The Clan of the Silver Thorn

By MystWalker (vsaracen@bellsouth.net)

Foreword

Greetings fellow WoD enthusiasts. I started playing in the WoD setting as a Pumonca Bastet. Then I joined in on my friend's V:tM game as a Gangrel. As much as I loved the outlandish look of the Gangrel, I was far more attracted to the Were and their ways. This is my answer to those like me, who want to play Vampires who are other races.

Clan History

As has been told for centuries, Cain was the first Kindred. He created those creatures of Darkness that prey on the blood and fear of mortals. They were the ones used to scare children in their beds at night; they were a source of magic and mystery; they were the Vampires.

But beside these creatures of the night lived others. Changelings, Were, Wraiths, and Mages. They too roamed the land in search of a life worth living, though in different fashions.

In the year 1789 B.C. a man by the name of Julius Farhaven fell in love with a beautiful woman whose name he never knew. Together they bore a child, though Julius was never told of this. Sadly this child was a Metis, an outcast. This child was named Tanya, though her nickname was SilverThorn, for just as silver was always to be second to gold so she was to all others, and just as the thorn pricked those who were unwary so she hurt those who took no care in hiding their disgust of her.

When Tanya was older than most would have suspected she fell into a crowd of misfits, rouges, and scoundrels. Slowly she climbed to the top of their meager social ladder and came to rule over them. All were of some race that humans feared or mistrusted, mostly Vampires outcast by their brethren.

One Vampire, Leonarde, fell deeply in love with Tanya and bade her enter the world of the Wyrm and the Kindred and accept the ways of the Vampire. So Tanya, in her love, prayed to Gaia to release her of her powers so that she might enter the world of the Kindred and become one with them.

In response to her request Gaia told her this, "Thou may accept the offer of thy lover and enter the Kindred realm and forever lose all links with me and my children to gain the destructive forces of the underworld and fight against me. Thou shalt keep only one reminder of thy true self. Thou shalt change with the rage as thou doth now, only each form will be far more grotesque than they have ever been before. No animal of thyn race will come near thee. None of the changing breeds will dare look at thee. No mortal may ever stand the presence of thee in thy animal forms for as long as thee shalt live."

Tanya, full of love, chose the path of darkness and became one with her lover. In this path all magic linking her with her clan died, for she was no longer werewolf. Instead a new magic welled within her and she saw the power of the Kindred and accepted it with open arms. However, it was as Gaia had said. She could never go near another wolf or canine again. None of the other changing breeds would look upon her. No human, even her closest and dearest friends, could stand to look upon her in her animal forms. She was alone except for her lover.

It was because of this loneliness that she created her clan. Totally made up of those creatures that were outcast by their races and who accepted the Kindred touch. Even those who did not were allowed as member from time to time.

This is the Clan of the Silver Thorn. Those who are looked at as beneath others but who are dangerous when overlooked. For they are second as silver, and as dangerous as the thorn.

Appearance

Most Silver Thorns are different in all respects. They dye their hair bright shades of red, blue, purple, green, yellow, and a variety of other colors. They wear clothing they like, not clothing that others say they should wear. They may have body piercings, tattoos, and various other things done to them. This does not mean, however, you have to be a misfit. You can look perfectly normal and still be a Silver Thorn, though most of your clan members will sneer and jibe at you for it. They are also very protective of other misfits as well as themselves, and will avenge any snubbing or abuse no matter how small it is.

Organization

They are organized in a hierarchy much like that of Medieval Europe. A King (or a variety of other terms) who is then followed by a Chancellor (the King's right hand) who in turn is followed by officials who lead various parts of the clan's business (money, land, law, etc.) who are followed by underlings to do their bidding and then finally the "commoners."

Now this is not to say that they treat each other the way they did back in the middle ages. Actually the "King" is treated like a "commoner" on most occasions. He/She rarely lives in a mansion. More likely a small back alley apartment or an abandoned warehouse will be his/her place of rule. "Commoners," in turn, are not treated unjustly. They just have nothing to worry about but their own lives. Which causes many officials and the like to grumble about their positions.

Personality

Most Silver Thorns are either solemn, quiet, and thoughtful or they are loud, brash, and totally unconcerned with the consequences of their actions. They treat each other fairly; there are rarely in-clan battles. They are also partial to misfits of the human race and sometimes Embrace them into the clan. They enjoy laughter and fun and are often found at bars or dance clubs. Some, however, do prefer libraries and other quiet places.

Of course, not all Silver Thorns fit into these boundaries. Most, in fact, are far from it. They chose who they are and what they will become.

Rules

These are listed in order of what one was before one became a Silver Thorn. Obviously any Vampires are just that, Vampires. They have no different rules than before.-

Changing Breeds: You have lost any ability to handle Fetishes/Trinkets. You may no longer perform Rites nor do you have Gifts. The only thing you retain is your ability to shape-shift. Even this, though, is a curse. For no human can look upon you in your animal forms. No animal of you race will ever come near you. And none of the changing breeds will speak with you ever again. You may never step into the Umbra unless you gain a Vampire skill allowing you to do so.

When you become a Silver Thorn you gain the ability to choose three of any of the disciplines listed within the V:tM book. I have also included a special discipline for the Silver Thorn clan that you may choose as one of your three. You then follow the normal rules. Of course ST's have the ability to limit your choosing to certain disciplines alone.

Changelings: You have lost the chance to ever enter Arcadia. Your true form is grotesque in comparison to what it once was. You no longer have your changeling skills. Any of them. The only one you retain is the ability to shift into your other form. No changeling will ever speak with you, except perhaps a Redcap.

Disciplines are the same as for Changing Breeds.

Mages: You are basically a Vampire for when entering the clan you lose all of your magery skills.

Disciplines are the same as for the Changing breeds.

Wraiths: These beings are not capable of become Vampires, though they may enter the clan. Use the Wraith rules for these creatures.

New Discipline

Outsider's Hand