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Depending upon whom one asks, there are two (slaves to the Tremere and free), three (sentinels, warriors and scouts) or one (just lump the ugly bastards together) classifications for members of the Gargoyle bloodline. In these tumultuous nights, it is often easiest to break down the Gargoyles by affiliation, rather than ancestry — among the ranks of the free Gargoyles, terms like "scouts" are shunned as evidence of a less-than-pleasant past. As the years tick by, more and more free gargoyles have made themselves known, many of them aligning with the Camarilla. Whether the choice of sect comes Gargoyles' desire to thumb their collective noses at their former masters, a deep-seated residual need for order and the chain of command, observation that the Camarilla's pay scale is significantly better than the Sabbat's, or even fundamental agreement with Camarilla philosophy is irrelevant. There are more and more Gargoyles appearing on the streets, and more and more of these place themselves firmly under the Masquerade.
The Gargoyles who remain slaves of the Tremere are Camarilla as well, but by default. Most have little or no sense of identity, no memories of existence before being transformed into Gargoyles and no free will. A Tremere-bound Gargoyle who begins to demonstrate more than a rudimentary sense of self has best hide it until such time as she can escape; else she is looking at re-indoctrination or destruction.
The first revolt of the Gargoyles taught the Tremere all the lessons they needed about securing loyalty of their servants, and the Warlocks have no desire to risk a repeat performance.
Descendents of the so-called Slaves who escaped from Tremere domination in centuries past and more recent escapees, the free Gargoyles cluster in isolated communities either in mountain retreats or industrial cities that offer nothing to the Tremere. More adventurous souls flock to the Camarilla cities to offer themselves as bodyguards, muscle and other sorts of labor for hire. It is a show of prestige for a prince to have Gargoyle bodyguards at her Elysium, and a show of strength to be able to afford Gargoyle assassins to deal with enemies.
Nickname: Formerly Slaves, now a hodge-podge including Freemen, Runaways, and Rockheads, depending on who's using the nickname. Calling a free Gargoyle a Slave is a wonderful way to have a large, stone encrusted fist punched through your abdomen repeatedly.
Appearance: Like the Nosferatu (with whom they share an Appearance score of 0), Gargoyles are hideously ugly. While the exact features of that ugliness are dependent on the original combination of blood (Nosferatu-Tzimisce, Nosferatu-Gangrel or Gangrel-Tzimisce) that created the Gargoyle's ultimate ancestor, there are certain traits all members of the bloodline share. Warts and other protrusions, batlike wings (that grow as the Gargoyle's mastery of the Viscertika Discipline grows) and a stony countenance are all endemic to Gargoyles, as is a generally "demonic" appearance. Gargoyles move slowly and deliberately except in crisis situations, but there is no truth to the rumor that they leave small piles of dust behind them when they walk.
Haven: Gargoyles employed by the Tremere sleep in closets or wherever else their masters deign to let them rest. Free Gargoyles often request lodgings as part of a contract, meaning that the end results can be somewhat haphazard. Those Gargoyles who find their own resting places usually end up in deserted warehouses or factories--the taller the better--or in subterranean cave or sewer systems hewn from solid rock. Bell towers used to be favorites, but the stereotypical nature of the abode made Gargoyles nesting there easy pickings for Tremere ghouls.
Background: The process of creation is particularly intense for Gargoyles, especially for those taken directly by the Tremere. The surge of competing strains of vitae, combined with the magical energy inherent to the transformation even after all of these centuries, serves to wipe away the preexisting memories and loyalties of a new Gargoyle, leaving a tabula rasa on which the Tremere can work. The process is a trifle gentler for Gargoyles Embraced by other Gargoyles, who sometimes retain at least vague senses of their former lives, but even so most of the past just dissolves under the occult onslaught. (Note: Free Gargoyles actually Embrace mortals; the Tremere prefer to take Kindred of the three "root' clans and transform them into Gargoyles.) As for what drives a Gargoyle to Embrace a mortal, most times it's a cast of simple obsession, and even the most eloquent members of the bloodline shrug and put it down to "gut feeling".
Character Creation: Physical Attributes and Talents should be primary when one is creating a Gargoyle character; the Tremere did not design the bloodline for philosophizing or intrigue. All the Gargoyle characters start with a least one dot in the unique Discipline Flight (In essence, this gives Gargoyles 4 Clan Disciplines, but there are sufficient disadvantages to level the playing field). No Gargoyle can take the Mentor Background, or have an Appearance greater than 0. Furthermore, no Gargoyle can have a character that predates 1167, as that was when the Tremere actually created the bloodline.
Weaknesses: As noted earlier, Gargoyles have a slight problem with their appearance. In addition, the nature of the bloodline's origins manifests itself in the fact that Gargoyles are considered to be down two Willpower points when resisting all Dominate or other mind-controlling effects.
Disciplines: Fortitude, Potence, Viscertika, Flight


Camarilla: The Camarilla keeps us safe from the masters. The Camarilla lets us kill our enemies — except the masters. The Camarilla pays us well. We like the Camarilla, oh, yes.
Sabbat: They never look up, poor sad little vampires. They never look up, and they never see us coming, no.

In the nights following the Anarch Revolt and the Convention of Thorns, Clan Assamite found itself in a deadly predicament. In light of the overwhelming opposition posed by the young Camarilla, the Assamites became targets for the ire of all vampires. To temper the threat the Saracen assassins proposed, the Camarilla subject the Clan to a powerful Tremere curse, rendering the assassins unable to partake Cainite Vitae, which was core to many Assamites’s ethical code.
Not every Assamite succumbed to the Blood Curse, however. A few bold Assamites, led by the first Hulul, al-Numair, went into hiding. In the nights that followed, al-Numair and his band of rebel assassins joined the young Sabbat, more out of defiance to the Camarilla then support for the sect’s still-nascent philosophy. Sine that time, however, the Assamites antitribu have assumed an important role in the Sabbat and become some of the most feared members of the notorious Black Hand
Assamite antitribu serve their clan first and the Sabbat second. They do not revere Haqim. Rather, they see him as they see all loathed antediluvians, as a corrupt, malignant force that will one day rise and devour his children. Instead they seek to grow closer Caine.
The two clans seem to be on fairly civil terms. They are masters of assassination and silent killing. The angels of Caine are a valuable martial addition to the Sabbat. They do not typically assume roles of pack priests, though many become ducti, especially if combat or assassination is their pack's purpose. Most Angels of Caine belong to exclusively Assamite antitribu packs, though more are breaking that mold.
Nickname: Angels of Caine
Appearance: Bear similar resemblance to their non-Sabbat counterparts, although many more bear the features of European or mixed cultures. Elders wear traditional Middle Eastern or Mesopotamian garb, while young Assamite antitribu favor a more modern wardrobe, even adopting gang or cultic clothes. As with Assamites, antitribu's skin grows darker with age.
Haven: They favor communal havens, which may take the form of pack havens, assassins' cells of other Assamite antitribu, or nests of vampires. Favored locations include refrigerated warehouses, abandoned slums and slaughterhouses, where bodies may be disposed of with minimal difficulty.
Background: Most members of the Assamite antitribu hail from Middle Eastern, North African, or Asiatic cultures, though these may be several generations removed from their place of origin. Among the higher generations, lineage has grown less important taking a back seat to ability. Newly embraced Kindred do not typically become active in the sect immediately, serving seven-year "apprenticeships" at Black Hand strongholds or under the guidance of skilled masters. These mustajib--deserving ones--must prove themselves to the clan before being offered the opportunity to prove themselves to the sect.
Character Creation: They can come from any racial or ethnic stock, though Middle Eastern and African are most common. Many are ex-soldiers, criminals, holy men, and explorers. Their Natures are usually brusque and direct (and likely violent), but their Demeanors can be anything at all. Physical Attributes tend to be primary as do skills. Common backgrounds include Black Hand membership, Mentor, Generation and sometimes Sabbat Status. Many follow the Path of Caine.
Disciplines: Celerity, Obfuscate, Quietus
Weaknesses: They never suffered the curse the Camarilla put on the Assamite clan. They become addicted to Cainite vitae easily. Whenever an Assamite antitribu drinks the blood of another vampire, he may become addicted. Once addicted, the vampire may frenzy, take as much blood as he can, every time he partakes of that blood.
Organization: The Assamite antitribu maintain a structure similar to that of the original Assamite clan. Members follow a hierarchy, unusual among the clans of the Sabbat. Instead of the Old Man of the Mountain, however, they follow the guidance of the Hulul, the eldest member of the clan. Every 100 years, the Assamite antitribu ritually destroy the Hulul as an offering to Caine, and one member of the clan is selected to partake of the slain vampire's blood and become the new Hulul. The Hulul is attended and advised by the shakari, the wisest and most accomplished members of the clan. Vampires below these stations operated much like normal Assamites do, taking assassination contracts and indulging in wanton diablerie.
Quote: You are so frail, I am almost ashamed to take your blood. Almost.


Camarilla: Scavengers playing at being lions.
Sabbat: I against my brother; my brother and I against our cousin; my cousin and I against the stranger.

During the Anarch Revolt, the young majority of Clan Brujah was the first and most vocal to rally to the cause. The elders of the clan, after a passing interest in the challenge to other elders’ status quo, judged the anarchs to be in error. After much debate and posturing, the elders and loyal childer of Clan Brujah turned their backs on the "daft and dangerous" vampires who called themselves anarchs. As a result, the Brujah anarchs, who almost unanimously refused to bow to the Convention of Thorns, bear a tremendous grievance against the parent clan and support the Sabbat with fervor. Unlike Camarilla Brujah, Sabbat Brujah often feel very strongly for their sect, while Camarilla Brujah bemoan their apathetic elders and spend their nights fighting in the parking lots of punk rock nightclubs, The Brujah antitribu have taken the Great Jyhad to the elders and Antediluvians themselves.
Of all the clans of the Sabbat, the Brujah antitribu are probably the most like their parent clan, with a few striking differences. The clan not only supports its sect with enthusiasm, it takes an active part in the nightly conquest and Jyhad that has made the recent Sabbat war effort so successful. Although still waters may run deep, the sanguinary turbulence among the Brujah antitribu does not indicate a lack of intellect or profundity on their part. Brujah antitribu make brutal shock troops and effective footsoldiers for the Sabbat, and they find their greatest comfort in this role. Ruthless and vicious to the last, the Brujah antitribu enjoy their martial roles.
As the Damned, they reason, why not indulge in a little violence and sadism to pass the innumerable nights? Fewer dissidents find their place among the Sabbat Brujah than in the ranks of the Camarilla, but that seems to be because the Brujah antitribu have better luck — or skill — choosing childer who are not so arbitrarily contrary. The Sabbat Brujah are likely the most numerous non-Lasombra or Tzimisce members of the Sabbat, due to the fact that the clan is the least disposed to seeing the big picture. They take what they want when they want it, whether it is new childer, desirable vessels, shares of their cities’ vice trade or the money in your pocket, and woe be to whomever would stand in their way. Other Sabbat frequently consider the Brujah antitribu base and classless, while the clan sees itself as the closest in ideology to the Sabbat’s original intent — freedom.
Of late, many Brujah antitribu have grown frustrated with the antiquated leadership of the Lasombra and Tzimisce, and they have plotted their own spectacular plans and won their own victories. Most members of this clan find places among the Loyalist faction, and some few manage to transcend their atavistic urges to become productive members of the Black Hand or Inquisition. Indeed, the Brujah antitribu seem to be on the cusp of something momentous, and only time will tell what their nights hold in store.
Nickname: Brutes
Appearance: Brujah antitribu want to scare the hell out of those who look on them. Shocking hairstyles, painful piercings, tattoos and severe clothing all earmark the members of the Brujah antitribu. Some packs composed exclusively of Brujah antitribu adopt similar styles of dress, like urban gangs, while individual Brutes tend to affect whatever makes everyone around them uncomfortable (which takes some doing among the Sabbat). Members of this clan may resemble punks, gangsters, Mafiosi, soldiers of fortune or anything else they feel like, pal.
Haven: When the Brujah antitribu bother with establishing a private haven, it tends to occupy the back corners of their minds. As such, abandoned gas stations, disreputable nightclubs, churches and other "why would you go there?" places enjoy favor among the clan. For the most part, however, Brujah antitribu don’t give a toss about where they stay. After all, haven maintenance is someone else’s responsibility. The Brujah antitribu have asses to kick.
Background: The Brujah antitribu select childer from a wide range of backgrounds; members have very little in common other than nasty, rebellious natures and a penchant for violence. Most Brujah antitribu hail from blue-collar upbringings, and few have completed much in the way of formal education, but aside from those broad caveats, Brutes Embrace whomever they think would be useful or mean.
Character Creation: Brutes may have any concept, and they display a wide variety of Natures and Demeanors (which tend toward the martial or sadistic). Physical Attributes tend to be primary, as are Talents and Skills. Brujah antitribu tend to forego Backgrounds, considering them weak ties to the mortal world, but a growing minority have some form of Resources (generally from illegal or clandestine operations). Sabbat Brujah tend to uphold Humanity throughout their entire unlives, less out of moral preference than a simple lack of interest the philosophies of more rigorous ethical codes. Of course, these Humanity Traits tend to hover around the 4-6 level, and those rare Brujah antitribu who achieve more than a century of unlife have low scores indeed. Most are barely able to keep their Beasts at bay.
Disciplines: Celerity, Potence, Presence
Weaknesses: Like Camarilla Brujah, Sabbat Brujah have the same undead passion and inclination toward excitement burning in their blood. All frenzy difficulties increase by two for Brujah antitribu characters, to a maximum of 10. Brujah antitribu tend to be less offended about their radical moods than Camarilla Brujah, and many take perverse pleasure in their boiling tempers.
Organization: Organization is an uncomfortable concept to many Brujah antitribu, who prefer to take things one night at a time and do what they will whenever they get the urge. Brutes sometimes support the ideals of the Loyalists, and enjoy the lack of formality associated with allegiance to that cause. The Brujah antitribu sometimes hold Raves (and, less frequently, Rants) like the Brujah of the Camarilla, though these bashes are more likely to revolve around carnage and wanton destruction than discussion and debate.
Quote: <********! Did you see how easy that guy’s arm popped off? I barely pulled on it! These ******** juicebags make me sick.


Camarilla: Roll over and kiss your masters’ feet, cowards.
Sabbat: As long as it doesn’t get in my way, I’m all for it. When it starts telling me what I can and can’t do, I’m going to have to take a look at what it does for me to make up for it.

A recent addition to the Sabbat, the bloodline calling itself the Harbingers of Skulls claims a history of treachery, for which it seeks to exact a hellish vengeance. Members of the bloodline are quite powerful without exception, and they claim to have returned from their banishment to the realms of the dead. Long ago, they whisper, a rogue society of sorcerers hunted them for their blood, stealing immortality to further their own arcane lusts for power. Few Sabbat believe this fairy tale of ancient injustice in these modern nights, but the Harbingers are afforded a wide berth nonetheless, given the immense potency of their magics and their discomforting eccentricity. The Harbingers of Skulls are necromancers on par with (and some say exceeding) the dreaded Giovanni, surrounding them selves with miasmas of death, murder and mortification, all toward the end of righting their legendary wrong. It would seem, however, that for all their polemics, something rots below the surface they present. Like the corpses they themselves resemble, something eats away at them from within.

The Harbingers of Skulls have been members of the Sabbat for only a few years, and few of the youngest members of the sect have ever heard of them, let alone seen one. Apparently, one of their number came forth with a proposition to the cardinals, prisci and regent, who conferred and welcomed the Harbingers to the Sword of Caine. Since then, the Harbingers of Skulls have amassed unheard-of power in the sect (given their small number, which is estimated in the low hundreds). The Black Hand, the Inquisition and even the ranks of the prisci now claim members of the Harbingers among them.

Scions of the Sabbat appear to reap great benefits from the Harbingers’ death magic, maintaining contact with fallen allies or tormenting enemies from beyond the wall of Final Death. Indeed, the Harbingers seem more than willing to offer aid to Sabbat compatriots in exchange for favors to be determined later.

Cursed by Caine’s blood with the countenances of corpses, the Harbingers often flay the tattered, grave-tainted flesh from their heads, leaving them with the grinning rictus of their namesake. Masks and ceremony play an important part in the bloodline’s culture, and elders among these Cainites maintain vast collections of ritual masks and implements that they wear and use in their necromantic rites. It has been rumored that the vitae in their veins is ancient and quite potent, and perhaps their claims of grandiose history are not far from the mark. Whatever the case, the Harbingers of Skulls simply ignore inconvenient lines of questioning, preferring instead to spend their hours amid the tombstones of cemeteries or in deep contemplation of the powers of the dead.

Nickname: Lazarenes (after Lazarus, who observed Christ’s return from the dead)

Appearance: The Harbingers of Skulls have an emaciated, corpselike appearance, accentuated by flesh that shrinks to fit the vampires’ skulls. They are seldom seen outside their havens or the secret halls where powerful Sabbat convene to plot their intrigues. Harbingers prefer loose-fitting, flowing cloaks and burial shrouds, the better to represent their death magic and make dramatic impressions.

Haven: Harbingers of Skulls never belong to packs, and thus, they never make their havens with packs (unless doing so is temporary the Sabbat rumor- mill is rife with tales of a Harbinger calling himself the Capuchin accepting brief hospitality from certain packs, priests or ducti). Lazarenes prefer their own, private havens, which often have laboratory annexes where they may conduct their grisly studies. Such havens tend to be far from prying or mortal eyes, beneath places like cemeteries, mausoleums, morgues and slaughterhouses.

Background: The backgrounds of those who become Harbingers of Skulls is unknown it is believed that the bloodline has not Embraced since its introduction to the Sabbat. If this is true, murmur the young members of the sect, the Harbingers must be ancient, accomplished and critical, as they seem not to deem children of the modern nights worthy of their brand of Caine’s curse.

Character Creation: Harbingers of Skulls have morbid concepts, many of which are archaic or foreign to the modern nights. The bloodline favors Mental Attributes and Knowledges, and its members cultivate numerous Backgrounds. Few Harbingers deign to follow the tenets of Humanity; they are more frequently attuned to the Path of Death and the Soul or some bizarre variant of the Giovanni’s Path of the Bones.

Disciplines: Auspex, Fortitude, Necromancy

Weaknesses: Regardless of the quantity of blood a Harbinger of Skulls consumes, her skin maintains a deathly pallor. Additionally, the Harbingers’ skin shrinks to make these Cainites appear skeletal, with bony limbs and faces frozen into an immortal death’s grin. Because of this decidedly unwholesome and morbid visage, Harbingers of Skulls have Appearance Traits of zero. All Social rolls involving the Appearance Trait automatically fail for Harbingers of Skulls.

Organization: The Harbingers of Skulls have little organization, and most eschew social company, preferring to be left alone to study or hatch their plots. They do gather infrequently, but to what purpose has never been confirmed. Vampires outside the Harbingers’ circles suspect everything from schemes to bring down the Sabbat from the inside to symposiums on the most recent research involving the lands of the dead. The Harbingers of Skulls do maintain some form of visible hierarchy, however, as evidenced by their masks and rituals. The more esteemed or accomplished members of the bloodline wear much more elaborate masks, and they are ritually acknowledged by lesser Harbingers, though the precise system has eluded onlookers to date.

Quote: Nothing — nothing— burns as hot as the wound left by the knife of treachery, especially when it has been left to fester for eons.


Camarilla: It is a shame how these children sing and dance as the very Ancients they stubbornly ignore pull their invisible strings.
Sabbat: As a vehicle of vengeance, the Sword of Caine is an admirable vehicle. As for it’s intended purpose, the Sabbat is a laughingstock.

A WORD ON HARBINGERS OF SKULLS

Like the Blood Brothers, Harbingers of Skulls are not intended for players to portray. Unless the Storyteller plans on running an elders game, it is impossible to create a Harbinger of Skulls under the new character generation system.

Harbingers of Skulls are all at least eighth generation, and hundreds (if not thousands) of years old. Most have more Disciplines than many starting packs, and could easily prove a match for the wiliest Tzimisce or most duplicitous Lasombra elder. In fact, almost every Harbinger predates the Sabbat altogether... The bottom line is, don’t do it, unless you really, really want to, and even then, Storytellers are encouraged to put the kibosh on your plans. Storytellers, choose wisely when allowing players to portray these types of characters. Millennia-old vampires aren’t likely to pick people off the street and turn them into vampires, and they’re better off being used for you to weave your elaborate plotlines than as powerhouse players’ characters. Also, don’t let your players’ knowledge color their characters’ knowledge in this matter. In the World of Darkness, there’s no master Vampire book for characters to consult on these matters of mystery. Let them unearth the secrets of the malignant world for themselves.

Cainites are humankind’s base nature made flesh, and the Sabbat are Kindred who accept their nature and revel in the power of the Beast. The Malkavian antitribu, then, are the Beast unrestrained. While Camarilla Malkavians may instruct or illustrate an idea using their madness, the antitribu seem more concerned with spreading madness, much like a disease. If a Malkavian is crazy like a fox, their antitribu are rabid foxes.

The Malkavian antitribu wield their dementia like double-edged swords. To the antitribu, insanity is a weapon, albeit one that hopelessly distorts them. Mastery of its use may take decades, or even centuries. At once completely independent, yet strangely joined to other Freaks by an inscrutable group consciousness, a member of this clan is not easily forgotten no matter how badly one may wish it so. Malkavian antitribu are skilled at psychological abuse. By combining forceful words with subtlety, and the use of trust violated by moments of sheer terror, the Freaks can pry information from the most stoic victim or mortify even the staunchest of captives. It is for this reason the Sabbat hasn’t destroyed the clan outright; it’s too useful. From the most distinguished archbishop to the lowest ductus, vampires who have dealt with the Malkavian antitribu know that they are holding a weapon that may fully intend to annihilate its wielder.

Like other Malkavians, the Malkavian antitribu suffer the permanent mark of madness, though few know that they are incurably insane, and many outlets for their "philosophy" exist in the Sabbat. They seem to have the least fear of Final Death of any Cainites, both inside and outside the Sabbat. They make fine soldiers or officers in times of war as well, for they are not afraid to do what is necessary to win. The Malkavian antitribu believe that it doesn’t really matter who fights the battles, as long as chaos comes out of order, and the cycle of chaos continues.

For a time the Sabbat were unsure of how to deal with the Malkavians in their midst. The Freaks could follow the rules when it served their purposes, but for the most part, they were uncontrollable. Some Sabbat packs kept their Malkavian members locked away, bound in basements and crypts until the sect needed to loose the psychotics on their enemies.

According to popular rumor, it was this lack of respect for their unique insights that promoted the great Malkavian "disease." Starting in the depths of a thought-starved delirium, the seeds of mass psychosis started to form. Maybe it was an attempt by the Malkavian antitribu to show the clans that they would not be so easily manipulated. Maybe it was just a neat thing to try at the time. Whatever the case, one thing is certain the parent clan outside the Sabbat has become "infected." What this means, none - outside the Malkavian antitribu know, but its possible repercussions set even the stalwart Lasombra on edge. Even this minuscule bit of knowledge comes only from consistent corroboration on the part of worried Cainites.

The Malkavian antitribu display a keenly vicious edge to their insanity. Rumors abound of Sabbat packs’ seers who divine a War Party’s success by reading entrails ripped from a still-living human and of blood-maddened prophets who presage the coming of Gehenna in this, the Time of Thin Blood. The most dangerous of all the serial killers, suicide cultists and the like — may be "bred" for special missions into fast-held Camarilla territory, sent to spread the madness with which they are burdened, to pave the way for the Great Jyhad.

Nickname: Freaks

Appearance: A Malkavian antitribu’s mode of dress depends on her dementia, from the very strange to the extremely conservative. A bag lady conspiracy theorist or crack addict holing up in a flop house in stolen thrift-store regalia could be a Malkavian antitribu, as could a stressed-out former Wall Street stockbroker in a rumpled Armani suit or a morose housewife in suburbia. Malkavian antitribu often have a wild, savage look in their eyes, appearing on the verge of frenzy. Many are poorly groomed, wearing unkempt or gore-spattered clothing.

Haven: Better the devil you know when it comes to the Malkavians, reason most Sabbat. Most ducti prefer to keep their crazies where they can keep an eye on them, at communal havens or other acceptable locales. Left to their own devices, the Malkavian antitribu establish havens in asylums, the basements of clinics or in transient hostels. A Sabbat Malkavian with multiple personalities may have two or three very different havens to choose from, depending on which personality is dominant when dawn nears.

Background: Inmates of asylums, hospitals for the criminally insane, street bums, lawyers. Malkavian antitribu choose almost anyone from any walk of life. While those outside the clan see no rhyme or reason for the selection of childer, the Sabbat Malkavian looks for individuals who are strong enough to bear the liability of their madness, while developing the clan’s unique insight.

Character Creation: With the Malkavian antitribu, any concept, Nature or Demeanor may be apropos. Mental Attributes are almost always primary. Any Ability category can be primary, depending on the focus of the Cainite’s derangement. Common Background Traits include Herd, Contacts and Mentor: A Mentor might be an older Sabbat Malkavian trying to attune the younger one to their own madness, while Contacts include doctors, psychiatrists or police investigators. Few Malkavian antitribu can summon the cogency to adopt a Path of Enlightenment, but those who do may most often be found on the Paths of Caine, Power and the Inner Voice or Lilith.

Disciplines: Auspex, Dementation, Obfuscate

Weaknesses: The Malkavian antitribu, like their Camarilla counterparts, are all insane. Many of them are given to bouts of extreme violence with no concern whether the carnage is being directed at packmates or enemies. When a Malkavian character is created, the player must choose a derangement (see Vampire: The Masquerade pp. 222-224) for that character at the time of the Embrace. This derangement can be temporarily overcome with Willpower, but can never be permanently "cured" or eliminated.

Additionally, Sabbat Malkavians are often too undisciplined (or too indulgent in their own monstrousness) to resist frenzy. A Sabbat Malkavian’s player may never spend a Willpower point to avoid her character’s frenzy. As one might think, many Sabbat Malkavians’ unlives are short and punctuated by a great deal of violence. Members of this clan often lead very... dynamic... unlives and end up destroying themselves in one form or another before too many nocturnal years pass.

Organization: Sabbat Malkavians claim that no sort of organization exists within their clan. It seems that any "clan" activity that occurs is completely random and coincidental. The Malkavian antitribu agree wholeheartedly with this supposition, citing as an example the "infection" of their Camarilla peers. In fact, some Sabbat Malkavians maintain that no such things as Malkavian antitribu— they profess to be Panders.

Supposedly, the most depraved, dangerous members of the clan are locked well below ground behind strong metal bars, with only a few Sabbat leaders holding the keys for their release. When needed, the rumors say these prisoners are released to be used as weapons. It is also suspected that the Sabbat Malkavians carry rabies, and create rabid human and animal ghouls.

Quote: Who would of thought a woman that size would have so much blood in her? Besides God, of course — God knows everything. Can we get somebody to clean this up?


Camarilla: How many vampires does it take to fill the Ancients’ gorges? All of them!
Sabbat: Brother Malachi, why does my soul feel so heavy?

Although not truly a clan in the strictest sense of the word (as they have no progenitor from the Third Generation), the Panders have made much of the Sabbat’s egalitarian society, carving a niche of respectability for themselves in spite of their b*****d pedigree. Like the Caitiff which, for all practical purposes, they are the Panders have no formal, recognized lineage. Any vampire who joins the Sabbat and doesn’t know what clan she is becomes a Pander, as do those childer Embraced by established Panders. The group consists of a wide variety of Cainites, most of whom are young and untested. It should be noted, however, that Panders are True Sabbat, not just a dumping ground for rejected or unproved vampires of other clans.

The Panders arose in the aftermath of the most recent Sabbat civil war, during the late 1950s. A clanless vampire known as Joseph Pander united the clanless Sabbat under his own banner and led them against the Moderate faction at the behest of several key Lasombra and Tzimisce. Impressed with his efforts, the elders of the Sabbat rewarded the sect-loyal Panders with a formal recognition, which immediately touched off a powderkeg of ill response from more "legitimate" clans. In the end, though, the Panders won out, earning recognition time and again, through bloodshed and diplomacy. Joseph Pander still exists in the modern nights, but rumors of assassination attempts spurred by disapproving elders run rampant through the Mutts’ circles.

Of course, the Panders are loose cannons and X-factors, the "rebels of a rebellious sect." Lasombra in the modern nights consider them threats to security, worrying that their lack of cohesion or millennia of tradition might make them unpredictable. The Panders understand their own position, though, and they accept their cannon-fodder role with resolve. Indeed, at any Sabbat siege, the front line is most often composed of Panders out to prove themselves. As cunning as any Lasombra and as brutal as any Brujah antitribu, the Panders do what needs to be done for the good of the sect. Panders lack the sophistication and the years of formalization held by the other clans; they truly are a motley bunch of rogues and thugs.

Unlike some of the other clans, however, they have the Sabbat at heart, and their terrible escapades are often fronts for conquest "for the good of the Sword of Caine!" With the sect’s good-faith gesture in recognizing the Panders, it has earned an ally for the entirety of its existence, but the Panders are still the low Cainites on the totem pole. The Mutts ‘almost invariably draw the worst duties, the most dangerous missions and the riskiest ritae, all because they’re still the newest and least established. Those Panders who are aware enough, accept this "honor" as a badge of courage, while the dimmer ones simply do what they’re told in hopes of getting to feed first from the pack’s kills. It is this reason this devout and reckless drive to get the job done that has paid off for the Panders, and they have grown in number and power because of it.

Nickname: Mutts

Appearance: Most Panders are young (at least in terms of Cainite age), and they affect contemporary styles. Because of their rebellious natures and counterculture origins, many Panders wear styles adopted by "rebel" cultures — biker leathers, punk mohawks, goth makeup, skinhead boots or gang colors. In fact, the Panders sometimes seem frozen in the mindset they held at the time of their Embrace, wearing styles years, if not decades, out of mortal fashion. This is less likely a counter-fashion statement than it is a simple lack of awareness that times have changed. Many elders smirk at this, realizing that even the youngest of vampires becomes a static individual, much like themselves, who sometimes continue to wear the styles popular in their own mortal days.

Haven: Panders often make their havens wherever the pack does, and they are frequently charged with the haven’s maintenance if no ghoul exists to take care of it. Panders almost never maintain private havens, finding some security in being with the pack at all times. The Mutts also prefer havens with some connection to their lives before becoming vampires—motorcycle mechanic shops, crackhouses, heroin dens, nightclubs and the like.

Background: Panders generally Embrace from the low levels of society, recruiting from the miscreants and excitable rebels who make excellent fodder for the Sabbat’s war efforts. A number of true psychotics and sociopaths have made their way into the Panders’ ranks, but these individuals often die merciful deaths among the fires of the sieges. Still, the Panders are hardly a stable bloodline, populated by those too angry with society at large (for whatever reason) to become a useful part of it.

Character Creation: Panders have violent or rebellious concepts, and they often possess strongly individualistic Natures (though there are a fair share of Conformists who simply want to belong). Demeanors can be literally anything. Physical Attributes, Talents and Skills are the most popular among the Panders, and few have much in the way of Backgrounds. Most Panders still cling to their Humanity, but a few of the more critical thinkers among the Mutts sometimes adopt the Path of Cathari or the Path of Honorable Accord.

Disciplines: None. Like non-Sabbat Caitiff, Panders may take any Disciplines they want.

Weaknesses: Panders have no inherent, Blood-bestowed weakness. Note, however, that the Panders are given only grudging respect, and they generally get stuck with the Sabbat’s s**t work. Also, no Pander may begin the game at better than Ninth generation (though they may increase this via diablerie or other means during the game).

Organization: The organization of the Panders depends largely on their pack. Some all-Panders packs have ganglike structures, or are organized like skinhead chapters. Others have no formal structure; they simply resemble gatherings of subcultures. When Panders become part of cosmopolitan packs, they often find themselves low in the ranks. Most Panders toughly acknowledge Joseph Pander, though many believe his time has past and that the bloodline should just get on with the business of being vampires.

Quote: I’m not interested in your holier-than-thou shtick. I have business to do, and if you’re not with me, you’re against me. And I break those who stand against me.



Camarilla: A decadent, corrupt nobility whose time has come to a close.
Sabbat: It does what it needs to do, but it’s a little stuck in the past. I’m not sure the priscuses and cardinals have the interests of the young vampires in their minds, you know?

The Serpents of the Light is an independent and proudly heretical sect of the Followers of Set. Its pride lies within its adopted independence from the Setites; the Serpents have no affiliation with their parent clan. While many Setite trace their history to ancient Egypt, the Serpents claim they originated in the West Indies.

The Serpents of the Light came into being when the Sabbat moved into Haiti in the 1960s. Before then, the group that became the Serpents may have been a rogue cult of Setites, studying voodoun and how its mysticism could be used to its undead advantage. Until the 1970s, the Sabbat was too disorganized to pay much attention to the Caribbean, despite some degree of presence there Sabbat activity simply lay dormant. In fact, the Sword of Caine had no idea that this "lost tribe" of Setites even existed in Haiti. Once the sect became aware of the cult, however, the Sabbat recognized the ruthless strength in the group and gave protection to it in its infancy. It is possible that the first Serpents were younger Setites, who agreed with the political philosophy of the Sabbat.

When the news of the Sabbat’s discovery reached the Setites’ ears, their elders forbade their childer’s interaction with the Sword of Caine. Citing the Sabbat’s "intent to destroy the godking," they sent emissaries to Haiti who insisted that the cult disassociate itself from the Sabbat.

The splinter sect, out of habit, vampiric wile or otherwise, chose to ignore their elders, and they sought asylum in the ranks of the Sabbat. The rift grew nightly, until the Serpents of Light proclaimed total independence from the Followers of Set. This schism may have been achieved by experimenting with their ophidian Discipline and the local mysticism of the Caribbean. The modern Serpents recognize that they would have been crushed by the Setites if not for the Sabbat’s intervention, and they give their undivided loyalty to the Sabbat cause. Because the Serpents chose to ally with the Sabbat, they have earned the enmity of the Followers of Set, and vice versa. Hatred between these two now-separate bloodlines runs deep, and the Setites consider the Serpents traitors to their clan. Indeed, the Serpents of the Light consider Followers of Set to be abominations intent on destroying the world via the resurrection of their undead vampire god. The two groups spare no effort in antagonizing each other, playing out a deadly holy war across the distance of continents. Serpents of the Light also oppose the other Antediluvians for similar reasons, citing a Haitian Voodoo prophecy similar to the Gehenna foretold in the Book of Nod. As Sabbat, their ideology fits perfectly.

Manipulation by seduction is the tool of choice for the Serpents of Light, who play a dangerous game of attack and counterattack against their Setite rivals with mortal pawns. Members of the bloodline wield the weapons of addiction and decay. They are expert at discovering a target’s weakness, and using that tool be it drugs, sex, power or whatever to gain control of the target. They relish the opportunity to bring down a prince’s city from the inside out, like any dedicated Sabbat. A few Serpents set loose in a major metropolis can magnify the drug-trade substantially, entice many innocent victims into prostitution, and much more. They prefer to operate behind the scenes, extending their control through human and Cainite underlings, without becoming an obvious target themselves. Rooting out a Serpent of the Light from a city is much like peeling an onion you must slice away many layers before you get to the core. They maintain an attitude of "fight fire with fire" when it comes to foiling the plans of the Setites and, to a lesser degree, the Camarilla.

Elder Cobras instill a great loyalty in their childer from the night of their Embrace. The Serpents of the Light compare their struggle to split from the Followers of Set to the history of their West Indian roots. Much of their speech when conversing with each other occurs in Haitian patois and Voodoo references. While they take a sybaritic pleasure in the Jyhad between Sabbat and Camarilla and make superb espionage agents for the Sabbat, their loyalty remains with their patron cult above all. A Serpent of the Light serves the need of her particular chapter of the cult she belonged to before her Embrace above the needs of the Sabbat.

Nickname: Cobras

Appearance: The Serpents of the Light wear clothing derived from their peculiar brand of Cainite voodoun. They select colors based on the symbolism of their faith; colors tie the Cobra to certain spirit loas. White follows the boa of wisdom, blue the boa of harmony, red the boa of war, black the boa of death and so on. Serpents mix these colors into everyday clothing, even combining them into patterns in some cases. When they have no need to "blend in" with non-Serpent cultures, they adopt traditional Haitian dress, including soft caftans and linen blouses.

Haven: Members of this clan prefer structures near water to pass the daylight hours, trusting the flow of water to ward off the curse-boas of Set. They sleep with their pack when possible, preferring to at least be in a place where they can hear moving water or waves/ They decorate their havens in many different ways, but often favor Caribbean motif with macabre wood carvings, metalwork, and batik wall-hangings. Many Serpents of the Light also keep secret havens, where they erect altars to their spirit guides.

Background: The Serpents of the Light often choose Haitian or North African individuals as clans members, if it is practical. Otherwise, anyone can serve the Serpents of the Light, as long as they exhibit high intelligence, an aggressive bent and a willingness to learn. All Serpents of the Light must study and practice Voodoo theology, or some form of occultism. The clan has been growing strength and number, due to its desire to become a power-player in the Sabbat.

Character Creation: Serpents of the Light may have any concept, but they often priestly, occult or religious inclinations. Natures tend be self-serving, though Demeanors reflect a feigned altruism. Social Attributes are most often primary, followed closely by Mental Attributes.

Knowledges and Talents are equally prized. The Cobras frequently entwine themselves with the local mortal culture, developing strong Backgrounds in Allies, Contacts, Influence and Resources. Some Serpents of the Light learn Necromancy or Thaumaturgy, specializing in the Bone Path and Spirit Manipulation. Many Serpents of the Light also find purpose and stability on the Path of Power and the Inner Voice, as well as the Path of Lilith.

Disciplines: Obfuscate, Presence, Serpentis. Discipline information

Weakness: The Serpents of the Light share the same weakness as the Followers of Set. They both hail from primordial darkness, and thus they react identically severely to light. Serpents suffer two additional health levels of damage when wounded by sunlight. Serpents of the Light are also affected by particularly bright light, artificial or otherwise (sunlight, spotlights, chemical flares, etc.).

Organization: Knowledge is strength, and the Cobras recognize this principle. They participate in all Sabbat pack meetings and ritae, sometimes organizing pack actions, especially War Parties and scouting sorties. They also maintain a loose communication network among their clan members, to stay informed about Sabbat and personal clan activities.

Quote: Your trial is hopeless. Only with the aid of my loa can you hope to survive. Here; carry this with you. It will keep the eyes of the hungry dead from seeing you and alert you to the barrows where still-living are buried.


Camarilla: Ignorant tools who do the work of rotting avatars; they willingly feed themselves to the hungry dead.
Sabbat: It does what it should but it does not know why. We must teach it, and bring it under our wise guidance.