
In modem times, the Setites found a new home in the Western Hemisphere.
Both Jamaica and Haiti became fertile recruiting grounds for the clan.
Using the sophisticated science of modern times, the Setites became
druglords extraordinaire. Several Haitian secret societies and Jamaican
posses are rumored to be under their control, along with at least one
Middle Eastern terrorist group.
The first Follower into an area establishes a temple and prepares the way
for others. Once a newcomer arrives, she stays at the temple until she has
enough power to found her own. Each temple is at the center of a web of
corruption, and is always led by a single vampire.
Nickname: Sand-Snakes
Appearance: The vast majority of the Followers of Set have very distinct Middle Eastern features; however, increasing numbers are taken from all races. Red hair is especially prized because it is considered a mark of Set. When the Followers are seen, they are usually garbed in deepest ebony robes of an ancient quasi-Egyptian style. Ritual disfigurement is also common, though the nature seems to vary from member to member.
Haven: The Setites prefer to reside in caverns or bunkers deep underground. Often, the walls of these havens are decorated with Egyptian hieroglyphics telling the story of Set. These havens are known as temples, and they are always under or near the headquarters of the Setites' criminal activities.
Background: Typically, the Followers of Set choose neonates from their own human Retainers. Originally, only those of Egyptian descent were chosen as Retainers. Within the last century, however, a number of Europeans and Americans have been recruited.
Character Creation: Most Setites have outsider concepts, although there are a small number of dilettantes, criminals and politicians among them. They are often Curmudgeons or Deviants by Nature and will adopt whatever Demeanor is appropriate at the time. Social Attributes are primary, as are Talents. Most have the Background of Retainers and many have Contacts and Allies throughout various criminal organizations.
Clan Disciplines: Obfuscate, Presence, Serpentis
Weaknesses: Setites are extremely susceptible to sunlight. Double the dice for damage from any exposure to it. They are also susceptible to bright lights and subtract one from all Dice Pools while in bright light (i.e., spotlights, nightclub strobe lights, searchlights, magnesium flares, etc.).
Organization: Each city with a Setite presence has its own local
Temple of Set, overseen by a Kindred priest or priestess. There may be one
or more subpriests depending on the size of the domain. There are usually
three to five human Retainers per priest. The Grand Temple of Set is
rumored to be some where in southern Sudan near the Ugandan border.
Monthly gatherings are held in each temple at the dark of the moon. It is
rumored that once every century there is a great gathering held at the
Grand Temple.
It is also said that there once was a group known as the Children of
Osiris, whose members opposed the Followers of Set. Nothing is known of
them, and the Setites claim to have literally consumed them.
Gaining Clan Prestige: Clan Prestige within the Followers of Set is gained by enslaving others through their own weaknesses. The more followers a Setite has, the more respect she garners among her peers. Setites can also gain Prestige by corrupting people and Kindred in high positions.
Quote: "We are the small voice that whispers to you in the
lonely hours of the night. We call to the darkness within all of you. We
came from the dark and to the dark we shall all return."
To say that the Setites of the Camarilla are regarded as odd is to
indulge in gross understatement. Nevertheless, the handful of Serpents who
did heed the initial call of the Camarilla (there have been precious few
to come over since) seem entirely sincere in their attachment to the sect.
Even more bizarre is the fact that the unaffiliated Followers of Set
don’t seem to be taking any particular steps to wipeout these few
aberrations. (The Serpents of the Light are another matter, but then
again, the Sabbat always is.)
In reality, the motivation behind the trickle of Camarilla Setites is a
simple one. Say what you like about it, but the Camarilla is the most
efficient thing the Cainite race has ever put together. It has managed,
with very few slips, to conceal the presence of vampires from the masses
of humanity despite the best efforts of its enemies to destroy it, and to
keep some vague semblance of order over a large portion of the map.
Now what, ask the Camarilla Setites of themselves, if that organization
and occasional efficiency could be turned to their ends? It’s a
disturbing possibility, which is why these Serpents keep a very low
profile.
Dealings With Others: Camarilla Setites cluster themselves on
the fringes of Elysium; the usual crowd there is more likely to discuss
matters and less likely to haul out the old “A Setite is a Setite”
rationalization before opening fire. Furthermore, those Kindred with
passions for art and diplomacy are likely to have passions for other
things, things that the Serpents can provide. Still, the Setites of the
Camarilla take great care to avoid behavior that is too stereotypical, for
the simple reason that none of them want to be mistaken in a dark alley
— or a well- lit board room for a non-sectarian member of the clan.
Followers of Set who have joined the Camarilla have not abandoned their
clan’s ultimate goal, nor are they necessarily regarded as traitors by
their clanmates. The true glory of Set will be made manifest in the
subversion or destruction of all of the other clans, but nowhere is
written that all of the other clans need to be humbled at the same time.
Using the Camarilla to humble the Sabbat, then the independents to humble
the Camarilla makes perfect sense from the Setite perspective. In the
meantime, Camarilla Setites do their utmost for the sect as a method of
working toward that final aspiration.
Oddly enough, it is Toreador and the Brujah that Camarilla Setites deal
with most frequently, and whom they turn to for protection in the face of
adversity from other Camarilla Kindred. Both clans are prey to strong
passions and desires of the sorts that that the Setites can assuage, while
Nosferatu, Tremere and Ventrue tend to be cautious in their dealings with
any Setites, regardless of sect. As a rule Camarilla Setites avoid
whenever possible, reportedly out of the fear that the Lunatics can see
right through their schemes. More rational Kindred say that it's because
the Setites just don't have anything that the Malkavians actually want,
but to date, it's all hearsay and speculation.
Roleplaying: Playing a Setite bound by the laws of the Camarilla takes even more delicacy and subtlety than portraying an unfettered member of the clan. Camarilla Setites take great pains to put their clanmates at ease--they voluntarily tone down the serpent imagery and decor, just to the putative distance between themselves and the “normal” members of the clan. Some sect-aligned Setites go so far as to eschew “traditional” Setite activities like dabbling in a city’s drug trade, though they’re more likely to make a logical case as to how their connections make them best suited to run the market to the Camarilla’s benefit. How much of a charade the performance actually is depends on the individual Serpent, but all Camarilla Setites recognize the necessity of earning their sectmates’ trust by any means possible.
In social situations, Camarilla Setites are unfailingly polite and proper, with every action calculated to make those who would rail against them for their origins look bad, boorish and untrustworthy. That’s not to say that Camarilla Setites are ineffectual or limited, but rather that they get their hands dirty in private. A Setite strolling into Elysium may have under-the-table deals going with half the Toreador in attendance, but won’t hint at any of them in public. Appearances must be preserved, after all--appearances and a reputation for discretion, so that future deals aren’t jeopardized.