Sri Sansa was a Tremere Embraced during the Victorian Era. Originally a charlatan from India, he was able to prey upon the fascination about his homeland among the Victorian elite.
Biography[]
Mortal Days[]
Sri was born in the Panjab, the middle son of a rich, noble family closely related to royalty. At the age of six, his father sent him to England for “a proper education and the instillation of discipline.” Sri adapted well to Harrow School, where he excelled at cricket. During his time there and, later at Oxford University, Sri realized that despite his noble blood, great wealth, and first-class education, he would never be considered the equal of an English gentleman.
On graduation, he returned to Amritsar to work in the family export business. There he learned that his family’s wealth rested on the exploitation of his countrymen. Torn between his Panjabi roots and his English education, he fell into despair, from which he found some relief by indulging in drugs, sex, and alcohol—none of which met with familial approval.
Returning to London, he threw himself headlong into the life of a degenerate rake. His “exotic” appearance enabled him to seduce white people who believed he had access to “the mysteries of the East,” made popular by the Theosophical and Spiritism movements so fashionable among wealthy and influential Victorians. Mixing popular occult ideas with theosophical texts and the teachings of genuine gurus he had encountered in India, Sri developed an impressive line of patter.
His increasing reputation as a fortune teller and spiritual guide netted him invitations to ever more glittering society parties but did nothing to decrease his taste for substances such as cocaine, heroin, and opium, which would later become illegal.
Sri’s success as a mountebank led to his damnation. His sire-to-be, successfully fooled into believing Sri was party to deep occult knowledge, offered him a position as a spiritual advisor. Playing along in the hopes of profit, Sri hinted at dark secrets of the Indian subcontinent, available to his patron at a price. The excited Tremere bound him into servitude and subsequently Embraced him.
Kindred Nights[]
Sri’s talent for deception continued to serve him well, though he proved to have a genuine talent for the Blood Sorcery practiced by his clan. He hid his continuing opiate addiction, fearing that his dependence on drugs would not be pleasing to the Pyramid.
In order to appease his appetites, he developed a blood cult, appealing to the same gullibility and vulnerability in his followers as he did when he was mortal. Sri distills opiates with a portion of his vitae and feeds this to favored disciples. Whereas once he seduced acolytes for sex, he now takes his pleasure in feeding from them.
Sri was invited to the Cult of Mithras in 1888 to serve as a guide to Mithras’ humanity. Only Mithras himself knows if that plea was sincere, or if the Methuselah sought to bind Sri’s occult knowledge and cult to his own service, or schemed to use the individualistic Sri as a pawn in his vendetta against Clan Tremere.
Either way, Sri’s own ambition and need for acceptance and status drove his rapid advancement in the cult. A consummate liar, he was able to cover up his lack of genuine faith even as he fell increasingly deeper into the cult—far deeper than Sri had planned.
The disappearance of Mithras during WWII was a relief to Sri, who could now distance himself from the Mithraic Cult. His bonds to humanity having suffered during his service to the cult, Sri now began to make deliberate efforts to strengthen them again and became a great helper to the immigrant community.
Sri updated his pitch. Now he advertises in local free-advertising papers as an astrologer, interpreter of dreams, and producer of simple love charms. He cannot imagine any self-respecting Kindred lowering themselves to obtain or read these terrible rags and thus doesn’t fear leading them to him. He has a clientele of rich Panjabi who are willing participants in his cult, and the adverts bring in a steady stream of potential initiates.
The tremere always understood the benefits of flying below the radar. Until 2009, he was trying to avoid the attention of Vienna, fearing that they would not approve of his membership in the Mithraic Cult or the way he runs his herd. He is happy to be free from the Pyramid after its fall. He had approaches from the new Tremere houses and is considering how to align himself in order to maximize his status and profits.
Until recently, Sri had little to no competition for the territory, but as the rich Panjabi population moves away and more recent immigrants move in, he has encountered an increasing number of Duskborn. These lowly Kindred are beneath his notice, but he worries they might infiltrate the opiate supply chain, which is one source of Sri’s income. Sri is not a fighter and is more inclined to move to new pastures than to stay and fight what he fears would be an ultimately losing battle.
Appearence[]
Sri is a tall man of clear Panjabi descent. He dresses the part, often in flowing robes with a turban. This does not make him stand out in Southall. He has clear, dark brown eyes and a neat beard. He appears to be in his mid-20s and uses cosmetics and scents to seem more human.
He is charming and moves with grace and confidence. He lies a lot, even when it’s not strictly necessary, and he is both convincing and persuasive.
Sri goes by the name of Guru Sansa. A fortune teller and spiritual guide, he has excellent false documents arranged by a distant relative who is a lawyer.
Character Sheet[]
Image: Sri adopts the eccentric garb of a Victorian spiritualist. Although his suit is a somber black, his white turban often sports a colorful feather affixed by a silver pin.
Reputable sorts suspect he is a con artist, yet Sri can blend enough truth with falsehood—or magic with trickery—to prevent exposure. The costume jewelry he occasionally wears holds no mystical power, but the wards he wears against other supernatural creatures are potent. In his attire, as with everything else, he considers walking the fine line between fooling the gullible and exposing the Masquerade a dangerous and delightful game.
Roleplaying Hints: Always appear to know more than you actually do. Within the realm of the occult, that isn't difficult. Even among Tremere, you are a con artist, yet the resources you bring to the clan prevent them from actually calling your bluffs. Keep in mind, however, that you must respect a few powerful individuals.It is imperative, for instance, that the Tremere Primogen allows you to continue drawing blood from your cult. If he were to find out about the illicit substances you partake through it, he might withdraw his support. Do not depend on Thaumaturgy when you can use the Dominate Discipline—or preferably subterfuge—instead.
Backgrounds Sheet[]
Amrish Bakshi
(Retainer 4)
Amrish was Sri’s manservant prior to his Embrace, and it felt natural to Sri to bind him into service so he didn’t have to look around for an equally talented and faithful gentleman’s gentleman.
Blood Cult
(Herd 4, Influence 3, Resources 2)
Most of the higher-ranking initiates are wealthy individuals from the Punjab. They pay Sri money and blood donations (which they understand go to a worthy cause) for his teachings.
Large House Near Osterley
(Haven 4, Retainer 4)
This is where Sri resides, along with his faithful ghoul and many of his mortal family. The location is known to his Primogen, Edward Bainbridge, and to Najma Elmi, who has been spying on him for Richard de Worde. Gabriella, an accomplished spy for Clan Nosferatu, might also know.
Sansa Extended Family
(Resources 4, Retainer 2, Influence 4)
Sri has relocated many members of his extended family to Southall. These family members often had (and some still keep) important positions in the Panjab. In Southall, they penetrated the local government and attained positions of power and influence. Most of them are unaware their doting patriarch is a vampire.
Southall
(Herd 3, Influence 4, Resources 2)
Sri keeps his extended family here. He has an effective supply chain for opiates imported from the old country, and most of his dealers are members of his blood cult. He has his fingers deep into many mortal endeavors in the borough, including the local police and Southall Council itself.
Southall Library
(Herd 4, Influence 3)
This is the center of Sri’s blood cult. He holds meetings here after dark at irregular intervals. There is a pattern based on astrological correspondences, and higher-level initiates are aware of the schedule, informing other invitees by phone or word of mouth no more than 24 hours ahead of each meeting. Sri and his mortal family are attempting to have the library moved to the site of the old Dominion Cinema on the Green.
Gallery[]
References[]
- VAV: London by Night, p. 101-102
- VTM: Fall of London, p. 83-86