WALDEN
By Mitchell Kelly (mitch.kelly@tesco.net) (12 June 1995)
"Blackjack Davy come striding through them woods, sing his songs so gay, That he play and he sang 'till them greenwoods rang, and he charmed the heart of a lady"--Steve Gaines, Blackjack Davy
Nickname
History
The Walden are an extremely ancient English bloodline. Indeed, they claim that they are the "original" English Kindred, and that the Ventrue, who see themselves as quintessentially English, are "mere interlopers who came from Rome". Whatever the truth of this, the Walden bloodline is now confined to York, where it has both retreated and been driven to over the centuries. It seems possible that they are somehow an offshoot of the Gangrel, but this is mere speculation. The Walden have an affinity for plants rather than animals. At present, there are rather less than a dozen of the Bloodline all told, although this should not be taken as a mark of weakness on their part. No one has set eyes on a Walden and lived since a representative of the Bloodline came to sign the Convention of Thorns. Thus, the Bloodline is shrouded in mystery since most of those who might have seen one are either finally dead or else incommunicado. A number of strange stories have grown up around the Walden and their control over York.
Appearance
Generally quite large, imposing physical specimens. Both sexes develop extensive body hair after the Embrace, and all males members have extensive beards. This body hair varies in form from soft and mossy to almost twiglike in the beards of the male elders. The Waldens' skins have a peculiar greenish tint, replaced by a ruddy brownish tone just after feeding. This in no way renders them unattractive, although their rough, earthy image is often an aquired taste.
Background
Most are of the lower classes, and were associated with the earth or woodlands before their Embrace. Concepts include forester, hunter, and more recently, biologist, or new age mystic. Demeanors are widely variable, but are usually open and not devious. Natures tend to reflect the concept: survivor, loner, fanatic and so on. Human assets tend to be gained after Embrace, so can be anything, but Allies, Contacts and Herds among those who work in the woodlands are most common.
Disciplines
Fortitude, Obfuscate and Lugharn are the Bloodline's own Disciplines. Of the others available, Animalism, Auspex and Potence are the most common.
Creation
Physical attributes are generally primary, along with Talents. Skills common to the Bloodline are Animal Ken, Stealth and Repair, while Knowledges like Plant Lore, Biology and Occult are prized. In general, Walden have a high background in generation. Indeed, no Walden below eigth Generation are known. Allies, Contacts (especially local to York) and Retainers are otherwise common. Physical or Supernatural Merits are common, as is the Flaw, Anachronism. Walden cannot take the Flaw Taint of Corruption.
Weakness
Walden are tied to a particular tree for their unlives. If this tree is destroyed, so is the Walden. If the tree is damaged, so is the Walden. At irregular periods, the "life essence" of the Kindred must be transferred to a new tree. This can only be accomplished by an Elder of the Bloodline, and is the cause for a long, serious ceremony. Walden take great care not to reveal which is their own tree. Walden must also wear a sprig from their own tree's species somewhere about their person at all times. If this is lost, the Walden takes a one die penalty until it is recovered or replaced.
Organisation
Confined to the city of York, the Bloodline has less than twelve members, although all are of low Generation. The Bloodline is generally informal, and members get on with their unlives without any undue interference from the Elders. One exception is when other Kindred come visiting: the whole Bloodline acts in concert to remove them, dead or alive, without revealing itself.