Thieves, tricksters and conmen and fortunetellers. The Ravnos are scattered, fragmented all over the face of Europe, as we know it. They are a blight among the Cainites and despised for their ways of illusions and lies. Don�t call them liars: it can get messy. Just ask Richard, I think he's still growing his arms back. They travel here and there and everywhere much like the gypsies they boast they are a part of. And they are, that at least isn�t a lie. Moving like groups of tinkers and performers, and hated wherever they go. It�s rare to find them in the company of each other really, they are solitary creatures, those two walking down the desolate road talking must have met each other in passing and are trading tales.
As a need they are nomadic, since they can�t stay in one place at a time or for very long. There isn�t a place or city that will allow a Ravnos to set up shop so to speak. If she tarries for too long, she will be ousted very quickly. Their reputation precedes them it seems. They have no place among us, and they never will. Those of their blood who haven�t had a first hand lesson on trickery or larceny often times take it up out of necesity, thus maintaining their troublesome reputation.
There is a reason all Ravnos have that terrible reputation: they are all very good at their skills of trickery and thievery. Any Cainite could find herself standing there nude on the side of a rode with all of her possessions taken by the Ravnos she had the folly to deal with. Do not pity her, it�s a lesson learned. And if you think she had it hard for a short time, you have no idea how badly the kine fare with them. Poor fools. They have to live by their wits to survive or get anything out of their existence. They often go against others who have the same talents. This way they refine their own practices. Selling relics of religious value, card games, story telling for coin, these are the Ravnos stock in trade. Oh I am sure there is more but off hand this only comes to mind. They take pride in those Ravnos who excel in their chosen fields, the truth of their skill remains to be seen, unless they manage to steal everything including the poor fools teeth.
Freedom, above all things, the Ravnos treasures this more. A wise Cainite will not keep them, but instead hurry them on their way to the next city. Would you want a large number of them coming into your city to demand the release of a clan mate while they robbed the populous blind? I think not. As it is, once word reaches them that a certain place is off limits to them they will show up in droves till the fabric of the edict is shattered beyond repair.
A good trick, they do love to play pranks. Perhaps the Malkavians share some of their more extravagant pranks with the Ravnos they encounter, if they do at all encounter them. It�s an honor among them, and the better the thief you are, the more highly regarded you are among your peers. Ravnos honor, she will never break her word, make sure she spits in her palm then shakes on it, then you know the bargain is sealed with her. Otherwise, well maybe you�ll keep your horse. They will go, no matter how far needs be, to clear her good name, it�s up to them what they will consider an insult or not. Though they do not cheat each other, the rest of the world is fair game.
Sobriquet: Charlatans
Disciplines: Animalism, Chimerstry, Fortitude
Copyright 2002,Vampire: The Dark Ages, Vampire: The Masquerade, World of Darkness are all trademarks of White Wolf. The mention of or referance to any companies in this publication is not a challenge to the trademarks or Copyrights concerned. The information above came from Vampire: the Dark Ages a Source book for the World of Darkness WW#2800.
