Mind's Eye Theatre - Vampire The Requiem.pdf - RoseRed

of state.” The Herald is assumed to speak with the Prince’s voice at all times. Some treacherous
or ambitious Heralds use this fact to direct other Kindred to their own liking, making
suggestions that others assume carry the weight of the Prince’s orders. Some Heralds who
were less subtle than they believed have been executed for this very thing, so wise Heralds
remain more or less honest.
The Herald position is often absent in small cities. In many such cases, the Seneschal (or
less frequently the Sheriff) handles these duties in addition to his other responsibilities.
Other Titles
In addition to Herald, this position is sometimes called Minister, Runner, Mouthpiece, Spokesman
or Secretary (not in the domains where the Seneschal bears that last title, of course).
PRIMOGEN
If a single position can be considered nearly as ubiquitous and representative of Kindred
politics as the Prince, it is the Primogen. The Primogen (singular as well as plural) offi cially
serve as the Prince’s advisory council on matters of policy. The precise nature of that council
varies from domain to domain. If the Prince is strong and especially tyrannical, the Primogen
might be little more than a formality, a conclave of elders who serve to rubberstamp whatever
the Prince wishes to do. In most domains, they serve as true advisors, and most wise Princes
try to take that advice into account whenever possible. Some Primogen are powerful enough
(or the Prince they advise is weak enough) that they can actually overrule the Prince on
certain matters. A few Primogen actually rule their cities, either through a fi gurehead Prince
or openly as a governing body.
The precise size and nature of the Primogen varies. Some are informal, meeting in shadowy
back rooms when the situation requires, arguing out whatever issue brings them together. Others
cleave to a schedule and procedures for speaking, often appearing much like a governing
board, a congress, an old-fashioned Greco-Roman senate, an ecclesiastic council or any other
form of organization imaginable. Said councils can range from a mere three or so vampires in
small communities to large advisory bodies, which may consist of a dozen or more Kindred.
For the most part, the Primogen consist of those local elders who have suffi cient power to
claim a seat. Also common are those Primogen who decide among themselves whom to admit
into their ranks. More rarely, a Prince might select members of his advisory council, but this
occurs only in cities where the Prince is especially strong and the Primogen especially weak. Most
Primogen contain a mix of members of various clans and covenants, though some are more
homogenous, depending on the domain. That is, the Primogen in a city largely dominated by
Carthians is likely to have more Carthian members than any others, and the Primogen in a city
where the Gangrel are persecuted is unlikely to have many Gangrel members.
Other Titles
The vast majority of these councils (and council members) go by the title Primogen, but
they are sometimes known as Boards, Circles, Senates, Tribunals or simply as advisors.
PRISCUS
A Priscus (Prisci in plural) is the informal “head” of a specifi c clan in a domain. This position
is not an offi cial one in the local governmental structure. Rather, it evolves organically
as a single powerful Kindred takes responsibility for his clanmates. This can be a choice he
himself makes, to seek power, or it might result from others of his clan coming to him with
problems. As an informal position, the Prisci have no institutional power or rank. That said,
the position does convey a substantial amount of status, and because it’s usually powerful
and well-respected Kindred who attain the position, the Prince and other elders are wise to
at least consider their opinions. Many Prisci also sit on the Primogen, but the two bodies are
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chapter one: society of the damned