Children of Osiris

Bloodlines

Introduction

The Children of Osiris are a bloodline of vampires who flourished around the second or third millennium BCE.

The group was founded by Osiris, the "Resurrected King". Though many Kindred do not believe they exist today during the Final Nights, those who are an authority on the Children of Osiris, do believe they exist in secret, under the direction of Khetamon, the "Grand Undying King". They are known to practice a Discipline unlike any other, called Bardo, which allows a vampire to have control over the Beast within. All their members come from other clans, or are caitiffs. Thus, there are hardly any neonates in their ranks. Few Elders join, as the Children require a high level of Humanity. Their arch nemeses are the Followers of Set.

Early History

Sometime around 4000 BCE, the Founder of the Children, Osiris, went on a spiritual journey, likely to India, to investigate deep mystical enlightenment and practice ancient methods of meditation. He was compelled to take control over the "Beast" within, as he did not accept his Embrace well. It probably took a millennium to develop and master this control, which became a new Discipline, known as Bardo. Bardo allows its practitioners to retain some degree of humanity, redeem other vampires and ward off evil; it even has the power to resurrect a vampire from Final Death. After gaining mastery of it, Osiris preached this newfound way to other Kindred, thus forming the Children of Osiris bloodline. Osiris granted his Children knowledge of Bardo, a discipline very difficult to master, whose secrets are never shared with outsiders.

Because Bardo gives a vampire a sense of humanity, it is greatly looked down upon by most vampire clans, especially the Followers of Set, who despise the thought of "preserving humanity". To the Children, they view the Followers as utter evil that needs to be destroyed, thus both groups have waged wars for milleniums, with or without their Founders involved. One such battle between Osiris and Set changed the Children in such a way, that they are not like any other clan. In a passion of hatred, Set had severed Osiris' limbs scattering them throughout Egypt. Osiris' first follower, Isis, took it upon herself to find all of his body parts in an attempt to put him back together. His body is not yet whole.

Organization

The Children of Osiris believe in Egyptian folklore, and see their role as being a holy one, combating the "darkness" of the Setites by the "light" of Osiris. Those who join are expected to have a high level of Humanity.

The Children prefer secluded, mystical locations. They live communally in havens called Temples, the primary location for learning their trademark Discipline. Currently, their Grand Temple is located in a secluded mountainous region in Nepal. Their Grand Master is called the "Undying King", and his consort, sometimes called the "Daughter of Isis". He leads the others in his example of asceticism. Hierarchy usually comes in levels of respect, gained through degree of adherence to the discipline of Bardo. However, their attainment of the discipline is never forced. It must be balanced and learned by example in an effort to have a pure existence in their most impure form. The Children put forth no illusions about themselves. As a child develops in their commune, they gain a sense of vision and penitence, often become perfectionists. Egyptian mythology abounds with tales of the rivalry between Set and his brother, Osiris. Knowledgeable vampires are aware that the Followers of Set claim descent from an Antediluvian who took his name from that Egyptian serpent-god (though the Setites certainly seem to think Set actually was the god). If that’s the case, such Kindred wonder, who was Osiris? A mortal spellcaster that was Embraced? Set’s childe? Or perhaps another Antediluvian, lost to time and destroyed millennia ago?

Whatever the truth about Set, there was once a powerful vampire called Osiris. He was a philosopher and a scholar in an Egyptian court (whose dynasty is unknown), Embraced by an unknown vampire who believed that his knowledge of the law would make him a useful ally in the battle to bring Egypt under Kindred influence. Osiris, however, was horrified by his new condition. Rather than meet the sun, though, he became determined to face and banish his personal demons, and especially his own Beast. His studies on sublimating the vampiric impulses may have helped form the basis for the search for Golconda. At the very least, they expanded it.

The Children of Osiris might have become a Clan and continued into the modern nights, but Set slew Osiris. As mortal legendry has it, Set dismembered his “brother” and scattered his body throughout the land of Egypt. His sister, Isis (perhaps another vampire, but no one still extant seems to know for sure) found the pieces and reassembled them, and impossibly, Osiris was resurrected. Death, however, had taken its toll. His blood was inert.

Nickname: Since even the Kindred who know about the Children of Osiris assume them all to be dead, they do not have a common nickname.

Sect: Strictly speaking, the Children of Osiris are a Sect, rather than a bloodline. They do not (and, by virtue of their own laws, cannot) join the Sabbat or the Camarilla.

Appearance: Since the Children can hail from any Clan or bloodline, their appearance can vary widely. They all shave their heads every evening upon awakening, and when in their temples they wear white robes adorned with mystical symbols and hieroglyphs. When leaving their temples on business, they dress simply and stay inconspicuous.

Haven: The few remaining Children of Osiris in the world dwell in one of several temples. These temples are well-hidden and kept secret from other Kindred, meaning that they tend to be in areas that don’t boast much of a vampire population.

Background: Children of Osiris renounce their Clans because they hate their condition, but do not wish to commit suicide. The search for Golconda leads some Kindred to the Children, while others encounter the Sect after running afoul of the Followers of Set.

Character Creation: Children of Osiris can be from any Clan (except the Followers of Set; while the Children might be willing to accept a truly repentant Setite, the situation has never come up). The character can have any combination of Attributes and Abilities, and they retain whatever knowledge of Disciplines they had before joining. Nature and Demeanor tend to be the same — the Children of Osiris are straightforward and honest.

Clan Disciplines: As appropriate for the character’s original Clan. Children of Osiris can also learn Bardo as an in-Clan Discipline.

Weakness: As appropriate for the character’s original Clan.

Organization: Each temple is under the supervision of an elder Child of Osiris (called the Undying King), and the entire Sect answers to a mysterious vampire called the Grand Undying King, rumored to be a direct childe of Osiris from before he lost the ability to Embrace. The Sect focuses on maintaining their Humanity, which is of course a difficult enough concern, but also thwarting the machinations of the Followers of Set without the Serpents knowing they still exist.

Quote: I could meet the sun, but I fear my heart would not balance the feather of Ma’at. Until I am sure, I will remain.

4th Generation

• -- Osiris -- also known as the Resurrected King, was a powerful Methuselah, creator of the Bardo discipline and the Children of Osiris cult / bloodline.

5th Generation

• -- Khetamon -- was the first of the Children of Osiris, and acted as cult leader until his Final Death. His generation and former clan are unknown.

Those of Unknown Generation

• -- Abu Al-Intiqam -- Bringer of the Light (Awakened mortal, former Child of Osiris) -- {Cairo}