Ancient Enoch

The Underworld

Obsidian Walls: An Introduction to the First City

"I looked upon the scene before me -- upon the mere house, and"

"the simple landscape features of the domain -- upon the bleak walls"

"upon the vacant eye-like windows -- upon a few rank sedges -- and"

"upon a few white trunks of decayed trees -- with an utter depression"

"of the soul, which I can compare to no earthly sensation..."

-- Edgar Allan Poe, The Fall of the House of Usher

Enoch is a Realm unto itself. Wraiths rarely go there, for even in the Underworld, it is surrounded by the limitless Sea of Shadows. Those who do visit, never leave. Vampires who attempt to find its parallel location on Earth end up sailing around the world, never finding the land that might be Enoch.

Within the Underworld, however, Enoch rests behind mammoth walls, its palaces restored to their former glory. While the halls of this fabled city do not ring out with the voices of living souls, the undead and their wraithly servants call this Enoch home.

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Daru el-Bawar: The Isle of the Black Citadel

Hell is the place of those who have denied;
They find there what they planted and what dug,
A Lake of Spaces, and a Wood of Nothing,
And wander there and drift , and never cease
Wailing for substance.
-- W.B. Yeats, "The Hour Glass"

Introduction: Daru el-Bawar is what the Childer of Caine call the otherwise nameless isle upon which Enoch rests. Sometimes referred to as the Isle of the Damned. The Isle of the Damned is roughly 60 miles in radius and covers an estimated 4200 square miles of area, slightly smaller than the North American state of Connecticut or Southern European nation of Montenegro; the island is much larger than most vampires realize. Daru el-Bawar possesses 400 miles of coastline, but only 25 miles of that constitutes a littoral shore, where as the remainder consists of jagged vertical escarpment of up to a hundred feet.

• -- The Head of the Beast: is a promontory upon which the City of Enoch is constructed and which points eastward into the uncharted Shadow Sea.
• -- The Neck: is a peninsula of land jutting out into the Sea of Shadows. Its easternmost promontory is sometimes called the Head of the Beast and the City of Enoch lies at its eastern end. The neck is about 15 miles long from east to west and about 6.5 miles wide upon average.
• -- Jetsam Sands: are located several miles to the north of the city and forms a littoral beach. The beach is made up of fine black volcanic sands scattered with pale bones of those Spectres that washed ashore. The Jetsam Sands littoral and the promontory called the Neck form a large section of the eastern portion of Daru el-Bawar. As such, they share much in common, including a much lower elevation than the rest of the island which consists of mesa-like tableland. More modern vampires of a scientific bent believe that the promontory and the adjacent littoral were once perched upon a large lake or inland sea. Given the vertical escarpment which forms the remainder of the island shoreline, it is possible that the City of Enoch was once a port town. Naturally enough, as the island's only littoral area, the Jetsam Sands are where the storms of the Underworld are most keenly felt and is location where spiritual jetsam tends to wash ashore, including the occasional Specter.

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Enoch: The Black Citadel

Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch'entrate. (All hope abandon, ye who enter here!)
-- The Divine Comedy, Inferno by Dante Alighieri

Introduction: A few Kindred make their havens in Enoch, but all members of the Black Hand have visited. They are guaranteed protection from one another by the Del'Roh, and should they break this peace, they would pay with their unlives. The city is usually free from violence, but the intrigue here is unsurpassed. Some compare it to ancient Persia, where many of the same Kindred once gathered to play their political games.

Two dozen members of the sect, 10 revenants, 20 chatterlings, and at least 1OO wraiths call Enoch home. While most sect membecs maintain private havens in the Living Lands, they also have their own private set of apartments in Enoch. All are expected to spend at least sometime in the city, meeting with the Del'Roh and other leaders, studying in its library and celebrating its rituals.

Many festivals are held in the city, and most sect members attend these celebrations unless they have a very good excuse. The old holidays of the great thanksgiving after an eclipse, Midsummer's Eve and All hallow's Eve are kept, as well as special events declared by the Del'Roh.



The wraiths of Enoch act primarily as servants. Most no longer enter the Shadowlands, but they prefer the protection of the Del'Roh, anyway. They find the lifestyle they have in Enoch preferable to the one they would have in Stygia. There are wraiths who serve as professional entertainers, craftspeople, librarians, housekeepers, guards and messengers. The Nagaraja help keep them in line.

Much of the holding is now located behind great, 10-foot-thick, 100-foot-high walls of black marble, in which is set a great bronze gate bearing what is believed to be the seal of Caine. The walls were rebuilt after the retaking of the city to prevent future attacks by Oblivion-driven monsters. The walls are guarded by slave wraiths trained as sentinels.

Inside the walls is the re-created "First City." Though this Underworld city is, at best, merely a reflection of the real First City, many believe it appears as it did so long ago. The statues throughout the city are believed to be the work of Arikel, the first Toreador, and the ancient library built by Brujah stands near the center of town. The hanging gardens designed by Malkav remain in full bloom. The streets and buildings designed by Ventrue are in perfect condition, as are the slave-pits which Irad of the Second Generation filled with those captured in his conquests.

Enoch is unique, but bears many similarities to the architecture of early Mesopotamia, especially the Citadel of Sargon II. The entire Citadel is sizable, covering nearly 10 square miles. Most of this space remains empty, however, and there are living quarters for far more beings than have ever been in Enoch.

Notable locations include a large, black-and-red build­ing called the Temple of Lilith, which seems to have been dedicated to the Dark Queen; the "Catacombs of the Antediluvians," which contain the sealed tombs of what are believed to be four Antediluvians; the Pool of Zillah, a small pool of crystal clear water which is said to provide visions of the future to those who know how to see them; and a prison where criminals were held until they would become Caine and his childer's meals. The chatterlings are housed and trained in one section of Enoch and are not permitted to venture into the rest of the city until reaching a certain age.

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The Dread Palace Ghemal -- High House of Caine

The Location of the Dread Palace witin Enoch

An External View of the High House of Caine

That sweet city with her dreaming spires. -- "Thyrsis" by Matthew Arnold

The Palace Entrance

In the center of the Black Citadel stands a massive palace called the High House of Caine. According to myth, Caine and his childer would gather here and feast upon the specially prepared blood of honored vessels. The palace is lavishly decorated with furnishings provided by the finest craftspeople in all the lands. Many murals of Caine and his childer grace the walls, telling the stories of the First City. Statues, precious stones and metals, painted golden reliefs, and artwork from many ages adorn the halls and chambers of the palace. It is from Ghemal that the Del'Roh rules the Black Hand.

The Palace Courtyard

The first level of the palace is the great meeting hall where all members of the sect may discuss business. Much of this level serves also as a museum and armory, though the archaic weapons are no longer used. This floor served as the court of Irad, the Second-Generation Cainite whom the Hand believes led his sire's armies. Caine's Ivory Throne sits in the middle chamber.

The second level is the Hall of Havens, where all members of the Hand, including non-vampires, can make their home when they visit Enoch. It is large enough to provide lavish havens for more than 200, though most of the chambers remain unused.

The ceremonies and grand social events are held on the third level. It serves as a massive pleasure den, and the sect believes many mortals lost their lives here feeding the thirst of Caine and the Antediluvians. Some members of the wazir make their havens on this level.

The Del'Roh rules from the fourth floor. While she has no guards or locked doors, the entire level is her haven and only those specially privileged may enter it. The Del'Roh keeps a harem of vampiric vessels, and new mortals are brought in and Embraced to serve her as food.

The fifth level of the palace is closed to all, for the Black Throne of Basalt, where the sect believes Caine will one night pass judgment on all Kindred, is here.

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The Library of Brujah

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The Hanging Gardens of Malkav

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The Sacred Mysteries

"O nights and feasts of the gods!"

-- Horace, Satires

Cultural Practices of the Hand

Aside from actual rituals, the Black Hand observes several other practices. These too remain much as they were during the early nights of the Tal'mahe'Ra.

Amaranth: The Black Hand denounces diablerie. It is an evil practice, and those who commit it will be punished by Caine upon his return. There are members of the Black Hand who cannot sustain themselves on human blood. They feed off other Cainites, but avoid the intentional consumption of the souls of their herd. However, under certain circumstances, as in the ritual execution of the murderer of a Hand member, it may be deemed an acceptable form of punishment, especially in the case of diablerie. But this extreme form of punishment requires a full convocation and unanimous vote of the Qadi or alternately, the public sanction of the Del'Roh before no less than thirteen assembled members of the Black Hand.

Death's Head: Most members of the Black Hand collect the heads of those they assassinate as a symbol of their power. They slice the face and the front part of the skull off the head and make masks from them for the Danse Macabre. The death's heads are often painted and or decorated in some way.

Oath of Loyalty: Hand leaders often insist that members reaffirm their oaths of loyalty to the sect when they are given important assignments.

Spiritual Propaedeutics: Many of the Cainites of the Black Hand have no Humanity, despite their (somewhat) humane practices. The Hand teaches members who lose faith in their own Humanity what Road or Path of Enlightenment they chose.

Tests of Verification: The Black Hand does not have a secret handshake, code word or any other pseudo-mystical trappings. Instead they use a far-less-noticeable method involving a combination of body, mouth and eye movements, along with particular wording of sentences. This test is virtually invisible, but sect members can almost always recognize fellow members during simple conversations.

Laws and Penalties of the Black Hand

"Fiat justitia ruat coelum" (Let justice be done though the heavens should fall.) - Latin saying

The Del'Roh is the ultimate authority within the Black Hand, and all obey her. The seraphim are the supreme leaders on Earth, though they must answer to the Del'Roh in Enoch for all their actions. Elders of the Hand, called the Qadi, settle disputes and determine guilt and innocence in cases involving sect members. Together the Qadi are called the tribunal. Lesser members of the sect occasionally assist them in their duties, but because the Hand is far smaller than the Camarilla, they seldom need assistance. The Qadi also act as leaders during many of the sect's rituals, as they are almost always former Rawis - keepers of the Guarded Rubrics.

The Black Hand is harsh and unforgiving in its punishments. No efforts are made to reform the behavior of the offender, for he is expected to know better than to commit crimes against the sect.

Crimes against the Black Hand	The Traditional Punishments
The theft of property from a fellow Hand member.	Upon the first offense, the offender permanently loses a finger, subsequent offenses result in the permanent amputation of a hand, the fourth offense results in final death for the offender.
The commission of assault upon the person of a fellow Hand member by hand or deed.	The offender receives a public and ritualized beating by fellow sect members.
The plotting of, or successful commission of the murder of a fellow Hand member.	The offender is subject to ritualized diablerie by a fellow sect member in good standing.
Acting in such a way as to dishonor the ethics, precepts or traditions of the Black Hand.	Upon the first offense, the offender is subject to general verbal humiliation and ridicule; subsequent offenses will result in public mutilation, severe burning and ultimately imprisonment in Enoch.
The disrespect or insolence of a ghoul slave towards any vampire of the Hand.	The owner of the ghoul slave receives a stern warning upon the first offense, the ghoul servitor is killed upon the second offense.
The attempted or successful deception of a sect leader.	The offender is subject to severe torture on the first offense, and receives final death upon the second offense.
The failure of any sect member to respond to the call of a sect leader.	The sentence for this crime is imprisoned in Enoch, the length of detainment is dependent upon the reason given by the guilty party for their failure to respond.
The disclosure of Black Hand secrets to anyone.	The sentence is final death by fire for the offender and all his or her mortal associates, ghouls and or servants.
The offense of treason: acting to overthrow the Black Hand or to harm or kill the Del'Roh.	The sentence for this odious crime is impalement upon a tall stake in Enoch for a year, followed by slow dismemberment with heated instruments.
The willful association of a sect member with either the Followers of Set or the Baali Bloodline.	The offender is subject to a lengthy torture and if found guilt of capitulating with the enemy is subject to final death by beheading.
The offense of diabolism (i.e: infernal diablerie): the worship and or self-subjugation of the offender to any infernal spiritual entity.	The sentence for this vile crime is final death by being slowly burnt alive.

Ritual Practices of the Hand

The secret practices of the Black Hand all seem alien, macabre and ancient, based as they are on those of the early vampires, proto-Euthanatos and Mummies. Originating with the dawn of civilization, these practices have changed little with the passage of time. Some within the Black Hand find many of these customs vulgar and useless, but they continue these practices as a reminder of the monsters they are and their crimes against humanity.

The Black Hand carries out many of its rituals in Enoch, safe from prying eyes. These rituals only take place on special occasions and are always treated with the utmost reverence. Both the Camarilla and Sabbat are in many ways direct progeny of the Black Hand, the Camarilla's clan customs and the Sabbat ritae have evolved in one fashion or another from those used by the Black Hand in Enoch. Below are the most well known of the Black Hand's ritual customs, there may be others, regardless most will be observed only rarely.

Anele of Purification: Hand members who are about to undergo an extreme trial are sometimes given a small vial of the Del'Roh's vitae. They anoint themselves with the blood, hoping it will give them the strength they need to succeed. The Del'Roh often awards a vial of her blood to those who have atoned for past dishonors, as a symbol of forgiveness and respect.

Blood Hunt: The Camarilla's Blood Hunt, and even the Sabbat's Wild Hunt, originated with the Black Hand's Blood Hunt. The Black Hand calls a Blood Hunt on those rare sect members who are proven guilty of treason and on others who learn too much about the sect. A Qadi or Wazir usually calls the hunt. Often Sabbat and Camarilla pawns call hunts of their own to assist in the destruction. The Black Hand has only called two Blood Hunts in the last 400 years.

Danse Macabre: Similar to the Danse Macabre of the Sabbat, this Hand ritual requires sect members to dress as the dead and perform a ritualistic dance. They often wear death-heads during this ritual. Terrible music and chanting always accompany the dance.

Sacrificial Offerings: The members of the Black Hand often sacrifice living beings as a symbol of their respect for Caine and the Antediluvians. Lesser sacrifices consist of one young or ghoul, while greater sacrifices consist of several younger Cainites and or ghouls. Many sect members attend these rituals. There is always great ceremony involved, including chanting, music, a special service and even costuming. Usually a Qadi performs the sacrifice, though other sect members occasionally do so.

Vision Seeking: Hand members sometimes ingest vitae laced with mind altering substances such as mescaline or LSD. They use this method to seek answers to questions of the soul.

Guarded Rubrics: The History of the First City

The fabled Book of Nod describes the known history of the First City, but no version make mention of it existing in the Underworld. The Black Hand originally believed it discovered a means of passage into the Underworld on its own, and that it was merely luck or the providence of Caine that they found the Island of Enoch. However, most now believe the Antediluvians led their minions to the city they had re-formed from their memories.

For ages, the City of Enoch remained under the dominion of the sect. Then, as the mortal Inquisition created havoc on Earth, the Hand came under assault in Enoch. A large force of Specters and Doomshades, perhaps under the direction of a wraith-lord, arose from the Tempest and swarmed Enoch during one of the worst Maelstroms ever recorded. Many members of the Hand were lost that night, for some were in Enoch when the city fell.

The Del'Roh and the more powerful Children of Caine escaped to Earth, where they remained for centuries, leaving the Aralu to the dead. They did not return to Enoch until the Eastern and Western Hand reunited. The first force they sent to Enoch found the city deserted, though there were signs of a great struggle. Some claim the city's conquerors were attacked by other Doomshades or Underworld beings, others say a great Maelstrom destroyed them, and a few fear the Aralu may have awoken and destroyed the infiltrators themselves. Should the last be true, surely the lack of courage shown by the Black Hand angered the clan sires.

The Hand has restored Enoch to its former splendor and guards the holding with all its might. The tombs of the Aralu remain unopened, and the imprisoned and insane Cainites outside the sealed tomb chamber doors, who await the Antediluvians as food, have yet to be consumed. But there is hope the clan sires will return soon.

The Prophesies of Singularity

Preamble: One Shall be the Number of the First Prophesies to come to pass for like the firmament they are inscrutable and indivisible.

One Shall be the Turning of the Age when a mighty drum sounds in the deeps and the battlements of the First City are set ablaze for the second time. Then the battle-hosts of the thirteen will arise not once, not twice, but thrice and their legions shall sow a bounty of blood and enumerate the Harvest to Come.

One Shall be the Unity of the Houses of Divinity in Triumph, for the House of Caine is divided in thirteen, a house divided against itself in doom and yet only the first part of Caine's Blood shall be as a sacrifice upon the fiery alter.

One Shall be the number of Lilith's Last Childe, born into Seth's House beneath the Moon, baptized with the blood of Caine, both Herald and Hope.

One Shall be a House of Slayers and Usurpers brought low by stolen blood, ground down like a millstone into dust, swept away by an Ill-Wind from the East and the least part of this House shall survive, reviled and despised, upon their bellies amidst the earth and it is from there that they shall be as a thorn to the Hands of Darkness.

One Shall be the Number of the Thirteenth House reborn, the Prodigal Childer of Caine, who will sup upon the blood and ashes of another house through the auspices of their Dark Father. He who will build a city for them with five gates and five walls, a city that will become the foundation of an Empire of Blood and it shall last for a thousand years.

The Dalhan: The Vampiric Residents of Enoch

The Del'Roh: The supreme leader of the Tal'mah'Ra

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Sobriquet:

Appearance:

Behavior:

History:

Recent Events:

The Liches: The Three Wisest Scholars

• -- Narbonidas -- The Assamite Sorcerer.

The Erinyes: The Followers of Lilith

• -- Alekto -- The Unceasing.
• -- Megaera -- The Begrudging.
• -- Tilphousia -- Vengeful Destruction.

The Ineffable Bureaucracy: The Vampiric Servants of the Del'Roh

• -- The Forgetful Fiend -- The Old Clan Tzimisce warden of Caine's prison.
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The Hatif: Another Form of Undeath

• -- <<En'Xor>> -- General of the Armies of Irad, Defender of Enoch, and Fist of the Del'Roh.
• -- <<Um'Tehran>> -- First Servant of Enoch and the Queen of Maids.
• -- <<Frater Decimus>> -- Leader of the wraithly librarians of Brujah's Library.
• -- <<Sir Manefred of Britainy>> -- The wraithly captain of the palace guards.
• -- <<Maid Ellspeth>> -- Enoch's hatif mistress of the Lesser Servants.
• -- <<Headmaster Stephan Cjud>> -- The Enrathi wraith and headmaster of the Enochian chatterlings.
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The Manus Nigrum: The Earthly Agents of the Western Hand

Qadi Vardek

Inauhaten

Numerius

Heinrich of Volstag

Svarozic of the Getae, Childe of Zalmoxis of Kogaionon

Vibia Sabina

Edward Williamson

Father Kakios Pachis

Sienneo Neroli

Antonia Cerini

Benjamin Rathe

Dominion Mariel

Khunufseh

Javor

Benjamin Rathe

Antonia Cerini

The Earthly Agents of the Eastern Hand

Seraph Si'Djeha

Kateb Zeke - Ashipu Autarkis

Zubeida the Abomination

The Shadow Crusade: Hunters of Vicissitude

Vulferam - The Leader of the Shadow Crusade

Maja Grimm - Grand niece of the famous Brother's Grimm and an Ancilla member of the Crusade.

Dardani the Illyrian - (Diablerized with the Fang of the Ouroboros (Item 1))

Elek Almássy - The Traitor - (Diablerized the elder Dardani with the Fang of the Ouroboros (Item 1))

The Aralu: The Slumbering Ancients

Quote: "Our ancestors are very good kind of folks; but they are the last people I should choose to have a visiting acquain­tance with."

-- Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Rivals

One of the deepest mysteries surrounding Enoch is the persistent rumor that it houses ancient sleepers, residents far older than the oldest members of the Hand. Sect leaders never mention such inhabitants, but younger members hear their elders whisper about the Aralu, four mighty beings, perhaps even Antediluvians, who lie in torpor in the most secret chambers of the city.

Their true names remain a mystery to all, except perhaps the Del'Roh and a handful of others. Their chambers are said to have many names inscribed on the walls and seals, but three are commonly known as Nergal, Ninmug and Loz. Some elders believe them to be the Toreador, Ventrue and Nosferatu Antediluvians. The identity of the fourth remains unknown or at least so the gossip goes.

There are those who believe the Aralu are on the verge of awakening. Some have even hinted that at least one of them has already awakened and merely awaits the others. Some Hand members claim they have seen the Aralu in daydreams, but cannot con­sciously remember what they looked like or said.

The Nosferatu of the Black Hand fear that Ninmug of the Aralu is Nosferatu. They believe that if he is, he will surely desire their destruction in penance to Caine. A couple say that perhaps he will reward the Nosferatu for watching over him, but most doubt it. For this reason, the Nosferatu of the sect have begun having second thoughts concerning their service to the Black Hand and may try to stop Ninmug's awakening before it is coo late.

It is the fourth Aralu that worries many of the Kindred, for his identity remains a mystery. There have been suggestions that it could be Malkav, but others say his consciousness is awake and active on the Astral Plane, while his body lies somewhere near the North Pole. Could it be that the fourth Aralu is Zillah, Irad or Enoch, who are said to be the Second Generation?

Might it even be Caine himself?

Ancient Arcana: Sorcerous Secrets of the Hand

Paths of the Manus Nigrum

Rituals of the Manus Nigrum

Manus Nigrum Lexicon

Abominations: Vampire-werewolves. There are only a handful of these beings, and they are all outcasts from Lupine society. Most choose solitary existence, though some worm their way into Kindred society. There is one Abomination within the Black Hand.

Aralu: The name referring to the four beings believed to sleep in torpor in great tombs below Enoch, who may be Antediluvians.

Azazel: Often used in reference to Caine by Eastern Kindred.

Camarilla's Hand: The members of the Black Hand who also maintain Alternate Identities within the Camarilla.

Chatterlings: Humans abducted and trained as servants and ghouls until they are worthy of the Embrace. They are some of the most insane, ruthless and skilled of the Hand's members.

Clan Sires: Also known as the clan fathers, they are the Antediluvians.

Dalhan: Eastern name for the Kindred.

Dark Umbra: The spirit plane of the dead. The Underworld.

Daru el-Bawar: Eastern name for the Underworld. But, also the name of the island upon which Enoch can be found in the Shadow Sea.

Del'Roh: The highest leader within the Black Hand.

Dhabi: An old name given the Silent Striders by Eastern sect members. It has since been used by Eastern members to refer to all werewolves.

Diwan: The council of leaders. The council meets with the Del'Roh in deciding the proper course of action.

Eastern Hand: The members of the Black Hand who reside in the East, primarily the Middle East, the northern portion of Africa, and India. They share many secrets and practices which differ from those of the Western Hand.

Enoch: The First City of Caine. lt supposedly existed somewhere in the Mesopotamian region. The Black Hand's version is now a reflection of its former self, for it is located within the deeper reaches of the Underworld.

Euthanatos: A Tradition of mortal mages that origi­nated in India and the Middle East. Their philosophy and study of magick centers around death and entropy.

False Hand: The Sabbat's Black Hand. Only a small number of its members belong to the Real Black Hand.

Ghoul Families: Families of revenants who ace as ser­vants to Kindred. The Sabbat, Tremere and Black Hand are the only groups known to use ghoul families.

Guarded Rubrics: A collection of ancient writings which reveals much more concerning the origins of the Kindred. Many parts of the Rubrics are missing, but the Hand controls all known existing pieces.

Hatif: The wraith allies of the Black Hand.

Ins: Another word for the kine. {Canailla / Mortals}

Kamuts: Small groups of Hand members loyal to one another. Much like Camarilla coteries, except they have a purpose for their existence. Usually they are dedicated to strengthening the power of the Antediluvians (or one par­ticular Antediluvian), though others exist for fighting the Shadow Crusade.

Kherebu: Ancient term for the seraphim. It is still used by the more ancient Kindred.

Loz: One of the Aralu; believed to be Toreador.

Marid: A Kindred over 700 years in age. Marid is used as a term of respect.

Naga Raja: A bloodline created by the early mages of the Tal'mahe'Ra and their Kindred allies.

Nasnas: Ancient name for the chatterlings.

Nephandi: Evil mages who serve demon-like beings beyond everyday reality. The Nephandi sell their own souls and those of others in exchange for temporal power and influence.

Nergal: One of the Aralu believed to be Ventrue.

Nictuku: The progeny of Nosferatu, except for one who was not Blood Bound to him. According to legend, they now hunt those of Clan Nosferatu, in service to Nosferatu himself, as all Nosferatu are believed to have descended from one childe of the Antediluvian who was not Blood Bound.

Ninmug: One of the Aralu believed to be Nosferatu.

Qadi: The Black Hand's equivalent to Justicars. These Kindred protect the Hand from anarchy and internal strife.

Rawis: Also known as the Keepers of the Lore, this select group within the Hand has the responsibility of pro­tecting and studying the Guarded Rubrics.

Revenants: Individuals who are born ghouls. Their families inbreed and breed with other ghoul families and eventually their children are born revenants.

Shakar: The "hunt." Members of the Hand refer to the hunt for any powerful enemy as the shakar.

Shakari: The professional assassins and hunters within the Black Hand.

Sheikh: "Elder of the Tribe." This title is claimed by each clan leader within the Black Hand. They serve as representatives of their clans and choose the Qadi.

Shiqq: A human servant and oracle from a family that has long served the Eastern Black Hand in divining the future and giving advice.

Silent Striders: A tribe of Lupines that originated in ancient Egypt. They are known to be messengers for the Lupines and to bear a jackal-like appearance.

Soul-eaters: A broad term used to describe all the crea­tures infected with Vicissitude to the point where they become alien beings controlled by the Vicissitude itself.

Tal'mahe'Ra: Originally a death cult composed of Euthanatos and Verbena mages. The cult was dedicated to the study of death and undeath. They studied the Kindred, especially their blood and their subsistence on the blood of mortals. The cult later became the Manus Nigrum and then the "Black Hand."

The Tempest: A place in the Underworld on the edge of nothingness where time and space do not exist, and all reality is composed of what one makes of it.

The Tribunal: The Qadi collectively. Together the tribunal oversees many of the sect's rituals and trials.

True Brujah: Brujah not descending from Troile, but from the Cainite commonly called Brujah, sire of Troile. Their existence is merely legend among most Kindred, though many elder Brujah wonder if the True Brujah still harbor revenge for their diablerized clan father.

True Hand: Also known as the Real Hand. The actual Black Hand, not the false subsect within the Sabbat.

True Magick: Also known simply as magick, it is the methods by which reality can be controlled and altered. The vampiric Disciplines are considered pale comparisons to the powers of True Magick. Magick is known to the mages.

Underworld: The spirit world of the dead.

Verbena: A tradition of mortal mages who study their own nature-oriented philosophy and magick. Blood holds great power in their magick.

Wazirs: The council of thirteen, composed of the sera­phim and the liches. They serve as the advisers to the Del'Roh and sometimes meet with the tribunal.

Western Hand: The members of the Black Hand lo­cated in Europe, North America, and South America. They share many secrets and practices which differ from those of the Eastern Hand.

Appendix: Bloodline Geneology

• Assamite Antitribu
• True Brujah
• Daughters of Cacophony
• Gangrel
• Country Gangrel Antitribu
• Lasombra Antitribu
• Malkavian
• Malkavian Antitribu
• Nosferatu
• Nosferatu Antitribu
• Ravnos Antitribu
• Toreador
• Toreador Antitribu
• Old Clan Tzimisce
• Ventrue
• Ventrue Antitribu