France
THE TOREADOR HEGEMONY
Born from the idea that the other Clan would only be in the way, Villon and Beatrix imagined the Toreador Hegemony: France would become the new birthplace of Art, and would only remain so if untouched by the other Clans: The Ventrue and the Lasombra were too much concerned about ruling to promote the Arts. The Brujah were still to much bitter about their Carthage, and would only destroy the Toreador dream. The other Clans were of no interest, and no one wanted the usurpers (The Tremere and the Giovanni) to put their dirty diabolist hands on the pure Toreador project.
The Toreador Hegemony principles were simple: The Prince of Paris must be Toreador (thus the center would be controlled); the Princes of France would be submitted to the Prince of Paris (thus buffer domains would protect Paris); the Toreador Clan was to prosper and increase in numbers while the other Bloodlines were to stagnate (thus the Toreador increased naturally their power over France).
The use of the armies of Louis the 14th, as well as the guerilla-oriented cotterie of Villon (dating from the Anarch years) helped subjugate the french Kindred, as well as protect France from other country's intervention, intrigued by the outraged Clans.
The 1789 Revolution was a hard hit against the Toreador Hegemony, but again, without Beatrix, Villon was able, with the help of his Toreador clanmates (Ivan, Lazlo and Alexis) to take back the control of France.
Since then, no one succeeded in undermining the power of Villon. He was the absolute master of France, extending his power of Prince in all the country, and controlling it with the help of his Kindred Police, the Masques.
Of course, there were incidents that attracted the attention of the Camarilla Inner Circle. Justicars from all the Clans studied France for the error that would be the end of Villon's mad dream. But his influence, the power of a whole Clan united behind him, the support of the Toreador Justicar as well as the protection of the Masquerade by the Masques was too much. The fact that the Kindred population of Paris were beyond the accepted limits, and still, that the Masquerade was protected even better than in most U.S. cities was all the argument Villon needed.
He is, now, unchallenged. Some whispers the European Community will end this. Perhaps. Perhaps not. No one can say... But remember the U.N.E.S.C.O., whose H.Q. are in Paris... Remember the temples of Abou Simbel... The Toreador Hegemony in France works too well to be officially challenged, and the Clan Toreador of France is too powerful to be challenged... European Parliament.
| Status,France | Paris | Other French City |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | unknown | unknown |
| * | Neonate | Neonate |
| ** | Ancilla | Ancilla |
| *** | Elder | Elder, Prévôt |
| **** | Elder | Primogen,Senechal,Legat |
| ***** | Duc/Duchesse | Marquis/Marquise |
| ***** * | Prince of Paris |
EFFECTS OF THE HEGEMONY:
The Kindred society of Paris, is divided in five classes. The Kindred of France are within the Parisian system, but are less considered.
The first is limited in access to the Clan of the Rose, the Toreador. They are the 'royal' bloodline of France. The only one able, by Blood, to become real Princes in France (Remember: All french Princes are Marquis). The Toreador are the only one able to reach a Status of 6.
The second class is the Noble: The any Clan, Bloodline or sect recognizing the hegemony of the Toreador and of the Camarilla can become noble if they are considered worthy enough (i.e. if they have enough power to threaten the Prince, or win enough Toreador Prestige, like the Daughters of Cacophony). They have the right to be represented by their leader which will be called Duc or Duchesse. Their Status is limited to 5.
In the same way, the Marquis and Marquises are limited to five. In their city, the Status works as explained in the Vampire Sourcebook. Note that anyone reaching the Status of 5 is offered a seat in the Grand Cour. Someone reaching a status of four is considered as powerful as any Primogen of France, and can take a seat in any Primogen in the city where she decides to move (if her powerbase works in that city, too...).
The third are the non-Noble, also called the Peuple (The People), who are any Clan, Bloodline or Sect as explained above, but without power or prestige enough to become Noble. Their status is limited to 3. Only those being Primogen in any Camarilla City will be considered as with a Status of 4.
The fourth are the Gueux, also called the Bâtards. They have no Clan, nor Lineage, and are, thus, not really recognized by the Kindred society (which sees a lot of importance in the whole Generation/Bloodline story!). Most of them are true Caitiffs, some others are Autarkis. In the contrary to other more conservative European cities, Caitiffs are accepted, but have no power, and are, most of the time, not even aknowledged. The truth is that the Gueux are the lowest 'citizens' of the Kindred society, and that the rest of the Kindred society likes it to have people considered as inferior. Note that some Clans are represented in this category: Assamites, as well as Ravnos are considered as Gueux because of their enmity with the Toreador, even if their Blood makes them somewhat superior (but more dangerous, and thus, less liked, if they are still more respected) to the Caitiff. Their status is limited to 2. Note that most (if not all) Anarchs, but their leader, fall in this category, as they are considered immature in a Kindred viewpoint! Note, too, that Caitiff can have Status, but has a permanent malus of 1 because of the Clan prejudice. Thus, a Caitiff whose presence is accepted in Paris have a legal Status of 1. But for any interaction, the Caitiff has a malus of 1 and thus is considered as having a Status of 0.
The Fifth are the Kindred under a Blood Hunt, or from enemy Clans or Sects: The Sabbat Antitribu, the Lasombra and the Tzimisce, The Baali (for those who know of their existence), etc. The only status they have is their Generation (that can attract Legal Diabolist wannabes!).
Note that the limitation also applies to the other Background traits! If a Non-Noble Kindred happens to fall in the wrong side of the Toreador, and is discovered to have a Resources ***** Background, the Toreador will work to decrease it to acceptable limits (so, 3 for most non-Noble Clan Kindred -- it's equal to the Status limitation). This part isn't official, and is not automatic. But someone attracting the attention of the Clan (in the wrong way) will probably be victim of Background changes...
This non-official limitation, part of the Toreador Hegemony, is the principal subject of intrigues and discussion within the Camarilla of Paris, and with the Anarchs, who believe nothing so stupid as Bloodline should limit one's power. But no one have the power to remove this non-written law, but still, they try...
