By Brian Connors (connorbd@bc.edu) Refer to World of Darkness: The Roman Empire
It is to be understood right off that the split has been there since time immemorial. Lucianus, the founder of the clan, was among the least honorable of Cain's grandchilder, and was always scheming; some say he was the one responsible for inciting the Old Ones against Cain's first childer. What is known for certain is that the split between clan factions dates to the days of the people who occupied Babylon in the days before the Babylonians and Assyrians came to power, the mysterious Sumerii that few know anything of and fewer still ever speak of. It is said that the Nictuci's monstrous appearance is a curse from Cain himself, perhaps because of Lucianus' treachery.
The origins of the factions are equally hazy. Little is known of Lucianus (like most of the progenitors he is very much a recluse), but it is believed that he has serious designs on power. The self-styled "True Nictuci" are the loyalist faction, and among them is included the frightful South Slavic vampire Babajaca and the murderous highway marauders of Gaul. They are an odd case; they have been attempting and failing to manipulate things in the vampire world for a long time. They have achieved some measure of success on many occasions, but their grotesque appearance is an eternal hindrance. Recently, however, they have begun a sort of pogrom against their "softer" brethren, a move that has begun to truly separate the two factions.
The other faction is, oddly enough, the more effective one. Duplicitous, sneaky, and thoroughly honorable (many relish the paradox), the faction of the Nosferati is more numerous and more recognized. The antipathy is mutual to them; their primary reason for existence is disgust at the actions of Lucianus, and their primary motivation in unlife is to do something about it. Along the way, the Nosferati, consummate spies because of their ability to hide themselves no matter how little space there is to hide in, have crept into positions of influence in many provincial governments. They and the Brushah are the only clans that recognize the madmen of the Malcafii for the insane and arbitrary maniacs they are, and they are said to have coined a phrase that one day, slightly modified, will explain a multitude of evils: "Never attribute to malice that which can be pinned on sheer lunacy."
Both factions are well-hidden wherever they are. They are few and far between, but their ability to Obfuscate senses combined with a well-developed digging ability makes them a very well-established clan indeed. Sadly, this is of small consolation to the Nosferati, who must constantly watch over their shoulders for fear that they might one day see a Nictucus with a lit torch sneaking up on them...
The Nosferati are among the few vampires who truly know anything about the Rafanuti. The fact that what everyone else thinks they know is dead wrong is something they don't even tell the Nictuci Veri.
Nosferati (to Nictuci Veri): If you are a monster, be a monster. They try to be more than they are; this is error and ultimately we cannot tolerate it.
Brushah: In denial after all these years. Still, we sympathize with their plight, as it so mirrors ours. Still, they're too haughty and they're going to get hurt if they're not careful.
Cappadocii: A wise man in Palestine once said "let the dead bury their dead." Frankly, I don't think he meant it literally.
Gangrilli: Wasted effort, spending all that time having your personality stripped from you. But we at least owe them for their teaching, however little of it we use nowadays.
Haqimin: They can't find us. Try and keep it that way.
Malcafii: They talk big, but you sit in the corner and listen to them while they think they're alone. There's a good reason that so many ranting maniacs among us claim Malcafian blood.
Rafanuti: I've taught a few in my time. Don't ever give them any hints to what you're hiding from them; they will find out.
Salubri: If you find one and she will trust you, you will have a friend for eternity. But they are too pacifistic for their own good.
Simistis: There are bad things running through that bloodline, and only they know to what end. Civilization looks better and better when you see what they're hiding.
Taureator: Ugh. They're perverts more than anything else. I know what they claim, but I see the family resemblance with the Malcafii.
Umbrati: Scary. If you speak the language they speak amongst themselves, you will learn some truly chilling things if you understand their context. The Brushah are in over their head in Spain and it will come crashing down on them.
Ventrutae: They're taking a vacation now. The Taureatores are pretenders and deep down they know it; the Ventrutae will be back.