The clans of the Kindred are as aged as vampires themselves. Initiation into the night is synonymous with being Embraced as one of the Daeva, Gangrel, Nosferatu, Mekhet or Ventrue. It goes without saying that a mortal cursed with unlife joins his sire in the blood of his clan. That has been the reality of the Danse Macabre for millennia. And yet, Kindred aren't strictly bound to a single fate once they're reborn. While they're turned into, say, Gangrel or Mekhet, that blood does not necessarily define who and what they are and always will be. The nuances of the Requiem are more subtle and mysterious than that. The ages have shown that if a vampire undergoes traumatic, grueling or obsessive abuse or effort, he may literally change the very nature of the Blood. A Ventrue's insanity could take such a bizarre or compelling turn that its victim emerges as something else. A Nosferatu's single-mindedness in pursuing a goal could alter his very supernatural identity, turning him into something different from his clanmates. Such transformations, while they almost always begin with individual vampires, can result in whole lineages of Kindred who deviate from their parent clans. The result is a bloodline; an offshoot, derivation, distraction or refinement of recognized vampire ancestry. The Bloodlines series explores the established and secretive lineages of the undead. Vampires of such varied heritage may be recognized and prominent members of their domains, or outcasts or exiles who are sooner persecuted than tolerated. The Hidden focuses on lines that have gone unknown, that have been kept quiet and out of sight, or that have only just emerged in recent decades and that have yet to find their place in the World of Darkness. Players may create characters who join these lines shortly after the Embrace. Storytellers may introduce their members as freakish and mysterious acquaintances, antagonists or allies in a chronicle. Or players may withhold bloodline choice in an ongoing game in anticipation of ones here or in other Bloodlines books truly raising their characters' blood. After all, blood calls to blood. Bloodlines: The Hidden presents a dozen broods for use in Vampire: The Requiem. Each has its own compulsions, vulnerabilities, obsessions, fears and most importantly intentions. Alucinor Inheritors of this line are afflicted with the same tormented dreams and visions of their originator, who is said to have been haunted by victims of diablerie. These Sandmen extend their Requiem into the realm of dreams through the Insomnium Discipline. Parent Clan: Mekhet Bloodline Disciplines: Auspex, Celerity, Insomnium, Obfuscate. Anvari Not even the vampiric Embrace allows some undead to escape the embrace of drug addiction. Bearers of this blood suffer obsession with altered states, whether for themselves or by inflicting them upon others through the unique Nepenthe power. Parent Clan: Daeva Bloodline Disciplines: Celerity, Majesty, Nepenthe, Vigor Architects of the Monolith Megalomania compels vampires of this lineage to deviate from even the dementia of other Ventrue. Recognizing themselves as veritable gods in their urban domains, so-called Masons make the gilded cage a Discipline in and of itself. Parent Clan: Ventrue Bloodline Disciplines: Auspex, Dominate, Gilded Cage, Resilience For even more preview information about the Architects of the Monolith, download the White Wolf Quarterly. Bohagande Luck follows these wayward Gangrel wherever they go, but so does trouble, jealousy, suspicion and paranoia. Reportedly altered by an encounter with the spirit world itself, these traveling lodestones push their luck and test the tolerance of fellow Kindred. Parent Clan: Gangrel Bloodline Disciplines: Animalism, Protean, Resilience, Sunnikuse Gethsemani Blessed and chosen in life, those indoctrinated as Ecstatics have nothing but affliction and abuse to spread in undeath. Reaped from among stigmatics, they curse unfortunate mortals to exhibit twisted signs of divinity, which feed the vampires' unholy appetites. Parent Clan: Nosferatu Bloodline Disciplines: Nightmare, Obfuscate, Stigmatica, Vigor Khaibit Quiet and unseen, but omnipresent, the vampires derided as mere servants bear a far more important heritage and duty than even they know. Their unique Obtenebration Discipline is only a hint of their higher calling. Parent Clan: Mekhet Bloodline Disciplines: Auspex, Celerity, Obtenebration, Vigor Morotrophians Reclusive, isolationist and even shut in, the vampires once known as Monks lurk in the corridors and cellars of the looming institutions of the world. Their domains are wards, prisons and care facilities where prey are weak, tired, sickly or held hostage for private dininig. Parent Clan: Nosferatu Bloodline Disciplines: Institutionalize, Nightmare, Obfuscate, Vigor Nahualli Originating in Mexico, the derisively named Jekylls search for balance between what they perceive as the two sides of the Kindred spirit: the cultured and genteel, and the ravening Beast. Manners and mayhem are their stock and trade Parent Clan: Ventrue Bloodline Disciplines: Auspex, Dominate, Resilience, Tezcatl Nelapsi Gluttonous and horrifying hunger defines the Locusts, and makes them a nightmare and threat to even elder Kindred. That this line is largely confined to eastern Europe is cold consolation to vampires who have heard whispers of its legend. Parent Clan: Daeva Bloodline Disciplines: Celerity, Majesty, Nightmare, Vigor Oberlochs Not all undead choose to haunt the world's cities. Some prefer backwater towns and isolated communities that they call their own. That's where the inbred and reclusive Brood sets up house with its kin. Parent Clan: Gangrel Bloodline Disciplines: Animalism, Dominate, Protean, Resilience Qedeshah The self-proclaimed mothers of the undead, the Hierodules claim the religious right - no, duty - to spread their supernatural race. Challengers of the Second Tradition, these vampires are either condemned by Princes or turned to for protection by supplicating wards. Parent Clan: Mekhet Bloodline Disciplines: Auspex, Celerity, Embrocation, Obfuscate Rakshasa Mysterious strangers from the East, the Demons allude to divine heritage and a heavenly mission, but show only grace and favor to vampires of the West. The temptations of the foreigners' services are great, but what ultimate price to they charge? Parent Clan: Nosferatu Bloodline Disciplines: Nightmare, Obfuscate, Protean, Vigor Order the book from Amazon.com and save! 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