The
Strigoi
"Certainly virtue is like precious odors, most fragrant when they are incensed, or crushed:
for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue. "
Creeping out from their ancestral abodes in the
hoary mountains of eastern Europe, the
Strigoi bear the dubious destinction of
being two bloodlines claiming a single
founder. But this claim and their
signature discipline has not brought
respect or admiration from their
fellow kindred. Rumors about
diablerie, devil worship, madness,
and demonic possession have
isolated the bloodlines of the Strigoi
to such a degree that they are now
almost akin to their own small clan.
This is not helped by the Strigoi's
predilection towards degeneration,
debauchery, and cruetly, traits that almost all
Strigoi of note bear. Knowledgable kindred do their best
to keep their distance from the Creeps and the Fiends.
History
Lizuca's Calling
Lizuca was the most sought after bride of her village,
having been achingly beautiful in her youth. The
daughter of widowed herbalist, Lizuca was keen at
farming and medicine. But luck would not be with her
and after becoming engaged, she began being visited in
the night by dark menace, that left her sickly by morning.
Spells and wards both christian and pagan were alined
about her room, but none mattered, for in the end the dark
menace crept into her chambers and she was embraced.
The menace was named Rada, and he was like a cold
ragged corpse. He told Lizuca that he had been captivated
by her night time singing, as was her custom to sing to her
mother in the evening, and that he had visited her, but in
doing so she had begun to sicken and die. Rather than let
that happen, Rada claimed, he had saved Lizuca.
Revealing the basics of her condition Rada disappeared
soon after, and swiftly Lizuca's beauty began to fade. At
- Sir Francis Bacon
first she seemed just sickly, but soon her flesh
began to take rot, and she was aught but
ragged corpse in appearance. Unable to
be with the people she had grown up
with Lizuca left the village.
Living by the River Elbe, Lizuca
became a kind of hag creature who
would trap those of the local
populace who travelled too close to
the rivers banks at night. But Lizuca
was not the only kindred living near
the river. She was approached by two
others, the Sisters, who took Lizuca
under their wing and gave a meaning to
her existence. She was the embodiment of the
Crone, they told her, and taught her the traditions of
Circle. Lizuca took to the Circle's ways like a fish to a
stream, but despite this she still was uncontented. The
others sisters, the Virgin and the Mother, could walk
among mortals without fear and hatred, yet she could not.
So Lizuca bent her powers to understanding flesh, hers
and theirs. Mortals became her study as well, and she left
prey often dissected to expose its secrets.
Changing Skins
When she did at last find the secret wished for, it was
bitter knowledge. Still, undaunted by the task, she
trapped the Virgin and Mother in webs of deceit, and
when they were staked, she used them to cast a great ritual
unseen by any kindred of the Circle of the Crone. She
absorbed their essences and then knew all secrets of flesh
and bone. With this she changed her blood and could now
become old or young, fat or skinny, cold or flush. But
even as she reveled in this knowledge, all was not as she
had hoped. Walking amongst the mortal populace, they
still looked at her new form with anxiety and secret dread.
Though she was not outwardly a monster, mortals still felt
the monster inside and felt terror from it.
Coldly betrayed even in victory, Lizuca again became a
recluse, a white clad witch of the forest. She would claim
childer in those years, mostly mediums or those with
occult talents, and teach them her powers of Transviscera,
but they suffered just as her, and went their separate ways.
The Tutalage of Tzimisces
Ioannes Tzimisces III, a prince of the Byzantine empire
during the 10th century A.D., was known to have been
debauched and narcissistic in his time at Constantinople.
But after offending those in power, a blood hunt was
called on Tzimisces and he left Constantinople and fled
into the depths of the slavic lands to the north. The wilds
of the north forests and mountains were perilous,
barbarous lands that Rome had only partially civilized,
and lone kindred traveling by moonlight still had unseen
terrors to face. Tzimisces travelled long in these depths
but found no place to call a haven until a fateful encounter
with the witch Lizuca.
She came to him like an angel out of heaven, smiting
those that pursued him. Out of thanks and at great
surprise Tzimisces humbled himself before her, and
begged to be taught at her side. And Lizuca agreed,
despite herself. For a time they were friends, then lovers,
and then estranged. But Lizuca held Tzimisces to his
bond, and tied the strings of her demise.
In addition to her knowledge Lizuca's of flesh-crafting,
she was an accomplished sorceress. And in Lizuca
Tzimisces found not just a master but a teacher, and he
was quick to learn. She taught him the ways of the
mountains, forests, and rivers, and it was long before
Tzimisces lost his fear of the wilds and came to feel of it
as his home. Lizuca was respected by the powers and
spirits that dwelt in wilds and by other kindred that
walked the open country under the moon. Tzimisces
became a trusted servant of Lizuca and powerful in his
own right, but in all ways an extension of Lizuca's power,
and it is because of this he eventually realized his folly.
Lizuca, taught Tzimisces many things, but never as much
as she herself knew. This knowledge she held as bond on
her servant, keeping him loyal with the promises of
deeper mysteries and keys to greater knowledge. Despite
this Tzimisces eventually found his service to Lizuca as a
prison, and though he wanted to leave and come into his
own power and status, but she would not let him. When
the burden eventually became too great, Tzimisces turned
on Lizuca seeing his own demise as preferable to
unending servitude. The both of them fought viciously
leaving no quarter, but in the end Tzimisces persevered,
and Lizuca's spells, protections, and wards failed against
him. She came to be at his mercy, and in a moment of
anger and jealousy Tzimisces took her heart's blood.
Tzimisces made enemies of many that night, not the least
of which were Lizuca's get, the Strigoi Morti.
Diablerie's Mark
Tzimisces was changed after the act of amaranth. His
later childer reported that he had traits of madness and
disquiet that were not immediately apparent. He had
reentered kindred society, taking residence in Budapest
and selected childer from their barons and princes, all
with a penchant for ambition. But as he grew old, he
grew distant. His childer admitted that he was haunted by
voices, and that sometimes his powers of Transviscera
would become uncontrolled and would grow limbs, eyes,
or mouths that seemed to move with a will of their own.
In early 14th century as Tzimisces' bouts of madness
became worse, and Tzimisces surprised his childer by
undergoing a strange metamorphosis.
Those of her blood felt her absence, and found that
Tzimisces had left her domain. When he was reported
using Transviscera, her blood-tied new what had
happened. Some of those took it upon themselves to seek
revenge, and one of these was Rada. Rada had never left
his childe totally, keeping his eyes on her from afar,
horrified with the guilt that he had cursed her. When
news of her diablerie reached him, he found her oldest
childe and formed a pact of revenge. Taking her bloodline
though her childe, Rada bore a few more childer and
fought a secret war against Tzimisces. When Rada did
eventually confront the aged prince, intent on destroying
him, he met with a revelation. From Tzimisces' own flesh
came her voice. Lizuca spoke from within Tzimisces and
Rada wept, for he realized that in truth she was not dead,
but locked in vessel that Rada was bent on destroying.
Lizuca calmed her blood-tied and then told them more of
the horrible miracle she had achieved. Both lines were
brought before their founders and a dread pact formed
assuaging all vengeance, and those closest to Tzimsces
and Lizuca became the lords of a combined house,
caretakers of "the Founder" in its new form. Both lines
took the name Strigoi, a sobriquet for witch or devil, set
about regaining control of Budapest, however that was not
to be. Facing pressure from elements of the First and
Second Estates, the two lines removed themselves to
wilds of eastern Hungary. Reestablishing themselves, the
Strigoi dug themselves into this new domain, selecting
childer from rising noble houses. Thus the Strigoi have
long haunted the lands of eastern europe, resisting any
who would uproot them.
Traditions
allowing the Strigoi to debate internal matters of the two
lines.

The Diet of Cluj

After Fleeing Bundapest, the Strigoi came into the lands
of Transylvania, which at the time were part of the
Voivodes
Strigoi who take Domains, most often Strigoi Vîi, take
Kingdom of Hungary. Wild and undeveloped, these lands
the title Voivode, or warlord, as their honorific. Voivodes
had sporatic villages and a few growing cities populated
are aptly named as they have a history of struggle in their
by Saxon, Szekler, and Vlach peoples, and the strigoi
Europian Domains. Feuds are common and even
made retainers of their leaders. Eastern Hungary rarely
encouraged as elders think it keeps the teeth sharp during
payed tribute to the previous Kings and in turn the Kings
their centuries of unlife. When atlast an enemy is ready
had not made the effort to establish dominance.
for the kill, Voivodes are expected to use the rites of
Monomancy to finish off the opponent. While such rites
With the flight of the Strigoi, this was soon to change.
were originally design to be used instead of wasting the
Cities were beginning to grow in the Carpathian Basin
blood of countless retainers, the Strigoi use it instead as
and Invictus kindred wished to grow their domains. As
the finishing touch of a long drawn out battle, proving to
they began incursions into Strigoi territory, the lines of
their peers that they can finish off an opponent utterly,
the Strigoi met in council to see what could be done.
physically and mentally.
Bringing their mortal retainers to Cluj near the border to
western Hungary, they banded their lines closer together
and set about defending their lands. Thus a few centuries
Kolduns
Those of the Strigoi who aquire great skill in blood
of strife between eastern and western Hungary were
sorcery often take the title Koldun, or or the feminine
aggravated. As the conflict wore on and eventually, the
Koldunya. A Koldun must be versed in the ways of the
Diet of Cluj had become a tradition, and remains so
mountains, rivers, wind, and fires, and have them at his
command. While they practice a version of Cruác, the
Kolduns of the Strigoi have their own rituals inherited
from Lizuca, and are loathe to teach them to others not of
the line. Indead many whisper that if they have stayed a
proprietary secret for this long, then the Kolduns must
take extra special care that those who share them are delt
with.
Kolduns in the old country are often allied with a Voivode
in their domain, serving the Voivode as an advisor in
matters spiritual. The Koldun is in turn a made a regent,
allowing for more privacy. Wise Voivodes know to step
carefully around a Koldun in his domain.
Familie de Sânge
Legend also speaks of the so called Blood Families of the
Strigoi, mortal families whose heredity caries a weak
form of vitae in their veins. Such beings did not require
constant infusions of vitae to keep them going and were
born loyal to the Strigoi who created them. Several such
families were thought to have existed during the dark ages
up unto the renaissance, but they were suppoed to have
been destroyed by the inquisition.
Despite being mortal, these blood families werre not
always the perfect servants. Having an ever replenished

Szlatcha
store of vitae in their veins, these kine were known for
violent behavior, having frenzies akin to those of
Szlatcha are the servants of the Strigoi, specially crafted vampires. Other impusles of less savory nature were also
to be fearsome combatants. Also known as war ghouls, prone to them, not the least of which included
szlatcha are often hidiously deformed, hunchbacked cannibalism.
creatures with boney spines, sharp teeth and other
modifications that make them dangerous in hand to hand
combat. Sometimes pitiful, these deformed people live
torturous lives ast their masters whim. Some szlatcha are
even selectively lobotomized by their masters to be made
more vicoius or feral. Some Szlatcha, however, becocme
indespesible and may eventually aquire the embrace from
their regent. Such cases are rare and often a said szlatcha
must rely on their own abilities to return themselvers to a
normal shape.

Szatcha are somewhat rare in modern nights. Either that

or their modifications are made smaller and more
obscurable, so as to not draw attention. Modern szlatcha
may have claws hidden in gloves for example. Either that
oir they are just not allowed to see the light of day, while
their masters live.

Vozhd
Vozhd are legendary creatures, composite war ghouls
comprised of anywhere from 10 to 20 mortals. Such
beasts are truely a monstrosity and werre thought to have
been made to frighten and kill the invading armies of
western kindred in nights long past. The cost of
maintaining such creature makes them theoretically
difficult to keep at best. Especially since such beasts are
often made carnivorous as a matter of course.

A modern made vozhd may exist somewhere but they a

ecxeedingly expensive to feed, requiring a good cow or
two to eat a day. Obviously such a creature would be the
quite the masquerade breach if released, but it may be
useful as a way of executing prisoners (yes my darling,
we've got something special for you tonight. Yes we have
...).
 Strigoi Vˆi
"My darling, you have the most exquisitly beautiful face. Pity if something were to happen to it ..."
Strigoi Vîi are monstrous lords, whose penchant for
madness, viciousness, and cruelty are made even more
terrible through their bloodline discipline of Transviscera,
which allows one to sculpt and mold flesh like clay.
Deadly vampires even by Ventrue standards, Strigoi Vîi
use their Transviscera discipline to sculpt themselves into
images of terrible beauty or tear the flesh off the bones of
their enemies. Most are gentile and courteous, but these
affectations are only a mask to hide dark predilections and
inhuman behavior, that those outside the clan mark as a
somewhat morbid sense of taste. Born in betrayal, this
bloodline is marred by the same madness and
degeneration that haunt the Ventrue. Indeed, the Strigoi
Vîi bare it almost more, as their penchant for torture and
cruelty leads them ever closer to the beast.
The founder’s metamorphosis was viewed with great
skeptisism by the Ventrue leaders of the old world, and
they have spread whispers that Tzimisces is just another
elder whose mind has fallen to degeneration and has been
riven by insanity, something they do not wish to become
reflected upon them. What they hesitate to voice,
however, is the real possibility that Tzimisces is possessed
by a diablerized soul. As such the line is not held in good
regard by their parent clan and modern Strigoi Vîi suffer a
stigma as a line that is volatile and more dangerous to
trust than most. They are right of course
Parent Clan: Ventrue
Nickname: the Fiends. Among the Ventrue they known
by their founders name, the Tzimisce.
Covenant: Many Strigoi Vîi, like others of the Ventrue
clan, are members of Invictus, however they do not often
have support of their clan. Others are members of the
Ordo Dracul, where the clan's bloodline discipline is
admired for facilitating change even if its just physical.
The Lancea Sanctum also has its share of fiends but they
sometimes must weather accusations of demonic
possession or worship, especially due to their relation to
the Strigoi Morti. While the Carthians will accept any
dedicated member of the movement, some find the
dominating ways of the Strigoi Vîi no different from their
enemies. Some Strigoi Vîi become members of Belial's
Brood, plying their flesh-crafting trade to the victims of
Satan's army.
Appearance: Strigoi Vîi are often physically beautiful or
imposing, but individuals vary wildly as to what they
consider either. Due to their trouble within the clan
proper, and probably due to no shortage of vanity within
the line, Strigoi Vîi are often more rebellious in
appearance than your average Ventrue.
Haven: Strigoi Vîi havens are very personal things.
Strigoi Vîi share similar proclivity with their Ventrue
clan-mates for large ostentatious havens, and even share
the tradition of providing sanctuary to other Ventrue and
delight in playing gracious host. Strigoi Vîi show equal
zeal in defense of their domains, and give special
"attention" to those who trespass.
Background: Strigoi Vîi choose choose childer who are
distinctive and not necessarily traditionally professional or
noble. They look for traits that make a mortal "worthy" of
the embrace, not considering it a "curse" in the usual
sense. Often traits that attract them are exceptional genius
or cunning, or acts of great willpower. Strigoi Vîi are as
likely to embrace a psychopath as a businessman if they
think the mortal has a trait of interest. Whatever their
mortal form, the elders hope, the chaff will fall from them
and they will become a more refined, deadly, formidable
vampire. Some Strigoi Vîi only embrace from ghouls
whom they have been training for years for the
transformation.
Character Creation: Strigoi Vîi favor either Mental or
Social attributes over brute strength but often learn to
back up whatever weakness they may express. Ultimately
the fiends learn how to make other's fear them as it is their
best defense. Crafts, Medicine, Science, Intimidation,
Persuasion, and Brawl are common. Social merits, like
those of Ventrue cousins are often of great use to a Strigoi
Vîi, and the Haven merit is particularly useful.
Bloodline Disciplines: Animalism, Dominate,
Transviscera, and Vigor.
Weakness: Like Ventrue the Strigoi Vîi are prone to
derangements as they degenerate, (which is quite
common). They often are haunted by agoraphobia, or
obsessive-compulsive disorder, or megalomania. This is
exacerbated by those who practice Transviscera, as its
practices have detrimental effect on humanity.
In addition Strigoi Vîi cannot rest unless in contact with
blood soaked earth. Without such contact the Strigoi's rest
is haunted by fearful dreams and his flesh may feel not
entirely his own. One vitae's worth of blood must be
drained into at-least two handfuls of earth in order to sleep
restfully. If the Strigoi Vîi is unable to do so, she takes a
-2 penalty to all mental dice pools for any night gone
without suitable rest. Strigoi Vîi who suffer this
malediction report spasms or strange movements of
their flesh as if it was coming alive. Any failed
resolve or composure rolls can result in such an
episode, usually lasting the rest of the scene. The
character's flesh undulates, and spasms, and
mutates, reducing dexterity 1 for length of the
episode.
Organization: Strigoi Vîi and Strigoi Morti
have a tight knit organization, that borders on that
of a Clan or Covenant. Within that organization
the Strigoi Vîi are often very competitive,
struggling for prestige within the line that
they are denied in the clan proper. Both
bloodlines look to leadership from elders in
the old country, who have a council called
the Diet of Cluj. With the Strigoi Morti
advising, Strigoi Vîi rule what domains they
have with iron fists.
Concepts: Crime Lord, Sociopath,
Antiquated Nobility, Corporate Profiteer,
Yuppie Psycho."
 Strigoi Morti¸
"Knowledge is not always kind. Some of what you may learn here, may have you pining for more ignorant times."
The other half of the Strigoi family are the descendants of
Lizuca's childer, the Strigoi Morti. Where the Strigoi Vîi
are haughty and vain, the Strigoi Morti are secretive and
alien. Able to shed the physical deformity of their
Nosferatu cousins, they are no less hated and feared by
others. Thusly many have discarded their humanity and
seek to embody something ... more. Creeps often appear
monstrous out of choice rather than circumstance.
Strigoi Morti took upon themselves the inheritance of
Lizuca and study the mysteries of the second world.
Modern Strigoi Morti still serve the caretakers of the
founder, long after his/her descent into torpor. The
caretakers rule by council, called the Diet of Cluj, where
elders are advised by Kolduns, sorcerers of the Strigoi
Morti, and seek to further the two lines. In modern nights
the Diet has been mostly become a formal bickering
session, where Voivodes fight over long forgotten feuds.
With the fall of the iron curtain, more Strigoi have begun
to branch out and travel to lands beyond their elders
domains.
Parent Clan: Nosferatu
Nickname: The Creeps
Covenant: Almost all Strigoi Morti belong to the Circle
of the Crone at least in their formative years. As many
Strigoi Morti are from occult backgrounds, it usually goes
hand in hand with their initiation into the Kindred society.
Lizuca was a powerful acolyte in her time and developed
many Cruac rituals that are kept secret by the bloodline,
so it has been rumored that they enforce that secrecy if
one of their flock who has learned too much goes astray.
Those that leave the Circle early on (before learning
anything "proprietary" that is) often do so to join the Ordo
Dracul, whose own occult practices are enticing to
scholarly Creeps. Those that do often become
"scientists", studying the development of the vampiric
form.
Appearance: Transviscera allows Strigoi Morti to
appear as human as they wish, but since their clan
weakness still persists many Strigoi Morti don't both with
human appearances. Instead they tend to refine their
monstrous appearances into a morbidly artistic or alien
semblance. They favor dark clothes that suit their sense
morbid taste, often choosing materials that do not easily
get wet or stain. As any Creep will tell you with smirk,
form follows function.
Haven: Introspective kindred, many Strigoi Morti live
simple hermit like existences. Some live hidden within
the walls of academia and are the source of campus ghost
stories. Others convert abandoned building into labs or
studies filled with books, or what ever tools they use to
satiate their curiosity. What is common is that Creeps like
privacy, and don't take well to gate crashers, taking
special pleaseure in the delivering of punative lessons.
Background: Strigoi Morti are drawn to potential
childer because they have keen insight, or talent for the
occult. Many look for some demonstration of "second
sight" in a prospective childe. Those who are worthy may
lose their talents after the embrace, but soon they develop
powers to replace it.
Character Creation: Mental attributes are almost
always primary. Common skills include Academics,
Investigation, Occult, Science, Stealth, Survival,
Empathy, Persuasion, and Subterfuge. Haven and
Retainer merits are common, as well as Languages, and
other mental merits.
Bloodline Disciplines: Auspex, Nightmare,
Transviscera, and Vigor
Weakness: Strigoi Morti have the same weakness as
their Nosferatu forbearers. However much they change
their visage to appear human, those that see them feel an
inner sense of their monstrous forms. This aura of fear
does not betray the Strigoi Morti who uses Obfuscate any
more than it would any other nosferatu.
In addition Strigoi Morti suffer the same weakness as the
Strigoi Vii and cannot rest unless in contact with blood
soaked earth. One vitae's worth of blood must be drained
into at-least two handfuls of earth. If the Creep is unable
to do so, she takes a -2 penalty to all mental dice pools for
any night gone without suitable rest. Those who suffer
this malediction report spasms or strange movements of
their flesh as if it was coming alive. Any failed resolve or
composure rolls can result in such an episode, usually
lasting the rest of the scene. The character's flesh
undulates, and spasms, and mutates, reducing dexterity 1
for length of the episode. Strigoi Morti elders theorize
that this curse was left by the spirits of the Virgin and the
Mother for Lizuca's treachery and that the rite of blood
soaked earth wards them against it.
Organization: Strigoi Morti share their
organization with the Strigoi Vii forming a
symbiotic relationship. The Strigoi Vii
lead and the Strigoi Morti advise. While
this might seem a diminished or
subservient role, the Strigoi Morti long
ago learned that it is easier to let
someone else stand up and be a target
for plots and treachery. Those who do
not become Voivodes in their own
right , or have little use for politiccs
take the title "Koldun" as a mark of
their power and wisdom. However,
those who take the title must be able
to defend their claim to it.
Concepts: Obsessive Occultist,
Modern Warlock, Driven Professor,
Cenobite Wannabe, Butcher, Mad
Scientist.
 T ransviscera & Cruác
Transviscera
Practiced by the Strigoi bloodlines, this foul discipline is
thought to have had its origins in the disciplines of
Protean and the blood sorcery of Cruac. That said, using
Transviscera has a similar devastating effect on the
humanity of a practitioner of its uses. Dots in
Transviscera limit the highest levels of humanity a
flesh-crafter may keep or obtain, much like the Crone's
blood sorcery. Use of Transviscera also requires manually
sculpting the subject in question. Even for changes to
skin, hair, or eye coloration, a cursory pass of the hand is
needed for the change. Most changes are extended rolls
whose limits are determined by how pervasive they are.
The Clan Weakness of the Nosferatu cannot be overcome
by physical transformation alone, and still effects those
who have been flesh-crafted to appear more mundane.
• Supplication of Skin - At this early level of
development, the vampire's skill with Transviscera can
only effect minor changes in appearance, changing hair,
eye, or skin color, subtly shifting the features of the face
or the way weight is carried. Strigoi of the dark-ages used
this power to make themselves more refined or beautiful,
or to become spies in rival courts.
Cost: 1 vitae
Dice Pool: Dexterity + Crafts + Transviscera.
Action: Extended (minor changes are simple (5),
copying a person's resemblance is elaborate (15))
Dramatic Failure: The vampire has botched the attempt
and has inadvertently lowered her Presence by one point.
Failure: The vampire fails to effect her flesh and the
blood is spent.
Success: The vampire gains a modicum of success
towards the desired effect.
Exceptional Success: Improve her presence by one with
no experience cost. No further improvements possible.
Each roll takes 10 minutes to complete. Without Mandate
of the Flesh this effect is personal use only. Self made
changes can be undone. allowing one to revert back to
their original form without having to make a roll, at the
cost of 1 vitae. Doing so takes one turn, and does not
require manual sculpting. This reversion is a definite
breach of the masquerade.
Suggested Modifiers
Modifier Situation
+2 Character has a live model or extensive research
to work from.
+1 Using a mirror.
- No special considerations or only working from
photographs.
-1 Inferior research or photographs available.
-2 Bad conditions (Such as attempting fine detail
on a unwilling subject, or attempting self
modification during combat).
•• Exhortation of Corpulence - Now capable
of molding all flesh, the vampire can now make gross
changes to his form. The vampire may now move whole
clumps of flesh (skin, fat, muscle, sinew) and use this to
modify his attributes. This allows the vampire to
exchange points between the characters physical
attributes. Attributes may not be raised above the
character's trait limit of-course.
Cost: 1 vitae
Dice Pool: Dexterity + Crafts + Transviscera.
Action: Extended (Attribute changes are involved (10))
Dramatic Failure: The vampire has botched the attempt
and has lost the point that was being used to make another
trait larger. It can be returned with another successful
involved (10) attempt.
Failure: The vampire fails to effect her flesh and the
blood is spent.
Success: The vampire gains a modicum of success
towards the desired effect.
Exceptional Success: The trait is shifted to effectively
that it costs one point less than required. This effect only
lasts until the vampire sleeps and then the trait raised is
lowered by one point.
Each roll takes 10 minutes to complete. Only one dot of a
physical attribute is shifted per attempt. Self made
changes can be undone. allowing one to revert back to
their original form without having to make a roll, at the
cost of 1 vitae. Doing so takes one turn, and does not
require manual sculpting. This reversion is a definite
breach of the masquerade.
Suggested Modifiers
Modifier Situation
+1 Medicine specialty in anatomy, physical
therapy, or surgery (counts once).
+1 Medicine of 3 or more dots
+1 Using a mirror.
-
-2
No particular advantage
Bad conditions (Such as attempting fine detail
on a unwilling subject, or attempting self
modification during combat).
••• Mandate of the Flesh - Allows use of
the Supplication of Skin or Exhortation of Corpulence on
other targets. With Exhortation of Corpulence this power
can be used to just remove physical attribute points as
opposed to shifting them.
Cost: 1 willpower point.
Dice Pool: Strength + Crafts + Transviscera minus
Stamina + Blood Potency
Action: Instant or extended (see below).
Dramatic Failure: The vampire fails to effect the
character and can no longer effect them for the rest of the
scene
Failure: The vampire fails to effect the subject's flesh
while vitae and willpower are spent.
Success: the vampire succeeds in performing the effect
on the target.
Exceptional Success: Same as the original power. In
combat, the effect reduces an attribute by 2.
The vampire must grapple unwilling subjects before this
effect can be used. In combat the vampire can reduce
attributes, rather than just manipulate them as an instant
action. Each attempt takes a turn and reduces one
attribute by one point. Effected attributes include
strength, dexterity, stamina, or presence. Effects are
healable as if it were 4 lethal wounds per dots
moved/missing. If the user chooses she can try to make
such things permanent, using a willpower dot. This can
only be done on vampires of lower blood potency.
Vampires of higher blood potency can heal a "permanent"
effect as if it were an aggravated wound.
Suggested Modifiers
Modifier Situation
+1 Medicine specialty in anatomy, physical
therapy, or surgery (counts once).
+1 Medicine of 3 or more dots
+2 Power is used on a vampire with which the
character has a blood tie.
+/- Modifiers from the level of Tranviscera used.
- No particular advantage
-2 Bad conditions (Such as attempting fine detail
on a unwilling subject, or attempting self
modification during combat).
•••• Solicitation of Bone - The vampire is
now capable of sculpting and warping bones, his own or
someone else's. When used to modify a body, this power
allows claws, pointed spines or barbs to sprout from the
flesh. It can also allow the vampire to change a
character's size attribute to a certain degree. Used as a
weapon, this power can cause bone to break or sprout
barbs, internally lacerating the body of the poor soul
under its effect.
Cost: 1 vitae.
Dice Pool: Dexterity or Strength + Crafts + Transviscera
minus Stamina + Blood Potency
Action: Instant or extended (simple (5) for barbs and
claws, elaborate (15) for size changes).
Dramatic Failure: If used on himself the vampire
looses a dot to stamina due to a fault in his bone structure.
This dot can be restored with a successful bone-crafting
attempt. Used against another character, the vampire fails
to effect the character and can no longer effect them for
the rest of the scene.
Failure: The vampire bone-crafting fails to effect the
subject's or his own flesh while vitae and willpower are
spent.
Success: the vampire succeeds in performing the effect
on himself or the target.
Exceptional Success: The Bone-crafter's creation or
modification gains a +1 bonus due to exceptional
craftsmanship. If used to enhance a creature's size, the
effect costs one less attribute point than normal. If used in
combat, exceptional success means the heart has been
punctured killing any normal human instantly, or
rupturing the seat of vampire's vitae, cause 1/2 his blood
points to erupt from his body.
If an extended action is used it takes 10 minutes per roll.
Using this power can give the subject the ability gain a +1
die to melee attacks and allows his melee attacks to do
lethal damage. It can also be used to shift dots between
the character's Stamina and Size, although by no more
than 2 points, and a character's stamina can never go
below 1 dot. Used directly as a weapon, Solicitation of
Bone can cause 1 point of lethal damage per success. The
vampire must grapple an unwilling target before using this
power. Exceptional success means the heart has been
punctured killing any normal human instantly or causing a
vampire to lose half of his vitae as it ruptures from his
body. Modifications are healable as with mandate of the
flesh. Lethal wounds caused by bone-craft are healed
cost twice as many vitae to heal (as opposed to 4 points
like with attribute modifications). Self made changes can
be undone. allowing one to revert back to their original
form without having to make a roll, at the cost of 1 Vitae.
Doing so takes one turn, and does not require manual
sculpting. This reversion is a definite breach of the
masquerade.
Suggested Modifiers
Modifier Situation
+1 Medicine specialty in anatomy, physical
therapy, or surgery (counts once).
+1 Medicine of 3 or more dots
+1 Using a mirror.
+2 Power is used on a vampire with which the
character has a blood tie.
- No particular advantage
-2 Bad conditions (Such as attempting fine detail
on a unwilling subject, or attempting self
modification during combat).
••••• Mastery of the Vital Corpus - At
this point the flesh-crafter's mastery of Transviscera
means he no longer needs to use his hands to manually
sculpt his own body, and needs but a touch to effect
others. Use of this power is truly feared, as a vampire can
pass on a debilitating deformity with but a light caress.
Cost: Same as Tranviscera power used.
Dice Pool: Dexterity or Strength + (Crafts or Brawl,
whichever is lower) + Transviscera minus Stamina +
Blood Potency
Action: Same as Tranviscera power used.
Extended rolls using Transviscera now only take one turn
per roll instead of 10 minutes per roll and can be done
with thought alone. To flesh-craft/bone-craft others the
vampire need not grapple them but only touch them,
allowing surprise attacks with Transviscera. This must be
skin to skin contact however. In Combat touching the
target is as important as the crafting skill, thus the
character uses the lesser of her Craft or Brawl skill in the
dice-pool.
Suggested Modifiers
Use modifiers from the specific Transviscera level used in
conjunction with Mastery of the Vital Corpus.
Cruác Rituals
As the white witch of the river Danube, Lizuca became a
renwned sorceress. becoming versed in the languages of
spirits and petitioning of dire gods and goddesses. Three
Goddesses were particularly iumportant to Lizuca, the
Snake Maiden, the Bone-legged Witch, and the Moist
Mother Earth, the Bone Witch in particular having been
her manifestation of the Crone and her idol of power.
Learning much from the spirits of the land, Lizuca
developed blood rituals of her own, derived of the slavic
pagan traditions of her teachers. Lizuca understood that
all things animate and inanimate had spirits, spirits that
could be called and awoken. Her rituals she passes on to
only her most trusted students. The Strigoi Morti have
taken up this task of passing down the inheritance of
lizuca's knowledge, and they don't do so lightly. In order
to learn these rituals one must have dots in Status: Strigoi
equal to the dots of the desired ritual.
Whispers of the Rest less Dead
(Level-One Cruác Ritual)
Spirits of the dead, who have unclean deeds to atone for,
are called by the commands of this ritual to haunt an
individual. They whisper foul threats and blasphemies
just loud enough for the unfortunate victim to hear, but
not always understand. They have an unsettling effect on
mortals and kindred alike, as the spirits can feel the
emotions of the living and like to play to them.
Successes from the casting of this ritual subract from a
characters composure pools while in the presence of the
Koldun. This power is resisted by Resolve + Blood
Potency.
Strength of the Mountain Stone
(Level-One Cruác Ritual)
Calling on the protection of Moist Mother Earth, the
Koldunya ingests four handfulls of dirt and is thus granted
her blessing. The Koldunya's skin becomes incredibly
tough akin to stone. However this has the side effect of
reducing the Koldunya's speed and agility.
The Koldunya gains 2/2 armor, however she suffers a -2
to her Speed, Initiative, and Dexterity rolls. This effect
lasts for the scene or until it has reduced a number of dice
equal to the successes from the casting. On the round after
it exceeds that number, a fine dust shakes off the skin of
the Koldunya and she returns to normal
 Awaken the Domovoi
(Level-Two Cruác Ritual)
The Strigoi have long dealt with invaders in their lands.
By use of this ritual, the Koldun awakens the domrment
spirits of his haven to better protect and aid the sorcerer.
These spirits will warn him of guests at the door, or
approaching enemies. Minor feats of movement are also
possible by the spirits of the house. Candles or lights
might light themselves, doors may close shut and even
lock themselves, rooms may seem comfortable or cold for
no reason. All in all such effects are comparable with a
minor haunting and are not usually enough to cause
damage or harm an unwelcome guest, just impede them.
This ritual encompasses one building down to its
foundation, and lasts until the next night, and thus mist be
performed nightly in order to be maintained. While the
spirits of the building in question can be many and varied
they often have a group personality and presense. They
may not always serve to the best of their ability, but they
are assumed to be faithfull to the Koldun as if bound by a
Vinculum. The Power, Finesse, and Resistance of this
group presence are determined by divying the successes
from the roll. No one attribute can be higher than the
Koldun's Cruác level.
The Call of the Vodyanoi
(Level-Two Cruác Ritual)
Spirits of rivers and streams, these creatures can create
illusions at the call of the Koldunya, and thus fool the
unwary towards watery deaths. Such illusions are cast
above a body of water and can have full sight and sound,
although they fade when touched and can only be recalled
as a hazy memory.
The Size of the illusion create is limited by the number of
successes generated, and its bounds cannot extend
beyopnd the limits of the body of water used to summon
it. The water must be alteast an inch deep. Those who
view the illusion have a chance to see through them, by
exceeding the Koldunya's successes with a Wits +
Composure roll.
Marena's Cold Breathe
(Level-three Cruác Ritual)
Marena Goddess of winter, sickness, and death is
beckoned to aid the Koldun against his enemies. So
invoked she causes chill winds to kick up within Koldun's
presence. These winds hinder the movement of others
and can even cause frostbite.
For as much as 100 yard, chill winds whip out in one
direction from Koldun's position. Each success of the
Ritual is subracted from the speed of any who move
towards the Koldun. In addition those within these
unatural winds suffer one point of bashing damage per
round from the wind chill and cold temperatures. There
may be secondary effects that the storyteller may decide
to include, such as frozen puddles of water, extreme frost
on nearlby objects and such.
Svarog's Hammer
(Level-Three Cruác Ritual)
Intoning praises to Svarog the fire lord, and calling for his
aid, the Koldunya can cause an inanimate object to heat
up and eventually combust. This ritual is potentially
dangerous in the hands of brash young kindred and it is
taught with a measure of prudence. Once a fire is started
by Svarog it is no longer under the control of the sorceress
who summoned it.
The Koldunya must aquire a number of successes equal to
3 + Durablility + Structure of the object before it will
burst into flames after which the flames will run on what
fuel the have. If the object in question is not conducive to
fire, such as concrete or metal, it will reach a melting
stage when its Durability + Structure is reached and it will
start to cool immediately after. Those in contact with the
object in question may recieve damage from the item
being superheated. Anyone in contact with such an item or
thing takes 1 lethal wound for every success past the
object's Durability. Vampires take aggravated damage
from flames that may burst at the end of the ritual's effect,
if still in contact with the object in question. Remember
that while some items have no Durability, their size counts
towards their structure.
For example: Mother, a powerful inquisitor has been
lying to Lester, a brash Strigoi Morti. Lester decides to
teach him a lesson and begins to cast Svarog's Hammer on
Mother's leather pants. The pants have effectively no
Durability but have a size of 3 giving them a structure of
3. Lester will have to generate 6 successes before
Mother's pants burst into flame. Mother will probably
notice before this as the leather starts to steam and crack.
The Embrace of Mokosh
(Level-four Cruác Ritual)
Sinking into the earth up the neck, The Koldun is
rejuvinated by the cool grasp of Most Mother Earth.
Mokosh goddess of hearth and home tends the Kolduns
wounds, sealing them with her magic. Even aggravated
wounds can be healed this way, although not as fast as
other wounds.
The Koldun within Mokosh's Embrace may heal wounds
at 1/2 cost, and may heal aggravated wounds at a cost of 2
vitae per wound. If the Koldun sleeps the day away in
this manner even Aggravated wounds can be healed by
this ritual at a cost of 2 vitae instead of 5, and may be
healed at a rate of one per night.
Grasp of Stribog
(Level-Four Cruác Ritual)
Within the grasp of the wind god, The Koldunya can
travel great distances. The Koldunya's body becomes
ephemeral and travels through the sky at great speeds,
landing and instantly becoming material in a flash.
Using this ritual takes the Koldunya's action and causes
the sorceress to move to a predetermined destination at
speeds comparable to 50 mph/73 yards per turn (that of a
strong gust). The Koldunya's body is immaterial for the
duration, becoming like a faint whisp of smoke or vapor
that is blown across strong winds. The ritual ends when
the Koldunya reaches the stated destination or after a
number of rounds equal to the successes achieved. If the
Koldunya has not reached the destination at the end of a
number of rounds equal to the successes achieved, then
she must roll again to stay adrift for the new successes in
rounds. If she makes no successes, she lands safety on the
ground at the end of the last round. Using this ritual
indoors is dangerous as the Koldunya moves so fast that
he has no cotrol over where she lands and the winds that
carry her buffet her about. Nor can the Koldunya use this
ritual to enter a building or other structure from outside
even through an open door or window. Those that try stop
just short of where they intended to enter.
Perun's Wrath
(Level-Five Ritual)
God of war and thunder, Perun is invoked to create a
looming storm over the Koldun and for his lightning to be
thrown down upon his enemies. Such storms cover up to
5 square miles, and throw down torrential amounts of
precipitation if the Koldun wishes. Perun's lightning
strikes at the Koldun's command, however it cannot strike
inside a building, unless the Koldun wishes the itself
building to be struck
The storm breaks with sudden speed, after the full round
has passed. For the scene, the Koldun may call one
lightning strike per round. To hit a target the Character
must make a Wits + Occult roll. Armor not specific to
electricity does not help reduce the attack pool. Each
strike does 10 levels of bashing damage plus the successes
from the attack roll.
Sight of the Many
(Level-Five Cruác Ritual)
By communing with the many spirits of the land, the
Koldunya can link with them and share their senses,
feeling out the land for a good distance. The senses of
spirits are different from most, and do not include sight.
Instead the Koldunya feels the surface of every rock, tree
and stone within the rituals effect. She can feel where any
living creatures are, and can here their sound if she
wishes, but that is all. A Koldunya thus empowered is
rarely ever lost, unless confounded by other supernatural
powers.
This ritual lasts for one scene, and has a range of 1 mile
per success in the outdoors, but only 50 feet per success
within a building or structure. The Koldun can make Wits
+ Composure rolls to focus in on one area of their
awareness and perceive it in detail. Otherwise there are
too many stimulai to notice everything going on within
the Koldunya's range. Moving objects are easier to detect
and do not require a roll to be aware of their general
localation, but unless the Koldunya focuses, they reviel
nothing more about themselves besides relative size.
When focuing, the Koldunya projectsher sense to a
specific spot and has a sense comparable to echolocation,
and thus can percive objects physically, but cannot
percieve color, or read. While focusing, the Koldunya's
normal senses are dormant. Obfuscate still has the ability
to confound this power, as it effects the spirits that make it
work. The Koldunya may employ Auspex in a focused
area however.
Devotions
Form of the Zulo Beast
(Protean ••••, Nightmare •• or Transviscera •••••,
Nightmare ••)
Cost: 2 vitae (the character can take two turns to
transform if necessary).
Through the use of this power Vampire becomes a 9 foot
tall vicious chitinous beast with fangs and claws, the very
image of a nightmare. +2 dice to strength, dexterity,
stamina, and size, and 1 point of general/ballistic armor.
-3 to any manipulation and presence unless it is for the
intimidation in which case its a +3. Brawling attacks do
lethal damage. If this form is taken while clothes are
worn, they are shredded as the vampire bursts out of them.
If the character is wearing armor or something else that is
comparatively durable, then the vampire rolls his new
strength + stamina in damage to the item.
This power costs 24 experience to learn.
Body of the Sanguine Humor
(Transviscera •••••)
Cost: 1 willpower
The vampire can become a sentient, moving pile of gore.
Normal physical attacks do no damage. Mystical attacks
do normal damage unless they require a mundane method
of delivery (such as claws or enchanted physical
weapons). Sunlight and fire do normal damage. While in
this form the character can slither up walls or through
anything that is not watertight. The character's physical
attributes and size are halved while in this form (round
up) and physical disciplines are not available. Mental
disciplines are available however, with the exception of
Dominate, Cúac, and Theban Sorcery. The character's
perceptions are unaffected (even without physical senses
to rely on) much like with Protean discipline Body of
Spirit. Partial transformations are also possible allowing
the vampire to sacrifice body parts to gain vitae in dire
situations. Legs and the torso are worth 2 vitae each,
while arms, head, and the abdomen all count as 1 vitae. If
the vitae from a limb or body part is used a like amount of
vitae must be spent to grow it back.
This power requires 18 experience to learn.
Body Armory
(Transviscera ••••, Protean •••)
Cost: Variable amount of vitae (usually the rating of the
weapon)
The vampire can use Transviscera to craft vicious
weapons of bone that can cause aggravated wounds. The
vampire needs to make a bone-crafting roll with a target
threshold of twice the damage of the weapon. These
grizzly weapons upgrade a number of lethal wounds equal
to the weapon's damage rating to aggravated damage. So
a sword created with Body Armory upgrades 3 wounds
per attack, where as a knife would only upgrade 1 per
attack. Such weapons are temporary and only last one
night. with a willpower dot, they can be made permanent.
This power costs 24 points to learn.
Manifest A ppendage
(Transviscera ••••, Protean •••)
Cost: 1 or more vitae
This devotion is used to develop extra organs and
appendages via Transviscera. Possibilities include eyes,
mouths, ears, fingers, arms, legs. Doing so requires an
extended Dexterity + Crafts + Tranviscera roll. Fingers,
arms, and other articulated limbs are of elaborate (15)
difficulty, while organs such as eyes, mouths, or other
organs of a non muscular use are of intricate (25)
difficulty. Appendage can provide a number of situational
bonuses. Eyes can provide extra awareness or a +1 bonus
to perception tests. While extra arms and legs do not
translate into extra attacks, they can provide +1 bonuses to
certain tasks such as grappling. lifting, or other strength
based tasks. Mouths on the end of such appendages can
make biting attacks without needing to grapple (an
intricate task to say the least). Manifesting an extra brain
or heart is impossible, however.
Manifestations last for only one night , unless when the
character reawakens their cost is paid for a second time.
Mind you this can also extends the number of rounds it
takes to reawaken as well, as the vampire must pay blood
at the rate of their blood potency. Appendages created in
this manner cost a number of vitae based on their size.
Eyes mouths, and hands cost 1 vitae. Full length adult
arms cost 2 vitae each, while full length legs cost 3 vitae
each. While a large number of manifestations are
theoretically possible, the vampiric form cannot sustain
too many before it fails to keep them. The cost of all the
manifestations made can never exceed a vampire's health
levels. Any attempts to further modify the body are just a
waste of vitae.
Manifestations are often disturbing to others, and are a
definite breach of the masquerade. If manifestations are
evident to others, the vampire suffers a -1 penalty for
every visible appendage to all presence and manipulation
rolls that do not deal with intimidation or disciplines.
Mortals who are unaware of the supernatural are often
have even more drastic reactions to such things, and may
have to make wits + composure rolls or else behave badly
or erratically (such as leaving the character's presence
without a word, or getting sick).
This power costs 21 points to learn.