Editing Pelops (section)

==<b>Actuality</b>==
In the Final Nights, Pelops lives in the domain of Florence, in the Tuscany region of Italy, which he had often visited before on his travels and where he took permanent residence in the late 1960s. He used his powers and the work of his retainers to create a new identity for himself, that of Erlik, a Malkavian elder from Eastern Europe of moderate age and generation, who is an accepted and eccentric but rather unambitious member of the Camarilla.

Officially he submits to the Prince of the city, the Toreador Alessandro de' Medici, and the Primogen of his clan, Camilla di Gheradini, in all things, when in actual fact the Primogen is his own, completely devoted grandchilde and the Prince, while otherwise free to act, is a mind-controlled puppet when it comes to Pelops' affairs.

Erlik is a regular visitor of Elysium and is well-known for freely conversing with all Kindred interested in a free and deep intellectual debate, regardless of status or affiliation. Although he appears as a friend/mentor of the young, he doesn't suffer fools gladly and is quick to humiliate someone who has offended him with his quick and acerbic wit. He is known as a stickler for the traditions and the finer points of Kindred etiquette. While he is seen as mostly harmless (if only compared to other elders who are quick to sacrifice neonates for their purposes), he has acquired a bit of a reputation as a corrupting influence on the domain's fledglings. He encourages personal growth and independent thinking while challenging the neonates' convictions and inhibitions. Not all are prepared to face the consequences of such a life but Erlik's hands are always curiously clean.

If there is one thing that Erlik will never accept it is harm done to any Malkavian. The clan will take care of its own and none other may touch one of its members. While he isn't particularly nice to his brethren (and they must live up to his standards or be judged accordingly), he will protect them from all outside intervention or avenge them if need be. He also has a rather tense relationship with clan Tremere, although he remains polite, if frosty and has never elaborated on the topic.

Once a year (during a time corresponding to the ancient Dionysia in the month of Poseidon, a fact which keen observers may notice) he hosts a salon in his lavish villa on the outskirts of town, which is different in theme and ambiance every year but always escalates to wild, transgressive abandon, a feast of the senses. These legendary parties draw Kindred from all over the world and it is a sign of great honor to be invited, but it is also rare that the guests leave with their humanity intact or their worldview unchallenged. Those who commit to the transformative experience will get invited again to next year's revels. 

The identity of Erlik is so well-entrenched that all Kindred, except Camilla, take it to be the real deal. Even those of his ghouls who are allowed to pierce the veil of the Masquerade only know about Erlik.

Among mortals, he appears as the little-known muse, intimate friend or lover of the world-famous but reclusive fashion mogul and patron of the arts Alexander Arcadian (one of his primary ghouls), whose business is based in Florence. Most humans who interact with him never see more than this facade and interact primarily with Arcadian.

Underneath these layers Pelops exists and slowly grows his cult. He only communicates with its members through Camilla, who acts as the official grandmaster. The deity of the cult only visits the devout in dreams or in visions, challenging them to improve themselves or giving them orders. When
the devout gather for sacrifice and service at the time of the Olympic games, Pelops appears shrouded in Obfuscate to accept the blood and prayer.