Berel Underwood is the Ventrue Primogen of Boston in the video game Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong.
Biography[]
Youth years[]
Berel Underwood was born in Boston in 1807. His father was the head of the Sugar Trust, a business that held a monopoly in the refined sugar trade. That same year, an embargo was levied againt the U.S. in retaliation for their violation of neutrality in the Napoleonic Wars. American ships were seized and banned from trading in Europe. New England had no choice but to organize. James Underwood, Berel's father, met a sailor by the name of Galeb Bazory who offered to smuggle his sugar into Europe despite the ban. The two formed a bond of friendship and mutual respect, and Galeb watched the young Berel grow over the course of his travels.
Upon the death of his father in 1833, Berel found himself alone at the head of an agri-food empire at the age of 26. Considering Galeb to be his spiritual father, he asked him to stay by his side. Galeb accepted and settled down in order to actively participate in the financial expansion of Berel's business, providing him with sound advice. The young businessman inevitably became curious about his mentor's life and his seemingly eternal youth. Galeb agreed to tell Berel the truth about his nature, after which Berel would continually beg to receive his Embrace.
Vampire[]
In 1869, Galeb consented to the Embrace. Berel possessed the same qualities as his father, and Galeb grew fond of him. However, his new nature suddenly robbed him of any sense of limits. Berel was too ambitious. He managed to place a ghoul, William Havemeyer, as the mayor of New York City. Through this family, he created branches throughout Europe, which placed half of the world's sugar industry under his control in only two years. Berel then became involved in the banking and investment sectors. Galeb would drift further and further away from his Childe. Underwood seemed to integrate himself everywhere: deep within governments, on the boards of conglomerates. Nothing could stop him. Nothing satisfied him. Berel was infuriated by his Sire's lack of recognition. To keep hold of the secrecy surrounding his hegemony, Berel ordered the assassination of Hazel Iversen's father, thus cutting short a burgeoning rivalry.
What he did not know at the time was that he would eventually support Hazel Iversen's rise to Prince of Boston soon after the disappearance of Quentin King III. Although Galeb was his first choice, Galeb's refusal forced Berel to revise his plans, so he opted for a young woman who was both ambitious and easily manipulated. Unfortunately, the puppet turned against the puppet master, and Hazel proved to be more difficult to control than expected. Worse, she earned Galeb's unconditional loyalty. Galeb's desire to sire another Childe was so intolerable for Underwood that he advised Iversen to refuse him this right.
One of the most influential, wealthy, and longstanding Ventrue in the city, he has kept hold of the seat for his clan. A former Primogen under Prince Quentin King III, Underwood seamlessly shifted loyalty to the new Prince when she took power.
Description[]
After his embrace, he became ruthless in his affairs Berel is described as cold, ruthless, calculating — and the biggest mistake of his sire.
Gallery[]
