Name: | Harbingers of Skulls |
Plural: | Harbingers of Skulls |
Pronunciation: | |
Nicknames: | Lazarenes |
Antediluvian: | Cappadocius |
Faction: | Sabbat |
Disciplines: | Auspex, Fortitude, Necromancy |
Parent clan: | Cappadocians |
The Harbingers of Skulls are a rare bloodline who surfaced in the Final Nights. While few Kindred suspect the truth, they are the last remnants of the Cappadocian clan.
The Harbingers of Skulls clan weakness is an extension of the Cappadocian clan's weakness. Regardless of the quantity of blood a Harbinger of Skulls consumes, her skin maintains a deathly pallor. Additionally, the Harbingers' skin shrinks to make these Cainites appear skeletal, with bony limbs and faces frozen into an immortal death's grin. Because of this decidedly unwholesome and morbid visage, Harbingers of Skulls have Appearance Traits of zero. All Social rolls involving the Appearance Trait automatically fail for Harbingers of Skulls.
History
Early History
Though the Cappadocians were all but wiped out, as the clan of death it was hardly surprising that some of its members, who had mastered Mortis, would assume great power in the Underworld. The cabal of 50 ancient, powerful and very angry Cappadocians who would become the Harbingers did just that, biding their time, waiting and watching for a chance to return to the Skinlands.
Final Nights
The Sixth Great Maelstrom was the opportunity the Harbingers were waiting for. With the Shroud weakened, they broke through and claimed or formed new decayed bodies in order to seek vengeance. For now they (nominally) ally with the Sabbat, but in truth they merely seek allies in their vendetta against the Giovanni and the Camarilla clans who betrayed them.
Organization
The Harbingers are few in number, and universally powerful. They have had centuries of death in which to contemplate their revenge and, while they may act separately, have no doubt formed a plan which they will execute as one when the time is right.
Culture
Embraces
The Harbingers have to this date not embraced a single new vampire since their arrival in the Skinlands. The reasons for this are unknown, but the most likely cause for this, would be that few modern people have much to offer to these ancient Cainites. Moreover for their purpose (i.e. vengeance), their necromantic prowess and connections to the Black Hand are probably much more useful than a brood of neonates.
Version Differences
The original symbol (right) of the Harbingers as it appears in VTM: Guide to the Sabbat has the "antitribu shield" behind it. This was removed for VTM: Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition .