"I fight out of personal conviction, and as such, my loyalty is absolute.
Do not question it by sticking that chalice of blood in my face."
- Evelin Vanderford, Sabbat Spy.
Where as Trent Dresdond is the very definition of "Sabbat," Evelin
Vanderford is the antithesis. Dubbed by Lynx as "The Nicest Person in our
Sect," my (Don's) favorite character makes a living out of sidestepping the
more gruesome aspects of the Sabbat while still indulging in the freedom.
In all honesty, few as powerful as her still have humanity, much less a
high rating of humanity. Her conscience, compassion, and reason are
hallmarks of her career, and however much the sect likes to think
otherwise, those things have kept her alive longer than many of her
friends.
But what makes Evelin Vanderford truly amazing is her massive success
within this band of killers - her laundry list of accomplishments rivals
even that of Trent Dresdond's. While Trent works openly and brutally,
Evelin stays in the shadows, worming her way into the paranoid psyche of
her prey. Where as the former maims and murders, the latter observes and
manipulates. Consider Evelin the Sabbat's dirty little secret: too useful
to throw away, too powerful to control, and too nice to become any sort of
leader. Her social prowess and inhuman perception make her an invaluable
spy and recruiter, so the leaders are content with having her out in the
field constantly occupied with missions. They don't want to know what'll
happen if she ever turned her talents inward.
The Sabbat's premiere spy was born in New York fifty five years ago,
the product of a scandalous affair between a rich business man and a rising
starlet. Evelin's mother never failed to remind her daughter how much of a
mistake she was, and thus, she was to be treated accordingly. As the years
wore on, the naturally extroverted child withdrew from the world, frightful
of the hurt that lurked around every corner. She threw herself into
painting, her only solace in an otherwise dreary life. Resentment and hate
grew, her only outlet a canvas of white: morbidity greeted her work.
When she was eighteen, her mother died. Whether of drugs or STDs,
Evelin didn't know nor care. She was finally free and she swore to herself
that no one would ever take away her freedom again. The dream of becoming
an influential artist fluttered in her brain, but a quick tour of reality
told her otherwise - the morbid female artist wasn't the "in thing" yet.
Through many twist and turns, Evelin found herself working for the FBI
as a sketch artist. The pay was good and she found a strange adeptness for
criminal investigation. With a promising FBI career in front of her, she
set off on a journey of normality...
... until a certain Sabbat Bishop took a sick liking to her. The suave
Toreador seduced then inducted her into his massive harem. Unlife
should've been like slavery for Evelin, but the turbulent nights freed her
from bondage.
During a particularly daring if unsuccessful siege against New York,
her sire, along with most of his harem, was destroyed by rabid Camarilla.
Evelin was one of the few who survived. Some of the Bishop's friends took
the neonate under their wings (most notable of these people is Christine)
and "officially" prepared her for Sabbat life.
After a few rough starts, Evelin met up with Stevewiser and incited a
petty rivalry with Trent Dresdond. Their meddlesome battles resulted in
the apparent death of Christine and the formation of a grudging
friendship. In due time, Evelin brought her talents to the Elysium Swarm,
a group of packless individuals out to make a name for themselves.
Although the freedom was appreciated, the Toreador couldn't bring herself
to do, much less enjoy, many of the violent acts the pack engaged in. As a
result, she was the first to splinter from the pack.
However, there was no rest for the wicked: Christine, Evelin's one-time
mentor, had been discovered in Chicago aiding the enemy. Trent Dresdond
was dispatched to destroy her but had not reported back in weeks. The
Archbishop requested she find out what happened and dispose of the renegade
Tzimisce.
She met a smashing success in the dangerous venture and captured the
attention of Cardinal Justine Bern. Under Her Eminence's orders, Evelin
began to expand her talents, slowly becoming the perfect social predator.
The Cardinal routinely sent Evelin to Camarilla cities with little to no
information, the purpose to gauge the now-not-so neonate's abilities.
In San Francisco, Evelin turned the Brujahs against their elders,
creating mass confusion and paranoia. In Atlanta, she fell into the
Prince's good grace and became the Scourge: the position of power offered
her the ability to dispatch an entire chantry of Tremere. In Rome, she
recruited the Toreador primogen and diablerized the Ventrue primogen.
Cardinal Bern was pleased at Evelin's effectiveness.
Throughout the next decade, she used Evelin to undermine Cardinal
Moncada's work in North America, hoping to somehow gain a foothold in the
most profitable region. Evelin discovered her leader's plans and turned the
tables which eventually caused Justine Bern's downfall and destruction.
Cardinal Moncada was simultaneously surprised and impressed at this
vampire, and a little digging revealed Evelin's lengthy accomplishments.
Her recruitment and spying skills coupled by her timely assassinations
were directly responsible for the successful crusades of Seattle, New
Orleans, Rome, Berlin, San Francisco, Chicago, and Atlanta. She stayed the
destructive hand of the Sabbat Inquisition when it went on a frenzied and
unjustified murdering spree. She recruited legions of people, some which
included primogens. She destroyed three high profile traitors – a Priscus,
an Archbishop, and a pack leader. She helped retake New York twice. She
was called by Regent Galbraith to assist in the investigation of the
Tremere antitribu's demise. The list went on and on without fault.
The Cardinal didn't hesitate to tap this valuable resource.
Now, Evelin (considered Trent Dresdond's lighter half by many) is the
Sabbat's top scout, handling all sorts of recon and courier missions no one
else dares touch. Through it all, she has maintained her humanity; while
she insists that it is out of necessity (When spying on the Camarilla, you
gotta think like the Camarilla.), Evelin secretly harbors hopes of love and
peace. When in New York, she stays away from her brothers and sisters and
visits only her old packmates. Her silence surrounding her accomplishments
has preserved her status as a spy but has also garnered unwanted rumors.
To date, her name inspires great respect amongst the younger Sabbat, but
their respect comes in the form of inviting her to blood feasts, pointless
butcherings, and vaulderies. Evelin wishes to avoid the sick debauchery at
all costs so she is taking increasingly longer assignments to stay away
from her brethren.
Why does this Toreador still side with the Sabbat? What could give
this conscience-ridden vampire so much incentive to stick with these
murderers? When those words leave Bishop Dresdond's mouth, Evelin sighs
and quietly mutters, "Friends. That's all I have left."
- This profile was written by Don (casiiianman@hotmail.com).
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