By Corvus Katachthonios (katachthonios@hotmail.com)
"Wha-what have you d-done to me?"
"I've killed you. You made such lovely music that I have killed you, so that you will continue making lovely music."
The Danseurs Macabre rose into being sometime in the 18th century. There was a man, an occultist and pianist, who so thirsted for power that he offered his soul for his music. Jean du Lac played many courts in his day, appealing to the tender sweet ears of royalty and the like with his mellifluous playing. However, his days were waning, until one evening fate struck an evil chord.
As du Lac prepared himself to play, arthritis pained his wrists and hands. His music, his life, was at stake, but alas, he soon could not play. He fell into dispair.
Then one night, Death came in the visage of a beautiful woman. She, draped in fine silks, asked for a private playing, the audience but herself and three others. Du Lac complied eagerly, and followed the woman to her home.
A butler slid the locks over the doors after he'd entered, and du Lac knew his fate was sealed. Indeed, upon entering the parlor, he saw what horrid crue he would be playing for. One man looked like a corpse; another had a coarse, almost wolf-like quality. And so on around the room. Six in all, none looking human.
One man, a tall, thin gentleman dressed impeccably sharp, asked, "How do you intend to keep playing, sir, when those talented hands fail you?" He stepped to the side, revealing a tall decanter of crimson. The gentleman then clapped his hands, and the world went dark for Jean du Lac.
Darkness pierced him through and through, until one moment, when a splinter of hope with the taste of copper filled his mouth. Hungry, he nursed. As light slowly filled his world, du Lac found himself drinking from the bottle.
With sadistic glee, one of the creatures held a mirror to du Lac. A corpse reflected back. That was the moment he realized what had happened. He lost his soul for his music.
Danseurs Macabre are all musicians, and often care for little else but their music. The obsession they carry with their music is one so perversely strong, they would possibly die without it. These are the subjects that make up the bloodline. Such a horrible fixation does not come without a price: the Danseurs Macabre resemble corpses.
The actual look of the vampire can vary, but all hold the flaw of looking very much dead. This can often lead others to believe that the Danseur is some perversion of Samedi.
All members of the bloodline will have a particular musical instrument that they (try to) have on them at all times, as it is with that the Danseurs Macabre perform.
No Danseur may have an Appearance above 0.
There are a few times that the Danseurs Macabre congregate into mass Orchestras. These are usually festivals and feasts like Halloween and la Dia de Muerte, nights the Danseurs do not have to worry about who sees them.
Upon character creation, one instrument (e.g., violin) may be chosen. This is the instrument the Danseur will use at all times. While she may know how to play a wide variety of others, this is the only one through which Calliope can be used.
When the vampire needs to spend blood points to activate Discipline levels of Calliope, she must direct them through the instrument. For example, Elius, a Danseurs Macabre violinist, would rosin his bow with the blood he needed to expend.
This method can be a bit tricky (as well as messy) and should be played out as such.