Benjamin Thorne

Primogen of Clan Brujah

Clan: Brujah Sire: Xena Polidori Nature: Fanatic Demeanor: Pedagogue Generation: Seventh Embrace: 1503 Apparent Age: Mid 30s Physical: Strength 3, Dexterity 2, Stamina 3 Social: Charisma 6, Manipulation 4, Appearance 3 Mental: Perception 4, Intelligence 5, Wits 5 Talents: Alertness 2, Athletics 2, Brawl 2, Dodge 2, Empathy 3, Expression 3, Intimidation 3, Leadership 3, Masquerade 3, Subterfuge 3 Skills: Animal Ken 1, Etiquette 3, Firearms 2, Melee 2, Survival 2 Knowledges: Academics 3, Brujah Knowledge 3, Camarilla Lore 4, Finance 2, Investigation 2, Kindred Lore 3, Law 3, Linguistics 4, Occult 2, Politics 3 *Benjamin speaks English, Arabic, Latin, Greek, German, French, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish. Disciplines: Animalism 2, Auspex 4, Celerity 4, Dominate 3, Potence 6, Presence 6, Obfuscate 2 *Benjamin has the Potence Power of Imprint and the Presence Power of Rage. Backgrounds: Allies 3, Contacts 3, Fame 1, Herd 2, Influence 2, Resources 4, Retainers 4, Status 4 Virtues: Conscience 4, Self-Control 4, Courage 4 Morality: Humanity 6 Willpower: 9 Backstory: Benjamin was born in Oxford, the son of an academic. As a result, he learned to read and write early in life. He grew up steeped in the classics of such men as Plato, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Epicurus. A deep thinker, Benjamin wound up questioning the social order he was born into. Did men really need to be ruled by kings and emperors? Did such men really have a Divine Right to rule over others? Was there a better way for human beings to be governed? All his questions and observations he kept to himself for the most part. Had he shared his ideas more widely, he might have found others like himself and gone on with them to start The Enlightenment far in advance of time. His thoughts and ideas burned within his heart but he worried that England wasn’t quite ready for them yet. So he recorded them in a private journal for posterity as he followed in his father’s footsteps and became an academic and philosopher, as well. He was eventually wed to a woman named Mariam and had a son named Joseph with her after miscarrying twice. They were a happy family until tuberculosis struck them. Benjamin survived but his wife and son didn’t make it. Devastated, Benjamin stopped working and spent his nights in mourning and contemplating suicide. But he was being watched. A Kindred named Xena Polidori had been using Auspex to read his thoughts. She also had stealthy opportunities to read his journals while he slept. Thinking him to be way ahead of his time, she entered his house one night and fell upon him while he brooded over his misfortune. She easily overpowered and Embraced him. Xena taught him a highly idealized version of the story of Carthage and how it was an idealized Kindred city where vampires and mortals lived in harmony. While he eventually came to realize that mistakes were made, Benjamin still came to believe that the “Carthage Experiment” needed to be tried again and that next time the Brujah would get it right. He traveled with Xena around Europe living in various cities for 15-25 years at a time. At one point, he and Xena lived in Venice, Italy and he Embraced his first Childe, Fabian Santi. He also encountered Clan Giovanni for the first time and quickly developed a very low opinion of them. One night, Xena received a letter from someone unknown and got a concerned look on her face. She informed Benjamin and Fabian that she needed to leave on a secret matter and that they couldn’t come with her but that she would tell them everything in due time. That was in October of 1685 and neither Benjamin or Fabian have heard from her since or been able to track down her whereabouts effectively. Figuring Xena was either dead or in Torpor, Benjamin and Fabian made the journey to the New World and settled in Ravenhurst, Connecticut. At first, Benjamin and Fabian got along well with Prince Aaron Whistler. But over time, Benjamin and Aaron began to debate over the idea of a new “Carthage”. To Benjamin’s disappointment, Aaron felt that something like Carthage was unattainable and that it could only be avenged, at best. The debates grew more heated and eventually turned into bitter arguments that spun off into disputes about Prince Whistler’s policies. It wasn’t long before Alec Lothaire fully convinced Benjamin that Whistler needed to be removed from power. Benjamin then persuaded Fabian Santi to go along with the plan, although he did so half-heartedly because he wanted to please his Sire more than he cared for Kindred politics. It wasn’t long before The Time of Bloody Constraint came to Ravenhurst, during which Benjamin and Fabian killed Samantha Atwater, a fellow Brujah loyal to Prince Whistler. During this time, Benjamin had to work alongside Nathaniel Montgomery and the other Venture. As a result, he came to the conclusion that while Brujah and Ventrue could work together on some things, the two Clans could never really be friends. He has looked upon the Ventrue with distrust ever since owing to Nathaniel Montgomery’s constant political jousting with him. After The Time of Bloody Constraint was over, the new Prince Alec rewarded Benjamin and Fabian for their support. Things were good for about a year and a half until more Ventrue and Tremere Kindred began taking up residence in Ravenhurst and the two Clans started trying to checkmate him at various times. Benjamin and Fabian both Sired Childer of their own but his Neonate who called herself Agony eventually broke with him and became the leader of the local Anarchs while Fabian’s Childe Garret Voss was only interested in debates and gossip. In the modern nights, Benjamin is the Primogen of a fractured and divided Brujah Clan. But he hasn’t given up. His determination is fuelled by a fanatical desire. In his heart, he yearns for Ravenhurst to become a new Carthage. He’s weathered enough opposition and hardship and he waits for that one misstep by the Ventrue or the Tremere that will turn the tables on them. His main weapon in service of his goals? Quite simply, using left-wing politics to erode the power base of his opponents. Image: Benjamin is on the tall side. He is attractive, with a manly jawline. He has shoulder-length blonde hair and ice-blue eyes. However, he is supernaturally charismatic. His every movement conveying authority, even down to the flick of his eyes as they move to a new speaker. He rarely blinks when speaking to someone which often unnerves people. He usually dresses in grey or black slacks with a non-nonsense black shirt. When dressing formally, he prefers expensive custom-tailored black suits and black neckties with an equally expensive dress shirt in some unusual colors such as red or cobalt blue to express his individuality. Roleplaying Hints: Express your emotions when talking to somebody but usually do so subtly while you are listening to them with subtle nods and looks to the side and inflections of the eyebrow. When talking to somebody else gesture with your hands a lot and speak to them as if you’re a professor explaining something to a college student, even if you dislike them on some level. Part of your way of dealing with others isn’t to treat them like ignorant children. Rather, you try to make them feel like they’re getting great advice for free. And if you’re in a debate, be sure to point out any logical fallacies made by your opponent.