The Ahrimanes are a rare, all-female bloodline of Kindred from the southern United States who share an unusual bond with spirits. They are an offshoot of the Gangrel antitribu.[1]
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| Name: | Ahrimanes |
| Plural: | Ahrimanes |
| Pronunciation: | AH-ree-maynes |
| Nicknames: | |
| Founder: | Muricia |
| Faction: | Sabbat |
| Disciplines: | (2nd edition) Animalism, Presence, Spiritus[3]
(Revised) Animalism, Auspex, Protean[4] |
| Parent clan: | Gangrel antritribu |
The Ahrimanes number only a handful, existing primarily in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and some surrounding areas. They are extremely secretive and violent, enjoying material wealth and controlling many human pawns. They form packs of their own despite the opposition of the Lasombra. The Sabbat accepts their ways, because the sect values freedom. Besides, the Ahrimanes aid the Sabbat tremendously by watching the Lupine threat.
History
Early History
The Ahrimanes originated with the Sabbat Gangrel. Upon arriving on this continent, Gangrel of both the Camarilla and Sabbat went into the southern wilderness, encountering a number of native tribes. Many of these Gangrel set up their havens near villages of these people. They preyed upon the villagers and defended them from white man's intrusion.
The founder of this bloodline was a Gangrel antitribu named Muricia. She studied the powers of the local shamans and used their magick to break her Vinculum with her sire, not wanting to get caught up in the constant warfare between two rival leaders of the Sabbat Gangrel. Most Sabbat Gangrel were busy killing each other off in feuds between the city and country factions.
When Muricia utilized the thaumaturgic powers of the native shamans, she effectively separated herself from her clan and her blood forever altered. The magic rituals she used on her body affected and mutated her own vampiric appearance. She soon combined the spiritual magick of the shaman with her own Gangrel powers, giving her an unusual edge over most of her type.
Final Nights
Organization
Muricia tried to create others like herself, but soon discovered she could not, for her vitæ was infertile. She learned she could choose existing Gangrels and, using the same ritual the shamans used on her, make them like her. Because of this, all Ahrimanes are Gangrels before they become Ahrimanes. In addition, Muricia allowed only females to join her brood, believing men to be inferior and the reason for most conflict. This tradition remains in effect to this day.
Culture
The Ahrimanes are more of an artificial bloodline. All Ahrimanes must renounce their former clan before they are accepted into the bloodline.
Embraces
The Ahrimanes are unable to give the Embrace; all members of the bloodline were originally City or Country Gangrel.
Version differences
The Ahrimanes were introduced in the Second Edition Storytellers Handbook to the Sabbat, but never updated to the Revised Edition. They did later receive a writeup in Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition.
Clanbook: Gangrel Revised gives a brief writeup the bloodline and how they may have made new members; however, they are also listed as all missing and suspected destroyed. This book suggests to use Thaumaturgy to simulate their Discipline of Spiritus.
References
