This
background is for the Toreador option, as it is most palatable to Storytellers.
Svetlana
always knew she was pretty, but she had a sharp mind, too. The trick was in
proving that to everyone else. Given that her options in 1962 in Moscow were a
bit limited, she joined the city's police force - because the military was not
an option for her.
Unfortunately, she didn't get much
of a chance to overcome the burden of good looks, as she was immediately
noticed by the KGB and 'recruited' (er, coerced) into the service and put
through what was euphemistically called the "Sparrow School". There,
she learned the rudiments of espionage and how to learn a man's secrets via his
most classical weakness - "whoring for the Rodina", as it was wryly
called.
Svetlana
wasn't terribly happy about having this career choice thrust upon her but,
given that the Soviet state didn't appreciate ingratitude, she squared her
shoulders and tried to approach it the same way she had approached her intended
tenure with the police force - as a challenge. After all, she was a loyal
Soviet - or at least, she realized the importance of appearing to be so.
Svetlana
quickly proved that she had brains to back up her beauty - so much so that her
Soviet masters sorely wished that she had been available during the Camelot
years. After a particularly successful operation in West Berlin during which
Svetlana managed to acquire sensitive information from both the American and
English embassies, she began attracting attention from the senior echelons of
the KGB. Of course, the kindred were only one step beyond.
A powerful Toreador - Sergei
Fillipov - controlled the Sparrow School, and he decided that a special project
was to be made of Svetlana. After the successful Berlin operation, Sergei
arranged for Svetlana to receive some special mentoring from the KGB and even
Spetsnaz - her missions were going to take a much more deadly turn. By 1970,
she had murdered three foreign nationals within Moscow. To her surprise, it
really didn't bother her that much - her heart had been effectively hardened,
already.
At this point, the foreign intelligence
services start paying attention to her (as do the Assamites, if you wish to
make her an Assamite). To protect her from assasination, and to put the final
edge on her skills, Sergei Embraced Svetlana in 1972. (or you can create a race
between the Assassins and the Toreador, with the Assassins winning, your
choice)
With the Embrace came greater
freedom of movement - but also some much more deadly targets. Important ghouls
belonging to Sergei's rivals starting suffering from Moscow's increasing crime
problem. Even a few kindred went missing - but Svetlana's primary targets
remained significant humans within the Soviet Union and in the European
mainland.
With
the collapse of the Soviet Union - and the accompanying destruction of Sergei -
Svetlana decided it was time to make a significant move, and she packed her
bags for the United States.
By now, she is a hard-hearted woman
with a beautiful smile and some very deadly talents - the classic Black Widow.
Of course, she doesn't advertise her more violent abilities, unless she's sure
the price will be right. She can earn a comfortable living as an elite escort
and corporate espionage has proven very profitable. But that sort of work
rarely excites her. Now, hunting ghouls - and even kindred - that can be
exciting.
Svetlana
is awash with ennui and she cultivates a public persona of “Been there, done
that and what are you thinking with that outfit?” In private, though,
the facade will be dropped to reveal a wry, shrewd - and very cynical - woman.
She hasn't cared for another kindred since her Sire was destroyed - although
you could give her a bit of emotional vulnerability in that regard.
She is
NOT "The hooker with a heart of gold".
Her
ego is her driving force - she loves being adored for her looks, and feared for
her talents. Her ego will most likely be her downfall...
Born
1944.
Embraced
1972, Sergei Fillipov, Clan Toreador.
Priorities
Attributes:
Social, Mental, Physical. Spend many freebies on these, as she needs to be
charismatic, manipulative, intelligent and physically able-bodied, too.
Remember, a woman doesn't have to be APP 5 to be seductive - manipulation and
charisma goes a long way.
Abilities:
Skills, Knowledges, and then Talents. Put points in seduction, brawl, melee,
subterfuge, cryptography, streetwise and sleight of hand. She will have some
empathy, but not a lot. Her book learning is limited to subjects like politics
and history.
Humanity
- 4 or 5. Too many murders, you know, for it to be higher.
Willpower
- 8 or 9 – you’ve got to have a lot of Willpower to pull of this kind of work
Courage
and Self Control must be high, Conscience no more than 2.
Extras -
buy Obfuscate as soon as you can with this character (or build it in for her if
she is an NPC)
Strengths:
stubborn, well-trained, and she'll be loyal for the duration of her contract
Weaknesses:
paranoid, egotistical (she's the BEST, dammit), mercenary. She won't break her
word once it's given, but getting it from her will cost a LOT.
Desires:
money, power and, damn, she would love to learn Quietus (if she's in her
Toreador incarnation) and Obfuscate.