Persephone Blackwood

Played by: Asterinomous

Persephone Blackwood was raised Jessica Waverly, or at least, she believes herself to be.
When Waverly was kidnapped by the Black Spiral Dancers, they wished to implant a spy into the vampires' ranks. Using totemic magic, they created a perfect simulacrum of Waverly, who believed herself to be the Ventrue, and released her back to Lucien Corbin.
Persephone had no idea of her true nature for a long time, until the Incarna Demeter revealed her true origins as a mole to the Dancers. Demeter cleansed Persephone of their influence and renamed her Persephone as her true daughter.
After this, she joined the Church of Set, looking for meaning in her life that was separate from Jessica Waverly.
Seph eventually left the church, coming to the realization that she did not agree with the doctrine of the church.
She stayed with Lucien Corbin as his girlfriend for a time, but due to his newly enhanced vampiric state she has been driven from her home and relationship.
The fairy has found a new lover in the vampire Anthony Drake, and a home in his sanctum.

Physical Description

Identifying Characteristics

Persephone's eyes are purple, even in her seeming form.

Apparel & Accessories

Once upon a time, Seph dressed exactly like her counterpart, Waverly. Now Seph wears fun, flirty outfits (often ones that scream 'cool girl'): distressed jean shorts with faded graphic tees, converse sneakers and skate dresses, anything casual and sporty with a hint of trendiness to it.
She also wears a wand holster on her right wrist, allowing her to access the item at any time.

Specialized Equipment

Seph was granted a wand from her maker, Demeter, that allows her to use Primal at unprecedented levels. Unfortunately, Seph is unpracticed in Primal magic and does not use the wand often.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Jessica Waverly always believed there was something more out there. Surely the angels and demons from her father's church sermons couldn't be the only things living in the shadows, unseen by mortals. It was one day while at school that she stumbled across something odd. A server, hidden away so far in the web that it would easily be overlooked. It was full of information about the vampires - the Kindred, as they called themselves. Their conversations, their histories, their clans... all available to her. That’s when she messed up, or made the best decision of her life, depending on who you asked.
Jason Kane, the Ventrue Primogen in the nearby San Francisco, got wind through the grapevine of the mortal who successfully infiltrated their networks and saw an opportunity. Whether Waverly got a say in it is up to interpretation. But in any case, Waverly became his childer, and still works under him as his eyes and ears in the modern world. Her skills have even caught the attention of Fiorenza, but most people agree she’s a bit too naive to be left to her own devices – but her perspective is also invaluable.
For most of her unlife, Kane kept his childe locked away in his haven, his and his alone to admire and glean visions from. However, in March 2021, he sent her to Baltimore to parlay with Queen Eleanor to gain him entry to the city. This was a ploy, however, to convince the neonate to willingly bond herself to him. He never got the chance, though.
Waverly was captured by the Second Inquisition and experimented on. It was at this time when she was forced to diablerize a Ravnos, linking her to their methuselah Zapathasura - though she did not know it at the time.
A werebear by the name of Virgil saved her and introduced her to Lucien Corbin, who in turn introduced her to Feargál Ó Rodagh. Between the three of them, they were able to figure out partially what happened to her, but just as much remained a mystery.
Lucien hosted a ball soon afterwards, and Waverly was invited. During the ball, it was discovered what Kane had planned on doing to his childe, and in a rage Lucien sought out and killed her sire. This brought the ire of Fiorenza down on Baltimore, and Waverly was hastily adopted by Lucien in an effort to keep her safe from Fiorenza.
Soon after, Waverly met Theodore Jackson and brought him to Lucien to assist in helping the frantic neonate, though she was kidnapped by the Black Spiral Dancers who held her captive for a brief time before releasing her back to Lucien.
However, it was not Waverly who was released back to her Sire. Instead, it was a simulacrum who believed itself to be Jessica Waverly and was the same in all ways that would normally be detected. Oh, she did not carry the Beast, could not grow hungrier, or use the vampiric disciplines, but this duplicate thought itself to be Waverly in every way.
This duplicate - Faverly (faux-Waverly, though no one knew she was a fraud at the time) - lived with and grew close to Theodore, Lucien, and Thomas during this time.
Thomas became a father figure to Faverly, teaching her how to be a Gangrel (despite her blue blood) and Lucien and Faverly began a romance. Theo she began to teach (and a budding attraction developed between the pair as well).
During this time, Lucien was called to join the Protectors of Haven on a mission, and Faverly and Theodore joined the ranks.
The coterie (named The Blue Jays while in Haven and it stuck) grew closer during their time in Haven - but Theodore, as a neonate, and Faverly, who was beginning to notice she was unable to access her disciplines, were largely useless to the overall adventure. Still, they were welcomed as passengers as long as they did not get in the way of the other more active characters.
While in Haven, the goddess Demeter appeared to the group of vampires. She revealed that not only had Wolfgang been a spy for the Black Spiral Dancers, but so had Faverly - and that the real Waverly sat in a cell in the Dancers custody still. Demeter cleansed Faverly of the Dancers' influence and renamed her Persephone, her daughter, and a changeling.
Several people were appalled by Persephone's betrayal, one of the worst being Theodore who had been killed in a Dancer attack in Little Italy (later it would be found out that Persephone's creation was fueled by the soul of one Susan Watkins, another victim of that attack). Lucien tried to comfort his lover, but he felt torn between his loyalty to the girl he thought he had built a relationship with, and the one standing in front of him.
It did not help that vampires are, by their very nature, difficult for changelings to be around. Their banality stings like fire or acid - some, however, are easier to bear than others.
Persephone and Lucien made love for the first time that night, but the banality combined with her own shame and confusion were too much for the fairy and Persephone fled, heading into the city and finding her way to Sabatino's, where she met the vampire Andrew Leakey. Leakey, with his powers of observation and the gifts of a Setite, was able to glean immediately what was going on through his blood. He offered council and advice and was a kind ear to Persephone in a very dark and confusing moment in her life.
Seph, after some time of continuing to linger around and talk to Andrew, decided to join the Church of Set. She and Lucien also made up and she even asked Thomas if she could take his last name, truly becoming his daughter. Even Andrew's ghoul, Tony Tagliucci, and Seph grew close during this time period, becoming almost like brother and sister. But it was not to last.
The Gate of Despair loomed large over Seph, and Leakey began making plans to enact what was necessary for her to pass through the Gate. Her and Lucien's home was burned; Phillips Tower, when they sought shelter with Margo, was collapsed; even Thomas' bar, The Dog Pit, was raided by police while Seph slept there and the Gangrel vampires sleeping there dragged out into the sunlight.
It only got worse when Andrew, in a deal with the Toreador blacksmith Hephaestus, killed Tony. Oh, Seph did not know this at the time, but when she finally caught a glimpse at Andrew's diary, it was the straw that broke the camel's back. She unleashed upon the Setite, forcing him to kneel before her, confess his crimes.
Seph fled the temple, never to return. She hates Andrew now, feeling taken advantage of and also feels that she was a fool. Everyone warned her of what he was like and she defended him at every turn. Turned out he was just like everyone always said he was.
She and Lucien lived in relative peace until Queen Eleanor's ascension to methuselah. She held contests to choose her childer: one of Beauty, one of Intelligence, and one of Strength. Lucien competed in the contest of beauty, and was chosen.
However, there was a downside to this: Lucien was once only uncomfortable for Persephone to be around, but now he was unbearable. Getting within ten feet of him felt like being boiled in acid. When Seph expressed her dismay and put forth the only method she could think of to make him tolerable once again, Lucien dismissed it out of hand. His new potent blood had dampened his emotions to the point that he found his once-in-a-lifetime romance now merely a trivial interest.
Seph fled in tears, heading to her new friend, the mage-turned-vampire Anthony Drake. He offered her a home in his sanctum, which she gladly accepted.
During this time, Seph also discovered that Thomas Blackwood, the man she considered her father, had won Queen Eleanor's test of strength, and was also lost to her. Seph began to sink into a deep depression.
Lazlo Dalca offered Persephone a chance to help destroy the facility that had held her/Waverly captive, and the fairy agreed, thinking that saving the other prisoners would help redeem her. But that was not the plan. Lazlo and his sire, Corneliu, meant to burn the place to the ground. No survivors.
And when Persephone, horrified and vehemently opposed to this plan, tried to stop them, Corneliu destroyed her only friend: a golem given to her by Andrew Leakey named Ahati.
Outraged both that Lazlo led her to believe that she could perform a rescue mission and that he would allow Corneliu to act in such a way, Persephone has cut herself off from all vampires. All except for Anthony, who in her grief Seph sought comfort from and finally allowed herself to kiss.
Anthony's friend, Mary Aranha, was able to bring Ahati back, but Persephone has fallen into a pit of misery and isolation. She and Ahati wander the city alone now, with nothing but their own whimsies leading them to where they want to go.

Education

Persephone is highly intelligent, having a bachelor's and worked simultaneously on both her master's and doctorate. She also is very well versed in occult from perusing Andrew Leakey's library in the temple beneath Sabatino's.

Relationships

Persephone Blackwood

Ex (Vital)

Towards Lucien Corbin

-1

3

Frank

---

Lucien Corbin

Ex (Trivial)

Towards Persephone Blackwood

1

0

Frank

---

History

Lucien was one of Persephone's (Waverly's) first friends in Baltimore. They began dating after Seph replaced the original vampire, but Lucien refused to leave her side despite the deception that precluded their relationship. Out of all the relationships in Baltimore, theirs was perhaps one of the most pure and devoid of conflict.
However, since Lucien's reembrace he has become cold and hard to her. Seph was desperate to salvage their relationship, but Lucien has little interest in changing anymore.
Finally, Persephone gave up - hardening herself against any future advances from anyone of Lucien's ilk.

Persephone Blackwood

Daughter (Vital)

Towards Thomas Blackwood

2

2

Frank

---

Thomas Blackwood

Father (Vital)

Towards Persephone Blackwood

5

5

Frank

---

History

Thomas and Seph's relationship began when they were both under the impression that she was still the Ventrue Waverly. He took on a mentor role, and refused to leave her side even when her true nature was revealed.
When Seph needed to choose a name for her IDs, she asked Thomas if she could take his last name.
Ever since then, he acted as a surrogate father to her - however, when Thomas became a Plantagenet, he was lost to her. The banality gripping his body was too harsh for her to bear, and she felt doubly betrayed by him and Lucien both taking Eleanor's offer back to back.
She still loves him, but... she has a lot of hurt wrapped up in those feelings.

Persephone Blackwood

Former Acolyte (Important)

Towards Andrew Leakey

-5

-5

Honest

---

Andrew Leakey

Former Mentor (Trivial)

Towards Persephone Blackwood

1

4

Subversive

---

History

After Seph became known as a traitor and a liar, many of her vampire friends abandoned her. Andrew was one of the only people who treated her no differently and was her friend and confidante for a long time. Despite others telling her that he was not to be trusted, Seph believes he truly cared for her well-being. Persephone soon discovered the terrible truth about Setites, and Andrew Leakey. He unleashed hell upon her and her friends in the name of his religion, and killed another in cold blood. This caused Seph to completely break with Andrew.

Persephone Blackwood

Girlfriend? (Important)

Towards Anthony Drake

2

2

Honest

---

Anthony Drake

Boyfriend (Vital)

Towards Persephone Blackwood

5

3

Honest

---

History

Anthony and Seph did not meet until fairly recently, but Anthony sees her as his ticket back into magick, which he lost when he was embraced.
His emotions are affected because he must become enchanted with Glamour in order to access magick, and this has pushed him to become infatuated with the fairy, not only because she can give him what he wants, but because of the side effects of the Glamour.
In effect, Seph is supplying him with a love potion and Anthony has become hooked on that concoction.
After the death of Ahati, Seph's golem companion, Seph began a relationship with Anthony. For her, it was a way to feel loved and wanted, as well as a way to keep access to a powerful source of glamour (since Anthony's home, where she lives, is a node for mages and as such also provides her with glamour). For him, he gets access to the Dreaming - a place he thought was lost to him.
It's a horribly destructive relationship, but neither of them are willing to give it up.

Persephone Blackwood

Nuisance (Vital)

Towards Corneliu

-5

-5

Frank

---

Corneliu

Mortal Enemy (Trivial)

Towards Persephone Blackwood

-4

-4

Subversive

---

History

Corneliu is a violent zealot. Persephone is a bleeding heart. Of course they would never get along. But when Corneliu began to slaughter the people that Persephone was on a mission to save because they were held by Pentex, Seph grew desperate. She asked her golem Ahati to hold him off while she helped the ones she could to escape. 
Corneliu shattered her golem. Seph will never forgive him for that, nor for killing the people who she had determined to protect.

Persephone Blackwood

Enemy (Important)

Towards Lazlo Dalca

-4

-4

Frank

---

Lazlo Dalca

??? (Trivial)

Towards Persephone Blackwood

-2

0

Honest

---

History

Lazlo and Seph met on a journey into one of the Umbral realms. At the time she was known as Waverly, but they remained close afterwards. Demeter gave Lazlo the gift of resurrection at the same time she revealed Persephone for who and what she truly was.

Time passed and while they still considered each other friends, they did not talk much. However, after Andrew Leakey killed Seph's brother figure, Tony, she begged Lazlo to bring him back. Lazlo agreed, and as Seph began to work on a fairy treasure for herself, she turned to Lazlo for advice on crafting it.

 Lazlo encouraged Seph to go on a mission to a Pentex facility. The same one Waverly had been held in. Seph, having the same memories as her vampiric counterpart, was determined to save the other supernatural creatures housed there, but she did not anticipate Corneliu.
Lazlo's sire (and Lazlo himself) burned their way through the facility, torching everything in their path. They slaughtered innocents and guards alike. Seph was uncomfortable with this and took a much gentler approach into the facility, making her way down into the bowels of the building to rescue the prisoners, but then Corneliu attacked. He began to kill every prisoner, helpless in their cells.
Desperately, Seph sent her golem Ahati to hold him off so she could save as many of her kindred spirits from their cells as possible. Corneliu shattered Ahati.
Seph blames Lazlo for not keeping Corneliu under control and for lying to her. She had said the only reason she was accompanying them on this mission was to rescue the prisoners, and he allowed her to think that she could do that, all the while knowing that he or Corneliu would 'cleanse' them from this world.

Species

Eshu

Age

46

Life

1975 1997 22 years old

Birthplace

California

Parents (Adopting)

Thomas Blackwood

Spouses

Siblings

Eyes

Purple

Hair

Black

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Pale

Height

5' 4"

Weight

120 lbs

Other Affiliations

• Church of Set

Known Languages

English, French, Coptic

Arts Known

• Metamorphosis 3
• Sovereign 2
• Chicanery 2
• Primal 5 (through Demeter's wand)
• Naming 1
• Wayfare 3
• Spring 3

Realms Known

• Fae 2
• Nature 2
• Scene 1
• Actor 5
• Prop 5