Lasombra Ghouls

Members of the Lasombra Clan are nothing but duplicitous, especially when it comes to the subject of ghouls. They might profess their hatred of ghouls and look down upon any vampire who uses them, while recruiting scores of ghouls to attend to their every need. Similar to other Clans who possess Dominate, the Lasombra does not necessarily need ghouls as much as other vampires might, since they have access to mortals to do their bidding. However, while the Lasombra Clan sneers at ghouls and their domitors with disdain, they recruit and use them for a variety of purposes. Younger vampires often cannot see past the Clan’s rhetoric, and buy into the myth that they are setting an example for other vampires of the Sabbat. Older vampires, however, understand that the Clan’s words are just that, and suspect that Lasombra ghouls are used to great effect.

The Lasombra Clan does tend to think long-term, and they are not above using ghouls — provided they perform well. Lasombra ghouls tend to fall into four main types: personal attendants, security personnel, servants to the Sabbat, and freelance mercenaries who mostly train under the guidance of the Talons of the Black Rage. Of these four types, servants to the Sabbat are, perhaps, the most often overlooked because they are largely left alone, provided they do their job. Comprised of accountants, lawyers, corrupt police officers, criminals, technophiles, investigators, and the occasional occultist or clergy member, these Lasombra ghouls carry out explicit instructions on behalf of their domitors. Many of them are commanded to influence certain policies, whereas others might be tasked with steering mortals away from a specific building or alleyway. In part, what a Lasombra ghoul does largely depends upon her domitor’s role within the Sabbat. Bishops and Cardinals, for example, will deploy their ghouls very differently than the average Lasombra pack.

Security personnel, on the other hand, are often taken for granted until they fail. Taught to blend into the shadows unseen, these bodyguards and technicians wear dark clothes and stay hidden, only to emerge when a situation needs to be handled. These ghouls are the Lasombra domitor’s first and second line of defense, and are also encouraged to continue training to stay on top of technological advances. Some even go so far as to scout out other havens, screen recruits, and run small reconnaissance missions, too. Though many groups exist, the Lasombra rely on individuals placed in strategic positions around the city. One Lasombra domitor might implement a ghoul as a sleeper agent near her rival’s haven, only to be triggered at a precise moment, while another might strategize a decades-long plan using ghouls to cut off support to an enemy within the Camarilla.

Lastly, many Lasombra ghouls serve their domitors in a more personal and intimate capacity. Some are painters, tasked with capturing their masters’ images on canvas, while others are makeup artists who are instructed to make their domitors beautiful. How a personal servant fares and what he does largely depends upon his domitor, for not every Lasombra master wants or desires the same thing. Some ghouls are rumored to act as majordomos and train other Lasombra ghouls, while others are selected for their uncanny resemblance to their masters and are treated as living dolls. The biggest difference between personal servants and other Lasombra ghouls, however, is that ghouls spend more time with their domitors. In the presence of their masters, these ghouls have more opportunities to succeed and fail, which results in greater rewards and punishments for their actions.

How, when, and why a Lasombra domitor rids herself of her ghoul is at her discretion, but the relationship does not always end in death. Sometimes, a domitor might not fully relinquish control, even after she stops feeding her ghoul vitae, and uses Dominate to issue further commands to that same mortal. Other times, a master might brand or tattoo his ghoul’s face in front of his other ghouls as a show of power, to keep them in line. Regardless, most Lasombra domitors are aware that the mistreatment of their ghouls could lead to insurrection, so they tend to walk a fine line between an unforgiving, ruthless leader and a benevolent, sympathetic dictator to ensure their ghouls know who rules them.

Ghouls who are Bound to Lasombra antitribu are largely assigned to personal tasks as opposed to political. While Lasombra antitribu might scheme against their rivals, they are less concerned with ideology and more with their own affairs. Thus, should any Lasombra antitribu ghouls be recognized either in greater frequency or larger numbers, it would be a sign that their domitors are active again.

**Appearance:** Some Lasombra ghouls are selected because they resemble their domitors in some fashion, while others are chosen for their regal bearing or carriage. Most Lasombra ghouls are well-kept, and some may even be considered fashionable. Those tasked with blending into the local populace wear clothes befitting the role they’ve been assigned.

**Character Creation:** Lasombra ghouls tend to be excellent at what they do, else they would not have been chosen. Ghouls trend toward either being able to help their master on a personal basis or with matters pertaining to their holdings, security, or politics. Lasombra domitors tend to prefer ghouls who are disciplined and well-maintained, and will shy away from rough-and-tumble types unless they have good reason not to.

**Weakness:** Lasombra ghouls walk a fine line between their mortality and their damnation. Due to their masters’ connection to the Abyss, shadows will subtly lean toward them. This effect is more noticeable when a ghoul is standing still beneath direct light, but it is still dangerous as the behavior of the shadows may also draw the attention of hunters and other vampires who know what to look for.

**Quote:** “My face is not my own, for it belongs to someone else.”