Kiasyd

The Kiasyd are a fictional bloodline of vampires in White Wolf Game Studio's ' books and role-playing games, sometimes also appearing in ' as a bridge between the two games.

The Kiasyd symbol is a black-backgrounded stylised moth. It is theorized that this symbol was chosen due to the shimmering effect of the tiny scales on a moth's wing being similar to the glow that Kiasyd seem to emit when under the moonlight. [Justin Achilli et al., "Vampire: The Masquerade (Revised Edition)" (White Wolf Game Studio, 1998, ISBN 1-56504-249-2)]

The Kiasyd trace their lineage to a Lasombra vampire named Marconius who had himself infused with fae blood. For this reason, Marconius, and those embraced by him and his followers, are often thought to be a combination of vampire and fae. [Bruce Baugh, "Clanbook: Lasombra" (White Wolf Game Studio, 2001, ISBN 1-58846-201-3)] Because of a long-standing love-hate relationship with the Lasombra, Kiasyd are most often associated with the Sabbat. This is not always the case, however, as often they are used as independent NPCs in order to help the players along by dropping hints. [Steven C. Brown & Ken Meyer, "The Storytellers Handbook to the Sabbat" (White Wolf Game Studio, 1995, ISBN 1-56504-042-2)]

, solid black eyes, and exceptional height with heights of over seven feet not being unusual. This strange visual impression may account for the clan nickname "Weirdlings." and generally marks them very quickly as vampires unless the player uses the obfuscate ability to hide this. [Justin Achilli et al., "Guide to the Sabbat" (White Wolf Game Studio, 1999, ISBN 1-56504-263-8)] The Obfuscate ability is particularly useful to this clan as by using it the player can mask the Kiasyd's strange appearance or make them temporarily invisible.

The bloodline's clan discipline is "Mytherceria", which encompasses a heightened talent for acquiring arcane knowledge as well as causing the unique ability to be able to detect other supernatural creatures such as fae and werewolves. The discipline also makes them experts at creating and solving riddles. Not too surprisingly, librarians, museum curators, and students are among those most frequently embraced by the Kiasyd. However, the bloodline itself is quite small in number, and very few kindred are even aware that the Kiasyd exist. [Craig Bolin, Richard E. Dansky & Robert Hatch, "Libellus Sanguinis 1: Masters of the State" (White Wolf Game Studio, 1997, ISBN 1-56504-286-7)]

Their other hallmark ability is "Obtenebration", an ability carried over from their Lasombra forebearers. This ability allows them to warp, shape and control the darkness around them and, as some say, within themselves. [Justin Achilli et al., "Vampire: The Masquerade (Revised Edition)" (White Wolf Game Studio, 1998, ISBN 1-56504-249-2)]

Besides their strange appearances, the Kiasyd have another unusual clan flaw: they, much like the fae, are vulnerable to Cold Iron. Cold Iron (unwrought and pure) causes all Frenzy difficulties to be increased by one and Rötschreck(fear frenzy) difficulties increase by two. Touching Cold Iron causes an immediate Rotschreck roll, and also causes 1 health level of damage per turn (preventable only by the ability Fortitude, as it is not aggravated). Actually being damaged by a cold iron weapon causes Kiasyd aggravated wounds. [Steven C. Brown & Ken Meyer, "The Storytellers Handbook to the Sabbat" (White Wolf Game Studio, 1995, ISBN 1-56504-042-2)]

References