Abelites: The Revenge

By Lance McComber (a-lancem@microsoft.com)

Prelude

I know you've got questions, boy. I had plenty! It's ok, calm down, the person you just "killed" wasn't even a person, just relax and let the memories come from her. Yes now you see, she was Kindred.... a vampire. And she tried to take you as her kill. But you showed her didn't you? When an Abelite is born, those Kindred are in for a shock.

Yes, that's what we call ourselves boy, Abelites, after Caine's brother in the Bible. These creatures believe themselves the "children of Caine," so we are his brother's revenge. Yes, the strength is part of it, so is the resistance to injury, by now, the powers or disciplines that Kindred had are flowing into you; these are now yours for the rest of your life. And a long life it shall be boy, for now that your true nature is out, you'll age very slowly. We take some of their power, their energy, and use it to power our revenge. But it has a price, your old life, your friends, even loved ones, they'll become -- old -- even unexciting. Now that you've had the taste of the kill, you must hunt, or these desires and urges will turn on to ordinary folk, then we are no better than they are. Come boy, you've got a lot to learn.

Introduction

For centuries, the Kindred have preyed upon the Kine, and all they've had to worry about were the occasional influences of the Garou, or the minor threat of a Kine becoming a hunter. Now, the Kindred have something to truly fear, the Abelites.

Named after the brother of Caine, these humans seem to be normal in most respects, until a Kindred first attacks them. Then their bloodline asserts itself, and the "hunted" transforms into the perfect hunter. The Abelite instantly gains the Potence and Fortitude; as well his body fills with a mystical energy that makes all of his blows Aggravated. This only happens on the first kill. After the battle, which usually ends with dead Kindred and a very surprised Abelite, the Abelite absorbs 2 of the disciplines the Kindred had, plus he absorbs the knowledge of the Kindred society that the Kindred had.

Each Abelite can trace his family tree back to a Kindred attack survivor. Usually the family tree is full of Kindred influences, attacks, and sightings, etc. As if in response to this threat, some members of these families have changed into Abelites.

Powers

The Sincerest form of flattery is imitation.
-- Ancient saying

Taking from the Kindred nature, the Abelite mimics many of the Kindred's powers, and even can steal disciplines from Kindred they destroy. Every time an Abelite destroys a Kindred, one of three things can happen. He may choose one of the kindred's disciplines and gains it as a captured discipline at level one. Alternately, he gains half of the Kindred's remaining blood pool in his vitae pool. Finally, he may absorb the memories and knowledge the Kindred had, granting one point in a skill the Abelite did not have. Also, the Abelites develop an instinctual detection sense of Kindred. They can't pinpoint to a person, but know the general direction and strength of Kindred on a roll of Perception + Alertness. This is only usable for about 100 ft.

Abelites function as normal humans, except they only need 1 hour of sleep a night and age 1/10th the speed. They produce Abelous at a rate of 1 point per day. These points feed their natural powers, used instead of blood points. They also have a Vitae Pool, which feeds their captured disciplines. The only way they can replenish their Vitae pool is by absorbing blood points from defeated Kindred.

They heal by spending their Abelous, just as Kindred use their blood. The only exception is that Abelites can truly die. They do not sink into Torpor, nor do they regenerate naturally.

Clankills

Abelites absorb not only power, but also weakness as well from the first Kindred they destroy. Each clan has its weakness, and the Abelites imitate these. (I have only two here as we've only played with two characters so far):

Brujah: The character's resistance to frenzy is 2 worse, as they've absorbed the frenzied nature of the clan.

Cappadocian: The character takes on a pale visage, any social roll is increased by one, but the Abelite can pass as a kindred if careful.

Character Creation

Stats: 7/5/3

Abilities: 13/9/5 No ability higher than 3

Disciplines: Automatically have Potence 1 and Fortitude 1 Also choose two other disciplines; these are learned at clan rates.

Backgrounds: 5

Virtues: 7

Captured Discipline Limits

Abelites may not have more disciplines than they have points in Stamina. They also may not increase their disciplines to levels beyond your lowest Primary Attribute. New disciplines can only be stolen from destroyed kindred.

Abelous

An Abelite produces a mystical energy called Abelous. Recorded as a score from 1 to 10, the Abelite gains one point every day at sunrise. Abelous is used to power Potence, Fortitude, and the 2 permanent disciplines the Abelite has from his first kill. Abelous can also be used as vampires use their blood pool, to enhance their physical stats and to heal wounds. However, unlike Kindred or garou, the Abelite must be conscious in order to heal, so one knocked out by a shotgun blast will probably die before waking to try to heal himself.

Disadvantages of Revenge

One may think the Abelite a gifted being, with powers and long life, but no drawbacks. They can walk in the sun and enjoy the touch of others. However, the powers of an Abelite are not without a price. The Abelite is now a hunter, and this shows through. Every time he makes a kill, the Abelite must make a road check, with the difficulty being the Kindred's Humanity. Every failure means the Abelite looses touch with his humanity, and his Road loses a point.

Also the instincts of the Abelite focus on one task: killing Kindred. Should the Abelite sense a Kindred, he must make a Self-Control roll vs the Kindred's Humanity. Failure means he instantly attacks the Kindred.