Known for their mastery of darkness, the Lasombra often bristle when standing in another’s shadow. The Corsairs understand this sentiment all too well. Having grown tired of tyrannical rule by distant courts and ancient autocrats, the bloodline chose to leave it all behind, amassing power, wealth, and the ire of their parent Clan during the nights of the Spanish Conquista. Unlike conventional Lasombra, the Corsairs show little interest in weaving tangled and manipulative shadow webs. Instead, they choose to embrace strife through violence, treachery, and guile as a means to ascension. For the Corsairs, the shadows are not just an entity to master; they are a strategic place to evade pursuit and to strike against their enemies.

With the conquest of the New World, many neonates and ancilla of the Lasombra clan sought to escape the stifling rule of Europe, often turning to the irresistible lure of the sea. Upon arriving in the New World, they found the Spanish Empire uncovering riches by the boatload, returning their loot back across the ocean in well-armed Galleons. The siren’s allure of riches and spoils was insatiable to the privateers and pirates who controlled much of the Spanish galleon routes, most of whom were Lasombra. The thefts were small at first but as success and bodies began to pile up, word found its way back to the elder Lasombra of the Old World. These elder Lasombra had deep ties to both the crowns of Europe and the Catholic Church, and held a significant amount of wealth as patronage. Upon discovering the role of other Lasombra in these thefts, the elders petitioned the Blood Courts of the Les Amis Noir who in turn ruled that all Lasombra were forbidden from interfering with the Spanish Armada upon pain of final death.

While the decision was satisfactory to the Lasombra elders, it was considered unacceptable to the younger Lasombra who were still coming into their own. Like many of the humans who left Europe for the New World, they had craved new opportunity and freedom from the stifling presence of European elders who hoarded power and influence. A secret cabal formed, composed of capable yet disenfranchised Lasombra who chose to act in open defiance of the Blood Court’s ruling. They seized Spanish cargo and raided the Spanish controlled settlements. The Les Amis Noir and its agents attempted to intervene, killing or torporing as many offenders as they could find, but word of the egregious reaction spread like wildfire as more neonate Lasombra joined the cause. With resources already spread thin due to war and colonial uprisings, the Les Amis Noir was forced to retreat. The remaining rebels were dubbed “Corsairs” after the guerre de course eluded capture. By the end of the Age of Sail, the Corsairs had amassed significant wealth and influence, becoming pirate kings and governors of settlements that had declared independence from Europe. Many were content to remain within the Caribbean nations, while others spread their operations through the Spanish, Portguese, and West Indian trade routes. Though many of the European Lasombra were still bitter over the earlier defiance of the Corsairs, a few appreciated the audacity of how they were able to seize power in such a quintessential Lasombra manner. Still, the Corsairs remained persona non grata in most of the Camarilla and Lasombra circles, as both the Lasombra and their antitribu refused to openly accept them. This distancing from the bloodline meant that lines of communication were practically non-existent, which served as both a blessing and a curse as it gave them autonomy but little to no clan identity.

The relative anonymity of the bloodline lasted until the early 21st century when a rash of raids and kidnappings off the coast Africa drew attention to piracy as a global issue. Investigation by the Lasombra elders of the clan uncovered that the Corsairs had been active, and even flourished, in the era of global trade. Soon it was discovered that the Corsairs had amassed a small but powerful fleet of armed vessels including several decommissioned but seaworthy military ships.

This reveal prompted the Blood Courts to reconvene, narrowly voting to lift the Corsair prohibition and absolve them of past wrongdoing in exchange for a sizable portion of their earnings. While many of the sects began to court the Corsairs, most Lasombra continued to view them as reckless and untrustworthy; tools with dulled edges who had shunned vampire society. Elders of the Lasombra refused their company in public, quietly seething at the thought of a Lasombra bloodline and the defiance of the Corsairs.

In modern nights, the Corsairs are intrigued by the potential opportunities afforded them by sect membership and the access to new cities that were previously off limits. A number of Princes and Archbishops desire the power and influence that this bloodline offers, which has opened more than a few doors. Others, however, realize that the Corsairs’ eagerness to seek power through any means is a possible powder keg that is waiting to explode.

Roleplaying Notes: True to their name, Corsairs are bold, often to the point of reckless. Many have backgrounds or history as pirates, smugglers and privateers. Like their parent clan, the Corsairs aspire to power and authority; but unlike the Lasombra, they prefer to stand outside of the shadows instead of in them. A Corsair is never afraid to settle issues on their own, whether that involves charging into a battle to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat or demanding Monomacy at gunpoint over a perceived slight. Despite their reckless behavior, they are not without strategy. They enjoy well-articulated plans as much as the next Lasombra; however, they prefer to see the outcome of their handiwork in person. Corsairs make powerful enemies and loyal allies, and they take particular pride in both the accolades and notoriety they can acquire.

Rarity: Your setting's Lasombra Rarity Cost + 2 merit points