Aelianus Invictus
Prince of Hell

Fallen Name: Astophoriel

History

    Imagine for a moment that you stand in the middle of the most perfect day you've ever seen. A rich summer afternoon, with golden sunlight pouring over you and the scent of lavender blossoms and apple tree's on the air. Bathed in warmth and splendour, you feel content, happy, at peace with the world and everything in it. Imagine then, knowing that your place in the world was secure, that you were loved by everyone around you, that your family treasured you and wanted you to stay with them forever. Imagine your older brother coming to you troubled by something, and imagine you deciding that your brother was right, and saying so aloud. Imagine that golden sunshine turning to darkness, that glorious warmth descending into the cold of the vacuum, and then the sensation and shock of battle - violence only to be cast out, cast down and forsaken. Thats my story.    

The creature now known as Aelianus Invictus was once a member of the Heavenly Host's, one of the Seraphim, and a Grigori of the Host. All of that sadly came to an end when Lucifer came to him and told him about his doubts about humanity. He pointed out the flaws he saw, nascent and not yet flourishing, and the angel Astophoriel could see the same seeds of darkness that lay buried within mankind. In agreement then, Astophoriel went with Lucifer to confront their Father, and like Lucifer was cast out, and cast down. Astophoriel was a leader in that struggle, though in the end it availed him little. Upon being forced into Hell by the Almighty, Astophoriel became Aelianus, and he was one of the first demons to escape the Pit, and one of the few Princes that does not spend a great deal of time in Hell.

Since those early days, Aelianus has been experimenting with humans, and his fellow demons, and coming to a better understanding of his own condition. At first there was rage, and in that rage Aelianus helped discover the way to turn humans into vampires. In his rage, he gleefully destroyed soul after soul, luring them to him with honeyed words and then binding them low, chaining them to his will and his power. But, rage does not endure forever. When Hate had left him hollowed out and empty, he found something like peace when he possessed a humble farmer. This farmer lived close to the earth all of his days, and lived a simple but good life. The sheer humanity of the mans psyche shocked Aelianus out of his hate, restoring something akin to humanity to the demon. But, he was still a demon. Aelianus began to regret some of his actions, and to that end he decided to take an unusual stance where it came to humans and his own kind. He knew, one day, that Lucifer would escape the Cage he had been thrust into, and he knew that in Lucifers pride, the Archangel would lay waste to humanity, especially if God were not there to stop him.

So, Aelianus devoted the rest of his existence to giving mankind the tools to fight back against this inevitable outcome, and included in that inevitability the eventual rise and return of the first vampires. To that end, he created the Cauldron of Storms, an organization which he believed then, and now, could shepherd humanity, vampires, and the rest of the creatures that inhabited the world to living together in relative peace.

Aelianus has historically avoided his own kind, rarely if ever returning to hell and has been 'active' for the last several thousand years. It is believed by some of his fellow demons that he is a member of the Penitent faction.

The Present

Since the 17^th century, Aelianus has been busy, laying the groundwork for future endeavours and seizing a great deal of wealth and goods for himself and for the Cauldron. He has traveled the world several times over and exploring the world. He has also become somemthing of an expert on the various cultures of the world.

When the gates of Hell began to crack open, Aelianus was able to avoid the initial surge of demonic activity, but it seems like his ability to do so is in jeopardy. Aelianus struggles to straddle the line between his goals and activities and avoiding his 'brothers'.

Avatars

Arrival in Denver

Aelianus arrived in Denver months ago, approximately two months before the troubles began to befall the city. Aelianus is skilled and capable at engineering situations without clear victors and was able to successfully orchestrate not only the decline and eventual fall of the Master of the City as well as the deteriorating connections between the various lycanthropes faction. The violence that ensued was able to work to his advantage, and with the aid of some of the resources brought to bear against the city, was able to completely destroy the power structure inherent in the city and then help put the city back together.

Powers & Abilities

• Sorcery
• Source: Corrupted Grace. Techniques: Destruction, Unweaving
• Sorcery
• Source: Leylines/Geomancy. Techniques: Protection, Shapeshifting
• Sorcery
• Source: Lifeweb. Techniques: Curses, Fortune