Zoltan Vancura

I'm so beautiful

Well, everybody's welcome to his point of view
We're all beautiful
Can't you see? Look at me!

-Divine, “I’m So Beautiful”

AT A GLANCE

Appearance: In sashays a sinewy, androgynous thing that makes no effort to disguise the curse of its Nosferatu blood. Its head is crowned by a turban of maroon velvet pinned by a gaudy rhinestone brooch that draws the eye horribly toward a mottled, venous countenance sloppily caked with powder and rouge. The eyebrows are savage clusters of wiry hair resembling grotesque twin caterpillars that you imagine must be trying to make their escape. Cheap, over-sized sunglasses cannot conceal the black, sunken eyes, and a row of jagged, discolored teeth protrudes boldly from misshapen, painted lips. From the lobes of starkly pointed ears dangle pendulous tassels, and a string of pearls adorns the shriveled, birdlike neck. A tasteless tank top of red mesh reveals far too much of its chest; from the shoulders hangs a tattered coat of lank fur that has been stained with various nauseating hues. Scabrous hands with long, twisted nails jut out from the shabby sleeves to terminate in knobby, fungal fingers crowded with a variety of clashing rings. The ensemble is a sartorial crime, made all the more offensive by the brazenness with which it is worn. Why? Why will this creature not do what is merciful, and hide itself from sight?

Society: Camarilla (Elder, Harpy)

Clan: Nosferatu

PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE

Pre-1421: Depending on the day, Vancura's stories of his mortal life include being the heir of dispossessed nobility who were forced to flee their homeland, being the child of long-suffering peasant laborers who were worked to death, being a street urchin forced to act and sing and do other questionable things, and being the son of a sailor who was essentially raised on the sea. The only constant in these stories is that he is Hungarian.

1421: The vampire Vancura is formally released in Munich as the progeny of Dieter von Chiemsee, a monkish and retiring Nosferatu. Vancura has none of his sire's wisdom or modesty, however, and immediately rejects the obscurity expected of his clan by affecting courtly mannerisms and a fondness for pageantry more customary of the Toreador. Moreover, he absolutely refuses to dwell underground with his "family," instead preferring to take up residence in the city's whorehouse. (It is not long before he assumes the identity of the brothel-keeper and allows the ladies to rest on Saturday nights and while menstruating, and to refuse service to anyone for any reason.)

1429: In an obvious bid for greater visibility, Vancura takes to attiring himself in ever gaudier displays of purloined finery, towering wigs, and make-up. ("The eye is drawn to him against all desire, as a blister on the lips of the Madonna" noted one Harpy at the time.) He is eventually invited to a Toreador salon in Nice just so that a visiting Genoan aesthete can savagely mock him; however, to the guests' collective dismay he tones it down and succeeds in charming her with his dancing skills, flirtatious wit, and genuine passion for the dramatic arts. The Lady from Genoa is sympathetic to his ambitions, and thereafter he finds himself invited to more salons in earnest.

1430 ~ 1450: Seeming never to settle in one place for very long, Vancura widens his circle of associates by attending Court in several cities including Brussels, London, Paris, Berlin, Genoa, Amsterdam, Prague, Barcelona, and Copenhagen. His ability to gather information earns him some respect from his fellow Nosferatu, even if they continue to fault his style. His ease at infiltrating and navigating both high and low mortal society allows him to work various favors that other kindred find useful.

1450 ~ 1750: Vancura's appearances at salons and other social functions become less regular, and at times he is altogether absent for months or even years as he goes on extended spontaneous "holidays." Eventually he is believed lost after a ship carrying him to the New World sinks off the coast of Virginia during a storm.

1977 ~ present:Vancura presents himself in Richmond "fashionably late" and decides to settle there. When the Toreador Harpy Fiona Bizet is appointed Seneschal, he agrees to fill her shoes. Rather than submit written Harpy reports through lists or email chains, he physically distributes journals on microcassette questionably called Nocturnal Emissions. He lays claim to an a seedy, dilapidated theater called La Petit Mort in which he periodically hosts parties, and often announces symbels by theme to encourage getting into the spirit of things.

THE RUMOR MILL

• Zoltan is the original "Cleopatra," but it wasn't until Freaks premiered in 1932 that the Nos had a name for it.
• His desire for attention is a cry for help resulting from a traumatic Embrace.
• He was into wigs long before they were fashionable.
• He avoids the sewers because he has a paralyzing fear of the dark/rats/tight spaces/etc.
• The genuine Zoltan Vancura was lost at sea and has been replaced by a young upstart.
• Your rumor here!

THE REVIEWS ARE IN

• Say something nice (or not)

OUT OF CHARACTER STUFF

Player: BR US2010096592

Player Email: homodm at gmail dot com

Storyteller: AJ Parker

Storyteller Email: RICCamST at gmail dot com

Location: Richmond, VA-013-D