Vincent Cole

The ex-Sabbat fixer for the Phoenix Crew coterie.

Betrayed and left to face Final Death by the Second Inquisition, as part of a deal his sire had with the Ivory Tower. Vincent beat the odds and came to New York to face his sire. There he struck a deal with the local Camarilla: the first to kill the other gains membership with the sect. A task he succeeded in, at the cost of becoming entangled in the war between the New York Camarilla and its resident Queens Anarchs.

Appearance

Everything about Vincent screams mobster. From his tattoos archiving life achievements, to his thin muscles built more from a life of hardship and labour than working out in a gym, to the scars on his face and body. The most prominent of which is the one across is left eye and temple. Clearly a gunshot wound.
His most distinguishing feature are his colourless, grey eyes. As though someone reduced the saturation to nothing.

Personality

Vincent is pragmatic to a fault. He rarely ever goes out of his way to hurt others, but when the job calls for it he can be cruel to the point even the most sadistic Tzimisce torturers would go pale.
He values the end result, only caring about the means if it would negatively affect him. He knows what it means to reap what one sows, and gladly takes precautions against being figuratively or literally burned by the consequenses of his actions.

His one consistantly positive trait is, yet again, his pragmatism. Though he could not care less what others think of him. He does see the value in allies who'll have his back. So he fosters positive relations where he can.
Lately his monstrous nature has begun to bother him. The loneliness of being "the monster" has finally hit him, even as his descent into Beasthood threatens to rip away any desire to reconnect with his own Humanity. Night after new years 2023-2024. Vincent revisited his faith in a catholic church. Where he asked the pastor whether one can be good if everything one does leads to evil. To which the pastor answered "all God asks is you try." A phrase Vincent has taken to heart.

Convictions

"Never kill family; blood or found family."
Touchstone: Vanessa Cole, Vincent's little sister.

"Do whatever it takes for a better life/unlife."
Former Touchstone: Nicholas "Little Nicky" Myers, Vincent's best friend.
Current Touchstone: Unknown.

"Always try to do good. It is all God asks for."
Touchstone: St. Matthews Church Pastor.

History

As a mortal Vincent grew up poor. He learned early that the only way to survive poverty was to pitch in. Before he was even 10 he earned the couple of dollars and dimes he could every week, to help his overworked parents. Later on his younger baby sister as well; though this responsibility came well into his criminal career.
He eventually upgraded to crime. Small stuff. Look-out for dealers, courier, etc. Always with his best friend and partner in crime "Little Nicky"
As years went on by and his family struggled more to meet ends meet. He got involved with more serious crimes. With Little Nicky's help in making an introduction he joined with the Boston branch of the Hijós de Ruíz cartel. Sinking deeper in violent crime.

As a Sabbat Vincent walked amongst monsters. Real monsters. Humanity became a different species to him, and his fellow packmates taught him how to dominate his Beast. Though unlike the repression those whom practice Humanity attempt, Vincent and his pack learned ways to beat the Beast into submission. His pack's priest was especially fervent in those lessons.
Almost a decade as Sabbat Vincent's unlife came crashing around him. As the SI that had begun regular, organized raids in Boston in the years 2021 - 2022; and after surviving one of these raids (losing his entire pack). Vincent learned that his and his sire's other childers' packs had been targeted due to an anonymous tip from none other than his sire. He left Boston to chase Alfonso all the way to New York City. Hellbent on giving his sire the Final Death.

As a Camarilla Kindred he is struggling to readjust into a more "you-are-human" mindset. With the Sabbat his humanity was an uncanny porcelain mask he wore when he didn't want to attract attention. With the Camarilla they want him to view himself as a part of humanity, even if he is a vampire.
Additionally his reputation as ex-Sabbat automatically makes him unpopular amongst his Camarilla peers. The monster in the closet, come here to hide under their beds. He has made progress in earning the New York Camarilla's respect. Having been part of the operation to save the Malkavian Primogen Gallahan. Yet he remains Sabbat in their eyes.

In December of 2023, he and his coterie were ambushed by Alfonso. As Vincent's sire sprung an ambush long in the making - tricking Margreth's sire into thinking another "shard" had been found. Yet through teamwork and desperately fighting for their unlives. The Phoenix Crew beat Alfonso into torpor; Vincent managing to land the final blow. His sire in custody, he and his coterie delivered him to the Deutche Bank Center. Where, with Prince Gwen, Max and his coterie mates as witness, Vincent executed his torpid and staked sire. And gained membership with the New York Camarilla.

Though a full member, after learning a couple weeks later Martin Summers was forcefully blood bound and made into a mole for the Queens Anarchs, he would defect to the Anarchs. As a plan with Sheriff Jack, Dr. Ren Fuji and Azura to work as double agents, and hopefully get Summers out of his predicament.
After a successful mission to give final death to a Nosferatu named Olivia Corsi, one of Morgan Delgado's coterie mates. The Phoenix Crew were invited on a mission to hit the NYC History Museum Chantry. Help Pips, Wayne and Simon get an object of importance. All the while bringing final death to as many Tremere as they could. However, Vincent together with Azura Novikov and Dr. Ren Fuji made a plan to sabotage the mission by warning both Alexander and Jack. Though Ren was sent into torpor on a very much failed attempt to subtly warn Jack, Azura did warn Alexander, and the attack on the chantry ended in a mixture of a phyric victory and failure, as Pips did manage to get the object, but at the cost of losing Wayne Brook and several anarchs to torpor and final death.
This, combined with Vincent having attacked Ava's prototypes, a week in hiding (to heal himself), and a poor explination of Vincent's involvement in the attack by Azura Novikov led Pips to capture Vincent the moment he entered the Deep End, and with Ava's help interrogate him using blood sorcery. However, after a scuffle with Ava after Azura staked Pips; and a torpored Vincent and Malacith rescued by Martin Summers from a deadly car-crash into the Hudson River (deadly even to kindred). The (remaining) coterie returned to the Deutche Bank Center. Once again becoming full Camarilla members, and after breaking Martin's blood bond to Corbin. They planned an attack on Ava's haven. To finally end the sect war between the New York Camarilla and Queens Anarchs for good.

Once the war was over. Vincent took a week to unwind and recupirate. After which he confronted Nicky about his promise to help him get "a slice of the good life" Vincent had gotten for himself "with his new gang." After an ultimatum: either take the safer option, or go in deep, "if I tell you it is join or die" levels deep. Nicky decided to go in deep, and Vincent revealed to Nicky that Vincent was a vampire ever since that night he begged Nicky to send Vanessa somewhere safe, and made Nicky into his ghoul.
Not long after Vincent started on his first heist with Nicky; with his influence of organized crime in NYC, help from Isa on the Camarilla politics end, and any and all of his other contacts. Vincent took over majority shares and domain rights for the Forbidden Phoenix. It took several years, but Vincent became shared majority owner with Max Ewans, and made it the official Camarilla domain of the Phoenix Crew.

Relationships

Don Alfonso Santana Ruíz

His cartel don. His sire. His immortal nemesis. Don Ruíz had once Embrace Vincent to be his protegé, one of three childer made to stand side-by-side with him for eternity. Vincent sees Don Ruíz as a competent leader and teacher, though ruthless and unforgiving. However, as he attempted to send Vincent to Final Death, presumably having succeeded doing so to the two other childer of his too. Vincent has come to terms that he was only a tool to Alfonso, discarded when no longer useful. Vincent is ready to return the favour, in fiery vengeance if need be.

The Phoenix Crew

His coterie in New York. Camarilla aligned and humane, they are Vincent's opposites in most regards. But he is getting along with them surprisingly well. Martin's "hobby" has fascinated him, Vincent sees a bit of his earlier unlife in Margreth's struggle with her declining Humanity (and he has massive respect for how capable she is), he likes James Sullivan's pragmatism, and Dr. Ren Fuji is like Margreth a reminder that just because one is a monster, one doesn't have to be monstrous.
As of yet he hasn't formed a solid opinion on either Azura or Carl Silver, but knowing they both work for kindred he doesn't want in on his plans keeps his cards close to his chest around them.

Isa

A Banu Haqim ancillae, and Vincent's "in" with the more established Camarilla elite of New York. Someone he can call upon to vouch for him when he needs to borrow clout from a more established name. They first met when Vincent looked for a Tremere to help break the ward on the warehouse, where Primogen Gallahan was held by the Anarchs.
When they first met they bonded over their criminal past (and present). Isa was old-school early-1900's italian mafia. A made woman, a rarity in those days. Vincent finds her to be an (un)living history book on organized crime; mortal and immortal.

Little Nicky

Nicholas Myers is Vincent's best friend. They grew up together in Boston and were literally thick as thieves. It was Nicky who first introduced Vincent to the Hijós de Ruíz cartel, and they worked together even when they were unaffiliated gangster. Out of the duo it was Nicholas who was the better get-away-driver and networker. Getting the two of them jobs then getting them out of the job before the police could catch them.
If there is a single individual in this world Vincent considers a confidant, Nicky is the one.

Vanessa Cole

She is Vincent's little sister. As Vincent ended up too deep with the Hijós de Ruíz and encountered a problem with their boss, Vincent begged Nicky to take Vanessa anywhere else, so she could have a fresh start and hopefully a better life than the poverty and crime Vincent had gone through.
Upon reuniting with Nicky, it was to Vincent's relief when he learned she had been adopted by a wealthy family, and is living a good life. On Christmas evening 2023, Vincent left a gift, a necklace, with no to-or-from note. The first good he has done his sister since he last saw her.

Powers

Disciplines

Animalism 2

• Bond Famulus
• Feral Whispers

Dominate 2

• Cloud Memory
• Mesmerize

Obfuscate 3

• Silence of Death
• Unseen Passage
• Ghost in the Machine

Oblivion 4

• Shadow Cloak
• Oblivion's Sight
• Shadow Perspective
• Stygian Shroud

Potence 3

• Lethal Body
• Prowess
• Soaring Leap

Advantages and Flaws

Merits

Linguistics

• Spanish

Iron Gullet
Bond Resistance 2

Flaws

Obvious Predator
Status Camarilla, Suspect
Adversary 1, Sire
Enemies 2, Angry Mobsters

Background

Haven 1 - Cold War Bunker In South Brooklyn

• Location (+2 to Difficulty to find Haven)
• Postern 1 (+1 to evading chase and moving unnoticed)

Haven 1 - Staten Island apartement with an amazing view
Resources 2, Kick-back
Contact 3, Blood Donation Clinic
Contact 1, Junkyard Owner
Influence 3 , Organized Crime in Brooklyn

• 2 dots for Organized Crime in New York City
• 1 dot for Organized Crime in the State of New York

Camarilla Mawla 2, Isa
Status Camarilla, Respected
Famulus, a white dove named Charlie

Trivia

• Vincent has the entire collection of the Fast and Furious movies on DvD.
• It was revealed in session 31 that Vincent is a non-religious catholic.