introduction:

First act: The Dead are Dreaming

(characters should be within at least one generation of human feeding at the beginning of the campaign. Diablerie is heavily encouraged as a means of survival. While one does not necessarily have to kill their new prey, they must consider that it is a relatively new norm in vampire society.)

Key concepts: childrens terror

Cainites all across the globe are wracked with nightmares and hunger, as a result of the curse the vampire society quickly shrinks and explodes, novices possess untold power and the new concept of ancients is often inverted, with lower generations being particular targets out of the self preservations of the younger, but diablerie is now almost easy. Thusly, the older one is, the more likely one is to be of higher generation, whereas the lower generations are usually younger and more hasty. called predators, exceptions to this rule are known as patrons

even the highest generation of nosferatu only find substance in the homeless, the need for blood is great, for now it has to be no less than three generations weaker than one's own, the oldest and lowest generation immediately enter torpor or tore all apart to satiate their hunger. Subsequently they sire hordes in vain attempts to establish artificial food chains. Generation after generation turned and slaughtered just to thin the chain as much as possible. A line could go fifth generation, eighth, eleventh, thirteenth, human.

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‘’The curse laid bare” (act 1 scene 1)

This scene should function on the inhumanity and more so the suddence violence of the situation. For example A la sombra court ripped to shreds at dusk as the bloodsoaked victor still succumbing to torpor, drowned in his own power even as he thirsts for more vitae, or a brujah suddenly possessed to slaughter his childer , standing barely conscious over the body as they weep and groan in turns. The dream should be described in detail, as below, or with your own words.

Gehenna was perhaps the single worst thing to come to bear in kindred history, but it was such a quiet thing humanity might have missed it, it came not with armies and great wars, but as kine and kindred, human and vampire respectively. had been separated, a curse and an unquenchable thirst for blood.

For now, we shall see the smallest example, a bond so great as to even exceed that of lineage, torn asunder by ignorance and hunger. an inhumanely beautiful creature slumber, indistinctly human. Four delicate arms wrapped a body of marbled bone that formed plates, it lay so still it would have been mistaken for dead had it not been for its quiet muttering, it dreams what all her kind would dream that night and forevermore.

Thirteen blood soaked sigils adorned as many nails in an incredibly intricate and beautiful sarcophagus, each sigil was unique and seemed to slowly shift as ages passed, the sarcophagus was made of impossibly dark wood, seeming to sink in forever, if one could manage to separate their eyes from the accursed darkness, they would find a distinctly beautiful iron trim, which held in it a mural. the iron twisted and bent into scenes of impossible accuracy, from the first murder all the way to the present day, it seemed as though the mural was truly all encompassing, and maddening, to look upon this mural was to see all history unfold at once, but most curiously, the scenes, old and new constantly shifted and changed, fortunately the view of these was brief for most, though what layed within is perhaps even worse, though more palatable, a layer of stone filled in the oblivion, it was bound in sigils of great demonic power, sigils hateful and inhumane by very nature, from fallen to kupala, the demons had all granted some share of there power to seal away whatever horror lay within.

The innermost layer seemed the most hospitable, layers upon layers of animal fur, real and imagined, mythical or physical, they cushioned something so curious that were one not truly traumatized from what they had seen previously they might have laughed, it was a man, or more accurately, a vampire, he screamed in an ancient tongue, the first language, his eyes were mad with pain and hunger, remorse and rage intercycled but his voice was always clear, like he were only speaking in different tones and adjusting a volume switch.

“Do you hear me children? Damn you, damn you all, too long have you submerged me in your pathetic beliefs and horrible curses. Too long do you deny me salvation, I will see you all burn with me, I will achieve golconda, i will rise and be destroyed by god, but not before I see you all pay for my eons of torment, i am a man and every man must die!”

“Waking the beast” (act 1 scene 2)

For the duration of this scene, whenever making a courage or frenzy roll difficulty is increased by three dice.

After waking the available blood pool not consisting of vampire vitae within three generations higher than one's own are discarded,after feeding this scene should be used to establish personal views on this carnage and personality

Just as the being was about to rise, another strode in, tall and devilishly handsome, he waited fitfully, fighting himself over some great yearning, his shadow seemed to cast in every direction, regardless of the light, sometimes creeping its way across the room towards the slumbering one, before violently being torn back, he respected this one immensely but he was so damn hungry.

The bone melded beauty rose, it had no eyes, but still it could feel the cold embrace of oblivion inching closer, “i know why your here child, must it be this way? I suspect our hunger does not necessitate killing.” but it seemed her friend had made his mind. For his shadow shot forward like a great spear, she was far faster though, almost disappearing from vision as she dashed out of the coffin.

“I needed you to be awake, i couldnt kill you in your sleep, you mean to much for that, but now it is time, i cant help it, if you are right then i apologize for this, truly” the shadows shot forth again, narrowly being dodged, a demon of shadow and an ivory angel shot about each other. Flitting and striking, the “angel” never truly seemed to attack, but each touch and every brushing of her fingers ripped a scream from his throat. Soon, the shadowbound one struck, severing the others leg, the shadows seeming to shatter the bone inwards, possessed as they were with the infinite cold. Her scream awoke the most primal parts of her power, using all her limbs she lept forward and in what was perhaps the most sickening sound ever heard, her hand simply sloshed through his sternum, he didnt even scream when she liquefied his heart, he just went limpin her hands as she landed on top of him.

“Bloody patrons” (act 1 scene 3)

Your group has been taken as the charges of a powerful vampire. This being is no higher than 7th generation, whether through diablerie or circumstance, and is deeply involved with at least one path of enlightenment (homebrew advised. I find most paths cartoonishly evil) and prior to the beginning of the act, was primogen or other politically powerful beings.

After she had woken she commanded one of her ghouls to leave as she drank his blood, “forgive me” she muttered when his body, lost of its heart and blood, crumbled to ash, rising she began to make arrangements, taking care as she made delicate decisions, the following weeks would be truly horrid and she needed to cash some favours.

An acrobat was lured in from a carnival, on the premise of a prospective festival, inside of her home he fonud two people, the man that had brought him, a local lord, looked on with deep and unconcerned eyes, watching curiously as something else entered the room “welcome my dear” said the being, it had not changed much since last we saw her, save for its legs which had been returned to pair. “I am egoia, i offer you much in turn for your loyalty, you are well trained and we offer you more than a silly festival”

The beings horrific visage caught him off guard, but her silken voice captured his attention, “demon, what is this deal of yours? What could you possibly offer me that I might consort with something so foul and unholy?”

The creature laughed motionlessly, “forgive my appearance, it is something of an acquired taste i understand., though your words are somewhat offensive for a guest. Regardless, I offer you eternal life and physical prowess beyond human and without effort. All i ask is your service, it is a time of great danger and i require trusted advisors, none of my kind is safe to trust, but perhaps a newly introduced creature could understand. I will provide answers after you accept, otherwise you are free to leave unharmed.” the acrobat looked at his lure. Who nodded mechanically.

“Gluttony of the ancients” (act 1 scene 4) old vampires, finally clawing their way from torpor, have begun to hunt the weaker vampires.. Some are mad with hunger, others furious at their subordinates. They hunt in packs or solitarily, your group has come to the attention of perhaps the worst possibility, a methuselah not enraged, not hungry, but clever, and patient, this being may have powerful underlings, or perhaps they are simply always watching? This being is targeting your group in regards to the diablerie of your patron, which it must be at least one generation higher than.

Perhaps a year later these same beings met again, the acrobat looked haggard, but unchanged, they both looked upon a howling lunatic, “left me, they left me, abandoned and alone, so long alone, help me, help me… please.” her hair a crimson of such deep shade it almost looked like the blood streaked across her face.

“Damn it egoia, what have you done to this woman?”

“It is a childe of malkav,”

“her sire? Are they?

“It seems that it is one of the links.”

Act two: whispers and whisps, ghosts and growls

Key concepts: the patron and the predator

Your patron may not necessarily be a good or kind one, they must simply desire your survival, this could range from a nosferatu that must feed on you to sustain themselves, to a malkavian obsessed with her childer, who sees fit to herself hand out fitting punishments to them.

Your predator should however be more refined. It is absolutely hunting you, and in that, you should embrace the fundamentals of hunting, patience and observation, precision and power, they should learn about your characters, interrogate former colleagues, embrace former loved ones, etc. the goal is to strike once. They need not necessarily be cruel, or even evil, they must simply desire your patrons blood

“The new normal” (act 2 scene 1

The dreams and there consequences have become known as The Gehhennet. Religious or abhorrent, they are now seen as rites of trial for each new vampire. The need for strong blood has caused mayhem in society, sires the world over have wrought entire lines in desperate attempts to stave of torpor, even still, most spend weeks or months hibernating, this too goes for your patron, though often they end up only asleep for a few weeks at a time.

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“discipline before the duel” (act 2 scene 2)

Your new predator does something truly unexpected, they introduce themselves, courteous and intelligent, they do not harm anyone as it is deemed they are too weak to kill your patron, but they do offer a choice, to switch patrons, in exchange, boons are offered, from safe passage in the city to havens or even a chance to cannibalise an ancient.

“Wars waged with words” (act 2 scene 3) (possibility 1) Players are free to divide themselves among patrons, and for the course of the game should seek ways to interact and learn about the others, from team ups to battles, knowledge is the purest form of warfare. In this case they are encouraged to wait, play nice, in a world of anathemy it should not be taken for granted that these two beings are willing to protect and guide you. Starting a jyhad between them would guarantee protection for centuries.

“Singing with the spirits” (act 2 scene 3) (possibility 2) should a unanimous decision be reached among players. The predator will begin to recruit others, spirits rendered restless by the insane violence, perhaps they control fetters or have taken in the survivors of the first nights massacres, regardless, this group is stronger even than the tattered remains of the camarilla. Regardless, they hold these creatures as great prizes and genuinely care for them, harm against these beings could result in being personally targeted. Battles are discouraged in favor of plans and traps, rushing in is stupid and will get your predator killed.

“Patience rewarded” (act 2 scene 4) short of a preplanned altercation or such. Your predator should strike a single time And either put your players on the run for act 3 or succeed in there goals. Either way. The party is deeply weakened, but the summation of gehenna has yet to come, and it can be felt in the blood, a tension in the veins,.

Act three: stricken are the arteries

Key concepts:bloodborne

Perhaps the antedeluvians still had bodies, perhaps they never did. But not once were they seen during gehenna. Never did they rise to consume there childer. Not physically anyways, instead they twisted and ravaged their descendants in subtle ways. Groups divided serving nothing but a passive amusement to these ancients, and now they know the time has come, suddenly, as they stir and stir, they draw on the blood passively, millions more enter torpor as the needs of the blood are strained ever further and bane severity is double, but due to the magnification disciplines require half as much blood.

“Ambitions and angst” (act 3 scene 1) (possibility 1)

Now that your party has been thrown into chaos either by eviction or the death of the patron (possibility 2), the predator should once again appear, this time they no longer seek a fight, instead they have come to the attention of one of the methuselah, and is being hunted as a threat, a blood hunt has been initiated on there name, they may not survive the night.

“Conflagration and conflict” (act 3 scene 1) (possibility 2)

Now that the patron has been consumed, your predator will begin feeling the conflict of his soul and the patrons, they may seek to assist your party. Or be unable to harm your party directly, regardless, now that it has what it wanted, it will set its sights on a local methuselah.

“Placing the pieces” (Act 3 scene 2)

The predator has begun the political game and machinations in an effort to take out the methuselah, interestingly, the creature never does business at night, it uses ghouls who walk the day and carry out its orders in relative secrecy. Set up a plan for the predator to go about, and an appropriate contact insight roll.

“Ancient and angry” (act 3 scene 3)

Moreso and moreso, the predator loses itself among the monsters it has made of itself, derangements fade in and out, they cannot control it, perhaps sometimes it calls itself cain, or the embodiment of gehenna, regardless, it begins to not only fear but despise more powerful vampires, paranoid of there judgement or ire/

“Influence and pride” (Act 3 scene 4)

The methusalah has fallen, and now perhaps the predators greed has been far too much, for the antedeluvians, worse yet caine himself, have taken note of its actions., it enters a painful torpor and its eyes begin to leak blood, in one week, it rises and moves steadily closer to the closest third generation vampire.

Act 4: retribution in heaven's name (conclusion) (this section contains a series of ending possibilities)

Key concepts: path of golconda

The angels saw cains murder, and abhorred it, billions of lives wiped from history in seconds, thus they demand retribution in equal parts to what was taken. Upon the falling of the second generation,, the dark father in righteous anger and equal remorse, finally sought golconda, but salvation requires sacrifice and amendment, thus Gabriel had given him the tenets of golconda.

Humanity must be preserved

His stain shall be wiped from the earth completely.

He shall, when all him and his are one, see the rise of dawn and accept his penance.

In a sense, the antediluvians have staked cain. That he may never rise and seek his retribution. The material of this offense is the blood of all kindred.

“le sacrifice pour le ciel et les, sauveurs nés avant le déluge”

Your party should find a tome of knowledge from one antediluvian, written in the first language, that reads as such

All hold him, first one

Hateful are the angels that guide him

For god contempts him and his spawn

His is the will of blood and blood is his curse

Thus his blood shall be the end and the preservation

The antediluvians have slowly been weakened and slaughtered, perhaps a plan of cains or simply a fear of those more powerful than themeselves, the guards of all vampire kind are nearing the end of there control, should the predator succeed in advancing enough to challenge and diablerize one, the war will be lost, and cain shall wipe away the stain of vampire kind, stripping all vampires of there curses at once, and thus there unlife.