What is this if not a glimpse into Paradise; a gift from God Herself. Which brings me to Michael, fallen Archangel and patriarch of Constantinople, or rather: to his childer. Either you already know it and you should, my childe, or I must chide Miss Evers for being so lax in your training , or I hereby grant you permission to peruse my library for the history. Of importance to us is what happened after.
Where lesser creatures might have decided that beauty and dreams bring no succor to the struggle of the night, and thus serve no purpose, the Nephilim recognized the opposite to be true. Existence is cephemeral. Nothing lasts. Nothing is safe. Within that insecurity, that forever looming destru tion and despair, beauty is the only thing of true value.
The Nephilim pursue beauty in all their endeavors. Art and architecture, poetry and song, even the reshaping of their own bodies: all these pursuits with abandon, and with beauty as their highest goal.
This is the way to paradise, the road left to us by God, and I intend to follow it. Yes, my beloved childe, you read that correctly: beauty calls, and I must leave you.
But I fear not: I have put my affairs in order and prepared your presentation to Prince Harami. I have also made arrangements to reward Miss Evers for her service, thoughed behooves you to thank her yourself. We must both spread our wings and fly now, my beloved childe. You to go forth from my the shadow and become the force I always saw in you. Treat Prince Harami with respect and occasional slight touch of rebellion, and you will keep him endlessly entertained. From kine to Kindred, and now from Kindred to Angel.
Beauty, and only beauty, holds the key to apotheosis. I hope one day you will join me in the ranks of the Nephilim and have squirreled away all the clues you need to follow the trail. For now, I bid thee well. Observed by Agent Pin k of the Milan cell. Our target remains the elder leech Nico.
Madrigal: Bed the bones. Surya: Excuse me? Or sleepin g with your pendulum under your pillow? Same thing. Surya: Ick. Wai t — you sleep in a coffin?
Surya: I am all about style. And valid point about Nico, but stil l…. Madrigal: You literally drink bloo d. Those bones are more likely to catch something off you than vice versa. Surya: Fair, butMadrigal: Nico. For how long? Madrigal: Seven nights. Madrigal: Well then I tell you abou t bedding the bones.
Date ject 1, Madrigal, and Subject 2, Sury Transcript of meeting between Sub the ins rema et targ k of the Milan cell. Observed by Agent Pin advises now t Agen s. Surya: Can I ask your opinion on Madrigal: Opinion or advice? Sure you want to run up a debt? Surya: Better you than someone else. Madrigal: Oh honey. Surya: So Roseline invited me to a mass. As a way of showin g unity, she says. Madrigal: Creepy?
Surya: She literally has to staple her face together every evening, or chunks of her fall off. Plus this mass is just some weird superstitiou s vodou shit, and— Madrigal: Vodou shit? Madrigal: Have you ever been to a vodou mass? Surya: Well, no, but— Madrigal: Then I think you need to set your racism aside and go. Surya: I am not racist! Madrigal: You raise ghosts from their graves using necrot ic blood, yet what Roseline does is superstitious shit?
Madrigal: A bitch you asked for advice. Surya: Okay, fine. Madrigal: Yes. Surya: Dedicated to this Baron of theirs. Madrigal: Yes, I assumed that. Surya: What? Madrigal: A god. Do you believe Christianity is the only true religion? Madrigal: Not what I asked. Is it the only true religion? Madrigal: Then let me skip to the conclusion. Or the girl who refused a god?
Or the girl who refused an ancient? Surya: Shit. He will still crush you for not paying proper respect. Heck, Nico will crush you for making unwanted waves.
This is no different than bedding the bones — put your reservations aside, and just fucking do it. And honey? Hail Gorgo, Slayer of Men Medusa was a heinous monster, a seductress who lured men to their stony deaths until a brave hero stepped forward to remove this female scourge from the land. This is the story you likely heard, the lie passed down by men. The women of ancient Greece told it very differently.
Even with this divine weapon and shield though, Medusa did not seek retribution or vengeance. Instead, she retreated quietly. Medusa wished only to be alone and to heal, but this was not a wish men would grant. They still came in ships, bringing sword and fire, intent on taking her as a trophy. Until Perseus, the last man in a long line of abusers — and he, finally, killed Medusa for daring not to submit.
The life of Medusa ended there, though her story was passed down from mother to daughter. Men warped it into a cautionary tale: submit, or be a monster worthy only of death. We know better though. We also know Medusa was not the last of the Gorgons. She had two older, immortal sisters. The Gorgon of this story is not as kindly as her younger sister. She is not content to retreat into a cave and heal in solitude.
Gorgo laughs as she grinds oppressors under her heel, and scatters their ashes to the wind. She laughs as she topples the Ivory Tower, and breaks the Sword of Caine. She laughs as the age of men draws to a close. Only when the work is done, does Gorgo allow herself to mourn her sister and all others struck down by the kyriarchy. Hail Gorgo, Slayer of Men. We are the Daughters of Gorgo, and we are already among you. We know your secrets. We know where you sleep.
Warwick, Pascek, de Guy, Mysancta: they all fell to our righteous fury, and now we are coming for you. If you use the Bonds of Blood to rule as a tyrant — fear us, for the Blood of Gorgo breaks all chains, and we are coming for you. If you are an elder in the Ivory Tower or the Pyramid — fear us, for Gorgo owes allegiance to no one, and we are coming for you. If you are alone and cast out — join us, for we are all sisters among the downtrodden.
If you are wronged — join us, for we will not rest until your abuser is ashes on the wind. If you desire freedom — join us, for we ask no less of you than to break all that binds you. The Seeker and the Moon From the lost and found Diary of Kalini, Seeker of Golconda, entry for the twenty-fifth week The local Kindred have not approached me yet, but I can sense them watching me.
Moonlight soaks Lima. I can feel Her, the one locals call Si, seeping through my flesh and into my blood. Not the hard light of the sun, but a gentler touch preparing me for Transcendence. I requested a meeting with her High Priestess, a Kindred named Illari. I have not clearly ascertained her clan — she is by all public accounts a Leper.
Secured Transcript of meeting, taken for posterity by Stone Eyes. All hail Gorgon, her against unsanctioned reading by the Rite of name be hallowed! Jamina: Where to next? Is Chicago ready? Colombia — we have a potential new recruit there g or road tripping?
I have more targets Manizales. Jamina: Sounds good. Jamina: I love hackers — so useful. Some highBloods. Jamina: This just keeps getting better. Do we Tamil: Courtesy of our new prospect. No killing grandsire rise in the ranks of the Camarilla.
Majored in Environmental Studies at the ical Science. Embraced by a Colombia, with minors in Gender Studies and Polit al adapter.
They are ready to colonial Blue Blood to serve as glorified digit burn the whole thing down. Gorgo is real? Jamina: Amen to that.
Real as believe that until my initiation. Jamina: Fair. All hail our Lady Jamina: Perfect. Meet back tomor Gorgo. Tamil: Blessed is Gorgo. From the lost and found Diary of Kalini, Seeker of Golconda, entry for the twenty-sixth week Illari granted my request for a meeting, and her presence lifted me.
We spoke at length, the high priestess asking many questions about my time with the Inconnu, and answering my own questions in return. I felt the sun rise and set again as we spoke, but neither its burning rays nor sleeping balm touched us in the caves where Los Hijos de Si dwell. Los Hijos worship both Si, a local moon goddess, as well as creatures they call Machukuna.
I believe they are vampires of sorts, but possibly not descended from the Dark Father. Both Si and the Machukuna are needed to complete the journey, and this in turn is more than a Transcendence of Self. The Children of the Moon believe this age will end, and the next Pachakuti will turn the cycle to a world of eternal moonlight where, away from the baleful sun, the Machukuna and Los Hijos de Si will live in harmony. But the path seems clear now that I see it — which, of course, is true of all steps of the journey.
Self and World are both manifestations of will — transcending one transforms the other. This is why the moon shines so powerfully in Lima. The Machukuna light the path, and Los Hijos walk it — and as they do, they transform themselves and the land. We will leave the Curse of Caine, and our transcendence lifts Lima up from this world into the next. The king is the land. The Machukuna are the path. The seeker walking the path is the journey.
Everything is connected, parts of one greater and radiant whole. Illari promised to take me to the Machukuna, to initiate me further into their teachings.
My eyes are open. The path is clear. My journey nears completion. I made an effort to track the dissenter, but they seem to have gone missing shortly after writing this. I will telephone you an hour after your usua l waking time. If you want to get rich, you start a religion.
Such a grand pyramid scheme — nothing but money and y flowing up. Scams, the lot Take a look at any modern religion, and you can see mone of them. But you tell me our religions are true? Pull the other one. Mithra was a Persian deity. A SUN god. Someone saw a good opportunity to be heralded as a blatant, and waited. Seven tude flows up, and comof Mithras what, is that supposed to be a secret? They destroy anyth to your suffering. And once the Shalimites say.
Sure it is, after they bend over backwards s. Ruin more lives, preach target buys into that story, they have to do the same to other pyramid scheme.
Who more false answers, recruit more acolytes. Another fucking benefits? The person at the top, whoever this Shalim is. By which I mean to say: Do. Pray if you believe any god is listening. But ng up, be they money or — it is a gift from the Universe to You. Run as far you, and do not look back. Perhaps we can finally find you a sister. Ahmose: Thank you, sire, I would welcome a sibling. I too noticed an upward trend of acolytes.
What do you think caused it? Neferneferu: The time of the Tyrant Priest of Rome draws to an end. People are returning to the gods of old. Our Lord included. Ahmose: True.
Do you think it will last? Neferneferu: Nothing lasts. Even in the Old Kingdom, our Lord waxed and waned in popularity.
But this does not matter — He is true, and people always return to truth eventually. Ahmose: Why now though? Do you think it ties into the rumored awakening of the ancients? Neferneferu: For the children of the Storm Father, certainly. The ancients proved themselves real, and our Lord at least rewards His faithful. Ahmose: And kine? Why so many new adherents among them? Neferneferu: A congruence of events.
The stranglehold of Rome finally abates, and its scandals have come home to roost. Meanwhile war, climate change, and diseases once thought eradicated seem poised to end the world. People search for meaning and power, and find it in the old religions. Ahmose: Fortuitous indeed. Ahmose: Our doing, sire? Neferneferu: Theoretically possible. But people were less educated then. But those who seek oldest, truest tale. They keep searching until they find the But the old legends Before Isis and Horus fed the world lies about our Lord.
We should mount an offens We should prepare Neferneferu: No. Our grievance with them is long in the past. They were at that.
Ahmose: Are you certain? His battle now is with His wisdom. Or my on questi not not with his sister and nephew. You should words. Ahmose: Yes, sire. I do not fully unAhmose: You spoke of the false children of the Aeons.
Sire, derstand. They are like us in the night, are they not? You are correct that of our heritage. The difference lies in more powerful only made god, a is Their progenitors were all mortal once.
Ahmose: Does that alter the Blood? But it Tearing out of men. The Pharaohs Divinity by the into lifted yet do, men all the womb bloody and wailing like a god. And just as touch of a god. We too are born of blood and the touch of we tend the lesser must so ts, subjec and lands the Pharaohs had to tend their their place. This of them Remind. Ahmose: And the ones that abandon their false sires to worshi r be a hindrance Neferneferu: I shall not lie — their lesser Blood will foreve be benevolent and to them, no matter how hard they strive.
However, we will gift to those who kind, and teach them all they can learn. Ahmose: I see the wisdom of Your words, sire, and the grace continued eayour Still, Neferneferu: Of course you do. Both are undeniable. Let us discuss your siblin as to their guess one you in mind, from the University of Cairo. I will allow identity. Show me you are indeed paying attention. Every methuselah is a god just waiting to take on the title.
The devout Christian might cease to believe in the sanctity of life and the forgiveness of God Almighty. The Hindu waits for their atman to be reborn in a new body, only to find themself locked in their own damned, unliving shell. It is enough to drive one away from faith entirely, and yet, vampires discover new beliefs. There will always be great mysteries in the world, and faith has provided millions, perhaps billions of humans with answers, and comfort where there are no answers to be found.
Vampirism is a terrifying state in which to find oneself. The religions presented in this chapter all exist within the World of Darkness, with some as prominent vehicles of vampire faith, and others merely existing on the fringes of Kindred society.
In your chronicle, these might act as backgrounds, support networks, the sources of powerful Mawlas, or the font from which to draw horrifying antagonists. One share from enlightenment. One algorithm away from becoming gods. This is our path, to share and understand that which has come before us. The Ashfinders and their wider conglomerate — the Cinder Institute — possess a multi-faceted dogma, but it boils down to one part ecstatic bacchanalian cult, one part data-mining firm, and a healthy scorn for vampire society.
While this bravado is tacky to some, by enjoying existence, or some semblance of it, Ashfinders remind themselves of what they lose if they give themselves to the Beast. This way, thin-bloods continue to possess the benefits of walking between the two worlds without having to completely compromise their morality.
It is highly addictive and has horrifying consequences if taken in excess. The Ashfinders are flooding the party scene in Chicago, Ibiza, Bangkok, and supposedly elsewhere with their new drug, and offering the recipe to anyone bold enough to ask. The drugs they pass around may not even be Ashe, but merely marketed under that name to drum up excitement and enticement. The real drug is the physical embodiment of a culture of sharing as it blossoms into a perfect death spiral.
Ashe is sharing the memories, abilities, and Disciplines of dead Kindred, all blended into a psychedelic euphoria seldom seen among vampires. There are even rumors certain special batches cause the Hunger to slip away for brief moments of time. The ritual to create the substance itself is incredibly dangerous and can cause lasting consequences for both the creator and the partygoer who eventually imbibes the drug.
The use of Ashe has generated some unintended side effects in its users. Some Ashfinders find their withdrawals completely consuming them, and the after-effects drive many to kill vampires so they can obtain their next fix. Dust to Dust The Ashfinder movement is reactionary, built from a quest for survival and a disillusionment with political factions such as the genocidal Camarilla, who have made no secret of their hunt for thin-bloods. While there are those Kindred who sympathize with the plight of the thin-bloods, this cult is now seen as an open threat to vampiric society.
One of the Kindred who mentored the early members of this cult was the Tremere Dr. Thin Bloods, Caitiff, and the other dregs of undead society need not apply. Even then, though, there are exceptions as Prince Helena Panhard keeps a Thin Blood as a "Primogen" just to amuse herself. No comments:. Post a Comment Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment. Newer Post Older Post Home. This includes virtually all of the Banu Haqim. They are led by Al-Ashrad and Tegyrius.
Many elders succumb to the Beckoning or enter hiding, and the rise of the Second Inquisition leaves the remaining sect leadership paranoid about relying on modern technology.
A ban is placed and the Anarchs are blamed, as more elitist membership policies are levied and a prohibition on clanless vampires is enforced. A large number of Banu Haqim vampires join the Camarilla following their schism and an agreement called the Odense Pact.
Then, half of clan Lasombra and all of their clan leadership begin to join on a city-by-city basis, paying for their entry in service, staked Sabbat vampires, or more arcane prices. Chicago is the first domain where such a deal is attempted. In general, much of the Camarilla's approach to maintaining order involve enacting the Traditions , which among other things means supporting a system of feudal domains and the responsibilities of sires for the conduct of their childer.
The latter idea is often taken further to mean the sire has authority over the childe, and that elder vampires are intrinsically more deserving of respect and fit for leadership than younger vampires.
Whatever the merits of that position may be, it has a tendency to instill great resentment among young Kindred and in the past has driven many to the Anarchs. Older vampires naturally support the social order which they have mastered over the centuries, and in fact much of the Camarilla's policies are designed to facilitate the activities of Kindred who have long ago lost touch with the mortal world. The Camarilla's position in regard to mortals is simply pragmatic.
In the Dark Ages the Inquisition and other mortal forces were responsible for the destruction of countless vampires. Now that the mortal population is counted in billions instead of millions and have created weapons stronger than the most powerful Disciplines , they could easily destroy most of Kindred society should their existence be revealed. Thus, the Camarilla ensures that mortal populations are not unduly harmed by vampire activities in order to protect the Masquerade, not out of any good will towards humanity.
Still, Kindred are encouraged to blend in with mortals as best as possible and to retain the civility and composure that comes from holding onto one's human characteristics. Almost all Camarilla members are on the "Path" of Humanity , with Paths of Enlightenment being strongly discouraged and usually only practiced by elders. The vast majority of Kindred in the Camarilla are no older than a century or two and thus were not alive during the time when the Antediluvians were active powers in the world.
Though they may be educated in the story of Caine and the creation of vampires, many regard such tales as myths having been raised in more scientific times. The leaders of the sect long made it a strict policy to deny the existence of beings such as the Antediluvians, or at the very least state that they all perished centuries ago. Similarly, talk about Gehenna was discouraged if not punished, if only because of the very genuine concern that such ideas may cause individuals to become paranoid, irrational, and even join a Gehenna cult.
While very few Kindred would profess to believing in stories of the End Times, many also grow nervous upon seeing signs and portents that seem to appear with frequency in the Final Nights. The Camarilla's stance is one of the primary reasons the Sabbat claims that the Camarilla is in fact controlled by the Antediluvians and actively serving their interests. While it is perhaps unlikely that the Camarilla is directly controlled by outside forces, it does appear that even the most knowledgeable and powerful members of the Ivory Tower refuse to make any preparations for the possibility of Gehenna.
As of V5 , questions of faith are more prominent inside the Camarilla, with various vampires following mortal religions, performing ancestor or Antediluvian worship, or joining a more arcane cult, heresy, or order. Further, some suggest that the Camarilla does not prepare for Gehenna out of disbelief, but rather the expectation that should the Ancients rise, they will favour the old and elitist sect.
The Camarilla is the sect in which the games of prestation are played most openly. Prestation is based on the simple premise that when a Vampire receives an important gift or favor, he is beholden to the bestower and honor bound to return the favor.
When a fledgling is presented officially before the prince and released from the Jus Noctis and allowed as a true member of the domain, they usually engage in their first act of prestation in the process, although some Clans, like the Ventrue and Toreador, involve their progeny even earlier in the webs of social boons. As the Independent Clans let alone the Sabbat are in no way obligated to uphold a boon or promise to a Camarilla vampire in a manner that a sect mate would, most Kindred are extra cautious when dealing with those outside the Prestation system.
This supplement is a perfect addition to the V5 core book. My copy was missing the code in the back of the book to get the download, From reading Try the Quickstart PDF that's free to download.
Inspired by a comic book given to him by White Wolf business partner Stewart Vampire book. Read 37 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Vampire: The Masquerade is the original and ultimate roleplaying game of pe
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