Followers of Set
“Hail, Set, father of all, who divided Egypt and drove the Nile from the desert sands. His is the voice in the night. He is the serpent between the stars. Set is all things, and we, his best beloved children.” — Ororiouth
Nickname: Serpents
Disciplines: Obfuscate, Presence, Serpentis
The Followers of Set, also known as the Setite clan, began as a death-cult in ancient Egypt, but the clan has grown prosperous in modern nights. Whether you’re looking for hidden eldritch secrets or a drug-filled night of pleasure and excess, the Followers of Set can fulfill your every desire. These cunning vampires specialize in using the weaknesses of others in order to acquire power for themselves. The Followers revere their forefather, Set, as the first vampire, and claim that they are his only offspring — the other clans are descended from lesser creatures who became undead long after Set’s rising.
At their core, the Followers of Set are a religious organization dedicated to the reverence and worship of their Antediluvian, the almighty Set of Egyptian myth. Faith permeates the clan, directing its members’ actions and giving them a unified purpose. Even when schisms of belief have occurred, creating bloodlines such as the Daitya, the Tlacique, or the Vipers, most Followers Setites are unified by their singular faith in Set. Only in the Sabbat have the Setites turned their back on their Antediluvian, advocating the worship of Caine and denying Set’s divinity.
Unfortunately, such fanatic dedication makes enemies. Other clans consider the Followers of Set little better than infernalists selling their souls to an unknown entity. Certainly, Setites specialize in offering devil’s deals, but they nearly always uphold their side of the bargain. Nevertheless, many vampires look on them with skeptical mistrust, and prefer not to ally with Setites.
The Followers of Set originated in North Africa; many of their elders claim to have been priests in ancient Egypt, using that claim as leverage to gain positions of power within the clan. In modern nights, the Setites choose childer from many cultures. They select primarily for charisma, dedication, and glibness. Typically, these childer are first brought into the worship of Set, and then given the Embrace as a dark gift in the service of their god. However, on occasion, a newly Embraced childe will reject these teachings and flee the temple. Some few of these individuals find themselves within the Anarch Movement, fighting for freedom from their elders’ desires. To young Setites, this includes freedom of religion — a cause very close to their own hearts.
The clan has adapted well to modern society, shedding the trappings of the past like a snake sheds its skin. But within Setite temples, amid pillars of gold and Egyptian funerary statues, the worship of Set prospers and fills the night.
Organization: Followers congregate in temples, usually one within every major region. That temple coordinates a network of underground cults and drug dens, spreading its vampiric priesthood over several states or territories. A Follower of Set’s clan prestige is based upon the prestige of the temple she serves and her position in its religious hierarchy. The largest and most prestigious temple is located in northern Africa, where a powerful Methuselah reigns. From there, the Grand High Priest sends out edicts to lesser temples in the name of Set.
Clan Weakness: Setites react negatively to bright light. They receive 1 additional point of damage when exposed to sunlight, and all test pools are reduced by 2 for any challenges attempted while in bright light of any kind. Note that defensive test pools are not subject to this penalty.
Clan Merits: Followers of Set may purchase any of the following Setite-only merits.
- Personal Cult (1 point merit): You are the leader of a fanatic cult, which gives you additional points of backgrounds.
- Addictive Blood (3 point merit): Anyone foolish enough to drink a point of your Blood becomes addicted to it.
- Setite Sorcery (4 point merit): You can purchase Thaumaturgy: Path of Corruption, and one other Thamaturgical path of your choice.
Bloodline: Tlacique (2 point merit)
Disciplines: Presence, Obfuscate, Protean
These vampires claim descent from an Aztec aspect of Set they call “Tezcatlipoca,” the god of night and black magic. Founded in South America before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, it is a mystery how the Setites propagated on that continent centuries before the Americas were discovered.
The native Tlacique resisted colonization and fought viciously against the invading vampires of Europe. In the end, they were overcome by Lasombra and Ventrue forces wishing a foothold in the New World. The bloodline survived, falling back to the undiscovered depths of South America’s jungles. There, they strike out against all European vampires, maintaining hidden temples where the old ways – and the ancient gods – are still revered.
Bloodline: Vipers (2 point merit)
Disciplines: Potence, Presence, Serpentis
The Followers of Set have a reputation for seduction, persuasion, and stealth. The bloodline of Vipers, popularly known as “Warrior Setites,” goes counter to that ideal, preferring brute force and raw intimidation instead. They are temple protectors, soldiers in Set’s holy war, and they are eager to fight and die in the name of their dark god. Vipers have no fear, and unlike most vampires, feel that their immortality exists only at Set’s whim. They are passionate, fervent ideologues who preach Set’s word. This bloodline is known to forcibly convert others to the worship of Set through fear, torture, and intimidation.
