Book I: The Twilight’s Last Gleaming

A Camarilla Chronicle

Story 1: Born Into Darkness

Henry Vasiliev is a budding young entomologist, married to his friend and living the double life of a closeted man in the 1980s. While his wife Sally struggles with the difficulties of hiding her truth from her parents, Henry becomes increasingly worried about a stalker who has made Henry its prey. Henry thinks he might have found a sympathetic ear, even as his life unravels. But that new man in Henry’s life turns out to be no man at all, but rather something far more dangerous. A week of nightmares await Henry in a “changing room” of horrors.

Read “Caterpillar” notes from Henry’s perspective here.

Henry emerges from the “changing room” and is taken on a whirlwind tour of his new environs: The Undercity. But first, he has to pay respects and pass muster with the One Below, the Prince of the Undercity, Caius. The ancient being confirms Henry a Shepherd of the Deep, which pleases the young Nosferatu. He gets to know the denizens of the great world below the streets. Henry develops a more intimate relationship with his sire, Bottleneck, sharing blood in a mutual Blood Bond. Over the years, Henry makes new friends among the creatures of the Dark, and settles into a comfortable, if alien, unlife. Five years pass and Henry is called before Caius once again, but this time to accept a new assignment: as a fabled Operative.

Henry starts his new job as a Nosferatu Operative. Primogen Cylus Pine presents Henry as his childe, “Henry Pine” to both the Princes of Georgetown and of Alexandria. Henry meets a few other Kindred from other Clans and feels the cool air of the outside for the first time in years. Henry is then sent on his first mission topside and goes on a scavenger hunt with Geronimo “G” Jones. When the pair return successfully, Henry is given his true mission: befriend a Ventrue and gain his trust. Future assignments will follow . . .

Read “Better Fly” notes from Henry’s perspective here.

Vincent Rose Blackburn, “Rose” to their friends, is a free-spirited stoner who works as a waiter but makes a lot more money as an underground street fighter. After an evening serving an odd customer who takes a suspicious interest in them, Rose scrapes by in an upset win against a much larger opponent in the ring. But to win is to lose, for Rose has caught the eye of the Gangrel who are looking for just such a recruit. After Rose loses their life and their best friend, they set off into the night: a newly baptized vampire with no idea what is in store.

Read “To The Victor” notes from Rose’s perspective here.

Rose faces off against two raging Lupines and escapes without meeting Final Death. After stealing some clothes and essentials, Rose makes their way back to Rockville, Md. where they meet the self-styled Gangrel “Duchess” Vandy Rae. She teaches Rose some of the essentials that Bennett never did . . . for an unnamed favor in the future. Rose is given hospitality for the night and continues on through D.C. the next day to make their way to Bowie where the fateful meeting with Bennett is to take place in a day’s time. Rose finds a nice crypt, belonging to Alfred and Mary Pine, in which to rest.

Read “Lessons” notes from Rose’s perspective here.

Vito Armandasanti wakes up from his operation to find that his son has pulled through and is recovering — and curious about building a relationship. Vito accepts an invitation to meet with Barnaby Wilcox at the exclusive Pendentist Club where the regal man makes Vito an honest offer that he has no interest in refusing. Vito puts his mortal affairs in order, delivering a message to the Russian mob (realizing that Kindred pulled the strings), grooming daytime workers, growing out his beard and connecting with his son, and then meets with Mr. Wilcox for the anticipated Embrace into the true global ruling class. Vito — now Vitus — spends a night and day in one of Wilcox’s penthouses of disgusting discomfort, yet he is surrounded by luxury with all of his needs met. The following evening, his agoge begins in his introduction into unlife among the august Ventrue.

Read The Don’s View from “Acceptable Terms” here.

Vitus begins his Agoge with his sire, Barnaby Wilcox, on July 4. The two determine Vitus’ preferred “palate” and Wilcox spends the next two weeks drilling into his childe the history of his venerable Clan and the Camarilla as a whole. Vitus is presented to the Princes of both Domains of the region and meets Board Director Jordan Bingham. After successfully completing his Agoge, Vitus returns to his home in Chevy Chase to settle matters there. His mother, distressed over changes in her beloved son, suffers a heart attack and dies. His sister Scarlett finds comfort in the arms of one of Vito’s underlings who becomes his brother-in-law.

Read The Don’s View from “Conditions May Apply” here.

Juniper gets to know the ghoul Nathaniel and decides upon a course of action in her predicament. She asks questions before enduring the Malkavian embrace from Prentiss. Following the Change, Juniper - now Jinx - is taken before the Malkavian Primogen Joan for appraisal. Joan tells Prentiss to present her to the Prince of the City by the year’s end. Jinx spends eight months in the Malkavian Domain of Ivy City/Gallaudet, straining against her shackles and only managing to escape once. Her sire grows bored of her and tired of her rebelliousness and very much looks forward Jinx’s integration into Kindred life - no longer her problem.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “Prisoner Princess”

Zachary “DJ Zakz / DJ Prophet” Sellz is a late night DJ at WRXL 102.1 FM Alexandria. He is used to strange callers on his show, but has gotten some truly unsettling ones recently. Zachary is troubled by horrific nightmares and does his best to have a good day at work with this best friend and co-DJ Benjamin, but he seems to have a blood-soaked waking nightmare on air. After work, Zachary walks home alone in the dead of night and is abducted by a man in rags. He is Embraced in Ben Brenman Park by the man who calls himself Immanuel. Zachary’s visions become more acute as he makes his way home, only to vomit up his organs.

Read The Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah from “Hello, Caller” here.

Zachary cleans up the mess of his Becoming. He is wracked with more visions, yet tries to have a nice, normal evening with his best friend Benjamin. Zachary has a vision of his sire in a mirror and finds the Cobweb for the first time. He is warned that he is pursued by the Black Hand. Zachary sees visions of the end of the world and communicates those on his radio show. The power is cut to the station, and a strange man uses powers to overtake the producer and confronts Zachary about a temple’s location. For some reason, he leaves. Zachary leaves the station with his friend and co-workers, but those three speak in unison, clearly under the influence of a great mind. They thank Zachary for being their Voice and for continuing the Great Work.

Read “One Voice” notes from an unknown source here.

Adrianna Josephine Dior is an artist and a starlet of the Southeast D.C. Ballroom scene. She has a dream life with her rich and handsome boyfriend in the wealthy suburbs of Virginia, yet still maintains ties with her House in Southeast and competes in the Balls. After helping her House prepare for the Artistic Extravaganza Ball, she leads them to victory at The Mill only to catch the eye of a besotted twink. The smitten Toreaor is overwhelmed by Adrianna’s beauty and designs and even more impressed with her paintings in her gallery in Del Ray. In a fit of pique and passion, the twink Danė — who turns out to be a Toreador — embraces Adrianna with no idea as to what to do next.

Adrianna wakes from her death on her gallery floor to the pacing of a panicking young Toreador. Unintended sire Danė does his best to salvage the situation by taking her back to his penthouse in Del Ray Tower above his club Fuse to introduce her to his blood dolls and ghouls. Adrianna goes through the wrenching experience of The Change and then Danė does his best to explain the situation to her and then hatch a plan for hopeful survival following his unauthorized siring. The two go to Signature Theatre in Toreador-held Shirlington for a guild meeting overseen by Danė’s sire, the Keeper Melisand Granger. Danė throws himself at Melisand’s mercy, and Adrianna, now Desirée, is given a chance to prove herself . . . or die.

Desirée’s sire staked, she is taken under the wing of Keeper Melisand Granger. With the help of a Ventrue Harpy, Danė’s messes are cleaned up and his penthouse emptied. Desirée is given a rundown on the Traditions and is prepared for Court. She is given a tour of Elysium and makes a difficult phone call to her boyfriend. Upon her presentation to the Prince, her status in the Domain is legalized, but at great cost to Clan Toreador. Melisand hopes her sizable investment is worth it.

Alazar Makonnen is a CIA agent who is good at his job, despite the nightmares. A promotion at Langley leads to some interesting missions for the veteran operative. His loyalty is tested when he must bring in a rogue agent who had been his friend.

Read “Dulce et Decorum Est” from the archive of the Lazarus Files here.

Alazar goes further down the rabbit hole into the shadow government that truly rules the world. He goes through a series of tests and begins taking red pills for lunch to boost his strength and endurance. Alazar, now Number 7, is sent on a mission to the CIA to inject a floppy disc into his former handler’s computer. Finally, he is rewarded with the Tremere embrace, and the gift of a first meal: his old running partner.

Read “Pro Patria Mori” from the archive of the Lazarus Files here.

Number 7 feasts upon his former running partner and is inducted into the Clan Tremere with the ancient rites and oaths of loyalty, administered by a member of the Council of Seven no less. Number 7 goes through the change and arises the next night to begin his orientation with Number 4. After learning a few disciplines and giving precious vitae to his Clan, Number 7 meets again with Pontifex Peter Dorfman to get a lay of the land. Number 7 goes through a decade of training and preparation, and then finally one night in 1994, he meets Peter atop the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development to receive his first major mission and his new identity: “Septimus.”

Thaïs Wyche-Key is a mechanical engineer in training surrounded by idiots and pigs in her workplace. She has a side hustle of helping out less-than-legal operations during her “off” hours. Thaïs’ best friend Drea gets the wonderful news of a job opportunity at iNova Hospital in Fairfax and the pair decide to go out to a warehouse rave to celebrate. Amid the pouring rain and thunderstorm, the friends join up with Boo and Petra to run across the industrial park to Petra’s squat for an afterparty. Just as Boo is lighting up a blunt, he hears a noise downstairs. A creature rushes past Boo and Thaïs from the darkness . . . 

Thaïs is in a dream state at the Louisiana State Fair with her mother and father, living in her happiest memory, but this goes sour when the voices of the outside start to intrude. Jason Li uses his blood to embrace a dying Thaïs and brings her into the world of the Kindred. Thaïs survived the creature, but at a great cost: her best friend is dead and she is changed beyond recognition. In Jason’s dojo in Annandale, she grapples with these changes as her body rejects the last vestiges of her mortality: vomiting blood, bile, organs and more. Jasongives Thaïs the facts of unlife and then takes her on a walk to her old house, where they gaze at the stars on her roof.

Read “Need a Mop” from Thaïs’ perspective here.

Palliative care nurse Ezekiel “Asa” Armstrong gets some bad news. With a dismal health diagnosis, Asa does his best to hold it together, keeping up his shift to care for “Auntie” Desmond. But Asa’s body is catching up with him. He meets with his best friend, who soothes him. Asa calls his estranged father at last, though their reunion is not a happy one. Asa meets an elderly lady at a bus stop who takes an interest in him, asking strange questions. After a long day, the same woman appears inside Asa’s home and vanishes just as quickly.

Read the Book of Asa for “Diagnosis” here.

Asa stands ready with his bat, but the woman or any other intruder is nowhere to be found. The next day, Asa goes to the comic shop to clear his head and awkwardly flirts with the shop owner, Ryan. Though, it is not clear if he is flirting back or is equally socially awkward (or both). Asa meets again with Lily, and his symptoms are getting worse. That night, he feels himself stalked again and prays to the lord to give him another day of life. The woman steps from the shadows and walks away, assenting to Asa’s wish. The next day, Lily takes Asa out to see the sights of Dupont Circle. Lily buys a corset and Asa is sold far too much leather at the Leather Rack. The two explore the gayborhood in a whirlwind of kissing boys, rainbow rings, coffee shops, boutiques and more. Asa is exhausted by the end, but thankful of his time with his friend. Asa bids Lily goodnight, though she offers to stay on his couch again. This night, the woman, Diane, approaches Asa again, but this time heals him. Using her third eye, the woman reveals that she is no woman at all but indeed a powerful creature of the night of an ancient order protecting the world called the Salubri. She takes Asa’s life and gives him another: embracing him with the Salubri kiss. Asa sees the world with his new eyes. How he managed to get to a shower, he doesn’t yet know. He has some time missing and apparently Diane can take whole chunks of his life and scoop it out of his head. Nonetheless, Asa pukes his guts out: literally. All of his organs are expelled in a night of horrors. Following hours of torment, Diane returns to clean up the mess. She then takes Asa out to the gymnasium/ballroom of the abandoned and condemned YMCA the two are staying in. Diane explains a few things to Asa, but his mind is reeling. He takes the opportunity to rest in one of the abandoned rooms in the YMCA basement as the light of the day forces his eyes to close. That day, Asa has a dream of an ancient god-like force with a third eye staring at him across a long path. Asa rises into the air in defiance to the creature.

Asa wakes from his strange dream and has a long discussion with Diane. After answering a few questions about the nature of unlife as a Salubri, the pair determine that they must deal with Lily in order to complete Asa’s “death.” Diane tells Asa about the power of Dominate, though she is loathe to use it often, for it endangers her soul to do so. The pair leave the confines of the condemned YMCA building to travel to Fairfax Inova Hospital to ambush Lily. When Lily finishes her shift at the mortuary, Asa flags her down in the parking lot. The two have a fraught discussion, but Diane intervenes with her Disciplines. Diane leads Lily back to the morgue as her “guest” to Dominate Lily into swapping out a John Doe for “Asa Armstrong.” Asa and Diane return to the YMCA and Diane instructs her childe further on the history and ways of the hunted Salubri.

Harold Benjamin Kershaw is a reporter for the Washington Post. In many ways, he’s living the J-School dream: working as a reporter in the White House Press Pool for one of the most respected papers in the country. But Harold has been diagnosed with cancer and his sickness is getting worse. He is essentially laid off from work (with a pat on the back and a smile). On his last day on the beat, however, a woman on the cleaning staff at the White House hands him a package, saying that Harold had dropped it. Harold inspected the package to find that it was a series of reports, photos and maps detailing the schemes of a pharmaceutical corporation “Brexco” and its ties to Congressman Bryce Donovan. Harold pondered why he was sent such a missive, as his “beat” was generally federal: not something local like a Northern Virginia pharmaceutical company. Nonetheless, he takes the package with him to visit his parents in Maryland.

Harold Kershaw is staying with his parents in the picturesque town of Thurmont, Maryland amidst the brilliant leaves of the fall surrounding him. Harold wasn’t feeling well, and made an appointment with his oncologist, Dr. Durani, but the mystery of the “Brexco” package has Harold like a dog with a bone. The reporter, though on an indefinite sabbatical due to his failing health, began snooping about using his rolodex, his parents’ phone line, his own cell, and a trip or two to the nearest town for Kinkos. Over the next few days, Harold found that the popular freshman Congressman Bryce Donovan (D-Virginia) had been knee-deep in the Brexco deal from the start: he might even be a plant just to make sure the deal went through to build a plant in Manassas. Harold went with his father to Falls Church to the offices of the Falls Church News Press to check out their archive and speak with a few contacts. Harold was able to pour through the microfiche files to find more information on Donovan, his unfortunate predecessor (and predecessor’s family), and anyone else who stepped up to stop him. It was found that pancreatic cancer appeared to be the cause of death for many who either opposed Donovan politically or got in the way of industry deregulation. Though Harold’s health continued to fail him, he traveled to D.C. to have an off-the-record talk with a whistle-blower at the EPA. Melinda Wyatt told Harold about the shoddy job of regulation the EPA did on signing off on the building of a phosphorus processing facility in Manassas. When she tried to mention something about it, she was shut down by her boss. Another co-worker who made a bigger stink died . . . of cancer. Melinda’s boss at the EPA? A man named Fred Lutzberry who was in the dossier as one of the possible co-conspirators behind the rise of Brexco and of Donovan. Things took a turn for the dangerous, however, when Harold stopped by his apartment. He was shocked to find that his door was unlocked and all of his possessions had been neatly stacked and alphabetized. All of his furniture was moved together into a cube in the center of the living room. Harold’s father called the police as Harold used his investigative skills. The police were not able to be very helpful, other than finding no prints. Nothing was stolen, so there was not much of a “crime” to report, but clearly, something was looking to spook Harold. When Harold went out to investigate further, he was taken aback by his own physical limitations. Something was terribly wrong with his body. He fell to the ground, yet managed to call the paramedics from his cell phone. As he waited for them to arrive, a woman stood over him and comforted him with more familiarity than Harold might have expected. Then everything went black.

Harold “Harry” B. Kershaw wakes in the hospital with his mother and father sleeping in chairs next to his bed. The next day, Harry speaks with his oncologist, but doesn’t get very good news. Beaten down, but not beaten, Kershaw rests up in the hospital and is discharged a few days later. Harry researches a bit about alternate therapies and second opinions, but it is looking as though his health diagnosis is fairly grim. Even so, he gets an unsolicited call from a woman named Mary. She seems to know quite a bit about the Donovan/Brexco investigation and is interested in sharing information. She sets up an interview with Harry for the following night at the Old Ebbit Grill in D.C. Harry sets up a place to stay in D.C. with his buddy and former co-worker Daniel, just in case this meeting runs late into the night . . . she didn’t even want to meet with Harold until 10:30 p.m., so who was to say? Also, staying with his parents (for who would stay at his D.C. apartment after the events of a few nights ago?), they live a good two hours away, so it was just best for him. And so, Harold meets with the gorgeous woman named Mary at the Old Ebbit. She seems to know a great deal about the things Harold is researching, and claims to be working for a public interest group which lobbies WMATA (the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority). She plies Harold with more information and suggests that the two go somewhere more private for a further exchange. Harold follows Mary out of the Old Ebbit and down the street quite a way until the pair arrive at a small nondescript building entrance, thought by curious tourists to be one of the Secret Service tunnels for the White House. But, indeed, the room Mary takes Harold to is windowless, concrete and bare. There is only a hatch leading to the unknown depths. At this, Mary takes a more sinister tone, blocking Kershaw’s exit and demonstrating her strength, launching Harold like a rag doll across the room. Mary bids Kershaw to descend into the hatch and he complies. Mary’s voice suddenly changes into something far more rocky than the smooth tones of the beautiful woman as was. She drinks a small draught from Kershaw and concludes that he has only a month or so to live. She suggests that those she represents, creatures of the night, can heal him and that the night creatures had indeed been following Kershaw’s career with the belief that they were to do something with him eventually, but his recent health turn has sped up the plans of the creatures. Mary suggested that if things don’t go well, they will just wipe his mind and send him out to die anyway. Kershaw, though confused, does not move to stop Mary. Mary drops her façade as a beautiful woman, becomes the monstrous creature she truly is as she lunges at him and drains him dry. Harry’s soul has a choice: follow the light into the unknown, or fight for life as the warm blood being shoved down his throat from the hideous woman brings fire into his undead body. Harold lets go of the light and follows the warmth: there is too much to do on this Earth.

H.B. Kershaw goes through the frightful Nosferatu change over the next several nights: his body distending, his organs rejected, his imperfections growing ever more pronounced. Following his change, Harry manages a brief moment of escape, but is quickly recaptured and taken down by his sire, Mary. Mary Pine takes Harry on a skiff all around the Undercity, but first she has him presented in the Court of Darkness to the Moravignians, Darius and the Prince of the Undercity, Caius himself. The ancient amalgam creature made of thousands of smaller vermin, Caius, greets Kershaw and names him to be an Operative, as was expected. After meeting various denizens and locales of the Undercity, Kershaw gets acquainted with his new “digs” in the Upper Warrens. The Nosferatu (or Lykid, as they are known amongst one another) generally want for nothing: any little do-dad that can be procured from the surface. And it will be one of Kershaw’s jobs to procure things for the commune. Harry then goes past the Chamber of Horrors to meet with Mary in the Operative map room. There, she begins Kershaw’s long education into the World of Darkness and the Camarilla society in the buildings above.

Story 2: Baby Steps

The Camarilla S’eth Adar forces gather at the Elk’s Lodge of the border town Bowie, Md. in preparation of the counter-offensive to dislodge the Sabbat interlopers. Priest leads the troops in a mission designed to utterly destroy the Sword of Caine in the area. Jinx and Rose meet for the first time, as Rose finally meets up with his erstwhile sire and struggles to prove himself. Jinx has little choice in attendance, but knows that if this mission goes successfully, she will finally be presented to the Prince and freed from her “Mother’s” yoke. The pair meet a few other Kindred and grab their weapons. Prentiss, Jinx and Rose move in the advance group to surround the Sabbat revelers who are participating in some sort of occult ritual. Prentiss signals the attack.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “Antebellum”

Rose and Jinx fight in the Battle of Bowie, overwhelming the Sabbat in a sneak attack. Following the battle, which raises many questions for both characters, they are presented before the Prince of Georgetown at Elysium and are made full-fledged members of the Camarilla society of D.C.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “The Spoils”

Read “The Battle of Bowie” chapter notes from Rose’s perspective here.

Vitus attends a Vencor Board Meeting and is given the task of resolving the Brujah matter in the Southeast docks. Bottleneck has a Valentine’s Day surprise for his childe/lover Henry. Henry goes out for his first real mission topside and braves the Tremere Prince’s Elysium. Vitus attends the Valentine’s Day themed Elysium at the Sandra Polloch Boat House as well and meets Henry. Henry ingratiates himself to Vitus by providing free aid and the two agree to meet at Vito’s haven in Chevy Chase.

Read The Don’s View from “A Vampire Valentine’s” here.

Jinx has a troubling prophetic dream of a campus stalker and goes to investigate. Rose is already on the case with Prentiss, as the S’eth Adar have been called in to the University of Maryland College Park to track down a sloppy Kindred murderer. They follow the scent of perfume to find a troubled fledgling who has killed her roommate and boyfriend. Later, Vitus and Henry go to the Southeast docks to spy on the Russian Brujah. Henry reads lips to determine that the Russians are moving large crates, one containing “great knowledge,” into the Tremere Domain of Alexandria.

Read The Don’s View from “Perfume and Lips” here.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “Perfume and Lips” here.

Rose continues their mission with Prentiss and resists the urge to kill his partner and still manages to send her none the wiser on her way. Jinx finds a pay-by-the-hour hotel to lay low with her charge, the clueless fledgling Allie, until she can devise a more permanent solution. Henry narrowly escapes a ravening Brujah following his espionage mission only to become a ravening killer himself after he gets away. Vitus flexes his Presence muscles and sends a hapless Brujah packing with a smile on his face. Rose makes their way back to Malkavian territory and spends the day among Jinx’s things: including a giant mural of the teen stalker of College Park.

Read The Don’s View from “On the Run” here.

Thaïs is presented at Elysium after a month at the Dojo with Jason. She finally gets a chance to confront the body of her murderer and take a little souvenir. Desirée has an unveiling of a masterwork portrait, but is embarrassed to discover the painting replaced with a stick figure and a text bubble “bye.” Desirée enlists Thaïs in helping her. The pair chat with a few folks, including the Nosferatu Primogen Cylus Pine who offers to find the culprit in exchange for their help with a troublesome foe. The pair go to Desirée’s penthouse to plot and get dressed in something more comfortable. They then go out for a joy ride and then attend a Brujah rave. After the police come to usher out all of the mortals, the Brujah remain to duke it out in some sort of ritualized fighting match. Thaïs comes out on top, besting Jeremiah’s childe Bozwell.

Thaïs and Desirée parted ways for the day, Thaïs returning to Jason Li’s dojo and Desirée going to her penthouse. Thaïs trained with Jason and learned more about her mastery of Celerity. Desirée fed at her club in her normal persuasive seductive way. Desirée got a call from “Box” who told her that he would meet her at her club wearing the face of a nondescript man with a black hoodie and red shoes. When Thaïs arrived, she wanted to feed, but lacked experience. In the process, she nearly killed one of Desirée’s ghouls (Theodore), leaving blood all over the place and possibly causing a Masquerade breach. Just at that, “Box,” a.k.a. Cylus Pine arrived on the “interesting” scene.

Desirée thinks fast and, with the help of her ghoul Sebastian, manages to salvage the unfolding Masquerade breach in her club. Cylus Pine gives a sated Thaïs and annoyed Desirée the run-down of what is expected of them to get the boon of knowledge as to who stole the painting and where to find it. The pair are to entertain a troublesome Setite named Marcel and after he is appropriately drugged up, to then batter him and stake him. Through seduction and the help of some Toreador ghouls, Desirée manages to get Marcel up to her private chambers for the trap to be sprung.

Desirée has Thaïs break the bones of their staked Settite guest, Marcel. Thaïs loads him into Desirée’s car after Desirée stops for a quick snack, first with a Toreador ghoul and later with one of her patrons. Desirée and Thaïs drive like mad through the city to the Bowl America parking garage to meet with their contact, Cylus. Cylus inspects the victim and has his underlings, Alfred and Bottleneck, load Marcel into his big black van. Cylus tells Desirée and Thaïs that he knows who took the painting: no one. The painting is still in the same place it was before, only obscured by a tricky frame. He had set the whole thing up to test Melisand’s Auspex and to get Thaïs and Desirée to do his dirty work, making the Settites their enemies in the process. After some negotiations, he gives the pair $3 million for their trouble and their silence, with an acknowledgement that there might be future jobs for them on the horizon. Desirée and Thaïs inspect the painting in Elysium. Both the Prince and Seneschal are captivated by its beauty. Desirée’s Elysium dues are paid through the gift of the painting.

Rose wakes in Jinx’s haven to Joan telling him how rude he has been. The two seek out Jinx by Joan’s connection to her great-grandchilde, Comet. Vitus and Henry clean up and go to meet the Ventrue Primogen, Jordan Bingham, to tell him of the Russian Brujah plot. He surreptitiously reads the Nosferatu spy’s mind and tells Vitus to find a way to infiltrate the laughable Anarchs to learn what they stole from Texas Instruments. Jinx and Allie leave the motel with a rude overseer (who turns out to be Vitus’ ghoul pimp). Jinx tracks down the Anarchs to Dharma Coffee House in Southeast and takes on great debt convincing them to smuggle Allie out to Chicago and points west. Jinx meets up with Rose at long last, and incensed at his invading her haven, dominates him into doing something embarrassing, leading him to lose control and enter frenzy. Vitus and Henry arrive just in time to see the developing Masquerade breach and work to contain it.

Read The Don’s View from “Poking a Bear” here.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “Poking a Bear” here.

It is May of 1988 and Desirée and Thaïs are continuing to run overland operations for the Nosferatu. Desirée’s newly-refurbished and rebranded club is having its grand opening that evening and Thaïs is expecting a large parcel from Richmond delivered by her trucking company, but unsure of its contents. Both notice on the news a newscaster go completely “off script” to rave about vampires controlling the world and even gets a few things right about the true rulers of the night. All of this before he is taken off of the air and the station goes to commercial. Desirée goes to H&H Ranch to meet with Thaïs and go together to the opening of Euphonia. They open the crate to find a stinking Nosferatu. After feeding her a cat, the Nosferatu introduces herself as “Julie Pine” of Richmond. She is to meet Cylus at Euphonia that night. Once she does, the pair will get paid. They take a big trip to Euphonia with two cars and ghouls in tow. Once there, Des and Ty feed. Desirée has her normal fill through her seduction (making Elijah jealous, but not much he can do as a blood bound ghoul). Thaïs however, who never really touched drugs in her “lifetime,” accidentally becomes very high on cocaine-blood. Cylus arrives to take his “niece” away and pays the women. Simone Laurentiis of Clan Tremere pays Desirée a visit and asks if she was aware of the Masquerade breach on the news earlier that night. Simone had it on good authority that Desirée and Thaïs had contacts and some sort of talent agency to possibly pull off a “fix.” The cover story for the breach (which turned out to be a malevolent Malkavian prank of some sort which was “dealt with”) is that it was a part of a marketing strategy for a shitty vampire movie. Simone charged Desirée and Thaïs with getting that movie together. The pair labor over two months, hire their actors (and even get an unknown radio personality, Zachary Sellz, to do some voiceover work . . . and no one yet has put together this previous connection), and have a director film a D-list movie to make up for the breach. Desirée and Thaïs go to Elyisum with the movie canisters guarded by their ghouls outside. They negotiate a minor Boon from Clan Tremere for their service to the Camarilla.

Listen to Thaïs’ Rants and Raves from “The Producers” here.

Number 7, now “Septimus” poses further as “George” as he flies from Andrews Air Force Base to Chicago and then back to National Airport to be intercepted by the local Camarilla forces. He is then taken to the Lighthouse of Alexandria Chantry for an introduction to the Regent and Prince. He is tasked with finding the Masquerade breacher, DJ Zakz. Meanwhile, Zachary and his friend Benjamin have a caffeine-fueled rant attempting to find out what is going on. After a cobweb discussion with Immanuel, Zachary is prepared to do what he must to avert the end of the world. He “comes out” to Benjamin as a vampire. Desirée has built up her reputation throughout the past decade as an accomplished artist, but she needs new inspiration.

Read The Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah from “Home is in the Heart” here.

Benjamin and Zachary tried to separate fact from fiction when it came to vampires at Ben’s apartment. #7 performed a ritual to find the pair and tracked them from the Lighthouse of Alexandria Chantry. He knocked at the door and after some rough words, had a pleasant conversation about the nature of Kindred life, though warned that forces were indeed arrayed against them. The three took a cab to the Americana Hotel for a quiet night of reflection. Just as both Zachary and “George” spat major revelations at one another, the sound of potatoes being thrown at their hotel window drew their attention. Upon inspection, they found these were no potatoes, but rather birds who broke their necks flying at speed, flinging their bodies at the coterie’s temporary lodging.

Read Benjamin’s “Vampire Notes” from his experiments with Zachary in “Superstition?” here.

Zachary, Benjamin and “George,” still reeling from the attack by a flock of birds, find that the winged horrors seemed to disappear, though the rip they made in George’s coat remained. George had no explanation for this, but provided Zachary and Benjamin with far more information on the nature of Kindred society (from the Camarilla perspective) at the cost of making Benjamin a ghoul. The trio dissected some of Zachary’s visions, Benjamin was visited by his own vision (having sampled Malkavian vitae), and George spoke at length throughout the rest of the darkened hours about unlife.

Read The Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah from “An Ivory Tower Education” here.

Zachary has a vision of an ancient city with advanced technology be destroyed all the way to the modern day with the conflict in the Persian Gulf. He is also visited by his sire, Immanuel, who offers him further warnings and messages. The Tremere operative known as George tries to help Zachary and his ghoul Benjamin, but also surreptitiously gets some blood to run a Tremere ritual over. When he does the relatively routine ritual, he is in over his head, as the vision of Malkav himself fills his mind with madness. This is clearly above George’s pay grade. Zachary and Benjamin solemnly pledge to save the world from the events depicted in the Prophet’s visions.

Read The Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah from “That Would Be Telling” here.

Rose, Henry and Jinx join Vitus on a somber ride to his mansion in Chevy Chase. After the Kindred settle, they have some harsh talks about appropriate behavior but then also discuss the possibility of a working relationship. The next night, Vitus agrees to take everyone shopping, but Henry is anxious to return to the sewers: both to report into his handlers and to look into how his demented boyfriend is faring. To his horror, Henry returns to his chambers to find them completely wrecked, with his friendly ghouled pets either missing or murdered by a frenzying beast.

Read The Don’s View from “Honey, I’m Home” here.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “Honey, I’m Home” here.

In the Undercity, Henry frantically goes to his handler Mary Pine for debriefing. He tells her of his mission but then confides in her his domestic troubles. She orders a search for Bottleneck and to ask him to come in to see her. She gives some further advice to her young Operative. Above ground, Rose, Vitus and Jinx travel to College Park to investigate the stalker. They determine that he is one in the same to the fugitive Brock Thompson wanted on similar crimes in the Domain of Alexandria. A boon on the line (not to mention the lives at stake), the fledgling coterie joins the Domitor of College Park, Robert, to track down Brock in the Arts Centre (which is still under construction). There, they are too late to find the culprit, but see his handiwork in a dying college student. Jinx ghouls him.

Read The Don’s View from “Trouble in Paradise” here.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “Trouble in Paradise” here.

Jinx, Vitus and Rose were hot on the trail of the Serial Embracer at the University of Maryland College Park. The team found a staked new vampire in the closet of the photographer’s lair. They had her transferred to the SUV. Vitus Dominated Chad, Jinx’s newly-made ghoul, and forced him to sleep after he gave the team some answers. Vitus had Chad transported to the SUV alongside the staked Kindred. With the Gangrel domitor Bobby in tow, the coterie followed their lead (Rose’s nose, mostly) to the Sigma Delta Tau sorority house. Jinx used her wiles to bluff her way in as Rose made their way to the back. Rose smelled something . . . interesting and peculiar . . . and went up a trellis to the second floor where he caught Brock Thompson embracing a young woman. Brock popped open a bottle of blood and drank deeply, immediately flying into Celerity. Rose resisted the urge to drink the remnants of the bottle and attacked the man. As Rose staked Brock, Jinx entered the room and was overcome by the scent of spilled elder blood (the remaining contents of the bottle Brock had drunk from). She supped at the carpet and drank deeply. Brock’s victim joined the fray in frenzy, but was put down and staked. Vitus had the car pulled around, did some minor scene cleaning, but left the particulars of the Masquerade breach to Bobby to figure out: in exchange, Bobby would share in the boon from the Prince of Alexandria. Drunk on powerful blood, the team returned to Vitus’ manor and met up with Henry. Jinx ran around in joy with her new powers. The new fratboy ghoul, Chad, was left in a Dominate-instituted sleep in Jinx’s room. The team had three staked vampires (two victims, one perpetrator) and a new ghoul and no real answers as to what was actually going on (other than a crazed Brujah embracing for fun?).

Read The Don’s View from “Elder Blood” here.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “Elder Blood” here.

George was still reeling from the attack on his senses by the entity in his mind. He felt the sigil drawn on his tongue had turned to seared ash. George attempted to call his superiors, first Peter Dorfman through Colonel Atkinson and then Seneschal Vittorio, yet even with his code checks, both didn’t seem to know who he was and were shocked that their numbers were being used. George, Zachary and Benjamin left the Hotel Americana to follow the Prophet’s vision to Club Euphonia to meet up with two Kindred women. Their taxi was followed by a black unmarked vehicle. The three, looking quite out of place at the upscale club, were called to the VIP lounge by Desirée. They met with Desirée and Thaïs, both in Zachary’s vision. The group discussed disturbing visions of apocalypse but were interrupted by an angry Seneschal. He (incorrectly) assumed that George was a Malkavian with secret knowledge . . . one of the many reasons Malkavians are not welcome in Alexandria . . . and strongly suggested Desirée not associate with interlopers. He left. George then realized the full nature of his predicament: apparently, his existence had been wiped away or obfuscated by some sort of hex or curse beyond his reckoning or experience.

George, Zachary, Benjamin, Thaïs and Desirée discussed the many visions of the Prophet and Zachary asked for help. George dutifully attempted to call the Tremere again and they triangulated his phone to have him taken in. He showed his tattoo to Danica and she was shocked, but still trained to have him black bagged and brought to Hangar 13. Zachary, Thaïs and Desirée were driven by Deserée’s ghouls to her art gallery. Zachary saw her painting of the city and was enraptured, seeing a further vision within. Meanwhile, George was taken into an interrogation room but quickly proved his identity and then his loyalty by cutting out his tongue. The curse of Malkav was lifted with the last remnants of the single drop of blood he took from Zachary being extricated from his system. Pontifex Dorfman sprung into action and had Number 7 give a full report to the Council of Seven through a blood ritual. They determined that all of this had been forseen and that Number Seven was to find the “temple” with the aid of his new “friend.” Dorfman helped with Seven’s cover story and had him beat up and thrown into the river. Zachary contacted Joan to learn more from her. She told what she could, but her knowledge had limits. Desirée and Thaïs discussed their next steps.

Read The Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah from “On The Path of the Prophet” here.

Jinx enlists Vitus’ aid in giving her ghoul Chad “the talk.” He intimidates the frat boy into staying for the day and the team gets some shut-eye. Jinx has another dream that day, seeing the bloodied woman emerging from an island in the river this time. The following night, the coterie gives Chad the rundown of what it is to be a ghoul: some being more helpful (and hopeful) than others. Chad needs a night to sleep on it. Vitus contacts his Clan superiors and is told to move no further in the Southeast docks matter until he has an opportunity to speak to Jordan face-to-face, but to accept his boon from Prince Elaine for the Brock Thompson matter. Martino Ansara gives the coterie a ride in his helicopter to the Alexandria Elysium. There, they give the body of Brock Thompson to Vittorio, but not before Prentiss arrives to make it clear that she is sharing in the boon. Prentiss also takes renewed interest in her childe, hearing that Jinx is now capable of visions. Jinx manages to postpone her confrontation with her sire and the team heads to Franklin’s Pub in Old Town Fairfax to meet up with the Brujah Primogen Jeremiah Banks. Banks agrees to take in the two staked teens in Vitus’ manor if Rose will regift the upcoming boon from the crown to Clan Brujah.

Read The Don’s View from “The Talk” here.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “The Talk” here.

The coterie returned to Vitus’ manor in Chevy Chase. Jinx and her ghoul Chad came to a new understanding, Chad electing to remain a servitor rather than becoming a strung-out junkie. They shared blood, nearly killing Chad in the process. Bottleneck had an unhinged confrontation with Henry in the forest surrounding the manor, but Rose had been following and interceded. Bottleneck managed to escape using his mastery of obfuscate, but not before Henry had his bees sting his flesh and Henry’s “betrayal” stung his heart. Bottleneck ran off into the night. Vitus made a few phone calls and set up meetings with Jordan and Jeremiah. Later, Vitus and Jinx went to Centerville to meet up with Jeremiah and drop off the two staked college kids in exchange for Rose’s boon transfer. Jinx noticed that Jeremiah seemed to feel that he got the better end of the deal. The following evening, Vitus attended his meeting on the back nine of the Army-Navy Country Club with Jordan. His golf game wasn’t great, but he was “gifted” the cooperative import-export venture on the docks with the Brujah in exchange for his silence over the “sandstone pillar” matter. Later that week, the coterie attended the Alexandria Elysium at the Old Torpedo Factory. Brock Thompson was sentenced to the sun torture. The group met up with old acquaintances and made some new ones, including Desirée and Thaïs. Rose gifted their boon to Jeremiah, as promised. Bobby gifted his boon to Prentiss. While the Prince was not pleased at owing a boon to a Malkavian, Prentiss thanked her majesty and held onto the boon. Jinx asked for a Malkavian sanctuary, but was denied, but rather gifted with the non-resident stewardship of Teddy Roosevelt Island. Henry held onto his boon for the future. Vitus was gifted with the sovereignty of the crown’s holding of Shirlington, earning him the eternal enmity of the Toreador.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “Reaping” here.

Read The Don’s View from “Reaping” here.

Epilogue for Story 2

Henry tells his coterie about some, but not all, of his troubles following the confrontation with Bottleneck. Rose and Jinx go on their first date. Their destination is “Turd Island” (Theodore Roosevelt Island). They find Damien Luther Adams there and learn more of Hirut, the mysterious “Lady of the Lake.” Henry meets with Mary Pine for a debriefing. Rose spends some time with their mentor, Priest. Preist points them to an outlander named Big Frieda as someone who might be able to answer more of Rose’s esoteric questions. Vitus gets the admiration of Jordan for a job well done. Years pass for the coterie and everyone thrives. The Moravignians aid Henry in determining that Bottleneck’s little “gifts” of human body parts is coming from Baltimore. Henry’s blood bond fades, but his heart might well never truly mend. Still, he develops his web of contacts and ghouls a gang leader while improving his espionage skills. Henry builds a new haven closer to Vitus’ manor, but retains his holdings in the Undercity where he continues to participate in life (and the missions of the Operatives). Working as a Shepherd of the Deep again on his “off days,” he comes to understand the biology of his hive to greater effect. Henry learns to feed from the desperate and lonely on the dance floors of D.C. Rose goes to the Gangrel Gathers, making a friend of Big Frieda and beginning their quest to understand their undead state and Beast within. Rose carries out contract killings for Vitus, supping on the blood of his victims. Jinx perfects her astral projection with help from Joan, though learns of the great dangers of the outer realms. Prentiss seems to get worse in her meddling with her childe, seeing Jinx as a rival now that she has begun to come into her powers. Jinx creates two great prophesy murals in the alleyways of Ivy City, one fortelling a bloody scene of carnage with animals and fire, the other depicting nine hands clasped with flights of angels descending. Jinx also continues her studies and gets the equivalent of a GED (though not formally, as she is dead). Finally, Vitus goes from being wealthy to being capital “W” wealthy. Vitus buys up and develops real estate in Shirlington as the district thrives amid gentrification, he manages his joint venture at the docks well with Nadia of the Brujah, he creates an experienced hit squad made up of former CIA agents and other international badasses, and truly hits the billionaire club with his internet startup: Squirtle. Squirtle becomes the world’s largest compendium of pay-for-porn in the early days of the internet. And thus, Vitus earns the respect of his Clan (but also the envy and ire of many). Vitus also makes a name for himself as a volunteer with the S’eth Adar as a pillar of the community: a mind sweeper on par with Prentiss. Five years pass and nine months pass as the coterie comes into its own.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “Baby Steps” epilogue here.

Read The Don’s View from “Baby Steps” epilogue here.

Story 3: The Fall

Desirée, Thaïs, Benjamin and Zachary speak in the art gallery, continuing to decide what to do next. Thaïs hears a familiar voice in the back of her head. Boxcar, Thaïs’ mental “companion” since her mortal youth, always seems to chime in at the most uncomfortable moments. She goes to the bathroom to find out what the cosmic hitchhiker wants from her this time. She gets so angry that she rips the bathroom door off its hinges. As always, Boxcar is cryptic but wants her help in finding that woman in Zachary’s visions and reuniting her with her lost love . . . a demon. Meanwhile Number Seven had completed his debriefing with his superiors. The Pontifex himself dropped off his agent with one final warning and cover story. Number Seven/“George” was then beaten within an inch of his unlife and tossed into the Potomac River (so as to help his cover story). George used his rituals and willpower to make his way to the gallery and collapsed at the ghoul Theo’s feet. Theo helped him in and the rest of the group gathered around him to hear his tale of woe. He managed to do as his handlers suggested: telling no outright lies but rather half truths and he was accepted, albeit with a tinge of skepticism. Desirée got a call from her partner/ghoul Elijah and decided to make this Thaïs’ problem. Desirée had everyone brought to her club and then left the group with one of her cars. Desirée went back to her home in Reston. Thaïs, Benjamin, Zachary, George and the ghoul Sebastian went to a warehouse in Arlandria to talk to Nikoli. Thaïs had gotten his contact information through her sire. The group posed as a business interest, but Nikoli quickly saw through their ruse. In their talks, however, George asked about OTCAL. It came out that “Z” was indeed the Prophet Zachariah. Nikoli’s demeanor immediately changed, elated that destiny was finally turning the wheel. He pledged to introduce the Prophet to Samal the next night, as it was getting late.

Read The Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah from “A Tremere Hello” here.

Zachary projects to see his sire in Immanuel’s last moments of unlife. Immanuel sacrifices himself rather than being caught by the forces of the Black Hand. The next evening, the new coterie awakes at Thaïs’ ranch in Chantilly. Desirée arrives with her vehicles and ghouls and the party goes to Daingerfield Island in Old Town Alexandria to meet with Nikoli. There, the coterie also meets with the ancient child Joan who uses her mastery of Obfuscate to bring the troupe through the crowd to a back alley on cobbled streets. A small nondescript plaque bearing the anagram, “OTCAL” is the only indication of what is inside. Using a mixture of blood magic, technology and mechanical locks, the secret doors open to the technicothica within. Nikoli and Joan dare not enter the double doors past the library, in reverence to the entity contained therein. Nonetheless, Thaïs, Desirée, Benjamin, “George” and Zachary step in. They find sheets of ancient tablets suspended in the air behind glass. Ancient Enochian manuscripts detail the words of the Antediluvians and more. In the center of the room is a giant sandstone pillar with cords and wires surrounding it. Embankments of computers spit out binary code, seeming to emanate from the pillar. Within is the mind and will of the methuselah Samal. Zachary has a conversation with the entity. The others look at the words on the sheets of parchment and the Kindred are somehow able to understand the language. Their minds are infected by Words of Power, leading many into gibbering masses on the ground, requiring aid. Zachary enters a fugue. Samal’s gaze comes upon the mind of George and begins to taunt him.

Read The Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah from “Words of Power” here.

Zachary, Thaïs, George and Benjamin continued their investigations in the repository of OTCAL. Zachary’s visions led him to a lonely figure in a blasted desert, crying tears of rage and loneliness. In OTCAL, Zachary’s third eye opened, and the cultists worshipped him even more. George contacted the Pontifex with much information, but was told that the Council of Seven is well aware of the temporal implications and that is exactly why they need him to find the Mekhetim temple alongside the so-called Harbinger of Gehenna. Thaïs and Desirée, both having a taste of knowledge beyond their scope, decide that this is all a bit much for them and make their excuses to leave. Joan leads all back to Daingerfield Island. Thaïs and Desirée leave for their respective havens, unsure if they will ever see this insane cult again. Joan then takes Benjamin, George and Zachary to Gallaudet University and Ivy City where they see some of Jinx’s handywork before bedding down for the day. Thaïs wakes the next evening, has her hair cut fresh and meets up with Sheriff Sampson for a little sparring match at Jason Li’s dojo in Annandale.

Read The Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah from “Open Eyes” here.

It is now December of 1994 and Georgetown Elysium is to be held in one night’s time. Henry heads to the Undercity to follow a message left for him. He attends a large gathering of the Underfolk to find that they are all worried about the Creature from the Depths stirring below and taking victims again. A task force has been called to track and destroy the beast once and for all. They are also deeply concerned about matters above the surface, as conflicting and disturbing reports are flooding in about the dangers above ground. Thus, the Nosferatu have elected to seal the entrances to the Undercity in Georgetown, save for three, and to pull back their operatives except for a scant few — Henry among them — to be their eyes and ears. Meanwhile, Jinx begins her feeding with Chad, but becomes lost in the visions of his blood. Though she does nothing wrong or different, the vision overwhelms her and when she wakes, she finds Chad dead. In a panic, she embraces her ghoul, making Chad a Malkavian. Rose responds to a S’eth Adar call at the estate of the Ventrue Primogen Martino Ansara. As they approach, Rose notices the smell of dead deer and explosives. At the grisly scene, Rose finds that Martino has been assassinated in a massive coordinated attack. Vitus finds out about Jinx’s indiscretion and is deeply incensed, particularly that it happened in his house. He leaves with Jinx following behind and Henry meeting them in the foyer. Vitus surreptitiously orders his forces to stake Chad and place him somewhere safe until his fate can be decided. Jinx, in tears, follows Vitus and Henry to the car. Vitus heads to his neighbor’s estate to see to matters of his Clan in the S’eth Adar investigation. The three meet Rose, Prentiss, Karl Raeger, J.T. and another S’eth Adar soldier and pursue their investigation. Jinx becomes entranced by the smouldering house and Rose leads her back to the car. Henry performs a messy autopsy of one of the dead ghouls and finds that he had been the victim of the use of a banned Discipline: Obtenebration.

Read The Don’s View from “The Genesis of Chad” here.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “The Genesis of Chad” here.

Read Cheesehead’s Final Nights from “The Genesis of Chad” here.

Vitus continued his investigation inside the ruins of the Ansara estate. With the help of Prentiss, he found the ashen remains of two of Martino’s assailants. Jinx used her sight beyond sight to determine the identity of one of them and confirmed that this was indeed a Sabbat hit. When the coterie returned to Vitus’ manor, Jinx flew into a panic teetering on rage when she found that Chad had been taken from her room. Vitus calmed her down and assured her that Chad was somewhere safe. Jinx, Henry and Rose elected to go to Gallaudet to seek out Joan. Vitus, meanwhile, answered the call to attend an emergency Vencor board meeting. The board voted to overthrow Prince George at the upcoming Elysium, with Vitus casting the tie-breaking vote (though, indeed, Jordan could have overridden the vote if it did not go his way). Long has the Ventrue tired of the doddering Prince, but the assassination of the Ventrue Primogen of Georgetown was the last straw. Meanwhile, Henry and Rose wandered the streets of Ivy City, spotting Jinx’s graffiti prophesies. Jinx had a long and fateful talk with her clan elder, Joan, who told her more than she bargained for: of travelling, of the Gateways of Gehenna, of Hirut, of the Prophet and more. When the team arrived back in Chevy Chase, Henry found a quiet corner of Vitus’ garage to make his report to the commune. He had noticed a murder of crows observing the manor.

Read The Don’s View from “Clues, Coups and Chaos” here.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “Clues, Coups and Chaos” here.

Zachary and George both had horrid dreams of cataclysmic events and awoke with esoteric blood sigils at their backs. The two met up with Benjamin and went to his dorm room prepared for him at Gallaudet University. After they had showered off the dried blood (and after Zachary practiced his powers of Obfuscate), the team made their way back to Joan’s library. There, she revealed many secrets to the coterie about things to come and things past, which she tried to explain are actually simultaneously “now,” from a multi-dimensional point-of-view. Later that night, Thaïs finished up her sparring date with Sampson, as he was called away to an emergency work situation by Seneschal Vittorio. Thaïs asked a few questions about the nature of the Brujah, but her sire Jason had little to say of import. She then traveled with her friend Desirée to confront Barnaby Wilcox at his Penn Quarter office building. Barnaby found it hard to believe that Desirée had sent her ghoul to work for him not as a spy and informed her that she had committed a faux pas and basically blackballed and fired Elijah on the spot. Thaïs calmed down her friend and then went to meet with her Primogen, Jeremiah. Thaïs asked Jeremiah about the “Abraham Incident” that led to the banishment of all Malkavians. He gave her his second-hand story about the Malkavian who had a domain at Fairfax General Hospital back in the early 1960s. Abraham had done some sort of unspeakable experiments with blood and pregnant women and many minds had to be wiped to sooth over the major Masquerade breach. Abraham was executed by Prince Elaine and all Malkavians were banned from permanent residence in the Domain. At least, according to Jeremiah. Thaïs then tried to get Jeremiah on board to take Barnaby Wilcox down a peg or two. He was tempted, but told her that he’d get back to her on that. Thaïs called Eric Normandin and had him take her back to the ranch. She died for the day, but then had a fateful dream. Using new knowledge in the dream, she was able to punch a hole in the wight who had killed her, turning it to dust. Boxcar called out to her alongside the ancient with him (a man from her earlier visions after reading the Triole Fragment) that she should come find them and save them . . . wherever that might be.

Read the Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah from “Dreams and Deals” here.

Listen to Thaïs’ Rants and Raves from “Dreams and Deals” here.

George, Zachary and Benjamin met with the Malkavian Cedric. He instructed Zachary on the use of the Cobweb and some rudimentary combination Discipline application of Dominate and Obfuscate. Zachary was quite adept at using his newfound powers, but less so at communicating in ASL at the student’s library. They all read their fill of Civil War and Revolutionary War battle history. George had another nightmare, this time sending him into a catatonic shock. Zachary helped to calm him down and bring him back to reality. Zachary and Joan had a brief talk in the Cobweb, Cedric got the group a car, and the coterie left for Manassas Battlefield Park. Once there, Zachary practiced his Dominate again and managed to get into the Visitors Center. Though he was sure that he was close on the trail of the Mekhetim Temple, the group seemed to strike out after spending a full evening into the morning looking around for clues. Somewhat crestfallen, Zachary, George and Benjamin drove back toward D.C., but while getting gas in Fairfax, they came across a strange creature that Benjamin couldn’t see. He appeared to be a fat man pushing a shopping cart filled with Barbie dolls. George’s curiosity could not be contained as both he and Zachary to tell the man had a strange, inhuman aura. The pair left Benjamin the keys to the car at Freddie’s Station and followed the man to his townhouse in a condemned block. The pair investigated the empty home and found only pictures of terrified girls staring back at them on the walls. They could hear circus-type music playing from above them, and investigating found the Fat Man swinging on a swing attached to the ceiling in a room on the second floor. Strange tenticles undulated from his body. Buckets filled with human entrails and blood were spread throughout the room. Both Zachary and George maintained obfuscation using their various means. Zachary pilfered the keys to the basement and hurridly unlocked the door to find an abbatoir of sorts with four little girls in cages. He freed the first girl, but then he could hear the rummaging of the creature above. Still in obfuscation, George followed the creature as it became ever more agitated, noting that someone had stolen its keys. George identified it as a Ālixir, a demon of the Outer Realms.

Read the Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah from “Pit Stop” here.

Zachary and George are in the lair of the Fat Man. The demon descends the stairs to the pitch-black basement where his next victims are “stored.” Zachary fumbles with the keys and mesmerizes one of the little girls to try to calm her down. The creature stabs its feet into the nails on the stairs and rakes its tenticles across the broken glass embedded in the walls. Zachary devises a plan and then uses his Malkavian mind tricks to fool the demon into believing him to be a threatening outer-world power. The demon flees and George goes back to get the Mustang and Benjamin. The crew load the girls into the car and drive back into D.C. A police officer pulls them over, but he is no match for George’s mental powers. When they return to Gallaudet, the crew elicits the help of the Malkavians once more to figure out what to do with the traumatized victims. Joan takes them inside. George and Zachary die for the day and are thankful not to be visited by nightmares. The next night, Joan is busy wiping the minds of the victims when all of the Malkavians suddenly have a shared vision. Cedric, Joan, Theodore and Zachary all can see in the Cobweb when it is extended to a new member. They witness the unbirth of Chad. George takes that opportunity to contact his superiors through a secret ritual. The Pontifex is interested to hear George’s report about the possible location of the Mekhetim temple. He also warns George/Number 7 that the Inner Council of the Camarilla have noted intense movement among the Sabbat toward the Domain of Georgetown. The CEZ is under no real danger, in his estimation, and thus the Camarilla Inner Council is resigned to sit back and watch this play out. He only tells George to warn him and to not tell the others. Rather, to be on his guard and prepare to extricate the target if necessary. 

Read the Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah from “Milk Cartons” here.

Thaïs met with Professor Peter Forsythe at George Mason University where he helped her research on religions of Mesopotamia and Persia, and provided some insight into the mindset of “demons” or creatures of darkness. Later, Thaïs spoke with Bozwell and Cylus Pine about people she might meet in Georgetown. Cylus was particularly cagey about strange things afoot in the northern Domain and asked for her aid in passing along information for money. Rose spoke with Karl of the S’eth Adar before Elysium and was strangely told not to show up in their official capacity as a lieutenant of the military order, despite the precedent of guarding Elysia. Vitus’ investigator, Aaron Smith-Walter, was able to circulate the sketch of Zachary from Jinx’s vision and found that he was a bit of a “local celebrity” as a DJ at WXRL Radio Alexandria. Vitus ordered Paulie and his forces to put out a search for Zachary Sellz and “DJ Benjammin” and to bring them in alive. Jinx deciphered the blood drawing she had made from Chad’s lifeblood. Somehow, she was able to understand the new language before her and learned of ancient beliefs about childer and sires. Thaïs, Rose, Vitus, Jinx and Henry all went to Elysium at the Smithsonian National Zoo, despite the massive anti-World Bank/IMF protests going on throughout the city. Desirée presented Thaïs as her guest and Prince George was strange, but ultimately assented to her “tourist visa.” The Ventrue were preparing their move on Prince George, but Rose and Jinx slinked off to the Panda enclosure after imbibing drug blood to go make out. Vitus and Henry spoke with the Settite guests from the Church of Light in Anacostia. Jordan and Barnaby made their move, but not before Vitus warned them about strange visions coming from his (missing) Malkavian compatriot. Jordan ordered George to stand down, but then George unleashed Majesty, calling all of his subjects to bow before him . . . while at the same time Jordan activated his Presence, calling on the assembled crowd to stand with him instead. Meanwhile, as Jinx and Rose were kissing, Jinx felt a familiar voice inside of her mind: Mountbatton. The Sabbat Malkavian warned Jinx to leave just as Rose sensed the rustling in the thicket of several creatures and could see green eyes staring at them through the bushes.

Read The Don’s View from “Caged Animals” here.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “Caged Animals” here.

Read German’s Final Nights from “Caged Animals” here.

Rose could see the eyes watching them from the woods and Jinx had a brief mental discussion with her mysterious “wizard,” the Malkavian antitribu Montbatton. He warned her to get out while she could and that he was attracted to her ability to hide her mind from the hated antediluvian, Malkav. Meanwhile, Jordan led his forces in the coup against Prince George. Vitus convinced the formidable Prentiss to join the revolution and the Gangrel stood by to watch it happen. Barnaby and the Pollochs held the fat Prince down as Jordan staked him. The Toreador put up some fight, but were bested and ran for their unlives. The few Malkavians, Tremere, Nosferatu and Brujah in attendance quickly left. Thaïs escaped with Desirée into the sewers while on the phone with Cylus Pine. The Ventrue’s victory was short-lived however, as it soon became apparent that the whole event (and perhaps the whole city) was under siege by the Sabbat. Vitus led the Ventrue further into the Zoo and they parted for Vitus to see to his coterie in the panda enclosure. Three Gangrel attacked, using Animalism to rile one of the endangered beasts to join the fray. Though grazed, Rose made short work of the attackers, especially with Prentiss’ help. Henry managed to stay hidden, but helped his coterie as he could. Jinx read the mind of one of the fallen Gangrel as he was being consumed by Vitus. Jinx learned of the massive scale of the attack: this was no mere battle, but a coordinated front of a war with all of Georgetown under siege.

Read The Don’s View from “Melting Ice” here.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “Melting Ice” here.

Read German’s Final Nights from “Melting Ice” here.

Thaïs and Desirée escape through the sewer and manage at last to get a message in to Cylus Pine, but their phone is shortly cut off . . . by the government. Something big is happening above ground, but the two don’t have much time to speculate about that. They trudge through the sludge, following the directions they half-heard from Cylus. A white alligator swims towards them and startles them, but Thaïs hopes not to harm the majestic beast, yet tries to scare it away. A Nosferatu comes through a slimy corridor and calms the creature down with his Animalism. The Nosferatu, who introduces himself as Cheesehead, is excited that such an unusual creature has entered the Undercity (from the zoo) and ghouls it. He sends it downstream to find the Shepards of the Deep to introduce it to the bestiary. Cheesehead leads the women through the sewers to a skiff and then paddles them to the Underlake. There, he takes them to Heart Island. The trio wait for a moment and then see a rowboat approach with Cylus Pine. He greets them all and they begin to discuss the dire things going on up top: bombings, martial law, chaos. Then, suddenly, a shimmering pink/purple ribbon wall of psychic force bifurcates the island, obliterating Cheesehead and severely wounding a shocked Cylus.

Read Cheesehead’s Final Nights from “The Wall” here.

Vitus supped at the last of the blood of German, the Gangrel in his arms. And then he supped some more. He even had to vomit out blood to make room for the heart’s blood inside and wrestled with the abused boy’s soul. In the end, Vitus’ will was greater and he diablerized the Gangrel.  Vitus’ paramilitary forces (or what was left of them) found the troupe through the wooded areas of the zoo and brought them weapons. Vitus Beckoned his sire, Barnaby, using Presence. Barnaby was none-too-pleased over this, having “fled” the battlefield of the Ventrue phalanx in his compulsion to join his childe. Nonetheless, Barnaby, Prentiss, Jinx, Vitus, Rose (as a wolf), Henry and Vitus’ three new ghouls scaled the wall of the Zoo to tumble down a ravine. Vitus managed to catch his sire and Henry and Rose managed to catch Jinx (in their teeth), and the troop made it to Rock Creek below in the middle of the woods. At that, six Dominated wolves attacked, but were dispensed with easily. Rose could see the clearing beyond and immediately recognized it as the spot where they were embraced all of those years ago. The group needed to find some vehicles, and so Rose and Henry scouted ahead. Rose could smell the familiar scent of Thorne, their dog from their mortal years. But it was an old smell . . . a smell of death. Rose found the grave of their beloved dog buried in a flowerbed. As Rose was grieving, the group still had to find vehicles. Vitus’ commandos commandeered a van and a truck and the group headed toward Alexandria. However, they soon found that the roads were clogged: the “terrorist attack” and police action was causing a mass exodus and street closures. Finally, the group found the psychic Wall at the Chain Bridge. They also found that cell phones were no longer functioning. The group found the Wall to be fatal to vampires, but the energies seemed not to affect mortal creatures or ghouls. Henry sent a murder of crows to travel to Elysium to carry a written message by Vitus (the Domitor of Shirlington) to let the powers-that-be know the predicament the stranded group was in.

Read The Don’s View from “Through the Net” here.

Read Jinx’s Journal from “Through the Net” here.

George, Zachary and Benjamin spend the evening at the Malkavian’s Gallaudet library. Zachary learns much about the Malkavian’s understanding of Clans and Disciplines from Cedric while Joan works to rewire the rescued girls’ memories and trauma. Jinx stops by Gallaudet to meet with Joan, though Zachary is permitted to see the meeting. George notes Rose and Henry (as “Oscar”) as they comfort Jinx following the tear-filled meeting. The next night, Joan has Cedric go on ahead to Elysium and says that she would join shortly. Joan sends Theodore to take the girls to the George Washington University Hospital to have them turn themselves in and their parents to find them. Joan, George and Zachary are about to head over to Elysium when the door to the library is surrounded by Tzimisce. Joan keeps the others back, warning them through Zachary’s connection to the Cobweb. The ant-like creature stakes Joan as the Tzimisce attack. Meanwhile, Thaïs and Desirée are at Heart Island in the Underlake. The pair help get Cylus Pine (or at least half of him) to his boat. Des and Ty have a mini-freakout session and then decide to try their luck above ground. Cylus has his two above-ground assets rowed to an intersection leading to Alexandria above. When Thaïs and Desirée come above ground, they find a panicked scene of pandemonium following the “terrorist attack.” Cars clog the roads and the radios blare about the hysteria. Thaïs has a little discussion with Boxcar, who gives her an option to get through the psychic ribbon wall encircling Alexandria. Thaïs steals a motorcycle by grievously wounding a man. Desirée and Thaïs ride their stolen motorcycle through the night, covered in filth as they are, to Alexandria Elysium. There, the pair finds heightened security and a bustling Kindred scene. They request an audience with the Prince and are taken by Vittorio for some sort of private meeting.

Read the Canticles of Zachariah from “Tumult” here.

Jinx, Rose, Vitus, Henry, Barnaby, Prentiss and three newly-minted ghoul commandos stand at the edge of the psychic ribbon wall at the little-used Chain Bridge between the District of Columbia and Virginia. Vitus and Henry speak of what might await them on the other side of the wall should their plan with the birds succeed and someone come to help them. Would the Tremere know of Vitus’ recent diablerie? Jinx attempts to make up with Prentiss, but despite her being a good fighter, her motherly instincts are not such that she would accept a hug. She is, however, told about the “Ant Man” and Jinx’s visions of Prentiss’ end. Rose speaks with Barnaby about Vitus and Barnaby thanks Rose for all that they had done for the Camarilla (and for Barnaby in particular). In time, the murder of crows return to Henry and inform him that they had delivered the message and that there were those on the way (someone in Alexandria Elysium must have possessed Animalism, such as the Gangrel Rangers). Alexandria’s Seneschal Vittorio along with Alexandria Sheriff Sampson arrives with an armored vehicle escort. Vittorio explains that the wall has been erected for the safety of the citizens of the Potomac Empire of Alexandria. He can pass through the wall using a blood amulet of some sort. He will allow in any citizens if they submit to a Tremere blood reading and pay a “toll” of $3.3 million. Barnaby accepts and is allowed in, but cannot seem to find Vitus to travel with him (for Vitus and Henry have Obfuscated for fear of Tremere retribution for diablerie). Prentiss at first thinks of using her boon for entry, as she is not a citizen, but when Vittorio mentions the need to submit to Tremere blood tests, she refuses and decides to stay on the Georgetown side of the wall. Sampson tells Rose that he is proud of them and if what is left of the S’eth Adar needs help, he is happy to provide whatever he can: resources, guns, et cetera. Vittorio, Sampson, Barnaby and the armed escort departs back across the bridge to Alexandria. Rose senses Gangrel on the way setting up an ambush. The coterie doesn’t attempt to run, however, and continue to talk about their next course of action. After a small time, the Gangrel antitribu send out a cete of badgers to attack. Rose scares them away, but then the fight is on. Two Gangrel are sent to meet the enemy on the field, while others await backup and continue to set up an ambush. A celerity-infused battle ensues, with one of the Gangrel possessing skin like stone and a rage ability not unlike Rose’s. The ghouls fire upon the beasts, one of the Gangrel is split in twain, Vitus uses his sword to slice of an arm of the split Gangrel and use its nails as a sort of whip at the edge of his sword. Rose cleaves the stone-skinned Gangrel apart and drinks his hearts-blood, gaining abilities, but staining their soul. Henry climbs a tree to hide and Jinx reaches out with her mind. Montbatton finds her mind, as he has pulled up with a group of reinforcements, including Tzimisce and horrid flesh creatures. A wall on one end and a nigh-unconquerable force down the road on the other. Vitus puts his hands up, prepared to parlay.

George and Zachary creep up the stairs from the Malkaivans’ basement library to face the Tzimisce who had staked Joan. George overhears the clicking ant-like creature tell the others to sweep the campus for other Malkavians as he/she/they/it/we(?) are to take Joan to their Priscus, Colette. George follows the Ant Man and Zachary remains in obfuscation until George is “made” by the creature. It turns and attacks. Zachary uses his newfound powers of the blood to attempt to fool the other two Tzimisce that he is, in fact, Colette. George’s face is disfigured, his eyes gouged and his flesh used to seal over the gaping holes by the Ant Man’s touch. Yet, George fortifies the power in his blood and uses it to boil the blood of the Ant Man and then draws from it all of the blood in its body, leaving it torpid. Zachary sends the two Tzimisce confused by his ruse into an addled state halfway into a Cobweb never intended for them. The power of Malkav wielded in his mind causes his nose to bleed. Later, Thaïs and Desirée enter a meeting with the Prince, but leave soon afterwards. Desirée notices that time passed strangely in the brief meeting. The pair have a “private” conversation in an alcove at Elysium, as much as anything is private there. The Prince joins the assembled Kindred in the Great Hall to make her pronouncement. The Prince’s potestas edictum calls for blood samples to be taken from any citizen in the city and for small amounts of blood to be taken upon entry into Elysium. Further, Kindred are not to attempt to leave the safety of the psychic ribbon “bubble” around Northern Virginia. The Brujah, particularly Primogen Jeremiah Banks, react in rage and storm out. Desirée and Thaïs leave with them. Jeremiah announces that there will be a meeting for like-minded Kindred at Franklin’s Pub in two hours time. Desirée and Thaïs take that opportunity to ride their stolen motorcycle to H&H Ranch. As the pair ride up to the ranch, they can see it is right on the edge of the ribbon wall, just barely snug inside the safety of the Tremere embrace. They shower and get into clean clothes. Thaïs parlays with the demon in her head, Boxcar. Boxcar tells her that he can free her of the Tremere’s blood search and most blood-based Tremere powers, in exchange for a little ritual. Further, he tells her that he can get her through the wall any time she likes: she only has to give him use of her arm and sacrifice a small animal. Thaïs has her ghoul Eric Normandin procure a cat from the “cat lady” next door, but decides not to do the ritual to enable her to leave the bubble just yet and has the cat kept in a room at the ranch. Thaïs performs the first ritual, slicing into her hand with a knife and drawing blood. True to form, the demon cajoles her into giving it full control of her arm instead of just a hand. Happy with this, Boxcar uses Thaïs to draw a demonic sigil on the dirt in front of her ranch house. It declares her free and offers to do the same for Desirée, but Thaïs thinks better of it than to ask her friend to submit to the demon’s wishes just yet. He seems happy nonetheless and sinks back into the recesses of her mind. Desirée has Normandin go to pick up Elijah from Reston (or get him to follow him) so that her man can be safer at H&H. Des and Ty then take Thaïs’ truck to Franklin’s Pub in Fairfax City for the meeting of the Brujah and other malcontents. Jeremiah leads the charge in saying that the Prince has overstepped and that they should do something about it. Jason Li and Professor Forsythe urge caution, but the majority are on Jeremiah’s side. The Primogen asks Thaïs to voice her support and she says that she’d rather die on her feet fighting the Sabbat than “hide in some bubble.” Jeremiah agrees.

Read the Canticles of Zachariah from “Bubble” here.

Zachary sneaks past the two Tzimisce assailants who he had sent into a temporary mind prison. He creeps across the back yard of the Gallaudet building to the parking lot where he had last seen George. There, he finds his erstwhile friend engorging himself on the remains of the “ant man.” Zachary is unable to get George to stop, so instead unstakes and revives Joan who had been thrown in the back seat of the car. Joan and Zachary slink past the still-dazed Tzimisce back into the Malkavian library beneath Gallaudet. The pair fetches Benjamin and some blood and rushes through Obfuscation back to the car. There, they find George finishing his dire “meal” and seeming to be having some sort of conversation with the now-very-dead “Dr. Gavreau” ant-man husk. The four speed off in the stolen car past the trailing Tzimisce. They make their way over the 14th Street Bridge into Northern Virginia just as bombs go off throughout D.C. Suddenly, behind them, a giant wall of psychic force is erected. They are now trapped inside the safety of the “bubble” of Alexandria. They arrive at the Jameson Inn in Annadale. George is acting ever more erratic and says he needs to go make some contacts. Joan, Zachary and Benjamin decide to leave George behind and catch up with him later if destiny wills it. The three go to OTCAL and secure the blood stores. Joan tells Zachary that OTCAL is now compromised and so she will need to work with Nikoli, Alexi and the other cultists to move everything and that might take time. She suggests that it is too dangerous for Zachary and Benjamin to be there while she oversees this. Zachary and Benjamin go to Club Euphonia to try to find the only other friendly faces they know: Desirée and Thaïs. Desirée’s security ghoul, Alexander, leads Zachary and Benjamin to a closet and locks them in it until Des and Ty return. Meanwhile, Desirée and Thaïs had been at a raucous meeting of the Brujah and other malcontents following Prince Elaine’s potestas edictum. There, Brujah Primogen Jeremiah Banks works everyone into a frenzy. Desirée tries to calm matters, but to little effect. She does manage to get Jeremiah to agree to come and meet her at her club. Thaïs tries to chide Jeremiah, but he backhands her into a wall for her liberties. Later, Jeremiah meets up with Desirée at her club and is enthralled by her Presence. Desirée, Thaïs, Benjamin and Zachary discuss their actions and their purpose and then all bed down at Desirée’s penthouse for the day.

Read the Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah from “Just to be on the Safe Side” here.

Rose melds into the earth as Vitus attempts to parlay with the Sabbat. One of the Sword of Caine’s leaders, a man calling himself “Phelan,” says that Vitus is exactly the kind of person he was looking for, takes him into his SUV, and drives off after telling the rest of the Sabbat soldiers to find the remainder of Camarilla forces in the area and kill them. Rose emerges from their hiding place and turns into a hawk. The flying predator is able to get out of the grasp of the Sabbat just in time: though loses some of their back feathers in the process. Rose flies away from the psychic ribbon wall and out away from the city. They trek across streets overrun by cars, protesters and police. Low on blood, Rose decides to follow the voice of the Beast within and sate themselves as the bird of prey they are. As the sun begins to approach, Rose dives into a forest and finds a spot to bed down beneath the earth for the day. The next night, Rose arises and takes flight to find one of Big Frieda’s last known havens at a farmstead near Lovettsville, Virginia. Rose tracks down Frieda and she gives rose shelter and advice.

Zachary, Desirée, Benjamin and Thaïs awake in the relative safety of Desirée’s spacious penthouse atop Del Ray Tower and Club Euphonia. The news is on the television in the background as the new coterie awakes for the night: D.C. is under martial law amid the “terrorist attacks” and civil unrest. Though it is a Friday, the Club is closed. The coterie discusses the sharing of Disciplines. Bernice comes up to the penthouse to greet her mistress and to let her know that all of her forces have gathered in the club below (though, Sebastian and Theo are still nowhere to be found). Desirée gives fresh orders to her ghouls. Thaïs works to teach Zachary some powers of the blood. Zachary reaches out into the Cobweb to find his “brother” Damien. His discussion with Damien leaves Zachary believing he is working at cross purposes with his broodmate. A discussion between Zachary, Thaïs and Desirée of the powers of the blood deeply concerns Zachary. Nonetheless, he drinks from Thaïs and gifts his blood to Desirée, hoping to teach and learn from one another. Desirée slips into a dream state, remaining for hours. She paints a portrait of Zachary and then waits, only to be pulled back into space and to be burned by the sun.

Read The Testament of Desirée for “Nestled Atop the Tower” here.

Read the Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah for “Nestled Atop the Tower” here.

Desirée wakes from her hours-long vision after drinking Zachary’s blood. She sees the image of a man and decides to paint him. Zachary and Thaïs train further and then all bed down at the penthouse for the day. The following night, Benjamin stays behind as Thaïs takes Zachary out to hunt for the first time. Zachary had been becoming increasingly hungry to the point that he was even fantasizing about murdering and eating his best friend in the whole world . . . so he decides to follow Thaïs’ lead and learn to hunt — though hopefully without killing. Meanwhile, Desirée confers with her ghouls and meets up with three veterans that Alexander brought to her. Des works her wiles and ghouls the three and has them set up in her Del Ray Tower. Later that night, Des decides to pay a visit to her thin-blooded Caitiff “Daughers.” She finds that they are starving and not getting along very well in their sad excuse for a shared haven. Thaïs and Zachary’s mission goes well as she leads him into a bad area of town so that the pair can be “stalked.” A group of street toughs see the pair and surmise them to be an easy mark. The would-be-muggers are horrified by the powers wielded by the vampires they thought to victimize.

Read the Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah for “Hunters and Gatherers” here.