Nova Árpád

Nova Arpad, was the Ventrue Prince of Mediasch, during the Dark Ages.

Biography
Nova Arpad was originally recruited by the Arpad Ventrue of Hungary to exploit the rapid social and political changes in Transylvania in the 12th century. In mortal history, the Hungarians encouraged settlers from other nations to develop settlements in the lands beyond the forest. One of their staunchest allies was the Szeklers, a Turkic tribe living in northeastern Transylvania. The Szeklers were eventually propped up by the Hungarians to act as the nobility – or more accurately, the overlords – of the Transylvanian serfs and peasants.

Typical Cainite arrogance demands a different version of that story. By their thinking, the Szeklers were enlisted because the Hungarian Ventrue, along with their Ventrue Eastern Lord allies, wanted to control the domains of Transylvania. Nova Arpad, from her estate in Mediasch, was to help oversee this domination, and in true Cainite style, took credit where the system succeeded.

By the end of the 12th century, however, Nova had been captured by a conspiracy of Transylvanian princes. Ruxandra, a Nosferatu skilled in maintaining her Mask of a Thousand Faces, replaced the Ventrue prince. As Nova was made captive, she was tortured in a labyrinth beneath a black-stone church. The ruse allowed the conspirators to quickly seize power, but it was only a matter of time until the western Hungarians uncovered the depths of the Easterners’ treachery.

Nova was rescued by an audacious coterie of Cainites who decided to align their fate with the destiny of the Eastern Lords. While the coterie asked for overly elaborate rewards for their actions, Nova later betrayed them. She continues to have a very haughty attitude toward younger, weaker Cainites, and she underestimates them. This may be her undoing.

Arrogantly, she continued to assert her control over what remained of the Council of Ashes, but the patience of several other factions within the voivodate weared thin. Even the Ventrue begin grow tired of her failures, though Nova was too audacious to notice this. Thus, she has renewed her efforts to achieve her goal and advance her destiny but in the end things went bad. and desperation has driven her to flee to Ceoris, where allies of the Eastern Lords faithfully aid clan Tremere.

Although corrupt and selfish, Nova is loyal to her clan. For centuries she had hoped to subjugate the vampiric lords of Transylvania for the needs of the Ventrue Eastern Lords. That epic scheme has failed utterly, but a few of the Transylvanian Cainites still trust her. The Ventrue and the Tremere, thus, have a common enemy: the clan Tzimisce. So Nova worked as a mouthpiece for many of the Eastern Lords, diplomatically speaking on behalf of her clan. Of course, she realized that her clan now considered her expendable, for if the Tremere really wanted to destroy her free will, they could. Then again, no one north of the Carpathians trusted her anyway, so it was unlikely that she would be a useful pawn.

Against the odds she survived and finally returned to her original domain of Mediasch, working nightly with the Hungarian nobility to deliver Transylvania from the Turks. She succeeds in 1687 with the Habsburg takeover of the region. Nova actively supported closer ties between the Tremere and the Ventrue, seeing unity between the two clans as an avenue to securing complete domination of the Balkan country. She also championed the oppression brought by the Habsburg leadership, and suffered the consequences for this in the 19th century, after 200 years of brutal rule.

Backgrounds
Image: Nothing can destroy Nova’s pride. Jet-black hair cascades down her back, and cold eyes regard her lessers with disdain. She holds the regal bearing of a true Ventrue. Her wealthy upbringing is very evident, as is the cruelty she learned as she ascended into power.

Roleplaying Hints: When you were rescued at the end of the 12th century, your rage was limitless. Nothing could dissuade you from exacting vengeance upon your captors, the so-called “Council of Ashes.” As time passes, however, you are realizing that you are in as much danger as they are. Bravado achieves little, and storming the audience chambers of the powerful meets with their displeasure. Cautiously choose your words around those more powerful than you. Do not forget, however, to let those beneath you know of your power and authority. A show of weakness would destroy you.

Haven: In 1197, Nova’s household was an estate near Mediasch. With the assistance of her Szantovich lover, she once ecstatically forced her human servants into elaborate acts of submission. After 1310, a Saxon seneschal inhabits the estate, though Nova eventually dispatches him. By 1450, she no longer enjoys such displays of dominance, for when she approaches the Tremere fortress of Ceoris, she puts her fate in the hands of the Usurpers. There, she must submit in more unusual ways....

Secrets: Nova dreams of the Szantovich lover she lost so long ago. She was seduced by her own need for pleasure, but now, there is no release for it. The Beast within her remembers the exotic orgies of blood they once enjoyed, but soon, it may be her blood that is spilled for the enjoyment of others.

Influence: Like the remaining princes of the voivodate, Nova’s influence will proceed from vast and encompassing to obsolete and dangerous. Desperation can make fast alliances, however.

Character Stats
Note: Nova displayed those traits during the period of 1450 to 1500 AD.

Clan: Ventrue Sire: Gregor Generation: 7th Nature: Architect Demeanor: Celebrant Apparent Age: early 30s Embrace: 1050 Physical: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3 Social: Charisma 4, Manipulation 4, Appearance 4 Mental: Perception 3, Intelligence 5, Wits 3 Talents: Alertness 3, Dodge 3, Empathy 2, Larceny 2, Subterfuge 3, Leadership 4 Skills: Etiquette 3, Music 2, Ride 2 Knowledges: Academics 2, Investigation 2, Law 3, Linguistics 3, Medicine 2, Politics 4, Seneschal 5 Disciplines: Auspex 3, Fortitude 2, Dominate 5, Presence 3 Backgrounds: Influence 5 (now 0), Resources 5 (now 0) Virtues: Conscience 1, Self-control 2, Courage 4 Road: Humanity 3 Willpower: 9

Note: Nova displayed those traits during the late part of the 19th century.

Nature: Architect Demeanor: Celebrant Apparent Age: early 30s Embrace: 1050 Physical: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3 Social: Charisma 4, Manipulation 6, Appearance 4 Mental: Perception 4, Intelligence 5, Wits 4 Talents: Alertness 4, Dodge 3, Empathy 2, Expression 3, Grace 4, Intuition 2, Leadership 3, Subterfuge 5 Skills: Crafts 2, Etiquette 3, Performance 2, Ride 2, Stealth 1 Knowledges:  Academics  3,  Investigation  2,  Law  3,  Linguistics (French,  German,  Magyar,  Romanian) 3,  Medicine  2,  Occult  1, Politics 5 Disciplines: Animalism 2, Auspex 3, Celerity 2, Dominate 6, Fortitude 4, Obfuscate 3, Potence 1, Presence 5 Backgrounds: Herd 3, Influence 3, Resources 5, Status 4 Virtues: Conscience 3, Self-Control 3, Courage 4 Morality: Humanity 5 Willpower: 6