ENUKADU

By Dirk Tebben and Doug Kern (dkern@soho.ios.com)

History

Few Kindred know of this rare bloodline. What is known is found in scattered bits from myths and ancient manuscripts. These mention a group of Kindred who slay vampires, and shall be instrumental in causing Gehenna. The Kindred group is never named, but what can be gathered from the pieces of information imply a force dangerous to all other Kindred.

The Enukadu are the basis for these stories. Far from numerous, Enukadu tend to keep to themselves, and out of site from the rest of the world's vampire population. The Enukadu bloodline is descended from Gangrel, via a wandering mendicant whom the Antediluvian Embraced against his will. The mendicant, Enukadu, suffered intense trauma during and after his death and eventually came to hate all vampires, especially his sire. Kicked out of vampiric society after his gruesome experiments (the precursors of the Exsanguinus discipline) came to light, he was forced to survive on his own for many years. Eventually he created progeny, taught them Exsanguinus, and set them on the Path of Fire.

However, not all of Enukadu's descendants agreed with his way of thinking regarding other Kindred. Though few in number, these kindred knew in their hearts that not all vampires were evil and unnatural. However, because of the curse of the bloodline, eventually even these ones began to think like their elders. Many of the neonates knew that they would need to find some way to halt the madness of hatred that they were slipping into.

It was an Antediluvian who would save these Enukadu. When Saulot returned from his pilgrimage to Asia, one of the first vampires to allow herself to be healed was a young Enukadu whose name has been lost. This Enukadu found that she no longer felt the urges to kill her fellow kindred. She immediately rushed to tell the rest of the bloodline about the prophet who saved her.

The reaction in the clan was not totally positive. While many of the young neonates attempted to find Saulot and his children, the elders were furious that they were abandoning the Path of Fire. The bloodline divided into two groups, one which continued to follow Enukadu's ideas, known as True Enukadu, and another composed of Renegades who now opposed them. The True Enukadu now considered the hunting down of Renegades a top priority. However, the True Enukadu still had a problem, since many of their progeny rebelled and attempted to find either Saulot, who by this time had gone into torpor, or one of his children. In order to stop this, and not risk destroying themselves, the elders managed to discover Saulot's place of rest, and arrange for a new rising vampire, named Tremere, to stumble upon this knowledge.

The elders thought that they would now be able to easily destroy the Renegades. However, they did not count on the Renegade's reaction to Saulot's death. The Renegades, who up to this point, were hiding from the rest of the bloodline, were enraged. From that point on, the Renegades decided fight. Up to present day, the Renegades have tried to counter any plot by the True Enukadu, and hurt the Tremere. They have not been too successful on hurting the Tremere, but recently they have gotten a new group to ally themselves with, the mysterious Inconnu.

Priority one for the True Enukadu is the advancement of Gehenna. They will do anything to achieve this. Next is the imperative of secrecy, especially from the Camarilla. The Enukadu recognize that their strength is their anonymity, and they will not reveal the clan's existence under any circumstances. This is one of the reasons why the True Enukadu hunt down the Renegades so vigorously, as they are a danger to the bloodline's secrecy; they don't know that the Renegades have revealed themselves to the Inconnu. Their third priority is the weakening of vampiric groups and the destruction of individual vampires. To these ends, they work alone and in extreme secrecy, usually posing as a member of another clan and attempting to weaken the Camarilla (and Sabbat, though it's harder to penetrate) from within. The Renegades don't have as structured goals as the True Enukadu. They will always try to stop any plan by the True Enukadu. They also tend to become very protective of kine. There is a twofold reason for this. One, the Renegades think that possibly, they may provide a small compensation for the actions that have been done by Kindred worldwide. They also wish to protect humans from the horror of the embrace. Renegades also will try, in secrecy to thwart those Vampire groups which they consider beyond redemption, most notably the Baali, Setities, and Sabbat. Unfortunately, there are not enough Renegades to make much of an impact.

Enukadu of both groups almost never make ghouls.

True Enukadu follow the Path of Fire. This Path is dedicated to the destruction of all vampires, who are regarded as hideous aberrations of nature. Most True Enukadu are extreme sociopaths and intensely fanatical, caring about no one and nothing except their mission. They can mimic sanity very effectively, however.

Renegades usually keep their humanity, though may follow a Path if they wish to. They also see themselves of trying to make the best of the situation they are in, and are usually cheerful and bright. They will often become friends with other kindred who agree with their views. Quite a few Renegade Enukadu are friendly with the Children of Osiris and the Inconnu. Also, some Renegades have managed to reached Golconda.

Unlike normal Gangrel, Enukadu change into hunting cats, bobcat, snow leopard or similar sized cat, instead of wolves. Whether or not the original Enukadu exists today is dubious, though some members of the clan have claimed to "feel" his presence guiding them at times.

Nickname

Terrors

Symbol

Cat's paw print. Both True and Renegades use this symbol.

Appearance

Both True and Renegade Enukadu can have any appearance, though many will appear to be drifters. They will also attempt to be a Gangrel around other Kindred.

Background

The True Enukadu have a fairly unique method of creating progeny. Typically the process begins when an Enukadu observes a mortal who is dedicating her life to some cause at the expense of all else. If the cause is destructive or violent, so much the better. The preferred candidates are vigilantes, driven cops, soldiers (the True Enukadu recruited heavily from the Nazis in World War II), and the like. The Enukadu will continue to observe the mortal for at least a month or so, and if she is deemed suitable, the vampire will either embrace the mortal or, preferably, wait until the mortal is about to die before bestowing the Blood. True Enukadu neonates are held in line by both the power of Exsanguinus and intimidation. Most don't last long for after serving their usefulness, their sires destroy them. Those who manage to impress their sire are allowed to live, and eventually leave on to be their own.

Renegades can be made from either two ways. The first, and most difficult, involves a neonate True Enukadu finding a Salubri before the pathological hatred of vampires sets in. The Salubri must use the power of Obeah to heal the Enukadu. This will only work before the derangement has set in. Considering that both neonate True Enukadu and Salubri are both extremely rare, this does not happen often. The other method is when a Renegade embraces a human. This does not happen often, though, as many Renegades do not wish to put a human through the horrors of becoming a vampire. Those who they choose are often people who fought for values they believed were good and just. The Enukadu will often warn a human before hand of what will happen, and will make absolutely sure that the person agrees to the embrace. Renegade neonates usually do not stay near their sires long, just long enough for them to be taught about their new existence, and about the other kindred out there.

Character Creation

Both types of Enukadu often have drifter, vigilante and outsider concepts. True Enukadu often have Fanatic Natures, but can have any other Demeanors. Renegades can almost any type of Nature, but Jester, Judge, Survivor, and Loner are most common.

Clan Disciplines

Exsanguinus, Fortitude, Protean

Weaknesses

The Enukadu blood carries several supernatural effects, all traceable back to the founder and his diabolical experiments. First, all Enukadu vampires must drink at least five Blood Points of Kindred blood every lunar month or lose one Health Level (which cannot be healed until the five points are consumed). This requirement typically takes effect a few months after the Embrace. Second, as they age, True Enukadu develop a pathological hatred of other vampires. This takes the form of a Derangement. If they are in the company of non-Enukadu vampires for an extended period of time, they must spend one Willpower point per night to stop themselves from physically assaulting their companions. The Derangement kicks in some variable amount of time after the Embrace, between 25 and 100 years depending on the vampire. Renegades are usually limited in the amount of levels of Exsanguinus they can learn, since most of the higher levels are only known to the True Enukadu. This of course does not apply to Renegades in Golconda. Finally, the Enukadu cannot be Blood Bound and cannot create a Blood Bond. This is both a curse and a blessing. Enukadu do not gain animal features with frenzy as Gangrel do.

Organization

Virtually none for both groups. Enukadu vampires almost always operate alone, coming together only to brief one another on relevant topics or teach one another Disciplines, especially Exsanguinus. Occasionally a very big project will require several Enukadu. The one thing that keeps this clan in any semblance of cohesiveness of both groups is the fact that they can recognize one another on sight; even they don't know precisely how they do this.

Gaining Bloodline Prestige

Both Renegades and True Enukadu usually do not consider prestige that important. True Enukadu are impressed if an elder vampire of another clan/bloodline is destroyed, while Renegades will be impressed if a plot by the True Enukadu, or other group of enemy kindred, is ruined.

Quote

True: The kindred of the world don't realize the fact that their end is near. Soon, our plan for the coming of Gehenna will reach fruition, and their destruction will be assured!

Renegade: Our brothers do not see the sight before their eyes, that their plans for destruction shall in the end mean that the entire universe is doomed. We must try to stop them at all costs, so as to save this world.

Stereotypes

Note, with the exception of the Inconnu, this bloodline is basically unknown.

The Camarilla:

A government of kindred?! It is unnatural, and must be eliminated. The corruption in it makes infiltration all the easier.

-- True

These vampires originally had the right idea, but have gone astray. They only care about their own petty plots, instead of having a strong front. If they ignored their bickering, we may get discovered, so I guess it serves some purpose.

-- Renegade

The Sabbat:

Their aggressive nature often makes their destruction all the more easier. They serve also as good tool to use a against the Camarilla, though they do not know this.

--True

While they have the right idea concerning personal freedom, they are total monsters. It must be freedom through slavery, because they are enslaved to their bestial nature.

-- Renegade

Inconnu:

These old ones are difficult to eliminate. They may even be on to us. For the moment, we shall wait, and then destroy them when ready!

-- True

These guys seem to have the right idea, though they are often very distant. They do know of us, and will be valuable allies against our brothers.

-- Renegades

Assamite:

Killers par excellent, like us. Though their skills never seem to help them when fighting us.

-- True

I really don't understand these guys; I personally would get bored being a hired killer. Still if one is following you, make sure to get rid of him quickly and quietly, or you may have to dispatch more later.

-- Renegade

Brujah:

These vampires are good fighters, but fall victim so easily to our powers, making them almost not worth the effort.

-- True

Boy these guys are aggressive rebel rousers. Some can be friendly, but I'd make sure to watch your tongue around them.

-- Renegade

Gangrel:

They are harder to track, since the live in woods, but we can manage. Though we pretend to be one of them, our cousins shall receive no mercy from us!

-- True

I've met a lot of nice members of this clan. They seem very laid back, not at all like other Kindred. Though they do seem dangerously close to the Garou...

-- Renegade

Giovanni:

Consulting corpses will not stop us. Still eliminate quietly, as they seem to be very close to each other.

-- True

I think that these guys must be necrophiliacs. I mean why else would they be so obsessed with the dead?

-- Renegade

Lasombra:

The darkness they project is just a reflection of their soulless existence.

-- True

I really get the creeps around these guys. They are mostly Sabbat members, and as such, quite wicked.

-- Renegade

Malkavian:

The only thing predictable about them is their unpredictability. Be very careful when fighting one, as you never know what to expect.

-- True

The person who invented the saying crazy as a loon never met a Malkavian. Still some make good companions; just make sure that they act normal enough not to attract attention.

-- Renegade

Nosferatu:

These sewer dwelling kindreds' appearance just betrays their unnaturalness. Be care when hunting one in the city, as it is likely to know every part of the area.

-- True

Eeewwww! These guys really do prove that beauty is not skin deep. Still make a friend of one, and you never know how it may help you some day.

-- Renegade

Ravnos:

These kindred will try to confuse with illusion. Don't be fooled, as they can be killed just as easily as any other.

-- True

Well, they seem light-hearted, I will give them that. Just make sure to watch your wallet around one.

-- Renegade

Salubri:

These three-eyed freaks are the cause for the split we face with the Renegades. For that they must be punished; all will be destroyed!

-- True

We must protect these gentle healers as much as possible. If not for them, we would have the same madness our brothers now face. Only a few are left, and when they are gone it will definitely be a dark day.

-- Renegade

Setites:

Their dark rituals will not aid them. Since they tend to stay in their temples, it is just easier to destroy it while they are inside.

-- True

These snakes in the grass are among the most vile beings I know. The world would not miss them.

-- Renegade

Toreador:

These prissy fools are so predictable! Just find a museum, and you will find them inside.

-- True

Well I can agree that art is nice to look at, but they take it to an extreme.

-- Renegade

Tremere:

Their founder was such a useful tool, but we must be careful, around them, as they are most likely to discover the truth about us.

-- True

Ironic that their father shall rise and devour them on Gehenna. They must pay for what they have done to Saulot and his children.

-- Renegade

Tzimisce:

They are crafty and devious. With the powers that they have over the body, one must be careful when confronting one.

-- True

For the most part they just a bunch of sickos. Stake 'em and be done with 'em!

-- Renegade

Ventrue:

The fact that they cling to their old existence makes them quite easy to dispose of.

-- True

A lot of them are snotty, old, out of touch fogies, though I have met a couple of more modern ones.

-- Renegade

View the Exsanguinus discipline.

View the Path of the Fire Path of Enlightenment.