The Deveroux Building - Board Room - Ventrue Clan Meeting

Cat arrives at the building and informs security of her visitors. She instructs security to escort visitors up to the Board room. Any problems to call the phone in the Board Room.

She sets up the board room with pads of paper, pens, pencils and a jug of water. She takes a seat at the head of the table and her ghoul takes a seat next to her ready to take notes.

She waits for the other clan members to arrive.

Sechenal Paul Catsgrace arrives first. Followed by Clarissa Bingleton.
It appears the town members will attend. Mako Hukami arrives. Tomas Kiearra arrives.
Unless otherwise notified Jerome arrives with his ghoul Isabel.
Shortly before it is to start, Justin Diamond also arrives. He smiles at Senchenal Catsgrace, who scowls in return.

"Sorry, I just arrived back in town, and heard this was the place to be." He is African, tall and expensively dressed.

"Ok lets begin. Now I know we have not had a meeting for some time. This is laregly because of the split within the domain. However as a clan we will not be splitting. The Ventrue shall remain united accross the town and city. This gives us an upper hand on the other clans who are splitting between the two. This only causes one major problem. My time. I dont expect the situation to arise often where I am needed in both places. However to combat this I will be promoting someone to clan whip. This person is not decided yet, but it should be done soon."

She pauses

"During this meeting I would just like to remind you of a quote by Oscar Wilde, "The worst question is the question you wished you had asked.""

She pauses again breifly.

"Ok our first point of business is the Clan Bank account. We have a rather large amount in the account and I think perhaps we should start doing something with this. A clan owned company seems the best option in my mind. I have a few ideas but was wondering if any of you have Ideas?"

"May I make a suggestion on the account?"

[Jerome rises from his seat.]

"Perhaps it is not just one large corporation we should set up, but several smaller ones with more utility than one behemoth. For instance a law firm, for protection the other companies. A body guard and security company to secure all of our Clans locations. A small city wide shipping company to move important material and other assets these are the types of things we need not some financial juggernaut that is only going to bring in more useless money."

Justin Diamond intervenes, "Useless money? Hardly. It's what makes the world go round. Though your ideas have merit, and other clans might be interested in their services as well. Though if not making money is the goal, might I suggest a non-profit organization, they can be tax free. Though I'm not sure how squandering what we have garnered is prudent, sure if we have alot of money we could afford to regard it as useless, but once we actually need money, then that luxary tends to disapear. We should invest it, if it isn't invested, true, but only if we have something we really agree would be benificial and then their is the risky high yield vs low yeild and steady."

Senchenal Catsgrace says, "Perhaps we should see what the city needs, and fill that need. Much like Mr. Diamond did with the zoo. Perhaps we would even be granted a boon like he was."

Mako Hukami says, "Perhaps Jerome has the right idea, the services, those who are ignored by the masses, can see and hear much, perhaps we should invest in sewer workers, it might give us an edge on the Nosferatu if we ghouled a few for information gathering and other purposes. Bellhops, maids. Those who are seen but not heard tend to hear much themselves."

Tomas Kiearra says, "Perhaps we should look into non main stream religious institutions. Or cults as it were. If we ghoul their leader, we would have a group of followers, which could possibly be armed, and utilized for our own purposes. If anything goes wrong, well, it was just some crazy cult after all."

Clarissa Bingleton says, "Perhaps a newspaper of our own. We could slant the news in our favor. Those who control the media..."

Cat sits back in her seat and puts her hands together. She looks at Justin Diamond

"Mr Diamond, a non profit organisation is a good idea. However appart from being a tax haven for applicable companys holds little use. Jerome was thinking along the same lines I was. However I visioned setting up an umbrella corp to make control easier. Under that we buy out or create several new companys. Jerome good idea on the law firm, however do we need one that compeates with Deveroux finance & Legal? Surely my company allready provides that service. I will admit your body guard idea has surpised me somewhat. I did have an idea of a security company, but body guards can be incorporated in that."

She looks at Seneshal Catsgrace

"Very good idea, however it needs to be something thats going to give the clan influence as well. Spending millions for a boon from the prince is not worth it, when we, as a clan can manipulate events and force the princes hand into giving us one..."

She looks towards Mako

"Lets call ghouling sewer workers topic b" She smiles at him

She looks at Tomas

"Again lets call that topic B. It doesnt really require the ventrue bank account but we will get to that topic in a bit. Good point from both of you" She smiles at them kindly.

She pauses for a breif moment

"I was thinking we would create Ventrue corp, the board of directors? Us... Under Ventrue corp we create several sub companys. The first three I had in mind was.... A Hospital, Security company and a cleaning company. All three give us some influence and sources of information."

Mr. Diamond, says, "It also can grant the good will of large segments of the populous...but touche."
The Senchenal says, "I wouldn't recommend trying to force the Prince into anything. She is rather insightful and vindictive when she percieves others are taking advantage of her generosity."

They nod in thanks.

Clarissa says, "I noticed you didn't say anything about my idea." She pauses, "An umbrella corporation, sure, Ventrue corp...of course that doesn't at all threaten the Masqurede, let's put the name of one of our clans on the side of billboards, it's not like their are thousands of geeks out there who might start search engining the name." She says somewhat sarcastically.

"Sorry Clarissa, I did mean to come to you. A newspaper is a good idea. One of the existing ones I would thing. As for the name Ventrue corp is meerly an example. I wouldnt wish to advertise our clans Interests. The name is open to suggestions. I had not put any thoughts into it in fairness."

The Senchenal raises an eyebrow at Clarissa and scowls...playfully. (a fairly rare sight)
Seeming appeased, she says,
"Of course. That makes sense." She thinks for a moment, "What about...Carthagos Incorporated? I believe Carthagos is the old form of Carthage, which tends to be used for meaning like an exalted or special place in our society, so why not our Corporation to be such a place?"

Mako says, "Hai, this sounds like a good idea. It respects our past, while not giving away too much of our culture to the outside world."

Mr. Diamond says, "I've no objections."
Tomas says, "I'd say it might be a good idea, as long as it doesn't offend any of the old timers."
The Senchenal thinks, ..."It has possibiities. What do you think?" He asks Catherine.

"Carthagos Incorporated it is..." She looks at her ghoul... "Can you see the company name is registered as a private limited company, we will all be hiding our names on the board. Set up the company just dont connect it with ourselves."

She pauses before moving on

"The second order of business... As well as appointing a clan whip I will also be appointing a clan scribe. To make notes of what influence we all have as individuals. It seems we can help each other alot with personal intersets and knowing where we all have influence gives us a better advantage on clan projects. Anyone have any objections to this?"

Emily says, "Of course, I'll get on that right away."

Mr. Diamond says, "Well, I do have a question, ...is this general information, and who will have acess to it? We all have long memories, and our famed clan unity aside, there are sometimes personal vendettas members may have which such information could be used against us." He says staring at the Senchenal.

"What are you implying?" Senchenal Catsgrace growls.
"Just that I know you have something against me for whatever reason, I suppose because I was sired before you, and have been at times uncharitcteristically irrational towards me. I don't know why, we are basically brothers after all. Unless your somehow jealous that he embraced me first, and think therefore you can never surpass me?"

"You..." He wrings his hands.
"Stop this. Enough. Let us put our famed clan unity back on the table. I believe we all have enough honor here to not use what is for clan purposes in personal vendetta yes?" He looks at both of them.
"I have no problem with him." Justin says.
"I can, I assure you, refrain from doing so, it would be too easy anyway. If I am to prove myself as you put it, it would have to be by my own merit, not stealing from the information pot."
They both sit back down, without realizing they had been standing.

Cat lets the argument continue for a short while before raising a hand indicating she wants silence.

"Gentlemen, it will be information open to the clan. However if someone registers a ghoul with our scribe, that ghoul is off limits. Should anyone feel the need to attack another clan members personal holdings they will quickly find the board against them.... I doubt any individual could fend off attacks on all of their holdings. However what you disclose is up to you. But remember, if you dont tell us they dont fall under our protection."

She sits back in her seat again and looks at the pair for a few seconds and smiles. She speaks very kindly to the two "Neither of you have met my sire. Well as far as I am aware. I believe you all know who my sire actually is. I am lucky to be an only childe. However we dont see eye to eye all of the time. However whatever disagreements we may have we both understand that united we stand strong. Divided we fall. Have a bit of courtesy for each other, try being polite. Being polite gets you further than people actually realise. After some time of being polite you will forget why you never used to get along. Try it, it might work."

The Senchenal says,
"Hold on there. If someone has a private disagreement with someone else, and they don't use the information from the collective pot, I don't see why they should be penalized if they manage to discover such information on their own, and wreak a little havoc."

Justin says, "Because as she is saying, we are stronger together than apart, a house divided soon falls. Whatever your issues, let's put them behind us. I'm sure you could be more successful too, if you put a mind to it."
He glares at him. "Find, for the interest of the clan, while I remain in this city, you have nothing to fear,...as long as you don't start it first."
"Agreed."
Mako says, "About time. You are wise lady."

She Smiles at Mako. "I was a big fan of lincoln. I would say he is somewhat of an idol."

"Ok that nicely leads into other points. Now its safe to say the citys top business men and women are currently sat around this table. But there are areas of influence we dont cover. Such as cults..... I see little use for them. We can not deny we are all fussy eaters. Finding the correct cult or starting one would be a pain for all of us. However they have their uses."

She looks at the seneshal

"Do we have any Setites in the city right now?"

"May I interject for a moment? I mean no offense Catherine but a umbrella corp is a bad idea, that leaves one big target for a Setite or Giovanni to attack. Splintered no associated companies have a better chance of being over looked."

The Senchenal clears his throat,
"Of course, in the town, there is Kal Vek, the Elysium Keeper. I believe their is a non affiliated Setite known as Lady Miska in the town as well, who controls the gang known as the Raptors, which are situated in a werehouse which is in the slums.
In the city itself? I believe there is Honorable Giovanni. He was rather deftly stolen from the ranks of the Giovanni and embraced by the Followers of Set many years ago, when they realized the possible usefullness of such a move. I'm uncertain as to any others."

"It may be large, but it also may be powerful. Sure if enough little things attack a big, it may bring it down, but one or two little thing, could be squashed by big." Mako says.

"I am simply implieing that we should not put all of our eggs into one basket. Though smaller company's can be bought out and such they also cost less to maintain and rebuild. And if we do the books right they will be bypassed by people looking for our workings with in the city."

"Jerome Son makes sense in this regard", Mako says. "Perhaps less a over arching corporation, as a shadow corporation connecting beneath, much like a fungus would."

Jerome silently nods in agreement.

Clarissa says, "Let's not be hasty, perhaps both. Why not give them a target, while the real deal exists beneath the surface?"

"A decoy company could be a smart investment, yes."