SCATHACH

By Drew Sundeen (drewsundeen@usa.net)

Description

The story of the Scathach begins in medieval Germany, just before the Anarch Revolt, in an isolated, nameless little town. A blacksmith named Seth lived in this town, and he provided it with all of the tools and weapons that they needed. One night, just as he was finishing a days work at the forge, he heard a frantic knock at the door. When he opened the door, a pale young man who looked as if he had been severly beaten stood before him shaking. He told Seth that a group of men were chasing him, and that he needed a place to hide. Seth agreed, and took him to the now cooling forge. He ripped out a floor board and told the young man to get underneath. Seth then fired up the forge and waited. Not long after, he heard several horses and yelling men. One of them burst into Seth's door and demanded to search his house. They ransacked Seth's home, and then moved back to the forge. As soon as they saw the flames of the forge, fear filled their hearts and they ran. Seth put the forge's fires out and helped the young man up. The man explained that he was a vampire named Marcus, and that he owed Seth a boon of life. In gratitude Marcus Embraced Seth into clan Brujah, and the two left the town the next night.

Marcus explained that he had diablerized a Toreador Elder, and that a blood hunt had been called on him. The two traveled all over northern Europe, being careful to avoid the larger towns. Soon, Seth wished to return to his forge, but knew he could not, because of the Rotschreck. He became miserable and lethargic. This worried Marcus, and so The two of them set out to find someone who could help them.

The two eventually came upon an old Caitiff in the Black Forest of Germany. Marcus, knowing of the Caitiff aptitude for learning new disciplines, begged him for help. The Caitiff, loving the fact that one of the clans was begging one of the clanless for help, agreed on the condition that they serve him for one decade.

For the next ten years, Marcus and Seth served the old Caitiff faithfully, while helping him to create the discipline of The Forge. When they left, the Old Caitiff told them to help another Caitiff they found, and tell them that they were sent by Stoneman.

With their time done, Marcus and Seth went their separate ways. Marcus traveled to France and went into Torpor, while Seth traveled Europe, embracing skilled smiths. He traveled to the British Isles, where in one of the smaller villages, he found an elderly smith. He befriended the smith, who taught him about the tradition of the old Scathach mage-smiths of the Celts, and how he was one the last practitioners left. Seth decided to Embrace (no pun intented) the philosophy and religion of the Scathach.

After spending several decades teaching his childer the ways of smithing and of the Scathach, he and five of his favorite childer traveled back to Germany, where they built a great forge ouside of one of towns. In the great forge, Seth works to this day, create objects of great skill and beauty.

Nicknames

Smiths, Throwbacks

Backgrounds

Most are into their thirties at the time of the Embrace, although this is by no means a requirement. All that is a requirement is a wish to forge and shape metal with your own two hands. Not suprisingly, many Neonates used to be, and still are, members of the Society for Creative Anachronism.

Character Creation

Physical Attributes are most always primary, as are Skills. All Scathach must start with one dot on Blacksmithing and one dot of Metallurgy. Architect is the most wide-spread Nature in this bloodline, while Demeanors vary from smith to smith. As you may have guessed, Anachronism is a very common flaw.

Disciplines

The Forge, Fortitude, Potence

Weakness

Maximum Appearence of four, due to burns. Even if the Scathach was never burned as a mortal, the burns manifest by the time level three of The Forge is reached. They also suffer from a form of the Toreador weakness, but only applying to weapons and works of the forge.

Organization

Most are solitary, but often if there is an SCA chapter in their area, they will all meet there. Once every three decades, the whole bloodline meets in Germany at Seth's forge. There they discuss any news important to the them, but they usually end up entraced by Seth's great works.

Quote

"We do our best to keep the ancient tradition of the forge alive, for it is the greatest art of all."

Stereotypes

Assamites: We haven't had much contact with them, and from what I've heard, it's better that way.

"Their trade is almost as honorable as ours."

-- Khalil, Assamite Elder

Brujah: Our forefathers, but that's as far as the relation goes.

"Wop-di-fuckin'-shit. Bunch a' throwbacks who make swords all night. We'd a' kicked their asses a long time ago, but we don't feel like it."

-- Dre, missing Brujah

Caitiff: We must help these Kindred when we can. One of their Elders gave us a great gift and helping the other clanless is the least we can do.

"I don't know why they help us, but it is greatly appreciated."

-- Simon, 14th generation Caitiff

Gangrel: These guys are pretty cool. I let them stay at my place if they need a place to sleep. The old ones have some really good stories about the medieval times.

"They are honorable and kind at heart. It's hard to believe that they came from the Brujah."

-- Micheal, Gangrel Autarkis

Giovanni: Death obsessed italian businessmen? That's pretty damn weird. To each his own, I guess.

"Who? Oh yes. That minor little bloodline. Who cares? Now go away."

-- Johnathan Giovanni

Lasombra: These guys creep me out. One of them came down to my forge a while back an asked me to make a few things for him. I was about to agree, until I saw, or rather didn't see his reflection in the window. I had to escort him out.

"We have had limited interaction. They just aren't Sabbat material."

-- Sanchez, Sabbat priest

Malkavians: I may wish it was the Medieval times, but at least I don't think that it's 1193.

"Ah yes. The good blacksmith who reforged my blade. Now be a good wench and get me another ale."

Nosferatu: Ugly buggers, but then, I'm not exactly Fabio myself. They help us get ahold of all the scrap metal we need.

"It's good having someone around who's big enough to kick a Brujah's ass, without the temper."

-- Rat-Faced Gremlin, Ancillae Nosferatu

Ravnos: Nice guys, but watch the valubles when they're in town.

"At least they have a sense of humor, something most undead lack."

-- Nitro, Ravnos neonate

Setites: Never heard of them.

"Who?"

-- every Setite we asked

Toreador: They like their art; we like ours.

"Don't they know that fashion went out of style centuries ago?"

-- Angela, Toreador Model

Tremere: They seem to want to old days back, too. Just a different part.

"Just another in a long line of pawns to conquer."

-- Hieronomys, Tremere Regent

Tzimisce: If you don't mind me saying, that's some pretty fucked up shit there. I hope I never meet one again.

"They can do with metal what we do with flesh. That is a trait to be admired, but otherwise, they are just as primitive as all of the others."

-- Radu, Tzimisce Devirsifist

Ventrue: They hire us to make some of the best of our works. I think they want the old times as much as we do.

"Their work is to be admired. Thank Caine they kept out of politics."

-- Roy, Prince of Corpus Cristi