From April, 2009
Know Your Kindred – Thetmes
Name: Thetmes
Clan: Assamite
Generation: 5th
Embraced: 25 B.C.
Thetmes was a young Egyptian recruited to fight against Cleopatra and her Roman allies. The battle ended in defeat and Thetmes was sold into slavery as a gladiator. He excelled in the ring and caught the eyes of many wealthy spectators. He was eventually sold to a rich Syrian who offered Thetmes the opportunity to join the Web of Knives.
Thetmes rose to lead the Web and many thought he epitomized the stereotype of the Assamite assassin – no longer a solider or gladiator, but an artist whose chosen craft was death.
After the disastrous assault on Vienna in 1529, that saw the destruction of 30 warriors and a dozen sorcerers. Thetmes returned to Alamut and challenged the Caliph who commanded the assault to an unarmed fight to the death. The duel lasted just long enough for Thetmes to shatter each of the Caliph’s major joints and twisting his head from his shoulders. He presented the crumbling skull to Jamal before it turned to dust. Thetmes was then named the new Caliph of Alamut.
Thetmes was at odds with Jamal‘s adherence to the Muslim faith, but he never censured anyone who professed Muslim beliefs. When ur-Shulgi returned, Thetmes disappeared. Rumors spread that he was killed in a manner similar to Jamal, or that he was on a covert mission for the Eldest. Infact Thetmes is ur-Shulgi’s right hand man. Thetmes is troubled that during one of his many periods in torpor he missed Haqim’s last appearance. Thetmes believes serving ur-Shulgi will atone for that shortcoming.
Thetmes carries himself like a hunting cat: eyes constantly in motion and his body is still. When dealing with non-Assamite vampires, he uses Obfuscate to blur his features and uses cosmetics to lighten his jet-black skin, downplaying his age and clan in order to create a false sense of security.
– Source: Clanbook: Assamite, pg 96.
Know Your Kindred – Conrad Adoula
Name: Demra Makemba Adoula, “Conrad”
Clan: Lasombra
Generation: 10th
Embrace: 19th Century
Demra lived along the banks of the Congo during the Belgian occupation of the 19th century. She grew up around European technology and culture. Her intelligence and leadership potential caught the eye of a 200 year old Lasombra named Elias Bruylant.
When Demra’s brooding European lover died suddenly, she fell into a blind panic. Elias then brought her to his haven in the Congo River. There he explained very politely what he as going to do to her, then he forcibly Embraced her.
Demra adapted quickly to being a vampire, since she already despaired of life. Elias took Demra to his homeland in Europe and Demra was dazzled. She’s never returned to the Congo since. While in Europe Demra joined the ranks of the Sabbat. In the 1920s, she began calling herself “Conrad” in honor of a Polish-English writer whose poetry inspired her to reshape the world.
During the Great Depression she came to the New World, where her natural flair for rhetoric gave her many opportunities in black communities in North and South America. She dreams of one day organizing a Sabbat effort to provoke white governments to see if more people like herself would emerge.
Conrad has a deep hatred for mortal society – for the conquerors who destroyed her hopes and for the people who won’t rise up and fight back. She considers Gehenna ludicrous to believe in. It seems like somebody’s world is always ending.
Conrad is a tall slim woman with extremely dark skin. Her face is scared with ritual marks overlaid with western symbols. When dealing with mortals, she uses Obfuscate to slightly alter her features just enough to allow her to belong in whatever community she’s manipulating.
– Source: Clanbook: Lasombra (Revised), pg 98-99