Character's Name: Ezekiel Cartwright
Species: Vampire
Age: 90 (appears late 30s/early 40s)

Appearance: Ezekiel is a man in early middle age, with short-cut black hair peppered with silver. His finely manicured beard and mustache are similarly colored, and he has the pockmarked skin of someone who has spent a great deal of time in the sun, despite its now deadened pallor. He dresses finely in silks and leathers, all of the best quality that money can buy, and is rarely seen without appropriate accoutrements of enchanted jewelry to protect against the sun's rays.

Background: Ezekiel Cartwright was the head of the Cartwright Trading Company, a highly successful shipping venture that traded in luxuries from the Caribbean, particularly sugar, fruit, cocoa, and rum. During that time, he had many run-ins with pirates, and earned a reputation as both a shrewd businessman and a terrifying combatant on the high seas. He was wealthy, he was powerful, he was respected... and ultimately, he was betrayed by one of his subordinates, who successfully framed Ezekiel for fraud and embezzlement against the Crown. Practically overnight, he lost everything, and it was as he was awaiting the hangman's noose that he was given the offer to become a vampire by another prisoner, in exchange for taking on a position of responsibility at Keara's Roost. With no other options available to him, he agreed, and shortly thereafter was spirited away from the jail beneath the gallows to a ship that would carry him to Keara's Roost. Aboard that ship would also be whatever amount of his wealth he was able to preserve, as well as the small handful of mortals who were still loyal to him.

At the Roost, Ezekiel would quickly rise to the top based on his mortal reputation as well as his skill as a businessman. Indeed, he still dresses and comports himself as though he is just the head of a respectable company, eating good food, dressing impeccably, and occasionally indulging in the odd dalliance with a winsome woman. However, those who know of his true nature understand that he is not just some wealthy fat cat indulging himself in various carnal delights, but a monster on a leash that can and will go wild if given the opportunity. It is for this reason that he was given the dubious honor of being the "sheriff" of the Roost, intervening whenever someone crosses a line.

Related NPCs

• Bridget Byrne: Ezekiel's secretary, handling the scheduling and paperwork for her boss. Red-haired with bright blue eyes, a professional air, and a curvaceous body. One of the few mortals that remained loyal to him, in part because she was implicated in the same frame-job that had almost put Ezekiel to the hangman's noose, and in part because they were not-so-secretly carrying on a casual affair. For her loyalty, she was rewarded with vampirism, a gift she intends to enjoy for a very long time.
  
• Harold Flynn: Also known as "Harry the Bloodhound," this hulking, prematurely balding man was Ezekiel's primary debt collector, who specialized in hunting down those who evaded other attempts to pay their bills. Despite his lumbering appearance, Harold is fairly clever, and it is quite hard to get something past him. He is also, shockingly, mortal, despite persistent rumors that he is a werewolf or Bastet.
  
• Robert Fontaine: Ezekiel's primary money man, this accountant was responsible for keeping the Cartwright Trading Company's books in order. He was also the first to spot the scheme to take down the Company, albeit too late to stop it. In his current position, he takes on a similar job, keeping Ezekiel's operation functioning smoothly, and ensuring salaries and bounties are paid properly. Unlike Bridget, he declined the offer of immortality, remarking that he looks forward to the day he no longer owes any more debts.
  
• Annabelle Gray: A witch who has only been in the employ of Ezekiel since he came to Keara's Roost, Annabelle acts in a primary capacity as a jailer, helping to keep suspects from escaping their incarceration. She is known to have a cruel streak, but that's part of why she was hired: she is good at making an example of people, which can help to deter the kinds of chicanery that are not tolerated on the Roost.