Vani Anand
Vani Anand is a mortal scientist and a member of Kiowa Xenogenetics facility staff who works under a Tremere researcher Invidia Caul. She's one of a number of potential candidates for becoming the Courier's retainer.
Overview
The Courier will meet Vani on their run to deliver a message to Invidia Caul concerning the Final Death of her mentor, Jasper Knowles. Vani will be the one to greet the Courier, although she quickly excuses herself, leaving the Courier to mingle with other scientists in the area. Should the Courier approach Giselle, Vani will appear again and warn them about the witch (with whom she appears to have an overall tense relationship for a very long time).
Vani will also be present, among other scientists and occultists, when Invidia Caul reads the message from Prince Lettow regarding the funding of her research. Depending on whether the Courier succeeded in their actions or not, Vani may be either one of a few, or the sole survivor of Dr. Caul's acidic outburst. She'll also give the Courier a key card that allows more or less free passage around the KXG facility. Note that a certain choice during the negotiations with Dr. Caul can lead to Vani's death: if the Courier decides to help Invidia fake her death, chooses Tremere's garnet ring as a payment and then fails required Composure check, the Courier will then strangle Vani with their own hands.
If Vani survived and the Courier already has a ghoul by the end of the KXG run, they'll get a "politely worded letter" from Vani some time after completing the run, in which Vani informs the Courier that she returned to Los Angeles to perform post-doctorate work in microbiology.
If Vani survived and the Courier has no retainer yet, then Vani will meet them on their way back to Tucson and inform them that she's been "fired". She'll establish a small lab in the city shortly after. Alternatively, if the Courier failed to escape KXG without drawing SI troops' attention, after the run being completed they can go directly to "Anand Biomedical" (simply labeled as "Vani's laboratory").
In order to make Vani their ghoul, the Courier would have to deal with Giselle, who started stalking after Vani some time after she settled down in Tucson (note that certain choices in how to deal with Giselle can end up in a Masquerade breach).
Trivia
- There's an option for the Courier to know Vani before the starter date of November 1. If during the "creation" of a character one would pick a "lot of friends who can help" option (on how to deal with the CR-X), Vani's name will be on the list. Should the Courier make a call to her, Vani would panic and warn them not to call her, for their own good, in such a manner that leaves the Courier speculating on this "mystery".
- Vani's inquisitive and curious to a fault: she sets off to study any effects the Courier's vitae may have on her right after she drank said vitae, and the first thing she does upon discovering Modian's remains is retrieving a stick and poking the said remains with it.
- If the Courier helps Dr. Caul fake her Final Death and then makes Vani their ghoul, some time later Vani will mention that Invidia moved to Seattle to continue her genetic research.
- Sends vampires to solve rent disputes and is entirely oblivious of the consequences (said rent dispute will actually earn the Courier 5,000$).
- Isn't fond of dancing.
- Vani is a romanceable character (and somehow, a date with her can also end up with a Masquerade breach).
- Adopted some of Invidia's mannerism.
- Drives a lemon-yellow Fiat 500.
- Is totally not impressed with Julian.