Rose (WoD)

SchreckNet Data File

• Real/Birth Name: Elizabeth "Lillibet" Baxter
  
• Known Identity/Mortal Alias: Rose / Natalie Baxter
  
• Place of Origin: Norwich, Norfolk, East Anglia, England, United Kingdom
  
• Height: 5'4"
  
• Occupation: High Class Escort / Escort Agency Madam
  
• Apparent Age: Mid-20s
  
• Embraced: 1668 CE
  
• Kindred Status: Elder
  
• Sire: Arthur Blaire
  
• Clan: Ventrue
  
• Clan Status: Aediles
  
• Sect: Camarilla
  
• Sect Status: Clan Whip
  
• Player/Type: NPC

Appearance

Rose typical work appearance

No information in database.

Background

Elizabeth likes to joke that her birth was the catalyst that caused the English Civil War. She was born to a woman of Portuguese descent married to a Parliamentarian officer of the New Model Army, who died routing the Royalist advance guard's surprise attack during the Battle of St Fagan. Elizabeth was still a young child then and, whilst this left her family with a strong level of respectability, it meant she did not have the firm hand of a father growing up; her mother's priority was to manage the household without the support of a husband who was typically away with the army most of the time. Although Elizabeth's mother remarried a couple of years later to gain financial provision for her family, her new husband saw Elizabeth and her brother simply as obligations to care for and not as his own children. Although he did not treat them badly, he had little love or interest in them beyond his obligations and generally left them to their own devices as long as they did not do anything to disrupt the household. This means that she was considered to have not been properly trained in discipline and "spoiled" by her parents' indulgences, leading to her becoming too free-spirited and not pious and modest enough... a rebel of her time.

Although Elizabeth was well-taught in book-learning, music and languages as the norm for women of the time, she wanted more than just to be educated just enough to become someone's good wife. Although she applied to a private school, she was rejected when her gender was discovered even though her test scores were six places above that of the man accepted in her place. Even the expensive boarding school her new step-father sent her to (to keep her quiet and hopefully instil some discipline in the unruly and problematic child) did little more than teach her accomplishments that she considered should be hobbies, rather than purposeful - French, Italian, Latin (as part of religious studies), spelling, needlework, dancing and music as well as how to manage a home. Fortunately, she was able to access her brothers' books and self-educate herself to a degree and, whilst her step-father never encouraged her, he didn't actively try to stop her either. He simply allowed her to indulge in her fantasies, expecting Elizabeth would conform to his patriarchal desires of becoming a respectable woman he could arrange to be suitably married off when the time came. He was wrong. As she grew up, Elizabeth learnt the truth of things, such as her step-father having a mistress - an open secret that many others knew about, including her mother, but none openly discussed. She learnt this was something not uncommon among "respectable" men - and Elizabeth realised that Stuart-era society was all a facade. As long as the husband provided for the family, and did not bring scandal, few cared what went on behind closed doors.

When she was old enough, her step-father attempted to marry her off to respectable Englishmen, forcing her into arranged engagements and courtships. But Elizabeth vehemently resisted, making herself too obviously intelligent, educated and non-submissive to ever be a completely pious and submissive (and therefore respectable) wife. It was in one such marriage attempt, however, that she discovered the truth that "respectable Englishmen" demonstrated their gentility on their sleeves for public show to avoid society's condemnation but, behind closed doors, it was a very different story. After successfully avoiding the latest marriage arrangement, Elizabeth was surprised when the intended suitor approached her in private. Whilst he recognised that both Elizabeth did not want the marriage, and he needed a more submissive and pious woman for a wife, her fiery spirit and comely looks nonetheless aroused his desire for her still. He offered her an expensive jewel necklace as a "gift" if she would consent to a clandestine "private liaison" instead. This taught Elizabeth that men wanted what men wanted... and were willing to pay. For the right women, of the right breeding, and with discretion, men were willing to pay very large sums, and treat them well. And the reality was that if you were independently rich, there was little you couldn't do. It's amazing how things are overlooked when your wealth isn't tied to the whims of your parents. And best of all, most of these gentiles needed to keep the liaisons secret, lest risk scandal and shame.

At first, she began arranging private encounters for herself, which became quickly extremely lucrative. She was careful not to have too many "male friends" lest word spread and scandal cause her to become diminished and forced to become a common street prostitute - her value was in remaining extremely ideal for marriage, yet unobtainable. But she later began recruiting other suitable girls - attractive, intelligent women who wanted more than what society demanded, and both careful enough to be trusted to keep quiet about it whilst being willing to do what needed to be done. In almost no time she was making a considerable amount of money, and her male friends were willing to provide advice and assistance in how best to both invest it. She also spent large sums helping educate her ladies, which she saw as a return on her investment by making them more desirable and, therefore, demanding greater "gifts" for their company; as well as keeping herself and her ladies out of trouble with the law by arranging donations and occasional "private discussions" with the right lawmen. Whilst in actuality utterly criminal and shameful to society if it were to be known, her unofficial 'gentleman's club' was smooth and quiet enough to appear completely respectable. To society, she was just a young woman helping other young women meet potential suitors or men who could introduce them to potential suitors. When the Great Plague hit Norwich once again, Elizabeth had enough savings to support keeping herself and her ladies in a private location out of the city until the plague ended, a calamity that killed a third of Norwich's population. In time, her operation came to the attention of a Ventrue who, on discovering the ambitious, intelligent, socially adept and successful young woman, was impressed - and rewarded that ambition with the Embrace. Although she would go on to use a succession of mortal aliases to facilitate interacting with kine society, usually based on her birth surname and a more modern forename, Elizabeth has continued to permanently use the name Rose since her Embrace. This was originally a pseudonym for her secret society belle de nuit identity but now works well as a general identifier - she also likes it as she is aware of "The Clan of the Rose", a clan she has very good ties with and thinks the name helps by association.

In time, bored of Norwich and to ease preserving the Masquerade, she moved to London. A few decades later, she moved again, beginning a century=and-a-half spree of spending a few decades each in Paris, Rome, Madrid, Berlin, before finally moved to America where she once again began roaming, spending time in places such as New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, before moving to San Francisco in 1944, one of the few Camarilla cities in California after the Second Anarch Revolt established the Anarch Free State. She remained there until 1995, when she accepted an invitation by her progeny, Eric West, to visit his new casino in the city of Ashford. She found herself liking the place and, after the local Board offered her a place amongst the Aedile in recognition of her age, decided to remain there. At least, until she decides to change her mind and move on again.

Mortal Society

Promotional image used by Rose

No information in database.

Personality

Rose in casual attire

Other Notes

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Combat Style

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Social Style

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Signature Equipment

• No information in database.

Signature Quotes

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Gallery

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