Name: Matthias Bahlow
Age: Looks 25, Real 28
Species: Dhampir
Weapon Affinity: Halberd
Colour Affinity: Lemon
FC: Eric Saade

Operating beneath but in close concert with the Seven ruling families of the Dhampir Elite exists a tight network of wealthy merchants. Each house specialises in a sector of the economy so as the keep things compartmentalized and neat as well as keep competition from tearing the foundation of the hierarchy apart. At the top of the network is the head of the merchant guild, a family that is well versed in economical, political, and traditional values. The Bahlow Family have held this position for the past 3 generations, a relatively new family to the power seat but one that has struggled it’s way up from obscurity.

In ancient times the Bahlow’s were renowned tailor’s, their work highly sought after and well paid for throughout the community. They were content with their lot in life, never without comfort but never quite wealthy enough to hold much power. Generation after generation as the Bahlow legacy passed from father to son, mother to daughter their situation never got worse but it never improved either that is until Andris Bahlow came to the head of the family. A certifiable genius he followed closely with the rise of technology within the human world, taking an interest in how things worked. At first his family highly disapproved however the more into it he became the more he saw a lucrative way to shoot the Bahlow name into power.

Slowly they shifted from tailoring to the media sector, steadily building upon what Andris had started until the Bahlow Media empire advance them straight to the top of both the financial world and the Dhampir Merchant Guild. Andris was the first Bahlow to take the seat as the Head who later passed the position to his son Rafael who was proceeded by his son. The family grew and adapted with the ever changing and shifting world of technology, staying one step ahead of the competition or buying them out completely. The hope for the future rested squarely on Vince’s shoulders, his vision for innovation taking wing the moment he met the lovely Anita who became the driving force behind his term. With her clever business savvy and his mind for operations the two of them tripled the annual gross and paved the way into a new era. 

It was this world that Matthias Bahlow was born, on a cool spring evening in April with the whole of his family in attendance. The Bahlow Family never did anything small or without nearly all of them present as it was their creed that they were stronger as a unit than apart. Growing up he was surrounded by relatives of all ages, constantly striving to make each other better. Intellectually there was no better group of minds, their collective drive toward greater heights of achievement. It became obvious early on that Matthias was a genius much like his father, catching on to everything with relative ease.

Matthias was taken on several playdates with the children of the seven families though he remained mostly to himself. He harbored the privileged offspring no ill will though came to know the lofty attitudes that seemed such an integral part of their personalities. During a summer of his 8th year he was taken to an outing to the Ritcher estate, a rambunctious Agga was able to tempt out the quiet brainiac with a rousing game of tag. Mid way through the game a surly Estheim arrived, fully taking the attention and excluding poor Matthias, even going so far as to pull little Agga from him as she tried to include him. Bowing to the whims of those equal to her station Agga turned away from him leaving him hurt and alone. Matthias learned a valuable lesson that day, setting a firm line between himself and the spoiled Seven.

Over the following 4 years Matthias preferred to stay at home, surrounded by his family who knew and understood him. His aptitude for technology became a constant marvel his parents feeding his curiosity with books and the means to grow his skills. He loved to take things apart to see how they worked, tinkering with the components to create new hardware or improving upon the original designs. The only thing he loved more was his little sister, born when he was 9 and a source of joy for the brilliant young man. If he couldn’t be found in his room at his work desk then he could most assuredly be found in that nursery, tending to his little sister for he took his duties as an older brother very seriously.

Unfortunately his mother became concerned with his lack of interest in the outside world and insisted that his schooling be more formal. At 12 years of age Matthias was enrolled at St. Boniface’s School for Boys, a prestigious academy that catered to the education of the Dhampir elite as well as an array of upper class humans who could afford the tuition. While he was slightly upset about being taken away from his sister, Matthias was also a bit excited to be going to school. He hoped to learn more and find other young people who were like minded with similar interests and intellect. His optimism was ruined the moment he stepped foot within the facility as much to his consternation he was assigned a room with none other than the Crown Prince himself Volker Desgoffe und Taxis. His hopes for a fresh start and an even playing field were dashed, the first few weeks passed him in a cloud of sullenness and irritation.

For nearly three months Matthias refused to even look at his roommate, instead pouring himself into his studies. He’d never spoken to him and yet found the Crown Prince just as pretentious and high handed as any of the spawn of the seven, his conceited attitude grating against his nerves. His schedule was nearly identical to Volker’s which made things even worse, the two constantly coming face to face. Late one evening the pair were up late studying when a frustrated Volker threw his book across the room, hitting the wall near where Matthias was pouring over his notes. Startled and a little indignant he turned to give the Crown Prince a piece of his mind, the acidic ass chewing he had forming in his mind died on his lips the moment he beheld the other boy.

Volker’s hands were buried in his hair, a slight sheen of tears shining in his brilliant eyes with a clear look of frustration and anxiety upon his features. In that moment he didn’t see the vindictive and arrogant Prince he had been making him into, instead he saw a peer struggling to understand and comprehend a subject. For the first time since he had arrived Matthias cracked a smile, shooting a teasing insult in his roommate’s direction who immediately burst into laughter. Just like that the tension between the two shattered, creating an instant bond that would follow them through the entirety of their school careers.

Every preceding year the two would insist on being roommates, their friendship and common living space creating an unshakeable bond that most people didn’t understand. For Matthias he saw Volker as the man he was meant to be, a kind and yet strong leader in the making. While the common public opinion was that the Prince wasn’t all that intelligent, his antics with his buddy Estheim marking him as a trouble maker rather than the cool and confident individual Matthias knew him to be. Volker was singularly gifted in chemistry, often assisting his roommate when the concepts were beyond his reach in comprehension and likewise Matthias liked to think he kept his friend humble.

In addition, Matthias’s view on the children of the other seven families shifted, sparking a few friendships including one with the lovely and ever vivacious Agga Ritcher. At one point during their early years in school Matthias had had a very large crush upon the lively blonde, her infectious smile and shining personality drawing him in like a moth to the flame. Knowing how much Volker cared for her however helped him evolve the crush to simple friendly affection, growing out of the crush with the passage of time. Suddenly Matthias found himself surrounded by the future of the Dhampir community, the Elite offspring that would be the next generation. The only smudge in his otherwise perfect world was obnoxious and cocky Estheim.

Matthias wasn’t one to tell another how to live their life but he was never without his opinions. From that very first situation as a child Matthias has firmly disliked Estheim, the other boy’s rambunctious, pretentious, and often uncivil attitude steadily grew as they became older. Despite his numerous attempts to dissuade Volker from the friendship it seemed he was destined to put up with the rude antics of Estheim Kreiss, resolving himself to having the spoiled punk in his circle of friends. For a time he had been afraid that Volker’s connection with Kreiss might eclipse his own, as the influence Estheim has over his friend was a definite cause for concern. It took a drunken evening alone during the summer to allay his fears, the unconventional bonding ritual settling any doubts he may have harbored.

“Where on Earth did you get this stuff? It’s awful.” Matthias chuckled over his slurring words, tipping the bottle back once more to let the scalding clear liquid burn a path down his throat. As the last drop hit his tongue the teenage male studied the empty bottle through blurry eyes wondering where all the alcohol had gone.

“This stuff is cheap which means it easily walks off without notice.” Volker took a sloppy drag off his own bottle, some of the liquor dripping down his chin. Several empty bottles were scattered around the pair as they lounged on the couch, the steady buzz muffling the world in thick cotton. He neglected to mention who had taught him how to swipe the liquor, Thias had been in a good mood since the summer had began and given the guy was staying for several weeks he didn’t want to spoil it.

“Can you believe we are almost 18? Like didn’t we just start school?” Another chuckled rumbled through his chest, the slight exaggeration on all of his s’s was oddly comical to his addled mind. Tossing the empty bottle to the floor he fumbled for the last one, working at the cap for a few moments. “I mean, I haven’t even kissed a girl yet?!” With a pop the top came loose, some of the contents sloshing onto his pants from the abrupt movement. “Not that any girl wants to kiss me. My complete lack of allure kinda shot that horse in the face.” He muttered the sentence before taking another long drink from the glass container, the self deprecating statement delivered with some bitterness.

Volker nearly spit out the mouthful he had just chugged back, half laughing in astonishment. “Never?” His bloodshot eyes blinked in disbelief at the male who had become his closest confidant, Matthias’s head shaking vehemently even as he kept downing liquor from the bottle. “That’s not right.” His brain tried sloshing through the cottonlike buzz, a slight frown on his face before an idea popped up within his drunken mind. “I’ll do it.”

Dropping the now half empty bottle, Matthias wiped his mouth with the back of his hand gasping for a breath. “Do what?”

“Kiss you.” Volker’s voice was steady as the two young men stared at one another, both trying to gauge if the other was serious. Almost in perfect unison the two leaned into one another, melding their lips together…

Despite their massive hangovers the next both Matthias and Volker remembered the kiss, both laughing over their drunken antics. Volker took great pleasure in teasing him, often warning his friend that he couldn’t love him for he was promised to another. Matthias met these barbs with sarcasm for he wasn’t really interested in men, taking the kiss as a one time thing and sarcastically admitting to the Prince that he wasn’t that good of a kisser. Matthias was grateful to his friend for the gesture, their bond growing ever deeper as adulthood approached.  

On his 18th birthday Matthias was taken to the Dojo as was the common tradition for his people, dragged before family and friends for his choosing ceremony. He’d been highly trained in combat and all manner of weapons over the course of his school career. While he was skilled and proficient he’d never had a higher interest in anything weaponized outside of the computer. Still he had to follow tradition and was soon pair with the halberd, the long wicked pike like weapon glowing a lemon yellow beneath his fingers.

Upon graduation he was expected to take his position next to his father who was intent upon grooming him to take over their media franchise within a few short years. His sister however had grown in both beauty and intelligence, her knack for the business far out reaching his own for she had the passion for it where he did not. Thankfully he was saved from having to tell his parents as Volker arrived to enlist his help and the Bahlow’s could not argue with the Crown Prince.

Volker wished to travel to a city in the United States, a place called Evermore for reasons unknown and it was his wish that his closest friends accompany him. The thought of going to the States didn’t sit right with Matthias however his friend easily talked him into it. Volker was his nearest and dearest friend and there was nothing that he wouldn’t do for him. Now he was headed into a foreign city within a foreign country where the traditions he had grown up with were ignored, to a future unknown.

~Personality Traits~

Positive Traits: Genius, Intuitive, Observant, Cunning

Negative Traits: Stoic, Serious, Introvert