Romain Vallentin (WoD)

SchreckNet Data File

• Real/Birth Name: Romain Vallentin
  
• Known Identity/Mortal Alias: Valentine/Roman Valentine
  
• Place of Origin: Paris, Île-de-France, France
  
• Height: 173 cm (5'8")
  
• Occupation: Comedy Club Owner
  
• Apparent Age: Indeterminable
  
• Embraced: 1887
  
• Kindred Status: Ancilla
  
• Sire: Phantomas
  
• Notable Descendants: 1337 (Childe)
  
• Clan: Nosferatu
  
• Clan Status: Respected ancilla
  
• Sect: Camarilla
  
• Sect Status: Clan Whip
  
• Player/Type: NPC

Appearance

Valentine post-Embrace

Prior to his Embrace, or when using his Obfuscate to appear as he (believes) he did whilst mortal, Valentine was a handsome Frenchman of average height and build, although good physique, with a thick head of hair and beard - even for a man in his 40s. The Embrace stripped him of all this - turning him into, as Genevieve Montclair once described him, "the love-child of a Sphynx cat and a rabbit." He had lost all his once-lush hair, even his eyebrows (and other more private areas) and his skin has become gaunt, withered and wrinkly not unlike a mortal centenarian, with a green-grey tinge. His eyes retain most of their human appearance, but the pigmentation has drained from them and mutated, leaving them an odd colour that resembles violet or lilac depending on the lighting conditions. His nose has twisted and gnarled and his ears have grown and bent, resembling miniature-gargoyles stuck to his head. Like many nosferatu, his nails and incisors have grown and sharpened, although his elongated nails don't provide any real benefit.

In life, Valentine was a player and still dresses the type. He usually wears fashionable clothing popular in France (he is proudly French), typically polo necks and trousers or fashionable jeans. He usually wears a stylish leather coat over this, especially when out in public, He likes to accessorise and allows his sense of humour to shine through, often sticking pin badges and doll heads to his clothing (they amuse him and are often conversation-starters, which aids his nightly hunts). When at Elysium, it is common for him to wear a cracked porcelain mask. This is not only done for the benefit of kindred that would be repulsed by his visage, but to add an air of mystique to himself and - those in the know have noted - as a nod to his sire, the famous Phantomas]], better known as the Phantom of the Opera.

Background

Valentine was born as Romain Vallentin in Paris, the son of an engineer-architect father and a dancer mother of Swedish descent. He studied music at university but decided to follow a career in theatre when he became romantically involved with an actress in the Opéra-Comique which led to him becoming involved with their production of Mignon in 1866. He had a good career with the Opéra-Comique until the tragic 1887 Salle Favart fire which resulted in the death of 84 people by asphyxiation - Romain one of them. Or at least, he would have been had he not been "saved" by Phantomas, the famous Phantom of the Opera who was a regular visitor to their productions and felt that it would be a waste to allow death to take Romain so soon. Phantomas was unable to prevent death claiming Romain, but at least he was able to keep him around longer.

Always relatively good looking and charismatic, Romain had been too much of a lothario to be able to settle down with one person (although he had various children with different women nonetheless), so the transformation into the horror he saw in the mirror was jarring to him. He found comfort with some of the Cleopatras, developing a respect for the closeness and support of the Nosferatu community and living his life vicariously through ghoul proteges. But he focused his efforts to master the power of Obfuscate until he learnt his sire's ability to use it to mask his appearance. But why limit himself to blending into the background, when with Obfuscate he could be a star again? And the best part is, he could be whoever he wanted to be, whenever he wanted, and walk away within minutes. It was a dream come true in many ways, although it occasionally grinds him the fact that he cannot show his real face and, in the modern nights, has to be careful to avoid electronic surveillance capturing his visage. Nevertheless, his combination of social acumen, flexibility with Obfuscate all led to him becoming an Elysium regular and making various connections useful to the clan. One of these connections he would make would be a fellow Nosferatu known as Marina Vasilyeva - who he found some commonality in their pasts as both having once been beautiful but struck by tragedy (although he admits, hers was far worse) and both living in the shadow of prestigious sires.

When the infamous events of the Masquerade of the Red Death occurred, Romain felt powerless as the Nictuku Gorgo, She Who Screams in Darkness, ran rampage through the Nosferatu warrens and felt pride when his sire trapped the ancient creature by burying her in his lair. This was a rude awakening as to the threats of the legendary Nictuku, and Romain became interested in learning more about kindred genealogy (his sire's passion) and the Nictuku. But he chose to follow his friend Marina and her own sire in their move to America in 1995, where he set up The Valentine Lounge and legal persona of Roman Valentine (with the name Valentine sticking as a casual name amongst both the kine and the kindred) and immediately began visiting the new city's Elysiums. Although he did not actively support Marina and her sire assuming control (not bloodlessly) control of the Nosferatu clan, he didn't really do anything against it - after all, it suited him to have a friend as the clan Whip.

So it was a surprise when Marina's sire left to return to Russia and Marina became the Nosferatu Primogen. She immediately ousted the previous Whip who had been appointed by her sire that, whilst competent, was a paedophile in life (and not much better in death) and not someone she wanted to represent her when he had to deal with the other clans. Whilst that structure may have worked well for the Nosferatu as they stood alone, Marina had other plans that required a more... delicate... touch, especially involving the Malkavian and Senya clans. She made Valentine her whip as, despite their differences, she respects his social and political acumen and he has a certain tact and soft touch that she lacks, especially regarding the other clans - and she values his counsel. Whilst Marina is known to have united the Nosferatu and formed the Nosferatu-Malkavian power alliance, as well as good working relationships with the Brujah and Senya clans, the reality is that it would have not been possible without Valentine preparing the groundworks and smoothening the path for Marina.

Mortal Society

Valentine obfuscated to appear as he did pre-Embrace

Valentine has a popular club known as The Valentine Lounge (commonly simply referred to as Valentine's). It operates as a restaurant during the day, run by mortal staff led by his ghoul, with an open-mic area and occasional in-house entertainment. At nights it operates as a stand-up/comedy-club with stand-up comedians, poets, improv actors, small theatre groups and the likes performing on the small stage. This includes the in-house Valentine Troupe which performs on Friday nights, of which Valentine is a performer under his mortal alias of Roman Valentine. Though occasionally they may get a professional performing, Valentine prefers to use his club as a way to showcase new talent and more than one career has been made by a performance at Valentine's spotted by a critic, talent scout or other media influencer who writes about them... as well as Brujah and Toreadors scoping out for potential talent to provide patronage, or seeking potential progeny...

Valentine is rarely hands-on, however, acting as a patron and mentor to his staff and, especially, theatre troupe, rather than an owner-manager and is popular with clients and staff. The restaurant has a strict "no cameras" policy. He claims this is to prevent people from stealing talent although, in reality, it's mostly to protect the Masquerade when he is on stage. Although Valentine is able to transfer his Obfuscated image to photographic media (or rather, to those who view his Obfuscated image via media), he figures - why risk it? In practice, this policy is regularly lifted (especially for journalists) simply by asking Valentine's permission (which he will grant whenever he himself is not going to be photographed, although he asks the performers if they mind too).

He enjoys being socially active with both kindred (especially in Elysium, where he is a regular) and the kine - in particular, he enjoys seducing beautiful young kine (of any gender, as he self-identifies as pansexual), however, and to this end uses Obfuscate to take on fake personas and names (or stealing identities of lovers) to aid his activities.

Personality

Valentine is a friendly guy who loves people (often, literally) and is gallant and flamboyant, always seeking attention and the chance to be the brightest star. He constantly seeks the company of others, if only to earn their adoration, and little drives him as much as the chase after a pretty mortal to seduce, or a new audience to woo.

Having been involved with a Parisian Opera troupe before his Embrace, and his own theatrical activities since, Valentine loves any kind of theatrical and operatic performance. Many have pointed out that were it not for his visage, one could mistake him for a Toreador (a comment Toreadors find preposterous and insulting). Indeed, he claims that after his Embrace he discovered he'd been considered for the Embrace by the Toreadors, but Phantomas got to him first (Toreadors, of course, will claim this as hyperbole, saying that he had a 20+ year career in theatre and if they'd really considered him for the Embrace he would have been turned during his prime, not once he'd gotten older and his looks faded somewhat). Still, his passion for the arts at least gives him common ground with the Toreador clan who see him as an oddity. Various of them see him as a kindred spirit (no pun intended) of refinement, with similar passions and worthy of respect. The more haughty Toreadors scorn him as an interloper who should know his place and leave the arts to his betters. Spending most of his unlife in a domain with a Toreador Prince (and dominant clan), Valentine is very experienced in dealing with the "high clans" and not easily offended, whilst being good at dealing with them in return.

Other Notes

1337

Full Article: Coterie: The 1337 5kw4d - 1337Kw33n

Rehteah '1337' Williams

To hear him tell it, Valentine was a successful actor who's life was cut tragically short (although he was in his mid-40s) by the fire that caused his mortal death. Nevertheless, in 2006 he began reading in the news media about the case of a young mortal named Rehtaeh Williams who had been an alleged victim of gang rape at a party but, worse (from Valentine's perspective) a photograph had been taken and spread publicly resulting in victim-blaming and slut-shaming by many of the youth backing the "popular kids, falsely accused by an attention-seeking and dishonest slut." Although he read about the event, and the police investigation in the media - he admits he didn't really pay much attention to it... until he read an article that due to relentless social and online bullying the girl had attempted to kill herself by hanging, and was in life support in hospital but deteriorating. Although he was not a victim of bullying and assault in his own mortal life, he sympathised with her in a "bright spark taken too soon" angle. Struggling somewhat with elements of the modern nights, such as computers (with the Nosferatu relying on their SchreckNET system, forcing him to have to adapt) and well settled, he had been considering Embracing for a few years - and his sympathetic connection to Rehtaeh was the final nail in the coffin.

He didn't know if it would work - he wondered if the brain damage she'd taken from asphyxiation during the hanging would mean he'd end up with a mentally deficient childe, but he took the chance anyhow. He discovered that the girl was a fighter and his powerful vitae repaired all the critical damage done during the Embrace. He then helped her fake her death and funeral, and began teaching her about unlife. In the decade or so since her Embrace, the girl now known as 1337 (pronounced "Leet") has shown a resilience, intellect and computer-aptitude that has made him a very proud sire (though he will downplay this in her presence so as not to embarrass her). He no longer watches over her as a mentor, as he feels that she should enjoy her unlife without him looking over her shoulder, but he still calls on her when he needs help with The Computer and has workable connections with her. He would happily mentor her if she needs it, but she is determined to be her own person, not reliant on anyone else or their opinions - an opinion he respects and honours.

Darryl Snelgrove

Full Article: Darryl Snelgrove.

Darryl 'Snel' Snelgrove

After Valentine came to Ashford with Marina Vasilyeva and her sire Tyler, Darryl observed with some trepidation how quickly and brutally the Elder nosferatu and his progeny took over control of the Clan. At the time, Darryl Snelgrove was the whip - a fairly competent one, though disliked by some of the Nosferatu for his proclivities. When Tyler took control, Darryl wisely stepped aside to let Marina take the position of Whip - at least officially. He worked alongside her, proving his worth to Tyler as a brood hen and in essence functioning as the Whip's whip. When Tyler left and Marina became Primogen (he knew he had neither the influence nor personal power to make a challenge for it himself), Darryl assumed that he would regain his former position (and to his mind, one he'd unofficially been doing during Tyler's reign as Marina was often tied up with her Bratva activities). It, therefore, came as a shock to him when Marina declared that she did not want a paedophile as her Whip, and wanted someone with more respectability that the entire clan, as well as contacts outside the clan, could better respect, rather than fear - and installed Valentine as her whip.

Darryl took this as a kick in the teeth and a personal slight, and his dissatisfaction and grudge against Valentine is an open secret in the Nosferatu warrens. Both Marina and Valentine are aware of this - Marina thinks the animosity is good for Valentine and will keep him sharp, whilst Valentine knows that Darryl is essentially a coward, taking his ire out on him because he does not have the courage to stand up to Marina; which means he may moan and complain and play petty little games of intrigue, but there's a line he cannot cross without angering Marina. Until then, Darryl things he is a cunning jyhad player, but he underestimates the fact that Valentine is considerably older than he, and accustomed to the court intrigue of the Parisian courts and Elysium. Valentine knows he has to keep an eye on him as Darryl is capable of hurting him if he is complacent but, at his best, Valentine believes Darryl is out of his league - and sees their relationship as a form of high-stakes sparring.

Of course, Darryl has of late set his sights on 1337, making overtures to her... and Valentine is not sure what Darryl's endgame is as regards 1337, and this concerns him somewhat.

Combat Style

Valentine isn't a fighter. He's no coward, but the closest he has had to any kind of formal combat training is some fencing classes during his time with the Opéra-Comique, probably a wise precaution considering for accuracy the Opéra-Comique used real Napoleonic-war swords sold as military surplus after the end of the wars. In fact, he still keeps one of these swords (see equipment) in good condition and has practiced and sparred with it enough (and had cause to employ it for self-defence on occasion) that he is an experienced swordsman with it. Although he is only about average human strength naturally - having improved his agility and stamina somewhat since his Embrace but bothering little with his physical strength, relying instead on his limited amount of the clan's Potence discipline. Against kine or the average Sabbat Shovelhead, this is usually sufficient - especially since Valentine would typically fight defensively to retreat and hide than fight to kill. If fighting unarmed, he has had no formal training and only a handful of fights (mostly grappling kine when hunting) and a reasonably trained human could likely hold their own against him, were it not for his potence and the natural sturdiness of being kindred. He is very literal when he claims he is a lover, not a fighter.

With firearms, his combat ability is even more laughable. He has learnt the rudiments of using firearms, both for personal protection and for theatrical use (originally flintlock pistols during his mortal days, and later with modern pistols), but he rarely practices with his firearm and has had little occasion to use it. He only carries a common light revolver, which doesn't really have enough stopping power to be a threat to kindred - and admits it's mostly for intimidation and defence against kine and lupines (he keeps some silver bullets) if needed. Whilst some have advised him to get a larger revolver for this purpose, he prefers the one he has as it's compact enough to conceal in a pocket with little effort.

Social Style

Flattery works. At least to a degree. Whilst Valentine isn't as narcissistic or vainglorious as your average Toreador or Ventrue, he still lives the high life as if he was a superstar, relying more on his personal magnetism when he cannot push his Obfuscate ability to give him looks to match how handsome he remembers himself being. Therefore those who are respectful and flattering are more likely to appeal to him than those who are rude and dismissive.

He loves the social life and talking about the arts - especially theatre and (a distant second) music... especially classical ones from the Baroque and Renaissance eras. Any kindred with knowledge or interest in these things will find it easy to spark a conversation with him or get into his graces. If they are pretty things as he likes to put it, then the job is far easier - as a kindred he may not have a natural sex drive, and is too wise to usually partake of The Kiss with other kindred for fear of the bond (though he is willing to offer his blood to pretty things), but he nonetheless has an almost-Toreador-like appreciation for beauty.

He is an experienced courtier and Elysium regular and as such can be tactful, patient and tolerant - he is old enough to see the big picture and play the long game, and so not easily pushed into impulsive action or taunted. This makes him a good diplomat and, despite all his apparent self-promotion and pomp, he takes his responsibility as Whip seriously and tries to do his best as an ambassador of his clan when dealing with other Clans. He knows that many Toreadors, Ventrue and Tremere are resentful of the Nosferatu - both for their usurping their power in the Sabbat War, and for the (rumoured) fact that the Nosferatu had prior-warning of the impending assault and chose not to share it with the clans in power (to enable them to usurp said power) - and unlike many Nosferatu who will cackle with glee and rub their clan-plight into their faces he will instead attempt to, not rebuild... as he feels the high clans never allowed the Nosferatu to have a fair footing and treated them poorly, but to improve the inter-clan relationships. Ironically, this makes him more likely to provide boons and aid to non-Nosferatu than his own clanmates.

Signature Equipment

Valentine's Epée

• Napoleonic era French Officer's Epée
• Smith & Wesson M640 revolver (and a speedload clip of silver bullet)
• Leather coat
• Porcelain mask
• Lexus LS 500 Inspiration Series (luxury sedan)

Signature Quotes

• "Elegance is not about being noticed, it's about being remembered."
• "Find a mask and wear it well, so your true identity no one can tell."
• "A Cainite's blood soon runs cold where there are no kine around to warm it up."

Gallery

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  Valentine post-Embrace

• 

  Valentine obfuscated to appear as he did pre-Embrace

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