Lady Victoria Steele

=• The Princeps Project •= The power is in the blood. Royal blood. The Princeps project has been going on since well before the end of the Holy Roman Empire. It's purpose is to bring the best and brightest of each generation together, to improve physical, mental and magical strength, by concentrating ancient bloodlines. While traditionally this has meant arranged marriages, advances in in-vitro fertilization have allowed surrogacy of ideal matches. Monitoring of current generation subjects continues.

=• Early Life •= Victoria grew up in Mannheim, with frequent visits to family estates in Marseilles, Venice, London and San Fransisco. Life was both easy and pleasant, with education beginning at a young age with family servants as well as familial instruction. All three of the Misses Steeles grew up speaking German, English, French, Italian and Spanish. The only things Victoria remembers being saddening - aside from occasional scoldings and the like - are the often sudden and unexpected business trips that took her Father, mother, or both away for days to weeks. Occasionally, they would return home injured - a car accident, or a bad tumble they'd say.

=• Boarding School & Higher Education •= At age seven, Victoria and her sisters began tutelage at a series of boarding schools in Berlin, Paris, Rome, Madrid and London that were, unknown to her, sponsored by the Templars. While there were several more of the modern aristocratic youth coming up with her, there were also young Americans, as well as a number of students on scholarship from all walks of life - all members of the Princeps Project. To promote sound bodies and minds, extra curricular activities were encouraged, and Victoria pursued fencing, field hockey, football (note: soccer for you colonials) track as well as cross country skiing. Socratic debate, regular dances, speech and diction classes as well as inherent confidence provide students of these schools with excellent interpersonal skills.

University at Cambridge, pursuing an education in classical Archaeology and Anthropology with exemplary marks.

=• A Fedora and Whip •= After University, Victoria's applications for various digs around Egypt, the Mediterranean and Israel were by and large prompted by discreet Templar agents. She was accompanied at all times by at least one combat-trained operative, largely unknown to her, during these excursions. These agents were also, for the most part, to sequester items of arcane power or Secret significance. Her work was exemplary - to the point that she noticed at least some of the missing items.

It was during her third dig, this one in Israel, that the incident that called for her full initiation earlier than anticipated occurred. Upon finding a hidden chamber, Victoria and two colleagues disturbed the rest of a tomb guardian - a traditional Golem - and the construct attempted to end the lives of all three. It succeeded in killing her colleagues - a Dan Fields and Stephen Wright, graduate students - before Victoria was able to erase it's animating spell. (Note: Current educational procedures for Princeps Project parents worked here - subject exhibited minimal cognitive impairment at sudden exposure to Secret World phenomenon)

=• Initiate •= As Victoria was always intended to take up the mantle of Templar, the incident related above led to early induction, rather than memory alteration or cover-up procedures. Her initiation progressed quickly and without incident - formalities being observed and rituals and traditions followed. A return to schooling followed, this time a private Templar academy in the Black Forrest. Here she received her basic training: elementary instruction in small arms, melee and unarmed combat, arcane weaponry, and the basics of both traditional magic and Anima manipulation. The curriculum was tailored to each individual, and Victoria's strengths - fine swordsmanship and the power of her blood - were augmented with small-arms instruction focused on pistols. At the urging of her parents - both Princeps Project subjects themselves - Victoria has applied for assignment to the Scarlet and Cross Institute, and the Scarlet Order that the company is a front for.

=• The perks of nobility •= Wealth hath its privileges. Among them are some of the following:

Arcane charms: Each of these is imbued with a simple summoning spell, allowing Victoria to bring needed items easily to hand. She usually has at least two upon her person at all time, keyed to her preferred weapons - her sword and pistols.

Templar-issue smartphone: All templars  get one. Not all get the Pocket Grimoire app, or the personal numbers of a number of high ranking members. Or police chiefs. get texts about all the best private parties being thrown by the A-list.

Personal blade: An elegant and stylish rapier, precision balanced for her grip and custom forged with fine German steel.

=• Contacts, Acquaintances, Frenemies and Nemesis •= Coming Soon!