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    | ) Ey ‘| By Justin AcHILu, JASON FELDSTEIN, Joppie GRAY, WILL HINDMARCH, Art MARMELL AND VoRONICA WuITNEY-RoBINSON. VAMPIRE CREATED BY! MARK REIN*HAGEN Crepits Written bys Justin Achill, Jason Feldstei ‘Will Hindmarch, Ari Marmell and Voronica Whitney. Robinson. Va nd the World of Darkness created by Mark Rein®Hagen. Storyteller Game System Design: tk Reine Hagen Additional Material: Dale Donovan, Alan I. Kravit and James Lowder veloped bys Justin Achill tor: Carl Bowen Art Director: Richard Thomas Layout & Typesetting: Kieran Yanner Interior Art: Guy Davis, Michael Gaydos, L Vince Locke, Ken Meyer, Jr, Christo Tucker, Kirk Van Wormer and Conan Vi Back Cover Art: Leif Jones Front & Back Cover Design: Kieran Yanner SALITTONDR —viteucheonncspeonadonsste phish expe ben eye STONE MOUNTAIN, GA 20°Puserh aes ages eqont ae oni : 30083 CRE at ee eatin Wa Uc ag he s Je, Wraith the Great War, Trinity and Kindred of the Ebony radematks of White Wolf Publishing Ine, All rights reserved. suistire US ncters, nancy placesand text herein ae copyrighted by White Wolf ublshing, ne The mention of o reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concemed. This book uses the supernatural for settinus characters and thems, Al mystical and supematura elements ae fet and intended for entertainment purposes only, This book contains mature content. Reader discretion i advised ora fre White Wolf catalog call 1-800-454.WOLF ‘Check out White Wolf on htp|wwr.white-wollicom;alegames.whitewolf and re.games-fpstoryeller PRINTED IN CANADA. CHAPTER One: THE E80NY )KINGDOM! 4 CHAPTER Two: LEGACIES, 44 CHAPTER Tree: CHARACTER CREATION CuapTeR Four: DiscipLines AND! OTHER WITCHERY CHAPTER Five: GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER SIX: STORYTELLING CHAPTER SEVEN: ANTAGONISTS AND BESTIARY Apprenpix: Minor Lecacies AND CLANS (Soa ata ta ae Oa mE BONY KINGDOM Haw To.Ust THis Book This book i arranged s hu-differentlyfromither rites in the Vampire line, owing largely to the uniqueness Carte eaumices ‘This chapter, Chapter One, details che Ebony Kingsdouriit overview, introduefng the broadest elements of rrr Ce ee eee en er eda ee eRe oe ference tea Mt etnce es enc nee oo ae cere to Pate eee eee eee es rm ee ce od Disciplines that Western Kiridted mishtvake for granted. Acsurveyof the fegion’s political geography makes up Chapter Fivé/"which also includes maps for your, ‘Chapter Six focuses on stofytelling with the singular purpose of plaeing the African experierice at the heart of achronicle fo een eee er ee et aT a ene Cee ley See itt a Finally, a few nofnmive clans ahd rare legacies make tip the Appendix. Sve ene re Pe ea enc eae ee Re eee mee ‘expansion of the Vampire setting intova portion of the world thathas remained unexamined thus fat, Such being the case, you're going to wang to dosothe reseatch of your own wher planning ot playing a Vampire chronicle Set in Affica. We have only so many pages to use ifthis book, and we're not ashamed to say that we'renot going Fe eee en resertnr eres rie rn ert | ee eS eee Pe ee Pe ere ere Te oat Serer ta ont tate eee eer etc Ferra tat enc creamer wer net er een ees eee eet eee eee ee ee ee cece BN nn) The primary thetne of Kindred of the Ebony Kingdom is thar times change, and with that passageof time, Peseta accent MS Se Ta ca cee gg occutted ty the Laiboaat slower rite thaitit has totherest ofthe world, largely owing to much of Africa’s Thitd- ‘Worldstarusand therelative paucity of Information Age luxuries that most of us take forgranted. Still, ehe elders wvetealized it at this poine, xtid one of the highier-concept conflicts is ther figuring out jist what ro do-with themselves in a kingdom that’s inevitably going to/have to deal with creeping modemization. The neonates ‘won't sitby and accept the kingsloot’sold ways if they don’ going to give up.any moreprivilege or influence than they absolutely mist, 0 where is the compromise struck? Re ee nee Rocher ee at reo eee eee Se eee a ee independently’ Modernization need notialways be the issue at hand, The eternal struggle between eld have had centufies co gamer resources and thé neonates who want them but often find slim pickings inanifests ersten Oeregeantd think they have to, and the elders certainly aren't aA a rent en Corsa ns egg ete gee ce neo Pea (ite t ene meted ieee a ated ene ree Mere of community if not camaraderie. Such will also be the ease with the “tfibes” or extended coteriesthat make ‘up geographical communities of Laibon. Cercainly, seriggle éxists inside these familial units, bue that adds a Cee cee iar en eer uag set Me cetera ance On to moodeDespite being a land of sun and heat, Africa in Vanipire’s World of Darkness feels foreveriinder ashroud ofnight. The'tiosLis one of isolationism, of being “in the dark” as much by choice as by destiny. Let light and darkness he symbols throughoutyour chronicles. Portray the dawning light of social progress, but also show the darkness that-accompanies it in.the form of dictators or military coups: You car even be ambiguous, bi Meee Mer aetna tee CNC ee enon eee T know all about diai Aric Leone. For some reason nts across the At my estimate, this would be sometime near the ye possibly earlier. My tht are from Virginia. Early in the American Revolution, the British offered freedom to those slaves who would serve Her Majesty's interests during the war. Those of us who would then be sent ro Canada to live he freedom never really came. The British handful of other men € 1s after dark with a promise for teal power over the American slavers. Three of us were » wreak English b memories of day drank himdry before 'd bloodsucking custom. Then I spent a few quiet ye T don't much remember now An effort to sepatriate the freed slaves was made by the Britishi Revolutio Leone as a new hore for human c asfurther reward for service rin ‘The city of Freetown was founded in Sierra fromall over the African continent. A gens stupid idea. fer, one ship of Her Majesty's fleet fell behind le and spenta whole night loaded up in harbor, so rided heer with the feeling that accidentally burning collec ath in blood foreter Kindred and Laibon can appreciate the int in his early n think ever benefits of Teame tothe Dark Continent Freerown was a simple spread of black earth, brilliant 9 By foor, twas ne. In some way, [ had honestly expected familiar. Since then I ea to be s learned ‘monsters can’t always Anything that claims to know Africa that well is lying. LAIBON SOCIETY Theag jesover time, drawn clo in resistance to the expanse of modern aresocial monsters, afterall, with one eye on the pr the other on the home ty often has a distiner calk mortal and undead herit A Laibon comm identity The societal structure ‘customs, traditions and idealsculled from supernatural and historical sources. Laibon existence most often centers on the activites of local importance. A collection of Laon centered on a traditional homeland town might simply choose to he unatficted by strife in a nearby region. The extreme granularity of Laibon society makes it dificult to generalize. While ast ture links the Latbon territories across the continent, local history and cultural disparity divide the al domains. There is no overriding authority «0 homogenize the behavior of Laibon in Mauritania and Ethiopia. The sometimes-distant, sometimes-absent Guruhi are the clowst resemblance to continental constant we have to consider. Ancestry, culture and folklore, more than anythit else, is what Laibon have in common. Thousands of ye: ‘of Laibon cultural influences have gathered and spre: ‘across the continent, beneath the mortal fibers in every vampire, This is a natural phenomenon from unnatural beings. All vampires have the same thirst, the same undying demands, influencing us in ou Tue Lecacies The legacy is the cultural kernel of the Laibon. African vampires place a great deal of importance on the responsibilities and entitlements associated with one’s legacy. It’s like a family, in that the legacy is the funda- mental connection between Laibon but i, in practice, often not a teal factor of social interactions. Relatives ‘who dwell around youare likely tobea major parcof your existence. Were you to meet a distant family member, you might be able to use that familial connection, of you might be disregarded as just some like-named stranger. ‘Ac the same time, the familial bond can be strong enough to overcon ‘When I came to Sierra Leone, | was granted remarkable cultural leeway because my mortal and Laibon blood flowed from here. That seemed to soften the suspicions some other Laibon held against me as an outsider. Like any family, each legacy is connected by blood, Bloodlines stretch back to the ancestor whose power was sso great thar some residue of it continues to influer blood of contemporary Laibon even 13 of 14 generations removed. I can'tsay exactly how thisblood interacts with its counterparts, but I can tell you this: | have no knowl- edge of my blood’s European origins, but the Akunanse Laibon in Freetown recogt me as one of their own. How, I don't know. Something intrinsic, some spiritual charge passed into my blood that resonates with theirs Younger Laibon do not experience this sensation, and the degree to which I have felt it suggests to me that it may be an imagined psychic phenomena, and yet I have an undeniable vampiric relationship to the Akunanse I met in Freetown. It'ssomething like having a grandfather's eyes or sum of vampiric cul- doubts, suspicion or snophobia. manner of speech, except the traits are like magic. have a love for stories, s do my Akunanse cousinshere, and in the las few decades, have been finding markings on my back that somewhat resemble a rare breed of spider. P'm told this is desirable among “my people.” The spider spins webs as an Akunanse spins stories or histo- ries. Indeed, Akunanse and spiders spin webs for exactly the same reasons. Agnica at A GLANCE Strictly speaking, the portions ofthecontinentsouth of the Sahara comprise the recognized Ebony Kingdom witha few troubled and/ or rogue domains in the desert itself (don't worry — Chapter Four includes a map). Because not everyone will be as familiar with Africa as they are with, say, Europe, the following lst includes the countries of the continent as well asa bit of quick data on them to give readers some icleaof what the country islike. The area ofthe nation isits size in square miles. The population, obviously, is the number of people who dwell there. Density is the population divided by the area — how many people might occupy the average square mile, which gives some idea of how crowded a nation is. The gross domestic product is the value, in sum, of goods and services in a nation. The GDP per capita is the gross domestic product divided by the population, oreach person’sshare in the national asets. Life expectancy estimates the length of the nation’s while the fertility statistic suggests the mber of children a typical woman will have over her lifetime, The annual growth rate defines the change in population as a pe Note that thi that are not necessarily part of the Ebony Kingdom. That's simply for the sake of completeness, and nations not within the Ebony Kingdom's boundaries have their names in italics THe DomAINS The domain is the component clement of the conti nentalkingslom. Across Africa, there are untoldhundreds ‘ofdomains operatingon the single social foundation that links them together as a kingdom. Each domain is a community allied to some degree against outside influ- ences. The domains ally together to some extent t0 uphold the traditions of the kingdom. The kingdom bands together, more or less, against vampiric influence frown abroad ncludes information on nations Thave been to countless domains across the conti nent,and I have few examplesl can give youthatdeseribe a majority of them. Different situations result in different domains. The only strueture all of the domains share is that which stems from the figurehead at the core of each territory. Each domain really amounts to little more than Leth Cm ena ene eserset etrmer ean Tare eae ess yee acti. el Sameer ee | a ; ry Lie eae aie Pe Phe came sity oR Cana cs aoe eee Pee has Ein eS eee ee res roe 103300 comet Seat cue RST co ee een ears cerbon enue ey peer eet oe cere sa 250. Pees eT} ow PS eno} ce ames ce 338 40 eee ee) Cea aos me st a omeeest Bonet tener tomer c cea cote) pt or CONeaE y or Exype ee i Poe ee) ce ea et See Pr cs 2 Fre Cr eam et es) 635 a eC ae ht et cing Tad eer nT) cn Ma Seay ie) eo ome Pond Par re) 953 coy oem ne) Pro cd er ote 2,600 By etree Sc CT ron ie Ae Cee) 600 Ee) omer ch Cd Er) enn ae) ean 1633 — te Oey ven Poe} re 183 aan Pires ra 3, re Pel cond Se re Reena Cs zi 7 Poy rr ae tere en oer ae SAE fetid es yao) ro Sand Pores ey or eer ed Cee Teinzania Soe ets) a a Poiors ra Ce Ure: (i Oke ean ee Peers ae elma creer ‘Combined Romer Lat the ares inhabited by a group of like-minded or like: blooded Laibon who abide by the judicial decisions of a single territorial authority above them, whose position was created by the Guruhi. That's the most scholarly description I can give you, and it doesn't tell you very much, really In some domains, these figurcheads are little more than that, in honorary positions of esteem. In others, they are like tyrants or warlords, allowing other Laibon to t of the desire to see them danceat their whim. A domain might consist ofa single, private or remote Laibon who is responsible for his otherwise-unclaimed territory by default or a domain might include a large Westernized city and the swelling Laibon population around it. A domain might have a very quiet, accepted social order that’s been running. smoothly for a hundred y might be a tangled net of political tripwires in a constant state of redefining itself. I's all subject to the customs of the region and the whim of the domain's overseer. ‘or adoma This method of organization descends from the tra. dition of power being bestowed upon the eldest Laibon, which the elders tell us is integral to the Laibon exist: ence, Thepower accumulated by elders over the centuries {isthe natural law of the Laibon. The eldest are the wisest, strongest and most enduring, therefore they survive for centuries, therefore they are the best suited to leadership. A Laibon who wanders off will have great difficulty proving his age to these who haven't known him for decades, s0 he risks losing his position of power. So Laibon cluster together (socially more than geographi- cally, sometimes) into domains where success and experience can be easily tracked and rewarded. Putanother way, social mobility and physical mobility areoppesing forcesin Laibon society. Those Laibon whodo take up a traveler's existence, like myse in pursuing complex relationships with theit undead kin or plan to doitsomewhereelse,some time In the Congo, I know of several domains that sp startlingly large stretchesof land with populationsof four orfive Laibon. Kinshasa, especially, has several bordering domains that seem to have recognized domain within their own boundaries. These are all matters of ternitory and are overseen by Laibon who han those lands for three or four hundred years. The tightly knit broods of Laibon within those domains are like demonstrationsof pre-colonial life; their social dynamics hhave resisted outside change since Europe's Renaissance A domain I occasionally visit in Mozambique is popular for an unpopular reason: The magaji there in known for very liberal interps toms, which attracts thin-blooded younger vampires and foreigners, Since her community enjoys the exist- cence and the reighbors have not (or cannot yet) present ‘ons of Laibon eus- a meaningful deterrent, there is no higher power to dissuade such behavior This touches on one traditional belief about Laibon territories. Culture and heritage are considered more proper foundations for a community than political or {especially modem) popular trends. The idea, I think, is that deathless beings who are weak enough to be swayed bby mortal fads are noc suited for power. Anyway, itis not considered proper fora Laibon to wander off in search of aa domain that suits his petty fancy. Since Laibon are selected, not bom, the idea of a social order that procreates culturally rather than bio- logically is actually possible to achieve. Those Laibon who participate in societal discussion would tell you that itis the blessing that counters our curse. In my experience, though, the eldest Laibon outgrow that concept and the youngest think of it as propaganda. | think the entire system is designed to reduce power struggles and solidify authority wherever possible so thatan eternal civilization can be built to accommodate our undying selves. Remember, though, I hold no titles in any domain, Beneath the measured ambitions and the rigid hier archy lies fundamentally mortal fe to reinforce the gathering of Laibon into grou Laibon in every domain regard each other as family, sometimes going so far as to adopt familial relationships and superimposing them over their vampiric blood te In Fr tegarded as an uncle by some of the young Laibon, for example, due to my age and tangential relationship to the domain. A pair of IshrarriLaibon in the Sudan, Ubende and Ganhuru, call each other “cousin because their sires have the same sire. Since I last saw them, they have taken over a domain there. tell from our correspondence which of them has formally taken on the role of magaji This familial bond makes the domain the strongest Laibon sociatorganization Lknow of. A slight: Laibon in the domain is far more likely to warrant a fatal response from colleagues than the elimination ofa West em "Kindred” would, and Ispeak from experience. Family struggles are frequent and messy, but they arealso usually suspended to overcome external conflicts. No creature bbut me has the right to treat my brother the way I do. Macaii Each Laibon territory on the continent falls under The magaji’s responsibility thesupervision of a maga isto thedomain he orshe oversees, whetherasa patron or a despot. The connection between the magaji and the territory is indisputable by anyone less than the Guruhi. Even that isa delicace thin hold more power in certain locales than even all the local Guruhi combined. as other legacies, ‘A magaji (from the Boko language, meaning “king’ is nor, strictly speaking, the master of her territory, though she does enjoy some degree of subservience from those who exist beneath her in s ajienjoysauthority atthe cost of responsibility, both ‘of which are bestowed upon her (or a predecessor) by the Guruhiwhoclaims the land. Ir'sanarrow role, really. The magaji has the most inwardly focused duty in Laibon society. Whereas less-important Laibon may stilinte with the outside world, the magajiissometimes swamped with matters of Laibon society Thisisone reason why magaji are very frequently the coldest monstersin theirterritorics. llcr Laibon have less ¢ world, and the more entrenched n vampire socicty, the more difficult itis to interest in the outsi one becomes extract oneself later. In truth, I will tell you that most ‘magaji have met —and there are many —are theeldest because they are the strongest, Therefore, the strongest Laibon typically oversees the domain, Oversightofadomain consists largely of interpreting the Tenets. These are the laws of Laibon society that ‘empower the magaji as governor and judge. The magaji welcomes new Laibon into the territory or sends them away. The magaji s them. The magaji upholds traditional custom or quietly ignores it ntences transgressors or pardons Historically, the position of magaji is granted by a Guruhi, but tonight that'snotalwaysthe case. A territory might change hands through open or clandestine war fare, or it might pass down willingly from a retizee toa protégé. Both events are uncommon, but they do hap- pen. In Bunndithereisadomain thats actuallyoverseen by a magaji named to the position by an elder council Neighboring magaji don’t regard him as a genuine au: thority, but thedomain is small enough and quiet enough to get by. Young, idealistic thin-bloods regard the place asashiningexample, yet no more than five orsix Laibon ddvell there The innate bond between magaji and domain rein- forces the rigid order. First, and most obviously, an undying overseer may never need a successor. Secondly, the boundaries of any domain depend on the magajiatits ;agaji will have farther-reaching influ ence than a weakling. This has resulted in some territories swelling and pressuring the neighboring de mains, Wich the disincerested, diminishing participation tly politics, moreand moreddomains shift one way oF another without formal approval Take the territory that used to be sovereign in Angola, forexample. The handful of Laiton who dwelled there eventually broke apart in a handful of territories withoneLaibon Each, informally, became magaji by default, without the consent of the Guruhi. When word spread of this disintegration, neighboring 1 uickly took up chose territories in am ity, though the former magaji within haven’: moved and haven’e been subjugated in any meaningful way ‘What's important to realize is that the relationship between a Laibon and his territory is flexible but un- breakable. The form of any ubject to the understood relationships between participating Laibon in the region. Those courtly orators who debate social philosophy might exaggerate territorial shifts into warfare, while the lone zebra-hunter might have his homeland pass from one may and not find out for a decade, Yer the magaji isnot supremely powerful. In the most basic way, a weak or lax overseer can be unseated by +r number of more powerful vampires. You'd think such events are necessarily rare, given the respect elder, powerful Laibon say they have for the system, but the ‘magajiisoften surrounded by a larger number of powerful undead anyway. A magaji who falls teribly out of favor does have consequences to suffer. ‘The camaraderie of Laibon within a territory red, either. A great many magaji m their seats out of tradition. ("Undele’s always been That's his job.”) This is, once again, an example of the innate connection between the Laibon and the role, The facts that not every Laibon has a taste for that kind of power, he knack for it A better story, which can confirm to be true from amy time in Kenya, s that of Tsunda, magaji ofa sizable inland tervitory. His domain was granted to him directly bythe Guruhi, and circumstance had eventually left him with a land of younger Laibon unable to influence hit. The kholo were children in comparison to hit. T was a bloodletting bastard, accustomed to violence and fond of dangerous demonstrations of power before mortal ‘eyes. Hewas, then, unpopularwith the local Guruhi, who wasn’t especially local by all accounts. Tsunda was dis membered before Laibon witnesses by « thick-maned lion on his own property. Such things, as they say in that domain now, do not happen by accident. The domain now held by one ofthe youngest magaji I know of, Kisha, who has since been in frequent contact with the Guruhi Forall 'vesaid about intemal power strugeles, must remind you ofthe difference between a magaj's elation ship with those in hisdomain and a magaj’s relationship ‘with outsiders. Even those Laibon who resent or distrust their own magaji will support him “There may be problems with my domain,” a Nigerian, Osebo once told and I won't give them up.” ind fewer still have nst outside forces. Iso overseen formally or otherwise by the kholo — a couneil of elders consisting of one representative from each ofthe legaciesin thedomain. In every case, these representativesare the Laibon proven to be the eldest of their her exceptions to this policy. A note here about the language. The word kholo refers to the collected body of elders who advise (or are ignored by) the magaji as well as any individual member of the body, such as the Shango kholo or a kholo of Ugadha’s domain. A magayi may oF may not recognize a holo of his own legacy in addition to himself The Guruhi are often credited with the creation of, the kholo as an advisory force, even though councils of ceklers had heen formed in mortal circles before the Guruhi bestowed the domains. This is not to diminish that noble bloodline’s reputation for wisdom, merely to suggestits inspiration. Regardless, the kholo might justas well be an invention of the common Laibon rather than the magaji. They function as a clear and experienced voice in the ear of every domain's figurehead, supplying the necessary wisdom th pass alone even with a century of nights behind him. Magaji don’t select, authorize or otherwise govern the conventions of the Kholo. The council and its prac- tices are a distinct, separate tradition accepted into the age in the land. | know of no social order but not specially subject to it. The magaji has no direet say who claims the kholo title any more than the magaji may assign an age co someone. At best, the maga)i may endorse the kholo body (though this often ‘has no practical benefit); at worst, the magajimay choose to disregard the kholo outright (which is unlikely to be seen favorably by kholo orkin). The kholo, inturn, is not ‘exempt from the law of the land. The magaji does have the authority to apply the Tenerstomembersof the kholo ashe or she sees fit, however. To my surprise, there is actually very litle ceremony involvedinthekholowhich isconsistentfromonedomain to the next. Here, the kholo may be revered with rituals and offerings from the magaji herself. There, the kholo ‘might just casually convene in an all-night gas station like rustic locals. Theonly practice common toall kholosisthe method of appointment. Only the eldest may sit on. the council. In practice, of course, different domains have different standards of acceptable proof of age. This is one reason why so many established Laibon are hesitant to move from one domain to another. Repu: tation alone vouches fora great deal of the most powerful Laibon, so there is no benefit to traveling outside the boundaries of one’s reputation. Patience and prustence might be alla Laibon needs to win authority one night. In many ways, there is no more desirable post than that of kholo. Irsuggests wisdorn, bestows some degree of s respect and requires very of the title-holder. Although I'm not foolish enough toname any for you, I could tell youabout a good many kholos who are obsolete dullandsat best and practicing idiots at worst. In the domain of a single nost foolish is king Counterpoint to this is the case of any domain with a prolife sie. When just a few weeks separate the kholo from his competition, conflicts consistently arise over titles. More relevant to the issue in the modern nights is theplace thin-bloodshold. One small domain in Senegal ‘was quietly inhabited by 10or12 younglicks (think they were Xi Dundlu) before a handful asked to Belong. A year orsolater, the others sacrificed themselves to destroy the Xi Dundu holo there. For nine glorious months, a ‘vampire 13 generations removed from Cagn held the title ‘of kholo in that land before a 10th-generation Xi Dundu was paid handsomely, hear, to mow Kholo and the Eldest Command Undeath, so that young strategist was unseated and then expectedly drained dry. FiLuna Tit VACANT Stat In 1985, I participated in the replacement of akholo, in the Nigerian domain of a magaji called Nkule. Very few Xi Dundu dwelled in this small dominion, so when the eldest of the region was extinguished, a group of us sought outasevert Dundu thought to be hunting near the Cameroon border. We couldn't find any sign of the Laibon in question, but we understood that Nkule’s primary concern was keeping the resident 13th-generation Xi Dundu our of an influential position in the domain. Nkule’s Osebo sword-hearer and I went across the border and spent 16 nights seeking out a Xi Dundu willing tocome back with usand accept some new authority. This was more difficult than might be expected. This sort of ‘offer aroused al sorts of suspicion in Douala. Imagine how much Nkule must have despised the idea ofa young kholo to accept any random outsider in his place? didn't return with Nkule’s whip, though we did find 4 10ch-generarion Xi Dundu in good standing with the Guruhi to return with him. In 1999, thatLaibon claimed thedomain for himselfagainst the wishesofthe kholo but with Guruhi consent. Ifwhat [hear about that Xi Dundy is true, Nkule finally saw the sun rise, generation Keep that story to remember how kholo politics operate. It is often in the best interests of the kholo to maintain a generation gap between themselvesand their would-be successors, 30 that up-and-comers will find no cone in the domain willing to assist them in winning the position. Sometimes, like in Nkule’s domain, this strat egy weakens the domain overall. Nkule had to choose between the risk of elder blood from out: or the inauguration of pitiable youth. It's hard ro say which of these evils a magaji could say she preferred, e domain Charter One: Trey Esoyy eaters PCr Ree eee es ec acee ese etn eee eet What follows, thes, are afew of che moreuniversal tetmis used By African vampifes.Inall but the most isolated domain,"one Laibon speaking to-andther (provided she knows the local language...) is unlikely to be ce aati eee ate rte ee ee nn en eee amet ae ec et eee a ee en rac eat een erat teeny Arca PU ee oR R Regs co tena os ae a ta ‘Aye: A vainpire’s terrestrial aspeewor physical self. eS et te eee tee ent ea c Cogn: The progenitorofall vampires. Cagn is creator-god among Bushman tribes in south-central Africa, ind in some inearfations governs sorcery and shape-changing. SometimesSpelled Kain ire-of| the Mountain: A colloquial term fordiablerie, most often used in central and edstern Africa, Desa nan ee borer Followers of Set: A legacy of vampires that reveres the Egyptian god S&t Guewhis-A legacy of vampires riamed after an evilGambian god Ishtarri: A legacy of vampires originating outside che Ebony Kingdom tind named after the Mesopotamian Babylonian goddess of love tind war. ence te ee ee eet eee ened Kholo: The eklesc vaiipire of a piven legacy in agiyen location. Alko,a collected body of these vampires. From the Chichewa for “parent” of “ancestor.” Lee aoa eee er nM oe cen eer noes ge ee ete ec ‘within the Kingdom. All kinexloms in Africa combined make up the Ebony Kingdom: Kiayonyi: A legiéyiof vampires named after the Luganda word for "bid enn a eek tee ar en eete tae anton cette as ed WesrerinKindred would use the term “heli Pee ae ee eek aie On Sea ett Pee ee ee eee een el een en in” itself (which is considered to be a Western affectation). In practice, legacies are more familial lans, sharing heritage and (sometimes grudging) respect: Magajit The preeminent vanipireof wgiven domain; an Aftican vampire “prince.” From the Boko watt cera Naglopees: A dehased and cruel legacy of vampires Nie oe We ace ese eect eee Cre Meee teers ea Osebo: A legacy of vanipires ndined ster the leopard of many African legends. Shango? A Jeyacy-of vampires named aftér the Yoruba god of magic, war and storms. Xi Dundus A legaeyoF-vampires who cast né shadow, frome the Bavili word ft “shadow” pot en aac bees ee elle ed Lecacies ROLES AN? RELATIONSHIPS INTHE PRBONY KINGDOM The Laibon of Africa's legacies do not exist in a vacuum. They are more intricately linked than the clans of Western “Kindred,” probably due to the dominance of the Guruhi. Therefore, the Laibon of the Ebony Kiny dom are either for the Guruhi or against them, at least in terms of respect for tradition the clash between. tradition and modernization lies at the heart of Ebony Kingdom politics and unlife, and because the conser tive nature of the Kingsiom’s elder population nightly comes into conflict with the often more progressive young Laibon, it is impor nderstand how the individual families of African vampires interrelate. AAKUNANSE These sages and wanderers of the Ak take their name ftom the “wise spider” legends of the Ashanti and other West African tribes, and the name is apt. Deeply in tune with the earth and its primal origins, the Akunanse develop bestia features of the spider, the lion, the hyena and the snake, among others, as they wander down the gad of centuries. Restless, like many predators, they,séam the star-shrouded nights of Africa, seeking knowledge and wisclom, Aswell asthe prey they need to syiye : Wahdetlust fills the Akunanse, and manYoot feel compglldiico, ncedlessyprestrict!erselvesss6"a Gingle contain: They thivel-a€tess the whole ofthe continent, from the plains tothe aroun tas from thecoasts co the tf Tearing font vid teaching fo MOREA and xe wigom gaified from heir sojpurns makesth€A kunanse highly valued asadvisors Meffiarors and mentors many maga: andetherinfluestilaibon. Leger (2thof one ARhiBAnse trayetér cafling him: self Hasani Who triveled che Eber Kingdom far and wide inthe L6tHeentury IPs ald his algsfedfeer touched ‘every type of terra, includipg the Sahara itself, and the legends tecall he was¢huite fed of various cultures’ beliefs about their origins. ranse legacy In che late 16th century, Hasani found himself in Morocco on the northern coast of the continent as that nation was fighting a losing war against che Portuguese and their colonial interests there. The Portuguese hoped to conquer Morocco and transform it into a satellite of the Iberian county. As the Europeans controlled the sea, the Moroceans often held less coastal territory in their own country than theforeignersdid. Whileusually above ‘noctal concerns, Hasani had no interest in seeing any ore of his homeland fall under the dominion of s. Therefore, he presented himself to the Sultan of II man, as advisor and consul. ‘Aided by the Laibon’s advice, the Moroccans soundly defeated the Porcuguese in 1578 at the Battle of Three Kings. The battle earned this name from the fact that the Portuguese king himself took part in the battle, as did the came” sultan candidare the European monarch had to replace the current sultan. Both of these mortals died in battle, and Hasani, knowing that ruin for Morocco, witnessed the d himself ‘The new Moroccan ruler, Alinansur, made Hasani fixture of his court until wanderlust again moved Hasani togoelsewhere, Almansur took advantage of the Laibon's patronage and desire to be on the move, and Hasan traveled with an army south across the Sahara to attack and conquer the Songhai Empire in 1590. Wichin a ye lor two, even the legends lose track of Hasani, as he again, wandered to some new challenge, some new lesson. The Akunanse are well regarded within the Ebony Kingdom for their knowledge. The Guruhi value them highly as advisors, counselors and inter-domain diplo- mats, The Shango often consult the learned Akunanse i Laibon justice, and the Xi Dundu treat weak leader meant th of the sultan them warily, suspecting them of being more Guruhi spies and informants than sigely wanderers of the earth, In somecases, certain broodsandsub-tribesofthe Al legney have conflicted with individual factions of the Setites. Perhaps this isto be expected with the formers inclination toward learning new things and the latter's desire to hold knowledge close The Akunanse themselves respect the dominion of the Guruhi and its supporter legacies, rarely feeling the need to change the current system, which works well enouzh most of the time. These Laibon often worry over the ambitions of the Xi Dundu, however, and wonder when (notif) they will trikearthe Guruhi regime. Many Akunanse, at least those less concerned with politics than learning more of the earth and its wonders, remain aloof regarding a possible strugele of domain supremacy. As long as they are left alone to pursue their owns ends, many Akunanse care little enough for which Laibon legacy claims to have power over them. FoLLowers OF SET The Setites of the ngdlom are more diverse than their North Afri en, While as a group, many still eek the location ofthe Grand Temple to their god (which they believe lies somewhere in the Sudan, near the Uganda border), these Laibon also ki value of a secret kept, of lore hidden and of using knowledge to indebt thos SE ie a) apa Knownunflatteringly s Viperstosome, these Laibon, use their abilities and their closely guarded secrets to bring others, both mortal and undead, under their sway while largely remaining aloof from Laibon society and polities. In that way, these self-styled outsiders will be ready forthe inevitable ever the Grand Temple being found, which they believe augurs the ascension of darkness: the return of their founder, Set. Some Setites believe that, not only is the Grand Temple somewhere within in the Ebony Kingdom, but so is their god. Per haps, some speculate, the two lie in the same place: the Grand Temple being the home to which Set retired in AD33. One noteworthy Setice ealls herself Zhenga; she’ the mistress of Mombasia’s illegal underworld, drugs, blood orseerers, all these and more canbe had from Zhenga for the right price, She directs her mortal retain- ers, ghouls and retinue of fellow Laibon (mostly, but not exclusively Setites) to prowl the night as she sees fi Zhenga holds two main ambitions. The first is to claim Mombass@ outright asher own domain, thouch from the safety of the darkness. With such a tool at her disposal, she feels the Setites would be that much closer to being ready foctheit god!'sretum, asZhenga prepares Mombassa to he his capital with each passingiycar Zhenga’s second, secret objective deals with the army she’s creating for her lost god. She uses the slave trade to sustain a captive breeding progeam unlike any other. In the wilderness beyond the city, small eamps exist where Zhenga breeds her vitae-enhanced ghouls with mortals. When the children of these unholy unions are bor, the mortal parent iskilled and its blood is mixed with milk and fed to the infane as is first meal. Zhenga callsthese children hima (the Nilote word for ghoul), and she hopes their unique diet, training, and in some cases, supemarural abilities beyond those of any typical ghoul, will serve them well as Set’s shock troops of darkness rising when the dark god returns. Bima are dark and hairy Gome to urry), and many have tusks and long claws Moscother aibon regard the Sctites with caution, as noted by the common nickname Vipers. The Guruhi and theiralliesdistrust them, fortheycannot helpbut wonder what secrets the Setites hide, what secret knowledge they quest for and what schemes they have tofind or resurrect their so-called god. Most Guruhi do nor believe that Set stillexists, but they are wise enough to know that the fact of it matters little. If the Vipers believe their god has returned, the Setites across the Ebony Kingdom will rise in open revo ‘The Setites care litte for Guruhi polities, Oseboand Shango posturing and threats, and the constant burrow- ing for knowledge of the Akunanse disturbs them some. They sce the other legacies as useful tools, to be used e point of bei when needed and put down when they are no longer productive. The Xi Dundu bear particular attention, they are one of the few legacies thatthe Setites grudgingly respect and keep their eyes on, Gurun The Laibon of this legacy are the masters of the Ehony Kingdom. The oral histories of the Lai thar they were the firstlegacy to immigrate to Africa, and they soon established the basis for what is n domain. They suffered the other legacies to immigrate or develop, but the none gain too much power or too much arrogance and desite to seek the Kingdom for themselves. The Guruhi’s forceful personalities and impressive physical capabilities, even among Laibon, ensure that c con to theie positions of power and lership. OF course, powerful individual Laibon be ging to other legacies exist, but they do so as long as the Guruhi feel that they are content in their rolesas the Kingdom's servants. As long as they maintain their domains to the benefit of the kingdom and the Laibon, allow these potent individuals toserve them, always maintain a close watch so that the Guru Eze, the Demon Prince, is one of the most notorious Guruhi. He existed in Abyssinia (what is now western Ethiopia) around 1540 as.an open warlord, who made no attempt to hide his supernatural origin. Nor only did he viciously battle his way to dominance of the region, he also wiped out numerous bands of Portuguese invaders who sought to expand their colonies in Africa. E: terrified bth Laibon and mortal alike, the fort for his floutingof the Tenet of The Secret Must Be Kep6jind the latter fofhis unholy strength and overwhelming force of will. Lodalmortals were not molested, but anyfentsiders (especially Buropeans) were held as nothinglmore than chattel for the Demon Prince and his rexifueof Laibon. He created many Bhouls who seryedias BES bodyguards Jinsto hismort} adversaries. Fea Laibon — and theredterémafiy she soushouthiimsclfitrinking their suigso MéreasShis own pane, After tearigicecide of this Be Rishi someone or somethinittgg fit Hedlsappearcdsuddentyalltecord of his existent had Bech sight fox orl Fecords and memory. The identify of thd force powerfil enough to destroy the Deion Prince remainsat mygfery among che Laibon to this night, though it if whispered that the Akunanse have ui€pvered hints regéeding it The Shango, Oiebo and soe members of the Akunanse legacies have the strongest tiesto the Guru for they serve to support the domains of these Laibon. The Ishtarri and the Kinyonyi regard their Guruhi “pa- trons" more coolly, so as long as they're le two legacies don’t care much for formal titles or political posturing, respectively. The Naglopers and Xi Dundu alone, these As th jers of the Ebony Kingdom, the Guruhi maintain strong relationships with many of the other legacies. They see the Shango as their judges and their enforcers to be used when other Laibon step out of They view the Osebo as their scouts and soldiers, and they consider the Ishtarri to be wise, valuable diplo- mats and occasional advisors. The Guruhi pay little attention to the Kinyonyi and, for the most part, the ‘Akunanse as these two legacies possess little in the w: of political ambition. They consider the Naglopers to be close watching, lest they get out of the Xi Dundu are rebels just waiting for the frst sign of weakness on the part of the Guruhi ‘Weakness is not something the lords of the Ebony King: dom intend to display, especially to would-be usurpers IstrTARRI The Ishtarri place the the Ebony Kingdom, but nonetheless a vital part of it According to their own creation story, they are the descendents of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. As lave- comers to the Ebony Kingdom, they petitioned the Guruhi fora place in their domain, and to the surprise of the indigenous Laibon, the Guruhi agreed. To this night, no one knows exactly why the Guruhi agreed, but the weight of tradition ensures that the Ishe their place. nselves as outsiders within ri have Asthe goxidess whoreatedhthem was the patron of, love, fertility and wag, s¥tod%Ovher Laibon children follow in her footsteps/Aleiniythic fillennia since th introduction to-the Eo6ny

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