The Truth about the Giovanni

By Adam Solis (ajsolis@aol.com)

History

Most Kindred know of the shameful origins of the Giovanni clan, but few know the whole story. The fact that the Giovanni were originally a necromantic family is common knowledge, but what few kindred realize is that the Giovanni were an ancestral chantry of the Necromancer subtradition of the Euthanatos. Then a spirit came to Augustus whispering of the powers of the Dead. The spirit was actually the Ba and Ka of an immensely powerful Mummy.

The mummy strove to master the Necromancy skill, and he did so at the cost of his sanity. Mighty Horus feared for the Egyptian people, for the former Pharaoh had the power to grant his every insane wish. In a mighty magical duel, Horus used level five Hekau to cause the world to forget the mummy's name. Unfortunately, the mummy's Ba and Ka were untouched by Horus' spell. The mummy could no longer recreate its body, but it had a plan. By whispering in the ear of a self proclaimed "prophet of the destroyer" it caused the creation of the necronomicron. It obviously has a sense of humor for the Necronomicron translates to "The Book of the Voices of the Dead." Thus the Necromancers were born. Later, Cappodacius sought to improve his knowledge of death through his get. It was ready. As Hela did to the Helsdottir, It substituted its own avatar for the fragment of Cain passed on from sire to Child. Not satisfied with the power of a Methuselah, It caused Augustus to diablerize Cappodacius, creating the Giovanni clan. It still seeks revenge on all who "wronged It," such as the mummies, setites, and Children of Osiris. Therefore it caused the Giovanni to create a Ghoul family.

Revenants, Dhampir and Supernatural Connections

The Giovanni ghoul family has the same disciplines as the kindred Giovanni- potence, dominate, and Thaumaturgy (Necromancy, according to one optional rule, Necromancy, Dark Thaumaturgy, and Daimoinon are all simply paths of Thaumaturgy. If you like that rule consider any kindred with one of those disciplines as having Thaumaturgy, replacing blood Thaumaturgy with the appropriate discipline as the innate path learned. If you do not like that rule, just give the Giovanni ghouls necromancy). Their family weakness is justlike the Marijava's, they can be blood bound with but one drink of a vampire's blood. Drinking the blood of multiple vampires will give the Giovanni a vinculum score. Preferred paths are the Scorched heart, Lilith, Death and the Soul, and Power and Inner Voice. When Embraced, the Giovanni ghoul retains its current disciplines and can learn more as normal. The family weakness is canceled but any blood bond or Vinculum remains score even after undeath. The Giovanni clan purposefully gave the ghouls that weakness, as a measure of assuring further generations of loyal clan members. Unfortunately, this also makes the Giovanni more susceptible to infernal infiltration than most clans.

What is more, the Giovanni have secretly perfected the art of creating tame Dhampir. Dhampir naturally retain their access to the other enhancement disciplines (Celerity, Potence, and Fortitude) and detect kindred. Giovanni Dhampir are usually used as bodyguards until they prove themselves worthy of the Embrace.

The Giovanni also increase their family size by godparenthood, adoption, and marriage. This is usually used to cement old ties to the Glass Walkers and Necromancer mages. The Giovanni ghouls have also interbred with the Rafiasto, Ducheski, Obertosa, and Marijava families. Unknown to all but a handful, the Giovanni clan weakness is not just a reflection of their preoccupation with death. In actuality, It is feeding off the Giovanni's victims! Eventually, It will have enough power to reform Itself as an Ascended combining the powers of Necromantic magick, mummies, and the Giovanni vampires. God help us all...

Notes: Part of this article was inspired with the article the secrets of the Giovanni on the web. I created this article because that one did not mention the Necromancer mages, or why the Giovanni have that weakness. As for the Giovanni ghoul family, I thought that was pretty obvious considering the incestuous nature of the Giovanni clan.