Prologue: An Introduction into White Wolf's World of Darkness
(Author's Notes) This is not based on Vampires: The Masquerade (or it's sequal, Bloodlines), but instead, this story is based on what the video-games are based on: the Live Action Role Playing game (LARP game). If you are a true White Wolf fan, you already know all this and I encourage you to skip to Chapter 1: To Raise Set or Not To Raise Set, where the story follows Naeem, the Settite Warrior. If you are un-familiar with the clans, the Antediluvians, and other backgrounds of the game, this prologue will fill you in on the basics of the basics.
White Wolf's World of Darkness is based on the real world, with many supernatural changes. They are:
Vampires (in their many clans and sects)
Werewolves (or Gaoru, as they call themselves, in their broods)
Mages (and there numerous Cabals)
Wraiths (and other forms of ghosts from beyond the Shroud)
Mortals (with their many nations, secret power groups, hunters, phycics, ect.)
I will not go into detail on what you don't need to know about. All you need to know is concerning vampires, which are also called Canites (Used by the independent clans and the Sabat), Kindred (by the clans of the Camarilla), and "Lick", with Lick being a newer, and generally derogatory, term.
The vampires are split into 3 major Sects (think "a form of government"), thirteen clans (and three "bloodlines"), as well as fifteen different "generations" (which is how far away in generations you are from Cain, the first vampire. The lower your generation, the more powerful your blood is.).
Sects:
Camarilla (Generally speaking, the "Good Guys", follow the Masquerade and other rules very closely.)
Sabat (Generally the "Bad Guys", they seek to kill the Camarilla because they protect those of low generation)(Lasombra and Tzimisce, with a large number of antitribu from all clans, save for the Settites, Salubri, and Tremere)
Anarchs (Out for themselves. Follow the rules you wish to follow. It is an anarchy-based government.) (no specific clan, a small majority being Brujha)
(Independent Clans) The remaining clans that do not normally associate with the major Sects are called independent.
Clans:
Brujha- Emotional persons are embraced into this clan. They take pride in personal strength and conviction in what you believe is right. They are known for their supernatural speed, strength, and ability to sway emotions.
Malcavian- The insane make up this mad (crazy) clan. Every last one is fundamentally insane, and have powers to spread their insanity. Other than this, there are no common factors. The Lunatics are known for their ability to cause madness, their acute senses, and their stealth abilities.
Nosforatu- The clan is made up of unnaturally ugly people. They literally live in the sewers to avoid detection from mortals and vampires alike. It is rumored that you could transverse all of Europe through their subterranean tunnels. They are a clan united by their deformities: above all else, the Clan comes first. The Nosforatu are known for their supernatural strength, their stealth, and their unusual ability to converse with animals
Toreador- These are a clan of artists, of musicians, any worker of The Arts. They seek beauty wherever they go, and often are themselves workers or works of art. They are known for their keen senses, their speed, and their ability to manipulate emotions.
Tremere- the Warlocks are a mysterious clan of vampire mages. The short story is that they used to be mortal mages, specializing in Blood Magic, when they "accidentally" diablerized the Salubri Antediluvian. Though they are officially with the Camarilla, they are far more devoted to their clan's stability than the Sects. They are feared and famed for their magic talents, their keen senses, and their ability to give commands.
Ventrue- the Clan is the nobility of Kindred society, alone save for the Toreador. They are known as influence gatherers, as well as the most persevering leaders of the Camarilla. Clan Ventrue is known for their ability to withstand deadly attacks, their ability to give commands, and their ability to sway emotions.
Lasombra- Think Ventrue, but for the Sabat instead of Camarilla. They are known for their unnatural control over shadows, their supernatural strength, and their ability to give commands.
Tzimisce- The Flesh-crafters are a gruesome clan. They are leaders in the Sabat, next only to the Lasombra, but that is not their main interest. They seem to have a perverse pleasure in using their flesh-crafting abilities to make living abominations, making wolves into 5-legged monstrosities, making their ghouls into war-machines. They are known for that power, as well as keen senses and talking to animals.
Assemite- This clan follows Haquim, who is supposidly their founder and their Antediluvian. Some-time before the Great Flood, he faced off against Cain. He lost, and was cursed. Now, he and his clan only drink the blood of other vampires (of other clans). Of course, Haquim, or whatever the Antediluvian's name is, is in torpor in some long forgotten chamber… Assemites are known for their assassin abilities, for their speed, and for their senses.
Followers of Set (Settites)- The Followers of Set believe they are not vampires, but instead are literal descendants of the Egyptian God, Set. There are three sections to a Temple (which houses a group of Setites). There are the Priests, who practice a magic different than the Tremere. There are the Warriors, who's strength is equal to even the most potent Brujha, and the Followers, who are the most numerous and "normal" Settites. They are known for their odd Snake-related powers, as well as emotion control and stealth.
Gangrel- The Outsiders are out of all Sects. They can be environmentalists, they can be primitive beasts, but all are nature lovers of some kind. The city repels them. They are often at a cease-fire with the many Gaoru bands that also inhabit the Wildernesses. Gangrel is known for its survival ability, its hardiness, and for talking with wildlife.
Giovanni- Originally an off-shoot of the now-gone Cappadocians, the Giovanni are now the only clan of Necromancers. The entire power structure of the Giovanni clan is the fact that it is a family as well as a clan. They are known for their supernatural strength, their ability to give commands, and their paths of Necromancy.
Ravnos- The Pranksters are always on the wrong side of the law. If there is any Clan that is not united or well defined, Ravnos would be them. If ever in a group, it is no more than a handful of inexperienced individuals, and they prefer to travel alone. They believe the universe is an illusion, and that if they use their illusions on others, it can help them see the true reality. They are known for their hardiness, their ability to speak with animals, and their secretive mastery of illusions.
Bloodlines:
Bloodlines are groups of kindred with no Antediluvian, and cannot be categorized into any of the other Clans. They are all independent, and they are all very small in number.
Daughters of Cacophony- They are female singers, in short. They are not usually in large groups, though there is a power structure of some kind. There was an offshoot to this bloodline made up of all males (Sons of Discord), but they were killed.
Salubri- They were once a full clan, led by Saulot, the kindest Antediluvian. However, after a Tremere diablerized Saulot, the clan crumbled. Now, Tremere everywhere are told to kill Salubri on sight. They are called diablerists, but they are actually healers, as well as those with keen senses and a tough skin.
Samedi- They are a bloodline of mercenaries, constantly flipping sides for the best pay. They are said to be of Giovanni decent, since there is a feud between the two groups. They are known for their tough skin, their stealth, and their mysterious power of controlling the rotting process…
Ravnos could be called a bloodline, since they have no Antediluvian (it was killed, not diablerized), and they would be the largest one at that. However, White Wolf doesn't seem to be consistent with it's decisions on what it takes to be a true clan.
The important group you need to know about is the Followers of Set, since this is the group that is most used in this story.
Followers of Set
The Followers seek to raise their dark God, Set, from his long slumber. They believe that when they do, he will use his power to take over the world (simple summary). The problem is not how to wake him, really, it is to find him. They have tried to unveil his location for centuries, to no avail.
There were supposedly twelve Disciples of Set. For some reason, they betrayed him, and he slept until he could be awakened. The Twelve decided what they did was wrong, and helped establish the many Temples of Set. The oldest and most permanent Temple is the Temple of Ini-Herit, one of Set's direct servants. The Temple has had 3 "High Priests" or "High Priestesses" since about 1100 A.D. There is much drama in the past about the Temple of Ini-Herit, but I will not go into it.
There are three types of Followers of Set. There are the Priests, who are in charge of rituals, learning the Thaumaturgy (42 paths), learning and researching the knowledge of Set, among other things. They are the lowest in numbers. The Warriors are the protectors, for the priests more than for the entire population. There are always four Warrior guards per priest, which is where their rank system comes in. There is the first of four, (most powerful), second of four, third of four, and last (and also least), the fourth of four.. Then there are the standard "Followers" of Set, who are the standard workers. They are in charge of gathering influence and resources.
Enter the World of Darkness, where truly epic events are about to take place. See these events through Naeem, First of Four and the Leader of the Warriors.