Clan Brujah (Broo-hah)
“Since mankind's dawn, a handful of oppressors have accepted the responsibility over our lives that we should have accepted for ourselves. By doing so, they took our power. By doing nothing, we gave it away. We've seen where their way leads, through camps and wars, towards the slaughterhouse.”The clan of Rebels, noble or incorrigible alike. Despite their synonymity with the Anarch movement, and Anarchy as a whole, Clan Brujah was once considered a High Clan and was considered a part of the Camarilla until recent history. While respect depends on the times and the individuals, they were a part of that clan. However, since 2012 and the Conclave of Prague, the clan has been ousted from the Camarilla (officially, wiggle room always exists for Kindred), and is primarily home with its Anarch roots in the modern nights. The Brujah possess three primary Kindred powers that give them the strength of body or voice.― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta
- Celerity - When you're going to be in as tense a position as many Brujah find themselves in, you need to dodge and get out of dodge as quickly as possible. Quick reflexes, quicker feet, and for the brawlers a side of speedster attacks are all common skills in the Brujah playbook.
- Potence - The bread and butter of the common Brujah. It's on the simpler end of Kindred powers, increasing one's strength to break bodies or buildings with ease, but the Brujah's natural selection of abilities also gives way to their ability to pass the rage that is entwined with their clan onto others.
- Presence - For those who align themselves with the more philosophical side of the clan, this is their main tool. The ability to draw in a crowd, persuade and protect their faithful, and make detractors peel away in fear.
Structure
General Organization
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Clan Brujah has no organizational structure. The more thoughtful of the clan might seek to try and establish one, but the vast majority would rather see it torn down. This might be obvious for a clan of rebels and anarchists, but the philosophical among them would want you to think otherwise. That being said, there are two factional labels among the clan. These aren't strict categories like the Tremere and their houses but are instead simple differences of age and attitude. There are the Iconoclasts, who are your typical rebellious bruisers or agents that make up a majority of the clan, especially the younger ones, and the Idealists who, alongside those who label themselves "True Brujah" are the more philosophical and organizing members of the clan, typically the older ones who've seen their fair share of pointless battles.In Tacoma
Since Tacoma has been an Anarch hotbed for many years, you have plenty of Brujah that'll think of others along the previous labels. But, in the time within the city, especially after the Cleansing Nights put Tacoma squarely in Anarch hands, some deeper ideological groups have formed. These groups mostly concern themselves with how they plan to deal with the threat and presence of the Camarilla.- Swords are Tacoma Brujah who want to take the fight to the Camarilla. Assaults on their businesses, invasions into their social spaces, roughing up their bouncers and enforcers, the whole nine yards, until Seattle is a place for Anarchs just like Tacoma is.
- Shields are the Tacoma Brujah who want to focus on defending the territory they have instead of pushing into Seattle. While they're not eschewing the idea of fighting against them, they want to fight to make sure that the Camarilla doesn't take a step further into Tacoma rather than the other way around, which they fear would leave blind spots.
- Shakers are the Tacoma Brujah who want to dismantle the Camarilla where it really hurts: their systemic structures. Elysiums, boardrooms, meeting halls, and even criminal organizations, they want to step in and shake up their profit margins first and foremost, thinking that by hitting them financially they'll be operating both offense and defense.
- Marchers, last but not least, are the Tacoma Brujah who want to break apart the Camarilla via social efforts. Not in the top-down way the Shakers break things up, but instead by going from the ground up, convincing the oft-forgotten and maligned members of Camarilla society, especially in Seattle, to throw off the yolk of the Camarilla for the freedom of the Anarchs.
Culture
General Culture
The Brujah have very little set culture. Much like the Toreador's pursuit of art and beauty, it is something that evolves and changes with the world around it. What makes it even more tenuous is the fact that the inherent push towards rebellion against the mainstream or the systemic means that Brujah culture exists in Counterculture. This exists in Tacoma as well, with even Kindred voices being added to the outspoken of the city that speaks out against the various forces that would harm the city. There are, however, some nuggets of consistency. Firstly, no matter what it is they're doing, count on a Brujah to be passionate about their own works. Whether that's leading a group, eschewing the whole thing, acting in some manner of justice, or being a villainous brute of the highest mustache-twirling order, a Brujah is fueled by the passion, fury, and intensity that the beast in their blood necessitates. For those who come together, there's also a bit of a sense of clan unity in various orders. You may fight your friends but team up against another group, yet team up with that group if an outsider is muckraking on your turf. Essentially, if the Nosferatu hold clan loyalty above sect loyalty, then the Brujah take that to a level of bickering familial connection.Gathering
There are also two common conventions among the Brujah. They take many forms but are most often boiled down to the Rant and the Rave. The Rant is a community forum, a place, time, or just social understanding where anyone can show up and shout out their feelings and their thoughts. You're not free of consequences, obviously, but they'll be damned if anyone gets shut up before they're done talking. The Rave, meanwhile, is a sheer social gathering of Brujah, where they group up and just have a blast, channeling that inward passion into the joy of a moment, usually under the cover of a large entertainment event. These feed into each other, as a Rave can eventually turn into a Rant if enough people are angry, or a Rant can turn into a Rave if enough people want to jam it out, but they are recognized by most of the Brujah around the world.Embraces
When it comes to their Embraces, Brujah are easily the most freeform creators, as even in the Camarilla they are most likely to ignore that Tradition and sire who they want when they want. For those that do put more thought into it, they often sire those who are either already strong activists who would use the greater strength for good, those they see the potential of great passion in or those who need a shocking experience to get them to see the other side of an argument.Public Agenda
The common agenda of any Brujah is to not be bossed around by anyone or anything but themselves and those they respect. For some, this starts and ends with them, for others it extends to all Kindred or all existance.
History
Early History
The origins of Kindred are a messy and unknown tale lost to ages, with few concrete sources remaining. The most collected tales from the Book of Nod speak of the children of Cain, and the city of Enoch. Even among those who think they know the truth, however, there is much argument about the true founding of the clan. Some claim that the true antediluvian founder of the clan was a dispassionate, purely logical man whose childer were much the same save for one, the Brujah Troile, who is more widely considered the antediluvian of the clan. For many, Troile is the picture of the modern Brujah in ancient times, rebellious, passionate, and violent. Brujah who consider themselves "True Brujah", that is to say, more logical and philosophical than their more volatile cousins, often claim that Troile committed Diablerie against the real antediluvian and led the clan to their present state. Regardless of who the true antediluvian of the clan is, they fled following the fall of Enoch, and a majority of the clan would find themselves in Athens. The clan wished to live alongside the Kine, with the more arrogant of the clan wishing to be kings and gods among them. Nonetheless, they integrated well into Athenian society and began the ancient pursuit of philosophy as well as physical honing that would become the ancient Brujah way. They even advised other Kindred to come with them into the city, to share in their bounty and their ideals, and a successful peace was had for many years. But, it was not to last, as the war between Sparta and Athens also brought many Kindred to conflict, as where the Brujah had Athens, the Ventrue had Sparta. Eventually, many of the Brujah had to flee, with many childer diablerizing their sires to leave no traces behind and fleeing to different corners of the world. They wouldn't avoid Kine society, however, and soon came to gather again in the city of Carthage, following it to its heights as well. While the histories of other clans would paint the Brujah of Carthage in more devilish lights, who is to say what the genuine truth is when facts are lost to the fog of ages? Nonetheless, that peace and success were also not to last, once again because of human conflicts backed by Kindred, as the Ventrue of Rome, joined by the Malkavians of the city as well, backed the human armies to wipe out Carthage. It is said that Troile had fled to Carthage as well, but after this defeat, they fled into the earth itself, only to be trapped by salt and magic to this day.Renaissance and Post-Camarilla
In the pre-Camarilla years, the Brujah were counted among the High Clans alongside the Ventrue and Toreador, mostly due to their then-still present philosophical attitude towards things. While rebellion and anger still flowed along the vitae of elders and neonates alike, they still practiced the Socratic arts of argument and physical training like their Athenian predecessors. Owing to that same history, they still kept a chip on their shoulders over Rome and the Ventrue overall. When the Anarch Revolts were underway, many Brujah joined in the cause, as Rebellion was in their nature, and the abuse of childer by their sires was one such structure they would not idly abide by. And yet, when the Convention of Thorns created the Camarilla, the Brujah were counted among their number, as the thinkers of the clan saw the necessity of gathering and unity, however tenuous. Many Brujah peeled off to join the Sabbat, becoming Antitribu along with many others, but even those who remained in the Camarilla weren't all so convinced about its structure. Nonetheless, the clan had a pretty simple road through the years of the Renaissance, with the wealth of new ideas and ideologies formulating in the minds of Kindred and Kine alike leading to more infighting and disruption within even the learned of the clan. The rise of class disparity and cultural conflict also drew the minds and fists of Brujah alike, fighting and proselytizing for one side or the other. As mankind turned towards the Victorian Era and the age of the Industrial Revolution, the Brujah became more and more the impassioned brutes and warriors that they're known for today. Maybe it was the degradation of the clan, maybe it was more of them finding the line where words just stopped being effective, but the Brujah became more violent each passing year. It also didn't take long for the majority of the clan to oppose the structure of the Camarilla as it became the norm, as time provided more evidence and examples of their failings. As the Industrial Revolution popped off, with the gears of modern capitalism grinding more and more with each passing day, many members of the clan were drawn to the rising ideologies that ran counter to the immutable economic structure, stoking the flames of their passion even further, as physical fighting became not only integral to the clan but necessary against the systemic violence of the majority leaders. This would create the status quo for the clan that marched on for many years. Rabble-rousers who lead with their anger rather than rationality, who intrinsically oppose the standard structures of the world as far as their blood takes them. This spirit of rebellion would even lead many of the clan to join the newly-formed Anarch Movement that led to the Second Revolt that created the California Free States, as well as the human Soviet Revolution for as long as it lasted.History in Seattle and Tacoma
The Brujah have had as much of a presence as any other clan of the Camarilla since the founding of Seattle. However, as the Toreador reigned supreme, and the Ventrue came not too long after, many Brujah found themselves enjoying the outskirts of the Camarilla territory instead. While a majority of them would eventually break off towards Spokane as their center of power in the state, just as many found a footing in Tacoma to carve out a place for themselves. In the strange liminal years of semi-independence, many Brujah gladly used the more lax governance of Tacoma to freely voice and act out their ideals without the typical social jeering or ostracization that would come with it. When many Kindred left the city following its downturn throughout the 20th century, a large portion of Brujah stayed behind, enjoying anonymity and freedom without full Anarch chaos. But, this also left very few protections from the Garou and Hunters that permeated the smaller cities further out from the coastline of the Sound. Entering the 60s, counterculture began to take off in the minds of the American public, and the Kine of the area responded tremendously, leading to a notable movement in Seattle that still gives it the reputation of liberal individualism to this day. Even to the more blatantly anarchistic of the Brujah, this was a turn in the right direction, and the rise of hippies, the queer community, and social activism against megacorporations gave them the perfect communities to rebel alongside, as well as a spectacular pool for new Brujah. While Tacoma, the underdog that it is, didn't have as powerful of a boom, the general vibe of the area shifted in that direction, especially as this era of counterculture gave rise to the increased Punk and Grunge stylings that would become as cultural as they were aesthetic. This only furthered as more and more Anarchs flooded into the city leading into the 90s, with various minorities that had migrated to the state and the area joining with the Brujah as well, in blood or in bonds, due to their rebellious nature siding them with the oft oppressed of society. Even when the Kindred society entered the stalemate between Anarch and Camarilla the Brujah were empowered and prevalent within both cities. While the calmer members of the clan helped their allies where they could, the more vitriolic members relished in having a war to wage, even if it went on forever. Maybe they were hoping it would. But, no matter the reason, the undeniable fact is that the Brujah were a powerful force in Tacoma on both sides of the stalemate.Modern Nights
In 2012, the Conclave of Prague gathered in response to the damage done by the Second Inquisition thus far. This resulted in a lot of blaming on either side and eventually all hell broke loose. Theo Bell, an Archon and revered moderate of Clan Brujah, led his clan into revolt against the Camarilla, assassinating the famed Hardestadt as well as many others as a result of the rebellion. Following that, Clan Brujah is no longer a part of the Camarilla clans, and the Anarchs are officially an enemy of the Ivory Tower. Locally, the Sabbat invasion and subsequent breaking of the stalemate landed Tacoma in Anarch's hands, leaving the Brujah with a dual sense of accomplishment and anxiety. They've reached one goal. Now what? This has caused much division among the clan, but they at least have a solid figurehead. The collective townships of Parkland and Spanaway are gathered under Baron Oenone Cortez, one of the physical powerhouses of The South Sound Barons, and she's not interested in leaving the Camarilla sitting pretty where it is. On a cultural whole, as the face of counterculture changes, so does clan Brujah. While many Brujah are backing the riots and pushing for civilian autonomy in the area, just as many are vouching for the benefits of green living and holistic community care, and there's quite an overlap between the two. Against all odds, the clan continues to grow, both within and without the Camarilla, as Seattle's tower in particular puts on an agreeably welcoming face, and only time will tell if another major revolution is around the corner, or if like the experiments of Athens and Carthage, it'll all come crashing down in the end.Demography and Population
As the Brujah are all about rebellion and the passion of it, many members of the clan are from minority communities. There are just as many that're rebellious members of the majority communities, but Clan Brujah is open to anyone who isn't complacent about society overall. In Tacoma specifically, Brujah take a decent majority of the Kindred population, although getting an exact number has always been a fool's errand.
Territories
While the clan is anathema to a rigid structure, that hasn't stopped some Brujah from rising the ranks of Kindred society. While you'll usually see them as Sheriffs or Hounds if anything, their physical prowess gives way to the violence and domination necessary for the position, some do take leadership positions such as Princes or, more commonly, Barons. Below is a list of Brujah of power and where they hold authority.
- Nines Rodriguez - Baron of Downtown & East Los Angeles
- Oenone Cortez - Baron of Parkland/Spanaway
- Véronique d'Orléans - Prince of Macau, China
- Leslie Taylor - Prince of Melbourne
- Vera - Prince of Lichtenstein
- Giangaleazzo - Prince of Milan
Founding Date
~8000 BCE
Type
Geopolitical, Clan
Alternative Names
The Learned, Rebels, Agitators
Demonym
Brujah
Ruling Organization
Related Species
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