Before Rowan ever approached Gotham's mayor or dreamed of founding LuxeTech, he spent weeks quietly testing his new power. He started small, blending into the city's crowd, his eyes always searching for easy targets.
He visited a bustling car showroom downtown, where the latest Cadillacs gleamed beneath fluorescent lights. Rowan locked eyes with a skeptical salesman, letting his vampiric will seep into the man's mind.
"You'll let me test drive alone," Rowan whispered.
The salesman's resistance crumbled. Moments later, Rowan cruised the city in a brand-new Eldorado, the keys handed over without a second thought.
Next, he wandered through appliance stores, running his fingers over expensive Zenith televisions and Westinghouse refrigerators. Each time a clerk approached, Rowan would test his influence—sometimes it worked instantly, other times he felt the strain, the resistance, the need to focus and refine his approach. His ability had limits and left him exhausted.
A few times, the spell failed, and the clerk would blink, confused. Rowan quickly excused himself.
But more often, the hypnosis held. He left with radios, cameras, and even a high-end hi-fi system, all "gifted" to him by staff who would later remember only a vague sense of satisfaction.
He even tried his luck at Gotham's finest restaurants, compelling maître d's to offer him the best table and chefs to send out their most expensive dishes—on the house, of course.
Through these experiments, Rowan learned the limits of his power:
Short, simple commands worked best.
The effect faded after a few weeks unless reinforced.
Some minds, especially those distracted or under stress, were easier to bend.
He could implant false memories, but only with intense focus and eye contact.
A Chance Encounter with the Waynes
One evening, at a charity gala in the city's grandest hotel, Rowan crossed paths with Thomas and Martha Wayne. Instead of using his abilities, he chose charm and conversation, curious about the city's elite.
To his surprise, he found their minds resilient, their presence calming. He shared a drink, listened to Thomas's hopes for Gotham's future, and Martha's quiet laughter.
They parted as acquaintances, the seeds of a future alliance quietly sown.
The moon hung high above Gotham, casting a silvery pallor over the slick streets. Rowan moved through the city's shadows, his wings folded close, every sense sharpened by the hunger for more. He had learned the rules of this world—now it was time to bend them to his will.
Power and Persuasion
Rowan's first target was the mayor. By night, he infiltrated the mansion, his crimson eyes burning with hypnotic power. The mayor, roused from sleep, fell under Rowan's control with barely a struggle.
"Sign the land over to LuxeTech. Approve the funding. Forget you ever saw me," Rowan commanded, his voice a velvet snare.
By dawn, the paperwork was complete. The city's dockside district and a generous sum from Gotham's "urban renewal" fund were now his—no questions asked.
Foundation of an Empire
With capital secured, construction began at a feverish pace. LuxeTech's future headquarters rose from the bones of abandoned warehouses. Rowan watched as workers—some subtly influenced by his abilities—poured concrete and welded steel, shaping the fortress that would house his ambitions.
As the walls took shape, Rowan officially registered LuxeTech, presenting it to the public as a beacon of innovation and progress. In truth, it would be the foundation of his dominance.
Unlocking the Vault
When the last stone was set, Rowan descended into the lab's deepest chamber. There, in the cold silence, he opened the storage ring. The alien ship materialized, its hull gleaming with otherworldly energy, casting strange shadows on the walls.
He approached the sealed hatch, recalling fragments of memory and instinct. Pressing his palm to the cold metal, he murmured the passcode—words shaped by the vampire's legacy and his own will.
The hatch hissed open, revealing the ship's heart. Holographic lights flickered, and a calm, measured voice greeted him:
"Greetings, lord. I am AE-09—Bee.."
"Is there any repair option for equipment in the ship?" Rowan asked.
"Yes, lord!" came the reply.
Rowan thought of the ship's repair section and LuxeTech acquiring all types of metals.
With Bee's guidance, LuxeTech's secret labs would become a marvel of alien and human engineering.