A lesser member of the House of Fabricius, Sir Wendel of Burgundy has spent much of his existence finding ways to be useful to those who hold more status and wealth than he. Since the 10th century his sire, Mabile, the Lady of Mouchard, has been a valued servant of her own sire, Prince Waléran of Poligny, but it is unlikely that she will ever rise higher than her current position of chamberlain. Although his skill at war and the strength of his arm are both undoubted, Wendel’s prospects are even lower. So it was that when his (markedly more prestigious) cousin-in-the-blood, Felix of Vaucluse, offered him a position on the Fourth Cainite Crusade, the younger Ventrue was only too ready to swear loyalty. Along with Sir Tancred, he fell into the position of being Felix’ bodyguard, a role in which he took considerably more pleasure than the Bear. However, as the most experienced campaigner of his coterie, Sir Wendel also tended to plan their military actions as well.

Throughout the course of the pilgrimage, for every step that Sir Felix took down the road of villainy, Sir Wendel was but a moment behind. Upon discreetly examining members of the House of Fabricius at Corfu, neither Drenis nor Lotario Acuto saw the black veins of diablerie in the brute’s aura, but Drenis certainly expressed the opinion that she thought Sir Wendel capable of the heinous deed. Whenever the opportunity presented itself, the brutal knight gleefully sought to loot, pillage, and indulge his baser nature, wantonly killing dozens of people at Zara, Chalcedon and, in particular, Galata. When other more ethically inclined Cainites of the Fourth Crusade cared to point to the worst among the number, Wendel of Burgundy was among the first ones they considered. Indeed, he was a dramatic counterpoint to his comrade-in-arms Tancred, who had conducted himself with restraint and honour throughout the campaign.

When the House of Fabricius were fooled into making a sortie against a bogus treasure ship on the Bosporus, Wendel of Burgundy was present. Ever hungry for battle, blood, and plunder, he was one of the first up the ladders and he fought viciously and well. Of all the Cainites in Felix’ party, Wendel killed the most, including six of the baron’s ghouls and three of the Scholai Guard of the Michaelites. He also sent to the Final Death Paul Tenedos, a member of the Baron’s Gangrel noted for his swordmanship. The Ventrue could well have finished Veceslav Basarab too, if not for the intervention of Francois. The ghoul bought his master precious moments to heal and sprout his claws, allowing the Tzimisce to gain the upper hand.

In short order, the wounded but stubborn Burgundian saw that Felix and the others were fleeing, and he redoubled his efforts to destroy Veceslav so he could join them. In return, the ships defenders closed in on the frustrated Ventrue, and he was soon hopelessly surrounded. The Dread Gaze of Brother Adalbert sent the knight into a panic, thus giving them the opportunity to lay him low. Veceslav demonstrated his contempt for the brute by delivering a bone shattering kick to the Ventrue’s nose, driving him into unconsciousness. Francois then swiftly positioned the stake and immobilised Sir Wendel, taking a powerful supporter of Felix of Vaucluse out of the picture.

After the battle, the Baron’s Gangrel took custody of Sir Wendel and the other captives. Regrettably, like the rest of the prisoners taken that night they chose not to destroy the villain and instead elected held him for future trial before the Quaesitor Tribunal. This proved to be an error on their part, for the detained crusaders were all later liberated by Guy de Provence and his supporters when they stormed the Citadel of Petrion. Unlike the others, however, Sir Wendel was discovered to be in torpor, and after the Great Sack he was given over to his coterie-mate Colard of Parcey.

Sir Wendel would awaken seven years later to find himself greatly indebted to his fellow Burgundian. With nothing of note waiting for him if he returned home, the knight swallowed his pride and entered the service of Colard as the minder of his assets in Constantinople. Otherwise, he seeks to gain wealth and favour with the powers that be in the new Latin order of things. Owing to his past villainy and associations, he found that neither Martin of Toulon nor Vitalis of Asti had any interest in his services, so he has instead sought the employ of Alfonzo of Venice. Since 1214, he has been active among the brute squad of the Lasombra prince, and he uses his new “friends” to make existence difficult for his one-time comrade Tancred, whom both he and Colard suspect of disloyalty to the House of Fabricius.

Embrace: AD 1169.

Lineage: Childe of Mabile, la Dame de Mouchard, childe of Prince Waléran of Poligny, childe of Hagen of Tronege (d), childe of Prince Flavius Seleucus Vesontius of Besançon (d?), childe of Gaius Fabricius, childe of Tinia (d?), childe of Ventrue. Sir Wendel of Burgundy is of the 10th generation.

(d)= Deceased.
(d?)= Propably Deceased.