Maxwell was the Brujah Prince of Chicago from 1837 to 1871. Maxwell’s primary objective is to retake the praxis of Chicago. He’s currently working with the city’s Nihilists to achieve this end.
Using Sharpe, his agents attack havens throughout Chicago in an effort to destabilize the city. Once softened, Walter Nash and Nathaniel will create a second front. Eventually, the two sides will squeeze Jackson into submission.
Biography[]
Mortal Days[]
Maximilien Rousseau was born a slave in 1717 to a sugar plantation in the French colony of Saint-Domingue. His life of forced labor began as soon as he could haul a bucket of water to the sugar cane boiling houses.
At ten years of age, he pushed wheelbarrows full of animal manure to the men fertilizing the fields. As a teen, he traded his wheelbarrows for carts loaded with hand-cut stems of cane, which he would take to the boiling houses. His whole life revolved around those houses—hauling, pushing, and carrying—with no relief to the backbreaking work.
He endured deplorable conditions, waking up every day to toil through sickness and pain. It made him strong. That strength made him valuable.
In the summer of 1736, slave-traders shoved Maximilien into the overcrowded hull of a transatlantic ship. With the steerage removed, he and other slaves sailed to France packed shoulder-to-shoulder with crates of sugar, coffee, and tobacco.
The boat landed near Bordeaux where the slave traders intended to auction him off to the local wineries. However, instead of an orchard owner purchasing him, a representative of an ancient Spanish Brujah named Altamira placed the highest bid.
For the next twenty years, Maximilien served Altamira as a loyal ghoul, and as promised, earned the Embrace on his thirty-eighth birthday.
Kindred Nights[]
Now named Maxwell, the Brujah learned much from his sire. In addition to an extensive classical education, Altamira taught him the clan’s history and how to properly fight.
Maxwell took that knowledge and, during the early nights of the French Revolution, sailed to the newly born United States. There, he built a fur-trade business stretching from New York to Baltimore and from Baltimore to Indianapolis. He traveled westward until arriving in the city of Chicago.
After its incorporation in 1837, Maxwell claimed the mantle of Prince.
Then came the horror of Devil’s Night in 1871, when flames lit by a suicidal Malkavian swept through the city, burning everything in its wake. The sprawling inferno razed eighteen thousand buildings to the ground, and Maxwell was powerless to stop it.
It burned for three days, killing hundreds of people, destroying three square miles of the city, and leaving thousands of families homeless. In the following nights, looting and lawlessness consumed Chicago.
During the chaos, while Maxwell was securing Kindred interests across the city, Lodin subverted the Prince’s reign to shore up the support of the Primogen Council for his own ambitions. While he negotiated the price of praxis, he sent a couple of his childer to murder Maxwell.
He wasn’t going to leave the seizure to chance or politics. Though Maxwell escaped, Lodin successfully overthrew him as Chicago’s sovereign Prince.
After Maxwell left Chicago, he traveled between the cities of Houston, New Orleans, Tampa, and Havana for the next century. On occasion, he would venture further out, visiting the remnants of his past life in Haiti. He also traveled south through Central and South America.
Systemically and selectively, he Embraced a number of times, choosing his childer for their combat and tactical talents in preparation for the night he could reclaim his lost praxis.
When news of Lodin’s death reached Maxwell, he immediately returned home. Seeking out his few remaining allies, he found them all receptive to the idea of his regaining the praxis—if he had the ability to win it.
He had the muscle, certainly, but the city had changed in the century he was gone. In Kindred society, victories require strength and adaptability. Maxwell struggled with the latter.
As a result, the War for Chicago did not fare well for the former Prince, and his overly cautious tactics proved too little, too late.
For a time, Maxwell returned to Central and South America, summoning his childer so he might reclaim Chicago by force. Unfortunately, the elder Brujah became embroiled in local affairs and several long-term skirmishes with the Sabbat.
Two decades passed, leaving Maxwell with depleted resources and several dead childer. Abandoning his strategy, Maxwell returned to the United States, plotting, scheming, and dreaming of one day retaking what he believes has always been his.
Description[]
Maxwell’s been off the chess board a long time now. The one-time Prince of Chicago, a Brujah, might have ruled again after Lodin’s death, were it not for Kevin Jackson’s rise to power. He disappeared after that, though wise Kindred know better than to think he’s suffered his final death.
In fact, Maxwell still considers himself Chicago’s Prince and suggests Kevin Jackson’s merely keeping the throne warm. He’s gotten a better handle on the modern world these last few years and dedicated time and resources to quietly shoring up his support.
He still holds sway with Chicago PD’s Internal Affairs. In recent nights, he’s focused on building up the Vanguard, a group of Camarilla based in Gary, Indiana, who are loyal to him and his play for praxis. Gary is little more than a staging ground to him, a place from which to launch his strikes against Chicago before he reclaims his throne.
Maxwell’s opponents (and many of his supporters) recognize his penchant for violence. Signing on with him is a dangerous and probably bloody endeavor, but he’ll handsomely reward those who help him take Chicago.
Loresheet[]
Tactician: You’ve studied Maxwell’s strategies as Prince of Chicago and sussed out some of the secrets of his rule. Add two bonus dice to an Academics, Politics, or Subterfuge roll relating to political planning or military maneuvers.- Travelling Companion: While Kindred considered him dead after Devil’s Night, Maxwell roamed the world building up allies in other countries. One thing he learned in these hyper-surveilled modern nights is how to evade detection while traveling. You traveled with him during this time, and he’s willing to share his contacts. Once per story, you can call on Maxwell’s allies for reliable and secure transportation between cities.
- Vanguard: You’re a member of Gary’s Vanguard, trusted by Eric Sharpe and Maxwell alike. Gain Status: Gary (•••). Sharpe has granted you territory in the city, where you have a two-dot Haven and feeding rights. If not participating in Rusted Jungle (see p. 125), this lore gives you standing as a long-time, respected Kindred resident of Gary.
- The Art of Disappearing: If your enemies think you’re dead, they stop worrying about how you’re plotting against them. Maxwell has taught you tricks for staying hidden and working from the shadows.Once per story, he’ll help you create a two-dot Mask under which you can anonymously further a goal. Alternatively, he’ll help you convincingly fake the death of one of your current Masks and transfer its resources to a new identity without leaving a paper trail.
- You’re one of the highly placed Kindred Maxwell is counting on in Chicago. He’s guided and financed your rise among your clan’s ranks, helped rid you of enemies, and provided you with information about the machinations of Prince Jackson and the Primogen.Gain Resources (•••••); two dots must be spent securing Maxwell’s plans, but the remaining three are yours to spend as you like. You have a list of those Kindred in Chicago who owe Maxwell boons. Once per story you can call in a minor boon from someone on the list. Once per chronicle you can call in a major boon. Though you may use these for any purpose that suits you, Maxwell expects you to send him an account of how you’ve spent his favors. Using them foolishly will earn the soon-to-be Prince’s ire. He’s built you up; never doubt that he can tear you back down.
Appearence[]
Maxwell is a stocky, middle-aged man with dark skin, tight hair, and a trimmed mustache and beard. Other vampires say that he dresses like a Toreador and speaks like a Ventrue.
Maxwell does prefer dark suits with a single pop of color, usually red or violet, though he would be insulted if he ever heard someone malign his affinity for his own clan due to this preference.
Like many elders, he has a sense of stillness. He’s patient in his movements and motivations. As a result, his Brujah temperament is largely kept in check; however, when it surfaces, Maxwell is the personification of fury.
Maxwell’s Mask is Mr. Benjamin Garrison, a private businessman with a freight shipping company. According to his public record, Benjamin Garrison has lived a rags-to-riches story, transforming a local delivery business into a multi-state venture. He has lived in Chicago his entire life, all while paying his taxes and never receiving so much as a parking ticket.
Sheet[]
CbN 2nd Ed[]
Note: Maxwell's first extra level of Presence allows him to create a great feeling of trust among a group of people. His second level prevents his foes from spending Willpower to negate his Presence. In order to use Willpower against him, the character must make a Self-Control roll (difficulty 8), Maxwell carries a silver plated cavalry sabre with which he has trained extensively.
Image: Maxwell is a stocky, middle-aged man with tight hair and a neatly cropped mustache and beard. He prefers dark power suits and dresses to his best advantage. If seen when he first wakes up, however, he looks like the trapper he used to be, with his hair unkempt and his beard full and bushy.
Roleplaying Hints: You maintain at least the pretext of caring about others, though you have lost most real feelings since being driven from power. You only listen to others for a little while before dominating the conversation, and you freely use your Presence on both mortals and Kindred.
Haven: An old apartment building in south Chicago.
Secrets: B
Influence: While Maxwell has gained little direct influence since returning to the city, he has seized control of the Chicago Police Internal Affairs Division. He hopes that he can eventually use this to control the entire organization.
Backgrounds Sheet[]
Chicago Townhouse
(Haven 4, Herd 4, Retainer 2)
Maxwell’s primary residence is a townhouse overlooking Jackson Park in southeastern Chicago. Geraldine, a dutiful ghoul who has served the Brujah for a century and a half, tends to it.
Freight Service
(Resources 4)
Maxwell has a diverse portfolio with heavy investments in the freight and transportation industry. His interests in legitimate business make up the bulk of his financial holdings, though he does oversee smuggling operations out of the Gulf of Mexico.
Internal Affairs
(Influence 4)
Since returning to Chicago, Maxwell has considerable influence over the Chicago Police Internal Affairs Division, which he hopes he can eventually use to control the entire organization.
Personal Guards
(Allies 3)
Two armed bodyguards, former Chicago police, usually escort Maxwell. Dismissed for excessive force and bribery charges, both Sergeant Victor Paxton and Officer Benjamin Reece stayed out of jail and ended up on Maxwell’s payroll. Merciless and greedy, they are the embodiment of police brutality.
Trivia[]
- Some believe Maxwell joined the Sabbat while in exile. The rumors persist due to his having spent so much time in Central and South America, having survived relatively unscathed. Many suspect multiple packs are simply waiting in the wings to strike.
- Maxwell has a dozen childer operating as guerrillas in Central and South America. They are heading north now, at Maxwell’s instruction. The night of the Brujah Prince may soon arrive.
- While the two have a different view of Kindred leadership, Maldavis and Maxwell want Jackson removed from the throne. In Maldavis, Maxwell believes he has found an Anarch he can work with. In Maxwell, Maldavis believes she has found a potential Prince she can manipulate.
- The Nosferatu, Nathaniel Bordruff, hates Kevin Jackson, and in exchange for several boons, willingly feeds Maxwell intelligence on Chicago.
- Jackson may be the Prince of Chicago, but he knows others are gunning for his throne. Jackson also knows Maxwell is out there somewhere plotting against him. Therefore, he takes appropriate precautions.
- The Ventrue, Walter Nash, may be a bigot, but Maxwell knows a means to an end when he sees it. The two vampires both despise Kevin Jackson and are willing to work together in order to overthrow the Prince. After that, Nash is fair game.
- Sharpe is a loyal dog with a bone. He’ll serve Maxwell loyally so long as he feels rewarded.
- Gengis the self-appointed Anarch visionary views Maxwell as a traitor to Clan Brujah and will not forgive his continued allegiance to the Camarilla.
- Max Galura had a premonition. He told Maxwell that if he claims praxis again, he’ll find his city divided between five factions and his end will come at the hands of the goddess of the underworld. Maxwell has been dreaming about his prophecy ever since.
Gallery[]
References[]
- VTM: Let the Streets Run Red, p. 231
- VTM: Chicago by Night, p. 16, 23
- VTM/WTA: Under a Blood Red Moon, p. 90-91
- VTM: Chicago by Night Second Edition, p. 18-19, 27, 68-69
- VTM: Prince's Primer, p. 53-68
- VTM: Children of the Night, p. 70
- VTM: Clanbook: Nosferatu Revised, p. 99
- VTM: Encyclopaedia Vampirica, p. 46
- VTM: Beckett's Jyhad Diary
