Mentor
Ramon bounded through the woods, dropping at times to all fours in his haste. "Tibur! " His voice was raised, but not yet a shout. "Tibur!" His nails gouged the soil, sending tiny showers of dirt into the evening air. "Please, sire, I need your help! Tibur, are you here?"
At last he was answered by a voice that seemed to well up out of the earth, a voice with the growl of a bear and the age of worn stone. "I am here, Ramon. What would you know? Speak quickly, for I am hungry and would hunt."
This Trait represents an elder - or possibly even more than one - who looks out for you, offering guidance or aid once in a while. A mentor may be powerful, but his power need not be direct. Depending on the number of dots in this Background, your mentor might be nothing more than a vampire with a remarkable information network, or might be a centuries-old creature with tremendous influence and supernatural power. He may offer advice, speak to the prince (or archbishop) on your behalf, steer other elders clear of you or warn you when you're walking into situations you don't understand.
Most often your mentor is your sire, but it could well be any Cainite with a passing interest in your well-being. A high Mentor rating could even represent a group of like-minded vampires, such as the elders of the city's Tremere chantry.
Bear in mind that this Trait isn't a "Get out of Jail Free" card; your mentor won't arrive like the cavalry whenever you're endangered. What's more, she might occasionally expect something in return for her patronage (which can lead to a number of interesting stories). A mentor typically remains aloof, giving you useful information or advice out of camaraderie, but
will abandon you without a thought if you prove an unworthy or troublesome "apprentice."
Dot 1 = Mentor is an ancilla of little influence.
Dots 2 = Mentor is respected; an elder, for instance.
Dots 3 = Mentor is heavily influential, such as a member of the primogen.
Dots 4 = Mentor has a great deal of power over the city; a prince or archbishop, for example.
Dots 5 = Mentor is extraordinarily powerful, perhaps even a justicar or Inconnu.
