Juan Lorenzo
Height: 6'Weight: 200lbs.
Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Brown
Clan: Tremere
Generation: 9th
Embrace Date: 04 July 1880
Description: Good looking, charming, suave, seductive, and sexy are all words that have been used to describe "The Dragon" Juan Domingo Lorenzo. At the time of his embrace, Juan was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. Embraced with long hair and a full beard, Juan is like many kindred and goes to great lengths to groom himself appropriately. Some might even say he's vain in his attempts to maintain an impeccable appearance. Juan has the ability to make anything he wears look good. He is incredibly flashy, and prone to excess. He makes great first impressions and is known to habitually prepare to meet the expectations of hosts and peers in whatever social occasion he finds himself in. Over the century and a half since his embrace, Juan has accumulated a whose who list of kindred lovers in virtually every city he's occupied. Extremely attractive mortal women are always on display at his havens or any social event he hosts. In Juan's mind, eye candy equals arm candy, and everyone likes candy.
Juan is as smart as he looks and smarter than he acts. He plays up the fact that it's easy to dismiss him as just another cocky, suave playboy. But the simple truth is that he thinks on levels higher and layers deeper than many elders. Ingenious is not a word often associated with Juan Lorenzo, but it should be. He's orchestrated the downfall of nearly every rival or enemy careless enough to slip up and reveal themselves. The Second Inquisition and Anarchs may be new and improved, but they are still miles and centuries behind, "The Dragon."
Brief Bio: Juan's claim to fame is most definitely his actions in New York around the turn of the century leading up to the last 25 or 30 years. He is an incredibly powerful figure in modern nights, and has a longstanding positive relationship with elders in multiple clans, but most notably, Christian Knox who gets all of the credit (or blame) for pushing Dragon forward into the hearts and minds of everyone that would take notice. But that isn't where his story started.
Juan was embraced in El Paso. He was a desperado, a gambler, and a pimp in life. Even as a mortal, Juan had natural charm and wit the likes few had ever seen. He had been eyed for the embrace several times, by Brujah, Toreador, Ventrue, and some say, Lasombra alike. However it all came down to the Tremere, Deborah NicAdams, and a ghoul (now nameless and forgotten) that shot him in the back after getting jealous over the amount of attention he was receiving from his future sire.
Juan turned out to be a very quick learner. He was smarter and more perceptive than he looked. Kindred politics were approached like business transactions. He had a natural flair and ability to impress the harpies, something Clan Tremere desperately needed at the time. Fast tracked for success and prioritized over others far older brought out an arrogant, egotistical, and self righteous streak in him. This was only further enhanced by rapid and continued success. However, despite his meteoric rise, Juan found himself getting bored by the stuffy elders and dust covered books of the chantries and grew restless and rebellious, leading to enough strife that within 20 years of his embrace he'd been sent to Vienna for reprogramming. While his tenure in Vienna calmed him down and gave Juan an appreciation for the long games played by the elders, it never slaked his thirst for more and interest in the forbidden.
When the opportunity to head off to China came up, Juan jumped at it. During his time in Vienna, he had learned of the Kuei-Jin, or Cathayans, and eagerly volunteered. For many, including Juan's sire, this was the end for him, a suicide mission. But that wasn't to be the case. Within a few years, Juan was fluent in Mandarin. He knew enough about history and mythology to understand that the Cathayans were deeply spiritual. They weren't kindred at all, and had far different origin myths. He'd come to the conclusion that the natives were an awful lot more like wraiths and ghosts than western vampires. Wraiths and ghosts were still vulnerable to sorcery. The Giovanni clan had proven that centuries prior. Figuring his magical aptitude was the key, Juan took to the books, absorbing everything he could, while simultaneously focusing on Japanese and Chinese cultures.
Within decades, Juan was considered a powerful and respected enemy of the Kuei-jin. His continued success and mastery of the arts brought him new and higher acclaim. When Japan launched an attack on Pearl Harbor, Juan obviously took the opportunity to raid and sack targeted and observed Cathayan strong points. By the 1960s, he was a noted hunter, a powerful sorcerer, a relic keeper, a historian, and an expert on niche lore. He was simply too valuable to continue risking, and was recalled. Juan got what he craved - success that could be attributed to nobody but himself. He'd succeeded where countless others had failed and it was undeniable. Now a Regent, Juan had broken through to the upper echelons of power within his clan. It was time to see if he could manage in a public situation, under the eyes and ears of kindred that didn't hold the same values as Clan Tremere.
Juan spent a very brief, very fast few years in Los Angeles, refreshing himself on Anarchs and their tactics, while exploiting loopholes here and there to collect and build resources, contacts, and influence that he'd need if he expected to play the game on the elders' terms. When he was ready, Juan relocated to New York. It seemed at first that he'd just blend in and fall off of the radar. Juan's time in China taught him one thing he'd lacked, patience (though it still isn't one of his stronger attributes). In reality, Juan was observing the situation. His first big move was courting the Anarch, Jennifer Clarkson. His influence over her eventually brought her away from the faction and into the Ivory Tower. The two were a hot item for some time.
From there Juan made an impression on the Toreador elders. Over a quick few nights, "The Dragon" revealed himself more than socially adept and quite well versed with what was going on regarding the internal politics of the Clan of Roses. Against the wishes of several of his own clanmates, Juan branched out and helped pick a winner in an ongoing elder feud. The result of which ended up making Nosferatu a bit more welcome in Elysium, a large, public boost for Clan Tremere, and Christian Knox free from his sire's grasp.
After that, there was no stopping Juan Lorenzo's rise. A few had tried, including two former Ventrue Princes. They failed too. The only thing left for him, and easiest way to get rid of him, was to promote Juan further up the chain. When he'd become an Archon, Juan finally settled and slowed his pace. His arrival in San Diego along with other powerful warlocks, presenting a unified front, was...unexpected. Within a year, despite setbacks around the world, Clan Tremere has become the most well entrenched and most powerful clan in the city. The Anarch Revolt has practically had it's back broken and skull crushed before it was even able to make waves in San Diego.
Obviously the Ivory Tower is pleased...
Inventory: A collection of Ford GTs, An original Di Vinci painting as a gift, Tyler Crown on Speed Dial, The rest of Clan Tremere on Speed Dial, The latest Armani wardrobe, A cane sword, A copy of the Book of Nod, Access to the top secret, top secret areas of Tremere Chantries, A yacht in the harbor, & An immediate audience with any kindred he wants in San Diego
Noteworthy Rumors:
-He embraced Lorelei by mistake.
-He has a thing for younger, female Anarchs
-Juan is bored with things being too easy and desperately seeks to provoke the war with the Anarchs.
-He is broodmates with Tyler Crown.
-He is a Nosferatu pawn.
-He is a Toreador pawn.
-Juan has secret connections with Clan Giovanni.
-He secretly supports and advises Team NOS.
-Juan is an enemy of Clan Ventrue.
-Juan is terrified of the Anarchs coming after him.
-He is carefully observing Madisen Tandino because he wants to diablerize her.