Larten Crepsley

Larten Crepsley
Larten with Madam Octa.
Gender	Male
Species	Vampire
Age	180-200
Status	Deceased (Book series) Alive (Movie)
Background Information
Book Universe	The Saga of Darren Shan
First Book Appearance	Cirque Du Freak
Movie/Book Character	Larten Crepsley
First Movie Appearance	Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Acted By	John C. Reilly

Larten Crespley, also known as Mr. Crepsley, was the vampire who blooded Darren Shan in the Cirque Du Freak series. Consequently, he became the mentor to the Vampire Prince, Darren Shan forming a father-son bond between him and the young Prince. He was the deutertagonist of the Cirque Du Freak series and the main protagonist of the Saga of Larten Crepsley series.

The Saga of Larten Crepsley

Larten had seven siblings, but two died while young. The eldest Crepsley, his sister, married and left the house as soon as she could. Mr. and Mrs. Crepsley did not mind, as they were pleased to get rid of her due to her poor work and the small amount of income she brought to the household.

Birth of a Killer

Larten worked in a silk factory until his cousin was murdered by his foreman. He then killed his foreman and escaped into a crypt, where he meet Seba Nile. He then chose to be his assistant.

Then he went to live in the Cirque Du Freak. One day he ended up in a town where he met a boy called Wester, whose family had been killed by a Vampaneze. The Vampaneze turned up to be Murlough. Wester then became Seba's assistant.

Ocean of Blood

Larten and Wester spent some time with the cubs before they returned to vampire mountain where Seba has been offered the job as quartermaster. Larten decides to leave vampire mountain and starts roaming the world by himself with very little aim. Larten goes to see Evanna and meets Malora who is one of her servants. Whilst at Evanna's cave he becomes drunk and tries to kiss her. Evanna becomes angry and cuts Larten's cheek leaving a scar. Malora decides to join Larten and become his assistant but has no intention of being blooded. They decide to take a cruise on a ship where he meets Daniel abrams. One night Larten is caught trying to feed from someone and his secret is revealed. The ship all turn against him and kill Malora. Larten in response kills the entire mob except for the first mate, Daniel , two other people and a baby. Larten, who is in shock after killing a whole ship decides to parent the baby since his mother is dead.

The Saga of Darren Shan

Cirque Du Freak (book)

Darren was forced to choose between loosing his best friend, Steve, or become a vampire assistant when Steve was bitten by Madam Octa, in exchanged for the cure. Darren decided that he'd rather save his dear friend, Larten Crepsley agreed and blooded him instantly.

The Vampire's Assistant

Larten teaches Darren of the vampire ways and customs.He also makes him drink from a dying friend to preserve part of his soul.

Tunnels of Blood

After years with the Cirque, he receives a visit from old friend, Gavner Purl. He tells Larten of a Vampaneze (Murlough) running riot in his home town and, naturally, Larten goes to save the town in which he was born. He takes Darren and Evra Von (the snakeboy) with him but remains very secretive. He goes out every night searching for the three marks of the Vampaneze, and refuses to answer any questions the boys may have.

But one night Darren suddenly appears, trying to kill his mentor, when Larten is just about to get his hands on Murlough. He gets very angry as the fiend slips away but when Darren explains he realizes it has all been one big misunderstanding. They then go to find Evra, who's waiting upstairs, but find him gone. Murlough has kidnapped him! Larten and Darren then plot to save Evra and kill Murlough. They then come up with a crafty plan in which they put the Hemlocks (Darren's girlfriend's family) lives on the line. Mr. Crepsley fights with Murlough and ends up killing him.

Vampire Mountain

A Vampire Council is imminent and Larten has to leave with Darren to get the approval of the vampire princes.

Trials of Death

After a long walking period in the heavy snow, Darren and Larten finally arrive at Vampire Mountain, only to find out that Darren must complete several dangerous trials and tests.

The Vampire Prince

Darren finds out that a dear friend of his (ahem. Kurda Smahlt), is a traitor. Kurda set out to become a Vampire Prince, and engages in a war against the Vampaneze. Darren brought this to the attention to the Princes and in short- Kudra was sent to death and Darren became a Prince, seeing as he failed the trials and the only vampires that can fail a trial and not be killed is a Prince.

Hunters of the Dusk

This went on to haunt him, as seen in the book Hunters of the Dusk where Evanna gave Mr. Crepsley nine frogs, together forming a picture of the fallen female vampire, to make up for giving him the well-recognized facial scar years ago.

Mr. Crepsley's soul had been unable to be contacted by Evanna in the Lake of Souls, which the daughter of Desmond Tiny hoped was a sign indicating that he had gone to Paradise.

Allies of the Night

Larten, Darren, Vancha and Harkat continue their search for the Vampaneze Lord.

Killers of the Dawn

 Mr. Crepsley was one of the Vampires selected to go and hunt for the Vampaneze Lord besides Darren Shan and Vancha March. In the battle against the supposed Vampaneze Lord, Gannen Harst, and Steve Leopard in the Cavern of Retribution. Mr. Crepsley took over Darren's place to defeat the three vampanezes, putting others first before him as always, which caused all pacts agreed before amongst the two groups to go off. Mr. Crepsley had defeated the Lord, but was then pushed towards his death by Steve into the fiery-stakes pit. His death had been for nothing as Darren later discovered that Steve himself was the true Vampaneze Lord, the vampaneze that Mr. Crepsley had killed had been a decoy.

Powers and Abilities

His senses are also vastly improved by his transformation into a vampire. His teeth and nails are much harder than those of any human. He can flit, or move faster than even the eyes of vampires can follow.

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Larten can heal wounds with his saliva and breathe a gas that can knock its victims unconscious for 30 minutes (longer if the victim is not in good health).

Darren often mentions that Larten has powers that exceed those of normal vampires. He has the vampiric form of telepathy stated in the books, and can control certain animals, such as spiders. Wolves are naturally drawn to a vampire. In Tunnels of Blood he shows Darren his power to dabble with illusions. Up to then, Darren thinks Mr. Crepsley is telekinetic, but the truth is, he is not. He snaps his fingers out of habit and to distract the eye, and then rapidly snatches the object away from where it is. He does it so fast, it is impossible for humans to see, and vampires have to struggle to be able to see him. Trials of Death it is shown that he is exceptionally strong and fast, even for a vampire. In Trials of Death, it is also revealed that he is among the most skilled of vampires at hand-to-hand combat and is most likely considerably better than most with weapons because he nearly became a prince. His other talents include lock picking (by using static electricity he builds up when flitting to force a lock open), playing a flute, and creating illusions.

Relations with Other Characters

• Vancha March: Larten and Vancha have a strong mutual respect. It is likely that they are old friends because of the many memories they share.

• Arra Sails: Larten's ex-mate is still very close to him even after their mating time ended, but they continue to have a somewhat romantic relationship. When Darren questions their relationship, he promptly changes the subject as he is not the forward type to confess to his relationship. Maybe he still had some feelings for her he wouldn't even admit to himself?

• Gavner Purl: Gavner seems to be one of Larten's closest friends among the vampires. Although they respect each other, they get endless joy from embarrassing one another, and one will often make insulting jokes about the other.

• Steve Leonard: Their relationship has been one of pure hatred ever since Larten said Steve's blood was evil. In Killers of the Dawn both character have demonstrated that they are willing to die if it means that the other will die too.

• Seba Nile: Larten's mentor and close friend
  

Trivia

• Mr. Crepsley carries bottled blood taken from corpses in Morgues to use in emergencies.
• Mr. Crepsley has no nose hairs because he burned them out with a hot rod. (He had told Seba he wanted to be just like him, so his instructor pulled out a hair every time Mr. Crepsley spoke incorrectly. Especially when he used words such as "don't" or "can't" instead of "do not" or cannot") and so his instructor pulled out 'ear hairs' instead although Crepsley refused to tell Darren this as he found it too embarrassing.
• Mr. Crepsley's reason for leaving before he became a Prince are never specifically stated. Gavner, however, believes he left because he was tired of fighting and killing. Mr. Crepsley also shows a dislike of politics.
• Mr. Crepsley got his scar from Evanna scratching him with her nail for trying to kiss her (when in one of her beautiful forms) while he was drunk.
• Mr. Crepsley is the only hunter without a bond to one of the Vampaneze Lord's allies. Vancha had his brother, Gannen, Darren had his former friend Steve. Although they are not official hunters, Alice had her colleague Morgan James and Harkat indirectly caused R.V.'s grudge against Darren, because Harkat was hunting with Darren when their battle began. Arguably Mr. Crepsley's experiences with Steve in the first novel, his bond to Darren, and the mutual hatred he shares with Steve could count as a different connection between himself and the Vampaneze Lord.
• Mr. Crepsley usually wears red,(his favourite color), especially when he has visitors, as he wants "to look his best for them". (Another characteristic which he shares with Seba Nile)
• Mr. Crepsley owns some pots and pans which he got from Evanna. They're special, as they can be compressed for safe- keeping when traveling.
• Mr. Crepsley thinks everyone should know how to cook, and he teaches Darren how to cook a stew.
• Mr. Crepsley used to "dabble with illusions" he loved doing tricks when he was young, and still likes to practice.
• Mr. Crepsley does not know how to read or write. He was never taught.

Film portrayal

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John C. Reilly as Larten Crepsley

Larten is almost the same as in the books but, there is one major difference. He is currently dating Truska. He also seems to have known Murlaugh before they fought. He is also said to have helped create the Vampire sedation used on their victim to drink the blood from them. He doesnt talk the way he does in the books, he is also very sarcastic in the movie.

Larten first appeared on stage at The Cirque du Freak in Darren's home town. There, he supposedly lost Madam Octa and decided to pull a rabbit out of his hat instead. He took Madam Octa out and they sort of danced around the stage, went on his mouth etc.

After the show, Darren went to steal Octa from Crepsley's dressing room. There, Darren saw another vampire, Gavner Purl, come to see Larten and chat about the Vampires and Vampaneze. Steve later turned up and demanded to become a vampire but was said to have bad blood. So, Steve left. Darren finds a secret passage out of the wardrobe he was hiding in and escaped with Octa.

After escaping the theater Mr. Tiny offers him a lift home questioning him about his soul.

Later, Crepsley appears in Darren's room and then breaks Darren's neck after giving him a potion to put him to sleep and slow his breathing. After Darren wakes up, Crepsley tells Darren to fill in the grave before fighting Murlough at the graveyard. They both escape.

Darren and Larten join up with the Cirque again where he talks to Mr. Tall about Desmond Tiny and his interest in Darren. At the Cirque, Crepsley tries to teach Darren to fight but Darren is too weak.

Later on, Larten comes to Darren's rescue when he finds out Darren has gone to save Rebecca, Annie, Dermot and Angela. Here is when he fights Murlough for the final time and kills him after getting a knife in him but surviving.

Appearances

Books

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• Sons of Destiny (In past)

Films

• Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant