Claude Saint-Clair
Atharim
Channeler
Hero of the Horn
Early Life
Claude Saint-Clair was born in Normandy, France, to the prestigious Saint-Clair family. From a young age, he exhibited a reserved and studious nature, preferring to learn and embody the refined ways of the aristocracy rather than seek adventure. While his older sister, Nora, was bold and adventurous, often exploring the world beyond the family home.
As a child, Claude adored his sister, despite their differences. He looked up to her and found her free-spirited nature intriguing. After his studies, he would venture out himself, searching for unknown paths, or unique places.
At the age of ten, Claude’s world began to change. Nora’s thirteenth birthday was celebrated in a way that felt mysterious and secretive to him, leading him to sense that something important was happening within the family. When they returned, Nora began to spend more time with Tanis Peregrym (Grym), a family servant. Their bond became stronger as they spent more time together, leaving Claude feeling increasingly isolated. The emotional distance between him and his sister, while never overt, caused Claude to withdraw further into his studies and his faith.
His childhood was marked by devotion to the Catholic Church, and Claude was confirmed into the faith at the age of seven. His most cherished possession was a rosary with amethyst beads, a gift received on his confirmation day.
At the age of thirteen, Claude was introduced to the family’s legacy—one that had ties to an ancient and secretive order, the Atharim, which was dedicated to fighting supernatural forces. This knowledge marked a turning point in Claude’s life, setting him on a path toward becoming a member of this powerful order.
Adolescence and Joining the Atharim
He was taken under the wing of Phillipe, an experienced Atharim hunter, who began training him in combat. Claude excelled in martial arts, firearms, tactics, and monster lore, including studies on dangerous entities like the rougarou, draikana, banniks, and oni.
As Claude entered adolescence, he faced another internal struggle—his burgeoning feelings for other boys. He found himself drawn to Marcel, a boy his age, and the two shared a deep emotional connection that blossomed into a physical one. Despite his feelings, Claude wrestled with guilt and shame, as his religious upbringing had taught him that homosexuality was a sin. He prayed for God to “fix” him, but those prayers went unanswered. The shame he felt continued to haunt him, particularly after Nora discovered the relationship. This moment of revelation became a turning point for Claude, as he confided in his sister about his struggles with his identity.
Nora’s reaction was one of compassion and acceptance, offering him comfort and reassurance that she would stand by him. This conversation eased some of Claude’s inner turmoil, though the shame still lingered. It was during this time that Claude found himself questioning some of his religious beliefs, especially as he grappled with his place in the world and his connection to the Atharim’s often brutal methods.
Journey to Moscow
In his late teens, Claude took his final vows at the Vatican, officially joining the Atharim. His dedication to the cause remained unwavering, but his internal struggles continued. War was brewing and the world was in turmoil
Nora, left to search for Grym in the Carpathian Mountains, but Claude was the only one she confided in. Later she would confide that Grym had gone to Moscow. His unease only grew when he heard nothing from Nora for months after her departure. Eventually, Claude was summoned by his father to go to Moscow in search of his sister, following the destruction of the Atharim headquarters in a fire.
Though he was formally sent on this mission, Claude had already intended to find Nora on his own. His love for his sister, and the unresolved tension surrounding her disappearance, drove him to follow her lead and search for answers.
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