VtR Primer
Page 1 of 4
This is mainly a primer for people who don't own the Red Book, or aren't even familiar with Vampire at all. This is a copy of the basics of Vampiric society, clan and bloodline 'base' descriptions and possible concepts, from the Red Book (pg. 22-23 and pg. 104-112), so that players who aren't familiar with the game/have the Red Book can get some base ideas about what they'd like to do as a concept, before we get on with a Chargen Meeting to actually GENERATE the characters. I'd also like to run a couple of preludes for characters, so that people can get a background for their characters in mind. Also, to generate relations between characters. Vampiric Society ---------------Vampiric society is a mimickry of the medieval, fuedal style of existence. Most of the Kindred believe that their society has existed as it does now, for the past thousands of years. Kindred gather together out of a base neccessity -- some see it as regulation, some see it as need for company. Whatever the reason, Kindred gather in cities that are treated somewhat like fiefdoms. The primary purpose, believed to be regulation, causes the kindred to not only gather in physical proximity, but socially, under a government within cities that is created and run by Kindred. This is done because there is enough recognition that they need to police their own. Were the kindred to dwell in the crowded cities with no overt authority, nothing would prevent the indiscrete or foolish from waging war with one another openly, feedinng indiscriminately, or otherwise threatening each other's vitality. A figure known as the Prince (or whoever represents the local government) is an enforcer, first and foremost. Beyond this, Kindred claim that their kind cleave together socially for reasons far more personal and ingrained than the need to protect themselves from each other. Kindred society grants it's members something they could never have among mortals: a sense of belonging, of community. Vampires might despise the greater portion of their fellows and their Prince or governor -- and a great many do -- but this is nevertheless their community, their city. Where mortals turn to family, Kindred have clans. clan s. Where mortals form nations and cultures, Kindred have Covenants. These social constructs allow the Kindred to feel as though they're part of something, to counter the extreme isolation that they would otherwise suffer for all eternity. A kindred's single existence of unlife is referred to as The Requiem; and the whole of Kindred society and existence is referred to as the Danse Macabre. Kindred, as a whole, are active in most parts of the world, though as Kindred do not travel much, communication between cities, let alone nations and countries, is sparse. Covenants and Coteries ---------------------A covenant is a social unit of vampires. Each is an artificial group comprising Kindred with similar philosophies, ideals, political aims and even relegious notations. Vampires can usually belong to only one Covenant at a time, as members are somewhat exclusionary about their principles, but Kindred sometimes leave one covenant to join another, evade notice of membership in multiple covenants, or actively concoct false identities with which to spy on other covenants. Some vampires belong to no covenant at all. This is a basic layout of the covenants covered in the Red Book; the five Covenants that players can be members of, and the two NPC covenants. Carthians - The Carthians seek to reconcile Kindred society with modern governmental structure and societal systems. In any number of cities across the world, the Carthian experiment is in some stage of
file://C:\My%20Documents\primer.html
11/30/04
VtR Primer
Page 2 of 4
it' s inexorabl inexorablee cycle, cycle, running running from naive idealism idealism to ' the revolut revolution ion eats eats its its children. children.'' Circle of the Crone - The Circle of the Crone venerates an amalgam a malgam of female figures from mythology as the vampiric creator, dubbed the Mother of all Monsters. Regarded as pagans by some of the more conservative Kindred factions, the Circle remlies more on holistics and redemption than on penitence and guilt of of other idealogical idealogical covenants. covenants. It' It' s members are sorcerers sorcerers and blood blood witches. witches. Invictus - The Invictus is the aristocracy of the night, Neofuedal and corrupt from within. It is nonetheless nonetheless a powerful powerful covenant that draws draws strength strength from tradition. tradition. The Invictus Invictus claims to trace it' s roots back to ancient Rome, if not time before. It believes that the structure of power should be ' strongest strongest has has the right right to rule,' rule,' a rule rule espoused espoused a lot lot of times times in in Kindred Kindred society society as as a whole, whole, wether wether or not Invi Invictu ctuss is a Kindre Kindred' d' s covenan covenant. t. Lancea Sanctum - The Lancea Sanctum looks to Biblical history for its spiritual outlook. The covenant seeks to influence Kindred society with the strictures of Longinus, who was believed to be a progenitor turned into one of the Damned by the blood of Christ. The covenant practices a blood power that draws on elements elements from Biblical Biblical times, times, when God' s will was was manifest. manifest. Ordo Drakul - The Ordo Drakul is a neo-Victorian society, not unlike a secret society. It commands mystical knowledge and rituals that allow members to transcend their vampiric state. The covenent claims descent from the historical and popularized-by-fiction Vlad Tepesh -- Dracula. Unboun Unbound d - Kindr Kindred ed who who claim claim no alle allegia giance nce to to any Covenan Covenantt are are known known as ' Unbound Unbound'' or ' Unaligne Unaligned d among many other names. They have no formal structure, and many just wish to handle their Requiem on their own terms, rather than those of covenants or other institutions. The Unbound are usually the least-regonized in a city, though it really depends on the currently reigning covenant as to their betterment or worsening of their condition. Belial Beli al'' s Brood Brood (NPC (NPC)-) Not every covenant is as fully structured as the rest. Indeed, some covenants are local phenomena or simply too small to merit the elaborate systems that the large ones have in place. For Belial Belial'' s Brood, Brood, the the covenant covenant of of satan satan -worshipping, demon-magick-practicing Kindred, covenant law is unneccessary unneccessary because because ' Do as thou thou wilt wilt shall shall be the the whole whole of the the law.' law.' A loose confederati confederation on of Satanis Satanis demon-worshi demon-worshipers pers and overt miscreant miscreants, s, Belial' s Brood claims that that the origin of the Damned is Hell itself; that vampires are not their own unique species. That they are demons, given mortal from or devils who have found found passage from the the Pit' s sulfrous sulfrous depths to the surface surface of the world. world. Their beliefs beliefs on the purpose of the Damned are quite simple: to indulge the dark urges that the Beast imparts. VII (NPC) - One ' covenant' covenant' among the world world of the undead undead has no name. name. Although Although this this faction faction compromises vampires, thyose beings seem to hate all Kindred who are not part of their mysterious order. As in, they literally attempt to destroy them on sight. The notion of this group as a covenant might even be mistaken, as it is unknown whether the group is a true covenant, its own insular clan or just a particular particularly ly zealous zealous cult. cult. ' Seven,' the name name by which which it is recognized recognized by other Kindred, Kindred, comes comes from from th occasional iconography that its vampires leave behind after particularly heinous or noteworthy attacks -the Roman numeral seven. Coteries are collections of Kindred who share not so much an idealogy, but a desire to work together to make their Requiem' Requiem' s more bearable. bearable. Kindred need allies, allies, especially especially those neonates neonates (young Kindred) Kindred) or those with no political clout. Coteries provide this, as well as a way to combat the left-over need for companionship from their mortal days. Coteries generally consist of three to six Kindred, but there are known coteries with upwards of a dozen.
file://C:\My%20Documents\primer.html
11/30/04
VtR Primer
Page 3 of 4
Clans and Bloodlines -------------------A Clan is a vampiric lineage. The Kindred acknowledge five clans and all kindred belong to one clan or another, another, as per per a ' family' family' of sorts. sorts. The most widely widely accepted accepted theorum regarding regarding clans clans is that they they are are li ' families' families' of vampires; vampires; members members of clans clans all all have certain certain mystical mystical properti properties es in common, common, wether it be Disciplines Disciplines or a specific specific weakness weakness of their their psyche. psyche. However, However, one of the failings failings of the the ' families' families' theor that, while vampires are immortal, they have no knowledge of their clan progenitor. Only a few are guessed at with any confidence, but the Fog of torpor eliminates most of the static, flat knowledge with it' s effects. effects. Only two vampires vampires in history history have shown to have no clan, clan, and have never shown the the ability ability to Embrace (make new vampires, or childer). The two vampires in reference are the Roman centurion Longinus, and the ever-present-in-fiction Vlad Tepesch, Dracula. While they founded two Covenants, not clans, clans, who is to say they aren' t on the path to establishing establishing Clans Clans themselves. themselves. But, if the the origin of vampires do not lie with Clan progenitors, where do they come from? And, if Longinus and Dracula are truly truly clanless, clanless, who' who' s to say say there there aren' aren' t other, other, even more secreti secretive ve vampires vampires around around sufferin suffering g their their Requiem in the same state. Daeva - The Daeva are emotional, sensual and desirable. Sexual predators and sensual hedonists alike populate the ranks of these succubi-seducers. The Daeva embody the more sensual, sexual and exotic (and sometimes erotic) aspects of the vampires, who mythology holds as a great seducer of men and women. Common Concepts: Bored socialite, club hopper, club owner, cult leader, cultured serial killer, full-time Harpy, jaded vampire who gets off on being a creature of o f the night (a fairly meolodramatic attitude found only among the very young before the weight of the Requiem finally settles on them), Kindred politico, politico, local local covenant spokesman, spokesman, patron patron of the arts, professi professional onal ' escort.' escort.' Gangrel - The Gangrel are primal, hardy and savage. They embdoy the mythology of vampires turning into animals or otherwise changing form (wolves, bats, mist). They also embody and represent the vampiric nature and relations to animals and nature. Common Concepts: Archaeologist, bodyguard, bumpkin, survivalist, circuit rider, guru, mercenary, nomad, shaman, urban predator, zookeeper. Mekhet - The Mekhet are quick, discreet and wise. Legends of vampires hiding in shadows, preying secretly on victims, and even learning secrets noone else but the keeper is supposed to know probably refer to Mekhet activities. Common Concepts: Antiquities scholar, assassin, Casanova, diplomat, enforcer, fence, ghetto Harpy, pilgrim, policeman, power behind the praxis, seer, information broker, spy. Nosferatu - The Nosferatu embody the eeriness present in much of vampiric mythology. They are strong ,stealthy and terrifying. Their very prescence unnerves people, whether by physical ugliness, foul stenches or nebulous personal malignance. Common Concepts: Bogeymen, circus freak, curde sadist, guardian angel, leg-breaker, parvenu, petty thief, rat king, reclusive eccentric, snitch, sycophantic servant, torturer. Ventrue - The Ventrue are regal, commanding and aristrcratic. Vampires as everying from Eastern European lords to gentrified nobles, to modern corporate raiders belong to this clan. The Ventrue embody the lordly ways that vampires are presented in mythology, as counts and rulers of domains, other vampires and other creatures of the night. Common Concepts: Corporate CEO, crooked cop, gang cief, militar yofficer, old-time ward boss, patron of the arts, politico, political consultant, rave promoter, realtor, society matron, technical wizard, financier, finance advisor.
file://C:\My%20Documents\primer.html
11/30/04
VtR Primer
Page 4 of 4
Bruja Bruja - An offshoot of the the Gangrel. The The bloodline bloodline known as the Filhos Filhos des Bruja (or Bruja' Bruja' s Sons, or simply simply the Bruja) seem seem like something something out of a nightmare, nightmare, or a drug trip trip from the 60s. It' It' s a motorcycle motorcycle gang of vampires, ghouls and a few handfuls of blood dolls -- all dirty, mean-as-hell, leather-wearing monsters tearing up the American Southwest on roaring black American motorcycles when the sun goes down. Itm ight ight almost almost be funny to to those those who' ve never never seeen the Bruja Bruja in action, action, but this isn' isn' t some some bullshit Sunday club or group of impotent middle-aged men. These guys are locusts, who HATE you and who have no respect for notions of domain, or the Kindred Traditions. Common Concepts: Bar brawler, blood doll pimp, coyote (as in the illegal, border-crossing kind), mercenary, dealer in drugged blood, drag-racer, drug dealer, loan shark, motorcycle mechanic, perpetual omega wolf, hired gun, mass-murderer. Burakumin - An offshoot of the Nosferatu. The bloodline that has come to be known as the Burakumin originated in feudal Japan within the social stratum of the same name. Beneath the samurai and the soldiers, and the priests and even the peasants were those mortals whose professions were considered ' spiritually spiritually unclean' unclean' by the tenets of the Shinto and Buddhist Buddhist religions. religions. Such Such professio professions ns included included tanning, leather-working, butchery and the handling of the dead. People who made their living from these professions were declared unclean and legally worth less than other peopele, and grouped together in small hamlets. Nowadays, Burakumin have a tendency to be somewhat regarded with respect. Though this is a hard-won respect. Common Concepts: Ancestral avenger, aspiriting upstart Primogen, blackmailer, forensic pathologist, grave robber, importer, mortician, private investigator, spectral intercessor, tanner. Malkovian Malkovian - An offshoot offshoot of the the Ventrue. Ventrue. Most Most Kindred Kindred are unaware unaware of the so-calle so-called d ' Malkovians,' Malkovians,' a bloodline of madmen and lunatics that are more prone to derangement and degeneration of the mind than their progenitors, the Ventrue. The Lunatics are few -- a state of affairs that those who are aware of them would like to perpetuate, by whatever means neccessary. Common Concepts: Absinte-addled roué, Arsenic and Old Lace-style death angel, conspiracy theorist, eccentric scholar, failed suicide, health professional ,idiot savant, mumbling beggar, religious visionary, tortured artist, crackpot old person, seer. Morbus - An offshoot of the Mekhet. A bloodline that must feed from the blood of those carrying diseases diseases and sickness, specific specific to the Morbus' Morbus' odd pallate. pallate. The Morbus Morbus are seen by other kindred kindred as pariahs, and are not hunted, but are usually asked to leave a domain -- hunting comes later. To the Morbus themselves, they simply considering themselves Mekhet who are afflicted with a curse, or cursed with a singluar variety of rarefied tastes. Common Concepts: Angel of mercy, cult leader, demon of retribution, doctor, hospice manager, medical researcher, New Age holistic healer, plague dog, retirement home orderly, seemingly philantrhopic political activist, living bioterror weapon. Toreador - An offshoot of the Daeva. To the unwashed, ignorant masses, the Daeva are sleek, haughty, alluring, alluring, idealized idealized predators predators who' ve been gifted with with eternal youth, youth, beauty and undying style style because they' re just that much better better than regular mortals mortals.. Those of the Toreador bloodline bloodline believe believe themselves themselves t be much the same, but elevated above their Daeva progenitors, those uncouth, thrashing, hedonistic Kindre Kindred. d. They' They' re too well wel-mannered l and aloof to say as much TO the Daeva, but what they leave unsead in mixed company could fill volumes. Common Concepts: Bullfighter, buyer for a museum, character assassin, gallery owner, Harpy, Master of Elysium, promising artist, reclusing retired impressario or maestro, sycophantic courtier, vicious critic, art dealer.
file://C:\My%20Documents\primer.html
11/30/04
