GIOVANNI
No other clan is more intent on maintaining a front of respectability than the Giovanni, and none is more repulsive at heart. Giovanni vampires are rich merchants, speculators and investors who spend most of their nights manipulating their vast assets from skyscraper offices. They spend the rist of their nights in crypts and mausoleums carrying out their dark and morbid rites.
Legend has it the clan founder hoped to bolster his own power by Embracing a coven of Venetian necromancers. This coven was actually a tightly knit family of Giovanni who had strong trade interests in the Mediterranean region. The Giovanni repaid their sire for his gift by slaying him and all his other descendants. Vampires from around the world reacted with fear and horror, and many joined together to hunt these Devil Kindred. After almost a century of intermittent warfare, the clan made peace with its foes by promising to maintain a low profile and keep out of Kindred politics. The Giovanni clan has apparently maintained its pledge to this day.
Still, suspicion of this clan has continued to the present day. By staying neutral in Cainite battles, the Giovanni has had a free rein to build its merchant empire. Now the clan's wealth is undeniable, but no one knows the exact prupose for which it employs this wealth. Few outsiders have ever taken part in the clan's necromantic rituals, so the prupose of these is likewise a mystery. Instead, suspicions and innuendoes have taken the places of facts and truths.
Every member of this clan is also a member of the Giovanni family. By longstanding tradition Giovanni only Embrace those of their own family, and most of their Retainers and ghouls are also of the family. Three members of each generation are chosen as children to be Embraced when they are ready, and are carefully raised to prepare them for it. Others in the family may be Embraced later in their lives, as a reward for extraordinary service.
Because all Giovanni are related by blood (in both senses), they are extremely loyal to one another, and betrayal by one of them is unthinkable. Certainly the Giovanni possesses the most reliable Retainers of any clan.
Clan Giovanni is one of th more rigidly controlled clans, and contact is constantly maintained between members of the clan. It is still ruled with an iron hand by its patriarch, Augustus Giovanni, the original leader of the coven when it was first Embraced. Augustus sees his control over the line as similar to that of a prince's control over a city, and requires those below him to adhere to the Rule of Creation: his permission must be obtained before the Giovanni Embrace can be gifted to anyone. However, some younger members of the clan are given significant leeway and freedom to pursue new control over corporations. Because the clan's influence in America is still limited, many of its members have been sent to the New World in recent years.
If asked, most Giovanni would say they do what they do in order to gain a complete understanding and appreciation of the form they will have for all eternity. These Giovanni believe this form to be of one use -- gaining power. Other Giovanni refer to the god-like feeling they get from having power over death.
NICKNAME:
Necromancers
APPEARANCE:
Despite (or perhaps because of) their horrid underground practices, Giovanni always try to maintain a front of respectability. They dress well, in cnservative styles; the women frequently look matronly, while male Giovanni are often white-haired, bearded and look like favorite uncles.
BACKGROUND:
Giovanni Embrace only those from their own mortal family. Thus, all those in this clan are of the Italian descent.
ORGANIZATION:
The Giovanni clan is based out of Venice, where the clan headquarters is located. Its members work together to advance the study of death, and can always call on their brethren should they be in trouble. This is a small clan, however, and physical assistance is usually hundreds of miles away.
CLAN DISCIPLINES:
Dominate,Necromancy, Potence
WEAKNESSES:
Living creatures take twice as much damage from a Giovanni than any other vampire. For this reason, Giovanni are among the most prominent blood bankers and take vitae from people who have died moments before when ever possible.
Bloodlines listing
RAVNOS
The Ravnos clan shares many characteristics with the Gangrel, but there is no other clan with which it more differs. The Gangrel are loners; the Ravnos love companionship. The Gangrel are combative; the Ravnos try to avoid direct physical confrontations. The Gangrel are honest and forthright; the Ravnos are masters of lies and deceit.
The most obvious similarity between Ravnos and Gangrel is the nomadic lifestyle comon to both. Few Ravnos would ever consider staying in one city for an exteded amount of time. Those who have adapted to an urban lifestyle change their havens on a regular basis, never staying in one for more than a month.
The other prominent similarity between Ravnos and Gangrel is both clans' connection with Gypsies. However, shile the Gangrel are widely accepted among the Gypsies, the Ravnos are accepted only within their own family group (if they are of Gypsy blood). Though Ravnos live much like Gypsies, they are not accepted by them. While most blame this on the Ravnos' unquenchable compulsions to lie and steal from those around, others say the very auras of the Ravnos repulse the sensitive Gypsy mystics.
Theft and con games are the most common aspects of the Ravnos lifestyle. Constant traveling makes it harder for Ravnos to be caught engaging in their favorite pastimes, and gives them an infinite number of marks and shills to take advantage of. Ravnos find no greater pleasure than taking advantage of other Kindred, and a vampire is advised to watch his wallet, gun, and pants while these Licks are around.
Free movement is very highly regarded by Ravnos. They freely move back and forth between cities controlled by the Camarilla and those controlled by the Sabbat. Anyone who attempts to prevent Ravnos from entering a city is given the "treatment" -- large groups of the clan will enter the city and give it a thorough scouring. Few princes have the courage to risk such and, despite their disgust, most do not prevent Ravnos from entering their city.
Ravnos take their personal and clan honor very seriously, and it is one of their most prized possessions. However, the code of honor by which they live is quite different from the rules most folk follow. They do not place much pride in keeping their word unless they shake hands on it -- after spiting into their palms (with blood, of course). They are honor-bound to avenge themselves if anyone besmirches their honor or "good name". They do not cheat or steal from others of the clan, but feel no such compunction about outsiders. Friendship is valued very highly, and they will always come to the aid of those whom they consider "brothers".
NICKNAME:
Gypsies
APPEARANCE:
Ravnos are almost always of Gypsy descent, and thus are often swarthy in complexion, with dark hair and black eyes. &nbap;However, these traits are not universal. There have been blond, blue-eyed Gypsies, Oriental Gypsies and Gypsies of African heritage. Furthermore, in North America, where Gypsy culture has become more urban, Ravnos have been known to Embrace gorgio(non-Gypsies). In Europe, however, all of this clan are still of the Gypsy blood, and any gorgios Ravnos would immediately be extinguished.
BACKGROUND:
Ravnos generally sire few childer, and those they do Embrace are generally the most promising members of their own families. Younger Ravnos have been known to be more willing to sire, however, and neonate Ravnos from all backgrounds are beginning to plague the Kindred community.
ORGANIZATION:
There is no organization to this clan, for no Ravnos would trust another to keep his word. However, when two or more Ravnos meet somewhere, they will likely put on a great show of camaraderie, pledging each other their undying loyalty -- a vow that is quickly forgotten.
CLAN DISCIPLINES:
Animalism, Chimerstry, Fortitude
WEAKNESSES:
Ravnos are infamous for their trickery. Each has a specific area of thievery and deception in which she is especially interested, and practices it every chance she gets. It take much self control for her to restrain herself from practicing if the opportunity presents itself.
Bloodlines listing
~~EXCERPS FROM THE WHITE WOLF BOOK OF THE MASQUERADE~~