PESTILENS

By Evan Haag (harlequin@toad.net)

Introduction

The idea for this bloodline came from the Wolven bloodline, designed by E. P. Long, and the just-released Ratkin sourcebook. I got to thinking about the obvious similarities between the rather noxious Ratkin and the extremely noxious Nosferatu. What would happen, I wondered, if an individual with some Ratkin blood (Kinfolk) were to be Embraced by one of the Nosferatu? As soon as the idea left my frontal lobe, the rest just followed naturally.

Nicknames

Skaven, Plaguebearers

Description

The Pestilens were created through an act of bizarre mercy. A rather typical old Nosferatu named Poxy came across one of his many homeless friends in an alley. This friend was twitching and spasming uncontrollably, and Poxy decided to give his little buddy another chance at existence, and possibly revenge against the system that left him dying in a gutter. Thus emboldened, Poxy Embraced the poor bum. Unbeknownst to Poxy, the bum in question had just been infected with the Ratkin Birthing Plague, and was just undergoing the first stages of the magical disease. When Poxy exsanguinated him, and then returned the stolen essence, both creatures changed into something...new.

Poxy noticed the changes quickly, when the squeaking voices in his head drove him to the brink of madness. His small herd of rats had become more loyal, though, and his new childer was having less trouble dealing with these bizarre manifestations of the Embrace. Eventually, through trial and error, this Childe (whose name is unknown) was able to achieve a certain peace with the voices, actually contacting Mother Rat in her Umbral nest. Poxy was not so lucky: his ashes were found across a train trestle in Chicago. The squeaking voices had apparently led him to his Final Death.

The Pestilens are vampires, first and foremost, and have all of their traditional weaknesses and strengths. But deep down in their psyches, the Birthing Plague has touched them, and has given them a connection and an insight that no other vampire can match or duplicate. Unfortunately, this connection is with a race of creatures that would desperately love to see them destroyed, and the insight gained usually drives them stark raving mad.

The Pestilens bloodline is very small right now, but is likely to grow, as the Ratkin instinct is strong. Breeding is paramount, as is survival.

Appearance

All of the Pestilens are very ugly, although not quite as ugly as a normal Nosferatu. The Birthing Plague has actually counteracted the normal Nosferatu weakness, and the members of Pestilens have an appearance attribute of 1, instead of 0. Their physical characteristics are always rodent-like and sickly, making them easy to spot for those who know about them. They are frequently mistaken for Metis Ratkin by other Shapechangers.

Haven

They live on the run, going from homeless shelters to hostels to back alleys. They usually try to avoid any place close to where a Ratkin nest has been established, but sometimes beggars can't be choosers.

Background

Most, if not all, of these Kindred are homeless or disenfranchised. As the bloodline grows, they may become more diverse, but that is probably at least a decade away. Note that all of the members of this clan were once Ratkin Kinfolk, and this is why the Ratkin particularly hate this bloodline.

Character Creation

Concepts tend to be hobos, drifters, and the homeless. Mental attributes are often primary, as are Talents like Streetwise and Subterfuge. Natures and Demeanors are usually similar, and reflect a life lived in secrecy. Common backgrounds are Generation, Contacts and Allies, but never Herd. Unless the character is part of an Elysium chronicle and has access to the higher levels of Rodentis, they can have no access to any sort of Ratkin fetishes or totems.

Clan Disciplines

Unlike the Wolven, the Pestilens aren't influenced by the Auspice they would have had in life. Their lives are too chancy to try to fit themselves into a predetermined role. All Pestilens have the Disciplines of Animalism, Obfuscate, and Rodentis (a blend of Spiritus and Protean, specializing in Rats).

Weakness

In addition to having an appearance of 1 at all times, the Pestilens are carriers of diseases. While they themselves are immune to any diseases, those around them are likely to catch something if they remain around the Pestilens for an extended period. Anyone they feed from will definitely catch a disease, which most Kindred will take as a breach of the Masquerade. This disease, which is a variation on the Birthing Plague, will also be carried to any Kindred that feeds from the infected vessel. Thus, the Pestilens is usually forced to kill for food, and has a hard time maintaining any long-term relationships.

They also have a hard time using Animalism on targets other than rats, mice, and other verminous pests. Raise their Animalism difficulties by 2 when using those powers on animals that don't fit that category. Lupines, Kindred, and humans are still affected as normal.

Preferred Path

Few Pestilens keep their Humanity, as it is difficult to maintain a human perspective when you're a walking Plague transmitter. Many snap and choose to follow the Path of Typhon, while others get more philosophical and follow the Path of Death and the Soul.

Gaining Clan Prestige

Just surviving is enough for these Kindred.

Quote

"Bitter? Hell, yes, I'm bitter! Between the Camarilla's constant bitchin' about the Masquerade, and the Rat-People in my head callin' me an Abomination and a freak, I've got a lot to be bitter about..."

Stereotypes

Assamites: Don't make a name for yourself, and one won't come looking for you. Hell, all they want is blood anyway, and they probably wouldn't like what's in our veins.

Brujah: Pompous pricks think they speak for the 'common man', but they just full of it.

Caitiff: These guys are cool. At least they'll usually show you a bolt-hole you can run to if the local Prince is looking to stake you down for your dinner habits.

Gangrel: Real quiet and tough. They don't judge you much either, which makes 'em almost okay.

Lasombra: Just another damn vampire clan that wants to be in charge of it all. No better (or worse) than the Ventrue, I guess.

Malkavians: I don't know what voices they hear, but maybe you can get one of them to sit still long enough to help you figure out what your voices are saying.

Nosferatu: Despite our common origins, we don't hang around much with these guys. Call it courtesy, but we don't want to ruin our good ties with them by dragging a shitload of angry Ratkin down on their heads.

Ravnos: I hear they run some wicked scams. Good thing most of us don't have any money.

Setites: What a bunch of whacked-out mother-fuckers. Just stay away from 'em; if you can't, then fight like your unlife depended on it, 'cause it will.

Toreador: Art snobs? Who cares? I'm too busy trying to find a meal that no one will miss.

Tremere: Nobody else trusts 'em, and that's enough for me for now.

Tzimisce: I hear these guys are serious freak jobs, and that a few of them have a weird fascination with diseases and disfigurement. I guess they could be allies, if you really needed one.

Ventrue: A bunch of self-indulgent asses who fuck everyone else over with their Masquerade while conveniently bending the rules to fit their own habits.

Camarilla: See our opinion of the Ventrue. That just about says it all. Sabbat: Not much different from the Camarilla, I think. They all got a mad on for power, and don't give a shit who they fuck over to get it.

Anarchs: They're okay, I guess. I just don't know when or where they end and the Camarilla and Sabbat begin.

Ratkin: They scare me more than all the Camarilla and Sabbat combined. They're hid better, they're armed better, and they got just as much a taste for blood. Unfortunately, they want mine.