Archived-Esteban Cortes
| Esteban Nicolás Llanos Cortes | |
| Clan: | Nosferatu (Requiem) ••• |
|---|---|
| Covenant: | Invictus ••• |
| City: | Armidale ••• |
| Title: | Alder Viscount Esteban Cortes, Notary and Knappe of the Archived-Order of the Black Cross |
| Sire: | Ulrich Volmark |
| Bloodline: | Pure Clan |
| Group: | Archived-House Volmark |
| Embraced: | Sunday, May 5th 1844 |
| Player: | Tim |
| Storyteller: | Armidale VST |
Territory:
Personal Information
Appearance
Esteban Cortes is tall for a Kindred of his years, standing over 6 feet tall. The Embrace mitigated physical imperfections caused by drugs and malnutrition before they had sent him into serious decline. He has intense, dark eyes, sharp features and prefers to keep his hair cut short. The years have lent a feral cast on his features; a self-inflicted vertical scar extends from his bottom lip to his neck as a reminder of encounters in nights gone by. Softly spoken, Cortes carries himself with an antiquated dignity and grace, equally comfortable attending a Harpy’s ball or amongst the catacombs of a dilapidated necropolis.
Personality
Esteban Cortes is a Kindred of calm, welcoming demeanour with inky black eyes that belie an empathic and patient disposition. He is inquisitive, conversational and for half a century endeavoured to serve the Nosferatu clan in New England.
Mortal World
Cortes maintains a steady contact with the mortal world, primarily through a small network of retainers, their local friends and family in an effort to keep his sanity and not let the Beast detach him from reality.
Information Known by Kindred Society
Timeline
(Note: Timeline is still very much in progress with many events still missing)
- 1814 - Born February 2nd to a noble family in Barcelona, Spain
- 1833 - Attends Universitat de Barcelona studying business and political economics
- 1837 - Fiance dies due to illness
- 1844 - Officially declared dead from a blaze which consumed his family's estate
- 1844 - May 5th, Embraced by Ulrich Volmark
- 1849 - Presented to Archived-Godric Volmark, Earl of Aachen, Meister of the Leviathan, Lord Paramount of House Volmark, Summus Hospitalarius of the Order of the Black Cross and his childer, Archived-Batavia and Archived-Lothar in Germany
- 1850 - Commanded to establish a base of operations in Belgium. By the winter of 1851 with a retinue of ghouls and their mortal enforcers, Esteban consolidates a Volmark stronghold in Liège.
- 1881 - In the midst of ongoing skirmishes between Valdyr and Volmark forces, engages Archived-Aksel Vinter in single combat. Both are gravely injured but in the end Aksel's axe splits Esteban's face, through his nose, jaw and neck and he is forced to retreat
- 1901 - Travels to Australia aboard The Devil's Own, under the tutelage of Lothar Volmark
- 1903 - Travels to Japan, claims what is left of Spanish missionary coffers
- - Embraces first childe, Archived-Aisaka Shakugan in Japan.
- 1907 - Returns to Australia offers tribute of spoils to Volmark’s patriarch Godric and his sire in Brisbane before venturing to Canberra to see his liege lord Batavia
- 1910 - Visits the Court of New England for the first time, meeting with Prince Harald Gille and his court before travelling south
- 1920 - Valdyr/Volmark truce (The Pax of Fear and Fang)
- 1944 - Returns to Barcelona
- 1955 - Travels to and is accepted into Prince Harald’s court in New England
- 1962 - Primogen Council established in New England
- - Sheriff appointed in New England
- 1968 - Lancea Sanctum fall into disfavour
- - Requisitions Archived-Godric Volmark for his youngest childe, Grendel to take the office of Bishop in New England
- 1970 - Disappears from New England
- - Embraces second childe, Archived-Calvin Harper in Vietnam.
- 1974 - Returns to New England
- 1991 - Neutralises a hunter threat infringing on Armidale and immediate surrounds
- - Embraces third childe, Archived-Emmanuel De La Seirra in Armidale.
- 2005 - First definite indications of Brood
- 2012 - Launches a final assault against the Brood
Recent History
2013
- JUN - Joins the Primogen Council of Armidale
- JUL - Visits the Brisbane Court
- AUG - Attends the premiere exhibition of "Salt Man: The Lost Prince of Assyria"
- SEP - Is the notary for the Oath Bishop Archived-Grendel Volmark swears, pledging absolute loyalty to the Prince
- OCT - Attends the national gathering of Kindred in Brisbane and begins to make preparations for Prince Harald Gille impending eclipse
- NOV - Claims Praxis of New England
- DEC - Enjoys a night at Madam Archived-Tamara Wilks' pre-opening of Splendidly Burlesque in Fairmont Park
2014
- JANUARY - Holds court in Archived-Emrys Arthusia's studio and meets with a number of new Kindred seeking residence in Armidale
- FEBRUARY - A new threat to the New England court arises and Bishop Archived-Grendel Volmark is taken
- MARCH - Joins with his sire, Archived-Lothar and Archived-Godric Volmark, and participates in a mission to recover Grendel but this is unsuccessful and dozens of renegade Kindred flood the city
- APRIL - The alleged 'Brood' are destroyed and the city comes closer to having order maintained as powerful Kindred with alleged Brood associations are put to Final Death. Contact with Bishop Grendel is made
- MAY - Meets with a number of distinguished guests from the Sydney Court. Holds a small social gathering of the First and Second Estates, commemorating 170 years of his Requiem
- JUNE - 'Removes' a malevolent entity residing in Archived-Hanz before his crime of diablerie is revealed and orders his execution which is carried out by the court.
- JULY - Travels to Canberra to see his childe, Archived-Calvin Harper staked until the end in accordance to Sanctified doctrine. Moves on to Perth, visiting Archived-Rosalie Deloit.
- AUGUST - With the dissolution of the Order of the Iron Wall, he petitions Archived-Pietro Navishenko for affiliation to the Archived-Order of the Black Cross
Lineage
- Godomar the Frank
- Lost to the Fog of Torpor
Wards of House Volmark
Known Sire
Known Siblings
Known Childer
- Archived-Aisaka Shakugan - embraced in Yokohama
- Archived-Calvin Harper- embraced in Vietnam
- Archived-Emmanuel De La Seirra - embraced in Armidale
Known Grand-childer
Quotes
Quotes By
"Just as the wolf sees only the meat and not the steel jaws encircling it, the Archived-Valdyr too see only the reward and not the danger." - Journal entry from September 20, 1850.
"Los vivos se les niega una mesa, los muertos conseguir un ataúd todo". - Engraving found on the action of a shotgun owned by Cortes circa 1933. Translated it reads "The living are denied a table, the dead get a whole coffin".
"I've heard enough, it would appear the voices in his head are playing quite the factor in Mister Archived-MacBeth's crimes. Madam Wilks if you would please relieve him of his affliction" - Moments before MacBeth's execution.
"Congratulations Archived-Lou, you're inside a corpse" - Commenting on the pitfalls of intense and prolonged interrogation.
"Peace time made not by formal contract and accord, but by the dead has had the most troublesome effect on Vinr Alder Vilrec Anu-Atli Langlifr. The pack leader is now the Lone Wolf - a shadow of a memory of the ghost of a warrior that may have been. Left only to endure and bear witness to world long severed from and I wished for war".
Quotes About
"Cortes, an interesting fellow. Comes from a long line as far as I'm aware, that means allies, you'd do well to be polite to him." - Archived-Father Constantin, 1956
"We've crossed paths a few times, we're of an age I understand. The meeting that made the most impact was actually in Canberra only a few decades ago, he caught me with my pants down, so to speak, but then he had to split." - Archived-Aksel Vinter
"I think we have a certain understanding, he and I, we have both stared into the abyss and come back. It leaves a mark on you that others notice in your demeanor." - Archived-Bertrand Hills
"Ah, Esteban. Little lion. Such a Volmark you are. Would that you were mine...but then, you are." - Archived-Batavia
"I like Mr Cortes, he is everything I have been lead to believe an Invictus should be, dignified, thoughtful and shrewd. Unfortunately it seems he has had no luck passing on this admirable traits to those he leads. It is a shame fate deemed necessary to make him a member of the so called first estate, with a mind like his he would have made a great Carthian, probably would have found better students to inspire too rather than the self entitled wretches he has to work with." - Archived-Sergei Ravanov
"That cunt runs a tight ship, no sooner than had I made the required introductions, I was shown the door and by shown the door I mean 'fled back to my squalid little hole'." - Archived-Lou
"He knows things that I just can't wrap my little walnut of a brain around. I'm sure he's up there, way up there." - Archived-Lou
Prince Cortes is like a snake who surveys you from the crack of a rock, you can never quite know what goes on behind those eyes, but he is predictable, there will at least be warning before he strikes. It would be foolishness to trust him but, that does not mean i dont respect him," Archived-Karlin
Conversations
“So my child you have chosen. I suggest that in these, your final moments before your duty begins you revel in the one thing that can provide you comfort."
With a final guzzle of burning liquor passing Esteban’s throat, his hand trembling, he raised the empty bottle to Ulrich. “Comfort? After all that has transpired, the notion seems rather absurd; death would be pleasant but... death is nothing, to live defeated and inglorious is to die every day”.
Esteban’s eyes glazed over, struggling to focus on the robed priest. “I can’t remember who once said that…”
- - Conversation between Archived-Ulrich and Esteban, 3:30am on Sunday the 5th of May 1844.
The ghoul was letting out some faint, desperate gurgles, so Artemis irritably pressed her boot a bit more firmly against its neck as she watched Esteban approaching on horseback.
"Well done." His low voice made it hard to tell, but Esteban sounded faintly smug. "How long did you spend tracking him?"
"Three hours. I -" Artemis was cut off by a desperate, wet plea from the ghoul under her feet, and her eyes met Cortes' for a split second. With a faintly slick, wet noise, the heel of her boot put an end to the ghoul's interruptions. "I followed its trail. It was making for the Crone, like you said."
"It's sad that he would do so. I treated him well."
"You were too indulgent, Lord Esteban. Our vices and our urges are our best tools to rule." Artemis tugged the saddle of her mare into place. "Do you not practice what you preach?"
"Of course I do," observed Esteban, riding off. She barely caught his parting words. "You're still my vassal, aren't you?"
- Archived-Artemis and Esteban, 1930.
"Our last conversation here in this kitchen was interrupted, so I'd like to pick up where we left off. If memory serves, you were asking me if it would feel good to kill you."
"I expect you've given that some thought, and here we are again," replied Esteban, stepping over the body of the farmhouse's former occupant. "For decades, you've devoted yourself to the First Estate - but what has changed? What have you discovered about yourself?"
"You wanted me to embrace my nature, Cortes. I'm just following the urges I kept down for so long, cultivating them as the inspirations they are," Artemis shot back.
"You never answered my question. How would killing me make you feel?"
"Powerful."
- - an exchange between Archived-Artemis and Archived-Esteban Cortes, 1883.
Rumours
- Appointing Grendel Volmark as Bishop of New England is part of a plot to diablerise him
- Nursed exclusively on Kindred vitae as a mortal infant
- Is the sole cause of his mortal family's descent into ruin a bankruptcy
- His residency in Armidale is a punishment imposed by his House
- Threatened to diablerise his sire
- On more than one occasion
- Despises Archived-Aksel Vinter more than any other Archived-Valdyr
- Regularly attends support groups masquerading as a cancer patient
- Is a prime suspect in the disappearances of dozens of homeless in Armidale
Inspirations and Soundtrack
- The Dark Tower, by Stephen King
- Twisted Fate, League of Legends
- Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in Hannibal
- Chris Cornell
Soundtrack (self)
- Whispers of the Approaching Wastefulness - New Risen Throne
- Crossing the Withered Regions - New Risen Throne
- Crucifère - Eths
- Forty Six and Two - Tool
Soundtrack (others)
Status
City
- Given by Character on date for details.
- Given by Character on date for details.
- Given by Character on date for details.
Covenant
- Given by Character on date for details.
- Given by Character on date for details.
- Given by Character on date for details.
Clan
- Given by Character on date for details.
- Given by Character on date for details.
- Given by Character on date for details.
Boons
- Trivial boon owed by Archived-Tamara Wilks to Archived-Esteban Cortes for undisclosed reason (Nov 2013)
- Trivial boon owed by Archived-Wolfric Abendroth to Archived-Esteban Cortes for undisclosed reason (Jan 2014)
- Minor boon owed by Archived-Grendel Volmark to Archived-Esteban Cortes for Clan services (1971).
- Minor boon owed by Archived-Gregory Homes to Archived-Esteban Cortesn for Clan services (?).
- Minor boon owed by Archived-Luciano to Archived-Esteban Cortesfor Clan services (?).
- Minor boon owed by Archived-Tethis to Archived-Esteban Cortesfor Clan services (1960).
- Minor boon owed by Archived-Marcus Williams to Archived-Esteban Cortes for undisclosed reason (Nov 2013)
- Minor boon owed to Archived-Algol for unspecified services (1959).
- Minor boon owed to Archived-Sergei Ravanov for requesting permission for Ulrich and Lothar Volmark to meet with the prince and arranging the meeting (2013).
- Minor boon owed to Archived-Sergei Ravanov for requesting permission for Ulrich and Lothar Volmark to enter the domain (1 for each). Included some right to feed in Invictus controlled territories (2013).
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OOC Information
| Member Information | |
| Player: | Tim Cluley |
|---|---|
| Number: | AU2004100625 |
| Domain: | Armidale |