The Sabbat of Today

The Sabbat of Today

Storytellers Guide to the Sabbat Many of the anarchs whose clans had joined the Camarilla saw surrender as their only opportunity before their own clans hunted them down. The Assamites swore an oath prohibiting future aggression against the Camarilla, but refused to commit to the Blood Bond. In return it was agreed the Tremere would cast an enchantment upon the entire clan rendering its members incapable of diablerie.

Some of the anarchs did not agree to this peace, believing that once again their leaders had sold them out. The Tzimisce and Lasombra clan members were among the most numerous of the anarchs who refused to accept the peace. The Tzimisces were the bitter enemies of the Tremere and would never accept defeat to them. The Lasombra had destroyed the leaders of their clan and many of the Ventrue elders as well, so they knew they would be severely punished. Together with the members of the other clans who refused to surrender, they formed the Sabbat, named after the witches' Sabbath as a reminder of their origin amid the Inquisition.

The Camarilla spared no expense in trying to destroy the Sabbat. Sabbat leaders knew their old tactics would not work against the Camarilla now that many former anarchs were with them. They chose the tactics of their own onetime masters and pushed them to the extreme. They produced vampires of their own to fight against the enemy, only they did so in massive numbers. The recruits who survived the lengthy Jyhad were accepted as True Sabbat and in turn produced many more vampires. All the vampires went through the same ritual as all other vampires they created, thus ensuring only the strong would survive and would no longer be human in any way. All new recruits were Blood Bound to the group of Sabbat that created them to ensure loyalty.

The Sabbat-Camarilla Wars went on for more than 200 years. The Sabbat was numerically disadvantaged during the entire conflict, but its loyalty and unpredictability kept the sect alive. Eventually the sect was forced north into Scandinavia and into hiding by the Camarilla. During the next century, fighting continued on a much smaller scale than before.

It was during this time of peace that Sabbat vampires, realizing they were inhuman, began their search for a higher code of morality. More than one belief system emerged during this time and these codes of vampiric quasi-morality became known as the Paths of Enlightenment. The Paths of Enlightenment could be considered vampiric religions, but they were also useful in helping many Sabbat recruits retain their sanity after the horror of the Creation Rites.

The Sabbat also began to develop occult rituals and practices. These served to unite the sect, strengthening its members' loyalty and providing a common bond. In addition, the warband of the Sabbat known as the Black Hand was created to act as a special militia that could be called up at any time to meet any threat.

During the early 1700s, the Sabbat saw the chance to finally free itself from the yoke of Camarilla interference. It was during this period that many within the sect moved to the colonies in the New World. As the cities grew, so did the Sabbat. In those early times, the Sabbat of the colonies found human prey scarce, so their number remained small.

Many of the Sabbat even moved into the frontier to see the undiscovered wilds of America and prey upon the animals and aboriginal people.

Most leaders in the colonies were representatives of the crown, and these were controlled by the Camarilla of Europe. The growing influence of the Camarilla in the New World prompted the Sabbat to incite the American War for Independence. The Camarilla did not like this too much and it renewed pressure upon the Sabbat of Europe, eventually forcing the top leaders of the Sabbat to shift their power base to the New World. The Sabbat did gain strong influence in North America and it was during this time that the first defections by Tremere occurred. In fact, many Camarilla defected, believing the Camarilla's influence in the former colonies to be declining.

By the mid-1800s, however, it became apparent that the Camarilla would remain in power in North America.

Brujah and Gangrel had fought with the colonists in the Revolution, and they controlled many important areas. The Camarilla began to lay siege to Sabbat cities, and many fell easily.

A major reason for this Camarilla success was the increasing power struggle within the Sabbat. It was during the American War for Independence that the sect began to feed upon itself, as many revolutions do. The failure of the Sabbat leaders to crush the Camarilla during the War for Independence, a time it could have been easily accomplished, as well as the acceptance of Camarilla defectors, caused many Sabbat to consider their leaders weak. Many sect leaders were forced out of power or destroyed.

As soon as a leader claimed power, he was challenged by other power-hungry vampires. Soon factions began to develop and wage war on other Sabbat, both within their own territory and in other cities. The Black Hand was shortly the only element of the Sabbat to remain somewhat intact, though it had its own problems. The schisms made it that much easier for the Camarilla to gain control of many of the Sabbat-held cities. The internal conflict waged from the mid-1800s through the 1930s. Since that time, the Sabbat has become a little more structured, but is far from being organized or having a strict hierarchy.

Fortunately, the Sabbat managed to keep control of some major cities in the United States even through the internal war. Some cities, such as Philadelphia, remained under Sabbat domination because the Black Hand centralized most of its number in these locations. The Sabbat began to develop along two lines - city Kindred and nomadic Kindred. Many of the nomadic packs were Sabbat that fled their cities after defeat at the hands of the Camarilla or other Sabbat. The city Kindred maintained permanent havens and controlled the cities, while the nomadic Kindred traveled all over the country, never existing in one place too long.

In the last 20 years, the Sabbat has begun to reassert itself, this time much more forcefully than it ever has before. The Sabbat has become much more powerful than the Camarilla had suspected only a few years ago. The sect has been able to take back several cities the Camarilla had stolen from it as well as ones it never controlled before.

The Sabbat is a major threat to the Camarilla and the intense growth of this enemy sect has caused the Camarilla to fear another Great Jyhad.

The Sabbat of Today Did you think the lion was sleeping because he didn't roar?

- Johann Friedrick von Schiller, The Conspiracy of Fiesco While the Sabbat is not the largest vampire sect, it is the most active. The Sabbat exists to provide individual freedom and protection from the return of the Antediluvians. This requires a strong power base and keeps Storytellers Guide to the Sabbat the sect busy in many schemes to increase its overall power and influence. It is important to recognize that the methods used are as varied as the sect itself. There is no standard procedure. All leaders are allowed to stand or fall on their own ability. The Darwinist ideology of survival of the fittest is carried over to leadership, just as it is practiced in all other aspects of Sabbat unlife.

The most important of all Sabbat activities is the subversion of Camarilla influence. The Sabbat was founded on the principle of rebellion and today the establishment is the Camarilla. The Camarilla controls the majority of North America and virtually all of Western Europe.

Believing its mission to be a sacred one, the Sabbat has decided to reestablish its dominance on the North American continent.

During the 1800s the Sabbat lost its power in many Eastern cities and lost what limited power it had in the West. California became the most bloody battleground of all and has remained so even today. During this time, the Sabbat suffered intra-sect conflicts which severely limited its ability to act in a cohesive manner. These internal troubles did not end until the 1940s. After the leaders were secure in their own power, they once more set their sights on the Camarilla, which had grown far greater in size and power than the Sabbat had imagined.

Since that time, the Sabbat has perfected the art of retaking previous territorial holdings through some of the most brutal and outlandish tactics ever used by vampires.

More information is contained in the section called The Holy Crusades.

The Sabbat operations are funded in a number of ways, most of which are legal - not that it really matters. The Sabbat has gained control over a number of corporations and financial institutions. While Sabbat influence is nowhere near the level of the Giovanni clan's control, it is enough to support most Sabbat activities. All individual Sabbat vampires are allowed to amass wealth as long as it does not conflict with the basic interests of the sect. Many bishops and archbishops are multimillionaires.

The Sabbat fiercely competes with the Giovanni clan over certain territories. The Giovanni originally let the Sabbat take some of their control away to appease the so-called "lunatic sect." The Sabbat would not settle for this petty allowance and pushed against the small Giovanni clan. However, the Giovanni proved strong opponents due to the overwhelming influence the clan had in the mortal world. Their law enforcement and organized crime influence far overwhelmed the power of the Sabbat in the mortal world. Even the brutal Sabbat tactics of killing off mortal agents of the enemy and jeopardizing the Masquerade have had only limited effect. While it incapacitates Giovanni activities for a short time, it does not come close to ending them. The Sabbat is beginning to employ human spies to increase Sabbat knowledge of the Giovanni before attempting any further major efforts to usurp Giovanni control.

The Sabbat is also trying to gain some power in the Far East. The Sabbat has tried to set up archdioceses and temples in Saigon, Vietnam; Kyoto, Kobe and Yokohama in Japan; and Tientsin in China. The efforts so far have had little success. The Sabbat in these areas face problems unlike those found by opposing the Camarilla and other European vampires. The supernatural threats in the Far East are of a variety none of the Sabbat have encountered before. Oriental vampires are unlike any Kindred ever before encountered, and their unusual abilities, as well as their knowledge of the territory, provide them an incredible edge. Some Sabbat leaders are demanding increased efforts in the Far East; howev er, the current efforts against the Camarilla have forced the plans of expansion to remain on a continental scale for the time being.

Sabbat power is checked not only in the Far East, but in other parts of the world as well. The Camarilla completely controls Western Europe and the Sabbat has no plans to invade the heartland of Camarilla power. The Sabbat has some limited power in Eastern Europe, but the division of the Soviet Union may provide the Sabbat a chance to gain greater influence within the smaller states if the current chaos ever comes to an end. The Sabbat had trouble facing the awesome power of the Brujah Council in the Soviet Union, but does not realize a greater threat exists in Baba Yaga.

The Sabbat does control nearly all of Mexico, but the sect has so far shown little interest in Central or South America.

It has a small number of dioceses in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia, but is making little effort to expand its territory.

One unusual area of interest is that of historical and archaeological research. The Sabbat on the Path of Caine are trying to find all the original pieces to the Book of Nod.

The Sabbat on this path believe the history of vampires will justify Sabbat paranoia regarding the Camarilla. They believe the book contains references to plans of the Antediluvians to create a facade of safety by building a union of the clans to be controlled by themselves.

The Sabbat of Scandinavia are at the forefront of this effort. The Tremere clan and the Inconnu, both of whom are believed to own large sections of the original manuscript, have opposed this archaeological effort of the Sabbat. There have been no major finds in the last century, though there have been a number of very good leads.

One major internal crisis is occurring within the Sabbat.

Within the last 15 years or so, the sect has seen the birth of a new, radical movement opposing its slowly developing structure. Led by Ventrue antitribu, the movement has been most popular among the young. They believe that to serve the Sabbat to the fullest, they must return to the more chaotic ways of earlier times. In their eyes, the sect has become stagnant. These neonates frequently disobey orders when they believe they can get away with it, and their philosophical position for this disobedience is well grounded.

The Sabbat Around the World The Sabbat exists not only in the United States, but all over the world. Sabbat of all the different regions are similar in many ways, the greatest being their shared history, dogma and methods of operation. The Sabbat of the different regions vary in their loyalty to the Sabbat of other regions.

In some areas, Sabbat vampires practically cut themselves off from their brethren in other parts of the world.

The United States and Canada The majority of the Sabbat vampires described throughout this book reside in North America. The Sabbat is strongest in this area and the entire upper level of leadership is thought to be based here. The American and Canadian Sabbat are the most active participants in the Jyhad against the Camarilla.

Mexico Storytellers Guide to the Sabbat The Sabbat of Mexico are large in number. Most are coven members, but there are some nomadic packs. Mexico City has the largest number of Sabbat in any one city. The Sabbat of Mexico hold a great deal of influence and stability. They are similar in most respects to the U.S. and Canadian Sabbat, but have one distinct difference: they are not the minority vampire faction.

The Mexican Sabbat dominate their country almost completely. The Camarilla holds no real power in Mexico, with the exception of the Yucatan peninsula. While there are Camarilla Kindred in Mexico, they have had little success in establishing a base of power. It is rumored that the Camarilla is planning an assault upon Mexico City, but the truth behind this rumor is unknown. This is almost certainly fictitious, since Mexico City is the greatest Sabbat stronghold in existence.

The West Indies The Sabbat has almost no power in the West Indies. Sabbat pirates have long patrolled the waters of the West Indies, but until recently the Sabbat has had no interest in acquiring territory in the area. The Sabbat vampires of Florida have been trying to gain power in Cuba, but have had little success. The sect has also been trying to insinuate itself into Haiti, but has encou ntered the Followers of Set, who fight as down and dirty as the Sabbat itself. The Cult of Ezuli is responsible for much of the Sabbat's defeat so far, but other groups have also played a role. The Sabbat has not managed to set up even one temple in Haiti, and the mortality rate among the Sabbat in Haiti is extremely high, even by Sabbat standards.

While certain Setites have even joined the Sabbat and aided in the fight against their former clan, the Sabbat is not winning the war in Haiti. The Sabbat has also begun to show interest in the Dominican Republic, but due to a cold war between the Tremere and the Followers of Set, who both possess large interests there, the Sabbat has to use more subtlety in establishing itself. Neither the Tremere nor the Setites want to further complicate matters with a new enemy. Both try to play their rival against the Sabbat rather than take action themselves.

Central and South America The Sabbat holds limited power in these regions. Most vampires of Central and South America do not belong to any sect. The Sabbat is most numerous and powerful in Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. The Mexican Sabbat have the greatest influence in Central America, mainly in Guatemala and Honduras. The resident Sabbat of both Central America and South America are mostly nomadic, but there are a few established covens. The Sabbat of Mexico and Texas have shown the greatest interest in increasing the Sabbat's influence in Central and South America.

United Kingdom and Ireland The Sabbat has been enjoying the state of confusion and dissent that has raped these magical lands of pride and unity among the Kindred. The Sabbat has sent a number of scouts to add fuel to the ever-spreading fire, but the sect as a whole is simply waiting to move in after the dust settles.

France The Sabbat of Western Europe are small in number and have so little influence in both the mortal and immortal worlds as to be considered inconsequential. The Camarilla controls Western Europe and the Sabbat is forced to slink about in hiding. The largest number of Sabbat vampires in Western Europe are in France. They exist mainly near Paris, but there are nomadic Sabbat that travel all over France. They try to oppose the Toreador's iron hold on the city, but have made little overt efforts to date.

Most of the Sabbat of Western Europe are useful spies, since the majority of them have attained membership in the Camarilla, but those of France are especially close to higher-ups of the Camarilla. These Sabbat are in contact with Sabbat in other places in the world. It is rumored that the Tremere have spies of their own who have infiltrated the French Sabbat, but this is speculation. However, the very thought of Tremere double agents has caused a panic among the French Sabbat. Their use of the Vaulderie is at an all-time high while, paradoxically, trust among them is at an all-time low.

Germany The Sabbat of Germany are well hidden in the depths of the Black Forest. They exist in fairly large numbers compared to the rest of Europe, but they are so powerful because they take almost no overt risks to better the sect.

The source of their power resembles that of the Giovanni, and they are trying to gain political and financial control of the United Germany.

The Sabbat hopes to use this might to utterly destroy the anarch-infested Camarilla of the country and use it as a place to launch an attack on the rest of Europe. The Sabbat began this plan in the 1890s and promoted aggression by Germany in two world wars. The Sabbat vampires of Germany are a ll closely knit and share in the Vaulderie quite often. They have strict rules on recruitment and feeding that all Sabbat, even guests, must obey or face Final Death.

Austria The Sabbat practically does not exist in Austria. While a few brave nomadic packs have been known to roam Vienna, the dominance of the Tremere and Ventrue is overwhelming. The Sabbat of Germany will move in to pick up the pieces and finish off the winner after the Tremere and Ventrue finish their fighting.

Spain The Sabbat of Spain are very much like their counterparts in America, and their power has waxed and waned over the years. They continually challenge Camarilla power and openly attack both the Tremere and the Brujah. It is rumored that some of the Sabbat leaders have formed an alliance with the mages of the country, but there has been no evidence to support this. The Sabbat is known to control the capital, Madrid, and the city of Cádiz. The Society of Leopold still exists in Madrid, but its power has become limited since the last vestiges of the Spanish Inquisition disappeared in 1812. Spain is very important to the Sabbat since it represents the home from which the anarch movement and consequently the Sabbat sprang.

Additionally, the Lasombra clan traces much of its heritage back to the Iberian peninsula. Until 1975, Spain had been the one exception to the sect's weakness in Western Europe. Here they ruled and the Camarilla cowered in fear.

They grew complacent in their strength and, thanks to internal divisions, lost much of their territory to the Camarilla. Only recently, with the rise of an especially powerful leader, have they been able to think about regaining their lost territory.

Italy The Sabbat has a small amount of power in Italy. A few powerful Lasombra of the Sabbat have made their