GIOVANNI: Frequently Asked Questions

     In the current storyline of Boston: the Final Masquerade, the Giovanni clan is the most prominent, and as thus played as a sub-chronicle. We are accepting TWENTY (20) Giovanni vampires. Below is a guide of relevant Giovanni player information, guidelines as to how we wish Giovanni characters to be played in this chronicle.

CHARACTER CONCEPT
     Boston has it's fill of Single Blooded Giovanni, so we're looking for minor subfamilites: Milliner (especially) della Passagalia, Dunsirin, Pisanob, Putensca, et.all. Boston is a higly Giovanni city, so concept are broad. Those of the minor families are more prone to be younger ancillae or neonates.

PLAYER MATURITY
     Due to the maturity level of playing a Giovanni, I will NOT accept any character under the age of sixteen, and I ask that all players are mature and preferably over the age of eighteen. (However that is not a requirement as long as the player is mature and will deal with Storylines appropiately) This means no children, no teenagers.

PRESENTATION
     Just as a new Camarilla character would introduce themselves to the Prince, all new Giovanni vampires are to meet with the Don/Dona about their arrival. All Giovanni vampires through their family channels will have recieved suffecient knowledge on who the Don/Dona is, and how to contact them. It is concidered very bad form to enter a Don/Dona's city without his/her prior knowledge and concent.

SINGLE BLOODED v.s. DOUBLE BLOODED
     Many anziani (Elder) Giovanni believe that the blood of the Giovanni family is the best in the world, due to their third world beliefs. Naturally, to them a Giovanni who is both born and sired a Giovanni is concidered superior. These vampires even have a name. They are called theunico sangue, which means "of single blood." Those vampires born into the minor families (della Passagalia, Dunsirin, ect) are refered to as Doppio sangue (" of double blood").

     Single blooded characters are given the most important jobs and are afforded better treatment than characters from the minor families. Even if a Rosselini character has more brains, and a della Passagalia has a better wielding of Necromancy, the anazini will lean more towards their lineage, the unico sangue. However, those of single blood are often held up to much higher standards by the rest, and are likely to recieve harsher punnishment if they make a mistake, far more than one of double blood would recieve.

     Often, those of the minor families hold this (and rightfuly so) against those of Single Blood. All single blood Giovanni tend to look down on these minor families as "second class" and many times a character who was born of a minor family is shoved aside to make room for one of Giovanni discent. Most kindred who were born within this minor family will have to work harder to please the anazini than a Giovann born character.

     However, every side has its benefeits and problems. Single Blooded kindred are mostly born through inbreeding, and every character who selects to be single blooded MUST take the inbred flaw of a rating equal to their desired status. A double blooded Giovanni may choose wether to take this flaw or not, but gaining status will prove harder for double blooded than it does single blooded.

DOMIAN
     The Treaty of New York gave the Giovanni family Domain over sections of Boston, in this case the Back Bay area. Even though the sections of the city belong to the Giovanni clan as a whole, it is the Clan Elder (Refered to as Don or Dona) who governs over it akin to that of a Camarilla Prince.

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
Incest in the Giovanni family is real, and is a viable part of playing a Giovanni character. According to the new clanbook, Giovanni anziani not only condone incestuous relationships, but find the offspring of said union to be even better than even the unico sangue. (Some elders still harbor a great sentimental streak towards those who share their mortal blood, therefore they want that lineage to live as long as they do)

     However, the anziani are not stupid, and too much inbreeding can stunt the family to the point that there would be no Giovanni today. Therefore other familes are brought in to weed out the family shrub, and help generate more healthy offspring. (Thus the minor families) Cousins are often married to cousins, but a few indescretions between siblings are tolerated.

THE PROXY KISS
     According to the new Giovanni clanbook (3rd Edition), Giovanni in America have started to give the Proxy Kiss less frequently, while Itlaian Giovanni still give the Kiss frequently to thier thralls. For the purposes of our Chronicle, the Merit of Proxy Kissed is of utmost importance, and worth the points if you wish to buy it.

     Many conciderations should be taken into effect when a player decides to purchase this merit. The drawbacks of being Proxy Kissed means that you spent a good time of your mortal life as a ghoul to a relative, who was not your sire. Taking this merit twice means that you lived a very long time as a ghoul, and are partially bound to three kindred, none of which are your sire.

     Merits of being Proxy Kissed (other than what the merit pertains to) is that other European Giovanni are more likely to take to you than those who were not Proxy Kissed. Think of it as a formal rite of introduction, a initiation to the inner circle of the family.

THE MALESTROM & ITS EFFECTS
     The majority of our storyline follows the works of the White Wolf Clan Novels, which does include the malestrom. The Malestrom has made some levels of Necromancy easier to accomplish, make some more dangerous and difficult.. and some a measure of both. The barrier (in essence) has been weakened to the point that summoning a spirit is easier, but controling said spirit is going to prove much harder.

     Due to this change in events, the new rules for Necromancy are being used. (Clanbook: Giovanni 3rd Edition) Players who do not have the clanbook to get these revisions from can get the new ruling from the Giovanni ST. We highly suggest purchasing (or at least reading throughly) the new clanbook if at all possible to gather more knowledge as to why these changes occured.

THE FAMILY SECRET
     In reality, not all Giovanni know the family's ultimate goal. Mortal Giovanni are kept completely in the dark as to what their family does behind the scenes, (they may suspect, but they do not know ghouls and neonates are kept almost as clueless). But it is only the Elders(Premascines,and Aziani Prudente) who know the complete family goal. However, some privledged Ancillae are akin to some information.

     In order for a character to know said plans, they must have the appropiate ammount of Clan lore:

Giovanni Clan Lore:

1. * Kissing Cousin
   The Giovanni seem to be distrusted by other vampires
   
   The Giovanni seem to leave other vampires alone, and vice versa
   
   The Giovanni can speak to the dead
   
   Mortals don't have the same reaction from being bit from a Giovanni, compared to other vampires
   
   All Giovanni seem to be all related either by blood or marriage.
   
   
   
2. ** Rival Sibling
   Giovanni have the Discipline Necromancy, which allows them to speak to and manipulate the dead
   
   The Giovanni and the Camarilla have an "understanding" called the Promise that keeps you out of each other's face
   
   You know that the Giovanni clan has other families that claim membership (Milliner, Pisanob)
   
   The Giovanni is the youngest Clan, but asking about it might be a bad idea.
   
   The Giovanni embrace usually from within their own families, often existing as long term ghouls before the embrace
   
   
   
3. *** Black Sheep Uncle
   The Treaty of 1528 'Promises' that the Giovanni will not interfere in any Kindred affairs
   
   The Giovanni Clan Head is Augustus Giovanni, who should not be talked about
   
   You have heard of the Path of Bones, and may be on the Path yourself
   
   Understands the Proxy Kiss and familial relationships
   
   Familiar with the Clan Hierarchy of Don - Consigliare - Primo Consigliere - Bruglione - Augustus
   
   
   
4. **** Matriarch
   There's a rumor that Augustus diablerized his way to the top in the Dark Ages
   
   You can identify the necromantic paths practiced by the Giovanni
   
   You know about the relationship between Giovanni (necromancers) and Wraiths
   
   You've heard that some Giovanni practice Spirit Thaumaturgy
   
   
   
5. ***** Patriarch
   You have heard rumors of other practicioners of Necromancy, Samedi, Harbringers
   
   You know that is has been rumored that the Clan the Giovanni eliminated were the Cappadoacians
   
   You know the specifics of the "Promise"
   
   You know most of the rituals and effects the Giovanni are capable of
   
   

     Exceptions can be made for neonates, depending on character history and type. (Single Blooded necromantic prodigy, for example) However, this is of the utmost rarity, and players interested in playing such a character should talk to the Storytellers before character creation.

STATUS
     Status in Boston: the Final Masquerade is real and is heavily enforced. Every character is expected to play out the benefits and consequences of Status ( Clan, Elder and City). For Giovanni characters however, Clan Status plays a much more important part than Elder or City.

SPIRIT SLAVES AND WRAITHS
     Wraiths and Spirit Slaves are NPC ONLY. Every Giovanni are allowed to take the background of Spirit Slaves, but must produce a reason why they have the servant, and how they got to be bound to your Giovanni.

Wraith Lore:

1. * Student
   You know of the existence of a World beyond this one, inhabited by Ghosts.
   
   You know that they are insubstantial in this World, and can never affect it.
   
   You know they have a society, much like our own, and long to return to this world.
   
   
   
2. ** College
   You have learned a little more of the dead. You know that not all Spirits return to the afterlife. Only those with great issues to deal with return, and then not always.
   
   You've probably spoken to one or more Ghosts by now.
   
   You know now that their Society is a strict order, called the Hierarchy, who govern all of their number with an iron grip.
   
   You know that they live in alternative versions of real world cities, in the land of the Dead.
   
   
   
3. *** Masters
   You have learned that the Shadowlands or lands of the Dead, represent the World of the Dead. All that has decayed and been destroyed here, that had great meaning in this world, reappears there.
   
   You know that Wraiths can be harmed by real world objects moving through their Ethereal bodies.
   
   You also know that they have formed themselves into Guilds, groups of Ghosts, or Wraiths who follow the same ideals.
   
   You also know of corrupted Wraiths called Spectres who make it their lives to attack and destroy other Wraiths.
   
   
   
4. **** Doctorate
   You have learned much more of the Dead by now.
   
   You know that the Hierarchy holds control only over few of the Wraiths, with many shunning control as Heretics or Renegades.
   
   You know Religious belief is a strong power within the lands of the Dead, and those of the same beliefs often flock together.
   
   You know that some Wraiths posses the power to alter things in this World, and even enter here for short periods of time.
   
   You know that there are many different types of Spectre who are born in a dark Maelstrom called The Tempest.
   
   You now know that Wraiths are bound to items or people within this World, that they call Fetters.
   
   
   
5. ***** Scholar
   You have gained much knowledge of the lands of the Dead by now.
   
   You know that Spectres are controlled by ancient evil's called Malfeans that exist only in the lands of the Dead.
   
   You know that the Hierarchy await the resurrection of Charon.
   
   You know that certain Vampires have the abilities to enter the lands of the Dead for short periods of time.
   
   You have discovered the names of at least 3 different Guilds, and have probably spoken to members of at least these Guilds.
   
   You know the Wraith central city is called Stygia and does not have a Real World counterpart.
   
   You know the Wraith's Fetters, are items or people important to them in their lives, and act as points of rest and recuperation to these Ghosts.
   
   
   
   THAUMATURGY vs. NECROMANCY
        While Giovanni characters are allowed to take Thaumatury, Necromancy is desired above all else, especially now that the Giovanni are in dire need of spirits. Characters who take Thaumatury are only allowed the following, non Tremere specific paths:
   
   Spirt Thaumatury - Highly Recommended, Weather Contol, Curses and Neptunes Might.
   
        A player who takes Thaumaturgy are also required to take Necromantic rituals instead of Tremere specifc rituals (ie: craft bloodstone, bone of lines, ect, all).
   
   Any questions can be directed to the Giovanni ST: ReginaGiovannixx.