V5 Chronicle - Faction Profile - The Circulatory System (Updated)

 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...

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The Circulatory System

'The Circulatory System'

The exploration of blood and its Resonances has spawned networks of Kindred eager for knowledge, power, and profit. The international human trafficking network known as the Circulatory System smuggle important vessels between domains and chronicle the powers of the blood vintages they move.

The organisation was formed by a Malkavian known as Bronwyn and four other kindred. Though the group initially trafficked vessels of rare or sought-after vintage throughout Chicago, they soon moved beyond. Other similar organisations had existed in the past and these were soon absorbed into the modern, and more efficient new organisation.

The System is at the forefront of kindred research in the area of analysis of blood and can refine and amplify taste, resonance and other more esoteric features of it. This has granted them a customer base consisting of the highest levels of kindred society, who either crave new experiences or whose particular blood requirements are normally in short supply. Many ancient Ventrue with particularly rare feeding requirements would find themselves slipping into torpor without access to The Circulatory System's resources.

They have also perfected the art of the Blood Sommelier and can bind blood to a liquid medium, usually wine, and offer a variety of vintages of such.

The Circulatory System uses armoured vans and armed ghoul drivers to transport vessels from location to location. These protected modes of transit are more than simple security vehicles as they bristle with concealed weapons.

The Circulatory System - Concealed Weapon Systems

Such precautions are necessary when these transports sometimes contain incredibly valuable vessels destined for important buyers.

'Farms'

Their primary bases of operations are known as 'farms' and contain valuable vessels with the most potent blood. These are something between clinic and prison and though some of their guests are willing participants, or believe themselves to be, the majority are not. The system also has contacts within the mundane human trafficking operations of mortal criminal networks which allow them to obtain a steady supply of new potential candidates. Of course, those who don't have blood of sufficient interest or quality find themselves either put back into the hell from which they were obtained, or quietly disposed of.

The Unfortunate Victims of 'The Circulatory System'

Operational control of a farm is only given to the most ruthlessly efficient of The Circulatory Systems senior representatives. Those given such an honour are also given authority over a veritable army of ghouls and blood bound mortals to protect each site as well as access to a fleet of heavily armed and armoured vehicles for transportation purposes. As long as the profits keep rolling in, each Farm Director is given free rein to run their facility as they please.

The Circulatory System - Haematology

Of course The Circulatory System care little for the long-term well-being of their vessels, beyond the dip in profits they suffer when such kine die prematurely. Though the occasional farm director runs their clinic with compassion and care, they are extremely rare, the majority see their charges as little better than cattle. Many Kindred can look past such minor issues to the pioneering studies the System makes possible by unlocking new and valuable features of the Blood.

Though the majority of it's customers are of the Camarilla, The System will supply to anyone who has the resources to pay their exorbitant fees, recognizing that even Anarch domains contain Ventrue Barons with identical issues to their Camarilla counterparts.

Membership level is indicated by a simple colouring system upon the membership cards themselves and the level of authority of the contact that the number upon the reverse gives you access too. These follow the traditional hierarchy of Bronze, Silver and Gold though the most important customers are rumoured to have a Platinum Card giving them direct access to a particular farm's director.

Certain individuals have let slip that a card of pure black also exists, though what services this gives access to is a matter of much conjecture.

The leader of a particular farm is known by the title of Director and she will have under her control several Recruiters. Recruiters methods vary wildly from kidnapping and brainwashing, to people smuggling, modern slavery and any number of other methodologies depending upon their contacts and areas of expertise. Recruiters may also have their own retainers who assist in these recruitment drives. The most common title for these is Bloodhound, though local variations exist for all ranks.

Los Angeles Farm

The Farm in Los Angeles is based a few miles into the San Gabriel Mountains at the extreme point of a Anarch Barony known as 'The Wilds'. It's safety and security are ensured by hefty bribes, blackmail and blood bonded officials. It's area of responsibility covers Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and the newly acquired Camarilla domain of San Jose though it will operate further afield if necessary.

The 'Director' of this particular facility is named Marcelina Black.

Marcelina Black

Aliases and Nicknames

'Director'

Clan

8th Generation Ventrue

Haven(s)

Los Angeles 'Farm' (Haven 3: Armoury: Military Grade, Cell 5, Laboratory 5: Haematology, Library 5: Medicine, Luxury, Postern 5: Escape Tunnels, Security System 5+, Surgery, Watchmen 5, Warding 3)

Backgrounds 
Ally 4 (Catherine DuBois), Ally 4 (The Blossoms), Ally 3 (Leanna, Blood Sommelier), Ally 3 (The Coyotes, Gangrel Pack), Allies (Ghoul Security Teams: Effectiveness 5, Reliability 3), Contacts 1-5 (Various Useful Officials), Herd 5 (The Circulatory System's Vessels), Influence 4, Mask 2, Mawla 5 (Joshua Lang, Sire, the Shattered Spear), Resources 5, Status 5 (The Circulatory System), Status 4 (Camarilla), Status 3 (The Shattered Spear), Status 1 (Los Angeles), 

Merits

Linguistics 1 (French)

Flaws

Disliked, Ventrue Feeding Restriction (???)

Lore

Descendant of Hardestadt (1: Voice of Hardestadt, 2: Supreme Leader), High Clan (1: Peacock), Plagues of Gehenna (1: Blister Marks), Pure Ventrue Lineage (1: Sire of Renown, 2: A Lineage of Title, 3: Recitation), Spear of Orthia (1: Tip of the Spear, 3: The Enduring Faith), The Circulatory System (1: Tap Into the System, 2: Little Black Book, 3: Farm Upstate, 4: Secure Transit, 5: Blood Sommelier), The Pony Express (1: Access to the Network)

Derangements

Empathy Deficit Disorder (Severe), Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Severe), Megalomania (Severe) 

Biography

Though the Anarch domains are considered a much less lucrative market, The Circulatory System is making subtle inroads due to the influx into these domains of displaced kindred from clans that have now left the Camarilla. The Los Angeles farm is very much a test case in the viability of maintaining such a facility under the rule of Barons rather than Princes.

Control of this facility has been given to one of their most ruthless up and coming operatives, one Marcelina Black. If anyone can make this new direction a success then it's going to be her. Aided by her assistant, she has already established contact with the areas human traffickers, created trade routes for her important cargoes and has lined up a surprisingly lucrative, if currently relatively small, customer base within all four domains allocated to her.

Marcelina comes from a long line of renowned Ventrue and can trace her lineage all the way back to Hardestadt the Elder. A fact she will be more than happy to relay to anyone who questions her suitability for any role. Though many of her clan have a tendency towards arrogance, Miss Black takes this to new extremes. She has complete and utter confidence that every decision she makes is the correct one, and woe betide any who question her or fail to obey her dictates instantly and enthusiastically.

The unfortunate kindred who was initially required to assist Marcelina Black in this venture, was Arla Hartley. Arla is currently believed to have been destroyed, but this was actually an elaborate ruse in order to free her from her service to both Marcelina, and The Circulatory System. She now resides in the Anarch Barony of San Diego, with a new identity.

Should Marcelina ever discover this deception she is likely to hunt down and destroy both Arla, and those who aided in her departure.

Arla's replacement is a Malkavian named Celia Monroe. A significantly more ruthless and ambitious operative than her predecessor.

Celia Monroe

Aliases and Nicknames

'Recruiter'

Clan

9th Generation Malkavian

Haven(s)

Los Angeles 'Farm' (Haven 3: Armoury: Military Grade, Cell 5, Laboratory 5: Haematology, Library 5: Medicine, Luxury, Postern 5: Escape Tunnels, Security System 5+, Surgery, Watchmen 5, Warding 3)

Backgrounds 
Ally 3 (The Coyotes, Gangrel Pack), Allies (Ghoul Security Teams: Effectiveness 5, Reliability 3), Contacts 1-4 (Various Useful Officials in L.A., Chicago, and other cities), Herd 3 (The Circulatory System's Vessels), Herd 1 (Personal Vessels), Influence 1, Mask 2, Mawla 4 (Bronwyn), Resources 3, Retainer 3 (Haris, 'Bloodhound') Status 3 (The Circulatory System)

Merits

Beautiful

Flaws

None Known

Lore

The Blue Velvet (1: Est. 1072), The Circulatory System (1: Tap Into the System, 2: Little Black Book, 4: Secure Transit), The Cobweb (2: Shared Condition, 3: Across the web, 4: Pluck the Strands), The Pony Express (1: Access to the Network)

Derangements

Psychopath (Sadistic Personality Disorder)

Biography

Celia Monroe is a favoured agent of Bronwyn, one of the five founders of The Circulatory System.

Her youthful appearance and disarming smile cause many to underestimate her, and this is a mistake she's more than happy for mortals and other kindred to make, for behind that smile is a mind unburdened with concerns such as mercy, remorse or limitations of morality.

Her ability to acquire vessels has made her a valuable 'Recruiter' for the system, and she is often sent to underperforming 'Farms', or ones who need an increase in vessels 'no questions asked'. Should the organisation ever extend it's trade to include kindred vessels, it is likely that she will be put in charge of their acquisition.

She has recently been assigned to the L.A. as a recruiter for it's current Director, Marcelina Black, due to Bronwyn's concerns about the aforementioned directors split loyalties. 

Haris - Caitiff, Bloodhound for Celia Monroe

Should it become apparent that Marcelina's loyalties to The Shattered Spear in any way negatively effect the Circulatory System, then Celia is certain to get a promotion to Director, quite literally over Marcelina's dead body. Of course Miss Black is well informed enough to be well aware of this fact.

Celia is aided in her acquisitions by her Bloodhound Haris. A Caitiff with unusually acute senses and a gift for sniffing out particular resonances or mortals with unusual blood types. He has no great love for his job, or his employer, but is now far too involved to back out.

Also, and most importantly, he knows that Celia would never allow him to leave her service. The last Bloodhound who attempted to do so lost his unlife, several hours after Celia had already removed his face. It now resides with other similar trophies in the collection of Miss Monroe.

Former Employees

Arla Hartley

Aliases and Nicknames

Cassie Morales

Clan

9th Generation Ventrue

Haven(s)

Los Angeles 'Farm' (Haven 3: Armoury: Military Grade, Cell 5, Laboratory 5: Haematology, Library 5: Medicine, Luxury, Postern 5: Escape Tunnels, Security System 5+, Surgery, Watchmen 5, Warding 3)

Backgrounds 
Allies (Ghoul Security Teams: Effectiveness 5, Reliability 3), Contacts 1-3 (Various Useful Officials), Herd 3 (The Circulatory System's Vessels), Influence 1, Mask 2, Mawla 4 (Marcelina Black), Resources 3, Status 3 (The Circulatory System)

Flaws

Bond Junkie, Long Bond, Ventrue Feeding Restriction (???)

Lore

The Circulatory System (2: Little Black Book, 5: Blood Sommelier)

Derangements

Dependent Personality Disorder (Marcelina Black), Paranoia (Severe) 

Biography

Arla had been at the beck and call of Marcelina in one role or another for just under a century. She was the only long-term associate of Miss Black who seemed able to tolerate her complete lack of empathy and utter indifference to her underlings. How she had tolerated ninety-five years in her service was a mystery to all.

The truth was that Arla had an unfortunate susceptibility to the Blood Bond that once discovered by Marcelina was exploited to it's upmost. The Bond felt so much sweeter to Arla than was the norm and took far longer to fade, making it's upkeep simple. In short, Arla was as much a slave of Marcelina's as the vessels in which The Circulatory System traded.

On the rare occasions she was allowed to act for herself she was an ambitious and efficient individual who had demonstrated that she would have little trouble advancing herself within the organisation. Unfortunately, this was something that her superior was never going to allow. Any individual responsible for removing this impediment to her ambitions would have find themselves with an eternally grateful ally. An ally, in fact, who would be sure to inherit control of the L.A. Farm.

Unfortunately the only way out of Marcelina's service was to fake her own destruction. She accomplished this with the assistance of Baron Tomassio of the North East. She currently resides in San Diego where, under an assumed identity, she acts as Emissary to it's Baron, Tara Kearney.

Storytellers Note - Stories featuring 'The Circulatory System' can be found HERE and HERE

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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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Acknowledgements
I've used pictures of real people to represent some of the characters and art for others so in no particular order Marcelina Black is Carrie Anne Moss, Celia Monroe is Elsie Fisher and Arla Hartley is Claudia Black.