Mekara

by Mithrandir (2 Mar 93)

OK, so I've been thinking and tossing up ideas back and forth about machines
and Vampire, and so I've come up with this New Bloodline and their own
special discipline to be called Mechanus (NOT Meccano!)

All this is © Tadhg Kelly (aka me!) 1993, with people on the Vampire Mailing
List given permission to copy for their own personal use only.

Enjoy!!

The Mekara

Nickname: Fixers

History: The Mekara are a very small and recent (by Vampire standards)
Bloodline of Western European origin. They were founded in the 17th Century
by a Vampire called Mekar, and, as is always the way with many Clans, they
took his name in his honour. Mekar was a Methuselah of the 5th Generation
known for his interests in technology, which, during this period, was
beginning to flourish due to the Rennaisance. Many of Mekar's Childer also
had great interests in machinery, from the very simple upwards. Mekar
eventuually developed his interests into a new Discipline, which he taught
to all of his Progeny while he studied it. At that time, the Sabbat were at
war with the Camarilla, and Mekar did not wish to side with either.

However, his own Clan, the Toreador, insisted that he fight the Sabbat
"scourge", but Mekar refused. He broke ties with his former Clan and took
his Progeny with him to hopefully remain independant of thee trouble. This
new line, the Mekara, remained secretive, but not terribly so, as they went
about their business, ignoring the outside world.

But as the line grew quickly, many of the younger ones longed to get
involved in the conflict on the side of the Sabbat, and they did on
occasion.

Prompted by the now hateful Toreador that Mekar was a full traitor to the
Camarilla, the Camarilla moved to crush the Mekara before they became a real
threat to the Power Base of the Camarilla. Only a handful of the Mekara
survived, and fled immediately to the Sabbat territory. Mekar himself
disappeared, and is believved by the remaining Clan to be in Torpor to this
day.

Upon joining the Sabbat, the Mekara proved themselves immediately vaulauble
with their new Discipline, and thus were accepted as one of the many Clans
of the Sabbat.

Today, the role of the Mekara is as great as ever, as technology flourishes
even more than before. They are expert repairmen and saboteurs to boot. They
take a most actiive intterest, along with the Toreador antitribu, in hunting
out Camarilla Toreador and putting them to stake and flame.

The Clan has retained much Toreador wild ways, and their parties are some of
the most confusing affairs to outsiders. Frequently, there will be several
computers and Console games all over the place, which are popular among the
Mekara as Games to Play.

Appearance: As often as not, Mekara will wear overalls while working or
flamboyant clothes when "out and about", which bely their Toreador origins.
The Mekara will always drive the best custom-made cars, have state of the
art equiment on hand, and so on.

Haven: Mekara usually keep two havens, one is their workshop, and the other
is their condo/nice place. The workshop will have lots of tools and other
gadgets lying around, while the apartment will be full of tech, like CD
players, 28" TV's and so on.

Background: The Clan usually choose those who are mechanically adept or who
have artistic flair, although in times of Jyhad, they may pick just about
anyone, depending on their taste in cars or whatever. All are taught ho set
and fix things after being created, unless there's a Jyhad in the way, in
which they don't bother until after the event.

Character Creation: For the Mekara, mechanics and artists are the most
common types chosen for tthe Creation Rites. Most are Visionaries or
Conformists by Nature, with the most common Demeanours being Gallant Jester
and Curmudgeon. Mental and Social are Primary, as are Skills. Typical
Backgrounds are Resources, Contacts (to get illegal stuff) and quite a few
have Pack Status, because of the good jobs they do.
An increasing number of the Mekara are computer Freaks/Wizzes these days.

Clan Disciplines: Auspex, Celerity, Mechanus.

Weaknesses: The Mekara hold the same sort of fascination for things of
technological beauty that Toreador do for objects of beauty. They must
suceed in a Willpower roll or be transfixed for quite a while by the object
in question. Also, the Mekara hold an unbounded hatred of Toreador Elders,
and when in Frenzy situations, they must make another Instincts roll to
control themselves against Toreadoor in the area. They will do anything to
harm Toreador, especially burning their favourite artworks, or stealing away
their prospective new members and killing them.

Preferred Paths: Many of this Clan follow the Path of Cathari, though quite
a few follow the Path of Honorable Accord, and the Path of Harmony.

Organisation: The Mekara do not have the distinction of Artistes and Poseurs
quite as badly as the Toreador, but nevertheless, they is always a little
friction between both sides. Mekara prefer the company of themselves,
mechanics and engineers to others, Their loyalties lie most often to the
Sabbat first, the Clan second and the Pack third. They see themselves as
individual from others, often. The Poseurs tend to see themselvees as more
of a group than the Artistes.

Gaining Clan Prestige: The usual way to gain Prestige is to design some item
of machinery which is a big hit and innovative. Another way is to spite the
Toreador better than everyone else. Also, throwing good parties is almost
always a Prestige winner, if it's the sort that interests the Mekara (ie,
lots of techie things to play with.).

Quote: "Now, the Ford ThunderBird, there's a real car. I remember one time I
stripped one of those babies down and played with the engine. Only, it was
for one of those stinkin' Toreador, and well, next night, there was a lovely
boom when he got into the thing. Shame about the car, though."

Stereotypes:

Toreador:
        o "They are dead meat if we ever get our hands on 'em"
Lasombra:
        o "Let 'em scheme. It don't matter much to me, just so long as I
          keep this job I've got. They make good leaders"
Tzimisce:
        o "They can scare you. A bit cruel to the humans, but hey, who isn't
          these days. Nifty tricks, too"
Assamite antitribu:
        o " They always need my services, so that keeps me happy and workin'
          too. No sense of party, though."
Brujah antitribu:
        o "They're nothing special. Always seem to think the Cammies are
          worth saving, I dunno about that, just so long as they leave the
          Toreador for us to mince."
Gangrel antitribu:
        o "Mystery men. The Gangrel in Town are always acting the Mister
          Cool and Nasty, and the Country ones like forests. They are sound
          enough, but they don't seem to like it when they have to use stuff
          I made. Ah well, sod them. They're loyal at any rate."
Malkavian antitribu:
        o "Don't go NEAR these freaks unless you have to. They love to wreck
          your work. Plus they're plain barmy"
Nosferatu antitribu:
        o "Sound guys. They say little and look like the bad end of a crash,
          but they are useful and sometimes good fun."
Panders:
        o "Hey, I suppose everybody likes to get together. The Pander aint
          so bad"
Ravnos antitribu:
        o "They can be fun, but watch your wristwatch"
Serpents of the Light:
        o "These dudes I don't trust. They're too much like the damn
          Settites as far as I'm concerned"
Toreador antitribu:
        o "Well, they have their craft, we have ours. At least they hate
          Toreador as much as we do"
Tremere antitribu:
        o "Can they be trusted? That's the big question really. They seem to
          do alright so far, but, I dunno. I never did trust magic "
Ventrue antitribu:
        o "They are a whole lot more fun than their Cammie cousins, that's
          for sure."
Black Hand:
        o "They shouldn't be used too often, like a parachute, cause they
          might tear and land us all in shit."
Camarilla:
        o "Blow 'em away, that's my vote. But us and the Toreador Antitribu
          get first choice on the Toreador, ya hear?"