Assamite
Encyclopedia
The Assamites are a clan
of vampire
s, from White Wolf Game Studio
's Vampire: The Masquerade
book
s and role-playing game
s.
In the original version of this clan the Assamites are a group of skilled, select assassins who often commit contract killing
s in exchange for the blood of other vampires. Even when compared to other vampires, the Assamite appear overly obsessed
with blood
, due to a clan weakness which causes an addiction to the blood of other vampires.
Much of the Assamite symbol
ogy is Arab
ic in origin. Even the clan stronghold, Alamut
, is based in a mountain range in the Middle East
ern region. The Hashshashin
cult
that once occupied this fortress is what inspired the first version of the Assamites.
Aside from warrior
s/assassins, later game supplements expanded the clan's background and composition to include scholars, known as Viziers, and sorcerers. Effectively the clan consists of three bloodlines, known as castes, each with slightly different Disciplines and weaknesses.
Even though most Assamites claim independence from the sects, they still collaborate with both the Camarilla and the Sabbat whenever such an alliance suits their purposes. Over time a few Assamite factions have permanently defected to the sects however, notably the antitribu (who joined the Sabbat) and the smaller group of Schismatics that sought protection in the Camarilla.
The Assamites clan Discipline is Quietus, which alters the internal chemistry and alchemical balance of the vitae (or blood) of the practitioner or his/her victims. The Discipline was developed as a tool for carrying out the Clan's original purpose as defined by its founder Haqim as judges and police to their fellow Cainites during the age of the First City of Enoch. The Discipline's effects range from the novice ability to use one's blood as a potent poison to causing an entire Cainite bloodline to "weep" blood.
Another trait which differentiates the Assamites from the other vampire clans is that they were never cursed by Caine, the first vampire. Despite this, they were still subject to two powerful curses from other sources. The first such curse originated with the Baali
bloodline during the Assamite clan's attempted destruction of that family. The results of this curse was that the entire warrior caste of the Assamite clan became afflicted with a tremendous blood-lust for the vitae of other vampires, even to the extent of addiction after only one taste of another Cainite's blood. The second curse occurred at the hands of the Tremere
around the time of the Anarch Revolt. This curse, intended as punishment for the clan's addiction to vampire blood as a result of the first curse, caused the entire Assamite clan to have a severe allergic reaction to the vitae of other vampires. Only the Assamites that joined the Sabbat and thus became antitribu, and a few disobedient loners who refused to succumb to the curse were spared this fate. Recently, however, the Assamites have managed to shrug free of the Tremere curse due to the awakening of one of their most ancient and powerful methuselahs, named Ur-Shulgi, and have resumed feeding on other vampires. This caused a great many elder Assamite Antitribu to rejoin the original clan, leading to a leadership crisis in the Sabbat's Black Hand subsect. Ur-Shulgi began to implement an extremist doctrine which in turn caused the Schism, where a group of Assamites who rejected the Methuselah's dogma joined the Camarilla sect.
Unlike the other lines of vampires, who become paler as they age, Assamites grow darker with age - their eldest members being the shade of obsidian. There is one notable exception to this; Al Ashrad, former Amr of the clan, has pure white skin and no one has been able or willing to explain this.
The Assamite Clan is further subdivided into three castes; Warrior, Sorcerer, and Vizier.
The Assamite Antitribu are almost identical to their non-Sabbat counterparts, except that they accept all races into their clan, granting membership to anyone with a warrior's heart. Also, most importantly, they were never subjected to the Curse of the Tremere. The Assamites of the Sabbat are free to drink the blood of all Vampires. Because of this, they may be considered a separate bloodline from all other Assamites.
The Assamites of the Sabbat, acting on the request of the Sabbat leader Vestgeir, severed all direct association to the Assamite clan. The Sabbat Assamites have since that time made peace with their former clan. Assamite Antitribu will not battle non-Sabbat Assamites, and Assamites have never warred against the Sabbat Assamites. This unspoken understanding is at least recognized by Sabbat leaders.
The Assamite Antitribu are the primary assassins of the Sabbat. However, they do not ask for blood from the leaders of the sect. Instead, they ritually slay the eldest of their own clan every 100 years through a special diablerie ceremony. This elder has some of the blood of the Lasombra founder, a third generation vampire, running through his veins. The elder exists for a century as the closest Assamite Antitribu to Caine himself, ruling under the title Hulul. At the end of the 100-year reign, the next in line drinks the precious vitae from the previous ruler, and so it passes it through history.
Some Assamites joined the Camarilla. Most of those that joined the Camarilla were viziers and sorcerers. Warriors that joined the Camarilla are generally seen as loose cannons who must be supervised by their more restrained (and non-vitae-addicted) clan mates. Sorcerers in the Camarilla find their skills in high demand as an alternative to dealing with the Tremere.
A small number of Assamites, mostly Warriors, joined the Sabbat. While the Assamite-antitribu who had been with the Sabbat for the last 500 years were entirely from Warrior stock, the Warriors opting to join the Sabbat were not entirely welcomed with open arms. Many of the Assamite-antitribu elders, particularly in the Black Hand, had defected and left the Sabbat to return to the main clan. This meant the Sabbat was not entirely welcoming because of the recent betrayal. Few sorcerers or viziers joined the Sabbat.
Some Assamites chose to go completely independent and avoid all the sects. They also drew away from the main clan, primarily for religious reasons. Few Warriors chose this option. Most Dispossessed Assamites are Viziers or Sorcerers.
Many Assamites stayed with the main clan. Most of these were warriors and sorcerers. Virtually all Assamites on the Path of Blood chose to stay with the main clan.
Vampire: The Dark Ages initially presented them in much the same light as 2nd edition Vampire: The Masquerade. Libellus Sanguinus originally introduced the concept of the three Assamite castes.
Revised edition Vampire presented the Assamites of consisting of the warriors and the "viziers". In that context, the "viziers" were actually the sorcerers. The three caste system was introduced as "optional" in the Revised edition Assamite clanbook.
Dark Ages: Vampire presented the Assamites as three separate castes without the disclaimer than the castes are "optional".
With the version changes, there were also several changes in weakness. 1st and 2nd edition Assamites all suffered from an allergy to vitae due to the Tremere curse and had to tithe vitae to the clan. Revised and Vampire: The Dark Ages Assamites suffered from the Warrior weakness, addiction to vitae. Revised edition "viziers" (sorcerers) had to pay an additional blood point to use Thaumaturgy. Assamites in Libellus Sanguinus, Dark Ages Vampire, and the Revised Assamite clan book have the standard three caste flaws.
In Libellus Sanguinus and Dark Ages: Vampire sorcerers get Assamite Sorcery, Auspex, and Quietus as their primary Disciplines. In the Revised edition Assamite clan book (modern era) they get Assamite Sorcery, Obfuscate, and Quietus. The Viziers and Warriors have the same Disciplines in the Dark Ages and modern era.
In all versions, Assamites grow darker with age.
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
of vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
s, from White Wolf Game Studio
White Wolf, Inc.
White Wolf Publishing is an American gaming and book publisher. The company was founded in 1991 as a merger between Lion Rampant and White Wolf Magazine, and was initially led by Mark Rein·Hagen of the former and Steve and Stewart Wieck of the latter. Since White Wolf Publishing, Inc. merged with...
's Vampire: The Masquerade
Vampire: The Masquerade
Vampire: The Masquerade is a role-playing game. Created by Mark Rein·Hagen, it was the first of White Wolf Game Studio's World of Darkness role-playing games, based on the Storyteller System and centered around vampires in a modern gothic-punk world....
book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s and role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s.
In the original version of this clan the Assamites are a group of skilled, select assassins who often commit contract killing
Contract killing
Contract killing is a form of murder, in which one party hires another party to kill a target individual or group of people. It involves an illegal agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to kill the target in exchange for consideration, monetary, or otherwise. The hiring party may...
s in exchange for the blood of other vampires. Even when compared to other vampires, the Assamite appear overly obsessed
Fixation (psychology)
Fixation: 'concept originated by Sigmund Freud to denote the persistence of anachronistic sexual traits'. Subsequently '"Fixation" acquired a broader connotation...
with blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
, due to a clan weakness which causes an addiction to the blood of other vampires.
Much of the Assamite symbol
Symbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
ogy is Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
ic in origin. Even the clan stronghold, Alamut
Alamut
Alamut was a mountain fortress located in the South Caspian province of Daylam near the Rudbar region in Iran, approximately 100 kilometres from present-day Tehran, Iran...
, is based in a mountain range in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern region. The Hashshashin
Hashshashin
The Assassins were an order of Nizari Ismailis, particularly those of Persia that existed from around 1092 to 1265...
cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
that once occupied this fortress is what inspired the first version of the Assamites.
Aside from warrior
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
s/assassins, later game supplements expanded the clan's background and composition to include scholars, known as Viziers, and sorcerers. Effectively the clan consists of three bloodlines, known as castes, each with slightly different Disciplines and weaknesses.
Even though most Assamites claim independence from the sects, they still collaborate with both the Camarilla and the Sabbat whenever such an alliance suits their purposes. Over time a few Assamite factions have permanently defected to the sects however, notably the antitribu (who joined the Sabbat) and the smaller group of Schismatics that sought protection in the Camarilla.
The Assamites clan Discipline is Quietus, which alters the internal chemistry and alchemical balance of the vitae (or blood) of the practitioner or his/her victims. The Discipline was developed as a tool for carrying out the Clan's original purpose as defined by its founder Haqim as judges and police to their fellow Cainites during the age of the First City of Enoch. The Discipline's effects range from the novice ability to use one's blood as a potent poison to causing an entire Cainite bloodline to "weep" blood.
Another trait which differentiates the Assamites from the other vampire clans is that they were never cursed by Caine, the first vampire. Despite this, they were still subject to two powerful curses from other sources. The first such curse originated with the Baali
Baali (World of Darkness)
The Baali are a bloodline of vampires from White Wolf Game Studio's Vampire: The Masquerade books and role-playing games.The Baali were a bloodline of vampires associated with demon worship. Much of the Baali in-game symbolism is inspired by real-world Mesopotamian and Phoenician sources. The very...
bloodline during the Assamite clan's attempted destruction of that family. The results of this curse was that the entire warrior caste of the Assamite clan became afflicted with a tremendous blood-lust for the vitae of other vampires, even to the extent of addiction after only one taste of another Cainite's blood. The second curse occurred at the hands of the Tremere
Tremere
The Tremere are a clan of vampires in the Classic World of Darkness setting.The Tremere backstory is heavily based on Ars Magica, and the original House Tremere appeared as a Hermetic house in that game system. As the World of Darkness progressively diverged from Ars Magica's medieval Europe,...
around the time of the Anarch Revolt. This curse, intended as punishment for the clan's addiction to vampire blood as a result of the first curse, caused the entire Assamite clan to have a severe allergic reaction to the vitae of other vampires. Only the Assamites that joined the Sabbat and thus became antitribu, and a few disobedient loners who refused to succumb to the curse were spared this fate. Recently, however, the Assamites have managed to shrug free of the Tremere curse due to the awakening of one of their most ancient and powerful methuselahs, named Ur-Shulgi, and have resumed feeding on other vampires. This caused a great many elder Assamite Antitribu to rejoin the original clan, leading to a leadership crisis in the Sabbat's Black Hand subsect. Ur-Shulgi began to implement an extremist doctrine which in turn caused the Schism, where a group of Assamites who rejected the Methuselah's dogma joined the Camarilla sect.
Unlike the other lines of vampires, who become paler as they age, Assamites grow darker with age - their eldest members being the shade of obsidian. There is one notable exception to this; Al Ashrad, former Amr of the clan, has pure white skin and no one has been able or willing to explain this.
The Assamite Clan is further subdivided into three castes; Warrior, Sorcerer, and Vizier.
| Clan | Caste | Progenitor | Faction | Disciplines | Nicknames | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assamite | Warrior | Haqim | Independent | Celerity, Obfuscate, Quietus | Assassins | The Warrior Caste suffers from an addiction to vampire vitae and an aura stained by diablerie. Even if they have never actually engaged in diablerie, their aura shows their blood lust clearly. |
| Assamite | Sorcerer | Haqim | Independent | Dur-An-Ki, Obfuscate, Quietus | Magi | Any use of Aura Perception on the Sorcerer Caste reveals that he practices blood magic, even if the character has no knowledge of Thaumaturgy or Assamite Sorcery and even if the observer fails on the static mental challenge required to read the sorcerer’s emotional state. |
| Assamite | Vizier | Haqim | Independent | Celerity, Auspex, Quietus | Scholars or Artisans | The Vizier Caste has an Obsessive/Compulsive derangement that is related to the creative or intellectual ability in which he has the most Ability traits. |
Assamite antitribu
The Assamites of the Sabbat, acting on the request of the Sabbat leader Vestgeir, severed all direct association to the Assamite clan. The Sabbat Assamites have since that time made peace with their former clan. Assamite Antitribu will not battle non-Sabbat Assamites, and Assamites have never warred against the Sabbat Assamites. This unspoken understanding is at least recognized by Sabbat leaders.
The Assamite Antitribu are the primary assassins of the Sabbat. However, they do not ask for blood from the leaders of the sect. Instead, they ritually slay the eldest of their own clan every 100 years through a special diablerie ceremony. This elder has some of the blood of the Lasombra founder, a third generation vampire, running through his veins. The elder exists for a century as the closest Assamite Antitribu to Caine himself, ruling under the title Hulul. At the end of the 100-year reign, the next in line drinks the precious vitae from the previous ruler, and so it passes it through history.
| Bloodline | Progenitor | Faction | Disciplines | Nicknames | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assamite antitribu | Unknown | Sabbat | Celerity, Obfuscate, Quietus | Angels of Caine | The Assamite antitribu never suffered the curse the Camarilla put on the Assamite clan. They become addicted to Cainite vitae easily. Whenever an Assamite Antitribu drinks the blood of another vampire, he may become addicted. Once addicted, the vampire may frenzy, taking as much blood as he can every time he partakes of that blood. |
Shango
Laibon Legacy of Clan Assamite.| Legacy | Parent Clan | Disciplines | Nicknames | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shango | Assamite | Celerity, Dur-An-Ki, Obfuscate | Judges | All Shango are addicted to vampiric blood. Any time a Shango tastes to blood of another Laibon or Kindred, he must make a Self-Control roll (difficulty equal to the number of blood points ingested +3). If he fails, the Shango becomes addicted to that vampire's blood and must make a frenzy roll the next time they meet. |
The Schism
The Assamite castes split apart during the Schism. Ur-Shulgi demanded that other Assamites give up the worship of other gods and only revere Haqim. This resulted in many Assamites being killed, and many more opting to leave Alamut. Ur-Shulgi was particularly vicious towards Muslim Assamites, and killed several elders for refusing to renounce their faith, including the head of the Warrior caste.Some Assamites joined the Camarilla. Most of those that joined the Camarilla were viziers and sorcerers. Warriors that joined the Camarilla are generally seen as loose cannons who must be supervised by their more restrained (and non-vitae-addicted) clan mates. Sorcerers in the Camarilla find their skills in high demand as an alternative to dealing with the Tremere.
A small number of Assamites, mostly Warriors, joined the Sabbat. While the Assamite-antitribu who had been with the Sabbat for the last 500 years were entirely from Warrior stock, the Warriors opting to join the Sabbat were not entirely welcomed with open arms. Many of the Assamite-antitribu elders, particularly in the Black Hand, had defected and left the Sabbat to return to the main clan. This meant the Sabbat was not entirely welcoming because of the recent betrayal. Few sorcerers or viziers joined the Sabbat.
Some Assamites chose to go completely independent and avoid all the sects. They also drew away from the main clan, primarily for religious reasons. Few Warriors chose this option. Most Dispossessed Assamites are Viziers or Sorcerers.
Many Assamites stayed with the main clan. Most of these were warriors and sorcerers. Virtually all Assamites on the Path of Blood chose to stay with the main clan.
Version Differences
The Assamites have gone through many revisions. In the 1st edition, they were generally presented as an all male fanatical sect of Muslim assassins. In 2nd edition, sorcerers started to make an appearance, but they were poorly defined and a tiny section of the clan.Vampire: The Dark Ages initially presented them in much the same light as 2nd edition Vampire: The Masquerade. Libellus Sanguinus originally introduced the concept of the three Assamite castes.
Revised edition Vampire presented the Assamites of consisting of the warriors and the "viziers". In that context, the "viziers" were actually the sorcerers. The three caste system was introduced as "optional" in the Revised edition Assamite clanbook.
Dark Ages: Vampire presented the Assamites as three separate castes without the disclaimer than the castes are "optional".
With the version changes, there were also several changes in weakness. 1st and 2nd edition Assamites all suffered from an allergy to vitae due to the Tremere curse and had to tithe vitae to the clan. Revised and Vampire: The Dark Ages Assamites suffered from the Warrior weakness, addiction to vitae. Revised edition "viziers" (sorcerers) had to pay an additional blood point to use Thaumaturgy. Assamites in Libellus Sanguinus, Dark Ages Vampire, and the Revised Assamite clan book have the standard three caste flaws.
In Libellus Sanguinus and Dark Ages: Vampire sorcerers get Assamite Sorcery, Auspex, and Quietus as their primary Disciplines. In the Revised edition Assamite clan book (modern era) they get Assamite Sorcery, Obfuscate, and Quietus. The Viziers and Warriors have the same Disciplines in the Dark Ages and modern era.
In all versions, Assamites grow darker with age.
Assamites of Note
- Haqim, antediluvian
- Ur Shulgi, Fourth generation Sorcerer. Childe of Haquim, One of the most powerful and potent blood mage in the World Of DarknessWorld of Darkness"World of Darkness" is the name given to three related but distinct fictional universes created as settings for supernatural horror themed role-playing games. It is also the name of roleplaying games in the second and third settings...
, was able to break the centuries old Curse of the Tremere cast on the Assamite clan within two weeks of his awakening, caused the schism in the Assamite clan due to his strict interpretation of the "Path of Blood" - Al-Ashrad, Fifth generation Sorcerer. Childe of Ur Shilgi, one of the most pre-eminent mages in the World Of DarknessWorld of Darkness"World of Darkness" is the name given to three related but distinct fictional universes created as settings for supernatural horror themed role-playing games. It is also the name of roleplaying games in the second and third settings...
, now is the "schism" side and defected to Camarilla with a significant part of the clan - Tegyrius, Fifth generation Vizier. Broke away from the clan along with Al-Ashrad, was being considered for the post of the first Assamite Justicar , later on Diablerised by the Haqim, (Gehenna- 2004)
- Thetmes, Fifth generation Warrior. Childe of Sha'hiri, caliph of the Clan since 15th century
- Fatima al-Faqadi, Sixth generation Warrior. Childe of Thetmes, disassociated lover of Lucita, one of the most proficient killers among Kindred
- Tariq the Silent - Among the "Most wanted" REDLIST of Camarilla, 6th gen kindred (later turned to 13th gen by Tremere Antitribu through the ritual "Quench the Lambent Flame")
- Nassir ibn Zeinab al-Ma'an Sixth Generation Warrior. Childe of Zeinab al Amman, supposed lover of Queen Anne of London, believed to hold the keys to the Temple in Jerusalem following the destruction of a Demon there. Friend to "Queen" Rose of the Albion Garou.
- Pink, Assamite Assassin. Masquerades as a Brujah Rabblerouser.
External links
- Assamites.com, the leading website for the Assamite clan online. This site features graphics, home brewed rules, Ur-Shulgi's origins and more.
- The Path of Blood, web site dedicated to playing the Assamites in V:TESVampire: The Eternal StruggleVampire: The Eternal Struggle, published as Jyhad in the first or "Limited" edition and often abbreviated as VTES, V:TES or V:tES, is a multiplayer collectible card game set in the World of Darkness. It is published by White Wolf, Inc....
.