Of Guests and Giovanni

I remain ecstatic over the events of the previous evening.

The visitors were a mix of Camarilla, Sabbat and Independents

who had come to our Black Monastery in search for information

and for the trail of a certain Giovanni.

For Vadislava and the others, the joy is in knowing that 

one among the group has considered an attempt

to embrace the new way of thinking that they had espoused.

For me, however, I see a greater joy

that all the others have remained blind to.

Allow me to repeat myself:

Camarilla.
Sabbat.
Independent.

United under one cause.
One banner.

Perhaps there is a use for the Giovanni after all.

Personal Journal of Lady Meridie  de Chancie

A message sent to a non-existent place

Swhcee,

V is itmavq wl evvt una hmqjmr bn sm.  W vm ab tuvuzr gum ewiig puqrl hcag bvim ggecg jkawye lbc cpwge lbc cwffeq gpxwibh gum tquct qnztqbb cybiqa oid ubwja tjr guwym kco jrzk ewglvao zw dvy.  V nu tw zjntrz zps tohao sib toh giaovo tb emgl oid jeqzm kciyr gucf neeiqimg reer mtrcteq og smb rhbfm liqzs V jqrt bzvre nuzuzt.  V nu tw zjntrz zps vdhyb ewi wiq sixmkzly na O aoo oa gpk komrvnok bvvt jna zw hvkr zm zw hce haqbmfnigl bnih caq giqmb aisgmkv mzaef wl gcpr rnztqbbs.

V nu tw zjntrz g uoi.

Aaq enmb D srr ue nfdeaqa, lmzgoj zwtahzrf, V kgv vzae gpku gkenxqto hj mr.  Gpxwibh gumoz adnqf. Bnzcpgu gpkqf woqvmy.  Q qvn frm zps xoagiovsy rntm ov Adcurt'y cbwengqto vzaeg.  Q iib cene bnm kjrevmj nsvr va Qgscq's yvxy.  Q qvn fzmrt hce tewcqbb iaucsibdtl vv Ybsaaa'f aucz.  D cna bgahz tur kuxdzrl fwatg dn Fgweib'n tbaoam.

Oid jumt vc jnr va rwcfiat, Q iib cene pkz.  O nosg duqqz tunb iwaaoega sm sqea zwxm hcaa zg swhcee'f mbmf yiq.   N duqqz tunb xmadnqf uk Q gzrir pkz oid urz gtcie.  Nal zpoo wurv zps oizr kuusn, I fuirt ydly swx psm brpiaas D wnab zw.

W rifu bnqg geggmx nwidf lwa, ucohre.
Jab mju undk jszn qrij ncm oirz g piiderl emoms.

Jug jw W ntvyt rqjz?

On Matters Of Monsters and Men

My Brother,

You have failed to maintain your loyalties.

Have you forgotten everything that our father had taught us?

Politics, religion, such things are all irrelevant

when compared to the bonds of  blood.

You are important to me, and I still pray that you

shall come to understand why I have allowed them

to do this to me.

I know that you, like me, still believe that our father is alive.  

I remember the rumors we heard.  1444.  The talk of the monsters

that stalk the night.   And that those who were chosen

by the familia Giovanni

would return, if they ever did, changed.

Our father was changed.  

You could sense it, Luc.

I could see it.

Our mother's blood has gifted us in ways

the things of the night did not understand.

The Giovanni have come for me

and I knew unlike me, 

you would find a way to hide and run.  

But I have allowed them to change me

for in doing so, we have a better understanding

of these monsters

and how to defeat them.

Someone stalks me, Luc.

I can feel his eyes follow me.

My servants whisper to me of the times when silence is thicker than sin.

Perhaps it is one of the Nosferatu,

or perhaps an Assamite who now hungers for my blood.

I shall write you soon again, Luc.

I shall share with you this... tome that I have found.

I am certain you will find it interesting to say the least.

Until then,

may the Maiden watch over you.

Your sister,

Anette

The Dead Still Tell Tales

(This letter was found on the body of a messenger loyal to the family of Giovanni. It's authenticity has been confirmed as the final missive of one Antonio Giovanni, head of the trading house in Torino, Italy.)

Most esteemed Claudius Giovanni,

As requested, I am sending you the latest reports of our holdings in France.

Lyon is now open to trade and their silk now travels along the route to Roma. We have managed to acquire 10 bolts of silk of the highest quality after "negotiations" with the merchant Lambert. The next shipment will arrive in six months time. Our eyes, ears and fists in Lambert's home will ensure it.

Marseille continues to provide us with much needed oils and perfume from the east. The Guillem merchants assure us that the raids of pirates along the coast will not affect trade whatsoever. However, we have dispatched la gruppo armato to ensure that our shipments are uninterrupted.

Anette, has learned her lessons well. She has been put in charge of the mercado of the city. Business goes well; our profits have increased twice fold due to her determination and political savvy. La funzionario of the city are quite charmed by her and act to please her every whim. It was good of you to send her to replace my tenente di vascello.

Which brings me to our next order of business. I would like to once again plead with you to investigate his death and send additional assistance. Mario was loyal to me and to the family. His death was...unfortunate but I do not believe he committed suicide. He was murdered, maestro. I am not strong enough in la arte di la nigrimancy to call his spirito from the other side.

Our spettro servo told me that they had witnessed someone with him before he "threw" himself from the roof of his palazzo. It is my belief that this person was attempting to break the Camarilla's Masquarade. Mario knew better and so lay where he was while the people gawked and stared. He was carted off to be buried but he never made it outside of city.

Also, merchants within the city have become afraid to deal with us directly, saying that their moneylenders and messengers have been turning up dead if at all. The Prince will not lift a finger to help. I have used my contacts to determine if an assassin has been contracted against us. The Children of Haquim deny their involvment but our spies tell us of a rogue Cainite hunting the streets of the city. Please, you must... (The rest of the message becomes unreadable as it is covered with the messenger's blood)

That the Anarch War Come to an End

Many years have passed since the start of our current conflict now called the Anarch Movement. Be it known that on this night of 23 October, 1493, the Jyhad has ended. The time for self-destruction is over.

This Concordat, bound in the Covenant of Caine by sacred vow, represents an unyielding vigilant truce between the Kindred known unto themselves as Anarchs, the Clan Assamite and the free-standing Kindred bound under the title of Camarilla. Henceforth, the parties shall be recognized by faction as the Anarchs, the Assamites and the Camarilla.


Each of the parties agrees to the responsibility of maintaining peace. Each shall lay its censures upon any who breach or oppose this sacred Agreement. Accounting will be made of all parties for violations by them to either the letter or spirit of this Agreement. This document is legally binding under the accepted Lextalionis of all Cainites as it has passed through the ages. All Kindred are entreated to accept and gain pleasure from this peaceful accord.


Be it known that the Anarchs will enjoin with the Camarilla as an accepted part, making it whole. Anarchs are expected to work peacefully to achieve their own ends. They must become defenders of all and they shall receive full entitlement to all rights and privileges belonging to all Camarilla Kindred. All Anarchs shall be accepted back unto their elders and their formerly denounced clans without any fear of reprisal. Only the most vicious of atrocities shall not be forgiven. These shall stand written for the Justicars to hear within one year after which all allegations are no longer valid. All Anarchs shall reclaim all remaining and rightful property confiscated from them. In return, they must turn over any war gains taken during the conflict by giving them to their sires or any recognized clan elder.


Know also that if the Anarchs are further warred upon, this open jyhad invalidates their responsibility to maintain peace with their attacker. They may act freely without fear of reprisal from any nonactive members of the Camarilla. Anarchs are guaranteed the freedom to act as they please short of breaching the “Masquerade” imposed for the protection of all Kindred from the kine.


It is also noted that any member of any other self-proclaimed sect must openly declare this before his elders and renounce this relation. Failure to do so will result in the destruction of any deemed guilty. No Kindred may be sent knowingly to his death by an elder or sire unless the security of clan or Camarilla outweighs the possible loss of unlife.
From this night forward, the Assamites shall henceforth no longer commit diablerie upon members of other clans. The Assamites must commit themselves to this acceptance by a mark of assurance placed upon them in the form of a thaumaturgical limitation. All members of the Assamites shall become unable to drink freely of the vitae of other Kindred from now unto forever. In addition, the Assamites shall pay the Brujah elders of Spain two thousand pounds of gold in ransom of the five Assamite elders captured committing diablerie. Also, the Assamites may no longer participate in Blood Hunts.


Be it also known the Assamites are guaranteed complete independence from Camarilla demands. The Assamite fortress, Alamut, shall be free from any further assaults. Assamites are also granted, out of respect for their beliefs, the freedom to commit diablerie upon all Kindred not recognized as holding membership within the Camarilla.


It is rendered that all parties involved and all showing allegiance to any of these parties shall be held responsible for all aspects of this Convention brought forth here, in the neutral kingdom of England, outside the hamlet of Thorn, near the town of Silchester. May Caine hold truth and peace for us all. 

A message to the Founders

Oh most "honorable" Camarilla

I care nothing for your views, your goals, or your lofty ideals.  I care nothing for your desire to search for a world under the oppressive hands of the Antedeluvians.  Ours has perished, crushed beneath our might, and you dare think that your vision would burn bright enough to tear away the shadows of the Lasombra?

You were wrong to assume that the revolt would end with the so-called Treaty. 

You were wronger still to assume that your Inner Council holds sway over us the way the Antedeluvians believed as well.  We are all children of the Forgiving God, and we are all meant to be in this world to play a role in His Divine Plan.

Your request is ignored.  I care nothing for the sake of the Anathema you claim that seeks refuge among my people.  I care nothing for these Children of the Conspiracy, nor for the one among their ilk who has found a place in your supposedly intimidating Red List.

Iberia is mine.

The Night will always have shadows.

And my shadows have eyes.

Do not test me.

A.M.

The Repentant Monk

Brother Clement
Clan Unknown, Assumed to be 7th Generation
Embrace:  April 4, 1444

While most of the other guests that night died (and some would say dying would have been far more merciful an ending), Brother Clement was one of those who survived.  When the Children of the Conspiracy finally met with the Conspiracy of Isaac once more, the vampires regarded the survivors with a certain degree of respect and awe.  The newly embraced Cainites had survived the wrath of The Founders, after all, and thus were worthy of some level of respect.


Claudius Giovanni immediately attempted to forge new ties with the newly embraced vampires, having their Sires approach them to congratulate them or welcome them to their appropriate Clans.  None, however, approached Brother Clement.  The Lady Jadviga immediately explained that none were able to witness as to who gave Brother Clement the vitae that transformed him, and it was to be a mystery that will remain one for the time being.


Clement however has shown a vulnerability to sunlight and in one occasion was witnessed speaking to what he claimed to be an angel hovering above the night sky.  He had admitted to being formerly part of an order known as The Red Monks but had long lost their favor.  But just as dawn was nearing, the Children could not deny seeing the burning cross that emerged in the cloudy sky just as Clement demanded that God himself give him a sign that he should not simply await the coming sun.