Rules

Nahuallotl is derived from the philosophy of the peoples of Mesoamerica. The Tlacique bloodline believe they are descended from Tezcatlipoca, a deity with many facets. Among them is a connection with darkness and the night sky which identified Tezcatlipoca as a mask of the Dark God to the wider Setite world. Through Nahuallotl they call upon the power of an array of Gods from across the Mesoamerican pantheons to enact their will. The Gods answer their call, but in accordance with the practices of the religions that worshiped them, the Gods demand sacrifice —blood sacrifice.

Given the heavy reliance upon blood sacrifice in Mesoamerican beliefs, it is only natural that practitioners of Nahuallotl are capable of manifesting effects similar to those of the Path of Blood. By offering the appropriate ritual sacrifices to the relevant Gods, the Nahualli can replicate other Thaumaturgy Paths: Lure of Flames, Weather Control, etc.

Whereas other schools may be employed with subtlety and tact to achieve their ends, this is without question the most violent and destructive of the schools within Setite Sorcery.

In stark contrast to the Tremere’s secrecy, the Followers of Set flaunt the fact that they have access to magical power. It furthers their cause to show other Kindred that they wield the power of the Dark God made manifest on Earth. However, while they are happy to promote the effects of their sorcery, they are less inclined to reveal the means through which it is accomplished, lest they alienate their more sensitive potential converts. As masters of deceit,

Just as the Followers of Set claim to be descended from the Egyptian god Set, the Tlacique claim to be descended from Tezcatlipoca. There is common ground between the two deities (darkness, the night sky, winds, hurricanes, etc.) that brings them into harmony with the wider Clan. Indeed, before the arrival of the Spanish in Mesoamerica, the bloodline ruled over the mortals as Gods, mirroring the goal of many Setites around the world.

Nevertheless, the chief concern that many Setites have about their Mesoamerican brethren is their inherent Clan disciplines. Unlike Serpentis-wielding Setites around the world, the Tlacique display the art of Protean instead. If Set, albeit through another mask, Embraced the founder of the bloodline, why should he have changed the blessings he imparted upon his followers?

Unfortunately, following the near-genocide of the bloodline conducted by the Camarilla and the Sabbat shortly after their arrival in the New World, the eldest of the bloodline no longer exist to provide a definitive answer to such a question. Instead, young Setites can only speculate and wonder if they have mistakenly adopted some obscure and dangerously ambitious Gangrel bloodline.

it is not uncommon for adept Sorcerers to perform grandiose public spectacles of chanting and praying before unleashing the effect of a ritual cast sometime prior. Thus, when others attempt to copy their exploits word-for-word and in every detail, and fail, the Sorcerer consoles them that it is because they have not yet earned Set’s favor… but she can help.

As awareness of Setite Sorcery in its numerous forms has increased, it has prompted a variety of reactions. It is safe to say that the vast majority of Kindred society does not trust the Followers of Set. Unsurprisingly, Setite sorcery has finally attracted the attention of the

The true state of Cairo’s Chantry has not yet been revealed to the Tremere, but it serves as the perfect example of why the Warlocks should be wary of getting close to the Followers of Set.

Sylvia Kilver, the acting regent of the Cairo Chantry, is a member of a secret order within the Tremere called the Eye of the Serpent. These Warlocks worship the image of the serpent for its magical significance and perfection of form. Having learned of Akhu from the Setite Sorceress, Kahina, Sylvia has been giving away increasing amounts of the Tremere’s secrets to learn the power for herself.

The Eye of the Serpent have encouraged Sylvia to continue to learn as much of Akhu as she can, especially as Sylvia believes it has shown her the way to develop an entirely new path of Thaumaturgy she calls “The Soul of the Serpent.” Only time will tell if the heavy cost Sylvia has paid has been truly worth the grasp the Setites now have on the Chantry.

Tremere. Though in the past their method was to study what they saw, trying to codify it in a manner that they could understand. So far, the Warlocks have only dealt with the Setites at arm’s length. The Setites, naturally, attempt to entice the Warlocks, inviting them in for a closer look so that they might truly understand what it is they are so obviously dying to comprehend. The Warlocks have thus far resisted temptation, keeping themselves and their secrets just out of the Setites’ reach.

As the practices of the Serpents of the Light have come into the open across the Caribbean and the southern United States, their Sabbat brethren have taken notice. Though Setite sorcery has proven to be extremely effective in destabilizing the mortal influences of their Camarilla opposition, this has not stopped murmurs from the Sabbat Inquisition. While the Cobras quite clearly state that their power is not of an infernal nature, which is supported by the adherence to Voudoun, the fact that they deal with spirits

means that the Inquisition often turns its gaze upon the Serpents of the Light. The Inquisition claims that they have the best interests of the Cobras at heart and are keeping an eye on them merely to make sure that they maintain their dominant position in their dealings with the spirits. To date, no action has been taken — at least not publically.

As to those outside the Jyhad, the Serpents of the Light and the Followers of Set have both been approached by the Giovanni, specifically in regards to Wanga. It has not escaped their notice that a number of stories have been circulating about the origin of this particular school of Setite Sorcery. One particular story the Necromancers have heard is that the art was actually taught to the Serpents of the Light by Papa Zombie, a member of the Samedi bloodline. Given that the powers of Thanatosis resemble those of Necromancy, just as Wanga outwardly resembles Thaumaturgy, the Giovanni are interested in learning more about Wanga in the hope it might shed some much sought after insight on the nature of Thanatosis. Given the fraught relationship between the Samedi and the Giovanni, the Necromancers believe they have more luck in getting these answers from the Setites than the Stiffs.

The Necromancers have attempted to gather information from both the Serpents of the Light and the Followers of Set. The Giovanni, exercising caution, continue to probe where they can in an effort to gather even the smallest scrap of information a wangateur might give away as a freebie in an attempt to further draw them in. Eventually, they hope, a stockpile of enough scraps might amount to something more substantial.

Potentially the most dangerous reaction to Setite Sorcery comes from a very old threat. As word has slowly spread about Akhu, a foe the Setites long thought vanquished, has turned its cool gaze upon them. The Children of Osiris are enraged by the followers of the Dark God bragging about their power being derived from the unending torment they inflict upon the dead in the Western Lands. These souls should, by all rights, be in a serene paradise under the protection of Osiris. This has led a growing percentage of the remaining Children of Osiris to turn their attentions more toward disrupting the machinations of the Setites rather than pursuing Golconda (for the time being, at least). Such a direct attack on Osiris will not be tolerated.

Currently, the Children of Osiris exist only in a small number of temples scattered around the world. The Setites’ verbal attack on Osiris might yet serve to be the impetus that finally unites the Children of Osiris as a whole into a cohesive body.