Vampire: the Masquerade - Bloodlinesis often remembered for its chaotically fun combat, brilliant voice-acting and its story submerged in all things supernatural. Released back in mid 2000s, it was ahead of its time as an RPG, and fans have clamored for a remake as much as they have for its much anticipated sequel.
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Bloodlineswould be nothing without its supporting cast of characters, however. Based on a TTRPG that places an emphasis on characters, relationships and more personal stories than the sweeping grand adventures ofD&D, for example, it is no surprise it has a host of strong and well-defined characters.
11Prince Sebastian LaCroix
Prince is the term for the leader of a Camarilla city, the one entrusted to guide the kindred, ensure the masquerade is obeyed and dispatch justice to those who are found in breach of the rules. This is how the players first encounter Sebastian, as he orders the execution of the players sire, but chooses to spare their character. Though whether that is his own decision or a choice he made after Nines' intervention, players may never know.
It quickly becomes apparent Sebastian holds a fanatical desire for the Ankaran Sarcophagus the LA museum uncovered, and would stop at nothing to recover it. As a Ventrue, he is accustomed to having others do his dirty work and expects his authority to always be respected, but this is exactly were his weakness lies, as this blinds him to possible betrayal by the player.
10Smiling Jack
One of the first Anarch’s players will meet is Smiling Jack, a loudmouthed man that looks like he is in desperate need of grooming. Despite his rough and tumble appearance, Smiling Jack is ready to lend some helpful; advice and tips to the newly fledged player. He teaches them some very basic lore and rules which will be beneficial to both the player and the character for the first night in the vampire’s World of Darkness.
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But Smiling Jack isn’t purely a tutorial character, as players can meet him later in his home territory The Last Round, where all the Anarchs of LA dwell.His abrasive personality won’t be for everyone, most will find themselves smiling throughout any interaction with Jack, even if it is a smile of exasperation.
9Imalia
Nosferatu areknown for being the clanof ‘ugly’ vampires, as their particular clan curse burdens them with heavy disfigurements so severe their appearances alone are masquerade-breaking. The Nosferatu often choose people with a penchant for technology, though sometimes, they pursue those who are vainly beautiful as a way to humble them.
This is what happened with Imalia, once a beautiful woman and now forced to dwell in the Warrens with the other rats. Though she doesn’t directly state her displeasure at the loss of her beauty the intense hatred she holds to one other model can only be caused by intense jealousy, and the way she wreaks vengeance for her jealousy is hilariously brutal.
8Heather Poe
There are few humans players can meet inBloodlines, and Heather stands out as one of the most memorable. It is possible to meet her in a hospital, bleeding out on one of the hospital beds and completely abandoned by the only doctor on duty. The player is given the choice to leave her to her fate, or convince Heather to drink their blood which holds the power to heal wounds. But doing so will have Heather returning to the players side as a ghoul.
Though her outlook towards the player is tainted by the bond created through vampiric blood, it is still clear Heather is a sweet girl, and deserved a better hand than the one life dealt her. Unless the player dismisses her, she will stay loyal and by the players side to the bitter end.
7Ming Xiao
After making their way to China Town in the latter half of the game, players will meet one of the other major players in LA vampire power struggle: Ming Xiao. Unlike the kindred, who are typical vampires with an aversion to sunlight and only able to sustain themselves on blood, Ming Xiao is a Kuei-Jin, eastern vampires who are given a ‘second breath’, and can still partake in some simple human pleasures.
For the most part, Ming Xiao is cordial to the player, but secretly she is cunning as most high-ranking Camarilla elders, using clever disguises to turn the simmering tensions between the Anarchs and Camarilla against one another to further her own goals.Beautiful, sly and powerful, it is hard not to respect Ming Xiao as a character, even considering what siding with her does to the fledgling.
6Damsel
Damsel istruly an AnarchBrujah through and through. Loyal to Nines’s cause, she can found in The Last Round, and is not afraid to loudly voice her dislike for ‘Cammie scum’, with a few expletives threw in for good measure.
As the player is forced into doing the Prince’s bidding to start with, Damsel is not shy about telling the player she neither likes nor distrusts them, but this fiery redhead’s temper can be cooled if the player start showing sympathy for the Anarch cause without losing the rough and tumble aspect of her personality that make her so charming. She was originally revealed to be a returning character forBloodlines 2, and fans can only hope that still holds true after all the changes made during its bumpy development.
5Therese Voerman
The Voerman twins are one of the mysteries players will encounter inBloodlinesand can solve by completing the Voerman quest line. The twins come in the form of Therese, the astute businesswoman with no patience for nonsense, and party-girl Jeanette, who loves getting into all sorts of mischief.
Therese isa strong and independent womandesiring to conduct business, and is often embarrassed by her twins antics. Whichever twin players take the side of, Therese’s strength cannot be denied, and at times she acts more akin to a Ventrue than a Malkavian, but the reason for that behavior does get revealed to patient players who see the Voerman quest’s through to the end.
4Gary Golden
The rat-pack leader of the Warrens, self-proclaimed ‘Gorgeous Gary Golden’ is one of the more intriguing characters players can meet when they make their way to the Hollywood Forever cemetery. He always refers to the character fondly as ‘boss’ and offers cryptic yet helpful advice.
Despite his young age, he acts as the Nosferatu Primogen for the LA Camarilla Court. Gary is one of the kinder vampires the fledgling will meet, especially if they choose to play as a Nosferatu. Though he uses the player character as much as all the others, he is far more open and honest about his intentions, and always makes sure to hold up his end of any bargains he strikes.
3Jeanette Voerman
The inverse to everything Therese stands for and everything she is, Jeanette is the fun-loving twin always getting herself intro trouble and roping others into her mischief. With her more likable and less abrasive personality, Jeanette is the one most usually look kinder towards, but she is still someone that players need to keep an eye on.
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With her good looks and her charm, Jeanetteisn’t above manipulating othersinto getting her own way, such as begging the players to give her the necklace they promised Therese, or convincing them to slash up the paintings at the local gallery. But if players do please Jeanette, they will gain a very special reward from the Malkavian twin.
2Nines Rodriguez
Not many vampires can brag about coming face to face with a werewolf and living to tell the tale, but that is exactly what happened with Nines Rodriguez, the leader of the Anarch movement. His first act in the game was speaking out against the Prince’s method of righting the wrong of punishing a permission-less embrace by beheading the sire. Before he can mete out punishment to the player character, Nines speaks out against the Prince, effectively saving their life.
Nines saves the fledgling again after they are jumped by Sabbat in Downtown, taking on a protective guardian role. He genuinely cares about all the vampires under his care, such as Damsel and Skelter that are part of his coterie. Though a Brujah, he is much more level-headed and calm than Damsel, but he does hold strong resentment for the Camarilla and isn’t above holding grudges. Nevertheless, Nines stands out as one of the greatest characters players will meet, and he alone is enough to sway peoples loyalties to the Anarch movement.
