STAGIAN

By SlpStck@aol.com

History

Many centuries ago, in the country that would become England, there lived a Gangrel known only as Stagian. He led, as was normal for his clan, a wandering existence, an outcast from the other clans. However, one thought always kept his unlife worth living; the hope that he would be the Kindred to learn how to return unto the sunlight they all knew and remembered, without their damned lives ending.

After many, many years of searching, Stagian turned to an eccentric elderly man he knew. This man, unbeknownst to Stagian, was, in fact, a Mage of the Verbena. Hoping that this man could help him, as he said he could, Stagian followed exactly what the old man said. As the man cast his spell, Stagian felt his very essence being changed, and actually passed out from the ordeal. When he awoke, the old man was no where to be found, and Stagian knew he had fallen into torpor somehow.

When he emerged from the secluded cave the man had chosen, Stagian immediately headed to the castle to make sure the prince he remembered was still alive, for he knew not how long he had been asleep. As he headed for the castle, Stagian was attacked by brigands in the wood. Feeling the heat of battle on him, Stagian rushed his attackers, and suddenly found them writhing on the ground, engulfed in flames. Unsure what happened, Stagian resumed heading to the castle. To his relief, the old prince still sat on the throne. The prince rose out of his throne, and embraced Stagian, surprised his old friend was still alive. "What hast happened to the, Stagian? It hast been almost ten decades since we hast seen thee last!"

Stagian was shocked to learn he had been in torpor for a full century, and quickly began to explain what had happened to him, including the incident with the brigands. Suddenly, the prince began to shrink away from his old friend the tell tale look of fear in his eyes. "What is wrong, my prince?" Stagian asked.

"Thine eyes, Stagian. They glow with fire!" Stagian turned to the hanging mirror, and found that his eyes were indeed emitting small flames, yet he saw and felt nothing, except in his reflection. "What hast happened to me?" Stagian asked himself aloud.

"I know not, but I think it would be best for you to disappear for a short time, my friend, until you've learned to control these new . . . powers. Lest my other subjects become . . . threatened," the prince said. Slowly, Stagian agreed, realizing the logic in this argument. "And Stagian? Since you might not be back for sometime, I give you the right of progeny." Stagian nodded, and slowly walked out of the palace.

Hundreds of years later, Stagian returned. The prince, amazingly still reigning, greeted his old friend, and his progeny. What most amazed the prince was what his friend showed him when, showing no fear, Stagian stuck his arm into an open flame, and pulled it out unscathed. However, the other Kindred in the room were not impressed, and decided, unto themselves, that Stagian should not be allowed to survive. Mere weeks later, this small group attacked Stagian as he returned to his haven, and, finding sick irony in it, threw the Kindred into the local river. Unbeknownst to them, this was his new weakness, and died screaming in the river. But, before they could kill his childe, they realized the sun would soon be rising, not leaving them enough time to kill him and return to safety. They left him lamenting for his sire, and returned to their havens.

The childe, giving his name only as John, knowing he would die if he did not seek shelter, ran quickly to a nearby cave, and slept until last light. He awoke as soon as possible, and began to run for a local port town, and booked passage on a ship to a newly settled land called the American Colonies. When John arrived, he immediately headed for the vast wooded frontier, knowing that, if they followed him from England, they would not follow into the forests. Nothing was heard from him for years, until he arrived in the city of Cincinnati in the late 1900's. Introducing himself as a Caitiff, John, along with the few Childer he had made for himself, asked the prince to let them stay in the area. He agreed. John never told the prince of his Childers rather unique powers, so that no one would no what hit them!

Nickname

Followers of Bic (but never to their face)

Appearance

Although they usually like wearing the leathers and chains of punks, the Stagian can and will wear whatever they must to survive.

Disciplines

Fortitude, Protean, Soliairus

Weakness

The weaknesses of the Stagian are many. First, they take double damage from holy water, all of it aggravated. Second, as their understanding of the Soliairus discipline increases, the Stagian begin to develop something akin to the "Can't Cross Running Water" flaw, but only if they are actually submerged. At first level, they have trouble around large bodies of water, and, as their knowledge of Soliairus increases, the amount of water they suffer in decreases, until they will take damage in just a trickle of water. Lastly, the Stagian suffer a temper worse then any Brujah. As such, they must garner two extra success when trying to avoid or come out of a frenzy.

Advantages

When the Stagian has levels of Soliairus and Fortitude of equaling power, he gains bonuses against fire and sunlight. If, however, he has more power in one discipline than the other, he gains the bonuses only for the levels he has equal. For example, if a Stagian has level 2 of both Soliairus and Fortitude, he would have the same bonuses as if he had level 2 in one, and level 4 of the other.

Level One each : -1 diff to soak fire damage

Level Two each : -2 diff to soak fire damage, -1 diff to Rötshreck

Level Three each : Immune to Fire, -2 diff to Rötshreck, -1 diff to soak Sunlight

Level Four each : Immune to Rötshreck, -2 diff to soak Sunlight

Level Five each : Totally Immune to Fire, Rötshreck, and Sunlight