Supping With Our Overseers
The Houses We Watch Over
remember a particular song? That’ s what it is like for me to picture my father’ s face.
And what of those times when the ritual returns? Though its use was banned centuries ago and the Tremere claim all copies were destroyed, sometimes evidence is found of the materials required to create us outside the Embrace. Sometimes it is a desperate ploy to gain power for the Tremere in the city by making us, especially in cities where history does not run deep and few know about what transpired in the Long Night. Other cities exist where the Tremere believe their clutch of power is so great, such a violation would likely go unpunished. This is hardly the case. Kindred don’ t need much justification to go to war. A Primogen council may not give us a chance to speak, but suggest the Tremere are up to their old tricks to another Clan and it won’ t take long for the truth to be revealed. In fire, if necessary.
Supping With Our Overseers
Our relationship with the Clan that created us is complex, to say the least. We have been free for hundreds of years, but many of us stay in service to the Tremere out of tradition, fear, or perhaps even lack of a further sense of purpose. There were many examples of the Tremere mistreating us during our enslavement, but there were also many who treated us with kindness. Cruel masters don’ t just exist in the Tremere, and some of us prefer to stay with the devil we know. Though there is some lingering resentment, there is also fondness. Don’ t assume that a free Gargoyle will automatically rail against the Tremere.
Today, having a Gargoyle servant in your haven or Chantry is considered a prestigious luxury. It’ s a sign that you have power, longevity, or a little bit of both. It’ s not unheard of for a Tremere to woo a Gargoyle that arrives in the domain for some exclusive services. Our strange forms can be an impressive display when a Tremere is seeking a Primogen seat or to oust the head of the local chantry. Other Kindred will woo us when they are trying to get the Tremere in a city to do what they want. They assume we still have some leverage with the Clan. Even if we don’ t, entertaining their offers is often worth your time. Even if nothing comes of it, it can offer insight into the politics of the city and a good indication if it’ s a place you can thrive or one you should avoid.
One advantage of continuing to serve the Tremere is access to their magic. When we were merely their creation, their thaumaturgy was kept away from us like all other Kindred. Now that we have something the Tremere want, learning a few rituals here or there in exchange for some protection can be quite useful. Because of our complicated connection, some Tremere consider us to be closer than a rival Clan, even if we aren’ t fully of the blood. Beware those Tremere who still exist from the time of our creation, though, because old opinions die hard. They might decide you’ re not worth the trouble and simply hunt you down.
Chantries unconcerned with the Montmartre Pact have occasionally created“ Gaslight Gargoyles.” Because the Embrace removes many of the memories we had as humans, these Gargoyles are convinced they were created before the Pact came into play, and still treated as slaves created through the ritual. Reinforcement through blood bond and powers causes the Gargoyle to doubt any evidence to the contrary. It’ s a big risk, because if the process backfires, it’ s usually the type that burns chanties to the ground and leaves few members with their heads still attached to their bodies. The only documented case where this occurred was in Milwaukee in the 1960s, but the concern arises every decade or so in our circles.
Few, if any, Tremere antitribu have contact with us. Many of the Tremere that left did so because of the Monmartre Pact, taking with them their stone slaves if they were able. Many of these Kindred left their havens, grimoires, and other equipment behind because of the violent backlash of the parent Clan. The Gargoyles who do side with the Sabbat spend no more time with the Tremere antitribu than the other members of the Sect. The one exception is the makeup of the Downward Chain Cabal, which features the Gargoyle Mathilda as one of Hannibal Rex’ s so-called“ infernal apprentices.”
The Houses We Watch Over
The free Gargoyles recognize they don’ t exist in a vacuum. Most of us try to keep our allegiances private, but there are those who decide for one reason or another to throw in with a larger Sect. Paying some allegiance can offer more freedom in the long run. If the city is full of Camarilla vampires, saying you are one will mean most of them will leave you alone and let you go about your business.
If you count the Gargoyles who still serve the Tremere, most of the Gargoyles who do choose loyalty to a Sect choose the Camarilla. They don’ t ask much of their followers, though our appearance challenges their Masquerade. Take a page from the Nosferatu and stay hidden in their cities to avoid getting into any major hassles. Many of us would likely throw in fully with the Camarilla should the Final Nights ever descend upon us.
Service to the Sabbat is rare. We spent a lot of time and effort throwing off the shackles of one group of vampires
34 GARGOYLES