By Steve Reigle (lanilifar@aol.com) (26, Aprill 1995)
A popular misconception among non-Kindred, is that Kindred society is stagnant, and that no learning is taking place. No other minor bloodline reflects the fallacy of this more than the Faerenetti.
This bloodline contains many thinkers and researchers. Scientists, engineers, architects and philosophers form the populations most neonates come from. Most are single-minded and have great clarity of purpose, a desire to complete theirs goals, both old ones from there mortal existence and the myriad topics from their new unlives. However, with their single-mindedness comes a weakness. They have a tendency to become oblivious and obsessive, thereby creating a mind-fog that taints their research. Logical thinking becomes difficult, and it usually takes them longer than most to come to a conclusion. But few others care as much as the Faerenetti, except perhaps the Tremere, and no one can argue their success rate (when you live forever, it does not matter how long you take).
The history of this bloodline is as shrouded in obscurity as their thought processes. Some say Malkav embraced philosopher/scientists to try to temper his insanity. Others say a Toreador embraced the first Faerenetti when impressed with the dedication of the latter in pursuing the famous (some would say infamous ) Most Grand Design. A third rumor said that the Tremere created them as servants to help them gather knowledge. The truth is well hidden from searching eyes.
No one is sure what the goals of the Faerenetti are comprised of. Most other Kindred see them as useful and productive, but easily manipulated. It is easy to set them to a task if they do not already have one. Faerenetti will pursue that task unceasingly to either success or failure; failure causing them to enter a great depression when they will be withdrawn and morose for long periods (Older Faerenetti sometimes enter torpor). Once a task is successfully completed, they will celebrate for a short time and then seek something else to do.
Proud of their accomplishments they meet frequently to boast. At these meetings Faerenetti share knowledge, tell stories, discuss the Most Grand Design, and brainstorm. What plans come from this no one is sure of, but it has been heard that the Most Grand Design is there true purpose but what this is is pure speculation.
Nickname: Doc
Appearance: Never much for fashion, they wear whatever is most practical. For celebrations or functions (Such as requesting permission from a Prince of the City to conduct large experiments) the attire varies inconceivably.
Haven: They typically try to locate havens near institutions of higher learning. There must be enough lab, work space for experiments.
Background: Candidates are usually harvested from like minded kine who prove to be free-thinkers. Close-minded individuals or overconfident know-it-alls are rarely selected (but often fed upon).
Character Creation: Faerenetti tend to have visionary or deviant archetypes, with Protestant work ethics. They must have a strong desire to do there own work.
Clan Disciplines: Densitometry, Fortitude, Auspex
Weaknesses: Much like the Toreador, they are obsessive to the point of ignoring all other concerns and therefore are easy prey to become Infernalists. They tend to regard other things as tertiary, such as security, and therefore are regarded as easy targets. (this is not always the case; see Densitometry.) If forcibly interrupted from an important stage of research they must make a willpower roll or go into Frenzy. The mind fog makes it difficult for them to think quickly, their Wits can never be higher than one. Many are absent-minded, have short attention spans for things other than their work, and are self-centered.
Organization: Very little organization at all, and since they are comparatively few, there is no need. Technically not part of the Camarilla, they are still considered as such by the majority of Kindred, though it is not impossible to see them work for, or under the sway of the Sabbat. They believe in the Masquerade, as it limits interruption to there work.
Because they are so distracted by their works, they have very few views of other Kindred, and therefore unaware of differences (unless, of course, they are studying them).
Others' thoughts on the Faerenetti:
Brujah: They are easily distracted, but if you can ally with one, they can be a great boon.
Gangrel: They are thinkers, and do nothing. they tinker with forces they cannot comprehend and have no thought to the consequences
Malkavian: They are great targets for practical jokes . They are hilarious if you interrupt them. That's why we created them. Either that, or they were created by the Clan Chocula (He He He He)
Nosferatu: They can be great sources of information, but wouldn't know security if it bit them on the rump.
Toreador: They have great passion for their science, and it comes close to the true passion of art.
Tremere: They are wonderful. I highly recommend acquiring one for any Chantry. They should be standard equipment.
Ventrue: I think they are all playing us for fools we should watch them, closely.
Sabbat: They will be a great gain if we can get them to the proper course, one way or the other.
Iconnu: No comment.
The only other group with significant dealings with Faerenetti are the Enlightened Humans who call themselves Mages. It seems one of their branches, the Sons of Ether, is particularly ravaged by this group, and has sworn eternal hatred for them.
View Densitometry discipline.