Vampire the Masquerade V20 - Clanbook Blood-Brothers

Clanbook: Blood Brothers includes:

• An example of how you can create a Clanbook with the templates for Victorian
Age from Storytellers Vault.

1

Vampire® created by Mark Rein•Hagen

Title of the chapter

2

Credits

Written By: Matthew Dawkins.

Layout and design: Marcos M. Peral Villaverde.

Art by: Christopher Shy and Guy Davis.

©2017 White Wolf Entertainment AB. All rights
reserved. Vampire: The Masquerade®, World of Darkness®,
Storytelling System™, and Storytellers Vault™ are trademarks
and/ or registered trademarks of White Wolf Entertainment
AB. All rights reserved.

For additional information on White Wolf and the
World of Darkness, please, visit: www.white-wolf.com,
www.worldofdarkness.com and www.storytellersvault.com.

Blood Brothers

Table of Contents

Blood Brothers 5

Story Hooks 9

Sanguinus 11



Blood
Brothers

We bring a special kind of hell to the streets of this
domain. Yes, we do.

— Master Hample, Blood Brother of the Five
Points Circle, New York City

6

Though their purported origins range from the laboratories of pio-
neering Tzimisce to the chantries of rogue Tremere, the claim with the
greatest veracity places the Blood Brothers as spawning from the gallery
of a Toreador antitribu named Torquemada, who first created the Blood
Brothers as an elaborate artistic exercise. Though the means have been
lost to many, Torquemada still roams and sells his services to Sabbat
requiring deadly, unquestioning servants. Torquemada and his creations
have traveled far from their home in Montevideo, Uruguay, with Blood
Brothers present in large domains from Paris to New York and beyond,
with some even said to represent Ventrue antitribu interests in Beijing.

Servants of the Sabbat, but increasingly rife in Camarilla domains,
the Blood Brothers rise to a rare prominence in these nights. Gang
ascendancy in metropolitan, industrial capitals acts as the perfect cover
for Blood Brother activity, though as often they masquerade as police
officers in the cities with state law enforcement. In London in particular,
it’s said one shift of night bobbies in the Hammersmith region were
supplanted by Blood Brothers, who now run T Division for their Cainite
masters. James Mannerly, the Gangrel Sheriff of London is said to be
cracking down on Blood Brother swarms, but they show an uncanny
ability to blend in with the huddled masses tightly packed into the city.

Though far from common, Sabbat Archbishops looking to solidify
their rule over a domain often retain Blood Brothers to act as enforcers
and terror brigades. Their abilities are little understood, but any vampire
to witness one Blood Brother wrench the limb from another and attach
it to his own torso never forgets the experience.

Despite the stereotype, some Blood Brothers emerge as avant-garde art
experiments, appreciated by the more jaded Toreador and their antitribu
cousins. As part of the World’s Columbian Exhibition based in Chicago
in 1893, a statue garden remained open throughout the night serviced

Blood Brothers

by attendants all uniformly slim, painted arsenic-white, 7
and with unblinking eyes. Visitors assumed they played
these bizarre roles to add an edge to the display, when they will obsessively ensure their uniforms are pristine.
it was in fact a pack of serene Blood Brothers serving It is easier for everyone to maintain the same clean uni-
their twisted mistress. form than to share the same stains in the same places.
To identify each other, they will often tattoo numbers
Nicknames: Freaks, Monstruos, Frankensteins (un- or letters on the backs of their hands, or tie a colored
common until the late 19th century) handkerchief around a wrist or neck, not shared by any
other member of the circle.
Appearance: Theoretically, a Blood Brother possess-
es no feature marking him out as a Blood Brother. Any Haven: Proud proponents of group havens, Freaks
mortal might be Embraced into the bloodline or into know that the pack who stays together at all times lasts
another clan, and made a Blood Brother. The bloodline longer. Even in cases where a Blood Brother is the solo
does not discriminate by culture or race. However, due to bloodline representative in an otherwise non-Blood
Blood Brother tendencies to frequent circles of their Brother pack, he will advocate for sharing a haven with
own members, and their underlying obsession for
conformity within said circles, unique features his companions. This desire is instinctual, the
become subdued over time. Beast compelling the Freak to make this sugges-
tion. Despite their monstrosity, many Sabbat
Blood Brothers who maintain the com- vampires find the prospect of sharing space
pany of other Blood Brothers approach with a Blood Brother discomfiting. Even
Tzimisce to assist in crafting their hardened Lasombra balk at the idea of
fellow Blood Brothers to match the their Blood Brother “friends” harvesting
other members of the circle, or learn limbs after the sun rises, and the rest of
the skill themselves. Unless there’s a the pack sleeps.
dominant alpha in the circle, features
will be aggregated or rounded down, Background: Blood Brothers
until defining looks blend together. often emerge from the ranks of
Ultimately, the majority of Blood
Brothers uncannily resemble the unknowns. This origin is often
other Blood Brothers in their pack. consequence over design,
If no such Freaks exist, they maintain as the vampires who
their individual appearance. make them don’t
value Freaks so
Advancement in their blood- highly that they
line’s Discipline of Sanguinus adds would pluck a
strange features to some Blood recognizable
Brothers, typically in the form of or import- ant mortal for
additional appendages and limbs Embrace into the bloodline. As
gained from their peers, or in some a result, many Blood Brothers
cases, no limbs at all where they
were donated to a circle member. lack education, and fewer still
As a result, Freaks favor loose, heavy have wealth to their name. Most
clothing for disguising the presence were unknowns before the Em-
of an additional arm or leg. brace, and carry a grudge about
their anonymity into unlife.
Freaks will dress in a manner
befitting their supposedly mortal The question of the Blood
station. If a circle wishes to operate Brother “Embrace” often comes
as a criminal gang they not only wear up among Sabbat who know of
the boots and overalls, but the gang the bloodline. Are they Embraced
colors, identifiable headwear, or other in the traditional manner; are
such paraphernalia. If, like in the case they the Sabbat equivalent of
of the Hammersmith Circle, they stalk Gargoyles, made from vampires
the night as coppers looking for trouble, of other clans; are they even

Cainites? Torquemada’s first
Blood Brother mutated from
the form of a horribly tortured

Blood Brothers

8 successful “art project.” Blood Brother Natures
and Demeanors rarely differ, and tend
Brujah antitribu, who could still Embrace and create toward the monstrous. Monsters, Creep
further Freaks. The progenitor’s childer however, could Shows, Deviants, and Rogues appear
not Embrace. Torquemada’s blood ritual to subvert vitae frequently among this bloodline, even
into the form of a Freak has been fully completed fewer if the mortal Embraced was quite dif-
than a dozen times, but this does mean there are around ferent. The vitae subversion going into
a score of Blood Brothers capable of creating more of creating one of these vampires appears
their ilk in the traditional manner. The rest are sterile, to twist the Cainite’s morality as well
and maddened for being so. as their body.

Character Creation: Physical attributes are the Disciplines: Fortitude,
primary focus for the majority of Blood Brothers, who Potence, Sanguinus
when running as gangs in Five Points district of New
York or docklands mercenaries in London, require Weakness: If a
Strength and Stamina for their purpose as aggressive Blood Brother was
monsters. Conversely, some Blood Brothers were creat- Embraced into the
ed explicitly to be objects of admirable beauty, so these line, they cannot
bizarre Monstruos favor Social attributes, but still pack a Embrace in turn. The
punch. Talents and Skills share dominance, with Blood mortal they attempt to
Brothers in the same circle often complimenting each change into a vampire
other’s abilities. While some focus purely on brutality dies. Blood Brothers
and intimidation, others excel at the wielding of a knife created by a mutated Freak
or sneaking from place to place. (such as Torquemada’s Brujah
antitribu-turned Blood Brother) can
No recorded Freaks existed prior to 1815 C.E., Embrace.
though Torquemada may simply be lying about his first
Freaks feel each other’s pain. When a Freak suffers
a wound penalty, all members of the circle suffer the
same penalty for the next turn. If two Blood Brothers
suffer wounds, only the greater wound penalty applies.

Organization: The Freaks organize within their own
circles first and foremost. The bond a Blood Brother
shares with his kin is as strong as any vaulderie, with
a heavy dose of obsession piled on top. Freaks defer
to their Sabbat masters loyally, with a love and respect
other vampires consider sycophantic. At this early point
in their existence, the Blood Brothers harbor an edge
of cynicism despite this fealty. They have never rebelled
against the Sabbat, for without them they would not
exist, but do occasionally work to subtly undermine
masters they collectively deem incompetent. If a Cainite
threatens the safety of the circle, the circle comes first.

Bloodline Prestige: Freaks earn each other’s respect
through acts of heroism in defense of the circle. If a Blood
Brother gives up a limb for a fellow Freak, they will give
that Blood Brother the first drink of blood during the
communal slaughter of unlucky mortals following their
mission. A bizarre group of Blood Brother harmonists, who
sing in perfect unison for the entertainment of the Saint
Petersburg Sabbat underground, set a new trend for Freaks
who believe prestige should come purely from the respect
of their masters.

Blood Brothers

9

Stereotypes
The Camarilla: Look at ‘em. Just look. They ain’t up but they ain’t never struggled like we struggle. They just
to dick in the city. Ain’t got sight of the pavements beneath love the sound of their own voices. Got to wonder how
their danglin’ feet. Ain’t got sight of the scum crawling beneath they’d love the sound of their own screams.
them as they glide on their fucking wings. Tell you what:
we’ll stick some ‘ooks in those wings, and drag ‘em screaming — Lenny Blue, Priest of the Lambeth Rainbow Circle
down to the cobbles. I’ve always wanted a pair of wings.
The Independents: Fortunate children, to be born
— Leonard Green, Ductus of the Lambeth Rainbow without ties to this master or that, though I understand
Circle their sibling bonds are as strong as our own. I once met a
Giovanni who could have been a Blood Brother. We envy their
The Sabbat: Masters. They turn our heads and we independence, but do not crave it. In the end, they are alone.
march. They pat our heads and we smile. They feed us
blood and we laugh. — Chen Jiumei, Agitator of the Beijing Circle

— Mrs. Hample, Five Points Circle, New York City Gargoyles: And they call us “Freaks.” Look at these
cathedral-perching cunts. I had to beat seven shades of
The Anarch Movement: Bunch o’ pocket Punch shit out of a Gargoyle once, and broke my hand with
‘n’ Judy scum, ain’t they? Constantly frigging their fucking every punch. Luckily I had a few spares.
tongues with talk of breaking the chains of the lower classes,
— Leo Red, Marshall of the Lambeth Rainbow Circle

A View from Without

The Camarilla: I had heard of them, but I merely The Anarch Movement: Nightmares and fairy
assumed they were disgruntled Brujah. You know how tales friend. If they exist, they’re goddamned Sabbat, and
they all look and act with the same ugly rage? Yes? See, it’s I don’t see any need to treat ‘em different to any other
an easy mistake to make. Either way, there is a standing members of the Sword of Caine.
mandate for their destruction in Paris, I assure you.
— R. Brazendale, Esq., Kiasyd in hiding, San Francisco
— Francois Villon, Toreador, Prince of Paris
The Independents: Evidence that the children of
The Sabbat: Adorable watchdogs. I would not trust the Aeons are not worthy of this Earth.
one to pop the lid from a jar without breaking it, but
if I want the jar broken? Well, then I call on Leonard, — Halim Bey, Followers of Set, Antiquities Dealer
Lenny, Leo, Len, or Lesley. of London

— Alice, Tzimisce, Archbishop of Ely Gargoyles: Poor toys. Broken. Try to fix them but
they keep bleeding. Poor toys.

— Kalkstein, Gargoyle Guardian of Hamburg Chan-
try, Hanseatic Cities

Story Hooks They’re the Ripper
The Blood Brothers are far from the normal array of Embraced or created within the Sabbat, Blood Broth-
vampires. Some Storytellers may find their strangeness ers find their lives and moralities abruptly changed from
off-putting, but consider their role in the Victorian era. mortal norms to the horrors of blood rites, the butchery
Bodysnatchers, public amputations and dissections, close of humans, and the worship of idols such as Caine. Is
circles formed of secret society members, and Mary Shel- it any wonder that Camarilla vampires suspect Jack the
ley’s Frankenstein are all in vogue in this period. While Ripper may be a member of the Sabbat?
they serve well as hounds for the Sabbat, consider some
of these uses for the bloodline: One possibility has a circle of Freaks acting out Saucy
Jack’s murders. Whether they’re the original killer or
merely vampires who took inspiration from his deeds,

Blood Brothers

10 for transport, for the first time since the prevalence of
highwaymen terrified of venturing out alone.
they see a fine opportunity to murder young mortals,
harvest their organs for drinking and experimentation, The Most Secret Society
and then read about their exploits in the morning edition.
The Sabbat stereotype the Blood Brothers as dim-wit-
Such a practice may seem like quite the game to ted hounds, but they suffer no weakness or collective
Blood Brothers impatiently waiting for war. Like idle derangement making them so. The strength of their vin-
soldiers itching for battle, Freaks who cannot take their culum renders them more pliable to the Sword of Caine,
collective anger out on the Camarilla may do so on the but they can reason, and show cunning when faced with
Camarilla’s feeding stock. Just for fun, they do so in as an adversary. They can also defend their own lives when
grotesque a way as possible, watching Princes and Sheriffs the Sabbat attempt to use them as expendable fodder.
squirm under kine scrutiny.
Such treatment could even drive a Blood Brother
Hound of the Moors circle into the arms of the most secret of societies: the
Camarilla. The weird bloodline with their weirder Dis-
The stories of Sherlock Holmes capture the mortal cipline hardly fit into the Masquerade-upholding sect,
mind, one of the most famous of which is the Hound yet as coordinated enforcers and murderers they have
of the Baskervilles. Yet, for a long time mortals have no equal. An unscrupulous Camarilla Prince of Anarch
debated beasts of the Moors, citing werewolves, black Baron may enlist disaffected Blood Brothers to release
dogs, and big cats escaped from traveling circuses. information regarding the Sabbat, or even violently turn
on their former masters, in exchange for a petty domain
What if the Blood Brothers prowled the country- isolated from the richer urban areas.
side surrounding a Camarilla domain? As a horrifying
gestalt entity, perhaps they fall upon and consume lonely Such Freaks are few, but after betraying the Sabbat,
wanderers, howl into the night to terrify prey and send could expect to find sanctuary in Welsh coal-mining
them running over treacherous terrain, or simply act as towns, the frontier domains of the United States, or
a roving guard dog for their Sabbat masters. villages in the Black Forest.

Mortals may hear the rumors of the Freaks rolling Gangs of the City
around in the hills and the valleys, ripping travelers to
shreds. Increasingly, they turn to the train and the carriage The Blood Brothers’ natural home is within gang
culture. Fundamentally, gang culture has changed little
since the Victorian era. Gangs still wear colors, or distinc-

tive outfits to display affiliation. Gangs still pay off the
police force, or work alongside them in corrupt domains.
Gangs exploit the vulnerable then, just as they do now.

Blood Brothers are compelled to form gangs
among their own number. Once these gangs form,

they often supplant or leech their way into
mortal gangs of similar ambition. By using
mortal affairs as a cover, these Freaks
achieve more than a simple roving band
of Blood Brothers looking for war. These
Freaks gain wealth, influence, and can
maybe exert influence over the fringe
parts of Camarilla domains.

Imagine the scene, as a Camarilla coterie
addresses their gang-member retainers and
herd, pledging their safety for as long as the
kine serve loyally. Then, bursting through the
doors and windows come the rival gang. Except
they wear the same faces, the same smiles, the
same sadistic looks. Maybe they work as one to

Blood Brothers

11

eliminate the coterie’s mortal servants, or perhaps they offer a deal. If
they are permitted to absorb the coterie’s gang, they will leave the Kindred
alone. These Blood Brothers don’t just want blood; they want power.

Sanguinus

“This is a time of public dissections and amputations.
Our power is just a symptom of the times.”

— Chen Jiumei, Blood Brother of Beijing

The Discipline of Sanguinus is among the more bizarre Kindred
powers. Its creation is alternately attributed to the progenitor Blood
Brothers twisted artifice, Torquemada’s skills with vitae manipulation,
and the Blood Brothers’ Tzimisce mentors. All that can truly be agreed
is that Sanguinus is a new invention and terrifying to vampires of all
sects. Though it shares some commonalities with Vicissitude, Sanguinus
focuses on the power of the Blood, and the link between sire, childe,
and packmates who all share portions of the same vitae.

The visceral parts of Sanguinus bring to mind the autopsies and
surgeries held for student viewing in universities and medical schools.
Medical procedures performed publicly are a new phenomenon of the
era, and go a long way to teach mortals and Cainites alike the biological
functions of the kine. Such procedures are said to have informed the
inventor of Sanguinus, as Blood Brothers intent on carrying out its gory
effects know where best to strike to produce a bloody gout, or where
to apply pressure to stop such flow, while also knowing exactly how to
dismantle a corpse as a butcher might de-bone a carcass.

Mortals observing the overt practice of Sanguinus must make Courage
rolls (difficult 4), spend a point of Willpower, or flee the area in nausea.
This Discipline makes any onlookers, including vampires, review their
own bodies in wholly different ways. The rent flesh, blood flow, and
exposed organs is fascinating to a scientist or cold-blooded vampire, and
may even find an audience among some of the jaded kine in the domain.

Note: The power levels of Sanguinus can be found in Vampire: The Mas-
querade 20th Anniversary Edition, pages 463 to 465.

Blood Brothers

Name: Nature: Generation:
Player: Demeanor: Sire:
Chronicle: Concept: Haven:

Physical Attributes Mental

Strength____________O__O_O_O_O Social Perception___________O_O_O__OO
Dexterity____________O_O_O__OO Intelligence__________O_O_O__O_O
Stamina_____________O_O_O__OO Charisma____________O_O_O__O_O Wits________________O_O_O_OO
Manipulation_________O_O_O_O_ O
Talents Appearance__________O_O_O__O_O Knowledges

Alertness____________O_O__O_O_O Abilities Academics___________O_O_O__O_O
Athletics____________O_O__O_OO Enigmas_____________O_O_O_OO
Brawl_______________O_O__O_OO Skills Finance_____________O_O__O_O_O
Dodge_______________O_O_O_O_ O Investigation_________O_O_O__O_O
Empathy_____________O_O_O_O_ O Animal Ken__________O_O_O_O_ O Law________________O_O__O_O_O
Expression___________O_O__O_OO Crafts_______________O_O_O__OO Linguistics___________O_O_O__O_O
Intimidation_________O__O_O_O_O Etiquette____________O_O__O_O_O Medicine____________O_O_O__O_O
Leadership___________O_O__O_O_O Firearms_____________O_O_O__OO Occult______________O_O__O_O_O
Streetwise___________O__O_O_O_O Melee_______________O_O_O_O__O Politics______________O_O_O_O__O
Subterfuge___________O_O__O_O_O Performance_________O__O_O_O__O Science_____________O_O__O_O_O
Ride________________O_O_O_ OO
Backgrounds Security_____________O_O__O_O_O Virtues
Stealth______________O_O_O__O_O
____________________O_O_O__OO Survival_____________O_O_O__O_O Conscience/Conviction OOOOO
____________________O_O_O__OO Self-Control/Instinct__O__O_O_OO
____________________O_O_O__OO Advantages
____________________O_O_O__OO Courage____________ OOOOO
____________________O_O_O__OO Disciplines
____________________O_O_O__OO
____________________O_O_O__OO ____________________O_O_O_O_ O
____________________O_O_O_O_ O
____________________O_O_O_O_ O
____________________O_O_O_O_ O
____________________O_O_O_O_ O
____________________O_O_O_O_ O
____________________O_O_O_O_ O

Merits/Flaws Humanity/Path Health

__________________________ __________________________ Bruised
__________________________ OOOOOOOOOO Hurt -1
__________________________ Injured -1
__________________________ Willpower Wounded -2
__________________________ Mauled -2
__________________________ OOOOOOOOOO Crippled -5
__________________________ Incapacitated
__________________________ Blood Pool
__________________________ Weakness
__________________________
__________________________

___________________OOOOO Other Traits ___________________OOOOO
___________________OOOOO ___________________OOOOO
___________________OOOOO ___________________OOOOO ___________________OOOOO
___________________OOOOO ___________________OOOOO ___________________OOOOO
___________________OOOOO ___________________OOOOO ___________________OOOOO
___________________OOOOO ___________________OOOOO ___________________OOOOO
___________________OOOOO ___________________OOOOO ___________________OOOOO
___________________OOOOO
___________________OOOOO

Name Ritu als Level TTootaltSapelnt::______________E__x___p__e_r__i__e_n__c__e________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________ Spent on:
________________________________________
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________________________________________
________________________________________ Derangements
________________________________________
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Blood Bonds/ Vinculi
Bound to Rating Bound to Rating
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________

Combat Armor

Weapon Damage Range Rate Clip Conceal

Allies Expanded Background Mentor

____________________________________________________________________________________
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_________________C_o__nt_a_c_t_s____________________________________R_e_s_o_u_r_c__es________________
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___________________F_a_m_e______________________________________R__e_ta_i_ne_r_s_________________

____________________________________________________________________________________
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___________________H_e_r_d________________________________________S_t_at_u_s__________________
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__________________________________I__n__fl__u__e__n__c__e__________________________________________________________________________O____t__h__e__r____________________________________
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P__________________________________________G______e___ar______(___C___a___r___r___i___e___d___)____________________________________o___s___s___e___s___s___i___o___n___s________________________E___q______u___ip___m___e___n___t___(___O______w___n___e___d___)____________________________________
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______________F_ee_d_i_ng__G__r_o_u_n_d_s__________________________________V_e_h_ic_l_e_s_________________

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H______________L__o____c__a__t__io__n______________________________________________________a__v__e__n____s______D__e__s__c__r____ip__t__io____n__________________________________________________
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History

Prelude

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A_______________________________________p_p_e_a_r_a_n__c_e____________________________________

Age___________________________________________________________________________________
Apparent Age__________________________________________________________________________
Date of Birth__________________________________________________________________________
RIP________________________________________________________________________________
Hair____________________________________________________________________________________
Eyes___________________________________________________________________________________
Race____________________________________________________________________________________
Nationality____________________________________________________________________________
Height___________________________________________________________________________________
Weight___________________________________________________________________________________
Sex___________________________________________________________________________________

Coterie Chart Visuals Character Sketch