The War of Ages

The War of Ages [Lasombra]. The dark one (as Caine himself called him then) could not abide even theoretical subservience to one such as [Ventrue]. Others resented [Ventrue’s] position as well: the foreign Set, the occult [Tzimisce], the vain [Nosferatu]. For the most part, though, the remaining founders respected [Ventrue] and Caine’s decision to elevate him above the rest. After all, no one disputed Caine’s wisdom openly in those nights. Then came the Flood that wiped away the First City and many of the Kindred and kine therein. As the first drops of rain fell from the sky, Caine turned to [Ventrue] and declared that he intended to leave the younger Kindred. Not trusting any of his firstborn, Caine placed the mantle of leadership upon [Ventrue’s] shoulders, charging him with watching over the other Kindred, to steward them through the long nights ahead. Ever loyal to his grandsire, [Ventrue] accepted this grave responsibility. As Caine departed, the waters arrived and washed the city away, destroying many weaker Kindred who had been spawned during the city’s golden age. When the baleful waters finally receded, the Kindred sought to rebuild their home. The six Cainites of the Second Generation sought to procure Caine’s vanished legacy for themselves, but few among them had ever commanded the Antediluvians’ respect or loyalty. In their desperation to be free from the Second Generation, many of the now-Antediluvians turned to [Ventrue] for counsel. Together they slew their sires and set themselves up as rulers, just as Caine had suggested before he left. They then set about building the Second City. The War of Ages At first, the Second City echoed the glory of the first. It became a place where Kindred walked among the kine as gods while the various blood-siblings of the Third Generation set about founding their respective clans. Soon, though, the city became overly crowded, and the Kindred grew restless. Trying to hold the disparate community together, [Ventrue] attempted to listen to and resolve the Cainites’ problems — even the depredations of his sister, the witch. Soon the petty bickering turned into violent hatred. Not even [Ventrue] could hold the contentious broods of his fellows together when not a single one of them seemed to want peace. Finally, Caine’s chosen successor laid down the law and brought the Kindred into line through pure force of will. He slew many wayward Clanbook: Ventrue