Chapter Ten: The Ventrue
Alejandro (6th)
|
Francesca (D)
| Christophe (9th)
Slane (8th)-----Guillaume (D)---Rebecca (8th) |
| Jennifer (10th)
Walter (9th)
The Ventrue are a deeply divided clan, still shaken by the loss of their clan head nearly 10 years ago. They are in the midst of resolving the situation. Unknown to any of them, the aged Ventrue Alejandro, once Prince of the city, still lives and lurks among them.Alejandro ("Joey Stern")
Alejandro Ruiz-Castillano was a Spanish nobleman embraced into clan Ventrue in the middle of the 15th century. At the time, the Inquisition was at its height, and his sire was slain shortly after his embrace. Along with another of his Sire's progeny, Dominique (from Children of the Inquisition), Alejandro chose to join the only organization he felt was doing anything about the mortals' rampage and the elders' inactivity, the newly formed Sabbat. He enthusiastically participated in the destruction of what he considered to be corrupt elders, and even advanced a generation via diablerie.The Sabbat held on longer in Spain than they did elsewhere in Europe, and for this reason, Alejandro remained a member. As time went on, however, he became tired of the Sect's tendency towards chaos and random violence, and found its opposing organization, the Camarilla, more appealing. At last, he decided to break with the Sabbat, and in 1727 fled to the New World, specifically New Orleans. A group of Black Hand Assamites followed him, but Alejandro faked his own death by using his Vicissitude.
Alejandro spent the next 70 years out of sight, quietly establishing his power in the city and waiting to be forgotten by other vampires. When Louisiana was sold to the United States in 1803, he was ready to reemerge, and made overtures to the Camarilla vampires of that country. Kindred of that Sect started to enter New Orleans, and Alejandro established himself as Prince.
Alejandro's only experience with this sort of rule was under his own sire, but that autocratic style did not adapt well to New Orleans. Most of the vampires entering the city were leaving other, equally domineering princes in the east, and were not willing to put up with his heavy-handed style of ruling. After the Civil War, they rose against him, led by the Toreador Accou, whom Alejandro had alienated years ago. Even Alejandro's childe, Francesca, turned against him.
Alejandro barely survived his overthrow. His haven was burnt to ground, and only by burrowing deep into the earth did he escape. He lay in Torpor for half a century, only rising again in 1927. He discovered that his rival Accou still held the throne, and secretly started to undermine his power. Alejandro was successful enough that Accou was soon in desperate straits, nearly about to be overthrown himself.
Accou, unaware Alejandro had returned, hit upon the odd ploy of claiming to be only the "Lieutenant" of the "true Prince", in the hopes that the rest of the vampires of the city would hesitate long enough for him to regain control. Alejandro was vastly amused, and took this as a sign. He caught Accou alone and unprepared, battered down his mental defenses, and took control of the hapless Toreador.
Since that time, Alejandro has maintained the charade Accou set up, and reigns as a shadow prince. There are enough elder vampires in the city (some of whom were involved in his overthrow) that Alejandro is not sure he could safely hold the city if he acted openly. Accou makes an effective buffer, and gives Alejandro the reality of power, if not the form.
Maintaining this precarious balance has kept Alejandro busy, especially during the visit of Justicar Alexis. Lately, though, the fact that little has changed since he took control of Accou has made him suspicious. Alejandro realizes that the dynamics of the city's vampire community are inherently unstable, and the system should have collapsed long ago. Because of this, he has begun to fear that the Jyhad exerts its influence over his city, and is beginning to look for other behind-the-scenes manipulators.
Age: "30", 6th Generation, born 1508, embraced 1545 by Titus, arrived 1727
Image: Originally a slim, dark young Spanish lord with a hint of Moor in his features, he now looks Jewish, thanks to his Vicissitude. He has built for himself an identity as a young Caitiff (named Joey Stern) who came to the city shortly after the war between Alexis and the Anarchs. He adopts this persona to mingle with the other vampires of the city now and then. He has a good sense of humor and a warm smile, but tries hard not to laugh, as he hasn't figured out how to disguise his laugh yet and fears it will give him away. His "Joey" persona is bookish and a little shy, but Alejandro enjoys socializing and is a bit of a ladies' man.
Influence: Alejandro has numerous ghouls amongst the police of New Orleans, and believes he controls them completely (he's wrong). Alejandro's most important tool is the "Lieutenant prince" Accou, whom he believes he controls thoroughly via Dominate. Alejandro leaves most of the operation of the city to Accou and his progeny. Although Accou is his greatest enemy, Alejandro spends more time with the Toreador than anyone else, and secretly believes Accou is the only one who understands him. For this reason, he will never actually do anything to endanger his tool.
Secrets: A+
Habitat: Alejandro keeps a small apartment as the haven of his Joey Stern persona. He has numerous secret havens in various places in the French Quarter, some of them built before any other vampire entered the city. His feeding restriction is that he is limited to those of Spanish descent. This is becoming more difficult for him to find, Hispanic blood being too thin for him. He secretly keeps several dominated pawns specifically for feeding.
Goals: Alejandro's goals are nebulous at the moment. He wishes to maintain control of the city, but more than that wishes to protect his unlife. He is constantly seeking hidden influences of other kindred.
Francesca
Francesca Dumont was a haughty young creole woman from an influential family She was embraced in 1837 by Alejandro, partly to counterbalance the Camarilla vampires entering the city, and partly out of fascination with the lovely and spirited woman. Alejandro lavished Francesca with gifts, but did not allow her free rein to manage her affairs as she pleased. She was charmed by the mulatto Toreador Accou, and turned against her Sire with the rest of the city after the Civil War. In return, Accou let her run the Ventrue without interference. Francesca did just that until she was killed in 1985 by one of her own ghouls, Raymond.Her murderer escaped with the help of the Anarchs, and her progeny took only minor punitive actions before they fell to squabbling over who would be clan leader. Both her childer suspect the other of arranging Francesca's death. In reality, Alejandro had begun to suspect that she had learned of his continued existence, and between this and lingering bitterness at her betrayal of him, decided to eliminate her.
Slane
Slane Holland was a loyal son of the South, and fought valiantly as a lieutenant in the Civil War. His family's fortune was ruined in the war, but Slane was adopted by the wealthy "widow", Francesca. She had him take care of her business dealings, and sometimes acted as her social companion. After he had earned her trust, Francesca revealed her vampiric nature to him. He was entranced by this vibrant woman, and the potential power of vampiric life, and agreed to be embraced by her.Slane was long Francesca's greatest supporter, but as his own power grew he began to resent serving under a woman. He began to develop his own plans, made his own progeny, and generally set about distancing himself from her. Slane particularly worked to take over Francesca's contacts in the criminal world. Eventually, Francesca grew tired of this, and embraced another Childe, Rebecca, to manage her affairs.
Slane resented this new Childe, but before he could act against her, Francesca was slain by one of her own ghouls. Slane concluded that Rebecca had arranged this, and his estimation of her ruthlessness went up. Most of Francesca's business dealings were now under Rebecca's name, so despite Slane's advantage of age, he felt unable to challenge her immediately. Slane worked on collecting the allies he felt he needed to establish himself as the new Ventrue clan head.
Finally, frustrated with the slowness of elder politics, Slane decided on direct action. Slane dominated one of Rebecca ghouls into sending information about her to a tabloid newspaper. The ghoul was then conditioned to kill her. The ghoul failed to kill Rebecca (as Slane expected), but Rebecca lost a face, looking like she could not even control her own blood-bound servants. With Rebecca out of the way, Slane is ready to step into the position of Ventrue Clan head.
Age: "45", 8th Generation, born 1840, embraced 1886 by Francesca
Image: Slane is the stereotypical image of a pre-Civil War gentleman. He dresses in white, speaks with an exaggerated drawl, and almost always has a cigar. His light brown hair is streaked with gray. He carries himself with an air of confidence, and always moves to control any situation he is in.
Influence: Slane has extensive control of organized crime in New Orleans through his childe Walter. He is trying to build a new network of political and business contacts to counter Rebecca's influence. He is a fairly old vampire, and has more respect from the elders than any of the other Ventrue. On the other hand, he has made mistakes in the past, and is not particularly well-liked.
Secrets: B
Habitat: Slane keeps a traditional southern manor on the edge of town, but has the place rigged with modern electronic security. His feeding restriction is Yankee's, so he has always had mixed feelings about the presence of Northerners in the city.
Goals: Slane wishes to take what he considers to be his rightful place amongst the elders of the city. He is nearly of age with most of them. Now that Rebecca is out of the way, there is little standing in his way.
Walter
Jacopo "Walter" Andretti came to New Orleans from Sicily with his family in 1906. He was ten years old. When he was thirteen, his uncle Tomas began to pay him ten cents a week to carry messages around the city to certain members of other Sicilian families. By the time he was fifteen, he was an established, hard-working member of the New Orleans mafia. The mob in New Orleans never reached the level of influence that it did in cities like Chicago, but it still made itself felt, and when Walter decided to move up in the world and become a legitimate businessman, he found his mafia connections very useful.They were especially useful in 1935, when Italy invaded Ethiopia. Walter decided that he liked Mussolini's style and that fascism appealed to him. Through his mafia friends, he funneled a good deal of money to Mussolini's regime and never got caught. At the same time, he found it prudent for his shipping business to support the US war effort, and was one of the first Louisianans to employ women (he used them as dock workers).
Walter was enormously successful in his ventures, the result of a natural talent for seamlessly merging legal, quasi-legal, and quietly illegal activities. He also instinctively avoided being too greedy and thus managed to evade attention. However, these very qualities caught the eye of one observer. Slane had been searching for someone who could help him weaken Francesca's hold on New Orleans business and the mob, and Walter was perfect. After observing the shipping magnate for a year, he met Walter late one night at the Cafe du Monde and made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Francesca was suspicious but allowed Slane to keep his Get.
Walter has been Slane's faithful lieutenant since then. He has his own ambitions, certainly, but he feels that the surest route to power at present is to back Slane's bid to become the Ventrue clan head. However, he thinks Slane has lost ground to Rebecca and may be beginning to falter. Walter has been building up his resources and preparing to advance his own schemes should his sire fall. He still maintains his mob contacts, both in the US and Italy, and he has recently been approached by mob-connected agents of the Giovanni about the possibility of mutual aid.
Age: "40", 9th Generation, born 1896, embraced 1937 by Slane
Image: Walter is a middle-aged Italian-American businessman, always impeccably dressed, though his clothes can be a bit dated. He was balding when he was embraced. He can be quite charming, but avoids associating with blacks and other "undesirables".
Influence: Walter virtually controls the New Orleans mob, though it is not large or influential. He makes a fair amount of money on smuggling, and has some contacts with South America drug lords.
Secrets: C-
Habitat: Walter keeps his haven with the New Orleans mafia, though his presence is unknown to all but a few members of that organization. This gives him easier access to his feeding restriction: young Italian men and boys. He is ashamed of this, and always wipes his victim's memory after feeding.
Goals: Walter is always on the look-out for more personal power, though he takes the long view and moves very cautiously. He has some twisted views on the nature of racial superiority, but is ultimately a pragmatist. His views don't get in the way of his quest for power.
Guillaume
Guillaume was a French businessman embraced in 1948 by Francesca as her first attempt to replace Slane as the manager of her affairs. Guillaume proved to be uncontrollable, and was killed (with Francesca's approval) in 1956 by the Krewe of Janus for making a brood.Rebecca
Rebecca supported the anti-war movement of the '60s, only to discover the males of the movement paid little heed to its female members. Like many of her female companions, she became a feminist in the '70s, fighting for her own rights as the war was ending. Rebecca tended to take a more pragmatic outlook than many of the other activists. While others attended consciousness-raising meetings and picketed city hall, Rebecca studied legal precedence and handled finances.It was this, her independence, and drive that brought her to the attention of Francesca, the Ventrue clan head. Francesca was casting about for a replacement of her progeny and current business manager, Slane. Her main difficulty with Slane was his sexist attitude of not wanting to work under a woman. Thus, Rebecca, who felt a woman could do anything a man could, was attractive to Francesca, who embraced Rebecca in 1974.
Rebecca initially had difficulty adjusting to vampiric life. Her sire's attitudes about female power had been shaped in the 19th century, and the other Ventrue were extremely sexist. Also, Rebecca did not wish to give up her mortal activism. Still, she studied carefully under Francesca, and gradually came to feel that vampires themselves were responsible for many of the social ills of modern society. She briefly considered joining the Anarchs, but, being practical, decided the only way she could bring about real change was to advance herself in vampiric society.
About the time Rebecca came to this conclusion, Francesca was slain by one of her ghouls. Rebecca immediately decided that Slane had arranged it, but there was no one she could appeal to, so she kept this information secret. It was clear that Slane expected to succeed Francesca, and Rebecca was not about to let this happen. She moved quickly to solidify her hold on the businesses Francesca owned. Rebecca knew that this may be her only opportunity, and has been ruthless and manipulative in seeking support from other vampires and attempting to block Slane. She told herself that once she was acknowledged clan head over Slane, she would start to make changes, but secretly feared that by the time she achieves that position, she would be as corrupt and compromised as the other elders.
A few weeks ago, all hope of that Rebecca becoming clan head evaporated. One of her ghouls suddenly went rogue. The ghoul sent Rebecca's picture to a scandal magazine, along with a letter explaining how he was beginning to realize she was a vampire. Though no one has pursued it yet, this was an unforgivable breach of the Masquerade. The other vampires of New Orleans have begun to shun her, and she could do nothing to stop Slane from taking the clan leadership. Her ghoul has disappeared, and though she suspects Slane's hand in the affair, she can prove nothing. She is terrified that some mortal hunter or another will track her down.
Age: "30", 8th Generation, born 1944, embraced 1974 by Francesca
Image: Rebecca dresses as a smart businesswoman, with a preference for reds and pinks. Her blond hair short and sensible. She tends to be forward in her interactions with other vampires, but gender issues are a sore point with her.
Influence: Rebecca has inherited Francesca's extensive business network, and has worked ruthlessly to keep control of it ever since. She has numerous well-placed ghouls in the business world. She also enjoyed a "favored underdog" role in her attempts to become Ventrue clan head, but now no one will give her the time of day.
Secrets: C (though she suspects more must be going on behind the scenes, she simply doesn't know)
Habitat: Rebecca has havens in various business offices, usually well guarded. Her feeding restriction is male businessmen, and she often "mixes business with pleasure."
Goals: Rebecca wants to find her ghoul, figure out what Slane did, and get revenge. She is also being cautious to the point of paranoia, for fear that someone may have learned enough about her to track her down and kill her.
Christophe
Christophe's appearance belies his age. He was embraced nearly 150 years ago, but he tends to dress in the latest business styles. Christophe was the Lieutenant of a powerful Ventrue in Chile. When Pinochet's regime came into power, Christophe was forced to flee the corresponding change in vampiric princes. Unfortunately, his sire did not make it out of the country with him.Upon arriving in New Orleans, Christophe found himself independent for the first time in his 125 years of unlife. He was just getting used to the situation, when the current Ventrue clan head, Francesca, was killed. Christophe suspects that one of her progeny, Slane or Rebecca, was responsible for Francesca's death, but is not sure which, and is not even certain if it is important. Christophe is too busy enjoying his role as the pivotal member of the clan.
Christophe has yet to decide who to support as the new clan head. He realizes that his backing is crucial, and has been playing to both Slane and Rebecca. He isn't ready to give up this game, since it brings him numerous benefits from both of the better-established vampires. For example, he got both of them to support the presentation of his new Get, Jennifer. Once they have whittled each other down to the point where the winner cannot survive without him, Christophe will choose whom to support.
Age: "30", 9th Generation, born 1823, embraced 1852 by Ramone, arrived 1977
Image: Christophe is a dapper Hispanic businessman, always impeccably dressed in the latest styles, often in silk. He keeps his clothing up to date, and few in the city realize he is as old as he actually is. He occasionally espouses "Anarchish" opinions, to maintain this facade of youth.
Influence: Christophe is relatively new to the city, but has developed some influence in the small Hispanic community of New Orleans. His position as an uncommitted Ventrue has given him a lot of influence over Rebecca and Slane, the two competitors for the Clan head.
Secrets: C- (but seeking more knowledge).
Habitat: Christophe has bought a small mansion in the nicer section of the city with the money he brought with him from Chile. He often "entertains" young Hispanic women at his home, since they are his feeding restriction.
Goals: Christophe is still reveling in his freedom, but is starting to advance himself in the world. He wants to place the next Ventrue in the position of Clan head, but wants them to be weak enough so that he can eventually become clan head himself. He is unaware of the machinations of the elder kindred on this issue.
Jennifer
Jennifer was a young computer science student who specialized in accessing places she shouldn't have. Aside from her area of expertise, Jennifer had little experience with life and her social skills were hopelessly inadequate. She longed to find a man who knew of more than microprocessors. Unfortunately, her talents attracted the newly arrived Ventrue Christophe, who realized computers were important, and an area neglected by many other kindred. He hoped she would give him an edge over other vampires, and embraced her.There was no romance in Christophe's pragmatic siring. Jennifer was horrified at her change, and loathed her sire. She fears him too much to do anything, though, and realizes he is more powerful than he lets on. Christophe is careful to make sure she is dependent on him for guidance and blood. As she adjusts to unlife and explores her powers, her opinion of vampirism is beginning to change. With her Presence, she can manipulate people who would have ignored her when she was just a computer geek. She longs to break free of her sire, and finds the Anarchs particularly attractive.
Very recently, she has begun to do favors for the Anarch gang, the KLF. They have asked her to "fix" a few inconvenient records in town hall for them. As she spends more time with them she is slowly coming out of her shell. Christophe knows of her relationship with the Anarchs and approves; he hope to use it too his advantage.
Jennifer is slowly gathering the skills and courage she needs to make her own way. The recent fall of Rebecca and the changes in the Ventrue power structure have shaken her, however. If a woman as strong as Rebecca can be brought down, maybe Jennifer isn't ready to make it on her own. For now, she is backing off from the Anarchs, and waiting to see how things develop.
Age: "25", 10th Generation, born 1956, embraced 1981 by Christophe
Image: Jennifer dresses like a computer geek, but is slowly gaining some fashion sense. Her glasses aren't horn-rimmed any longer, and she wears T-shirts as often as she wears white blouses. She is rather flirtatious with mortal males, but is shy and reserved when she deals with other vampires.
Influence: Jennifer has little real-world influence, but can get around computer systems with ease. Christophe has encouraged her to "freelance" and help other vampires with computer-related problems, and she has accumulated a few favors this way.
Secrets: D (but she knows much about the mortal world through computers).
Habitat: Jennifer rents a small apartment where she sleeps. The place is cluttered with equipment. She hits the clubs to feed, but relies heavily on Presence to get her prey. Her feeding restriction is young, good looking males (the type that ignored her in life).
Goals: Jennifer would like to break free of Christophe, but has done little in this direction so far. She is always looking for better computer gear.
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