Salubri
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The Salubri are a fictional bloodline of vampires from White Wolf Game Studio's Vampire: The Masquerade books and role-playing games.
The Salubri are a little-known Bloodline of Kindred, ostracized and hunted to near-extinction by more than a few Clans. Marked by their possession of a third eye in the center of their foreheads, these Kindred are even less able to blend in with normal society than other vampires. This third eye, when closed, resembles a thin scar, but when the Salubri use their healing powers, the eye opens, looking detached and serene. Its presence is related to the healing Discipline of the Salubri, but is not exclusive to or inherent within the Salubri Bloodline; Salubri who never develop healing abilities never develop a third eye, and Kindred of other lineages who learn the Salubri healing powers will also develop a third eye.
Distancing them further from other Kindred, the Salubri can only gain sustenance from blood that is willingly given, thus divorcing them from the typical image of vampires as life-stealing monsters.
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[edit] History
In ancient times, the Salubri were once a full Clan, divided into two castes, the Healers and the Warriors. Their founder, Saulot, was said to be the wisest and most merciful of the Antediluvians (ancient vampires; the thirteen grandchilder of Caine). Rumors spoke of a third lost caste, the Watchers.
The Salubri were nearly wiped out during the Dark Ages era, when Tremere himself, the founder of the Tremere clan, consumed Saulot's soul and initiated a campaign of destruction against the Clan as a whole. The ease with which this was accomplished is still one of the enigmas of the time.
It has been theorized that Saulot himself is actually the one who initiated the campaign against his clan, after his spirit took brief control over the body of Tremere. This may have something to do with his possible creation of the Baali, considered one of, if not the most, vile Bloodline by the limited number of Kindred who even know of their existence.
[edit] The East
Some evidence exists that Saulot traveled to the Far East and learned the healing and warrior arts of the Obeah Discipline by somehow unlocking the secrets of the Kuei-jin. Kuei-jin refer to Saulot as "Zao-Lat", typically with an unpleasant epithet attached. Tiny enclaves of Salubri-like Kindred known as the Wu Zao also reside in remote locations in the Far East, lending further credence to these tales. The supplement "Demon Hunter X", set in the Far East, discusses mortal demon hunters with strong spiritual powers called the Shih. A godlike figure among the Shih is called the God Slayer, and he is said to have a third eye in his forehead. This would explain Saulot's apparently bad reputation among the Kuei-jin and his indifference towards his own Clan's destruction.
[edit] The Final Nights
In modern times, there are said to be only seven Salubri Healers in existence at once. They quest for the vampiric enlightenment called Golconda, and when one of them believes they have found it, they create a childe, undergoing ritual diablerie to strengthen the new vampire and thus increase their chance of survival. Rumors also speak of Salubri who have been questing for Golconda since the Dark Age.
[edit] Salubri antitribu
In recent years, a Salubri named Adonai rebelled against tradition and defected to the Sabbat, creating the Salubri antitribu by siring a large number of childer. In doing this, he created a variant Bloodline. The Salubri Antitribu differ from their parent bloodline in that they can only obtain sustenance from blood taken unwillingly and by force (though they can also drink from victims they've recently killed). They also have no healing powers, possessing instead the ancient supernatural combat abilities of the long-extinct Salubri warrior caste (which also provide a third eye, though this eye reflects rage).
[edit] Note
- The Salubri's name comes from the word salubrious.
[edit] References
- Justin Achilliet al., Vampire: The Masquerade (Revised Edition) (White Wolf Game Studio, 1998, ISBN 1-56504-249-2)
- Clanbook: Salubri (White Wolf Game Studio, 1999, ISBN 1-56504-212-3)
- White Wolf Games Studio et al., Vampire Storytellers Companion (White Wolf Game Studio, 1998, ISBN 1-56504-259-X)
- Andrew Greenberg, Vampire Players Guide (White Wolf Game Studio, 1993, ISBN 1-56504-053-8)
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Vampire: The Dark Ages and Vampire: The Masquerade · Clans and Bloodlines |
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Assamite · Baali · Brujah · Caitiff · Cappadocian (V:DA) · Daughters of Cacophony (V:TM) · Followers of Set · Gangrel · Giovanni (V:TM) · Harbingers of Skulls (V:TM) · Kiasyd · Lasombra · Malkavian · Nosferatu · Ravnos · Salubri · Samedi (V:TM) · Toreador · Tremere · Tzimisce · Ventrue |
