LANCEA

By Julian James Kuleck (jkuleck@Phoenix.kent.edu) (5 October 1995)

"Attention whoever you are -- this channel is reserved for emergency calls only."

"No fuckin' shit, lady! Do I sound like I'm ordering a pizza?!"

-Die Hard

Description

The Lancea is a recent and relatively unknown bloodline that has appeared as a formal organization within the past fifty years, but originates within Clan Assamite prior to the Convention of Thorns. There was a small group of Assamites who attempted to speak out against the clan's diabolist practices. The group was ostracized from Clan Assamite and even were struck from the clan's records. The group retreated into the Black Forest of Germany and dissapeared.

The group in fact stayed with the Gangrel. Eventually, they developed a ritual which destroyed their clan heritage. They lost their knowledge of Quietus, but then formed the beginnings of the bloodline.

In 1930, the group members had gone their seperate ways. They sired very few and were generally still unknown Caitiff. However, one member was tracked down by Clan Assamite, who saw the group as a dangerous embarrassment in general.

One member, Lancea, discovered the plot to kill another member in America. The problem came up: how to get a warning to him before the Assamites got to it?

Lancea had an answer: he used a new invention known as the telegraph. A telegram made it's way, and the Assamites arrived to find no trace of their target.

Lancea spent time reorganizing the original splinter group. He made a proposition. Most of the elders around the world still did not understand what the Industrial Revolution had done, or the potential of technology. He asked for their help in forming a bloodline that would use technology to bring peace to both mortals and kindred. Most of them accepted, finding that even jaded elders could learn something new.

And so, the Lancea bloodline was formed. They have become highly organized and typically serve other kindred as messengers and diplomats. They have been gaining influences through the sale of services to various other sects and clans.

One of the most important talents the Lancea have concentrated in is technology. They always pay attention to the cutting edge, keeping up with the latest in future technology. In fact, computer knowledge has become almost required within the clan in the last twenty years. The bloodline has become fully connected through the net, and has encountered two other groups: the Glass Walkers and Virtual Adepts. The Lancea have been busy communicating with other creatures, and may be becoming the best connected group of vampires in the world.

Disciplines

Celerity, Obsfuscate, Protean.

Advantages (For MET)

The Lancea have many connections throughout the net and other areas. They can gain access to great resources of information, and can find out facts within hours.

A Lancea with access to a phone or a modem can attempt to uncover info by performing a Mental or Social challenge, as if he was using an influence to gain the information. He can attempt this once a night, but almost anything can be found out using this method.

In addition, the Lancea's connections among Glass Walkers and Virtual Adepts allow them to find information about Lupines and Magi using this ability.

Disadvantages

The Lancea have a strong sense of honor that compels them to obey any contract they have signed to or shaken hands on. They must only obey the word, however.

Organization

The bloodline is still led by Lancea, but mostly operates on an "all Kindred are embraced equal" philosophy. Prestation plays a large part, however. For the most part, only one clansman is assigned to a given area.

The group is linked by the net and E-Mail nowadays, and members go by "handles."

Quote

"To the Archbishop? At midnight? Oh, you meant "tonight". . . that'll cost extra. . ."

Stereotypes

Assamites: "I told so you so..." Twits.

Brujah: They fight. And fight. And fight and fight and fight. And so on. Not good for business, but some of the mellower ones have more of a clue.

Followers of Set: Look out for how they hire, 'cause they have a tendency to deal in spooky shit, like hearts and snakes and shoggoths... make sure you know what's up.

Gangrel: Pretty cool, if a bit more rural than we are.

Giovanni: They hire, but watch out. They sometimes want us to indulge in their little necrophiliac fantasies by dropping off a package for some ghost or asking us to send messages from the dead. Groan.

Lasombra: "Do it for the good of the Sabbat." Hello? McFly? Sometimes the only darkness involved is the wool they try to pull over your eyes.

Malkavian: Really not as complex and confusing as everybody else thinks. Make sure they pay you on jobs, though. Don't buy any "Amnesia" excuses.

Nosferatu: Hey, they stay down there and we don't care.

Ravnos: Sometimes these bastards get in our way. Sometimes these bastards end up as grease spots on the road.

Toreador: OK, if more than a bit stuffy. They can deal with abstract concepts and florid paintings and teddy bears, as long as they pay well. They think shelling out bucks makes them look better, hey, we don't mind.

Tremere: Decent employers, but make sure you get the job done. These guys are tempermental, whether or not they show it. And they never tip.

Tzimisce: Always hiring us to carry boxes from point A to point B. Whaaat?

Ventrue: Notoriously clueless for the guys that are supposed to be running things. Still, they do have the large wallets, don't they?