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Title: Joshua Dermin
Description: Vampire


Wings of Darkness - July 5, 2007 06:50 AM (GMT)
Name: Joshua David Dermin

Gender: Male

Age: 26

Apparent Age: 26

Place of Birth: Demaitre

Species: Vampire

Coven: Enashe

Appearance: Joshua has short, wavy brown hair and deep blue eyes that often attract the attention of more than a few girls. His long, skinny nose, squarish jaw, and high cheekbones only add to his very handsome features. He generally dresses in stylish clothing - such as untucked dress shirts, slacks, and dress shoes - with a dark look to them. He's the 'cool' guy that every guy is jealous of because every girl wants him. He's got two silver rings - one a class ring from his senior year, and the other in the shape of a Dragon biting its tail (complete with the shapes of arms, legs, and wings). The former is on the forefinger of his right hand, while the latter is on the middle finger of his right hand. The gold ring on the middle finger of his left hand is a stylish one with a faceted ruby in it and an ornate design incorporating several different large cats - tigers, panthers, lions, etc. - on the band itself. A silver chain hangs around his neck, but is only visible through his open collar.

History: Josh was born to a couple of ass holes. His mother was a workaholic lawyer who didn't give a shit about her family as long as she got the biggest paycheck, and his father was a drunk with anger control issues. He spent as much time away from home as he could when he was a kid. When he was twelve, he got in with a 'cool crowd' that was pushing drugs. He became one of the sellers, and he started making a lot of money. His father was always too drunk and his mother was always working too much to notice, so he got along just fine. By the time he was fifteen, he'd become so good at it that he ended up taking over the small business that his former 'employer' had been running. He even managed to stay alive long enough to eliminate the competition.

When he was sixteen, he was turned by a man called Asa Jackson, who showed him the ropes of being a vamp - and a pretty cool one, at that. Asa was supposedly over fifteen hundred years old and had only taken Asa as a more modern name. He said that Russia had made him a hard man, and Josh believed it; he was a harsh vampire. But he was compassionate, too. It was a sort of ‘tough love’ combination that was cliché, but it made for an interesting personality – especially considering the man’s love for art, poetry, and classic Russian literature.

Since his turning, Josh has made his fortune at the Ace High Casino and has lived the night life - parties, girls, and the like. He still runs drugs, but now only sells to vampires. Vampires, after all, aren't going to OD and die on the 100% pure cocaine and heroin that he's selling. They'll just have one hell of a good time – which, of course, means Josh has a constant supply of regulars that pay through the ass to get his shit. During his first few months as a vampire, though, Josh learned quickly that he had his Sire’s talent for blending into the shadows and his Sire’s telekinesis, though the latter isn’t quite as powerful as his Sire’s ability. He also discovered, however, that he had an ability his Sire didn’t: he could fly. He only uses it for short jaunts on occasion, but the more he flies, the better he seems to get at it. His connection with dogs developed instantly, and he noticed it particularly with his next-door-neighbor’s dog. That damned poodle just hated him, and now it practically turns his master’s porch yellow every time Josh shows up in his own yard.

When he was twenty-one, he met the then-sixteen-year-old Jennifer Brandy Holstone. They became quick friends - mainly because they both liked to party. Also, though, Josh liked her and Brandy was taken in by his charm and wit. They have been friends with benefits ever since. They get together a few times a week to - erm - 'compare notes' on a physical level, if you get my meaning.

Sire: Asa Jackson (See History)

Powers: Physically faster and stronger than any mortal, Josh's senses and healing abilities are also far superior. He can blend into the shadows very well indeed, he has the ability to fly for a short time (though he's getting to the point where he can fly for longer and longer durations), and he is a very powerful telekinetic. This last is perhaps his most dangerous ability, and one he uses quite often - though only when he knows mortals aren't looking, of course. It does tend to cause problems when he gets irritated or angry, or when he's otherwise excited (such as during sex, or when he's particularly thrilled by something). He seems to have a very strong connection with canines in that they tend to absolutely love him and follow his commands instantly. He's been told by his sire, Asa, that this is a form of animal empathy that forms a sort of bond with dogs, wolves, and the like.

Limits & Weaknesses: Diffuse sunlight doesn't bother Josh one bit, nor does fire. Garlic doesn't affect him, but silver, crucifixes, and holy water burn him very badly. A stake through the heart will kill him eventually, but it's more likely just to completely paralyze him for a couple hours. After that, the likelihood of death increases dramatically. Josh can go for up to six or seven days without feeding, though he often feets twice a week. After the sixth or seventh day without feeding, though, he becomes very weak and begins to desperately need blood; after about ten days, he goes into shock and dies. He can drink dead blood, though it has no appeal for him.

TOPICS
1. Dream the Twisted Slumber [Vamps Only]
- Location: Urban Demaitre (The 4th Anniversary Masquerade)
- RPers: Multiple

Istar Indora - July 10, 2007 08:29 PM (GMT)
A bit more detail in the history please.

And about his vampiric abilities, his seem a little mix matched. Like flight and telekinesis, shadow walking, all of those are from different covens. That's not saying that you can't have them, I’m just that it jumps around more than I like. Also the fact that Joshua has even been a vampire for a full year; well it makes the fact that he has these abilities and even knows how to use them a bit farfetched.

I have a character that has been a vampire the better part of fifty years, has had a sire to train him and he still has abilities that he’s really shaky on. What I’m trying to say is that he can’t be good at these skills yet. There has to be a learning curve, a place where he discovers them and starts to learn how to even began comprehending them.

Also I want to know where you’re going with the whole canine communication…will that lead to him controlling dogs or is it just some kind of animal telepathy or empathy?

Wings of Darkness - July 11, 2007 04:23 PM (GMT)
Sorry...I did him up kind of as a quickie, because I was using him as an NPC around Brandy and it didn't make sense for me to have done so more than once without having created a profile for him. I'll edit.

Okay...how's that?

Istar Indora - July 13, 2007 02:56 PM (GMT)
Alrighty, I can tell you what I've been told. I wasn't sure about your abilities, so I asked someone a lot more qualified. They're fine really, but here's the thing, in your history were going to have to ask you to expound a little bit more. And a lot more when it comes to Josh's sire Asa. I guess some good questions to ask would be:

What does Josh know about him?

How old is he?

Is he capable of all the things that Josh is? And if not, which of them did Josh actually get from him?


(I know this seems like a lot, especially given that you were already using the character as a NPC, but we just want to have everything understood about your character. So yeah.)

Wings of Darkness - July 13, 2007 09:13 PM (GMT)
Yeah, I gotcha. I'll see what I can do.

Okay, how does it look now?

Istar Indora - August 3, 2007 03:48 PM (GMT)
Well that's awesome actually, but I know I sound like a broken record with all of this, but can you still expand a bit more on the abilities. I talked to Marcus about this and well that was the thing it not about the abilities so much as it is explaining them; you know where they came from, why either Josh or his sire possess them.

It’s kind of like if I asked you what color your eyes were and you answered, then I asked why? See your answer might be, “Well my eyes are brown because my mom had brown eyes and everyone on her side of the family has mostly brown eyes.”

So it translates to: So Josh has animal empathy and he has flight. Why?

If this doesn’t make sense, tell me and I promise I’ll try to explain it better. It’s just a couple of little things.




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