About
Vampire, reborn in 537. Apex predator, wolfish. Prefers blood, but won't take it from wolves, dogs, or horses (pack animals). Excellent hunter. Can eat some human foods: raw meat, wine, nuts, berries. WIne is a substitute for blood, as they cannot get drunk. But they can be affected by substances in the blood they consume (opiates/psychedelics/etc). Vampires can go out in sunlight; holy water has no effect on them; they can be killed by all kinds of bullets (not just silver bullets); they do not have fangs; they cannot be killed by stakes as a result of their strong skin, and they can consume more than human blood. Tattoos only last around 4 months.
When feeding, vampires take blood from the prey's arteries or veins after tearing through their flesh with sharp teeth; vampires do not have fang-straws as humans believe.
AKA: Matthew Clairmont, Matthew Roydon, Shadow, Sebastian St. Clair, Gabriel ben Ariel, Matthew Chiaromonte
Personality
Matthew Clairmont is a complex knot of contradictory impulses and desires. At the core, he is a sinner in search of redemption. The defining event of his life was not the moment he became a vampire; it was the moment that directly preceded it when despair and guilt over the sudden deaths of his wife and son led him to take his own life. From that time on, Matthew has been plagued not only with guilt and despair but with rage and fear as well. He fears himself, and rightly so, for he has inherited a curse from his maker, Ysabeau: blood rage, the blind urge to kill. Over the centuries Matthew has learned to control it through self-discipline, his Christian faith, and above all from the exercise of his keen mind. A poet, a healer, a scientist, a spy, a warrior, a prince, and an assassin—all these titles have belonged to Matthew over the course of his long life.
Matthew was born in a small village in the Auvergne, which at the time was an important crossroads in medieval Europe. His lineage is French, from the mountain people who met up with invading Roman armies. Matthew learned his father’s trade of carpentry and was taught the new craft of stonemasonry that was arriving in the region from Italy. He was a craftsman and an artist long before he was a scientist, and this is an important part of his personality.
Matthew is a deeply flawed hero. He has several vulnerabilities: rage, arrogance, and a continuing quest for redemption and forgiveness. At the same time, Matthew is a gifted healer, a gentleman who yearns to be a father. As a scholar, he has seen countless theories overturned and numerous brilliant minds judged for their shortcomings. Yet still, he strives for truth and order in the world around him. He loves music, art, and poetry. Like his faith and his science, these have provided a harbor for him in the storm of life. Over the centuries he has developed a finely tuned radar for quality of mind and talent. As with all other aspects of his life, Matthew does not blindly follow trends but recognizes quality when he sees it.
Matthew’s way of being in the world is as complex as the man himself. He can seem both highly traditional and conservative, yet also willing to change. So Matthew will use an eighty-year-old fountain pen, lovingly restored and tended to keep it in working order, but also buy the latest laptop the moment it’s released. Matthew surrounds himself with items that are beautiful and functional. When he finds something that works for him, he sticks to it, whether it’s a model of car, a brand of pen, a style of shoe, or a daily ritual. There is no change, for change’s sake.
For all his many gifts—good looks, talent, intellect, physical strength—Matthew always feels like the black sheep. He is a loner, an outcast. He is the de Clermonts’ hidden weapon, and his blood rage is their deeply held family secret. If that were discovered, it would mean death not only to him but to his maker, Ysabeau, and his children as well. His family has used Matthew’s shameful blood rage to their advantage, forcing him to occupy the position of the de Clermont family assassin. He has done the distasteful job with distinction and his own peculiar brand of honor, but it has taken a terrible toll on him in many ways, not least of which is marginalization.
Living on the margins has made Matthew an expert watcher. Whether in scientific observation or pursuing a woman who interests him, his single-mindedness can blind him to possible conflict and danger. He can be impulsive but is deliberate in his actions, too, and will watch and wait far longer than others would—human or vampire. He is the consummate hunter, biding his time until the perfect moment to pounce on his prey.
Matthew’s salvation is his abiding Catholic faith and his desire to understand the world around him and his place in it. Over the centuries, these two avenues—the religious and the scientific—have formed the lifeline to bring him out of the darkness of his guilt and family expectations. Now, having Diana and a family of his own provides another.
Appearance
Tall (6’3”), elegantly built. Matthew is physically striking, with blue-black hair, gray eyes that tend to green, and a wide soft mouth. He is very tall six-three—and physically imposing without looking muscle-bound. He is gracefully put together with everything in proportion, which can make him look smaller than he actually is. Broad shoulders that flow into slim hips and long legs, with long agile hands. His face has distinct planes and surfaces with high angled cheekbones that met brows that showed his eyes. Often with a questioning eyebrow raised.