Infernalists
lnfernalists
are those rare people who possess a dedicated mind and a
propensity for evil great enough to seek power and companionship
from inhuman forces. Each is jealous of his status with
the forces of Hell and scornful of other practitioners of
the black arts. Damnation is an individual journey that
brooks no fellow travelers. An infernalist typically surrounds
herself with a cult of followers (servants and sacrifices)
but keeps the greater part of her knowledge secret. She
corrupts others as offerings to her demonic master, not
to spread the secrets for which she has bartered her soul.
In very rare cases a Luciferian might take on an apprentice,
but the relationship will be antagonistic - each fearing
that her companion will, in time, attempt to betray the
other.(VDA 166)
Forfeiture
Should
a character attempt to evade his part in a pact, his soul
is declared forfeit by Hell, and the demons involved begin
their pursuit. Some mortals may be able to escape demonic
persecution by fleeing to holy ground, but for a vampire
such a route is practically impossible. The character may
beg for his unlife and soul, making his final moments on
Earth petty; alternatively, he may turn on his pursuers
and fall in glorious battle. Certain legends say that a
character who evades the forces of Hell three times becomes
free from any pacts, loses all investments (including improvements
bought with demonic aid) and may start his own Road.
A character
who escapes Hells clutches will be bitterly hated
by all demons and resented by all infernalists, her life
or unlife is likely to be very complicated from that point
on. (VDA COMP 175)
Clan Infernalists
Even the
proudest Cainite may be humbled by the forces of the Devil,
The following section looks at individual clans' views on
infernalism among their own, and suggests what path such
a damned vampire might follow.
Assamite
Rare is
the Assamite who falls prey to demons - the tenets of the
Via Sanguinius hold that dealing with demons is a trap for
the weak, and Clan Assamite is never weak. Infernalists
of this clan are viciously hunted down by their brethren,
and great honor accrues to the vampire who performs the
purifying killing. So hated are the infernal powers that
Assamites will not even drink the vitae of an infernalist,
preferring to let the blood be wasted rather than contaminate
their numbers. An Assamite infernalist is secretive and
deadly, trading with demons for the powers that he cannot
learn on his own. Such an infernalist pursues a twisted
version of the Road of Blood, dedicating the souls he destroys
to his dark masters.
Brujah
Brujah's
weakness when dealing with the Devil is the desire they
hold for knowledge; beneath their warriors' hearts lie scholars'
minds. Many Brujah have been seduced by Hell through promises
of ancient knowledge and dark secrets; others have believed
that the powers granted by demons can be turned to good
use. All have fallen in the end. The clan's tradition of
fellowship hinders the purging of infernalists, as most
Brujah feel that a fallen comrade is redeemable. Such idealistic
folly has allowed demons to reap entire coteries at once.
A Brujah
infernalist finds his rage channeled into Hells work. Scholarly
pursuits are neglected and forgotten as the slow spiral
into darkness begins, stripping away all human pretensions
until only the inner Beast remains.
Cappadocian
Given
their familiarity with the Reaper and the afterlife, the
Clan of Death seldom falls prey to infernal trickery. Cappadocians'
heightened senses and extensive lore allow them to spot
and protect themselves from most minor demons. However,
like the Brujah, they can be tempted by promised revelations
of the world of spirits. The relationship between and demon
and a Graverobber is like an intricate dance in which a
misstep for either party is fatal. At the clan center at
the mountain Erciyes lie many bottled demons who failed
in their tasked of corruption--but rumors over the existence
of many failed Cappadocian infernalists, who have been hound
in torpor by the clan.
A Cappadocian
who turns fully to the infernal powers is certain to barter
for Necromancy as well as darker powers. Once she has accepted
her infernal servitude, she turns to her new work with a
surprising will, building fortresses of corruption and raising
evil spirits tirelessly. After all, her eventual fate will
be but one revelation among the many secrets of death.
Followers
of Set
Set is
a jealous god, and he does not allow his childer to follow
another. There are few sights more terrifying in the than
a Setite hunt for a fallen Serpent. The torments inflicted
on such a renegade are said to rival the fires of Hell themselves
- and to last almost as long. However, the promise of even
darker power tempts a few of the Followers, and small dens
of infernal Setites lie scattered across the fringes of
Europe.
Gangrel
Although
Gangrel's typical rejection of Christianity should make
them easy prey for Satan, this is not the case. Their physical
and mental isolation from the works of humankind has thus
far protected them from the Devils minions. Fallen Gangrel
who rampage against the Church are often supported by their
comrades, who remember the destruction of paganism at the
hands of Rome and bear a grudge - but woe betide the Animal
who seeks power over his own kind through infernal means.
A Gangrel
infernalist cheaply barters his soul, often caring more
for the pagan traditions of a brave and honorable death
than for the consequences in the hereafter. The agony of
such an infernalist eventually discovering how tightly she
has been bound in chains, how domesticated she has become
in the service of Hell, is sweet to demons.
Lasombra
The Lasombra
have long-established rules for dealing with demons. They
refuse to deal with lesser demons at all, seeing such as
beneath their dignity, and attempt to manipulate any demon
they encounter just as they manipulate everyone else. The
clan believes that its powers of darkness are at least equal
to Hell's, and its members are willing to test this assumption
should they feel slighted by any infernal power. Because
the Magisters hate weakness, any clan member who is exposed
as a demonic vassal is destroyed because it sullies the
clan's honor. A Lasombra infernalist accepts petitions from
demons who come politely before him. They ask the demon
to sign pacts of agreement - rules for their relationship
- before committing themselves to any further dealings.
These masters of the legal loophole and the subtlety of
power can sometimes - but not often - come out ahead in
a deal.
Malkavian
Each Malkavian
holds her own view of the infernal powers - the only truth
that applies to all dealings between Madmen and demons is
that the demons do not always know what they are getting
themselves into when they seek the soul of a Malkavian.
According to legend, one demon who sought such a prize found
himself confronted by all the Malkavians of the region,
who suddenly gathered together. Driven mad by the experience,
the demon was bound into human form and to this day wanders
the world, living on charity and gibbering insanely. A Malkavian
who does wholeheartedly turn to the infer-nal proves a fiendish
foe indeed.
Nosferatu
This clan
puts no faith in appearance and scant trust in words, so
demons have a hard time seducing a Nosferatu. Because many
Nosferatu have turned to Christian salvation as an escape
from their condition, few are willing to deal with demons.
Most Nosferatu seek out renegade clan members and sorrowfully
destroy them.
A Nosferatu
who turns to darkness becomes a bitter monster. The compassion
inculcated in the clan by its curse festers into rage against
those more fortunate than he. With care and great cunning,
he weaves plots to destroy beauty, tarnish hope and drag
everything down to the same sorry state. Certain rumors
state that many of Nosferatu's first childer - and perhaps
the clan founder himself- turned to infernal powers following
the great war in the First City. Clan Nosferatu says little
of this legend, but those who count the Lepers among their
friends occasionally hear whispers of a hidden war fought
by the clan against these dark monsters.
Ravnos
Ravnos
do not deal with demons - it is nigh impossible to force
one of the Charlatans to sign a binding contract or make
along-term agreement. Demons have been frustrated in their
dealings with this clan many times, and weave traps to destroy
them whenever possible.
The rare
Ravnos infernalist will be a mercurial foe, delighting in
cruelty and deadly tricks where once a sense of fun prevailed.
Toreador
Though
the Clan of the Rose has turned to the sanctuary of the
Church, many among its number remember the Dionysian heyday
of the Toreador, With the fall of the pagan powers, some
Toreador have turned to darker magics to satisfy their appetites;
sometimes it seems as if Hell needs no incubi or succubi
while the Toreador exist in the world. An infernalist of
this clan often devotes herself to sensual pleasure, but
also seeks a release for her appetites through bloodletting
and artistically inspired cruelties. Such a twisted being
rivals even the Tzimisce in ingenuity when her inspiration
is applied to pain. The art such infernalist Toreador create
is said to impart seeds of corruption in whoever views it.
Tremere
This clan's
need for strength and the taint of its previous Hermetic
intrigues have woven a strand of damnation into the pyramid
of power. Because of the clan's strict hierarchy, a single
Tremere infemalist can reach out to corrupt many underlings
and win higher position in the clan. The clan's stress on
the need for power has led many Tremere toward a dangerous
detente with the infernal host, as Usurpers attempt to barter
for knowledge and magic without losing their souls. Such
ploys generally fail, as the clan's desperate need gives
the demons great bargaining advantage. It is said that one
of the Seven Elders, who with Tremere founded the clan,
is an infernalist. If this is true, then much of the clan
is corrupt.
A Tremere
infernalist is invariably a master of magic, greedily learning
all the paths of Dark Thaumaturgy and seeking out places
and artifacts of potency.
Tzimisce
Despite the allegations of this clan's foes, the Tzimisce
have scant regard for the infernal powers. These monsters
feel that they have little need for otherworldly Hells when
they have the ability to create their own on Earth. A dedicated
Fiend would torture angels and demons alike, fearing little
in her blasphemy. Some Tzimisce have even learned spirit
magics enabling them to pursue a disrespectful demon beyond
the world's boundaries. The clan boasts that it has overcome
demons and even gods in its nights, though no one knows
of any who have returned from such vendettas. Perhaps, the
Fiends smile, their compatriots are establishing new domains
in Hell. A Tzimisce who decides to deal with demons is among
the most dangerous foes in the Dark Medieval world. Combining
Hell-spawned sorcery with her natural predilections, she
be- come; the penultimate master of darkness
Ventrue
Of all
Cainites, Clan Ventrue suffers from the greatest measure
of pride, and it is this that leads its members into demonic
clutches. Ventrue often refuse to bend with the wind and
so are broken by the storm - infernal powers play on this
inflexibility when they seek the souls of these undead lords.
Coming as they do from noble backgrounds, most Ventrue are
trained to seize power with both hands and so are incautious
with regard to what power they take. Demons often come to
them in the guises of sycophantic servants, offering advice
that sounds good while leading their dupe into infernal
clutches. They encourage the vampire to make war on the
Church, to neglect her responsibilities and then laugh as
the Ventrue's carefully constructed world falls apart. Only
then does a demonic advisor reveal its true form and offer
a deal to give the Ventrue back all she has lost. The clan
as a whole sometimes makes the mistake of supporting an
infernally inspired comrade, in hopes that the clan can
keep the gains its erstwhile member made while under infernal
tutelage. Little do the Ventrue realize that corruption
has a way of spreading. A Ventrue infernalist is the cruelest
lord imaginable, draining his lands to supply a stream of
decadent luxuries and fuel endless conflicts with neighbors.
The Ventrue's lands become a Hell indeed for all who live
there, and will be reduced to a barren wasteland before
his reign is done. (VDA Comp 166-169)
Via Diabolis
The Devil's
Road is a strange contradiction: On the one hand it commands
its followers to wallow in sin and depravity; on the other
it functions as do other Roads in maintaining the character's
personality against the Beast. Following the Devil's Road
does not necessarily place a character within Hell's power;
there are many independent vampires who follow it but would
scorn the company of demons. The key to understanding this
contradiction is that the principles of the Via Diabolis
were established in the nights before Christianity. It represents
a willingness to cast off the limits of society and act
purely in one's own interests. Those on the Devil's Road
can be portrayed as antiheroes - champions of dark passions
- rather than as simple monsters. VDA Comp 169
Many Cainites
believe that the Embrace irredeemably damns them. Some of
these reason further that they have been turned into servants
of the Devil (or whatever power of ultimate evil they believe
in). It would logically follow, they add, that they have
become vampires so that they should work evil on the Earth.
If they refrain from acting like devils, they will no doubt
be ultimately punished for shirking their duties. These
debased Cainites follow the Via Diabolis - the Devils Road.
The very nature of a vampires form can actually be
taken as proof that the Cainites were created to do evil.
After all, theres nothing intrinsically virtuous about
preying on innocents. Therefore, evil must be innate to
the undead, who are denied the fruits of Heaven. lnterestingly
enough,the followers of theDevils Road often have
no real contempt for the good and holy. They simply believe
that they, as vampires, must oppose the forces of virtue
to the best of their ability. Of course, those of the Road
of the Devil have difficulty dealing with vampires on other
Roads. Any vampire who professes a philosophy other than
theirs is clearly deluded or lying. Either way, the Devils
childer cannot trust the other Cainites. And, of course,
no sane vampire on another Road would return the trust.
The Via Diabolis is a lonely road. Fortunately (or perhaps
not), others walk it with you.... Those on the Via Diabolis
try to make their unlives as pleasurable as possible, at
the expense of those who oppose them. They refrain from
traits such as mercy and gentleness, finding them opposed
to their role, They kill when necessary or appropriate,
and create new vampires whenever they like. (After all,
they need to increase the evil in the world. Duty is duty.)
They trust only those other vampires who openly agree with
their philosophy. Above all, they avoid associating with
priests and the like, their eternal foes. Warning: The resulting
roleplaying can be very intense; just keep your friends
sensibilities in mind. Cainites on the Devils Road
idealize callousness and excess. They practice the Virtues
of Conviction and Instinct. (VDA 114>
Rating/Minimum
wrongdoing
10
Refusing to sire new vampires.
9 Failing to pursue a new form of pleasure.
8 Failing to ride the wave of a frenzy.
7 Avoiding injury to others at the cost of your own
pleasure.
6 Refusing to murder humans when it would be in your
best interest
5 Refusing to commit cruel acts that are in your best
interest.
4 Refusing to tempt the virtuous when opportunity awaits.
3 Turning down a chance for material gain.
2 Acting altruistically.
1 Aiding servants of virtue, God, or similiarly opposed
powers. |