Clodia
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VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE Clan: Ventrue Sire: Alexander Nature: Deviant Demeanor: Patrician Generation: 5th Embrace: 45 BC Apparent Age: Mid 30s Disciplines: Auspex 4, Celerity 3, Chimerstry 6, Dominate 8, Fortitude 7, Presence 8 Road: Via Voluptarius 7 Weaknesses: Can only feed from her lovers Derangements: Desensitization The vampire is a figure of incomparable power and majesty. She affects the appearance of a classical goddess sculpted from white marble. An unearthly light seems to play upon her features. There is no mistaking the blood-goddess for anything other than a supernatural being. Clodia was born into the ancient Roman family of the Claudii. The history of this aristocratic gens stretched back into Rome's legendary past. Clodia's father and brothers were all persons of rank in the Eternal City. Women in ancient Rome could not vote or hold political office, but Clodia made a name for herself from a young age. She was highly educated in Greek and philosophy, with a special talent for writing poetry. The great lyric poet Catullus hailed her as "more learned than Sappho's Muse." Yet Clodia's life was also characterized by perpetual scandal. She was married to the Roman politician and consul Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer. The marriage was not a happy one. Clodia had several affairs with married men (including Catullus) and slaves. Arguments with Metellus Celer were constant, often in public. When he died in strange circumstances in 59 BC, rumor had it that Clodia had poisoned him. The truth was stranger than any gossip the citizens of Rome could have circulated. Clodia's lovers included not only mortal men, but the Ventrue methuselah Alexander. The golden-haired youth was the childe of the Ventrue Antediluvian himself. For many years, Clodia sustained her beauty with the blood of the ancient vampire. On one moonless April night, Clodia's husband found her in congress with her undead lover. Metellus Celer did not survive the encounter. Other scandals followed, and Clodia found it necessary to retreat from public life. During the death throes of the Roman Republic, she found refuge in the arms of Alexander. As civil war tore apart the fabric of Roman life, the methuselah Embraced Clodia. She was now immortal, but forever banished from the sunlight world. The daughter of Appius Claudius Pulcher was undaunted. Clodia took to her newfound abilities with the same natural talent she had shown in life. Torn and bleeding, the Republic gave birth to an Empire. The Empire in turn collapsed into petty kingdoms of feuding barbarians. In time, the barbarian kingdoms would coalesce into a new Dominion. Through the convulsions of mortal history, Clodia alone has remained. She glides graceful and genteel through the nights of each age. At her fingertips are all the sensual delights of the world. Eternal darkness may be a curse to some. To her, it is one long night of pleasure. Elder Powers Higher levels in vampiric Disciplines differ from lower levels. The first five levels of a given Discipline are standard for all vampires. An elder is powerful enough to supersede these rankings. She has a variety of abilities available to her that reflect her own inner nature. Chimerstry: Clodia's most striking ability is her mastery of illusions. She can use the first three levels of Chimerstry without any cost. She maintains at all times the appearance of a beautiful marble sculpture. The illusion affects sight only. For example, her flesh is still soft to the touch. Cloth draped over her person still behaves like cloth. Only characters with high levels of Auspex or similar powers may pierce the illusion. Dominat |