by Christopher Lee Simmons (Vampire: The Masquerade | The Chronicles of Nod | Columns)
Hiding in the alleyway, Jerome tucked the small bundle of flesh and cloth tighter against his chest, hoping the baby wouldn't scream, or his tormentors wouldn't detect the sour-milk scent it gave off with their unnaturally keen senses. Clamoring in the entrance to his haven startled him from his revelry, and he looked up into the eyes of a monster.
"You can't hide here forever, Jerome. Let the Order help you," the creature said, extending a taloned hand.
"Why are they after me? What have I done to them," asked the bewildered boy.
"You exist. These days, that is enough. These are the End Times. The Final Nights are upon us," came the reply.
The Final Nights are upon us. These and other similarly abysmal warnings waft on the night's wind, causing elder and neonate alike to pause in their hunt, to ridicule the speaker and inwardly shiver with dread. The millenium approaches, and brings with it a wave of hysteria among the more excitable vampires of the modern era, Gehenna cults foment chaos and opportunistic Kindred do their level best to take advantage of the apocalyptic murmuring.
Since the beginning of time, every culture has had its end-of-the-world scenario written out even as it grew into adolescence. Presaging the last days of the World of Darkness, the vampires have the Book of Nod in all its forms and apocrypha. Just like the religions of the "real" world, not all kindred believe the book to be truth. A fair number research it, but just as many believe it to be pure superstition that has no place in their world. Of course, the fact that they are superstitions themselves tends to allude them.
This installment of the Chronicles of Nod will give thumbnail sketches of three new Gehenna Cults and the roles they play in the modern nights. Unlike the Gehenna cults presented in Elysium and updated for 3rd Edition in Time of Thin Blood, these Cults are slightly less gerontocratic, and admit members of the higher generations.
The Order of the Crimson Star
Founded: 1999
Motto: An Eye for an Eye
Recently, extraordinarily perceptive vampires noticed a red star glowing dimly in the night sky. Some Kindred of a more scholarly bent found a reference in one of many Noddist fragments that referred to the end as the time when Caine will unyoke his red eyed ox Gehenna. Thinking only to avert the Dark Father's anger, certain Kindred have been gathering information from as many sources as they can regarding this red star. By all accounts the star appeared during the month of July, coinciding with strange activities of the clan Ravnos.
Even a group as small as the Order has members who have differing views and goals. The differing factions promote their goals within the body of the cult and attempt to profit off of yet another means of networking. Deep inside the cult's façade lies the founding council known as the Crimson Circle. This council knows that many members of the cult have little interest in Gehenna or the Red Star. These undesirables have gone along with the idea only to further their goals within Kindred society as a whole, but they seem more interested in consolidating the members efforts under a single banner: the "protection" of the Thin Blooded and their recently discovered hybrid children. Passing themselves off as selfless members of the similarly named cult organized by a Dhampyr, these kindred are trying to woo these wild cards to their side in preparation of the final nights. Few members know of the order's origins and even less know that the Crimson Circle is made up entirely of Tremere who have orchestrated the entire cult around their personal agendas.
Servitor Lords of Caine
Founded: 1975
Motto: Better to serve on Earth than burn in Hell.
Proof positive that there are some that would rather serve than die, the Servitor Lords seek to become servants of Caine or the Antediluvians and thus survive the coming judgements. Founded by a simpering elitist of a Toreador, this group rose almost a quarter of a century ago, making it one of the youngest Gehenna Cults in existence, but it boasts a fairly impressive roster of Kindred. The stereotypical member is a slimy, weak willed toady guessing what would please his "masters" and acting on those impulses. The Servitor Lords are intensely opposed to the Sabbat and its campaign of open warfare on the Antediluvians and amused by the Camarilla sitting with its head in the sand.
Spiraling down a hidden path, these Cultists are all too willing to be pawns in the nightly jyhads of the Elders, furthering the perceived goals of their clan and its founder. This chosen servitude does nothing to dull their collective ambitions however, and many members of this group spend their time either attempting to gain places of power or defending their stations from others. They justify this paradox by telling themselves that the higher they are on the totem pole when the Ancients arrive, the more useful they will be to their erstwhile lords.
Paenitentis Legionis (The Penitent Legion)
Founded: 1575
Motto: For we are the wicked and the wicked must be judged.
Possibly the only group to intentionally promote Gehenna's arrival, these apocalyptic martyrs find their origins in the ashes of the Cainite Heresy. In the late 16th century, a Ventrue named Jean-Marc D'Orleans uncovered forbidden scriptures detailing the heretical beliefs of the Albigensians and, horrified by what he had found began twisting it to God's ends. D'Orleans was a devoutly religious man, who believed his vampiric nature to be a test of faith from his God and saw it as his mission to bring Gehenna upon the world and cleanse it of vampiric influences.
To this end, the Ventrue began gathering followers, using the heretical texts as a guide, he taught his followers that they were monsters, cursed by God and deserving of eternal torment. The only hope, he taught, was to bring Gehenna and accept judgement from on high. Sending his flock on quests for any information on how to bring this end about, he encouraged mass embraces to bring about the "Time of Thin Blood." Jean-Marc believed that the only way to hasten the end was to act exactly as the curse intended, to become the monsters that God had deemed them.
At the end of the 18th Century, a Lasombra assassin ended Jean-Marc's life, but his followers continued his dream, hiding behind the Sabbat when possible, and pushing to fulfill every prophecy of the End Times they could find. Now, with every sign pointing towards the Final Nights, these vampires have redoubled their efforts, hoping that they are the straws that finally break the camel's back.
Prophets of Redemption
Founded: 1784
Motto: In the end, even the deaf will listen
Struggling to be heard amid the cacophony of politics and hatred for "lesser" vampires, the Prophets of Redemption believe that the only way to avert Gehenna is to stop fighting it. A Malkavian embraced a young girl named Cassandra and the madness convinced her that she was the legendary seer of the same name. During her first few formative nights, her sire read fragments from the Book of Nod to his new childe, hoping to engender a respect for Caine and belief in his traditions. Cassandra was so frightened by her new existence that she surrendered to torpor, allowing it to drag her into a long, dark slumber. During this time, she experienced many dreams, instructions to protect the Thin Blooded and keep the Kindred from fighting amongst themselves and thus waking the Antediluvians.
Waking in the middle of the 18th century, Cassandra began gathering followers to her side, promoting peace and tolerance in a world of strife and predatory violence. Like her namesake, she was mostly ignored by those in power, but her following grew among the "lower" classes.
I would be interested in hearing feedback, both on the Cults themselves, and how they went if you use them in your games. If there seems to be enough interest, I might be willing to expound on one of the sketches presented here.
