Gianluca

Paris - The Sabbat in Paris - PLBE- Paris - La Belle Époque

Sobriquet: Gianluca

Appearance: Gianluca is a styled seductive man of italian origins, of average weight and height. He has black hair, black eyes and a suntanned skin. He likes to wear modern clothes and favors T-shirts, leather jackets, jeans and leather boots. He enjoys moto rides. However, he'll never hesitate to put on Dior or Armani costumes if it suits the situation, even if his appearance never fails to unnerve most humans...

Behavior: Gianluca never hesitates to engage into bold and intrepid actions. However, he's a director at heart and he loves to have everything under control. He's not likely to support any threats to his authority and more than a member of his pack has learned it too late.

His control over his pack is nearly absolute, and the fact that his Childe fully supports him just add to his power. He's also a great manipulator adept at subverting his foes' pawns. He loves to appear friendly and most of the time he'll behave kindly with anyone. And he's very unpredictable: it's was his motto in life when he ran with his fellow rogues, it's still his credo nowadays. Indeed, if he wasn't under Francesca's control, it would be nearly impossible to foresee Gianluca's plans.

History: Gianluca Dettoni was born in 1594, within a poor family of Napoli. His mother died when she gave birth to him leaving his father with six children. As that man was addicted to alcohol, all those children had to care for themselves alone. Thus, by the early age of eight, Gianluca became a street child turning around all day long within his neighborhood with no purpose.

Of course, it wasn't long before he engaged himself in a band of rogues. Aged of fifteen, he proved to be smart and strong enough to survive any encounter : armed victims, guards, rival gangs, anything. As years passed, he became the oldest member of the band and finally he took the lead.

Under his command, the group became very famous (infamous?) realizing lots of ambushes, robberies, kidnappings, etc.. Finally, one night of 1625, Gianluca decided to kidnap La Signora Negra - the Black Lady. She was a young but extremely wealthy lady, still not married and somewhat eccentric: indeed, she was nicknamed after her puzzling habit to dress herself only with black clothes. For Gianluca, it was certain that her father, the Count of Rome, would pay anything to get his daughter back...

Thus, he spent many months spying the Lady's domain. He infiltrated it by getting men of his band hired within its boundaries. He corrupted some key people around the Lady, and manipulated some others to make his will. Finally, when he felt ready, he made his move... and achieved a great success.

This was enough for Francesca. Indeed, she had heard from Rome about that daring band of rogue and their leader, Gianluca. She had always excelled in manipulation and politics, but lacked some skills in field operations. Moreover, she wanted someone capable of leading on a night-to-night basis the main pack of Rome which was headed by a troublesome Tzimisce...

Therefore, she traveled to Napoli spreading the news of her coming. Then she just let things to happen, just to see if Gianluca would have the guts to come and get her. She observed him with growing interest while he was preparing his attack and when he struck she allowed him to capture her.

Of course, the poor Gianluca was unable to comprehend what had happened to him. Moments before, he was enjoying his victory and then the prisoner stood up and... just killed nearly everybody.

Helpless, Gianluca listened to the little woman : she told him what she really was and why she had chosen him...

As expected, Gianluca survived the Creation Rites, and proved to be a fine addition to the Clan. Francesca was glad with her choice and she even allowed her childe to sire some members of his former gang. It gave her control over a powerful pack of Lasombras and strengthened her position within the Sabbat.

Then came the time when Gianluca left his Sire. Contrary to her, he was eager to discover the New World. Thus, he landed in New York in 1763. With his pack, composed mostly of his brood, he took an active part in the American Revolution spreading maximum chaos in order to weaken the local Camarilla. He was remarkably successful to the point of becoming one the most renowned Lasombra of the New World.

This didn't please Archbishop Moncada (see Clanbook: Lasombra); indeed, he didn't see the rise of power of Francesca as a good thing, therefore he wasn't in mood for allowing that woman's Childe to become really powerful. Using his influence, he managed to get Gianluca sent to Paris arguing that he was so successful with the American Revolution, there was no better candidate to lead the Parisian Sabbat within the stormy French Revolution.

Thus, Gianluca got back to the Old Continent by 1791. He immediately took control of the local pack assisted by his two remaining Childer, Alberto and Giacomo. And as he did in America, he took advantage of the chaotic situation to build up his power base. Though there was fierce competition, he managed to control key areas of Paris. Needless to say, his reputation continued to grow within the Sabbat.

But suddenly, it all began to crumble. First, his Sire disappeared without any trace. Then, all his actions were strangely countered as if someone knew exactly what he had planned. And when Giacomo got destroyed in such an action, Gianluca decided to purge his pack. Of course, it weakened its position. Worst of all, it didn't solve the problem: somehow, his plans were almost always known. All he could do was to achieve some success from time to time, so it's no wonder that Paris Sabbat was only able to look at the Toreadors retaking their power over France's capital city.

What Gianluca couldn't knew was that his sire hadn't been destroyed but that she had fled the Sabbat instead. Worse, Francesca discovered her Childe was in charge. And she immediately took advantage of it to secure her position within Paris. Indeed, no one suspects that Gianluca is in fact deeply dominated by his sire with the Dominate power Rationale.

Thus, it's not surprising that Francesca was able to manipulate the pack into doing her will... When Giacomo got too close to the truth, she had him destroyed: she misled him into a trap organized by Mme Guile who was more than happy to enjoy this unexpected gift... Needless to say that Gianluca wants the Toreador Justicar dead.

Since that time, the Sabbat of Paris has been weak most of the time. Gianluca lost some of his Prestige and was even humiliated when Mexico sent a group of three Kindred to investigate Paris' situation.

Gianluca wants nothing more than to send back those strangers so he's currently reinforcing his hold over his pack. Of course, this is exactly what Francesca wants him to do.

Recent Events:

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Credit to the Author: https://augias.org/pbn/gianluca.htm