Deepeti

By Michael A. Molloy (mmolloy@sethlizian.win.ne) (1 July 1995)

The Founder

In the mid-sixteenth century, a Bavarian alchemist named Karl Ritter sought the secret of immortality. As he passed the age of fifty, he became increasingly obsessed with his impending death. In 1560, he was confronted by an intruder who identified himself as a vampire and offered to make Ritter the same. Ritter, in his desperation, accepted and was Embraced. The vampire, a 5th generation Malkavian, then departed without identifying himself. Ritter never saw him again.

Ritter learned what he could on his own about his new nature. He found out that there was an entire secret world of vampires, many of whom engaged in eternal fighting. Ritter's prior obsession with his demise was intensified by his Malkavian blood. He believed that the greatest threat to his existence came from other vampires. He developed a fixation on finding a defense that would make him safe from other vampires.

After years of searching through scraps of vampire lore, Ritter came across a letter written by an Assamite traveler in tenth century Alexandria. The traveler wrote that he had heard a legend about a group of vampires in central Africa who walked in daylight.

When Ritter read this, he had a revelation. If he lived during the day, he would be safe from all the other vampires who hunted in the night. It would be his perfect defense. A week later, Ritter departed Germany for the then unexplored depths of Africa. With his departure, Ritter disappeared from history.

The Bloodline

In the nineteenth century, the European powers began what was later called the scramble for Africa. Historians have questioned what motivated this conquest in the face of high costs and limited returns. It was in fact initiated by European kindred who sought new populations of kine to feed on. But when European vampires began to settle Africa in substantial numbers, they found a strange new bloodline already there.

These vampires called themselves Deepeti. Their appearance was striking; they were hairless, had pitch black skin, and pure white eyes. But more striking than their appearance was their immunity to the ravages of sun- light.

The Deepeti attempted to hide from the European kindred, but eventually some were captured and questioned. They spoke of their founder, whom they called "The Altered One". Two hundred years earlier, this being had come from a far land and spoke a strange language. He spoke of other beings he called Nokensedi, who only came out at night and were the enemies of the Deepeti. He told his childer they should kill solitary Nokensedi when they could and hide from them when they could not. The Altered One had followed his own advice and disappeared when the European migration had begun.

In researching the origins of this bloodline, vampire scholars came upon the story of Karl Ritter and a copy of the Assamite letter. It was obvious that the Deepeti were not the bloodline that Ritter was seeking. More questionable was whether such a bloodline existed and whether Ritter found it. Was Ritter the Altered One? Did he learn the secrets of Lukosis from a lost bloodline, or did he invent them himself when his search proved fruitless?

There are obvious similarities between the known histories of Karl Ritter and the Altered One. The words Deepeti, Lukosis, and Nokensedi seem to have their origins in Latin, a language used by the alchemist. In addition to Lukosis, many Deepeti study the Auspex and Obfuscate disciplines, both of which were known to Ritter.

There are however also several strange discrepancies. Ritter was a Malkavian and the Altered One seemed to share his particular psychosis. But while the Deepeti avoid other vampires, they are rational about it; nor do they display any other evidence of a supposed Malkavian descent. Also, it is strange that Ritter, who was obsessed with developing a defense from all other vampires, would develop that defense and then create and train vampires with the same powers.

Deepeti are rare, but their exact numbers are unknown. Most Deepeti try to avoid all contact with other Kindred. Some have decided to resist the Nokensedi invasion and ambush unwary Kindred. A few have rejected their founder's teachings and have joined the Camarilla, the Sabbat, or the Black Hand. Most Deepeti still reside in sub-Saharan Africa, but a few have traveled to other lands.

Player Guide

Nickname: Daywalkers

Appearance: As noted elsewhere, the appearance of the Deepeti is very unusual and distinctive. All Deepeti, regardless of their level of Lukosis, will develop this appearance when they are Embraced.

Haven: Prior to the European conquest, many Deepeti lived openly in villages where they fed off the inhabitants. Some lived as wise elders who took blood non-lethally from volunteers, others were tyrannical rulers who killed and fed off anyone who angered them. Since the Europeans arrived, very few Deepeti still live this way and only in isolated and primitive areas. Most Deepeti have gone into hiding and attempt to avoid all contact with other vampires. Ironically, many have found they can hide best in the same crowded cities where other vampires reside. Deepeti are even more secretive than most vampires about revealing their havens.

Backgrounds: Deepeti sire few childer, and there is no pattern to the choices they make. Due to their founder's low Generation and the bloodline's short history, many Deepeti have a relatively low generation.

Character Creation: Most Deepeti will be Loner or Survivor archetypes. Those who have rejected tradition and have joined a sect or become Nokensedi fighters will usually be Fanatics. Deepeti are more likely to have individualistic traits like Alertness, Stamina, or Stealth, rather than more social traits like Manipulation or Leadership.

Clan Disciplines: Auspex, Lukosis, Obfuscate

Weaknesses: The bloodline has two main weaknesses. The first is their appearance which makes it difficult for Deepeti to move around unnoticed and which reveals their nature to anyone who knows their history. Like the Nosferatu and Samedi, many Deepeti study the Obfuscate discipline to hide their true appearance. Their second weakness is their tradition of paranoia. Most Deepeti will avoid all non-Deepeti vampires, and some of the more extreme ones will avoid even their fellow Deepeti. A few have overcome this distrust and will socialize with other Kindred. Deepeti have no weakness about functioning at night and are as capable of doing so as any other vampire. But most Deepeti choose to function by day in order to exploit their advantages and to avoid other Kindred.

Organization: The bloodline has no real organization. Occasionally, a group of Deepeti will band together for defensive purposes. Those who join one of the major sects will tend to be extreme in their beliefs and will often join the most fanatic faction of the sect.

Gaining Status: Due to their solitary nature, most Deepeti don't worry about the opinions of others. However, a Deepeti who has successfully fought the Nokensedi will achieve some respect.

Stereotypes: "Camarilla or Sabbat? Assamite, Nosferatu, or Lasombra? What do I care for these names? If a vampire does not walk in the sun's light, he is a Nokensedi; and if he is a Nokensedi, he is my enemy."

Sample Character Templates

Nature: Caregiver
Demeanor: Traditionalist
Clan: Deepeti
Generation: 8th
Concept: Village Elder

Attributes:

Physical
Strength 2
Dexterity 1
Stamina 3

Social
Charisma 3
Manipulation 3
Appearance 2

Mental
Perception 4
Intelligence 3
Wits

Abilities:

Talents
Alertness 1
Empathy 3
Intimidation 1
Leadership 3
Subterfuge 1

Skills
Animal Ken 1
Etiquette 1
Stealth 1
Survival 2

Knowledges
Investigation 1
Law (Tribal) 4
Linguistics 2
Medicine 3
Occult 1
Politics (Village) 3

Advantages:

Disciplines
Auspex 2
Lukosis 1
Obfuscate 0
Backgrounds
Generation 5
Herd 4
Influence 1 Retainers 3

Virtues
Conscience 4
Self-Control 3
Courage 3

Humanity 8

Willpower 5

There are still a few remote places where people keep to the old ways. You have spent your whole existence in such a place. Your village is isolated by hard terrain and its inhabitants still live for the most part as they did when you born well over a century ago. You are now a Vampire Elder and you give advice and guidance based on your decades of experience. Your people willingly offer you a portion of their blood. But you are troubled. Even in this remote area, you hear of the outside world, and you know that that world grows ever closer. You worry about how its arrival will affect you and your people. You are considering traveling to this world to learn its ways before it arrives uninvited.


Nature: Fanatic
Demeanor: Loner
Clan: Deepeti
Generation: 9th
Concept: Nokensedi Hunter

Attributes:

Physical
Strength 3
Dexterity 3
Stamina 4

Social
Charisma 2
Manipulation 2
Appearance 2

Mental
Perception 3
Intelligence 2
Wits 3

Abilities:

Talents
Alertness 3
Athletics 2
Brawl 1
Dodge 1
Intimidation 1
Streetwise 2
Subterfuge 3

Skills
Drive 1
Firearms 2
Melee 2
Stealth 3
Survival 3

Knowledge
Investigation 1
Linguistics 2
Medicine 1
Occult (Vampire Lore) 2

Advantages:

Disciplines
Auspex 1
Lukosis 1
Obfuscate 2

Background
Generation 4
Resources 1

Virtues
Conscience 3
Self-Control 3
Courage 4

Humanity 6

Willpower 5

You were born in a small village in East Africa, where a Deepeti elder resided. He taught you the ways of his bloodline and Embraced you when you became a man. When the white men came, your mentor fled. But you decided to stay and fight the Nokensedi, as your people did the Europeans. You still carry on that fight. You know that it would be a useless sacrifice to attack openly against the Nokensedi's superior numbers, so you have learned the ways of stealth and ambush. You dream of someday trapping a Nokensedi Elder and stealing his blood to increase your powers. The only beings you hate more than Nokensedi are the Deepeti traitors who have joined them.


Nature: Survivor
Demeanor: Conformist
Clan: Deepeti
Generation: 10th
Concept: Camarilla "Loyal" Member

Attributes:

Physical
Strength 2
Dexterity 2
Stamina 2

Social
Charisma 3
Manipulation 4
Appearance 3

Mental
Perception 2
Intelligence 3
Wits 3

Abilities:

Talents
Acting 3
Alertness 2
Athletics 1
Dodge 1
Intimidation 1
Leadership 1
Streetwise 2
Subterfuge 3

Skills
Drive 1
Etiquette 2
Security 1
Stealth 1

Knowledge
Bureaucracy 1
Computer 1
Finance 1
Law 1
Linguistics 1
Occult 1
Politics 4
Science 1

Advantages:

Disciplines
Auspex 1
Lukosis 2
Obfuscate 1

Backgrounds
Generation 3
Mentor 1
Resources 3
Status 1

Virtues Conscience 2
Self-Control 4
Courage 4

Humanity 6

Willpower 4

Your sire realized that the Altered One's traditions were the beliefs of a sick mind. The majority of the world's vampires walk by night, so how can that be unnatural? Your sire was one of the first Deepeti to join the Camarilla and he was devout in his loyalty to it. One of the proofs of his devotion was to Embrace you and train you as a perfect Camarilla member. You were educated in sect lore and a variety of useful skills. However, your sire couldn't instill his blind devotion in you. You agree with the founder that a vampire's existence is a dangerous one, and with your sire that the Camarilla is the strongest sect. You put on a public show of loyalty to sect, prince, and the Six Traditions, and you have done well. But your first priority is self-preservation, and you are willing to sacrifice anyone else to protect or advance yourself.

View the Lukosis discipline.