, whilst Damien would use her as entrapment bait). Now that she legally has a foster parent, he is the supplier of most of Chloe's wardrobe, which tends towards typical modern middle-class fare.
Possibly because of historical custom over her existence, Chloe generally has a preference for dresses - lighter colours (white, yellow/gold and light blue being preferred) and, if not advised appropriately, will easily wear something attractive but decades out of fashion. In the modern nights, she has increasingly been wearing jeans and denim shirts/jackets, or outfits more typical for young adults (which may be considered inappropriate for a child to wear) - especially when she will be using Obfuscate to imitate adulthood, as it makes the illusion easier to make if she dresses suitably. A little-known fact is that Chloe is a talented dressmaker, highly skilled in sewing and embroidery, and makes dresses for herself that essentially are adult-sensibilities but in child-size proportions, i.e. "dresses for short adults" as opposed to "dresses for children".
As a child-form, typically wears lip gloss or light pink lipstick - although it is not common for children to wear make-up in the modern era, she claims that during her mortal days it was common for women - including children, and especially those of her family's status - to wear make-up, and the habit is ingrained. She limits herself both out of a lack of desire to make more effort than what is natural for her, as well as to conform to societal norms. If she feels a need to look more pretty for some reason (typically when hunting, or going to a social event), she will wear a little more, including quite elaborate make-up for formal events (typically applied by Helen or a hired stylist) such as Elysium, or the mortal society balls and galas that she occasionally accompanies Helen to. Regardless of her make-up, she has an obvious preference for accessorising. Again, something she said was extremely common and a status symbol of her time. It is rare for her not to have at least a necklace, and typically has a variety of brooches, girdles, chains, collars, circlets, chaplets, in-hair ornaments, and many others.
Background
Chloe's origins are shrouded in mystery. The only person who, presumably, knows the truth is her missing sire, Damien. It is clear that Chloe was embraced when she was but 11 years old, an experience that would be traumatic to any child - and considering the horrors that Damien put his other progeny, Helen, through during the embrace, it is likely that similar horrors were inflicted on Chloe. Indeed, during her lucid periods Chloe claims to not clearly recall all the details of her origins, other than being kept in a constant state of blood-deprived hunger and made to exsanguinate her entire family to break her mind - a process too similar to the forced horrors that Damien forced Helen to undergo when he embraced her. The aim appears to have met its goal, as Chloe spent most of the next few centuries in and out of regressive episodes. During her regressive episodes, Chloe had no idea as to her identity, going only on what a strong father figure like Damien would inform her and pliable to his control.
When exactly she was embraced, is unknown. Nosferatu information exchange with the Malkavians has revealed that Chloe and her sire are known to have arrived in North America together circa 1722 and have travelled together since, making Chloe an elder by any estimation. Throughout their time together Chloe was employed as a wildcard by Damien. Embraced, apparently, for her ability to sense signs and portents, Damien used her knowledge to anticipate and resolve potential problems and often directing her regressive states to use Chloe as an attack dog of sorts. Then in 1939 Damien embraced Helen, a psychiatrist in life, who began to help Chloe's mental health. Especially after they arrived in Ashford in 1959, Damien's attentions and grip on Chloe loostened as he became more obsessed with psychologically torturing Helen and rising to the top of the Clan Malkavian social-political ladder. It appears that during this time, Helen and Chloe became close and, through Helen's help, Chloe spent more time lucid as her regressive episodes became more sporadic and directed (by Helen) to be more benign. When not regressing, Chloe has proven to be a wise guardian to Helen, protecting her from those who would harm her - few kindred will pick a fight with Helen knowing that she is under the wing of a powerful elder. People saw what Chloe is capable of when Damien used her to take out the Malkavians that were in his way to Primogeniture, and few want that attention applied to them without good cause. Indeed, this may well be the reason why over the last few decades Damien's treatment of Helen was not as severe as it once was - Chloe's support of Helen helped temper Damien's excesses.
In 2013 Damien disappeared. As both Chloe and Helen claim to have felt the blood bond he held over them break, he is believed to be dead - but Damien was despised enough that no-one has bothered investigating the circumstances or seeks to bring anyone to justice - even his few allies have an attitude of having more important things to do than be concerned over who killed one of the lunatics, even if he was the Primogen. But since then, Helen and Chloe have prospered. Helen has risen to assume the position of Primogen of her clan, despite her relative youth, aided by her own progeny, "AJ". As Chloe seems "stable" since Damien's death and regresses less than she used to, there are some who are calling for her to claim the primogeniture seat - but Chloe seemingly has no interest and, being at least a century older than Maxim Lundgren and Ipsissimus Satanus who are elder than Helen, serves as a good deterrent against any intentions of these elder Malkavians (especially Ipsissimus) to supplant Helen.
Mortal Society
Chloe has the legal identity of Chloe Kohlver thanks to Helen's help. She is known in mortal society as a home-schooled girl (who suffers from mental health issues) who lives with her foster-father Kevin Kohlver, when she is not at the Ashford Behavioral Health Hospital. Kevin is a middle-school Art and Drama teacher, who also runs the Glee club, beloved for his fun lessons and caring demeanour. In actuality, Kevin is an unrepentant paedophile who uses his position to groom and prey on innocents for his sexual gratification. He is smart and careful enough to have not got caught and kept a clean enough reputation amongst mortals to avoid trouble, until now. He fell for Chloe's lure and was ghouled, both for the utility of his service (including access to his financial resources), and as a way to punish him for the crimes he's gotten away with. Whilst keeping the world safe from him, Chloe controls him ruthlessly, allowing him virtually no life or friends other than what is required to keep up pretences and for his job, which she values mostly as a means for him to have income since she uses him both as a personal slave and monetary provider/purchaser for anything she may need.
She is relatively cruel to him - psychologically torturing him by allowing him just enough vitae, sexual activity, and occasionally feeding off him in order to keep his romantic notions and desire fed, and loyal, but ultimately fairly miserable, desperate and broken. He has been her ghoul long enough to have developed a derangement of his own: He suffers from nightmares (visions of past atrocities believed to have been witnessed by other Malkavians and dire future portents).
Chloe has been kindred long enough to have little desire about mixing with the mortal world beyond hunting for their vitae, their utility to her or the clan, or for her entertainment (she loves television, music and art). She finds it frustrating when she has to deal with mortals and is not taken seriously because of her child form. Rather than having to mentally control every mortal she wants to interact with, Chloe has gotten good at using the Mask of a Thousand Faces power of the Obfuscate Discipline to have a fixed visage as an older version of herself. This version appears somewhere on the border of her twentieth year. As Obfuscate is a mental power that alters others' perceptions of you rather than actually change your form, the exact age is malleable and often varies by witness - but is typically perceived as being old enough to be taken seriously as a young adult and not have to be asked for identification to prove adulthood. Chloe does not typically employ this visage long enough to require the need for fake alternate IDs, though she has been known to use the name "Emily" and pretend to be her own "big sister" on the rare occasion there has been a need.
Personality
The term sweet, but pretentious is often used to describe Chloe's demeanour. When she was embraced she was a seemingly well-educated and mannered young girl, with a naturally sweet and kind personality, who always spoke the truth - even when others didn't want to hear what she had to say. It has been centuries since, and that innocent child died long ago - but the innate personality and habits of her upbringing are still there, and Chloe wields her child appearance like a fine weapon for full potential.
She is almost always seemingly sweet and kind, regardless of her company. She appears to enjoy listening to what others have to say quietly and patiently, only interjecting when she has something she feels important. This even seems to be the case when she is around neonates, something that many neonates feel other elders (especially Toreador, Ventrue and Tremere) could take a leaf out of. She believes that although age counts for a lot of wisdom and experienced knowledge, that the young can have insights and ideas that would never cross the mind of elders - especially in the technologically- and socially-confusing modern nights. This makes her popular with neonates and, when combined with her child appearance, makes it easy for neonates to forget or never realise that they are in the presence of an elder. Even when disagreeing or chastising, she is generally polite and respectful. Despite this overall pleasant demeanour, she is typically described as having a noble bearing with the pretentious attitude to match - though as one nosferatu described it, "nowhere near as up-their-own-ass as the average Ventrue or Toreador". Some describe her pretentiousness as more akin to the Tremere - a self-confidence born of a belief of her own self-worth, yet tempered by a humility born of always being under someone in a higher position. When she speaks, it is the voice of wisdom of someone who has lived through centuries of turmoil and dealt with more kindred and other supernatural than most kindred will ever meet. It can be disconcerting for neonates, unaccustomed to dealing with her, to hear this sweet child speak with such confidence, authority and knowledge.
When she regresses, however, she acts like a child younger than her own physical age - and runs on pure instinct. She becomes curious and whimsical, driven by hedonistic desires and curiosity. She might be sweet and cute and want to dance, sing and play with toys one moment, and dissect a living human being the next moment the way a young child might dissect a beetle that crossed their path, out of curiosity. The cruel games that children sometimes do on insects or animals due to a lack of empathic maturity are often repeated on mortals. When you throw in her powerful mental powers, it has been observed by her carers to find her sitting having a "tea party" with mortal "dolls" dominated into playing the roles, much like a child would use toy dolls. And just like a child in a tantrum may break an object in anger if told she cannot play with it, so might Chloe easily break her mortal "toys" if so repressed.
Rare for an elder, Chloe does not appear to have any interest in political power. She seems to care about her clan, especially her sister Helen, who she is notably protective over and to those who know them well, is effectively a mentor and guardian over - ironic considering Helen visibly acts that way to Chloe, leading those not in the know to believe Helen is Chloe's mentor, whilst it is actually the reverse. It is a beneficially co-dependent relationship - Helen helps care and mentor Chloe's mental health and social integration (especially with kine/modern society), whilst Chloe mentors Helen in kindred affairs.
Chloe has shown to be interested in the arts and literature - she can recite Homer's Iliad (in the original Homeric Greek) or Ovid's Metamorphoses (in classical Latin) by memory, loves going to the opera, theatre and music concerts - more for the environment and experience, than any particular preference for the music itself... she does not like most modern music (often considering them "noise") but would still enjoy going to a heavy metal concert. Many people are unaware that she is skilled in various musical instruments (particularly the piano and violin) and has a rather beautiful singing voice, which evidences some vocal training. She also loves dancing and one of the few shows she watches on television is "Dancing with the Stars" and she can dance to professional level to most of the dance styles they perform (she claims this is because they became fashionable during her existence and learnt them by keeping up with the trends) - though reactions to seeing an apparent 11-year-old dancing a samba or paso double vary from "cute" to "disturbing". She feels that the elegance of traditional balls has been lost in modern society, and still enjoys the elegance and glamour of wearing a nice dress and dancing the night away at a ball or similar function. These interests make it quite easy for Toreadors, Ventrue and Brujah scholars to have common ground with her to become allies - although to their loss most Toreadors and Ventrue would not allow themselves to be seen as being anything more than polite to one of the lunatics and risk the social jabs that would likely follow in their clans (especially the Toreador). So keen is she on the above, in fact, that some have wondered if Chloe is in fact secretly a Toreador turned mad by Damien's machinations - although of course the Toreadors vehemently deny this and find the suggestion insulting, and Chloe would never allow any Thaumaturge to study her blood to determine the truth. The Malkavians, of course, find it both preposterous and funny. Her insight and wisdom, they claim, is simply too obviously great for her to be anything other than a Malkavian.
Other Notes
Most kindred would consider being stuck in the body of a child to be a hindrance. The Camarilla generally frowns on embracing children (if only because child-kindred are often too immature to learn and become masquerade risks) and even the Sabbat rarely does so. For most of the Camarilla's history, Camarilla kindred with undesirable physical attributes have had little recourse other than to learn Obfuscate as a way to circumvent this, or to make a deal with a Sabbat Tzimisce, which would be dangerous at best, if not considered outright treasonous - what price would the Tzimisce demand in return for their favour? But since the formal introduction of Clan Senya as Camarilla members, there is now the option of asking one of these kindred to use their signature Discipline to change these unwanted attributes.
As members of the clan are well known to be able to easily change their (and their allies') appearance, race, and even gender, it would be a relatively simple thing for even a relatively young member of the clan to be able to permanently change Chloe's appearance so she no longer resembles a child. As an elder, the commensurate boon would be easy to repay. Indeed, several Senya have been known to have offered to do this - including some for no reason other than the goodwill of improving relations between the Senya and Malkavian clans. So the question some ask is: why does she not do it?
The simple answer is: Chloe has grown beyond the desire to do so. During Chloe's early nights after the embrace, her youthful form was a benefit in many ways when it came to deceiving and hunting the kine - even many kindred (especially the young) look at her and see a young child, and underestimate her as a result. As she mentally matured, there were times that she was frustrated with "never growing up" - but quickly learnt to use Obfuscate to compensate when needed. Now that the option is available to her - she sees little need for it. She is too old and powerful to care about how mortals see her - she can easily use Obfuscate to make mortals see her as an adult, or Presence or Dominate to manipulate them to do her bidding. And she is too far removed from the world of the kine to have any desire to socialise with them beyond the hunt, or as a utility for her activities. She does not need or desire the pleasures of the flesh and any romantic inclinations she may have would be both more cerebral/empathic in nature than physical, and would be with kindred old enough to not care about her youthful appearance beyond the attention it may give if perceived by mortals (and this would be only because the social/legal attention could interfere with their plans and risk the masquerade). And, again, this is easily remedied by her use of Obfuscate.
Combat Style
Few people have seen Chloe fight... or at least have witnessed it and lived to tell about it. Chloe is extremely good at not being seen and mentally powerful. She does, however, carry a silver misericorde stiletto dagger at all times (an antique 16th century weapon two centuries older than she is presumed to be, making some wonder if it was a gift from her sire, an oddity she picked up at some point, or if she may be older than believed). On the occasion she has been seen to fight (such as during the Sabbat Crusade), she has shown to be highly skilled with it and - unsurprising for an elder - have some degree of the physical disciplines of Celerity, Fortitude and Potence.
She is most likely in combat to disappear and then strike hard and fast from the shadows, or use her mental disciplines to confuse or incapacitate assailants, and then move in for the kill with her misericorde. Those who do not know she is an elder easily and fatally underestimate her because of her innocent, child appearance - but she is an elder and is fast and deadly. That said, whilst she is highly skilled at personal combat, she is not a warrior and as such may be an unpredictable element in combat, best to be directed by those with more experience.
Social Style
Chloe's social style - and how she should be approached - depends on both if she is dealing with kindred or kine, and if she is suffering a regressive episode or not.
When regressing, her attitude does not perceivable differ between kindred and kine - she is concerned only with her own interests, curiosity and entertainment. She tends to cling to strong father-figures (though not abusive ones, a paternal or firm approach is better than an aggressive one that is likely to make her angry and rebellious) and can be easily influenced by those with either good charisma or the ability to manipulate others. The regressive child is innocent and typically takes things at face value - believing things she would not. Whilst her personality is that of a child, however, bear in mind that she is still an elder and although she will take things at face value, is still knowledgeable and can identify falsehoods if they contradict her own knowledge. Whilst regressing, she is generally more excitable and impulsive, keen to "fun" action over "boring" discussions and intelligence-related tasks, which can be used to make her do things her better judgment would normally prevent her doing. If approached properly and she decides she likes you, she can be very affectionate, playful and helpful. The flip-side is that this also makes her more impatient, and therefore quick to lose focus on serious tasks, discussions, and more prone to outbursts of anger - which very quickly leads to frenzy... and a frenzied elder is never good to be around.
When not regressing, her style varies. Around mortals, or kindred who do not know yet know her status, she typically plays up her age - acting like a young child. Or at least, she acts like a centuries-old person, robbed of her childhood, vaguely recalls and believes modern children are like. Her act would likely seem strange to anyone with actual experience with child behaviour, acting erratically for her physical age - often acting "too young and immature" or "not immature enough". Still, she is old and an experienced liar, and can play the role convincingly enough that she may simply seem more mature or immature for her apparent age, at least for a short duration. She finds it too tiresome to do this charade long-term and therefore only typically acts her apparent age around mortals (as a tiresome and insulting necessity for the masquerade) or to get the measure of a kindred she doesn't know (which she finds entertaining and informative). This facade drops rapidly the moment it ceases to be useful to her. Only the most socially ignorant Camarilla kindred in Ashford do not know that she is an elder, so trying to act her physical age amongst the kindred is generally pointless, and she knows it - but this has proven a useful surprise advantage against inexperienced and ignorant marauding Sabbat and autarkis that [fatally] judged her by her appearance. She is respectful to the kine for much the same reason she is to kindred - it is not their fault they have such short lives, after all, and respects the innovation and passion of the living, which she feels the kindred typically lack. Nonetheless, her attitude towards the kine can be compared with how a breeder may care for the horses in her stable. She may care for them and even prefer some over others for various reasons, like a prized stallion, but the bottom line is that mortals are like animals to her. Likable and usable, but expendable. Give her the choice of saving 10 mortals or one Malkavian neonate, and the wise money would be on her choosing to save the Malkavian.
Generally with kindred she is respectful and attentive. She listens when spoken to and rarely interrupts, unless she feels there is a need to do so - more likely to crush someone's argument once they finish their discourse, than interrupt an obviously flawed discourse. Whilst she may and typically is polite when then destroying their discourse, it is no less devastating and even Toreador ancilla pause and think about their next words before speaking in her presence. In many ways she is a proponent of education - even if that education is public humiliation or upsetting pranks... the recipient may lose face but they learn and become wiser in the process. She also understands that wisdom comes from insight - and therefore respects and listens to those with passion, including the seemingly-crazy ramblings of the insane, Malkavians or otherwise, often gleaming insight from them which most kindred simply cannot comprehend how she acquired. It is rumoured that she began advocating for the Malkavian preparations for "a tidal wave of blood coming soon" after having one brief conversation with Paul Bairstow about mortal susceptibility to firearms - months before the Sabbat Crusade struck, during which Bairstow was revealed to be a Sabbat defector and spy.
Chloe generally prefers to listen than talk and, especially of late, prefers to avoid crowded areas - or at least crowded by mortals... she does not seem to mind being around heavy concentration of kindred at Elysium, whilst she prefers to avoid being at large mortal gatherings. Some have noted that her actions become more erratic and unpredictable when around groups of kine, especially when passions are high. She is intelligent and enjoys intelligent discourse - especially with those who can look past her appearance and treat her like the elder she is and not the child she appears to be. Whether the reaction to her appearance is positive or negative, the fact it has influenced the behaviours is an almost-instant negative point against the kindred who address her; much like most nosferatu react favourably to those who do not react to their appearance, and are often antagonistic towards those who react negatively/rudely to their appearance. She particularly favours discussions about art, music, classic literature, and fashion (she enjoys dressmaking and clothing, although she struggles to follow fashion - so informing her about latest trends and styles is both entertaining and useful to her). For those seeking to earn her favour with a gift, things intended for adults but sized for her stature (such as mature-adult clothing, rather than children's clothing) are often a good start.
But her general civility and respect for others should not be taken as weakness. She is an elder, and is not the kind, sweet child she seems. She will have no hesitation in mentally lobotomising a rude Toreador, or manipulating several mortals into attacking a rampaging Lupine in order to buy her time to escape. She cares about a few individuals but most, although she may respect them, would see their deaths as " a pity and a loss" but not anything to be upset over.
Signature Equipment
Signature Quotes
- "I hear the birds singing. Listen. I hear them in their cage. The others - all our kind who know of her - they think of her as heartless, but she wasn't heartless. She was only aware of things which I didn't learn till so many decades had passed. She knew secrets that only suffering can teach..."
- "What mysteries we are, human, vampire, monster, mortal, that we can love and hate simultaneously, and that emotions of all sorts might not parade for what they are not."