The Gangrel

Overview

These nights see the Gangrel as one of the smallest clans in the Chicago area, with the former Primogen Inyanga Beckoned overseas, the Wolf Pack of Camarilla Archons traveling out west at Prince Jackson’s behest.  For awhile, everyone speculated that Doyle Fincher had joined a Blood Cult, that he'd been slain by Prince Jackson due to Anarch sympathies, or that he got shredded by Lupines - but it turns out the motherfucker did find Religion... he turned up in Milwaukee, where he's serving as the Principal of Faith in Decker's court.  He ain't in Chicago anymore, though.

The situation leaves Clan Gangrel as a weak screw in the Camarilla machine, the majority of the Primogen now murmuring about how they might as well absorb the Animals’ council seat or award it to a Child of Haqim, a Minister, or even a Lasombra. Rosa Hernandez stands as Primogen but her clanmates rarely consult her, falling more in line with Anarch thought than Camarilla hegemony.

Only Hernandez's reputation as a Lupine-killer preserves her position in the Camarilla court.  First, Prince Jackson sees a need for a pitiless dog-killer like her.  Second, nobody's going to try to cavalierly steal a prized political seat from a Gangrel with a reputation for hunting and killing werewolves.  That would be a creative way to commit suicide.

The Camarilla: With the allegiance of the Wolf Pack to the city and a Gangrel still seated on the Primogen council, the position of the Gangrel in the Chicago Camarilla court is still stronger than it is in other domains - that is to say it's weak, but not nonexistent.  A Gangrel who wants to get in on the Camarilla can appeal to Primogen Hernandez and certainly find work, but that work might be "killing werewolves" so the other Chicago Gangrel are circumspect about asking her for favors.  Tyrus might be a stronger leader, but Tyrus follows the call of the open road and is out of Chicago for weeks or months at a time.

• The Wolf Pack: Something of a paradox to outsiders, the Wolf Pack are a roving gang of freedom-loving Gangrel who are also faithful to the Camarilla and its Traditions.  Long in service to the Prince of Chicago, the Wolf Pack travel to the Windy City's vassal domains, carrying messages, important cargo and acting as enforcers of Prince Jackson's will.  While the bulk of the Wolf Pack travels as a group, individual members do peel off from time to time to fulfill different tasks.  The Wolf Pack has been discharged to the West on a long-term task known to none in the city but Prince Jackson and Alan Sovereign, and rumors are beginning to spread that Jackson keeps Tyrus far away for fear the powerful, charismatic Gangrel may choose to become his rival - or worse, defect to the Anarchs and take the Wolf Pack with him.

The Anarchs: Most Gangrel in Chicago are Anarch-aligned, having quietly turned traitor to the Camarilla when the clan's grand deception was revealed.  There aren't really a lot of Gangrel operating at a high political level in the movement; for a long time the clan seems to have been content to leave that to the Brujah.  Then again, maybe it's because making too much political noise might draw the attention of Rosa or Tyrus, and both of them are fucking terrifying, even to other Gangrel.

Gangrel SPCs of note:

• Rosa Hernandez, Gangrel Primogen

• Tyrus, Big Dog of the Wolf Pack

Lexicon:

Akunanse: The name for the Gangrel clan in Africa.

al-Wuhush: Arabic, "The Animals."  The name for the Gangrel amongst the Ashirra.

Cipactli: The Crocodilian Gangrel lineage of the Drowned.

Ennoia: A name for the Gangrel progenitor that repeatedly appears in Kindred histories.

Gangrel: Middle English - a term analagous to modern uses of "Tramp" "Vagabond" "Vagrant" or "Hobo."  An insult applied to the Gangrel clan during the Dark Ages that became its European name.

Taifa: Another faction of Ashirra Gangrel, the Taifa are a lineage of nomadic scholar-warriors influenced by the Akunanse.  Unlike the al-Wuhush, they have great prestige and esteem amongst Ashirra courts.

Thing: Old Norse term for a meeting or gathering, still used as such by the Gangrel.  A particularly large or important gathering of Gangrel is called an Althing.

Venatores: Latin, "Hunters."  The name of the clan during the Roman Empire.