A Setite Bloodline seated in South America

Quote:
"The Gods of the earth are among you, we remember the old compacts that kept the world turning and ensured the sun would rise. If you have forgotten why the blood must be spilled and seek only to quench your thirst, we shall not chastise you. So long as the blood continues to be spilled for the appeasement of the Gods, what do we care of your loss of clarity and faith."

Description:

The worship of snakes, especially rattlesnakes [canes] was widespread throughout southern America. Even to this day the Rattlesnake is considered a powerful spirit and teacher of occult knowledge by the natives of South America. The markings of rattlesnakes are seen on pottery and woven garments across the continent, just a small example of how intertwined his presence was in society. The Aztecs and Mayans held him in highest regard as a symbol of abstract mystic knowledge. Just as in the Egyptian homeland, followers of Set in South America found an empathic draw to the serpent most revered by their mortal worshippers. The Cobras of Egypt become the Rattlesnakes of the Mayan Empire and the Ahua Can bloodline thrived amidst the rain forests and vast Empires.

Unlike their Egyptian counterparts, The South American Setites kept hold of their lofty position as spiritual guides and priests for the people, never descending into the darkness that now shapes their parent Clan. They guided the secular and religious destinies of the tribes for millennia, overseeing the rituals and observance necessary to ensure the Sun continued to Rise. Surviving the transition between Mayan, Toltec, Inca, Olmec and Aztec empires through the invasions and genocide of the conquistadors and into the modern nights amid Mexico's slums and the villages of the indigenous tribes, the Ahua Can Bloodline have always watched from the shadows of the South American jungles.

Their founder taught them of the horrors that stalked the darkness with them, the enemies of the Cainite race who would forever swallow the sun and destroy the world and set them to keep the peoples of the Empire safe from this threat. Even after the Antediluvian Sutekh left them, eventually to become the very force against which he taught them to struggle, they fought on. They taught the people how to appease the Gods and forestall the destruction of the Sun, another term for the current age. The sacrifice of blood to these immortal teachers was a small price for the continued existence of reality and the Ahua Can were seen as protectors rather than as parasites. It is possible that the Brujah ideal of Cainite and Kine living in harmony survived far longer in the Mayan Empire than it ever did in Carthage. But time corrupts all dreams and the willing tithes of blood became grotesque orgies of sacrifice and blood letting. By the time the Aztec nation had reached their zenith, the Ahua Can had devolved into Vampires every bit as selfish as their Eastern siblings, perhaps worse.

Females dominate the bloodline due to its historical nature as priestesses supporting and choosing the Kings of their local tribes. Those males who were brought into the Bloodline are often Kings, Priests or politically important men whose embrace would strengthen the position of the Ahua Can among the mortals or an occasional favoured lover. The Ahua Can have always preferred to work behind the scenes, guiding policy and making alliances with subtle manipulation and suggestion. In the past, the words of such venerated and ageless priestesses was considered the words of the Gods themselves and was rarely ignored. The truly ancient Ahua Can were considered Gods in their own right and given the required respect and adherence. Is it any wonder that small cities and remote tribes flourished against some of the greater Empires when their very Gods lived among them?

The Shape Shifters:

The Ahua Can have always been a Clan of small numbers and secretive ways. This above all else is what has kept them from total annihilation by the Were-cats and Were-alligators of the South American continent. Those that were known by the local shape shifters often survived by having a more benign that malign effect on the local population. Many Ahua Can prosper as local Gods or saints for small villages and tribes. The presence of the really old Ahua Can keeps prospectors and clear cutting developers away and the Balaam at least prefer to sit back, watch and see why. Even should the Shape shifters wish to go to war with the Ahua Can, they are no more able to pierce the Night wind than any other mortal. They pass by the Rattlers havens in the forest and never know how close to their deaths they actually came.

Nickname: Rattlers, Acla Cuna (Brides of rattlesnake)

Appearance:

Nearly all older members of the Bloodline are of the native stock from the great South American Tribes. Incan, Toltec, Olmec, Mayan and Aztec features dominated the Bloodline until the coming of the Conquistadors with only a very few examples of other native American racial stock such as the Hopi and Pueblo. Now many of younger and more recently embraced are of Hispanic and African stock, although almost no white mortals have been embraced. The Bloodline has a preference for bright colours and gemstones as well as feathers. The Tribal tattoos and body modifications also come across as a common motif and Bloodline identity and more than one Ahua can has had her dead flesh mollified by Tzimisce in Mexico.

Haven:

The True rulers of the Bloodline rest within the hearts of great and undiscovered Cities, often within the great pyramids and temples built to honour them. These ancient vampires surround themselves with Childer and satellite cults among the local populace that forms extended cells of Ahua can dominance.

Not all Ahua Can live in ancient lost cities or sleep their torpor away beneath vast step pyramids, many manage to eek out an existence among the indigenous kine in remote settlements or small towns. Many take the position of local spirit or saint seriously and protect and nurture their herds in return for blood tribute and animal sacrifice. Some neonates even find solace in the hearts of the cities, making alliances with the vampires there or keeping to themselves.

Background:

Typically, the Ahua Can choose neonates from their own human Retainers. Originally, only those of South American Indian descent were chosen as Retainers. Within the last century, however, a number of Hispanic Europeans and Americans have been recruited. The Majority of the Bloodline are female, with males most often being embraced at the end of a useful life and thus mostly older than the women.

Character Creation:

The Ahua Can rely strongly on the worship and servitude of their retainers, but almost never lower themselves to mass blood bonding as it requires to much upkeep. Instead they rely on personal charisma and PR skills, favouring traits such as Performance, Empathy, Politics and Subterfuge.

Clan Disciplines: Obfuscate, Presence, Canes Serpentis

Clan weakness:

Ahua Can do not suffer from the same weakness to bright light that their Egyptian and African parent Clan suffers from. This may be because they were created before Sutekh was cursed to (or as in some stories, chose to) become banished to the darkness. It may be because they are still tied to the worship of the Sun and in overseeing the sacrifices needed to ensure its continued journey. Whatever the reason, the Ahua Can are no more debilitated by strong light than the other Cainites, instead their particular curse is tied to their beasts slow descent into the darkness of the soul.

The Ahua Can weakness is the Yohuallahuantzin, meaning "inebriated in the night", or "one who has become inebriated in the night". This term was an ancient term used in the worship of Xipe Totec. It is a condition that the Ahua Canes suffer with, in essence, it is their Bloodline flaw. The Ahua Canes can become lost to their blood lust and their sins. In the face of their chosen carnal delights they become drunken. A successful Self-Control roll is needed to avoid this obsession. Whether in combat or feeding, and especially during ritual and mystical activities, the Ahua Can is prone to losing all self-control at the sight of blood letting or when given the opportunity to cause suffering and sorrow. This is not to say that that a nosebleed will incite the Ahua Can to frenziedly torture and abuse thier companions, but real bloodbaths are the spark for their particular blue touch paper. Whenever a victim is at their mercy, the Ahua can must roll their Self-Control with a difficulty of at least 6 to resist the urge to torment, torture and terrorise the victims. In the presence of bloodletting this roll becomes more difficult and the Difficulty rises to 8 as the Beast thirsts for release and instant delight. Yohuallahuantzin is far more than the typical Vampiric frenzy, although it often leads to that uncontrolled state. An Ahua Can lost to Yohuallahuantzin commits acts of devotional horror rather than simply going berserk. They are likely to take thier time in thier ministrations and to follow intricate and occult patterns as they indulge thier fetish for the arcane.

Organization:

The split in the Bloodline between the Followers of Tezcatlipoca and the Followers of Ixchel has led to a split between the Priestly Hierarchy and the Corrupters. The Ba'ali converts are organised around their devotion to their new Lord and his Infernal masters. The True Bloodline has a much looser organization. Single Vampires or small cells exist among their cults and followers and only meet with others of their line infrequently. Some that dwell amidst remote villages and tribes have not seen another Vampire in over a century. Those that do speak often use childer as intermediaries and send messages in archaic South American hieroglyphs. At times of great threat to the Bloodline or its mortal servants, the Eldest come together to plan great war parties and strategies, and they have weathered all manner of tribulation over the years.

Gaining Clan Prestige:

The Ahua Can are fighting a war on several fronts. To the eldest and most devout of the Bloodline, the battle to forestall the end of the world is paramount, but the conflict with the Ba'ali and the Ahua Can turncoats is just as pressing. Added to these are the small battles individuals must wage in order to preserve the way of life for their herds and retainers and their own dominance as their Gods. Success in any of these conflicts brings respect and admiration from others in the Bloodline as does a head count of worshippers. In the days of the Incan and Mayan Empires worship was a sign of ultimate prestige, but as the Aztec Empire rose, this shifted and the amount of sacrifices carried out to honour each vampire God became the benchmark of power and respect.