Clan Brujah

Name: Brujah

Plural: Brujah

Pronunciation: broo'-hah

Nicknames: Rebels, the Rabble, Punks

Antediluvian: Ilyes

Allegiance: Camarilla, Anarch Movement

Disciplines: Celerity, Potence, Presence

Theme Song: "[Rage On My] Wayward Son" - Kansas

Clan Brujah is largely composed of rebels, both with and without causes. Individualistic, outspoken and turbulent, Brujah hold social change near to their undead hearts, and the clan's ranks contain some of the most violent of the Camarilla Kindred. Most other vampires perceive the Brujah as nothing more than punks and miscreants, but the truth of the matter is that genuine passion lies behind their polemics.

Brujah adopt pet passions and causes, which they support with volume and vitriol. Some brujah follow charismatic members of their clan, while others prefer stances of blatant, defiant individualism. The clan claims a history rich with warrior-poets, and it has adapted this concept into the modern night; many Brujah are glad to have an opportunity to speak their minds, then indulge in a bit of destruction afterwards to illustrate their points.

The Rabble's espousal of change unites them, albeit tenuously, in their nightly crusades. Given a common enemy, Brujah with vastly differing ideals will join side by side to oppose their foe. After that foe is defeated, however, all bets are off and it's back to business as usual. A common Brujah theme involves the foundation of a Kindred "Utopia," or the re-creation of a mythical one from nights past, though each Brujah vampire has a different idea of what said Utopia is.

Brujah rely on chaotic behavior and upheaval to get their ideas across, and the Rabble are allowed a certain leeway that other clans do not have. In fact, Brujah are almost expected to be incoherent and bellicose; this stereotype works to the advantage of many eloquent, well-spoken members of the clan, who have no need to resort to violence when making their arguments.

Respected for their martialry and readiness to rally under a banner, the Brujah are the phyisical strength of the Camarilla. Of late, however, many Rabble neonates see their role in the Camarilla as an institution unto itself, and more than a little unrest circulates among the clan.

Early History
Roman Empire

The highlight of Brujah existence came into being during the days of ancient Grecian philosophers and the Republics of Rome. In fact, to hear the childer tell it, the Brujah were largely responsible for the creation of democracy, or at least its spread beyond Athens. Many ancient Brujah, such as the Methuselah Critias, lived the ideal of the "scholar-warrior", one who had proven a master of both mental and physical challenges.

Even in such a period of Clan-wide splendor and influence, there was one accomplishment that rose above them all: Carthage. Here, in a city on the northern African coast, the Brujah created a civilization where vampires existed openly alongside mortals, in relative harmony with their prey. The Brujah were respected, feared, worshipped, admired - and doomed. The Ventrue and Malkavians of Rome grew jealous of the Brujah's growing influence over shipping and trade, and Carthage's powerful military. During the First and Second Punic Wars, Cainites battled behind the scenes to destroy their opponents' capitol and seize control of the entirety of the Mediterranean. The Ventrue, with the aid of the Malkavians, Toreador, Lasombra, and Gangrel, won. The city of Carthage was burned and its fields were salted, preventing anything from being grown there ever again. Since those nights, the Brujah have never recovered their ancient glory thanks to the jealously of their erstwhile "Kindred".

Organization

Clan Brujah is far to fractious and torn by internecine conflict to have true organization, and the clan never meets formally. Two conventions the clan does support universally are the Rant and the Rave. Rants are just that: informal meetings of Brujah (and other insurgents, Kindred and Kine) at which anyone who can scream loudly enough can have her opinions heard. Raves, named after the all-night techno dance parties started in England, are social gatherings in the guise of huge-scale musical or entertainment events. One usually leads to another, and clues to the locations of the events are often hidden in the media of the gathering in progress. These meetings almost invariably degenerate into riots, further eroding the organizational base of the clan.
Antitribu

Brujah antitribu of the Sabbat are, ironically, almost bastions of stability. In a sect devoted to chaos and destruction, the Brujah are the most dependable of the monsters who populate the Sabbat. They are viewed less as impassioned rebels and more as brutal shock troops. Sabbat Brujah tend to be less intelligent and discerning than their Camarilla brothers and sisters. Their causes fall by the wayside at the promise of new havoc to wreak.
Sects

The Kindred often think of the Brujah and the Anarchs going hand-in-hand, but in truth, such is rarely the case. While the Brujah may not like the Camarilla, they certainly acknowledge that it serves its purpose. The Brujah are a part of the Camarilla because it gives them an envelope to push and boundaries to test. While the ranks of the Anarchs have no few Brujah, most Brujah consider the Anarchs redundant. If rebellion itself becomes an institution, what point does that rebellion serve?

For this reason, Brujah among the anarchs often tend to fit in one of two distinct camps. For some Brujah, the anarchs are an extension of their own revolutionary sensibilities. Ironically, these Brujah become almost conformists among the anarchs, following strong rebellious leaders and lending their strength to packs and gangs that hold dear similar ideals. This sort of anarch is probably the origin of the leather-clad biker archetype, the anarch who's a part of it just because it gives him a channel to vent his rage and kick a little ass while he's at it.

Other Brujah are at the forefront of the struggle, often as idealists or champions of the cause. Their legacy of being the loyal opposition fosters in them a genuine desire to make a change for what they see as the better. These are the gang leaders, the intellectuals, the firebrands --- in short, those who shape the struggle with ideas and actions. In this sense, the Brujah are some of the greatest contributors to the anarch cause, if not in numbers, then in its personality and direction.

Brujah among the anarchs tend to either be quite old or very young. Most Brujah Ancillae who were once a part of the anarch cause either grew frustrated with its continual underdog status and eventually settled among the Camarilla or died in some conflagration fighting the injustices of the system. Those wise enough to avoid Final Death and impassioned enough to stave off the "I can't beat them so I'll join them" mentality often rise to great heights in anarch esteem. It is a testament to the Brujah legacy of progress, a tribute to their origins as philosopher-kings, that the Brujah make up in fervor and achievement what they lack in numbers among the Anarch Movement.
Bloodlines

Little more than a whisper among paranoid Elders, the mysterious bloodline known as the True Brujah are supposedly the original descendants of the Antediluvian of the Clan. Emotionally detached, and possessing some strange ability to manipulate time, these Kindred once served the deadly Tal'Mahe'Ra or True Black Hand, until its fall circa 2000. There are whispers that the bloodline seek out vengeance against the descendants of Troile, who some account as having Diablerized the Brujah founder.

Style and Appearance

Brujah vary widely in appearance, though many adopt radical styles and bold looks. If dismissive stereotypes are to be believed, the typical Brujah wears a biker jacket, tattered jeans, combat boots and a fearsome array of high-maintenance hair. In truth, few Brujah fit this image. Youthful, fashion-forward dress and noteworthy hairstyles are indeed found among many Brujah, but others favor tasteful wardrobes that encourage others to take them seriously. In the end, a Brujah's appearance often suggests his attitudes: A skinhead bravo is likely an open rebel or anarchist, while a bespectacled pedant in a tweed suit is probably a reformationist or liberal. It should be noted, however, that given the Brujah penchant for nonconformity, any assumption of ideals based on appearance could be potentially dangerous. Brujah look how they want.

Character Creation

Brujah often have violent, criminal concepts, but they are as likely to be intellectual or socially adept. Natures and Demeanors tend to be aggressive and similar, as Brujah wear their emotions on their sleeves (when they have sleeves...). Physically predisposed characters are predominant among the clan, but some favor Mental Attributes. Likewise, Skills are favored, with Knowledges running a close second. Any Background may be appropriate to a Brujah character, though many in the clan cultivate Contacts, Allies and Herd. Very few Brujah claim Mentors.

Usual Havens Wherever they damn well please. Are you going to tell them to leave?

More so than any other clan, the Brujah keep the company of other vampires, and one haven might house an entire brood. Brujah Kindred also keep multiple safehouses and boltholes, as their conflict-driven exitsences often make single locations inhospitable. Some Brujah neonates even carry on the urban practice of home invasion, Dominating or killing a home's occupants and taking over. Like other pursuits, however, home invasions rarely sustain the Rabble's interest, and the vampires often move on once they grow bored with the locale.

Common Backgrounds Brujah prefer those who espouse change in one form or another, and often recruit from college campuses, political groups or oppressed minorities. Young Brujah may hail from any background and often have a pet cause or issue of burning personal importance. All types of dissidents find their way into the ranks of the Brujah, from bomb-throwing biker anarchists to vociferous fascists to nihilistic radicals. This is, of course, part of the reason the clan is so disorganized --- hatred between Brujah is often more bitter than hatred for those whom they mutually oppose.

The Brujah Weakness

Fiery passion is at once the Brujah's blessing and curse. Though they are quick to adopt a cause, they are equally as quick to fall to frenzy. Of course, the Brujah rabidly deny this penchant for excitement, and become quite hostile when the issue is raised. The difficulties of rolls to resist frenzy are two higher than normal for members of Clan Brujah.