Biographies: Arkady Filitov

Arkady Filitov

One would be hard-pressed to contact Arkady Filitov, Sheriff of St Louis and former Prince of the city, without receiving this simple, concise response. You will not get honey-sweet words, blustering shouts, or even a jovial greeting. What you receive from Arkady is straightforward. He is as efficient as a disciplined soldier while being blessedly uncomplicated - at frist glance, anyway.

The truth is, Arkady Filitov is over 260 years old. Peeling back the layers of the being would surprise anyone to learn just how complex Filitov is. His beginnings were simple and somewhat meager. He was born and life his mortal days in Russia. He grew up to become a solider in the ranks of the Oprinichnina. He moved through the ranks of the outfit becoming both a fearless warrior and renowned hunter.

These qualities of the young Oprinichniki impressed his fellows, but they also drew the attention of his sire. A Gangrel paid special attention to the soldier, admiring his strength and prowess, realizing that the individual in his sight would make a prime candidate for the clan. He took Arkady and made him one of his own. In something of a break from clan tradition, Arkady's sire did not abandon him to the newness of life as Kindred. He stayed with him and instructed him about his new exisence.

With the help of his sire, Arkady adapted to his new state readily, but he could not, however, abandon his humanity. Facets of himself were not ready to let go, including his attachment to his mortal wife. He decided that when he was able to, he would attempt to bring her into his new world, so that he might never have to be without her. After a time, the local Prince granted him permission to Embrace his beloved. The event did not go as Arkady planned, however. It was disastrous. When he drained her of her blood and donated his own to her, it had no effect. He attempted to give her a good supply of blood, but it failed to inspire the spark of vampirism within her as she passed from this world to the next. Filitov's sire eventually had to pull her body from a death-like grip in his arms.

Arkady moved on. He was not happy, and the events that transpired that night would always curse him. His psyche would be forever scarred by the loss of his mortal wife and his discovered inability to create children as one of the Kindred. He was struck by a sense of wanderlust that sent him throughout the vast lands of Russia and Asia, finally bringing him to bear in Europe. It was after many long years spent roaming these lands, that he decided to travel to America. The two great sects of vampires, the Camarilla and the Sabbat were battling throughout the New World, and Arkady longed for the excitement of it, the battles a true warrior will always desire. The lands of Europe were becoming trite, and he yearned to experience all that the new had to offer.

As action goes, America was plentiful. Camarilla and Sabbat squabbles along and near the East Coast proved entirely able to occupy Filitov's time. He spent years time running up and down the coast, becoming involved in this struggle or that when, at last, the pull of westward expansion finally caught up with him and tugged him toward Cincinatti. There he remained for some time with relatively little occurring until two events shook he and his world. The first, inspiring him to move from Cinicinnati was the demise of its Sheriff. After that particular death, nothing strongly held Arkady to that city, so he decided to move on.

Around this time, another event occurred, one far more influencial and to some extent devastating, rocked the world of the Kindred. Xaviar, then Justicar of the Gangrel and one if its highest-ranking members, decided to leave the Camarilla and pulled with him, en masse, the vast majority of his clanmates therein. Some, the Loyalists, stayed, but most chose to leave the sect in favor of running the wilds at Xaviar's will. What prompted Xaviar to this rashness? It is believed that he saw something, saw something so profound that it frightened him into believing old stories about the Kindreds' past. He suddenly came under the belief that the Kindred were being lied to and that the Camarilla was fostering this belief. He claimed to have battled ..something that was able to repel an onslaught of nearly one hundred Gangrel.

Arkady speaks incredibly ill of those that have turned their back upon his sect. He claims them all to be cowards. They left the sect that had allowed them to gain strength and safety over the centuries, and which, they in turn helped to protect. Due to the overzealous actions and instance of Xaviar, the Camarilla are now somewhat weakened while the Gangrel chase at shadows. Filitov has no use for the independent Gangrel; his preference being that they would leave him alone as they have left the Camarilla to its own devices.

Continuing in his westward movement, Arkady left Cincinnati to venture to St Louis. His skill as a warrior became apparent after a short while. He gained respect and support from the community of Kindred claiming residency in the area. His strength and tenacity proved nothing short of impressive. Among those impressed by Arkady, was Marlo Chase, a prominent Ventrue of the area. Subsequent to the exit of the Prince of the city, his Seneschal, an ally of Arkady's named Eliza sought the position, but was rebuked by a Camarilla that would not offer the would-be Prince enough support. Given the hectic and combat-rife climate of the time, Marlo suggested Arkady Filitov to be the Prince. He was backed and then, as he calls it, given the position of Praxis within the city.

Arkady maintained the city for a good while. It never fell to the Sabbat nor the Lupine incursions that were seemingly always a threat. His fierceness in battle continued to gain renown, and many foes feel beneath his "battle form" of the great Siberian Tiger. It is quite a sight to see, the ferocity and strength present within the beast he becomes. It brings to mind the Kindreds' talk of the inner Beast they all possess - thought given form.

When the dust had relatively settled, Arkady decided that his avenue of leadership did not include the political arena. While it has been said by other prominent Kindred in the city that he has no problem in that regard, Arkady chose to remove himself from the position of pre-eminent Kindred of St Louis, a mantle which was taken up by his ally-cum-lately, Marlo Chase. Strangely enough, the two of them, despite having similar allegiances did not always get along, but she had backed him as the logical choice for Prince, and when the time came for him to step down, she ascended, and he has been at her side, since.

Of course, besides being at her side in her rule, he is also beside her in a more personal manner, too. The two are close friends and lovers. Arkady remains near to her and her brood, treating her children as he would his own, caring for them while, simultaneously pushing back a hatred he has toward them. The hatred is one of profoud emotion, stemming from regret and jealousy. He strongly desires a childe of his own, something forever denied him. He despises others for that, those capable. There was a previous attempt to have someone else create a childe for him, but all that he will say was that that ended badly.

Despite this strange mix of feelings, Arkady cannot deny his love for Marlo Chase. He says that if it came to it, he would even die for her. It could be that she is the closest thing that he has to his mortal wife. It may very well be that her company inspires him, gives him satisfaction, and complements him. Either way, their relationship gives him respite and purpose. That gives him more reason for being than his princedom, which is saying a great deal.

Recently, Arkady has taken the position of Sheriff, enforcer of St Louis' Masquerade and the rest of its Traditions. He maintains ready to take the position of Dux Bellorum should the city need another leader in a time of war or siege, should that be the will of the Prince. Despite all of this, Arkady seems just a man. He feels like any other. He feels pain of the heart like any other, though pain of the body may take an act of God. He is also not without his short-comings, representative by his own decision to step down from the position of Praxis. He is the last of a dying breed, the strong, Camarilla Gangrel.


	Arkady Filitov One would be hard-pressed to contact Arkady Filitov, Sheriff of St Louis and former Prince of the city, without receiving this simple, concise response. You will not get honey-sweet words, blustering shouts, or even a jovial greeting. What you receive from Arkady is straightforward. He is as efficient as a disciplined soldier while being blessedly uncomplicated - at frist glance, anyway. The truth is, Arkady Filitov is over 260 years old. Peeling back the layers of the being would surprise anyone to learn just how complex Filitov is. His beginnings were simple and somewhat meager. He was born and life his mortal days in Russia. He grew up to become a solider in the ranks of the Oprinichnina. He moved through the ranks of the outfit becoming both a fearless warrior and renowned hunter. These qualities of the young Oprinichniki impressed his fellows, but they also drew the attention of his sire. A Gangrel paid special attention to the soldier, admiring his strength and prowess, realizing that the individual in his sight would make a prime candidate for the clan. He took Arkady and made him one of his own. In something of a break from clan tradition, Arkady's sire did not abandon him to the newness of life as Kindred. He stayed with him and instructed him about his new exisence. With the help of his sire, Arkady adapted to his new state readily, but he could not, however, abandon his humanity. Facets of himself were not ready to let go, including his attachment to his mortal wife. He decided that when he was able to, he would attempt to bring her into his new world, so that he might never have to be without her. After a time, the local Prince granted him permission to Embrace his beloved. The event did not go as Arkady planned, however. It was disastrous. When he drained her of her blood and donated his own to her, it had no effect. He attempted to give her a good supply of blood, but it failed to inspire the spark of vampirism within her as she passed from this world to the next. Filitov's sire eventually had to pull her body from a death-like grip in his arms. Arkady moved on. He was not happy, and the events that transpired that night would always curse him. His psyche would be forever scarred by the loss of his mortal wife and his discovered inability to create children as one of the Kindred. He was struck by a sense of wanderlust that sent him throughout the vast lands of Russia and Asia, finally bringing him to bear in Europe. It was after many long years spent roaming these lands, that he decided to travel to America. The two great sects of vampires, the Camarilla and the Sabbat were battling throughout the New World, and Arkady longed for the excitement of it, the battles a true warrior will always desire. The lands of Europe were becoming trite, and he yearned to experience all that the new had to offer. As action goes, America was plentiful. Camarilla and Sabbat squabbles along and near the East Coast proved entirely able to occupy Filitov's time. He spent years time running up and down the coast, becoming involved in this struggle or that when, at last, the pull of westward expansion finally caught up with him and tugged him toward Cincinatti. There he remained for some time with relatively little occurring until two events shook he and his world. The first, inspiring him to move from Cinicinnati was the demise of its Sheriff. After that particular death, nothing strongly held Arkady to that city, so he decided to move on. Around this time, another event occurred, one far more influencial and to some extent devastating, rocked the world of the Kindred. Xaviar, then Justicar of the Gangrel and one if its highest-ranking members, decided to leave the Camarilla and pulled with him, en masse, the vast majority of his clanmates therein. Some, the Loyalists, stayed, but most chose to leave the sect in favor of running the wilds at Xaviar's will. What prompted Xaviar to this rashness? It is believed that he saw something, saw something so profound that it frightened him into believing old stories about the Kindreds' past. He suddenly came under the belief that the Kindred were being lied to and that the Camarilla was fostering this belief. He claimed to have battled ..something that was able to repel an onslaught of nearly one hundred Gangrel. Arkady speaks incredibly ill of those that have turned their back upon his sect. He claims them all to be cowards. They left the sect that had allowed them to gain strength and safety over the centuries, and which, they in turn helped to protect. Due to the overzealous actions and instance of Xaviar, the Camarilla are now somewhat weakened while the Gangrel chase at shadows. Filitov has no use for the independent Gangrel; his preference being that they would leave him alone as they have left the Camarilla to its own devices. Continuing in his westward movement, Arkady left Cincinnati to venture to St Louis. His skill as a warrior became apparent after a short while. He gained respect and support from the community of Kindred claiming residency in the area. His strength and tenacity proved nothing short of impressive. Among those impressed by Arkady, was Marlo Chase, a prominent Ventrue of the area. Subsequent to the exit of the Prince of the city, his Seneschal, an ally of Arkady's named Eliza sought the position, but was rebuked by a Camarilla that would not offer the would-be Prince enough support. Given the hectic and combat-rife climate of the time, Marlo suggested Arkady Filitov to be the Prince. He was backed and then, as he calls it, given the position of Praxis within the city. Arkady maintained the city for a good while. It never fell to the Sabbat nor the Lupine incursions that were seemingly always a threat. His fierceness in battle continued to gain renown, and many foes feel beneath his "battle form" of the great Siberian Tiger. It is quite a sight to see, the ferocity and strength present within the beast he becomes. It brings to mind the Kindreds' talk of the inner Beast they all possess - thought given form. When the dust had relatively settled, Arkady decided that his avenue of leadership did not include the political arena. While it has been said by other prominent Kindred in the city that he has no problem in that regard, Arkady chose to remove himself from the position of pre-eminent Kindred of St Louis, a mantle which was taken up by his ally-cum-lately, Marlo Chase. Strangely enough, the two of them, despite having similar allegiances did not always get along, but she had backed him as the logical choice for Prince, and when the time came for him to step down, she ascended, and he has been at her side, since. Of course, besides being at her side in her rule, he is also beside her in a more personal manner, too. The two are close friends and lovers. Arkady remains near to her and her brood, treating her children as he would his own, caring for them while, simultaneously pushing back a hatred he has toward them. The hatred is one of profoud emotion, stemming from regret and jealousy. He strongly desires a childe of his own, something forever denied him. He despises others for that, those capable. There was a previous attempt to have someone else create a childe for him, but all that he will say was that that ended badly. Despite this strange mix of feelings, Arkady cannot deny his love for Marlo Chase. He says that if it came to it, he would even die for her. It could be that she is the closest thing that he has to his mortal wife. It may very well be that her company inspires him, gives him satisfaction, and complements him. Either way, their relationship gives him respite and purpose. That gives him more reason for being than his princedom, which is saying a great deal. Recently, Arkady has taken the position of Sheriff, enforcer of St Louis' Masquerade and the rest of its Traditions. He maintains ready to take the position of Dux Bellorum should the city need another leader in a time of war or siege, should that be the will of the Prince. Despite all of this, Arkady seems just a man. He feels like any other. He feels pain of the heart like any other, though pain of the body may take an act of God. He is also not without his short-comings, representative by his own decision to step down from the position of Praxis. He is the last of a dying breed, the strong, Camarilla Gangrel.