Kindred of the East

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Kindred of the East
KindredOTE cover.jpg
Cover art
DesignersRobert Hatch
PublishersWhite Wolf Publishing
PublicationFebruary 1998
GenresPersonal horror
SystemsStoryteller System
Parent gamesVampire: The Masquerade
SeriesWorld of Darkness
WebsiteOfficial website
ISBN1-56504-232-8

Kindred of the East is a tabletop role-playing game supplement by White Wolf Publishing for their Vampire: The Masquerade line. The vanguard of White Wolf's "Year of the Lotus" theme (which created "Eastern" counterparts to all of their major product lines in the World of Darkness), this sourcebook is a stand-alone setting, requiring only secondary rules to be fully playable. The setting spans Asia, allowing players to play the so-called Kindred of the East, vampires of Asia.

Overview[]

Characters in Kindred of the East (or Kuei-jin, as they call themselves) are vampires as depicted in classical Japanese, Chinese, and Indian Hindu, Taoist, Shinto and Buddhist mythology. Unlike the vampires traditionally associated with Dracula or Caine, Kuei-jin were once mortals who died with the burden of unfulfilled Dharma or duties. Tortured in Yomi for their inadequacies in life, their souls successfully escaped and returned to their bodies. Now half-alive and half-dead, Kuei-jin must live by stealing chi from mortal victims to sustain themselves while trying to fulfill their Dharma. The most convenient form of chi that can be stolen is in blood, leading to their vampiric tendencies, but they cannot create new vampires. Practically all Kindred distrust the Kuei-jin. The Kuei-jin are also known to war with the other sects for territory.

Dharmas[]

A Kuei-jin's existence is a quest for enlightenment. In their search for karmic resolution, different Kuei-jin follow different paths to ease their karmic discomfort. The Dharmas, five philosophies accepted by the greater Kuei-jin community as potential paths, each emphasize a particular aspect of Kuei-jin existence:

  • The Howl of the Devil Tiger: The Dharma embracing the P'o; these Kuei-Jin seek to metamorphose into demons (rather than to serve demons, as the hated Akuma do).
  • The Way of the Resplendent Crane: The Dharma embracing the Hun; they seek to uphold the highest principles (in theory; they are nonetheless still monsters).
  • The Song of the Shadow: The Dharma embracing Yin. Embrace their dead and passionless nature through the pursuit of knowledge and sorcerous power, seeking mastery over the forces of death.
  • The Path of a Thousand Whispers: The Dharma embracing balance. Known also as "Rootless Trees", they adopt a series of different mortal identities in order to learn from a variety of experiences, while their true self remains detached and "Zen" about these lessons.
  • The Dance of the Thrashing Dragon: The Dharma embracing Yang. Seek to defy their undead state through frenzied revelry and acts meant to celebrate life (in all its bloodcurdling savagery).

In addition to these primary dharmas, a number of Heretical Dharmas have also come into existence. Not accepted in Kuei-jin society, these paths nevertheless find some followers:

  • The Face of the Gods: A Dharma embracing both Hun and P'o. As the name suggests, they intend to become literal gods on Earth, or at least claim the role and be worshipped.
  • The Flame of the Rising Phoenix: A Dharma embracing both Hun and Yang, whose members seek to reclaim their original lives rather than to accept their new status as monsters.
  • The Spirit of the Living Earth: A Dharma embracing both Yin and Yang. A shamanic path devoted to the Old Ways.
  • The Tempest of Inner Focus: A Dharma embracing balance, in a more straightforward and moderate manner than the Thousand Whispers. Influenced by Taoism.
  • The Scorpion Eaters: A Dharma embracing the P'o, who can consume only Tainted Chi and yet are not Akuma.

Finally, some Kuei-jin turn their backs on enlightenment entirely, instead swearing fealty to the Yama Kings (the rulers of Yomi) to metamorphose into Akuma, the demon people. Bartering their souls, Akuma enter Faustian deals with the Yama Kings and pursue only power.

Setting[]

Kuei-jin are the most visible shen (supernatural creatures) of the Middle Kingdom (modern Asia), but are not alone. Unlike Western Kindred, they have close ties with the spirit world. They must also compete with the hengeyokai (Shapeshifters of the East), mages, and gaki.

There are several offshoots of the Kuei-Jin who share a measure of their condition but are different in certain particulars. § Dhampyrs are the half-dead mortal children sired (or, more unusually, borne) by Kuei-Jin in the throes of Yang imbalance, which enables them to breed as if living. Capable of controlling Chi and manifesting Disciplines, the dhampyrs have many of the vampires' strengths and few of their weaknesses, both to a milder extent. § Yulan-Jin are a subset of Kuei-Jin whose souls are not able to reform their original bodies after escaping from Hell; instead, they possess the bodies of the recently dead, and when "killed", they must find a new corpse to inhabit, forcing them to switch identities. Are generally scorned by the Kuei-Jin for their perceived spiritual weakness.

Production and release[]

After a delay from November 1997,[1] Kindred of the East was published by White Wolf Publishing in February 1998 as the first and main entry in their Year of the Lotus series,[2][3] a line of Asia-themed books based on earlier games in the World of Darkness series. Kindred of the East was based on Vampire: The Masquerade, and was published as a supplement that requires the Vampire: The Masquerade rulebook to be played, following the model of the publisher's Mummy Second Edition from the year prior. This was done as the game could attract attention in the same way as a new, standalone game, while not being the start of a new line that would require further publisher support.[3]

Despite this, the game did receive a line of supplements on its own, starting with the Kindred of the East Companion book in 1999, which updated the game to bring it in line with the 1998 Revised Edition of Vampire: The Masquerade, as well as further detailing Asian vampire society and adding new gameplay mechanics and background information.[4] As part of the Time of Judgment event in 2004 – a finale to the World of Darkness series – White Wolf Publishing concluded the Kindred of the East metaplot with adventures published in the book World of Darkness: Time of Judgment.[3]

Books[]

Game books for Kindred of the East
Title Original release ISBN Notes
Kindred of the East February 1998[2] 1-56504-232-8 Core rulebook
Kindred of the East Companion April 1999[5] 1-56504-223-9 Book updating the game for Vampire: The Masquerade Revised Edition, and adding mechanics and lore[6]
The 1000 Hells May 1999[5][7] 1-56504-226-3 Sourcebook about the history of the Yomi World[7]
Dharma Book: Devil-Tigers 1999[8] 1-56504-239-5
Shadow War 1999[9] 1-56504-227-1 Sourcebook about warfare between Kuei-jin[9]
Dharma Book: Bone Flowers January 2000[10] 1-56504-240-9
Blood & Silk 2000[11] 1-56504-242-5 Sourcebook about the setting in 1197. Crossover between Kindred of the East and Vampire: The Dark Ages.[12]
Half-Damned: Dhampyr 2000[13] 1-56504-247-6
Killing Streets April 30, 2001[14] 1-58846-208-0
Dharma Book: Thrashing Dragons September 4, 2001[15] 1-58846-211-0
Dharma Book: Thousand Whispers 2001[16] 1-58846-200-5
San Francisco by Night June 3, 2002[17] 1-58846-231-5
Heresies of the Way September 30, 2002[18] 1-58846-232-3
Sunset Empires December 2002[19] 1-58846-233-1 Sourcebook for Asian vampires in the Victorian Age: Vampire setting[19]
Dharma Book: Resplendent Cranes 2002[20] 1-58846-221-8

Reception[]

Sci-Fi Universe was positive to the game, calling it well researched and fascinating, and facilitating a lot of new ideas for adventures.[2] SF Site liked the game, but considered it a daunting work, with a large amount of concepts to learn; they thought this was mitigated to some extent by Kindred of the East Companion, however.[7] Retrospectively, Backstab compared it favorably to 2003's Kindred of the Ebony Kingdom, a Vampire: The Masquerade supplement about African vampires.[21]

The game debuted as the fourth highest selling tabletop role-playing game in France during the January–February 1998 period,[22] and peaked at number 2 in March–April 1998, after Deadlands, before falling off the top 10 chart by July–August 1998.[23][24][25]

Related media[]

In 1998, video game publisher Activision acquired the rights to develop video games based on Kindred of the East, along with Vampire: The Masquerade and Vampire: The Dark Ages.[26] The Kuei-jin were eventually featured in the video game Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, which Activision published in 2004.[27]

References[]

  1. ^ "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 101. Excelsior Publications. January 1997. p. 10.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Honigsberg, David (April 1998). "Kindred of the East". Sci-Fi Universe. No. 3. Sovereign Media. p. 27.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Appelcline, Shannon (2014). Designers & Dragons: The '90s (2nd ed.). Evil Hat Productions. pp. 7–52. ISBN 978-1-613170-84-7.
  4. ^ Lhomme, Tristan (June–July 1999). "Kindred of the East Companion". Casus Belli (in French). No. 120. Excelsior Publications. p. 84.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "White Wolf January - June 1999 Schedule". White Wolf Publishing. Archived from the original on 1999-09-22. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  6. ^ "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 120. Excelsior Publications. June–July 1999. p. 84.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c "New Gaming Arrivals: May 1999, Part II". SF Site. Archived from the original on 2008-06-29. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  8. ^ "Dharma Book : Devil Tigers". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). Association du Guide du Rôliste Galactique. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 122. Excelsior Publications. October–November 1999. pp. 88–90.
  10. ^ "White Wolf January - June 1999 Schedule". White Wolf Publishing. Archived from the original on 1999-09-22. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  11. ^ "Blood & Silk". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). Association du Guide du Rôliste Galactique. 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  12. ^ "Blood & Silk (for Kindred of the East and Vampire: The Dark Ages)". Pyramid. Steve Jackson Games. 2000-07-07. Archived from the original on 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  13. ^ "Half Damned : Dhampyr". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). Association du Guide du Rôliste Galactique. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  14. ^ "2001 Release Schedule". White Wolf Publishing. Archived from the original on 2001-03-31. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  15. ^ "2001 Release Schedule". White Wolf Publishing. Archived from the original on 2001-08-14. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  16. ^ "Dharma Book : Thousand Whispers". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). Association du Guide du Rôliste Galactique. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  17. ^ "Newest Release Schedule". White Wolf Publishing. Archived from the original on 2001-10-07. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  18. ^ "Newest Release Schedule". White Wolf Publishing. Archived from the original on 2002-08-17. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b "Sunset Empires". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). Association du Guide du Rôliste Galactique. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2020-01-19. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  20. ^ "Dharma Book : Resplendent Cranes". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). Association du Guide du Rôliste Galactique. 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  21. ^ Pasteau, Cyril (September–November 2003). "Kindred of the Ebony Kingdom". Backstab (in French). No. 45. FC Publications. p. 36.
  22. ^ "Top 10". Backstab (in French). No. 8. FC Publications. March–April 1998. p. 3.
  23. ^ "Top 10". Backstab (in French). No. 9. FC Publications. May–June 1998. p. 3.
  24. ^ "Top 10". Backstab (in French). No. 10. FC Publications. July–August 1998. p. 3.
  25. ^ "Top 10". Backstab (in French). No. 11. FC Publications. September–October 1998. p. 3.
  26. ^ "Os vampiros da Activision". Dragão Brasil (in Portuguese). No. 40. Trama Editorial. July 1998. p. 4.
  27. ^ Rausch, Allen (2004-10-18). "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines". GameSpy. IGN. Archived from the original on 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2020-09-27.

External links[]

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