Sir Nicholas Gilbert

• Sir Nicholas
• Gilbert

Background

In life, Sir Nicholas was a wealthy landowner in the South-east of England. Born in 1685, his family had held land in the area since the Norman conquest. Administration of his estates by no means took up the whole of his time and like many other gentlemen of means he indulged himself in private studies, especially in the occult.

Gilbert's marriage in 1708 (aged 23), to a wealthy heiress brought him valuable London property but little happiness. After only two years of marriage, his wife died giving birth to a son. Despite the fact that the marriage had been arranged for profit, Gilbert loved his wife deeply and was distraught at her untimely death. To distract himself from his grief, Gilbert threw himself into the management of his estates and his studies. He corresponded with other scholars across Europe seeking new occult books and information. This attracted the attention of the London Tremere, on the look out for new recruits after their losses during the Ventrue sponsored witch-trials of the previous century.

The Tremere watched Gilbert, guiding his studies and subtly preparing him to join the Clan. However, in 1728 Gilbert was distracted from his pursuit of knowledge. His son was of an age where he needed to be introduced to formal society and Gilbert accompanied him to many of the social functions he had previously preferred to avoid. At one such function, Gilbert met Constance Morley, the youngest daughter of one of the poorer neighbouring families. Constance bore a remarkable resemblance to Gilbert's late wife and he was entranced by her youth and shy manners. His wealth meant that it was not necassary for his wife to bring a great dowry with her and with three other daughters to be provided for, her parents were overjoyed to make such an advantageous connection.

Gilbert abandoned the occult studies with which he had filled his lonely life and devoted himself to his beautiful new wife. His adoration for Constance allowed him to overlook her faults. From early childhood she had been reminded constantly that her only hope for happiness was to ensnare the affection of a wealthy man. Her demure manner and gentle passivity were a cover from behind which she approached the business of marriage with hard-headed practicality. Gilbert's passion registered with her only as an avenue of attack to be exploited to the full.

Perhaps if the marriage had lasted for long, Gilbert would have become aware of Constance's shortcomings. However, the Tremere did not intend to lose one of their brightest pupils. In 1729, only a few months after the marriage, James Neville, a 6th generation Tremere from the London Chantry approached Gilbert and offered him the chance of immortality. Dazzelled by the Tremere's promises, Gilbert consented to the embrace. However, the Tremere had underestimated Gilbert's love for his new wife. Only weeks after his embrace, he visited her in secret, against the wishes of his Sire and revealed his new nature to her. Now they would be together for eternity.

Constance readily agreed to the Embrace. Here, she realised, lay a true escape from the life of dependace and domesticity which she hated. Although Gilbert promised to keep her Embrace secret from his new associates, Constance quickly realised from his descriptions of the Tremere that her existance would not be welcome, nor remain secret for long. Still sweetly submissive, she deferred to Gilbert's judgement, moved to the hiding places he prepared and planned her escape.

Her existance was discovered by the Tremere only weeks after her Embrace. As Gilbert had not been released by his sire, it was upon Neville's head that Dee's fury chiefly fell. It was decided that Constance should be destroyed. Gilbert was Dominated into betraying her location and a group of Dee's ghouls were despatched to kill her.

Constance was able to escape the first attack on her Haven. However, she would almost certainly have been destroyed had she not stumbled upon a pack of Sabbat scouts. A fleeing Tremere neonate was a prize not to be scorned. The pack quickly found and embraced a mortal woman of approximately Constance's age and build. Altering her appearance to match Constance they implanted enough of Constance's memories to mislead her pursuers and allowed her to be captured. Dee's ghouls returned to London with Constance's 'body' while the real Constance was taken to America by her saviours.

Gilbert and his Sire were exiled to the newly growing fief of York by the still infuriated Dee. Here, surprisingly, Gilbert managed to redeem himself. His country gentleman manners and likable personality enabled him to get on well with the Ventrue Prince of the fief. Indeed, Gilbert found that he enjoyed the company of the Ventrue more than his own Clan. However, he knew from experience the anger of the Tremere Clan if crossed by it's members. He ensured that the interests of the Tremere came first but tempered this with his own aims. Several times, he convinced the Chantry in London to abandon plans for Gilbert to sieze control of the York, arguing successfully that his subtle influence gave them as much power as they needed without arousing the wrath of London.

When Gilbert's sire was killed by Lupines, it was deemed suitable that Gilbert should suceed him as head of the Chantry although unusually young for the post. Since then, he has prospered greatly and the Tremere have become indispensible to the fief. Dee and the others in London are pleased with him but are still a little distrustful of his close relationship with the Ventrue of the fief.

As one of the two survivors of the old Council, Gilbert regards himself as slightly senior to the newer members, including his friend Sir John. He hopes that the new Council will be willing to continue smoothly on with the policies of the old. To this end, he tends to side with Thorolf in any disputes. In the matter of the Garou, Gilbert feels that the treaty is a good idea. Breaking it, as suggested by Sir John, would certainly lead to more unpleasantness than it was worth.

As the decades passed, Gilberts memory of his wife's death faded to a distant unpleasentness, not impinging on his current happiness. However, Constance had not forgotten her betrayal by Gilbert, nor the behaviour of the Tremere Clan which had sought to destroy her. As her cold-hearted ruthlessness and determination carried her through the ranks of the Sabbat, she kept one eye on the fortunes of her Sire. Each success in his matching rise through the ranks of the Clan she felt as a personal insult. Constance has waited a long time but finally feels she has found the perfect plan for revenge in the invasion.

Clan

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When dealing with mortals and other Kindred, Gilbert is always courteous and gentlemanly. He is always polite, even to servants, and never raises his voice. His behaviour is especially notable when contrasted to other Tremere, who have a reputation for arrogance and impatience. Indeed, this has lead several of the junior Tremere to underestimate him, to their cost. Gilbert is more abrupt and authoritarian when he is issuing instructions to his underlings. Even then he is not actually rude.

Gilbert is always interested in other people and their interests. He's a very good listener who is knowledgeable about many, varied subjects. He is the sort of person to whom people explain things because he seems so interested. It is rare that the other person notices that Gilbert knows far more than he seems to and has learned much more from them than he has revealed.

Influence

Secrets

Habitat

Ultimate Goal

Immediate Goal

Restore the Chantry.

Keep the fief stable.

Expand his influence in the fief into the areas left vacant by the deaths of the old Primogen members.

Resources