| Blood Brothers |
|
| Created through vile Tzimisce and Tremere magic in the castles and chantries of the Old World, the Blood Brothers are an artificial "bloodline" of soldiers and servants. Extensive experimentation in blood bonding resulted in a brutal collective of vampires linked by communal thought. Although the bloodline is known as the Blood Brothers, a few rumors circulate concerning female members, but without evidence the talk remains just that. Blood Brothers are built around a hive-mind, sharing thoughts and experiences vicariously through other members of their "circles." This allows them to work effectively even at a distance. The bloodline excels at security, sabotage and coordinated attacks. The Frankensteins also practice an unpleasant Discipline that allows them to take advantage of their mental links and even extend them into physical permutations - they may share limbs or heal the wounds of other circlemates. Blood Brothers are almost never of packs. Rather, their packs are their immediate circles of other Blood Brothers, all of whom typically undergo Tzimisce fleshcrafting to make themselves look exactly alike (unsettling and confusing their opponents). Very few Blood Brothers have any degree of personal drive were created to serve unquestioningly. This has the secondary effect of removing their capacity for critical thought, making it difficult for them to outwit their enemies. This does not make the Blood Brothers stupid or dense; they just work better at simple, clearly defined tasks. With the disappearance' of the Tremere Antitribu, Blood Brothers have become increasingly rare in the molted nights. Few Tzimisce know the complete ritual necessary to create them, and even the Fiends tend to prefer their revenants to the single-minded Frankensteins. Still, a focused circle of Blood Brothers is not a foe to be taken lightly, especially in battle. |
Roleplaying Hints: Do what you are told. When you ask questions, they relate to the completion of your responsibilities, not the purpose or validity of them. Your master knows best, and your reason for existing is to aid him in achieving his greater goals. Note: Obviously, with so little room for individual thought and characterization, the Blood Brothers do not usually make good choices for ongoing player characters. The bloodline is best used by Storytellers as a plot device or simple (but very determined) rivals.
| Disciplines: Fortitude, Potence, Sanguinus |
Advantage: Blood Brothers are chosen for their hardiness. Due to their hale bodies and mystical origins, Blood Brothers become even tougher upon their "Embrace" (see below). During character creation, Blood Brother characters receive an additional two endurance-related Physical Traits, such as Enduring, Resilient, Stalwart or Tough.
Weakness: Blood Brother vitae is sterile. Created by mystical rituals, they are not Cainites in the literal sense of the word and they may not Embrace mortals (though they may create ghouls). If a Blood Brother attempts to sire a childe (why would his master tell him to do
his?), the mortal simply dies. Note that with the loss of the Tremere Antitribu, few Cainites know how to create Blood Brothers, and the
lumber of circles is shrinking. The hive-mind and common creation ritual do have their detriments. Blood Brothers share each others' declivities as well as their strengths: Any Blood Brother's Negative Physical or Social Traits may be bid against any other member of his circle in challenges.