Dracula (VTR)

Vlad Tepes, also called Vlad Dracula or Vlad the Impaler, was the mortal prince of Wallachia (part of present-day Romania) who founded the Ordo Dracul.

Life
Born in 1430 or 1431, young Vlad learned to rule at the knee of his father, Vlad II Dracul. He came to the throne briefly in 1448 but was deposed by Hungarians in favor of a cousin. In 1456 he returned to the throne and swiftly set about settling old debts against the ruling class, building a reputation for creative cruelty and brutal efficiency. In 1462, after a disastrous attempt to invade the Ottoman Empire, Dracula was taken captive and his brother Radu cel Frumos installed on the throne of Wallachia. In 1475 he was released from his captivity, and briefly reclaimed his throne in 1476 before being killed in a fight against Basarab Laiotă, formerly the Ottoman puppet ruler of the principality.

Undeath
How exactly Dracula became Kindred is a mystery. One account suggests that he may have ingested vitae while struggling with an Ottoman soldier, a sort of accidental Embrace. Dracula's own writings claim he was raised directly by God, and thus has no clan or sire.

Whatever the case, Dracula set about ghouling his brother to serve as his puppet prince, and Embraced his three "brides," Mara, Anoushka and Lisette. Together, they created the Ordo Dracul and gave it its mission of understand and overcoming the burdens of undeath. Dracula also composed the order's central text, the ''Rites of the Dragon. ''He entered torpor not long after this, leaving his brides in charge of the Ordo.

Pretenders
In modern nights many different Kindred have claimed to be Dracula, but three put forth exceptionally convincing claims. One is based in America and nicknamed "Hollywood Drac;" a second has been nicknamed "the Gilded Fireplug" for his short stature and fondness for flashy jewelry; the third, based in the Czech Republic, is called "the Romanian Terror" due to his mastery of disciplines such as Nightmare. All three are skilled in the Coils of the Dragon, and all three have the intense personal charisma attributed to the real Vlad Tepes, but for now there seems to be no way to prove which, if any, is the genuine article.