The Setites' clan loyalty mirrors that of the Assamites and the Brujah, but is different in form. They stand by one another for religious reasons; each Follower of Set knows herself to be a disciple of the God of Darkness, lord among the Antediluvians. The clan is a cult, with all the ritual and fanaticism one would expect, and yet is also much more. Because the Setites follow a mythic figure rather than a visible charismatic leader, they can reach farther than a mere cult.
For all their influence, no other clan trusts the Followers of Set, an attitude the Serpents repay in full. They regard all other clans as hopelessly lost, not even worthy of the title "heretic". They hold the Baali bloodline in particular contempt, considering them weak relics adhering to a miserable philosophy. However, they refuse to go to war with any other lines, preferring instead to snare gently whom they can. The reptilian ones are patient and willing to wait out the centuries between now and the eventual return of Set. On that day, they promise, their foes will be cast into the underworld forever, and even the hated sun will be blotted from the sky. It is no less than Set's will.
The Followers of Set rule those mortals who have fallen into vice and temptation. Avaricious merchants, lusty false monks, fallen Templars and desperate vassals - all can be found as a Setite's pawns. Thusly, the clan has a surprising amount of mortal influence. Their innate sense of corruption also permits them to prey on Cainite weaknesses, and more than one local elder has ended up Thrall to a Serpent.
The clan has little military strength, however. Setites draw their power fromsubtle means, and the average Follower of Set would likely lose to the average Brujah, Gangrel or Assamite in personal combat. They prefer to let powerful ghouls do their fighting for them, often knights or strong laborers under Blood Oaths to their masters.
Setites actually tend to prefer the company of
their worshipful disciples to that of their vampiric peers. They will gather
in small groups or temples from time to time, but hold no real love for
one another. Still, the Followers of Set trust one another and only one
another - they avoid situations where they would have to rely on another
clan.
Setites on the Road of Typhon hold all higher positions in the clan - no other philosophy is permitted to gain a foothold. These dark priests encourage and abet their underlings, fostering many small cults across Europe. Clan leaders gather every so often, on the night preceding any total solar eclipse. These meetings take place at the Grand Temple of Set, currently located somewhere below Alexandria. It is there that the Setites devise their plans of corruption and conquest.
Setites try to addict mortals and vampires alike to whatever pleasures they can. They fully endorse blackmail, extortion, bribery, prostitution and murder, and particularly enjoy catching "holy men" in their coils. They are curently encouraging the burgeoning practice of small criminal organizations, although the results have been varied. In every major European, there is likely to be at least one Setite. In addition, some Followers of Set have been provoking obvious acts of cruelty to agitate mortals against vampires. They hope to start a wave of witch-hunting that will sweep away their rivals, leaving the Setites the undisputed lords of the night.
Some Setite cults have been exposed to mortal attention, and the religious backlash in Christian Europe has proved unsettling. Whispers of debased witches are now traveling the continent, and several hunters have set after the Serpents. Although physically stronger than human trackers, the Setites are concerned that other Cainites might follow on their heels.
The Followers considered the Crusades an excellent oportunity and are attempting to begin another. To date, they seem to be meeting with some success. They are also considering ending their rivalry with the Baali once and for all, and are pursuing friendly relations with the Assamites to this end.
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