Natures and Demeanors

"As above, so below…" runs the alchemical axiom, and you believe it. There is more to be learned in the lab and the library than anywhere else, and the results are so much clearer in those venues. You are a student of the mysteries, a dabbler into metasciences, and an explorer of forgotten lore. What's more, you believe that the answers to everyday problems, both mundane and esoteric, are found in the operations that one performs magically. You are rational and methodical, relying on careful consideration and an implicit (if not entirely consistent) logic.

The Anarchist believes that the world would be a better place if every individual took responsibility for her own destiny and stayed out of everyone else’s business. She lives her own rules and refuses to bend to higher powers or society.

The Architect has a sense of purpose even greater than herself. She is truly happy only when creating something of lasting value for others. People will always need things, and the Architect strives to provide at least one necessity. Inventors, pioneers, town founders, entrepreneurs, and the like are all Architect Archetypes. A Kindred Architect might seek to create new laws that affect her fellow undead, or she might aim to establish a new Anarch domain.

There's no substitute for hard work, no matter what anyone says. Ultimately, you know that nothing is ever accomplished unless people are willing to toil at it, tirelessly getting the job done. Other people may flit about, with their intrigues and their love affairs, but in the end, it's sweat, tears, and blood which get the job done, and any person who says otherwise has no idea what he's talking about, as far as you're concerned. You don't labor for glory, but for the pride of a job well done, and it's almost impossible for you to be at peace with a project still incomplete, tugging at the corner of your mind. You're not afraid of heavy labor, and regard the calluses on your hands as a badge of honor. You are proud of your work, but not arrogant towards anyone, as long as they have respect for your toil.

The Artiste is interested in art for art's sake. The ability to create is what elevates humans above the animals. The Masters knew this and rejoiced not just in the glory of human form, but in the gift of expression given only to humans. The Artiste thrives on the reception and digestion of her art — and usually the acceptance of it as well. Poets, playwrights, painters, composers and other such romantic demonstrative sorts are Artiste Archetypes. They can typically be found in Parisian and Budapest coffee or absinthe houses, university quads and dilapidated brothels or hostels serving as communes.

Life is a learning experience, and you always strive to improve yourself. Every obstacle is a potential opportunity, and you rarely rest on the laurels of past accomplishments for very long. This means that you spend most of your time pursuing different goals. Unlike the Virtuoso, your aspirations tend towards gaining general excellence, rather than mastering one particular field. You view the pursuit of a goal to be just as important as obtaining it. As a result, others may see you as a jack-of-all-trades but a true master of none, someone who abandons projects once he becomes bored with them. The challenge of learning the new thing is what interests you, so your accomplishments are likely to be diverse, but not entirely noteworthy.

You wouldn't have to keep such secrets if everyone wasn't trying to use your history, your opinions, and your true feelings against you all the time. But everyone wants in to your life, mostly to manipulate you, and the best way to avoid this is to reveal as little as possible. Everyone keeps secrets, and you don't necessarily see a reason to lie; whose business is it anyway, aside from yours? Others may see you as a distant loner, or a mysterious plotter, but you're mostly trying to keep them from manipulating you. Odds are if someone reveals how they really feel to you, they're either lying to manipulate you or a fool who hasn't learned the way the world really works yet. Maybe you'll give them a pointer, as long as it doesn't tip your own hand to do so.

The Autocrat wants to be in charge. He seeks prominence for its own sake, not because he has an operation’s best interests at heart or because he has the best ideas (though he may certainly think so). He may genuinely believe others are incompetent, but ultimately he craves power and control. Dictators, gang leaders, bullies, corporate raiders, and their ilk are Autocrat Archetypes. A Kindred Autocrat may crave a title, or he may wish to be recognized as the leader of a coterie.

You must always be in the forefront - always the first with a piece of news, a dance or fashion trend, or a discovery in the arts. Nothing pains you more than hearing news secondhand, or someone else telling you about a hot new band. New discoveries are your life, and you devote a great deal of time and effort to keeping up with things. After all, if you're not in the forefront, you're nowhere.

Civilization is the trap that the clever set for the weak, and in which they end up snaring themselves. Truly intelligent, brave, strong people understand that sedentary existence only brings you that much closer to the grave, and that what counts is what you achieve as an individual. You respect only actual deeds. Anyone can boast or scheme, but all words vanish in the end. Only deeds remain, having changed the world.

You seek to conquer all who oppose you, destroying them if possible. Your world view is defined by those who bow to you and those who get eaten because they didn't. To you, all exists at and for your pleasure. You play people off each other, like chess pieces on a board, with no consideration for anyone's needs but your own. You take what you want without asking, and you destroy those weaker than yourself for amusement.

You are a prankster at heart, and do not care who gets hurt as long as you get a good laugh out of it. Spiteful, mean-spirited pranks are your favorite, though you may occasionally play more benign ones. The results of your jokes usually range from the merely mean to the fatal. Like the Prankster, your jokes may range in intricacy, but motivations tend more towards spite and revenge.

The Bon Vivant knows that life — and unlife — is shallow and meaningless. As such, the Bon Vivant decides to enjoy her time on Earth. The Bon Vivant is not necessarily irresponsible. Rather, she is simply predisposed to having a good time along the way. Most Bon Vivants have low Self-Control ratings, as they are so given to excess. Hedonists, sybarites, and dilettantes are all examples of the Bon Vivant Archetype. A Kindred Bon Vivant may sire a brood of fawning childer, or he may spend his time gorging on the blood of drug abusers for the contact high.

The Bravo is a tough and a bully, and often takes perverse pleasure in tormenting the weak. To the Bravo’s mind, might makes right. Power is what matters, and only those with power should be respected. Naturally, physical power is the best kind, but any kind will do. The Bravo sees overt threats as a perfectly reasonable means of gaining cooperation. The Bravo is not incapable of pity or kindness; he just prefers to do things his way. Robbers, bigots, and thugs are all Bravo Archetypes. A Kindred Bravo may abuse authority the system has granted him, or he may — violently or otherwise — force other Kindred out of his way to get what he wants. He’s almost certainly an asshole.

Solid and practical, you approach every problem with common sense and pragmatism. You bring the conversation back to the point and ask the questions that get the right answers. Always prepared, you think about possible scenarios in advance and take precautions against them, or else are more than willing to use whatever's around to solve the matter. You love solving problems, both your own and those of others. You become frustrated with people who don't seem to think quite as logically as you.

Laws were created for a reason, and you have to be sure to follow them. Rules weren't made to be broken. Even mankind's laws aren't as easy to forget as some people might hope. You must follow the rules to a "T." If nobody follows the laws, civilization breaks down into chaos, and no one in their right mind wants that. Others probably see you as stodgy and hidebound.

You are the ultimate mercenary, realizing that there is always a market to be developed — anything can be a commodity. You have a keen understanding of how to manipulate both kine and Cainites into thinking that they need specific goods or services. Appearance and influence are everything when it comes to the big sale, though you’ll use anything to your advantage. Sales, men, soldiers of fortune, and bootlickers all adhere to the Capitalist Archetype.

Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on. A Caregiver takes her comfort in consoling others, and people often come to her with their problems. Vampires with Caregiver Archetypes often attempt, as best they can, to protect the mortals on whom they feed. Nurses, doctors, and psychiatrists are examples of potential Caregivers. Caregiver Kindred are often the type who — tragically — Embrace mortal loves they’ve left behind in hopes of softening their loss, or even those who create situations of grief in order to ease it and thus validate themselves.

You are a flamboyant soul, always seeking attention and the chance to be the brightest star. Dashing and heroic, you are as much interested in the style of greatness as its substance. You quip your way through even the most desperate of battles, never entirely taking the risk seriously, and always preparing for an exciting escape if the threat level becomes too high. Nothing excites you as much as a new audience to woo and win. While others may despise you as a pretentious image-obsessed brat, you aspire to the heroic ideal. You've simply become lost in the romantic notion of the hero, and refuse to part with it.

The Celebrant takes joy in her cause. Whether the character’s passion is battle, religion, foiling her rivals, or reading fine literature, it gives the Celebrant the strength to withstand adversity. Given the chance, the Celebrant will indulge in her passion as deeply as possible. Unlike the Fanatic (p. 91), the Celebrant pursues her cause not out of duty, but out of enthusiasm. Crusaders, hippies, political activists, and art enthusiasts are Celebrant Archetypes. Celebrant Kindred may cleave to mortal ideologies that are incongruous with their new Damned conditions, or they may be the advocates of new trends and causes that move through undead society.

The pursuit of pleasure is your reason for living. You may derive pleasure from any number of sources: sex, drugs, food, sensory stimulus of any kind. Choose one or all of the above. You spend most of your time and resources in pursuit of the vice of your choice, despite the pain that often accompanies it. More than the Bon Vivant, who simply denies reality with pleasure, you dive full-force into vice with the hopes that it will bring you enlightenment and power. While the Bon-Vivant is happy as long as he is enjoying himself, you want more, always skating the edge for your next thrill. Your appetite for pleasure is constantly increasing. You require ever more stimuli to satiate your jaded palate.

You exist to test the mettle of others, especially your so-called betters. You realize that most of the time, people pretend to be something that they're not to get what they want. Similarly, a lot of potential goes untapped because no one is willing to challenge themselves, and test their strength. That's where you come in. You see yourself as providing an invaluable service to the individuals and societies around you, by forcing them to realize their true strengths and capabilities. It's important to take the poseurs down a notch, and it gives you a chance to figure out where you fit into the hierarchy, as well. You're not willing to accept anything at face value; you don't have to be overt, but you're always looking for a chance to size others up.

Independent and self-reliant, you carefully study the behavior and mannerisms of everyone you come in contact with so you can pass yourself off as someone else later. You spend so much time altering your mannerisms and appearance that your own sire may not even recognize you. Spies, con artists, drag queens, and impostors best represent the Chameleon.

The Child is still immature in personality and temperament. He wants what he wants now, and often prefers someone to give it to him. Although he can typically care for himself, he would rather have someone cater to his capricious desires. Some Child Archetypes are actually innocent rather than immature, ignorant of the cold ways of the real world. Actual children, spoiled individuals, and some drug abusers are Child Archetypes. Kindred with the Child Archetype might have not yet fully reached an understanding of the world and have some characteristic such as cruelty, entitlement, sympathy, or hunger that is out of balance with their other personality aspects, as they haven’t yet reached the “rounded” state of adulthood. Note that a Child Archetype need not be a physical, literal child at the time of Embrace. Some people simply never grow up.

Manners are for wimps, wusses, and mama's boys. Urrrrp! Rude and ill-bred, you scoff (and piss, and belch) at convention. Polite society is just a bunch of snobs with something up their butts and even more to hide. Unlike the Grotesque, you are not necessarily trying to be disgusting; you just think that the societal strictures governing personal comportment are unnecessary. You are… natural.

The Competitor takes great excitement in the pursuit of victory. To the Competitor, every task is a new challenge to meet and a new contest to win. Indeed, the Competitor sees all interactions as some sort of opportunity for her to be the best — the best leader, the most productive, the most valuable, or whatever. Corporate raiders, professional athletes, and impassioned researchers are all examples of Competitor Archetypes. Kindred Competitors have any number of resources and accomplishments over which to assert themselves, from mortal herds and creature comforts to titles and prestige in Kindred society.

You value friendship above all other things and strive to prove yourself worthy of other people's trust. Other values may be important to you, but you place your personal connections above all other considerations. You are willing to face almost any danger to aid friends in need, even if they do not always do the same in return.

You understand people and, more importantly, you like them. You are a facilitator who listens and advises. People confess to you and in return you give them advice, most of which is good (though sometimes your advice is more for your own benefit than for that of the recipient). You are very interested in other people, and who and what they are. Personalities fascinate you, as do the sickness and beauty of human nature.

The Conformist is a follower, taking another’s lead and finding security in the decisions of others. She prefers not to take charge, instead seeking to throw in with the rest of the group and lend her own unique aid. The Conformist is drawn to the most dynamic personality or the individual she perceives to be the “best.” Being a Conformist is not necessarily a bad thing — every group needs followers to lend stability to their causes. Groupies, party voters, and “the masses” are Conformist Archetypes. Conformist Kindred can take many forms, from the ardent Sabbat pack member, to the Kindred who follows a Clan-first agenda, to the trusted supporters of a titled vampire or rising star.

Why work for something when you can trick somebody else into getting it for you? The Conniver always tries to find the easy way, the fast track to success and wealth. Some people call him a thief, a swindler, or less pleasant terms, but he knows that everybody in the world would do unto him if they could. He just does it first, and better. Criminals, con artists, salespeople, urchins, and entrepreneurs might be Connivers. Some would argue that all Kindred are Connivers in some sense, but those that have the Conniver archetype may be abusive to their childer and ghouls, or they may be more persuasive in gaining support for their machinations.

Somewhat the social butterfly, you use wit, charm, and flirtation as tools to lighten the mood. You live for social interaction. You are a student of etiquette and a lover of dances, parties, and courtly gatherings. Your tact and grace often place you in the position of diplomat. Because your goal is harmony, you are deeply concerned with politics, ritual, custom, and the preservation of order. Often working behind the scenes, you soothe hurt feelings and encourage others to relax and have a good time.

The Coward fears himself above all. Whatever it is at the heart of the Coward cannot be revealed, or he will be vulnerable to attack or rejection. This utter separation from the outside world is terrifying, thus the Coward reveals morsels of his thoughts and feelings in hopes of love and approval. The Coward longs to be validated and accepted. Persons who seek out anonymous positions in the clergy or in military and industrial sectors are often of the Coward Archetype.

The urge to improve things burns strong within you. You see everything in terms of what you can do to make it better. Nothing brings you greater joy than creating something beautiful or useful out of the ugly or useless. You are never without a project of some sort, whether it is a painting, a sculpture, an organization, or the training and molding of a less-than-perfect individual. You enjoy the process, but can't wait to see the finished product.

Better a live coward than a dead hero. You live your life by those words. Unfortunately, this does not just mean that you have the good sense to avoid harrowing situations. You are a true coward in almost every area of your life. Your code applies to social situations and facing unpleasant truths about yourself, as well as avoiding physical danger. While you may put yourself in danger, you are always looking for the nearest escape route. You may be ashamed of your cowardice and occasionally perform heroic or bullying acts out of a need to prove yourself.

You strive to shock and disgust those around you with gratuitous acts and ostentatiously “evil” mannerisms. You realize, of course, that it’s all show and merely a way to intimidate and control others. Outsiders, on the other hand, think you are the Devil incarnate, and you revel in this image. Shock-rockers, rebellious teenagers, circus freaks, and the attention-starved exemplify the Creep Show Archetype.

The Critic observes the world around her with a jaundiced eye, seeking out flaws and deficiencies. She experiences a special satisfaction in exploiting these weaknesses publically so that eventually the design will improve. Some critics feel it is their duty to push the world to be better.

A Curmudgeon is bitter and cynical, finding flaws in everything and seeing little humor in life or unlife. He is often fatalistic or pessimistic, and has very little esteem for others. To the Curmudgeon, the glass is never more than half-full, though it may be damn near empty when other people are involved. Many Internet junkies, pop-culture fans, and Generation Xers are Curmudgeons. Kindred Curmudgeons see elder oppression or spoiled neonates running amok behind every development in undead society, and may or may not rise beyond acerbic grumbling to change any problems they perceive.

The Dabbler is interested in everything but focuses on nothing. He flits from idea to idea, passion to passion, and project to project without actually finishing anything. Others may get swept up in the Dabbler’s enthusiasm, and be left high and dry when he moves on to something else without warning. Most Dabblers have high Intelligence, Charisma, and Manipulation ratings, but not much in the way of Wits or Stamina. Toreador are often Dabblers, particularly those afflicted with the derisive sobriquet "Poseurs."

A social climber at heart, you are an expert on court etiquette. Your goal is to get as high up the ladder as possible. Intrigue and gossip feed you, and you can always be found at the periphery of trouble, watching and listening to see what you can learn and possible use for your own benefit at a later time. Somewhat of a snob, you look back down the ladder with disdain, especially at those who might take your position from you. However, you know better than to burden your bridges. As a result, you tend to play the diplomat. You will do anything to make yourself look good, often helping others and taking risks in order to do so.

You are the apple of everyone's eye, the precious, delicate creature that simply must be taken care of, treated with excessive caution and babied. You could be ignorant of the world, and thus a true innocent, genuinely weak-willed and weak-minded, requiring the need for care from others and possessing the charm to earn it, or manipulative and cunning, using what charms you may have to attain what you desire.

Everything that matters in the world struggles to survive in the face of its enemies. This isn't necessarily a commitment to tradition, though. The thing you defend may be some fragile innovation or the hope of future progress. You may see your role in martial terms, or otherwise; this is an Archetype for healers and priests as well as warriors. You find your fulfillment in defending the cause to which you're given your allegiance.

Others see you as a lover of pleasure and a consummate hedonist, but you want more. You like to take risks, and it secretly delights you when others can't keep up with them. You want more, always, and damn the expense. You also want others to know about it; you pursue pleasure as much for the rights to brag about it as the pleasure itself. You always kiss and tell, and delight when your exploits become the talk of the town. Though some may say that you are crass, you go out of your way to make yourself an object of envy and desire. You have a reputation to protect as a ferocious and insatiable pleasure-seeker, and you'll do anything to protect it.

The Deviant is a freak, ostracized from society by unique tastes or beliefs that place her outside the mainstream. Deviants are not indolent rebels or shiftless “unrecognized geniuses”; rather, they are independent thinkers who don’t quite fit in the status quo. Deviant Archetypes often feel that the world stands against them, and as such reject traditional morality. Some have bizarre tastes, preferences, and ideologies. Extremists, eccentric celebrities, and straight-up weirdoes are Deviant Archetypes. Kindred deviants may observe heretical or outlawed habits like diablerie or deference to elders, and they may well go Anarch or Autarkis instead of having to constantly defend their subversion of Traditions or Sect customs.

The world is full of people who'd rather be right than have peace, firebrands who think with their tempers and not their brains. Someone has to try and get the parties involved to sit down and actually listen, and who better than you? You are patient, compassionate, and see all sides of the issue. Long after others would have tired of diplomacy, you remain the fair arbiter, neutral to the demands of others, willing to make peace but not at the expense of the rights of others. You may be calm, harried, pleading or stern, using a wide variety of tactics to suit your audience, but you can tailor your message to what people want to hear. Unlike the Courtier, you do not exist merely to please; you have a sense of what is right and just that drives you, and that won't let you settle for an agreement wherein one side has leverage over another.

To the Director, nothing is worse than chaos and disorder. The Director seeks to be in charge, adopting a “my way or the highway” attitude on matters of decision-making. The Director is more concerned with bringing order out of strife, however, and need not be truly “in control” of a group to guide it. Coaches, teachers, and many political figures exemplify the Director Archetype. Kindred Directors may be simple advocates of established codes, or they may prove instrumental in tearing down corrupt existing orders to make way for new leaders or factional movements.

Your actions are bizarre, puzzling, and inexplicable to everyone except yourself. Your strangeness may be a residual effect from your Embrace, or the most effective way for you to carry out your work. To the rest of the world, however, your erratic actions suggest that you’re eccentric if not completely crazy. Conspiracy theorists, deep-cover agents, and Jyhad fanatics all live up to the Enigma Archetype

There is a whole world out there and no one really knows the first thing about it. You are only truly content when you are blazing a path into new territories, finding what's out there and bringing back news of it to others. You take risks so that others don't have to, but you also enjoy the thrill of putting yourself in the way of possible danger. At the same time, you know when it's best to act as an observer, and you have learned to move quietly when it is necessary. You may be excited or fearful of the great unknown, but, no matter what, you cannot resist its call.

Despite your calm appearance, chaos and havoc seems to follow you. From burning cities to emotional upheaval, death and destruction circle you like albatrosses. For you, unlife is a never-ending trial with uncertainty around every corner. Gang leaders, political figures, and other influential individuals exemplify the Eye of the Storm Archetype.

The Fanatic has a purpose, and that purpose consumes his existence. The Fanatic pours himself into his cause, and he may even feel guilty for undertaking any objective that deviates from his higher goal. To the Fanatic, the end justifies the means — the cause is more important than those who serve it. Players who choose Fanatic Archetypes must select a cause for their character to further. Revolutionaries, zealots, and sincere firebrands are all examples of Fanatic Archetypes. Kindred Fanatics are often champions for or against a particular aspect of undead society, such as equality among all vampires, the extermination of Anarchs, or stamping infernalism out of the Sword of Caine.

Like Pooh's companion, Eeyore, you have a less-than-optimistic view of the world. You expect things to go wrong, and you take a dark and sullen pleasure when you're proven right. Because everything is doomed to end disastrously, there is no reason to struggle. You have no hope for a bright future, but rather are resigned to inevitable gloom. You find comfort in your pessimism, because you know you'll never be disappointed. Even when things turn out to have a happy ending, you know that it's only a temporary illusion and the real disaster is undoubtedly following right behind.

You inflict pain for no other reason than the enjoyment you get out of watching others suffer. You are, in short, a sadist. You may have a hundred facile reasons for why you do what you do. Maybe you have really tried to stop, but the feeling of power that you get out of controlling others destinies always draws you back. You only feel truly alive when someone else is screaming in pain or begging for mercy. You live in fear that someone may give you what you really deserve. You should consult the Storyteller before taking this archetype.

You are the divine trickster, the clown, the one who laughs last and loudest. Because you believe that there is no meaning in the world, no underlying reason for anything, you take great pleasure in spoiling people's well-laid plans by sticking the proverbial monkey-wrench in the works. You almost feel it a duty to play the agent of chaos, knocking others off their pedestals of dogma and making them eat their spouted words of honor and nobility. Sometimes you work for weeks, months, or even years formulating your pranks, laying the foundation, and setting the trap so that when your prey steps into it, they fall all the harder.

They call you "superficial," the uncouth swine. Some say you are arrogant and excessively concerned with such "surface" qualities as dress and manner. Piffle! Affected? You? You are one of the beautiful people, the czars of style. People judge others by their appearance, no matter how much they profess the opposite. You know that style beats substance any day of the week, and you have style in spades. Peasants, prepare to be dazzled!

Unlike the Grotesque or the Riddler, there is something genuinely wrong with you. Perhaps you jabber to yourself in insane, made-up languages, or are perpetually silent, never speaking to anyone. Touched by lunacy or divine inspiration, your mind is a seething realm of chaos that you can barely understand, and you act out accordingly. You alarm others with your words and deeds, though they are sometimes quite profound.

The Futurist revels in the magnificent unknown. Humanity is at the threshold of a wondrous and exciting new age. That which is coming must be embraced. A Futurist might delight in the amazing developments of technology and human endeavor, or he might set out to discover new theories, principles and practices, often a manner similar to Celebrants. Futurism developed from the concept of manifest destiny and is sister to the science-fiction genre, also born of this era. Scientists, patrons, writers, teachers or any other forward-looking sort are often of the Futurist Archetype.

Someone has to keep the powers-that-be honest. It might as well be you. No one is 100% right, and you always take great pleasure in pointing this out to everyone. Unlike the Humbug, you generally mean for your criticism to be helpful, though some still find it annoying. You especially criticize those in positions of power. You are persistent in your task, and no explanation is enough to completely mollify you. Even if everything happened exactly the way that you wanted it to, you would soon find something new to criticize.

Gallants are flamboyant souls, always seeking attention and the chance to be the brightest star. Gallants seek the company of others, if only to earn their adoration. Attention drives the Gallant, and the chase is often as important as its end. Nothing excites a Gallant so much as a new audience to woo. Performers, only children, and those with low self-esteem often embody the Gallant Archetype. Kindred Gallants may be Harpies, or they may have enormous herds of doting thralls.

You love disgusting others and go out of your way to push their buttons. You prey on the sensibilities of others, with a blush or a shocked gasp for your applause. The more extreme the reaction, the happier you are. You make it your life's work to discover what upsets people and then inflict it upon them. A master of insults, you cut right to the heart, throwing out all propriety and etiquette in favor of shock value. Nothing is too low for you, from bodily noises to insulting someone's mother.

Your enlightenment draws others to you. You may be a mentor of a particular Path of Enlightenment, a priest with the Church, or merely an idealist. Whatever the case, your presence motivates and moves others to engage in spiritual or ideological pursuits. Your peers view you as calm, centered, and “with it,” even when you are preaching violence as a means to an end. Cult leaders, Zen masters, and Pack Priests are examples of Gurus.

You are reclusive and ascetic by nature, preferring your own company to that of others. Introspective by nature, you view everything from a very personal standpoint. When in public, you tend to be quiet, speaking only when spoken to, unless your input has such extreme relevance that you feel that you have to say it. One of the benefits of this is that others tend to see you as wise, since when you do speak, your words often make a profound point that was overlooked. Despite your desire to be alone, you are drawn out by the need to watch and learn. Your curiosity about the nature of things and your place among them keeps you from being totally isolated.

You have determined that you will never lack for anything. You amass great quantities of whatever you feel you need– food, wealth, followers. The idea of sharing anything is foreign to you; let others provide for themselves. You never know when there will be a shortage of something essential for survival, and you will not risk being caught empty-handed. In this age of coming Winter, you spend your days preparing for the hard times.

You have a moderate temperament, and refrain at all cost from telling lies and stealing from others. You were brought up to live honestly and openly, and to be good to others - you have lived your life (and unlife) by these simple truths ever since. You are not a dogmatist and do not insist that others live as you do, nor have you constructed a complicated set of rules for yourself. You are flexible in your behavior, but always carefully evaluate your actions against your beliefs.

Grumpy, sour, and just plain cranky, nothing ever satisfies you. The light's too bright in here, turn off that awful music, nothing is as good as it was in the "old days." If there is nothing to complain about, then something fishy is going on. Unlike the Gadfly, you do not gripe to improve things (though you may claim you do). You just like to complain and find the worst side of every issue. Every silver lining means there's a thunderstorm a-brewin'. Some believe that under your gruff exterior lies a loveable, old softy. You live to prove them wrong.

You are the Ice Queen, the detached and cold pragmatist. It's too dangerous to get involved with anything emotionally, though you don't necessarily tell others that. Some see you as jaded or frigid, but you are the unmoving rock that others can rely on. The screams of your victims, the desperate pleas of abandoned lovers, the groveling of courtiers, all are met with an icy facade. Your face is a permanent mask of vague disinterest, and you perfect the art of the bored stare. You delight in exposing the weakness of the emotionally vulnerable; in your spare time, you are likely to take many lovers, and abandon them for the pleasure of watching their weakness. Still waters run deep, of course; you have likely been hurt to reduce you to this, and a sea of emotional wreckage lurks beneath the ice of your demeanor.

The Idealist believes — truly, madly, deeply — in some higher goal or morality. The object of his idealism may be something as pragmatic as the Camarilla’s eventual triumph or as amorphous as the ultimate good, but the belief is there. Idealists are frequently either very new to the Blood or very old, and many seek Golconda as the final expression of their idealism. In the meantime, an Idealist tries to reconcile his beliefs with the demands of vampiric existence, often acting contrary to his self-interest in doing so.

The world is such a fun place, but everyone always gets hung up on their misfortunes. You're here to make sure that doesn't happen, distracting them from their troubles long enough for their natural tendency for happiness to reassert itself. You are an entertainer and a confidant, who finds out the troubles of others to help them forget them. You think nothing of making yourself look the fool, if only it'd bring a smile to the lips of others. You'll do what you can to delight others, and have a soft spot in your heart for innocents in trouble. More than willing to draw fire from those who would make problems for your friends, you are a staunch defender of what you see as their best interests.

You are dedicated to the unbroken routine of your existence, and refuse to do anything that compromises your routine and established practices. No matter how urgent or deserving an individual case may be, the preservation of established practices and routines is more important. Individual decisions and considerations are fallible, whereas routines and established procedures are the distilled wisdom of years or decades of decision-making. Routines are what separate order from chaos. make an exception once, and it sets a dangerous precedent; make an exception twice, and the door to anarchy is opened.

The Judge perpetually seeks to improve the system. A Judge takes pleasure in her rational nature and ability to draw the right conclusion when presented with facts. The Judge respects justice, as it is the most efficient model for resolving issues. Judges, while they pursue the “streamlining” of problems, are rarely visionary, as they prefer proven models to insight. Engineers, lawyers, and doctors are often Judge Archetypes. Kindred Judges might gravitate toward enforcement roles in local society, or they might be a voice of reason in an otherwise radical coterie.

With a sparkle in your eye, you cajole, encourage, tempt, trick, and manipulate others into exploring their darkest desires. You are the pusher, the perverter, taking the sweet and turning it into the sordid. You see yourself as a teacher of sorts– you teach people what base and feral creatures they really are. There's nothing you love more than to corrupt the innocent and do it with such panache that they never realize they've been compromised.

A present day Don Quixote, you never tire of tilting at windmills. You follow all the old codes of chivalry and seek to aid those in need. This makes you an oddity in the modern world. You may be a true idealist, and somewhat naively, believe the best about everyone. You may be a pragmatist, desperately trying to keep a small portion of the world from sinking into despair. You may even have been raised with a strict code all your life which you latch on to unswervingly, and will not desert simply to suit your own ends. In any event, you believe that one person can make a difference.

You are a servile minion, drawing strength from those you serve. Perhaps you are a coward at heart, or you fear having to take responsibility for your own actions, and instead abuse the powers of others. Whatever the reason, you attach yourself to the most powerful person who will permit it, and covet their praise. Even their discipline means that they notice you, and if your ego isn't stroked on a regular basis, you're likely to misbehave simply to draw their attention again. You think for yourself as little as possible, and though you have some enlightened interest in the goals of your master, you're willing to do absolutely anything to achieve those goals. Others call you a boot-lick, a spy, or a mercenary, depending upon how they got to know you.

Even in a crowd the Loner sticks out, because he so obviously does not belong. Others view Loners as pariahs, remote, and isolated, but in truth the Loner prefers his own company to that of others. For whatever reason, the Loner simply disdains others, and this feeling is often reciprocated. Criminals, radicals, and free thinkers are all Loner Archetypes. Kindred Loners often hail from one of the rugged individualist Clans like the Gangrel or Ravnos, and they have a proclivity for ending up Autarkis by dint of not giving a shit what some up-his-own-ass Prince or Archbishop says is a law.

It's a dangerous world out there, and the nail that stands the tallest gets hammered down. You've mastered the art of not being noticed, and you slouch, slink, and creep out of the way of trouble and the attention of others. You may make the occasional "friend," but he or she had better fend for themselves when times get tough, because that's just what you plan to do. Those who speak up or act out are only asking for punishment; you toe the party line, no matter how you really feel. You've learned that there are some benefits in not being noticed; you can get juicy dirt on people when they've been convinced that you're not worth paying attention to, but you're loathe to act on any of what you find out for any other reason than to save your own worthless hide.

You have always been fascinated by others. Why do people behave as they do? What thoughts and emotions affect their actions? The cognitive processes that influence the choices people make intrigue you. Sometimes just asking people questions about their actions can yield important information, but often people do not truly understand their own motivations and concerns. In these cases, it is far easier to set up situations - experiments, if you will - to see how people behave. You attempt to manipulate these situations for your personal advantage, in order to discover more information about your chosen subjects. Some might call these experiments cruel, but to you it is mere scientific necessity.

The Martyr suffers for his cause, enduring his trials out of the belief that his discomfort will ultimately improve others’ lot. Some Martyrs simply want the attention or sympathy their ordeals engender, while others are sincere in their cause, greeting their opposition with unfaltering faith. Many revolutionaries, staunch idealists, and outcasts are Martyr Archetypes. Kindred Martyrs are often associated with reform movements among Kindred society, but rarely as figureheads — and they need not necessarily be on the pro-reform side of the issue.

The Masochist exists to test his limits, to see how much pain he can tolerate before he collapses. He gains satisfaction in humiliation, suffering, denial, and even physical pain. The Masochist defines who he is by his capacity to feel discomfort — he rises each night only to greet a new pain. Certain extreme athletes, urban tribalists, and the clinically depressed exemplify the Masochist Archetype. Kindred Masochists might be overtly self-mortifying horrors who play to their Beast’s self-destructive whims, or they may be ambitious taskmasters, as with a coterie leader who refuses to accept failure and pushes his own limits in his exacting schemes.

You are the brilliant, if underestimated, architect of destruction. Yes, you could achieve your goals through the most direct route, but such actions are for simpletons and animals. Instead, you enact complicated and lengthy plots to undo your enemies and accomplish your ends. There's nothing quite like a master plan coming together, and the shock on the faces of the fools around you when they realize your genius. You overcompensate for your own feelings of worthlessness, those inflicted upon you by others who could never understand your greatness. You'll show them all now, and they'll be forced to recognize your brilliance. You are moody, erratic, and given to overly elaborate methods of getting what you want. The simplest route is simply not your way.

The world is full of people who want things; sometimes people want the exact same thing. Some people have what other people want and would be willing to talk about working out a deal, but just don't know how to start. These people often have immense trouble finding and communicating with each other. That is where you come in. You are dedicated to mediating between people - fulfilling needs, smoothing over disputes, and generally helping people talk to one another. You are the diplomat, the middle child, the perpetual person in the middle.

There's no such thing as a free lunch, and anyone who expects one is a sucker who deserves to be taken for a ride. You don't trust any situation where you can't inspect the merchandise and hear the price up front, and you always want to know what the catch is. Naturally, you make your livelihood by selling something– perhaps something you make, or own, or steal, or even through selling yourself, as a mercenary. You're not in the habit of giving hand-outs away, and no one's going to buy the cow if they get the milk for free. You live by the adages of business, and see the entire world as a market, whose economy is driven by those who have and those who want. You reduce even the most complex interactions to business, and excel at fetching a better price for your wares than anyone else does.

You crave the attentions of beings more powerful than yourself, knowing that such creatures desire agents capable of working for them in the mortal world. Perhaps you seek the respect of a secret society, but it's far more likely that you are attempting to gain the attention of vast, cosmic forces. Compared to these impersonal godlike beings, you feel small and afraid, and so you covet their attention and praise, attempting to ingratiate yourself with something beyond your control. You are more similar to the Riddler than the Lackey, but you contain elements of both. You are willing to sell your soul to the highest bidder, or even play two of these forces off against each other. Sooner or later, we'll all belong to them anyway. Better to be one of the jailers than the prisoners. You want forbidden knowledge at any cost, and are willing to undertake great risk for the rewards of power.

The Monster knows she is a creature of darkness and acts like it. Evil and suffering are the Monster’s tools, and she uses them wherever she goes. No villainy is below her, no hurt goes uninflicted, and no lie remains untold. The Monster does not commit evil for its own sake, but rather as a means to understand what she has become. Unstable individuals, those who have been greatly wronged or harmed, and those defined as sociopaths may come to display characteristics of the Monster Archetype. Kindred Monsters include many Sabbat, degenerate Kindred elders, and those who never adjust properly to what they have become after the Embrace.

It's a strange world out there, and you're determined to find out more about it. Whether it's esoteric subjects like alchemy or the geography of the parallel dimensions, or more "worldly" matters like the interactions of various magics or the creation of ephemera, you have keen insights into the matter. You may not be willing to reveal all the tricks of your trade, but you enjoy the accord you receive as a student of the great unknown. Other affairs can wait so long as there is new spirituality or metascience to hold your attention.

The Nihilist believes that life is without objective purpose or intrinsic value. Since nothing matters, the Nihilist feels morally free to indulge in whatever destructive passions she might crave at the moment.

"Everything always turns out for the best." That is the motto of your life, and you know if you can just stay cheerful and stop worrying, your problems will never be with you forever. Some call you a fool, but even they have to admit you're happier than they are. Certainly you'll encounter difficulties from time to time, but there's no sense in worrying yourself to death in advance. Don't worry, be happy, and have a nice day.

Unwelcome though they may sometimes be, messages come from the spirit world and the future which cannot be ignored. You are the figure who receives and interprets these signs, and your burden is to warn others of their impending meaning. Your presence may not be wanted, but it is needed, and you refuse to abandon your sacred mission. Perhaps you have revelations from a gift at birth, or a magical blessing, or even the spirits of the dead speaking with you, but you do your best to interpret the truth and share it with others. Some regard you with reverence, others with dread, but you are sworn to your obligation to pursue the truth and reveal it to others.

Up until now, you have lived a pampered, protected life. Suddenly, you have been forced out into the light and faced with the harsh realities of the world. You find it difficult to trust anyone, and yet you fervently wish for someone to come along and take care of you. You have no experience dealing with the dangers and hurts of the real world. Wide-eyed and innocent, each new disaster threatens to shatter your world. You let others make your decisions for you, not out of preference, but rather as a result of the insecurity you feel when faced with problems.

You are a loner, a drifter on the outskirts of society, and you can ultimately only rely on yourself. You've seen the way that other, "civilized" beings betray and plot against each other, and you want none of it. Friends are just people who'll eventually use you, and every love eventually fades, and leaves you more empty for it. You are a bitter pessimist who feels failed by others, and withdraws as a result.

You look out at the world and see an ocean of mindless automatons that haven't the slightest clue as to what it's all about. You believe it's your duty to take advantage of them. How else are they going to learn? A thief and a cad, you take what you want from others without a moment's hesitation and guilt. If your victims are stupid enough to be victims, then you see no reason not to use and abuse them. You feel no pity for people– they've made their own beds, and now they can lie in them.

The Outsider is something of a passive rebel, defining himself by the things he does not participate in. He does not strive to bring down those social structures he disagrees with. Instead, hte Outsider examines those structures for some way to reflect and understand himself. Servants, artists, criminals and vagrants are the most common Outsider Archetypes.

You are the quintessential competitor, and your story is that of the brave, stalwart athlete or hero. Constantly searching for new challenges to overcome, new adversaries to wrestle, new causes to fight for and protect, you live for the chance to slay the monster and fulfill the quest or win the game. Without the thrill of striving against others (or yourself), life quickly becomes dull and meaningless.

You love to see other people happy, and do whatever you can to encourage them, whether through playing matchmaker or refilling a drink. Perhaps you live vicariously through their experiences, or perhaps you just feel that others sometimes need a little push from you to find their fulfillment. You spend more tome on this than you do pursuing your own interests and gain great pleasure from it. A skilled manipulator, you work most of your magic from behind the scenes, dropping hints or subtle encouragement.

Like Pandora, you just can't seem to keep your box shut. You open your mouth, and trouble flows from it in great crashing waves. You just can't help yourself. You love to get someone in trouble by revealing their secrets for them. Furthermore, your curiosity often overcomes you, especially if you have been forbidden to go somewhere or do something. The more someone insists that you shouldn't do something, the more it makes you want to do exactly that.

You have seen all the malice of the world, and know better than to simply accept anything at face value. The more someone seems innocent, the more likely that it's all a ruse, and they're working for their own interests. You know that there's always a string attached, a hidden clause that someone is waiting for you to agree to. Consequently, you are wary of everyone and everything, placing little trust in others. You watch everyone like a hawk, and see agendas and conspiracies everywhere. You are often more than a little desperate, as you feel the walls closing in around you, and can't determine who to trust. Ultimately, you may exploit others just to have an ally that you know you can rely on, but you always watch for the first sign that they are about to betray you.

You are the most attractive, smartest, best person in the world, and you want to make sure that everyone knows it. If you're not the center of attention, you're not happy. As long as you're being heaped with praise and adulation, you're the most gracious, modest-seeming person around, but as soon as attention is diverted from you, you become vicious. You are not above tantrums and fits of violence in order to draw others' notice. Jealousy rules your choice of friends and enemies.

The Pedagogue knows it all, and desperately wants to inform others. Whether through a sense of purpose or a genuine desire to help others, the Pedagogue makes sure his message is heard — at length, if necessary. Pedagogue Archetypes may range from well-meaning mentors to verbose blowhards who love to hear themselves talk. Instructors, the overeducated, and “veterans of their field” are all examples of Pedagogue Archetypes. Kindred Pedagogues include watchdogs of the Traditions, ideological Anarchs, and perhaps even that rare soul seeking Golconda who wants company on the journey.

The Penitent exists to atone for the grave sin she commits simply by being who she is. Penitents have either low self-esteem or traumatic past experiences, and feel compelled to “make up” for inflicting themselves upon the world. Penitent Archetypes are not always religious in outlook; some truly want to scourge the world of the grief they bring to it. Repentant sinners, persons with low self-esteem, and remorseful criminals are examples of the Penitent Archetype. Penitent Kindred include those who scourge themselves of the Beast like medieval monks, vampires who stand up for the rights of mortals, and those who subsist entirely on the vitae of animals.

Perfectionist Archetypes demand flawless execution. A half-hearted job gives the Perfectionist no satisfaction, and she expects the same degree of commitment and attention to detail from others that she demands from herself. Although the Perfectionist may be exacting, the achievement of the end goal drives her, and often those for whom she is responsible. Prima donnas, artists, and architects exemplify the Perfectionist Archetype. A Perfectionist Kindred might be a zealous Sabbat member who expects more than his pack can consistently deliver, or she may be a moralist who sometimes applies her own high standards of Humanity to others in her coterie.

You have a highly defined sense of morality and always strive to do the "right" thing. This invariably consists of helping others and doing good deeds without the expectation of reward. You may base your ethical code on your belief in a higher morality (i.e. some divine source), or it may just spring naturally from within you. Your ethics are rational and logically consistent (at least you believe they are). You are forever balancing your actions against your system of beliefs.

You interpret reality very differently than everyone else, but in a benign fashion. The world is a place of endless, childlike wonder to you. Even the most destitute places seem like storybook palaces. You are an eternal ingenue, and your world view makes you generally very trusting of others. This does not necessarily mean that you are easy to manipulate, however. Because of your strange mental state, you are easily distracted, but you may also notice things that other people miss. You tend to be highly creative. Ban: Never take anything too seriously.

Everything you do is planned. Very little springs from you spontaneously. Your plans are often long and involved, sometimes extending beyond the lives of the mortals involved in them. Details must be exact, for you believe any deviation could bring ruin. You try to plan everything in your life; each thing you do must accomplish something in the greater scheme. Deviation from routine, however, is bothersome, not traumatic. You are organized, not deranged. You tend to be neat and precise in everything you do.

Meeting trouble (or anything else ) head-on is the tactic of fools and optimists. The sensible way to deal with trouble is to deny it a target. While some people might accuse you of sticking your head in the sand, they do have to admit that it has remained on your shoulders for quite some time, and looks like it will continue to do so indefinitely. You never confront what you can evade, and never face anything unless there is no other option. Courage is not high on your list of virtues, but then the line between courage and folly is virtually nonexistent to your eyes.

You self-worth is based entirely on the opinions of others. You crave approval and praise, and will go to extreme lengths to get such - even risking yourself and things you love. Unlike the Sycophant, you do not think of protection, and you have no thought of using others' good opinions to your own advantage - you simply crave praise and approval for their own sake, so you can feel good about yourself.

The quintessential pooka, you delight in the playing all manner of jokes and pranks. You do this for any number of reasons. You may merely want to amuse people, or you may be trying to show people that they take themselves much too seriously. The pranks you play may be as simple as a pie in the face, or as elaborate as a royal family tree. These pranks are rarely harmful or done out of spite, and usually result in no more than a few bruises or some personal embarrassment.

You divide the world into those who hunt, and those who are hunted, and you are one of the trackers and killers. There is no thrill like the hunt– you may sometimes pick weaker prey, just to keep your skills sharp, but the true game is the smart, cunning, and swift equal. You may hunt animals for food, but you live for the thrill of the chase of smarter creatures. You may not necessarily kill what you catch, but you love to prove your excellence by being able to trap it. You decry civilization as an amusing game, but ultimately something to be shed for the thrill of the hunt itself. You are not a Savage, of course; you're more than willing to use technology, and to brag to others about your prowess, but you'll never let a machine or a trap get in the way of the hunt itself.

The Questor seeks to find the one great answer that will make sense of the world. With so much suffering and confusion all around her, the Questor wants simply to understand. The Questor attempts to boil down all quandaries and dilemmas to their root conflicts and simplify all relationships into something digestible, manageable and surmountable. The Questor seldom feels at rest and may quietly believe that happiness can come only with an utter understanding of the world. Clergymen, scientists, contemplatives and spiritualists fulfill the Questor Archetype.

The opposite of the Fop, you believe that substance is all that matters; therefore, you play the militant slob to show how truly deep you are. You reject all such "surface ephemera" as bathing and basic grooming. Those who pay attention to such trivialities are affected snobs and beneath you. Just because you are a slob doesn't mean that you are really any deeper for all that. Those who see past your grimy exterior and really take the opportunity to know you may well find you no more genuine than the Fop.

You are a greedy sensualist, a miser, a glutton, an obsessive collector, and a hoarder of experience. You care little for other people, except as objects to collect and use at your whim, pretty things to set around and provide you with pleasure. You revel in material gratification and show off your good taste at every opportunity. Sharing is not a word that you recognize, however. You flaunt what you own, be it the beautiful woman on your arm or the glittering diamond on your finger, but you would never consider giving a gift to anyone or helping the needy.

The Rebel is a malcontent, never satisfied with the status quo or the system as it is. He hates the very idea of authority and does everything in his power to challenge and undermine it. Perhaps the Rebel truly believes in his ideals, but it is just as likely that he bears authority figures some ill will over a “wrong” done to him in the past. A Rebel may hate institutions categorically, or she may be consumed with opposition toward a single particular authority. Teenagers, insurrectionists, and nonconformists all exemplify the Rebel Archetype. Rebel Kindred certainly include the Sabbat, Anarchs, and temperamental Brujah, but also have room for Tremere who chafe at the rigid Clan hierarchy or neonates who deplore their sires.

Nobility in the purest sense, you are the ruler, the patriarch or matriarch. You are the judge and legislator who sorts right from wrong. More than any other, you feel the heavy burden of duty and obligation. Often, you have to deal our punishment. Although you despise it, it is a necessary part of your responsibilities, and you perform it with as much wisdom and fairness as you can muster. You have resigned yourself to the fact that regency is a lonely and often misunderstood mission, and you do not let your personal feelings interfere with the charge of your station.

You are an enigma, the mystery that no one can figure out. You are in love with secrets and never give a truly straight answer to any question. You obscure everything in double entendres, mysterious terms, and outright lies. You take joy in confusing and confounding others, satisfying your own need to feel that your intellect is superior to theirs. You are especially careful to shroud your own psyche in deepest mystery, and your greatest fear is that someone will learn what you're really like.

You have your gang and you rule them with an iron fist. You work hard to build and strengthen your organization, preaching loyalty and submission to the cause you embody. You will not stand for your law or authority to be undermined. While you understand that a group is more powerful than any one individual, you do not consider yourself equal to your band of followers. You are the head, and you use them at your whim to further your own goals.

Only one thing matters to the Rogue: herself. To each his own, and if others cannot protect their claims, they have no right to them. The Rogue is not necessarily a thug or bully, however. She simply refuses to succumb to the whims of others. Rogues almost universally possess a sense of self-sufficiency. They have their own best interests in mind at all times. Prostitutes, capitalists, and criminals all embody the Rogue Archetype. Kindred Rogues include diablerists, Autarkis, and a Primogen who puts his Clan’s opportunities before the supremacy of the Kindred as a whole.

You exist to inflict pain and suffering upon others. Killing is too easy; torture is the best way to truly harm a person, and you seek the slowest, most painful means to push others to the ultimate limits. Pain — others’ pain — gives you immense pleasure. Drill sergeants, jilted ex-lovers, and some of the terminally deranged may all embody the Sadist Archetype at one time or another; sadism is rare enough to appear only in aberrant cases, rather than reliably in any type or class of person.

You are the advisor, the wise one, the teacher. You have traveled many places and seen many things. You have learned, and you willingly share your insights with others. The quest for knowledge and wisdom is paramount to your goals in life. You see something to be learned in every situation. Like the old man of the mountain, you don't force your wisdom on others, but share it with an open heart to any who wish to learn.

You feel the pain of those around you and strive to ease their suffering. You give freely of your time, your belongings and whatever else it takes to increase the happiness of others. This often places you in a position of martyrdom, so complete is your altruism. Your own happiness is secondary to that of others. You can become so obsessed with your cause that you endanger yourself. However, you would never do anything that might bring harm to others. You exemplify a life of simple faith and charity, encouraging others to do the same, unlike the Martyr, who undertakes his sacrifice alone.

For you, the only viable way to live is like the animals in the forest, eating what you catch, mating when the urge strikes, and fighting to establish superiority. Everything else is senseless. Civilized conversation, etiquette, and technology– wastes of time. Modern inventions only distract you from your true nature, and keep you form satisfying the instincts that burn in your soul. You long for a return to the days of primal self-indulgence and the law of nature. In the meantime, you just live your life as if they were already here, feral and proud of it.

Things fall apart. The center cannot hold. You are a destroyer of social institutions, be they governments, businesses, or families. You never miss an opportunity to sow dissention or cause discord. Maybe you do this to help people break out of old, hidebound ways of doing things, but you mostly just enjoy destroying things that other people build. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. The sooner the huddled masses are on their own, the sooner they will realize that. You view yourself as a bold social visionary, an anarchist or a rugged individualist. This may be true, or you may just be a destructive child.

To a Scientist, existence is a puzzle which she can help to reassemble. A Scientist logically and methodically examines her every situation and maneuver, looking for logical outcomes and patterns. This is not to say that the Scientist is always looking for a scientific or rational explanation, but rather she examines her surroundings rigorously and with a critical eye. The system a Scientist attempts to impose on the world may be completely ludicrous, but it is a system, and she sticks by it.

Someone has to plumb the mysteries of the world, for the good of others. You exemplify that role, carefully gathering all the information you can through natural and supernatural methods so that you can play the role of advisor and soothsayer. You pride yourself on the ability to ferret out the truth, the best path, and the answers, though you know that sometimes they will shock and terrify people. Still, you must gain whatever insight you can; to live in darkness is not to live at all. Whenever you can, you use supernatural methods to divine the best course of action, whether that is an innate gift you possess or communication with the spirit world.

Like the Pishogue, you see the world in a very different way than most. Unfortunately, it is a very ugly place. You are a human zombie, an emotional sleepwalker who sees the world as a never-ending horror show. The World of Darkness has finally gotten to you. You accept mindless brutality as the natural order of things. Perhaps you react to this reality by joining in the mayhem, or perhaps you've retreated behind a wall of emotionless detachment. This is not to say that you have no sense of moral outrage, it just takes the most inhuman of atrocities to even register on your screen. Your primary motivations are selfish desire and immediate personal gratification.

All inferior beings both living and undead should be exterminated in order to bring about a harmonious existence. You likely feel no remorse when you kill (depending upon your Humanity or Path). On the contrary, you are doing a glorious deed for society. Some vampires are critical of your violent nature, but you sometimes manage to sway them with arguments like, “Darwin would agree that I’m only helping nature along!” and, “Only the strongest shall survive!”

The Soldier is not a blindly loyal follower. While she exists for orders, she does not adhere to them unquestioningly. More independent than a Conformist but too tied into the idea of command to be a Loner, the Soldier applies her own techniques to others’ goals. While she may seek command herself someday, her ambitions lie within the established hierarchy and structure. The Soldier has no compunctions about using whatever means necessary to do what needs to be done, so long as the orders to do so came from the right place.

Most people are hungry for knowledge, whether they know it or not. You are more than happy to share yours, for a price. You are a sophist in the old sense of the word, one who teaches solely for self-gain. Is that so wrong? Unfortunately, you just assume that people want what you are selling. When the ungrateful fools don't meet your price you become… agitated. You believe you know more than everyone else. You will rarely back down from your original argument, no matter how much sophistry and facile logic you have to employ to convince everybody that you know best.

Rather than stepping into the limelight, you prefer to support and help those who do. You are Tonto to the Lone Ranger, Watson to Holmes, Kato to the Green Hornet. You care nothing for glory or recognition, but merely seek the chance to be a small part of the process. You abide by the words of your present hero, and no task is too menial for you if your hero requests it.

You take the unavoidable sorrows (and joys) of life in stride. You have a calm and serious mind, and rarely give into unseemly displays of emotion. This does not mean that you do not have feelings, you just do not wear them on your sleeve. The most people will ever get out of you is a slight smile or a small frown. Some Stoics have fierce malcontent sides that they hold back for years, passionate whirlwinds which explode out when they have finally borne all they can.

No matter what happens, no matter the odds or opposition, the Survivor always manages to pull through. Whether alone or with a group, the Survivor’s utter refusal to accept defeat often makes the difference between success and failure. Survivors are frustrated by others’ acceptance of “what fate has in store” or willingness to withstand less than what they can achieve. Outcasts, street folk, and idealists may well be Survivor Archetypes. A Kindred Survivor might be a renegade under a Prince’s edict of Blood Hunt, an erstwhile Bishop forced from power, or a lowly Nosferatu who finds himself kicked from hunting ground to hunting ground with no acknowledged claim of domain.

In the grand scheme of things, you are small and weak and unfit for survival. Your best hope is to find someone who is more powerful than you are and persuade her to take care of you. In return you will serve, admire and follow her. You will do anything she says, unless it puts you in great risk. In any type of uncertain situation, you will attach yourself to the strongest-seeming person, siding with her, performing various barely necessary services and generally trying to ingratiate yourself. Thereby you hope to earn some kind of protection. There is no limit to the depths to which you will lower yourself in order to be accepted, and you have no pride.

The Thrill-Seeker lives for the rush of danger. Unlike those of arguably saner disposition, the Thrill- Seeker actively pursues hazardous and possibly deadly situations. The Thrill-Seeker is not consciously suicidal or self-destructive — he simply seeks the stimulation of imminent disaster. Gangbangers, petty thieves, and exhibitionists are all examples of the Thrill-Seeker Archetype. Kindred Thrill-Seekers might habitually break the Masquerade just to see if they’ll get caught, they might maintain contacts in a rival Clan or Sect, or they might actively plot a Prince’s overthrow just to see if they can pull it off.

The orthodox ways satisfy the Traditionalist, who prefers to accomplish her goals with time-tested methods. Why vary your course when what has worked in the past is good enough? The Traditionalist finds the status quo acceptable, even preferable, to a change that might yield unpredictable results. Conservatives, judges, and authority figures are all examples of Traditionalist Archetypes. Traditionalist Kindred unsurprisingly look to the Traditions as a behavior model, though a few Anarchs and elders may espouse a “traditionalism” that predates both Camarilla and Sabbat.

The Trickster finds the absurd in everything. No matter how grim life (or unlife) may become, the Trickster always uncovers a kernel of humor within it. Tricksters cannot abide sorrow or pain, and so they strive to lighten the spirits of those around them. Some Tricksters have even higher ideals, challenging static dogma by exposing its failures in humorous ways. Comedians, satirists, and social critics are examples of Trickster Archetypes. Kindred Tricksters may call attention to the flaws in a leader’s policy, they may be glib-tongued devil’s advocates who question the Traditions or ritae of their Sect, or they may simply have an acute sense of the ironies of a world that makes vampiric predator and mortal prey almost indistinguishable physically.

You walk in a fog of pink and lilac optimism, feeling emotions more strongly than others and expressing them at every opportunity. You are an idealist who believes in the potential for a perfect world, a perfect love, a perfect life. You step into every situation with enthusiasm and wide-eyed wonder, anxious to experience the thrill of the moment. When you love, you love with abandon. When you cry, your tears would fill an ocean. When you are happy, you make sure everyone knows it. Forgiving and loving, you rarely find it in yourself to hate anyone, seeing them instead as just another fascinating piece of your glorious world.

Similar to the Pandora, trouble follows you wherever you go. Unlike the innocence of that other archetype, however, you have a mean streak a mile wide, and are just waiting to bite the hand the feeds you. You are the scorpion who stings the wolf as he swims across the river, dooming you both to drown because it's simply in your own nature. You strike first as a means of protecting yourself, and feign innocence to shield you from your accusers. What's more, you have a love of ingratiating yourself among those you want to destroy, gaining their confidence so that the sting of your bite hurts all the more. You protest your innocence even when caught red-handed, but will strike again the moment their backs are turned. Getting away with it doesn't even enter your mind; you're concerned first with the delight of the betrayal, and covering your tracks later.

There are few people who can say that they have mastered a given field, and you are one of them. You are a specialist, striving for excellence in a small number of related disciplines. Even if you have not yet reached the level of excellence that you desire, you consider yourself an authority (though you admit that you have more to learn). You fear all your attention toward learning more about your field of expertise.

The Visionary is strong enough to look beyond the mundane and perceive the truly wondrous. Visionaries test accepted societal limits, and seek what few others have the courage to imagine. The Visionary rarely finds satisfaction in what society has to offer; she prefers to encourage society to offer what it could instead of what it does. Typically, society responds poorly to Visionaries, though it is they who are responsible for bringing about progress and change. Philosophers, inventors, and the most inspired artists often have Visionary Natures. Kindred Visionaries may want to plunge all mortals into vampiric thrall, they may adapt technologies that other, more static Kindred fear or overlook, or they may have a “better way” to coexist with other vampires than all of this Prince-and-Regent nonsense.

You are shy, and feel that your best place is hanging back when social grace or heroism are called for. Nonetheless, you are always attentive, paying attention for the chance to do your part. You keep to the wings, watching carefully, and making notes as to who is up to what. You don't feel you will ever shine, but you might be able to do your part to help others. Nonetheless, you resist anyone who tries to draw you out too much, retreating to the shadows where it's safe. Unlike the Lurker, you aren't quick to cut yourself off for the sake of your own skin, and may secretly befriend others, so long as it doesn't force you into the limelight.

Your story is that of the endless wanderer, the great explorer and adventurer who has a love in every port and rarely stays in any one place for long. You live by your own wits, though your restless nature often lands you in dangerous situations. A reactionary, you act first and think later. This sometimes saves you; other times, it gets you in trouble. Impatient and easily bored, you are always looking for the next adventure.

You cultivate an aura of power and mystery similar to the Riddler, but you are more concerned with being held in high regard. You are the strange one, the medium, the truthsayer and the seer whose powers are unfathomable to others. You may study the magic, methods of soothsaying, or even the ways of the dead, but this is always to the maximum effect on others around you. Your objective is to convince them that you are a dangerous, implacable sorcerer, someone who is to be feared and revered. You delight in being held at arm's length by anyone you consider "common" and are unlikely to associate with anyone who can reveal the nature of your powers or source of wisdom. You hold yourself above all others, and expect the same from everyone else.

You delight in the beauty of nature, the serene calm of harmony with the elements and the animals around you. Your idyllic view of nature may not always be true, but you live in a delightful dream of peace with your surroundings, taking only what you need and avoiding the excesses of modern civilization. In some ways, you are the counterpart of the Savage, but their cruel and barbaric ways have no place in your dream of harmony. You cultivate the wilderness around you, unafraid of being occasionally pricked by a thorn if it means you get to enjoy the beauty of a rose.

You have no positive self-image, and assume that everyone else hates you as much as you hate yourself. Perhaps you are the wallflower who never gets asked to dance or the loser who was never invited to birthday parties; regardless, you believe that everyone hates you and that you are a pitiful outcast. Sometimes you seek pity and aid from others. Other times you seek to punish them for their pity and aid, being especially hard on anyone who shows you compassion and caring.