None

Known Contacts: Gabriel Stewart, Peter Dorfman
Known Mentors: Gabriel Stewart
Known Status: Regent of the 1st Circle of Mystery
Known Feeding Grounds: Baltimore
Known Herd: None
Known Havens: Mansion

Thaumaturgy: Baltimore

History

Darion Blake grew up in a family of means in Detroit. His father was a successful Lawyer and his mother was a well-connected socialite as a result. Admiring the lifestyle of his parents, he was driven to emulate them as he grew up.

 Drawn by the large salaries his father’s Firm negotiated, Darion applied himself to becoming a lawyer. He attended Michigan State University, while his father’s peers and colleagues watched in interest, hoping that Darion would follow in his father’s success. During his freshman year, Darion was drawn into the elite society of the university. At one of their various extravagant frat parties, Darion nearly overdosed on Crystal Meth. The result of which, affected him physically so that even the presence of illegal drugs made him ill (Flaw – Allergic – Illegal Drugs). The after-effects of this incident left him prone to deep exhaustive sleeps (Flaw – Deep Sleeper). Fortunately for him, his father and his colleagues managed to cover up the incident, claiming he succumbed to “Alcohol Poisoning”. This facilitated his continued attendance in the Law Program. Assuming he had learned his lesson, the “Old Boys Club” considered it case-closed, and potentially blackmail material someday in the future. Darion knew this, and recognized it as par-for-the-course in their field, so he chose not to hold a grudge as it might harm his chances of working with them someday. Upon successfully completing his Masters Degree in Corporate Law, Darion was quickly ushered into his father’s Firm where he quickly made his way up the ladder.

 5 years later, after unsuccessfully representing a client, his parents’ car was violently forced off of the Ambassador Bridge while they were returning from a charity function the three of them attended, held at Casino Windsor in Canada. Darion managed to find his way out of the car and was caught in the undertow of the powerful currents of the Detroit River. Unfortunately, neither of his parents was able to free themselves from the vehicle. Darion was later found barely alive by a dockworker further downriver. He was rushed to Mercy Hospital where he recovered, but he found himself afraid to pass near fast moving waters from that time on. (Flaw – Can’t Cross Running Water)

The Firm took care of Darion’s legal and inheritance affairs pro-bono, and ensured that the perpetrator of this heinous crime paid for his deeds. Even so, Darion found himself ill at ease as master of his mother and father’s home, and even amongst his father’s colleagues. He begged a transfer to an overseas firm to “find his equilibrium”, leaving the management of his estate in the hands of his father’s, now his, colleagues.

The Firm understanding his need, and seeing an opportunity for Darion to get some international experience, agreed and transferred him temporarily to their Austrian branch while assuming stewardship of his estates. It was at this time that he met a partner in the Firm, Gabriel Stewart. Darion applied himself to his work, impressing Gabriel with his knowledge and the easy manner he was able to manipulate the courts and other officials. Knowing that there was an increasing demand in the Clan for such political and social savvy, he took Darion’s association to the next level. Darion was embraced into House and Clan.

After years balancing his demands as an attorney against the demands placed on him within the Clan, Darion felt that his skills would be better used within Kindred circles when dealing with the other clans nightly in Elysium, defending and championing House and Clan while subverting their enemies. Given his performance to date in European Elysium’s, Gabriel did consent, although he did regret the loss of Darion’s skills in the Firm.

When the call came in regarding the circumstances in Detroit, Darion threw a sop to his Sire’s regret by offering to return to Detroit and help elevate the influence and status of House and Clan Tremere by offering Legal Advice pro-bono to prominent city officials and encouraging them to bring their caseloads over to the Firm he was until recently officially associated with in exchange. As the Firm was already involved with the Tremere, although on an international level, it would bring further influence to the Clan, as well as financial rewards. He also noted his success in dealing with female members of the other clans. He also pointed out discretely that the Primogen Council in Detroit was comprised mostly of women.

His regret somewhat mollified, Gabriel agreed and arranged for Darion to return to Detroit, but only loosely affiliated with his “former” employers.

 Darion’s next design was to arrange for the purchase of a fine dining establishment from which he would conduct his affairs as unofficial Legal Advisor to Detroit’s elite. To accomplish this, he took out a mortgage against his family estate (brokered through the Firm of course), and purchased The Whitney (Merit – Nightclub (Restaurant). After a brief renovation and re-organization, he is now ready to re-open the restaurant and has sent out invitations to Detroit’s political and logistical machine through the Firm and it’s contacts.

 Upon his return his father’s former colleagues who, already having been briefed on the arrangement, were eager for the additional revenues that could be generated by such a deal, greeted him with open arms. Darion’s estate was settled and returned to his control (Merit – Mansion)