Lasombra (High Clan)

[Tami]

Lasombra



Elegant yet predatory, the Lasombra honestly think themselves as the apex of Cainite existence. Firm believers in Divine Right and rule of the superior, they have little patience though often much pity, for those Cainites who are (Through no fault of their own) inferior.

The Lasombra character is a curious mix of noblesse oblige and healthy contempt. They actively seek power wherever it may be found, from the halls of the cloisters to the corridors of palaces, yet they do not seek titles and glory that come along with rule. Instead chasing command for its own sake, Lasombra take the reins of power out of a firm belief that no one else can hold them better. The appearance of power is unimportant; what matters is that the decisions are being made by those most suited to make them. Indeed, most Lasombra prefer the role of Kingmaker to the title of king.

Hand in hand with the determination to be the final arbitrators of all decisions comes a healthy contempt for those who the Lasombra feel are inferior to them in mind, body or breeding. In essence this means the rest of Caintie society, and while some of the various clans have been accorded a modicum of respect, there are none the Lasombra will acknowledge as equals. A Lasombra will work with other Cainites and even go as far to consider members of other clans to be friends, but one will never, ever be consider a member of another clan to be an equal.

Unfortunately, there are those Lasombra whose delight in the great game of politics blinds them to all but the game itself. Master manipulators, these Cainites view all of Europe as but a chessboard that they and their opponents play upon, the fall of kingdoms being of only an abstract interest to them. It is these Lasombra whom the other clans fear most, and their talents and tastes have been attributed to the clan as a whole.

Sobriquet: Magisters

Appearance: Lasombra are generally dark-skinned, with fine boned features that announce their Italian, Spanish or Moorish heritage. Many still look slightly tanned or weathered from their exposure to the harsh southern sun during their days as mortal. As befitting their noble station, those not bund by holy order to wear church vestments prefer the finest silks and other expensive garments.

Haven: Many clan members dwell in the manors and guest houses of their family lands. Others seek refuge in the fortes like monasteries of Spain and Italy.

Background: Lasombra come almost exclusively from noble bloodlines, particularly those of Spanish, Italian or Moorish extraction. Most are skilled in the arts of war and court, though a significant number have backgrounds in the Church. It is extraordinarily rare for a commoner to be embraced by a Lasombra.

Character Creation: Nobles and clergyman are the common character concepts for the Magisters. Architect and Judge are common Natures, while Mental Attributes and Talents are often Primary. It is rare for a Lasombra to not have retainers and resources backgrounds, and many have Mentors in the clan as well. They tend toward the Road of Heaven, but many question its values and are experimenting with a new code of ethics.

Clan Disciplines: Dominate, Obtenebration, Potence

Weaknesses: The members of clan Lasombra cannot be seen in mirrors or any reflective surfaces, such as windows, bodies of water or pools of quicksilver.

Organization: The Lasombra clan structure is a very formal one, loosely based on the hierarchy of the Church. Both secular and ecclesiastical titles are used within the clan, and members are permitted to retain their arms and titles from their breathing days. During gatherings of the Lasombra , more actual work is done in the cloakroom than on the debating floor, though even their sub rosa dealings are perfumed in perfect dignity.

Quote: An excellent decision. I applaud. Did you actually manage to reach it all by yourself?

[Tami]

Devious and refined, the Clan of Shadows sees itself as the superior bloodline in a world governed by superior blood. Lasombra believe that whereas the Low Clans exist to shoulder the burden of Caine's curse, the High Clans--led by the highest Clan, naturally--function as the inheritors of Divine Right, and the absolute epitomy of Cainite existance. As a result, the Lasombra accept no other Cainites as equals, although they readily admit that each clan has its place in Cainite society. That place simply lies beneath that of the Lasombra.

From its earliest nights, the Clan Lasombra has been associated with the lands around the Mediterranean Sea, where the clan's founder is said to have been born and first brought into undeath so many millenia ago. Since then, his dark seed has crept outward, touching all the surrounding coastal lands and isles, including Iberia, Italy, North Africa and Byzantium. The center of this dark domain is the Castel d'Ombro (Castle of Shadows) in Silicy, wherein the Eldest himself is rumored to lie in fitful sleep. TO this night, pilgrims of Lasombra's line come from all over to visit the shadowy isle in search of an evening's discourse with the patriarch of their blood--the Cainite king of kings--or his venerable regent, Montano.

One characteristic endemic to the Lasombra character is an insatiable appetite for power in all its myriad forms. From the hushed quarters of cloisters to the glimmering halls of royal rule, Lasombra seek to intertwine their shadowy tendrils around every realm of influence available to them. According to clan lore, however, such ambition is merely the outward manifestation of their internal struggles. The Lasombra claim that it is their curse to exist as eternal conduits to the Abyss itself, that they might perpetually confronted by the inner darkness of the undead form. This curse has given the Lasombra an instinctual awareness that undeath is much more than mere feral subsistence, and many seek their own mastery of this eternal struggle through a reconnection to the Divine. Once clan tendency feeds into another, as spiritual revelation drives many Lasombra into the arms of the Church--the greatest single source of power in the medieval world. As such, the entire monolithic organization, from its lowliest parishioners to the papacy itself, crawls with the machinations of the clan and its numerous mortal agents. Indeed, many of the clan's most prominent members are those with the strongest ties to mortal religious institutions, such as Archbishop Ambrosio Luis Moncada, a Castillian ancilla with a great deal of power across the clan.

The spread of Islam throughout the Iberian Peninsula, however, saw a terrible rift appear throughout the clan. During the Golden Age of the Cordoban Caliphante, many Muslim Lasombra claimed vast demesnes in al-Andalus, signaling the dawn of a shadow war with entrenched Christian clan members already in residence. Even the Amici Noctis (Friends of the Night), the secretive ruling council of the clan, was split by religious differences. Just as many clan elders supported the mortal Reconquista as railed against it. The Christian faction mounted a ''Shadow Reconquista to eject their Muslim clanmates and the tide of mortal fates have turned their way in recent times. Rumor has it that Montano has brokered a secret accord to ensure that Muslim Lasombra who accept the mounting Christian victories (and abandon their Muslim allies of other clans) can maintain their domains in the expanding Castile-Leon. If this agreement does exist, there are certain Lasombra who reject it, such as the zealous Sultan Badr of Granada.

Although they are bitterly divided over Iberia, Christian and Muslim Lasombra find common cause in hatred for their clanmates in the Cainite Heresy. While the notion that the clan itself is of superior breeding appeals to even religious Lasombra, the draw the line at the system of beliefs those in the Heresy adopt. Lasombra Heretics have proven both subtle and powerful, and they comprise the majority of the Crimson Curia that rules that twisted church. However, since the recent death of Narses of Venice, one of the sect's most prominent Lasombra, the Heresy has suffered many losses and found itself in a state of turmoil. Some feel that the end of the heretical movement may now be in sight, and pious Lasombra are debating putting aside their sectarian differences in order to crush the Heresy once and for all.

Sobriquiet:

Magisters

Appearance:

Lasombra hail almost exclusively from noble families, particularly those of Italian, Moorish or Spanish extraction. Features are often fine and well-bred, with dark or olive skin draped in the finest raiment wealth can provide. The exception to this rule lies in those Lasombra connected with holy orders, who often dress in vestments or other simple attire as befits their service to God.

Haven and Prey:

Often born into wealth, many Lasombra take refuge in the manors or landed estates of their own mortal families. Some Magisters simply engage in a clever transfer of title by masquerading as their own inheritors after their transition into undeath, allowing them retain pecuniary control over any former holdings. Such manuevers also allow for convenient feeding, mortals are required to maintain such domains. Lasombra lurking among the churchmen often feed from the lay of the congregation, although some feel a compunction against this sort of behavior and seek out sinners to punish with feeding.

The Embrace:

Lasombra typically Embrace from among the most highly regarded members of whatever society they belong to. In these nights, this distinction includes individuals of title and station or (equally as often) men and women of the cloth. Innate aptitudes are highly regarded as well, as the Lasombra tend to view the Cainite condition as merely a magnification of an individual's latent capabilities. Many Lasombra take pride in those whom they would Embrace, wooing their would-be childer for months or even years at a time. Indeed the length of this dark courtship is a good indication of the sire's esteem for her fledgling.

Character Creation:

Magisters respect only excellence Therefore, they prize Mental Attributes and Talents most highly, followed closely by whatever traits the vampire requires in order to excel at his duties. Although many Natures are appropriate for Lasombra characters, those that favor ambition or guile (such as Autocrat or Pedagogue) are the most common. Influence and Resources are common Backgrounds among Magisters, as are either Domain or Mentor, but rarely both. Lasombra do not appreciate being openly vassal to anyone. The majority of the clan walks either the Road of Heaven or the Road of Kings, although a dedicated few preach the clan's own puritanical Road of Night.

Clan Disciplines:

Dominate, Obtenebration, Potence

Weaknesses:

Magisters cannot be seen in mirrors or in other reflective surfaces, such as pools of still water or quicksilver. In addition, as creatures of darkness and shade, the Lasombra are greatly pained by the garish presence of bright light, and they suffer an additional level of aggravated damage from any exposure to sunlight.

Organization:

On the whole, the clan's organization is a structured one, with position often stemming from a combination of factors such as age, ancestry and past accomplishments. Although few decisions that affect the entire clan are made in formal gatherings, the presence of the Amici Noctis provides an overarching semblance of order for the clan at large. Specifically, the Friends are responsible for the disposition of the Courts of Blood, a method of clan jurisprudence whereby one Lasombra may call for the blood of another, petitioning the Friends for the right to commit the Amaranth. Otherwise, much of clan policy is established in private chambers between a single Lasombra and his visitors, or in secret, between a trusted Magister and his Cainite liege...or prey.

Quote: Naturally, I would like to be of assistance, and your argument is indeed a compelling one. Whether or not I can convince his Lordship of your innocence is another matter, Perhaps if there were good enough cause for me to intercede on your behalf..."