Matteo Cherith

Matteo was a minor NPC in the main Crossworlds campaign. He is a beloved rock star known for his impressive riffs, flashy light shows at concerts, and a bombastic personality. He is described as dramatic, friendly and affectionate (if not a bit flirty).

## History

His mother was a human servant for Transcendence, a cult of vampires with sects across planets--but no established chapter in the Crossworlds. She and Leonardo Cherith, one of the vampires in a Transcendence chapter, fell in love. When they found out she was with child, he helped her escape to the Crossworlds. They were unsure of what the leader of Transcendence would say, and unwilling to find out.

Matteo grew up in Refersi never knowing his father but always having a passion for music and the arts. When he was old enough to support himself, he moved to Paulisper. Here, he played in various smaller settings until he gained enough of a following to move up. He found the scene more frightening and isolating than he anticipated. Between this and pre-existing mental health issues, Matteo slipped into the cycle of addiction.

It was during this time that he met Killian Foy, who'd masqueraded himself so that Matteo would not recognize him. The two would begin a relationship where they cared about each other deeply, but still knew that something was wrong and that it wouldn't last. Despite this, the relationship lasted years. Matteo, with Killian's assistance, began and stayed on a path of recovery. He found himself thriving with the support, community, and attention he had craved for years.

This relationship ended when Matteo found out who Killian really was. As it was no longer safe to continue the relationship, they made a mutual decision to break up. They also made a blood pact that if one ever intentionally put the other in danger, they'd lose their spell-casting abilities until the situation was resolved.

Less than a year later, for unrelated reasons, Matteo's manager quit. Before they left, they recommended Storm Darvyn. Storm was a wedding planner looking to escape the scene. Matteo and Storm hit it off immediately, and the two became best friends. Storm still lives on her own, but has her own room in Matteo's house and stays there frequently.

The party sought Matteo out originally in their quest to gain renown and admittance into Kritya. He appeared on Pandora's podcast. During the interview, Dirt noticed that Matteo had a blood pact scar. By the end of their time together, he admitted his secret.

Also during the party's time in Refersi, Tairin offered to help Matteo find his father. Matteo, ever-curious and forbidden to research this information by his mother, agreed. Together, they researched for a week before attending a public gala held by Transcendence. Matteo met Leonardo and, years later, the two frequently visit with each other.

## Trivia

* Matteo's music, style and personality were inspired by Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, and Elton John.
* Because of the above, Matteo speaks with a British accent.
* Matteo is an arcane caster. However, he learned much of his magic from Killian. Before they met, Matteo would have stats at about level 6.
* He speaks Common, Undercommon, and Celestial.