During the course of the various stories of this chronicle the coterie has and will meet many characters so I'm therefore creating several profile pages for different groups within my version of kindred Los Angeles to help them keep track. I'll also amend these profiles as new information comes to light and old 'facts' turn out to be less factual than originally thought...
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The Barony of West Los Angeles
Louis Fortier, a 8th generation Ventrue, runs his territory as if he were still in medieval France. If he is shown proper respect, he can be very easy to get along with; in fact he is far more accommodating to other Kindred "hunting on his lands" than many of the others with the title 'Baron'. On the other hand, he can be absolutely ruthless to Kindred who he feels have been disrespectful or ungrateful.
From his mansion in the hills of Bel Air, Louis controls Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, Marina del Rey and Venice (some of the most valuable real estate in the world), though Santa Monica now falls under the control of Baron Therese Voerman. Three of the other four Kindred who live in the barony are all Louis' Blood Bound mistresses, and each is a remarkable woman, as well as a striking beauty. The fourth is a Gangrel Scourge who deals with any problems that may be beyond his small army of ghouls, who act as both retainers and scouts.
From his mansion in the hills of Bel Air, Louis controls Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, Marina del Rey and Venice (some of the most valuable real estate in the world), though Santa Monica now falls under the control of Baron Therese Voerman. Three of the other four Kindred who live in the barony are all Louis' Blood Bound mistresses, and each is a remarkable woman, as well as a striking beauty. The fourth is a Gangrel Scourge who deals with any problems that may be beyond his small army of ghouls, who act as both retainers and scouts.
It is very rare for anything to go on in West Los Angeles without Louis' knowledge. He is also far more involved in the economics and politics of his area than most barons. His ongoing control of the businesses in West Los Angeles explains the economic stability of that region, in contrast with the insanity of the rest of the L.A. area.
Beverly Hills, The world-famous city, which is separate administratively from the City of Los Angeles which surrounds it, is a favourite place for some of the wealthiest people in the world to make their homes. North and south of Sunset Boulevard, which winds through Beverly Hills, are huge mansions and estates. Farther south, on streets such as Beverly, Camden and the infamous Rodeo Drive, are the wildly expensive boutiques where the rich come to spend their money. Before the Revolt, quite a few vampires made their homes in Beverly Hills and surrounding areas, but since then Louis Fortier has permitted no Kindred to take up permanent residence here without his express permission and the granting of significant boons.
One family recently granted access are the Bartholomew's who have recently evacuated from a London devastated by the Second Inquisition.
Louis Fortier, Baron of West Los Angeles
Aliases and Nicknames
Monsieur Fortier
8th Generation Ventrue
Haven
Haven
Haven 4: Beverly Hills Mansion (Armoury 5: Multiple, Cell 5, Hidden Armoury 5+, Library 5+, Location, Luxury, Postern 6: Sewer Access, Panic Rooms, etc., Security System 6, Surgery, Watchmen 10+, Warding 5+)
Domain
Domain
West L.A. (Chasse 6, Lien 6, Portillon 6)
Backgrounds
Backgrounds
Allies 1-7 (Multiple), Contacts 1-5 (Multiple), Herd 5 (Catherine DuBois's Blood Dolls), Influence 5 (West L.A.), Influence 5 (Los Angeles), Resources 5+, Retainers 1-5 (A Veritable Army of Ghouls), Status 5 (Anarchs), Status 5 (Los Angeles)
Merits
Merits
Linguistics 3 (French, Italian, Spanish)
Lore
Lore
Fiorenza Savona (3: Friendly Benefits), High Clan (1: Peacock, 4: Embraced to Rule, 5: Blessed, Not Cursed), Salvador Garcia (1: A Way With Words, 2: Old School, 4: The War of Ideas, 5: Rise Up), Sect War Veteran (1: Survivor, 2: Active Participant, 3: Trophy Kill, 4: No Vampire’s Land)
Louis Charles Fortier de la Belliere had the misfortune to be born the second son to the Comte de Ia Belliere in 1726. His older brother would inherit the title, Unless something occurred to cut his healthy life short, so Louis was left with two legal alternatives: the army or the Church.
At a fairly early age Louis decided that life without women wasn't life at all, so he chose the army. He joined a regiment that appealed to him, based on the high percentage of noblemen's sons already ensconced as officers, and the stunning custom-made uniforms they sported. But the King had other ideas for his pampered toy soldiers: they would go off to the New World, subdue the native tribes and return with wealth beyond reason to stuff into the Royal treasury.
Louis made several forays back and forth between France and what is now eastern Canada, displaying a natural ability as a leader. He was twenty-eight when the French and Indian War broke out in 1754, a tall, handsome man with green eyes that could tum icy when his temper rose. He planned to make one last trip to Canada, then retire from the army and begin his own trading company. His older brother was still very much alive, married and blessed with three sons, so the title was a long way off.
It was a beautiful summer's evening when Louis and a small contingent of his men chanced upon an almost-deserted Indian camp. The warriors were gone, and only the children, the women and an old shaman remained. The Indians offered their hospitality to the Frenchmen, who were reluctant at first but warmed to the kindness being shown them. It was standard Indian fare for the most part, but they had become accustomed to the strange eating habits of the "savages."
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| 'Night Star' |
A raw bolt of shock ran through him as he staggered back to the camp. The Indians were gone, but his men were not. They lay on the ground, their throats ripped out and bloodstains across their bodies. He touched the 'paint' on his chest, and found that it too was blood. He wiped his hand across his mouth, only to find his face smeared with the vital essence. The Hunger struck him with the force of a cannonball at close range. He was alone and naked in the woods of Canada with a ravening need he barely understood.
Louis could never go back to France, and he realised it would be useless trying to explain what had happened. People disappeared in the Canadian woods all the time, and he would be assumed to have been the victim of an Indian attack. Louis made his way to New York and happily joined the community of the undead there, eventually becoming a respected elder. When the Sabbat moved in on he city, Louis escaped to the West Coast. he first settled in San Francisco, and then in 1912 moved on to Los Angeles, where he quickly became part of the Primogen. Although Don Sebastian apparently was very fond of him, Louis was never completely comfortable with the prince, having been raised with a strong sense of 'noblesse oblige'.
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| Jeremy MacNeil - Brujah |
Louis is the quintessential nobleman, protective of his vassals and gracious to his enemies. His first concern is protecting his domain, and then protecting the interests of the Free States. He has a great deal of respect for Jeremy, recognising a born leader when he sees one, and is anxious to help him further the goals of the Anarchs to whom he has pledged his existence. With Jeremy currently missing he is attempting to guide Nines Rodriguez to take up a more active role in the Anarch leadership. The declared equality between all Kindred on which the Free States rest offends his noble sensibilities, but he is excited by the possibilities of this 'experiment in democracy.' He is one of the few vampires in the Free States who has any interest in the economic well-being of his barony, and under his very tight control the Westside has prospered far better than anywhere else in the Los Angeles area.
Louis lives in almost sybaritic luxury, surrounded by the most beautiful objects and people that money can buy. Despite his unlife, Louis never lost his appreciation of beautiful women. He has surrounded himself with three of the most attractive, and deadly, women in the Free States. Louis rarely leaves the confines of his magnificent Beverly Hills home, but his mistresses are often seen at Free States gatherings and are women to be reckoned with in their own right. No one knows how many ghouls serve Louis, but it is believed to be the largest 'army' of ghouls in the Free States with estimates ranging from forty to seventy depending on who you ask. All of the ghouls are young, strong and beautiful, and require little blood to stay that way. Even so, Louis sometimes has difficulty meeting their demands, even with the help of his mistresses, and is rumoured to have occasionally created a vampire to satisfy his ghouls' hunger.
With the destruction of Prince LaCroix, the Gangrel 'Fixer' Marius took possession of several properties in Downtown and Baron Fortier has granted him a domain that roughly encompasses these Downtown enterprises in an approximate eight block square. Though in kindred terms this domain still belongs to Fortier most kindred in Los Angeles consider the area to have become almost a 'mini' barony and Marius considers it and the sewers beneath to be his. With the loss of this area and the gifting of Santa Monica to the Voermans many are beginning to look at Louis Fortier as a kindred whose power is waning. However recent events are casting that view into doubt as a far more militant attitude is beginning to emerge in no small part due to his access to a new resource named 'Atarah'.
Childer
Catherine Du Bois - Mistress of Louie
Clan9th Generation Ventrue
Haven
Haven
Haven 4: Beverly Hills Mansion (Armoury 5: Multiple, Cell 5, Hidden Armoury 5+, Library 5+, Location, Luxury, Postern 6: Sewer Access, Panic Rooms, etc., Security System 6, Surgery, Watchmen 10+, Warding 5+)
Backgrounds
Ally 5 (Marius Walker), Allies 1-7 (Multiple), Contacts 1-5 (Multiple), Herd 5 (Blood Dolls), Influence 4 (Los Angeles), Resources 4, Retainers 1-5 (A veritable army of ghouls), Status 4 (Los Angeles)
Merits
Stunning
Lore
Lore
High Clan (1: Peacock, 4: Embraced to Rule), The Circulatory System (1: Tap into the System, 3: Farm Upstate, 5: Blood Sommelier)
Convent-bred Mademoiselle du Bois runs a very special out-call service for a select clientele who appreciate, and pay well for, unique experiences. Her stable of stunning debauched beauties of both sexes provides entertainment on a level of excitement that only the very wealthy and very bizarre can appreciate.This need to keep her stable fully stocked has required her to enter the people trafficking business and does so in partnership with Marius Walker. Louis is peripherally aware of these activities but asks no questions. If Catherine is happy, then he is happy.
Catherine's delicate, innocent appearance belies the depraved character of a woman thrust into the unlife at a time when her appetites were at their height and her morals undeveloped. Catherine "keeps the home fires burning" for Louis, maintaining the security of the barony and watching after the ghouls. She often acts as hostess when Louis has guests.
Catherine's delicate, innocent appearance belies the depraved character of a woman thrust into the unlife at a time when her appetites were at their height and her morals undeveloped. Catherine "keeps the home fires burning" for Louis, maintaining the security of the barony and watching after the ghouls. She often acts as hostess when Louis has guests.
She has an insatiable appetite for new physical experiences, which even death has been unable to quell. This Achilles' heel makes some consider her a security risk, but so far Louis does not seem to be concerned. She has the resources and contacts to cover her tracks as well as free rein to utilise Louis army of ghouls to clean up any messes.
Elena Gutierrez - Mistress of Louie
Clan
Elena, the daughter of a diplomat, was a Spanish exchange student studying interior design when she was invited to a private party in Beverly Hills. Her long dark hair and luminous skin reminded Louis of the Indian woman who had been his sire, and he set about bringing Elena over to the unlife.
Before long Elena was set up in business, using her artistic eye to decorate the homes of some of the most famous people in Los Angeles, who didn't find it strange that she would only visit at night. Elena often acted as Louis' agent in the outside world, both with the mortal and immortal communities but has recently been displaced from the role by her fellow mistress Mariel St John.
Elena Gutierrez - Mistress of Louie
Clan9th Generation Ventrue
Haven
Haven
Haven 4: Beverly Hills Mansion (Armoury 5: Multiple, Cell 5, Hidden Armoury 5+, Library 5+, Location, Luxury, Postern 6: Sewer Access, Panic Rooms, etc., Security System 6, Surgery, Watchmen 10+, Warding 5+)
Backgrounds
Allies 1-3 (Multiple), Contacts 1-3 (Multiple), Herd 5 (Catherine DuBois's Blood Dolls), Influence 3 (Los Angeles), Resources 4, Retainers 1-3 (Various servants), Status 3 (Los Angeles)
Merits
Beautiful
Lore
High Clan (1: Peacock)
Before long Elena was set up in business, using her artistic eye to decorate the homes of some of the most famous people in Los Angeles, who didn't find it strange that she would only visit at night. Elena often acted as Louis' agent in the outside world, both with the mortal and immortal communities but has recently been displaced from the role by her fellow mistress Mariel St John.
Louis had a great deal of respect for Elena's intelligence, and usually allowed her to act in whatever way she felt best but a recent indiscretion, that forced Louis to bring in outside resources to resolve, has lessened her status in the household considerably.
No doubt she is already plotting to restore that Status.
Mariel St John - Adopted Childe and Mistress of Louie
Clan
He was immediately impressed by her direct attitude and her intense focus on her work, so rather than perform an elaborate dance, he came right to the point. He offered her support and a magnificent place to live, neither of which would interfere with her studies and she gladly accepted. Not content to be in third place in the mistress pecking order she had made several attempts to raise her status, making an enemy of the 'Fixer' Marius Walker during one such attempt which resulted in many doors being closed to her.
Mariel St John - Adopted Childe and Mistress of Louie
8th Generation Ventrue
Haven
Haven
Haven 4: Beverly Hills Mansion (Armoury 5: Multiple, Cell 5, Hidden Armoury 5+, Library 5+, Location, Luxury, Postern 6: Sewer Access, Panic Rooms, etc., Security System 6, Surgery, Watchmen 10+, Warding 5+)
Backgrounds
Contacts 1-3 (Multiple), Herd 5 (Catherine DuBois's Blood Dolls), Influence 4, Resources 4, Retainers 1-3 (Various servants), Status 4 (Los Angeles)
Merits
Beautiful
Lore
High Clan (2: Sway the Low)
Mariel was already a fairly well-known vampire in Los Angeles when her book about the French and Indian Wars was published. Struck by the depth of knowledge and passion she brought to a subject that was so important to him, Louis made arrangements to meet Mariel.He was immediately impressed by her direct attitude and her intense focus on her work, so rather than perform an elaborate dance, he came right to the point. He offered her support and a magnificent place to live, neither of which would interfere with her studies and she gladly accepted. Not content to be in third place in the mistress pecking order she had made several attempts to raise her status, making an enemy of the 'Fixer' Marius Walker during one such attempt which resulted in many doors being closed to her.
This relationship has been repaired in recent times due to an exchange of boons between her and the now Baron of Pasadena, Michael Tomassio during which the lifting of the embargo upon her was part of the arrangement. Though not necessarily happy about it, the Gangrel has nonetheless kept to his word allowing her use of his resources (for a price, of course) and now she often uses the clubs of his ghoul 'Venus' for meetings in preference to those controlled by the Fortiers. Possibly due to the fact that she's well aware of the number of surveillance devices that litter Louis's clubs.
Now when she speaks at a Rant it is understood that she is speaking with Louis' voice. In fact at the most recent Rant it was she who negotiated with the recently freed Kindred Elder 'Atarah' over her request for domain and feeding grounds. Her resolve against such a powerful creature has also served to elevate her status amongst those who previously considered her to be a glorified harpy.
Retainers
Marco 'Joey' Joseph, Scourge
Clan
Marco, a humble accountant dedicated to his job running his own firm was warned by all his friends that his new love was a gold-digger after his money and influence and that she was having a string of affairs behind his back. However love blinded him to all criticism and he married her without any further consideration...or a pre-nuptial agreement.
As time passed and the warning signs became more and more blatant he began to curse himself for being too cowardly to confront either his wife or her lovers and had taken to spying on them of a night causing his business to suffer. On one of his midnight surveillance's of a remote cabin 'love-nest' in the hills he was spotted by a curious Gangrel who embraced him on the spot before watching in fascination as the mild mannered man experienced his first frenzy and tore both his wife and lover into pieces and drained them dry before crawling beneath the cabin and sleeping out the day.
On awakening he was confronted by his sire who unusually for his clan began to immediately educate his new childe seeing that what he had mistaken for a skilled hunter was in fact a love-sick fool. Deciding that as the mistake was his and that he would be held responsible for allowing the childe to suffer the inevitable final death and possible masquerade breach that his lack of practical skills would cause he taught him the basics of kindred existence. Marco employed several new staff via agencies to cover the work he could no longer do during daylight hours, did his own work for a portion of the evening before continuing his education in the ways of Clan Gangrel of a night. This continued for several months until one night he went to the usual meeting place and discovered his sire absent. He never saw him again...
Marco continued his relatively stable nightly existence, feeding in the majority from the vast supply of former lovers of his now deceased wife and murdering the occasional one or two just out of spite. A chance evening meeting with a businessman from Los Angeles named Fortier introduced him to the larger kindred world and he eagerly sold his firm to a subsidiary of Louis Fortier's own empire and went to work for him in a far different role. His preferred meals are still the unfaithful of either sexes but in a city as decadent as Los Angeles he is rarely short of candidates and never goes hungry for long.
Now when she speaks at a Rant it is understood that she is speaking with Louis' voice. In fact at the most recent Rant it was she who negotiated with the recently freed Kindred Elder 'Atarah' over her request for domain and feeding grounds. Her resolve against such a powerful creature has also served to elevate her status amongst those who previously considered her to be a glorified harpy.
Retainers
Marco 'Joey' Joseph, Scourge
10th Generation Gangrel (Actually 8th, though his Diableries are a well guarded secret)
Haven
Haven
Haven 4: Beverly Hills Mansion (Armoury 5: Multiple, Cell 5, Hidden Armoury 5+, Library 5+, Location, Luxury, Postern 6: Sewer Access, Panic Rooms, etc., Security System 6, Surgery, Watchmen 10+, Warding 5+), Various 'Safehouses' around West L.A.
Backgrounds
Allies: Security Teams (Effectiveness 5, Reliability 3) (Multiple), Allies: Investigative Teams (Effectiveness 5, Reliability 3) (Multiple), Ally 5 (Atarah), Contacts 1-4 (Multiple), Herd 5 (Catherine DuBois's Blood Dolls), Influence 3 (Actually 5, But Marco likes to keep a low profile), Mawla 5 (Baron Louis Fortier), Mawla 5 (Marius Walker), Resources 5 (Fortier 'Slush Fund'), Retainer 5 (Cayden Skinner, Ghoul, Former SBS, Former Royal Marines Major), Retainer 5 (Esha Cohen, Ghoul, Former Mossad Agent), Retainer 5 (Jade York, Ghoul, Former Fashion Model and Serial Killer), Retainer 5 (Jayson Moses, Ghoul, Former Green Beret), Retainer 5 (Jennie 'JB' Bailey, Ghoul, Sex Trade Survivor, Thief), Retainer 5 (Rahul Osborn, Ghoul, Former Navy Seal Logistics Officer), Retainer 5 (Saskia Sanders, Ghoul, Sniper, Origin unknown), Retainer 5 (Stefan Snow, Ghoul, Former MI6 Wetwork Specialist), Retainers 1-3 (Various spies, investigators and informants), Status 5 (Within Fortier's Domains only)
Marco, a humble accountant dedicated to his job running his own firm was warned by all his friends that his new love was a gold-digger after his money and influence and that she was having a string of affairs behind his back. However love blinded him to all criticism and he married her without any further consideration...or a pre-nuptial agreement.
As time passed and the warning signs became more and more blatant he began to curse himself for being too cowardly to confront either his wife or her lovers and had taken to spying on them of a night causing his business to suffer. On one of his midnight surveillance's of a remote cabin 'love-nest' in the hills he was spotted by a curious Gangrel who embraced him on the spot before watching in fascination as the mild mannered man experienced his first frenzy and tore both his wife and lover into pieces and drained them dry before crawling beneath the cabin and sleeping out the day.
On awakening he was confronted by his sire who unusually for his clan began to immediately educate his new childe seeing that what he had mistaken for a skilled hunter was in fact a love-sick fool. Deciding that as the mistake was his and that he would be held responsible for allowing the childe to suffer the inevitable final death and possible masquerade breach that his lack of practical skills would cause he taught him the basics of kindred existence. Marco employed several new staff via agencies to cover the work he could no longer do during daylight hours, did his own work for a portion of the evening before continuing his education in the ways of Clan Gangrel of a night. This continued for several months until one night he went to the usual meeting place and discovered his sire absent. He never saw him again...
Marco continued his relatively stable nightly existence, feeding in the majority from the vast supply of former lovers of his now deceased wife and murdering the occasional one or two just out of spite. A chance evening meeting with a businessman from Los Angeles named Fortier introduced him to the larger kindred world and he eagerly sold his firm to a subsidiary of Louis Fortier's own empire and went to work for him in a far different role. His preferred meals are still the unfaithful of either sexes but in a city as decadent as Los Angeles he is rarely short of candidates and never goes hungry for long.
Preferring to locate threats to the domain of his Baron through more traditional investigative means through a team of mortal and ghoul detectives and investigators he is nonetheless a formidable hand to hand combatant when the need arises. His combat skills are in no small part due to an arrangement between a local Gangrel 'Fixer' Marius and Fortier that included training Marco in the finer points of tracking, combat and interrogation. Though Louis and Marius's relationship can vary from week to week, Marius still ensures that Marco's training is up to date regardless. He, after all, gave his word.
Marius also taught him the finer points of diablerie, including the benefits and it's considerable downsides. Marco has done so on two occasions, and has no intention of doing so again, as he believes that to sacrifice any more of his humanity would make him less efficient in his role within the Fortier's household. When it is essential to perform a task of excessive cruelty or dubious morality he instead calls upon his new ally within Fortier's domain, namely the Lasombra Atarah. Marco clears up the occasional indiscretions caused by her cultists within the churches of West L.A., and Atarah passes on any intelligence she gathers from her various flocks, as well as facilitating a 'disappearance' here and there.
Marco has made blending into the background into an artform, and so few would suspect just how much of West L.A.'s stability is down to his efforts. Those who do suspect, tend to suffer unfortunate accidents, usually brutally violent ones.
Allies
'Atarah'
Clan
Allies
'Atarah'
Unknown Generation Lasombra
Haven
Haven
Various Churches around West Los Angeles
Backgrounds
Backgrounds
Allies 1-3 (Various churchgoers), Contacts 1-5 (Various churchgoers), Infamy 3 (Kindred), Influence 3, Resources 3, Retainers 1-5 (Useful Ghouled churchgoers), Status 4 (West L.A.)
Merits
Beautiful, Linguistics 6
Flaws
Flaws
Adversary 3 (Vera Vignes), Archaic, Obvious Predator
Lore
The Bahari (1: Dangerous Reputation, 2: Ritual Scarification, 5: First Cursed)
Enslaved by the entity possessing Vera Vignes via ancient necromantic techniques her atrophied form was kept trapped within an occult sealed tomb while her spiritual essence was bound to the service of Edward Vignes through a magical focus.
Having lost control of her own creation due to her husband having possession of the occult focus Vera Vignes and her servant and lover Henry began an elaborate plan to remove this weapon from Edwards grasp and destroy him thus freeing her from his influence forever. Using her own whiles and the innocent nature of her host she manipulated the coterie of Michael Tomassio to implement her plan. Though Edward was destroyed and Vera escaped, the creature her possessor had bound to their service was not killed but freed from a century of suffering and abuse.
Despite suspecting that her destruction was part of the plan she parted from her 'rescuers' fairly amicably and took a church in Los Angeles as her new haven. Operating a policy of seeking forgiveness rather than apologising for her pre-emptive seizure of domain within the barony of another she sought out the representative of Louis Fortier at the kindred gathering known as the 'Rant' and offered her loyalty in return for other considerations. Fortier has granted her feeding rites and control of all churches within the West Los Angeles and Downtown areas he controls in return for a yet unknown boon. Enemies of the Fortiers do however seem to be disappearing with increasing frequency since her domain was granted...though perhaps this is merely coincidental.
Ghouls
Louis Fortier's security is in no small part due to the army of ghouls that protect his home and other interests. Never numbering less than forty and sometimes reaching sixty or more this horde of ghouls is his first response to any threat of violence uncovered by his scourge Marco.
Though at first glance this security force seems to have been selected for their physicality and handsome features this is a dangerous assumption to make. Though it's true that aesthetics are amongst the requirements for service, all are former police, security or military trained and only those with the appropriate deadly skills are selected.
Though the roster changes on the whims of Fortier and his mistresses as well as the rigours of the tasks set to them certain of them have served for decades or even centuries. In fact his most trusted ghoul has served in the role of Louis Fortier's first choice for the most dangerous of missions for approaching two hundred and fifty years.
Jean 'Jax' Thomas, Fortier's Personal Guard
Backgrounds - As Louis's most trusted agent, 'Jax' has almost unlimited access to the resources of his master.
Jean Thomas or 'Jax' to his close friends was the only survivor of the massacre inflicted upon Louis Fortier's soldiers the night of his embrace. Having had the good fortune to have wandered off intoxicated he became lost in the woods and was horrified to discover the fate of his comrades when he returned. When he discovered Fortier the true horror of the event was revealed but neither could bring themselves to harm the other as they were alone and in need of each others assistance.
As Louis's first ghoul, Jean has served faithfully and with the aid of his regnant's money and influence has kept his military skills consistently up to date. He is an expert in all ancient and modern techniques of close protection as well as being an expert in dozens of armed and unarmed martial arts. Having watched the development of firearms from primitive black-powder devices to the bewildering variety of modern weapons he is also an expert in their use and trains intensively whenever off duty. This combined with over two centuries of experience in the role has created a ghoul who is easily the match for any mortal foe and quite capable of giving an unpleasant surprise to even kindred opponents.
There have even been rumours that Louis' paid a considerable price in favours, boons and cold hard cash to have his favoured ghoul fed blood from a vampire of low generation so as to enable them to develop disciplines beyond that of normal ghouls. If true it would explain his considerable successes at his job.
Within the domain of West Los Angeles he is both bodyguard and spymaster and is entrusted with the most delicate jobs that his master requires of him. If an important item needs retrieving or a significant life needs ending it is he who will receive the job. Though his first loyalty is to his Baron, his respect for Marco comes a very close second. There is also a certain level of fear too. Marco would make any sacrifice necessary to keep West Los Angeles safe from threats, and Jax knows that Marco has the will to do so if required
Enslaved by the entity possessing Vera Vignes via ancient necromantic techniques her atrophied form was kept trapped within an occult sealed tomb while her spiritual essence was bound to the service of Edward Vignes through a magical focus.
Having lost control of her own creation due to her husband having possession of the occult focus Vera Vignes and her servant and lover Henry began an elaborate plan to remove this weapon from Edwards grasp and destroy him thus freeing her from his influence forever. Using her own whiles and the innocent nature of her host she manipulated the coterie of Michael Tomassio to implement her plan. Though Edward was destroyed and Vera escaped, the creature her possessor had bound to their service was not killed but freed from a century of suffering and abuse.
Despite suspecting that her destruction was part of the plan she parted from her 'rescuers' fairly amicably and took a church in Los Angeles as her new haven. Operating a policy of seeking forgiveness rather than apologising for her pre-emptive seizure of domain within the barony of another she sought out the representative of Louis Fortier at the kindred gathering known as the 'Rant' and offered her loyalty in return for other considerations. Fortier has granted her feeding rites and control of all churches within the West Los Angeles and Downtown areas he controls in return for a yet unknown boon. Enemies of the Fortiers do however seem to be disappearing with increasing frequency since her domain was granted...though perhaps this is merely coincidental.
Ghouls
Louis Fortier's security is in no small part due to the army of ghouls that protect his home and other interests. Never numbering less than forty and sometimes reaching sixty or more this horde of ghouls is his first response to any threat of violence uncovered by his scourge Marco.
Though at first glance this security force seems to have been selected for their physicality and handsome features this is a dangerous assumption to make. Though it's true that aesthetics are amongst the requirements for service, all are former police, security or military trained and only those with the appropriate deadly skills are selected.
Though the roster changes on the whims of Fortier and his mistresses as well as the rigours of the tasks set to them certain of them have served for decades or even centuries. In fact his most trusted ghoul has served in the role of Louis Fortier's first choice for the most dangerous of missions for approaching two hundred and fifty years.
Jean 'Jax' Thomas, Fortier's Personal Guard
Jean Thomas or 'Jax' to his close friends was the only survivor of the massacre inflicted upon Louis Fortier's soldiers the night of his embrace. Having had the good fortune to have wandered off intoxicated he became lost in the woods and was horrified to discover the fate of his comrades when he returned. When he discovered Fortier the true horror of the event was revealed but neither could bring themselves to harm the other as they were alone and in need of each others assistance.
As Louis's first ghoul, Jean has served faithfully and with the aid of his regnant's money and influence has kept his military skills consistently up to date. He is an expert in all ancient and modern techniques of close protection as well as being an expert in dozens of armed and unarmed martial arts. Having watched the development of firearms from primitive black-powder devices to the bewildering variety of modern weapons he is also an expert in their use and trains intensively whenever off duty. This combined with over two centuries of experience in the role has created a ghoul who is easily the match for any mortal foe and quite capable of giving an unpleasant surprise to even kindred opponents.
There have even been rumours that Louis' paid a considerable price in favours, boons and cold hard cash to have his favoured ghoul fed blood from a vampire of low generation so as to enable them to develop disciplines beyond that of normal ghouls. If true it would explain his considerable successes at his job.
Within the domain of West Los Angeles he is both bodyguard and spymaster and is entrusted with the most delicate jobs that his master requires of him. If an important item needs retrieving or a significant life needs ending it is he who will receive the job. Though his first loyalty is to his Baron, his respect for Marco comes a very close second. There is also a certain level of fear too. Marco would make any sacrifice necessary to keep West Los Angeles safe from threats, and Jax knows that Marco has the will to do so if required
He has a friendly rivalry with his opposite number within Marius's organisation, namely Yukio, as they sometimes find themselves on opposite sides due to their relative masters fluctuating relationships. There is a considerable respect between the two and they have been known to cooperate on projects where there is no conflict of interest. Both therefore owe each other a number of 'favours'.
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Should you be interested in the chronicles and stories associated with these pages then links to them all can be found HERE.
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