Updated: 25 October 1998

The Grand Cour:
The Ducs and Duchesses of Paris

                    François Villon Took the control of Paris, after the 1789 French Revolution, and enforced once more the Toreador Hegemony in 1804. Through his power seemed absolute, it wasn't so: Other Kindred, could, if united, raise enough power to counter his decisions and actions. These Kindred had, in a way or another, the power to do that. Be it simple physical power, an influence as Clan or Bloodline Leader, or power over mortals or other Supernaturals.

Villon had to recognize them for if he didn't, they would threaten the dream he was building in France. As Villon was the Prince, they became Duc or Duchesse, as their central position in Paris gave them power over all France and over some ''Primogens'', in the same way Villon had power over the Marquis.

In each description of each Duc/Duchesse, will be written the reason behind the title: You will understand then that the Brujah's numbers and powers make the presence of a Duc necessary. The influence of the Daughters of Cacophony, and their numbers make the presence of a Duchesss necessary, too. For the Gangrel, their numbers and influence are so low they would not have a Duchess if their relation with the Lupines didn't exist!

The reason behind the title Duc/Duchess is power, whatever its form. Without power and its recognition, there is no reason for the title. Should the Gangrel lose their connection with the Lupine, their leader would lose his title, even if no one told her about that...

Destiny

                    With the chaos of the nights of the year 1998, the Grand Cour will meet at least once per week to discuss the problems of the Clans quiting the Camarilla, as well as the death of parisian Kindred, and the general chaos on the whole planet.

Organization

                    The Grand Cour meets at the Louvre, every 10th day of each Month. Usually it takes place either in the Napoleon the IIIrd's chambers, or in a more discreet (but not less magnifiscient) chambers.

Prince of Paris and France: François Villon (1804)

Villon's power is multiple. He is liked as a Prince as Paris' security is absolute, because of the Masques and the Veilleurs. He is, too, a famous artist in both the mortal and Kindred world, and he succeeded to become the -grudgingly- accepted Prince of France, something all thought impossible. He is in no real danger coming from his own Clan. In fact, the danger for him comes more from the Marquis of other Clans, or from the Assamite or the Giovanni. The Camarilla is so glad to have a capital so stable as Paris that it gives Villon a lot of influence within its ranks, which enabled Villon to keep his own pet Kindred, Madame Guil, as the Toreador Justicar for years. There is no real Kindred able to take the power from François Villon.

Duc of the Brujah: Frère Thomas (1880)

Of all the Ducs, Thomas is the one with the more unstable position: He became Duc because Villon needed someone to represent the Clan in Paris. Thomas was chosen for his neutrality and because since then, no Brujah was fool enough to challenge the Elder to take his position. Thomas knows this, and tries to live with the idea he can be replaced the night a Brujah will find the strenght and the courage to remove him. Still, his innate Faith frightens more than one Brujah, and combined with the grudging respect they feel for him, and his intelligence, he makes an acceptable, if inactive, Duc. There is 4 possible candidate for the title: St Just, Le Fossoyeur: Has no lost love for the weak Thomas, and is the most probable opponent. Delphine: Is seen as a female version of Thomas, and so, could replace him without no one noticing it... Benedicte: Is the candidate most Brujah, but the more ambitious, would like to follow: She has the spirit to become leader, but still lack the age and power.

Duchesse of the Daughters of Cacophony: Constance (1994)

The power of Constance is a mix of respect and admiration from the Toreador for the potential beauty of their voice, and their numbers. Their Bloodline is weak, and their numbers are too low to be a real danger. So their influence is somewhat artificial when compared to the other Noble Bloodlines. But in the other hand, they have a potential for intrigue and socializing that make them as dangerous as the Toreador. Make yourself an enemy of Constance, the Duchesse of the Daughters of Cacophony, and you can be sure you will be ridiculized in some social event, or by some gossip of unkown origin and enough truth in it to be accepted by all: In the France of the Kindred, the ridiculous can kill, and all but the stupidest Kindred does realize it. There is no other possible candidate for the title.

Duchesse of the Followers of Set: Tethi-Sheri (1832)

Theti-Sheri's power springs from multiple sources. First, she is a Methuselah claiming to have seen Ancient Rome (She willingly forget to mention she saw Ancient Egypt, too). Second, she has influence on the mortal world that can't be denied (The death of a french president in the beginings of the 20th century while in the agreeable company of a handmaiden was her doing and had some kind of dark success...). Third, she is the one who had the idea of the Non-Agression Pact, and of the Cooperation Pact between the french Toreador and the egyptian Setite, and this, alone, is enough to give her the undying love of the french Toreador Clan, now able to visit unharmed the marvels of Egypt, where the others must risk their lives or see it via television... Fourth reason, she has a lot of influence within the Kindred of Paris, because of her position among the Harpie. Some would say she helped Constance reach the position of Duchess... There is no other possible candidate for the title.

Duchesse of the Gangrel: Diane (1965)

This is the strangest case of Noble Bloodline of Paris. The Gangrel were weak, as were their lupine counterparts. But the coming of Diane (also called the ''Dame'' or the ''Lady'') changed it all. The reinvigorated Alliance between the Garou and the Gangrel permitted them to stabilize the constant weakening of their numbers, and even raise their power in France. But still, they remain too weak: Even as the Lupines are slowly building up their strength, most disanchanted Gangrel looked at the glorious past with envy, and drowned their sorrow in drugged blood, strangely afflicted by the Aura of Corruption that surrounds the capital. they finally disappeared in various ways, most of the time violently. The surviving Gangrel are a promising lot, even if the combined power of the Clan does not grow as fast as Diane wants it. Note that Diane rarely comes to the Grand Cour, even if she has the right to do so. There is 2 possible candidate for the title: Juan,. Niels,.

Duc of the Toreador: Lazlo (1852)

Lazlo's title was given by Villon, to the surprise of most parisian Kindred. Why, if Villon was Prince, did he need someone more to represent him? In fact, Villon decided to retire somewhat from the everynight unlife of Paris, to continue his secret schemes. Lazlo was chosen as Duc to replace Villon in all matter, unless he (or Villon) believes the matter to be too important to be handled by him. Among the Toreador, this opens a new possibility, and somewhat protect the Princeship of Villon: Most ambitious Toreador's dream is to become Duc, and so, the position of the Duc is unstable, at best. But Lazlo is the Childe of Raphael de Corazon, and showed himself a great Toreador, to the joy and benefits of his two mentors, Villon, and De Corazon. Strangely, the most possible candidates to replace Lazlo are the less ambitious Kindred, who believes their own position is better (and less risky) than the duc's. There is 4 possible candidate for the title: François Villon: As he can choose to take once more the active power in Paris. Elle: As she showed herself the equal (and sometimes superior) of Lazlo in matters of Intrigue. But she lacks Lazlo's innate quality to lead people. Alexis: Was the first Kindred Villon wanted to take the Duc's position. But some secret divergence of opinions between the two Toreador led Alexis to remove himself from Paris'intrigues. Richard: is a great intriguer, and one of the unofficial Beauté leader, with Elle. Has most of Elle quality, and Lazlo's ones. Still, he is considered dangerous, as he is a Poseur, and proud of it. His intrigues to become another Toreador duc would divide the Clan, and his current love affair with Theti-Sheri is another reason to not like him. Arnaud: Is the most probable choice of Villon, as he is share part of Lazlo's and Elle's qualities, even if he does not equal them. But somehow, Villon does not like his love affair with Carla... Ivan, Would be the ideal Duc of the Toreador, for the Poseurs and Beauties of the Clan. Some kind of Cohabitation... (Author's note: France is, for the second time, in a ''Cohabitation'' period, something most political analysts thought impossible because of the 5th Republic Constitution division of powers. It showed it worked in some way... And anyway the population seems to like it)

Duc of the Tremere: Pontifex Abelard (1918)

While this position was once a position of power, as the Tremere Duc, which corresponds to the Tremere Title of France Pontifex, was by tradition the councillor of the Prince of Paris in Occult affair. But this position was taken by Alexis who, with the help of the Veilleurs had enough knowledge to take the place of the Tremere. But still, the Tremere is a powerful Clan, even if it is not anymore the second in Paris (despite their numbers). And their Saint Louis Chantry is still a formidable stronghold that resisted countless magickal and common attacks in the War of Traditions. Even if they were told to keep a low profile, the Tremere now feel they don't need anymore too, because they have not anymore the privilegied position of councillor. So they can intrigue like any other Clan. And they do this... Abelard is the Duc only because he was named Pontifex of France. And the fact that Laureen is Lady of Paris (High Regent of all the parisian Regents) make the affair a more complex one. So younger Tremere believe they could take one (or both) the Lord and Pontifex/Duc titles simply by removing Abelard and/or Laureen (and any other possible candidate). There is 2 possible candidate for the title: Alric, Apprentice of the Seventh Circle. Laureen, Lady of Paris and Regent of the Chantry of Nonisis.

Duc of the Ventrue: Labienus (1873)

Labienus' whole unlife was directed into politic intrigues, and it is as a politicker that he won his fame. More than a few Kindred believes the fact France is now a republic to be as much as his doing as the Brujah's. In 1873, Mélisande resigned from her position as Duchesse to the profit of the former roman General, as he has shown a great deal of influence and power. Soon after, Villon recognized the change of leader of the Clan Ventrue by officially asking Labienus to join the Grand Cour. Since then, the Ventrue was almost always in opposition with the Brujah (because of the Iconoclasts and the Individualists), which prevented him to attack his true aim: Villon's seat as Prince of Paris and France. There is 2 possible candidate for the title: Charles, whose power is growing nightly, while Labienus' is stable. Mélisande, who is still believed the true heir of the throne of the Ventrue by the Legitimists. Of course, she lacks the power to take back her title.

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