“I am no one’s Lord“, he proclaims when he is referred to as such. Mikhail Sauromatos, young head and founder of House Sauromatos, is arguably one of the most respected authorities on vampyric subcultures in Germany. We spoke with him for Black Rose Society about himself, his view on vampyric elites and the role of the largely mysterious vampire clans, houses and covens in the society of real vampires. The name and decorum suggests them to be hierarchical, highly stratified organizations, with self-styled vampiric leaders or elders lording over and attended by orders and ranks of devoted members. Mikhail Sauromatos disagrees.