A vampire—or Kindred—is a creature of undead elegance and predatory instinct. Turned by the mystical Embrace, vampires are cursed to sustain themselves on the blood of the living. They walk the world forever trapped between the call of the Beast within and their lingering shred of Humanity.

Existing in the shadows, vampires practice the Masquerade: a grand conspiracy to hide their existence from mortals, lest they provoke fear, retribution, or worse. Each vampire’s story is one of temptation, moral struggle, ancient intrigue, and ruthless politics.

In Vampire: The Masquerade, one becomes a vampire through a ritual known as the Embrace. A sire (an existing vampire) drains a mortal’s blood and replaces it with a small amount of their own vitae. The mortal dies—and rises within nights as one of the undead, forever changed.

The newly Embraced, often called neonates, must learn to control their thirst for blood, navigate the treacherous society of Kindred, and come to terms with their unending existence.

• The Beast: The predatory instinct that dwells within every vampire, driving them to violence, hunger, and savagery should they lose control.
• The Masquerade: Failure to conceal one's nature may result in the wrath of vampire society—or discovery by deadly hunters.
• Sunlight and Fire: The bane of all vampires. Sunlight burns instantly, and fire is equally fatal.
• Vampire Politics: Intrigue, treachery, and eternal feuds dominate Kindred society. An ally today may be your doom tomorrow.
• Stagnation & Despair: Immortality brings ennui and the temptation to lose one's Humanity, becoming a soulless monster.

Vampires are torn between the desire to retain their humanity and the ever-growing demands of their Beast. Some seek redemption; others glory in their monstrous nature. Passions, vendettas, and alliances drive the endless game of vampire society.

The struggle for power, the need to adapt across the centuries, and the search for purpose make each vampire's existence a personal drama—one played against a backdrop of ancient secrets and ever-shifting allegiances.

• Brujah: Rebels, iconoclasts, and fiery revolutionaries.
• Gangrel: Ferocious survivors close to the wild and the Beast.
• Malkavian: Seers cursed with insight—and madness.
• Nosferatu: Hideous outcasts, masters of secrets and shadows.
• Toreador: Sensualists and artists obsessed with beauty and experience.
• Tremere: Blood sorcerers and secretive usurpers.
• Ventrue: Blue-blooded aristocrats and natural leaders.
• Banu Haqim (Assamite): Disciplined assassins and judges.
• Lasombra: Masters of shadow and power, rulers behind thrones.
• Tzimisce: Shapeshifters, fleshcrafters, and lords of horror.
• Ravnos: Nomads and tricksters with illusions and misdirection.
• Giovanni (Hecata): Necromancers tied to death and the underworld.
• Salubri: Healers and mystics, often hunted by others.
• Thin-bloods: Anomalies of the modern age, with diluted vampiric power.