This Is How the Story Stands Today
-Narrated by Maxim Stratov, member of Clan Ventrue, Tribune of the Old Men of Mala Strana squad, late 2000.
It was a blessing fallen from the sky. Week of Nightmares, considering
the significant number of Ravnos antitribu in Sabbat ranks, was
surely the move in the Jyhad that bought us the most time to put things
back in place. Sabbat is already chaos by nature; imagine what happens
when they start tearing each other apart. Their usual answer is to cut
out the rot, literally, and this "civil war" against Ravnos
antitribu benefited us enormously.
Sabbat was forced to forget us for a short while, and we used every
moment of it to gather logistics and reinforcements. By the time they
finished that little internal revolt of Liars, survivors of the Nights
of White Ash were already entrenched on the opposite face of Prague.
That small Ravnos-provided bypass made all the difference.
Because Sabbat could no longer keep harrying us, it failed to expel us
or erase us for good, and that was its great mistake.
The Scourges appointed by Carlak gathered every Camarilla Kindred
willing to fight. The Sheriff had enough time to form several neonate
squads and post them on bridges over the Vltava, preventing Sabbat,
whose packs had been weakened by the Ravnos disaster, from entering our
new stronghold. Ghouls who proved their worth were granted the Embrace
for fighting faithfully not only for their domitors, but for the
endurance of Camarilla and Masquerade. Archons began sabotage missions
across Sabbat lines with help and support from Tremere chantry. Ventrue,
alongside Brujah and Toreador, began rebuilding financial and economic
reserves to sustain the long campaign ahead. We took Independents by
surprise while their guard was down and tightened pressure: help us, or
follow Ravnos into extinction in Prague. They chose to "atone" for sins
against Camarilla by becoming useful again, far more considerate, and by
paying for damage done, so we let them continue existing. As for Prince
Carlak, in the end we know absolutely nothing; apparently he is
destroyed. So... we will see who takes the next throne in the city.
Primogen mostly fled or fell in the first days of Sabbat assault, so as
with the title of Prince, that second office remains open to whoever can
shoulder it. In our new western position, squads, Sheriff, and survivors
divide fresh domains, while those already established there are forced
to hold them more strictly against incursions caused by
overpopulation.
Now it is a matter of finding a new Elysium where we can lay Camarilla's
new foundations and rebuild the bastion of Traditions and Masquerade in
Prague. Tremere chantry remains active and still Sabbat's greatest
headache; as long as it keeps stinging them, Sabbat stays divided and
cannot focus on one objective.
Ravnos' final fate may have been luck for us, or perhaps a move prepared
for a long time in Jyhad to save our city from Sabbat's claws. Whatever
it was, I welcome it. One less meddling presence in Eternal War.
-Narrated by Alvar, Priscus and member of Clan Lasombra, late 2001.
The Ravnos antitribu affair wrecked our plans, yes, but the
Independents turning their backs on us was the true killing blow. Even
so, it cannot be said we truly lost. In truth, neither Sabbat nor
Camarilla has won or lost anything final; we are in an intermission
before stepping back onto field for the last part of match.
Camarilla can gloat that it still stands, but it should remember it is
not alone, and it will have to coexist with us until we decide to crush
it.
On Sabbat's side, now under supervision of the Guardians and, yes, the
Demons too, things will change, and we will remind antitribu why they
are below and we are above. You do not let children play with fire; look
what happened when you do. This game was too big for them, though I
admit they surprised me, and that deserves some credit.
At the end of Nights of White Ash we made count. Shovelheads who
survived were accepted as full Sabbat, with survival in assault treated
as sufficient Rite of Initiation proving fitness for service. Giovanni
and Setites were not paid what they had been promised, making clear no
one plays games with us. They'll be lucky if tomorrow we do not remind
them what happens to those who play both sides and betray us: "third parties always get hit in every dispute." In absence of formal consistory, and still today, it remains to be
seen who will be city's leading voice. Several young aspirants have
self-proclaimed ambitions for bishoprics and templar seats; no one
opposes them directly or indirectly yet, so now it is a matter of who
wins the respect of their brothers and earns office. Assault survivors,
mostly packs, have begun dividing new domains and hunting grounds within
our influence radius, now spanning eastern Prague together with Mala
Strana and Nova Strana.
Tremere chantry has become personal. It is unthinkable, intolerable,
that those warlocks still exist in our own territory. We considered
temporary alliance with Independent Tzimisce, who have long wanted
Tremere erased from city, but such alliance with neo-feudalists more
loyal to themselves than to our sect is, at best, unreachable dream.
This will remain a thorn in our side for long time.
Otherwise, war continues here, though now it has acquired taste of cold
war. City is shattered, power structures of Tower and Sword are broken,
and beneath it all stand ambitious childer who think they have what it
takes to mount the horse and give orders.