The Children of Caine

by Timothy Toner (18 Nov 93)

Nickname: (Can't be repeated in a family mailing list)

Appearance: Solitary figures of regal bearing. They walk with an air of
sublimed defiance, as if the secrets that burn in their brains render a
nimbus of glory about them. Most of the time, they are soft spoken, dressing
in clothes only slightly out of fashion, as pleasant reminders of things
past.

Haven: No one really knows. They wander quite a bit, and yet seem to hang
around specific locations. Many have tried to follow them home, only to lose
them right before the dawn. It is believed that the Children operate a
series of secret havens in several major cities, havens so well hidden that
not even the Nosferatu know where they are.

Background: Always Malkavians, usually those who are at the edges of
psychosis (either hopelessly, dysfunctionally insane, or hardly crazy
whatsoever).

Character Creation: The Children value Mental traits above all, and have
little need for the Physical.

Clan Disciplines: Auspex, Presence, Intercourse
(Note: Before 1721, the word intercourse meant precisely what communication
meant, and visa versa. For some bizarre reason, almost overnight, the words
switched meaning. The Children were directly responsible, but no one's sure
quite why).
After the awakening from Malkavian to Child, one of the most interesting
transformations occur with the disciplines. All levels of Dominate are
immediately transferred to Presence. Obfuscate is kept, but is seldom used.
After all, you're Caine. Who do _you_ have to hide from?

Weaknesses: To become a Child is a very difficult thing indeed. It means
opening your mind to all the things the Malkavians seek to hide from through
insanity. Children have no derangement, but they do have a suicidal bravery,
that the Truth they hold in their bellies will carry them through anything.
Everytime a Rotschreck roll is made, failure means that the vampire will
stay, no matter what the risk. Only through success is free will maintained.
Of course, if nothing can be proved by staying, such as everyone else
buggering off, and no one to save, the Child will simply wander off.

Further, a Child, when asked, will always identify herself as Caine. She
will seek to hide knowledge until the asker has been sufficiently tormented,
and only then, when the petitioner has all but given up, will the
information be told. All the while, she will drop hints that lead to greater
questions.

Organization: All Children roam the world, stopping in a place for a time,
seeking those who desire information about Caine, and making their life
miserable, as was Malkav's. They all show deference to their leader, the
Inheritor, but dare never to mention his name in public. They will gather
only when they sense that a candidate for Inheritor grows close.

Stereotypes

Nosferatu:
        o Ah, cute kid. I told him, "Nos, if you keep making faces like
          that, one of these days, it's gonna stick."
Tremere:
        o Who's he? Don't you mean Salubri?
Ventrue:
        o Fussy eaters. Always pushy, too. Doesn't play well with the other
          children.
Gangrel:
        o What comes of letting them play too long outside. Sometimes thay
          don't like to come back in.
Toreador:
        o I knew we had problems when he _liked_ the piano lessons we made
          him take. What do I mean by we? Why me and his mother, of course.
Brujah:
        o Real hyperactive. Your best bet is taking a strap to their
          miserable hides once a day. They're so cute when they try to make
          you eat it afterwards.

Quote: I'm Caine. Who the Hell are you?