Once, when the world was still lit by torchlight, it is said that a dead man walked the cobbled streets of Britain. He had beauty, charm, and eternal life, but all pleasure was but ash to him. He dined with kings, hoarded estates, and took the blood of whomever he liked. Though he stood as one of the greatest Elders of England, nothing could alight his dead heart, and in time this drove him mad. One night, during his lifeless stroll around town, he saw a boy walking home. There was nothing remarkable about him, but he held one thing that the vampire could not acquire: joy. That night, with jealousy beyond comprehension, the elder vampire performed one of his greatest sins. He Embraced the boy, that he could exult in his shattered innocence. But though the child could no longer stand the light of day and was forced to sustain himself on the blood of the living, his heart remained pure. He tarried in town for his first month of unlife. At the month's end, he slew his heartless sire. And then he walked away, leaving behind nothing but the elusive bloodline of Cherubim that persists to this night.
Some say that the bloodline did not manifest thusly. Some say that instead the bloodline known as the Cherubim instead manifested when a peculiar, obsessive fetishist was Embraced in the early twentieth century. Cherubim just smile at both stories.
Parent Clan: Daeva
Nickname: Angels
The Cherubim, a bloodline of undying youth and innocence, stand as an almost impossible contradiction to most other Kindred. Shrouded in undeath, they yet shine with the light of life. Despite living off of the blood of the living, they hold the face of childhood. For most vampires, the Cherubim are an enigma, a ridiculous oddity that has no place in the Danse Macabre. Shunned by other vampires and retaining vulnerability despite their Embrace, the Cherubim band together, managing to live their unlife despite all odds. Though they may not reach the dizzying heights of power and influence, perhaps the Cherubim are able to find one thing vampires so rarely attain: purity.
The Cherubim are a minor bloodline whose Blood echoes with the pulse of youth. While the bloodline is primarily composed of child vampires, all who enter the bloodline share the same affinity for youth, no matter their age at the time of the Embrace. This strange, central feature has rendered them a weak bloodline in terms of size and influence, something which has also served to protect them from those with unsavory aims. In contemporary nights, Cherubim can be found in small numbers all throughout the anglosphere. Clannish yet surprisingly amiable, time will tell if the Cherubim manifest more of a name for themselves in the present nights.
Bane: Cherubim feel even more lost than other Daeva when without the mortals to whom they are attached. When the Cherubim is not in the presence of a mortal whom they hold the Swooning condition towards, they suffer a -2 penalty to all Mental skill rolls. Among Cherubim, the affection that the Daeva's curse induces is often platonic, with the vampire viewing the mortal as a caretaker. Sometimes, however, the relationship is inversed, with the Cherubim taking on a protective role for their mortal charge. Because of their curse, many Cherubim are careful in whom they feed from. Alternately, some simply ensure that their mortal friend is never away from them, whether the mortal likes it or not.
Demographics: Most Cherubim are inducted into the bloodline from amongst the ranks of child vampires. For most such inductees, this is as much a practical decision as it is an ideological one, for child vampires are often left vulnerable to other vampires, mentally and physically, immediately after the Embrace. A smaller portion of Cherubim consist of adults who were inducted into the bloodline. Due to the nature of the bloodline and their highly secretive nature, almost all such inductees are individuals who hold a deep affinity for childhood. Few adult vampires would ever want to join such a bloodline, and only the most like-minded individuals can convince the Cherubim to let them join their ranks. Finally, a very small amount of Cherubim are Embraced into the bloodline. Almost always children, these Embraces are rare events, for even the Cherubim still know vampirism to be a curse. Still, despite the unholy nature of the Blood, some Cherubim can convince themselves to preserve youth forever. A vanishingly small amount of Cherubim are Embraced into the bloodline as adults. This is very much frowned upon, to the point where some such sires will attempt pass off such childer as inductees. Again, due to the nature of the bloodline, such an entrance is almost always voluntary, though there are whispered rumors of involuntary Embraces.
Society: In general, Cherubim are highly communal and insular. Many Cherubim are weak on an individual level, and thus rely on companionship for mutual protection. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for Cherubim to lack emotional resilience to a far greater degree than most other vampires. Cherubim often thrive in a social environment, and it just so happens that other Cherubim are usually the only sorts of people they can really interact with. Communities of Cherubim often feel like extended families, with individual groups each being sovereign. Communication with distant Cherubim is uncommon, but it does happen. Cherubim as a whole maintain little connection with the rest of vampiric society, though there are always exceptions. Cherubim often treat other Cherubim as siblings, and this can even extend to distant Cherubim, who can be seen as far-off cousins. Some Cherubim are instead treated more as caretakers, whether they be seen more as “big siblings” or parents. Such Cherubim almost always voluntarily take on such positions, though some reach them without seeking them. The sire-childe relationship is attenuated amongst Cherubim. While childer often still maintain signficant relationships with their sire, sires are only partially seen as superiors. Sires are often seen as peers, and many sires can even be indignant at being treated as a parental surrogate. For many, this is of course because they want to be the kid too. Leadership among Cherubim is typically oligarchic or autocratic, with the most capable Cherubim making the decisions for the community. Such leaders are typically chosen along meritocratic lines, though this is less out of philosophical conviction and more because most Cherubim do not want to be leaders. Unusually for a bloodline, Cherubim include vampires of other bloodlines in their communities decently often. Such vampires typically serve as caretakers, and can be the locus of some blood bonds. Notably, no matter their age at the time of the Embrace, all Cherubim are treated equally – that is to say, like kids.
Covenants: Most Cherubim are Unaligned. The concerns of the Covenants are typically too high-minded for Cherubim to care for, and the Covenants do not always accept Cherubim into their ranks, as one might guess. Despite the Cherubim's general lack of affiliation with the Covenants, they have a strange connection to the Ordo Dracul. Given how their Blood breaks some of the limits of the Kindred condition, more than one Ordo Dracul scientist has sought Cherubim out as test subjects. It is even rumored that the bloodline's most remarkable features are the fruits of a Coil, researched – or stolen – by a Cherubim.
Havens: Almost all Cherubim possess shared Havens. Whilst Cherubim typically possess a solitary room that serves as their true Haven, these rooms are typically part of structures which house other Cherubim. Cherubim generally live, work and play in the same spaces as their fellows. The Havens of Cherubim are often remarkly similar in appearance to the homes of mortals. Many are simply large houses, with bedrooms that are normal save for heavily shrouded windows. Many Cherubim even sleep in mortal beds, though almost all wrap themselves up in blankets more than a mortal would ever dream. Moreso than other vampires, the Havens of Cherubim are often chock-full of mortal amenities. Some even have functioning bathrooms. The widespread prevalence of the Coil of Youth means that many Cherubim can actually get a lot out of such amenities.
Coils of the Dragon: The Cherubim hold a unique feature in their Blood, one that allows them to reach at a long-lost youth. The Cherubim can feed without fear of losing Humanity or killing their vessel, obtain lost features of the living body, and even attain an aura of innocence at the height of their power. The nature of such abilities are mysterious, but they most resemble the Coils of the Ordo Dracul, for they are permanent adjustments of the Cherubim's form. Only Cherubim can learn the following Coil.
Coil of Youth:
Solace of Elysium - *
The Cherubim can feed from a mortal without risking their Humanity. The Cherubim gains a second pool of blood points, with a maximum cap of ten. This pool of blood points can only be used to wake up at night and to use the Blush of Life. Whenever the Cherubim feeds, they can choose to dedicate the obtained blood points to this pool. If they do so, they do not suffer a Breaking Point for feeding, even if they would normally suffer it. Furthermore, the mortal can only suffer up to three health boxes worth of damage from the feeding, and the feeding will never fill up the mortal's last health box. The Cherubim will always stop feeding before they kill a vessel.
Youth's Warm Glow - * *
The Cherubim's dead body takes on some of the features of the living. When the Cherubim uses the Blush of Life, it lasts for one day instead of one Scene. Furthermore, the Blush of Life is permanently augmented. Whenever the Cherubim uses the Blush of Life, they gain the capacity to eat and drink mortal fare. They also gain the ability to urinate. The fluid is translucent and clearly discernible from mortal urine. The Cherubim does not gain the ability to defecate. Once a Cherubim develops this ability, they often find that they have lost whatever continence they possessed in life. Some Cherubim undergo toilet training again. Others do not.
The Passions' Return - * * *
The Cherubim is able to recover the emotion and passion they had as a mortal. The Cherubim now experiences emotion as a mortal does, instead of feeling the muted emotions of other Kindred. The Cherubim can also regain Willpower from their Virtue and Vice, and not just their Mask and Dirge. The Cherubim still follows all rules regarding the maximum amount of Willpower that can be gained in a Scene.
Angelic Adoption - * * * *
The Cherubim is able to steel their heart, and give others a childhood without end. When Embracing, the Cherubim is no longer guaranteed to lose a dot of Humanity, provided that the target is a child. Instead, they suffer a Breaking Point at Humanity 3. They still suffer the normal Humanity loss if they Embrace an adult.
Holy Child's Visage - * * * * *
At the height of their power, the Cherubim exudes an aura of sanctity and innocence. Any individual attempting to harm the Cherubim suffers a Breaking Point at Integrity 3. Additionally, when using the Discipline of Presence, the Cherubim may choose to use the blood point pool provided by Solace of Elysium. Devotions involving the Discipline of Presence must still use the normal pool of blood points.
Devotions:
While Cherubim as a whole are not particularly given to hard study, the bloodline has developed some Devotions of its own. As can be guessed, most center around their peculiar affinity for childhood.
Guardian's Eye - Auspex * *
Cost: 1 blood point
Dice Pool: N/A
Duration: Lasting
The Cherubim feeds a trusted stuffed animal a bit of their own Blood, allowing the plush toy to serve as a sentinel. The Cherubim chooses a stuffed animal and expends one blood point to consecrate it. As an Instant action, the Cherubim can then spend a blood point to view out of the stuffed animal's eyes for one Scene. In such a circumstance, the Cherubim's visual perception is equivalent to that of their normal vision.
Youth's Shadow - Obfuscate * * * *
Cost: 3 blood points
Dice Pool: Wits + Occult + Obfuscate
Duration: 1 Scene or 1 Day
The Cherubim can weave shadow around themself, until they appear as a child once more. The Cherubim spends three blood points to cast an illusion about them, making them appear as a child. At one success, the Cherubim can appear as a child of any age. With three successes, the illusion lasts for one day instead of one Scene. The Cherubim remains physically unchanged; the change in appearance is only an illusion. Auspex or similar powers can see through this illusion. Generally speaking, if the successes of the roll of an applicable power exceed the number of successes that the Cherubim obtained when using the Devotion, then they are able to see the Cherubim's true appearance.