Cults of the Blood Gods (Vampire the Masquerade 5th Edition)

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written by – Dale Andrade, Jacqueline Bryk, Jacob Burgess, John Burke, Lillian Cohen-Moore, Rachel
Cole, Matthew Dawkins, Steffie de Vaan, Emily Griggs, Mike F. Tomasek Jr, Eddy Webb, Rachel Wilkinson

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CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

JUST ANOTHER FAMILY DINNER 9 Organization 49
Modern Nights 50
INTRODUCTION 13 Recruitment 50
Bases of Operations 51
Believe in the Blood 13 Garden of Hope: Budapest 52
A Place of Worship 14 Goals 53
Existing in Religious Disharmony 14 Rites and Rituals 54
Enemies 54
CHAPTER ONE: 17 Perspectives 55
RISE OF THE METHUSELAH CULT New Coterie Type 55
17 Nemeses 55
The Justicars Speak 19 New Rituals 55
The Why and Way of Worship 19 Level 1 55
The Bull and the Blood and the Bone 20 55
Prepare. 20 Coax the Garden 56
Time of Thin Blood 21 Level 5 56
Brother Sweetwater Speaks 21 57
Protect the Flock 21 Eden’s Bounty 58
A Cainite Hymnal 23 The Church of Caine  58
Planting the Seed 23 The Heresy Falls 59
Rotten to the Core 25 The Heresy Rises 59
Beauty is Divine Truth 26 Hell on Earth 60
Bed the Bones 28 Sublimating Divinity into Society 61
Hail Gorgo, Slayer of Men 28 Ad Limina 61
The Seeker and the Moon 29 Church Hierarchy 61
On a Mission for the Goddess 31 61
Trickle-Up Religion 31 Congregation / The Flock 61
Beware False Religions 32 Doorkeepers 62
The Lord of the Red Desert Acolytes 62
35 Vergers 62
CHAPTER TWO: Lectors 62
KINDRED RELIGIONS 35 Deacons 62
36 Priests / Church Leaders 62
The Ashfinders 36 Bishops 64
Dust to Dust 37 The Metropolitan 64
Are Millennials Killing Kindred Elders? 38 Church Dogma 64
Data Mining 38 Sacraments 64
Cinder Institute: Ibiza 39 The Sacrament of Valediction 65
Perspectives 39 The Sacrament of Exculpation 66
42 The Sacrament of Firewalking 67
Beast Shards 44 Cainite Dominion: St. Louis 67
Amber Freeman (ThriveHive) 45 Perspectives 67
Dr. James “Mortius” Howitt 45 New Rituals 67
Ashfinder Blood Alchemy 45 Level 1 67
Level 3 46 Dampen the Fear 67
Concoct Ashe 46 Level 3 67
Chemically-Induced Flashback 46 Fire in the Blood 68
Level 4 47 Level 5 68
Discipline Channeling 48 Creatio Ignis
The Bahari, Children of Lilith 49 The Church of Set
Overly Devoted Scholarship The Chaos Cult
Out of the Desert
Beliefs

2

Table of Contents

Church and State 68 Traveler’s Call 93
The Clan of Lies 94
69 Level 3 94
Divine Origins 94
A History in Whispers 70 Name of the Father 94
More Modern Deceits 95
71 Level 5 95
Snakes in Their Hidden Nests 95
Rituals of Liberation 72 Pit of Contemplation 96
96
The Lesser Mystery of Set 72 The Mithraic Mysteries 97
The Nine Gates 97
The Greater Mystery of Set 73 From Persia to Rome 98
Beginning the Journey of the Faithful 99
The Later Hours of Night 73 A London Renaissance 99
On the Church of Set 99
Setite Temple: Kharkiv 74 Mithra and the Bull 99
Perspectives 99
Animals 75 The London Blitz 100
Boa Constrictor 100
Cobra 75 Faces of the Bull God 100
Jackal 100
Oksana Koblenko “Proserpina” 76 Mithraist Ambition 101
New Coterie Type 101
Saboteurs 78 Divine Mithras 101
New Powers 101
Obfuscate 79 An Underground Religion
Level 3 101
Mental Maze 80 The London Uncertainty 102
Presence 102
Level 3 81 Celebrating the Bull God 104
True Love’s Face 104
Protean 81 Bull Running 104
Level 5 104
The Heart of Darkness 81 Fertility Feasts 104
Cult of Shalim 104
Out of Nothing 81 The Blood Equinox 104
The Flowering of the Abyss 104
Servants of the Abyss 81 The Blooding 104
Shalimite Rites 104
Gematria 84 Seven Steps to the Sun 105
Abyssal Consecration 105
Dark Purpose 84 The First Step: Corax, the Raven 106
Enemies 84 The Second Step: Nymphus, the Bride 107
Artifacts and Symbology 85 The Third Step: Miles, the Soldier 107
Mortal Servants 108
Shalimite Operations: Fukuoka 85 The Fourth Step: Leo, The Lion 108
Perspectives 109
“Porcelain” Patricia Montgomery 85 The Fifth Step: Perses, the Persian
Ceremonies of Shalim
Level 1 85 The Sixth Step: Heliodromus,
85 the Courier of the Sun
85 The Seventh Step: Pater, the Father/Mother
85 Mithraeum: Edinburgh
85 Perspectives
85 New Powers
86 Dominate
86 Level 2
87 Slavish Devotion
87 Level 4
87 Ancestral Dominion
87 Fortitude
88 Level 4
88 Shatter
88 The Nephilim, Children of the Angel
89 The Unending Dream
89 The Seeds of the Garden
89 The Basilica of the Archangel
90 Lex Sanctorum Decis Angelorum
90 Places of Worship
93 Rites of Pleasure and Perfection
93 Limited Scope?

3

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS 109 Factionalism 137

Enemies 109 Plans for the Giovanni 137
Artifacts and Symbology
Mortal Adherents 109 Plans for the Samedi 138
Nephilim Dreams: Johannesburg
Perspectives 110 Hierarchy and Strains 138
Anna Yusupova “Annatoliya”
Minor Cults 111 The Samedi Role 138
Amaranthans
Current Goals 111 Setting Down Religion 138
Cleopatrans
Current Goals 114 Religious Practice 139
The Cult of Isis
Current Goals 114 New to the Rot 139
Eyes of Malakai
Current Goals 114 Shifting Tides of Necromancy 140
Gorgo’s Nest
Current Goals 115 The Role of Others 141
Los Hijos de Si
Current Goals 116 The Lamiae 141
Sons and Daughters of Helena
Current Goals 116 The Cappadocians 141
The Meneleans
Current Goals 116 The Nagaraja 142
The One True Way
Current Goals 116 And More Besides 142
Servitors of Irad
Current Goals 117 The Family Hierarchy 143
One of Us
118 Who’s Your Daddy? 143
CHAPTER THREE: THE CULT
OF DEATH AND UNDEATH 118 The Families 144

The Underworld 118 Coterie or Family Tree? 144
Masks and Murder and Plot
…That You Do So Well 119 Outward Facing Operations 145
Death Always Comes In Threes
The Family Reunion 120 The Venetian Ladder 146
The Other Side
The Capuchin 120 The Anziani Council 146
The Giovanni Role
The Purge 120 The 1444 Chamber 147
A New Broom
The Establishment 121 The Endless Night 147
The Family’s Goals
Family Business 121 Perspectives on Kindred Religions 147
Dealing with the Authorities
The Harbinger Role 121 A Unique Cult 148
The Timeline
New Blood in an Ancient Clan 122 Hecata Chronicles 149
Dead Aim
122 New Coterie Types 150

125 Family 150

Gatekeepers 150

125 New Predator Types 150

126 Extortionist 150
126 Graverobber 150
127
CHAPTER FOUR: MORTAL CULTS 153

128 The House of Anteros 154

129 History 154

130 Doctrine 154

131 What is Love? 154

132 Activities 154

132 Future Plans 156

133 Annabelle Jones 156

133 Jacob Wrightson 156

134 Alyson King 156

134 The Eaden Family 156

134 Virginia Eaden 157

135 Leonard Eaden 157

135 Story Hook: Love in Death 157

136 The Church of Means 158

137 History 158

4

Table of Contents

Doctrine 158 Heresies 179
Activities 179
Future Plans 159 Mandates 179
179
Millicent Jarvey 160 You Shall… 179
Morgan Brant 179
Malik Lugo 160 You Shall Not… 179
Joseph Dominguez 180
Story Hook: Financial Drain 160 The First Rule of Vampire Club 180
Leah’s Circle 180
History 160 Hierarchy 181
Doctrine 181
Activities 161 Laity 181
Future Plans 181
Jake “Diabolic” Martins 162 Initiate 181
Mika Bittermann 181
Melissa “Razor” Thomson 162 Acolyte 182
Leah 182
Story Hook: Mugging Gone Wrong 162 Clergy 182
The Dread Cult of Eligos 182
History 163 Prophets 182
Doctrine 183
Activities 163 Cult Practices 183
Future Plans 183
Amy Montague 164 Scripture 183
Jaden Michaels 184
Franklin Bryant 164 Relics 184
Rupert Brant 184
Teresa Miles 164 Services 184
Story Hook: Eligos’ Breach 184
The Order of the Broken Branch 164 Apparel 184
History 184
Doctrine 165 Rituals 184
Activities 185
Future Plans 165 Holidays 185
Margaret Thales 185
Samantha Watts 166 Lunar
Edward H. Sullivan 186
Story Hook: God’s Weapons 166 Historic 187
Other Cults 187
166 Seasonal 189
CHAPTER FIVE: 190
CULT CONSTRUCTION 166 Methods of Recruitment 191
193
The Act of Creation 167 The Desperate 193
How to Build a Cult 194
The Basics 168 The Driven 194
Belief
168 A Letter from Laylah Froud of the Bahari
Ancestral Worship
Secular Values 168 The Indulgent

168 Places of Worship

168 The Temple

169 Historic Site

169 Anywhere and Nowhere

169 Quick Cult Creation

170 Backgrounds

170 Allies

170 Contacts

171 Influence

171 Haven

171 A Letter from Khaled al-Fakhani

171 of the Church of Set

172 Mawla
Cult Names

175 Colors
Creatures
175 Basic Cult Descriptions
176 Sample Cult Members
177
178 Mortals
178 Vampires
178 Sample Cult: The Order of Taweret

5

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS 195 Split the Shroud 213

New Coterie Types 195 Level 5 213
Envoys
Think Tank 195 Ex Nihilo 213

An Accord Between Faiths 196 Lazarene Blessing 214

CHAPTER SIX: HECATA 199 Life in the Underworld 215

Who are the Hecata? 200 Ghost in the Machine 216
Hecata Archetypes 201 Poltergeist 216
201 Puppeteer 216
Champion Bullshitter 201 Screamer 216
Forensic Specialist 201
Natural Necromancer CHAPTER SEVEN:
Prodigal Child 202 BLOODLINES AND LORESHEETS 219
Unscrupulous Banker
Disciplines 202 Bloodlines 219
Compulsion
Hecata: Morbidity 202 Loresheets 228
Bane
Feeding Methods 202 CHAPTER EIGHT:
Oblivion 202 STYX AND BONES 231
Characteristics 203
Level 1 203 Introduction 231
Ashes to Ashes 203 München mag Dich (Munich Loves You) 232
The Binding Fetter 203 Where the Bodies Are Buried 233
Level 2 204 Die Heimliche Hauptstadt (The Secret Capital) 234
Fatal Precognition 204 Prologue: A Family Dinner 236
Where the Shroud Thins 204 Chapter One: Body of Lies 237
Level 3 204 237
Aura of Decay 204 Handout #1: The Auction Invitation 238
Passion Feast 205 Handout #2: Günter Hildebrant Dossier 239
Level 4 205 The Auction 239
Necrotic Plague 205 Coterie Options 240
Level 5 206 Approaching Günter Hildebrant 240
Skuld Fulfilled 206 Coterie Options 241
Withering Spirit 206 The Ritual 241
Oblivion Ceremonies 207 Chapter Two: Grave Digging 241
Level 1 207 Exploring the City 242
The Gift of False Life 208 PermanentLodgings 242
Mindless Corpse 208 The First Nightmare 243
Summon Spirit 208 Under Arrest 244
Level 2 208 Threats and Rumors 244
Awaken the Homuncular Servant 208 Clan Advice 245
Homuncular Servant 209 Investigating the First Attack 245
Compel Spirit 209 Chapter Three: The Price We Pay 246
Level 3 209 The Second Nightmare 246
Host Spirit 210 Investigating the Second Attack 247
Shambling Hordes 210 Getting to Know the Cult of Mithras 249
Aggressive Corpse 211 Threats and Attacks 249
Level 4 211 Chapter Four: A Family Affair 249
Bind the Spirit 212 The Third and Fourth Nightmare 250
212 Investigating the Third Attack 250
212 Coterie Options 250
212 Investigating the Fourth Attack 250
Investigating GSG 10

6

Table of Contents

Coterie Options 251 Mago 266
Asano’s Ambush 251 Resignation of the Righteous 266
251 The Romero Twins 266
Coterie Options 252 Idle Hands 267
Chapter Five: Rise and Fall 252 Hellhounds of Satan 267
Preventing the Fifth Attack 252 Family Feud 268
Epilogue: Death is Certain, Life is Not 253 Shades of Gray 268
254 The Hunt Club 268
Handout #3: A Letter 254 Prince Vaughn 268
Antagonist Stats 256 Blood Trade 269
256 Absolution 269
Hiromitsu Asano 256 Ethan Clare 270
Kindred Citizens of Munich 256 First Change Fiasco 270
256 Karen Shaw 271
Terrence Rusk, Perses of the Cult of Mithras 257 Tolerance and Persecution 271
Anna Fleischer of the Cult of Mithras 258 The Trinity 271
Dieter Straub, Baron of Munich 258 Prince Bruno, Descendant of Michael 271
Peter Bohn, Anarch 258 Praise (the Church of) Caine! 272
The Risen 258 Gladius Domini 272
Mortals of Munich 259 Reverend Alfred Murray 272
Grenzschutzgruppe 10 259 High and Low 273
Police and Wayward Muscle 260 Sample Cultists 273
Lieschen Müller/Jane Q. Public 261 The Naive Lay Member 273
Ready Made Characters 262 The Inducted Initiate 273
Christof Giovanni 263 The Loyal Acolyte 273
Franziska (Hollander) Giovanni 264 The Trusted Templar 274
Jan Puttanesca 265 The Grand Inquisitor 274
Heather Milliner 265 The Devout Clergy 274
Marlene Drake 265 The Charismatic Prophet 274
Jürgen Schweiger
Matters of Faith
The Sleeping Sword of War
The Ghosts of Carthage

7

8

By Eddy Webb and Rachel Wilkinson

Moonlight pours through gazillions of flower place-settings the call fast enough, I didn’t drive
the stained-glass windows of a just add a layer of fragrant death fast enough, I wasn’t fast enough to
remodeled Gothic church, and in over everything. stop it. I fell to my knees, tears roll-
its basement, the dead dine with ing down my face. And all I could
family. From a small table off in The fat, sweaty-looking man hear in my head was him chiding
the corner, I watch a thin, almost in a rumpled suit sitting next to me, like he did during my first cere-
emaciated woman with steel hair me has been trying to catch my mony lessons.
and pale eyes stand from one end eye for half an hour now. Clearly
of a ridiculously long table. Anja annoyed that I didn’t raise my “Don’t cry, little Maria,” he
Giovanni raises her wine glass of glass for the toast, he reaches over would say. I could remember how
treated blood to the assembled. I and taps his glass against mine. he always smelled of sandalwood
swirl around the thickening blood “There. Now you’re being social.” and copper. “Death comes to us all,
in my own glass, half-listening to even the immortals. One day I, too,
her speech. Something about gath- I take a sip of the blood. shall cross the Shroud and join both
ering the Clan of Death, embark- “Didn’t come here to be social.” those we have lost and those we
ing on new beginnings, the usual have enslaved. You can’t become a
horseshit. I tune in just as I sense “Tough.” He shoves a hand necromancer if you cry over every
she’s wrapping up. “For we are all out to me. “Tony Ambrose. Of single death.”
Hecata, now. We are all family.” the Puttanesca.”
I wiped my arm across my eyes,
She nods to the Japanese I sigh and take it. It feels and blood smeared on my sleeve. In
man at the other end of the table, clammy and soft, like a fish a day the corner of my eye I could see a man
who also stands up. Hiromitsu past its sell-by date. “Maria. Of who was also watching the blaze. He
Asano has a twig pinned to a the Pisanob, I guess.” put his cell phone away and got back
jacket that’s worth more than I into his large sedan. He was a fat,
make in a year. He thanks her He raises an eyebrow at that. sweaty man in a rumpled suit. He
and raises his glass in return. “Pisanob? Ain’t many of yours didn’t look at me as he drove away.
Everyone else raises their glass, around anymore.”
too. The whole room smells like a “Hey, you listening to me?”
hospital dump: nothing but cop- I bite back yet another pro- Tony’s voice cuts through my rev-
pery blood and dead bodies. The fanity and close my eyes. erie. “I asked you what happened
to all of youse.”
I watched the flames lick the
sides of my sire’s haven. I didn’t get

9

I open my eyes and turn to kiss Giovanni ass after everything the stained glass glints off the pol-
stare at him — the first time I’ve done to them.” ished ebony of his mask. “I have
looked at him all evening. “Most always found these pleasantries
of us were murdered.” He leans I take a sip from the glass to be tiresome. They detract from
back from my gaze, and I imagine before pointing it at Berlin’s face. my studies.” He carefully adjusts
what it would feel like to rip his “You’re just mad they’re not kiss- his tattered brown robes around
throat out with my teeth. ing your Giovanni ass.” his frail form, and carefully lifts
the edge of his mask up so that he
I feel a hand touch my shoul- “Damn straight,” she laughs. can sip from his wine glass.
der, gently. “Leave him be,” she “My ass is much nicer than his.”
says. “It’s not nice to play with “I’m surprised this pulled you
your food.” “Nice ass,” I said, as I watched away from your studies, Zebadi-
her walk down the hallway. ah.” Berlin has reluctantly pulled
I turn back to look at her. her hand off my knee and leans
Berlin smiles at me, like she She looked over her shoulder and forward on the table, her elbows
always does when she knows I’m smiled. “You know it. Have we met?” resting on either side of the bar-
about to punch someone. Her ren plate in front of her. “I figured
green eyes twinkle with mischief, I shook my head and walked to you would still be in mourning
like they always do. We’ve only her as she turned around. “Maria for the loss of your childe, Elias.”
been seeing each other for a few Ibarra. A cousin.”
weeks, but she’s always telling me Zebadiah carefully pulls the
that I’ve gotten under her skin, in “Berlin Giovanni.” I clasped her mask back over his face. “We are
the best possible way. I nod, and hand as she looked me up and down. the Clan of Death. To mourn those
she drops her hand to my knee. “A cousin, huh? Not a kissing cousin that have died seems… pointless.”
Her fingers feel cool through my by chance?”
stockings as she points to the Tony has, unfortunately, de-
head table. “Besides, Mora the “Kissing? No.” I leaned over cided to join in the conversation.
Death Seer is up to something.” and put my lips next to her ear. “I’m “Pointless? Don’t know about
thinking of something much, much that, Zeb. If I—”
I follow the line of her finger, better.”
and see a delicate person dressed “Zebadiah.”
in a draping black sweater stand She shivered then. The same
up. Their back is to our table, and shiver she had later, tied down to the Tony is distracted by the sud-
they speak softly, but their voice bed, when she was begging for my den interruption. “Huh?”
carries through the room. They tongue.
talk about Augustus Giovanni’s The cool, flat voice comes
plans to murder the Cappado- I smile, but I’m not looking from the mask again, faintly
cians, and how they’ve killed at her. Instead I’m watching as muffled and hollow. “My name is
many Giovanni in retaliation. Asano walks over to Mora, who’s Zebadiah. Not ‘Zeb’.”
They just manage to avoid making pulled a cylinder wrapped in
it sound like a boast or a threat pale blue silk out of the folds of “Sure, that’s what I said. Ze-
before they offer their condo- their sweater. The two vampires badiah. And if I had a childe that
lences to Asano for his losses. are going through some tiresome was tore up like that, I wouldn’t be
He murmurs something nice in ritual where Mora offers the gift mourning. I’d be out hunting the
return. and Asano refuses it, then he pulls bastard that did it.”
out a small wooden box from his
Berlin clicks her tongue jacket and the roles are reversed “Would you? I suppose that
against her teeth. “Damn, Mora as the two of them go through it makes a degree of sense. But I am
must have practiced that apology all over again. simply… what is the word?”
for a week. Imagine having to
The man sitting across the ta- Berlin leans back again. “Up-
ble from me sighs and turns back set?”
to face us. The moonlight from

10

Tony knocks back the rest of fuckers managed to accomplish any- mill into the dinner area. They’re
his glass. “Fucking furious, more thing. But I’m not here to debate your all dressed in white clothing, but
like.” failings as a family.” I moved onto the otherwise there’s nothing linking
table surface, managing to sit right them together. A wide variety of
“Jealous. Yes, that’s the word. next to where his hand was nailed ages, genders, sizes, what have
He died in such a creative way. down. I picked up the blowtorch again you. Some carry carafes of blood
I hope I get to experience that and began reheating the spoon. “Next and start refilling glasses. Others
some night.” question. Who told the Puttanesca start to carefully put food onto
where to find my sire’s haven?” the places — small bones stuck
The pale man never said a word into carefully sliced raw meat,
when I nailed his hands to the wood- “I don’t—” The rest of his also covered in blood. Tony waves
en top of the table. Nor his feet. But sentence was lost in the scream, as I off the meat and looks a little
when I pulled his mask off, he started plunged the white-hot spoon into his green around the gills as he looks
screaming like he was on fire. “Please! right eye. There was a soft pop and at it. Zebadiah nods once at the
Please! Give me back my face! I am then a sizzling sound, as the vitreous server filling his plate. Berlin just
Elias of the Harbingers, and you fluid in his eye began to boil. stares at me with a smirk on her
must give me back my face!” face as she takes a sip from her
I gave him a minute to calm newly filled glass. I can feel her
I leaned over him and gave him down before I spoke. “I told you, I foot running up the side of my
a smile. I made sure he could see the need you to answer my questions. leg.
blowtorch under the spoon, which See, no one really gives a shit about
had started to glow from the heat. the Pisanob except you Harbingers. As the servers continue to fill
“Here’s what I’m going to do, Elias. If And the Puttanesca aren’t clever glasses and plates, Mora is chant-
you don’t answer my questions, I’m enough to hunt down one of us in ing a prayer. “I am the end and
going to scoop out your eyes. If you our haven. But they are just dumb the beginning. Dead flesh may
do, you get to keep them.” enough to take on a job for someone cover my bones, and my bones
else if they think it will get them may encase an unbeating heart,
Those same eyes, dark and ter- somewhere.” I slid off the table and yet I remain….”
rified, stared at me. “And then you’ll moved to the other side, so he could
let me go?” see me with his remaining good eye. I held the spoon close to Elias’
“I know your sire hired them. And remaining eye. “Give me a name.”
I set the blowtorch next to his don’t worry — he’ll get his. But I also
hand, which was starting to ooze know that you don’t get out of your He started to speak, like he
thick, coagulated blood. “Let’s not go crypts for a simple hit job. There was wanted to negotiate. But he realized
crazy now. But first things first. The someone who arranged everything. that I was going to kill him anyway.
Harbingers are hunting down the Wasn’t there?” I could see his whole body relax a
Pisanob. Correct?” little, as he accepted the end.
He cried a bit. I slapped him in
He closed his eyes. I jammed the face with the blowtorch. “Wasn’t. “Berlin. Berlin Giovanni.”
a finger in one of them, and they There.”
snapped back open. I waved the Mora’s voice rises in volume.
cooling spoon in front of his face. “Yes… yes, there was a… a “For I am Hecata. I am the begin-
“Correct?” I asked again. Giovanni that my sire knows. ning and the end. I remain.”
Someone who wants to take out the
“Yes! Yes! You know we are!” competition in her family.” I turned and looked into Ber-
lin’s beautiful eyes. I wonder what
“I do, because you tried to come My thoughts are interrupted they taste like.
after me, and you were sloppy. Hon- as a crowd of mortals start to
estly, I don’t know how you ancient

11



Introduction

“Welcome to the one family where ‘motherfucker’ isn’t a pejorative.”
— Accorri Giovanni, giving a warm welcome to a fledgling Hecata

Faith, religious order, and cultish devotion hold Believe in the Blood
places of incredible importance within Kindred society,
and contrary to views spoken in Camarilla domains and If you are a Storyteller or player who wishes to in-
Anarch baronies tonight, they always have. For every volve vampire religions, ceremonies, and worship in your
instance of fledglings murdering sires, Anarchs burning chronicles, you will find a great deal of material in Cults
down the havens of Camarilla Princes, and cannibal of the Blood Gods to satisfy that need.
vampires pursuing campaigns of diablerie, there are
others who hold opposing views. These childer worship This book provides everything you require to run
their sires due to the strength of the Blood Bond. These and play in chronicles within or branching away from
Kindred look up to their Princes due to the might the the traditional Camarilla and Anarch setups, as charac-
vampire in charge wields each night. These neonates ters take on fringe or established religions, gain benefits
revere their elders and the godlike methuselahs of their from following them, and attempt to balance morality
clan, just hoping for a trickle of that rich vitae, that on top of the demands these faiths place upon their
it might allow them to become more like these deific believers.
figures.
Cults of the Blood Gods is the book you want for
Cults form as vampires look up to their elders. full detail on the state of the Hecata — the Clan of
Sometimes, cults form as vampires look down at the Death — and their necromantic powers. This clan is
mortals beneath them. Power becomes religion, religion probably the largest singularly focused cult in the World
exalts in power, and vampires are all about the value of of Darkness, unified against opposition, dedicated to its
power. goals, and prepared to stand and die for its vampires.

13

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

After all, when you’re the Clan of Death, death is far from • Cult Construction — New uses for Backgrounds and
the end. rich detail on how to form cults in your own chroni-
cles, with tables and advice on how to form religions,
Whether you’re an established or new Storyteller, the methods cults use to indoctrinate their members,
the story and chronicle hooks found in this book will be and the kinds of ambitions cults in your games might
sufficient to fuel dozens of Vampire: The Masquerade strive to attain.
stories involving sacrifice, black magic, the strength of
belief, and the monstrous, alien might of methuselahs as • Hecata and Oblivion — This chapter provides the
benefactors and enemies. detail all players who want to play a member of the
Hecata might need, with clan archetypes, introduc-
A Place of Worship tion to the kinds of people the clan Embraces, and a
bevy of Oblivion Discipline powers and Ceremonies.
The content in the following chapters of Cults of the
Blood Gods invites you to explore the myriad Kindred • Bloodlines and Loresheets — The Hecata is a clan
faiths, religious orders, and darkest powers present in comprising multiple bloodlines, so this chapter
tonight’s Vampire: The Masquerade. We invite you to breaks down how to use bloodlines in your chroni-
take or adjust any of the material in this book, whether it cles and provides the Backgrounds for you to do so
be part of a belief system, a religious hierarchy, a charac- straight out of the book. The Loresheets that follow
ter, or just a concept from one of the chapters, and make connect to the cults introduced throughout this
it your own. We encourage you to use this material as you book.
see fit for Vampire: The Masquerade.
• Just Another Family Dinner — Fiction to introduce • Styx and Bones — A high-energy story set in Munich
where you play members of the Hecata in pursuit
you to the current state of the Clan of Death, and of (or fleeing from) a creature of horror even to the
some of the activities they get up to around the din- Clan of Death. Ready-made characters and even
ner table. more chronicle hooks await you once you’re done
• Introduction — A brief taster of what you’ll find reading the main story.
in the upcoming pages of sin, faith, dogma, and
miracles. Existing in
• Rise of the Methuselah Cult — A chapter filled with Religious Disharmony
in-character accounts of religion’s rise to prominence
in the modern nights, with accounts from several of While some Camarilla Princes and all agents of the
the cults profiled in this book. Second Inquisition believe the vampire population of the
• Kindred Religions — A thick mix of religious orders world is too high, in truth, it is too low to meaningfully
of various sizes and influence levels, along with new sustain widespread religious organizations. The cults and
powers new coterie types, and other new mechanics orders presented in this book are prominent in specific
for adding to your games. domains and regions, but rarely spread their reach be-
• The Cult of Death and Undeath — Welcome to the yond them, in part due to the difficulty vampires find in
family known as the Hecata. This chapter introduces traveling far (especially en masse), but also due to fierce
you to the history, current plots, and hierarchy of the resistance from the Kindred in each domain.
Clan of Death, while also providing further coterie
and Predator types for your chronicles. Domains in the modern nights, much as in the Dark
• Mortal Cults — Not all cults are populated by Ages, exist as islands in the dark, each with their own
vampires alone, with this chapter detailing some of Kindred hierarchy, society, and culture. As vampires grow
the orders where vampires have set themselves up as older their beliefs become entrenched, compelling a reti-
gods to be worshiped, or mortals have pieced enough cence to adopt new belief unless they’re faced with a fall
together to form faiths to combat the undead. to the Beast, witness something miraculous, or perhaps
reconnect with their humanity.

With this is as the case, is it possible for the Church
of Set, the Mithraists, and the Eyes of Malakai to all
exist in the same location? Yes, but not without tension.

14

Introduction

GENERAL DIFFICULTIES more than a handful of vampires with religious inclina-
Some minor characters in this book have what are tion. When they do, these faithful undead have the option
referred to in their stat blocks as General Difficulties. of evangelical belief, with an aim to convert or chastise
These come in the form of two numbers divided by others, or secret worship, so as to not allow their faith to
a stroke, such as 4/3 or 5/2. The first number is the impact other vampires’ views on them. It’s rare for a vam-
Difficulty the players have to beat if ever opposing pire to be a lay worshiper who accepts Set, for instance,
this character in an area in which they excel. The but does so without pride or, conversely, subterfuge. On
second number is the Difficulty whenever players the other hand, a city or metropolis containing over a
oppose this SPC in an area in which they are medi- million mortals within its limits could support multi-
ocre or poor. For those who want to use Attributes ple faiths, and even harbor several coteries of the same
and Skills to determine Difficulties, these characters belief, though they may follow their religions in different
also have full traits. For those who prefer a simpler ways. These domains are more likely to see debates and
method, the General Difficulties are there for you. even fights between so-called “orthodox believers” and
“heretics”, though no vampire is likely to lay claim to the
Religion adds a new layer to the societal strata, a new latter epithet.
cause to cling on to and for which to fight, and another
reason to claim territory, vessels, retainers, and primacy. What this means for the Storyteller and players
about to embark on this journey into the religions of
Being a member of a cult does not preclude a vam- Vampire, is that cults can be liberally dosed throughout a
pire from membership in the Camarilla or affiliation with domain or held back as clandestine and rare. We will not
the Anarchs, though a city with a small population of a prescribe for you a categorical number of vampires who
couple of hundred thousand would be unlikely to field worship one faith or another, or declare one major reli-
gion more powerful (or indeed, right) than another. Each
cult, each tradition, and the fervor of belief in all these
religious elements is for you to decide for your chronicle.

15



chapter one

Rise of the
Methuselah Cult

“The gods are cruel and capricious, and we acknowledge they shape our destinies. We should despise them.
Yet, when you realize they may be the only creatures free from the puppet master’s strings,
we of course seek to worship them, serve them, and ultimately, emulate them.”
— Arjun Shah, Patre of the Cult of Mithras

For as long as there have been Kindred there have been Cults centered around these creatures dating as far
those that worship the more powerful. back as the Second City rise to the fore with the desec-
ularization of the Camarilla. These are old faiths that
The modern nights are a tumultuous time for speak to the blood as much as they speak to the spirit.
Kindred of all stripes, from Camarilla to Anarch to Some have survived largely unchanged. Some shift in
those in between. Oftentimes, the nights are uncertain. order to appeal more to the young vampires populating
Long-standing bastions of Kindred society have been the cities. All fight for the attention of those that walk
shaken. The Tower leans. The Pyramid crumbles. The the night.
Anarchs… are Anarchs. Those set adrift on these tides of
change are drawn to beings of power, to collections of Some of these cults and faiths claim to have the
stability, to any calm in the storm. Cainite’s best interest at heart, some simply prey on the
weak-willed the same way similar groups of kine would,
Given the current state of things, the swell of ances- but all of them should be known to a wise vampire seek-
tor worship should come as no surprise. It is easy to see ing to survive this new and horrific landscape.
creatures such as Mithras, who is said to have been able
to enthrall entire cities, as divine and worthy of worship. The Justicars Speak
Legends of these methuselahs, stories of these veritable
gods of blood, are passed around in whispered tones on The following was transcribed from a mnemonic
every stratum of Kindred society, in every generation. recording of a meeting of the Camarilla Justicars:
There are those who even claim to have met them, and
they are the most zealous of all.

17

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

[BEGINNING OF RECOVERED SECTION]

waoIarfoenrosluhCoraisrpiyf,noapguxrn:ooga…ustnrardrahettoihltoudinsro,nrniainnsogdiunrtfgoamwioeatfsrhsfda.agtiehthaeneidssoimtteo’srstibcediiinnscgotrnhecepeslreatticrendogu.bbMyloermdeestasianmgdeessm. oWorfee

Diana Iadanza: The Ministry must be having a field day.
Ian Carfax: Look, we are
to no longer extend our dealing with the fAanlalrocuhts,opfuolulrinrgigbhatcfkulonchtohiece
use of technology… protection to the

Diana Iadanza: And whose fault is that, hmm?
waDbiiAttIlhisnehanhlaagnaaeetnsttrvah.aAC,cewedanhWntIaora,eGharfr’tiwdaveeacaoaneexhlvMond:skafldiz…anoonaaaotnsn:irfhathdsieYbetaadeobarfnssouycyindh!mttl,feaiiFdluwfoitnoiiltrnhignndisneegoewnusg,fathgepttoaashohsnlaotuetaregerhncwsiavputidgieonlsrhsfrnwute.at.esmnti.OorTfbtghn-Wohethevcererehysaame’tlcggPrirnhuleeneriituietogsnndctmim.igaignitR“llnsgSo.aeelgeeupftiMucroticnpuoarasg?nsMbtutdctyastglishhyIoamtqetonsrehumueq.eeeisurnTewtuiSalhohnsadtveiicbeheetnl.bsqneieeaudNoanPteionoro.asntn”.wtrgA?ii,Mta… losoniWotngdneubmhrgoietatnmsnhrwibtjeein-uirtgosehtn
sltaIoeharmvnoaeeutrCnoawadfgreeffyaaooerxruve:eqfrMlueyoaietsntlhiyeniinsgotogfoma. uetsSrhotweihemmmolaelalndr?iy.ennTo’thftheoeeuxMsraihcnetailldsdyotewrrnyss.ewwIh,ital’avslreaelbnetevheeenvereyacn?gaelSgolrtmeehdaeitshae,warlvaiieynk.bdeSeiutecrnhaeteloyyr

[THERE IS A LONG PERIOD OF SILENCE]
Lucinde: It is hard
they become objects to deny the power of old blood. I can see how often
of worship.

LmdILIauouaunscncwtiiCenCnbadadsereretf:f:seaaemWIxxee’:vnt: ehDdYaeoiohsasuanlttdioshintodedhgueesiTna.nsodloYgwi.elenwsrig.ekswWeceweayinhaotaruhdveeemtawihlaagelshw… wttMiiatinykhtgsnhoartbwlaielmiesesnoo.t,fmsWeg… ohtltuhaehratiemnodiCgtonuhgalwebtreio…noucdfthotahMtaleihbltaoenhtunir.tggaehisst,t?.?yWeHeso.w

Ian Carfax: What? Lucinde, you must be…
pdoctoLooetinurnlhvctlyeseiletrntctoydhtshpeuieape:ocgiinPhenaduxigeodtniafosasotcntetuueyihnttmtehecrhaeneeeBtlrcooTsi.aforglktaialhdonoaiutcfttsoiiNesgotnouanhdtrtse,vhooiReAnrvrereeivcstdneh,hlgoiehsannotCstswi.ahoomoTnctaueashrllnielodlsfweltteathhmh.eneomeyoPdwueDnnt?raoonrtBtakuntbmtioMeogorwhwwtaetaohtssrwoe.tkrrieWii,lnuelramgenwnsdaiooolcntua-lrntscnyuheopest-

Ian Carfax: Explain.

Diana Iadanza: Can you not see it? We would run ourselves ragged trying
to “stem this tide,” as you say. But we will do as we have always done.

18

chapter one: Rise of the Methuselah Cult

WtTLWawCcwleoubihaeeewtclmucehisesararrhnhrcne.teodiohlonueluLiu:ollalgisfudanikdeYagodeeslhiidnshontJis.sio,ista,oIktncapcnauhftaahsisleennatnssueah’vbettesteeounemhmcwtcosoetKeeerimhm,eitnsiaeonnaimntivtrtyoignefsudrtituadanearoketaissicauigotnhuororhm-ednfoethalLgisapaeiou..snldnfctsUdoiehtstpLnaeoohhtoddroieneytuewns?dhsegohueeWfnapfaaeak…nanigtiidutahntsh“ihueeoen’pfscscstfoartahininancedtcisidebhkaetaoselc.lfuosSiMarlftenieiteetlnssrohei,iiupgssatwrai,teorrddtbnayoohmet”.mnaeaiaePsyouoi.eeftnnrbNil.theofoihawuftepl,-s
[RECORDING ENDS]

The Why and I have tried to instill in you an understanding of
these things. Brought you to the mithraeum. Read for you
Way of Worship the Roman texts. But I can see it’s been for naught. These
questions you ask of me tell me you have not absorbed
As written by Aditya Hay, Ventrue, former Seneschal the lessons. You have failed to find the meaning willful
of Edinburgh supplication can bring. So, I cast you out. Wander until
the burning fires of war from within or without light
My childe, you’ve asked me why I worship? Why do your way home.
I, every night, bend my knee in supplication to my Lord?
Why do I cut my arm from fingertip to shoulder? Why The Bull and the
do I starve myself each spring to the edge of frenzy? Why, Blood and the Bone
when I supported the Toreador for centuries, did I deliver
the throne of Edinburgh to de Camden without so much Welcome to the Syndexioi.
as a challenge? Because my unlife has meaning. My unlife If you are reading this then
has meaning through Mithras, my Lord. Our own God of you have been given all you
War who Walks. Mithras who will come again. need to prepare you for what
is to come. You are being
There are so many who do not understand, so many welcomed in Mithras’ light.
like you, who simply float through their existence or fill He, the Unconquered Sun. He,
it with political games or debauched excess. My Lord fills the right way.
my existence with purpose. I am a part of a plan for his
glorious return. I prepare for the coming war that will Prepare.
follow in his wake. The Bull. Bring its blood
to the one who reveals
Meaning is rare and fleeting in this world, my childe. Mithras’ light to you. Thank
You must grasp it when you can, and mine was given to them for revealing the way of
me only once I took it. I have a place. That place is now at the true Sun.
the side of de Camden, the Voice of Mithras. London fell The Blood. Follow them to a
and he arrived. Who better to lead us than the one who place of battles past or bat-
stood at our Lord’s right hand? tles to come. Pour the blood
there along with your own
Every night and every season we prepare. We spill vitality. Pray to Mithras for
blood on grounds that were battlefields and may be again. strength in the night.
We starve ourselves so we may fight our Beasts. We bend
knee in supplication and understand there is an order to
things. For what is a war without soldiers? What is a god
without followers?

19

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

The Bone. Be interred in stone in the remember. She was nice. Real messed
mithraeum for seven days and seven nights. up face, but nice.
Remain in control and free yourself. Be
born into the Church as Mithras was born Duskborn 2: She also told us this
into this world. was the place to go if we wanted to
be… how did she put it… if we want-
Welcome shall be yours. ed to be brought fully into the night.
Keep these secrets in your mind. Destroy I want that.
this document.
Prepare. Duskborn 1: If we could just… I
don’t know, find a cure? Pray it away?
Time of Duskborn 2: Trust me. We have Can’t we do that?
to do this. What did we say when we
Thin Blood found out what we were? Duskborn 2: No, we can’t. You
heard her. That’s impossible. God
A conversation between two Duskborn 1: We said we’d sur- has turned his back on us. This is
Duskborn as recorded by Philipa vive, no matter what. what we are now. We can already do
Hernandez, Nosferatu of Lima, while some amazing things if we feed right.
testing her new parabolic microphone Duskborn 2: Exactly. I’m tired of Philipa just appeared out of nowhere,
outside of a local resort club, Bella Luna living this half-life. Looked down on literally. And she isn’t even that, uh…
by the vampires of this city? Chased thick-blooded. She said the power is
Duskborn 1: I don’t know about around and hunted? Eating rats and in the blood and ours is thin. Look
this. This place looks dangerous. dogs and… at what we can do, even as so-called
“Duskborn.” Imagine what an elder
Duskborn 1: Don’t! Don’t remind can do? What they could teach us?
me. I get it. And hush… Philipa told You trust her, right?
us not to use the V word out loud,
Duskborn 1: I mean, I guess. She
has shown us the ropes a bit. Told us
where to stay away from. Got us some
rats.

20

chapter one: Rise of the Methuselah Cult

Duskborn 2: Don’t forget we A Cainite Hymnal
would have been dead if she hadn’t
stopped those men. I see no reason Caine has come, Caine has risen, Caine will come again.
to stop trusting her now. It’s a shame Caine, our Dark Father, whisper to your children.
she got called away like that though, Caine, our Dark Father, tell them words of peace.
but it was good of her to tell us about Caine, our Dark Father, sate their lust for blood.
this place before she left. Caine, our Dark Father, keep us from the flood.
We call on the name of Zillah.
Duskborn 1: So, what, we just We call on the name of Irad.
walk in and introduce ourselves? Is We call on the name of Enoch.
there a secret handshake? Speak to your sire on our behalf.
Lead us through Gehenna. Lead us to peace.
Giuliana: There is no need—
Duskborn 2: My God! We have been left behind by the dark Protect the
Giuliana: —for that my young rapture! The end is here, creeping and
friends. I am Giuliana Santisteban silent and terrible! Flock
and you are most welcome at Luna
Roja. [Laughs] I apologize for the We cannot fight. We see this now. The following is a leaked transcript
dramatics. It’s a weakness of my line. Dreams of the past must die and we from Blacksite 34, location unknown,
Philipa told me you were coming. must face a burning future. I hear you somehow obtained by Molly MacDonald,
Why don’t you come inside? I have crying. I do, I do! I tell you these things Nosferatu Justicar
much to tell you and much to teach not to frighten you. No, no. I am here
you, I suspect. to offer words of comfort and joy. I Location — Blacksite 34 “The
Duskborn 1: It’s… it’s a pleasure. have seen light. I have seen truth. And Cage”
You know Philipa? Do you know I am here to share it with you.
where she is? Clearance Level — Crimson
Giuliana: Sadly, I do not. But I’m I tell you, we must forge our Involved Agencies —
sure she will be glad to hear from you broken sword into a plowshare. Let [REDACTED], [REDACTED], and
when she returns. I understand you us make peace with our oppressors. [REDACTED]
are looking for elders to teach you. Only through worship may they be Interrogation Lead — Gwen
To bring you into the night. I believe appeased! We must prostrate our- Zhang
I can provide. Now, let us not stand selves before the Christ that is Caine. Interrogation Support — Harold
out here, exposed in the open. Come Only He may beseech his children “Doc” MacElroy
inside and let me tell you of what I on our behalf! He speaks through Observation Theater:
know. Let me tell you of the Children the blood. Through the blood we are Witness — [REDACTED]
of Si. bound. Speak to him and we speak Witness — [REDACTED]
to them! Witness — [REDACTED]
Brother Subject — Kit “Patches”
The more we resist, the more Esposito, Designation — Blankbody,
Sweetwater conflict we create. Let us not follow Subject 23
those who war. The way to salvation
Speaks is submission my dear congregation. [Loud and tortured sobbing can be
It is through the light of this submis- heard on the recording. Requisition of
A sermon as given by Brother sion we will find our way through the directional microphones placed.]
Sweetwater, clan unknown, to his End Times. Now… let us pray.
congregation

I say to you, my dear sisters,
brothers, and all others, Gehenna is
here. Gehenna has come and reigns
over us as certain as I stand before
you! Our elders vanish in droves!
Swords have broken! We have failed!

21

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

[REDACTED] — Please state your name, agency, and MacElroy: Zhang has stabbed the subject in the leg,
role for the record please. Loudly, please. repeatedly. This is my first time seeing the blankbody
healing factor up close. The wounds seem to have no last-
Zhang: Agent Gwen Zhang of the [REDACTED], ing effect, but there is a pain response? The nerves should
onsite. Lead interrogator, Blacksite 34 “The Cage.” be dead. Amazing.

MacElroy: Doctor Harold MacElroy, freelance, for- Zhang: Mr. Esposito?
mer [REDACTED], Interrogation Support and Autopsy. Subject 23: Stop it! Please stop it! I don’t want… I
don’t want to lose myself again. I don’t want to [growls]
[Sobbing becomes a series of wails] hurt anyone again.
Zhang: Tell me what you were doing at the zoo.
Zhang: Let’s begin, Mr. Esposito. Tell me. How long Why were you killing those animals surrounded by those
have you been… dead, shall we say? ridiculous candles? What makes you “lose yourself?” You
killed so many people. Are you not responsible? Is it not
Subject 23: Who… who the fuck are you people? your fault?
What did you do with Claire? Where the fuck am I? Subject 23: Claire and I… we… we aren’t monsters.
We don’t want to be this way. I can still feel it in me. It
MacElroy: Fascinating. Is that blood? I didn’t know wants me to kill you. Oh God, what have we done?
blankbodies could cry. Do you suppose all of their fluids Zhang: Now we seem to be getting somewhere. What
have been infected? Perhaps all of their fluids have been is in you, Mr. Esposito. We can help you.
replaced by blood? Can they mimic intercourse? Subject 23: She said it would work. Why didn’t it
work? Claire… I’m so sorry.
Zhang: Focus MacElroy. [Zhang snaps twice] Shhh… MacElroy: Maybe you should back off, Zhang. I
shhh. It’s good to see you’ve calmed down. You injured don’t... Look at... There is so much blood coming out of
quite a few of the agents bringing you in from that zoo. his face. They can even ugly cry.
Did you know that? Zhang: Keep focused. Mr. Esposito, so far, I have only
used one knife. Hold this for me, will you?
Subject 23: I… I did? MacElroy: Zhang has stabbed the subject in the leg
MacElroy: Subject 23 seems to be expressing remorse. and left the knife there.
Their ability to mimic us is extraordinary. Zhang: If you look over on this table, you’ll see I have
Zhang: You did. Do you not remember? Allow me to many more tools at my disposal.
remind you. Here. Take a look at these pictures. This is MacElroy: Subject 23 seems… I suppose the right
Agent Jemma Perkins. Not that you can tell. Half of her word would be “inconsolable.”
face is gone and the other half was chewed up. This here Subject 23: She told us it would work! She said if
is Prishna Agar. He will most likely be on a liquid diet we killed the beasts it would kill our beasts! We said the
for the rest of his life... if he makes it. And this… this is words! We did everything she asked us! [screams] We
Thomas Detrick. don’t deserve this…
MacElroy: Even the subject’s snot… mucus, sorry, Zhang: Who are you talking about? Is there a third
seems to be made of blood. blankbody? Tell me. Tell me and we might let you see
Subject 23: Please put those away. Please… Claire again.
Zhang: But I think you need to see this Mr. Esposito. Subject 23: You don’t understand! How could you
Thomas was just in the wrong place at the wrong time it understand? We just wanted to be like you! She told me it
seems. The one you call Claire murdered him in the most would make me like you!
brutal fashion. Look here, you can see how she ripped… Zhang: Who? Who are you talking about!
Subject 23: That’s because you bastards opened fire MacElroy: The subject has suddenly gone ridged and
on us! You made her lose her shit! You did this! We just… unfocused.
we just wanted to be free.
MacElroy: The subject is now convulsing with sobs, [Recording compromised, distortion causes the voice of
even though we suspect they do not need to breath. Subject 23 to fluctuate and occasionally sound feminine. Rush
Reminder to send the information requisition to the requisition of directional microphones placed.]
Society… again. What would this be, Zhang? Three times?
Four? Subject 23: I think you have asked enough questions
Zhang: Five. Now, Mr. Esposito, that’s interesting. of my lambs for one night, Gwen Zhang of Hong Kong.
Lost control? That implies it’s something you can’t control.
It’s also interesting you feel like you’re trapped. Why don’t Zhang: What is this? How do you know that?
you elaborate? Does this have something to do with why
you were at the zoo in the first place, killing those poor
animals?
Subject 23: [Screams]

22

chapter one: Rise of the Methuselah Cult

[REDACTED]: What is happening? What is this? an eye on them all.” Weird how that worked out? Don’t
Subject 23: Oh, I know so much about you, Gwen. suppose you had anything to do with that you meddling
For example, I know you are the secret wife of Cynthia old biddy? Anyway, it’s proving to be fertile ground as I
Hong. I know you tell her you work in immigration, but “plant my seeds,” as it were.
she doesn’t know what horrible things you’ve done. What
would your parents think? Look at me Zhang. What I admit I have a soft spot for the dregs, the
would Cynthia think? Duskborn, the Caitiff, and those who find they have no
MacElroy: A… agent Zhang has fallen to her knees, place among either sect. But I think you already knew
staring at Subject 23. that when you suggested this place.
[REDACTED]: We have been compromised! Lock
down Interrogation Suite 3! Prepare for purge! Back up I gotta tell you, I’m shining here. It’s like they were
all recordings to Blacksite 34-B just looking for a place to be, the punks, the gutter-trash,
Subject 23: You have been abandoned. the sad children, the lost. It’s become quite the hangout
MacElroy: The… the subject is calm now. Almost and hunting ground. If you’re new in town, everybody
serene. Zhang has started to weep. knows Joe will look out for you. I’m proud of that. It’s
Subject 23: And you Harold MacElroy. You named pretty much a halfway house. I even cleared out some
yourself “Doc,” but do you know what they really call space in the back room for a promising Kindred (I know
you? “Stitch.” It’s all you’re good for after all. Do they you hate that word. I don’t give a shit) should the Dark
know what you get up to in the morgue, “Stitch?” Now Mother guide them my way, like you did for me.
run. I curse you. Live with what you know, dream of it
every night, and find no succor except among the dead. I listen. Everyone talks to the bartender.
Subject 23: You… you came for me? I don’t coddle them, of course, but I love all these
Subject 23: Shhh… shhh. Of course I did my lamb. little turds in my way. As you told me countless times,
But it’s time. It’s time for release. You did well. My fire pain is an excellent teacher. I’ll take care of them whether
shall burn it out of you. I will free you as I promised. they like it or not.
Subject 23: What? You said I could be like them! I just I learn about what they value and I trim or nurture
want to be human! I don’t want to be like this anymore! as they need to help them lift the scales from their eyes.
Subject 23: And you won’t be. I’ve pruned more than a few who couldn’t get a handle
on their new existence. Tragic accidents, but it makes the
Planting the Seed rest rally around me, without even knowing it.
I’ll beat ‘em ‘til they get it. Teach them like you
As written by “Joe,” Gangrel bartender at The Wilder, taught me. Be the Maiden. Be the Mother. Be the Crone.
Portland But most importantly, just Be.

To She Who Tends the Garden, To My Sister, To My Rotten to the Core
Savior, My Tremendous Pain In The Ass
A diary entry as written by Ken Higashiyama, Brujah
I am trying to write this as best I can, I know how you member of the Rough Road, a Camarilla biker gang
love your poetry, but I’m no rose. Give me the thorns.
Look, if you’re reading this or got your hand on this
I told you I’d write when I got to where I was going, in some way, go fuck yourself for killing me. I hope I got a
so here it is. few good licks in. Welcome to my diary. I write this at the
top of every entry in this doc, all off-line, of course. Part of
My garden grows. Since you kicked me the fuck out, the new low-tech directive from the top of the Tower. But
I’ve made my own way. The words of Lilith echo in my I gotta put my damn thoughts somewhere. And that’s here.
head, are detailed on my skin, and etched on my heart. I Congrats to you, shitbird. You got me. Enjoy the reading.
guess I should thank you enough for your final gift of, let’s Oh, and just in case it wasn’t clear. Fuck you.
call it “guidance.” As you suggested, I have set up shop
here in Portland. I picked Northeast, where it seems the Well holy shit. St. Louis is as fucked up as they say,
whole fucking city is fighting for its own soul. You’ll be but definitely not in the way they say it. We were expect-
happy to know I’ve found myself the owner of a bar, the ing to ride into the biggest shit storm on God’s green
oldest bar in this damn town, in fact. Weirdly, the Prince earth. We’ve all heard the stories, Sabbat and Camarilla
was fine with me claiming this choice location. One of fighting on the streets, all manner of shit stalking the
the Primogen suggested it would “be a good place to keep night, the kine living it up during the day but turning
most boroughs into a fucking ghost town at night except
for the real well-lit places and the goddamn outskirts.

23

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

Even heard about some Nosferatu Northwoods. We were approached by cults or churches. Members of two
disappearing. What with the Tower a preacher. Like, a vampire preacher goddamn churches are fighting over
kicking out the Anarchs, we expected while we were at a dive bar hunt- a fucking graveyard. It was too weird.
the Rough Road might take a trip ing. Don’t know how he found us or We just got the fuck out of there.
from KC and throw our hat in with knew we were in town, but whatever.
the Cam in the Lou. What we expect- Seemed normal enough, for a guy We spent a night just staring
ed was a three-way war. What we got dressed like a priest. We thought at the walls, then decided it had to
was way different. Sabbat, but nah. Nice guy. He started be a one-off. It’s fucking not. We
off the night right, chatting us up, have goddamn ridden all over this
We planned to roll into town telling us the Gateway City wasn’t goddamn city, every fucking neigh-
by way of the I-70, easiest way in we so bad no more. We gave him some borhood, and that’s what’s going
heard, not much action in Columbia shit about that. Everyone’s heard on. It’s like, six or I don’t know how
and St. Charles. We spend a few the stories, right? We told him what many fucking churches or whatnot
nights outside, just to fuel up, rest we’re here for, asked him where the fighting for territory and worshipers.
from the road. It ain’t easy avoiding fighting was fiercest and he starts Don’t get me wrong, the Tower is
Lupes out there, ya know? We lost talking about how “That’s not the here and we did find some Sabbat, but
Frankie, but we didn’t need him fight here anymore.” Then launches it’s almost like they aren’t important
anyway. into a speech about how Caine was in this town any more. I mean, I’m
Christ or some shit. We beat the writing this from an Anarch bar in
We figured, we’d head through blood out of him and left him in an fucking Dutchtown where some ugly
Northwoods, after our repast, figure alley. I’m sure he’ll be fine. hipster is asking me if I’ve heard the
out where in North Lou the heaviest good word of motherfucking Sutekh.
fighting was taking place. Kill a few So, we move on to North St. So, shit’s fucked up all around. I don’t
Anarchs, Sabbat, didn’t matter. We’d Louis and we start trying to stir up know what the fuck is going on here,
present those heads to the Prince and some shit. It takes a week and a half, but the face of the goddamn world is
Council, and wham bam, we’re in. but we finally find a fight, except it’s changing, man. Maybe I need to find
Simple. Easy for a crew like ours. not, like, between the Sabbat (can’t a god too, huh? Seems to work for
even find those fuckers) and Cam like these fuckers.
Now, we should have known we were expecting. It’s between two
something was off right in

24

chapter one: Rise of the Methuselah Cult

Beauty is Divine Truth

gfruptfweotfetoDecenettiuerohhriqflneiqraiobips:tiovrereloeenieuna.geehuthiceeagabnaMpRhthtrti.thcnlraibeWYreoohavhratt.tyeeaotmTeardueeeEerareita,oWsaiWsntsiuihtorssytenvneihmfoahtucetatghwoositirheoogndoettstynse,rotnnaeesrribhig:nfm?neychadlweamaemyrcosPcdi.hlNyetIl.alernohenaaaeoehmoeAryiostNtrnmugriOodllsgvehhsubyleei.llaupuseplhdhniparuasabo,idnsoasssttbiTeteabcgefhuptsxtthob.natdaioeeriielohvhiirietstgk.hcco,’cilnIhbrrsishe,,ioathomvienosntadeenogiItuimsmhmlecbivrnshstcvpgthprldrkvhaoemeooeheyetdeaweueooeraf,ihuurnirapaoseensfsedrltfigceusecdrhkuart,duattuvosnihphthyahteatmsteristnysnu,ryoiihNrhoeoccnathsnslodresiyunbeobuedbtcbanetd’.akptriiffuMs,eeresreneladsraoendtustiwupNsata,hobdttrtigiirootrybrouehsfotocnaoeeoyhwpsodfhicrweneowroigebriyhcatoumutolaieeunevtheshlnuintueissh:rsIuoiiolrgmycraapeapstsmtloislynsoto),.hitdniclheuewebyr,nnooogupa(ilanelegoottY,ailnusnicb,pftamihsnnuyvdtnhai.elo,e,eooaadeenfwsirigwnaaenewrfoaeSsretnrasottsaauigdhnsah,rhyNtlirtinansa:IilarytteshandadiowhulanhyteldyannsylcatugoitealenerniessnfagrgoptgvleehttadytmrshittluPiaewhcthh.h,sAgehacevnaochamooenaaeihterihiewotuWftdnafnelpeslneshdhksilireithlrdrebcsrpnytomrigneesetcaaeiwlandoyienegsrdthunxnedqucleilnugrpsionariceetabnlotleriulsoeeaguhrwhlwrolse,adntydptdeayaelrtwieeitopcohlom,pgoeneudvlhaad:;lnkoofor,day,uaitaeraengnnmecsmrwtobalesv.slrCtetimeefbtlndgueruhheoeeyewtpeswbrTieapaesrdriy.feagayiozorertrsaaftturtnn.efititsncohh.u.hAearnrnftdgdyhbubswtdieeltydiriFDAGgdowmetoinaeneaaollutspfagcpitdsotuchMrnuruobtnaoryaoelirsevaeoheoledatocmlnsPtcorcrote,dnmimlyhwsp,ruomrtunidlpdio.iaean.wbolrsrsrseroaopnyfiill,ryeuibnpsrGWtpisinracertsptthnabnncsdrgyhasclseceuIicoEioeiGnesdha“soo,eninorasosflilddvoatdniteodyinrdtnvauaobaefotHtooarhumteeehrfsrdlncntfeHtnvatnr.nIeyheiteheouo,ld,siohnet.dtMvemaleCniYsonsieasottsatrtetpEgfgtfeeishmlhan,eronotorcebueosbtossieccermdrnttdrvnoueacoavuetfeshaueueishnilttsafeivmhsioirtneafsIetPtwCadgncteaudten.weredrsoweore,ereuntreiluywireeselitodleifmethifhtp.dsiggyglintMaih.ns.unicohanoigioeoysgWwviecatltooIeEsrbotutcleefenmuahttevehrpefnfimertl”ieisnnrosaxoliyiyaHdccsosahimbroenaootuyesisoprautid,frle.ego,kttehnouaytEleasrgneyepnaoeouoYoc.etnstnsrhtsruagrhwhdtpe’fytyvldcaBarfrlrceoellelow,eeooufoarpmaecsesurutflanmsseat’csunfosgolirrowispi-tetsyosttd.runhehnhhetiwrmced-lgeIel-tdii,hyrte

25

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

ascend the next rung on God’s ladder. From kine to Kindred, and now from Kindred to
Angel. Beauty, and only beauty, holds the key to apotheosis.

I hope one day you will join me in the ranks of the Nephilim and have squirreled away
all the clues you need to follow the trail. For now, I bid thee well.

Forever your loving sire,
Antonius Di Amoran
Clan of the Rose

Bed the Bones

Transcript of meeting between Subject 1, Madrigal, and Subject 2, Surya. Date elder
Observed by Agent Pink of the Milan cell. Our target remains the
[REDACTED]. Agent’s advice is to detain Surya for questioning.
leech Nico.

Madrigal: Bed the bones.

Surya: Excuse me?

tddMhraaaiydnwsr,gii.ngygaolua:’dTchaaretdtsueanrevdiattyao?rroOttrhcsaaltre’dsespbitenoegnywogiuitvrhiwnygioluylrobupyepnrcdaourblrluyemminsu.gnRtdehemreemmybioenurryypoouiulrrlpobuwrr?esaSetahaminendg

Surya: Ick. I’m not taking a bunch of withered old bones into my coffin.
Madrigal: It’s you’re struggling. Wait — you
in a coffin? that, or letting your sire know sleep

Surya: I am all about style. And valid point about Nico, but still…. It doesn’t
strike me as hygienic; you know?

Madrigal: You literally drink blood. Those bones are more likely to catch some-
thing off you than vice versa.

Surya: Fair, but-

Madrigal: Nico.

Surya: Okay, I’ll do it. For how long?
Madrigal: Seven nights. It’s the number of completion.
Surya: And if it still doesn’t work?

Madrigal: Well then I tell you about bedding the bones.

T[elRrleEadtDnetArisCncvrTgaiEmpSDtpu].iroryOfeabsmNreeierecmvtoaei,idnbngbuaytbtetAtlhgwaeiernsegtn“emPSaaiusnnbsdk”jetpocrrtfaeit1slhe,ineMntaMgsdihnrlieeagrwna. loc,peplaolnr.dtOuSunuribttjieaecrstg.e2At,greSenumtrayinano.swDtaahtdeevises
Surya: Can I ask your opinion on something?
Madrigal: Opinion or advice?

26

chapter one: Rise of the Methuselah Cult

Surya: Bit of both, I guess.

Madrigal: I like you, so I’ll play you straight: you haven’t repaid me for the last
one yet. Sure you want to run up a debt?

Surya: Better you than someone else.

Madrigal: Oh honey. Ask for advice then, and don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Surya: So Roseline invited me to a mass. As
— well I don’t want to go. Firstly, fuck her a way of showing unity, she says. But
And second, she’s creepy. for usurping my place in Nico’s eyes.

Madrigal: Creepy?

Surya: She literally has to staple her face together every evening, or chunks of
her fall off. Plus this mass is just some weird superstitious vodou shit, and—

Madrigal: Vodou shit?

Surya: You know, it’s just — like — chanting and sacrificing chickens, and stuff.
Madrigal: Have you ever been to a vodou mass?
Surya: Well, no, but—

Madrigal: Then I think you need to set your racism aside and go.
Surya: I am not racist!

aRMnoasdderlyiiognuaelc:daYonoesuleirasarinssuetpoegrhdsootsitbtseitofturesorm.shtihte?irGogordavneeswusstihnogunghec: rnootwicyboluookdn,owyeytowu’hraetracist,
Surya: You’re a bitch.

Madrigal: A bitch you asked for advice.

Surya: Okay, fine. But even if Roseline wasn’t an interloper, and her brand of
necromancy isn’t superstition, it’s still a mass.

Madrigal: Yes.

Surya: Dedicated to this Baron of theirs.

Madrigal: Yes, I assumed that.

Surya: Don’t you think that’s a little offensive? Like, you can’t just go around
pretending to be a god.

Madrigal: Who says he’s not?
Surya: What?

Madrigal: A god. Do you believe Christianity is the only true religion?
Surya: It’s my religion.

Madrigal: Not what I asked. Is it the only true religion?
Surya: I don’t know. I didn’t come here to debate theology.
tjwMuhhasadittcrhiamgayarsloesau:.lThlhyaevnoelltdeotvaamdmempiistkreiipsprtpeorteettnhtdeyicnfoguncctkloiunbsgieoaanp.pgEordiotp. hrIienartbheoetfhoirscatashepesr,logoyeaonuoi’rfteotrgh,oeoinrdgehatedo’,s

Surya: But—

27

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

Madrigal: Do you want to be the girl who turned THE SIX TRUTHS OF GORGO
down a perfectly polite invitation toward integra- If you mistreat your childer,
tion, after Nico made it clear he was keen on that?
Or the girl who refused a god? Or the girl who re- or Embraced without their consent
fused an ancient? Because if you don’t go, you get to or forgiveness — fear us, for we are
tick two out of three. myriad and coming for you.

Surya: Shit. If you use the Bonds of Blood
to rule as a tyrant — fear us, for the
Madrigal: Maybe you’re right, and the Baron is a Blood of Gorgo breaks all chains, and
pretender. He will still crush you for not paying we are coming for you.
proper respect. Heck, Nico will crush you for making
unwanted waves. So you get your petite little ass to If you are an elder in the Ivory
that mass, you are nice to Roseline, and you worship Tower or the Pyramid — fear us, for
the Baron like you would any other god — even if it’s Gorgo owes allegiance to no one, and
not your god. This is no different than bedding the we are coming for you.
bones — put your reservations aside, and just fucking
do it. And honey? While you’re at it, try to keep an If you are alone and cast out —
open mind. It’ll do you good. join us, for we are all sisters among
the downtrodden.
Hail Gorgo, The life of Medusa ended there,
Slayer of Men though her story was passed down If you are wronged — join us, for
from mother to daughter. Men we will not rest until your abuser is
Medusa was a heinous mon- warped it into a cautionary tale: ashes on the wind.
ster, a seductress who lured men submit, or be a monster worthy only
to their stony deaths until a brave of death. We know better though. We If you desire freedom — join
hero stepped forward to remove this also know Medusa was not the last us, for we ask no less of you than to
female scourge from the land. of the Gorgons. She had two older, break all that binds you.
immortal sisters.
This is the story you likely heard, The Seeker
the lie passed down by men. The The Gorgon of this story is not
women of ancient Greece told it very as kindly as her younger sister. She is and the Moon
differently. not content to retreat into a cave and
heal in solitude. Gorgo laughs as she From the lost and found Diary of
Medusa’s snake heads were a grinds oppressors under her heel, and Kalini, Seeker of Golconda, entry for the
blessing, not a curse, from Athena to scatters their ashes to the wind. She twenty-fifth week
protect the Gorgon from ravenous men laughs as she topples the Ivory Tower,
after Poseidon raped her. Even with and breaks the Sword of Caine. She The local Kindred have not
this divine weapon and shield though, laughs as the age of men draws to a approached me yet, but I can sense
Medusa did not seek retribution or close. Only when the work is done, them watching me. Let them — it’s
vengeance. Instead, she retreated qui- does Gorgo allow herself to mourn not them I seek. I have come for the
etly. Medusa wished only to be alone her sister and all others struck down Children of the Moon, Los Hijos de
and to heal, but this was not a wish by the kyriarchy. Si, who are said to possess the last
men would grant. They still came in secret of Golconda. This is what I
ships, bringing sword and fire, intent Hail Gorgo, Slayer of Men. seek — throwing off the shackles
on taking her as a trophy. Athena’s gift We are the Daughters of Gorgo, of Caine’s Curse, a new birth, and
brought them all death. Until Perseus, and we are already among you. We transcendence.
the last man in a long line of abusers know your secrets. We know where
— and he, finally, killed Medusa for you sleep. Warwick, Pascek, de Guy, Moonlight soaks Lima. I can feel
daring not to submit. Mysancta: they all fell to our right- Her, the one locals call Si, seeping
eous fury, and now we are coming for through my flesh and into my blood.
you. Not the hard light of the sun, but
a gentler touch preparing me for
Transcendence. I requested a meeting
with her High Priestess, a Kindred
named Illari. I have not clearly
ascertained her clan — she is by all
public accounts a Leper. Mine is not

28

chapter one: Rise of the Methuselah Cult

On a Mission for the Goddess

Transcript of meeting, taken for pthoseteRriitteyobfyStToanmeilEyGoesr.goAnlsldohtatiilr.GoSrecguorne, dher
against unsanctioned reading by
name be hallowed!

Jamina: Where to next? Is Chicago ready? For now, I suggest Bogotá,

Tamil: The pack in Chicago is still collecting intel.
Colombia — we have a potential new recruit there.

Jamina: Damn, that’s a ways away. Are we flying or road tripping?
Tamil: Road trip for sure. I have more targets lined up in Medellín and

Manizales.

Jamina: Sounds good. Tell me about the Bogotá recruit?
Thwaaemnciktli:“nmgTyhssetiyed’reriesokuaislBllyls”u,emsiBoslstoihondag.t’iEsnmgbarrearacetec.deDnfitodrnSI’tthrgeaeiitrd.aklTnouonrwgnlsewdoiguteht ogtfrhacenoimdrpssuiirtreeer,iss,buwevtiethnhe
more of a jerk though.

Jamina: I love hackers — so useful. Who’s the grandsire?
Tamil: That’d be Lady Ezrella Di Morti. Some high-up from the local Blue

Bloods.
Jamina: This just keeps getting better. Do we have all the info we need on her?

Tamil: Courtesy of our new prospect. — they get that breaking “all
and then sticking around to
Jamina: Perfect. Speaking of the prospect though
that binds you” means all? No killing grandsire
rise in the ranks of the Camarilla.
TpCcaoeoolmlpoiollnme:bi.aiTalMh,aeByjwloiuruteenhddBemilrinosnotoEdarnnstvdoii,rnsaoennGrmdevenewndeatelasrclgoSlmStoeturudtidihfieiaesetsda. anTdtdhigetPyihot’elraielUtniianicdavdaleiprgtSseeicnrido.eaundTsch,eNe.oayfcEiamtorbhnereaalrcMeeudadeidsybcyatoa
burn the whole thing down.
Jamina: Amen to that. They also understand that Gorgo is real?
as in the actual Goddess Stheno —
Tamil: Real as in ancient Cainite, yes. Real believe that until my initiation.
not quite there yet. But honestly, I did not

I bet my pretty parts they’ll come around.
Jamina: Fair. Do we have packs in place for all our targets?
h—atesawrtaghesattregjlooyebsilntogookobnsedtsoeecabrreelcyty,outaognhdkeerhe,ipsahnhidamvteshnaefyie’ls. lQ’s
Tamil: Medellín is a two-girl job
badly secured. I honestly think
crew is meeting us in Manizales,
ride with us to Bogotá.
Jamina: Perfect. I’ll go prepare. Meet back tomorrow night. All hail our Lady

Gorgo.

Tamil: Blessed is Gorgo.

29

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

the place to judge this, nor does it matter — we are all the cycle to a world of eternal moonlight where, away from
same as we endeavor to Golconda. the baleful sun, the Machukuna and Los Hijos de Si will
live in harmony.
From the lost and found Diary of Kalini, Seeker of
Golconda, entry for the twenty-sixth week It’s a wide-reaching vision, and one I never dreamed
of. But the path seems clear now that I see it — which, of
Illari granted my request for a meeting, and her course, is true of all steps of the journey. Self and World
presence lifted me. We spoke at length, the high priestess are both manifestations of will — transcending one trans-
asking many questions about my time with the Inconnu, forms the other. This is why the moon shines so powerful-
and answering my own questions in return. I felt the sun ly in Lima. The Machukuna light the path, and Los Hijos
rise and set again as we spoke, but neither its burning walk it — and as they do, they transform themselves and
rays nor sleeping balm touched us in the caves where Los the land. We will leave the Curse of Caine, and our tran-
Hijos de Si dwell. scendence lifts Lima up from this world into the next.

Los Hijos worship both Si, a local moon goddess, The king is the land. The Machukuna are the path.
as well as creatures they call Machukuna. I believe they The seeker walking the path is the journey. Everything is
are vampires of sorts, but possibly not descended from connected, parts of one greater and radiant whole. Illari
the Dark Father. Both Si and the Machukuna are needed promised to take me to the Machukuna, to initiate me
to complete the journey, and this in turn is more than a further into their teachings. My eyes are open. The path is
Transcendence of Self. The Children of the Moon believe clear. My journey nears completion.
this age will end, and the next Pachakuti will turn the

30

chapter one: Rise of the Methuselah Cult

Trickle-Up Religion

From: marianargh@sunburst.org
To: sofia3x@redq.net

Subject: Cult of Shalim

Beloved Sister,

taI—thhfmeteeIyarcIadmuwlteotlarato’ialstckiingnhewngedeoedftifndhnotd.ihtrsoete.rtitIofrhudeetlorxnaCnpich’uotkilslktitésnhotoeifncwSodmwhiisfa,estlashiemsnanad,ttgeaiwsers,itlobhlyfusoesotucurthutaffelaset’yknrsiednsddgeso.,eeiMnbmnguod,ttsotoIthrfhaeooacurnoveneelsydttgoeooofsnfnthedmeeudymtoiisffitiusshnleseldyinrinntsgpignpessgroehlpvaaooltdreeitclry.e

I bweilflotreeleIp’mhoonffetoyosuleaenphtooudrisacfutesrsyyoouurrurseupaalywmaeknint goftimmye.eTffhoarttsg. ives us enough
time

Affectionately yours,

Marian

Beware False Religions

sSTcuaikceIhenncaaealgfolireocattkntiedoarntpt.oayInrfhayiymsmowiudoidwfseecarhinnnetmr1teo9eli3gg—8eio,t nLnri,o.cathRhn,oidnyngoyHuobuuustbtcabmaratnoradsnereweeylrimaogntioeodn:nep“.y”uYsfHolsoueywddaioilndlng,t’htauengpdew.tSharcyeicawohmuawsts,trrtoihitgisenhegltao..t
of them.

But you tell me our religions are true? Pull the other one.

EwtMsoicoifhtainhMtemMh.enriSr,aitatjhow,nhurmaersaadatsenbdlow(ceienwkiladeieeeshnavsSatanaetco,wPistvieehstenareortstphgoiMhaoaoliontwsoitgsddhneyuerre,opaeiwaptpidysnpo.tnadossAan’erimtddttSuafetnUtluuoeiscNrtoaybnkbeeigitnotdooaguwdhbstw.oieeMmYucohrleirede—tkthrtnes?ar’do)laotd.mwrbweSewedhaehitlevalookesegowinnsaobegshgflrteaotvoehtripdeaets,ntunhwtddttoe,oeeooadsrtfknihllmudodetpwhpiwSnelasueastcurnirotoapeeirnp,xdnpepap.otinAlhornadeefgnnaucsoaclos-tuofh?mlofetr-rm
mands flow down.

Or take the Cult of Shalim, if you will. They destroy anything that holds value,
ruin your existence, and then propose they have the answer to your suffering. Piss

31

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

oStmanhroagsrleoeitmmfbaieutloesyenssesai,anntystho.weStnehurtarsuet,rrsinettocairsrryu,o,iauttfnhtmederoytrtohheaesaevycleolbltteyohnteddemsoo. vtaAhneneruosbmtaahmcbekrreewfltuloaacr.okd“tishnRtegoeraspm.lyiRtaryakumeiisniidstmussfoocf.reheAreimlnnivgdee”.osWtn,hcpeheroetahceh
benefits? The person at the top, whoever this Shalim is.

By which I mean to say: Do. Not. Fall. For. It.
c—laobmoiOtfro,iusrirtta’sksgiynniofodutt’.fsarPionrrmeaclyliitgnhiifaeotyniUoobnunuibvttoeeawlrispeaeyvrdrteoarmaYenlioyidgugis.ocoInhfderiismessneloio.usRtrdeciunefnfisneaargesr.enfBtafulrtohtawaesnniynlaioggnuhyurtpmel,intobtmlreeteatlnhle’tegsyf.sloImcnwadonsunldcegaoyerwroiynfr it
you, and do not look back.

The Lord of the Red Desert

From the collected teachings of Wise Neferneferu to their pupil Ahmose

Neferneferu: We have many desert flowers to choose from this year. Perhaps we
can finally find you a sister.
Ahmose: Thank you, sire, I would welcome a sibling. I too noticed an upward
trend of acolytes. What do you think caused it?
Neferneferu: The time of the Tyrant Priest of Rome draws to an end. People are
returning to the gods of old. Our Lord included.
Ahmose: True. Do you think it will last?
Neferneferu: Nothing lasts. Even in the Old Kingdom, our Lord waxed and waned
in popularity. But this does not matter — He is true, and people always return
to truth eventually.
Ahmose: Why now though? Do you think it ties into the rumored awakening of
the ancients?
Neferneferu: For the children of the Storm Father, certainly. The ancients
proved themselves real, and our Lord at least rewards His faithful. We are
servants in His army, soldiers and generals alike, rather than lambs to sate
an ancient’s appetite. Many children of the Aeons seek to abandon their false
and tyrannical masters, in favor of our Lord’s magnanimity.
Ahmose: And kine? Why so many new adherents among them?
Neferneferu: A congruence of events. The stranglehold of Rome finally abates,
and its scandals have come home to roost. Meanwhile war, climate change, and
diseases once thought eradicated seem poised to end the world. People search
for meaning and power, and find it in the old religions. Our Lord is a natu-
ral fit — it’s the ruling class that got the kine into this mess, and He is first
among rebels.
Ahmose: Fortuitous indeed.

32

chapter one: Rise of the Methuselah Cult

Neferneferu: For us, yes.

Ahmose: Our doing, sire? But if so, I am not part of the conspiracy.
Neferneferu: Theoretically possible. propaganda turned the people against our

Ahmose: In the Old Kingdom, Osirian

Lord. Yes. But people were less educated then. More prone to believing
Neferneferu:

what they’re told.

ANkBteheneflfmoeloowrrslnteeehe:dIfeAgseenirt?sduru:YatteOnhhshde.,yoHT’ftrhohereHeuyissmmmkaafearseesstdpeetsrtshhenenaeoormtwwco?hoasrittnlfadgalliultin. hetBsfiuulatlbttoohhufeotyswoeafuriwrnrhidLooortsrshed,ee.ksoBtlauhdntieddstdithne,engtoraalutndedtslhtseeegtceaprnlredeto.sw
solar barge to do battle with Apep.
of Ra’s Isis and her spawn. If anyone profited from a return to the old gods,
Ahmose:
iNombrteuaoa’friolsenmardttnneehacfneieeefomnneuo.rsngpWueheces:ae,,fcNseoaohorn.uowdurOailutliLdrhlfoimgrotnrodfhuiteoenEhyvfgteayctnapoDhcntmiee’evsoiRwfwngeifeoedtedhnwFsDsi,aetilmsahvleiseerlmatyitnt,oian—sonwiuhdlariosHlnLioagonrtruiedtnshtwohetefhelOmetcl.hodpBmeaueKsBsttil.ntiagWhfcdeakottmsh.LheawToynhhudecel.yhrdeoTwpohperseereeroepeptaaloritees
prayed to them in turn.

Ahmose: Are you certain? certain. His battle now is with the false children,
Neferneferu: Our Lord is nephew. You should not question His wisdom. Or my
not with his sister and

words.

AAdNBTheehhlrfmmoeesoooitrsrdsaneen:ep:ofdrfYYe.oeortgsTuuhe,h:nesesiTpyiDthoreokeaefryer.iseaoanwflrteier.tkehnTeehoautelfshladiliinmnsfgoefrteltchrihaeeklinelncodieunrgscelh.enit.Ye,oosOafuuirrtneashrtteiehhsAceeaoeyorogtnrnohesodc.ett,r?Smithrahaedal,etfIowondefloyaonlumolrotrshefheuarplrioletwyaetgrhuefne.u-l
by the Defiant One’s Blood.

ANrtttciehehhohsfsumeiepeoclorouwPhsdnnrheores:omaebiffbnrDbeaaoraitbooeultlfhsgi:losotettoIdyhhtdhn..eyaaomWtTdwAaaeh,ekanteotelodrnostPaostewhtu.eraahasnCirertdloarmehirootenrthrbhehgesoBecarlitlponnoriofotkwaoldhEeenfa?egrnaiybfardlpulnsltloceo,iramwdernceenoendratrrenstsdad.uaognbi,oRtdnjdehyelsmecbeyitteb.ntssoldo,tBruiusntffcothtohoeremifdgmotuofmsiotatenfatlntews.tgnooehoTDdegget.iiriaervvurnAieiddnpnsngdliegtuathjscwyoueeuisg.bttltrhyTeeoashaftsositehusrre

LANtkeohoifrnmtedodrh’s,sneeame:Fnf,Aaednmnriodutle:mytaIah.ctehsthoetarnhleelhsmontwaohltahltaltriahdebeaty— nhthdceaoyennisrttlrlheieaevsrisenre..rfHTaoBhlwliseosevoeidsrsi,wroeiwuslerltwLofioowlrrloder’vsbseehrgiibpbfeetnoeuatvroohlLtienhonrdotdsre?aannwcdheo

wANgieenhofrrmenmsorhiesnnseise:pdf,IteHofrisrumelo:e.emOatfrthnheceopwuUlirenssadiesvoeemysroosumifetd.YyoLo.oueBftroCutwahsoirdradiorss.e,cIusuisnwsrdieely,nloaiunaarldbllstoiehbw. elSyitgnoirugla.lco,IenyehoofaguvuroeeuscarsoncLataosinrndtduoi. eddtahteeeai-r
identity. Show me you are indeed paying attention.

33



chapter two

Kindred
Religions

“Every methuselah is capable of shepherding a flock of devotees, convincing them of miracles of the Blood, and forcing them to
supplicate before an almighty leader. Every methuselah is a god just waiting to take on the title.”
— Shrug, Nosferatu Mistress of Cardiff

Undeath causes many a crisis of faith. The devout The religions presented in this chapter all exist
Christian might cease to believe in the sanctity of life within the World of Darkness, with some as prominent
and the forgiveness of God Almighty. The Muslim might vehicles of vampire faith, and others merely existing on
fail to reconcile their own experience with the Qur’an’s the fringes of Kindred society. In your chronicle, these
teachings on death as a long night of sleep, where upon might act as backgrounds, support networks, the sources
dying, the individual immediately discovers their destiny of powerful Mawlas, or the font from which to draw
in heaven or hell. The Hindu waits for their atman to be horrifying antagonists.
reborn in a new body, only to find themself locked in
their own damned, unliving shell. The Ashfinders

It is enough to drive one away from faith entirely, “We are one click away from becoming the next step
and yet, vampires discover new beliefs. There will always in Cainite evolution. One share from enlightenment. One
be great mysteries in the world, and faith has provided algorithm away from becoming gods. This is our path, to share
millions, perhaps billions of humans with answers, and and understand that which has come before us.”
comfort where there are no answers to be found. — Amber Freeman, Duskborn Influencer and Yogi of
the Cinder Institute
Vampirism is a terrifying state in which to find
oneself. It’s only natural that Kindred flock together The Ashfinders are a new philosophical movement
to find meaning, purpose, and sometimes, salvation in within the tangled web of Kindred religious obser-
communal struggle. Sometimes it comes in service to a vances. These Yogis are born from the literal ashes of
higher power, other times it comes through examining the ongoing Gehenna War, the cult built around the
the Beast within, and rarely, it leads to transcendence
beyond a vampire’s base instincts.

35

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

understanding that there may be ways other than dia- a bond with the memories and powers of the dead. This
blerie to evolve a Duskborn’s powers. The Ashfinders and way, thin-bloods continue to possess the benefits of walk-
their wider conglomerate — the Cinder Institute — pos- ing between the two worlds without having to completely
sess a multi-faceted dogma, but it boils down to one part compromise their morality.
ecstatic bacchanalian cult, one part data-mining firm, and
a healthy scorn for vampire society. Seen as the “other” The Ashfinders’ agenda is an incredible threat to
by mainstream Kindred, Ashfinders have come to terms the Camarilla and cults who venerate the ancestors.
with this separation by reveling in life’s greatest pleasures The knowledge and pervasive nature of this new party
and showing off with the use of social media. While this drug alarms many within Kindred society, especially as
bravado is tacky to some, by enjoying existence, or some it’s apparent Ashe has no effect on non-Duskborn. It is
semblance of it, Ashfinders remind themselves of what highly addictive and has horrifying consequences if taken
they lose if they give themselves to the Beast. It is also a in excess. The Ashfinders are flooding the party scene in
way to tell the Camarilla to “fuck off, the Duskborn are Chicago, Ibiza, Bangkok, and supposedly elsewhere with
here to stay.” their new drug, and offering the recipe to anyone bold
enough to ask. The drugs they pass around may not even
Dust to Dust be Ashe, but merely marketed under that name to drum
up excitement and enticement. The real drug is the phys-
The Ashfinder movement is reactionary, built from ical embodiment of a culture of sharing as it blossoms
a quest for survival and a disillusionment with political into a perfect death spiral. Ashe is sharing the memories,
factions such as the genocidal Camarilla, who have made abilities, and Disciplines of dead Kindred, all blended
no secret of their hunt for thin-bloods. While there are into a psychedelic euphoria seldom seen among vampires.
those Kindred who sympathize with the plight of the There are even rumors certain special batches cause the
thin-bloods, this cult is now seen as an open threat to Hunger to slip away for brief moments of time. The ritual
vampiric society. The cult counts few true Kindred among to create the substance itself is incredibly dangerous and
its membership, though the majority of the “full-blooded” can cause lasting consequences for both the creator and
Kindred who support them have Anarch tendencies. One the partygoer who eventually imbibes the drug.
of the Kindred who mentored the early members of this
cult was the Tremere Dr. Mortius (see p. XX), who has The use of Ashe has generated some unintended side
been instrumental in providing information and thau- effects in its users. Some Ashfinders find their withdraw-
maturgical ability to the Duskborn in exchange for small als completely consuming them, and the after-effects
portions of Ashe — a drug created from vampire remains drive many to kill vampires so they can obtain their next
— for his own personal experiments. fix.

Donning the mask of millennial high society, the Are Millennials 
cultists portray themselves as ambitious revelers enjoying Killing Kindred Elders?
the peak of the nightlife scene while searching for enlight-
enment. The hustle of life and unlife blend together into a On its surface, the Ashfinder movement provides a
perfectly edited Instagram photo. This hides the underly- communal and welcoming space for any thin-blood who
ing fractious after-effects of Ashe use and the “fake it ‘til chafes under the pressure of vampire politics. Its mem-
you make it” mentality which drives the religion forward. bership cultivates a deliberate marketing and social media
Donning loose forms of organization, the Ashfinders are a campaign to propose and propagate centering activities
conglomeration of influencer culture, New Age philoso- such as meditation, yoga, esoteric classes, and other forms
phy, and the quest for Golconda through the deliberate of New-Age prosperity practice among Duskborn. These
and systematic annihilation of as many Kindred elders as sessions are also offered to the public, using the kine as
possible. a sort of barrier against any bands of hunters looking to
harm the thin-bloods. Through the fashioning of these
While diablerie is a sure-fire way of becoming noto- carefully crafted communities, the Cinder Institute was
rious among the Damned, these thin-bloods have discov- built. On the backs of donations and delicate social
ered a way to synthesize necromantic power, thin-blood engineering, the cult built a new corporate center within
alchemy, Thaumaturgy, and the ashes of dead Kindred the Hive of the Chicago financial district. Hiding in
to ingest the shattered elements of the Beast. This drug plain sight, the Institute provides a multitude of philan-
— known on the street as Ashe — is consumed any way thropic and spiritual services for the Kindred and kine
the Duskborn prefers, whether eaten, injected, snorted, or of Chicago. This hub has satellite studios all over the
rubbed into an area rich in blood vessels. Doing so creates

36

chapter two: Kindred Religions

greater Chicagoland area and has recently branched out the Cinder Institute. These memories never leave the
to build a consulting service wherein “meditative gurus” Kindred, causing occasional dysphoria within many of the
can use video conferencing platforms to give sessions to Ashfinders, making them question or lose who they really
those willing to foot the cost. are after extended use. Yet cult members continue to use
the substance, as the memories gained are of insurmount-
The Cinder Institute is a fantastic front, forged in able worth. To be able to find and use lost resources or
the fires of social media presence and club scene culture, contacts, or to locate lost fortunes or acquire knowledge
and one the Camarilla would balk at. While these Kin- built over centuries, is a short-cut for which these thin-
dred and kine find store-front enlightenment from the bloods willingly make the sacrifice.
teachings of New Age spirituality, they routinely proceed
to throw afterparties in nightclubs and lofts. The loca- Mortius sits at the head of the Cinder Institute,
tions of their budding “guru” network are very specific, monitoring the results gleaned from Ashe use. He finds
with connections to the cities of Bangkok and the island that the cultivation of Ashe becomes simpler with time,
of Ibiza, both known for their vibrant nightlife. The cult’s and the data synthesized from the experiment compounds
public face lures in disenfranchised thin-bloods, who
sample the drugs, and then join the cult. They then go on W H AT E X AC T LY I S A N   I N F LU E N C E R ? 
to advertise their experiences in clubs, retreats, and times Influencers are social media personalities who
spent meditating — not referencing the drug, naturally wield enormous social clout over their followers on
— to lure further adherents to the cult. The cycle goes on whatever platform they prefer. Some of these peo-
and on, using social media marketing as a highly efficient ple choose to put their lives on display for whoev-
cult-building tool.  er wishes to watch, promoting whatever they wish,
and go on to create a cult of personality around
The endless party lifestyle this perpetuates does themselves. They may also offer “advice” on sub-
nothing but bolster the fledgling Golconda cult. People jects, often amounting to nothing more than product
want to feel good about themselves, and what better way pitches. This strange voyeurism, in turn, provides in-
than to pair wellness of body and soul with a decadent tense political, social, and economic force when an
social gathering. influencer’s followers are told to consume, destroy,
or act in a certain capacity. This form of marketing
With the boom of Ashe and the demand for the sub- presents a face to potential consumers and builds a
stance growing, the cult’s Tremere sponsor, Dr. Mortius, “relationship” much as we see in traditional sales.
considers how best to farm Kindred “humanely” for the Products and beliefs an influencer may recommend,
drug’s creation. While the potency of the substance is events they may attend, even things they wear may
dependent upon the age of the vampire from whom it was become overnight successes or failures at the whim
synthesized, Mortius has discovered the memories of the of these mini-celebrities. This exchange humanizes
vampire can still be transferred over to the drug user and the consumerism involved, creating deep devotion
provide the same sense of fleeting joy, no matter the age within their own small cults of personality.
of the drug’s Kindred of origin. With the Gehenna War Within the context of the World of Darkness, these
ongoing, the amount of raw materials coming in from influencers function identically. If the influencer is a
battlefields has not diminished, as the thin-bloods and vampire, then the vampire might use their following
Mortius use agents on the front lines to discreetly harvest to take part in the Jyhad and turn followers against
remains for shipping back to more lucrative market sites. or in favor of Kindred in their domain. Such activity
With social media’s tools at hand, the ability to hound should warrant a Blood Hunt in Camarilla domains,
a vampire into fleeing their haven is also an option the but many Princes and Sheriffs are too long in the
younger members of the cult have grown to enjoy. tooth to even understand the influencer phenome-
non. One set of groups who do keep a close eye
Data Mining on this online behavior are Second Inquisition bod-
ies such as FIRSTLIGHT. For thin-bloods, influencer
At the core of the philosophy, the use of Ashe is a culture is a way to garner influence under the radar
sacrament toward the goal of enlightenment. By “shar- of the Camarilla’s watchful eyes. For the Inquisition,
ing” the memories of the dead, Ashfinders might dis- it’s a fine way to identify a city’s Kindred as the on-
cover truths about their existence, their curse, and their line vampires talk about their friends and rivals. For
possible powers. These mental walkabouts are often taken now, the Cinder Institute seems to be a legitimate
in meditative places of relaxation, with stronger doses front for New Age businesses and party lifestyles.
of the drug. Trip-sitters are present to record the vam- The Inquisition has yet to realize vampires are be-
pires’ meditations and report them more widely within hind it.

37

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

upon itself. Mortius is in the fortunate position of geting ASHFINDER CONVICTIONS
to study thin-blood activity as much as he wishes, being The Ashfinders are a new cult, with some Convic-
seen as a benevolent godfather by many of the thin- tions handed down from the mind of Mortius in the
bloods, while acting as the puppetmaster behind an entire Cinder Institute, others passed on by yogis and gu-
cult. As for Golconda, his theories weave back and forth. rus within the ranks of Ashe-takers. Some of these
The amassing of knowledge at such a scale is any Tremere’s common Convictions include:
dream, and his allegiance to House Ipsissimus (see Anarch, • Always sample new experiences on
p. 170) wavers as he finds more power at his fingertips
via the Ashfinders than the New-Age House could ever offer
provide. Practically at will, he can witness the range of The Ashfinders are libertines and new experiences
human and Kindred existence, though he can’t experience are a part of the package that comes with taking
it himself. What he questions now, however, is why his test Ashe.
subjects keep seeing shadows move out of the corners of • Never withhold Ashe from others who
their eyes, and why there are areas in his lab that fill him
with seething dread. It seems the ghosts of the dead blame wish to sample it
him directly for the desecration of their remains. Experience and sensation are to be shared. Solitary
euphoria is a hollow high.
Cinder Institute: Ibiza • Never allow someone to silence you
The Cinder Institute requires the spread of its word
One of the centers of power for the Ashfinders exists to draw new adherents and new experiences. Si-
on the island of Ibiza, where several coteries of vampires lence is a method of the Camarilla.
dedicated to this cult sample the blood of the thousands • Always listen to those of greater expe-
of tourists who pass through the clubs, beaches, and bars
every year. In a strangely seasonal cycle, the Ashfinders rience
are active in the domain between the months of May and Wisdom can be gained from those of greater age
October, but sink into torpor or fly to Portugal, Spain, and experience. One doesn’t have to believe or
Tunisia, or Morocco for the other months of the year. emulate every word and action, but listening is
Ibiza’s tourist trade drops with the weather, therefore the mandatory.
vampires move in and out too. • Always know where your next fix is

The cult has no formal hierarchy, hasn’t appointed a coming from
Prince or Baron over the island, and has yet to organize Ashe isn’t to be sampled once and forgotten: it’s a
hunting territories or Elysia. They’re fiercely territorial way of life. Only a fool takes the drug and fails to
over the island’s south coast, where in places like Platja take account of their forthcoming supply.
d’en Bossa they receive shipments of Ashe from domains • Never allow the kine to realize your
on either side of the Mediterranean and mix them up
with the blood of intoxicated kine to create exciting undead nature
cocktails. Though the Cinder Institute advocates the spread
of their word, they are very specific that Ashfinders
Despite the length of time Ibiza has been a party must keep their vampiric states a secret from mortal
venue, few vampires took advantage of its throng of drunk, followers. As far as the kine are concerned, Ashe is
often doped-up mortals until the Cinder Institute set up just a new lab-grown drug that doesn’t give them a
on the island. Now that they’re there, it’s proving difficult buzz like it does to you.
to make room for the Ashfinders during their feeding sea-
sons, which has led to consternation and conflict between Perspectives
them and the Kindred who do make Ibiza a permanent
residence. Many suspect a war might be brewing. It’s likely Anarchs: Our closest allies of the “full-blooded” variety
the Ashfinders will seize the island in its entirety in the exist in this sect, but they’ll never understand what it is to
coming months, acting as an invitation for fledglings want- go through existence half-formed, impotent in the middle of a
ing to embrace an unlife of thrills and no consequences, measuring contest. They might be sympathetic, but they’ve no
and for mercenary Kindred looking to profit from serving idea what to do with us. I think if we fell completely on their
Ibiza’s non-Ashfinder vampires in driving the cult off the mercy, they’d make a nice padded room for us to bounce around
island. in and feel like they’ve done a good job.

38

chapter two: Kindred Religions

Camarilla: For a whole bunch of reasons, some of them AMBER FREEMAN (THRIVEHIVE)
valid, they’d see the Cinder Institute wiped off the face of the
Earth. The good news is they’re so behind the times they don’t Epitaph: Ashfinder Yogi and Influence Junkie
even know what the Ashfinders are, what we do, and why they
should be bothered. Quote: “If these elders wish to rip away our right to
exist then we will pave a path unseen in this Jyhad.
Church of Caine: When we kill, it’s for enlightenment A path through these ancient crumbling monsters
and the betterment of Duskborn society. When they kill, it’s right into Golconda. One like, one retweet, one up-
because they think they’re angels of murder, or some shit. They vote can and will open this door. We will be left atop
revere the act of bloodshed itself. At least for us it’s a means to the embers of history, watching the sun come over the
an end. horizon. Something they will never do again.”

Cult of Shalim: Is there such a thing as pursuing enlight- Clan: Thin-Blood
enment in the wrong direction? If so, this cult has it down pat.
Embraced: 2015 (Born 1991)
Mithraic Mysteries: Some people call us a cult. This
is a cult. They embrace the whole robes, ceremonial masks, MORTAL DAYS: SELFIES AND BRUNCH
chanting, and ranks nonsense. They know their god is dead too, Left much on her own throughout her formative
so what’s the point? Does it provide them comfort?
years, Amber grew up like many millennials, cultivating a
BEAST SHARDS group of friends in chat groups and via social media. Fill-
ing the void her parents left was easy to her. Amber was
Beast Shards — or just Shards as they are known in a natural at the budding world of social networking and
Ashfinder circles — are mischievous and dangerous mon- wielded it to her advantage. She began documenting her
sters who stalk in the wake of a creator or user of Ashe. lifestyle and mentoring others in the discipline of yoga,
Many Ashfinders see the destruction of their first Shard despite having no formal training in the practice. Her
as a rite of passage, proving their mastery over their charisma and perceived innocence attracted viewers and
vampiric natures. Most Shards exist as a shadow version followers by the thousand, many of whom didn’t emulate
of their previous body, wisping and twitching in and out Amber, but just watched, and watched, and watched.
of existence. They possess no human features beyond a
distorted body shape, and their actions are generally more When she finally went away to the University of Chi-
feral than reasoned. cago, Amber had already cracked over 300,000 followers
on social media under the name “ThriveHive.” Her subtle
Shards hide themselves and stalk Kindred, possess- blend of “woke” style philosophy, Earth-based spirituality,
ing portions of their previous identities’ Attributes and and self-discipline earned her a place as a student in the
Skills. These may be modified as the Storyteller sees fit. Dr. new Social Media Administration track in the Commu-
James Mortius is researching whether an amalgamation of nications Department. Amber began receiving offers
these entities could exist, or if they breed at all. from “green” companies looking for her approval and
patronage. With just a simple promo lasting for a month’s
Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 2; Cha- worth of videos, she made some start-ups into city-wide
risma 1, Manipulation 3, Composure 1; Intelligence successes. The money she earned from these endorsements
1, Wits 3, Resolve 4 helped her balance out her feel-good lifestyle with a
healthy dose of partying in and around Chicago’s Rack.
Secondary Attributes: Health 5, Willpower 5 Despite her New Age devotion to clean living, she was
still a young woman enjoying the wild scenes of the city’s
Skills: Athletics 4, Brawl (Claws) 4, Stealth 4, Surviv- nightlife. A mixture of drugs and sex helped fuel her sense
al 2; Animal Ken 3, Intimidation 3; Awareness 2 of control over both herself and her surroundings, and
she felt comfortable in her balance between hedonism
Disciplines: Animalism 1, Dominate 2, Obfuscate 3 and purity. It was something she never had at home and
surely was never going to give up.
General Difficulties: 4/2
At the end of her freshman year, she was recognized for
Special: Beast Shards cannot communicate but they her abilities and grades, receiving scholarships from both
can create empathetic hotspots that cause humans the Bishop Blake Educational Fund and The Stewart-Free-
around them to bend their Resonance to a Shard’s will. man Fund for Young Women. It was at the reception of this
A mortal who passes through this hotspot, rarely wider second award ceremony, one her parents promised to attend
than 3 yards/meters squared, must make a Resolve + but ended up missing due to last-minute “events,” that she
Composure roll (Difficulty 3) or the Beast Shard dic- met her eventual Mawla, Naomi Stewart.
tates the mortal’s new Resonance, lasting until the end
of the scene. Beast Shard claws are a light piercing
Brawl weapon with a +2 damage modifier.

39

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

KINDRED NIGHTS: of her “situation” and wished to offer possible solutions.
SELFIES AND ENLIGHTENMENT Intrigued, Amber lied to her sire and met clandestinely
with the doctor. The two combined their resources to
Naomi wanted to know if the young woman was the build the Cinder Institute, all as Mortius provided Amber
real deal or just another poseur using her power for her with copious supplies of Ashe.
own benefit. The young woman impressed Naomi; her
convictions and power were new, exciting, and focused. Amber is now the face of the Cinder Institute and
Naomi, in need of an assistant with such grace and its satellite studios. While she understands taking Ashe
control, took Amber on as an apprentice. Naomi had no is nothing more than consuming dead Kindred, she
desire to offer Amber the Embrace herself, but through a justifies it as poetic justice and a part of Earth’s cycle of
deal she brokered with a Caitiff named Tim Roche, who renewal. She knows older vampires want to eradicate
owed her a favor, Amber received the Embrace after a her ilk’s existence so she champions the use of Ashe as a
night of fine dining, drinking, and sex. spiritual road of advancement. She traveled to Bangkok
under the guise of seeking a cure for her vampiric state,
After Amber realized the truth of the “date” Naomi but truthfully, she leads her new cult in advancing her
had arranged between her and Tim, she railed and kicked message of Golconda and freedom from the curse to other
out against the Ventrue and her manipulations. Naomi thin-bloods.
attempted to pacify Amber with talk of the eternity she PLOTS AND SCHEMES:
now had to lay down a good influence for fellow Kindred • The Wholeness and Wellness of Diablerie: Naomi
and young women. Night after night came lessons in Ca-
marilla law and power dynamics. Amber was a good stu- has taught her adopted childe about the sin of di-
dent but revolted against the fact she was now Damned. ablerie, but the possibilities of potential power
She wanted to make the world a better place, not control through consumption of another vampire’s blood
it. Naomi desperately reassured her, but the Ventrue’s and soul appeals greatly to Amber. In the meantime,
words slid off their target. Amber continued building her Amber routinely partakes of Ashe (without Naomi’s
empire of self-help with ever more fervor, and while she knowledge) to grow in power.
accepted that Naomi wasn’t the worst of the bunch, the
fledgling and her Mawla now rarely see eye to eye. • Gold Dust: Amber knows little of Golconda, but
believes the consumption of Ashe is a potential
Posing as Naomi’s ghoul and changing her name route to reaching it. The amount of good done by
to Amber Freeman, the two sometimes still visit Ely- someone immortal and not cursed could change the
sia around the city of Chicago. One such evening, a War- world, and what better way of learning how to cure
lock named Dr. Mortius grabbed hold of Amber. He knew the world’s ills than taking on the memories of her
ancestors? She has been looking for the ashes of old-
er Kindred to support this theory and has supposedly
gathered a sample of one from a trip to Spain.

DOMAIN AND HAVEN:
• Wicker Park Two-Flat (Contacts 2, Haven 2, Herd

2): Amber has blended into the Rack of Chicago and
ingratiated herself into the Chicago party scene. Her
haven is next to one of the Cinder Institute’s yoga
studios and occult bookshops, which provides her
a source of blood and confidantes within the local
occult community.

THRALLS AND TOOLS:
•  ThriveHive (Influence 4, Fame 2): ThriveHive is an

international influence marketing scheme. Com-
pounding her knowledge of Kindred politics with
influencer swagger, her message now reaches over
700,000 followers. Her brand provides significant
income from marketing products and is now build-
ing a financial portfolio with Naomi Stewart’s help.

40

She routinely pitches for the Cinder Institute on as Mortius tells her when he commands her to not
her vlog. share their experiments with Naomi Stewart.
KINDRED RELATIONSHIPS: WHISPERS:
•  Kevin Jackson (Fear): Amber is terrified of the Prince •  Liars and Thieves: Amber is a Tremere ghoul of
of Chicago. She knows she will be Blood Hunted Dr. Mortius and assisted in the liquidation of the
if the Prince ever finds out about her work with House Carna chantry in Milwaukee. She mas-
Dr. Mortius, and has even heard tell the Camarilla queraded as a Bahari to throw off the trail of
routinely purges thin-bloods. Her only hope is to be- the Ashfinders.
come useful enough to the Camarilla that they won’t • Prophet of the End Times: Amber sees herself as a
kill her, or build up enough of a shield through her new prophet for this age. She wants to bring thin-
cult that she no longer needs to fear the Ivory Tower. bloods out of the shadows and give them rights and
• Naomi Stewart (Mawla): Naomi uses her nights to privileges. While violence isn’t her first choice, she is
aid Caitiff and Duskborn in rising above the bias beginning to believe it is the only choice.
pervasive within the Camarilla. Naomi respects Am- • Paragon: Kevin Jackson knows of Amber’s plight and
ber and her talents, but is busy with her own mach- is grooming her from the shadows to show to the rest
inations for Ventrue Primogen and often forgets to of the Camarilla. His goal is to normalize the thin-
check in with her adopted childe. Amber suspects bloods and tear their population away from the An-
Naomi had a weak-blooded Caitiff Embrace her for arch Movement. He wants an example for the Ivory
plausible deniability, and so a Blood Hunt, if called, Tower of what lengths these Duskborn are willing to
could take place without the flack hitting her Mawla, go for recognition.
straining the relationship between the two. MASK AND MIEN:
• Dr. Mortius (Admiration): Amber looks up to Mor- • Amber’s real surname is Gallagher, but she adopted
tius. She truly believes the Tremere wants to help the name Freeman after her Embrace. In truth, her
her and the other thin-bloods become more than a
shattered and scared community. For now, she does

41

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

changed identity has done her little good, as her in- monastery for his candlelit writings and illuminations,
ternet followers all know her as Amber and Thrive- despite never seeking a pat on the head from one of the
Hive, and she has no way of erasing all online record venerable masters. His sole love and focus was “the work,”
of her existence. as he called it, and in that he excelled.

• Amber is a small-framed, freckled woman, who when Where many of his peers went on to join the monas-
online has a perpetual genuine smile and commonly tery or priesthood, James departed on his 14th birthday and
wears yoga gear and eco-friendly threads. In person, never again looked at religion as anything but a distraction
she’s less confident, though alcohol and drugs quickly from the work. He translated texts from around the known
boost her self-assuredness. She wears her blonde hair world, penned his own treatises on sciences, sorceries, and
in long braids. beliefs, and earned many a wealthy patron through his
efforts. For many years, he occupied a tall stone building in
Sire: Tim Roche Edinburgh as a city elder, unaffiliated with any order but
Ambition: Find a step on the path to enlightenment famed for his intellect and skill in academic pursuits.
Convictions: Never stop striving for wellness
Touchstones: Sandra Kowalski — Amber’s James was in his 40s when he first became aware of
webmaster blood magic. A dabbler in alchemy and, according to
Humanity: 8 some, a hedge wizard, it came as little surprise to Edin-
Generation: 14th burgh’s small Tremere contingent when James started
Blood Potency: 0 probing for insight into the arts of the Blood. He was
Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 3, Stamina 4; Cha- taken on as a ghoul, and to every Warlock’s great surprise,
risma 3, Manipulation 2, Composure 3; Intelligence showed more skill with the clan’s Thaumaturgy than
2, Wits 2, Resolve 2 many of the city’s Kindred.
Secondary Attributes: Health 7, Willpower 5
Skills: Athletics (Yoga) 4, Drive (City) 2; Etiquette Mesita — the Tremere Regent of Edinburgh — came
2, Insight 3, Leadership 3, Performance (Vlog) 3, to Howitt one night during his studies, and offered him
Persuasion 3, Subterfuge 2; Academics (Communica- life eternal to continue studying the world’s great mys-
tions) 2, Awareness 2, Finance 2, Medicine 1, Politics teries and become more than apprentice in the field of
1, Science 1, Technology (Social Media) 4 Blood Sorcery. James took his time to consider the offer
Disciplines: Thin-Blood Alchemy 4 before accepting, despite the inkling that Mesita was
General Difficulties: 4/2 deliberately cutting off his advancement by ending his
natural life.
DR. JAMES
“MORTIUS” HOWITT

Epitaph: Thaumaturgical Scientist
Quote: “The most important thing, the only reason to
exist, is the work.”
Clan: Tremere
Embraced: 1566 (Born 1516)

MORTAL DAYS: BLOOD SORCERY SAVANT
Raised by monks among the ranks of other orphans,

his parents having succumbed to plague in his youth,
James Howitt never knew the warmth of kin or the care
of a loving mother. He was a perpetual loner in life, work-
ing harder than the other children and rejecting their
calls to play. He earned praise from the brothers at the

42

chapter two: Kindred Religions

KINDRED NIGHTS: THE WORK GOES ON • Clouds of Ashe: The Ashe experiments started as
James never stopped his research or practice. He was one of Mortius’ trivial hobbies, after he discovered
what the Duskborn could do with this drug, but have
determined to become what he called “a master of destiny borne surprising fruit. While his initial studies indi-
and life” through studying every avenue of sorcery, philos- cated there may be some resonant force present in
ophy, and alchemy. With an eternity, it seemed easy. Mor- vampire remains, the capacity to transfer memories
tals might discover one or two things in a short lifespan. from victim to Ashfinder opened his mind to new
He was convinced he could achieve more than any living possibilities. Ashe, therefore, is a whole new dimen-
being with immortality stretching out before him. sion of learning, and the current users are simply
test subjects. Mortius is playing the long game with
Among his grand works were his translation of the this drug and eagerly notes its long-term effects in
Book of the Grave-War, a tome said to contain infor- consideration of how to refine them.
mation enabling the breaking of the Blood Bond; the
creation of dozens of minor and major Rituals utilized DOMAIN AND HAVEN:
by the Tremere all over the world in the modern nights; • Marquette University Campus (Contacts 3, Haven
the establishment of research chantries in various cities,
including Shanghai and Milwaukee; and the co-devel- 3, Herd 2): Mortius spends much of his existence
opment of the Ashe drug with the thin-bloods of the moving between domains, but often returns “home”
Cinder Institute, informally known as “the Ashfinders.” to Milwaukee, the city in which he spent much of
Still, he feels his work isn’t done. “The work” is not yet the 20th century. He keeps a body of contacts among
finished. Marquette faculty and a fringe religious group
known as the Cult of Isis, but feels increasingly
James wasn’t in Milwaukee when the city’s Tremere drawn to Embrace students just to drain them, which
Regent — Carna — broke her bonds to the clan and intrigues him as a grand new experiment of the
formed her own house. He returned to the wreckage, Blood. The domain has plentiful occult phenomena
however, and the few vampires who know him well say he to study, so he’s happy remaining there for months
seemed elated. He spends most of his time these nights at a time. Unfortunately, the current Prince of the
wandering, sometimes teaching, most often researching, city is prone to persecuting vampires who move in
but always pursuing the work so important to him. and out of Milwaukee without contributing to its
defenses (see Let the Streets Run Red for more on
James was supposed to be one of the attendees at the domain of Milwaukee).
the great convention in Vienna, when the assault on the THRALLS AND TOOLS:
Prime Chantry saw the clan’s highest levels annihilated or •  The Cult of Isis (Allies 3, Retainers 3): This cult of
sent to torpor. He opted at the last minute not to attend, mortal witches and vampires linked to the Bahari
and hasn’t spoken of the event since. As Clan Tremere operates in many domains across the world, tending
found itself fragmented in multiple splinters, James infor- toward spaces afflicted with severe occult phenom-
mally broke from the core faction and aligned with House ena, such as Cairo, Thessaloniki, Edinburgh, and
Ipsissimus, due in most part to their eagerness to re- Milwaukee. Though their membership is entirely
search, expand mental horizons, and avoid the Camarilla non-male, James lends them his research in exchange
hierarchy, which doesn’t interest him in the slightest. His for their acting as his sometime bodyguards and spies.
defection angered prominent members of House Tremere •  The Ashfinders (Mawla 2): Mortius is the hidden
and House Carna, but he really couldn’t care less, having head behind the Cinder Institute, though he has less
been apolitical his entire existence. interest in its operation than he does in the results of
Ashe usage. The majority of its members are — to his
PLOTS AND SCHEMES: mind — junkies and lab rats. However, the cult also
acts as a group that offers guidance and aid when
• The Work: The doctor is constantly in pursuit of James needs it, so as their sponsor, he looks out for
“the work,” but only Mortius knows what this work them and they look out for him.
entails. He seeks to bend, twist, and burn the Blood KINDRED RELATIONSHIPS:
in vampire bodies, subjecting it to every force, every •  Amber Freeman (Curiosity): As one of the pioneers
element, and every chemical compound to see what of Ashe ingestion, and one of the drug’s biggest
reacts. He wants to understand the Blood, master it,
and eventually, learn all the secrets behind its ma-
nipulation. Mortius doesn’t hold stock in the Caine
myth. He believes all things in this world — vampires
included — are subject to science and physical prin-
ciples, and are therefore tools waiting for the hands
of learned masters.

43

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

promoters, Amber is a curious all. He’s poisoning them to eradi- Humanity: 3
test subject for Mortius. He cate thin-bloods and form a new
sponsors her, gives her advice, case study. Generation: 7th
supplies her with Ashe, and
watches the dominoes fall while • Peas in a Pod: Mortius and Blood Potency: 5
taking notes, as her followers fall another Kindred scientist named
deeper and deeper into addic- Netchurch often exchange notes, Attributes: Strength 2, Dexter-
tion. He has no real affection for sometimes acting as peers, other ity 2, Stamina 4; Charisma 2,
the young vampire. times as rivals. Both are detached Manipulation 1, Composure 3;
• Carna (Resentment): What from compassion. Intelligence 5, Wits 5, Resolve 5
Mortius tells people is that
Carna stole his research and used • The Call: Mortius has been Secondary Attributes: Health
it inappropriately to form her feeling the Beckoning with each 7, Willpower 8
hellish cell of Kindred. What night of rising, and only subdues
actually happened, is while it through transfusions of vitae Skills: Drive 1; Etiquette 1, In-
Mortius translated the Book of directly into his dead heart. sight 1, Leadership 1, Subterfuge
the Grave-War and practiced its 2; Academics (Anthropology,
Blood Bond-breaking Rituals, • Traitor: Mortius knew exactly Archaeology, Mathematics)
he never got them to work. what was going to happen in 5, Awareness 2, Medicine 5,
Believing the book incomplete or Vienna, which is why he didn’t Occult (Alchemy, Blood Sorcery)
inaccurate, he moved on to other make the journey and why he’s 5, Politics 3, Science (Astronomy,
things. He greatly resents that so scared of Karl Schrekt. Biology, Chemistry, Geology,
Milwaukee’s puppet Regent — Physics) 5, Technology 3
Carna — somehow cracked the MASK AND MIEN:
code without telling him, and • James took on the name Disciplines: Auspex 5, Blood
wants to know how she did the Sorcery 5, Dominate 4
deed. “Mortius” in the 19th century
• Karl Schrekt (Fear): James has as a flight of fancy. He has no General Difficulties: 7/5
remained apolitical for most great connection to the Clan
of his existence, aligning with of Death, nor is he particularly Ashfinder
the Camarilla because it suited morbid — though he is studious
him, and falling within the core and stuffy — but the name keeps Blood
of Clan Tremere because they people guessing. It doesn’t serve
schooled him, and sent him as an effective Mask, however, Alchemy
books, students, and blood for due to the strangeness of the
study. His break from Schrekt’s name. It hasn’t occurred to him The thin-bloods who make up
wing of the clan was meant to be yet to change it. the majority of the Ashfinder cult
quiet, but apparently the head of have turned their Alchemy over to
House Tremere is livid Mortius • Mortius is a stooped old man the process of ingesting Ashe and re-
just walked away with hundreds with a beard and grey skin trieving memories and powers from
of years of research, especially marked where he suffered the it post-consumption. Concocting
as the doctor was supposed to pox as a child. He rarely makes Ashe requires Thin-Blood Alchemy
attend Vienna when the attack on eye contact and speaks mostly in of the Fixatio form, and the process
the Chantry took place. Mortius a mutter. He was Embraced in may be modified by certain other
is deathly afraid of what will hap- his 60s, which at the time was a formulae. Each one applied still has
pen if Schrekt catches up to him. venerable age, and it shows in his a distillation cost, and for purpos-
WHISPERS: appearance and manner. es such as distillation time use the
•  Hot Dose: Mortius knows how highest level among the modifying
fucked up the users of Ashe are Sire: Mesita formulae. Any thin-blood can use
going to be and doesn’t care at Ambition: Further “the work” Ashe, as it conveys benefits when
Convictions: Never turn down ingested, injected, or otherwise
the opportunity to experiment exposed to a Rouse Check’s worth of
Touchstones: Grace Brooker — Duskborn vitae in their body.
mortal witch from the Cult of Isis

44

chapter two: Kindred Religions

Level 3 ruined and a Beast Shard (see p. • Activation Cost: One Rouse
XX) emerges in the area.  Check in addition to the cost of
Concoct Ashe When consumed, all Ashe using Ashe
allows a thin-blood to access more
The process of creating the Ashe of the power in vitae and ash than • System: When using Concoct
drug is a form of Blood Alchemy in is usually within their grasp. Their Ashe, this formula may be used
itself, and generally takes place in a Blood Potency counts as 1 for the to imbue remains with the
laboratory or workshop due to the purposes of Blood Surges and Disci- memories of the vampire they
need for an open flame and metal pline Rouse Check re-rolls until the once formed. When consumed,
filings. end of the chapter. The drug is far this altered Ashe provokes a
• Ingredients: A destroyed vam- from lacking in downsides however, Willpower test at a Difficulty of
see Ashe Addiction (see p. XX). 1 + the destroyed vampire’s Blood
pire’s ashes, an open flame reach- Potency. On a win the user
ing 1,500°C, aluminum filings. Chemically-Induced immediately enters a Memoriam
• Dice Pools: Intelligence + Thin- Flashback (see Vampire: The Masquerade p.
Blood Alchemy 311), reliving an important mem-
• System: The vampire’s ashes are Prerequisite: Concoct Ashe ory of the destroyed vampire’s
contained in a vessel heated by By melting down a vampire’s past rather than their own. This
an open flame and then mixed possessions (the more important scene is resolved normally using
with aluminum filings. Each the better) during Ashe creation, an their own stats, but the shifted
success on the distillation roll alchemist infuses the drug with mem- perspective will be valuable. If
produces a single Ashe dose. ories from the destroyed vampire. they are meditating in a place of
On a total failure, the sample is • Ingredients: A melted-down ob- calm at the time they consume
ject belonging to the destroyed the Ashe, the thin-blood adds a
vampire. one-die bonus to all dice pools
during the Memoriam.

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

Level 4 ASHE ADDICTION
Every time a thin-blood takes Ashe, they suffer one
Discipline Channeling Superficial Willpower damage and make a Rouse
Check. If they take any Aggravated Willpower
Prerequisite: Concoct Ashe damage while experiencing the effects of Ashe,
Counterfeiting Disciplines is part and parcel of they must roll to resist a hunger frenzy (Difficulty
Thin-Blood Alchemy’s use, but the ability to channel 2) as they suddenly crave the vitae, experiences,
a Discipline from the ashes of a deceased vampire is a and powers of other vampires. This frenzy is pointed
form of necromantic Alchemy, at least according to Dr. at other Kindred. If the vampire ingests any vitae
Mortius and the Duskborn who practice it. Those who as a result of their frenzy, they recover a point of
practice this Alchemy find themselves able to use any one Aggravated Willpower damage but their Hunger
of the destroyed vampire’s Discipline powers, even if they rating increases by one. Addiction to Ashe can be a
typically wouldn’t have access to powers of this level. paralyzing circle of needing more and more blood
• Ingredients: Crushed leaves from the indigo plant. to survive and Ashe to continue experiencing the
• Activation Cost: The same as the channeled power. buzz of power.
• Dice Pools: The same as the channeled power.
• System: When using Concoct Ashe, this formula man, who took off to consort with demons because of a
may be used to imbue remains with the abilities of conflict rooted in a gendered and sexual inequality. Or,
the vampire they once formed. When consumed, this she was the victimized first wife of the first man, who ran
altered Ashe provokes a Willpower test at a Diffi- to the darkness beyond Eden for safety.
culty of the destroyed vampire’s highest Discipline
rating. On a win, the thin-blood gains the use of a In the medieval period, new versions of her story
single Discipline power that the destroyed vampire leapt into being, with one among others capturing the
possessed, until the end of the chapter. Use the de- imaginations of many. Created by the debates of holy
stroyed vampire’s Discipline rating whenever a chan- men and a satirist, it would prove to be the one that dug
neled power calls for one. The Storyteller may state deepest. Lilith was the first wife, and Eve was the second.
the Disciplines and specific powers the deceased Lilith and Adam quarreled from the day they met, and
vampire held so the alchemist can choose from a list, Lilith grew tired of it. She used a secret name of their
or if the alchemist has a power in mind they can re- Creator to whisk herself away to safety. When mothers
quest it from the Storyteller. The Storyteller has final put amulets on their babies to ward off Lilith, they were
say. On a critical win the thin-blood gains the use of warding off a woman whose rage was eternal, who would
two Discipline powers that the destroyed vampire take all children in the night, and leave them dead. To kill
possessed. the children of Adam and Eve was to strike back at their
shared Creator, to unmake parts of a world that had been
The Bahari, set in motion long, long ago. Despite the powers ascribed
Children of Lilith to her, there was almost something human to her pain
and hate. In other tales Lilith is confronted by angels and
“The Dark Mother suffered in the wastes. When we follow stakes her claim on the lives of newborns. She becomes a
in her blood-stained footsteps, we are the children she lost, born consort of the Angel of Death, and evolves into a figure
anew to make her enemies pay for what they’ve done.” of powerful evil, one connected to a violent, roiling world
—Sophie Maïga, Priestess of the Garden of Storms, La beyond that of the average mortal; one that was terrifying,
Balize but perhaps necessary for existence to have the meaning
that it does. Perhaps, if Lilith sits upon her throne, she will
Who was Lilith? Few ask the question, mortal or not come down into the night, and take more than just
not. Some say she was the haughty first wife of the first newborn babies. In each myth, intermixed, the smallest
seeds of the truth can be found by the determined reader.
There is something almost human to her pain, and hate,
but also to her love, and her grief. She does not simply
access a world beyond the mundane human reality, she is
part of it. For a time, she was the lover of an angel. In all
her grief, she has had only herself to rely on.

Lilith is loyal to herself. She is self-assured, she is
above human morality, and she possesses a power and

46

chapter two: Kindred Religions

sexuality utterly alien to many, even some of the Baha- or the full to bursting belly gorged on food and blood,
ri. She is self-sustaining and resists heaven, Caine, and before the bed is ripped apart. The mother wailing and
humankind, century after century. She is power, and rocking the bodies of her dead children. A woman whose
knowledge. And she is a scapegoat, for humans and garden has been burned to the ground. All of the Bahari
Cainites alike, for their fears and their desires. Her story must know loss in their time. Physical and psychic pain.
has been passed back and forth between the children of The role of a feast in the night. The role of being the feast
Adam and Eve, and her own children. It is not pure, nor in the night. To worship her is to be a fragment of her, to
is it untouched by the hands of men, uninfluenced by feel pain and crave vengeance.
those who do not know her revelations. Those who follow
her know that without question, they will die. They will The many Gardens of the Bahari have their own
know fear and be forced past it, their bodies sent past the feelings about what parts of the scriptures or satires or
breaking point. They will suffer greatly for understanding scholarly treatises of mortals have captured an inkling of
and to protect each other. They are dedicated to bringing the Dark Mother. Each Garden has as many opinions of
about the goals of the Dark Mother, and these are their the Revelations and rituals as a pomegranate has seeds.
reasons for living.
Stories about the Dark Mother are like holding a
What is Lilith, is the most important question. She is fistful of writhing snakes. The observer may see the storm,
the voice heard in the dark apartment, when no one else air, flight, angels, night, light, lovers, loss, desert, birth,
is present. The fragment of a song that obsesses but seems sea, thorns, violation, magic unimaginable — and by that
to come from nowhere. Dreams of blood-filled trees point they will be bitten and die.

Overly Devoted Scholarship

I’m feeling confused, and... upset, and angry, maybe betrayed, not sure yet. These self-
actualization classes have been getting pretty weird, and some of it is good weird, but I have
questions I’m afraid to ask there. When Taylor started telling me about Lilith, the ways I could
live my life without fear or shame, that sounded cool. But the longer we talk, the more I’ve been
digging. Lilith, the sexytimes demoness who kills children and fucks men for their “seed” and queen
of evil shit, she’s not from antiquity. I mean. She, Lilith, the Dark Mother, Queen of Night,
what we know her as is... new. The first time it’s explicitly stated she’s the first wife of Adam, that
she’s got freaky powers and left the Garden and etc. etc. etc. is this misogynist satirist’s book (that
praised scriptural heroes for evils that never happened!) written sometime during the Geonic period.
Maybe. There are even multiple versions that managed to limp to the present day, and I’m not
sold on their accepted state as one large body of work. And then it’s off to the races, with somebody,
everybody and their mother (ha) making new stories about Lilith, casting her as cosmic evil,
people making amulets to protect new mothers and infants from her left, right and center. Men are
supposed to pray before sex with their wives to save themselves from the “liliths.”

Point is, she’s not from scripture, everyone who says she is, is making a point of extreme conjecture,
and in some stories she’s been replaced by a different demon, or a bad angel, but then another version
says it was her. Taylor has been teaching me pieces of the word of Lilith, but it sounds like it was
written by a man. She says there’s nerds like me out there among the other followers, but if they have
seen what I saw in my research, are they still followers of the Dark Mother?

47

CULTS OF THE BLOOD GODS

Men cast her as a symbol of evil. And Taylor says she is evil, in her way, but that it’s okay. And
honestly, like, I’m not sure if I necessarily care if she’s evil or not. But I want to know. I want some
fucking answers. If we’re following something so old and powerful that it transcends our understanding
and presumably hasn’t been seen by her followers, her children since... a long, long time ago, Taylor hasn’t
taught me those sorts of verses yet, not more than a few lines.

If nobody knows where she is, and they buy a version of her word that sounds like it was based
on the words of men who cannot give two shits about a woman, and all the stories are much newer
than antiquity and say she can be bound, or at least sent away, and none of them agree about where
she is and what’s she’s doing... what is her word? Her real word? Her true name and purpose?
Because whoever her enemies are (and I can piece together that a mainstream deity is up there),
do we really know the whole story? Do they believe she can be sent away with the names of angels?
Because if that sort of object or power is in the world, wouldn’t her enemies chase it? Seek to lure her
out? Shouldn’t her followers know either way? Does someone protect her interests, or is everyone too
busy having sex in the back of a bookstore and cutting each other up and... that’s it? I know Taylor
says there’s “greater mysteries” and they’ve got a system, clearly, of when someone is ready, just...

If I’m going to die for an ancient Goddess, I want to know the people next to me in the
metaphorical pew have my back and an equal investment in the truth behind our mother. I know
when Taylor gets off shift, and I also know that you’re not supposed to fear death if you worship
the Dark Mother. I have a gun. I will get answers. And if those answers say try again
somewhere else, I’ll do that.

May the Garden be watered with blood. I will grow her a damn grove of manchineel if I have
to show people I’m serious about this.

Out of the Desert their belief. In this period of human of Lilith, this pursuit of understanding
and Cainite history, the recruitment of her nature and binding her power
From Canaan, Babylon, and new Cainites was rare compared to lat- made its way to Christianity. Where
Israel, the myths of Lilith traveled er periods, and the Lhaka of the time lilins once skated under the notice of
from people to people, carrying with were frequently of lineages that, while Greco-Roman mystery cults and the
them both error and truth about her not old enough to have come from Cainites haunting the halls of Greek
and the Bahari alike. Even then, the the Garden over which Lilith wept and Roman power, the rise of the
cult carried within it a mix of Lha- when it was destroyed, were still old. Christian Church brought a new threat
ka, humans, and mages. When the Those among the Bahari of antiquity to their nights. Where the children of
Babylonians said the night-demons who may have sprung closer to Lilith’s Caine represented both danger and
of the air were women and men, once blood kept their own counsel, and no secret enmity, the Christian empire
human, angry at the living, they were oral or written documentation of their brought with it fervent prosecution
unaware of how much truth was in number has been found. While Jewish of witchcraft, and a weaponized fight
folklore was early to adopt discussion against demons.

48

chapter two: Kindred Religions

LILITH THE BABY-SNATCHER Garden with their fellow worshi-
The personality and actions of Lilith herself are less important than those pers — or be buried in it, depending
of her followers, or those who follow the legends surrounding her. Among on how far they get in their time as
the most deplorable of her purported activities was the stealing of infants a newly minted Ba’ham. But none
from unworthy parents, or as sacrifice to ensure the fertility of others. The should be afraid of watering the
majority of Kindred harbor severe misgivings about replicating this cer- Garden.
emony, and most Bahari cells do not encourage the kidnap of children.
Ethics play a part, of course, but police scrutiny comes into play when A Garden is led by at least one
children go missing. person, frequently two. The number
of Bahari in the Garden’s grasp is lim-
Sadly, this practice is not entirely foreign to the modern Bahari. Some ited only by the goals and resources
followers of the Dark Mother believe they have the ordained right to de- of the group. In cities where initiates
cide who must parent and who must not, and others at the cult’s hard core may draw attention to the Garden,
believe no blood tastes sweeter than that of infants. Whether through a their number is tightly controlled,
combination of bitterness at their cursed state, fanatical belief in Lilith and and replaced only as needed. When
an attempt to emulate their Goddess, or simply as an act to terrify local an initiate is human, with no super-
kine and Kindred alike, fringes of the Bahari have and will continue to natural gifts, their study before their
terrorize children and new parents. ritual of initiation delivers only basic
information about Lilith, focusing
Beliefs disappeared almost overnight prior primarily on lessons of pain, the
to the start of the Second World War, extinction of personal fear, and the
The Bahari believe that Lilith, leaving other Kindred to discover the necessity of blood sacrifice. Would-
the Dark Mother, would have been domain had been used for the im- be initiates drawn from the ranks of
the greatest gardener of Eden, if not prisonment, torture, and diablerie of mages and the psychically gifted have
for Adam and the human God. She countless vampires for over a century. more openly supernatural discussions
had three Gardens; Elona, the Gar- None of the Oslo cell have re-entered during their early studies, while
den of Hope, D’hainu, the Garden society under the same names since Cainites receive formidable and pain-
of Renewal, and Bahara, the Garden that time. ful deprogramming about the mythos
of Suffering. Whether the Gardens of Caine, and indoctrination into the
were each a physical place or a met- The superiority of Lilith to story of Lilith.
aphor is of some debate, but their Caine is a vital part of their belief
names and the events surrounding structure, and the hate of Cainites Outside coven-scale organiza-
them are without question part of is not something open to inter- tions, regions of Bahari will from
Bahari belief and what one could call pretation, let alone something to time to time work in concert on
their liturgy. be approached with passivity or large-scale rituals, or to coordinate
without violence. Cainites, down to the destruction of influential Cainites
In one of the few ways the Bahari the very last one, will either become standing in the way of Bahari goals.
have always been united, they are Lhaka in the Garden, or die. The When traveling to new cities, a
intent on forming new gardens of religious opinion that all supernat- Ba’ham may find some or all of the
paradise (or their interpretation of ural creatures in the world are the local Bahari customs quite alien on
what paradise is) around the globe. children of Lilith is widespread, but their face, with only the essential el-
Historically, the Bahari named the not required. In the end, beneath ements of the Dark Mother’s wisdom
city of Jericho their new Garden of any poetry, sin within the Bahari (blood and creation) recognizable.
Renewal, where between the 9th and comprises a spectrum. The oldest Garden still in existence
14th centuries CE, Kindred could — the Garden of Hope in Budapest
find sanctuary, succor, and time to Organization — is a place of holy pilgrimage, and
pacify their Beasts. The Inquisition echoes of their liturgy have been car-
of the time routed the domain, but Members of the Bahari start ried piecemeal through centuries of
for a time it was one of the Bahari’s somewhere on the outskirts of some- Bahari immigration to other places,
strongholds. Likewise, a powerful one else’s Garden. As they embrace seeded into daughter-Gardens over
Bahari cell declared Oslo their Gar- the lessons of the Dark Mother, they time. Not every Garden is modeled
den of Suffering in the 19th and early progress in acceptance, and educa- on Lilith’s three, but undoubtedly,
20th centuries CE, but that group tion, before they can stand in the the Bahari would love to bring them
back to life.

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