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vaughn, the 7th counselor

Background:

Destiny began to twist Vaughn's path quite early in life. His mortal birth name Edwin, the second son of Baron Kurt Von Stein of the Southern Germany. He spent his youth learning the sword, military strategy & religion. His path took shape when a sudden illness took the life of his elder brother. Edwin was then expected to inherit his father's lands, his studies then switch to instruction of the manner, lands & mathematics. Throughout this entire period he knew one constant, the late evening tutoring of mortal alchemy by Uncle Jahn. Jahn was an unnoticed mage of House Tremere under the Order of Hermes.  It was possible Jahn was grooming Edwin for a possible Awakening, instead Jahn's ambitions were heighted when he accidentally stumbled upon a chalice ceremony and was given the choice of embrace or death. He quickly urged his superiors to embrace his nephew as he showed great promise. Suddenly, Edwin's knowledge of the occult was put to the test with multiple letters regarding philosophy, occult, rituals & lore. Unknown to either Edwin or Jahn was that someone else with a much broader understanding than his uncle was reading them. Edwin's understanding of the occult, along with Jahn's lust for power led Edwin to the embrace into Clan Tremere.

Edwin is the first Tremere who wasn’t a Mage prior to his Embrace. While the early nights of the Tremere often looked down upon those who were, “just mere mortals”, Vaughn quickly dispatched of old traditions and made the Tremere begin to look for new members of their Clan from outside their usual norms of Occultists & Scholars.

Vaughn was forced into a coterie as a boon being owed by his sire. He was a peacekeeper and urged his fellow members to work together, and at times the only reason they did was because they were unsure of a Tremere's powers. In time, they all become very close members and saved each others life time & time again.

Vaughn settled into Tremere history as he went from Apprentice, with the only basic knowledge of Thaumaturgy to Regent of a Chantry. In time he embraced his apprentices who showed not only talent in the occult & magic, but the ability to cooperate within their immediate ranks. In mortal life, Vaughn disliked petty bickering & backstabbing mortals would perform on amongst themselves and was shocked that this paled compared to the level Cainites perform the same ability. As Regent, he quickly dispatched strict & harsh rules to discourage inner clan fighting. It was near this time that Edwin shed his birth name, and took Vaughn. During this time, he removed himself from politics, stepping down as Prince of Alba-Ulia. Although Kindred lore is filled with his name at many decision making events, he dislikes politics of any kind.  While separated from these politics, he was able to construct chantries all across Transylvania & in time the Tremere made him Lord.

Vaughn would spend countless nights pouring on ancient texts & tombs.  He heard the unofficial rank of Pontifex when he discovered that it was possible Salout was not destroyed during his Amaranth.  He sent his research to Etrius, who began to take great interest into Vaughn's research & magic prowess.

Vaughn is regarded as the Tremere’s specialist in Koldunic Lore & Koldunic. His ideology of inner clan politics has made him both the envy & rival of many Tremere. Many sought after his unique rituals & his path. He teachers his childer freely, and those of his lineage so long as they prove themselves.

Image:

Vaughn appears as a well groomed, well tailor man in his early 20s.  At the time of his embrace, it was encouraged to embrace a mortal early in life to prevent disease or tragedy from taking place.  Due to his young look, he takes extra care choosing clothing that will increase his external maturity.  He still dones a heavy cloak, which contains many items Thaumaturgical in nature, along with wearing amulets, rings & even a forehead piece of the same type.  He is respectful to all he sees, less they are disrespectful to him.  If he is on business, he is hardly noticed as a Tremere, but while in the cities of New Orleans, Ceoris, or New York he is a stereo-typical 'spooky Tremere.'

currently

Being free from the Tremere Chain, Vaughn has created a House within the Clan. House Vaughn discovers & gathers any information relating to Gehenna, Final Nights, & The Brothers Five: (Kupala, Baal, Mephisto, Dural, & Diablo).  His house accepts non-Tremere members & includes: Tremere, Etrius, Akulla The Holy (Koldunic Sorcery Tzimisce), Sek-Methit (Setite Sorcerer), & Hinata, (Kuei-Jin).

Currently Thaumaturgical experimentation is currently suspended due orders by Tremere:

• Time/Space - Path researching manipulation thereof, began after witness of Temporis, no progress has been made.
• Shadow Manipulation - Path researching to combat Lasombra Obtenebration, path dismissed & research catalogued due to the discovery of the Path of Shadow Crafting.
• Sensory Manipulation/Depravation - Researching into mild or sensory alternating & manipulation, specifically to nullify the effects of Chimerstry.  No progress made.
• Speed of Thought - Path Completed: Mentis Celeratis

Role-playing Hints:

You have witness the rise & fall of many men & nations.  You never direct your endeavors personally.  You use promise of promotion or instruction of Thaumaturgy to your lesser to ensure the ends to your means.  You answer only to Tremere himself along with the other counselors.  Your priority now lies with the Gehenna & Final Nights.  It is your duty to ensure Clan Tremere has the knowledge it needs to survive.

• Name: Counselor Vaughn (See sidebar for Tremere rank during time periods)
• True Name: Edwin Von Stein
• Sire: Jahn Von Stein
• Nature: Autocrat
• Demeanor: Director
• Generation: 7th
• Embrace: 1148 A.D.
• Apparent Age: Late Teens / Early 20s
• Physical: Strength 2, Dexterity 5, Stamina 4
• Social: Charisma 4, Manipulation 5, Appearance 4
• Mental: Perception 6, Intelligence 6, Wits 6
• Talents: Alertness (Paranoid) 4, Athletics (Quick) 3, Brawl (Touch/Holds) 3, Empathy (Emotions/Truth) 5, Leadership (Compelling) 5, Meditation 3, Subterfuge (Persuade) 4
• Skills: Animal Ken 2, Drive 2, Etiquette 3, Melee (Swords/Staves) 4, Ride 2
• Knowledges: Academics 2, Finance 2, Kolduism (Lore/Rituals) 5, Investigation (Search) 4, Linguistics* (Translation/Accents/Diplomacy) 6, Occult (Rituals/Prophecy/Brothers Five) 6, Technology 2, Theology (Prayers) 3.
• Linguistics*: German, Latin, Greek, Slavonic, Hungarian, Romanian, English UK, Ancient Egyptian, Arabic, Hebrew, The First One, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), Chinese(Mandarin & Cantonese), Aramaic, Dutch, French (Creole), Indian (Hindu), Indian (Navajo), Mayan, Aztec, Thai, Indonesian, English US, Sanskrit, & Swahili
• Disciplines: Auspex 5, Dominate 3, Thaumaturgy 6, Fortitude 6 (Laquoix's Valor)
• Thaumaturgical Paths: Path of Blood 5, Lure of Flame 4, Elemental Mastery 5, Movement of the Mind 5, Mentis Celertis 5, The Green Path 4
• Discipline Techniques: Mystic Sight
• Backgrounds: Allies 3, Contacts 3, Domain 3, Herd 3, Influence(Occult) 5, Influence (Health) 5, Influence (Police) 3, Influence (Politics 3), Mentor 1, Occult Library 5, Resources (Self) 3, Resources (Clan) 5, Retainers 2, Status (Tremere) 5, Status (New Orleans) 3
• Virtues: Conscience 4, Self-Control 5, Courage 4
• Morality: Humanity 9
• Willpower: 10
• True Faith: 2 (Only during Gehenna & Final Nights, circa 2004+

Noteworthy accomplishments

The First Tremere Embraced, who wasn't previously a mage

Became Regent prior to becoming a Magus

Gargoyle: Korath is the last constructed (not-embraced) Gargoyle

Discovered the secrets behind the Tremere/Salout conspiracy

Coordinated attack that lead to the destruction of 3 powerful Koldonic Sorceries

Lead caster, next to Etrius, in the blood curse of Clan Assamite

Lead caster, next to Tremere, in the ritual that destroyed the Tremere, Antitribu

Player's perspective

Tremere has always been my favorite Clan.  The Tremere know their origins, they are highly political, but not over the top like the Ventrue.  I enjoy playing the 'part of the group' structure the Pyramid has, being able to not only dictate your needs to lesser, but to send signals up the chain are both great.  If you don't work well in groups, you shouldn't play Tremere.

Vaughn was great to create & breath life.  Vaughn is the typical Tremere Elder you see in LARP games.  He's been around for almost 800 years, he speaks more often than most Tremere, but can still attract the attention of younger kindred.  He is political enough to be a fun character to play, but highly focus in Thaumaturgy that you know you are playing a Tremere, not a Ventrue or Lasombra.