Cameron Alexander Moran

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Template:PCSummary Requiem


Sire: Cameron believed it to be, (TBA), however events of the last decade have lead him to believe it is actually Maester Jacobson

Bloodline: Malkovian (VTR0609002)

Notable Traits: Directed, Dignified, Unflappable, Combative

Titles: Prince; Third Duke of Melbourne; Archon; Priscus of the Clan of Kings

Coteries/Societies: A Sworn Sword of the Most Honourable Order of the Thorned Wreath; Scion of House Coriolanus;

Also Known As: The Dustman; عامل نظافة; L'Eboueur; Basurero; Reinigungspersonal; Spazzino (all of these are 'masked' identities - i.e. not normally identifiable as Cameron)


Contents

Central Concepts

At the core of the character of Cameron is his belief that he serves the greater good of the Covenant. He does this not blindly but with insight. Simply because he has made his Oaths as a member of the Thorned Wreath to serve with dignity, respect & loyalty doesn't mean he will throw away his life; to him if he dies it needs to have meaning, not simply for himself, but for the Greater Good of the Covenant.


History

OOC Timeline for link purposes (drop me an email if you want to fit in)

  • 1920 - Born in Hammersmith, London, England
  • 1939 - Joined British Army
  • 1940 - 1st meets Major Windsor Hargreaves whilst both still mortal (Dunkirk); transferred to North African, survived the Siege of Tobruk - one of the famous 'Rats'
  • 1942 - Transferred to SIS (MI-6)
  • 1945 - War ends, leaves SIS. Creates alter-ego 'The Dustman' in an attempt to dissuade exploitative criminals.
  • 1947 - Meets (TBA) and is introduced to Maester Jacobson; Unknowingly ghouled to (TBA) at this time
  • 1948 - Meets Major Windsor Hargreaves again.
  • 1952 - Discovers true nature of Maester Jacobson and, by implication, the nature of (TBA) and own nature as a Ghoule. Cameron is then educated in the ways of the Kindred by Maester Jacobson
  • 1954 - Embraced by Maester Jacobson & Avused by (TBA); joins the Invictus; Maester Jacobson continues Cameron's education, specifically in the ways of the Invictus.
  • 1956 - Formally released into Kindred Society as a fully fledged member of the Invictus.
  • 1961 - Inducted into The Most Honourable Order of the Thorned Wreath (MHOotTW) as a Knight-Initiate by Sir Roland Fitzroy who then tutors & evaluates Cameron over the next 7 years. This saw both of them operate to protect Invictus interests in the Congo.
  • 1968 - Recognised within the MHOotTW as a Sworn Knight.
  • 1975 to 2005 - Serves as a Knight-Errant of the Order throughout the Mediterranean basin, focused on North Africa & the Middle East; constantly utilises 'Dustman' persona when needed.
  • 1982 - Returns to London briefly to induct Phillip Smythe V into the Invictus, at the behest of his aunt, Rei Haruko
  • 1984 - 1st came to the attention of (TAIFA X) and House Altair
  • 1990 - Confirmed as an Archon of the Invictus; takes Phillip Smythe V as a Knight Initiate of the Most Honourable Order of the Thorned Wreath.
  • 1992 - Attended celebration of Major Hargreaves transition from Neonate to Ancillae.
  • 1997 - Releases Phillip Smythe V as a Knight-Initiate. Phillip Smythe V then swears Vassalage to Cameron, although the requirements of the Order do not see them serve directly together again until they are assigned to
  • 2000 - Attends the House Reunion in Rome; witnesses "the Argument", steps into remind both Alder Coriolanus & Maester Jacobson of their respective value to the House.
  • 2006 - Celebrated 50 years as a fully acknowledged member of Kindred Society
  • 2009 - Asked by (Taifa X), as member of MHOotTW, to escort Lady Ivy Darling to Melbourne. In addition he has been asked to investigate & assess what has happened in Melbourne & to assist the arriving Invictus in securing the city for the Covenant
  • 2010 - In the chaos surrounding the death of Alder Prince Stanthorpe, he unites the Court of Melbourne and claims Praxis of the City.
Archon Moran with his young charge, Lady Advocate Ivy Darling.

Background

Born 5th of August 1920 (known to some as 'The Day of Resolute Composure), just after The Great War. Cameron was raised by an abusive father who survived the war but couldn't deal with what he saw (his father fought at the Battle of the Somme) and a laudanum addict for a mother, her way of dealing with how the Great War had changed her husband.

Cameron's way of dealing with this was to retreat into the comic serials of the time (e.g. Buck Rogers, Superman, G-Men) as a way of escaping things at home, dreaming of what it would be like to be able to make that kind of difference. This would at times infuriate his father, who could not find regular work due to his volatile temper and could not see the use in such escapism.

As a result, Cameron was a difficult child during his teens, made worse by his continuing disassociation from the world, full of daily beatings from his father, into his idealistic world of heroes fighting the good fight for the right cause. He would oft disappear for a few days at a time, more often than not being brought home by a Police Officer after getting involved in fights with other teens - admirably, the officers would say, on the side of the poor lad being beaten. However, to his father this was just another indication of Cameron's reckless & juvenile behaviour that needed nothing more than another session with the belt to be worked out of him.

Cameron saw his opportunity to escape his father the moment Nevile Chamberlain declared war - he enlisted in the Army. Although he was somewhat disappointed at the slow start to the war, with his unit not being deployed until after the retreat from Dunkirk (which is where he first met, and served under, Major Hargraves), he found the sense of camaraderie inspiring - even the discipline & the harshness of the training was a relief from the undefined beatings from his father; at least here he knew what he was being punished for if he did something wrong.

In November 1940 he was assigned to the 3rd Armoured Brigade and shipped out to North Africa, where he became one of the one of the 'Rats of Tobruk'. During his time in Northern Africa he made a point to learn the language of the locals (a dialect of Arabic). In 1942, rather than continuing to serve in Operation Crusader, he was transferred from regular service to work for the Secret Intelligence Service, better known as MI-6; operating as a covert agent through France, Germany, Italy, Africa & the Middle East. It was not something that sat well with his intrinsic 'do-good', escapist nature - he wanted to be a hero, not a villain; however he did his duty by King & Country, and did it well - he was awarded an MC for his part in providing intelligence that led to the breaking of the Enigmas cipher.

Upon discharge from the Service at the end of the war, Cameron found that there was a need for someone of his interpersonal skills in assisting with the re-building of both London & England's industrial areas. He helped a number of local & small businesses obtain Government re-construction contracts, which saw him to him it was an act of contrition for what he had been forced to do during his time in Military Intelligence. It was also during this time that he came into contact with the character of Batman & it's, for the time, unique perspective on fighting crime & doing the 'right thing'. Cameron found great solace in the concept of the hero being able to make 'questionable' choices, so long as their actions are being taken for the greater good and when other avenues have failed.

Cameron began to 'moonlight' as a vigilante when he realised spivs (conmen) & other, as he put it, 'low-lifes' started to prey upon those hit worst by the war. He reveled in it; this is how & where he could make a difference - he became known locally as 'The Dustman'(due to his penchant for wearing overalls, a workman's mask & putting the more intractable villains into said dustbins & leaving them next to Police Boxes or Stations). All done behind the anonymity of a mask, or so Cameron thought.

Unbeknown to him, his antics as a 'masked crusader' had become a fascination of two Kindred; the first a Malkovian by the name of (TBA). The second being Major Hargreaves, who had been embraced during the Fall of Singapore. Both were members of the Ordo Dracul. (TBA) was interested in Cameron due to their obsessed with how humans dealt with the dichotomy of good & evil, looking primarily at personal moral codes & the constructs people make to justify their actions and to seek meaning in the things that they do. This was with an eye to understanding how this undergoes the metamorphosis from human to Kindred and its impact on the Kindred Condition. What (TBA) was especially interested in were moralistic dichotomies - such as the differences in behaviour Cameron was displaying between his role in the construction industry & his role as 'The Dustman'. 'The Dustman' however was why the Major was interested, though more through a curiosity about why the mask was worn.

Both followed Cameron for a few months, learning more & more about how Cameron operated - specifically Cameron's inspiration for the mask for his unauthorised crime-fighting. This is where (TBA) was able to contact Cameron & introduce himself as a member of a secret MI-6 research team. (TBA) explained that they were looking for steadfast, former military patriots who wanted to do more to bring the light of reason & western civilisation to the world. Cameron lapped it up like a hungry puppy. (TBA) introduced Cameron to Maester Jacobson, who (TBA) said would be his 'handler' from this point on. Maester Jacobson started to feed Cameron a 'super-soldier' serum, which contained (TBA)'s blood, ghouling Cameron late in 1947. Maester Jacobson showed Cameron how to use his new found gifts for the betterment of his peers, which Cameron took in wholeheartedly. It wasn't until late 1952 that Cameron realised the true nature of the gift he had been given after he came across Maester Jacobson feeding. It was at this point that Maester Jacobson sat Cameron down & explained everything about what was going on, including the blood-doping of the serum, the nature of both himself & (TBA) as Kindred & of the basics of the larger, supernatural world. Cameron was remarkably calm about everything, much to Maester Jacobsons surprise & pleasure, though has Cameron remarked, had the focus not been on Cameron using his talents for the greater good for the last 5 years then the matter could have gone in a very different direction.

Over the next two years, Maester Jacobson taught Cameron more about the workings of Kindred society including the various political divisions within the community, from the Invictus through to the, relatively, new Carthian Movement as well as the mystical Covenants. In 1954, after 7 years service, (TBA) organised, with the blessing of the local Prince & Primus, for Cameron to be embraced by Maester Jacobson & then avused by (TBA). Cameron's awareness of this is limited due to a faux 'ritual' in which his head was covered during his embrace. He initially believed that (TBA) was his Sire, and that Maester Jacobson may be his GrandSire, though in much more recent nights he has come to suspect otherwise.

It was at this point that (TBA) released Cameron to make his own choices, half expecting someone with his sense of idealism to join the Carthians. Both (TBA) and Maester Jacobson was, again, pleasantly surprised when Cameron asked to be inducted into the ranks of the Invictus. When asked why, Cameron simply said that he saw the potential for the greatest good to be served by the Invictus. Cameron believed that the Carthians were too self-focused for their doctrines, though noble & desirable, to bear fruit and that they would cause much more pain to both Kindred & Kine communities than the good they aimed to create. It was decided that Cameron would join the Invictus under the auspice of (TBA's) sire, Caius Metullus Coriolanus with continued education upon the ways of the Invictus from Maester Jacobson.

Cameron has served the Invictus loyally over the next 50 years; moving from place to place, lord to lord, traded, gifted etc... as needed by the Covenant. He was approached by Sir Roland Fitzroy in 1961 to join the Most Honourable Order of the Thorned Wreath. He traveled with Sir Fitzroy over the next 7 years, being especially active in the Congo, learning the Code of the Order and being taught the finer points of Chivalry & Etiquette, finally being released as a fully Sworn Knight in 1968.

He spent the next 5 years traveling around Europe, familiarising himself with some of the idiosyncrasies of differing courts until in 1975 he was assigned to the Middle East to assist a Chapter House in Jerusalem in supporting Invictus interests in the strife torn area. Over the next 20 years he found himself moving all through the Middle-East & the Mediterranean basin on matters of the Invictus. It was during this time that he came to the attention of a line of the Taifa known as House Altair, who took an interest in this well-mannered, effective young kindred. This was due to Cameron's work alongside a fellow Knight of the Thorned Wreath, (TAIFA X) in 1984 whilst protecting Invictus assets in Lebanon, Iraq and Iran. In 1990, as recognition of his efforts within the Mediterranean and the Middle-East, Cameron was endowed with the title of Archon; at the request of House Altair.

Because of this, and Cameron's care(?) for Arabic culture, (TAIFA X), saw potential in Cameron to be more than a simple Knight-Errant. It is (TAIFA X) who began the task of training him to become a Notary. In addition, it is at (TAIFA X)'s request that Cameron has come to Melbourne to establish what has happened to the vampiric community & to assist those Invictus whom are choosing to settle within Melbourne in doing so. As part of this he is looking at establishing a Chapter House of the Order in Melbourne. Cameron's cause here was helped by his connection to El Familia de la Lanza through Sir Roland Fitzroy.

One item of note is the gathering of House Coriolanus in Rome in 2000; ostensibly to honour the passing of Alder Coriolanus' Requiem into it's 4th Millennium. However, the event was noteworthy for other reasons. Everyone in the line was there, so they all witnessed Coriolanus' falling-out with his former favored child, Maester Jacobson. No-one’s sure exactly what happened, but suddenly Maester Jacobson was on his feet calling Coriolanus a relic and the biggest burden the House had ever faced, and Coriolanus was threatening to take back his blood. Only Cameron's intervention, both physical, and as a mediator, kept the two men from coming to blows. To Cameron, this is one of the pivotal moments that affirmed his suspicions of whom his true sire was; the sheer urgency, passion, anger and fear he felt when he stepped into protect Maester Jacobson is something he'd never felt before, in all the time he had spent around (TBA).

Through out his time as a Kindred he has also maintained a 'cover' as a freelance construction consultant, with a small specialised staff, focused on in sanitation infrastructure (waste & water) & post-conflict re-building. This provided some small measure of protection & mortal validity whilst traveling through the Middle East. It is this element that is providing him some mortal cover whilst in Melbourne; being brought in to assist in the Victorian Bushfire Commission's operations.

Connections

Lineage

  • Grand Sire
    • Caius Metullus Coriolanus, portrayed by Joe McNamara
  • Sire
    • Maester Jacobson, portrayed by Luke Markham; this has only recently been confirmed in Cameron's eyes as a result of the recent gather in Canberra.
  • Aunts & Uncles
  • Brood Mates

Could be a few, however would need to be very 'special' in their 'derangements'.

  • Cousins
    • Xija Coriolanus, portrayed by Tim Smith, Cameron's instructor in matters of Notary.
  • Known Childer

Probably unlikely, but willing to discuss it - would need to be what Cameron viewed as 'kindred souls'.

Allies

As a well traveled Archon, Cameron has made a number of acquaintances during his travels

Enemies

The problem with being an Archon of the Invictus is that sometimes you uncover things that people would rather have forgotten

Links Available

  • Linage/Bloodline
    • Brood mates
    • Other Ventrue 'experimented' on by his sire (i.e. other Malkovians or potential Malkovians)
    • Possibility of Childer, but remote.
  • Covenant
    • Taifa Notary as a Mentor
    • Those who have served under or with Cameron
    • Those he has served under
  • Kindred Society
    • Honourable Kindred across the world
    • Former Soldiers
    • Allies
    • Enemies


Scuttlebutt

Quotes

"As my swords-master at the Academy in Brighton once said, 'There is no substitute for bad manners, save fast reflexes'. So far I've had the pleasure of never being accused of displaying bad manners." - Archon Moran

"At the heart of all things it comes down to why you do what you do. If your motives are impure, then no matter what you do, you will fail. If your motives are clear, then you become capable of doing anything from the mundane to the impossible in order to achieve them". - Archon Moran

"One of the Lancae once asked me if I believed in God or Longinus. It took me a while to think about how to respond. When I did I told him that his question felt like he was asking if I believed the Devil existed; in order for the Devil to exist, so must God. Therefore it should also be with Longinus. In all seriousness, I felt thankful that I was speaking to a former Jesuit who then quizzed me further. I told him that I believed that we were all a part of God's plan, part of the struggle to make the choice between good & evil. If I exist, then why is it not as an instrument of God's will? The Lancae devote their existence to exploring the mysteries of His Plan and are in a better position to determine Longinus' suitability as a Prophet. Unless I am, to my satisfaction, proven otherwise, I will accept what they believe, for in the end it is all a part of Gods plan." - Archon Moran

"You wish my perspective upon the Order of the Burning Wreath? Well, in all fairness to our Junior Order, they are prepared to take on the jobs that others would shy from, and they do them well. And that, good sir, is why I have concerns about them. Within the Most Honourable Order of the Thorned Wreath we take a pledge to render our aid unto any & all of our Covenant-mates when asked; in the old parlance, 'Noble service, cheerfully rendered'. We do this in order to strengthen the Covenant, to remind all that irrespective of lineage, house or breeding, we are all Invictus. When a Knightly Order decides to accept some petitions & deny others, they loose their ability to be neutral; to be trusted in their impartiality. In doing this, they declare they have an agenda other than pure service to the Covenant; that they believe, as an Order, they know what is important to the Covenant. This is not something for a Knightly Order to decide, but for the Inner Council. This I cannot agree with and why I am, most undoubtedly, a Sworn Knight of Most Honourable Order the Thorned Wreath." - Archon Moran

"He's a complex man - so much hidden pathos. A little difficult to crack open, initially, but fascinating once you do. I trust Cameron with my life. My life. Frequently, in fact." - Lady Ivy Darling

"Mister Moran? Splendid chap, and his cookies are delicious. Buy a box won't you? They're raising money for the annual jamboree." - Anson Krieg, whilst picking at a maggot crawling beneath his bandages.

"I like him. He's dedicated and fierce, all that an Invictus knight should be... and he has an excellent sense of humour. A very likeable chap. He also knew my old C.O, and spoke well of him." - Regimental Colour Sergeant Simon "DoW" Fyrsmythe, on one of his travelling companions on the voyage.

"Hmph. Hehehehehe..." - der Gewalt, beneath his breath, after observation aboard the voyage.

"What a gentleman! It was an absolute pleasure to meet Archon Moran in Sydney- he reminds me that my covenant is not all dour faces and serious business. I look forward to seeing him again." - Lady Alexandra Hamersley, after the initial gathering of the 'court of Sydney'.

"If the Carthians were half as capable as Archon Moran, the Kindred would be ruled by them instead of the Invictus. It was an honor to partake in this individual's education" - Walter Zachariah Jacobson

"The Dude's got a sense of humour, I mean when do Invictus ever go round saying they have a stick up their own ass, its just classic" - Trafalgar

"A Thorned Wreath man. It sums him up nicely I think" - Lillian Slaughter reminiscing on the voyage

Rumors

  • Archon Moran must have iron self-control to chaperone Lady Darling, or else he's a wee bit lavender. Otherwise, he'd have to have been dipping his pen in the company ink...
  • Nah, he's just got that whole Thorned Wreath "not you-know-what-ing where you eat" policy.
  • Actually, look at his ties to El Familia de la Lanza. Trained by one, guarding another...nothing good can come of a Ventrue associating so closely with dirty Daeva!
  • Actually, look at his ties to House Altair. Mentored by one, guarding the prized asset of another... nothing good can come of a Ventrue associating so closely with those feral Gangrel, no matter how much of a civilised veneer they coat themselves with!
  • He's far too trusting

Inspirations

Some of these are things that help define him, some simply things that he would enjoy or appreciate...

Aural

20's

30's

40's

  • Rhapsody in Blue, George Gershwin, from the album Rhapsody in Blue

50's

  • Take Five, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, from the album Time Out

60's

  • The Partisan, Leonard Cohen, from the album Songs from a Room
  • All Along the Watchtower, Bob Dylan, from the album John Wesley Harding

70's

  • La Grange, ZZ Top, from the album Tres Hombres

80's

  • The Dogs of War [Live], Pink Floyd, from the album Delicate Sound of Thunder
  • Games without Frontiers, Peter Gabriel, from the album Peter Gabriel

90's

  • Vow, Garbage, from the album Garbage
  • All Apologies, Nirvana, from the album Incesticide
  • One Time Too Many, P J Harvey, from the album Six Feet Under
  • Their Law, The Prodigy, from the album Music for the Jilted Generation

00's

  • The Doberman, Kasabian, from the album Empire
  • The Blood is Love, Queens of the Stone Age, from the album Lullabies to Paralyse
  • Believe, John Butler Trio, from the Album Three

Without Age

  • Agnus Dei, Samuel Barber
  • Zorba the Greek, Trad.

Literary

  • Hornblower; the books by C.S.Forester
  • Sharpe; the books by Bernard Cromwell
  • The Rejection and the Meaning of the World by Max Weber

Visual

  • Hornblower, as portrayed by Ioan Griffud
    • The Even Chance; The Examination for Lieutenant; The Duchess & the Devil; The Frogs & The Lobsters; Mutiny; Retribution; Loyalty; Duty
  • Sharpe, based upon the books by Bernard Cromwell (as portrayed by Sean Bean)
    • Sharpe's Rifles; Sharpe's Eagles; Sharpe's Company; Sharpe's Enemy; Sharpe's Honour; Sharpe's Gold; Sharpe's Battle; Sharpe's Sword; Sharpe's Regiment; Sharpe's Siege; Sharpe's Mission; Sharpe's Revenge; Sharpe's Justice; Sharpe's Waterloo; Sharpe's Challenge; Sharpe's Peril
  • Watchmen, both the Graphic Novel by Alan Moore & the movie adaptation by Zach Snyder for very different reasons
  • V for Vendetta, again, both the Graphic Novel by Alan Moore & the movie adaptation by the Wachowski brothers.
  • League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, this time just the Graphic Novel by Alan Moore


OOC Information

Player: Andrew Stewart AU1997100191

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Retrieved from "http://www.camarilla.org.au/wiki/index.php/Cameron_Alexander_Moran"
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