Ghouls and the Clans

[Tami]

how the clans treat and deal with thier ghouls

Brujah ghouls

These ghouls are as diverse as the Brujah themselves, but there are some commonalities. In an urban setting, Brujah ghouls tend to be street people and gang members, with a radical activist or poli-sci scholar thrown in for good measure. The later are often considered for the Embrace, while the former are considered little more than extensions of the dominator. Ghouls typically serve in combat capacities; while agitators and leaders are useful, Brujah prefer to fill these roles themselves or with Childer. Therefore, the life of a Brujah ghoul commonly centers on such activities as “beat up ‘y’.” and “Blow up ‘X’.”

Notable exception are mortals the Brujah befriends; brujah tend to be generous with their blood, at least at first, so a Brujah often supports one or two ghoul cronies or “dinking buddies”, As the years drag on and idiosyncrasies start to annoy, though, these ghouls usually end up in either the “lackey” or “Tattered corpse” category.

Brujah seldom coerce or trick mortals into ghouldom, they are charismatic enough to present the ‘benefits’ of being a ghoul in a pleasing way. And once the new ghoul experiences the ‘rush’ of super strength and eternal life very intoxicating and irresistible.

Brujah ghouls tend to be young and temperamental, and few ever survive to become old and restrained. Brujah blood is as heady and dangerous as PCP, and ghouls rabidly fight for the clan until their bodies are tattered and black and blue – they are fully aware that cowards are never considered for the Embrace. Those ghouls who do survive to ‘maturity’ seem superficially more controlled than their fledgling counterparts. Having wised up to the fact that they are simply being used, these oldsters forego the hope of the Embrace in favor of their own ambitions in mortal society. This disparity attitude can lead to friction between ‘gullible’ younger ghouls and ‘complacent’ centenarian-plus.

Brujah ghouls, especially those recruited from street gangs, maintain contact with mortal after their transformation into ghoulhood, often becoming subjects of gruesome urban legends. Such ghouls tend to dominate mortal gang hierarchies, usually due to the uncanny muscle power the ghoul can supply for the gang.

Brujah Dominators

As Dominators, brujah generally hold sway their ghouls with liberal amounts of rhetoric and Presence; ghouls cynical or intelligent enough to question the Fearless leader seldom survive the subsequent frenzy. Neo-Carthaginian rhetoric aside, few Brujah actually Embrace their ghouls, thinking them unworthy of such a high honor.

As a rule Brujah tend to ghoul only loyal humans and animals with great physical strength. Particularly in more isolated or turbulent regions Brujah sometime recruit entire armies of ghouls, forming their own private militias and bringing more mortals into the brujah purview. More mortals means more potential ghouls and, at the very least, more people on whom to feed. (Ironically enough, this last “perk” becomes a dire necessity – the more ghouls a Brujah creates, the more blood she must ingest in order to feed her hungry servitors.)

[Tami]

Gangrel Ghouls
Gangrel Ghouls, what few there are, tend to be a very unhappy, lonely lot. Their masters treat them like “fair-blooded” friends, often abandoning them just as their craving for Vitae reaches a peak. On the other hand, such ghouls often prove capable of satiating their craving, having learned a bit about hunting from their erstwhile masters – a disproportionate number of independent “stalker” ghouls come from the ranks of displaced Gangrel “mistakes.”

As Gangrel tend to be loners, gangrel ghouls have little or no contact with other ghouls or vampires. Those who try to return to their mortal lives are often left destitute, homeless and sick, unable to “cope” with “normal” mortal society; they usually die or are killed unless a vampire from another clan snatches them up. But only a handful of survivors wish to remain ghouls after their experiences with the Gangrel, and these ghouls usually buy vitae from blood dealers, or simply steal it.

The ghouls most likely to remain loyal to Gangral dominators (And receive reciprocal loyalty) are animal ghouls. Animal ghouls typically stay faithful to their dominators until the night their dominator can’t find a sentient being to sate their hunger; the animal ghoul must suffice, and are usually drained to death by the remorseful Gangrel.

Gangrel Dominators

Natural wanderers, Gangrel don’t want too many ghouls to tie them down. Most of the time, if they need something, they are not afraid to wander into the barrens to claim it for themselves. Frankly, they find very little use for ghouls – and the Gangrel rarely ghoul as frivolously as Brujah and Toreador.

When A Gangrel does decide to ghoul a mortal, the ghoul is often abandoned after the dominator realizes the tremendous responsibility inherent in tending to the vitae-craving servant. Occasionally a gangrel ghoul’s just before a long journey, thereby providing himself with “extra food in his rucksack,” but Gangrel generally prefer to travel light. A gangrel is therefore more likely to ghoul an animal, as they make great traveling companions and enjoy venturing into the wild woods. The clan’s animalism Discipline allows a Gangrel to communicate better with his animal ghoul than a human one. Elder Gangrel often have powerful and centuries old animal ghouls, whom they love better than any “sentient” being.
While Gangrel have a sort of empathetic respect for ghouls, they do not treat any ghoul save animal ghouls particularly well. Perhaps this is due to the presence of the Beast or the clan’s association with Lupines, perhaps the Outlanders’ general lack of regard for humans who are not of Gypsy descent

[Tami]

Malkavian Ghouls

Malkavian ghouls can be anyone and anything, except forgettable. The vitae in their system knocks them around like mice in a cat’s paws; they change moods constantly and unpredictably, often becoming more and more manic as they drink more and more blood.
Of course, the ghouls are to blame, after all having a Malkavian as a Dominator takes its toll. Some of these ghouls are even abducted from institutions or hospitals, and their preexisting mental conditions are only exacerbated by the ‘care” of their equally psychotic masters.

Some Malvaivian ghouls maintain relations with mortal society, others do not. It all depends on the Dominator’s whims. Kooks sometimes commit their ghouls to asylums, where they can find more mentally aberrant human playthings for their masters – either among the patients or (after a little tweaking) in the ranks of institution administration.

A Malkavian ghoul’s loyalty to her dominator may prove particularly perilous, since the object of their affection is psychotic. The ghoul may allow herself to be partially dissected to prove her loyalty, and then find herself abandoned, rapidly deteriorating and not knowing quite why. Smarter ghouls, though, may con their Dominator into becoming dependent on them for research assistance and affection. These ghouls remain closer tot eh vampire’s hearts, so to speak, and the other servitors are usually too insane to be jealous of them.

Malkavian Domitors

Malkavian Dominators create ghouls frequently; on whims, to advance their pet projects and to enact whatever bizarre tableaux their derangements dictate. Showing neither preference nor dislikes for ghouls, Malkavian see ghouls are fun and interesting guinea pigs on whom to experiment. Ghouls are treated like three-dimensional breathing Malkavian playthings – and some Malkavian ghouls are nothing more than human shot-puts to hurl gleefully at rival Vampires.

Kook’s attitudes towards ghouls change as much as the mood of the individual clan members. Malkavians often forget that they’ve created particular ghouls, leaving the poor victims deranged, yearning, utterly disoriented, and wondering where they will get their next blood fixes. (If they even remember that it is a Kindred’s blood they crave). Furthermore, each individual dominator’s treatment depends significantly on the type of derangement the Malkavain in question has. For example, a domitor with delusions of grandeur treats her ghoul as an inconsequential underling or a protégé depending on her mood. And a ghoul can become something of a babysitter to a Malkavain with a regression derangement.

After a ghoul is bound to his Malkavian domitor, a rather classical model of a dysfunctional relationship-develops – one in which the vampire obsessed with mental and physical game playing, and the ghoul awestruck by the mental powers and charisma of his Kindred slaver. A Malkavian can become addicted to this sense of power, just as the ghoul becomes addicted to the domitor’s blood. Long-term Malkavian-ghoul relationships exemplify the word “codependency”; short-term Malkavian-ghoul relationships are intense, melodramatic and often fatal for one or both parties.

Malkavains don’t necessarily seek to make ghouls of people with similar mental conditions, how would a human with obsessive-compulsive disorder benefit a vampire who has this problem himself, aside from making him sure the vampire locks the door to his haven by checking it 17 times? (Much to the Malk’s chagrin, however, the ghoul usually inherits her domitor’s Derangement anyway.) Kooks tend to ghoul humans who display qualities that they themselves lack only occasionally transforming those people who “feed” their derangements. But if a vampire has the Obsession derangement, for example, may ghoul someone who has a similar fetish or obsession in order to validate his derangement. After all, lunacy loves company.

[Tami]

Nosferatu ghouls

Sewer rats ghouls are recipients of a classical mixed blessing. Ay least Clan Nosferatu gives its ghouls a bit of respect and consideration for their good work. Unfortunately, Nosferatu vitae tends to produce similar, though lesser, deformities in its ghouls.

By and large, mortals ghouled by the clan tend not to be the most popular people in their old circle anyway. Still, many Nosferatu ghouls, forced into isolation by the transmogrifications of the Blood, wind up becoming very lonely and tormented.

Nosferatu prefer to ghoul humans who don’t quite fit in with the corporate milieu. While professional types benefit the clan tremendously, Nosferatu prefer those professional to be the peons of their respective work places. Diligent workers who are never praised, sexually harassment victims, wage slaves who go years without with out raises, and workers who are mocked because of physical disabilities often welcome the feeling of belonging they get from service to the Nosferatu. Ghouling, to a Nosferatu should be performed with the same amount of forethought one would put into creating Progeny, and Nosferatu ghoul only those they would consider for the Embrace.

Accordingly, this tight-knit clan treats newly initiated ghouls as the “new childer” in the Nosferatu warren. The vampires train their ghouls to become bold, resolute and, above all, competent, nourishing them and teaching them all the Clan’s history in the process. Very often, Nosferatu warrens resemble “communes”; each ghoul works for the good of all the nosferatu, not just her domitor; and the Nosferatu treat all ghouls, animals or human, with equal amounts of esteem.

Animal ghouls are common among the clan. They are easily created, and they communicate well with their domitors, for the clan members possess the Animalisn Discipline. The clan’s animal ghouls consist mostly of slimy, unsanitary urban critters. Most the ghouls are lured in to serve the clan after tasting the luscious vitae of a Nosferatu who shed her blood to fill up a spawning pool. After just one taste, the animals have to come back for more and more of the scrumptious vampiric blood; potent Nosferatu blood is allegedly harder to kick than heroine or nicotine. After becoming blood bound, the Nosferatu’s animal ghouls take on many of the clan’s characteristic, growing to extreme sizes and developing freaking deformities.

Despite their “perks” Nos ghouls had best not grow complacent, no matter how well they are treated by the clan. And Heaven help the Nos ghoul who sells out her benefactors for, say the sweet blood of a beautiful Toreador. Laziness and rebellion alike are noticed and dealt with in poetic fashion. Ghouls who betray the clan are strapped to subway tracks to meet their deaths, or else immersed in pools of sewage to drown.

Nosferatu Domitors

The sewer rats are big fan of ghouls – animal ghouls that is. Human ghouls can be of great help to the clan Nosferatu, but they are much more difficult to create; after all, to ghoul a mortal, a Nosferatu must coax or coerce the mortal to remain in the vicinity.

Nosferatu find reliable human ghouls by looking on the subway. The Vampires use Obfuscate to stand among the after-hour crowds, searching for professionals in the construction, urban planning, sanitation, transportation and city maintenance fields who are heading home after their exhausting second and third shift jobs. Overheard snippets of conversation with the passengers usually clues the Nosferatu in on the potential ghoul’s profession. Only humans who can benefit the clan in some manner are ghouled; many Nosferatu have neither the patience nor the desire to associate with the mortal who shunned them so during their own lives.

[Tami]

Toreador ghouls

Toreador keep cliques of suave, sophisticated ghouls: some of these ghouls actually prove useful, and all cater to the domitor’s ego. Toreador tend to select their ghouls from among the mortals they socialize with at parties, art openings, theatrical productions, musical performances and poetry readings, picking and choosing for ‘artistic’ (i.e., no particularly logical) reasons.

Like Brujah, Toreador ghoul often and frivolously. A Toreador might ghoul someone just to have an eternally adoring fan of his work. It’s nice to be worshiped after all.

Being a Toreador ghoul is far from easy, but lavish rewards await those whom the domitors favor – for exactly as long as the favor lasts. “In” ghouls are showered with designer clothing, invitations to high-society parties and, most importantly of all, adulation and respect in the cliquish Toreador circles. Naturally, ghouls in service to the dominator are the crème de la crème – and naturally, in service to those other leeches…are far too gauche for words.

But pity the poor waif ghoul model when thin is no longer in and the Rubenesque look is back in style. Status disintegrates in a tidal wave of humiliation, and the former beloved is tossed to the wayside by her fickle Toreador domitor. After all, Toreador don’t like off ghouls who aren’t in vogue!

Even ghouls in favor with their domitor walk on eggshells, knowing full well that they could be thrown away like last season’s evening gowns at any given moment. Compounding this fear is the constant internecine feuds endemic to toreador cliques, as rival servitors use innuendo, nails and whatever else it takes to maintain “ghoul number one” status. This catty competition often leads to violent frenzies and stalker like behavior among the ghouls – anything to please the master, and anything to knock the competition down.

Most Toreadors ghouls still keep in touch with mortals. They have to in order to advance their domitor’s careers. And, for those ghouls who have fallen out of favor, mortals are the only remaining erotic outlets.

Outcast Toreador ghouls commonly seek (and occasionally find) service in the ranks of another “respectable” clan, such as the venture; the new domitor is delighted to take in the beautiful, wounded ghoul, providing affection and vitae in exchange for a few trifles of information on the cruel ex-domitor. Naturally, the ghoul is only to happy to oblige…

Toreador Domitors

The suave and beautiful Toreador have little trouble surrounding themselves with throngs of willing servants – humans only, though, animals make good stoles and that’s about it.

Some Toreador think of ghouls as pathetic-but-useful sycophants. Ghouls are just nice to have around as whipping boys. They’re so much fun to taunt; they take the whole Blood Blond thing way too seriously. Many degenerates look for extremely submissive introverted mortals, entrapping them in erotic relationships. For a couple of wickedly fun 15- minute B&D sessions and a few drops of blood per month, a Toreador has a loyal servant who idolizes her domitor, drives him everywhere, and works as his booking agent.

Not all Toreador are so cruel to their ghouls. Some actually feel a semblance of love for their Blood bond slaves. Other clan members love the adoration the get from their special fans, and so they coddle their ghouls. Devoted ghouls stay forever one their Toreador lovers’ sides, trying to become more and more helpful with each passing year in hopes of eventually being Embraced by their lithe, creative-genius masters. Requests for the Embrace are usually futile, however; a Toreador would much rather have a parasitic little helper (whom she can let age if he acts up) than another annoying vampiric ‘friend” who’ll compete against her in all the shows.

[Tami]

Tremere Ghouls

Ironically enough, most Tremere ghouls do not even know they are ghouls. Their masters shroud the truth from them until absolutely positive that the ghouls will not leak arcane secrets to rival clans or break the sacred masquerade.

This deception, like so much about the Tremere, is practiced under a guise of ingenuousness. Tremere ghouls are often recruited from religious orders, Freemason groups – even fraternities and sororities – and the initiation rites into Clan Tremere do not differ much from a cult’s or Secret Society’s. Typically, initiates are not informed that each sip of vampire blood (or, more likely, several vampire’s blood) from the ceremonial chalice draws them closer to being Blood Bond to the clan. The Warlocks subscribe to the “ignorance is bliss” theory of enlightening their ghouls, and share only half truths about the transformation. Only after a ghoul demonstrates complete loyalty to the “the order” does he learn the truth – and even then these lucky “consors” receive ample demonstration of what will happen to them should they divulge secrets to newer initiates.

And once a Tremere consor is fully recruited, life is far from easy. The Tremere have even more enemies than most clans do, and while a consor’s introduction to the Tremere may be gradual and mysterious, his introduction to the Assamites, Gangrel and Tzimicse is usually sudden indeed.

Tremere ghouls perform a variety of functions. A disproportionate number merely serve merely as chum to be thrown to the clan’s numerous foes. Many other ghouls are used as research assistants, keeping the clan up to date on such arcane as the Internet. Finally, Tremere ghouls make the effective “living scrolls”: they have rituals of various sorts placed upon them (often without their knowledge.) and are sent about their business; this business often takes them into the fold of a rival or enemy, where the “inscribed” spell takes effect.

Tremere Domitors

Because the clan already employs numerous Gargoyles, Homunculi, demon-bound, and corpse minions as servants and guards ( see clanbook: Tremere, pp 33-35), Tremere are quite hesitant to create ghouls, who could conceivably break the Masquerade, disrupt the clan’s order, and leak closely guarded secrets to mortal and Kindred alike. A vampire must obtain permission from a superior before a ghoul can be initiated into the clan.

Any Tremere wishing to create ghouls must abide by strict criteria during ghoul selection and creation. Ghouls must either by obvious “one shot” weapons (i.e. a cell ghouls created to be thrown at the Slachta of an oncoming Sabbat siege) or potential neonates. The former must be demonstrably liquidated at the end of use, while the latter must be carefully evaluated and made to swear all manner of secret and binding oaths.

Because they are under extreme pressure from the highest clan authorities, Tremere domitors are not, in general, a very pleasant lot. In particular, younger domitors who have personal gripes with their elders often take out their frustrations on obvious ghoul students. The ghouls, sworn not to defy their domitors often receive humility lessons in the form of canings, whippings, razor cuts, bruises, and severe verbal abuse. The Tremere Embrace only those ghouls who persevere against all odds, and these leechlike students must be kept in line some how.

[Tami]

Ventrue Ghouls

On first impression, Ventrue ghouls often seem suave and in control; as any venture knows, however, it is the domitor who excises complete control over her ghouls.

Much of this control stems from the fact that Ventrue recruit many ghouls from their mortal families. Certainly, a Ventrue who ghouls her own grandfather expects nothing less than obedient gratitude for saving the old bastard’s life. Many venture ghouls are transformed in their late mortal years – often just before succumbing to cancer or the like – and Ventrue domitors constantly consistently remind these older ghouls of the long, painful deaths they have been spared.

Ventrue ghoulhood is rather hierarchal existence. Indeed, some elder Ventrue maintain “castes” or ‘ranks” of servitors, complete with titles and insignia. These strictures make for some vampire-pleasing ghouls; ghouls who win their domitor’s favor are given higher ‘ranking” then ghouls who don’t bend as far for their masters, and many who perform well become ( or think they become) probable Embrace candidates. Needless to say, ghouls commonly ‘rat” on one another in attempts to gain status.

Because many Ventrue ghouls negotiate important clan business deals, they maintain a great deal of contact with the mortal populace. Many servitors continue to hold the same jobs they had in mortal years, as their masters like to have allies that can serve as spies.

Only the most naïve Ventrue ghoul dares to show allegiance to another vampire domitor, especially one of a rival clan. The Ventrue do not take kindly to sharing. Ghouls who are aware of this rule stick with their own kind, so a Ventrue ghoul is rarely seen conversing with another clan’s ghouls, save at the business end of a 9mm.

Ventrue Domitors

Jaunty and controlling, the Ventrue prefer to surround themselves with ghouls who aren’t afraid to do a little dirty work for their domitors. It is perhaps Clan Ventrue that has the most respect for its workers…er…children…er…ghouls; the ghouls are the doers rather than the dreamers, and unlike other Kindred, they always follow their orders. Or else they get what’s coming to them…

Generally speaking, though, the venture clan gives a lot of credit to its ghouls; ghouls put up a very believable façade for the mortals, and the clan seeks beyond all other goals to maintain the Masquerade.

In addition to ghouling sycophantic worker-types, Ventrue often seek to ghoul mortal of political, legal, or professional importance. The Ventrue are natural infiltrators, and many clan members gain control over mortal affairs through clever use of influential ghouls. Judges, minters, bankers, accountants, lawyers, mayors, newspaper publishers – these are the types of mortal many Ventrue wish to recruit as ghouls.

Particularly noteworthy is the Ventrue’s predilection for creating ghouls in their rival’s organizations. These are often lower-echelon employees, as upper management is usually closely watched by the rival vampire and lower-level workers are the employees most likely to be disgruntled by the ‘crappy working conditional” (often the result of the rival vampire’s corporate piracy or what have you). It is laughably easy for the domitor-to-be to approach such a potential ghoul and, through a combination of Presence and promises mold him into a walking virus to use against her rival.

Ventrue frequently ghoul their loved ones in order to protect the masquerade and maintain open, “honest” relations with their relatives. Sometimes this leads to an almost paternal relationship between domitor and his ghouled family members. However, familial ghouls who abuse their privileges or shirk their duties often punished much more severely than nonfamilial ghouls (How dare your own flesh and blood betray you after all the strength and life you have given her?). On the flip side of the coin, preferential treatment of a domitor’s family members often leads to vicious squabbles among ghouls. After all, it’s not so far a step from “who gets the biggest slice of pie”

[Tami]

The Sabbat Perspective

While Sabbat hate mortals, they love to hate ghouls. Many Sabbat consider ghouls to be something of a joke, like a poodle wearing a pink dress and trying to walk upright; still, some Tzimisce and Lasombra would be bored if they didn’t have their little action figures to bend and play with.

The Lasombra and Tzimisce have very different opinions on ghouls, while most antitribu superficially treat ghouls much as their Camarilla counter-parts do. It should be noted however, that antitribu rarely succumb to emotional bonding with their ghouls; that codependent bullshit is for mortals and wimpy cam Vampires only. Most antitribu think ghouls are trash, and refuse should be disposed of properly after use.

Being a Sabbat ghoul is like walking a razor wire tightrope over a bottomless pit. All manner of Draconian punishment awaits a ghoul who steps out of line: A ghoul who is disrespectful to a Sabbat, or who divulges sect secrets, faces ‘disciplinary’ tactics as drawing and quartering or death by fire. Sabbat Domitors are also punished if their ghouls betray the Sabbat, so ghouls are subject to all manner of preventative abuses heaped on them by paranoid domitors. Then, too, some Tzimisce adopt the approach that betrayal is impossible if a ghoul is rendered too unsightly to interact with anyone, or if it’s tongue is reshaped to something more aesthetically pleasing than functional….

[Tami]

Lasombra Ghouls

Mortals unfortunate to be ghouled by a Lasombra vampire are in for serious abuse. The leaders of the Sabbat tolerate ghouls only because their fellow Sabbat members in clan Tzimisce find them to be an interesting diversion. Lasombra have no time or patience for interesting diversion, and so they make their ghouls work brutally hard for every drop of blood. Even so, few survive for long; the only diversion the Lasombra really enjoy is chess, and ghouls serve as disposable pawns.

Few Lasombra ghouls are given a choice about whether to accept the domitors-to be’s “gift”. A Lasombra will ghoul anyone or anything, so long as the creature has a skill or talents sufficiently useful to be worth the bother, yet sufficiently menial that the vampire would never consider the ghoul for Embrace. Squadrons of suicide shock troops and staffs of personal grooming assistants are most common among the Keepers; it is difficult to say which job is the more dangerous one.

Long-time Lasombra ghouls are rare. What few exist tend to be timid, nervous creatures. They’ve become so used to taking the blame for wrongs they have not committed, they just wince and bear the pain, for they are dependent on domitors who casually withhold vitae.

Most Lasombra ghouls are not permitted to associate with other vampires, ghouls or mortals. Those who dare to disobey this stricture are mercilessly slain. Then, too, many Lasombra ghouls are rendered physically incapable of such interaction; while the Lasombra do not equal the Tzimisce in the fine art of disfigurement; they do an admirable job for not blessed with Vicissitude. The psychological side effects of the Lasombra clan weakness often manifest themselves in this process, as squadron of ghouls are all forced to wear the same featureless masks or have their faces reduced to identical spiderwebs of scar tissue.

Lasombra Domitors

The mere thought of ghouls males any self-respecting member of Clan Lasombra wince with disdain. Ghouls are nothing more than abhorrent sub-Kindred who can’t do much more than comb hair without having emotional break downs. Accordingly, Lasombra probably employ the fewest ghouls of any clan – Camarilla, Independent, or Sabbat.

Though they cannot stand ghouls, the Lasombra also cannot stand the fact they are unable to admire their own beautiful Caine-given features in the mirror. Some Lasombra employ ghouls as personal-hygiene assistants for this reason. But that hair must be brushed for at least a 100 strokes, or 100 bruises will decorate the inattentive ghoul’s body. And should the servant fail to supply the skin lotion properly, the outraged Lasombra may well apply a “moisturizer” of muriatic acid to the ghoul’s skin…

Although some Lasombra are rumored to make ghouls of number-crunching mortals to help with clan finances, most clan members do not feel that they can trust ghouls with matters of such import. Besides, it’s more fun to manipulate some gullible Ventrue – or, better yet, a sniveling Ventrue ghoul – into doing one’s business.

[Tami]

Tzimisce Ghouls
And you though Lasombra ghouls had it rough…. Tzimisce ghouls often understand quite literally the meaning of the words “spineless toady”. Mercifully, many of these ghouls don’t realize how miserable they actually are, having been toyed with to such an extent they aren’t even conscious of their own existences. By far the most wretched Tzimisce ghouls are those whose brains and psyches are left intact.

About the only thing Tzimisce ghouls have going for them is sheer power. Antitribu who actually give a damn warn their servitors to steer clear of the brutal Tzimisce ghouls. Mortal Blood Bound to the Fiends seldom use their power for self-advancement, though. Tzimisce ghouls live to eat, breathe, fight and kill for their domitors, and their domitor only.

For a clan so dependent on ghouls, Tzimicse are surprisingly indiscriminate in whom they choose to ghoul; on the other hand, Tzimisce reason that their choice of subjects is little more consequential than the choice between red of blue Pay-Doh ™. Ghouls are useful for war and menial tasks; anything requiring skill or intellect can be delegated to a power hungry, sycophantic revenant.

Those few ghouls left in an approximation of human shape live life in constant fear – not only that the master will use them for spare parts, but also a bored or hungry Szlachta will attack them without any provocation while the master looks on and titter. Ironically enough, it is this very paranoia that leads them to make that one self-defeating and painfully fatal mistake,

Tzimisce Domitors

Though not exactly respectful or tolerant of the sad little krevni oddats (blood addicts), the Tzimisce despise ghouls to a lesser degree than do Lasombra and other anitribu. After all, more than a few Tzimisce vampires were created from the revenant families’ offspring.

The masters of Vicissitude relish having large numbers of ghouls at their service for both business and pleasure. While other clans employ ghouls almost strictly in servile capacities, Tzimisce know how to be quite resourceful with their ghouls.

Ghouls make excellent ‘clay” with which the neonate Tzimisce can master the fine art of Vicissitude. Practicing on ghouls means learning Vicissitude by the trial-and-error method. Mistakes can be killed and/or sucked dry, which makes for a quick zesty midnight snack; minor blunders can also be (quite literally) tossed onto the pile to be later used in the creation of a vohzd (war ghoul). In many Tzimisce manses, promising Vicissitude students display their creations in the form of porous wallpaper, internal-organ tapestries, intestinal lamps breathing bone-constructed bric-a-brac. (The Fiends inhabit only the most aesthetically pleasing environments possible, as they usually spend eternity in one place.)

Of course, Tzimisce don’t restrict the use of Vicissitude on ghouls to neonate students of the Discipline. Judicious disfigurement ensures that ghouls cannot betray the clan to live normally among mortals. Tzimisce domitors also use the threat of further body modifications as a deterrent, ensuring that the ghouls behave properly and obey all commands without question. More than one ghouls has had her legs amputated after a mere utterance of the word “but.”

On occasion, a more sympathetic Tzimisce domitor will reshape a Vicissitude-worked ghoul body part if his servitor performs every duty perfectly for a set period of time, maybe ten years or so. Such mercy is rare, though; some Tzimisce don’t even think they themselves are perfect. And ghouls had best not even dream of getting Embraced – not unless they are descendent of the revenant families.

(For information on the revenant families see the sub board for them.)

[Tami]

The Domitors and Ghouls of the Independent Clans

If the Camarilla – or for that matter, the Sabbat - knew how frequently the independents clans use ghouls, they would undoubtedly grow alarmed. The relatively specialized vampires of the independent clans rely on extensive networks of ghouls to administer their herds and holdings – and these, particularly for the Assamites, Settites and Giovanni, are considerable.

[Tami]

Assamite Ghouls

Ghouls inducted into the clan don’t suffer nearly so much as their counterparts in rival clans – at least they don’t think so. Brainwashed into believing their work is of paramount importance, many Assamite frantically serve the clan in any way possible. After all, they’re going to be Embraced in seven years, right? (Not always)

Surprisingly enough, many Assamite ghouls are employed in ‘civilian” capacities, as spies and religious recruiters. Though Assamites, as a general rule, lack their rivals’ more direct powers of mind control, over the millennia they have woven an intricate tapestry of influence in their home regions. Wealthy Bombay gem merchants, imams, ambassadors, urchins, and ordinary families. All have their purpose, all have their place. Seldom are these ghouls ever bestowed the Embrace. The Assamites need for them simply to continue with their mundane services, and the ghouls do so with alacrity. Camarilla and Sabbat, stereotypically viewing the Assamites as a homogenous mob of scimitar-and-uzi-wielding murderers, often overlook the humble rug dealer or glamorous film star. This proves their undoing when the Assamites themselves, alerted to their enemies’ habits, come calling at midnight….

Mortals chosen as potential Assamites have a finite “life span”. Selected primarily for combat expertise, they are rigorously trained for seven years. They become ghouls in the process and learn how to tap the power of the Blood. At the end of the training process, all such ghouls must undergo a test of merit. If they pass they are turned into vampires, if they fail, they are turned into dinner.

As recruiter and spies, many Assamite ghouls continue to maintain relations with mortal, though elder ghouls often demonstrate distressingly reactionary attitudes towards Westerners and “upstart” women. Even among the already Blood Bound ghoul, women and those of neither Hindu or Muslim lineage can be treated with thinly veiled disdain.

Recently, it seems some sort of internal upheaval or purge, has gripped the clan. Though no stories come back from Alamut, Assamite recruitment activity seems to have increased in the past few years. How this affects the ghouls has yet to be seen.

Assamite Domitors

Before being Embraced into the clan, all Assamites go through rigorous seven-year “training periods” as ghouls, performing various chores for the clan while they learn the fine art of assassination. Because of this enforced period of ghouldom, the Assamites – as former ghouls themselves – are more empathetic to their ghouls then many other clan masters.

Now, empathetic certainly doesn’t mean lenient. To the contrary, serving as a ghoul for the Assamites is strikingly akin to going through basic training for the marine corps… for seven years. And after those seven faithful years, there is no guarantee that the ghouls will be granted the gift of immortality. Assamites who rule over dutiful sometimes get a bit possessive and insecure – why should one Embrace a ghoul and lose a devoted assistant?

When seeking ghouls, clan members tend to select Semitic males, although recently more females and men from areas other than Middle East have been chosen as potential Assassins. Assamites demand honor, honesty and pride from all their ghouls, and in return the ghouls have the chance to live forever.

[Tami]

Giovanni Ghouls

If you can’t keep it in your veins, keep it in the family. That’s what the Giovanni say. The family unit is the best recruiting ground for new ghouls. Many Giovanni disregard or are unaware of the trouble this causes in ghoul circles, however. It’s not uncommon for a child to murder her own mother if the competition for the Embrace is keen enough.

From birth, many Giovanni are steeped in the politics of the supernatural, hungering for the endless life of their Kindred relatives. Accordingly, necromancer ghouls constantly fight battles of one-upmanship in often futile attempts to be Embraced. This competition pleases the vampires: Drop a mere hint of the possibility of the Embrace, and the youngers’ll do all the shit work one could ever want.

More than one ghoul has sought out and killed innocent victims merely to guarantee the domitor a steady supply of blood and bodies. Others get involved in petty (and not so petty) crimes in order to bring the most money or information to their masters. Some of these unfortunate ghouls are caught, however, so they either perish bloodless in prison or are forced to strangle the cops and informants to death.

Although the Giovanni ghouls are mostly family, sometimes necromancers Blood Bond other people to advance the clan’s interests – medical students, morticians, priest, nuns, financial wizards, spiritualist psychics, coroners and stockbrokers all prove useful to the Giovanni.

Giovanni Domitors

The Giovanni love their ghouls. And they love plenty of them, too. The Giovanni want power above anything else, and how better to achieve that than by using pawns? It becomes even easier for a vampire to attain high status when the vast majority of his ghouls are members of his own mortal family; with throngs of subverient schiavo (slaves) indebted by blood and family ties; it’s not a difficult chore to act superior.

Approximately 60% of the clans ghouls are members of the Giovanni family itself – while an astonishing 100% of Giovanni are former ghouls. Uncles, grandchildren, second cousins, brothers, sisters, mother – all have a shot at being Embraced later if they perform adequately as ghouls. It’s not easy for them, of course; it’s never easy for a father, stubborn and domineering in life, to take orders from his own Embraced son. But even if these ghouls are family, they must learn to be obedient, especially if they’d like to be candidates for Embrace. And perhaps it is more difficult to serve a loved one than just “any old vampire.” Family pressure often rises above the boiling point when money and power are involved. The Giovanni are familiar with the old proverb, It’s better to swallow pride than blood. The Giovanni want their ghouls to swallow both. And nobody should respect you more than your own flesh and blood, right?

It is wise for Giovanni ghouls to remember one rule: Respect above all else. If a ghoul should forget this adage, her domitor is capable or reminding her with a few broken bones or amputated appendages

[Tami]

Setite ghouls

The Followers’ ghouls come from a variety of sources. Usefulness is the only criterion, and even this can be waived if the domitor-to-be is in a particularly good 9or bad) mood. Setite use ghouls extensively for business, pleasure or (most commonly) both.

Surprisingly, Setite ghouls are often people considered morally upstanding or innocent in life. The clan’s work requires numerous mortal ties, and while drug dealers and the like have their uses, it is far less obtrusive to work through politicians, priest and social workers. Then, too, it is so easy to lure in the kinks by presenting an Angelic child, ripe for violation, then watching the perverts’ horror as the “victim” stuns them with a hypnotizing stare and lunges at them with superhuman strength…

Of course, Setites need more traditional follows as well. Like Nosferatu, they recruit in lower-income areas, preying on individuals with little to lose. Indeed, some enterprising Setites market the Devil’s Elixer so seductively that mortal actually perform favors merely for the privilege of obtaining “The Juice”. Naturally, Setites refrain from mentioning the side effect of the blood bond until it is too late.

Like Assamite ghouls, Setite ghouls are often manipulated into thinking that work is of utmost religious significance. Most Setite ghouls band together in under-ground cults. Setite ghouls are administered bizarre ritualistic tinctures as well as blood when bound to the clan. There they are told to Recruit! Recruit! Recruit!

In addition to these human ghouls, the followers often find snakes to be loyal servitors, as well as status symbol in the clan. However, the Setites are careful not to “wear their hearts on their sleeves” so to speak, so oftentimes clan member have their human ghouls care for the serpentine ghouls.

The life of a Setite ghoul is an ecstatically agonizing slide into depravity, but most learn to enjoy it. Particularly competent, centuries-old ghouls are pampered, permitted to wallow in vice, and generally treated with amused indulgence. Such ghouls often spearhead Setite incursions into Camarilla territory, establishing a daylight beachhead among mortal before tier masters close in for the kill.

Setite Domitors

To spread their message of corruption as far and wide as possible, the Setites need some help from mortals, who do not live in constant fear of light. It’s quite simple for the average (so to speak – the followers are all far from average beings) Setite to find qualified candidates for ghouling; both pure and wicked mortals make faithful, obedient Setite ghouls. The followers’ blood is a highly addictive nectar, and the clan members are masters of the Blood Bond, especially vampires who posses the Addictive Blood merit (See ca
clanbook: Setites, p. 30)

For most vampires, the ghouling process is simple routine; for Setites, it is art. Some Setites gleefully spend years setting up the degradation of a particularly uptight or righteous slave-to-be – perhaps even secretly guiding him to the heights of financial and romantic success, then stripping it all away in one fell swoop. The Setites are well aware of the story of Job. Then, too, there are few more effective way of demoralizing a slave than making him aware that all his precious worldly success was given to him at a Setite’s whim .

Setite ghouling practices are perverse, as befits the clan. Clan members gain status for recruiting new ghouls who were considered prudes among the human populace. Such ghouls rarely remain prudish for long, as Setites abuse the Blood Bond at whim and out of sheer perversity. Forcing one’s ghouls to commit degrading acts and violate loved ones is not only fun, but respected among the Followers of Set. Ghouls also make ideal “test subjects” for new forms of pleasure; a ghouls superhuman vitality enables him to with stand chemical or erotic titillation that would kill a normal mortal.

[Tami]

Ravnos Ghouls

Ravnos ghouls don’t really have it all that bad, but they are often insecure, knowing full well that if their capricious domitors piss off the wrong monster or get annoyed at some minor misstep, the patshiv’s over. Ravnos vampires make sure not to get attached to their hired help, and getting rid of extra baggage is considered to be good housekeeping. Besides, Ravnos who to replace dead ghouls have no trouble stealing from other clans. Other than that, ghouldom is mostly merry and simple for the Ravnos’ servants – just do your work, divert angry enemies away from your domitor’s fleeing butt, and line up to get your red soup.

Rom, particularly members of the mortal Ravnos family, are the most commonly created ghouls. Such ghouls are generally mistrusted by their mortal kin, but grudgingly allowed to participate in the rituals of the Kumpania. Gypsy ghouls prove especially useful, for they often know tricks of their own in addition to the powers of the Blood. Such servants make a Ravnos’ daylight hours far more secure.

Georgio also create ghouls, but few of these are Embraced. Their masters merrily con them into believing it’ll happen ‘one night” – and might even believe it themselves from time to time – but as a rule, geogio ghouls either die from their domitor’s negligence or act as second bananas until their domitors find them unnecessary.

Because the clan possesses the Animalism Discipline, it is common to for Ravnos to create ghoul animals, such as mule, camels, horses and dogs. Not only can animal ghouls facilitate travel – as in the case with horses – but they can often perform tricks for mortal and vampires, diverting attention from their conniving domitors who are looting the local boutiques, banks and back pockets.

Ravnos ghouls have minimal contact with other clans’ ghouls, but maintain ties with mortal of quality and character (i.e. wealthy people with jewels or other valuable). Many ghouls also engage in a little daylight thievery for their masters.

Ravnos Domitors

Ravnos do not have many uses for ghouls. (What a drag to have the annoying little things around cramping one’s lifestyle) Sometimes ghouls make good patsies, though, and they’re gullible as can be.

While the freedom-loving Ravnos do not like to have “babies” around to tie them down, it is common practice for Ravnos to ghoul member of their own mortal families. Ravnos never forget their roots, and many share the gift of eternal life with their loved ones, in hopes of eventually Embracing them into the clan.

Ravnos do not hate or systematically mistreat their ghouls, especially those who were previously members of their mortal families. When a ghoul is Bound to a Ravnos, though, he better watch his step; if he makes a mistake or otherwise displeases, may find himself the butt of a killing joke. The Ravnos just love a good laugh…