Clan Fenrisson

The Clan of the Sons of Fenris, or Clan Fenrisson, is a rather...intriguing, clan of vampiric sufferers hailing from the land of the Northalkin. Now, what makes the Fenrissons rather interesting is their practice of yet another part of the Necromantic arts...skinwalking.

It is no secret that the inhabitants of the Systrathum island are highly sympathetic, if not just outright worship, were-creatures as the ultimate hunters and warriors, a cross between the stoicism and reason of man with the strength and ferocity of beast. Of course this reverence has a varied value depending on the creature, with the bears being the most revered, but for the most part were-creatures are like heroes or demigods to the people of the north. Even before the first bits of domestication, proto-Northalkin people had a deep connection to beasts, as it suited their savage determination that drove them further north while their brethren contented themselves with the island chains.

It didn't take long for the Northalkin to try and imitate the animals they revered before they tried domestication. The formation of this clan early on in the history of the Brotherhood of the Claw. When the organization of the were-people formed, there was already a peculiar group among them that seemed interested in other forms of dark magics that didn't just pertain to skinwalking. They were tolerated as members, as their ferocity was as fierce as any others and they were active in the Brotherhood, but they were on thin ice and the ice was getting thinner by the day as their brazenly took to the magics.

Even as barbaric as the Northalkins were back then, and some might say still are, they still knew the dangers of dark magic. Many of their shaman and wise-people take part in it for inoculation reasons or for some other benefit, but temper themselves against the unholy temptations. These peculiar skinwalkers however, held no inhibition in their depraved rituals.

Eventually, these skinwalkers were no longer part of the Brotherhood during one unfortunate gathering of the Brotherhood. Some of the Brotherhood had shown up while just about every member of the dark magic users were there, with a bloodlust in their eyes. Every single person that was there was slaughtered, leaving only one person left alive as the champion of the tragic slaughter. A were-wolf who named himself Fenris, the King of Wolves. Using the blood of the fallen and the natural necrotic magics of skinwalking, he had achieved Lichdom and became the first Vampire of Sysrathum, and formed a linage of purely shapeshifting Vampires.

This was a dark day for the Brotherhood of the Claw and Sysrathum at large, where even today the story of Fenris and the slaughter that had occurred that night, as well the fear of any creature with any elongated fangs in the night.

Fenrisson Vampires operate more like actual druids with the power of shapeshifting, able to control their shapeshifting powers and turn into any creature that they will, even allowing only partial transformation. Their magical prowess leaves much to be desired, as they favor to rely on their animal forms for combat. And like the La Trurras Clan, their human forms are basically impeccable, save for that their eyes may appear more like their favored animal's eyes if they are powerful.

Some Fenrisson Vampires seem to hold some ideal of patriotism, as there are occasions where a member will challenge a Thane or Chieftain for their title and win, then unleash efforts to try and free Sysrathum from Imperial control, marking severe anti-Theocracy rhetoric. Though, the natural decadence of a Vampire does also make them enjoy abusing their power more than most, which would eventually out them of their seat of power if others haven't already noticed the oddities of the Vampire drinking blood, or being an animal, or just looking young for far too many years and be under suspect of being a Vampire.

Despite this, however, it seems to be more of an exception than the norm. Fenrisson Vampires prefer to be out in the wild, living as the animals they so love to become. The desire to be as animalistic as possible is so great, that the longer they stay in their animal form, the higher the chance of them losing all sense of sanity and humanity, having their mind and soul turn into the very animal that they are.

They also bypass the ritual needed to turn a living victim into a Vampire. Their skinwalking prowess has effected their Vampirism to the point that the bite can transfer their disease into their victim, much like a skinwalker's curse can. It's a rare occurrence, as the victim is more than likely to just be a skinwalker that can turn into the animal of the Vampire's favored animal if they were in a humanoid form, or the animal the Vampire was in the form of at the time. But it can happen. Whether just a skinwalker cursed, or a Vampire fledgling, the transferring of the curse or disease turns the victim into loyal members of the Vampire's particular pack, or sub-pack if the offending Vampire is a subordinate to another clan member, operating more like a wolf's pack than a Vampiric Clan.

This Clan also seem to have a strange jealousy of the von Hoff Clan. One can assume it is because that they believe the von Hoff's are a perfect combination of man and beast with a better hold on their mental facilities. They also are disgusted by the von Hoff's natural disposition of self-loathing, viewing it as looking down on their animalistic "gifts".