JAKOBA

By Jay Knioum (madafro@trip.net)

Description

Also known as the "blood-thieves," the Jakoba bloodline began with a haggard Haitian Caitiff sometime in the 1960's. This Caitiff, Jakob, apparently learned on his own the art of stealing the vitae and Disciplines of other Cainites, and has passed this knowledge on to his childer, to the chagrin of the Camarilla; the Tremere in particular. Around 1962, a young Haitian, the son of a voodoo priest, was stolen from his home and forcefully Embraced by one whom he believes was a Serpent of the Light. However, he was left abandoned to wander the streets of Port-au-Prince and to pick up whatever knowledge of his kind he could piece together. As is the tragedy of the clanless, Jakob was cast out of virtually every cabal of vampires he found, and was convinced to leave Port-au-Prince after being jumped in an alley by a group of unknown Nosferatu.

Jakob was saved from the Nos by another Caitiff, a cajun vampire calling herself Le'ceste who had fled to the island nation from New Orleans. Together, the two vampires smuggled themselves across the Caribbean to Venezuela, and from then on moved about South and Central America, on the run from both the Camarilla and the Sabbat.

It was during an attack by a Sabbat pack that Jakob first discovered his unique abilities. One fetid night in the bowels of Cartagena, Colombia, Jakob and his mentor were caught between a dead-end and a zealous Tzimisce and her pack-mates. Jakob had long before learned the secrets of Wolf Claws from Le'ceste, and both made ready to fight. In a fast and furious battle, Le'ceste was laid out on the dirt street with a stake in her chest, and Jakob couldn't take it any more. As the frenzy set in, a surprised Tzimisce found a rabid Caitiff going for his jugular, but not with his fangs. Only dimly aware of what was happening, Jakob barely noticed his fingers lengthen, and his Wolf Claws extend to a full four inches, like five needles jutting from his fingertips.

With a speed only possible through Celerity, Jakob plunged these needles into the Tzimisce, and both vampires had little idea of what happened next.

Jakob awoke on the street hours later. The ghouls had gone, and had apparently taken Le'ceste with them. Beside him lay the Tzimisce...or what Jakob thought was the Sabbat vampire. The Tzimisce had been bent and warped into such a hideous lump of flesh and bone that Jakob couldn't be sure. Not bothering to question what had happened, Jakob fled into the Cartagenian night.

Since then, Jakob learned that he could use his claws to drain the vitae from other Cainites, and with it he could drain the power of the vampire's blood, as well. This would become Jakob's Touch, a bastard Discipline that the Caitiff would be able to teach to his childer, as well. The Jakoba line was born.

Those vampiric scholars who display an interest in this bloodline wonder if the Jakoba are an accident of vitae or a deliberate manifestation of some unseen elder's plans. Connections between the Jakoba and the Inconnu have not been proven, of course, but are still maintained as a possibility by the Tremere. That clan alone wishes not to destroy the Jakoba, but to capture as many as possible to learn about their strange discipline.

Habitat/Society

The Jakoba are barely more than a ragtag group of Caitiff only recently turned Bloodline. Indeed, it is only Jakob's Touch that stands as an argument for this status. Otherwise, the Jakoba are outcasts in Cainite society, even more so for their powers and habits as for their origins.

The Jakoba, through their Discipline, are capable of stealing the powers of other Cainites by stealing their vitae. This has earned them the nickname of "blood-thieves," easily the mildest of the names other vampires have for them. Unfortunately, their unique power also affords a unique price, as the Jakoba gain full nourishment only by drinking the blood of other vampires or ghouls. They can survive on the blood of mortals and animals, but this is difficult. Only the blood of Cainites makes them feel truly alive.

It is this need for the blood of vampires that causes some elders to wonder whether or not the bloodline is a fledgling attempt to thin the vampiric herd in the world, or just an accident of weak vitae.

The Jakoba are a very loose-knit Bloodline, most of which still travel with their founder. They exist anywhere they can find their prized sustenance in great quantity, even taking it from ghouls if necessary. The Jakoba are found in South, Central, and North America only about as far north as Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Florida, and Southern California. Some few also make their homes in the various island nations of the Caribbean Sea, such as Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

Jakoba as a rule avoid Camarilla-dominated cities, as that sect has no tolerance for a bloodline that exists by feeding from other vampires. Sabbat only tolerate the very few that undergo Creation Rites, so any independent groups of Jakoba are rare and paranoid survivors.

Clan Weakness

Jakoba only gain full sustenance from blood that they drink from a vampire or ghoul. Normal blood taken from humans or animals only grants them one Blood Point for every two they drink. Additionally, the blood of mortals is flat and devoid of life to a Jakoba. Any night which the Jakoba drinks from mortals but not from a Cainite, the Jakoba will suffer a 1-die penalty from all Physical Attribute rolls.

Nickname

Blood-Thieves

Parent Clan

Serpents of the Light (?)

Clan Disciplines

Obfuscate, Protean, Jakob's Touch

Haven

Jakoba huddle in groups, often in the slums of a large city where they know they can find a supply of high-Generation neonates or Caitiff to overbear and feed upon. They typically hunt in groups with many sharp stakes between them, so that they may ambush their prey and disable them quickly. Jakob, among others of the line, makes it a point to learn as much as possible about local Blood Hunts, clan wars or the presence of unwanted vampires, so as to take prey that will not cause as much of an uproar by abruptly disappearing. Jakoba packs also stealthily follow in the wake of anyone who hunts vampires, hoping to feed on any staked Cainites who await the dawn.

Jakoba and Kindred Society

Essentially, the Jakoba bloodline is little more than a group of Caitiff who have stumbled upon a new and dangerous Discipline. At least, that is how they are seen by the Camarilla. They are disorganized and have no clan structure or society. Most of them huddle around their founder, but small pockets exist throughout Latin America and the Caribbean islands. Jakob himself leads the largest clutch of blood-thieves in a never-ending nomadic trek encompassing Mexico, Central America, and South America. Jakob staunchly avoids the United States, and tries to dissuade any of his clanmates from traversing Camarilla territory. Thus, it's a good bet that any Jakoba encountered north of the Rio Grande are either very skilled, insane, or have a sponsor.

As such, the Camarilla does not consider the small Jakoba line to be much more than a threat, the severity of which depends on their numbers. Wherever they turn up, the Camarilla usually seeks them out and destroys them, except for the Tremere, who are quite interested in the secrets of Jakob's Touch.

Some few Jakoba are allowed to undergo Creation Rites, and become war dogs for the Sabbat. However, their need for Cainite blood prevents these arrangements from being too commonplace. All too often, relations between Sabbat and Jakoba are brutal and short-lived.

A handful of powerful Jakoba have found their niches as personal assassins or spies for Anarchs or independent bloodlines such as the Giovanni. The Assamites also occasionally keep a few on hand for help during particularly dangerous missions.

Most of this bloodline, however, follows Jakob in his migrations throughout Latin America. The Jakoba camp down in a city for a few nights, stake and capture as many local vampires as possible, and move on. Ironically, many of the vampires who fall prey to the Jakobas' appetites are Caitiff or orphaned vampires who will not be missed. Jakob himself walks a thin line, and he and his childer have learned to survive in a harsh world, although they are doomed to run forever.

Ghouls

Jakoba only ghoul when they are near a ready supply of Cainite blood, but in short supply of backup. Lone Jakoba create ghouls primarily to help them bring down prey, or as protection from a very hostile world. These vampires highly prize their ghouls and usually treat them very well, as they understand their ghouls may be the only real allies they will ever have. Jakoba are also adept at locating orphaned or mistreated ghouls and adopting them, to the chagrin and misfortune of the ghouls' abusive domitors.

Stereotypes

The Camarilla: They loudly profess equality, but would rather burn us than hear our words. Worse, our very nature prevents us from achieving a separate peace with the Kindred. Flee from the Camarilla until cornered, and then take as many with you as you can into Final Death.

"These parasites endanger the Masquerade and all Kindred who encounter them. They must be purged from the world."

-- Felix Andres Galvan, Brujah Primogen of San Antonio

The Sabbat: Provided you sell your soul to them, and agree to be their cannon fodder, they might treat you pretty well, as favored pets, perhaps. But don't bet on that.

"These poor abominations are all too ready to accept our mastery over them. What other choice do they have in the world? Even so, they'd best stay far from me."

-- Catalina, a Toreador antitribu, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

The Inconnu: Whoever they are, I hope they're entertained, I really do. "...an interesting footnote to our activities in this region. They are developing precisely as we have projected..."

-- passage in a report to Rome, from the monitors of Mexico and Central America

The Giovanni: Sometimes they'll help us out; give us a job and a place to spend the day. You just be sure you have something to offer before you go knocking on their door.

"My cousin Carlo used a couple of 'em for a stunt he pulled in L.A. The thing about these jokers, everybody hates 'em, and nobody trusts 'em. Need to take out somebody important without implicating yourself? Find a Jakoba. He'll be all too happy for the meal, and nobody'll believe him if he fingers you."

-- Vincent Marko Giovanni, Chicago

The Samedi: Scary. If I was starving, then maybe.

"If you hear that these guys are about, lock yourself indoors and let the local Bishop handle things. They run in packs, and they have nothing to lose. These suckers almost make me appreciate the Society of Leopold."

-- Peter St. Lawrence, of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

The Lupines: Why the hell do you think we travel in groups? The werewolves are a force of nature, but I'd much prefer a tornado.

"You mean they're vampires who bite other vampires? Does that mean they're gay? Ha! I kill me."

-- Rico Bites-the-Hand, Bone Gnawer Ragabash, Corpus Christi

The Mages: Well, my pack met a bunch of naked people dancing around a fire in the jungle near Bogota once. They cut themselves up and chanted something, and then the wind howled, the ground turned to quicksand and the trees started screaming. Okay, I get the point.

The Gypsies: Did you know there's a group of them who go about killing vampires? Damn useful if you can follow 'em without being seen.