SchreckNet Data File
- Real/Birth Name: Michel Reinhard
- Known Identity/Mortal Alias: Michael Reinhard
- Place of Origin: Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany
- Height: 6'0"
- Occupation: Occult Philosopher
- Apparent Age: Mid-30s
- Embraced: 1705
- Kindred Status: Elder
- Sire: Meerlinda de Anaszazi
- Clan: Tremere
- Clan Status: Regent of Ashford Chantry
- Sect: Camarilla
- Sect Status: Primogen
- Player: NPC
Appearance
Michel (pronounce MY-KHEL) is a tall, handsome man with short hair and piercing eyes. Whilst outside the chantry he is typically seen wearing smart, tailored suits, typically grey or dark coloured. At Elysium or in respectful company, the suits may appear more like those of past centuries than modern in style. Whilst at the chantry, he will more commonly be found either in the latter or in robes appropriate for a Magus of his station. Few people have seen Michel wearing casual attire unless there is a specific need for it (such as a location and event he is present at). He believes that one cannot command respect if they do not look appropriate, so he endeavours to ensure that even a brief glance marks him visibly as a man of wealth and power to be respected.
Background
Was born to a privileged family and educated at the Gymnasium in Eisenach, where he would return to teach philosophy and classical languages. He frequently boasts that he taught Johann Sebastian Bach and played the violin with him in the Gymnasium orchestra until Johann left in 1699 (aged 14) to go to the prestigious St Michael's School in Lüneburg. A decade after this memorable time he came to the attention of Meerlinda de Anaszazi who was impressed not only by his intelligence and grasp of philosophy but had learnt that he secretly had begun to dabble in the occult as he had some minor telekinetic ability and supernatural awareness - made evident when he commented to her on first meeting "you are not of this world." She responded "of this world, yes, though not of life" and embraced him, before taking him on as an apprentice.
When Meerlinda moved permanently to the Americas in order to take rule over the Clan there, she brought him with her. He served faithfully until she embraced John Diamond in the late 18th century, and seeing her interest in him wane, he received her blessing to join Victor Kratus' Camarilla force which conquered Bakersfield, earning the right to establish a Tremere chantry in Ashford with himself as Regent - although, to his irritation, the Tremere often would send other kindred of more political persuasion to take the role as Primogen including, for a time, his own sire under a pseudonym. Since she left Ashford and returned to her other affairs, Michel both both the chantry as its Regent as well as serving as the city's Tremere Primogen.
Under his rule the chantry prospered and gained in power and influence - both of the Thaumaturgical type as well as influencing mortal political and educational institutions. He established good working relationships with Prince Kratus and Genevieve Montclair, Toreador Primogen and Ashford Seneschal and as his power grew, began to set his sights set on becoming a Pontifex.
The Sabbat Crusade brought it all crashing down in one night. The chantry had long been hidden in a secret location in the Ashford suburbs, with the location known only to a few (mostly ancilla and elders). Younger members would access the chantry via a ritual known only by chantry members called the Key of the Lost involving them becoming lost (deliberately or accidentally) and alone, and using an iron key to open a mystical door (portal) to the chantry. This worked well for years but, somehow, the Sabbat became aware of the location of the chantry's location. Simultaneous with the Opera House Massacre, the chantry was attacked and extracted a terrible cost. Almost all the Tremere neophytes (trainees) and neonates were present at the chantry during a conclave when the attack occurred, and were slaughtered. Although the chantry's defences were formidable, the attack was overwhelming and more than the defences were built to anticipate (intruders, rather than direct mass-troop assault). Whilst the Sabbat lost many forces, they could afford to lose those raw-conscript shovelheads, but every Tremere death was hard felt. Michel, with the aid of some non-clanners who came to assist, managed to flee the chantry along with a few others and go into hiding.
The clan is now a shadow of what it was in Ashford. Although none of the surviving Tremere blame Michel for the events, his elders believe that this should not have happened. His political ambitions of becoming Pontifex are scattered to the wind and even his grip on remaining as regent is tenuous. Michel has a lot of work in front of him pursuing three key goals:
- Consolidate his position as Regent and Primogen
- Rebuild the Tremere chantry, recruiting new apprentices and re-establishing their influence anew
- Uncover how the Sabbat discovered the chantry's location, likely a spy or traitor, and ensure any responsible are properly punished.
Mortal Society
Michel Masquerades as Michael Reinhard, an acknowledged expert on the occult despite his "youth", but known to be somewhat of a recluse. He is predominantly known for books on Occult Philosophy and similar which he publishes via agents.
Michael also legally owns a small Occult Bookstore in Ashford which is popular with goths, emos, wiccans, hedge wizards and others with interest in the Occult. Despite the name, it also sells various occult-related items, such as herms, candles, and other similar things. Michael generally has others running the store for him and as such is often not realised as being the actual owner, though he does occasionally do book signings and appearances there, running seminars on the Occult (especially philosophy).
Secretly the store and his writing career both serve as means to influence affairs as benefits the Tremere (and himself, of course). The books he writes have equal amounts of truths as fiction - so whilst they may at times flirt with the Masquerade, they never come close to breaking it and, in fact, have the inverse effect of feeding misinformation to the masses. Other books will enhance revelations and medical information to explain "occult phenomena" such as when the Tremere announced the medical revelation of Schere's Disease, a medical condition of extreme photosensitivity and lethargy to sunlight, which gives a medical excuse for "vampirism" and why many of the afflicted cannot go out in the sunlight; a disease Michael has written various times about, and done similar style of revelations to "normalise" other vampirism-related conditions. On occasion, he also publishes similar findings relating to Lupines, with more subtle warnings about them being infectious or dangerous conditions that should be reported if spotted; which occasionally serves to receive information about possible unknown lupines or similar supernatural activity. The fact the store brings in many books and occult memorabilia (most of them little more than decorative) makes it easy for him to use the store to bring in ACTUAL magickal tools, instruments, talismans and tomes in the process and easy to overlook.
The purpose of his seminars is not to educate, but to scope out potential recruits. He (and his staff) keep note of the purchases of regulars to see who may get the more "serious" items and show that perhaps they have some real occult knowledge or ability - perhaps they may have some psychic ability or sense, or know a few grains of truth amongst all the occult junk they believe they know. Any clients or seminar visitors with potential are invited to private sessions, where Michael can have a better look and test them and their potential. Those that prove promising are typically enticed with further knowledge, though on occasion Michael has ghouled potentials to ensure their loyalty and secrecy, and forcibly inducted them into the clan; but he prefers to avoid this as he finds getting angry neonates to get over themselves to be an annoying waste of time and energy.
Personality
Most people would describe Michel as a pompous asshole. He's a natural pedagogue and traditionalist, and he is the highest-status Tremere in the state (he loves the fact that California is mostly Anarch Free States territory, and thus the Tremere council has little control or representatives) as well as a Primogen, so he has the ego to match (and as even neonate Tremere are infamous for their egos and arrogance, this is quite something). In his own way, however, he means well. He loved educating and informing others (whether or not they actually want to be) and enjoys talking about the fields that interest him - generally anything relating to philosophy, the occult, or music (the classics, such as his good friend Bach, not the modern shit that kine listen to these days) and can talk about them at length (and woe betides any interruption). Despite his arrogance and although he considers mortals little more than expendable and usable tools and opportunities, or potential recruits, and most neonates only slightly above them in the status chain, he will converse and discuss these topics with kindred and kine alike, and appreciates a good intellectual discussion or debate. Unfortunately, a "good" discussion is rare, as he finds almost everyone to be intellectually simple compared to himself and so these discussions to him is more akin to a mortal having an enjoyable play session with a smart dog, than a stimulating discussion with a peer.
He is arrogant and ambitious, and looks out for himself and his ambitions first and foremost. This does not mean he is a rogue, however - he believes that what is good for him is good for his clan, and that he is destined for greatness. And as a whole, he has proven this to be true, although his overconfidence and intolerance for the Assamites (especially Assamites of the Sorcerer cast, which is why it is difficult to have him and the Assamite Primogen Mira in the same room for long without their mutual egos clashing and causing problems. More than once the other Primogen have had to prevent the two sorcerors from erupting into open magical combat during a conclave of the Primogen council (although the Brujah Primogen has stated various times "let them fight, then we might only have to deal with one of them") - typically more due to Michel's arrogance than Mira's, with Michel being one of the few people that seems to be able to get under Mira's renown-tolerant skin (with notable ease).
With the Tremere weakened and the Assamites having a foothold, he sees the Assamites (especially Mira) as a rival threat to his (and Tremere) recovery and dominion, as both of them actively search for those with potential to recruit for their mutual sorcerous paths.
Other Notes
Natural Linguist
Michel is a natural linguist and, as part of his research into the occult, history and philosophy, has been educated in a variety of both common modern languages (such as French, Spanish and Italian) as well as uncommon or Archaic languages, which include Akkadian, Aramaic, Ancient Hebrew, Middle Egyptian and Sanskrit.
The Fassbenders
Michel takes great care over the Fassbender family, an American-German descent family that he carefully cultivates. He ensures that they are in good physical and mental health, well educated and do not need anything. This comes at two costs… The first is that they have no true freedom. Whilst Michel takes care of them and is fond of them, that simply means that he considers them much like mortals would have affection for obedient and well-trained animals. Their fates are his to dictate - he directs who they can be friends with or be romantically involved with - usually arranging suitable breeding partners for them and disrupting any unworthy relationships they may get involved with - and vetoes any major life-choices. He often does this in a subtler way (such as dominating away unwanted suitors) but is not beyond taking more direct action. The second is that once they come of age (15 years old) they are expected to willingly submit to him to sate his hunger on. They are all heavily conditioned throughout their lives. Each one bears a tattoo of the Reinhart coat of arms on their necks, a personal stamp of ownership warning other kindred to steer away from these mortals, or risk Michel's wrath.
Whilst it is theoretically possible that a Fassbender may earn the Embrace, it is doubtful. As he would point out, "you don't invite a dog to eat at the table; a dog should know its place and serve its purpose" and the Fassbenders are there to be his herd (safe in the knowledge that they have not been tampered with by other kindred or affected by any diseases or the likes) and his servants. He has, however, acknowledged that Heidi Fassbender, the ghoul who runs his bookshop, is "not a complete idiot" and may have potential.
Combat Style
Michel is an intellectual, not a fighter. Even though he is an Elder, his entire existence has been about knowledge, not personal physical power (he believes knowledge IS power). Therefore it would likely surprise most to know that, in a fair fight, a well-trained human could stand a (small) chance of defeating him, and certainly even a neonate Brujah or Gangrel could pose a serious threat to him in a fair fight, much the less a Lupine. Michel is classically trained, and that includes fencing classes as carrying a smallsword was common for gentlemen of his mortal era, and he has certainly had plenty of occasions where this has had to be applied in practice, as well as continued training - and therefore he is an expert duelist with the smallsword he has had since the 17th century. He also learnt Hellenic boxing when younger, but has had little occasion to use it and would typically rely on his fencing skill. He has also had some rudimentary training in firearms but hasn't actually used a firearm in combat since the 1800s and only barely knows how to operate modern pistols so if he uses a pistol it is typically more as a deterrent than as a defensive weapon. As he will generally attempt to avoid combat (generally considering it uncouth, and warriors to be little more than barbarians), these methods are rare.
Michel, however, considers a fair fight to be the height of stupidity. A fair fight, to him, means deliberately reducing your own ability to grant your opponent a higher chance of defeating you. His arrogance sees absolutely no logic in that at all. If he feels there is a need to fight, he will do so in the most efficient way possible; often one that also works as a disincentive to others. This will almost certainly involve using the more damaging of his Thaumaturgical paths, such as Movement of the Mind or Lure of Flames, though he may use his advanced Dominate mastery to set opponent against each other or disable them, then move in for the kill. His humanitas is low enough that, although he will not casually murder others, he would feel no regret for killing those he feels a need to. A would-be mugger who threatens him might not be intentionally intended on being killed, but Michel would barely spare a thought before sending him telekinetically crashing head-first into a brick wall, or Dominated into walking onto a busy motorway. The intent would be to disable the annoyance, whilst forgetting (or not caring) how fragile the kine are and if they die, they die. If they survive, he would follow-up with Dominate to erase their memory if need be. Against kindred or lupine threats he would rely on his paths (more typically the Lure of Flames) as well as the Thaumaturgical warding runes engraved onto his smallsword which can cause magickal damage to virtually any kind of supernatural foe he will face (ghouls, lupines, kindred, ghosts, demons and spirits are all warded against), in addition to the weapon's own. Michel's smallsword is not only a highly-warded blade, but also a dedicated magickal Talisman inscribed with Hermetic runes that enhances the power of his Movement of the Mind path, enhances his fencing ability, and makes him more resilient to sorcerous attacks.
Social Style
The key word to dealing with Michel is: Patience. Most younger kindred tend to have kine-like arrogance and expect respect. Like most elders, Michel is not one to humour their flights of fancy. Almost all the kindred in Ashford are simpletons and inferior to him in every way that matters. He knows it, and expects everyone else should know it too. If they harbour any kind of illusion otherwise, then that's a bad start. Michel is quite willing to end a conversation with a kindred he feels is being disrespectful (typically by telekinetically slamming them against a roof, or thrown out a window) without warning, often reprimanding the arrogant little shit before they're even aware of their offending slip of the tongue. He will be a little more patient and visibly bite his tongue when he needs the assistance of the person beneath him, but not by much. If asking nicely fails due to arrogance, he will soon tire of trying to be nice and coerce loyalty with blackmail, threats or direct aggression. He expects neonates should be grateful for the opportunity to serve him and would prefer to walk away without getting what he was after (he would typically have a plan B anyhow) than to have to suffer the indignity of being humiliated (ie having to be polite and plead) by his inferiors.
He is also quite willing to twist things - whilst he will not go against his word (he has a sense of honour), he will go on the letter of it but not necessarily the intent; and if he can twist or exploit a loophole to his benefit, he will. He understands that doing so can cause resentment from others, but he doesn't much care about others' feelings - if they're beneath him then their contempt is of no consequence to him and they are no threat. If they're peers, then he's overconfident enough to believe he can weather any attempt at retribution and come out on top - someone who brings a fight to him would not just be rebuffed, but would end up losing status, influence and power they previously held by the time the battle was done, and he knows few elders would take that risk unless the reward was great or the victory assured.
Michel still believes in the innate superiority of the Tremere clan and acts like it's still a major power in Ashford; pointing out that he is a lion, but in a petting zoo, is a good way to earn his emnity.
So patience, humility, appeals to his ego and, literally, begging, are methods that work well to persuade him. Treating him as an equal or with disrespect, especially if you have nothing to offer him in return for his aid (he always expects something, even if it's a boon in return - which he'll only accept if he feels a boon from you is worth anything), will likely turn hostile quickly. Offering to drink his blood has been known to work.
Signature Equipment
- Enchanted Talisman Smallsword with warding runes.
- Leather overcoat
Signature Quotes
- "I remember when Johann [Bach] first unveiled his Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068: II. Air. Not the later Air on the G String adaptation by August Wilhelmj - which I must admit is an excellent arraignment - but the original. What a wonder of modern science to be able to capture its essence so conveniently in a portable format - although it loses much of its impact when not performed live."
- "Imagination is not enough. Knowledge is necessary."
- "If you work hard enough and assert yourself, you can shape the world to your desires."