Clan Assamite: Scholars and Magi

By Adam Solis (ajsolis@aol.com)

Origins

Although there are numerous rumors about the Assamite antediluvian being of the second generation either originally or through diablerie, what no non Assamite realizes is that the Assamite clan is in fact three closely related clans: the warriors, the scholars, and the Magi. There are many reasons for this -- Assamites do not trust other vampires, Assamites routinely masquerade as other clans, and there is no obvious difference between the Assamite clans.

Assamite Scholar

Nicknames

The intelligentsia, book worms, Scowlers

Disciplines

Quietus, Porphyria, and Presence. Also, as all Assamites are skilled in infiltrating the other clans, they can develop two "semiclan" disciplines to impersonate another clan. Semiclan disciplines are learned at caitiff costs. Any Assamite scholar may choose the Assamite warrior disciplines of obfuscate and celerity if so desired instead of the disciplines of another clan.

History

The Middle East has long a history of being a place of culture, of the arts and sciences. That is in no small part due to the efforts of the Assamites, who would Embrace a scientist or artist so that his genius would not be lost to the world.

Character creation

All Assamites are physically fit, therefore physical attributes are secondary. Artists have social attributes as their primary selection while scientists have Mental as their primary trait. Scientists have knowledges as their primary abilities. Artists can choose their primary ability category. Naturally, artists have a Creativity score just as the Toreador do. The merits of the toreador, loyalty, True Faith, and Assamite traits are all appropriate.

Affiliation

As with the "normal" warrior Assamites, there are scholars among the clan proper, Sabbat, and Black Hand. Antitribu scholars have the same weakness as every Antitribu Assamite -- vita addiction.

Clan Impersonation

Toreador (and antitribu), Obour, Tzimisce, Brujah

Assamite Magi

Nicknames

The Enlightened, Wiz'worms

History

The Middle East has also been well known for magic. Djinn, shair, and other myths of magic were real in the Middle East for a considerably longer time than in the West. Naturally, the Assamite Magi were glad to keep it that way before the Technocracy won the Middle East.

Disciplines

Quietus, Thaumaturgy, and Elementalism. Magi also have access to semiclan disciplines that either reflect their false identity among another clan, their ties to the Assamite warriors, or their own nature. Many Magi antitribu of the Black Hand are Wolven (or kinfolk vampires), giving them the semiclan disciplines of Warrior of Gaia Protean and Rank (either among the Silent Striders, Shadow Lords, or Uktena).

Character Creation

Physical attributes are secondary, while mental traits are primary. Any category of abilities can be primary, although the knowledge category is preferred. True Faith, Loyalty, kinfolk, and Assamite and Black Hand merits are all appropriate. Talismans of the Order of Hermes, Verbena, or Euthanatos are available to those of the Black Hand, as are Rites of the Shadow lords, Uktena, or Silent Strider tribes.

Weakness

Same as any other Assamite of their affiliation -- blood lust for antitribu and the inability to drink vampire blood among the mainstream Assamites.

Clan impersonation

Tremere, Tzimisce, True Brujah

Note

Assamite Magi claim that the infamous Liches of the Black Hand are of their number. Also one must keep in mind that the Scholars and the Magi are full clans, with their own Antediluvians.