Nissim Melamed
| Pronouns | He/him |
|---|---|
| Clan | Tremere |
| Clan Faction | House Tremere |
| Sect | Camarilla |
| Social Class | Luminary Elder |
| Morality | Humanity |
| Lineage | House Melamed |
| Coterie | Green Carnation Club |
| Local society | Library of the Sixth Worthy |
| Position(s) | Tremere Primogen of NYC |
Further Information
The Teacher
Nissim Yitzhak Melamed is the the head of House Melamed, a lineage that embraces those from groups that have been othered and oppressed by mortal society. Openly queer and Jewish, Nissim seems to fit the same mold as many of his lineage do.
Nissim is a scholar interested in the ritual practices of various magical traditions, causing him to reach out especially to those clans who practice Thaumaturgy and Necromancy. Though he is generally known to be stoic and calm, many who are closer to him state that still waters run deep, and that he is passionate about his family and those he cares for.
Timeline
1154 - Nissim Yitzhak is born in York, England.
1177 - Nissim becomes the Melamed for the Jewish community in York.
March 16, 1190 - Nissim and his wife, children, and community are besieged in Clifford’s Tower. The King’s men do not assist, and the keep is set on fire. Nissim is found by his sire while dying, and is embraced to save his life.
1205 - Nissim finishes Accounting and becomes a full member of Kindred Society.
1275 - Nissim embraces Izz, his first childe.
1300s - Nissim creates House Melamed as a place where those who have been persecuted in the mortal world may learn and teach in peace. Izz becomes the first member.
1300s - Nissim meets Alaric of Gaul and the two begin to collaborate on various academic studies of esoteric lores and rituals.
1476 - Though Nissim has never owned or created a Gargoyle, he dutifully fights alongside his fellow Tremere in the Gargoyle Revolt.
1490 - Nissim takes on Chava as a ghoul.
1496 - Nissim is a lead ritualist in the blood curse in exchange for Clan Tremere becoming part of the Camarilla. [Pending VIP] His proof of dedication to the Camarilla catches the interest of Cassandra Apollo and the two become allies.
1500s - Chava is embraced.
1500s - Nissim and Chava spend time in Italy (Mainly Rome, Tuscanny, Venice, and Milan) as he tried to help bolster Jewish communities (to varying degrees of success) there. During this time he meets and joins with Benjamin Caesarea in aiding the displaced Jewish communities as they flee from the pogroms of Italy.
1600 - 1800 - Nissim goes back and forth between various Italian Chantries and the Vienna and London Chantries.
1610 - Nissim meets Luka Giovanni while the other man is a ghoul under less than ideal circumstances and the two grow close.
1725 - Nissim is sought out by Luka Giovanni after the other man’s embrace and release.
1773 - Nissim encounters Claude while in Viena, and learns that he is descended from his sister’s child, who was away from York at the time of the Massacre. He quickly makes it clear to Claude and to kindred society he sees Claude as family.
1800s - Nissim returns to England, and spends much of his time traveling between Chantries in NYC and London.
1805 - Nissim embraces his youngest childe while in London, a mercenary of immigrant parents who goes by the moniker Derrick of Prague.
1815 - Derrick is released from Accounting.
1850s - Nissim's ship is attacked by Teuta's pirate crew. It goes poorly for the crew. The two begin a back and forth of mutual antagonism that develops into a grudging mutual respect.
1880s - Nissim helps found the Green Carnation Club, a cross-sect coterie of mlm kindred along with Benjamin Caesarea, Luka Giovanni, and Christian Whitechapel.
1920s-1940s: Nissim and much of his lineage spend much of this period fighting fascists in World War II. Nissim assists from Vienna (and using rampant Dominate against Austrian soldiers to provide information to those on the fronts). This takes a severe toll on his Humanity.
1944 (Late September): After the destruction of the Warsaw Chantry, Nissim fully moves to NYC, setting himself and some of the displaced members of the family up in the NYC Chantry. He takes his place as Primogen of the Tremere in Brooklyn.
1945 - Claude assists Nissim rebuild his Humanity after the war.
1980s - Nissim begins offering spiritual succor to other mlm during the AIDS crisis and meets Marcel Trevisani during this time.
1990s - Nissim helps the NYC Camarilla push the Sabbat out of the five boroughs.
1990s - Begins a rivalry with Randolf Stein due to their previous Clan conflicts.
1999 - [Action pending VIP]
2009 - Nissim is one of the lead ritualists in the Ritual to Save the World. [pending VIP]
2010-2012 - The Second Inquisition. Nissim is especially careful, having always been prepared to be persecuted again, and relies heavily on his neonates and ghouls to protect against the worst of the hunter attacks.
2011 - In the midst of the Inquisition The Beckoning happens. He loses Derrick to the Beckoning, one of his only three childer, and many fellow Luminaries. He is hit hard by the loss.
2018 - Nissim attends the Toreador Grand Ball with House Melamed, and negotiates an agreement to clear all previous antagonistic actions between the Lineage and Maria Wakefield from the record, allowing them to start anew.
House Melamed
“If thou hast acquired knowledge, what canst thou lack? If thou lackest knowledge, what canst thou acquire?”
Motto: Learn, Know, Teach
Founded by Nissim, the Lineage of House Melamed is a collection of powerful, thoughtful Tremere. After the clan split into three Houses in 2014, the lineage split as well, with members in all of the various new factions, still held together by a common ethos.
Rumors
- Nissim is a Medium.
- Nissim refuses to feed from humans under the age of 21.
- Please add rumors here.
Quotes
- "From the lowest neonate to the highest elder, we must always strive to learn and understand, and to spread that understanding. Just as God the most holy has learned lessons from Humanity, so too may we learn from each other" - Nissim Melamed
- "I'm not going to answer that, and you can't fucking make me. I'm not sure if you assumed that I'd hate Nissim because of the history between our clans, or because he's an elder of your sect and I'm an Anarch...or if you just thought I'd be too stupid to see what you're trying to do. Next time maybe don't be so goddamn transparent, and I'll fall for it. I doubt it, but you're welcome to try. Shall we discuss how much you're going to offer me to not tell Elder Melamed about this conversation, instead?" - Dr. Marcel Trevisani
- "He's a stand up guy e'en if he is a damn Tremere" - Ieuen Parker
- "Him? Oh, he's definitely a good witch -- but a little far from Oz, wouldn't you say?" - Zoltan Vancura
- "What is there to know, he's a damn Tremere, I trust him about as far as he could throw me." Zeke Wylde
- “I have more in common with Elder Melamed than I do with many of my own clan. He is a learned and trusted teacher and spiritual advisor. I do enjoy our discussions immensely.” Ava_Rothstein
- "One of the few Tremere that actually understands more than he claims to, rather than the other way around. A good ally to have." - Agatha Palmerstone
- "Not normally my cup of tea, but Nissim is a fine looking kindred and devoted to the Camarilla. What more could I hope for?" - Kelly Cassidy
- "Nissim has done a fine job of recreating the Pyramid with his lineage. I wonder if he gets lonely at the top?" - Randolf Stein
- "Nissim has a kindness I've never seen among his clan, and I passion that I...well." -Alaric of Gaul
- "Regardless of the face he presents himself to the world, its worth remembering that he is a very powerful Elder with very many allies. He leads a powerful coterie and powerful lineage. Tread carefully. However, as far as Elders go, this one upholds and honors his agreements and is deeply knowledgeable about many things. Deal with him in good faith, and you can have a promising relationship. Deal with him dishonorably and expect suffering to enlighten the error of your ways." - Sevinch
- "Nissim is the best of grandsires, and one of the greatest teachers I have had the privilege of knowing. That he has built and headed House Melamed over so many centuries is a testament to his patience, persistence, and wisdom." - Ari Melamed
- "Ugh, I know he wants me to focus, but man it's difficult to do when he's around. You know how it is with Elders." - Kenneth Bilge
- "I think I've left about 20 knives in Nissim over the years. In retrospect, they were stabbings of affection!" - Teuta
- "Your quote goes here." - Name
Playlist:My Hands Are Stained with the Blood of Love
