Background Info

Section 1: Malkavians

1.0) Where is Malkav?
1.1) What exactly is the Malkavian Madness Network?
1.2) Any advice on playing a Malkavian derangement?
1.3) How do I make my Malk's weakness scary?

Section 2: Tzimisce and Tremere

2.0) Is the Tzimisce Antediluvian dead or not?
2.1) What of the Old Clan Tzimisce?
2.2) What happened to the Telyavs?
2.3) What is happening between Tremere and Saulot?
2.4) Are the Tremere a Tzimisce Bloodline?
2.5) the Children of Dracon?

Section 3: Gangrel and Ravnos

3.0) Why are the Ravnos and Gangrel at odds?
3.1) What do the Ravnos say?
3.2) Is there any connection between the Rroma and Gangrel?
3.3) Didn't the Ahrimanes have Spiritus?

Section 4: Nosferatu

4.0) How ugly are they?
4.1) Does the right clothing help?
4.2) The truly monstrous.
4.3) The Forever Masked.
4.4) What is a Nictuku?

Section 5: Extinct?

5.0) Who are these True Brujah guys?
5.1) What happened to the Cappadocians?
5.2) What is the origin of the Baali?

Section 6: The Oddballs

6.0) Tell me about the Sons of Discord.
6.1) Why does Aristotle identify himself as Mnemosyne?
6.2) What is a Nocturnae?

Section 7: the Revised

7.0) Who were the Bushi and Gaki?
7.1) I just read Chaos Factor. (Enough said.)
7.2) Which Clan does Rasputin belong to?
7.3) Just give me a list of the changes in the Revised Edition.

Section 1: Malkavians

1.0) Where is Malkav?

Rumors place the body of Malkav in the Middle East, near (or under) the city of Petra. However, his mind is claimed to reside in the Astral Plane, and is believed to be quite active.

The revised Malkavian Clanbook and the Dark Age Chronicle, Fountains of Bright Crimson, both speak of Malkav's location.

From the revised Clanbook:: After escaping the fall of the Second City, Malkav ran into a bit of bad luck. He was attacked and torn apart. For some unexplained reason the attackers feared Malkav's blood. Malkav detected this, and moved his consciousness into his Blood. The attackers scattered and buried the remaining body parts. (This may have preserved his flesh from the sun.); Afterwards, as if summoned, Malkav's childer found his pool of Blood, and drank of it. The consciousness of Malkav now flows through them and their descendants.
From "Fountains of Bright Crimson":: During the Crusades, the streets of Jerusalem ran red with blood, and Malkav was distracted. This distraction allowed a low generation Malkavian who held a major fragment of Malkav's consciousness to be diablerized. However, as the diablerists weren't of malkavian blood, the fragments of Malkav's consciousness went wild within the new host, and had to be recovered.

NOTE: A tribe of werewolves is rumored to be guarding Malkav's sleeping form. Its possible his attackers were werewolves, and their decendants are guarding the body parts to prevent their discovery.

1.1) What exactly is the Malkavian Madness Network?

According to Daniel Greenberg, the original conception for the MMN was Malkav's consciousness descending into his clan. The clan as a whole have consumed him, rather than him consuming them. He was supposed to be the only Antediluvian trying to save his clan.

White-wolf actually used part of this idea. The revised Malkavian Clanbook speaks of Malkav and the nature of the MMN. The revised Clanbook is a "must read," as it can explain it so much better than I.

Malkav moved his mind (consciousness) into his blood, and his childer consumed this blood to protect Malkav. This did not diablerize Malkav, instead Malkav survived intact, flowing through the bodies of his childer. However, even in this state of existence, Malkav was more than just blood. His mind not only flowed within the blood of his childer, his mind flowed between his childer. Creating a web of connections.

This flow of connections is called many things: the Cobweb, the Malkavian Madness Network, the Weave, the Tapestry, etc. Although it began as a sharing between the ones who consumed Malkav, it spread to their childer, linking all Malkavians.

While the nature of the Network is always in question, it does act as a "shared consciousness." So far, Malkavians have used it to:

access the memories of other Malkavians, especially within one's own lineage. In theory, a Malkavian can learn to shift through these memories, much like a child exploring a cobweb filled attic, finding information passed down by those who come before. However, he could also become lost, forgetting which memories are his, and even believe himself to be one of his own ancestors.

abandon the flesh; uploading one's mind into the Network. Some of these disembodied Malkavians act as Mentors to embodied Malkavians, while others become nothing more than a series of accessable memories.

broadcast messages, impulses, visions, as well as where-and-when a gathering will take place. However, each Malkavian has to filter out this information on their own (or rely on another Malk). Some fail, unable to hear even the loudest, clearest messages. Others will travel half-way across the world on an impulse, unaware they have hear someone's Call.

1.2) Any advice on playing a Malkavian derangement?

Again, the revised Clanbook is a "must read," as it provides several good examples.

As for playing a derangement...

I once spoke to someone in the field of treating the mentally ill, he stated that the deranged can believe ANYTHING about themselves, others or the world around them. The revised Clanbook goes one set further, emphasizing that Malkavian never believe, they KNOW their view of reality is the truth.

1.3) How do I make my Malk's weakness scary?

Let the nature of the Malk's derangement be a secret between you and the Storyteller. Outside of the derangement, play your Malk is being perfectly normal. Make the weakness a mystery for the other Characters to discover, and more importantly a mystery for the other Players.

Section 2: Tzimisce and Tremere

2.0) Is the Tzimisce Antediluvian dead or not?

White-wolf keeps hinting that he survives, but won't confirm it.

In Children of the Inquisition, it tells the story of the Anarch group who attacked the Tzimisce Antediluvian. One member (Ruthven) claims the Ante faked his diablerie by impersonating Lugoj. (The Antediluvian allowed only Ruthven to see the truth.)

In Libellus Sanguinis 1, in the Tzimisce section, there is a "modern day" letter from Ruthven to another vampire, in which he speaks of having visited a Zantosa family in New York. One of the family Elders hinted to Ruthven that "you know who" was sleeping deep in the catacombs beneath their feet.

In the Clan Novels, Ruthven is led to a series of underground catacombs/sewers were he meets a "creature" so powerful its flesh births plants and animals. The walls of the cavern itself are flesh, continually absorbing the plants and animals, then rebirthing them.

Then there is the revised Tzimisce Clanbook, which speaks of Tzimisce having more than one body and able to spawn a new body within anyone who carries his blood.

Finally, in Giovanni Chronilces 1:The Last Supper, a timeline is given. It gives the date of Lasombra's death at the hand of "his childe". However, for Tzimisce it gives the date of the "attack" upon Tzimisce.

2.1) What of the Old Clan Tzimisce?

Information on the revised Old Clan Tzimisce can be found scattered throughout the Vampire Storytellers Handbook (pg.191-192), with more information being revealed in the revised Tzimisce Clanbook.

The current portrayal casts them as a group of "Old School" vampires. Not quite an offshoot or single bloodline, but Elders from several Tzimisce lineages which long ago decided to walk a different path. Of the various inner sects and groupings, the Old Clan faction is one of the most ancient and archaic.

For various reasons, members of the Old Clan do not practice the Discipline of Vicissitude, although many do practice Koldunic Sorcery. The original Old Clan Elders may have Vicissitude, but all known childer of the Old Clan have Dominate in place of Vicissitude as a Clan Discipline, with Koldunic Sorcery practiced as a 4th Discipline at out-of-Clan costs.

2.2) What happened to the Telyavs?

During the Dark Ages, a group of Tremere split off the main Clan and traveled into the wilds of Lithuania. The local population saw them as manifestations of Telyavel, the Lithuanian god who protects the dead.

These so called Telyavelic-Tremere or Telyavs, discovered the soil, forests and animals of their new home was rich with a mystical power the locals called Siela. Drawing upon the Tzimisce elements of their blood, they soon developed a form of Blood magic based on tapping into the Siela.

In the 16th century, the Christian religion triumphed the pagan religions of Lithuania. The Church, the Inquisition, and its "Christian" state armies hunted the Talyavs into extinction.

2.3) What is happening between Tremere and Saulot?

Tremere diablerized Saulot. This is story is well known.

In Transylvania Chronicles 4 (pg.43-45) a secret was revealed. Saulot made prophecies, and needed them fulfilled. Saulot arranged for Tremere to find him, with the plan that Tremere would "diablerize" him.

Saulot planned to take over Tremere's body during the diablerie, fulfilling his prophecy of another Antediluvian dying. However, Saulot did not realize how powerful Tremere's own will had become.

Saulot and Tremere have been fighting for control of Tremere's body for nearly a 1000 years. Finally, with the aide of Etrisus, Tremere's spirit escaped. Currently, Tremere is in the body of another powerful vampire, the body of Goratix.

Once pinned by a mystic stake, Saulot has vanished with Tremere's body (Nights of Prophecy).

2.4) Are the Tremere a Tzimisce Bloodline?

Good question! The Tremere have many links to the Tzimsice:

The Tremere were self-embraced, created through Alchemical ritual, but one using Tzimisce blood as the main ingredient.

The Tremere practice the Tzimsce Disciplines of Auspex and Dominate. And during the Dark Ages, some flawed Tremere had Vicissitude as a one of their Clan Disciplines.

LS1 speaks of the need to use a ritual to identify whether a vampire is Tremere or Tzimisce (the only difference was an impurity in the Tzimisce's blood).

One group of Tremere (the Telyavs) learned to draw upon the Tzimisce elements of their blood to developed a form of Blood magic based on tapping into the mystic power of the Tzimisce lands.

The Tremere lack the Tzimisce weakness, but the Tzimisce weakness may be part of an ancient Geas or Pact, which the Alchemical ritual broke.

The Tzimisce Antedulivian could claim them as a faction of the Tzimisce, claiming his blood animates their bodies. Yet, there is the problem of Saulot:

Tremere diablerized Saulot, or at least tried. Saulot survived, having transferred his soul into Tremere's body.

The Tremere Clan have been diablerizing Salubri right-and-left. That's a lot of souls (spiritual power) to digest. Perhaps other Salubri followed Saulot, consuming thier diablerists from the inside.

Some Tremere were marked by a false third eye.

It could have been Saulot's master plan. Taking over Tremere's younger body, the "replacing" of the Salubri, escaping any curses upon his "blood", and breaking any links to the Baali.

Saulot may also have claim upon the Tremere.

2.5) the Children of Dracon?

The Children of Dracon, are a modern faction claiming decent from an ancient Tzimisce known as the Dracon of Constantinople. They reject the practice of Koldunic Sorcery, and form themselves into a sub-sect of "holders of secret knowledge".

Section 3: Gangrel and Ravnos

3.0) Why are the Ravnos and Gangrel at odds?

Good question. On an individual level there is nothing preventing Gangrel and Ravnos from forming friendships. Historically, as Clans they have had "differences".

In the past, it was implied that both the Gangrel and Ravnos have a supernatural kinship to the Rroma (Gypsies) and battle over them for both breeding stock and allies. According to the revised Gangrel Clanbook, this is not quite true.

The revised Gangrel Clanbook reveals the Gangrel don't have any supernatural link to the Rroma, and will hunt them just as they would anyone else. They occasionally embrace Rroma, but no more than any other group.

The Gangrel do tell stories of an ancient wrong the Ravnos committed against the Gangrel Clan. In Libellus Sanguinus 3, the story it speaks of Gangrel and Ravnos being brother and sister. They travel to India to join their Dark Mother, but battle over who should be first to met her. The battle grows, and both embrace others to aid them. The Gangrel eventual lose the battle.

As a result the Gangrel travel Northward and Westward, giving India to the Ravnos. Supposedly, the Gangrel warriors resent the loss of their "homelands" to the tricksters of Ravnos.

3.1) What do the Ravnos say?

There are at least three factions of Ravnos. The Players Guide to the Low Clans speaks of more fractions and sub fractions. As for the main three...

Alexanderite:: The oldest faction known to the West is the Alexanderite Ravnos of Europe. Originating in East (or possibly Egypt), they followed Alexander the Great back to Europe when he return from India. Although they are rare, they were considered noble enough to serve within the vampire courts of Europe.

They appear to have abandoned the teachings of their Indian sires (or forgotten them during their time in Egypt), having become followers of the Western view of Caine and the 13 Clans. They have not spoken of any Clan problems with the Gangrel.
Rroma (Gypsy):: During the Dark Ages, a second wave of Ravnos started pouring into Europe. Following the Rroma migration from India, these Ravnos were far less noble, in fact they were outcasts (criminals, and members of the lowest castes.) Believing themselves beyond the reach of the Clan Elders, they reformed into a new faction.

Embracing mostly from Rroma mortal stock, they created tales of their Clan Founder having been of the Rroma and embraced directly by Caine himself. Even claiming Ravnos was embraced so he could protect the Rroma from the other childer of Caine.

Meanwhile these Ravnos tie themselves to the Gangrel Clan, by claiming Ravnos embraced Ennoia, who later betrays him. Thus, the Gangrel are fallen cousins and betrayers. Thus, the Gangrel were an offense, especially when these same Gangrel embraced Rroma.
Eastern/Indian:: Meanwhile, the Eastern Ravnos of India, have their own beliefs. Claiming they are descended from Zapathasura, and not Caine. They believe the gods created the Ravnos to battle the Cathayans, who were the fallen protectors of humanity.

Even the Eastern Ravnos speak of a link to the Gangrel, having a story referred to as the Gangrel Heresy. It speaks of Ennoia as a second being created to battle the power of the Cathayans. However, turning her back on her duty, she was cursed to dwell among the beasts.

These Ravnos claim the Gangrel can not abide the sight of those who did not back down from duty. Thus, Gangrel are driven to fight the Ravnos.

3.2) Is there any connection between the Rroma and Gangrel?

The Gangrel did assist the Rroma in two ways:: In the 15th century, the Rroma migrated in mass to Europe. At the time, travelers needed papers of safe passage. The Gangrel aided the Rroma by acquiring these papers for them. Many Rroma families came to owe the Gangrel great favors. In the Modern Age, some Rroma families still honor Gangrel request of aid as repayment for aiding their forefathers.; The Ravnos of India used the Hindu caste system. When the Rroma migrated out of India, many Ravnos outcasts and lowcasts chose to follow. As expected, they feed and embraced from the Rroma as well as using the Rroma for protection. However, they also allowed the Rroma to be blamed for Ravnos crimes, and even sold Rroma into slavery. Many groups of Rroma turned to the Gangrel for protection from the Ravnos. The Gangrel granted it for more boons.

3.3) Didn't the Ahrimanes have Spiritus?

All Ahrimanes begin undeath as Gangrel. When they join the Ahrimanes, they undergo a native American shaman ritual which links them to nature, but at the cost of infertile blood.

Originally, the mystic link to nature was portrayed via the development of a new Discipline called Spiritus, which allowed them to talk to the spirits of "dead" animals and borrow their powers. Yet, the rules allow for only three Clan Disciplines, so White-wolf gave them the combination of Animalism, Presence and Spiritus. In many ways this make perfect sense. Animalism represents power over the spirits of living animals. While Presence might reflect spiritual power over the spirits of humans. It was the mysterious loss of Protean which irked many players.

The Ahrimanes were updated and revamped in the revised Gangrel Clanbook (pg.48).

Ahrimanes now retain Animalism and Protean. Only Fortitude is lost, which can be explained as a weakening effect related to the blood becoming infertile. In its place, Ahrimanes receive Auspex, now representing the Ahrimane's new insight into the spiritual side of the world. Spiritus has been retconned out of existence. Instead, they have been given their own form of Thaumaturgy which invokes the spirits of nature.

Ahrimane-Thaumaturgy is simulated with the Tremere-Thaumaturgy paths of Movement of the Mind, Lure of Flames, Elemental Mastery, the Green path, Neptune's Might, Spirit Manipulation and Weather Control.

Section 4: Nosferatu

4.0) How ugly are they?

In the past, rules allowed for Nosferatu who could pass for deformed or seriously scarred humans. Nevertheless, there were also Nosferatu who were so monstrous, they would sicken even the most hideous creatures of the ocean deep.

Different broods even had different signature deformities:

the blue skinned and warty
still human, but face and body is a mass of scars
waxy, transparent skin
pale, smooth skinned, bald head, and rat toothed
green, shreaded skin, bald half-collapsed skull, and toothy
one side of face and body burnt, the other normal
wrinkles upon wrinkles
dry, tight skin stretched over bone.
human, but covered in boils
aged, balding and tired
well built body, but face like a carnavious ape.

Some Nosferatu can pass themselves off as extremely old humans. Others who manifest their deformities as scarring, can claim to be suffering a skin condition, be burn survivors, or victims of an animal mauling. However, while they can pass for human, they pass for humans with an Appearance of zero.

4.1) Does the right clothing help?

Odd as it may sound, some Nosferatu can conceal their appearance flaws with clothing, making them appear normal or even handsome.

This ability is covered by the 5 point Merit called Rugged Good Looks, and can be found in the revised Nosferatu Clanbook. While it doesn't allow the Nosferatu to raise the Appearance Attribute, it allows the Nosferatu to function as if his Appearance were much higher to the unknowning.

White-wolf has two characters which possess this merit:

In The Hunters Hunted, there is a Nosferatu whose whole body is covered in boils, except his face, neck and hands. By wearing a suit which hides everything below the neck, he can pass for his pre-embrace, extra handsome self.

In Children of the Night, there is a Nosferatu, who maintains an active career as a pro wrestler. The embrace only affected his appearance from the neck up, leaving his body unmarked. When wearing his wrestling costume (consisting of trunks, and a colorful hood over the head), his fans judge him by his body's appearance. This gives him a "functional" Appearance of 3, when wearing his mask. He hasn't even bothered to learned the Discipline of Obfuscate.

4.2) The truly monstrous.

The Nosferatu Curse does more than degrade one's appearance. It warps the body in ways unimaginable. Bones can liquify, skin can become transparent or shed. New limbs, mouths or eyes can sprout.

Some Nosferatu are so hideous, they never leave the sewers. In fact the old Clanbook had a "monstrous" flaw which described the Nosferatu possessing it, as being so hideous even the power of Obfuscate couldn't conceal it.

4.3) The Forever Masked.

Some Nosferatu are so accomplished at Obfuscate, their true appearance is unknown. No one has cracked the Nosferatu's mask.

Others turn to hiding their form with Unseen Presence, and spend most of their unlives playing "invisible man."

4.4) What is a Nictuku?

Nosferatu legends speak of their Antediluvian (Absimiliard) being a skillful hunter before his embrace. Witnessing his skills, the 2nd generation Zillah sought to embrace him. Absimiliard fought back, but was easily defeated. However, Absimiliard was also very handsome and vain, and during the battle with Zillah, she had scratched him, leaving a permament scar.

Absimiliard's vanity drove him to seek revenge upon Zillah for scarring him. He secretly embraced several childer, bloodbonding them. Legends speak of one childe, a woman who fleed and escaped the bonding process.

Tricking Caine into leaving the Second City to seek out a group of werewolves that Absimiliard claimed attacked him, Absimiliard made his move and attacked Zillah. It appear that several other 3rds, as well as his own childer were in on the plan to attack the 2nds.

Zillah died at the hands of Absimiliard.

Caine returned and after learning of the reason behind Absimiliard's attack, a barely noticable scratch, he cursed Absimiliard and all his childer with extreme ugliness. Driven insane by his own appearance, Absimiliard blamed the curse upon the act of creating childer without Caine's permission.

Absimiliard sought to destroy his childer, but discovered the unbonded woman who escaped, was siring her own childer, spreading his curse. Enraged, that the unbonded were multipling faster then he could hunt them down, he command his blood bonded childer to never sire childer, then charged them with hunting down all the unbonded childer and destroy them. These blood bonded childer became known as the Nictuku, while the his free childer became known as the Nosferatu.

An altenate version of the legend claims Absimiliard sought to appease Caine, and destroyed his blood bonded childer. However, the woman who escaped blood bonding, started siring her own childer. Enraged that they were multipling faster then he could hunt them down, he sought out monsters and abominations, and embraced them. Making sure each was blood bonded, he commanded them to never sire childer, then charged them with hunting down all the unbonded childer and destroy them. These hunters became known as the Nictuku.

Other legends name as many as three Nosferatu that escaped Absimiliard's blood bonding. Some even claim Set (the Setite Antediluvian) is a Nictuku.

There have also been hints that the Nictuku are a secret organization of Nosferatu who hunt clan members who wander to far. Driving fear into the hearts of their Childer of the hunters in the dark, the Nosferatu maintain their Clan unity.

Section 5: Extinct?

5.0) Who are these True Brujah guys?

There are legends of a 4th generation Brujah named Troile, who diablerized the real Brujah Clan Founder during the fall of the Second City. Troile then sired his/her own Clan using the name of Brujah. (Book of Nod, pg.54) These legends also speak of the real Brujah Clan Founder having several other 4th generation childer who survived to sire a Bloodline separate from Troile's. Being the childer of Brujah (instead of Troile), these others call themselves the True Brujah.

Although they were mentioned in the first Brujah Clanbook, their cover sheet did not appear until Dirty Secrets of the Black Hand. The revised Bloodline appears in Vampire Storytellers Handbook (pg.34-35) which touches upon the diablerie of Brujah by Troile, and the rumors of a "First Brood" (pg.15-16).

There are two differences between the True Brujah, and the more common Troile-Brujah (AKA the False Brujah).

True Brujah are lacking in passions, running cold instead of hot. The game mechanic of their weakness requires them to pay twice as much experience to raise Humanity, Path ratings, Conscience and Conviction.

Instead of having Celerity, the True Brujah have Temporis. Some claim Celerity devolved from Temporis, while others believed Temporis is an outgrowth of Celerity.

Antediluvians are known to use a variety of names, some are even known to have sired multiple Broods, each with different powers and weaknesses. Some believe both groups of Brujah are separate Broods sired by the same Antediluvian under two different names/identities.

5.1) What happened to the Cappadocians?

Augustus Joe and the Raiders of the Lost Tomb, ate them.

But seriously, there were two events that affected their numbers:

The Feast of Folly (CB:Cappadocian pg.17-18):

Cappadocius became aware of how sick the mortals of the city were growing. He soon discovered the Clan had grown to over 12,000 members (not just in the one city but across the known world). Deciding there were too many vampires, a culling of his Clan was needed. Without telling why, he called *ALL* members of his Clan for a great meeting in the city of Kaymakli

He judged each by their accomplishments, sending some to one side, the rest he sent into the catacombs beneath the city. When he finished judging them, he sealed the entrance of the catacombs using magic, so no vampire who entered could leave.

This event appears to of happened before the Dark Age game begins.

The rise of the Giovanni (Giovanni Chronicles 1):

In 1444 AD, Augustus Giovanni diablerized Cappadocius. It appears that Cappadocius planned this event, believing he could become God, but needed to die to do it.

Augustus Giovanni's own bloodline then hunted and destroyed all the other remaining Cappadocian bloodlines. (It appears that Giovanni who were embraced by Cappadocians were spared if they were still loyal to the Giovanni.)

By the Modern Age all other Cappadocian lineages were considered extinct. There is the occasional Cappadocian who is discovered in torpor and destroyed. It appears that at least one Cappadocian group, survived by being trapped in the Shadowlands. However, regardless of how many survive, the Cappadocian Clan as it was (or could have been) has been destroyed.

5.2) What is the origin of the Baali?

No one is sure, but there are several stories:

From Dark Age Companion (pg.170-171), there is the story of Shaitan, whose pride in his own appearance and singing voice, makes him jealous of his Elders and their thicker blood. Supposedly, he is the first childe of Ashur. He forms a war party of 4th generation vampires, one from each Clan. After his defeat, he became an Infernalist. His follows sire broods which infiltrate their old Clans to recruit others, or lead them to destruction.

Dark Age Companion (pg 172-174), links the Baali to the Salubri during the time of the Second City. The Baali were a mortal cult of Infernalist, who were seeking the secret of immortality. Saulot sent warrior Salubri to infiltrate the Baali. Saulot's own childe betrayed the others, and soon the Baali leaders were embraced. This lead to several Salubri-Baali wars. (CB:Sa, pg.66)

From their own Clanbook Baali (pg 13-18) the Baali tell an origin that may be the most unsettling of all. The Baali begin as a tribe of mortals who learned the secret of True Names from a creature of elemental-darkness. One night a vampire came to them, calling them "childish" in their evil. He attacked the tribe, tortured and played with them, then threw them into the pit where they sacrificed. After spilling his blood into the pit and leaving, three newly embraced vampires crawled out to become the founder's of the Baali.

Finally, The revised Tzimisce Clanbook (pg.14) speaks of a Salubri story in which Samiel the Warrior launching a crusade against the Tzimisce. Samiel believing the Tzimisce's Sorcery was Infernalism, and their szlachta to be demonic familiars. This is unsettling when comparing Baali and Tzimisce history and practices. (The Baali may be a Tzimisce offshoot.)

Some Players believe a combination of the second and third story. Saulot created the Baali while in a rage. Later, he sent the Salubri to infiltrate the Baali, but it was to cover up his embrace of the Baali. If the Baali were recognized to be of Saulot's blood, his childer would be blamed.

Section 6: The Oddballs

6.0) Tell me about the Sons of Discord.

When the Daughters of Cocaphony were introduced in VTM, it was mentioned that very few were male. Years laters, in Vampire Storytellers Companion, it revealed the Daughters had recently purged themselves of all males.

In the Laws of the Night Revised, the male faction were referred to as the Sons of Discord.

In Nights of Prophecy (pg.44-45), there was a transsexual member called Celeste who was revealed to have survived the purge. Only he and his Sire known he was born a male.

6.1) Why does Aristotle identify himself as Mnemosyne?

In the Book of Nod White-wolf published for use as a prop for LARP, Aristotle de Laurent (its translator) identifies himself as belonging to the Mnemosyne. Which translates into "the Memory-Seekers".

His own description of his bloodline matches that of the Malkavians, and he speaks of a growing madness that has affected his sire, and his sire's sire (all seem to share the same derangement). He is also labeled a Malkavian in various books of White-wolf fiction.

So why the Mnemosyne title?

It is possible that Aristotle belongs to a Cult or Sect called the Mnemosyne. Maybe he is a member of a Malkavian bloodline which passes the same derangement.

However, there is another possibility.

There is a group of wraiths who use the power of Puppetry to possess mortals (or vampires) in order to finish research which needs to be done in the material world. Supposedly, they use the pseudonym "Mnemosyne" during possession. The long term side-effects of being used as a Puppet, resembles the derangements of Aristotle's lineage.

6.2) What is a Nocturnae?

In the story section of the Storytellers Handbook to the Sabbat (Pg.122), a vampire called Bartholomew is identified as a member of the Nocturnae bloodline.

Its just another name for the Kiasyd Bloodline. Possibly a play on the words "Nocturnal and Fae".

Section 7: the Revised

7.0) Who were the Bushi and Gaki?

In early source books, White-wolf introduced some 'Eastern Bloodlines' which were supposed to be vampires from the Far East. Since then, White-wolf has created a Kindred of the East sub-game in which Eastern concepts of undeath are used.

The information in Dark Alliance Vancouver and World of Darkness 1st Ed., has been retconned. At best, the information is now portrayed as the assumptions made by Western Vampires. Assumptions based on limited encounters with these Eastern vampires.

The Bushi (from DAV), where seen as having Celerity, Presence and a special Discipline the westerners called Kai.

The Gaki (WOD 1st), where believed to be using Auspex, Dominate and a dream based power that Westerners called Rift.

Some have connected "Gaki" to Gakido (Road of the Demon) and "Bushi" to Bushido (Road of the Warrior). However, this is just speculation, and a moot point as White-wolf has revamped the concepts used for Eastern Kindred.

Under the new system the Eastern Kindred do not have Bloodlines. They are a species of "vampire" who rise after having died and visited the spirit world. This makes them more similar to the Risen of western culture. They do drink blood and also have powers called Disciplines.

Eastern Kindred call themselves Kuei-jin, but are called Cathayans by Western vampires.

7.1) I just read Chaos Factor. (Enough said.)

Here is some missing background info...

In the ancient past there was a 4th generation Baali named Nergal, who believed Ashur (Cappadocius) to be the sire of the Baali Bloodline. Turned Infernalist, he was banished with his city by a combined forces of the non-Infernalist Baali and a group of Lasombra armed with lost powers of Obtenebration.

Years later, Nergal reappeared. Concealing his true identity, he took the name of Shaitan, and claimed to be the sire of the Baali's three Progenitors. The truth was discovered, and Nergal was stopped.

Since that time, Nergal or someone else, has been creating false Shaitans. These false Shaitans are armed with Baali powers, and secret Baali knowledge. Many appear to truly believe they are the real Shaitan. (They appear to be mind wiped, washed and polished.)

One of the more famous false Shaitans, who was both an Infernalist and spreader of Baali secrets, was rumored to have traveled West across the sea. (CB:Baali, pg.66) I'm guessing this false Shaitan is the Baali Methuselah who appeared in Mexico.

With this added info in mind...

In the Mage/Vampire crossover chronicle called The Chaos Factor, there was a powerful vampire called Shaitan. He appeared in Mexico 1500 years ago, and has been trapped in torpor beneath Mexico City until recently.

Shaitan tells a story of himself being the first childe of Ashur. (The name Ashur is used for Cappadocius in this story). In the original script for the chronicle, Shaitan claims he was betrayed by Giovanni, the 4th childe of Ashur. However, the author made a mistake. Giovanni was not embraced until 500 years after Shaitan arrived in Mexico. So, the editor changed the script from Giovanni to Gangrel, 'cause, well, it started with "G" too.' Gangrel was not supposed to appear in the story and is not supposed to a childe of Cappadocius.

In other words, IT WAS A WRITER'S ERROR CAUSED BY NOT KNOWING THE TIMELINE, COMPOUNDED BY A BAD EDITING DECISION.

7.2) Which Clan does Rasputin belong to?

Once upon a time, Dan Greenburg had plans for Rasputin. He was to be a Malkavian masquerading as several different individuals: a Malkavian, a Setite, a Garou, a Mage, etc. These plans have long since been shelved.

Today, Rasputin is White-wolf's "poster child" for the concept that you can't always believe what you read.

Clanbooks are presented as being Clan lore and general Clan beliefs. Sometimes, information is presented as the beliefs others hold about a Clan, and not the actual teachings of the Clan.

In fact the revised Assamite Clanbook is presented as being written by Schismatic Assamites, and submitted to the Camarilla Elders. The origin story appearing in the previous Clanbook is a variation of the the beliefs of the opposing, Loyalist faction.

Just because some members of a Clan believe something, doesn't make it true. This applies to novels, chronicles, etc., and other canon, in which White-wolf characters make various claims.

7.3) Just give me a list of the changes in the Revised Edition.

This gets tricky. There were two types of change.

The changes made due to the march of time: the progression of plots, Clan politics, the awakening of vampires from torpor, etc. These changes can usually be found in the main books (VRev, GttC, GttS, etc).

Retcons (retro-active continually changes), are NOT historical events nor changes happening within the WOD. They are improved game mechanics, re-designs, revisions and re-writes of history.

We will only cover the retcons:

The Sabbat Malkavians have only one Derangement instead of two.
The Venture Antitribu have the same mix of Disciplines as their Camarilla counterparts. (And have always had the same set.)
The Assamites have three bloodlines, one of which has a form of Blood magic as a Clan Discipline.
The Tzimisce may (or may not) have a bloodline possessing Koldunic Sorcery, instead of Vicissitude. (Some books refer to it as Thaumaturgy.)
The Tremere are more seriously portrayed as hunters of Tremere traitors and others who steal Tremere secrets of Thaumaturgy.
In the Dark Ages, Thaumaturgy rituals always succeeded, Modern rules allow for them to fail. (Success Rolls now required).
Necromancy was redesigned into a form of magic similar to Thaumaturgy, complete with Paths and rituals.
The Samedi never had Necromancy as a Clan Discipline. Some Samedi did acquire a form of Voudoun-Necromancy, but it still remains a non-Clan Discipline.
The Kiasyd also never had Necromancy. In the Dark Ages they had Potence, Obtenebration and Mytherceria. They replace Potence with Dominate at some point before the Modern Age.
Sabbat members now start with Humanity intact.
The grabbing of anyone and hitting them with the Shovel, is a war time only thing. Most Sabbat chose childer using a set of standards and period of observation, just like non-Sabbat.
Nihilistics has been retconned. It is now the "Vitreous Path" of Nagarajan-Necromancy.
Dark Ages: Vampire, Mortis is revised. Its now a form of Necromancy specializing in physical death & decay. (The Lamia's Demois Discipline also become a path of Mortis).
In GttS, the Harbingers have a Necromancy Path called the "Mortuus Path", which resembles the old version of the Mortis Discipline.

End.