Helena K. van Kruysberghe
From Ordo Dracul
Contents |
Basic Information
- Full name: Helena Kristina van Kruysberghe
- Clan: Mekhet
- Domain: Limburg, Belgium
- Apparent age: 27
- Specialities: Ancient Cultures, Languages, Occult Artefacts
Titles
- Primogen of Prince de Mérode in domain Limburg
- Sworn of Mysteries of the Ordo Dracul, Academy Limburg
- Priscus of clan Mekhet in domain Limburg
- Initiate of the Untamed Hunger
Reputation
Helena was born into a family noted for its strong women, and early on it became clear that she had an unsatiable thirst for knowledge. She enjoyed a high level of education and became well-travelled at a very young age, accompanying her mother who visited many of Europe's bath cities for her weak health.
At the age of 19 her parents arranged her marriage with a rich doctor who was 8 years her senior. Her marriage is something Helena does not talk about, save for the fact that it was during that period that she developed her passion for ancient cultures.
Helena was 26 when her husband died, leaving her with a large inheritance. Her collector's spirit had been kindled during the years of her marriage, but now she saw herself free to indulge in many extravagant spending sprees. Most of her impressive occult collection was gathered in these days, as well as the means to jealously protect them.
It is a known fact that Helena started writing in this period as well, publishing a series of horror novels under a pseudonym. The royals made it possible for her to keep up her lifestyle, though she had to curb her spending habits out of necessity.
Helena does not speak of her embrace, nor of the years that followed. For a while she literally seemed to have vanished off the face of the earth. There are no traces of her presence in Belgium during that time. She eventually returned to her country, and her beloved Limburg, settling quietly into the Kindred community.
When Prince de Mérode claimed Praxis over Limburg, Helena stepped into the spotlight as well. She glided into her position of Primogen with apparent ease, and has been a member of the Court ever since. In her covenant she is a Sworn of Mysteries, and widely regarded as the factual leader of the Ordo Dracul in Limburg. She insists on keeping a good rapport with the Invictus of Limburg, as well as a certain amount of cooperation with the Circle of the Crone.
Helena might appear strict in looks and behaviour, but most that know her well acknowledge she has a gentle side, though it may not rise often. When provoked, however, her wrath is better observed from a distance than up close.
Trivia
- Has a Victorian mindset about most matters.
- Used to be married before being widowed at a very young age.
- Has an extensive knowledge of languages.
- Has a profound interest in psychology, in particular the experiments of renowned scientists such as Pavlov, Watson, Skinner, Asch and Franklin.
- Has written a number of succesfull horror novels.
- Enjoys gardening, in particular growing roses.
- Has acted as a replacement Sire for Wayne Williams, but recently decided him ready to stand on his own feet.
Quotes
About herself:
- "Conceal nothing, and let the fools search forever."
About the Ordo Dracul:
- "Without order nothing can exist, without chaos nothing can evolve."
- "It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
- "No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it. We must learn to see the world anew."
- "Every great achievement was once thought impossible."
To Others:
- To Karen Stoffels: "Of course I think marriage has its uses, my dear. I never knew what true happiness was until I got married. Of course, then it was already too late."
- To several other Dragons: "The first one to draw the wrath of the Invictus on our Covenant, I will make suffer personally."
- About the Crone, to nobody in particular: "Bloody tree-huggers..."
Rumours
- Has plans to use the Ordo Dracul to overthrow the Invictus in domain Limburg and claim Praxis herself.
- Is actually a spy of the Invictus planted within the Ordo Dracul to gain inside information.
- Was embraced over 150 years ago.
- Is the sire of Karen Stoffels, also a member of the Ordo Dracul.
- Has such strong control over her own mind that she cannot be mentally corrupted.
- Has great knowledge of the occult and, in the past, has succesfully placed curses on her enemies.
- Has an agreement with Gerhardt Thielemann about the coöperation of the Ordo Dracul and the Circle of the Crone.
- Was actually nothing but a puppet of the late Mark Houben, the Hound of de Mérode.
- Has a deep hatred of the Lancea Sanctum, and will do anything to battle them.
- Is responsible for the disappearance of what would have been her fellow Primogen, a member of the Lancea Sanctum.
- Regularly conducts rather gruesome experiments on mortals.
- Is smitten with Marquis Caluwaert, the Seneschal of Limburg.
Others about Helena van Kruysberghe
- Marcel Vanerum of the Lancea Sanctum Limburg: "Da's een sjieke madame, heel bekwaam en heel vriendelijk. Soms ewa streng, ma een madame van stand verdient respect, hè." (Translation: "That's a fancy madam, very competent and very friendly. Sometimes she's a bit strict, but as a woman of standing she deserves respect.)
- Gerhardt Thielemann of the Limburgian Crone: "I wish I knew what to think of her. She's either a mystery from the Mother or one of the Dragon's cunning plans. Either way I consider her an ally despite our differences."
- Alexandria Karuna of the Circle of the Crone: "She's my priscus and I honour her for that. Yet for more reasons than that and than I can list here, I hold her in high esteem."
- Karen Stoffels: "Ze heeft me geïntroduceerd in de vampire society en me daarbij tijd gegeven om alles op me af te laten komen en ontdekken. Ze is een grote steun en toeverlaat voor mij." (Translation: "She introduced me into Vampire society and has given me the time to let everything come to me and to discover everything. She's a great support and a refuge for me.")
- Pieter Laurens Segers: "The proof that there is beauty in mistery. Handles herself with a certain grace, but should remember from time to time that a true master also learns from his/her pupils... She makes a fine priscus for the clan, but she should believe in it."
- Damek Navratil :" She knows she's what keeps me calm. Let's just hope noone tries to touch her, hurt her or whatever, 'cause then they'll see why kindred should learn to show respect to Elders, 'specially if they're Gangrel..."
- Gabriël Caluwaert of the Invictus: "Her last name is a sign of nobility, her position in her covenant one of leadership. I often wonder if clan Ventrue should have been more fitting to give her unlife, the little glitches in her ettiquette on occasion prove me right. Though not a clanmember, we might still play an important part in her future."
- Marcus Dobbelaere of the Lancea Sanctum: "As my fellow Priscus I have great confidence in her sharp mind and wisdom though I do not think she knows what path God has layed out for her. She is one of the few persons that possibly has books worth reading that I haven't read yet."
