Category:Nosferatu (Masquerade)

Antedeluvian: Absimilard

Hideous deformities and misshapen features are the hallmarks of the Nosferatu, vampires reshaped by the Curse of Caine. Though they (usually) remain aware and intelligent, all Nosferatu are physically altered in some way by the blood of the clan. Boils, growths, altered features, hairy spots, warts, odd skin colors, animalistic features and even scales sprout on the faces and bodies of these wretches. Little wonder, then, that the Nosferatu prefer to congregate in sewers and caverns, away from the judgmental eyes of others.

Whether the deformities of the Nosferatu hail from a curse placed on the line by Caine himself or from some other unwholesome source, the results are the same. As the Nosferatu cannot hope to interact with the rest of society, they must survive on their own, which they do with incredible skill. Shunned by everyone else, the Nosferatu gather in their own groups or avoid contact altogether. The outskirts of civilization and the refuse of society become their homes and sustenance.

As the Nosferatu scurry through the secret byways and catacombs in which they lair, they unearth lost secrets and find hidden caches of knowledge.

Indeed, with the incredible stealth engendered as a necessity of their condition, they find it easy to spy on Kindred and kine alike in search of valuable bits of information. Spies and rumormongers of the first order, the Nosferatu parlay such information in exchange for favors, trading with clanmates freely and treating with outsiders for services and boons. Some Nosferatu develop their powers of concealment well enough to eavesdrop unnoticed in the middle of meetings of other Kindred, selling their secrets to the highest bidders. Woe unto the outsider who seeks to turn a Nosferatu against his clan, though — in their communal misery, the Nosferatu have forged strong ranks of loyalty. When the only ones to keep company with a monster are other monsters, they develop powerful bonds indeed.

Embrace

"As outcasts, the Nosferatu often Embrace among those like themselves - derelicts, vagrants, the antisocial, the wayward and unstable individuals - in a commonality of social pariahs. Other victims include the beautiful and vain, or sociopaths and criminals, to whom the Nosferatu wish to teach a permanent and disfiguring lesson. Whatever the case, the Embrace often has a surprising effect. Aside from inflicting the deformities characteristic of the clan over the next few weeks, the abrupt and extreme changes often force the fledgling into an utterly new existence, one in which his clan is his only anchor. It’s unsurprising, then, that recruits find themselves with friends and allies among those they would otherwise scorn."

- Laws of the Night (Revised), 2010

Powers and Bonuses

Disciplines: Animalism, Obfuscate, Potence

Disadvantage: All Nosferatu (including their Antitribu cousins), may never acquire the Traits Gorgeous, Alluring nor Seductive unless they use magical means or a Discipline. Additionally, all Nosferatu suffer the Negative Social Traits Repugnant x 3 when they show their visage, and these Traits may never be removed without some outstanding circumstance. All Nosferatu may not call for a Social Challenge (except intimidation), though they may defend against social challenges normally.

Bonus Skills: Stealth & Survival.

Bloodlines

"Be good and do as I say, else the Nictuku might get you"

Apart from the Nosferatu Antitribu, some Nosferatu maintain that there exists a line of monsters embraced by an Ancient that hunts the rest of the Nosferatu clan. These beasts, called in hushed whispers, the Nictuku, are considered mythical by most Nosferatu, but whenever a warren goes silent or a clanmate vanishes mysteriously, some question if it was the Nictuku.

Characters