                                   NOTRUM



   By Mark Kinney (kinnema%WKUVX1.bitnet@ULKYVM.LOUISVILLE.EDU) (27, Oct
   93)

   This bloodline is a true curiosity to many in the Camarilla, and not
   even the Nosferatu seem to know positively what the real story is.
   According to their own legends, they claim that their founder, a
   fifth-generation Brujah, was trapped under the earth when agents of
   the Ventrue and Malkavians salted the ground around Carthage after
   their conquest. Through an extreme expenditure of willpower, the
   Brujah broke though the salt, but managed also to combine its ancient
   form with the salt it broke through. Whether this is true cannot be
   confirmed as no one knows exactly where the line founder is now.

   In any event, this line, although still dependant upon blood to
   survive, also requires salt as an essential component to their
   survival. Also, although older examples of this line (one known among
   the Inconnu claims to be over 1500 years old) tend to be similar to
   the Brujah Idealists in philosphy, the tendancy to frenzy is gone,
   another clue pointing away from Brujah origin.

   Notrum are very philosophical and generally intellectual. Many are
   known to have joined the Inconnu in Golconda.

   Whatever the cause, these Kindred seem to be able to manipulate salt
   as well as blood.

   Nickname: Salties

   Appearance: This is one of the most varied bloodlines known, although
   older Notrum appear to share the similarities with the old Brujah
   Idealists.

   Haven: All types, depending on the resources of the character.

   Background: Generally philosophical, much like old Brujah. Very few,
   if any, go anarch, but they don't generally tend toward Ventrue
   backgrounds, either.

   Character creation: Notrum are usually intellectual, with Mental
   Attributes and Knowledges being primary.

   Clan disciplines: Potence, Protean, Salinus.

   Weaknesses: Any blood-related option, aside from the daily one-point
   blood loss, requires the expenditure of double the amount of blood to
   activate. Alternatively (although the mechanics are more complicated)
   the character can maintain a "Salt Pool" initally set at half the
   blood pool. The Salt Pool is treated as a normal blood pool, and
   reduction of either pool to zero can invoke frenzy. For each two blood
   points spent, one point of salt is automatically spent as well, except
   with regards to daily blood loss, in which case the loss is at a
   one-to-one ratio. The only abilities that salt alone may be spent on
   are Disciplines, and even then every five salt points spent depletes
   one blood point to uselessness.

   Organization: These tend to be similar to European Brujah with regards
   to organization: they're actually willing to. Even when they do meet,
   it's never a formal affair, but it's not the Rants and Raves attended
   by younger Brujah. The fractiousness of American Brujah is quite
   shocking to most Notrum.

   Gaining prestige: Notrum are of a philosophical bent, and gain
   prestige through such pursuits, sometimes even among Brujah Idealists.

   Stereotypes:

   Camarilla: They seem to serve a useful purpose, although the Ventrue
   are far to heavy-handed more often than not. The upstart Tremere are
   our true enemies.

   "I have not met with one of these Kindred yet, but I hope to soon.
   They would have much to share with us, I am sure."

   -- Critias, fifth-generation Brujah

   Sabbat: They are a curious sect. They know the truth, but have taken
   the wrong path.

   "They know much about the Antediluvians, more than most can claim to.
   But how do we know they aren't the agents of one..."

   -- Priest Mark, Lasombra, Detroit

   Inconnu: Many of these are our old friends. Their neutrality saddens
   us, but is understandable.

   "They claim to be from Carthage, but I have my doubts. We should
   investigate, in any case, but can they really be considered Kindred?
   I'm not sure we should have been as open to them as we have been."

   -- Dondinni, sixth-generation Monitor of Genoa

   Anarchs: These "Anarch Free States" come close to the ideals of
   Carthage, but for the most part these Kindred are mere rabble.

   "Just a bunch of fuddy-duddies." -- Juggler

   Giovanni: These too are our enemies, along with the Tremere, usurpers
   of the blood.

   "I met one of these, once. I am convinced that they mean none of the
   Kindred well, and merely wish to start with us."

   -- Augustus Giovanni, third generation.

   View Salinus discipline.
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