PAULO

By Andrew Fowler (vlfowler@netins.net)

Description

The Paulo. To the Giovanni and Brujah, they are a joke. To the Lasombra, Daughters of Cacophony, and Toreador, they are "interesting." To the Gangrel, they are the most horrid things imaginable. The Paulo are a Venetian bloodline that wants to usurp the seat of the Giovanni. Here's what they really are.
-- "Seer of All," Samedi Information Broker

History

You can trace the Paulo back to Ancient Greece, when the Toreador Elysiums thrived. The first Paulo's roots are quite strange, and this is the most well-known legend of the Paulo. Sometime around the year 100 B.C., an unnamed Toreador was diablerized by a Cappadocian, who drank the Toreador's soul as well, and in turn the Cappadocian was diablerized by a Giovanni 50 years later, who was diablerized by a Lasombra 30 years later. This mix of souls was in a then 6th Generation Lasombra named Paulo. Paulo broke free of the Lasombra, and started his own bloodline based in Venezia. Paulo embraced approximately 12 Cainites to further the practice of his bloodline. The Paulo thrive with about 100 members at the moment, and the Paulo even control Sicily. They are not feared, but they are growing. . .

Sobriquet

Venetians

Appearance

Most Paulo look like normal Italians.

Haven

Most Paulo live in villas in Tuscany and Sicily.

Background

Traditionally, Italian artists, poets, and merchants were chosen for Embrace, but recently, politicians and scientists have been Embraced.

Disciplines

Necromancy, Obtenebration, and Presence. Note that almost all Paulo have Dominate, Nihilistics, or Biothaumaturgic Experimentation, and Paulo can learn Biothaumaturgic Experimentation without learning Thaumaturgy itself.

Weaknesses

Paulo have two weaknesses. One is that they can be entranced by great art, with a system similar to that of the Toreador, and they cannot be seen in mirrors.

Advantage

Paulo, while diablerists, are not easily caught due to their front of extreme respectability.

Organization

Ruled by a council of three (Called a Triad), the Paulo's highly bureaucratic system attempts to maintain a front of respectability to the Camarilla, while maintaining their ties to the world of mortals. All Paulo coteries also have a Vinculum. All Paulo today come from the Venetian Paulo family.

Character Creation

Paulo prize Manipulation, knowledges, and Intelligence. All Paulo have Path traits and Humanity, as well as a Vinculum rating.

Quote

"I am a vampire. Is that not enough to say? Adieu."

Stereotypes

Assamites: The Camarilla restricts them far too much.

"Those fiends only want to be Assamites."

-- Da¹ud Ibn Ibrahim, Assamite Archon

Brujah: Their packs make sure that there is no free thought.

"I say that they don¹t run with the pack, but are tied to them anyway. I hate 'em."

-- Jim Davisson, Brujah Mechanic, Detroit

Daughters of Cacophony: Just like Toreador, except they aren¹t alert enough to stop singing. How annoying.

"If they pay us, we don¹t care."

-- Lia McDavis, Daughter of Cacophony Singer, London

Gangrel: One Word: Neanderthals. The Gangrel are the opposite of natural evolution.

"They don¹t bother us much. Ergo, we don¹t bother them much."

-- Alfred Weston, Gangrel Environmentalist, Portland

Giovanni: They are a lot like us. Therefore, we should diablerize Augustus and take their throne as a clan.

"A joke; pathetic things."

-- Nunzio P. Giovanni, Giovanni Merchant, Palermo

Lasombra: Crappy progenitors who started the Paulo for some strange reason. It¹s very good we're not them.

"They left Lasombra and became jokes; what stupid things. Yet, we allow them to live with us. Why?"

-- Juan Sombras, Lasombra Professor, Barcelona

Malkavian: Put 'em in the state hospital.

"Heehee"

-- One-Eyed Jack, Malkavian Comedian, Chicago

Nosferatu: Giant Sewer Alligators that live under the streets of New York.

"We provide them with information, and they treat us like scum. Almost as bad as the Nictuku."

-- Marcus of Brooklyn, Nosferatu Spy, New York

Ravnos: Good friends.

"They pay us for entertainment, and they appreciate. They are the mulo I associate with most."

-- Esmeralda Panshi, Ravnos Fortune-Teller, New Orleans

Salubri: They act like a fundementalist cult.

"Them?!"

-- Nicholas Parananopolous, Salubri Doctor, Athens

Samedi: Have you ever seen "Night of the Living Dead?"

"Just as good as the Giovanni, and just as good as us. Strange ones!"

Toreador: Fine.

"They are fine, except for many of their habits."

-- Anne DuBois, Toreador Sculptor, New York

Tremere: Zap. I think that they would do better as Characters in a game of Dungeons & Dragons.

"All of them should be named anathema"

-- Nigel Willingdon, Tremere Prince, Edinburgh

Tzimisce: I'd like it if you stopped acting like Dracula.

"What fiends! They use our Ignoblis Ritae but refuse to join!"

-- Vlad Dovicz, Tzimisce Lord, Kiev

Ventrue: It really is too bad that the Camarilla exists.

"Pshh. They are worse than the Sabbat."

-- Fredo Monazzini, Ventrue Prince, Milan

Camarilla: Our restrictors. Off with their heads.

"Kill them all."

-- Wilhelm Durer, Ventrue Ghoul, Berlin

Sabbat: Cruel. Monstrous. Dreadful. Our allies at times.

"They are offenders and criminals, except when they follow the Path of Power and the Inner Voice. . ."

-- Wilhelm Durer III, Tzimisce Ghoul, Berlin

Garou: The Red Talons are attack dogs, but I don¹t mind the Glass Walkers or Shadow Lords.

"Such Wyrm-things must all be killed."

-- Marco-who-Runs-with-the-Moon, Silver Fang Elder, Zurich

Mages: See my comments on the Tremere.

"No such beings can interfere with our work. They have a purpose, like most Kindred."

-- John Vistolus, Hermetic Scholar, Vienna

Wraiths: Necromancy takes care of them.

"Perhaps they will stop inquisting about our world, and start questioning theirs."

-- Caesar Antonus, Haunter Quotesayer, Rome Necropolis

Changelings: The Sluagh are our associates. Boggans are dull. Redcaps could lighten up. Eshu are like Daughters of Cacophony. Trolls are too stoic, and Sidhe are far more arrogant then the Chanteur Guild.

"They work with us, and perhaps there might be a way to stop the Camarilla."

-- Antonia Carrary, Sluagh Antiquarian, Glasgow

Bastet: They serve us at times, but at other times, they annoy and spy on us.

"Their pryio is strange, but I assume we can coexist. Hopefully."

-- Michael Wilson, Qualmi Sorcerer