Basic info: The Tremere are unique and no other clan has a history as rich, yet short, as theirs. Long ago, there were others of their line who were not warlocks, nor did the clan have mastery over the discipline of Thaumaturgy. Less than 1,000 years ago, a metamorphosis occurred. Deep in the Romanian mountains, in the district known as Transylvania, a group of magi from the ancient order were Embraced by a foolish clan leader. Combining their new powers with their ancient lore, the magi were quickly able to assume control of the clan. They Embraced many others from their arcane order, and drank the blood of all the elders of their clan. In the little time since then they have made incredible inroads within vampiric society and are arguably the most powerful clan in the modern nights. This is due in no small part to their strict heirarchy, secretive nature, and mastery of Thaumaturgy, all of which elicit suspicion, fear, and respect from other Kindred. The Tremere stand as a pillar of the Camarilla and are one of it's main defenders, despite the fact that they exist almost as a subsect. Some even go so far as to consider themselves the evolution of vampirism, citing their extreme versatility of blood magic and lack of a true clan curse. The members of this clan are dedicated and extremely well organized. They are aggressive, highly intellectual, manipulative, and they respect only those who struggle and presevere despite all odds. The Tremere believe that they must use the other clans in order to prosper. "Be friendly with them, let them think that we are one with them, but never forget that we serve our clan first and foremost. If you must use your friends in service of the clan, then you know that your time was not wasted." The Tremere are an odd lot, indeed. They claim to have once been wizards who voluntarily gave up their "art" for the powers and eternal life of the vampire. They have never named a founder, and some claim they have none, having discovered and harnessed mystical powers to achieve their state. Many of the elder Kindred discount this claim, considering it like those made by other so-called "magicians of Europe who are almost uniformly deluded or schizophrenic. The Tremere link to the substance of blood apparently runs deep, as they are rumored to be able to use blood in special ways to gain extraordinary powers. Some believe elder Tremere were actually practicioners of some ancient blood magic. They also believe that the knowledge of those practices has been passed down from generation to generation, such that it is now viewed by the younger Tremere as natural and commonplace, and certainly not magic. The leaders of this clan are based out in Vienna, though they have chantries ("guild houses" for the practice of magic) on every continent of the world. A council of seven elders is said to control the entire clan from the Vienna chantry. From that locus, they maintain a tightly ordered, highly hierarchical group - one that allows no one outside the lineage to view their inner workings. The younger members of clan Tremere are expected to obey their elders without question. But this is not as true as it once was. Tremere typically have immense love and loyalty for their clan, largely because they are Blood Bound by seven elders of the clan. They come to love the clan because of the love they feel for their masters. Though there are some rebels and anarchs from the Tremere line, it is likely they are posing as such on the orders of the clan, as part of its long-term plots. Aside from the clan heirarchy, Tremere are sometimes grouped into political factions and houses, which range from cults to distinct colleges of magic or other intellectual pursuits. These groups are generally highly informal and maintain their own organization, if any at all, and some may even be at odds with one another. To the rest of Kindred society, however, they always present a unified front. Given their history as usurpers and power-grabbers, they are obsessed with the image and reputation of their clan. The Tremere are one of the primary pillars of the Camarilla in the modern nights, arguably second only to the Ventrue in terms of the support and influence they possess (most of this power comes from the Tremere's near-monopoly of Thaumaturgy, but also from the encouragement for individual Tremere to place clan interests high on their list of priorities). The clan is synonymous with blood magic, a fact that they use to instill fear and envy in others. While they are surely not the first thaumaturges in Cainite history (despite claims to the contrary), their paradigm is one of the most flexible and expansive. The Tremere differ from the other thaumaturges by adopting a uniquely scientific approach to magic, and they encourage active experimentation - the result being a staggering array of thaumaturgical paths and rituals. Of course, no single individual knows every application of blood magic and such knowledge is one of the main forms of barter within the clan. Disciplines: Auspex, Dominate, Thaumaturgy. General appearance: The sorcerous Tremere are typically imposing or sinister in mien. Some favor classic suits; others prefer a slightly more antiquated look, dressing in 1940's-cut suits, Edwardian finery or the simple black turtlenecks of the Beat era. Many wear charms or amulets inscribed with cabalistic or other arcane symbols, as a sign of their learning. Although individual Tremere may run the gamut from immaculately precise to disheveleled and eccentric, the vampiric sorcerers' eyes always gleam with hidden insight and frightening acuity. Usual Havens: While Tremere may maintain their own individual havens (often complete with extensive libraries), the clan maintains a chantry in every city that harbors a strong Tremere presence. A chantry is open to any of the Tremere bloodline and absolutely forbidden to all others. The Tremere are infamous for their well-guarded havens; almost all boast mystical wards that even other Tremere would find difficult to circumvent. Progeny: The Tremere are very selective in who they Embrace and normally do so with a mind for the clan's needs. Many dabbled in occult or other scholarly pursuits in life. However, a fascination with the unknown is hardly enough to draw a Tremere's attention; clan members seek "apprentices" with aggressive natures and clear thinking, and care little for muddle-headed New Agers or befuddled conspiracy theorists. Soon after being Embraced, Tremere neonates are made to drink the blood of seven Tremere elders through a ritual called the Transubstantiation of Seven, bringing them one step towards a blood bond to the clan's leaders and ensuring some degree of loyalty to their peers. Afterwards their training begins, even as they continue to grapple with their transformation into a vampire, memorize the Traditions, learn to feed, and so on. These factors lead to a high rate of failure in newly Embraced Tremere, who may go mad or commit suicide. Clan Tremere has an unspoken tradition of sexism, and most of its elders are male. Tremere ancillae have become rather more open-minded as of late, though, and draw ample numbers or suitably ambitious and persistent acolytes from both sexes. Views on the other clans: Brujah: Time has been cruel. When first we met, the Brujah were the scholars of our kind. Now they have crumbled to a sorry state, and we have taken up the flame of knowledge in their stead. It is only fitting, but it somehow seems wasteful. No matter. Gangrel: These beasts feign loyalty, but are all too willing to hand us over to the enemy if an excuse presents itself. We must be certain always to remain stronger than these hyenas who blame us for their old, poorly healed wounds. Malkavian: Their prattle of "insights" unknown to us grows tiresome very quickly. But however poor dinner guests they may be, they are seers or exceptional clarity. There's a trick to such perceptual shortcuts, and we can yet discover it. Nosferatu: Some tasks are too noisome even for us, and the Nosferatu make appropriate lackeys to these ends. Toreador: They are Aesop's grasshopper; we are the ant. They think to justify their immortailty with their art and their parties, but the cold times are coming sooner than they think. Ventrue: These creatures obsess over control but have no sensibility for the finer points of power.

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