The Holy Crusades

The Holy Crusades Storytellers Guide to the Sabbat Sabbat vampires differ from other vampires in their overwhelming loyalty to their sect and their belief in personal freedom. The Sabbat is founded on these two principles: loyalty and freedom. All their activities promote them. The Sabbat believes Antediluvians founded the Camarilla and plan to use it to make their Gehenna much simpler. The Sabbat exists to stop the plans of the Ancients by spreading word of this domination and creating an army of vampires strong enough to stand against them. Many vampires of the Sabbat believe Caine himself created the sect, acting in the guise of a Ravnos elder. No evidence has been revealed to support this argument, but it is known that a Ravnos Methuselah named Vestgeir was instrumental in holding the anarchs together after the Brujah leaders betrayed the Revolt. He disappeared shortly after the Sabbat-Camarilla Jyhads of the 1500s and 1600s. No one ever found out what happened to Vestgeir. The belief that Vestgeir was actually Caine started after his disappearance. Looking back at his accomplishments, it appears to be a possibility, and many in the sect would love to find conclusive proof. This belief is fundamental to the doctrine of the Path of Caine. Many Sabbat use this argument in their efforts to convert anarchs and other Kindred. The Sabbat is unliving proof that the strong survive. No matter how hard the Camarilla elders, with their superior numbers, try to destroy the Sabbat, the sect survives. Sabbat Kindred have accepted this idea of vampiric Darwinism, and it strongly influences the sect's methods. The Sabbat heavily bases the creation and recognition of new Sabbat on choosing only the strong and putting them through trials to prove themselves. Vampires are not human, and the members of the Sabbat recognize this fact. Unlike the fools of the Camarilla, they call themselves vampires, not Kindred. They do refer to each other as brothers and sisters, but do not use the word "Kindred" except in sarcasm. Sabbat recognize themselves as the apex of the food chain. They do not try to be human, because they are not human. Instead, they search for a higher morality than that practiced by their dinner, and it takes many forms. Sabbat put their sect before their clans. They place little distinction between themselves by clan, but certain clans do have more prestige than others. Members of the sect respect the Lasombra and Tzimisce clans for having destroyed their Antediluvian founders. The Tzimisce also has a great deal of prestige within the sect because its members discovered the Vaulderie as a means of escaping Blood Bonds. Unusually, Caitiff of the sect are recognized as a clan and treated accordingly. Gehenna He who is skilled in the attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven, making it impossible for the enemy to guard against him. This being so, the places he shall attack are those that the enemy cannot defend....He who is skilled in defense hides in the most secret resources of the earth, making it impossible for the enemy to estimate his whereabouts. This being so, the places that shall hold are those that the enemy cannot attack. Sun Tzu, The Art of War Spoken of in conversation by Kindred of all generations today is the return of the Antediluvians to drink the blood of their young. Most consider it myth, but the vampires of the Sabbat believe the hour close at hand. The Sabbat ceaselessly prepares for its final stand against the warlords of the Jyhad. Gehenna, according to the Sabbat, is the conclusion of a cycle of vampiric existence, but not the true end for all vampires. The young will struggle against their elders and only the strong will survive. This is a major precept of the Sabbat's ideology, and a major contributor to their mass creation of vampires in battle against the Camarilla, the Inconnu and other foes. The creation of the Sabbat theoretically occurred at the beginning of a cycle. The Sabbat grew out of the Anarch Revolt, which occurred at what they believe was the end of the last cycle. The Sabbat 's purpose is freedom from the tyranny of the elders. The sect believes that only through loyalty and freedom from the rule of the elders can the younger generations repel the Antediluvians. From their experiences during the Anarch Revolt, the vampires of the Sabbat learned that even rebels needed some kind of structure for their rebellion to succeed. The struggle for freedom and loyalty united to create the Sabbat as it exists today. The Camarilla was created at the end of the last cycle rather than at the beginning of the current one. The Camarilla was established to protect the vampire race from the Inquisition and the anarchs who were killing their creators. Although the elders of the vampire world formed this sect, many young Kindred chose to stand with the Methuselahs. Today, the Camarilla's main purpose is the protection of all Kindred from the eyes of mortals. Only through the Masquerade can the vampires survive in the modern world. Belief in Gehenna is scoffed at by most within the Camarilla, but most of those who do believe in it are certain that the Camarilla will protect them. The Holy Crusades What if I told you there was no place you could run to hide from your fears? Where good is bad and bad is good and all the tears you cry no one can hear? 24-7 Spys, "Heaven and Hell" It is in the Sabbat's best interest to control as many cities in North America as possible. The sect believes that only by conquering Camarilla-controlled cities can vampires free themselves from the control of the Antediluvians. The siege of cities, also known as the Crusades, lies at the very heart of Sabbat ideology. According to the leaders of the Sabbat, the Camarilla exists to allow the Ancients to easily defeat the younger generations of vampires. To lessen the advantage of these warlords of the Jyhad, the Camarilla must be destroyed. This does not mean that all vampires of the Camarilla must be destroyed - only the sect itself. The first step in the taking of a Camarilla-held city is to decide which Kindred are worth saving and which should be destroyed. The Sabbat sends spies into the city to investigate the vampires therein. For years the spies remain in hiding, gathering all the information they can about the enemy, especially the primogen and the anarchs. These two groups will be their strongest opposition. Following the initial investigation, other Sabbat spies enter the city and Present themselves before the prince as Camarilla of another city. Most join the ranks of the anarchs, but some develop relations with other coteries. These spies faithfully serve the Camarilla for years, going to extremes to be seen as trustworthy and faithful by their peers and superiors. The real fun begins when these spies begin to play Kindred against one another, creating tension and animosity among the primogen. Hopefully, this subversion is enough to If the art of vampiric warfare can be mastered, the Sabbat has come the closest to doing so. While based on freedom, the loyalty among its members and the belief only the strong should survive give it strength in the Jyhad. When the battle rages, the Sabbat uses all the powers at its disposal. Its members become true daredevils, unafraid of Final Death. There are several tactics which have proven useful to the Sabbat in their efforts: * The Sabbat makes good use of spies. It sends operatives into enemy territory to gather knowledge and to create dissension within their ranks. * When fighting vampire hunters, the Sabbat puts the hunters on the defensive by turning any relatives and loved ones they might have into vampires. They also face the hunters in direct combat when possible. The packs will usually use their newest recruits as bait to lure the hunters out of hiding. The cost in Sabbat recruits is usually much less than if the hunters were allowed to hunt the vampires one at a time. Hunters find Sabbat vampires difficult prey since the sect is so secretive and since its members can usually be found only in groups. The open profession of vampirism by the members of the Sabbat * When facing Followers of Set, the Sabbat attacks them openly and massively, going beyond even the force it throws at the Camarilla. The Sabbat believes Setites to be as inhuman as themselves, and respects them accordingly. * Encounters with Lupines have led the Sabbat to fashion silvered weapons to deal with the threat. Silver swords are commonly used, but daggers, arrowheads and axes are also found. The Sabbat usually tries to pick off Lupines one by one. It also tries to surround them and burn them to death from a distance. * The Sabbat produces massive amounts of expendable vampires to throw against any enemies, thus keeping them off guard and outnumbered by more than two to one. * The Sabbat creates total chaos within the enemy's territory. It murders human servants, uses torture, burns havens, spreads distrust among the enemy, and calls War Parties against certain elders. The Sabbat uses similar means to defend itself from invasions of its own territory. In addition, its members stay in their well-defended communal havens and murder their own human servants to prevent information leaks. The Sabbat is very unpredictable and dangerous. Its members are not afraid to go to any lengths to win in Jyhad. This makes them seem crazier than Malkavians and as ruthless as Assamites. Storytellers Guide to the Sabbat Sabbat Tactics Blood will follow blood Dying times are here. Metallica, "Damage Inc." * If their Camarilla enemies protect themselves from mortals through the Masquerade, the Sabbat destroys the Masquerade. deeply disturbs some hunters, causing them to act without thinking. disrupt Camarilla authority in the city. Even if this plan does not work, the next stage of the operation begins. More Sabbat vampires secretly enter the city and hide, using concealed havens provided by the previous spies. The actual siege begins at this point. The Sabbat in the city begin using the knowledge they have gained to destroy the city's Masquerade. First, they reveal connections between the Camarilla, city officials and other important people through anonymous tips to the media and authorities, and even go so far as to plant evidence. While nothing is likely to come of this, it should panic and confuse the Camarilla leadership. Then the Sabbat vampires begin murdering other human pawns of the Camarilla. The Camarilla leaders in the city are forced to focus their efforts on repairing any rifts in the Masquerade created by the Sabbat. The Sabbat is usually recognized as the culprit by this time, so the sect becomes more direct in its assault on their enemy. The Sabbat begins to mass-produce vampires and throw them at the Camarilla, thus keeping the Camarilla occupied. The tear in the Masquerade opens even wider as the murder rate and the number of missing persons cases rise within the city. As the new vampires are destroyed, more are created to take their place. The Sabbat tries to openly convert Kindred, especially those of high prestige since they might bring others with them. If Sabbat vampires are attacked, they will retreat if it is not to their advantage to face their opponents. Experienced Sabbat will lead small groups of new vampires to protect themselves from direct conflict. Any Kindred destroyed by the Sabbat will be left for mortals to find (assuming said Kindred is not so old that she immediately crumbles to dust), further jeopardizing the Masquerade. The Sabbat singles out the Tremere to bear the brunt of the assaults. If the Sabbat knows where the city's chantry is, Sabbat packs will converge on it early in the siege with a massive number of new vampires. While many Tremere chantries prepare for such assaults, few have survived against the overwhelming numbers of Sabbat. Some Sabbat packs join the siege only for War Parties, hoping to destroy a Camarilla elder and rob him of his vitae. War Parties are usually called against more than one elder, keeping many of the elders off guard trying to save themselves. Most of the packs involved in War Parties are nomadic. If the Sabbat is successful, the Masquerade shatters and Camarilla Kindred flee the city licking their wounds. Most of the time the prince of the city is too stubborn to relinquish control except under the direct order of a Justicar. Young Camarilla Kindred are offered a chance to stay with the Sabbat in the city if they so desire, as long as they are willing to convert to the Sabbat way of unlife. Sabbat vampires continue to move into the conquered city and establish control over the mortals living there. The Sabbat has had a lot of experience in covering up evidence of a recent conflict. It is not long before the memory is erased from the minds of all the mortals of the city, and the events explained away as another crime wave. The Camarilla does not forgive and forget. The Camarilla has tried to take and retake cities from the Sabbat, with only limited success. It is hindered by its continuous effort to hide from the eyes of mortals. The Camarilla succeeds only through intricate planning and precise execution, while the Sabbat relies on the loosely controlled creation of chaos, sometimes to such an extent that even the leaders of the siege have no idea what is happening. Storytellers Guide to the Sabbat How the Sabbat Conducts Scouting Missions The Sabbat is known for sending advance agents into enemy cities in preparation for full-scale invasions. Some believe it has spies in practically every Camarilla city. Others cannot imagine how the sect manages such an operation without being uncovered. How can spies exist among vampires who sense auras and read minds? Because the Sabbat knows its enemy, it takes careful precautions. The Sabbat has used spies for a long time, and much of what it has learned about the art of espionage came from the Tremere antitribu, as well as trial and error. The Assamite antitribu, Ravnos antitribu and the Lasombra are also excellent spies. The Sabbat's diversity and loyalty has provided the sect with excellent scouting resources. Assisting greatly to espionage are the Tremere antitribu. They learned espionage from their original clan, and they brought with them information which aided the Sabbat in espionage and counterespionage alike. The Sabbat Tremere, due to their curse, are unable to act as scouts, but they have designed useful rituals for spies. They have also been responsible for the creation of a number of Sabbat relics used in scouting missions. The Assamite antitribu possess great knowledge of stealth and assassination techniques, though few of these have ever left the clan's hands. The Ravnos were among the first scouts the Sabbat used because of their unique Chimerstry abilities. They have consistently proven useful, especially on short-term missions. The Lasombra are masters of intrigue, so they are closely in tune with what goes on behind the scenes, although their inability to reflect in mirrors makes them relatively easy to detect up close. However, the greatest benefit to the Sabbat has been the Tzimisces, because of their Vicissitude Discipline. They have the ability to completely alter a Sabbat scout, making her appear exactly like a Camarilla vampire. The methods used by the Sabbat depend upon the exact nature of the scouting mission. While the following information concerning scouting missions is not concrete, it is as close to an actual formula as the Sabbat gets. Keep in mind the Sabbat should be unpredictable, so its members will not act in the manner they are expected to act. The Sabbat is known to choose members of specific clans for specific activities, relying upon their natural strengths. However, individual ability is far more important than clan, so if a more suitable vampire is available, he will be chosen. For short missions, two Sabbat are typically chosen. One is often a Ravnos antitribu and the other may be either a Lasombra, a Tzimisce or an Assamite antitribu, depending upon the nature of the mission. The two work as a team to accomplish their goals; the Ravnos antitribu uses his powers to conceal the whereabouts of himself and his partner. The Sabbat often picks a Brujah antitribu or Tzimisce for medium-length missions of around one to two years. Brujah find it easier to fit in among their fellow clan members than do Sabbat of other clans. If the alternate identity is one that should grant respect and distinction, a Tzimisce is chosen. The scout is usually sent in alone to avoid suspicion. Tzimisces are sometimes trained in Thaumaturgy and use protective rituals to prevent others from reading their minds. If not, they are usually given Sabbat relics to protect them from detection. For long missions, a Brujah antitribu is usually chosen. Brujah antitribu find it easier to form good relationships with enemy vampires, especially among the anarchs. Gangrel antitribu are the next most popular scouts for long-term missions since all Gangrel are known to be loners. It is relatively easy for them to fit into Camarilla society, though they will probably not develop a large number of good relationships. The Tzimisce make up the majority of the remaining scouts. In all cases, the Tzimisce clan's Vicissitude Discipline, as well as the Tremere antitribu's rituals and relics, make the Sabbat scouts hard to pin down. In addition, the scouts are always chosen from the most intelligent, humane, zealous and adept of all the Sabbat. Their loyalty is beyond question. In some cases, the scout will actually replace an existing vampire and assume his identity. A Sabbat War Party captures the target, then subjects him to constant torture, as well as the Dominate and Auspex Disciplines. The Party then passes on all information, even the most minute details, to the scout. Sometimes this process can take a year, especially for important assignments. The pack priest or the scout's closest friend is usually chosen to act as a liaison in order to make sure the scout does not defect. The liaison also makes sure the scout remains connected to his pack through the Vaulderie. At each meeting, the liaison brings the scout a container of the pack's mingled vitae, which she watches the scout drink. On occasion, the scout is able to meet with his entire pack and participate directly in the Vaulderie and other Auctoritas and Ignoblis Ritae. The Sabbat has had the most difficulty in its efforts against the Tremere. It is a tough clan to penetrate, and the Sabbat has had almost no success in doing so. However, the sect believes the Tremere has not had much success in trying to penetrate the Sabbat either. A very vital part of the Sabbat's scouting network is the role of the Nosferatu antitribu. They provide the Sabbat with a great deal of useful information about Camarilla activities. They help instruct scouts and also help make sure the scout is safe and doing his job. The Uses of Kine What fools these mortals be. Seneca, Epistles, 1, 3 The vampires of the Sabbat are so evil in the eyes of mortals, not because they were warped by the Creation Rites, but because they have accepted the idea that they are superior to humans. They feel no sympathy for humans; indeed, to live and act human, to feel human, is against their nature. They are the chosen. They were destined to be vampires. Their former lives as humans were mere preparation for their real unlives as children of Caine. Humanity was simply their larval form. Sabbat vampires do not consider mortals members of the same race. Mortals are considered to be animals and treated as pets and food. Nonetheless, the Sabbat occasionally uses mortals as followers, servants and spies. Mortal retainers are viewed as property and their owners may use them in any manner they see fit. Still, humans do play important roles in the sect's control of many large corporations. Some of the most faithful become ghouls. Each ghoul is Blood Bound to only one Sabbat vampire and does not