By Kaine Andrews (devilsad@powernet.net)
"Long ago, before the current petty struggles of the Sabbat and Camarilla, before the enforcement of the Masqerade, before the rise of such groups as the Tremere and Giovanni, when there were still Salubri wandering the world, the line of vampires then called Ashurians made one of their many, sadly, fatal mistakes....an elder of their clan, known as Karesh Lintar, embraced a wild-hearted youth of the name of Luthor. Luthor, as many of the Ashurian childer, rejected his clan's ways, as Shaitan had before him, and Augustus would after. Luthor left his clanmates, eventually finding company with a mad youth, Marten. Marten in turn, after receieving the Embrace, wandered, finding himself in France, the land where I myself had made my home and lands. He hunted and killed with abandon, until my people declared a hunt on the damnable fool.
Though all in my lands sought him, it was my personal guard who discovered the blood-drinker, and had him brought to me. Not fearing this Marten, who apparently had the wits of a slow child, I dismissed the guards to have private audience with him. He told me of what he was, and of his origins. Fascinated, I asked him to demonstrate this "Embrace" he spoke of, and demonstrate he did, giving me the power of the blood. I then drained him dry of his vitae, for he had mentioned the power that was often gained in such a way. Turning from the ashes, I caught my reflection in one of the shields hung on the wall, and realized that I would not be able to continue my reign, at least not from the throne itself, but he had spoken of ruling from the shadows, and then I thought of the plan, and gripping a sword from the wall, fell atop the ash-heap, and called for the guard. I told them the beast had drained me, but not before I had fatally wounded him. Then I feigned death, a talent for which all of my line have come to appreciate. My son was put on the throne, and after rising from the crypt the night after, I ruled through him. When he grew old, and ready to die, I gave him the Embrace, and he in turn Embraced his son and daughter. Thus was House DeLaurent formed in the Cainite community."
The DeLaurent's disciplines are often used to contact the dead, especially Oracles and other Wraiths skilled at Fatalism, to predict the future of the clan. Mortis, by long standing tradition, is used to fake a new member's death, and subsequent burial (his or her sire comes to dig her out, rather than the Sabbat method of letting them fend for themselves). Dominate is used to keep their subjects in line.
Opinions of the DeLaurents often are the same as their ghouls and revenants. The exceptions are noted.
Troilite Brujah: By their very nature, they will never achieve their vaunted goal. Did they not learn when the Ventrue, Cappadocians and Malkavians destroyed their "Sweet Carthage" the first time? Some people will never learn. But with any luck, they will kill themselves off, and save us the trouble.
Setites: They are corrupters, and quite good at their jobs. It is a point in our credit that none of us have ever fallen under their sway. For something truly amusing, point one in the direction of a Giovanni who has irritated you recently, and give them a few hints on his vices. Then simply sit back, and watch as another enemy falls.
Gangrel: Pshaw, I am to be frightened of a few Kindred who have decided that rather than taking their place above man, they will devolve into the animals below him? Fools, every one...they aren't even worth the time to kill.
Lasombra: They understand us, the void, and our reasons. They have many interesting ideas about eventual Cainite ascension. Their flaw is their refusal to depend on mortals. They seem to think that all of the kine should be destroyed. We know better, for do not our Ghouls and revenants serve us well?
Malkavians: Madmen. They also sometimes seem to know a bit too much about us, our ways, and our origins. It is best however, not to deal with them directly. Instead, the Assamites and Setites make much better expendables than members of our own blood.
Nosferatu: Sickening. Perhaps the Tzimisce will one day remove their curse, but until that day, keep them away from our affairs, and certainly, never invite one to our gatherings.
Ravnos: There is nothing to be said about the Gypsies, except that they should all be destroyed. The Tzimisce idea of crippling them so they can no longer steal is intriguing, but a more permanent solution is far better.
Toreador: Those with noble blood make fine allies, and even better pawns. Their so called "art," however, is often enough to drive one to vomit.
Tzimisce: (From Kindred DeLaurent) They are perhaps our best allies, for they have time and again given us useful information and ideas, and have at times helped us in our struggle against our fathers. Be wary of them, however, for a spark of rebellion fans in the hearts of their childer.
(From DeLaurent Revenants) We owe our existances to them, for they first discovered the way to make the Revenants, and then showed the way to our fathers....such is how we came to be. They are perhaps the most trustworthy of Kindred (except for the DeLaurents of course)
Tremere: They are fools, one and all. To give up absolute power over reality, and trade it for the stasis of vampirism, Tremere must have been mad. We remember the Salubri, and while they were not our friends, they were allies at times, and for their loss, we owe the Tremere a thousand deaths. Ignore or ally with them only if a Cappadocian or Giovanni presence makes it necessary. Otherwise, have them killed on sight when you can.
Ventrue: Children. Their birthrights were given to them, while we are made to work for it. Their childer are pampered, given their wealth and holdings, while we have to fight for them. Though some make capable allies, and they are nobles, and thus should be invited to our gatherings, they are still fools.
Cappadocians: Kill them. They would do the same to us for some imagined sin. Only Luthor is worthy to remain alive. The one called Keldane still seeks to destroy Lord Erik, and free Marten's soul, but it will never happen. Our power is ours, and our foolish fathers can do nothing.
Giovanni: They aided us once, in the destruction of the Cappadocians. They aided us again in teaching their Necromantic powers to those of the line. But then they betrayed us, hunting us as they had the Cappadocians and Nagaraja, and for that they have never been forgiven. Consider them no better than the line that spawned them.
Caitiff: Beneath our attentions.
Wraiths: We often deal with the restless, and they in turn provide us with important information. The best allies among them are those who we have sent to the Giovanni, to feed them false information, and to return what they learn to us.
Werewolves, and most other shapeshifters: They hunt us for an affiliation with something called the Wyrm. Respond in kind. Spare only the Shadow Lords, for they, much as the Tzimisce, understand.
Corax: Wonderful messangers, and usually quite willing to aid us. It is said that a particularily powerful member of their race is deeply in debt to Lord Erik, and as such his children try to help us, to erase that debt. Whether that is true or not is irrelevant. They serve us, and that is all that matters.
Mages: Those of the Traditions make wonderfull allies. The Euthanos seem quite happy to help us exterminate our former clans, and the Order of Hermes is certainly upset with the Tremere. Avoid those who seek to perform magicks with technology though, for they are quite dangerous to our kind. Let the Tzimisce traffick with the Progenitors if they must, but we will not sully our hands with them.
Changelings: Faeries? Where did you hear such hogwash?
Younger DeLaurents who feel that the destruction of an Elder is necessary must go through a process similar to the Lasombra's Les Amies Noir. They must present their reasons to Lord Erik and his 3 Childer. If the accusations are found to be true by Lord Erik, the vampire is allowed his feast of his elder. If found wrong, the subject will either be Blood Bound the final step, or diablerized by another of younger generation (so as to give others strength; the blood would have been wasted on an elder).
DeLaurents are forbidden to commit Amaranth on the Tzimisce, both because of the Viccissitude disease, and also because of their alliance. Breakers of this law are in turn diablerized by a youger Tzimisce, giving the blood back to its clan, and increasing their allies' strength.
Any other clan is fair game, and the DeLaurents are quite willing to kill those who they feel have wronged them. It is also believed that Lord Erik is aware of how the Assamites use their blood to perform their rituals that parrallel diablerie, and on occasions when the Assamites are used, Lord Erik requests that a vial full of the victim's blood is given to him. He pays well for this service however, and the Assamites do fufill this portion of the contract.
"I have at last found the perfect pair for my ultimate plan. The Ravnos called Durga Syn, and the Nosferatu Baba Yaga will prove exquisite specimens, ones whom I could not have done better. I will offer the services of my clan, as well as the Shadow Lords and Corax, to Baba Yaga, to hunt and kill Durga Syn. In return all I shall ask for is a vial of her blood. Baba shall receive the Garou and Corax as gifts, to be used as she sees fit once Durga is removed, then shall the plan continue. With Durga Syn's potent blood, I can become closer to Caine, and with the power gained from that, and the trust I will have in my House from Baba Yaga. I shall then remove the being called Shaitan. With the power of his blood in me, none, not even Baba Yaga, shall be able to stop me, and then I will crush the hag, and take her place.....a perfect plan...."
"With Russia mine, I shall reach out my tendrils, my spies, my men, my Kindred, and destroy that fool Villon, and reclaim my home...."
"And once I own Eroupe, I can begin the hunt. I believe Ennoia will be my target. She seems to be far easier, and have less threat of retribution after her death. And then the others will shake as Clan DeLaurent takes its rightfull place in the Cainite hierarchy...."
Letter from Keldane, Cappadocian Justicar, to Xaviar, Gangrel Justicar: "By these notes, it is clear that Lord Erik is quite mad, as well as that the DeLaurents are seeking clan status. He believes that he can destroy three of perhaps the most powerful Methuselahs still active, and then seek out and drink dry the founder of Clan Gangrel, an activity that will almost certainly bring the Baali, Gangrel, and Ravnos down upon him. The Nosferatu, however, might actually thank him for it. This seems like an impossible task, but having known the DeLaurents since their beginnings, I can tell you, it is quite possible that they may pull it off. The DeLaurents are quite sure of their great destiny, and when seeking that destiny can be extremely willful. I have seen a staked DeLaurent neonate leap up and attempt to drink from his captor, all while the stake remained in his chest. After said neonate was killed, I examined the body, and the stake had indeed pierced the heart. The DeLaurent had merely willed himself to move. That is but a small example. I have also seen one quite literally torn into shreds by Lupines, only to keep fighting, turning them one by one into corpse-like visages, a talent they have retained from their days as members of my clan. When seeking their destiny, they bring the full weight of their wills and dementia upon it, and rarely fail. I am aware you have no love of the Ravnos, but we cannot allow them to kill her, nor Shaitan, for the simple reason that if they do, said clans of each will begin systematic hunts, killing other, innocent, Kindred for the sins of this line. I ask that you present these papers to the princes of any area where you travel, and request a blood hunt be called upon all members of House DeLaurent, whether ghoul, revenant, or Kindred, immediately. I have also sent copies of these to Petrodon and Leonard Knight. If you have any other suggestions, I am quite open to them my friend. Via Con Dios,
Karesh Lintar
Justicar of the Camarilla, representing Clan Cappadocian
Also, while the vampire members of the family often have titles such as Baron, King, Prince, Lord, etc., and actual power over others, the ghouls, much as the revenants, are usually more militant, instead having titles like Knight, Defender, or Paladin. Social and Knowledges still remain primary however. Their ghouls are often selected for being of similar mindsets to the others, and thus often have similar backgrounds and natures, but rather than being nobility, most ghouls were peasants before their Pledge.