Ghoul Family (disambiguation)

In Vampire: The Masquerade it is possible for ghoul attributes to breed true. A ghoul can theoretically be "bred up" from ghouls or "bred down" from Vampires, resulting in revenants.

Because revenants do breed, because they are ghouls, with the associated emotional problems, and because the Tzimisce were heavily involved in discovering this, ghoul families are more than a little bit bent. Cannibalism, incest, necrophilia, zoophilia, and general insanity is all part of family life. The families are also insanely wealthy, however, and generally hide their more depraved members from too much public view.

In modern nights, the ghoul families are largely relics. The Tzimisce originally used them as breeding stock, but have since largely moved along from them - the only thing keeping the families from being exterminated know is certain useful services they provide for the Sabbat an Tzimisce traditionalism.

The major ghoul families are:


 * Bratovitch: The historical hound-keepers and visible lords for the Tzimisce; the Bratovitches are noted for savage violence and a barely controlled rage.
 * Grimaldi: The most important of the ghoul families, the Grimaldis serve as diplomats, but have a more critical role as the enforcers of the Sabbat Masquerade. In this capacity, they are the most humane of revenants.
 * Zantosa: The Zantosa are too far gone in their appetites to serve much use for the Sabbat; these nights, they primarily subsist by providing obscene amounts of cash whenever their undead masters demand it. Beyond that, the Zantosa party, drink, snort, smoke, dance and fuck themselves into the void.
 * Obertus: Possibly the oldest ghoul family, the Obertus can trace their history to ancient Constantinople. The Obertus are scholars and obsessive researchers, focusing on occult issues and questions of vampiric lore.

In addition to these families are several lines who are not affiliated with the Tzimisce (in some cases, they never were). These include:


 * Enrathi: A bloodline associated with the True Black Hand, the Enrathi captured children to be raised as chatterlings.
 * Rafastio: Also associated with the True Black Hand, the Rafastio were witches and seers.