The Eternal Night - Nu'man Mai

The Khepri

{{The Caste of Khepri was less known then other Castes as their numbers remained small and their home remained a mystery. One would need a Supernatural Lore of 5 to know of this family or have had direct contact with them at one point in their history to know anything about them.}}

{{Note: If you have little understanding of this type of Roleplay, start out with a beginning character in one of the three aforementioned clans. Once you have grasped the concepts, then seek those like this one to be ushered in.ST Approval MUST be gained to play a character of this Bloodline.}}

The Background story

Maiib Khepri, the Strong-Spirited One, was sent into the Clan Gangrel, along with his twin Sekhemib Khepri. They learned many things of the Feral Nature of the beast and how it applies. They guarded their beginnings with a fervent passion. It grew even to the point that their havens were so precious to them that they took more defensives measures over their havens than their childer at times.

Maiib and Sekhemib passed in The First Baali war which ravaged through the lands. As the Baali saw the Khepri caste as a threat, they sought out these Assamite infiltrators and began to eliminate them one by one. They fell in a battle with the Baali infiltrator. It would be millennia before they would emerge again....

Gehenna, 2004...

Maiib's soul was born in the half brother in which Sekhemib's soul was born. They shared the same mother, though for a century knew nothing about it. Toran Kai Tanaka was the name given to the body of the reborn soul and was raised away from his mother in Little Toyko by his father Hiroshito and step mother Kwan Ling. It wasn't until Toran was in his early twenties that he had begun his life as a government worker taking care of the beautiful Central Park. He made sure that the park was clean and the animals were not being harmed as well as visitors to the park's perimeter.

Then one night, in his 26th year of life, he saw something that scared the hell out of him. A man turned into a beast and attacked what he perceived to be another man, though vampire. He took up the sawed off shotgun and fired a round of shot into the beast's back. Unfortunately, this did nothing but piss the beast off and turned him around on Toran.

Toran even for a human was able to dodge the beast with his training from his father, as Samurai, and it was not the beast that nearly cost him his life, for the 'man' whom was attacked killed the beast while it was distracted. It was another worker firing a shot in the direction of the beast that hit Toran's abdomin... and he was only abe to get a few hundred feet into the brush before dropping.

After the beast was killed the man, with a quickness moved to Toran and pulled him far enough away from the scene, and gave him the Eternal Life for his honorable deed. It was then, he became Gangrel. Childe of Maximillian Balif. It was then, all that he knew would change.

He spent a 4 decades learning what it meant to be part of a pack, or in his mind, a pride. His abilities grew quickly... and within that time Cameron, someone he almost immediately bonded to, was embraced as well. Then came a time where Max was asked a favor of and it sent Toran away to guard an old Toreador whose art was quite unique.

Here is where Toran travelled to the land of the Magi and of the sands and began to learn of their culture, their ways and their history. It was within these 60 years of being her guardian he learned knowledge of a clan called the Assamites and learned not to fear them, but to respect them as his Ward did.

In 1999, he had his first encounter with a woken mummy on a dig where a kid was sent in to steal an artifact from the digsight and accidently tripped a magic field that pulled the mummy from stasis. He had to make a decision when the mummy was killed... Let the Assassins put the boy out of his misery or take him under his wing and make him childe as he was given a chance, by Max. The decision was an easy one and he made his first childe. And for the next 5 years he began training the kid. Then his Ward went into Torpor....

He was ordered back to his pack to catch up with them and let them know he was still around and there was another addition. But he came to Detroit, namely Scio and it was in the midst of Turmoil.... He did so with the knowledge that one of his pack brothers was indeed his halfbrother and within hours of them seeing each other again, Cameron was stolen into another realm. As superstitious as Toran was from his upbringing and from his wanderings with his Ward... His awakening was far from pleasant.

He finally after dealng with all the turmoil and things going to a lull went to sleep... It was during the next day, a demon attacked the hostile, bringing his superstition to an all time high and he was force shifted into something he had not shifted into before... a very very large Prideleading Lion, a Simba. After an argument with his sire, in which he for some reason could barely understand him and his sire definitely couldn't understand Toran... Toran went on a journey. He searched for weeks to find someone who could help him out of this form and help him understand what was occurring with him.

Almost 2 weeks later he found himself back in Paris. His search was almost desperate... His father found him... Tau Sefu... Tau was able to get Toran to relax...

Then came the realization forced into his mind by Tau Sefu as Toran fought the knowledge of his past life and an extra nights rest... the dropping of a female in his bed... another thinking the wrong thing... and the awakening of Gangrel, night 27... Calling to his twin, Maiib moved through a portal to the Amazonian Jungle and awaited Sekhemib... History.... deja vu.... Would the twins again take down a Gangrel of great power together?

Nickname: Lions of Blood

Sect: Independent

Appearance: Permanent fangs always grace the mouths of the Nu’man Mai, but for those whom have fallen into frenzy; the appearance of the Bloodline takes on the nuances of the beast most prominent within them: whether it be animal or insect. Fins, spiders eyes, a snake’s scales or the soft wings of a bird: any of these traits may become that of the Mai and Chigaru, much as they have become a marked curse and advantage of the Gangrel whom are a part of their lineage.

Havens: Most Nu’man Mai prefer a quiet open place away from the bustle of civilization; preferring the quiet white noise provided by the wilds of the world to that of cities; though they will often take domain in parks, or small ornate cemeteries resembling a garden. Typically the inner haven will reflect the pride like nature of the Blood Lions: either small enough only for one, or clearly sectioned off for each of the pack to have it’s own personal space within the haven. Few personal items outside of what is necessary for survival are kept within a Blood Lion's domain, though often a strategy game or two is kept around for entertainment other than sparring and to keep the mind sharp: whether that iss chess, checkers, or some other form of the same type: it doesn‘t matter so long as it serves it‘s purpose. The Nu'man Mai are much like the Nu'man Chigaru... But think of the differences between cats and dogs... and there you will have it...

Background: The Kindred of this Bloodline tend to be loners at heart and ferocious survivors when it comes to combat, yet surprisingly soft spoken and firm in their ways; especially in the defense of their haven and immediate childer: sometimes being classified as territorial in nature. The Nu'man Mai are very honor bound and will not obtain a pride until they have found one that could be called wife. If the Nu'man Mai embraced is female, the pride leader must give approval for her to mate outside of the den... And the pride leader is more than finnicky.

Often seeming brutally honest with those few they trust, or believe that they may: the Nu’man Mai have no trouble manipulating a situation through lies and deception when the form of the matter at hand calls for it none the less. The Nu'man Mai have a strong tie to the Underworld, Du'at. It is legend and practice that the Cats of the Middle Eastern and Eastern worlds are the guardians to keep the Spirits from reaking too much havok in normal society.

They are true to what they believe and they have a strong inner will to enforce it within them. They have their own Code of Honor, though few find it honorable at times: and they do not break their word once given, unless the word is broken by the other party. Their code makes them fulfill their obligations fully and without remorse for the things they do to achieve what is necessary, at least not openly anyway.

Character Creation: These Kindred favor Attributes in the following, but not always: Physical, Mental, then Social. Knowledges and Skills are favored equally, but normally they seek knowledge in the areas of clan and area/city knowledges as well as sciences the most. Their nature is usually Judgmental and their demeanor will domineering, especially for the males..

Clan Disciplines: Protean, Quietus, and Blood Sorcery**

{{**Blood Sorcery includes all Tremere Thaumaturgy and all Assamite Sorcery, since they are virtually the same. In the Nu'man bloodlines, this also includes Gangrel Runic Sorcery.}}

Weaknesses: Beast Rampant the Gangrel Clan’s greatest Flaw and blessing, is common among the Nu’man Mai as much as it is the Gangrel. Whenever a Blood Lion frenzies --due to their closeness to the beast-- he or she gains an animalistic feature; whether that be scales, curved claws (finger or toe nails) resembling a cat, feathers or the eyes of a frog. Usually, this reflects one of the more familiar forms the Mai may take through the discipline Protean, though some have been known to take other animal or insect aspects as well. Every five such features acquired permanently reduces one of the Blood Lion’s Social Attributes by one. They also have the Assamite weakness of Easily addicted to vitae, and are Addicted to Caliph. They also have Permanent Fangs.

Strengths: These Bloodlines all have the merits "Indomitable Soul" and "Blessed". They also have the Discipline "Blood Sorcery" since the progenitor's soul was reborn and has regained or retained the knowledge.

Organization: These Kindred are very close knit, unlike the Clans from which this bloodline hailed. They have tend to run in small groups from two to four. This will help them as they begin to grow. The sire tends to be overprotective of all his childer and their possessions until he or she knows the childer is capable of fending for his -- or herself. Also, as said previously: most of the Mai prefer the wild and quiet to the loud hiss of civilization; though they obviously do take root there often enough to keep tabs on the lands and politics surrounding their territories. Unlike the Gangrel as a whole however, The Nu’man Mai hold a more tightly knit military-like network somewhat resembling the practices of the Ravnos in the respect that when one enters a new area, a message is left with one outside that group; so that if they go missing or is not heard from in some time, another might follow up on their whereabouts. Each is answerable to the rank above him, and all --of course-- answer to Maiib.

When a call goes out for the Mai under him to assemble by a higher rank, assembly is expected to be carried out as swiftly as possible, regardless of where they are and what they are doing. Often, their rank reflects their age; though in some instances, this may not always be the case. They are listed from the bottom rank up: Jabari, Yafeu, Nizam, Gahiji, Baruti and Bomani. These ranks may mean little to those outside the bloodline, or very much, depending on the individual and how much they know either of the Chigaru or the Mai as a whole; or from within the bloodlines, the particular Blood Mai in question. ((the brief explanations for these are still being typed up, please exorcise patience with the Bunny on further information concerning ‘ranks.’ Thank you. ^_^))

Gaining Clan Prestige: Warriors all, the bloodline still holds close to the Gangrel lineage when it comes to moving yourself up the ladder; though with a few quirks from that same Clan‘s influence: especially that of the then nearby Milwaukee prince, Mark Decker, and his Werewolf defense team the Anubi. Caught in much the same situation in the same era before his awakening, Sekhemib and Maiib greatly respect and honor those who may make a stand against a shifter and live. For the Blood Hound and the Blood Lion, there is truly no faster way to ply their way up into their progenitor’s good graces than to present him with a trophy of their deeds in defending their territory.. whether that be a cup of their victims vitae or blood, the scalp of the wolf that trespassed and threatened their territory and pack, or simply a true tale of the deeds told by one who had witnessed it. Survival is a must however: And shame can come just as easily as prestige, to one whom purposely seeks out an unknown shifter for his own advancement, ego and pride: whether he dies in the process or not.

Bloodlines: There are no other bloodlines that this line has sired. As this is a new bloodline, it is small and well grouped together.

Quote: "The sages do not consider that making no mistakes is a blessing. They believe, rather, that the great virtue of man lies in his ablility to correct his mistakes and continually make a new man of himself." -- Wang Yang-Ming

Quote:"And to add my own thought, for the new man he makes of himself shall be honorable, or by fang and claw he shall receive my judgement... and it will be as I see fit." --Maiib, progenitor of the Nu'man Mai: aka Toran Kai Tanaka.

Quote: “ When the dark closes in around you, when all else has fallen: I will be there to collect my due. Fear me; for I am forever: and my memory -shall- not diminish with the passage of time for your transgressions. “ -- Sekhemib, progenitor of the Nu’man Chigaru: aka Cameron Zios

"Play a vampire, a unique character, not a " clan clone. "

Note: This is a work in progress.