KUEI



   By Jenny Parr (j.l.parr@bradford.uk.ac)

   The Kuei were once the protectors of the jungles of South East Asia,
   fierce tigermen who (though few in numbers) fought strongly by the
   side of the Khan weretigers to protect the sacred temples hidden deep
   in the forests. But the Kuei were not satisfied with their duties.
   They saw how the Ju, Kasa, Mora, and the Onyudu commanded the Kine,
   took whatever they wished and were never told by the other clans thatt
   they were not doing their duty. So in 1956 the seven Kuei of the great
   South Eastern jungles decided to increase the status of their clan.
   Their first action was to declare war on all Western vampires (and any
   Eastern vampires that got in their way of killing westerners.) They
   even went as far as suggesting that the battle be taken to their
   enemies in America and Europe but this idea was discarded for a while
   when it was pointed out that the Kindred would be at a distinct
   advantage on home territory.

   The Kuei also made another big change in their lifestyle that they
   thought would increase their standing - they moved to the great cities
   of China, noting how all the other clans lived among the peoples. They
   left the depleated ranks of the Khan to protect the jungle they loved
   and started to offer their services as bodyguards and enforcers to
   other clans. Unfortunately the only clan that decided to make use of
   their talents was the Ju. After agreeing to work for the Ju, the Kuei
   decided to increase their numbers dramatically. They recruited whole
   street gangs (often in Hong Kong under the Camarilla's nose) as
   retainers or "tiger cults" and often embraced five or more at a time,
   much to the annoyance of the Ju who started to see them as a threat to
   their little empire. In order to rid themselves of the Kuei, the Ju
   developed a strain of rabies that affected Kindred and Kine alike. It
   heightened strength and reduced pain but at the cost of lowering
   perception, inteligence and causing death within 2 weeks of infection.
   This was given to as many Kuei as possible as a "magic elixir to help
   in combat" who were then sent off to Vietnam to battle the Kindred who
   had come with the American troops. Approximately half the Kuei were
   killed along with the majority of the western vampires. Rumours
   abounded in the jungle of Pazuzu tigermen who attacked even the trees
   swaying in the wind.

   When the Kuei discovered this attempt at genocide they turned on their
   former employers and slew them. However there have been sightings of
   four Ju survivors and the Kuei would do anything to wipe these last of
   the Ju from the face of the Earth.

   Stereotypes:

   Camarilla: "They shall all die for their arrogance in assuming they
   would conquer us"

   Sabbat: "They deserve worse than the Camarilla. They have no respect
   for their mortal kin"

   Ju: (The Kuei takes a swipe at the questioner with her claws)

   Hantu: "Allies and friends - both are hard to find but he hantu stand
   by us"

   Sanatan: "Weaklings - we should hunt them down before they betray us
   all"



  KUEI



   Nickname: Tigermen

   Origins: China and Korea

   Appearance: All of Clan Kuei are of Chinese or Korean origin and as a
   result of being members of the elusive tiger cult they have long manes
   of black hair.

   Clan Disciplines: Celerity, Potance, Hu Do.

   Haven: The Kuei are a closely knit brotherhood, often having been in
   the same street gangs and then cults as when alive.They usually stay
   in cult 'safe houses' or with the gangs.

   Weaknesses: As the Kuei bcome more adept in the art of Tigris they
   become more like tigers : at level 1 they gain permanent claws, at
   level 2 they develop catlike eyes, at level 3 they develop slightly
   pointed ears, at level 4 they gain tiger striped hair, at level 5
   their fangs cease to retract and at level 6 they gain a light covering
   of fur.

   Backgrounds: Most members were street runners before the embrace so
   physical attributes and talents are primary. At least three dots are
   needed in streetwise.

   View Hu Do discipline.