Giulia BarBano, Tanya Cohan-Diaz, Elin DasTal, J Dymphna Coy, Jim FishEr, anna KrEiDEr, anna loy, DaviD a hill Jr, DaniEllE lauzon, GEoFFrEy mCvEy, mariannE pEasE, nEall raEmonn priCE, rEnEE KnipE, rEnEE riTChiE, laurEn roy, moniCa spECa, TrisTan J. TarwaTEr, sTEFFiE DE vaan, Brian yorK, FilamEna younG CrEDiTs DaviD’s spECial ThanKs Dade Ian, Acacia Crimefighter, and Modistina Sophia Hill for Developed By: David A Hill Jr being the best kids in the world, Paul Marchant for consultation Written By: Giulia Barbano, Elin Dastal, Tanya and righteous anger, Dan Lanman for being positive and metic- Cohan-Diaz, J Dymphna Coy, Jim Fisher, Renee Knipe, ulous, the Dead Gamer’s Society of Orange County for support Anna Kreider, Anna Loy, David A Hill Jr, Danielle Lau- and PLAYING GAMES, Erik Uriarte and Jessica Hammer for zon, Geoffrey McVey, Marianne Pease, Neall Raemonn Hebrew translations on no notice, the Mongols for always being Price, Renee Ritchie, Lauren Roy, Monica Speca, Tristan the exception, the Onyx Path forums’ countless awesome voices, to Allen Varney, Fred Hicks, Brian Newman, and a bunch of others J. Tarwater, Steffie de Vaan, Brian York, Filamena Young that helped me in a massive time of need, Justin Achilli for being Edited By: Renee Ritchie Justin Achilli, Matthew “Black Hatt Matt” McFarland for being V20 Line Developer: Eddy Webb the best predecessor/friend/developer ever, Monty Python’s Terry Creative Director: Richard Thomas Jones for a working class take on Medieval history, John Green for encouraging me to remove the word “barbarian” from my drafts, Art Direction & Design: Mike Chaney to Tochigi Prefecture for allowing me to live in Japan, Richard Interior Art: Mark Kelly, Kieran Yanner, Cathy Thomas for believing in the World of Darkness enough to keep it Wilkins, Aaron Riley, Ron Spenser, Andrew Trabbold, undead through everything, and of course to my team for rocking Andrew Richie, Brian LeBlanc, Ian Llanas, Rachel Kahn, the fuck out of this project. Carlos Samuel Araya, Michael Gaydos, Andy Hepworth, Vampire: The Masquerade Creators: Mark Rein•Hagen Mark Syme, Vince Locke, Tomek Tworek, Drew Tucker, with Steven C. Brown, Tom Dowd, Andrew Greenburg, Chris McDonough, Lisa Stevens, Josh Timbrook, and Stewart Wieck Glenn Osterberger a BooK oF FivE BaCKEr ThanKs Chapter One: Jason Ludwig. For reminding me of a classical musician. Chapter Two: Jeremy Miller. For telling me to call him wolfshead, after the single word of 300,000 he contributed. Chapter Three: Ryan "Ryan-O, Lord of the Thun- derbats" Owens, for giving me a name funnier than anything I could have come up with here. Chapter Four: Henry R. Moore III, for having the only name that would fit fine in this book without any fussing. Chapter Five: Khrystof, well, to be honest, I guess his would, too. But he'd probably be Tzimisce or something. © 2015 CCP hf. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of the publisher is expressly forbidden, except for the purposes of reviews, and for blank character sheets, which may be reproduced for personal use only. White Wolf, Vampire, World of Darkness, Vampire the Masquerade, and Mage the Ascension are registered trademarks of CCP hf. All rights reserved. Vampire the Requiem, Werewolf the Apocalypse, Werewolf the Forsaken, Mage the Awakening, Promethean the Created, Changeling the Lost, Hunter the Vigil, Geist the Sin-Eaters, V20, Anarchs Unbound, Storyteller System, and Storytelling System are trademarks of CCP hf. All rights reserved. All characters, names, places and text herein are copyrighted by CCP hf. CCP North America Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CCP hf. This book uses the supernatural for settings, characters and themes. All mystical and supernatural elements are fiction and intended for entertainment purposes only. This book contains mature content. Reader discretion is advised. Check out White Wolf online at http://www.white-wolf.com/ Keep up to date with Onyx Path Publishing at http://theonyxpath.com/ 2 T C aBlE oF onTEnTs inTroDuCTion 12 Ancilla 25 Sheriff 31 Elders 25 Harpies, Scourges, and Others 31 What This Book Is 12 Methuselah 25 Tales of Damnation 32 What is a Vampire? 12 Antediluvians 25 Brother Slays Brother 32 Caine’s Brood 14 Clans Both High and Low 25 Generation 32 The Embrace 14 Clans 26 The Amaranth 32 The Hunt 14 Crowns and Beggars 26 Understanding the Generations 33 Source Material 14 The Roads 27 Second Generation 33 Contents 14 The Traditions 27 Third Generation 33 Playing The Game 15 The First Tradition: Fourth and Fifth Generation 33 Exposition - The Hunger 15 The Covenant 27 Sixth and Seventh Generation 33 ChapTEr onE: The Second Tradition: Eighth, Ninth, and a plaCE in TimE 22 The Domain 28 Tenth Generation 34 The Third Tradition: Eleventh and The Embrace 22 The Progeny 28 Twelfth Generation 34 Physiognomy of the Dead 22 The Fourth Tradition: Thin Blood 34 The Beast 23 The Accounting 28 Enemies and Mysteries 35 Midnight Courts The Fifth Tradition: Hunters 35 and Churchyards 24 Destruction 29 Werewolves 35 The War of Princes 24 The Sixth Tradition: Witches 35 The Audacity of Youth 24 The Silence of the Blood 29 Shining Ones 36 Social Distinctions 24 Dead Cities 30 Ghosts 36 Age 24 Prince 30 Deeper Mysteries Still 36 Fledglings 24 Keeper 30 Lexicon 36 Neonates 25 Chamberlain 30 Table of ConTenTs 3 ChapTEr Two: ChapTEr ThrEE: Path of Making 131 ThE Clans oF CainE 40 ThE roaDs wE walK 110 The Road Of Metamorphosis 131 Via Mutationis 131 Muddy Waters 40 A View of a Road 110 The Road of Sin 133 High and Low Clans 40 Walking a Road 111 Via Peccati 133 Assamites 42 Initiates 111 Path of Pleasure 135 Brujah 44 Adherents 111 Path of the Devil 135 Cappadocians 46 Paragons 111 Path of Screams 136 Gangrel 48 Apostates 111 Other Paths 137 Lasombra 50 Excommunicates 112 The Christianization of Europe: A Malkavians 52 Changing Roads 112 Successful Propaganda Campaign Nosferatu 54 Step One: 137 Diminish Virtues 112 Ravnos 56 The Pagan Step Two: Wander Astray 112 Setites 58 Traditions of Europe 138 Toreador 60 Step Three: Minor Roads 139 Moment of Truth 112 Tremere 62 The Road of Bones 139 Road Ratings 112 Tzimisce 64 The Road Of Yasa 140 Road Features 113 Ventrue 66 Ethics 113 ChapTEr Four: Bloodlines 68 Initiation 113 CharaCTEr CrEaTion 144 Evolutions 68 Organization 113 Essentials of Life and Unlife 144 Unknown Origins 68 Aura 113 The Dark Medieval World 147 Alternate Origins 68 Virtues 114 Order and Chaos 147 Air of the Exotic 69 Paths 114 Good and Evil 148 Exclusivity 69 Sins Against the Road 114 Storyteller, Troupe, Ahrimanes 70 Moments of Truth 115 and Character 149 Anda 72 Golconda 115 Step I: Character Concept 151 Baali 74 The Road of Beast 115 Overall Concept 151 Bonsam 76 Via Bestiae 115 Clan 151 Children Path of the Hunter 117 Road 152 of Osiris 78 Path of Journeys 118 Archetype: Danava 79 Path of Liberation 118 Nature and Demeanor 152 Gargoyles 82 The Road of Heaven 119 Step II: Choosing Attributes 152 Giovani 84 Via Caeli 119 Step III: Choosing Abilities 153 Impundulu 86 The Road of Humanity 121 Step IV: Choosing Advantages 153 Kiasyd 88 Via Humanitas 121 Disciplines 153 Lamiae 90 Path of Breath 123 Backgrounds 153 Lhiannan 92 Path of Community 124 Virtues 154 Nagaraja 94 Path of Illumination 124 Step V: Finishing Touches 154 Niktuku 96 The Road of Kings 125 Road Score 154 Ramanga 98 Via Reglis 125 Character Creation Salubri (Healer Caste) 100 The Road of Lilith 128 Quick Reference 156 Salubri (Warrior Caste) 102 Derech Lilit 128 Traits 159 Attributes 159 Salubri (Watcher Caste) 104 Path of Thorns 130 Physical Attributes 159 True Brujah 106 Path of Veils 131 Table of ConTenTs 4 Social Attributes 160 Quietus Cruscitus 244 Dice Pools 322 Mental Attributes 161 Quietus Hematus 248 Multiple Actions 322 Abilities 162 Serpentis 252 Difficulties 322 Talents 162 Spiritus 254 Failure 322 Athletics 162 Temporis 256 Botches 322 Valeren 260 Skills 166 Tens and Specialties 323 Knowledges 170 Healer 260 Automatic Successes 323 Nature and Demeanor 175 Warrior 262 Trying Again 323 Backgrounds 179 Watcher 265 Complications 324 Virtues 183 Vicissitude 267 Extended Actions 324 Blood Sorcery 271 Willpower 183 Resisted Actions 324 Paths and Rituals 271 Blood Pool 184 Teamwork 324 Abyss Mysticism 271 Health 185 Using the Storyteller System 324 Koldunic Sorcery 274 Experience 185 Time 324 The Transylvanian Kraina 275 Example of Play 325 ChapTEr FivE: The Black Sea Kraina 277 Examples of Rolls 327 GiFTs oF ThE BlooD 188 Genius Loci 278 ChapTEr sEvEn: Necromancy 278 Learning Disciplines 188 sysTEms anD Drama 332 The Path of Bone 278 High-Level Disciplines 188 The Path of the Cenotaph 280 Dramatic Systems 332 Combination Disciplines 189 The Path of the Automatic Feats 332 Blood Sorcery 189 Corpse in the Monster 281 Physical Feats 333 Abombwe 189 The Grave’s Decay 283 Mental Feats 336 Animalism 191 Auspex 194 The Path of Haunting 285 Social Feats 337 The Path of the Sepulchre 286 Spending Willpower 339 Sudden Revelations 194 The Path of Ash 288 Regaining Willpower 340 Overstimulation 195 The Path of Blood Pool 340 Bardo 200 Celerity 202 the Twilight Garden 289 Using Blood Pool 340 Advanced Celerity 202 The Vitreous Path 290 Replenishing Blood Pool 341 Chimerstry 204 Necromancy Rituals 292 The Blood Oath 342 Daimonion 208 Thaumaturgy 296 Combat Systems 343 Dementation 212 The Lesser Paths 297 Types of Combat 343 Dominate 217 The Greater Paths 299 Combat Turns 343 Flight 221 Thaumaturgical Rituals 302 Initiative 343 Fortitude 221 General Rituals 303 Resolving Actions 343 Advanced Fortitude 221 Clan-Specific Defensive Maneuvers 344 Mytherceria 222 Thaumaturgical Rituals 310 Damage 344 Obfuscate 224 Combination Disciplines 312 Combat Maneuvers 345 Obtenebration 228 Combination Disciplines 313 Health 350 Ogham 231 ChapTEr six: rulEs 320 Dice Pool Penalties 350 Potence 234 Movement Penalties 350 Advanced Potence 234 Rolling Dice 320 Incapacitated 350 Presence 235 Actions 320 Torpor 351 Protean 240 Reflexive Actions 321 Quietus 244 Final Death 351 Ratings 321 Table of ConTenTs 5 Applying Damage 351 How to Build your Bulgaria 413 Mortal Healing Times 352 Storyteller Characters 381 Serbia 413 Derangements 352 Bringing Storyteller Bosnia 413 Characters to the Table 382 Roleplaying Derangements 352 Bohemia 413 Antagonists and Deterioration 354 Poland 413 Storyteller Characters 382 Diablerie 354 Lithuania 414 Mortals 382 Disease 356 Livonia 414 Uncommon People 383 Faith 356 Prussia 414 Nobility 386 Falling 356 Carpathian Rus 414 The Church 389 Fire and Burns 356 The Principalities of Rus 415 Vampire Hunters 390 Frenzy and Rotschreck 357 True Faith 392 Georgia 416 Rotschreck: The Red Fear 358 Receiving True Faith 392 The Steppe People 416 Golconda and Other Increasing in Faith 393 The Mongols 416 Means of Salvation 359 Losing Faith 393 appEnDix a: Becoming Mortal 359 Systems for True Faith 393 mEriTs anD Flaws 419 Poisons and Drugs 360 Miracles 394 Sunlight 360 Gaining and Losing Holy Artifacts 394 Temperature Extremes 360 Merits and Flaws 419 The Faithful 395 Physical Merits and Flaws 419 ChapTEr EiGhT: Animals 396 Physical Merits 420 sToryTEllinG 364 Swarms 399 Physical Flaws 421 Ghouls 399 Storytelling Commandments 364 Mental Merits and Flaws 421 Rules 400 On Storytelling 366 Mental Merits 422 Demons 400 Making Your World Mental Flaws 422 Sample Demons 401 Dark Medieval 367 Social Merits and Flaws 422 Creating Nuanced Charms 402 Social Merits 423 Storyteller Characters 369 Exorcism 402 Social Flaws 423 Representing Ghosts 403 Supernatural Merits and Flaws 425 Other Cultures 370 ChapTEr ninE: Supernatural Merits 425 Improvisation for Storytellers and Players 370 ThE DarK Supernatural Flaws 426 Play Styles 372 mEDiEval worlD 406 appEnDix B: Collaborative Storytelling 372 Dark Medieval Italy 406 apoCrypha oF Using the Rules 374 The City-States 406 ThE Clans 431 Pacing 376 The Papal States 406 Assamites: A Clan of Judges 431 Facilitating the Story 378 Florence and Tuscany 407 Road of Blood 432 Before Character Creation 378 Milan 409 Brujah: Letters from Carthage 433 During Character Creation 378 Bologna 409 Cappadocians: Storyteller Characters 379 Venice 409 The Cult of Lamia 436 Sources for Rome 409 The Cult of Lamia 436 Storyteller Characters 379 Kingdom of Sicily 410 Gangrel: More Than Set Dressing 380 The Other Europe 410 The Last Age of Adventure 438 When to Use Hungary 411 Finding the Great Prey 438 Storyteller Characters 380 Transylvania 412 Watching 438 Table of ConTenTs 6 The Prize 439 Salubri: Witches of Echidna 450 Giovani: The Up and Coming 439 The Clan of Three Ways 446 Toreador: Courtly Romance 451 Lasombra: Modern Nights: Tzimisce: The Dragon’s Claws 453 The Road of the Abyss 441 Arriba la tres ojos 446 The Dracul 453 Malkavians: The Code of Samiel 447 The Koldun 453 The Mysterious Spiral 443 Ethics of Vindication 448 Revenants 453 The Ordo Aenigmatis 443 Setites: The Road of Set 448 Of Kupala, Vicissitude, and The Ordo Ecstasis 444 Setite Roads 449 the essential debasement of Ravnos: The Clan of Paradox 444 Setite Warriors and Witches 449 Clan Tzimisce 454 Road of Paradox 445 Warriors of Glycon 449 Ventrue: The Round Table 455 Table of ConTenTs 7 “The High Torturer will be pleased with this one.” She dressed as a nun, with chainmail beneath, though it would be incorrect to call her holy. Rather, she was a slayer of men and monsters, and she dragged Dominique into the rural church by the braids in her hair with a meanness unmatched by some Cainites. “He will. Though she’s a cold fish, isn’t she?” The companion, a bald-headed inquisitor with all the sanctity of a toadstool grabbed at her arm to yank her to her feet. Dominique allowed herself to be pulled, and inquisitors started a bit when they realized how tall she was, and how strong her build. “Too cold,” the nun said, her eyes going wide. “It’s a demon!” She held up a cross and backed away. “Wouldn’t that be nice for you? But no,” Dominique replied, her fangs extended and her eyes wild. “No demon. Just death.” She ate the inquisitors, a waste of time perhaps, but it needed to be done. Then, overly sated, she turned to the altar, and with a bag she’d carried just for that purpose, she carefully made a package of the book that was tucked just under the bible there. With that, she rushed to the door in hoped of beating a second wave of inquisitors when they figured out that a patrol was missing. “And thus, it is by the Prince’s decree that all vessels to the crown under the age of 58 begin to pay an additional pint so equivalent in monthly taxation. I will personally collect this tax or tribute starting tomorrow night. Tell your friends, because ignorance of the law is no excuse here,” the Prince’s favorite childe, a man who called himself the Duke, announced to a room full of the Prince’s court. If a single one of them was under 100, it would have been surprising. Which might have been why there were murmurs of surprise when Granny Penne stood up, her body slouched in one direction thanks to the degeneration of her muscles and cartilage in one half of her body. “It isn’t right. It is unfairly biased and impossible to satisfy this new law. It is inhumane to do to the childer of this city. It cannot stand. Where is your sire to speak to this? Or is this another blank lettre de cachet?” The Duke glowered at the older woman, and advanced. “How dare you?” he bellowed. “Do you have any idea who you are speaking to?” “Do you?” she asked in return. “The wretch is your elder, Duke,” the harpy announced with a sort of glee, tossing fuel on the fire. “Someone should summon the sheriff,” a younger and wiser member of the Duke’s brood suggested, and deputies went running. “This wretch is not MY elder.” “I am your elder, boy, and the elder of your sire. But for the gentleness of my nature, I would put you down right now simply because you annoy me. You should thank Heaven for my humanity.” Which was about the point that the Duke lifted Penne by her neck and threw her through a door. “Nary enough hours a night, and they get shorter each year.” The Gangrel pushed through some thick overgrowth between a pair of trees and broke into a solid run. Her muscles trembled and her skin itched. The whole of her wanted to change; the Beast railed against her heart, demanding to run free. She glanced over her shoulder, the great black crow that had been her companion for a decade now, rested on a branch, a small bundle in the claw of its left foot.