Camarilla (Vampire the Masquerade 5th Edition)

CAMARILLA

However carved, the court Elder, such are those of the Prince like a secret police. Common
structure of our cities is important. to give or withhold the gift of Em- Tremere or Assamite type.
We impose a feudal rule over our bracing another to their subjects ■■ mogul: Detail oriented and
subjects not because we are stuck or sentence a Kindred within their obsessed with facts and figures,
in the past, but because it remains domain to final death. they care only about results.
the superior method of enforcing Common Nosferatu or Ventrue
the stability of our society. The Duties of the Prince: type.
court is the basis of our culture ■■ supreme: Using entertain-
and the reason for our strength. ■■ enforcing the traditions. ments and status games to
If the Masquerade flickers in a distract and entice their sub-
The Prince Camarilla city, the Justicars do jects, this Prince stays in power
not look to those who broke through the force of their own
Sovereign, Prefect, Premier, Governor the Traditions, but to the charisma. Common Toreador
Prince who was supposed to or Malkavian type.
A common Camarilla adage holds enforce them. ■■ warmonger: Focused entirely
that Princes last forever or crash on attacking their enemies and
and burn within a decade. And it ■■ trials. The Prince will either punishing their rivals, they are
is true that once you claim praxis, judge all trials or appoint always on a war footing. Com-
you must be prepared to spend the another to the task. mon Brujah or Assamite type.
■■ demagogue: Using chaos and
“...since love and fear can hardly ■■ granting boons: Hearing pe- flights of fancy to conceal their
exist together, if we must choose titions from other Kindred and true purposes, they control
between them, it is far safer to be allotting domains and hunting their subjects through misdi-
grounds within the city. rection. Common Malkavian
feared than loved.” or Toreador type.
■■ holding court: Meeting with
– NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE and formally accepting visitors Examples of Kindred
in the area, as per the Tradi- Princes:
rest of your time on earth defend- tions of Domain and Hospital-
ing it. Few relinquish power will- ity. joseph peterson: Elder of the
ingly, and those who do rarely last Seventh Generation, Clan Ventrue,
to tell the tale of their rule. Strains of Kindred embraced in 1972. Prince Emeri-
Princes tus. Joseph is the childe of Prince
The title of Prince dates back Lodin of Chicago, and is a former
further than Rome. Though the Every Prince rules in their own media magnate who still exerts in-
role itself has changed in form and way, all that unites most of them fluence over local papers, TV sta-
function, several principles remain is a love for playing politics and a tions, and even websites through
constant: The Prince represents talent for exerting control. his family connects. He served as
their city, for good and evil. They ■■ prophet: This Prince feigns Prince of Chicago for two months
are in charge of law, governance, in 2006, stepping up to the role
and enforcing the Traditions. that they speak for a far greater because nobody else dared to do so
As those Traditions describe the power than themselves. Com- in a time of tumult. Disappeared
rights and responsibilities of the mon Ventrue or Tremere type. from the city shortly after being
■■ despot: Ruling with an iron deposed in a kind of palace coup,
fist , they brook no dissent
or allow transgressions to go
unpunished. Their Sheriff and
Deputies are organized almost

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with his hated rival Kevin “The Ventrue Prophet does to an ancient native breed of
Jackson taking his place. Now what needs to be done immedi- much power. Surprisingly, the
resides north of the border, revelation shocked few Kin-
ately, while the Toreador Su-
rarely leaving his mansion. preme only strikes when there is dred. More were alarmed by
He refuses to say what caused the sudden gaps where their
his flight from power or nothing else left to do.” leaders had once stood. The
speak about his enemies, but prince was gone, so Lucero,

it is widely assumed that he – ANNE BOWESLEY, one of the eldest remaining
must be plotting to return to FORMER PRINCE OF LONDON Kindred, took the role of
power. governor with the support of

the remaining members of all

loise “rouge roi” cousineau. sects. They saw him as an inde-

Elder of the Ninth Generation. pendent who could stabilize the

Prince of Marseilles since the city and prepare it for the inevita-

1940s. Best known for being a ble Inquisition onslaught. For now,

cold-blooded tyrant who prefers to they wait for the true test of his

drink the blood of other vampires resolve and rule.

and who will mercilessly destroy

anyone who defies her. Was called

away by the Beckoning in 2017, The Seneschal
and now roams around somewhere

outside Riyadh, where she has, Chamberlain, Advisor, Lieutenant

as it was last heard, joined forces

with a traditionalist Islamic sheik-

dom in pursuit of unknown goals. A Seneschal is the right hand

Loise still rules her territory from the Prince, empowered to act in

a distance, at least officially. In their stead. It is not an uncompli-

reality, correspondence from her is cated position to occupy, perhaps

becoming increasingly scarce, and because everyone sees a voluntary

whispers have begun spreading Seneschal as a potential Iago.

that perhaps it is time for a new Nevertheless, Seneschal is a tradi-

regent of Marseilles. tional court role, and one that is

very influential. It is a position in

ricardo lucero: In these times of which tacticians, administrators,

change, it is no wonder new pow- and advisors thrive, and one worth

ers — or old powers, if you prefer pursuing if you have a talent for

— rise to the fore. The Kalku noticing things otherwise over-

Governor of Buenos Aires known looked.

as Ricardo Lucero had posed as Often, the Seneschal will take

an elder member of Clan Tremere the role of Domain Steward when

for centuries when prominent Kin- a Prince falls to torpor or in other

dred of his city vanished almost ways becomes unable to perform

overnight. He decided then was their duties. However, the crows

the time to reveal his true identity feast happily on all dead flesh, and

as one of the Drowned, belonging few Princes will choose a Seneschal

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CAMARILLA

who look too hungrily in their direction. For this
reason most Seneschals have tasted their ruler’s Blood
at least once.

To be the power behind the throne is ever Examples of Kindred Seneschals:
preferential to sitting upon it. All intelligent
Seneschals know this. Overreaching is a fine roger de camden – formerly of London – served
as Prince Mithras’ Seneschal and Pater of his cult for
way to attract accidents. No, he who en- for near a millennium, including after his own faked
joys existence invests his resources better by assassination. Some claim de Camden was London, as
passing on information and staying ready to much any Kindred can represent a city, as he served
duck out of the way at any sign of trouble. Lady Anne as diligently as he did her predecessor, and
still persists to this day while Kindred above him have
– ALAN SOVEREIGN, VENTRUE SENESCHAL OF CHICAGO fallen. Indeed, when Lady Anne was destroyed along
with the last of Mithras, de Camden faithfully led his
cult to Edinburgh. There he continues the worship of
Mithras as Pater and Steward of Edinburgh, and each
Kindred who followed him from London hold a vial of
Mithras’ rich vitae as a treasured possession.

Leges Coterium, per Mithram, 1638 A.D. (Neillson Ver- alan “the accountant” sovereign: A waspish,
nacular Translation) nasal Ventrue of the 9th Generation, Alan Sovereign
1. Only a Prince, with the blessing of the Primogen, can is everything a modern domain could want from its
Seneschal. As Majordomo of Chicago, Sovereign has
form a Coterie. served successive Princes as a capable administrator,
2. Members must swear a Coterie Oath to one another, accountant, and power broker. Commonly seen as the
man behind the throne, Sovereign has so far with-
and are strictly forbidden to Blood Bond with one stood all attempts to discredit him, and for all intents
another. and purposes, he appears to be a thoroughly dull and
3. The Coterie must have a Shadow, to advise them unambitious Kindred. In reality, Sovereign commands
in loyalty and who accepts responsibility for their more influence over the investment and commercial
conduct. banks in Chicago than any other Kindred, and holds
4. Each member of the Coterie is responsible for the the power to close a credit card or empty an account
actions of every other member: “You are judged with one phone call. He is the secret landlord behind
together.” hundreds of properties, some of which are havens.
5. The members of the Coterie must make Haven to-
gether, apart from their sires. eskja “the red slipper” mínervudóttir: Born
6. The Coterie must, when called upon, defend and pro- a peasant girl from a fishing family in the fjords of
tect the Camarilla from all provocations. Iceland, Eskja was captured by Barbary Pirates in 1627
7. To become full Ancillae the Coterie members must during the Tyrkjaránið, and then sold in Istanbul to
together pass the Seven Labours. become the property of a Toreador Prince who so
loved her unique beauty that he made her mistress of
his palace. Her time with him proved to be painful
but very fruitful, because eventually in a fit of passion
he drained her of all her blood, and fearing she would

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die, gave her back some of his blood so that she could a Prince makes any major decision in regards to

live. However, once she had power of her own, she left the welfare of the domain, they are obliged to meet

him to travel the world, spending several centuries in with the Primogen. They can ignore the advice they

torpor in Iceland. Only within the last decade did she get, but it would often be unwise. Princes are easily

return to Istanbul, now again Constantinople, to serve replaced.

another of her sire’s childer as Seneschal, hoping to

revive the Dream. Pedigree of Primogen

The notorious Harpy Salamari once said in jest that

The Primogen Council “there are six pedigree of Primogen councils,” and she
defined them as the following:

the Senate, the Presidium, the Council of Elders ■■ the tribunal: Seeing themselves as both judge

and jury, they are untiredly trying to find the

The Primogen council represents the interests of the guilty and punish them.

clans and advices the Prince on matters of law and ■■ the circle: These Primogen are obsessed with

rule. Traditionally, it consists of representatives from equality and keeping everything balanced.

each of the most prominent clans in the domain — ■■ the directors: They are all business and have no

naturally favoring those of the Camarilla, though time for frivolity, they consider time spent at court

outsiders are allowed to report any issues to a Primo- to be time wasted.

gen not of their own clan. Primogen are often elders, ■■ the patricians: These Primogen are convinced

but despite the term (Primogen from Latin means “the they are the most important Kindred in the city

first born”), there are no rules in place that this is how and have grandiose opinion of their status and

it must be. In fact, during the last few decades, more power. Woe to those who deny them respect.

and more councils have seen drastic changes to their ■■ the union: Believing themselves to be representa-

structure. tives of all those Kindred who do not have a voice

The Beckoning has weakened many domains by in court, they to stand up and speak for the “com-

drawing away the eldest of our kind. Some Primogen mon ancilla.”

councils now operate on a rotational basis. Others ■■ the covert committee: These Primogen do not

have limited their size to only three or five members, attend court and rarely if ever meet in person.

forcing an odd number so votes pass with greater ease. They are the elders of the city who are still in-

Some smaller domains have even implemented the terested in politics but mostly interact with the

rule that council members must be under a century of Prince and each other by letter and proxies.

age, believing that clan representa-

tives should be in more touch with Examples of Kindred
contemporary culture and neonate

priorities. “The Prince can fall on Primogen:
Duties and Domains of the

Primogen Council: any night. It’s the stephen thunderhorse: Where
Primogen who will go on.” some domains have Princes or are
■■ trial by jury: Though the
Prince has the sole discretion led by Primogen councils, Provi-

of punishment, they will often – CAPONE, VENTRUE dence fields a quorum of Senators
have the Primogen council PRIMOGEN OF CHICAGO including Stephen Thunderhorse.

convene to render the verdict He represents the new money cor-

of innocent or guilty. porate powerhouses of modern Blue

■■ advise and consent: Before Bloods, and to date, he has served

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C O R E B O O K

his clan well. Despite being a 13th Generation neonate, Clan Whip
his sway over Kindred and kine makes him the kind of
Ventrue the clan Directorate wants at their vanguard. Sometimes a Primogen will choose to appoint a second in
Embraced in his mid-thirties under false pretenses (his command. The Clan Whip is tasked with collecting the
sire thought he was a money launderer but in fact he opinions of the various members of the clan or faction,
was a legitimately competent stockbroker), Thunder- and serves as enforcer and advisor to the Primogen.
horse is already known for his energy and bombastic
manner in the Kindred Rhode Island state senate. Example of Kindred Clan Whip:
Many suspect he will go far.
jashan “sweetmeats” stanfield: Ancilla thin-
mylene “the puck” hamelin: It is no surprise the blood and African American native of Baltimore. She
Ventrue hold so many positions of power in these serves as Clan Whip for what is left of the Brujah in
nights, but not all of them are traditional leaders. This the Camarilla. When she isn’t backing up her Primo-
10th Generation ancilla is Primogen of Toronto, but gen, she controls the illegal gambling industry in her
lacks most of the airs and graces of her clanmates. She city and has been given right by the Prince to kill any
is a hard-nosed, plain-speaking former solicitor of mortal or imprison any Kindred she catches run-
mixed Vietnamese-Canadian heritage. She still frater- ning a gambling operation without her permission.
nizes brazenly with the kine by dating mortal women Her greatest weakness is a personal taste for bets and
(and often does so without feeding), happily swears at wagers — her name appears on prestation records all
her fellow council members when she disagrees with over the East Coast, as she rarely turns down a bet if
them, and gives out beatings to her own clan members she thinks she can win it.
when they fall out of line. Some people think she’s
called “the Puck” because of her fey appearance. They The Sheriff
soon learn it’s actually because she has all the sub-
tlety and nuance of an ice hockey puck. Despite this, Praetorian, Scourge, Inspector, Executioner
Hamelin is popular in her domain. She always drives
forward her clan’s interests and brooks no dissent The Sheriff ensures that the Traditions and the decrees
from Anarchs. of the Prince are obeyed, hunts down violators, and
delivers just punishment. In the case of minor viola-
The unbound ancilla known as ivan kutkha is one of the tions or known enemies of the Camarilla, the Sheriff
most recent additions to the Primogen council of New is usually authorized to act as both judge and jailer/ex-
York. The council is relatively new and larger than in a ecutioner, but when it comes to greater offenses, they
lot of other cities, as the Kindred community is almost as will deliver the accused to the court to be judged.
diverse as that of the kine. Besides representatives from
the core clans of the Camarilla, the council also includes Sheriffs must be superlative hunters and investiga-
members of the independent clans, a loyal Brujah, as well tors. There are many ways of doing the job, but the
13th Generation neonate representing anonymous thin- best Sheriffs are calculating, sharp, and merciless. Af-
blood citizens of the domain. And Ivan, of course. When ter the resurgence of the Anarch Revolt and with the
he first stepped up, offering himself as Primogen, he added importance of maintaining the Masquerade, our
was regarded with suspicion by most of the council, but Sheriffs must be always watching for signs of insur-
his ties to the Russian community in Little Odessa have gency, unafraid to strike when they find them.
made him an indispensable addition. Being friendly with
the mob makes many Masquerade breeches a lot easier In large domains, the Sheriff and Seneschal may
to cover up. To most of the New Yorkers, kissing up to a share the role of Chief of Intelligence, dividing lore
shady Caitiff is certainly worth it. and rumors of potential traitors between them. A do-
main in which the two work together in unity is quick

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You think I take pleasure from hunting down lawbreakers and
miscreants? You think I enjoy cutting their heads off in the tradi-
tional manner, putting their skulls on spikes outside Elysium for
everyone to see what happens to deviants? Well, you’d be right.
They should’ve thought about that before they broke our laws.

– SISTER JANE, SHERIFF OF COPENHAGEN

to strike down on anyone spreading lies about our working the city streets and fled. An Anarch pack she
order or attempting to ignite revolt of any kind. had been investigating pursued her to Stockholm only
to fall afoul of a Camarilla watchdog coterie that was
Duties of the Sheriff: keeping tabs on them. She was protected for a time,
and then Embraced in 1985 by the leader of that cote-
■■ Protecting the city against itself. rie, who later became Sheriff (or “Brandvakt”) of that
■■ Locating and punishing lawbreakers. city. Josefine was his loyal childe until he perished in a
fire started by Anarchs who disliked his methods, and
Examples of Kindred Sheriffs: she only barely escaped with her unlife. She has since
taken over his position as Sheriff. Shrewd, sternly at-
josefine adelbrant: Former Gothenburg cop who tractive, and a fierce combatant, she is highly intoler-
found out a little too much about the Cainites while ant of liars, criminals, and fast-talking Anarchs.

105

CAMARILLA

nick kilpatrick: Neonate of the 12th Generation. to reach our kin despite the dangers. At Elysia, there
He worked as a bail bondsman in the family business will often be a Herald telling tales of Kindred activity,
before being Embraced in 1994 by his brother Arthur celebrating our victories and sharing news of enemies
(now missing). Kilpatrick serves as Sheriff of Cincin- and allies in far-away-territories.
nati, guarding the city against all manner of chaos
and foul play. He loves his job and it known to be In some domains there is no Herald as such, but
eager to punish any form of transgression, not always inevitably certain individuals, who happen to be
waiting for the Prince to pass judgment before doing sufficiently inspiring or charismatic, will gain the con-
so. An adept criminal himself, despite his “day job” fidence and attention of the many — and the control
as Sheriff of the court, he still does occasionally use over status and truth that follows with that. By those
his safe-cracking skills to pop open a vault. Prone to who appreciate them, they may be given the title of
bouts of depression, he can sometimes be suicidal and the News. Others will, echoing Virgil, whisper about
deeply ashamed of his addiction to feeding off of crack the insatiable Harpies.
addicts and other drug users in order to get his fix.
His large family is his main weakness. He tries to hide An important task in any domain is maintaining
them as best he can, but Kilpatrick Bail Bond is a well the records of prestation, the system of favors traded,
known company, and on one occasion his grandmoth- offered, won, and used. The Herald responsible for this
er was kidnapped by an Anarch gang. While he didn’t is known as the Chancellor.
recover his nana alive, the gang completely disap-
peared without a trace. Prestation

The Herald The system of prestation replaces feelings of isola-
tion and hunger with something to strive for, with
Whisperer, Harpy, the News, Ambassador, Voice of the favors and rewards that can be won. The beauty of the
Prince system is in its simplicity. Whenever a Kindred public-
ly asks another for assistance, the Chancellor diligently
A Herald acts as the voice of the Prince, proclaiming records it. In this way favors become loans to be paid
decrees to Kindred subjects and carrying messages to off, investments in the future. Paying back is a matter
and from other rulers. In this time, where we must of honor, and those who refuse find themselves hunted
fear the use of technology, many Heralds are still and despised.
well-connected outside of their domains, endlessly
finding new ways to communicate, and giving us a way Duties of the Herald(s):

“My favorite part of my duties is declaring the ■■ Announcing the decrees of the Prince.
Blood Hunt. Seeing the greedy fire of justice ■■ Keeping the records of prestation.
light in the eyes of Kindred starved for enter-
tainment and hanging on to my every word. Examples of Kindred Heralds:

Being a Herald is a magnificent responsibility.” krystyna “the peacock” kowalski is the celebrat-
ed and much-beloved Herald of Warsaw. Since her
– KRYSTYNA “THE PEACOCK,” embrace in 1910, she has revolutionised the city for the
TOREADOR HERALD OF WARSAW Kindred, leading the way in cultivating the increas-
ingly pulsating nightlife and developing a system of in-
formation trading that benefits the domain. From her
haven in the Opera Club, she acts as the hub of news
and rumors, and anyone who wants influence over
what new tales will enthuse the city’s Kindred and
send them into dizzying fits of intrigue come to her.

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Kowalski’s position could easily get her in trouble, but The Principal has a varying degree of power, from
she majored in political science and she knows how officiant of courtly rituals that no-one really puts
to play the game. Her schemes are just serious enough much stock in to being able to override the Prince
to keep nightlife interesting without ever threatening on matters of faith and forgiveness. Some Principals
the domain itself. The Kindred of Warsaw love it and are even consulted in matters of interpretation of the
adore their Herald, who always dresses decadently in Traditions. Usually the Principal is appointed by the
vibrant colors and fabrics, reflecting her light-hearted Prince, but they may also be a popular preacher lifted
attitude toward the world. to official power by their congregation. The faith of a
powerful Principal often becomes the official religion
arkady “the census” vogel: A 12th Generation of a domain.
Gangrel from the domain of Belgrade, Vogel has
existed in the background of the city’s Kindred affairs Since the twisted priesthood of the Sabbat have
for centuries, rarely interacting with other vampires. left most of their cities, faith, religious titles, and wor-
His preference, as a former scribe in service to Bel- ship have become more accepted in the Camarilla, but
grade Fortress, is to stay out of everyone’s way, taking even now, few dare use the tainted Catholic nomencla-
copious notes on everything he sees and every target ture of Bishop, Cardinal, Priscus, and Templar. Even
he wishes to hunt. He is, in his own way, an accom- the Church of Caine prefer to use titles from Islam, or
plished biographer. Only when the Anarch Movement Orthodox and Protestant denominations like Imam,
resurged in recent years and his clan departed the Alim, Pastor, Archimandrite, Preacher, Hierodecon,
Camarilla did Vogel stand up and say “no.” He despises or Protopriest. When the Principal represents the cult
the chaos and danger of the Anarchs, craving Cama- of a methuselah or another uniquely Kindred faith, the
rilla stability. With that in mind, he offered the Prince titles of them and their underlings are of course drawn
his services as city Herald, knowing the workings of from the traditions of that specific blood cult.
local and distant Kindred. As a result, he is one of the
oldest Heralds in Europe. The small, wiry Gangrel Examples of Kindred Principals:
despises the sobriquet of “harpy,” and is rumoured
to carry a grudge against anyone who dares use it to doyle “assisi” fincher is a devout Catholic born to
describe him. Irish immigrants, and at an early age became a butcher
in the infamous slaughterhouses of early 20th century
Principal of Faith Chicago. He was extremely proficient at his job, but
highly unsocial with his human peers and was only
In times of strife, Kindred and kine alike turn to faith comfortable in the slaughtering of animals, which
for comfort and guidance. The Principal of Faith is he was able to calm and dispatch without pain with
an ancient position that has recently come back in supplications to St. Francis. His efficiency inspired
vogue in certain domains. The title covers a bewilder- Inyanga, the Gangrel primogen of Chicago, to hire him
ing array of courtly advisors on matters of the soul,
from the Christian preacher reminding the Kindred “Tonight, we will teach you how to commune
of the domain of their humanity or learned Haqimite with your soul, your Blood, your Beast, and
advising the Prince on matters of cultural diplomacy to understand what you can become if you
to the methuselah-cultist trying to teach respect for decide to try.”
the ancestors. Some are intolerant fanatics who seek to
root out heresy, others represent a broad congregation – DANIEL ANDERSON, CONSUMPTIONIST OF
of believers, seeking deeper meaning from within the THE 10TH (PREVIOUSLY 11TH) GENERATION
traditionally secular government of the night.

107

CAMARILLA

as her “tracker and butcher,” testing him on various members. They are typically a much older Kindred

hunting expeditions and treks. She was so pleased with unique wisdom or talents, worthy of guiding the

with his performance that she embraced him. Like his young, or alternatively someone who has angered the

sire, Doyle has always preferred to feed from animals, Prince but cannot be openly punished, instead receiv-

claiming spiritual connection with them in their ing a thankless task. A wise Shadow nurtures their

moment of death, which he experiences as a moment coterie into a loyal and useful team of allies — but

of communion with his patron saint, which is one of whether Prince or Shadow scores the first hit is unim-

the reasons he serves as the Principal of Faith to the portant, as long as the Camarilla wins.

current Prince of Milwaukee. Fincher currently owns

a large stockyard on the South Side and, using several Examples of Kindred Shadows:
ambulances for transport, sells a huge selection of ani-

mal blood to other Kindred. During various conflicts lea "golconda girl" suarez is an 11th Generation

within Milwaukee, he has become known for provid- Kindred, Embraced in 1864. It is said she once had a

ing Kindred of all types sanctuary in the sub-basement loving husband and four children, all of whom are

of his factory, including Anarchs and other outsiders. now dead for undisclosed reasons. Lea never aban-

doned her Catholic faith, though she has modified it a

cillian kyber is one hell of a charismatic and well- bit, and she is prone to preach to other Kindred when

spoken neonate, but what they least desire it. It is well

would you expect from a known that she has turned her

Toreador? The 12th Generation “Put down your lanterns. parish priest into a ghoul and
Kindred has no great impact on rules over the congregation like a

the world stage, but is some- It’s time your eyes got used wrathful angel, using the parish-
thing of a celebrity in his own to the dark.” ioners as her ears and eyes in the
select circles. As his most recent city. She now serves as Shadow

invention, he has become the – MA RT H A , M OT H E R O F T H E LO ST, to a coterie known as the Aveng-
self-proclaimed Noddist of SHADOW TO MANY ing Angels. They operate out of
Belfast. How he came into own- the vicarage and are often seen

ership of a copy of the Book of dressed as priests and nuns.

Nod and fragments of the Jyhad One of Suarez’ core beliefs

Diary are his best-kept secrets, but he is uncannily is that living 100 years without succumbing to frenzy

convincing when he, with a smile and a wink, declares is the key step on the path to Golconda. In only a few

that he can work out exactly where in the world months she will reach that full century without her

each Antediluvian is buried and where Caine cur- Beast even once being brought to the fore, and she is

rently wanders. He even says he’s met the Dark Father going mad with anticipation, expecting immediate

personally. While most experienced Kindred dismiss results from her long toil when the day comes.

Kyber as a bombastic liar, he has the younger neonates

of his domain lapping up every word. yuri “koschey” kostyushev claims to be a distant

cousin of the Romanovs of Russia. He was Em-

braced in 1916 by a Nosferatu he met while attend-

The Shadow ing one of Grigori Rasputin’s lavish and carnal
feasts. He is haughty, arrogant, authoritarian, and

The Shadow is formal advisor to a coterie, assigned by a firm believer in striking before you are struck.

the Prince to shepherd them through the minefield of These years he is Shadow to a motorcycle gang

Kindred society. The Shadow does not lead the coterie, coterie named the Cossacks. He personally recruits

and has no special ability to punish or discipline its its members from among young Kindred with some

108

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sort of blood tie to actual Russian Cossacks. The city block around it, Elysium. A true impresario and

coterie sometimes work with their allied human ringmaster of chaos, Houle is and will always be an

motorcycle gang, the Night Wolves, to carry out entertainer. His stage name is “The Scandalous Camp-

missions for Yuri. Vamp Glitter-Queen” and he is famed for his ostenta-

tious, theatrical and very funny nightly shows in which

he deliberately doesn’t follow traditional ideas about

The Keeper of Elysium what is considered in good taste. Despite his eternally
good mood and flirty manner, he has many enemies,

All weary nightwalkers sooner or later find them- for he is ruthless in enforcing the peace of the Elysium,

selves drawn to Elysium. We carry such burdens, which is perhaps why he has not left his establishment

and Elysium offers rest and momentary forgetful- in nearly 20 years.

ness. Pure joys on a darkened path. A place for

contemplation and to socialize amongst ourselves. delia dawes is known as “the Pin” because with-

This is what the Keeper guards. out her the domain would explode. The fledgling,

Appointed by the Prince, and often closely psychologist, and avid clubber was born in the

allied with the Heralds, the Keeper of Elysium is 1980s and Embraced in the British city of Bath one

tasked with hosting ceremonies and social gather- year ago. By no means should the fate of a domain

ings and maintaining a sanctu- be the responsibility of one so

ary where no strife can enter. “It is a great honor host for young. Yet, Dawes quickly real-
Some Elysia we share with the ized that she’d been Embraced
my Prince and his court. I
kine, and here the Masquerade am inspired every night to into a city about to fall to
must be upheld. Others are please my fellow courtiers civil war. On her first night at
highly-secured Kindred-only and to mediate conflict and Elysium, she discovered that
locations where we are free to debate. There is no higher the Tremere were planning a
drop our masks and wear the coup on the Prince, her sire
faces we want. Jackdaw. She also realized the
Ventrue and Toreador would
In any Camarilla Elysium,

the Keeper will welcome praise than to know I am send their ghouls to burn them
inside only those who are trusted to perform this role.” from their havens if they car-
already allowed in the city, ried it through. She acted on

by command of the Prince. – GYÖRGY KOVÁCS, TREMERE impulse when alone with her
Anarch clan members are (TRADITIONALIST) PEACEKEEPER sire and discreetly slew him
only welcome in our Elysias herself. The coup neutralized
OF BUDAPESTY

on rare occasions or if they before it began, she immedi-

have renounced their sect and ately began her campaign of

sworn allegiance to the Camarilla. As thin-bloods distraction. Believing that what the kindred craved

are offered no protection under our laws, they are was entertainment, she became fixated on provid-

as safe inside Elysium as the kine. ing it for them, and she organizes masquerade balls,

raves, historic tours of the city, and anything else

Examples of Kindred Keepers: for them, they might like. She believes that if she
fails, Bath will collapse. Though a beautiful young

michel “camp-vamp” houle has been the Keeper of woman, Dawes often looks stressed with unkempt

Elysium since 1986, as well as host and something of hair, yesternight’s clothes still on, and a hungry look

a dandy at the Revival Burlesque and Queens Club in in her eyes. She doesn’t like to feed while others in

Toronto, which is considered, along with the entire the domain are still hungry.

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Celebrated The parties hosted at end of the business. We do as we please as
Elysia From line are dark, hedonistic, dif- long as the party only lasts for a
Around the ficult to get into, and even more night at a time.
difficult to leave. Something about
World: them make you lose all sense of the art hole is an avant-garde
time. It’s delicious. Last rumored gallery in Queens, New York, and I
to have taken over an abandoned mention it because you will never
waterfront building just outside find yourself feeling more lost
of Helsinki, End of the Line goes in the visuals than at this crassly
wherever the crowd is hungry to named Elysium. It’s actually run
lose itself in the feeling of the beat. by an elder of Clan Brujah, so I’m
Word of mouth is spread from told, though I’ve never met the
KitKatClub in Berlin to Bassiani elusive Ms. Weise. Perhaps the
in Tbilisi, ensuring that even if Beckoning summoned her. Either
mortals have no idea what happens way, her gallery remains open, dis-
here, they want to be a part of it. playing some of the most vivid and
Flowing with the music is a lot
like having a pulse, and Kindred
conduct is hidden by studious
ignorance — the code of clubs all
over the world: mind your own

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daring works of this age. Mostly by Keeper’s own haven, that of anoth- nights, it’s restful to gather your
such as you and I, although right er Kindred, or in a mortal’s house thoughts here, but blood is scarce
now I believe they are showing a after the mortal has been suitably unless sourced from vagrants
series by Fábio Magalhães. A quiet brainwashed, Blood Bound, or brought in from the cold.
alternative for the more contem- rendered unconscious so a home
plative Kindred, you could call it. invasion can happen. Keepers who congresso nacional is per-
host these events rarely leave wit- fectly suited to Camarilla use.
Just as legend suggests, the laby- nesses to tell the tale, and always This massive structure in Brazil
rinth is within the isle of Crete. change the location before the is designed mainly for political
Long held by the native Toreador next event. The only exception is negotiation, and its surveillance is
and Nosferatu, it’s said it was one Ponte City, where the Kindred in notably under Toreador control.
of the first Elysia ever constructed the tower have slowly been drain- I’ve lost count of the number of
specifically for our purposes. I ing all kine residents dry. Kindred meetings that have taken
cannot attest to it ever holding place right under the noses of the
the Minotaur, but its impossibly the cathedral of trier in Ger- Brazilian government, but the
intricate design does guarantee many is one of the oldest church wonderful thing is, there could be
confidentiality. The Labyrinth is a buildings standing in Europe, and 20 going on at once and we would
place where shadows pervade, and I’m told the infamous Ventrue Ilsa never know, as the building is big
secrets can be exchanged or stored Reinegger built a haven beneath and remote. The Ventrue especial-
away. It’s a favored meeting place it. History aside, the genuine sense ly appreciate this type of Elysium,
for those who enjoy the dark, but of respect and comradeship among as hosting in such a location
a word of warning: it’s easy to lose those who attend, the peaceful guarantees debate will occur, and
yourself in the many rooms full sermons, and the choir song sparks solutions may be reached without
of curiosities and attractions at- something in even my wizened violence ■
tentively selected to captivate the heart. All arranged by the Keepers
visitor. The old Keeper will attend but found no less holy by the un-
to your every spoken and unspo- knowing congregation. On empty
ken wish while you are inside, but
they are notoriously uncaring once
you find yourself outside on their
doorstep, hours later than you
planned, and the sun is about to
rise over the horizon.

ponte city is a tower block in
Johannesburg and the inspira-
tion behind The Traveling House
Party, which happens whenever
and wherever a Keeper of Elysium
seizes residential property and de-
clares it sacred ground. This kind
of party is increasingly popular in
this era where we often prefer to
stay indoors rather than risk open
spaces. It may take place in the

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CAMARILLA

The Elysium is your place to shine. Your battlefield, the stage for your greatest joys and most mordant sorrows. You
will be trashed and humiliated, driven out in tears. You will engage in stratagems so subtle your enemies will never
realize you were behind their misfortunes.

For me, Elysium has always been the heart of the Camarilla. My most natural environment.
There's an aspect to Elysium I've always found highly amusing. In most cities, Elysia are free from violence. We
are not allowed to physically assault each other, or sometimes even use the powers of our Blood. A wise restriction,
to be sure. But does it make Elysium into a peaceful place, a venue for diplomacy and reaching common ground? I
think not. The restrictions on obvious harm only mean that we can put into play much more grievous plots.
I trust you are starting to understand why I love it so!
Whatever you plan, it cannot be obvious. If you wish to harm someone, do not go directly against them. Instead,
target their assets, friends, loved ones, mortal relatives. Then, offer to make peace with them and help them against
this mysterious assailant. Frame another enemy for the deed, or better yet, one of your allies, just to make the plot
harder to penetrate. If you execute a move like this properly, you'll find yourself holding the hand of your enemy as
he cries about the family he has lost.
Sometimes I leave it at that.
Conventional wisdom of Elysium says that you attack the powerful for profit and the weak for fun. Many do this,
and seem to enjoy themselves, so I won't say it's not something you should do. Personally, I have always found it
unsporting to destroy the vulnerable. It is too easy, and I like a challenge. There's a real thrill in humiliating someone
much more powerful than you are and escaping any consequences.
The mightiest of the Kindred style themselves ancient and wise, but most are still perfectly susceptible to com-
mon flattery. They have egos like the rest of us, and if they think themselves immune to manipulation, they are even
easier prey. Still, consider sometimes taking the risk of being contrary. For most elders, having anyone speak against
them is a rare occurrence. They surround themselves with sycophants who hang at their every word, so they may
find a young rebel exciting. Of course, this can also get you killed.
To really convince people of your sincerity, you must act with your heart before you betray them. Let's imagine
that a rival has destroyed your chances of fulfilling your dream of becoming the Keeper of the Elysium. Can you go
up to them, flirt, apologize for your presumptuousness, and confess you have always admired them? Can you look
them deep in the eyes, tell them you love them, and mean it?
A word of warning about these kinds of emotionally charged revenge plots: If you want to be believable, you
have to allow yourself to feel. If you do so, you may find your original objectives changing. This has happened to me
countless times. I remember once when a young neonate, a slip of a girl, seduced a lover I was cultivating at the time.
I was furious. No child is going to get the better of me! I went to her, spoke very sweetly, and before I realized what
was happening, I was having an affair with her. I stopped caring about my original plan for revenge because I was
enjoying myself too much.
Why do so many Kindred seem superficial, obsessed with appearances to an embarrassing degree? The answer
is simple: For protection. If your peers think you mainly care about sporting a fresh new style every season at the
Elysium, they won't find out about your mortal lover, your secret childe, or your commitment to the Catholic faith.
Every time the people at Elysium find out you care about something, you have a new weakness. They will know
where to strike.
The trick is to show only what you want them to see.

112

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The City

While the Blood broadens your prison and temple. You are kept From the local politics — who
possibilities, adding abilities and within its borders by our rulers, openly and secretly rule among the
connections you’d never have and forced to stay by those who living as well as among the dead;
imagined to be within your reach would destroy you if you left. In to the ways in and out and who
while mortal, it also does limit other words: the city of your second guards them. If what stand between
you. Once you have it, once you’ve birth will swallow you up before you and escape is a moistened path
appeared on the radars of the you can take your first steps as a through Nosferatu territory, you
secret dead, there’s no escape but new being. On these pages I have better keep on good terms with the
the final one. With great power gathered, you will read accounts by sewer rats. Learn what systems are
comes also a great deal of interest Kindred who have traveled all over bugged by the SI or other mortals
in what you get up to, and if you the world. But these are the privi- (being chased down for man-
think only the Second Inquisition leged, who have seen centuries pass. slaughter by the cops can be just
is watching you, you’re mistaken. Most of us never get to leave. as destructive as being watched by
agents of the world conglomerate
The Camarilla has feudalized Your city is your world, so you command). Make sure to earn a few
the night-side of the world, as should learn its ways and limits.
manifested in each of their cities
and those of their allies. With crea-
tion into their ranks — our ranks
— you are awarded a position and
certain responsibilities. These gifts
are not to be simply refused. And
with them your city becomes both

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CAMARILLA

well-placed favors from influen- rather have the Anarchs peaceable Naturally, not all Kindred want
tial members of your city. And but at a distance than warring for this honored, Justicar-assigned, role
familiarize yourself with your local control. In many city domains of envoy. The embassies may be for
domains, who owns them and what that recently held sizeable Anarch the greater good, but they do make
rules they enforce on their grounds. populations, our rulers designate fine excuses to send troublesome
parts of the city for Anarch use competition into hostile domains.
You will be granted a domain alone. We are forbidden from going
for yourself or at least the right there, but the free zones tend to be The Wilderness
to make haven and hunt within placed within the least hospitable
that of another. It all depends how parts of the city, and we wouldn’t The culture of the Camarilla-
well-liked you and your coterie are be welcomed anyway. owned city may be strict, but Kin-
by the Prince, who sired you, and dred without accommodation are
which areas of the city are currently The hope is, I think, that the under constant threat. Beyond the
available and in need of protection. next couple of decades will see the city walls and outside the court’s
You shouldn’t cross into the domain free zones abandoned as the rebels protection, danger increases by a
of another without permission, nor either give up and declare for our great magnitude. Whether struck
should you hunt outside your own, side or go elsewhere, where condi- down by environmental hazards,
unless specifically granted the right. tions are better. the sun being the greatest enemy,
Trust me on this. or simple bad luck in the form of a
Camarilla Embassies car breakdown or collision, being
The difference between one away from our havens for too long
domain and the next largely comes Similar to the Anarch free zones, can prove fatal. Travel by plane,
down to the quality of hunting the Camarilla hold what is styled train, or boat always comes with
within it. The Rack, the Red Light as embassies in some Anarch, the risk of delays, but these nights,
District, and the slums make Ashirra, and even Laibon do- strict border control, XScopes,
for the best and safest hunting mains. I imagine that Kindred terrorist alerts, and concerned citi-
grounds (the carefree, the desper- assigned to these territories zens on the lookout for suspicious
ate, and the paperless are easy vary between ultra-conservative activity make the risk of setting
feedings), while the suburbs, loyalists and turncoats waiting off an alarm with the nearest SI
military bases, and very religious to happen, as diplomats cast operative overwhelmingly large.
communities are either highly withering looks at their neighbors
risky to hunt in or do not include while plotting their downfall, or And if the SI doesn’t get you,
enough subjects to feed from. make overly-close alliances with the sun doesn’t find your unpro-
Impress the Prince, and you may the locals. Regardless, the Inner tected, lonely flesh, there may still
be given access to the university Circle considers it important, our be other threats lying in wait, too
dormitories and the endless sup- leaders declare, to have represent- great to face on your own. They
plies of anonymous self-discarding atives from our the sect in almost howl at the moon or paint their
blood dolls also known as visiting every vampiric city, so they might faces with vitae in the honor of
students. Make a nuisance of your- at least encourage the Masquer- Caine, the first kinslayer. I’m sure
self, and you risk having to beg for ade, maybe even affect a change in this doesn’t complete the list. If
your share of unpoisoned blood. politics and philosophy. These are there’s one thing I’ve learned from
early nights yet, but in undecided all this: there is always someone, or
Anarch Free Zones domains, the ambassadors hold something, worse.
some sway. Or so I’m told. The
The Camarilla presents a façade of influence of the Ivory Tower is – LEO, NEONATE CHILDE OF
zero tolerance to the Anarch Move- not so easy to resist.
ment, but in truth the sect would ADDISON PAYNE

114

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Important Cities In
The World Of Darkness Tonight

Aleppo to come. I believe we are responsi- Nobody is safe.
ble for the terror they face. Their
It was the constant song in my head ruler is a tyrant, their would-be – GHOSH, ELDER OF TRIPOLI,
that drew me here. Not to Aleppo, liberators are little better, but it is FORMERLY OF THE PRIMOGEN
exactly, but near... us who carry this wave of carnage COUNCIL
throughout their city.
It is just that there is so much Berlin
blood, pulsing in the people, run- You know, I saw some of the
ning in the streets, splashed up the natives gather the kine to them Berlin holds a lot of lessons for our
walls. I smell it everywhere I go. like orphans to a nurse. They said sect. For a long time it was known
“we will protect you with our as a divided city. The two Princes,
I only wish those explosions had gifts.” I thought maybe they are one in the East and the other in
not rent my coterie’s haven asunder. better than me, better than us. the West, struggling for control
Now I am alone, left to feast on against the backdrop of the Cold
gruesome remains like an animal. But no. We are monsters from War. The Berlin Wall fell, but the
beginning to end. It does not take Camarilla civil war only got more
It could be worse. long for any vampire to see a herd intense.
This song. It calls me still. as a herd. Nobody is safe here.
Deeper into the land before me. Mortals, Kindred, the things in In fact, we became so focused
The Kindred who are here hide the ground, awaiting our fangs… on our own power struggles that
from newcomers. They fear what is we became blind to what was re-

115

CAMARILLA

ally happening out on the streets. ade is in more danger than in most modern metropolis built in the
I'm not pointing fingers. I was as places, but at least the locals are used shape of the new system of global
blind as anyone. I wanted to be the to seeing weird-looking people on political power. They like to send
Prince, and waited for the others the street. their childer here to learn how
to clear the playing field so I could to influence mortals and work
make my move. Berlin is a perfect town if you their politics to their advantage.
want to go someplace where the The idea is that after a couple of
We always knew there were rules are in flux, where a young vam- decades in Brussels, the childe of
Anarchs in the city, but we didn't pire can make their mark. Just be a Justicar or a Prince will have the
really care. The Princes thought they warned: Nobody owes you anything, necessary experience to start really
were irrelevant, useful only for a mo- and there's no Prince to protect you. working for their sire.
ment's cruel entertainment during
a boring night in the Elysium. We One last thing. I know what The only problem is, the
didn't realize the pull Berlin had in you're thinking. How did I survive? childer tend to be over privileged,
the mortal world, and the power a How can a Tremere Chantry still pampered, arrogant twits. They
dream could have over a recently exist after all that rage? might not have started that way,
Embraced vampire. but living too close to the power of
I did something the Princes their sires has made them so. These
If you became one of the Blood could have never done. I had the wastrels don't spend their time
in some stuffy, claustrophobic little humility to understand the revolu- in Brussels working with politics.
town and had to try living under the tion would not be stopped and They party, fuck, hunt, do drugs,
local tyrant, you dreamt of Frie- prioritized my clan over trying to and engage in bizarre vendettas
drichshain, its parties, the art scene, keep the Camarilla in power. You with each other while ghouls like
fetish clubs, whatever you wanted. can judge me for that, but I lived to me do the real work.
Many young vampires escaped and see another night. And I'm still here,
came here, and nobody in the Cama- in Berlin. The Prince of Brussels is a
rilla really bothered to keep track. Nosferatu vampire called Nikolaus
After all, how could an Anarch – MAXWELL LDESCU, Vermuelen. He's an ancilla, too
really affect the magnificent political THE TREMERE REGENT OF young to be able to stand up to the
struggles of the ancients? BERLIN AND THE LEADER OF progeny of the Camarilla's great
THE CAMARILLA REMNANT IN and powerful. However, he does
The last Prince of Berlin died THE CITY have a talent for not being around
in the street, torn apart by an angry when trouble starts. The wastrels
mob of Anarchs. Brussels get killed but the Prince lives on.

That's something to think about I've heard the Kindred call Brussels For the Camarilla, the real im-
if you believe that the Camarilla the City of Wastrels, and it's not a portance of Brussels is in the work
is forever, or that the young, naive compliment. There's a lot of power of lobbyist anointed like myself.
Kindred of the Anarch Movement in Brussels. It's one of the hubs of We make sure that Camarilla in-
can never present a real threat. Ber- the European Union and NATO. terests are represented on the level
lin was one of the great strongholds If you want to influence mortal of European Union politics. While
of the Camarilla heartland, until it politics, this is the place for it. the wastrels invent new cruelties
wasn't. to amuse themselves and the indig-
From the standpoint of Cama- enous Kindred residents of the city
The Berlin of today still reels rilla elders, however, Brussels is try to endure as best as they can,
from the violence of the Anarch a small town that became a city we wield the vast financial power
revolution. Power is in the hands but recently, a mere two centu- of the Camarilla to serve the po-
of different gangs like Red Libera- ries ago as the nation of Belgium litical interests of the undead.
tion and the Stirner Gang. Kindred was born. They see it as a shining
overpopulation means the Masquer-

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The interesting part is that This is the promised land, rule. Michael awakes again in Mary.
most of the time, nobody really friend. The Dracon takes a new form. The
bothers to check what we're doing. third… The third…
– BRET STRYKER, CHICAGO
– HENRIK KORHONEN, Constantinople will be the bea-
RETAINER AND A PARTNER HARPY con for all Kindred. Come, answer
AT THE CAMARILLA-CON- our call. Learn of our dreams and let
TROLLED LOBBYING FIRM Constantinople them change your natures.
WRIGHT+MOREAU STRATE-
The mortals call it Istanbul, but we – AZRA, KEEPER OF ELYSIUM
GIES still refer to the City of the Dream
as Constantinople, in honor of Dubai
Chicago Michael, our savior, our dreamer,
our hope to this night. It was the last What is the difference between
I know what you’re thinking. It’s city in which all clans came together, the needs of the vampire and those
my kind of town, right? Chicago unified, and dedicated to finding of the super rich? In Dubai, there
is different to how it used to be, a way of existing without torment are none. Both want their private
friend. We were swimming in and enslavement to the Beast. It was playgrounds, to keep the people
Anarchs and Camarilla, duking it glorious. Michael led the way. The under control, and to build pointless
out over the Rack, over territory, Trinity — of which he was a part — monuments to their own vanity.
over fucking nothing. Still, it kept consisted of him, the transcendent This is a place where the hubris of
the nights warm. Old gangster shit, Dracon, and the architect Antonius. some mortals exceeds the ambition
running and gunning, setting fire to They built great things. They lifted of most Cainite elders.
havens. Even Capone was here. We us to new heights. Even following
were the template, see? Ventrue, their destruction and torpor, we Dubai is possibly the most
Tremere, and Toreador on top, Kindred of Constantinople strive to restrictive Ashirra domain in the
Brujah, Nosferatu, Gangrel at the attain them once again. world. The dominant clan is el
bottom, Malkavians… ehh. Who Hijazi, who have been closely inter-
knows with them, right? Anyway, It has been a long road. Few twined with the Al Maktoum family
the domains around us took notice. domains have been through as much for decades. They helped Sheikh
tumult as ours. Leadership rises Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum build
Things have changed. Since the and falls. Philosophies are learned, the city in the 1960s, and are close
Camarilla tightened its belt, we applied, and discarded. Newcomers also with his sons. Indeed, through
squeezed the Anarchs into pits like are welcomed as elders are banished, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al
Gary, Naperville, Joliet, and the then elders are put in power as new- Maktoum, el Hijazi have their hands
city remained ours. Pure Camaril- comers are regarded with suspicion. around all of the Emirates. They say
la. Law and Tradition honored on even the Minister of Happiness is a
every street. We keep things tight. We cannot help it. The Dream ghoul.
was a wonderful concept to experi-
We’ve turned this city around, ence as a vampire. It was a time The only Cainites who can really
made Chicago great again, you get when mortals gave themselves stay in Dubai as permanent residents
me? We drained the swamp and it willingly, where guilt was a forgot- are members of el Hijazi. All others
left us gleaming like pearls. These ten nightmare, and the Jyhad just must declare themselves on arrival.
nights, if you’re invited to Chicago stopped. We crave a return to that If their business is deemed legiti-
to meet with the Prince, brought to time. We need it. mate, they can be given permission
attend Elysium with the Primogen, to stay for a set period of time. Some
or you’re given leave to have even a Now there is a new Trinity, are allowed to stay in the city for a
foot square of territory in Skokie, the Camarilla and Ashirra leav-
you should be fucking grateful. ing Constantinople to allow their

117

CAMARILLA

few nights or weeks. Others can stay London remained there under his mercy,
for years, even decades. Eventually and those who wished to claim
all will have to leave. And only el Hi- The story of London is long and power entered his order, or cult,
jazi are allowed progeny. If any other winding, childe. It would take if you will.
Cainite wants to make a childe, they a mortal lifetime to tell it. You
are welcome to Embrace in another are here not to hear of the tale London was one of the strong-
city. The only saving grace of Dubai's of the Thames, however, or the est Kindred domains. Whether
repressive regime is that executions architecture, or the Great Fire, or ruled by Mithras, one of his
are extremely rare. Cainite offend- even of the Blitz and the rebuild- seneschals, Anne Bowesley, or
ers are typically banished from the ing though, are you? You wish to indeed Mithras again — upon his
city, disposed outside its borders like know of Mithras. reawakening — it was the hub
pieces of refuse. of European power. The city was
For many centuries, the city a throne. Upon it, Mithras had

Since the turn of the millen- was synonymous with Mithras, complete control over the British
nium, a significant number of in- our Prince, our God-Emperor. Isles.
fluential Ashirra have moved to He was our deity and our liege.
the city, even if only temporarily. Harsh, but ever fair. I served him This mortal Inquisition rose
In their palaces, immense wealth for most of my existence until the up recently, and we laughed at
protects them from the scrutiny time he decided to die, and after it until our Prince said it was
of the mortal population. To that as well. time for our cult to decamp as
them, Dubai is a safe place to out unstoppable danger approached.
the chaos of our time. Not that It is a mistake to say London We were to make for Edinburgh,
they deserve that. was a Camarilla city. It was a where provision was in place for
Mithraic city. It is just that Mith- the continuation of our worship.
– LEILA HAMIDI, PALESTINIAN ras of Clan Ventrue saw more use The cultists, including myself,
for the Camarilla than he did for headed north. The remaining
ASHIRRA DISSIDENT any other sect. Other Kindred London Kindred, hundreds of

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them, Queen Anne, and Mithras the Anarchs, we are left with just Prague
too, faced the Inquisition as the Paris, but the City of Light is as
kine led a purge of the city. The strong as ever. Our city is the most important
Kindred had no clue what was battleground in Europe tonight.
happening. I caught glimpses Strong, and in many ways, in- Too many eyes focus west on
of Mithras’ face in my daysleep, credibly repressive. Paris is a bad the void that is London or the
however. He was smiling as the place to be if you are Anarch, decadence that is Paris. Others
end came. This was the war and clanless, or even a Camarilla look east in fear, at Moscow with
the death he wanted. Kindred without good references. its rattling sabres or Sevastopol
Prince François Villon has ruled with its current problems. Prague
Mithras was the Unconquered the domain since forever. He has is something more. Made symbolic
Sun. London was the uncon- only officially been Prince for a by the treason of Bell, it’s ground
quered domain. He finally fell to few centuries, but he was pulling zero for the War of Ages. All
a worthy opponent, and hundreds strings and getting his powdered over the globe, the unbound are
fell with him. hands all over French court, liv- empowered by this telling blow
ing and unliving, long before he against our sect. But here, where
We continue his work from seized the throne for himself. He it happened, we still stand. That
Scotland, and will never stop has now gotten so comfortable should tell you something about
worshipping his name and deeds. on it, he likes to be called king. how hollow their victory is. The
London is empty now. No Kin- blood still flows down in Elysium
dred make haven there, and none No matter what happens and old Vasily sleeps soundly
shall, for fear of disturbing Mith- in the rest of the sect, Villon under the floors of Pražský castle,
ras’ tomb. Some say the Duskborn seems to become only stronger. undisturbed by the ruckus.
are the exception, but this only And with this he becomes more
serves to prove their contaminat- picky, more demanding. Kindred If you believe the propa-
ed state — all true Kindred who from faltering domains are these ganda, what we have achieved in
pass through the city come out nights coming to seek asylum Prague cannot be understated.
terrified, or not at all. here so often, that even an elder It’s no Anarch bastion, nor is it a
might get shown the door if Camarilla tyranny: Prague is the
– LORD ROGER DE CAMDEN, Villon does not like their face. city of neutrality through divi-
PATER OF THE CULT OF MITH- You can say, that the pre-revo- sion. A place we watchfully share.
RAS, SENESCHAL OF LON- lutionary ancien régime never Our Camarilla Scourges patrol the
DON, PRINCE OF EDINBURGH, ended for the Kindred. It is just streets of the inner city, maintain-
ELDER OF THE THE LINE OF as with the Sun King, as Villon ing order and stability. Meanwhile,
CAPPADOCIUS tells it. The court has become the suburbs and the south of the
very degenerate, you might say, city has become Anarch free zones.
Paris but there is true power hidden In this way we keep any political
under this corruption. You can- unrest contained, as the unbound
The Camarilla is sometimes not defeat it by being very strong are busy spreading their interna-
called the Ivory Tower, and if or old. The thing to be in Paris tional propaganda among the local
there is one city in the world is interesting. Pretty will get you activists.
that represents that Tower, it is in, but smart will keep you alive.
Paris. The old Camarilla strong- All Kindred are welcome in
hold used to be defined by the – DAHLIA GAUDIN, SKILLED Prague if they know their place.
triangle of London, Paris, and SEAMSTRESS, THIN-BLOOD We have our own traditions here,
Berlin. With the fall of London TOREADOR, AND MISTRESS of hospitality, concealment, peace,
to the Inquisition and Berlin to OF PRINCE (ROI) VILLON DE and our own symbols marking our

PARIS

119

CAMARILLA

leaders, our enemies, and those So, uh, one other thing. Don’t
from which we can freely feed. The leave the city limits. I mean it. Get
city is in balance, for now. high on the Praia de Copacabana,
open up a tourist’s throat, dance
Truth is, we are a neutral city in the spray — whatever. Just
because we are torn between don’t go out of sight of the city
extremes. Our new Prince is busily lights. There’s some bad shit out
expanding his collection of weap- there. Not Sabbat, not Inquisition.
ons and has been fortifying the They might be Kindred, but I’m
havens of his allies. I know what not sure. They snatch up anyone
it means. Perhaps it will begin who goes off the path, my friend.
tonight? They hang in trees and linger like
corpses, just waiting for someone
– KIRILL, PRIMOGEN AND like you to trip up.
SCOURGE OF PRAGUE
Just have a good time in Rio,
Rio de Janeiro that’s all I’m saying!

If you want a good time, you come – “DIZZY” BARRETTI, MALKA-
to Rio. If you want an easy meal, VIAN TOUT
you come to Rio. If you want to
live life like it’s your last night, Stockholm
come to fucking Rio! Come to Rio
for a whole new experience, my Calling Stockholm a Hellene city
friend. You don’t trust me, huh? is not entirely wrong. The Cama-
Just look at the way this city’s rilla here have an almost Anarch
set up. The Lasombra control the fascination with the political
clubs, the high life, the tourist systems of the kine. The dominant
scene, the beaches. The Tore- Brujah and Ventrue have their
ador are in the favela, the shan- fangs sunk deep into the dy-
ties, scrumming around with the ing democratic socialist ideal of
beggars on the streets. Doesn’t Folkhemmet (“the peoples home”),
that just seem crazy to you? You hiding their feeding accidents as
haven’t seen the half of it. This city statistics in a vast system of el-
is one of freedom, but believe me, derly homes, daycare centres, and
we got rules. They just ain’t your hospitals. The typical Swede trusts
Paris or Chicago Camarilla rules. the state to take care of them, and
Imagine the Camarilla fucked the it really does. It makes sure even
Sabbat, or no, the Sabbat fucked their blood is taken care of. The
the Camarilla, yeah? Rio’s its little dozen or so unbound and Anarch
baby. We share blood, we have a leeches of the greater Stockholm
good time, we don’t give a shit region call the slightly fewer but
about what happens outside the older Camarilla Kindred Gråstaten
city. This is where the party never (“the Grey State”) and both fear
stops! and ridicule them. The Grey State

120

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is just as isolationist and elite the Camarilla. These coteries and so much I ducked into a pachinko
as any western Prince and their autarkis come and go, their unlife- parlor (some stereotypes are real)
court, but makes a great show of expectancies counted in decades and finally felt the thrum of life
pretending to be the most refined rather than centuries. The Others, again. Some poor old bastard felt
undead democracy in the world, as they sometimes call themselves, my confused, raggedy bite that
and it kind of is. Unknown to all attach to the illegal party scene night, metal balls dropping from
living Swedes, they elect their own and the pseudo-criminal groups, his hand…
undead masters when they go to weird congregations, mosques and
the ballots every four years. This collectives in the suburbs, or find So, there is a strong Camarilla
means every Grey State ancilla and other specialized niches where the presence in Tokyo, but I’ve no idea
elder is attached to one of the ma- Grey State can’t find or threaten if they send word back to the Inner
jor political parties of Sweden and them. Circle or the Justicars. I know in
they are allowed to use any means this age, everywhere is accessible,
they see fit to help their party into – ARVID OLOFSSON, NIGHT but Tokyo and Japan in general are
a position of government. The WRITER FOR OMNI so technology-dependent, it now
Kindred attached to the winning feels utterly cut off with Inquisition
parties score seats on the Kindred Tokyo eyes on our emails and messages.
Urtima Riksdagen (“the Untimely This makes the city pretty au-
Council”) that still gathers every I stayed in Tokyo recently to visit tonomous. The Kindred here order
month in an underground cham- the Regent there, and give them themselves into set levels, deter-
ber under the parliament. the low-down on activities post- mined by age, and once they reach
Vienna. I can honestly say, I have a certain point (I think three cen-
The young-looking but ancient never experienced a more intense turies undead?) they are expected
Hellene Gustav Sörensson and fortnight in all my time. to relocate to Kyoto. All but one
his Social Democratic Council have, without a fuss. The one that
alternates with the noble-born It seems everyone is a tourist remains is some gnarly Nosferatu
Renaissance Ventrue Christina and here. Life in Tokyo is… weird. I made of scabs and scars, and no-
her capitalist/nationalist Alli- think weird is a fair assessment. body wants to argue with her.
ance, traditionally fronted by the I made the mistake of assuming
conservative party Moderaterna. the domain was like everything If anyone is in charge of this
The most recent election has been I’d seen on TV and online, but it’s domain it’s Mayumi Shibasaki.
nightmarishly even and has the more than that. It’s a total mind- She doesn’t rule, technically, but
potential to change everything. fuck. A vampire can get dizzy in ensures order is kept and tribute
Gustav has disappeared to the East a city like Tokyo. There’s so much flows upstream. She’s of the Old
(his will is now represented by a heat, but it’s a cold heat. Clan, so she says, but has no issues
coterie of young caretakers who with the Tremere.
seem to hate thin-bloods especially I’ll explain. I did that thing
much) and Christina is supporting tourists do, standing in the street Like I said, Tokyo is weird.
the populist nationalist Sweden while the sea of Japanese people I recommend everyone tries it,
Democrats, violently opposing flow past you. I did not feel hunger but don’t get caught here. Almost
the Ashirra and the Banu Haqims’ once. Not once. It’s like something every vampire I encountered
recent rising influence among the here subdues it. I can’t explain it. seemed detached, or vacant, like
unbound in the region. I asked my fellow Tremere about something was inside them riding
it, and even they have no clue. their bodies.
The Anarchs of Stockholm Everything here is measured, cal-
are used to thriving as outsid- culated, precise. It freaked me out Probably nothing.
ers and have never been a part of
– LILLE HAAKE, TREMERE
MAGISTER, HOUSE CARNA

FACTION

121

CAMARILLA

Venice cockroaches until the worst of the convocations there. The attack on
fires burn out. the Camarilla Inner Circle some
Clan Hecata keeps a lid on their years ago was a blip, I believe,
Venetian activities these nights. Another contact tells me the and though rumors hold of the
My contact, one Lydia di Giovani, Hecatas have gone to ground to Brujah losing their representative
tells me it is because they wish conspire on some grand scheme (I am shedding no tears since their
to avoid the attentions of the several years in the making. They betrayal) and one of the Nosferatu
mortal hunts so rife at this time. are opening some gateway beneath disappearing somewhere beyond
I seriously doubt her family have the Mausoleum (that impossible the veil, I feel the city is entirely
too many worries, however. My skyscraper they invest half a safe. Ten years without an inci-
own research tells me a whole fortune in keeping erect, given the dent is not bad for our kind, and
bunch of the famiglia have ties to water table below it), and need to anyway, if you hang around long
the Inquisition, and lay low like work together to bring something enough you may be able to report
through, or send something back. back to me what the Clan of
Death is doing in the city’s bowels.
What I do know is this: you
can visit Venice, you can feed – K A R L S C H R E K T, H I G H
there, and you can even have your PONTIFEX OF CLAN TREMERE,
TRADITIONALIST FACTION

122

THE COURT

Vienna where to find them, when to hit there’s something worth salvaging
them, and how to destroy their in there. Think of Vienna as if it
For a long time Vienna was the strongest bastion. was the Vatican City of vampires.
seat of Tremere power, a place So many powerful Warlocks with
that drew the childer of the clan The news reported explosions secure havens, well-equipped staff,
into itself but welcomed few throughout the city, but it would and secret magics tucked away in
others. Rumour had it, Tremere be more accurate to call them every nook and cranny. And no
himself slept uneasily beneath the quakes or disintegrations. I never one really to look after it anymore.
city, controlling most everything saw flames in any footage, just
that went on in there. As the tale buildings collapsing rapidly. And The one thing that bugs me
goes, around the turn of the mil- from one moment to the next, the about how Vienna went down is
lenium, he awoke and began some Pyramid was dissolved, Tremere the inconsistency. I can believe
grand ritual or communion. I and his Inner council supposedly the Inquisition were behind this,
wasn’t there, and I can’t claim the turned to ash for good. though don’t ask me how they did
veracity of this statement, but it it. But — and it’s a big but — why
certainly holds up with what hap- Now the city is without lead- did they only target the Tremere?
pened next. ers. The bewildered Warlocks And why did they then up the ante
have been forbidden by their in London by purging the whole
The Prime Chantry was at- elders from stepping foot in it, bad batch? Something doesn’t add
tacked. the Inquisition has cast its gaze in up. I kind of wish the Tremere
other directions, and the Anarchs were still a solid enough unit to
As I recall, this was the first have begun to move in, making ask to investigate the whole thing.
time we found evidence of a new, their havens in dusty rooms left
organized Inquisition. Somehow hurriedly a decade ago. – AMBRUS MAROPIS, HACKER,
they knew about us, they knew WEBMASTER, AND TECHNO-
our weaknesses, and they knew the My limited understanding puts LOGICAL SAVANT
greatest secrets of the Tremere: the chantry in the center of some
U.N. quarantine zone, telling me

123

124

KINDRED CLANS

kindred

clans

The Camarilla was founded as an accord In seeing the clans as social units, nations of the
between seven great clans. Five of those dead, or at least as subcultures with their own shared
remain. In the last decade one more family values and propensities, we do simplify reality. By
of Blood, the Children of Haqim, have permitting Primogen to speak for all Kindred of their
proven themselves worthy of our attention. As the line, we disregard how complex every clan’s internal
union between Victoria Ash and Tegyrius the Vizier structure really is and how it differs from domain to
has been sealed in blood and through Blood, and while domain. We accept and enforce these generalizations
the metaphorical wedding sheets are still damp, we for a good reason. They work. They bring order. If we
prepare to welcome the Clan of the Hunt amongst our would not treat the clans as political entities, with
own. whom contracts and agreements can be made and laws
can be created to control, we would be inviting chaos.
While clan unites Kindred of the same ancestry
all over the world, clan organization and legisla- By treating the clans as nations, we also follow
tion is almost entirely local. Society-wide edicts, like the precedent set at the Convention of Thorns. The
the exclusion of the Brujah from our gathering and governing structure of our society, with Justicars, Pri-
the appointment of clan Justicars are the exception. mogen, and other offices held by representatives of our
Many Princes sanction or apply interpretations of the clans aids clan coherence inside our sect. When we say
Traditions based on clan: “No Toreador in my city Clan of the Rose, we refer only to the Toreador who
may Embrace this decade,” or, “The progeny of Malkav have sworn oaths to uphold the Traditions and our
may kill anyone outside their clan who feeds on the glorious union, not to their fallen brethren scurrying
inmates of LA County Jail.” outside the light of our Traditions.

125

CAMARILLA

You can argue that not all build our union first from clans most Gangrel scoff at the idea of
Ventrue are ambitious, proud, or and secondly from individuals. hiding their lineage, as they are
wealthy, and that our view of the proud, and the way their bestial
clans as cohesive and organized The Anarchs are ready to nature asserts itself in physical
groups disregards outliers. But spill Kindred Blood to defend changes would reveal them even
such a comment misses the point. the idea that clan should be if they tried.
Individuals who step outside rendered meaningless compared
agreements made between the to individual conviction. To ask It is understandable that the
Camarilla and the clan elders are about heritage, or even worse, abolition of clan politics, laws,
meaningless to us. to make a ruling against the and ideas of common personali-
entirety of a clan, is not accept- ties and flaws can be appealing
And before you waste time able among the unbound. This thoughts, especially to neonates
repeating clueless thin-blood is their folly, and it makes them embraced during the last 30
concerns that the clan system weaker than us. Anarch Brujah years. The problem is that our
forces us to be what we are not have loyalty only to the kin they condition is not rational. The
or sorts us needlessly into racist know, not to Brujah next state Blood unites us on a level that
categories, ask yourself why your over or to a grand tradition of not even the most brilliant
clanmates share your obsessions. (dubious) accomplishment dating Hemetic scholars yet understand.
The Blood will tell. It makes you back to Carthage and beyond.
what you are, no matter how Their idealism states that “a Where others deny what they
unique or individualistic you bat is a bat,” but we all know are or even fight it, we give our
perceive yourself. And thus we that’s untrue. Comparatively, great bloodlines structure, direc-
tion, leadership, and power. We

126

KINDRED CLANS

honor the history that has come The Blood always tells, I suppose. I am Toreador, and thanks to the Embrace, so are
before our own and we strive to you. Sometimes I wonder about the influence of the Blood on our destinies. Our clan is
act in unison with our clanmates, known for its refinement and taste. We are the most beautiful, sensitive, and glamor-
or at least with respect of our ous of all Kindred.
shared past, flaws, goals, and
role in the world. For this we are I don't believe in false modesty, and I think I epitomize all of these qualities. Few
superior, realistic, and pragmatic. Toreador are as perfect examples of our clan as I am.

Let those who would devalue There was a time I was ashamed of my mortal life, but that is long past. I have
the importance of our great clans ceased to care about such things. Had you seen me in my mortal days, I don't think
rage or bicker as they please. you would have thought that girl would become the queen of high society. I was the
Soon enough they will face the bastard child of a tavern-keeper's wife. I left home young to follow armies and fuck
truth of the Blood in themselves, soldiers for a little bread. I don't think many Toreador would be able to see the refine-
as well as final death at the ment and glamour in a quick coupling in the mud.
hands of their wiser Camarilla
loyalist clanmates. I survived. Thrived. There's a modern term for what I used to be: sex worker. I
hustled. I worked. I recreated myself as the situation warranted. I had a talent for be-
Praise your blood. Respect ing a chameleon, becoming like those around me, or what they wanted.
your elders. Embody the ideal of
your clan and know your place in My sire was a pimp named Maximilian. He started feeding me his Blood until I
the hierarchy of night. was addicted. I served him for a long time, and I think he forgot that Blood addiction
is not always the same as real love. I saved his life and he Embraced me. The second
For the Tower and the great time he was about to die, I couldn't help him, instead escaping with his enemies to
union of clans! America.

I left Europe as the illegitimate childe of a pimp. I arrived in New Amsterdam an
aristocrat, a refined Toreador ingénue eager to see the wonders of the new world.

Did I make myself into the perfect Toreador on purpose? Did I know of the image
of the clan and seek to conform to it? Or did I just follow my instincts? Was it my
will, or the voice of the Blood? It's been so long, I don't remember anymore.

127

CAMARILLA
128

KINDRED CLANS

I'm going to be honest with you. I'm happy to be old enough
that I never have to date another Ventrue again, unless they're
an exceptional individual.

The Ventrue seem like good partners if you're young,
insecure, and just starting your Camarilla career. They're
powerful, dependable, wealthy. Many of them don't mind hav-
ing an elegant Toreador trophy wife or a showcase husband to
orchestrate their little parties for them.

I won't judge you for choosing to be addicted to the Blood
of an autocratic tyrant. It's safer than many other ways of be-
ing one of us. Easier, at least at first.

There's even a trick to it, if you want to learn it. The Ven-
true look to you to provide something interesting in their lives.
Tedious themselves, they want to feel the dark majesty of our
existences through you. If you want to seduce one of them,
you can never be boring. Be flighty, temperamental, passionate.
Always keep them on their toes. Every time you make them
feel something — anxiety, love, jealousy, arousal — it keeps
them interested. The problem is, you can't keep this going
forever. I don't think even I could do that. Once they get bored
of you, the nature of your affair will change. You will become
just another servant among many.

129

C OA MR EABROI LOLKA

The Ventrue in Kindred Society

<LuJu added FSav0>
LuJu: Subtle chat, got it?
FSav0: As crystal.
Jackson: Good. Don’t need more shit raining down on the city.
LuJu: Excellent. We need to discuss our role in the society.
Jackson: Same as it ever was. We on top.
LuJu: We would like to think that, but with the recent defections to

and from our country club, our position is precarious.
FSav0: While I agree we’ve now got rivals to our seats from the Sau-

di, nobody trusts them. We’re a known quantity. We have ever swum
in the seas of influence. Sometimes we manipulate it from behind
the throne, while at other times we take the crown and scepter.
Whenever there are reins of power, we have at least one hand placed
firmly on the strap. Ever since we crushed the B in C’thage, we’ve
been in charge. Everyone knows this.
Jackson: She right. We considered to have the wealthiest individual
clan members, though obviously we practice a society of motivated
self-interest as Sovereign says.
Jackson: Not like we be lending resources to each other. We buy in-
fluence, silence opponents, hire help, and live opulent existences
from our penthouse suites and private jets.
LuJu: We need to consider if that opulence is a risk. We stand strong
as the country club’s figurehead and we do this by identifying to-
day’s trends and emulating them to great success. The question has
to be whether this puts a target on our foreheads.
LuJu: We’re at the front of the club.
Jackson: Yeah it ain’t perfect, but better us up front than our Vien-
nese friends or the dancing trash.
FSav0: Agreed. We’re at the front of the club because we’re the only
ones who can handle it. We don’t ask for power. It is our duty.
LuJu: So you two maintain that despite recent events, our position
remains unchanged? Still kings, still duty-bound to rule, still go-
ing to be recognized as the country club’s poster kids?
Jackson: Hell, if it’s that or Anarch ignominy, I’ll choose that.
FSav0: Fuck, that’s a damn buzzword. Log off. Get away from your cur-
rent location. Now.
<Jackson logged out>
<LuJu logged out>
<FSav0 logged out>

130

KINDRED CLANS

The Ventrue in Ventrue enter mortal society deeds or titles to other Ventrue.
in positions of power, controlling They know other Kindred look to
Mortal Society corporations openly or as silent them as the Clan of Kings, so they
partners, forming societies and usually keep numerous mortal
Ventrue consider themselves a clubs with restricted memberships, servants to ensure no hairs fall
cut above Kindred of the other and involving themselves in mortal out of place, no creases appear,
clans, reflecting this opinion in the politics as much as they dare. and a change of clothes is always
mortal company they keep. Where available in case of embarrassing
some vampires would comfort- Many Ventrue wear sharp, blood spillage.
ably rub shoulders with kine on expensive fashion. They lean
the street, Ventrue share a private toward the practical and declara- The Sins of the
booth in an exclusive club, meet tive suit or dress, always bearing a Ventrue
mortals across boardroom tables, designer label, or a custom outfit
or outright own their kine through created by a tailor on staff. Less To the as yet unnamed Childe of
vage slavery or bonds of Blood, inclined to dull formality, the Fiorenza Savona,
and have them tailored to their Ventrue are more drawn to dress
needs. Most Ventrue have little like the husbands and wives of Congratulations on finding the
interest in forming meaningful popular politicians, drawing the second letter. You will need this if you
relationships with lowly mortals. eye and maintaining the attention are to prove yourself worthy of the
Time is money. The mortals with of the viewer. Their outfit will Directorate some night.
whom they associate often share remain immaculate — obsessively
the same feelings. so — adorned with a brooch, tie You will have already determined
clip, or signet ring that denotes

131

CAMARILLA
132

KINDRED CLANS

that some blood tastes like vomit and ash on our tongues. ■■ l. matthews: Individuals with hallucinogenic
We Ventrue have incredibly particular tastes. We do not set- drugs in their bloodstream.
tle for anything but the finest vintages. Yet, those vintages
will differ from Blue Blood to Blue Blood. ■■ e. neally: Opium/heroin addicts.
■■ j. peterson: Mortal journalists.
It becomes apparent in these nights of increasing ■■ j. schumpeter: Recent victims of physical assault
scrutiny that our “restriction” or “preference” is harder
to cater for without drawing the eyes of interested mor- (one week?)
tals. Therefore, many of us now surround ourselves with ■■ a. sovereign: Mortal employees of the financial
the herd from which we feed (if you ever question why
one of our infamous stockbrokers or investment bankers sector.
spends several hours every night in the soup kitchen, I ■■ b. washington: Mortals in the shower.
assure you it is not out of charity) or we make deals with ■■ e. york: Blue-eyed mortals.
groups such as the Circulatory System to procure us the
vessels we need. As you can see from this well-researched report,
feeding restrictions fall across multiple spectrums.
In truth, the latter option is the more civilized. Bet- Gender, place of birth, employment, situation, ap-
ter to have your favoured vessel delivered to your door pearances, and blood quality are some of the sectors
than having to hunt among the vulgar and the vermin. we must examine.

Do not give the System too much information, mind Of interest are the feeding restrictions that ap-
you. They made that mistake in Chicago when the ser- pear manufactured. The recently returned to society
vice initially arose, and now everyone knows their feed- F. Gaughan is said to only feed from Italian males
ing styles. My recommendation is to order an assortment due to his loathing for sire, A. Capone. E. Neally is
of vessels you want, and surround them with similar, but suspected to have been a drug addict in his mortal
not identical kine. You will know which ones to drink days, and E. York only dated men with blue eyes (ac-
from, and you can always donate the leftovers to your cording to anecdotal evidence).
associates and subordinates.
Ventrue are known to do anything to get the
- S.B. blood they require, for the simple reason that
without it, they expire. If you wish to examine a
Property of the Circulatory System Ventrue’s capacity for sin, dangle one of its favored
vessels out of reach. Many Ventrue, such as H. Bal-
Clan Ventrue are among our best customers. Their lard and A. Capone are known for their greed and
restricted palates prevent their drinking blood of certain pride. Both corral their vessels in greater number
types, with restrictions often varying between individual than is required, and both take exception to those
Kindred, though said restrictions (preferences, as our same vessels receiving harm from another source.
Ventrue clients like to say) may be passed from sire to On the same note, expect a Ventrue to behave with
childe. See below for a sample of feeding restrictions heavenly virtue if they think it will get them what
listed for the domain of Chicago: they require. F. Gaughan sacrificed himself to tor-
por for the sake of his herd.
■■ h. ballard: Members of his own family.
■■ a. capone: Women born in Italy. With all this in mind, be certain that the Ven-
■■ z. forge: Sleeping men. true are our best paying market. Tease them, care-
■■ f. gaughan: Men born in Italy. fully, but placate them.
■■ hurricane: Unknown. Possibly a single mortal.
■■ k. jackson: Members of mortal gangs.

133

134

KINDRED CLANS

Many Toreador think that to be truly understood, you must The Toreador in Kindred
find your lovers within the clan. If you want beauty and
refinement, why look anywhere else? Society

They may well be right. The Toreador are predominantly members of the
Yet... I prefer to have my romantic escapades outside our Camarilla, and will proudly tell any Kindred who ask
own clan. God knows we've all done that thing where we fall that they are responsible for its formation. According
in love with a mortal, Embrace them, and then it falls apart to Arikelite scholars, it was Rafael de Corazon of their
because it always does. Romance inside the clan has always clan who suggested the sect name, the Traditions, and
felt to me like an extension of that, a little too incestuous for the hierarchy in each domain. The sect serves the clan,
my taste. as it enables them to mingle with and prey on human-
This does not mean I haven't loved other Divas, of ity without the vulgarity of having to be an obvious
course. My very first vampire lover was my sire, after all. monster. To most Toreador, the Anarchs are boorish
And you will find our clan full of pretty girls and handsome cretins with misplaced priorities, and vampires of any
boys Embraced because one of our peers decided they were other group are what happens when excess runs a little
drawn to something lovable about them. If you look, you’ll too far.
be able to see it too. At least for a little while.
The Toreador occupy an important role in do-
mains, their finger on the mortal pulse allowing them
to keep Elysium contemporary and update other
Kindred on social mores and cultural changes. As
mouthpieces for the Kindred, they are often called to
voice the proclamations of the Camarilla, and spread
legitimate news and destructive gossip throughout

135

CAMARILLA

The Toreador in Mortal Society their cities. Some make art of their
messages, conveying the tale of a
REPORT #98 Prince’s fall via stenciled art in the
alley outside Elysium, ridiculing a
“TOREADOR” AMONG US Tradition-breaking neonate with a
crude song, or celebrating a Cama-
The blankbodies who belong to the “Toreador family” hold TOR98-3 #98 rilla victory with a parodic stage-
a startling depth of influence in mortal society, though play. Typically, mortals remain
we believe this is an afterthought to their true aims. The none the wiser to the true meaning
family, or subspecies, focuses on the popular in culture of this art.
and society. They bury their fingers in the media, in-
fluencing television, popular music, rolling news, and Art’s recent widespread acces-
vast quantities of online porn. They open galleries and sibility through media and muse-
nightclubs, salons and wine bars. The Toreador are entre- ums with low cost entry, allows the
preneurial, likely owning more properties and businesses clan to finally relate to vampires
globally than any other blankbody group, besides possibly of other bloodlines, and kine from
the “Tower” (see Report #68). This dedication does not poorer backgrounds. Historically,
automatically translate to wealth, as a Toreador will only the Toreador always remained
stay with a project for as long as it holds interest. We aloof of those they perceived as
have observed that blankbodies of other groups sometimes less “cultured.”
come in as partners, to ride the Toreador’s success and
then hold the reins of a business once the Toreador loses While the elders of the clan
interest. resent mingling with riff-raff, the
neonates and ancillae embrace a
All this tells us that for all the Toreador success period in which their works are
among the human world, they merely seek to enjoy it rather now available to all.
than control it. This allows their shallow ambitions to
compliment the more dangerous ones of the Sombra and Ven- The Sins of the
ture families (see Report #212). Toreador

Where there is reason to suspect Toreador activity, Krystyna Kowalski to a guest, over a
look for eccentric but popular individuals who surround “Bloody Mary” in the Opera Club:
themselves with objects designed to make an impression on
the viewer. Clothing, cars, and even personal assistants I’ve spoken to many Kindred your
will stand out, while the Toreador blankbody itself will age and I can tell you, our feeding
likely be stylish, but not necessarily a very colorful methods haven’t changed much
individual. over the last millennium. We Divas
still enjoy the thrill of love and the
passion of lust. Those emotions
break through our jaded facades,
making the feed an exhilarating
experience. We turn on the charm,
seduce the vessel, and take blood
from them as we take them in
other ways.

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KINDRED CLANS

Sin

No, we have not developed a and work on them for years, just I walked the night,
genuine desire for sex in itself. I drinking a mouthful every week or a glistening rat.
believe that will always elude us as so while spending the rest of the I preened and whined
we grow older, such is our curse. time admiring the mortal as their and cut and cried,
But the combination of feed- muse. Those relationships never a most splendid rat.
ing while kissing, drinking while end well. They think it’s love, but I emptied a man’s pockets of
fucking, gorging on blood while it’s just obsession. Eventually, that his talent,
experiencing the closest we get to muse runs out of whatever drew his empathy,
orgasm is intense. I do not know the drinker in the first place. The his trust,
why the other clans balk at such Sensate moves on and the mortal his blood.
practices. is left a hollowed-out shell. Most My face looked back at me
kill themselves without their Diva from a shop window pane.
Of course, there are those sponsor. I was coated in
who believe to feed and fuck is glory,
vulgar. Those are the kinds of love,
Sensates who favor a single vessel, loyalty,
liquids.
A moist,
A most beautiful rat.

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KINDRED CLANS

I know what you are expecting. You think I am going to tell you the Warlocks The Tremere in
are boring, pointless to romance.
Kindred society
And yes, that is often the way. Theoretically their passionate focus on the
mystic powers of the blood is compelling, but in practice... It feels as if they Our Thaumaturgy sets us apart
understand the acquisition of power, but not what you need it for. from all other clans. We alone
rule the miracles of Blood. The
Still, I have had a few rather eye-opening experiences with older War- outsiders crave our Hemetic
locks who have spent one or more lifetimes in the stifling hierarchy. It does magic with jealousy. For all their
strange things to them, gives them interesting predilections and surprising antiquity, the methods and beliefs
sexual tastes. I have seen and experienced most this world has to offer in of the elder clans are mired in
terms of people and their intimate desires. I'm not easily surprised, yet in superstition rather than an under-
these interactions with the Tremere, I learned something new. It wasn't al- standing of the hidden structure
ways to my taste, but sometimes you make love not because you're into it, but of creation.
because curiosity makes it impossible to stop.
We were long the strongest
All that aside, it would be worth pretending to love one, just to get a look at pillar of the Camarilla, and we
their libraries of vitae. will be again. But for now, we
are seekers. We sense the Blood
speak to all clans, and it will be us
who master communion, control,
and destruction, if necessary, of
the forces that rouse within us.
We may be divided as a clan, but
our cause is the same: master the

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REPORT #139 secrets of eternity and keep them away from the eyes
of the ignorant and unworthy.
THREE HOUSES
Clan Tremere goes by many names these nights.
Our understanding of the blood manipulating blank- TH-44-67 #139 We refer to house before clan, though most of us still
bodies known as “warlocks” is slim, despite sev- occupy the Camarilla. Until our recent fall, we even
eral close encounters. What we have have uncovered threatened Ventrue rule over the great society of
of late might allow us to question one of them in night. Now our Pyramid is fractured, two great cracks
greater detail, and perhaps provoke a response. It splitting us into three houses. It is sad, but necessary.
appears the infected of this group ascribe to one Change is required for growth to occur. The change
of three factions. Our preliminary definitions are in us mirrored by a change in the world. As above, so
as follows: below.

tremere: The core faction. Strict hierarchy. Very Our role in this grand play of curses and blood
secretive. Attack B313 appears to have damaged is a simple one. We are the clan who will make every
this faction significantly. sacrifice necessary for immortality and power over the
carna: A fringe faction. Cellular. Very secre- vitae. The Camarilla has always been the best alliance
tive. Difficult to target due to their widespread for achieving this aim. We loyally serve the other clans,
nature. Ingratiated in multiple feminist magic rarely taking praxis for ourselves. Why bother with
cults. temporal rule when we have eternity for experimenta-
goratrix: A fringe faction. Strict hierarchy. Dif- tion?
ficult to ascertain numbers. One informant swore
(under questioning) that the leader has died twice We recognize the importance of numbers. Three and seven.
over and risen again in recent nights. Clan Tremere used to be one, with seven heads. A hydra.
Now we have three heads and three bodies, but the Blood
The three factions are unified in the loosest does not change.
sense, but rivalry makes it possible that we can
use them against each other. We were the strongest of clans until I launched my little
schism, though I can’t take all the credit. My bond to the
clan weakened because of what was going on in Vienna,
I’m sure. I was just tired. Tired of being told when to kneel,
when to bow, when to give up my vitae or take the vitae of
someone else.

I realized there was a better way. The old way. Com-
mune with the land, the spirits of the earth, with life and
with death. All of this through the Blood. That is the way of
House Carna.

Schrekt maintains that House Tremere will rise once
more with him at the head, and his new council of seven.
Perhaps he is correct. Maybe the old bonds will once again
be enforced.

While I disagree with Schrekt, we find common cause
in keeping the Tremere strong as a clan. Our reputation for
strength and unity cannot be shaken further.

- CARNA

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The Tremere in Mortal hedge magicians. Scientology is one of the more
high profile occult groups known to be under War-
Society lock influence, and though the New Age movement
is usually the domain of the Lunatics, the Tremere
The Tremere sphere of mortal influence is highly are believed to have played a major role in the cata-
specialized. Where other clans may look at a sector strophic attempt to establish the spiritual commune
of the city’s infrastructure and plant a flag to declare known as Rajneeshpuram in Central Oregon in the
that group their territory, the only area the Tremere early 1980’s.
call their own is academia, making it common for
Warlocks to make their havens inside universities or The addition of House Carna to Clan Tremere
on campus grounds. The clan members love attending has created new avenues for the Warlocks of tonight.
night classes, learning up to date theories, engaging in Tremere of House Carna — known as Blood Witches —
private debate with favorite professors, and then feed- may be less formal than the Pyramid of old, but glowing
ing from the great mind sat with them. with the fierce determination of those who hae recently
discovered how different power tastes when you are
Beyond intellectual circles, Tremere influence the one who wields it, they are no less intimidating for
overlaps the arcane realms of occultism, witchcraft, their resourceful creativity. The witches burned by our
and human secret societies. They embed them- forefathers have risen from the ash, and when they enter
selves in groups like the Rosicrucians or the Golden mortal society, ripe with vengeful fantasies and sanguine
Dawn, both based on Hermetic thought, sleep be- cravings, it is to liberate new sisters and teach them how
neath freemason lodges, and study alongside mortal to bite before they are bitten.

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Feeding Practices Our recent turmoil following the
devastation in Vienna brings to mind
If you are reading this, you are of talk we once had on the nature of sin,
the Blood. If you were not of the and whether we are creatures of same. I
Blood, you would not be able to am an atheist as you know, so belief in
read this. God and some heavenly arbitrated sin
sits wrong with me, but I can share my
As a member of Clan and observations of recent years. Really, it
House Tremere, it is imperative should have been clear to us all along.
you follow these instructions:
■■ Never drain the vessel dry, We Thaumaturges suffer greatly
from hubris. Throw cocksuredness,
for expiration prevents their vanity, tremendous ego, and pride
future use. in there for good measure. We are
■■ Do not Embrace the vessel not divinely stricken with these
without permission from the conditions, for they are of our own
Council of Seven. making. For too many years we were
■■ Ensure a quart of blood is the runaway success story, but our
saved from every vessel for ex- situation now is due to the afore-
perimentation, and dispatched mentioned sins and follies.
to your nearest chantry.
■■ If possible, remove all memory Vienna collapsed because we
of feeding from the vessel’s made no secret of the chantry’s
mind. If not possible, ask a sen- placement there.
ior member of the clan to do
so, or recruit a herd of mortals The clan splintered because we all
who won’t talk. felt we were wiser than the next of us.

Previous region-specific restric- We were so sure of our unassailable
tions on feeding only from intel- position in the Camarilla, the Assa-
lectuals and those of esoteric focus mites are now sneaking in to replace us.
are waived during the clan’s time
of recalibration. Further instruc- We must return to form, and fast.
tions will be issued. We will not be a small wheel in the
Camarilla’s grand mechanism. We
Sins of the will surpass our former heights, using
Tremere knowledge of our previous failures to
help us reach our destinies.
My dearest Aisling,
Through winding winds I trust this For this I require your help. It is
time for you to consider the worth
letter reaches you, where‘er you tread of a rolling chantry and the power
these nights. I write this to you now, that it could accumulate through
knowing our communications online constant movement. I believe it is
must halt. May this short, guided letter time for you to give up your seat in
find you without disruption. the Chantry of the Five Boroughs,
and embrace change.

Change is greater than both of
us, and our visions said to follow this
broken path.

Windham

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I have broken more hearts through the centuries than I Malkavians in Kindred
have suffered heartbreak myself. When I have, it's often
been the fault of a Malkavian. Society

I am very good at the social games we play, but The Malkavians are proud members of the Camarilla.
sometimes a Lunatic will beat me. Their advantage is that They benefit from the Masquerade, has ever had a firm
they don't always know they are playing a game. The relationship with the Ventrue and Toreador as counsels
sincerity just hits me in a weak spot, I suppose. and muses, and just have a feeling that the Camarilla are
right. Abandoning the support of the Camarilla exac-
Many Toreador like to play with Madmen the same erbates a Malkavian’s mental illness, though long-term
way we do with the Lepers. Exploit their weaknesses, Anarch Lunatics state this heightened madness provides
fake a romance, see if you can get them to destroy them- greater insight still and is the clan’s true calling.
selves for love of you. I shalln’t judge if you do this, but I
have never been able to enjoy it. I am too sentimental. Rationally, our sect should not tolerate unstable
supporters. Yet, the Children of Malkav thrive with us.
There is one more thing about the LunaticI feel I It is as if their mental ailments allow them to circum-
should mention. There's a rumor which says that if you vent the Traditions without breaking them, some-
drink too much of their blood, you will lose your mind. how letting them remain unnoticeable, despite their
I have drunk enough to suspect it's not really true, but I abnormality, in the darkest parts of the city, where
like the idea. It gives a Malkavian blood orgy that special civilization fears to tread. We all tend to overlook
frisson of excitement. what we find uncomfortable… And often enough, they
put on good faces, acting as easily-trusted advisors to
Princes or even ascending to praxis, before anyone
recognizes their self-assured authority as megalomania
and obsession.

Though few coteries comfortably house the Luna-
tics, they make their way by attaching their loyalties to

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REPORT #112 PSY-EV-7 #112 any Kindred willing to do more than just dismiss them
offhand. And they can be exceedingly useful. Lacking
THE APPEARANCE OF THE normal systems of self-preservation, the Malkavians
MENTALLY COMPROMISED act as pioneers in new explorations of the Blood. Our
kind has always been aware of the differing properties
The family of mentally compromised blankbod- of blood, but it was the Lunatics who started identify-
ies known as “Malkavs” share a notable feature ing the reasons behind the fact. They managed it by
of appearance. When in the same city, we believe using many of their own bloodline as test subjects.
they coordinate without communicating. In ex- Though we shrugged at first — it would be their loss
treme cases, they are seen wearing variations of if their members suffered — the clan’s gamble paid
the same outfit, leading to a club filled with, off. They now corner the market in blood traffick-
for instance, Armani suit-clad blankbodies. One ing and research on its mystical properties gained via
informant talks of an AA group where three members consumption of mortal resonance. This fact vexes the
always wear their left trouser leg rolled up. More Tremere no end.
commonly, Malkavs in a city share a feature they
subconsciously apply to their outfits. A color We have often looked down on them with pity or
theme, a pocket handkerchief, the same brand of from fear, letting the Nosferatu act as their shepherds
mobile phone, or a signet ring may denote that when others would take advantage of their infirmities.
these are the mentally compromised blankbodies But in recent nights the Lunatics have shown them-
of the city. Carefully note the appearance of all selves more than capable of looking after their own.
blankbodies you encounter, and look for common
features. Malkavians in

Mortal Society

My daughter is such fun, but you should not listen to
her too closely. She plays with her hand concealed, you
see. Some of us feel the need to purge words from our
minds as if they were a poison. I speak readily because
I play with an open hand. My daughter, less so.

She and her sister are interesting studies in how
we interact with the kine. My childe runs a nightclub,
rubbing flesh with mortals of all kinds. That throng
of meat, dancing and pounding feet, pulses thumping,
blood rushing. We enjoy being in places full of kine.
After hours parties, hospitals, universities, other less
hospitable institutions. Why, I know an Oracle who
makes his haven in a rehab clinic just to get a little
sight from those poor, afflicted mortals who have
spent a little too long dancing to a chemical tune. He
claims their blood tastes enlightening.

We surround ourselves with those who are already
disturbed (at least as far as other mortals consider),
and blend in as well as we’re able. Sometimes we take
positions of authority: board member of the hospital,

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chief psychiatrist in the clinic, leader of a cult of street Dolphin B. active now
kids. Our spheres of influence encompass healthcare,
the realm of conspiracy theorists, fringe religions, and What do I give a fuck about the SI? Bring them on.
of course, addicts.
If they can find me, they’re welcome to me.
Cynical Kindred believe we tell our herds what
they want to hear, but our vessels are more loyal than I still suggest caution.
others. Obsessively so. The aging, demented popula- They will be monitoring this channel.
tion falls within our reach. Where other Kindred
dismiss aged mortal minds as addled beyond use, we So only type what you want them
alone pry intelligence from the degenerated, and they to see.
love us for it.
They think we’re all sinners.
Any mortals in need of support will find it with us. They’re right.
They can lean on us, and we take the weight, and their I’ve sinned. My whole family’s sinned.
blood with it. Feeding from the mentally ill? Not a sin.
They’re not helping anyone anyway.
Sins of the Malkavians It’s what we do to the healthy.

Yes, I’m still here. I’m everywhere now. I’m in my Tell them this. They need to know.
head, I’m in yours. I’m beneath Manhattan and on
a mountain in Wakhan. But enough about me, what I fucking hate those kine without a care in the
about you? Where are you going to get a mouthful world. I fucking hate their cheery, unknowing face.
of blood tonight? I want their lives. I want their normality.
Now, I know I’ll never get it.
It’s not easy for us. The Clan of the Hidden So envy. Envy, anger, jealousy, spite. I let it all
makes a lot of noise about their difficulties, what out on them.
with their unconventional faces, but imagine how Here’s one for free, you SI fucks:
it feels to go to feed only to suddenly be reminded There’s an old abattoir just outside Batimore, used
of your mother (you know, the one who didn’t hold to be O’Tolley’s slaughterhouse.
you enough), when you catch a whiff of a vessel’s It’s where I’ve been storing all the norms I’ve
perfume, or your father (you know, the one who been revealing a bit of the world to.
made you a man), when you feel the scratch of A bit of truth.
beard against your cheek, or your crushing self- If you’re lucky, one or two may still have some
loathing, when yet another mortal rejects you. blood in them.
But you’ll have to be quick!
It’s not easy knowing you, your brothers, sisters, Blood drains fast when you stick a blood bag on a
parents, and children (in a Kindred sense) are all hook upside-down.
touched, as they say. Mortal psychology doesn’t even
begin to understand the nature of mental illnesses It’s not their fault.
in their own kind, and our condition is another
thing entirely, so while entertaining, therapy doesn’t No, it isn’t. But it isn’t mine either. Let’s just
exactly help. Nor do we have the option of seeking say “the voices tell me to do it.” That always
support and solidarity from our friends — we can’t works.
even tell strangers on the internet these nights. The
only thing we can reliably do is self-medicate.

So how to feed? I know Malkavians who acquire
their blood in bags, stolen from donation vans. I

149