Giovanni

No other clan is more intent on maintaining a front of respectability than the Giovanni, and none is more repulsive at heart. Giovanni vampires are rich merchants, speculators and investors who spend most of their nights manipulating their vast assets from skyscraper offices. They spend the rest of their nights in crypts and mausoleums carrying out their dark and morbid rites.

Legend has it the clan founder hoped to bolster his own power by Embracing a coven of Venetian necromancers. This coven was actually a tightly knit family of Giovanni who had strong trade interests in the Mediterranean region. The Giovanni repaid their sire for his gift by slaying him and all his other descendants. Vampires from around the world reacted with fear and horror, and many joined together to hunt these Devil Kindred. After almost a century of intermittent warfare the clan made peace with its foes by promising to maintain a low profile and keep out of Kindred politics. The Giovanni clan has apparently maintained its pledge to this day.

Still, suspicion of this clan has continued to the present day. By staying neutral in Cainite battles, the Giovanni has had free rein to build its merchant empire. Now the clan's wealth is undeniable, but no one knows the exact purpose for which it employs this wealth. Few outsiders have ever taken part in the clan's necromantic rituals, so the purpose of these is likewise a mystery. Instead, suspicions and innuendoes have taken the places of facts and truths.

Every member of this clan is also a member of the Giovanni family. By longstanding tradition Giovanni only Embrace those of their own family, and most of their Retainers and ghouls are also of the

family. Three members of each generation are chosen as children to be Embraced when they are ready, and are carefully raised to prepare them for it. Others in the family may be Embraced later in their lives, as a reward for extraordinary service.

Because all Giovanni are related by blood (in both senses), they are extremely loyal to one another, and betrayal by one of them is unthinkable. Certainly the Giovanni possesses the most reliable Retainers of any clan

Clan Giovanni is one of the more rigidly controlled clans, and contact is constantly maintained between members of the clan. It is still ruled with an iron hand by its patriarch, Augustus Giovanni, the original leader of the coven when it was first Embraced. Augustus sees his control over the line as similar to that of a prince's control over a city, and requires those below him to adhere to the Rule Of Creation: his permission must be obtained before the Giovanni Embrace can be gifted to anyone. However, some younger members of the clan are given significant leeway and freedom to pursue new control over corporations. Because the clan's influence in America is still limited, many of its members have been sent to the New World in recent years.

If asked, most Giovanni would say they do what they do in order to gain a complete understanding and appreciation of the form they will have for all eternity. These Giovanni believe this form to be of one use - gaining power. Other Giovanni refer to the god-like feeling they get from having power over death.

Nickname: Necromancers

Appearance: Despite (or perhaps because of) their horrid underground practices, Giovanni always try to maintain a front of respectability. They dress well, in conservative styles; the women frequently look matronly, while male Giovanni are often white-haired, bearded and look like favorite uncles.

Haven: Giovanni generally dwell in mansions and condominiums in the finer parts of town; most also maintain at least one hideaway in a sewer or graveyard.

Background: Giovanni Embrace only those from their own mortal family. Thus, all those in this clan are of Italian descent.

Character Creation: Giovanni almost always have professional concepts. Their most common Natures are Deviant and Architect, though they may assume any Demeanor. Mental Attributes and Knowledge Abilities are almost always primary. They always have at least some Resources, but can have any other Backgrounds they desire. Most will also have Retainers, who are always siblings or cousins in the Giovanni family.

Clan Disciplines: Dominate, Necromancy, Potence

Weaknesses: Living creatures upon whom the Giovanni feed take twice as much damage as they otherwise should. Thus, if a Giovanni drank one Blood Point, her victim would take two Health Levels of damage. For this reason, Giovanni are among the most prominent blood bankers and take vitae from people who have died moments before whenever possible.

Organization: The Giovanni clan is based out of Venice, where the clan headquarters is located. Its members work together to advance the study of death, and can always call on their brethren should they be in trouble. This is a small clan, however, and physical assistance is usually hundreds of miles away.

Gaining Clan Prestige: The easiest way to gain Prestige among the Giovanni is by accumulating vast amounts of wealth. A more difficult way is by discovering new understandings of death, either through art or magic.

Quote: "No other beings have as great an understanding of Death as we do. There is no great mystery, no facet of existence that affects every moment more than the fact that existence always ends. To understand this fully would render one omniscient."

Stereotypes:

* The Camarilla - These suspicious busybodies are always putting their noses where they do not belong. If they truly wanted to know what we are doing, then they would kill themselves.

* The Sabbat - They have come closer than anyone else to grasping the Truth, but having stopped short they will have a harder time reaching it than anyone else. They can be safely ignored.

* The Inconnu - They watch us constantly but understand nothing. If they did, they would not let us continue, for we will be the end of them.