Bertrand Merryweather

Bertrand "Binky" Merryweather is a grandson of Alois Smythe, and the younger son of Salome Merryweather-Smythe and Errol Merryweather. He has an older brother, Dolor Merryweather, and had a sister, Serenity Merryweather. Through an act of rape, he is the father of Serenity's infant twins Thérèse and Pierce; a fact that the world at large is not aware of, but may be known to his older brother Dolor. In addition, Bertrand is the nephew of Michael Smythe and the full cousin of Aleister Smythe.

Bertrand was encouraged to join the Fraternity of Shadows from a young age by both his parents, although Salome was by far the most insistent. He sought advancement through the ranks by sucking up to his superiors and bullying both his peers and inferiors. He would steal research materials, claim credit for successful operations, slander or outright poison any who tried to defy him. His cousin Aleister Smythe was one of his favoured targets, and Bertrand saw to it that his cousin's career in the Fraternity stalled out. Although his sister Serenity was not in the Fraternity and hurting her would bring him no advantage, he still sexually assaulted her; an act that would lead to her pregnancy, madness and death.

Bertrand was temporarily frustrated by Aleister's marriage to Livia Hemlock; his cousin's bride proved more socially adept than Aleister and repeatedly humiliated him at Fraternity gatherings, for instance by saddling him with the humiliating nickname "Binky", which stuck. While he soon regained his standing after Aleister's and Livia's infant son was found dead, a victim of poisoning, and their marriage disintegrated, his satisfaction has proven temporary. Recently Aleister seems to have clawed his way out of the depression he sank into ... and has started to unnerve him by staring him down. More and more, Bertrand gets the feeling that his former victim has become immune to his tactics of keeping him down, and that he has intentions that would be decidedly bad for Bertrand's health.

Close Family Relations

• Growing up and up to today, Bertrand was always closest to his mother Salome, who approves and encourages his worst impulses when it comes to improving his standing. His father Errol had gradually become afraid of him, and Dolor and Bertrand always detested one another. Dolor's attitude towards Bertrand deepened into revulsion after Serenity was committed, implying that Dolor was aware of what happened between them. While Betrand cares nothing for the children he sired, he is still angry that his brother took the twins with him when he left - but not as angry as he is about the fact that Dolor has a special assignment from the Umbra and he himself does not.

Statistics

Neutral Evil male human Illusionist 5 / Fraternity of Shadows 4