Background:
Some description of how he was to his men under his command during the Great War
Geoffrey Harvard was sired by Frederick Humble in 1918 shortly after the armistice was signed on the 11th of November. Serving as a Major as part of his Majesties Army during the First World War, Geoffrey proved to be a vital asset in attaining key objectives, leading from the front out of a sense of honour to his men under his command, he was widely known as a traditional man choosing to have his men on the best dress even in the worst circumstances, however his troops would occasionally see him as a bit of a kid when he was come down to the trench to gamble and knock back a few well distilled drinks.
However in the officer’s quarters Geoffrey was a different man, very well done, always looking one’s best, never a hair out of place. Geoffrey would be embraced by his German Born sire because of his traditionalist attitude, and the fact that he suited the Ventrue’s best interest at the time, Geoffrey would go down as one of the last MIA’s of the war, a tragedy his comrades would wonder about for years to come.
His childhood and adolescence Geoffrey had been a child born into a Victorian life in 1892; however after losing both parents in a terrible train accident on a holiday to wales in 1900, Geoffrey was left to be raised by his uncle and aunt who owned a large coal company in Cornwall. Both his uncle and aunt were firm but fair, raising Geoffrey not to rely on others but to stand up and believe and do as he saw fit as to do himself, his aunt showed a softer side to him, providing bed time stories and night time snacks, Geoffrey later found out that she did this as a way to raise him as to not think that all his childhood had been robbed of him because of his parents death.
Geoffrey was taught manly though his uncle’s “life lessons” as well as a well paid for private education in London. He learnt the usual subjects as well as taking a keen and noticeable interest in languages, learning French and Chinese Mandarin.
His uncle would take him down the mines to show him the hard labour and would often more then not to his aunt’s displeasure go and help the miners in their daily job. Geoffrey would later end up going to Sandhurst Military Academy in 1911 at the age of 19.
Sanhurst Career During his training he was removed from a days training to be presented at the Chinese Embassy as a secondary translator for the ambassador representing China. He would relay to the ambassadors present of China’s grave new revolutionary threat. China was warning the western powers of this threat and to say that their support for any potential later engagements in the east would not be guaranteed as first and foremost was the threat within.
At his passing out parade he would become a first lieutenant in his Majesties Scottish London Regiment, however after his uncle had purchased his commission for him he would be given the rank of Captain, he escalated the ranks of the army after a few clashes with enemy units and led a successful victory. For his actions he would be made a major, this also happened as the more senior men in command were missing, presumed dead.
A proficient shooter, trained manly during his adolescence whilst hunting with his uncle and later during basic training at Sandhurst in 1914. Preferring his service revolver over his Enfield he found the handling and recoil easier to control. His interest in American weapon development came after his move in 1932, in that summer of the great depression when gang life was rife he sought out home protection, there was many a scrap had in his apartment usually ending up with guns being drawn and in one case an intruder shot off of the apartments balcony.
How he met his Sire and his return to England Frederick, Geoffrey’s sire, would only appear towards the end of the war, coming forth from the lines in the middle of the night to talk with Geoffrey, posing as a lost and somewhat out of place traveller, he would embrace Geoffrey and explain as little as possible to him until they reached Geoffrey’s father old home in Folkestone in the Martello Tower. One place he had not been since he was a boy, over the next three to four years Fredrick instructed Geoffrey on the duty’s he was to uphold and regard as now his only set of laws to abide by. Over this time Geoffrey would convert parts of his family home to be more in line with his new life, adding additional sections to the basements now housing a rifle range, a garage and a place for his own business ventures. Geoffrey purchased a hired hand, a young gentleman known as James Reinhold in 1922 and using a method of ghoulifing the fellow to become his glorified driver and connection to the ever changing world. James in later years would be told to go and train in the new modern ways (i.e. cell phones, computers etc.) James also became during the war a pilot for the RAF, surviving this he later relied on contacts to keep him updated on changes of which there were many. James helped his master get across the Atlantic to America for the first time in 1932.
Although sired by Fredrick Humble, who did indeed teach Geoffrey most things about being part of the kindred, it would be the Prince of Maidstone (Kent) who spotted the keenness and odd Ventrue and decided to take the youngling under his wing and be his mentor. The resourcefulness at the hands of such a young vampire would prove to be one of the finest achievements during his young years.
How he got his retainer and his second home in New YorkGeoffrey purchased his second home in the bustling cosmopolitan city of New York. This was to serve simply as a rest and relaxation home. There is however a couple of secret panelled bookcases where there are guns to be found. There are many panels in Geoffrey’s houses each holding something secret.
Extra's I thought seemed ... cool Geoffrey will carry his Webley Service revolver around in a concealed holster under his left arm chambered in .38 whilst in Britain. His Enfield Stays at the Martello tower in England whilst his Colt .45 and 1928 Thompson Machine Gun are in his New York home stored in one of the many secret panels in his apartment.
Geoffrey is quite the Bureaucrat, studying and knowing the channels to locate those he requires a quick word with. The thought of eternal life is one that poses many thoughts, for Geoffrey it was simply a case of what to learn, what to study and in which way can it thus be applied. Geoffrey would spend some time studying British and American Law to a basic understanding. Although he had other interests in fields such as politics in which he was told his father had been quite influential at the time of his unfortunate death Geoffrey’s father was seeking to run for the local Parliamentary seat in the commons.
Geoffrey tries to retain as much humanity as possible, this is a rather feeble attempt to become what he was, he does not resent the fact he is a vampire, rather he feels that by attempting to resemble what he was it will develop who he will become. This persona of a “Normal” life is continued with his ability to actually consume food. When able to he lives to go for a ride off his classic BMW or a drive of his wonderful kept Bentley, more often than not this is just casual rather than racing. He is indeed seen as a product of days gone by, with such, what would be classed as today, unusual mannerisms, Geoffrey holds a chivalrous code of honour in his head towards situations, this unfortunately has cost him dearly on occasions but more often than not it has provided clarity to judgement.