Daughters of Cacophony: Hear the Voices Sing

[spelldancer]

 

[spelldancer]

Believed to have origins in both the Malkavian and the Toreador clans, the Daughters are very few in number. As their nickname "Sirens" suggests, the Daughters are known for their ability to deliver emotions through a form of song. They have a unique discipline called Melpominee (after Melpomene, muse of tragedy) that does just that.

Not much is known about the Daughters of Cacophony as a whole, only that their particular bloodline avoids the nightly troubles of the Jyhad. Since their numbers are so few, organization is questionable. Interestingly enough, all members of the Daughters of Cacophony seem to differ from heavy metal rockers to opera singers.

Currently composed mostly of women, the Daughters practice Melpominee, a Discipline which allows the Daughters to invoke strange effects through singing. The Daughters are the choralistes par excellence of the undead, and hosting a gathering of them is worth high prestige for the Toreador. And although it is mostly female vampires who number among the Daughters of Cacophony, male members of this bloodline do exist, although they are uncommon and usually regarded as oddities.

Some Kindred have been witness to small assemblies of Daughters who perform songs of haunting beauty or frightening timbre that leave their audiences... moved. It has been noted by observant Kindred more than once that even in the most impromptu performances, all Daughters present seem to know exactly what will be sung in addition to all the verses.

In line with their particular penchant for music, a Daughter of Cacophony will constantly be able to hear an inner music flowing through their mind. However beautiful this music might seem, it also impedes them by serving as a constant distraction, making it harder for the Daughters of Cacophony to perceive things around them. The Daughters call this melody the "Fugue".

Some Daughters completely succumb to the Fugue, becoming what the Daughters call "Banshees". Unable to perceive anything but the song within them, they are unpredictable and often violent.

It stands to reason that this weakness could give credit to claims of the Daughters being a clan of Malkavian offshoots, seeing as they are permanently deranged with auditory hallucinations.  

[spelldancer]

The exact origins of the clan are unknown. There are several theories.

Dark Ages Origin

Although the Daughters of Cacophony are a relatively modern phenomenon, one source suggests that they have an origin in the Dark Ages. According to this legend, a peerless Toreador chanteuse heard a song coming from a distant hillock and realized that her own talents paled in comparison to this mysterious voice. At first wracked with jealousy, she sought to destroy this unknown singer, but over time she became contrite and, humbled, sought out the singer, so that she could study under this hidden muse. The mysterious singer, a lady of the fae, accepted the Toreador into her faerie domain. The fate of this Toreador chanteuse is unknown, although some of her clanmates claim to have heard two voices singing in unison from beneath the earth.

Renaissance Origin

Other sources point to the shadowy True Black Hand. Originally conceived as a weapon to infiltrate the Camarilla in the same manner the Black Hand was intended to, the True Black Hand gathered Toreador singers and tutored them under an ancient Malkavian. The result was not what the sect had intended and though many argued to destroy the failed survivors, others voted to let them live for future use. In exchange for keeping the secrets of their makers, the Daughters were cut loose and allowed to go on their own.

Victorian Origin

Another source suggests that the clan was founded by the Malkavian Dr. Reiner Stoschka and his Gentlemen's Society for the Rational Investigation of Super-Natural Matters. They experimented on Kindred to determine whether common clan traits such as weaknesses and affinities for certain Disciplines were psychological in nature. However, the experiments drove their subjects quite mad. One of their charges was a Toreador woman, who found the only way to lessen her own pain was to share it with others. And to do this, she sang. Although only implied, Dr. Stoschka's experiment stands as the only explicit and official explanation for the origins of the bloodline, even though the fact that they first appeared in about 1700 conflicts with this theory since Victorian Age: Vampire begins in 1880.

It is, however, certain that the Daughters were at the height of their popularity during the Victorian era, especially concerning mortals. Operas were the highest form of entertainment and popular music changes in their favor.

 

[spelldancer]

Not much is known about the Daughters of Cacophony as a whole, only that their particular bloodline avoids the nightly troubles of the Jyhad. Since their numbers are so few, organization is questionable. Interestingly enough, all members of the Daughters of Cacophony seem to differ from heavy metal rockers to opera singers.

Historically the Daughters had no formal organization – their numbers are so few and far between that any given location is unlikely to be home for more than one or two of them (if any). When Daughters do congregate for whatever reason, the younger members of the bloodline often defer to the older ones.

After being appointed the new Disciple by Grendel, Lorelei is working on creating a formal organization. While she is not requiring that any Daughter leave their home, she is requiring that each clan member stay in communication with the clan. She is encouraging more informal and formal gatherings.  

[spelldancer]

Embracing & Plot Thread

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.  

[spelldancer]

*Permission from spelldancer required to obtain a male DoC*

One of Lorelei’s first acts as Disciple was to investigate the rumors of male Daughters of Cacophony. To her surprise, a small group of males had been living in isolation from the rest of the clan for fear of being eliminated. She decided to integrate them into the rest of the clan as true members instead of killing them.

Lorelei understands that there are old prejudices about males but expects these new found clan members to be treated as any female Daughter would be treated. She has decreed that only the Sons of Discord elder or herself can Embrace a male or allow a male vampire to join the clan while the dynamics are being sorted out.

*More information will be added as the males are fleshed out*  

[spelldancer]

Fortitude: is a Discipline that grants Kindred unearthly toughness, even to the point of resisting fire and sunlight.

Melpominee: allows its possessors to use speech and song for a variety of supernatural effects.

Presence: is the Discipline of supernatural allure and emotional manipulation which allows Kindred to attract, sway, and control crowds.  

[spelldancer]

Within the Clan

Lorelei expects clan members to be respectful and work together to grow the clan and their standing in society.

Other Vampires

Though there are no clanwide thoughts on other vampire clans. Daughters are expected to not create conflicts with other clans. The leaders are not here to bail you out if you get in trouble with another clan’s leader.

As I have time I will fill out the below with Lorelei’s views:

Ahrimanes

Assamite

Baali

Brujah

Cappadocian

Daeva

Followers of Set

Gangrel

Giovanni

Kiasyd

Lasombra

Lhiannan

Malkavian

Mekhet

Nagaraja

Nosferatu

Ravnos

Salubri

Samedi

Toreador

Tremere

True Brujah

Tzimisce

Ventrue

Clanless

Mortals

Clan members are expected to maintain the Masquerade. Long term romantic relationships with mortals are discouraged for this reason.  

[spelldancer]

Disciple


Antediluvian
None

Methuselah
None

Elders



Ancillaes
None

Neonates

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Fledglings

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Rank Unknown
None

If you have a member not listed here, please DM me on Discord so I can add them

 

[spelldancer]

This is a list of places maintained by clan members

The Haven

The Haven is Lorelei’s home. She has opened it to any Daughter in need of a place to stay.

If you have a place you would like added to the list, please DM me on Discord and I will add it  

[spelldancer]

Getting Involved in the Clan

Would you like to influence the future of the clan?
Do you have an idea for a plot you want to try out?
Just want to talk about the DoC?

Feel free to either post in the Embracing and Plot Thread or reach out to me through Discord.