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Catherine spent her childhood in Boston among the extended Giovanni family in Massachusetts. She grew up mostly ignorant of the family business - both mundane and spiritual - other than the high expectations of being from a distinguished lineage like the Giovanni. She concentrated on her academic achievement and landed herself a scholarship and a fast track to a cushy corporate job.

 

She attracted the attention of Venice at that point. Marietta Giovanni, an anziani who wanted a pawn in the North American corporate structure, summoned Catherine to Venice and bestowed the Proxy Kiss on her. The corporate scene is a web of favor and conspiracy, but power players enjoy a massive web of influence worldwide. 

 

This fact goes double for Catherine's corporate job. The company, Consolidex Worldwide, is an investment firm associated with the colossal Pentex Group. Competitions between individuals are fierce, and cutthroat murder of rivals - most often discreetly, of course - isn't rare.

 

Sure enough, in the third year of her job, Catherine fell victim to an advancement plot involving poisoning an entire team. There was never a police report filed, and Pentex PR Team worked hard to compensate the families of those affected generously. 

 

Backdoor settlements made most parties happy, but Marietta was not pleased. A pawn conveniently placed in one of the largest companies in the world isn't easy to replace. She even traveled to Boston to rectify that setback.

 

Catherine didn't remember much of her time on the other side - only strangely vivid, nightmarish images - but she could recall her embrace very well. Her sire brought her up to speed, though being one of the kindreds presented awkward challenges in the corporate world. Thankfully, Consolidex Worldwide offers flexible hours if you bring the profit to match.

 

Having learned cutthroat business practices firsthand - and died for it - Catherine supplemented her business acumen with other edges to stay ahead of the pact. She never knew how Necromancy worked while she lived, but now that she died, a switch seemingly flipped on that front. Her sire was happy to accommodate her progeny's desire to learn. 

 

Catherine utilized Necromancy ruthlessly, even avenging herself and her teammates on the perpetrator of the poisoning incident. Over time, she learned to embrace Necromancy not as a means to an end but as a passion. Around this time, her vision deteriorated into one of death, detaching herself from the mortal world even more. 

 

Her rapid advancement in her business and mystical acumen earned her a promotion in her company. When Consolidex Worldwide expanded to Georgia, she achieved a position in Atlanta, the prime expansion location. 

 

The situation wasn't all good, however. The Camarilla ruling body of Atlanta doesn't like the Giovanni clan and resisted their advance into the city in the 70s before relenting. Even then, the clan's presence is limited, and family members prefer to send proxies instead of dealing with the Atlanta Prince directly. 

 

Despite that, it's common knowledge among the Giovanni family that Atlanta possesses an active ghostly presence, with a city full of them on the other side of the shroud. Catherine worked with the local Atlanta Giovanni - a ghoul named Lorenzo - to procure artifacts for Venice. 

 

The arrangement worked fine for a time until a mishap happened. Catherine still wasn't sure what went wrong - and if it was even her fault - but now, ghosts infest a holding of Atlanta's Ventrue Primogen to the point of inoperability and high poltergeist activity. Catherine apologized and paid reparations, but thanks to the Ventrue clan's influence on politics in Atlanta, she became a pariah in a hurry. Worse still, she soured the Giovanni family's carefully cultivated image in the city. 

 

Left with hindered advancement and the talk of the town - and not in a good way - circumstances forced Catherine to reconsider her position. That was when she overheard the rumor grapevine of the Prince of Savannah's open invitation to claim praxis in his city. Consolidex already has an office there, and while the Necropolis situation in Savannah is still a largely unknown quantity, it's still an option to start fresh.

 

It's not like Catherine has many options available to her.

Atlanta Ventrue
Perhaps the most politically influential clan in Atlanta, the Atlanta Ventrue clan is united under the leadership of their Primogen Eleanor Johnston Hodge, wife of Prince James Benison Hodge. Those who incurred her displeasure are disadvantageous in establishing themselves in the city. Catherine, unfortunately, found herself in that position.

Atlanta Giovanni
It takes many years to build a reputation and only a second to tear it down. The saying is at least true for the Giovanni family's reputation in Atlanta. While what happened with Primogen Eleanor's property wasn't her fault, Catherine oversaw the operation and should take responsibility for the mishap. Lorenzo - her partner-in-crime in that endeavor - hasn't taken action against her yet, but he already has spoken unflatteringly about her to his side of the family. It probably doesn't bode well for her standings in the family, especially the North American branch.

Catherine spent her childhood in Boston among the extended Giovanni family in Massachusetts. She grew up mostly ignorant of the family business - both mundane and spiritual - other than the high expectations of being from a distinguished lineage like the Giovanni. She concentrated on her academic achievement and landed herself a scholarship and a fast track to a cushy corporate job.

She attracted the attention of Venice at that point. Marietta Giovanni, an anziani who wanted a pawn in the North American corporate structure, summoned Catherine to Venice and bestowed the Proxy Kiss on her. The corporate scene is a web of favor and conspiracy, but power players enjoy a massive web of influence worldwide. 

 

This fact goes double for Catherine's corporate job. The company, Consolidex Worldwide, is an investment firm associated with the colossal Pentex Group. Competitions between individuals are fierce, and cutthroat murder of rivals - most often discreetly, of course - isn't rare.

 

Sure enough, in the third year of her job, Catherine fell victim to an advancement plot involving poisoning an entire team. There was never a police report filed, and Pentex PR Team worked hard to compensate the families of those affected generously. 

 

Backdoor settlements made most parties happy, but Marietta was not pleased. A pawn conveniently placed in one of the largest companies in the world isn't easy to replace. She even traveled to Boston to rectify that setback.

 

Catherine didn't remember much of her time on the other side - only strangely vivid, nightmarish images - but she could recall her embrace very well. Her sire brought her up to speed, though being one of the kindreds presented awkward challenges in the corporate world. Thankfully, Consolidex Worldwide offers flexible hours if you bring the profit to match.

 

Having learned cutthroat business practices firsthand - and died for it - Catherine supplemented her business acumen with other edges to stay ahead of the pact. She never knew how Necromancy worked while she lived, but now that she died, a switch seemingly flipped on that front. Her sire was happy to accommodate her progeny's desire to learn. 

 

Catherine utilized Necromancy ruthlessly, even avenging herself and her teammates on the perpetrator of the poisoning incident. Over time, she learned to embrace Necromancy not as a means to an end but as a passion. Around this time, her vision deteriorated into one of death, detaching herself from the mortal world even more. 

 

Her rapid advancement in her business and mystical acumen earned her a promotion in her company. When Consolidex Worldwide expanded to Georgia, she achieved a position in Atlanta, the prime expansion location. 

 

The situation wasn't all good, however. The Camarilla ruling body of Atlanta doesn't like the Giovanni clan and resisted their advance into the city in the 70s before relenting. Even then, the clan's presence is limited, and family members prefer to send proxies instead of dealing with the Atlanta Prince directly. 

 

Despite that, it's common knowledge among the Giovanni family that Atlanta possesses an active ghostly presence, with a city full of them on the other side of the shroud. Catherine worked with the local Atlanta Giovanni - a ghoul named Lorenzo - to procure artifacts for Venice. 

 

The arrangement worked fine for a time until a mishap happened. Catherine still wasn't sure what went wrong - and if it was even her fault - but now, ghosts infest a holding of Atlanta's Ventrue Primogen to the point of inoperability and high poltergeist activity. Catherine apologized and paid reparations, but thanks to the Ventrue clan's influence on politics in Atlanta, she became a pariah in a hurry. Worse still, she soured the Giovanni family's carefully cultivated image in the city. 

 

Left with hindered advancement and the talk of the town - and not in a good way - circumstances forced Catherine to reconsider her position. That was when she overheard the rumor grapevine of the Prince of Savannah's open invitation to claim praxis in his city. Consolidex already has an office there, and while the Necropolis situation in Savannah is still a largely unknown quantity, it's still an option to start fresh.

 

It's not like Catherine has many options available to her.

Atlanta Ventrue
Perhaps the most politically influential clan in Atlanta, the Atlanta Ventrue clan is united under the leadership of their Primogen Eleanor Johnston Hodge, wife of Prince James Benison Hodge. Those who incurred her displeasure are disadvantageous in establishing themselves in the city. Catherine, unfortunately, found herself in that position.

Atlanta Giovanni
It takes many years to build a reputation and only a second to tear it down. The saying is at least true for the Giovanni family's reputation in Atlanta. While what happened with Primogen Eleanor's property wasn't her fault, Catherine oversaw the operation and should take responsibility for the mishap. Lorenzo - her partner-in-crime in that endeavor - hasn't taken action against her yet, but he already has spoken unflatteringly about her to his side of the family. It probably doesn't bode well for her standings in the family, especially the North American branch.

Catherine spent her childhood in Boston among the extended Giovanni family in Massachusetts. She grew up mostly ignorant of the family business - both mundane and spiritual - other than the high expectations of being from a distinguished lineage like the Giovanni. She concentrated on her academic achievement and landed herself a scholarship and a fast track to a cushy corporate job.

She attracted the attention of Venice at that point. Marietta Giovanni, an anziani who wanted a pawn in the North American corporate structure, summoned Catherine to Venice and bestowed the Proxy Kiss on her. The corporate scene is a web of favor and conspiracy, but power players enjoy a massive web of influence worldwide. 

 

This fact goes double for Catherine's corporate job. The company, Consolidex Worldwide, is an investment firm associated with the colossal Pentex Group. Competitions between individuals are fierce, and cutthroat murder of rivals - most often discreetly, of course - isn't rare.

 

Sure enough, in the third year of her job, Catherine fell victim to an advancement plot involving poisoning an entire team. There was never a police report filed, and Pentex PR Team worked hard to compensate the families of those affected generously. 

 

Backdoor settlements made most parties happy, but Marietta was not pleased. A pawn conveniently placed in one of the largest companies in the world isn't easy to replace. She even traveled to Boston to rectify that setback.

 

Catherine didn't remember much of her time on the other side - only strangely vivid, nightmarish images - but she could recall her embrace very well. Her sire brought her up to speed, though being one of the kindreds presented awkward challenges in the corporate world. Thankfully, Consolidex Worldwide offers flexible hours if you bring the profit to match.

 

Having learned cutthroat business practices firsthand - and died for it - Catherine supplemented her business acumen with other edges to stay ahead of the pact. She never knew how Necromancy worked while she lived, but now that she died, a switch seemingly flipped on that front. Her sire was happy to accommodate her progeny's desire to learn. 

 

Catherine utilized Necromancy ruthlessly, even avenging herself and her teammates on the perpetrator of the poisoning incident. Over time, she learned to embrace Necromancy not as a means to an end but as a passion. Around this time, her vision deteriorated into one of death, detaching herself from the mortal world even more. 

 

Her rapid advancement in her business and mystical acumen earned her a promotion in her company. When Consolidex Worldwide expanded to Georgia, she achieved a position in Atlanta, the prime expansion location. 

 

The situation wasn't all good, however. The Camarilla ruling body of Atlanta doesn't like the Giovanni clan and resisted their advance into the city in the 70s before relenting. Even then, the clan's presence is limited, and family members prefer to send proxies instead of dealing with the Atlanta Prince directly. 

 

Despite that, it's common knowledge among the Giovanni family that Atlanta possesses an active ghostly presence, with a city full of them on the other side of the shroud. Catherine worked with the local Atlanta Giovanni - a ghoul named Lorenzo - to procure artifacts for Venice. 

 

The arrangement worked fine for a time until a mishap happened. Catherine still wasn't sure what went wrong - and if it was even her fault - but now, ghosts infest a holding of Atlanta's Ventrue Primogen to the point of inoperability and high poltergeist activity. Catherine apologized and paid reparations, but thanks to the Ventrue clan's influence on politics in Atlanta, she became a pariah in a hurry. Worse still, she soured the Giovanni family's carefully cultivated image in the city. 

 

Left with hindered advancement and the talk of the town - and not in a good way - circumstances forced Catherine to reconsider her position. That was when she overheard the rumor grapevine of the Prince of Savannah's open invitation to claim praxis in his city. Consolidex already has an office there, and while the Necropolis situation in Savannah is still a largely unknown quantity, it's still an option to start fresh.

 

It's not like Catherine has many options available to her.

Atlanta Ventrue
Perhaps the most politically influential clan in Atlanta, the Atlanta Ventrue clan is united under the leadership of their Primogen Eleanor Johnston Hodge, wife of Prince James Benison Hodge. Those who incurred her displeasure are disadvantageous in establishing themselves in the city. Catherine, unfortunately, found herself in that position.

Atlanta Giovanni
It takes many years to build a reputation and only a second to tear it down. The saying is at least true for the Giovanni family's reputation in Atlanta. While what happened with Primogen Eleanor's property wasn't her fault, Catherine oversaw the operation and should take responsibility for the mishap. Lorenzo - her partner-in-crime in that endeavor - hasn't taken action against her yet, but he already has spoken unflatteringly about her to his side of the family. It probably doesn't bode well for her standings in the family, especially the North American branch.

The name Giovanni comes with baggage and expectations. Catherine's parents, Rudolfo and Lily, were the picture of an upper-middle-class Third Generation American couple with comfortable lives, an ideal nuclear family, and very much living their American Dream in Atlanta. They were also the mortal pawns of undead monsters with a reach spanning the known world, but nobody was perfect. 

 

Unlike many in the dominant Clan of Death, Rudolfo and Lily's regnant - the ancient scholar Marietta - didn't concern herself with the temporal influence many in her clan did. She only cared about artifact acquisitions, how to refine her mastery of Necromancy, and learning more about what was behind the shroud, ironically behaving much like her old parent clan. Rudolfo was a shrewd businessman - useful for the yearly family tributaries - however, he also had a knack for acquiring genuine occult antiques. The latter part was what Marietta prized him highly for. 

 

Catherine had her suspicions about the family trade since her younger age - call it through her instincts - but she grew more curious about the hidden world instead of rationalizing what she saw. She exhibited signs of a talent for Necromancy early - her first glimpse of the Shadowlands was when her primary school teacher had a heart attack at school - and she had been honing her understandings since. 

 

The Proxy Kiss happened in the last year of Catherine's high school when her father and mother took her to Venice to see the extended family. Great (great-great-great-) Aunt Marietta heard about young Giovanni's budding talent in Necromancy and wanted a first-hand look. The visit ended with Marietta becoming Catherine's regnant and her official induction into the family business, a long payoff for her lifelong suspicions. 

 

When they returned to Atlanta, Rudolfo wasted little time bringing their daughter up to speed in the Cainites of Atlanta, who to approach and (more likely) who to avoid. The head of the local vampire government - the Prince, as she found out later - is James Hodge, a Civil War Army Colonel in his living days. He's pleasant enough in public but has an explosive temper in private, a warning Rudolfo quickly gives. His ruling body is composed of Primogens - among them was his wife - who regulated the night-to-night policies and who could conduct business in what place. He advised Catherine to talk to them in a pinch instead of the Prince. 

 

The business, Rudolfo elaborated, also included those among their extended family. Like many cities in North America, the Giovanni family maintained significant dealings among the populace. Rudolfo wasn't the only Giovanni with a "work permit," as he called it. However, he told Catherine not to grow too close with this "uncle."

 

The Giovanni family might be competitive with outsiders, but they're also competitive with those among their extended family, and many are bitter rivalries. Lorenzo Giovanni is another one who received the Proxy Kiss, but he's an old soul. It wasn't the Proxy Kiss when he received it - only the pragmatic uplifting of servants - and he grew powerful in prestige and personal powers ever since. 

 

Lorenzo has his regnant to serve, and his rivalry with Rudolfo has roots in the relationship of their masters. Annika Giovanni is Lorenzo's regnant. She and Marietta were sisters in their mortal days and brood mates in death, but their relationship is anything but amicable. Unlike her apolitical sister, Annika is ambitious. She wanted eternal security for her place among the anziani. Powers among the mortals are not enough to command respect from everyone in the clan, so Annika amasses mystical powers as well, including taking what her sister covets. 

 

Beneath the surface, Atlanta hosts a significant population of dearly-departed shadows. Ghosts roam many of the city's corners, and there are rumors among the supernaturals about another city - a dark mirror Necropolis - on the other side of the shroud populated with shades of all shapes and sizes. Naturally, the Giovanni family is well aware of this information, and the city hosts an unusual amount of deathly-resonant objects. The masters tasked their ghouls to collect the most powerful among them, and they clashed often. 

 

Despite all of those, Catherine saw little of the hostilities in the first years of her service to her regnant. She attended college, read the Necromantic texts her regnant sent her to continue her training, and assisted her father in acquiring artifacts through her connections on campus. 

 

The last one was a prelude to tragedy, but Catherine had no way of knowing that.

 

One of the artifacts her father acquired with her assistance was exceptionally valuable, enough that Annika was furious that it fell to her sister. She implored her ghoul to remove the obstacle no matter the method, and Lorenzo took it to heart. 

 

One day, Catherine went home to a peculiar sight. She saw a few wraiths crossed over to the material inside her house, assaulting her parents with dread powers. Catherine tried to interfere, but a man put a stop to that. She never caught his face, but she saw the gun he pulled. Before she could retaliate - the man was supernaturally fast - he riddled her with bullet holes. 

 

Catherine Giovanni died there, but as it turns out, her story's not finished just yet. 

 

She couldn't quite remember anything clearly after she crossed over to the other side, but she could recall several curious sights. She remembers derelict structures and spires without a roof. She recalls faces, nightmarish yet beautiful, greeting her in what appears to be her new resting place. All are vague memories, but the pictures are strangely vivid.

 

Her next memory is staring face-to-face with her master, though she's her sire now. Marietta explained that she embraced her through the shroud with a rare necromantic ritual, and she's now a vampire of the Giovanni clan. She added that her corpse was the only one they could recover a week after the assault on her house. Her parents' corpses were missing. Perhaps the ethereal assailants destroyed them to prevent common necromantic sympathy, a display of expertise in the art.

The name Giovanni comes with baggage and expectations. Catherine's parents, Rudolfo and Lily, were the picture of an upper-middle-class Third Generation American couple with comfortable lives, an ideal nuclear family, and very much living their American Dream in Atlanta. They were also the mortal pawns of undead monsters with a reach spanning the known world, but nobody was perfect. 

 

Unlike many in the dominant Clan of Death, Rudolfo and Lily's regnant - the ancient scholar Marietta - didn't concern herself with the temporal influence many in her clan did. She only cared about artifact acquisitions, how to refine her mastery of Necromancy, and learning more about what was behind the shroud, ironically behaving much like her old parent clan. Rudolfo was a shrewd businessman - useful for the yearly family tributaries - however, he also had a knack for acquiring genuine occult antiques. The latter part was what Marietta prized him highly for. 

 

Catherine had her suspicions about the family trade since her younger age - call it through her instincts - but she grew more curious about the hidden world instead of rationalizing what she saw. She exhibited signs of a talent for Necromancy early - her first glimpse of the Shadowlands was when her primary school teacher had a heart attack at school - and she had been honing her understandings since. 

 

The Proxy Kiss happened in the last year of Catherine's high school when her father and mother took her to Venice to see the extended family. Great (great-great-great-) Aunt Marietta heard about young Giovanni's budding talent in Necromancy and wanted a first-hand look. The visit ended with Marietta becoming Catherine's regnant and her official induction into the family business, a long payoff for her lifelong suspicions. 

 

When they returned to Atlanta, Rudolfo wasted little time bringing their daughter up to speed in the Cainites of Atlanta, who to approach and (more likely) who to avoid. The head of the local vampire government - the Prince, as she found out later - is James Hodge, a Civil War Army Colonel in his living days. He's pleasant enough in public but has an explosive temper in private, a warning Rudolfo quickly gives. His ruling body is composed of Primogens - among them was his wife - who regulated the night-to-night policies and who could conduct business in what place. He advised Catherine to talk to them in a pinch instead of the Prince. 

 

The business, Rudolfo elaborated, also included those among their extended family. Like many cities in North America, the Giovanni family maintained significant dealings among the populace. Rudolfo wasn't the only Giovanni with a "work permit," as he called it. However, he told Catherine not to grow too close with this "uncle."

 

The Giovanni family might be competitive with outsiders, but they're also competitive with those among their extended family, and many are bitter rivalries. Lorenzo Giovanni is another one who received the Proxy Kiss, but he's an old soul. It wasn't the Proxy Kiss when he received it - only the pragmatic uplifting of servants - and he grew powerful in prestige and personal powers ever since. 

 

Lorenzo has his regnant to serve, and his rivalry with Rudolfo has roots in the relationship of their masters. Annika Giovanni is Lorenzo's regnant. She and Marietta were sisters in their mortal days and brood mates in death, but their relationship is anything but amicable. Unlike her apolitical sister, Annika is ambitious. She wanted eternal security for her place among the anziani. Powers among the mortals are not enough to command respect from everyone in the clan, so Annika amasses mystical powers as well, including taking what her sister covets. 

 

Beneath the surface, Atlanta hosts a significant population of dearly-departed shadows. Ghosts roam many of the city's corners, and there are rumors among the supernaturals about another city - a dark mirror Necropolis - on the other side of the shroud populated with shades of all shapes and sizes. Naturally, the Giovanni family is well aware of this information, and the city hosts an unusual amount of deathly-resonant objects. The masters tasked their ghouls to collect the most powerful among them, and they clashed often. 

 

Despite all of those, Catherine saw little of the hostilities in the first years of her service to her regnant. She attended college, read the Necromantic texts her regnant sent her to continue her training, and assisted her father in acquiring artifacts through her connections on campus. 

The last one was a prelude to tragedy, but Catherine had no way of knowing that.

 

One of the artifacts her father acquired with her assistance was exceptionally valuable, enough that Annika was furious that it fell to her sister. She implored her ghoul to remove the obstacle no matter the method, and Lorenzo took it to heart. 

 

One day, Catherine went home to a peculiar sight. She saw a few wraiths crossed over to the material inside her house, assaulting her parents with dread powers. Catherine tried to interfere, but a man put a stop to that. She never caught his face, but she saw the gun he pulled. Before she could retaliate - the man was supernaturally fast - he riddled her with bullet holes. 

 

Catherine Giovanni died there, but as it turns out, her story's not finished just yet. 

 

She couldn't quite remember anything clearly after she crossed over to the other side, but she could recall several curious sights. She remembers derelict structures and spires without a roof. She recalls faces, nightmarish yet beautiful, greeting her in what appears to be her new resting place. All are vague memories, but the pictures are strangely vivid.

 

Her next memory is staring face-to-face with her master, though she's her sire now. Marietta explained that she embraced her through the shroud with a rare necromantic ritual, and she's now a vampire of the Giovanni clan. She added that her corpse was the only one they could recover a week after the assault on her house. Her parents' corpses were missing. Perhaps the ethereal assailants destroyed them to prevent common necromantic sympathy, a display of expertise in the art.