The Van Cortlandts

Territory

• Bronx, Van Cortlandt Park

Members

Ductus

Rikhart Van Cortlandt, the Patriarch

• Clan: Lasombra
• Position: Ductus
• Faction: Ultra-Conservatives (Colonel)
• Status: 3 (Positional), 5 (Reputational)
• Background: Though he currently lays in Torpor, Rikhart is the true patriarch and leader of the Van Cortlandt family for he is the first. Born under Frankish kings in what would only later be called the lower Netherlands, Rikhart was born into a line of kings, descending from the Frankish regent Theuderic I. This noble birthright would have been enough for any son; however, Rikhart was born with kingly ambition but, unfortunately for him, also as the youngest son. He was raised to equal his brothers—for if they were to die before him, he would take their place—but the right to be firstborn never became Rikhart’s. Rikhart was doomed to always be beneath his brothers, something the young man could never abide. So, Rikhart set off for war

Pack Priest

Katrien Van Cortlandt

• Clan: Lasombra
• Position: Pack Priest
• Faction: Ultra-Conservatives (Sergeant)
• Status: 3 (Positional), 5 (Reputational)
• Background: As with all Van Cortlandts, Katrien was raised in life to epitomize nobility. Her curly red hair, classical beauty, and regal bearing did her family proud, and while she wore the elegant dresses of her lineage well, she always preferred the freedom that riding clothes provided. Her analytical mind was something of a bother to her mortal family, but Rikhart identified it as a valued trait to his bloodline of the night, despite being female. After overcoming several tests he subtly set before her which alienated Katrien from her mortal family, she was embraced into the clan Lasombra by Rikhart’s own hand to serve him in his conflicts.

Abbott

Jacob Van Cortlandt

• Clan: Lasombra
• Position: Abbott
• Faction: Ultra-Conservatives (Sergeant)
• Status: 3 (Positional), 5 (Reputational)
• Background: As the years passed, Rikhart grew increasingly lonely in his vampirism, despite the presence of Katrien. His grandson, Jacob, whom he had always had a fondness for, became ill. Katrien advised him against embracing the young man, but Rikhart’s care for his mortal family overpowered his sense of duty and responsibility. Jacob was embraced, though it soon became apparent that he was not competent enough to be of much use to Rikhart’s designs. Katrien made this very clear to Jacob who, in a fiendish desire to please his grandfather, endeavors even unto this very night to improve himself so that one day he might be useful to his patriarch. For Rikhart’s part, it was the last time he let emotion and mortal compassion sway his decisions.

Other Members

Skylar Van Cortlandt

• Clan: Lasombra
• Position: True Sabbat
• Faction: Ultra-Conservatives (Lieutenant)
• Status: 3 (Reputational), 5 (Reputational)
• Background: Skylar Van Cortlandt also affected the aire of the haughty nobleman’s son. Even as a young boy, his propensity for overachieving, for pursuing greater and greater heights even at great personal risk, was of concern to his teachers and peers. As he grew, his apparent delight in decadence and debauchery isolated him from his contemporaries. In truth, Skylar was a prodigy who knew a terrible secret. As a child, he had come upon the truth of Rikhart’s embrace, and now strove to identify himself as worthy of his Patriarch’s gift. The displays of adolescence were merely ploys to drive away those who would distract him from his goals. It is no surprise of course that Rikhart did take notice, and Skylar was embraced at the youngest age of any Van Cortlandt aside from Jacob.

Jonas Van Cortlandt

• Clan: Lasombra
• Position: Paladin to Cardinal Francisco Domingo de Polonia
• Faction: Ultra-Conservatives (Lieutenant)
• Status: 5 (Positional), 5 (Reputational)
• Background: A former Bishop of New York City, Jonas Van Cortlandt comes from a long line of Dutch aristocracy and a line of Sabbat royalty. From the famous Dutch family, the Van Cortlandt’s, Jonas was raised in life to be the closest thing to nobility that the New World could offer. The elder of his (mortal) siblings, Jonas has always behaved as an older brother should, with grace and honor. Nevertheless, he was also an astute politician, highly clever and (at times) even ruthless. As such, it was natural that he was chosen from the line to join the “other” line of Van Cortlandt’s. In 1532, Jonas was embraced by his ancestor, Skylar Van Cortlandt, an elder Lasombra (but by no means the first of the Van Cortlandt’s to be embraced Lasombra).

Falk Van Cortlandt

• Clan: Lasombra
• Position: True Sabbat
• Faction: Ultra-Conservatives (Sergeant)
• Status: 2 (Positional), 5 (Reputational)
• Background: Despite the teasing from the other aristocrats’ children about his exceptionally soft and feminine features, Falk excelled at the art of martial combat. Even as a boy, his marksmanship exceeded that of even most of the trained militiamen. Katrien recognized in her great grandson the very qualities that Rikhart had recognized in her so many years ago. As Falk grew, Katrien groomed him, and when it came time for his tests, Falk Van Cortlandt passed with flying colors just as Katrien knew he would. She embraced him herself, the following year. Often dressed for a fight, Falk is never without at least one pistol, and usually with a bandolier of bullets and a rifle besides. His fondness for the American Wild West is evident in his fashion choices, though they contrast somewhat with the old world, noble bearing of his lineage.

Lisbeth Van Cortlandt

• Clan: Lasombra
• Position: True Sabbat
• Faction: Ultra-Conservatives (Sergeant)
• Status: 2 (Positional), 5 (Reputational)
• Background: Ten years Falk’s junior, and in many ways a kindred spirit of his, Lisbeth Van Cortlandt was raised away from the tutelage of warfare that led Katrien to become a great asset to the bloodline. However, it would seem that not even the strongest intentions can sway a person’s nature, as Lisbeth became fascinated with swordplay at an early age and would frequently sneak off the family grounds to practice. Eventually, at the direction of Jonas, her tutors gave up on trying to prevent her more indelicate hobbies, and Lisbeth took to warfare at full steam. Her benefactor embraced her not long after, once he realized the martial value she could bring to the bloodline.

Pieter Van Cortlandt

• Clan: Lasombra
• Position: True Sabbat
• Faction: Ultra-Conservatives (Sergeant)
• Status: 2 (Positional), 5 (Reputational)
• Background: Pieter is by far the most recent addition to the Van Cortlandt line. Embraced a mere thirty years ago by Lisbeth, his combat prowess is next to non-existent. Some members of the family scoffed at the notion of such an untrained child being admitted into their ranks of the immortal family, but Pieter soon proved to them why he had been chosen. The Van Cortlandts, since the slumbering of Rikhart, had focused their efforts solely on raising up talented combatants and tactical experts. None since their patriarch had expressed an inherent ability to rally soldiers to war and lead men. It was in Pieter that they saw that spark of authority and influence that Rikhart wielded so long ago. Tonight, Pieter is the face of the family, its liaison sent to deal with its affairs among the rest of the Ultra-Conservatives.