Name:
Katla Aakre 500 BC - 1066 AD (Viking, High Priestess)
Aliases: Cassandra Valle; Nathalie Katia Thévenet (current alias),
Title: Siress, Queen of the Vampires
Age:
Close to 2,000. Looks 30
Ethnicity:
Scandinavian
Eyes:
Blue
Weight:
135
Height:
5.7
Personality:
Cunning, intelligent, ruthless, steadfast, stubborn, open-minded, compassionate, persistent, vengeful, determined, loyal, protective
Appearance:
She is a beautiful and frightening woman with alabaster skin made more porcelain by the contrast of her gothic Victorian aesthetic. With piercing blue eyes, she's a goddess of death. Her gaze casts fear into the hearts of lesser beings. Her silken hair flows like ghostly wisps, with all of the danger of nature, beauty, and the supernatural rolled into one. While some might take her soft features as a sign of weakness bred by a life of luxury, be warned; it is a testament to her overwhelming power and the ease with which she overcomes all obstacles set before her.
Relationships:
Vikar (Edvard Thévenet), eternal lover
Brother: Tarald (Wesley Dallam)
Progenies: Salvatore Di Vittiori & Lochlainn Alberich
Hobbies:
Collecting beautiful people. Being in nature, reading, traveling. Performs Viking rituals during the holidays when she sees fit. Painting. Entertaining.
Abilities:
Healing, Telepathy, Blood flow vision (able to see significant blood vessels), Clairvoyant, Multilingual (Read, write, and speak: Old Norse, Old English, French, Italian, English, Latin)
Weakness:
Periods of psychological instability, adrenaline-induced episodes of intensity. If in direct sunlight exceeding 5 hours, it will take about a full day to heal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
History:
Scandinavia 500 BC at the start of the Iron Age. "Family is my strength or the cause of my self-destruction. Wealth can't buy family nor happiness. Happiness comes from the little, humble, and simple things in life. Things that are usually taken for granted." Katla Aakre was the youngest and only daughter to the tribe's chieftain and high priestess. Her beauty was unmatched. She had piercing blue eyes, silver hair, and porcelain like skin. A diamond in the rough. Rare genes like Katla’s were considered a sign from the gods. Many cooed over her, wondering if she was a daughter of Freyja or the equivalent of the deity herself living amongst them. Much was expected of Katla, the fates (Norns) had an unexpected destiny waiting for her.
As a child, she was like any normal kid, highly family-oriented. She enjoyed her sense of freedom that any normal kid would have. Katla got away with murder compared to her older sibling, Tarald, when it came to playing with other kids in the tribe. Occasionally, she would pull pranks with the other kids. She was inquisitive about everything. Why were things they were? What was her purpose? Once in a while, she got into mischief and got into trouble for it. Katla wasn't always close to her brother, as they got older, they played and bonded over time. But there were times where he couldn't include her. She wanted to do everything her older sibling did: learning how to fight, fish, hunt, gather. Tarald was always protective of her but not so much as their father. When she was old enough to wield a weapon, she begged her brothers to teach her archery, sword fighting, and self-defense, something she did against her parents' wishes. In their eyes, Katla was too frail to engage in combat. Growing up, she learned to be diplomatic and be in tune with the gods and nature.
Her father didn't think that she should be doing those things and he wanted to protect her for as long as he could. She was his pride and joy. Her village was a small, tight-knit community; everyone looked out for each other. It was a peaceful time. At the age of sixteen, Katla's parents established an alliance with another tribe via an arranged marriage, which would end turmoil and rivalry. At first, she was appalled by the idea of marriage. She felt as if her sense of freedom would be ripped from her hands. Per her parents' request, Katla respected their wishes and went through with it. Arrangements took almost two years. The only time she met her betrothed was at the altar. The wedding took place during the winter equinox per request of both parents as it marked a new dawn for both families.
Seeing him for the first time at the altar was something she wasn't expecting. He stood there at 6ft, long dark brown hair that was pulled into braids and a ponytail. He had green eyes and a groomed beard, muscular warrior build, young about two years older than she was. Katla's jaw dropped at the sight of him; he was unlike any of the boys she had grown up with. To keep the peace, they united their tribes as a full community. For the next eleven years, Katla had a happy life. Her husband, Reinn, was her entire world, the source of her happiness. In the early stages of her marriage, she resented him, for he was cold and didn't seem to want this. As time passed, that changed. Her love for him was intense and passionate, filled with trust; he was her everything. As her bond grew with him, her family relations didn't weaken but became robust. Every spring when the ice melted, warriors, including Tarald and Reinn, voyaged to other locations to expand their land and communities. Soon, foreigners began to encroach on their territories; consequently, wars broke out. These wars lasted for about two years, at which point Reinn's parents stepped down, allowing them to take over. During this period, Katla was expecting her first child; she thought this was an impossible milestone. When the day came, Katla was ecstatic after trying for so long. She finally had a family of her own. Her parents were growing older and feared that their line would end with Katla.
She despised the times when Reinn left for raids, the fear of losing him ate away at her. She had visions of him dying in battle, capsized by the sea during a storm, even assassination attempts. Every time she woke up in a sweat, she grasped the necklace he gave her, praying to the gods that he was still alive.
A year later, at the age of thirty, she lost her husband in battle and was expecting a child. On the same night her betrothed died, she had a miscarriage. Within that moment, her world began to crumble around her. Depression and misery overtook her. For days she didn't leave her home and ate very little. Tarald stuck by her side, giving her comfort. Even though she was the tribe's leader, people began to question her authority since she was in no shape to perform her duties. She handed the responsibilities over to Tarald. Every day that went by, memories of her and Reinn didn't seem to fade. Inconsolable of her loss, Katla voluntarily offered herself up as a sacrifice to a demon. Legend has it that a demon by the name of Ryreth was madly in love with her because of her beauty and promised she would have children one day, But how is still unknown.
As a result of the sacrifice, Ryreth made an oath that would possess her at the same time protect, keep her alive, never bear witness to the pain she endured, and stay with her. Consequently, there's always a price to be paid. Ryreth had a mate, Dakal, who was stuck in Hel. For Dakal's return to the realm of the living. It would be at the behest of the same ritual and the right vessel had to be born.
Winter of this same year, tragedy struck again. This time, she lost her family and half of her tribe to famine, sickness, and warfare. Katla tried to save them, except for one, her brother. Seeing Tarald lying there dying in the cold winter snow was too much for her. Ryreth witnessed Katla’s inconsolable pain and taught her how to save them. Her and Tarald would become the first eternal beings recorded in history and share the Immortal Kiss.
Together they witnessed humankind's effect on the earth. They moved around Scandinavia, drawing no attention to who they really were. People started to question them out of fear. Rumors and legends were made about them if they stayed in one place too long. For them, it was better to live away from civilization.
Viking Age: 787 - 1066 AD"Eternity alone already feels like a curse. Maybe I shouldn't have done what I did all those years ago out of desperation. But yet, I feel a hunger to continue on… Could this be the age I find my mate? Something tells me this is where I need to be, but the Norns hold the answer. What if he's like Reinn? Strong, loving, same personality… Even look alike. Verðandi and Skuld guide me on this journey."Years passed for Katla and Tarald as the first two original vampires. As they remembered it, their old Scandinavia began to flourish into a colonizing nation filled with exploration, whalers, farmers, and raiders. Tarald was looked upon as a seer for he had the gift of foresight, and Katla was the town's high priestess known for her healing capabilities. It was during the Viking era that her awaiting vessel, Vikar, would be born. Katla waited till he was thirty-five to be with her. She watched him grow and become a man and become a famous warrior within their town. He was the son of an Earl. One day, he went out for a raid in the spring, after a prosperous voyage, he returned with fatal injuries. His family, filled with dismay, was frantic and begged for Katla to save him. Accepting their plea, Katla had him brought to her home where she didn't allow his family to witness or visit, for she was uncertain if it was going to work. In the privacy of hers and her brother's home, she healed him using traditional methods. Days went by as she continued to care for him, never disclosing her true identity to him. His body from what she could tell, his body could not accept the Immortal Kiss.
A year or so after she healed him, the town continued to grow in prosperity and fortification began. People started to question why the siblings haven't aged since they moved there; fear continued to grow. The siblings lived a life that didn't draw attention to themselves as murderers. Rumors started to spread once more, a small group of hunters established themselves and went out one night to look for Katla and Tarald. Conflict broke out. The captors brought the siblings into the public eye for trial and execution. Vikar was standing in the crowds and stepped in their defense. In his case, the siblings were judged innocent. Once the crowd dispersed, that was the same night, Katla finally disclosed who she was and was grateful for his aid. In return, she gave him the gift of immortality.
Renaissance and Colonial Era (Age of Enlightenment)"Living in such harsh conditions isn't for the faint of heart. Death, poverty, and despair await at every doorstep.LLooking for its next victim. Glorious Rome, such power no longer at the hands of mortals. Enduring such times made my stomach churn. The putrid smell and sight of mass graves reminded me of my mortal life. Maybe I wasn't such a fool for making that pact. Would it be a choice I would make again? I'm not certain. Humanity is a complex force of nature, but the more I observe and learn. I rather be alive than dead. My thirst for more has become unsatiated. It's time to share my knowledge and power… With this decree, I am the Vampire Katla Aakre, and will now be known as Nathalie Katia Theévent, Queen of the Vampires."After waiting for such a long time for Vikar, the Viking age came to an end. With changing eras, they moved around from place to place, blending in, adjusting to the times, changing their names. Throughout the periods, they witnessed the fall of the Roman Empire, lived through the dark ages, and survived the Black Death that swept across Europe. Eventually, the trio settled in Florence, Italy. She met Salvatore Di Vittorio under the alias Cassandra Valle in the mid-late 16th century, during the height of the Renaissance. His status in society impressed her, especially with his financial background, making him her third progeny. She saw Salvatore as a son she never had.
Another era comes along, the Age of Enlightenment, a movement of intellect and philosophy that sparked human reasoning. Enthralled by human reasoning, Nathalie used this era to her advantage as the start to reign. In 1715, she officially became Queen of the Vampires, a strategic and unknown move to those wished ill of her kin. The Great Northern War took place in 1700-1721. The way in which wolves, hunters/zealots, and vampires became involved was that King Charles I broke a peace treaty. Unfortunately, it played a minor but significant role in the war. She had placed Tarald as her Military Commander for this war. At the sight of human and supernatural casualties strewn across the battlefield, Nathalie had Tarald pull back their forces. Defeat was not an answer; instead, she sought refuge on an island in the English Channel. Such an event triggered her psychological instability and adrenaline-induced episodes of intensity that her desire for vengeance and to gain numbers became her obsession. Humans who fled to Jersey for safety during the war became either a vampire's prey or a victim of the Immortal Kiss. Nathalie gave the gift to those who she thought earned it and who she deemed beautiful. Nathalie remained in Jersey until 1741.
Summer 1742She moved to Copenhagen, Denmark. After increasing her numbers, she felt the need to return to her native homeland and see the changes. The constant warfare between France and Britain was too much.
On her travels to Denmark, she met an aristocrat who had ties to the royal court. Enthralled by her beauty and knowledge, the aristocrat invited her to stay with the royal family. Upon her arrival at the estate, Nathalie met Lochlainn Alberich, a monarch's son. Intrigued by his desire for rebelling against the reform and interest in human reasoning. Nathalie wanted to collect him not only for his looks and power status but his desire to know more. He reminded her so much of herself.
Over time she shared her secrets with Lochlainn, entrusting him to keep her identity secret. One fateful night, she witnessed a commotion, silent as the grave, Nathalie watched his father arrest him for practicing the dark arts. With a heavy heart when everyone was asleep, Nathalie went to check on him, seeing the effects up close and personal was too much for her and gave him a choice to either live or wither away.
Katla's time in the mortal realm was starting to wane. She needed to rest. A war between her race, wolves, hunters/religious zealots, plague (lack of consumption supply), and sovereign power took a devastating toll on her.
Winter 1743, LondonBefore she went into her stupor the following spring. Nathalie established the vampiric council. She had taught Salvatore and Lochlainn everything they needed to know and gave them titles because they were now in her stead. She had prepared them for when she would not be around, entrusting them to protect her, Tarald, and Vikar until it was time for them to return. As the vampiric Prophecy foretells:
"When legends of old return, new prosperity shall reign."
Nathalie paced the floor of the dim-lit room, light from the fireplace danced across the halls. In the room sat the two younger vampires, her, Tarald and Edvard (Vikar) and a few others she instated as council members. "I cannot stand to see another of my kin suffer for fear of mortals. Too much damage has been caused, and we are on the brink of extinction. Each of you must go your own way. Seek safety and refuge, abide by our rules. Feed on animals or go into a slumber. British reign will come to an end, and our place amongst mortals will be reinstated. I've already seen what our future holds. A religious monarch will take the throne, at which point my awakening will happen. Whoever sits on the ivory throne, will regret their decision. We used to live in peace, now we live in fear. We are myths, legends, and nightmares of old. It's time, my children for the world to adjust without us, for we adjusted to the world. When that time comes, we will give in to our true nature as predators instead of prey."
Victorian Era"After a hundred years of rest, I feel the need to return and face my enemies. It is time for vampires to take their rightful place amongst mortals. That beautiful, eerie, ominous sound is the life of my awakening, I wonder who has stirred me awake. It wouldn't be long before the others join me in a new reign." Her story, along with Tarald and Vikar (Edvard Devereux), would start in 1840s London. Her awakening caused by music and a sovereign power would spark her desire for her true nature, consuming blood from beautiful people that she collects and feeds on the lust of mortals.
