Vital Stats
- Real/Birth Name: Pierce Donahoe
- Known Identiy/Mortal Alias: Braxton Donahoe
- Place of Origin: Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland
- Height: 6'1½"
- Occupation: Entrepreneur
- Apparent Age: Mid-40s (changes as desired)
- Embraced: 1784
- Kindred Status: Elder
- Sire: Isabela (Bat-Zabbai)
- Clan: Senya (Children of the Light)
- Clan Status: First-Amongst-Equals
- Sect: Camarilla
- Sect Status: Primogen of Clan Senya
Appearance
Braxton always carries himself with confidence and charm and is dressed in expensive clothing - whether Armani suits when conducting business or Ralph Lauren for casual occasion. You will not find him wearing Primark clothing in public. If he wears anything different, there's a very specific reason why.
Background
Prelude
Braxton was born Pierce in 1738 in Drogheda, Ireland. He was the son of a humble carpenter impoverished and fed up of life under the English Protestant Ascendancy. In 1750 (Aged 12) his father took the decision to move the family to America, which left the family as indentured workers in Lexington, Massachussetts. Despite this, they were safe and content. It was around then that young Pierce met Maria, the daughter of a Lexington Army Colonel. By the time he was 16, the hard-working and charismatic Braxton began courting Maria, to the displeasure of her father. In an attempt to curry favour from Maria's father, Pierce joined the Lexington Minutemen which allowed him to do military service but remain in the family carpentry trade. His sharpshooting, charisma and strategic cunning made him rise steadily through the ranks. When he was 19 Pierce was voted by the other minutemen to become an officer and finally achieved the grudging respect of Maria's father who consented to marriage. A year later Maria gave birth to a son, who they named Braxton, but complications from childbirth caused Maria's health to decline and she died 4 months later, leaving Pierce to raise the child alone.
Around this time tensions between the colonials and Britain began rising, culminating in the Boston Tea Party in 1773, which prompted Pierce's son Braxton to join the Minutemen shortly after - against his father's wishes. Rising tensions led to the "shot heard 'round the world" on April 19, 1775 when British Light Infantry opened fire on Lexington militiamen killing eight men, including Braxton.
This prompted an outraged Pierce to return to duty as a Captain of the Minutement, and take part in the engagement against British forces in the Battles of Lexington and Concord. So great was his rage that he was witnessed scalping a British solider hors de combat at the North Bridge. Pierce fought for the revolutionaries during the Revolutionary War, eventually making Lt. Colonel. He was renown for his cunning strategy and fierce fighting, loyal to his men but ruthless against the enemy. It was only after the war ended that the now 45-year old Pierce's rage appeared to calm down and he began using his status to help those affected by the war - the injured, widowed and orphaned. It was around this time that Isabela of Clan Senya, who had been watching him with interest, embraced him.
Isabela helped Pierce fake his death and they left massachusetts. As Clan Senya was undergoing the Great Deception, Pierce took his deceased son's name as his own - both as a tribute to his son, an anchor for his humanity, and a symbol that his life was over - and like his sire pretended to be of Clan Ventrue.
Kindred Existence
The newly-named Braxton followed his sire around for several years, learning clan lore. Braxton has always had a natural fluency for languages, but little opportunity. Under his sire's tutelage and their travels, he became a multilinguist and learnt the fine art of politics, which his cunning mind saw as a different form of combat and strategy. Once he finished the clan's adoption period he settled down for decades at a time in places - building up his personal wealth, business and political acumen and personal power.
During the second world war Braxton used his shape-shifting ability to good effect, working with the Brujah elder Thomas Wingfield to assist the French Resistance combat the Nazis. It was at this time that he met Yvette Bouvier and Nina Williams. He became enamoured with Yvette and embraced her after the war, with Thomas embracing Nina; and in time Yvette become his wife. They settled down in Paris after the war, and remained there comfortably until Yvette was murdered in 1988 - an act which nearly broke Braxton. Alleging the murder having being committed (and denied) by Clan Tremere, this began a personal intolerance against the warlocks that would last until Braxton discovered and took justice on the true murderer in 1996.
When Braxton came to Ashford in 1994 he was wealthy, bitter and full of purpose and decided to make a fresh start and set down permanent roots for the good of his Clan. Whilst he was not the first Senya to be in Ashford, he was the first to arrive by request of his sire - a member of the Clan Senya Inner Council - in order to establish a permanent powerbase for his Clan to operate in the region. As California was contested by increasing strength of the Anarch Movement around Los Angeles, Sabbat incursions from Mexico in the south, and arrivals of the mysterious and deadly oriental Cathayan vampires in San Francisco, the clan desired more presence in some of the inland regions. Braxton set his resources to bear, and went from being a multi-millionaire on his arrival in 1994 to a certified billionaire in a little over a decade. Though the specifics are not known, he courted the aid of other Senya in town so that all would prosper - good for the individual and good for the clan. Whilst the Final Schism nearly ended all this, Braxton's rise in both Clan and City status has been remarkable.
Shortly after arriving in 1994 Braxton began working closely with Clarissa Jade of Clan Senya, employing her JadeTech company to set up the technological infrastructure of his new business and mansion security. Though still bitter and grieving over Yvette's death, there was an undeniable spark between Braxton and Jade which became an actual relationship within weeks. Renown in mortal society as a playboy, Braxton has been well known to have stated in the media that he has only truly loved three women in his life. Whilst many believe this may be simply pandering to the mortal gossip columns, others believe it an indicator that his Playboy lifestyle is a masquerade cover and that he loves Jade truly as he once did Maria and Yvette.
A respected Ventrue elder until Clan Senya ended the Great Deception after the Second Grand Conclave of 2000 and officially joined the Camarilla in 2002, he was accepted as Ashford's first Clan Senya Primogen. As Senya Primogen Braxton was respected (if not liked) by most of the Primogen and the Prince. He was known to be politically neutral between the other primogen, but foster inter-clan ties. Surprising to many, when Kaimi Condra took over as Tremere Primogen in 2001 they quickly built an effective working relationship (some say even friendship, but both Clan Senya and Tremere deny this) which prospered both clans and helped diffuse some of the ancient animosity between the clans. He was particularly well known to get along with the Nosferatu Primogen. Indeed it is believed that by combining the spying abilities of Clan Nosferatu and infiltration abilities of Clan Senya into one effective alliance was directly responsible for Braxton (and Clan Senya's) rapid rise in Ashford. Shortly after arriving
Since the Sabbat Crusade began Braxton has not been seen. It is known that he survived the Ashford Opera House Massacre but sources state he is inconsolable about Jade's murder in the attack, and that he has not left his mansion (or even his personal suite) since. This has many others concerned as Clan Senya now appears to be discoordinated. Without Braxton's leadership and use of his accumulated power many wonder how much the clan will suffer in the Sabbat onslaught - and by extension, the Camarilla domain of Ashford.
Mortal Society
Braxton has a reputation of being a playboy entrepreneur. He is seen at elite events, rubbing noses with politicians, businessmen, judges and partying with A-list celebrities. He is the sole owner of the Donahoe Group of Companies - a disparate range of scattered and independent businesses that have little in common except that he owns them and then lets them run themselves with little interference. One newspaper referred to him as "Ashford's Hugh Hefner" - Braxton simply replied "ah... but Hugh only owns one business..."
He is a proliferate and casual big-spender, renown for his love of fast cars, bikes and flying. It is said that the only vehicle type he does not own is a tractor. Much of this spending, however, is charitable. He provides financial aid to many local charities, educational establishments and the police force. This makes him popular in Ashford (and may explain why he never gets a speeding ticket). It is known that every year he holds a big high-society New Years ball at his mansion which helps raise money for charity.
Other Notes
For a brief period of time Braxton was the Seneschal of Ashford - a position of authority that implies respect and trust by the Prince. Braxton downplays this claiming that he only "kept the seat warm for Genevieve Montclair whilst she and the Prince were having a disagreement" and voluntarily relinquished the role shortly after. Whilst many suspect he wishes to make a play to the throne, the fact that he has had a working relationship with the (notoriously paranoid) Prince Kratus indicates the Prince believes Braxton's claim that he is "much too busy in my position within my clan to be Prince" and that it serves both Ashford and his clan best to keep things as they are.
This view is espoused by others within his clan. Braxon holds the position of First-Amongst-Equals, which is a regional controller for the clan who oversees what other Senya do in other domains. Young, pro-Braxton members of his clan state that "Braxton becoming a Prince would be like a step down for him - why control just one city when you already run the state?"
Combat Style
Braxton generally tries to avoid combat and as his past is not common knowledge, many underestimate his combat prowess. They believe him a businessman with political and social acumen, but forget that for almost the entirety of his mortal life he was a solder and has been tested in various wars. Embraced at age 46, Braxton's agilty and speed are not what they used to be in his youth, but his marksmanship skills are still sharp and a fencing master (both of which he credits to the duelling culture of early modern europe). Additionally, he is known to practice martial arts. Braxton therefore is comfortable using handguns at range or engaging in melee. When expecting combat he takes a British Officer's Saber (allegedly taken from the man he scalped with a hatched on the North Bridge) that is believed to have been thaumaturgically or magically empowered to deadly effect - and prefers to engage in melee. He states he prefers to use "the minimum violence necessary to resolve a situation - but whatever's necessary." Through the use of his disciplines, Braxton has been known to sprout wings and fly, to gain aerial advantage, or harden his skin to a point where most gunfire and weapons bounce off him. This has led to a reputation of indestructibility if given warning.
Social Style
Braxton is known to be friendly and "to the point." Whilst time has changed him, his roots as an honest, hard-working Irish carpenter are still there and he is honourable in his business dealings, prefers to cut past small talk and fluff and speaks cleanly and openly. He is not naive, however, and is quite capable of playing the games of Elysium as well as any elder - being deceptive when required. He has stated, however, that he prefers "honest dealings with smaller, but long-term benefits, than being dishonest for a larger short-term gain that earns the emnity of someone I'd rather be my ally."
He is known to take a shining to well-meaning neonates - especially females - and often mentors or sponsors them.
Signature Equipment
- Sig-Sauer P229 pistol
- Military Saber - Braxton commonly referrs to his sword as "EJ" in a manner as if EJ were alive
- Ferrari FF - Braxton is a long-standing Ferrari fan, and has almost every model ever produced in his garage. The FF is his current favourite "normal daily use" car.
- Harley Davidson Heritage Springer Softail - a gift to him by Jade, Braxton is keen on this bike for recreational use.
- Mercedes S550 Stretch Limo - Chauffer driven, this is the most common way for Braxton to attend social or business functions.
- Bell 407 helicopter - Braxton is a qualified pilot in various types of civilian propeller and jet aircraft. He employs the Bell 407 for recreational use or when he needs to travel large distances quickly (and a helipad is available).
- Learjet 45XR - kept at Ashford Airport (try as he might, Braxton has been so far unable to get planning permission to build his own runway by his estate) and used for when he needs to travel distances. It is usually piloted by mortal crew (allowing him to use it during the day as he sleeps in the sun-proofed area), but Braxton has been known to fly it himself at nights.
- "The Colonel's Daughter" - a Princess 82 luxury yacht modified to serve as a riverboat - no longer ocean-worthy. It is parked by a small private Kern River floating dock behind Braxton's mansion. As Kern River does not lead to any sea, its intended use is as a "get away from it all short holiday" up Kern River to Lake Isabella.
Signature Quotes
- "Veni, vidi, probaverunt eam, et emit eam" ("I came, I saw, I liked it, I bought it")