MARCEAU

By Michael Kirk Brobson (gamers@erols.com)

Introduction:

"Ladies and gentlemen. Observe it you will...." The mage in the tux called out on the street corner. A couple passing by hear his call and decide to see the show. The performer is good and time passes.

"Michael we should go before the sun comes up," the lady managed to urge her partner. He just watched as the performer stuggles against the invisible walls without success.

"Not yet" Michael finally mustered. And so they watch til near dawn. "We'll never make back in time!" She angryly wispered to Michael.

"We can find a place." Michael responded "We will be ok."

"Will you?" A voice asked from behind them. It was the street performer who smiled and gave a small bow.

"You did this." She accused the performer

"Allow me to make it up to you fine vampires." The performer says. "I have a place near here where you can be safe. We do not have much time. Allow me this minor repayment for your kind attention."

"Susan I trust him." Michael pleaded. "I would also love to know how he did what he did."

"Ok" Susan agreed "But we have so little time."

The three went to a large brick warehouse with the door firmly locked tight. The sky was glowing with the morning sun as the performer made for the door, unlocked them and entered the building safe from the first rays of the sun. He waited and his new found friends didn't enter.

Outside, as the first rays of sun hit them the two vampires gaped, astonished, as the stronge performer fiddled with an invisible lock then walked through the still locked door and vanished. Michael tried to open the door as his body burned while Susan tried to flee for cover. The next night the Performer returned to the street.

Nickname

Mimes

Background

A Malkavian Sabbat bloodline, the Marceaux share a common derangement. So strong is their madness that it is almost tangible. In truth, sometimes it is all too tangible. Seemingly fun loving performers and clowns, they can turn into horrid killers in a second. Very clever in their crowd-pleasing "play," they can lure people into a false trust.

Appearance

The Marceaux dress often as mimes or clowns, using the makeup and trappings to reveal (or hide) their inner natures, especially when hunting. The games they play seem to be keyed to their performances. They enjoy amusing and pleasing their prey before taking them.

Haven

They stay with their Sabbat pack much of the time, but often wander of hunt singly or in small groups. They tend to gather a group of human and/or ghoul companions to perform with.

Progeny

Performers, clowns, mimes, sleight-of -hand artists, magicians. They tend to pick performers who start to "lose themselves" in their acts.

Character Creation

Social Attributes are primary. Talents are primary. Each character should have at least two pips in acting. Background traits are few at best, but almost all have mentors in the Marceau troupe.

Weaknesses

Like all Sabbat Malkavians, the Marceaux have two Derangements, one of which must be Hallucination. They often cannot tell the difference between the things they "create" (mime) and reality.

Disciplines

Charade, Dementation, Obfuscate

Paths

Any

Organizations

Small troupes of Marceaux, ghouls, and some gifted humans, who perform together. The Marceaux may hunt together, targeting a person they meet to torment, feed from, and drive into madness. They are loyal to the Sabbat, as long as they think about it. However, they are just as likely to run off to interact with a illusion as to follow a Sabbat order, making them powerful but unpredictable.

Clan Prestige

Few other Kindred are aware of the Marceaux as a separate bloodline, considering them merely a stranger group of Malkavians. The special Discipline of Charade is not widely acknowledged by others. When a target of this powerful Discipline tries to tell someone else about what she has gone through her stories are dismissed as derangements and hallucinations, and she is ridiculed as a victim of Dementation. Marceaux delight in spreading their particular form of madness, especially among Kindred. Using Charade or Dementation to play pranks on other Kindred while keeping the power of Charade a secret is the primary way to gain clan prestige.