These ancient vampires are the last remains of the original Clan Tzimisce. Lords of Eastern Europe, the Barons rule their fiefs with both care and strength. They are the Old Clan, and all the Tzimisce of the Sabbat (and the few within the Inconnu and the Camarilla) are their betrayers. When their childer rose up against them during the Anarch Revolts the Barons were almost obliterated. The shattered remains of the Old Clan retreated to the hinterlands of Eastern Europe. To distance themselves from their vile childer the Barons enacted a great ritual to alter the affinities of their blood towards leadership and power. While the outside world sees but a handful of the Old Clan, the Barons are nearly as numerous now as they were before their childer tried to purge them. They have built up their monies, numbers, and power over the centuries until they could present a significant threat to their traitorous childer. Even with their power base the Barons are unable to start a war against their wayward childer. The support of the Sabbat’s various bloodlines and the Lasombra Clan would overwhelm the Old Clan in almost no time. Because of the young clan’s allies the Old Clan Tzimisce must be content with destroying only those Fiends foolish enough to enter their domains. The vampires of Old Clan Tzimisce have put their factions behind them and united to work against the treacherous childer that so nearly destroyed their line. The various voivodes work together, sharing their resources, to restore the power lost by the clan. It is the greatest ambition of the voivodes to destroy the ‘Tzimisce’ who stole their holdings, power, and prestige. And unlike the True Brujah, the Barons are moving closer the their day of retribution.
Nickname: Barons
Appearance: The younger members of Old Clan Tzimisce dress in whatever fashions are popular with the people they live around. While they don’t try to blend in, they do at least attempt not to stick out. The elder Barons are not quite so contemporary. Most of them dress in the fashions that were popular during their mortal lives.
Haven: Nearly all Barons have their havens in the hinterlands of Eastern Europe, away from the prying eyes of the other vampiric Clans and Bloodlines. Their havens are often luxurious family mansions or moldering castles. Some of the younger members of the line will choose to live in a well appointed apartment in the city, but that is rare. The Baron’s haven is his most sacred possession. Anyone entering a Baron’s home without permission risks their lives. It is a great honor to be invited into the haven of a Baron. Those invited into the haven are not harmed by the Baron as long as they stay.
Background: Childer are often chosen from families of the old nobility, or from the most socially recognized families of the region. Nobility is more prized, but has become quite rare in these modern nights. The Barons sometimes Embrace an honorable warrior, or an enthusiastic scholar. Unlike the betrayer Tzimisce the Barons don’t place an emphasis on biology or science. The ability to lead their people fairly and firmly is far more important.
Character Creation: Because of their political inclinations the Barons rarely have similar Natures and Demeanors. A few of Barons that are not in positions of leadership are scrupulously honest and forward. But they are a small oddity. Because of their positions of leadership Mental and Social Attributes are equally prized in the clan. Knowledges are often taken first, with Talents being secondary. The Old Clan favors Influence (in their fiefs), Resources (ancestral treasure or taxes from their people), and Retainers (ghouls and Revenants that serve them) as backgrounds. Mentor is also not uncommon.
Clan Disciplines: Dominate, Fortitude, Protean
Weaknesses: Unlike the young Clan the Barons are not bound to their homelands. Instead the Old Clan’s respect for the havens of others has burdened them with the weakness of vampiric lore. No Baron may enter a home without a sincere invitation from one of the inhabitants. If there is no one living in the home, the vampire may enter freely.
Organization: The Old Clan Tzimisce are hierarchical and social creatures. The clan is subdivided into smaller units comprising one landholding sire (voivode) along with a host of progeny and retainers. Progeny are expected to obey their voivode in all things. Relationships among voivodes are governed by a complex protocol, but are stable. They are, after all, working towards the same thing. The voivodes work together to bring their clan back into prominence.
Quote: Thousands of human lives have been taken by my hands. I am a protector of humanity, but my vigilance comes with a price.
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