Donovan Malise

"I will not go gentle, into that good night, you can keep your candle, I'm walkin' away from the light."

Donovan Malise, was born into a family of great nobility. His father was a infamous man, having major political influence in the local county which they resided, leading to many people not only disliking Donovan's father, but Donovan and his family as well. His father was especially hated by the local community of people who dabbled in Dark Arts and Black Magic. His father was convinced that this particular group of people were housing a covenant of vampires. On that suspicion alone and with very little evidence to prove, Donovan's father leveraged his political power to have these practitioners of the dark arts hung up by the executioners rope, an example and a lesson for any who wished to practice these forbidden arts in his jurisdiction.
With the town in complete uproar at his fathers actions, Donovan and his family which consisted of his tyrannical father, loving mother and sister Rosa, went into hiding. It was here that Donovan faced the most darkest point in his life.

At the age of twenty four, Donovan and his family had become recluses, his father had been disgraced for killing innocents based on a hunch - the family now constantly moving to keep safe. With his fathers political and financial power completely sapped, they had no form of income. Donovan took up an apprenticeship with local the bowyer and arbalest, crafting simple bows for the towns local militia. It was here he learnt his fighting abilities, trained by his master in the use of bow and arrow. Donovan became a skilled marksman in only months. With the ability to shoot with a bow under his belt, he was shown the crossbow. Upon first sight, Donovan fell in love, and quickly became adept in the assembling, dismantling and manufacturing crossbows. And after a year, Donovan had become a skilled bowyer and arbalest. His life now consisted of creating various crossbows, trying to create the perfect one that suited him. And, after making more crossbows than he could possibly count, he finally created the crossbow of his dreams, naming it Fulgur.

With a promising trade and an incredible ability to create various weapons and use them with tremendous skill, Donovan had finally found a nice place to settle and live his life comfortably. However, the hatred and dislike for his family name was still evident, and his father still received death threats and letters from shady people because of his fathers horrible actions. And, after a year of running and fleeing from assassins and mercenaries, they finally found them. In the dark of night, shadows entered the Malise home, descending on Donovan and his family. His father had been right, the very people he killed were Vampires, the silent creatures mauled and killed his father and mother. However, they were to leave Donovan and Rosa alone, instead.. They brought them into the dark world of the disease; Sanguinare Vampiris. Donovan and Rosa had now become extremely sick. With no clue that they had been infected, they assumed that assassins had came in the dead of night and executed their parents. Rosa, distraught by the incident, took her own life. This left Donovan alone and without reason to live, causing him to wander the streets, sick, dazed and confused as to what to do with himself.

After a day, Donovan's condition began to worsen. The local apothecary refused to assist him, saying that he is sure to die in such a condition, even with medicinal help. Donovan's pride was strong, he refused to die from the sickness, and his body began to change. Over night, his canines began to lengthen and sharpen, becoming abnormally long, sitting on his lips. His nails began to grow and sharpen as well, whilst his skin began to grow more and more pale by the hour. And by the end of the second day, Donovan began to look like a walking corpse, eyes watched him as he stumbled through the street. His skin icy cold to the touch. His words were muffled due to his teeth, and many people were afraid to speak to him at all. And when he found a mirror, to inspect the changes for himself, he noticed he had no reflection. Donovan had successfully become a Vampire, and his transformation was complete. The only thing that was needed to finish it off, was a drink of blood.

Donovan quickly noticed he could not step out into the sun, the searing pain from the light was enough to melt his skin. And the only way to navigate through the day was to drink of blood. Donovan moved through the shadows the sun casted, in absolute pain. Finding a sleeping homeless man, he didn't think twice. He sunk his teeth into the mans neck, the blood was like water to a man who was dehydrated. His body felt revitalized and rejuvenated. The sun began to feel warm, and not a threat. And Donovan finally realized, he was no longer a man, but a beast.

With Donovan's mind finally coming to terms with the fact that he was now a Vampire, he quickly decided to find a solution to hiding his face and features from the world around him. Using the reputation he had garnered for being a skilled bowyer and arbalest, Donovan quickly cashed in on favours owed to him from the local tailor and blacksmith, being gifted a set of leather gear topped off with a hat to protect him from the harsh rays of the sun. A studded doublet was also fashioned to provide simple protection from potential attackers. Lastly, a simple cloth was draped over his lower face to hide his affliction from not only the townsfolk, but himself.

After spending hours in the local tavern drinking and contemplating his next move, his rage began to grow. His life had been snatched out from underneath him, because of his fathers pathetic actions. His mother, Rosa and himself had to pay the price, and his anger began to grow more and more. But not only was Donovan angry at his father for his actions, but also the vampires that destroyed his life. Donovan made his way back to his masters shop, and entered his private safe where he kept his crossbows. He spent hours searching for the items he needed, retrieving a blade he had crafted for hunting deer. And by dawn he had finally left, arming himself with just the blade and his beloved Fulgur.

And from that very day, Donovan's life now consisted of finding the vampires that destroyed his life, and hunting any paranormal entity that came his way, he felt no mercy for any undead being, they were all monsters, just like himself.

Donovan now goes by that name, rarely telling anyone of his last name in fears he would stir the people. He is a quiet man, not approaching people for conversation, but would gladly converse with people who approach him.