Roman Zelenka

Portrayed by: Matt Holy

Roman started his vampiric existence as political tool to the Carthian Movement in post-Great War Europe. After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, many smaller nations gained independence, including Roman’s homeland of Czechoslovakia. A politician and economist, Roman found his way into the very first general elections becoming a parliamentary representative for his district of Plzeň.

The Carthian Movement quickly marked him as an asset, using his position and influence to solidify their control of the early Republic until he retired from elected government to be appointed as a financial ministry advisor. After inheriting most of the Austrian Empire’s Industrial base, Czechoslovakia was seeking economic alliances in the new geopolitical structure of Europe, and America made a natural ally. Roman was sent to Chicago.

America had just begun the decline into the Great Depression, and Roman soon found himself wrapped up in the affairs of Chicago directly. Working with the Carthians of Prague and their afterglow of success was one thing, but the Chicago Carthians, under James Milligan, were in their own struggle for equality and self-destiny and Roman was once again earmarked for use. These were the glory-days of the local Movement.

However, likely because Roman’s feet were planted firmly in two different camps - European and American - Milligan never quite brought Roman fully into his inner circle. This decision would eventually push Roman into choosing Prince Farragut as a mentor and taskmaster over the Carthian Regent in later decades.

Disaster struck Roman’s homeland with Nazi Germany and the occupation of Czechoslovakia. The Carthian’s enemies had waited long enough, and using a blitzkrieg of their own systematically attacked many Eastern European strongholds for the Covenant. Roman’s Sire was destroyed in the assaults, along with almost all of Roman’s political influence in the Republic. Suddenly, Chicago became his only home.

During the fifties and early-sixties, Roman would lay low, retaining his financial connections in Chicago but doing little else. He would reemerge in the late-sixties, and hit the ground running back into the political scene directly into the territory of the Invictus Regent, Harrison Whyte.

With Milligan concentrating on running his Regency, and Roman unwilling to ask for his protection, Roman was forced to square off against Whyte on his own. While unable to directly strike back at Whyte, Roman played a political cat and mouse game with the Regent for twelve years while building up his influence in the city. Roman seemed to have a knack for avoiding confrontation, evading more than one social trap set by Whyte with a bit of timely or critical information.

Eventually, Prince Farragut, despite his deeper and deeper withdrawal from direct governing, took notice. Farragut arranged a truce between Regent Whyte and Roman, offering Roman an interesting position. Farragut wished to disentangle himself from mortal shepherding, and was looking for someone to take on the Stewardship of his affairs. Still feeling estranged from Milligan’s Carthians; Roman took the position.

Roman would spend the eighties and early nineties in this role, plying the Prince’s mundane influences in his stead, working directly (and some say spying on) the regents of all five covenants to help keep Chicago running smoothly. His last officially recognized duty in this position would be to lead the argument of which Regency should control Goose Island. While most will grudgingly admit the Carthians were in the best position to take it, some feel Roman pushed for Carthian control as an attempted nod of allegiance toward Milligan and the Covenant.

In the modern nights, Roman still retains the mortal connections he had under Farragut, which comprise a thick cross-section of Chicago life. Most believe Roman to be a free agent of sorts, and Roman has done his best to encourage this. If questioned, Roman claims information is his business now, and indeed there is little in the mundane realm he cannot discover, and he is always willing to pay or trade for a critical or timely piece that has eluded his grasp.

Roman’s current relationship with his Covenant is delicate. He has little interest in blind revolution at this point, being firmly entrenched with the Carthian 'Machine,' not to mention his public relationship with Prince Farragut, which tends to cause conflict with the younger generation in the Movement. This combined with the fact that Roman never fully proclaimed allegiance to Milligan has pushed him to working with Clan Ventrue a bit more closely then perhaps some would prefer.

Roman also acts as the Master of Elysium for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.