Invictus

The Invictus is a Kindred Covenant focused on the acquisition of power, also known as The First Estate.

Advantages: Reduced XP cost on Merits: Resources, Retainer, Mentor, and Herd.

Twist

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Alessandra

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Jennifer Hazelton

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Covenant

Taking their name from the Latin word for "Unconquerable", The Invictus are a covenant that believes they are the rightful rulers of the race of Kindred. Lords and ladies of the night, the First Estate (as they call themselves) wield money, human pawns and political influence as tools to accomplish their goals.

Daeva and Ventrue make up the bulk of the population, with many a city's Prince being a Ventrue Invictus. Nosferatu more often than not serve as the enforcers and bodyguards of the Invictus. Mekhet are also found as members, but they usually strive to maintain secrecy of their involvement in the covenant. Gangrel usually find the Invictus to be too stuffy and rigid for their tastes, although some do lust for the power that the First Estate can grant.

Nevertheless, The First Estate's members, however varied, are united in one common goal - the acquisition of power.

The earliest Kindred document mentioning the Invictus is a grant of hunting rights, made in AD 84. During this time, the Camarilla still ruled Rome. Those Kindred around at the time claim that the Invictus ruled the Camarilla. When that organisation fell, the Invictus filled the power vacuum with overwhelming speed. Jealous Kindred say the Invictus deliberately overthrew the Camarilla, but found that it was not quite as powerful as it thought.

The Middle Ages - which the Invictus refer to as the "Heroic Age" - were when individuals and dynasties performed great deeds for the Covenant, cementing their place in the Kindred power structure.

Organization

The at the head of each city sits the Inner Circle. This is typically comprised of the oldest (and theoretically most superior) Invictus members of the city, and it is they who direct their colleagues and subordinates to further the First Estate's plans.

Advancement in the Invictus is based on merit. The Invictus who rise to the top are the ones who have done the greatest benefit for the covenant (or who have effectively crushed all their opposition). Gaining influence and power, conquering territory for the covenant, and eliminating Invictus enemies all help the neonate earn advancement. Naturally, the higher one climbs, the more enemies one makes. In fact, an Invictus without a few powerful enemies is probably not an Invictus worth noticing.

Invictus earn power through exchanging favors, shows of fealty and swearing oaths, all in a complicated system of rules and etiquette. Invictus life is dominated by backroom deals, secret alliances and betrayals.

Culture

The Invictus is dominated largely by its elders. Consequently, much emphasis is placed on tradition. Young Invictus and most outsiders see the covenant as hidebound and anachronistic. The elders argue that following the old ways make sense - like the covenant itself, these notions have withstood the test of time, which makes them inherently superior to modern ideals.

There is an air of refinement within the covenant, perhaps cultivated by its members to distract them from the realities of being a vampire. Invictus members are typically smartly dressed, well spoken and educated. Very rarely does a member resort to anything as unseemly as brawling. Instead they practice a deadly dance of one-upmanship, acid quips and not so subtle intimidation. Still, it is this veneer of grace and civility that attracts many young members to the covenant, who have had their fill of being rudely shoved around by their fellow Kindred.

For the Invictus, the highest goal is power for power's sake. The system of courtly etiquette and rules help to enforce order and teach the young their role, but all that is simply to achieve the Invictus goal of absolute and unassailable power over the night.