| |
| Name: | Children of Osiris |
| Singular: | Child of Osiris |
| Pronunciation: | oh-sigh'-rus |
| Nicknames: | Osirians |
| Disciplines: |
Bardo, and two Disciplines learned from prior clan (clan Lasombra ), |
| Parent clan: | None; Founded by Osiris |
The Children of Osiris are a bloodline of vampires who flourished around the second or third millennium BC.
Overview
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,[1] the "Grand Undying King". They are known to practice a Discipline unlike any other, called the 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.[2]
Early History
Sometime around 4000 BC, 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 haved 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. With the help of the Children offering their own blood to reconstitute Osiris, and using Bardo, he became whole again. However, his "Re-Birth" came at a price. He could no longer Embrace a childe. Only with the use of Bardo, the Children thus made it a practice to avoid embracing other childer. Since then, they've recruited lost kindred from other clans, into their ranks.
Sometime in the second millennium BC, after the last battle with Set, Osiris had gone to the Underworld, where he remained dormant for another millennium. After the invasion of the Sixth Great Maelstrom in the Underworld, Osiris returned to Earth to transform all of his faithful Children into humans while granting them knowledge of a new Spell of Life. This allowed them to join the ranks of the Undying. The few unfaithful, among the Children, were destroyed. To many Kindred, the Children are thought to be extinct. However, other sources indicate that they do exist as a secret organization, still making use of the power of Bardo.
Dark Ages
Children of Osiris c. 1242
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. Since their Founder had lost his ability to sire, after being dismembered by Set, The Children are generally forbidden from granting the Embrace. Osiris' "embracing impotence", is a parallel to an Egyptian myth, where Isis was unable to locate his member when she reassembled his body. Only through the use of Bardo, can the vampire discipline oneself from any temptation to Embrace. Therefore, their ranks are comprised of vampires recruited from other clans, bloodlines and caitiffs. 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.
Discontinuation
The Children of Osiris are one of the clearest examples of the First Edition having a rather forgiving attitude toward vampires, seen more like a sect of "good guy" vampires than the early Camarilla or Inconnu. They were rarely mentioned in Second Edition material, though Mummy mentions Khetamon and the alliance between The Undying and The Children. With the Revised Edition, The Children clearly no longer fit in with the themes and mood of VTM. They were officially removed from the metaplot of Mummy: The Resurrection. The "vampire priests of Children of Osiris" are mentioned in Sorcerer, revised edition in the description of Children of Osiris sorcerers' organization. The are believed to be recently eliminated by the Followers of Set.[3]
Gallery
References
See Also: