Blood Secrets

GuevaraA Bloodline Sourcebook for Vampire the Requiem

SEE YOUR TRUE MASTER

Blood Secrets

GuevaraA Bloodline Sourcebook for Vampire the Requiem

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“You are Nothing

Not Flesh Nor Blood

But the Undying Spirit of Sin”

–– Hakim

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A brief History of House Guevara& the Arts of Sanguinus

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Written and Created by: Röma NâimWorld of Darkness by: White Wolf

Cover and Rear Artwork by: Christopher ShyWith special thanks to: Argo, Daramulum, Mithras, Yig and Vlad Spellbinder

Röma Nâim: roma_naim@hotmail.comWhite Wolf: www.white–wolf.com

Christopher Shy: www.studioronin.com

Well, it’s taken some time for this project of mine to reach some sort of conclusion, though I still consider it a work in progress.This book has been something I’ve wanted to do for quite some time since White Wolf brought out Vampire the Requiem, and Ifirst saw the Bloodline creation rules. My apologies for yet another Mexican Bloodline by the way, but at the time of Santino’scharacter generation only the Brujah existed and their back history started allot later than our chronicle did. This isn’t a professionalpublication of any kind, though if anyone is reading, especially from White Wolf, I’d love to have some feedback. My one biggestapology goes out to all the people that I’ve used artwork from, taken from the net and used without permission or to a large extentcredit. I haven’t created this work in order to take advantage of people or breach world copyright laws, their images make thisproject so much more than it would have been without them, I’m just a penniless student with a few good ideas and real respectfor good art. If there are bits in here you like and want to use, that’s what this project is about. Equally if there are things you hateor dislike, then use the Golden Rule, these are just a few ideas to get your juices flowing. Read and enjoy. Omz.

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The Guevara Bloodline is an offshoot ofthe Mekhet clan and is drawn exclusivelyfrom the mortal stock of the criminalFamily that gives the bloodline its name.Kindred records differ as to the precisenature and date of the bloodlines firstinception. Some scholars have notedthe families mortal lineage stretchesback to Mexico’s first nights, withthe coming of the Conquistadors,other say that the lines true creationas a proper bloodline came aboutmuch later than this, at the turn ofthe nineteenth century.

As to the nature of the Bloodline, it isidentified by strong connections to bloodand lineage. These points are enforced bythe bloodlines mystical power over blood, knownas Sanguinus, and their close and almost exclusive familynetwork of crime, trade and politics. Indeed the close connectionthat members of the Guevara line have to their own has led tomembers of the Bloodline referring to themselves as ‘The Family’,and think of it as an entity almost unto itself.

From their heartland in Mexico, the Family has built itsfortune throughout most of Latin Americas cartels and crimesyndicates, and it is said that anywhere crime and corruptionprosper in these countries, a network of Family members canbe found growing fat from the misery of others. Although manySouth and Central American countries have Family broods, itis known that they have sometimes run foul of some LanceaSanctum strong cities where their dark influence and criminalbusiness practices have led some to call them Corruptors. TheSouth and West Coast United States have seen an expansion inFamily activity over the years, and anywhere that Hispanicscan be found in any numbers in the US could be a nexus forFamily activity.

The other well-known commonality that runs throughoutall Family members is a strict, almost overbearing adherenceto the Traditions. These rules of the night are thought to bepassed down under the guidance of the Families elders whosuffer few misdemeanors of these laws to go unchallenged,even if that means an outright show of violence or even FinalDeath if such is needed to bring offenders to bare. This hasingratiated more than a few Dons into prime positions withinsome Prince’s domains, and equally has led to jealousy amongothers who feel outdone by the guile of an Unaligned Kindred.Many though are wary of the Guevara, as their powers overblood have led some to label them as dangerous wild cards inthe eternal struggles of Kindred society. Many, especially somevocal members of the Lancea Sanctum have called for an outrightBlood Hunt upon the Family.

Parent Clan: Mekhet

Nickname: The Family, Dons, Corruptors

Covenant: Any hierarchy or set of beliefsoutside of the Family means very little toFamily members unless it is a means for

gaining power and wealth, and as suchthey are considered to be staunch

independents, universally fallingunder the banner of the Unaligned.There are several internal factions

that move within the Familyhowever, and these factions havevied for power over the politics ofthe Families past and present.

Appearance: Suave eldermembers of the Family like to fashion

themselves as Latin nobles, a trait that hasfollowed the line down from Mexico’s earliest

nights, and correspondingly Dons prefer thewell tailored suit of fine cloth with subtle hints

of Latin flare. Younger members of both sexes similarlylike the sharp lines of black Latin cut suits and Cuban heels,though the broad spectrum of Family members means thatanything from five thousand dollar suits to hematology labcoats or bikers leathers and tattoos can be found adorning anyindividual member of the Family.

Dons are of Hispanic or part Hispanic origin and generallythe classic shoulder length black hair, olive skin, dark eyes andstocky frame are more common than not.

Haven: Dons have an innate taste for good living, and well-connected and successful members live in some of the finestmansions that Latin America has to offer. Those who are startingout though may be restricted to Haven in converted warehousesor the holds of smuggling ships along with their stock of gunsand drugs. Other members of the Family do not look down toomuch on such temporary Havens though, as many in the Familyhave raised themselves up from such humble beginnings togain complete power over a city.

Background: All Dons must have sired a healthy numberof mortal offspring before the embrace, and will therefore besomewhere between their twenties and forties. They must haveshown unyielding loyalty to the Family and also exhibited adistinct capability in an area of business that can aid the growthof the family. The mortal children of an embraced family memberare cared for by a ghoul family line of retainers that has beenpart of the family for centuries. When these Family offspringcome of age they are considered for the embrace if they showfavorable qualities as dictated by the Families inscrutable elders.All Family members are inducted into Kindred society andinstilled with a healthy respect for the Traditions whilst theyare still mortal. Members chosen for the embrace are Ghouledfor a time in which they are taught the ways of the Disciplinesand uses of the blood. This practice also assures devotion to theFamily as the Kindred to be is thoroughly blood bound to hissire through the act of Ghouling. This practice has meant that

Guevara“ You may think that those who serve under you are loyal, but I know which of them diablerised your grandchilde.

Now, shall we discuss my families sole rights to the control of the drug trade through your city my dear Prince?“

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no few members of the Guevara lineage have gained a palate for vitae as a side effect. Afterthis trial period is over and the candidate passes the scrutiny of the Family Elders, theyare embraced and allowed to join the honored ranks of the Families immortal line.

Character Creation: The Dons are pragmatists, and therefore practical in their choiceof embracing a member into the ranks of the Family proper. If the candidate shows ahealthy leaning towards the occult, scholarly or medical end of the Families spectrumthen mental abilities are favored. Whereas if a candidate shows a leaning towardspolitical corruption or negotiating trade deals then their Social abilities are scrutinized.Of course the Family always has room for out and out brute strength, and many a newlyembraced Don has literally fought his way to the top of a criminal organization torule it with an iron fist.

In general Wits is good in order to spot danger in the cutthroat night-to-night dealings of the underworld, Presence and Manipulation in equalmeasure for negotiating deals or manipulating politics, Intelligencecomes in handy when utilizing some of the powers of Sanguinus,and those of a more combative persuasion may favor any of thePhysical attributes.

Physical skills are usually primary for Dons simply becauseanyone of them could be found useful in their line of business,where as both Mental and Social Skills come a close second. Mostnotable in these categories are Medicine and Empathy that areoften used when implementing Sanguinus.

Resources, Family Contacts, Criminal and even Political Alliesare widely possessed by many Dons, as are dots in Haven andRetainers. Those lucky enough to have interested a Family Eldermay even be afforded dots in the Mentor Merit. A Characters mustpurchase a dot in Blood Potence to become a member of the line.

Bloodline Disciplines: Auspex, Celerity, Obfuscate, Sanguinus

Weakness: There is something dark within the heart of theGuevara bloodline. Their propensity for vice and the corruptionis something intrinsic to the line. In addition to the Mekhetsusceptibility to vampiric banes such as Fire and Sunlight this darkinheritance means that all Dons suffer an inability to gain anyWillpower from acting upon their Virtues. Characters may gain asingle Willpower point back if they act according to their Vice duringa scene as normal however, and this dark legacy drives all Dons todark acts sooner or later as the need for self confirmation is only achievedthrough acting out their Vices, no doubt at the cost of their Humanity.

Organization: The Guevara Bloodline has a strict hierarchy watchedover by the Elders in Mexico City. Family members may call upon the Familyconnections when they need it, such as aid with Contacts or Allies throughtheir criminal networks. Such help is given freely, though much like theInvictus, members may ask for a reciprocal favor in the future. Also theuse of common Family assets like the Ghoul Families that take care ofnew members of the line are high on many Family members list ofimportance. The Family obligation is ground into them from birth, almostto a fanatical degree, “Without the Family you are nothing.” Though that’snot to say that some members of the Family haven't gone rogue in thepast. Few if any have left the organization amicably, and those that haveare thought to be spies in service of the Family.

For the most part a Family member is left to forge their own territoryonce they are embraced, giving a tithe of respect to the main householdin Mexico City each year during the festivities of the Day of the Dead.Other than that, as long as their business does not interfere with alreadyestablished Family assets they are free to do as they please.

Concepts: Assassins, Thieves, Gangbangers, Pimps, Drug Barons,Black-market Dealers, Weapons Brokers, Smugglers, Hematologists,Doctors, Blood Cultist, Lawyers, Corrupt Police Officials and Politicians.

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A History of BloodThe Guevara line stems from a family lineage that stretches

back into history from when Mexico was first discovered bythe Conquistadors, and, it is said, originated from an embracedchild of Cortez himself.

The story goes, that when the Spanish first came to theshores of what would become Mexico, an outcast Kindred wasaboard ship with them. This shadowy figure that some nameHakim or respectfully ‘The Founder’, was of the line of theMekhet, an ancient Saracen who it is said was once a wealthyMerchant Prince from Cordoba. How or why he came to be onboard this voyage none can tell save that he was an outcastfrom his homeland, and had made the long and perilous tripon board feeding from crewmen as they slept.

After months of travel they finally came to anchor off of anew coast unknown to his eyes, where natives were bothfearsome yet vulnerable to Spanish blade and gunpowder. Soit was that he crept ashore and first tasted the blood of thenatives and from the shadows observed Cortez and his menbegin the foundation of their colony.

Many years passed and he watched the flourishingcivilization wash over the native population in waves of war,disease and pestilence. The “Conquistadors” for such is whatthey called themselves, grew wealthy and fat from the plunderedgold and ruined civilizations that they had steadily destroyed.Slowly more and more Kindred came over with the promise ofgold, the young at first, outcasts and visionaries who soughtdomains of there own. Then with the stability of rule andgovernment, Elders with dreams of expanding their powerbases from the Old World into the New.

Meanwhile Hakim too had plans of power, and during thelong nights of his banishment he had formulated a plan writtenin blood, blood that would be worthy of his lineage. A familythat would carry his line and bring him power and wealthbeyond measure. All that was needed was the mortal stocksuitable for the embrace. It was then that he chanced uponCatalina Cortez, beautiful, wealthy and recently married to aman of native dissent who was said to have come from a lineof Pirates. She like him had been made an outcast, she like himwas forced far from her home and family, but more than this,he sensed the fire in her blood that she would survive anythingthat life (or death) could throw at her and her family. He waiteduntil she had grown into full womanhood and had given birthto a large family before he awoke her to immortality as one ofour kind. She took with her, her husband and his name, andwith the guidance of her shadowy sire watched over the Familyline from beyond the shadow of death.

So was the lineage of House Guevara founded, andthroughout Mexico the Family grew strong and powerful to

this night, made up of men and women of dark ambition anda lust for power and wealth no matter the costs. Many eldersremember early halcyon nights of their expansion throughoutMexico, like an octopus the Families tentacles coiled throughoutMexico’s underworld, and later this would come to symbolizethe Families power.

Nights of VendettaThen through centuries of age came the night that Catalina

went into torpor and left control over the Family in the handsof an eight strong council of elders, and for a time they ruledthe Family with wisdom and foresight. They arranged tradeagreements and enforced the Families will, but soon they becamecorrupted by their new found power, the Families rule ofexpansion turned to stagnation, and the Families concernsbecame of holding territory rather than expanding it. The Familyturned inward, and the young vied for power with the Elders.Small slights and differences of opinion became blown out ofproportion, and the word ‘Vendetta’ was branded on the tonguesof neonates and elders from differing family lines. Internal strifewracked the Family for decades as events quickly began toescalate out of control. Some feared a total destruction of theFamilies power base as the young and disenfranchised railedagainst the dictates of the elders and the elders in turn graspedever harder for what order they could gain through draconianlaws and overblown punishments.

Then everything changed. It came to the elders of MexicoCity, the heart of the Families seat of power. For countlessgenerations they had watched over the family assets, secure inthe knowledge that they were doing the bidding of the Familiesdark mother. But events were about to change when one nightCatalina awoke from her long years of torpor and found theFamily wanting in her eyes. No one knows if it was she thoughthat laid waste to the Family estates in Mexico City, obliteratingthe great Family mansion, but it was definitely her, and onlyher that was left standing when the dust cleared. Catalina thentook up the reins of power once more, soon to be joined by thedark father of the Family, Pai Guevara. Between them theyreturned order where once was only chaos. Many whispersabout the events that surrounded the Families purge, and darkrumors surround ‘La Noche del Lágrima’, ‘The Night of Tears’.Though it is safe to say that few have risked angering Catalinaby bringing such rumors directly to her attention.

The years passed once more, and the Family had to clawback Family interests lost during the dark nights before thepurge, but under the steady and ruthless efficiency of Catalina,Mexico’s underworld was once again brought under the controlof the Family. Unlike the short sighted goals of the destroyedcouncil of elders though, Catalina along with Pai Guevararesumed an aggressive campaign to extend the Families interestsboth north and south of Mexico’s borders. Through a mixtureof political corruption and military attacks on rival organizations,many of South Americas syndicates were brought down orinfiltrated giving control to the Family over assets includingmajor areas of Columbia’s drug plantations, prostitution, andSouth American smuggling and gun running operations. Withthese potent assets under their control, the Family began to looknorth, to Americas lucrative southern states and west coast,people smuggling, drug trafficking and supplying guns toanyone with the money to pay.

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The Crafting of the BloodThen a childe was born into the Family who came to change

the very nature of the Blood. His name was Santino Guevara,and he was embraced into the night, to set out from Mexico toNew Orleans were he planned to forge an empire of his own.Through scheming and manipulation he finally came to be theDon of the Latin Quarter, watching over the mortal herd andextending his reach far into Americas lucrative and developingWest Coast. He came to realize that the true power of his familycame from Blood. And that to have the ability to control it couldempower him to create something possibly greater than eventhe Family had achieved. His experiences in Mexico combinedwith New Orleans vibrant mystical cultures and his variousglobe-spanning travels to the Old World of Europe and Egyptgave him insight into methods for strengthening the bloodwithin him. It is thought that he was able to hear the very voicesof the blood that he had taken from his mortal victims and aftera time of fighting these voices he began instead to listen to theirwhispers. Feeling the strength within him, he forged the potenceof his blood and began to prepare for the day when he wouldbe able to create a mystical art of controlling the very thing thattied all Kindred together. Soon he would come to teach his giftto his brood of mortal children when they came into the night,then to any in the Family who wished to learn, and with itssecrets would bring all who opposed the Family to their knees.

Some within the Family are distrustful of such change andwhisper that it is Hakim himself who is controlling this evolutionwithin the Family, and many think that soon his dark plans willcome to light. Others fear it is in fact not to the elders that theyshould be looking to for answers, but that it is a conspiracy bya secret conclave of neonates in the Family who are trying tomake a bid to take over the power base that the elders of theFamily have built up over the centuries. Perhaps no one, noteven Santino himself knows the full truth of the matter.

The Family has come through many trials and tribulationsbut now they are, for a time at least, united in their newfoundfocus, destroying opposition or infiltrating more establishedorganizations in order to take them over. Though some elderssee Santino’s development of Sanguinus as a threat, many othersfeel that this is an advantage that should be exploited, andpossibly could mean the next step to the Families completecontrol of criminal activity throughout America. How ever youview it, none can deny the potent appeal of Santino’s gift, andneedles to say some of those who have heard of the Bloodlinenow see it as a threat to their own interests. A fact not lost onthe machinations of the Dark Mother and Father of the line.

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Blood FactionsBlood they say is thicker than water, and nowhere is this

truer than in the Family. Whether it’s in the plush estates ofMexico City, on the Coca plantations of Columbia, or on thestreets of the City of Angels. Their reach is far and their unityis strong… at least that’s what the elders would have youbelieve.

In reality the twisted webs of deceit and power plays thatexist throughout Kindred society are found all the more tellingwithin the walls of the Families structure. Within the ranks ofthe Elders, mistrust, often-justified mistrust, is placed upon theyoung and newly embraced. Those Elders who experienced thenights prior to the Families purge who give in to the erraticnature of this fear, or the mental erosion of age are not protectedif they make waves that they are unable to weather. Equally,the young and overtly disrespectful elements that canoccasionally stir within the lower ranks of the Family may findtheir hot blood tempered. The Family line of ‘Strength throughunity’ does not mean that weak links in the chain are notreplaced should the need arise. That said the united front thatovershadows all members of the Family belies the differencesof opinion that stir beneath the political structure of the Family.There are a number of groups within the Family, each with theirown beliefs, structure and motivations, and what follows is abrief description of the major factions to be found within theFamily. Members of these factions often overlap with each other,as members from one faction are sometimes part of other factionsmaking the ties that bind the true power structure of the Family

a tangled web of intrigue. These factions for the most part canco-exist relatively amicably with each other, as even with thesedifferences of opinion, all of the Guevara owe allegiance to noother cause above one. The Family. For what ties could possiblybe stronger than the bonds of familial blood that courses throughtheir veins.

Devils: There is a school of thinking within the ranks of theFamily that places Kindred in general and the Family inparticular as dark seducers of mankind, testing the beliefs andconvictions of others by temptation and corruption. Many of“Los Diablo’s” consider the dark legacy of the Bloodlinesweakness to show their true place in the night, and to thembusiness is not simply a matter of accumulating vast wealth forits own sake, but to play the devils advocate over the moralbalance of those that they come into contact with.

Most Devils would say that they only show their victimswhat they desire, and it is the weakness of the individual thatmakes them fall from grace. That said, they tempt and corruptwith any vice at their disposal in the name of fulfilling theirplace in the night. Many of these Devils have been the target ofLancea Sanctum Blood Hunts and have been noted for theirinterest in the occult or are of a religious bent prior to theembrace. Though it is true that some of these corruptors havegiven the Family a bad name in Kindred society, it is said thatas long as their interests do not interfere with the main Familybusiness, no action would be taken against these self professeddevils unless they were to break one of the over-riding tenetsof the Traditions.

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Apostles: There are those who have somewhat of ananimistic belief in Blood itself. These are the ‘blood touched’,believers in the theory of a great blood ‘Over Spirit’ or ‘Essenceof the First Vampire’. In many ways these have sprung fromthe teachings of Santino and could be seen to having leaningsmore towards that of the Circle of the Crone in that they believein a singular source of the Kindred race. Through the use ofSanguinus they wish to reach the unanswerable questions ofall Kindred. What are we? Where do we come from? Where didit all begin? Those with acutely refined senses who have usedSanguinus have spoken of a sentience within their blood,something that watches over all Kindred, the same force thatanimates their dead flesh, which has gifted them with powerand protects them from the ravages of time. To those who searchfor the progenitor, the act of the embrace is the most sacred actthat can be made, and though this faction’s numbers are smallits membership is growing steadily in a relationship that mirrorsthe expansion of Sanguinus use throughout the Family.

Ziggurat: Thought to be the oldest of the major factions,members of this faction are what could be termed theconservative element in the Family, and unsurprisingly makeup the majority of the Family. They are true to the dictates ofthe newly risen Mother of the Family Catalina Cortez, theseemingly indestructible guiding light of the Family and havea hierarchical structure not dissimilar to the Invictus. Themajority of the Elders and Family power fall under this faction’scontrol, and their primary goal is the amassing of wealth andpower thereby securing the Families future. This group wasmost affected by ‘La Noche del Lágrima’ and its effects stillreverberate around this factions members. Many simply wantto know what happened, others want recompense and otherstill want outright revenge. The indomitable Catalina howeveris staying remarkable silent on the matter, which has led someto quietly whisper that the ancient has fallen to dementia.

Judges: Controlled and directed by Pai Guevara this smallostensibly independent group consists predominantly of eldersand constitutes the Families internal security force. Formed totrack down Tradition breakers and bring them to light, as wellas officiate internal disputes between Family members and huntdown rogue Family members who have become Wights. Theirposition is finely balanced however and remains undeniablylinked with the Ziggurat faction. Officially they are seen as anattempt at securing the peace and smoothing over difficulties,but are seen very much more in the light of the FamiliesInquisition. Members of the Judges are thought to be some ofthe fiercest and most fanatical Family members known to exist,and woe betide anyone who gets on the wrong side of them.

Bloods: Rooted throughout both North and South AmericasHispanic gang neighborhoods this secretive yet quickly growinggathering of disenfranchised members of the Family, who dueto a mixture of bad luck, divisive elders or their own outrightfailure have found themselves at the bottom of the Familiespower structure. They have begun to question the need for theFamilies hierarchy at all, and have even shown tendencies ofgoing so far as attempting a formal withdrawal from the Family.Many elders see this group as trouble makers who lack respectfor the old ways and who haven’t the wits to see the benefitsof the protection they are afforded within the Family structure.Young and impetuous as they no doubt are, the self styledGangsta’s are beginning to mobilize with greater numbers than

even the elders would think possible. They are always awareof avoiding the attention of the Judges however and haveresorted to playing a waiting game, for now…

The Weakness of the BloodMany in the Family do not outwardly mourn the loss of

their Humanity, sometimes it is in everyone’s best interests todo questionable things from time to time, but they do notactively attempt to strip away their humanity by committingheinous acts of disregard for mortals unless the situationdemands it. Many see it as a benefit given the Familiespredilection to vice and corruption, though elders who havesurvived long enough to recognize the Family weakness forwhat it is keep such thoughts to themselves. The phrase “Byany means necessary” is an often-quoted saying in Familycircles, and the degeneration of morality which follows thoseof the blood is unquestionably the main reason that allowsyounger members of the Family to move up in rank, as thosewho have fallen to madness or who have become Wights areruthlessly hunted and put to rest without a second thought bythe Judges.

The TraditionsThe one thing that all in house Guevara learn about and

enforce above all else is the importance of the Traditions. Theyare considered to be the singularly most important set of rulesthat protect our kind, and none in the Family may break themwithout the expectation of dire if not terminal repercussions.Laws can be bent of course, and some are as you might expectlooked upon more leniently than others. As long as the Familysees that ghouls are kept on a tight leash and Masqueradebreaches are actively suppressed they will forgive minorincidents, but only from the young and inexperienced.

Masquerade: Possibly the most important law to be upheldby the Family. The Masquerade is the device which enablesKindred existence to continue from night to night. Because oftheir origins as a Blood Family this Tradition means more tomost members of the Family, as breaches of the first Law couldarise so easily. The Family have been around a long time, andthrough their regime of selective breeding and the hierarchicalstructure of the Family, there are those individuals in the Familywho are more 'in the know' about the true nature of the Familythan others. Those for instance who have been married into theFamily to strengthen Political ties or to provide a strongerlineage due to adding their new genes to the Family pool are

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kept in the dark about the supernatural matters of the Familyand only over a long period of time are they brought into foldprovided they have shown they can be trusted. This raises therisk to exposure of the Masquerade and is one of the definingreasons that the Family find themselves bound to the Traditions.Any areas of Family business that is considered dangerous tothe Masquerade are monitored extremely closely by membersof the Family who's sole task it is to rectify such matters shouldthey arise and bring any incompetence to light, and who areduly feared and hated in equal measure.

Progeny: All Family members must fulfill the obligation ofteaching progressive generations of mortal family membersabout the Traditions before they are reborn into the Blood. Allmembers of the Family who are to be considered for the embracemust have sired a mortal lineage of children and shown theircapabilities to the continuation of the Family line before theyare Ghouled for between six months and a year, through whichthey are introduced slowly to the powers that their line possesses.Finally when their Sire considers them ready, they are embraced,and left to forge there own path in the world and bring powerand wealth to the Family. The choice of who is to be Embracedis made by the Elders who in turn listen to petitions fromindividual sires and judge each candidate on their merits, historyand familial lineage. After the member is admitted past the firstlevel of consideration they are judged on their activities duringthe ghouling process and their character and reaction to vitaeare taken into account. If after this they are still deemed worthyand none can find fault or dissention amongst the elders, thenthe candidate is embraced with the Family blessing.

Amaranth: Taking the hearts blood of anyone, even fromthose outside of the Family is looked upon as a heinous crimeto the Family. For one it is known to infect the Kindred’s souland can be seen using the Families expertise with Auspex forthe taint that it leaves. Second it goes against the fundamentalethics of the Family to steal supernatural power. Some outsideof the Family see this as an odd dichotomy for the Family touphold, as when it comes to the acquisition of power in themortal arena Family members are willing to do what ever ittakes to gain power, be it theft, blackmail or murder. Bloodthough is a very different matter and the ability for a memberwho has forged their own power through perseverance andrigorous training are looked upon with respect by neonates andelders alike, and the guiding light of Santino is a prominentfigure in this debate.

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SanguinusSanguinus is the mystical art of focusing, altering and

affecting blood. It was crafted with the view towards creatingand managing large extended blood Families and its servants,as well as altering the blood properties of the user, other kindred,and the kine.

To those of House Guevara, Blood is the essence of life, andhas a mystically imbued sentience complete with a memoryand character of its very own. Through this animistic belief thepractitioner of Sanguinus opens their senses to the Blood andtakes command of it to wield it as they wish. Those gifted inthe blood however have noticed that this Discipline is morethan it appears. Some have said that there is a sentience behindthe power that they wield; something dark that watches them.Some say it is Hakim, others whisper that it is the spirit of theFirst Vampire.

•Crimson WhispersThe most basic level of Sanguinus enables the character to

reach out with his preternatural senses and feel the propertiesof blood around them. A character must be within visual rangeof the target for this power to work.

The character gains a distinct sense of the properties of theblood through visual, sensual and even whisperedcommunication as they cast their senses over a target andconnect with it on a mystical level.

This power can be used on any blood specimen whetherwithin an animate character or on inanimate blood such asblood spilled during a fight.

Cost: ––Dice Pool: Wits + Empathy + SanguinusAction: InstantRoll Results:Dramatic Failure: The character gleans utterly misleading

and wholly inaccurate information.Failure: The character can distinguish no information on

the target at all.Success: The Amount of information gathered on a target

depends on the number of successes gained on the roll:Successes Information1 Success Fundamental Description: Blood is Mortal,

Vampiric, or Ghoul.2 Successes Base Properties: Current Health, Total Health,

Current Blood Pool, Total Blood Pool, BloodPotence, Blood Type, If the targeted blood isfrom a Werewolf.

3 Successes Distinct Properties: Age, Sex, Drugs, Disease,Blood Abnormalities, Menstruating, Pregnancy, Diablerie, Blood Addiction, Strong Emotions such as Excitement or Fear,Use of Blood for Boosting Physical Actions or the Blush of Life, If the targeted blood is from a Mage.

4 Successes Detailed History: If the Blood was ever affected with any of the above, how long for.If the target is Blood Bound and to what level

Exceptional Success: The character is imbued with theknowledge of the targets name and face.

An Intelligence + Medicine Roll may be required to gainspecific information on diseases or drugs that are in the targetedblood at storytellers discretion.

Suggested Modifiers:Modifier Situation+3 Subject has a third level vinculum to the

character+2 Character has a blood tie to the targeted blood.+2 Subject has a second level vinculum to the

character+1 Subject has a first level vinculum to the

character+1 Character has successfully used Crimson

Whispers on the subject+1 Character has only tasted the blood of the

subject–2 Targeted blood is old or dry.If a character attempts to sense throughout a scene, all actions

during that scene incur a –2 Dice penalty due to the charactersconcentration on the blood.

•• Sanguine PreservationThis level of Sanguinus has two fundamental effects; the

first is the preservation of blood so that it cannot be altered,grow stale or decay. The second is to purify it so that it is freefrom disease or blood borne abnormalities.

With this power herds normally unfit for vampiricconsumption can be fed upon without the possibility of furtherinfecting the herd. Blood affected by Sanguine Preservationkeeps all mundane and supernatural properties of the bloodpreserved, after which it returns to its natural state.

It is said this power is used to safeguard vitae being sentaround the world to ghoul servitors of the blood family thusgiving it scope to expand its network around the globe swiftlyand efficiently without fear of falling prey to blood borne disease.

Cost: 1 WillpowerDice Pool: Intelligence + Medicine + SanguinusAction: InstantRoll Results:Dramatic Failure: The Blood that the character tries to

preserve instantly turns to dust, or if the targeted blood waswithin a person, the target and character each gain a bloodborne disease or abnormality of the storyteller ’s choice.Alternatively the storyteller could impose a blood-basedderangement upon the character and target.

Failure: The character is unable to affect the targeted bloodwith this power.

Success: The character successfully preserves the targetedblood for a period of time dependant on the successes made onthe roll:

Successes Duration1 Success One Day2 Successes One Week3 Successes One Month4 Successes One Year

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The amount of blood that can be targeted with each use ofthis power is limited to the characters Blood pool.

If the targeted blood is within a mortal sufferer of a geneticdisorder then the blood remains protected for only as long asthe effect lasts. So a Haemophilia or Anaemia sufferer wouldbe cured temporarily of their illness but after a matter of timethey would return to their normal state unless the charactergains an exceptional success on the roll.

Blood borne diseases which are non-genetic like Malaria,Plague and HIV can be cured with a single success on the roll,but more than this, the blood is now unable to be re-infectedby any other form of blood borne virus or disease for as longas it is under the protection of this power.

If a character is attempting to cure a Kindred carrier of ablood disease then the character must be of sufficient BloodPotency to completely affect the targets Blood pool or thepurifying effects will automatically fail.

Exceptional Success: As a normal success but the effect ofthe power is now made permanent.

Suggested Modifiers:Modifier Situation+3 Subject has a third level vinculum to the

character+2 Character has a blood tie to the targeted blood.+2 Subject has a second level vinculum to the

character+1 Subject has a first level vinculum to the

character+1 Character has successfully used Crimson

Whispers on the subject+1 Character uses only one of the effects,

purification OR preservation on targeted blood.

–2 Targeted blood is old or dry.Purification has no affect on the mystical chains of vampiric

blood such as the Blood Bond or the effects of Blood Addiction,Blood Derangements or Diablery.

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••• TransfusionIt is whispered that the users of Sanguinus can steal your

immortal souls through the power of their blood. Though thisis an exaggeration this power is thought to be the root cause tothese accusations, as with this level of Sanguinus a charactercan Give, Take or Exchange blood with a touch.

This power could be used to give blood to a Ghoul, or feedfrom a mortal in public by a mere handshake. Alternatively itcould be used to surreptitiously blood bond another kindredor transfuse blood from one person to another.

Cost: ––Dice Pool: Intelligence + Medicine + Sanguinus versus

subject’s Stamina + Blood PotencyAction: Contested; resistance is reflexiveRoll Results:Dramatic Failure: The character fails the transfusion and

automatically alerts the subject making them immune to furtheruses of this power for the rest of the night. Also if the characterwas attempting to transfuse blood “into” the subject that bloodis lost.

Failure: The character is unable to affect the subject withthis power but may try again.

Success: The character manages to transfuse a number ofVitae too or from a subject equalling the number of successeson the roll.

The subject has a chance to notice that something hashappened if this power was used surreptitiously on an un-consenting subject by making a contested Wits + Occult rollversus the characters Manipulation + Subterfuge + Successesgained on the initial roll. Because of the intense connectionbetween Vampires and their blood the character is at a –2 Dicepenalty on this roll for Kindred subjects. Also if the subjectKindred had the Auspex power of Heightened Senses up at thetime then they are at a +2 dice pool on this roll.

If the subject gains more successes on the contested roll,they know that the character has affected their blood, thoughthe specifics of this power will be unknown to them unless thesubject has come across this power before. If the subject gainsan exceptional success then they instinctively know what thecharacter has done and may react accordingly. If the charactergains more successes on this roll this power goes completelyunnoticed by the subject.

Exceptional Success: The character can transfuse as muchblood too or from the subject as they wish, and the subjectremains completely oblivious to the use of this power.

Suggested Modifiers:Modifier Situation+3 Target is a willing subject.+3 Subject has a third level vinculum to the

character+2 Character has a blood tie to the targeted blood.+2 Subject has a second level vinculum to the

character+2 Character attempts to transfuse blood from

one subject to another directly+1 Subject has a first level vinculum to the

character+1 Character has successfully used Crimson

Whispers on the subject+1 Character has only tasted the blood of the

subjectWhatever the number of successes on the initial roll, this

power cannot be used to Diablerise a Kindred subject thoughit could be used to exsanguinate a mortal.

•••• Awaken the Mortal BloodAll Vampires were mortal once. This potent power allows

the character to call upon the power of that blood to gain thebenefits of that state for a limited time.

With this power the character gains a greatly extended Blushof Life effect. They gain any and all physical aspects of mortality,from breathing, warm skin, a heartbeat, being active during thedaytime (not daylight) and the ability to perform sexual activities,though the latter will never sire offspring.

The added benefit of this power is that all dice poollimitations when dealing with Mortals or acting during the daydue to low Humanity are negated completely for the durationof the power.

Cost: 1 VitaeDice Pool: Stamina + Empathy + SanguinusAction: InstantRoll Results:Dramatic Failure: The character is overwhelmed by the

Mortal blood and may not use any Vampiric powers or Vitaefor the remainder of the scene.

Failure: The character fails to awaken the Blood.Success: The character gains all the benefits of this power

for an amount of time dependant on the successes made on theactivation roll:

Successes Duration1 Success Three Turns2 Successes One Minute3 Successes One Hour /One Scene4 Successes One Night /Until next DawnExceptional Success: The character gains the benefits of this

power for a number of nights equal to their Stamina, ending atDawn of the last night.

The only prerequisite is that the vampire must have mortalblood in his system when initiating the power.

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••••• BloodformThe pinnacle of most vampires’ control over Blood, this

power allows the character to transform into the veryembodiment of a Blood God, an undefined swirling form ofsentient blood devoid of any physical characteristic but withall the advantages of a non-corpulent body. Whilst in Bloodformthe character may creep through the smallest cracks or evendrip up walls and surfaces in a torrent of blood. The charactercan move as fast as normal and mystically retains all their senseseven though they lack the physical organs to do so.

Cost: 1 VitaeDice Pool: This power involves no roll to invoke. The full

change takes one action to compete.A character in Bloodform is immune to any physical attacks

made upon them, which merely pass through its fluid state.Only fire, sunlight or mystical attacks affect a character inBloodform, even mystical attacks that use mundane methodsof delivery are similarly ineffective (such as claws or enchantedphysical weapons) although if all of its blood is imbibed orotherwise destroyed the character meets Final Death.Disciplines that do not require a physical body may beeffective, though, and similarly a character in Bloodformcan use any discipline they know apart from ThebanSorcery, Crúac and Dominate. Only a completely sealedair tight room has any chance of keeping a character inBloodform imprisoned.

Characters low on Blood or who are addicted to Vitaemay need to make Resolve + Composure rolls whenencountering a character in Bloodform, in order to maintainself-control and not fly into a hunger Frenzy. Thoughattempting to imbibe the Bloodform is near impossible, as aVampire has nothing to bite or suck on. A character in Bloodformmay attempt to wash over a target in order to use otherSanguinus powers upon them and is considered to be makinga Touch or Brawl attack as normal. In fact because of the fluidstate of the Bloodform, dislodging a Bloodform character thatis grappling a target is also near impossible, with the defenderat a –5 dice penalty to throw it off its bloody assailant, whileparrying and blocking manoeuvres are completely ineffectual.

The character can maintain the Bloodform as long as theywish and may rest in it during the day, spending blood towake with a fresh night as normal.

Action: Instant

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Sanguinus DevotionsThrough the years, some members of the Family have

managed to hone their skills over the Blood to create personalpowers instinctive to them alone. These Devotions are theirvery own prized creations, and are jealously guarded. Whatfollows is a brief selection of powers that may be learned fromthese Kindred.

Blood Judgment(Auspex••• Sanguinus•)This impressive extension of the power of Crimson Whispers

is almost exclusively kept by members of the Judges to gatherinformation on law breakers in the Family, and enables thecharacter to gain a formidable sense of the supernaturalproperties of a targets Blood. It is considered one of the factionsgreatest secrets and any Kindred outside of the Judges knownto posses this Devotion had better have a very good reason forhaving it. This power needs physical contact with the target forit to work and like Crimson Whispers can be used on any bloodspecimen whether within an animate character or on inanimateblood such as blood spilled during a fight.

Cost: 1 Vitae + 1 Willpower

Dice Pool: Wits + Empathy + Sanguinus

Action: Instant

Roll Results:

Dramatic Failure: The character gleans utterly misleadingand wholly inaccurate information.

Failure: The character can distinguish no information onthe target at all.

Success: The Amount of information gathered on a targetdepends on the number of successes gained on the roll:

Successes Information

1 Success The base Clan and Blood Potence of a Vampire.

2 Successes The number of times the subject has committed Diablerie and the faces, Clan andBlood Potence of their victims. The relative supernatural power of a Werewolf.

3 Successes A sense of the targets Physical Attributes, Ifthe target belongs to a Bloodline, The relativesupernatural power of Mage.

4 Successes A sense of the targets Physical Disciplines,Vampires Humanity.

Exceptional Success: For a number of days equal to thecharacters Intelligence score the character gains a SympatheticBlood Tie to the Target with all the benefits that come with it;conversely this Blood Tie does not count if the Target attemptsto affect the character.

This power Costs 15 Experience points to learn.

Suggested Modifiers:

Modifier Situation

+3 Subject has a third level vinculum to the character

+2 Character has a blood tie to the targeted blood.

+2 Subject has a second level vinculum to the character

+1 Subject has a first level vinculum to the character

+1 Character has successfully used Crimson Whispers on the subject

+1 Character has only tasted the blood of the subject

–2 Targeted blood is old or dry.

Blood Cocoon(Sanguinus••• Fortitude•••)Sunlight and fire are death to all Kindred. The Family stems

from the lineage of the Mekhet, and know better than most tohide themselves away from these anathemas. This Devotionwas created by Santino himself when he was often forced totravel great disstances through dangerous territory during theday. Through focusing the blood, those members of the Familywho know this Devotion are able to forge a stone chrysalis ofblood around them to escape the effects of sunlight and fire.

Blood ripples around the character in a thick layer of viscousVitae, coating the vampire and any personal items that thecharacter is carrying. This layer then darkens and hardenswithin moments, encasing the vampire in a statue like casingof blood that is as hard as stone and impervious to sunlight andall but the most extreme fire.

Cost: 3 Vitae

Dice Pool: This power involves no roll to invoke. The fullchange takes one action to compete. The character can remainprotected against sunlight and moderate fire within theirchrysalis for as long as they wish.

The Blood Cocoon may be damaged though throughexposure to Acid, Explosives, Extreme Heat such as a ChemicalFire or Molten Metal, or by other physical attacks and hasDurability 4, Size 6, Structure 10 and Damage 4.

Unless characters have encountered a Blood Cocoon before,they are unlikely to suspect that it is anything other than astatue of dark red stone, and only a successful Intelligence +Science roll can determine that it is not what it appears to be.

When the character emerges from their chrysalis it cracksand dissolves, fading away to ash in a matter of seconds.

This power Costs 18 Experience points to learn.

Action: Instant

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Crimson Rage(Sanguinus••• Animalism•••)The need for blood is the most potent driving force in a

Kindreds existence, and this power awakens this hunger tofreighting levels, so that a subject is blind to the needs of anythingor anyone else but blood. Rumours persist that Devils wishingto discredit prominent members of a Domain unleash this poweron rivals when at court to de-stabilise their credibility atupholding the Masquerade.

With a glance the Character can awaken a Kindreds Beastand bring it screaming to the fore, in a terrifying display ofpower to all those who fall out of favour with the Family.

Cost: 1 Vitae + 1 Willpower

Dice Pool: Manipulation + Persuasion + Sanguinus versusComposure + Blood Potency

Action: Contested; resistance is reflexive

Roll Results:

Dramatic Failure: The character is plunged into a hungerFrenzy for the rest of the night and cannot control it in anyway,with all of the possible repercussions that may come with suchan outburst i.e. breaching the Masquerade.

Failure: The character fails to incite the hunger Frenzy inthe subject.

Success: The subject is taken over by a hunger Frenzy forthe rest of the scene, and no matter how much blood is in theirsystem will never be sated until the effects of this power haveworn off. They will feed from who ever is closest whether friendor foe, and will drain anyone they can, disregarding anythingelse in their search for blood, even the Masquerade.

Exceptional Success: The same as a normal success, butnow the effect lasts until dawn.

This power Costs 18 Experience points to learn.

Suggested Modifiers:

Modifier Situation

+3 Subject has a third level vinculum to the Character

+3 Subject is Starving

+2 Subject has a blood tie to the targeted blood.

+2 Subject is Hungry

+2 Subject has a second level vinculum to the Character

+2 Subject is a Blood Addict

+1 Subject has a first level vinculum to the Character

+1 Subject can see or smell blood

+1 Subject is using Hightened Senses

+1 Character has successfully used Crimson Whispers on the Subject

+1 Character has only tasted the blood of the subject

Blood MonstersThe Families reach extends throughout Latin America, and evennow seeks to wrap its coils around Americas lucrativeunderworld. Their numbers are growing with each passingnight, but although success may have swelled their numbersand finances, few of that number are considered to have attaineda controlling interest in the Families future. The followingcharacters are members of note within the Family; along witha brief account of their history and goals, these are the moversand shakers who have made the Family what it is to this night,a dark lineage of blood monsters.

Storytellers are encouraged to take these characters and applywhatever stats they feel necessary to them given their age,potence as well as the power level of the game your running.

Santino GuevaraSantino Guevara is possibly one of the most mysterious membersof the Guevara Family, not only has he managed to focus hisBlood Potency to levels far greater than his age would suggest,but he has also created and mastered the art of Sanguinus.

This enigmatic character was one of the first Family membersto make a move into America, steadily making a name forhimself in the heady mystically charged nights of New Orleans,and acquiring the title of Don of the Latino Quarter. Using thisas his base of operations for his weapons and drug smugglingbusiness and avoiding any unnecessary clashes with the fiercelyreligious Prince of the city, he used his position and wealth tocreate the ‘Inferno’ nightclub, a haven of Latin sights and soundsas well as a warren of dark alcoves and secret passages thatlead down into a ziggurat pyramid complex. This complexcontains a vast extended labyrinth of prostitution dens, weaponswarehouse, drug development labs, gambling dens, and privateapartments, all guarded by loyal bodyguards. These bodyguardsare members of Haven Securities, a group of Bodyguards,Assassins and Tactical Assault Teams that Santino himself hascreated.

After some time of expansion Santino began to foresee that theFamily power over lineage and mortal underworld affairs couldbe greatly increased by developing control over blood. Manywho hear this tale do not trust this myth of the creation ofSanguinus however, and many see it as something moreinsidious. How much so, no one but Santino knows, forSanguinus holds a dark secret. Many elders have looked toCatalina to show her dissatisfaction with the path that Santinois treading, but Catalina has been strangely unwilling to actagainst him, merely watching and waiting the development ofher precious Family. Needless to say if Catalina were ever tosuspect disloyalty from Santino, things would quickly changefor him. But as it stands, he has taught many in the Family,including his own brood, the secrets of Sanguinus and seemsstrangely unconcerned about keeping such knowledge secret.The way forward in his eyes is to embrace the powers he hascreated, and those who have witnessed some of his powerscannot refuse to see the application of such power in theirexpansion.

The Secret of SanguinusThe least known and most important property of this Discipline is theindelible link between it and its creator. Unknown to all is the factthat upon learning this Discipline, the erstwhile student becomesbound to the disciplines creator, who managed to distil a part of hisundying soul into his creation and thereby cause a sympathetic bloodbond with all those who learn its secrets. This was done by forgingpart of himself into his creation upon the first awakening of thediscipline as if creating a childe, so committing the resonance of hispersonal essence to the act of creation. Thus this discipline could bethought of as having a sentience of its very own spawned and controlledby its megalomaniacal creator. However there is a growing doubt nowin his mind that the knowledge of Sanguinus did not come fromSantino himself, but rather from some other source. Santino now triesto discover what its origins are and suspects some other force thatwishes to control both him and the Family. Should his investigationsprove true the consequences could be dark indeed. A recent rumorcirculating amongst the ranks of the Family however has spoken of apossible source of information, and he is currently investigating thismatter with all the resources at his disposal.

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Pai Guevara the JudgeThe Families Dark Father is a shadowy figure that few knowmuch about other than his unswerving loyalty to his brood andhis support of Catalina his immortal wife. He controls theJudges, the Families self appointed internal security whichwatches over the Family and stamps out Tradition breacheswith ruthless force. He is a stocky broad shouldered man withlong raven black hair and his native origins are clearly seen inhis features. His links with piracy and love affair with the seaare some of his defining qualities, and it is said that the Familiesexpansion in the early nights would have been impossible if itwere not due to his ability to move family members aroundCentral America and the Islands in the Gulf of Mexico and theCaribbean. It is said that his wild and hot tempered blood stillsurfaces in the bloodlines makeup, and its predilection to viceand criminal activity is his greatest gift to his brood.

The Secret of the Dark FatherPai Guevara is very much not what he seems. In fact the only thingthat anyone says about him with any accuracy is his love of the Sea.Long before the coming of the men with steel skin to the shores ofMexico, it was prophesied that one of the last children of the Aztecempire would outlive all his kin into the shadow of darkness, and therereap a terrible revenge upon those who would destroy their civilization.From him would come the seed of a new Empire, an empire of bloodand Power beyond anything that the Aztecs could have dreamed. Butto do this, he would have to take a wife from those that had corruptedhis lands, this he did, enchanting the much admired Catalina Cortezaway from the more suitable propositions of her own kin. His plansagainst her are coming to fruition, though Santino’s arrival on thescene has been as much a shock to him as anyone. He will eventuallytear the Family apart from within, and his narrow escape from beingdiscovered as ‘La Noche del Lágrima’s mastermind is safe… for now.

Haquim the FounderNo one in the Family has such a shroud of shadow cast overtheir history, as does the Founder of the line of Guevara. Howor why Hakim also known as Haquim was aboard the ship, ifindeed he was, is unknown. For the most part he is thought tohave been of Moorish descent, a well-connected merchant fromCordoba and a man of devout Faith that was ancient even beforethe time of the Conquistadors. His exile from his homelandremains the topic of much discussion even to this night amongstElders, though many of the younger members of the Familyhave openly said that he is nothing more than a work of fictioncreated by the warped imaginings of the Family Elders, a pointreinforced by the fact that none have heard tell of Hakim’swhereabouts for the last three centuries since just after Catalinaentered her long torpor. Elders though state that this is simplybecause of the Ancients legendary prowess with the disciplineof Obfuscate, and look upon the quiet shadow of Hakim’sdisappearance as testament to the validity of their ownarguments. What ever, where ever and if ever he was, Haquimwould almost certainly have entered the long Sleep of Ages bynow and has faded in power and influence over the Familyuntil tonight where he remains nothing more than a passingmemory and a relic of nights long past… Such is the thinkingof many in the Family. Anything else would be too alarming toconsider. Members of the Devils are said to secretly revere himin a light uncomfortably like that of a deity. Needless to say, ifthis loyalty ever outweighed that shown to the Family then theJudges could well be called in to intercede in matters.

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The True Secret of SanguinusYes, Haquim exists. Yes, he was an ancient by the reckoning of theConquistadors. Yes, he was a merchant Prince, though not fromCordoba, but from an even older trading house from Damascus. Nohe was not on Cortez’s ship when they reached the New World, thoughhe was in Mexico soon after this event and witnessed for himself thedestruction of the Aztec Empire. He was not so much banished, asfleeing for his unlife from religious persecution. Yes he was mostdefinitely a man of great faith, and that faith was Infernalism.

Upon coming to the Aztec lands he bore witness to not only themassacre of Aztecs cities but also the bloody rights of the Aztecsthemselves. He saw the power of their ritual and ceremony and theliving heart of prisoners ripped from their chests. He also saw in theshadows, the machinations of the undead, though they were like noKindred that he had seen before. They walked openly as gods amongstthe people and were not forced to hide their natures from their devoutfollowers. Unfortunately the blood sorcerers had felt his presence andhe was unable to escape their maledictions and narrowly avoidedmeeting final death but succumbed to Torpor just after embracing awoman of Spanish dissent who just happened to be in the wrong placeat the wrong time. Catalina Cortez.

When he next awoke the world had moved on, the Family had grownstrong and powerful without him, but now he decided to use whatfate had thrown his way to his utmost advantage, he bided his timeand watched and guided the actions of certain members of the Family,praying in the blackness of the shadows for his infernal patrons tohear his requests and gift him with their dark powers. Some how,somewhere, something was listening, and before long Haquim hadgrown powerful in this stolen art of Blood. He wanted to share thisknowledge with what he considers his Family, but was thwarted byCatalina who sensed her sire was close by. She left word for the familyto be watched over by a select council of eight elders, whilst shemanaged to track her sire down to repay him in kind by destroyinghim for what he had done to her and her family. It was only by luckthat she managed to put the Ancient devil worshiper into torpor whenshe was set upon by his ghoul minions, weakened and outnumberedshe fell into torpor as they proceeded to secret their masters body awayto safety until he would wake from his long sleep. Ages passed andHaquim woke once again determined to work subtly to bring his broodunder his own control until he learned of Santino Guevara, youngimpetuous and most importantly, hungry for power. He tracked himdown to New Orleans; a city of dark power that seemed to emanatefrom the very earth, and spoke subtle whispers in his mind, dreamsof power and wealth beyond anything that he could conceive of. Slowlythe seed grew, and Sanguinus was born out of his unholy desire andSantino’s lust for power. Now though he has sensed yet another strandto this game that he could manipulate, as the repercussions of ‘LaNoche del Lágrima ’and its instigator reveal themselves. The boardis set, with many pieces in place. Soon the Dark Lord shall revealhimself to the night

Catalina the Dark MotherFrom the vast Family estates in Mexico city the mighty CatalinaGuevara, formerly Catalina Cortez, watches over her Familywith an iron fist. She does not tolerate her laws to be broken,and has the power to enforce her will throughout Latin America.She is undeniably the heart of Family power since she reclaimedher role as the Family guardian after the events surrounding‘La Noche del Lágrima’. Her main goal is to keep her Familytogether at all costs, and recognizes the dark nature inherent inher blood is borne from her insatiable sire. She is ever watchfulof his machinations to take over what she has spent her unlifecreating and has resorted to an aggressive expansion as a meansto stop the constant infighting and distract the blood vendettasfor the time being. Though she recognizes that is not a longterm answer to the problem, she is unwilling to do anythingmore to erode the power base of the Family.

The Secrets of CatalinaAge and battle have taken their toll on Catalina, she is not what sheonce was. More and more she is finding the need for freedom from theintrigues of the Family. Her mental frailty is concealed by draconianlaws in an attempt to cover her insecurities. Though she loves andcares for her Family, the weight of its problems are growing an evergreater burden, and she knows that she will have to make a choicesoon as to her future. The specter of her sire has returned to haunt hersteps and she feels his presence like an ever tightening noose aroundher. She will not relinquish control of her Family to that infernalmonster, but has failed in bringing him down before. Now Catalinasees Santino as a potential ally and will give him her blessing in returnfor his aid, leaving Pai her beloved husband to watch over the Familyinterests in her absence.

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Of Blood I DreamAnd am made Whole

When in the Quiet Heart of AllI Stir

And Awaken to Unfolding NightWhen from Heaven Stars shall Fall

Once more I shall Return–– Santino Guevara: The Book of Blood

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