Editing Vampire: The Masquerade (section)

=== Political divisions ===
''Vampire: The Masquerade'' gives players the opportunity to play in a politically diverse world, divided by sect, clan, and bloodline.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|19-22}}

==== Sects ====
''Vampire: The Masquerade'' offers the players the opportunity to play in a politically diverse world in which sects rule over all of vampire society. While many factions and sub-sects exist in the game, the main focus is the conflict between the Camarilla, the Sabbat and the Anarchs.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|19-22}} These sects are divided based on their laws and norms, feeding, the treatment of vessels, vampiric morality, secrecy, feeding grounds, Gehenna, and the distribution of power. For most of the game's publication history, the two major sects were the Camarilla and the Sabbat, but there are other sects as well, such as the Inconnu and the Tal'maha'Re. A sect is something a character may choose in-game, though this decision is often chosen for them by their sire. Defection to one side or the other comes with great risk, as much of what motivates the Jyhad are the ideological differences between the Camarilla and the Sabbat.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|19-22}} 

==== Clans ====
A clan is the character's vampire family. All members of a clan allegedly descend from the same founder, known as Antediluvian (since they existed "before [[Genesis flood narrative|the Flood]]"). It is widely accepted that there are 13 clans with 13 founders, though not all of them predate the biblical Flood. Some clan founders, such as Giovanni or Tremere, usurped their position via diablerie. Clans may have a social or political component to them, but a clan is something a vampire is Embraced into rather than choosing. Those without a clan are known as ''Caitiff'', and are considered outsiders. Each Antediluvian is a ''grandchilde'' of [[Cain|Caine]]. In the back story of the game, the Antediluvians started a war among themselves, called the [[Jyhad]], and use their clansmen to fight this war for them.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|19-22}}

Each clan has a unique set of powers called Disciplines, and their own set of weaknesses. Two of the original clans, the Salubri and Cappaodcians, were usurped by newer bloodlines—the Tremere and Giovanni, respectively. The 13 major clans are:

* '''Banu Haqim''': Formerly known as the '''Assamites''' before Fifth Edition, the Banu Haqim ({{lit|Children of Haqim}}) are undead assassins paid in Vitae for use in a special ritual that bring them closer to their Antediluvian, Haqim. Originally they were independent of the sects, but joined the Camarilla in Fifth Edition.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|20, 49}}<ref name="V5Core2" />{{page needed|date=March 2025}}

* '''Brujah''': The Brujah were noble philosophers and warrior-poets at the time of Carthage, but have degenerated to a clan of rebels, rogues, and anti-authoritarians. Brujah possess great passion that makes it harder for them to resist the Beast. The Brujah are one of the seven founding clans of the Camarilla.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|20, 51}} In Fifth Edition, most of them joined the Anarch Movement.<ref name="V5Core2">[[Martin Ericcson]]; [[Kenneth Hite]]; [[Matthew Dawkins]]; [[Kiram Muammar]];  [[Juhana Pettersson]].''Vampire the Masquerade". White Wolf Entertainment, 2018.''</ref>{{page needed|date=March 2025}}

* '''Gangrel''': The Gangrel are animalistic shape-shifters who shun the cities for the wilderness beyond. They prefer to run with wild animals rather than play politics with others of their kind. When Gangrel frenzy, they resemble the Beast, taking on animal features. Gangrel are one of the founding clans of the Camarilla, although their leadership officially became independent at the end of the 1990s. Some Gangrel remain in the Camarilla while others are found in the Anarchs.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|20, 54-55}}<ref name="V5Core2" />{{RP|140, 406}}

* '''Hecata''': The Hecata formed from the ashes of several, mostly related bloodlines of necromancers, after the leader of the largest faction, Augustus Giovanni, was slain in Fifth Edition. The '''Giovanni''' descend from a Venetian merchant family whose patriarch usurped clan '''Cappadocian''', an older lineage with a more scholarly bent. The clan's weakness means that their bite (which in other vampires is pleasurable to the victim) causes excruciating pain. The Hecata, like the Giovanni before them, actively remain independent.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|20, 56-57}}<ref name="V5Core2" />{{RP|63}}<ref name="V5COTBG">Dale Andrade; Jacqueline Bryk; Jacob Burgess; John Burke; Lillian Cohen-Moore; Rachel Cole; Matthew Dawkins; Steffie de Vaan; Emily Griggs; Mike F. Tomasek Jr; Eddy Webb; Rachel Wilkinson. ''Cults of the Blood Gods''. Paradox Interactive. 2021</ref>{{RP|125}}

* '''Lasombra''': Historically associated with religion and rulership, the Lasombra see power over others and themselves as their noblesse oblige. As one of the two founding clans of the Sabbat, they gained notoriety for allegedly destroying their Antediluvian founder. They control shadows and study the Abyss, and they do not appear in mirrors.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|20, 58-59}} In Fifth Edition, around half of the Lasombra join the Camarilla.<ref name="V5CBN">Jiba Molei Anderson; John Burke; Matthew Dawkins; Jose Garcia; Klara Horskjær Herbøl; Kira Magrann; Crystal Mazur; Juhana Pettersson; Lauren Roy; Myranda Sarro; Malcolm Sheppard; Chris Spivey; Mike Tomasek; Allen Turner; Rachelle Udell; Eddy Webb. ''Chicago By Night''. Onyx Path Publishing, 2019.</ref>{{RP|126}}

* '''Malkavian''': The Malkavians are lunatics whose madness grants them strange insights. Their Discipline of Dementation allows them to spread their insanity like a plague, but they are respected for their oracular abilities. They appear connected to a [[Group mind (science fiction)|hive-mind]] they call the Malkavian Madness Network, and are one of the founding clans of the Camarilla.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|20, 60-61}}

* '''The Ministry''': Formerly known as the '''Followers of Set''', this clan of cultists once worshipped their Antediluvian progenitor, the Egyptian god [[Set (mythology)|Set]]. Now they worship the metaphorical "Set within". They are masters of forbidden lore and spread corruption and temptation through the world. Setites are especially sensitive to light. As the Followers of Set, they were independent of the sects.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|20, 52-53}} In Fifth Edition, they have rebranded as the Ministry, and have allied themselves with the Anarchs.<ref name="V5ACB">[[Juhana Pettersson]] & [[Matthew Dawkins]]. ''Anarch''. White Wolf Entertainment, 2018.</ref>{{RP|91, 178-185}}

* '''Nosferatu''': At the Embrace, every Nosferatu turns into a hideous monster, forcing them to dwell in the shadows. Their place on the margins inspires the clan to present a unified front, and their stealth allows them to learn (and trade) secrets others would rather keep hidden. Prior to Fifth Edition, this included maintaining the vampire "internet", ShreckNet. They are one of the founding members of the Camarilla.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|20, 62-63}}

* '''Ravnos''': The Ravnos are seen as outcasts, vagabonds, and charlatans. Many of them follow complicated rules concerning the nature of illusion and reality. The Ravnos are thrillseekers who are subject to intense vices and virtues, making it hard for them to stay in one place for too long. After their Antediluvian awoke and was destroyed, the clan was temporarily overcome with madness. Now the Ravnos are greatly depleted in number, and many remain independent.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|20, 64-65}}<ref name="V5Core2" />{{RP|63}}

* '''Toreador''': Toreador are sensitive, artistic, and sometimes debauched hedonists fascinated by the mortal world. Toreador often Embrace for beauty or to preserve artistic talent. They are enthralled by beauty, and suffer when deprived of it. They are one of the founding clans of the Camarilla.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|20, 68-69}}

* '''Tremere''': The Tremere are descended from a house of [[Mage: The Ascension|mortal mages]] who stole immortality through experiments with Tzimisce Vitae. Their founder diablerized the Antediluvian of the former clan '''Salubri''', solidifying the Tremere's clan status. Until Fifth Edition, the Tremere were intensely hierarchical, with every member partially blood bound to their ruling elders. Now the clan is fractured, with its four houses aligned to different sects: House Tremere (Camarilla), House Carna (independent), House Ipsissimus (Anarch), and House Goratrix (formerly Sabbat, currently unknown). The Tremere are one of the founding clans of the Camarilla.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|20, 68-69}}<ref name="V5Core2" />{{RP|94, 385}}<ref name="V5ACB" />{{RP|170-172}}

* '''Tzimisce''': Otherworldly and scholarly, the Tzimisce ruled over their lands in Eastern Europe for centuries, forming deep spiritual connections with it. Like the Lasombra, the Tzimisce claim to have destroyed their founder and are pillars of the Sabbat. The Tzimisce are known for their pursuit of metamorphosis, sculpting flesh and bone like clay, and making horrific war-ghouls.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|20, 70-71}} In Fifth edition, some Tzimisce have joined the Anarchs.<ref name="V5Core2" />{{RP|63}}<ref name="V5CBN" />{{RP|126}}

* '''Ventrue''': The Ventrue traditionally play the roles of aristocrats and kings, seeking power and wealth to support their rule over Kindred and Kine. The Ventrue are picky eaters who may only feed from a specific kind of vessel (e.g. virgins, blondes, youngest siblings). They are one of the founding clans of the Camarilla.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|20, 72-73}}

===== Antitribu =====
Most Sabbat vampires consider themselves to be "anti-clans" or ''antitribu'', in rebellion against their parent clans' values, goals, or loyalties. For example, Toreador within the Sabbat consider themselves Toreador ''antitribu''. Some subvert or twist the expectations of their clans, while others take a more radical view of their lineage's core ideas. Some are so different that they are considered different bloodlines, manifesting different Disciplines or weaknesses, or even a different name.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|43}} Until Fifth Edition, the Lasombra and Tzimisce did not consider themselves ''antitribu'', as most of their members were within the Sabbat. Lasombra outside the Sabbat were considered ''antitribu'' while the Tzimisce outside the Sabbat were referred to as the Old Clan. A Sabbat offshoot of the Followers of Set is known as the Serpents of the Light, and have rejected both the clan founder and his Egyptian origin, in favor of the cultural trappings of Caribbean voodoo.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|436, 439}}

==== Bloodlines ====
Bloodlines cannot trace their lineage to an Antediluvian founder or are too few in number to be considered a major player in the [[Jyhad]]. Some bloodlines are considered to be offshoots of existing clans, while others have no known origin—and in some cases, they are remnants of "true" clans who were replaced or usurped by another bloodline (such as the Salubri, who were usurped by the Tremere). All bloodlines are exceptionally rare in the game, leaving most of the interactions and storylines centered around the clans.<ref name="V:tM20" />{{RP|393}}