| Type | Tepes-Vampire |
|---|---|
| Status | Destroyed |
| Born | 1441 CE, in Transylvania |
| Died | 1476 CE, in Transylvania, by the bite of Dracula |
| Destroyed | 2000 CE, by sunlight and Chelsea |
| Known relatives | Unnamed father (deceased); Unnamed aunt {born witch} (deceased); Vlad Dracula Tepes (sire vampire); Gustov (lover, sort-of husband); Rose Wilson (fledgling). |
| First appearance | “Snowfall and Rose Petals”: 2002-03-31. |
Morana Muna was born in 1441 in Transylvania. She was a servant in Castle Dracula during Vlad III’s six-year-reign as the Impaler (1456 to 1462 CE). She was a smart and determined young girl. She knew her place, but also knew the value of power and soon won the “eye” of Vlad Tepes. Though it is not clear if he made any real romantic gestures toward the girl, Dracula was intrigued by her. They became friends. She was one of the few that genuinely understood the Prince and valued his “high” morals.
In 1462 after Dracula was imprisoned Morana escaped into a nearby village. For several years she tried to see the Wallachian Prince, but was not allowed. She lived with her father and aunt in destitute poverty. Her aunt being a born-witch, Morana did learn some uses for magick, but could not perform anything above a simple influence spell.
In 1476 Vlad III reclaimed his thrown, but only for a brief period. He was slain on the battle field a few months later. Upon hearing of the death of her “friend” Morana made preparations to take her own life, which would not be difficult at all. She had already been sick with malnutrition. Morana went to a nearby lake to do the deed when suddenly she heard a familiar voice. It was Prince Vlad. Morana, now a 35 year old woman and near death, thought that she had already passed on when she saw the Prince. He reassured her that not only was she not dead, but she would soon be healthy and beautiful for all eternity. Something wonderful would come out of the horror that had befallen him. So he took her in his arms and kissed her, then he Turned her into what he was.
He and Morana found other vampires in 1477, including Lillith herself. It was at this time that they became certain that they were a different type of vampire from the Lilith-vampires. In fact, they were Tepes-vampires.
Dracula and Morana returned to Transylvania in 1479, beginning a reign of terror out of revenge and a need for “servants”. She noticed that he had a brooding sadness, since he could never see his fondest wish, to be Prince of Wallachia again, fulfilled. Morana could also see that his personality was becoming darker and more hate-filled.
However, Morana developed a case of wanderlust and convinced Dracula to join her on a world tour, perhaps hoping the experience would cheer him.
In 1524, Morana met a young woman in Paris. The two had quite a bit in common. They soon became friends and eventually more. Since Dracula’s had again met Lillith at this point, the pair split up for the first time. By 1527, Dracula’s affair with Lillith had ended, with the Demon-Vampire Queen just short of an enemy. Fortunately, Morana and her friend joined him and they returned home to Dracula’s Castle.
After this time the couple toned down their travels. Morana again took up magick and soon discovered it was quite different than that of her aunt’s of long ago. Her magick was darker. No spell she conjured to do good ever worked, but those cast for selfish reasons worked as if she were a grand wizard. Morana became the first Tepes-vampire to discover the Dark Magick she had inherited from her sire. Was it because of the curse? They could only speculate. It was then things became strained between Dracula and Morana. They were still devoted, but Dracula was suspicious of Morana’s growing power. However, it would only take a simple order from the man she loved to make Morana heel. That is, until two hundred years later when a stranger came to their Castle.
The stranger called himself Gustov and had sought out both Dracula and Morana, hearing of their exploits in both the world of vampires and practitioners. He was curious about this “dark magick” that was unique to only Tepes-Vampires and asked to study under its founder, Morana. Dracula was hesitant, but by this time his desires were wandering. He had already taken another bride and Morana was desperately jealous. She insisted that Gustov remain in the Castle. It was the first time she had insisted on anything. Dracula knew this would come to no good, but he gave in partly for his love for the woman and partly to keep an eye on the stranger. For fifteen years Gustov lived in the Castle and he and Morana grew close. Gustov filled the woman’s head with visions of glory, how she was truly more powerful than Dracula himself. How she should be Queen of the Tepes-Vampires as Lillith was the Queen of her kin. Gustov learned the manners of these vampires and soon was mistaken for one himself. It was during this time that Morana developed the Dark Sun Necklace. She gave it to Dracula, but would later retrieve it for herself. After ten years 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.
In 1769 Dracula tried to have Gustov killed. The former Prince knew he was far too dangerous to let live in his Castle, but the plan failed. A pact was made and Gustov promised to leave the Castle and Dracula would not put a bounty on his head. Dracula forced Morana to choose between him and the stranger. Morana fled with Gustov the next night. Though she still had feelings for the vampire, she and Dracula had drifted apart long ago. She felt this was the best thing for the time.
Gustov and Morana moved to Paris, her favourite city. The two became intertwined in both the world of practitioners and vampires. While Morana was just short of flamboyant, Gustov managed to stay in the shadows. Soon he adopted the guise of her servant and they started a “family”, Turning both men and women into Tepes-vampires and their lovers.
However bad news would soon rock the steady world of this new family. In 1888 Morana learned of the destruction of her most beloved, Vlad Dracula. She wanted to go back to Transylvania and see what she could do, but Gustov refused her that. He feared for her safety. After that things were never quite the same. Gustov’s role as servant became more genuine and he and the vampire drifted apart emotionally.
In 1898, Morana found the remains of her first beloved. She knew that they would not be able to be together. Gustov had become very powerful and was nearing prime wizard status. Still she performed the ritual that restored the Prince. She met him shortly after he was resurrected and begged him not to follow her. He did as he wished, but that put another curse upon him and Dracula damned his existence. It was this promise that drove Dracula over the edge and plunged him into a deep depression. In this depressed state he blamed God for all his ills and swore eternal revenge. Thus his plan to destroy God began. However his mad scheme would not last long. Dracula was again destroyed by Lilith in 1915 and his ashes were placed in a silver urn, which in turn was placed within the Vault of the Council of Three, the last such artefact added to the Vault before Dissolution.
Hearing of his second death, Morana sank into a depression herself. She stayed secluded from the maddening world for over twenty-five years, wanting nothing to do with the “progress” humanity was forcing upon the earth. However in 1946 Morana and Gustov packed up their things and moved to America. World War Two was over and it seemed as if calm had fallen over the entire world. Morana and Gustov traveled extensively in the States and even rekindled their romance. Still she had thoughts of her first beloved.
In 1967 Morana and Gustov settled in Los Angeles, CA. It was three years later that Morana welcomed a small town girl named Rose. The two became lovers. Rose reminded her of the woman she had met in Paris many, many years ago. Rose, too, became proficient with the Tepes dark magick, but there was something about her that never truly Turned. For a Tepes-vampire she still had so much humanity in her. This made for turmoil, both within Rose herself and the relationship. Morana finally became bored with the girl and found another “companion”, a male, and so Morana and Rose parted ways.
Then in 1990 a chance meeting would change the course of Morana’s life. She met with Lillith to discuss some bitterness between both types of vampires, a set of vampiric “Peace Talks” as it were. It was here she noticed that Lillith’s right-hand woman was none other than Mina Harker, former lover of Dracula. Morana and Mina would later secretly meet and begin a scheme to bring back their beloved. It is not known if Lillith knew about the meeting, but nothing much gets by her. Odds are she probably did know and thought it both amusing and, of course, futile. With the Council of Three disbanded there would be no way to get into the Council vault. The two would have to wait. In the meantime Morana began recruiting vampires known as Nosferatu. They were the “henchmen” of the vampire world.
In the year 2000 news came to Morana and Gustov that was very interesting. The megalomaniac known as Deus Lupus had been slain by a young woman named Chelsea Chattan of the cursed Chattan Clan. The girl seemingly came out of nowhere and possessed great magickal power. There was even talk that she was the fabled magickal pureblood. Gustov began investigating the girl from afar and Morana got back in touch with Mina. Morana knew that somehow this woman would be the key to reinstating the Council. An attempt to retrieve Dracula’s urn of ashes was made, but failed.
Even though the plan failed Mina and Morana remained diligent. They knew that another chance would soon come. Meanwhile Gustov displayed even more interest in the pureblood. She could be a vital ally or a cunning enemy, especially considering who her sister was. Both Morana and Gustov hatched a plan to test Chelsea. By this time they were living in New Orleans. Since she could not be turned into a vampire, she would have to be persuaded to join them. The vampire covenant would be the key, but who to deliver the bite? Morana then remembered the confused, but humble Rose. She would be perfect. Gustov planted a suggestion into Rose’s mind and she was off to find the pureblood, who by chance lived in Rose’s old hometown of Haven, NC.
After Rose and Chelsea had their “affair” Morana intercepted the two and voiced the opinion that Chelsea was too unstable to be a trustworthy ally. She would have to be killed. Gustov handled that, influencing Chelsea to kill herself. However, Morana underestimated Rose’s “humanity” and affection for Chelsea. The wayward vampire killed her own Sire in order to save the Pureblood. Rose was killed in the process, first attacked by Nosferatu and then destroyed by the sun. Gustov escaped vowing to meet Chelsea once again.
Some believe that in death Morana was finally reunited with her first beloved, Prince Vlad. Mina still remains determined to resurrect the vampire however. Gustov has since disappeared.
Morana is an intelligent, cunning person, well suited to the intrigues of being a Tepes-vampire. She is alway sure of her power and influence. The intensity of her love for Vlad Dracula has varied over the years, but it is still strong in spite of the passage of centuries.
See also:
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