The Kumpania - Clan Ravnos

[Yayoi]

Clan: Ravnos
Nickname: Rogues, Ravens, Daredevils, Vagabonds, Wanderers, Tricksters, Mystics, The Haunted, Gypsies, Criminals, Deceivers, Charlatans, Shapers, Seekers, Unwelcome, Hundred-Mask Clowns (by the Kuei-jin)
Faction: Independent
Disciple: Ravnos
Antediluvian: Cryso Kenoth, Vano, Durga Syn, Chandraputra
Methuselah: Ace

"Gypsies, vagabonds and charlatans, the cunning vampires of Clan Ravnos roam the night as they indulge in the most dangerous of games – lying to the liars, tricking the tricksters, and gleefully receiving curses from the Damned. From Bel Air to Bombay, from Shanghai to Sarajevo, these nomadic vampires wander where their citybound Kindred fear to tread. The Ravnos' know well their secret arts, and hide centuries of hate behind a jester's smile."

Known as wandering tricksters, mystics, and vagabonds, the Ravnos are incurable daredevils who gleefully pursue the art of unliving dangerously. If ever a clan was renowned for a wickedly black sense of humor, the Ravnos would be that clan. These Cainites are deceivers of the first order, weaving illusion and lies into elaborate schemes to part the foolish from whatever it is the Ravnos might fancy -- be it wealth, blood or even their victims' freedom. Like Mephistopheles or Old Scratch, the Ravnos ply their devil's deals with whomever they choose, be it human or Kindred, and woe to those who wind up unable to pay the hidden costs.

Although many Ravnos see themselves as great tricksters, the generally benevolent tricks of Coyote and Raven aren't so much their style. Instead, they draw on a tradition of illusion and deceit inherited from the rakshasas and ghuls of the Middle and Far East. A Ravnos is a highly dangerous being with whom to sup or bargain. And these devils have been making their wagers and bargains for a long time indeed.

The Ravnos are nomadic to the core and care little for permanent havens or positions in a city's established power structure. Even those who have chosen a given city for their home tend to establish and abandon havens as the mood strikes them, taking whatever lairs they like, doing as they please, and moving on when bored. This habit infuriates princes across the world, who resent the Ravnos' disregard for the Tradition of Hospitality. Few punish violators, though, for fear drawing the malice of the clan as a whole.

Although the clan has long-standing ties with the Gypsies, few Ravnos enjoy the hospitality of their mortal kin. Perhaps the Gypsies know these vampires' true natures too well, and are loath to offer friendship to the undying. Perhaps the Ravnos themselves alienate their mortal families through their dangerous tricks. Whatever the reason, a Ravnos typically has no allies he can rely on regularly. His charm may win him a few temporary companions, and clan loyalty may draw fellow Ravnos to his side in times of dire need, but the vampire's path ultimately lies alone.

Naturally, the princes of many cities are leery of allowing such tricksters free rein in their domains. The Ravnos' eccentric code of honor is strong, but rarely coincides with another Kindred's definition of the term. A Ravnos may break her word at will, unless she's spit in her palm and shaken n the deal. She'll defend her "good name" for all it's worth -- depending on what she considers slander. And she'll usually come to the defense of a clanmate, and vice versa; the Ravnos may take advantages of one another, but they consider it their privilege. Outsiders aren't allowed the same.

Perhaps the most worrisome thing about the Ravnos is that as a clan, they managed to survive for centuries in Asia, where most Kindred are quickly hunted down and devoured by the ruthless Cathayans. No other Cainites know exactly how they managed this -- but now a possible reason is emerging. Rumores filted back to Europe and the Americas of elder things awakening, of ancient vampires shrugging off the earth of millennia and throwing the Cainite courts into disorder. Theses elder Ravnos -- if rumor speaks correctly -- have demonstrated terrifying mystical powers, including a talent for illusions so powerful they can affef the physical world. Time can only tell what part the reemergence of these "demon "kinds" will play in the Jyhad.

The Ravnos do not have much in the way of a clan organization, but more communally-minded members of the clan have established their own system of tradecraft in order to communicate and organize meetings.

The Ravnos are broken into western and eastern divisions. Western Ravnos are largely individuals without larger clan loyalties outside of perhaps tribal (and Rroma loyalties). Eastern Ravnos have their own caste system, developed from lineages.

Western Ravnos, historically connected with the oppressed Rroma, maintained a strong sense of clan solidarity for a very long time. The most common manifestation of this solidarity was through a form of retaliation called "The Treatment". The Treatment was a vengeance attack where a mistreated Ravnos would contact fellows in the clan, who would then swarm upon the city where the original Ravnos was victimized. In general, a dozen Ravnos running amok could bring even the most experienced Prince to the brink, and well-placed exaggerations about the impact of the Treatment was the main weapon the Ravnos used to squeeze out what place they did have in Western society.

In India, the Ravnos dominated the continent, probably the largest concentration of a single clan in one country. In several ways, the Ravnos paralleled the Assamites – both clans had a caste system invisible to outsiders, and both clans were defined by a military role.

As with everything else in the clan, Embraces differed between Indian and Western Ravnos. Western Ravnos generally embraced only Gypsies (with the exception of the Ravnos antitribu who were noted for embracing gorgios) 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.

Due to their inherent clan weakness, the Ravnos clan are all criminals; each Ravnos has a specific vice ranging from plagiarism to mass murder. When the opportunity to indulge that vice is present, Ravnos must succeed in a self-control check to avoid indulging it.

Active Members:

Elders:

• Ace
  
• Shenzi

Ancillaes:

• Alitia De Veniza
  
• Benifacia
  
• Fennix
  
• Jaxom
  
• Lillian
  
• Nicabar
  
• Rares

Neonates:

• Balthazar
  
• Emppu Lunaris
  
• Exile
  
• Jorge Reyes
  
• Kraal
  
• Lilineon
  
• Lucy
  
• Valaina

Fledglings:

• Raylin
  
• Rebecca
  
• Zahara

Rank Unknown:

 

[Yayoi]

The Kumpaniyi


When one Ravnos is slighted, thirteen will rise to take his place.

There are thirteen individual Kumpania that roam Faetasia. Each Kumpania has its own Baro and it’s own Ravnos clan members. Sometimes Kumpania will come together in times of strife, a need for justice or celebration. Each Kumpania is as unique as its Baro is with their own customs, servicces, wares, laws, even their own music and songs. Although not all Ravnos live in a Kumpania, all Ravnos are welcome in all Kumpania.

Primul Kumpania
Baro: Ravnos

Current Clan Members:

---

Kumpania Vano
Baro: Vano
Current Clan Members:

---

Kumpania Lillian
Baro: Lillian
Current Clan Members:

—-

Cântecul Kumpania
Baro: Durga Syn

Current Clan Members:

—

Pisica Kumpania
Baro: Chandraputra

Current Clan Members:

 

[Yayoi]

Ravnos Lexicon

The words of our people.

• Amria (AHM-ree-uh) A Gypsy curse.
• Baro (BAH-roh) Litterally, "big man." The leader of a Ravnos or Gypsy Kumpania.
• Draba (DRAH-bah) Gypsy charms and talismans.
• Gajo (GAH-zhoh) Literally, "peasant." Any non-Gypsy, mortal or Kindred.
• Gaje (GAH-zhay) Plural for gajo
• Georgio (JOOR-jee-oh) A Ravnos of non-Gypsy stock; a gajo-Ravnos.
• Juvindo (joo-VEEN-doh) Literally, "alive." A member of the living Rom.
• Kaen (KAIN) The Romani spelling for Caine, the first vampire.
• Kris (KREASE) A Gypsy trial.
• Krisatora (KREASE-ah-tor-ah) Those who preside over a kris.
• Kumpania (koom-pah-NEE-ah) A band of Gypsies or Ravnos.
• Kumpaniyi (koom-pah-NEE-yee) Plural for kumpania.
• Marhime (MAH-ree-may) Literally, "tainted." The condition of an object or person being somehow unclean or corrupt.
• Mulo (MOO-loh) Literally, "dead." A contemptuous term for non-Ravos vampires.
• Patshiv (paht-SHEEV) _A kind of Ravnos "clan meeting"; A feast or celebration that occur whenever two or more kumpamiyi happen to meet while traveling.
• Patshiva (paht-SHEEV-ah) Plural for patshiv.
• Phralmulo (FRAHL-moo-loh) A Ravnos of Gypsy herritage.

 

[Yayoi]

The Ravnos Clan


Noddists say that in Enoch, Irad Embraced a thief named Dracian, to spy on the Third Generation. Dracian immediately betrayed his sire to the other Antediluvians, leading to the end of the Second Generation.

However, the Ravnos claim a richer prehistory, recorded in the Karavalashina Vrana, "The Wounds of the Night's Sword". This epic poem details how angelic beings (probably Kuei-jin) betrayed their original purpose and became blood-drinking demons; to balance them out, the Gods brought back to life a man who had been wronged by these asuratziyya more than any other. This creature, named Zapathasura, was charged by the Gods to exterminate the asuratziyya and restore balance to the world.

In his quest for vengeance, Zapathasura Embraced five childer: Marizhavashti Kali, a seer; the Rakshasa, a shapeshifter; Chandraputra, a military leader; Ravana, who betrayed Zapathasura and may be the Yama King of the same name; and Ramessu, who served as an internal policeman for Zapathasura's war. These five methuselahs are the ancestors of all other Ravnos. They served Zapathasura for centuries in prehistoric India until they wearied of their sire's endless war and slaughter, abandoning him to his own devices as time passed. Ravnos eventually fell into torpor and the clan restructured.

The majority of the elders left India for the west, while Chandraputra remained in the subcontinent and reordered the clan along a more caste-oriented society. This culture faced two invasions around the time of Alexander the Great – western vampires following the conqueror, and Kuei-Jin on a crusade from China.

At this time, Ravnos society diverged. The Ravnos heading towards the west began to deviate from the philosophy of Zapathasura, eventually creating what would become known as the Path of Paradox. Meanwhile, the Indian Ravnos split into castes in a fashion similar to the Assamites, with multiple Jati fulfilling different roles in the war against the Wan Kuei.

Dark Ages

Ravnos society in the Dark Ages was influenced by two phenomena: the continuing degeneration of western Ravnos from the Path of Paradox, and the influx of Indian Ravnos following the Roma.

The Path of Paradox is a degenerate form of the Mayaparisatya, the classic path as followed in India. Sybaritic Roman Ravnos changed the path into a license for self interest and wanton diableries without following the original tenets. This form eventually became the standard path of the western clan, while the eastern path remained in India. The path of paradox and the associated culture of the clan led to the low reputation that the Ravnos had throughout Europe.

Meanwhile, unknown to the other clans, Ravnos arrived with the Rroma; these Ravnos were chandalas, almost the Ravnos equivalent of Caitiff, but still felt superior to their mongrel cousins. The cultural interchange (with knives) that followed led to a predominance of eastern Ravnos in the western clan. As time passed, the Rroma Ravnos became the stereotypical Ravnos in the minds of western Kindred, and the Path of Paradox became the standard path for western Ravnos.

By the 15th century, western Ravnos were stereotypically seen as travelers, degenerate, and vermin.

Victorian Age

During this period, the Camarilla learned that not all Ravnos were Romani and that they were a formidable force in India.

This discovery, of course, changed nothing in the way Western Ravnos were treated and seen in Camarilla society. Contributing to this, many Ravnos saw the harsh and strict Victorian taboos and rules as obstacles and constantly attacked and overstepped them in order to further destabilize the establishment. Many also used the blossoming interest in occultism and mysticism in order to trick and fool other Kindred and mortals alike with "long-forgotten secrets" and therelike.

Organization
The Ravnos were broken into western and eastern divisions. Western Ravnos are largely individuals without larger clan loyalties outside of perhaps tribal (and Rroma loyalties).

Eastern Ravnos have their own caste system, developed from the lineages that descended from Zapathasura. These Jati are effectively bloodlines with the clan:

The priests of the Indian Ravnos were the Brahmin, who maintain mayaparisatya and advise the other castes. The Brahmin replace Fortitude with Auspex, and many learn Sadhana. The Western cousins of this caste, the Phuri Dae, are treated as a distinct bloodline due to their variant clan Disciplines. Clanbook: Ravnos Revised erroneously names this caste as "Brahman".

The Kshatriya were the military leaders of the Ravnos and ran the war against the asuratizayya.
Vaisyas maintained the equivalent of a Masquerade in India and also managed mortal resources. The Vaisyas were effectively a military manager caste.

Chandalas were the Ravnos equivalent of Caitiff; and Caitiff in India were automatically classified as Chandalas. Demotion to Chandala status was a common punishment for heresy.

These Jati are directly related to the Jāti of Hindu society, with the equivalent of the Shudra caste being ghouls.

Culture
Western Ravnos, historically connected with the oppressed Rroma, maintained a strong sense of clan solidarity for a very long time. The most common manifestation of this solidarity was through a form of retaliation called "The Treatment". The Treatment was a vengeance attack where a mistreated Ravnos would contact fellows in the clan, who would then swarm upon the city where the original Ravnos was victimized. In general, a dozen Ravnos running amok could bring even the most experienced Prince to the brink, and well-placed exaggerations about the impact of the Treatment was the main weapon the Ravnos used to squeeze out what place they did have in Western society.

Past that, Ravnos culture was dominated by its religious role; the greatest division between Indian and Western Ravnos being the differences between mayapisatya and the Path of Paradox. In 1998, Ravnos elders began to "educate" (with knives) their heretical cousins, setting the clan back on the straight and narrow.

In India, the Ravnos dominated the continent, probably the largest concentration of a single clan in one country. In several ways, the Ravnos paralleled the Assamites – both clans had a caste system invisible to outsiders, and both clans were defined by a military role.

Embraces
As with everything else in the clan, Embraces differed between Indian and Western Ravnos. Western Ravnos generally embraced only Gypsies (with the exception of the Ravnos antitribu who were noted for embracing gorgios) 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.

Weaknesses

Due to their inherent clan weakness, the Ravnos clan are all criminals; each Ravnos has a specific vice ranging from plagiarism to mass murder. When the opportunity to indulge that vice is present, Ravnos must succeed in a self-control check to avoid indulging it.

Bane
Doomed: A Ravnos' Bane is that the sun’s fire that incinerated their founder rages through the Blood of the clan, erupting from their very flesh if they ever settle down for long. If they slumber in the same place more than once in seven nights, Furthermore, a mobile haven, such as a movers’ truck, is safe so long as the place where the truck is parked is at least a mile from the last location.

Compulsion
Tempting Fate: The Ravnos vampire is driven by their Blood to court danger. Haunted as they are by righteous fire burning its way up their lineage, why not? The next time the vampire is faced with a problem to solve, any attempt at a solution short of the most daring or dangerous. The Compulsion persists until the problem is solved or further attempts become impossible.

 

[Yayoi]

Ravnos Himself



The Mortal Man

The Rroma Family

How Ravnos Came To Be

His Travels

Love

Children
With Cryso Kenoth
Zapathasura

With Baroness Leila
Lady Amria
Lord ???

With Grendel
Vadoma
Kieran
Sorendav
Draven
Theodosia
Dani—-
Hazimel
Seu’s girl
Lash
Ambrose
???
???
???
???

 

[Yayoi]

Disciplines


Ravnos:
Animalism, Fortitude, Chimerstry, Obfuscate, Presence


Animalism
Animalism is particularly common among the clans that are most removed from humanity, though many of its powers specifically target the Beasts of mortals and Cainites.

As Disciplines are as much reflections of the Curse of Caine as the traditional banes, extensive use of Animalism often leads to a withering of social skills, as users begin to prefer the simplicity and predictability of animals over the mores of society and the treachery of Kindred and kine alike.

Some devoted practitioners (usually elders who have reached advanced powers) forget that animals are not as sophisticated as humans, treating them as he would humans and expecting them to react like them.

Fortitude
Fortitude grants the Cainite the ability to resist all kinds of damage, however it fulfills its part of God's curse in that it bred arrogance and overconfidence. Sometimes, Cainite masters of Fortitude become convinced of their own indestructibility to the point that they disregard even mortal danger, as their survival instincts slowly atrophy.

Normally Fortitude does not need to be activated, and each dot is added to all soak rolls. Even Risen wraiths may also acquire this Discipline with the right training.

Like Auspex, Fortitude is particularly common among the vampiric bloodlines.

Chimerstry
While its origins are lost in myths and half-truths, it is assumed to have been developed by the Ravnos Antediluvian, and over the centuries has greatly contributed to the perception of Ravnos as tricksters and con artists. Because Chimerstry works best when targets do not realize they are being deceived by illusions, most practitioners keep their knowledge of it a secret. Even then, it is not always easy to dismiss the phantoms created by this Discipline even when one knows them to be false. Vampires with high levels of Auspex may see through the effects of Chimerstry.

As an added note, Chimerstry works against the Fae as if it were real. Because of this, the Ravnos are often feared by the Fae who are aware of this effect, since it essentially means the Ravnos can more or less do anything it wants to the Fae. It is, however, unspecified how this effect works with the power Horrid Reality, whether the world it traps the Fae in is an illusion or just as real as any other Chimerstry creation is to a Fae. The Fae believe that this is the result of a pact between the Wanderer and the early Unseelie Court from before the Sundering, which allowed him and his brood to call extensions of the Dreaming into the Autumn World.

In order to properly utilize Chimerstry, the vampire has to experience the illusion he creates himself, deceiving even himself for an instant about the substance of his creation (which can lead to Rötschreck if the vampire summons the illusion of fire). Also, the vampire can only create illusions he can perceive by himself; a deaf vampire could not create auditory illusions, while a blindfolded vampire could not summon visual illusions.

Chimerstry is a part of the curse on a vampire because it fools him into believing that he is able to truly creative acts, when all he does is perverting and deceiving the senses of his audience.[3] Some advanced users become so enthralled and convinced in the reality in their illusions that they lose themselves in dreamworlds of their own making or other derangements.

Obfuscate
Obfuscate is part of Caine's curse on the Antediluvians in blotting them out from creation. Frequent users of the Discipline find themselves divorced from society, never participating in social interactions, only observing. Some advanced users find themselves unable and unwilling to deactivate the discipline, believing themselves surrounded by similar hidden creatures that wait only to attack them.

It is one of the more popular Disciplines practiced by Cainites, and is the source of legends surrounding the ability of vampires to vanish and appear seemingly from nowhere. Obfuscate is mentally based; its powers achieve their effects by manipulating the minds of others, not in creating any real changes, and thus will not work against creatures immune to such mental effects or technological sensors. Vampires with levels of Auspex may also bypass the effects of Obfuscate.

Presence
Presence softened God's curse upon Cainites in that it makes the vampire become the center of attention. Either be fascinating, seducing, or intimidating those in close vicinity. Regular users of Presence find themselves attracting beneficial attention easily, sometimes activating the discipline without conscious efforts.

This discipline is fairly common among vampires, especially within the Camarilla, both because of its versatility and because of its subtlety. Many Presence powers can be used upon large groups of people at once and transcend virtually all boundaries of gender, race, religion, class, and supernatural status. Though Presence can be resisted through force of will and by ignoring the user, most do not realize when it is being used upon them.

 

[Yayoi]

The Other Clans

Assamite
Half of he Assassins are dangerous psychopaths who would just as soon devour your soul as look a you. Th other half smile while doing it: I admit, that’s a harsh judgement, but these guys got hit with a nasty curse five centuries ago because they couldn’t behave in civilized company. Now they act polite and cultured, but turn your back on them and they’ll have a stake in you faster than you can say “Allahu Akbar!”

All right, so some have overly rejected their bloodthirstier cousins’ nastier habits. But be careful around this pack. For all we know, they could be the front line for another wave of disvlerists. If an Assamite is interested in you, be polite and give him every reason to find someone else to bother should he decide to obey his thirst.

Brujah
I think the Brujah largely support the Camarilla because it gives them something to b***h about. At length. They’re as much a part of the establishment as the Ventrue they’re always bitching by out, unending streams of vitriolic rhetoric aside. Some Brujah go on about the fabled glories of their pet cause and the absolute necessity to strike down the Centrue with all the fury they can muster. This is why they’re one of the six pillars of the Camarilla, right?

Followers of Set
This clan must have stepped out fo a bad fantasy pulp. "Okay, we're all dead and we worship an evil snake god! 'Cause he has snakes!" Then they run around promoting pedestrian acts of infamy that are supposed to prove their commitment to their naughty lord. The best thing about Setites is this. The first time is always free. No, I'm not kidding. They figure if they hook you, they can keep you forever. The trick is to hook them. If one of the serpents is dumb enough to give me stuff to do evil things, then I'll take it. Of course, when the s**t hits the fan and everything falls apart, he's the one who should take all the credit right?

Gangrel
Ever since my sire and my sire's sire and my sire's sire's sire can remember, the Gangrel have been at odds with our clan. I don't know what their malfunction is, but I've heard quite a few theories. One says the Gangrel were created to fight an enemy alongside the Ravnos, but that the Gangrel turned tail and ran rather than assume their rightful bplace. Personally, I think it's more likely we ran into trouble over kine herds, For several centuries, Ravnos were coming into Europe with Gypsy families. Gangrel poached the herds and Ravnos responded appropriately. Eventually, it got so you couldn;t introduce yourself before the Gangrel had his claws in the Ravnos' gut and the Ravnos had imaginary priests shoving illusory torches into the Ganglre's face. In the modern nights, half the fights you see start because one side knows the toeher side is an enemy, but neither party uite knows why.

I hesitate to say that we can't get along with Gangrel. Among the anarchs, it wasn't unusual to see Ravnos and Gangrel side-by-side without either deciding the other one just had to go. I'm not saying I saw any bosom buddies in the mis, but I rarely saw any of those vague irreconcilable differences that the elders always went on about. Rule of thumb, though when you're around Gangrel, watch your back. You never know when one might decide your existence is a blight on his world and start waving his six inch press-ons in your face.

Giovanni
I have an oidd relationship with the Giovanni I've met. They are a fanukym we act like a family. They're into money and dead things; we're into money. The Necromancers are among the creepiest Kindred I've had the displeasure to meet. All that aside, they make great business partners. Just keep all interactions on a professional level and don't let them count the money until you're long gone.

Sometimes a Giovanni will come looking for someone to do psecial jobs for them. They especially like Ravnos because we;re not well known to other Kindred and we can conver our tracks. If approached, act accoding to your conscience and don't give them your name. They have eeriuie powers over the dead, and they can use your name as a link. Your real name, that is.

Lasombra
The Lasombra epitomize the Sabbat's core tenet. The strong prevail, the weak perish. Rumor has it they destroyed their eldest just before the Camarilla formed. I can't confirm that, but the few I've met were hardcore enough to try anything if they thought it would get them ahead. When you're around a Lasombra, give her the respect she thinks she deserves. If you're tired of existence, just start taunting her. Unlike our clan's ppower over perception, the Lasombra's power over shadows can get downright physical.

Malkavian
The Malkavians bother me, and not just because they know too damned much. Half the time they do something utterly clever, we get blamed for it, think most of our reputation for uncivilized behavior comes from a Ma;kavian's lunacy. They're not stupid of clownish, but that's no consolation. They have a weird ability to see throgh any deception or trickery. Personally, I'd rather kill one than deal with him. Kindred who likw to think in shortcuts will compare Ravnos (because we're tricksters, right?" and Malkavians (because they're "tricksters," right?) and lump us into the same category. This is plainly stupid. I don't recall when Ravnos became blood drooling maniacs by detault. If you come across that kind of lazy thinking, milk it for what it's worth. Either the Kindred will assume you're a blood-drooling maniac or think you're much more frightening than you have any right to be. Either misconcpetion will be to your advantage if ou're on the ball.

Nosferatu
For such a group of ugly sonsabitches,, theyse guys make my vitae itch just thinking about them. They know far too much for my own good, Sure, it's easy to deal with them -- they, we're outcasts, they're outcasts, we talk to the animals and they talk to the animals. We have a lot in common, right? Sure, but don't count on their goodwill and caring nature to extend to you if they can turn the dirt they have into benefit for them. You haven't unlived until a sewer rat's blackmailed you.

Here's a trick in dealing with them: The Nosferatu know many things about the goings-on in their cities. Better yet, they get together and discuss it. If you feel up to it, you can use your power over animals to get a little of that action for yourself. It's simple -- just find a real rat and send him in to spy on the Nosferatu. Okay, it's not that simpe. They'll turn that damned rodent against you half the time. So send a few dozen -- the Sewer Rats can't get them all. If you have the skill, possess one fo the rats. Spend enough time in the sewers and you're bound to learn something. The Nosferatu know their game, but they don't always pay much attention to the animals in their warrens. They're used to them, so a few extras don't always set off their paranoia circuits. Hell, don't even use rats. Use roaches.

Toreador
If I ever thought there was an underlying cosmic significance to my existence as one of the bloodsucking undead, the Toreador are the best evidence against that foolish belief. I'm not saying that I think all these dry-humpers need to burn in the sun, but I wouldn't shed any tears if they did. I've rarely encountered creatures so convinced of their importance to the universe and yet so utterly lacking in evidence to support their delusions. I mean, these losers use supernatural powers of charusma to win firends and influence people.

Naturally, if you want to get anywhere with a Toreador, you have to treat him as if he's an important as he believes he is. Anything less and he'll throw a temper tantrum and bed a primogen or the Prince to swat your knuckles.

Tremere
Here we have a pack of paranoid blood witches. What do they want to do? The same thing they do every night. They want to rule the world. Okay, I don't know that for sure, but look at these two-bit special effects rejects. Sure, they can toss fireballs, fly around like a superhero and summon the very elements to strike down their enemies. What's the flaw? Subtlety, or raather, the lack of it. I'm continually surprised that the Brujah have such a reputation for brute force when the Tremere have refined it to an art form. The most iimportant rules when dealing with Tremere: Don't meet their gaze and don't give them your blood. Anything beyond that is up to you.

I've heard ruymors that at least one branch of the Ravnos enjoyed positive relations with the Tremere before the Camarilla formed. I haven't seen any evidence of that in my own dealings. Either they have a short memory of my sire was sucking down punks tweaking on crank. I wouldn't rely on the possibility, either way.

Tzimisce
These guys redefine the words :sick ********.: The Fiends are the walking embodiment of the Sabbat's core aesthetic. They have no human connnections. To be more precise, they work really hard at convincing themselves that whatever was human before the Embrace withered away afterward. The psycho protests too much, methinks.

I have never met a Tzimisce I didn't want to shove a stake into and put on a rooftop. Not one. I hate these shapeshifting bastards like nothing else. They're vile, polluted things. I'm not even sure they're really Kindred. Stay aaway from them if you value your existence. If you're lucky, any Tzimisce you meet will turn you into a carnival sideshow act. If you're unlucky, you'll spend forever as a quadriplegic blood d***o.

Ventrue
If you put the Toreador at one extreme of behavior and the Lasombra at the other end, the Ventrue fall somewhere in the middle. Your typical Ventue probably believes that she's owed the world, but she'll do everything in her pwer to take it. Overall, they do the leadership thing better than the Lasombra and they just aren't as pathetic as the Toreador. They're dangerous as hell. One call from a Ventrue's call phone and you'll find your bank accounts frozen, a warrant out for your arrest and your haven paved over to make a goddamned parking lot. Don't make them angry -- or if you have to make one angry, do it in such a way that she's not angry with you. I don't care how much of a hardcore rebel ******** you think you are, when you're in the presence of a Ventrue Prince, treat her with the r4espect she claims to deserve. You'll find it pays off in the long run.

 

[Yayoi]

The Rroma

This topic is a delicate one. Many Kindred believe that all Ravnos are Rroma — what most people call Gypsies. This is partly true. Until recently, most visible Ravnos were Rroma. Roughly 600 years ago, the Rroma spread throughout Europe and picked up a really bad reputation. I suspect it largely sprang from the fact that a few hundred Ravnos traveled into Europe with them. The Ravnos believed that to maintain blood purity, they should only Embrace from within their families. So the Ravnos who arrived with the Rroma (presumably their relatives) Embraced from among the Rroma. All these Ravnos had a little voice in the back of their minds telling them about all the wicked things they could do to make their unlives easier.

This made the mortal Rroma's lives harder, as every time they traveled to a new place, the Ravnos traveling with them would descend on the town andwreak havoc upon the wealthy and the powerful. Invariably, the Rroma were accused of the crimes or forced to move on.

I'm not saying the Rroma were blameless. Every society has criminals. But when the Rroma looked for help in getting rid of the Ravnos who had bled
them white and led trouble to their families, the Gangrel were ready to step in and offer that help. Personally, I think the Rroma who made that bargain traded one devil for another. In the process, the Ravnos and Gangrel clans came to blows on multiple occasions. Kindred in both clans met the Final Death for no better reason than the Rroma's passage through Europe.
Some basic rules when around Rroma — remember they're mortals. If you tell them you're a bloodsucking undead monster, they'll probably freak
or try to kill you. So don't.

If you think it would be cool to relate to a Rroma person because you think she's got the "wanderlust," don't. Rroma traveled because they had no place tostay. They're not mortal Ravnos and don't treat them as if they are. It'llprobably get you killed, if you're lucky.

One last thing: Traditional Rroma are sticklers for cleanliness. I'm talking seriously so. They won't eat off your table if you put your feet on it. If they
know you drink blood, they won't hang around you— blood, as a bodily fluid, is impure. Like most mortals, the Rroma believe fairly strongly that the
dead shouldn't get up and walk around. In fact, I think they might be a little more vehement than most about it. Just don't bring up the topic.

 

[Yayoi]

Born Criminals: The Ravnos Weakness

This is the simple truth: Every Ravnos is a criminal. Let me restate that: Every Ravnos is a criminal. The Embrace awakens the Beast within every Kindred, but the Ravnos Beast is a bit more cunning, a bit more deceptive and a bit more underhanded than that of other Kindred. This is not an advantage. We are subject to the same psychotic episodes that every
other Kindred suffers, but we also have to deal with a little voice in the back of our heads that whispers,"Go ahead. Take it — no one will notice. If they do,they won't think you did it." It's persuasive, it knows every dark corner in your soul and eventually you'll give in.

Other Kindred think that Ravnos are thieves. If it were that simple, existence wouldn't be such a pain. Truthfully, our weakness gives many princes
and other Kindred valid reasons to distrust or even hate our clan (though they come to us whenever they need something underhanded done). Ravnos suffer from compulsions that range from the pedestrian
habit of kleptomania to the far more exotic and dangerous drive to commit diablerie on fellow Kindred. Fortunately, relatively few Ravnos are driven
to the latter.

What I said in the first paragraph sounds a bit metaphorical, so I'll expand. That little voice is not external, it's not like a demon gibbering in the dark
places of your conscious mind that you can ignore or argue with. It is part of your own deepest self. Often, you'll find yourself acting on that impulse before you realize what you're about to do. It's quieter than
frenzy and less likely to be noticed, but it's no less compelling when it happens. Path of Paradox followers say this destructive inner drive is one of the temptations laid in our path that we must control or direct toward our own needs, but I think they're just rationalizing their own behavior.
The fact is, we Ravnos don't have to give in to every sudden impulse. With effort, most of us can fight down the urge and move on, at least for a while.

The Ravnos who ignores it for too long feels a gnawing ache, like the thirst for blood. She might even seek out opportunities to commit crimes, or else
find herself subject to temptation more and more often until she gives in. How often a Ravnos gives in depends on each individual's degree of self-control and strength of will.

In the end, it's not really that we're inclined toward crime. We're simply doomed to prove to ourselves that we are the masters of our own
svadharma.

According to old stories, the curse of tempation under which the Ravnos labor was inflicted as a punishment because the clan founder desired the
pleasures of the life lost to him. His need to steal life from mortals, as well as his desire to regain what he no longer had, expanded to encompass all aspects of mortal life. Rather than simply seek out what he wanted on his terms, he was compelled to take whatever he could get as a reminder that no matter how much he had or how he got it, he would never benefit from it. I note that the curse did not simply include theft, but many crimes. Some stories say "all possible crimes.
"
One version of the story goes on to state that the Antediluvian could weaken the curse placed upon him by spreading it to others — his childer, their
childer, and so on. The more Ravnos in the world, the weaker the founder's own curse would become.

The Shape of Vice
For every Ravnos, the crime is different — some bear strong similarities to each other, but the driving motivation and intent usually differs in some key
way. Ravnos develop criminal inclinations based on their activities in life, either a temptation they indulged often as mortals or something they especially despised, as the Embrace is an ironic gift. This means that the meticulous serial killer will probably have an even stronger urge to kill, and his murders will probably become more intricate. Or the police officer who loathes the drug dealers she routinely arrests will develop an urge to obtain those same drugs, or partake of them through her vessels (the
two urges are not incompatible).

Some Ravnos develop impulses toward crimes they never would have considered in mortal life. The Kindred form and its powers provide opportunities to commit acts that no mortal would attempt, and the
Embrace occasionally brings such urges forth. A newly Embraced Ravnos may be unaware of any reason she might be tempted to commit such of fenses, but even these derive in some way from the childe's personality.'

Rroma Ravnos and the Weakness
Some Ravnos who were Rroma as mortals claim that they are less bound by the weakness, that the thin nature of "giorgio" vitae has made us too weak to resist stronger impulses toward specific crimes. They go on to say that they are instead driven to break society's mores and laws, in any way they choose. I think they're deceiving themselves. Some Rroma may suffer under such a compulsion, and I do mean suffer. If you think getting the urge to hold up a convenience store every time you see the cash drawer
open is bad, imagine the need to act against whatever society you're in.

 

[Yayoi]

The Treatment

Word is that princes who kick Ravnos out of town have "The Treatment" coming to them. Some unwise neonates have been known to use this threat
to induce princes to allow them to stay. This is about as stupid as you can get. The Treatment rarely happens. When it does, it's most often because some elder with more connections than sense decided to wreak unholy vengeance on a prince for some slight or other — usually denying the rights due to all Kindred in the city in question. Now, this is not to say that a prince
who kicks us out of a city doesn't deserve a response, but that response need not be obvious, announced or threatened. Don't mention it. If a prince says "Leave town," then leave town, friend. Odds are good that his sheriffs and scourges and primogens and personal bodyguards and whatever else he has handy outnumber you. Hanging around is stupid and you'll be
brightening sunsets before too long with that kind of attitude problem.
With that little lecture out of the way, the Treatment is real. It happens. The point is that if the princes expect it, they'll quietly kill us when we come into town rather than escort us out. In fact, this is one of the scourges' assigned duties — quietly killing inconvenient Kindred.


The Methods
One of the reasons Ravnos stick together is the potential for mutual support. You didn't think it was the warm, cozy feeling of family on the holidays, did
you? No, we have a vested interest in keeping our freedom to go where we want. Of course, walking into a city and getting your sorry a** whacked is not the best way to achieve this. So, to make it work, we have to cooperate

The first step is to keep in touch with other Ravnos. Maintain e-mail addresses, cell phones, post office boxes, answering services, anything that will get the word through. Then send word when you go somewhere. Leave information about where you're going, when you'll arrive and how long you expect to be there. Be sure to give an idea how often you'll leave reports of your well being. Pick up messages from others and pass them around so that your fellow Ravnos have a general sense of where we all are at any given time.

If you run into or expect trouble, leave a note to that effect. If you lose touch with your contacts, other Ravnos may decide to check it out. This choice
depends on how they feel about the prince or other Kindred in the city where you vanished, how they feel about you and whether they care to risk their
existence trying to avenge what may be an idiot's well-deserved demise, or just another pain in the a**. If you do get run out of town, it's a good idea to
post a heads-up to the rest of the blood, so they know why or how. If a prince hates Ravnos, avoid his domain. If you're kicked out of a prince's domain for poor behavior, leave. Don't get pissy, don't b***h at the prince, don't make threats and do not, under any circumstances, mention the Treatment. It's what "everybody knows" about us, but we shouldn't mention it to them. Other Kindred get weird when you talk casually about turning their cities upside down.

That, and it works better to let them fear it without stooping to churlish threats, especially since you probably don't know enough other Ravnos to call a Treatment worth the capital T. Of course, you are expected to return the favor. Just a warning: Not all Ravnos care about the Treatment, especially since the Week of Nightmares hit. In fact, since that time, most Ravnos prefer to lie low and avoid notice even from the rest of the clan.
I can't blame them. It's hard to get anyone together for a Treatment if you can only find one or two of the blood who will talk to you at a

ll.  

[Yayoi]

The Ravnos Embrace

The Ravnos treat the Embrace in different ways depending on which segment of the clan is involved. Indian Ravnos and Path of Paradox
adherents see the Embrace as a metaphysical sacrifice to one or more gods so the childe can move on to fulfil her svadharma, as well as assist other
Kindred in the fulfillment of theirs. Among many of the younger American lineages, the Embrace is usually given without much ceremony — it depends on personal taste and the individua l sire's background and preferences.

Ravnos create new childer for a vast number of reasons. Some Ravnos select a criminal mind as care-fully as an artist seeks a prote'ge, while others look for candidates who can assist them in their own schemes.In many cases, a Ravnos sire expects his childer to stayaround for a long time — before the Week of Night-mares, many Ravnos structured their broods a
s familiesalbeit dysfunctional ones. During the disaster, mostsuch familieswere wiped out in blood-crazed frenzies. Of the few that survived, many have not been heardfrom since.

The Ravnos clan as a whole adheres to no singlerule that all must follow — everything is fairly informal among most of them.

 

[Yayoi]

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