I decided to open this space to share the drawings I've made in the last few years, mainly focused on the Vampire The Masquerade RPG campaign, which I'm currently playing with my friends.
This campaign has been a wellspring of creativity for me, ignited by the enthralling narratives of the game and the camaraderie with my friends. Now, I'm thrilled to extend this creative journey to you, inviting you to explore the intricate plotlines and vibrant characters that have brought me immense joy over time.
Each artwork I present will be accompanied by detailed character descriptions and story insights. However, I encourage your curiosity and welcome questions in the designated section if you wish to delve deeper into this immersive universe.
To kick things off, let's start with a brief introduction to the captivating realm of Vampire: The Masquerade. Conceived by Mark Rein-Hagen in 1991, this gothic RPG transports players to a shadowy world where vampires battle for supremacy and survival. Themes of morality, immortality, and the eternal struggle between good and evil are woven into its fabric.
Vampire: The Masquerade is a pivotal part of the expansive World of Darkness, a fictional universe crafted by White Wolf Publishing in 1991. This expansive realm encompasses various settings like Werewolf: The Apocalypse and Mage: The Ascension, delving into the interplay between humans and supernatural beings. Notably, this universe is characterized by its dark and authentic backdrop, where characters confront their inner demons and grapple with profound moral choices.
Before we embark further, a few critical points must be addressed. The narratives I illustrate may touch upon sensitive topics and include instances of violence, as well as characters navigating morally ambiguous territories. While there are virtuous and uplifting characters, the overarching tone of the setting leans toward darkness, decadence, and tragedy. As such, characters often emerge as intricate figures with both negative and complex traits. It's important to note that no depiction is endorsed or justified – some content might allude to acts of cruelty, including torture and sexual assault. If these themes are distressing to you, I advise you to proceed with caution.
The narrative unfurls in 2013 as a fledgling group of vampires, known as a Coterie, rebels against London's reigning Prince. This rebellion results in the establishment of an independent domain, reshaping the dynamics of power in the city. Amidst whispers of an impending apocalypse (The Gehenna) and its prophetic omens, characters like Danya Vetranov, Luc Gossens, Nathan Black, and Elizabeth de Lacy set foot on a path they are yet to comprehend fully.
Allow me to introduce you to the key players in this intricate saga. Danya Vetranov, hailing from the Ravnos clan, arrives in London with her circus, accompanied by Luc Gossens of the Bruja clan. As the story unfolds, they cross paths with Elizabeth De Lacy, a Ventrue clan member, and Nate Black, another Bruja. Together, they strive to forge a harmonious coexistence between humans and vampires, a stark contrast to the prevailing exploitation and predation of humans. Simultaneously, their quest for a tranquil vampire existence encounters relentless challenges – from other vampires' machinations to the enigmatic force of Gehenna.
Their journey forces them to confront not just external ancient evils, but also enigmatic biblical forces and their own inner darkness. Despite starting as allies, the characters' paths might diverge into adversaries at any juncture. Their responses to the Gehenna differ: Luc embraces a path of violence and vengeance; Danya seeks redemption and transformation for even the most malevolent vampires; Elizabeth aspires to political supremacy while mediating between extremes; Nate's actions oscillate between cruelty and kindness, firmly grounded in his friends' ideals.
Before delving deeper, some groundwork is necessary. Vampire: The Masquerade immerses players in a dark, gothic universe where they embody vampires. This alternative reality intertwines vampires' existence with the mortal world. Players select a clan for their character, each with unique skills that directly impact gameplay. Crafting your vampire's attributes, powers, and personality becomes paramount.
Embedded in this world are essential rules, with La Masquerade taking center stage. This doctrine mandates that vampires keep their true nature concealed from humans, warding off potential persecution. This adherence is pivotal to avoid inviting unwanted attention and the wrath of humanity.
The pivotal element of Clan Warfare propels the game's political intrigue. Vampires vie for power, influence, and advantage, spawning alliances and betrayals that amplify the tension and complexity.
Within this mesmerizing realm of darkness and drama, I hope to offer you a captivating glimpse into my artistic odyssey. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I genuinely appreciate your interest and presence here!
This will give you all an idea of the most important characters of the Vampire the masquerade RPG, Gehenna's Gates. Now there are so many more charters and some are not alive anymore, but the significant ones are here and still thriving!
So here the characters from left to right!
Arthur: A former vampire hunter who saw the final nights approaching, realized that hunting was not the right tool to prevent Gehenna. He's unusually friendly with vampires, so much so that he's come to be like a father to some of them. Man seems to radiate a light of great comfort for these creatures of darkness.
Rudolf the Vile: Ex soldier whose life and non-life are shrouded in mystery. The few people who have a close relationship with him know that his Embrace was neither the most conventional nor the most pleasant. He committed horrific war crimes when he was alive, but no one knows exactly what or why. His atypical Embrace and the atrocities committed in his life contributed to making him a monster condemned to forever be damned for his crimes and tormented by the innocent souls whose lives he had taken. He already suffered from a severe form of OCD when he was alive, a condition that only got worse after the transformation. On the outside he appears as a serious and gloomy individual and his cold character and retrograde ideas do not make him the most pleasant person to be around.
Danya Vetranov: A charming Ravnos with a difficult past. Her sire took her to the circus for her extraordinary divination skills, and for many years that place was her home. The events she experienced in London had a radical impact on her life, pushing her to become the human soul of her coterie. She has a natural talent for bringing people together and considers those close to her as her family. She's willing to do anything to protect them, without any hesitation.
Anselm Godwyn: A True-Brujah who earned his position as Archon due to his ability to control time. He was given the task of keeping tabs on London when the signs of Gehenna were already evident, hampered by a rather peculiar group of vampires and the reappearance of a beloved face lost centuries ago.
Jonah/Sargon The Omniscient: The most mysterious and inexplicable man you could ever meet. A Malkavian who appears to be a ditzy kid with a thing for whales, but is actually far more erudite and older than he lets on. You'd better be careful if you don't want to see what lies beneath the blindfold. He has known Rudolf for a long time and Arthur even more, yet neither the soldier nor the hunter are sure of the true nature behind that mask of naivety.
Elizabeth De Lacy: Coming from a rich and noble family, she lost everything at 17, only to regain it with her own strength and the help of a charming Ventrue who took her as her initiate. As beautiful as she is ambitious and the last of her clan in London, she juggles the government and her various thorny relationships. Haughty and snobbish, she also hides a kind side in her own way.
Luc Gossens: A politician who worked in the shadows to put his party in charge. But just when this happened, after an unfortunate accident he got back up like a Brujah. Without sire and hunted down, he was forced to hide in the circus, where he bonded closely with Philippe, Danya and Simone, becoming the guard who protected them. Even now as head of government he is ready to face anything in order to defend the family he has painstakingly built for himself. Arrogant, tough, stubborn, arrogant and sometimes overbearing, but a solid pillar to lean on in times of need.
Dandelion/Dantalion: A charming yet creepy demon, known to be talkative and a big talker. He claims to have once ruled the movements of the stars in the sky, but now takes care of teleporting Luc around a deal they made. The demon dreams of seeing a human race as powerful and determined as its bearer. Although he seems to trust Luc, he remains a mysterious and ambiguous character, whose true purpose remains to be revealed.
Gregory Kenneth Anderson: A Tremere, apparently a chatterbox and a joker; he wants to restore luster to his clan, an elder incredibly respected by all, and ardent supporter of the Camarilla. Put in London to control the group of reckless that governs it, he will become a great friend and a precious ally of Luc. His outgoing nature can easily deceive, however he too has many skeletons in the closet.
Nathan Black: Initially a Baali in the service of a powerful demon with the aim of bringing the apocalypse to the world, Nathan finds himself forced to infiltrate as a spy posing as a Brujah. During his time of infiltration, however, he can't help but develop an unstoppable affection for several members of the group, which leads him to betray his sire and the demon he was supposed to help. This act of betrayal makes him an outcast, exposing him to enormous risk within his clan, but at the same time opens him to an entirely new path that no other member of his clan has ever taken.
Ranya: A Ravnos, in league with the demon Ekron. She tricks Danya into finding and recovering the dices so she can allow the King of Hell to appear on earth and unleash the apocalypse. Apparently an ancient vampire with infernal powers who tries in every way to torment and destroy the coterie. She's going to kill Becker,leading them all into the fray.
Meinwald Willem Becker: Former Sheriff of London. A Brujah as strong as a titan but with a good heart. He rose from the darkest and most gloomy place in the vampiric world, devoted only to hatred and wickedness, returned with his own strength to find the light for himself and others. So strong and kind that he tamed Spain's most dangerous Lasombra, establishing a deep relationship with him. He was a beacon for the group and his death left incurable scars.
Devon Eskarra: A Lasombra who in his recent past was a serial killer, currently fatally linked to Elizabeth, also known as the butcher of Madrid. Has been embraced by an ancient and mysterious vampire with the sole purpose of bringing evil into the world. But even in the blackest evil can be found something good or useful, after the death of the man he loved seems willing to leave his past behind and live a quiet life. As if his personality wasn't creepy enough, he claims his sister is far worse than him.
O'Connel: A tech-savvy Noferatu, found himself in a difficult situation after his clan decided to abandon London. However, he was invited by Danya to join their coterie to help with the handling of the leak and, through an arrangement, became a valued collaborator. Although he was known for his quick temper, and always sulky, everyone had developed a special affection for him. His death has left a deep and irreplaceable void in the heart of the brotherhood.
Alastor Van Helsing: An apparent human of incredible strength and speed, achieved only by his ignorance and boorishness. The origin of his strength is not understood but a human-vampire fusion is suspected. Even the nature of his sword is shrouded in mystery, like its link with the East.
Samuel Sharabi: Sabbatical Archbishop based in Tel Aviv belonging to the Ravnos anti-tribe clan, a crazy, sardonic and lazy person, always ready to deceive others and take advantage of others. It was he who was robbed by Ranya of the dices and to a closer eye even a limb or two. It is not known how this individual rose through the Sabbatical hierarchy, and in fact some Cainites suspect that his role has simply been given to him and that someone is pulling the strings behind the curtain.
Naya the Fifth Finger: Former member of the Black Hand and belonging to the mysterious clan of the snakes of light, apathetic, emotionless and with a very violent past, he binds to Nate, with whom he establishes a very close relationship.
