Mind's Eye Theatre - Vampire The Requiem.pdf - RoseRed

strains of the requiem • slaves to the blood
Therefore, while some are able to separate the experience from the individual, many Kindred
become emotionally attached to their vessels. They return to the same specifi c people
continuously, growing ever closer to them. Sometimes, if the individual is properly cooperative,
this behavior can result in the formation of a herd, but it’s also dangerous, as it increases the
vampire’s risk of exposure. These Kindred are often extremely protective of their stock, even
to the point of challenging anyone else, mortal or vampire, who threatens them.
HERDS
A herd is a group of vessels, usually but not always mortals, from whom a vampire can feed
regularly with minimal diffi culty. A herd might be a group in the literal sense of the word, an
assembly of Licks who gather for whatever reason. It might be a religious cult that worships
the Kindred as an angel, members of a bondage club who consider biting and blood drinking
kinky, or any other assembly in which the Kindred can hide or pass off her activities. On
the other hand, a vampire’s herd might be scattered farther abroad, consisting of multiple
unconnected but willing vessels across the city. Some herds might not involve people at all,
instead comprising multiple accessible animals. Some Kindred even consider access to stores
of donated Vitae in blood banks or hospitals to be part of their herd in the loosest sense.
Not all Kindred have herds, but those who do fi nd it much easier to hunt. Few vampires
have herds so large that they can afford to feed from them all the time, so most hunt anyway,
but it’s always good to have them available to fall back on when one is in a hurry or otherwise
unable to hunt. As with lone vessels, many Kindred develop a reciprocal attachment to
members of their herd, due to the emotional power of the Kiss.
THRALLS AND REGNANTS
Kindred society treats thralls differently depending on the domain. In some cities, elders use
their thralls as proxies, and a thrall is considered to speak with her master’s voice at court and on
other matters of import. In other domains, thralls are messengers and pawns but are not permitted
to wield any of their domitor’s authority. In some particularly dictatorial domains, Kindred are not
even permitted to subject one another to the Vinculum without the Prince’s permission (though
secret trysts and abuses of the system occur). In any event, a regnant is held responsible for the
activities of his thrall and may be punished along with the thrall if the servant misbehaves.
GHOULS
Far more common than Kindred thralls are mortal ghouls, kine who have been imbued
with the mystic power of Kindred Vitae. In mortals, the blood of a vampire spawns not
merely the artifi cial love represented by the Vinculum, but also substantial physical strength
and stamina. The ghoul does not age as long as at least some Kindred blood remains in her
system, and old or strong-willed ghouls can even develop some other Kindred Disciplines
beyond brawn and hardiness.
Ghouls are quite common in some Kindred domains, and are often considered essential
servants. A vampire might choose a ghoul for a specifi c skill or position the mortal possesses,
or he might select a mortal simply out of some obsessed affection. Kindred use their ghouls
as messengers, bodyguards, soldiers, proxies at court, fronts through which they can infl uence
mortal institutions, butlers, drivers, menservants, travel planners and daytime security
— potentially anything the Kindred himself cannot or would prefer not to do himself. Given
the quantities of blood ghouls require to maintain their abilities, most vampires have only
one or two such servants, and only a very rare few Kindred can maintain more than a handful.
As with Kindred thralls, some ghouls bitterly resent the tasks they are forced to perform,
but few have the willpower to protest.
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