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Who are the "Ghoul Families", and what happened to them?
The Dark Age books reveals the Tzimisce Ghoul Families as being:
- Basarab, who split into the Danesti and Draculesti Families. All the Basarab were destoryed by the Tzimisce in reponse to the actions of Dracula (who was a revenant of Draculesti lineage.)
- Bratovitch, handlers of the Tzimisce's hounds in the Dark Ages. In the Modern Age they are used as Sabbat guides in the wilds, and enjoy going on Lupine hunts. A special Bloodline of Tzimisce vampire who embrace only from the Bratovich exists in the Modern Age. They are distinguished by having Potence instead of Auspex as a vampire Discipline.
- Danislav, breed from ShadowLord Kinfolk who settled in Tzimisce territory. They revolted, and the Tzimice united to destory them. The Danislav were hurt badly, and may have been destroyed.
- Grimaldi, the merchant family. Survived to become agents of the Sabbat. In the Modern Age, they are horribly wealthy and have influence almost rivaling the Giovanni and Venture. They do the Sabbat's "hush work"... killing "bizarre death" stories, bribing cops, silencing witnesses, etc.
- The Obertus, (The Hidden) served the Draconian Tzimisce of the Dark Ages by working in monasteries and libraries. The Hidden survive into the Modern Age, out living the Draconian branch of Tzimisce who created them.
- Szantovich, the Dark Age Tzimisce's infiltrators into various courts. In the Modern Age they Anglicized their name to become the Zantosa. They are still rich, but have grown quite hedonistic. They have been secretly guarding a hidden underground crypt in New York. The ancient Elder who *was* sleeping there is rumored to be Tzimisce himself.
- Vlaszy, the cavaliers and kingmakers, loyal to the Tzimisce Elders they were destoryed during the Anarch Revolt.
- Krevcheski, a scholarly line not well trusted by the Tzimice, were "given" only two Disciplines. They turned against the Tzimisce to join with the Tremere, changing their family name to the Ducheski.
- Khavi, serving the Ancient Tzimisce called Byelobog, they were exterminated by the Teutonic Knights. The Tal'mahe'Ra (True Black Hand) uses three Ghoul Families. They speak of their Families being created in Eastern Europe between 700BC and 300AD:
- Enrathi, originally of Italian descent they have breed with other ghoul Families of Eastern Europe. In the Middle Ages, they were black market Slavers and Bankers. Serves by stealing childern for the Tal'mahe'Ra.
- Marijava, descended from the leader of a Thuggee sect of robbers and assassins. This line has remained of Indian descent. They spy on just about everyone for the Tal'mahe'Ra, most being highly trained assassins, thieves or professionals in some white-collar field.
- Rafastio, the True Black Hand once had dealing with the mage Tradition known as the "Verbena". One family of Verbena of Northern Italy became a Ghoul Family. Good at their "Thaumaturgy", especially Blood magics.
The Bloodline Baali also have a Ghoul Family. How they created or acquired the family is not revealed:
- D'habi, descendants of Nergal's priests. Originally served Nergal, but later the turned to serving the entire Bloodline after Nergal's supposed death. Used by the Baali for dark experiments (as both victims and researchers), they had already become greatly degraded by the Dark Ages.
The Guide to the Sabbat, speaks of rumors that the Assamites, Giovanni, Setites, and Tremere having followed in the Tzimisce footsteps and created their own Ghoul Families.
Three more Tzimisce Ghoul Families are named:
- the Narov and Ruthvenski Ghoul families which were absorbed into surviving Ghoul families through intermarriage.
- the Rustovitch are rumored to have broken away from the Tzimisce and serve other masters.
