Natalka Crass
Natalka Crass is a Ventrue in the Anarch Movement. She holds herself high, while still allowing herself to be free-spirited and under little command of others who seem superior to her. Due to her late Sire, who met final death right before she left for Caliburn, she has always had a distaste for the Camarilla, but will not treat any of its members directly with disrespect due to this fact. On May 25th, 2053, she became the "Negotiator" of Brighton Beach, which is equivalent to an Ambassador in Anarch leadership.
History[edit | edit source]
Natalka Crass, a swordswoman from Cambridge, England, studied at the University of Cambridge for many years after she was offered a full-ride scholarship to attend the school due to her innate fencing ability. She was immediately accepted onto the highest fencing team in the school, which allowed her to easily and quickly improve her skills to the utmost extent. In very short time, she became the best combatant in the school, only second to her instructor, Dr. Matthew J.L. La'More, who was also, conveniently, the Midnight Battle Tactics professor under the military school in the university, a class that was only offered after sundown in order to better understand the meaning and influence of the nature of the night, according to him.
When she grauated from the University of Cambridge, she was invited back to the Fencing team as a Master student. Her dedication to the craft was unwavering, her blade strong, her skill unmatched. Her only goal from then on was to best Dr. La'More in one-on-one combat. As such, she started asking him to stay late during practices, opting to refine her skills over her health and sleeping habits. Unfortunately, every single attempt that Natalka made against Dr. La'More was futile, as he was considerably much more powerful, nimble, and reactant than she was.
After endless losses to her superior, Natalka started to study once again. Since her schooling was still payed for by the University, she decided to study Anatomy, in order to understand the possibilities and potential improvements she can make to her technique and push her body to the absolute limit. But, with every page she read, she became more and more confused. She realized that her coach was something beyond what any normal human was capable of achieving. When she questioned him the next night of practice, Dr. La'More became very concerned, and in a panic, called off the practice and wasn't seen again that night.
The next time that Natalka would see her coach would be after the Grand Fencing World Competition, October 8th, 2023, held in Pisa, Italy. After her victory, Dr. La'More celebrated with her, and brought her to an expensive nightclub in Pisa. After she had a few drinks, Dr. La'More brought her to his car and drove them both back to their hotel.
Early Life[edit | edit source]
Natalka lived a relatively lavish life. Her parents were rich, her grandparents were richer, and she was simply the offspring of inheritance. Unfortunately, her parents wished that she become a doctor while she wished to be a professional fencer. When she pursued this goal, her parents reluctantly agreeing, they were soon surprised by her performance in the martial art. They sent her to the best private teachers they could find, multiple times a week. She soon, in about three years, mastered every modern technique that could be taught to her, and bested every single one of her mentors.
From this, she was offered an invitation to the University of Cambridge's Fencing Team, which, at the time, was known as one of the best teams in the world, coached by one of the best fencers in the world. At first, she was hesitant, but since it was conveniently where she lived, she accepted.
After making her way to the top, she hit the ceiling, known as Dr. Matthew J.L. La'More. He was unexplainably better than her in every way. It was only after some careful research and observation during Natalka's private lessons that she realized that something was off about him. Supernatural, even.
After Natalka's victory in Pisa, La'More embraced her, seeing her potential as a Kindred as well as his own fear of breaching the Masquerade if he tried to resist being defeated any more.
Early Unlife[edit | edit source]
When Natalka was embraced, she immediately felt a rush similar to adrenaline she had never felt before. She felt stronger, faster, smarter, and more in-tune with her body than ever before. La'More would continue to train her privately, this time with considerably more vigor and intention, breaching the limits of mortal beings. Night after night, she would learn something new about herself. How to better act on certain attacks, how to better dodge certain oncoming projectiles, the like. She was improving faster than she once did as a child.
To her distaste, she had to attend regular Camarilla meetings, as La'More was a respected elder of the Tower in England, especially amongst the Ventrue Imperial. Something was strange, though. Nearly every other Ventrue she met in her time as La'More's shadow was considerably more diplomatic and political than she or her sire was. Because of this, she was teased and berated, led through the unfortunate words of those around her. She hated it. She despised it. So, she planned an escape, of some sort.
One night, on May 2nd of 2025, after a private lesson with her sire, she challenged him to a duel. Real rapiers, real consequences. La'More was hesitant of this notion, but accepted on the terms of "show mercy when mercy is called." As such, they dueled, conventionally, on a fencing line, except they didn't stop between "points." Continuous bloodshed between the both of them until, in a feat of endurance, Natalka was able to best Dr. Matthew J.L. La'More. For this victory, she was named the "Piercer of Casmbridge."
Unfortunately, after that night, La'More was never seen again. It was theorized by local Kindred that he committed something similar to Seppuku, a japanese ritual suicide. His sacred blade and a pile of ash was alledgedly found in front of the dojo. Unfortunately, this is only by hearsay, as the ashes were supposedly whisked away from the wind, leaving only a misplaced rapier on the ground before the main entrance. It was soon put back in it's sheath over what once was La'More's office.
After that night, Natalka was also never seen again on campus of the University of Cambridge. She left a note for the team, that read: "I have left. Good luck. May thy blade hold steady and thy heart stay true to the way of a swords-master."
Between the night of the 2nd and the time she arrived in Caliburn, there are no records of her presence, as they have either been destroyed, confiscated, or otherwise forgotten.
Recent Unlife[edit | edit source]
When Natalka first arrived on Caliburn Island on March 22nd, 2053, she was met with curious and suspicious eyes. Over time, she introduced herself to nearly everyone on the island in a very efficient and uptight manner.
Two particular connections that she came across was with the Camarilla members D and Emma Montes. D found a considerable allyship with Natalka, especially due to their common creed of the blade and the honor it holds. But, between Natalka and Emma, it seems to be some sort of toxic rivalry, where they would badmouth each other until one of them breaks and gets violent.
In one instance, Natalka and Emma battled due to these quarrels, and Emma nearly escaped before Natalka was able to bring her to final death. In this battle, Emma broke Natalka's sacred rapier, which sent her into a fugue of anger. D, thankfully, was able to fabricate it and give her a new, improved rapier for Natalka to use. Since then, she has improved upon it, changing traits that it did not once have.
On May 25th, 2053, she became the "Negotiator" of Brighton Beach, which is equivalent to an Ambassador in Anarch leadership.
