NPC: Philip Maldonato
Role: Seneschal to Vidal
Clan: Mekhet
Covenant: Lancea Sanctum
Apparent Age: Early 40's
Perhaps the only vampire in New Orleans who is under more pressure than Vidal, Philip has borne the brunt of the responsibility of the domain, especially when it came to cleaning up the Prince's political messes or image, and as Vidal grows more and more erratic in his behavior his loyal Seneschal must work harder and harder to keeps things from coming apart at the seams.
Maldonato being loyal and a spiritual anchor to Vidal is a role he takes very seriously. What began as a casual alliance, back before they traveled to America. During the chaos of the Seven Years War, rival Kindred tracked Maldonato to Cordoba and set up what amounted to a dragnet that would have ensnared its target before he could escape the city. Vidal aided Maldonado's disappearance. When Vidal left for Louisiana shortly thereafter, a grateful Maldonato proudly accompanied him and has neither lost that loyalty nor left his service to Vidal. Maldonato believes he owes his unlife to Vidal, and that fact has shaped most of their history together.
Philip feels guilty about not wanting to rule the Domain in Vidal's absence but he cannot don the mantle of Prince under any circumstances. He fears even he is causing Vidal troubles in most recent nights, Maldonato recently sent word to his contacts within the Mekhet clan, asking for assistance from the Agonistes bloodline, who are famed for their ability to facilitate the transition to and from torpor. He feels that this would be helpful to Vidal, but he has not as yet told Vidal the visitor is coming because he doesn't know how to Vidal will respond to this news.
Unbenouced to Maldonato, his invitation while honorable, was changed by his contacts in the Old World, and that the person who has arrived to help is not an agonistes, but is actually a Judge form the Sons of Khalil. Depending upon what the Judge sees the domain and the embattled Prince, Maldonato may have just signed Vidal's death warrant.
Maldonato is noted to greet visitors and take meetings in exquisite custom-tailored suits in muted tones. In private, Maldonato is a child of tradition who prefers loose fitting clothes of his mortal life, and typically walks around barefoot so that he may always feel the ground beneath his feet.