![[Gustov]](img_char/gustov.gif)
| Type | Prime Alpha-Wizard Born-Witch Ancient |
|---|---|
| Status | Alive |
| Born | 503 BCE |
| Known relatives | Family of The Nyx. Morana Muna (lover, sort-of wife). |
| First appearance | “Snowfall and Rose Petals”: 2002-03-04. |
Is it Gustov or Gustav? It’s both. It’s pronounced the same either way, gùs-tâv. The wizard himself prefers the Gustov spelling.
Gustov is a Prime Wizard Ancient, but that is not his real name. No one knows his real name. He was born somewhere in the Balkan Mountains in 503 BCE and sprang from one of the most magically endowed families in the entire ancient world. The name given to this family was “The Nyx”, meaning “Night” as they all seemed prefer the night to the day. No one knew the family’s true identity.
Gustov rode with Alexander the Great and finally settled in Alexandria, Egypt, in 290 BCE. He would later study at great length in the Mouseion, the Great Library of Alexandria. After the 47 BCE fire that destroyed much of the Library, Gustov disappeared for nearly a thousand years. The Nyx died out during this time, especially once they started being hunted down by the Inquisition of the Damned (begun in 1231 CE).
In 1529, when she was a girl of fourteen, Eleanor Uasal of the Clan Chattan, was rumored to have dealings with a man fitting Gustov’s description. He was also believed to be involved with the Dark Practitioners, possibly being a high ranking member.
However, the main thing that is known about Gustov is his dealings with Vlad Dracula, the Vampire. They began when he arrived at Dracula’s Castle in 1754, seeking to learn the dark magick of the Tepes-vampires. While Gustov and Dracula were never friends, they did develop a kind of respect for each other, even planning “raids” and practicing magick together. They tried to remain civil to each other for the sake of Morana, but a growing distrust eventually destroyed that completely. By 1769, they were avowed enemies. Gustov left the Castle, but Morana went with him.
Gustov had admired Dracula for his cunning and loyalty, but Morana was his main focus as he had come to study the dark Tepes magick under her. While studying under Morana, Gustov also learned the mannerisms of those vampires and would often be mistaken for one himself. By 1764, after ten years of study, Gustov was able to perform some of the simpler “dark spells” just as easily as Morana could. It was during this time he attained the level of grand wizard.
As they worked together, Gustov filled the woman’s head with visions of glory, how she was truly more powerful than Dracula himself. He raised her expectations and level of confidence and independence.
Ultimately he and Morana fell in love and later circumstances forced the two to flee the Castle in 1769. Even though Gustov and Morana’s relationship remained strong and they physically separated only once, the two did eventually drift apart emotionally. Gustov knew that Morana still secretly loved her Prince, for she had performed the ritual to restore Dracula in 1898. Even though she could not allow Dracula to follow her, since Gustov was almost a prime wizard and too powerful to defy, she did keep tabs on Dracula; his destruction in 1915 drove Morana into seclusion for twenty-five years. Gustov took advantage of the lull in activity to continue his study of magick, reaching the highest level, prime wizard.
However, in 1946 Gustov and Morana were back together and decided to move to America. Morana and Gustov traveled extensively in the States and even rekindled their romance. Still she had thoughts of her first beloved. By 1967, they had settled in Los Angeles, CA. Though Morana became involved with Rose Wilson and eventually Turned her, Gustov remained with her, always in the background. With the beginnings of Morana and Mina’s plotting to again restore Dracula, he wondered why he was still staying with Morana. He decided that it was because he did still love her.
In 2000 CE they heard the news that Deus Lupus had been slain. They were both very interested in who had destroyed the Great Were-wolf. Recently Gustov has become fixated on Chelsea Chattan, the fabled magickal pureblood. She could be a powerful ally or deadly enemy, especially given that they expected some uncoming “event” in the society of Tepes-vampires. He and Morana used Rose to test Chelsea. Gustov influenced Rose to seek out Chelsea and invoke the vampire covenant upon her. When Chelsea proved to be able to resist her darkness, Gustov and Morana found her wanting as an ally and too dangerous to be allowed to live. Gustov almost killed her, but events intervened to prevent her death. Rose unexpectedly turned on her Sire Morana, apparently destroying her. When Chelsea managed to throw off the effects of Gustov’s spell, he realised just how formidable she was. Exercising the better part of valour, Gustov disappeared, promising that they would meet again.
Gustov is a prime wizard, one of the most powerful practitioners alive. He has shown an easy facility with teleportation, lightning bolts, mind reading, and mind control (influence). His study of the dark magick of the Tepes-vampires adds to the dangerous package.
Bottom line: don’t mess with this fellow!
To say that Gustov is mysterious is putting it mildly, but a few things are for certain. He is selfish, arrogant, cunning, charismatic, hedonistic, cruel, super intelligent, and one of the most powerful wizards in the CotC universe.
See also:
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