Ventrue
Throughout history, while the other Clans have skulked about their petty intrigues, the Ventrue have curried favor with Caesar, whispered into the ear of Charlemagne, bankrolled the Age of Exploration, and even swayed policy in the Holy See. Theirs is a legacy of rulership, from Ventrue fledglings starting their climb to the top to the mightiest elders whose influence spans the world. Long have they played kingmaker in the shadows in the mortal world, and long have they been the Clan of Kings among the Kindred.
Other Clans, of course, find all this insufferably pompous at best, punishably tedious at worst. Someone has to lead, surely, but why does it always have to be some long-winded, self-ag- grandizing Ventrue? The Blue Bloods try to bear the criticism of their lessers with a sense of noblesse oblige — ever heavy hangs that head that wears the crown — but even the most munificent of Kindred leaders occasionally succumbs to tyranny and bloody rage.
Tonight, the Ventrue are a synthesis of the modern and the ancient, often in stark contrast within the Clan and among one another. Theirs is money of old, from the vaults of Croesus, but their young manipulate stock markets and influence currencies. Elders may command armies or even whole governments, while neonates conjure their assets from a website or smartphone app. But for all their wealth, their distinguished history, and their status among the Damned, each and every Ventrue must still seek that one resource that makes Kindred society egalitarian: precious blood.
Nickname: Blue Bloods
Sect: To hear the Ventrue tell it, the very idea of the Camarilla originated with them. Every other Clan realized what an invaluable proposition it was and flocked to their banner.
Appearance: The Ventrue favor conservative clothing and reserved presentation, unless they’re making a point about power or money. Ventrue Princes may well wear a circlet or carry a scepter as symbols of office, while young Blue Bloods display their own achievement via suits, ties, dresses, and accessories that are easily overlooked singularly but add up to a stunning total effect. If a Ventrue has so much as a hair out of place, it’s because he spent all night running down the Society of Leopold and demanding the Sabbat menace retreat.
Haven: A Ventrue’s haven displays both her great power (read: wealth) and distinguished tastes. Opulent, grandiose, even baroque — these may all apply to Ventrue havens. They shun the gaudy displays of other Kindred, and their style tends less to the avant-garde than it does to the classical and traditional. To the Blue Bloods, a well-maintained haven is an extension of oneself, and for someone to see it in less than flawless state implies weakness, dis- traction, or even madness.
Background: Anyone who has “made something of herself” may attract the attention of the Ventrue, who judge their childer based on their prominence and success even before they start to groom them for the Embrace. Socialites, moneyed family, corporate wunderkinds, military leaders, and even untested newcomers who show great promise are keenly valued among the Blue Bloods.
Character Creation: Ventrue usually have directorial or outgoing personality archetypes. Members of Clan Ventrue favor Social and Mental Attributes, but any Ability category can be primary, reflecting a personal avenue of expertise. Backgrounds go both wide and deep for the Ventrue, with almost every Blue Blood possessing some amount of Resources, Status, and Herd (particularly the latter, given the Clan weakness). Elders in particular cultivate enviable havens and sprawling Domains.
Clan Disciplines: Dominate, Fortitude, Presence
Weaknesses: The Ventrue have rarefied tastes, and they find only one specific type of mortal blood palatable and vital for them. When a player creates a Ventrue character, he should decide with the Storyteller what specific type of blood suits the character, and this choice is permanent. Blood of other types (even animals) simply offers the vampire no blood pool increase, no matter how much he consumes - he can appear to gain sustenance and even enjoy his meal, if his performance is convincing. This refined palate may be very narrow or very broad — say, the blood of younger sisters, or the blood of nude children. Vampiric blood is exempt from this restriction.
Organization: The Clan-wide organization of the Ventrue is localized and feudal, with various universal- ly understood peerages, vassalages, oaths of fealty, and sworn boons taking the place of a rigid hierarchy. Many Ventrue style themselves as secret masters of their do- mains, consolidating power in longstanding networks and forming conspiracies. The Ventrue greatly value propriety and honor, and use many forms of address and respect — their Laws of Decorum are complex and rigid, and could fill several volumes. Almost every Ventrue worth his status can recite his lineage at least back to the elders, if not to the great Methuselahs.
Quote: There is no shame to bending the knee to one such as myself, so pay your fucking tribute before I lose my temper.
Contents
3rd Generation
- -- Ventrue -- Rumored to have been diabolized by Brujah outside the walls of the Second City.
4th Generation
- -- Alexander -- The sire of Gaius Marcellus and Prince of Paris during Dark Ages.
- -- Mithras -- The Once and Forever King, originally 5th generation, Diabolized Errencrenic. Lineage of Mithras
- -- Tinia -- Tinia was a Ventrue Methuselah whose line held many of Rome's most prestigious vampires. Her sire is unknown, but she Embraced a trio of luminaries: Julia Antasia, Valerianus and Collat.
- -- Tiamat --
- -- Veddartha -- The Sire of Mithras
5th Generation
- -- Collat -- Once Prince of Rome, probably diabalized by his childe Titus Venturus Camillus.
- -- d'Arielle Cotentin -- Norman Childe of Mithras
- -- Duer The Celt -- Long-inactive childe of Mithras
- -- Duke of Amber -- Elder progeny of Mithras and Sabbat Archbishop.
- -- Duchess of Amber -- Elder progeny of Mithras and Sabbat Bishop.
- -- Demetrius -- Ancient Ventrue prince of Marseille.
- -- Fabrizio Ulfila -- Elder Ventrue prelate of the Catholic Church. {Rome -- medieval}
- -- Gaius Fabricius -- Sworn enemy of Demetrius and prince Lyon.
- -- Gaius Marcellus -- Childe of Alexander and sire of Doran.
- -- Geraint -- Childe of Mithras who was embraced following the fall of Rome and died during the Anglo-Saxon era of England.
- -- Hardestadt the Elder -- Hardestadt the Elder was a renowned Ventrue elder who was already an established figure of power in the Holy Roman Empire during the Dark Ages. He is widely known as a leader during the founding of the Camarilla.
- -- Heinrich of Volstag -- Arpad Ventrue Progenitor & Methuselah
- -- Jhangir -- Progenitor of the El - Hijazi middleastern Ventrue. (Deceased, London, 2031).
- -- Julia Antasia -- Prince of Frankefurt
- -- Julian / Julius Cerialis -- Ventrue Baron of York. {circa 4th-5th, 9th and 11th centuries}. Sire of Thrand and John de York.
- -- Julius Valerius -- The Former Seneschal of London (deceased)
- -- Marcus Verus -- Baron of Chester and Childe of Mithras.
- -- Rebekah
- -- Victoria Lancaster Progeny of Mithras
6th Generation
- -- Baptiste Abel -- Progeny of Zhenya Motya -- Sire of three childer
- -- Bindusara -- Eldest Childe of Julius Valerius and World Traveler.
- -- Brian O'Reilly -- Baron of Yorkshire and one time Archon and Viceroy of Sofia. Believed to be of the 8th generation.
- -- Cyril Masters -- Solicitor of the Night (London). Currently a refugee in Glasgow.
- -- Doran -- The progeny of Gaius Marcellus was a young philosopher, interested in Carthage. He settled in Louisiana around 1700, but was murdered in 1955 (deceased).
- -- Fabrice Adrien Morin -- Second progeny of Demetrius and eldest surviving childe of the Prince. {Marseille}
- -- Galen -- Ventrue Primogen of Houston & Kindred Physician.
- -- Gregor Arpad -- Founder of the Arpad Ventrue (deceased).
- -- Guilliam du Reims -- Former Prince of Glasgow (deceased), and sire of Black Martin. Grandchilde of Alexander of the Grand Court.
- -- Hardestadt the Younger -- Hardestadt the Younger is a member of the Camarilla Inner Circle, and is thought to be the leader of the entire organization.
- -- Jereaux Guilbeau -- The progeny of Lothar Constantine and the older Guilbeau brother who was embraced during the American Civil War.
- -- Jeremy Sanderson (a.k.a - Yan Syrkov). Alastor, scholar, and technology mogul. Believed to be of the 8th generation, and childe of Michaela
- -- John de York -- Progeny of Julius Cerialis and sire of several slain childer. Ventrue Baron of York. {Baron circa 965 to the Victorian Age}
- -- Jovan Vladimir -- Ventrue Prince of Shkodër, Albania.
- -- Judicaël Yannick Plamondon -- Progeny of Gaius Fabricius of Lyon.
- -- Lady Anne Bowesley -- Deposed seneschal of London. Believed to remain in torpor, in the care of Marcus Verus.
- -- Prias
- -- Rhodry ap Geraint -- Prince of Cardiff and Baron of Wales. Childe of Geraint and Grandchilde of Mithras.
- -- Thrand -- Progeny of Julius Cerialis and sire of Katla Thranddottir. Ventrue Baron of York. {9th century until 965}
7th Generation
- -- Abbott Craw -- Militaristic childe of Cyril Masters
- -- Agnes of Shkodër -- elder childe of Prince Jovan of Shkoder, Albania
- -- Alejandro Kaufer -- Ventrue Prince of Houston, New Republic of Texas -- Often referred to by his enemies as the Anti--Prince.
- -- Andre Foushon -- Ventrue Prince of Novel New Orleans
- -- Aras Valdemaras -- First Childe of Brian O'Reilly (Embraced - 2016) Believed to be of the 9th generation.
- -- Martin Orvin -- Former Prince of Glasgow, AKA Black Martin (Deceased). Sire of Brother Gilles, and childe of Guilliam du Reims
- -- Bronius Gintaras -- Second Childe of Brian O'Reilly (Embraced - 2022) Believed to be of the 9th generation
- -- Dr.Émeric "Vespasien" Bouchard -- Childe of Jeremy Sanderson. Believed to be of the 9th generation.
- -- Gaius Papius Mutilus -- Childe of ???
- -- Gardenia Russel -- Seneschal Pro tempore of London
- -- Geoffrey Talent -- Knight of the Bull Rampant and advisor to the Knights of the World Tree from 2027-2029. Chester, England.
- -- Hans Holgersson -- Childe of Brian O'Reilly, known as "Wulfgar.
- -- Janos Handoval -- The Scientific Advisor to the Queen of London
- -- Johann Santos -- Former Prince of St. Louis (Deceased)
- -- Katla Thranddottir -- Scandinavian childe of Thrand and prominent Einherjar before her disappearance.
- -- Lodin -- Former Prince of Chicago (deceased - 1993)
- -- Lothar Constantine -- The progeny of Doran and sire of Jereaux Guilbeau and Marcel Guilbeau (deceased).
- -- Lyric Nelson -- Childe of Cyril Masters
- -- Michaela -- Former Prince of New York City (generally believed to be dead - circa 1999)
- -- Nestor Cranston -- The Queen's Pet (London)
- -- Valerius - The face of the former Seneschal of London
- -- Zamyr Hayka -- younger childe of Prince Jovan of Shkodër, Albania
8th Generation
- -- Aldous Tope -- Prince of Leeds and Baron of York. Childe of Valerius (Walhere) Deceased, 2032.
- -- Ballard -- Childe of Lodin
- -- Benjamin Cross -- Ventrue Ancilla of London from the late 17th century until his death at the hands of the Sabbat in 2015. Sire of Gloriana Anson and Thorton Bryant.
- -- Bobby Weatherbottom -- Childe of Lodin
- -- Brother Gilles -- Seneschal of Glasgow, Scotland
- -- Capone -- Childe of Lodin
- -- Contillio -- The sire of Karen Chartry of New Orleans.
- -- Dietrich Kohl -- Black marketeer arms dealer, and enforcer of the Masquerade in Thessaloniki.
- -- Drummond -- Childe of Lodin
- -- Janet Latimer -- Ventrue Ambassador from Manchester
- -- Jacob Schumpeter (deceased) -- Childe of Lodin of Chicago
- -- Lars Donneley -- Childe and squire to Sir Geoffrey Talent. Chester, England.
- -- Niklaus Schenk -- A refugee from Berlin who was killed by the Sabbat in London. (deceased)
- -- Penelope Huxley -- Sire of Terrence Rigby and Ventrue prince of Savannah, Georgia, FAS. {Savannah}
- -- Stefanie Gray -- Ventrue Refugee from London
- -- Erwin van Altena -- Dutch representative of the Ventrue Consortium. {Amsterdam}
9th Generation
- -- Adele Pennington -- A London expatriate currently residing in Newcastle.
- -- Anthony Guilbeau -- The second progeny and favorite childe of Prince Marcel Guilbeau of New Orleans; as a result, the relationship between the brothers is tense at the best of times.
- -- Beathag Magoon -- Elder childe of Seneschal Gilles of Glasgow
- -- Christopher Guilbeau -- First progeny of Marcel Guilbeau, and the prodigal childe; the relationship between sire and childe isn't good.
- -- Gloriana Anson -- Keeper of Elysium in Leeds. Childe of Benjamin Cross.
- -- Karen Chartry -- The progeny of Contillio and the primogen for Clan Ventrue in New Orleans.
- -- Naomhan Walpole -- Younger childe of Seneschal Gilles of Glasgow
- -- Rory McAndrew -- Agent Plenipotentiary of the Camarilla.
- -- Terrence Rigby -- Progeny of Penelope Huxley, Ventrue prince of Savannah, Georgia. {New York City}
- -- Thorton Bryant -- Ventrue Prince of Leeds. Childe of Benjamin Cross.
10th Generation
- -- Barriston Newland -- Ventrue administrator in Leeds, childe of Thorton Bryant.
- -- Gloria Alder -- Corporate counter-espionage specialist, embraced by Adele Pennington. London.
- -- Gordon Cake -- Ventrue Security Consultant, embraced by Thorton Bryant. Leeds.
- -- Samuel Scott -- Ventrue Stock Market Wizard from London.
11th Generation
- -- Daniel Crane -- Ventrue of Newcastle, sire of Kipling Stout.
- -- Marie-Helene Dutoit -- Ventrue antitribu Ductus of the Fleur-de-Lys coven of Montreal
- -- Sidney Heath -- Gang lord of Leeds.
12th Generation
- -- Fiacre Guérin -- Ventrue antitribu childe of Marie-Helene Dutoit and a member of the Fleur-de-Lys coven of Montreal
- -- Kipling Stout -- Ventrue of Newcastle, England.
13th Generation
Those of Unknown Generation
- -- Kreszentia Brandt - Business associate of the new prince. {Dresden}
The Ventrue Consortium
- -- Erwin van Altena -- Dutch representative of the Ventrue Consortium. {Amsterdam}