SchreckNet Data File
- Real/Birth Name: Thomas Wingfield II
- Known Identity/Mortal Alias: Thomas Wingfield / Edward Jackson
- Place of Origin: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
- Height: 6'2"
- Occupation: Chancellor, California State University Ashford
- Apparent Age: Mid-40s
- Embraced: 1551
- Kindred Status: Elder
- Sire: Edwyn Prior
- Notable Descendants: Carlota 'Lottie' Alvarez (Childe), Nina Williams (Childe)
- Clan: Brujah
- Clan Status: Influential elder
- Sect: Camarilla
- Sect Status: Prince of Ashford
- Player: NPC
Appearance
Being embraced whilst still being a noble-born politician serving as a Captain in the King's bodyguard troop, Thomas looks like a brown-eyed, stately man in his mid-40s who is in good physical shape. He has a well toned physique from serving for years in a demounted unit that trains to fight primarily with pole-arm battle axes, but the bearing of a noble politician and scholar. His embrace came at a bit of a surprise, so he naturally has hair curled in an old-fashioned style, and greying at points, and stubble as though he hadn't shaved in several days; although he typically shaves when necessary and often gets haircuts or uses gel to hold his hair in more modern styles, as well as hair dyes. He naturally speaks in a notable, English accent, and enunciates clearly, although as a polyglot he has become used to speaking in various accents, and when in his mortal persona sounds like he has a mid-west accent.
Whilst Thomas is an expert in etiquette, and wears clothing appropriate to situations, his typical manner of dress appears more atypical for a Ventrue than a Brujah - he favours suits of various types. When at Elysium he typically wears old-fashioned style suits that harken back to the Renaissance, although of modern fabrics. This is deliberately intended to make him appear like, and therefore remind others of, the elder that he is. Otherwise he favours dark coloured, double-breasted, classic fit, notch lapel suits with shirt and tie for formal occasions; and lighter-shaded, single-breasted, modern fit lounge suits for when he is casual or lecturing at the University. These are generalisations, however, as he appears to have an extensive suit collection, and individual styles change according to his mood and the impression he wishes to give. Even if others may not consciously know or notice the difference, Thomas' grasp of etiquette means he understands that wearing a double-breasted classic suit can give a more dramatic and authoritative impression, whilst a single-breasted lounge suit may help set others at ease.
It is extremely rare to see him wearing Jeans and T-shirts, and when he does they are almost always accompanied by a jacket of some kind. He wears comfortable sporting clothing when exercising, but no-one has ever seen him wear shorts.
Background
Thomas was born to a noble family who were members of the England Privy Council, and was raised with the best education possible by his family. Like his namesake father, he served in the Troop of Gentlemen, a personal corps created by King Henry VIII as a mounted escort to protect the sovereign. Joining at age 14 as a cadet, he eventually became a Lieutenant of the Troop, although for most of his service did not see any major conflicts and spent of much of the time on duty at the Tower of London, or training militia on his family lands as required by law in case the King demanded a levy for war. This came about in 1544 when the Troop of Gentlemen fought with the King at the battle of Boulogne in France. Although the battle was victorious, Thomas' father was wounded in battle and his wounds caused him to became ill, Thomas Winfield the elder succumbed to his wounds on the journey home. Thomas took his father's seat on the Privy Council, but maintained his connections in the Troop, and at the Tower of London, carrying out less frequent but occasional duties as Captain of the Troop, which was mostly more of a political-liason position between the Troop and the Privy Council than an active-duty position.
On the Privy Council, Thomas quickly built a reputation for his idealism, but grew frustrated at English politics and their disregard for the common man, who Thomas respected due to his years of training troops for the King's wars; and serving with them and the Troop of Gentlemen in Boulogne. His reputation for speaking his mind, unorthodox views for the time, and going against the establishment may have ruffled feathers in Parliament, but they also got the attention and respect of a Brujah elder who chose him for the Embrace. It became harder for Thomas to serve on the Privy Council after that, as he could not attend the majority of the daytime meetings; and even his ability to serve as a Captain in the Troop of Gentlemen became impaired by his inability to act during the day, and so in the next few years Thomas was considered to become a bit of a recluse, who often sent representatives (his ghoul) to act in his stead when it was permissible. Thomas spent much of the next few years learning about Kindred society and politics, furthering his personal education with the resources that Brujah scholars could provide him; as well as being guided by his sire and mentor to abandon the Path of Humanitas that was the norm, and instead follow the Path of Entelechy, a scholar's path to counter the urges of the Beast more pro-actively than that of the Path of Humanitas. Nevertheless he maintained and, through the use of the Blood Bond and the Discipline of Presence, even strengthened some of his influences in the Privy Council and with the Tower guard. Influence that would serve him well just a few years later.
In 1553 his world would change yet again when the young King died and named a young Lady Jane Grey as his successor. The young queen, barely in her teens at the time, was forced against her will into a political marriage with Lord Dudley and made the Queen of England. As Captain of her the Sovereign's guard, Thomas met Lady Jane and was quickly smitten by her intellect, love for knowledge, and piety. Lady Jane ruled for a mere 9 days before the Privy Council switched allegiance from Lady Jane to Mary Tudor (who in time became Mary I, better known by history as 'Bloody Mary'), and ordered him to imprison Lady Jane for high treason. Lady Jane's husband, and other family members, were tried and eventually executed within the month. Lady Jane was also found guilty of treason against the Queen because she had, in her brief reign, signed a handful of documents as Jane the Quene and as such, sentenced to execution by fire or beheading at the new, legitimate Queen Mary I's pleasure.
Initially Queen Mary, a devout Catholic, at the Pope's request took the decision that, although remaining imprisoned, Lady Jane's life was to be spared; a rebellion against Mary I that Lady Jane had nothing to do with, but involved her father and brother, ended with a reversal and declaration that Lady Jane would be executed by beheading at the Tower of London. Angered by the Privy Council's initial betrayal of, and the actions of the Monarchy, as well as all the related Kindred intrigue behind all the movements, and the callous disregard of all involved for the life of the innocent young academic who had been used as a pawn in their games of intrigue, the idealist Thomas lost what little faith he had left in the English Monarchy, Parliament and London's kindred society.
Only a neonate, he lacked the clout and age to get permission to embrace Lady Jane, or convince the kindred elders to spare her, and so he sought a way to act - and found it with an Elder named Isabela (Bat-Zabbai), who he believed was a Ventrue (but in fact was a Clan Senya elder pretending to be a Ventrue because of the clan's Great Deception. Despite the classic animosity between the Brujah and the Ventrue, Thomas had had had various respectful encounters and discussions with elder Isabela and, like him, this elder had been impressed by Lady Jane's intellectual achievements. More importantly, the elder Isabela was impressed by the young woman's refusal to break even as she stared death in the face, and how she was walking to her death still pious, humble, and with dignity and courage. Combining their influences and resources, they arranged for her execution to be faked, with Isabela somehow converting a common thief she'd captured to perfectly resemble Lady Jane, dominating her so thoroughly that the thief believes she actually was Lady Jane, and then having this patsy walk to her public execution in lieu of Lady Jane, who walked away from the tower with a new face. It was at this time that Thomas learnt the truth of Isabela (and now Lady Jane) and Clan Senya. Perhaps out of respect for his courage in assisting her, or his honour, or other reasons, Isabella decided not to wipe this knowledge from his mind, or slay him. Instead, fearing that his involvement may somehow be uncovered, Thomas left his family estates to his surviving brother, taking only as much as he could carry in gems and other precious items, and travelled with Isabela and Lady Jane to France.
Together they were kindred spirits with their passion for academia and became close allies and in time, if rumours are true, lovers. Several years later, after Lady Jane was released from her sire's control, Thomas and Lady Jane travelled to the new world (on her sire's bequest), where they wandered for years, not settling for long as they were tumultuous times, as the scholars sought to improve themselves in mind and spirit. Eventually, they semi-settled in the settlement of San Diego, which had become the largest population centre in Alta California. They parted in 1850 when Lady Jane left for Oxnard, but Thomas had committed to the formation of what in a few years would become California State University and moved to San Jose when the land was obtained. Although Thomas didn't have the influence to run the University (that fell to a Ventrue) it was around this time that he met the Ventrue Victor Kratus and his second, the Toreador Genevieve Montclair. Kratus had plans to conquer the small Sabbat town of Bakerfield, desiring the oil fields they had discovered as Kratus believed that with the oil field the small town could be influenced to grow into a major domain. Whilst the majority of the preparations for the assault were already in play with Ventrue and Toreador influence over mortal institutions, for the final segment Camarilla combat troops were needed - that is to say, the Ventrue and Toreadors needed their Brujah and Gangrel cannon fodder to do their dirty work for them; and they wanted Thomas to lead them as he was a cut above the rabble as a scholar, former politician and a military man. Thomas agreed in return for a seat on the future Primogen council, and the right to his own domain to do with as he chose. All parties kept their end of the agreement, and Bakers Field first suffered a water supply failure caused by Genevieve's control of the water distribution network; then a fire started by Kratus' agents spread quickly in the mostly-wooden town during the daytime, burning many Sabbat in their havens or forcing them into the daylight; and Thomas' troops aided Kratus in destroying any Sabbat that remained. Several years after the Camarilla took Bakersfield, it was re-incorporated as the city of Ashford, with nearly three times the population and growing exponentially.
Settled again, Thomas resumed his learning, and guiding Ashford's educational institutions. Over time, however, he began to despise Kratus' increasingly despotic rule and obvious favouritism for the Ventrue, Toreador and Tremere clans. Whilst Thomas was accorded respect as a scholar and long-time ally, Kratus made clear the majority of Thomas' clan were rabble beneath his contempt, and the clan's growth was more curtailed than it should have been, as was their influence, with punishments for infractions being often more severe in punishment and executions than for the favoured clans (although Thomas notes, still far superior than the treatment of the Malkavian and Nosferatu clans). In 1942 he travelled to Europe and spent several years in France, helping save knowledge and art that the Nazis were purging, and aiding the resistance in their fight. During this time he met another Ventrue-pretender Senya named Braxton Donahoe, and found him a like-minded and respectable kindred, and they worked together to aid the resistance - during which time they discovered a pair of particularly worthy mortal women, and each (for his own reasons) chose one for the embrace. Thomas chose the spirited Nina Williams, a british spy helping the French resistance, whilst Braxton chose Yvette Bouvier, a brave and beautiful French Resistance member who he would later marry.
The experience gained during the war served him well, as had his contacts in San Diego and other areas now banding together as the Anarch Free States and on returning to Ashford and re-establishing his Patriarchy, decided to create the identity of a face-unknown anarch named Edward Jackman who galvanised the anarchs against Kratus' rule in the shadows, whilst Thomas himself kept pretending to be Kratus' ally, and continuing his works with the California State University, and in 1965 opened and directly assumed control (as well as lecturing duties) of the CSU Bakersfield campus built on his own domain grounds. Thomas' plan was to cause Kratus' overthrow, although he did not intend on becoming an anarch Baron himself. In fact, he (in his Edward Jackson persona) was a fake anarch leader - leading the anarchs, whilst not actually being one himself. Thomas sympathised with the Anarch Movement, and found their motivations and philosophies respectful, but having seen how the Brujah and Gangrels had gone from being scholars (Brujah) and storytellers (Gangrel) to what they now are, he believed that without some kind of order all Kindred could face the same future. Thus he himself still believed in the Camarilla's potential as an institution, but not the man holding the crown in Ashford.
The Sabbat Crusade brought an abrupt end to those plans with the death of Kratus and many of the Primogen and elders who supported his reign. Many of those who stepped up to assume the vacant Primogen and other positions were either Anarchs, anarch sympathisers or more level-headed kindred; and Thomas was more surprised than anyone when the emergency conclave nominated him to become the Prince. He knows that he was elected as he was the compromise candidate - one of the few that no-one objected to (except Genevieve, who of course thought that only herself was apt to lead as she had been the Seneschal for over a century) as the Ventrue, Tremere and Toreadors would never allow a Malkavian or Nosferatu to be their Prince; the Malkavians and Nosferatu had banded together and would not accept the rule of either Genevieve (who would not even consider letting another Toreador usurp her) or another Ventrue after Kratus' rule; and Braxton Danohoe, the Senya Primogen, had been missing and an allegedly mentally-broken man since the Opera House massacre that killed his paramour and whip amongst others. His old paramour, Lady Jane, was present at the conclave as the eldest active Senya in Ashford, but although she agreed to represent Braxton's interests, refused to take his place as Primogen, and as the failed-Prince of Cathayan-conquered Oxnard, was considered too unsuitable to get the support of the Primogen council. Therefore he was tentatively supported, and he knows that Genevieve and others will begin making their plays for his throne once the war is over, but regardless of how he got to sit on the throne, he intends to take advantage of it.
Whilst Thomas did not intend on becoming the Prince, fate nonetheless led him to this, but he knows he needs to change from the compromise candidate, to a strong Prince with the true backing of the Primogen (as he does not have the right influences in mortal society to hold the Princedom by force as Kratus once did. No longer requiring the Edward Jackman secret identity to weaken Kratus' reign, the anarch leader was officially written off as a casualty of the Crusade. War makes strange bedfellows, and Thomas has used his authority to make alliances with a faction of the Assamite clan that wishes membership in the Camarilla, granting them formal membership and a seat on the council; and a secret, private arrangement with the Giovanni, allowing them a small domain that will serve his personal aims well, and will make his city's ability to fight common enemies and preserve the Masquerade more powerful. Whether these decisions will prove to save his reign, or cause Ashford's further decline, only time will tell.
Thomas does not know what type of Prince he will be, but he knows he will not be Kratus, but that there is a lot from Kratus that he needs to learn to become a strong ruler.
Mortal Society
Thomas owns the Ashford branch of the California State University, the only institution within Ashford capable of doing undergraduate and graduate degrees, although not Doctorate degrees; and CSUA (California State University, Ashford)is part of the California State University system, which as 23 campuses and 8 off-campus centres and enrols 460,200 students with 24,405 faculty and 23,012 staff; and currently the largest four-year public university system in the United states. Whilst he is still as trustee of the CSU system, the overall CSU is controlled by the board of trustees which is primarily populated by Ventrue kindred, although the Toreadors, Tremere and some scholarly Brujah have representation. Each campus (which are run as distinct institutions) has a scholarly kindred in charge, usually via key retainers controlled via use of Dominate, or blood bonds. Thomas Himself is known as a semi-recluse who lets the respective Deans and Chancellors run daily operations, with him guiding overall direction; as well as him teaching various night classes on Linguistics, Mathematics and Political Studies. He is a much-loved professor who inspires his students with his expert knowledge and charisma.
Thomas uses his control of CSUA to be able to offer many higher-education courses and degrees as night classes, allegedly to assist those who want to further their educations, perhaps seeking new careers or promotions for which further qualifications are needed, but cannot afford the time or expense of full course induction due to the need for full-time employment. In reality, this is mostly an excuse for inquisitive mortals (although there is truth in it) but this is also for kindred who wish the same. As a follower of the path of Entelechy, Thomas believes that there is little more important than for kindred to develop their minds, in order to fight the beast - and educated kindred is always good for the Camarilla. There are always elders who need to learn modern knowledge (or send their progeny to learn to do it for them), and many fledglings are embraced at times that prevent them completing their education. Many young Kindred have recently been taking advantage of these night-time degrees to complete Degrees and Masters in Computing courses, such as several members of The 1337 5kw4d - a coterie of tech-savvy neonates.
Thomas has been involved with various parts of the California State University system for many years, and has ties to it as well as other educational areas such as the California Community College system, which he does not consider a rival. Although CSUA only offers up to Masters-level degrees, he can use his influences to arrange for Doctorate degrees to be delivered and/or assessed at CSUA but accredited externally, extending the potential range of courses. This is sometimes made possible by teaching locally, if CSUA can handle the course requirements, with external moderators or assessors handing assessment requirements by outside certification; but at other times is simply arranging for course registration at CSUA, which is then delivered via correspondence or online tutelage, and then assessments carried out on the CSUA campus.
Personality
Thomas is a charismatic man who believes to the core of his being of the importance of education. Not only does he believe that education empowers the individual, which in turn empowers society (whether kine or kindred), but he is a follower of the Path of Entelechy, of which followers are colloquially known as philosophers. The path is closely related to Humanitas, but differs in the fact that philosophers believe that Humanitas is passive, and focuses on restraint and withholding the Beast when things happen to you; whilst the Path of Entelechy believes the beast is weakness, and that adherents must be more pro-active in confronting the Beast. They believe that by constantly working to improve the mind and body, the Beast can be commanded into silence. Followers of the path believe that death is preferable to failure to stand up for moral principles out of fear or cowardice, and that acting on impulse or succumbing to frenzy when wise conduct could have avoided it also create situations that serve to feed the Beast.
As a dedicated follower of the path, which also believes that kine should be treated with respect and not taken for granted; and kindred should only take from them what is needed to survive and no more, Thomas therefore treats all kindred, and kine, with the respect they deserve. He never acts on impulse if it can be avoided, and prefers to take some time to think things through before taking actions. He believes that crimes against innocents must be punished, and that harming or murdering innocents, or aiding followers of Paths that are antithetical to humanity, are equally wrong. Those who know of his beliefs, however, often make the mistake of assuming these beliefs stem from compassion. They do not. The intent of the Path is for personal control of the Beast, and to prevent the degeneration in others when possible, and the knowledge that certain actions should be avoided so the Beast is not fed - this is not the same as having remorse for actions. Whilst a kindred with high humanitas may suffer anguish if an innocent is killed before them to coerce acion, Thomas would not; but he would understand that a grave crime has been commited and as such he needs to punish the crime. Adherents to the path are powered by the strength of their conviction about their actions and the need for them, not by compassion about circumstances.
This can make Thomas an at time dispassionate individual who acts based on logic rather than emotion. Whilst he is certainly capable of feeling emotions, he simply always attempts to not act on them, and independently determine the best outcome, despite what he may feel.
Combat Style
As Thomas is a scholar, values humanity, and prefers debate over conflict, many erroneously assume that he is intelligent, but a weak fighter as many scholastic elders are. This can be a fatal mistake. Thomas was a King's guard since his mid teens up to the time of his embrace, and thus entered unlife with both a good physical form, and the best combat training possible. As a follower of the Path of Entelechy, he works constantly to improve and perfect not just his mind, but his body - changes that are not visible in the unchanging kindred form.
For this reason Thomas is far more physically capable than he appears, and whilst he is both fast and enduring; having at least some degree of Fortitude and Celerity, he has prodigious strength and elder-level mastery of Potence (which philosophers perceive as demonstrating physical excellence). Combined with his experience with melee weapons, this is a deadly combination of a sharp, tactical mind, and a well-honed body to back up his actions.
Most of the time Thomas only has a handgun with him. He is trained in it, and his natural hand-eye coordination leads him to being a competent shooter, but he prefers to use this only when range or necessity demands it. He will typically tackle most threats with his fists and feet, being an experienced boxer. When he expects trouble, however, he is likely to carry his old cavalry sabre with him, with which he is far more capable and can be concealed under his iconic overcoat. If attacked at his haven, or he has gone prepared for war he may have his battle axe with him, a pole-arm style weapon with an axe head, and the main weapon of his career. Armed as such he is a deadly and experienced combatant, with skill and incredible power.
Social Style
Thomas in an intellectual first and foremost, and an idealist. Whilst he may occasionally succumb to his emotions, this is rare and usually only occurs when he is provoked, and his Brujah blood overrides intellect. Otherwise, his actions are guided by reason and consideration. This is something that can be banked on, as Thomas will not make decisions impulsively, or based on emotion. Whereas former Prince Kratus and the Toreador Primogen Genevieve are both very likely to be biased against certain clans, those younger than them or otherwise show bias or act on their impulses and emotions, Thomas will endeavour not to. If someone has something to say to them, he will listen to them, consider their words, and respond accordingly - taking extra time if need be. He is a sharp-witted and intelligent man, so his responses may seem impulsive, but they have simply been thought over very quickly. He may have preferences, of course, but if proven to be wrong, or that there is a better way, he would have to be self-convinced of the opposite not to choose to act on the better information.
Thomas dislikes those who are impulsive, especially aggressively so (which, ironically, often puts him at odds with the iconoclasts of his clan, and with Gangrels) and if provoked, will remove himself from a situation that aggrieves him and actively try to avoid a situation that may possibly risk provoking a frenzy (though this may actually mean having the aggressor removed from his presence, rather than he himself leaving). To his mind, someone who relies on insults, rudeness and anger-induced actions is acting poorly and impulsively, having probably not properly thought out his actions. Those who treat him with respect, and especially show themselves to be educated, intelligent and willing to have intellectual conversations, will gain his respect; as do those who have the courage to stand up for their convictions (even if they act impulsively - he appreciates his own path is not that of others).
Signature Equipment
- Miguel Caballero Overcoat
- Smart suit
- Mobile phone
- Walther P990 pistol
- Troop of Gentlemen Cavalry Sabre
- Troop of Gentlemen battle axe
- Aston-Martin DB9
Signature Quotes
- "Whatever the cost of our institutions, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant generation."
- "To quote the wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi: Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
- "The mind, once enlightened, can never again go dark."
- "It does not matter how slowly you learn, as long as you do not stop."
Gallery
Thomas Wingfield during Privy Council days
Thomas Wingfield in more modern attire