Jan Pieterzoon

Jan Pieterzoon is the signature character of the Ventrue clan in Vampire: The Masquerade.

Biography[]

To Jan Pieterzoon, Gehenna and the Book of Nod are superstitious drivel belonging in the Dark Ages. Jan understands that Kindred are paranoid and petty—his grandsire was killed over a vendetta. Talk of Gehenna and ravenous Antediluvians only feeds this paranoia and results in factionalism, fear, and paralysis. The Final Nights are here because foolish elders project their fears and read too much into coincidences and random chance.

Jan is no fool, however. He knows that something is happening, but he believes it is no more apocalyptic than a simple change in Kindred social conventions. It has happened before in the legends of the Kindred, as it did in Constantinople and during the Anarch Revolt. Instead of hiding from "Gehenna," Jan believes that the Camarilla should embrace change, evolve, and adapt to the new millennium. If it does not, Jan fears the Camarilla will crumble and face a self-fulfilling Gehenna. Pieterzoon is not naïve, he understands that most Kindred are too short-sighted to know what is best for them. To this end, he is willing to indulge in the vampire's petty deceptions and grand jyhads as long as they accomplish the necessary end — the preservation of the Kindred and their secret ways.

Thus, Jan has acquired no small amount of media influence to further his goal of eradicating Kindred superstition. He is on a book burning crusade, prompting the Inner Circle to punish all references to the Book of Nod since such references feed apocalyptic fear gripping Kindred society and making it harder for the Camarilla to remain dominant. He has gathered Cainite scholars and scientists to find "scientific" explanations for vampires, hoping that a secular approach will quell fears of Gehenna. The Final Nights are here because foolish elders project their fears and read too much into coincidences and random chance.

Despite being immersed in Byzantine kindred treachery since the very night of his Embrace, Jan Pieterzoon remains committed to the noblesse oblige that characterizes the most august of Ventrue. He truly believes that Ventrue dignitas includes guiding other wayward Kindred, and subscribes to the crumbling ethic of leadership over greed, counsel over dominance.

Clan Novel Saga[]

Pieterzoon was appointed by his sire Hardestadt to coordinate Camarilla's efforts on the East Coast of United States during the sect's counter-attack against the Sabbat. By the end of the conflict, almost all of the East Coast was lost, but Pieterzoon manages to retake New York with archon Theo Bell as his right hand man.

V5 Timeline[]

Pieterzoon was standing by his sire at the Conclave of Prague, when Theo Bell revolted and assassinated the elder starting the treacherous Brujah attack against the Ventrue. And although Theo Bell denies having killed Pieterzoon after he painted the ceiling with Hardestadt's brains, the younger Ventrue was never seen again and is believed to have been killed by the Brujah during the battle.

Trivia[]

The character's name most likely refers to Jan Pieterszoon Coen.

Character Sheet[]

Jan Pieterzoon, Childe of the Camarilla

Clan

Ventrue

Sire

Hardestadt the Younger

Nature

Idealist

Demeanor

Director

Generation

7th

Embrace

1723 CE

Apparent Age

Late 20s

Physical

Strength 3, Dexterity 3, Stamina 6

Social

Charisma 4, Manipulation 5, Appearance 3

Mental

Perception 5, Intelligence 4, Wits 3

Talents

Alertness 4, Athletics 2, Brawl 2, Dodge 2, Empathy 4, Expression 3, Grace 4, Intimidation 4, Leadership 4, Streetwise 1, Style 4, Subterfuge 6

Skills

Drive 2, Etiquette 4, Firearms 1, Melee 4, Performance 4, Stealth 2, Survival 3

Knowledges

Academics 4, Computer 2, Finance 5, Investigation 3, Law 4, Linguistics 4, Politics 4, Science 2

Disciplines

Auspex 1, Dominate 4, Fortitude 5, Obfuscate 2, Obtenebration 1, Potence 3, Presence 5

Backgrounds

Contacts 5, Herd 2, Influence 3, Mentor 5, Resources 5, Retainers 2, Status 4

Virtues

Conscience 3, Self-Control 4, Courage 3

Morality

Humanity 6

Willpower

7

Weakness

Can only feed from rape victims (see below)

Note: Jan suffers from a extreme case of the Ventrue Clan's weakness in that he can only feed from rape victims. After being ambushed in Washington D.C. by Sabbat, his entire herd is wiped out and though he is saved by Theo Bell, he has to use his dominate powers to cause a rape and then again to erase the memory of it in the victim in order to feed after the loss of his herd.

Image: With a face framed by spiky blond hair and deep blue eyes, Jan Pieterzoon is an archetype of Scandinavian stock. He often colors his hair when traveling, as many Kindred find his look a little less than traditional and a bit shocking. Jan is a complete clotheshorse, wardrobing himself in tailored suits made of the finest subtle fabrics and accessorizing with high-quality pieces.

Roleplaying Hints: Your stake in the game is a great one, and you know full well that you are probably in over your head. Still, calm must prevail. If you let others know that you doubt your capabilities, they will bring you down like sharks drawn by the scent of blood.

Your sire, Hardestadt, left you a tremendous legacy to satisfy, and you don’t fear failure for its own sake nearly as much as you fear his disappointment should you fail to succeed at the tasks for which he chose you.