Lasombra Revisionism
**of Note**
Ventrue historians have not always held a negative view of the Lasombra. In fact, until the formation of the Sabbat, the Ventrue had little to say about the clan for good or ill. Only in the past five centuries or so have historians begun to “find” evidence of Lasombra perfidy through the ages. Now, many Ventrue — even those old enough to know better or young enough to be otherwise apathetic — believe that the Lasombra have been a constant thorn in the Ventrue’s side ever since the nights of the First City.
In fact, despite being competitors for eons, the Ventrue and Lasombra did not come into outright, clanwide conflict until the formation of the Sabbat. Since then, both sides have developed rather radical views of one another. The Ventrue see their shadowy kinfolk as obsessively jealous, consumed with a desire to replace Caine’s chosen clan as leaders of the Kindred. As far as many Ventrue are concerned, the entire Sabbat and all the conflicts that have resulted are a personal attack upon them by the Lasombra.
The reality of the situation is that the Ventrue collective ego cannot stand the fact that the Lasombra do not acknowledge the genius of their creation: the Camarilla. Moreover, the idea that the “distant second” clan would dare to oppose Ventrue domain in politics, money and other areas of mortal influence galls the Blue Bloods. What right do the Lasombra have to claim such authority for themselves? Moreover, how coarse are they in their methods? The brutal, Masquerade-endangering Sabbat is a threat to all Kindred. How could any would-be leaders risk another Inquisition willfully? Many Ventrue feel that jealousy has driven the Lasombra mad, and that the Lasombra are best destroyed like rabid beasts if they cannot be brought to heel.
Camilla and Lysander had entreated many clans and Kindred to destroy Carthage. Here again, the young and radical seemed bent on threatening the established Kindred. Unity was the answer Hardestadt gave.
The Camarilla’s creation in 1450 and its history are well known. What few realize, however, is that Hardestadt took this opportunity to centralize the Ventrue clan as well. Some say that Lysander himself helped guide Hardestadt for this coup, although no one can confirm reports of sightings of the ancient warrior then or since. Hardestadt must have had him and Camilla in mind, though, since the Ventrue hierarchy he proposed showed more than a few signs of Clanbook: Ventrue classical inspiration. Hardestadt recreated the council of peers that Camilla had begun at the turn of the previous millennium. He and about two dozen respected or influential Ventrue agreed to the charter of the Council of Ephors to counsel individual Ventrue and to provide a forum for grievances (theoretically) free from regional bias. By agreement, these ephors, also called directors, would keep their identities a secret so that no one personality overshadowed the authority of the council as a whole.