The Mnemosyne Bloodline
a Bloodline, created by White Wolf,
expanded by Robert How, September 1999
Source Text
The bloodline was created by a White Wolf writer in an almost
dismissive way. When writing the introduction to the published
Book of Nod,
the character of Aristotle de Laurent was created as the scholastic
author of the work. de Laurent was driven because of his heritage
- he is a member of an obscure bloodline called the Mnemosyne
(neh-MOH-si-nee).
The Bloodline
The line is an ancient one, taking its name from the Greek
mnemonikos, meaning mindful; and from which our English
word memory derives. The Mnemosyne are the memory-seekers,
and also, "those who remember".
They are scholars, keepers and seekers of knowledge.
History
The line's heritage traces back to the days of the Second
City, but their actual origins are unknown. Some have claimed
that the line was descended from Nosferat or Ventrue, but most
Mnemosyne believe they are descended from a childe of Caine who
was destroyed long ago in the destruction of Enoch, and is unrecorded
in legend (perhaps because of a very high-level use of Obfuscate).
The line are truly orphans, beholden to no-one but driven
in their blood to acquire new knowledge.
Disciplines:
None. The line has no native blood disciplines.
Advantage: Though
born weak and without disciplines, their grant advantage is the
ability to learn any disciplines as if it were a clan disciplines,
as long as they find a suitable teacher.
Weakness: Their
drive to acquire knew knowledge is their greatest strength and
their greatest weakness - for every day they do not spend at
least two hours in study, they loose a willpower point.
Gaining willpower is strictly limited to their thirst for
knowledge. The rules of Demeanour must be strictly enforced here:
Mnemosyne only regain Willpower when they have achieved some
scholastic goal within the Field of Interest, or a step towards
it.
All have a particularly Field of Interest, be it Roman
history, biology, or in the case of de Laurent, ancient Vampire
lore. This is their goal in life, and their drive. Their Field
may change, but only under strict circumstances - if, for example,
all materials on their subject are destroyed, or their researches
are completed to their satisfaction. Don't be too easy on this
- it would provide great pathos for a Mnemosyne scholar to waste
away after the destruction of a library containing the last relics
of their researches.
As well as this practical weakness, many Mnemosyne are driven
to travel in pursuit of knowledge, experiencing new places and
people. [Note: Most Fields of Interest are not tied to one geographical
location - STs should be careful not to let players cheat on
this!]
Travel is something they all love, and though in itself it
is not a weakness, to a vampire it is dangerous. It is much safer
staying in one city, under the protection of ancient ties, boons
and patronage. Wanderers are always treated with contempt and
suspicion, although Camarilla Princes do respect Mnemosyne for
their knowledge, which they are almost always willing to share
with others.
Haven Mnemosyne
are all drawn to libraries and archives, although that depends
on their field. Researchers interested in eccliastical law would
be drawn to churches, art historians to art galleries etc.
Despite this, many Mnemosyne are quite nomadic, and do not
spend a great deal of time in one place, unless their research
requires it.
Meetings The Mnemosyne
line is loosely scattered and members often find it difficult
to keep track of one another. However, enterprising members have
occasionally held Conventions, where like-minded scholars can
share knowledge on a wide variety of subjects. Conventions are
held in universities, hotels or museum conference centres, and
are often organised years in advance, because of the difficulty
of informing people when and where it otherwise might be.
Character Ideas
Aristotle de Laurent has appeared
as character in several of my chronicles, and is an archetypal
member of his line. He is an old buffoon, sometimes rather naive
about human (and vampire) nature, although with the underlying
Dutch common sense. He can be too esoteric-minded, which means
he often wants to analyse things rather than run like hell, although
he is surprisingly well-armed with disciplines, and very capable
of taking care of himself.. But he is on the whole a well-meaning
and well respected figure, particularly amongst the Princely
courts of Europe. He disgraced himself with the Book of Nod publication fiasco, but
after a few years he was once again acceptable in polite company.
However, he has often appeared, researching some - to him
- innocuous piece of historical trivia which has earth-shattering
implications on the local kindred.
Other Characters might be very
different from this. All my Mnemosyne characters have been noble,
rather unworldly academics - on the surface at least, though
they are well capable of taking care of themselves, particularly
with the range of disciplines they can possess. Seemly bookish
and scholastic Mnemosyne can turn into ferocious battle monsters
when threatened, because they sometimes possess strange and arcane
disciplines lost to the common mass of kindred.
However, many Characters are be driven to seek out forbidden
knowledge, dirty secrets, black rituals, as well as mundane historical
information.
But remember, the prime motivation of any Mnemosyne
character must be the deep desire for knowledge itself. They
may use knowledge to their advantage (particularly financial),
but they must have little interest in temporal power or influence.
That's what the Ventrue are for.
Remember - if they had not properly demonstrated this nature
in themselves, they would not have been embraced by a member
of the Mnemosyne line.
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