Humanity
Humanity
If the Beast is the ever-present monster within, then Humanity is the fading memory of the man or woman you once were. It is not a measure of how "good" you are, but how well you can cling to the morals of the mortal life you lost. It is the shield that protects you from the Beast, and every night, that shield is battered. To lose your Humanity is to lose yourself, becoming a hungry automaton, a monster wearing a human face.
A Kindred with high Humanity can still appreciate art, feel a pang of empathy, or pass for a living, breathing person. They remember what it was like to feel the sun, to love without a Blood Bond, to feel guilt for their actions.
As Humanity erodes, this connection fades. The world becomes a colder, simpler place. Mortals cease to be people and become tools, obstacles, or walking vessels of vitae. The Beast's whispers become louder and more persuasive. Your very appearance may begin to reflect your monstrous nature—a subtle but unsettling wrongness that mortals can sense. This is the Long Fall, the slow, inexorable slide into becoming the monster you fear.
Stains: The Scars on the Soul
When a Kindred acts against their moral code—killing needlessly or performing a truly monstrous act—their soul is marked with Stains. These are not physical marks, but spiritual scars that signify a victory for the Beast. Stains can cause your Humanity to permanently erode, making every moral choice a dangerous decision with lasting consequences.
So how does one fight the Long Fall? You must anchor your soul to the living world through what you still believe in. For this, you must turn to your Touchstones & Convictions.