Toreador
You actually expected me to buy this modernismo trash that Alphonse Mucha inflicted on the world? I'd rather see you cleaning windshields on a street corner with it. In fact, go do that right now.
To the unwashed, ignorant masses, the Daeva are sleek, haughty, alluring, idealized predators who’ve been gifted with eternal youth, beauty and undying style because they’re just that much better than regular mortals. The Kindred of the Toreador bloodline see themselves in much the same way, only they elevate themselves above the thrashing, hedonistic, uncultured Daeva as well. They’re too well mannered and Aloof to say as much to the Daeva, but what they leave unsaid in mixed company could fill volumes.
The name “Toreador” reflects not only the bloodline’s noble history, but its members’ fascination with the fine arts that they hold dear even tonight. Its founder, Garcilaso de Castillejo, was the second son of a moderately influential Spanish nobleman and a peer and rival of the innovative torero (bullfighter) Francisco Romero, whose grandson Pedro carried on the tradition and is legendary even today. Castillejo might have even surpassed Romero in skill and innovation in the eternal escalafon of Spanish bullfighters had he not been seduced and Embraced by an influential Andalusian Daeva while he was still in his prime. He adapted quickly to his undead state and impressed his Kindred peers with his charm, wit and grace. He even continued to fight bulls in secluded, hidden arenas for the delighted Kindred nobility until King Philip V decried the sport as barbarous and pressured a compliant pope to threaten willful noble toreros with excommunication. Fickle Spanish Sanctified chose to enforce Philip’s will among their own kind, denouncing the entire spectacle as a sacrilegious mockery of Abel’s sacrifice, largely at the urging of a Daeva Bishop in Seville who was jealous of Castillejo’s growing Fame.
Yet Castillejo disregarded this slight with his characteristic aplomb and looked for other ways to fill his time at ease. He became a patron of the arts and a nigh-obsessive student of them, arranging travel into Italy, France, Greece, Portugal and even England to track down artists or to follow exciting new movements that caught his fancy. His adventurous spirit and unshakable will attracted cultured, indolent Daeva from all over Europe to his side, and they emulated every opinion and behavior of their charismatic torero in attempts to curry his favor. In time, amused outsiders came to refer to not only Castillejo but his growing cult of personality as El Toreros. When Castillejo finally chose to Embrace childer and those progeny demonstrated an aptitude for Dominate — which iron-willed Castillejo had learned from a Ventrue patron and lover in Venice — the nickname was applied to them as well.
When the bloodline gained recognition among European Kindred societies, it was known as the Torero line, and it remained thus for almost a century. Then, in the last quarter of the 19th century, Castillejo’s favorite childe, Cristóbal de la Vega saw the opening- night performance of Bizet’s opera Carmen. He was so profoundly moved by the performance of Jacques Bouhy as the bullfighter Escamillo that he convinced Castillejo to come see the performance with him the next night. When he did, Castillejo was so pleased by Bouhy’s performance that he insisted upon the adoption of the inexpertly translated word “Toreador” in place of Torero in reference to his bloodline. Ever eager to please their founder and paragon, vampires of the line and associated Daeva hangers- on eagerly followed suit.
In the century-and-a-quarter since then, however, Castillejo has grown jaded and bored by the evolution of what passes for fine art. He has withdrawn into seclusion somewhere in the mountains of Andalusia to pray that the inspired artists of the Age of Enlightenment will be reborn soon so he’ll have a reason to travel the world again as he did as a young Kindred. Yet his haughty sycophants can be found all over the world, insinuating themselves among the mortal elite in cultural centers of high art (such as New York, Paris, Milan and Madrid). Many of them spend their nights seeking inspired, classically trained artists and attempting to groom them into talented Kindred prodigies whose works will shake Castillejo out of his ennui. Others slavishly try to hone their own talents to perfection in hopes of doing the same thing. Some have even realized they don’t need Castillejo’s constant attention and approval to enjoy the Status and influence they’ve garnered as Toreador. Possessed of their inceptor’s will, determination and grace, they’ve set their sights on supplanting the disconsolate old Kindred in the affections of their adoring brothers and sisters.
The name “Toreador” reflects not only the bloodline’s noble history, but its members’ fascination with the fine arts that they hold dear even tonight. Its founder, Garcilaso de Castillejo, was the second son of a moderately influential Spanish nobleman and a peer and rival of the innovative torero (bullfighter) Francisco Romero, whose grandson Pedro carried on the tradition and is legendary even today. Castillejo might have even surpassed Romero in skill and innovation in the eternal escalafon of Spanish bullfighters had he not been seduced and Embraced by an influential Andalusian Daeva while he was still in his prime. He adapted quickly to his undead state and impressed his Kindred peers with his charm, wit and grace. He even continued to fight bulls in secluded, hidden arenas for the delighted Kindred nobility until King Philip V decried the sport as barbarous and pressured a compliant pope to threaten willful noble toreros with excommunication. Fickle Spanish Sanctified chose to enforce Philip’s will among their own kind, denouncing the entire spectacle as a sacrilegious mockery of Abel’s sacrifice, largely at the urging of a Daeva Bishop in Seville who was jealous of Castillejo’s growing Fame.
Yet Castillejo disregarded this slight with his characteristic aplomb and looked for other ways to fill his time at ease. He became a patron of the arts and a nigh-obsessive student of them, arranging travel into Italy, France, Greece, Portugal and even England to track down artists or to follow exciting new movements that caught his fancy. His adventurous spirit and unshakable will attracted cultured, indolent Daeva from all over Europe to his side, and they emulated every opinion and behavior of their charismatic torero in attempts to curry his favor. In time, amused outsiders came to refer to not only Castillejo but his growing cult of personality as El Toreros. When Castillejo finally chose to Embrace childer and those progeny demonstrated an aptitude for Dominate — which iron-willed Castillejo had learned from a Ventrue patron and lover in Venice — the nickname was applied to them as well.
When the bloodline gained recognition among European Kindred societies, it was known as the Torero line, and it remained thus for almost a century. Then, in the last quarter of the 19th century, Castillejo’s favorite childe, Cristóbal de la Vega saw the opening- night performance of Bizet’s opera Carmen. He was so profoundly moved by the performance of Jacques Bouhy as the bullfighter Escamillo that he convinced Castillejo to come see the performance with him the next night. When he did, Castillejo was so pleased by Bouhy’s performance that he insisted upon the adoption of the inexpertly translated word “Toreador” in place of Torero in reference to his bloodline. Ever eager to please their founder and paragon, vampires of the line and associated Daeva hangers- on eagerly followed suit.
In the century-and-a-quarter since then, however, Castillejo has grown jaded and bored by the evolution of what passes for fine art. He has withdrawn into seclusion somewhere in the mountains of Andalusia to pray that the inspired artists of the Age of Enlightenment will be reborn soon so he’ll have a reason to travel the world again as he did as a young Kindred. Yet his haughty sycophants can be found all over the world, insinuating themselves among the mortal elite in cultural centers of high art (such as New York, Paris, Milan and Madrid). Many of them spend their nights seeking inspired, classically trained artists and attempting to groom them into talented Kindred prodigies whose works will shake Castillejo out of his ennui. Others slavishly try to hone their own talents to perfection in hopes of doing the same thing. Some have even realized they don’t need Castillejo’s constant attention and approval to enjoy the Status and influence they’ve garnered as Toreador. Possessed of their inceptor’s will, determination and grace, they’ve set their sights on supplanting the disconsolate old Kindred in the affections of their adoring brothers and sisters.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
The Toreador aren’t quite — quite — as picky about selecting physically beautiful people for the Embrace as the Daeva are. Charm, wit and grace are far more important than simplistic concerns about symmetry or bone structure. They also look for artistic talent that inspires them or at least a consummate love and learned understanding of the fine arts. The Toreador are just as prone to Embrace out of guilt or passion as the Daeva, but they don’t make a habit of welcoming those illegitimate childer into the bloodline afterward.
As for adopting other Daeva into their august ranks, it simply isn’t done. It takes at least two Toreador in good standing to propose and second a novillo (a neonate Daeva of Toreador lineage) for inclusion within the bloodline, and a Toreador elder (known as a diestro) must give his blessing in a ceremony called the alternativa. If the novillo doesn’t have a traceable pedigree of respected Toreador ancestors leading directly back to the founder, it would take a miracle for him to get a Toreador to even acknowledge him, much less support his dreams of adoption.
As for adopting other Daeva into their august ranks, it simply isn’t done. It takes at least two Toreador in good standing to propose and second a novillo (a neonate Daeva of Toreador lineage) for inclusion within the bloodline, and a Toreador elder (known as a diestro) must give his blessing in a ceremony called the alternativa. If the novillo doesn’t have a traceable pedigree of respected Toreador ancestors leading directly back to the founder, it would take a miracle for him to get a Toreador to even acknowledge him, much less support his dreams of adoption.
Common Dress code
Appearance: The eldest and most influential Toreador come from Spanish or Italian stock (including Sardinia and Corsica). They show the same range of appearance as south European mortals, from the duskiness of a part-Moorish Andalusian to the blonde hair of a part-Nordic Lombard. Young Patrons display a wider variety of ethnicity, but all of them represent the ideals of classical or exotic beauty to which men and women of the era in which they were Embraced aspired. In public and among their few accepted peers, they dress as paragons of the styles most popular at the time. In private, many Toreador cling to the bygone high-style fashions of their breathing days.
Art & Architecture
Haven: Toreador havens come in two varieties: the disarrayed studio of the self-absorbed artist, or the lavishly appointed Haven of the elite socialite patron. The latter is far more common, and all such spaces have at least a couple of objets d’art on display. Most Toreador consider it gauche to display their own artwork (or not to display that of their guests) when entertaining fellow Kindred.
Major organizations
Since the Toreador don’t strive as a unified front to achieve a specific goal, they don’t tend to hew to a strict hierarchy. A handful might gather in an informal group called a salon, a peña or simply a clique until jealousy or petty disagreements drive them apart. These groups most often form around particularly charismatic diestros, and the internal pecking order is determined by each member’s Status. These groups sometimes include fascinating or promising novillo Daeva, but only in the minority. The fickle, flighty nature of the Toreador doesn’t lend itself to long-term compatriot loyalty, so the thing that best holds a Toreador group together is an enemy or victim in common.
Covenant
The Toreador believe any covenant would be lucky to have them, but not every covenant is worthy of them. Nonetheless, no self-respecting Toreador is so gauche as to go slumming among The Unaligned. (Honestly….) The closest many Toreador come to thumbing their noses at established authority and going their own way is joining the Carthians, though they usually do so only to spite a rival in an opposing covenant or because the Carthians have the most sway in the Toreador’s chosen domain. Members of the bloodline traditionally shy away from joining The Circle of the Crone because of a story their elders hand down about a member of that covenant whom their founder held in particular contempt and openly derided at court. Likewise, they both fear and respect devout members of The Lancea Sanctum, though they are wary of the intentions of certain hypocritical or overzealous Sanctified. And yet, piety and passion have inspired some of the most profoundly moving works of art in history, so finding the odd Toreador among The Lancea Sanctum is not unheard of. Many Toreador can be found among The Ordo Dracul, although many members of the Order consider the Toreador effete dilettantes who don’t have the capacity to master The Coils of the Dragon (which is not generally an inaccurate estimation). The covenant that attracts most Toreador is The Invictus. Not only is The Invictus accepting of them, but it aspires to the ideal of the undying feudal elite, of which the Toreador naturally account themselves.
Nickname: Patrons
Character Creation: The Toreador rely primarily on Social Attributes across the board, although few can be accused of lacking in Wits or Resolve. Intelligence and the Physical Attributes are not quite as important to them as making a powerful and lasting first impression, but few Kindred can honestly claim to have met an especially weak, stupid or clumsy Toreador. Social Skills are often primary, with a notable preference for Expression, Socialize and a haughty, unspoken style of Intimidation. Social Merits predominate, as do ones such as Status, Haven and Herd — all of which reflect the decadent opulence with which the Toreador surround themselves and the allure such trappings have for mortal victims. It also makes sense to buy a second dot of Blood Potency unless you intend to play the character as a novillo Daeva struggling for acceptance among his Toreador betters.
Bloodline Disciplines: Celerity, Dominate, Majesty, Vigor
Weakness: Like the Daeva, every Toreador finds it difficult to resist his hedonistic impulses. When he opts not to indulge his Vice, a Toreador Kindred loses two Willpower points.
In addition, all members of the Toreador bloodline share their inceptor’s peculiar obsession with fine art. Whether this obsession is imposed culturally or inherited mystically is unknown, but most Toreador hardly recognize it as a weakness at all. When a Toreador is exposed to a work of art in a particular style (chosen at character creation), he becomes intensely fascinated with it and is unable to divert his attention. (General examples include sculpture, painting, music, drama, dance, jewelry and fashion. Most Toreador also focus on the work of specific artists, styles or movements that were popular among the cultural elite when they were Embraced.) The player must spend a Willpower point or succeed at a reflexive Resolve roll to break the spell, or the Toreador does nothing but focus on the object of fascination for the rest of the scene, or until said object is taken away. The character also regains control if he is attacked or otherwise physically broken from his reverie.
The nature of this obsession need not necessarily be rapt appreciation. While the average Toreador is entranced by beauty, some focus all of their scornful energy on the work of a particular artist, period or movement that they despise, criticizing it vehemently and mercilessly for as long as others are willing to listen.
Concepts: Bullfighter, buyer for a museum, character assassin, gallery owner, Harpy, Master of Elysium, promising young artist, reclusive retired maestro, sycophantic courtier, vicious critic
Parent ethnicities
Bloodline Disciplines: Celerity, Dominate, Majesty, Vigor
Weakness: Like the Daeva, every Toreador finds it difficult to resist his hedonistic impulses. When he opts not to indulge his Vice, a Toreador Kindred loses two Willpower points.
In addition, all members of the Toreador bloodline share their inceptor’s peculiar obsession with fine art. Whether this obsession is imposed culturally or inherited mystically is unknown, but most Toreador hardly recognize it as a weakness at all. When a Toreador is exposed to a work of art in a particular style (chosen at character creation), he becomes intensely fascinated with it and is unable to divert his attention. (General examples include sculpture, painting, music, drama, dance, jewelry and fashion. Most Toreador also focus on the work of specific artists, styles or movements that were popular among the cultural elite when they were Embraced.) The player must spend a Willpower point or succeed at a reflexive Resolve roll to break the spell, or the Toreador does nothing but focus on the object of fascination for the rest of the scene, or until said object is taken away. The character also regains control if he is attacked or otherwise physically broken from his reverie.
The nature of this obsession need not necessarily be rapt appreciation. While the average Toreador is entranced by beauty, some focus all of their scornful energy on the work of a particular artist, period or movement that they despise, criticizing it vehemently and mercilessly for as long as others are willing to listen.
Concepts: Bullfighter, buyer for a museum, character assassin, gallery owner, Harpy, Master of Elysium, promising young artist, reclusive retired maestro, sycophantic courtier, vicious critic