SchreckNet Data File
- Real/Birth Name: Vincenza della Passaglia
- Known Identity/Mortal Alias: Vincenza della Passaglia
- Place of Origin: Mazara del Vallo, Sicily, Italy
- Height: 5'9"
- Occupation: Antiquarian
- Apparent Age: Mid-30s
- Embraced: 1899
- Kindred Status: Respected Ancilla
- Sire: Giancarlo Putanesca
- Clan: Giovanni
- Clan Status: Respected Donna
- Sect: Independent
- Sect Status: Known; former Envoy (to Lady Jane Grey)
- Player/Type: NPC
Appearance
Vincenza is a classic sicillian beauty. Tall with striking grey-hazel eyes, wavy chestnut-coloured hair, and a striking smile, she moves with natural grace and authority and commands attention when she enters the room.
She is typically seen wearing custom-made suits, usually of renown Italian fashion houses which accentuate her features, but has a surprisingly large selection of Asian clothing - including traditional qipao dresses and kimonos from her time spent in Beijing and later in Oxnard around the various Cathayan courts, to show respect for their cultures. She has a strong respect for it and, although more likely to wear western styles of fashion on a daily/work basis, favours Beijing fashions, especially Qipao dresses (of which she has a sizeable collection of formal, casual and home-use Qipao of styles from various dynasties).
Background
Like most of her family, Vincenza was born on one of the della Passaglia estates in Italy, and educated from a young age in history and asian languages. Showing potential from a young age, when she was sixteen she was one of the few selected to be sent to the main della Passaglia residence in the Underground City in Beijing; for further education in the specialist areas of the della Pasaglia family - studies of asian cultures and spirituality. These increased in depth and occult focus, and as she got older and more capable, Vincenza began to realise there was something certainly different about her family beyond the eccentricities, inbreeding and interest in the occult. Her mastery of languages, antiquarian studeies and lore of asian beliefs about death, as well as her investigations into what she coined the family secret earnt her the Proxy Kiss. After this they began truly inducting her into the proper clan methods. Her necromantic training changed from lay occult rituals and thanatology to proper study of the Shroud, the Shadowlands and true Western necromancy. But even then, as a ghoul what she was permitted to do, and given exposure to was still limited. Never one to let another beat her, she committed herself to it. She didn't know exactly what it was she needed to do to prove herself, so she dived into the things she excelled the most - historical knowledge (especially as pertaining the Middle Kingdom) as well as Necromantic knowledge, especially studying what was known of the Eastern Necromantic methodologies, especially those of the past. He knowledge of their cultures, and fluency with Cathayan languages made her useful to the clan in negotiations with the Cathayans, and after being a ghoul for twelve years, she was rewarded with the Embrace.
Since then she has served principally as an envoy; working to improve relations between the Cathayans and the della Passaglia family (and by extension, grudgingly, the Giovanni clan), and studying necromancy when not engaged in active diplomacy which in practice means she is studying necromancy most of the time. She has focused particularly on death and resurrection, finding Cathayan creation fascinating and has studied the Bone Path as a means to attempt to understand it. The Great Leap Outward made relations with the Cathayans turn cold, and many of her clan were forced to leave, and desiring to best serve her family to prove they could still be of worth to the Giovanni Clan, she moved California and settled in Oxnard, where her diplomatic abilities managed to secure a peace accord between the Camarilla Prince, Lady Jane Grey, and the Kuei-jin. The Cathayans blatantly broke the accord three years later, making her realise that the peace had been a deception, and she "played" by the Cathayans. She has moved to Ashford, where Lady Jane repaid a favour by introducing her to the new Prince, who allowed her to establish her family's presence there, and as resident expert on the Cathayan threat.
Both for income, internal masquerade with the non-kindred della Passaglias, Vincenza operates as an Antiquarian, considering Antiquarianism to be a symbiotic subject - as much in necromancy such as the shroud, spiritual passions and fetters are all closely linked to the past of objects and areas; and by understanding the past of objects and places, one can better influence the spirits and spirit world that relates to it.
Mortal Society
Vincenza owns the Della Passaglia Antiques store that buys and resells antique books, documents, coins and similar. It is a family business, run by her ghoul Sara during the day, who manages the two other employees, both also members of the della Passaglia family, although Sara is the only ghoul - and the only one to know any degree of truth about the true nature of her domitor. Any particularly interesting items (belongings of the dead, or Wan Kuei-related) are brought to her attention, and may be added to her own personal collection. Vincenza has a small apartment on the top floor of the store, with a private, sound-proofed and very secure office where she brings her herd; typically usually drugging them asleep before feeding or draining them - which is why she sometimes appears tipsy/groggy after feeding.
Sara della Passaglia
Sara (pronounced Sáh-ra) is Vincenza's ghoul personal assistant and the manager of Della Passaglia Antiques. Like most Giovanni ghouls, she was born into the [della Passaglia] family and groomed for service, told enough to make them useful to the clan, but not enough to endanger the true family secrets (what the Camarilla would call The Masquerade). She was born in Pescara, Italy and worked hard to prove herself to the family. A natural linguist who excelled in historical academics, she earned the right to be sent to the main della Passaglia residence in Beijing but the Great Leap Outward changed things. Instead, when she was 22 years old, she was chosen for the Proxy Kiss (what the Giovanni call the act of creating a ghoul) and sent to Oxnard, assigned to Vincenza who had recently arrived from spending over a century in Beijing, as it was felt Sara could help Vincenza acclimatise. Sara has been Vincenza's ghoul ever since. Sara is a 3rd cousin to Vincenza, five times removed.
Personality
Vincenza's entire life has been about proving herself better than everyone else just to be rewarded with the same respect and recognition that is so far easier for those of the main Giovanni mortal bloodline; and unlife hasn't changed that. Vincenza believes she is a decent person at heart, and thinks of Necromancy clinically like a Pathologist might a corpse, and tries to act with a certain degree of compassion and respect for the spirits she employs, but believes there are times that unfortunate things need to be done for the greater good.
She spent decades living by and learning about the Cathayans and respects their culture, but now feels that the truth is that they spent all of that time studying her even more, and have betrayed her once her utility to them ended. She still wants to deal with them, as she feels there is much to learn from them and to attempt to prevent Kindred-Cathayan conflict, but now claims belief that it is necessary for the Giovanni clan to no longer be independent and instead side with the Camarilla, as the Cathayans goals are inimitable to that of the kindred.
A closely-guarded secret she has shared only with those she trusts the most is that she distrusts the Final Night plan that the clan leaders have. Vincenza may not have known her, but the revelation that the ghost of a legendary and respected ancestor, Valentina della Passaglia, returned to warn the clan that the Endless Night would actually leave the clan destructively at the mercy of the ghosts they had been dominating for centuries, has also rocked her faith in the leadership of the main Giovanni family.
Other Notes
Unsurprisingly, Vincenza is a leading expert on the Cathayans and their lore, and is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese to best facilitate communication and reading of Cathayan lore.
Combat Style
Vincenza isn't a fighter, but is easily underestimated. She practiced oriental martial arts and swordplay for much of her mortal days as part of her education into Asian/Cathayan culture, and she practices regularly still. When combined with her clan discipline of Potence, this can make her quite competent at defending herself against most mortal and neonate-level threats. She has also taken basic tutorials in how to use firearms, and keeps a compact .40in S&W pistol in her handbag for if required.
Her main power is her Necromantic arts. She is capable of summoning and controlling wraiths, as well as animating dead bodies to serve her as shambling hordes; which can give her an unexpected surprise edge. Although these zombies are not particularly powerful, they are incapable of being mentally controlled, quite durable and immune to pain and damage unless taken completely apart.
Social Style
Vincenza appears to make a concerted effort to be pleasant (to other Kindred, at least) and whilst proud, doesn't appear to have the famous Giovanni-clan arrogance. In fact, she states a dislike for the Giovanni bloodline specifically for this reason and endeavours to prove better than that. She seems exceedingly patient and tolerant, and ultimately will listen to reason and make an informed decision about if an action will benefit her or her clan (or negatively impact it). Thus she can be reasoned with, and has proven so far to be a kindred of her word. She has been willing to make deals with kindred and kine, in return for boons to be determined in due course - a pragmatic approach that makes her seem approachable and helpful, yet actually increases the influence of the Giovanni clan by deint of boons owed by those in influencial positions. However for best effect, treating her with politeness and respect will be reciprocated. Arrogance and aggression will usually result in her denying favours and services, or demanding higher price than she might otherwise demand.
Signature Equipment
- Beretta Px4 Storm Compact (.40S&W pistol)
- Jiang (Shaolin Wushu sword)
- Tailored Armour (looks like a fashionable designer suit)
- Maserati Ghibli
Signature Quotes
- "I don't know what's so scary about zombies. Reanimating the dead isn't that hard, but they make TERRIBLE minions. They smell, can't move quickly, and fall to pieces over time."