Joel Shaw

**Joel** is a Toreador Neonate. He wrestles under the name Erebus, Lord of Darkness, in a fairly new indie promo in Boston, which is run by his boyfriend, Graham Costa. (Fame 1)

"Joel's a cool dude, a little nervous but I feel like he could have a good time in Caliburn if he has a helping hand." - Scott

### History

My name is Jack B. Nimble, and I'm from Iowa. I grew up wrestling with livestock and helping my single mother raise my four younger siblings. When I was nineteen, a corporate behemoth forced us to sell the farm. My mother fought it until she died under mysterious circumstances, and my siblings were placed in foster care, where I never saw them again. I emerged ready to fight the world in the only way I knew how: wrestling.

In the ring, I faced Jackie Quick, who had also been a victim of The Corporation's relentless hunger. As we grappled, we learned that we shared a common enemy, and soon joined forces to take down Behemoth, who represented The Corporation in the ring.

We struggled through endless matches, working our way toward Behemoth. Meanwhile, he took down opponent after opponent, showing no mercy, leaving some crippled for life. Finally, Jackie and I were able to team up against Behemoth. The match was grueling, even with two of us versus one of him. Even so, we gradually wore him down. Just when we started to gain the upper hand, he grabbed a chair and slammed it into Jackie's back, shattering her shoulder blades.

While I was distracted by my friend's injury, Behemoth got me in a submission hold. I was struck by renewed determination, however. I couldn't match his size and strength, but I was as quick as my name suggested and had seemingly endless stamina. I slipped out of his hold and danced around the ring dodging his attacks and wearing him out until I saw an opening to take him down.

My victory was short-lived, however. An individual has to follow the rules, accept, defeat, learn, and grow. A corporation can discard its failures and buy success. Behemoth grew ever more powerful, and the referees looked the other way when he broke the rules. I was certain that I could still beat him in a fair match, but those were ever harder to come by.

On one fateful day, he ran into the ring just after I had defeated a different opponent and slammed me to the mat. Μy neck snapped, and I died as the crowd watched in horror. With my last breath, I offered my soul for vengeance.

I crawled back out of the grave, faster and stronger than ever, but I had been forever changed. I became Erebus, Lord of Darkness. Μy slight frame hadn't changed, but I was faster and more tireless than I had ever been. I defeated opponent after opponent, feeling out my newfound power. When I once again faced Behemoth, he barely managed to touch me before I had him on the ground.

As I raised my arms in victory, I saw my mother and siblings in the crowd. The Corporation had flown them in, hoping to throw me off my game. It worked. I ran to hug them, and they shrank away, terrified of what I had become. I had defeated Behemoth, but he had destroyed me.

With nothing left to lose, I allowed myself to be consumed by my bloodlust. I destroyed all of my opponents, leaving them bloody and broken. I was the undisputed king of the ring, until Baldur, the Shining Warrior, emerged to confront me. Now, he and I remain locked in an eternal struggle between light and darkness.

Okay, nah, not really, but getting a CS degree on an athletic scholarship doesn't put butts in seats. I'm Joel Shaw, from Cedar Rapids. My mom's a dentist, my dad teaches third grade, and they're both fine. My older sister lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two kids.

#### Mortal Life

Joel Shaw (Toreador) has always been awkward and insecure. He grew up with an excruciatingly normal family in Cedar Rapids, IA, then went to Boston University on a wrestling scholarship. He was one of the smallest people on the team, which was a major contributor to his insecurity. What he lacked in size he made up for in speed and endurance, and he generally placed in the top of his weight class. His sophomore year, he started dating Graham Costa, a popular junior theater major.

Joel got Graham into WWE, and Graham recruited Joel, his roommate, his roommate's girlfriend, and a few people from the wrestling team, to do a series of staged wrestling matches for his senior project. They were incredibly well received, and after Graham graduated he started an indie wrestling promo, with Joel as Jack B. Nimble, the main face.
Joel started taking night classes to make time for wrestling during the day, which is where he met Professor Patrick "Patty" McGregor (Toreador). Annelysse Belleville (Ventrue) was in some of the same classes, but they weren't friends. Joel was a middling student at best, but he still completed his CS degree in 2041.
Joel was far more confident as his wrestling persona than he was as himself, and he sometimes had to stop himself from slipping into character when he was anxious, which was often. Patty was proud of Joel, and liked to show clips of his matches in class and joke about the amazing things you can accomplish with a CS degree. He also introduced Joel to Victor Thomas (Brujah), who gave him a part time job as a security guard to supplement his income from Graham's fledgeling promo.

#### Kindred

Joel was badly injured in the ring in 2045, leaving him nearly paralyzed. He was approached by Edna Palacios (Toreador), who Embraced him.
Joel thought that Graham had begun to lose interest in him when he could no longer wrestle, but Graham denied it. Joel ghouled Graham because it was easier than trying to explain his miraculous recovery.

Graham transformed Joel into Erebus, Lord of Darkness. He didn't have a particularly effective rival until Vincent Whitehead joined the promo and was cast as Baldur, the Shining Warrior. Vincent didn't really socialize with the other wrestlers, and none of the other wrestlers trusted him enough to face him in the ring.

Joel didn't really fit in anywhere, being too lowbrow for most of the other Toreador and too artsy to hang out with the Brujah. He tried to befriend Annelysse, hoping that a fencer would understand the artistry of skilled combat, but she didn't have time for him.
Joel only met Titania (Patty's Childe) very briefly before Patty disappeared. He found research about boons in Patty's office, and picketed a note that read "Annelysse... Caliburn?". He told Edna that he wanted to keep an eye on Patty's Childe and went to Caliburn.