The Prince

In appearance, the Prince is the voice of the Camarilla in the city they rule. In theory the office is more magistrate or overseer than absolute regent, yet it is the Prince who keeps the peace, enacts laws, and does whatever is needed to keep the city ordered and safe from incursions. A Prince's duties are many: diplomat, commander-in-chief, legislator, patron, judge, and guardian of the Traditions. Originally, the title belonged to the strongest vampire in a region who claimed dominion over it. Over time, privileges and obligations were added, either by the ruler's whim or by subjects' demands.

A Prince's "subjects" owe them nothing by default. In truth, once Tradition protocol is observed, most Kindred have many other concerns. A Prince rules only as long as they can maintain order, keep subjects sufficiently wary of their power, and retain elder support. If any of these pillars fails, their reign collapses. If all endure, the city's Kindred can expect a long reign. Elders uphold princely rule in the name of stability; unrest in the streets threatens the Masquerade and can bring Final Death.
A Prince often exerts deep influence over the mortal world to answer threats efficiently. Few dare move openly against someone who can have your phone lines cut "by accident" during gas-line repairs, your power shut down due to a conveniently located "fault," your domains suddenly expropriated and sold to an experimental weapons corporation as a firing range, or your bodyguards arrested on drug charges.
The Prince may create childer freely, while other vampires must request approval to sire. They can extend authority over all who enter their domain, and punish enemies by calling a blood hunt. In Elysium halls, Kindred debate whether the office's privileges outweigh its burdens, yet many seem convinced the city is forever locked in struggle for the throne.