Hello Requiem readers! This time I’ve got a little preview of the Belial’s Brood from Spilled Blood. Before we get into that, I want to take a moment to talk about what Spilled Blood is. First, it’s a Night Horrors book. This means that it is full of antagonists to use both in your Requiem games, and other Chronicles of Darkness games. It’s also a way for me to introduce some new 2e bloodlines, especially utilizing something that we haven’t done before, which is bloodlines that share something other than clan. There are a few words in the introduction about that specifically, but I hope to also put more detail into an upcoming bloodlines book that will explain how such things come about. But expect to see some covenant specific bloodlines in this book.
The book is broken into three chapters: antagonistic bloodlines, vampire antagonists, and non-vampire or vampire-adjacent antagonists. So instead of having a book completely themed for vampire or non-vampire antagonists, we have a mix of all types in this book. Hopefully, you’ll find something to terrorize your players with in these pages.
With that, have a small preview of the vampire antagonists, the Belial’s Brood.
Our practices
Members of Belial’s Brood can think, reason, and decide a course of action. They can cover their tracks, blend in with society, and uphold the Masquerade when they have to, because all Claimed have a talent for survival. Most often, this is expressed through the Bestial Triad: through destroying threats, through instant gratification, and through control and dominance. In this regard, most Brood practice some form of diablerie as Amaranth remains the ultimate expression of dominance between Kindred. Many Brood adhere to the notion of survival-of-the-fittest and devour the souls of weaker Kindred as mercy killings.
Very few Kindred actively seek to become Claimed, but many are drawn to them by circumstance. As a Kindred experiences loss, violence, or trauma, and as they slide further down the bestial rabbit hole — losing more and more of their humanity — many find reasons and means to expedite the process. Many choose to end their lives before becoming draugr. Others, believing that redemption is impossible but not wanting to exist as draugr, actively chase the legends and philosophies of the Brood in a desperate attempt to survive with their psyche intact. The Beast roars in their ears, yearning for freedom, until one day the Kindred gives in and the draugr is unleashed. All Brood were once draugr, but not all draugr become Brood. Most don’t, in fact. Only when a powerful enough Beast takes hold of the conscious, does the draugr evolve in a process the Brood call the Claiming.
There is some debate within Kindred society if the Claiming is a forced process or an emerging evolutionary step within all Kindred. For many, this is a terrifying prospect because it suggests that the beast can take over even the most noble and pious of Kindred. And for those who believe Belial still exists, it means that a single voice can corrupt Kindred society. Those who adhere to the latter suggest that Belial, whatever their gender or origin, is forcing a dark vision and twisted philosophy upon the most vulnerable within Kindred society.
Beyond the Claiming, Brood do not often attempt to embrace another because when they do the results are always disastrous. The Brood embraces either fail or result in mindless draugr. Indeed, Invictus sires tell their childer of what occurred during the nights of the Camarilla wherein Belial, the First Brood, attempted to embrace an army of ghouls only to accidentally create an army of draugr.
Those who seek to become Claimed follow a dangerous path. This path becomes even more treacherous once the Claiming is successful, as all of Kindred society universally despises the Brood. The Brood claim this hate comes from those who fear what they do not understand. Nevertheless, they do what they must to survive and sometimes congregate with others of like mind. These groups are called clutches. An Apex commands each clutch. Apexes usually have the highest Blood Potency, and they have proven their ability to both kill as well as command. While there are no formal customs or codified written laws that govern Claimed society, all follow three very simple precepts:
- Bow to the Strong. Whenever two Brood disagree over important courses of action, a retelling of events, or even petty things like who gets to ride shotgun, the weaker acquiesces to the stronger.
- Respect the Challenge. Any Brood may challenge an Apex for leadership of the Clutch. That challenge cannot be ignored. Challenges are always to the death once declared. The only requirement being that no one beyond the two challengers can be involved, assist, or otherwise affect the outcome. Not only is outside tampering easily discovered through the language of the beast, any attempt to rig the challenge by someone not involved directly is foolish when strength is what ensures survival. As a result, when the discover the saboteur, they are hunted.
- Honor the Hunt. Mortals are too easy of a challenge, and thus, Kindred, or their own people, make standard targets for Brood hunts. Because of their primal desire to hunt and kill, no Brood can refuse a call to hunt.
Nicknames: The Brood, the Claimed, the Worthless (derogatory)