Michel Reinhard (WoD)

SchreckNet Data File

• Real/Birth Name: Michel Reinhard
  
• Known Identiy/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

50%

Michel 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 establish himself as Regent in the new chantry in Ashford and, now that she has left Ashford and returned to her other affairs, runs both the chantry as its Regent and serves as the Primogen for the Tremere in the city.

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.

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