Giovanni: The Last Supper

"The darkness is your home now, so you had make your peace with it, and learn to make fear your friend and ally."
- Ambrosio Luis Monçada

The Roman Republic gave way to an empire, ruled by the Caesars, and the Lasombra found their way into the shadows of the Empire, throughout all the lands where it stretched its influence. In those shadows, they discovered mortals sheltering a small light, a secretive cult that worshipped an executed Jewish prophet and called themselves Christians after him. Their fear of the darkness and their willingness to stand against it was intriguing, and many Lasombra were drawn to them.

By the time that Constantine adopted Christianity as the official religion of the Empire, the Lasombra were already there within the ranks of its hierarchy, influencing the nascent Church and its doctrine. More often, their clan was the source of various heresies that the Church fathers outlawed, but many survived in the shadows as the Magisters have always done, including the Cainite Heresy that spread the worship of the Dark Father, Caine. By the time the Ventrue realized that the Empire was crumbling and the Church remained its sole bastion of strength, Lasombra influence was already too strong for them to displace, although they tried.

So darkness descended over the world again, as it always does, with the Cainites of the Clan of Darkness sheltered in the last stronghold of the light. Where the Church has spread the word of God, the Lasombra have been there, watching from the shadows. Most of the clan remained close to the Church in Rome rather than fleeing with many Cainites to Byzantium, although some Lasombra chose to seek their fortunes in the East. 

Often born into wealth, many Lasombra take refuge in the manors or landed estates of their own mortal families. Some Magisters simply engage in a clever transfer of title by masquerading as their own inheritors after their transition into undeath, allowing them to retain pecuniary control over any former holdings. Such manoeuvrers also allow for convenient feeding, as significant numbers of live-in mortals are required to maintain such domains. Lasombra lurking among churchmen often feed from the lay of the congregation, although some feel a compunction against this sort of behaviour and seek out sinners to punish with feeding.

Lasombra hail almost exclusively from noble families, particularly those of Italian, Moorish or Spanish extraction. Features are often fine and well-bred, with dark or olive skin draped in the finest raiment wealth can provide. The exception to this rule lies in those Lasombra connected with holy orders, who often dress in vestments or other simple attire as befits their service to God.

The Church?

Clans Ventrue and Lasombra have squabbled over the Church for centuries. Why did the Lasombra care about infiltrating the Church in the first place? The clan understood the tremendous hold Christianity had over the mass of people. If the religion that now dominated Europe could be bent to their will, their power would be unlimited. Additionally, most nobbles looked to the Church for confirmation of their authority - their rule was affirmed by divine right. The Lasombra saw where that could get them.

Clan Ventrue meanwhile, miscalculated with Christianity, believing initially that it was yet another cult, one that would attract only a few crackpots and trouble-makers before quickly fading away. If it did become successful, they reasoned, they could always accommodate it - after all, the Roman state religion had served them well, and it would hardly be difficult to change horses in midstream. The infighting between the Lasombra cults and the doctrinal crises of the second century so long ago disguised the true influence of Christianity in Rome and its growing hold on the city's mortal masters; and, of course, the Lasombra did not tell the Ventrue of the dangerous faith that Christianity inspired.

The Ventrue were therefore shocked when, some 250 years after the birth of Christ, they discovered the true extent of Christianity in Rome - and the vast threat it posed to their own control. Though they’ve been trying to recuperate their losses to the Lasombra, with Christianity they were late to the party, a bitter pill to swallow for a clan usually so good at predicting mortal patterns of behaviour.

The Renaissance

Italy is part of the Lasombra heartland. The clan control most of the political power on the peninsula. Eight of every 10 Italian Princes is a Lasombra, as are 4 out of every 10 elders. This is not to say that other clans do not have power or do not matter - they do - more now than ever as the Roman Catholic Church's power shrinks into Rome and loses its ground to the wider Holy Roman Empire. The tensions between clans Lasombra and Ventrue are at an all time high.

With the influence of the church sweeping through to even the furthest reaches of Europe (and beyond), Clan Lasombra finds itself uniquely positioned at the start of the Renaissance. Social politicians without parallel - or so they say - members of this clan exist for success, often personal over communal. Lasombra possess an intimate connection to the ocean, tracing their origin to the Sea Peoples that raided the Mediterranean in the collapse of the late Bronze Age. Lasombra himself, the clan’s antediluvian and founder, was known to  dwell upon Sicily which acted somewhat as a center point for the adventurous clan. When Rome fell, the Lasombra remained stalwart as Ventrue left for the north.

Throughout the Dark Ages, the clan maintained heavy involvement with the Roman Catholic Church - but increasingly also with Islam. This led to internal clan conflict over regions of Spain where the clan has become particularly dominant, and some animosity still remains. Many Lasombra view the church as a means to an end rather than believing in true spiritual enlightenment on a personal level, but the idea that Cainites exist in order to punish those mortals that stray from the path of God or to exemplify the dark path of sin is popular amongst the clan. In addition, some are painfully religious still, though twisted in their faith. No matter their calling all Lasombra enjoy pomp and ceremony, especially of the spiritual.

Terminally driven by ambition, members of clan Lasombra prefer to manipulate from the shadows, with dark tendrils of influence expanding through many aspects of politics both Cainite and kine which in turn makes them a lot harder to target. Possessing an almost pathological need to display dominance and keeping others firmly beneath them, you will most likely have to dig through layers of subservient mortals and neonates before finding the true puppet master. 

During the early Renaissance, there are notions of discontent within the ranks of younger Lasombra - though the anarch revolt has yet to take place. For now, there are far too many avenues for ambitious Cainites to explore and dominate for such things to take precedence. Some of the greatest works of religious art and dedication are created during this period - no doubt Lasombra feature as some of the more powerful patrons of such works. Spain and Italy enjoy a position of cultural ascendancy during this time, and the Lasombra certainly use this to cement their own standing as one of the most enlightened clans - both spiritually and intellectually.  

Clan Opinions On…

The Embrace

Magisters respect only excellence. They typically Embrace from among the most highly regarded members of whatever society they belong to. In these nights, this distinction includes individuals of title and station or (equally as often) men and women of the cloth. Innate aptitudes are highly regarded as well, as the Lasombra tend to view the Cainite condition as merely a magnification of an individual's latent capabilities. Many Lasombra take pride in those whom they would Embrace, wooing their would-be childer for months or even years at a time. Indeed, the length ot this dark courtship is a good indication of the sire's esteem for her fledgling.

Lasombra do not bring newcomers into the clan randomly, hastily or clumsily. They study their potential childe carefully, often for years at a time. Many Lasombra deliberately manoeuvrer hardships into the paths of those they would recruit to gauge their reactions and test their mettle. Others insert themselves into would-be childer's lives so as to better gain an estimation of their capabilities and will. However, there is one constant in all Lasombra Embraces.

In all cases, the sire-co-be must ask the one she would grant the Kiss if he truly desires it. To Embrace without permission, freely granted, is the worst offence a Lasombra can commit. In those cases when the Embrace is given involuntarily, unless the circumstances are extenuating to an unbelievable degree, the misguided sire is routinely punished.

The reasoning for this seemingly odd policy has its origins in the Lasombra's estimation of themselves. After all, the Magisters view themselves as the creme de la creme of the vampiric population, taking only the noblest and most capable mortals to swell their ranks. A young Lasombra should not have to be coerced. Lasombra heritage should not be forced on anyone - it must be offered as a precious gift. The potential Lasombra should be made aware of what she is being offered and what an honour it is and then allowed to choose freely. 

If the candidate chooses to accept, the Embrace occurs without further delay. If the candidate refuses, she is given one night to reconsider her decision and warned not to discuss the matter. It goes without saying that during that time, she will be under surveillance, and should she prove herself indiscreet, she is considered to have rejected the offer. What follows is brief and bloody but not unpredictable. If at the end of the twenty four hours, the candidate has proved her discretion and still refuses, she is usually sorrowfully killed. Very few have refused the Embrace and been permitted to live, unless the thwarted sire has tremendous respect for her victim's nobility or talents. However no one one is ever offered a second chance at immortality - at least not by the Lasombra.

The Auction

The truly spiritual amongst the Magisters would have seen the day of the Black Sun as an alarming omen, and given the clan’s unique perspective on darkness perhaps even linked somehow to their antediluvian. Perhaps God is enraged by this new era where so very much has changed course, and this auction will only serve to stoke his wrath. These empowered kine could be emissaries of Satan itself, and this whole event a sham of heretical debauchery. Other, less reactionary Cainites may simply wish to find themselves a powerful childe amid these mortals to further cement their legacy and ambitions. 

The auction has no doubt become a point of contention for the Lasombra. Most of the clan regard the Giovanni with suspicion (only a fool would regard a clan of vampires with anything less) but they tolerate the presence of the necromancers. Some are furious that they were not able to procure these powerful mortals sooner for themselves; nothing is more aggravating than seeing another Cainite make such a bold political move whilst holding the cards. For the Lasombra, a clan who like to think of themselves as being not only on the pulse point of human spiritual matters but also the masters of all things shadow, missing a group of children who were born on an eclipse - one even with a shadowy power that smacks of their possessively protected discipline: Obtenebration - is a blunder they cannot afford.

In these rapidly progressing nights one false move can be enough to set you back decades, even centuries, and the Lasombra are not known for making a mistake twice. Fortunately (and above all amusingly) the Ventrue have been outpaced as surely as the other High Clans, and the Lasombra derive some satisfaction from seeing the Clan of Kings scramble. Yes, the Lasombra heard about the auction by and large at the same time as everyone else, yes they will have to gather themselves immediately to seize power, yes they will have to dominate the competition into submission or manoeuvre their spiritual weight into a position above the gathered mortals they care about - but all of that is nothing compared to seeing the Ventrue taken up by their breeches.

The Ventrue have willingly agreed, through bloody and gritted teeth, to attend this Claudius Exchange. The Ventrue. Who claim above all the importance of the Boon System, who surely loathe Claudius sliding his way into it like this. The Ventrue must hate every angle of this design. Thus: the Lasombra love it. The Magisters are in a better position to seduce the Giovanni than the Ventrue are, at least into some positive grace, given Clan Lasombra own half of Italy for the vampiric Princes in power. The Giovanni will easily benefit off Boons from Clan Lasombra, and Claudius Giovanni will be no exception.

Now, they just have to ensure the Tremere stay well away from The Shadow. That mortal is Lasombra branded, owned and as good as bought. The Magisters would rather raise hell on earth then have the domain of shadows given to the Usurpers - or any clan, for that matter.

The political chaos and innovation of Italian city-states also attracted droves of Brujah - much to the chagrin of the Lasombra, who are used to sharing Italy with Clan Cappadocian only, and at that only Venice, and only since the introduction of the Giovanni family into the clan of death. Some Brujah supported the communes of the past, seeking to make the early governments stable and prosperous. It would not be too out of character for the Lasombra to privately support opponents to the Brujah in this auction, to ensure they do not gain a stronger foothold in Italy.

❤︎