FRIDAY, JULY 23 Clan: Nosferatu Miss Opal – she goes by no other name – is the self-appointed conscience of Prince Vidal's court. The child and childe of former slaves, she first gained real status during Reconstruction, when she led a campaign to make sure that the Nosferatu had a place in the new order. The clan's Priscus, or overall leader, for many years, she disappeared into torpor during the middle decades of the 20th century. Reemerging around 1978, she has spent the years since attempting to both regain her previous status – in which she has largely been successful, due to the efforts of many Nosferatu who remember her from before – and sway the direction of Prince Vidal's political alignment. She is one of the eldest of the city's Primogen, as well as a constant irritant to the Prince. She recently turned down the honor of becoming Priscus for the Nosferatu once more, determining that another title, even an informal one, might interfere with her duties and efforts as Primogen. Miss Opal is a great believer in the Carthian cause, and she constantly works from within not merely to encourage Prince Vidal and the Primogen to act accordingly, but in hopes of convincing them that granting more power and freedom to the "common Kindred" is in their best interest. She has not had much luck. Miss Opal abhors using violence for political ends, but she has no qualms about using physical intimidation on a personal level. (In fact, she has more than once expressed her displeasure with the "disgraceful" behavior of young Kindred by beating the tar out of them.) (Illustration by Andrew Trabbold.) Next Week: Oh, Yeah. That's the Stuff… – Next week we'll be exploring some of the interesting (and horrific) properties of vampiric Vitae. Mmm… blood… |
