HORATIO BALLARD
The Old Guard
“Yes, I'm aware of the recent changes in the Directorate's thinking on that matter. Nonetheless, I believe that my plans fall well within acceptable levels of risk.”
Facts at a Glance
View in browserSecret(2)
Rumors suggest Ballard may have facilitated the Lupine attack that killed Prince Lodin.
Motivation(1)
Ballard seeks to become Chicago's wealthiest vampire and transition from 'Kindred ATM' to debt collector.
Vulnerability(2)
Ballard's physical appearance is monstrously corpulent and clearly inhuman.
Ballard's reputation and net worth were severely damaged by the 2008 financial crisis.
Asset(2)
Ballard uses his mortal family as a herd, retainers, and a front for his business.
Ballard controls significant white-collar influence through City CFOs and Ballard Industries.
Alliance(1)
Ballard respects Prince Kevin Jackson and supported his praxis claim.
Conflict(2)
Ballard harbors deep resentment toward the Primogen Council, specifically Annabelle and Critias.
Ballard wishes to see Alan Sovereign and Jason 'Son' Newberry permanently eliminated.
Goal(2)
Ballard is bankrolling 'SchreckNET-lite' projects to create secure, localized Kindred communication networks.
He is investing heavily in the Ferri taxi company to control Kindred transportation.
Quirk(1)
Ballard uses his massive physical size to intimidate mortals and lower-status Kindred.
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Sire-Childe Friction
For decades, Horatio Ballard served his sire and his clan as a source of financial support and mortal political influence — not out of any particular sense of altruism or duty, but because he absolutely feared the sort of vengeance Lodin could bring to bear if he failed to execute the terms of their personal deal as required. Now free of his sire, he seeks to make himself the wealthiest vampire in Chicago, playing the role of debt collector instead of that of a Kindred ATM.
Reinvestment
The situation in Chicago is more fluid and riper for genuine change than it has been since the hour of his Embrace and Horatio Ballard is trying to rebuild his reputation and redevelop a power base, an effort that consumes most of his night-to-night attention.
Embrace Technology
The Camarilla's sudden onset antipathy for modern communication methods in general has licks Embraced in the last century scrambling to find alternatives. Ballard is bankrolling the development of several "SchreckNET-lite" projects intended to offer tightly localized, highly secured online communication options. Being a bit of a relic, he doesn't grasp how dangerous this is and his business partners have lowballed the risk in order to gain his support.
All Night Taxis
Ballard recognizes the need for safe transportation options for Kindred migrating to safer climes and whose business requires regular travel. He's trying to get in with one such service, investing heavily in the Ferri taxi company.
As a general rule, Ballard harbors strongly negative feelings for the members of the Primogen Council. Annabelle has everything he wants in terms of social eminence, which he has never really attained and which she has declined to assist in building. Critias irritates the hell out of him with his more-intellectual-than-thou airs.
If Ballard could arrange for Son and Alan Sovereign to be sealed up together in a 55-gallon drum of cement and dumped in the middle of Lake Michigan, he'd do so in a flat second.
If Ballard could arrange for Son and Alan Sovereign to be sealed up together in a 55-gallon drum of cement and dumped in the middle of Lake Michigan, he'd do so in a flat second.
He genuinely respects the Prince, Kevin Jackson, who much like himself back in the day saw opportunity and seized it. He has no illusions that Jackson respects him in return but at least the Prince doesn't view him as a personal savings fund.
The Giovanni of Boston have approached the Ballards of Chicago about becoming a new minor family of the Hecata. As patriarch of the family, Ballard has to weigh up the cost of assigning his mortal line over to the Clan of Death.