Meet the Toreador Clan in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2

A new Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 clan was revealed today, joining the ranks of the Thinbloods, Brujah, and Tremere. The new clan, the Toreador, is home to a large number of Kindred vampires in Seattle. Because of this, the Toreador seem to have members in every place of influence in the city and has held it since its creation.

The clan is also known to fill its ranks with the artistic greats of society. Some of these are responsible for large-scale changes in Seattle’s civil planning. Others merely pursue easy-to-obtain pleasures and turn to a life of debauchery to satisfy that craving. It appears that the Toreador are a branch of the Thinblood clan which separated long ago, and as such they share some similar powers with their former allies.

The Toreador in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 have a few tricks that keep them ahead of their foes. The game’s official website reveals some of these powers, which players will have access to if they choose to side with this group. Below is a description of the abilities that come with their two main Disciplines: Presence and Celerity.

Presence of the Toreador

The Toreador power of Presence allows members of this clan to gain the favor of an entire room of people — even those who were previously hostile towards them. Interestingly, use of Presence does not violate the Masquerade rules set in place by the clans. This Discipline gives them the use of these two abilities:

• Awe – This allows the vampire to “freeze all before them into adoring wonder” just by striking a pose. Those affected will remain utterly awe-struck for a short while afterward.
• Entrance – Grants the vampire a posse of yes-men and yes-women around them. They can use this to distract any enemies nearby, taking the focus away from the character.

Celerity of the Toreador

Toreador are also gifted with Celerity, which allows them to move with a speed and grace unrivaled by the other clans. Members of the Toreador clan push their bodies past their limits to master this Discipline. Those talented in the use of Celerity have access to the following:

• Unseen Storm – This is a dash attack that looks to doubles as a way to confuse enemies. Using this ability will give a Toreador the upper hand when attacking, dodging, or when needing to retreat. Any character between the start and end points of the dash will be knocked down as a result.
• Accelerate – Players will be able to move with such speeds that everything else around them will look to be moving slowly. This will let players sneak between enemies and obstacles, as well as dodge incoming bullets.

The Toreador sure look to be a formidable group. It will be interesting to see what sort of impact they will have on the game’s story, since they seem to have a finger in every one of Seattle’s pies. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks, as we still have two clans in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 who have yet to be revealed.