SchreckNet Data File
- Real/Birth Name: Emrys Evans
- Known Identity/Mortal Alias: Emrys Evans
- Place of Origin: Pontypool, Wales, United Kingdom
- Height: 6'0"
- Occupation: Private Investigator
- Apparent Age: Late-30s
- Embraced: 1830
- Kindred Status: Ancilla
- Sire: Lady Anne Bowesley
- Clan: Ventrue
- Clan Status: Respected Ancilla
- Sect: Camarilla
- Sect Status: Sheriff
- Player: NPC
Appearance
Emrys is a tall, handsome man appearing in his late 30s. Like most Ventrue, he dresses in clothing that do not stand out in themselves, but all together make up for a notable effect. He is fond of wearing suits that look smart, usually either blue, or blue components. Several layers (shirt, waistcoat, jacket, overcoat...) are common. His hairstyle and facial hair can vary, but he typically sports a trimmed moustache with soul patch, or light beard or goatee. His overall appearance and style makes him appear notable and imposing, rather than striking and attractive.
Background
Emrys was the only son of a simple labourer and a housewife and lived in relative poverty. Although too poor to give him a proper education, his parents were religious and he went to Sunday school, where he learnt to read, write and basic arithmetic where it became obvious he had the potential (but not the means) for more than his status in life. At age 7 he became a child labourer at a textile factory, where he worked long hours in poor conditions for meagre pay for years. In his early teens, Emrys realised he was not like other men, in that he was attracted to other boys. As this was illegal, he kept it secret, but his father discovered the truth and, although his parents loved him enough not to report their son to the authorities, were so ashamed of him that they threw him out of the house. Moving away from his home town, Emrys had difficulty obtaining employment at his age - too old for child labour, but not an adult - but his years of child labouring had granted him a strong physique, and he ended up working in a London brothel. Because he was kind to the women (and not interested in them), he became popular with them, and the feeling reciprocated. Shortly after his 17th birthday, in an attempt to help Maggie Joyce, one of the prostitutes who has befriended him and taught him various forms of thieving, an affray erupted which ended with Emrys accidentally killing a gang leader.
In order to avoid arrest, Emrys took the King's Shilling and joined the 95th Regiment of Foot, which were recruiting to replace losses in the 2nd Battalion in the Peninsula Wars (also known as the Napoleonic Wars), and due to the flood of recruits, was assigned to the new 3rd Battalion. Emrys entered as a private in the 3rd/95th on a standard 21-year enlistment, although he held few expectations of the likelihood of surviving to see the end. The 95th was an experimental corps of riflemen trained as sharpshooters, scouts and skirmishers armed with the new Baker rifle that was more accurate and had a longer range than the traditional muskets used by the army but took longer to load. In addition to marksmanship, Emrys was trained to use natural cover and to think for himself in order to harass the enemy. In 1810 the 3rd/95th joined the rest of the regiment in the Peninsular Campaign, and he fought in many vicious engagements in Portugal, Spain and, at the end of the campaign, France; earning various field promotions first to corporal after the Battle of Bussaco in 1810, then later to sergeant after the bloody Siege of Badajoz. When Napoleon returned from exile the 95th went and fought at the historic Battle of Waterloo; for which he was promoted to colour sergeant in the field for gallantry. After Waterloo, the majority of the 95th went back to England for rest and refitting, but Emrys' company was one of the ones to instead act as occupational garrison and peace force in various places around France; during which time he acted as Master-at-Arms, being responsible for troop training, fitness, discipline and investigating and castigating regulation-breakers. However in 1819, the British Empire disbanded many of its war-recruited regiments, and that included Emrys' 3rd Battalion. Although having only served 10 of his 21 years, Emrys was suddenly discharged with just a fortnight's extra pay and a "thank you for your service."
His scouting and independent-thinking training, as well as his time as Master-at-Arms had given him a unique skillset, and he was fortunate and achieved employment with the Bow Street Runners after the death of a Runner. He found himself taking well to the job, helping to serve warrants, investigate crimes and apprehend criminals for the local magistrates; but it got harder as the day and night watches were expanded, and the 1829 founding of the London Metropolitan Police sounded the death knell of the Bow Street Runners. Eventually, in 1839 the Runners were disbanded and the detectives merged into the MET; but Emrys would not live to see that day. Investigating a strange murder, Emrys found his investigations hitting dead ends and other strangeness, such as a variety of amnesic witnesses, and suspected corruption at the highest levels. This only prompted Emrys to investigate harder; even when he himself appeared to start forgetting things, he would re-investigate and leave himself clues - suspecting others of tampering with his investigations, and possibly even giving him drugs. He learnt too late that he had been investigating a masquerade breach and his investigations not only uncovered the masquerade but the kindred responsible for it. The kindred was sentenced to day-walk for his crime, and Emrys' ability [and his background service record] impressed the local Ventrue Board, who forced him to take a seat. Although showing intelligence, ability and promise, he was of low birth - and his sire felt that something needed to be done about that. Emrys spent over a decade almost literally locked in a castle learning everything about respectable society, etiquette, the Ventrue and the Camarilla. But in time he passed his sire's tests and proved himself when presented to the Board, accepting his place as a true Ventrue. He remained in London for many years, until a Ventrue acquaintance invited him to participate in a planned takeover of a small Sabbat town, with the promise of greatly aiding the expansion of Ventrue and Camarilla control in California. And so Emrys left for America to help in what would end up being the successful takeover and re-incorporation of the city of Ashford.
Since then Emrys has worked in various fields of Law Enforcement. To preserve the Masquerade and thus remain in the background of mortal affairs, he worked directly as the owner of a detective agency, which assisted local magistrates by serving warrants, hunting down criminals, and assisting the day and night watches. But secretly Emrys aided Prince Kratus in solidifying law enforcement in Ashford; pushing the agendas of politicians, lawmakers and others until in 1898 the Ashford Police Department was established. Although it was Prince Kratus that directly controlled the APD, the Prince is a busy man and trusted Emrys' loyalty, and so Emrys was allowed to have major influences in the APD, as well as in other law-enforcement areas, such as the Kern County District Attorney's office, with local bounty hunters, bail bond recovery agencies and other private detectives. He was a soldier, not a leader, and was happy to serve his part. Emrys respected Ashford's Sheriff and Scourge, but truth be told personally disliked both. Whilst Emrys believed in protecting the kindred of Ashford, Sheriff Hightower, a Brujah ancilla, was little more than the Prince's attack dog; and the Scourge, the Gangrel known as Grosch, was essentially a sociopathic serial killer given free license to operate openly, as long as she kept to certain conditions. Emrys was useful to Kratus to maintain control of mortal institutions, but Kratus deemed him too honourable to be allowed to be in charge of law enforcement for the Camarilla. Thus Emrys aided the Sheriff when he could, or called on to act as a Hound, but otherwise had no real Camarilla status; although he did have the respect of most kindred who ever dealt with him, and his personal domains (both in hunting grounds and mortal concerns), granted for his aid in Ashford's conquest. He did not mind though - in his mortal days he was a non-commissioned officer, and he was used to leading, training and working with the troops, whilst others (often less deserved but with the right connections and background) became officers. It was the way of things in mortal society, and why should it be any different in kindred society (who, for all their denials and degeneration, were once mortal themselves and followed similar hierarchies).
Then the Sabbat Crusade changed everything. In one swoop the Prince, various Primogen, the Sheriff and the Scourge were killed (Emrys theorises the Scourge was not actually killed by Sabbat, but by anarchs, or the secret sires of the thin-blooded or caitiffs she had slain) and a respectable kindred has become Prince by vote. Not having muscled his way into power, this Prince needs the support of the Council of Primogen to remain in power and has already made many changes. The Ventrue clan, previously predominantly in control of most major aspect of Ashford; was a shadow of its once-proud self with most of its high-controllers dead, or their mortal pawns and institutions demolished. Their Tremere allies had been dealt a debilitating blow that would require them to rebuild almost from scratch, and even the Toreador clan had lost much of its pre-crusade stranglehold on various institutions. The low clans that had been limited so much under Kratus' reign, however, suddenly became the predominant power bloc, filling much of the now-available power voids left by absent Ventrue, Toreador and Tremere control in politics, law enforcement, journalism, medicine and arts sectors. Perhaps because most of Emrys' influences were secondary to Kratus (or other Kindred actually in control), or a lack of formal status, it appeared that Emrys and his influences were never a high-priority target for the Sabbat. As the top level of control had been torn off by the Sabbat, Emrys suddenly found his own mortal influences being promoted to fill their voids and now being the predominant factors in law enforcement - and immediately began solidifying and consolidating this control; both for his own benefit, and that of the scrambling Ashford Camarilla. This would prove beneficial to keep some level of control over mortal law enforcement during the Crusade. By the time the smoke settled, Emrys' influences over Ashford's law enforcement were solidly in place and would be hard for other kindred competing for those influences to take control (and virtually impossible for those who were not already competing for control). As Emrys is seen as an honourable and fairly apolytical kindred, few have chosen to challenge his control. So far.
When the Council of Primogen were formalised and a plan of action made, the new Prince appointed Emrys as the new Sheriff; and Emrys was pleased to learn there would be no new Scourge (that role, if required, would fall under the mandate of the Sheriff). Emrys does not know if it was his loyalty to the Camarilla (over that of his clan), his personal dignitas, or his mortal influences that gained him the position, but he feels honoured to serve; thinking it much as if he had been made an officer in his mortal days - something he felt would have occurred had his unit (and most of the British Army) not been disbanded after Waterloo.
Emrys is proud to serve. It is a great and noble duty to be charged with the protection of Ashford's kindred, and the enforcement of the Camarilla's Traditions, and it is a duty he will serve unto death to the best of his capacity.
Mortal Society
To mortal society, Emrys officially is simply a highly respected Private Investigator who owns the highly-lauded 40 Shillings Investigations (referred to by its detectives as Shillings for short). Shillings carries out investigations of any shape and size, often aiding the Ashford Police Department and the Kern County District Attorney's office by serving warrants, capturing bail jumpers, aiding investigations and similarly aiding other city or government law enforcement institutions. They also deal with many individuals, corporations, lawyers and judges, carrying out background checks on applicants or suspects, helping gathering of information and evidence for use in court (both in criminal investigations, and civil - such as getting evidence of marital infidelity). Shillings has 7 active detectives on its payroll and a larger number of support staff (so that detectives do not have to waste time on administrative or non-investigative tasks that non-detectives can competently perform). It is a fairly small organisation, but respected and profitable.
In actuality, Emrys' public business is small because he is too busy behind the scenes to effectively directly run a larger business himself and he feels that letting Shillings expand too much would make his own organisation a potential threat to the Masquerade; whilst at present it serves to effectively handle cased that relate to the Kindred and potential masquerade breaches, without the tighter scrutiny of Ashford's main authorities. This connection is made possible as Emrys is a major power behind the various mortal law enforcement institutions, having allies, contacts and retainers in key positions - some paid, some friends, some Dominated and conditioned, and others actual blood-bound to him. He has influence in most of Ashford's police and judicial systems and is capable of using this influence to have police investigations started or stopped, cases sped up, delayed or dropped, or subtle influence and information obtained. In the case of the few kindred police officers in Ashford, he uses his influence to arrange for them to be placed in the "Special Assignment" unit which works shifts that vary both in start/end times and hourly duration seasonally, all of which happen to be at night. By overlapping these shifts non-sequentially with the normal peace officers, it allows these kindred enough overlap with the kine for kindred officers to be familiar to the force, but it be only pure coincidence that they only seem to coincide shifts at night. Since shift rotas for kine officers typically last for several months at a time before being shuffled, this creates enough variation to avoid suspicion. Other kindred officers are instead kept as Reserve officers, working 20 hours (unpaid) a month - which controlled shift managers always arrange during night shifts. Some of these reserve officers, such as Cassandra of Clan Senya, one of Emrys' Hounds, are also employed as detectives at 40 Shillings Investigations, allowing them to spend their time investigating threats to the Masquerade or the city, or enforcing the law on Emrys' behalf, whilst still keeping their connections within the APD so they can be quickly called in to duty when needed.
Emrys is now possibly the pre-eminent influencer of these mortal institutions (although there are others - both kindred and otherwise - it is impossible for just one kindred, even Kratus himself, to control everything) - he just prefers to keep out of the mortal limelight as much as possible.
Personality
Emrys came from humble beginning and knows what it's like to be stuck permanently at the bottom strata, working long hours and risking life and limb for meagre pay just to survive, whilst social elites sit on their silver thrones in the belief that they are superior, and your lives are just expendable resources. He is glad that mortal society has gone a long way towards changing this, and wishes that kindred society would too - the modern nights are producing so many gifted young kindred with skills, education and abilities before their embrace that took elders decades or centuries to accumulate. And yet the elders treat the young with disdain, keeping them down. He believes that they are akin to silver spoon officers who purchases their ranks and then treat their soldiers contemptuously, and lead incompetently with disregard for their lives. What these officers failed to realised was that if they kept doing that, often in the field things would happen in the midst of battles and officers died in combat, or sometimes soldiers would just snap and murder their officers (even though it meant their lives were forfeit). To the Camarilla, this means that the elders' treatment of neonates is essentially driving many towards the Anarch Movement or, worse, the Sabbat. He is glad that the new leaders are an improvement, and hopes that they will be more just and better leaders towards those under them.
To this end whilst he is now a major Camarilla city title holder, he knows that in time any neonate, or any clan member, has the potential to do so. He believes in the Camarilla, despite its flaws, but believes in duty, honour, good honest work, and the plight of the little man. He serves to protect and enforce the laws, and to do so justly and fairly. He is an investigator into danger and wrong-doings, and the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong, and dispenser of justice. He is committed to that role; but not to become the latest executioner for the latest Prince.
Prestigious Sire
At the time of his embrace, his sire was known as Lady Anne Bowesley, and she was the childe of the Seneschal of London, who in turn was the childe of the Methuselah Ventrue Prince of London. That would be a prestigious lineage all of its own, but it has been a long time since his embrace and Lady Anne supplanted her sire as Seneschal of London when he fell out of favour when Mithras returned from his torpor. When Mithras disappeared during the London Blitzkrieg of the Second World War, by default Lady Anne became the acting Prince. The confirmation in 1996 of Mithras' death at the hands of a Lupine pack has consolidated her position, and Emrys' sire now rules as the self-styled Queen of London as fully acknowledged Camarilla Prince.
To many, this is a proud heritage to which Emrys needs to live up to, or respect accorded to. To others it signifies an expectation that Emrys will inevitably attempt to reach for greater power; or perhaps that he is an agent for his sire. If asked, Emrys will state that his sire being the Queen of London is no different to his having once served as a mortal in Wellington's army in Waterloo; both are sources of pride to him, but neither have any bearing on who he is, where he is now, or his future aims and ambitions.
He will acknowledge, however, that at the time of his embrace he was still low-born and poorly educated; and although it took over a decade of studying and tests, learning etiquette, politics, arithmetic, the Greek and Latin languages, and more things that any respectable Ventrue should know before he was finally presented to the prince and released on his own recognizance, he says it was that education that turned him from a noble soldier into the gentleman that he is today.
Combat Style
Emrys calm disposition and gentlemanly ways tends to often make people underestimate him; thinking him an aristocrat or gentleman good with etiquette but weak in combat. They would be wrong. As a mortal Emrys was a highly-trained sharpshooter in the 95th, a unit that at the time fought with different tactics, and operated with different systems than other troops of the time. Whilst british army troops worked in mass numbers and formations, firing en-mass in order at the enemy without specific targets (as muskets were too inaccurate for that beyond a short distance), the 95th was trained to scout, operate in enemy territory, flank enemies, and use precision shots against key targets for effect. He says they were, in essence, what would now be considered army Ranger units. And in his ten years of military service, regularly found in some of the most dangerous and bloody battles of the era, such as the 1812 Siege of Badajoz and the Battle of Waterloo.
Although times have changed, that core training is still there. Emrys is a highly skilled marksman, having ensured he kept the skill honed throughout his lifetime, and was always competently trained in brawling and bayonet for when combat got to close-quarters. As a Ventrue and the childe of a prestigious noble-born kindred, it was inevitable that he would be encouraged to even fight in a more refined manner. In 1898 Edward William Barton-Wright created a martial art known as Bartitsu, which became quite popular with English gentlemen in Victorian England (and was notably mentioned in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure of the Empty House when its use was attibuted to saving the famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes from Moriarty). This included some of Emrys' London connections, and Emrys was fascinated by it from the articles that Barton-Wright published about the art, and practiced what he could from them. Although Barton-Wright closed his Bartitsu School of Arms and Physical Culture in 1903, he would continue to teach privately and, shortly after helping establish the Ashford Police Department in 1898, Emrys managed to secure private tutelage from Barton-Wright. Even after the closure of the school, many of the practitioners kept in mail contact, in an unofficial fraternity that would endure passively until in 2002 these enthusiasts, who had since spread their interest via e-mail and the wonders of the new Internet, formed an international association of colleagues known as the Bartitsu Society.
As a practitioner and enthusiast, Emrys has become quite skilled over the years in the art, which encompassed aspects of various Japanese Jiujitsu styles, British Boxing, Swiss Schwingen (Wrestling), and the French styles of Savate (kick boxing) and La Canne (stick fighting), and improvised weapon fighting (using a cloak, overcoat or hat defensively) - the first martial art that would encompass what these days are known as mixed martial arts, 100 years beforehand. Although he does not commonly employ a walking stick, or a hat, most of what he learnt and has practiced can be easily used, and any mopstick, broomstick or chair leg can become an effective stick in a pinch (and he wears an overcoat).
As such when Emrys feels the need to have to get violent (for defence, or to apprehend) he prefers to rely on using his revolver for range, or his Bartitsu techniques if he wishes to use a more non-lethal approach, or requiring engaging in what he still refers to as close-quarters battle. Coupled with his clan's signature discipline of Fortitude, Emrys is a surprisingly capable and resilient combatant that whilst best at ranged combat, can defend himself expertly in melee when required.
As a former colour sergeant Emrys tends to naturally assume the leadership role in conflict, issuing orders to his allies and expecting them to be carried out (and having Ventrue blood only adds to this); the exception being if there is someone he acknowledges as a superior officer (generally the Seneschal or the Prince, although he will acknowledge Primogen too, unless the situation warrants the Sheriff taking control as the Camarilla protector). If there is someone more experienced then he does not mind deferring to them - but whilst there are many kindred who know how to fight, few kindred actually know military science and tactics, which he does.
Social Style
Emrys is the perfect gentleman, always impeccably polite and respectful to all, even those of lower status than himself (in either kindred or kine society). Whilst this is true of most Ventrue, it is often obvious with many Ventrue that this maintenance of dignitas is down to conformity of etiquette but there is seething distaste behind those blue-blood eyes; whilst with Emrys the only thing those eyes show is a fierce determination and analytical gaze. Those subjected to it are more likely to wonder if they are being scrutinized, and their motives and intentions being predictively calculated for contingencies, rather than simply looked won on.
If he has nothing of interest to discuss with someone, he politely excuses himself or asks the person to leave his company; but unlike many Ventrue, position holders or ancilla/elders, he is not known to naturally refuse to speak to others of lower station just because of that fact. This had led to him being respected by many who believe that, at least, he will hear them out before deciding on their fates. He is known to be critical, even obsessive or fanatical, analytical and unforgiving - but also fair. If you have broken a Tradition, then you should expect to be punished. If you have a just case, he is a fair arbiter, although the final decision may be the Prince or Council of Primogen's to make.
As can be expected from such a man, he values sincerity, personal honour and integrity; not so much in an elitist concept of pride and honour, but more of a personal dedication to honesty, hard work, and integrity. To these people he can become a good ally or contact, perhaps even a benefactor. Those quick to rant, be offensive, or act in an entitled manner, are likely to quickly lose his respect.
It has been noted that he has not yet chosen his Hounds. It is wondered if he will make permanent hounds, perhaps embracing childer (such as some of his mortal detectives) and train to fulfill the positions, or if he will call on other kindred as he needs as non-permanent hounds. Time will tell.
Signature Equipment
- Miguel Caballero Overcoat
- S&W M&P R8 revolver (main handgun)
- S&W M&P 40C subcompact pistol (concealable backup pistol)
- Ford Explorer SUV
Signature Quotes
- "What cannot be disputed, is that your imagination is the inspiration of horrendous crime."
- "As unfortunate as this is, you may be uniquely qualified to cast light on our killer. Are you up to the task?"
Gallery
Sheriff Emrys Evans
Sheriff Emrys Evans
Sheriff Emrys Evans
Emrys during his mortal life