Torvic

The Torvic Clan, known by such names as the Blue Bloods, the Clan of Kings, or the Nobles, have always been one of the most powerful and influential clans throughout history, and still are in modern nights. Often regarded as power hungry despots by other vampires, the Torvic do indeed hold more positions of rule than any other clans, although their cultural reasons for seeking power are not as selfish as others believe. For the most part.

The Torvic are seen by many as the backbone of the Camarilla and a pillar of the Masquerade.

The Ephorate
The Ephorate Council is a shadowy group of elders who direct the interests of the clan worldwide. The Ephorate dates back to the nights of Sparta, where the twelve ephors first gathered to direct the interests of the clan. In modern nights, the Ephorate dictates matters of clan policy, with each ephor managing several clanwide endeavors and holding sway over vast amounts of wealth, real estate, and stock in all major companies and most minor ones. These tremendous resources can then be dispersed to various members of the clan, granting them tremendous political and economic clout. Whilst the individual Torvic coalitions might fruitlessly backstab each other, the Ephorate acts as a guiding council and leading institution for the clan, managing resources which can be directed to any individuals they deem best represent clan interests.

The Ephorate also chooses their representative within the Camarilla Inner Circle, which without exception comes from within their own number. The representative's identity is kept secret, as are those of the other ephors, who mostly direct their will through various agents.

The ephors also direct policy for the clan worldwide, which typically takes the form of choosing what stance the Torvic will take on various political matters within the Camarilla, with the entire clan being expected to follow their lead. Whilst low ranking Torvic may usually ignore their dictates without issue, public figures, such as princes, primogen, and other visible elders may risk drawing their ire, something best avoided given the vast resources at the Ephorate's disposal. In addition to Camarilla politics, the Ephorate also may work on checking the power of other clans, policies against the Sabbat and Anarchs, or what to do about thin-bloods and Caitiff.

The most important task of the Ephorate is arbitrating in clan disputes. Most of the times, local clan structures sort out disputes or violations of clan traditions, but when potent elders collide or truly momentous matters come up, the ephors step in. The ephors also have a role in punishing truly serious crimes, such as slaying another Torvic or violating the Ethic of Succor. While these events do occur fairly frequently, it is so rare that word of them actually reaches the Ephorate that on the rare occasions that it does, they take full control over the matter. The criminals are usually brought before some or all of the ephors, who will usually be behind some curtain, two way mirror, or in darkness, so as to prevent their identities from being discerned. Their agents then questions witnesses and cross examine the accused, before the ephors deliberate and pass their judgement. Such trials rarely last more than a few nights. The ephors may then execute the criminal (which is only done in dire situations, as it violates Camarilla policy), or strip an individual of titles, boons, or property. In extreme circumstances, the ephors will force the criminal to blood bond themselves to the injured party or another responsible clan member.

Strategoi
Strategoi also first emerged in Sparta, serving as a powerful class of commanding generals for the Ephorate. Whilst the ephors oversaw the clan as a whole, a strategos would manage clan affairs within a particular region, which at that time, typically meant managing various territorial expansions and quelling rebellions. In the modern nights, the title is held by various powerful elders of renown and respect. Unlike the ephors, strategoi have public identities, and it is believed by many that some among their numbers also secretly serve on the Ephorate council. They are the only members within the clan who have a direct line of communication, and in the cases of the extremely esteemed, face to face contact with the Ephorate, who's edicts they are responsible for enforcing. The strategoi carry out the will of the ephors, though each strategos possess a great amount of discretion with regards to how they choose to do so.

Within Camarilla power structures, strategoi often serve as esteemed elders or Primogen, with princes being quite rare, due to the combined responsibilities to both Clan Torvic and their chosen domain. Whilst they have no official power over princes, they have the full weight of the Ephorate's vast resources behind them, will use that influence to enforce the desires of the ephors within their area of jurisdiction. Additionally, strategoi can also arbitrate disputes between Torvic, or bring rogue members of the clan to the Ephorate's attention. In essence, they serve a similar role to a Camarilla Justicar, though their power extends solely over the Torvic clan.

Lictors
Given their exalted status, strategoi seldom trouble themselves with dirty work. Instead, they possess agents known as lictors, which they first began to employ during the nights of ancient Rome. Similar to how the strategoi fill a role similar to Camarilla Justicars, the lictors serve a role similar to that of an archon. Often referred to as "troubleshooters" by younger Torvic, the lictors specialized in solving problems, with most individuals having a type of issue they are particularly proficient in dealing in. Generally speaking, whenever a group of Torvic call upon a strategos for aid, that aid usually comes in the form of one of their lictors.

Tribunes
Tribunes, or Agents at Large, as they are also known, are individuals who serve as information gatherers and deliverers for the Ephorate. Typically, tribunes are young Torvic, selected by the lictors and strategoi due to showing promise. They have no official powers, and often do not even publicly acknowledge their rank, instead supplying the higher ups with information, and providing assistance to any strategos or lictor who comes to their city.

Peerage
The Peerage is a group for those who do not wish to be so closely tied to the whims of their elders and sires. Any Torvic of good standing might be invited to join, provided that they have furthered the traditions and interests of the clan, and done so in a respectable, dignitas worthy manner. Such respectable feats may result in an elder extending to a young up and comer an invitation to the Peerage, which essentially, is a social club to distinguish those with clean reputations from the rest of the clan.

City Ranks
Within any given city, local Torvic group themselves into hierarchies, which orient around the local politics of the clan.

Gerousia
Known often as the Board in modern times, the Gerousia is a group that consists of the oldest and most influential Torvic within a given city. If the Prince of the city is a Torvic, he or she will invariably hold a spot on the Gerousia, and will most likely lead it themselves. Otherwise, the Torvic Primogen will likely be its leader. Torvic are elevated to the Gerousia by an invitation from one of the current members, which must then be sustained by a majority vote.

The Gerousia oversees the business interests of the Torvic within a local area, and monitors the affairs of local Torvic. Additionally, they also will usually serve as arbiters of local disputes.

The Board holds two different types of meetings. The first, held on the first day of every month, are open to all Torvic, and the clan discusses business, hears complaints and reports, and the Gerousia passes down any messages or edicts from within the upper echelons of the clan. The second type is a private meeting for Gerousia members only, which are held at need to discuss important political or business matters.

It should be noted that whilst they do not have official power, the Gerousia wields authority through peer pressure. Whilst they do not have the authority to give orders to lower ranking Torvic, the withdrawal of their protection can result in being financially hounded by their peers, resulting in their ruin.

Praetors
The position of praetor, known as "managers" in modern slang, is reserved for the highest ranking Torvic within a city. Originally a position created within Rome, so that the Torvic of the city would have an active leader whilst Latinus the Patriarch was in torpor, the praetors within modern nights all sit upon the Gerousia council, and are likely to be princes or primogen. Praetor's attain their position through gaining elder status, having unassailable dignitas, and strong support from the Peerage. Once they have risen to the position, only a strategos or ephor may remove them. They then have the responsibility for guiding Torvic affairs within a city, and they must maintain a public meeting space for the public monthly Board meetings to be held. Additionally, praetors attend all private Gerousia meetings, and must act as tie breakers in particularly contentious votes. Other than that, they have no official responsibilities, but still carry immense clout, having influence over the Board, and often being turned to for leadership in times of crisis.

Aediles
Aediles, or supervisors, serve beneath praetors and other members of the Gerousia, and like the position of praetor, aediles originate from Rome. They act as agents for them, monitoring the activities of low ranking clan members, investigating financial investments, and managing night to night financial affairs. They also act as mouthpieces for their superiors, delivering orders, requests, and instructions to the rest of the clan. In crisis, they act as lieutenants, leading the troops in metaphorical or literal battles.

Generally speaking, aediles are competent ancillae, with sufficient resources to carry out the Gerousia's will without outside assistance. Typically, they attain their rank either by being nominated by a praetor, or by the Gerousia as a whole.

Questors
Often known as foremen in modern nights, questors are a step above common Torvic. Generally on the younger side, they attain their positions by achieving something noteworthy enough to garner the attention of their elders. Once this is done, a questor can be given some small yet important task to keep operations running smoothly, such as disposing of drained mortal corpses or opening stock accounts.

Whilst questors have no official authority over their lower ranked clanmates, they do have the ear of their elders, and may flaunt this fact over their lesser peers.

Eiren
The Eiren, or Associates, are the run of the mill Torvic. The term for them dates back to Sparta, being used for inexperienced youths, which is how the elders of the clan view the eiren. They have no responsibilities, but also no privilege or authority. They are not obligated to take orders from higher ranking individuals such as questors, but such a course of action will ensure they never rise through the ranks.

Embrace
The Torvic, like all vampires, all have their own individual preferences for childer. However, the Torvic also have a clanwide benchmark that must be met. Their Embraces almost always come from individuals capable of wielding positions of power (which in ages past, meant those of noble blood), most commonly, those who have experience doing so, although certain sires who see the potential to rule within an individual may still grant them their blood. Torvic often consult their elders or sires on potential childer, to test to see whether or not they will be accepted, as if not, the neonate will be shunned by his peers.

Feeding Restrictions
The Torvic, upon their Embrace, will initially be unaffected by their clan curse, which restricts their feeding to a certain type of person. For their first few nights, they will be able to feed as they please. Once they find blood that is truly exquisite to them, then their curse will set in, and they will only be able to feed on that type of mortal from then on. This cannot properly occur within some fledgling frenzy. Additionally, if a Torvic's source vanishes, then it is possible for their tastes to shift, usually after a period in torpor.

The Agoge
Upon being Embraced, all Torvic must go through the agoge, a training process which shares its name with that which ancient Spartan soldiers underwent. For the Torvic, the agoge entails learning the ins and outs of Torvic society, their traditions, etiquette, and of dignitas.

The agoge begins with a short adjustment period, wherein the sire explains to their childe their new state of being, followed by the Choice, wherein a fledgling chooses the blood type they shall feed on for eternity. After that, the training begins, and for the next week or so, sire and childe will closet themselves away, as the child rigorously instructs their progeny how to use the powers of their blood, in the Traditions, the history of the Camarilla, as well as the hierarchy and history of the clan. Once they are deemed to not be an embarrassment, the childe will be presented to the local prince, as per the Traditions. Every Torvic in the city will likely gather, evaluating their performance, and afterwards, the Torvic will gather privately to praise or criticize the childe's performance, allowing the childe to meet their clanmates for the first time.

After being presented, the Torvic still have responsibility for their childer, unlike other clans, and will continue to train and educate them, now with occasional assistance of other clan members, residing with their sire all the while.. This period may take months, or even years, and the childe will be excluded from Gerousia meetings, though their sire may appraise them of what goes on. After this is done comes the Test, where the young Torvic will be sent out to establish a domain of influence within their city, without any assistance from other Torvic. This can range from some moneymaking arrangement with a corporation, establishing contacts within a government institution, or for the truly daring, earning a boon from some other Kindred within the city. During the Test, the neonate has complete freedom, so long as they abide by the Traditions and do not infringe on another Torvic's sphere of influence. Once this is done, the neonate declares their victory, and if their sire accepts, they will refer them to the praetor and the Gerousia. They will then appear at their first Board meeting, where before the city's entire Torvic population, they will present themselves, giving a full account of themselves, clan traditions and history, and how they overcame the Test. Traditionally, the assembled clan will vote on whether the childe ought to be accepted (in reality, only an idiot of a sire would present their childe if they would not be) and the clan will unanimously approve, with those particularly opposed remaining silent. Then the praetor will ask a series of ritualistic questions, followed by the neonate reciting their lineage and pledging to uphold the Traditions. Once these formalities are done, a celebration is held to commemorate the addition of a new and competent member into the clan, where the neonate's blood preference is supplied, along with other entertainments, with the celebration often lasting the rest of the night.

Once this is all done, the agoge is complete, and the neonate is no longer the sire's responsibility, and has all the rights and responsibilities of being a Torvic. They must build connections and acquire dignitas, to rise from the bottom of the clan's hierarchy.

Vampires
Torvic are the most common princes within Camarilla cities. They are often associated with the role as a result, with various vampires from different clans viewing them as tyrants, entitled brats, and worse, whilst others recognize the drive and competence which every Torvic carries in some capacity. For their part, the Torvic all assess the strengths and weaknesses of other vampires, contemplating their usefulness and the threats that they could pose.

Humans
Torvic respect the power of humanity, but not human individuals. Humanity as a whole has accomplished great things, and could potentially be a threat to all vampires. However, individual humans are usually viewed as disposable pawns, perhaps worthy of the Embrace for the exceptional few, but generally, not of great concern.

Control
The Torvic hold themselves as the most refined, best bred, and noble of clans, and as a result, they prize self control. Many restrain the Beast brutally, taking pride in their ability to control the uncontrollable urges it presents. Of all lapses in control, loss of self command to the Beast is most easily forgivable. It would be preferable if a Torvic could restrain their Beast, but it is understood even among the most iron willed elders that such lapses can happen. So long as the Masquerade is not breached, all will most often be forgiven.

Other, less forgivable lapses in control pertain to the less consequential emotional ones. Torvic ought to be in control of their emotions, or at least, appear to be. Allowing anger to become rage, affection to lust or curiosity to desire are all seen as undignified and unbecoming. Such loss of control usually leads to mistakes, and to the shrewd and calculating Torvic, mistakes are not to be allowed.

Dignitas
One of the most important concepts within Torvic Clan is dignitas, or one's dignity. It can be traced back to the early nights of Rome, to the reign of the great Methuselah Latinus, who was known to value nobility, competence, and honor. Dignitas became the measure of all these things together, and was gained through personal accomplishment, social standing, and honor, spreading through the society of mortal patricians and Roman Torvic alike, for in truth, the Torvic were the patricians of vampire society. Nobles of good birth, breeding and behavior, required to act with honor and be treated with the dignity they were due. All that the Torvic valued became encapsulated in a single word.

As a Torvic rises in prominence, their dignitas rises with them. Every battle won, every opponent thwarted, every office held and title bestowed raises their dignitas. At the same time, however, every wartime defeat, title lost, or office stripped away lessens their dignitas. It can fall just as it rises, and many Torvic fear its loss more than they do the loss of their unlife. Many Torvic spend their nights fighting to strengthen their dignitas, which serves as one of the main reasons for why so many tend to seek positions of power. However, the methods of how one accrues dignitas does have an affect on how much is gained. Actions which negatively affect one's fellow Torvic, stains the clan's image, or simply forgoes decorum gain far less dignitas.

Not counting breaches within the Traditions, the Torvic know no greater crime than impugning the dignitas of another. This can be done by spreading false rumors, taking credit for the actions of another, or groundlessly insulting another Torvic, and can result in a great loss of dignitas for the perpetrator if their actions are discovered, in addition to possibly making an enemy for all unlife.

Ethic of Succor
One of the key factors that has allowed the Torvic to retain so much cohesion throughout history is the Ethic of Succor. Their oldest and most important position supposedly dates back to the nights when their Antediluvian still walked among them, ruling over his childer. As he saw his brood begin to fracture due to their squabbling, Torvic supposedly put this mandate in place to bring them back together, and it has fostered clan unity ever since. Whilst clans like the Riganites are well organized and united, and the Vetala look out for one another, there is no clan that tolerates no excuses and makes no exceptions when it comes to aiding each other in hours of true need. Now, that is not to say that a Torvic can simply go to another and demand assistance with any venture, access to finances, or favors whenever they wish, as such requests can be dismissed with no repercussions. However, when the Ethic of Succor is invoked, using the phrase, "I implore your assistance, cousin", the recipient of the plea for aid must give it, or else be utterly disgraced. However, such a beggar must have good cause for imploring the Ethic, else they themselves will incur a great loss of dignitas. Seeking aid during a true crisis incurs no shame, but seeking it as a result of simple fear is detestable.

One certain rare occasions, it happens that multiple Torvic will call upon the same individual for aid. When such things occur, it is the eldest of those requesting aid who traditionally receives preference, though if the aid-giver feels they can spare resources to aid a needy younger cousin as well, they are free to do so. Certain influential Torvic do have the capacity to choose who they assist, as one might decide that the elder has sufficient resources to resolve their crisis, and might instead turn his aid to the neophyte.

Those who refuse the Ethic of Succor will not only occur a loss of dignitas, but may also be subject to formal judgement from the clan. Typically speaking, older members have preference in this area as well, as a neophyte refusing aid to an elder may be blood bound or even destroyed, while a powerful elder refusing a neophyte might be charged a fine or made to pay the youth a boon.

Politeness
As a result of both the excitable nature of vampires and the importance of dignitas, politeness among the Torvic is an absolute necessity. Interacting with each other in sophisticated, polite, and somewhat distant manner helps soothe the roiling egos common to many Torvic. Unless possessed of a close personal relationship, Torvic will typically address one another by surname or title, and will not ask personal questions unless invited to do so. Polite conversation entails no insults, veiled or direct, no unsolicited criticisms of equals or superiors (though it is acceptable to discuss the failings of inferiors), or speaking out of turn. Interrupting another Torvic is most inappropriate. Most conversations begin with idle social affairs or temporal business matters, which all can speak about, but will most likely not be too emotionally invested in. Dignified Torvic, even when angered, typically retain poise, not raising their voices or ignoring the words of others, remaining polite despite their inner fury.

Respect
In a clan as strict and refined as the Torvic, members are under a constant set of obligations to one another. The first is to never violate the territory of another Torvic, no matter their rank. Even elders entering the domain of a neophyte must politely request permission to enter and abide by any rules their host has set, provided of course, that said neophyte's domain was not granted to them from the larger domain of the entering elder. Additionally, Torvic are not meant to compete with one another within their established holdings, though the definition of "established" can be argued to mean many different things by various individuals. Most importantly of all, Torvic are not to impugn the dignitas of their peers, as such a thing is a quick path to conflict within the clan, which is meant to be avoided.

Clan Curse
The clan curse of the Torvic is often not viewed as a curse at all. Torvic are only able to feed on a specific type of mortal. It can vary wildly from Torvic to Torvic, and their specifications can be anything from businessmen, to murderers, to young women in love. Most Torvic like to say that their curse is merely a refinement of palate. However, it should be noted that among the clan, one's tastes are considered private, and it is considered extremely rude to ask.

Dominate
Dominate is the signature Discipline of the Torvic Clan. Whilst it is used among other clans, they are its true masters. Dominate is seen as a sign of the supreme will of the Torvic, a sign that they deserve to rule through sheer strength of character, and have a right to impose their competent rule on others. It is viewed as their hammer, to be used on occasions where they need to make an exercise in power and put their authority on display. Excessive use is deemed as vulgar, and as a sign of lack of social skills. The Torvic recognize when it should be applied, and how to make the most effective use of it.

Fortitude
Fortitude suits Torvic in their capacity as rulers. When they are inevitably assaulted by those foolish enough as to not recognize that their rule is best, Fortitude gives Torvic the ability to withstand such assaults. And not only to withstand them, but laugh them off, to truly demonstrate their immutable positions as sovereigns.

Presence
Presence is an essential tool in a Torvic's social arsenal. It can be used to take a room's attention, to instill a malcontent with terror, to smooth a conversation, and to enrapture their subjects. It is a subtler tool than Dominate, and allows the Torvic to guide the emotions of those beneath them, to better conform to their leadership.