Welcome to the Official VEKN Ravnos Newsletter. These are all taken from the web site: 1) The Pied Piper of Hamelin 2) Ravnos Strategy: Responsibilities 3) Ravnos Related Card and Combo 4) Ravnos Reality Deck 1) The Pied Piper of Hamelin This tale has been told to me many times in many incarnations but the version I am about to tell is true, because it is a Ravnos tale. The events that happened had such an impact on the town and the governing Brujah prince, that they have been burnt into the psyche of the town itself and adopted into a Fairy Tale. In the year 1284 the town of Hameln, mysteriously under seige from rats had a visitor that would from that day on remind every being of their mortality. The visitor was a Ravnos and caused a stir wherever he went was wearing a coat of multi - colored bright cloth. An outspoken Brujah prince resided over the town. He already knew who the Ravnos was thanks to his Nosferatu informant and didn’t like him posing as a ratcatcher of some sort, and thereby claiming to have control over all the rats. When the Ravnos met with the prince he promised the prince that for a certain sum he would rid the city of all the rats. Assuming the task impossible the prince struck a deal promising the Ravnos an alarmingly high price. Some Gangrel and Nosferatu advisors had tried earlier to rid the town of the rats but to no avail. As dusk settled the Ravnos took a small fife from his pocket and began to play it. Rats and mice immediately came from every house and gathered around him as if in awe. When he thought that he had them all he led them to the river where he pulled up his clothes and walked into the water. The rats all followed him, fell in, and drowned. Now that the city had been freed of the plague by the ratcatcher the prince regretted having promised so much money and using all kinds of excuses, refused to pay him. This left the Ravnos seething in anger and promised that the prince would regret his rash decision. He went away bitter and angry, mulling over a plan for revenge, the greatest revenge a Ravnos had exacted. Poor, poor Brujah prince, the Ravnos thought as he left the city gates ready to execute his plan. To be continued next month. 2) Ravnos Strategy: Responsibilities Ravnos are pesky, and in Jyhad, that’s a handful. They do not play a significant role in the Vampire mythos, but in the game itself they can be instrumental in the downfall and debilitation of a deck. Ravnos cannot do much - but what they do, they can do very well. The reason for this is their possession of the feared skill chimerstry, coupled with the formidable combination of fortitude and animalism. Along with the skills come clan specific cards which the Ravnos can use to their advantage. How about 2 Rom Gypsies and a Fortune Teller Shop for an almost permanent +3 stealth per turn. Or the ability to Sensory Deprivate, unblockable via Day Operation or Daring the Dawn. None of this comes without a cost as every chimerstry card costs at least 1 blood. That is why the timing of your plays is so important when playing the Ravnos. Your prey nor predator know not what crippling move you will play next and fear you just that little bit more for it. Use it to your advantage. Intimidation can be your best friend. Get people to do favours for you, or vice versa. With the Ravnos, one has to make friends fast, because they have no political power whatsoever. And above all remember that Ravnos have a certain flair about doing things. If it's not done with style, it’s not done right. 3) Ravnos Related Card and Combo Fortune Teller is the first Ravnos related card highlight in homage to the page name. It is a Ravnos retainer costing 1 blood, and allows you to look at 1 card at random from your prey’s hand during your minion phase. Good for finding out if your prey can deflect. Irritates your prey like a Ravnos should. Put 8 in a deck and quite possibly get to see your prey’s hand every turn. Points to note about this card: - it’s a retainer rarely ever blocked - embraced Ravnos with no skill card can play it. Utilizing The Ravnos’ numbers in vampires possessing superior Animalism, this combo costing 1 blood does a minimum of 3 damage each round, preventing 2. Conquer the Beast gives you the optional press to continue each round, Carrion Crows does 2R each round, Apparition prevents 2 damage each round, top off nicely with a little Drawing out the Beast and Aid From Bats for the extra press. 4) Ravnos Reality Deck The Ravnos Reality Deck emphasizes their ability to pull weapons out of nowhere and increase it’s damage.with cards such as Horrid Reality and Mass Reality. These cards either pull weapons out of thin air or increase the damage a weapon does. Imagine Ghoul Retainer inflicting 5 aggravated damage with an Ivory bow you pulled out of nowhere, while you, at the same time are merely playing Zip Gun / Dragon Breath Rounds for 7 aggravated damage. Kinda hurts, doesn’t it? The Crypt Konstantin, Baro of the Caravan (x2) - RAV 9 ANI CHI FOR (D)+1 stealth: Steal equipment from another minion Joaquina Amaya (x2) - RAV 6 ANI CHI FOR - +1 stealth when equipping Sarisha Veliku (x2) - RAV 6 FOR ANI chi Vaclav Petalengro (x2) - RAV 6 ANI CHI for - +1 intercept vs. GAN Salbatore Bokkendro (x2) - RAV 4 for CHI Lazar Dobrescu - RAV 3 for - (D) move 1 blood from vampire in your prey’s uncontrolled region to vampire in your uncontrolled region. Sasha Miklos - RAV 2 chi Total - 12 Vampires The Library Master - total - 18 cards Giant's Blood (1) Minion Tap (2) Fortune Teller Shop (2) Park Hunting Ground (1) Major Boon (1) Blood Doll (2) Fortitude (1) Ravnos Cache (1) Sudden Reversal (2) Fame (2) Pentex Subversion (1) Ravnos Carnival (1) Vast Wealth (1) Action/ Action Modifiers - total - 28 cards Restoration (2) Rom Gypsy (1) Aaron's Feeding Razor (1) Palatial Estate (1) Ivory Bow (1) Crimson Sentinel (1) Talbot’s Chainsaw (2) Flak Jacket (1) Rumors of Gehenna (1) Dawn Operation (1) Fata Morgana (4) Day Operation (2) Sensory Deprivation (2) Freak Drive (2) Mass Reality (3) Ghoul Retainer (1) Raven Spy (2) Reactions - total - 18 cards Cat's Guidance (6) Ignis Fatuus (4) Rat's Warning (1) Veiled Sight (1) Wake With Evening’s Freshness (3) Forced Awakening (3) Combat - total - 26 cards Apparation (3) Hidden Strength (1) Zip Gun (4) Horrid Reality (3) Pulled Fangs (2) Skin of Night (2) Unflinching Persistence (2) Dragon Breath Rounds (3) Skin of Steel (2) Rolling With The Punches (2) Drawing out the Beast (1) Indomitability (1) Total: 90 cards This deck should usually be the last one ousted, perhaps with no victory points but does produce some timely surprises. You are well equipped to handle almost any situation that arises. A big problem with Ravnos is that they get low on blood very quickly. That will be taken care of next month. That's all. Take care, J D Stevers