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Larten Crepsley
LartenManga
Gender Male
Species Vampire
Age 204 (1791-1995)
Relatives Unnamed Mother & Father
Seven Unnamed Brothers & Sisters
Vur Horston (cousin)
Seba Nile (sire)
Alicia Dunyck (ex-fiance)
Arra Sails (former mate)
Gavner Purl (former assistant)
Darren Shan (assistant)
Status Deceased (Book series)
Deceased (Manga)
Alive (alternate timeline at the end of the series)
Alive (Movie)
Background Information
Book Universe The Saga of Larten Crepsley
The Saga of Darren Shan
First Book Appearance Birth of a Killer
First Movie Appearance Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Acted By John C. Reilly

Larten Crepsley (ラーテン・クレプスリー Raaten Kurepusuri) is a vampire who works as a spider-tamer at Cirque du Freak and Darren Shan's guardian. He sees great potential in Darren and bloods him so that he can train him. Though Crepsley has acted cold towards Darren and tests him under a guise of friendliness, he also shows concern for him and regrets changing him after seeing Darren's unhappiness.

It was his idea to bring Darren to the Cirque, as well, to try and better Darren's situation. Despite being a vampire, Crepsley believes that they are not monsters until they kill humans, and refuses to turn someone who is evil into a vampire. He's the protagonist of the The Saga of Larten Crepsley, which shows how he became a vampire.

Appearance

He's described as a tall, lanky man with short orange cropped hair (which was dyed when he was a child as an identification brand while he worked in a factory) and a long red coat. Has one long scar running down his left cheek, which is a result of him trying to kiss Evanna in his youth.

Personality

Larten starts off as a hot-tempered boy. His hastiness and impatience caused conflicts for everyone and often got his friends in troubles. After becoming a vampire, he became even more reckless, since he knew that his new vampire body could withstand insane amounts of punishment, hence he could get away with even more dangerous stunts. However, despite his impulsiveness, he was very caring and protective for the people he loved.

At first he was irritated by the customs of vampires, having called the Vampire Generals "backwards imbeciles", and thought that they should be moving towards the future rather than wallow in the past, but adapted soon enough. Despite their constant bickering, Larten looks up to his sire, Seba Nile, to the point of emulating some of his mannerisms. He also adored his best friend Wester Flack like a brother (because he reminded him of his deceased cousin) and was very torn up when he betrayed him, to the point of acting like he never existed for the rest of his life.

After his recklessness resulted in him massacring the crew of a ship after they killed his assistant, Larten is well aware it's all his fault and becomes more pragmatic and considerate. However, he acts aloof and distant towards Gavner Purl, as the boy's parents were victims of the massacre and believes he doesn't deserve his love, even though Gavner sees him as a father figure. After his girlfriend was killed supposedly by a vampaneze, Larten led an obsessive wild goose chase searching for the killer for years. However, the things he sees at the time of World War II change his views of the world and by the time he finds his girlfriend's true killer, he has stopped caring. He realizes good people are killed and taken advantage of while bad people get away with their crimes all the time. As the years pass and suffers through many loses, Larten becomes solemn and wise.

He mantains an aloof relationship with Darren at first but eventually comes to care about him, without openly showing affection. He thinks the boy is too kind by vampire standards and blames himself for turning him into one, but has no choice to do it, as Mr. Tiny forced him to.

Powers & 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. 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.

In Trials of Death it is shown that he is exceptionally strong and fast, even for a vampire. 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.

Role

The Saga of Larten Crepsley

Birth of a Killer

« No. If you want to kill Wester, you'll have to kill me first. »

(Larten protecting Wester from Murlough)

Larten was born into a large family in 1791. He was close to his cousin, Vur Horston, who had been adopted following the deaths of his parents. Both kids worked in a textile factory under a foreman named Traz, who Larten's father had also worked under as a child. Together Larten and Vur loosened the fibres of silkworm cocoons for repurposing, a job for which Traz daubed their heads with bright orange dye for easy identification. When Larten was 12, Traz murdered Vur while taking his anger out on the boy. Consumed with rage, Larten stabbed Traz before running away.

Seeking refuge in a local graveyard, the boy met Seba Nile, who he soon learned was a vampire. Seba offered him to become his assistant, which Larten accepted. When Larten was 17, Seba leaves him under the care of Hibernius Tall and the Cirque du Freak while he attends the Council at Vampire Mountain. During this time, Larten encounters Wester Flack, whose family had been murdered by a vampaneze named Murlough. The two become friends and go to confront the vampaneze. Wester is knocked unconscious during the scuffle, however Larten refuses to back down and allow Murlough to kill Wester. Intrigued, Murlough allows Wester to live and flees. When Seba returns, he allows Wester to serve alongside Larten as his assistant. A year later, the two are blooded as half-vampires.

In 1820, Larten and Wester join Seba for their first Council at Vampire Mountain, where he meets Vancha March and Mika Ver Leth. During the Festival of the Undead, Staffen Irve challenges Larten and defeats him, resulting in Larten fleeing the mountain in shame. On the way, he meets a fellow vampire named Tanish Eul. Though Tanish invites Larten to join him in a game of cards, Larten declines and carries on his way. He's approached by Seba, who consoles him.

In the years to come, Larten becomes frustrated with Seba's training. Together with Wester, the two join Tanish as part of The Cubs, a gang of self-indulgent vampires.

Ocean of Blood

« I say to hell with Generals, Princes and the rest. Life is too short. I want to live, fight, love, die. Not waste my time studying. »

(Larten before abandoning Seba and Wester)

One day a vampaneze named Randel Chayne challenges The Cubs. A fellow member, Zula Pone offers himself in Tanish's place, who doesn't want to fight. Zula is killed and Tanish leaves the group in shame for his cowardice. Larten and Wester decide to return with Seba. He brought the boys to meet the witch Evanna. Afterwards, the group has a party and Larten gets drunk, flirting with Evanna's assistants. He becomes interested in one of them, Arra Sails. Larten and Wester return to Vampire Mountain in order to undergo the Trials of Initiation. The two pass their trials succesfully and begin their training. Larten aims to become a Vampire General.

Seba is asked to become the quartermaster of Vampire Mountain, which he accepts. In response, Larten and Wester remain with their master in order to continue their training. After tending to a mass of corpses piled up in the river connecting to the Hall of Final Voyage, Larten considers his own mortality and opts to abandon his training and set out on his own. Before Larten leaves, he is approached by Vancha, who asks for his assistance in tracking down Arrow, a vampire who had seemingly abandoned the Clan. In the end they find out that Arrow has married a human.

Larten visits Evanna's place, where he befriends her aid, Malora. During his stay, Larten attempts to kiss Evanna while she is in one of her prettier forms. This causes Evanna to scratch Larten's face, leaving a noticeable scar. Larten fled in shame, but is followed by Malora, who wants to join Larten as his assistant. The following days, Larten refuses Paris's offer to train him to be a Vampire General and meets Bram Stoker, unintentionally revealing aspects of the vampires to him.

In a delirium caused by his sickness, Larten joins the crew of the "Pearly Tornado". Worried about Larten's condition, Malora collects blood from unconscious men, but a sailor named Daniel Abrams outs Larten as a vampire. Malora is murdered by the sailors, causing an enraged Larten to massacre the crew, except for Daniel, three sailors and a baby Gavner Purl. When the ship reaches its destination, Larten decides to set the survivors free, only to find that Daniel became insane from the isolation and ate the surviving sailors. Disgusted, Larten leaves the ship with baby Gavner.

Palace of the Damned

« Tanish Eul was executed for good reason and I do not apologize for that. But I also slaughtered your real mother and father. In a moment of mad rage, I took their lives and left you an orphan. »

(Larten revealing to Gavner that he killed his biological parents)

Larten blames himself for the massacre in the Pearly Tornado and decides to commit suicide by jumping into a chasm, but he's saved by Desmond Tiny. Larten regains his will to live and decides to find a decent home for the baby Gavner. As the boy grows up, Larten remains distant, blaming himself for the death of his parents. By 1902, Larten and Gavner make their way into France, with Larten now going by his cousin's name. Here he meets and falls in love with Alicia Dunyck, who adopts Gavner. After four years, Larten proposes to Alicia, who accepts.

Eventually, Larten discovers that Tanish is in France and several women under his employ have been disappearing. Further investigating leads Tanish to reveal that the culprit is none other than Randel Chayne, who has been stalking Tanish and killing those closest to him in part because of his cowardice during their first meeting, and because of Tanish's ongoing charade of feigning humanity. In order to save his own skin, Tanish murders a woman and frames Larten, exposing Larten as vampire and forcing him to leave France. He's forced to separate from Alicia and vows revenge against Tanish for ruining his life.

Back in Vampire Mountain, Larten reunites with Seba and Wester. He finds out that Arra had been blooded and chose to serve under Mika. He also finds that a vampaneze had murdered Arrow's family, and that he was now on a suicide mission to eradicate all vampaneze. Seba requests that Larten take Wester with him, as he is worried about Wester's increasing grudge against vampanezes. Larten and Wester meet Evanna, who tells Larten that Mr. Tiny saved him because he's destined for Paradise - but refuses to say more on the matter.

Larten and Wester then venture to France to find Alicia, who married someone else and has a daughter named Sylva. He also finds out Gavner is gone, as Tanish took him to make him a vampire. Larten decides to kill Tanish for this, as he wanted Gavner to have a normal life. Together with Vancha, Larten is able to locate Tanish in Russia, where he discovers that Gavner now works as Tanish's assistant and sees him as his new father figure. When Larten confronts Tanish, Gavner defends his master, only for Tanish to come clean about having framed Larten for murder. Larten allows Tanish to flee, but Vancha kills him on the exact words that Larten wouldn't kill Tanish. As Gavner mourns him, Larten tells the boy that he killed his biological parents in the past. Gavner vows to kill Larten, who in turn supplies Gavner with a knife and asks that Gavner pass judgement on him.

Brothers to the Death

« Tell him...Tell him that I do not know any vampire of that name. »

(Larten acting as if Wester never existed after killing him)

Though Gavner feels betrayed, he is unable to kill Larten, and instead becomes his assistant. The two then return to France to reunite with Alicia and Sylva. In the onset of World War II, Larten and Gavner meet with Mika and Arra in order to undergo negotiations with the Nazis - who seek to ally themselves with vampires in order to pursue their own political goals, even though the vampires have no interest in the Nazis' plans. In between negotiations, Arra admits her intent to mate with Larten, though Larten rejects her because of his feelings for Alicia.

While leading the Nazis on a wild goose chase, Mr. Tiny approaches Larten and Gavner with a troop of little people, after months of circling the two. Before parting ways, Mr. Tiny reveals that Larten would be reuniting with Wester very soon. Just as Mr. Tiny had foretold, Wester catches up with Larten and Gavner soon after, and explains that he'd lost support in his campaign to eradicate the vampaneze because of comparisons being drawn to the Nazis and is desperate to find a Vampire Prince that will support his plans. He wants Larten to help with his cause, but he refuses.

Larten and Gavner go to Paris to visit Alicia again, only to find out Chayne has murdered her. Fortunately, Sylva had survived, but she blames Larten for her mother's death. Larten and Gavner decide to get revenge on Chayne, but to their surprise, there's no trace of him. As the years pass and Chayne is nowhere to be seen, Larten develops a grudge against vampanezes. Vancha calls him out on this, so Larten decides to search for Chayne once again. Arra tags alongside him and the two forge a 7-year mating contract. By 1945, the war had all but ended, so Larten and Arra make for Berlin - where they meet up with Kurda Smahlt. Seeing Kurda helping the humans spurs something in Larten, and so he and Arra travel with Kurda in order to help heal the victims of the war.

The group tours a monastery nearby, where they learn of a group of monks who exist without prejudice and without contact to the outside world. The monks preside over the wedding, which is revealed to be between two skelks. Larten has interest in joining the monks, but decides to focus on his quest to find Chayne first.

Over the course of the next 20 years, Larten still can't find Chayne. During his stay in New York, Larten met an adult Sylva, who has forgiven Larten. He finds out that Chayne didn't kill Alicia, but rather Wester. Meanwhile, Paris has nominated Larten to become a Vampire Prince, but Larten refuses and decides to get revenge on his best friend instead. Larten confronts Wester, who reveals he framed Chayne in order to push Larten to his anti-vampaneze cause. The two have a fight in which Larten is victorious and kills Wester. Larten is emotionally broken by the incident and decides to never mention Wester's name again.

Afterwards, he returns to the monastery, where he works for the monks for 10 years. Here, Larten is gifted a venomous spider named Madam Octa, who he learns to control via a tin whistle. Upon leaving the monastery, Larten returns to the Cirque du Freak, where Mr. Tall encourages him to perform with Madam Octa. Over the next few years, Larten enjoys his time with the Cirque du Freak, but feels a certain anxiousness one night when he sees two certain boys sitting in the audience. He feels like those two will be the death of him one day.

The Saga of Darren Shan

Cirque Du Freak (book)

« You will be my traveling companion. You will travel with me across the world. You will be my eyes and hands during the day. You will guard me while I sleep. You will find food for me if it is scarce. You will take my clothes to the laundry. You will polish my shoes. You will look after Madam Octa. In short, you will see to my every need. In return, I will teach you the ways of the vampires. »

(Larten explaining Darren what it means to be a vampire's assistant)

Around 1980, Larten performs his act with Madam Octa as part of the Cirque du Freak. During the show, he notices two boys in particular, Darren Shan and Steve Leonard. Afterwards, he's approached by Steve, who recognizes Larten from a picture of a painting depicting Larten and Alicia after their engagement and realizes he's a vampire. Steve requests that Larten blood him as a vampire, to which he begrudgingly accepts. However, he rejects Steve after tasting his blood and claiming he's evil and is thereby unfit to become a vampire.

Darren, so enamoured with Madam Octa, returns to steal here, leaving Larten a note claiming that he'd expose him as a vampire should he seek to take Madam Octa back. Intrigued, Larten remains in town and watches Darren from afar. When Madam Octa bites Steve as a result of Annie accidentally distracting him, Darren throws Madam Octa and her cage out the window. Larten then reveals himself, catching Madam Octa before taking his leave.

With Steve's decaying condition, Darren seeks Larten in hopes he'll have an antivenom for Madam Octa's venomous bite. Larten agrees to help Darren, but under the condition he'll become his assistant. Though Darren despises the idea, having no other choice, he accepts and is blooded as a half-vampire. Larten provides Steve with the antivenom, ensuring that he'd make a full recovery, and then works alongside Darren to fake his death in order to ensure that no one will come looking for him. Larten administers a paralyzing agent that would keep Darren in a state of perceived death, leading to his burial after his subsequent funeral. Larten then proceeds to free Darren from his coffin with the boy becoming his assistant at last.

The Vampire's Assistant

« I will not force you to. But think carefully about it. What happened tonight is a tragedy that will haunt you for a very long time, but if you drink from Sam and absorb part of his essence, dealing with his death will be easier. Losing a loved one is hard. This way, you need not lose all of him. »

(Larten encouraging Darren to drink Sam's blood)

Two months after Darren first became his assistant, Larten finds that Darren remains persistent in refusing to drink human blood. The two return to the Cirque du Freak following an incident in which Darren unintentionally hurt another boy and nearly succumbed to his thirst.

While the two are getting along, Mr. Tiny visits the Cirque du Freak with a band of little people. Larten tells Mr. Tiny of Darren in their meeting, prompting Mr. Tiny to extend an invitation for Darren and his new friend, Evra Von, to join their conversation. Mr. Tiny asks that both Darren and Evra help gather food for the little people.

Soon after, Mr. Tall asks that Darren join Larten in his performance with Madam Octa, providing Darren with tickets for his new friends, Sam Grest and R. V.. Larten asks that Darren control Madam Octa's interactions with him, putting him at Darren's mercy completely. Although Darren is tempted to have Madam Octa kill Larten during the performance, he is ultimately unable to do it. Larten later reveals that it had been a test, as he was aware of Darren's intent and prepared accordingly by milking Madam Octa's fangs of their venom - a test which Darren fortunately passed.

Sam becomes interested in joining the Cirque, so Darren asks Mr. Crepsley to let him join. He only accepts on the condition that Sam will become a vampire as well, so Darren decides to scare his friend away to spare him from the fate of becoming a vampire. The day the Cirque is about to leave the city, R.V releases the Wolf Man, as he was unhappy with how it was being treated. The Wolf Man mauls R.V and goes on a rampage, in which Darren and Sam are cornered by the beast.

Larten comes in time to save Darren from the Wolf Man, but it's too late to save Sam. In Sam's final moments, Larten convinces Darren to preserve Sam's soul by drinking his blood. The next day the Cirque leaves to another town and Darren asks bitterly if Larten is satisfied that he has finally drink blood. Larten says that he isn't happy about this, he feels guilt and shame for the incident.

Tunnels of Blood

« You are right. One must show trust in order to be trusted. I wished to spare you the gory details. I should not have. This is my fault. »

(Larten apologizing to Darren for locking him out of the loop)

A year after Sam's death, Larten receives a visit from Gavner, who tells him that the vampaneze Murlough has been doing a killing spree in Larten's hometown. Larten decides to take care of the problem and brings Darren and Evra along with him. However, he doesn't want the boys involved in the case, so he doesn't tell them about it. This causes Darren and Evra to suspect Larten himself of the town murders.

As the two trail Larten one night in order to discern his true intentions, they witness Larten stalking Murlough. Since Darren isn't aware of what's going on and believes Larten to be the killer, he confronts him. Murlough manages to escape in wake of Darren's intervention and kidnap Evra. While Larten is angry at first, he realizes it was his fault for keeping Darren out of the loop. Though Larten is sure that Murlough would have fled the city and killed Evra, Darren seeks out the vampaneze, who reveals that he will kill Evra by Christmas Day unless Darren delivers Larten to him; as Murlough intends on killing Larten for breaking their laws. Together, Larten and Darren craft a plan in order to save Evra and stop Murlough.

Darren visits a girl he'd met in the city and started dating, Debbie Hemlock, and her family - giving them each a dose of a sleeping potion. Proceeding to the sewers, Darren and Larten stage an argument, allowing Darren to run off in search of Evra alone. In encountering Murlough, the vampaneze takes Darren to his lair and keeps him as a hostage alongside Evra. Darren manages to convince Murlough that killing him as a half-vampire would allow Larten to lead the Vampire Generals straight to Murlough, forcing him out of his beloved home in the sewers. Darren then makes a deal with Murlough to trade Debbie's life for Evra's - however when they arrive at Debbie's house, Murlough is tricked into killing a goat planted in Debbie's bed. Larten then reveals himself and quickly slays Murlough. Larten and Darren then dispose of Murlough's body and rescue Evra, returning to the Cirque du Freak.

Vampire Mountain

In 1988, after 6 years of peace with the Cirque du Freak, Larten asks that Darren prepare himself to make the journey to Vampire Mountain for Council. Before the two head out however, Mr. Tiny arrives and insists that they bring two of his Little People along with them for the journey.

During their travels, Larten and Darren are also joined by Gavner, who had tracked Larten mentally. The group finds evidence of a Vampires brutal death at one of the way stations along the path to Vampire Mountain and opt to move on - resulting in an encounter with a pack of wolves. Further up the mountain, the group finds evidence of Vampaneze blood and are unnerved by the presence of their blood cousins so close to Vampire Mountain. Believing that the Vampaneze may be tied to the attack at the waystation, Larten and Gavner scour the area. During this time, Darren is attacked by a bear and forced to defend himself.

By the time that Larten and Gavner return, they find that Darren had killed the bear with help from one of the Little People - the other one having been crushed by the bear. Larten deduces that the bear had been driven mad by Vampaneze blood. Following the bear's tracks, they find that it had unearthed a buried Vampaneze corpse and consumed some of it - though this hints and there being more than a single Vampaneze in the area.

While resting, Larten thanks the Little Person - nicknamed "Lefty" by Darren - for intervening. It is then that the Little Person removes his hood and introduces himself as Harkat Mulds. In response to Larten and Gavner's shock, Harkat explains that he was once a ghost who made a deal with Mr. Tiny in order to return to the realm of the living in his makeshift body. When Larten asks why Harkat chose to break the Little People's silence, Harkat admits that he has a message to deliver to the Vampire Princes from Mr. Tiny. Though it takes some encouragement, Harkat shares his message with Larten, Darren, and Gavner - that the night of the Vampaneze Lord is at hand.

Larten, Darren, Gavner, and Harkat arrive at Vampire Mountain, where Larten reunites with Seba for the first time in several decades. Larten introduces Seba to Madam Octa with the intent of giving her to Seba as a gift - however Seba refuses in his old age. Larten also reconnects with Kurda, who had recently been suggested as a candidate for Vampire Prince.

Days after their arrival at Vampire Mountain, Larten prepares Darren to face the Vampire Princes, who ask that Larten justify his decision to blood a child. Larten simply states that he cannot explain his reasoning and accepts the consequences of his actions - as blooding children had been outlawed by the Clan generations ago. However, as none of the Princes sought to tarnish Larten's name, they instead look to Darren; with Arrow suggesting that he face the Trials of Initiation in order to prove himself to be worthy of being among the Clan. Both Larten and Arra, who had faced Darren in the halls of sport prior, vouch for Darren being capable enough to undertake the Trials of Initiation; however Kurda worries that Darren is not yet ready. Darren ultimately accepts his responsibility to undertake the Trials and is instructed to return the following day to decide his first trial - with Larten remaining behind in order to discuss the ordeal with Murlough with the Princes.

Trials of Death

When Darren goes to choose his first trial, he is met an encouraged by Arra - who flirts with Larten. This leads Larten to admit to Darren that he and Arra were once eachother's mate; though Larten awkwardly refuses to admit that he still has feelings for Arra.

Darren chooses the Underwater Maze as his first trial, for which he utilizes his Period of Preparation - an old and rarely used rule that Seba had suggested - to ready himself. Though Larten admits that he has no intention of betting on whether or not Darren will pass the Trials of Initiation, he is overheard by Harkat saying that he'd eat his cape if Darren failed, proving that he believes in his assistant. Though it proves troublesome for Darren, he is ble to pass the first trial.

The second trial that Darren chooses is the Path of Needles, which he pushes through. Thankfully, the final Vampire arrives at the mountain during this time, and the Festival of the Undead pushes back Darren's third trial.

The third trial that Darren chooses is the Hall of Flames. Though he trains with Vanez and Arra rigorously, he is discouraged heading into the trial, asking Larten to bury his corpse in his grave back home in the event of his death. When Larten agrees, Darren embraces his master and proclaims that he's proud to have been Larten's assistant.

During the trial, Darren's body is burned intensely, the blame for which Larten places upon himself. Larten remains by Darren side while he is tended to and rests. When Darren finally wakes, Larten reveals that there will be no additional time given to Darren, and that he must now either choose his fourth trial or admit defeat. Kurda parlays with the Princes, but he does not bring good news, instead vaguely asking that they get a stretcher in order to bring Darren to the Hall of Princes.

When Darren proves that he is fit for the trial by stepping forward and choosing the Blooded-Boars, the Princes each declare that they cannot attend the trial, and having already missed one, they ask that Darren's fourth trial be postponed for 72 hours. During this time, Larten tells Darren that he intends on remaining at Vampire Mountain after Council, as Seba had asked him to take his place as quartermaster, which meant that Darren would have to stay with him at the mountain for the following 30 years until he came of age - though the choice was ultimately Darren's.

In his fourth trial, Darren kills one of the boars, but when the other attempts to kill him while he's incapacitated, Harkat leaps into the arena and kills it instead - unwilling to allow his friend to die. Many demand Darren's death, and while Arra, Kurda, Gavner, and Vanez defend Darren by asking for another go at the trial, Larten suggests that they cannot allow such a thing regardless of Harkat not knowing Vampire laws. While Darren is taken to his cell to await a decision by the Vampire Princes, Larten feverishly advocates for his assistant, moreso than any of his colleagues, but is unable to change the Princes minds.

The Vampire Prince

In learning that Darren and Gavner are missing, Larten attempts to triangulate Gavner's location - but without a response Larten knows that Gavner is dead. As evidence suggests that Darren fell into the river within the Hall of Final Voyage, Larten assumes that Gavner either died trying to save Darren, or vice versa. Still, Larten has Arra and Kurda join him in searching for Darren's body so that he can properly lay his apprentice to rest. However, Kurda also asks Cyrus and another Vampire to join them, in case Darren did make an appearance. After finding nothing, Larten, Arra, Kurda, Cyrus and the other Vampire returned to the mountain in order to prepare for Kurda's Investiture.

At the Investiture, Darren reveals himself - having sought out Seba in order to work alongside him in infiltrating the Hall of Princes. Darren exposes Kurda as a traitor who had allowed Vampaneze to infiltrate Vampire Mountain, as well as being responsible for Gavner's death. After Darren informs the Princes about everything that had happened, Larten is free to reunite with Darren, who apologizes for having run away.

Larten later takes part in plan thought out by Darren, called "Operation Arachnid", in which Darren would use Madam Octa to lead Ba Halen's spiders against the Vampaneze, thereby leading them into the Vampire army. During the battle, Arra is mortally wounded by a Vampaneze named Glalda. Larten is called over to the scene by Darren, where Arra stresses that he cannot allow the Vampire Princes to kill Darren - believing that Darren had earned a reprieve. Larten then takes Arra in his arms and takes her to be tended to. Though Arra held on hours after the fighting had ceased, Arra ultimately succumbed to her wounds, and Larten had wept over her death.

Unable to sleep, Larten reconnects with Darren, complimenting Darren's performance during the battle, having heard that Darren had killed two Vampaneze. Though this made Darren uncomfortable because he was opposed to killing anyone. Larten and Darren then make their way to the Hall of Princes alongside the majority of the Clan in order to witness Kurda's sentencing. In hearing Kurda confirm that he was in league with the Vampaneze, Larten begins to give in to his anger and thinks about launching himself at Kurda and killing him himself, however Seba is able to calm him. Kurda then admits that, while it had been his intention to let the Vampaneze into the Hall of Princes in order to seize the Stone of Blood, just as Darren had declared.however it was not to eradicate the Clan, but to save them instead. Kurda reveals that Mr. Tiny visited the Vampaneze three years before and told them to seek out the Vampaneze Lord - who had been found six months earlier. Kurda's intention was to bridge the gap between the Vampires and Vampaneze in order to prevent a preemptive strike from the Vampaneze before it was too late.

Despite his intentions being a last resort in order to maintain the Clan's survival by melding it with the Vampaneze, Kurda was still sentenced to death and subsequently executed. Afterwards, Seba admits that the emergence of the Vampaneze Lord meant that he would forestall his retirement, meaning that Larten could not replace him as quartermaster. As well, Mika had asked that Larten remain at Vampire Mountain in order to resume as a Vampire General again, however Larten was more concerned with Darren's sentencing, as it had still yet to be decided. Though Larten was sure Darren would be pardoned, Vanez reminds him that there has never been an instance where the death sentence had been overturned among the Clan, meaning that the Princes would have to rewrite the Vampire laws to get around Darren's death sentence.

Larten oversees the cremations of all the Vampires killed during the first battle of the War of Scars, which included Gavner and Arra. Though Larten remained composed for Arra's sake, he admitted that he greatly missed her and later wept loudly over his lost love.

During Darren's trial, the Vampire Princes regrettably admit that there was no way for them to rework the laws in order to pardon Darren from death. Outraged, Larten stands for Darren, listing off all he had done for the sake of the Clan, suggesting that it was preposterous that he be put to death. The Princes however instead suggest that, rather than allow Darren to be at the mercy of the Vampire laws, they intended to put Darren in a position above them instead. Shocked and confused, Larten insists that Darren is too young, and wasn't even a Vampire General yet - as the Princes intended to bring Darren into their ranks. Larten then takes position by Darren's side in support, as Arrow and Mika use the Stone of Blood to officially blood Darren as a Vampire Prince.

Hunters of the Dusk

Mr. Crepsley was one of the Vampires selected to go and hunt for the Vampaneze Lord besides Darren Shan and Vancha March.

Allies of the Night

« Blood does not change. When I tested Steve Leonard's blood, it was the taste of pure evil. Time cannot have diluted that. »

(Larten insisting that Steve is still evil)

Larten and Vancha return to the mountain for Paris's funeral. When they return, they find out a grown-up Steve has returned to meet Darren once again. While Darren is happy to have his best friend back, Larten is distrustful about Steve's motives, insisting that his blood is evil.

When the group go to the tunnels, they're ambushed by a group of vampanezes. Steve takes Debbie hostage and reveals he is a half-vampaneze, having manipulated Darren and his allies the whole time. He never had any intention to forgive Darren and Larten and is obsessed with getting his revenge on them. In the following battle, Debbie is taken by the vampaneze group, but Darren's group manages to take Steve hostage.

Killers of the Dawn

« Do not let hatred rule your life. My death does not need to be avenged. Live as a free vampire, not as a twisted, revenge-driven creature of despair. Do not become like Steve Leonard or R.V. My spirit will not rest easy in Paradise if you do. »

(Larten's last words to Darren)

Larten, Darren and Harkat are arrested by human police, who have been led to believe Darren's team are the killers behind the city murders thanks to Steve's manipulations. Before they're taken into custody, he is knocked out and is placed in a hospital. However, while Darren is questioned by police, he overhears police saying that Steve has escaped, killing several innocents along the way.

In the battle against the Lord of the Vampaneze, Steve and Gannen Harst, Larten took over Darren's place to defeat the three vampaneze. Larten decides to protect Darren and his friends by fighting against the three vampanezes. He succesfully defeats the Lord of the Vampaneze, but is pushed to his death by Steve into a pit of fiery stakes. Before dying, he tells Darren not to avenge him, as revenge will warp his mind (possibly because of what happened to Wester in the past). Darren and his friends are devastated by this, but believe that the War of the Scars is already over.

Afterwards, Steve reunites with Darren and gleefully tells him that Larten's death had been for nothing, as Steve himself is the true Vampaneze Lord. The vampaneze that Larten had killed had been just a decoy.

Sons of Destiny

When sent back to the past by Mr. Tiny, Darren sees Larten once again, and is tempted to try and talk to him to say everything he never had the chance to say before his death, but reminds himself not to do so as he is in a time when Larten would have no idea who he is.

After giving his diary entries to Mr. Tall to be given to his human self at a later date and be published as a book, Darren dies peacefully on top of the Cirque's roof, hoping to be reunited with Larten in the afterlife. Meanwhile the Larten of the alternate timeline continues to live in the Cirque du Freak, never meeting Darren.

Cirque du Freak Manga

The Vampire's Assistant Film

Main article: Larten Crepsley (Movie)

Trivia

  • He carries bottled blood taken from corpses in morgues to use in emergencies.
  • Has no nose hairs because he burned them out with a hot rod. This is because he wanted to emulate Seba, so he decided to pull out ear hairs every time Larten spoke incorrectly. He refused to tell Darren the full story, as he found it too embarrassing.
  • The 2009 film states he became a vampire at 20 years old after he was duped by his girlfriend. He also comes from Baltimore. However, those facts are non-canon, as The Saga of Larten Crepsley shows.
  • He usually wears red, especially when he has visitors, as he wants "to look his best for them". This is a trait he picked from Seba.
  • He does not know how to read or write as he was never taught while growing up; he only heard Shakespeare's plays as they were read to him, and has simply learned how to sign his name and recognize street signs through practice, having never gotten around to learning in full.
  • His friendship with Wester mirrors the one Darren and Steve have. Just like Darren, he's courageous and impulsive and becomes more jaded during his adventures. He's also forced to kill his revenge-obsessed friend, who was manipulated by Mr. Tiny. However, while Larten was resigned to the fate set for him, Darren fought against it in the end.
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