Kindred in the upcoming Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 can partake in the global politics of the immortal by eyeing the power vacuum in Seattle, where the Camarilla, the Sabbat, and the Anarch Sects may have agents already trying to secure their piece of the pie. However, eagle-eyed fans aware of Vampire: The Masquerade lore may remember a fourth faction, the Inconnu, which exists in such a fog of mystery that almost no one knows of their existence.
Those who are made aware of the Inconnu know them to be extremely secretive, with almost no Kindred knowing who its members are or what its objective might be in the global vampire scene. However, with a mysterious cult making itself known in Bloodlines 2 and the Emerald City ripe for the taking, it wouldn’t be surprising for the Inconnu to reveal itself to Kindred in the region. Should this happen in the game, what should players know about this secretive Sect?
10 A Beginning As Early As Kindred
Back when the people of the Adriatic Sea had begun forming the first city-states of the region, groups of vampire Clans had already been manipulating the ancient Phoenicians and Etruscans behind the scenes.
In the span of a few decades, the prosperity of the Greeks would motivate its puppeteers from Clans Ventrue, Malkavian, and Lasombra to continue their machinations. Separate Clans would eventually support the oligarchs of the Seven Hills of Rome, whose petty wars often didn’t become a cause of concern for these shadowy rulers. These actions would form the basis of the Inconnu’s preference to maintain a secret presence.
9 The Backdrop Of Rome
Courtesy of a more official shadow group known as the Cainite Eternal Senate, Rome largely enjoyed years of conquest until Carthage posed a direct threat to the great capital. The Brujah, whose pursuit of reestablishing Caine’s First City attracted the likes of the Toreador, transformed Carthage into a rising empire.
The resulting Punic Wars not only destroyed Carthage but also scattered prominent vampire Clans at the time. The Brujah fled to the so-called barbaric lands, the Toreador sought artistic enlightenment in Rome, the Lasombra moved to the Iberian Peninsula, while the Ventrue maintained a tight grip within the Eternal Senate. Tensions also escalated close to the end of Rome, where a Toreador-Malkavian alliance toppled Ventrue leadership after the death of Julius Ceasar, while the Tzimisce-led Germanic tribes finally sent the Roman Empire to its knees.
8 The Rise Of The Order
Despite the fall of the Roman Empire, the coalition of Kindred rulers reformed in the form of Ventrue, Malkavian, and Tzimisce survivors of the Roman collapse. Throughout the Dark Ages, the coalition had attempted to capitalize on humanity’s shattered fragments to once again seize control, with experiments such as the Merovingian Dynasty in France.
However, the roots of the Inconnu took place in the rise of the Roman Catholic Church where this coalition found their method of control. Known only as The Order, this group of vampires moved so discretely that other Kindred called them “Ignoti” or the Unknown.
7 Fear And Paranoia
Unfortunately for observers, the Order’s reliance on the Catholic Church as a foothold of their power would be the last history would see the Inconnu’s activity. Their preference to stay in the shadows transformed them into an unpredictable Sect, with Kindred having guesses as to why they may have preferred a life of hiding.
When it was clear that Clan Tremere diablerized Saulot to become a “legitimate” Clan, this only cemented the Inconnu’s decision for a life of hiding. After all, the act of diablerie can instantly elevate a Neonate to the rank of an Elder, giving them remarkable power. This is the same rank of the protagonist in the new Vampire game, hinting at their possession of remarkable power.
6 The Retreat And The Jyhad
Players who get in touch with an Inconnu connection in their Vampire gameplay could point towards Hunedoara Castle in Transylvania, Eastern Europe, as their modern home. Building on the trope of the secluded vampire, a majority of the Inconnu’s members are currently hiding in the castle, bickering among themselves amid protections via vampiric spells, gargoyles, and even a demonic presence.
In present times, the constant threat of the Jyhad between the Camarilla and the Sabbat had motivated Kindred to sever their Blood Bonds with their Sects in order to seek the Inconnu. Those fortunate enough to find themselves in their presence may stay protected by the Sect in exchange for favors such as information and even tasks.
5 Few Rules, Extreme Punishments
Compared to other Sects in Vampire: The Masquerade gameplay, the Inconnu have few rules to follow due to their independent nature. However, they are expected to abide by at least two customs. Firstly, the Inconnu are not to destroy a fellow Inconnu except in extreme circumstances. Secondly, Inconnu who go outside of the Castle are expected to not participate in the Jyhad.
While certain Inconnu have duties to observe Kindred outside their spheres of control, they aren’t allowed to participate in them. Interacting with non-Inconnu brethren is frowned upon, even if it’s to a non-Inconnu childer.
4 Saulot, The Pursuit Of Golconda
On top of their secretive nature, players may find the Inconnu notable in their Vampire gameplay for another trait: the relentless pursuit of Golconda. In the World of Darkness mythos, Golconda is a form of mystical enlightenment that forces a balance between a Kindred and their Beast, be it through mutual understanding or destruction. It was said that Archangel Gabriel promised Golconda to Caine during his exile, and his favorite child Saulot managed to achieve this in his journey to the east.
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Unfortunately, much of Golconda knowledge was lost since his diablerization. However, when Tremere diablerized Saulot, his psyche slowly overwhelmed his killer. Saulot now resides in Hunedora Castle, taking the guise of the human servant Stefan while hiding his vast capabilities. His only desire is for the Inconnu to stop their internal conflict to once again pursue Golconda.
3 The Invisible Factions
Among the Inconnu’s vampires in the World of Darkness are factions that differ in philosophy without causing much friction in the Sect. Four notable factions within the Inconnu are the following:
- The Seekers: Perhaps the Inconnu most associated with Golconda, the Seekers believe that achieving Golconda is the true fulfillment of one’s nature as Kindred. Those among the Seekers who achieved it will often help others find true enlightenment.
- The Purifiers: Instead of shunning the modernity of the Kindred age compared to their Seeker counterparts, Purifiers instead want to embrace both magic and science. They believe that Kindred can continuously survive once they integrate these modern principles into their society.
- The Immaculates: Unlike the other factions, the Immaculates believe that Kindred can only achieve enlightenment by fully accepting their nature. In turn, they abandon Humanity in place of a Path of Enlightenment, usually a religious one.
- The Haunted: For them, the Beast is a separate entity of rage and greed that possesses their body, and it is their mission to find a way to “purge” it out of their system. The Haunted strive to weaken and starve the Beast in order to remove it from their bodies, as they believe the Beast and vampirism are two different entities.
2 The Price Of Membership
Similar to other Sects players can encounter in Vampire: The Masquerade gameplay, Kindred cannot simply join the Inconnu. Not only should they demonstrate their desire to remove themselves from the Kindred Jyhad between the Camarilla and the Sabbat, but they must possess the power to separate themselves from the bonds that may tie them back into this war. It’s this necessity to remove oneself from Jyhad that the Inconnu usually impose a generation requirement of 6th Generation or older for prospective members.
Upon recruitment, not much is known about a member’s activities within the Sect. Two roles within the organization are known. First is their leadership, taking the form of a supposed Council of Twelve. They, in turn, manage various Monitors that take note of the activities of supernaturals around the world.
1 The Inconnu Before And Now
The transition to Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition also affected the way the Inconnu has appeared in modern times. In most Vampire gameplay, the Inconnu remain an organization acting behind the scenes, with almost no one knowing their true nature of objectives.
However, in the Revised Edition, the Inconnu have become more of an adjective than an organization, at least from the perspective of canon. This edition of the game implies that the Inconnu simply refer to vampires who reject the Jyhad and go into hiding, most of them ending up in Castle Hunedoara.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
- Released
- October 21, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- The Chinese Room
- Publisher(s)
- Paradox Interactive
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
