Post by Tami on Mar 4, 2007 21:58:15 GMT -5
Laibon
The Dark Medieval world is an enormous and frightening place, and it was not meant for most mortal to journey into the terra incognita beyond their hamlets. The Children of Caine have ever been wanderers through, and their machinations have often taken them into the distant realms of Outremer.
Thus it is that Cainite travelers have returned to Europe bearing tales of a vampire called the Laibon. The Laibon, by these accounts, are indisputably Children of Caine, but they have fallen far from the main tree indeed. The Laibon inhabit the vast expanses of Africa, beyond even the Moorish Kingdoms. Though they dwell nigh unto the land of Eden, they are heathens claiming no knowledge of Caine. Instead, they speak of the “spirit world” and of Kamira wa Itherero, their inscrutable ancestor.
European Cainites seldom truck with these creatures, but a few Assamites, Setites and Ravnos have ventured into Laibon’s lairs, deep in the fiery south. Here, near the edge of the world, the Laibon roam the savannas and jungles, sporting with lion and leucrotta, ostrich and simurgh, cocktrices and catoblepas. They are mighty hunters and Shamans, and do not fear the Beast as do Europe’s vampires; indeed, Laibon know a form of magic enabling them to tame and control their inner demons. According to traveler’s tales, Laibon dwell in expansive territories, preferring solitude. They act as dark guardians and medicine men to the Ethiops, Nubians and the other peoples among who they dwell, often stalking by night through villages and fields. In these tasks they serve their people admirably – though they often hunger, and their vigilance exacts a price.
Laibon do not claim descent from Caine instead avowing themselves scions of “earth spirits”. They are wise in ways of riddles and for this reason the Setites have dubbed them “Sphinxes”. Indeed, Laibon are knowledgeable of many things, and bear tales of a myriad exotic lands. When asked of Prestor John and his army of Christian warriors, however, these Cainites simply smile enigmatically.
Laibon are often gripped by wanderlust, and it is not entirely unknown for a scion of the land to make her way to a city of the Cainites. Such events are as rare as a hen’s tooth, occurring only in the Holy Land and the Mediterranean shores. The Lasombra prince of Genoa reputedly retain a Laibon, and this worthy has served admirably as sentinel and agent.
For now, Laibon seem content to observe silently – perhaps adding to their exhaustive stock of riddles and tales. Though individuals have taken part in Europe’s Jyhad, the line as a whole remains as it always has – aloof, neutral. Shrouded by distance and legend.
In addition, very few Laibon are familiar with the language of Europe. A notable few have accumulated some mastery of Latin, but none are known to communicate in any continental vocabulary.
Sobriquet: Sphinxes
Appearance: Almost all Laibon bear features reminiscent of the people who inhabit Africa below the great Sahara. When traveling among European Cainites, they tend to adopt garb common to their surroundings, preferring to remain unobtrusive. When at home, they dress sparely and comfortably. Many bear tribal scars of various sorts.
Haven: Laibon generally dwell in wilderness areas, although certain member of the line (those accepted by the tribes people among whom they dwell) lair within villages and cities. Rumors tell of a distant city, Zimbabwe by name, which houses several of the vampires.
Background: Laibon are commonly chosen from skilled honorable warriors and healers, Most displayed loyalty and wanderlust in equal measure prior to the Embrace. There are no known Laibons of European descent.
Character Creation: All attribute are prized, though mental attributes are usually primary. Almost all Laibon have some abilities related to survival in the wilds. Because Laibon often stem from Shamanic backgrounds, many learn a spirit-based variant of Thaumaturgy, though this is not a clan discipline. Due to the rigors of dealing with the beasts, most Laibon have high self control or instinct ratings. Most Laibo follow either the Road of the Beast or the Road of Heaven. IN addition to their clan disciplines, Laibon frequently learn Rego Mentum, a variant Thaumaturgical path which focuses on control of natural spirits.
Clan Disciplines: Abommbwe, Animalism, Fortitude
Weaknesses: The discipline of Abombwe involves direct dominance of the Beast, but this power has a price. A Laibon’s Beast is particularly ravenous and recalcitrant, consuming “tithe” of blood each time the vampire uses blood points. If a Laibon expends or ingest blood points, the Beast automatically “consumes” a point, or two points for an ingestions/expenditure of five or greater in one scene. Thus if a Laibon kills and then drains a mortal (10 blood points), she only receives eight blood points; if she spends three blood points to heal herself, she actually loses four. Laibon grow hungry much more quickly than do other Cainite, and most try to ensure that ample feeding stock is within reach, lest they do something unseemly in their hunger….
Organization: Laibon tend to be solitary creatures, each vampire stakes out an expansive territory encompassing several villages, guarding it vigilantly against intruders. They periodically congregate at predetermined sites every 10 years or so. At these meetings, Laibon trade stories and lore. Occasionally, Laibon gather to enact protective rituals of various sorts that appear to be Thaumaturgical in nature. The few Tremere who are aware of this fact are highly distressed by it.
Destiny: Laibon, never common in Europe to begin with, wisely vacate the continent during the nights of the Inquisition and Anarch revolt. By the modern nights, most vampires have forgotten them, though the name “Laibon” remains on the lips of a few Gangrel and Ravnos known to wander the Dark Continent.
Quote: I am honored to sojourn in your domain. Perhaps I might entertain you with tales of the Ebon Duke of Libya, and his seven hundred Anthropophagic steeds?
The Dark Medieval world is an enormous and frightening place, and it was not meant for most mortal to journey into the terra incognita beyond their hamlets. The Children of Caine have ever been wanderers through, and their machinations have often taken them into the distant realms of Outremer.
Thus it is that Cainite travelers have returned to Europe bearing tales of a vampire called the Laibon. The Laibon, by these accounts, are indisputably Children of Caine, but they have fallen far from the main tree indeed. The Laibon inhabit the vast expanses of Africa, beyond even the Moorish Kingdoms. Though they dwell nigh unto the land of Eden, they are heathens claiming no knowledge of Caine. Instead, they speak of the “spirit world” and of Kamira wa Itherero, their inscrutable ancestor.
European Cainites seldom truck with these creatures, but a few Assamites, Setites and Ravnos have ventured into Laibon’s lairs, deep in the fiery south. Here, near the edge of the world, the Laibon roam the savannas and jungles, sporting with lion and leucrotta, ostrich and simurgh, cocktrices and catoblepas. They are mighty hunters and Shamans, and do not fear the Beast as do Europe’s vampires; indeed, Laibon know a form of magic enabling them to tame and control their inner demons. According to traveler’s tales, Laibon dwell in expansive territories, preferring solitude. They act as dark guardians and medicine men to the Ethiops, Nubians and the other peoples among who they dwell, often stalking by night through villages and fields. In these tasks they serve their people admirably – though they often hunger, and their vigilance exacts a price.
Laibon do not claim descent from Caine instead avowing themselves scions of “earth spirits”. They are wise in ways of riddles and for this reason the Setites have dubbed them “Sphinxes”. Indeed, Laibon are knowledgeable of many things, and bear tales of a myriad exotic lands. When asked of Prestor John and his army of Christian warriors, however, these Cainites simply smile enigmatically.
Laibon are often gripped by wanderlust, and it is not entirely unknown for a scion of the land to make her way to a city of the Cainites. Such events are as rare as a hen’s tooth, occurring only in the Holy Land and the Mediterranean shores. The Lasombra prince of Genoa reputedly retain a Laibon, and this worthy has served admirably as sentinel and agent.
For now, Laibon seem content to observe silently – perhaps adding to their exhaustive stock of riddles and tales. Though individuals have taken part in Europe’s Jyhad, the line as a whole remains as it always has – aloof, neutral. Shrouded by distance and legend.
In addition, very few Laibon are familiar with the language of Europe. A notable few have accumulated some mastery of Latin, but none are known to communicate in any continental vocabulary.
Sobriquet: Sphinxes
Appearance: Almost all Laibon bear features reminiscent of the people who inhabit Africa below the great Sahara. When traveling among European Cainites, they tend to adopt garb common to their surroundings, preferring to remain unobtrusive. When at home, they dress sparely and comfortably. Many bear tribal scars of various sorts.
Haven: Laibon generally dwell in wilderness areas, although certain member of the line (those accepted by the tribes people among whom they dwell) lair within villages and cities. Rumors tell of a distant city, Zimbabwe by name, which houses several of the vampires.
Background: Laibon are commonly chosen from skilled honorable warriors and healers, Most displayed loyalty and wanderlust in equal measure prior to the Embrace. There are no known Laibons of European descent.
Character Creation: All attribute are prized, though mental attributes are usually primary. Almost all Laibon have some abilities related to survival in the wilds. Because Laibon often stem from Shamanic backgrounds, many learn a spirit-based variant of Thaumaturgy, though this is not a clan discipline. Due to the rigors of dealing with the beasts, most Laibon have high self control or instinct ratings. Most Laibo follow either the Road of the Beast or the Road of Heaven. IN addition to their clan disciplines, Laibon frequently learn Rego Mentum, a variant Thaumaturgical path which focuses on control of natural spirits.
Clan Disciplines: Abommbwe, Animalism, Fortitude
Weaknesses: The discipline of Abombwe involves direct dominance of the Beast, but this power has a price. A Laibon’s Beast is particularly ravenous and recalcitrant, consuming “tithe” of blood each time the vampire uses blood points. If a Laibon expends or ingest blood points, the Beast automatically “consumes” a point, or two points for an ingestions/expenditure of five or greater in one scene. Thus if a Laibon kills and then drains a mortal (10 blood points), she only receives eight blood points; if she spends three blood points to heal herself, she actually loses four. Laibon grow hungry much more quickly than do other Cainite, and most try to ensure that ample feeding stock is within reach, lest they do something unseemly in their hunger….
Organization: Laibon tend to be solitary creatures, each vampire stakes out an expansive territory encompassing several villages, guarding it vigilantly against intruders. They periodically congregate at predetermined sites every 10 years or so. At these meetings, Laibon trade stories and lore. Occasionally, Laibon gather to enact protective rituals of various sorts that appear to be Thaumaturgical in nature. The few Tremere who are aware of this fact are highly distressed by it.
Destiny: Laibon, never common in Europe to begin with, wisely vacate the continent during the nights of the Inquisition and Anarch revolt. By the modern nights, most vampires have forgotten them, though the name “Laibon” remains on the lips of a few Gangrel and Ravnos known to wander the Dark Continent.
Quote: I am honored to sojourn in your domain. Perhaps I might entertain you with tales of the Ebon Duke of Libya, and his seven hundred Anthropophagic steeds?