Raven Macabre

The Scholar

## Personal Information

#### Appearance

Raven is lean and thin in frame, with dark shaggy hair and a pale complexion. His physique is rather weak and sickly; thus, he uses a cane for support. Upon his whole upper body is a mass of intricate tattoos. They appear to show no true form, yet they tell a personal inner story for Raven.

#### Personality

Raven is quiet but a bit snarky. He tends to keep to himself and tries to stay out of trouble; much preferring the company of his books rather than risk injury to his weak body. But just because he stays out of the way doesn't mean he's not paying *acute* attention.

#### Mortal World

Since early childhood, Raven was terminally ill. By time that he reached maturity, the failures of modern medicines had turned Raven's attention to '*alternative*' methods of survival. Namely the Occult.

He moved to Italy for university, majoring in liberal arts. And at his prestigious academy, he found '*The Mystic Scholars Secret Society*'. The Mystics studied the occult, they were misguided but dedicated, at times nearing too close to powers they'd best not disturb... other times merely chasing fairy tales. Naturally, Raven became excessively invested in the society, believing they held the key to his survival.

Which in a twisted way, they were. The Society investigated all manner of strange, local happenings. Which were a dime a dozen in Napals. And had he not been separated from the group that night... had he not fallen victim to yet another seizure... had he not collapsed and passed out on the dirty streets... had he worm nicer clothes that night... he might not have been mistaken for a sleeping homeless person. Thus, is how his Sire would find Raven. Frankly, he made for an easy hunt.

And so, Raven became a Revenant that night.

## Information Known by Kindred Society

#### Timeline

* **1999, 4th February - Birth**
* **2017 - Completed Secondary Schooling**
* **2018 - Moved to Italy for University**
* **OCT, 2018 - Found the Secret Society**

#### 2023 - the current day

* **FEB - Joined Vampire Society**
* **APRIL - Joined the Invictus and was promoted to Whip**

## Kindred Lineage

#### Known Sire - Stone

Stone (played by Brett) is a Gangral devoted to The Carthian Movement. Raven doesn't know much more about him other than how they became acquainted. Mistaken for a sleeping homeless person, Stone feed upon Raven, but seemingly something went wrong. Fore when Raven died a few mere days later, he awoke as a Revenant.

## Quotes / Catchphrases

"Life will do one of two things… either move you, or *remove* you."

"I was a dead man walking… now I’m just a walking dead man."

"I know you didn’t think you’d see me grow up, Mother… but I promise you that I’m not *done* growing."

" I’ve been outrunning death since I was born."

"I think I made a game out of cheating death?"

"I learned the hard way that the term ‘friend’ is subjective… like morals."

"Death may have me when it earns me."

" I quite like birds, I think their my spirit animal!"

## Childhood

Born 'Claude Raven Macabre XI'. *Raven*, (as he'd chose to go by in his adolescence) was born an extremely sickly child to a prestigious French family. His multitude of illnesses made living a 'normal' life near impossible; for that reason Raven was a rather solitary child, too sickly and over protected to thrive as regular children do. Instead of playing with children his own age, he spent his time reading. His homeschooled education isolated him quite heavily, so he found solace in fiction; in between hospital stays rather. Of which there were many. Despite his parents exhausting every possible effort and resources, pursuing a cure for their precious son...none of the treatments, medicines or surgeries were successful. Only delaying his inevitable death sentence.

#### Illnesses

Raven was diagnosed with several issues throughout his childhood, which effect him to the modern day. (Pre-Vamperism) They are as follows.

* **Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)** **-** A rare neurological disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks part of its peripheral nervous system, causing a lack of function and muscle weakness in Ravens legs, specifically the right leg.
* **AGGRESSIVE: Multiple Myeloma** **-** Cancer that develops in the bone marrow and blood, disrupting normal blood cell functions.
* **Immunocompromised** **-** The body's immune system is weak and various childhood treatments had worsened the condition.
* **Epilepsy** **-** A central nervous system (neurological) disorder causing a verity of issues, In raven’s case, infrequent seizures.

## Family

The Macabres are an old off-shoot of French aristocracy, or so they claim; Raven would describe them to be little more than a rich family involved in politics, business and the jewellery industry. The extended family are closely involved in modern high society, like Hollywood, the fashion industry and other forms of entrepreneurial industries. Truthfully, the family isn't all that close, only coming together for big occasions or holidays.

## Claude Macabre X

Raven's father is a distasteful man, as far as his own son is concerned at least.

Claude, 10th of his name was the precious and desperately longed for son of his family. Since a young age he has felt the weight of his name upon his shoulders and strove to meet those expectations.

He graduated university a year early, ran a successful company and married a beautiful woman with an impressive pedigree, their first child was even a son to carry the name. Yet all of his accomplishments fell short when his son was born ill. Honestly, he was far from an ideal husband or father; at first he was desperate to cure his son; the threat that the family name could die with *his* child was inherently offensive.

Yet, he gave up on his son long ago; now preferring to prance about with his new family and neglect the former. If he had it his way, his affair child would be his name name sake, but his father will not allow it. For all intents and purposes, he is not in Raven's life and the faults in his character have become all the more present in recent years. Yet his Mother will go above and beyond to defend and enable her golden child.

## Fleur Macabre

Out of all of Raven's family, the person whom he cares for most is his Mother.

Fleur was a young heiress before she tied the knot, her parents were successful politicians before their untimely deaths; but they were also very good friends of the Macabre family. Her marriage to Claude X was convenient, but in the early days she was genuinely smitten with her husband.

That changed with the birth of her son. Fleur already faced a great amount of pressure from her in-laws, namely her Mother-in-law. But with her son's sickly constitution, she now faced a different issue with the family. She does her best to not bend to their expectations; she already wasted her son's childhood looking for a cure that did not exist, rather than simply love and enjoy him for the time they would have. That is her deepest regret.

To this day she supports Raven unconditionally. She has suffered much; her husband's infidelity and her Mother-in-law's harassment is just a small glimpse. Honestly, Raven cannot truly understand why she remains, why she has not left her cheating husband and fled from this horror show of a family. But What Raven does not know is that her Father-in-law has been on her side since day one; and she is far more resilient than others give her credit for.

## Claude Macabre IX & Nicole Macabre

Claude IX & Nicole Macabre, are Raven's paternal Grandparents.

His Grandmother in particular has never been good to him, honestly they simply don't have a relationship. She is a strict and traditional woman, much like her Mother-in-law before her. An unspoken fear of inadequacy has pushed her to hold the traditional values closely. Hence why she was desperate to have a son rather than her other three daughters; therefore her boy is her golden-child.

So when her Grandson was born it should have been a happy day, but Nicole did not have it in herself to accept '*imperfection*' and so she rejected Raven since the beginning. In the same sense she had always been hyper critical of her Daughter-in-law. After all, no one will ever be good enough for her son; but she likes her son's mistress; particular their healthy boy *very* much.

Claude IX, has lived a long and (in his opinion) foolish life. Like his wife, he too chased after false pride and glory for a long time. But unlike his wife, he grew out of it. It took a long time, but better late than never. He now sees the silliness of his family, the obsession with names that don't mean anything has cost him much in hinds sight. He's grown distant with his daughters, his only son has become an ego maniac and his grandchildren unknowingly fight for their grandparents favor in the illogical battle that is inheritance.

He loves and respects his wife of course, but he cannot hold to those expectations and values like she still does. For all of his regrets in his old age, the most he can do now is right past wrongs where he can; or at least try. And one of those is to do right by is his Grandson, the *last* of his name.

With Raven's illness, Claude IX came to terms with inevitability, he even sees it as preferable in a sad way. It is his belief that it is time for the name **Claude** and **Macabre** to die. Until then it is important that whatever Raven makes of his short life be a good one. And that is something Claude IX will see too *personally*, even if Raven doesn't know it.

## Rochelle Romano & Nico Romano

Rochelle & Nico are Raven's (technical) Step Mother and half brother, respectfully.

Rochelle is quite frankly, a *vixen*. Gorgeous, witty and amazing in bed. What else could a man ask for? Well Raven isn't so easily tricked by a pretty face and neither was his Grandfather.

But for all of Rochelle's pomp and circumstance, she is a *very* intelligent woman. She knows exactly what she wants and will do whatever she needs to get it. Seemingly, Raven's father was *what* she wanted.

But Raven doesn't hold any ill will against the woman, not anymore at least. She knows what's she's doing and even he admits that she does it *very* well.
Granted, Rochelle would much rather have a ring on her finger. But the threat of disownment and being cut out of the will has forced her lover's hand; and so, '*the other woman*' is as much as Rochelle is allowed to be at this point.

Granted, Rochelle would much rather have a ring on her finger. But the threat of disownment and being cut out of the will has forced her lover's hand; and so, '*the other woman*' is as much as Rochelle is allowed to be at this point.

And then there's little Nico. Honestly, Raven can't help but feel a little bad for the kid. Nico is a sweet, fun loving and rowdy boy; and the apple of his Grandmother's eye. The traditionalists among the family spoil Nico rotten, yet somehow Nico remains a well mannered and humble child, if not a little cheeky.

Unfortunately, he's caught in between a bunch of feuding adults and their stupids games, ones of which he doesn't cares about or even has any real awareness of.

Raven has only meet Nico a handful of times, and only ever briefly. But honestly Raven likes the idea of having a little brother out there somewhere. He hopes that unlike himself, Nico can have a happy, healthy and rowdy childhood like all little boys should have. And considering that he's a genuinely good kid, despite his family spoiling him; that speaks to Rochelle's character as a Mother.

Which Raven and even Fleur can respect.

## Extended Family

While the Macabre linage has placed emphasis on male heirs, many past and present Macabres have had plenty of daughters. As for Claude IX and his wife, they had three daughters in total, two before their son and one after him. Nicole's insistence on having a son has left a rift between herself and her daughters; and while it used to be the same for their father, Claude IX in recent years has been bridging that gap. It actually started with a very heart felt apology to each of his girls. They deserved better than what they got from both of their parents, and now their father can say he is extremely proud of the beautiful and accomplished women they have all become.

### The Garnier Family (& Dupont)

Jacqueline is the firstborn, as a young girl she yearned for her parents approval but didn't meet those expectations being a daughter. In time she moved on and threw herself into education, eventually going on to become an economics professor at University level.

In her mid 20s she met **Marcus Garnier**, a handsome accountant whome at the time was working with her father. Ever the gentlemen, Marcus asked to court Jacqueline after the two had become more friendly and a few short years later they were married.

Together they have a single Daughter, **Claire**. She grew up with a fascination for fashion and studied it in school. But her heart was always in photography. Now she works for high end fashion magazines as a photographer. Through work she met **Gabriel Dupont**, a male model who was head over heels for her when the first met on set. They are much like her own parents in a few key ways. The two dated for several years before getting married two years ago. And six months ago (September 2022) they happily welcomed their first child, **Rose Dupont**.

Making Jacqueline and Marcus very happy grandparents.

### The Blanchet Family

The second daughter, Audrey, is a bit of an outlier in the family (as far as modern expectations are concerned). She worked in her fathers company for several years, becoming quite the accomplished manager and business woman before meeting her now Husband, **Stephan Blanchet**. Stephan was just a regular guy working a minimum wage at Audrey's favorite coffee shop. She'd see him every day to pick up the office coffee orders, somewhere along the way the two hit it off.

Today, Stephan actually climbed the corporate ladder to business owner of that very same coffee shop and Audrey left work to be a stay-at-home-mum for their three kids, **Samuel**, **Antoinette** and **Chloé**.

Notable; Samuel has just gone off too University, while Antoinette figures out the tribulations of high-school and little Chloé takes up all of her mother's time at home as four year olds do.

### The Fontaine Family

Gisele is the oopsie baby, she came about 9 full years after her brother Claude arrived on the scene. In a way this has made her not only the black sheep of the family but also the most well adjusted growing up. There was no pressure for her to be anything but herself, aside from the unplanned nature of her birth, she made it out fairly okay.

Ironically, out of all of her siblings, she is the most 'macabre' out of the lot of them. She works in the jewelers industry; stocks, investments and appraisals mostly. She's got quite the eye for a well cut diamond. For all intents and purposes she lives the socialite life, with a wide network of friends and associates. She's on good terms with her sisters and even parents, though she admittedly doesn't get along with her brother.

Around the time she was fresh out of University, Gisele started expanding her already impressive social network and among those people was, **Alexandre Fontaine**, an up and coming Broadway. The two officially met at a dinner party and kept in touch once he left for America. Honestly she was quite enamored with him from the get go. And even though he fancied her as well, he was too shy to do anything about it. But that didn't stop Gisele.

They like to say that "Gisele decided that he was hers and that was that." She perused him quite aggressively, moved to America to be closer to him and also supported his now very successful theater career. Now adays they run stage productions together. The two social love birds married several years ago and have twin boys, **Éliott** & **Louis**, both on the edge of primary school age.

Though it's near impossible to get the boys in school when all they want is to be on stage like papa.

## Family History

The Macabre family line go back close to 200 years, originating in French aristocracy. Specifically they were Barons.

Unfortunately, most (if not all) family records pre-dating the French Revolution in 1789 – 1799; were lost with the fall of the Monarchy. As a Barony, the family were subjected to the rioting masses; the patron of the family, *Baron Claude*, died in the riots; which forced his then pregnant wife, Lady Eloise to flee France. Thus is how their linage made way to the United Kingdom for several generations, only returning to France much later.

In England, the family built their fortune on the jewelers trade and advantages marriages, though there were a few outliers along the way. By time they got to the modern day, the traditional marks of their ancestors linger still, as well as the old foundations of trade and high society.

## Lady Eloise Macabre 1779 – 1805

    Once fleeing France, Eloise used her maiden name 'Macabre' as a disguise to cross the English Channel to the United Kingdom. This name she would keep until she died and which she would also pass down to her son upon his birth. But in memory of her dear husband, she named the child after him. And so started the naming tradition.

In truth 'Macabre' could be considered a false name, the original name *(Baron Claude's name)* has been lost to time and died with Eloise. But her descends ware *her* name with pride, even if unknowingly.

##### Elosie's Treasures

Before she fled to England, Eloise took with her a few items, which she would keep safe in a small jewellery box made by her son later on. The box contained a few sparse items which her decedents would later use to trace back their family linage. But most importantly was a locket with a tiny portrait of her dear husband inside. To the current day, it is the only known portrait of 'Claude the 1st'.

## Claude Macabre II 1789 – 1826

Claude II is the first to inherit the family name.

Born upon the ship his mother fled France upon, Claude II lived his whole life in England. He was raised in the slums and was said to be very protective of his mother. (Who was later theorized to have worked as a prostitute in London.)

Since the day he was born he was the *man* of the house, so he made it his responsibility to act the part, even as a young boy. Known to be a very mature youth, he took to work early, eventually going into the jewelers trade which would define his family line's trade. He was said to have impressive skills, and in time he married a merchants daughter, who's decent family's fortune set the foundation of what would later become the Macabre's trade empire.

For his whole life he did not know of his family's former glory, that was a secret his mother took to her grave.

## Claude Macabre V 1853 – 1902

Claude V is single-handedly responsible for building the Macabre family tree. By the time of his generation the Macabre family was now a successful merchants in the jewelry trade and considered a part of highborn English society.

As a boy he found his Great, Great Grandmother's jewellery box, kept safe and unknown in the family attic for all those years. The contents inspired a fascination with his family history; which was a welcome distraction from the loss of loosing his mother young.

Unlike his two brothers, he didn't take to the family trade, and so he dedicated his life to 'detective' work. His historical pursuits of his linage brought him to France where he remained permanently. There he married a beautiful highborn french lady who shared his passion for history.

Together they unearthed much of what the family know today about their history.

## Maria Macabre 1892 – 1962

Maria Macabre is a unique figure in the Macabre's history. Wife of Claude VII from an arranged marriage, she was 4 years his senior when they wed. Yet tragically, her husband died young from a freak horse riding accident. Windowing her barley one year after marriage with a newborn.

With Claude's VII death, much misfortune soon followed with the Great Depression just a few years later. The family business went under and Maria; the clever, resourceful and well educated women she was, kept the family from bankruptcy.

With only a single son to continue the family name, Maria was extremely protective of him, and had high expectations and standards of not only her son but also his wife.

While the family are indeed indebted to her, she's also the catalyst of extreme traditional values and unrealistic expectations; which her decedents continue to live by to the current day.

## The Secret Society

The **'*Mystic Scholars Secret Society'*** is an old organization of scholars and researchers; based in the old and prestigious ***'University of Bologna**'*. Up until recent times, the society disbanded long ago and faded away into obscurity. In generations past, the Scholars studied the occult arts and supernatural occurrences, collecting a wide range of knowledge, both fact and fiction. Either being difficult to distinguish from one-another.

In the modern day, the current Society is a shadow of it's former self. They are little more than a group of outcast rich kids chasing fairy tales. The members were previously un-acquainted with each other, until they collectively found the Society sanctum by accident. Thus they became friends with a common interest. The occult.

Though the group were a united force, outside of their Society practices they maintained a 'non-associated' public image.

#### Luca Greco

There is no true 'leader' of the Society, but Luca (and all his Biology Major glory) is probably the closest thing to it. He is by far the most eager in their research and in many ways binds the group together. He's confident, head strong and hyper fixating on his new occult obsession, maybe a little *too* much. the Smallest lead will get him going and he'll often get the group in a bit of trouble for it. But he's also always the one to get them out of trouble. So the group allow it.

#### Hyun-jung Yun

A transfer student from South Korea, Hyun-jung Yun (nick named *Yun*) was very studious and equally dedicated as Luca. The two could be considered best friends or co-leaders of a sort. Yun was the planner, he managed stock and resources and was a diligent researcher; his History major came in handy often. It was wonder *if* and *when* the man slept, he seemed to always be in the sanctum with a flashlight and a book often times he's be found with Raven doing the same. But they wouldn't have found nearly as much without him.

#### Diego Russo

The easy going funny man, Dieogo treated this as a joke for a long time. It wasn't until their first **real** discovery, which left Diego with a scary paranormal experience, that he jumped on the band wagon. He'd cut the tension when things got freaky, kept morale up and for the most part keep the group honest when they were chasing dead leads. But to be completely transparent, he was useless on the books. The frat boy couldn't keep himself awake in class, let alone 'extra curricular activities'.

#### Jason Smith

Jason is the tech guy, this man came down from America on an engineering degree so it worked out perfectly. He ran the machines and constantly fixed them when the others would inevitably break them. Being a scholar made him an inventor and he thrived in that environment, heck he grew up watch *Ghost Busters*, so actually making the machines that help his new friends track **REAL** ghosts was strangely satisfying for him. Plus he thought Sarah was *hella* cute and took every possible chance to impress her.

#### Sarah Harris

This all American girl is a poor scaredy cat, yet she loves scary things. What a dilemma. She's the hyper careful one that wants to take care of people and not get hurt. She was always more happy to hang back in the sanctum with Yun and Raven and help them go over the books. But primarily, she was the gossip collector. Sarah was studying journalism, so she had a keen eye for 'strange happenings' and found clues in unlikely places. The news talked about a weird thing? She smelt a story there that wasn't being talked about! She's actually a big contributor even if she doesn't get out in the field often.

#### Meera Khatri

Meera here is the spiritual one of the group. She move to Italy from India and her eccentric self is on a Psychology Major. She thinks herself connected to the spirit world, able to scene energies and commune with ghosts. And maybe she's right. Either way, she'd always be on the scene, if you didn't take her she'd be *very* offended. In a way she was the mum of the group. She brought everything. And we mean **everything**. Food? First aid kits? Breath mints? A pencil? And SAGE. **SO MUCH SAGE!** - But besides her Bag of Holding - She'd often give unique insight as a believer and a perspective as a (self-proclaimed) medium which the other both lacked and appreciated.

### Raven Macabre

Raven made use of his Liberal Arts Degree to translate the many books they'd read. You need to recite a Latin spell in a haunted house? He was your guy. This tomb is written in German? Send it his way. Meera is talking to a ghost from the french revolution? He'll interpret. You get the picture, he's the *special skills* guy, the recorder if you would to fill int he gaps. He always wanted to get involved more but his weak body made that difficult at times, but his friends understood and often helped him however they could. So he'd end up with Yun and Sarah most of the time going over mountains of books; They were more his speed then say Luca or Diego. It's a shame how things ended... he really thought they were friends.

## Inspirations - Soundtrack - Random facts

Music Playlist for Raven

**Random Facts:**

1. The name 'Raven' which he goes by is his Mother's given middle name.
2. Raven has a passion or literature and poetry, which was imparted to him by his Mother.
3. Raven's tattoos have symbolic meaning, they represent the doubts of living, then he fears that he cannot save himself. To rid himself of those doubts she has them inked on his body to ware like Armor. The idea being - if there is no room left to tattoo, the doubts cannot reach inside; they'll only ever be skin deep.
4. Raven's Touchstone is his **Mother**.
5. Raven is Studying a *Liberal Arts Degree* at the *University of Bologna*

**Inspirations:**

* The Occult

* Knowledge

* Poetry

* Predatory Birds

* Dark Magic

* Divergence of Expectations