The origins of the strange Kiasyd
bloodline have been lost to the passage of centuries, but their
affection for pomp and their curious powers lead some Cainites to
suspect that their roots lie with the Lasombra. The most
pervasive theory attributes their creation to unholy
experimentation with the blood of the Wild Ones and forbidden
deals made with demons. Whatever the truth, the result is one of
the strangest consanguinities of vampires in the World of
Darkness.
The Kiasyd are scholars and keepers of
secrets. They tend to be observers rather than taking an active
part in acts such as War Parties. Kiasyd don’t like to take
physical actions against an opponent, preferring to spar with
wits and words instead. They jealously guard their knowledge and
their private collections. While a Kiasyd’s home is always
open to visiting members of the bloodline, all Kiasyd are
viciously territorial, and most cities house one member of the
bloodline at most. Weirdlings don’t like to compete with
each other for knowledge. If one encounters two Kiasyd together,
it is most likely an elder with her childe, who may study with
the elder for upward of 50 years. Eventually, however, he time
will come when the childe will seek his own haven, almost always
in a different community.
The Kiasyd are well known for being very
calm and studious. Their raison d’être centers
around their collection of scrolls, books, spells and vampiric
lore piled high on their library shelves. Their unusual stature
and unquenchable thirst for knowledge make for very high-stacked
shelves indeed.
As to the Kiasyd’s membership in
the Sabbat, the theories again involve Lasombra influence.
Whether the Keepers have struck a bargain with the Kiasyd,
trading secrets for protection, or whether their relationship is
a more sinister brand of master and servant, few can say. Their
inquisitive natures hide devious, twisted personalities, warped
by massive amounts of forbidden lore and probably the fae blood
that contributed to their initial creation. In fact, some Kiasyd
are rumored to be addicted to the blood of the changelings,
drawing sustenance only from its magical nourishment rather than
the pale, tepid taste of mortal blood. Other Kiasyd are suspected
of even more perverse tastes, feeding only while violating their
vessels in impotent parodies of sexual ravishment or stealing
children away under the light of the full moon to eat their flesh
in their own libraries. In the end, all that is truly known of
them is that they are enigmas, suffered only for their knowledge.
Nickname: Weirdlings
Appearance: The Kiasyd have
retained the unusual beauty of the fae folk. Their skin is a
chalky white, which takes on a faint bluish glow in the
moonlight. Rumor has it that the tone of a Kiasyd’s skin is
an indication of the age of the vampire, but the Kiasyd are much
too polite to talk about themselves, so no one knows for sure.
They are willowy and tall – six to seven – and – a
– half feet – and they have angular noses, cheekbones
and ears. The eyes of Kiasyd have been similarly distorted,
showing only inky blots with no discernible whites or pupils.
Some Kiasyd prefer to dress in Victorian or goth clothing to
reflect their studious, somber mood, much to the amusement of
more modernized vampires. Long hair or a bandana, and sunglasses
hide their unique appearance from prying eyes.
Haven: Permanent, nondescript
havens are important to the Kiasyd. They often seclude themselves
in their havens, whiling away the innumerable hours in study
until forced to leave, either due to the curious prying of
unwelcome guests, or to the eventually rundown condition of the
haven. They often choose a private library, museum, art gallery,
historical ruins or catacombs in which to establish havens.
Whatever the style, the haven almost invariably has a large and
well-stocked library, and many of the accouterments of genteel
“living.” Kiasyd pride themselves in being gracious
hosts, and some keep vintage vitae for guests.
Background: Kiasyd choose polite
and intelligent mortals as progeny. Potential childer are well
disciplined in their studies and share the Kiasyd’s love of
books and curiosity for unearthing new knowledge. Likely choices
include librarians, educators, students or museum curators. These
childer usually have more professional contacts that personal
friends, and they value education and learning above
self-gratification.
Character Creation: Most Kiasyd
come from scholarly or socialite Concepts, as attractive and
studious people draw their attention. Demeanors tend toward the
conservative, but their Natures are often vastly different.
Mental and Social attributes are prized, as are Knowledges and
Skills. Few Kiasyd have any Backgrounds other than the odd
smattering of Resources, Generation and Mentor, as they rarely
traffic with mortals to the degree necessary to grow them. Oddly
enough, most Kiasyd still cling to tenets of Humanity.
Clan Disciplines: Dominate,
Mytherceria, Obtenebration
Weaknesses: The Kiasyd’s
shortcoming can be attributed to their mixed blood. Pure iron
causes great discomfiture in the Weirdlings. Being in the
presence of iron – within a numbers of yards equal to the
Kiasyd’s Stamina – raises the Kiasyd’s frenzy
difficulties by one. Touching it causes an immediate frenzy roll
and wounds caused by iron weapons inflict aggravated damage.
Organization: Weirdlings have a
formal, almost Victorian organization, based on numerous
distinctions that have meaning only to other Kiasyd. Every 50
years, all Kiasyd attend a formal affair at the haven of a
duly-selected member of the bloodline, where they discuss new
lore they’ve unearthed and new mysteries they’ve
unraveled. Very rarely, the Kiasyd invite an outsider or Sabbat
pack, who are expected to converse intelligently in the matters
the Weirdlings raise. Boorish or obstinate packs are dealt with
in appropriately malevolent fashions, from wicked snubbing to
unbreakable curses.
Quote: Be very careful.
That’s an original Gutenburg Bible you’re holding. If
you damage it, I shall have no choice but to exact reparations; I
doubt you’d live long without your skin.
Camarilla: Are you sure these are
vampires you’re talking about?
Sabbat: Excess can result in a
sickness of the soul. Beware your Beasts, my brothers and
sisters, lest you leave the world worse than when you entered it.
The Camarilla
Ah, yes; I have long wanted to question one of these fey
chroniclers.
-- Athosides, Tremere archivist
The Sabbat
I don’t know what they have to do with the rest of us.
Don’t they just read and write? That shit’s for
pussies.
-- Joey Two-Cuts, Malkavian antitribu renegade
The Independents
You can tell when they craft lies for your sake – their lips
move.
-- Hesha, Setite
Kiasyd interact with others rarely – they are better
implemented in a story as wise, eccentric vampires sought out for
knowledge than player’s characters amid desperate, violent
cities where rape and murder sometimes outnumber annual births.
Storytellers should exercise discretion when permitting players
to assume Kiasyd roles. Although they are not as disruptive or
limiting as some other clans (for players – in the hands of
a Storyteller they work fine as dramatic devices), the Kiasyd are
content to spend their unlives in research and contemplation,
which hardly makes for an exciting chronicle. (“You wake up
again. What do you do?” “I read for 300 years.”)
Players, here’s the usual caveat: Don’t pretend your
characters know much, if anything, about the Kiasyd.