“Sheriff” – Maximilian Robert “Max” Fenworth
7th Generation Malkavian
Age at time of Embrace 35 (1925)
Max as a mortal
Born in March 1890 in Hertfordshire, Max Fenworth was the unremarkable son of an unremarkable watchmaker. Unfortunately for Max at the age of 12 he was caught in an outbreak of blinding ophthalmia and lost his sight. Max’s potential to take over his father’s business was shattered and the trauma of these events hit him heavily, resulting in regular frustrated outbursts. However, the birth of his sister upon whom the young boy doted, gave Max the anchor and learning braille allowed him to read the great fictions and novels of the 18th and 19th Century. As Max grew into adulthood he became increasingly frustrated with his lot in life and became prone to outbursts, unusually strong these outbursts could result in injuries if others were too close. His father resorted to opiates to sedate and quiet the young man and suppress him before eventually committing him to an asylum for the blind in 1908 at the age of 18. Max’s sister was inconsolable at Max’s absence and the father relented and fetched the boy home a year later. Unfortunately, the time in such a facility only added to the boys trauma and his anger issues became more severe and his outbursts more violent. The only person who could calm Max was Rebecca now 9, who would read to Max and sing to him. Max would write poems after this time in the asylum, dark and painfilled verses many of which would come true. His sister believed Max could see the future. World War 1 was predicted by Max in a poem it is said several years before.
When Rebecca sang Max would claim he could see again, could again see faces and hear their voices. He began to venture out of the house with his little sister, shopping for books for them to share together and even writing poetry with her. A small publishing deal lead to Max’s poetry achieving small print runs and selling relatively well. It was this poetry that caught the attention of his sire. The poems were filled with rage and visceral anger, an expression of pain that many felt in those times. Many of his readers began to realise these poems often reflected real world events that would occur a year or more after their publication. The most well known of his books Echoes of the End Times, is still a rare find today and sought by occultists and kindred alike.
Max as a vampire
Max’s embrace followed the pattern of his life, a traumatic experience that would further exacerbate his anger issues. It was these anger issues during his first hunger that would sadly in his mind lead to Rebecca’s death. His Sire, saw a depth of wisdom in Max’s pained words but also felt that Max was being held back by his sisters calming influence. The last words Max heard as a mortal were;
“To embrace your pain is to embrace your wisdom, you have two of the wounds of insight but lack the third, here let me open your mind. Let me free you!”
Max was embraced but not before he was compelled by the beast to feed, he heard his sister pleading for her life as she was drained of her life’s blood. His rage knew no bounds that day, some say he killed his sire, others that he killed Rebecca.
Unlocking his rage unlocked his mind seeing patterns where others do not. The past, present and future are one for Max. He experiences past events as if they are happening and often potential futures of those he meets. His time in the now is so fleetingly rare.
It is this insight however that has saved Croydon from the 2nd Inquisition so far. He often see’s the results of raids a day or so before they are to occur, allowing the Prince to order a place abandoned and identify intelligence leaks before they happen. Sadly, Max is too much of a liability to roam freely and thus is mostly sedated and kept in a cell beneath the Blue Orchid gallery. He is kept well, supplied with blood and provided with books and soothing music without which he is likely to fly into a rage at the slightest provocation, now or in another time. His foresight however is so valuable that he has been giving the honorary title of Sheriff and not been put to final death. Whenever he appears at Elysium it will only ever be for an hour or so and he will be heavily sedated with drugged blood. This will present him as being stoic and quiet and saying very little. It will be well known that Max is insanely strong for a Malkavian (potence) and even the slightest insult might send him into a rage. Treading lightly around him is expected.
The Tremere of Warwickshire have performed a rite to more strongly bind Rebecca to Max’s cell in an attempt to keep him calm more consistently. Although she can return to the shadowlands she can only occupy Max’s cell now and this will present great problems if Max is removed from this cell. However, with Rebecca bound in this way, Max can share his visions directly with those meeting him, who may experience his visions as if they were real. In fact, they can feel so real some may struggle to tell the difference between the vision and the real world. This will have a strong impact on the story should the characters meet Max whilst investigating the heist and in fact it is almost recommended that they must meet him.
Max as a plot device
The beauty of Max as a plot device is that the first time the players meet him and someone touches him he can draw them into a waking vision of worst case future, that to the characters will feel entirely real. The important thing is not to tell the players it is a vision, let it play out as if its real.
It gives a chance for the players to investigate the heist and the conspiracy, face overwhelming odds and then awake back in Max’s cell to account for the events they experienced.
As the horrors are revealed, the stakes high, allowing the PCs to adjust for their mistakes or misfortunes. Ultimately Max has everyone’s best interests at heart but struggles to control his emotions due to the traumas he experienced in life. He is an interesting plot device as a dangerous potential masquerade breach that in other circumstances might be ended, but with a huge value to holding power and keeping people safe. The debate around his continued existence alone can give some interesting roleplay once the players know his nature.
Rebecca Emily Fenworth – Wraith – born 1899 died 1925
Max’s sister was born in 1899 and grew up with a notable absence of her parents. Her father would work long hours making and repairing watches and her mother would consume gin in the parlour. She was however close to her brother Max, never really remembering a time when he wasn’t blind but also never remembering a time he wasn’t there..
Rebecca seemed to see the pain in all people and instinctively knew how to sooth it, with Max it was no different. Reading stories and singing would bring Max joy and peace. Even his most severe outburst would be quieted with a few words or a song.
From the age of 5 Rebecca claimed to see the spirits of folks who had passed to the other side. In later life she earned a modest income as a medium, she would often sooth those who had lost, with words she claimed came from beyond the shroud.
Rebecca would die at 26 to Max’s first feeding as a Kindred, a final twisted game by his sire to give the 3rd wound to open his wisdom fully.
Rebecca the Wraith.
Even in death Rebecca could not let go of her big brother, her anchor, her fetter. Being separated from Max will anger this spirit greatly and without him present she will begin to weaken. A binding on Max’s cell prevents her from leaving should Max be moved.
It is the wraith’s connection from beyond the shroud that has greatly enhanced Max’s potent foresight. It is her that gives him focus and helps to hold back his rage, it is her that can tap the past and focus Max to see the future. Even so Max is erratic and confused most of the time, the pain of glimpsing the shadowlands of knowing his sister is dead and of seeing many terrible events every waking hour of his existence weighs heavil.
Any character using auspex around Max may catch a glimpse of a shadowy figure, high successes reveal a pretty, dark shoulder length haired girl with 1920s dress and dark tear stains on her face, moving downwards from empty eye sockets. She is fleeting and hard to perceive and not always present.
When Rebecca is present Max gets 1 bonus dice to resist frenzy (and boy does he need it). The ST can choose to increase this bonus.
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