CANUSITE

By John Fries (jfries29@mail.idt.net) (11 October 1996)

Description

In the early 1800's, a small group of Gangrel broke off from the main clan. Due to the general disorganization of the Gangrel, this group received little resistance from the clan, and gradually earned respect as a seperate bloodline. They were considered to be no more than clanless Caitiff.

This group was based around a mimicry of wolves and dogs in the wild. Members would travel in packs, and they would eventually choose a leader who served the same function as an Alpha male in a pack of wolves. The packs also began to gain canine followers who would travel with the packs wherever they went. The kindred of this bloodline developed their powers to control dogs, and to fit in with the dogs, so that they could travel from city to city undetected by the local population. The kindred named themselves the Canusites, and asked for official recognition by the Camarilla. The Camarilla refused refused to allow the Canusites as a clan separate from the Gangrel, and continue to do so to this day. The Canusites still persist in their desire, and have gone so far as to bribe Justicars to hold a conclave on the matter.

Nickname

Dogs, Wolves, Red-Eyes.

Appearance

Most members look like ordinary rabble, and rarely have more money than is necessary to survive. The leaders of this clan, however, are often quite wealthy. They have been hoarding resources in order to try and rise to a respectable position in Kindred society. Many of the Canusites actively searched out affluent people for embracing to try and make up for their late start in the Jyhad.

Haven

Once again, this depends on the kindred's position in society. The leaders of the clan often live in mansions and large estates, while the average Canusite sleeps wherever he can find shelter.

Background

Depending on the sire of the fledgeling, and the wealth of the fledgeling in life, one of two things may happen to:

1) If the fledgeling was wealthy, then the sire was probably of some power in kindred politics. The sire will take the fledgeling through every step of its growth, and will gradually ease the fledgeling into un-life.

2) If the fledgeling was of little import in life, then the sire is probably one of the rabble in the Canusite clan. The fledgeling is brought into un-life in the streets, and learns the hard way about kindred society. The sire will stick up for his fledgeling like a mother wolf for her cubs, but he will insist that the fledgeling learn to care for itself.

Character Creation

Canusites will often either have Outsider, Drifter, or Punk concepts, or if they are one of the leaders of the clan, they will have white collar working concepts. For the street Canusites physical attributes are primary, as are Skills (mainly combat oriented). For the administrative types Social and Mental attributes are primary, as are knowledges.

Clan Disciplines

Canus, Celerity, Fortitude.

Weaknesses

When in large groups, Canusites are especially subject to frenzy. As the pack consciousness grows, the pack's want of the hunt grows, until the point that fights break out amongst them, and they get very protective of their own. For every five Canusites in a scene, the difficulties on all rolls to prevent frenzy increase by one. This pack consciousness causes them to become suspicious of other groups of Canusites, and even more suspicious of non-canusites.

Organization

The Canusites are based in Washington, D.C. Most of the administrators of the bloodline are in or around D.C., and meetings of all interested Canusites are held here every five years. Otherwise, there is total anarchy. Most Canusites outside of the D.C. area are rabble nomads that are frowned upon as simple-minded anarchs.