Malkavian

The Malkavians are insane, one and all. From madness, however, comes wisdom, and from wisdom comes power. The Malkavians are true creatures of chaos. However, the Malkavians are also known to be clowns and pranksters. As with all things connected with them, not everything makes sense.

This clan is infamous for its destructive and nihilistic members. Malkavians have a reputation for sadistic behavior and for holding little grasp of the humanity they still retain. In truth, such Malkavians are a minority. The members of this clan regularly surprise the Kindred; often they do not seem insane. Some Kindred believe the Malkavians have an undeserved reputation, and have been sullied by a few truly psychotic members. However, remember that sometimes the most normal-seeming people have the least grasp on reality.

The Malkavians have a time-honored tradition of playing practical jokes upon Kindred and kine alike. The nature of these "pranks" can vary wildly, ranging from the harmlessly fun to the potentially lethal. The Malkavians, when they interact with one another at all, tend to award prestige within the clan on the basis of these pranks. Many Malkavians solemnly believe that the Jyhad is a joke created by the founder of their line.

The Malkavians are very picky about whom they Embrace. Typically, only those on the verge of insanity are chosen. The members of this clan search long and hard for those who have seen so much truth that they have descended into the pits of chaos, and thus have unique perspectives on reality. Indeed, if the progeny-to-be is sane, the sire will make the Embrace and Becoming as difficult as possible, seeking to drive the mortal mad in the process.

Nickname: Kooks

Appearance: The members of this clan have different looks and live vastly differing lifestyles.

Haven: Malkavians live anywhere they feel comfortable. Many of them seek out hospitals and asylums to reside in. Some are even assumed to be inmates by the staff.

Background: The members of this clan only select those who are close to death as neonates, or those who are so insane that existence as a vampire is of little consequence. They believe all mortals should have a chance to live out their natural lives.

Character Creation: Malkavians can have any sort of concept - the weirder the better. They may have a variety of different Demeanors, which are rarely indicative of their true Natures. Mental Attributes are primary, as are Talent Abilities. Malkavians can have nearly any Background Trait.

Clan Disciplines: Auspex, Dominate, Obfuscate

Weaknesses: All members of this clan have some sort of Derangement. In fact, characters begin the game with one. The player may choose any Derangement (see Chapter Eight), but the character will never be able to completely overcome it, no matter how much Willpower is spent. The touch of madness is always upon the members of this line.

Organization: Many Malkavians probably do not understand that they are a clan, and the rest are busy denying that they are Malkavians.

Quote: "Madness you say! Do you fear me? Are you afraid of what I might do, of what I might say? What a fascinating reaction. Don't you find it somewhat encumbering?"

Stereotypes:
·Nosferatu - They are the most amusing of all the clans and perhaps the most honest, for they so obviously are what the others try so hard to avoid.

·Tremere - They perceive what we perceive, but hide from it. They still strive to avoid that which is inevitable. Nature is full of cycles.

·Ventrue - They are the most fun to play games with, for they take it all so very seriously.

·Gangrel - They are different from the rest, as are we, but they are even more lonely.

·Toreador - Such gleeful hedonists it is not a life they live, but an everlasting death. But if they should ever comprehend that, their party would end.

·Brujah - They have a vision, but in their fanaticism they are as blind as the rest.