Toying around with the idea of...

[Korgin]

A certain plotline. The majority of it hinges on just how much any interested parties know about Vampire the Masquerade, or, barring that, atleast about the Thirteen main clans of Vampires, Assamite, Brujah, Gangrel, Giovanni, Followers of Set, Lasombra, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Ravnos, Toreador, Tremere, Tzmisce and Ventrue.

What i had in mind was a World of Darkness style setting in England set around 1888....yeah for those who are unaware, that would be the time frame Jack the Ripper was out and about. Towards the end of his five accepted murders as a matter of fact, however, what if they didn't stop in November of 1888, and what if a Vampire was doing it all. The murders stop in England, November, 1888, yet start up again in the United States in 1890, the same modus operandi as the murders in England.

Without going too much into what i have planned, the Sabbat, Camarilla, and Anarchs have recognized the style of the murders that took place and are taking place as the work of a Clan long thought exterminated. What's worse, the murders are attracting the attention of...something that has been sleeping in England. The kindred are putting aside their hatred to stop this greater threat, both to the Masquerade as well as existance in general. To make matters worse, the stirrings have attracted the attention of Lupines in the area, who don't care if any Kine are trying to stop the murderer.


Mori raised a good point and i looked into the legalise of doing this, and here it is:

<a href="http://www.white-wolf.com/legalize.html" target="_blank">Copyright White Wolf Publishing, Inc.</a>


For the White Wolf publishing site if people want to look into purchasing books of their own.

www.white-wolf.com

[Moridanu]

I freakin love it Zimako!

SEE??!! YOU CAN USE YOUR POWER FOR GOOD INSTEAD OF EVIL!!!

I knew you had it in you! Im in.. soooooooooooo freaking in.. I dont know much about all the vampire stuff you mentioned so if thats a pre req then Im out, BUT I do have experience roleplaying vamps over ten years and.. plus.. its MOI.. *bats lashes* you know you want me *purrs* ;D

so yeah.. I'm in.

[Elaine of Astolat]

*dusts off her table top rp character's from White Wolf & starts rifling through who she might want to play* i'd love to join this plot when it's up & running, it sounds like it's going to be a good run! n' i've always wanted to try Vampire in the Victorian age.

[Korgin]

Knowledge of the vampires isn't going to be a pre req if you don't know, if i can get people interested i can post the blurb the core rule books have about the 13 clans, The Sabbat, the Anarchs and the Camarilla on here.

[Korgin]

Keep in mind, this, and the following blurbs will be taken directly from the Core rules for VtM to give you an idea on the Vampires.

From the desert wastes of the East come the Assamites, and they bring with them a Miasma of terror. The Assamites are known throught Vampire societies as a clan of murderous assassins working for whoever can pay their price. The price they charge for their work is the vitae of other Kindred, for the Assamites diablerie is the greatest sacrement.

Assamites tend to avoid the affairs of the Camarilla and the Sabbat, working for either or both sides in persuit of their goals. They do circulate among the sect-held cities; other Kindred find them useful for slaying rivals, enforcing blood hunts, scourging undesirable childer, and infiltrating rival's power bases. However, assamites rarely form true alliances with other Kindred for they consider other Children of Caine to be of inferior stock. Unlike the other clans, the Assamites do not claim to have a founder of the Third Generation. Rather, they believe their founder to be a member of the Second Generation, making all other Cainintes flawed copies of themselves.

In nights prior to the formation of the Camarilla nd the Sabbat, the Assamites practiced diablerie widely, always looking to bring themselves closer to 'The One' as they refered to their mythical founder. Ast he Anarch Revolt ensued, and the Sabbat and Camarilla rose frm the ashes many powerful elders grew uneasy at the cannibal assassins stalking their ranks. Calling upon the Tremere to curse the Assamites blood, the Camarilla have placed a yoke upon the clan that rendered it's members unable to consume the Vitae of other Kindred. Unable to face the unified front the Camarilla represented, the Assamites submitted to this indignity. Those few who did not accept the curse went into hiding and joined the Sabbat.

Those who deal regularly with the Assamites have sensed great upheaval among the clan. The greatest sign of this is the clan's recent circumvention of the Tremere blood curse. Freed from the mystic shackles preventing it from engaging in Diablerie, the clan has begun a campaign of murder and cannibalism once again. Assamites now kill other Kindred without provocation - Indeed without sanctioned contracts.

The clan as a whole has assumed more a more aggressive disposition. Whereas once the Assamites would take no further contracts on a victim who bested their assassins the clan may now pursue that victim, and often does with unparalleled fervor.

Assamites tend to dress stylishly but practically. Aquiline noses, dark hair and slim graceful builgds dominate the clan's membership, though African members obviously bear more Nubian characteristics. Recently, a number of Westerners have been introduced into the clan though they are int he minority. These individuals may have almost any appearance, as they are chosen for their skill, not looks. Also, Assamites' skin grows darker as they age (as opposed to other vampires whose skin grows paler with age); paticularly ancient Assamites are almost ebony in complexion


For those who don't know, Diablerie is the act of a vampire draining another vampire completely free of Vitae, killing him, to gain a fraction of knowledge that vampire held. The above, and following are going to be brief almost word for word descriptions on the clans.

[Korgin]

Clan Brujah is largely composed of rebels, both with and without causes. Individualistic, outspoken, and Turbulent. Brujah hold social change near to their undead hearts and the clan's ranks contain some of the most violent Kindred. Most other vampires percieve the Brujah as nothing more than Punks and Miscreants, but the truth of the matter is that genuine passion lies behind their polemics.

Brujah Kindred adopt pet passions and causes, which they support with olume and vitriol. Some Brujah follow charismatic members of their clan, while others prefer stances of blatant, defiant individualism. The clan claims a history rich with warior-poets, and it has adopted this concept into the modern night; many Brujah are glad to have an opportunity to speak their minds then induldge in a bit of destruction afterword to illustrate their points.

The Rabble's espousal of change unites them, albeit tenuously, in their nightly Crusades. Given a common enemy, Brujah with vastly differing ideals with join side by side to oppose their foe. After that foe is defeated however, all bets are off and it's back to buisness as usual. A common Brujah theme involves the foundation of a Kindred 'Utopia' or the crecreation of a mythical one from Nights past, though each Brujah vampire has a differant idea of what that Utopia is.

Brujah rely on chaotic behavior and upheaval to get their ideas across and the Rabble are allowed a certain leeway that other clans do not have. In fact, Brujah are almost expected to be incoherent and bellicose; this sterotype works to the advantage of many eloquent, well spoken members of the clan, who have no need to resort to violence when making their arguments.


Brujah vary widely in appearance, though many adopt radical styles and bold looks. If dismissive stereotypes are to be believed, the typical Brujah wears a biker jacket, tattered jeans, combat boots, and a fearsome array of high-maintenance hair. In truth, few Brujah fit this image. Youthful, fashion-forward dress and notworthy hairstyles are indeed found among many Brujah, but others favor tasteful wardrobes that encourage others to take them seriously. In the end, a Brujah's appearance often suggests his attitudes. A skinhead bravo is likely an open rebel or anarchist, while a bespecaled pedant in a tweed suit is probably a revormationist or liberal. It should be noted, however that given the Brujah penchant for nonconformity, any assumption of ideals based on appearance could be potentially dangerous. Brujah look how they want.

Keep in mind, that the above appearance description is for a modern night Brujah, i don't think a victorian age Brujah would wear a biker jacket, tattered jeans and combat boots, or wild hair styles.

[Korgin]

The followers of Set, more commonly referred to as "Settites" are mistrusted perhaps more than any other clan Their ties with the archetypal Serpant of myth are well known and bolstered by their disturbing powers. They are custodians of knowledge that, according to their claims, predates even the First City. When they enter a city, the Cainite power structure almost inevitably erodes. But most unnerving of all, they share a dark and powerful faith as a clan - a faith that the blood of gods pulses in their cold veins.

Of course, the clan's very name is proof of such faith. According to most Setites their clan founder was none other than the dark god of ancient Egypt, a hunter without equal in the desert night. Other tales state that Set was an Antediluvian - at least - who enshrined himself as a god among the Egyptians. In either case, Set's rule went unquestioned until he was challenged by a being named Osiris - whom some call a Vampire, and others something else. Their war lasted for centuries, but ultimatly Set was cast out of Egypt and into the darkness. And yet, hiw followers claim, it was in the darkness that wise, ancient Set began his rule in earnest. Although great Set has vanished from the world, his childer work to ensure that the world will be in a suitable state for his Return.

To achieve their goals, Setites master several potent tools. To their thinking, the weapons of Addiction, seduction, and decay are the oldest and finest of means to an end. Setites use drugs, sex, money, power - even vitae and supernatural lore - to draw others into their coils. To date, the follower's methods have proved terribly effective. Kindred and Kine alike succumb to the settites' charmes, gladly doing whatever their new masters bid in return for the Serpents' reptilian patronage. Indeed, in some cities, entire subcultures and economic strata are under one or more Setites' sway.


Most elder Setites are of Egyptian, North African, or Middle Eastern blood. however, the Snakes have adopted a more egalitarian approach in recent years and have adopted men and women of all ethnicities. Red hair is considered a mark of Set's favor, and some neonates are not above hennaing their nightly to prove their devotion. Setites have impecciable taste in clothing and accessories, and have an inviting, comanding demanor that transfixes onlookers.

[Korgin]

Of all vampires, the Gangrel are perhaps closest to their inner nature. These nomadic loners spurn the constraints of society, preferring hte comfort of the wilderness. How they avoid the wrath of the werewolves is unknown; perhaps it has something to do witht he fact that the Gangrel are themselves shapeshifters. When a mortal speaks of a vampire changing into a wolf or bat, she is probably speaking of a Gangrel.

Like the Brujah, the Gangrel are fierce warriors; unlike the Brujah, the Gangrel ferocity does not stem from anarchic rage, but from animalistic instinct. They are among the most predatory Kindred and love to lose themselves in the thrill of the hunt. Gangrel have a keen understanding of the Beast in their souls and prefer to spend their nights in communion with the animals whom they so emulate. Indeed, Gangrel are so attuned to their Beasts that, after losing themselves to freny, animalistic features often appear on their bodies.

The clan itself has little contact with or regard for, the rest of the Kindred. This might be due to a desire to avoid the snares of the Jyhad, but is most likely the product of simple disinterest. Certainly Gangrel are popularly viewed as quiet, taciturn and reclusive. Although there is no more truth to this than there is to any other stereotype, the clan as a whole displays little of the osterntation found among lines such as the Toreador or Ventrue.

Gangrel are closely tied to the Rom or Gypsies, adopting much of that culture's speech patterns and mannerisms. Rumors speculate that the Rom are infact descended from the Antediluvian who founded the Gangrel line. As such, say the rumors, any Kindred who harms or Embraces a Gypsy will suffer the wrath of the Ancient. Obviously, the vampires of Clan Ravnos ignore this prohibition, and Gangrel and Ravnos harbor an ages-old hatred for each other.

Gangrel's harsh unlifestyle and lack of interst in fashion often make them seem rugged and wild. Couple this with the animal features common among the clan, and gangrel sometimes appear downright frigtening. Some mortals and Kindred find a certain predatory beuaty in the Gangrel, though this can lead to a dangerous misjudgement of the Gangrel's intentions.

[Korgin]

The Giovanni are respectful, genteel, and well mannered. Affluent beyound imagination. Clan Giovanni traces its roots back to before the Renaissance, to a family of merchant princes. The clan still maintains it's original home in Venice, in a thousand year old loggia just outside the heart of the city. No other clan makes such a spectacle of humility and propriety as does the Guivanni. And no other clan hides it's blasphemous secrets as well.

According to tales whispered in Camarilla salons and Sabbat esbats, the Giovanni's money spoiled the family, and the Venetians turned to nigrimancy out of perverse boredom. Suprisingly enough, the family demonstrated a great aptitude for trafficking with the dead, and their newfound abilities caught the eye of a forgotten Antediluvian. The vampire Embraced the head of the family, Augustus Giovanni, and brought him into the world of the Damned. This paticular Antidiluvian, the legends say, had a profound interest in death, and the Embrace of Giovanni and his family was intended to further the vampire's knowledge of what lay beyond the wall of mortality.

The Ancient's plan worked better, albeit differantly, than he'd intended. Augustus, a cutthroat and mercenary merchant, saw the opportunity to sieze his doddering sire's power and did so, hunting and killing all of the Antediluvian's descendants as well. After drinking the Ancient's blood, Augustus became a member of the Third Generation and founded his own clan, the Giovanni.

Other vampires reacted in horror, and, for a century, the 'Devil Kindred' Giovanni were rooted out and destroyed wherever they went. Finally, the Giovanni sat down with the newly formed Camarilla and formed a mutual truce. This truce guaranteed the Giovanni would never participate in the Jyhad and would leave other vampires to their affairs. The Giovanni agreed, thus averting the genocide they surely would have otherwise met.

Taking advantage of other vampires' lack of involvement with them, the Giovanni quietly continued to amass wealth and power, practicing their Discipline of Necromancy all the while. Few believe the clan is engaging in either practice for altruistic purposes, and recent global movements by the Giovanni have many Kindred worried. With all that money and all those harvested souls, something is on the horizon; it is an ill wind that blows out of Venice.

Members of the Giovanni clan are also members of the Giovanni family, and those not Embraced often serve their Kindred relations as ghouls. This failial tie - members of the clan are related by blood twice - ensures complete loyalty on the part of the Giovanni. While concentrated primarily in Europe, the Giovanni have recently been expanding into the world market, and the clan seems to be more profitible in recent nights.

The Giovanni vampires typically maintain airs of presentability and respectability. Most Giovanni, hailing as they do fromt he Italian branch of the clan, bear European features, including fair to dark complexions, dark hair, and solid statures. Giovanni tend to dress well, but not lavishly, preferring subtle accuterments of affluence to ostentaious displays.

[Korgin]

The Lasombra clan has fallen from grace - and its members enjoy it. Simultaneously graceful and predatory, the Lasombra guide - and when necessary, whip - the Sabbat into an implacable force. Turning their backs upon the humans they once were, Lasombra give themselves wholly over to the dark majesty of the Embrace. Murder, frenzy, predation. Why fear these things, many Lasombra ask, if one is meant to be a vampire? Incontrast to the Tzmisce, though, Lasombra generally seek not to reject all things mortal, but to shape them for their own pleasure.

The Lasombra have been involved with the Church since it's inception, and some Kindred whisper that the clan was instrumental in the spread of the Christian faith. In modern nights, however, Lasombra have turned their backs on that divine institution. There are exceptions of course, but for the most part, Clan Lasombra bears only contempt for the notion of salvation. Infact, the Lasombra brought many of the Church's rites and rituals into the Sabbat sect, twisting them into mockeries of Christian doctrine. The Lasombra ordained many of the sect's auctoritas and ignoblis ritae, so that the vampires of the Sabbat might never forget who and what they are.

Lasombra are best known for their Discipline of Obtenebration, a means by which they call forth a tangible "living" darkness, manipulating it at their whim. Clan doctrine holds that this "darkness" is infact the stuff of the vampire soul, which has been simultaneously strengthened and corrupted by the Embrace. Through the Curse of Caine, some Lasombra believe God has cast them out, and thus it is their duty to build a new order on Earth via the Sabbat. More scientific Lasombra scoff at this superstition, but even they tend to believe that, as vampires, they represent a new and more advanced breed of sentience, one unconcerned with petty human notions of ethics. Let the milksops of Clan Ventrue burn in the solar fires of martyrdom; the Lasombra are happy with what they are.

Naturally, this villainous outlook is not universal among the clan, but many newly Embraced Sabbat Lasombra take great glee in the wanton destruction and vulgar depravity that such a philosophy allows. In striking contrast, some elder Lasombra still maintain their ties to the Church, though even they seem to consider themselves "tools of the Devil." The two groups do see eye to eye on one matter: Members of Clan Lasombra as consummate manipulators themselves, adamantly refuse to submit to the antiquated whims of the Antediluvians. They fight the Jyhad proudly, but unlike many Kindred, they firmly believe they can win.

The typical Lasombra possesses a gift for manipulation, as well as keen leadership skills. Lasombra are the most common leaders of Sabbat packs, as their motivational and Machiavellian natures make them ideal for orchestrating the movements of the sect. Unfortunatly, pride goes hand in hand with this dark nobility, and very few Lasombra aknowledge other Vampires as equal, let alone superior.

Many Lasombra of elder generations hail from Spanish or Italian stock, and some still show their Moorish or Berber heritage. Lasombra neonates and ancillae, however, run the gamut of cultures and ethnicities. Almost all of Lasombra are reasonably attractive, with well-bred aristocratic features - blue collar Lasombra are rare, and one hardly sees the callused hands or broken noses of the working class among the Keepers.

[Korgin]

Even other Damned fear the Malkavians. The cursed blood of their clan has polluted their minds with the result that every last Malkavian across the world is incurably insane. What's worse, a Malkavian's madness can take nearly any form, from overpowering homicidal tendancies to near catatonia. In many cases, there's no way to tell a Maklvaian apart from the "sane" members of other clans. THose few whose psychoses are immediatly obvious are among the most terrifying vampires to stalk the streets.

For as long as the eldest Caininites can remember, the Malkavians have always stirred Kindred society with their passage. Although the clan has instigated no great wars nor toppled mortal governments (atleast, to the best of their fellow vampires' knowledge), the very presence of a Malkavian works a subtle change on a city. Chaos nips at the Lunatics' heels, and those who associate with even the most well meaning Malkavian often find their lives or unlines altered by the Cainite's madness.

Recently, the Malkavians executed their grandest "prank" of all. None can say whether it was worked in a great Malkavian Parliment held somewhere in an isolated European village, or on a bleak and forgotten moor somewhere among the cities. A few stories speak of an epidemic of contagious dementia exploding among those of Malkav's blood. Whatever the cause, Malkavians across the world have begun displaying a new, dangerous edge to their madness, accompanied by bizarre events in Kindred cities around the world. A longstanding Malkavian conceit holds the Jyhad to be ajoke instigated by the founder of the clan; some Kindred wonder if, infact, Malkavians have played the joke on them all along. None can say what exactly makes the Lunatics so dangerous. Certaintly, their madness often frees them from fear of pain or Final Death. More than a few demonstrate horrifying murderous urges, or a complete lack of emotion, including compassion. But most convincingly, the Malkavians are free from the confines of rationality and may do whatever they like - and this freedom is coupled with an uncanny insight, a strange wisdom that cannot be percieved by the sane. The malkavians posses a dark intellect that is often - and increasingly - set to frightening purposes.

Malkavians run the gamut from terrifyingly psychotic to convincingly ordinary in every way - sometimes both at once. just like serial killers they could be anyone - the scruffy bum talking to himself, the pleasant but quiet neighbor, the borderline suicidal musician. These vampires are capable of great subtlety and rarely show anyone a face other than the one they want people to see.

[Korgin]

Caine's childer are called "The Damned" and no vampires embody this more fully than the wretches of Clan Nosferatu. While other vampires still look human, and may travel in mortal society, Nosferatu are twisted and deformed by the curse of vampirism. Other kindred speak shudderingly of Caine placing a mark upon the entire clan for the monstrous deeds of its Antidiluvian founder. As such, Nosferatu find themselves loathed and ostracized by the other Children of Caine who consider them disgusting and interact with them only when they must.

Following the Embrace, Nosferatu childer suffer an agonizing transformation over the subsequent weeks, they warp from humans into hideous monsters. The horror of the physical devolution often produces an accompying psychological trauma. Unable to walk among the Kine, Nosferatu must dwell in subteranean sewers and catacombs forever after.

Nosferatu often choose physcially or emotionally twisted mortals for the Embrace, seeing in the curse of vampirism a possible means of redemption for the mortals. Amazingly, there seems to be some merit to this belief. Many Nosferatu are suprisingly levelheaded and practical, avoiding the obsessions, fits and rages of their fairer brethren. Not that this makes the Sewer Rats paticularly pleasant to be around; indeed, some Nosferatu come to delight in the shock and horror their grotesque appearances inspire in others.

Nosferatu are survivors par excellence. Few creatures, mortal or vampire, know a city's back alleys and dark corners like the Nosferatu do. Additionally, Nosferatu have mastered the crafts of sneaking and eavesdropping; they make a point of keeping up with current gossip and affairs, not merely for pleasure, but for survival. Information brokers without peer, they can command high prices for their knowledge. Using their Obfuscate Discipline, Nosferatu make a point of listening to others' conversations from hiding, or sitting in on "secret" meetings. If a Kindred wishes to learn about the doings and denziens of the city, she would do well to consult the Nosferatu.

Finally, millennia of shared deformity and abuse have fostered strong bonds among the monsters. Nosferatu forego the squabbling and fueds ubiquitous to the other clans, preferring to work in unison. They treat each other with meticulous politeness and freely share information among themselves. To mess with one Nosferatu is to mess with them all - and that can get messy indeed...

No two Nosferatu look precisely alike, but all are hideous. Gaping fang-filled maws, discolorations, tumors, holes in place of noses, batlike ears, sloping bald heads, twisted spines, claws, wrinkled hides, pustulent sores, and webbed fingers are just a few possible deformities possessed by Nosferatu. An existence in sweres and crypts tends to ensure that most Nosferatu smell about as good as they look.

[Korgin]

If ever a clan was renowned for a wickedly black sense of humor, the Ravnos would be that clan. These Cainites are decievers of the first order, weaving illusion and lies into elaborate schemes to part the foolish from whatever it is the Ravnos might fancy - be it wealth, blood, or even their victims' freedom. Like Mephistopheles or Old Scratch, the Ravnos ply their devil's deals with whomever they choose, be it human or Kindred, and woe to those who wind up unable to pay the hidden costs.

Although many Ravnos see themselves as great tricksters, the generally benevolent tricks of Coyote and Raven aren't so much their style. Instead they draw on a tradition of illusion and deceit inherited from the rakshasas and ghuls of the Middle and Far East. A Ravnos is a highly dangerous being with whom to sup or bargain. And these devils have been making their wagers and bargains for a long time indeed.

The Ravnos are nomadic to the core and care little for permanent havens or positions in a city's established power structure. Even those who have chosen a given city for their home tend to establish and abandon havens as the mood strikes them, taking whatever lairs they like, doing as they please, and moving on when bored. This habit infuriates princes across the world, who represent the Ravnos' disregard for the Tradition of Hospitality. Few punish violators, though, for fear of drawing the malice of the clan as a whole.

Although the clan has long-standing ties with the Gypsies, few Ravnos enjoy the hospitality of their mortal kin. Perhaps the gypsies know the vampires' true natures too well and are loath to offer friendship to the undying. Perhaps the Ravnos themselves alienate their mortal families through their dangerous tricks. Whatever the reason, a Ravnos typically has no allies he can rely on regularly. His charm may win him a few temporary companions, and clan loyalty may draw fellow Ravnos to his side in times of dire need, but the vampire's path ultimately lies alone.

Naturally, the princes of many cities are leery of allowing such tricksters free rein in their domains. The Ravnos' eccentric code of honor is strong, but rarely coincides with another Kindred's deffination of the term. A ravnos may break her word at will, unless she's spin her palm and shaken on the deal. She'll defend her 'good name' for all it's worth - depending on what she considers slander. And she'll usually come to the defense of a clanmate, and vice versa; the Ravnos may take advantage of one another, but they consider it their privilege. Outsiders aren't allowed the same.

Perhaps the most worrisome thing about the Ravnos is that as a clan, they managed to survive for centuries in Aisa, where most Kindred are quickly hunted down and devoured by ruthless Cathayans. No other Cainites know exactly how they managed this - but now a possible reason is emerging. Rumors filter back to Europe and the Americas of elder things awakening, of ancient vampires shrugging off the earth of millennia and throwing the Cainite courts into disorder. Thse elder Ravnos - if rumor speaks correctly- have demonstrated terrifying mystical powers, including a talent for illusions so powerful they can affect the physical world. Time can only tell what part the reemergance of thse "demon kings" will play in the Jyhad.

Many younger Western Ravnos are of Gypsy decent, usually of dark complexion, with darker hair and eyes. Slightly rarer ar those with Asian, African, or Nordic features, and rarer still are those without even a trace of Gypsy blood. Infact, European Ravnos do not Embrace gorgio (non-Gypsies) at all.

The Eastern half of the clan is mostly Indian blood, although members have Embraced promising men and women of other ethnicities. Like their Western cousins, they favor colorful and beautiful clothing, and enjoy practicing their allure on mortals.

[Korgin]

The Toreador are called many things - "degeneerates" "Artistes" "poseurs" and "hedonists" being but a few. But any such lumpen categorization does the clan a disservice. Depending on the individual and her mood, Toreador are alternatly elegant and flamboyant, brilliant and ludicrous, visionary and dissipated. Perhaps the only truism that can be applied to the clan is it's members' aesthetic zeal. Whatever a Toreador does, she does with passion. Whatever a Torearod is, she is with passion.

To the Toreador, eternal life is to be savored. many Toreador were artists, musicians, or poets in life. Many more have spent frustrating centuries producing laughable attempts at art, music, or poetry. Toreador tout themselves as cultivators of all that is best about humanity. Occasionally, a paticularly gifted or inspired creator is Embraced into the clan, to preser her talent for eternity. In this manner, Clan Toreador has inducted some of humanity's greatest artists, poets, and musicians into its ranks; of course, if one thing can be said about the Toreador, it is that no two of them can agree on precisely what 'gifted' or 'inspired' means.

Of all clans, Toreador are the vampires most connected to the mortal world. While other vampires view the kine as pawns or simple sustenance, Toreador glide gracefully and effortlessly through the society of the Canaille, sampling the delights of each age as a gourmand savors rare delicacies. Toreador are the Kindred most likely to fall in love with mortals, and they surround themselves with the best, most elegant and most luxurious things - and people - that the world has to offer. It is thus, acutely tragic when a Toreador succumbs to ennui and discards aesthetic persuits in favor of pointless hedonism. Such Kindred become decadant sybarites, concerned only with indulging personal whims and vices.

Toreador are commited to the Camarilla and share the ventrue's love of high society, though not for them the tedium of actually running things - thats what functionaries are for after all. Toreador know that their place is to captivate and inspire - through their witty speech, graceful deeds, and simple scintillating existance.

Toreador Embrace out of passion as much as any other reason; accordingly, many Toreador are creatures of surpassing beauty. Of all Kindred, Toreador are the vampires most attuned to human fashion trends: centuries-old Degenerates are often more stylish than some 30 year old mortals. If it's in, chances are atleast one Toreador will adopt it.

[Korgin]

If Clan Lasombra is the heart of the Sabbat, Clan Tzimisce is the soul. Even other vampires grow uneasy around these eerie Kindred, and the clan's nickname of "Fiends" was given to it in nights past by horrified Kindred of other lines. The Tzmisce's signature Discipline of Vicissitude is the subject of paticular dread; tales speak of crippling disfigurements inflicted on a whim, of ghastly 'experiments" and tortures refined byond human - or vampire - comprehension of endurance.

This fearsome reputation often seems unwarranted at first. Many Tzimisce are reserved and persipacous beings, a far cry from the howling war packs that compose much of the Sabbat. most Tzimisce appear to be rational creatures, formidably intelligent, possessed of an inquisitive and scientific bent, and unstingingly gracious to guests.

Kindred who treat with the Tzimisce, though realize that Fiends' human traits are the merest veneer over something...else. For Millinnia the Fiends have explored and refined their understanding of the vampiric condition, bending their bodies and thoughts into new and alien patterns. Should it prove necessary, enlightening, or simply enjoyable, Timisce do not hesitate to bend victims in similar fashion. While younger Fiends might be described as merciless or sadistic, elders of the line simply fail to comprehend mercy or suffering - or perhaps they do comprehend no longer consider the emotions relevant.

In nights past, the Tzimisce was among the most powerful clans in the world, dominating much of the region now known as Eastern Europe. Potent sorcerers, the Fiends dominated the region's mortals as well, in the process inspiring many of the horror sotries about vampires. Clan after clan conspired to uproot the Tzimisce, but it was the sorcerous Tremere who finally succeeded. Indeed, as some tell the tale, the Tremere used captured Tzimisce viate in their experiments to become immortal. For this the Tzimisce hate the Tremere unrelentingly, and Tremere who fall into the Sabbat's clutches typically suffer a hideous end at the talons fo the Fiends.

During the Great Anarch Revolt, the Tzimisce clan turned on itself, as younger members of the clan discovered mystic means of breaking the blood bonds ensnaring them in service to their elders. In the ensuing struggle, the younger Fiends destroyed many of their elders and demolished what was left of their power bases. Certain Sabbat whisper that the clan managed to find and destroy its own Antediluvian progenitor, though the Fiends will neither confirm nor deny this tail

Now the Tzimisce serve the Sabbat as scholars, advisors, and priests. Many of the sect's practices originated in the customs of the clan. By exploring the possibilities and limits of Vampirism, the clan hopes to discover the greater purpose of the Kindred as a whole. If this means the whole dstruction of the archaic Antediluviens, the razing the Camarilla, or the vivisection of millions of kine victims, well, all experiments have their consequences.

As masters of the Vicissitude Discipline, Tzimisce often have striking apearances - whether strikingly beautiful, or strikingly grotesque depends on the whim of the Fiend in question. Younger Tzimisce, seeking to explore their inhuman natures, perform all manner of body modifications on themselves. Their elders, though, often affect flawless symmetrical forms; the body is merely a passing machine after all. Tzimisce faces often resemble masks of blank perfection and the Fiends typically laugh little, though some have been known to chuckle during paticularly elaborate experiments.