Vampire Clans

The vampire clans refer to the great lineages of Cainites, or vampires as they are more commonly known. Each clan is descended from a Clan Founder, which in the case of the Great Clans is one of the Firstborn vampires sired by Cain himself, and for the Lesser Clans, an ancient blooded member of the Second or Third Generation. Each clan is distinguished by a clan curse inherited from their founder, as well as having three Blood Gifts that come more easily to them.

## Great Clans

The Seven Great Clans each trace their lineage back to a Firstborn progenitor. As their name suggests, these clans are the most widespread around the world, with the various broods and bloodlines spawned from them being generally much larger than any of the Lesser Clans.

(Disclaimer: A large portion of the following information is not known to most Cainites)

The Seven go thusly:

* Clan Malcador: Sired by Orvax, First of the Firstborn, the Malcador have always been one of the most powerful clans. Their ranks are filled with (according to themselves) the best and brightest that humanity had to offer, leaders and shapers of civilizations. They are clan of nobles, bound in honor, dignity, image, and all manner of devious Machiavellian schemes. Whatever land one travels to, it is always possible to find Malcador in positions of power.
* Clan Amaros: Sired by Iriel, the Amaros mostly count among their number socialites, artists, visionaries and sensualists. Many Amaros devote themselves to the pursuit of beauty and perfection, but as a rule, they tend to be skilled in the arts of courtly intrigue and manipulating mortals. The Amaros, as a result, have always tended to occupy many positions of power and influence throughout the long history of the Cainite race.
* Clan Veismar: Sired by Jager the Hunter, who was the assassin, infiltrator, and terror weapon of Cain in the war against Atlantis, the Veismar come in all variations, but share a common practice of choosing to Embrace survivors. Those with will, those with cunning, and those with ambition. Skilled in violence, domination, fear and subterfuge in equal measure, the Veismar are often found among the ruling class of Cainites, oftentimes as rivals to the Malcador.
* Clan Gandor: Sired by Lamech the Seer, many of the Gandor are mystics, seers, and sorcerers. Many were mages in life, others recluses from society, others scholars, and some are simply those chosen by signs and portents their sires perceived. Most Gandor serve as scholars and magicians in the places of vampiric power, though others bend their sorceries to furthering their own power and ruling over others.
* Clan Mahayim: Sired by Jabal, the Mahayim are known for being vagabonds, tricksters, and wanderers. Traditionally, they live nomadic lifestyles, never spending much time in any particular place, and as a result, rarely gathering much in the way of influence over mortals. Mahayim typically prefer to seek the cunning and the curious for their Embrace, with many among their numbers being explorers and adventurers.
* Clan Osebo: Sired by Faraji, the Osebo are the most wild and primal of the Great Clans. Many of the Osebo spend their unlives away from civilization, preferring to prowl the wilds preying upon animals and other creatures that dwell far from civilization. Some others integrate themselves into the urban jungle, prowling the concrete wilds. Generally speaking, the Osebo tend to have the least amount of sway over mortal civilizations in the developed world, though in those few remaining places where the wild still holds sway, there are few as influential as they are.
* Clan Dumah: Sired by Samiel, the youngest and most rebellious of Cain's brood, the Dumah have been a fractured and quarrelsome lot for most of their history. On the occasions where they have shared a united purpose, however, Clan Dumah has proved itself a force to be reckoned with, as the members of their clan tend to be passionate and driven to a fault. Oftentimes, it is they who make up the core supporters of any vampiric establishment, or the fervent opposition that tears it down. As such, Dumah are commonly found in positions of authority, but just as commonly, they make up the core of the angry rabble.