From SuspireWiki
An anarch is a lot of things. It's a word that elders of status wield like a weapon. It's a class of vampire that rejects all social norms and evokes thoughts of anarchist terrorism. It's a label often applied to the unaligned with a broad and indiscrete brush. The truth of the matter depends on who you ask, and how truthful they feel like being.
Anarchs draw up almost exclusively from the ranks of neonates either frustrated, or completely shut out of the political system. Many are short sighted rebels and iconoclasts, some are subtler, more plotting, but they've all got the same basic goal, to greater or lesser extremes. To exist outside of the political systems of kindred, to "liberate" their peers from the oppressive system, and to topple the social order.
Who are they?
There's no cookie cutter anarch. They're too disparate, made for too many different reasons, and have too many different ideas about how things ought to be. A few voices at best can be represented
Reggie Bergman
Reggie is your iconic anarch. A proclivity for mohawks and destruction, a disdain for all authority, mortal or kindred, and willingness to commit violence to further his ends. Reggie will speak his mind and speak it loud. He's not the smartest fellow out on the street, but if you dig through all the rhetoric, he probably actually does have some ideas.
"
Just cause some fucker is old as dirt I'm supposed to get down on my knees and kiss his ring? The right of force huh? Well, I know something about force too. So enjoy your fascist paradise while you have it, I'm a comin' for you"
Lisa Wilmot
Lisa isn't a world away from Reggie in thought, beliefs, or obstinance. But looking at her you'd think there must be some great rift between them. Really the only difference is in tactics, and desire for attention. Lisa isn't going to run her mouth willy nilly, she's not going to crash parties or burn down elysium, she prefers to be quiet and watchful. She'd be content to be left alone and exist outside the system if she can, and maybe, if she thinks she's got an open ear, she'll say all the right things to lure another neonate into her walk of unlife. More thoughtful and, frankly more intelligent than Reggie, her views tend to be only slightly less extreme, though better thought out.
"
Maybe I should be a Carthian right? Well, no. I'm all for tolerance and freedom, not fascism, and certainly not being anyone's guinea pig. Thank you very much, but I'll stay right where I am. You leave me alone, I leave you alone, or else, well or else I guess Reggie'll beat the shit out of you."
Lisette Montcalme
Lisette isn't really an anarch. Or she wasn't, until she stepped on the wrong harpy's status and had her night ruined in a huge way. She's not in any covenant mostly because none appeal to her, or the ones that do won't have her. Her views are minimal, and less extreme than her compatriots, but the anarchs give her protection and a companionship. She'd probably really rather be an Invictus, but this is the lot the night handed her.
"
Anarch? Me? Oh no you're surely mistaken. Well, my friends maybe, but I don't really belong here. The system? I don't know what that means, really, but that stupid harpy bitch ruined everything, and if these people are going to protect me, help me get revenge, then, well I guess I call me anarch then. I guess."
Status
Status is the defining issue for many, many anarchs. The easiest way to be branded anarch is to ignore status, and the anarch that respects status hasn't been found yet. Their views may be somewhat predictable on the matter, but the centrality of the issue to the anarch lifestyle makes it necessary to hear them out, if any attempt to understand the anarch phenomenon is to be undertaken.
Where do I even start to tell you what's wrong with this system? Okay so everyone has a rank, and we divide up neatly into a rigid class structure that arbitrarily says I'm a piece of shit whose word doesn't mean a thing and who can be kicked beaten stepped on shot or killed without consequence, because, after all, I didn't wear a tie to elysium and I don't feel like kissing some prince's ring. I mean really we're talking about centuries old creatures with more power than they know what to do with, and I make them so fucking insecure that they have to create this, almost quantifiable structure to say that they're better than me? Makes you wonder who's really the top dog huh? I don't need some fucking retarded respected-valued high rank low rank bullshit to tell me who's a fuckhead and who's worth hearing out. Christ, man, what the fuck are they even thinking? How in fuck is this a valid way to govern people?
Well like most political systems it's an interesting idea if you believe what people say about it. A meritocracy, how nice. And it wouldn't be totally impossible in Kindred society. I mean, you're talking a very small scale, almost never more than a hundred people in a geographical area, and everyone is all up in everyone's business. But the problem is someone has to decide who gets a higher rank and who doesn't. And the second you say there's an arbiter, there's a ruler, someone in charge, and then human frailty corrupts the system. That's not even to mention the rediculous disparity and over reliance on rank that you find everywhere. I mean, like the whole court procedure? I can't even accuse someone of rank of the heinous shit everyone knows they do because I don't have the standing to? Evidence doesn't mean anything? It's a transparent means of keeping the power for the powerful and I'm completely saddened that so many people are willing to tow the line like dogs in the hopes of getting some scraps from the dinner table.
Status is basically money. If you have it you probably think it's great and you throw it around and flash it to people and put down everyone that doesn't. If you don't, you want it and you'll do anything to get it. Well, that or you end up like me. Status rejected me so I reject it. Those people aren't better than me, not for a second. I mean I never really liked poor people, so maybe my analogy is bad, but that stupid Harpy bitch didn't have the right to do what she did. We'll see how her rank helps her when she's on fucking fire.
The Traditions
Anarchs aren't exactly known for being staunch supporters of Tradition. But the most basic laws of vampirism that are written in the blood are hard to ignore, and the utility of the Masquerade is not lost on them. A wide range of views leads to much contention and division as to how exactly to handle the three foremost traditions of the kindred.
The Masquerade
Even I know this one. It's a pretty good idea, I got no problem with keeping things quiet from the breathers, they probably wouldn't dig what we do and frankly I have enough enemies without witchhunters and the like coming after me. But those fuckers take it way too far. I mean sometimes shit gets messed up, and you fix it and that should be it. But you know, they'll kill you over this petty bullshit. And it's not like anyone ever really -broke- the masquerade. It's still there. Putting abstact ideas before people is fucking stupid.
Well you know, we tend to have to keep what we do secret from just about everyone. So, mortals, vampires, hunters, wolves, whatever. It's no different, whatever ideas you might have, this we do out of necessity, practicality. If I saw any real advantage to breaking the Masquerade, well, maybe I'd consider it.
I don't get this one. I should be able to use my gifts openly, I'd be a GOD to these people. But even the other anarchs won't let me, probably because they're afraid of us getting caught and killed. Which, okay that's a valid concern but, I don't understand why they try to control me like that. It seems pretty hypocritical.
The Embrace
Embrace? Is that what you hippies like to call it? That makes it sound real nice huh? Embrace my ass, you're killing someone and throwing them into this rediculous world of Prince's and murderers. Get the fuck out of here, why would I even want to do that to someone? If I could I'd find the motherfucker that did it to me and show him just what I think of his little break in the Second Tradition.
There's gotta be some kind of balance. You can't have people running around embracing everything that moves, or everything with breasts, or, whatever. But, no one has the right to tell me if I want to have a kid or not. And childer are an extension of that. It's my right, you've got to trust me to be responsible. The problem is that kindred society assumes that everyone is either an idiot or a criminal. That's no way to run things.
I'll embrace who I want when I want thank you very much. There's so many people that I'd like to share this gift with. And I know I can't take it so lightly but, well really, I like to share. And what's wrong with it? The only reason I don't have about a dozen vampire kiddies is because I don't like the killing part, and the frenzies, it's kind of overwhelming. There's something foreboding about making another vampire. Still, it's my right.
The Amaranth
Let's think. There's a way of killing people, that destroys them utterly, and gives you the power of their elder blood, and there's a rule against it? Wait, wait, wait...lemme guess...it's an elder's rule isn't it? It is? Fucking Shocking! Fuck off, if you're dumb enough to show me your throat and give me a chance to not only kill a scion of the corrupt fucking system I hate, but become more powerful as a weapon against it, you deserve to have your soul ate.
Cannibalism and murder. I'm against them both. Reggie talks a lot but I know he's never done it. He's scared to, just like me. We've all seen people fall to addiction and depravity. There's nothing good in that.
Gross.
The Covenants
Almost without exception anarch's avow no covenant, but it doesn't stop them from having highly opinionated views about the covenants of others.
On The Invictus
You have to ask? Fuck every one of those pompous pieces of shit, they're the worst, the absolute worst of your
kindred society. I swear, I'm gonna laugh when it all burns away and collapses in on them. Sons of bitches, just power hungry for no good reason. Must be some ego thing or whatever. I don't know, shit, I don't care. Fuck em all.
I gotta say, these are not a nice group of people. They're the vampires that I'd least like to cross and, except maybe the Lance freaks, the one's we piss off most often. At least, they're so repressive, if things keep up, they'll start the revolution for us. I mean really...feudalism?
now? It's absurd.
Well, you know it wasn't right what they did to me. But, well...don't tell anyone but I really envy them. Such power, and wealth, oh...some day.
On The Lancae Sanctum
You know, if the First Estate wasn't bad enough, there's gotta be these creepy ass hangers on calling themselves the Second Estate too? And, hell these are the type of annoying fuckers that will come
into your home to bitch about how you're not praying hard enough to their bullshit saints. What a load.
Well, sure they're annoying. And, sure they're kind of terrifying sometimes. And sure they ally with the Vicks more often than not to drive us out and make us miserable. But you know, it's worth being their friends. Cause, when you fuck up, and are heading for the guillotine, these types are so damn egotistical, they'll offer to save you, teach the little ignorant anarch to know better. That usually gives you just about enough time to get out of dodge.
I don't really understand these types. They seem like they want to be the Invictus, but they've got this whole and other rediculous theology thing. And they want everyone to believe in their bullshit. I don't know how anyone can stand them really.
On the Carthian Experiment
First Reich Invictus Second Reich Sanctum Third Reich Carthian. What the fuck do I even have to say about a bunch of wannabe Invictus who can't even get their shit together enough to decide on how to do it? I heard them folk in boston have been car bombing though. At least they grew some spine.
Well, like I told you before, I'd rather not be anyone's guinea pig. When I was a pink little neonate fresh into the night, I thought maybe these guys are okay. I'm not much for democracy but its better than feudalism. Fascism...well fascism ain't. And their democracy ain't quite that either. Sometimes they can be helpful, but its definitely always more trouble than it's worth. Their little baby steps do more to hurt the revolution than the Invictus' oppression.
Oh god, not the Carthians. Such poor taste, such poor organization. If the Sanctified are wanna be Invictus, these guys are wanna be anarchs. Except they think they're too good for us or something. I don't see why they exist at all. They spout a lot of the same rhetoric as us, but, I guess they're just scared or something. Maybe I would've been like that, if I didn't get forced into this. Maybe.
On the Circle of the Crone
Wow. Holy shit, wow. Now I don't like the Lance Freaks, no doubt about it. But these guys. Holy fucking shit. What the fuck is wrong with them? Talk about fucking monsters. Jesus.
Uh..shit. What Reggie said.
I heard they eat babies. Well, at least they keep the Lance in check. And really, they're usually content to leave us alone, though, you know I think sometimes when one of us disappears, it's them, doing some wierd sacrifice shit. But then again, maybe it's just an Invictus hit, or a Lance hit, or a Carthian hit, or...wow. We sure do have a lot of enemies. You know what? These guys are downright tolerable, now that I think of it.
On the Ordo Dracul
I heard they do experiments on living kindred and shit. That sounds pretty damn fucked. Mostly they keep to themselves and study and whatnot. I don't mind that really, but, I hope it's not true, about the experiments. Either way though, they contribute to the power structure, and they're gonna burn with it. Why the fuck do they call themselves dragons anyway? wierdos...
You know, I don't really know what these guys are about. Every one of them I've met is pretty damn sharp, but there's almost something missing from them. Like, you'd think from such austere and supposedly scholarly people, they'd have some worldliness and personality, but, well, most don't. Most of them, shit, I'd almost say they're socially retarded. Still, I wonder what is they do all night.
You know, I think the dragon's play all nice, like they just want to be left alone and study...whatever it is they study, but I think they're completely full of it too. They remind me of college kids, who think they're so great cause they go to college. Like they're in on some big secret or something. I bet it's a damn hoax. Dracula, ha. Maybe we'll start up the Ordo Lugosi to compete.
The Clans
Even to non-anarch vampires Clan is usually at best a secondary or tertiary concern. Still it often figures into the psyche of many, and is used to greater or lesser degrees to stereotype and judge others. Anarchs, being disdainful of tradition and structure to begin with, tend to be less reliant on stereotypes of the blood than their counterparts in accepted society.
Clan? I got one of those right? Just more bullshit to keep us separate and suspicious of each other. Like I give a fuck who killed you? The fact that so many conform to the stereotypes set before them is just a triumph of this ludicrous fucking system and it's neatly delineated predestined roles for everyone designed to keep the powerful powerful and crush us all underfoot. Just keep that Ventrue mindfuck shit away from me, alright?
Well, clan's kind of...interesting. I mean it's social effects roughly correspond with race, but it's more than that for vampires. I mean, it really does affect you, your blood, there's weaknesses and strengths endemic to every clan. So, I guess the ideal would be sociologically to move past our preconceived notions of how we're different and isolated, and share our strengths to make all of use the best possible vampires. I mean, a lot of anarchs really hate Dominate, but you know, being able to erase memories...that's downright useful. It might not seem real nice or anything, but if it fixes a masquerade breach and keeps the Hound off my tail for a while, well mister ventrue, you sir did just fine.
Clan, well, it's not so important, I mean, well I'm a Daeva, and we're interesting folk. We've probably got the most useful abilities in a night to night basis, and well the Gangrel are, I mean there's something wrong with them all. They remind me of children the way they have no attention spans or anything, and oh god, the Ventrue are a bunch of lunatics. And the Nosferatu, well, I mean I don't think I'm better than anyone or anything, but, really, gross. The Mekhet are alright I guess, just a little creepy. And I hear they burn up something terrible. Probably a bad thing for an Anarch, since you know, they're going to see fire sooner or later.
COMING SOON!
so i'll add the clan stuff soon, and some other miscellaneous views, like views on the traditions, on nomads, on themselves. Feel free to add anarch opinions, the pics are 102 pixels tall if you wanna add pics. If you don't I will. that's all for now! be easy. peace out. -Andrew
(last updated 24 October 2006 by James Crack
