PUPPET MASTERS

By Justin Whitney (Ravnos101@aol.com)

Author's Note

As I flipped through the book of The Risen I, as anyone who read it, thought it was cool that the Wraiths could use Vampiric Disciplines. After many hours of being brainwashedby my Metallica CDs I had began to boil an idea. I began to think that is would be cool if there was a group of Cainites who could use The Restless' Arcanoi. Hense I created the Puppet Masters. Enjoy!!!

History

Yet another friendly extension of the Ravnos Family, the Puppet Masters have been around for a long time -- almost as long as the Ravnos themselves. The first four were rogues who traveled among the Cappadocians and learned the Discipline they had developed. When the Cappadocians formed in to the Giovanni that ended the kinship. Over the centuries the Puppet Masters began speaking to the dead with their newfound Discipline. They have talked to the dead and and have traded knowledges with the Risen. There is a bond between the Restless and these Vampires that should be kept tighty. There are also rumors that the head of the clan is using the skills he has learned from the Wraithly beings to Control one of the Justicars through use of Dominate and Puppetry. But telling you which Justicar it is would spoil the surprise. Oh... alright...... (it just might be Ulug-Begh... but it also might be Angus-The Unruled) Decide for yourself ST's. High elders of the Ravnos even claim to have seen the Puppet Masters walk in to the land of the dead with the Wraiths. Of course take it in to fact that the Charlatans are liars and thieves but the Ravnos spread the rumors among each other. Though they've been around since 1611 the Puppet Masters have only begun to show up in the more recent years, revealing themselves from the dark veil Most of them have hidden behind. It's quite eay for one of them to pass as a Ravnos or a Brujah at any gathering of kindred. Storytellers can have fun with this Bloodline when your player is a Ventrue mistaking him for a meer 12th Gen. Rowdy Thuggish Ravnos crashing the party when in reality he's a 7th gen. Puppet master about to overthrow Chicago (a third time).

Nickname

Mops (For two reasons 1) a lot of them have long hair 2) Short for Masters or Puppets Masters (yet another shortened term for Puppet Masters))

Appearance

Like their Brethen, most of the Puppet Masters are from Gypsy Descent but there are also a lot of Gorgio. Most of them appear as your usual Punk-Rocker type though: long hair & leather.

Haven

The Masters usualy drift about following the tours of their favorite Rock Bands. The most common amongst these bands is Metallica. If you go to a concert, you'll find at least half of the bloodline there, usually in the first six rows. Some actually establish Havens and start their own Gigs where they're living. These always tend to be apartments.

Background

The Mops sire those who would prove loyal to the bloodline as a whole, not just Punks. They hate people who beg to Embraced and put them out of their misery as soon as they can. Most of the Puppet Masters tend to be Charismatic and Witty. Also, the Puppet Masters only Embrace people who show great musical talent and skill to join their bands.

Character Creation

The Masters usually have Rebel/Deviant/Wanderer Natures and Demeanors, but a few sidelines come in. A Witty Jester may be encountered at one of their meetings. Social or Mental Abilities and Talents are a Must. They usually have high ratings of Resources in band equipment, which are awed by the others of their Bloodline.

Bloodline Disciplines

Celerity, Necromancy, Dominate

Weaknesses

The Masters have a great love for their music, and when someone challenges them by degrading on how they played, the difficulty to resist Frenzy is raised by four. The Masters also must practice their music at least one hour every night or face a penalty of subtracting one Die from his dice pool for every hour until he practices his music for the fit amount of time (i.e. Two nights = two hours) Another minor weakness which isn't really a big deal for any member of this clan, is that they must attend at least one Metallica concert each year, or face losing a point in his Music rating. Once a foolish mop had done this.... His career was ruined.

Advantages

This particular group of Kindred is capable of communicating with the Dead and can learn their powers of Arcanos. In return, they help the Risen with their quests for vengeance. There is one drawback though, before any Master can learn another form of Arcanos he must master puppetry.

Gaining Bloodline Prestige

Any Mop who wins a public music competition like the local Battle of The Bands is awed and respected by the others of his Bloodline. The Childer usualy have brutal competitions in winning this, a lot of them can be found at each contest trying to win.

Bloodline Organization

They meet once a year at one large concert where all of the members hold their own battle of The Bands, to see who is the best amongst the best. There is also a meeting of the elders every thirteen years, one week before the Inner Circle's meeting. What goes on here is very confidential, and any outsider gaining any knowledge about what goes on at their meeting dies a gruesome death. Other than these meetings, most of them travel in groups of five or six, playing gigs as they follow their favorite rock Bands around the world.

Stereotypes

Assamites: Wonderful people... They just keep on killing...and killing...and killing...

Brujah: Punk! I didn't see you at the concert last Night!

New Cappadocians: Them Bone thugs... Pumpin' Slugs... (in to the Giovanni)

Setites: Don't Tread on me!

Gangrel: Wherever I may roam...

Giovanni: You guys are already dead. I have nothing to say to you

Malkavians: Sanitarium . . .

Nosferatu: So I'm dubbed the Unforgiven...

Toreador: Yes, I know my Music is beautiful...

Tremere: Tricky, tricky, tricky....

Ravnos: Where's my Wallet ? Well, I don't need it since I have yours -- Brother

Ventrue: Hah! If half of them knew who was really controlling them.

The Camarilla: Master of Puppets I'm pulling your strings!

The Sabbat: They're too Stupid to know we rule them too.

The Inconnu: Bunch of Buddies.

Quote

Now I rule you too!