the kiasyd revised

8/3/2019 The Kiasyd Revised

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The Kiasyd RevisedEx Libris Nocturnis - http://www.nocturnis.net

By: Mack Knopf & Dan Young

Summary: A new look at an old Bloodline...

In my craft or sullen art

Exercised in the still night

When only the moon rages

And the lovers lie abed

With all their griefs in their arms,

I labor by singing light

Not for ambition or bread

Or the strut and trade of charms

On the ivory stages

But for the common wages

Of their most secret heart.

-- Dylan Thomas, "In my Craft or Sullen Art"

A rose on a vine withers and falls, only to

bloom again when summer comes. Youth dies as

innocence fades, maturing into strength and then

old age, and then to dust, as the next generation

is born and grows. Winter changes to spring,

then spring changes to summer and gives way to

fall, and back again to winter. Life comes from

death, and death comes from death. But what if

you knew an eternal Winter was coming, where

the cycle would stop for good?

Would you try to stop it, doing your best toinspire wonder? Or would you help it come

again in your despair?

The Kiasyd are thought by some to be created

from the night-dwelling Lasombra, during the

Dark Ages, by a thaumaturgical experiment

involving a hapless Lasombra childer, faerie

spells, and something reported to be "the blood

of Zeenerboch, god of the underworld," which

they bought from a Magus. The experiment was

an attempt to create a Lasombra with new

improved Disciplines, blood-bound to his master

and suitable as a weapon. The result was a tall,

slender pointy-eared being with black pupiless

eyes, who promptly upped and vanished to avoid

the inevitable post-mortem inquest. Shortly

thereafter (in Cainite terms, about a century),

similar-looking Kindred with uncanny powers

appeared here and there across Europe, claiming

to be a new independent bloodline called the

Kiasyd.

As to how this was actually achieved, one can

only speculate, and all the Lasombra involved inthe botched project were promptly executed for

stupidity and plotting against their elders (i.e.,

being caught at it).

This being the Dark Ages, when things were a

bit looser and what mainly mattered was whose

side you were on, the only people who

particularly cared were the Lasombra. The other

Clans were more than happy to help anyone

whose very existence embarrassed the Lasombra.

(As the "ones that got away.") Besides, the

Kiasyd, while useful and a little unnerving, were

not particularly threatening, as they did notmeddle in Kindred or mortal politics, preferring

to engage in their own pursuits. Said pursuits

often involved magic, the Fey, mortal arts, and

some of the stranger corners of the world.

Granted, this did mean they had to keep a sharp

eye out for Tremere, who were frequently

interested in some of the same things and

interrogating those who were.

The Magus, notably, was not to be found after

the experiment was completed.

No one is quite sure what the last ingredientswas, but the odds are quite against it being the

blood of a god, gods being notoriously loath to

part with bodily components.

Thus goes the official story.

The truth is something a little different, as in

actuality the Kiasyd have been around for quite

some time. Kiasyd, literally, is a word in the

True Speech of the faeries, who speak all

tongues and none. It means "Child of the Dying

Lands," and has been in usage for thousands of

years.

A Kiasyd is either a changeling "successfully"

Embraced by a vampire, or a human Embraced

by an existing Kiasyd.

Not all Kiasyd look inhuman to the normal

eye, only those Embraced from the Lasombra

Kiasyd side of the family. Other Kiasyd -- that

is, those changelings Embraced by any other

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vampire, including a Lasombra in the usual way

-- look normal, except in their Chimerical state

(more on this below. The specific combination of

the Lasombra experiment produced a vampire

that functions exactly as the previous-known

Kiasyd, with the sole different being that their

regular semblance is the same as the Fae

Seeming of the other Kiasyd (discussed later).

The new Kiasyd were sheltered initially by

the Fey for their own reasons, and brought into

contact with their other brothers and sisters, who

quickly recognized that appearance aside, they

shared a common legacy. However, while

Kiasyd do need the social company of others,

they usually cannot bear to stay around other

Kiasyd too long, as it reminds them of each

others suffering too much. They do stay in

contact and will help each other.

Views: The Kiasyd do not believe their soul isdamned, being "blasphemous pagan heretics" to

begin with (at least the changeling ones), and

they quickly informed the others that they still

had their soul or spirit. They do not Embrace

often, but only in dire loneliness, to save

anothers life, or upon determined request for

what they deem the right reasons. To be a Kiasyd

is to be unable to turn away from the knowledge

of what is happening to the world and what

should be.

History

The original Kiasyd were changelings who

for one reason or another became vampires. This

varied from the voluntary -- wanting to be with

the same lover for eternity, fear of death and

reincarnation (Sidhe dont reincarnate), wanting

to finish a project that absolutely had to be done

-- to the involuntary: "date rape," a desire to

punish the fey, or just plain bad luck. Voluntary

changelings have normal chances of becoming

vampires. Unwilling changelings have a one in

three chance of just dying, a one in three change

of becoming a regular vampire like their parent

(as their Fae Self is completely ripped away),and a one in three chance of becoming a Kiasyd,

with tattered remnants of their Fae Self left.

Those becoming Kiasyd have their magic

inverted in a strange sort of hunger, and a

gnawing awareness of the passing of magic and

the desire to reclaim it. This is the keynote of

their existence, and leads many in a search to

hold magic in the world and inspire it in others,

despite their need to feel from others emotions,

their Glamour. All Changelings need magic from

the world as well, though they exude more than

they take, by the way they live. Kiasyd need

magic to survive as well, but their hunger is far,

far greater, and unlike living Changelings, they

must make conscious efforts to spread magic and

inspiration.

They are also far more aware of the passage

of time and the growing loss of magic than their

often-incomprehensible living kin, and so cannot

turn away from their perceptions as the others

do. A curious paradox, that greater hunger would

bring greater awareness. Not every Kiasyd tries

to restore magic -- some gleefully join in its

feasting -- but all are aware of the problem. Most

try to make up for their hunger by doing what

they can to preserve magic, while the True Fey

run away.

It should go without saying that True Fey

cannot be embraced, as they *are* magic, and do

not have (except in cases where they give up

their immortality) true flesh to be trifled with,

being entirely magical beings. The vampire

trying such a thing is probably soon to meet a

quick death if hes lucky, or complete insanity

(or turned into a deer and hunted from dusk to

dawn, perpetually renewed to be killed again, or

given the Seven-Year Itch, or sentenced to live

inside a mirror, or... You get the idea).

Fortunately, the True Fae begin to leave theworld throughout the Middle Ages, and the final

vestiges of them leave as the Renaissance begins.

What are left is only the Changelings, fey who

took mortal bindings to exist on this world. The

Fey have always done this here and there --

usually to stay with a mortal lover, sometimes as

a lark -- but eventually all who wish to remain on

Earth become changelings. By 1401, the

Shattering is complete and only the changelings

and the Kiasyd remain, leaving the fey vampires

in the strange situation of being some of the few

beings who remember the old times of magick

and Faerie Glory.

The number of changelings around to be

Embraced only became a significant number in

the High Middle Ages, which is why very few

knew anything about them before that. As to

why the magus did what he did with the

Lasombra experiment and what he did, who

knows? Speculations range from a practical joke

(the most popular) to a desire to insult the

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Lasombra to a long-ranging plot to keep

something of the fey alive, and perhaps forestall

the Eternal Winter to come. Most vampires

wouldnt even consider the last explanation, as

they are perfectly happy with the loss of magic,

and could care less about some fey ranting about

the end of the world, should they even listen to

the fey in the first place. After all, who knows

why mages or fey do what they do in the first

place? Theyre mad, all of them, or scholars,

which is about the same thing.

Particularly paranoid Kindred elders consider

the Kiasyd new pawns introduced by the

Antediluvians, but then, thats what they think

about everything. This attitude by the elders

probably contributes to a faction of the Kiasyd

joining the Sabbat during the beginning of the

Renaissance. (and perhaps with some of the

Lasombra joining the Camarilla as an official

clan. As far as a causal connection to some of theGiovanni being ordered to join the Sabbat...Who

can say?

Despite what one may think, Changeling-

descent Kiasyd are frequently allowed inside

faerie strongholds, and often keep many of their

old ties, contacts and Treasures, though for some

this is too painful. Kiasyd are treated either with

pity, for what they have lost, or fear, for what

they have become. Because of this and the sheer

pain of constantly reminded of their living past,

while Kiasyd may stay inside Changeling society

for some time, most eventually choose to leave.The majority of those ties will fade, though not

all will (such as the closest friendships, and

knowledges). Most Kiasyd set up hermitages,

wander, or take root in human or vampiric

society. Yes, this can lead to situations where

Kiasyd in an area answer to both the Kindred and

Changeling courts, a situation that usually

becomes untenable in the long-run.

Kiasyd descended from the experiment will

be treated depending on what they know, though

they are always purely visitors, while the others

are more seen as exiles who were once great,with some rights. The new Kiasyd might have to

have explained to them by the others what is

happening to them now and told about the

passing of fey society and magic (if they havent

already figured it out themselves), but they are

generally regarded as equal kin.

Appearance

Kiasyd descended from the Lasombra

experiment all share a common look, gaining

about six inches, with corresponding

slenderness. Eyes darken to be almost black,

while ears become pointed, though they can betucked under hair (and better be, lest the vampire

want to become hunted by any passing villager).

The net effect is striking, but not unpleasant. No

one knows why this change happens, but it is

possible that the ingredient provided to

Lasombra may have been the blood of a Kiasyd

who had been a Sidhe.

Kiasyd who were Embraced changelings

usually look normal, unless some aspect from

their previous Chimerical seeming carries over to

their physical form (see the Merit/Flaw).

However, their chimerical self -- visible only by

the Fey, certain magicians spells, and vampires

who can see such things -- still exists and reflects

what theyve become. Simply put, it reflects both

their former fey self and the state of their soul.

The Chimerical Self, the faerie look (pooka,

sidhe, redcap, etc.) will always seem very pale,

though not necessarily unpleasant. However, if

the vampire has become corrupted (check his

Humanity), the Chimerical Self may seem

monstrous and horribly dissolute (a la "The

Picture of Dorian Gray"). Note: Kiasyd cannot

see chimerical seemings themselves, including

their own, without the appropriate discipline (see

Depredation).

Disciplines

For non-Fey embraced by Lasombra Kiasyd:

Depredation, Obfuscate, and Potence.

For all others (including Changelings

embraced by other clans) -- Depredation, and

two Disciplines of the Embracing vampire.

Note: The Fae Birthrights are lost upon

transformation, since they require a full

connection to the Dreaming. The sole"exception" involves birthrights already

embodied in your mortal self, preserved like a fly

in amber(see Seemings Blessing in the Merits

and Flaws), and the haunting twist of fate of

Chimerical Appearance).

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Bloodline Weakness

Kiasyd must consume Glamour in order to

exist. The life essence (blood) from which they

feed must contain Glamour. Hence, they can

only feed from Changelings or from enchanted

mortals. In any event, their victims losetemporary Glamour proportionate to the amount

of blood which is taken. Kiasyd can drink the

blood of other vampires, and suffer all normal

effects of drinking such blood, but gain only one

blood point for every two they drink (round

down). Drinking unenchanted human blood does

absolutely nothing for them, as well as being

weak and watery, and will be purged from the

body in whatever way or orifice is most

convenient. Kiasyd soon learn that they must

have the magic to survive.

Note, however, that the Kiasyd discipline

allows them to enlarge their blood supply

without feeding, in certain circumstances. This

power affects only the Glamour-infused blood

which runs in Kiasyd veins - in order for another

clan to learn or use this power, they must first

feed from Kiasyd or Changelings.

Kiasyd Discipline: "Depredation"

There is no pain, you are receding.

A distant ship's smoke on the horizon.

You are only coming through in waves.

Your lips move but I can't hear what you're

sayin'.

When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse,

Out of the corner of my eye.

I turned to look but it was gone.

-- Pink Floyd, "Comfortably Numb"

Consume Joy

With this power, the Kiasyd can take fun out

of anything. More to the point, they can use that

joy to cause the spontaneous regeneration of

their own blood, as if it were still alive.

System: The Kiasyd must first find a person whois having a good time, and make physical contact

with them. They must then make a

(Manipulation + Empathy?) roll, against a

variable target which depends on the emotional

intensity of the victim, to take the emotion away.

Stronger emotions are harder to take. When the

emotion is taken, the victim will feel listless and

drained -- in fact, virtually emotionless for one

day per success. Only one success is needed on

this roll.

To change the emotion to blood, the Kiasyd

must roll (Stamina + Empathy?) against a

variable target which depends, again, on the

emotion's intensity. Stronger emotions are easier

to use. Each success on this roll gives the Kiasyd

one blood point.

Emotional Intensity Target to

Take

Target to

UseMild (just had

chocolate)4 10

Moderate (found lost

item)5 9

Significant (a good

party)6 8

Serious (a hot date) 7 7

Extreme (end of a hot

date) 8 6

Orgasmic (orgasm) 9 5

Overwhelming (won

the lottery)10 4

Consume Sorrow

This works essentially like the first power,

Consume Joy, except that the Kiasyd may

consume sorrow instead of joy.

System: The same rolls apply:

Emotional intensity Target to take Target to use


Take

Target to

UseMild (broke a nail) 4 10

Moderate (home team

defeated)5 9

Significant (lost

valuables)6 8

Serious (failed a major

task)7 7

Extreme (lost a job) 8 6

Orgasmic (lost a close

friend)9 5

Overwhelming

(betrayed by lover)10 4

Consume Anger


except that the Kiasyd may consume anger

instead of joy.



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Emotional

Intensity

Target to

Take

Target to

UseMild (irritated) 4 10

Moderate (annoyed) 5 9

Significant(frustrated) 6 8

Serious

(exasperated)7 7

Extreme (really

pissed)8 6

Orgasmic

(homicidal)9 5

Overwhelming

(Frenzy)10 4

Note that this power can be used to instantly

defuse a fighting Frenzy in another supernatural

creature. If successful, Frenzy immediately ends

and the subject becomes temporarily unable to

frenzy (for a number of days equal to the number

of successes on the first roll).

This power can also be used to drain Rage

from a creature who possesses the Rage trait.

Passive Rage (e.g. in a character who is not

frenzied) should be regarded as Extreme (8)

anger. Each success on the first roll costs the

subject one temporary point of Rage.

Consume Fear

This works essentially like the first power,except that the Kiasyd may consume fear instead

of joy. Note that this can negate Presence effects.



Take

Target to

Use

Mild (startled) 4 10

Moderate (spooked) 5 9

Significant (anxious) 6 8

Serious (downright

scared)7 7

Extreme (terrified) 8 6Orgasmic (paralyzed) 9 5

Overwhelming (Fox

Frenzy)10 4

Note that this power can be used to instantly

defuse a Fox Frenzy in another supernatural

creature. If successful, Frenzy immediately ends

and the subject becomes temporarily unable to

frenzy (for a number of days equal to the number

of successes on the first roll).

Consume Love


except that the Kiasyd may consume love instead

of joy. This power is used to break emotional

bonds between two people. The person affected

must be touched, and their affection must be

aroused (e.g. by the presence of the subject of

their affection, or by a train of thought involving

them, etc.)



Take

Target to

UseMild (like a friend) 4 10

Moderate (like family) 5 9

Significant (sincere

affection)6 8

Serious (emotional

attraction)7 7

Extreme (obsession) 8 6

Orga Orgasmic

(physical need)9 5

Overwhelming

(mindless devotion)10 4

Note that this can negate Presence effects and

even certain Dominate effects, but does not even

temporarily relieve a blood bond.

Perceive Chimera

This is one of two level six powers. Both

must be learned separately.

The Kiasyd has absorbed so much glamour

through Depredation that she can once again

manifest one of the powers of the Fae -- in

particular, the ability to perceive the chimerical

world. The Kiasyd can see Fae, Chimera, Dross,

and even herself as they appear to the Fae Sight.

Many who are capable of this power never learn

it, as the sight of what they have become mightvery well drive them mad.

System: No roll is necessary to use the power; it

becomes innate. The Kiasyd can change between

the two modes of perception at will. However, a

Willpower (6) roll may be necessary to avoid a

temporary derangement if the Kiasyd confronts a

mirror and their soul is corrupted (use their

Humanity or Path as a guide).

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Consume Chimera

This is one of two level six powers. Both

must be learned separately.

The Kiasyd can consume the very stuff of

dreams -- Chimera. The Kiasyd can literally take

a chimerical creature or item and consume it.

The chimera, and the dream that created it, are

completely destroyed.

System: The roll to get a hold of the Chimera is

Wits + Fae Lore -- the Storyteller should assign a

difficulty based on the power level of the

chimera. Kiasyd who attempt to perform this feat

without perceiving the chimerical world add

three to the difficulty, and must have some way

of knowing where the chimera is -- for example

by stealing the dreams of a sleeping mortal. If

the roll is successful, the chimera is destroyed,

and the Kiasyd instantly regains her full bloodpool... and her location and her act are instantly

known to all Fae within a five-mile radius, minus

one mile per success. No matter how successful

the roll, and Fae who observes this act directly

understands what has been done.

This power can be used to "kill" the

chimerical aspect of a Changeling, but the roll is

resisted. The resisting Fae rolls three dice plus

her Glamour rating (which may perhaps give her

more than ten dice), and both have a base target

of seven. The penalty for Kiasyd who cannot

perceive Chimera still applies.

Inspire

By tapping the store of stolen emotions

which have fueled her existence, the Kiasyd may

inspire emotions in others.

System: The Kiasyd may inspire any of the

emotions from the first five powers of the

Discipline. The Kiasyd rolls Manipulation +

Empathy; the difficulty is the same as the

difficulty to take the emotion in the first place.

At least one success must be achieved, and oneblood point spent, to create the emotion; the

effects last for one scene plus one hour per extra

success/blood point spent.

Note that the Kiasyd may not specify the

focus of the emotion; the Kiasyd may make the

target afraid, but may not choose what the victim

is afraid of; she may cause the target to feel

overcome with affection, but may not choose the

object of that affection. And so on. Emotions

inspired in this manner are not "real", and may

not be consumed by Depredation.

There are no known Kiasyd above the

sixth generation.

Notes for running Depredation in a

game:

On the one hand, it makes it fairly easy for

Kiasyd to "feed" -- they can take a sip here and a

sip there and no one is the wiser, although the

cost to their soul (assuming they remember that

they have one) is pretty high. All in all, though,

considering that they can't feed in the ordinary

way, this is fine.

The Depredation discipline is versatile, but

works with the power scale of other disciplines.To be most effective, it has to be subtle, but

that's okay. (If a Kiasyd has to start blatantly

hammering with the power out and start

hammering with it, he's probably in more trouble

than it by itself is going to handle, anyway).

Its very use is fraught with ethical questions

(ideal for a vampire) about living off other's

heartstrings, which I like, but the power *can* be

used for good, if the vampire so wishes -- it's just

so much easier to do harm by carelessness. The

clan flaw allows the Kiasyd to feed more

discreetly (providing they're smart about what

emotions they take and how they set it up), but

also makes it much harder for it to mass-gorge

itself on blood and pump up stats.

The thing that requires careful storyteller

attention is just how people will react to having

their emotions taken away. Not that they will

know who took it and react to them, so much as

that they will still be in the same situation

without the emotional baggage.

For example, removing someone's fear might

make them more talkative -- or less talkative. It

all depends on what they're afraid of, and whatelse is keeping them from talking. Removing

someone's anger might make them stop

attacking, or might make them attack more

calculatingly -- some serial killers work from

other things than anger. Removing sorrow might

make someone feel better, but will it come back

all the harder when it returns, as they realize they



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haven't been grieving? It depends on what they're

sad about. And so on.

A storyteller that can handle the ramifications

of Presence, another emotion-based power,

shouldn't have too much trouble with

Depredation as long as they're aware of it.

Play-testing Notes

Though Kiasyd can easily be tragic-romantic

figures (such as the Sidhe brought over by his

lost vampiric lover who now searches the world

for her, a magic amulet with her picture in it the

only remnant of their past), a Kiasyd could be

many other things, though the way we've

designed it they'll all tend toward the gothic-fey

style aspect. (Even a Sabbat Kiasyd would have

style).

The bloodline has some spiffy new featuresand things that can be bought that add a lot of

flavor and roleplay opportunities (mainly the

changeling ties and the awareness of others

emotions, their "personal magic"). However,

rules-wise they're still just vampires when you

come right down to it, so a Storyteller shouldn't

have any trouble handling them if he's at all

comfortable with any of the fey concepts.

They add something to a story without

making a big splashy spotlight of themselves

(Kiasyd will tend to have interesting stories in

and of themselves, as well -- unlike other vamps,I'd say that a Kiasyd who doesn't come up with

some passion or purpose to distract itself or to

cope with what it's lost and is aware of will soon

kill herself. Idle pleasure and survival just isn't

enough.)

They have some nice secrets for other pc's to

explore, without really being anything for the

Powers That Be to worry about (or so they

think). To many, they will just be another of the

many lesser bloodlines floating around -- nothing

to worry about.

Suggested Merits & Flaws

Allergy to Iron (1-5 point flaw): like

Changelings or True Fey, you are sensitive to

iron. For 1 point the touch is painful and like

touching uncomfortably hot metal, depending the

irons purity. For two you get a revealing rash,

for three you get 2-point dice penalties, for 4 you

get 3-point dice penalties, and at five it will do

aggravated damage if held too long or used as a

weapon against you. Penalties are cumulative.

(Adjust the numbers to work best in your game).

Seeming's Blessing (5 point Merit): as the

Changeling Merit, except that the Kiasyd

character also suffers from the Kith weakness as

well, in addition to the Kiasyd Weakness.

Your Birthrights affect your mortal seeming

as well as your fae mien. A sidhe would receive

extra dots in Appearance. A satyr would receive

extra dots in Stamina and speed. A troll would

receive extra dots in Strength. [added:] However,

your frailties also affect your mortal seeming (if

possible).

With this Merit, a Kiasyd can carry over

Birthrights from before his death, since they

were already manifested in his mortal form.

Note: the Changeling still looks normal, unlesshe takes the Chimerical Appearance flaw.

Chimerical Appearance (3 point flaw: Aspects

from your chimerical mien have somehow

carried over, through some cruel trick of fate,

somewhat muted to fit in to normal reality. A

Sidhe might bring over pointed ears and high

cheekbones - though think of the cruelty of

having them, but not the high appearance(hed

need to take Seemings Blessing as well for

that). Even with Seemings Blessings, shes still

a black-and-white photograph (though a

gorgeous, exotic one) of the color she used to be(pale skin, black eyes, etc.). A former troll might

have bulging muscles, and so on.

Note: This can potentially break the

"Masquerade," so to speak - said elf had best

conceal his ears under long hair or a hat. But

then again, who believes in elves anymore?

("Surely those cant be real! How much was the

cosmetic surgery?")

Legacy (2 point flaw): The Kiasyd suffers the

clan weakness of his nearest non-Kiasyd relative

(sire, grandsire, etc.) as well as the KiasydWeakness.

Eyes of the Ghost (3-5 points): You see the

world as it dies -- literally. Everything is visibly

eroding in your eyes, and you can see times

affects. Young girls seem like old women, new

wooden houses are already beginning to fall

apart, and that old man is already a rotting

skeleton. For 3 points, everything seems 20 years

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older than it is, for 4 points, 40 years, and for 5

points, 60 years. Rest assured your Storyteller

will describe all these things to you, most likely

putting a damper on your relationships, so only

choose if you want another constant reminder of

the coming of Winter to goad you to fight it.

Only immortal beings (vampires, mummies, etc.)

will seem untouched. On the plus side, this might

help you find weaknesses and exploit them, if

you choose to put a point or two in it to also

make it a Merit.

Underhill Knowledge (3 point Merit): You

know some of the old passages through the faerie

lands that still work (cross the stream, skipping

across the proper rocks, and then open the hedge

gate without looking behind). These can be used

to go to the faerie lands, Underhill, though you

will not be permitted to go to Arcadia by any

means (and will be destroyed if you try). Your

status will be as a visitor -- many strange folkcome to Market, why not you?--, and thus you

will have to pass the tests of the guardians each

time (riddle games, for instance). Just watch out

for those sudden sunlight shifts. Getting in

doesnt mean youll always get out.

However, for those who can navigate their

way through the usual hazards, going Underhill

can offer shortcuts to the mortal lands in terms of

distance. Being thrown backward and forward in

time can happen, though, as the fey realms have

strange relations to the time rules of the Dying

Lands. It is entirely possible to come out earlieror later than you left, or on the earlier side of the

globe. Note: this Merit costs at least 5 points

after the Renaissance, since most of the old

Trods to the realms crash, and those left are often

inaccessible.

Treasure (1-5 point merit): Youve kept a

magical talisman from your living days that

could be almost anything, from a locket that

keeps a perfect reproduction of your loves face,

to an ebon sword crafted to fight the Fomori,

ancient enemy of the Celts. Use the Changeling:

the Dreaming book for power ratings. Note thatpossession of the treasure does not guarantee the

ability to use it; the Kiasyd must have the

abilities and traits required by the device.

Title (2-6 Merit): Youve managed to hang on to

a title in changeling society from your living

days. This costs twice as much as costs in C:tD,

and titles above three points in C:tD (six points

here) are simply not available; you cant have

any rank too high, since if you did, you were

rapidly demoted when you became a vampire.

Expect to have to really work to hang on to this,

too.

Other Merits & Flaws

Many from the Changeling: the Dreaming

books are appropriate, with some adaptation, and

altered point costs. Remember that some will be

made moot by the Embrace, though, and many

depend on having been a Changeling first, not

from the Lasombra Kiasyd.

Sample Characters

Lucretia Vito

Concept: A former Fae actress, living only for

her art.

Embraced in 1444 at the "tender" age of 17. A

theatre-oriented Kithain who lost her Glamour to

the Embrace...inspired somewhat by the songs

"Who Wants to Live Forever" and "The Show

Must Go On"...she still clings to the theatre

because it's the only part of her human life that

she can still have.

She was a Wilder when she was Embraced,

and Seelie, dating the vampire who sired her for

thrills; after all, dating vampires is generally

regarded as foolhardy at best, and they all knew

it would never work. So did she, but House

Fiona Fae never care about such things. The

Embrace wasn't planned at all; he drained her

over her objections (think "date rape"), and then

she accepted his offer as an alternative to death.

Why would she do that, you ask? Well, because

she was Sidhe. They don't have any promise of

reincarnation like the other Fae do, and she didn't

feel that her work (dramatic or otherwise) was

finished.

Jordan Rayner

Concept: Ex-Sidhe knight hunting for lost love.

You renounced your Fey name a hundred

years ago, and your title as a Sidhe knight - you

dont deserve them, not until you find her. That

when you lost both your mortality and your true

love - as the Toreador artist you had sworn

binding vows to was stolen away by a vampire

who longed to possess her beauty. But just



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before that happened, she had brought you over

to the other side so you could be together

forever, and you were so happy - how dare that

bastard take it all away from you!

Youre now immortal, and have traveled the

globe hunting for your love, finding just enough

clues to keep you going when you begin to

despair.

You know the man who kidnapped her was a

Tremere, but you have no proof.

Youve been in more Kindred courts than

most vampires a thousand years older than you,

as you hunt relentlessly, and your quest has

become immortalized in songs by the fey. Most

vampires wont have heard of what you are, but

no one likes the Tremere, so that helps. The local

fey might help you, as they love a good tragic

story like yours, but then again, they may not.

You bear an enchanted locket that holds her

likeness and scent that you show to all you meet,

and a sword that still bites as deep as it did when

you were breathing. Despite your renouncing of

your Name, you still bear the marks of Sidhe

beauty, and your passion when enraged can be a

terrible thing.

9The Kiasyd Revised


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Concept: Disillusioned Performer:

You were just starting to make it big, touring

as the opening act with a well-known headliner,

when it hit you - performance depression, or atleast, thats what everyone called it. Its that

feeling you get when youre touring on the road,

performing for thousands of screaming fans,

unable to get a moment to yourself, and feel

lonely as hell.

This is fame? Five years spent living day-to-

day, in order to achieve this? Sure, the crowds

are happy, but after a dozen shows, the label

execs still arent calling. This is the pinnacle of

your career and you still dont have far to fall...

The depression wasnt rational - it was still

early in the tour, there was still a strong chance

that something would happen - but depression is

never logical, and this time it hit the right nerve

at the right time. The pills were open and in your

hand, the water there to swallow them, when you

had a visitor. He had a pass, so you let him in...

showed him the snack table and the booze, and

were just about to swallow when he brushed

your shoulder.

Suddenly you felt no pain. The depression

was gone, and with it the will to die. You

werent happy per se, but you were no longer

unhappy, and that was enough of a boost to dothe show. Afterwards, he was still there.

When you asked, he told you about himself...

about the Kiasyd, a clan of vampires who were

once Changelings like yourself. He offered you a

new way to live, a way to live forever... and like

a fool, you accepted. Someday youll learn to

take away others pain, just like your mentor...

but you still cant cure your own.



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the kiasyd revised

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