Alternate New Orleans VI

Chapter Six: The MaLKAvIaNs

       Claire Clairmont (8th)
                  |           
Harlequin (9th)----------Herod (D)
      |                      |               (Molly) (11th)
 Ophelia (D)      Tinker/Stainlype (10th)           
      |                                       Hannibal (D)
Janine (11th)
 

The Malkavians of New Orleans are more influential than the clan normally is. Their clan elder is respected, and a Malkavian leads the powerful Krewe of Janus. As is often the case, the Malkavians always seem to know more than they let on.

Claire Clairmont

Claire Clairmont was the lover of a notorious English poet. He got her with child, and then abandoned her. Shortly afterward, Claire's daughter died, and she became suicidal and mentally unstable. At this point, Adolphus entered her life. He was entranced by her passion and unrequited love. He felt that such wildness should not pass from the world, and embraced her. Claire felt redeemed by her new vampiric life, for she knew it was something her poet lover had always desired, and would never receive.

She and Adolphus traveled to Europe for a time, but after her poet's death, the continent lost its charm, and she traveled to the New World. She was charmed by New Orleans' vibrant nightlife, and chose to stay. She quickly set about arranging her affairs, making her entrance on the social scene, and generally making life as complex as possible for the other Kindred of the city. Her passions and mercurial moods were more than made up for by her charm and wit, and she became indispensable to New Orleans vampiric society.
Claire has always been careful not be on the center stage. Rather than create plots of her own, she prefers to discover and alter the plots of the other city elders. Her favorite to date was Accou's "absentee prince", and she secretly aided Accou in creating this illusion. She also enjoys watching the activities of her childe, Harlequin. Claire knows more about the city than most of the other kindred, but rarely reveals anything to anyone.

Age: "25", 8th Generation, born 1797, embraced 1823 by Adolphus, arrived 1870

Image: Claire has medium length wavy black hair, and very expressive eyes. They can vary from soft and seductive to wild in very little time. Claire is given to wearing early 19th-century French dress, but will wear what is appropriate to the situation; she doesn't like to be left behind by the Toreador. She likes to keep others off balance in conversation, and her mood shifts unpredictably. Whatever her mood, she avoids being annoying; she doesn't want to drive away her toys. She keeps her truly twisted activities secret. Claire's Derangement is a horror of children. She sees in each of them the child she lost. She finds the Toreador Jeremy particularly disturbing.

Influence: Claire has several well-placed ghouls in business and politics, mostly to gather information for her. She particularly delights in subverting other vampire's pawns, and has done so several times. She enjoys a key position amongst the elders because few know what her true goals are, and she is often courted by all sides in any conflict.

Secrets: A-

Habitat: Claire keeps a townhouse in the French quarter with a well-decorated French salon where she entertains. She has a few other hiding places set aside, but rarely needs them. She feeds according to her whim, using Dominate to cover up any messes she might make. She avoids children at all costs, however.

Goals: If Claire has any goals at all, it is to maximize Chaos in the city. She finds this delightfully entertaining. She will stop short of pushing things into open war, however, because this would get too many of her toys destroyed.

Harlequin

Samuel Prescott was the youngest son of a successful New Orleans doctor. His family was much sought-after in society, and had enough money that the boys would never really need to work. Sam grew up amid balls and parties, learning the arts of shallowness, flattery, and insincerity. He was quite a charming young rake by the time he was twenty. That year his father passed away, and Sam inherited both a nice chunk of the estate and a membership in the Harlequins, one of the Mardi Gras Krewes.

The next year and a half were a whirl of theater engagements, cocktails, and balls for the young man. Sam never stopped to think about his dead father, though he dimly felt like he should. He obeyed his mother's wishes when he was around her and forgot them when he wasn't. He had a gaggle of pretty female admirers, every one of whom he loved with all his soul while she was in his presence, and none of whom knew about the others. He frantically prepared for Mardi Gras with his krewe and delighted in the prestige of being in the secret clubs. In short, he was a typical, shallow, selfish socialite, and it never occurred to him that he had an existence (or personality) beyond his carefully cultivated image.

At one party right before Christmas 1909, he danced with Claire Clairmont, who enjoys crashing such events. Her Auspex showed her the young man's spirit. Here was talent ignored, intelligence wasted, and spirituality denied, crammed down and festering behind a facade of glittering idiocy. He amused and fascinated her, and after mulling it over for a few weeks, Claire surprised him as he was getting into costume for the Harlequin's carnival ball and Embraced him.
The embrace shattered Sam's self-delusions and completely rearranged his personality. He became introspective and moody, and for a long time bitterly regretted frittering away his youth on mindless activities. He obsessed on illusions and masks, both literal and metaphorical, and took to calling himself "Harlequin" to honor his change. The Krewe of Janus was his idea, and he is its oldest member and leader. More on his history can be found there.

Age: "?", 9th Generation, born 1882, embraced 1910 by Claire Clairmont

Image: Harlequin believed that since he had hidden his true self for so long, it had become fragile and needed constant protection. Therefore, he constantly wears an old diamond mask to hide himself, lest someone injure his soul or control him. If he needs to appear normal, he will use Obfuscate rather than remove his mask. He rarely reveals his true appearance in any case. Harlequin is always flamboyant and charming, acting in many ways as he did in his days as a Socialite.

Influence: Harlequin controls what may be the most powerful group of vampires in the city: the Krewe of Janus. Because of their self-proclaimed mission of protecting the masquerade, most kindred leave them be, and the elders quietly support them.

Secrets: A-

Habitat: Harlequin keeps a house in the French Quarter, and has additional havens in several theaters in the city. He does not have a regular feeding habit, but will often "crash" parties and feed on the guests.

Goals: Harlequin is obsessed with illusions, and once he knows (or thinks) someone is hiding something, he will seek to learn what it is at any cost. Once he knows, however, nothing can compel him to reveal the information. He will protect the city's Masquerade and other hidden secrets at any cost.

Ophelia

Embraced in 1932 by Harlequin, she disappeared in 1982, and is believed to be dead.

Janine

Janine was a young librarian recently moved to New Orleans, prone to late hours and odd habits. Her thick New York accent and odd ways kept her from making many friends, but Janine was never lonely. After all, the spirits kept her company, and the Milton H. Lattier Memorial Library had more than its share of spirits.

One evening Janine struck up a conversation with a young seeming woman about her life and the spirits. The library was closed, but this bothered neither Janine or the woman. Janine was all too happy to babble on, hoping that a human had finally taken an interest in her life. Alas, this was not the case. The Malkavian Ophelia was sufficiently charmed that she decided to embrace the young woman
.
Janine's early unlife was made easy by her association with the powerful Krewe of Janus, many of whom began to treat the young neonate as some sort of mascot. Janine slowly learned kindred ways, and began to do more and more for the group, until her sire Ophelia disappeared in 1982. At that point, Janine became a full member of the Krewe, though some of the older members still patronize her.

Age: "25", 11th Generation, born 1941, embraced 1965 by Ophelia

Image: Janine looks and dresses like a secretary or a librarian from the '50s or '60s, with her auburn hair pulled back and rhinestone glasses. Some people find her New York accent charming, others find it grating. Janine is usually friendly, happy to chat away about any topic. She includes her spirits in the conversation as well, translating for those who are unable to see them. Her spirits often give advice, which is sometimes very useful indeed, so not all kindred dismiss her ramblings.

Influence: Janine is a member of the Krewe of Janus, and as such has a fair amount of respect amongst kindred. She has little mortal influence otherwise.

Secrets: C

Habitat: Janine keeps her haven in the Lattier Library, which she considers being her domain. Some of the older librarians remember her, and believe the library is haunted by her ghost. She often pesters kindred who have come there to do research, but if asked nicely can easily arrange to let them in "after hours". She feeds where she will, but likes to snack on late-night patrons between the shelves.

Goals: Janine has little in the way of goals herself, though she is a firm supporter of the Krewe of Janus. She is actually quite skilled at research, and knows all sorts of hidden gems in New Orleans libraries. Occasionally her spirits will direct her in peculiar tasks.

Herod

Embraced in 1929 by Claire Clairmont, Herod died in 1965, It is generally believed he was killed in the fallout of the Anarch Wars, but it could have been something else.

Tinker and Stainlype

Julie Tinker was a demure young girl with a beast within her. Everyone thought her family was the epitome of the perfect 50's household. No one saw her father's alcoholism and abuse, no one saw her mother's addiction to Valium. One night Julie couldn't take it anymore. That was when Stainlype arrived. Stainlype was clever and fearless, and knew exactly where Daddy's gun was hidden. Stainlype would protect Julie from further abuse, and make sure her parents wouldn't hurt Julie again. Ever.

Tinker might have ended up in an asylum, if the Malkavian Herod hadn't witnessed the scene. He was fascinated by Tinker's violent mood swings, and chose to embrace her. Tinker was horrified, but Stainlype rose up to protect her. Herod was too strong for Stainlype though, and Tinker survived to learn of vampires and her new life.

Stainlype bided her time, and in the Chaos of the Anarch Wars, was able to trap and kill her Sire. Then the kindred knew only Tinker, and Stainlype was free to move quietly to protect her. Tinker walks timidly on the edge of vampire society, not fully comprehending what she has become, looking for someone to help her, someone to be her friend. If someone gets too close, however, Stainlype will intervene, to "protect" her.


Age: "20", 10th Generation, born 1935, embraced 1953 by Herod
Image: Tinker is a demure young woman, shy and retiring. Her medium-length light brown hair is best described as mousy. She rarely meets anyone's eyes, and her voice is often so soft it can barely be heard. Tinker is only barely aware she is a vampire, and uses only the lowest levels of her Disciplines. Tinker knows nothing of Stainlype.

Stainlype is dramatically different. Even without Obfuscate, it is difficult to realize they are the same individual. Stainlype's hair is wild and scattered, as are her eyes. She usually wears garish red lipstick, the brighter the better. She is loud, and aggressive, often moving into other people's "space" when speaking. Stainlype has full access to all her vampiric Disciplines, and doesn't hesitate to use them.

Influence: Neither Tinker or Stainlype have any influence to speak of.

Secrets: F

Habitat: Tinker still lives in the house where she murdered her parents, now long abandoned. Stainlype does all the hunting for the pair, sometimes feeding on those she feels are abusive to others, but often attacking those who simply annoy her.

Goals: Tinker just wants to be loved and protected. Tinker moves at the edges of creole circles, but is too shy to be fully accepted. Stainlype wants to protect Tinker, and to hide her own existence from her "other half". Recently the Brujah Eris has made efforts to befriend the quiet Tinker, much to Stainlype's chagrin.

Hannibal

Hannibal was a small time Anarch, obsessed with blood. He tried to diabolize Scheherezade, and the KLF made short work of him.