Penelope Huxley is the Prince of Savannah, Georgia.
Biography[]
Born the second daughter of Ambrocious Huxley[1], one of Savannah's cotton millionaires, Penelope was the darling of Savannah's social scene thanks to her beauty. She resented it, however, as she was an intelligent and ambitious woman. Whenever possible, Huxley borrowed books from her brothers and managed to expand on her meager education. At the same time - much to her mother's dismay - she fended off marriage proposals from all over the country and even from visiting European nobility.
Huxley met her sire-to-be at yet another ball. The elderly gentleman impressed her with his presence and quiet, self-confident manner. She dazzled the Kindred, who was still young enough to feel the echoes of human emotion. Nathaniel Summerton was smitten and, being the de facto prince of the city, granted himself permission to Embrace Huxley.
The young woman took to undead existence with surprising adaptability, though she found the act of drinking blood repulsive. (That might explain why her flavor of choice is blood with alcohol in it.) Summerton thought he had Embraced a socialite, but what he got was an ally and asset. Huxley was intelligent and had learned enough from observing her father's business that she could assist Nathaniel in managing his estates. She also had contacts in the mortal world, and all the social occasions that her mother forced her to attend served as preparation for the city's Elysium. Huxley acted as Summerton's seneschal for 20 years and was privy to all his secrets. The prince thought his childe completely loyal, so made no effort to hide the fact that the fire of 1820 was a plot to eliminate his own sleeping sire, ensuring that Sabert would never rise to reclaim Savannah. Much to Summerton's surprise, Huxley betrayed him - or at least, that's how he saw it. For her part, Huxley believed that Summerton's act, which resulted in widespread death and destruction, showed that he was more interested in his own ambition than in the welfare of Savannah. She was shrewd enough to make backroom deals with other vampires and became prince.
Huxley dedicated her reign to the city. While she ensured that she had a comfortable power base and sufficient influence over affairs in her domain, she was not above sharing power and influence with other Kindred, especially the Toreador, to secure Savannah's safety, prosperity and cultural development. Slowly but surely, however, she was affected by the same sense of conservative traditionalism that seemed to affect all Kindred who dwelled in Savannah.
The Final Nights[]
The crusade against Atlanta took Huxley and all other Kindred of Savannah by surprise. Huxley has become complacent, since Savannah was never really a domain of great importance during her reign. Now she is forced to reckon not only with the Sabbat, but also with the newcomers to her city. Even though her city is under attack, old habits die hard.
Trivia[]
- She speaks with a subtle southern accent.
- She strives to seem physically older than she is, having been Embraced at 23.
References[]
- ↑ VTM: The Ventrue Chronicle, pp. 126-127