“Power is not a means to an end; it is our very duty and privilege as Ventrue. Our leadership ensures the foundations of the Camarilla endure, providing its continued stability and boundless opportunity. Dedicate yourself to the service of our Clan and uphold the pillars of the Tower. Unleash your gifts, wield them with wisdom, and witness our enemies fall before you.” 

– Vicenzo Quintia Vitale 

From feudal lords to modern business executives, the Blue Bloods value power and leadership more than anything else in their existence. Tradition and lineage are also important; their Embraces are carefully chosen from actual royalty and the most “successful” members of humanity, the most driven and accomplished. A Ventrue sire expects nothing less than perfection. 

Members of the clan commonly value history and tradition. From the moment a childe is Embraced, they begin to learn their undead lineage and the various accomplishments of their forebears. The new Ventrue is expected to rise to the same level of success as their predecessors (many of whom still exist, which adds to the stress placed on a new fledgeling). They hold more Court positions than any other clan in the Camarilla; the clan is the very lifeblood of the sect, and the Blue Bloods make sure everyone knows it. 

Deeply rooted throughout history as nobility, many Blue Bloods have taken old feudal traditions and modernized them into corporate boardrooms and back-room political dealings. Every move that a Ventrue makes is carefully strategized to either maintain their power base or acquire more. If that power ever begins to slip, they only grasp harder. 

Disciplines 

Dominate: The Ventrue consider themselves the masters of this Discipline and especially like to use it to exert control over humanity. They often use Dominate while feeding, both for control and to keep the Masquerade. 

Fortitude: A different sort of strength holds power fast against the flailing violence of rebels. The physical and mental grounding from Fortitude helps the Ventrue outlast others who would try to take what they have. 

Presence: Subjects who love their rulers are less likely to rise against them. That love can be entirely fabricated, for all it matters, so long as it benefits the Ventrue. 

Archetypes 

Executive: In life, they skyrocketed up the ladder, hungry for each new promotion and always seeking their next opportunity. Naturally, no one ever suspected they had a hand in any suddenly open positions; they were always as smart as they were ruthless. Their success is what first attracted their sire, and they’ve only expanded their enterprise since joining the ranks of the undead. 

Consultant: Every domain thinks its problems are unique, but this Ventrue has seen it all. Mysterious new drugs, kidnappings, and heightened Anarch tensions are common issues they’re brought in to help solve. With the right mix of confidence, experience, and just the right pedigree, they’re sought after by Princes and other leaders to solve their problems… for the right price. 

Heir Apparent: Born with a silver spoon in mouth, this Ventrue was a mortal child of nobility and wealth. But rather than become spoiled or lazy by the ease of their childhood, they chose instead to rise even higher. Everything about them embodies royalty, and their natural way with people only became more powerful after their Embrace. One doesn’t need to be hated to understand the importance of being in charge. It is far easier to subtly manipulate adoring subjects against any rivals.

Bane 

Refined in palate as much as in action, the Ventrue are extremely picky eaters. While other vampires can drink from most any mortal they come across, each Ventrue has their own preferences. The details always vary, but the details of their prey’s life may be incredibly important: college graduates, drug users, or people with a particular hair or eye color are all examples of their preferences. Nearly any aspect of a person’s life may give their blood that special perfect flavor, and nothing else can compare. 

If a Ventrue attempts to feed from anyone outside their preference, they must spend Willpower equal to their Bane severity or vomit the blood back up. A Blue Blood can tell whether someone fits their preference even at a distance by making a Resolve + Awareness challenge vs. Difficulty 4, or through the use of the Bloodhound Merit. 

Compulsion: Arrogance 

The Blue Bloods have their moniker for a reason. When a Ventrue’s Compulsion is triggered, they need to be in command, controlling the situation and everyone in it. They suffer a -2 penalty to any challenge until the end of the scene or until someone obeys one of their orders. This penalty applies even to challenges involving supernaturally commanding another character to follow orders with powers such as Dominate. A faked, forced, or coerced resolution can’t satisfy the vampire; the person must bow to their leadership without being Dominated or supernaturally compelled, and the order should have an impact to the scene, ideally in the Ventrue’s favor, and most often with other witnesses.