Verleger was a humble thief in his mortal life, destined for nothing other than the gallows until he had the temerity to invade a “haunted” manor to see what riches he could find within.  The place was not so much haunted as it was the residence of a vampire, an ancient monster who was known only as the Prince of Lies.  He rewarded the thief's boldness by making him a vampire… that was just before the turn of the 16^th century.  Verleger learned a great deal at the feet of his sire and served him for centuries, bringing him human vessels to drink from, as his advanced age meant he could no longer pass among humans unnoticed.  This arrangement carried on into the 20^th century when, as the Nazi war machine swept across Europe, The Prince of Lies was captured and spirited away by them for purposes unknown. 

Verleger were able to avoid capture and secure safe passage to the New World.  Finally away from the Prince of Lies’ anachronistic sensibilities you finally began to acclimate to the modern world.  As the years passed, he, like his master found yourself unable to disguise his demonic nature beneath a human appearance.  He managed to subsist on the lowest rungs of society’s ladder, obscuring himself in sewer tunnels and alleyways, feeding on outcasts that no one would miss, never drawing attention to himself. 

It was then Verleger discovered the illegal drug trade, as he watched his preferred vessels waste away under the influence of addiction, and saw them do anything they could to get their next fix.  This inspired his master stroke: to control this trade would mean that innumerable humans would be so desperate for what you provided, they would give up their very blood in trade, their need for illicit drugs outweighing their fear of his demonic countenance.