Paercebal

Paris -P- True Brujah

Sobriquet: Percival

Appearance: Paercebal is a man whose -1000's Libyan origins shows in his hair color. Once greater than most men, he is now of medium height, but has still an impressive frame, the built of a warrior. His light brown eyes are emotionless, even if his smile always convey either sympathy or antipathy toward the spectator. He favors his hair long and free, but sometimes tie his blond hair into a ponytail.

Paercebal once favored the full armor, or dark steel, as well as his famous great sword. Now, he likes to wear simple but styled black clothing, as well as a long black coat, giving him an highlander type he naively ignores, despite the jokes of some Anarchs.

Behavior: Paercebal appears at first as a blasé who saw to much to be moved by any emotion tonight. It is somewhat true. He doesn't like to speak to much, and while he likes philosophy, he prefers written discussion to oral one, as oral discussion leaves the listeners affected by the style and the talents of oration of the speakers. So he will speak bluntly, and rarely.

In any way, he is full of honor, and when he swears something, he tries to keep his word, going to great length to succeed. He is also very polite to women, no matter the race, age or power.

History: Of Libyan origins, he rarely talks now of his Embrace by a strange Vampire. The reason is simple: As soon as it was possible, he was taken by his Sire to Enoch, a strange city in the Realms of the Dead. There, he learned about how Troile had destroyed his Bloodline, and how the Tal'mahe'Ra would make the False Brujah pay for their crime. Only once Paercebal questioned the fact that some Brujah were Embraced after the Diablerie of Brujah, and as such, couldn't be considered guilty. Then he added that one should not pay for another (even one's Sire) crime. He was beaten senseless for his arrogance. Such was the way of the Kindred.

But someone heard him, and this person told him to keep his faith on Justice, because it was the greatest treasure a soul can have. It surprised him greatly to learn later the woman who told him that was no one else but the dreaded Hecate, whose magical power was such none questioned her wisdom in the occult.

But somehow, the Tal'mahe'Ra found his Crusade. The Sect, searching for enemies, has just discovered it in the corruption of the homeland of the Tzimisce Clan. The name of the enemy was Souleater, and it was the creature behind the mysterious Discipline Vicissitude. So they searched in their ranks those who mastered it. The problem is that Hecate had studied it with the help of another Hand Member called Andeleon, and that she was soon suspected to carry the disease. Before fleeing for her life, Hecate came to the chamber of Paercebal, and asked him if he would join her. He accepted.

In their flight, they visited Egypt, which was, Hecate told, a land where Justice was once all-powerful. Now, the only thing he could see was a Greek king who fancied himself a Pharaoh, and edict-ed laws removing the rights Egyptian women had for more than 2500 years. It was at this time they discovered the existence of the Greek woman who would call herself Delphine decades after. Paercebal was charmed by her, and Hecate was amused. When the True Brujah wanted to Embrace her, he searched for the council of his Mentor, and after some tests, she agreed Delphine should be given immortality.

Since then, Paercebal followed Hecate in her travels, becoming one of her firsts Knights (the first being a powerful Wraith called Neith-Iqeret). Their common path came to an end, and Paercebal roamed the known world alone, sometimes joining his lover for a few years. It was from her discussion he realized how the Neonates of the Dark Ages were used by their sires, and how the mortal population was slowly awakening to the danger of the Cainite --imperfect-- control of it destiny.

When the Anarch revolt grew, Paercebal joined the Anarchs, even as his lover remained with the Elders of the Clan Brujah. The True Brujah warrior, joining the Brujah, the Lasombra and the Tzimisce, fought fiercely against the Elder's power, and his own prowess in battle, as well as his honor, gave him the name Anarch Knight, a fame that followed him into the Convention of Thorn.

While he wanted to refuse the Convention, Hecate appeared once more to him, telling him things could evolve better in peace than in a desperate war. The Camarilla already existed, and Justicar were an all too real notion. So Paercebal went to the Convention, and witnessed the signature of the treaty, even as Tyler and Myca Vykos tried to disrupt it.

Since then, Paercebal, never totally trusted, went to travel, taking upon his shoulders the defense of Anarchs. He even won the title of Anarch Justicar in ironic comments of European Elders. The most active Anarchs even started to despise the Kindred, because of his unwilingness to fight anymore the Elders. While he didn't participate in the creation of the Anarch Free States, he went there more than once to learn more about them, as well as settle old scores.

Tonight, Paercebal is seen as a kind of Anarch Investigator, investigating Anarch destruction in the Camarilla's lands. And while the Anarchs do not always appreciate his pacifism, his talents for investigations led to discoveries of truths the Camarilla would have liked to keep hidden..

Notes: Paercebal have a great sword he calls Akhmaat (Akh: To be enlightened to, to be useful to. Maat: Justice, Truth, Balance) whose edge is so acute it would put shame to a Kuei Jin katana maker. The weapon appears to be of some kind of stainless steel, the blade reflecting as well as an actual mirror. Egyptian Hieroglyphs are carved in the metal, and the blade gives to its bearer the following powers (As long as it is held):

• Damage: Strength+5, Conceal: N, Minimum Strength:4

  Automatic Presence ** Effect (4 Dices, non-Cumulative)

  Automatic Celerity * Effect (Cumulative with other Celerity Effects)

  Aggravated Damage (By the blade)

  Thaumaturgic Countermagic ***** Effect (Willpower 10, see the Guide to the Camarilla)

Note that these powers (but the Aggravated Damage, which are automatic) can't be activated by someone who doesn't follow the Path of Chivalry, or equivalent (Exceptions can be made for high-score Paths persons with a strong code of chivalry-like ethics -- Like the Merit: Code of Honor -- if it seem appropriate to the Storyteller).

Paercebal have been targeted by both the Assamite and the Sabbat, but somehow he was never caught.

He is, also, bodyguard of House Shaea of the Order of Hermes, and protect its members from harm from any source.

Actual Aim: To help Meryt-Neith. To protect House Shaea of the Order of Hermes.

Rumours:

       Paercebal is a Diabolist hiding his nature and actions under a cavalier-like attitude (False).
       Paercebal has a magical great sword (True) who could well be the famed Excalibur (False): He is the Percival of Arthurian Legends (False).
       Paercebal is working for a secret conclave of Anarch Elders to promote a great revolution when Gehena arrives (False).
       (Post 1997) Paercebal was seen near the scene crime of the Nosferatu Justicar Petrodon (False).

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Credit to the Author: https://augias.org/pbn/paerceba.htm