Vampire The Masquerade V1-Storybook

ISBN 1*565O4249*2

['fW23CO $29.95 US
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PRINTED IN CANADA



































~RFDITS DFDICATION

‘ampire: The Masquerade Creators: Mark ReinOHagen with To you, fans old and new, who have helped us get to t h
teven C. Brown, Tom Dowd, Andrew Greenberg, Chris point. May the beginning of the new millennium be as good t
IcDonough, Lisa Stevens, Josh Timbrook, Stewart Wieck you as the passing of the old has been to us.
[ew Edition Authors: Justin Achilli, Andrew Bates, Phil
rucato, Richard E. Dansky, Ed Hall, Robert Hatch, Michael B.

ee, Ian Lemke, Jim Moore, Ethan Skemp, Cynthia Summers

‘hirdEdition Developer: Robert Hatch
ditor: Cynthia Summers
,rt Director: Lawrence Snelly with Richard Thomas
ayout and Typesetting: Aileen E. Miles
iterior Art: John Bolton, Mark Chiarello, Mike Danza, Guy
lavis, John Estes, Richard Kane Ferguson, Darren Frydendall,
lichael Gaydos, Rebecca Guay, Pia Guerra, Fred Harper, Mark
&on, LeifJones, Brian LeBlanc, Paul Lee, Vince Locke, Greg
oudon, Larry MacDougall, Jon J. Muth, William O’Connor,
ieorge Pratt, Andrew Ritchie, Matt Roach, Christopher Shy,
ill Sienkiewicz, Lawrence Snelly, Ray Snyder, Ron Spencer,
ichard Thomas, Joshua Gabriel Timbrook, Karl Waller, Kent
Yilliams, Matthew Wilson
ront and Back Cover Design: Aileen E. Miles

~ ~~ THEINEVITABDLI E~ C L A I M F R

GAME STUDIO Vampire: The Masquerade is a game. It’s a game that

Q 1998, 1999,2000WhiteWolf Publishing, Inc.All rights requires imagination, effort, creativity and, above all, matu-
reserved. Reproductionwithout the written permission of the rity. Part of maturity is realizingthat Vampireisonly a game
publisher is expresslyforbidden, except for the purposes of and that the situations depicted in these pages are strictly
reviews, and for blank character sheets,which may be repro-
duced for personal use only.White Wolf, Vampire the Masquer- imaginary. If you beat somebody at MonopolyTMy, ou don’t
ade, Vampirethe Dark Ages, Mage the Ascension,World of go out and foreclose on their house. If you sink someone’s
DarknessandAberrant are registered trademarksof WhiteWolf BattleshipTMy, ou don’t go down to the Navy Yard and start
Publishing,Inc. All rightsreserved. Werewolf the Apocalypse,
Wraith the Oblivion,Changelingthe Dreaming,Hunter the throwing Molotovsat the boats. The same principle applies
Reckoning,Werewolf the Wild West, Mage the Sorcerers to any roleplaying or storytelling game.
Crusade, Wraith the GreatWar and Kindredof the East are
trademarksof WhiteWolf Publishing,Inc.All rights reserved. All In other words, you are not a vampire. When a game
characters,names, places and text herein are copyrightedby session ends, put away the books, pack away the dice, enjoy
WhiteWolf Publishing, Inc. the rest of your life and let other people enjoy theirs.
The mention of or reference to any companyor product in these
pages is not a challenge to the trademarkor copyright concerned. For the 99.9999+% of you who are sufficiently well-
This book uses the supernaturalfor settings,characters and
themes.All mystical and supernaturalelements are fictionand adjusted not to need such a ridiculous disclaimer, have fun.
intendedfor entertainmentpurposesonly.Reader discretion is
advised.
For a free WhiteWolf catalog call 1-800-454-WOLF.
Check out WhiteWolf online at
http://www.white-wolf.com;alt.games.whitewolfand

rec.games.frp.storyte1ler
PRINTED IN CANADA.

VAMPIRET:HEMASQULRADE
18

\;AMTHE P I R " "
MASQUFRADF. 1

CHAPTEORNEA: WORLDOF D 1
20
CHAPTETRwo: CLANSANSDEC 26
62
CHAPTETRHREEC:HARACTER 98
CHAPTEFROURD:ISCIPLINES 144
CHAPTEFRIVER: ULES 188
198
CHAPTFSRIXS: YSTEMSDARND 236
CHAPTFSREWNA:HISTOROYF 252
CHAPTEERIGHTS:TORYTFLLIN 268
284
CHAPTENRINF:ANTAGONISTS 306
A p p END IX
F ~ I L O G UUNF :DERTHE HORNS



Vampires. In a lot of ways, storytelling resembles games such as How
to Host a Murder. Each player takes the role of a character -in
Bloodsucking corpses returned from the grave to feast on this case, a vampire -and engages in a form of improvisational
the blood of the living. Monsters damned to Hell who avoid theatre, sayingwhat the vampire would say and describingwhat
their punishment through life unlawfully stolen. Erotic preda- the vampire would do. Most of this process is freeform -players
tors who take their sustenance from innocent, struggling -or, can have their characters say or do whatever they like, so long
perhaps, willing? -men and women. as the dialogue or actions are consistent with the character’s
personality and abilities. However, certain actions are best
Since time’s beginning, humanity has spoken of the vam- adjudicated through the use of dice and the rules presented in
pire- the undead, the demonicspirit embodied inhuman flesh, this book.
the corpse risen from its grave possessed of a burning hunger for
warm blood. From Hungary to Hong Kong, from New Delhi to Whenever rules and story conflict, the story wins. Use the
New York,people throughout the world have experienced chills rules only as much- or preferably as little -as you need to tell
ofdelicious terror contemplating the deeds of the night-stalking thrilling stories of terror, action and romance.

vampire. The vampire has haunted novels, movies, TV series, PLAYFARNDSSTORYTFLLFRS

video games, clothing, even breakfast cereal. Vampire is best played with a group, or troupe, of two to six
participants. Most of these people are to be players. They create
But these stories are mere myths, right? vampire characters - imaginary protagonists similar to those
found in novels, cinema and comics. In each troupe, however,
Wrong. one person must take the role of the Storyteller. The Storyteller
does not create one primary character for herself. Rather, she
Vampires have walked among us from prehistoric times. acts as a combination of director, moderator, narrator and
They walk among us still. They have fought a great and secret referee. The Storyteller invents the drama through which the
players direct their characters,creating plots and conflicts from
war since the earliest nights of human history. And this eternal her imagination. The Storyteller also takes the roles of support-
ing cast - allies with whom the characters interact and
struggle’sfinal outcome may determine humanity’s future -or antagonists against whom the characters fight. The Storyteller
its ultimate damnation. invents the salient details of the story setting - the bars,
nightclubs, businesses and other institutions the characters
STORYTELLING frequent. The players decide how their characters react to the
situations in the game, but it is the Storyteller (with the help of
The book you hold is the core rulebook of Vampire: The the rules) who decides if the characters actually succeed in their
Masquerade, a storytelling game from White Wolf Publishing. endeavors and, if so, how well. Ultimately, the Storyteller is the
final authority on the events that take place in the game.
With the rules in this book, you and your friends can take the
roles of vampires and tell stories about the characters’ triumphs,
failures, dark deeds and glimmerings of goodness.

In a storytelling game, players create characters using the
rules in this book, then take those characters through dramas
and adventures, called (appropriately enough) stories. Stories
are told through a combination of the wishes of the players and
the directives of the Storyteller (see below).

INTRODUCTION
21

Example: Rob, Brian, Cynthia and Alison have gathered to The vampires who walk the earth in modem nights -or
play Vampire. Rob, Brian and Cynthia are players: Rob is playing Kindred, as they commonly call themselves -are both similar
Baron d’Havilland, a Ventrue aristocrat; Brian is playing Palpa, a to and different from what we might expect. It is perhaps best to
Nosferatusewer-dweller;and Cynthia is playing Maxine,a Brujah begin our discussion of the undead as if they were a separate
streetpunk. Alison is the Storyteller,and she has decreed that the species of being -sentient, with superficial similaritiesto the
charactershave been broughtbefore the vampireprince of the city humans they once were, but displaying a myriad physiological
to face judgment for feeding in a forbidden area of the city. and psychological differences.

Alison (describingthe scene): The room into which you In many ways, vampires resemble the familiar monsters of
are dragged is large,opulent, and filledwith mementos from eras myth and cinema. (There is enough truth in the old tales that
ranging from the Italian Renaissance to the Harlem Renais-
perhaps they were created by deluded or confused mortals.) How-
sance. A great iron chandelier, filled with candles, throws dim
ever - as many an intrepid vampire-hunter has learned to his
light on alcoves filled with paintings and statuary. Still, you sorrow -not all of the old wives’ tales about vampires are true.
don’t have too much time to look, for at the prodding of the
prince’s enforcer, Lord Maxwell, you are rudely shoved before a Vampires are immortal. True. While they can be killed
great oaken chair - almost a throne. The shadows seem to (a very difficult process), they do not age or die from natural
cluster more deeply about the imposing figure that sits in state, causes. They need no food such as humans eat, and they do not
commanding, unmoving, and gazing at you with burning eyes. need to breathe.

Alison (again, now speaking as the prince): “For over a Vampires are living dead and must sustain themselves

century have I kept order in my domain. Like a carefulgardener, with the blood of the living. True. A vampire is clinicallydead
I have watched this city grow from a rural town to a thriving
metropolis.I have bested anarchs and squelched the plots of the -its heart does not beat, it does not breathe, its skin is cold, it
does not age - and yet it thinks, and walks, and plans, and
Black Hand. Through what temerity do you newborn whelps
speaks...and hunts, and kills. To sustain its artificial immortal-
now choose to flout my rule? Speak quickly and well, lest I
ity, the vampire must periodically consume blood, preferably
personally stake you and leave you for the sun’s kiss!” human blood. Some penitent vampires eke out an existence
from animal blood, and some ancient vampires must hunt and
The players may now decide what to do: kill othersof their kind to nourish themselves,but most vampires
indeed consume the blood of their former species.
Rob (speaking as Baron d’Havilland): “Milord, clearly
Vampires drain their prey of blood through the use of
there has been a misunderstanding, as my colleagues and I.. .” retractable fangs, which are magically gifted to vampires when
they first become undead. Each vampire can also magically lick
Cynthia (speaking as Maxine): “Don’tpresume to speak closed the wounds made by their fangs, thus concealing the
for me, you weak-blooded toady! To hell with your rules, you evidence of their feeding.

fascist prick! This is the 20th century, and I’ll go anywhere I Blood is all-important to the Kindred,for it is both the crux
of their existence and the seatoftheirpower. Mortal food,mortal
damn well choose!” air, mortal love - all of these things are meaningless to a
Alison (playingthe prince’snone-too-amused reaction): vampire. Blood is the Kindred’s only passion, and without it,
they will quickly wither and fall dormant. Moreover, each
The prince’s fingers noticeably tighten on the arms of the vampire can use its stolen blood to perform amazing feats of
throne, and a low hiss rises in his throat. healing, strength and other magic.

Brian (describinghischaracter’saction): Brilliant,Maxine! Anyone who dies from a vampire’s bite rises to become
I avoid the prince’s gaze and look around. Is there any sort of
pillar, shadow or other place that I can unobtrusively slip a vampire. False. If this were true, the world would be overrun

behind?If so, I’mgoing to use my Obfuscate (a magical invisibil- with vampires. Vampires feed on human blood, true, and some-
times kill their prey - but most humans who die from a
ity power) to get the hell out of here. vampire’s attack simply perish. To return as undead, the victim
What happensnext is decided by the actionsof the players and must be drained of blood and subsequently be fed a bit of the
attacking vampire’s blood. This process, called the Embrace,
the decisions of the Storyteller.As you can see, each player is the causes the mystical transformation from human to undead.
arbiterof his or her own character’sactions and words. Ultimately,
though, it is Alison, the Storyteller,who determines the prince’s Vampires are monsters -demonic spirits embodied in
reaction to the characters’words or actions;it isAlison,speaking as
the prince, who roleplaysthe prince’sreaction;and it is Alisonwho corpses. False.. .and true. Vampires are not demons jxr se, but a
determineswhether the characters’ actions, if any, succeed or fail. combination of tragic factors draws them inexorably toward
wicked deeds. In the beginning, the newly created vampire
Storytellingand roleplaying games may feature many kinds thinks and acts much as she did while living. She does not
of protagonists.In somegames,players assume the rolesof heroes immediately turn into an evil, sadistic monster. However, the
in a fantasy world,or superheroessaving the world from villains’ vampire soon discoversher overpoweringhunger for blood, and
depredations.In Vampire, appropriatelyenough, players assume realizes that her existence depends on feeding on her species. In
the personas of vampires - the immortal bloodsuckers of the many ways, the vampire’smindset changes -she adopts a set of
horror genre - and guide these characters through a world attitudes less suited to a communal omnivore and more befitting
virtually identical to our own. a solitary predator.

VAMPIRETH: EMUERADE

22

I Vampires die from a stake through the heart. Falsc
However, a wooden stake - or arrow, crossbow bolt, etc. -
At first reluctant to kill, the vampire is finally forced into through the heart will paralyze the monster until it is removec
murder by circumstance or need- and killingbecomes easier as
Vampires have the strength of 10 men; they ca
the years pass. Realizing that she herself is untrustworthy, she command wolves and bats; they can hypnotize the living ar
ceases to trust others. Realizing that she is different, she walls heal even the most grievous wounds. True and false. The pow1
herself away from the mortal world. Realizing that her existence of a vampire increases with age. Young, newly created vampirt
depends on secrecy and control, she becomes a manipulative are often little more powerful than humans. But as a vampi
user of the first order. And things only degenerate as the years grows in age and understanding, she learns to use her blood 1
turn to decades and then centuries, and the vampire kills over evoke secret magical powers, which vampires call Discipline
and over, and sees the people she loved age and die. Human life, Powerful elders are often the rivals of a fictional Lestat 1
soshort and cheapin comparisonto hers, becomesof less and less Dracula, and the true ancients - the Methuselahs ar
value, until the mortal “herd” around her means no more to her Antediluvians who have stalked the nights for thousands I
than a swarm of annoying insects.Vampire elders are among the years -often possess literally godlike power.
most jaded, unfeeling,paranoid- inshort, monstrous- beings
the world has ever known. Maybe they are not demons exactly THEFMRRACF
-but at that point, who can tell the difference?
Vampires are created through a processcalled the Embrac
Vampires are burned by sunlight. True. Vampires must Some vampire clans Embrace more casuallythan others, but tl-
avoid the sun or die, though a few can bear sunlight’s touch for Embrace is almost never given lightly. After all, any ne
a very short period of time. Vampires are nocturnal creatures, vampire is a potential competitor for food and power. A poter
and most find it extremely difficultto remain awake during the tial childe is often stalked for weeks or even years by a watchfi
day, even within sheltered areas. sire, who greedily evaluates whether the mortal would indee
make a good addition to the society of the Kindred.
Vampires are repulsed by garlic and running water.
False. These are myths and nothing more. The Embrace is similar to normal vampiric feeding - tt
vampiredrainsher chosenprey of blood. However,upon complei
Vampires are repulsed by crosses and other holy exsanguination, the vampire return a bit of her own immort:
symbols. This is generally false. However, if the wielder of the blood to the drained mortal. O n l y a tiny bit -a drop or two -
symbol has great faith in the power it represents,a vampire may
suffer ill effects from the brandishing of the symbol.

INRODUCIION
23

necessary to turn the mortalinto an undead. This processcan even manipulated in turn. Indeed, most combatants may not even
realize for whom they fight, or why.
be performed on a dead human, provided the body is still warm.

Once the blood is returned,the mortal “awakens”and begins Reputedly begun millennia ago, the Jyhad rages even today.

drinkingof his ownaccord.But, though animate, the mortal is still Though skyscrapers take the place of castles, machine-guns and

dead; his heart does not beat, nor does he breathe. Over the next missilesreplaceswords and torches, and stockportfolios substitute
for vaults of gold, the game remains the same. Kindred battles
week or two, the mortal’s body undergoes a series of subtle Kindred, clan battles clan, sect battles sect, as they have for eons.
transformations;he learns to use the blood in his body, and he is

taught the specialpowers of his clan. He is now a vampire. Vampiric feuds begun during the nights of Charlemagne play

THEHUNT themselves out on the streets of New York City; an insult whis-
pered in the court of the Sun King may find itself answered by a

When all is saidand done, the most fundamental difference corporatetakeover in Sao Paolo. The ever-swelling cities provide
between humans and vampires lies in their methods of suste- countless opportunitiesfor feeding,powermongering-and war.

nance. Vampires may not subsist on mortal food; instead, they Increasingly,vampiresspeakof Gehenna -the long-proph-
must maintain their eternal lives through the consumption of esied night of apocalypse when the most ancient vampires, the
blood -fresh human blood. mythical Antediluvians,will rise from their hidden lairs to devour
all the younger vampires. This Gehenna, so the Kindred say, will
Vampires acquire their sustenance in many fashions. Some presage the end of the world, as vampires and mortals alike are
cultivate “herds”of willing mortals, who cherish the ecstasy of consumed in an inexorable tide of blood. Some vampiresstrive to
the vampire’s Kiss. Some creep into houses by night, feeding prevent Gehenna, some fatalistically await it, and still others
from sleeping humans. Some stalk the mortals’ playgrounds - consider it a myth. Those who believe in Gehenna, however, say
the nightclubs, bars and theaters -enticing mortals into illicit that the end time comesvery soon-perhaps in a matter of years.
liaisonsand disguisingtheir predation as acts of passion. And yet

others take their nourishment in the most ancient fashion - HOWTUOSFTHISROOK
stalking, attacking and incapacitating (or even killing) mortals
who wander too far into lonely nocturnal alleys and empty lots. This book is divided into several chapters, each of which is

THFNOCTURNWAOLRLDOFTHFVAMPIRFdesigned to explore and explain a specific area of the game.
Remember, though, that in a storytellinggame,the most impor-
Vampires value power, for its own sake and for the security tant “chapter” is your imagination. Never let anything in this
it brings -and they find it ridiculouslyeasy to acquire mundane book be a substitute for your own creativity.
goods, riches and influence. A mesmerizing glance and a few
Chapter One: A World of Darkness describesthe Kindred
words provide a cunning vampire with access to all the wealth,
power and servantshe could desire. Some powerfulvampires are and the world in which they hunt.

capableof implanting posthypnotic suggestionsor commands in Chapter Two: Clans and Sects describes the 13 great

mortals’minds, then causing the mortals to forget the vampire’s “clans” of Kindred and the organizations to which they hold
presence. In this way, vampires can easily acquire legions of allegiance.

unwitting slaves. More than a few “public servants” and corpo- Chapter Three: Character gives step-by-stepinstructions

rate barons secretly answer to vampire masters. for creating vampire characters.

Though there are exceptions, vampires tend to remain Chapter Four: Disciplines delineates the magical powers
close to the cities. The city provides countless opportunities for of the undead.

predation, liaisons and politicking -and the wilderness often Chapter Five: Rules provides the basic means of resolving

proves dangerous. The wilds are the home of the Lupines, the the characters’ various actions.

werewolves, who are vampires’ ancestral enemies and desire Chapter Six: Systems describes a plethora of ways to

nothing more than to destroy vampires outright. simulate everything from gentle seduction to brutal combat.

THFJYHAD Chapter Seven: A History of the Kindred recounts the

Many vampires seek to have nothing to do with their kind, ancient history and bloody feuds among the Children of Caine.
choosing instead to exist and hunt in solitude. However, the
civilizationof the undead is a manipulative and poisonous dance, Chapter Eight: Storytelling tells Storytellershow to build
and few vampires are left entirely untouched. Since the nights of entertaining stories in which to involve the characters.
antiquity,the Kindredhave struggled for supremacy,in an ancient
and many-layeredstruggle known as the Jyhad.Leaders, cultures, Chapter Nine: Antagonists gives notes on the Kindred’s
nations and armies have all been pawns in the secret war, and (few) friends and (many) enemies.

Finally, the Appendix provides addenda and rules for ad-
vanced players.

vampiricconspiracieshave influencedmuch (though by no means LIVF-ACTION
all) ofhumanhistory.Few things are as they seem in the vampires’
nocturnal world; a political coup, economic crash or social trend

may be merely the surface manifestation veiling a centuries-old Most Vampire games take place around a tabletop, and
struggle.Vampire elders command from the shadows,manipulat- the players describe what their characters say and do. How-
ing mortals and other vampires alike -and the elders are often ever, games can also be conducted through Live-action play.

VAMPIRE: THEMAQUERADE
24

This exciting form of gaming bears similarities to improvisa- still the final arbiterof all events in the game. Likewise,when the
tional theatre, in that players actually dress as their characters
and act out their characters’ scenes as though they were game is over for the night, take out your fangs and call it a night.
actors in a play. Thus, rather than saying, “My character It’s Only a Game: Live-action is for having fun. If a rival
walks over to the table and picks up the ancient document,”
you, the player, would actually get up, walk over to a properly wins, if a characterdies, if a plan goes awry, it’snot the end of the
decorated table, and pick up the “ancient document” (prob- world. Sometimesfolks like to get together outside the game and
ably a prop created by the Storyteller -for example, a piece talk about it -say, a group of players who form a neonate coterie
of parchment that’s been scorched around the edges to give gathers to complain about their sires over pizza - and there’s
it the appearance of age with a little flour “dust”). nothing wrong with that. But calling your clanmate up at four in
the morning to ask forher assistanceinyour primogenbid is taking
A Storyteller still guidesthe action and directs the plot; the things too far. Remember, everyone’s doing this to have fun!

Storyteller describes special features of the setting, oversees The Bottom Line: Live-action can be one of the richest
challengesthe characters undergo, and may interrupt the action and most satisfyingstorytellingexperiences,if handled maturely
at any time. and responsibly. We’re not kidding about that “maturely and
responsibly,” folks. In live-action, you are the prop, so it is
Live-action roleplaying does not typically use dice; alter- imperative that you treat yourself and others with utmost care,
nate systems, such as those presented in White Wolfs Mind’s dignity and respect. This game is emphatically not about “real”
Eye Theatre line of products, take the place of dice when blood-drinking, hunting, fighting or erotic activities. You are
determining the results of challenges. Most situations are re- not a vampire, you only play one in the game.
solved simply through acting and the Storyteller’sdecisions.
SOURCMEATERIAL
SAFEGUARDS
Vampire, of course, pays homage to a long-standing and
Some rules are necessary to ensure that live-action is safe thriving genre.Thevampire/goth subculturewaxes andwanes in
and enjoyable for all participants and bystanders. Unlike any the public eye, but is perennially alive (or undead) and kicking.
other rules in this book, these rules must be followed. The following are a few important influenceson Vampire: The
Masquerade and the World of Darkness.
No Touching: Period. All combat and physical interac-
Recommended literature includes: Dracula, by Bram
tion must be handled through dice or other abstract systems. Stoker; Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, and
Players must never strike, grapple or otherwise touch anyone
The Queen of the Damned, by Anne Rice; Lost Souls, by Poppy
during the game. It is the Storyteller’s responsibility to call a Z. Brite; Brian Lumley’s Necroscoge series; The Hunger, by
Whitley Streiber; and I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson.
time-out if one or more players get overly rambunctious.
No Weapons: Props such as hats, period dress and canes The vampire plays a role in the Romantic poetry of Byron,
Shelley and Baudelaire. As well, cruise o n down to a public
are great in a live-action game. Weapons aren’t. Period. No or university library and read some of the scary old myths and
knives, no swords and nothing that even remotely resembles a legends of vampires around the world.
firearm. Don’t even bring fake swords, squirt guns, or foam-
rubber weapons. If your character must carry a “weapon,”take a The vampire has also played a role in film. Bela Lugosi’s
3”x5”cardand write “Gun”or“Sword”or whatever on it; during Dracula and Murnau’s silent Nosferatu are the granddaddies
combat challenges, present the card to the Storyteller,who will of the genre. Other good (or at least amusing) films include
adjudicate its use in play. The Hunger, Near Dark, Vamp, The Lost Boys, Salem’sLot, the
Cristopher Lee Hammer Horror films, and the anime flick
Play in a Designated Area: Live-action is meant to be Vampire Hunter D. Coppola’sDracula is not the best in terms
played in the home or other predesignated spot. Don’t involve of plot, but does have lush cinematography. For camp, Buffy
bystanders in the game, and make sure everyone in the area, or the Vampire Slayer and From Dusk Till Dawn provide some
who passes through the area, understands exactly what you’re entertaining moments.
doing. A game can look disturbing, even frightening, to those
who aren’t aware of what’s going on. Don’t try to shock or In terms of capturing the ambience of the World of Dark-
intimidate passersby; this is not only immature, but could also ness, try BladeRunner, Tim Burton’sBatman (firstfilmonly),The
lead to well-deserved prosecution. Silence of the Lambs, Trainsgotting, New Jack City, and most
Hitchcock films.
Know When to Stop: If the Storytellercallsfor a time-out
or other break in the action, stop immediately.The Storyteller is

INTRODUCTION
25





The world of Vampire: T h e Masquerade is not our own, THFWORLDOFDARKNFSS
though it is close enough for fearsome discomfort. Rather, the
world inhabited by vampires is like ours, but through a looking The greatest difference between our world and that of
glass darkly. Evil is palpable and ubiquitous in this world; the Vampire: T h e Masquerade is the presence of immortal mon-
finalnights are upon us, and the whole planet teeters on a razor’s
edge of tension. It is a world of darkness. sters pulling the strings of humanity. Violence and despair are
more common here, because they need to be in order for the
Superficially, the World of Darkness is like the “real”world Kindred to continue their existences. The world is bleak, but
we all inhabit. Thesamebands are popular, violencestillplagues escape is an ever-present commodity - perhaps too present.
the inner city, graft and corruptioninfest the samegovernments, The setting of Vampire is a composite of its populace and their
and society stilllooks to the samecities for its culture. The World despair.
of Darkness has a Statue of Liberty, an Eiffel Tower and a
CBGB’s. More present than in our world, though, is the under- PGOORTTHEICN-TPSUAONNFFDUKTT,HUERE

current of horror -our world’s ills are all the more pronounced “Gothic-Punk” is perhaps the best way to describe the
physical nature of the World of Darkness. The environment is
in the World of Darkness. Our fears are more real. Our govem- a clashing mixture of styles and influences, and the tension
ments are more degenerate. Our ecosystem dies a bit more each caused by the juxtaposition of ethnicities, social classes and
night. And vampires exist. subcultures makes the world a vibrant, albeit dangerous, place.

Many of the differences between our world and the World The Gothic aspect describes the ambience of the World of
of Darkness stem from these vampires. Ancient and inscrutable,
the Kindred toy with humanity as a cat does with a trapped Darkness. Buttressed buildings loom overhead, bedecked with
mouse. The immortal Kindred manipulate society to stave off classicalcolumns andgrimacing gargoyles.Residents are dwarfed
the ennui and malaise that threaten them nightly, or to guard by the sheer scale of architecture, lost amid the spires that seem
against the machinations of centuries-old rivals. Immortality is to grope toward Heaven in an effort to escape the physicalworld.
a curse to vampires, for they are locked in stagnant existences The ranks of the Church swell, as mortals flock to any banner
and dead bodies. that offers them a hope of something better in the hereafter.
Likewise, cults flourish in the underground, promising power
This chapter examines the vampires’ world. The World of and redemption. The institutions that control society are even
Darknessreflects the passion and horror of its secret masters, and more staid and conservativethan they are in our world, for many
the hope of redemption is the only thing that lets most denizens in power prefer the evil of the world they know to the chaos
of this cursed place go on living -or unliving. engendered by change. It is a divisive world of have and have-
not, rich and poor, excess and squalor.

VAMMRET: HE~ Q U E R A D E
28

The Punk aspect is the lifestyle that many denizens of the CITIF’~
World of Darkness have adopted. In order to give their lives
meaning, they rebel, crashing themselves against the crags of Vampires are inherently creatures of the city, though some
power. Gangsprowl the streetsand organized crimebreeds in the claim this is a matter of decision rather than nature. Urban land-
underworld, reactions to the pointlessness of living “by the scapesoffer everythinga Kindredcould want: near-infinite supplies
book.” Music is louder, faster, more violent or hypnotically of blood, enough contact to satisfy the most socialof vampires (and
monotonous, and supported by masses who find salvation in its enoughseclusiontosatisfythe most isolationist),andrefugefromthe
escape. Speech is coarser, fashionis bolder, art is more shocking, werewolveswho linger in the rural lands beyond the city lights.
and technology brings it all to everyone at the click of a button.
The world is more corrupt, the people are spiritually bankrupt, Unfortunately forthe Kindred, cities arebreedinggroundsfor
and escapism often replaces hope. the events of the Jyhad, the great cannibalistic war that has raged
among the undead for longer than the eldest vampiresremember.
As if thisweren’tfearful enough, the last few yearshave seen The night is as capriciousas the Kindred themselves are, and long
a quiet but pervasive dread grip the Kindred community. Many periods of relative peace can erupt into bloodshed with little or no
Kindred whisper of the Jyhad, the eternal war or game said to warning. As vampires cling to the cities for protection and suste-
consume the most ancient vampires. This struggle has been nance, juxtaposition with other Kindred is inevitable.
waged since the dawn of time, but many vampires fear that, as
one millennium passes to the next and the curse of undeath In the nights of old,when humans were fewer and cities not
grows weaker, a n apocalyptic endgame is at hand. Signs and
portents, many recorded in the prophetic Book of Nod, trouble socongested, Kindred often stalked their hunting groundsalone,
vampires of all clans and lineages, even those who professnot to never seeing another of their kind. In the modern era, contact
believe. Whispers in Sabbat covens and Camarilla salons alike with other predators is nearly unavoidable, and so some balance
speak of turmoil in the East, of armies of Clanless rabble, of ofpower usuallyexists within a city. Elder vampires controltheir
vampires whose blood is so thin that they cannot Embrace, of own territories, the princes of the undead govern with iron
meetings with mysterious elders whose vast power betrays n o talons, lawlessanarchsclash on the streets of the slums, and wild
discernible lineage, of black crescent moons and full moons red vampiricfztes take place far from the eyes of mortals. Even the
as blood. All, say the believers, are omens that the Final Nights gravest Kindred conflicts occur behind the veil of the Masquer-
are approaching, and that the end of all things is nigh. ade, the code of silence that preventsthe Kindred from revealing
themselves to the humans around them.
Some Kindred believe that a Reckoning is at hand, that the
powersof Heaven are preparing at last to judge the vampires and Ironically, the cities are both prisons and paradises to the
what they have made of the world. Others speak of the Winnow- Kindred. By leaving, they risk losing their unlives to starvation or
ing, or Gehenna,the night when the most ancient vampires will the claws of werewolves. By staying, they may indulge their
rise to consume their progeny, taking their lessers’cursed blood passions,but inevitably clashwith others of their kind. It is a tense,
to sate their own hunger. Few admit to such superstitions, but tenuous existence, andonedevoted tostavingoff the myriadcurses
most feel a palpable tension in these nights. Elder vampires play of immortality: depression, futility and maddening boredom.
their hands in one fell swoop, negating centuries-long schemes
in asinglemad flurryof action. Thewarpacks of the dread Sabbat A rough ratio of vampires to mortals has evolved in the last
hurl themselves at the fortresses of their enemies, for they fear
they might not get another opportunity. Cells of Assamite century. Many vampire princes enforce a limit of one vampire
cannibals, formerly held in check by a great curse, hunt other per 100,000mortals, in the interests of keeping the existence of
vampires and ravenously drink their blood. Vampires of uncer- the Kindred a secret. Nonetheless-and particularly in the last
tain lineage are hunted down and destroyed by paranoid elders, few years -some cities exceed this ratio, and the ever-growing
who fear them as harbingers of Gehenna. Though patience is a population of Kindred is becoming a very dire concern. In cities
special virtue among the immortals, it is practiced less and less, that do not slavishly heed the Masquerade, such as those under
and the whole Kindred world teeters on the verge of a great Sabbat control, the ratio may soar to two or three times the
collective frenzy. acceptable level. Overpopulation is not an easy problem to
address; arbitrarily deciding which vampires may stay and which
Gothic-Punk is a mood and setting conveyed during the must suffer the Final Death is a matter of policy n o prince wishes
course of the game. T h e greatest share of creating this to decide, except in the most critical of circumstances.
ambience falls upon the Storyteller, but players should
consider their characters’ stake in it as well. T h e ambience Some vampires, though, feel that the situation will be
is also a matter of taste. Some troupes may prefer more addressed forcibly. Young vampires of weak blood appear with
Gothic than Punk, while others may want equal amounts of increasing frequency in the elders’ cities, and many Kindred
both elements, or little of either. In the end, it’s your game, whisper that the time of the “grazing,”when the hidden masters
and you are free to make of it what you will. Simply bear in of the Jyhad will arise and devour the rest, is nigh.
mind that experiencing the world is a shared endeavor, and
everything the players and Storyteller do helps make that THFKINDRED
world more believable. Actions, settings, characters and
descriptions all convey the Gothic-Punk aesthetic. Vampires have long been feared as rapacious monsters of
the night -terrible black forms sweeping out of the darkness to
steal infants from their cribs and ravish the blood of innocents.
Vampires are also creatures of deadly beauty, immense passion
and predatory sensuality.

CHAPTEORNEA: WORLDOFDARKNESS
29

Each vampire is unique, and each has her own fascinating immortal Damned themselves. There is a smalldegree of mobil-
story to tell. The most important characteristic all vampires ity, however, as elder Kindred are always looking for assets and
share, though, is their damnation. More important than any allies who may aid them against their rivals in the Jyhad.
lineage,clan, sector cause is the fact that all vampiresare undead
predators.Fealties and duties fall second to the inescapable urge The greatest status is accorded to the Antediluvians, vam-
of hunger. Without exception, vampires are parasites,cursed by pires of the Third Generation. Most vampires consider these
fate to prey upon those from whom they originated. Kindred to be legendary -certainly, none has been verifiably
seen in the modern nights. The lowest rung of status is held by
Vampire emphasizesthis theme over all others. Vampires rank neonates and the clanlessCaitiff, those claimed by no clan
are monsters. How does it feel to leave a dead, bloodlesschild in or with blood too weak to trace a proper lineage.
a dumpster?To manipulate mortals like pawns on a chessboard?
Antediluvians: These ancient vampires, if they exist at all,
To suspect that the elders wield you as an unwitting weapon are likelythe most powerful creaturesin the world. Membersof the
against their ancient foes?To eke out an unlife of secrecy and Third Generation, the Antediluvians are only two steps removed
bloodshed? To succumb to the wiles of the Beast and tear from the First Vampire, Caine. Antediluvians,when they choose
to rise from their long sleep, affect all with whom they come in
innocent victims to shreds? contact; according to the few fractured accounts of their doings,
they possessvirtuallygodlikepower.Accordingto Kindredlegend,
In response to their environment,the Kindredhave evolved there were 13originalAntediluvians,though somehave allegedly
a complex society that exists just out of sight of the mortals who been destroyed. Their eternal struggle, the Jyhad, touches all
surround them. Age, clan, sect, sire,power, influence and many
other aspects of unlife make the Kindred who they are. Part of Kindred, and innumerable layers of manipulation and deception
any Kindred’sbeing is membership in a number of social castes make the plots of these Ancients almost imperceptible.
that grace vampire society. By creating and enforcing divisions
and roles for themselves, no matter how artificial, the Kindred Methuselahs: If the Antediluvians are the Kindred’s
seek to escape the Beast that roils within them. Vampire: The
Masquerade is, in fact, a double entendre. Not only do vampires gods, the terrible Methuselah are demigods and avatars. At a
hide frommortals,they hide from themselvesas well,pretending point between a vampire’sthousandth and two thousandth year,
they are not the horrors they have truly become. a grave change overtakes the Kindred. Sometimes the change is
physical, while at other times it is mental or emotional. What-
One way the Damned distinguish themselves is through a ever the nature of the change, the end result is that the vampire
combination of age andgeneration,or how far removeda Kindred no longerbears any semblanceofhumanity.Having truly moved
is from the progenitor vampire, Caine. Young vampires must from the earthly into the realm of the supernatural, the
prove themselves to their elders to be afforded any bit of status, Methuselahs often retire into the earth, where they may slumber
and Kindred society is often as stagnant and stultifying as the away from the thirsty fangs of younger vampires. Their powers

VpvMpiRE: THEMASQUERADE
30

are so great, however, that they continue to direct their inscru- two centuries, the vast majority of vampires are ancillae or
table plans mentally,communicating magically or telepathically neonates (see below).
(and almost always invisibly) with their minions.
Neonates: Neonates vary from newly released fledglings
Kindred greatly fear the Methuselahs, who are accordedany to indolent Kindred of a hundred years or more. Marked by the
number of horrifyingcharacteristics.Rumors speakof Methuselahs stigma of not yet having proved themselves to the elders,
whose skinhasbecomestone,of everythingfromhideousdisfigure- neonatesare inexperienced vampireswho might one night make
ments to unearthly beauty that cannot be looked upon. Some are
believed to drink only vampire blood, while others control the something of themselves-but, more likely,will fall as pawns in
fates of entire nations from their cold tombs.
the schemes of the other undead.
Elders: Elders are Kindred who have existedfor hundreds
of years, and typically range from sixth to eighth generation. Fledglings: Also known more loosely as “childer” (al-
With centuries of accumulated cunning and a terrible thirst for though every vampireexceptCaine issomeone’schilde),fledglings
power, elder Kindred are the most physically active participants are newlyreborn vampiresstill under the tutelage and protection
in the Jyhad - they do not suffer the long fits of torpor that of their sires, the vampires who created them. Fledglings are not
hamper the Methuselahs and Antediluvians, but they are not so
powerless or easily manipulated as the younger Kindred are. The consideredfull membersof Kindred societyand are often treated
term “elder”itself is a bit subjective; a Kindred who qualifies as
an elder in the New World might be just another ancilla in disrespectfullyor as the sire’sproperty.When her siredecidesher
Europe or older corners of the Earth. Elders keep a stranglehold childe is ready, the fledgling may become a neonate, subject to
on the Kindred power structure, preventing younger vampires the prince’s approval.
from attaining positions of influence by exercisingcontrol they
have maintained for decades, if not centuries. OTHERDISTINCTIONS

Ancillae: Ancillae are relatively young vampires (be- Anarchs: Anarchs are vampireswho reject the Traditions
tween one and two hundred years of unlife) who have proved
themselvesas valuable members of Kindredsociety.Ancillae are of Caine and the dictates of the elders who enforce them.
the lackeys to greater Kindred, and -if they’re clever or lucky
-tomorrow’selders. Ancilla is the rank between neonate and Ironically,eldersgrudginglyafford anarchs somedegreeof status,
elder, signifyingthat the Kindred has cut her teeth (soto speak), due to the anarchs’ability to obtain power in spite of the elders’
but lacks the age and experience to become a true master of the opposition. Anarchs are also respected for their passion and
Jyhad. Because the world’s population has grown so in the last drive,which few elderKindred,mired as they are in their age and
dissatisfaction,can muster. Ultimately, however, most Kindred
see anarchs as jackals, scavenging their unlives from what slips
through the elders’fingers.

Caitiff: The Caitiff are the clanlessvampires, outcast by
other Kindred and despisedby those who bother to notice them
at all. Vampires may become clanlesseither by having no idea of

CHAPTERONEA: WORLDOFDARKNESS
31

their sires’identities (and thus having no sense of lineage) or by
being of such a weak generation that no identifyingclan charac-
teristicsare discernible.Caitiffarealmostuniversallyregarded as
bastard children and orphans, though some rise to a degree of
prominence among the anarchs. Once there were few Caitiff,
but the post-WWII period has seen a sharp increase in their
numbers. Some elders whisper direfully of the “Time of Thin
Blood” that signifiesthe imminence of Gehenna.

THFEMRRACF

Not every victim of the vampire’s Kiss rises to become
Kindred herself -making a new vampire requires a conscious

effort,and often permission. The Embrace is the term for the act

of turning a mortal into avampire. When a vampirewishes to sire
progeny, her hunts take on a new characteristic. No longer does
the Kindred simply search for sustenance; instead, she becomes
more aware and cunning, lookingfor the perfect combinationof
personal behaviors that warrant immortality.

Thereasonsfor Embracingnew Kindredvary fromvampireto
vampire.Some siresfeel great remorse over their undying curse of
vampirism,and selectmortalswhomight “givesomethingback”to

the depravedrace of Kindred.A few vampireslook for greatartists,

thinkers,creatorsorjust compassionatesoulswhose talentsshould
be preserved forever. These Kindredoften suffergreatlywhen they
seewhat their selfishnesswreaks upon those brought into the fold,
for the Embraceoftendestroysthe sparkof creativity.Kindredlack
the ability to truly innovate -they ride human trends rather than
set them, and even their most inspired works are nothing more
than pale imitationsof mortal work that has gone before. I t is an
ironythat thoseKindredwho wouldpreserve a childe’sgift forever
actually do more damage to their progeny’s talent than simply
allowing it to age naturally ever would.

Other Kindred are vindictive and spiteful with the Em-
brace, choosing mortals whom they wish to see suffer. Some
particularly cruel Malkavians delight in bringing the truly and
pitiably insane into their ranks, hoping to glean some new
insight from a fledgling’s madness as she sinks into despair.The
hideous Nosferatu also delight in Embracing the vain or beauti-

ful into their clan, enjoying the anguished shrieks of the childe

as she becomes a malformedhorror. Even the Toreador, in their
degeneracy,sometimesselectchilder for the purpose of asserting
their superiorityover those who had been spoiled in life.

Most Kindred,however, Embraceout of lonelinessor desire.
These vampires are invariablythe worst off as,after the culmina-
tion of their lust or anguish, they are left not with soulmates,but
with monsters every bit as callous and predatory as they are.

Kindred rarely Embrace capriciously -the right to create a
childe is seldomgranted,and thosewho observe the Traditionsare
loath to squander an opportunitythat they may not receive again
for a thousand years. Somevampires,though,areflighty,negligent
or simply heedless of a prince’s right to destroy them and their
progeny. The ranks of the Caitiff swell with Kindred who do not
know their lineage, accidentally rose after being left for dead by
carelessvampires, or otherwiseleft sireswho cared little for them.

The physical act of creatinga Kindred is not complex,though
manysiresrefuse to instructtheir childerin the process.Thevampire

VRMPIWTHEMA~~UERADL
32

first drains his victim’s blood to the point of death -which is not longer entirely herself, and must forever be wary of the Hunger
that bums inside her.
difficult,for once the Kiss is administered,the victim is usually too
lost in the agonizingraptureto resisther attacker.Afterremovingall Also at this time,the childelearns- too late!-to appreciate
of her prospective childe’smortalblood, the sireplaces a quantityof the emotional capacity possessed by mortals. As a vampire, the
childe’sheart has died, leaving her a cold corpse incapableof truly
her own blood in the childe’smouth. This amount varies, as some feeling anything.Most vampires compensateby makingthemselves
feel, conjuringup memories of emotions long dead. Desperation is
vampires literallysuckle their childerat their ownwristswhile other all that remains in the heartsof many vampires,as they realizewhat
Kindredplace the tiniestdropontheir childer’slipsandwatchasthe they have lost as their mortal selves died.
Beast takes over thereafter. Vampires of the Sabbat reputedly
The first nights are a time of bleak revelations. Many
Embrace their childer and then bury them, forcing the progeny fledglingscannot cope with the terrible new world of night into
literally to dig themselves out of their own graves. which they have been reborn, and choose to meet the obliterat-
ing rays of the sun rather than continue their existences.
Whatever course is taken, the childe then dies a mortal and
spiritual death, only to rise unnaturally afterward. Most of the HUNTING
time, dying is a period of great pain and anguish; the childe
suffers spasmsand shock as her body sloughsoff the mortal coil. The most important lesson a newly Embraced Kindred
learns is how to hunt for human prey. The sire inevitably takes
The instant of rebirth, by comparison, is perhaps the an important role in this process,either instructing the childe in
greatest pleasure a Kindred may ever feel, and is likely the last the art of feeding or leaving her to &r own devices and offering
true ecstasy the vampire will ever know. As the mysticalprocess criticism afterward.
transforms the now-dead corpse of the childe, it evens out
imperfections and often makes the body beautiful, albeit in a The malice in a Kindred’s personality tends to come to the
surrealmanner. Suchbeauty isfrightening to behold, apredatory forewhen instructing a childe how to hunt. Manyvampires offer
grace like that of a shark or venomous snake. The childe’ssenses no “weaningperiod” to their childer, whereby the vampire may
also hone to an uncanny level, revealing sounds she has never subsiston the blood of animals. In fact, many siresfail to inform
before heard or heeded, tactile stimuli never appreciated with their childer that animal blood may sustaina vampire.They turn
touch, panoplies of color imperceptible to the human eye, and the childer upon humankind immediately,forcingthem to prey
myriad individually distinguishable smells. upon what they once were.

The vampire’s sense of taste heightens as well, though A childe soon learns that the hunt is the crux of a vampire’s
toward a single, terrible flavor. Only one substance satisfiesthe existence. Of all the practices to which the sire introduces his
vampire: human blood. From the moment she rises,the vampire
is a slave to the passion of her Hunger, and every night from her childe, feeding is the only one absolutely mandatory to the
Embrace to eternity she will experience a starvation that can be existence of a vampire. Thus, many sires guide their childer into
sated only by preying upon members of her former species. savoring the hunt, stoking their passions on their prey’s terror or
basking in the anticipation of a draught of blood even before it
After the Embrace,the childe is known as a fledgling,under courses over their lips. The vampire’s feeding,known as the Kiss,
the protection and guidance of her sire until that sire deems her engenders great ecstasy in the wessel, the person upon whom the
ready to face the night alone. It is the sire’s responsibility to vampire feeds. Needless to say, the Kindred feels physical bliss as
educate the childe in the ways of the Kindred, though such well, as nourishing vitae rushes in to fill the void in the vampire’s
soul.
education is rarelyformal,often spotty,and always tainted by the
Kindred feed in numerous manners, as best befits their
sire’sjealousiesand prejudices. Many sires, desiringconspirators, personalities. Some Kindred prefer the brutality of feeding from
sycophants or outright dupes, poison the minds of their childer whomeverthey choose,roughlyhandling their vesselsandleaving
againsttheir enemiesor intentionally leaveout important bits of them broken afterward. Others go to great lengths to increase the
information, the better to rein in the childe later. sensualityof the Kiss,concoctingelaborateseductionsand gather-
ing veritable harems of mortal lovers from whom they can feed.
FIRSTNIGHTS Still other Kindred steal their vessels’vitae without their knowl-
edge, feeding from the sleeping or the oblivious. Kindred also
As the childe slowly enters the world of the Damned, she experience the aftereffects of drinking from vessels who have
leams about the societyof the undead through her sire’s tutelage peculiaritiesof blood -the vitae of an ill individual tastespoorly
and accumulated experience. Should the sire introduce her to and may have an adverse effect on the vampire, while a Kindred
other Kindred, the fledgling may gain a firsthand knowledge of who feedsfroma drunkenor druggedvesselwill feel as if sheherself
the pomp and ritual associated with the vampires’society. Most
sires, however, sequester their childer from other Kindred, is drunk or high. A few Kindred enjoy this vicarious debauchery,
fearingthat exposureto othervampiresmay swaytheir younglings’
knowledge away from what the sires wish them to learn. and select their vessels specifically for such intoxication.

Many of these first nights are spent learning what it means In the end,each vampirecultivatesher own particularstyle
to be undead. The childe inevitably meets her Beast, and either and preferenceswhen feeding. Learning to feed gives the vam-
fallsto frenzyor learnsearlyonhow tosubjugateitswild call. The pire an opportunity to find these preferences, and the sire often
sire may offer aid and guidance in thwarting the Beast, or he may enjoys watching his childe take the first few fumbling steps
watch as it overtakeshis childe, then admonishher for weakness toward becoming a true predator. Kindred must remember,
afterward. It is now that the childe learns that undeath is indeed
a curse -despite the power brought by the Embrace, she is no

CHAPTEORNLA: WORLDOFDARKNESS
33

though, to observe the Masquerade when feeding. To this end, Kindred keep their mortal homes as havens,while others choose
locationswhere n o one would even consider to look, to discour-
they typically lick the puncture wounds made by their fangs, age unwelcome visitors.
magically sealing them shut and leaving no traces of their
presence. DOMAIN

HAWNS Although only the most powerful vampires claim regions of
domain, most vampires tacitly claim small areas of personal
As a fledgling grows more and more knowledgeable in the
influence. Of course, many princes allow vampires to claimonly
ways of the Kindred, she must establish her own haven. Al-
their havens and immediate surroundings as domains.
though her earlynightsare likelyspentin the companyof her sire
and the safety of his haven, the time inevitably comes to leave A vampire’s domain is the area in which she is the authority
the nest.
-king of the castle, as it were. This does not necessarily mean
Selecting a haven is a very personal process, much as that she has any “control” or vested interest in the domain,
merely that it is nominally her “turf.” Other Kindred who wish
selecting a mortal dwelling is. A vampire must consider certain to visit must ask permission of the Kindred who claims it as
domain.
requirements when deciding upon her haven, however, that
most mortals need not pay heed to. Few young vampires claimdomainother than their havens;
elders have already taken the city’sprime areas under their own
Obviously, the haven must be secure from the rays of the aegis. This is a great bone of contention among many cities’
sun. Even the slightest lick of sunlight can cause a Kindred to Kindred, asthe increasing numbers of undead must make dowith
the dwindling resources offered by the finite area in which they
burst into flame. A haven must also offer reasonable isolation - find themselves. Sometimes, open revolt or subtle usurpation is
the only way to acquire new domain.
curious neighbors who observe the nocturnal comings and
goings of the person in the apartment next door may prove KINDRFSDOCIFTY
bothersome. Finally, the haven should offer physical security;
during the daylight hours, vampires slumber unstirringly, and Vampires are first and foremost solitary predators. A Kin-
evenshould they manage torouse themselves, they act sluggishly
and with great lethargy. Foes who find a vampire’s lair have a dred might go years or even decades without seeing another
great advantage on that Kindred, for she is at their mercy. vampire, preferring to hunt in solitude or walk among a select
group of mortals. Nonetheless, most Kindred choose or are
For these reasons, many Kindred prefer inaccessible or
highly guarded havens. The Nosferatu prefer the secrecy offered
by the sewers, while no self-respecting Ventrue would think of
keeping anythinglessthan lavishly appointed apartments. Some

VAMPIRET:HEMASQUERADE
34

forced to interact with their fellows at some point in their a title native to the land he rules, such as “baron,” “sultan,”
unlives; the movements of the Jyhad rarely leave even the most “count” or a less formal title such as “boss.” Kindred scholars
detached Kindred entirely untouched. tracing the originsof the term believe that it had its roots in the
Dark Ages, in reference to the lord of the manor, becoming a
The society of the Damned is as structured as any mortal solid term of address after the publishing of Machiavelli’sThe
institution, if not more so. Numerous offices, titles and respon- Prince.
sibilitiescirculate among the upper echelons of a city’sKindred,
and these positions confer great power -albeit with an accom- A prince does not “reign”over a city. His role is more like
panying peril, as those who would shake the foundations of a that of an overseer or magistrate than that of a monarch. He is
Kindred power structure often come looking for obvious title- the judge who settles disputes between Kindred, the ultimate
holders. authority on the Traditions as they relate to his city, and the
keeper of the peace. Above all, his concern is the Masquerade
The following societal tableaux apply primarily to Kindred and its preservation. Whether this means he regularlyscours his
of the sect known as the Camarilla. As the upholder of the city for Sabbat or keeps a stranglehold on the wilder elements is
Masqueradeand preserverof the ancient traditions of power, the up to him. Not every prince realizes or cares that his power is
Camarilla sets the standard of vampiric interaction. Vampires meant to be so informal; indeed, some demand that they be
may adhere to the Camarilla’smodel or defiantlydeviate from it, treated like the kings of old, holding “court”and requiring that
but they cannot simply ignore it. Kindred entirely outside the their “subjects”within the domain attend them as they pass royal
Camarilla’saegis often follow very different customs and mores, pronouncements. Such arrogancecan rankle the populace,both
but we will speak of these things later. disenfranchised youth and irritated elders.

THFPRINCF The vampire denizens of a city owe their prince no oaths of
loyalty or vassalage. Their obedience depends on their coward-
For time out of mind, vampiresfollowedDarwin’slaw: Only ice, and most princes make certain to have some means of
the strong survive.Those who had the mettle to seize power and
reinforcing that cowardice. If a prince’s rule is questioned or
the strength to hold it would rule, and so it was. Vampires styled
thwarted, he may call in force to maintain control. However, if
themselves as warlords and nobles, controlling whatever terri- there is not enough force for the problem, or he finds himself
without allies, his reign ends.
tory they could hold,living in uneasy truce with their mortal and
Having followedthe protocol demanded by the Traditions,
Cainite neighbors, and ever seeking to expand their holdings most vampires ignore their prince, or give him half an ear at best
and herds. In the cities of the ancient world, this often proved to make sure they don’t miss anything that might pertain to
disastrous, as vampires battled for trade and feeding grounds. them. O n the whole, Kindred have plenty of diversions to
occupy themselveswith besideslistening to their ‘‘leader.’’Some
In the elder nights, the strongest vampire in each city or elders, Inconnu and those in a position not to care (such as
region claimed domain over it and used whatever means neces- justicars) find princely announcements alternately amusingand
sary to keep his control over it. As time went on, traditions arrogant, the blustering of a youngster still impressed with the
sprang up around this claiming and controlling, and certain gaudy trappings of power.
responsibilitieswere either tacitly assumed or forcibly taken by
the one in power. The Camarilla set down and enforced these When all is said and done, however, the prince is nothing
ideals over the centuries following the Renaissance. In 1743,a
London anarch published a pamphlet decrying the elder society to brush off. A prince wields vast amounts of temporal power to
of Kindred, breaking the Masquerade in a most flamboyant
manner. The Camarilla responded quickly, first by covering up achieve and maintain her position. Not only does she manage
the incident (“A most remarkable work of fantastical fiction!”) the Kindred affairs of a city, she usually has quite a bit of sway
and destroying the anarch, and then by formallyacknowledging over mortal business. The police, the fire department, construc-
the position of prince. The office is still held by many vampires tion companies,hospitals,the mayor’soffice -all are extremely
in these nights. useful for putting down one’s enemies or securingone’shold on

The prince is, to put it simply, the vampire who has enough a particular sphere of influence. If the prince wishes to squash a
power to hold domain over acity, codify the lawsfor that city and
keep the peace. Such a position is typically held by an elder, for gang of particularly troublesome anarchs, she can have a con-
who but an elder has the necessarypersonal charismaand power structioncompanybulldozetheir haven in the middle of the day.
to take and hold domain in a metropolis?In some small towns,
younger vampires may be able to claim domain in the same way, A Church-sponsored hunter operating out of a local cathedral
but their claimsare rarely respected by the coteries of the cities.
O n occasion, strange circumstances have placed younger vam- may find the mayor’soffice calling to inquire about his church‘s
pires in a position to rule cities, but few such upstarts manage to tax-exempt status.Such influencesusually capture the attention
hold their titles when the elders appear. of those who might otherwise be inclined to thumb their noses
at a prince. It is unwise to anger the one who could have your
The title “prince”is simplythat -a title given to formalize haven condemned by the zoning board or your phone line
a role, whether that role is held by a man or a woman. There are “accidentally”cut while a gas main is being dug.
no dynastiesof vampiresholding their citiesfor centuries on end,
no hereditary ascensions. Sometimes a prince may be called by BECOMINPGRINCE

As was mentioned earlier, there are no dynasties or royal
families from which princes are selected (though some clans
would argue that point). Traditionally, the eldest vampire of a

G~AFOTRNE:A WORLDOFDARKNKS
35

city rules, although this is no longer true in every city. It is one Most elders, and indeed the majority of vampires in a city,
thing to say that the eldest traditionally rules the city, but any will support a prince in the name of a stable city. War is never
pleasant and,for eldersconcerned with their survival, war means
vampire may challenge for domain and princedom. A prince the potential for Final Death. Unless a prince has become
reigns freely only when her claim is unchallenged. If she finds completely unmanageable - through insanity, supernatural
corruption or excessive tyranny -the Cainites of her city can
herself squaring off with one or more other claimants, then count o n being stuck with her for a good while.
things get messy. There is a mad scramble for the crown, and
whoever is left standingwill rule. “Coronation,” if it can be truly Abdication can, and occasionally does, happen. Indeed, in
called that, can be anything from a bloodless, elder-backed coup recent nights, a number of strange, sudden abdications and
to a violent usurpation led by a bloodthirsty coterie. Normally, uncanny disappearances of ruling figures have rocked the an-
the current regime is overthrown brutally and mercilessly, serv-
ing the dualpurpose of dealing with the old prince and providing cient power structures. If one or more primogen choose to make
agraphicdemonstrationofthe new prince’spower. Whoeverthe
new prince and however she takes the throne, though, she needs unlife miserable for their prince for whatever reason, she may be
the support of the elders if she wishes to hold the crown for more
than a night. Most importantly, the council of elders known as driven from office. A vote of no confidence is also possible, but
the primogen must sanction the reign of a prince; without this
acknowledgment, the reign will be a remarkably short one. rare in the extreme, owing to the potential chaos that can arise
when a prince is forced out of office or leaves under bitter
Combat for the princedom is not simply a matter of pistols circumstances.
at midnight on a deserted street, or for that matter any kind of
direct combat. Like everything about the Children of Caine, ADVANTAGOEF PS RINCEDOM
subtlety in all things counts, and the war for the crown takes
place entirely in the shadows. The city’s vampires - elders, Some vampires believe that only the insaneor vain seek out
coteries, individuals -choose their sides as the rivals cultivate the position of prince. After all, as the symbol of Cainite power
allies and determine enemies. Many things can drive a Kindred in a city, the prince is the likeliest target for anarchs, Sabbat and
to choose a particular claimant -promise of reward, loyalties to other perils. Add to this the political squabbling and jockeying
the vampire orher clan, concessionsguaranteedupon ascension, for positionwithin a prince’s “court,”and perhaps the critics are
personal beliefs, or threats-but once she has chosen, changing right. However, princedom must come with advantages to
loyalties can be extremely dangerous, particularly if she has entice even the lowest to dream, and it does in spades.
backed the wrong claimant when the fighting is done. Mortal
institutions under vampiric influence -banks, industry, high Right to progeny -Only the prince may freely create
society,education,police, the underworld -are brought to bear progeny. Other vampires who wish to sire must first obtain his
o n the rival. Anything that can be done to give an added edge permission or risk the destruction of themselves and their new
can, will, and has been tried. When the smoke clears, there is childer. The prince may deny a Kindred who has offended him
usually one claimant left standing, and the prize is in her grasp. permission to sire a childe;conversely, he may sire as he chooses,
Rarely is a new prince generous enough to leave her rival alive; in order to have more loyal followers. Most princes are reluctant
even if she were, the primogen would never allow it to happen. to allow their subjects to sire. This stems partly from paranoia,
Revenge,particularly that offallenrivals,isadish best not served partly from simple space considerations; after all, a n over-
at all. crowded city risks the Masquerade.

CLFANINHGO U ~ F Protection of the elders - The primogen generally
support their prince so long as he maintains order, preserves the
Sometimes a group of anarchs or ancillae decides to bring Masquerade, and protects the city during times of trouble, such
down a prince once and for all. Coups are dangerous to attempt as werewolf incursions or Sabbat attacks.
unless one is very secure in one’s allies. Princes rarely get their
seats on charm alone, and most have broods of childer for Political power - Among the Camarilla, a prince can
protection. Taking on the prince can also mean taking on the expect to be heard by most elders and enjoys greater status than
primogen, who can readily crush any potential insurrection in the ruck and run of Kindred. In almost any gathering, he is
the name of the city’s stability. typically accorded great respect.

A coup usually results in a political vacuum, and in the Control over domain and those who enter -Under the
Fifth Tradition, the prince may extend his reign to those who
Kindred world, vacuums can have far-reaching consequences. A enterhis domain, which isthe entire city or region. New vampire
city in turmoil means instability; coteries battle for a place in the arrivals, whether travelers or hopeful residents, are expected by
new order, elders war to ensure their survival, and sometimes the the same Tradition to present themselves to him. The prince
turmoil attracts the unwelcome presence of Sabbat,werewolves may punish Kindred who fail to introduce themselves.
or witch-hunters. The resulting threat to the Masquerade can
occasionally mean setting up any likely vampire to temporarily Feeding -The prince may restrict or limit the feeding
stabilize the city, but suchsolutions are rarely effective and often grounds of other vampires for any number of reasons, chief
result in further chaos. among them the preservation of the Masquerade. This most
often affects where Kindred may feed (e.g., “Not in the red-light
district” or “Avoid the Clermont Hotel”) and from whom (e.g.,
“Clergy and children are forbidden”).Disobeying orders regard-
ing feeding can be very dangerous, as the prince may punish
violators on grounds of breaking the Masquerade.

VAMPIRE:THEMASQUERADE
36

Domain over enemies - By the Sixth Tradition, the
prince may call a blood hunt against those who cross her too
many times. She may not destroy at will (the elders’protection
can run out inconveniently if she oversteps her bounds), but if
she determines her enemies to have broken one or more Tradi-
tions, she isperfectlywithinher rights to punish them.Naturally,
what constitutes a violation of the Traditions can be stretched
quite far in the name of power.

THENIGHTLGY AME

The powerplays and intriguesthat swarm around any prince

are rarely dull. When several elders jostle for greater position and
access to the prince, unlife can get downright exciting. Each
Cainite has her own way to attempt to sway her ruler to her side,
whether through cajolery,flattery, trickery or even threats if the
stakesare high enough. Through it all, the players practice studied
disinterest in the whole messy business, but only a fool would
believeit. Pushingmattersto thepointofacoupdetator abdication
is ill advised -power vacuums can mean blood in the streetS-
but the elders play more than one game in the corridors of power.

Most princes are “advised” by a group of elders called the
primogen. Collectively, the primogen can be considered among
the most powerful vampires in a city, and can rival the prince for
influence of the city’s Kindred. Individually,however, they are
either not aspowerful as the princehimself or do not care to devote
themselvesto the duties of maintaining a city (bewarethese last,
for if they become discontented, they can influence a coup by
merely stretching). The primogen usually serve as check and
balance against the power of the prince, while seeking to advance
their own or their clan’s agendas. The bickering of the primogen
can bog down the simplest of decisionsand cause as much or more
trouble than a prince’s high-handed pronouncements.

The strugglebetween and among prince and primogen is by
no means the sole component of the Kindred’s political game.

The prince versus the elders, clan versus clan, elder versus
neonate, traditionalist versus anarch -add in personal vendet-
tas, revenge,greed,alliances and powermongering,and one has
a very unsettled mix that can change from night to night.

OTHFRKINDREODF
IMPORTANCE

Over the centuries, certain positions have sprung up in the
cities.Some assist the prince in keepingorder; others beganmore
as “vanity”positions,but became more solidifiedand codified as
time went on.

The Primogen-The pimgen are the assembledelders of
each clan in a city. Most often, each clan has a representative
primogen, but in some cities a prince refuses to allow a given clan
to place a member on this council of elders. In theory, primogen
represent their clans among the political body of elders, but in
practice the primogen are more often an “oldvampires’club” and
an incestuousnest of treachery and favor-currying. Primogen -
the term refers to individualmembersas well as the collectedbody
-convene at the prince’s discretion. In cities with powerful or
despotic princes, the primogen may be nothing more than a
figurehead,while in other citiesprincesgovern solely at the whim
of the elder council.

CHA~EORNEA: WORLDOFDARKNW

31

It is worth noting that the prince is often not the primogen which knife to put at her throat. A seneschal is meant to be I
forhis clan. AlthoughsomeKindred claim that having duplicate
clans involved in the political structureweighs matters in favor chamberlain, a second-in-command and an advisor to the prince
of that clan, no one is really in a position to change it. At any time, he may be asked to step into the prince’splace if shc
leaves town on business, abdicates or is slain. Naturally, a princc
The Sheriff -Most sheriffs are appointed by the prince wishes to have final authority on such an important position, an(
and approved by the primogen. While the job description may many have fought endlesslywith their primogen over the subject
vary from city to city, the sheriffs prime job is to be the prince’s This is a dangerous position in more ways than one -familiarit-
“enforcer,” the vampire who hauls offenders into court, keeps
order on the streets, and generally standsready to assistwith the with the subject can give one ideas.. ..
“muscle” aspects of ruling. Sheriffs may select deputies, who
occasionally require the prince’s approval. The Keeper of Elysium-The keeper is in charge of wha
goes o n in Elysium. A Toreador wishing to display her lates
The Harpies -These Kindred pride themselves o n being work, aTremere wanting to give a lecture,or a Brujahschedulinl
the social managers of Elysium. They traffic in gossip and social a n open debate on princely policies -all must clear thingswit1
maneuvering, and status is their coin. With the right or wrong the keeper, who can cancel or approve an event on the ground:
word to a prince, they can make or break a vampire’splace in the of preserving the Masquerade. The keeper is responsible fo
city. This position is rarely appointed outright; over time, those ensuring that mortals do not enter the area during Elysium an(
with the skills to be harpies tend to rise to the top. Most are that events run smoothly. Most keepers are appointed by thc
unimpressedwith displaysof bluster and demonstrate remarkable prince, often with the stipulation that their appointment i;
insight intovampirenature. Buckingaharpy willassureone aplace conditional until their qualifications are assured.
at the bottommost rung of the ladder of power for years to come.
The Scourge-As the nights grow more and more violen
TheWhip- Primogenoccasionallykeepwhipsasassistants. and the cities fill with unknown Kindred, some princes havi
Not muchdifferentfrom the whips inmortalgovernment, the whip’s resurrected this ancient position. Essentially, the scourge patrol
job is to goad and encouragediscussionand decision-makingduring the borders of a princedom, seeking out and often destroyinl
clan meetings, and to keep the clan updated on their primogen newcomerswho have failed to present themselves. Caitiff, as we1
members’doings. Whips are selectedby the primogen. asthe fledglingsofthe 13th,14thand 15thgenerations,havemucl
to fear from the scourge. In some cases, even vampires who havi
The Seneschal -This is one position that many princes followedprotocol fall victim to the scourge,as princes reflexive11
would like todowithout, but which occasionallyisnecessary.One react to fears of overpopulation and espionage. A few scourgesari
prince described the filling of this position to be akin to choosing Assamite assassinsunder contract to a prince.

VAMPIRET:HEMASQUERADE
38

THFTRADITIONS ence of age.As manyof the rebels are anarchsand neonates,mostly
powerless and without voice in Kindred society,it shouldcome as
A vampire living in a prince-ruled city must accept certain no great surprise that they are so wild. However, not every elder
takes such an indulgent viewpoint. Many feel that the reckless
responsibilitiesfor the privileges of security and stability. This whelpswho demand the Traditionsbe droppedmay get their wish
stability is maintained only when the Kindred within behave in when they bring mortal society down on their heads. Natural
a proper manner, one dictated by a near-universal set of rules. selection takes care of a few of these, but such selection has
occasionally been “assisted”by a prince exasperated beyond pa-
These rules are known by the gentle-sounding name of the Six tience with a particularlyrecalcitrant young vampire.
Traditions, although they are hardly polite suggestions. For
What follows is the most common wordingof the Traditions.
Camarilla Kindred, and the princes who enforce them, they are Bear in mind that this is the phrasingused by elders and on formal
occasions.The wording may change accordingto the clan, the age
the law. A vampire may be assured that wherever she travels,the of the vampirespeaking,or simple circumstance.During a childe’s
presentation to the prince, she may be required to recite the
Traditions will be in force. They may be interpreted differently, Traditions as proof that her sire has taught them to her.

but they remain. It is through the enforcement of these laws, and Thou shalt r e
through the laws themselves, that princes receive much of their the Blood. Doing

power. Obviously, then, princes are among the most zealous of T h y dor
the Traditions’ enforcers.
progeny shall be released, tnou shalt command them in a11
The Six Traditions that form the laws of vampire society are nothing.

believed to havebeenpasseddownsincethe warsthat slew the Second
Generation.They are rarely writtendown,but they have never been

forgotten, and they are known by all Kindred in some form. Even

vampireswho scorn the Traditionsknow them; thoughtheir specific
wordings may vary, the intent behind them never falters.

It is a popular Camarilla conceit that a sire recite the
Traditions to his childe before that childe is recognized as a
neonate. Some princes stage grand spectacles to honor new
childer’stransition from fledglingto neonate, while others need
not even witness the release, trusting the sire with the proper
execution. Almost all childer learn the Traditions well before
this recitation, but the act is accorded great symbolism and
gravity in Camarilla affairs. Staunchsupportersof the Camarilla
and the Traditions maintain that a newlyEmbracedKindredhas
not truly become a vampire until her sire speaks the Traditions
to her. Obviously, the Traditions are quite a serious matter, and
the sire is held accountable for the childe until, by speakingthem
to her, he makes her responsiblefor upholding the code herself.

Some vampiresbelieve that Caine himself createdthe Tradi-
tions when he sired his childer, and that what modern vampires
follow are their progenitor’soriginal wishes for his descendants.
Others, however, think that the Antediluvians created them to
maintain control over their childer,or that they were simply a set
of commcjn-sense ideas that were upheld over the millennia
because they worked. The Tradition of the Masquerade, for
example,is thought to have existed in some form since the nights
of the First City, but it changed in response to the Inquisition.

A number of young vampires,children of the modern world,

see the Traditions as being merely a tool of the elders to maintain
their strangleholdon Kindred society,and an antique tool at that.
The times that producedthe need for the Masqueradeare over and
done, ancient history. Caine, Gehenna, the Antediluvians-all
myths with about as much substanceas the Flood or the Tower of
Babel, and all for the sake of controlling the younger generations.
It’s time to drop the Traditions and live in the modern age. The
vampiresof the Sabbat rabidly adhere to this reasoning, and their
scorn for the Traditions is one of the primary motivations behind
their constant attacks on the ancient power structures.

Most elders see the young as temperamentaladolescentswho
think they know everything but who lack the wisdom and experi-

CHAPTEORNEA: WORLDOFDARKNESS
39

THETRADITIOOFNTHF MASQUFRADF Younger vampires, and a number of older ones, often still
attempt to hold bits of territory, protecting and using them as
This has become the foundation of modern Kindred society private feeding grounds. Some anarchs claim that these mini-
and the basis for the Masqueradethat hides vampires from mortal fiefdomsare granted by the prince as reward, proof that only the
eyes. To reveal vampires to the mortal world would be disastrous lapdogs get the treats. This is incorrect -the Kindredwho hold
to both. While most people do not believe in vampires,there are their bits of turf are violating the Second Tradition, and the
enough who do that revealingvampiric existence would place all prince need not stand for it. He often letsviolationsgo, however,
Kindred at risk. In older nights, during the Dark Ages and more in the name of expediency; there are more important concerns
superstitious ages, this Tradition was less strictly enforced, and than chasing after every petty would-be anarch who stakes out
vampiresrode through the night with few caresfor the mortal eyes turf. He may entrust certain trusted allies with guardianship of
who saw them. The Inquisition and Buming Times changed this particular areas, and grant them a few privileges for the burden
drastically,however, as those vampires who could be seen were of the job, but in the end, he holds domain over the city. This
slain and tortured into revealing their secrets. While the youth allows him to keep order, for he may, by the Second Tradition,
may prattle about the Inquisitionas ancient history, it is still very punish interlopers with impunity.
fresh in the minds of the elders who survivedit. This is one of the
greatest points of contention between the Camarilla and the For solitary vampires or small groups staking out their
Sabbat -the Sabbat sees no need to hide itself from the feeble territory, domain holds immense value to them, even if the
kine, while the Camarilla knows the opposite to be true. territory is an urban wasteland. Few princes actually grant
territory, but they occasionally allow “squatters,”provided the
A breach of the Masquerade is the most serious crime a vampires there support them and uphold the law there. The
vampirecancommit, andoneoftheeasiestforaprince to fabricate downside to this is the turf battles that can arise between gangs
if she wishes to punish an enemy. Depending on how strictlythe of anarchs or coteries.These can spillover into the mortal world
prince upholds the Masquerade, anything from using vampiric and threaten the Masquerade. Some princes have gone so far as
to encourage such conflict, regardless of the danger, in order to
powers in publicto having mortal friendsmay constitute a breach. set the troublemakers at each other’s throats and distract them
from the business of the city.
To stave off their immortal boredom, many vampires skirt
the Masquerade as closely as they can, taking thrill from the If nothing else, each Kindred may claim her haven as
forbidden rush that places their unlives in jeopardy. The world
has acknowledged many artists, poets, writers, musicians, mod- domain, making her responsible for the activity in and around
els,clubhabitues,actorsand fashiondesignerswho,unbeknownst the area. Some vampires take an active interest in their environ-
to the populace, were vampires. Of course, many of these ment to ensure a securehaven, while others merely want a room
vampiressaw their unlivescome to abrupt ends, as other Kindred where they can get away from the sun and to hell with the rest.
decided that their continued existences were threats to the
Children of Caine as a whole. The question of what exactly constitutes domain is debated
nightly. Does domain mean the physical territory and its concerns
The Masquerade is a dangerous balance; ironically enough, (suchas hunting and haven), or does a domainalsogrant a vampire
the elderswho supportit most stronglyaresometimesthe oneswho
threaten it (albeit indirectly and without their recognition). An accessto and d u e n c e overthe mortalsphereswithin?Mostprinces
apocryphalstory tells of a pair of vampire-hunters-a new recruit
and her patron -on vigil in a nightclub. The patron said to his argue that domain is strictly an issue of physical “turf,”but wisely
charge, “There is a vampire in this establishment. Find him,” realize that influence over mortalaffairscomeswith the territory,no
whereuponthe charge immediatelyselectedthe thin, pale gentle-
man in 18th-centuryvelvet and brocade. Sure enough, that was matterhow they mightattemptto curbit otherwise.A vampirewho
the vampire -a Ventrue envoy from a neighboring city.
keeps up domain at the docks cannot help but become involved in
THETRADITIOOFNDOMAIN the nightly mortal business of shipping and unions, if for no other
reason than to keep her haven secure (afterall, a labor strikecould
Once, vampires staked claim to specific areas to use as be very inconvenient,particularly ifher bolthole is on the otherside
hunting grounds, bases of power, or because they wished to take of the picket line).Very fewvampiresstakea domainencompassing
care of them. This Tradition was then used to enforce the idea of mortals they cannot affect in some way, which can be a help or a
“domain,” and a vampire could be justified in killing another
because her domain was violated. Over the years, as societies headache to their princes.A princedoes,however,becomeinclined
changed, this became unacceptable. For the past 200 or so years, a
city or region ruled by a prince became the domain of the prince to step in when a particularvampire’spower within and stemming
upon his taking the throne, or at least in theory. The truth is, a from her domain threatens to eclipse his own.
number of vampires maintain domain,many times from the sheer
weightof custom (“Thesewershave ulwuysbeen the domain of the As the nights progress and omens of Gehenna permeate
Kindred society, more and more vampires fortify individual
Nosferatu,”or “AVentrue has ruled thisbank since itsfounding”). domains, holing themselves away in spite of princely prohibi-
O fcourse, in modem nights, with some cities hosting vampire tion. Only in this manner, these paranoid creatures reason, do
they have a chance of surviving the Jyhad.
populationsof30,50,even lOOormore,concessionsmustbemade.
As such, many vampires hunt where they will, in the communal THETRADITIONPORFOGENY
hunting grounds of the city’s bars, theaters and nightclubs, which
are known collectivelyas “The Rack” in Kindred slang. Most princes insist that they are the “elder”of this Tradition’s
wording and, as such, require that any vampire wishing to create
a childe obtain their permission before the creation. Most vam-
pires obey more out of fear than respect; after all, the unlife of a

VmpiE:THEMASQUERADE
40

childe is at risk. If a childe has already been created without THETRADITIOOFNHOSPITALITY
permission, the prince may claim the childe to be of his brood,
declare sire and childe outcast and throw them out of the city, or Some call this the Tradition of “politeness”: Knock before
have both slain outright. At the prince’s discretion,childer who
are created and abandonedwithout being taught of their existence entering. This was done even before princes ruled cities, and
may be “adoptedby other vampires,who acceptfullresponsibility continues to be done even if there is only one other Kindred in a
no differentlythan if they had createdthe childerthemselves.The
Camarilla recognizes the prince’s right to restrict creation, out of domain.Simplyput,avampiretravelingto anewcityshouldpresent
concern for overpopulation.Indeed, such is the Camarilla’scon- herself to the princeorother elder incharge inthat city.Thisprocess
cem for the increasingly strained vampiric population that, at a can be frightfully formal, with a prince demanding some form of
recent conclave, its leaders resurrected the institution of the surety regarding the newcomer’s status, politics and lineage, or as
scourge. Scourges patrol princely domains, finding Kindred cre-
ated without permission and either expelling or destroying them. casualas meetingat Elysiumandintrcducingoneselfpolitely. Some

In the Old World, this Tradition has several corollaries. princes requireguests to announcetheir arrivalsimmediately,while
The would-be sire’s sire must be consulted, as must the prince others accept presentations weekly or within the lunar month.
who holds domain over the sire’s haven (if there is one). Certain very liberal princes even permit visitors to come and go
EuropeanKindred are noted for their complete lack of tolerance unannounced as they please, requiring that a guest present herself
for those who transgress against this Tradition. Failure to gain only if she wishes to take up permanent residence in a city.
the permissionof any of these undead can result in the outright
slayingof the childe, and possibly the sire as well. Disregardand Those who choose not to present themselves take dangerous
lack of respect may be appropriate for American rabble,but they chances. If a city is currently facing Jyhad, a newcomer risks being
mistakenforanenemy.Aprincemay invokethe SecondTraditionto
certainly do not belong in the Old World. punish an unintrduced vampire with impunity. By the Fifth Tradi-
tion, a prince’s right to question all who enter her domain is
THETRADITIOOFNACCOUNTING
If a vampire creates a childe, she is responsible for that unchallenged, even if her power to expel may be thwarted occasion-
ally. A prince also has the right to refuse entry to any who enter,
childe, no differently than a mortal parent is for her child. If the particularly in the caseof newcomerswhosepoor reputationsprecede
them or who bring cumbersomebaggage in the form of blood hunts,
childe cannot handle the burdens of vampirism, the sire must enemies or other potentialthreatsto the city and Masquerade.

take care of the matter one way or another. If the childe Such individualdenials have become quite common in the
modern nights, as princes grow paranoid and xenophobic in
threatens the Masquerade, either through ignorance or malice, light of looming Gehenna. Some princes, when presented with
the sire must prevent it. The sire must ensure that the childe is a group of Kindred visitors,permit entry to certain members of
taught the Traditions and the ensuing responsibilities,and see to the coterie whiledenyingit to others, reasoningthat, if the group
it that the childe will not constitute a threat to herself or the is on some sort of sinister errand, its potential to harm will be
Masquerade upon her release. The sire is also responsible for
lessenedby dividingitsnumbers. Certainnotorious Kindred may
protecting the childe. A prince is under no obligation to recog-
nize a childe, and other vampires may kill or feed from a childe also find themselves unwelcome in some cities, while their
companions are welcomed without reservation.
with impunity.
Not every vampire chooses to present herself. Vampires
Before siring, a wise vampire considers the maturity of the such as Inconnu, Methuselahs and even some elders refuse on
childe-to-be. Will she be able to endure the changes to her body the grounds that they do not acknowledgethe prince’sright and
and soul?Will she understand what is being asked of her when power over them, even if they are in her domain. Vampires of
the Traditions are recited?Nosire wishes to be responsible for a independentclans (such as the Ravnos or Giovanni)may prefer
childe forever (although a longchildehood is not unknown),but not to have a prince’s eye scrutinizing them. Autarkis and
releasing a childe before she is ready courts destruction. anarchs simply sneer at the prince; they aren’t part of the party,

Releasing a childe typically involves the sire introducing so why should they bother knocking?And vampires who were
the childe to the prince who holds domain where the sire and
childe live. The childe may be asked to recite the Traditions or made, then abandoned - an increasingly common phenom-
provide other proof that she has been taught and understands enon -may be unaware of the necessity.

them. If the prince, for whatever reasons, does not accept a THETRADITIOOFNDESTRUCTION
childe, then the childe must find a new city. On occasion, a sire
The Tradition of Destruction is perhaps the most easily
must also introduce the childe to his own sire, but this is not abusedand the most hotly contested aspectof Caine’scode. Few
always required. other laws have caused so much controversy in the halls of
power, and this Tradition is forever under reinterpretation.
After release, the childe (now a neonate) is permitted to
Most believe that the original meaning gave a sire right of
live in the city with fullrights as accordedby the prince’slaw and destruction over his progeny (which is upheld by Kindred law).
However, if “elder”is interpreted to mean “prince,”the Tradition
the Traditions. The release is considered a major rite of passage, covers its modem meaning, and one many princes claim gladly:
much like a coming of age for mortals, for the neonate is
responsible for his own actions. He will be watched carefully in Only the prince may call for the destruction of another Kindred
the coming months; his actions determine whether he will be
considered an “adult” and treated as one. in the city. The Camarilla has upheld this claim for the extra

securityitprovidesaprince’sreign.It isarightwhichmanyprinces

cling to, and they enforce it with brutal strength if need be.

CHAPTEORNEA: WORLDOFDAWKS
41

Murder of another Kindred by onewho isnot granted
the Right of Destructionis not tolerated. If the vampire is
caught in the act, it usually means the destruction of the
murderer herself. Investigation of such murder is usually
swift and thorough, although the status of
the victim does have some impact o n this.
Generally, the higher the rank of the victim,
the swifter and more thorough the in-
vestigation. While the murder of two
neonates may cause consternation in a
community, it might take the death of an
elder before the wheels turn in a more
timely fashion. Some ancillae have taken
this to mean that anarchs may be slaughtered with
impunity. This is dangerous to assume; if nothing else,
the prince may order the murderer slain for attempting t
usurp her Tradition-given right.

Turmoil in the streets is considered by many to be one
of the best covers for kinslaying, but the punishment for
getting caught is still severe. T h e only time when a
vampire ranked lower than an elder might receive
sanctioning to kill another is during a blood hunt.

THFLFXTALIONI~ -+.

The ancient law of “Aneyefor an eye,a tooth fora tooth” 1
is as true for Kindred as it is for kine. The precept is simple:
Those who break the laws are slain. A vampire who violates

the Traditions and bring-s the wrath of the elders on his head

is hunted down and destroyed. All who hear the call are

expected to participate and assist. The most common name for
this action is the blood hunt.

Only the eldest in a city may call the blood hunt. “Eldest”
is considered most times to be the prince. Other elders or even
ancillae may call a hunt, but they would have few takers;
oversteppingone’sbounds into princely territory isunwise. Only
a foolish prince would openly call a hunt for personal reasons;
even the lowest Kindred know what the hunt is meant for, and
a prince who uses it without proper justification of the charges
loses respect in the eyes of his subjects.

Aiding and abetting the quarry can be a sure ticket to suffer
a blood hunt oneself. A t least nominal participation is recom-
mended o n the grounds of survival, even if the Kindred does not
agreewith the hunt or its charges. A powerful prince may charge
that all vampires in a city are required to participate in a hunt,
onpain of being declared accomplices. Thisdecreeisreserved for
the most serious of crimes.

A blood hunt is not a hunt in the sense of a n English fox-

hunt, which iswhat comesto the minds ofmany youngvampires.
The hunters spread out across the city like a net to track their
quarry, calling in flanks when the prey is in sight. Like all things
vampiric, the Masquerade is observed, and mortals rarely realize
that anything is happening around them, except perhaps some
strange incidentsthat they will either forget orreadabout innext
morning’spaper. Many times, influences in the mortal world are
brought to bear on the hunted; he may find that every airline is
suddenly booked full, the police have an APB o n him, Church-
sponsored witch-huntershave been called in, his bank accounts

VAMPIRET:HEMASQUERADE
42

are tapped out before he can touch them, etc. Disturbingly,more 1)No violence ispermitted on the premises. (Many princes
and more princes are resorting to calling in Assamite trackers take this a step further and demand that no weapons be brought
from outside the domain, using them as vampiric bloodhounds into Elysium, to prevent hot tempersfrom having ready means.)
against the hunted.
2 ) No art is to be destroyed on pain of Final Death. (“Art”
The blood hunt is not called lightly, though it has been
called more often in the last decade than in entire centuries of has been expanded to include the artist on occasion,making the
yore. The Camarilla reserves the right to examine the prince’s vampires of Clan Toreador some of the greatest proponents of
judgment in conclave, hearing evidence for and against the Elysium.)
accused. The threat of a conclave has been deterrent enough to
3 ) Elysium is neutral ground. (With relation to Rule One;
keep a hunt frombeing declared. A prince who is determined to what happens off Elysium grounds is another thing, however,
and the upstart neonate who insultsan elder during Elysium had
have called the hunt without cause rarely suffers formal punish- best have reliable transportation back to her haven when she
ment (unlesshe has made a habit of this),but he often suffers a leaves.)
great loss of status. Unfortunately, even if the accused is found
to be innocent, it is often after the fact, and tradition dictates 4) Remember the Masquerade at all times. (This includes
that once a blood hunt is called, it cannot be stopped.
such matters as entering and leaving, taking a heated argument
Ahuntedmayattempt toflee the cityandseekanewhaven, outside to cool, or hunting.)

an option occasionallyofferedby princeswho are beingforced to It is also considered bad manners to show up to Elysium
exile someone in the name of stability or when the offensedoes hungry.While refreshmentsare sometimesprovided, often they
not warrant death. However, by tradition, the hunt remains in are not, and hunting around Elysium grounds can draw suspi-

effect in that city, no matter who rules in the future. The hunted cion. If a Kindredbrings a guest to Elysium, she is responsiblefor
should never attempt to return unless she wishes to court Final
Death. that guest’s behavior.

Blood hunts are typically the business of the cities in which Sects are groupsof vampires and clans that supposedlyshare
they originate. In the case of truly horrendous crimes, word is a common ideology. They are a modern contrivance, but an
spread to other cities, requesting that the hunt be called against important one. Sects as they are known in these nights first
the offender there as well. Kindred who have committed some surfaced after the Great Anarch Revolt, a continent-wide up-
crime that affectsthe Camarilla as a whole (such as a spectacular heaval which took place in Europe during the 15th century.
breach of the Masquerade on national television) are an ex- Many elders accept sect membership grudgingly,deriding sects
ample of such. as “foolishness-the Blood is all that matters.” In nights before
the Great Anarch Revolt and the Inquisition, these eldersclaim,
FLY’SIUM there were no sects at all. Other vampires argue that this is still
true - a vampire in a sizable city may go a decade or more
Though most younger vampires consider the tradition of without ever seeing another Kindred, so of what use is a sect?
Elysium a stuffy,outdated custom, it is one of the more honored
Regardless, most vampires belong to one sect or another;
of the Kindred’s traditions. A prince may declare portions of others claim independence,no preference, or that they are affili-
domain to be Elysium, places free from violence. It is here that ated with their clan, not a sect. The sect known as the Camarilla
is arguably the largest and most prevalent, though its rival the
many vampires come to pass the nights, debating, politicking Sabbat has recently made considerable inroads against it and still
and conducting intriguesamong themselves for long hours. This opposesthe Camarilla at every turn. The secretiveInconnu,when
is alsowhere the Kindredbusinessofthe city takesplace, and just it may be reached for comment, maintains that it is not a sect,
about every vampire will have at least one occasion to visit although it seems to be organized and manages to steerclear of the
Elysium, if only to speak with the prince or an elder. However, other sects. O n the opposite side of the coin, the anarchs make
it is certainly an elders’playground,and the young who venture much show of pretending to be a sect, though they are the first to
here are expected to remember that. enlist Camarilla aid when the Sabbat appears at a city’s borders.
Thus, the Camarillaconsidersthe anarchsto be under its purview.
Elysium is said to be under the “Pax Vampirica,” meaning
that no violence of any sort is permitted to take place and that THFCAMARILLA
Elysium is neutral ground. While tempers may flare and heated
words may be exchanged, rivals are expected to keep a leash on The largest sect of vampires in existence, the Camarilla
their tempers. When apologiesdon’t work, offendersare usually concerns itself with the Masquerade, thereby hoping to main-
tain a place for Kindred in the modem nights. The Camarilla is
shown the door and told to correct their behavior. If things do an open society;it claimsall vampires as members (whetherthey
want to belong or not), and any vampiremay claim membership,
get out of control on the premises, the prince may punish the regardless of lineage.
offenders through the invocation of the First Tradition.
According to the often-contradictory history of the Kin-
Most areas of Elysium tend to be spotsconducive to artistic dred, the Camarilla came to be at the end of the Anarch Revolt,
or intellectual pursuits,such as operahouses,theaters, museums, sometime in the 15th century. The Kindred of Clan Ventrue
galleries, university halls and the like. Occasionally,nightclubs
or even certain Kindred havens are declared Elysium. Wherever
one goes,one is expected to have some semblanceof proper dress
and manners, if for no reason other than the Masquerade.

Elysium rules are simple:

C H A ~ORNEA: WORLDOFDARKNSS
43

loudly claim to have been instrumental in the sect’sformation, GFHFNNCAULT^
to which many Kindred owe their unlives. With the enforce-
ment of the Masquerade, Kindred had a means of foiling the As the fear of Gehenna grips the Kindred community,
Inquisition,a Church office sworn to the destruction of super- more and more Gehenna cults form. These groups, which
natural creatures. resemble secret societies or cliques, are most common
among the Camarilla,though some Gehenna cults pervade
Thoughthe Camarilla is the largest sect, just overhalfofthe the Sabbat and even the independent clans. Due to the
13 known vampire clans actively participate in its affairs. The stigma of belonging to a Gehenna cult, cult business is
sect holds meetings attended by active clans’ representatives; always conducted in secret, and the cults are officially
these gatherings are known as convocations. It also calls periodic derided as foolish rumor. In recent nights, though, they
conches, which are open to any and all members of the sect, to have proliferated, and certain vampires of great power and
discuss matters of imminent sect importance. Only justicars, influence secretly belong to Gehenna cults.
officers elected by the Inner Circle to attend to matters of the
Traditions, may call conclaves. Justicars are alwaysof great age, Gehenna cults exist to prepare for, or prevent, the end
and rightly feared;assuch,their interpretationsof the Traditions of the world. Fearing the culmination of the Jyhad and the
are heeded out of self-preservation. Coteries of vampires known return of the Antediluvians, the cults prepare either to
as archons attend the justicars; meeting an archon is usually a serve the Ancients (thus hopefully averting their own
portentous event. destruction when the end comes) or to discover the
Antediluvians’hidden havens (thus striking preemptively
Officially, the Camarilla does not recognize the existence of against them and averting Gehenna outright).
the Antediluvians or Caine. It reasons that these vampires, if
they ever existed at all,have long since sufferedthe Final Death, The Sabbat recruits wherever it takes hold, spreading like i
and those who allude to them are publicly derided. poisonousweedandtearingdowntheestablished institutionsarounc
it. Unlike the Camarilla, the Sabbat recognizes the existenceof tht
THESARRAT Antediluvians,thoughitrabidlyopposesthem. AccordingtoSabba
propaganda,the Antediluvians pull the stringsof the entire world
Rumored to have its origins in a medieval death cult, the and it is this malignant control they oppose. They seetheCamarilli
Sabbat is greatly feared by Kindred who do not belong to it. The aspawns of the Ancients, and oppose its memberspolitically as we1
sect is monstrous and violent, and no longer clings to any asphysically.MostSabbat expressbiliouscontemptforthe vampire:
trappings of human philosophy or morality. Members instead of the Camarilla, whom they see as cowardly wretches unable tc
revel in their vampiric unlives. Sometimes referred to as the accept their predatory natures.

Black Hand, the Sabbat ac- Outsidersknow little about the Sabbat’sinner workings. Somt
Camarilla Kindred even doubt its existence, believing it to be i
tively seeks the overthrow rumor created by elders to keep troublesomechilder in line -ar
of the Traditions, the de- undead boogeyman.Lurid tales about the sect spread like wildfire
struction of the Camarilla, including claims that its members indulge in ceaseless diablerie
and the subjugation of hu- worship demons, hunt and kill other vampires, and possess tht
mankind.
’ ‘lityto break blood bonds.The only consistentrumor attribute<

the Sabbat is its members’apparent love of fire -the sect ha:
fearsome reputation for leaving burning wakes behind it.

THEINCONNU

The Inconnu are not a sect s(
much as they are a disparate group o
like-minded vampires. No longe
wishing to be the puppets of thosc

VMPIK: THEMASQUERADE
44

incessant maneuvering of those younger than they, the Inconnu from their parent genealogiessomewhere in the nights of histoi
seem to have dropped out of the Jyhad altogether. This is what Few vampireshave ever met Kindred claimingto hail from the
distinguishes an Inconnu vampire from those of other sects - mysterious bloodlines, and few of these have tumed out to
the Inconnu distance themselves from other vampires and their anythingother than Caitiffwith delusionsof self-importance.
contemptible machinations.
is widely accepted, however, that of the 13 “great”clans, sevl
The Inconnu are rumored (asno one ever reallygoes looking
for them) to be of great age and potency. Many reportedlyspend claim membership in the Camarilla, two belong to the Sabb:
much time in torpor or otherwise sleeping, the better to avoid and the remaining four abstain from sects entirely.

theJyhad. SomeKindredliken the Inconnu to the Antediluvians, THFCLANSOF THF CAMARILLA

claiming that they have grown away from the world and into a The Camarilla claims that all vampires are under its pi
timeless, inhuman mindset. Other Kindred believe that the view,whether they wish to be so included or not. The Camaril
Inconnu all pursue or have attained Golconda, a fabled state of realisticallycomprisesseven clans, though any Kindred may
vampiric transcendence. recognized as a member if she so declares.

Kindred who deal with the Inconnu typically leave the RRUJAH
encounter with a sense of profound mystery and awe. Although As the Brujah tell the tale, they were once philosopher-kin
the Inconnu seem to be informal and loosely organized, they
communicate very well among themselves. Inconnu know when of Mesopotamia,Persia and Babylon. They controlled an empi
to avoid Kindred, when to hide from them and when to unleash that spannedfromthe cradleof civilizationto northern Africa,ai
their significant power to turn vampires away. Their agenda, if collected lore and knowledge from around the world. In thc
they even have one, is unknown. pursuit of freedom and enlightenment, however, they killed thc
founder. For this, Caine cast them out from the First City. Sin
THFCLANS
then, the Brujah have suffered inescapabledecline. Now they a
If the myth of the Antediluvians is to be believed, Caine perceived as little more than spoiled childerwho have no sense
prideorhistory.One of the mainstays of the Great Anarch Revo
sired a number of progeny, who then sired childer themselves.
the Brujah were barely brought to heel by the founders of tl
These childer, accordingly of the Third Generation, were the Camarilla,and the clan as a whole still resentsthe elders. Thou) 3
progenitors of the modem clans, and all vampires descended
nominallyin the Camarilla,the Brujaharethe sect’sfirebrandsai
from them shared common traits and characteristics. Certainly
this is true to some degree, as each clan has a set of vampiric agitators, testing the Traditions and rebelling in the name
powers its members learn more readily than others, and each
clan also has a distinguishing weakness or character flaw by whatever causes they hold
which its members may be identified.
/dear. Many Brujah are
Lineage is important to the Kindred. Though they are
outright anarchs,de-
loners and typically shun each other’s company by nature, the h.ing- authoritv and
serving no prince.
Damned place great value on their heritage. The honor a
GANGRFL
. .vampire is due stemsfrom clan as much as generation, and even \
tl , . .11 *P,. The night-prowl-
~~

ing Gangrel are feral

1 1_. 1

II

el
b

12
K

a

C

tl

CHAPIEORNE:A WORLDOFDAMES
45

vampires andpossess disturbing animallstic tendenciesand features. old,but in committingsomegrievouscrime,Caine cursedhim and
Rarely staying in one place, Gangrel are nomadic wanderers, satis- his descendants with insanity. Throughout Cainite history,
fied only when running alone under the night sky. Their founder is Malkavianshave been alternatelyfeared for their bizarre behavior
whlsperedto have been a barbarian,unlike the other clan progeni- and sought out for their even more bizarre insight. Kindred who
tors, and for this reason, Gangrel often Embrace outsiders. Distant, have regular dealingswith the Malkaviansreport that the clan is
aloof and savage, Gangrel are often tragic individuals; although now more morbidly unstable than ever, spreading madness in its
many hate the cities’ crowds and constrictions, the presence of wake like a contagious disease. Though the Malkavians have
hostilewerewolvesprevents most Gangrelfrom living outside their historically been fragmented and disorganized, recent migratory
confines. Gangrel vampires seem to support the Camarilla solely waves and inexplicablegatherings have many elders questioning
because it mtrudes upon their unlives less than the Sabbat. Some -and fearing -the possible future of the lunatic clan.

membersof ClanGangrelthd that independencewould be better NO~FFRATU

than their nominalCamarillainvolvement,however,and the clan’s The members of Clan Nosferatu suffer the most visible curse
continued membershipin the sect is uncertain. of all. The Embrace hideously deforms them, twisting them into
literal monsters. Legends say that the Nosferatu were blighted as
MALKAVIAN punishmentfor their founder’sdegeneracyandhis childer’swicked
behavior,but in the modern nights, Clan Nosferatu is known for
levelheadednessand calm in the face of adversity. Nosferatuhave
reputations as information brokers and harvesters of secrets, as
theirhorrid appearanceshave forced them toperfecttheir mystical
abilitytohide,sometimesinplainsight.At present,the clanclaims
that it has distanced itself from its founder and no longer serves
him. Some Kindred whisper that the clan is on terrible termswith
its progenitor,and that he actively seeks their destruction.

TOREADOR
Prodigals of the Kindred, Clan Tur& indulges in excess and

degeneracy, all while claiming to maintainpatronage of the arts.To

agreatdegree,thispatronageistrue,asthe clanclaimsmany talented

VAMPIRLTHE~ Q U L R A D E
46

arts dates back to the clan founder’sEmbrace of a pair of twins. The clan suspectsthat its founder was slain by a member of the Bruj
twinspursued unlivesofbeautyand indolencewhiletheir sire,Ankel clan, which is a great blow to its members’pride. In any event, t
(ifthe tale is tobebelieved),dotedonthem,protectingthemfromthe clan almost certifiably has no founder any longer, and has there
ravagesof plague,famineand parricidethat swallowedthe First City. achieved untold independence from the Antediluvians.None&(
Further,darkerrumorscirculatethat one ofthe twinseventuallygrew less,Ventrue activelymvolve themselvesin the Jyhad, in which
depraved in her immortality and slew her brother and sire. Clan they exercisetheir formidableinfluenceover the doingsof the
Toreadorvehementlydeniesthis, andthose whobringup the subject kme. Much curiosity exists among the Kmdred as to the
suffer the clan’s wrath. innerworklngsof thiswell-organized clan,asrumorsofdark
mysteries and slumbering Ancients sometimes slip out
TRFMFRF from under the Ventrue’saustere faGade.
No clan is so shrouded in deliberatemystery as the Tremere.

The inventors and practitioners of terrible blood magics, the
secretive Tremere have a tightly knit political structure based on
the acquisition of power, as well as a fanatical clan loyalty
practically unknown to any other Kindred. Because of the veil of
secrecy that surrounds the clan, disturbing stories have surfaced
asto the nature of their vampirism. Some Kindred claim that the
Tremere are not truly vampires at all, but rather mortal wizards
who cursed themselves for eternity while studying the secret of
immortality. One of the most rampant rumors, spread by a Gypsy
visitor to theirchantry-house i n v i e m a , isthat the clan founder,
Tremere himself, is undergoing a horrid metamorphosis into
something else. Clan Tremere is silent on the matter, and looks
askance upon those who would presume to know its secrets.

VFNTRUF

The nominal leaders of the Camarilla. the Vencnte

C H ~ ORNEA: WORLDOFDARKNESS

41

the mainstream clan in favor of the monsters’ way of thinking. mand of their founder, in an attempt to purify their own taint. So 3
The Sabbat’s two leading clans both claim to have destroyed dreaded were the Assamitesthat, during the nights of the Great
their Antediluvian founders, and are said to pursue the annihi-
lation of the other Antediluvians as well. Anarch Revolt, the Tremere cursed them, making them unable
to drink the blood of other Kindred. However, the Assamites
LASOMRRA have recently thrown off this curse, and so they hunt other
Kindred for their blood once more. Kindred who regularly deal
The hornbra are masters of darkness and shadow, and with the clan have noticed an increasedbloodthirstinesson the
possess a knack for leadership as keen as that of Clan Ventrue. part of the Assamites, as well as a disregardfor their former codes
Indeed, many Kindred see the Ventrue and Lasombraas twisted of honor. Some Kindred believe that the Assamites now act at
reflections of each other. Once, the Lasombra were nobles, but the behest of older powers, perhaps preparing to play their
the chaos of Kindred history and the formation of the Sabbat preordained part in the Jyhad’sfinal moves.
have caused most of them to turn their backs upon their origins.
Now, the Lasombra give themselveswholly over to the damna- FOLLOWEORFSSET
tion of being vampires. The Sabbat has affected this clan as
profoundly as the Lasombra have affected the Sabbat, and Originallyhailing fromEgypt,the serpentine Setitesaresaid
without the rulership of these fallen aristocrats, the Sabbat to worship the undead vampire-deitySet, servinghim in alltheir
would likely disintegrate. efforts. The Setites seem intent on “corrupting”others, enslav-
ing victims in snares of their own weakness, but for what
TZIMISCE inscrutable purpose, none can guess. Other Kindred despise the
Formerly the tyrants of Eastern Europe, the Tsirnisce Followers of Set, and the clan claims no allies. Nonetheless,
many vampires seek out the Setites, as the clan is whispered to
(zhi.mee.see) have been uprooted from their Old Country possess arcane gifts and secretsfrom elder nights. Inevitably, sin
and debasement follow in the Setites’ wake, and many princes
manses and relocated into the clutches of the Sabbat. Possessed refuse to allow them in their cities. Some sinister purpose unites
of a peculiar nobility, coupled with an evil that transcends the Followersof Set, and they are one of the few clans rumored
mortal perception, Clan Tzimisce leads the Sabbat in its rejec- to have consistent contact with their founder. Many Kindred
tion of all things human. CertainKindred apocryphaclaimsthat rightly fear these fork-tonguedvampires,for their very presence
the Tzimisce was once the most powerful clan in the world, but is often enough to set a Kindred down the road to ruin.
that history and other Kindred conspired to bring its members
down to their current state. More sothan any othervampires, the GIOVANNI
Tzimisce revel in their monstrousness. They practice a
“fleshcrafting”Disciplinethat they use to disfiguretheir foesand Reviled almost as much as the Setites, the Giovanni is a clan
sculpt themselves into beings of terrible beauty. offinanciers and necromancers.Traffickingin the commodityof
souls has given this clan a disproportionate amount of power,
THFINDF~FNDFNTS while traffickingin world finance has made the clan sickeningly
rich. Other Kindred are loath to trust the mercenary Giovanni,
The independent clans claim membership in no sect, in- who seemto be using their influence towardsomeunknown end.
stead following the legendary tenets of their mythical founders. Part of Clan Giovanni’s unhealthy reputation stems from the
Independent clans tend to be the most cohesive and sociable fact that it is a very insular clan, drawing almost all its members
Kindred of all, as their clan duties ensure that they interact with from its incestuous mortal family. Further damaging the
other vampires almost nightly. Giovanni’s reputation is the pervasive rumor that its members
usurped their Kindred status from the vampire who originally
In elder nights, the independent clans held domains far Embraced them. Soon after becoming a vampire, the Giovanni
from the havens of the rest of the Kindredand did not participate clan leader destroyed his sire and the bloodline, reinventing the
overmuch in the upheavals of the Inquisition and Anarch clan in his own image.

Revolt. As a result, they were rarely seen, their membersconsid- RAVNOS

ered more legend than fact. The past few years have changed Descendents of the Gypsy Rom and their forebearsin India,
that. As the world shrinksand the kine speakof “geopolitics”and the Ramos vampires lead nomadic unlives. Like the Gypsies of
“global economy,” the clans of the Camarilla and Sabbat find history, the Ravnos are spurned due to their reputations as
their herds and spheres of influence conflicting more and more thieves and vagrants.Manyprinces and Sabbat leaderspersecute
with those of the independents. Independent Kindred cross the Ravnosbecause of the chaos that follows these Kindred.The
Camarilla and Sabbat domains with increasing frequency, and Ravnos return the scorn of their peers manyfold, holding
the sect-affiliated clans are beginning to realize that the four Camarilla and Sabbat in equal contempt. The Ravnos are also
“neutral” clans have networks, concerns and goals far greater known for their ability to create amazing illusions, the better
than they had previously imagined. with which to trick their marks. Recently the movements of the
Ravnos have become even more erratic than usual; whispers
ASSAMITF have begun to circulate among the cities of Europe and Asia,
speaking of Ravnos Methuselahs who have risen from torpor to
The Assamitesare feared assassinsfrom lands far to the east. direct their younglings’games.
Noother clanhaseamedsuchadeservedreputationfor diablerie,
though they also sell their murderous servicesto other Kindred,
acting as contract killers. According to the Assamites’ own
teachings, they drink the blood of other Kindred on the com-

VAMPIRET:HL~ Q U L R A D E
48