Vicky “The Veil” van der Berg is the female crime boss of the Seven Sins in the Westerpark District, and she is a master of subtlety and manipulation, operating in the shadows of Seregon’s religious and academic circles.
Appearance and Persona
Vicky is in her early 40s, with a slender, almost ethereal presence. Her long, dark hair is always impeccably styled, often braided or pinned up in intricate designs that complement her elegant but understated clothing. She has a preference for dark colors—deep blues, blacks, and purples—often adorned with subtle, almost invisible runes woven into the fabric. Her sharp, pale blue eyes seem to peer through people, as if she can see into their souls.
Despite her criminal nature, Vicky carries herself with the grace and poise of a noblewoman, a calculated contrast to her ruthless business dealings. Her voice is soft and melodic, rarely raised, but there is an underlying firmness that makes her word law within her organization.
Background
Vicky comes from a family of minor nobility that fell on hard times. She was educated in one of the academies in Westerpark, where she excelled in the study of arcane history and religious texts. However, the family’s financial decline and her disillusionment with the rigid structure of academia and religion pushed her toward a different path.
She gradually became involved in the city’s underworld, leveraging her knowledge and connections to carve out a niche in the district. Vicky is known as “The Veil” because she operates behind a carefully maintained façade of respectability. Most people in Westerpark know her as a wealthy patron of the arts and academics, a woman who donates to temples and funds scholarships, but in reality, she is the puppet master behind a web of illicit activities.
Operations and Influence
Vicky's criminal empire in Westerpark is vast and varied, yet it operates with such finesse that most of the district’s residents have no idea they are surrounded by her influence.
Black Market for Forbidden Knowledge: Eline’s most lucrative enterprise involves the trade in forbidden books, magical scrolls, and rare artifacts. Scholars and mages who seek knowledge that is otherwise inaccessible often find themselves dealing with her, whether they know it or not.
Espionage Network: She maintains a network of spies who infiltrate the monasteries, temples, and academies. These informants report back to her on the district’s secrets, which she sells to interested parties or uses to manipulate events in her favor.
Relic Theft and Trafficking: Eline oversees a group of highly skilled thieves who specialize in stealing sacred relics from the district’s temples. These items are either sold on the black market or kept for her own collection, which is rumored to rival some of the city’s most prestigious museums.
Illegal Duels and Rituals: She arranges illegal duels for those who want to settle disputes outside the law or prove their martial prowess. She also facilitates forbidden rituals, tapping into the ancient magic of the Sacred Grove for those willing to pay the price.
Relationship with Other Factions
Vicky is well-protected, not just by her own cunning, but by the powerful connections she has cultivated. She has an uneasy truce with the Bargemasters Guild, avoiding direct competition by steering clear of their areas of influence. However, she keeps a close eye on them, always ready to exploit any weakness.
Her relationship with the religious institutions of Westerpark is complex. She donates generously to the temples and is seen as a benefactor, but in reality, she uses these contributions to buy influence and keep the clerics in her pocket.
Weaknesses
While Vicky is a master of subtlety, her obsession with forbidden knowledge and ancient relics is a potential vulnerability. Her desire to possess these items can sometimes cloud her judgment, leading her to take unnecessary risks. Additionally, her reliance on secrecy means that if her true nature were ever exposed, she could quickly find herself facing enemies from all sides—religious, academic, and criminal.
Ambitions
Vicky's ultimate goal is to cement her power in Westerpark and expand her influence throughout Seregon. She dreams of creating a vast network of knowledge and artifacts, a hidden library that would rival even the city’s most prestigious institutions. For now, she is content to rule from the shadows, but her ambitions could eventually drive her to more overt and dangerous actions.