Ravnos (ElmerG)
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The Reborn Clan
Wanderers Illusionists Seekers Demon Hunters The Shattered (derogatory) Shilmulo (derogatory, rare) |
Misunderstood as tricksters and charlatans by other Cainites, the history and background of the Ravnos is something much different. Once divided into western and eastern Ravnos, an event called the 'Week of Nightmares' led to the destruction of many western Ravnos, leaving few of the heavily caste-based eastern Ravnos after the massage. In this calamity, though, the Ravnos have found organization and unity of their Clan not seen in millennia; and in Modern Nights, the Ravnos prepare for the coming of the asuratziyya and the grand 'war' against one of their wayward ancients. Though a fraction of their former numbers, the Ravnos have once again begun spreading in the world, observing the new Cainite societies that have arisen in the aftermath of events that have shaken Cainite society. The Ravnos observe and plan, for there is soon to be a reckoning, once Ravanna awakes. And perhaps the Ravnos will be prepared then, in these new and changed Modern Nights.
Who are the Ravnos (ElmerG)?
Prior to the Week of Nightmares, Clan Ravnos were a much-derided and much-maligned clan due to the perceptions of, and the actions of, their most visible members in Kindred society. Known for being wandering vagabonds and hucksters, the most prolific and public Ravnos were charlatans who pervaded deception and theft. Misunderstood as the clan of gypsies and tricksters by Cainite society as a whole, the truth of the Ravnos had come to light after the disaster of the Week of Nightmares befell them. In 1999, as the Red Star appeared large in the sky, an ancient awoke, and the Clan went mad worldwide, engaging in acts of diablerie and destruction; Ravnos in domains turned on each other, their illusion powers out of control. Theorized now to be the 'death throes' of a true Ancient (and many believe, an Antediluvian), the Ravnos Clan tore itself apart, and those known to the majority of Cainite society were all but wiped out. But the Western Ravnos were not all of the Ravnos.
In the east, in India and surrounding areas, the Ravnos existed, this area being the 'true' origin point of the Clan. Believing themselves to be put on the earth and given a svadharma -- a divine purpose -- as avengers and tempters of men, destined to exterminate demons -- the asuratziyya. Divided into a caste (jati) system, the Ravnos of India have lived separate existences from the Western Ravnos, living as tempters of the unrighteous and pilgrims seeking their divine purpose against the asuratziyya. The four primary castes of the Ravnos are the Brahmin (priests who maintain mayaparisatya and advise the other castes), the Kshatriya (military leaders who run the war effort against the Ravnos' enemies, primarily the asuratziyya, the Vaisya (who managed the Masquerade and mortal resources, often functioning as majordomos) and Chandala (equivalent to Caitiff, with no dictated 'role' in Ravnos society by the svadharma). Ravnos ghouls are called the Shudra caste, servants to their vampiric masters, and other minor families can be considered 'castes' among the Western Ravnos.
These Ravnos were just as effected by the Week of Nightmares as their cousins, and the destructive madness that brought low the Western Ravnos also afflicted the Eastern Ravnos. Unlike their Western cousins, however, the jati had support systems in place, as the Kindred rulers of the region, which lessened the blow to their numbers. And while many died, many more were subdued and kept in torpor until the madness had passed. And after the madness had passed, the Eastern Ravnos took stock of their situation and folded in on themselves, both to ensure their society would survive, but for protection against their Cathayan enemies who might strike in their hour of weakness. Nearly a decade afterward, after a time of recovery and expansion, some Ravnos were dispatched into the world, beginning to reintegrate slowly into Cainite society, learning of what had happened and all the changes that came after the Week of Nightmares. And events have brought two of their eldest together, in search of a third, their sister, in order to combat the coming asuratziyya and the fallen ancient, Ravanna. At the order of these ancients, the clan began to increase their numbers, even as some of their elders began to succumb to a 'call' and disappear into the night. In the past decade, the Eastern Ravnos have begun to organize in a manner unprecedented because of this, and are slowly becoming a more common sight in Cainite society as their neonates and ancillae wander into the world, their pilgrims and warriors venturing out into the world looking for the Lost Sister.
Ravnos (ElmerG) Archetypes
Wandering Priest
This Ravnos, a member of the Brahmin jati, is one of the first out into the world after the Eastern Ravnos began their recovery. A wanderer who is often a new arrival in a given Domain, this Ravnos is relearning Cainite society in the new nights. The Beckoning, the Second Inquisition, the Fall of the Sabbat, the Gehenna Crusade... the extent of much of this is unknown to her, and she is taking it in stride. In addition to learning, she is slowly attempting to 'advise' other Kindred of the Eastern Ravnos in order to make her brethren's transition into Cainite society proceed as smoothly as possible. And though she doesn't talk about it to many, if any, she is searching for information on their wayward ancient, the 'sister' of Hazimel and Chandraputa, Marizhavashti.
Advance Soldier
A member of the Kshatriya jati who was sent out into the world to see how the asuratziyya have been on the move, the Advance Soldier comes from modern military stock. Trained in both human military tactics and in tactics to deal with Cainites, the Advance Soldier seeks a domain where the influence of the asuratziyya is undeniable, and in that domain, the Ravnos plans to bring information back to the Clan as a whole and, if possible, destroy the asuratziyya where they are. Subtle and soft-spoken, the Advance Soldier simply calls themselves a traveling Ravnos, in order to throw off suspicions and keep the truth of the rising numbers of the Clan from the general Cainite populace.
Aspiring Majordomo
Insinuating themselves into a Domain, this well-read and well-educated Ravnos of the Vaisya jati has been seeking a domain to ingratiate themselves into. Taken from mortal stock with strong political leanings and great training in oratory and business, the Embrace and being drawn into Cainite politics (both inside the Ravnos clan and outside) has made this Ravnos an even more eloquent speaker, with a keen and discerning mind for political minutiae. This Ravnos seeks to find out the new state of affairs in Cainite society, while using their political acumen to perhaps set themselves, and their Eastern brethren, in a future position of usefulness or power.
Disciplines
Animalism: As wanderers, the Ravnos are no stranger to wild lands. Through the use of this Discipline, the Ravnos has a two-fold capability; those young enough to take sustenance from animals have an easily-accessible emergency source of blood, and an easy method of information gathering (and defense, in a pinch).
Fortitude: Many Ravnos claim that their mastery of Fortitude is a gift from their progenitor, the strength of their bodies supporting them in their battles against the asuratziyya. And while this may be true, Fortitude has borne up many Ravnos being driven out of domains, weathering both the physical and mental assaults against their persons.
Obfuscate: Careful application of Obfuscate has given the Ravnos their signature capability: the ability to cloud the minds of others and make them see what they want, to the point of those 'illusions' being given a 'physical' substance of a sort. Mastery of Obfuscate not only allows the Ravnos to travel undetected, but to put these mental tricks to work in their 'duty' as tempters, and in defense of themselves and their allies.
Ravnos often utilize the Amalgams Mithya, which allows them to project their Obfuscate as independent illusions that effect all five senses, and Maya, which takes the projected illusion and grants it a form of substance by drawing on their Fortitude.
Bane
The Ravnos believe that their Bane is not a punishment so much as a trial. In their role as tempters, they too are tempted; each Ravnos, upon Embrace, becomes afflicted with a vice. This vice should be discussed with the Storyteller; often, something that would cause a character to move towards violation of a Chronicle Tenet or Conviction is most appropriate. Most Ravnos believe by overcoming this temptation of their blood, they will come closer to their mythic origin, bettering themselves and moving beyond their own limits, essentially 'purifying' themselves and moving further along their svadharma -- their divine purpose. The Ravnos takes penalties equal to the Bane Severity to any pools involved in avoiding indulging in this vice.
For example, Camille's Ravnos, Sati, has the vice '
Clan Compulsion: Svadharma (Divine Purpose)
On the activation of this Compulsion by a Bestial Failure, the Ravnos' mind aligns with their 'mythic origin' as tempters of men, sent down to see who is righteous and who is not. The Ravnos must engage in attempts to coerce another individual (vampire or mortal) to violate a Conviction (most often using the powers of Mithya to assist). Any action not taken towards pushing someone to violate the Conviction suffers a -2 penalty, as the Beast fights against their attempt to avoid their svadharma. The Compulsion lasts until the end of the scene, or until the target does something to definitively uphold Conviction in the Ravnos' presence, at which point the Compulsion ends.
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Credits
Author: ElmerG
Other Credits: This version of the Ravnos is heavily inspired by the presentation of the Ravnos in Beckett's Jyhad Diary, eschewing the Roma aspects of it in large parts in order to focus on the caste-based Eastern Ravnos and the political game potential therein.
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