Carolina Ayala
(a.k.a. La Reina de Pequena Habana)
Carolina Ayala was once a liberal reformer, at least by the standards of the time. She was a fervent supporter of José Marti and Cuban independence from the Spanish Empire, and while her gender prevented her from having a larger role in events, she participated behind the scenes in the war of independence in the late 1890s. When the Yankees intervened and Teddy Roosevelt charged up San Juan Hill for all the journalists, she was grateful that finally Cuba would be free.
Much to her dismay, the Platt Amendment passed by the U.S. Congress meant Washington could intervene to “stabilize” the country, which was frequently, as Cuban institutions struggled to refine the wild energies of a liberated nation. Eventually, the military seized power, answerable only to the U.S. fruit and sugar companies. She was not alone in her discontent; many Cuban Lasombra felt the same as she did, and it was over refreshments at a late-night soiree that she met her sire. He looked a decade her junior, but be spoke with a fire that matched her own. She was a married woman, but without hesitation she was ready to follow him from her plantation and into another world. She did not know that he was actually two decades her senior and a lieutenant of the Archbishop of Havana. A religious woman, it took her several years to fully accept her Damnation, but once she did, she herself felt liberated: free to earn her place based on her merits. At first, she was on the periphery of the Archbishop's court, the childe of a prominent paladin but little more. In a short bit of time, however, she had succeeded in carving out her own domain in the central business district, El Vedado, while outshining her own sire in clan gatherings. She was considered an up-and-coming woman in Havana (rare, given the intense machismo among the elders there) when the simmering rebellion in the countryside turned into an inferno consuming the whole island. Her sire felt dutybound to stay and preserve the old crumbling order, but Carolina had no intention of going to her Final Death for the sake of Batista, and she wanted no part of the socialist society to come. With several others of her kind, she relocated to Miami along with the upper-class Cuban emigres.
It was difficult to leave her sire, but she was determined to somehow thrive in her new home. Carolina founded La Cruz Coronada in 1964, but her initial place in the pecking order was exceptionally low.
Compared to some of the other Lasombra who had come over, she was relatively young and unknown, but respected. It was only after most of her pack was destroyed in the wars with the Camarilla in the 1980s and 1990s that she assumed leadership. With the demise of the old guard and the new political climate, many wrote off Carolina and La Cruz as relics from a lost place and time. She proved just how wrong they were by demonstrating an ironclad hold over Little Havana she had developed over the years. Her dominance over her fiefdom guarantees her recognition as ruler of a neighborhood so central to the city, although she disdains the use of the title “Bishop.” She envisions her rule as entirely material rather than spiritual and takes a more business-like approach to politics than the pomp and glitz favored by Mendoza and his Cathari clique. To those Loyalists who whisper she wishes to be Prince of Miami, she says she is perfectly pleased being “La Reina de Pequena Habana.” While widely seen as a frigid matron, Carolina is deeply invested in looking after the herd in Little Havana, particularly those who share her Cuban exile origin. She is known within her clan for having a wide network among Latin American Lasombra, hosting and helping those visiting Miami or seeking shelter there. It has even been said (though never proven) that she has given aid to the hated Lasombra antitribu, placing clan loyalties above the sect. Whatever the truth, whereas Mendoza has let his contacts in the clan wither, Carolina has worked to build and consolidate new relationships all the time. Thus, while weaker politically than the Archbishop inside the sect, within their clan they are growing closer to equals. La Cruz cannot make Mendoza fall, but that can be left to the Loyalists themselves, and when the Lasombra fill the as they always do), Carolina stands ready to be of service. In furtherance of her goals, Carolina and La Cruz have acted as patrons of politicians, priests, and other notable residents of Little Havana with an eye toward growing their inbuence outward into Miami, the state, and even regionally or nationally. Carolina has taken a personal interest in two city commissioners and a state senator, grooming them for higher office. With Little Havana as the bedrock, she aims to forge a conservative political movement drawing on religious and economic support from her packmates. So far, Mendoza has put his bacchanals before dealing with her, but Carolina realises he will only tolerate so much for so long. By the time the Archbishop acts, if he ever does, she calculates it will be too little, too late, and by then, Mendoza's fate will be sealed.
Much to her dismay, the Platt Amendment passed by the U.S. Congress meant Washington could intervene to “stabilize” the country, which was frequently, as Cuban institutions struggled to refine the wild energies of a liberated nation. Eventually, the military seized power, answerable only to the U.S. fruit and sugar companies. She was not alone in her discontent; many Cuban Lasombra felt the same as she did, and it was over refreshments at a late-night soiree that she met her sire. He looked a decade her junior, but be spoke with a fire that matched her own. She was a married woman, but without hesitation she was ready to follow him from her plantation and into another world. She did not know that he was actually two decades her senior and a lieutenant of the Archbishop of Havana. A religious woman, it took her several years to fully accept her Damnation, but once she did, she herself felt liberated: free to earn her place based on her merits. At first, she was on the periphery of the Archbishop's court, the childe of a prominent paladin but little more. In a short bit of time, however, she had succeeded in carving out her own domain in the central business district, El Vedado, while outshining her own sire in clan gatherings. She was considered an up-and-coming woman in Havana (rare, given the intense machismo among the elders there) when the simmering rebellion in the countryside turned into an inferno consuming the whole island. Her sire felt dutybound to stay and preserve the old crumbling order, but Carolina had no intention of going to her Final Death for the sake of Batista, and she wanted no part of the socialist society to come. With several others of her kind, she relocated to Miami along with the upper-class Cuban emigres.
It was difficult to leave her sire, but she was determined to somehow thrive in her new home. Carolina founded La Cruz Coronada in 1964, but her initial place in the pecking order was exceptionally low.
Compared to some of the other Lasombra who had come over, she was relatively young and unknown, but respected. It was only after most of her pack was destroyed in the wars with the Camarilla in the 1980s and 1990s that she assumed leadership. With the demise of the old guard and the new political climate, many wrote off Carolina and La Cruz as relics from a lost place and time. She proved just how wrong they were by demonstrating an ironclad hold over Little Havana she had developed over the years. Her dominance over her fiefdom guarantees her recognition as ruler of a neighborhood so central to the city, although she disdains the use of the title “Bishop.” She envisions her rule as entirely material rather than spiritual and takes a more business-like approach to politics than the pomp and glitz favored by Mendoza and his Cathari clique. To those Loyalists who whisper she wishes to be Prince of Miami, she says she is perfectly pleased being “La Reina de Pequena Habana.” While widely seen as a frigid matron, Carolina is deeply invested in looking after the herd in Little Havana, particularly those who share her Cuban exile origin. She is known within her clan for having a wide network among Latin American Lasombra, hosting and helping those visiting Miami or seeking shelter there. It has even been said (though never proven) that she has given aid to the hated Lasombra antitribu, placing clan loyalties above the sect. Whatever the truth, whereas Mendoza has let his contacts in the clan wither, Carolina has worked to build and consolidate new relationships all the time. Thus, while weaker politically than the Archbishop inside the sect, within their clan they are growing closer to equals. La Cruz cannot make Mendoza fall, but that can be left to the Loyalists themselves, and when the Lasombra fill the as they always do), Carolina stands ready to be of service. In furtherance of her goals, Carolina and La Cruz have acted as patrons of politicians, priests, and other notable residents of Little Havana with an eye toward growing their inbuence outward into Miami, the state, and even regionally or nationally. Carolina has taken a personal interest in two city commissioners and a state senator, grooming them for higher office. With Little Havana as the bedrock, she aims to forge a conservative political movement drawing on religious and economic support from her packmates. So far, Mendoza has put his bacchanals before dealing with her, but Carolina realises he will only tolerate so much for so long. By the time the Archbishop acts, if he ever does, she calculates it will be too little, too late, and by then, Mendoza's fate will be sealed.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Carolina is tall and curvy, a shapely and steely Latin woman in her mid 30s. She often wears a sullen or scowling expression naturally, and when she is annoyed, a grimace from her can be devastating. She dresses fashionably but conservatively, in fine attire as appropriate for Sunday Mass as for the boardroom.
Character Breakdown
- Sire: Gonzalo de Sandoval
- Nature: Caregiver
- Demeanor: Judge
- Generation: 9th
- Willpower: 6
- Morality: Path of Power and the Inner Voice 6
Species
Year of Death
1897
Children
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Ruled Locations
Comments