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 Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 12:30 am
Clan Nosferatu "Wow, You haven't flinched for almost two minutes. I must get prettier when you want something." Not all curses are created equal, and even the Damned have outcasts. These are the Nosferatu, the most overtly disturbing of the undead. Only sometimes able to pass as a human, the Haunts are horribly warped by the Embrace, either physically or...otherwise. They dwell in shadows that other vampires would not dare. Even other undead fear the Nosferatu, for their unsettling seemings are constant reminders that those Kindred who look mortal are not. They grudgingly respect the Nosferatu as well. These blighted creatures have incredible powers of stealth, terrifying strength, and they embody the monstrous destructive force that every one of the Damned can muster if pushed to far. If they had their druthers, most other clans would prefer never to associate with the Nosferatu at all, yet the Haunts' inarguable alents and brute force make them to dangerous to ignore. So other Kindred offer them a tense hospitality, hide their unease behind wary diplomacies and pray that the Nosferatu leave as soon as possible.
Many Nosferatu conceal their lonliness and resentmess behind masks of indifference. This isolation has fostered strong familial bonds among the Nosferatu. To those outside their ranks, they put on a unified front, creating the impression of a single extended network. The truth, of course, is that Nosferatu squabble and compete with one another as much as members of any other clan -- but when faced with an outside threat, they close ranks.
The Nosferatu's inability to blend in with society forces them to dwell apart, often congregating in places others shun. Some find sanctuary in sewers, using influence with mortal government and construction, as well as their own substantial strength, to expand simple maintenance tunnels and sluiceways into vast underground warrens. Others lurk in cemeteries sharing aboveground crypts with sedentary occupants. Still others prefer abandoned homes, often giving rise to neighborhood urban legends of haunted houses, or exist in the basements or boiler rooms of modern office buildings. Tradition holds that any Nosferatu is welcome in any warren until she provides her brethren reason to expel her. The Haunts might not all get along, but they recognize their common bond -- not that they have any choice, since it follows their aspect like a miasma.
Feared by and therefore ostracized from society, many Nosferatu become as alien as their demeanor. Others choose the opposite path, becoming surprisingly cultured, well mannered, and well spoken to compensate for their unnerving seeming. The latter are the Haunts most frequently found playing polotics with other Kindred. The Nosferatu are also known as purveyors of information. Not only do their supernatural powers make them foes to be reckoned with, but many elder Nosferatu are keepers of ancient lore, rivaling anything preserved by the Ventrue. Sophisticated Haunts trade knowledge the way other Kindred trade favors, and if a Nosferatue doesn't know something, he can probably scare someone who does into telling him. It is this trade in terror, more than anything else, that makes the Nosferatu too valuable -- and too dangerous -- to ignore. After all, one never knows what horrid Haunts tell one's enemies, or how many of them wait in ambush.
Nick Names: Sewer Rats, Haunts, Creeps, Lepers, Nossies.
Quote: Come here, little boy, howsabout a kiss? [phlegmy, wheezing hack] Whazza matter? Big bad gangbanger's scared now? Don't so much like being a victim, heh? Well, get used to it, 'cuz you ain't seen the half of it.
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Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 12:39 am
Events ADDING MEMBERS: Soon I am hoping to put together an event that will bring in more members who will be active for a long while. I expect them to roleplay on a regular basis, or at least stop by the thread once a week.
REPLACING RANKS: As you can see in the members area, all of the most important ranks are inactive. This is something to be frowned upon. But I now have the power to take away ranks from those who are inactive, and give them to those who won't let me down! So be sure to post on a regular basis and show a good understanding of the clan and you may be able to have your Nos upgraded to Ante, Meth, and Elder. But if you let me down, that rank WILL be taken away. ):
More events, and information for events, to come at a later date.
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Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 1:05 am
Rules 1. READ AND FOLLOW ALL OF THE RULES.
2. Respect all who are in the clan. This includes everyone from Fledgling to the Disciple. This clan has high belief in clan unity. Without us, you're alone.
3. Be active on a regular basis. This does not mean you can pop into the clan for a month, then leave for a year, then come back for a few days and automatically expect things to be the same as when you left. Post atleast once a week, and 3 weeks a month. PM Cherry Flavoured Zombies if you are expecting to leave for a certain amount of time.
More soon.
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Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 1:11 am
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Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 1:17 am
The Curse The Nosferatu Embrace is a brutal thing. In many ways it is more alienating than the Embrace of the Malkavians. One's body is one's most prized possession, and the disfigurement of the flesh inevitably has repercussions within the mind.
A typical transformation takes about a week. During the first night, the victim's body is wracked as the organs shrivel and veins harden in preparation for carrying the bilious Nosferatu vitae. The victim still looks essentially human, but the constant pain twists the victim's face into a perpetual grimace. The lust for blood surfaces during this time.
During the second, third, and fourth days, dead skin begins to coarsen and stretch, and brusies reminiscent of those caused by rigor mortis appear on the flesh (the blood-storing sacs are still developing). The childe's hair begins to fall out in patches, and the cartilage of the ears and nose collapses and distends.
The pain becomes truly excruciating by the end of the week. At this point, the childe's very bones gnarl and warp, and all resemblance of humanity is lost. The agony reaches its peak at the climax of the transformation, when the skull suffers its changes -- elongating, partially caving in, or flattening as the face may be. It is at this point that the Nosferatu realizes the extent of his transformation.
Many Nosferatu do not survive the Change with their sanity intact. The pain and the shock of sudden deformity prove too much to bear. Such Kindred often become mindless brutes, and in Camarilla society, it is the sire's responsibility to hunt down her mad offspring and destroy it.
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Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 1:25 am
Embracing Vampires choose their progeny for many reasons, and this is true of the Nosferatu as well. Nonetheless, there seem to be a certain common denominators among those the Nosferatu choose.
Perhaps the most common characteristic of Nosferatu-to-be is an alienation from mortal society. Even in life, Nosferatu Chosen are often physically or emotionally scarred. The ranks of Nosferatu neonates include the deformed, homeless, autistic, sociopathic, hoplessly antisocial and the criminally insane.
Strange as it may seem, this selection is largely for practical reasons. A neonate who has lived a life of pain will find the grueling transformation easier to bear. A mortal who has suffered rejection and ostracism from his peers will find it easier to isolate himself fully from mortal society and to endure harsh treatment of other vampires. Nosferatu must bear a tremendous burden in unlife, and few sires want to suffer the consequences of releasing an unstable childe into the world. Nosferatu seek those who have bent, rather than broken, under the weight of life.
Equally odd is the fact that this selection of misfits and loners creates a clan unity unparalleled in the ranks of the Kindred. When one has spent one's life alone, any company, even that of monsters, becomes palatable. The Nosferatu elders have long understood this need. They have found that a few words of genuine praise are often more effective than any Dominate or Blood Bond.
Out of spite, some Nosferatu decide to target those who are conceited and beautiful. If they are already ugly inside, why not make them ugly on the outside too? Even though the transformation will be very painful, the curse is used here to do just that....curse.
One obvious exception to the aforementioned rule of selection might be noted. Vindictiveness often plays a role in the creation of neonates. The Nosferatu consider vampirism a curse, after all, and often bestow it as a form of punishment. The vain, the callous, the prideful -- all have been targeted for victimization.
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Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 11:00 pm
Feeding Practices An obvious difficulty for the Nosferatu is feeding. The merest glimpse of a Nosferatu sends most mortals fleeing in horror. Obfuscate helps in this regard but is far from reliable. Furthermore, few Nosferatu develop the high levels of Dominate and Presence common among the members of such clans as the Toreador and Ventrue. Particularly with regard to neonate nosferatu (who do not have the high Discipline levels to subdue prey), feeding can be a chancy thing.
The elders of certain cities, realizing this, have created "way stations" among the downtown populace. Certain Nosferatu, those skilled enough to have achieved prowess in the Animalism power Song of Serenity, periodically gather at street corners and back alleys where homeless individuals cluster. The Nosferatu use Song of Serenity to lull and mesmerize the mortals into a pacified trance, thus allowing their fellows to feed. Other Nosferatu then Dominate the victims into forgetting the incident.
Certain particularly despicable Nosferatu prefer to feed exclusively on children, whether because of cowardice or penchant. Such Nosferatu, are not surprisingly, called "boogeymen." This practice, while vile, is quite effective. Children's tales of monsters in the night are rarely believed.
Of course, high levels of the Obfuscate Discipline help immeasurably when feeding. With sufficient control, a Nosferatu can use Mask of the Thousand Faces to impersonate anybody she wishes -- including that doctor who happens to need five pints of Type AB positive ASAP...
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:54 pm
A little More on the Clan Sect: Surprisingly, the clan as a whole belongs to the Camarilla, despite obvious difficulties with upholding the Masquerade. Perhaps they value the safety of membership; perhaps they simply want the other clans within observing distance. Still, a fair number of Nosferatu are in the Sabbat or simply consider themselves autarkis (of no sect).
Appearance: No two Nosferatu have exactly the same air, though troubling characteristics often follow patterns within "families." Discolored leathery skin, gavping maws, rubbery skin, misshapen heads, odors like grave earth, buldging eyes, queasy stares and personal habits, gnarled hands, ineffable feelings of dread, sagging flesh -- all these and more are the hallmarks of the clan. Not every Haunt is physically deformed. Indeed, many are not, instead discomfiting those who look upon them with indescribable unease. The darkness and filth in which many Nosferatu dwell make their foul meins (and foul odors) even worse.
Havens: Most Nosferatu dwell in places far from mortals, such as abandonded ware-houses, graveyards, basements and of course the ever-popular sewers and subway tunnels. That said, some few Nosferatu choose to flout tradition and take their havens in pent-houses, fantastic manors -- anyplace where they can enjoy the luxuries of wealth yet still count on substantial privacy.
Background: Nosferatu normally choose progeny from among society's castoffs, such as the homeless, the mentally ill and criminals. Many Nosferatu Embrace out of spite, using the curse to punish vanity, cruelty or other such "sins." Assuming a sire wants a childe to survive -- which isn't always the case -- Haunts tend to choose self-reliant individuals who might actually be able to manage their new condition. Few Nosferatu Embrace out of love or affection, though even this is not unheard of. Rare but heartbreaking the tales of a Nosferatu determined to "gift" his love only to find himself the object of his beloved's loathing when she learns what's been done to her.
Clan Disciplines: Nitemare, Obfuscate, Vigor, Potence, and Animalism.
Weakness: As mentioned, Nosferatu are absolutely loathsome to look at.
Organization: While Nosferatu do not have the rigid protocols that mark clans such as the Tremere and Ventrue, their shared deformity creates and exceptional clan unity. Shunned and reviled by other creatures, Nosferatu stick together out of equal parts of necessity and loneliness.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:41 pm
Clan Hierachy Of all the clans, the Nosferatu is the most unified. While the Tremere and Ventrue clans present external facades of camaraderie, their structures are brittle shells wracked by backbiting and glued together by the fear of reprisal. Not so the Nosferatu. Afterall, to whom else can one turn for true understanding and sympathy?
There is, of course, a practical side to this. The elders are well aware that somewhere in the world the Nictuku lurk, stalking their progeny and seeking to destroy their own kind. Gehenna is all to real to the Nosferatu elders, and they realize that only through unity will the clan be able to face its "great-uncles" when the night of reckoning comes. Thus, the elders do everything in their power to ensure clan harmony. The Nosferatu have no time for internecine feuds.
Survival is the main criterion for status among the Nosferatu. Of course, this is ultimately true for all vampire clans, but the Nosferatu don't try to put a genteel facade over it. Nosferatu existance is pain, and those who have endured the pain the longest are accorded the greatest respect. Thus, the elder Nosferatu tend to dominate clan dealings, but not through the use of force or inimidation. Instead, elder Nosferatu are seen as revered sages, and their advice is willingly followed by the young.
Indeed, Nosferatu never demand respect or obedience; that practice, so common among the Ventrue et al., is seen by the Nosferatu as oxymoronic and just plain moronic. No Nosferatu is able to order another of the clan to do anything. Nosferatu who attempted to browbeat their brethren are simply ignored by the rest of the clan, who disappear into the night via Obfuscate.
For this reason, Nosferatu are skeptical at best toward sects such as the Camarilla or Sabbat. The clan considers the sects rather silly and takes a "yeah, sure, whatever you say" attitude toward the machinery of vampire politics. Camarilla and Sabbat Nosferatu have more in common than any other clan and its antitribu, and the two sides occasionally cooperate.
Nosferatu society is loosely devided into units known as broods. Most Nosferatu in a brood are related through blood ties, though outsider Nosferatu who relocate to a given city are free to join that city's brood. Broods are generally run by consensual agreement, though the opinions of elders carry a greater weight than do those of the young.
Decisions are rarely made without at least the grudging agreement of all in the clan, and consensus is generally the watchword within a brood. Individual Nosferatu, content that at least some attempt is made by the brood to come to terms with their wishes, rarely act against the interest of the clan.
Punishment is rare among the Nosferatu. The Camarilla branch of the clan reluctantly enforces the Traditions, and the Sabbat branch holds its members to what few rules guide that sect, but the clan otherwise does nothing to discipline its members. Nosferatu who consistently cause trouble for the clan are simply ostracized.
This "punishment" is surprisingly effective; unlife is harsh for the Nosferatu as is, and a Nosferatu without clan supprt is fair game for a variety of dangers, includting the Nictuku. Besides, most Nosferatu find the clan provdes the only true opportunities for friendship -- an outcast Nosferatu is a lonely soul indeed.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:43 pm
Derangements NIGHTMARE: The Kindred Discipline of striking fear and dread into the hearts of others. Practitioners learn to manifest their inhumanity in their appearance or by letting unfortunate onlookers peer deep into their Damned souls. The Discipline can have a variety of effects, from shocking even the most jaded individual to literally frightening a victim to death.
OBFUSCATE: The power of hiding oneself by clouding the minds of the weak. An Elder, or higher ranked vampire, may use this power quite well. They could walk, and talk, keeping the image they want in the weak childe's mind. A Neonate, on the other hand, could only hold this while standing still, and not talking.
VIGOR A Discipline that temporarily enhances the using kindred's physical strength. Unlike simple augmentation, Vigor can surpass the Strength limit imposed by Blood Potency, enabling the vampire to achieve superhuman levels of strength.
ANIMALISM: A versatile Discipline that gives its user the ability to communicate and control animals. Usually, Animalism works better when used on other predatory beasts, and at some point can even rouse or calm even the bloodlust of the vampiric Beast. It must be noted, however, that most of its powers affect only actual animals, not any sort of supernatural creature that looks or is within an animal's body.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:48 pm
Clan Stereotypes MORTALS: Yeah, it sucks having to hide from your food. Yeah, you could take any mortal out without thinking about it. When you can take out a few thousand of 'em, then come talk to me. Until then, keep your ******** head down.
BRUJAH: It's kinda fun to sneak into their Rants and get a laugh out of all the stuff they think they know and don?t really have a clue about. We've got a game down in the Chamber? we all sit around coming up with the wildest, goofiest, most far-fetched tall tales we can think of. Then we vote one of 'em the best? not for being a good story, but for being the biggest load of crap in the bunch. Then we take that story and sell it to the Brujah as gospel truth. Watch 'em run around like ants in a hill, screaming Jyhad and Sabbat and Lupines and everything else. Damned amusing.
GANGREL: They treat us better than any of the others do. Guess it's 'cause they know that after a few years of freakin' and sneakin', most of 'em are gonna look worse than we do. At any rate, we like to be left alone, they like to be lett alone, and we pretty much leave each other alone. End of story.
MALKAVIAN: Gotta admit, these guys scare the piss outta me. No amount of dirt you get on 'em's any good, 'cause either all your facts?ll change the next night or they just don?t care if you tell the world anyway. Also, I hate the way they'll walk up to you and pay you for some information, and then when you start to tell it to 'em, they finish your sentence and add on a new tidbit you hadn't even heard yet. Then they just stare at you with that goofy grin while your jaw drops open. Then they walk away cackling. Damn, I hate it when they do that. Freaks.
TOREADOR: What do I think of the Toreador? (There is a thoughtful pause, followed by the gargling in the mouth of at least a Blood Point's worth of vitae the sudden, violent vomiting thereof onto the nearest wall, accompanied by facial contortions and the grossest, most disgusting retching noises imaginable.)
TREMERE: Definitely a PR coup for us. Take the most rigid, uncreative, predictable bunch of dweebs in all vampiredom. Spread a few, creative generalizations about 'em. The Tremere are coming! Watch your a** around the Tremere! The Tremere are the strike force of the Antediluvians! The Tremere killed Kennedy! (leans closer) Listen, man, the Tremere are about as dangerous as my grandmother. Just don't let 'em get a hold of any of your blood, you got nothing to worry about. Well, almost nothing...
Huh? What do I mean, almost? Well, that little bit o' data'll cost ya...
VENTRUE: The biggest idiots of all. They really don't get it, do they? They want to put their asses on the firing line! Here I am, guys! I'm the leader! Come get me first! Let 'em, man. They'll be the first to go, and it don't mean squat to me.
Other than that, I say hey, if they wanna do all the managerial s**t work, more power to 'em. And it's kinda funny to go up to 'em in a conclave and watch 'em try to be all polite and chummy to you, even though the sight of you makes 'em want to retch. Then start acting more and more disgusting and foul, and watch 'em really squirm. Wow, Mr. Prince, sir, thanks so much for saving us from the Sabbat. Gosh, I just want to shake your hand. Oh, sorry about the mucus, and that chunk, that's just month-old rat cartilage. I'm sure you have a couple of Dominated dry-cleaners to take that right off.
CAITIFF (Clanless): Poor bloody bastards. They get screwed over even more than we do. Still, every now and then you need someone to screw over so's you can go about more important business. When that happens, well...sorry, man, but them's the breaks.
ASSAMITES: Oh dear, oh dear, the big bad-Assamites! They try to be great and terrible killers, but we ain't impressed. Can't kill whatcha can?t find, and we taught 'em everything they know about sneakin'.
GIOVANNI: Who? Oh yeah, those guys. (long backward look over shoulder, followed by a shudder) No comment.
RAVNOS: Kinda one of those Gangrel situations, where ya get along 'cause there's no reason not to. We don't got nothin' worth stealing and they don't really care about information. Fair enough. Anyway, they screw over the Toreador as much as anyone, and that's more than good enough for me.
SETITES: Set is a Nictuku, one's Nosteratu's childer. These guys are twisted, just on the inside. One'a these days it's gonna be them or us. Till then I stay the hell away from 'em, Bastards.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:50 pm
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 3:25 pm
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 3:31 pm
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 3:32 pm
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