WESSYNIX

By Tyree Quincan Kimber (25 January 1996)

History

The Wessynix are one of the more recent bloodlines to appear, having only been active for the past ten years or so. They also tend to be not taken seriously yet, seeing as how they came into existence literally by accident. Few who are aware of them aknowledge them as anything more then freakish Caitiff, and not any kind of a threat. Time will tell as to whether or not this mindset proves to be unwise.

Wessen was a typical Gangrel, mistrusting of other Kindred and more at home in the wild than in the squalorous cities. Unlike many Kindred, Wessen had easily been able to come to terms with his vampiric existence and lived out his nights peacefully amidst the forests Germany, enjoying the presence of animal companions and the benefits of high Humanity.

Unfortunately, Kindred being what they are, no matter how hard Wessen tried to stay out of trouble, trouble eventually found him. One day, as he slept peacefully underground, Wessen awoke in horror to find the the earth above him being ripped away and the cruel sun raining down on him. Unkown to Wessen, a group of Hunters who had been tracking him for the past several days had finally decided to make their move, watching him as he Earthmelded and waiting until dawn to make their move. Only Wessen's high level of Fortitude and the fact that the day was overcast saved him being annihilated instantly. In confused panic, Wessen burst from the ground and fled, narrowly avoiding the lashing weapons and grasping arms of his assailants. Racing blindly through the forest, Wessen never looked back at his opponents, but could tell by their voices that they were close. Knowing that to Earthmeld again would be unsafe and that his Fortitude could not protect him much longer, the Gangrel desperately searched for an option as he felt Rotschreck begin to overtake him.

As the doomed Kindred rounded a bend, it seemed that his luck had run out as a thicket of dense branches appeared, blocking his path. Panicking, Wessen quickly decided to try to dive through the branches and Meld into the ground where the thick foliage would prevent his pursuers from following. Hearing the footsteps nearing the bend, Wessen closed and eyes and dove for the trees, already rearranging his molecules as he went. However, he found himself not melded into the ground, but into the trunk of a tree! Deciding not to question fate, the Gangrel merely lay still within his wooden shell and waited. After several days, Wessen finally decided to emerge again. Seeing that his pursuers were nowhere in site, he sat about trying to figure out exactly how he had done this thing that had saved his unlife.

Time passed and Wessen soon discovered that his Protean abilities gave him a unique affinity with trees and plants. While startled by it at first, he soon accepted his gifts eagerly and thought no more of the matter. As the years passed, Wessen soon began to feel the desire to have Children, so he traveled about Europe, Embracing several whom he felt best suited for the Gangrel lifestyle. Yet when he returned to introduce themselves as his sire, he discovered with a start that his Childer had somehow retained his powers. Thus, the Wessynix Bloodline and the Arboreal-Protean Discipline were born.

Clan Organization

Wessynix remains active only where his Children are concerned. He cares very deeply for them and sees them as a hope for repairing the evils which Mortals and Kindred alike have inflicted on the natural world. For this reason, the Wessynix actively try to contact Lupines. Wessynix remain very Gangrel-like in many ways, and their social structure mirrors that of their Gangrel cousins. Every three years, the Wessynix hold their own rendezvous somewhere in Bavaria where Wessen himself leads the storytelling and festivities. Although there is usually no more then one Wessynix in an entire geographical region, they feel a deep sense of kinship and will always help one another when they meet.

Clan Disciplines

Arboreal-Protean, Animalism, Fortitude

Gaining Prestige

Usually for successfully defending the ecosystem of their territory against threats, be it from Kindred, Mortals the Wyrm or any other combination thereof. Those who have successfully established themselves among the Lupines gain the most prestige.

Character Creation

As for Gangrel. Most have Loner or Autist natures, (Many find their lifestyle incomprehensible, even for Gangrel.) and Demeanors will typically be Caregiver or Pedagogue, but any is acceptable. Backgrounds tend be anyone who loves nature almost more than life itself. Wessynix cannot take the Taint of Corruption Flaw.

Weaknesses

Wessynix share the Gangrel weakness of gaining an animal feature with each Frenzy. Additionally, Whenever a Wessynix sees someone deliberatly damaging a tree he must make a Willpower test in order to resist impulsively trying to stop him by any means necessary.

Nickname

Treehuggers or Sapsuckers, both used in derision.

Quote

"We must respect the Earth. The Earth was here before us and will be here long afterwards. It is only a matter of time before the sins we commit daily against our mother will-- Hey! Hey! Are you listening to me!?"

Stereotypes

Camarilla: While not everything it could be, I see its purpose. Unfortunately, The Tremere, Toreador and Ventrue who control it view the world only as a testing ground for their dark and selfish machinations. For this reason, we often find ourselves opposed to it and our noble Gangrel brethren.

Sabbat: Monsters who believe too much of their own publicity. Any Tzimice who thinks he's a badass just because he Diablerized some poor guy has obviously never seen a Red Talon in Crinos form. Trust me, Mister Bad, the jungle's a dangerous place...

Setites: Whoa do these freaks think they are? Every Setite I've ever met has just been some megalomaniac or a religious fanatic. However, they say they plan to corrupt the entire world and claim they will soon have the resources to do it. Even this is even a remote possiblity, we cannot let it happen.

Ravnos: Good guys, but if you go hang out with one, keep checking for your wallet.

Salubri: Let me get this straight. A clan tries to use its vampiric powers for good instead of evil, and the other clans react by waging genocidal warfare on them. Bullshit! The Salubri could be our brothers in arms, I pray we can find them and unite before the same fate is declared for us.

Giovanni: Uh, somebody tell these guys to like, chill out, or something. They're creepy and for some reason, they get cranky when we start popping up in Italy. Oh well, if they don't like it they know what they can do with it...

Samedi: Trust me, after living in the deep forest for decades, you learn that there are things out there that smell a lot worse than these guys. I don't mind 'em but they sure like grossing people out with those disciplines of theirs. I guess everybody's gotta have something to be proud of.

Lupines: If you somehow manage to avoid decapitation upon your first meeting with them, you'll have made a friend for life.

The Wyrm: I don't know whether this thing really exists or not, but if it does and if it's responsible for half of what the Lupines claim it is, then as far as I'm concerned it can go f--- itself!