Juggler is an 8th generation Brujah and a prominent Anarch of the Chicago area.
Biography[]
| “ | No Priests. No Kings. | ” |
Iacopo Manzini was the second son of a prosperous merchant family. He attended excellent schools and graduated from the University of Vicenza in 1840. Fascinated by politics, he enthusiastically participated in the revolutionary movement. His family, disapproving of his dangerous ideas, wanted him to settle down, marry, and work in the family business, but that was not the life Iacopo envisioned for himself. After a series of bitter rows, he insisted upon going his own way and his family cut him off. He walked to Germany in 1845 to work for the revolution, offering his services as a laborer to farmers along the way in exchange for food and shelter. Along the way, he reflected on the hospitality he received and learned about survival and the virtues of the common man.
The revolution of 1848 failed in Germany and, along with many of his forty-eighter comrades, Iacopo migrated to America rather than staying to face political persecution. Iacopo was one of many who settled in Cincinnati. Always ambitious, he worked his way toward a position of leadership in the movement. Independence from the British Empire was not enough. Revolution, to Iacopo, was a continuous process of violent upheaval designed to bring about an improvement in the lot of all mankind. He took part in the Cincinnati riots of 1853 in the course of which he sustained fatal injuries. One of the 100 women who followed the fatal march was Elle, a Kindred who had been wanting a childe for some years. The mortally wounded revolutionary was too good a prospect to pass over. In the confusion, it was easy to drag him into an alley where she Embraced him.
Iacopo travelled with his sire, stirring up unrest among the oppressed wherever and whenever they could until Elle met her end during the New Orleans Massacre of 1866. Iacopo survived by virtue of the color of his skin. It was then he changed his name to Juggler, a nickname his sire had given him due, he believes, to his grace and dexterity. “No longer will some inbred Patrician tell a vampire of Clan Brujah what to say or do. The Camarilla is ours! They are the ones who have corrupted it!” — Maxwell, shouting his resentment about the Clan of Kings biographies Juggler came to Chicago soon after Maldavis’s defeat, hoping to channel the Anarchs’ rage into support for himself. They rallied to his side in considerable numbers. However, the size of their group was quickly, dramatically reduced by the savage attacks of the Lupines and Sabbat. Juggler never gave up on his attempts to recruit to the Anarch cause. His success, however, was limited. He lacked the charisma of Kindred like Maldavis, who remained his greatest rival in the race to become the first among equals. Upon Lodin’s supposed death, Juggler entered the contest for the praxis of Chicago, inspired by his intense rivalry with Maldavis, who was a definite candidate. At that time, though, he was blood bound to Tyler who, in her turn, was bound to the Methuselah Helena. Helena wanted Juggler to lead the Anarchs, not to take praxis of Chicago.
The subversion of his will may explain why his attempted coup resulted in few casualties. Helena’s schemes protected him but forced him back to Gary where she wanted him. Feeling manipulated, though not able to explain by whom, Juggler stuck to Gary, though he still maintains his old haven on Northside. He proclaimed himself Baron and managed well enough. When Tyler left Chicago, the bond weakened. At first he sought her out ever more desperately, and his followers remarked upon his strange behavior. Then he started to reflect upon his own motivations, wondering why he ever let this individual weave such a web of dependence around him. He concluded that someone else, someone altogether more ominous, forced Tyler to act in this way. He began to wonder if he could discover more about who was controlling him by investigating what was really happening in the Gehenna War. He has not discussed this with anyone. Only Pietr Armstrong, Juggler’s recently created ghoul, knows anything about this planned expedition. About a month ago, Juggler disappeared. His childe, Evelyn, took his place as Baron of Gary.
Juggler is the de facto leader of the Anarch Movement in Gary, Indiana as well as in Chicago, Illinois. He has a very strange relationship with Modius, Prince of Gary, and it is rumored Modius owes him a great boon. He is tolerated in Gary though he spends much of his time in Chicago recruiting more and more to the Anarch cause.
V5 Timeline[]
Juggler disappeared. His childe, Evelyn Stephens, took his place as Baron of Gary.
Appearance[]
Juggler is slightly below average height and light in build. He has long, shoulder length dark blonde hair and dark grey eyes with green-flecked irises. Juggler constantly fiddles with whatever is to hand, car keys, a pack of cigarettes, a handful of small change. He has practiced prestidigitation and sometimes, whatever he is playing with just disappears between his fingers. Juggler comes across as earnest, intense, and enthusiastic. Some find this charming. Some find it merely indicative of immaturity. Bertrand Koster was the identity Juggler used among mortals just before he disappeared. Bertrand was a street performer, specializing in prestidigitation and conjuring tricks. Once an audience assembled to watch him pull colorful scarves out of hats and find silver dollars behind children’s ears, he would launch into political rants. Rather than listen, the audience would melt away from this white fool, without putting money into the hat he passed round. Not that he cared greatly for money. Any he earned from his performances he swiftly gave away to the homeless and dispossessed of Gary.
Gallery[]
Character Sheet[]
Juggler
Nature: Jester
Demeanor: Conniver
Apparent Age: Early 30s
Physical: Strength 2, Dexterity 4* 5** (Graceful), Stamina 3
Social: Charisma 3, Manipulation 4 (Cunning), Appearance 3
Mental: Perception 4 (Probing), Intelligence 2, Wits 3
Talents: Alertness 4 (Double Cross), Athletics 2, Brawl 4 (Grappling), Dodge 3, Intimidation 2, Leadership 5 (Fiery), Streetwise 4 (Anarchs), Subterfuge 2
Skills: Drive 2, Etiquette 4 (Gangs), Firearms 3, Melee 2, Repair 1, Security 3, Stealth 3
Knowledge: Bureaucracy 3, Investigation 1* 2**, Linguistics 1 (Italian Native language), Occult 3
Disciplines: Celerity 3, Dominate 4, Fortitude 1, Obfuscate 2, Potence 2
Backgrounds: Allies 2, Contacts 3, Herd 5
Virtues: Conscience 2, Self Control 4, Courage 4
Morality: Humanity 7
Willpower: 8
Fifth Edition[]
Juggler
Sire: Elle
Embraced: 1853 (Born 1819)
Ambition: To bring about constant improvement through ongoing revolution
Convictions: None
Touchstones: None
Humanity: 6
Generation: 8th
Blood Potency: 3
Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 5, Stamina 3; Charisma 3, Manipulation 4, Composure 2; Intelligence 2, Wits 4, Resolve 3
Secondary Attributes: Health 6, Willpower 5
Skills: Athletics 2, Brawl 3, Firearms 3, Melee 2, Stealth 3; Etiquette (Gangs) 4, Intimidation 4, Leadership 5, Performance (Prestidigitation) 2, Persuasion 4, Streetwise 5, Subterfuge 2; Awareness 4, Politics 3
Disciplines: Celerity 3, Dominate 2, Fortitude 1, Potence 2, Presence 4
References[]
- VTM: Vampire: The Masquerade Rulebook, p. 217-218
- VTM: Vampire: The Masquerade Second Edition, p. 248-249
- VTM: Let the Streets Run Red, p. 156-158
