ToreadorThe Toreador are called many things - "degenerates," "artistes," "poseurs" and
"hedonists" being but a few. But any such lumpen categorization does the clan a
disservice. Depending on the individual and her mood, Toreador are alternately
elegant and flamboyant, brilliant and ludicrous, visionary and dissipated. Perhaps the
only truism that can be applied to the clan is its members' aesthetic zeal. Whatever
a Toreador does, she does with passion. Whatever a Toreador is, she is with passion.
To the Toreador, eternal life is to be savored. Many Toreador were artists,
musicians or poets in life; many more have spent frustrating centuries producing
laughable attempts at art, music or poetry. Toreador tout themselves as cultivators of all that is best
about humanity. Occasionally, a particularly gifted
or inspired creator is Embraced into the clan, to
preserve her talent for eternity. In this manner,
Clan Toreador has inducted some of humanity's
greatest artists, poets and musicians into its ranks;
of course, if one thing can be said about the
Toreador, it is that no two of them agree on
precisely what "gifted" or "inspired" means.
Of all clans, Toreador are the vampires most
connected to the mortal world. While other vampires view the kine as pawns or simple sustenance,
Toreador glide gracefully and effortlessly through the
society of the Canaille, sampling the delights of
each age as a gourmand savors rare delicacies.
Toreador are the Kindred most likely to fall in love
with mortals, and they surround themselves with the best, most
elegant and most luxurious things - and people - that the
world has to offer. It is, thus, acutely tragic when a Toreador
succumbs to ennui and discards aesthetic pursuits in favor
of pointless hedonism. Such Kindred become decadent
sybarites, concerned only with indulging personal whims and
vices.
Toreador are committed to the Camarilla and share the Ventrue's
love of high society, though not for them the tedium of actually running
things - that's what functionaries are for, after all. Toreador know that
their place is to captivate and inspire - through their witty speech, graceful
deeds and simple, scintillating existence.
Nickname: Degenerates
Sect: Most Toreador are in the Camarilla, as only that august organization
promotes "culture" and allows the Toreador to live among the mortals they so favor. Those
in the Sabbat pursue bizarre "artistic" pastimes, such as torture and blood-painting, or are
the rulers of the most decadent underground movements.
Appearance: Toreador Embrace out of passion as much as any other reason;
accordingly, many Toreador are creatures of surpassing beauty. Of all Kindred, Toreador
are the vampires most attuned to human fashion trends; centuries-old Degenerates are
often more stylish than some 30-year-old mortals. If it's in, chances are that at least one
Toreador will adopt it.
Haven: Toreador take care to ensure that their havens are
comfortable, convenient for socializing and - above all -
conform to their aesthetic tastes. Vampires of a more artistic
bent might maintain spacious lofts to display their works, while
their "poseur" counterparts love opulent suites perfect for hosting parties.
Background: Toreador range across a spectrum of concepts, from lonely, tortured artists to debauched jetsetters. Some
Toreador are Embraced for no reason other than their beauty or
personal style, as a passionate sire decides that they simply must
be "preserved" for eternity.
Character Creation: Social Attributes and Abilities are
prized among the clan, though Toreador are typically concerned
less with outright control than with making a good impression.
Perception is also favored, both for creation and for critiquing.
Artistes favor Abilities such as Expression and Performance,
often enjoying very high levels in these aesthetic Traits; their
poseur brethren must make do with Abilities like Subterfuge and
Etiquette. Toreador are very social creatures, and love adoration
from both Kindred and kine; as such, Backgrounds like Allies,
Contacts, Fame, Herd, Resources and Status are common.
Clan Disciplines: Auspex, Celerity, Presence.
Weaknesses: Toreador are preternaturally attuned to the
aesthetic and beautiful, but this sensitivity can prove dangerous,
When a Toreador views, hears or even smells something that is
truly beautiful - a person, a painting, a song, a particularly
lovely sunrise - he must make a Self-Control roll (difficulty 6)
or become entranced by the sensation. The Toreador will stand
in rapt fascination for a scene or until the beautiful thing
withdraws. Enraptured Toreador may not even defend themselves if attacked, though being wounded allows them to make
another Self-Control roll to "break the spell."
Organization: Toreador have little practical organization,
though their cliquishness and social networks are legendary. The
clan meets frequently, but more as an excuse to host lavish
parties and showings than to accomplish anything. Status among
the Toreador is a tempestuous whirlwind in which one subtle
smile or catty critique can lead to fortune or disaster; a prodigy
may be adored one night, commit a barely perceptible faux pas,
and be ostracized the next.
Bloodlines: Toreador put a fair degree of stock in lineage;
a vampire fortunate enough to descend from a favored sire is
lavished with adoration (to her face, anyway), while childer of
a sire "on the outs" suffer social humiliation. Few of these lines
deviate from the main clan in any significant way. The Toreador
antitribu of the Sabbat are a notable exception, for they take
equal aesthetic delight in great beauty or great ugliness.
Quote: Oh, yes, isn't she exquisite? Yes, she's my newest
find - I'm her muse, the sweet little creature. Imagine'. And what of -
oh, Thomas? Why, I could hardly say - after all, he had his "15
minutes," as they say, but it just wasn't going to last, and it all
became so very tedious, sol had to say adieu. Suicide? Really? Silly
boy - he should thank me, then, that I didn't give him the Embrace. It
would have made things so difficult, after all. 
