Difference between revisions of "Michel Reinhard (WoD)"

Revision as of 11:00, 10 January 2020

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.

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.

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