Storytellers Guide to the Sabbat Storytellers Guide to the Sabbat From the nadir of despair comes the beginning of greatness. By Steve C. Brown Vampire: The Masquerade tm was created by Mark Rein*Hagen. The Players Guide to the Sabbat tm uses the Storyteller tm game system © 1992 , 1997 by White Wolf. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission of the publisher is expressly denied, except for the purpose of reviews. Vampire: The Masquerade, Gothic-Punk, Brujah, Toreador, Nosferatu, Gangrel, Tremere, Ventrue, Malkavian, Sabbat, Anarch, Camarilla, The Kindred, Neonate, Caitiff, Ancilla, Methusalah, Seraph, Priscus, Obtenebration, Vicissitude, Dementation, Arcanum, Society of Leopold, Book of Nod, The Beast Within, Diablerie, Gehenna, The Jyhad, The Riddle are all trademarks and copyrights of White Wolf. Disclaimer: The characters and events described in this book are fictional, any resemblance between the characters and any person; living or dead, is purely coincidental. The mention of or reference to any companies or products in these pages is not a challenge to the trademarks or copyrights concerned. Due to the mature themes presented within, reader discretion is advised. "All great truths begin as blasphemies" George Bernard Shaw, "Annajanska" Exiled from mortal life, rejected by it's immortal kin, the Sabbat draws strength from the only source left - itself. No group has been so reviled, and never before has so much villainous propaganda been spread. But all the grotesque tales are true, and all the gory details correct. For the Sabbat does what it does for the sake of existence itself, and no crime is too great when the reward is immortality. Credits Writing: Steven C. Brown Development: Andrew Greenberg, Robert Hatch Editing: Robert Hatch, Andrew Greenberg Consultant: Teeuwyn Woodruff Art Director: Richard Thomas Art: Joshua Gabriel Timbrook, Ken Myers Jr., Cover: Jeff Starling Layout: Sam Chupp Production: Richard Thomas, William Hale, Joshua Gabriel Timbrook Back Cover: Chris McDonough Character Sheet: Steven C. Brown, Andrew Greenberg, Chris McDonough Special Thanks To: Mark "Alright, I'll Recycle Already" Rein*Hagen, for boxing up the boxes. Stewart "Josh Ball" Wieck, for the game he made up after the accident. Ken "Hose Off'' Cliffe, for learning how the real Americans do Thanksgiving. Josh "Space Marine" Timbrook, for going after the Chrisman at his own game. 1 Storytellers Guide to the Sabbat Wes "Pickle" Harris, for being the one in the middle. Rene "Streppin' Down" Lilly, for doing some seriously sore throat. Rob "Baby Got Back" Hatch, for the joy when his band's drummer returned from Florida. Travis "Star Man" Williams, for getting a hold of Star Control II and not letting go. Richard "Brujah Mad" Thomas, for laying out his first White Wolf product. Sam "We're Going To Hell" Chupp, for this book. Chris "European" McDonough, for wandering the halls like a crazed continental. William "Bat Dad" Hale, for fathering a superhero. He's all Hale. Bill "Squirming" Bridges, for what he did when the Book of the Wyrm author dropped the ball. Benjamin "Roadhog" Monk, Jr., for learning the joy of the Cadillac Cowboys. Lisa "Early Bird" Rafalske, for learning how dull the office is first thing in the morn. Teeuwyn "Con Games" Woodruff, for her help on the Ravnos and her sordid suite at Sci-Con. Gregg "Mr. Coast Guard" McLeroy , for doing the right thing. Most important thanks to: God, mom, pop, grandma, bro and you Dedicated to: Jennifer Connelly who, as Sarah, made it through hardships untold and dangers unnumbered to save Toby from Jareth, all the while learning about life, dreams and love. WHITE WOLF GAME STUDIO 735 PARK NORTH BLVD. SUITE 128 CLARKSTON, GA 30021 USA © 1997 White Wolf Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of the publisher is expressly forbidden, except for the purposes of reviews, and blank character sheets, which may be reproduced for personal use only. White Wolf, Vampire the Masquerade, Vampire the Dark Ages and Mage the Ascension are registered trademarks of White Wolf Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. AEon, Werewolf the Apocalypse, Wraith the Oblivion, Changeling the Dreaming, Werewolf the Wild West and The Players Guide to the Sabbat are trademarks of White Wolf Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. All characters, names, places and text herein are copyrighted by White Wolf Publishing, Inc. The mention of or reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned. This book uses the supernatural for settings, characters and themes. All mystical and supernatural elements are fiction and intended for entertainment purposes only. Reader discretion is advised. Check out White Wolf online at http ://www.white-wolf. com; alt.games.whitewolf and rec.games.frp.storyteller PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES Introduction..................................................................................7 Chapter One: Inside the Sabbat...................................................11 Chapter Two: Running with the Sabbat.......................................39 Chapter Three: Character Creation..............................................57 Chapter Four: The Paths of Enlightenment.................................85 Chapter Five: Sabbat Traits.......................................................101 Chapter Six: Sabbat Templates.................................................133 Appendix One: Unusual Weapons for Vampire........................153 Appendix Two: Sabbat Relics and Magical Devices.................153 2 Storytellers Guide to the Sabbat Introduction Right now. I am an Antichrist. I am an anarchist. Don't know what I want but I know how to get it. I want to destroy. Pacify. 'Cause I wanna be Anarchy. - Sex Pistols, "Anarchy in the U.K." Welcome to The Players Guide to the Sabbat. This Remember that the Sabbat is a sect with carefully guarded book provides you with the information you need to secrets, so players should watch what they read if they are roleplay a member of the Sabbat. While not intended to not going to play Sabbat vampires. In order to fully enjoy cover every aspect of the Sabbat, this sourcebook is meant the Sabbat, the sect should remain a mystery to outsiders to give you an understanding of what the sect is, including especially Camarilla Kindred and their players, since the its clan composition, history, ideology, traditions, practices Camarilla is the archenemy of the Sabbat. The inner and goals. workings of this sect have never been revealed, so it is Within this book are the inner secrets and mysteries of the highly unlikely that a Camarilla neonate would know a most dreaded vampire sect in existence. This book offers a Sabbat vampire even if one bit him on the neck. look at the Sabbat past and present, its activities, its goals, A Storyteller wishing to run a chronicle involving Sabbat its ideology, and its allies and enemies. There are two new characters should become familiar with the material clans, the Lasombra and the Tzimisce, to complete the herein. While there are some similarities between the descriptions of the 13 clans. In addition, there are complete Sabbat and the Camarilla, many features are unique to the listings for the antitribu, or "anti-tribes," of many existing Sabbat. A Storyteller might also wish to restrict what clans. There are even new bloodlines among the antitribu. players read, since even those within the sect do not know Finally, this sourcebook contains new Disciplines, Merits everything about it. and Flaws, a number of Thaumaturgic rituals and paths, and new Secondary Abilities and Backgrounds. Something to Keep in Mind Additionally, The Players Guide to the Sabbat can A wise skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic. help Storytellers add the Sabbat to chronicles centered - James Russell Lowell, Shakespeare Once More around the Camarilla. It provides details about the sect's Much of this sourcebook contains information told from a motivations, tactics and even sample Sabbat characters, all Sabbat perspective, or at least a biased one. This is because of which can flesh out any story. if it were not told in this manner, one might not realize that the Sabbat's ideology is just as concrete as the Camarilla's ideology. It is left up to you to decide whom you believe - What is the Sabbat? the Sabbat or the Camarilla. The Sabbat is an organization composed solely of The View from the Outside vampires. It is similar to the Camarilla in many respects, The Sabbat appears to the outside world as a sect with no but has a number of special distinctions. The Sabbat is purpose other than diablerie and the spread of dissension smaller than the Camarilla. Its doctrines are among the youth of vampire society. Its members are seen overwhelmingly more political and militaristic, and it is as callous brutes who place no value on human or Kindred actively involved in constant warfare against the Camarilla. existence, and seem to love releasing the Beast during All members of the Sabbat are free from Blood Bonds to a frenzy. They are entrenched in the occult, carrying on particular vampire master, though their ties to each other bizarre and unspeakable rituals unseen by outsiders. They can be just as strong. In addition, the sect is steeped in speak as if they were the true sons and daughters of Caine tradition, millenarian doctrine and mysticism. It is and continually try to convert Camarilla Kindred to their completely secretive, so most of what is known about the own wild ways. Sabbat outside the sect is speculation. Which side a The mystery of the Sabbat has long fascinated younger character is on plays an important role in how much he Kindred of the Camarilla; indeed, some even join the knows about the Sabbat. Sabbat's ranks, never to be heard from again by their comrades in the Camarilla. The young Camarilla Kindred seem to be the focus of Sabbat attention and most rumors How to Use This Book about the Sabbat begin among the anarchs. Ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight? I always Rumors do indeed abound concerning the Sabbat.