Origin

Estelle Ryback was born into a close-knit, middle-class African American family in Chicago during the early 1900s. Her parents worked hard to provide for their children, instilling in Estelle the values of perseverance and integrity. Growing up, she was bright and ambitious, determined to make a name for herself in a world that offered few opportunities to those like her. Chicago was a city of contrasts, with its bustling streets and vibrant culture shadowed by deep racial divides.

As a young woman, Estelle found work as a singer in one of the city’s many jazz clubs, where her voice captivated audiences from all walks of life. Music was her passion, and the smoky, dimly lit clubs were where she felt most alive. But the nightlife in Chicago held its dangers, especially for a woman who walked home alone after her performances.

One night, after a particularly late show, Estelle was making her way home when she was approached by a white man whose presence sent a chill down her spine. He was elegant and mysterious, with an unsettling charm that made her uneasy. He introduced himself as Lucien, but friends called him Lou, and though Estelle sensed something was off, she found herself unable to turn away from him. Lucien was no ordinary man; he was a vampire, drawn to Estelle by the vitality of her spirit and the allure of her voice.

He took her to dinner, the restaurant an elegant, secluded establishment on the outskirts of the city. The atmosphere was intimate, with soft lighting and rich, dark wood furnishings. Over a sumptuous meal, Lucien didn't eat much if at all, but his conversation was captivating, his charm effortless. He spoke with an elegance that made Estelle feel both cherished and enthralled as he was unafraid to be seen with a black woman. They spoke of dreams, of aspirations, and of the limitations she faced.

As the evening wore on, Lucien’s words became more seductive, his gaze more intense. Estelle felt a growing sense of disorientation, as if the world around her was slipping away. She was drawn to him, her defenses crumbling under the weight of his mesmerizing presence. He took her to his mansion and the night seemed to blur into a haze of passion and danger, and she would be the true final course.

When Estelle finally regained her senses, she found herself alone in a field on the outskirts of the city. The grass beneath her was wet with dew, and the sky above was light and sprawling as the sun was soon to come up. She was disoriented and cold, her body aching. As she looked around, she realized with horror that she was covered in blood, her own, and something more sinister. Her mind raced to piece together the night’s events. The seduction, the strange allure of Lucien, and the sudden, unsettling emptiness that followed. She struggled to her feet, her mind swirling with confusion and fear. She knew she had to return to the city, she knew she needed to confront the reality of what had happened, but she also knew, she needed to hide from the sun. It was crazy, but instinctive.

She ran seeking cover in an old dilapidated barn. She was cold, scared and hungry, very hungry, like she had never eating before. Later an older man opened the barn door, seeing her there, he pointed a shotgun and told her to come out of there. He was just as afraid as she was. She didn't know what the sun would do, but knew all too well what shotgun would do so she slowly walked out into the sun. Smoke began to rise from her body, she screamed and ran back inside. He drew down on her and pulled the trigger, blowing chunks out of her. She lunged at him and everything was a blur.

Soon she stood over the man, blood dripping from her mouth as he spasmed on the ground, her wounds slowly, but surely healing. She was horrified, but could suddenly see and hear everything clearer than ever before. Her instincts and intuition peaked. She hid in the barn and until nightfall. She came upon the old man's home, she could sense there were people inside. Not wanting a repeat performance of the barn incident, she made the choice to leave.

She had to get back home. She was in the middle of nowhere, but instinctively knew her way back. She began to walk and after hours of hiding and taking scenic routes, though not at all tired, she just wanted to be home. Focusing deeply on this desire as she walked she almost slammed face first into her bedroom wall. She was home. How? What had happened to her?

With her new existence, Estelle’s life took a dramatic turn. She quickly adapted to her vampiric nature, attracting her to others of her ilk and vice versa. Her newfound abilities allowed her to navigate the treacherous world of Chicago’s supernatural underbelly. She still worked, singing in the jazz club, getting incredible tips, sometimes seducing patrons, learning to feed, but not to kill her prey, though sometimes she did by accident or in cases intentionally if she thought the world would be a much better place without the person.

Eventually the club owner died and his family wanted to sell it and move on. She bought it with money she saved from her tips and also doing odd jobs at night. The club went through various changes until she, now known by her new stage name Artema Midnight, reopened in the nineties as Blackout Burned Nights, a decadent nightclub, but also a place where vampires could gather in relative safety, and blend in with humans. The club became her domain, a neutral ground where vampires could come, but were forbidden from feeding, ensuring it remained a sanctuary from the chaos of the outside world.

As the decades passed, Estelle witnessed the rise and fall of many, including the start of a brutal three-way expulsion of Chicago’s vampire factions as the higher ups in the mystic, supernatural and Church communities killed or forced them out of the city. She survived by keeping her club neutral, refusing to take sides in the conflict aside from a few instances, one being when her DJ, Etsuji (see Decoy) was killed and the other where an Adze named Flashbang wanted to take the club from her to make it a base of operations for the Bleeder Kings vampire gang. Yet, the ongoing violence led to a decline in the vampire population. While leaving more prey for her, Estelle clung to her humanity, feeding but mostly trying not to kill. Estelle remains a powerful and enigmatic figure in Chicago’s vampire community, a survivor who has outlasted many and continues to navigate the delicate balance between her soul and the darkness that lurks within her.

Major Story Arcs

In Victor Locke Demon Hunter #1 Artema warns Victor that Flashbang, was coming after him for hunting down the Bleeder Kings vampire gang, which she was a member of. She also tells him how to kill her as Adze's are different than common vampires. She does this because Flashbang and the Bleeder Kings had been a problem to her in the past. She also warn's Victor that this was mutually beneficial and she is not above killing him. Hexcraft Mechanics #1 retells this story merging it with parts of Epitaph Bread and Salt #1.

Oddities

Estelle goes by the name Stella, posing as her own daughter to throw off suspicions of her age.