“Death is ubiquitous and diverse. As are we.” 

– Papa La Croix 

Atypical among Kindred for their origins, the Hecata is a union of the surviving bloodlines and clans that focused on the study and mastery of death itself. For centuries, the Scions of Death fought among themselves for power and even survival. All were descendants of the same Antediluvian, but through internal internecine violence and the relentless march of the Second Inquisition, the students of death whittled themselves down to the point where the only option was to set aside their grievances and recognize that, whatever face Death wore, it was still Death. It no longer mattered if a vampire was from the Giovanni delegation, the hidden Cappadocian remnants and their Lamia protectors, the rotting Samedi, or the cannibalistic Nagaraja. Old grievances were put aside for the sake of survival. Within the clan, the Hecata call the moment where the different Scions of Death joined the Reunion. 

Together, the Hecata have managed to form an independent bloc of sufficient size and strength that are able to stand alone without the protection of a sect. When they look to Embrace, they tend to look to their extended mortal families. If they look outside of the familiar, they tend to look to mafiosos, soldiers, murderers, or others experienced in death. Doctors, forensic examiners, academic and religious scholars, nurses, morticians, occultists, detectives, and others with a religious or scientific interest in death also tend to attract the interest of the Hecata. People possessed of black humor, grim insight, and firm resolve are valued.

The process of becoming part of the Hecata is rarely quick. Prospects are often made ghouls before eventually earning the vote of the family to be Embraced, and they may not even be Embraced by their domitor. Usually, candidates for the Embrace are prepared for it long before they know they are being considered. Their domitor and eventual sire are almost always someone they know. They may not have played a large role in that mortal’s life, but they were a feature at some point. After they conquer death and rise anew, they become one of the family, and loyalty to family is all that matters. 

Disciplines 

Auspex: The Hecata believe that fate has grand plans for them, and they do not hesitate to interfere in the fate of others. What better way than to do so with a power that allows one to receive visions of the future? They use Auspex to help predict a mortal’s death, or they might use it to prevent or hasten their departure. For a clan whose members rarely act on impulse, this Discipline is key to piecing together mysteries and allowing them to catch glimpses of the restless dead. 

Fortitude: If the Scions of Death were easily killed, they could hardly be masters of death. Believing themselves to be closer to death than any other Kindred, they manifest this Discipline to lay credence to these claims. Absorbing wounds without feeling or consideration, the Necromancers shrug off harm which would destroy a lesser being. 

Oblivion: Delicate and mysterious, the Hecata’s ability to commune with, manipulate, and control the energies of death is jealously guarded. Using it, they solve mysteries by interrogating specters, fight their rivals with dark powers, and perform powerful mystic ceremonies. Oblivion stains the spirit, but the Hecata gladly pay the price for power over death itself. 

Archetypes 

Cult Leader: Charismatic, natural born leaders, and swift talkers, the cult leader learned to build a loyal following and ruthlessly defend it. The Embrace only enhanced their efforts, and though their name never was Giovanni or any other name that mattered, that hasn’t stopped them from cultivating a cult of willing blood donors falling all over themselves just to catch their eye. 

Graveyard Shift: It’s not all unlifestyles of the rich and the famous. Clan Hecata was successful for so many years because they had immortal members in all walks of the mortal world. All across the globe are organizations and businesses whose doors are open 24/7 and who need people to staff the counter. First responders, morgue attendants, law enforcement, gas station attendants and everyone in between can fall into this category. While they generally do not find themselves on the fast track to running a city, their role is vital.

Number One Fan: Life imitates art, and there are far too many examples to list. When they were alive, these Kindred were covered in black, obsessed with Death, magic, and the occult. Horror movies and vampires just had to be real, so these Kindred were unsurprised when the time came for the Embrace. 

Bane 

Suffering is part of death, and death is part of every member of this clan. The bite of the Hecata does not bring feelings of bliss as with other Kindred. Victims will violently resist unless restrained, and few will submit willingly to such torture. When feeding, Hecata may only take harmful drinks that result in blood loss (see Feeding from Mortals, page XX). Unrestrained targets will attempt to escape, and those coerced or willing must succeed in a Stamina + Resolve check against Difficulty 2 + Bane Severity in order not to recoil from the pain. Many Hecata resort to alternative feeding methods, such as drinking from blood bags, fresh corpses, or using needles and bloodletting to deal with this Bane. 

Compulsion: Morbidity 

The Scions of Death are fascinated with the cycle of life and death. When this Compulsion is active, they suffer a -2 penalty to challenges not related to killing or returning something to life. This act of moving something from life to death, or vice versa, can be figurative or literal. The subject does not have to be a person; this “movement” can be as abstract as reviving a conversation or restoring a broken object to working order. The penalty from this Compulsion lasts for a scene or until the Scion has ended or resurrected something.