House von Runstedt
The most powerful clan in Europe is the von Runstedt bloodline, from Germany. Not as old as the Karpati, Ardisi, or Sibirsky clans, the military of House von Runstedt is considered to be easily stronger than that of any other Great House – but they are surrounded by enemies of their own making. While not a young bloodline, they lack the prestige of age claimed by the oldest of the clans, and this fact alone makes the head of their clan, the Ancient Vampire Ludwig von Runstedt, burn with anger, particularly toward the Karpati.
Centuries younger than the leaders of the older Great Houses, Lord Ludwig von Runstedt is a Captain who contracted vampirism in the late 13th century, but Ludwig nonetheless insists on calling himself an Ancient Vampire.
He is filled with envy toward Oleg Sibirsky, Tamar Ardisi and – most especially – Julianna Karpati, and he is famously misogynistic.
General Moritz von Kessel has led the forces of House von Runstedt against those of House Karpati for centuries.
Capable and disciplined, his focus on logistics, reinforcement, and supply has enabled House von Runstedt to take large swathes of territory since the Upheaval.
Duke Heinrich Schulze has been tasked with taking the rest of France from House Cordova in the west.
Unfortunately for him, Commander Valentina Osorio is making his forces pay with blood for every inch of soil they take, and Ludwig’s patience with his Duke grows thin.
Baron Otto von Manstein is one of Ludwig von Runstedt’s most favoured Captains. He has led their fight against House Matoušek ever since they came in contact, and successfully ousted them from their ancestral home in Bohemian Moravia in the 1830s.
Erhard von Manstein is Otto’s brother. Beyond that, little is known about him, except that he is fanatically loyal to his brother.
Bertrand Vogel is an enigma. He is not a Bureaucrat or a Captain – usually favoured by Ludwig – but instead is an Agent, having strong mutations for both The Dark Within and The Reason Of Madness.
It isn’t known what skills he possesses to have earned Ludwig’s ear, but they must be unique and valuable.