Bloodline:Avant Garde
The Avante Garde Vampire bloodline, an offshoot of the Patrician, is probably the closest to mortal society. These vampires love to be in the limelight and be adored by others. Most Avant Garde Vampires are artists of some type, honing their craft to level of expertise only possible by one who has unlimited time to practice.
Like Patrician Vampires the Avant Gard enjoys manipulating others but the power they desire is to guide cultural trends. They enjoy using their influence to decide what kind of music is popular, what types of clothing will be in this year's fashion shows, and whether or not Surrealism is making a comeback. Most Avant Garde Vampires start off with a career in some type of artistic pursuit, but then eventually move to nurturing others, as they age out of the limelight. After all, a singer that hasn't grown any older in the last 20 years can bring dangerous questions. An Avant Garde will hone their craft until the time is right, come on to the scene, and burn bright before dying out and moving back into the background. From there they can then use their influence to create talent agencies, record labels, clubs from which they continue to influence the scene. The transition from being in the limelight to taking a back seat it a difficult one and not all Avant Garde Vampires can handle it. Many seek the route of oblivion when their time is up, not able to see others take their place. Some are careful not to get too big, so that way they can continue their art for a long time, moving from place to place. Some may even reinvent themselves every 50 years or so, changing their look and style so as not to be mistaken for their past selves. There is always a risk with this though, and one that the rest of the vampire community are vigilant against, should the Avant Garde but their existence in danger.
Avant Garde Vampires tend to have a love for beautiful things. Paintings, pieces of music, poems, even people. Most of them collect these things, when then can, their lairs being filled with works of art, large collections of classic vinyl, statues and other pieces of art. Some even collect mortals, transforming attractive mortals into vampires just to preserve their beauty, even against their will. These vampires are called Collectors and are usually shunned by the rest of the Avant Garde Community or even hunted when their acts endanger the community. The Avant Gard Bloodline grants vampire power that is a perfect fit for their type of lifestyle. The Avant Garde can induce emotional responses from others. Excitement, lust, pleasure, even love in some cases. The more powerful the Avant Garde, the more people they can affect. Mick Jagger could influence stadiums full of onlookers.
The vampire usually acts as a mentor of some type to the intended progeny for some time before they offer the gift of transformation. It is rarely turned down, as the Avant Garde will use that time to see if the candidate is the to accept such an offer. Once transformed the maker usually spends much time with the fledgling, remaining as a mentor, until they deem, they are ready to be on their own.
Like Patrician Vampires the Avant Gard enjoys manipulating others but the power they desire is to guide cultural trends. They enjoy using their influence to decide what kind of music is popular, what types of clothing will be in this year's fashion shows, and whether or not Surrealism is making a comeback. Most Avant Garde Vampires start off with a career in some type of artistic pursuit, but then eventually move to nurturing others, as they age out of the limelight. After all, a singer that hasn't grown any older in the last 20 years can bring dangerous questions. An Avant Garde will hone their craft until the time is right, come on to the scene, and burn bright before dying out and moving back into the background. From there they can then use their influence to create talent agencies, record labels, clubs from which they continue to influence the scene. The transition from being in the limelight to taking a back seat it a difficult one and not all Avant Garde Vampires can handle it. Many seek the route of oblivion when their time is up, not able to see others take their place. Some are careful not to get too big, so that way they can continue their art for a long time, moving from place to place. Some may even reinvent themselves every 50 years or so, changing their look and style so as not to be mistaken for their past selves. There is always a risk with this though, and one that the rest of the vampire community are vigilant against, should the Avant Garde but their existence in danger.
Avant Garde Vampires tend to have a love for beautiful things. Paintings, pieces of music, poems, even people. Most of them collect these things, when then can, their lairs being filled with works of art, large collections of classic vinyl, statues and other pieces of art. Some even collect mortals, transforming attractive mortals into vampires just to preserve their beauty, even against their will. These vampires are called Collectors and are usually shunned by the rest of the Avant Garde Community or even hunted when their acts endanger the community. The Avant Gard Bloodline grants vampire power that is a perfect fit for their type of lifestyle. The Avant Garde can induce emotional responses from others. Excitement, lust, pleasure, even love in some cases. The more powerful the Avant Garde, the more people they can affect. Mick Jagger could influence stadiums full of onlookers.
Progeny
The Avant Gard doesn't just use their abilities for influence though. Most of them truly care about preserving the Arts. To this end they may choose a mortal with great talent, who has no interest in driving the culture, just to preserve their talent. They may offer the gift to one who has shown skill in finding talent, even if he has no talent of his own, thought that is a rare case, as most Avant Garde prefer those with some artistic talent.The vampire usually acts as a mentor of some type to the intended progeny for some time before they offer the gift of transformation. It is rarely turned down, as the Avant Garde will use that time to see if the candidate is the to accept such an offer. Once transformed the maker usually spends much time with the fledgling, remaining as a mentor, until they deem, they are ready to be on their own.
Preferred Prey
Avant Garde Vampires have an emotional appetite for Lust and Love. The latter is hard to find, but the former is easy, and the bloodline's power allows the vampire to heighten that emotion. They like to use sex when they can to draw their victims in and use their power to bring them to edge of ecstasy and then feeding when their prey is on a high. They will sometime use drugs to enhance this. They often only need to feed a small amount due to the sustenance that the blood will provide. They rarely kill their prey and if they time it right, their prey may know never know they were fed upon.Structure
Avant Garde don't have a formal leadership structure. Like most bloodlines, age is usually a deciding factor when multiple members come into conflict, however influence may also play a part. Also like most bloodlines, there is informal competition between the members and a younger vampire who has just released a hit album, for example may be looked at by the community as more valuable than another member who has not had any big wins lately.
If you were chosen for a specific talent expect to be exploited. The Avant Garde Leader is an expert at using other and getting everything she can from them. Even to the point where she uses them up completely. It will also be a challenge to show that you are useful for more than just your talent.
Also, be expected to be watched and controlled. Dalia never lets anything she can get away no matter who your sire is. Expect to be pampered and showered with gifts and affection but always be aware that a gilded cage is still a cage. Avant Garde Vampires have Vampire Form and Captivation as powers.
Avant Garde Vampires of New Orleans
Usually, Avant Garde Vampires have an informal leadership structure, but in New Orleans Dalia Dark is the undisputed leader of the faction. The vampires of the Avante Garde bloodline have done well under her leadership. She has cultivated their individual strengths and talents and used her own shrewdness to make them successful. So successful that the Avant Gardes are almost at the point they can challenge the Patrician's for leadership of the Vampire community. Due to the unique cultural significance of New Orleans, power, money and influence that normally would not be so available to members of the faction, are ripe for the taking here in the Big Easy. Money and business still hold a lot of power here, but so does art, music and other pursuits that the Avant Garde are masters of.Playing an Avant Garde Vampire
If you have been transformed by an Avant Gard Vampire, then either they saw great beauty in you, or some type of artistic talent. If you were chosen just for your attractiveness, then it will be a challenge to get anyone to think of you as anything but your sire's pet but that doesn't mean it is impossible. Many Avent Garde vampires has surpassed their sires by being resourceful and making themselves useful to the community.If you were chosen for a specific talent expect to be exploited. The Avant Garde Leader is an expert at using other and getting everything she can from them. Even to the point where she uses them up completely. It will also be a challenge to show that you are useful for more than just your talent.
Also, be expected to be watched and controlled. Dalia never lets anything she can get away no matter who your sire is. Expect to be pampered and showered with gifts and affection but always be aware that a gilded cage is still a cage. Avant Garde Vampires have Vampire Form and Captivation as powers.
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