Toreador
“Le spine della rosa sono nacoste dal fiore: the thorns of the rose are hidden by the bloom.” — Lynda La Plante, Bella Mafia
Nickname: Degenerates
Disciplines: Auspex, Celerity, Presence
Magnificent roses in a garden of evening stars. A lilting aria in a drowsy twilight. The sweet brush of a lover’s kiss. These images evoke the Toreador, as these vampires are the most beautiful of all.
Toreador are artists, writers, and creators: artisans enjoying an immortal life of pageantry and sensuality. Unlike other clans, Toreador plunge themselves into the mortal world. Often, they will pretend to be mortal, living as glitterati and giving patronage to influential mortal artists. From city to city, passion to passion, the Toreador flit about, inspiring the finest art and leaving a trail of broken hearts.
With such refined tastes, it is easy for a member of the Toreador clan to become jaded and bitter, filled with ennui. Surrounded by excess, they quickly lose interest, seizing prize after prize — the sweetest of which are those stolen from another. The oldest Toreador often become depraved, sinking into debauchery simply so they can feel anything at all.
Toreador love politics and live for hierarchy, so long as they can remain at the top. They develop cults of personality, gathering followers captivated by their beauty or begging for their patronage. They are always at the cutting edge of arts, culture, and society. They pride themselves on their beauty and poise, hosting salons and gatherings to show off their wealth and style. Those who cannot keep up are mocked and ridiculed. Vampires who are ugly, uncivilized, or show no respect for the arts are torn apart by a Toreador’s metaphorical claws. For this reason, there is an eternal enmity between the Nosferatu and Toreador clans, a hatred that will never be reconciled.
Organization: The Toreador hierarchy is based around an elaborate system of guilds and patrons, with rising stars shooting to the fore — and discarded just as quickly when their moment of glory has faded. Cliques of powerful elders snipe one another, engaging in subtle politics as they shred reputations and destroy lives. Young Toreador thrown into this pool of sharks must quickly learn to sink or swim.
Clan Weakness: Toreador are often entranced by beauty and art. When you encounter a piece of art, a performance, or something beautiful that you are particularly interested in or that you have never seen before, you must give it your undivided attention for a scene. Toreador can resist this urge by expending a point of Willpower. Distractions, like loud voices or a nearby scuffle, can divert your attentions; although Toreador dislike being interrupted while experiencing art and beauty, and will respond with anger — even violence or frenzy.
Clan Merits: Toreador may purchase any of the following Toreador-only merits.
- Artist’s Blessing (1 point merit): You can purchase up to 7 points of Crafts and Performance skills, and you gain 3 free dots of one Craft or Performance skill.
- Bloodline: Ishtarri (2 point merit): You’re a member of the Ishtarri bloodline, which devotes itself to the perfection of movement, whether in dance or battle. Your in-clan disciplines are Celerity, Fortitude, and Presence.
- Bloodline: Volgirre (2 point merit) (NOT AVAILABLE IN BAM): You’re a member of Volgirre bloodline, which is a secret lineage of antitribu that has returned to the Camarilla. You have the default Toreador in-clan disciplines, but can purchase the first 2 dots of Vicissitude without a teacher.
- Absent Sway (3 point merit): Your art has a lasting emotional impact on those who observe it.
- Dancer’s Grace (4 point merit): Your body is the ultimate form of physical perfection, and epitomizes the grace and dexterity of the Toreador clan. You gain a free retest when dodging.
Bloodline: Ishtarri
Disciplines: Celerity, Fortitude, Presence
Although a significant number of vampires reside on the continent of Africa, few choose to associate with the vampires of Europe or the New World. The Ishtarri are an exception. Some few years ago, they opened their gates to their cousins in the Toreador clan, and were, in return, welcomed into the fold. According to the Ishtarri, the Toreador Antediluvian was once worshipped as the Babylonian goddess, Ishtar, and their lineage began as a cult dedicated to her adoration. The Ishtarri are consummate dancers, acrobats, and spies, trained in a religion dedicated to immaculate form and movement. Like the goddess Ishtar, they venerate both love and war, and spend their existence perfecting the physical accomplishments of sexuality and combat.
Alternate Weakness: Instead of the standard Toreador weakness, Ishtarri suffer a -2 penalty to resist emotion-controlling powers, such as Presence.
Bloodline: Volgirre (Not available in BAM)
“Art is the truth. Life is the lie.” — Baron Philippe Volgirre
Disciplines: Auspex, Celerity, Presence; additionally, Volgirre can purchase first 2 dots of Vicissitude without a teacher
In 2011, a lineage of Toreador antitribu re-joined the clan, breaking their oaths to the Sabbat and rejecting the worship of Caine. This lineage is led by Baron Philippe Volgirre, a cunning and cruel Methuselah of the clan. His lineage is much like its master: fierce, proud, and degenerate. These Toreador practice fleshcrafting and other horrible arts, extending their creative endeavors to the dark, cutting edge of reason. Volgirre’s lineage received false names and false histories, and has been allowed to integrate into the Camarilla without the knowledge of the other clans. The Volgirre have the same in-clan disciplines as their parent clan, but their long association with the Tzimisce allows them to purchase the first 2 dots of Vicissitude without a teacher, at out-of-clan XP costs.
