Name: Raphaël “Raph” Cassagne
Age: 75 (apparent age 34)
Gender: Male
Clan: Ravnos
Generation: 11th
Occupation: Fitness instructor and personal trainer
Appearance:Raph stands just shy of 6 feet tall, at about 165lbs. He has a narrow face with inquisitive hazel eyes, prominent bone structure, long and wide ears, a slightly hooked nose and a wide, protruding chin. His black hair has subtle curls streaked with grey, but he prefers to have them slicked back with hair gel. He has a two day-old stubble for facial hair. His body is slender and athletic, almost as much as it was during his professional cycling days.
Personality:Raph is mostly an easygoing, diplomatic character, content (for the moment) to be a part of the society of the Damned while having a job and a lifestyle that are all too human (apart from his pet being a ghoul). He thrives in social situations and is often regarded by others as amenable and friendly despite his naturally cold, serious expression; nevertheless, he is most at home on the seat of a bike, alone and pushing himself well beyond the limitations of his former, mortal self. He often keeps a very small number of genuine strong connections, most notably the one he has for his Anatolian Shepard. In the face of conflict, Raph is often seen as a conciliatory voice who prefers to “talk it out” and reach a compromise that benefits both parties, or that at least buys him enough time to come up with a new course of action. Raph becomes a LOT more intense whenever the topic is athletics – particularly cycling – or whenever a given situation might turn into a challenge.
As a Ravnos with a past of doping in sports, Raph loves to cheat in order to get an edge on the competition – whether it’s playing poker, doing push-ups or running for Governor – and although most times he can smooth it over with excuses like “you know me” and “it’s all in good fun,” Raph’s tricks can exhaust the patience of those around him and ultimately generate needless strife and distrust.
Background:Raphaël Auguste Cassagne, known in modern nights as “Raph” (like the TMNT character), was born in 1949, in the city of Besançon, eastern France. Growing up in a humble family, Raph had no interest in studies or his father’s shoemaking business, instead pursuing a career in cycling. His professional debut came in 1968 for a local team in the regional circuits – the level of competition where he would remain for most of the following fourteen years.
In this time he started a family with Melanie Ritter, the cousin of a teammate; they had three children: Jean-Luc (1973), Mathilde (1975) and Aurora (1980). Although he was often away for long periods of time during the cycling season, Raph loved his wife and kids, and only his love for them could rival his love for cycling.
Raph retired in 1982, after a long yet unremarkable career. However, Raph shone bright when he stepped in as team director for the 1983 season. Introducing practices he learned in his short spell at elite cycling – including altitude training, a strict diet and blood transfusions – Raph turned a small local team into a regional powerhouse.
And then, of course, everything went sideways. Because that’s what happens when
you cheat vampires get involved.
Long story short: a Setite ghouled Raph to be his gateway for a distribution monopoly of PED’s in French cycling. Two weeks later, a Ravnos that felt he had been wronged by the Setite embraced Raph as payback. This Deceiver only told Raph the basics to survive before vanishing that same night.
The 1980s and ‘90s were rough times for Raph, who spent most of these years as a drifter in southern France, sleeping and feeding where he could. After exhausting the patience and goodwill of a dozen princes in the French Riviera, Raph left for the United States in 1998. After a couple more years of urban nomadism, Raph ended up in NYC under the care of Ludwig and Edwina’s “family.” Though at first suspicious of their kindness, Raph was grateful for their help and tried his best to fit in with the others.
Raph spent all of the 2000s with his new “family,” coming to see them as real brothers and sisters. This, however, created a burden of guilt and resentment that grew heavier as time passed. After all, the French Ravnos already had a family – a mortal one, which he had to abandon and hide from, though he longed to see them again. It eventually became too much for Raph to bear, and he left the house in 2013. He has since been living a modest life in a small, cozy apartment in Bath Beach, Brooklyn.
Skills: imgur.com/a/tZLagLGNotes:Flaw – Enemy: The mysterious French Setite who once made Raphaël his ghoul did not take kindly to having his plan foiled. Even though Raph was not to blame, he was a target of the Setite’s wrath for years. It’s true that time and distance have rendered the Setite both powerless and disinterested in his pursuit of revenge, but the Followers of Set can be a tightly-knit bunch, and Raph is wary of crossing paths with one of the Serpents.
Contacts: Dr. Larry Oostgard, a nutritionist who supplies Raph with PED’s and supplements.
Domain: 2nd floor of townhouse on Bay 23rd St and Cropsey Ave.
Herd: Two or three personal training clients who want more than just a one-on-one session…
Resources: Steady cashflow from fitness instructor job + personal trainer services + selling a few supplements on the side. Enough to pay the bills at the end of the month, maintain a 2009 Hyundai Sonata bought off of Craigslist, and spend the occasional buck in offbrand sports clothing.
Retainer: Djobi, a massive Anatolian Shepherd dog, made even larger and stronger by the blood bond - standing almost as tall as a Great Dane and built like an English Mastiff. Apart from her uncommon size, Djobi has a very characteristic fawn coat and the breed's trademark black mask at the muzzle. Doting, loyal and extremely protective, Djobi has accompanied Raph in his night-to-night life since he's arrived in the US and she rarely leaves his side. However, Djobi's strong affection for her owner and regnant does not extend to his friends, and like most other animals, Djobi feels uncomfortable with the mere presence of other vampires, although she has warmed up slightly to the other members of the "family."
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