Makaio

Makaio was a sorcerer that was cursed to become the first vampire and leader of the vampire state Ikati.

## Origin

Makaio was a gifted sorcerer from a young age, but felt restricted by the morals imposed on him by society. Still in his youth, Makaio travelled into the ocean to try and find a home for himself. It was here he discovered the uninhabited island of Ikati. Deep in the South Pacific, the island was remote enough to evade scrutiny from the ever-expanding world around him. Makaio's free island became a legend amongst other magic users across the world; and many attempted the perilous journey to join him. Those adept enough to survive the journey created a community of peers, and Ikati advanced quickly.

Makaio felt free to explore his temptation to practice dark altum. This also initially helped the island thrive, with Makaio determined to protect what he viewed as 'his people'. Eventually this sense of leadership became corrupted - Makaio attempted a dark ritual that would prevent his people from dying. The cost would be the murder of one young villager; and Makaio enacted the sacrifice. The ritual immediately created a curse on Makaio, turning him into a blood-thirsty demonic creature - the first vampire. This thirst for blood ripped into the island community; creating a hellish outbreak of vampirism amongst them. The Seats of Infinite Night; who until this point had been blocked from 'seeing' the island from magic by the now-dead islanders, intervened. They attempted to quell the violence; but were forced to set the island paradise alight to stop the vampire curse from leaving the island. Makaio survived the flames - only to be beheaded by the agents of SIN to try and kill him. The combination of his dark magic and new curse allowed his head to survive, and he was taken into custody with SIN for study.

## Prisoner

Makaio left no trace in the 'real world' and was instead locked away with SIN. Without a body, he was helpless to escape; and would be left this way forever more. SIN would spend years torturing and interrogating Makaio; trying to uncover the secrets behind this new vampiric curse. As time progressed, Makaio grew more radicalised in his belief for independence - wanting to escape and rebirth his island paradise in the image of his new vampirism.

Eventually he would meet a young SIN agent called Tane Ordoño. Although wildly intelligent, the agent was also incredibly impressionable. Makaio developed a strong connection with Tane; tempting him with the the promise of immortality and power that had been seemingly bestowed upon himself. Tane became corrupted by the disembodied head and in one fateful evening, allowed Makaio to feed from his body. With the help of his new vampire sire and in a dramatic prison break, Makaio was carried to safety away from SIN and back into the real world once more.

## Freedom

The pair travelled the world with the clear intention to create new vampires; becoming their own missionaries for their cause. Makaio specifically chose to sire those with pre-existing gifts or privileges (either early Ortuschild/Altum or wealthy individuals) to develop a loyal following. This following would spread across the world, evading the agents of SIN who were trying to trace them. After nearly being captured in Lima - Makaio decided to return to Ikati to finally rebuild his legacy.

Despite being in the tropical South Pacific, Makaio was determined to resettle the island as a mark of independence and as an affront to the order of nature around them. Makaio's new following would create a large monolithic structure, made from a strange black rock that was slick and cool to the touch. The structure would house the new island population - becoming the ceremonial home for all vampires. Altum was used to mask the island from surveillance; especially as the world began to develop technologically.

## Independence

Once Ikati was self sufficient enough to stand as their own city-state, Makaio asked for council with the leaders of SIN. To prevent the humiliating truth of Makaio's escape being made public; SIN allowed the vampires to continue developing independently. Vampires would in turn live in secret to prevent the world trying to destroy them. Makaio became the head of the vampire state (both literally and figuratively) - and able to live freely & serve his people as he always wished.