The Circle of the Crone
Hierophant Scythia
"Some say I am feminist bitch or a psychopathic pagan. Know that I am merely Hierophant Scythia and Prince of this domain."
Clan: Ventrue
Covenant: Circle of the Crone
Rank: Prince/Hierophant
Embrace: Rumoured to have been embraced in the later years of the 19th century (possibly East Coast United States).
Apparent Age: Early 30s
Hierophant Scythia's rule has been likened to an iron fist in an expensive designer glove that has its fingers stained with blood. She controls the city completely, and either lacks the patience or the desire to exercise political caution when dealing with transgressions to her rule. Consequently, she has garnered the reputation as a bloody tyrant. If it were not for the fact that the Circle of the Crone are the dominant covenant in the city it is likely that she would have been deposed or diablerised soon after she gained control. She believes it is her female
right to act as both covenant hierophant and Prince of the city, and that she has been chosen by the Goddess of the Mound to lead the Kindred of her domain. Thus, some believe - mainly those outside of her covenant - she is blinded by higher causes.
However, Scythia did not assume control without some leadership skill, and has a history within the Circle of making wise although brutal decisions. Further, none can dispute that she single-handedly united several disparate cults and formed one of the most powerful covenants on the east coast. Her rule has therefore been largely peaceful and the other covenants, with the exception of Lancea Sanctum, appear to be content with the arrangement. However, there have been some concerns raised by the more outspoken Kindred that there is growing discontent.
Scythia is rumoured to have been embraced after her sire saved her from physical and mental abuse inflicted on her by her wealthy industrialist husband. On the night of her embrace, they sacrificed him to the goddesses of the Earth. Some years later, with the women's suffragette movement gaining power in the early twentieth century, she discovered a means for redirecting her anger towards her deceased husband into the emancipation of women and the idea of powerful feminine deities. She has not progressed her feminist ideals to the hatred of men, yet some comment that her court is predominantly female (which may have more to do with the fact that more women join the Circle).
Callidia
"You will respect our Prince, my Hierophant. Kneel before her, or I will banish you from this place."
Clan: Gangrel.
Covenant: Circle of the Crone
Rank: Mistress of Elysium and Regis of Lordenshaw City Airport.
Embrace: The early 1990s, Florida.
Apparent Age: Late 20s.
Severine "the Gorgon"
"I coil around Her arm and thus I am the means to enact Her will."
Clan: Ventrue - Gorgon Bloodline
Covenant: Circle of the Crone
Rank: Hound
Embrace: No one knows, but she is rumoured to have been embrace before Christ.
Apparent Age: Mid 20s.
Severine is a tall and sleek woman of Mediterranean descent. Her long, thick black hair glistens in the light and sinously descends down her lithe figure. She moves with unnatural grace, barely saying a word. All the time, she observes with cat-like eyes and appears to use her other senses - even her tongue gently slides out between two elongated, curling fangs as though to taste the air. Within the Circle of the Crone she is regarded as a consummate predator, hence why Hierophant Scythia placed her as the hound of her rule. Like a snake, she is able to get into places that other Kindred believe to be secure. As lethal as a snake, she is able to act upon the Prince's orders, slaying enemies and criminals with the strange Amphivena discipline or restricting them in her powerful, vice-like grip. She is cunning and dangerous when enforcing laws and dictates, which has earned her a fearsome reputation as well as many enemies.
Lydia Hibberd
"You dare to criticise me for my exclusive clique? Your coterie is nothing more than a pack of blood-thirsty hounds . . . tribal and primitive. What you call a clique I call a fashionable society."
Clan: Daeva.
Covenant: Circle of the Crone. Ex-Invictus.
Rank: Harpy.
Embrace: Washington D.C., late 20th century.
Apparent Age: Early 20s.
Lydia Hibberd considers herself the centre of Kindred society in Lordenshaw City, although it would be more appropriate to think of her as a spider in the middle of a web of high society, the fashionable, the hip and those of the avant garde. She sways public and kindred opinion through her network of gossips, and acts as patron to fashion designers which establishes what is fashionable (and almost bleeds dry those she is bored of). Though she may not be physically powerful, or have mastered any disciplines, her biting tongue has destroyed the reputation and careers of many a kindred and mortal. She forms cliques, each themed to one of her desires, and those individuals hoping to famous often have to appease her. Even celebrities are known to seek her attention, and some famous individuals have been ruined completely by her. However, she knows her limits as she is terrified of Hierophant Scythia.
Lydia was once a member of the Invictus, but when the Circle of the Crone took control of the city a few years back she left the 'kindred aristocracy' and joined the side that would give her the most assistance in securing her social dominance. Given that she is not really a convert to the Circle, she has avoided a reputation of being the Hierophant's propagandist.
Sammy "Quicktongue"
"I'm not sure that the Changelings will agree to that . . ."
Clan: Gangrel.
Covenant: Circle of the Crone.
Rank: Clan Priscus, & ambassador.
Embrace: New Mexico, late 20th century.
Apparent Age: Mid 20s.
Sammy is one of the few Kindred in Lordenshaw City with connections with Fae and lupines. Her role is primarily to represent the Gangrel in meetings, but she is occasionally asked to send messages to Changelings, or speak with the packs of werewolves that dwell in the forests and mountains to the north-west. Her contact with the lupines is rare, and so she has gained the nickname, "Quicktongue". Other Kindred also call her a "New Age Predator", which frustrates her; she did not obtain her connections by being more spiritual than other covenant members. Sammy has an uncanny ability to commune with other supernatural forces, as well as being carefully diplomatic. Nonetheless, she has used her position to obtain more prestigious positions with the Circle.
Sammy also is deeply respected within the Chorus for her visions and dream quests. Before her Embrace, she was an archaeology student. One night she ventured into the desert with a boyfriend and consumed peyote and cannabis. She entered into a dream-like state and imagined that she was some wolf-spirit striding across the world and drinking the blood of prey. When she came out of the dream-hallucination, her boyfriend had driven away, and a kindred had embraced her before leaving too. With dawn approaching her beast urged her to flee into a cave, where she soon slept. That day, she dreamt of a mound surmounted by a ring of stones with a screaming hag's face above it in the blood-red clouds. Recognising the mound as being in Lordenshaw City, she spent the next week traveling and was soon discovered by Hierophant Scythia. Every week she dreams of the mound, of Changelings, and a silvery web descending over the city. The Circle believes her dreams are messages from the Crone, and she is thus seen as a prophet (or doomsayer, according to some).
Voseganus Eidhe
"Please do not walk into the woods, I cannot guarantee your safety. . ."
Clan: Gangrel - Carnon bloodline.
Covenant: Circle of the Crone.
Rank: None.
Embrace: Middle 20th century, possibly France or Germany.
Apparent Age: Difficult to tell. However, there are rumours he was 18 when Embraced.
Voseganus Eidhe dwells where no mortal may walk, for fear that his appearance would disrupt the Masquerade. He eschews clothing of any sort, and so his near-bestial appearance can be fully seen. The vampire is a juggernaut; powerful, rippling muscles covering a tall, broad frame. His skin is almost completely covered in hair or Celtic tattoos. Most unnerving of all, however, are the two antlers that extend from either side of his forehead.
Voseganus is no monster, however. When he was a mortal, he lived a peaceful existence, working in Europe as a farmhand. With the rise of the hippy movement he became drawn into radical new music and experimental drugs. Fueled by his interest in Gaelic mythology, his alternate lifestyle became one of nature worship and adoration of the "proper" old ways (and, old gods). A Kindred with horns on his forehead visited him one night and offered him the chance to party forever and still pay homage to the old gods. Voseganus' transformation into undeath was no easy thing, for he became enraged and diablerised his sire. Fleeing to North America, he met Hierophant Scythia and was offered the chance to redeem his soul by joining her cult.
Strangely, the potency of Voseganus' blood increases. And the more potent his blood becomes the more his physique changes. Hence, his monstrous appearance. He has no reached the stage where he can only drink the vitae of other Kindred. If it were not for his charnel dreams and visions, he would procure their blood with no unease. But he wanders the forests to the north of Lordenshaw City terrified that he may diablerise others . . . that his appearance would then rapidly match the beast inside.