By Brian Connors (connorbd@bc.edu) (27 March 1996)
In modern times, there are few Loki left. Essentially a clan of Caitiff now, they have become subsumed into the legions of the Sabbat and often are assumed to be Ravnos antitribu. The unlucky few who treat them that way are generally sorry afterwards.
The origins of the Loki are lost in the mists of time. It is known that they are a bloodline that developed in the high Arctic reaches of Norway, and virtually all are of Lappish or Norse blood. As of 1198, they have penetrated as far south as Bavaria, with heavy non-Scandinavian concentrations in Muscovy, Lithuania, Karelia, and Western Siberia.
No one knows whether the Loki are a bloodline or a true clan; though they have affinities with the Ventrue and the Tzimisce, their comportment is more like that of the Brujah or Malkavians, and their attitude is more than a little like that of the Ravnos. The lore of the Loki would have you believe that they are brothers to no one, a distinct possibility given that few have ever met a Ravnos.
The Loki are fiercely loyal to each other and their childer only, treating all others as targets. They style themselves after the lethally mischievous Norse God Loki, who some within the line claim was their Kindred ancestor. This ancestor is to this day a mystery creature, and a constant subject of debate among Northern European Kindred.
The first Loki were sired in the far northern reaches of what the Greeks called Hyperborea, the frozen north that is the home of the Norsemen and the Lapps, the place where the night lasts six months. The Loki have therefore developed a small amount of light resistance, in the form of the Sunnkraftet discipline, which allows them to operate in the low-light conditions of the Arctic day without suffering the ill effects of the sun. Sunnkraftet also allows them to enter what is essentially a deep-frozen form of torpor, in which they can store sun energy and bloodpoints to thaw themselves out when darkness returns.
In many ways the Loki remind the more traveled Kindred of what might be called Dark Ravnos. They are pranksters, but their pranks are deadly serious. Loki will often set up an elaborate trap for an enemy, leaving the quarry trapped without knowing it until the pack of Kindred who built the trap overwhelm the target. Many Loki have learned the Tzimisce discipline Vicissitude, used primarily as a deadly trick to gain the confidence of the intended victim. In general, they do not direct their deadliest tricks towards Kindred, but it is not unknown, and to trust a Loki with your life is always a mistake.
Loki follow what can only be called a Malkavian-tinged variation of the Via Paradocis, a twisted and dangerous variant that would cause a mage no end of worry were she to witness it. The Braegnnrendenrad (Path of the Twisted Mind) begins with pranking and ends with plans for vengeance, induced insanity, and assassination that most victims go to their grave unaware of, even when the effects are truly unmistakable. When death is not what is called for, the Loki can inflict mental damage of a level that only the most deranged of Malkavians can appreciate or convince someone that their world is being utterly warped to a degree that they cannot deal with.
Though Christianity is common among the Scandinavians, one of the cornerstones of Loki society is that the Norse gods continue to be worshipped. Also, the runic writing of the early Germanic peoples is still in use among the Loki, though it is on the decline.
Also, many Loki feed from Garou victims frequently; as a result, frenzy is in general much more difficult for a Loki to resist.
"They fool around too much in their work. Still, they are quite effective against mortals."
Brujah: Obnoxious, but useful. If you can get one to trust you, exempting that Brujah from your plans may be a good way to get help with a scheme.
"Hold one down and I'll show you what I think of them."
Cappadocians: Morbid bastards. Though if you wish to scare someone, having a Kappadoker do up a corpse or two for you can be a very effective piece of work.
"We will occasionally work with them, but it has become wise to never ask questions."
Gangrel: Competition. They are not to be welcomed.
"This habit they have of feeding on Lupines... if they were ever to turn on Kindred, they would be the most dangerous of all, worse even than the children of Haqim."
Lasombra: If they didn't actually get things done, they'd be no better than the Ventrue.
"Nowhere in my dealings with other Kindred have I come across such deranged beings. Even the Malkavians can be trusted."
Malkavians: They have it all wrong. A vampire must know where to go with her capabilities, and they don't bother.
Nosferatu: Lurkers. And only that. Ignore them; they will never bother you and they have nothing at all to offer us.
"Watch out for the Northerners. They will ruin you given any chance."
Ravnos: Trust one of them? Would you trust us?
"Do they not understand the path they follow? Morons, all of them. Life is for fun."
Salubri: So few are they. Prank them, perhaps, but the Tremere have more important worries than these few.
Setites: Few come far enough north to meet. If one does, kill him immediately.
"We know them only by reputation. We welcome them, should they ever leave their frozen strongholds."
Toreador: What exactly are they up to? They can't be that interested in civilization, such as it's laughably called.
"If they could, they would shatter all we have built. Some say they have already."
Tremere: We dealt with them in the old days, before the Embrace. Our influence runs strong among their elders, such as they are, but their fixation with the Salubri is worrying.
"A danger to us and our secrets from time immemorial. We must end their reign before we are destroyed."
Tzimisce: We owe them for what they've taught us, but it's not a debt we enjoy having. They are to be paid back in full, then... we'll see.
"Interesting beings, but no better than common thieves. If you can pick them out, show them what they're like before you kill them."
Ventrue: Odhinn forbid that these beings realize their power. They are so weak they would be annihilated instantly.
"Dangerous beings indeed. To even think they come from among us is scary."
Garou: There is nothing more fun in life than to take these monstrosities down. And the power of their blood provides us well with our livelihood.