In the ancient days, a powerful spirit known as the Crone infused a portion of its essence into the body of a vampire known as the Witch of Connaught. The Crone was ancient and powerful and had noted the progress of civilization as the ages passed. It foresaw that humans, in their greed and recklessness, would eventually destroy and burn all the wild areas of the world. Joining some of her essence with an undying predator of humanity, the Crone resolved to thwart this prophecy. The Witch of Connaught then set out to amass followers who could help prevent this disaster. Her bloodline became the Lhiannan; a group of reclusive protectors of the wild places composed primarily of women. Together, they worked to safeguard the wilds with powerful magics, watching humanity with a wary eye. 

Existing in small numbers, the Lhiannan were content to exist in solitude; almost forgotten by other vampires. On the rare occasions when the Embrace was given, the childe would leave their sire’s territory to find their own sanctuary. Scholars familiar with the bloodline speculate that the Lhiannan rarely Embraced others due to an internal myth that suggests each embrace imparts her progeny with a  portion of the essence that the Crone used to Embrace the Witch of Connaught, rendering the sire extremely weak for a period of time.

For centuries the Lhiannan existed in the forgotten places of the world, dutifully guarding their territories with ferocity. Those few vampires who encountered the Lhiannan recounted them as feral savages, unworthy of civilized vampire company. Some Gangrel even described them as spiritual abominations that should be destroyed, fearing that werewolves would blame civilized vampires for their existence. As time passed, the Lhiannan saw their premonition begin to take shape. They retreated even further into solitude, performing ancient magic that they referred to as “Ogham” to aid them in protecting their lands from interlopers. These magics tied them to their territories but made them powerful foes. Despite their potent magics, they were always few in number and humanity’s ability to destroy the wilds was quickly advancing.

By the 18th century the Idea of Progress emerged as the Age of Enlightenment took hold. Advances in technology and economics changed the moral and cultural values of humanity. As the world grew and spread into the wilderness, the Lhiannan realized that they could no longer survive simply as defenders, hoping modernization would pass them by. Instead, they had to begin to actively combat humanity’s aggression which meant they must come to understand it. Reluctantly, the Lhiannan approached the cities they loathed, engaging with local  vampire residents to establish relations.

In the modern night, the Lhiannan are fully mobilized against globalization. They fight the great corporations of the human world in furtherance of their duty to the natural one, working with a variety of allies including humans, vampires and — if rumors are to be believed — even werewolves and fae. Though they are cautious of capitalistic excess, the younger Lhiannan have embraced technology as a means to further their cause, using it to spread awareness, to coordinate, and to identify threats. Where they once were solitary, in modern nights they are more willing to organize in groups and to Embrace progeny of all genders and identities.

Roleplaying Notes: All Lhiannan are closely tied to a pagan ethos akin to Celtic Druidism of old. Many pay particular homage to the myths of the Crone and Lilith, believing them to be aspects of the same spiritual being. Through blood ritual and sacrifice, they commune with nature and act in vengeance against the forces of modernization that would destroy the natural world. Lhiannan have never been numerous and choose their childer carefully. Only those mortals who have renounced capitalistic greed are ever considered. When they deem someone capable and motivated to fight against urbanization, the gift of the Embrace is described to the candidate and only given to the willing. Particularly cautious Lhiannan have been known to kill mortals who refuse the gift of the Embrace, halting any chance that they might become part of the problem.

Rarity: Rare Independent Bloodline with a cost of 4 merit points. Lhiannan are rare in most settings. As an independent bloodline without access to a parent clan’s merits, the Lhiannan are presented with a broader suite of merit options as well as their own unique flaws. As a reminder, you cannot purchase multiple Lhianna specific merits of the same point cost.