Leland of Durham

Leland of Durham was a Tremere who lived in the Fief of York during the 13th century.

Biography

Leland was a potent magician of the hermetic order before his Embrace^[1], concerning himself primarily with the study of Britain's often turbulent weather patterns. As he progressed in his studies, he developed a measure of control over the winds and storms sweeping the island, learning to turn misting rain into torrents and gray skies to blue.

In 1098, Leland and a fellow sorcerer Reginald met with the Tremere Meerlinda when she arrived in England, recognizing her as a magician of some skill and potency. Welcoming her into their chantry, the men listened to her tales of late-night rituals and the secrets of the universe. She spoke of immense power and the ability to shed the mortal coil, combined with promises of untold knowledge and the expansion of magical horizons.

Reginald was immediately seduced by her words, and Leland warmed to her quickly. Always rash and impulsive, Reginald accepted Meerlinda's offer and was embrace as her childe in 1100. He struggled to accept his new existence, but soon learned the ways of manipulating his blood to great effect. Meerlinda attempted to establish herself in Glastonbury at the time and used Reginald and Leland as her primary contacts. Thing didn't go as planned though.

An alliance of other mages and fae railed against the vampiric presence near such holy ground. Meerlinda, along with Reginald and several other newly Embraced magi, worked hard to convince the chantry of the benefits of the "new way", and Leland accepted the Embrace from Reginald in the second year of conflict. Eventually forced to flee north to Durham, Leland became Meerlinda's representative from the newly established Lion's Gate Chantry. Struggling to find a place in Baron John's court, he finally earned respect and trust by saving the Ventrue from a fire that would have likely destroyed the lord in 1190.

Hearing of Leland's entry into the baron's inner circle, Mithras proposed an alliance with the Tremere. Leland accepted and became an agent provocateur, reporting on and eliminating Cainites in John's infrastructure who posed a threat to Methuselah. Leland would never hurt John himself, though, nor report on any Tremere as part of the deal. In return, Mithras would provide Leland with extremely rare tomes and promised a place in his own court in London once the Barony of York was sufficiently under control.

Character Sheet

References