Holy Backstory: Headmaster Dorian Lamprey

Whew, now I'm filling in the first antagonist character designs. Ok, I admit, the Headmaster of the Asylum for Wicked Children is a tad Snapey right now (I had to watch Deathly Hallows Part II before I did this design). I'll be working that out. But, for your reading pleasure, the full history of the Headmaster-the first antagonist in the "Infinite Spiral" is now revealed.

 

I actually love that his palette is very similar to James. I think this is very appropriate.

BASIC INFO
Name: Headmaster Dorian Lamprey
Race: Quarter Named One/ Three quarters Human = Wicked
World(s): The world of the Wicked
True Name: Ira (watchful)

 

Read more for the full backstory.

APPEARANCE
Age: 30-40 (at least by appearance), looks older than he is.
Eyes: Ice blue, like James.
Hair: Chin length, neatly waved around head, dark brown
Skin: Pale
Height: 6'
Weight: 150lbs (thin man)
Clothing: The Headmaster is well suited, with a long pinstriped jacket, pants, vest. He wears a thin tie, and his shirt is lace cuffed. When going out he carries a cane and wears a mighty fine hat. His shoes are always perfectly polished. He wears spectacles to read.

TRAITS and SKILLS
Traits: Observant, guilt-driven, self loathing, pitiless, polite
Distinguishing Features: Brand on the palm of his hand.
Mental Abilities: Knows exactly what to say to strike fear/guilt/or remorse in most of his charges.
"Magic" Abilities:Can detect the true Name of a Wicked child that is otherwise unwilling to share it.
Habits: Listening to "Baby Face" while punishing the Wicked Children.

HISTORY:
Dorian Lamprey is old enough to remember the Massacre. His mother was half Named One and half human, therefore Wicked. His father abandoned him at a young age because of his own Illumination (he wanted a normal human son). In an attempt to bring her husband back, Lamprey's mother attempted to assimilate as a human, using no Wickedness and punishing her son for doing the same.

This did not spare his mother from the Massacre. Half blood and whole blooded Named Ones were considered the most Wicked (as to humans, in these instances Wickedness is dominant), and due to the color of their blood and temptation to use their "magic" were considered a threat. Therefore, when the soldiers came, knowing exactly how to kill the Named Ones and their half-blood offspring, she was not spared for her human-like choices. The Victrola was playing "Baby Face" when the soldiers barged into their home, torturing and killing Lamprey's mother in cold blood in front of her son. They threatened to do the same to Dorian if he did not give up the Names of the other Wicked he knew. At first he did not agree, but when one of the soldiers branded his hand with a hot iron, he gave up every Wicked he knew and those he could find with his mind, contributing many deaths to the Massacre that day.

He was forced to sign the Agreement, swearing an oath to never use Wickedness in the world again, signing his Name to the document. He was placed in the care of a foster family that raised him in much the same way as his mother. When he came to adulthood, the government offered him a position at the head of the Asylum for Wicked Children, as the humans that had run the Asylum had grown afraid of the children and their Illuminations. This combined with the fact they knew he could acquire the Names and locations of unprotected young minds was considered a special skill for the position. They allowed him a special Amendment in his Agreement to allow the use of only this ability to control the children and attempt to conform them to a human code of existence.

He hates James for being what he could not be-brave in the face of pain, punishment, and power. Every time James takes a beating for his friends (especially Christian, who is always in trouble), it reminds Dorian of his own failures, and that he could have chosen to save many lives the day of the Massacre, had he given up his own (in fact, there may just be a reality where this happens which would be fun to explore).

 

Headmaster Lamprey and the Infinite Spiral (c) me, Kristy Cunningham, of course.