The Structure of the Sabbat

The Structure of the Sabbat

Storytellers Guide to the Sabbat part of the establishment. The Brujah antitribu hate the Camarilla more than any of the other clans, but try the hardest to convert anarchs to their side. * Gangrel Antitribu: The Gangrel of the Sabbat may be divided into two categories, City Gangrel and Country Gangrel. The City Gangrel antitribu is a distinct bloodline which developed after the Gangrel reached the New World.

They have become the ultimate hunters in the city, surpassing all the other vampires in urban survival and lore. The city is their neon forest. The Country Gangrel exist in nomadic packs and are very similar to the Gangrel of the Camarilla. Many of these Country Gangrel are American Indians, and even those that are not share certain beliefs and rituals with the Native Americans.

All Gangrel antitribu hate their fellow clan members outside the Sabbat, the City Gangrel much more than the Country Gangrel. * Malkavian Antitribu: The Malkavians of the Sabbat are no longer human in any sense of the word. The Malkavian antitribu are so insane that they are often locked up for their own safety and the safety of other Sabbat. Derangements are irrepressible in them, possibly resulting from the horrid effects of the Creation Rites.

Sabbat Malkavians have to be carefully watched by the leaders in the sect, for they are so unpredictable they might even forget whose side they are on.

The Malkavian antitribu constitute a separate bloodline.

This is a result of the influence the Malkavians have received over the centuries from the blood of other vampires. The Malkavian antitribu do seem to possess peculiar insight concerning both the Camarilla and the Sabbat. * Nosferatu Antitribu: The Nosferatu within the Sabbat are almost exactly like the Nosferatu outside the sect. They retain more of their human beliefs than any other Sabbat vampires. Many still see themselves as humans, just humans of a different sort.

They tend to form packs of their own and maintain loyalty to their clan as much as loyalty to their sect. The Sabbat Nosferatu maintain ties to their fellow clan members outside the sect, unlike the other Sabbat clans. While most Nosferatu live in the sewers of cities, some are nomads.

The Nosferatu antitribu know more of the Camarilla's secrets than any other Sabbat. Panders: This is a "clan" of Caitiff. The Caitiff united under Joseph Pander, a Caitiff himself, to create their own "clan." They have their own gatherings and rituals, as do all the other Sabbat clans. Sabbat, unlike other vampires, accept Caitiff as equals (at least to their faces). Ravnos Antitribu: The Ravnos of the Sabbat are mostly nomadic, like their counterparts outside the Sabbat.

The Ravnos antitribu are loyal to others within the Sabbat, even non-Ravnos. However, the Ravnos of the Sabbat are still a tricky lot, and are some of the wildest vampires within the sect. Many nomadic Sabbat packs are led by Ravnos antitribu. The Ravnos of the Sabbat do not get along with Gypsies or Ravnos outside the sect (they do not feel compelled to treat them as members of the same clan), and have very little contact with them. * Serpents of the Light: This clan is nearly as evil as the Setites, its ancestor clan. The Serpents of the Light is the smallest clan of the Sabbat, but it is rapidly increasing in size and power. The Lasombra considers the clan a threat to its leadership. Most of the clan's members are Haitian in origin, and the clan maintains relations with a voodoo cult.

While the clan claims a distinct name for itself, it is not really a separate bloodline. * Toreador Antitribu: Toreador within the Sabbat are very different from the Toreador of the Camarilla. The Toreador of the Sabbat are just as interested in the fine arts. However, rather than reveling in the human understanding of the arts, they carry the arts to a new level of understanding, a level far beyond that of mortals.

To the Toreador of the Sabbat, pain, cruelty and evil are just as important as all good aspects of humanity, and should thus be studied and utilized in art as well. The Toreador antitribu are very strange, almost as bizarre as the Malkavians of the Camarilla. Their inhuman interests are reflected in both their personality and their work. Tremere Antitribu: The Tremere of the Sabbat are few in number and trusted even less than Ravnos antitribu, but are highly respected. They often serve as advisors to Sabbat leaders. The Tremere of the Camarilla have cursed their rebellious brethren with a mystical mark that renders them easily recognizable by Camarilla Tremere. This curse makes it easy for them to be spotted and prevents them from acting as spies for the Sabbat. The Tremere antitribu are known to utilize paths of Thaumaturgy not practiced by other Tremere. Ventrue Antitribu: The Ventrue of the Sabbat are the true rebels. The Ventrue were the founders of the Camarilla, so the Ventrue who joined the Sabbat in the early days of the sect were among the most rebellious of all Kindred. The Ventrue antitribu feel they have the most to prove, since they are not the most respected clan within the Sabbat.

The primary concern of the Sabbat Ventrue is making others perceive them as rebels. To the Ventrue of the Sabbat, image is as important as truth. Ironically, they are also among the most widely skilled and educated of all Sabbat.

The Structure of the Sabbat I am the people - the mob - the crowd - the mass Do you know that all the great work of the world is done through me?

- Carl Sandburg, "I am the People, the Mob"

The Sabbat is not a very structured sect. There are many levels and positions of leadership. However, unlike the Camarilla, the positions are filled only by the most loyal and capable vampires, regardless of generation. The role of leader in the sect is just that: a leader. Leaders are not rulers. However, the higher the level of leadership, the more Sabbat will listen to and obey the leader. The role of leader is more or less claimed, not awarded. Thus, those fit to lead find their places, pushing out those who are unfit.

The majority of the Sabbat's leaders come from the Lasombra and Tzimisce clans. There are many strong leaders from other clans, but these two clans carry the most prestige, especially since they have had the most success in destroying their elders outside the Sabbat. The Lasombra is most revered of all since it is believed that all of the clan's elders, including its founder, have been destroyed. The Tzimisce clan has worked diligently to destroy all its elders, but a number are thought still to exist.

The levels of leadership within the Sabbat are not always precisely defined. The amount of power leaders have is based on how much they can rightfully claim. If they can back themselves up through the support of packs, then Storytellers Guide to the Sabbat Why the Titles?

The Sabbat uses many titles derived from those of Catholic church officials. There are good reasons why the Sabbat chose those titles. First of all, the name of the sect itself shows its contempt for the Inquisition and the witch hunts. Also, some Sabbat vampires actually managed to create alternate identities as church officials to steer the Inquisition away from the Sabbat and point them toward the Camarilla. The titles were kept by many after the brunt of the Inquisition died. Other Sabbat vampires began to use the titles, and they eventually came to denote actual positions of leadership.

The titles taken vary. Nomenclature depends upon what title a Sabbat leader wishes to use. The only requirement is that the title be of lesser stature than the title of one's superior. This has led to a great deal of heterogeneity among those of similar position.

In addition to this flexible (and often contradictory) use of titles, some of the titles are not connected with the Catholic church. To further confuse things, some of the titles are used in a completely incorrect manner, such as the title of cardinal. However, that is how the Sabbat does things. The Sabbat has never been known for its precision.

Keep in mind that the positions described are rough outlines of the basic power the various leaders possess.

Leadership in the sect is hardly that clear-cut. The system of leadership within the Sabbat is analogous (though not identical) to the feudal system. Both seem to be very monolithic and concrete; in reality, however, there are varying degrees of power and responsibility even between holders of the various titles, due to individual ability, wealth and support. they have the right to that level of leadership. The Sabbat uses the titles of clergy to denote the basic levels of leadership that exist within the sect. The practice started partially out of mockery, but it has developed into a useful representation of leadership.

The highest leader bears the title Regent, for (according to Sabbat doctrine) she is merely overseeing the sons and daughters of Caine until Caine returns to lead his children himself. The Regent is the president, so to speak, of this vampire sect. The Regent does not have absolute authority, but her directives are usually carried out. There have been four Regents in the sect's history. Each Regent has been overthrown by the other top leaders. Three of the four Regents of the sect, including the current one, have been members of the Lasombra clan. One was of the Tzimisce clan. The current Regent is a fourth generation Lasombra named Melinda. She is a ruthless manipulator who used assassination and blackmail to gain control of the sect; however, she has proven time and time again to be an outstanding leader.

Assisting the Regent are the cardinals of the Sabbat. This lot has managed to gain control over large geographical regions. The cardinals seldom answer to the Regent or the prisci unless their activities have a detrimental effect on the Sabbat as a whole. The cardinals are responsible for all that happens within their regions, and for planning and delegating all Sabbat activities within their respective regions. There are currently 13 cardinals of the Sabbat.

With the expansionist policy of the Sabbat, this number will soon increase.

Below the cardinals in power (although some would refute this) are the prisci. The prisci act as a Consistory (similar to a board of directors) for the Sabbat, advising the Regent and the cardinals about the affairs of the sect. Collectively the prisci have far greater power than one cardinal, but a single priscus is no match for a cardinal in the power politics of the Sabbat. Most prisci are elders or ambitious ancillae of various clans. The prisci, along with the cardinals, form the Inner Circle of the Sabbat. The Inner Circle has the power to depose or overrule a Regent.

Serving each cardinal of the Sabbat are archbishops. These vampires usually rise through the ranks, serving lengthy tenures as priests and bishops of the sect. Each cardinal has the power to appoint whomever he wishes to the position of archbishop. Some accept bribes, but vampires who gain their positions in this manner often mysteriously disappear. Most archbishops simply proclaim themselves archbishop and the cardinal usually approves it. The archbishop is the Sabbat's answer to the Camarilla prince.

The archbishop controls a city, referred to as an archdiocese.

Below the archbishops are the bishops. The bishops control the finances and security of the sect. The bishops can call upon individuals or entire packs to carry out activities in the best interest of the sect. Often the bishops control divisions of territory within a city; these divisions are referred to as dioceses. Sabbat members are within their rights to refuse a bishop's request, but they lose favor with that bishop and may be recognized as disloyal by many others.

Sabbat priests are the lowest-ranked leaders within the sect, and assist in the administration of individual packs.

Each priest is a skilled leader, though she may not be the only leader within a pack. The priest acts as emissary to the bishops in the city. The priest is also trained in leading Sabbat rituals.

Each Sabbat-controlled city contains at least one communal haven, open to any and all Sabbat members.

Communal havens are referred to as temples (smaller ones), or cathedrals (larger ones). The largest communal haven in a given city is also the haven of the archbishop.

The temples are often used by nomadic Sabbat when they pass through the city. The temples are usually meeting places and sometimes havens for more than one Sabbat coven.

The Sabbat has its share of assassins in addition to the Black Hand. These assassins, known as paladins or templars, serve as personal guards to higher-level leaders.

They are also sometimes used to eliminate threats to the security of the Sabbat or the welfare of their personal liege.

Some paladins appear to be more loyal to their personal liege than they are to the Sabbat itself.

The fundamental level of organization within the Sabbat is the pack. There are two types of packs - city packs and nomadic packs. City packs generally have more power than nomadic packs. Strong packs may greatly influence the leadership of the Sabbat in their territory. When several packs work together, they can even overrule their leaders.

After all, freedom is the purpose of the sect.

Though demagoguery is the primary means of claiming positions of leadership, the Sabbat also has a tradition known as the Monomacy. Occasionally, members of the sect become dissatisfied with the behavior of other pack members or their leaders and wish to make a change more to their liking. Doing this is no small affair. In most cases it ends with the Final Death of the offended or the offender.

Monomacy is a duel, pure and simple. The challenger sends the offending vampire a challenge which must Storytellers Guide to the Sabbat promptly be either accepted or denied. If a Sabbat denies a challenge he is usually branded a coward, and while no one may force a Sabbat to accept a challenge (since the sect values freedom), the cowardly vampire is regarded with suspicion by his superiors. If the offender subsequently takes an action deemed harmful to the sect, the Sabbat's superior will remove the vampire's title and right to lead.

If the challenged party accepts the challenge, the duel will be fought according to the rules of Monomacy. The rules provide for an arbiter who may judge the winner of a duel; the arbiter also sets the level of risk, which is usually until one party or the other is destroyed. Monomacy happens infrequently, since most Sabbat try to find more subtle means of achieving their goals. If the challenger wins the duel, he may elect another person to replace the loser. The winner usually picks himself, though sometimes vampires enter into the duel on behalf of others. Vampires who continually abuse Monomacy as a way of achieving power over others are usually assassinated under orders of the higher-level leaders. They do not like threats to their positions.

The Loyalist Movement Go put your creel in your deed, Nor speak with double tongue.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Ode Inscribed to W. H.

Channing"

The loyalist movement is an extremist faction within the Sabbat. It is supported mostly by Ventrue antitribu and Panders, but a number of the more rebellious Sabbat elders also support the movement. The cause to which these loyalists cling is one of "loyalty to the Sabbat through disloyalty to leaders." They believe that they must follow the principle of freedom, and to do so they must be able to act as they please, even to the point of totally disregarding their leaders.

They see this as the fundamental philosophy of the sect, and they are not really off the mark. Their attitudes are closer to those of the original Sabbat than their leaders' are. The loyalists argue that without total freedom, the Sabbat becomes just another Camarilla.

The members of this movement claim to be fervently loyal, but refuse to take orders. Many even refuse to take part in ludicrous rituals. They serve their own packs as they see fit, but most associate with others who follow this cause. They have their own coteries and set their own agendas.

Because of all the controversy this has caused, the founders of this movement have been attacked both philosophically and physically. Many over-zealous and overconfident paladins have lost their unliv es trying to destroy this threat to Sabbat inner peace. Unfortunately, each new attempt to quell the movement only strengthens it. Entire packs have been known to turn on their leaders and start doing as they please. The Regent has thought about deploying the extremely loyal Black Hand, but she has yet to commit to any action.

The Black Hand He must be a demon flown first class from Hell, advance agent for the Anti-Christ, if he is not him in person.

- Philip Jose Farmer, Nobody's Perfect The Black Hand is a sect within a sect, an elite group of vampires recognized as separate from all other Sabbat. The Black Hand (or simply the Hand) is not truly a separate body, however, since all its members are loyal to the Sabbat over all else.

The Black Hand is composed primarily of Assamite antitribu, as well as many of the more militant vampires from other clans. The members of the Hand do not exist in packs of their own. Rather, they are members of normal Sabbat packs. While most Black Hand vampires are tough, their irate packmates quickly put them in their place if they overstep themselves.

The Black Hand is a special militia which the leaders of the Sabbat can muster in times of need. All Hand members are quite skilled in the ways of war. The Black Hand does not remain intact for long periods of time, since the Sabbat leaders fear the order might attempt a coup against them.

Throughout its history, however, the Hand has always served faithfully.

The leaders of the Sabbat call upon the Black Hand most often for the purpose of leading assaults against Camarillaheld cities. The Hand is the most deadly assortment of vampires ever gathered and makes short work out of almost all opponents. The top-ranking Sabbat do not favor elitism, and when low -level Sabbat leaders muster and deploy a part of the Black Hand to deal with a threat the Sabbat packs could deal with, the low -level leaders are punished.

The members of the Black Hand themselves select the Sabbat vampires who are to be offered a chance to join the Hand. Some of the more ambitious Sabbat try to catch the eye of the Hand by showing off their martial skills, participating solo in a War Party, performing bravely in sieges of cities, or challenging a member of the Hand to a duel.

The Black Hand puts all candidates through a rigorous series of trials which test cunning, willpower, physical prowess and martial skills. Those who pass the trials are inducted into the Black Hand. The new Hand member receives a permanent magical brand in the shape of a black crescent moon on the palm of his right hand. After the vampire's induction, the Hand assigns him a sponsor who acts as a mentor to the vampire. The new member of the Hand receives detailed instruction in the order's ways, and he must come when the Hand calls him to action.

A council of four powerful vampires rules the Black Hand.

These four, known as the Seraphim, act as generals for the order, serving the Regent directly and sitting on the Consistory with the prisci and cardinals. The Seraphim are aided by the dominions, the lower-level leaders within the Hand. To become a dominion or a seraph requires the support of the existing leaders, as well as excellent leadership, intrigue, political, combat and tactical skills.

The Black Hand is one of the major reasons the Sabbat has stayed together through all its internal conflict. The Black Hand alone among the Sabbat remained united through the last Sabbat civil war. The Hand managed to hold onto a few cities, preventing the growing Camarilla from moving in. However, the newest seraph, calling himself Djuhah, is rumored to have plans for the creation of permanent packs, called columns, composed completely of Hand members. The Black Hand has been very secretive of late, so this could very well be true.

The Black Hand is also rumored to be fighting the power of the Sabbat Inquisition. This could be for political reasons, but it is possible that the Black Hand has secrets it wishes to keep hidden.

The Sabbat Inquisition The Sabbat Inquisition is just as violent and impassive as the Inquisitions that came before it. The Sabbat Inquisition