Hellene Panhard is the childe of Michaela, the previous Camarilla Prince of New York City, who met her final death at the hands of the Sabbat. Out of all the potential candidates, it is she who managed to secure her claim to Princedom after the Ivory Tower spread and secured their domain. Her previous status as a court mainstay allowed her to pull many strings and call in many favours, but it was one secretive ally who tipped the scales in her favour…
DIVYA PATIL › CAMARILLA VENTRUE
cis woman & she + her ∕ ∕ dominate ∙ presence ∙ auspex
Forget dividing a planet to bite-sized chunks, the world-eater swallows it whole. Unhinged jaw and distended belly in polished heels and a tailored suit; stand in awe of the perfect reflection, avert your eyes from the bloodied teeth — bow down before the god made flesh, and offer everything you have to your new false idol. With the furious wails of a child king and the tight-clenched fists of a toddler; get in good while the creature’s young, and you might have a spot in their court. World-eater, sun-slayer, leave someone to make you a crown. A king of rubble is a king of nothing, and you’re nobody without somebody to boss around.
TURNED › new york — 2015
if there is a light then i’m going to swallow it;
if there’s a god then i’m going to make him cry
CONNECTIONS ›
DIZZY 「frustration」
› Dizzy enters the room, Divya starts sniping. It’s how they work.
HAREL 「grudging respect」
› All are beneath Divya... But Harel isn’t worth crossing.
ANGEL 「friends」
› The only reasonable one in the coterie.
ZAKI 「ugh」
› Can this thing really be considered Kindred?
Even by the standards of immortal beings hopelessly stuck in their ways, Douglas Callihan is behind the times. His style of leadership and outlook on the modern world both obviously belong in the 19th century, when the Anarch Baron of NYC was Embraced. It took the NYC Anarchs many decades, but the 21st century seems to be the time when their discontent with the current (supposed) torchbearer of their cause is finally boiling over. Callihan himself is no fool, either — ever concerned about his own continued survival, he realises that his grasp on the local sect members has grown unstable. A firm grasp will have to become a stranglehold if the old Boss is to maintain his position in the city.
In their own eyes, only the Clan of Kings has the restraint, the wisdom, the control, and the pedigree to lead their kind through the night. Throughout their time as god-kings of ancient Babylon and lords and ladies of the Dark Ages to their contemporary roles as guardians of royal blood, majority shareholders, and campaign fund backers, they have been obsessed with the impulse to rule. They collect their tithes in the form of precious blood, ensuring the growth of their legacy. While many other clans claim positions of influence in politics and business, no one can rival the Ventrue in the game of pure power and wealth. But lately, their arrogant projections as divinely chosen rulers, better fit to lead than any other clan, have begun to falter. Time is running out. As they feel their privileges slipping through their fingers, the Ventrue tighten their grip and fight fang and claw to remain in control as the masters of their kind.
CLAN VENTRUE has long been the leaders of the Camarilla, holding more positions of power than any other clan, and they are loath to give that up. Even after losing their most prominent representative to a Brujah assassination, the Ventrue continue to maintain that they are destined to rule all Kindred, no matter the sacrifices involved.
The Ventrue believe in the strength of tradition and lineage. The Embrace is one of their most important rituals, and the choice of childe affects the way other members of the clan treat the sire. Ventrue therefore aim to Embrace overachievers, politically or financially powerful kine, or those with a talent that sets them apart from the masses.
These nights, the Ventrue are cautious. The talentless fall by the wayside, while the best blend in with humanity as bankers, shadow directors, reclusive moguls, and chiefs of staff. No longer can a Ventrue openly lead a board or take a prominent position in a mortal community They resent having to influence their surroundings from the shadows, but know that the risk of a fatal Masquerade breach is too high to risk anything else.
The Ventrue are the establishment. They set and maintain the rules, punishing those who break them, and occasionally rewarding those who follow. Their critics consider them tyrants or the jailers of other Kindred. The uncomfortable truth is that without them, the Masquerade, and the Camarilla with it, would have fallen long ago. The Ventrue are more loyal to their cause these nights than ever before, adversity only making them more determined to succeed and more certain that they have the right to do whatever it takes.
THE VENTRUE BANE shows itself through possession of rarefied palates. When a Ventrue drinks blood from any mortal outside their preference, a profound exertion of will is required or the blood taken surges back up as a scarlet vomit. Preference range greatly, from Ventrue who can only feed from genuine brunettes, individuals of Swiss descent, or gay people, to others who can only feed from soldiers, mortals who suffer from PTSD, or methamphetamine users.
ventrue archetypes.
COLD-BLOODED CORPORATE DIRECTOR
This Ventrue controls a successful corporation, perhaps as the eccentric and reclusive CEO or maybe as an influential silent partner involved in guiding the firm. This Ventrue is always several steps removed from dirtying their hands but will rarely hesitate over ethics if it means getting ahead of the competition.
MEMBER OF THE ORDER
The Clan of Kings are well suited visitors in secret societies such as the Freemasons and Rosicrucians. This Ventrue knows how to spin their words. They act as the reclusive leader or an important member of their society, whether it be an informal gentlemen’s club, a ladies’ guild, an alumni society for magnates and millionaires, or a gathering of concerned citizens clandestinely seeking to control their neighbourhood.
CONSERVATIVE POLITICIAN
The kings have always favoured conservatism and maintenance of the status quo. The politically inclined blue blood acts as the untouchable spin doctor, lurks in the wings of the party, or advises pundits and newsmen on how to dictate the story. Manipulating the media, they suppress Masquerade breaches with ease.
GODFATHER
The so-called godfather wields their power through organised crime, manipulating gangs and the path of cash that runs from the streets to the bankers and politicians. Other Ventrue may turn their noses up at such a shady character, but the godfather knows that to get things done, blood sometimes needs to be spilled.
HIGH PRIEST
The Ventrue have ever venerated their ancestors, both mythical Kindred such as Mithras, Tinia, and Tiamat and historical personages nearly as eminent. This ancestor worship ranges from a historian’s thorough study ot leading a cult in the ancestor’s name. Seeing the touch of their forebears in all that they do, the high priest seeks to repeat history, fulfill the goals of their ancestors, and spread the knowledge of their glory.
