Everything

– Tennessee Williams

Recognition

“Watch what you’re doing, you stupid prick,” the jogger snarled as he tried to get past Lewis.

Could she read his mind?

Perhaps she would explain…

Lewis was beginning to feel the rage return. How dare she do this to the Primogen of the Brujah!

Tempus Fugit

A man asks a psychic if he can truly see into the future, to which the psychic answers in the affirmative. So the man punches the psychic in the face. As the psychic lies bleeding on the ground, wondering what he did to provoke such violence his attacker leans over and says “I bet you didn’t see that coming!”

We hear that joke a lot.

It is a valid question, though. How could a Clan with a command over time itself fail to predict their own demise at the hands of their childer? Undisciplined, uneducated, rebellious, thuggish childer at that? But we did see it coming. It was our choice to let it happen. I should admit that we were still caught by surprise in many ways. I will leave aside the usual arrogant bluster that we were somehow tricked or betrayed to other Clans. Denial is only a salve for the ego, and we are here to learn, not play the pissing contests of other Kindred.

While we did fail to stop the usurpers, we were not unprepared. In fact, we had been planning for it for quite some time. It simply happened earlier than expected. From the very beginning, we foresaw that Kindred society was doomed, and our only way to survive was to remove ourselves from it. We planned to become hidden and forgotten, to escape the Jyhad that will destroy everything.

Visions of Betrayal

To those in the modern nights, the idea of Kindred slaughtering each other is not unusual. In fact, the idea of us living together in peace is both strange and a little frightening. In the days of the First City, however, even though we were still blood drinking monsters, the Kindred seemed to get along. One suspects the presence of Caine may have had something to do with this.

But we could see a change was coming. Every time we were able to peer into the future, it was one of blood and vengeance. It was not hard to see where this might come from. The monster within us lies close to the surface. We are one of the few Clans to exercise any real control over our passions. So we were able to calculate the outcome of what we were seeing: the Kindred will feed upon themselves until none of us are left.

So we took the only sensible course of action. We decided to leave them all to their fate. We began to stockpile resources and quietly acquire the most valuable lore we could find. The necessity for secrecy required us to take our time. We are patient creatures if nothing else. Our work ensured than many supposed “lost texts” remain hidden in our archives.

We thought we would have more time to prepare, but the Jyhad began its first slaughter much earlier than predicted, with the culling of the Second Generation. We took no part in this as a Clan, but that is not to say some Brujah were not involved. Many younger Kindred joined the Third Generation in destroying their leaders just for a sip of their precious vitae.

A New Hunger

After this brutal betrayal, those who had drunk the blood of the Second Generation were never quite the same. Something primal had risen inside them. Blood became more than just sustenance. Anger became rage and frenzy. Fear became terror. Behind it all was the siren call of elder blood and a desperate urge to taste that sweetest of nectars once more.

Among our Clan, the difference was more pronounced. Perhaps our passions, held in check for so long, burst out with a greater hunger. Kindred society had changed forever, and those of ours who had partaken seemed infected with this passion more than most. They burned with a rage that was almost alien to us, and one that few understood well enough to control. Troile was among the worst. He (or she of course, depending on your source material) may have been embraced as a scholar, but after the fall of the Second Generation, he knew rage like no other.

Unfortunately, many of those infected with this overwhelming rage had no desire to control it. Instead, they reveled in it. Our Clan gradually became two separate factions; those who remained pure of the new taint and those who cast aside the peace of studious calm for the instant gratification of rage and passion. These new Brujah were hungry and dangerous, and wanted everything right now. They refused to apply any discipline to the study of time, and learnt only as much as they needed to make themselves faster and more deadly. They eschewed their studies to run in packs and hunt — often more for entertainment than to feed.

The final straw came when Troile, the leader of the new Brujah, decided to claim control of the Clan. We foolishly believed there was enough of the old Brujah within him to negotiate, but we were naïve to assume so. Troile and his followers fell upon Brujah at their meeting, his uncontrollable hunger forcing him to murderous rage against his progenitor. That very night, we left it all to Troile. His followers hunted us across the city, murdering any who lingered. But once that carnal act was complete, they had no stomach to hunt us further.

But we had foreseen this. While we lay in tatters as a Clan, we were purged of the weak and immature among ourselves, and better for it. Were it not for the fall of the Second Generation, we might never have separated the unfit from our own numbers. “Clan” or “bloodline” are just names and really mean nothing. The eldest and cleverest of us survived, and the greatest lore was now hidden in our secret archives. We were free of the Jyhad, outside the eternal struggle that would consume the other Kindred eventually. It might not come for millennia, but we have always played the long game. To us, this was ultimately a victory.

Second Chances

We did make one attempt to restore our Clan to what it was. The traitor Brujah were still our brothers and sisters, and we felt they were owed one more chance, even after all their crimes. They were simply errant children who didn’t know better, and we hoped to educate them so they might blossom once more.

So, a few of us returned to infiltrate the Clan. The Kindred had spread like a poison across the world, and it was a simple matter to slide back into the low ranks of our brethren. We remained on the sidelines and observed, and to our surprise, found something of us still remained among the new Brujah. They were still brutal and angry, but some of them still yearned for the peace of study. Many were frustrated by the anger that destroyed their focus and dreamed of regaining the control they had lost so long ago.

There was hope, and so we began to steer them towards a great new project. Together, we built a city called Carthage. It was a place of learning, a place of peace and prosperity. We tried to live together with the kine, in a symbiotic relationship instead of as predator and prey. Mostly we did this as infiltrators, but we were able to reveal our true nature to a few of the elders. We held great hope for the Clan and the future.

But the Jyhad could not be denied. We blame the Ventrue as its tools, but it might have been any Clan. The hunger resided in all of them, turning them into animals once more. When the city fell, we hoped the new Brujah would come to us. If the city burned but we reclaimed our own from their passions, it would be a victory.

But it was not to be. As their enemies crashed against the gates, the new Brujah did not look to save the lore that had been gathered; instead they gave way to anger and rage. They left the books to burn and took up arms to claim vengeance against the Ventrue and their allies. We let them burn with the city, sad and ashamed that we could not save our brethren from themselves. But we did not leave without righting one old wrong. A group of us came upon Troile, wild with bloodlust and rage, and buried him in sand and time. His punishment was long overdue, and the balance needed to be redressed for his crimes. Perhaps without the worst of them, the fallen Brujah might find some measure of control, though they were lost to us now.

An Alliance Against the Jyhad

As centuries passed, we continued our work. We had secreted great stores of lore, and in time even the usurper

Brujah forgot about us. With little interest in anything requiring patience or effort, and no longer possessing a love of learning, the traitor Brujah ignored us. We continued to record, study, and research, quietly rescuing valuable texts before human or Kindred wars destroyed them in needless waste. We often created disasters when kine began to notice so much was missing from their vaults. Do you believe the great library of Alexandria burned down by accident?

While we have remained in the shadows, we were not insensible of the need for allies. However, we sought such allies from among the other supernatural creatures, wary of trusting to our own kind. Old fears and animosities were nothing more than racism and bigotry, and we have found like minds among strange bedfellows. One constant in all such preternatural scholars is a disappointment in the others of their kind who fail to place reason above violence and paranoia. It is from these groups and loose alliances that the western arm of the Tal’Mahe’Ra was born.

Did you not know that the Tal’Mahe’Ra had two arms? Well, it’s of no consequence. As it once was, the Western Tal’Mahe’Ra was all we really required. However, everyone had to have a voice, and not every voice was to our liking. Times changed, new alliances were made, and the modern Tal’Mahe’Ra was born of such treaties. We have remained a part of it because it still serves a purpose. But its goals no longer truly suit us. It has become part of the all-consuming Jyhad and even expanded their war beyond the Kindred. We wonder sometimes if the Tal’Mahe’Ra may be the instrument that brings destruction to the entire world. But that is not our concern. So we do as we always have, and keep enough distance to remain apart.

In these modern nights, we do our best to walk the tightrope between knowing where our enemies lie and taking part in the politics of the Kindred. Our wisdom in avoiding the power struggles of the bloodthirsty has proved its importance time and time again. When the Anarchs began murdering their elders, we were far away. When the Camarilla rose to slaughter their rogue childer, we were forgotten. When the Sabbat nearly tore itself apart in civil war, we were ignored. As it has been, so it will always be. We will be waiting at the end, as we were at the start. We will close the book on the affairs of the Kindred when they have finally destroyed each other. Then we will see what a world we can make without them.

Hidden in the Folds of Time

Just as the Ventrue have interests beyond the Camarilla and the Lasombra look beyond the Sabbat, we are more than our association with the Tal’Mahe’Ra. It serves a purpose, that is true, but centuries of compromise with its other leaders have forced us to follow agendas outside its goals. In truth, the Tal’Mahe’Ra has always been something of a quandary for us. To be without the allies and protection it provides is to risk destruction and the loss of all we have collected. However, to be a part of the Tal’Mahe’Ra is to be a part of the Jyhad, which is the source of all destruction.

We have made it our business to be the acquaintances of many but the friends of none. There are many Kindred and mages who know of us, and have even called upon our assistance. But we always receive swift payment in one form or another. Those acquaintances we do have are among the oldest and most powerful, for childer are rarely of any use to us, and we know the elders can keep a secret. In fact, many do their best to hide what they know of us, in case their enemies make use of our services. In such a way, we have passed into legend amongst the young and ignorant.

Our assistance is available to all; we take no sides. But we make no pledges of allegiance or wait to call on favors. Our dealings with others are short term and paid in full. To do anything else is to be drawn into the Jyhad.

Among the Kindred

We do not play well with others, as I suspect you have come to conclude. The reasoning is simple; to be part of vampire society is to risk utter destruction. We saw the weakest among our own Clan turn upon us. But the young have always revolted against the elders, who have often kept them in slavery. The other Kindred seem at peace with this slaughter. The Tremere rose to destroy an entire Clan, and now get invited to Kindred gatherings as pillars of the community. The Lasombra and Tzimisce rose to power on a reputation of patricide. The Giovanni may have culled those who made them immortal, but the Nosferatu tremble in fear at the mere mention of their elders. Vampires are a sickness, and they will all turn on each other given time. It is up to us to protect ourselves and wait out the storm.

Having said that, we do find ourselves dealing with two other Clans more often than any others. The Giovanni may have been usurpers, but they are fellow academics. They have a similar ethos to us: that playing too much of a part in Kindred politics is a bad idea. We do not trust their intentions,

of course, but we have learned they will usually keep their word. Their studies into death magic may also make them useful allies if we need to remove the Tal’Mahe’Ra one day. We can learn much from these necromancers, as long as we remember not to let them get too close.

The other Clan we find a kinship with is the Followers of Set. They are lying, despicable cheats who give snakes a bad name, but we find there is a certain honesty in that. They do not pretend to be anything they are not. As they remain outside the Camarilla but keep a hand in its politics, they prove useful information brokers. I will also admit we find their dedication to the old lands a little comforting. They have not forgotten the First City, and remember their history better than most.

Then of course there are the traitor Brujah. We are divided on what to do with them. Some of us want them extinguished without mercy. Others believe they will tear themselves apart sooner or later, so why make the effort? A few of us infiltrate the Clan to keep an eye on them. But it is hard to play their childish games, and exhausting to pretend to be angry all the time. At least they are little more civilized than the Sabbat. Those monsters are little more than animals in human form, and we usually kill them in the same way one might crush a wasp or a scorpion. Better to destroy them before they have a chance to sting you.

The most useful part of vampire society for us are the Anarch Free States. There is little organization or control there, allowing us to move with ease and learn what we can. The false Brujah are also plentiful here, enabling us to keep an eye on their movements and agenda. From the Anarchs we can often make a move into the Camarilla or Sabbat if need be, once an identity is established. So this rabble has proved a useful stepping stone, but I suspect will never amount to any more than that.

Technology and Science

We are not just collectors of lore, but also students of it. With the vast resources at our command, we stand on the shoulders of giants when it comes to scientific advancement. While it is too dangerous to share the fruits of our labor with other Kindred or the kine, we do release some advancements into kine society when we need humanity to catch up. Now you would think that any scientist, given eternity and the best resources, would be able to change the world, cure cancer, develop true artificial intelligence, and more. Unfortunately, it has proved not to be the case. While our scientists are both dedicated and extremely intelligent, they are not innovators. It seems that the spark of creation and inspiration turns to

ash when we become Kindred. It is a problem that haunts many of our most academic elders.

That is not to say we waste our time, though. While we rarely innovate, we are very, very good at making improvements. Our technology does little that is new, but works much better and faster than its modern counterpart. This can often be an advantage, as it makes it easy to hide among less advanced equipment. For instance, our computers are simply faster than those available to humanity, even if they are not intelligent or organic.

We often keep our greatest advancements safely locked away, but some are granted for private use by Clan members. In many cases we use our technology to lure promising kine to work as researchers for us, where we might take their ideas and build on them. Most will never know anything of their supernatural connection; for a select few, however, it will be an apprenticeship before they join the Clan.

Factions

The Unmakers

While many of us see our fall from Clan status as a blessing, a few do not. These tormented souls, the Unmakers, believe the traitor Brujah stole what was rightfully theirs and must pay for their crimes. Unmakers seek out the new Brujah and slaughter them where they can. They pay special attention to destroying those in power to weaken the Clan as a whole. So while it is not unknown for them to slaughter whole gangs, they more often take their time stalking and executing Brujah elders.

As a Clan, we do our best to stop these fanatics, who have so coldly and logically decided on wholesale slaughter. Their actions are neither subtle nor secret, and threaten to bring the Camarilla down on us when they are discovered. While the Unmakers are good at finding other scapegoats, such as the Assamites, the Sabbat, and the Lupines, their operations remain a danger. Currently the Camarilla believes them to be a group of Brujah antitribu, but if the rest of the Kindred world were to uncover the truth about the Unmakers, we cannot predict how the Camarilla will react.

While their wanton and short-sighteded violence is a danger, it is not the most problematic agenda of the Unmakers. Not content to try their ham-handed retribution in the present, they also use their temporal skills to push further back in time, looking to undo Troile’s treachery. They seek to send back a group to destroy him, or even save the Second Generation from their fate and prevent his corruption. While many of us think their ethics laudable, we fear they are not weighing the impact of that much time being unraveled. The risk, for most, seems to outweigh the potential gain, especially considering

there is little chance they will succeed, despite having reportedly obtained the help of several mages.

The Guardians

As a group, our main agenda remains as it has always been: to study and to understand. But we realized the Jyhad would burn everything in its wake, and mankind could not be trusted with knowledge and secrets. So a few of us work to preserve the lore we collect, that we might create a vast reference library and save it from the ravages of time and ignorance.

While each of us maintains a library of our own, as a group the Guardians manage vast archives, hidden in vaults across the world. We share their locations with no one, and rarely even talk of them between ourselves. Each vault is curated by a powerful elder and several assistants. While secrecy is their main defense, it is not their only one, and vast efforts are made to ensure their sanctity from natural, man-made, and supernatural dangers alike.

The items and lore stored in our vaults are priceless and irreplaceable. Each main vault is also protected from time, to preserve their contents. While some contain scrolls written in the hand of Caine and others have lost texts from biblical times, all remain as new as the day they were made.

We guard these places jealously, but we are not hoarders. Everything we have can be read and studied by anyone we trust. Knowledge is a living thing. It must be shared and understood or it is worthless. However, we must be careful who we share with. Whatever is requested is brought to a secure location and must be returned later. No one is allowed to browse our libraries to just pick what they want!

Guardians often remain in the vaults, for it is hard to leave such a trove of learning. Each vault is attached to labs and study areas, and many of our number have spent centuries working on theories and studies. However, those who serve are not prisoners, and can choose to leave for another life if they so wish. There is never a shortage of True Brujah looking to take their place.

Those who leave the vaults often use their knowledge of antiquities to help hunt down lost or stolen items. While we are extremely careful about who we loan resources to, our trust is not always repaid, and greed has made some people foolish in their dealing with us. We always make sure those who betray us cannot do so again, but sometimes the original lenders cannot recover the artifact stolen from them. In those cases, we send someone — often a former vault Guardian — to follow the trail and recover the lost items. There are also always rumors of legendary items that would be better in our safekeeping. So many Guardians take a more active role upon leaving the vaults to hunt down and reclaim these items for the Clan.

Character and Traits

Concepts

Negotiator

You have always had patience. In fact, it is a constant source of annoyance to you how little control most people have. They need someone like you to arbitrate; someone who can keep their head and not be over emotional. It is your job to help people come to a mutual arrangement, or to accept hard truths and make the only deal they can. Your clients were once managers and union leaders, now they are Princes, Clan leaders, and even a few Sabbat bishops.

You have to walk a careful tightrope, as plenty of people blame you for their own mistakes in negotiation. But a calm demeanor and a logical mind are your best weapons. Neutrality is always key; if you have nothing to gain, you have no reason to cheat. It makes it easier to see the lies and tricks that those you are helping are trying so hard to employ.

Scientist

You always enjoyed study, but never felt you had enough time. Something always got in the way, and you often felt that others would have to continue your work after you died. But now you can fulfill your own legacy. The Clan provides you with funds and an advanced laboratory. You repay their support by advancing your field and adding to their knowledge. Unfortunately, you do not work alone, and there is a complicated game of politics for prestige and resources for your projects.

As long as you can keep learning, you care little for the outside world. You have done little work to expand your vampiric powers. Instead you have chosen to focus on advancing your knowledge. However, a little Fortitude comes in handy during lab accidents, and Presence is always a good way to secure more funding.

Thief of Antiquities

You love old things. However, libraries and museums were never enough for you. You like to hold and touch the past. There is something wrong about keeping these artifacts locked away in dusty vaults, slowly rotting away. So you have chosen to liberate them, and see them put in better hands.

You have become a highly specialized cat burglar. Security systems can rarely keep you out, but you are not a thief. Well, not to your mind anyway. You are reclaiming the past,

removing it from private vaults and museums to pass it to the Clan. You have had to become very discerning, as you don’t have time to waste stealing a fake.

Merits and Flaws

Combination Powers

Old Friend (Presence ••••, Temporis ••••)

This ability has proved invaluable to True Brujah infiltrating the ranks of their betrayers, or even other Sects and Clans. It makes the target believe the True Brujah is a very old friend, one who is trustworthy and loyal. They remember spending time together and several instances where the True Brujah has proved themselves beyond reproach. While this may appear to be an advanced application of implanted memories, it is actually a lot more. The True Brujah finds an alternate timeline that fits the required relationship and imprints it on the target, using Presence to bond feelings of trust and friendship. This makes it very difficult to detect and unravel, as the memories are real and were (in a sense) actually experienced by the target, even if they never actually occurred in this timeline.

System: The True Brujah must make physical contact with the target (often a handshake) and begin to describe a potential memory they share by way of introduction. They then make a Manipulation + Empathy roll at a difficulty equal to the target’s current Willpower. The number of successes shows how long the effects last.

While under the power’s effects, the target will believe the True Brujah is both loyal and above reproach. Even evidence to the contrary will be considered part of an elaborate conspiracy. Once the power fades, the target will still consider the True Brujah a friend, until something calls their motives into question. If the target is still under the effects of this power, attempts to refresh the effects for a longer duration are made at +1 difficulty.

This combination power costs 24 experience points to learn.

Jackhammer Punch (Potence ••, Temporis ••)

Getting punched with Potence is always painful, but with this power you force your opponent to relive that pain

over and over again. The True Brujah uses their control of time to seemingly repeat a strike several times at the same time. This leads to a great increase in damage from only a single attack.

System: When a True Brujah strikes in unarmed combat and opts to use this power, they may spend a blood point to add their Temporis rating as extra points of Potence when figuring the damage they have done.

This combination power costs 12 experience points to learn.