Spencer Reyes

From LanceaSanctum

Player Name: Claude Covington
Clan: Mekhet
Covenant: Lancea Sanctum
Title: Father
Faction:Hardliners
Creed: Monachal Creed
Concept: Theologian
Apparent Age: 25
Date of Embrace: 1983
Society: The Diocesan Dialectic

Information Known by Kindred Society

Mekhet seeking a purpose in his requiem. Is currently under the tutelage of his excellency, Padre Espinalda after his release from the guidance of his sire. Has a great thirst for knowledge and an eternity to discover it. Is usually seen wearing conservative clothing and a messenger bag. Has recently moved to the city of Denver to further his studies and bring purpose to those kindred there.

Background

Spencer was born in Colorado Springs on the evening of September 20th, 1958. His parents had immigrated to the US 4 years earlier from the isle of Minorca, Spain in the Mediterranean. His parents opened a Minorcan restaurant in the mid sixties in Manitou Springs and then retired after land developers offered a hefty amount for the property it was built upon. Spencer wasn’t given a Spanish first name to better allow for him to fit into American society.

His parents invested a good deal of money into the stock market as well as opening a savings account for Spencer. He used this money to start his schooling at UCCS after graduation from high school. His father had quite an extensive library at his home and would encourage Spencer to read whenever possible on the multitude of subjects therein.

Spencer began his work in rare antiquities and theology as an intern at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs (UCCS). Through his internship, Spencer found a great interest in sacred symbolism and prophecies. During his childhood, Spencer’s family attempted to raise him catholic, however, it didn’t stick. To Spencer, he had to see something to believe it. Due his opinion of organized religion, he approaches matters of spirituality with caution and an open mind. He doesn’t discount things of this matter at a whim. Deep down he has his own beliefs and holds true to them as possible. One evening Spencer was studying ancient symbology in the college’s library. He left for a moment to get something to drink and when he came back to the table where he had been studying, he noticed a book lying on top of the others he had been reading. Looking around frantically, Spencer saw no one else in the library.

The book was a hand bound manuscript of Religious symbols and looked extremely old. A look of excitement washed over Spencer’s face as he read through some of the pages. “Amazing…” He tucked it into his satchel and left the library then out to the parking lot. He was never aware that he was being followed. Upon reaching his car, a face appears out of nothing and before he could react, Spencer has forgotten he ever saw it. He arrived home and headed inside for the night. Upon walking to his car the next morning, Spencer discovered a business card lying on the windshield. It was for a rare and antique bookstore in town and had a request for him to be there around 9pm that evening. He spent most of the day wondering who was following him and if they thought he stole the book. Spencer arrived at the bookstore as requested and it was there he met a man who introduced himself as Lucian. He speaks with a French accent as he invites Spencer to sit and speak with him.

They talk about knowledge lost or forgotten and then found again. Lucian speaks on such topics as ancient symbolism throughout the ages, civilizations described with detail that Spencer had started to think Lucian had been there himself. The discussion allowed Spencer to express his passion for knowledge and the acquiring and protecting of it. Lucian offered to accept Spencer as his student in return for patronage. He was given access to all the books in the store to read at his leisure and glean as much knowledge as possible. Most of the books on the shelves were so valuable; Spencer had a hard time believing that no one had attempted to steal them. He would love to have a library this prestigious of his own. ‘Someday.’ he thought. Over the next three weeks, Spencer spent most of his free time at the bookstore with Lucian reading over books and discussing all manner of topics ranging from history to modern religions of the world. Sometimes heated however, always respectful of each other. One evening, Spencer was invited to Montague’s, a local tea and coffee house in Colorado Springs. As he walked inside, Spencer saw Lucian sitting at a table awaiting his company and a wood box sitting in front of him. Upon further examination the box looked to be made from Iranian cypress and bronze hinges and clasp. After greeting each other the topic of the box came up.

Lucian stated it was for Spencer and he was to open it. Inside the box were very old papers. Spencer picked them out of the box carefully and began to look them over and immediately recognized the style of Leonardo Da Vinci. Lucian explained that these papers have never seen the inside of a museum and that these were not copies. The hatred of the church was present in the notes of Da Vinci and Spencer made comment of this to Lucian. This brought about yet another mild discussion of corruption in organized religions and how power corrupts. It was made clear that neither gentleman held a high opinion of the church however; Lucian made it clear that history if not protected could be changed for the worst or erased entirely. It was at this moment that Lucian brought forth a bottle that held a dark amber liquid and offered Spencer a drink should he wish to see with new point of view. Thinking it was merely eccentricity of this Frenchman, he obliged and drank some of what he thought was wine. Almost immediately, Spencer began to feel odd, lights moved and danced with shadows. Lucian escorted him out of the tea house and down the street asking him to describe what he was seeing at this moment. It was almost indescribable however, Spencer did his best.

He spoke of orbs that floated in and out of his vision. The breathing of animals that he couldn’t see and smells that couldn’t be explained. Lucian took him to a side alley and placed Spencer’s hand on the ground. “Tell me what you see now.” Flashes of the past flowed through Spencer’s mind as if from a dream. After all this, his head was dizzied but he wanted to be able to control such visions. It was at this point, Lucian explained his true nature to him and that, and should he choose to, there would be no going back. Spencer agreed and left with Lucian to leave the city. Spencer was taken to a jazz club in New Orleans and was shown the true nature of what Lucian was. It was here that Spencer was given a choice and he chose to be damned. Over the next couple weeks, Spencer took care of his mortal affairs. Closing his bank accounts, paying off debts and buying anything of necessity. He then contact Lucian and informed him he was ready. Lucian meets with Spencer Penrose, the prince of Colorado Springs at the time and offers a boon for the embrace. Lucian then takes Spencer to a cruise ship that takes them to the city of Beziers on the Mediterranean coast. He was given the opportunity to say his goodbyes to the light. Spencer went to bullfights and walked the Riviera.

They traveled from Madrid, a plane to Zaragoza, caravan to Huesca, Jaca, and Lourdes to the e80, e80 east to Saint-Gaudens, Muret and Toulouse then south east to Carcassone, Narbonne and then Beziers. It was in this city that Lucian took Spencer to the place of his embrace and told him its history. He was bathed in a small pond within a cave that only Lucian knew of. He was given the choice of being embraced through pleasure or pain. Spencer chose pain so that he would remember it and would rediscover pleasure. After his embrace, Spencer fed and was taught how to feed properly. He was also given his new name of Santiago Reyes D’Esclepier. It would be by this new name that his family would call him. Should it become necessary he would revert to using his mortal name to avoid notice by his enemies. Over the next 25 years he would be with his sire traveling the world, gaining knowledge from ancient tomes and libraries of vast world knowledge on a myriad of topics. They would spend many nights discussing topics from religion to art history.

The love of knowledge and protecting it had only started during his mortal years and had now been fueled by his sire and Spencer’s own passions for attaining this knowledge. Lucian often told him that his love for knowledge lay in the blood that he was granted at his embrace and that one day it would fully change him to be one of the Agoniste. A bloodline which has seen minor change over the decades, beginning as researchers and academics from the oldest of the known clans – the Mekhet. The Agoniste believe that all Kindred clans and bloodlines are part of a great design and that can be revealed by careful research and genealogical study. They regard it as fact that only two known Kindred are known to have no sire: Longinus and Vlad Tepes. The Agoniste think that, in some way, all five of the major clans must have resulted in a spontaneous embrace in a similar fashion to the two previously mentioned: being cursed by God. This in turn poses more questions: What is God? What is its design? Why did it curse the Kindred state? What is the plan? If they can understand the how the progenitors came about, they may find an answer. The only way to know for sure is simple: find the progenitors. This fact shapes their beliefs and studies throughout history. Leading to Vampires that are part of a line of Kindred scholars obsessed with penetrating the fog of torpor. Possessors of forbidden knowledge, that are locked in a constant internal war of interpretation and purpose. Practitioners of intricate, demanding rituals designed to shield the memories of slumbering elders.

Thus the Agoniste crave knowledge in all its forms in regard to Kindred history and the family trees of those who live during the nights of the present. Through the decades and all the knowledge that Spencer learned, he still felt something was missing. He had yet to find his lost faith, his purpose beyond that of being one of the Damned. These questions began to come up more and more in the discussions between him and his sire. Lucian told him of his covenant, the Circle of the Crone however, it wasn’t something that appealed to Spencer. He respected his sire’s personal beliefs but did not agree with them. Lucian told him of the Lancea Sanctum and a respectable member of this covenant known as Padre Espinalda. Spencer was given instructions on how to locate this kindred and seek his guidance. Perhaps he would find his answers and purpose within the Lancea Sanctum. He was taken in upon introducing himself to Padre Espinalda, who is the Archbishop of Colorado, and given the Testament of Longinus to study for a start. One thing that Spencer immediately liked about Padre was his vast library. Here he began his life as a member of the Sanctified and a student of Padre Espinalda.

Time Line

June 1983 - Embraced and over the next few years, he is trained in the ways of his clan and as a vampire.
December 2007 - Found his way to Grace church where he sought his purpose and met Padre Espinalda, who is now training him in the ways of the Lancea Sanctum.

Lineage

Sire: Lucian Alexander LaForgeron

Quotes

"Forgive me, if I don't shake hands." - to a member of the Crone
"There has to be something more." - to his sire before being released

Rumors

Conceals his true name from Prince Doneghan as he fears it would bring retribution down on him for the actions of other kindred.
Is really Santiago Reyes D'Esclepier
Is Immune to Pain.