The Gypsies in the City of Light
Even if they are not forbidden to enter Paris, there is no (known) Ravnos within Paris limits. It can seem paradoxal, but it is because of the great riches accumulated by the Clan Toreador, and then, because of the paranoid actions decided by its members to protect their possessions from re-distribution. Of course, the Ravnos don't care about such rules, and even less about Toreador rules. Still, with time, the Kindred from the Clan Ravnos learnt the hard way that their fame of thieves and marginals preceded them, and that the situation was not to their advantage.
Destiny:
To the contrary of other Clans, nothing will really change for the Ravnos in Paris, be it their relations with the powers in place or their relations with the other factions. The Week of Nightmares will provoke a Blood Hunt against Diablerists, but by then there will be no one to be hunted... Or to hunt them...
Organization: There is no Ravnos organization in Paris.
The Rare Ravnos of Paris?
Preventive Blood Hunts were known to happen. The Shanglo of Villon, his Masques, upheld the Traditions with an iron hand.
Ivan and his police soon understood that the Phralmulo liked to hide within the Gypsies who traveled on the roads of France. To fight this thorn on the Toreador side, the Masques went out of their way to make the Gypsies' caravanes' life miserable. Reducing the rights the Gypsies had, and integrating sedentarizing laws in the Penal Code. Ivan limited the right to camping of the Gypsies to one week, if they succeeded to have a written authorization from the mayor of the city. Then, he used his influence to make necessary the Social Security Number even for these nomads (this require fixed adress).
The conclusion of these decisions is that the Gypsies are always outlaws. Problems with the police are commons. What the Gypsies can do against armed police forces?
Still, some try to continue, ignoring interdictions, visiting Paris in the middle of their travels.
Without their families support, only some Kumpaniyi continue to go trough Paris and its subburbs. Immediately upon their arrival, they must declare themselves to the Masques, and learn the Traditions and Edicts of Villon.
Any non-declared Ravnos, or any Ravnos suspected of fraud, will be intercepted by the Masques.
Any Ravnos found guilty of breaching one of the Kindred Laws will be subject of an immediate Blood Hunt. The destruction of the Ravnos is even unofficially tolerated near Paris: Some tell about a fight between some Brujah and a group of Ravnos degenerated into a Blood Hunt (In truth, a massive Diablerie). The Ravnos were all destroyed, even with the intervention of the Masques. The Police of Villon, after interrogation of the Brujah, are believed to have decided to investigation was justified. The Brujah were free to go...
In Paris, the Ravnos have a political influence under zero. Their existence is at the whim of everyone. Some pleasanteries about the fact that unlife is better for a Bâtard in Paris than for a Ravnos are believed to be true! They are considered even worst than the Assamites, and even less tolerated than a clanless.
This can lead to some desagreements:
- Almost anything can lead to the destruction of the Ravnos, with the tacit agreement of the Masques.
- The Ravnos who behaved well won't have a lot in return, unless perhaps a free train ticket for everywhere not in France.
- The family of the Ravnos can be endangered, if it is discovered.
- If a Ravnos character reach Paris with a fame of Tradition breacher in any other city of France, the player should seriously consider the creation of another character (Like a Toreador, for example).
- To be seen with a Ravnos is a good way to loose Status and/or Toreador Prestige, and to be submitted to a lot of questions.
- Any use of Chimerstry is denounced in Paris and its subburbs. The users can be punished for breach of the Masquerade, as Chimerstry is a Discipline with very visible and maybe spectacular effects (It is not the only one, as others, like Obtenebration is also considered visible). It is why the users are promptly denounced by the protectors of the Masquerade. All Kindred witness of such irresponsible act must tell it to the competent authorities (i.e.: the Masques).
- For the crimes against the Edicts of Villon, which protect the interests of the Clan Toreador, the punishment is to be considered a definitive example: Une longue, très longue agonie, avec pour épilogue la destruction du coupable et de ses serviteurs... (A lenghty, very lenghty agony, with in the end the destruction of the guilty, and his retainers -- Attributed to Villon).
- If the crime of a Ravnos is discovered, every member of this Clan seen nearby will be asked to move away (or moved away, if they don't do this fast enough). So, one's fault will fall on every other clanmate.
Gypsies Who Stay...
Note from the Author:
You must have understood: Unlife can be quite difficult for a Ravnos in Paris. The unlife of Ravnos is of little value, and even the Parisian Anarchs feel little sympathy for these chaotic and unreliable creatures...
What you read above are the risks taken by a stupid Ravnos. Stupid enough to not make the difference between marginality, liberty and amusement.
Now, why couldn't exist a stealthy and balanced Ravnos, who would know to avoid provocation and how to survive in an hostile milieu. And learning to compose with the parisian powers to survive can be a great challenge...
In a very direct way, the Ravnos have the privilege to be hated by the Toreador, hated so much they are considered persona non grata. My work's aim was no to waste the pleasure to play a Ravnos, but to lighten the ancestral hate of a society for those who can't fit in its standards.
The fascist laws instated here are the expression of fear, hate and misunderstanding... From each side.
