You hear from that Anarch, Gérard? Yeah, he was askin' me bout Balthazar. I didn't say shit though - he might not be in a position of power anymore, but I aint gonna piss off Balthazar anytime soon. Mother fucker is dangerous!— A Thin-Blood reporting to Bronwyn at Blue Velvet
The boogeyman. Balthazar was a name spoken with reverence or fear depending on which side of the Jyhad you traveled. Balthazar was nothing more than a brutish thug for
Prince Lodin's regime. He often drew the ire of his contemporaries with his brash attitude, but few could argue with Balthazar's results. Balthazar ingratiated himself in Lodin's court from the start. He turned on Prince Maxwell and his own sire Alexis, ensuring that Prince Lodin ascended to the top of Chicago. To his credit though, it is said that Balthazar spared his own childe, Marc Levesque, though he has not been seen since that fateful night. His reward, the title of Chicago's Sheriff. Though he was ostracized for his duplicity by his own clan.
As Sheriff, Balthazar was Lodin's sword - directed towards whichever enemies stood in his way. Together with
Horratio Ballard, they concocted schemes to keep the Anarch presence of Chicago at bay. This eventually moved to culling the Caitiff and Thin-Bloods that were beginning to become more frequent during the latter half of the 20th Century.
Life was good for Balthazar - he acted though the violence and destruction was in the name of Prince Lodin's War; but in reality, Balthazar relished the violence. He was able to impart his particular brand of brutality against those Kindred deemed lower than himself (particularly minorities). But nothing lasts forever. Balthazar continued to be Chicago's sheriff after Lodin met the final death in 1993. He served the
Primogen Council in a similar capacity as he did with Lodin - albeit on a tighter leash. Balthazar found his power and influence with the Chicago inner circle dramatically wane.
When
Joseph Peterson claimed Praxis, Balthazar openly opposed his claim. He was shut out however, completely powerless. He did find an ally within his old friend Horratio Ballard who also opposed Joseph Peterson's bid for princedom. As fate would have it, Peterson failed spectacularly. He was ousted in a few months of office. Balthazar felt the tides of fate change in his favour, what he didn't expect was for Ballard to put forward
Kevin Jackson and support his bid for praxis. Yet another childe of Lodin that was unworthy, in Balthazar's eyes at least.
In 2006 after serving as Chicago's sheriff for over a hundred years, Balthazar was relieved of his duties. Prince Jackson put in no uncertain terms that Balthazar was no longer welcome within his court. The insult was the last straw for Balthazar, he retreated from public un-life and has been relatively quiet ever since. He began haunting mortal social events, far away from any Kindred politics or presence. But you don't get as old and twisted like Balthazar and leave quietly - he is likely still planning his grand return.
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