FOLLOWERS OF SET

Descended from the God of the Underworld

The sands of Egypt conceal a frightening menace, a cult of vampires dedicated to their fallen lord. The Followers of Set are scattered all over the world, seducing mortals into cults and enslaving other Kindred through their own vices. Yet the Setites do not exist for excess alone: They gather secrets from the darkness that spawned them, secrets that can be yours for a price. -- Clanbook: Followers of Set - Revised Edition

CLAN OVERVIEW
Quote: I know what you need.

Addiction, debasement, corruption, and desperation strike fear into many Kindred who worry that theirs will become an unlife of ruin, but to the Followers of Set, these and more are the tools of the trade. 

Pimps, pushers, and priests, the Setites cater to the needs of the desperate, and convert them to a nihilistic cause in doing so. Whether one needs flesh, money, drugs, or dark secrets, the Followers of Set can provide it, and when they do so, they all but guarantee themselves a return visit from those who seek them.

The Followers of Set fall into one of two categories: Priests or Warriors. Together, they are as much a chthonic religion as they are a Clan, though the faith includes the Clan. Unlike other Vampire clans, a good number of them are not Embraced into it, but are recruited from the other clans. 

The Setite mythology is complex and convoluted, an impenetrable pantheon of god-monsters. At the apex of this worship stands a syncretism of the Egyptian Lord of the Underworld Set and the Greek hydra Typhon, as much spiritual guardians of secret places as they are the “liberators” of other’s souls. To outsiders, this is all blasphemous religious affectation, but to devout Setites, the cult and cause are real, and their dark lord works his will through them.

Needless to say, the politics of desperation and the placation of evil gods place the Serpents on the outside of Kindred society. The Setites are fine with this. The Kindred can often find themselves in need of what the Followers of Set purvey, and the extra “service” of secrecy is one the Setites are happy to provide —at a premium. The Setites offer a devil’s deal, but on their own terms. That way, when they collect their due and feed blood and souls into the maw of the Typhonic beast, all of its sacrifices have been given willingly. 

Nickname: Setites, Serpents

Sect: In the modern world, the Setites have recognized the benefits of joining the Camarilla, if only for appearances and to maintain their continued survival in this neon technological world. Granted, this is a purely selfish motivation (as well as an excellent way to seduce other kindred to the ways of the Dark Lord), however they do appear to play their part loyally.

Appearance: Many older Setites hail from the North African and Mediterranean ethnicities native to the Serpents’ historical territory, but they freely Embrace from among the mortals of their adopted homes. Some long-standing Setite temples are tied to locations where “Egyptian” Serpents might seem out of place, but where some aspect of serpent mythology is, as in Mesoamerica or even far-flung Nordic locales, and thus draw their membership from local populations. Red hair is considered a mark of Set’s favor.

Haven: Where their hidden temples stand, the Setites make their havens, either individually or communally. These may be anything from “churches” with never-before-heard-of denominations or they may be outright cults that have to hide their existences. The secretive Serpents sometimes hide individual havens in places where other Kindred don’t often go, such as insular ethnic neighborhoods, abandoned domains, “the rough part of town,” and so forth. Some Setites also haven in secret mystical places that have value to the Clan, guarding them from outsiders.

Background: Setites deserve their reputation for friends in low places, but few Serpents restrict themselves to simply focusing on the criminal element. Put three Setites together and you probably have access to every level of society, from muggers to millionaires.

Prospective childer for the Followers of Set often spend some time involved with a Setite cult, so they’re indoctrinated in the mysteries of the Clan before becoming one of its Kindred. They may come from any cultural origin, though many are outsiders, loners, or otherwise marginalized by society, which is often what led them to the forbidden fruits offered by the cult of Set in the first place. The Followers of Set are also one of the only Clans that have been known to recruit and indoctrinate vampires of other Kindred Clans. 

Setite Worship: A casual Setite may own a statuette or icon of his god from habit, just as a less-than-devout Christian might nevertheless put a little manger scene on the coffee table at Christmas. A reasonably devout Follower of Set, however, finds time to honor her dark progenitor through prayer and small sacrifices of incense, blood and beer. 

A true Theophidian will not want to begin a night without paying respect to the god who made him immortal. More elaborate ceremonies take place in the communal temples. Most temples remain open for at least part of every night to serve the faithful who feel the need to honor the Dark God with a larger sacrifice. Mostly temples are local, with a single temple or network of cults representing a city’s Serpent presence.

Character Creation: Sires choose those who demonstrate acumen in Social and Mental Attributes, as the Clan needs its proselytizers and its priests to be charismatic and quick-witted. Knowledges are almost always primary, though Talents may be so instead, especially among those Serpents engaged in dealings with others. Setites focus on Backgrounds that give influence over others whether subtly or overtly, making Allies, Contacts, Influence, Resources, and sometimes Retainers popular.

Clan Disciplines: Obfuscate, Presence, Serpentis

Weaknesses: Given their origins in darkness, the Serpents react negatively to bright light. Due to their inherent clan weakness, Followers of Set are extremely susceptible to sunlight (double damage) and have great difficulty acting while under very bright light (spotlights, strobes, etc.). On the other hand, Followers of Set are curiously immune to Basilisk's poison. Setites also suffer a -5 mod on any rolls where these actions are taken in very bright light (such as police spotlights, stage lights, flares, brightly-lit retail stores, etc.).

Organization: Setite organization is mostly local, with a single temple or network of cults representing a city’s Serpent presence. Setites in the cities rarely scheme among each other, preferring to face outward threats in unity rather than the schismatic self-interest of the Sects. Whispers persist of a massive temple devoted to Set located somewhere in Africa, with a terrible Methuselah who claims to be the childe of Set himself at the head. If this is true, then the Clan’s higher agenda probably originates here, but the Setites themselves remain resolutely silent on the topic.

Recruitment: Another facet is that some Followers of Set are not actually Embraced as Followers of Set. Rather, they are vampires from other Clans that have passed all their mysteries, accepted Set as their true god and have been formally inducted into the cult. While such vampires do not shed their original Clan or Clan Curse (a Ventrue converted to Set will still Embrace Ventrue childer and have a peculiar inclination towards his prey), they are taught Serpentis and Setite Sorcery, as well as their Paths of Enlightenment, freely. 

A convert from another Clan is not treated as a second-class citizen, but rather as a sibling of faith, which is a much more important distinction than blood. An outsider accepting the Dark God is a joyous event, even to the most conservative elder. There are even rumors of non-Kindred supernatural beings joining the cult. 

FOLLOWERS OF SET: Sub-Clans and The Herd

Not every Setite character will be a devout Priest of Set or build a blood cult. Their pretensions of divinity, however, play a large role in distinguishing the Followers of Set from other vampire clans. Most Setites are much more than simply a vampire with a snake fetish. 

A Setite’s other Backgrounds may grow out of her blood cult, too. A diverse body of cultists can supply a Herd, Contacts, Allies and Retainers all at once. Note that orthodox tradition enjoins a Setite to guide his congregation to as much enlightenment as they are ready to receive. Other Setites might not respect a Setite who exploited his blood cult without passing on the cult's doctrine and assisting in cultists’ personal spiritual development.

Warriors, Priests and Followers/The Herd
Warriors and Priests are always embraced into the Faith, with the unusual exception that humans embraced by a Warrior of Set can choose to follow the ways of the Warrior, or that of the Priest. 

Followers of Set are those Vampires (or humans) who have been indoctrinated into the Setite temple and make up the congregation, also referred to as The Herd. While they will always be of their Embraced clan and retain their clan's skills, the Follower of Set will be taught the mysteries of Set and become part of the Setite congregation. Some few may also be taught the ability of Serpentis, though this is strictly regulated by permission of the Setite High Priest/Primogen.

• For more information on playing Setite Warriors and Priests, click the Sub-Clan links below.
• For those who wish to take a deep-dive on Setite culture, worship and character development, please reference Clanbook: Followers of Set - Revised Edition.

SETITE WARRIORS

SETITE PRIESTS