Born in 1231, the very year that Pope Gregory IX began the Mediaeval Inquisition, christened Richard CastleRock, he was the only son of the family, his father being a small time merchant. He was born in a small village to the north of Exeter, the name of no real import to anyone beyond those living in the village.

His first memory that he can recall is watching as his parents being tied to a stake and a list of their "crimes" being read out, watched them be branded heretics and be burnt on the stake for things they didn't commit. He was forced to watch by the Priests holding him, wanting him to see what happened to people like them. Afterwards they brought him back to a monastery near Bristol, to be tutored and taught out of the corrupt beginnings he's had.

He had a lot of hatred for the church and most of this was channelled into his drawings, something that he was very good at. He drew whenever and wherever he could, preferring to draw and paint rather than talk to the monks in the place, at least those monks that were able to talk, a number of them having taken vows of silence. The monastery however was not a place of great wealth, something to do with the vow of poverty and all.... And so the materials needed for both painting and even sketching was difficult to come by. Still, he did his best to get what materials he could to continue his art. This beginning of silence has affected Richard in many ways, one of which making him very quiet around people, naturally shy in a way... at least when he is around those he knows.

He was stuck in the monastery for 16 years, being educated in Latin and being taught to become a monk, to join the monastery and never to really interact with human society because of his "evil" start he could not be trusted. That is, that's what they intended for Richard till the day they came across his secret stash of sketches. Sketches of the monks and the Inquisitors being tortured and burnt on the stake, of the way he really saw them all. They beat him very badly then and then threw him into a cell, there to stay till they came back for him to cleanse his sins.

Of the monks in the monastery, only one doubted what they were to do, a Father Peter Ionious, a friend of Richards from young. He spent most of the night thinking over what they were about to act and in the end decided to go against his brothers, setting Richard free and placing him outside the walls. He gave Richard no more help, leaving with him only his sketches , feeling that if God wished him to be free then he would find a way to make sure of it.

It wasn't God that found him that night. It was a man who was on a job for his mistress. He stopped, seeing the body and then the paper, going over to take a look from curiosity. The work he found there impressed him and considering the matter he decided to bring Richard back home with him, hoping to please his mistress.

His mistress, a Michelle Starr, the Toreador Primogen of the city was well pleased by what she saw, smiling and so much as bestowing a kiss on her ghoul. He nodded and helped care for Richard, both of them taking care of him and helping him heal, never really answering his questions beyond saying that he was in good hands now and was to just rest.

Richard healed quickly, at his age you always do and he was soon hankering to get back to his sketching. Michelle was certainly glad that he was willing to start work, still not entirely certain that he was the artist of the sketches her ghoul found. The doubts were washed away after he did his first sketch, her eye catching him for exactly what he was, an Artiste.

She began his training that day, keeping him mainly in the house, only letting him out under guidance by her ghouls or at least under the eye of them. She knew he was relatively naïve and unworldly and did not want him influenced, wanting him pliable to her demands as time goes by. She never ghouled him though, feeling that this was not a good method for him, not wishing to possibly corrupt his creativity with the power of the blood. However, after a few weeks she realised that there was a problem, a 16 year old who had never met women before... well, deciding that it would be one way of attaching him more to her she seduced and bedded him, keeping him to her in this manner.

It was 2 years before she decided at last to embrace him, deciding him old enough to be embraced. For the sake of looks she asked for permission from the Prince at that moment who agreed, and so she sired him. He did not really realise what was happening till the embrace was over, and then he began to revel in his newfound life.

Michelle found that he was a quick learner, teaching him what she had to, always having to answer his questions of the society that they lived in. By this time the Inquisition was in full force, hunting down heretics wherever they could find them. And sometimes in places they could not. The city was scared of them but his Sire would not leave, not wanting to leave her precious goods and all. She looked over the matter and decided in the end that the best course of action would be to keep quite and stay still, after all she had not done much to attract the attention of the Inquisition. She did however resign her post as Primogen, deciding only to leave the manor when she had to.

Richard and Michelle stayed together in the haven for a long period, up to 1353, never ever leaving unless it was either to feed or attend to other important matters, one of which was Richard's presentation to the Prince. During this time, with nothing much more to do they began to talk to each other, sharing their stories and Michelle teaching Richard all that she knew, of politics, disciplines, Cainite society and the arts; helping him to improve his paintings and sketches, he with her singing . In a way they both fuelled each other's visions, both of them able to work in the others presence and yet not touching on each other's works, their creativity of a different nature.

Then one night the Inquisition came for them, a group of men bursting into their manor, going for them. It was early morning by now, the sun soon to rise. Michelle was already asleep, her lower humanity requiring this and also her generation forcing her to sleep. Richard had been painting in the back, finishing off his latest work as he heard the door crash in. He rushed inside but was stopped, unable to go further because of a force forcing him back, making him want to flee. He fought it, making his way to his Sire but at last the Faith of the men was too much, making him flee in blind terror as they brought their Faith on him. He ran for a long time, quicker than any mortal could run, not knowing where he was going, just that he had to leave that place now.

In the end it was more luck than thought that found him a place to stay for the night, an abandoned house with a cellar inside. He stayed there, cowering from the sun till he woke up, moving back carefully to his home of a 100 and more years to see if it was still there. It was completely ruined, the manor a gutted shell of it's former glory, the fire that must have burnt it raging through the day. He was lost, not knowing what to do before his shoulder was touched. He turned, seeing the ghoul there, beckoning him away. They both turned, leaving and going away to another haven previously set up.

The ghoul related on how the nightly going on in the manor had caused attention, more attention than he could stop and at the end, the Inquisition had got wind of it. It seems like there was a branch that dealt with certain.. individuals of their kind which came here to handle them, probably expecting them to be asleep and unable to do it in full daylight due to the influence that the Kindred still held in the city over the city watch. His sire had not been seen leaving the burning house and the ghoul said that he believed her dead, since the whole building had been burnt to the ground. Whatever the case, they group was now out hunting for him and he would need to leave soon, the ghoul offering to stay in Richards service for now.

Accepting the ghouls offer, they left that very night, the ghoul (Alexander) already having made the arrangements. They left, travelling to London, there to present themselves to the Prince. As he arrived he met a number of other like-minded Kindred who came to London for protection. His arrival bearing his Sire's ring, a gift from her to him a while ago, allowed him the chance to stay in London where he once more began work.

His works of art began to make a name for themselves, along with his silent demeanour. It took him a while to learn to talk in Elysium, himself admiring the harpy's and the their razor wit, a speed of speech that he himself could not emulate. Still, he taught himself to do the best that he could and slowly gained in clan prestige, taking his time, not in a hurry. While he worked on his art and learnt of the Kindred in the city he also worked on gaining some form of protection from himself, through both learning his disciplines and also the creation of a small number of men whose training he felt he could count on to help protect him for survival, the happenings to both his parents and his Sire making him more careful.

His art, influenced by his memory's were built upon a vision of flame, the event somehow cropping itself up in the works, either through actual presentation or just the style of the work. Whatever the case, it made a name for Richard in the social circles.

As time went by, Richard and Alexander both proceeded with their lives, Alexander happy enough in the role that he played, used to it, finding in a Richard more a friend than a regnant. However, as time went on Richard met a lady in 1402, a beautiful creature that he fell in love with, or at least he thought he did. Against the warnings of Alexander he revealed himself to her and then sired her upon her request. They stayed together for a short period of time before Mary showed her true nature, trying to kill Richard and diablerise him, bringing with her a number of Anarch friends. The fighting was fierce and quick and in the end Richard would have fallen if Alexander had not returned in time to help him. Torpored in a final exchange of blows with his childe he fell down, his childe head cleaved.

Alexander took Richards body with him, leaving him in a safe location and quietly coming back to check on him as the years went by. However, Richard stayed in Torpor for a long period of time, 87 years to be exact. He woke in the fall of 1489, dazed and confused and hungry. He tore out of his coffin, hunting for something to drink and came across a number of cattle which he drained, cattle set there by Alexander in case of such a happening. Calmer, he turned to take a look around him and what had transpired through his long sleep.

He found that Alexander, to survive had become the ghoul of another kindred, a Ventrue. Richard made up his mind to gain back Alexander and set to work on gaining back his influence, station and power that he had lost during his sleep and to learn of the matters that had transpired. As he heard of the Convention of Thorns he decided to go there, deciding that this would be the best place to make himself known once more and to learn of the world.

He attended and listened to the Convention of Thorns, finding himself in agreement with the Toreador Rafael de Corazon on the need for the Masquerade, his own experiences saying that the man was right. He moved around, learning and watching as the night went by, surprised by the number of Elder which had fallen to their childer, much like himself had nearly fallen... a matter that which most of them had not felt a need to guard against till recently.

He left the Convention, returning back to London and his pursuit of a way to gain back Alexander, trying whatever method he could. In the end he found that his only was blackmail, setting the Ventrue up in an area so that his only choice was to break the newly made Masquerade. In so doing he blackmailed the Ventrue, gaining back Alexander for himself. This would in the end be a profitable relationship though the matter had come to the attention of a Tremere, not having the proof either wrong doing on either part all he had would be suspicion. The Tremere's name was Terence LaVille.

The Ventrue became a pawn of sorts for Alexander, helping him move up slowly through the circles of power as the Sabbat began to make themselves known throughout Europe. Because of his views of the Masquerade, Richard made the decision to help fight the Sabbat, his methods not suprisingly enough having to do much with fire. He once more used the men he had trained, this time in a more offensive method, hunting down the Sabbat who came into the city. His actions were not unnoticed, either by the Sabbat or the ruling members of London. The Sabbat decided that he, like them were in the end someone worth recruiting, and his intimate knowledge of the workings of London a matter to be looked into. The elders of the city looked at this young upstart and decided that he would be best found somewhere else, somewhere none of them were. So they looked towards the New World, where the best of the Ancillae were being sent and offered him the job there as Primogen of his clan in a city.

Richard realised he didn't have much choice in refusing but began to buy time, trying to make sure that he did not need to go, not wanting to leave for this New World. However it came to a head when the 2nd Sabbat Recruitment party tried to take him in Elyisum. While not blamed for what he did there, he was given the choice of leaving or the Blood chalice. He left.

In America, Boston to be exact, he took on the mantle of Primogen of his clan easily, enjoying his task once he realised that he would not have a chance to ever make his way back to London. Accepting this he began to work as Primogen, the time there flying quickly for him, so much that needed to be done in so short a time. But in the end his art called him back and in 1643 he quit as the Primogen member and left the city, intent on seeing this New World in greater detail. He made his way into the civilised and sometimes uncivilised areas of the country, Alexander helping him to make sure that he was safe in what he did.

He travelled through America for a long period, moving as far inwards as he could before he had to stop, the Lupines not wishing his incursions... stopping it rather violently to be truthful. He never pushed it, always making sure that he was relatively safe before moving. At last, not able to head in any further he moved back to Europe in 1703. However he was not there to stay but to travel, moving from city to city, staying in Edinburgh, Manchester and the like, enjoying himself immensely as he travelled through the parts of England that he had never seen before.

He soon finished up in the countries and made his way down to Paris, there to stay for a period of 5 years, to see the arts. He did not make any plays for power while he was there, not wanting the hassle, here to work on his art once more and just to be seen and to see the greatest works of art there. It was during this time that he heard that the Ventrue that he had the blackmail material on had been killed, in a Lupine attack.

He made little of it, after all, Kindred died to Lupines always. So he forgot about it and continued on his life, enjoying himself and then hearing of the Convention being called again after it's 4 year (or is it 7?) year interval he decided to go once more. He travelled there with Alexander as usual, taking his time and enjoying himself, watching the coming and goings.

Afterwards, he travelled through Europe, making his way through the Western European countries, always stopping to see the major cities, sometimes spending a few years in the city. He did his best to keep out of politics for the most part during this time, having fallen bored of this period, instead, happy enough to just live quietly and work on his art.

It was during this time (1785) that he met Rebecca Rodguard in Venice. Like usual, feeling the wish to feed he started seducing her, finding himself rather startled to be the one to be seduced in return. He did not mind much and bedded her soon afterwards. The time with her was both intense and very erotic, the best sex he had in very many years, including other Kindred who were rather... cold during their lovemaking. He soon learnt that she was, like him, a traveller, moving from city to city. He accepted it and stayed with her for the time being, enjoying her presence. One day, he decided to reveal part of his ability's to her, entering her mind during intercourse and letting her feel what he felt, feeling her emotions too. It was soon after this that Rebecca revealed herself to be what truly was, in an attack against Richard by the Sabbat who were as usual trying to recruit him. She had little choice and since there were no on-lookers she went vulgar, using her magic on them.

Afterwards they had a talk, Rebecca explaining that she was a mage to Richard. Richard in turn spoke of hi vampirism and who he was. They both decided to stay together for the time being, travelling through Europe for both mutual protection and also companionship. During their travels Rebecca explained a bit about the mage world and their ascension wars and the New World Order and her fears for what they would do to this world.

They parted ways on December 31st 1799, deciding to start the new century on a new footing. They had both grown close during this time and he promised to come to her aid, she his if they ever needed it. He learnt of her death 10 years later; the events were very.... Strange. He never tried to find out more, partially because he knew he would never stood a chance and partially because in the end she would not want him to.

He continued travelling, deciding to make his way down to Alexandria when he was caught in a mist, unable to find where he was going. Well, his driver couldn't because he was still asleep at this time. They were soon lost and found themselves outside a strange city. They entered soon afterwards, going through the checkpoint and were told they were in the city of Nexus. It was the summer of 1814.

He soon learnt of the vampiric population of the city, taking his time to find out who the Prince was and then introducing himself as an Elder could, not requiring presentation. He soon made a home for himself, selling both information and his services at times, Alexander helping him to build the structure up. He decided to stay, not wanting to leave, having in a way grown tired of travelling. Also, the magical nature of Nexus intrigued him, the flames that seemed to burn around it calling to his soul.

He soon started building up his influence through the city, making a name for himself once more by his works of art, having carried a few with him, the best that he had done and some other works of art he could not afford to part with. Other works he soon painted, ready to do his first showing a year after he arrived. His rise to the top of the city was slowly and surely taken care of, each of his steps carefully planned, knowing that he had enough time.

He also saw into the building up of another commodity, building up a security force like he had once before in London, picking the best of the ex-police and the like, training them. He and Alexander both looked into the creation of this area, taking their time and building the force as a legitimate security company named Nighthawk Inc., Alexander being the boss in the beginning, training those around. Part of his reason for building the force was due to the large Sabbat population in the city, something that he was not happy about.

His rise to Primogen came about more unexpectedly than he expected even after all his planning, mainly due to the sudden death of the Toreador Primogen at the hands of the Assamite. He helped the Sheriff track down the Assamite, passing the information along quietly, the former Primogen being a friend of his. As one of the oldest vampires in his clan at the moment and because none of the other Elders wanted the position. This was mainly due to the fact that they had heard that the Assamite had been given a contract for the head of the Primogen of the Toreador clan, whoever it was. Knowing that he was to be caught soon, Richard offered to take the post, the Prince having come to know him by now, she accepted him. Thus he became the Primogen of Clan Toreador in 1892.

His stay as Primogen for his clan has been a stable one; for the most part there has been little bad to be said about it. The only real grumbling is the number of times the Sabbat have tried to capture him. Some of the other elders say that this is but a ruse, to throw off the scent, saying he is a Sabbat infiltrator. Of course this isn't true but there has been an incident where "proof" was found of this. However, the ruse was uncovered though the person behind it was never known. He has also been looking into purchasing and making sure of a number of secret havens around the place, rented out in the different names, just places where he can crash for a night or a day if he is on the run or wishing to hide from people. The apartment block has yet to be used, Richard preferring not to touch it unless completely necessary.