Gulikan
To truly understand a thing, one must draw in its truest essence, the unadulterated and revelatory vitality that declares the thing’s singular nature.
For a few, rare Daeva, the seemingly wealthy realms of sight, sound and touch remain empty of promise, unable to satisfy the Daeva’s unique lusts. The most perfectly formed human fi gure, the most hauntingly melodic ostinato or the purest Xian silk offer these hedonists nothing in comparison to that which they crave. Even the fl avor of the most exquisite Vitae, while certainly welcome, is only an echo of the one thing that can calm the special hunger within. These Succubi would forgo all of these luxuries, if they could, if only they could possess and consume the essential scent of all things, most especially things of the living variety.
For this legendary bloodline, odor is all that matters. Cursed with a sense of olfactory perception so acute that no scent can escape their notice, these Kindred are unable to deny themselves the ecstasy they experience by consuming certain scents. Of course, while many odors of interest might fascinate these peculiar vampires for hours on end, none is as arousing as that produced by the living. The hunger that compels most Kindred to fi xate on the fl avor of still-warm blood spilling down their throats gives way to a similarly insurmountable need to savor the aroma of that blood instead. In a fashion not unlike a wine connoisseur relishing a new vintage, the Gulikan try to draw from Vitae every last drop of its aromatic soul, before they fi nally drink out of necessity.
While the Gulikan have an astonishing facility for detecting and recognizing scents, a singular talent for producing scents surpasses this ability. Certainly, such sensualists are capable of creating aromas that would put mortals in a similar line of work to shame, but the Gulikan’s possession of the means to capture and exploit the essential scent and supernatural power of Kindred Vitae has made this bloodline a legend among the Damned.
The Gulikan (roughly translated as “rose-blooded”) fi rst appeared on the bustling market streets of Constantinople. Five years after the Great Schism between the Byzantine and Latin Churches, a Daeva named Eumathius offered as a gift to a deathless luminary a pomade that exuded an almost undetectable scent that caused others nearby to act as if held sway by the potency of the elder’s blood. Eumathius went on to produce other aromatic products for the ancient vampire as well as for various Primogen and other prestigious Kindred; these scented products became nothing less than symbols of status in undead society.
Unsurprisingly, Eumathius became an extremely infl uential fi gure in his own right. What his clients did not recognize until too late was that the numerous pomanders, oils, balms, soaps, powders and perfumes produced did not actually enhance the seductive power of the wearer. Rather, they extended the range and insidiousness of Eumathius’ own supernatural irresistibility. Unlike the Vitae of other Kindred, the potency of Eumathius’ own Vitae could be inhaled as well as consumed.
A seducer extraordinaire, Eumathius’ used proprietary Daeva charms as well, causing Kindred and kine alike to fall prey to the master Perfumer’s personal charisma. Countless mortals, including many thought to be the puppets and loyal playthings of other Kindred, as well as a dozen or more Kindred important in their own right, became Eumathius’ unwitting thralls.
Using his new-found dominance, Eumathius succeeded in winning permission to create a brood of his own, one that inherited its founder’s unusually aromatic Vitae as well as the inability to resist tracking down and relishing particularly captivating scents. For more than a century, the Perfumer and his rose-blooded offspring relished their place in society, all the while expanding the scope of their regency by luring more individuals into their invisible traps.
The Gulikans’ ruses came to a near end when Eumathius’ own weakness led him to violate the Prince’s law, breaking the Masquerade in a fashion that was certain to earn the Perfumer a judgment of Lextalionis. He did not meet Final Death, however. Using all his guile and discipline, the master of fragrances managed to replace the Prince’s favorite tobacco with one of Eumathius’ own construction. By the time Eumathius appeared before his sovereign to answer for his crime, the Prince was already so entranced by the specially prepared shisha that he dealt with the accused in a manner that stunned his advisors. The verdict left the Perfumer in a position that enabled him to continue exerting his unseen influence on his peers.
Tonight, the Gulikan continue to toil away in the same tangle of streets that once housed the greatest concentration of renowned perfumers in the world. Modern-day Istanbul is quite a different place from the magnificent city it once was, but, for the Gulikan, it remains home.
Their aromatic wares are no longer limited to only the local market, however. Tonight, high-ranking Kindred in Elysiums across the globe prize Gulikan aromatics. Those Kindred who purchase Gulikan products are well aware of the source of their power, but given their purchasers’ distance from the source and the great unlikelihood that they will ever encounter the actual perfumer who produced the goods, the Kindred feel safe enough to use the scented goods in order to profi t from their legendary effi cacy. A cologne that makes even the most intransigent mortals want to surrender their blood to a Kindred certainly has its value, even if the suicidal urge ultimately derives from another vampire’s Vitae.
A few Gulikan have actually turned their backs on their traditional trade and found their niche exploiting the small advantage that accompanies their horrid weakness. Offering their services as bounty hunters to Sheriffs and other Kindred needing to track down the living and unliving, these Gulikan command exceptional fees, and deservedly so. Those who choose this line of work dwell nearly anywhere, ever on the trail of someone who crossed the wrong vampire. The extraordinary exploits of a few of these Bloodhounds have only further cemented the bloodline’s legendary standing, making them as feared and yet as indispensable as any of the Damned.
For this legendary bloodline, odor is all that matters. Cursed with a sense of olfactory perception so acute that no scent can escape their notice, these Kindred are unable to deny themselves the ecstasy they experience by consuming certain scents. Of course, while many odors of interest might fascinate these peculiar vampires for hours on end, none is as arousing as that produced by the living. The hunger that compels most Kindred to fi xate on the fl avor of still-warm blood spilling down their throats gives way to a similarly insurmountable need to savor the aroma of that blood instead. In a fashion not unlike a wine connoisseur relishing a new vintage, the Gulikan try to draw from Vitae every last drop of its aromatic soul, before they fi nally drink out of necessity.
While the Gulikan have an astonishing facility for detecting and recognizing scents, a singular talent for producing scents surpasses this ability. Certainly, such sensualists are capable of creating aromas that would put mortals in a similar line of work to shame, but the Gulikan’s possession of the means to capture and exploit the essential scent and supernatural power of Kindred Vitae has made this bloodline a legend among the Damned.
The Gulikan (roughly translated as “rose-blooded”) fi rst appeared on the bustling market streets of Constantinople. Five years after the Great Schism between the Byzantine and Latin Churches, a Daeva named Eumathius offered as a gift to a deathless luminary a pomade that exuded an almost undetectable scent that caused others nearby to act as if held sway by the potency of the elder’s blood. Eumathius went on to produce other aromatic products for the ancient vampire as well as for various Primogen and other prestigious Kindred; these scented products became nothing less than symbols of status in undead society.
Unsurprisingly, Eumathius became an extremely infl uential fi gure in his own right. What his clients did not recognize until too late was that the numerous pomanders, oils, balms, soaps, powders and perfumes produced did not actually enhance the seductive power of the wearer. Rather, they extended the range and insidiousness of Eumathius’ own supernatural irresistibility. Unlike the Vitae of other Kindred, the potency of Eumathius’ own Vitae could be inhaled as well as consumed.
A seducer extraordinaire, Eumathius’ used proprietary Daeva charms as well, causing Kindred and kine alike to fall prey to the master Perfumer’s personal charisma. Countless mortals, including many thought to be the puppets and loyal playthings of other Kindred, as well as a dozen or more Kindred important in their own right, became Eumathius’ unwitting thralls.
Using his new-found dominance, Eumathius succeeded in winning permission to create a brood of his own, one that inherited its founder’s unusually aromatic Vitae as well as the inability to resist tracking down and relishing particularly captivating scents. For more than a century, the Perfumer and his rose-blooded offspring relished their place in society, all the while expanding the scope of their regency by luring more individuals into their invisible traps.
The Gulikans’ ruses came to a near end when Eumathius’ own weakness led him to violate the Prince’s law, breaking the Masquerade in a fashion that was certain to earn the Perfumer a judgment of Lextalionis. He did not meet Final Death, however. Using all his guile and discipline, the master of fragrances managed to replace the Prince’s favorite tobacco with one of Eumathius’ own construction. By the time Eumathius appeared before his sovereign to answer for his crime, the Prince was already so entranced by the specially prepared shisha that he dealt with the accused in a manner that stunned his advisors. The verdict left the Perfumer in a position that enabled him to continue exerting his unseen influence on his peers.
Tonight, the Gulikan continue to toil away in the same tangle of streets that once housed the greatest concentration of renowned perfumers in the world. Modern-day Istanbul is quite a different place from the magnificent city it once was, but, for the Gulikan, it remains home.
Their aromatic wares are no longer limited to only the local market, however. Tonight, high-ranking Kindred in Elysiums across the globe prize Gulikan aromatics. Those Kindred who purchase Gulikan products are well aware of the source of their power, but given their purchasers’ distance from the source and the great unlikelihood that they will ever encounter the actual perfumer who produced the goods, the Kindred feel safe enough to use the scented goods in order to profi t from their legendary effi cacy. A cologne that makes even the most intransigent mortals want to surrender their blood to a Kindred certainly has its value, even if the suicidal urge ultimately derives from another vampire’s Vitae.
A few Gulikan have actually turned their backs on their traditional trade and found their niche exploiting the small advantage that accompanies their horrid weakness. Offering their services as bounty hunters to Sheriffs and other Kindred needing to track down the living and unliving, these Gulikan command exceptional fees, and deservedly so. Those who choose this line of work dwell nearly anywhere, ever on the trail of someone who crossed the wrong vampire. The extraordinary exploits of a few of these Bloodhounds have only further cemented the bloodline’s legendary standing, making them as feared and yet as indispensable as any of the Damned.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
Background: Although a childe is ultimately selected because she possesses a scent that the sire must claim for his own, only the dimmest Perfumer would adopt as his apprentice an individual whose wits leave something to be desired. Ortam is as much a technical exercise asan art. A prospective childe must master fundamental mathematics, a broad knowledge of herbs and related chemistry and an ability to carefully balance all the ingredients in a way that produces the exact result desired. Therefore, a childe’s merit depends not merely on her ability to be a companion or thing of desire but also on her potential as an exceptional student and useful assistant to the sire. College graduates, some skilled laborers and those with a demonstrated flair for creative prowess are highly prized.
Many Gulikan still harbor ancient biases and also prefer their protégés to be of a middle- or upper-class upbringing, ensuring that the fl edgling will be able to fi t in well with the bloodline’s usual patrons. In Istanbul, most who are Embraced are also of local birth, with mortal bloodlines stretching far back into the city’s earliest nights. Beyond the Bosporus, this degree of pedigree becomes less important. Bloodhounds who sire tend to focus much more on survival skills and take as their childer cops, streetwise types and even mortal bounty hunters, guaranteeing that the new vampires can hit the ground running. A fledgling Bloodhound’s will not have access to the acute olfactory ability of the bloodline until his blood is potent enough,; until then, he must rely on far more mundane means of tracking.
From this learned scholar, Eumathius discovered the means of not only extracting the essence vitale absolue from traditional sources — herbs, grasses, hides, fruits, minerals — but also from those substances that typically do not yield up their fundamental scents so easily, such as metals. This alchemical art depended as much on occult formulae as on the so-called scientific method. Using these new techniques, Eumathius was able to wring from his own blood its secret odor, the very scent of Damnation.
The final step that forever set him apart from other Kindred was his discovery, again with Symmachus’ aid, of how to amplify an object’s essential scent to a degree that is otherwise impossible. Eumathius eventually succeeded in magnifying his own essence vitale absolue to such an extent that even the slightest whiff of his odor would permeate the mind and body of all who smelled it, even at great distances.
Using this potent scent as a foundation, the master Perfumer then began to construct his greatest and most terrifying contribution to the world: the Discipline of Ortam, which allows the user to produce aromatic wares that affect all who smell them as if under the spell of Kindred Vitae. Eumathius also produced balms and salves that emulated the supernatural effects of other Disciplines, especially Majesty. These balms allowed those Kindred without formal knowledge of such Disciplines to wield them by proxy.
With these occult achievements under his belt, Eumathius tested the limits of what could be accomplished by selling his wares to various kine, at fi rst, and later to other Kindred. The results exceeded his wildest expectations: overnight he went from a largely unknown ancilla to the highest tiers of Kindred society. Despite a few close calls on the road to stature and lasting infl uence, Eumathius attained heights that most Kindred can only envy.
Legends suggest that the master Perfumer succeeded in ensnaring the Prince, in addition to a host of prestigious Kindred dignitaries in the city. Some Gulikan believe that only the great deal of time required to concoct the powerful aromatics prevented Eumathius from orchestrating his own ascent to the throne of Constantinople. Despite never having made that fi nal move, the founder of the Gulikan continues to preside over his lineage as one of the city’s most respected and powerful Primogen; unknown to his peers, his power extending far beyond the Bosporus.
During the mid-15th century, after the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks, the Gulikan fi rst set foot outside the gates of Byzantium’s capital. With the victorious army came a handful of Kindred whose infl uence on the existing society of the undead shook it to its foundations. One consequence was a strict prohibition against the formerly widespread practice of procreation, especially against certain bloodlines that the new powers-that-be deemed a particular threat to their own authority.
Even Eumathius’ own stature was not enough to protect his lineage from these new laws, and so some of his progeny departed for domains where they could establish their own broods and exert their own infl uence over local affairs. To be sure, this exodus included only a half-dozen Gulikan. Most remained behind despite the unfavorable atmosphere. However, by the 18th century, Perfumers were found in a score of domains that stretched from the Middle East to North America. In each domain, the bloodline zealously practiced its traditional customs and the Discipline of Ortam.
For most of the past 300 years, the line’s growth has been minimal. The threat of competition from skilled childer discourages most Gulikan from serving as Avuses to their offspring and other Daeva, and Princes remain reluctant to accept newcomers into their domains. The legends of the Perfumers have also made it diffi cult for them to fi nd sanctuary in new cities.
The last few decades have seen a turnaround for the bloodline, however. Breakthroughs in technology have allowed the Gulikan to produce their wares faster than ever. Dramatic improvements in communication and commerce enabled by the achievements of the information age have improved the ease with which the Perfumers can dispense their goods far beyond the borders of their home city. Perfumers have Embraced many childer, especially individuals who have an grasp of modern innovation that many elders lack, to assist in the bloodline’s business. An increasing number of Succubi, enticed by the legends of the Gulikan as well as the promises of structure that apprenticeships would bring to their frequently unstable Requiems, occasionally petition the Perfumers to become apprentices. The Ordo Dracul and The Circle of the Crone are particularly fertile grounds for new members of the bloodline. Those covenants emphasize a methodological exploitation of Vitae, very similar to the way the Gulikan use their own Discipline.
Free time is rare in most cases, but that doesn’t mean the opportunity for personal pursuits and intrigue doesn’t exist. On the contrary, an apprentice frequently undertakes errands that require travel — almost always within city limits, of course – providing ample opportunity for private divertissement and business. While the apprentice’s place is to deal with her master’s customers, even an infrequent visit to the Judex’s haven to drop off a cedar briefcase of velvet-couched phials of scented oils offers a chance to learn a bit about First Estate politics and to secure some measure of trust, and possibly even confi dence from The Invictus exemplary.
Openly exploiting this kind of relationship to advance her own place in the Danse Macabre would earn a frown or worse from her master, but cautiously working her business Contacts for future use is a no-brainer for all but the densest apprentices. Ultimately, the job of the apprentice is to aid her master in bolstering his acclaim and power. A wise apprentice avoids taking credit herself, even when deserved. Selfl essness is the watchword of these hardworking neonates, and, so long as they hold true to that virtue, their places in the bloodline are secure.
A journeyman may change masters at will; however, because finding another to accept her service can be onerous, most journeymen remain with their original masters. While the journeyman continues to assist the master and claim little credit for himself, he may also follow his own inclinations and produce perfumes, colognes, oils, salves, pomades, talcum and other scented wares as he sees fi t. He may even distribute these products, either to his master’s customers or to customers of his own.
Due to the nature of such occult trade, however, few masters wish to compromise their own infl uence over their buyers. Therefore, the journeyman must locate and nurture his own customer base. Often, a master will forbid sale of a journeyman’s wares to other Kindred, restricting the lesser’s infl uence to the mortal demographic. On the other hand, in cases where the bond between master and journeyman is strong, the senior Perfumer may actually direct his journeyman to ply his trade among a certain segment of Kindred society, or against particular Kindred. In this way, the Gulikan master can increase the scope of his power using his student’s skill with Ortam as a proxy for his own where time or circumstance make it diffi cult for him to do it himself.
Apart from all the work the journeymen perform on behalf of their masters (which might includes nightly oversight and instruction of apprentices, if any), most journeymen ultimately establish their own clientele. Via this conduit, the journeyman’s own sphere of personal influence can gain him a place among the Kindred elite. Every master realizes this when elevating an apprentice to the rank of journeyman or when accepting the service of a foreign Gulikan — it is the nature of the Beast, so to speak. The master’s only real means to forestall the night when full-scale competition develops between his journeyman and himself is to hold back the greatest powers of Ortam as long as possible. Perhaps forever.
A journeyman knows this, and the savvy seek ways to coax their masters into revealing the fi nal secrets of the Perfumers’ signature Discipline. Demonstrating trustworthiness is obvious, but is only the fi rst step. Given the political proclivities of many Gulikan, it is not beyond consideration for a journeyman to employ far less honest means to achieve his end. Bringing his own master under his sway emotionally, whether through ordinary seduction, the judicious application of Majesty or even the formation of a Vinculum, is certainly one way to increase the likelihood that his master will divulge more than he may have been prepared to give up. Some journeymen — those exceptionally skilled in the arena of intrigue as well as those who only believe they are — might forgo such subterfuges and force their masters into handing over this precious knowledge.
Playing the Danse Macabre to this purpose can be a masterstroke in every sense of the word for the journeyman with the acumen to pull it off. On the other hand, failure to pull it off can mean far worse than merely being prohibited from any further progress with Ortam. The Gulikan bloodline, the same as the guilds of old, does not take kindly to egregious treachery. Punishment is swift and often final.
Most elder Gulikan consider a new master remaining in the same domain as one’s former mentor a direct challenge. Given the elder Perfumer’s likely access to greater resources — social, political, economic and supernatural — few newly minted masters wish to face this kind of competition, especially when they plan to forge alliances and win over customers. Although very rare, when these types of confrontations do take place, they are rancorous affairs.
Setting up shop in a new city is diffi cult for any Kindred. The Perfumers face a special challenge: Legends follow them wherever they go. Some Kindred believe the most frightening of the stories and view the arrival of any Perfumer as a threat to their own power.
Few Princes risk permitting Perfumers to linger any longer than a few nights, fearing their legendary ability to subvert even the most cautious elders to the Gulikan’s cause. Many Princes refuse even that brief a stay. Other Princes and Primogen take the stories with a grain of salt, and, though they remain wary of these “Turkish skunks,” these powerful Kindred are also intrigued by the possibilities suggested by the legends. If the Gulikan’s perfumes have the efficacy suggested by rumor, then, risk aside, would they not offer an ambitious Kindred a sudden advantage in the Danse Macabre? What’s more, anything truly new and unique that a Kindred dignitary can acquire, especially something as sensual and personal as perfume, can go a long way toward making him the center of attention, at least for a time.
Prestige, of course, is of tremendous importance to those Kindred who hound the halls of Elysium in pursuit of companionship, entertainment, reputation and power. Any vampire sporting a Gulikan cologne might become the talk of the town, a boon that even the dullest Kindred can turn to her immediate advantage. A master Perfumer might never truly acquire the local Kindred’s trust, but the promise of excitement and a conversation piece few others can acquire is too enticing for reputation-hungry Damned to deny. A few Kindred ignore all the stories they hear about the Gulikan and other bloodlines of legend, until those Damned have seen the Perfumers for themselves.
The dominant Kindred in small domains may have only heard of the Perfumers in the most bastardized retellings of the most common legends. How these Princes and Primogens view masters of Ortam petitioning to reside in their domains will depend on the version of the stories they have heard, and whether they believe them or not.
Once the new master fi nds a suitable domain, his fi rst order of business is locating a proper Haven. As mentioned above, Gulikan frequently prefer havens in the Barrens, though a master may wish to have other digs closer to the Rack for the convenience of feeding and entertaining guests. This secondary Haven also serves as a storefront, where the Perfumer can display small samples of his wares and conduct business transactions. Some Perfumers even hold regular salons or word-ofmouth parties, where mortals or Kindred can come to test the samples and then purchase those that strike their fancy.
The nascent master also requires Equipment and supplies. Depending on her fi nancial Resources, this can mean a shop reminiscent of a medieval alchemist’s or of a 21st-century Parisian factory. The time it takes to purchase everything necessary to create Ortam products can vary greatly, but, until the shop is complete, production remains limited. Storytellers should require Perfumer characters to spend the requisite time and money to organize their production facilities prior to allowing them to actually create Ortam wares. This need not be formalized with mechanics, but it should require more than the player simply saying “Okay, I just buy the stuff I need, and now I’m going to create some perfumes.” Obtaining some of the Equipment might be difficult, especially in terms of cost and delivery. Acquiring many aromatic supplies might be even more time-consuming, given the rarity of certain herbs and other sources of scent.
When the Perfumer has all she needs to produce her wares, the next step is to seek out customers. Whether she begins with mortals or with Kindred depends on her own preferences and personal goals.
Generating business among the Damned is a precarious thing. Even those who have not heard the stories of the bloodline are going to be wary of accepting anything from another vampire, even if they are the ones who ask for it. Kindred are paranoid by nature, and something as simple as a bottle of eau de toilette might function as a Trojan horse. The Perfumer, therefore, must assuage her customers’ fears by whatever means possible. Armed with charisma, Majesty and the power of her own scent, she embarks upon a mission to vanquish any concerns about her intentions and turn skeptics into fervent customers.
Most Bloodhounds offer their services locally, to Kindred and kine alike. The dangers of travel are wellknown and having a preternatural sense of smell does little to diminish most of those dangers. However, just because a Gulikan has chosen the path of the iconoclast does not mean he has entirely given up on wanting the creature comforts that other Gulikan relish. A comfortable and secure Haven, regular and reliable companionship and a sense of community can only be had by staying put. A Bloodhound will sometimes attach himself to a single Kindred, often the Prince, and serve as the personal or “bonded” tracker for that individual alone. A Prince with a loyal Bloodhound at his side has much to crow about, as few individuals can hide long from these extraordinary hunters. Other Bloodhounds prefer not to bind themselves too closely to a single vampire, but, at the same time, don’t wish to whore themselves to just anybody and end up being accused of backstabbing a former client. A Bloodhound can avoid the worst of these ethical dilemmas by offering his tracking services to only one or two convenants or clans. At any rate, some Bloodhounds care nothing of ethics and are perfectly okay with running afoul of their own customers at times and will take whatever job they can, hunting down anyone at all, so long as the pay is good. True mercenaries often fi nd that theirstay in a city ends up being much shorter than they had imagined, as eventually they accept the wrong job and piss off the wrong Kindred.
When the heat becomes too much or if tracking the same folks all the time just doesn’t cut it anymore, some Bloodhounds hit the road as nomads. These bounty hunters go from domain to domain taking jobs hunting down troublesome mortals and dastardly Kindred, often vampires who are the target of a blood hunt. This kind of existence can prove exhilarating; many Bloodhounds become addicted to this never-ending hunt, a perfect vocation given their nature. The road can be very unforgiving, however. Without good advance intelligence and a solid invitation, entering a new Kindred domain comes with its own slew of problems. The only advantage the Bloodhounds have in dealing with these things is that their keen sense of smell is especially good at alerting them to approaching danger. Even in a completely foreign place where the Language is alien and the geography is confusing, the smell of a human or vampire bent on murder is basically the same wherever one goes. See Nomads for lots of ideas for an on-theroad chronicle with a Gulikan character.
Just as others who are consumed by the quest for power, Eumathius’ ambitions did not shape only the social and political aspects of his Requiem. His craving colored all his thoughts and drove him to increasingly take chances that less single-minded Kindred might think twice about. For the most part, the consequences of his risky actions were small and contained. An accidental death here, a minor screw-up there; nothingthat couldn’t be resolved with quick thinking, a little attention and a bit of damage control.
This was not the case when, finally, the power-hungry Eumathius went too far. Eager to secure the loyalty of a powerful merchant family that had ties to Venice, Spain and China, the master Perfumer decided to put on a show of his most powerful products for the family in their own home. Drunk on his soon-to-be success, Eumathius not only allowed the family — including men, women and children — to sample his specially crafted collection of fragrances, but he demonstrated their powers as well. As the astonished kine watched — and smelled — he showed how he could command those under the spell of his wares to do anything he wished. When he caused one of the patriarch’s sons to kill himself before his horrifi ed relatives, Eumathius stepped over the bounds of the Masquerade. To try and cover up his crime, he only compounded it by feeding the dead man a bottle of his most potent oil, which succeeded in replicating the Embrace. When the mortal went nearly mad upon re-awakening as one of the undead and succumbed to frenzy, the show was over and Eumathius fl ed. The poor fl edgling was destroyed the next night when word reached the Prince, and Eumathius was summoned to answer for his egregious violation of the First Tradition. After an initial inquiry, he was paroled for a month while his fate was decided, though he was kept under house arrest. His fate was sealed, and all he had worked for was lost, or so it seemed.
The Prince of Istanbul was a habitual user of tobacco and enjoyed only blood more than the warm draft of scented smoke entering his throat and escaping through his nose. Eumathius knew this and set to work on creating a new product that might save him from the doom that awaited. He concocted a powerful tobacco so subtle and so fragrant that the Prince would be unable to deny himself the pleasure of its fl avor. When the tobacco was completed, the Perfumer smuggled it out of his prison with the help of a Retainer and, using all his political pull, arranged for the tobacco to be made available to the Prince.
When the time came for Eumathius’ fate to be announced, he was returned to the Court where he faced an assemblage of the Prince, the Primogen and the city’s other unliving elite. The Prince sat upon his throne, water pipe beside him, quietly smoking in thought as he gazed coldly at the Perfumer. The second that the Prince allowed the smoke to escape from his throat, however, Eumathius was silently elated. He smelled his own tobacco and could now only hope it had the desired effect. Finally, after long consideration, the Prince arose and pronounced the Perfumer’s fate to all. Eumathius was innocent of the crime he had been accused of and was free to go. A gasp of astonishment went up from the crowd, but the Prince paid it no heed. The tobacco was everything Eumathius hoped it would be, and, by virtue of its power, his unlife was spared.
It is said that to this night Eumathius continues to supply the Prince with his own special tobaccos, keeping that most powerful Kindred in Istanbul subject to the call of Eumathius’ blood. Contrary to expectation, this coup earned him tremendous esteem by friend and foe alike and contributed to the greater prestige and infl uence the Gulikan were to earn.
So, anyway, it’s basically like she just lost her sight, her hearing and her ability to feel things. Just like that. And it wasn’t like she was always like this. I mean, a couple years ago I know she could see. Hell, she came to that concert with us and she dug the tunes — even sang along with the lyrics, so she could defi nitely hear at the time.
It just seems that ever since she began hanging around with those stinkin’ Skunks she’s lost all her senses, at least those three. Now she’s become as creepy as the rest of those guys, like a fuckin’ cocaine Hound, always sniffi n’. It’s like she’s trying to either keep the snot in her nose, or she’s getting off on something that she smells, something the rest of us don’t notice at all. She forgets to turn the lights on now, too, I guess cause she can’t see a thing, so it doesn’t really matter whether there’s any light. And she doesn’t even talk much. Instead, it’s as if she’s zoning out all the time, high as a kite or something, like a street huffer.
Anyway, she’s still Sherilyn, of course, but the girl’s just too strange now. I mean, you’d think I could hang with nearly anyone considering my own problems, right? But that girl, well, it’s just too much now. Hope she likes her new pals; she can keep ’em. I mean, I guess I’ll still kick with her now and then, you know. She’s still looks great in jeans, and she smells like fuckin’ heaven. Damn, she does smell good.
Somewhere out West, there’s something going on that should worry all of us. It’s those Perfumers, the Gulikan. It is no longer just a rumor or myth; it’s confi rmed. They can create a Vinculum without ever having a single drop of their Vitae pass the lips of the subject. The bloodline has discovered a way to forge a blood bond by using only the scent of their Vitae to seduce and ensnare us. Worse, there is no clear way to know what scent might be responsible. Be warned.
— Abe Caufield, Invictus Pursuivant
I still don’t know what’s happened. I haven’t aged a day in the past 20 years, but that’s impossible. I mean, the only thing that’s changed is my addiction to those cool cigarettes I found in Istanbul after graduating college, but aren’t cigarettes supposed to kill you, not make you live longer? Weird as hell. I have been smoking them pretty much regularly ever since, but besides the health of my bank account — they’re expensive, man, even though I buy them through the Internet now — my body seems fi ne. In fact, better than fi ne. I’m stronger than I was when I was 20 and can go all night now. I figured I’d be a candidate for Viagra, by now, but Gail’s not complaining. Sarah didn’t either, and neither did — Anyway, unless doc says otherwise, I’ll keep puffi ng away on these things. Have you ever tried one? No? What the hell? Here, it’s better than a clove, seriously. I swear you will love these things. Here. Need a light?
Mike Duchamp, unemployed auto mechanic
She just hovered over the body like she was stoned or something, sniffing like a dog, getting real close, like nothing else mattered. We didn’t have a lot of time, if you know what I mean, so I’m telling her to hurry up and just drink her fill, but she just ignores me and keeps smelling the guy like that’s all she wanted.
When the sirens came, I started freakin’ out, you know? I’m yelling at her to fi nish the guy now so we can scram, but she doesn’t break his skin at all. Just keeps sniffi ng. Finally, I bug out, grab her by the arm and haul her into the car. I was worried that’s she’d lose it ’cause she didn’t get to fill up, but she didn’t. She just let me push her into the passenger seat and stayed there while I got in and gunned it. She even looked satisfied, and I know she was hungry after all that we’d been through.
Anyway, finally I ask her about it, and she says she’s fine. Fine?! I ask her what she means. Isn’t she hungry? Doesn’t she need something before we hit the sack? And she just says ‘no’ like everything’s cool. Then, and this is real weird, she says ‘I had enough, I’m full,’ just like that. I don’t know what to say, but she’s calm as an angel, and the next evening she doesn’t go nuts or anything. She was telling the truth. I don’t know what the hell she did, but it’s like she didn’t even need to drink the blood at all, like she just needed to smell it to feel okay. Now that’s some serious shit.
Harper, unaligned Gangrel
Garlic. Just like the legends, that’s right. Put it around every door and window, inside your car and, of course, on yourself. Forget those garlic pills, the scent is probably too weak. Use the real stuff, cloves and all. It works, I’m telling you. The monster hasn’t come near me since I started doing that. It must drive him crazy or something. Maybe he’s just got a sensitive nose. I don’t really care. Just do it, because it works. That’s the only advice I can give you, really. Short of that, pray to Allah he forgets about you.
Derya Ozergin, mortal
Many Gulikan still harbor ancient biases and also prefer their protégés to be of a middle- or upper-class upbringing, ensuring that the fl edgling will be able to fi t in well with the bloodline’s usual patrons. In Istanbul, most who are Embraced are also of local birth, with mortal bloodlines stretching far back into the city’s earliest nights. Beyond the Bosporus, this degree of pedigree becomes less important. Bloodhounds who sire tend to focus much more on survival skills and take as their childer cops, streetwise types and even mortal bounty hunters, guaranteeing that the new vampires can hit the ground running. A fledgling Bloodhound’s will not have access to the acute olfactory ability of the bloodline until his blood is potent enough,; until then, he must rely on far more mundane means of tracking.
History
Eumathius’ distinction as the founder of the Gulikan bloodline is the result of the ancient Perfumer’s collaboration with a renowned alchemist, Symmachus Khimara. This alchemist reputedly spent the latter years of his unnaturally long life attached to the household of the Patriarch until Khimara was beheaded for lecherous crimes against the lofty cleric’s own family.From this learned scholar, Eumathius discovered the means of not only extracting the essence vitale absolue from traditional sources — herbs, grasses, hides, fruits, minerals — but also from those substances that typically do not yield up their fundamental scents so easily, such as metals. This alchemical art depended as much on occult formulae as on the so-called scientific method. Using these new techniques, Eumathius was able to wring from his own blood its secret odor, the very scent of Damnation.
The final step that forever set him apart from other Kindred was his discovery, again with Symmachus’ aid, of how to amplify an object’s essential scent to a degree that is otherwise impossible. Eumathius eventually succeeded in magnifying his own essence vitale absolue to such an extent that even the slightest whiff of his odor would permeate the mind and body of all who smelled it, even at great distances.
Using this potent scent as a foundation, the master Perfumer then began to construct his greatest and most terrifying contribution to the world: the Discipline of Ortam, which allows the user to produce aromatic wares that affect all who smell them as if under the spell of Kindred Vitae. Eumathius also produced balms and salves that emulated the supernatural effects of other Disciplines, especially Majesty. These balms allowed those Kindred without formal knowledge of such Disciplines to wield them by proxy.
With these occult achievements under his belt, Eumathius tested the limits of what could be accomplished by selling his wares to various kine, at fi rst, and later to other Kindred. The results exceeded his wildest expectations: overnight he went from a largely unknown ancilla to the highest tiers of Kindred society. Despite a few close calls on the road to stature and lasting infl uence, Eumathius attained heights that most Kindred can only envy.
Legends suggest that the master Perfumer succeeded in ensnaring the Prince, in addition to a host of prestigious Kindred dignitaries in the city. Some Gulikan believe that only the great deal of time required to concoct the powerful aromatics prevented Eumathius from orchestrating his own ascent to the throne of Constantinople. Despite never having made that fi nal move, the founder of the Gulikan continues to preside over his lineage as one of the city’s most respected and powerful Primogen; unknown to his peers, his power extending far beyond the Bosporus.
During the mid-15th century, after the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks, the Gulikan fi rst set foot outside the gates of Byzantium’s capital. With the victorious army came a handful of Kindred whose infl uence on the existing society of the undead shook it to its foundations. One consequence was a strict prohibition against the formerly widespread practice of procreation, especially against certain bloodlines that the new powers-that-be deemed a particular threat to their own authority.
Even Eumathius’ own stature was not enough to protect his lineage from these new laws, and so some of his progeny departed for domains where they could establish their own broods and exert their own infl uence over local affairs. To be sure, this exodus included only a half-dozen Gulikan. Most remained behind despite the unfavorable atmosphere. However, by the 18th century, Perfumers were found in a score of domains that stretched from the Middle East to North America. In each domain, the bloodline zealously practiced its traditional customs and the Discipline of Ortam.
For most of the past 300 years, the line’s growth has been minimal. The threat of competition from skilled childer discourages most Gulikan from serving as Avuses to their offspring and other Daeva, and Princes remain reluctant to accept newcomers into their domains. The legends of the Perfumers have also made it diffi cult for them to fi nd sanctuary in new cities.
The last few decades have seen a turnaround for the bloodline, however. Breakthroughs in technology have allowed the Gulikan to produce their wares faster than ever. Dramatic improvements in communication and commerce enabled by the achievements of the information age have improved the ease with which the Perfumers can dispense their goods far beyond the borders of their home city. Perfumers have Embraced many childer, especially individuals who have an grasp of modern innovation that many elders lack, to assist in the bloodline’s business. An increasing number of Succubi, enticed by the legends of the Gulikan as well as the promises of structure that apprenticeships would bring to their frequently unstable Requiems, occasionally petition the Perfumers to become apprentices. The Ordo Dracul and The Circle of the Crone are particularly fertile grounds for new members of the bloodline. Those covenants emphasize a methodological exploitation of Vitae, very similar to the way the Gulikan use their own Discipline.
Society and Culture
An informal but undeniable social division clearly exists between the Perfumers and the Bloodhounds. The former view the latter as little more than failures who tarnish the incomparable pedigree of the “true” Gulikan. Only those who learn Ortam and consequently produce scented wares of the utmost quality and effi cacy can call themselves Perfumers. These elitists make up the vast majority of the bloodline and, as the original Gulikan, have much more of a sense of tradition and culture. In fact, it is not inaccurate to say that the Perfumers possess an authentic society of their own beyond whatever social strata they recognize as part of a covenant. On the contrary, the Bloodhounds effectively eschew that society and seem satisfi ed by the community offered them by covenant and coterie. Beyond alliances and acquaintances that serve expediency, survival and shared purpose, these two types of Gulikan rarely mix and have little in common.Apprentice Perfumers
A Perfumer’s Requiem depends on her place in the bloodline’s guild-like hierarchy and by the degree of success she achieves in disseminating Ortam-augmented goods on clientele both living and unliving. An apprentice’s nights often involve carrying out the numerous demands made upon her by her master as well as by any journeymen who might reside within the city. Except for the most menial, tedious or impossible chores, which are often left to mortal thralls, an apprentice serves as messenger, gopher, assistant, student, companion and deliveryman for her seniors.Free time is rare in most cases, but that doesn’t mean the opportunity for personal pursuits and intrigue doesn’t exist. On the contrary, an apprentice frequently undertakes errands that require travel — almost always within city limits, of course – providing ample opportunity for private divertissement and business. While the apprentice’s place is to deal with her master’s customers, even an infrequent visit to the Judex’s haven to drop off a cedar briefcase of velvet-couched phials of scented oils offers a chance to learn a bit about First Estate politics and to secure some measure of trust, and possibly even confi dence from The Invictus exemplary.
Openly exploiting this kind of relationship to advance her own place in the Danse Macabre would earn a frown or worse from her master, but cautiously working her business Contacts for future use is a no-brainer for all but the densest apprentices. Ultimately, the job of the apprentice is to aid her master in bolstering his acclaim and power. A wise apprentice avoids taking credit herself, even when deserved. Selfl essness is the watchword of these hardworking neonates, and, so long as they hold true to that virtue, their places in the bloodline are secure.
Journeyman Perfumers
An apprentice who has served well and faithfully learns the secrets of Ortam. Those who have pleased their masters beyond expectation eventually master the third level of this prized Discipline. Upon mastering the third level, an apprentice is offi cially recognized as a journeyman of the lineage and, for the fi rst time, enjoys relatively free rein to pursue whatever work pleases him.A journeyman may change masters at will; however, because finding another to accept her service can be onerous, most journeymen remain with their original masters. While the journeyman continues to assist the master and claim little credit for himself, he may also follow his own inclinations and produce perfumes, colognes, oils, salves, pomades, talcum and other scented wares as he sees fi t. He may even distribute these products, either to his master’s customers or to customers of his own.
Due to the nature of such occult trade, however, few masters wish to compromise their own infl uence over their buyers. Therefore, the journeyman must locate and nurture his own customer base. Often, a master will forbid sale of a journeyman’s wares to other Kindred, restricting the lesser’s infl uence to the mortal demographic. On the other hand, in cases where the bond between master and journeyman is strong, the senior Perfumer may actually direct his journeyman to ply his trade among a certain segment of Kindred society, or against particular Kindred. In this way, the Gulikan master can increase the scope of his power using his student’s skill with Ortam as a proxy for his own where time or circumstance make it diffi cult for him to do it himself.
Apart from all the work the journeymen perform on behalf of their masters (which might includes nightly oversight and instruction of apprentices, if any), most journeymen ultimately establish their own clientele. Via this conduit, the journeyman’s own sphere of personal influence can gain him a place among the Kindred elite. Every master realizes this when elevating an apprentice to the rank of journeyman or when accepting the service of a foreign Gulikan — it is the nature of the Beast, so to speak. The master’s only real means to forestall the night when full-scale competition develops between his journeyman and himself is to hold back the greatest powers of Ortam as long as possible. Perhaps forever.
A journeyman knows this, and the savvy seek ways to coax their masters into revealing the fi nal secrets of the Perfumers’ signature Discipline. Demonstrating trustworthiness is obvious, but is only the fi rst step. Given the political proclivities of many Gulikan, it is not beyond consideration for a journeyman to employ far less honest means to achieve his end. Bringing his own master under his sway emotionally, whether through ordinary seduction, the judicious application of Majesty or even the formation of a Vinculum, is certainly one way to increase the likelihood that his master will divulge more than he may have been prepared to give up. Some journeymen — those exceptionally skilled in the arena of intrigue as well as those who only believe they are — might forgo such subterfuges and force their masters into handing over this precious knowledge.
Playing the Danse Macabre to this purpose can be a masterstroke in every sense of the word for the journeyman with the acumen to pull it off. On the other hand, failure to pull it off can mean far worse than merely being prohibited from any further progress with Ortam. The Gulikan bloodline, the same as the guilds of old, does not take kindly to egregious treachery. Punishment is swift and often final.
Master Perfumers
When a Perfumer succeeds in demonstrating her facility with the fifth level of Ortam, she has proven herself a master Perfumer. Outside of Istanbul, this almost always means that the new master must remove herself from her long-time Haven and locate a new domain where she can establish herself, far from her former master. All journeymen understand this custom, even if the master never states it outright.Most elder Gulikan consider a new master remaining in the same domain as one’s former mentor a direct challenge. Given the elder Perfumer’s likely access to greater resources — social, political, economic and supernatural — few newly minted masters wish to face this kind of competition, especially when they plan to forge alliances and win over customers. Although very rare, when these types of confrontations do take place, they are rancorous affairs.
Setting up shop in a new city is diffi cult for any Kindred. The Perfumers face a special challenge: Legends follow them wherever they go. Some Kindred believe the most frightening of the stories and view the arrival of any Perfumer as a threat to their own power.
Few Princes risk permitting Perfumers to linger any longer than a few nights, fearing their legendary ability to subvert even the most cautious elders to the Gulikan’s cause. Many Princes refuse even that brief a stay. Other Princes and Primogen take the stories with a grain of salt, and, though they remain wary of these “Turkish skunks,” these powerful Kindred are also intrigued by the possibilities suggested by the legends. If the Gulikan’s perfumes have the efficacy suggested by rumor, then, risk aside, would they not offer an ambitious Kindred a sudden advantage in the Danse Macabre? What’s more, anything truly new and unique that a Kindred dignitary can acquire, especially something as sensual and personal as perfume, can go a long way toward making him the center of attention, at least for a time.
Prestige, of course, is of tremendous importance to those Kindred who hound the halls of Elysium in pursuit of companionship, entertainment, reputation and power. Any vampire sporting a Gulikan cologne might become the talk of the town, a boon that even the dullest Kindred can turn to her immediate advantage. A master Perfumer might never truly acquire the local Kindred’s trust, but the promise of excitement and a conversation piece few others can acquire is too enticing for reputation-hungry Damned to deny. A few Kindred ignore all the stories they hear about the Gulikan and other bloodlines of legend, until those Damned have seen the Perfumers for themselves.
The dominant Kindred in small domains may have only heard of the Perfumers in the most bastardized retellings of the most common legends. How these Princes and Primogens view masters of Ortam petitioning to reside in their domains will depend on the version of the stories they have heard, and whether they believe them or not.
Once the new master fi nds a suitable domain, his fi rst order of business is locating a proper Haven. As mentioned above, Gulikan frequently prefer havens in the Barrens, though a master may wish to have other digs closer to the Rack for the convenience of feeding and entertaining guests. This secondary Haven also serves as a storefront, where the Perfumer can display small samples of his wares and conduct business transactions. Some Perfumers even hold regular salons or word-ofmouth parties, where mortals or Kindred can come to test the samples and then purchase those that strike their fancy.
The nascent master also requires Equipment and supplies. Depending on her fi nancial Resources, this can mean a shop reminiscent of a medieval alchemist’s or of a 21st-century Parisian factory. The time it takes to purchase everything necessary to create Ortam products can vary greatly, but, until the shop is complete, production remains limited. Storytellers should require Perfumer characters to spend the requisite time and money to organize their production facilities prior to allowing them to actually create Ortam wares. This need not be formalized with mechanics, but it should require more than the player simply saying “Okay, I just buy the stuff I need, and now I’m going to create some perfumes.” Obtaining some of the Equipment might be difficult, especially in terms of cost and delivery. Acquiring many aromatic supplies might be even more time-consuming, given the rarity of certain herbs and other sources of scent.
When the Perfumer has all she needs to produce her wares, the next step is to seek out customers. Whether she begins with mortals or with Kindred depends on her own preferences and personal goals.
Generating business among the Damned is a precarious thing. Even those who have not heard the stories of the bloodline are going to be wary of accepting anything from another vampire, even if they are the ones who ask for it. Kindred are paranoid by nature, and something as simple as a bottle of eau de toilette might function as a Trojan horse. The Perfumer, therefore, must assuage her customers’ fears by whatever means possible. Armed with charisma, Majesty and the power of her own scent, she embarks upon a mission to vanquish any concerns about her intentions and turn skeptics into fervent customers.
Bloodhounds
Not every Gulikan clings to the bloodline’s traditions and practices the art of the Perfumer. Because joining the line is voluntary, most Gulikan at least set out with the intention of doing so in the fi rst place; however, a harsh master, disillusionment, ineptitude and a sense of boredom can all quash the desire to spend eternity crafting the next new scent. These Gulikan forgo any further progress with Ortam and instead focus their efforts on the more run-of-the-mill pursuits of the Damned. Whatever these activities may be — manipulating the kine, learning other Disciplines, making money, pursuing the arts or just relaxing and enjoying what few joys the Requiem offers — the Gulikan’s peculiar weakness is always present and always overwhelming. Rather than let it destroy any hope of achieving his personal wants, a Gulikan who has cast off the robe of the Perfumer need not also throw away the advantage offered by his fl awed inheritance. By selling his services as a smeller extraordinaire to others who could use that ability, a Gulikan can profi t fi nancially and socially, certainly improving his conditions and enabling him to better eke out some pleasure from his Requiem. Of course, the only reason someone would pay handsomely for the aid of a keen sense of smell is to use it to track down someone or something, and so it is this tracking that these Gulikan sell.Most Bloodhounds offer their services locally, to Kindred and kine alike. The dangers of travel are wellknown and having a preternatural sense of smell does little to diminish most of those dangers. However, just because a Gulikan has chosen the path of the iconoclast does not mean he has entirely given up on wanting the creature comforts that other Gulikan relish. A comfortable and secure Haven, regular and reliable companionship and a sense of community can only be had by staying put. A Bloodhound will sometimes attach himself to a single Kindred, often the Prince, and serve as the personal or “bonded” tracker for that individual alone. A Prince with a loyal Bloodhound at his side has much to crow about, as few individuals can hide long from these extraordinary hunters. Other Bloodhounds prefer not to bind themselves too closely to a single vampire, but, at the same time, don’t wish to whore themselves to just anybody and end up being accused of backstabbing a former client. A Bloodhound can avoid the worst of these ethical dilemmas by offering his tracking services to only one or two convenants or clans. At any rate, some Bloodhounds care nothing of ethics and are perfectly okay with running afoul of their own customers at times and will take whatever job they can, hunting down anyone at all, so long as the pay is good. True mercenaries often fi nd that theirstay in a city ends up being much shorter than they had imagined, as eventually they accept the wrong job and piss off the wrong Kindred.
When the heat becomes too much or if tracking the same folks all the time just doesn’t cut it anymore, some Bloodhounds hit the road as nomads. These bounty hunters go from domain to domain taking jobs hunting down troublesome mortals and dastardly Kindred, often vampires who are the target of a blood hunt. This kind of existence can prove exhilarating; many Bloodhounds become addicted to this never-ending hunt, a perfect vocation given their nature. The road can be very unforgiving, however. Without good advance intelligence and a solid invitation, entering a new Kindred domain comes with its own slew of problems. The only advantage the Bloodhounds have in dealing with these things is that their keen sense of smell is especially good at alerting them to approaching danger. Even in a completely foreign place where the Language is alien and the geography is confusing, the smell of a human or vampire bent on murder is basically the same wherever one goes. See Nomads for lots of ideas for an on-theroad chronicle with a Gulikan character.
Legends
Tales of the rose-blooded have been around for more than 500 years, bolstering the bloodline’s claim to pedigree, but also damning them by exposing the insidious secret of their legendary perfumes, tobaccos and other wares. How much of these tales is truth, how much is mere embellishment and how much is outright propaganda is known only to the Gulikan themselves.My Kingdom for a Rose
Eumathius, the fi rst Perfumer, was as ambitious as anyone caught up in the Danse Macabre. Obsessed though he was by his quest for the perfect scent, he was even more desirous of power over those around him. A staunch believer in the ideals that defi ne The Invictus tonight, Eumathius sought more than anything to ascend to the heights of Kindred society and then to ensure that his position was unassailable. Similar to every megalomaniac, he dreamed of seeing even the Prince bow to the Perfumer’s whims, however outrageous such a fantasy might have been. Even as Eumathius toiled away at producing fragrant soaps, colognes, incense and oils for his hungry clientele — many of the most august unliving personages of the time — he strove for those greater heights and did everything he could to climb the ladder of Status and recognition. Already his work had earned him substantial notice, which in turn gave him entrée into the most select salons in Elysium. From where he stood, his ultimate goal was no longer just a dream, but within his cold grasp.Just as others who are consumed by the quest for power, Eumathius’ ambitions did not shape only the social and political aspects of his Requiem. His craving colored all his thoughts and drove him to increasingly take chances that less single-minded Kindred might think twice about. For the most part, the consequences of his risky actions were small and contained. An accidental death here, a minor screw-up there; nothingthat couldn’t be resolved with quick thinking, a little attention and a bit of damage control.
This was not the case when, finally, the power-hungry Eumathius went too far. Eager to secure the loyalty of a powerful merchant family that had ties to Venice, Spain and China, the master Perfumer decided to put on a show of his most powerful products for the family in their own home. Drunk on his soon-to-be success, Eumathius not only allowed the family — including men, women and children — to sample his specially crafted collection of fragrances, but he demonstrated their powers as well. As the astonished kine watched — and smelled — he showed how he could command those under the spell of his wares to do anything he wished. When he caused one of the patriarch’s sons to kill himself before his horrifi ed relatives, Eumathius stepped over the bounds of the Masquerade. To try and cover up his crime, he only compounded it by feeding the dead man a bottle of his most potent oil, which succeeded in replicating the Embrace. When the mortal went nearly mad upon re-awakening as one of the undead and succumbed to frenzy, the show was over and Eumathius fl ed. The poor fl edgling was destroyed the next night when word reached the Prince, and Eumathius was summoned to answer for his egregious violation of the First Tradition. After an initial inquiry, he was paroled for a month while his fate was decided, though he was kept under house arrest. His fate was sealed, and all he had worked for was lost, or so it seemed.
The Prince of Istanbul was a habitual user of tobacco and enjoyed only blood more than the warm draft of scented smoke entering his throat and escaping through his nose. Eumathius knew this and set to work on creating a new product that might save him from the doom that awaited. He concocted a powerful tobacco so subtle and so fragrant that the Prince would be unable to deny himself the pleasure of its fl avor. When the tobacco was completed, the Perfumer smuggled it out of his prison with the help of a Retainer and, using all his political pull, arranged for the tobacco to be made available to the Prince.
When the time came for Eumathius’ fate to be announced, he was returned to the Court where he faced an assemblage of the Prince, the Primogen and the city’s other unliving elite. The Prince sat upon his throne, water pipe beside him, quietly smoking in thought as he gazed coldly at the Perfumer. The second that the Prince allowed the smoke to escape from his throat, however, Eumathius was silently elated. He smelled his own tobacco and could now only hope it had the desired effect. Finally, after long consideration, the Prince arose and pronounced the Perfumer’s fate to all. Eumathius was innocent of the crime he had been accused of and was free to go. A gasp of astonishment went up from the crowd, but the Prince paid it no heed. The tobacco was everything Eumathius hoped it would be, and, by virtue of its power, his unlife was spared.
It is said that to this night Eumathius continues to supply the Prince with his own special tobaccos, keeping that most powerful Kindred in Istanbul subject to the call of Eumathius’ blood. Contrary to expectation, this coup earned him tremendous esteem by friend and foe alike and contributed to the greater prestige and infl uence the Gulikan were to earn.
Sherilyn
Sherilyn’s blind as a bat, now. Not that it matters, really. She’s never needed a cane or someone to guide her, and she’s never bumped into anyone or anything, as far as I know. But I’m telling you, she can’t see a thing. Nothing at all. And that’s not the worst of it. Not only can’t she see anything anymore, but she’s also stone deaf. Yup. Go ahead and pull the trigger of the loudest piece you can fi nd right next to her, and she won’t fl inch. Even weirder, I don’t think she can even feel anything anymore. Yeah, that’s right. Sounds pretty fucking weird, sure, but it’s gotta be true. I hear she got knifed by some asshole at Dylan’s last month — sliced in the forearm, a good, deep cut — and she didn’t seem to notice at all. Okay, that’s not true. She did notice, but she didn’t act like it hurt at all. I mean, yeah, sure, we can heal that shit up nice as hell, but I mean, hey, it still hurts, you know?So, anyway, it’s basically like she just lost her sight, her hearing and her ability to feel things. Just like that. And it wasn’t like she was always like this. I mean, a couple years ago I know she could see. Hell, she came to that concert with us and she dug the tunes — even sang along with the lyrics, so she could defi nitely hear at the time.
It just seems that ever since she began hanging around with those stinkin’ Skunks she’s lost all her senses, at least those three. Now she’s become as creepy as the rest of those guys, like a fuckin’ cocaine Hound, always sniffi n’. It’s like she’s trying to either keep the snot in her nose, or she’s getting off on something that she smells, something the rest of us don’t notice at all. She forgets to turn the lights on now, too, I guess cause she can’t see a thing, so it doesn’t really matter whether there’s any light. And she doesn’t even talk much. Instead, it’s as if she’s zoning out all the time, high as a kite or something, like a street huffer.
Anyway, she’s still Sherilyn, of course, but the girl’s just too strange now. I mean, you’d think I could hang with nearly anyone considering my own problems, right? But that girl, well, it’s just too much now. Hope she likes her new pals; she can keep ’em. I mean, I guess I’ll still kick with her now and then, you know. She’s still looks great in jeans, and she smells like fuckin’ heaven. Damn, she does smell good.
Bloody Rumors
The Gulikan and their use of Ortam are fodder for countless rumors that carry on the blood-tinged air of Elysium. Some are merely entertaining; others serve as object lessons. However, some are outright scary, if true. A few of the more recent of these last kinds of rumors follow.Somewhere out West, there’s something going on that should worry all of us. It’s those Perfumers, the Gulikan. It is no longer just a rumor or myth; it’s confi rmed. They can create a Vinculum without ever having a single drop of their Vitae pass the lips of the subject. The bloodline has discovered a way to forge a blood bond by using only the scent of their Vitae to seduce and ensnare us. Worse, there is no clear way to know what scent might be responsible. Be warned.
— Abe Caufield, Invictus Pursuivant
I still don’t know what’s happened. I haven’t aged a day in the past 20 years, but that’s impossible. I mean, the only thing that’s changed is my addiction to those cool cigarettes I found in Istanbul after graduating college, but aren’t cigarettes supposed to kill you, not make you live longer? Weird as hell. I have been smoking them pretty much regularly ever since, but besides the health of my bank account — they’re expensive, man, even though I buy them through the Internet now — my body seems fi ne. In fact, better than fi ne. I’m stronger than I was when I was 20 and can go all night now. I figured I’d be a candidate for Viagra, by now, but Gail’s not complaining. Sarah didn’t either, and neither did — Anyway, unless doc says otherwise, I’ll keep puffi ng away on these things. Have you ever tried one? No? What the hell? Here, it’s better than a clove, seriously. I swear you will love these things. Here. Need a light?
Mike Duchamp, unemployed auto mechanic
She just hovered over the body like she was stoned or something, sniffing like a dog, getting real close, like nothing else mattered. We didn’t have a lot of time, if you know what I mean, so I’m telling her to hurry up and just drink her fill, but she just ignores me and keeps smelling the guy like that’s all she wanted.
When the sirens came, I started freakin’ out, you know? I’m yelling at her to fi nish the guy now so we can scram, but she doesn’t break his skin at all. Just keeps sniffi ng. Finally, I bug out, grab her by the arm and haul her into the car. I was worried that’s she’d lose it ’cause she didn’t get to fill up, but she didn’t. She just let me push her into the passenger seat and stayed there while I got in and gunned it. She even looked satisfied, and I know she was hungry after all that we’d been through.
Anyway, finally I ask her about it, and she says she’s fine. Fine?! I ask her what she means. Isn’t she hungry? Doesn’t she need something before we hit the sack? And she just says ‘no’ like everything’s cool. Then, and this is real weird, she says ‘I had enough, I’m full,’ just like that. I don’t know what to say, but she’s calm as an angel, and the next evening she doesn’t go nuts or anything. She was telling the truth. I don’t know what the hell she did, but it’s like she didn’t even need to drink the blood at all, like she just needed to smell it to feel okay. Now that’s some serious shit.
Harper, unaligned Gangrel
Garlic. Just like the legends, that’s right. Put it around every door and window, inside your car and, of course, on yourself. Forget those garlic pills, the scent is probably too weak. Use the real stuff, cloves and all. It works, I’m telling you. The monster hasn’t come near me since I started doing that. It must drive him crazy or something. Maybe he’s just got a sensitive nose. I don’t really care. Just do it, because it works. That’s the only advice I can give you, really. Short of that, pray to Allah he forgets about you.
Derya Ozergin, mortal
Common Dress code
Appearance: Despite their parent clan’s infatuation with physical beauty, the beauty of scent draws the Gulikan to their future childer. Many Gulikan select their progeny literally with eyes closed. Others, of course, rarely ever discern these distinguishing odors and judge the Perfumers on visual appearance fi rst. For this reason, and for no other, most Gulikan at least make an effort to appear to fit in with their chosen peers, whether powdered and diamond-draped Harpies or a rustic congregation of Sanctifi ed White Robes. Those whose Requiems consist primarily of playing bloodhound tend to be the exceptions, caring little if anything about appearance. For these Gulikan, their own hedonistic expeditions into the invisible world of aroma leading them to their prey matters far more than what the Gulikan wear or others’ opinions of them.
Art & Architecture
Haven: Perfumers need proper space to produce their wares, not only in terms of actual square footage and security but in terms of geography. In times past, Perfumers were primarily located in districts where the atrocious aromas wafting from the maceration vats and distillation tanks, not to mention the simple stores of herbs, oils and other pungent ingredients, would not disturb those with the wealth and infl uence to cause economic harm, the same people who consumed the Perfumers’ products with unremitting fervor. Even Gulikan who possess the most technologically advanced Equipment still have no desire to draw undue attention should a spill or other accident take place. The smallest of inadvertent releases could result in all kine within 10 blocks to come swarming to the supernatural aphrodisiac!
Consequently, those rose-blooded who pursue Ortam almost always locate their havens in the Barrens, far from prying eyes and noses, as a precaution. They usually select large spaces, in order for the resident Gulikan to be as distant from the fi res and heat needed in his work, with the personal sleeping chamber typically fi reproofed, just in case. Intruders will be hardpressed to resist being overcome by the powerful fumes — from the sickly saccharine to the utterly noxious — that assault them upon entering a Gulikan’s Haven, which is more laboratory than workshop. The master will require a constant supply of ingredients that are unavoidably used up with each use of Ortam.
Gulikan working as Bloodhounds have no need of such quarters but still prefer to bed down far from the wash of human odors that drenches most of the city, in order to keep temptation at bay as much as possible. Of course, when hunting, Bloodhounds dive into that sea of sweat, flatulence, rotting food, soiled garments and every other source of human effluvia in order to indulge as only Gulikan might.
Consequently, those rose-blooded who pursue Ortam almost always locate their havens in the Barrens, far from prying eyes and noses, as a precaution. They usually select large spaces, in order for the resident Gulikan to be as distant from the fi res and heat needed in his work, with the personal sleeping chamber typically fi reproofed, just in case. Intruders will be hardpressed to resist being overcome by the powerful fumes — from the sickly saccharine to the utterly noxious — that assault them upon entering a Gulikan’s Haven, which is more laboratory than workshop. The master will require a constant supply of ingredients that are unavoidably used up with each use of Ortam.
Gulikan working as Bloodhounds have no need of such quarters but still prefer to bed down far from the wash of human odors that drenches most of the city, in order to keep temptation at bay as much as possible. Of course, when hunting, Bloodhounds dive into that sea of sweat, flatulence, rotting food, soiled garments and every other source of human effluvia in order to indulge as only Gulikan might.
Major organizations
Covenant: As most Daeva, the Gulikan are most commonly found among the ranks of The Invictus. The First Estate produces the bulk of the Gulikans’ customers, and the Perfumers are most comfortable among these elite, able to profi t both from the sale of their wares and the hidden web of thralls that they weave nightly. Powdered, oiled and garbed in only the most expensive, scented wardrobe, these olfactory wunderkinds are as much a part of the Danse Macabre as any who want to climb The Invictus ladder. If more than one Gulikan makes his home in the same domain, the competition is fierce. Nothing poses as great a threat to a Gulikan’s plans as another Perfumer who plies her own goods in the hope of wielding power over the local Kindred. Consequently, each Gulikan seeks to gain as many Allies in The Invictus as possible in order to win over the competitor’s customers and pawns. Only in Istanbul, where the bloodline is strongest and established rules of competition based on ancient guild customs exist to govern their practices, do Gulikan suffer each other’s co-existence.
In some domains, The Lancea Sanctum is an attractive alternative to The Invictus. The Sanctifi ed make use of incense and other perfumed products for a variety of purposes, giving a cautious Perfumer a chance to sway an entire congregation. The only downside can be a rigorous set of obligations that demand precious time better spent perfecting the next scented concoction.
The Ordo Dracul has few Perfumers among its number. For most, the outlook of The Ordo Dracul is far too esoteric, and the limitations on to whom the Gulikan may market their wares and in what capacity are all too commonplace.
The Carthian Movement is popular with those Gulikan who adopt the Requiem of a bounty hunter. The nature of Carthian politics allows the Gullikan to pursue prey that might otherwise be off-limits due to their social connections.
Until recently, The Circle of the Crone has never been a popular destination for the rose-bloodedy. In the past half-century, the Perfumers have taken a sudden interest, fi nding in Crúac a possible means to greatly expand on the possibilities inherent in their own special Discipline.
Organization: Traditionally, the bloodline is organized in a way not unlike a medieval guild, with masters, journeymen and apprentices. A master is technically any member who has learned the fifth level of Ortam. Once the Gulikan achieves this accomplishment, he customarily relocates to another city so as to not jeopardize the monopoly held by his former master, usually his sire.
A journeyman are a step below this august rank and is deemed to be any Gulikan who has demonstrated the third level of Ortam. Because journeymen represent potential competitors, sires often withhold knowledge of the third level of this Discipline for extended periods of time. This often forces the least of the bloodline, the apprentices, to leave their original masters in search of others more open to their apprentices’ advancement.
Given the small size of the lineage, this structure gives the Gulikan a sense of community that crosses the globe, a situation that promotes the sale of Ortam wares far from a Gulikan’s home domain. For example, a journeyman in one place sells an item he is yet incapable of producing. He contacts a master Perfumer in a far-off place and acts as the middleman, selling the master’s products in his own domain, sending most, but not all, of the profi ts back to the more learned Gulikan. In addition, the journeyman might provide the master information about the buyer, usually for an additional cut of the profi ts, so that, one night, the master use as he pleases the infl uence he has acquired over the oblivious customer.
Gulikan in Istanbul observe this organization rigorously; elevation to the next rank, particularly to master, comes with great ceremony. Elsewhere, such formalities often enjoy far less obedience, though any Gulikan who wish to advance their understanding of Ortam never entirely ignore the formalities.
Only the Bloodhounds dare to turn their backs on the long-standing customs of the bloodline. Bloodhounds need only their own company and someone willing to provide their few wants in exchange for unprecedented tracking services.
In some domains, The Lancea Sanctum is an attractive alternative to The Invictus. The Sanctifi ed make use of incense and other perfumed products for a variety of purposes, giving a cautious Perfumer a chance to sway an entire congregation. The only downside can be a rigorous set of obligations that demand precious time better spent perfecting the next scented concoction.
The Ordo Dracul has few Perfumers among its number. For most, the outlook of The Ordo Dracul is far too esoteric, and the limitations on to whom the Gulikan may market their wares and in what capacity are all too commonplace.
The Carthian Movement is popular with those Gulikan who adopt the Requiem of a bounty hunter. The nature of Carthian politics allows the Gullikan to pursue prey that might otherwise be off-limits due to their social connections.
Until recently, The Circle of the Crone has never been a popular destination for the rose-bloodedy. In the past half-century, the Perfumers have taken a sudden interest, fi nding in Crúac a possible means to greatly expand on the possibilities inherent in their own special Discipline.
Organization: Traditionally, the bloodline is organized in a way not unlike a medieval guild, with masters, journeymen and apprentices. A master is technically any member who has learned the fifth level of Ortam. Once the Gulikan achieves this accomplishment, he customarily relocates to another city so as to not jeopardize the monopoly held by his former master, usually his sire.
A journeyman are a step below this august rank and is deemed to be any Gulikan who has demonstrated the third level of Ortam. Because journeymen represent potential competitors, sires often withhold knowledge of the third level of this Discipline for extended periods of time. This often forces the least of the bloodline, the apprentices, to leave their original masters in search of others more open to their apprentices’ advancement.
Given the small size of the lineage, this structure gives the Gulikan a sense of community that crosses the globe, a situation that promotes the sale of Ortam wares far from a Gulikan’s home domain. For example, a journeyman in one place sells an item he is yet incapable of producing. He contacts a master Perfumer in a far-off place and acts as the middleman, selling the master’s products in his own domain, sending most, but not all, of the profi ts back to the more learned Gulikan. In addition, the journeyman might provide the master information about the buyer, usually for an additional cut of the profi ts, so that, one night, the master use as he pleases the infl uence he has acquired over the oblivious customer.
Gulikan in Istanbul observe this organization rigorously; elevation to the next rank, particularly to master, comes with great ceremony. Elsewhere, such formalities often enjoy far less obedience, though any Gulikan who wish to advance their understanding of Ortam never entirely ignore the formalities.
Only the Bloodhounds dare to turn their backs on the long-standing customs of the bloodline. Bloodhounds need only their own company and someone willing to provide their few wants in exchange for unprecedented tracking services.
Nickname: Perfumers or Bloodhounds
Character Creation: It almost goes without saying that Gulikan who fi ll the traditional role of Perfumer are best served by having at least some capability in Crafts, specializing in Perfume Manufacture. Similarly, Intelligence and Manipulation are both crucial for the ambitious character, enabling her to not only excel in producing effective aromatic wares but also in surviving and mastering the complex Danse Macabre. Bloodhound characters will want to emphasize investigative and combat abilities. Investigation, Brawl and a high Wits and Composure are essential boons to finding and capturing prey.
Mechanics aside, every player should put some effort into imagining the World of Darkness from the perspective of one who literally “sees” with her nose, rather than her eyes. Imagine the smell of rain-soaked pavement, the foul stench of trash Dumpsters, the acrid burn of fear, the reek of unwashed Humanity, the scent of gunpowder and, of course, the tang of mortal blood. Numerous tricks, from closing one’s eyes during the game to burning incense or scented candles, can be helpful. To play a Gulikan requires some understanding of just how different the world is when odor, not form, defines that world.
Bloodline Disciplines: Celerity, Majesty, Ortam, Vigor
Weakness: Similar to all Daeva, the Gulikan find it especially diffi cult to resist the hedonistic urges that all vampires indulge now and then. Whenever a Gulikan has the chance to satisfy her Vice but chooses not to do so, she loses two points of Willpower, rather than gaining one by partaking of the pleasure.
Compounding the clan weakness is the Gulikan’s particular craving for certain rarifi ed scents. Every member of the bloodline favors the scent of one type of mortal in a way that goes far beyond mere interest. Whenever the character detects this special scent, no matter how far away the source of that scent might be,the character must do all she can to locate the source and, ultimately, possess that scent until nothing of it remains. The fragrance distracts the character to the degree that she fi nds it diffi cult to concentrate clearly on anything else until she can have the scent for herself. What this means in game terms is that from the moment the character has detected that scent and until the moment when she has fi nished consuming that scent the character is subject to a –1 penalty to all dice pools. Worse, until the Gulikan fi nds that particular target, she can drink the blood of another only by expending a point of Willpower. Only the blood of her specialvictim will otherwise satisfy her desires.
Once the character fi nds the kine exuding the scent, the Gulikan cares only for savoring the scent as long as she can. This means she may literally press her nose into the skin of the mortal and bask in the odor that drew her in the fi rst place. Unless she is in a frenzy, she will try to forestall the inevitable drinking until the last possible moment, enjoying the fragrance until hunger or expediency overwhelms her lust.
Gulikan are prone to kidnapping their victims and keeping them alive as long as possible, often curling up against them night and day in order to be immersed in the intoxicating scent. However, because the need for blood grows inexorably, such situations are usually short-lived. In the end, the Gulikan will take the victim’s blood, until nothing remains.
If, for some reason, the character is unable to locate the source of the scent or to possess the individual, after three nights she may spend a point of Willpower to overcome the gnawing desire for that particular scent, though she will never forget it entirely.
The precise type of person whose scent is uniquely irresistible to the character can be nearly anything. Pregnant women, murderers, opium addicts, Native Americans, people fearing for their lives, borderline suicides, diabetes sufferers and so forth all are appropriate. The target group should be common enough that they might show up regularly, but uncommon enough so that, unless the character went to a specifi c place known to be populated by such people — a hospital, prison, orphanage, head shop and so on — he’ll have no certainty that they will make an appearance. At thebeginning of every game session that a character is not currently fi xated on a particular individual’s scent, the player rolls Wits + Composure. A success indicates that the character detects and fi xates upon a new special scent. If the target group selected is unusually common in the vicinity of the character, the Storyteller might apply a bonus to the roll. On the other hand, if the group is likely to be uncommonly scarce — for example, in the Barrens near the character’s Haven — a penalty should be applied.
Concepts: Avant-garde artist, creepy assassin, drug lab scientist, dutiful bloodhound, fashionista, ironfisted perfume empire matriarch, leather-clad biker, New Age hippie, respectable member of the gentry, reverent priest
A habit that truly sets the Gulikan apart from other Kindred is sniffi ng. Kindred do not breathe, but the Gulikan habitually sniff the air in order to detect every odor they can. So ingrained is this practice, due to their bloodline’s weakness, a Gulikan make a concerted attempt to stop this activity for longer than a few moments. A successful Resolve + Composure roll allows the Gulikan to stop sniffing for a full scene, so long as he does not speak during that time. Any use of speech requires the Gulikan to inhale and expend air, a sensation that makes it impossible for the rose-blooded to resist sampling any passing scents.
Naturally, this habit, along with the Gulikan’s legendary Status, makes it nearly impossible for the Gulikan to mask their identity most of the time. Some Kindred might eventually be able to put two and two together and recognize the incessantly sniffi ng vampire for what he is. Among the kine, this habit can also prove troublesome, as police offi cers, as well as many ordinary citizens, especially those in the underworld and those who live on the streets, will assume that the Gulikan uses cocaine or some other inhaled substance.
The fact that the Gulikan may visibly savor the odors they encounter only makes these weird hedonists that much more noteworthy, further complicating their Requiems.
Istanbul is perhaps the only place where a Perfumer, upon reaching the lofty Status of master, need not necessarily relocate. Instead, the new master claims a domain to exploit as he sees fi t. How these allocations are made is up to a trio of the eldest Gulikan, the Syndics. Eumathius stands at the head of this triumvirate, with his most trusted childer equals beneath him. This trio dictates all bloodline policy, including not only how a Perfumer can market his wares but also ceremony, requirements for advancement, procedures for petitioning for membership in the bloodline and how duties are divvied up among the ranks. This Syndics even serve as a quality control board, permitting themselves to test anything created with Ortam by any Perfumer and to disallow further production of any product that fails to meet their self-declared standards. The Syndics also possess full authority to punish any Gulikan who violates their rules, power that is limited only by the Prince’s prerogative over The Traditions.
Perfumers who are refused by their masters the knowledge necessary to advance their mastery of Ortam and, therefore, their place in the bloodline’s hierarchy, are permitted to petition the Syndics for a hearing. This, of course, means travel to Istanbul, a diffi cult prospect in the fi rst place. Those who do make the trip are given an audience— when convenient for the Syndics — and their case is heard. Should these petitioners be able to demonstrate their worthiness for advancement — which usually requires producing an array of Ortam wares taking as long as a year’s worth of labor under the supervision of Istanbul’s masters — they may be rewarded with the instruction they seek. Frauds, upstarts and those lacking the requisite bona fi des, however, may face any sort of punishment for their arrogance and temerity. Only when the bloodline’s hierarchy has truly failed one of its own is that Gulikan’s petition deemed appropriate.
Gulikan characters who learn the first level of Auspex, Heightened Senses, are truly astonishing. Their already extraordinary sense of smell doubles again, allowing them to greatly expand not only the range of their olfactory Perception but also to recognize even greater subtlety in the scents they detect. The flip side to this seeming benefit is that unwelcome scents become not only unpleasant, but can be downright dangerous. A sudden odor of certain chemicals or other foul aromas can literally “blind” the character’s sense of smell for a time, usually the rest of the scene, during which the Gulikan can detect no scents at all. This unexpected absence of olfactory stimuli can lead to Derangements such as Paranoia and Xenophobia.
At the Storyteller’s discretion, certain powerful odors might be so strong that the character suffers temporary physical harm as if actually struck. (Beware: Never use this as a punishment for the player or character.) Storytellers should limit these situations to a single point of bashing damage, reflecting the stunning effect of nauseating, potent or acrid smells. Although this is treated as bashing damage, track it separately from any actual injuries. Olfactory “damage” cannot, therefore, cause a real wound to grow worse or be exacerbated by those effects that worsen wound categories.
Parent ethnicities
Mechanics aside, every player should put some effort into imagining the World of Darkness from the perspective of one who literally “sees” with her nose, rather than her eyes. Imagine the smell of rain-soaked pavement, the foul stench of trash Dumpsters, the acrid burn of fear, the reek of unwashed Humanity, the scent of gunpowder and, of course, the tang of mortal blood. Numerous tricks, from closing one’s eyes during the game to burning incense or scented candles, can be helpful. To play a Gulikan requires some understanding of just how different the world is when odor, not form, defines that world.
Bloodline Disciplines: Celerity, Majesty, Ortam, Vigor
Weakness: Similar to all Daeva, the Gulikan find it especially diffi cult to resist the hedonistic urges that all vampires indulge now and then. Whenever a Gulikan has the chance to satisfy her Vice but chooses not to do so, she loses two points of Willpower, rather than gaining one by partaking of the pleasure.
Compounding the clan weakness is the Gulikan’s particular craving for certain rarifi ed scents. Every member of the bloodline favors the scent of one type of mortal in a way that goes far beyond mere interest. Whenever the character detects this special scent, no matter how far away the source of that scent might be,the character must do all she can to locate the source and, ultimately, possess that scent until nothing of it remains. The fragrance distracts the character to the degree that she fi nds it diffi cult to concentrate clearly on anything else until she can have the scent for herself. What this means in game terms is that from the moment the character has detected that scent and until the moment when she has fi nished consuming that scent the character is subject to a –1 penalty to all dice pools. Worse, until the Gulikan fi nds that particular target, she can drink the blood of another only by expending a point of Willpower. Only the blood of her specialvictim will otherwise satisfy her desires.
Once the character fi nds the kine exuding the scent, the Gulikan cares only for savoring the scent as long as she can. This means she may literally press her nose into the skin of the mortal and bask in the odor that drew her in the fi rst place. Unless she is in a frenzy, she will try to forestall the inevitable drinking until the last possible moment, enjoying the fragrance until hunger or expediency overwhelms her lust.
Gulikan are prone to kidnapping their victims and keeping them alive as long as possible, often curling up against them night and day in order to be immersed in the intoxicating scent. However, because the need for blood grows inexorably, such situations are usually short-lived. In the end, the Gulikan will take the victim’s blood, until nothing remains.
If, for some reason, the character is unable to locate the source of the scent or to possess the individual, after three nights she may spend a point of Willpower to overcome the gnawing desire for that particular scent, though she will never forget it entirely.
The precise type of person whose scent is uniquely irresistible to the character can be nearly anything. Pregnant women, murderers, opium addicts, Native Americans, people fearing for their lives, borderline suicides, diabetes sufferers and so forth all are appropriate. The target group should be common enough that they might show up regularly, but uncommon enough so that, unless the character went to a specifi c place known to be populated by such people — a hospital, prison, orphanage, head shop and so on — he’ll have no certainty that they will make an appearance. At thebeginning of every game session that a character is not currently fi xated on a particular individual’s scent, the player rolls Wits + Composure. A success indicates that the character detects and fi xates upon a new special scent. If the target group selected is unusually common in the vicinity of the character, the Storyteller might apply a bonus to the roll. On the other hand, if the group is likely to be uncommonly scarce — for example, in the Barrens near the character’s Haven — a penalty should be applied.
Concepts: Avant-garde artist, creepy assassin, drug lab scientist, dutiful bloodhound, fashionista, ironfisted perfume empire matriarch, leather-clad biker, New Age hippie, respectable member of the gentry, reverent priest
An Ever-Present Scent
A habit that truly sets the Gulikan apart from other Kindred is sniffi ng. Kindred do not breathe, but the Gulikan habitually sniff the air in order to detect every odor they can. So ingrained is this practice, due to their bloodline’s weakness, a Gulikan make a concerted attempt to stop this activity for longer than a few moments. A successful Resolve + Composure roll allows the Gulikan to stop sniffing for a full scene, so long as he does not speak during that time. Any use of speech requires the Gulikan to inhale and expend air, a sensation that makes it impossible for the rose-blooded to resist sampling any passing scents.Naturally, this habit, along with the Gulikan’s legendary Status, makes it nearly impossible for the Gulikan to mask their identity most of the time. Some Kindred might eventually be able to put two and two together and recognize the incessantly sniffi ng vampire for what he is. Among the kine, this habit can also prove troublesome, as police offi cers, as well as many ordinary citizens, especially those in the underworld and those who live on the streets, will assume that the Gulikan uses cocaine or some other inhaled substance.
The fact that the Gulikan may visibly savor the odors they encounter only makes these weird hedonists that much more noteworthy, further complicating their Requiems.
The Perfumed City
Istanbul is perhaps the only place where a Perfumer, upon reaching the lofty Status of master, need not necessarily relocate. Instead, the new master claims a domain to exploit as he sees fi t. How these allocations are made is up to a trio of the eldest Gulikan, the Syndics. Eumathius stands at the head of this triumvirate, with his most trusted childer equals beneath him. This trio dictates all bloodline policy, including not only how a Perfumer can market his wares but also ceremony, requirements for advancement, procedures for petitioning for membership in the bloodline and how duties are divvied up among the ranks. This Syndics even serve as a quality control board, permitting themselves to test anything created with Ortam by any Perfumer and to disallow further production of any product that fails to meet their self-declared standards. The Syndics also possess full authority to punish any Gulikan who violates their rules, power that is limited only by the Prince’s prerogative over The Traditions.Perfumers who are refused by their masters the knowledge necessary to advance their mastery of Ortam and, therefore, their place in the bloodline’s hierarchy, are permitted to petition the Syndics for a hearing. This, of course, means travel to Istanbul, a diffi cult prospect in the fi rst place. Those who do make the trip are given an audience— when convenient for the Syndics — and their case is heard. Should these petitioners be able to demonstrate their worthiness for advancement — which usually requires producing an array of Ortam wares taking as long as a year’s worth of labor under the supervision of Istanbul’s masters — they may be rewarded with the instruction they seek. Frauds, upstarts and those lacking the requisite bona fi des, however, may face any sort of punishment for their arrogance and temerity. Only when the bloodline’s hierarchy has truly failed one of its own is that Gulikan’s petition deemed appropriate.
Acute Smell, Asupex and Overpowering Stench
Gulikan characters who learn the first level of Auspex, Heightened Senses, are truly astonishing. Their already extraordinary sense of smell doubles again, allowing them to greatly expand not only the range of their olfactory Perception but also to recognize even greater subtlety in the scents they detect. The flip side to this seeming benefit is that unwelcome scents become not only unpleasant, but can be downright dangerous. A sudden odor of certain chemicals or other foul aromas can literally “blind” the character’s sense of smell for a time, usually the rest of the scene, during which the Gulikan can detect no scents at all. This unexpected absence of olfactory stimuli can lead to Derangements such as Paranoia and Xenophobia.At the Storyteller’s discretion, certain powerful odors might be so strong that the character suffers temporary physical harm as if actually struck. (Beware: Never use this as a punishment for the player or character.) Storytellers should limit these situations to a single point of bashing damage, reflecting the stunning effect of nauseating, potent or acrid smells. Although this is treated as bashing damage, track it separately from any actual injuries. Olfactory “damage” cannot, therefore, cause a real wound to grow worse or be exacerbated by those effects that worsen wound categories.
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