TARANTALUS

By Simon Giles (simon.giles@lycosmail.com)

History

The Tarantalus bloodline was created several centuries before the dawn of the Christian era by a Gangrel Methuselah known as Gaelth. Gaelth had been long fascinated by the effects of the Embrace upon Garou. Many of those he tried to Embrace died horrible deaths when fed his vitae. Many more were driven insane by Caine's curse and destroyed themselves. A few survived the change and turned against their creator. After repeated failures, Gaelth instead turned his efforts towards Embracing Lupine pups who had not yet manifested their Garou natures. Few of these children survived for long. One of the survivors was Vehk, who was not Lupine, but Ananasi. Vehk served Gaelth for decades before leaving him to seek the advice of her own kind. They left on poor terms, and have feuded ever since. Little is known of Vehk's movements after leaving Gaelth, but her children are occasionally encountered living in secrecy within the Camarilla.

Current Status

The Tarantalus are an extremely secretive bloodline. Few kindred have heard of them and fewer still have evern met one. This bloodline has for centuries been locked in a silent struggle with members of the Gangrel and Ventrue clans. They are afraid to announce their existence to other Kindred for fear of being persecuted as the Baali and Salubri were. Members of this clan will invariably pose as Caitiff or Gangrel.

Nickname

Gangrel and Ventrue call them "Black Widows."

Appearance

Members of this clan have large, completely black eyes, and are always between the ages of 15 and 25. Vehk herself was supposedly only 13 when she was Embraced. Their manner of dress varies, but tends towards dark evening wear.

Haven

Tarantalus prefer dark, dank places to live. They love caverns and other underground complexes, but many nowadays settle for abandoned buildings with large basements.

Background

Members of this clan always choose to Embrace young females. The childer are carefully tutored in the history of their clan, the overriding importance of secrecy, and their place in the Jyhad.

Character Creation

Tarantalus often have Dilettante, Child, or Punk concepts, though they may be professionals. They may have any demeanor, but often choose conniver, devient, fanatic, loner, rebel, or survivor natures. Mental attributes are primary.

Clan Disciplines

Animalism, Auspex, and Arachnidia. Note: Instead of the Auspex discipline Astral Projection, Tarantalus may choose the alternate Auspex discipline Web Sight, see below.

Weakness

Like Ananasi, Tarantalus take damage from many pesticides. This is due, at least in part, to their physiological similarity to spiders. In addition, any time a Tarantalus frenzies, her beast nature manifests itself in a spider trait, much as Gangrel gain animal traits when they frenzy. These "Spider-Traits" might include: darkening of the skin (eventually becoming jet black), shedding of a carapace, multi-faceted eyes, etc.

Organization

The Tarantalus are completely alone in the world; they rely intensely upon each other and the guidence of their founding Methuselah, Vehk, who is said to be in Torpor. The world is a very lonely place for Tarantalus. They are at war with the Gangrel clan which spawned them, and feel the other clans would destroy them should they be discovered. Even the Ananasi shun the members of this clan, despite their similar histories.

Quote

"Yeah, I guess it's kinda like the nursery rhyme. How quaint. But seriously, do come into my parlour."

Stereotypes

Nosferatu: In times of great strife, these kindred have provided us with shelter. Don't let their appearance put you off. A few of them even know our secrets.

Gangrel: Many of Gaelth's progeny war with us. All of his line deserve no more than the poison of our sting.

Ventrue: These vile politicians vie for control of vital resources. To them it is just a game; to us it is life and death.

Inconnu: While they neither hinder us, nor harm us, they do not help us either.

Camarilla: They are so quick to destroy what they perceive as threats, and so unwilling to examine those threats before destroying them. Look at what happened to the Salubri.

Sabbat: Bloodthirsty barbarians. Avoid them.

Websight

In addition to Arachnidia, a Tarantalus may learn the new advanced Auspex discipline Web Sight.

Web Sight: (Prerequisite: Telepathy) This level of Auspex allows you to view any location connected by a spirit web from the other location. You may see and hear any event which transpires at the other location just as though you were standing there. Tarantalus may use this discipline even if they can not yet weave their own spirit webs.