X
X is a Malkavian native of Santa Monica, LA. He currently lies in torpor just off the coast of Venice Beach.
Biography
Who exactly the Kindred known as "X" was before the Embrace is difficult to discern: even he doesn't fully remember. He knows that he's from Santa Monica, being particularly fond of it's bohemian Venice Beach neighborhood. He knows that X isn't his real name, but can't recall what his original name was. He knows that it was Therese Voerman who "took" his name from him, but he can't (or won't) elaborate on how exactly that occurred. At some point he even Embraced a childe of his own, only to panic and lock them away in a hidden location just off of the waterfront. Either that or it was an entirely "hypothetical" scenario he made up on the spot. It's hard to tell with X.
Regardless, X dwelled within Baron Voerman's domain, feeding on local "beach bums" and performing odd jobs for various other licks in LA. He had a particularly good working relationship with Jasper Heartwood, as X was one of the few vampires whom the Nosferatu didn't outright despise. It was while repaying a favor for Jasper that X first met the fledgling Annabelle Li - tutoring the Brujah on the basic ins-and-outs of her new undead existence. He'd accompany Annabelle and her coterie on several occasions afterwards, proving invaluable in his own strange, meandering way.
X's relationship with his own Baron, meanwhile, only continued to depreciate. Therese frequently abused and terrified X, often while insisting that she was trying to "help" him. His much more cordial relationship with Therese's twin sister Jeanette hardly improved matters. When it came to light that Therese might have potentially sold out the rest of the Anarch Movement for a seat on Prince Vannevar Thomas' Primogen Council, X leapt at the opportunity for some very cathartic payback. Unfortunately, this vendetta sent the Malkavian on a vicious downward spiral as he attempted to acquire enough power to finally challenge Baron Voerman - culminating in him attempting to diablerize Annabelle of all people.
Therese herself would vanish after being put under a Blood Hunt by Prince Thomas, leaving her territory in the hands of Jeanette, who together with X lorded over Santa Monica as "Co-Barons". While the other Voerman sister was far more appreciative of X, she'd continually enable her clanmate's worst impulses over the course of the next year, only increasing his inner turmoil. When the Second Inquisition arrived at The Asylum's doors during the 2021 assault, X actually went with the Leopoldites willingly after they promised to help him "make the voices finally stop".
Of course, these promises naturally proved to be empty. Unintentionally re-united with Annabelle within the holding cells of the San Fernando Cenaculum, the two Kindred would stage a jailbreak and come face-to-face with Adrian Clairmont, with X being scourged by the ex-Bishop's True Faith multiple times.
Though the Anarchs would succeed in driving back the SI, it was a pyrrhic victory for X. Feeling himself slipping further and further into the thrall of the Beast, X asked one last favor of his old friend Jasper - to help him lock himself away in an old hatch just off of Venice Beach. There, he could sleep, and perhaps be free of the voices that tormented him. Presumably, X still slumbers under the waves even now...
Trivia
- X was introduced as the player character of special guest Xander Jeanneret in LA by Night S1E3: Fear No Monsters. He'd appear in several more episodes throughout the chronicle, eventually becoming a part of the main cast by Season 4.
- X is one of several L.A. By Night characters who possesses their own official Loresheet, released as part of special promotional deal with Dog Might Games.