Assamites

The Assassins have been unwelcome in London for almost as long as they’ve been known to the western world at all. Particularly before the Treaty of Tyre, they were widely hated and mistrusted throughout the Camarilla’s territory — but even afterward, their presence in England was seen as an unnecessary one while the rule of Mithras endured. After all, a living god is not accustomed to having his decisions disputed by force, or his judgments on who may continue to exist and who may not overriden by foreign assassins. For centuries only the most daring of the children of Haqim dared enter London, and even then departing as soon as their business was complete … if they were able to.

Queen Anne, however, she is no Mithras, and she’s smart enough to know it, however much she might like to think otherwise. It was clear to her from the beginning that, particularly as the world in the postwar era grew smaller and smaller, attempting to continue barring the Assamites from the city entirely would succeed only in making her look foolish and ineffectual. Instead, she made a virtue of necessity and formally invited them to send a small delegation to the city for the purposes of cultural exchange — that is, to display all the treasures from the Middle East looted by the British over the centuries. To the surprise of all, not only did they accept, but they displayed a genuine interest in the antiquities that was much at odds with their bloodthirsty reputation.

That modest little embassy has persisted ever since. The Assamites have an informal arrangement whereby they fulfill no contacts without Anne’s say-so, and in turn are permitted to spend as much time as they like researching in London’s archives for things that make the Tremere uneasy. For this reason, vampires native to London have come to think of the Assamites as a clan of scholars first and foremost — although as the Sabbat has slowly grown in strength, and their sorties become more frequent, there is talk among the upper echelons of the Camarilla of employing the Assassins as mercenaries against them.

Among the original emissaries of the children of Haqim, who’s remained in the city ever since, was one Vassiliki Kontaxi, known to younger Kindred as “Kyra Vassiliki.” One of the wives of the 19th century Ottoman Pasha of Yanina, she is an attractive and stately woman appearing to be in her late thirties, who is reported to have been responsible for no fewer than twenty deaths of prominent Ottoman figures during the Greek struggle for independence. Vassiliki is reserved but pleasant, preferring to spend her time discussing the art and poetry of the Greek and Turkish worlds. She has no tolerance for the presumptuous or the disrespectful, however, whether of her own clan of of any others. Assamites are considered an Uncommon character type.

Followers of Set

No one trusts the Setites — no one with even a modicum of wisdom, at least — and yet they are grudgingly tolerated in London. Some of that is because of their knowledge of, and connection with, Egyptian lore; there are still plenty of Kindred in the city who date from, or fondly remember, the eras of Egyptomania in the 19th and 20th centuries, and are willing to pay for authentic artifacts or knowledge from the land of the Nile. Some of it is because of their facility with smuggling, and their expertise in getting things to or from Britain from all around the world; even Kindred who don’t give a fig for Egypt have uses for that sort of talent.

And some of it is, of course, because of their willingness to cater to the vices of other vampires. The Setites certainly aren’t the only ones who are happy to provide drugs, weapons, loans at painfully high interest, sex, and so on, but they are the most unapologetically enthusiastic about doing so, and their rates are, at worst, competitive. As long as they abide by the Traditions, and as long as Mithras remains absent, the Camarilla seems to be willing to allow them to come and go with only a little more oversight than the member clans.

There is, of course, a condition. Anne and the Primogen have collectively made clear that the Setites are welcome (not exactly welcome, but close enough) only so long as they are open about their presence. If they present themselves when they arrive, according to Camarilla custom — and present themselves as Setites — the policy of toleration will continue. Trying to conceal their presence or their allegiance will bring it to an end. Thus far, the Serpents have seen the benefits as outweighing the cost, and have even turned over one or two of their own kind who attempted to violate the agreement.

To the surprise of some, the main Setite representative in London is a somewhat stodgy middle-aged Englishman — a former Egyptologist named Howard Cartwright who was Embraced during the inter-war period. Noted mainly for his luxurious mustache, his vast collection of bow ties, and his penchant for old suits and pocketwatches, Cartwright is no one’s idea of a Setite corruptor, and in fact has made a habit of refusing to be drawn when it comes to the clan’s ideas — at least, not in public. Hardly anyone believes this is all there is to him, much less to the Followers of Set as a whole, but his respectable public image has been a great boon to the Serpents’ efforts to maintain a presence in the city. The Followers of Set are considered an Uncommon character type.

Giovanni

The clan of death has a large house on the Regent’s Canal, in one of the older neighborhoods that mostly survived the war unscathed — this is the closest resemblance to Venice that they could find. There’s always at least one of them in the city, although often no more than that, and they generally keep out of politics. Their main reason for being here is so that they can study at the Magnificent Seven, London’s collection of fine old Victorian-era cemeteries, and Queen Anne has graciously extended them permission to do so — normally accompanied by escorts “to ensure their safety” on the way there and back.

It is widely assumed that the reason for Anne’s allowing them this leeway has something to do with an unconscionably huge bribe, but no one has ever been able to prove it — or, at least, prove it and retain their unlives. Other, less materialistic Kindred believe that the Prince made a deal that revolves around the Giovanni establishing for certain whether Mithras is still in existence or has met Final Death — and that the fact that Anne is officially still only acting Prince means that either the question has yet to be answered, or that the old Prince will one day reawaken.

The present head of the family’s mission in London doesn’t have much of a reputation as a necromancer; Gino d’Addario was Embraced after a long and dissolute life, and it shows in every line of his bloated body, every boil and open sore on his sagging face. Even other clan members refuse to speculate about his relationship with his young and beautiful female childe, and guests seeking out audience with Gino is a genuine rarity. Under his supervision, the Giovanni go about their necromantic business, pay their respects to the Camarilla hierarchy and the Traditions, and try to avoid any entanglements that would jeopardize their arrangement. Giovanni are considered an Uncommon character type.

Lasombra

There are not many Lasombra outside the Sabbat — or, at least, there are not many who survive being “Lasombra outside the Sabbat” for very long. London is home to one of those rare exceptions, the pseudonymous Stephen Lenoir, who has resided in London since the Anarch revolt and is one of the oldest Kindred in London who is still somewhat active. There have been a handful of other Lasombra among the Sabbat defectors and refugees who Lenoir has, over the centuries, helped to find a place in the Camarilla — almost always at the cost of placing them under the “protection” of some more powerful Kindred who keep them on a very short leash. Most such Keepers have moved on from the city — one of Lenoir’s pieces of advice, aside from “avoid getting involved in internal politics” and “keep a low profile” has been “too many of us in a group make a more appealing target” — but one occasionally remains for a few years.

Especially with Lenoir spending more time in torpor, the situation of such vampires is increasingly tenuous. They aren’t much for hiding, and the Camarilla in any case would probably not tolerate any who were other than forthright about their blood, but for the most part, they keep their heads down — and with good reason, since the Sabbat will stop at nothing to exterminate any whose existence they learned of. In the event that Lasombra PCs are approved, they will start the game deeply in debt to the Prince, and be expected to avoid the spotlight, or else run the risk of becoming a target for gradually escalating Sabbat attacks that will likely end with their removal from play. Lasombra are considered a Rare character type.

Ravnos

A bad reputation has long dogged the Ravnos in the west, and that situation has not notably improved in recent days. Some of the other independents have been cautiously permitted into the city since the days of Mithras’ rule, but Anne has no more tolerance for the Deceivers than her mentor did, and is not eager to add any to the guest list. Of course, she’s punctilious in observing the intricacies of Camarilla society, and a Ravnos who arrived and immediately presented himself as such would be … admitted, if not exactly welcomed. On the other hand, if there’s any technical grounds to refuse them, no matter how small, they’re very likely to be taken up.

In the London area, those of the clan who are present stay mostly in Anarch territory, or outside the bounds of the city entirely. Just because the Camarilla does not overtly endorse their persecution — and in fact rather ostentatiously avoids doing so — doesn’t mean that they have any interest in protecting them. After all, that would only encourage them to stay. In this respect, their reputation for untrustworthiness hurt their ability to find refuge, since few powerful vampires are willing to stake their name and reputation on a Ravnos’s good behavior. Ravnos are considered an Uncommon character type.

Tzimisce

None of the Sabbat clans really like the idea of there being defectors from their ranks, but where the Lasombra consider the existence of such vampires a personal insult to every single one of them, the Tzimisce are more inclined to think of them as suffering from a regrettable, but correctable, error in judgment. Not that this is comforting at all to anyone who’s ever met a Sabbat Tzimisce, and therefore has some idea of what they consider to be appropriate methods of correction — but it does mean that the Fiends are not especially invested in tracking down every last member of their bloodline.

Especially because the rest of the Sabbat are normally more than happy to take care of it for them. Much like the Keepers, those few Tzimisce outside the Sabbat are normally keen to avoid becoming well-known, and their tendency toward solitude and away from politics — not to mention their long-simmering rivalry with the Tremere — makes it easier for them to do so. London has played host to a few such independent-minded Fiends, and the decline of the Warlocks after World War II has made it a small but significant amount more attractive

Of course, that small amount is just about enough to make their numbers tick up from “none” to “one or two.” The Camarilla does not trust apostate Tzimisce — even those who have been vetted by Stephen Lenoir — and any who surface are kept firmly under the Prince’s thumb. But Anne is not entirely opposed to the idea, and while some of that is because their presence of even one Tzimisce is intensely aggravating to the Tremere, they do have extremely useful talents. As with the Lasombra, any PC Tzimisce will be indebted to Queen Anne when they enter play, and will need to be circumspect rather than ostentasious. Tzimisce are considered a Rare character type.

Bloodlines

Antitribu

There are of course Antitribu vampires present in London — see The Sabbat in London for more details. Because of their close association with the Sabbat, however, they do not make their presence public. Antitribu vampires are not available as PCs.

Baali

The Baali are exclusively present in London as antagonists, and they are rare even in this context. See Vampire Antagonists for more information. Baali are not available as PCs.

Daughters of Cacophony

Although not one of the continent’s meccas for classically-trained opera singers, London does have its own rich musical heritage, and the Daughters — despite their stereotype — search for subjects for the Embrace almost everywhere singers perform. Their standards are excruciatingly high, but someone fronting a punk rock band is just as plausible a candidate as someone performing the role of Violetta in La traviata. Thanks to the strong influence of the Toreador in modern London, these Kindred artisans are welcomed when they do visit, although in this as in all things, familiarity breeds contempt, and the wise Daughter keeps her visit brief or finds ways to avoid becoming overexposed. The Daughters of Cacophony are considered a Rare character type.

Gargoyles

London is not the most congenial of cities for the Gargoyles — their largest populations are in mainland Europe, and particularly the central and eastern portions, where Tremere influence has historically been strongest. The extensive subterranean undercity has made it attractive to some free Gargoyles, however, and Anne is prepared to tolerate them in modest numbers so long as they abide by the Masquerade. The fact that the Tremere are in a particularly weak position at present is also a draw for their former shock troops. Even so, they are hardly a common sight. Gargoyles are considered a Rare character type.

Harbingers of Skulls

Almost no vampires outside the Sabbat, and not all vampires inside the Sabbat, have even heard of the Harbingers of Skulls. Numbering only in the low three figures worldwide, and being much more interested in study and exploration than in fighting the Camarilla, they are rarely seen outside Sabbat strongholds, and, when they are, are often mistaken for Nosferatu or Samedi — a mistake they are at no pains to correct. Harbingers of Skulls are not available as PCs; please consult staff before using them as NPCs.

Kiasyd

Although their association with the Sabbat is less a matter of ideology than of convenience, it’s still an association solid enough that — when combined with the relatively low numbers of them in existence — the result is that the Kiasyd are very rarely sighted in London. When they are present, it’s generally only for the time needed to consult a particular rare book to be found in one of the city’s museums, and the vampire in question is either under very close watch by Anne’s loyalists (if the Kiasyd is here with permission), or else will take pains to avoid being noticed at all and finish their business as quickly as they can in order to leave (if they aren’t). Kiasyd are not currently permitted as PCs.

Nagaraja

The flesh-eaters are not welcome visitors in places like London, where constant surveillance makes their peculiar appetite even more difficult to hide than usual. The Prince has sent one such vampire packing in the past on pain of a blood hunt, and — perhaps because the Nagaraja are such an unequivocal reminder of the inhumanity shared by all Kindred, however much some might like to deny it — her attitude toward them is firmly negative. Still, there is a remote possibility that one of the small number of them in existence could find shelter among the Anarchs, as long as they were to keep a low enough profile to avoid making their presence widely known — and London’s universities and museums are rich in the artifacts of ancient necromantic civilizations, which might be a compelling reason for such a visit. Nagaraja are considered a Rare character type.

Salubri

In modern nights the Salubri are almost forgotten. Younger Kindred, other than those of Clan Tremere, may never have heard of them, or believe them to be extinct. After a near-thousand-year campaign of relentless propaganda aimed at portraying them as soul-sucking “demon Kindred”, the average Camarilla vampire would probably sooner trust a Baali. Though their antitribu bloodline still exists (if not precisely flourishes) among the Sabbat, the “main” line of Salubri has dwindled down so far that perhaps fewer than ten still exist today. Thanks to their tendency to be of relatively low Generation, they are hunted almost as enthusiastically by the Sabbat as they are by the Camarilla.

Because the Tremere — their main persecutors — are so weak in London, and because the Prince is so firmly opposed to the Sabbat, it’s possible that one of Saulot’s descendants might be hiding in the city somewhere — probably in Anarch territory, where they can undergo less scrutiny. If any Salubri PCs are approved, they will be expected to be very circumspect; if it becomes widely known IC that one is present, they will most likely become part of a storyline that results in their removal from play. Salubri are considered a Rare character type; please consult staff before using them as NPCs.

Samedi

There are more than half of million people of Caribbean descent living in modern England — the largest such population of any country in Europe, with a majority of them residing in London. While the Samedi have been known to Embrace outside this demographic, these relatively high numbers are among the primary reasons why the city is one of the very few in this part of the world that has played home to any of the Stiffs. Of course, it’s not all wine and roses — the Camarilla is especially strict with them, ostensibly because every single Samedi is a walking Masquerade violation, and their status as a bloodline rather than a clan makes them second-class citizens at best — but it’s a much better deal than they get in most European cities. There are rarely more than a handful in London at any one time, and they tend to stay in the Jamaican-majority neighborhoods north of the Thames, where access to the tunnels underneath the city is much more common than it is in the outlying and southern boroughs. Samedi are considered a Rare character type.

True Brujah

The existence of a “True Brujah” bloodline is the source of much debate among the Camarilla’s Noddist scholars — the story of the Brujah Antediluvian becoming a victim of diablerie is too common a theme in vampire history to be entirely dismissed, even if there is little or no evidence of the survival of the “original” Antediluvian’s progeny. For the most part, however, the truth or falsehood of the story is considered an academic question, given the multiple contradictory sources on the topic. True Brujah are not currently available as PCs; please consult staff before using them as NPCs.

Other Bloodlines

Other bloodlines referenced in official VtM material are, in the London of TowersMUX, either extinct or so uncommon that they will not generally appear in-game. They may still be used as NPCs with staff approval.