Name/Alias
Claude Harker
Daywalker, the Half-Blood, Scion of Dracula
Apperance
Claude is a tallish young Englishman, well-built from both his inhuman biology and his years of intense training. Messy dark hair and dark clothes of a somewhat antiquated style (such as is common in the Hunter community) give him a somewhat somber appearance when coupled with his pale skin. His most striking features are his eyes, burning crimson red, which can entrance the unwary. His looks are somewhat devilish and quite charming, but he has the unsettling countenance of a predator when he smiles, revealing his fangs and his inhuman nature.
Biography
Claude is the descendant of Jonathan Harker, a 19th century English real-estate agent who became a renowned vampire hunter after his encounter and defeat of the legendary Count Dracula. Since then, the Harker family has maintained a centuries-long antagonist feud with the bloodline of Dracula, each lineage waging a shadow war against the other. Claude's mother was the first Harker to put aside the conflict, hoping to live her life peacefully and away from the threat of the supernatural. Unfortunately, the war came to her, and one of Dracula's descendants attacked her while she was heavily pregnant with Claude, infecting her with vampirism. The stress of the encounter caused her to go into labor, which killed her, and Claude was born not only an orphan, but a Dhampir.
As both vampire and human, Claude grew up hated by both and trusted by neither. He lived at the twilight between human and supernatural society, scraping by in the dregs of poverty. He resented humans and vampire alike, as both races considered him an outcast, and grew up as an angry and bitter young man, wandering Europe and committing crimes to survive. However, when robbing a country manse in Holland, he had a fateful encounter that changed the course of his fate: the mansion was occupied by none other than Abraham Van Helsing, his ancestor's confidant and expert in vampire slaying. Through supernatural medicine he had prologed his life to well over two-hundred years, and was still vital enough to defeat Claude in hand-to-hand combat. Van Helsing recognized his old friend John in the boy, and taught him of his true heritage.
Van Helsing took Claude in, and gave him the parenthood that he never had. He trained the boy as a vampire hunter, and helped him turn his natural aggression and animosity into passion for destroying vampires and other such creatures of the night. As his training was completed, Van Helsing gave Claude the heirlooms that had been entrusted to him by the boy's mother: his family's Devil Arms. Since joining the secret society of European hunters, Claude has made something of a name for himself thanks to his supernatural talents, but is still scorned by the vast majority of hunter clans due to his half-blood nature.
Devil Arms
Claude's devil arms are the pair of blades that were used to slay Dracula: the kukri Shiva, and the bowie knife Lonestar. Both are infused with Dracula's lifeblood, giving them supernatural power over vampires, and other unholy beasts. Shiva was used to cut off Dracula's head, and so can be used to influence the minds and thoughts of monsters. Lonestar destroyed the vampire's heart, and so can influence their emotions and desires. Naturally, both act as the banes of vampires and various other monsters, and Claude's human blood gives him immunity to their influence.
Firearms
As part of his signature dual-wielding style, Claude wields two unique and heavily-modified pistols. In one hand he wields Lionheart, a custom Mauser C96 automatic that fires explosive incendiary rounds. The other carries Dragonslayer, an engraved Mateba Autorevolver that fires blessed silver bullets capable of "homing" on unholy creatures of the night.
Skills/Abilities
Claude's strengths are largely derived from his status as a half-vampire. Called a Dhampir or a Daywalker, he possesses all of the powers of a vampire with none of their weaknesses. His strength, speed, and regeneration are all superhuman, he has a hypnotic gaze, and he can shapeshift into things such as mist and animals. He also possesses a vampire's furious bloodlust, which can come out when he is in battle. By tapping into that bloodlust and allowing it to overcome him, he can enter a berserk fury that pushes him beyond his limits, but strips him of his higher reasoning. This "transformation" is sometimes referred to as the Blood Dragon, as it warps his features to become more monstrous.
Additionally, Claude has been extensively trained in combat and monster hunting by the ancient veteran Abraham Van Helsing. Claude's knowledge of the supernatural, and the powers and weaknesses of monsters are extensive, and in combat he favors either a dual-pistol style or close combat with his Devil Arm knives.
Other
Though Claude keeps this weakness greatly hidden, each passing day makes his desire to drink blood stronger, and he fears the day that he can no longer keep it at bay.
