The
Brujah are inheritors of a majestic and ancient legacy, which is
unfortunate. Tonight's Brujah seems less like a Clan and more like a
mob. Punks, terrorist's, revolutionaries, criminals, gangbangers and the
like make up the Brujah; the clan seems to be united in nothing saving
its contempt for the institutions of vampire and mortal society. Well,
this is not entirely true; Clan Brujah are among the most savage
vampires and the most trivial slight or annoyance may trigger a howling
frenzy.
The Brujah's disunity keeps the clan tenuously in the Camarilla, but
Brujah thugs routinely defect to the anarchs, the better to strike
against their hated elders. Even the "tamer" Brujah annoy the
elders and princes routinely thoughts acts of defiance and rebellion.
Despite their recalcitrance, however, Brujah are valued as warriors;
they are perhaps the most dangerous vampires in a straightforward
battle. To anger a Brujah is nigh suicidal - and Brujah are notorious
for their tempers.
The
Gangrel
Of
all vampires, the Gangrel are perhaps closest to their inner nature.
These nomadic loners spurn the constraints of society, preferring the
comfort of the wilderness. How they avoid the wrath of the werewolves is
unknown; perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the Gangrel
are themselves shape shifters. When a mortal speaks of a vampire
changing into a wolf or bat, she is probably speaking of a Gangrel.
Like the Brujah, Gangrel are fierce warriors; unlike the Brujah, Gangrel
ferocity does not stem from anarchic rage, but from animalistic
instinct. Gangrel have a keen understanding of the Beast in their souls,
and prefer to spend their nights in communion with the animals whom they
so emulate.
The
Toreador
The
Toreador are called many things -- "degenerates,"
"artistes," "poseurs," and "hedonists"
being but a few. But any such categorization does the clan a disservice.
Depending on the individual and her mood. Toreador are alternately
elegant and flamboyant, brilliant and ludicrous, visionary and
dissipated. Perhaps the only truism that can be applied to the clan is
its members' aesthetic zeal. Whatever a Toreador does, she does with
passion. Whatever a Toreador is, she is with passion.
To the Toreador, eternal life is to be savored. Many Toreador were
artists, musicians or poets in life; ,many more have spend frustrating
centuries producing laughable attempts at art, music or poetry. Toreador
share the Ventrue's love of high society, though not for them the tedium
of actually running things -- that's what functionaries are for,
darling. Toreador know that their place is to captivate and inspire --
through their witty speech, graceful deeds, and simple scintillating
existence.
The
Malkavian
At
first glance, the members of Clan Malkavian do not appear to be a clan
at all; they are chosen from all races, creeds and social strata. But
Malkavians, regardless of mortal standings, bear one disturbing
commonality: They are all quiet mad. Whether from the clan's choice of
victims, the circumstances of the Embrace, or some property in Malkavian
blood itself, all Malkavians go insane shortly after the transformation
(if they were not insane to begin with).
Accordingly, many Malkavians find themselves pariahs, ostracized by a
vampiric society fearful of their random urges and capricious whims.
Wiser Kindred, however, prefer to keep the madman close at hand: Behind
the Malkavians'lunatic crackling and feverish ran tings lie smatterings
of insight, even wisdom.
The
Tremere
Even
among vampires, the insular Clan Tremere bears a reputation for
treasury. This reputation is well earned; the Tremere were formerly a
cabal of human wizards who, hungering for immortal life, wrested the
secrets of vampirism from unwilling Kindred. Such vile deeds earned the
clan a sinister reputation; even today, certain vampire clans would love
nothing better than to destroy the entire Tremere line.
Nonetheless, Clan Tremere holds a place in the Camarilla, for its
members were instrumental in suppressing the Inquisition and supporting
the Masquerade. Then, too, the Tremere have proved themselves dangerous
enemies -- and powerful allies. Tremere still practice a version of the
arcane arts they studied in life, and so these "warlocks" use
their sorcerers powers in service to the Camarilla...almost as much as
they use the Camarilla in service to themselves.
The
Nosferatu
Caine's
chylder are called "The Damned," and no vampires embody this
more than do the wretches of Clan Nosferatu. While other vampires still
look human and my travel in mortal society, Nosferatu are twisted and
deformed by the curse of vampirism. To put it bluntly, the Embrace
transforms them into hideous monsters. Unable to walk among humans,
Nosferatu must dwell in subterranean sewers and catacombs. Other
vampires revile Nosferatu, considering them disgusting and interacting
with them only when they must.
Because of this stigma, however, Nosferatu are survivors par excellence.
Few creatures, mortal or vampire, know the city's back alleys and dark
corners like the Nosferatu do. Additionally, Nosferatu have refined the
crafts of sneaking and eavesdropping to fine arts; if anyone or anything
has the latest dirt on mortal or vampiric society, it is the Nosferatu.
Finally millennia of shared deformity and abuse have fostered strong
bonds among the monsters. Nosferatu forego the squabbling and feuds
ubiquitous to the other clans, preferring to work in unison. You mess
with one, you mess with them all -- and that can get messy indeed....
The
Ventrue
Elegant,
aristocratic and regal, the Ventrue are the lords of the Camarilla. It
was Clan Ventrue that provided the cornerstone of the Camarilla, and it
is Clan Ventrue that directs and coaxes the Camarilla in its darkest
hours. Even in the modern age, the majority of princes descend from Clan
Ventrue. The Ventrue would, of course, have things no other way. In the
tradition of noblesse oblige, the Ventrue must lead the other clans for
their own good.
In ancient nights, Ventrue were chosen from nobles, merchant princes or
other wielders of power. In modern times the clan recruits from wealthy
"old-money" families, ruthless corporate climbers, and
politicians. Although Ventrue move in the same social circles as the
Toreador, they do not fritter away their existence in frivolity and idle
chatter. The Ventrue proudly wear the privileges of leadership, and
stoically bear its burdens. Thus has it always been; thus shall it
always be.
The
Sabbat Clan
Two
clans stand in open rebellion to the Masquerade. Supported by renegade
antitribu from the Camarilla clans, they are collectively known as the
Sabbat. They seek freedom from the rules of the Camarilla, and they
strive to reduce mankind to the status of cattle. The centuries long-war
between these two sects has escalated -- perhaps beyond control. The
anthem of the Sabbat is total Kindred freedom. It is this philosophy
that makes them deadly guerrilla warriors and a shockingly disorganized
sect. One Sabbat pack
is seldom aware of the agenda of another.
Unlike
the Camarilla kindred, they are not bound to the whims of a single sire.
Sabbat vampires undergo blood rites that make them fiercely loyal to
their sect. Sometimes this rabid devotion is all that keeps them
together.
The
Tzimisce
If
Clan Lasombra is the heart of the Sabbat, Clan Tzimisce is the soul.
Even other vampires grow uneasy around these flesh-crafting Kindred, and
the clan's nickname of "Fiends" was given to it in nights past
by horrified Kindred of other lines. The Tzimisce's signature Discipline
of Vicissitude is the subject of particular dread; tales speak of
crippling disfigurements inflicted on a whim, of ghastly
"experiments" and tortures refined beyond human - or vampiric
- comprehension or endurance.
The
Lasombra
The
Lasombra clan has fallen from grace - and its members enjoy it.
Simultaneously graceful and predatory, the Lasombra guide - and, when
necessary, whip - the Sabbat into an implacable force. Turning their
backs upon the humans they once were, Lasombra give themselves wholly
over to the dark majesty of the Embrace. Murder, frenzy, predation: Why
fear these things, many Lasombra ask, if one is meant to be a vampire?
In contrast to the Tzimisce, though, Lasombra generally seek not to
reject all things mortal, but to shape them for their own pleasure.