just an earth-bound misfit, I"
- Pink Floyd, "Learning to Fly"
 |
| The Nosferatu |
| Dead or Missing |
| Rumors |
| Nosferatu from Previous Chronicles (Parting Gifts through Post Mortem) |
"The
Nosferatu are the least human-appearing of all the clans. They look something
like feral animals. Their smell and appearance are revolting - one could
even say monstrous. Long, bulbous ears, coarse-skinned skulls covered with
tufts of hair, and elongated faces splotched with disgusting warts and
lumps are among their less nauseating features.
After
Nosferatu have been Embraced, they undergo an exceptionally painful period
of transformation. Over a period of weeks, they slowly shift from their
mortal countenances to their Nosferatu visages. In the beginning, the childer
may revel in their newfound powers, but soon the pain and the changes will
begin. The psychological trauma of becoming such a loathsome monstrosity
is often more painful than the physical symptoms.
Nosferatu
usually Embrace those mortals who are twisted in one way or another; emotionally,
physically, spiritually or intellectually. They consider the Embrace
too horrific to bestow on any worthwhile human beings. With the change
into vampires, the Nosferatu hope to somehow redeem the mortals, to give
them a second chance. It is surprising how often it works. Underneath the
grim exterior, the Nosferatu are practical and surprisingly sane.
It
is said they revel in being dirty and disgusting and do little to make
themselves look better (not that there is very much they could do). Indeed,
they are cheerful amid their squalor, especially when others are forced
to enter their realm. They are known for being grumpy and lewd, and cannot
be trusted to conform to the standards of civilised society.
Though
their Obfuscate discipline enables the Nosferatu to travel through mortal
society, they are unable to interact with it. Therefore they must live
apart. The habits that develop from such an existence extend even to their
interactions with other vampires. They avoid all contact, preferring their
own solitary existence to the chaos of interacting with others.
Though
Nosferatu may not fraternize with other vampires, they do remain surprisingly
cognizant about the affairs of the city. They favor such tactics as listening
to the conversations of other vampires from hiding, and Nosferatu have
even been known to sneak into the Prince's haven to discover the deepest
secrets of this elder. Anyone wishing to know any information about the
city or its immortal inhabitants need only speak with a Nosferatu." (Vampire
the Masquerade, Second Edition)