Inconnu
The mysterious elder sect — ancient Kindred who have withdrawn from the Jyhad. Structure, Monitors, Golconda connection, and mechanical interaction rules.
The Inconnu is neither a Sect in the political sense nor a faction in the Jyhad. It is a loose confederation of ancient vampires — most of them elders or ancients — who have withdrawn from Kindred politics entirely or are actively pursuing Golconda. They watch but do not govern. They intervene only when they must.
Philosophy
The Inconnu’s defining characteristic is disengagement from the Jyhad. Most members believe the eternal war between Camarilla and Sabbat is a puppet show orchestrated by the Antediluvians — and that the only winning move is not to play. This is not cowardice; it is a form of radical detachment considered by many members to be a prerequisite for Golconda.
Some Inconnu are closer to Golconda than any other known vampires. A few may have achieved it. This is rumored, never confirmed.
Attitude toward other Sects: Disdain, largely. The Camarilla’s Masquerade politics and the Sabbat’s crusades are both traps. The Inconnu do not recruit from either Sect — members find the Inconnu, not the other way around.
Structure
The Inconnu has no formal hierarchy. What structure exists is informal and ancient:
Monitors are Inconnu members assigned to observe a specific city or region. Each Monitor maintains a watching brief — tracking Kindred activity, powerful mortals, and supernatural disturbances — without intervening. A Monitor’s primary tool is observation, not action.
The Inner Circle is not named or formally constituted. It is simply the oldest, most powerful members — some of them 4th or 5th Generation. Their decisions, when they make them, carry enormous weight. They do not meet regularly.
Evaluation is the only formal process: before a vampire is acknowledged as Inconnu, they must satisfy the Inner Circle that they have genuinely transcended Sect politics and are pursuing something beyond the Jyhad. This process takes decades. Many who seek out the Inconnu are turned away.
Membership Requirements
- Generation: Most acknowledged Inconnu are 6th Generation or lower, though there are exceptions. Thin-blooded vampires are not eligible.
- Age: At minimum, centuries. The Inconnu do not consider neonates or young ancillae.
- Path: Members may follow Humanity or any Path of Enlightenment. Several favor the Path of Paradox (Ravnos-derived; concerned with cycles, illusion, and non-attachment). Golconda pursuit is common but not universal.
- Withdrawal: A candidate must demonstrate genuine withdrawal from Sect politics — not exile, but chosen disengagement. Spies, double agents, and politically active Kindred are ineligible.
Mechanical Interaction Rules
Siding with the Inconnu is not a character creation option in standard V20. A PC may be a Monitor’s contact or informant, but is not an Inconnu member.
Inconnu Monitors in a chronicle function as:
- Intelligence assets (know things other factions do not)
- Potential Golconda guides (if the PC has achieved Humanity 7+ and meets other prerequisites)
- Wildcard factions — their loyalties are to outcomes, not parties
- Potential antagonists if PCs disturb something the Inconnu are protecting
What Inconnu NPCs will not do:
- Take sides in Camarilla/Sabbat conflicts
- Provide political backing
- Intervene directly in Sect disputes unless the situation threatens something fundamentally dangerous (an Antediluvian waking, Gehenna-tier events)
Blood bond: A vampire of sufficient age and potency who offers their blood is offering something PCs should treat as extremely dangerous. Elder Inconnu vitae may trigger immediate blood bond stages — avoid drinking from them.
Known Figures
The Inconnu does not publicize membership. The following are rumored or confirmed (level of certainty varies by chronicle):
| Name | Clan | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Saulot | Salubri | Believed Inconnu before Tremere diablerized him; may persist within Tremere |
| Kemintiri | Followers of Set | Elder double agent — sometimes claimed as Inconnu, sometimes as active Setite |
| Various ancients | Mixed | The Inner Circle’s composition is speculation; several 4th-generation vampires are rumored |
Chronicle continuity determines which of these figures appear. In V20’s default 1990s setting, the Inconnu’s exact membership is deliberately obscured.
Golconda Connection
The Inconnu’s relationship to Golconda is central to understanding them. The sect does not teach Golconda — they believe it cannot be taught, only sought. But:
- Inconnu Monitors have observed Golconda seekers across centuries
- The inner circle may include Kindred who have achieved it
- A Monitor who judges a vampire genuinely ready may point them toward resources, but will not provide a roadmap
For Golconda mechanics and prerequisites, see Golconda.