This blog series is about the pre-made characters that will be included with The Sassoon Files. The Sassoon Files comes with 15 pre-mades of diverse backgrounds and nationalities, but all tied to events and people in the International Settlement and French Concession.
Sophia Volkov
Sophia’s last name, Volkov, means “wolf” in Russian. Her family line has long been part of the Russian aristocracy. Her parents and her husband were staunch allies to the Czar, but the bloodline includes savage Cossack. The Cossacks are a battle-hardened people practically born on a horse; Sophia’s great grandfather was a fierce Boyer prince. While none would admit in public, the bloodline can be traced through Subutai of the Golden Horde, all the way back to Genghis Khan.
The secret familial practices of the Volkov family have always been Oriental in origin, and in stark contrast to the more Occidental traditions that have weakened the Russian empire.
Sophia is well aware of her lineage, and it is what primarily motivates her to act. When cornered, Sophia is more than willing and able to let her Cossack blood fill her with rage and power.
Sophia is the wife of a White Russian who was killed in the “civil disruption”. Sophia has retreated to Shanghai, were she will await the defeat of the Bolsheviks and her family’s righteous return to power. If that doesn’t work out soon enough, then maybe she will regroup, build her own little private army and kingdom.
When Sophia left Russia, she brought her family’s impressive and immensely valuable collection of antiquities. Willing to part with the Napoleonic war trophies, she set up a lucrative antiquities business in the French Concessions. Through savvy bartering, her collection has grown to include a substantial number of interesting Oriental pieces, as well.
Rabbi Marcel Laurent
Marcel is a Rabbi who traded the growing anti-Semitism of continental Europe for the Orient. He has come to question his faith as of late, and finds more solace in his wine than his Torah. He is not a drunkard; he just appreciates fine wine. He is French, after all. Marcel was raised in a small town on the coast near Nice. His family knows the Sassoon family, and he is friends with Victor. He has relocated to Shanghai to visit Victor and try to rekindle his faith.