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The Founders see themselves as the rightful rulers and caretakers of Savannah’s supernatural domain, holding themselves to a strict code inspired by Southern ideals of honor, hierarchy, and loyalty.
Honor and Legacy: Honor is paramount in the Southern Court, as is maintaining a dignified public image. Reputation among their kind is guarded with zeal, and to shame one’s bloodline is to commit a grave sin. Many of these vampires are highly invested in maintaining their family names and estates, seeing them as symbolic of their immortality and status.
Respect for the Hierarchy: Founders believe in strict social structures. From the vampire Prince to lesser members of their court, each knows their place, and the power of one’s lineage is respected and enforced. Those born (or made) into powerful vampire families enjoy privileges that others can only aspire to, and newer vampires often have to prove themselves worthy of acceptance into these ancient lineages.
Preservation of Southern Culture: The Founders cherish Savannah’s Southern culture, believing it to be essential to their identity. They attend (and sometimes host) elite social events like galas, cotillions, and balls, especially those held in Savannah’s historic districts. Their attire, language, and mannerisms reflect a kind of cultivated charm and refinement that echoes the Old South.
Wealth and Land: Founders have a profound connection to the land, particularly the grand plantations that still stand outside Savannah. Many of these plantations were owned by their human families before their transformation, and they see these estates as part of their legacy. The wealth generated from such estates (and modern investments) has become a powerful tool in maintaining control over Savannah’s elite circles and funding the court’s activities. These vampires even use their lands for vampire-exclusive gatherings, sacred rituals, and secret meetings, well-guarded from outsiders.
Code of Secrecy and Control: Above all, secrecy is imperative. Founders are invested in Savannah’s Veil ensuring humans remain blissfully unaware of their existence. Any act that threatens this delicate veil is punished swiftly. Control is everything: of humans, of other supernaturals, and of Savannah itself.
Connection to the Old South and Plantation Culture
Connection to the Old South and Plantation Culture
These vampires retain strong links to the customs and social structures of the Old South, including the tragic and controversial legacies of plantations and slavery. This history shapes much of their worldview and approach to “ruling” the supernatural underworld.
Plantation Culture: The Founders still dwell in plantation homes that have become symbols of their eternal rule. They revere these estates, seeing them as relics of their dominance and longevity. Many of these homes are secluded and fortified, with secrets buried deep within their walls.
Hierarchy Rooted in Old Family Lines: Just as plantation society was ordered by class and race, so is the hierarchy within the Southern Court. The wealthiest and most powerful vampires often descend from founding families of Savannah, imbuing them with both prestige and a sense of racial hierarchy that trickles down through the vampire ranks. They view themselves as the “landowners” of Savannah, ruling over lesser supernatural beings in a manner reminiscent of how their human families once ruled over their estates and servants.
Legacy of Slavery: While the Southern Court’s vampires distance themselves from modern morality, they are haunted by the history of slavery, which some see as part of their legacy. In their minds, their roles as rulers over both human and supernatural “servants” are justified, viewing it as part of their “natural order.” This belief is a source of friction with progressive vampires, such as the Newcomers, who see this attitude as archaic and ethically troubling.
Cultural Practices and Code of Conduct
Cultural Practices and Code of Conduct
The “Southern Gentleman/Lady” Code: There is a performative elegance to everything a Founders does. Kindness is a mask; charm is a weapon. They are always courteous and polite on the surface, and this decorum is observed even among enemies.
Blood Debts and Fealty: Much like the patronage systems of the past, the Southern Court operates on a system of debts and fealty. Those taken under a patron’s “protection” owe their loyalty in perpetuity, and disputes are often settled by invoking such blood debts. This reinforces loyalty and ensures stability among their ranks.
Ceremonial Gatherings: The Southern Court holds ceremonies to honor their history and the city’s legacy. Annual events take place in sites with historical significance, often under the guise of charity galas or socialite events attended by Savannah’s elite. Here, the Founders ensure their influence in society while keeping a watchful eye on the human elite and other supernatural groups.
The Legacy of Noble Jones and the Lincoln Assassination
The Legacy of Noble Jones and the Lincoln Assassination
Noble Jones, the revered Prince of Savannah, shaped the Southern Court’s modern structure and was a symbol of Southern aristocracy. The controversy surrounding the Lincoln assassination, attributed to vampire agents, deeply fractured the vampire community. Following the Prince’s mysterious retreat into torpor, his Childe took over, shifting the court’s values towards more radical views.
Many conservative Founders saw this change as a betrayal of their heritage, leading to internal strife. The Newcomers seized upon this weakness, further destabilizing the court and contributing to the modern tension between the old Southern aristocracy and Savannah’s new supernatural elements.
Noble Jones
Noble Jones
First Prince of the Southern Court (Torpor)
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