Marcus Bentham

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Everything on this page is considered OOC and is not for IC use.

Character Information
Clan: Mekhet ••
Covenant: Circle of the Crone ••
City: Adelaide, Australia ••
Player: IC: Marcus Bentham
Storyteller:
The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.
Such an innovator has as enemies all the people who were doing well under the old order, and only halfhearted defenders in those who hope to profit from the new. This halfheartedness derives partly from fear of opponents who have the law on their side, and partly from human skepticism, since men don't really believe in anything new till they have solid experience of it.
   — Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince (1513) (translated by Robert M. Adams, W.W. Norton & Co, 1992) p17.

Contents

Bentham

Nigella, Blue
Nigella aviensis
Rose, White
Rosa alba
http://cam-wiki.org/images/a/ab/Clan-mekhet.png Image:Circle_of_the_Crone.png
Full Name:Doctor Marcus Jeremy Bentham, Doctor of Juridical Science, [Hero of the Circle of the Crone, Trickster of the Circle of the Crone,]* Herald of Shadows, Master Weaponsmith, Scion of the Line of Tearlach, Childe of Tarlach Doherty, Grandchilde of Darwin Finch, Recognised by the Circle of the Crone, Recognised by Clan Mekhet, Acknowledged in the City of Adelaide.

* internal to Crone
Formal Name:Doctor Marcus Bentham
Personal Name:Bentham
Notable Traits:Bentham is a Mekhet of remarkable insight and intelligence, and steadfast composure. He tends to be blunt and direct, preferring to burrow to the heart of an issue quickly. His sense of humour reflects these traits. You won't like him when he's angry.
Titles/Offices:former Primogen of the Circle of the Crone in Adelaide

Trickster of the Circle of the Crone
Hero of the Circle of the Crone
Herald of Shadows

Master Weaponsmith
Mortal Titles/Offices:Senior Legal Partner of Bentham Cross Dunn

Forensics Consultant, South Australia Police
Barrister and Solicitor in the Supreme Courts of SA, Victoria, and NSW
Practitioner in the High Court of Australia
Doctor of Juridical Science, University of Melbourne
Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (FRCPA)

Fellow of the Australian Computer Society (FACS)
Path/Role:Trickster and Hero
Concept:Weaponsmith, Magistrate/Coroner and Tracker
Deity/Pantheon/Aspect:Contrary Shaman (something like heyoka)
some members of the Circle suspect he makes offerings to Kālī, or a similar Dark Goddess - or perhaps Loki)
Coteries/Societies:Heralds of Shadow
Warning:NOLI ME COGERE ISTUC VENIRE
don't make me come over there
Motto:QUOD ME NON NECAT ME CERTE CONFIRMAT
that which doesn't kill me makes me stronger
Colours:Blue and White
Emblem:Blue Nigella (aka Love-in-a-Mist) and White Rose
Bloodline:Not Known


"The owl of Minerva begins its flight only in the gathering darkness."
Hegel, quoted in Egon Friedell, Kulturgeschichte der Neuzeit, Vol 3, p 79.

Information Known by Kindred Society

And here I prophesy: this brawl today,
Grown to this faction in the Temple garden,
Shall send, between the Red Rose and the White,
A thousand souls to death and deadly night.
   — Warwick,
Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part One, Act 2, Scene 4
Image:Tudor_Rose_Royal.jpg
Tudor Rose

Arrival in Adelaide

    Bentham came to Adelaide via the territories of Schreiber's Legion - to the north of Adelaide. On his arrival he talked about 'bearing a gift for the City' and 'being a gift to the City' ... Certainly his arrival has precipitated a number of changes already. At first his apparent arrogance upset some Kindred. His faith in his own abilities, and apparent sense of superiority over others put noses out of joint, and had some wondering if he were not a better Invictus than Crone.

    Before his Embrace, Bentham had been a respected Magistrate and Deputy Coroner in the mid-north of South Australia for three years. He took the position after his wife and children were massacred in a particularly gruesome attack. His colleagues were never sure that Marcus was ready to return to work so soon afterwards. When he disappeared in the APY Lands three years later, it was assumed that things had caught up with him. Especially when he reappeared six months later, a nocturnal recluse living out of a remote property above the Yorke Peninsula.

Significant Achievements

    When Bentham entered the City, he proved himself to be well connected, and well prepared, for almost any eventuality. He participated in the rescue of certain members of the City (and the Clan) from a portal at the Wine Centre. He arrived with bags of gear that proved crucial to the operation: ropes, climbing harnesses, cameras, and more were cheerfully handed out. Though he did go on a bit about his lovely new winch.

    Barely a month after entering the City, Bentham was accepted as Primogen of the Crone in Adelaide by the Circle and their Heirophant. In the following weeks, he rapidly made a place for himself - and the Crone - in City politics.

    Despite being stripped of City position and status, Bentham continues to exercise his Influence in the City to address Masquerade breaches. And works with his fellow Kindred on the many threats to the City - not least of which is the growing Brood presence in the City.

    He has also finally revealed what was meant in Schreiber's Letter of Introduction by gift to the City ... Bentham is a Master Weaponsmith as well as Brood Hunter.

Influences and Allies

[Dexter, at a bloody crimes scene, has just explained that they should be looking for someone who is really good with a knife]
Officer Oliver: "So, we are looking for a sushi chef?"
Dexter: [Deadpan] "Yeah... Sushi chef is possible. It wouldn't be my first choice but hey... You never know."
Officer Oliver: "Now what?"
Dexter: [Excited and pumps his fist] "Now I eat!"

    He is a lawyer of significant regional repute. For many years, he was a Barrister taking briefs in Criminal and Coronial matters. His related legal, investigative, and medical knowledge and skills are profound. Though yet to be demonstrated since entering the city, a cursory investigation into his mortal life suggests an acute intellect and a formidable composure in the face of adversity. He has been connected with almost all of the most gruesome, complex and challenging murder cases for more than a decade and a half. If not for the compassion he displayed to victims and their families, one might have thought him a sociopath in his own right.

    Quickly regaining control of the mid-sized law firm Bentham Cross Dunn he had co-founded a decade earlier. The firm offers a full range of legal services, as well as forensic and investigation services with respect to criminal and coronial matters. Bentham has demonstrated significant knowledge of crime scene analysis, and autopsy procedure. It is rumoured that he may have performed autopsies himself.

    Certainly, he has influence and connections in legal and possibly police circles: amply demonstrated by how quickly he got the city locked down, and intervened in official investigations, when the Brood hit the City last December. He went on to control the damage caused when Jennifer Mackie led most of the Court on a Brood beatdown - having summoned the victims to a Crone Temple without thought for the consequences.

    Bentham appears to have made friends and allies in many places. Likely he has inspired enmity also. And fear.

Character

Rita: "Oh Dexter, how's Deborah?"
Dexter: "Well, she has all her limbs."
Rita: "Imagine falling for a serial killer."
Dexter: "Yeah, what are the odds?"

    Bentham has a need to see things done, and done properly. Decisions should be made with informed free choice as much as possible. He tolerates failure - so long as one learns from them and they are not repeated. He does not countenance injustice for long. He rarely makes rash decisions, and tends to deliberate on difficult matters as long as he can. He values the opinions of others: at least, certain others. He seems to place a high value on competence. His own effectiveness is amply demonstrated by how quickly he has assumed a position of authority within his Covenant and the City, and how much the Crone have improved as an organised force within the City.

    He plans for the long term, and says as much - quite often really. He has plans, and seems very adept at weaving them into the plans of others. Even while others are seeking to take advantage of him, Bentham seems to find an angle for himself. Be very afraid of this Kindred. He is not scared by power, or the powerful. He wears authority like a second skin, and it seems to come to him - effortlessly. Perhaps there is more to this one than there appears?

    A hunter of hunters whose snare is the hunt itself?

    Bentham is patient, and prefers to understand a problem before leaping in to solve it - but will act if needs be, drawing upon as much insight as he can. He listens to others, and seeks to find balance, harmony between competing interests and needs. He makes informed judgements. His readiness to consider alternative proposals, to them weight up and look for compromises that balance the needs and interests of as many parties as possible. He rarely acts in haste.

    Nevertheless, on occasion, Bentham will do and say things that appear almost suicidal. He insists that he is compelled to Speak Truth to Power ... which seems to be a fancy way of saying acting like a Fool, and insulting the powerful to their face. Not a trait one would think lends itself to a long Requiem.

Experience regarding Belial's Brood

    "Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit..."
    "There is no one who loves pain itself, who seeks after it and wants to have it, simply because it is pain..."
       — Cicero, de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum (The Extremes of Good and Evil), section 1.10.32, 45 BC

    One topic that seems guaranteed to grab his interest and excite him to action is Belial's Brood. Therein we find a fierce hatred, and a readiness to act. Even on this matter, however, his calculating and analytical mind dominates: he goes out to draw together as much information as possible, and to galvanise an organised and methodical response. He hates Brood deeply, to his core. Something in his eyes says this is very, very personal.

    "Did you set it on fire? If it's not been on fire, it's not gonna be dead yet."

    He has had recent, and significant, experience in close combat with members of the Brood. Most significantly for the City of Adelaide, he was part of the Legion force associated with the City's raid on the Wasp Nest near the Brood town of Moonta. Those who have asked have been told that he was part of the coterie assigned to escort the City Kindred to and from the Wasp Nest. The coterie was ambushed after the City struck the Nest. He was the first to be taken down - by an incomplete staking. He was able to recover and scare off the Brood through some ruse; thus saving the life of his coterie leader - earning a life boon and deepening the enmity between them.

    "What do you mean you just destroyed it? What the fuck am I shooting at then?" ... don't believe everything you think you see when taking on Brood.

Lineage

Rumors

    • Bentham is running from something - or perhaps chasing it?
    • Bentham considers Prince Mackie less bizarre and less arbitrary than Johannes Schreiber. Though perhaps he has changed his mind of late.
    • Bentham is an infiltrator (Brood? Legion? something else?)
    • Prefers to be called Bentham to avoid being confused with the late Markus McCallic, also of the Crone.
    • Is more interested in playing with his Kine than mixing with Kindred.
    • What is it with Bentham and flowers?
    • Has killed several Brood, including a Priest. Apparently in close combat. A spoon may have been involved.
    • Came to Adelaide to hunt a Brood infiltrator.
    • Knows a whole lot more than he's saying about just about everything.
    • Has ways of letting you say more than you realise.
    • He shaves his head every night to hide the fact that he was going bald when he was embraced.
    • Is unbearably vain, but hides it under a stoic façade.
    • He brought the lovely Invictus Daeva Evelyn Du Voir to the last Crone meeting ...
    • Is suddenly very, very angry about something ... or is he sad? Is his stoic façade cracking?
    • No, really - what is it with Bentham and flowers? and fairy tales?
    • Has declared himself Prince of Adelaide and ignores the previous Prince, Jennifer Mackie of the Invictus.
    • Mackie is so afraid of Bentham that she fled rather than face him.
    • When Bentham tracked Mackie down, his face was marked with ashes ... what was that about?
    • And why was Culebra, the Ventrue Ice Queen, on Bentham's arm?
    • He reflexively brushed off Mackie's attempt to Summon him.
    • How does he brush off the Daeva tricks so easily? Did he learn more from Evelyn than she realised?
    • Bentham has been staked to prevent him going after Mackie.
    • Just what was it that Bentham brought with him as 'a gift to the City' anyway?
    • Mackie has declared that Bentham is to be 'given' to the Sanctified to be ' re-educated ' ...
    • Is in Melbourne, with his Sire, being ' re-educated ' by the Circle of the Crone.
    • Bentham figured out what Karly's roses mean. First go. Karly was over joyed!
    • Despite being stripped of City position and status, Bentham continues to exercise his Influence in the City.
    • Has the City's Prince acknowledged Bentham?
    • Why is it that Bentham has such an obsession with stakes.
    • Bentham is a very devoted student of Lilly'th in the occult.
    • He attended Elysium, hosted by the Dragons, with Evelyn Riley Vitelion on his arm once more. Lord Davi Stolvinov was clearly not happy with either of them.
    • Kept a promise. Suffered brutally. But kept his word.
    • Refused to answer the question of what he hunted asked to him repeatedly by Jakob Fury
    • Bentham recently remembered he had left a childe behind, and went back to the Legion's territories to bring her to the City.
    • Bentham showed up at Elysium badly beaten by Brood, standing tall despite obvious pain from physical injuries.
    • When two Brood attended Elysium, Bentham faced them calmly.
    • Bentham insisted on putting himself between the Brood and his childe, despite his significant injuries.
    • Bentham will be upset to learn, that Jakob Fury has eyes for his childe

Affiliations

Mekhet

    Bentham is a Mekhet of the House of Tearlach.

    Bentham is a member of the Heralds of Shadow, a large international Mekhet information network.

    Otherwise, just who he is - and is not - affiliated with must be keeping the Sheriff and many others very busy indeed.

Opinons

    • "Mr.Bentham, believes he is playing chess, but little has he considered he is actually a pawn in a greater, larger game." - Lord Davi Stolvinov, Secundus of Adelaide
    • "Water Lily, Red Tulip, Cedar Leaves and Indian Jasmine. For some reason, Marcus reminds me of that..." - Evelyn Du Voir
    • "Mackie? I wasn't talking of Mackie, I meant Prince Bentham." Evelyn Du Voir on Bentham when speaking to Holly recently.
    • "I expected ... a little more ... from you, Hunter ..." - Maya, Pandemonium Ventrue during visit to City Elysium
    • "You are almost pure, Hunter." - Maya, Pandemonium Ventrue during visit to City Elysium
    • "Bentham is the best sire a young vampire can have, just don't get on his bad side." - Alexia Dockland

Quotes

    • "I thought that was your job? I'm here to get things done."
    • "I have a letter for you. I come from the North, from the territory held by Schreiber's Legion. I have a gift for the City." to Prince Jennifer Mackie on first Presentation.
    • "It sounded better in the original Klingon ..."
    • "I can watch power being manipulated all day, if I have to ..." to Michael Roberts, Master of Elysium
    • "Well ... hello there! You look tasty, I mean delicious. Pretty. That's the word. Pretty tasty."
    • "Sometimes it's not the Potency you need to worry about, but the lack of Humanity ..." when asked about a certain Brood Gangrel.
    • "Who's got a pretty puppet then!"
    • "That would be Doctor Bentham, my Lord, since we are trying so hard with our etiquette tonight." to Lord Davi Stolvinov
    • "Excuse me, I can see someone more interesting to talk to has just walked in ..."
    • "Now here is an Invictus. One eye on what he cannot have, the other on what he mustn't. But, can he tell them apart?"
    • "Roses, one Red, one White. Lily of the Valley. Oh, my opinion of her? Impure evil. Thanks."
    • "And then, kapow!, slammed 'em from low orbit ... so very, very cool. Can you do it again?" to Michael Roberts, Master of Elysium
    • "Be careful. Sometimes the doll fails to break quite the way you expect."
    • "I speak Truth to Power. How could you possibly imagine I'd be afraid of you?"
    • "Ever get the feeling no one's listening to you? If you're not having it now, I'd suggest getting that checked."
    • "How's that following-Bentham-around gig going, anyway?"
    • "This is Snow White, and this is Sleeping Beauty."
    • "So tell me, seen any good sunrises lately?"
    • "Me? Lie? I'm sure I could."
    • "Well ... that certainly made it clear that she's not interested in anything I might have had to say."
    • "Stake me before I do something stupid!" [so she did]
    • "Is it just me, or was that just a little a bit [gestures with forefinger and thumb] excessive?"
    • "To quote Mark Twain: The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."
    • "Good luck with that."
    • "You look familiar ... Do we like each other, or should I be running now?"
    • "I promised you would not be hurt. I keep my promises."
    • "So what you're telling me is that you don't like being on fire? Where's the fun in that?"
    • "That looks painful", "Not as painful as being on fire." - exchange between the Nameless Mekhet and Bentham at recent Elysium, regarding Bentham's very obvious combat injuries.
    • "You're the Hunter?", "Shh! Everyone will want one.", "Hardly.", "Oh, so you have heard about me ..." - an exchange between Bentham and Maya, Pandemonium Ventrue at Elysium.
    • "Colour me fucking surprised that the Brood take me more seriously than you lot." - on learning that the Court is a flutter with rumours that the Brood want him destroyed.
    • "They're called the Pandemonium for a reason. Look it up."

Inspirations

Understanding leads to panic    Pretty    Not afraid of the chair    It's the context in which you misinterpret    What is it with Bentham and flowers?    Help is on the way

Music

Art

Writing/Books

Characters

Comics

Quotations

"Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more." Mark Twain
"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." Mark Twain
"Do something every day that you don't want to do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain." Mark Twain
"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him." Mark Twain

OOC Information

Player: Steven Clark, AU2007100002

Location: Adelaide, Australia

Everything on this page is considered OOC and is not for IC use.

si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes

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