By connorbd@bc.edu
In the early 19th century, a crackdown by the British occupational forces wiped out most of the sect. The few survivors went underground, only to be rooted out one by one and summarily executed by British soldiers and imperialist vigilantes. But the death squads were being shadowed; many of the executions took place at night, and as soon as one group left, the other group -- a self-appointed cleanup squad of Ravnos vampires -- would Embrace those not quite dead yet. Thus the ways of the Thagi sect carried on, this time with its members virtually immortal.
The Thugs are a subgroup of the Ravnos clan. They are perceived as random and brutal, with no loyalties save to themselves and the Ravnos. They engage in diablerie only of clans other than the Ravnos and the Salubri, but this they do frequently. Most live in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh; there are a few in Southeast Asia (at least two are believed to have been involved in murders of Thai prostitutes). A small number also live in England and North America, where they have been responsible for the deaths of several "white trash" derelicts in the American South (most of their US members were black sharecroppers before their Embrace) and a spate of unsolved street murders in Canada. Virtually none exist in Sabbat-dominated Mexico; there are a few elsewhere in Latin America, but they are rare.
The Thugs are shunned by the Sabbat; they are felt to be too brutal even for their lifestyle. They despise the Camarilla, with a special hatred reserved for the Toreador, who they see largely as an adult might see a popsicle: insubstantial but tasty. They have placed a bounty on the heads of all Giovanni by orders of Kali; they actually try to protect the Salubri, due to some commonality of spiritual belief.
Their belief system is less complex than that of the original Thugs, but no less strict; what outsiders perceive as random violence is closely regulated. Women are never killed, nor are those humans consider as holy (though the Sabbat hierarchy is as often as not fair game). Within the vampire world, no Thug will ever hurt a Ravnos or Salubri; this latter conceit has made enemies of all Tremere, and the Thugs treat them accordingly. Murders are carried out with fang or rapier instead of the traditional strangling (they are, after all, vampires), but always with a prayer to Kali. Diablerie is not only practiced, but is the general rule when the murder of another vampire is called for.
Most Thugs are of Indian birth or descent, except in the United States where an overwhelming majority are poor blacks from Southern agricultural states such as Georgia. There are very few white Thugs of any nationality, and most prefer to join the Sabbat as enforcers. They are virtually all male as the code of Thagi forbids the murder of women.
"As their mortal ancestors did for their homeland, they court disaster for all kindred. They must be stopped."
Sabbat: We don't really understand them. We have the same aims; what do they fear from us?
"No more trustworthy than a Tremere. They will kill you just as surely as an antediluvian will, no questions asked."
Ravnos: They are our saviors, though one can only take so much of them.
"Our dealings are... limited. They leave us alone, but we don't know that that actually means anything."
Setites: Showoffs. They know nothing of efficiency.
"You hire a Thug and come back with the payment. You never, ever get involved."
Toreador: It's all a game to them. Fortunately they always taste interesting.
"If you ever meet one, make sure he's not carrying a saltshaker."
Ventrue: Snots. Not even worth diablerie; take a cigarette lighter to them.
"Sadists and monsters. The only difference is that they don't bother to chat you up before killing you like they used to."
Nosferatu: They're there and they never have anything for us. At best they're snacks; at worst they're not worth going after.
"I met one once. We didn't have much to talk about."
Malkavians: When you can understand them, they've nothing to say. If one bothers you, just get him out of the way.
"Crunchy. That's how I'd describe them."
Assamites: Eat my shorts, wimps.
"Why do they get to have all the fun?"
Tremere: Avoid at all costs. They talk big and back it up.
"One did in my sire. You simply don't do that to a Tremere."
Giovanni: The fewer out there the better. Kali has condemned them all.
"They consider us prime targets. What do you think I think?"
Salubri: Our spirit brothers. They must not be destroyed.
"Nasty creatures, but if you have an extra eye they're completely trustworthy."
Gangrel: If the Toreador are candy, the Gangrel are a banquet. Those who would associate with Lupines are an abomination to the Goddess.
"Never trust one. Never rest if you know one is near. Never sleep again."
Brujah: The only good time to meet with one is high noon. They are as insane as the Malkavians.
"(sarcastically) Sounds like my kind of people."
Baali: Sympathetic, though rather deluded.
"Hey, they do our work for us. Do I look like I'm complaining?"
Lasombra: In their own way, as pompous and obnoxious as the Ventrue. The only difference is that the Ventrue can be trusted to sign the check.
Tzimisce: Chain them up. They're a waste of vitae.
Mages: They like us the same way they like the Ravnos.
Garou: Freaks. No respect whatever for the goddess.
"Kali is the Wyrm. If you know you know one, kill it."
Changelings: Their blood is sour and dry. Kill only for hire, never food.
Wraiths: We consider them works of art more than anything else.