Vitali Seryozha Romanov was the founder of the Order of the Silver Cross and the survivor of the House of Romanov which was the last of the Russian Imperial monarchy. He is the ancestor of Ivan Romanov and the first master of Miguel.
Overview[]
Vitali Romanov was responsible for the resurgence of the Order of the Silver Cross and was a member of the House of Romanov, establishing this secret organization to combat the forces of darkness which looms over Russia. While the Order of the Cross was first created by a sect of Russian Orthodox priests, the tumultuous chaos in Russian hampered their progress significantly in attempting to aid the people of Russia which soon resulted in their disbandment and eventual death at the hands of the vampires. Vitali, however, kept his sacred seal of the Order for future needs.
History[]
Surviving Romanov[]
Vitali was born into the House of Romanov and was thus part of the Imperial Russian family. However, the political upheaval that came to be known as the Time of Troubles created paved the way towards turmoil and loss for the imperial Russian family particularly that of the Tsar. Unbeknownst to Vitali at the time, the cause of these upheavals were due to the Scarlet Brood's machinations and coupled with the growing rise of the lycanthropic plague almost the entirety of the family met their ends at the hands of their own people or forces which have been transformed into vampires with Vitali being the sole survivor.
Unlikely Allies[]
Vitali remained in hiding but at the same time was trying to uncover the dark secrets that lay behind the United India Company while at the same time slaying any vampire or werewolf that confronted him during his missions. As fate would have it, Vitali met up with none other than Abraham Van Helsing who soon aided the last Romanov in uncovering the truth behind the Company's motivations. Their investigations led them to team up with Johanna Constantine who once aided Abraham in defeating the Church of the Broken God and the leader of the Indian rebels who opposed the Company's colonization of her country. Vitali and his new allies would also encounter several pack members that were led by Miguel who was the source of the lycanthropic plague that sieged Europe and while tensions were quite high they formed uneasy alliances with these werewolves.
Resurgence of the Order[]
Miguel, however, was vehemently against the idea of allying himself with humans despite Vitali's pleas that they cannot defeat the Company and the Brood individually. Thus, Vitali resorted to negotiations via single combat where should he defeat Miguel then the latter will agree to his terms and help him. Much to the alpha wolf's surprise, he was slowly being bested by the last Romanov as he greatly underestimated him and was eventually defeated by him despite his tactics and superior physical attributes; it is believed that Vitali implemented the slaying methods of the Witchers and the tools once wielded by the Belmont Clan to gain advantage.
Defeated and humiliated, Vitali, instead of ending his life, spared the alpha wolf with Miguel now agreeing to Vitali's terms of cooperation in taking down the vampire coven and the Company. After the defeat of the Company and the Scarlet Brood, the once rogue Miguel took Vitali's offer of working for his Order through a pact of blood. And so the Order of the Silver Cross was restored and fully established. Vitali also permitted the surviving werewolves that joined Vitali with Miguel into taking down the two malicious groups to run free on the condition that they do not cause any further harm to the humans to which they agreed.
Personality[]
Initially upon losing his family at the hands of the Scarlet Brood, Vitali was broken and sullen, but his determination kept him from surrendering to despair and his iron will would strengthen his resolve to take down the conspirators of his family's murder. Despite his gruff exterior, Vitali was quite friendly and is capable of showing compassion to those who earn it. In the beginning, however, he was cold, aloof, and distant and was merciless in his pursuit of vengeance against those who destroyed his family's legacy. Miguel himself noted that Vitali had the same eyes as him, the eyes of someone with nothing to lose.
As time progresses during his venture with Van Helsing and Johanna, Vitali slowly grew more composed and logical. Traits of his former self before his family's murder also began to resurface. Vitali was quite revered and praised by his descendants, specifically Ivan Romanov and especially Miguel himself who to this day held a genuine respect for the man's wit, determination, and strength all of which were traits that he passed down to his descendants all the way to Ivan himself. Miguel would note that he could see the same fire that Vitali had in the eyes of Ivan and the latter's father as well. Hector van Neck also spoke highly of Vitali showing a sense of respect towards the man as he was a mere human that was able to thwart his plans, defeat his monsters, and subdue Miguel alongside his allies.