Eleanor Van Hasen was the Regent of a Tremere chantry in New York City in the 1890s.
Biography[]
When Dutch settlers founded New Amsterdam, they purchased land from the local tribes, many of whom continued to live on Manhattan Island. Among the colonists was a Tremere named Van Hasen who found the Iroquois natives fascinating, and who believed the Indians had links to magic long forgotten by Europeans. He sought to learn their secrets but found the incomprehensible. He realized that to truly merge Thaumaturgy with local magic he would have to Embrace one of the natives. Using an adult for this grand experiment would be a major risk. He would be set in his ways and loyal to the tribe rather than the clan. Thus Van Hasen adopted an intelligent young girl whom he named Eleanor, educating her in European science and culture, while inviting her to explore her mortal people's shamanic traditions.
Van Hasen allowed Eleanor to grow into womanhood before making her a ghoul, but it was another two decades before she was Embraced. The sire was pleased by Eleanor's intelligence and ability with blood magic, but was disappointed that she showed no unique insight into the art and was no more potent than any of his other childer.
She spent another four decades in the chantry learning Thaumaturgy, but as the English and French clashed for dominion over northeastern America, the Tremere were drawn into the conflict as peacemakers between the Toreador and Ventrue. Two clans fought during the mortal struggle, despite the growing threat of the Sabbat.
In the late 18th century, numerous Tzimisce assaults targeted the Manhattan chantry, but it withstood the the fleshcrafters' spite. Van Hasen wan't so lucky. When he fell to the Fiends' talons, Eleanor was elevated to leader of the cabal, charged with fostering links to her fellow Camarilla in New York and to Tremere elders in Vienna, the latter of whom looked on the foreign regent with scorn.
Eleanor had a grudging respect for Wellesley - as much as a Tremere could have for any Ventrue - but saw the hand of Catherine Trandor in much of what he did.
In 1897, she was diablerized by Aimery de Methuine[2].
References[]
- ↑ VTM: The Ventrue Chronicle, p. 90
- ↑ VTM: The Ventrue Chronicle, p. 86