Know Your Kindred – Helena
Name: Helena
Clan: Toreador
Generation: 4th (previously 5th)
Embrace: 1233 BC
For a time Helena was the most powerful Kindred in Chicago. Even though she laid in torpor for over 100 years, she controlled the whole city through her mental powers. But throughout her unlife she has been locked in a 1300 year war with her archenemies, the Brujah Menele.
The two Kindred’s history goes back to Carthage, a city where humans and vampires lived in peace and harmony. Carthage was Menele’s utopia until Helena betrayed the city to the Romans. In return Menele summoned a fire storm that destroyed Helena’s city of Pompeii. The two have since chased each other around the world, until they finally met in hand-to-hand combat on a Civil War battlefield in Illinois. They traded thunderous blows and sent each other to torpor.
Their bodies were rescued by their retainers and brought to safety. Although she laid in torpor, Helena was still able to use her Auspex and Dominate to continue her fight against Menele and in the process manipulate others to shape Chicago as she desired.
In 1990, Helena finally awoke from torpor. The psychic warfare continued between she and Menele, until in 2000, Menele used the Daughters of Cacophony to sing a song that sent Helena back to torpor. The spell did not last long and Helena awoke again. Her hatred of Menele and her willingness to pay any cost for even a weak and convoluted form of revenge had her teaming up with the demon-worshiping vampire, Barbaro. Helena aided Barbaro in a dark ritual which sent her through the Abyss and to summon the ancient Baali – Nergal, Prince of Hell.
In exchange for greater power, Helena gave a part of her soul to Nergal. She hoped he would aid her in destroying Menele, but Nergal refused. Instead he gave her the location of Menele’s haven, where she would have to lead any assault herself. Helena was not happy to receive so little after paying so much.
Helena went to Montreal, where she made a deal with the demon Metathiax to obtain the Kaymakli Fragment – an engraved disk with ancient writing about the end of the world.
Despite some set backs, Helena finally found Menele, who had just come out of torpor. After already killing the !Toreador Mercy, a wounded Helena collided and fought violently with Menele. Helena sank her fangs into Menele’s neck and he in turn sank his fangs into her chest. A combination of images and memories flooded between the two old enemies as they consumed each other’s blood. In the flurry, a shocking revelation flashed before both their eyes. The struggle ended and the two engaged in a passionate kiss. The sun began to rise and shine into the room. The two Kindred rolled away from each other to escape the light. Helena grabbed the Fragment and left with a new sense of duty.
Helena now hopes the Kaymakli Fragment will lead to Lilith, the Dark Mother, Adam’s first wife and ex-lover of Lucifer. Helena hopes Lilith will help her find a way to regain her soul.
Most Recently, Helena was last seen on a sail boat near the Red Sea. Upon learning that the Gangrel Warlord Karsh was appointed the Camarilla’s new Imperator, Helena, with the Kaymakli Fragment in her hands, set sail for Zanzibar to visit an “old friend.”
To be continued…
Sources: Chicago By Night, pg 102-103. Nights of Prophecy, pg 37-40. VTES Storyline Tournaments.