Salubri

This widely hated bloodline has far more enemies than it really deserves. Only seven of these Cainites exist at a time, for after a Salubri attains Golconda, she ends her existence and passes her blood to the individual she has chosen to take her place. Almost none survive for more than a few hundred years, for the Salubri consider vampiric existence to be agony. These vampires can usually pass as humans until someone notices that they possess a third eye.

Other clans perceive Salubri as murderers and diabolists of the worst kind. Princes have been known to call a Blood Hunt at the merest suggestion that a Salubri might be in their domains; the Tremere are especially known to hate them.

The reason for this animosity lies far back in the legends of the Salubri, once a small clan of the same name. Saulot, the founder of this clan, is believed to be the first of the Kindred to reach Golconda. It is considered fact that when he returned from his journeys to Asia, a third eye had opened in his forehead, giving him access to new powers no other Kindred had ever developed.

For the next several millennia, Saulot spread rumors of Golconda through Kindred society. He is thought to have had a hand in the development of Carthage and the creation of the Inconnu, though he never joined this august group.

During this time Saulot sired very few new Kindred, but those he did sire followed him on his path to redemption. It is said he created his last vampire during the reign of Caligula, and then removed himself from the company of both Kindred and kine. This voluntary separation lasted until the Middle Ages, when an order of magi managed to find Saulot Iying in torpor. The Salubri say the order's founder himself tracked down the Antediluvian and sank his teeth into the Ancient's neck. The Salubri also claim their founder did not resist. After this, the order methodically tracked down Salubri descendants and slew them.

They did not slay them all, however. The older ones were actually the easiest to kill, while the ones created after Saulot reached Golconda proved somehow resistant to the order's magics. Thus the order did everything in its power to turn the world against the Salubri, hunting them, terrorizing them, and leaving them unable to use their healing powers without fear of being sought out and killed.

Despite this, the only force that manages to kill most Salubri is themselves. When a Salubri sires, she takes great effort to teach her childe the ways of the lineage and how best to protect himself. She also prepares the neonate's path to Golconda, and then commits suicide by forcing the childe to drink her blood

Salubri believe the spirit of a vampire to be tortured, and to have no hope for peace unless Golconda is attained. In fact, they think that anyone, Kindred or kine, who is extinguished before reaching Golconda is eternally condemned to be a bound spirit (a ghost that is restricted in location or temperament, and can be summoned and controlled by mortals). The sole goal of the Salubri is to pass from this existence and thus be free.

Salubri consider it their duty to teach their beliefs to others, and take great efforts to explain "the facts of things" to others. Because they cannot imagine wishing to live an eternity of pain, they cannot imagine that other vampires would not like to listen to their words. This is perhaps part of the reason why they are so widely disliked.

These Kindred find the path to Golconda easier than do most. hut even for them it is no automatic thing. Salubri sires often hide clues in books, people and places for the vampire to find. Once a Salubri has reached Golconda, he finds life easier in many ways. Besides providing freedom from the Beast, Golconda lets Kindred open themselves to Disciplines with ease. Instead of having to lower his generation to learn Disciplines higher than five, a vampire in Golconda can learn new powers with but the expenditure of experience. Thus Salubri ready to sire use the precognitive powers of Auspex to determine their childer's fate and work to aid them along the path to Golconda.

Nickname: Cyclops

Appearance:The members of this lineage are chosen from all varieties of people. Children, old men, teenagers and middle-aged women have all been chosen. Once they have been Embraced, however, they begin to develop the clan's third eye. While it is not always noticeable (when it is closed, only an eyeslit, which appears to be a small scar, can be seen), the third eye is extremely prominent when in use.

Haven: Anywhere, but their havens are usually far from other Kindred and protected by mortals.

Background: The Salubri Embrace only those who have proved themselves to be of the highest Humanity. Healers, holy men and women, and true philanthropists have all been chosen at one time or another.

Character Creation: Salubri can potentially have nearly any concept, but it is exceptionally rare for them to come from a criminal or soldier concept. Almost all have a Caregiver Nature, but they can have any Demeanor. Mental Attributes and Mental Abilities are usually primary, but this is not always the case. All Salubri must take five dots in the Generation Background to represent their sires' sacrifice for them, and because of their problems with feeding (see Weaknesses), many have Herds of faithful followers.

Clan Disciplines: Auspex, Fortitude, Obeah

Weaknesses: Whenever one of the Salubri takes blood from someone who resists the Kiss, the Salubri loses one Health Level for every Blood Point taken. It must be healed normally (with blood). The vampire must know the target is not resisting and is at peace in order to avoid the damage. This is why most of this Lineage are either Casanovas or Sandmen. Additionally, the character must continually persevere towards Golconda; any straying from this path will lead to dire consequences (like the inability to regain Willpower). When Golconda is finally reached, an end must come to this existence when a successor is ready.

Organization: There is no organization to this lineage - indeed there is little contact between its members - but they will do anything within their power to help others of their line. This extreme loyalty is part of the reason the Tremere have not done more to wipe this clan out - the cost would be just too high. All Salubri are of eighth generation, and it is usually believed the elders were all wiped out years ago. However, rumors frequently surface that one elder or another was seen in some far place.

Gaining Bloodline Prestige: In general, they do not spend enough time with one another to make Prestige important. When it is a concern, it depends entirely on how far along the road to Golconda one is. If one has actually achieved that state, then continued existence loses all of its meaning, and while others of the lineage will still do anything for the character, they expect her to extinguish herself soon.

Quote: "Nothing can be considered more important than the freedom of souls. Not just your soul and mine, but the souls of everyone on Earth. Thus we should consider our trials and tribulations a gift, for such freedom is impossible without overcoming adversity. "

Stereotypes:

* The Camarilla - These pitiful pawns of the Tremere have no idea of the harm they are doing the world and themselves. They want to live lives of evil but have given no thought to what that really means.

* The Sabbat - These murderers are a more traditional evil than are the members of the Camarilla, but this makes them neither better nor worse. They are blind, and in their blindness they destroy things of great value - their souls.

* The Inconnu - Many of these powerful elders know the truth about us and are willing to help us. This is not true for all, but it seems to be true for most.