Bak-Ra
Help us break the curse or spend the rest of your undead lives in the darkness.
The Bak-Ra (literally, Servants of Ra) were once leaders of a great society of Kindred. They united the clans of Ancient Egypt when solidarity was needed most. They led by example, by fear and by wielding power that both terrified and awed their brethren. Once the Romans invaded the Kingdom of the Nile, however, the Bak-Ra found themselves being hunted down and persecuted for heresy and other crimes against the “one true God.” Many of the Bak-Ra decided to enter voluntary Torpor as a means of escaping the insidious traps of the Roman Kindred, hoping to keep Ra’s greatest, most powerful secrets away from the mongrel Ventrue of Rome and their vampire puppets.
Unfortunately for the Bak-Ra, they were forgotten, left buried in their tombs for an unfathomable three thousand years, unable to awaken themselves, consumed by madness and trapped in the fog of time. Now, they have an unquenchable thirst for everything that was taken from them. For the Bak-Ra of modern nights, their only hope is to rediscover their history and locate the rituals, tools and abilities that made them what they once were. They are in a desperate search for their identity and clues to their place in modern nights.
Now, an irresistible drive to remember who they were, and what they were once capable of, fills their blood with renewed purpose and vitality. The Bak-Ra who have awakened in the modern nights have become obsessive scholars, doing everything in their power to relearn their history. Sadly, those who have managed to crawl up from their earthen tombs find that they are often the targets of scorn, ridicule and mockery. This only fuels their insane fervor more, feeding their Beast for the night that they can unleash it and exact their revenge.
Finally, it is important to note that all the Bak-Ra know about their past is what is available to the historians of the modern nights, along with the few fragments that individual Bak-Ra kept in their tombs. No known member of this bloodline has awakened with her memories intact.
Unfortunately for the Bak-Ra, they were forgotten, left buried in their tombs for an unfathomable three thousand years, unable to awaken themselves, consumed by madness and trapped in the fog of time. Now, they have an unquenchable thirst for everything that was taken from them. For the Bak-Ra of modern nights, their only hope is to rediscover their history and locate the rituals, tools and abilities that made them what they once were. They are in a desperate search for their identity and clues to their place in modern nights.
Now, an irresistible drive to remember who they were, and what they were once capable of, fills their blood with renewed purpose and vitality. The Bak-Ra who have awakened in the modern nights have become obsessive scholars, doing everything in their power to relearn their history. Sadly, those who have managed to crawl up from their earthen tombs find that they are often the targets of scorn, ridicule and mockery. This only fuels their insane fervor more, feeding their Beast for the night that they can unleash it and exact their revenge.
Finally, it is important to note that all the Bak-Ra know about their past is what is available to the historians of the modern nights, along with the few fragments that individual Bak-Ra kept in their tombs. No known member of this bloodline has awakened with her memories intact.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
History and Culture: It seems odd that a clan most noted for its aversion to the sun and affinity towards shadows should, in fact, not only worship the god of the sun, but claim to have once been able to walk beneath it as easily as any human. The power of Ra, however, remains within their collective souls. They fervently, obsessively, believe that they were once able to walk during the day, beneath the Sun, and they know for certain that it is only a matter of time before they remember how to do so again.
Perhaps the secrets are still hidden in one of their buried tombs. Perhaps one of their Allies, the Usiri, has their secrets and memories stored in dream-space somewhere. Whatever the case, the Bak-Ra are intent on rediscovering their past glory. In the meantime, they endure the ridicule and spend much of their time in self-imposed exile, studying and waiting for the night when they can make the heretic invaders suffer for their transgressions.
What the Childer of the Sun know in their undead hearts is that Ra ruled the heavens and thus, it is only logical that his followers ruled the Earth. However, history tells them that Ra’s priests didn’t rule unilaterally, but rather that the Cult of Ra merely managed an already unified covenant of gods. Rather than provide comfort however, this information merely angers and confuses them. How could such disparate beliefs ever come to a consensus and unity? Why would Ra deign to share power with lesser beings?
And yet, every historical artifact discovered and every piece of information received leads the Bak-Ra to the realization that this was, indeed, the case. The possibility that their history is a lie, a fiction written by the murderous, invading Ventrue dogs of Rome, flames their already virulent distrust and hatred of the Lords. There can be, in their minds, no other plausible explanation for what has happened to them. Why hadn’t the others awakened them sooner? Where were the Anubi, the Usiri, the Hori or the Thothites? Why hadn’t they come?
The one thing that all Bak-Ra retain is their physical ties to ancient Egypt. They often appear in colorful, flowing gowns which are always adorned with scarabs and symbols of Ra somewhere on their person. Their havens display Egyptian artifacts as if they were artwork. Indeed, the Bak-Ra can often be seen creating new papyrus in the ancient style, perhaps as a way of relearning their culture. Whenever entertaining a perspective client, it is always remarked, later, that the look in the Bak-Ra’s eyes is one of joyous expectation, as if they know it is only a matter of time before the lesser “covenants” look up to them once again, begging them for Ra’s mercy and trembling in fear of the Sun God’s wrath.
The Servants of Ra disappeared from history and those who have been awakened do not like what they are learning of the past three thousand years. They harbor grudges against their former Allies, the Usiri, the Anubi and the other cults of Egypt that still exist. They shudder at the thought that Ventrue hold so much power and that the gods are nothing but myths, parables and fables. This Lancea Sanctum troubles them, as does The Ordo Dracul and its progenitor. The Carthians make no sense to the Bak-Ra, for what is an existence without the gods to offer strength and guidance? Only The Circle of the Crone and the Agoniste bloodline offer them hope that they might regain some of their lost knowledge. Unfortunately, the Circle’s history is almost as muddled as their own and the Agonistes are unable to provide the Bak-Ra with what they really need.
Perhaps the secrets are still hidden in one of their buried tombs. Perhaps one of their Allies, the Usiri, has their secrets and memories stored in dream-space somewhere. Whatever the case, the Bak-Ra are intent on rediscovering their past glory. In the meantime, they endure the ridicule and spend much of their time in self-imposed exile, studying and waiting for the night when they can make the heretic invaders suffer for their transgressions.
What the Childer of the Sun know in their undead hearts is that Ra ruled the heavens and thus, it is only logical that his followers ruled the Earth. However, history tells them that Ra’s priests didn’t rule unilaterally, but rather that the Cult of Ra merely managed an already unified covenant of gods. Rather than provide comfort however, this information merely angers and confuses them. How could such disparate beliefs ever come to a consensus and unity? Why would Ra deign to share power with lesser beings?
And yet, every historical artifact discovered and every piece of information received leads the Bak-Ra to the realization that this was, indeed, the case. The possibility that their history is a lie, a fiction written by the murderous, invading Ventrue dogs of Rome, flames their already virulent distrust and hatred of the Lords. There can be, in their minds, no other plausible explanation for what has happened to them. Why hadn’t the others awakened them sooner? Where were the Anubi, the Usiri, the Hori or the Thothites? Why hadn’t they come?
The one thing that all Bak-Ra retain is their physical ties to ancient Egypt. They often appear in colorful, flowing gowns which are always adorned with scarabs and symbols of Ra somewhere on their person. Their havens display Egyptian artifacts as if they were artwork. Indeed, the Bak-Ra can often be seen creating new papyrus in the ancient style, perhaps as a way of relearning their culture. Whenever entertaining a perspective client, it is always remarked, later, that the look in the Bak-Ra’s eyes is one of joyous expectation, as if they know it is only a matter of time before the lesser “covenants” look up to them once again, begging them for Ra’s mercy and trembling in fear of the Sun God’s wrath.
The Servants of Ra disappeared from history and those who have been awakened do not like what they are learning of the past three thousand years. They harbor grudges against their former Allies, the Usiri, the Anubi and the other cults of Egypt that still exist. They shudder at the thought that Ventrue hold so much power and that the gods are nothing but myths, parables and fables. This Lancea Sanctum troubles them, as does The Ordo Dracul and its progenitor. The Carthians make no sense to the Bak-Ra, for what is an existence without the gods to offer strength and guidance? Only The Circle of the Crone and the Agoniste bloodline offer them hope that they might regain some of their lost knowledge. Unfortunately, the Circle’s history is almost as muddled as their own and the Agonistes are unable to provide the Bak-Ra with what they really need.
Major organizations
Reputation: The Bak-Ra are considered eccentric and excitable misfits. They have a reputation among Kindred of the modern nights as neonates with delusions of grandeur, sad little sun worshippers who can never get what they want. The Sun-Stroked hide in their shadowy lairs, wear their fancy robes, talk to their beetles and whisper to themselves in harsh, guttural curses. Especially among The Invictus, they are considered useless.
Derogatory nicknames notwithstanding, the Bak-Ra are absolutely certain that they were once able to walk in sunlight without fear of the curse burning them to ash. They are convinced that all they need to do is rediscover the secrets that time has stolen from them. Those secrets are surely hidden somewhere inside their minds or beneath the desert sands and it is only a matter of time until they are found.
From a practical standpoint, it is impossible to argue with a Bak-Ra regarding her beliefs. The total conviction each member of this bloodline possesses seems to be hardwired into their blood and that kind of religious zeal is difficult to refute.
They say that history will prove that their claims are not just lies and madness. When they discover the truth, and they will discover the truth, the Servants of Ra will remember those who helped them. And they will especially remember those who stood in their way.
Derogatory nicknames notwithstanding, the Bak-Ra are absolutely certain that they were once able to walk in sunlight without fear of the curse burning them to ash. They are convinced that all they need to do is rediscover the secrets that time has stolen from them. Those secrets are surely hidden somewhere inside their minds or beneath the desert sands and it is only a matter of time until they are found.
From a practical standpoint, it is impossible to argue with a Bak-Ra regarding her beliefs. The total conviction each member of this bloodline possesses seems to be hardwired into their blood and that kind of religious zeal is difficult to refute.
They say that history will prove that their claims are not just lies and madness. When they discover the truth, and they will discover the truth, the Servants of Ra will remember those who helped them. And they will especially remember those who stood in their way.
Nickname: Servants of Ra, Childer of the Sun, The Sun-Stroked (derogatory)
Bloodline Disciplines: Auspex, Celerity, Majesty, Obfuscate
Weakness: The Bak-Ra have the Mekhet clan weakness (see p. 109 of Vampire: The Requiem).
In addition, the Bak-Ra, as devoted (some would say fanatical) sun-worshippers, have difficulty leaving the sunlit world behind and joining the dark Requiem every night. Bak-Ra characters require an extra Vitae point to wake up each evening.
Concepts: Psychology student, eccentric collector, selfhelp guru, political advisor, ancient history professor, Kindred sociologist, astronomer, Agoniste stalker, occult preacher, Harpy
Recently, a Sanctified coterie, searching for relics beneath one of the great pyramids of Giza, located a well-hidden entrance beneath the deepest of the known archeological digs. This opening dropped the coterie deeper into the Earth and fed into a trap-laden network of caves and crawlspaces. The coterie lost two of its members in the exploration, which eventually ended in the tomb of an ancient Kindred, still in Torpor. The remaining vampires decided to awaken the sleeping vampire, curious as to what it was and, hopefully, prepared for what they would learn. He rose from his sleep enraged, claiming to be something called a Bak-Ra. He began screaming incoherently, and the coterie believed that he had been driven insane by the amount of time spent in Torpor. The coterie quickly subdued the Bak-Ra and realized that they had discovered an ancient vampire who might offer them power beyond their imagination. They returned to the surface with their find and showed the ancient vampire what he had awakened to, hoping that he would understand the futility of his situation and go with them for further study and indoctrination into this terrifying new world he had been awakened into. The shock of seeing such dramatic change was enough to shatter what was left of his precarious sanity. He escaped the coterie and fled back into the depths of the Egyptian sands. The coterie attempted to track him, but lost the ancient in the tunnels. They left before sunrise and when they returned the next evening, they discovered that the entire network of tunnels beneath the pyramids had collapsed. Their prize was gone, and with him whatever secrets he may have held in his withered brain.
The Agonistes are a bloodline devoted to uncovering the truths of Kindred history and spreading that truth to every covenant and individual vampire they can. Unfortunately, the Bak-Ra have no memory of their past. This severely limits their uses to the Agonistes.
The Bak-Ra have been reduced to begging the Agonistes for the use of their libraries in order to gather more information about themselves. They promise to share with them everything that they discover. However, there is no guarantee that the Bak-Ra will ever learn anything about their past, although the Servants will never admit that as a possibility. Thus, they spend much of their time questioning the Agonistes, whose information of Kindred history prior to the fall of Rome is incomplete at best. The Bak-Ra hope that the Agonistes will provide something that may spark a fog-enshrouded memory to surface, or show the path to discovering where those bits of history might be.
Parent ethnicities
Weakness: The Bak-Ra have the Mekhet clan weakness (see p. 109 of Vampire: The Requiem).
In addition, the Bak-Ra, as devoted (some would say fanatical) sun-worshippers, have difficulty leaving the sunlit world behind and joining the dark Requiem every night. Bak-Ra characters require an extra Vitae point to wake up each evening.
Concepts: Psychology student, eccentric collector, selfhelp guru, political advisor, ancient history professor, Kindred sociologist, astronomer, Agoniste stalker, occult preacher, Harpy
A Terrifying New World
Recently, a Sanctified coterie, searching for relics beneath one of the great pyramids of Giza, located a well-hidden entrance beneath the deepest of the known archeological digs. This opening dropped the coterie deeper into the Earth and fed into a trap-laden network of caves and crawlspaces. The coterie lost two of its members in the exploration, which eventually ended in the tomb of an ancient Kindred, still in Torpor. The remaining vampires decided to awaken the sleeping vampire, curious as to what it was and, hopefully, prepared for what they would learn. He rose from his sleep enraged, claiming to be something called a Bak-Ra. He began screaming incoherently, and the coterie believed that he had been driven insane by the amount of time spent in Torpor. The coterie quickly subdued the Bak-Ra and realized that they had discovered an ancient vampire who might offer them power beyond their imagination. They returned to the surface with their find and showed the ancient vampire what he had awakened to, hoping that he would understand the futility of his situation and go with them for further study and indoctrination into this terrifying new world he had been awakened into. The shock of seeing such dramatic change was enough to shatter what was left of his precarious sanity. He escaped the coterie and fled back into the depths of the Egyptian sands. The coterie attempted to track him, but lost the ancient in the tunnels. They left before sunrise and when they returned the next evening, they discovered that the entire network of tunnels beneath the pyramids had collapsed. Their prize was gone, and with him whatever secrets he may have held in his withered brain.
The Bak-Ra and the Agonistes
The Agonistes are a bloodline devoted to uncovering the truths of Kindred history and spreading that truth to every covenant and individual vampire they can. Unfortunately, the Bak-Ra have no memory of their past. This severely limits their uses to the Agonistes.The Bak-Ra have been reduced to begging the Agonistes for the use of their libraries in order to gather more information about themselves. They promise to share with them everything that they discover. However, there is no guarantee that the Bak-Ra will ever learn anything about their past, although the Servants will never admit that as a possibility. Thus, they spend much of their time questioning the Agonistes, whose information of Kindred history prior to the fall of Rome is incomplete at best. The Bak-Ra hope that the Agonistes will provide something that may spark a fog-enshrouded memory to surface, or show the path to discovering where those bits of history might be.