                                 COELACANTH



   By Larry J. Langley (29 Aug 1992)

   I created these creatures for an upcoming chronicle set in San Diego.
   If you've ever stood at the ocean's edge at night you know that there
   is something wonderful and terrible out there. I would appreciate any
   comments and criticism.

   Nickname: remoras

   The depths of the ocean, not the world's cities, are the home of this
   unusual bloodline. Protected by the ocean's waters they only need
   emerge from the relative safety of the depths of the sea to feed, and
   so remain protected from many of the dangers faced by city dwelling
   Kindred. The origins of the Coelacanth are lost to the past, leaving
   only myths and speculations. Some suggest that a powerful ritual or
   curse corrupted their blood much like the Nosferatu or the Assamites.
   Others believe that they are not descended from Caine at all but are
   an entirely alien lineage. The Coelacanth themselves do not retain the
   traditions of history as the other clans, and the truth is long
   forgotten.

    Whatever the origins of the Coelacanth, they differ from most Kindred
   in several respects, both inherent and acquired. Unlike other
   Vampires, the Coelacanth--at least until age strengthens other
   desires--can survive by feeding on the blood of cold-blooded
   creatures. This is almost entirely a matter of last resort, as
   Coelacanth will nearly always choose to hunt humans when they may.
   Secondly the blood of the Coelacanth themselves has a strange, often
   considered foul, taste to their land bound cousins. Kindred
   encountering or drinking Coelacanth blood need not face madness frenzy
   no matter how starved they are--it just isn't appealing enough. The
   blood remains nourishing despite the flavor, though Vampires will feel
   a bit sluggish and unpleasant after drinking much. Coelacanth, on the
   other hand, find Kindred blood as attractive as any other, if not more
   so. In fact Coelacanth are particularly susceptible to the sensations
   of blood and are likely go into a frenzy no matter how well fed.

   Aside from physical differences, the ability to retreat beneath the
   seas instead of hiding among humanity has markedly affected the
   development of Coelacanth society. Although the availability of choice
   prey is limited, with sanctuary beneath the waters Coelacanth need not
   fear discovery or flame and find easy protection from sunlight. Having
   no historical reasons to preserve the masquerade, neither having
   experienced the inquisition nor fearing (or even in most cases being
   aware of) the Camarilla, Coelacanth are learn to accept their nature--
   to welcome the beast. Among the clan, survival of the fittest is the
   only law, and Diablerie, especially with the lack of control they
   possess in the presence of blood, is a common practice among the
   Coelacanth tribes. They have no reason not to extend this practice to
   Kindred of the land and many an unfortunate neonate has fallen prey to
   a band of Coelacanth on the Hunt.

   The Coelacanth originate somewhere in the south pacific, although
   tribes have slowly spread across the sea to Asia, Australia and the
   Americas. They first appeared along the coasts of Central America, and
   have begun to spread north and south. Their presence poses something
   of a threat to Kindred in the coastal cities, both because of their
   tendency toward Diablerie and by placing the masquerade at risk. The
   Coelacanth do not fear humanity. Though they do realize the difficulty
   humanity can present to the Hunt if organized and are somewhat
   careful, they follow no strict code and rarely are victims left alive.
   As the Coelacanth hunt off of the coasts of more populous areas,
   witnesses to their activities are almost inevitable.

   Like the Hunt, the embrace of a Coelacanth is usually violent and
   cruel, often involving drowning the victim. Typically, once created
   the Childe is kept beneath the waters for a great length of time, fed
   victims by her sire. Even as the newly created Coelacanth learns to
   hunt her sire tends to accompany the Childe until such time as he
   feels the neonate has accepted her fate. Those who rebel are treated
   violently until such time as they submit to the ways of the tribe.
   Still, the procedure is by no means as methodical as the Sabbat or
   creative as the occasional forced madness of the Malkavian embrace.
   Although most end up surrendering to the violent way of life of the
   Coelacanth rapidly losing humanity, occasionally an individual will
   hang on to her sanity for some time, escaping perhaps to live a
   solitary life. Even given the chance to escape most remain with their
   Coelacanth tribe for lack of knowledge of any other choice, and,
   because of the likelihood of frenzy when feeding, even the strongest
   willed will fall to the beast eventually.

   Appearance: Coelacanth tend to develop large rounded eyes and smooth
   hairless rubbery skin as they age. Because of their undersea
   existence, Coelacanth do not bother with clothes and other human
   trappings.

   Haven: Caves under the sea, or the darkest depth of sea canyons.

   Background: Coelacanth embrace when the numbers of a tribe seem low,
   at the command of elders, or when particularly impressed by a meal.
   They tend to embrace those who are athletic or physically strong,
   though they may embrace anyone they please. Often those who put up
   enough of a struggle to impress the Coelacanth are chosen. Physical
   attributes and talents are primary for almost every Coelacanth.

   Character Creation: Coelacanth could have almost any nature, though a
   nature inappropriate to Coelacanth existence may result in a quick
   destruction. Demeanors tend toward those that can survive the violence
   of the tribes. In order to have survived for so long most older
   Coelacanth possess violent or dictatorial natures as well.

   Clan Disciplines: Potence, Fortitude, Aqueous

   Weaknesses: Coelacanth find blood almost impossible to resist.
   Coelacanth are susceptible to madness frenzy if down by more than a
   single blood point. Resistance rolls when hungry (three or fewer blood
   points) are against difficulty +3.

   Organization: The Coelacanth usually exist in small tribes led by an
   elder who never leaves the depths of the sea. Instead he requires his
   brood to bring him blood or subsists on the blood of his brood.
   Diablerie is quite common among the Coelacanth especially in the midst
   of a blood frenzy. Coelacanth tribes normally exist under the laws of
   strongest survive.

   Gaining Clan Prestige: The only way a Coelacanth gains prestige among
   her kind is to defeat (often kill) those who are more powerful than
   her, and intimidate those who are weaker.

   Quote: "We understand where we exist in the world. The law of the
   ocean is kill or be killed. The strongest and most dangerous survive."


   Stereotypes:

   The Camarilla--What ridiculous pretensions. They do not know what they
   are: does the shark take on the habits of a school of minnows,
   behaving for all the world like its next meal?

   "Should these monsters appear along your shores, hunt them until they
   are entirely destroyed or driven off, for they are brutal, messy and
   clumsy, a danger to the masquerade and would sooner drink your blood
   than any."

   Estria-- Prince of Panama City

   The Sabbat--They live as foolishly as the Camarilla, though at least
   they recognize that they are all killers.

   "You have not witnessed a blood frenzy until you have seen these
   creatures feed. It seems, however, that they lack imagination or
   ambition. In the struggle, they may make most useful tools . . ."

   Erik-- Sabbat Scout to the west coast.

   The Inconnu-- mmm, such potent blood.

   "These creatures are merely terrible reflections of ourselves in the
   waters of the sea, a mirror vision of our potential under the sway of
   the beast."

   Ia -- fifth generation Toreador

   View Aqueous discipline.
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