Geheim
There can be no sublimation without putrefaction. How can you expect me to know sanctity without experiencing depravity?
Risen from the twisted households of the Austrian aristocracy, the Geheim seem to outsiders equal parts depraved extended family, bizarre esoteric society and cunning aristocrats. Never particularly trusted or popular, the Geheim suffered a public relations fiasco in the 20th century when it (its detractors claim) became involved in the Nazi Party. Tonight the family retains positions of prominence throughout Central Europe, spreading beyond the borders of former Habsburg holdings and bringing their syncretic combination of hedonism and alchemy to the rest of the world.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
History and Culture: Scattered throughout the ruling class of the Holy Roman Empire, the rise and fall of the lineage’s fortunes have largely mirrored those of the Habsburg family. Dilettantes claim that the founder of their bloodline, a Kindred known to his contemporaries as Count Geheim of Graz, was Embraced from among the sprawling Habsburg family. While the assertion has proven difficult for members of the line to substantiate, there’s little doubt that Geheim of Graz moved in the same social circles as the Habsburgs, as early as 1480. Personal correspondences among the Habsburgs across the centuries often mention a shadowy teacher or similar figure who matches the accepted description of Geheim. (The fact that these letters and diaries occasionally fawn over Geheim has been interpreted as evidence that he keptsome of the writers under the bonds of Vinculum.)
In a ceremony documented by Invictus, Sanctified and Ordo Dracul records of 1577, Geheim and two childer, Cecilia and Volker, formally announced the formation of their bloodline, making a number of claims of entitlement regarding domains within Vienna and Switzerland — claims which they were apparently able to back up, despite the difficulty of travel during the period. Modern detractors point out that several of the locations claimed by the lineage boasted fewer than 1,000 mortals, making them poor possessions for any vampire.
Geheim and his childer had already garnered a reputation for hedonism and excess, having hosted lavish parties for even the most lowly of visiting functionaries. While reports of baths of blood and bodies hanged from rafters are probably exaggerations, few scholars doubt the tales of woozy, blood-drained nobles stumbling to their waiting carriages after a night of debauched intemperance. The bloodline’s Status as esoteric dabblers only began to grow after their official declaration in 1577. After acquiring territory in Vienna and Prague, they began hosting salons for the discussion of unusual and esoteric texts. These gatherings, which usually lacked the depraved self-indulgence of their parties, were not limited to attendance by Kindred, and numerous mortals of learning came to be regulars at Geheim soirees. Some Kindred even suspect that a few of the bloodline’s consorts were mages or creatures stranger yet. The lineage prospered, even through the anarchs’ war, somehow gaining new members and territories even as the rest of Kindred society collapsed about them. They became early and energetic advocates of the studies of The Ordo Dracul, assisting that covenant in its mission to find recruits from among the erudite and open-minded members of The Invictus and Lancea Sanctum.
After the Thirty Years’ War however, the Habsburg House entered a centuries-long decline. The Geheim, once one of the most expansive Kindred families in Central Europe, with close ties to a royal line that held much of Europe at its height, found itself deteriorating in influence. The line continued to grow, but the power it had to share among its membership decayed. The esoteric work of the Geheim, once lauded as ground-breaking, became old hat, and while the ability to turn blood into gold kept the bloodline’s coffers fat, their tricks provided them little other help in the Danse Macabre. The group attempted to cope by infiltrating and creating numerous secret societies (a fact that furthered its reputation for witchcraft and infernalism among the Sanctified), utilizing their bloodline Discipline to gain high standing among the mortal adherents to the esoteric.
The most infamous of these organizations was called the Thule Society, created by a group of Germans in the early twentieth century. The group’s focus, the mythological pure race called the Aryans, drew the attention of the Geheim, who felt that exploration into the lost civilization of Thule might provide new sources of mystical strength. The Geheim had little chance to influence the Society before two of its members formed the political group that would grow to become the Nazi Party. While the Nazis renounced and disbanded the Thule Society, rumors of the connection between the Geheim and the Nazis quickly spread through Kindred society. The bloodline found itself less trusted and more loathed than ever before.
Tonight the bloodline still reels from its greatest political blunder, which occurred only recently as some European Kindred reckon history. Its three founding figures have all entered Torpor, (though members of the line seem to be preparing to ease the return of Count Geheim himself in the near future) leaving the lineage to flounder listlessly without direction. While many of the eldest cleave to the ideals of the bloodline’s past, continuing studies into the unknown and infiltrating and manipulating the highest strata of mortal society, the youth of the line indulge themselves with an almost apocalyptic fervor. The fall of the traditional aristocracy has resulted in the bloodline becoming more closely associated with organized crime and corporate culture, and some of the line’s newest recruits have been garnered from the ranks of those groups.
In a ceremony documented by Invictus, Sanctified and Ordo Dracul records of 1577, Geheim and two childer, Cecilia and Volker, formally announced the formation of their bloodline, making a number of claims of entitlement regarding domains within Vienna and Switzerland — claims which they were apparently able to back up, despite the difficulty of travel during the period. Modern detractors point out that several of the locations claimed by the lineage boasted fewer than 1,000 mortals, making them poor possessions for any vampire.
Geheim and his childer had already garnered a reputation for hedonism and excess, having hosted lavish parties for even the most lowly of visiting functionaries. While reports of baths of blood and bodies hanged from rafters are probably exaggerations, few scholars doubt the tales of woozy, blood-drained nobles stumbling to their waiting carriages after a night of debauched intemperance. The bloodline’s Status as esoteric dabblers only began to grow after their official declaration in 1577. After acquiring territory in Vienna and Prague, they began hosting salons for the discussion of unusual and esoteric texts. These gatherings, which usually lacked the depraved self-indulgence of their parties, were not limited to attendance by Kindred, and numerous mortals of learning came to be regulars at Geheim soirees. Some Kindred even suspect that a few of the bloodline’s consorts were mages or creatures stranger yet. The lineage prospered, even through the anarchs’ war, somehow gaining new members and territories even as the rest of Kindred society collapsed about them. They became early and energetic advocates of the studies of The Ordo Dracul, assisting that covenant in its mission to find recruits from among the erudite and open-minded members of The Invictus and Lancea Sanctum.
After the Thirty Years’ War however, the Habsburg House entered a centuries-long decline. The Geheim, once one of the most expansive Kindred families in Central Europe, with close ties to a royal line that held much of Europe at its height, found itself deteriorating in influence. The line continued to grow, but the power it had to share among its membership decayed. The esoteric work of the Geheim, once lauded as ground-breaking, became old hat, and while the ability to turn blood into gold kept the bloodline’s coffers fat, their tricks provided them little other help in the Danse Macabre. The group attempted to cope by infiltrating and creating numerous secret societies (a fact that furthered its reputation for witchcraft and infernalism among the Sanctified), utilizing their bloodline Discipline to gain high standing among the mortal adherents to the esoteric.
The most infamous of these organizations was called the Thule Society, created by a group of Germans in the early twentieth century. The group’s focus, the mythological pure race called the Aryans, drew the attention of the Geheim, who felt that exploration into the lost civilization of Thule might provide new sources of mystical strength. The Geheim had little chance to influence the Society before two of its members formed the political group that would grow to become the Nazi Party. While the Nazis renounced and disbanded the Thule Society, rumors of the connection between the Geheim and the Nazis quickly spread through Kindred society. The bloodline found itself less trusted and more loathed than ever before.
Tonight the bloodline still reels from its greatest political blunder, which occurred only recently as some European Kindred reckon history. Its three founding figures have all entered Torpor, (though members of the line seem to be preparing to ease the return of Count Geheim himself in the near future) leaving the lineage to flounder listlessly without direction. While many of the eldest cleave to the ideals of the bloodline’s past, continuing studies into the unknown and infiltrating and manipulating the highest strata of mortal society, the youth of the line indulge themselves with an almost apocalyptic fervor. The fall of the traditional aristocracy has resulted in the bloodline becoming more closely associated with organized crime and corporate culture, and some of the line’s newest recruits have been garnered from the ranks of those groups.
Major organizations
Reputation: As their sobriquet suggests, the Geheim have garnered a reputation for failing to fully devote their unlives to any cause. The lineage contains its fair share of spoiled, wealthy Ventrue, many of whom take the bloodline’s philosophy as an excuse to wallow in whatever excesses can hold their attention. The lineage’s deep connections to the aristocracy of Europe garner them only slight esteem and no small amount of derision; the Carthians object to such outdated social structures on principle (plus there’s the whole Nazi thing), while many Invictus feel that the Geheim simply don’t take full advantage of the benefits they are handed. Their love affair with organized crime infuriates the Sanctified (not to mention their study of alchemy, which The Lancea Sanctum generally labels as witchcraft).
Even The Ordo Dracul, the bloodline’s chosen patrons, keep the lineage at arm’s length, viewing their discoveries with no small amount of skepticism. Thus far no one outside of the bloodline has been able to precisely reproduce the Geheim’s results. Most Dragons consider that evidence that the Geheim’s procedures reflect some strange quirk of their blood rather than verifiable scientific or occult principles.
The Geheim tend to join The Ordo Dracul with greater frequency than any other covenant. Not only do the Dragons value the bloodline’s abilities, but their position in the covenant’s history grants them a bit of freedom from the derision they almost universally face from other Kindred. Those who aren’t cut out for the Order’s psychological exercises and bizarre rites often end up with The Invictus, turning the covenant’s Resources towards the end of feathering their own nest. Invictus Dilettantes typically make an effort to hide the greatest of their excesses and experimentations. Those who can’t even manage that occasionally fall in with The Circle of the Crone, which allows greater leeway for a vampire hoping to explore the full range of the Kindred experience.
Even The Ordo Dracul, the bloodline’s chosen patrons, keep the lineage at arm’s length, viewing their discoveries with no small amount of skepticism. Thus far no one outside of the bloodline has been able to precisely reproduce the Geheim’s results. Most Dragons consider that evidence that the Geheim’s procedures reflect some strange quirk of their blood rather than verifiable scientific or occult principles.
The Geheim tend to join The Ordo Dracul with greater frequency than any other covenant. Not only do the Dragons value the bloodline’s abilities, but their position in the covenant’s history grants them a bit of freedom from the derision they almost universally face from other Kindred. Those who aren’t cut out for the Order’s psychological exercises and bizarre rites often end up with The Invictus, turning the covenant’s Resources towards the end of feathering their own nest. Invictus Dilettantes typically make an effort to hide the greatest of their excesses and experimentations. Those who can’t even manage that occasionally fall in with The Circle of the Crone, which allows greater leeway for a vampire hoping to explore the full range of the Kindred experience.
Nickname: Dilettantes
Bloodline Disciplines: Animalism, Blut Alchemie, Dominate, Resilience
Weakness: The Geheim share the Ventrue clan’s tendency to fall into madness (see p. 113 of Vampire: The Requiem).
Furthermore, the Dilettantes are obsessed with the applications and implications of Vitae. Their constant work with and exposure to various quantities and qualities of blood twist their perceptions and desires. Members of the Geheim bloodline are always at a –1 penalty when rolling for Vitae Addiction (in addition to any other penalties or bonuses).
Additionally, the Geheim refuse to deny their hunger and believe that no others should deny it either. A member of the line does not regain Willpower during her daysleep if she failed to feed the night prior. For the following night she is irritable, suffering a –2 to all frenzy rolls made as the result of anger. The penalty fades when the Geheim consumes at least one Vitae.
Concepts: Bloodline apologist, debauched celebrant, destitute aristocrat, hidden diablerist, lustful philanthropist, mad chemist, overbearing society matron, silent international business partner, vampire Mafioso, Vitae Connoisseur
Parent ethnicities
Weakness: The Geheim share the Ventrue clan’s tendency to fall into madness (see p. 113 of Vampire: The Requiem).
Furthermore, the Dilettantes are obsessed with the applications and implications of Vitae. Their constant work with and exposure to various quantities and qualities of blood twist their perceptions and desires. Members of the Geheim bloodline are always at a –1 penalty when rolling for Vitae Addiction (in addition to any other penalties or bonuses).
Additionally, the Geheim refuse to deny their hunger and believe that no others should deny it either. A member of the line does not regain Willpower during her daysleep if she failed to feed the night prior. For the following night she is irritable, suffering a –2 to all frenzy rolls made as the result of anger. The penalty fades when the Geheim consumes at least one Vitae.
Concepts: Bloodline apologist, debauched celebrant, destitute aristocrat, hidden diablerist, lustful philanthropist, mad chemist, overbearing society matron, silent international business partner, vampire Mafioso, Vitae Connoisseur