Vampiric Beards: The Best Beards in the World of Darkness

A Beast I am, lest a Beast I become 

A game I hold near and dear to my heart is Vampire: the Masquerade. Learning about it as an early teenager, it has been a universe that captivated my imagination for decades now. Through all the editions and chronicles, the game has earned my respect and affection through various characters and Storytelling (VTM’s word for DM) sessions. 

As a Beard Sorcerer, I knew we needed a blog post showing off all the awesome beards the characters sport in throughout the series. This list is by no means comprehensive, but these are some of my favorites that have a good bit of beard lore associated with them.  

Without further ado, these are the top 6 vampires sporting luxurious manes of facial hair: 

6 Best Bearded Vampires in the World of Darkness 

Black Wallace 

Source - whitewolf.fandom.com

The first vampire on our list is the infamous inquisitor Black Wallace. Descended from a bloodline that prevents him from seeing his own reflection, Black Wallace still takes time to have his servants meticulously trim his beard every night. He uses his favorite portrait to instruct them to get his beard just right. Now that’s devotion! 

Qadir al-Asmai 

Source - whitewolf.fandom.com 

Qadir al-Asmai is the Sheriff of New York, which is to say when people break vampire laws, it is Qadir’s job to bring the perpetrator before the vampire elders for judgment. Being a Sheriff is already a prestigious position, but the Sheriff of a large city like New York speaks to Qadir’s efficiency and professionalism. He is descended from the Toreador, a bloodline known for their attention to beauty, so it comes as no surprise his tailored and handsome appearance includes a neatly trimmed beard. 

Theo Bell 

Source - www.blackchantry.com

Archon. Iconoclast. Warrior. Anarch. Who could doubt that the World of Darkness’s premier badass could miss the list?  Theo Bell is easily one of the most recognizable faces of Vampire: The Masquerade, and with good reason.  His stoic attitude is backed up by the number of elders he has laid to rest with his dragons-breath filled shotgun. His gruff appearance includes an excellent goatee, which stands as a testament to his indomitable spirit.

Al Ashrad 

Source - www.blackchantry.com

Once the Amr (Leader) of a band of sorcerers in the secret city, Alamut, Al Ashrad’s mastery of vampiric magic is nearly unrivaled. Upon betraying the leadership, Al Ashrad is one of the masterminds behind a large portion of his Clan gaining independence and joining other factions around the world. What Sorcerer would be complete without a magnificent beard? 

Smiling Jack the Anarch 

Source - whitewolf.fandom.com

Have you ever played the PC Game from 2004, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines? This game is a cult classic for the Vampire series. This is one of my favorite games to this day because of the exceptional writing and atmosphere, while still having funny easter eggs and exploitable glitches. In the tutorial, the first character you meet after becoming a vampire and your guide to the World of Darkness, is none other than the legendary anarch Smiling Jack. With his brash sense of humor and quick wit, he gives you the basics of vampiric existence to help you survive the night. You know what else I noticed about him right away? His magnificent pirate beard. 

Smiling Jack’s reputation goes far beyond the video game for die hard fans, but all depictions of everyone’s favorite anarch always has him sporting a bestial and powerful beard. 

Caine

Source - whitewolf.fandom.com

Was it possible to make this list and not make Caine (yes, with an “e”), the most badass Beard-wielding vampire there is? He is the OG vampire and as such has to top our list of the best vampire beards in the World of Darkness. Really, who else could it be? 

Now, Caine is a figure shrouded in mystery, which begs the question, does he have a beard since no one has seen him in thousands of years? Well, one can assume they didn’t have shaving implements in the dawn of early human history. The progenitor of all Kindred (what vampires call each other) was likely turned into a vampire and now forever sports his excellent mane of facial hair. 

Conclusion 

Throughout the series, Vampire: The Masquerade has gifted us some amazing bearded vampires. I’m certain in this article I could add a few more bearded vampires, so if there are any worthy of mention, let us know in the comments (Like Dracula's excellent moustache)! And remember kindred, it is the blood of Caine that makes our fate.