By Terence Duffy (jalaroc@aol.com)
Refer to the Machomenoi clan by Timothy Toner (thanatos@interaccess.com)
This Bloodline came about when a group of Tremere magi within the Goratrix faction utilized a newly developed ritual to awaken a recently unearthed elder of unknown lineage. Unbeknownst to them, the elder was a 6th generation Machomenoi named Mithrakles. He had gone into torpor after a raid on a village of garou kinfolk turned out to be a party crashing of a Get of Fenris grand moot. Something the scout Hassan must have failed to point out in his report to the leader of the attack. That was what turned a punitive raid to teach the werewolves not to assert themselves in kindred territory into one of the worst defeats ever suffered by the Machomenoi clan.
Mithrakles arose from torpor finding himself staked and naked in a tremere chantry. While contemplating the undoubtedly short and painful existence ahead of him, Fate intervened when the chantry came under attack by a coterie of Tzimisce and Gangrel. The Tremere fled, the Tzimisce burned and looted the chantry, and Mithrakles repaid the neonate who unstaked him by diablerizing her and using the stolen blood to escape.
At first disoriented and confused at the changes that had occurred while he was in torpor, his confusion turned to rage when he discovered what had become of his clan. Mithrakles vowed that the Machomenoi standard would rise again, planted in the chest of the last Assamite. Towards this end, he embraced several childer to aid him in his crusade. It was then that he learned of the changes the ritual had affected on his blood. He discovered that in order to awaken each night, he had to burn more blood; this meant he and his childer would have to feed more frequently. Along with this sobering thought, however, came the more welcome realization that his dream (obsession) had been passed on to his childer and their get as well.
Using the many wars to swell their ranks, The Warriors of Mithras began a plan that they were confident would bring about the complete and utter destruction of "Clan" Assamite. They first embarked on a campaign of diablerie among the elders of Europe using the guise of Assamites to increase their own power and sow distrust and hatred against the sons of Hassan. Simultaneously, they went amongst the princes and elders of the fledgling Camarilla and spread rumors of an Assamite plot to destroy the Camarilla and diablerize the elders, all true of course, just greatly exaggerated. The elders reacted predictably and the war was on. The Warriors of Mithras gave no quarter and their successes combined with the Assamites finding out they were responsible for the war, earned them a place of hatred surpassing that of the Tremere. When the treaty of Tyre was signed less than 10 of Mithrakle's brood remained and the founder himself had gone to the final death at the hands of an Assamite assassin. Disheartened by their failure, the remaining members quietly faded into the background of the anarch rebellion and set about replacing their losses and convincing both the Camarilla and the Assamites that they had all been destroyed. They have watched and waited for half a millenium and now they are ready once again.
The Warriors of Mithras now call themselves the Reavers as part of their Masquerade. They are slowly rejoining kindred society under the guise of other clans and bloodlines. Utilizing the conflict between the Camarilla and the Sabbat, the Reavers are gaining positions of trust within both sects and using those positions to further the bloodlines goals. Despite their best efforts, the Reaver Masquerade is beginning to fray, If the Masquerade fails, the Reavers may well decide that gehenna will come early.
Note: Reavers seem to have a very difficult time learning Quietus, possibly due to their Bloodlines weakness. [cost 10x instead of normal cost]
The Triumvirate functions as the leadership of the sect, it is composed of a representive of each of the three subclasses. They are responsible for planning operations, overseeing the induction of neonates, making sure the Masquerade is maintained, and keeping the members of the bloodline in touch with each other. Membership in the Triumvirate is determined by vote at the Gathering of Juran. The Triumvirate can be overruled in certain areas(such as maintenance of the Masquerade) by the master at arms.
The Historian is a post of great prestige, if little temporal power within the bloodline. The historian functions as a caretaker for the bloodline's relics and investigates possible resting places of machomenoi in torpor (with no success). Most importantly, the historian is the bloodline's chief expert on magic (he has several assistants assigned to him). At some point in their unlives, members of the bloodline will have tutoring sessions from him or one of his assistants (thaumaturgy 1 or 2 max, 1 path usually taste of blood or lure of flames). The historian's assistants are chosen from within the bloodline; no kine is embraced simply for his/her magical pontential. These assistants are called scholars and they are renown throughout the bloodline for combining disciplines to create new and unusual effects. These abilities make the scholars, in some ways, more dangerous than the warriors.
The master at arms is responsible for maintaining the Masquerade of the bloodline, leading large groups of Reavers on their missions, and teaching tactics, weapons use, and tradecraft to neonates. This post is filled by the triumvirat;, however, the master at arms is totally independent of the Triumvirate in matters of security. the position of master at arms can be challenged and taken away by physical combat, in which case the challenger had better have a really good and somewhat altruistic reason for challenging the current officeholder.
The Reaver bloodline headquarters is moved frequently for security reasons. The number of kindred in the bloodline is deliberately kept low to avoid attention; however, they have been slowly increasing their numbers in preparation for the final war against the Assamites. Diablerie is generally discouraged as a threat to the Masquerade. On the other hand, if it's an Assamite, the Triumvirate is always willing to make an exception. As a group the Reavers are extremely loyal to each other (no blood bonds are required) and any disagreements are settled by duels or by a hearing before the bloodline leaders. In the entire history of the bloodline, there have been only two members who have committed treason (one of them divulged the bloodline's existence to an Assamite he subsequently failed to destroy) and their final deaths were very creative. Reavers are in love with modern technology(the newer ones more so than the elders) and make extensive use of it in their "war." However, Reavers as a whole deplore weapons of mass destruction; they feel it belittles the art of warfare.
1. An ancient Machomenoi methuselah may still exist; all attempts at contacting him however, have led to the Final Death. His name is Polydamos.....
2. The current historian has held his post since the 15th century, It is said that he is not even of the Reaver bloodline, but is treated as one for his aid in helping the bloodline survive the aftermath of the Assamite war. He is nicknamed "The Corpse." His real name is unknown to all but the kindred who have served on the Triumvirate.
3. An unknown kindred has recovered a sword that is nonmagical but displays unusual abilities. These abilities are similar to the ones attributed to the Machomenoi of old.
4. Within the bloodline, there is a group called the Phalanx. they want a return to the ideals of the machomenoi (open combat with Assamites, direct political control of mortals, etc). The Phalanx is reviving the old disciplines of the machomenoi and quietly suggesting that the Masquerade is no longer in the best interests of the bloodline. They have even taken to calling themselves by the names of the greatest of the Machomenoi and are ardent followers of the Path of Ares.
5. Certain members of the bloodline have begun following the Path of Evil Revelations. They call themselves the Blackguard and are in the process of recruiting other Reavers to serve their masters. An alliance is being contemplated with the Baali.
6. Some of the lower generation Reavers with high auspex have begun receiving troubling dreams of a rotting white buffalo that exudes a sense of wrongness; it is devouring an elder they know instinctively is the Reaver founder, Mithrakles.
7. The Reavers act with the blessing of the Antediluvians who do not wish to see the sons of Hassan to profit on their founder's crime. At the gathering of Juran a gifted member of the bloodline is chosen as their mouthpiece. Gehenna is coming, they promise.
8. Mithrakles is not really dead, On the night of Gehenna, he will rise from torpor once again and lead the Reavers against their enemies.
9. The Triumvirate was approached by an enigmatic kindred who calls himself St. Germaine. A deal was struck and the Reavers are now including certain non-Assamite kindred as fair game.
10. The Assamites have several original members of the Warriors of Mithras staked in the Alamut. They've been there since the Treaty of Tyre, and used as vessels and teaching aids for torture and weapons training.
11. Hassan was never a member of the Machomenoi; he merely masqueraded as such to carry out the assassination of Juran and the elimination of his childer (Ha, You expect us to believe that?!?!?) All that is of known of the being who engaged his services is that he/she is an Antediluvian, it involved the payment of an old debt, and it was a sibling of Juran (Juran was embraced by Jrad)
6th generation Dagger
Str 5, Dex 7, Sta 4, Cha 4, Man 6, App 3, Per 5, Int 4, Wit 7
Tewfik was embraced by the warriors because he knew the land around which the Alamut was supposedly located. Some of the bloodline were distrustful of him and it was his efforts to overcome the distrust of his brethren that led him to become one the greatest of the warriors. Tewfik was responsible for the diversion that allowed a member of the Nosferatu clan to infiltrate Alamut. The Nosferatu had been dominated and ordered to destroy the heart's blood of clan Assamite. It was hoped that this would force the traitor Hassan to awaken and with the combined forces of all the clans and perhaps the direct intervention of the other Antediluvians (no one said it was a sane plan) he could be destroyed and perhaps even diablerized. Despite the plan's failure, Tewfik was hailed as a true warrior by Mithrakles and it was this alone that saved him from the Final Death. Over the centuries Tewfik has been obsessed with infiltrating the Alamut and the Assamites; to this end he has focused all of his energies on learning the secrets of the clan, Quietus, and Obfuscate. He is the leading practitioner of Quietus in the bloodline (level 7 and all powers of lesser level). Tewfik's mission right now is to ascertain why the Assamites are embracing scientists and doctors.
Disciplines: Celerity 4, Obfuscate 6, Ptolemos 5, Quietus 7, Dominate 6, Protean 2, Obtenebration 1, Fortitude 4
Talents: Clan Impersonation 5, Acting 3, Alertness 3, Athletics 2, Brawl 5, Dodge 4, Leadership 3, Streetwise 2, Subterfuge 4, Intrigue 3, Sense Deception 4
Skills: Drive 2, Etiquette 4, Firearms 4, Melee 6, Security 5, Stealth 6, Survival 3, Blindfighting 2, Fast Draw 5, Lipreading 4
Knowledge: Computer 2, Investigation 3, Linguistics 3, Occult 3, Politics 2, Clan Knowledge 4, Kindred Lore 2, Military Science 4
Humanity 4
Willpower 8
Wilhelm Vennum
4th generation Sword
Str 6, Dex 6, Sta 6, Cha 5, Man 4, App4 , Per 3, Int 4, Wit 7
Wilhelm Vennum is a vampire whose entire existence is war. He was one of the first embraced by Mithrakles; he had been mortally wounded by bandits while escorting his lord's body back to his estate after a disastrous battle to wipe out a neigboring lord. When Mithrakles found him, he was slumped against a tree with three bodies lying at his feet. Wilhelm proved to be somewhat of a vampiric prodigy, learning disciplines with effortless ease, it was he who created the modern version of Ptolemos and he has continued to be at the forefront of its development right up to the present day. Now for Wilhelm's dirty little secret: Wilhem Vennum follows the Path of Evil Revelations. He was corrupted long before his embrace, however. Wilhelm's family had been in the service of a Baali for over a hundred years. His master was admittedly slightly piqued that one of his prize possessions had been taken by another, but he saw the opportunities inherent the situation and took the neonate under his shadowy wing. Wilhelm learned quickly with the help of his masters and Mithrakles was so busy with his crusade that he never even questioned his childe's unnatural progress. When he learned all he could from his teacher, Wilhelm staked and diablerized him. Wilhelm is still dedicated to the Reaver cause. However, he thinks that in war, sacrifices must be made and he is actually proud that he has made the ultimate one.
Note: Wilhelm has a 8 pt investment that lowers the cost of disciplines to x5 for non-clan disciplines and x3 for clan disciplines.
Disciplines: Celerity 6, Potence 8, Ptolemos 9 all powers up to, Animalism 4, Auspex 5, Daimonon 5, Dominate 6, Fortitude 7, Obfuscate 7, Obtenebration 4, Presence 8, Protean 3, Quietus 4, Serpentis 3, Thaumaturgy 4 (Path of Conjuring 3, Lure of Flames 2, Movement of Mind 3),Vicissitude 4
Talents: Acting 2, Alertness 3, Athletics 3, Brawl 7, Dodge 6, Leadership 6, Subterfuge 4, Interrogation 3, Public Speaking 4, Scan 2, Throwing 4
Skills: Drive 2, Firearms 3, Melee (sword) 8, Security4, Stealth 5, Archery 2, Blind Fighting 4, Demolitions 3, Fast Draw3, Heavy Weapons 3, Ride 3, Torture 5, Tracking 3
Knowledges: Investigation 3, Law 1, Linguistics, Occult 4, Politics 5, Science 2, Camarilla Lore 3, Heraldry 4, History 5, Kindred Lore 4, Lupine Lore 2, Mage Lore 2, Military Science 6, Sabbat Lore 3, Wyrm Lore 4
Path of Evil Revelations 9
Willpower 9
Wilhelm has a Gorget that allows him to choose the aura he projects and makes him immune to mind scans.
Jake
9th generation Shield
Str 4, Dex 3,Sta 5, Cha 4, Man 4, App 3, Per 4, Int 2, Wit 2
Jake Speed was a mercenary in Africa during the Belgian Congo war; he had one of the largest ear collections in his company. He thought he was going to die like a man, with a bullet in the chest. Instead, he came down with black water fever; the night he was fated to die he received a visitor. Jake was giving the choice of dying or becoming part of a greater war, a war with no limits placed on the means of winning and no limits on the rewards of victory. For Jake there was no choice at all, his sire slit his wrists and drained his diseased blood from his body and in return gave him the means to fight forever.
Jake is heavily involved in the bloodline's gun running operations. To date he has sent two Setites and a Ventrue to the Final Death for sticking their noses in where they didn't belong. His Masquerade as a Ventrue is a perfect cover, considering his taste for mercenary soldiers. Some of the Reavers have taken to calling him "blue blood," but never to his face; Jake still has the biggest ear collection in the bloodline.
Disciplines: Celerity 1, Fortitude 2, Ptolemos 4, Dominate 3, Protean 2
Talents: Alertness 4, Athletics 2, Brawl 4, Dodge 2, Intimidation 3, Leadership 3, Streetwise 3, Subterfuge 1, Haggling 4,Interrogation 3, Scan 3, Scrounging 4, Carousing 4
Skills: Drive 3, Firearms 5, Melee 4, Repair 1, Security 3, Stealth 3, Survival 4, Blindfighting 3, Camouflage 3, Demolitions 2, First Aid 3, Heavy Weapons 4, Hunting 4, Pilot 2, Torture 3, Traps 2, Tracking 2
Knowledges: Computer 2, Finance 3, Law 2, Linguistics 2, Occult 1, Accounting 1, Military Science 2
Humanity 2
Willpower 5
"A new group of kindred who accept payment in blood? I think it would behoove us to find out what the Assamites actually do with their "blood money."
The Sabbat: A mob of unruly children throwing a centuries old temper tantrum against their elders. Beware of the Black Hand.
"Met one once. Acted polite, but you got the feeling she'd rip your throat out as soon speak to you."
The Inconnu: For all the power of their blood, they are little more than glorified wall flowers.
"They should join their clan in oblivion; there is no place for them in today's world."
Giovanni: They pay well and allow us our secrets.
"Useful tools, when influencing events in which our hand is best kept hidden. Allow them their delusions of granduer."
Ravnos: Not to be trusted. Try and point them in the direction of your enemies and then check your wallet.
"About as much fun to be around as a garou with mange."
Setites: We suspect they gave aid to Hassan in his quest to destroy our forebearers. If you must deal with one, see to its destruction, personally afterwards.
"An entire bloodline of obsessed kindred, Such opportunities! Just don't approach within striking distance"
Salubri: Cowards, afraid of staining their hands to avenge their founder. They deserve the fate that awaits them.
"A bloodline of such anger and ruthlessness, I wonder what they will be when they attain their goal? Vindicated, Or soulless shells with no more desire than to greet the sunrise."
Ventrue: "Masters" of the Camarilla, they rule by fear and in turn are ruled by their own fears. They are the easiest to manipulate.
"Reavers? Never heard of them. Warriors of Mithras? A bloodline that was destroyed in the Assamite war. Pity, they were of great use to us."
Toreador: Dilletantes of no consequence, fit only to be our herd.
"Never heard of them, Must be a new Sabbat group you're talking about. I'm sure they're typical Sabbat-uncivilized, with the fashion sense of a Nosferatu."
Gangrel: Excellent fighters, but no sense of strategy.
"Never heard of them and as long as they leave me alone, I'll leave them alone"
Malkavians: Avoid all contact with them.
"Macho Macho Man, I want to be -- A Macho man!
Nosferatu: Be extremely wary of them; even when they're not there, they're there. A good source of information, But make sure it remains a one way street.
"A strange group of kindred with an unhealthy interest in the Assamites. Did I say that? Sorry, My tongue usually slips at the promise of a boon."
Tremere: Worthy of respect and caution, but too self-serving to be reliable allies.
"They work well and say nothing. More importantly, they are expendable."
"A thorn that shall be pluck in due time. The warriors? Don't be ridiculous; we destroyed that satanic bloodline long ago!"