Those in the know will say that the Pembroke twins have been active in the East End of London since at least the 1950s, first as ghouls and then later as vampires. Their origins are somewhat unclear, though it is well known that while the embrace certainly didn't help matters, both of the twins were quite thoroughly insane well before their embrace by their sire, the Malkavian elder Cornelius Fitzwarren. Dorian, in particular, is known to be violently unstable, with his moods swinging from quietly introspective to nearly apoplectic rage with apparently little provocation.
Following the disappearance of their sire in the early 1980s, the twins inherited control of a night market in the heart of London's East End. It's an eclectic mix, selling everything from food and drink offerings from the diverse local community to antiques, curios and stranger things besides. While there's nothing overtly magical at the market, if you know the right person to ask, it's a place where you could definitely find anything from a jar of newt eyes floating in strangely coloured fluid to a walking stick carved from a human femur -- if you know who to ask, that is.
Dorian is known to operate along the waterfront, where in days gone by, he could often be found carousing with the sailors passing through the Docklands. Less well known, except to those with a finger on the pulse of London's underworld, is that Dorian is an accomplished smuggler and fence and an expert in moving people and goods in and out of the city undetected. The loss of commercial traffic on the Thames since the closure of the docks some years ago made things more complicated, but he still does good business working through the commercial piers and jetties that remain.
RP Hooks
Folie à deux: Dorian and Tabitha Pembroke are non-identical twins. Their origins are somewhat unclear, though they have been active in Kindred Society since the early 1950s, firstly as ghouls before being embraced as vampires several decades later. They're Malkavian, though it's known they were both thoroughly mad long before they were embraced. That only made things worse.
Your Dashing, Underworld Smuggler: Not that he looks like it, but Dorian has the best part of a century of experience moving goods and people in and out of London covertly. He's got a network of contacts that extends all along the waterfront and is usually happy to help facilitate such matters for a price or the promise of a favour in return. It's said to be a bad idea to cross him.
In the Night Market: Dorian and his sister operate out of an old covered market in the East End. It's a bustling, cosmopolitan place, reflecting the diversity of the local area where you can find anything from food and drink to antiques, curios and sometimes even stranger things. Dorian has a keen eye for what things are worth, and is known to use the market to fence certain items.
The Razor's Edge: Despite his (usually) quiet exterior and almost waifish appearance, Dorian has a fearsome reputation and is not afraid to defend himself, his business interests, or (especially) his sister if they find themselves threatened. In particular, Dorian is known to have a particularly sadistic streak with a razorblade that's left the Met reaching for dental records more than once in the past.
Collector of Rare Volumes: Dorian is an avid reader and will voraciously consume just about any piece of literature he can get his hands upon. He has a particular love of gothic literature and nineteenth-century romantic poets and has a large collection of rare and antique books from the period. He's always willing to offer his services or trade a favour to get his hands on a particularly desirable tome.
A Portrait of Madness: Dorian is a Malkavian, which is to say that he's thoroughly and incurably insane. Far from the amusing stereotype of the clan, Dorian's madness manifests as violent, psychopathic instability. He's prone to lash out without thinking, often leaving a trail of bloody destruction in his wake. What exactly triggers this remains a mystery, but it is known that he has a burning hatred for medical professionals.
Contacts
Tabitha Pembroke (Biff)
"Whatever our souls are made of, hers and mine are the same."
Dorian's twin sister and closest ally. The two share an unbreakable bond.
Picture Gallery
The Night Market
The Byronic Leading Man
Known Bibliophile
Where we set our scene...
Tools of the Trade
The Deuteragonist
Dorian Pembroke
Known as:
Dor, Dory
Concept:
Tortured Poet
Apparent Age:
Twenty-something
Height:
5' 10"
Hair Color:
Dark
Eye Color:
Dark
"Every Night and every Morn
Some to Misery are Born
Every Morn and every Night
Some are Born to sweet delight
Some are Born to sweet delight
Some are Born to Endless Night"
- William Blake
Sphere:
Vampire
Clan:
Malkavian
Sect:
Camarilla
Demeanour:
Monster
Location:
Shadwell, London
"The mind is its own place,
and in itself
Can make a Heaven of Hell,
a Hell of Heaven."
- John Milton
Dorian's Reading List
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde
"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë
"Dracula" by Bram Stoker
"The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe
"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley
"Collected Poems" by Lord Byron
"The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson
