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 Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:24 am
Work in progress. You have been warned. Clan Toreador The Toreador are called many things - "degenerates," "artistes," "poseurs" and "hedonists" being but a few. But any such lumpen 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 spent frustrating centuries producing laughable attempts at art, music or poetry Toreador tout themselves as cultivators of all that is best about humanity.. Occasionally, a particularly gifted or inspired creator is Embraced into the clan, to preserve her talent for eternity. In this manner, Clan Toreador has inducted some of humanity's greatest artists, poets and musicians into its ranks; -of course, if one thing can be said about the Toreador, it is that no two of them agree on precisely what "gifted" or "inspired" means.
Of all clans, Toreador are the vampires most connected to the mortal world. While other vam pires view the kine as pawns or simple sustenance, T oreador glide gracefully and effortlessly through the society of the Canaille, sampling the delights of each age as a gourmand savors rare delicacies. Toreador are the Kindred most likely to fall in love with mortals, and they surround themselves with the best, most elegant and most luxurious things - and people - that the world has to offer. It is, thus, acutely tragic when a Toreador succumbs to ennui and discards aesthetic pursuits in favor of pointless hedonism. Such Kindred become decadent sybarites, concerned only with indulging personal whims and vices.
Toreador are committed to the Camarilla and share the Ventrue's love of high society, though not for them the tedium of actually running things - that's what functionaries are for, after all. T oreador know that their place is to captivate and inspire - through their witty speech, graceful deeds and simple, scintillating existence.
Nickname: Degenerates
Sect: Most Toreador are in the Camarilla, as only that august organization promotes "culture" and allows the Toreador to live among the mortals they so favor. Those in the Sabbat pursue bizarre "artistic" pastimes, such as torture and bloodpainting, or are the rulers of the most decadent underground movements.
Appearance: Toreador Embrace out of passion as much as any other reason; accordingly, many Toreador are creatures of surpassing beauty. Of all Kindred, Toreador are the vampires most attuned to human fashion trends; centuries-old Degenerates are often more stylish than some 30 year old mortals. If it's in, chances are that at least one Toreador will adopt it.
Haven: Toreador take care to ensure that their havens are comfortable, convenient for socializing and -- above all -- conform to their aesthetic tastes. Vampires of a more artistic bent might maintain spacious lofts to display their works, while their "poseur" counterparts love opulent suites perfect for hosting parties.
Background: Toreador range across a spectrum of concepts, from lonely, tortured artists to debauched jetsetters. Some Toreador are Embraced for no reason other than their beauty or personal style, as a passionate sire decides that they simply must be "preserved" for eternity.
Weaknesses: Toreador are preternaturally attuned to the aesthetic and beautiful, but this sensitivity can prove dangerous. When a Toreador views, hears or even smells something that is truly beautiful -- a person, a painting, a song, a particularly loving sunrise -- he can become entranced by the sensation. The Toreador would stand in rapt fascination for a scene or until the beautiful thing withdraws. Enraptured Toreador will not even defend themselves if attacked.
Organization: Toreador have little practical organization, though their cliquishness and social networks are legendary. The clan meets frequently, but more as an excuse to host lavish parties and showings than to accomplish anything. Status among the Toreador is a tempestuous whirlwind in which one subtle smile or catty critique can lead to fortune or disaster; a prodigy may be adored one night, commit a barely perceptible faux pas, and be ostracized the next.
Quote: Oh yes, isn't she exquisite? Yes, she's my newest find -- I'm her muse, the sweet little creature. Imagine! And what of -- oh, Thomas? Why I could hardly say -- after all, he had his "15 minutes" as they say, but it just wasn't going to last, and it all became so very tedious, so I had to say adieu. Suicide? Really? Silly boy -- he should thank me, then, that I didn't give him the Embrace. It would have made things so difficult, after all...
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:24 am
Toreador and Mortals The Toreador is a whole remain closer to mortals than perhaps any other clan, with the possible exception of the raucous Brujah. What we are and what we do inherently involves the kine -- what would civilization be without them? How could we partake of the best in humanity without remaining close to it, aware of it? We walk the fine line between Kindred and kine, removed from significant portions of both worlds, indulging in the best and worst of either.
Many of us prefer the company of mortals to Kindred. Some Toreador even indulge ourselves by keeping a mortal identity or a mortal family. So few other Kindred can say they know what it feels like to come home to a loving spouse and children. So few other Kindred can say they know what it feels like to love.
Unfortunately, the highs make the lows all the more horrifying. Some Toreador never recover from killing a loved one in a frenzy or even from outliving them "naturally". Our closeness to humanity makes it all the more terrible to witness mortality.
Some say that the Toreador are skilled manipulators who adore intrigue and backstabbing. Understanding and cultivating relationships with mortals is, after all, what we do best, and this often leads to using others to have our way -- some claim that every emotional interaction with a mortal is, in its own way, manipulation, but I disagree.
Intrigue is a complex thing. It's hardly a clanwide pastime -- some of us have more important things to do with our unlives. But some of us certainly find that it springs naturally from an unlife of gossip and prestation.
Desrania says: Remember always among mortals not to freely reveal your secret. However, indulge all you can and want, aside when the sun's touch is about. But there is plenty of life in the night about, and many more parties to be had, among other things. We are the masters of belnding into society with little issue, so let us revel in our gift and nejoy the humanity that abounds.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:25 am
Keeping a Mortal Identity Some of us choose to hold on to a mortal identity. Usually Toreador establish themselves as scions of their local community -- pardon me, society -- and then do their best to fit in. Obviously this can be difficult, since we can't go out during the daytime. There are ways around this. Most rely on the archetypal "socialite's eccentricity" to explain their behavior. Those with enough money add to it the stereotype of the peculiar rich person (stereotypes can be so useful when misused correctly).
Still, it isn't easy. We're bound to irrtate people when we continue to refuse their invitations to dinner. Of course, there are ways around this as well -- so many mortals today have unusual and varied food allergies that it's easy to say we don't want to be a burden. We Toreador are also more adept than most other clans and passing ourselves off as mortal. Many of us know how to use our blood to appear flush and warm. Some of us even know how to eat, although we rarely display this ability in front of other Kindred -- how vulgar the very idea! Other clans tend to view these proclivities as signs of how decadent we've become.
If we maintain our identity for too long, of course, someone eventually notices that we aren't aging. We can put this off for a little while with simpler mannerisms or by using wigs, hair coloring and stage makeup -- I''ve done it before -- but it gets tiring to do it night after night. And all it takes is one slip of the wig or one accidental swipe at the makeup and one's deception is unmasked.
Truly, the keeping of a mortal identity is a tedious undertaking. The worst part is that in tonight's world of television, international news and airplanes, we can''t just travel a hundred miles and be assured that no one will ever recognize us. Some settle for eking out unremarkable, largely unnoticed mortal lives and use pseydonyms when they wish to make public appearances. This all seems very counterproductive to me, for what is unlife for if not to be enjoyed? Why make things worse for yourself?
Desrania says: Pretending to be a mortal is nice, just be careful to keep your story straight, lest the inconsistencies catch up. There are others around who would seek to cause much more horror in this world then even we, and would love to make hell for us on this world. Thankfully the life of an artist, and the life of the ones who enjoy the nightlife are easily explained to our habits.Keeping a Mortal Family and Falling in Love Keeping a mortal family is even more difficult. Not only must we face all of the dangers inherent in maintaining a mortal identity, but we must also deal with the relations themselves. Relaionships with mortals are discouraged, for they all too often end in disaster. If the family involves children then the hard questions arise -- Do you tell them what you are and risk them revealing the secret to their friends or teachers? Do you leave them in the dark and field their questions every time they ask you why you only wake at night, or why your room has no windows, or why you feel so cold when you kiss them goodnight?
To keep a mortal family is truly the most terrible and most wonderful of things. It can make us feel alive again, or it can point out to us just how far we've strayed from the path. Other dangers come with it as well -- like the possibility of frenzy. More than one Toreador has come out of a frenzy to find her stepson or stepdaughter, or even her husband torn apart at her feet.
Some Toreador find lovers who aren't mortals. Toreadors have been known to fall in love with each other, with the other creatures that prowl the night (how gauche!), or even with Kindred of other clans. Love is one of our most prized and precious possessions; it keeps us close to humanity and allows us to understand mortals better than any other Kindred. It can renew one's will to continue when everything seems cold. It is also our greatest weakness. Through love we go mad with grief when our enemies target our families. Through love we experience loss in a way no other Kindred can. And after all is said and done, we are already dead -- love between Kindred can only end in tragedy.
Desrania says: Even should you consider a full lvoe with a mortal, never reaveal the secert until you have full trust, and be ready for the worst should they learn. Their knowing would truly make your life more difficult... even though you live a different world. And among our own, unless they are untied to the politics in these nights, be wary - for however beautiful they may be, their souls may be more disgusting then any Nos you've ever seen... and they will use you if they please as much as some say we use mortals. Live and love, but be careful what you reveal in your passions.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:30 am
The Masquerade The Masquerade is a tricky thing for Toreador. Many members of the Camarilla see us as the keepers of the Masquerade, and not without reason. We spend so much time with mortals that breaches of the Masquerade tend to come to our attention very quickly. and we can easily apss undetected among the kine. Through us, problems come to the attenion of other members of the Camarilla, when we believe this to be appropriate. Then we make use of our mortal contacts to take care of the situation. After dealing with such breeches, we come out heros to some, whistleblowers to others. Most important of all, we come out looking squeaky-clean.
You see, the Masquerade is a thin, thin line, and we walk it right down the middle. In order to enforce the Masquerade and remain close to humanity, we must move among the kine. More Toreador have revealed their secret to mortals then probably any other clan in the Camarilla - and yet we suffer no blame. It is precisely the fact that we interact so well with humanity that makes us able to identify and clean up the messes of other clans. Anyone creating an obvious thread to the Masquerade will liekly find himself the object of scorn - our society has no place for those who would have us destroyed in the name of their own laziness, stupidity, or greed.
Regardless, it remains a thin line. We have simply learned to repair cracks in the Masquerade's facade ourselves, before anyone else finds out. We may also have a better sense of which mortals can be trusted not to spill our secrets. And because we remain in touch with our humanity, most of our violations of the Masquerade are not as flagrant as those of other clans.
Although we are not generally cabale of clanwide, or even citywide, movement - the Toreador are too selfish and cliquish to be team players - we do our best to maintain the Masquerade. I mean our Masquerade, not the Camarilla's. If we break the Camarilla's Masquerade we lsoe a great deal of face among our Toreador peers, but those peers never repreat the stories to the others of Caine's get. Well, almost never. A few Toreador have been known to carefully let such secrets fall into the hands of the Canarilla in order to ruin a rival. Luckily this doesn't happen very often. Still, the clan claims no few spin doctors, socialites, media types and more traditional artists who can sway the popular opinion from, "Vampires!" to "What a weirdo! He really thought he was a vampire!"
Desrania says: Even with our ways with it, it is always best to keep your secrets tight and tell as few, if any at all, the secret you possess. Surely were our 'violations' toescape the clan, or fall into the hands of any other of the Camarilla, there may be little we could do to aid you by then. A slip of the tongue could set either the Camarilla or the mortals upon us - and we cannot have that. Walk the line carefully, and do not fall.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:31 am
The Kiss Toreador are of two minds when it comes to feeding. Many believe that feeding upon or near one's mortal friends devalues them, and of course most also worry about what sort of impression it leaves. Consider the incredible difference between having a wife who knows, in the abstract, that you're Kindred, and having a wife see you with your teeth in someone's neck. It tends to bring a fuzzy concept home with a hell of a punch and has ruined more than a few Toreador relationships.
Those Toreador who refuse to feed from their loved ones claim it would be treating them as cattle. What's the point of trying to remain close to humanity by interacting with them if you're just going to treat the ones nearest to you as prey?
Others claim the pleasure of the Kiss is simply another way to express one's love to a caring spouse. Still others claim frustration at the inability to make use of a ready source of blood in a time when safe blood supplies can be scarce. The majority of Toreador, of course, see this for the rationalization it is. Some say that feeding from one's family is the first sign that a Toreador has lost touch with humanity. Most of those who indulge in this sort of behavior do so behind closed doors.
Desrania says: Feeding from that which you lvoe is personal taste, but keep it to yourself, as it is best. Would you paint on a completed masterpeice you treasured more then anything? Be wary, however, that the Beast does not consume you in such presence, or you may be more devistated then anything... do not let it control you... but be careful.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:35 am
Toreador and Other Kindred Toreador relations with other Kindred are somewhat complex, as we are much more comfortable with mortals in general. And, of course, those Toreador who represent us to the Kindred are not necessarily those who best represent the clan...
Tremere
The Tremere remind me of those uptight, homely girls in high school who thought that since they weren't getting any, no one else should have a good time either. Start with that kind of bitter, joyless priggishness. Marry it into a longing to control everyone who's actually figured out how to have fun or do something noteworthy. Add an unhealthy dose of truly scary magic tricks. Let it simmer for a couple decades... and you wind up with the typical Tremere. They're joyless, stangant seekers after the power to turn everyone else into joyless, stagnant peons.
They're very good at gaining power and completely inept when it comes to using it. They're the kind of people who make an elaborate plan that looks great on paper. It disintegrates at the first touch of reality of course, but it should have worked. When this happens, the Tremere insist that the plan was perfect. It's reality that's wrong.
That's why they're so dangerous. They've got a peculiar combination of genius and stupidity that could let them seize the world in their blood-soaked fist, only to drop it down the steps and break it into shards. They're brilliant numbskulls.
Malkavians
This is the most dangerous clan in the Camarilla, even worse than the Tremere. The Tremere are like a big fat python -- nasty, but they die when you cut the head off. The Malkavians are like a swarm of piranha; getting rid of one only leaves space for the next set of jaws.
Here's what's dangerous about the Malkavians: They've somehow convinced themselves that the alienation that comes from listening to the Beast is "true wisdom". Given the choice between their living and dead halves, they pick death every time. I wouldn't mind if it was a personal choice where they just went sun walking, but their lust for death goes deeper. It's not just their own death, or the death of mortals they seek: They attack the very foundations of order, structure and peace. They undermind, erode and erase -- not for their personal gain but because they're servants of entropy, existing only to suck the rest of the world down into their madness. When everything that's worthwhile has been extinguished, when the pulse of life has been smashed and beauty can't be recognized and the Beast has finally triumphed, the Malkavians will turn out the lights.
The best way to deal with Malkavians is to ignore them most of the time. They've got nothing you want and they don't perceive us as a threat.
Assamites
The Assamites are like a reversed mirror image of the Tremere. Where the Tremere are too smart for their own good, the Assamites are full of the kind of brute, efficient stupidity that built the Third Reich. They don't have a complicated master plan, other than "drink vampire blood," so it's very hard to tangle them up.
That said, these are some advantages to having a single-minded opponent. Primarily, they're easily led and they wear their hearts on their sleeves. Plus, they hate the Tremere, which is worth points in my book.
Don't even approach these guys if you're close to Caine: Do all your assassin shopping through a thinblooded vassal. If an Assamite even sniffs elder vitae, they're prone to snap and go for the gusto.
Brujah
It can be hard to cope with the Brujah because in many ways they're like us. They're attached to strong feelings from their mortal life. We're lucky. We're attached to culture -- and while you can debate the virtues of this danger or that philosophy, for the most part culture is something you can point to, evaluate and look at from the outside.
The Brujah, poor souls, are connected to ideas. Have you ever held a pound of liberty? Gone around looking for a few yards of justice? Hopped next door to borrow a cup of honor? I didn't think so.
The reason the Brujah can't get along with each other (or anyone else, for that matter) is that each one seems to be bound up with some personal, intangible crusade. They're very particular.
Setites
Oh yes, the feared and vaunted "masters of corruption." I was intimidated until I realized that "corruption" is a catchphrase.
Anyhow, what "corruption" means is "getting back in touch with that human stuff." Let's look at what the Setite's notrious "corruption" shtick consists of, shall we? Oh gee, sex? Oh that's not the kind of throwback to mortal days. Drugs? There's another tool in their box that has the musk of humanity all over it. Knowledge? Possessions? These are all cravings of the human half, not the Beast.
Most of the Setites you're likely to meet are almost as familiar with their human selves as you or I. They're just not as tasteful or stylish. They can be creepy, icky freaks, but they're creepy human freaks nonetheless.
Gangrel
Really, I used to think this clan was an object lesson in the dangers of losing one's human self to the Beast, but I have to say, they don't seem worth the trouble. Sure, they develop snaky eyes or cloven hooves or whatever. Sometimes it almost seems liek they're turning into their Beast selves outward so they can keep their human selves secure. Scratch the surface and sometimes you find someone fairly balanced, interesting and stable.
So they're not a consistent, terrible menace like the Malkavians or Giovanni. That doesn't mean they're good for much, unfortunately. They're uncivilized, which means they don't have a lot to offer us except that nifty dirtnap trick.
They're uncultured and crude, but they're awful good at running things down and tearing them into pieces.
Giovanni
Your typical Giovannit likes banging his sister so much that he won't quit even after she's dead. Worse than that, they're up to something that makes necro-incest look like a Sunday church social. We haven't been able to pin down exactly what the clan's ultimate plan is, but it involves death. Lots of death.
Lots of people think the Giovanni aren't a threat because there aren't too many of them. While that's true, keep in mind that it doesn't take many cancer cells to make a healthy body sick. Not all of them are named Giovanni, either.
The good news is that no one's going to do a lot of boohooing if you kill one. The bad news is, sometimes that's not a solution. Giovanni have a nasty tendency to come back as ghosts. Not all of them, not even most o the time -- but just often enough to keep you honest. Of course, the ghost Giovanni immedietly hook up with the Lick Giovanni to form a happy little revenge squad.
The Giovanni are bad news. Their primary interest is taking what little humanity they ever had, tossing it down the toilet and using the rest of the world to wipe their asses.
Lasombra
The leaders of the Sabbat are your old-school medieval-church-style, "ride through the moor under night's blackest cloack and drink the blood of any who cross our path" type of vampires. They regard their own humanity as, by and large, an irritant. Some actually consider themselves "tools of the Devil" -- God's scourge upon a fallen world. Damned themselves, they serve to push others into or away from their own damnation.
At least, that's the theory. In practice, they're trying to keep a short leash on a big pack of blood-addled Sabbat nutjobs.
Nosferatu
These guys deserve a lot of credit: It's like they're the Malkavians turned inside out. Where the Malkavians carry a hideous curse inside an acceptable exterior, the Nosferatu have all their ugliness on the outside. A surprising number have found a way to cope with their Beast while maintaining something dignified and worthwhile inside.
On the other hand, there are a lot more who are so discouraged and enraged that their outer ugliness is, if anything, less vile than what they're hiding inside. Those you have to watch out for, because they're jealous. It goes beyond simple envy of the ugly for the fine: They can't tolerate the fact that we've stayed more human, and it makes them crazy.
Ravnos
Ravnos? What Ravnos?
They were interesting while they were around, and I have to say it was pretty amusing watching them go to town on one another, but I think you could round up every tear that's been shed over their disappearance and comfortably fit them in an upended contact lens.
Too bad whatever drove them beserk didn't have time to curse the Tremere, the Giovanni, and the Malkavians while he was at it.
Tzimisce
Another group of Sabbat diehards that you'd be lucky to never encounter. In their own way, they're fighting the Beast too, but not by taking shelter in their humanity (like us and most setites) or by trying to balance the two (like the Gangrel and Nosferatu) but by denying both. They don't want to be people or animals. They want to be machines. Blood goes in, thought comes out. That's their ideal, their aesthetic. Pretty dry, huh? What's surprising is how many of them can create beauty, almost by accident. There is a certain thrilling something that can arise from perfect functionality, isn't there?
Ventrue
Ventrue are all right. By and large they like things they way they are, which means they're quite good at keeping things from getting worse. Compare and contrast with the Tremere, who long to become "big brother" or the Giovanni, who want to turn everone into their personal ********, or the Malkavians, who want to upset the apple cart just to count the worms crawling out of the rotten ones.
There's a lot of talk about Ventrue "control," which is mostly smoke and mirrors. The Ventrue don't "control" a police force ro the extent that they dictate who walks every beat in one of "their" cities. They may have a ghoul doing paperwork, and they may have a blood bond on one of the lieutenants, but their greatest talent lies in cleaning things up. wink
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:36 am
On the Embrace and 'Preservation' The Embrace for many Toreador tends to eb a more spontaneous, unplanned event then for other clans. However, this is not to say that they always embrace without consideration and without reason - after all, many a great artist has been passed up, considered unqorthy of such 'preservation' through the ages for some reason or another. Either the personal taste of the potential sire, or perhaps simply because of something the kine did. Whatever the case, Toreador tend to Embrace for reasons mostly known to themselves, but often in the face of preserving some great quality or ability they contain - be it their beauty, or their abilities.
However, even when Embracing, there is still that some do not wish to remain so - and we cannot force them to stay still shoudl they not desire such. It is, perhaps beter, to give thought more to your embracing should you be worthy of such ability then to waste the gift on one who will turn it away. After all, not everyone wants their work to remain forever, or themselves...
In this age things seem to be mroe and more fixated on the here and now, then the forever, and for the Toreador, it makes choosing very difficult in what to keep around. Still, the senses tantalize, and all embraces often have a reason based on the agenda of the sire, more then for any specific gains for the whole.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:57 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:59 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:01 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:03 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:04 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:05 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:06 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:07 am
Links, Etc. I expect all Toreadors to know the rules of vampires in Faetasia and adhere to them. I will not have rampant rule-breaking from the Tors. We are not like Brujah, and even they have better sense then to competely buck the rules. Extended vampire Information Thread & Rules
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