The Milliners are a family of American bankers that were brought in to the Giovanni clan in the mid-1950's.
Overview[]
Francis Milliner is the leader of the family and is famous for his ability to hold a grudge. The history of the Milliner family within Clan Giovanni begins after Francis Milliner was passed over by P.J. Kennedy during his campaign to become the next president of the Columbia Trust Company. In turn, Francis Milliner used his business contacts to ally himself with Andreas Giovanni of Boston, who had recently arrived. Over the years and a little encouragement from his new allies, Francis Milliner worked to systematically undermine the entire Kennedy business while they were "distracted" by politics. Urban legends within Clan Giovanni hold that the Milliners still pursue their vendetta against the Kennedys, and that they are responsible for the assassination of J.F. Kennedy, among other misfortunes.
Currently, the Milliners are headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and have influence in the greater New England area. Francis Milliner's success in claiming the city for his Clan has earned him the favour of Augustus Giovanni himself, who allowed Francis to diablerize the unfaithful Giovanni Genevra to lower his generation. The Milliners are not well versed in Necromancy, instead preferring to focus on the business of making money. Thanks to the Milliners, the Giovanni involvement in organized criminality didn't die when Italian influence waned. They invested heavily in privatized prisons that bring in a constant source of income and cheap labor for the Clan, as well as using their influence to denounce witch-hunters as "persons of interest" and "domestic terrorists"
Their great successes, however, have become seen as the norm, and the Anziani demand more and more of the family, without recognizing them as equals. In the aftermath of the Sixth Maelstrom and the enormous loss of souls for the Clan, Francis Milliner was publically disciplined by the Anziano Diego Giovanni and even permissions for Embraces were cut back. This strains the relations between both families greatly.
Bloodline Abilities (V5)[]
As a member of Clan Hecata, a Milliner can purchase the following abilities:
You Know Who I Am: The Milliners are a true American dynasty, and the name carries a power even now and outside of the United States. Once per story, when you invoke the legacy of the Milliner line, you may add three dice to a Social roll.- Family Bank: The family has plenty of money, but anyone that calls upon that fortune needs to repay with cash, blood, or labor. Once per story, you may borrow money from a new or existing Milliner SPC. You have Resources 5 for the rest of the story but owe that SPC a favor that must be fulfilled before the end of the story. Your Storyteller will tell you the favor, and the consequences you face if that debt isn’t repaid when the story ends.
- Perfect Grudges: The Milliners are known for their grudges, but you’re the true poster child. When you are slighted or beaten on a roll by a SPC, you may create a Project dedicated to taking revenge. Its Launch Roll automatically succeeds, and you may add two dice to any Goal Rolls. The character can have as many grudge Projects as their dots in Composure. Any aspirations of revenge beyond that limit are regular Projects.
- You Owe Me: The Milliners always get their due, even at the worst possible times. Once per story, you may spend a Willpower and declare an SPC in the scene owes you a favor in secret, and it’s now due. The SPC must fulfill that favor to the best of their ability by the end of the story, as decided by the Storyteller.
- Friends in High Places: The Milliners’ connections in law enforcement turned them on would-be vampire hunters. This is more difficult these days, but you still have the little black books. Pick a faction within the Second Inquisition (FIRSTLIGHT, the Entity, a local intelligence agency, etc.). Once per story, when that faction acts against you, you may automatically redirect that action onto any enemy Kindred SPC. If they survive, that SPC will know you are to blame.
Trivia[]
- The Milliners were added as a shout-out to a friend of developer Justin R. Achilli's, who worked at The House of MacGregor millinery.[1]
References[]
- VTM: Clanbook: Giovanni , p.32
- VTM: Clanbook: Giovanni Revised , p.32, 43-44
- VTM: Lore of the Clans , p.101
- VTM: Children of the Blood, p. 102
- VTM: Cults of the Blood Gods
