Invictus
The Invictus left France to come to Montreal with a singular goal in mind: make sure the new world belongs to us.
Suffice to say, nearly 500 years later the Lords and Ladies of the First Estate still rule the nights. But since the 1960s and the Quiet Revolution, things have not been as smooth. No matter. The coffers are not yet empty, and there is still more than enough young blood to spill and power to gain and wield.
Suffice to say, nearly 500 years later the Lords and Ladies of the First Estate still rule the nights. But since the 1960s and the Quiet Revolution, things have not been as smooth. No matter. The coffers are not yet empty, and there is still more than enough young blood to spill and power to gain and wield.
Structure
As far as the Invictus are concerned, the Prince sits atop all of the kindred of a city and all kindred swear fealty to them. In Montreal, this has been the only truth any have known since Fort Ville Marie was founded in 1535.
Currently that Prince is Raymond Boisclair. He is Montreal's third Prince since it's founding. A member of the Invictus' Inner Circle since the early 1900s, Ray is joined by following prominent members of the covenant:
Currently that Prince is Raymond Boisclair. He is Montreal's third Prince since it's founding. A member of the Invictus' Inner Circle since the early 1900s, Ray is joined by following prominent members of the covenant:
- Inner Circle: Prince Raymond Boisclair , Marquis William McGinnis & Marquis Neal Matthews
- Advisors: Viscount Celine Fremont, Viscount Adrien Jalbert & Viscount Christian Hughes
- Judex & Notary: Baroness Chelsea Gray
- Au Pairs: Lord Jonathan Hanson, Lady Lily Wilson & Lord Joseph Mercier
Culture
What have you done for us lately?The Invictus are certainly a meritocracy, but more so than just capability and merit, works and accomplishments are what the kindred of this covenant emphasize above all else in the City of Festivals. Other covenants have learned to play this game and earn their own place in the All Night Society even though they are not part of the Invictus proper.
-Any member of Montreal's Invictus
Public Agenda
When the sun goes down, the Invictus get to work. For centuries they have been behind all major construction and re-construction projects, imports and exports, capital and market investments, suffice to say they amassed a treasury beyond any miser's imagination or CEO's aggressive estimates. Life was good until the Quiet Revolution happened.
Since then, the First Estate's coffers have been emptying at a rapid rate. They hope and promise their members that the drought will end, that they will rise above even their past prominence to greater things, but many have believed that time is running out and have sold their shares in favor of greener pastures or even self reliance.
Since then, the First Estate's coffers have been emptying at a rapid rate. They hope and promise their members that the drought will end, that they will rise above even their past prominence to greater things, but many have believed that time is running out and have sold their shares in favor of greener pastures or even self reliance.
Assets
The Invictus of the City of Festivals control the ports, nautical and air, the petrochemical, chemical and pharmaceutical plants as well as most businesses in Ville St-Laurent and engineering firms on and off the island. The influx of cash funneled from shell corporations into and out of international bank accounts funds all of their doings in the Danse Macabre.
Beyond this, the First Estate prides itself on its contacts and connections. They have innumerable ghoul and mortal servants who do their bidding during the day and are often handsomely rewarded at night.
Beyond this, the First Estate prides itself on its contacts and connections. They have innumerable ghoul and mortal servants who do their bidding during the day and are often handsomely rewarded at night.
History
In 1534, the discoverer Jacques Cartier sets foot in what is now known as Quebec. This new discovery set the French world on fire with interest and desires. Many kindred in France fueled and fanned those fires so that in 1642, they could lay claim to a city that would come to be known as Montreal.
Leading the foray would be the First and Second Estates, the Invictus and the Lancea et Sanctum . Georges de Launay would be declared the first Prince of Montreal and establish court. Not long after, his young court would be faced with its first real challenge: the local Circle of the Crone . The two groups would exchange hostilities until about 1754 when the Circle, refusing to be put down and proving themselves time and again as resourceful hunters in this new wilderness, were invited to join the Montreal court. They accepted the invitation much to the Second Estate's chagrin.
This break between the Estates is rumored to have caused the change in power as George de Launay was dethroned by John O'Donnell in 1760. Being an Invictus member but holding very close ties to the Lance, and attending mass regularly, was able to mend the link between the Estates and lead Montreal and its Kindred to brighter times. It was under Prince O'Donnell's leadership that the Gazette, Northwest Company, John Molson Brewery and Bank of Montreal were founded. It was also under Prince O'Donnell that the Notre-Dame Basilica was constructed.
Although the prosperity continued into the 1800s, Prince O'Donnell and the Estates faced there first real moments of strife around this time as well. By 1814 Carthians from New York City, who had requested refuge in Montreal following the conclusion of the War of 1812, were welcomed into the court. Many saw this as a boon to the city as the influx of wealth and ideas would surely lead to even greater development. The Carthians , contrary to their nickname, did not set flame to the All Night Society upon arrival. But sedition quickly filled the minds of the kine as Canada suffered rebellions in 1837 & 1838 and a labor strike in 1843. Riots followed in 1917 and the blame began to trickle towards the Fire Brands. It was voiced exclusively by English speaking vampires, however.
By 1942, a younger, Montreal born kindred named Raymond Boisclair had risen to lofty heights within the Invictus. Powered by the ever growing number of Franco-Kindred, he was able to challenge and take the throne of the city from Prince O'Donnell. Many of Montreal's vampire community thought this change of power would bring a similar stability as the last, but it did not.
Prince Boisclair was very much like his predecessor in many ways. Financing major projects such as Hydro Quebec, the subway system known locally as Le Metro, the Montreal Casino and Saint-Joseph's Oratory. However the stability sought after did not follow. 1955 was marred by the Richard Riots. 1967 brought with it the Quiet Revolution. 1969; The Bombing of the Stock Exchange. 1994; The Biker War. 1995; The Referendum. The latter events forced the hands of many corporations and tied kindred hands for the first time in centuries, as there was an exodus of company head quarters out of Montreal and towards Canada's largest metropolis: Toronto.
Without the financial backing of legitimate companies however, investments became more about flash than substance: bringing the Grand Prix to Ile-Ste-Helene, establishing the Jazz Festival and Cirque du Soleil. The 20th Century hasn't been kind to the Invictus and the 21st Century isn't expected to be either.
Leading the foray would be the First and Second Estates, the Invictus and the Lancea et Sanctum . Georges de Launay would be declared the first Prince of Montreal and establish court. Not long after, his young court would be faced with its first real challenge: the local Circle of the Crone . The two groups would exchange hostilities until about 1754 when the Circle, refusing to be put down and proving themselves time and again as resourceful hunters in this new wilderness, were invited to join the Montreal court. They accepted the invitation much to the Second Estate's chagrin.
This break between the Estates is rumored to have caused the change in power as George de Launay was dethroned by John O'Donnell in 1760. Being an Invictus member but holding very close ties to the Lance, and attending mass regularly, was able to mend the link between the Estates and lead Montreal and its Kindred to brighter times. It was under Prince O'Donnell's leadership that the Gazette, Northwest Company, John Molson Brewery and Bank of Montreal were founded. It was also under Prince O'Donnell that the Notre-Dame Basilica was constructed.
Although the prosperity continued into the 1800s, Prince O'Donnell and the Estates faced there first real moments of strife around this time as well. By 1814 Carthians from New York City, who had requested refuge in Montreal following the conclusion of the War of 1812, were welcomed into the court. Many saw this as a boon to the city as the influx of wealth and ideas would surely lead to even greater development. The Carthians , contrary to their nickname, did not set flame to the All Night Society upon arrival. But sedition quickly filled the minds of the kine as Canada suffered rebellions in 1837 & 1838 and a labor strike in 1843. Riots followed in 1917 and the blame began to trickle towards the Fire Brands. It was voiced exclusively by English speaking vampires, however.
By 1942, a younger, Montreal born kindred named Raymond Boisclair had risen to lofty heights within the Invictus. Powered by the ever growing number of Franco-Kindred, he was able to challenge and take the throne of the city from Prince O'Donnell. Many of Montreal's vampire community thought this change of power would bring a similar stability as the last, but it did not.
Prince Boisclair was very much like his predecessor in many ways. Financing major projects such as Hydro Quebec, the subway system known locally as Le Metro, the Montreal Casino and Saint-Joseph's Oratory. However the stability sought after did not follow. 1955 was marred by the Richard Riots. 1967 brought with it the Quiet Revolution. 1969; The Bombing of the Stock Exchange. 1994; The Biker War. 1995; The Referendum. The latter events forced the hands of many corporations and tied kindred hands for the first time in centuries, as there was an exodus of company head quarters out of Montreal and towards Canada's largest metropolis: Toronto.
Without the financial backing of legitimate companies however, investments became more about flash than substance: bringing the Grand Prix to Ile-Ste-Helene, establishing the Jazz Festival and Cirque du Soleil. The 20th Century hasn't been kind to the Invictus and the 21st Century isn't expected to be either.
Territories
The Invictus lay claim to the following districts in the Greater Montreal Metropolitan area:
- Dorval(Montreal)
- Ville St-Laurent(Montreal)
- Lachine(Montreal)
- Sud-Ouest(Montreal)
- Westmount(Montreal)
- Villemarie(Montreal)
- Pointe-Claire(Montreal)
- Beaconsfield(Montreal)
- Baie-d'Urfe(Montreal)
- Ahuntsic-Carterville(Montreal)
- Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisoneuve(Montreal)
- Anjou(Montreal)[Contested]
- Montreal-Est(Montreal)
- Boucherville(South Shore)
- Brossard(South Shore)
- Laval-sur-le-Lac(Laval)
- Ste-Dorothee(Laval)
- Chomedey(Laval)[Contested]
- Duvernay(Laval)
- Ste-Rose(Laval)
- Rosemere(North Shore)
- Lorraine(North Shore)
- Bois-des-Fillions(North Shore)
- Terrebonne(North Shore)[Contested]
Founding Date
1642
Type
Political, Faction / Party
Alternative Names
The First Estate, The Conspiracy of Silence
Demonym
Mister or Madam
Leader
Government System
Meritocracy
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Market economy
Parent Organization
Location
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Friendly/Symbiotic Relationship
The First and Second Estates work well together, but in Montreal the Lance has taken heavy casualties and now depends on the Invictus for its very survival. The Invictus will support and protect its allies provided it does not have to over exert itself to do so.
Tenuous Cease Fire
Currently the Invictus are wary of the Carthians next move. The City has nearly slipped away from there grasp and any chance they can get of weakening the Carthians power they will take, unless it leads to all out war. No one wants that much bloodshed.
Neutral
There is currently no link between the Invictus and the Crones.
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