Wu Zao

The Wu Zao are a rare Kindred bloodline of the Middle Kingdom, the legacy left behind by Saulot when he traveled east to learn enlightenment from Xue. They are some of the only Kindred in the east to have escaped extinction at the hands of the Kuei-jin, and, in the Final Nights, the only bloodline with knowledge of both Valeren and Obeah, though their participation in Gehenna was minimal, if effectual at all.

History
According to the Wan Kuei, Saulot, a trickster from the West, came to the Middle Kingdom to steal enlightenment from Xue. The Wu Zao hold that Zao-Lat saw the coming age of darkness and hoped to share understanding with the Kuei-jin, only to be to be treated with distrust and hatred and driven back West. However, he left two childer behind; Zao-zei, a thief and explorer, and Zao-xue, a scholar and monk.

The two were Zao-lat's companions for a time, but when the Wan Kuei attacked Zao-lat and forced his return west, Zao-zei and Zao-xue believed this to be the beginning of a slide towards a final apocalypse and began to sire childer in an effort to either reverse or survive the process. Childer model themselves after one of the two progenitors of the bloodline, becoming pairs of thieves and scholars cooperating to uncover the knowledge necessary to deal with the coming Age of Darkness.

Organization
The Wu Zao are organized in cells of two kindred each, these pairs of vampires being the only form of organization they have, though they do accumulate a few servants and followers.

Culture
Wu Zao are mostly of Han Chinese or Manchurian descent, though there exist Wu Zao of other cultural types. Upon learning the third level of Obeah or Valeren, a third eye develops in their forehead. They maintain elaborate, well-hidden havens where they hoard the products of their research and gifts from other Kindred. They will often maintain herds to hide their feeding from the Kuei-Jin.

Weakness
Zao-lat's order to gather secret knowledge permeates the blood of every Wu Zao. Each Wu Zao must choose an area of arcane lore that becomes the focus of their unlife. A Willpower roll is required to resist pursuing an opportunity to research this subject- regardless of how dangerous it is.