CAMARILLA

 

The Camarilla is the largest of vampiric sects, a loose organization which ostensibly represents and protects all vampires by enforcing and promulgating the Masquerade and other traditions. It considers all Kindred under its purview and welcomes any that obey its laws.

In addition to preventing the growing mortals masses from discovering the existence of vampires, the Camarilla aims to maintain the status quo of Kindred society; as such, much of its structure and traditions mirror that of Cainite society in feudal Europe in the Dark Ages. 

 

Individual Camarilla cities are almost always ruled by a Prince with the assistance of the Primogen Council, which are in turn assisted by their Whips, who either act as a council of advisers or hold their own measure of power. Other offices of a city include the Herrald, Harpy(s), Keeper of Elysium, Seneschal, Sheriff, and Scourge(s).

 

Most Camarilla cities are fairly autonomous, and the broader Camarilla authority usually only becomes involved when there are concerns of a large Sabbat incursion, significant breaches of the Masquerade, or conflicts between a city's elders that could cause greater instability. In such cases one or more archons are dispatched to look into the matter and either resolve the matter or report back to their respective justicar. Whereas there are any number of archons that have been enlisted to serve the sect's leaders, there is only one justicar for each official clan in the Camarilla. These influential vampires represent the highest visible authority of the Camarilla and hold tremendous power to enforce the sect's precepts and call on its resources. They answer only to the Inner Circle, a secretive body of the Camarilla's eldest members that determines the sect's direction and policies. 

 

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. 

 

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ANARCHS

 

 

Anarchs are vampires who reject the status quo of Cainite society. The resulting organization of anarchs is called the Anarch Movement, rebels among the Kindred, one with no respect for the elders. The Anarchs especially resent the privileged status held by elders within the Camarilla and other vampire sects; when the eldest hold the most power in a society of immortals, the lot of neonates is not a happy one. As such, they are naturally targeted for recruitment by the Sabbat.

Most of the Anarchs respect and uphold the Masquerade and some of the other Traditions, even if they do not respect the vampires who enforce them or the system that benefits from them. Anarchs (like all vampires), are considered a faction of the Camarilla by its members, but unlike the Sabbat they are tolerated, as per the terms of the Convention of Thorns.

"Anarch" was originally a name imposed upon them by Camarilla elders, since they sought to overthrow the leadership structures of Cainite society, but while many Anarchs are indeed anarchists, the more traditional desire has been the bringing equality and democracy (or at least meritocracy) to kindred society.

On a functional level, the Anarch Movement has kindred fulfilling most official functions recognized by the Camarilla proper. Barons are similar to Princes, holding authority in certain territories, however Anarchs may have more than on in their cities. Emissary or the negotiators and message carriers, often working on good relations with other Barons or Camarilla. Sweeper is the Anarch version of the sheriff, as they make sure that the area is without accidents. And lasts lastly the he Chameleon or simply spies and moles in other sects. 

 

Sects Shared History
The Camarilla's birth was grounded in the growing threats of the Inquisition and the Anarch Revolt, both of which were threatening Cainite domains throughout Europe. Though there had been attempts to form alliances in the past, a meeting of elders to seriously consider the idea of forming a league of vampires was not held until 1394. Little came of it, however, until a bold attack was made on the castle of the elder Ventrue Hardestadt led by the famous Anarch Tyler. The Founders-to-be recognized the need for a unified front and so banded together several of their most trusted childer and servants into a joint task force to use against the Anarchs. Though meant to illustrate what could be accomplished if elders pooled their resources together, politics and rivalries would continue to divide them even as the Founders slowly made preparations for their new alliance.

The formation of the "Camarilla" (a word that denoted both that it was a convocation of peers or comrades and that it met in session secret from mortal knowledge) was announced in 1435 as the Founders began openly rallying support for a coalition to protect vampires from the dangers of roving anarchs, the invading Assamites, and the increasingly dangerous mortal mobs. After all, the very Spanish word camarilla also means to mutually scratch one another’s back, a meaning that would be given expression in the convoluted workings of prestation throughout the sect.

War continued to rage over the next several decades and the Founders, now called justicars, fought to hold the nascent sect together. In 1486 the first national conclave was convened, during which the justicars were given broader authority to punish vampires who violated the Traditions. A new body of agents was also formed to report to the justicars and free them to further develop the sect, creating what would eventually become the position of archon.

In 1493, the Convention of Thorns marked the end of the First Anarch Revolt and the birth of the Camarilla as it is known today. The Traditions were accepted as law. Representatives for the Brujah, Gangrel, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere, and Ventrue clans officially joined the sect, while those speaking for the Lasombra and Tzimisce, who were majoritarily Anarchs, rebelled against what they considered an offensive ultimatum and went on to form the Sabbat in opposition to everything the Founders intended. While the Convention of Thorns was a significant victory for the Camarilla, it set the stage for the next five centuries of conflict between the two sects.

The New World
Over the next two centuries those Anarchs who refused to accept the Convention of Thorns coalesced into the Sabbat and struck out against the Camarilla's power. The organization and superior numbers of the older sect gave it a distinct advantage, however, and during the 17th century the younger Sabbat vampires began migrating to the New World en masse, leaving most of Europe to the Camarilla.

For a time there was some debate as to whether to pursue their enemy to the Americas, but eventually the idea of staking out new territories was accepted as a means of placating younger Kindred.Whereas it had seemed that the Sabbat might claim all of the New World, as their enemies fell into internal conflicts over dwindling resources the Ivory Tower consolidated power in the English, Dutch, and French colonies. The War of 1812 mirrored a renewed battle for the Atlantic coast where the Camarilla gradually lost city after city throughout the first half of the 19th century. As the war expanded to the American frontier the Camarilla was barely able to hold on its domains only because of civil war within the Sabbat's ranks.

In the 20th century, the Camarilla was greatly weakened by internal disputes as Kindred took differing sides in the mortal conflicts in Europe. However, when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, it became deadly apparent how important preserving the Masquerade and global peace was, for mortals now possessed the power to destroy both themselves and all Kindred.

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Modern Age

During the 20th, the Anarchs that have been sidelined to the fringes of kindred society have gathered together under the banner of the "Anarch Movement". This organized movement made their single largest coup against the tyranny of the elders and the sects during the Second Anarch Revolt. During this revolution, the Anarchs liberated Los Angeles in 1944; within a year, they established an Anarch Free State across southern and central California, overthrowing the Princes of the liberated cities and establishing in their places the Anarch Barons - which were given a much more tolerant degree of authority over their fellow Anarchs.

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During the second half of the 20th century, the Free State withstood constant incursions from Camarilla and Sabbat alike, till several leading figures went missing and the power balance shifted, flooding LA with both Camarilla and Sbbat, resulting in large 3 way struggle, one that also occurred on many other fronts, such as New York. 

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In year 1999 things took a drastic turn, as Ravnos Antideluvian awakened and ravaged the East. It was no longer impossible for anyone to deny existence of the ancient ones, not even for Camarilla. While this have pulled Sabbat away to their war another disaster followed, the rise of the Second Inquisition. 

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This is where we take a turn and fashion the time line for Nocturne differently from the cannon lore.

 

• While Hardestadt was indeed killed by Theo Bell, his childer Jan Pieterzoon was not and took his sires seat around year 2012. The years have passed and we are now in our present time. Camarilla have adapted as Jan always wanted it to and is now more in tune with modern society. They do not fear technology, even if they are still just as zealous about Masquerade and the other traditions. 

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• The Second Inquisition is still around but more of a looming threat to those that are careless, rather than all knowing and all powerful organization that it is in V5. 

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• The Sabbat have returned and took back some of their cities, however their ranks, just as ranks of any other sect became much more mixed, as Lasombra broke in two, with half staying in Sabbat and other half joining Camarilla. It is during that time the independent Tzimisce rose in numbers. 

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• Camarilla no longer denies the existence of Antideluvians after the Ravnos clan nearly got wiped out by their own Antideluvian. Still, many wont disclose much of what they know and some still do not believe in specifics such as existence of Caine, but the threat of the ancients is recognized. This fact alone swayed some of the Lasombra to join Camarilla ranks. 

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• It's been over 8 years since Hardestadts death and since then some of the Brujah and Ganrgrel have found their way back into Camarilla in some cities, such as ours. 

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CULTS (Optional)

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The cults vary from being focused around religion, goals, and conspiracies. 

No player is obligated to join a cult, or to know anything about them, this is an Optional content which needs knowledge of books.

The cults that are listed below are just some of the cults in the vampire world, you are not limited to just these. Don't see your favorite cult? Still can play it or even make up your own. 

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Church of Caine

For over a thousand years, a vampire subsect of Gnostic Christianity operated within Cainite society. This group, known to some as the Crimson Curia, to others as the Church of Caine, and to their enemies as the Cainite Heresy, posited that Caine was God’s divine angel of murder who had absorbed the soul of Christ, and that all vampires were his children and just as blessed. It was their divine mission to cull the weak, turn the living hell of the world into a heaven, dominate the Catholic Church, and usher in the Time of Caine, or third resurrection of Caine and Jesus, prophesized to arrive in the year 1239 CE.

The Cainite Heresy subverted the faith of mortals and vampires alike, its adherents believing themselves to be God’s chosen predators. They don’t have a hierarchy based on age, they care little for lineage and clan, and their centralized power comes in the form of the renewed Crimson Curia — a council of priests — rather than a single, ancient figurehead.

 

Unlike the Sabbat, Church of Caine is actually tolerated officially by Camarilla and Anarchs. Not only they do not seek the same ends as Sword of Caine but the Church of Caine does not strike against either of the sects, while also not being too open so determining who is in it is not always an easy task. 

 

Their Convictions are: To never let the beast takes control over you against your will, to never succumb to fear, grow closer to Caine, accept that Caine is divine. 

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Church of Set

Is a new name for the Followers of Set. While the clan might have went by the new name 'Ministry' they still do practice same religion as before. 

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Cult of Shalim

The Cult of Shalim preys on this fact in the most unusual way. Its agents pride themselves on uncovering the great loves of a person’s life, the small joys and bonds that make their reality bearable. They then call those things into question, expose their temporary nature and sever them, leaving the target of their predations left with no choice but to accept the central doctrine of their faith: that reality is suffering. In some ways, the Cult of Shalim resembles the Ministry in their methods. The difference is the Ministers and their Church of Set wish to replace the void with faith, where the Cult of Shalim cares only for the void.

The adherents of this faith do not seek a blissful, endless orgy of experience where all of the bad is eliminated. Their creed is far less utopian and difficult to swallow for all but the most foolish. Shalim’s followers believe that elimination of the suffering of existence can only come at the cost of its joys. It is a fact of existence that happiness will turn to sadness, pleasure to pain, and any utopia will crumble with corruption and heresy. This black priesthood preaches how a perfect world cannot exist while the world itself exists.

This madness is what comes from staring too long into the Abyss, as many Lasombra mystics have done over the centuries, looking for truths in the emptiness that seems to consume their very souls. Many of those who have studied the secrets of Oblivion have spoken of a presence in the emptiness. A formless consciousness that seems to observe them and whisper back. When a methuselah proposes that this is the very creator, not just of the clan but of the universe itself, it is difficult for the egotistic and morbid minds of the watchers of the Abyss to refuse its seemingly simple truth.

 

Their Convictions are: Never celebrate life, never lose your temper due to failure, stop chaos, do not succumb to allure of prosperity. 

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Cult of Metamorphosis

The Sabbat not only lost some of their Lasombra but also a number of Tzimisce as well. While historically the fiends were almost exclusively Sabbat or independent, in 21st century a new cult took rise, based solely on Tzimisce idea of changing and transcending one self. This cult is strictly for Tzimisce clan only, welcoming any fiend, be it Sabbat or independent, essentially bringing the clan together in their unholy ways. Where this cult takes root often many horrors can be found. Victims with twisted visage, creation of war ghouls, and even Flesh Cathedrals. However it is not just about the flesh as the cult takes big spiritual approach to many questions. The rumors are that this is a congregation where the Koldunic sorcery is practiced and kept strictly in clan. 

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