Demosthenes Monk

Demosthenes Monk circa February, 2012 Overview Character Information Alias(es): Oscar Monk, Oskarina Real Name: Unknown Apparent Age: 40's Concept: Dilettante Archeologist Physical description: Varies. Debonair, elegant, and frequently charming; usually well dressed in couture clothing and often looking professorial. Dark hair, glasses, smooth complexion. Occasionally uses English phrases or idioms due to schooling there. Detailed Status: Acknowledged by Prince Gino Delvonte of St. Louis, January 18, 2006 Wise by Prince Gregori Nicholatai of St. Louis, (prior to May 13, 2008) Knowledgeable by Prince Robert Johnson of St. Louis, (prior to May 13, 2008) Loyal by Prince Marcus Alexander of St. Louis, (prior to May 13, 2008) Trustworthy by Prince Verity Valerious of Springfield, (prior to May 13, 2008) Dignified per Cam packet, approved 2018 (Not counting Diligent awarded prior to May 13, 2008, by Prince Jakob Harris of St. Louis removed because of the packet) (Not counting Loyal awarded by Prince Jaden Cage of St. Louis prior to May 13, 2008, and relinquished on July 1, 2010, to allow awarding of Diligent by Prince Harris noted above) (Not counting Resourceful awarded by Prince Nicholatai of St. Louis and relinquished to allow awarding of Trustworthy by Prince Valarious noted above) Camarilla Timeline November 5, 2005 -- First appeared in a Camarilla court in St. Louis, Missouri January 18, 2006 -- Was acknowledged by Prince Gino Delvonte of St. Louis, Missouri June 2006 - January 2007 -- Became sub-harpy to Verity Valerious in St. Louis, Missouri January, 2007 - February 2007 -- Remained sub-harpy to Teegan in St. Louis, Missouri March, 2007 -- Elected Harpy of St. Louis, Missouri March, 2011 -- Resigned as Harpy of St. Louis to go on sabbatical March, 2011 - November, 2012 -- On sabbatical to participate in an archaeological dig November, 2012 - June, 2019 -- Resident in San Diego after battling demons there alongside Prince Jessica Kesch. July, 2018 -- Began being seen in Georgia and Florida June, 2019 -- Quietly became a resident of Atlanta OOC Information Player: Dan B Known History The Setite calling himself Dr. Demosthenes Monk, an entrepreneur and amateur archaeologist, first arrived in St. Louis in 2005 around Halloween and shortly thereafter opened up a bridal shop. Articulate, urbane, and somewhat Victorian at times, he hosted a black-tie Ragtime Mardi Gras gala to celebrate his arrival, the first of three annual such galas. He soon found himself asked to be the sub-harpy to Verity Valerious. When she moved on, he was asked to be the Sub-harpy to Teegan. When Teegan resigned after a very brief stint in office, the Primogen asked Demosthenes to be the Harpy of St. Louis, a position and confidence he ended up holding for four years and through several princes. In July and August of 2007, a Tampa Malkavian named Magister Thoren publicly accused Demosthenes of sending him a letter requesting support for a Setite Justicar. Demosthenes denied supporting any such idea, especially to someone like Thoren, and requested a copy of the "letter" be produced for examination while chastizing Thoren for ignoring status. Thoren replied that a harpy's status only applied when the harpy was conducting harpy duties. Monk corrected that there was a difference between positional status and positional authority and, while any city officer's authority had some geographic limits, positional status was universal. The other harpies of the Camarilla backed Demosthenes up on this point. The dispute about Demosthenes's political views ended when Archon Jessica Kesch stated: I, Jessica Kesch, Archon to Justicar Maris Streck of Clan Malkavian, have investigated the loyalties of Demontheses Monk to the best of my ability. I have found him to be an intelligent and detail-driven individual, and not one stupid enough as to seek private support with someone like Magister Thoren - certainly not about something as controversial as pleading for a Justicar's seat for the Setite Clan. As far as I know, Demontheses Monk has never publically or privately supported the concept of adding a Setite Justicar to the Camarilla's leadership...and he has not done so with any kindred of the Camarilla, much less an idiot like Magister Thoren. Thoren never produced the "letter" he allegedly received, but Demosthenes at least got Archon Kesch's recipe for chocolate chip cookies. In 2009, Demosthenes, Alexander Cainan, and the rest of the St. Louis Domain battled a teleporting demon Demosthenes dubbed "Captain Brimstone." After much working tracking the demon, and aided by notable kindred from other domains such as Archon Saul Good, Ein Selerno, Jakob Phuridae, and Julianna of Clan Malkavian, Captain Brimstone was defeated on March 10, 2010. However, this was only a taste of the earthquake that was to rock the Kindred world the next year. In March 2011, Demosthenes resigned as Harpy of St. Louis in order to go on an extended archaeological dig. Shortly thereafter the Columbus Conclave ruled that members of his faith cannot hold Camarilla offices, preventing Monk from resuming office upon his return. In November 2011, he answered now Prince Jessica Kesch's call for citizens to populate the newly reclaimed Domain of San Diego. Shortly thereafter, with the Year of Fire blazing wildly all around, Demosthenes lent the weight of his mortal sway to defend that Domain against a Baali/Neo-Carths attack in January 2012. Since the battle to defend San Diego, Demosthenes was not seen much until July 2018, when he suddenly appeared in the Camarilla courts of Middle Georgia and Griffin, apparently seeking Ivan Sjekna in relation to a boon Monk held. Although that search proved unsuccessful, Demosthenes engaged in several salon-style discussions of various matters including ontology, sociolinguistics, and Camarilla philosophy and law. During the next twelve months, he made a couple of appearances in St. Augustine, though on what business he never said. In June 2019, after a private meeting with Prince McMillian, Demosthenes quietly changed his official address to Atlanta. He doesn't surface often but is occasionally seen at courts in that Domain. Demosthenes is an oft-cited exception to seemingly every "rule" about Setites by Archons, Princes, and other members of the Camarilla who know him (to the point of having his clan questioned). Like Lorenzo de' Medici, Monk maintains that properly understood, his religion does not necessarily conflict with the conduct, Traditions, or the ideals of the Camarilla any more than any other religion. Relationships Coterie None known Allies Cassandra Sumner (deceased) - They shared a love of knowledge Eleanor Watts - A pleansant companion who can talk religion Eva Luna (deceased) - A former harpy that Demosthenes knew from when he was a harpy Lorenzo de' Medici - Purely and ally of faith and interest Luciferia Bellwether - Malkavain who always gave things a different perspective Verity Valerious - An ancient Brujah who respects the Egyptian gods even though she doesn't follow them Enemies "Magister" Thoren - Loudmouth incompetent plotter Urial Legatio - Setite detractor from Gimli or somewhere godless like that Family Sire: Eva Rochester Childer: Mei Li Quintilian 'Quin' Abbott Katya Stroganov Thuvia Nunn (There could be others, at least one prince of St. Louis gave Monk blanket Right of Progeny. Who knows what he did with it.) Inspirations Cary Grant in His Girl Friday and The Philadelphia Story Bayushi Yojiro and Bayushi Kachiko Soundtrack Nobody's Side, Chess (English version) Alt. One Night in Bangkok, Chess (English version) McCavity, Cats Part 2 "When the crime's discovered then McCavity's not there!" Music of the Night, Phantom of the Opera With a Little Bit of Luck, My Fair Lady "Oh you can walk the straight and narrow, but with a little bit of luck you'll run amok!" Why Can't the English Learn to Speak, My Fair Lady Holy Ground by Wolfstone It's a Sin by the Pet Shop Boys Opportunities by the Pet Shop Boys Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top My Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades by Timbuk 3 Would I Lie to You by the Eurythmics Missionary Man by the Eurythmics Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics Our Lips Are Sealed by the Go-Gos Bad is Bad by Huey Lewis & the News Only the Good Die Young by Billy Joel We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel Nortorious by Duran Duran The Edge of Glory by Lady Gaga Messiahs Die Young by Men Without Hats The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby & the Range I Can't Break Away by Big Pig Outlaw Blues by Pat Benatar Who Will Save Your Soul by Jewel Walk like An Egyptian by the Bangels (It's trite, but how could I not add this one?) And lately, Mountain Duet, Chess (English version) Both: You -- you are so strange -- why can't you be what you ought to be? You should be scheming, intriguing, too clever by half. Quotes "That Jesus guy already has enough followers, we should spread this around." - Discussing a plan to deal with a problematic cult by redirecting its adherents into other religious pursuits. "I hate Setites." Monk clears throat. "Not you. You're not a Setite; you're Camarilla." "So let me get this straight. You're saying that those who can, rule, and those who can't become Archons? Are you sure you want to say that in front of a harpy?" "A Setite Headmaster? Somehow that just sounds... dirty." "Drugs? Really? Do I look like a vending machine? How about a nice, hot cup of coffee? With a little half-and-half? Or maybe a good brandy? Something with an aroma'?" "You drive on the right side of the road, correct? Because it is the rule. I too drive in the right lane. I do not do it because it is the rule. I do it because head-enders are bad for me, bad for my car, and I have more important things to do than making a juvenile show of my rebellion by driving the wrong way in the left lanes just because the normal procedure is to drive in the right-side lanes. That is the difference between a Setite and an Anarch by the way. The Anarch is just as chained by his or her rebellion as someone who drives a certain way simply because it is a rule. A chain is to do something mindlessly, for no other reason than because it is so, without questioning it or more importantly seeking knowledge of how and why it is so." "However unwillingly a person who has a strong opinion may admit the possibility that his opinion may be false, he ought to be moved by the consideration that however true it may be, if it is not fully, frequently, and fearlessly discussed, it will be held as a dead dogma, not a living truth. ... (E)ven if the received opinion be not only true, but the whole truth; unless it is suffered to be, and actually is, vigorously and earnestly contested,... the meaning of the doctrine itself will be in danger of being lost, or enfeebled, and deprived of its vital effect on the character and conduct: the dogma becoming a mere formal profession, inefficacious for good, but cumbering the ground, and preventing the growth of any real and heartfelt conviction, from reason or personal experience." - John Stuart Mill Rumors He owns a bridal shop -- No, really, he does He's the worst Setite ever. He doesn't push drugs or orgies or anything. His clanmates hate him. He's not a Setite by blood, that's why he doesn't act like a Setite Saul Good claimed Monk is his second favorite Setite after Miles Longshaft Continuously served as Harpy of St. Louis, MO for about four years He is a master sculptor and jeweler He used to own a church. Has declared himself to be the defender of the Queen's English Ran with some Archons for a while (but they're all dead now) The only 'okay' Setite Tatiyana "Anya" Pyotrevna knows. The Camarilla waited until he resigned before barring Followers of Set from holding Camarilla positions. He's been seen having some really long discussions with Rachel Dubhan lately. Is he crazy or suicidal?!