Victor Leonenko
Dark, Intense, Rabid, Devout, Ruthless
Victor Leonenko was an orphan born in the 17th Century in a monastery in Hungary. For all his young life he was devoted to Catholicism and fully intended to become a monk. He was a serious, devout young man and was well respected amongst the brothers for his faith and conservative views.
One aspect of the religion that fascinated him was the supernatural, the creatures of Hell that walk the Earth. Sensing this in the young man and keen for him to be as valuable to the Church as possible the Abbott sent him to the Vatican to study for the Order of St. Thesius, a group dedicated to fighting the aspects of the supernatural in the world. He left the Vatican aged 24 to go into the world and gather word on the whereabouts and activities of these creatures.
He became one of the Order’s foremost experts on vampires, tracking them across the world and informing the militant arm of the order as to their location. However the more of the Kindred Victor observed and interrogated the less convinced he was that vampires were of Hell. All indications pointed to them being creatures of God, albeit damned by God. Whilst creatures from Hell certainly existed, werewolves, spirits and demons amongst them Victor began to believe that vampires were not the main threat. He has in fact interrogated several Lancea Sanctum Kindred who firmly believed they were sent by God to be a scourge for the sins of mankind, something Victor could not disagree with.
In the early 18th Century Victor began to track his biggest target yet, Karel Reznik, the ex-Prince of Paris. For years he monitored the old Kindred’s ways and methods and came to admire him greatly. He saw that Kindred like Reznik kept the vampire population under control, allowing the two races to live co-operatively. He spoke on several occasions to the ex-Prince, never realising that Reznik knew who he was. Gradually the charisma of the man turned Victor to their cause. He became close to Reznik, who carefully selected what aspects of the Kindred world Victor would witness.
When Karel Reznik finally offered to Embrace Victor the hunter agreed, feeling that he would do more good by being able to keep the Kindred in check and punishing mankind for their sins. Shortly after this the two travelled to America in search of Karel’s Ordo Dracul mentor.
Victor did not subscribe to Reznik’s Ordo Dracul tendencies. Whilst he remained close to the elder the two frequently debated their opposing viewpoints until they reached a sort of tentative common ground. When Karel Reznik reached the position of Prince of New York Victor became his seneschal and closest advisor. Until this point Victor had been the Bishop in New York, leading the Lancea Sanctum in the city. At this point he passed the reigns over to David Caprese, believing he could not perform both functions.
Since then Karel and Victor have had a successful reign over New York. Though Victor’s principles and aims have become twisted over the centuries, as happens with the life of a Kindred, he still believes firmly in the Catholic dogma.
Victor Leonenko is an intense, unsettling man. He has dark piercing eyes and a heavy brow which, combined with his religious robes, give him a very intimidating air. Many fledglings have been reduced to a stammering wreck under his gaze and harsh words, he knows how to administer a dressing down. Outwardly he seems to be a controlled personality but in fact, beneath the surface, an almost out of control will battles. In private, and occasionally in public, Victor loses control of himself and can take things to excess, draining vessels dry and going into fanatical, rabid rages. Kindred with any experience of him warn others to tread very carefully around him and not to provoke his ire. He has a brilliant, scheming mind and is ruthless and efficient in his execution of his plans. He doesn’t share Reznik’s sense of patience and calm disposition and can become frustrated if he deems an action or plan to be taking too long.
