Benjamin+Clifford

"This world is a dangerous place. If knowledge is power, then I must learn all I can."

Masquerade: Heir to the Clifford estate, savvy London businessman Requiem: Ambitious would-be mastermind Status: Alive, at the inn in Maynooth Birthdate: December 7, 1788

Benjamin is the first son of Sir Gerald and Lady Alice Clifford. His brother is David, and their oldest sister is Amelia. Timothy Clifford is their deceased youngest brother.

The Cliffords are landed gentry, in possession of an estate near Leeds. They are wealthy and distinguished people, if somewhat irreverent of social norms. Sir Gerald is highly artistic: constantly drawing and singing, a real hit at social gatherings. He has a somewhat eccentric air about him which is mesmerizing to many, but which makes other really wonder about him.

Lady Alice capably manages household affairs and is a solid, sensible woman. She taught Amelia to take charge of the boys, kept older brothers’ mischievous habits in check, and fostered Timothy’s intellectual abilities. Wanting her children to be independent and successful, she invested time and money into her their education, and it paid off. Amelia married an even wealthier man than her father, and Benjamin developed into an excellent heir, with a keen business sense and the wife who everybody else wanted. David… well, David is very much like his father. All the ladies love David.

The Cliffords live in a sort of social limbo: they are not nobility, so their name alone carries little distinction; nor are they of the middle class, since they own land and hold titles. In both settings there is a slight sense of uneasiness about them, but it’s made up for by the fact of their considerable wealth, business-savvy, and influence.

Benjamin is responsible for keeping track of the family holdings. It is actually a somewhat disproportionate amount of responsibility for an heir, but he is up to the task. Outside of rental income at the estate, the family is in possession of a London textile factory, which formerly competed with the Hunt family business. Benjamin has also recently gotten into the world of international trade, something which he hopes will further prosper the Clifford family.

After hearing of Timothy's tragic death, Benjamin began his descent into the World of Darkness. He did things he is not proud of in order to discover the truth and preserve his brother's good name. Having gotten a taste of the viciousness of the supernatural, as well as its potential for battling evil, he feels that he has crossed the Rubicon, and must find a way to survive, and to avenge his brother.

He is married to Rebecca Clifford, the mother of his twins Ronald and Joyce Clifford. He is fiercely protective of them, especially in light of his discovery of the supernatural. Their safety is of the utmost importance to him.