Crassus
What would you like for your birthday, son? A baseball bat? A baseball team?
Wealth dominates the Crassus family empire. The Crassus are American royalty, with holdings and assets worth more than the GNP of most countries. The family has its hands in manufacturing, banks, technology and construction. The familial homes are located in and around every major city in America, and many in Europe. They own a seven-level mansion in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, as well as several manor homes in Newport, Rhode Island and vineyards and palatial estates in California’s Sonoma Valley. Even the adolescents of the Crassus family can buy the time of the most prominent politician, lawyer or celebrity. They are socialites, power brokers and venture capitalists. They are the kings of men.
They are also the slaves of the Kindred, and have been since the braziers of Rome shone brightest.
For most members of the family, the legend is this: In approximately 70 BC, Quintus Crassus was a man about Rome. He was an architect, a public speaker, a master huntsman and a holder of 500 slaves. He made most of his wealth from his architecture and from buying and selling the city of Rome part and parcel. The legend further suggests that at one point, not only did Crassus own most of Rome, but even helped to fund Julius Caesar’s quest to become praetor (and later consul). From this single man grew one of the most powerful families of the Western world.
But the familial myth misses a few key steps along the way. Quintus Crassus was wealthy, indeed, but he lost most of it by the time he was 25, for Crassus was a consummate and ill-advised gambler. He bet on everything: chariot races, gladiatorial matches, even snake fights in the dusty alleyways of Rome. He lost practically everything, and he and his wife Livonia became quickly destitute. The family’s history doesn’t account for this, nor does it account for the presence of a man called Lysander. Lysander was a vampire, a Ventrue by blood, reveling in temporal power and sexual debauchery. He saw how far the great Crassus had fallen and decided to offer a bargain to the gambler. If the two offered themselves completely, Lysander would restore them to their position of prosperity. Crassus was stubborn, but the sweet succor of opulence was too alluring to resist. In the end, he sold his and his wife’s souls to this creature of the night, becoming little more than the vampire’s toys. But, as in the deal, Quintus and Livonia were once again granted great wealth, which in turn bought them the power that has stayed with the family until this very day.
Not all of the family knows what it is, however. In fact, only a minority within the bloodline is cognizant of the existence of the Kindred or even that their blood is somehow supernatural. Of course, the family recognizes what is largely an unspoken and unmentioned fact: Its members age very slowly and seem preternaturally healthy. Those Crassus family members in the public eye take to wearing makeup to “age” themselves to at least appear somehow in-sync with the rest of Humanity, while those who remain largely hidden from the world revel in their protracted life spans. But few are aware of the reasoning behind this strange biological characteristic, and even fewer know that the family long ago sold itself to a blood-drinking fiend.
So, how do members of the Crassus family become true Ghouls, servile to the Kindred? Lysander no longer exists, having perished at the hands of barbarians in the early part of the first millennium. Lysander was a popular man, however, and he cultivated many associates and Allies over his years, also passing the Curse to several childer. All of these acquaintances are allowed to choose prominent Ghouls from the Crassus blood. Some choose a teen Crassus daughter because she is eerily beautiful or because she is a snot-nosed socialite who needs to be knocked down a peg or three. Others prefer to pick from the crème de la crème, the elders of the blood. They include mostly men (though some women have come into power of late) who have access to money, Fame, industry and other elements of temporal power.
All the regnants of the Crassus family are Invictus, although the Crassus family isn’t an “official” Invictus bloodline and is only open to those once in favor with the deceased Lysander. The process of choosing a ghoul from the ranks of the Crassus is usually very simple. The vampire visits with the local Crassus elders and discusses his options. If no family members are nearby that suit his needs and wants, he may extend his search to members outside the domain and have them flown in. Once a ghoul is chosen, she is stolen away for a time and indoctrinated. The regnant and thrall commit to the Oath of Villein, and the thrall is humiliated in whatever fashion the vampire sees fit — sleep deprivation, sexual degradation, performance of grotesque scutwork. Once the thrall is sufficiently broken in, she is returned to her family and is called upon only when needed. Beyond that, the ghoul is able to live her own life (provided she is able to stand the mental rigors of her shame and ruin). Those of the family who remain ignorant of the Crassus condition see the new Kindred regnant as perhaps a distant uncle or a secretive lover. While the family always has its suspicions regarding the truth of such a strange and sudden relationship, few could truly guess of the reality of the situation. Those who do guess at it (or see something that they are not supposed to) are either chosen to become Ghouls or are casually pruned from the family tree.
The purpose of Crassus family Ghouls is almost universally the same, as Lysander more or less dictated their purpose countless years before when he decided to “share” the Blood. Crassus Ghouls are not meant to work as functionaries. They are not domestics, they are not drivers or maids or tailors. They are toys. The Ghouls serve as human dolls, poseable and articulated. They exist almost totally for amusement, whether that amusement is sexual or even intellectual is up to the demeanor of the regnant. Some are chosen to be deviant playthings, others must submit to countless hours of chess or midnight croquet. A side benefit is, of course, the family’s access to worldly power. The Crassus lineage has unprecedented access to a bevy of temporal advantages, advantages that connect unseen puppet strings to various low-level politicians, high-level CEOs, socialites and celebrities. But those things are seen largely as added features. The most desirable attribute is to take these powerful men and leash them like whipped dogs.
Annals of the Balaur Gard: the Crassus family.
“I, Antonio Giueppe, set down this account of the thorn in my financial side, the Crassus family. Many years ago when I was young, these people were good Italians. My sire — rest his soul, may he awaken from the death-sleep soon — told me once that their history goes back to that great city Byzantium. Well, whatever their origins, how the mighty have fallen! The Crassus of today are putrid Americans with no regard for business, only for money. They do not even care where it comes from. In their personal debauchery they live ignorant that their lives are orchestrated by that bloated, ancient covenant of the Invictus. It seems that a few family members know, but they have been spellbound by their masters not to let on, lest they lose their privileges. Their financial clout does not seem to come from any particular acumen on their part, but instead is manufactured for them by the Kindred who manipulate them. The only amusing thing in this dreadfully tactless manipulation is to see what happens when the Invictus manipulate the family elders, and the Carthians sink their teeth into the ignorant youth. The resulting fracas over the scraps is quite ironic, as was the case with the collapse of the Veritas Insurance Corporation last year. On the whole, though, this family follows the usual rule: Bloodlines of thralls breed in the weaknesses rather than the strengths of humans, making the line suitable only for menial, unimportant work.”
They are also the slaves of the Kindred, and have been since the braziers of Rome shone brightest.
Bets and Bargains
The details of the Crassus family history are long lost, trampled and buried as time has passed. Some “facts” have emerged, and while most in the family believe unswervingly in these details, a wise few are dubious of such so-called truths.For most members of the family, the legend is this: In approximately 70 BC, Quintus Crassus was a man about Rome. He was an architect, a public speaker, a master huntsman and a holder of 500 slaves. He made most of his wealth from his architecture and from buying and selling the city of Rome part and parcel. The legend further suggests that at one point, not only did Crassus own most of Rome, but even helped to fund Julius Caesar’s quest to become praetor (and later consul). From this single man grew one of the most powerful families of the Western world.
But the familial myth misses a few key steps along the way. Quintus Crassus was wealthy, indeed, but he lost most of it by the time he was 25, for Crassus was a consummate and ill-advised gambler. He bet on everything: chariot races, gladiatorial matches, even snake fights in the dusty alleyways of Rome. He lost practically everything, and he and his wife Livonia became quickly destitute. The family’s history doesn’t account for this, nor does it account for the presence of a man called Lysander. Lysander was a vampire, a Ventrue by blood, reveling in temporal power and sexual debauchery. He saw how far the great Crassus had fallen and decided to offer a bargain to the gambler. If the two offered themselves completely, Lysander would restore them to their position of prosperity. Crassus was stubborn, but the sweet succor of opulence was too alluring to resist. In the end, he sold his and his wife’s souls to this creature of the night, becoming little more than the vampire’s toys. But, as in the deal, Quintus and Livonia were once again granted great wealth, which in turn bought them the power that has stayed with the family until this very day.
American Empire
The Crassus family is monstrous. Hundreds belong to the blood, with the family’s numbers spread far and wide. Countless brothers, aunts, cousins, second cousins, all exist together to form this bastion of capitalist royalty. All of them are Ghouls.Not all of the family knows what it is, however. In fact, only a minority within the bloodline is cognizant of the existence of the Kindred or even that their blood is somehow supernatural. Of course, the family recognizes what is largely an unspoken and unmentioned fact: Its members age very slowly and seem preternaturally healthy. Those Crassus family members in the public eye take to wearing makeup to “age” themselves to at least appear somehow in-sync with the rest of Humanity, while those who remain largely hidden from the world revel in their protracted life spans. But few are aware of the reasoning behind this strange biological characteristic, and even fewer know that the family long ago sold itself to a blood-drinking fiend.
So, how do members of the Crassus family become true Ghouls, servile to the Kindred? Lysander no longer exists, having perished at the hands of barbarians in the early part of the first millennium. Lysander was a popular man, however, and he cultivated many associates and Allies over his years, also passing the Curse to several childer. All of these acquaintances are allowed to choose prominent Ghouls from the Crassus blood. Some choose a teen Crassus daughter because she is eerily beautiful or because she is a snot-nosed socialite who needs to be knocked down a peg or three. Others prefer to pick from the crème de la crème, the elders of the blood. They include mostly men (though some women have come into power of late) who have access to money, Fame, industry and other elements of temporal power.
All the regnants of the Crassus family are Invictus, although the Crassus family isn’t an “official” Invictus bloodline and is only open to those once in favor with the deceased Lysander. The process of choosing a ghoul from the ranks of the Crassus is usually very simple. The vampire visits with the local Crassus elders and discusses his options. If no family members are nearby that suit his needs and wants, he may extend his search to members outside the domain and have them flown in. Once a ghoul is chosen, she is stolen away for a time and indoctrinated. The regnant and thrall commit to the Oath of Villein, and the thrall is humiliated in whatever fashion the vampire sees fit — sleep deprivation, sexual degradation, performance of grotesque scutwork. Once the thrall is sufficiently broken in, she is returned to her family and is called upon only when needed. Beyond that, the ghoul is able to live her own life (provided she is able to stand the mental rigors of her shame and ruin). Those of the family who remain ignorant of the Crassus condition see the new Kindred regnant as perhaps a distant uncle or a secretive lover. While the family always has its suspicions regarding the truth of such a strange and sudden relationship, few could truly guess of the reality of the situation. Those who do guess at it (or see something that they are not supposed to) are either chosen to become Ghouls or are casually pruned from the family tree.
The purpose of Crassus family Ghouls is almost universally the same, as Lysander more or less dictated their purpose countless years before when he decided to “share” the Blood. Crassus Ghouls are not meant to work as functionaries. They are not domestics, they are not drivers or maids or tailors. They are toys. The Ghouls serve as human dolls, poseable and articulated. They exist almost totally for amusement, whether that amusement is sexual or even intellectual is up to the demeanor of the regnant. Some are chosen to be deviant playthings, others must submit to countless hours of chess or midnight croquet. A side benefit is, of course, the family’s access to worldly power. The Crassus lineage has unprecedented access to a bevy of temporal advantages, advantages that connect unseen puppet strings to various low-level politicians, high-level CEOs, socialites and celebrities. But those things are seen largely as added features. The most desirable attribute is to take these powerful men and leash them like whipped dogs.
Annals of the Balaur Gard: the Crassus family.
“I, Antonio Giueppe, set down this account of the thorn in my financial side, the Crassus family. Many years ago when I was young, these people were good Italians. My sire — rest his soul, may he awaken from the death-sleep soon — told me once that their history goes back to that great city Byzantium. Well, whatever their origins, how the mighty have fallen! The Crassus of today are putrid Americans with no regard for business, only for money. They do not even care where it comes from. In their personal debauchery they live ignorant that their lives are orchestrated by that bloated, ancient covenant of the Invictus. It seems that a few family members know, but they have been spellbound by their masters not to let on, lest they lose their privileges. Their financial clout does not seem to come from any particular acumen on their part, but instead is manufactured for them by the Kindred who manipulate them. The only amusing thing in this dreadfully tactless manipulation is to see what happens when the Invictus manipulate the family elders, and the Carthians sink their teeth into the ignorant youth. The resulting fracas over the scraps is quite ironic, as was the case with the collapse of the Veritas Insurance Corporation last year. On the whole, though, this family follows the usual rule: Bloodlines of thralls breed in the weaknesses rather than the strengths of humans, making the line suitable only for menial, unimportant work.”
Culture
Common Dress code
Appearance: The Crassus are legitimate businessmen, or sometimes “legitimate” businessmen in the Al Capone sense. Either way, they buy, they sell, they make money. This means that every single one of them is well groomed and well dressed, whether they like to be or not. Teenage Caesars who feel the need to rebel still take advantage of the family’s fat coffers to buy only the trendiest and most chic (or most expensively daring) clothes that their parents wouldn’t approve. After all, why settle for less than the best?
Art & Architecture
Havens: The family’s ancestors are the epitome of DWMs (Dead White Males, understood to be of the ruling or moneyed class), and the central family property has halls lined with paintings and busts of these men going back more than a thousand years. Some members of the family are whiter-than-white, centuries of mostly inbreeding having caused albino tendencies to surface. Some few of those pictured in the halls of the family estate are really Undead White Males, having graduated into a higher Status of power. This is an extreme rarity, however, as few Crassus show the qualities desirable in a potential vampire. The entire north wing of the Crassus family estate is off limits to all but a few family members. A coterie of Invictus Kindred makes its home there.
This is a common arrangement, as the wealth of this family makes its homes ideal havens for vampires. In smaller Crassus homes (more the usual size for a mansion instead of sprawling complexes), the house often becomes the domain of one or more vampires once the children are asleep in bed. The masters of the house by day are degraded slaves by night. For the paranoid Regnant, Crassus money can buy walled compounds with guards, dogs, guns, barbed wire and the like. The latest electronic security systems? Military-grade Equipment? It’s only money, after all.
This is a common arrangement, as the wealth of this family makes its homes ideal havens for vampires. In smaller Crassus homes (more the usual size for a mansion instead of sprawling complexes), the house often becomes the domain of one or more vampires once the children are asleep in bed. The masters of the house by day are degraded slaves by night. For the paranoid Regnant, Crassus money can buy walled compounds with guards, dogs, guns, barbed wire and the like. The latest electronic security systems? Military-grade Equipment? It’s only money, after all.
Major organizations
Covenants: The Crassus family is a battleground for the continual struggle over temporal power between Kindred of The Invictus and The Carthian Movement. Lysander, the vampire who first enthralled the Crassus in ancient Rome, is known to have been a member of The Invictus. This knowledge, along with the knowledge of Lysander’s clan, is only common within The Invictus. The other covenants simply don’t care, because these games of power and money don’t interest them. The Sanctified would rather purge this family of sinners from existence and start fresh. The Circle of the Crone pays no attention at all, while The Ordo Dracul keeps track only as a formality, with mildly disgusted amusement.
Organization: The Crassus are a family, but they are also a multinational conglomerate of trust funds, stockholders, corporations, tax shelters and shady holdings. The number of members of the direct bloodline is staggering, very near to 1,000, while relatives by marriage involved with the business exceed 5,000 in number. The number of actual Ghouls made from those who have the potential is a mere fraction, though, somewhat less than a tenth of total family members. Ghoul or not, almost every single member of the family is directly involved in the business of making the family more money. Ultimately, the destination for all of this money is the trust funds and other Investments held directly by the stockholder panel of Crassus, Inc. That is, by those members of the family who know of their dark secret. Once a year, all of the “major stockholders” come together to get a picture of everything the family owns and controls at the time and decide the direction of things for the next year. These decisions are left to the mortals most of the time, because they really are superb at making money. When their Kindred masters have an agenda to advance, however, they show up at these yearly meetings and pay close attention to everything discussed. At the end of the family summit, if a Kindred speaks, his word is law.
Organization: The Crassus are a family, but they are also a multinational conglomerate of trust funds, stockholders, corporations, tax shelters and shady holdings. The number of members of the direct bloodline is staggering, very near to 1,000, while relatives by marriage involved with the business exceed 5,000 in number. The number of actual Ghouls made from those who have the potential is a mere fraction, though, somewhat less than a tenth of total family members. Ghoul or not, almost every single member of the family is directly involved in the business of making the family more money. Ultimately, the destination for all of this money is the trust funds and other Investments held directly by the stockholder panel of Crassus, Inc. That is, by those members of the family who know of their dark secret. Once a year, all of the “major stockholders” come together to get a picture of everything the family owns and controls at the time and decide the direction of things for the next year. These decisions are left to the mortals most of the time, because they really are superb at making money. When their Kindred masters have an agenda to advance, however, they show up at these yearly meetings and pay close attention to everything discussed. At the end of the family summit, if a Kindred speaks, his word is law.
Nickname: Caesars
Clans: Due to their station in society, it is only natural that many Crassus are enthralled to Ventrue masters. As much as they are rich, though, the family is corrupt, especially the youth. Younger Crassus especially often end up serving Daeva regnants, indulging their corruption and making the future of the family seem uncertain. Actually, Lysander himself (who enthralled the first family of Crassus) was a Ventrue, using the family strictly for his own amusement. Some of the younger Crassus are not as tactless as the others with their debauchery, and a significant number of the Toreador bloodline have been attracted to the ironic idea of having Caesars for servants. Nosferatu and Mekhet Kindred have taken a few of this family into their households, but not many — the Crassus prefer to avoid the shadows and pretend that everything is normal. If any Gangrel possess Crassus servants, they are keeping quiet about it. In any case, it is certain that the Crassus are willfully ignorant about their situation, and even the ones who drink vampire blood and offer up their own blood for drinking to ensure the family’s continued wealth try their very hardest to rationalize it some other way. Because of this attitude, they know absolutely nothing about their masters save what they are forced to know, which suits most of them just fine.
Strengths: When it comes to wealth and temporal power, the Crassus have it to spare. They are firstclass sycophants with centuries of experience in pandering to others, especially to the dark masters who control their fates. The following Merits are available to them at half the experience point costs: Allies, Barfly, Contacts, Fame, Haven, Inherited Ghoul, Regnant, Resources, Retainer, Staff and Status. Starting Crassus characters may not apply this price break to their Merit dots, but they do get a choice of extra free dots: two dots divided between Academics, Persuasion or Socialize; or four dots divided among any of the aforementioned Merits.
Weaknesses: Centuries of breeding, interbreeding and ingesting Kindred blood have taken their toll on the Crassus family. Crassus Ghouls suffer either from the same moral weakness as Ventrue Kindred, for the same reasons or from the Daeva’s weakness against their Vices. The inevitable degeneration takes hold of many weaker-willed family members, whose deaths are conveniently faked to put off Suspicion about the family’s unnatural longevity. These supposedly dead individuals are then taken to the family estate, a large portion of which is actually a private asylum for those who couldn’t take the pressure.
Concepts: billionaire, capitalist, CEO, dilettante, investor, manager, rebellious spoiled youth
Ignorance is bliss for the Crassus family. Even those subject to The Vinculum are generally able to rationalize their situation. They have simply struck a deal with some powerful religious extremists who have eccentric ways of sealing their deals. The abilities they have gained aren’t supernatural at all, they would argue, but simply the result of particular talent and skill. For this reason, some of the more overtly supernatural Discipline powers remain forever out of the reach of the Crassus.
Because of their willful disbelief, the family’s Kindred masters usually leave them alone except when they desire something from them. They are allowed to pursue their own lives and agendas, as long as they drop everything to assist their masters at a moment’s notice. Since Kindred have an eternity of nights to plot and scheme, that moment’s notice is often delayed to a convenient time for the thralls, except in cases of time-sensitive emergency. The Crassus simply aren’t viewed as a potential breach of the Masquerade, because they cannot handle knowing the truth that would allow them to be so. Therefore, because of their unwillingness to acknowledge and exult in their dark powers, Crassus characters are freer to enjoy the immortal life of Status and luxury that they have been afforded than are any other Ghouls. They also don’t have to put up with nearly as many regular whippings, which must be counted a plus.
Strengths: When it comes to wealth and temporal power, the Crassus have it to spare. They are firstclass sycophants with centuries of experience in pandering to others, especially to the dark masters who control their fates. The following Merits are available to them at half the experience point costs: Allies, Barfly, Contacts, Fame, Haven, Inherited Ghoul, Regnant, Resources, Retainer, Staff and Status. Starting Crassus characters may not apply this price break to their Merit dots, but they do get a choice of extra free dots: two dots divided between Academics, Persuasion or Socialize; or four dots divided among any of the aforementioned Merits.
Weaknesses: Centuries of breeding, interbreeding and ingesting Kindred blood have taken their toll on the Crassus family. Crassus Ghouls suffer either from the same moral weakness as Ventrue Kindred, for the same reasons or from the Daeva’s weakness against their Vices. The inevitable degeneration takes hold of many weaker-willed family members, whose deaths are conveniently faked to put off Suspicion about the family’s unnatural longevity. These supposedly dead individuals are then taken to the family estate, a large portion of which is actually a private asylum for those who couldn’t take the pressure.
Concepts: billionaire, capitalist, CEO, dilettante, investor, manager, rebellious spoiled youth
Hope — Wealth and Privilege
Ignorance is bliss for the Crassus family. Even those subject to The Vinculum are generally able to rationalize their situation. They have simply struck a deal with some powerful religious extremists who have eccentric ways of sealing their deals. The abilities they have gained aren’t supernatural at all, they would argue, but simply the result of particular talent and skill. For this reason, some of the more overtly supernatural Discipline powers remain forever out of the reach of the Crassus.Because of their willful disbelief, the family’s Kindred masters usually leave them alone except when they desire something from them. They are allowed to pursue their own lives and agendas, as long as they drop everything to assist their masters at a moment’s notice. Since Kindred have an eternity of nights to plot and scheme, that moment’s notice is often delayed to a convenient time for the thralls, except in cases of time-sensitive emergency. The Crassus simply aren’t viewed as a potential breach of the Masquerade, because they cannot handle knowing the truth that would allow them to be so. Therefore, because of their unwillingness to acknowledge and exult in their dark powers, Crassus characters are freer to enjoy the immortal life of Status and luxury that they have been afforded than are any other Ghouls. They also don’t have to put up with nearly as many regular whippings, which must be counted a plus.