D'Arielle Cotentin
D'Arielle Cotentin, Duke of Kent, Guardian of the Gate
Ventrue Elder of London, embraced during the 12th century, CE.
D'Arielle was among the first generation of Norman nobles born in Britain. Blessed with a strong lineage and powerful family ties, as well as a better-than-average native wit, Young Lord Cotentin quickly rose to succeed his father as lord of Kent (from the Norman French "Cant," meaning "Gate") and head a block of nobles that favored limited integration with the native Anglo-Saxons. Following his embrace he ensured that Norman military forces did not adequately support members of the Triumvirate as they campaigned against Saxon rebels supported by Mithras's forces. Though he was successful, servants of the Triumvirate discovered his duplicity and attacked his castle. D'Arielle spent the next century in torpor, his body lost beneath a forgotten fortification.
When he awoke a century later, d'Arielle found Mithras's political machine fully operational under the leadership of Seneschal Roger de Camden. Though he could never understand why his sire would elevate an outsider not even of his own clan, much less of his own blood, to his own right hand, d'Arielle was forced to accept the inevitable. Nor were his contributions overlooked: D'Arielle was honored and given as much training and responsibility one so inexperienced could handle. For centuries, d'Arielle rose through the ranks of the structure that governed nocturnal London, but grew inexorably bored with the whole thing. He amused himself by promoting Mithran Ventrue at the expense of outsiders and playing the standard Elysium games, but could truly find little that could hold his interest. When Lord Camden was assassinated and Duke Amber was chosen to take his place, d'Arielle realized that there was nothing left in this London for him. He sealed himself away to pass the centuries in peace.
And so it remained until Mithras again had need of d'Arielle Cotentin. His sire sought out his resting place and awoke his sleeping childe to take his place as one of Mithras's honor guards against a mighty foe. Now awake in an incomprehensible world, with Mithras finally gone, d'Arielle finds that this new world intrigues him. He honors his missing sire more than do any others, certain that Mithras the Sun God will return from exile and reward those who have remained true to his word and his vision of a pure, united Mithran Britania.
To that end, d'Arielle Cotentin feels he must rule London and steer the ship that is Avalon. James Mannerly is a competent pretender from a fallen bloodline. Rhodry ap Geraint is further removed from Mithras than he. Only Marcus Verus holds his true respect, but if the elder does not want to rule Avalon, a man with more vision and energy must take the throne. He was known as "Guardian of the Gate." It is apparent that in his absence, Avalon's enemies have thrown that gate open wide. They must be purged, and the Gate locked anew. Finally, d'Arielle has a purpose in his undead existence.
D'Arielle courts Mithran Ventrue of Ancillia age, assuming that their childer will fall in line once they do. His greatest difficulty comes not from the vast changes in technology, but in the communication gap. As a temporary bandaid, he has co-opted several professors of linguistics who now follow him around, translating and explaining modern events to him.
Appearance: D'Arielle is an elegantly built medieval nobleman , with elaborate curls and waxed mustache. Still, he is lithe and powerfully built by modern standards, if somewhat shorter than average. When he can, he wears the purple robes of medieval royalty, though he allows his retainers to dress him in modern fashions, often with a deep purple hue rather than true black.
