Florence After Dark

Assamite

The Assamites are a group of skilled, select assassins who often commit contract killings in exchange for the blood of other vampires. Even when compared to other vampires, the Assamite appear overly obsessed with blood, due to a clan weakness which causes an addiction to the blood of other vampires.The clan stronghold, Alamut, is based in a mountain range in the Middle Eastern region. The Hashshashin cult that once occupied this fortress are what inspired the first version of the Assamites. Aside from warriors/assassins, the Assamites also have among them scholars, known as Viziers, and sorcerers. Effectively the clan consists of three bloodlines, known as castes, each with slightly different disciplines and weaknesses.

Even though most Assamites claim independence from the sects, they still collaborate with both the Camarilla and the Sabbat whenever such an alliance suits their purposes. A few Assamite factions have permanently defected to the sects, however, notably the antitribu (who joined the Sabbat) and the smaller group of Schismatics that sought protection under the Camarilla.

The Assamites clan Discipline is Quietus, which alters the internal chemistry and alchemical balance of the vitae (or blood) of the practitioner or his/her victims. The Discipline was developed as a tool for carrying out the Clan's purpose as judges and police to their fellow Cainites during the age of the First City of Enoch. The effects range from the novice ability to use one's blood as a potent poison, to causing an entire Cainite bloodline to "weep" blood.

Another trait which differentiates the Assamites from the other original Clans is that they were never cursed by Caine, the first vampire. Despite this, they were still subject to two powerful curses from other sources. The first such curse originated with the Baali bloodline during the Assamite Clan's attempted destruction of that family. The results of this curse was that the entire warrior caste of the Assamite Clan became afflicted with a tremendous blood-lust for the vitae of other vampires, even to the extent of addiction after only one taste of such another Cainite's blood. The second curse occurred around the time of the Anarch Revolt, at the hands of the Tremere. This curse, intended as a punishment for the clan's addiction to vampire blood as a result of the first curse, caused the entire Assamite Clan to have a severe allergic reaction to vitae from any other Cainite clan. Only the Assamites that joined the Sabbat and thus became antitribu and a few disobedient loners who refused to succumb to the curse were spared this fate. Recently, however, the Assamites have managed to shrug free of the Tremere curse due to the awakening of one of their most ancient and powerful methuselahs, named Ur-Shulgi, and have resumed feeding on other vampires. This caused a great many elder Assamite Antitribu to rejoin the original clan, leading to a leadership crisis in the Sabbat's Black Hand subsect.

Unlike the other lines of vampires, who become paler as they age, Assamites grow darker - their eldest members being the shade of obsidian. There is one notable exception to this; Al Ashrad, former Amr of the clan, has pure white skin and no one has been able or willing to explain this.

Baali

The Baali believe that the Clan arose in the mythical first city. Their sire, Baal, was one of the third generation, and was the younger brother of Saulot in both the mortal and vampiric sense. Both brothers were scholars, and maintained a highly competitive relationship. Each sought to show up the other and win the favor of Caine. Each delved into great mysteries, communed with ancient spirits, and sought the council of moonbeasts. One night Saulot came to Baal with a plan to contact the infernal powers. Baal initially resisted, but finally the lure of knowledge swayed him and he collaborated with Saulot in a series of rituals. Saulot however had betrayed him, the next night when Baal began the ritual, Saulot arrived with Caine and the Second and Third Generations. Caine was horrified by these dealings and before Baal could raise a word in his own defense Caine, father of all kindred, slew him . Caine cursed all of Baals' offspring (for he had sired in order to gather information from around the world) to forever live in fear of the one above's true sign, creating the clan's weakness.

When the Third Generation came together after the flood, the children of Baal were not among them. Instead they founded cities in what was to become Mesopotamia, flourishing with the passing years and gaining great strength from the infernal powers. When the Second City fell, the cities of the Baali still thrived, but several centuries later, a coalition of clans attempted to destroy the Baali, each for their own reason. The Capadoccians (forerunners of the Giovanni) led the assault, hoping to gain the dark knowledge of death and the afterworlds that the Baali possessed. They were supported by the Followers of Set who sought to expand their own powers of corruption, the Brujah (True Brujah?) who sought, for their histories, the ancient records of the cities, and the Tzimisce whose goals remain unknown. The Salubri did not participat, Saulot apparently having had a change of heart after his brother's destruction (he had apparently only expected a punishment of banishment).

The battles raged for decades, with the vastly outnumbered Baali losing ground with each year. Just before the final assault, the Baali decided to win the war in the only way they were able: from within. They put in place the mechanism for the great dispersal whereby the surviving members of the clan would infiltrate the other clans from within and slowly corrupt them. They also swore undying revenge against the five clans (including the Salubri) that had attempted to destroy them. When the allied clans attacked the next evening they found only a few newly embraced kindred and a handful of ghouls. They declared the war over, the Baali destroyed and their dark knowledge forever lost. The Baali were stricken from the vampiric histories and in a few centuries forgotten.

The first taste of revenge on the Baali's lips was the destruction of the Brujah city of Carthage by the Ventrue led coalition of Clans. Much of the 'evidence' the Ventrue used to prove Carthaginian demon worship was fabricated by the Baali (for who else had a better knowledge of demonic practices?) With Carthage's destruction the Brujah degenerated into the fractious rebels that they are today. The Baali had gained there first success.

The Baali gained a fair portion of the revenge they sought during the Middle Ages. By now firmly entrenched in all the Clans (and some other organisations), the Baali began a series of great schemes which were to have incredibly far-reaching results. They ultimately culminated in the formation of the Giovanni (and the consequent destruction of the Capadocians), the rise of the Tremere (which both hurt the Tzimisce and resulted in the destruction of Saulot and most of his offspring), and the Anarch revolt which was not started by the Baali but which was certainly helped along by them (and which destroyed virtually all of the Old Clan Tzimisce and hurt almost all of the other clans). The formation of the Sabbat gave the Baali a fertile ground from which to corrupt, and the clan truly flourished.

Wherever the other Clans went so to did the Baali; they spread into the New World with the great vampiric sects. During this period they created several minor incidents but did not instigate any sweeping changes. They did, however, found the Path of Evil Revelations which has since become one of the central precepts of Baali 'morality'.

In the modern era the Baali continue to infiltrate and corrupt the other clans, playing the role of devil's advocate with great skill. None outside the Clan know the full extent of their power, and few are even aware of their existence. They remain the expression of ultimate evil in the kindred, while possessing a measure of the power that could stave off Gehenna.

Daughters of Cacophony

The Daughters area distinctly modern phenomena despite their Classical name. No Kindred claims to have heard of them before the 1700s, and if they had existed, vampires feel sure they would have known. They are believed to be an offshoot of the Toreador, and then some believe that the Malkavians had more influence. The Daughters of Cacophony are singers without peer, but their harmonies are not their main claims to fame. It is the damage their songs can do to the mind that causes their Kindred concern. This is why they are nicknamed the "Sirens." The Toreador are of two minds in their dealings with this bloodline. While they cannot deny that the Daughters have incredible skill in their chosen art, more than one Toreador has been permanently twisted by their harmonies.

The Daughters are a small bloodline, and Embrace only those who show "real" singing talent. Most of them create no more than one or two childer. The childer are taught for years by their sires before being released into the world. While the Daughters seem to abide by the Masquerade, they can be found in both the Camarilla and the Sabbat.

Followers of Set

The mythic-historical origins of the Followers of Set are in ancient Egypt, as they claim to be descended from the dark god Set (who is also identified with Typhon) rather than Caine, the father of all vampires. The Setites see themselves as having a divine mandate to revive their Antediluvian, Set, in order to create an era of "paradise" for vampires and they are willing to work towards this goal in any way possible without drawing attention to themselves. Due to this connection to Set, all Setites see things a little differently than other vampires. Therefore, unlike most vampires in the modern setting, the Setites are associated with neither the Camarilla nor the Sabbat. The Followers of Set are generally found near Cairo, in sub-Saharan Africa, India, and the Caribbean though they travel worldwide in their search for knowledge to help them find and revive Set.

The Setites are known as keepers of secrets, particularly those of a thaumaturgical nature. Indeed, the Followers of Set tend to know anything anyone needs to know or can find it for them - for a price. Many vampires warn each other never to trust a Setite, as Followers of Set do not follow the Path of Humanity like most other vampires. Instead they have their own Path of Enlightenment, known as the Path of Typhon, which exalts, amongst other things, the corruption of others. Many who are snared by the Followers of Set do not realize the danger until it's too late and are either forced to become followers of Set themselves or become dangerously indebted to them.

The Setites orchestrated the Inquisition and undermined the Anarch Revolt so that European vampires and humans would remain fragmented and fighting among themselves, and thus neutralized as a threat to the Followers of Set.

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 shapeshifters. When a mortal speaks of a vampire changing into a wolf or a 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. They are among the most predatory Kindred, and love to lose themselves in the thrill of the hunt. 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. Indeed, Gangrel are so attuned to their Beasts that, after losing themselves to frenzy, animalistic features often appear on their bodies.

The clan itself has little contact with, or regard for, the rest of the Kindred.This might be due to a desire to avoid the snares of the Jyhad, but is more likely the product of simple disinterest. Certainly, Gangrel are popularly viewed as quiet, taciturn and reclusive. Although there is no more truth to this than there is to any other stereotype, the clan as a whole displays little of the ostentation found among lines such as the Toreador or Ventrue.

Gangrel are closely tied to the Rom, or Gypsies, adopting much of that culture's speech patterns and mannerisms. Rumors speculate that the Rom are in fact descended from the Antediluvian who founded the Gangrelline. As such, say the rumors, any Kindred who harms or Embraces a Gypsy will suffer the wrath of the Ancient. Obviously, the vampires of Clan Ravnos ignore this fabled prohibition, and Gangrel and Ravnos harbor an ages-old hatred for each other.

Gargoyles

Centuries ago, to create a supernatural army to match the Tzimisce ghouls, the Tremere used a variation of the ritual that had transformed them into Cainites. Using a captured Nosferatu, Gangrel and Tzimisce, they enacted the ritual, adding quantities of magical earth to lend strength and endurance. So were the first Gargoyles created.    Eventually, one of these slave gargoyles escaped the bonds of his masters and began Embracing others, who became like him. The process of creation is gentler for Gargoyles Embraced by other Gargoyles. 

Giovanni

The Giovanni Family is an enigma, standing outside Kindred politics, and is the only clan to have truly done so since its inception, The Giovanni have a reputation that causes most fellow Kindred to avoid them at all costs. The clan’s taste for the morbid is something that even the stuffy Ventrue and the wild Brujah can agree is not natural. They are the only clan that knows the joy of life, the dark twilight of unlife and the bitter ashes of true death.

Founded during the Dark Ages and coming to ascendance in the Renaissance, the Family of Giovanni has since grown to include several other families. They are now stronger than they have ever been, while all around them disintegrate into dust. Still, suspicion of this clan has continued to the present day. By staying neutral in quaint battles, the Giovanni have had free rein to build their merchant empire. The clan's wealth is quite sizeable, but no one knows the exact purpose for which it employs this wealth. Few outsiders have ever taken part in the clan's necromantic rituals, so the purpose of these is likewise a mystery. Instead, suspicions and innuendoes have taken the places of facts and truths. Clan Giovanni is one of the more rigidly controlled clans and contact is constantly maintained between members of the clan.
Nagaraja

The Nagaraja exist as a testiment to the dangerous - but sometimes profitable - nature of magical experiments.  Centuries ago a few Euthanatos mages, consumed with curiosity and an appreciation of death, used vampire blood in their experiments and ended up turning themselves into Kindred.  Since their magic was no longer available to them, they developed vampiric disciplines in order to continue their work.  Necromancy was a given, although their Necromancy practices differed from the Necromancy the Giovanni would develop.  The Nagaraja were able to recall enough of their old magical ways to develop Thaumaturgy, though they never mastered it as a clan discipline.  The Nagaraja also developed a unique discipline to tap into the world of the dead in a way the Giovanni might envy, if they knew about it. 

Although the Nagaraja are able to Embrace others, they have always remained a small bloodline and they exist covertly; they spend most of their time in the lands of the dead, going so far as to set up havens there.  They have two major reasons for remaining secretive about their very existence.  The first and largest reason is that they serve a very hidden organization, the True Black Hand, so they cannot afford to reveal themselves.  The second reason is that they must eat flesh as well as consume blood in order to exist as regular Kindred, but most Cainites find such dietary restrictions horrendous.  Their abiding interest in the dead and in gruesome experimentation also tends to upset other Kindred, or, in some cases, to arouse too much interest.

Ravnos

The Ravnos clan, nicknamed the "Gypsies", shares many characteristics with the Gangrel, but there is no other clan with which it more differs. The Gangrel are loners, combative, honest, and forthright; the Ravnos love companionship, avoid direct physical confrontations, and are masters of lies and deceit. The most obvious similarity between the Ravnos and Gangrel is the nomadic lifestyle. Few Ravnos would ever consider staying in one city for an extended amount of time. The other prominent similarity between the Ravnos and Gangrel is both clan's connection with Gypsies. While Gangrel are widely accepted among the Gypies, the Ravnos are accepted only within their own family group (if they are of Gypsy bood). Most say that it's because of the Ravnos' compulsion to lie and steal from those around them, but some others say that the very auras of the Ravnos repulse the sensitive Gypsy mystics.

Theft and con games are the most common aspects of the Ravnos lifestyle. The constant traveling makes it harder for the Ravnos to be caught engaging in their favorite pastimes. Ravnos find no greater pleasure than taking advantage of other Kindred, and a vampire is advised to watch his wallet, gun, and pants while these Licks are around. The Ravnos move freely back and forth between cities controlled by the Camarilla and those controlled by the Sabbat. Those who attempt to prevent Ravnos from entering a city is given the "treatment"--large groups of the clan will enter the city and give it a thorough scouring. Few princes have the courage to rish such and do not prevent Ravnos from entering their city. Ravnos take their personal and clan honor very seriously, and it is one of their most prized possessions. However, the code of honor by which they live by is quite different from the rules most folks follow.

They don't place much pride in keeping their word unless they do a spit shake, with blood of course. They are honor-bound to avenge themselves if anyone besmirches their honor or "good name." They don't cheat or steal from others of the clan, but feel no guilt about stealing from outsiders. Friendship is valued highly, and they will always come to the aid of those whom they consider "brothers." Ravnos are almost always of Gypsy descent, and are often swarthy in complexion, with dark hair and black eyes. However, these traits are not universal. Ravnos have been known to Embrace gorgio (non-Gypsies). Ravnos generally sire few childer, and those that they do Embrace are generally the most promising members of their own families.

Salubri

The Salubri have become hated and feared throughout the World of Darkness because of the lies and machinations of the Baali and the Tremere. They were healers and the Keepers of Golconda. Thus they were a threat to all the values which the Baali held dear. They knew what Tremere did to their Founder. Thus they posed a threat to the new-found power of the House of Tremere, which would later become the Clan Tremere. But although the Clans believe these "criminals" to be almost destroyed, but that only proves how well the Salubri's own Masquerade functions. They are not destroyed _ true enough, many were destroyed by the pogrom which the deeds of the Baali caused, Saulot was slain by Tremere and the Magi of the House of Tremere managed to track down those Elders of the Salubri Clan who no longer desired to exist. But just as True Evil can never be truly extinguished, so neither can True Good.

When a Salubri sires, she takes great effort to teach her childe the ways of the lineage and how best to protect himself. She also prepares the neonate's path to Golconda, and then commits suicide by forcing the childe to drink her blood. Salubri believe the spirit of a vampire to be tortured, and to have no hope for peace unless Golconda is attained. The sole goal of the Salubri is to pass from this existence and thus be free. Once a Salubri reaches Golconda, he finds life easier in many ways. Golconda lets Kindred open themselves to Disciplines with ease. Instead of having to lower ones generation to learn Disciplines higher than five, a vampire in Golconda can learn new powers with but the expenditure of experience.

The Salubri only Embrace those who have proved themselves to be of the highest Humanity. Healers, holy men, women, and true philanthropists have all been chosen at one time or another.

Samedi

While the Daughters of Cacophony are a bloodline beautious in art, the Samedi are a bloodline hidious to behold.
The Samedi bloodline may be an offshoot of the Nosferatu, or possibly a branch of the Giovanni. Neithe clan will take the credit (or the blame?) for these Kindred. The Samedi bloodline has only been around for a few hundred years. The line appeared in Italy and the Caribbean. Only a very few of these Kindred have come to the United States. The Samedi are easily identified by the shreds of rotting flesh constantly falling from their bodies, and are often confused for zombies by those unfamiliar with them, hence their nickname of "Stiffs or Zombies." Those who have battled with the Samedi never forget the experience, for the Samedi have the power to rob other Kindred of their immortality--at least temporarily. The Samedi are generally seen as too disgusting to be allowed to survive; only the fact that they can be powerful allies has kept the bloodline from meeting obliteration at the hands of the Camarilla.
 
The Samedi are known to be competent assassins and bodyguards, and can often be found serving anyone who can meet their price. The Nosferatu and Giovanni both seem to have an affinity with these twisted Kindred, and most Samedi will refuse to attack either of these clans unless paid a subdstantial amount of money. The Samedi prefer to maintain their havens in or near graveyards, digging concealed tunnels into mausoleums or under the basement levels of funeral homes.
True Brujah

The True Brujah are a bloodline of Clan Brujah that claim to be descendants of the original Antediluvian founder of the lineage and not his diablerist/childe Troile. The True Brujah are noted for their cool detached behavior which puts them in contrast to the main lineage which is known for their rather short violent tempers.

They are believed to descend from the original progenitor of the Brujah clan, Ilyes, who was diablerized by one of her own descendants, whose name is allegedly Troile. Vampires who call themselves Brujah are believed to descend from this usurper, while the True Brujah claim lineage leading directly to the original clan founder, Ilyes herself.

True Brujah often hide within the ranks of the Modern Brujah. It is said that they are biding their time till they can bring the "usurpers" back into the fold.

Unlike their cousins, the True Brujah are said to be dispassionate and cold even to the point where they find summoning emotions to be difficult. They are feared for their alleged control over the flow of time (Temporis). Many True Brujah are supposedly members of the Sabbat sect called the True Black Hand, though there is some confusion on this matter.