D'ANGELO: THE CHILDREN OF FAITH

By Fabian Alvarez (maldoror@eucmax.sim.ucm.es)

Introduction

Few are the Kindred knowledgeable in the ways and the hows of the D'Angelo, the pious Cainites. Of course they know the main facts: the tale of Adriano, Benedictus and Philippe (or Jean Claude) is probably the only thing about the D'Angelo that the average Kindred scholar knows with certainty. The sons of Adriano are known for their compassion and humane ways, but also for their calloussnes and cruelty. Why? Because there's are two main factions among them, the Urielites (Those as Angels) and the Abelites (from the biblical Abel, brother of Caine). Most D'Angelo are reclusive, scholastic and thoughtful, but not all of them fit this sterotype. All D'Angelo, however, are highly spiritual beings, but that doesn't preclude them from having mundane resources as wealth or weapons...

Lexicon

D'Angelo: All D'Angelo use the word D'Angelo to speak of the whole bloodline. The line was founded by Adriano D'Angelo and his to children, Benedictus and Philipp. Two other D'Angelo-to-be died the night the mystical Methuselah celebrated a mass under the Vatican to beg the forgiveness of the Lord.

Beatifici: These D'Angelo are the neutral menbers of the line and the very few D'Angelo of the Camarilla. As these Kindred use the name D'Angelo to speak of themselves, the Camarilla Kindred that know about them believe that all D'Angelo are Beatifici (beatous). This is false.

Paenitenti: Philipp, one of the two children of Adriano, battled bitterly with his brother Benedictus during the last days of the Anarch Revolt. Their rivalry began with matters of faith and continued with more mundane matters. Also, the disappearance of Adriano D'Angelo from the Vatican after the Amaranth of Cappadocius made Philipp worried about the interests of his brother. So, the Paenitenti are the D'Angelo antitribu, to speak of. Only his beliefs are different, as they are also of the blood of Adriano. Most Paenitenti belong to the Sabbat, but a few are reclusive Kindred owing loyalty only to the Lord and themselves.

Luciferite: Luciferites are, fortunately, few. Luciferites are fallen D'Angelo who follow the paths of Darkness throught the roads of light. Luciferites are called "Mephistofele" by elder D'Angelo, because it's believed the first fallen D'Angelo used to call himself Mephistofele, like the character in Faustus. Luciferites are more vile that the most jaded Baali.

The D'Angelo use many religious words; some can be found in "The Inquisition" and the "Player's Guide to the Sabbat."

Ghoul Families

"And our father Adriano saw the plight of his childer, and order them to breed with the sons and the daughters of Abel, so we can have faithful servants ready to walk with us the Road to Heaven."

There origins of the D'Carlo and the Mascagni, the so-called revenant families of the D'Angelo, are not clear. Some say the first pious vampires started making ghouls following the example of the Tzimisce. Others say that the D'Angelo own ghoul families were created to fight the Grimaldi and the Obertus, spies of the Fiends usually involved with the Church.

Nickname

Clerics

Concept

No longer are priests and nuns the only recruits for the D'Angelo. Virtually any human can be a D'Angelo neonate, but the bloodline usually embraces those with Professional concepts. Spirituality is important, but orthodoxy is not.

Character creation

Most D'Angelo have Social Atributes as Primary and Mental Atributes as secondary. As abilities, Knowledges are almost always primary; either Talents or Skills can be secundary. D'Angelo Nature and Demeanor are usually the same, but not always: Judges and Caregivers are common; visionary and Solo are a less common, but not rare. All D'Angelo (save the Luciferites) must take the True Faith Merit during character creation. Common Backgrounds include Retainers and Resources.

Blood Disciplines

Auspex, Presence, Teocratos.

Weakness

D'Angelo cannot feed from unwilling or reluctant victims. Their blood doesn't damage them but cannot sustain them neither. In times of stress, D'Angelo have visions of Heaven; they must roll their Willpower (6) to break the trance.

Preferred Paths

Many D'Angelo hold their Humanity; those with high Faith ratings (+6) follow the Path of Uriel. Paenitenti tend to follow the Path of Harmony or the Path of Power and Inner Voice.

Gaining Prestige

The fastest way to gain prestige is developing True Faith and Teocratos. Slower ways include theological studies and convertion of other Kindred.

Quote

"Vampirism is more than a curse, it's a test of faith. Be strong, fight the Beast inside!"

Stereotypes

Assamite: Respect them for their honor; fight them for their beliefs.

Brujah: Pity the Brujah for their violent ways. Save them from themselves.

Caitiff: Pity the orphans but beware; in them is the bad seed of their sires.

Gangrel: To be close to Nature is to be close to God, or it's not?

Giovanni: Deal not with the Giovanni, as they are dangerous and disrecpectful.

Malkavian: Pity the mad man; his madness hides wonderful facts.

Nosferatu: The most honest of our brethen; not cursed, but blessed.

Ravnos: Remember the Good Thief and the Bad Thief? Judge each Ravnos on his own actions.

The Salubri: Their goal is worthy of respect, but without the Lord, our own will cannot guide us towards Golconda. They must be protected of the fangs of the accursed Tremere.

Setites: They are the Children of Darkness. I pity them, but don't hate them.

Toreador: Do not follow their proud ways, lest you fall to hedonism.

Tremere: Not only wizards, but diabolists as well. Do not respect them.

Ventrue: Blue Blood doesn't make oneself better.

Lasombra: Are not they their brethren's keepers?

Tzimisce: They are right; we are no longer humans, but where they are inhuman in a demonic way, we are inhumane in an angelic way.

Paenitenti: Heretics, children of the devil and food for the Hell. May their souls lost forever!

Baali: Destroy any you counter. The Lord will know His own.

Paenitenti Stereotypes

Assamite antitribu: They are our angels and seraphs.

Brujah antitribu: They are kind and noble; sadly, their brethren won't listen to them.

Gangrel antitribu: Dirty... I will not get close to them.

Malkavian antitribu: These broken souls have seen too much of this world.

Nosferatu antitribu: The most honest of us.

Toreador antitribu: Viler than their Camarilla kin, if that's possible.

Ravnos antitribu: Joyful and refreshing, as laughter is as water for our thirsty spirits.

Serpents of the Light: Enlightened, but weak.

Lasombra: Fear them, because they are afraid of their own light.

Tzimisce: Respect them, because they are our friends and allies.

Baali: Destroy any you encounter, because their blood is tainted.

D'Angelo: They are hypocrites, false apostles that cannot see the truth of our ways.

New Merits and Flaws for D'Angelo characters

Orthodoxy (1 point-Merit)

You are known to be a faithful believer; you have a -1 difficulty on all Social rolls with D'Angelo (not Paenitenti)

Inquisition Ties (4 point-Merit)

You have some contacts in the Society of Leopold. This can be dangerous but also very useful.

Sanbenito Companion (5 point-Merit)

You have a friend who happens to be a Sanbenito (a renegade Inquisitor). The ST should create the character (Refer to The Inquisition) but you shouldn't know her full traits and abilities.

Holy Blood (7 point-Merit)

You can only take this Merit if you Humanity or Path rating is 9+. Anyone one drinking your blood against your will must soak one aggravated wound level for each blood point he takes. Heterodoxy (1 point-Flaw)

You are known to be a free-thinker and some D'Angelo label you as an heretic. You have a +1 difficulty on all Social rolls with D'Angelo (you don't gain a bonus with Paenitenti, although they are known to listen favorably to the words of a free thinker)

Urielite Enemy (3 point-Flaw)

You have angered a high ranked Urielite so much that she really wants to wipe you out. This can prove to be highly dangerous.

Hopelessness (4 point-Flaw)

You know you are damned; sooner or later, your Faith will fail you and you will fall to the flames eternal. You have a +2 difficulty using any Teocratos power and must endure extreme pain and self-loathing (even self-torture) to regain lost Faith points.

Heretic (5 point-Flaw)

You are a known heretic, so the D'Angelo actively hunt you. You can be the childe of an heretic or have discovered your heretic tendencies later in your unlife. This Flaw cannot be taken by characters with Orthodoxy (see above)

New Knowledges

Enlightment

Enlightment is knowledge about the Kindred philosophies called "Paths of Enlightment." It's also lore about Golconda and other theories about the redemption of vampires. Students of Enlightment may identify followers of most paths by their mannerism, speech and body language...

*	Student: You know a few facts about enlightment
**	College: You have met some followers of some Paths
***	Masters: You know most about the common Paths
****	Doctorate: You have met a Kindred in Golconda, or a Kindred of the Black Hand.
*****	Scholar: Only Princess Vasantasena knows more than you.

Possesed by: Children of Osiris, D'Angelo, Inconnu, Malkavians, Malkavian antitribu, Salubri, True Brujah, Tzimisce.

Specialties: Sabbat Paths, True Black Hand Paths, Other Paths.

Philosophy

Philosophy is not only History of Philosophy, it's also the ability to study Humankind and Kindred and its bonds with nature, the world, and the nature of the world. Knowledge of unique Kindred Philosophies is covered by the Enlightment knowledge.

*	Student: Maybe you have studied some teories.
**	College: You begin to understand some difficult facts.
***	Masters: Plato and Descartes have no secrets for you.
****	Doctor: Nietzche and Wittgenstein are not so difficult.
*****	Scholar: Kant, Hegel... you are one of them.

Possesed by: Students, philosophers, mages, D'Angelo, Mascagni, Obertus, Tremere, Tzimisce.

Specialties: Greece, Rome, Middle Ages, Modern Ages, Kant, Existecialism, Oriental, Other Philosophies

The Faith of The Blood

Blood Faith is True Faith. However, due to their beliefs, D'Angelo call their True Faith "Blood Faith" or "Faith of the Blood." True Faith in other World of Darkness sourcebooks is referred in all material concerning the D'Angelo as "Humane Faith."

Kindred must have a minimun Humanity of 7 to gain Blood Faith points. Paenitenti must have a minimun rating of 8 in the Path of Harmony, the Path of Caine or the Path of Power and Inner Voice. No Kindred without 6+ Blood Faith can follow the Path of Uriel.

Kindred with Blood Faith suffer only half the effects from mortal faith. They can also use their own faith to affect mortals and other supernaturals.

Note: The beliefs of the D'Angelo may seem offensive to some people. Please don't read further if you are not a mature reader.

To the D'Angelo, being Kindred is not a curse of God but a test of faith. Kindred retain their free will, but their new desires and needs make them prime targets for temptation by infernal beings. So, a faithful Kindred must be very careful; however, avoiding temptation removes the danger and so removes the reward, because "it's not good to be the one that never have the chance to be evil". So, the D'Angelo must live among other Kindred and try to convert them, because hiding from the world is wrong. Also, Kindred must feed, but human life must be always respected and never wasted; D'Angelo do not think it's better to feed from animals, because they think that animals also suffer when someone drains their blood.

The faith of mortals must be respected, but it's not as the Blood Faith; vampires are no longer human beings, so they need a new theology. The main books of the Faith of the Blood are "The Prayers of the Redeemmed," written by Adriano D'Angelo and "The Road of Uriel," written by Benedictus. Other texts about the beliefs of the D'Angelo include the "Phragments of Nicea," by Teophilus the Nicaean and the "Book of Orthodoxy," by a Byzantine D'Angelo later involved in the Iconoclastian revolt called Nicephorus of Constantinople.

D'Angelo believe that achieving Golconda is a sign of God, but distrust the Salubri because they seek the answers in their inner beings and not in the Lord; the Salubri, however, must be protected from the sorcerous and diabolical Tremere.

D'Angelo of Note

Adriano D'Angelo: Little is really known about the D'Angelo founder, save the fact he was formerly a Toreador Methuselah highly concerned with matters of faith. He founded the bloodline, developed Teocratos and showed the path to his children; then, after the Amaranth of Cappadocius, he disappeared from the Vatican. Not even his childen Benedictus or Jean Claude know about his current whe= reabouts.

Father Benedictus: Benedictus is believed to be the first childe of Adriano and the developer of the Path of Uriel. He is the leader of the Urielite D'Angelo and the de facto head of the bloodline. Benedictus is known to dwell in the Vatican and to have connections with some Ventrue and Toreador elders, including formerly prince of London, Mithras (Rest in Peace)

Gabriel Sforza: This 6th Generation D'Angelo is the childe of Benedictus and the leader of the younger D'Angelo, those who don't follow the Path of Uriel. He has several children scattered across the globe and is known to be a caring, concerning and kind individual. Gabriel acted during the Council of Thorns as an envoy to the Camarilla and is widely known across Europe by most princes.

Mikhael the Orthodoxian: Mikhael is the envoy of the D'Angelo in Eastern Europe; a faithful orthoxian of greek heritage, Mikhael is known to have built connections with both the Liga of Ordea and the Assamite Clan. It's rumored that he's is a master of both Quietus and assassination techniques, althought this rumored are thought to be only that... rumors. It's true, however, that Clan Assamite has never taken a contract on Mikhael.

Jean Claude de Lyon, the Heretic: Jean Claude, second childe of Adriano, was the leader of the Paenitenti Schism; he's now believed to dwell somewhere in North America. Rumors call him a priscus of the Sabbat, but others say he doesn't desire leadership and only acts as a counselor to any member of that sect interested in enlightment.

Alexei Gregorivich Ludov: This Russian D'Angelo was expelled from Moscow by the Brujah in 1917 Revolution. Alexei, a Camarilla D'Angelo of orthodoxian heritage, escaped to Germany with the aid of Nosferatu allies and requested the aid of the Tzimisce prince of Krakow. The Fiend offered sanctuary to the elder Cleric, and a friendship of sorts developed during the years of the Second World War. During the rise of Comunnism, Alexei left Poland and returned to Rome where he spent another twenty years. Now, since the fall of Communism in Rusia, Alexei is known to dwell in Paris under the protection of Prince Villon, who finds the Russian pope "exotic." Alexei, however, fears the return of the Old Witch Baba Yaga, and is trying to find all available information about his beloved country.

The D'Angelo in the Dark Ages

If anyone is interested in adding the D'Angelo to a V:DA chronicle, you must remember that the D'Angelo bloodline is still very young in the 1200s. Sure, Teocratos is fully developed and the most important books have been written, but there are only a handful of pious Kindred and almost all of them live in Italy-to-be and in some cities of the Kingdom of France.

Sobriquet: Beatific

Disciplines: Auspex, Presence, Teocratos.

Weakness: The same that in V:TM.

Preferred Road: The Via Caeli and the Via Humanitatis. Also, there are neither Paenitenti nor Luciferites until the Anarch Revolt.

About the Cappadocian: They are arcane and morbid, but they know about the dead. We like them and their scholarly ways, but there's still too much to know about the living.

The Fallen D'Angelo: The Luciferites

There are few things more bitter than a betrayed dreamer or a fallen idealist. The Luciferites are those D'Angelo that have lost their faith and that now serve the powers of darkness, descending even further than the Baali.

Note: The Luciferites shouldn't be chosen as PC's.

Nickname: Betrayers.

Image/Lifestyle: Luciferites are not a bit flamboyant; they usually look totally normal, humane and friendly. Like the Baali, however, those with high presence seem to be surround with an aura of evil. Many Luciferites continue dressing as priests and nuns, the better to corrupt the innocent.

Character creation: Luciferites tend towards Conniver or Judge Natures, but can have any Demeanor. Caregiver and Confidant Demeanors are not rare. Social Atributtes and Skills are always Primary. Preferred Backgrounds include Herd and Resources.

Disciplines: Auspex, Dark Thaumaturgy, Presence.

Weakness: Luciferites are affected by religious symbols in the same way that the Baali, but do not take double damage from True Faith. However, they tend to have visions of Hell that preclude them from taking any action during three turns; they have these visions anytime they botch a roll; they can break the trance with a Willpower roll (9) each succesess subtract one round of incapacity.

Quote: "Do not be afraid, my little friend; Hell is not so bad... I have been there."

Note: Luciferites follow the Path of Evil Revelations and hold the Sabbat Virtues; however, when they reach a rating of 7+ in the Path of Evil Revelations, they can buy down their Virtues and buy the Diabolic Virtues of Cruelty and Treachery (see the ST's Handbook to the Sabbat). Also, they cannot gain True Faith but they can gain Dark Faith.

Sigil

The modern sigil of the D'Angelo bloodline is a pair of praying hands. The sigil of the Paenitenti are three crossed crucifixes. In the Dark Ages, the D'Angelo have an heraldic shield as follow: Crowned with a miter, a silver cross and a natural rose crossed over a red field.

Sample D'Angelo

Name: Stephan D'Carlo
Sire: Elihah Theophanos
Generation: 8
Bloodline: D'Angelo

Physical: Str 4 Dex 3 Sta 3
Social: Cha 2 Manipulation 1 App 3
Mental: Per 2 Intelligence 3 Wit 3

Talents: Alerteness 2 Dodge 2 Melee 2 Streetwise 3
Skills: Etiquette 2 Firearms 2 Stealth 1
Knowledges: Bureaucracy 3 Law 3 Occult 3 Medicine 3 Theology 1

Disciplines: Auspex 2 Teocratos 1

Backgrounds: Generation 5 Resources 2

Virtues: Conscience 4 Self Control 3 Courage 3

Humanity: 7

Willpower: 3

Merits/Flaws: Blood Faith (7)

Remaining freebie points: 6

Notes: Stephan D'Carlo was not been chosen to be a D'Carlo paladin. "Too weak, too reclusive," their parents went occasionally complaining about how little Steve wouldn't never grow to be a shining knight like others in his family. Lucklily, Father Elihah Theophanos disagree; soon, he took the boy out of the Chicago suburb where his parents lived, and took him on a trip around the Old World. Father Elihah trained the boy, oblivious to the remarks of other D'Angelo and finally, Embraced him. Now, Steve is a full-blood D'Angelo, a bit militaristic, a bit naive: the perfect D'Angelo neonate. Benedictus plans to send him with his own Childe Gabriel Sforza in a peaceful embassy to... Vienna.