Vampire Embracing Guide

[Faekat Adoption Agency]

Welcome to our little guide on Embracing!

We know that during the event a lot of you will likely want to have your Elders and above do some embracing! Well, this guide is here to help you navigate those confusing waters.
If you'd like more info on the Vampire race in general that can be found here.

First off what the heck is an embrace?

• Vampires are created through a process called the Embrace.
Some vampire clans Embrace more casually than others, but the Embrace is almost never given lightly. After all, any new vampire is a potential competitor for food and power. A potential childe is often stalked for weeks or even years by a watchful sire, who greedily evaluates whether the mortal would indeed make a good addition to the society of the Kindred. The Embrace is similar to a normal vampiric feeding -- the vampire drains ther chosen prey of blood. However upon complete exsanguination, the vampire returns a bit of her own immortal blood to the drained mortal. Only a tiny bit -- a drop or two -- is necessary to turn the mortal into an undead. This process can even be performed on a dead human, provided the body is still warm. Once the blood is returned, the mortal "awakens" and begins drinking of his own accord. But, though animate, the mortal is still dead; his heart does not beat, nor does he breathe. Over the next week or two, the mortal's body undergoes a series of subtle transformations; he learns to use the blood in his body, and he is taught the special powers of his clan. They are now a vampire.

Which Vampire Ranks can embrace?

• Elders do the majority of the Embracing in any clan and should be the first choice for Embracing events.
Methuselahs, Antediluvians, and Disciples are also allowed to Embrace as well but do so more rarely.

• All other ranks, including Clanless Vampires, do not have permission to Embrace.

What should I consider when choosing Kats to Embrace?

• Please make sure ALL Kats being Embraced fit the clan. You can read up on the different clans here but you should know your own clan well enough to be able to determine if a Kat fits or not. Please DO NOT embrace Kats who do not belong.
When in doubt please reach out to Yayoi, Seussi, Kinu, or Noir Songbird for help as they will be tackling the majority of the questions regarding vampires during the event.

• Try not to embrace Kats with mates and families if possible as this can cause a LOT of problems and risks violating The Masquerade (The set of rules that Vampiric Society uses to hide their Vampiric nature and identities).

• Do not embrace Faekats just because you roleplay with someone a lot. Go into the main threads, plot with a variety of owners, and seek out appropriate candidates.

• Don't specifically target Mortal mates of Vampires. If they don't fit they can't be forced to fit to become Vampires just to fill out clan ranks.

• Appearance can also play a huge part in a Clan choosing a Kat. Try to make sure Kats aesthetically fit as best you can. Glow-ups are a possibility but a very bright Kat with lots of colors may not do well in some of the more death-centered or stealth-centered clans.

 

[Faekat Adoption Agency]

How do I make an embracing event for my Clan?

This can be done a variety of ways!

Check up on your clan's info, and check your clan's embracing habits below, to see if they have specific rituals, events, quirks, rules, or anything else that might give you an idea of how you would want to host an Embracing event.

Once you have your idea feel free to post in this thread with which Vampire will be Embracing and the type of event you'd like to host. (If you are struggling ask staff for help!)

Once approved you will be allowed to create your Embracing event in the Event Subforum.

A Guide to Clan preferences (on Embracing):

Below I have set up an extremely brief guide to some basic embracing rules and preferences among the clans. Even if a clan says they just 'Embrace freely' please still try to make sure the Kats coming in fit within the clan and will flourish.

Camarilla Clans:

Brujah: The Brujah are infamous for ignoring the Tradition of progeny, and consequently Embrace whomever they feel like whenever they feel like. Brujah are stereotypically the source for most Caitiff because they are presumed to neglect training their childer.

Daughters of Cacophany: The Daughters Embrace mainly those who were aspiring a musical career. Not all of them were singers during their mortal years; but those who were not do discover their talent soon after the Embrace. The Daughter's childer are taught for years by their sires.
The Daughters do not discriminate based on musical style. Jazz singer, nü-metal waif, opera diva, sultry lounge performer – any chanteuse might be a Siren.

Gangrel: A Gangrel sire often chooses a prospective candidate for the Embrace during feeding. If the mortal prey resists, fighting against what is happening, then his reward after death may be a taste of Gangrel blood. The clan makes many Gangrel this way, dating back to the first warriors selected by Ennoia to fight her war. This method produces a Gangrel with a fierce desire to survive, even if he does not have all the tools. We also find prospective Gangrel through observation. While most mortals remain safely hidden during the night, a few risk the darkness. When one of our clan encounters a mortal like this, they will watch instead of attacking. It takes courage to wander these nights, after all.

Malkavians: The Malkavians are one of the more intellectually focused of the Camarilla clans (with the Tremere arguably being the only clan as interested in cerebral pursuits). As a result, Malkavian candidates for the Embrace tend to be intelligent and more than a little... odd. While the Malkavian embrace guarantees insanity, they do tend to choose candidates who are already halfway there. Lunatic childer do come from all economic and cultural strata however, though most have some sort of hard-luck story or black secret behind them that caused their sire to take note. Truly damaged Malkavians who are unaware of the meanings of their actions may not even be aware that they have sired childer, which makes for very difficult entry into Kindred society for these castoffs, many of whom end up among the Caitiff.

Nosferatu: The Nosferatu tend to embrace two classes of people: first are those for whom the Embrace is a step up, such as the homeless, the hopelessly antisocial, derelicts, the mentally ill, the emotionally damaged, the flawed, vagrants or other people at the bottom of the totem pole, often out of a feeling of kinship with them. The second class are those for whom the Embrace is a step down, such as beauty queens or people from privileged backgrounds. Nosferatu are notorious for revenge Embraces, and the resulting Cleopatras often lead miserable lives within the clan.

Toreador: As stated before, there are two rough moulds that clan members fall into. Artists make up a large proportion of the clan, which in the modern nights can include computer graphics artists, avant-garde performance artists, and sportsmen alongside the singers, dancers, and writers. The other portion consists of businessmen, critics, and those who are simply beautiful. While the main detractors of the clan, often the Nosferatu and the Brujah complain that Toreador coddle their childer, the truth is a much more brutal one. Toreador sires are notoriously capricious, and while the subject of their Embrace can be the most cutting edge, the most innovative, the most beautiful, the most now, they can easily be terribly passe and embarrassing the following week. The sire then inevitably dumps the new childe as soon as is feasible, leaving the young vampire confused and struggling to make their own way. Such is the nature of the Toreador.

Tremere: The Tremere are very selective in who they Embrace and normally do so with a mind for the clan's needs, a condition reinforced by the fact that the local Regent must give permission for an individual to be sired. Individuals of strong will or aggressive personalities are normally sought, provided they have a clear head and can learn to be a part of the greater whole that is the clan. Candidates were scholars in life, and many dabbled in the occult to one extent or another, though that is not a prerequisite. Of course, there are "rogue" Embraces for the usual reasons – love, political gain, or accident. Regents often have these mistakes killed immediately, with suitable punishment levied against the sire, but there are always exceptions.

Ventrue: According to their own oral history and annals, the Ventrue have Embraced only those “worthy” of the honor. Nobles, religious leaders, and great military men have all found their way into Clan Ventrue over the centuries. The Ventrue have high standards of admittance into their ultra-exclusive club of undead. Neonates who fail to meet the clan's benchmark find themselves shunned by their blood-siblings, left out of important opportunities, and otherwise disadvantaged. Many would-be sires discuss their potential childer with their elders (often their own sires) before the Embrace, thus gauging the new Ventrue's acceptance into proper society.

Sabbat Clans:

Ahrimanes: (In this clan only the Disciple can actually Embrace, otherwise the clan does what is more akin to poaching from Clan Gangrel) In the Dark Ages, Ahrimanes consisted of women only. There were some stories, far and few between, of an Ahrimane falling in love with a man and Embracing him, and these usually ended with the renegade couple hunted down and killed. This gift was not for men. Women whose bodies did not match their spirit were accepted, however, Ahrimanes favored the spirit in these cases. Following the Embrace, they would be treated like any other Ahrimane. An Ahrimane sire seeks out strong, independent women for the Embrace. Knowing how to hunt and fight is a bonus, but a sire knows that skills are more easily taught than attitude. Social standing does not matter to her, as a nomadic lifestyle usually renders lofty positions moot. However, all modern Ahrimanes were Gangrel before their magical transformation. As such, their backgrounds varied just as much as their parent clan. The sort of Gangrel who became an Ahrimane was female, usually non-white, and often frustrated by the situation in her sect or city.

Baali: The Baali usually only Embrace those who are intelligent and driven. Most who are Embraced into Clan Baali had an interest in the occult during their mortal lives.

Kiasyd: Museum curators, talented students, librarians, rare book experts, and academics of all stripes are likely choices for Kiasyd Embraces. The Weirdlings want their progeny to be studious, polite and educated, and they do not want to take the time to instruct them in the basics of erudite understanding.

Lasombra: As with any clan, Lasombra sires look for mortals who suit their ideals. They have no time for weakness, and feel the only way to survive is to excel, to cut away the trappings of sympathy and petty morality wherever they might slow down the Lasombra's ascent to power. Those who fight against the odds, survive dangerous situations, and exist at the pinnacle of excellence draw the eyes of the Lasombra upon them. The Magisters describe their Embrace tradition as “targeting those fit for more than a simple human life.” Sociopaths, counter-culturalists, deviants, and scarred survivors all hold appeal for the Lasombra. Anyone who can say they have seen the dark on the other side, and subsequently came back stronger, is a potential candidate for the Embrace. Many become vampires obsessed with the accumulation of social power, prepared to mislead and use mortals to elevate themselves. Others were like that before the Embrace, with such pragmatic traits leading to their ascent in Lasombra eyes. When a Lasombra finds a mortal who seems to hold the potential for greatness as a vampire, it is common for the Keeper to decide to 'test' that mortal to see if they can rise to the occasion, or if they will instead crumble under the weight of the Lasombra's attention. These tests will feel like the victim's life is falling apart, as they lose their job and opportunities, become alienated from friends and family, or even suffer great physical harm at the hands of the monster. How they react is what matters, whether they become strong or reveal themselves to be pitiful. That is what decides whether they are left in the ruins, or brought into the night. As a rule of thumb, Sabbat Lasombra generally didn't Embrace many shovelheads. While becoming True Sabbat after being shovelheaded is a sign of talent, Lasombra often prefer to be choosy.

True Brujah: Only the brightest, bravest original thinkers are selected. The True Brujah prefer those with both education and experience but sometimes embrace the young who are mature for their years. True Brujah have been Embraced from all of the world's cultures.

Tzimisce: Historically, the Tzimisce have viewed mortal life as largely irrelevant before the Embrace. While they do look for specific mortal characteristics, they tend to see this as the barest flicker of potential rather than a compelling argument. Tzimisce Embraces are supremely selfish – often based on specific obsessions or interests of the sire, rather than any distinctive characteristic of the childe. Those with interests matching their own are particularly prized, and many Tzimisce childer were masters of their field in life – whether this field was medicine or serial murder is a trifling distinction though. That said, the Tzimisce have a reputation for choosiness, largely from a general disdain for mortals.

Independent Clans:

Assamite: Assamites typically try to Embrace someone who will be "useful" to the clan as a whole. This most often means someone who is willing to fight and die for the clan's (or at least their sire's) goals. However, during the long period that the clan labored under the Tremere blood curse, people may also have been Embraced for knowledge in a specific (often obscure) area. Typically this had something to do with sorcery or medical research involving blood, but may also have included more obscure areas of research as well. Assamites typically choose people with somewhat obsessive personalities for the Embrace. As they are typically involved with either hunting down miscreants or conducting obscure research, they tend to be highly motivated individuals. This often results in Assamites picking individuals who are fanatically devoted to a cause, religion, theory, or activity. The various caste flaws and the training they undergo after the Embrace tends to accentuate this even more. Thus Assamites can be said to select childer that will be eager to chase down their prey no matter how long it takes or how far they must go. That prey may be a physical target, an obscure piece of knowledge, or even pursuing the perfection of an art form. Assamites tend to Embrace more men than women overall.

Cappadocians: Cappadocians usually choose scholars or other intellectuals for the Embrace. The clan's morbid predilections meant that they often desensitized new Embraces by burying them or interring them in crypts shortly after the change. In this way, the childe could acquire first-hand familiarity with death.

Daeva: Daeva are very diverse as a clan - the only common thread is their consuming passions. Fierce brawlers and social butterflies are found there, as well as everything in between.

Followers of Set: Prospective childer for the Followers of Set often spend some time involved with a Setite cult, so they are indoctrinated in the mysteries of the Clan before becoming one of its Kindred. They may come from any cultural origin, though many are outsiders, loners, or otherwise marginalized by society, which is often what led them to the forbidden fruits offered by the cult of Set in the first place.

Giovanni: The Giovanni do not tend to Embrace outside of the family; they do not Embrace without permission either. Not if they know what is good for them at least. It is extremely rare for non-Giovanni who do not belong to the main family, or one of its auxiliary families, to be Embraced even if the chances are slim but "it has happened before and it will happen again".

Lhiannan: Lhiannan rarely give the Embrace; the Druids only created childer out of sheer loneliness or when they find someone who truly impresses them. A pagan spirit-speaker with real devotion to her craft, or a woodsman with impeccable respect for the forests might be enough to get a Lhiannan's attention. The Lhiannan refused to embrace those who follow some specific religions.

Mehket: Mekhet can appear as stealthy information-gatherers, spies, assassins or scholars; but just as well they can be aristocrats making their mark in the societies of the damned. A Mekhet bodyguard for example is unlikely to rely on brute force, but rather know an ornate fighting style. A Mekhet thief is gracious or invisible, not a sloppy vandal. To the others, Mekhet appear to be the most ordinary of the kindred, the ones who seem to have the least to distinguish them from other vampires.

Nagaraja: Most of the mortals who are chosen already have an intense interest in the study of death, but not in causing death for themselves or others. The majority of Nagaraja are well-educated and many have some medical knowledge (either from their mortal lives or acquired post-Embrace). The bloodline's small numbers make further assertions difficult to support. Some Nagaraja were priests or cultists before the Embrace, some antiquarians, and some exorcists or ghost-hunters. The chosen are often middle-aged, though some prefer Embracing even older mortals.

Ordo Dracul: Much of the Ordo Dracul is centered around traditional Mentor-Protégé duos. Mentoring is a serious concern among the Dragons and the practice of the Paths of Fate, a tarot-like divination based on the Virtue and Vice of the aspirant, is often used to determine productive partnerships. It is the duty of the student to be respectful of her mentor, to listen to her words and observe her actions, and to learn something from the experience. The mentor’s role is to act in a way deserving of respect, to show the student something enlightening and explain it in a way that will ensure that the lesson will be learned.

Ravnos: As with everything else in the clan, Embraces differed between Ravnos. Western Ravnos generally embraced only Roma and generally embraced for any reason. Indian Ravnos viewed the Embrace as a means to fulfilling the fledgling's svadharma. In India, one's Jāti in life also defined one's Jati in undeath.

Salubri: Salubri generally Embrace noble souls; healers, teachers, empaths, and other good people that they feel can find Golconda. Beyond that, there is not much commonality. However, on occasion a Salubri might embrace an evil person in hope of seeing them redeemed (or at least setting them on a path to redemption). Each childe of a Salubri was seen as the culmination of their unlife, so they tended to observe their targets carefully and generally only Embraced when the person was willing to endure unlife.

Samedi: Samedi typically Embrace those with a penchant for death, a trait that follows them into undeath. Many Samedi favor Mental Attributes and Knowledges while the martial, mercenary members of the bloodline cultivate Physical Attributes and Skills or Talents. Samedi rarely have Herd, Mentor, or Resource Backgrounds. A significant percentage of the Samedi bloodline, particularly the older members, practices the Discipline of Necromancy but it is unknown precisely where they would have come across this knowledge, as they appear to be on very poor terms with the Giovanni.