1. Mallory L. F. Orvisse October 12th 1935
2. Mallory L. F. Orvisse February 16th 1936
3. Mallory L. F. Orvisse April 20th 1938
4. Mallory L. F. Orvisse January 5th 1940
5. Mallory L. F. Orvisse July 16th 1943
6. Mallory L. F. Orvisse July 23rd 1943
7. Mallory L. F. Orvisse July 25th 1943
8. Mallory L. F. Orvisse July 25th 1950
9. Mallory L. F. Orvisse July 1st 1962
10. Mallory L. F. Orvisse March 3rd 1966
11. Patrick N. D. Orvisse September 5 1972
12. Patrick N. D. Orvisse January 1 1972
13. Patrick N. D. Orvisse May 12 1976
14. Patrick N. D. Orvisse June 10 1976
15. Patrick N. D. Orvisse June 24 1976
16. Patrick N. D. Orvisse December 24 1979
17. Patrick N. D. Orvisse 1 May 1981
18. Patrick N. D. Orvisse 13 May 1981
19. Patrick N. D. Orvisse November 6 1982
20. Patrick N. D. Orvisse 1 July 1983
21. Patrick N. D. Orvisse March 15 1984
22. Patrick N. D. Orvisse May 9 1988
23. Patrick N. D. Orvisse November 21 1994
24. Patrick N. D. Orvisse February 20 1999
25. Patrick N. D. Orvisee August 19 1999
26. Patrick N. D. Orvisse September 6 2002
27. Liam Orvisse 3 January 2003
28. Liam Orvisse 11 October 2003
29. Liam Orvisse 3 December 2003
30. Liam Orvisse 5 December 2003

Mallory L. F. Orvisse October 12th 1935

Now my experiments begin apace. A quorum of the Council has finally given me permission and funding to pursue my research. In recent years we have seen an unfortunate decrease in the tractability of both Potentials and, particularly, Slayers. I can only attribute this to a surge in rather undesirable social mores lately. One is inclined to point to the infernal suffrage movement and similar stirrings of so-called “self determination”. More and more these young ladies (at best) do not know their place. This must be amended. Until such time as it is, we require a recourse.

The current process exhibits some obvious deficiencies in this regard. Presumably an issue the ancients did not foresee, in their wisdom. I feel certain they were not plagued by such issues in their time. In such societies all knew their place.

Now, where to begin with the extraction. So very much to do.

Mallory L. F. Orvisse February 16th 1936

The scope of my research has expanded somewhat. Just my papers and equipment have overtaken my study within the house and begun to spill into the drawing room and hallway. Given the sensitivity of the work and the scope it is likely to encompass I will need to make other arrangements.

The farmland has become more of a hobby than anything. The rental it produces is still useful in its generation of funds, but some small parcel can be spared for this purpose. We have long kept the old ruins hidden from view. Such arrangement also suits this endeavour. I anticipate a week or so of disruption as I relocate my efforts. However, the benefits will more than outweigh that minor inconvenience.

Mallory L. F. Orvisse April 20th 1938

Tensions continue to rise across Europe. Dispatches from a Watcher, one Marcus Vogel stationed in some village outside Vienna has reported the potential under his observation has been taken by local security forces, he knows not where. Apparently they are rather intractable regarding any details of the girl’s current state or location.

Should this potential be Called this would be rather unfortunate. One hopes she will either make herself known soon after to Vogel and proper guidance can be applied. Or, her lack of proper training and oversight will lead to another being Called soon thereafter. Likely that would bring the Chosen back under our influence.

If there is conflict in Europe this sort of unfortunate event is only ever more likely to happen. This spurs me to redouble my efforts as it may prove a salve to this manner of circumstance.

Mallory L. F. Orvisse January 5th 1940

The evacuations have proved both a blessing and a curse. With so many children moving about the country it has proven difficult to track every last Potential. Perhaps if certain elements of the organisation were more disciplined they would better cope with this sort of disruption.

However, a selection of these Potentials have been able to be redirected where we wish. This has created an opportunity for what I consider a possible adjustment to my previous intent. Rather than transfer the abilities of a Slayer directly to a more suitable host, a process that would almost certainly prove difficult in some circumstances and would likely require the application of the Cruciamentum, I propose the transfer of Potential may prove more feasible.

Better yet, this process can be done en masse. Many Potentials could be processed in this way if the process were sufficiently refined. And far more qualified recipients could house this power. And then be Chosen. This might well avoid a great deal of difficulty.

Mallory L. F. Orvisse July 16th 1943

It has proved a very trying research project. Little exists of the sort of background information one would normally require to embark upon such an endeavour. Curse the ancients and their oral history. It is proving wildly insufficient. And with precious little in the way of palpable samples to work with, my progress is not what I would desire.

Regardless, I have managed to make some close observations of a Potential evacuated to this area. A girl of some 14 years, Eugenie Simpson. I have operated under the guise of a local doctor and have diagnosed the girl with a blood disease the fabrication of which has given me the opportunity to take several types of samples, measurements and observations. I had hoped her younger sister might also prove to be a potential, but that has not proved to be so.

It will soon be time to bring her into the laboratory here. There are at least three variations to a form of extraction based on Banchell’s Conduit that I can readily try. It may prove a trying day, so I have laid in a supply of sedatives.

Soon, I hope, we shall have some real experimental results.

Mallory L. F. Orvisse July 23rd 1943

I had hoped this evening to be able to record more jubilant news. My lab notes tell the story more fully, and much data has been gained. But the results are less than satisfactory.

Several attempts to extract the Potentiality and place it into a vessel of differing sorts, Thesulan Orb, Gem of Vet’re, another creature (I was able to purchase a fine hunting dog a week past for this purpose) all proved inconclusive at best.

The response from the subject ranged from soporific to extremely taxing, if the screams and struggles are any indication. She failed to understand that what I was attempting was not only for the good of all, but in many ways would relieve her of a possible burden.

For now she is sedated and I will continue tomorrow once I have rethought the Conduit methodology.

Mallory L. F. Orvisse July 25th 1943

A very disappointing few days. But, I must not be dissuaded.

It has become necessary to report to the host family that the girl has succumbed to her blood disease at my clinic. An awkward complication. I expect they will be thankful of the savings. She was a big eater, and we are, all of us, subject to rationing after all.

This makes the lack of Potential in the younger sister all the more disappointing.

Mallory L. F. Orvisse July 25th 1950

The upgrades to the equipment within the laboratory have taken more of my time than I would like. But they will be finished soon.

Fortunately, Patrick will soon return from his studies for a term break. I have told him to allocate all his term break to a project. It is time for me to introduce him to this work. It will be very useful to finally have a real collaborator. There are some deficiencies in his transcripts, I will admit. But, they are strong in the most desirable areas for this endeavour.

Further, speaking to his instructors, it would seem that he has had some distractions in the last semesters of which he had chosen not to inform me. Once he has returned here, and I can exert a little more much needed influence, I am sure his full focus can be restored.

Mallory L. F. Orvisse July 1st 1962

With the two of us now working on what we have come to call Fieri or The Becoming, it has become a little easier to balance the needs of the research and the various errands which the Council regularly requires of us. Merely keeping up with their paperwork and various meetings is a burden that keeps our progress at bay. Or, so it rather feels.

It has become clear that our confederates within the Council are keeping the details of my endeavours beyond the reach of the wider organisation. Certainly there are those who may not understand the necessity of what we intend. No matter, they will be thankful for it when it comes to fruition. Let us see how their naivete protects them when we have a Slayer who is wholly beyond our control. Or, heaven forfend, directly opposes us. 

Mallory L. F. Orvisse March 3rd 1966

Another difficult and long day of experimentation. We began with the subject rather early in the morning, and proceeded all day. Margaret was kind enough to bring us some repast as we were too busy to break and return home as would be our usual practice.

My pride in how well Patrick was conducting the experiments was, however, turned to consternation when he expressed his hypothesis that he should be the recipient of the transfer. He is willful. I suppose that is to his credit in some ways. And, on reflection, the science of his arguments have some merit. He has been well trained and would be a suitable carrier of the Potentiality. The risk, however, is still high at this point in our experimentation and no Orvisse should be sacrificed so readily.

We will reconvene in the morning and discuss. For now, I wanted to record my thoughts. I imagine he will one day take ownership of these journals. For now he deals with the necessary tasks at the furnace.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse September 5 1972

The laboratory will need a refit to bring it up to more modern standards. Plus I have some ideas to bring a more powerful ritual process to bear. It will need some preparation and would have exceeded my father’s capabilities, but should prove useful. I have begun to push for more funds from the Council. Although I am hopeful, it may be worth considering outside investors that are of a similar mind. That would also serve to free me from a measure of oversight.

My father’s funeral is tomorrow. Margaret insists on bringing the boy, though I fear he is too young and may prove a distraction.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse January 1 1972

I begin the new year with a renewed focus. The birth of my second son is a promising end to the year. It is still rather early to judge the full potential of Liam, but he is growing strong and clever as far as his mother, tutors, and nanny report. One can only hope that Felix will follow suit. They are both being given every advantage to live up to their potential.

Once Liam is of suitable age and disposition I will be able to bring him into the project. Just as my father did with me.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse May 12 1976

Beginning today I have scheduled weekly extractions from both Liam and Felix. With modern techniques only a limited discomfort should arise while harvesting the required material. I doubt they will remember the experience at all. Though, Liam, being that bit older may, I suppose. Still, all for a good cause.

The time is past when I could stand as a suitable recipient of the Potentiality. Ego must be put aside in this pursuit. And the risk to grant that to Liam or Felix, even with refined techniques, would show only familial hubris.

This is why I am beginning a process of replication. I am hoping I can circumvent the deficiencies of the natural breeding process by simply replicating or cloning a known suitable recipient. A combination of protein baths and health maintaining enchantment keep the samples in very good condition.

Of course education and training remains a challenge with an accelerated, repeated process. But, I have learned enough about Mayevsky’s Extraction and Banchell’s Conduit that I believe this challenge can be countered.

Early failures are to be expected, but this has great potential. Perhaps I can start with some of the sheep to test my methods.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse June 10 1976

Three of the sheep embryos grow well. That any of the stock of fourteen have done that well is a remarkable achievement. Complications could still occur, but this is a good result at this stage and I have learned a great deal.

I suspect my father would not completely approve, but using some magical attunement to monitor them has proved invaluable for determining when any have gone awry, and foreshortening the process.

Less pleasing were my experiences with the boys today. Liam, as usual, was stoic with the process and gave no complaints. But, Felix screamed when I came near him with the needle. I swear the pain is minimal, only made all the worse by his struggling, but he fails to understand. It proved almost impossible to extract the marrow, even with Margaret holding him tightly. He pouted so. Hopefully this phase of petulance will pass soon.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse June 24 1976

Liam wept a little today during the extraction. But, he continued to cooperate. He is a good little soldier. I am near to giving up on extractions from Felix if his whining continues as it has. Perhaps I can revisit when he is older and less inclined to hide behind his mother or his nanny.

We have a single nearly viable sheep. It’s bones are not solidifying quite right, but an adjustment in the chemical mixture should be able to address that. I begin another round of trials today. The mix must be adjusted to the source DNA down to the last measure. It’s a delicate process to be sure. And much refinement will be required.

It is now time to work on finalising the calculations based on the DNA of my two intended subjects. It will be a long and complex process, but I am learning more of it all the time.  

Patrick N. D. Orvisse December 24 1979

Now that Felix has been within a more formal education for a little while, I have requested frequent reports on his progress. I have been remiss in not gathering this data until now. Given the investment in time and money I need to ensure my efforts are being well directed. I would like to think I have more than one option to which to pass the Potentiality.

I will be able to chart progress against equivalent data I have for Liam. And against expected means. I hope for the best. Father would accuse me of being an optimist were he still with us, I fear.

The coming year will tell the story.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse 1 May 1981

I will bury Margaret tomorrow.

Alone.

The boys will not be told until I consider for some time. They are away at school, so I have some time to decide what I will do, if anything. I have told our friends she is still undergoing treatment and is not up to visitors for now.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse 13 May 1981

There are differences I notice, but I doubt others that do not know her so well would perceive them.

For now, the process can be considered a success. I had little time to prepare and expended a great deal of energy to make it work. But, it did. For now, I must rest.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse November 6 1982

Hetherington, Mansforth, and Gilbert have returned from the mission they were set to in the Sudan. The report seems muddled and incoherent. Visions and such abound. Half explained phenomena. Some elder vampire with pretensions of higher status. I can only assume the report is so incoherent because Mansforth was distracted by the disgraceful quim he insists on bringing with him wherever he goes. She was not Chosen and he and his relationship should be censured. But, clearly that falls not to me to decide.

Gilbert’s notes seem to suggest they may have run across an artifact of the ancients, central to the Slayer genesis. I can only imagine what a huge boon this would be to my work. But, none of them seem to have any interest in furnishing me with any information on where or what it might be. I will need to exert more pressure through the Council. 

The temptation is to tear the information directly from their minds. With what I know, how hard could that be? Perhaps the girl knows more. I consider her disposable, even if Mansforth is be-spelled by her sex. Perhaps the others have fallen to her sway as well. Still, that approach would not be very politically astute.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse 1 July 1983

Margaret’s Funeral will be tomorrow.

I delayed a few days until both boys could return from school. It will be a quiet affair. I suppose it will mean a break from my work for a little while.

It does give me pause considering how I should respond. But that such a rushed process worked for as long as it did still proves potential. How the Council might respond to what I achieved is debatable. Perhaps L can be my sole confidant in this. In time.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse March 15 1984

I have instructed Liam to spend some more time on his occult and biological studies. He has done well there, but I suspect he aspires to be a field watcher. Such is the enthusiasm of young men, I suppose. They seek adventure rather than duty. Still a balance of field training will be essential when Fieri/Becoming is realised. Soon I will be able to bring him into the project. I feel a briefing first, before showing the current state of the various elements of the project would be best.

If he can be made to think of them as trusted brothers, even twins, or successors, a legacy rather than anything else, that should improve his comfort.

F will be transferring to the academy soon. Perhaps he can acquit himself a little better there. I suppose he is still a child, but the time for that excuse quickly passes. The instructors there are capable. I am counting on them to make a man of him. L will soon come out of there stronger and more capable than I might have hoped.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse May 9 1988

It has become clear Becoming will not be a part of F’s future. He lacks the discipline and dedication for such an endeavour. His language and weapons scores show some promise, however. He can find a place within Field or softer areas of Research, I suppose. Not all is lost. A noble enough calling. Perhaps not the heights of what might be expected of an Orvisse. A father cannot help but hope for more, however.

The greater measure of my hopes rest with L. He has proved a very competent assistant here. And we are keeping up his weapon training and fieldcraft in anticipation of success.

By every indication the Mayevsky enhanced Vet’re is working as desired. We will need to devise a full test at some time. End to end.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse November 21 1994

Instructions from the Council dictate that both L and myself make ourselves available for more Field work and training. If there is a need I suppose we must answer the call. The chance this gives me to run across some texts or artifacts that may be of use in our work is certainly invigorating, however.

It will be of use to have Liam make use of his Field training a little more. The flow on effects are very worthwhile, obviously. And he will make a fine teacher for some of the apprentice lads and ladies. If only he could have a similar influence on Felix. I can barely count the distractions to which he allows himself to be subject. At this rate he will likely never be assigned a Potential. If he were, I have little hope for the outcome.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse February 20 1999

News from Sunnydale seems to indicate that even with the Slayer reaching majority, she is still difficult to control. She can clearly not be relied upon, though she has managed to stumble through some challenges with the help of civilians of all things. Giles was perhaps not the man we thought he was. If Wyndham Pryce lives up to his name things should soon be set right. Though wrangling Lehane as well will surely be a challenge. Reports indicate she is both willful and a habitual liar.

This only reinforces that I must redouble my efforts.

Patrick N. D. Orvisee August 19 1999

We have both been distracted by participating in preparations for the end of century rituals. That the council deemed them all the more important this year makes sense, I suppose, given the general nervousness around this specific turn. Still, requiring participation of so many so early and reaching out to hedge powers like we have would not have been my choice.

The result seems to be constant meetings and preparations. Again I seem to be spending more time in London than here.

I cannot help but feel some rancor and shame at these meetings and in the halls of the grand house after the several days of hearings about F. Some of his contemporaries spoke kindly, but without much conviction. To be expected, I admit. Some quite rightly expressed concern about his predilections. There would surely have been more backbone on display in earlier generations.

Still, the decision has been made. If the boy cannot be trusted, what does he expect? I hope we can all move on quickly. This tarnish should be put behind us. The Council cannot say L and I did not speak honestly.

Wyndham-Price will deliver the decision.

Patrick N. D. Orvisse September 6 2002

Something is wrong. There are more Potentials than ever before, but someone is killing them. And, worse yet, our fine chaps that see to them. I am afraid the numbers do not lie. Even my own augurs prove it. Indeed, they suggest it may be accelerating. Something is wildly out of balance.

Liam has been reassigned to a Welsh girl. At least he will not be so ever far away. 

I have offered to take in a couple of stray Potentials. The request is under review. Why they dither at times like this, I cannot say. Enough of them know my purpose. And the others should not care. Where can they better be housed than here? Where can they better be made use of?

The process is nearing final refinement. I am confident it will work. I will mature one of the stock shortly as soon as I have a Potential to work with and attempt the complete transfer.

Liam Orvisse 3 January 2003

I suppose this journal is now mine. I awoke at 6:14AM today. Automated systems doing what they were intended to do.

It is a strange sensation. Or a strange memory. Both, I suppose.

After performing a series of diagnostics on both myself and the systems here, all seems well. But, there is work to do. I cannot confirm some elements of my status as yet. And there will be legal matters to look into no doubt. Returning to Leatherhead might be not only dangerous, but legally difficult at this time. I cannot be sure what my legal status is. For now, I will lay low and continue the work. It is time to move ahead with it completely. But, I will need to acquire some Potentials for that. And our source of finding them no longer exists.

I need to assess, and then rebuild the whole thing myself, it would seem. This is what we prepared for.

Liam Orvisse 11 October 2003

That has been an unfortunate experience. More drawn out and difficult than what happened at the headquarters. But, I am pleased to have proved the process of recycling my being yet again. This process has allowed me to improve the process and, I think, improve the chemical mixtures. I feel stronger and at least as sharp as ever. I also stopped the aging process a little earlier.

This has been difficult, but it has taught me a great deal. And it has proved the process. Now, on to new work. The search for new Potentials begins. This will be difficult without all the resources of the council. But, harvesting from one to complete the full cycle of becoming is the regal pinnacle of this work.

Liam Orvisse 3 December 2003

I have completed a series of refinements to the process I just went through. Tests indicate it is quite solid. Reliable. A greater test is now before me. I must find a Potential or, better yet, a Slayer and extract their power in totality. With this body and the work we have done I am sure a full transfer will be possible, even if the Slayer bestowment is as tightly bound to the soul as the research suggests. I am confident this can now be overcome with the right steps, though they are drastic. Now there seem to be slayers to spare and redirecting that power to a worthy host or hosts is all the more important.

Once I have taken the Slayer power I will have Become all I can. I must make a list of other suitable candidates to also become more. With even a small force built this way we can do what the Slayers never have and drive the vampires and demons, all that filth, to extinction. Reclaiming this world for the worthy.

Perhaps with the right candidates a dynasty may even be founded.

Liam Orvisse 5 December 2003

One of my benefactors whispers that they may be able to provide me with a slayer. Perhaps more, if I read them right. They are not yet available, but hopefully soon. I will be ready. More than ready.