Even other Damned fear the Malkavians. The cursed
blood of their clan has polluted their minds, with the result that every last
Malkavian across the world is incurably insane. What's worse, a Malkavian's
madness can take nearly any form, from overpowering homicidal tendencies to
near-catatonia. In many cases, there's no way to tell a Malkavian apart from
the "sane" members of other clans. Those few whose psychoses are
immediately obvious are among the most terrifying vampires to stalk the streets.
For as long as even the eldest Cainites can remember, the Malkavians have
always stirred Kindred society with their passage. Although the clan has instigated
no great wars nor toppled mortal governments (at least, to the best of their
fellow vampires' knowledge), the very presence of a Malkavian works a subtle
change on a city. Chaos nips at the Lunatics' heels, and those who associate
with even the most well-meaning Malkavian often find their lives or unlives
altered by the Cainite's madness.
Recently, the Malkavians executed their grandest "prank" of all.
None can say whether it was worked in a great Malkavian Parliament held somewhere
in an isolated European village, or on a bleak and forgotten moor somewhere
far from the cities. A few stories speak of a epidemic of contagious dementia
exploding among those of Malkav's blood. Whatever the cause, Malkavians across
the world have begun displaying a new, dangerous edge to their madness, accompanied
by bizarre events in Kindred cities around the world. A longstanding Malkavian
conceit holds the Jyhad to be a joke instigated by the founder of the clan;
some Kindred wonder if, in fact, Malkavians have played the joke on them all
along.
None can say what exactly makes the Lunatics so dangerous. Certainly, their
madness often frees them from fear of pain or Final Death. More than a few
demonstrate horrifying murderous urges or a complete lack of emotion, including
compassion. But most convincingly, the Malkavians are free from the confines
of rationality and may do whatever they like - and this freedom is coupled
with an uncanny insight, a strange wisdom that cannot be perceived by the
sane. The Malkavians possess a dark intellect that is often - and increasingly
- set to frightening purposes.
Nickname: Lunatics
Sect: The Malkavians as a clan have an... understanding...
with the Camarilla. They also populate the Sabbat in lesser numbers, where
they frighten even their packmates with their psychotic displays. But when
it all comes down to it, their true loyalties likely transcend sects. When
Gehenna arrives, nobody can say for sure where the Malkavians will stand.
Appearance: Malkavians run the gamut from terrifyingly psychotic
to convincingly ordinary in every way - sometimes both at once. Just like
serial killers, they could be anyone - the scruffy bum talking to himself,
the pleasant but quiet neighbor, the borderline-suicidal musician. These vampires
are capable of great subtlety, and rarely show anyone a face other than the
one they want people to see.
Haven: The Lunatics by and large take whatever shelter they
like, although more than a few find aging hospitals and poorly funded asylums
to their tastes. Many seem to enjoy the company of desperate mortals, and
prefer slums and institutions to more secluded havens.
Background: Malkavians take their childer from all walks
of life and for all number of reasons. Anyone can be chosen to further a sire's
twisted purposes, although most Lunatics prefer Embracing those already close
to (or subject to) madness. Most other vampires believe that the Malkavians
Embrace their childer on a whim; however, virtually all Lunatics discover
themselves subtly championing some barely perceptible "purpose,"
the full extent of which none - not even their sires - can
properly fathom.
Character Creation: Malkavians come in all shapes and flavors,
but many have primary Mental Attributes, befitting the clan's reputation for
wisdom and insight. Apart from that, it's anyone's guess just what Traits
a Malkavian may manifest - with the diversity of their concepts and backgrounds,
these mad vampires could be anyone. Anywhere.
Clan Disciplines: Auspex, Dementation, Obfuscate.
Weaknesses: Every last vampire of Malkav's blood is irredeemably
insane in some form or another. Some attribute this to a curse of the blood,
while other Lunatics actually call it a special blessing, a gift of insight.
When a Malkavian character created, the player must choose at least one deragement
(see p. 222) for that character at the time of the Embrace; this derangement
can be temporarily fought with Willpower, but can never be permanently overcome.
Organization: The hierarchy of the Malkavians, if it exists
at all, defies description. Most are usually conent to let one another do
as they like from night to night. But now and again, in times of great need,
Malkavians demonstrate an uncanny ability to act in unison, wen without any
apparent leadership - and sometimes even without any apparent communication.
As one, they arise from their desolate haunts; as one, they fall on the problem
at hand. And when it is a problem no longer, they drift back to their usual
routines. If the Malkavians indulge in any form of machinations as a clan,
they are incomprehensible to outsiders - which may be a blessing.
Bloodlines: Before the Dementation Discipline spread contagiously,
throughout the clan (in 1997 or so), a great number of Malkavians expressed
their mind-warping talents through the use of the Dominate Discipline. A few
Malkavians weren't caught in the redoubled tide of insanity that swept the
clan, and still possess that power in lieu of Dementation. The rest of the
clan pays these offshoots no particular notice; indeed, with only a few exceptions
Malkavians don't differentiate between this bloodline and the clan proper
at all.
Quote: Laugh if you like. Doesn't matter. Assume that
you're so much smarter than the poor, broken lunatic. Doesn't matter. But
think about this: You're a dead thing, same as me. You died and were reborn...as
this. What makes you and me different? Simple - I remember what I saw when
I was full anc truly dead. You'd be mad, too.