The Seneschal

The Seneschal is chosen as the Prince's personal aide, the one who knows what is happening at any given moment, and (according to some gossips) the one you must deal with if you want anything done. At any time, the Seneschal may be asked to take the Prince's place if the Prince leaves the city, abdicates, or is assassinated.

While a Prince may want the final word in the appointment, many Primogen councils have fought to ensure a candidate of their choosing is named. If the Prince is seen as weak or unpopular, the struggle becomes even fiercer. After all, accidents happen, the Primogen insist, and it may be best if the next in line is someone less likely to cause trouble. Princes insist the choice is theirs, particularly because the office is highly sensitive.
For most Seneschals, the role can be thankless. It may be seen as a stepping stone toward higher office, but rewards do not always match the drudgery and danger. A Seneschal may be required to act as secretary, information filter, Prince pro tempore, lightning rod, and ambassador or contact point for any new Kindred entering the city. Some Princes assign additional duties, such as attending certain meetings in their name or handling matters they deem beneath direct attention. For a Prince with other concerns (hunters, Setites, or Sabbat), a capable Seneschal can be a gift from heaven. An incompetent one can be a nightmare.
More than one Seneschal has used the role to become the city's best informed Kindred, outmatching even the Harpies. As information filters, some can selectively shape what the Prince does or does not know. Because the Seneschal is often closest to the Prince's ear, they can frame political and business matters however they wish; lies by omission are a common currency of the office.
Selection criteria vary from Prince to Prince and from Primogen council to Primogen council. Some prefer docility over trust, while others value independence and common sense. Few councils allow the Seneschal to come from the same clan as the Prince, seeing it as an invitation to favoritism and disaster.