Julia Valentine

World of Darkness: Guardian House
GM
Karen
Game Time
1st Weekend of the month
Characters
Dr. John Evans Julia Valentine Thomas Daly Kirk Ryder Richard Berkinson IV Ben's Changeling Kimura Tristain Hiroyuki Matt's Keyboarder Norman Rockfellow Jim Tanaka

Julia Vanlentine. And for Jason: Smolder.

Vitals

Name: Hephziba Bat Adam חֶפְצִיבָּה בַּת אָדָם Alias(es): Julia Valentine Virtue: Faith Vice: Demon of Lust, personal is Pride Concept: Trouble Race: Mixed Caucasian - Middle Eastern appearance Gender:Female Apparent Age: 21 Date of Birth: Unknown

Place of Birth: Hell Height: 5'10" Weight: 125 lbs Build: Curvaceous Eyes: Green Hair: Dark Brown

Description

In her true form, Julia becomes a whole other beast: soft leathery wings appear on her back, fingers become claws, fair skin turns pale and otherworldly, and green eyes flash with sin. It would be disturbing if it didn't make you want her all the more.

Julia often wears normal "street" clothes, which on her become more than that, and she's always at the top of fashion for club and formal wear, though you'll get a treat at amateur's night. At home, stealing Thomas' sweater is the norm.

Julia is built like a dancer, tall and lithe, but curvy with sweet almond eyes and amazing hair- when she's being "normal." Truth be told, she can be anything you want her to be, and she knows exactly what you want, you little perv.

Background

A Hellish Youth

Julia is not quite sure how old she is, only that she is "of age" and has been on the Earth for only a year. She grew up in Hell, a place without hope or the warmth of felling God's love. Earth is a relative paradise where she can exert her will... but the emotions it creates are strange and frightening.

Hell may have been without God's love, but it wasn't without her mother's. Julia's mother's age is unknown, but she "frolicked in her youth" in the middle ages. Julia's grandmother is an angel of sacred prostitution and one of the four queens of demons who mate with the archangel Samael/Azrael. Thus, Julia counts both Lilith ("Grammy") and Azrael ("Grampa") as allies. Julia also has an ally in the demon/cherub Azazel.

Julia first appeared in Las Vegas, armed with a business card her mother kept as a memento of Julia's father. Julia's made it a personal mission to find her father, and Vegas was the perfect training ground for a young succubus to learn the ropes on Earth. After swindling enough cash from hapless victims of temptations, she made her way to San Francisco, the city on the business card. There she enrolled in UCSF as a cover and worked as a language tutor to pay the bills... and corrupt a few souls on the way.

Guardian House

Julia found an flyer on campus at UCSF for a room at Guardian House and took it to check it out. She did not know that the house, or it's flyer, were magically derived. Diana met her at the door of the house and expressed concern and suspicion over the young demon, but grudgingly accepted her presence when Julia showed her the flyer. Diana took this as proof that the House wanted her there. That wasn't the end to it, however, as Diana's concern (or paranoia) led to an argument with Vincent about where to put Julia in the house. They agreed to put her in the earth apprentice room that was in between their two suites. Diana gave Julia a charmed pentagram pendant that would hide her alignment and nature. Julia would continue to find a sympathetic ear with Vincent.

Although Thomas already discovered it on his own, Julia's nature as a demon was only revealed to other members of the house when impetuous housemates attempted a demon summoning in the ballroom. The spell was accidentally worded to bring not a specific demon but the nearest demon, and Julia, who was in the kitchen at the time, appeared in the circle in her true form.

Julia struck up a mischievous friendship with housemate Koi, and the two famously stirred up trouble during one Fleet Week.

Julia unintentionally befriended a Chinese dragon when she and other housemates passed a fire in Chinatown. An old man was lamenting a prized possession and, being the only one who was immune to fire, Julia walked into the burning building to retrieve it.

Julia has had brief and casual sexual flings with several housemates, usually without draining their willpower or at least minimizing it so they could, theoretically, sleep it off and regain some of what was lost through the nexus of Guardian House. In the beginning, Julia was paranoid about Diana's warnings to do no harm to anyone under the House's roof.

Julia has had a hard time using technology in the house, possibly due to her infernal and more arcane nature. Her computer was notoriously faulty and she often left technical research to others. When the motherboard blew, she sought help from the ghostly tech wiz of the house, who suggested she pick a more evilly aligned machine to have any success. Julia asked what sort of machine that would be, and the ghost girl replied with one word: "Microsoft." Julia currently has a 2003 Dell Dimension 4600 that is running Windows Me, but she was considering upgrading it to Vista before she was exorcised.

Relationship with Thomas Daly

Over breakfast, Julia hears out Thomas after a rough mission.

Search for Her Father and Downward Spiral

Although Julia originally came to San Francisco to look for her father, results were not very forthcoming, and the strange nature of Guardian House and other activities like school and work meant she could not focus on her search full time. Julia prolonged her schooling by taking classes only part time, and, after graduating in 2008, turned her attentions to finding the man on the business card. Julia discovered that the man her mother had seduced had lived in San Francisco in the early 1960's when he was a young lawyer in the D.A.'s office. From what she could discover, he had been a good and honest man, but something prompted him to leave San Francisco and move south. Julia resolved to find out what had happened to him.

Julia also dropped her job as a waitress and picked up a position as an escort, which brought her closer to seeing some of the darker and also some of the sadder sides of human nature. Julia saw it as a great way to both meet people and tempt or guilt others. It paid for her bills as much as amateur night, and she spent her off nights getting others into trouble. Increasingly, Julia found her nights off as an outlet to deal with both the increased stress of dealing with the sad and shameful cases her escorting brought and her somewhat fruitless searches for her father. Julia through herself into her darker nature and relished in it as a form of escapism.

In time, Julia decided to go to Los Angeles to find what happened to her father. What she discovered there was a catalyst for change, and for the worse. Instead of finding the honest man she had found records for in San Francisco, Julia found a man who was an utter scumbag. He became a high profile defense attorney out of Hollywood who was connected with Wolfram and Hart, and was repeatedly released and cleared from charges on several occasions for a variety of vices; the man was, it seemed, a moral monster. Julia struggled to connect the two men just as she struggled to keep a hold on herself. After she learned that he had sexually assaulted his high school sweetheart, the woman he would later marry, years before he had ever met Julia's own mother, Julia realized that her mother was not at fault for his decline and damnation. Julia began to see both sides of her genetics as inherently evil. If even the most noble person had abuse and murder and pride and cruelty in them, then they too deserve their fates in hell. She becomes contemptuous. God damned us all. Heartbroken and prideful, she began to act that way, letting herself be fickle and amoral at nightclubs and private parties in the hills surrounding L.A. When Julia returned to San Francisco, she had begun to change.

At first, because Julia was conflicted and did not yet wish her housemates harm, Guardian House still remained unlocked and open to her. As time wore on and she became increasingly bitter, the House began to warn her by locking her out on particularly bad nights when she would be likely to act on her own lusts and possibly hurt those whom she had called friends. This happened increasingly often until eventually, Julia was entirely locked out, forbidden to enter. On many of those nights, Julia slept away or on the porch, and few suspected that it was anything more than intense partying and passing out, complete possibilities with Julia. To others, however, Julia was clearly sliding down a dark path. One person who noticed was Thomas.

Thomas was watching his friend degenerate and spiral out of control before his eyes. She was able to voice her contempt and explain what she learned about her father. Thomas becomes convinced that he would have to be the one to save her, and his own pride began to take over. Before long, the two became engaged in a battle of wills and clashing pride that was bound to explode at some point. Julia perceived Thomas was becoming blind and weak, and Julia saw him, just as others had suggested he was, as a more tempting target, made of the same clay as her father, like all men. Julia began to actively seduce Thomas. When she felt he was at his lowest, she played her part as the succubus of old, and went in for the kill to drain him dry.

Exorcism and Reconciliation

Julia was confused by the Mother Superior's willingness and avowal to pray for her.

...

Julia privately asked Vincent for advice, knowing that he had been trying to stay true to his faith despite his nature as a vampire for centuries. Vincent suggested time occupying activities and hobbies, and referring to his own time as a jeweler, presented Julia with a necklace for her birthday. Julia showed her seriousness and related her fear of eternal damnation after having experienced a portion of it, and told Vincent that she had been willing to sacrifice herself to save Thomas when they were in the summoning circle in Hell. Struck by her seriousness, Vincent was reminded of his own lost love and warned her not to do anything that would separate herself from Thomas' love, suggesting that as a mortal man he might be weak as Vincent was and want or try to give things up for her as well. Julia stated that she did not want Thomas to have to give anything up (like his vocation) and Vincent advised her to be strong for Thomas' sake. As security, Julia entrusted Vincent with her secret name. In the morning, Julia found another gift from the vampire: an old wooden rosary that she could somewhat handle gingerly without burning too badly, a card of Saint Francis, and a note from Vincent reading:

'I have endowed masses for all ours souls. The Rosary is yours to keep, to remind you that there is always Another to whom you can bring your questions. - Vincent de Firenzi, son of Paolo.'

Merits and Vestments

Merits

• Striking Looks 4

Drop Dead Gorgeous. Looks to Kill For. Well, murder is not necessarily the intended outcome, but it does help with the temptation to overcome moral mores. As H.H. Munro said, "Beauty is only sin deep."

• Magical Nexus 2

Guardian House imparts benefits to all those it shelters, from its library to a simple place to recharge. Julia can often be found sleeping in the study by the warmth of the fire place, easing her recovery after a hard night. If necessary, the powers of the House could be drawn on in more wakeful hours.

• Allies 3

The hosts of Hell yield some powerful allies, especially when you're naming the Fallen directly in your family tree. There are a few who're willing to look out for a Pretty Young Thing cousin, niece, or granddaughter.

• Contacts 2

Julia has a few associations of value in her short time walking the earth, whether the shady geek who made her her first fake IDs in Vegas, the old dragon in Chinatown, or certain notables she provided service for as an escort while they visited the City by the Bay.

• Barfly 1

Julia is naturally social and seductive, but she really does like to socialize. Life is so much more fun and interesting with mortals, and alcohol is an amazing social lubricant. Unlike Alan Rickman in Dogma, she can enjoy both pleasures.

Vestments

• Purient Perfume

Who needs Chanel when you naturally exude a pleasurable scent of your own? A gentle musk with notes of exotic flowers and Eastern spices surrounds Julia, a scent so attractive it puts others at ease and arouses others when she turns on the charm.

• Succubus Kiss

Behold the classic tradition and vital cornerstone in the abilities of any succubus or incubus: the ability to drain energy from mortals through passionate physical exchanges.

• Flight of the Seducer

It takes some effort, but like the classical succubi from Medieval myth, Julia can manifest a beautiful set of soft and supple leathery wings. They're just so beautiful...

• Mother May I

Lilith always wanted children. It's not her fault things turned out badly. The original "Mother Monster" imparts some gifts to her daughters as part of this legacy. Julia herself is a child borne of true sin, a succubus pairing with an all too mortal man. Let's just say, Julia makes an excellent babysitter. The children just love her.

• Purgatory's Failure

In Dante's account, the Lustful are punished by endless storms and winds, but as a descendant of the Fallen, a girl like Julia may be more likely to suffer the great burning flakes of fire that tear and burn those who committed violence against God. Growing up in the Inferno gives a demon certain advantages or tolerances, and Julia can withstand the normal fire kindled on earth. It's just nothing compared to the fire she remembers from Hell.

Inherent Demonic Traits

Inherent Demonic Traits are applicable to all demons, regardless of nature, vice, or infernal rank. These can be learned by others through research, though it may be long and difficult to do (pg. 48 of Inferno for rules).

• Aura of Corruption

Demons leave their mark on everything they touch. It’s impossible to predict the general effects of a demon’s attentions, but in many cases they remain long after it’s either left or been banished. The exact effect depends upon the circumstances behind the demon’s presence and its favored sins.

• The Dragon's Tongue

Demons understand all languages, including ancient, dead tongues and languages that are used in supernatural societies. Additionally, demons “speak” their own language. It sounds like tortured glossolalia and cannot be translated or decoded. Strangely enough, it can be taught. Some old texts call the demon’s language the “Dragon’s Tongue.”

• Soul of Sin

Within their own Vices, demons understand sin to a degree no other being can fathom. When a target shares one of its Malapraxis’ Vices, the demon immediately knows about every occasion upon which she’s indulged it, even when she has forgotten some or all of them.

• Lord of Lies

No supernatural power can detect a demon’s lies, half-truths or other deceptions, even when the power does not depend upon reading the demon’s “mind.” For example, powers that search for falsehood according to the threads of destiny (such as Awakened Fate spells) are useless. Anyone using such a power sees whatever the demon wants him to see. Some rituals and powers can command a demon to speak the truth, but their users have no way of knowing whether these are effective. The demon might resist the use of such a power and, playing the part of a cowed, defeated spirit, spout a torrent of lies in a grudging, pained voice.

• Keeper of Secrets

No supernatural power can penetrate a demon’s thoughts. (Perhaps this is for the best.) There are rites and powers capable of commanding a demon to reveal information, but without them, characters are limited to their natural guile and the demon’s discretion. Powers can sense the presence of demons, but can never peer inside their thoughts and motives.

• Secret Name

In addition to any aliases they may use, or nicknames, epithets, or titles, demons of rank posses a secret name, a true name recorded and used in the Inferno itself. A secret name means power, status in the Infernal hierarchy and the ability - or disability in some cases - to respond to summoning rituals or bound by other beings. The secret names that can be written and pronounced are merely representations of what is spoken in the Dragon's Tongue, and even that may be accompanied by other sounds, images, smells or feelings. Julia's name is accompanied by a maddening rush of excitement and warmth, the gentle moans of pleasure, the smell of her musky perfume of exotic flowers and spices, and the taste of fruits and chocolate. When her secret name was whispered and first used one sultry summer night in Sin City, the poor man wrote it down in Hebrew. He passed it off to another, and her name was validated; on Earth as it is in Hell.

Attributes and Traits

Attributes

Intelligence	2		Wits	3		Resolve	3
Strength	2		Dexterity	2		Stamina	2
Presence	4		Manipulation	2		Composure	2

Derived Traits

• Size 5
• Speed 9
• Defense 2
• Armor
• Initiative Mod 4

Other Traits

• Health 7
• Willpower 4
• Infernal Will 3
• Morality No Score

Skills

Mental Academics 2 Religion 3 Investigation 2 Occult 3

Physical Athletics 2 Stealth 2

Social Animal Ken 1 Empathy 2 Expression 3 Dance 4 Intimidation 2 Persuasion 4 Seduction 5 Socialize 3 Streetwise 1 Subterfuge 3

What's in a Name?

Though Julia has a secular name which I gave to her originally because "Julias are always a troublesome bunch," as a demon she needs a true name with which she can be called with. She also does need a last name to go with Julia when it comes to her identification and running about on Earth, and I've decided to go with Tim's delightful suggestion of "Julia Valentine," not so much for the wonderful reference to Cowboy Bebop as the name meanings. I'll get to that in a bit. First, the true name:

Because this name is for rather ritualistic purposes, I decided to go with proper Hebraic naming conventions to both reflect her roots and for the added benefit that even today, Jewish children with secular names are given Hebrew names for use in Temple, so she seemed in a very similar boat.

As a note, while many have easily translated names (especially with popular biblical names, like Joseph, Sarah, or Michael,) a Hebrew name does not have to be the same as the secular name, but should reflect the same spirit, or qualities known if given later in life- it just often does mimic the secular name.

Hebraic naming follows as such:

[First Name] Daughter/Son of [Father's First Name]

"Daughter of" being "bat" and "Son of" being "ben."

For supernatural beings there has also been the tendency to construct more depth of meaning out of the name by the natural link one creates with bat or ben. It turns the name more into a descriptor phrase. As with real living humans, poetics are a plus, and deeper translations are always meaningful. I've tried to do that with Julia. Here is her name:

חֶפְצִיבָּה בַּת אָדָם

Hephziba bat Adam

Hephziba, can variously mean "delight is in her" or "I want her" (desire, wink wink) and has also been a euphemism for Jerusalem (in Isaiah). Adam, besides the name, both means "man" and "earth" from whence the first man was made. Thus the name can form the following:

"delight, daughter of earth" "desire, daughter of man" (etc.)

and thusly: "desire of man" "delights of the earth"

one of which points to her demonic nature as a succubus (Desire of Man) and one to her more free nature out of Hell (Delights of the Earth). The reference to "man" can also be literal as she had a human father. Then, if we consider the euphemism for Jerusalem, it creates an interesting twist on The Holy City as being simply a secular creation of man, and on the demon being a divine creation of God. Her true name has rather deep philosophical implications. (Makes sense, coming from the den of the Adversary.)

Now back to Valentine:

Julia is not just from a Jewish tradition but is very wrapped up in Christianity as well, her secular name should reflect this somewhat to keep from being either to far from the true name and yet also not too like to it (not too Jewy!). It should be meaningful but still sound everyday to be obviously secular as well.

In old Christianity (as well today, and in Judaism), Jerusalem was the Holy City and it's secular counterpart was Rome. Rome eventually has become the seat of the Catholic Church, but back in the day, Jesus asked his fellow Jews to "give unto caesar that which is caesars, give unto God that which is God's." A name with a Roman background would balance the Jerusalem in her true name.

Fortunately, Julia had a big start in her first name, which like Julius Caesar's, comes from the Julii family name. The name itself goes back to the legend of Aeneas, but has no real known meaning, just the history of the Julians over time. Valentine actually complements it well:

Valentine comes from Valentinus, another family name, from "valens" which means strong and healthy or able. Valentine is our easy modern day corruption of the Latin. Her secular name thus renders her as a bit of an able trickster, strong from descent or lineage; and, like the purpose of having her secular name, it is somewhat obscure in meaning but points to oh so much more lurking beneath the surface.

So there we have it: Julia, named Hephziba bat Adam, called Valentine.