NosferatuCaine's childer are called "The Damned," and no vampires embofy this more fully than
the wretches of Clan Nosferatu. While other vampires still look human and may travel in
mortal society, Nosferatu are twisted and deformed by the curse of vampirism. Other Kindred
speak shudderingly of Caine placing a mark upon the entire clan for the monstrous deeds of
its Antediluvian founder. As such, Nosferatu find themselves loathed and ostracized by the
other Children ofCaine, who consider them disgusting and interact with them only when
they must.
Following the Embrace, Nosferatu childer suffer an agonizing transformation as,
over the subsequent weeks, they warp from humans into hideous monsters. The horror .
of the physical devolution often produces an accompanying psychological trauma.
Unable to walk among the kine, Nosferatu must dwell in subterranean sewers and
catacombs forever after.
Nosferatu often choose physically or emotionally twisted mortals for the
Embrace, seeing in the curse of vampirism a possible means of redemption for
the mortals. Amazingly, there seems to be some merit to this belief. Many
Nosferatu are surprisingly levelheaded and practical, avoiding the obsessions,
fits and rages of their fairer brethren. Not that this makes the Sewer Rats
particularly pleasant to be around; indeed, some Nosferatu come to delight in
the shock and horror their grotesque appearances inspire in others.
Nosferatu are survivors par excellence. Few creatures, mortal or vampire,
know a city's back alleys and dark corners like the Nosferatu do. Additionally,
Nosferatu have mastered the crafts of sneaking and eavesdropping; they make
a point of keeping up with current gossip and affairs, not merely for pleasure,
but for survival. Information brokers without peer, they can command high
prices for their knowledge. Using their Obfuscate Discipline, Nosferatu
make a point of listening to others' conversations from hiding, or sitting
in on "secret" meetings. If a Kindred wishes to learn about the doings
and denizens of the city, she would do well to consult the Nosferatu.
Finally, millennia of shared deformity and abuse have fostered
strong bonds among the monsters. Nosferatu forego the squabbling
and feuds ubiquitous to the other clans, preferring to work in unison.
They treat each other with meticulous politeness and freely share
information among themselves. To mess with one Nosferatu is to
mess with them all - and that can get messy indeed....
Nickname: Sewer Rats
Sect: Surprisingly, the clan as a whole belongs to the
Camarilla, despite obvious difficulties with upholding the Masquerade.
Perhaps they value the safety of membership; perhaps they simply want
the other clans within observing distance. Still, a fair number of
Nosferatu are in the Sabbat or simply consider themselves autarkis (of
no sect).
Appearance: No two Nosferatu look precisely alike, but all are
hideous. Gaping fang-filled maws, discolorations, tumors, holes in
place of noses, batlike ears, sloping bald heads, twisted spines,
claws, wrinkled hides, pustulent sores and webbed fingers are just a
few possible deformities possessed by Nosferatu. An existence in sewers
and crypts tends to ensure that most Nosferatu smell about as good as
they look.
Haven: Their disfigurement forces most Nosferatu to take
havens far from the eyes of mortals, in graveyards, abandoned
warehouses and cellars. In large cities, entire broods of Nosferatu
lair in sewers and subway systems. These "kingdoms," particularly the older ones, are often much more extensive than mortals
or Kindred are aware - subterranean labyrinths stretching deep
into the darkness and guarded by monstrous ghouls. Even princes
treat warily with the Nosferatu kingdoms.
Background: Nosferatu choose their progeny from society
castoffs: derelicts, the mentally ill and the hopelessly antisocial.
Occasionally, a vindictive Nosferatu chooses
beautiful, vain mortal, then watch gleefully as the Curse takes
hold.
Character Creation: Nosferatu can have
often come from loner, outsider or drifter
Mental Attributes are often primary (Social
other than tertiary!). Stealth is highly prized amond the clan.
while Survival allows a Sewer Rat to find shelter in the blighted
zones Nosferatu favor. Nosferatu occasionally take retainers in
the form of ghoul animals, or even a human ally or two, but
Backgrounds are rarely predominant among the clan.
Clan Disciplines: Animalism, Obfuscate, Potence
Weaknesses: As mentioned, Nosferatu are absolutely loath-some to look at. All Nosferatu have Appearance ratings as zero
- cross the automatic dot right off the character sheet. Nor many they improve Appearance with experience points. Most Social
actions based on first impressions, except intimidation and the like, fail automatically.
Organization: While Nosferatu do not have the rigid
protocols that mark clans such as Tremere and Ventrue,
their shared deformity creates an exceptional clan unity. Shunned
and reviled by other creatures, Nosferatu stick together out of the
equal parts necessity and loneliness.
Bloodlines: Like many other calns, Nosferatu has an antitribu
analog in the Sabbat, though this branch does not differ greatly
from the ruck and run of the clan save in ideology. Descendants
of certain sires sometimes bear "signature" deformities, but few
differ in any signincant fashion.
Quote: Come here, little boy, howsabout a kiss? [phlegmy,
wheezing hack]
Whazza matter? Big bad gangbanger's scared now?
Don't so much like being a victim, heh? Well, get used to it, cuz you
ain't seen the half of it! 
