KHMER

By Ian Turner

Introduction

Vampires inspire fear more than anything else, and none are more adept at using that fear than the Khmer. None who have survived the fear generated by their hunt doubt that they are amongst the deadliest Kindred active in the world today. Honing their skills over the centuries since their Bloodline was founded, the Khmer meditate upon the quality of fear in their jungle enclaves, gathering their willpower to pit against their victims, so that they may feed upon the sweetest blood of all, the blood of the terrified.

Nickname

Boogeymen

Appearance

Most Khmer are Oriental, of Cambodian, Malay or Thai descent. Younger Khmer can be from any ethnic extraction, however and Russian, American, African and Eastern European Khmer are known to exist. They also exist in some numbers in Northern Australia. The only unlikely choice would be Japanese, as the Elder Khmer despise the so-called 'islanders.' Most dress in black silk clothing that looks like pajamas to the Western eye, but the younger ones living abroad tend to wear whatever is popular in their area, often striving for a tasteful anonymity. Non-Asian Khmer are rarely taller than their Sires and all Khmer are chosen for the Embrace fairly carefully, with the admonishment that the Childe be physically fit and sound of body.

Haven

Many Khmer are paranoid and prefer extremely well-concealed underground or underwater havens. Sunken ships in bays (there are a surprising number of them) or abandoned bomb shelters that do not connect to any existing underground are preferred. They will often maintain several havens, except for some of the more decadent members who simply maintain a single lavishly-appointed Haven and purchase only the best security systems and personnel.

Background

This Bloodline was first noticed in the ancient Khmer civilizations of Cambodia, during the reign of Jayavarman, but have since spread into most of Southeast Asia, lower China and as far as India to the West. The rarest have moved abroad in the service of the drug Triads, to such far lands as America, where they may be encountered by unsuspecting Western Kindred. Over the centuries the power of this Bloodline has risen and fallen like a heartbeat, with the height of their power during the glorious days of Angkor from 802 to 1300 AD until their influences led to the decadent excesses practiced in the court of Survayarman II which led to the eventual collapse of Hinduism in Southeast Asia. The ascetic Faith of the Theravedic Buddhists is one of the factors that keeps them from assuming such a powerful influence at present, with the competition of other Kindred being a close second. The Khmer have since scattered about the globe to work anywhere a government (or religion) turns to the use of fear as a means of control. Thus, their influence could be seen during Cambodia's Pol Pot rebellion, the pogroms of Stalinist Russia, the American Red Scare, Papa Doc Duvalier's regime in Haiti, South African Apartheid and modern-day Bosnia. Nothing would please this Bloodline more than for humanity to return to a new Dark Age, huddled together in mud huts dreading the approach of the hungry stalkers in the night. All fear the unknown and seek to put a name to that which terrifies them, making ignorance and superstition the strongest allies of the Khmer. A few elder Khmer are known to practice Thaumaturgy, with their Primary (and often only) Path being the Path of Phobos, widely regarded as a Dark Path only available to Infernalists. Khmer questioned about this make it perfectly clear that their Path of Phobos has no Infernal ties, but it is unknown if they are simply fooling themselves or everybody else. Certainly, Khmer Infernalists are known to exist...

Character Creation

Khmer usually have either Physical or Mental primaries, with Social almost always being saved for last. They use Talents, Skills and Knowledge in that preferred order, and usually try to keep their personal Courage / Morale high, as they are prone to developing Phobias and even to having intense Nightmares, reliving the role of the past nights' prey. Natures are usually Bravo, Competitor or Thrill-Seeker amongst the Neonates and even the Ancillae. The rare Elders are still in Cambodia and tend towards Architect, Survivor or Fanatic.

Clan Disciplines

Celerity, Protean, Trepidus

Clan Weakness

Unknown to most is that their greatest weapon can be turned against them, for in their dark explorations into the nature of fear, the Khmer have sensitized themselves to its touch. As a result a Vampire of the Khmer suffers penalty of 2 on Difficulty rolls to avoid Rotschroek. Furthermore, on any Botched Courage / Morale roll, the Khmer either gains a Minor Phobia, the Flaw Nightmares or has any already existing Minor Phobia develop into a Severe Phobia. These may be bought off with experience points equal to their freebie point value as Flaws. Prey Exclusion or Selective Digestion Flaws requiring the Khmer to feed only one the blood of the terrified, is common amongst the Khmer, but are by no means required.

Organization

The line is currently divided amongst those who wish to adapt to the new world by using drugs and other resources to create for themselves herds of frightened vessels and those who prefer the `good old days' when members of the line could pose as Hindu gods such as Shiva, Kali, Rudra or Ratri, feeding blatantly off of their worshipers. This division is not along Generational lines, as equal amounts of elders and neonates seek out each camp, for different reasons. Others have pledged war against a neighboring Bloodline that has taken control of secluded areas of Southeast Asia (and Africa and even South America) through the exercising of an unknown disease-manipulating Discipline, including the sites of several of the past temple-palaces of the Khmer, under one of which the Founder of the Khmer line is said to lie in torpor.

Gaining Clan Prestige

The Khmer maintain regular communication, primarily due to the fact that they prefer to hunt in packs, harrying a lone mortal for hours before wearing him down and sharing in his blood. While a few Neonates abroad mimic the days of Angkorean splendor and maintain Herds (chained in the cellar and forced to live in dread or simply allowed to live as they please, but always knowing that something is out there and will come for them again as it has so many times in the past), most prefer to kill their prey at the conclusion of an exiting hunt. It is during these hunts that innovative new tactics to frighten prey, particularly well-chosen prey or stories of past hunts told over the cooling repast are all gauged to determine relative status. Khmer who manage to initiate and maintain reigns of terror (such as the Pol Pot regime) are treated with deference by all Khmer and are considered masters of terror, regardless of their age or Generation. A Khmer can actually lose status by simple butchery; dreary mindless horror does not qualify; they prefer stark terror. (Mainly because it tastes better, which is why the hunters will always outshine the herders). Since the Khmer usually kill when they feed, they tend to feed only a few times a week, depending upon the usage of Celerity and the number of local Khmer coming with.

Quote

"You can run, but you'll only die tired."

Stereotypes

(expressed by a Sabbat pack member in LA)

Brujah: These Kindred are unsubtle and crude. They swagger and boast, but are weak in that their Beast controls them, instead of them controlling it. They whine of the loss of Carthage, but it was as nothing to the glory of Angkor!

Gangrel: They are welcome in our jungle kingdoms. They know no fear, even consorting with the powerful Lupines. They know the ways of honor and respect. The City Gangrel are most interesting and we often invite them along when we hunt.

Malkavians: A dangerous menace that should be expunged. Broken things should be discarded, so it is with their minds.

Nosferatu: They are crafty and wise. Never offend one; they know the dark ways better than any other Clan and they can make wondrous allies or monstrous foes.

Toreador: Let them play. They do not offend and some of them even have taste. The only tasteful Artistes are all antitribu, but the Poseurs are all fun to be with. Strange that they seem to see backwards on this issue...

Tremere: They are powerful and untrustworthy. Tell them nothing. There is no Khmer Bloodline. We are simple Caitiff. We use Obfuscate and Presence, we have no secret Discipline.

Ventrue: A vile waste of blood. They are crass materialists and the best way to frighten one is to 'scare' the stock market and make them lose capital.

Lasombra: So much better than the Ventrue, these leaders I can stomach. They are in tune with the night; they know what sweetness terror can bring and they let us do whatever we want and call it leadership. Nice people.

Tzimisce: Twisted horrors, inside and out, the Tzimisce are works of art. Like all works of art, look don't touch.

Assamites: We know the taste of fear; these Moslem dogs have infiltrated our lands and killed our prophets. Destroy these infidels whenever you can do so tracelessly. Remember that they often watch each others backs, so you must make any strike against as Assamite seem to come from his buyer or his target. The buyer is best as you get to watch someone else die and you deny the Assamites a repeat customer.

Followers of Set: Play the part of the 'honorable Eastern Kindred' and sell the Golden Triangle drugs to them at a fair price, so that they can ship it to where we need it to go and use it to do our work for us. Who cares if they make a buck doing it? Who cares about their torpid nihilistic founder? They are stuck in their own little world and they are welcome to it.

Giovanni: Who? It is a common Italian name. Is there a Clan in Italy called 'the Johns?' Do they frequent houses of ill repute or are they receptacles for bodily waste? Tell me more.

Ravnos: Unreliable and tricky, but much more fun than the Gangrel. In fact, mix the best of the Gangrel with the best of the Toreador and you would have a Ravnos. They make good acquaintances, but never friends. Nothing seems to scare them.

Daughters of Cacophony: They are a separate Bloodline? Hmm, I thought they were a Toreador singers-only club.

Salubri: The Tremere should be thanked. (Not given anything, mind you, just thanked.) Saulot helped to found Buddhism, the faith that destroyed our Angkorean kingdom, which meant more to us than Carthage ever did to those Brujah brutes. Help the Tremere find any survivors.

Samedi: They were not opposed to our work for Papa Doc Duvalier in Haiti; in fact, some of them helped. They are underrated; treat them as any other potential ally, with unconditional respect.

Baali: Some of our Elders have learned from these it is whispered. They are as dull and one-dimensional as the Setites that spawned them; they have simply changed with the times to worship the new improved 'God of Darkness' (tm).

Blood Brothers: Scary stuff. Avoid these robot zombies at all costs; they are deadlier than the Brujah Caitiff rabble that they were made from.

Gargoyles: Slaves of the Tremere, I am told. Never seen one.

Ahrimanes: Sweet sisters from the South. Treat them with respect for they are mighty warriors and fight Lupines for sport.

Kiasyd: So tall! How they hide amongst us is uncanny, they have tasted the blood of the Fay and it has twisted them. Remember children, Faerie Blood - Just say NO!

The Camarilla: Sheep bleating on the way to the slaughter.

The Sabbat: Mostly fools, but they are the only Sect that would take us...

The Inconnu: Where there are sheep, there must be shepherds.