Tremere

Introduction

The Low Vampire Clan of Tremere began as House Tremere. They were a cabal of mages of the Order of Hermes named for their leader and founder, Tremere. At the end of the first millennia, the members of House Tremere realized the Hermitic arts were failing and found its immortality potions no longer working. Facing the possibility of losing everything, Tremere ordered research into alternate methods of sustaining their lives. House Tremere undertook numerous experiments, but it was Goratrix who devised a solution in his investigation of vampires.

History of Clan Tremere

Unlife as a Tremere

Clan Tremere is a very young clan which has arisen from a house of Mages. These Mages were looking for a path to immortality, and they succeeded, after a fashion. The Tremere are known as usurpers by the other clans because the Tremere used and experimented with vampires and used magic to become vampires themselves rather than being granted the embrace in the normal fashion.

The Tremere are organized in a very strict hierarchy with Tremere at the top and his inner council directing various aspects of the clan. Each new Tremere is bound into the organization as part of their embrace.

Despite this there are two key factions within the Tremere: the Conservatives and the Conspirators. During the conversion of the House to Vampirism the conservatives argued for keeping what they were secret and moving slowly to bring the rest of the House into the Clan and favor caution. Conversely the Conspirators advocated quickly converting the mortal Mages of the House and being actively involved in Vampire politics.

Many still refuse to call the Tremere a Clan at all. Although the clan is young, the warlocks of clan Tremere are still powerful. They lack any real allies, however, and they are beset on all sides by wizard and vampire enemies. As the Lords and Princes of Europe jockey with each other, many begin to look toward the Usurpers, welcoming more and more warlocks in their courts.

One of House Tremere's seats of power is Lion's Gate Chantry, located in Esh Winning (some minutes walk from Ushaw Moor). It is under the control of Merlinda, one of House Tremere's most powerful Cainites and one of the original Inner Council. That area has been granted to them by Prince Meagan and has no traditional Cainite court.

History of the Clan

House Tremere

The Tremere were originally a House of Mages within the Order of Hermes with Tremere as the leader. In 980 the leaders of House Tremere consecrated the ground for a new chantry, Ceoris, in Transylvania. The mages of House Tremere were fighting with the local Vampires. However, over time the power of the mages seemed to be waning. Believing that their magic would not continue to work they began searching for different methods maintaining their immortality. All of these failed until 1022 when a Tremere and seven elders of the house performed a ritual designed by Goratrix where they all devoured two vampires. After the end of this ritual the participants had become vampires themselves. This began a situation where the vampires of House Tremere remained hidden and slowly turned more and more of the mages into vampires.

War with the Tzimisce

The Tzimisce were the primary vampires in the area of Ceoris and the other Transylvanian chantries. There had been fighting between the two groups since even before the founding of Ceoris. However, when the Tzimisce learned of how the Tremere had become vampires using Tzimisce as part of the ritual there they redoubled their efforts. Eventually, the Tzimisce managed to destroy all of the Transylvanian chantries with the exception of Ceoris. During the fighting with the Tremere continued to experiment with using other vampires and created the Gargoyles.

Clan Tremere

Over the intervening years more of the House had been converted over to the being vampires. To further cement their status as a Clan Tremere drank the heart’s-blood of Saulot. With their newfound recently acquired status and their unique arts of Thaumaturgy the Tremere have begun to get involved in the political maneuverings of the other Clans.

War with the Order of Hermes

Having learned of what had happened in House Tremere, In 1202 the Order of Hermes kicked them out of the Order. This began the Massasa War and the two groups are in direct conflict to the present day.

Geography

The Center of power is at the Chantry of Ceoris in Transylvania. This is where the Clan was founded and has remained the center of power and research for the House and later the Clan since its founding in 980. The clan has established large chantries across Europe. In many cases these are located in less desirable areas as the nicer parts of cities are under the control of High Clan vampires. Notable chantries are in Paris, Vienna, and Perugia near Rome.

The nearest Chantry to Ushaw Moor is Lion’s Green in Durham. This is located in a tower built during Roman times. The Tremere intentionally situated the primary English chantry far from London to avoid conflict with the powerful influences of the other clans there. This does however place it in close proximity to Ushaw Moor.

Important Figures of the Clan

Tremere: The leader of the clan.

Goratrix: One of the original seven, a member of the inner council, and leader of the Chantry in Paris. Leader of the Conspirators. Creator of the ritual that turned the elders of the Tremere into Vampires.

Etrius: One of the original seven, a member of the inner council, and leader of the Chantry in Vienna. Leader of the Conservatives.

Meerlinda: One of the original seven, a member of the inner council, and Head of the Chantry at Durham. She strives to keep peace and harmony in her chantry and on the inner council of the clan.

Virstania: The creator of the Gargoyles.

Typical Roads for Members of the Clan

Most of the Tremere follow the road of Humanity as they have not been exposed to most of the other roads by the followers of those paths. However some are known to follow the path of Sin.

Priorities of the Clan

Survival

The Tremere have made some very powerful enemies in the last two centuries and have a shortage of true allies. They are working hard to make sure that they survive as a group. When they became Vampires they lost the abilities of mages and are having to come to terms with their new existence.

Gaining respect and power in Vampire Society

The Tremere are part of Vampire society regardless of how happy the other clans are with this situation. The Tremere are making sure that they are working to gain status with the High Clans. While the Tremere are technically Low Clan they go out of their way to be useful to the High Clans who are willing to work with the Tremere.

Knowledge and Research

Being vampires is a relatively new condition for the Tremere. They do not have the long history of experience of what it means to be a vampire. The Tremere are working to understand what they’ve become and to make sure they can take full advantage of their abilities.

Opinions

Humans

Not particularly respected except as they prove useful in the various conflicts that the Tremere are engaged in and as food source. Commoners were held in poor regard when the Tremere were a gathering of magi; the transformation to immortal vampire did not improve this. Ghouls These are the good servants from among the humans. They are rewarded for their knowledge, competence, and loyalty.

Other Vampires

Tzimisce: There has been centuries of hostility with the Tzimisce.

Low Clans: Despite being considered low clan the Tremere consider themselves better than the rest of the low clans as they aspire to find their place in Vampire society.

High Clans: The Tremere are working to find ways to make sure that they are useful to gain status with these clans and especially the Ventrue. However, the Tremere resent the need for it.

Salubri: The Tremere elders have systematically destroyed the elders of the Salubri. The remaining ones are dangerous vengeful foes.

Other Supernaturals

Shifters: Fierce monsters stalking the forests.

Wraith: Ghosts haunt Ceoris and other places most assuredly.

Sorcerers: Workers of magic can be a valuable resource if controlled and are likely individuals to recruit to the Clan.

Mages: House Tremere was one of the main houses of the Order of Hermes prior to being kicked out in 1202. There is fairly open hostility between the two groups. There is less concern and interaction with other Mages as both the Tremere and the Order of Hermes are good at keeping secrets.

Fae: All lands have legends of such magical creatures. Surely they would be an interesting subject of study if the opportunity presented itself.

Other Resources

House of Tremere Libellus Sanguinus 2: Keepers of the Word http://whitewolf.wikia.com/wiki/Tremere_(VTM)