Arnd Weiss (Arn-t Vie-ss)

As seen in

Tacoma by Night: Vamptober Tales #1

Arnd Weiss (a.k.a. The Azure King)

"It is not will, nor pride, nor victory, nor death that truly decides a battle. Nor is it the ability to manipulate or dominate others. The most important thing in life is, of course… DANDYISM!"

-- Slayer, Guilty Gear

The maniacal multi-millionare macaroni mastermind migrated from Munich, Arnd Weiss is a key part of Tacoma's Anarch society and its movement overall. One of The South Sound Barons who led the charge to take Tacoma back from the Sabbat and the Camarilla, Arnd was instrumental as a master of negotiation, finance, and sheer drive and passion.
While he can frequently be seen as a cheat and a miser, Arnd is a financial wiz who's been on top of his game for the past 100+ years, and he strives to always live his unlife in a dignified, honorable, and cultured way befitting the Dandyism he models. Of course, he's still a maniacal threat, and oh boy does he love raking in the cash every second he gets, and destroying weaker businessmen in the process. But, all is fair in love and war after all.

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Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Arnd was turned at an older age, so while no longer frail due to his Kindred abilities, he is thin and wrinkled. He's also shorter than average, and despite not always needing it prefers to walk with an heirloom cane.

Facial Features

Arnd's eyes are his most memorable facial features, being that one of them is an almost ghostly silver, bordering on white, while he doesn't have the other one, covered up with one of a variety of fanciful eyepatches.
In terms of general description, he has a thinner face, with a sharp chin covered by a thick yet nicely trimmed beard, along with a round nose and a decent hairline. His eyes have slight bags underneath them from the tireless nights of preperation and planning he had before being embraced.

Physical quirks

While Arnd doesn't talk with his hands as much as others in his circle, he does like to include strong gestures to add to his points, even when talking to himself or over a telephone. He also tends to lean to his right side, either on his cane or a subtle hip-pop or wall lean when without it.

Special abilities

As a member of Clan Ventrue, Arnd has natural access to the disciplines of Dominate, Fortitude, and Presence, which he uses frequently. Domiante is his greatest supernatural skill, although he mainly uses it with layfolk he cannot be direct with due to the Masquerade. 
Fortitude and Presence are mostly equally trained for him, as he has learned over the years how to draw or push attention as well as shore up his own defenses where his mostly feeble body wouldn't protect him.
Aside from these standard skills, he's also picked up two out-of-clan abilities. From a Nosferatu ally he learned the Animalism skill Sense the Beast, to keep a track on targets level of sanity. From a former Toreador flame he learned how to sharpen his senses, to better read body language and listen out for potential traps.

Apparel & Accessories

Arnd has an entire, robust, wardrobe with various fine tailored suits from throughout the decades, with some antiques being from even before his time. While he does his best to keep them all clean, he knows how to get himself dirty, and doesn't cry over split clothes if they can't be cleaned properly.

Specialized Equipment

Arnd usually walks with a family heirloom cane, one crafted from a branch of a tree outside their former generational home. He has gotten it refurbished and proofed many times over the years, and carries it with pride. However, when he means business, or when he knows a situation could go south, he switches it out for a sleek black cane that holds a secret pistol within its handle, with the rest of the cane doubling as a buldgeon.
He also possesses an ivory-inlaid revolver with twelve silver bullets, a gift from his Sire who always stressed the danger of the Garou.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Early Life: Into America

Spoilered for Length

The Weiss family lived a successful yet calm life in Munich during the time of the German Federation. By the time Arnd was born in 1827, the family had generations of status as reliable, fair, and energetic traders, veritable kings of the local marketplaces. With that in mind, in came as a surprise to young Arnd when in 1840 the family decided to follow the wave of other Germans and move to the new world, as his father Isidor had begun to notice the swell of unrest that would culminate less than a decade later.
The young Arnd was astounded by the different environment, although he had luckily been given a crash course in English by his world-wise uncle during the weeks of the boat ride, so he could ask and read the essentials. It was also around this time that Isidor and his brother began to give Arnd lessons in management and finance, using the ship, their voyage, and their supplies as educational examples.
The family stayed in Pensylvannia for one year as they got their barings, followed by a move to Chicago while Isidor had a contractor make a new homestead and storefront for the family. Since few places had the same marketplaces as their home, he would adapt and create a general store in the recently-rising Milwuakee, with the intent to leave it to Arnd, his only son of five children.
The family officialy moved in come 1843, and the majority of the Weiss family would remain in the Milwaukee area to this day.
Arnd was not the majority, however. While he had but three years of travel, it was enough to spark in him a wanderlust that filled him each waking day, compounded only by hearing other tales of settlers who had traveled the various territories of the US, and other immigrants who came from various, unheard of (to him) homelands.
Between 1843 and 1847, Arnd stayed in Milwuakee with his family, setting up the Weiss General Store and using his natural charisma to help boost their customer base, but each time he got the chance he'd go on trips, with relatively-nearby Chicago being his most frequent stop, and took every chance he had to mingle. It was around this time he began to hear of the Dandy ideology, from people who would speak of such things in France and England, and became attatched to the idea.
In 1848, after Arnd's 21st birthday, he decided he could wait no longer to travel afield from his family, and seek out his own wealth in life. His family was saddened by his departure, but were encouraging all the same, with his father and uncle feeling the lad was more than ready for it. And so, with one last delivery to take to Chicago for the family business, Arnd would set out on his own.

Adult Life: Before the Embrace

Spoilered for Length

Arnd's charismatic nature quickly got him into many circles wherever he landed, and he didn't pick and choose. At this point in his life, education was his utmost priority. Cultures, Arts, Walks of Life, he wanted to know as much as he could about all manners of different people. While he stayed in Chicago for many years, not ready to leave too far, he made frequent trips to New York as well.
He would also begin to work his charis-magic in terms of business. He wasn't starting any new corporations or store fronts, but when he spoke in financial circles, people listened, and he gave more than a few new friends a boost in customership by the sheer value of being a fashionable, well-liked, and friendl gentleman to the right people. The true societal benefit of the Dandy, idealized.
Within the decade, however, his attitude changed, and he felt himself ready to really become to businessman he was raised to be. So, he began his first general trading store of his own, Weiss Local & International Trade. While the details and minutae of his rise and success in this business would probably be interesting to some, but that is not our main area of focus today.
Arnd Weiss the mortal lived a successful but rather uneventful life. While many important events did pass him by, most notably the Civil War, where while he did lend financial and vocal support for the Union and emancipation, he was no historical figurehead or icon. Merely a successful businessman and well-respected fellow living in mundane peace.
But, perhaps the man started to have a bit of a midlife crisis, as he began to be left unsated from his own financial success or cultural enrichment. No, he began to want more than just to win. He wanted to dominate, to control, to be powerful. There was no real inciting incident, no turning point of destiny, there was just the will of a charismatic man and a plethora of weaker, smaller, less well-managed businesses for him to use.
As he entered his 40's, he left his original business to his eldest nephew, and began to work as a financial advisor and professional investor, eyeing promising new businesses. His nature left many to see the benefits and consider his help, but few saw the people that would be crushed when his expectations weren't met, with those operations being subtly handed off to one of the many affluent friends Arnd made to spruce up and fill with their own people and workers. The rise of organized crime that was beginning in Chicago also began to make its way into his circle, as the mudjacking of the city created many interesting new places for the Dandy to wander into.
Seeing some upstarts begin to form their schemes and plots, Arnd saw the same thing he did in legal business. Small-minded, short-sighted, weak children playing at kings. Perhaps it began out of fascination, as it was the Dandy's duty to taste all life had to give, but Arnd weaved his fingers into the dawn of organized crime, and crushed those who he found ill-suited for it.
As more time passed, Weiss created several businesses, each often passed on in order to keep his name off of the books, in order to manage the various operations he took over that could still be worthwhile yet not able to be passed along to a fellow investor. With more family and friends watching over his captured businesses, he could turn more of an eye to his more criminal acts, which honestly weren't too different, just trading and moving illegal goods rather than general store products, and advising money launderers and tax evaders rather than...well the same thing but in socially acceptable means!
This also led to more erratic behavior from the man. The Arnd that, in the modern night, gets giddy at the sign of danger and durress, the cackling madman dodging behind cars and fleeing from fire, it all began here. This is also the time he began to be in New York more and more, with his ventures to other cities becoming more common following the end of the civil war.
One night in particular, however, would change the trajectory of his life. Well, save it from a timely end, that is.
Arnd had already reached his 60's, 62 if we want to be specific (with his birthday just two months away). Despite his personal energy and active mind, his body was beginning to show signs of slowing down, and he was getting sick more often. So much so that, after a final trip to New York to see some dear friends, he planned on perhaps not leaving Chicago again.
During this trip, however, he made a fatal mistake. He was too impulsive, and squashed out a smuggling ring that was under another crooks employ, one that was more than human.
Arnd had unknowingly stumbled past Kindred before, his International Trading business brushed past the interest of The Setites many a time, but he had always remained oblivious to the truths of the world. This key night, however, he had found himself cornered in a dark alley against an opponent he could not buy, bludgeon, or blast with his revolver.
And he found his guts nearly ripped out, blood spilled over the ground.
The Kindred who he had wronged saw fit for him to die slowly and painfully. But, this led to one key oppritunity from another wandering Vampire, one who did not want to see this bright spirit snuffed so "soon".
An elegantly dressed woman snapped her fingers, and two maids carried the bleeding body into a carriage, where it would be taken to a secluded estate.

The Embrace: A blur of ages

Spoilered for Length

When Arnd awoke, a full week had already passed. He had no memories of his painful defeat, but felt his body stronger, lighter, and not ailed by sickness. At first, he thought that he must've already been dead, and moved on to the next life. Technically, that was not wrong, but the refined woman who brought him into her home would soon explain.
The madam Otto Ernser, officially Ottilie Esser, was an accomplished Ventrue within the Camarilla of New York, but an oft derided one as a woman and one more aesthetically minded one, earning her the nickname the Misplaced Rose. But, she was not a fool. She had taken note of Arnd on one of his previous trips to the city, and specifically was drawn to him for a reason of unity: they both believed in the power and philosophy of Dandyism, especially the more French ideology of taking what was reserved for nobility and drawing it into the public eye, flirting with all walks and edges of life, and devoting ones self to noble and dignified expressions in all things. But she was enraptured by him for his business acumen, his ruthless takeovers, and gleeful destruction of the weaker-willed.
To see him dead, she thought, would've been a waste. And so, she Embraced him.
It took Arnd some time to really adjust to everything, and to mourn all of what was lost to him now. The bright sunny days, the meals of home, even the ability to cry, although that was merely replaced by blood. And the hunger, god above he hated the hunger, although a part of him had always known the insatiable drive forward.
Still, adjust he did, and within a month of his new condition, he had accepted as much as he could, and Otto could begin her work of educating and molding her new Childe.
For what it's worth, much of what he did as a Kindred was an extension of what he was already doing in life, only now with the added edge of the Masquerade to temper his ambitions, and with the new powers of the Ventrue to bend the weak willed. He increasingly left his previous businesses to his family and mortal friends, who he had to greatly distance himself from, much to his own pain, and focused entirely on his new existance. Two months into his education, he was taken to his first Elysium.
Otto was proud to announce her new Childe, she called in a favor to the Prince in order to get the impromptu siring accepted post-unmortum, and the social hunting grounds began. Arnd was as charismatic as ever, but soon found himself stuttering over his words, tripping against the double and triple meanings, and being all but blindsided by the true maniacal charisma and manipulation that was common place in the Kindred world. For the first time in his life, he was humbled not by his own will, but by the sheer depth of the pool he was in.
Otto thought he might break, or worse: resent her for this humiliation. But, on their carriage ride back to the estate, Arnd could do nothing but laugh like the devil had possessed him. "How wonderful!" He began to shriek. "All my life I have been at naught but the kinders table, and beliving myself a king! Now I see, the true battlefield of the night, NOW I SEE MY KINGDOM TO COME!" A mad passion bellowed like smoke with each cackle, and his sire began to laugh alongside him. She had chosen correctly after all.
Thus, the new status quo of Arnd the Kindred began. He kept to his usual business, only now with his maniacal urges and criminal connections only increasing, although he was able to reconquer legal operations as well once he had a strong enough cover identity. Although with the growing instability between Camarilla and Sabbat, the pair more often than not operated in Chicago, away from the messier drama, but still made plenty of social apperances for high society.
The time began to fly, however. Each night became some kind of routine, and while Arnd was full of dramatic enjoyment, he was not involved with obvious history. During the roaring 20's, he salivated at the rise of organized crime. During the great depression, he stressed but found his avenues to keep his money, and made sure his family wanted for nothing, even if he had to invent a secret affair to justify it. During both world wars he was amazed at the violence capable by humans when he had seen the atrocities Kindred could commit, and did his best to protect those fleeing Germany as well as the immigrants getting undue treatment.
But the ages all blur together without anything notable to break them apart, and in the blink of an undead eye, another 60 years passed. He had doubled his life lived, and had done almost nothing at all. Sure, in his own mind, he had conquered many, achieved riches, and elevated his own status and that of Otto, but he felt immensely undone.
No, the next shakeup in his life would not come until the 1950's, with the event that would drive him away from Otto, and the Camarilla as a whole.

A Woman named Toiba: Breaking Point

Spoilered for Length

For all of Arnd's victories over the years, how much money he had raked in and social status he had garnered, he began to feel it was all for naught, as Otto and her ilk still treated him like a neonate, more than 60 years after the fact. He had expected to be a king, and gained victories that should've made him one, but he was little more than a money-making machine for his Sire. It was the despondent milleu that many Kindred fall into at one point or another, and they really only have two options: fall into line and accept your place, or dramatically shunt yourself away from it. He was too prideful for the former, but too devoted to his game for the latter.
In his eternal, unwavering contemplation, he stumbled upon a random nameless cafe. For no reason other than curiosity, he entered, enjoying the calm atmosphere and the smell of the brew, but soon another familiar and pleasing sensation entered his mind: the sound of a sophisticated take down.
In the corner of a cafe was a mature woman wearing a sharp sweater and straight-cut skirt, utterly destroying two younger men, dressed similarly to professors in an obvious attempt to make up for sheer intellectual lack. Everything from their diction to their posture to their misinformed ordering of french brews was being torn apart with no more passion than someone would read their grocery list with, and Arnd found it most enthralling. Like most fragile men with something to prove, one of the pair was ready to strike at the woman, but before Arnd could intervene (like any gentleman would), his body froze in place, and the womans cold glare becoming freezingly hot, and he retreated of his own volition with naught but a toppled chair to be his victim.
His fellow followed after, equally unpleased but less volatile, and Arnd righted the fallen chair before walking up to the woman himself. She presumed him another fool, as often when she took down a weak man, another wishing to prove themselves would come after, but was pleasently surprised when he let her take the lead of conversation. The two spent almost the entirety of the night speaking on philosophy, art, history, current politics, just about any topic one could immerse themselves into.
It wasn't until right before Arnd would have to return to Otto's estate for the morning that he asked his first evening-specific question, what exactly was she doing there that evening?
Recruitment, was her answer. She worked under a woman who enjoyed playing cat and mouse, and yet found herself in a position where the mice fling themselves upon her plate, and so it was her task to filter for the right mice, so nothing diseased, poisoned, or facitious ended up where they do not belong.
This led Arnd to ask in a jovial manner which the woman in front of him was: another cat, or another mouse?

"Perhaps I was one once upon a time," she looked strangely solemn, even as her expression didn't change. "But now, I could not tell you. A cat who follows meekly as a mouse, or a mouse acting as a cat in preservation. Or, something else entirely." An air of silence filled the space between them. "Toiba." She finally said. "For you, strange man, I am Toiba Ehrlich."

Arnd introduced himself as well, and excused himself to return, although the pair made plans to meet at the cafe again, when either had the time. After so many years of the milleu, Arnd Weiss had something to look forward to again.
Their cafe meetings, or to call a spade a spade: dates, continued for the better part of the year, with new topics and avenues of conversation being brought up constantly. Sometimes the night would turn towards machinations and mischief instead, with one of the pair assisting the other on some information gathering mission or bank heist. Toiba even proved herself to be a demon behind the wheel and one hell of a getaway driver.
It was around this time that Arnd had chosen his first ghoul. While he had thralls in the past, they were usually Otto's reccomendations. But, Toiba introduced him to a nervous young adult who nontheless had a mind as hungry as their own, and twice as ambitious. This trio of wonderful minds was active from the mid 50's until 1960. For a time, they found a happier routine in each other. Toiba could escape the leash of her Tremere dominator, Arnd found an avenue to make his own name outside of Otto's observations, and the young adult who would become a bigger name later on found mentors and validation for their insatiable mind. Happiness is hard among Kindred, harder still to hang onto, but out of the near-century Arnd had lived, it was the happiest period of his life.
But stories as long as this are not built off of the good times.
One fateful evening, Arnd awoke in the evening, prepared to head out for another night of schemes with Toiba, who had been oddly silent as of late, and their young ghoul, when Otto informed him of a strange development she had heard of. Apparently, one of the Tremere, a chantry head even, was foolish enough to sire a ghoul without the Prince's permission! This alone was enough to raise Arnd's hackles and he began to race for a telephone, when his sire continued.
The illegal childe commited one of the most heinous acts imaginable after being turned, they diablerized the master who turned them, draining their body and soul alike. It was a crime punishable by final death, and the blood hunt was already underway. Arnd gathered his things and began to rush from the house, hoping to find Toiba before a Sheriff or their Hound did. But, Otto had one last nail for the coffin.
"Why are you so panicked, Arnd? The hunt was called three nights ago! Someone else has most likely beaten us to the punch on the poor soul. Oh well, better luck next time." She said with an unmasked smirk that said, despite her tone, she knew preciesely why he was rushing so hard.
He stood, defeated, face fallen flat, and tears of blood beading at the edge of his eyes.
"Anything you wish to divulge, my childe?"
With no other option, Arnd dilvudged his activities with Toiba and their young ghoul, knowing that Otto would pry it from his mind if he didn't. If there was anything that could be done, he needed to do it. She only had one piece of advice. "Forget the sow, and either sire or kill the child. Connections will only be implications, and you really don't need the distraction anyways!"
The next few hours were full of arguments and emotions, as Arnd tried to pry her mind towards any solution, any other option, any mote of sympathy left in her long-dead heart, but he would come up empty. This was a choice moment for Arnd. He could either fall into line and accept his place, or violently shunt himself away from it.
He was too prideful for the former, but Otto had throughouly killed his attatchment to the latter.
Still, he had hope. Toiba was a clever and resourceful woman, and so after Otto was thouroughly stubborn, he left the estate all the same to look for her. The search took the better part of the evening, and the entirety of the next, but no traces came up. The cafe owner had not seen her for days, their other haunts turned up empty, even the landlord of her apartment had forgotten (or been made to forget) all about her. Luckily, in the middle of the second nights search, he did find their young ghoul, who Arnd ferried to a secure, secret location on the way to Chicago. They were not going to stay for long.
What the young ghoul did have, however, was a small note from Toiba for Arnd.

"Dear Mr. Weiss Arnd,
If you are reading this letter, than I'm sure things are...rough. I have finally come up with an answer for your question, all those years ago. I am a mouse. A cowardly, quiet, fragile mouse, who kneeded the cat and cleaned its teeth so that I would not end up between them. But, the stock of mice are running out, and I find myself alone with a hungry cat behind me. I will not leave this world a coward, Arnd, my dear Arnd. I shall either be a cat, or I shall arm myself and tear out the throat of the cat on my way down. I only hope that you will one day see me again, or that you will find happiness. We are meant for great things you and I, but if I cannot be near you, carry my greatness with you."

Soon enough, his worst fears would be confirmed, and Toiba would be for sure lost to him, with her presence on the world all but erased. But, in his uncovering, he learned an even more shocking fact. Unbeknownst to either of them, their sires were allies and had set them together, with the intention of swooping in and claiming all their new successes when the time was right. Their first mistake was underestimating Toiba's personal ferocity. The second was underestimating Arnd's.
Within less than a month, all of Arnd's corporations that weren't squarely in his or his loved ones hands went up in flames, figuratively and oh-so literally. He even gave Otto's main estate a much needed fire-bath, although he knew she'd have made her way out ahead of time. Nonetheless, it was the candles of a new-york sized Going-Away-Party cake, and as soon as they were snuffed, he was gone.
This was more than Arnd pausing his game. He wanted to stop the game altogether, Camarilla and all. But, he wasn't quite sure of where to go just yet, so he and the young ghoul made their way back to Chicago, and Arnd's "Son" and "Grandson" visited his family for the "first" time. It was during this visit, as he was wandering his old haunts, and remarking on the change of it all, that he had a choice encounter with a lithe man with long black hair, dressed in a strange floral suit, blazer draped over their shoulders.

"Are you alright old man? You're wandering around so aimlessly, I thought you might be lost." The figure greeted him, with no other announcement to his presence.
"Not all who wander are lost, I read that in a charming little tale once." Arnd replied, not facing his conversational partner.
"Perhaps not, but you have the gait of a lost man, wandering or not. You sure stumbled out of New York as a ghost without chain, and you stumble into Chicago much the same." The figure came up next to him, getting a death glare from Arnd, who readied the hidden pistol within his cane. "Calm yourself, Arnd Weiss!" They began. "I am not your enemy."
"That does not make you a friend. Speak plain and I may just ready my hand yet."
"There it is, a fire that still persists, no matter what. You still have the flame of a betting man within your chest, Weiss. Are you going to snuff it out so soon?"
"Are you a fan of some sort? I am done with the Camarilla's game, young man! I shall not dally with Otto, her ilk, or any of the Ivory Tower's bastardous kin!" He spat out.
"How nice for you, then, that i'm not with any of them. But, I am a fan. You're done with their game, but does that mean the game is done? There's still a massive world out there, right at your feet!"
"And what do you care? Claim it yourself, if you're so eager."
"I don't have the skills myself, but you do." The figure took off their sunglasses, showing deep blue eyes that seemed to look right into Arnd. "Have you felt the pain of a sports star going into retirement young? An artist or musician hanging up their tools? A prized boxer stepping out of the ring? *hmmph* A restaurant discontinuing your favorite meal?"
"Get to your point, my patcience draws thin."
"My point, Arnd Weiss, is that it is despairful to see a true master of their craft bow out too soon! The fools of the Camarilla, and the foolish wish-to-be-chessmaster of Otto Esser, they do not deserve you, for they saw you as just a pawn. But, you have the makings of a King yet! You merely need to find the right board, and the right pieces."
Arnd couldn't help but feel the tingle of possibility at the back of his neck. He had never met this young man before, but he couldn't immediatley deny his words.
"...What do you suggest then, young fool, if you know so much? Chicago is as overran as New York, and enemies shall be at my heels wherever I go."
The young man smirked wider. "Washington."
"Washington? Really? So I can either rule over the tumbleweeds or sit in Seattle and be found and slain on a monorail?"
"Ah you deny the area it's potential, and the prizes already there! Of course, with your precarious situation with the Camarilla, I wouldn't be dumb enough to send you to Seattle, even if I think you'd make your way." The young man gave Arnd a pat on the shoulder, and slipped something into his coat pocket. "If you're not ready to give up, then go to that address. I look forward to seeing your great works." He began to walk away.
"And what makes you so sure I'll even follow such a cockamamie idea without evidence?"
"To prove that you can!" The figure shouted back.

As much as he found the young man's idea foolish, he couldn't deny that the temptation to prove himself bubbled in his stomach. But, that was not the only reason why. Despite being another Camarilla territory, it would be easier to evade revenge on the other side of the country. Besides, he couldn't really give up yet.
He had to carry her greatness onward with him.

Into Washington: Arnd the Anarch

Spoilered for Length

Within the month, Arnd and the young ghoul left Chicago, and made their way to Washington. It was a rather uneventful trip, but the ghoul, who had immigrated from Germany as well and had never seen much outside of New York, found the bounty of nature along the way exhilirating. Nonetheless, the trip was successful, although Arnd was surprised to find the address to take him to a restaurant on a boat off the northern coast of Tacoma, aptly named Top of the Ocean.
As he entered, the waitstaff took notice and hushed words around the restaurant, leading "Mr. King" to a private table, which seated the same young man he had talked to previously, finishing a conversation with a handful of impatient kindred.

"We don't have all night, Choi."
"Choi-Yun, my dear friends, and you needn't worry," He spotted the nights arrival. "Our guest of honor is present."  They turned their attention towards Arnd, whose natural charisma was in effect, albiet tempered by the recent malaise that had overcome him. 
"My friends, allow me to introduce Arnd Weiss, the newest addition to the city, and a Wunderkind of business."
"Rather ambitious young man, for I have barely stepped into this city."
"This dandy is supposed to help? He barely looks like he can stand! Not impressed, Choi." Arnd whipped a chair around without a second thought, and placed himself at the "head" of the table opposite of his sponsor, tossing his cane to the Lick who was doubting him.
"A Dandy is a man of pride and culture, and I am more than capable of dealing with whatever paltry issue you 'gentlemen', and women, are having." He said, bowing to the sole woman in the cotorie.
"Weiss...I've heard of you." A face of recognition came over her face, as one of concern came over Arnd's, although the young man did not seem concerned. "You are a part of the Cam in New York, aren't you? Or should I say, weren't you?" He was getting more nervous, with the other guest at the table getting ready to take action. "You're the one who went postal and burned down a dozen places yeah?" the womans look of recognition turned to an excited smirk.
There was a beat of cautious silence. "Heh, not my classiest work, but you use the tools proper for the job."
The grin grew wider. "Wicked."

This would be the starting verses in Arnd's relationship with the Anarchs of Tacoma, although for many years he would work as an Independent, since it was still a Camarilla controlled area for quite a while. In the earlier days, he was mostly settling in and wrestling some funding for his own and acting as an advisor, he could only access his stored finances so much without drawing attention.
He also made good on the one bit of sense Otto had, and fully turned his ghoul, who took on a new identity once they were turned, becoming the Kindred now known as Azariah Faerber. This would turn into an issue for her later, but that's a story for another time. 
As for Arnd, his successes continued, catering to both the Camarilla that still had control over Tacoma while using the funding to provide and preserve the Anarchs. Even when Fintan Breen met his final death at the hands of Prince Gravenstein, Arnd knew to fan the flames to push them further forward. He saw businesses rise and fall, only this time he was taking down the Camarilla that used him and snuffed Toiba Ehrlich's potential, and giving to the Anarchs who he found far more agreeable, in temperament and freedom. This was the period he gained his personal cotorie, The Chessboard, inspired by the young mans words at the start of this journey.
But, even among his successes, he was growing tired of the eternal stalemate between the Camarilla and the Anarchs. He wanted something to tip the scales, and he had no time for it to be himself. There were multiple candidates, including several Anarchs and a third-party Lasombra by the name of Saverino, but none of them seemed to have the right touch to make a wave after Fintan's death.
But, then he was approached by the same young man who had cast the fishing line to reel him in, the future Baron of Tacoma, Fiore Choi-Yun. He came to Arnd with an idea, to support not just one future Baron, but several in the place of one, finding the most suitable Kindred around. Fiore had already sent out his hooks to two others who would make their way to Tacoma at some point, and was being motivated by a wise assisstant from Egypt, but Arnd was an essential piece for his puzzle. 
He thought Fiore was entirely crazy, but couldn't deny that the man had a talent for scouting and recruitment, he even successfully drew Arnd out of his depression. He joined in, and the pair soon tracked down another viable candidate for their cotorie, Oenone Cortez, and saw the arrival of Raul Bazzoli and his reluctant first joining of the group. Around this time, Arnd even found Azariah once more, changed and grown, and brought her into the fold. That only left the arrival of Gervais Wen towards the early 2000s to complete the group that would eventually become The South Sound Barons.
Little by little and piece by piece, the group eeked out their victories, their supports, and allies, and it was only a matter of time until they would fully strike.
The Sabbat infiltration of Tacoma may have come as a surprise, but afforded the group a unique oppritunity they wouldn't have otherwise had. While Fiore and Oenone sparked the ambitions of resistance and unity for the scattered Anarchs, and Raul and Gervais rallied their resources and made plans of action, Arnd and Azariah stepped back into the court of the Camarilla and did what they did best. Their financial and political manueverings and different paths of charismatic persuasion opened the doors and turned the heads of many members of the sect, both in positions of power and relative weakness, until many of the Primogens and the Prince himself worked through a truce with the Anarchs for the purpose of defeating the Sabbat.
When the Cleansing Nights kicked off, Arnd himself took two key positions. The first was assissting other members of the Ventrue in their manipulation of the Second Inquisition in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and the second was crushing and claiming the businesses the Sabbat had wormed themselves into or started in their short presence in the city. The first was a meager, boring task for his considerable mental skill. 
The second was the most exhilirating campaign he had in his entire life. 
By the time the Sabbat was squashed out and sent running, Arnd had regained his value from his prime and then some, which left only the ousting of the Camarilla in short succession, which was easy since he had plenty of clauses and loopholes to utilize to seize their assets.
When the dust had settled, and the cotorie of Barons were divvying up their territory, Arnd choose to claim the miniscule technical-town of Ruston, situated in the northern part of the area. While it's a small square of land, the real selling point for him was Point Ruston, a recently developed area of high-class development on the coast line, which drew in even more wealthy individuals for the luxury of it all. It was one of Arnd's earliest goals, because it was poorly funded and mismanaged, and he could be and is doing much better. 
But, it was also the location of a hidden underground base for the Second Inqusition. While not a massive bunker, it was enough to store several very nice cache's for weaponry and a digital master server, which Arnd's crew has been hard at work attempting to break since they moved in.
Now, with a gallery of successes under his belt, a city under his control, and a slew of potential goals to reach for, Arnd is in the best spot of his life. But, the fire within him, the drive to get more and more, and the thirst for decisive victory propels him further forward, and only time and the Chessboard can tell where he'll point himself.
The only thing that is known for certain is that wherever the new branches of Weiss' enterprises grow, they all carry a logo with a single white dove, all marking the victories for his dove, his Toiba.

Sexuality

Arnd Weiss has led a mostly heterosexual life, only ever really being actively attracted to women. But, his dandyism and the groups he's been involved in throughout the decades has brought him into queer circles, which he has always given support to, and he never turns down an insightful compliment nor does he leave one unreturned.

Education

Arnd had to skip most practical education upon coming to America in his teens, but after getting involved in business in New York, his aptitude and experience with financial management and manuevering skyrocketed, and in his later years of life and most of his unlife he's put in effort to keeping educated with the times and learning more about the Occult to boot.

Employment

After his family left their original home of Munich, they stayed in Pennsylvania for some time, where Arnd began to learn the skills of trade and management from his father and uncle, which aided the family when they moved westward to Chicago and later Milwaukee as the years went on, with Arnd eventually working their general stores that would move alongside them.
Arnd himself wouldn't stick around too long after entering adulthood, wishing to learn more about the actual art of trade versus mere shop management, and so set off to Chicago, with small excursions to other cities, where he began to gain his dandy behaviors and ruthless attitude towards finance and success. His climb up to and through various commerical success' lasted him until a fateful trip to New York, where he flushed out the wrong crooks front and got nearly killed for his trouble. 
Following his Embrace by his vampiric "savior", he continued his work as an insider Trader, business consultant, professional investor, and of course a general store owner and delivery service. As the decades have gone on, his portfolio has only expanded and updated with the times, with him keeping a thumb on every pulse he finds interesting.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Arnd has had a multitude of successes over his life, he's a preternaturally lucky man no matter how dire the situation gets. But, he's proudest of keeping his entire family afloat during the great depression and the societal pressure both world wars brought on their communities, and more recently finds the liberation of Tacoma to be quite a powerful victory, one that he will ride to greater successes.

Failures & Embarrassments

He has failed as much as he has succeeded, but his attitude and luck never keeps him down for long. Although, the loss of his dearest companion post-Embrace, Toiba, effected him greatly. Also, he frequently takes losses to his partner in crime, Braidy Ewart, but that's less emberassing loss and more like weird rich vampire foreplay.

Mental Trauma

Arnd has never been very traumatized, although he has seen his fair share of terrible things. He's always uneasy around deer, however, since he lost his eye to one during a trip through the forest.

Intellectual Characteristics

Arnd has a very hungry kind of intellect. He always wants to know more, to do more, and to master more with each passing victory. He also keeps an analytical eye out for any and all of his businesses, even if the number he's personally overseeing is currently low.

Morality & Philosophy

"Morals" are a shakey concept to Arnd. Sure, he has standards! He has dignity! But to codify them as morals would be a bit of a stretch, as he is not ruled by any true iron-clad moral center save for one: Win.
Again, he has standards though. He won't betray his cause to a rival sect, but he might make a deal to destroy them another day. He won't give up one of his businesses, but he might tease out some bait for a trap.
He also despises betrayal and, consequently, betrayers. While he views actual resources and wealth as paramount, he views trust as a key resource as well and does not take it's misuse lightly.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

Arnd has various motivations going through his mind at any given time, but if he had to pick a few: He (like fellow Baron Fiore Choi-Yun) wants to make the South Sound Baronies a successful Anarch State, he wants to absolutely dominate the resources left behind by the Second Inquisition when they were largely outed from the region, and his biggest goal is his desire to internally dismantle megacorps like Amazon and Pentex, as he finds it a dishonorable and unclassy form of business.
On the emotional side, although it doesn't come up often, he has always had a motivation to protect his family. When the chaos of all their moving and settling in the new world came, he did everything in his power to soothe his little sisters and cousins, and when he gained financial strength of his own it was shared with the family. Even after he was turned and could barely see them, he made sure they were cared for, especially through the Great Depression. Even in the modern day, when it has expanded so far, and he's had to come up with a whole lineage to mask his identity, he makes sure they want for nothing.

Likes & Dislikes

Likes:

• Bittersweet scents
• The colors Blue, Silver, and Grey
• Money
• Fancy suits
• Orchestral music (and modern songs that use it)
• Experimental Films
• Concealed weaponry

Dislikes

• Slovenly folk
• Overly preened folk
• Unambitious folk
• Conniving folk
• Modern monopolies
• Literally anything involving or related to cryptocurrency, NFT's, or other digital financial resources
• Spiders
• Deer

Hygiene

While he does not preen himself like a Toreador might, Arnd does keep his hair groomed and treated, and makes sure he's clean and well scented himself after any messy business.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Arnd has gotten oodles cannodles and toaster strudels of contacts over the years, Allies, friends, teeth-clenched alliances, lovers, want-to-be-lovers, the list goes on! But, his most loyal non-family contacts are the Chessboard, his cotorie of aids that has assisted his machinations for the longest. While they each will get their own spotlight, here's a quick summation:

• Braidy Ewart a.k.a Queen - Ravnos - Arnd's right-hand and advisor in all things, and a charistmatic financier and negotiator in her own right. Worked with Arnd for 50 years.
• Deidre Rusken a.k.a Bishop - Hecata - The eccentric and macabre secretary, assisting in planning and strategy. Worked with Arnd for 24 years.
• Gift Poulin a.k.a Knight - Nosferatu - A quiet, gentle, and chivalrous Nosferatu, taken in by Arnd after being abandoned, and a stealthy assassin and enforcer. Worked with Arnd for 20 years.
• Thoth Ruggles a.k.a Rook - Lasombra - An early defector among the clan, and Arnd's personal bodyguard. Worked with Arnd for 20 years.
• Tal Greene a.k.a Pawn - Caitiff - Most recent addition to the Chessboard and manager of Arnd's various crews, whether that be construction, transport, security, or beuracratic. Worked with Arnd for 11 years.

Family Ties

Arnd had very close ties with his immediate family and the handful of cousins that came with his paternal uncle over to America in his youth. Even as he became the capitalistic maniac he is today, and even after he became a Kindred, those ties have been nurtured, remembered, and memorialized in various ways. He continues to look after his families descendents as well, even if his own literal progeny isn't among them.

Religious Views

Arnd has never been very stricly religious, but he maintains a casual Christian and enjoys the usual holidays, especially Christmas.

Social Aptitude

Arnd is a very enthusiastic and charismatic individual, and has used his skills in persuasion to win many a negotiation over the centuries. Sometimes his ego can get in his own way, but more often than not he keeps it in line.

Relationships

Arnd Weiss

Co-Baron, Mentor (Important)

Towards Fiore Choi-Yun

1

3

Honest

---

Fiore Choi-Yun

Co-Baron, Mentee (Important)

Towards Arnd Weiss

3

1

Honest

---

Arnd Weiss

Co-Baron, Ally (Important)

Towards Gervais Wen

0

2

Dishonest

---

Gervais Wen

Co-Baron, Ally (Important)

Towards Arnd Weiss

1

1

Frank

---

Wealth & Financial state

Arnd is insanely wealthy, and has a good amount of his income on hand, but the majority of it is tied into other companies he's founded over the years, overseen by trusted friends or family members. He can still access it when needed, a stipulation to his original handing-over of the business, and has all the means to take it back over should it become...unsavory.

(Icon made with Bright's Picrew Hell)

Alignment

Lawful Evil

Current Status

Cackling and Scheming

Current Location

Ruston, Washington

Species

Kindred Vampire

Honorary & Occupational Titles

• Childe of Otto Esser
• Azure King
• Silver Fox
• That damn bastard
• Grinsendfuchs

Currently Held Titles

• Baron

Age

63 (Physically) 194 (Actually)

Date of Birth

July 8th

Date of Death

April 9th

Life

1827 CE 1890 CE 63 years old

Circumstances of Death

The Embrace

Spouses

Siblings

Pronouns

He/Him/His

Gender

Cis Man

Presentation

Refined Masculine

Eyes

White, one injured

Hair

Short, Silver

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Pale, slightly wrinkled

Height

5' 2"

Weight

152 lbs

Belief/Deity

Money

Aligned Organization

The Anarch Movement

Other Affiliations

• Clan Ventrue

Known Languages

Arnd's first language is German, and he's picked up English, Yiddish, Spanish, Polish, Russian, French, and has an intermediate grasp of Chinese although struggles with his accent.

Name

Arnd Weiss

Chronicle

Tacoma by Night

Sire

Mrs. Otto Ernser

Concept

Demonic Dandy

Ambition

Destroy Pentex and Amazon

Desire

Break through SI Encryption

Predator

Extortionist

Clan

Ventrue

Generation

8th

Attributes

Physical

Strength

Dexterity

Stamina

Social

Charisma

Manipulation

Composure

Mental

Intelligence

Wits

Resolve

Health

Willpower

Skills

Athletics

Brawl

Craft

Drive

Firearms

Melee

Larceny

Stealth

Survival

Animal ken

Etiquette

Insight

Intimidation

Leadership

Performance

Persuasion

Streetwise

Subterfuge

Academics

Awareness

Finance

Investigation

Medicine

Occult

Politics

Science

Technology

Disciplines

Animalism

Sense the Beast (1)

Auspex

Heightened Senses (1)

Dominate

Compel (1), Mesmerize (2), The Forgetful Mind (3), Rationalize (4), Mass Manipulation (5)

Fortitude

Unswayable Mind (1), Toughness (2)

Presence

Awe (1), Daunt (1), Entrancement (3)

Hunger

 

Humanity

 

---

Chronicle Tenets

Touchstones & Convictions

Never stop moving up - Mrs. Otto Ernser
Hold onto every cent - Family

Clan Bane

Arnd can only drink from those he views as having a dignified and cultured personality.

Advantages & Flaws

Resources

Haven + security & luxury

Status - anarch baron

Networks - business

Loresheet - fiorenza savona

Flaw - despised: camarilla

Enemy - financial rival

Enemy - family rival

Blood Potency

Blood Surge

3

Mend Amount

3 points

Power Bonus

Add 2 Dice

Rouse Reroll

Level 2 and below

Feeding Penalty

Animal & Bagged slake no hunger, 1 less per human

Bane Severity

3

Experience

Total Experience:

Spent Experience:

---

Background

True age: 194

Apparent age: 63

Date of Birth: 7/8/1827

Date of Death: 4/9/1890