Updated: 25 October 1998
The Cabinet:
The Lieutenants of Villon
The Cabinet secret existence dates even before the crowning of François Villon as Prince of Paris and France. In truth, working for Beatrix, this secret Cabinet discussed of the matters of Kindred politics, with the aim of protecting and increasing the power of the Clan Toreador in France.
After the death of Beatrix, and of some of the members of the Cabinet, Villon formed another, with half the members being original members, the other half having been chosen to take the seat. This Cabinet is an informal meeting of the same people, whose aim is to counterbalance the power of the Cour and of the Grand Cour, to organize the Toreador actions and reactions to those volatile assemblies.
To avoid problems, each had, at first, a determined influence. But soon, these differences decreased, and now, each member has his own influence overlapped by the influences of others. Instead of creating some uneasy situation, this simply increased the bond between the members, as they all sincerely believe working for the good of Paris (in the Toreador viewpoint, of course). It doesn't make them friends, some of them begining to feel a murderous enmity for one another, but it means they are all lawful lieutenant, and won't risk Paris' safety to further their own intrigues.
Destiny
Contrary to the appearances, the Cabinet will become more and more afficient, as the member will renew their alliance for the Clan Toreador, and their capital, Paris.
Organization
The reunions of the Cabinet are held in secret, only when needed, in the Louvre.
François Villon: Prince of Paris and France.
Villon is the leader of the Cabinet. He simply hears what the members have to say, and take the decisions after asking advices. His word is uncontested.
Villon took interests in the Changelings, as well as in the
international affairs concerning the Kindred. His own influence
in Paris of France is not as great as the influence of the
other members, but still, he sometimes surprised them. While he
let most of the work to Elle, he uses
his own contacts in the Art in a dictator-like way, increasing
the interests for some art he considers like Chefs d'oeuvres
and ridiculizing, or making forget the others. This influence
made him several enemies in the Clan.
What do you think about: |
Alexis: Master of the Veilleurs
Alexis should have been the Toreador Duc, but decided otherwise, and exiled himself from Paris for several years. He is consultant about the supernatural for the Cabinet. Nothing concerning non-Kindred supernatural effect is done without first asking him. Because of his discret behaviour, and his lack of personnal ambition within the Cour and the Grand Cour, he is well appreciated. His areas of control are the D.S.T. and the R.G., using these police intelligence agency to gather informations about the Occult, and act for the good of the Masquerade and of Paris, should the need arise. He is, too, the only ambassador of the Kindred with the parisian Mages. His knowledge about their lore, and their Traditions is not questioned. All in all, he lack the wide range of influence the other members of the Cabinet seem to have. But the little he have, he controls with intelligence.
What do you think about: |
Elle: Mistress of Intrigue
Elle is probably one of the most dangerous Toreador in France. Her talent for intrigue seems unchallenged. Of all the members of the Cabinet, she is the one, after Villon, to have the greatest range of influence. Within the judicial, legislative and executive political systems controlling France, part of the television medias, she has the control of the french museums, even the Louvre, sharing its administrative control with Jean-François. She is also controlling a gouvernmental agency who works at finding lost art objects, and she is known to have access to the resources of Ivan and Alexis to succeed in her own aims. She is one of the most important Courtisane within the parisian Kindred society.
What do you think about: |
Ivan: Grand Master of the Masques
If there is someone controlling the intelligence agencies, the army and the police in France, it is Ivan! He works hard to remove any mole in his network, and for now, few escaped his notice (he hates Francesca for her mole in the S.D.E.C.E., and Elle for having discovered it, and controlled the re-organization of the whole french agencies in 1981. Ivan is in charge of the order and the Traditions (The Masquerade is the most important, of course) in France. He is in charge of the Anarchs, even if everyone knows he does not like them. He also is in charge of finding the new Kindred in Paris, most of them Caitiffs, but some being Sabbat infiltrator. He seems to dislike with passion the Anarchs (strange, because he was known to be one of them), and the Caitiff (only Villon knows he is a Caitiff, too), but Villon often discreetly stops him in his course of action, when he goes too far. He is in charge of monitoring the Lasombra Antitribu led by Francesca, as well as some other disliked Bloodlines, like the Assamite and the Ravnos.
What do you think about: |
Art and beauty is the only colored things in the unlife of Lazlo. He officially leads the Clan Toreador of France, under the tutelage of Villon, and has so much influence within the U.N.E.S.C.O. he succeeded in saving the temples of Ramses II, at Abou Simbel! Some see him as a superficial Kindred, and in some way he is... And he probably is one of the more humane Toreador in France. When it comes to art (everything but Art's protection and museums, which is the province of Elle), he has the final say (unless Villon contradicts him, which never happened). He works, too, to control some of the financial fortresses of france (the Bank of France, as well as most public companies of the country. His concern is Europe, because he feels some technocrats (and Technocrat Mages) could well use its administrative structure to wrestle the control of France from the Toreador.
What do you think about: |
© 2000 White Wolf, Inc. All rights reserved. © 2000 Black Widow Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. |