Blood of Kings
The Blood of Kings is a Lodge of the Ivory Claws.
Overview
The Ivory Claws never let the other Pure Tribes forget that the Tzuumfin human bloodlines descend from human royalty - they truly are the tribe of kings. The most ancient legends of the Uratha describe a prehistoric world in which spirits and others ruled over humans. The Blood of Kings lodge claims to consist primarily of those werewolves whose blood can be traced to the most ancient of kings.
In order to be eligible to join the Blood of Kings, the Uratha must have proof that she descends from true royalty - not the debased royalty that dodders its way through ceremonies in modern Europe, but real royalty, kings and queens who led nations to war, whose word could mean death to any mortal in their kingdom. This proof may come through a well-documented family tree (many of the Ivory Claws' loremasters come from the Blood of Kings, and the tribal propensity toward obsessive-compulsive disorder occasionally manifests itself in the ability to recite hundreds of years of descent). The proof might also come in the form of an artifact that no one but a legitimate descendant would own, or secret knowledge only passed from parent to child in that line.
In game terms, the character must have the Strong Bloodline Merit or otherwise justify such a bloodline with a Storyteller-approved combination of the Resources, Status, Retainer and/or Allies Merits.
Members of the Blood of Kings spend their time congratulating one another on their lofty status, and serving as the guardians of the tribe's most lofty ideals. When the lodge members aren't doing that - which is to say, most of the time - they serve as an investment group and a classic "old boys' network." Some members of the Blood of Kings insinuate themselves into government bodies, as well - though never in clerical or menial jobs. In a rural county, one might get himself elected sheriff, while in a city another might get himself elected to the city council. These are people with power, and the natural arrogance of a top predator that lets them sling that power around casually.
Game Mechanics
The following are an overview of the game mechanics.
Prerequisites
The characters must be able to prove descent from royal blood.
Benefits
The character halves the experience cost to improve the Resources Merit due to his inclusion in a club of the wealthy and powerful. The character's cultivation of the arrogance of wealth and power reduces the cost of Politics, Intimidation, Persuasion, Socialize and Subterfuge all from (3x current value) to (2x current value). Membership in the Blood of Kings provides no supernatural benefits.