Nothing is True. Everything is Connected.
Tag: <span>Inspiration Block</span>

Sylum Inspiration: Owen Grady

Ghost/Darkness: Scientist

 

Owen Grady grew up in London, raised by his mother and grandfather. He heard stories of his father, who had left the family for Africa. He entered into the British Military like his father and grandfather, but after seeing only a portion of battles he knew it wasn’t his place.

After his mother died, soon followed by his grandfather, he set out to Africa to find his father. He wasn’t impressed.

Though he understood why he stayed in Africa. He fell in love with the land, the animals, the people. It didn’t take long for him to figure out about Vampires, especially as he had seen and heard rumors when he had visited the West Country about Arthur and his Knights.

He wasn’t expecting to be Turned, but when one of the Clayton’s lions lashed out, he was in the wrong place. Muldoon didn’t give him much of a choice.

Sylum Inspiration: Galileo Galilei

 

Galileo was born in Pisa (then part of the Duchy of Florence), Italy, in 1564, the first of six children of Vincenzo Galilei, a famous lutenist, composer, and music theorist, and Giulia Ammannati. Galileo became an accomplished lutenist himself and would have learned early from his father a healthy scepticism for established authority, the value of well-measured or quantified experimentation, an appreciation for a periodic or musical measure of time or rhythm, as well as the illuminative progeny to expect from a marriage of mathematics and experiment. Three of Galileo’s five siblings survived infancy. The youngest, Michelangelo (or Michelagnolo), also became a noted lutenist and composer although he contributed to financial burdens during Galileo’s young adulthood. Michelangelo was unable to contribute his fair share of their father’s promised dowries to their brothers-in-law, who would later attempt to seek legal remedies for payments due. Michelangelo would also occasionally have to borrow funds from Galileo to support his musical endeavours and excursions. These financial burdens may have contributed to Galileo’s early fire to develop inventions that would bring him additional income.

Galileo was named after an ancestor, Galileo Bonaiuti, a physician, university teacher and politician who lived in Florence from 1370 to 1450; at that time in the late 14th century, the family’s surname shifted from Bonaiuti (or Buonaiuti) to Galilei. Galileo Bonaiuti was buried in the same church, the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, where about 200 years later his more famous descendant Galileo Galilei was also buried. When Galileo Galilei was eight, his family moved to Florence, but he was left with Jacopo Borghini for two years. He then was educated in the Camaldolese Monastery at Vallombrosa, 35 km southeast of Florence.

Although a genuinely pious Roman Catholic, Galileo fathered three children out of wedlock with Marina Gamba. They had two daughters, Virginia in 1600 and Livia in 1601, and one son, Vincenzo, in 1606. Because of their illegitimate birth, their father considered the girls unmarriageable, if not posing problems of prohibitively expensive support or dowries, which would have been similar to Galileo’s previous extensive financial problems with two of his sisters. Their only worthy alternative was the religious life. Both girls were accepted by the convent of San Matteo in Arcetri and remained there for the rest of their lives. Virginia took the name Maria Celeste upon entering the convent. She died on 2 April 1634, and is buried with Galileo at the Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence. Livia took the name Sister Arcangela and was ill for most of her life. Vincenzo was later legitimised as the legal heir of Galileo and married Sestilia Bocchineri.

Although Galileo seriously considered the priesthood as a young man, at his father’s urging he instead enrolled at the University of Pisa for a medical degree. In 1581, when he was studying medicine, he noticed a swinging chandelier, which air currents shifted about to swing in larger and smaller arcs. To him it seemed, by comparison with his heartbeat, that the chandelier took the same amount of time to swing back and forth, no matter how far it was swinging. When he returned home, he set up two pendulums of equal length and swung one with a large sweep and the other with a small sweep and found that they kept time together. It was not until Christiaan Huygens almost one hundred years later that the tautochrone nature of a swinging pendulum was used to create an accurate timepiece. Up to this point, Galileo had deliberately been kept away from mathematics, since a physician earned a higher income than a mathematician. However, after accidentally attending a lecture on geometry, he talked his reluctant father into letting him study mathematics and natural philosophy instead of medicine. He created a thermoscope, a forerunner of the thermometer, and in 1586 published a small book on the design of a hydrostatic balance he had invented (which first brought him to the attention of the scholarly world). Galileo also studied disegno, a term encompassing fine art, and in 1588 obtained the position of instructor in the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno in Florence, teaching perspective and chiaroscuro. Being inspired by the artistic tradition of the city and the works of the Renaissance artists, Galileo acquired an aesthetic mentality. While a young teacher at the Accademia, he began a lifelong friendship with the Florentine painter Cigoli, who included Galileo’s lunar observations in one of his paintings.

In 1589, he was appointed to the chair of mathematics in Pisa. In 1591, his father died, and he was entrusted with the care of his younger brother Michelagnolo. In 1592, he moved to the University of Padua where he taught geometry, mechanics, and astronomy until 1610. During this period, Galileo made significant discoveries in both pure fundamental science (for example, kinematics of motion and astronomy) as well as practical applied science (for example, strength of materials and improvement of the telescope). His multiple interests included the study of astrology, which at the time was a discipline tied to the studies of mathematics and astronomy.

It was his work in mathematics that had caught Leonardo’s attention. He approached the Scientist, asking if he wanted to be Turned.

Sylum Inspiration: Ichabod Crane

Sylum: Member

 

Ichabod knows little of his parents. He has memories of his mother’s smile as she told him tales of the great pirate king, and nightmares of his mother’s blood flowing at the hands of his father. He grew up in an orphanage, hiding away from people, reading and learning everything he could get his hands on.

He wanted explanations, facts, not the platitudes of religion.

When he was old enough Ichabod joined the police force, making his way to detective when he solved the murder of a prominent politician.

His skills got him dispatched by his superiors to the Westchester County hamlet of Sleepy Hollow, New York, to investigate a series of brutal slayings in which the victims have been found decapitated: Peter Van Garrett, wealthy farmer and landowner; his son Dirk; and the widow Emily Winship, who secretly wed Van Garrett and was pregnant before being murdered.

A pioneer of new, unproven forensic techniques such as finger-printing and autopsies, Crane arrived in Sleepy Hollow armed with his bag of scientific tools only to be informed by the town’s elders that the murderer is not of flesh and blood, rather a headless undead Hessian mercenary from the American Revolutionary War who rode at night on a massive black steed in search of his missing head.

He found that the murders weren’t being committed by a headless horseman but instead of a Hessian Vampire. He found the Rogue’s location making him a target. The Hessian almost killed him, but he was saved by Timothy Quinn who dusted the Rogue, and offered Ichabod a future. When he returned to the hamlet he discovered that his beloved Katrina had perished at the hands of the Hessian.

Sylum Inspiration: Cleopatra

Vampire Council: Council Member

 

The identity of Cleopatra’s mother is unknown, but she is generally believed to be Cleopatra V Tryphaena of Egypt, the sister or cousin and wife of Ptolemy XII Auletes, or possibly another Ptolemaic family member who was the daughter of Ptolemy X and Cleopatra Berenice III Philopator if Cleopatra V was not the daughter of Ptolemy X and Berenice III. Cleopatra’s father Auletes was a direct descendant of Alexander the Great’s general, Ptolemy I Soter, son of Arsinoe and Lagus, both of Macedon.

Centralization of power and corruption led to uprisings in and the losses of Cyprus and Cyrenaica, making Ptolemy XII’s reign one of the most calamitous of the dynasty. When Ptolemy went to Rome with Cleopatra, Cleopatra VI Tryphaena seized the crown but died shortly afterwards in suspicious circumstances. It is believed, though not proven by historical sources, that Berenice IV poisoned her so she could assume sole rulership. Regardless of the cause, she did until Ptolemy Auletes returned in 55 BC, with Roman support, capturing Alexandria aided by Roman general Aulus Gabinius. Berenice was imprisoned and executed shortly afterwards, her head allegedly being sent to the royal court on the decree of her father, the king. Cleopatra was now, at age 14, put as joint regent and deputy of her father, although her power was likely to have been severely limited.

Ptolemy XII died in March 51 BC, thus by his will making the 18-year-old Cleopatra and her brother, the 10-year-old Ptolemy XIII joint monarchs. The first three years of their reign were difficult, due to economic failures, famine, deficient floods of the Nile, and political conflicts. Although Cleopatra was married to her young brother, she quickly made it clear that she had no intention of sharing power with him.

In August 51 BC, relations between Cleopatra and Ptolemy completely broke down. Cleopatra dropped Ptolemy’s name from official documents and her face appeared alone on coins, which went against Ptolemaic tradition of female rulers being subordinate to male co-rulers. In 50 BC Cleopatra came into a serious conflict with the Gabiniani, powerful Roman troops of Aulus Gabinius who had left them in Egypt to protect Ptolemy XII after his restoration to the throne in 55 BC. The Gabiniani killed the sons of the Roman governor of Syria, Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus, when they came to ask for the assistance of the Gabiniani for their father against the Parthians. Cleopatra handed the murderers over in chains to Bibulus, whereupon the Gabiniani turned into bitter enemies of the queen. This conflict was one of the main causes of Cleopatra’s fall from power shortly afterward. The sole reign of Cleopatra was finally ended by a cabal of courtiers, led by the eunuch Pothinus, in connection with a half-Greek general, Achillas, and Theodotus of Chios. Circa 48 BC, Cleopatra’s younger brother Ptolemy XIII became sole ruler.

She tried to raise a rebellion around Pelusium, but was soon forced to flee with her only remaining sister, Arsinoë.

Eager to take advantage of Julius Caesar’s anger toward Ptolemy, Cleopatra had herself smuggled secretly into the palace to meet with Caesar. Plutarch in his “Life of Julius Caesar” gives a vivid description of how she entered past Ptolemy’s guards rolled up in a carpet that Apollodorus the Sicilian was carrying. She became Caesar’s mistress, and nine months after their first meeting, in 47 BC, Cleopatra gave birth to their son, Ptolemy Caesar, nicknamed Caesarion, which means “little Caesar.”

At this point, Caesar abandoned his plans to annex Egypt, instead backing Cleopatra’s claim to the throne. After Mithridates raised the siege of Alexandria, Caesar defeated Ptolemy’s army at the Battle of the Nile; Ptolemy XIII drowned in the Nile and Caesar restored Cleopatra to her throne, with another younger brother Ptolemy XIV as her new co-ruler. When Caesar left Egypt he stationed there a Roman occupying army of three legions under the command of Rufio.

Although Cleopatra was 21 years old when they met and Caesar was 52, they became lovers during Caesar’s stay in Egypt between 48 BC and 47 BC. Cleopatra claimed Caesar was the father of her son and wished him to name the boy his heir, but Caesar refused, choosing his grandnephew Octavian instead. During this relationship, it was also rumored that Cleopatra introduced Caesar to her astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria, who first proposed the idea of leap days and leap years.

Cleopatra, Ptolemy XIV and Caesarion visited Rome in the summer of 46 BC. The Egyptian queen resided in one of Caesar’s country houses. The relationship between Cleopatra and Caesar was obvious to the Roman people and it was a scandal because the Roman dictator was already married to Calpurnia Pisonis. But Caesar even erected a golden statue of Cleopatra represented as Isis in the temple of Venus Genetrix (the mythical ancestress of Caesar’s family), which was situated at the Forum Julium. The Roman orator Cicero said in his preserved letters that he hated the foreign queen. Cleopatra and her entourage were in Rome when Caesar was assassinated on 15 March 44 BC. She returned with her relatives to Egypt. When Ptolemy XIV died – allegedly poisoned by his older sister – Cleopatra made Caesarion her co-regent and successor and gave him the epithets Theos Philopator Philometor.

After Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC, she aligned with Marcus Antonius in opposition to Caesar’s legal heir, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (later known as Augustus). With Antony, she bore the twins Cleopatra Selene II and Alexander Helios, and another son, Ptolemy Philadelphus (her unions with her brothers had produced no children.) After losing the Battle of Actium to Octavian’s forces, Antony committed suicide. Cleopatra followed suit, according to tradition killing herself by means of an asp bite on August 12, 30 BC. She was briefly outlived by Caesarion, who was declared pharaoh by his supporters, but soon killed on Octavian’s orders. Egypt became the Roman province of Aegyptus.

For more information contact the Vampire Council Library

Now the real history is slightly different. Cleopatra had learned early in her career that if anyone was to rule Egypt they would need to align themselves with the Medjai Clan. Cleopatra, after the death of Caesar, sent word to Ahmet Bey, and he sent Netjerikhet and Nefertiri to talk to her. While there Rick became good friends with Marc Anthony, to the point of traveling with him while he was away from Egypt.

Rumors had come back to Egpyt that Marc had committed suicide, and in a fit of depression Cleopatra had tried to kill herself. Evy had found her in time, and Turned her, telling her Marcus was still alive. But it was too late to save ‘Cleopatra’ as the word had got out that both had died, and politics took its course.

Sylum Inspiration: Edgar Allen Poe

Sylum: Member

 

Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre. He is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction. He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.

He was born as Edgar Poe in Boston, Massachusetts; he was orphaned young when his mother died shortly after his father abandoned the family. Poe was taken in by John and Frances Allan, of Richmond, Virginia, but they never formally adopted him. He attended the University of Virginia for one semester but left due to lack of money. After enlisting in the Army and later failing as an officer’s cadet at West Point, Poe parted ways with the Allans. His publishing career began humbly, with an anonymous collection of poems, Tamerlane and Other Poems (1827), credited only to “a Bostonian”.

Poe switched his focus to prose and spent the next several years working for literary journals and periodicals, becoming known for his own style of literary criticism. His work forced him to move among several cities, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. In Baltimore in 1835, he married Virginia Clemm, his thirteen-year-old cousin. In January 1845, Poe published his poem, “The Raven”, to instant success. His wife died of tuberculosis two years after its publication. He began planning to produce his own journal, The Penn (later renamed The Stylus), though he died before it could be produced.

On October 7, 1849, at age 40, Poe died in Baltimore; the cause of his death is unknown. The story has yet to be told, but the few that have heard the tale, have kept it secret.

What is known is that Timothy Quinn and Diego León Montoya Sánchez had set out to find the legendary Poet, only to find him dying on a park bench. The only word spoken with his dying breath was that of Reynolds.

For more information contacVampire Council Library

Sylum Inspiration: Warrick Calhoun

Sylum: Co-Leader

 

And the pirate!

Born Warrick Calhoun in 1687 AD, in Port Royal, the third child in a family of seven. His father, William Calhoun a free black man, took his family to the small island of Jamaica to keep them free from the risk of slavery, but his hopes for his family were not to last long. William died from an unknown illness when Warrick was nine years old, leaving the family vulnerable.

Warrick watched as his older brother and sister were captured and sold into slavery, whilst he protected the youngsters, and saved his mother.

To avoid that fate himself, Warrick ran off and became a cabin boy on a Pirate ship, taking a berth on the Red Stallion on the eve of his tenth birthday.

He grew up to become a feared Pirate, under the tutelage of Captain Jericho Brown, for whom he became a valued and trusted First Mate. Upon tiring of the Pirate life, Brown ran off with a merchant’s daughter to settle down in Spain, leaving the ship to Warrick.

As Captain, Warrick became a well known Pirate Hunter, and a true gentleman of the sea. If a Pirate needed to be caught, Warrick was the one usually contracted for the job. He brought in every man he set out to claim bounty on. His friend and Quartermaster was James Brass, who would tell anyone he knew the Red Stallion better than her Captain.

While boarding a small merchant vessel in 1723, he found himself with more than mere treasure, for Fate had brought him face to face with Nicolaus Valerius Meridius.

(Dilios Note: recently rumors have started that the story of who Warrick is, has started to adjust and change … it would seem)

Sylum Insipration: Antonio Crisafi

Sylum: Second-in-Command

 

And our favorite Templar.   Technically the only one we like.

 

Born Antonio Crisafi in 1115 AD, Turin – Italy, he was the youngest son of the Crisafi family.

Intending a career in the priesthood, he was inspired by the writings of Bernard of Clairvaux, and in 1129 set out to find the Templar Knights, finally tracking down Hugues de Payens in 1131. At only 16 years of age he began his service as a Squire due to the influence of his family name, and his considerable education from the Benedictine Monastery in his home town.

As a Prior he found his true calling, serving God in the austere environment of the Holy Land, and as he grew in both years and experience, Antonio rose with seeming effortless speed to the rank of Preceptor by the year 1148, serving his Master, Captain Alexis de Chateauneuf.

Attacked while on escort for Benedictine Monks heading to Pilgrimage in Jerusalem during the time of the Second Crusade, he was captured along with his Master, and three other Priors, having distracted the enemy long enough for the Brothers to escape danger. Antonio watched his beloved Templar Brethren die at the hands of their captors, and found an unlikely ally in a Crusader who occupied the jail cell next to his own – Robin Longstride. An undying friendship was forged between the two men as they endured the physical abuses of their situation, and encouraged one another to remain strong that they might one day escape.

Their affection would last them forever.

After the death of his Master, tortured into a lingering agony until he finally succumbed to his injuries, Antonio escaped from prison with Robin and despite a desperate situation as they fought their way free, salvation came for them both at the hands of Nicholas Dupre.

Before Antonio left home to complete his education, he had unknowingly fathered a son by his sister’s handmaiden, Constance. She had been sent away to a Nunnery in shame, dying in childbirth to bring William Crisafi into the world. The child was given to the Papera Family as they journeyed out of Italy to make a new life for themselves, finally settling in Northern England.

Sylum Inspiration: Nicolaus Meridius

Sylum: Clan Leader

 

And the Roman!

Born Nicolaus Valerius Meridius in 399 AD, Rome, Italy, youngest son of Vitus Crescentius Meridius, he was the younger brother to Artorius Flavius Meridius.

He followed in his brother’s footsteps and entered the Army, where his dedication and strategic mind moved him quickly up the ranks. At the age of eighteen he bought a Persian slave, Sofya, from the market and made her his wife. His father had at first forbid the match, but Sofya’s sweet nature and charming smile won him over. Julia, wife to his brother Artorius, took her in and taught her how to be a proper Roman wife. On their wedding night she became with child, much to the delight to the Meridius household since Julia had not yet been able to conceive.

Meridia was the first born daughter of Nicolaus Valerius Meridius and she was the apple of her father’s eye. She had her mother’s olive skin and eyes that would pierce your very soul. She had the household wrapped around her little finger and knew it.

Nico had gone to visit his father, leaving Sofya and Meridia at their villa in the city of Rome. As Nico and Artorius made the way back to Nico’s home, they heard shouts and saw smoke billowing into the sky. Fear clutching their hearts, they ran the rest of the way only to find the building engulfed in flames. Nico and Artorius moved to the back of the house, but the fire was hot and the smoke thick, but through it he could make out his wife’s body lying on the floor, and he could hear Meridia’s screams. It took all his brother’s strength to keep him from running into the burning home. He collapsed to his knees when his child’s cries stopped, and his own scream echoed through the surrounding buildings as the roof of the villa collapsed.

No one knew who had attacked his young wife. Rumors spread that people were angered that Nico had taken a Persian slave as a wife. Others said it was retribution for perceived past injustices.

Nico left Rome and returned to the Army with his brother, throwing himself into his career, hoping to forget the screams of his little girl, but it wasn’t long before tragedy struck the Meridius family again. Artorius was killed in battle, and upon hearing of his oldest son’s death, their father’s heart gave out and he followed his son and grandchild to Elysium.

Nico found himself Patriarch of the family Meridii, and he took Julia as his wife to maintain her ties with the Meridius line. They had a good, strong marriage. She gave him four children: Elena, Antonio, Gloria, and Theodosis. He lost Julia in childbirth with Theo, her loss a further devastation to him, for she had become a good wife and faithful friend. It was the companionship of his lover Razi, a former Gladiator, and his handful of children that made life joyous.

Two years later devastation hit the Meridius family once again. His military Second in Command, Marcus, consumed by anger and jealousy of Nico’s position and power, rode straight into the villa with troops. Razi fought by his Master’s side, only to be cut down along with the family tutor, Cyrus. Marcus slit Antonio and Gloria’s throats in front of Nico. As the soldiers Nico had once commanded beat him to the ground, he was forced to listen to Elena’s screams as she was beaten and raped. A young soldier, who was himself betrothed to Elena, died trying to save her. Their blood mingled as they laid dead at Nico’s feet.

Nico was stripped and crucified, with the bodies of his family laid out at his feet, and in one final act of defiance, Marcus stole Theo from his family to raise him as his own son.

Sylum Inspiration: Timothy Quinn

Sylum: Advisor

For birthday fun!  Let’s showcase the OC’s of Sylum. 

The one who started it all from the stupidest death ever.

Born Timothy Quinn in 1312 AD, near Donegal, Eire, the youngest son of Callum and Lavena Quinn.

His two older brothers, Gregory and Aaron, followed their father into a living on the land and developing their farm. His older sister Lorain was betrothed to Fearghus O’Niel, eldest son of a neighboring family.

At a young age his curiosity and inquisitive nature got the best of him when he stole the local Priest’s Bible trying to understand what was being said in the pages. The Priest taught him to read, a rarity for someone of his social class during that time, and with a thirst for knowledge he learned quickly from local wisdoms, soon becoming the clan’s Healer.

At the age of sixteen, British soldiers attacked outlying farms near Donegal, killing Timothy’s entire family. Lord Sean, the Clan’s Leader took him into the O’Gairmledaig family, and for the next few years Timothy helped with the household, and repaid their kindness by teaching Lord Sean’s children, Aden and Collin, to read and write.

Timothy and Eleina – wife to Lord Sean – were attacked while traveling to another Clan. The subsequent chase caused her to go into early labor. The baby was born safely but at the cost of his mother’s life. Before her death, she named the child Quinn to make sure he had a strong start in life.

Six years later, Timothy found his place in the family when he became Sean’s lover. Tragically, Timothy and his Lord only had six months together before the O’Gairmledaig Clan was destroyed by a rival. Timothy escaped with Quinn, fleeing to Lord Caine’s Castle near Derry. The young Quinn was taken in, to be raised as a Caine.

Timothy rode away, prepared to die from the wounds he had sustained, and grief stricken at Lord Sean’s death, only to then be offered a new life by Nick Maoilriain.

Sylum Inspiration: James Norrington

Sanctuary: Member

 

James Norrington was a son of Admiral Lawrence Norrington of the British Royal Navy. When he was about five or six years old, he followed his father on a mission to capture Edward Teague, a Pirate Lord and Keeper of the Code. In the midst of a chaotic battle occurring when Teague’s crew came to free Teague and his son Jack Sparrow from Lawrence Norrington’s ship, James was knocked into the sea and rescued by Teague. Lawrence, as grateful as he was, was humiliated that his son was rescued by a pirate.

Over the years, Norrington would achieve many ranks while serving in the Royal Navy, while at the same time becoming the scourge of piracy in the eastern Caribbean. Norrington was a lieutenant serving aboard the HMS Dauntless, which carried Governor Weatherby Swann and his daughter Elizabeth in the crossing from England. Loyal service to His Majesty the King had brought James Norrington respect and status. As captain of HMS Interceptor, Norrington had chased and captured some of the Caribbean’s most fearsome pirates. Through Norrington’s efforts, Port Royal became a civilized British settlement. Because of those efforts, Norrington was eventually promoted from captain to commodore of the British Naval Fleet. To mark his promotion, Norrington was given a new sword by Governor Swann.

Commodore Norrington’s promotion was an advance that brought him some satisfaction, but he still lacked the one thing that could bring him happiness—taking Elizabeth Swann as his wife. Norrington shortly afterwards met the infamous pirate Jack Sparrow, who he was able to capture for a dawn appointment with the gallows. After the attack on Port Royal, Norrington and his crew led a search party for Elizabeth Swann, who was kidnapped by the cursed crew of the Black Pearl. His search was delayed after Jack Sparrow commandeered the Interceptor, with the help of the blacksmith apprentice Will Turner. By the end of the search, Norrington’s men rescued Elizabeth and Jack from Rumrunner’s Isle, as well as battled against the cursed pirates aboard the HMS Dauntless off Isla de Muerta. At Fort Charles, after foiling Jack Sparrow’s ill-conceived escape attempt with the help of Will Turner, Elizabeth stood by Will in protecting Jack. Norrington knew his rival in love has beaten him and accepted defeat nobly, and gave Jack a day’s head start.

Only to be shocked when Will went with Jack, leaving Elizabeth behind. Humiliated that he second choice, he refused Elizabeth’s advances and moved on.

After Jack Sparrow escaped from Port Royal, recapturing him became a mission that took over Norrington. He chased the pirate all over the world, until he made a fatal mistake off of Tripoli; he pursued Jack by sailing through a hurricane. The pursuit caused him to lose his ship the Dauntless, his crew, and his life in the Royal Navy. Norrington ended up leaving the Navy for his foolishness, and became a penniless drunk. Ironically, a disgraced Norrington would later join Jack Sparrow’s crew aboard the Black Pearl and participated in the search for the fabled Dead Man’s Chest, which ended with Norrington stealing the heart of Davy Jones and Letters of Marque that belonged to Jack Sparrow. Norrington would present both of them to Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company. For this act, Norrington was given the rank of admiral, where he instilled military discipline aboard aboard the Flying Dutchman on behalf of Beckett during the War Against Piracy.

Despite having gotten what he wanted, Norrington came to regret his previous actions upon learning of Beckett’s hand in Governor Swann’s death, which he learned from Elizabeth after capturing the Empress. In the end, Norrington had to make a choice and choose a side. Norrington gave up everything, including his life, to help Elizabeth escape from the Flying Dutchman.

He was confronted by Davy Jones, who asked if he feared death.

The next time he saw Elizabeth was during the last battle between the pirates and Davy Jones. Finally taking a stand for himself he asked for her hand in marriage, knowing he’s always loved her and hoping she would finally see she loved him.

Sparrow married them on the spot.

He had a feeling it had something to do with getting rid of Elizabeth.

Davy Jones halted the battle when he laid eyes on his Calypso. He then gave Norrington the option to take the Dutchman, and afterwards be rewarded with a life with his beloved.

He said yes.

His only regret is the 1 day every 10 years he gets to see her. He barely got to see his son grow up, let alone marry with kids of his own.

He traveled all the seas doing his newfound duty. His only regret was picking up William Warley and what he had done to Admiral Aubrey.

He doesn’t much like Liefr, and refused to re-negotiate his deal with Davy Jones.

He hated times of war and the too many men he picked up that were lost at sea. After a few centuries he began to tire and wanted to be with his wife. When he was called to Rio by Sparrow, he knew something was wrong. When they told him about the plane and missing passengers, including a descendant of his, he was ready to help but had no idea how to get into the locker.

He was relieved when Davy Jones showed up and took the ship back.

Finally he could be with Elizabeth.

Knowing they wanted a long life together, not apart, they approached Jack and Stephen to be Turned.

Sylum Inspiration: Hector Barbossa

Sanctuary: Member

 

Hector’s mother was caught by Barbary Pirates, and taken to the shores of Spain. He learned English from his mother, Spanish from his father, who gave him his name.

When he was barely a lad his father dumped him on a ship, to train him to be a pirate. Never to see his family again.

He learned how to pirate, steal, pillage and all things Rogue by the time he was sixteen. He moved from ship to ship, killing and taking what he wanted to move up the ranks. Until he ended up First Mate on The Black Pearl with Captain Jack Sparrow.

He convinced the crew to mutiny and found himself cursed by the Aztec gold of the Isle of Murieta. For ten years he searched for the last coin, that William Turner Sr. had sent home, only to discover that Will Turner Jr and been Turned into a Vampire and not able to lift the curse.

Having lost the Pearl back to Sparrow, he set out to find other ways to break the curse. Including invoking the Pirate Council and freeing Calypso.

That didn’t help much either.

Barbossa stayed in around the Caribbean seas, tangling with Royal Navy Ships including the HMS Surprise at one point.

He was never labeled a Rogue as he was technically not part of the Vampire community.

It wasn’t until he learned about Brent Turner that he finally found a way to free his crew from the curse.

Only to get shot by Cutler and Turned.

 

Sylum Inspiration: Joshamee Gibbs

Sanctuary: Member

 

Not much is known of Gibbs’ early life, but it is known that he started sailing with the British Royal Navy in his younger days. At some point in Jack Sparrow’s teenage years, Jack and his father Edward Teague were captured by the Royal Navy. Gibbs, being friends with Teague, secretly helped them to escape their cells, being able to do this only because he was a sailor in the Royal Navy. However, he was very lenient to pirates as he wanted to keep the rum supply he was getting from them going.

Serving as a sailor of the Royal Navy, Gibbs was stationed aboard the HMS Dauntless some time later during its voyage from England to the Caribbean, carrying Weatherby Swann and his twelve year old daughter, Elizabeth, to Port Royal. Along the way, they encountered a wrecked vessel, and Gibbs voiced the opinion that it was the result of a pirate attack. Elizabeth became acquainted enough with Gibbs to recognize him on sight many years later. Ironically, while serving on the Dauntless, Gibbs was superstitious of pirates, even going as far to tell Elizabeth to stop singing a pirate song because it will supposedly invoke pirates upon them.

Gibbs remained with the Royal Navy for a while, though at some point over the next eight years, Gibbs turned to piracy once more. How he left the Navy is unknown, though it could have been either Gibbs deserted his post or that it was Jack Sparrow who persuaded Gibbs to turn pirate.

By this point, Gibbs had known Jack well enough to be able to relate much of the man’s life story and misadventures prior to his going after the treasure of the Isla de Muerta aboard the Black Pearl. He also became aware of the curse that afflicted those who removed the Aztec gold, and was aware of Sparrow’s attempts to retake the Pearl following a mutiny led by Hector Barbossa.

When Jack and Joshamee next met, Gibbs was down on his luck, and started sleeping with pigs outside the Faithful Bride in Tortuga. Accompanied by Will Turner, Jack joined Gibbs for a drink, where he agreed to help round up a crew after learning of Jack’s plan to recapture the Black Pearl from Barbossa. The crew, with Gibbs as first mate, manned the commandeered navy vessel HMS Interceptor, and set out for Isla de Muerta. Upon arriving to the island, Will Turner asked how Jack Sparrow got his compass in the first place. Gibbs replied that no one knew much about Jack Sparrow before he searched for the dreaded Isla de Muerta, having said that was before he met Jack, back when he was captain of the Black Pearl. Gibbs then told Will of how he was mutinied by Barbossa and of Jack having escaped a desert island by roping a couple of sea turtles. Before Jack and Will left to the caves of Isla de Muerta, Gibbs asked Jack what if the worst should happen, to which Jack gave Gibbs the instruction: “Keep to the Code.”

While at Isla de Muerta, Jack fell behind in his attempt to aid Will Turner in rescuing Elizabeth Swann, and Gibbs was forced to keep to the Code and depart without his captain. However, Barbossa caught up with and destroyed the Interceptor, holding Gibbs and the crew captive aboard the Pearl. While docked at Isla de Muerta during Barbossa’s second attempt to lift his curse, Elizabeth freed the crew, who took control of the Pearl and immediately departed—Jack having previously promised them a ship of their own.

Despite Gibbs’ apparent treachery, he and the rest of the crewmen had not given up on his former captain. Jack survived the battle at Isla de Muerta, but was sentenced to hang at Port Royal. Will Turner staged a rescue at the gallows, and the Black Pearl revealed itself, on the other side of the island, as Jack and Will fell from the battlements of Fort Charles. They swam to rejoin his crew. The Pearl set sail, under the command of Jack Sparrow once again, with Gibbs serving as first mate.

He stayed by their side, knowing how to take care of the Captain and his Mate. After everything with Barbossa, he made sure to stay true and loyal to Jack. And when Jack was betrayed to the Kraken, he took his last words to heart to protect Will.

Gibbs had to stay strong for young Will, watching as the separation tore at him on a daily basis. He had to stop him from smacking Miss Swann on occasion too.

His loyalty surpassed death when he was mortally wounded in the final battle, agreeing for Nico to Turn him.

Sylum Inspiration: William Turner

Sanctuary: Second in Command

 

Will was raised by his mother in England and believed his father was a respectable navy man in the Royal Navy. When his mother died, Will began searching for his father, the only clue he had of him, was a gold medallion he had sent his mother.

The ship he was on, had been raided by Pirates, he was the only survivor.  It was being rescued by the HMS Dauntless from the burning shipwreck, that Will first met Elizabeth Swann.  Upon arrival in Port Royal, Will Turner became a blacksmith apprentice under John Brown.  As a simple craftsman, his life revolved around his work, and his distant longing for a woman he knew could never have.

When Pirates raid Port Royal, Will set out to defend the town and try to get to Elizabeth.  He was attacked by members of the raiding party and is run through.

As he lay dying in the street, he was approached by Hector, who offered him a new life.

Sylum Inspiration: Captain Jack Sparrow

Sanctuary: Hunter

 

Was just recently re watching the Pirate Series (as rumors are moving around that there is a 6th in the works).   From that this whole month is Pirate inspired.  

Captain Jack Sparrow was born on the sea in the middle of a typhoon. He doesn’t remember much of his childhood, only that it always consisted of a ship and water.

He’s served on many great ships and had many grand adventures before he was even twenty. It was when he refused to ship humans as cargo that he was branded a Pirate and his life as the infamous Pirate Captain began.

Sparrow made a deal with Davy Jones to pull his ship up from the water and renamed her the Black Pearl. It was then he set out to be a Pirate only to have his crew mutiny and take the ship. Jack couldn’t help but smirk when the crew ended up cursed for stealing the treasure of Isla de Muerta.

Jack escaped the island they abandoned him on.

Sea Turtles was the key, that and rum.

Over the years he wandered, through the islands, his only goal to claim the Pearl back.

He had heard rumors that Barbossa was aiming for Port Royal, that William Turner’s boy was all grown up and could stop the curse. What Sparrow hadn’t expected was to be taken out by his own ship.

He had know about Vampires, seen a few and no one talks about the Jackdaw, so when Odysseus asked if he wanted to be saved.

There was only one word.

Savvy.

Sylum Inspiration: Johnathon Francis D’Artagnan

Sylum: Member

Johnathan followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the French Army; his first day on the job didn’t go quite as well as it could have when he insulted three high ranking officers. (Dilios Note: This famous meeting became infamous when Dumas took it and put it in his book).  The three took John under their wing and trained him to be a better, more patient warrior.

Shortly after joining he met Constance Bonacieux, a Dutchess who had been betrothed to another Duke. He whisked her away and married secretly, with his Commanding officer, Nicolaus, as witness.

Nathan, her father, still hasn’t forgiven Shep for stealing his daughter and Nico for allowing him.

After his third child was born, he was mortally wounded on a mission. Nicolaus asked him if he wanted to live and John answered yes, not wanting to leave his family behind.