Lasombra
Lasombra sires favor mortals who fit the mold of the clan. The Lasombra have been of a Darwinian philosophy since before the term existed. They have no time for weakness, feel the only way to survive is to excel, and cut away the trappings of sympathy and petty morality wherever it might slow down their ascent to power.
The Lasombra Embrace those who fight against the odds, survive dangerous situations, and exist at the pinnacle of excellence. The Magisters describe their Embrace tradition as “targeting those fit for more than a simple human life.” Sociopaths, counter-culturalists, deviants, and scarred survivors all hold appeal for the Lasombra. Anyone who can say they have seen the dark on the other side, and subsequently came back stronger, is a potential candidate for the Embrace. Many become vampires obsessed with the accumulation of social power, prepared to mislead and use mortals to elevate themselves. Others were like that before the Embrace, with such pragmatic traits leading to their ascent in Lasombra eyes.
The Lasombra lean heavily into the institutions of organized religion to find their prospective childer. They do not look for the truly faithful, or the truly depraved, but the priests who gained their role through a desire to have complete control over the spiritual destination of their congregations. Those nuns, monks, vicars, and rabbis who use their institutions as a tool to increase their power, often shaking hands with gangsters behind closed doors, are the kind of cold-hearted bastards Magisters adore.
The mortals Embraced into this clan surprise those who underestimate their ability, rising to positions of power in Camarilla cities more swiftly than anyone can predict.
Lasombra Archetypes
Activist
The Lasombra have claimed to exult the virtue of rebellion and opposition to tyranny for the last half-millennium. Though the clan now attempts to hold membership in the Camarilla, many younger Lasombra still refuse to kneel before unknowable ancients. In life, this character was likely a political or religious activist, recognized for the Embrace by a Lasombra who shared, or at least appreciated, their vision. Such a character could be a libertarian, anarcho-capitalist, or even a member of a terrorist cell.
Legate
Clan Lasombra values the art of the deal and those who make it. Whether in attempts to court power and influence, broker peace or instigate a war, a Lasombra found this character capable of the required task and Embraced them. In life, they were likely a diplomat or successful trader, or perhaps a marriage counselor or Mafia consigliere. They are well-equipped to handle negotiations on behalf of the clan, likely using the title “Legate.”
Masquerade Templar
The Lasombra target fighters for the Embrace. Any mortal who has overcome extreme adversity draws the eyes of Clan Lasombra, often because the Lasombra place that adversity in the way of prospective childer. This mortal survived and triumphed over great and punishing odds. As a vampire, they fought on and proved worthy of their sire’s respect, going on to fight against greater oppressors in the form of the Second Inquisition and the Sabbat.
Religion’s Parasite
This Lasombra hid among the religious in life, continuing to do so in death. Whether a leader or simple congregant, this character holds allies within the faithful and at least some sway over like-minded individuals. Not a true believer, this Lasombra coldly manipulates others who hold faith, using the religious institution to serve their own elevation.
Winner at Life
The beaming athlete holding their medal aloft, the mother proud of her rosette-winning daughter, the investment banker tossing cash at strippers, the actor with cocaine lining his lungs — all exemplify the winner. Clan Lasombra loves winning more than they love the battle, and they will do anything to win. Weak humans who succumb to stressful failure hold no allure to the Keepers. This character is possibly braggadocious, and almost definitely envy-inducing, but few can deny their perpetual success.
Disciplines
Bane
Anyone seeing the reflection or recording (live and otherwise) of a Lasombra vampire can instantly recognize them for what they are, provided they know what they’re looking for. People with no prior knowledge will know something is wrong, but likely attribute the distortion to irregularities in the reflecting surface or recording errors. Note that this will not hide the identity of the vampire with any certainty, and the Lasombra are no less likely to be caught on surveillance than any other vampire. In addition, use of modern communication technology, including making a simple phone call, requires a Technology test at Difficulty 2 + Bane Severity as microphones have similar problems with the voice of a Lasombra as cameras with their image. Avoiding electronic vampire detection systems is also done at a penalty equal to Bane Severity.
While all vampires lose something profound at their Embrace, the Lasombra exhibit the most telling signs of this spiritual deficiency. When viewed in a reflective surface or a recording medium, their image appears distorted, sometimes almost invisible. Whether flickering, twisted, or transparent, their reflection betrays their undead state and lineage. Similarly, modern technology relying on touch or other forms of direct interaction — such as voice activation or use of a stylus — tends to glitch or simply act unresponsive to Magisters, and electronic detection systems easily pick up the tell-tale signs of their passing. It’s as if they exist on a slightly different frequency to other beings, flickering in and out of light.
While Lasombra fledglings despair at technology’s refusal to work to their wills, most swiftly recruit mortals or create ghouls to handle such “busy work” as taking calls and driving them around a city. This clan trend is so noticed among the Magisters, that a Lasombra who conducts their business without a personal attendant is held as a curious kind of beast..
Compulsion
To the Lasombra, failure is not an option. Their Blood will urge them to any act conceivable to reach their goals, whether in the moment or in Byzantine plots lasting centuries. Any setback is felt profoundly and they quickly escalate to the most ruthless of methods until they achieve their aims.
The next time the vampire fails any action they receive a two-dice penalty to any and all rolls until a future attempt at the same action succeeds. Note that the above penalty applies to future attempts at the triggering action as well.