Ravnos
“Those people who are traveling just to get somewhere are missing half the point.” — Leila Voight, lead singer of “Fresh Blood”
Nickname: Deceivers
Disciplines: Animalism, Fortitude, Chimerstry
The Ravnos clan has a shady reputation, burdened by history and prejudice. Its members are tricksters, thieves, and vagabonds, stealing what they wish and moving on to the next target. Ravnos typically reject systems of authority, ignoring sect boundaries and disobeying laws. In recent nights, a great tragedy struck the Ravnos clan, reducing its numbers to near-extinction. Although it has begun to repopulate after the horrors of the Week of Nightmares, the clan is still small. The majority of its membership consists of newly Embraced individuals, still struggling to understand the vampiric world. The elders of the clan have become more reclusive, frightened of another purge. Like the gurus of ancient days, they share the clan’s wisdom only with those who prove worthy.
Most Ravnos are new Embraces, as the clan has sought to repopulate after the horrors of the Week of Nightmares. Torn between the old ways and the modern ideals of their new childer, the Ravnos are a clan torn by transition and in mourning over a thousand truths that have been lost.
With their unique ability to create illusions, Ravnos specialize in questioning truths and unraveling mysteries. Capricious Ravnos use this ability for profit, seizing opportunities for short-term gain. Other members of the clan lose touch with reality entirely. Those who live to ancient years see this power as a philosophy and use it to achieve a more enlightened state of mind. They study the balance between reality and deception and contemplate the nature of utter truth.
Younger members of the Ravnos clan may be of any nationality or culture, though they tend to be chosen for their skills at survival and trickery. Freedom-loving youth, hipsters, traveling rock band groupies, political activists, Irish travelers, Romani gypsies, or teenage runaways, Ravnos have many new icons of youth and vigor from which to choose. Older Ravnos tend to hail from the Brahman Hindi caste, remembering a time when the Ravnos were more caste-based than they are in the modern era. The two groups often bicker over the clan’s future, as the youthful Ravnos struggle to find their own place in the world. The older Ravnos are wiser, stronger in blood and more practiced — but the new surge of young vampires brings fresh ideas, technological experience, and a great deal of energy and change. The clan stands on a precipice between respecting the traditional ways and embracing new ones, between ancient truths and too-fast lies. The Ravnos must find balance, or be forever changed.
Organization: Self-sufficiency is important to the Ravnos clan. Its members wander the world and have little care for established vampire society. The majority of the clan are young, naïve childer, prone to selfishness and short-sighted goals. Those who survive this period of trial will establish the clan’s place in modern nights.
Clan Weakness: A turbulent history makes the Ravnos slaves to their vices. Each Ravnos has a penchant for some sort of vice — lying, cruelty, or theft, for example. They feel a compulsion to indulge in this vice if they have the opportunity. Ravnos do not gain flaw XP for this derangement. For more information, please see Derangements
Clan Merits: Ravnos can purchase any of the following Ravnos-only merits.
- Waking Dream (1 point merit): You may briefly treat an illusion you’ve created as though it were real.
- Escape Artist (3 point merit): You are extremely skilled at slipping away from dangerous situations.
Bloodline: Brahman (2 point merit)
“The unknowable is pure mind. It is all things without limitation. Ignorance, arrogance, disbelief — these are restraints. You are free only when you are open to the unknowable world.”— Sourav Khadikar
Disciplines: Animalism, Auspex, Chimeristry
The Ravnos originated in India, where the clan was once organized in a rigid system similar to the castes of India. Sires passed their place in the castes (called jati) down to their childer, and a Ravnos could never alter her place once Embraced into the society. Today, only one caste survives.
The Brahman are philosophers and gurus, tasked with discovering enlightenment and sharing it with the clan. After tragedy struck the Ravnos, the last of the Brahman chose childer for their adherence to traditionalism. It is their hope that with support, guidance, and a rigid system to provide structure, the clan can thrive again.
