Post by Tami on Feb 28, 2007 21:01:48 GMT -5
THE SENESCHAL
In the Mortal world, the Seneschal was the keeper of the keys in a noble house, the minder of the affairs the one who always knew what was happening and who was closest to the master's ear. It was the Seneschal who was in charge when the master was away, and who took care of the estate in time of disaster. In the vampiric world, the position hasn't changed much from it original perception. The Seneschal is chosen to be the Prince's personal assistant, the one who knows what's going on at any given moment, and (according to some wags) the one you really have to deal with to get things done. At any time, he may be asked to step into the Prince's place if she leaves town on business, abdicates or is slain.
While a Prince may wish to have final authority on the choice, a number of Primogen councils have fought to ensure a Seneschal candidate to their liking is installed. If the Prince is seen as weak or is not well liked, the fight becomes even fiercer. After all, accidents do happen, the Primogen insist, and it were best that the next in line is someone worth having to avoid entanglements at such times. Princes insist that that the choice is theirs to make, particularly when the Seneschal is in such a sensitive position. They point to certain disasters in Kindred history regarding the Seneschal. most often the Nuremberg Incident of 1836, when a Sabbat spy managed to achieve the post and the city narrowly avoided being completely overrun after he handed over the secrets he had learned to his cohorts.
For most Seneschals, the job can be a completely thankless one It may be seen as a stepping stone up the ladder to greater things, but the rewards aren’t always commensurate with the tedium and danger. A Seneschal can be called on to be a secretary, clearing house of information, Prince pro tem, advisor, sounding board, recipient of vitriol, ambassador or point of contact for any new Kindred entering the city. Some Princes may have other uses for their Seneschals, such as sitting in on certain meetings as the Prince’s voice when the Prince must be absent, or even deal with certain matters which the Princes deem not worthy of their attention. For a Prince busy with other concerns, a capable Seneschal who can take care of all the nitpicky details of running a city can be a godsend. If the Seneschal is incompetent, however, he can be a nightmare. A Seneschal unaware of the movements of new Kindred in the city may be in fact inadvertently holding the door for Sabbat troops, or one who has closed down a church on suspicion of harboring hunters may have just alienated the Nosferatu who made use of the places as well.
A number of seneschals have taken advantage of their positions, using them become often the most well-informed Kindred in the city, even outstripping the Harpies. Some, as clearinghouses of information, may selectively edit what their Prince does and does not know (On a strict need-to-know basis, with the seneschal of course deciding who needs to know what). Others may block entire items on the night’s agenda if it suits their purpose, most often when the Kindred bringing the business has offended the seneschal in some way. As the seneschal is frequently closest to the Prince’s ear, he may inform the Prince as he wishes regarding matters of business or policy – lies of omission are a seneschal’s stock in trade. If someone is offended with the way the seneschal handles business, the humble vampire may claim that he is merely the Prince’s voice, and shift the blame upward to an undeserving Prince. A wily seneschal with ambition on his mid and a prince burdened with the cares of a large domain can be a lethal combination.
The selection of a Seneschal has a number of criteria, varying from Prince to Prince, and from Primogen to Primogen. Some prefer tractability over trust. While others see some independence and common sense as ideal qualities. Few Primogen have ever permitted a seneschal to be of the same clan as the Prince, seeing it as an invitation to disaster in the form of clan favoritism.
In the Mortal world, the Seneschal was the keeper of the keys in a noble house, the minder of the affairs the one who always knew what was happening and who was closest to the master's ear. It was the Seneschal who was in charge when the master was away, and who took care of the estate in time of disaster. In the vampiric world, the position hasn't changed much from it original perception. The Seneschal is chosen to be the Prince's personal assistant, the one who knows what's going on at any given moment, and (according to some wags) the one you really have to deal with to get things done. At any time, he may be asked to step into the Prince's place if she leaves town on business, abdicates or is slain.
While a Prince may wish to have final authority on the choice, a number of Primogen councils have fought to ensure a Seneschal candidate to their liking is installed. If the Prince is seen as weak or is not well liked, the fight becomes even fiercer. After all, accidents do happen, the Primogen insist, and it were best that the next in line is someone worth having to avoid entanglements at such times. Princes insist that that the choice is theirs to make, particularly when the Seneschal is in such a sensitive position. They point to certain disasters in Kindred history regarding the Seneschal. most often the Nuremberg Incident of 1836, when a Sabbat spy managed to achieve the post and the city narrowly avoided being completely overrun after he handed over the secrets he had learned to his cohorts.
For most Seneschals, the job can be a completely thankless one It may be seen as a stepping stone up the ladder to greater things, but the rewards aren’t always commensurate with the tedium and danger. A Seneschal can be called on to be a secretary, clearing house of information, Prince pro tem, advisor, sounding board, recipient of vitriol, ambassador or point of contact for any new Kindred entering the city. Some Princes may have other uses for their Seneschals, such as sitting in on certain meetings as the Prince’s voice when the Prince must be absent, or even deal with certain matters which the Princes deem not worthy of their attention. For a Prince busy with other concerns, a capable Seneschal who can take care of all the nitpicky details of running a city can be a godsend. If the Seneschal is incompetent, however, he can be a nightmare. A Seneschal unaware of the movements of new Kindred in the city may be in fact inadvertently holding the door for Sabbat troops, or one who has closed down a church on suspicion of harboring hunters may have just alienated the Nosferatu who made use of the places as well.
A number of seneschals have taken advantage of their positions, using them become often the most well-informed Kindred in the city, even outstripping the Harpies. Some, as clearinghouses of information, may selectively edit what their Prince does and does not know (On a strict need-to-know basis, with the seneschal of course deciding who needs to know what). Others may block entire items on the night’s agenda if it suits their purpose, most often when the Kindred bringing the business has offended the seneschal in some way. As the seneschal is frequently closest to the Prince’s ear, he may inform the Prince as he wishes regarding matters of business or policy – lies of omission are a seneschal’s stock in trade. If someone is offended with the way the seneschal handles business, the humble vampire may claim that he is merely the Prince’s voice, and shift the blame upward to an undeserving Prince. A wily seneschal with ambition on his mid and a prince burdened with the cares of a large domain can be a lethal combination.
The selection of a Seneschal has a number of criteria, varying from Prince to Prince, and from Primogen to Primogen. Some prefer tractability over trust. While others see some independence and common sense as ideal qualities. Few Primogen have ever permitted a seneschal to be of the same clan as the Prince, seeing it as an invitation to disaster in the form of clan favoritism.