Updated: 13 December 1998

Chapter 2: Character Creation

                    In the mist of the night city, a new breed awaken. Scorned by their own kindred, sometimes even hunted and killed, but always used beyond endurance. They raise among their numbers, by their own personnal powers, because they found the true power.

The Legacy of Caine, the real Dark Gift. Where the others are only pawns, direct slaves of antediluvian monsters, the Unbound, also called Caitiffs, are the seeds of the true power of blood. Most of the time, the seeds, badly needing nurturing, never grows, and dies. But sometimes, only sometimes, one of them discover she can create powers unknown to other Kindred. That she can create new Disciplines, as those vampires of myth, the Second Generation, and even Caine himself, have done so, in the past.

But sometimes, she's not the creator of her Disciplines. Sometimes, something or someone noticed her, admired her, and gifted her with her own inspiration. Few of the Caitiffs really become Unbound, free to create their Disciplines, and fewer are chosen and inspired, but the results are there. Since less than fifty years, some Kindred appeared, using strange, spider-like Disciplines. Until now, no one made the link between caitiffs so far from one another.

Until now.

Already some reached the mastery of their own new Disciplines.

Some discovered others, like them.

They are growing in numbers, bonded by something perhaps as powerful as the Blood Bond, perhaps more. No one still noticed. Mainly because no one really cared. The life of a Caitiff is as good as cannon fodder...

But they will care...

They will care because before long, the Black Widows will strike...

Description

                    The Black Widow Bloodline is a strange Bloodline indeed. Deadly temptresses, knowing how to seduce their victims by their physical looks, but also by their intrigues. Dark mix of Toreadors and Assamite, the Black Widow Bloodline claim no Clan or bloodline founders. Any thaumaturgical blood test would show that half the Black Widows are Caitiff. The other seem to spring from an unkown (Antediluvian of Methuselah?) source.

In facts, a half the Black Widow are caitiff. Some female caitiffs around the world seem to be inspired to create three new Disciplines, and then, to teach them to their Childer. These ''Black Widows'' don't know about each other, and would be surprised to learn of the other's existence. The weaknesses they have in common, their feminism and their hatred against the Clan Assamite should be enough common ground to build some sort of sect, should they meet or search each another.

Nickname

                    None because no one know about them now, but later Spiders, or Succubi should be fine. ''Black Widows'', or ''Widows'' will probably prevail as a nickname.

Haven

                    Any. The Black Widows love luxury, but they love their independence more. They can live in a luxuous penthouse or a sewer chamber without any problem. This variation in their habits make them more unpredictable, and then, more dangerous...

Background

                    Feminist women, of any social milieu. After gaining her independance, a Neonate must learn how to act in any type of social milieu. They must be between (more or less) 15 and 30 years-old of apearance. Most of them are beauties, their Appearance ranging between 3 to 5. The new Black Widows are normaly Caitiff, if one exception: A Toreador developped these Disciplines alone (Solomon Grey would recognize a potential Unbound -- see OUTCASTS: A Player Guide to Pariahs). Most Caitiff Black Widows refrain from creating Progeny. They seem to wait for the right moment: The Moment when they become true Black Widows.

Character Creation

                    IMPORTANT: HALF THE BLACK WIDOWS ARE CAITIFFS, ALL CAITIFF RULES APPLY TO THIS HALF: That means that this half must CREATE the Black Widow's Discipline. The other half are treated like normal Bloodline Kindred.

The Concept an Behavior must reflect her willpower and independance: Lawyers, Cops, Gang chief... Most secretly desire to love and be loved by someone who could understand her. She's passionate; she likes to seduce, to simulate love or other emotions (sometimes beyond madness boundaries), to better destroy her victim later. Social Attributes are Primary. As she must lose former ties to her former life, the Black Widows are created differently:
A Caitiff Black Widow is created as per caitiff Rules.
Like a Sabbat Character, a true Black Widow starts with 4 Disciplines Points (she must use them in the ''Bloodline Disciplines'') but start with no Background points. She can use her Bonus Points as she likes it.

Disciplines

                    Arachnea, Obfuscate and Presence.

A true Black Widow has these Disciplines as Clan Disciplines. Note that for various reasons (contact with their Queen, for example, see Merits), a True Black Widow can have access, as a Non-Clan Discipline, to the Nymphea or Furie Discipline.

Note that, as said before, half the time, the Black Widow is a Caitiff, and will have to create the her ''Bloodline'' Disciplines, at the very least, Arachnea (see Caitiff & Rules in the Légions d'Augias Homepage).

Also, the Black Widows created several Special Powers by combination of Disciplines (as per Dark Ages Rules).

Weaknesses

                    There is two common Flaws: The Spider Tattoo for all Black Widows, and the Curse of the Black Widow: Somehow, Destiny follows the Black Widow and destroy those she loves most. It is a frightning curse because it removes the Black Widow's connection to others, as she will never love truely, or get attached to someone too much, for fear of seeing this person die (most of the time, in a horrible way, and sometimes, from the very hands of the Black Widow). Note that sometimes, destiny used the two flaws Partial Infertility and this curse on the same action: The Black Widow thought to give immortality to her child or mortal male lover, and only brought them death...

The Founder of the Bloodline is said to be fully Infertile, and this sometimes appear in a lighter curse as some Black Widows are only able to Embrace female mortals.

Organisation

                    Most Black Widows don't know of each others, so there is no apparent organisation. But if ''something'' is powerful enough to inspire Disciplines to Caitiffs around the world, it could inspire them any organisation. In facts, they seem to long -- in an inconscious way -- for other Black Widows' compagny. The need for a ''bloodline'' organisation appears to be natural to them, as is their loyalty to the other Black Widows.

Most are not beyond Diablerie to ''kill'' their victims, if the punishement is fitting.

Preferred Path

                    Any, but most follow the Humanity path.

Stereotypes

                    No Stereotypes. There isn't a significant number of them. No one knows them. They masquerade as Caitiffs, or other Clans (Toreador Poseuses are a must!).

But the Black Widows seems to have common opinion over some Clans, Bloodlines, or even other supernatural/natural creatures. Remember the Black Widows don't kill on sight and believe in individuality. The stereotype here are good only for the stereotypes persons of each Clan, not for the exception:

Assamite: Assassins who make a great show of their pitiful philosophy to excuse their murders. They don't deserve to live, because they are incarnation of entropy. They only know how to kill and destroy, without thinking about the creations of their victims. Diablerie is horrible, and criminal, but Diablerie over an Assamite blood or the like-minded is an good action...
Caitiff: Power incarnate. We know of our power, but until the Unbound grow strong, we must hide it from the Clan-Bound Kindred.
Gangrel: Neanderthalian creatures. Their old philosophy is good for animals, but not for intelligent creature. They don't know mercy, justice. They only know how to kill on sight, without trying to understand. Incompetence is the word that should come to mind when you see one of them.
Giovanni: Arrogant little bastards with a boring proselytism. Destroy them.
Nosferatu: Their Clan are the "least" of the Camarilla, sometimes cast out from the cities. And even then, they treat the Caitiff as rabble and cannon-fodder. They learned nothing.
Ravnos: Their power is nothing against us because we have nothing to lose and so, they can steal nothing from us... But they have a lot to loose should they try to attack us...
Toreador: Love them... To Death... *smile*
Tremere: ask them what they think of Saulot, an then try the Diablerie on them...
Camarilla: The society where all vampires can find their place: The Clans in the Elysiums and the Caitiffs in the Crematorium. Use it but never serve it, because no one but the weak does...
Sabbat: Primitive monsters.
Inconnu: Old crones with a fosile brain.
Lupines: Looks like the Gangrel... but even worst than their undead kindred. they succeeded in destroying each other. Their "wyrm" invasion was fed by the innocent blood the Lupines spilled in their fanatic and senseless war against anyone who wasn't like them. They should clean their own before trying to clean us...

Quote

                    ''I love you...'' With a sincere, if somewhat naive and slightly crazy stare.

The Dark Widow

                    Because their mysterious Founder have such a intimate link with her Beast, some Black Widows can inherit some power over it, by giving it intelligence, and so weakening its instincts. But power has a price... The Dark Widow is the dark side of the Black Widow's psyche appearing when the Black Widow learns the Furie Discipline. The Dark Widow in control is not really different from her Black Widow counterpart. Her appearance does not change (Even by Vampire: The Masquerade, Revised Edition standards), and she does not enter a mindless, killing rage...

But she still can...

Think is like this: The Dark Widow is in Control, and she is devious, cruel, patient, and like to play cat & mouse with her victim. She will kill him, perhaps... And perhaps not: After all, if it seems more cruel for the Dark Widow to let her victim suffer, looking his own family tortured and destroyed... Futility is one word that could suit well to the Dark Side (along with sadism, perversion, selfishness, etc.)

The Dark Widow have dark, sadistic needs to feed, as well as a probable ambition, and she will stop at nothing to reach her goal. And if she can hurt someone or destroy something her Black Widow counterpart cares for, she will do it eagerly. This will slowly gnaws at the Black Widow's grasp of her own Path of Illumination, as the Dark Widow usually violate such rules for her own pleasure.

Until the Black Widow and Dark Widow find some kind of balance, they are bitter, loving, hating enemies...

From the Player and Storyteller viewpoint: When the Dark Side takes over, the Player must switch personality, perhaps even giving different quirks to this ''new character''. He must play his character with evil, egoistical thoughts in mind. the better is to give the Dark Widow an immediate aim (''Loving Fran�ois Villon to death? -- His death, of course: after all, he is such a seducing Bastard...''). For a good rule of thumb, the Dark Widows should follow the Path of Lillith, described in the Guide to the Sabbat p141-144 (Perhaps it is the real Path followed by the Dark Widow, and that her aim is to convert her all-too human side to her own philosophies???)

Perhaps the face's expressions can change drastically, and perhaps not. Perhaps the Black Widow is a very innocent, calm and discreet person while the Dark Side is a very lustful, passionate and cruel one.

The duration of this ''control'' is normally equal to one scene, through the Storyteller could decide otherwise: An event (like the calling of her desesperate allies) could lead to a Conscience that, if successul, could spell the end of this control. An outstanding success on the Outrage Roll, or a failed Conscience Roll (see The Dark Widow), or even the Storyteller's whim could lead to a period of control that could go over a week... Who can say for sure...

It's the real interest of the Dark Widow effect: It's only a role-playing rule. But it's a rule that must be played to the end. Playing two twin characters in one, with opposed philosophy is a great challenge. And if you decide the Black Widow doesn't remember all the actions of her Dark Side, it can be a very twisted cat & mouse intrigue game indeed!

And what if the ST decides to take control of the Dark Widow? (Cancelling or decreasing the awareness of the Black Widow when the dark side is in control). The Player is left alone with his Black Widow character, wondering what will happen next! Interesting situations...

It's up to you to decide how will the Dark Widow appear and be played in your chronicle. Again, if you decide it's not interesting, the Black Widows are interesting and complete enough to forget this ''Dark Side nonsense''...
: )
Have fun!

Becoming a True Black Widow

                    Each time a Caitiff Black Widow creates (or learns) another level of any Black Widow discipline, she must roll a Dice, Difficulty (13 - total numbers of Black Widow Disciplines levels). A success indicate she becomes a True Black Widow. She is now considered a Bloodline Kindred: She loses her power to Create new Disciplines, but has access to her Bloodline Disciplines at the cost of cost 5 XPs (Vs 7 XPs for non-Bloodline Disciplines). Any Blood Test will give as result her new Bloodline, and the fact that she had no Sire (!). There is no Botch in this roll.

Merits & Flaws

                    Note on Tattoos: Any Black Widow possesses some Tattoo on her body, a 3 centimeters (1 inch) Tattoo that is easily spoted if the skin isn't hidden below clothes or something else. The Tattoo can't be erased, even by Vicissitude (the Tattoo returns immediately). It's simple to recognize them by that. Players creating a Black Widow character with Arachnea can choose the appearance of the tattoo by buying it with freebie points. Any other learning this Discipline after the character creation won't choose the appearance (see Arachnea for more Details).

Ananasi reaction to the Tattoo is strange indeed. An Ananasi will not attack a Black Widow unless provoked. They feel instinctively the Black Widow is kindred soul to them.

The Change has some interesting effects: From the moment the Caitiff is inspired to the moment of the final Bloodline Transformation, the Caitiff Black Widow can buy new Merits and Flaws, as long as in the end (after becoming a True Black Widow) the number of Flaws points isn't greater than seven, and as the flaws points is greater of equal to merits points. This is in addition to the first character creation, and is to be considered an effect of the change.

Discret Tattoo (2 Merit)
                    Little Tattoo (less than one centimeter, and in a discret part of her body).

Strong Webbing (2 Merit)
                    The Black Widow can weave silk that resist sunlight. Treat it as if the web was immunized to it (but not to fire).

Beauty of the Spider Queen (3 Merit)
                    While the Clan Disciplines of the Black Widow are Arachnea, Obfuscate and Presence, by some mystical way or link, the Black Widow can now have access to the Nymphea Discipline as if someone could teach it to her. This Discipline is learnt as a non-Clan Discipline (10+7XPs/Level).

Fury of the Dark Mother (4 Merit)
                    While the Clan Disciplines of the Black Widow are Arachnea, Obfuscate and Presence, by some mystical way or link, the Black Widow can now have access to the mysterious and powerful Furie Discipline as if someone could teach it to her, thus awakening the mysterious Dark Widow. This Discipline is learnt as a non-Clan Discipline (10+7XPs/Level).

Steel Webbing (5 Merit)
                    The Black Widow's weaving has the bonus of the Strong Weaving Merit. it can also resist to aggravated Damage and fire as if the silk had Fortitude, of the same level of the Black Widow (i.e. if the Black Widow has not Fortitude, then no resistance until she learns it!).

Pure Bloodline (5 Merit)
                    You don't know what happened. You laid on your sarcophagus to sleep some years in your pyramid, and when you awakened, thousand years had passed! Because, perhaps, of a crazed long dead poet who bought your bandaged body as a mummy, or because of a recent archeological expedition, or perhaps, even you awakened in a great museum as archeologists removed, surprised, the linen from your intact body. Anyway, you just recently awakened and have great troubles understanding this land so different (and so cold) from your beloved Two-Land.
You're a Meryt-Pneter, and your Clan Disciplines are Neferys, Obfuscate and Presence. You will probably have to buy the Anachronic Flaw. Perhaps you will have some mystic contact with your Founder, Hathor, and will learn other powers (See the Merits Beauty of the Spider Queen --Replacing Nymphea by Arachnea-- and Fury of the Dark Mother).
Anyway, the Generation of such old Vampire would be powerful indeed, ranging from 5 to 10 instead or the normal 8 to 13. See the Clanbook: Childer of Set and Chronicle: Uræus, Gods of Egypt for more information about the Meryt-Pneter.

Indiscreet Tattoo (1 Flaw)
                    A Significantly large Tattoo, or a Tattoo seen immediately (a big tattoo in the back, or a tattoo in the hand).

Partial Infertility (2 Flaws)
                    Black Widows are fanatic feminisms. Perhaps it has something to do with their Blood, as suggested by this partial infertility: The Black Widow's Embrace will fail if the victim is not a beautiful woman (Appearance greater or equal to 3). The victim will die.

Visible Tattoo (3 Flaw)
                    A significantly large Tattoo, like on the face, or covering 90% of the body (a Yakuza-type tattoo...)

Chapter 3: The Dark Widow
Return to Index

© 2000 White Wolf, Inc. All rights reserved. © 2000 Black Widow Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.