Zachary Griffiths

Mortal History

Zach Griffiths was born to mortal parents in turn of the century Chicago, Illinois. His family lived in the west side slums, in tenement housing. As a child, growing up on the streets of Chicago with no public schooling, he was free to do as he wished. His first job was as a bicycle delivery boy, running mail and other deliveries around the city, learning it's streets and alleys. He was a teen and young man during prohibition and the rise of organized crime, and one day he got involved to make some quick money. The bosses had noticed that he never missed a delivery, and always was respectful and honest. Zach was fast on his feet and fast with his mouth, and it got the attention of the local mob bosses, who wanted him to run messages to various parts of the organization. It was then that Zachary first got a taste of power and wealth. The first time one of the bosses invited him into his office, Zach saw the opulence that money could buy, and he was hooked for life. He wanted all the nice things that money had, and more.

Zach started to work harder to get these newfound rewards. He began training his own gang of smugglers, moving things into and around the city. He could get anything from one side of the city to the other, a combination of fast feet and a sly tongue. He continued to work for the mob, moving plans and papers and illegal cargo across the city. He became a low-level boss, in charge of bringing things into the city from out of town. He was continually reliable, and one night, he had the opportunity of an un-lifetime.

Unknown to Zach, many of the mobsters were retainers for an Invictus elder, Lexington Braff, who was making his bid for the Princedom of the domain of Chicago. Using his extensive information network and an army of mob thugs, he eliminated all other contenders for the throne. However, this left his forces weakened, and he needed to recruit replacements. Due to his success, Griffiths had drawn the attention of the Invictus brass and one night, the Prince ordered his Hound, Lady Angelica Dursee, to test the young and still living Griffiths. Zach's task was simple: deliver a briefcase to a woman, unseen by anyone. Zach succeeded simply by paying a busboy to slip the woman a note, and getting one of his men to drop the case at the front desk for her to pick up. Although simple, Zach wasn’t seen, and Lady Dursee was convinced Zachary was hers to Sire.

First, Thirsty Nights

Zach’s first week as Kindred was unpleasant. He repeatedly fell victim to bloody rages and was not fit for public appearance. However, with constant training and guidance from his Sire, he was able to control his beast, although imperfectly. It took several months, but Zach was eventually ready to serve the Prince. He returned to similar duties he had while alive, only now he was bolstered by Kindred power. His Sire also believed that running a criminal empire would prepare Zach to serve the Invictus even more than he could before. Zach was trained to run a gang, organize crime in a neighborhood, and supply a safehouse.

When Zach had succeeded at his tasks to his Sire’s contentment, a task that took nearly 10 years, he was provided a gift: a specially groomed and trained retainer, which Zach was allowed to name. He chose the name Accalia, after the feast held in honor of the woman whose service allowed the Roman Empire to eventually be founded. With her skills and abilities a subtle compliment to his direct, forceful tactics, Zach was able to succeed at a level above any he had ever been able to before. Zach, seeing the benefits to keeping her around, made her his ghoul, ensuring that his most useful tool would be around as long as possible.

While Zach was growing in skill and ability, the Domain around him was starting to crumble. Prince Braff was a cold, calculating, jealous Kindred, and the success his coup had delivered to his allies had soured the Prince. The political environment decayed along with the Prince, with each decree more outrageous than the last. Eventually, the pressure broke, the Prince’s guard revolted against him, and Kindred fled the domain in every direction, including Zach and his retainer.

The Wanderings

Once Zach and Cali were able to escape from the Domain of Chicago, they wandered from domain to domain, around the United States. First traveling northeast, to New York City, then down the east coast until they arrived in Miami, then west and north to Nashville, south to New Orleans, west to Dallas, then to San Antonio, northwest to Denver, south to Santa Fe, southwest to Phoenix, and then west again to San Diego. In most of these Domains, things would eventually unravel. Zach would upset someone, or would consolidate so much power into the hands of the local Invictus that the other covenants had to act. Either way, Zach would be forced to leave and find a new home. This was especially bad in San Diego.

The political environment in San Diego was fiercely xenophobic, and “outsider” kindred were not given the same respect or rights as others. Zach was fine with this, moving to the edge of the domain and establishing himself in the way he knew how: criminally. The money, weapons, and manpower that Zach was gathering drew the attention of the other Kindred, and the Court’s decree of a blood hunt on Zach’s head was uncontested. The Kindred assaulted his haven, seeking his life. Zach was prepared for the assault, and managed to escape, causeing the final deaths of many of the Kindred that invaded his home. Zach did not escape unharmed, and Cali was severely wounded in the escape as well. Once again reduced to fleeing, Zach headed north.

Dark Sacramento

Zach arrived in Sacramento in early April of 2012. He arrived and was temporarily acknowledged by Seneschal Donovan, who said he had a certain time with which to prove himself useful to the domain. That time having come and gone, and with the Seneschal’s approval, Zach became a standing member of the domain in July of that year.

Zach took his time establishing himself with Clan Gangrel and the Covenant of the Invictus, careful to learn the politics and the powers that be. Zach also continued his search for mentors, allies, and friends. With the lucky arrival in the domain of several new Kindred, Zach has been able to form a coterie. Abigail Pendleton and Erich Passions in particular, both sharing Zach’s covenant, have been instrumental in his gaining social standing, as well as plotting and scheming their coterie’s way to power.

Due to some, shall we say, incidents, Zach had to leave Sacramento behind for a short while in May of 2013. But, with his personal business taken care of, he arrived back in town just in time to pull off some Lex Luthor at the Heroes and Villains Court in August of 2014.

Dark Futures

Zach has big plans. As he grows in security and approval from the other Kindred in the Domain, Zach will expand his reach into the city’s criminal underbelly. Mercenaries, prostitutes, arms dealers, although not necessarily in that order. Zach needs cash, weapons, and bodies, and he will have them in spades when his criminal goals are accomplished. Zach plans to slowly eat away at the fringes of the city’s established crime, and begin building a vertical monopoly, eventually ending up with a self-sustaining crime family that feeds the city’s vices.

As Zachary's blood grows stronger, his beast calls out to him as he sleeps and demands that he stop his wanderings and settle into a permanent lair. The stories and lessons his Sire taught Zach are kept safe in his memory, ready for when Zach can finally settle down and bind himself to some land. When Zach has a home, he will be further able to practice with the powers of his Kindred blood. Tenure, Protean, Celerity, and Obfuscate are the order of the day, with some Animalism to round out the powers needed to keep an eye on things. Zach plans to use these powers to claim the domain positions of Tachnologist and Fortressor, two positions which are currently not filled.

Zach is not one to neglect his human side, however. Keeping the man strong so it can fight back the beast is a necessary thing when one plans to live forever. Zach plans to build on his finances, as well as groom a retainer and find mentors to train him in various skillsets. Zach’s hand-to-hand combat needs improving, as well as running a business and learning about the Kindred condition. Zach also wants to study his body in detail, to better understand what it is and how to change it with his Clan discipline.