Księga Erebusu

Book
of
Nod

By Aristotle deLaurent, Beckett, et al.

~~~
Introduction:
How to use the Book of Nod

The Book of Nod is not designed to be the definitive book on the nature of vampires and their founder, Caine. There are no game mechanics within. The reason behind this is that The Book of Nod is meant to be 100 percent setting material. Ideally, Storytellers will use The Book of Nod as a prop in either their Masquerade Mind's Eye Theatre game or their Vampire:The Masquerade chronicles.
They may also use it to seed their games with an authentic culture: the culture of the Antediluvians which filters down from Caine himself. Want to make an EIder seem ancient and ultra-conservative? Have him quote from the Chronicle of Shadows. Want to give players the sense that they are close to the Antediluvians? Have them find a tablet with a fragment of the Chronicle of Caine on it. Want to scare them with threats of Gehenna? Have a Malkavian quote the Chronicle of Secrets to them.
~~~
Preface

I cannot tell you the naked fear I feel, putting down these words for once and for all. Perhaps I will regret them. Perhaps they will never see print. Yet, it is my nature to report this. It is, as they say, in the blood.
My sire, and his sire before him followed this great and glorius work. Indeed, our very nature has been shaped by this quest; we are unable to stop searching for knowledge. We are of the Mnemosyne, the Memory-Seekeers. Specifically, we have been commanded to search for the Book, the tome of all Kindred lore, which is a collection of writings by Caine, his childer and his grandchlider. It is this Book, supposedly first written in the land of Nod, east of Eden, that captures our daytime nightmares and makes every night a painful journey from ignorance towards truth.
Still, I savor every moment of my unlife. I savor the feeling of the crinkly old skins through silk gloves, turning them page by page. My hands shake with pleasure while holding soft cool lights and reading ink that was newly dried when Charlemagne was young. I savor the gentle, quiet terror of reading cuneiform tablets that threaten to crumble at my very presence. More than that, perhaps more than immortality itself, is the quest that burns within me. It is the search. I have traveled all over this world, perhaps even more than any other of my bloodline.
Where my eternal quest takes me, I shall know no fear! Though small of frame and frail of body, my heart is strong and my blood stronger. I am not afraid to go to those shadowy places where the far-flung fragments of our Father's teachings lie resting! I have gotten lost in the raw brutality of New York, sipped tea with the Governor of Kingston, made life-long enemies in Johannesburg, hired the best diggers in all of Cairo, fought to get through to Casablanca, learned about ancient steel and ancient monuments in Toledo, dug in the white cliffs of Dover, barely avoided a deadly brawl in Dublin, sneaked past watchful eyes in Brest, and liberated ancient tomes from a monastery in Cologne. I have saved fourteen sacred scrolls from the torch in Berlin, sipped the best coffee and talked to the greatest Austrian scholars in Vienna, learned ancient Sumerian from a Methuselah in the hidden tunnels under the University of Prague, and braved the coldest winters Oslo had to offer.
And yet, I did not to this by my wits alone. Barely a night goes by that I do not thank our Founder for his foresight in providing me with the secret ways of hiding, the way to see beyond sight, and the voice of command that seems to come so easily to our line, and I have long blessed my warrior friend Karsh who taught me the secret of seeing in the dark and sleeping in the earth.
And yet, I wonder what else our Founder provided us with. My sire and his sire seem to have fallen under a horrible curse. A madness, dark and quiet at first but soon growing to a terrible loss of coherent thought and communication, has seemed to strike them. Can I be far behind? My Tremere friend has written me, saying that the burning need driving my bloodline might be the cause of the madness. It must be true, for I cannot fight the burning desire for more knowledge, it is as difficult to resist as the need for sleep or the need for blood.
It is perhaps this madness, that which I fear the most which has compelled me to go to press with this translation in haste. Know that I do not intend to break Raphael's fragile Masquerade by putting these words in print. It is my intent that a scant ten score of these books be printed, and that none of the copies of this book be given into the hands of the sons and daughters of Seth (as our Father commands us in The Chronicle of Shadows).
I must publish this now, however. It is the most complete collection of the Chronicles of The Book of Nod that has ever been gathered. No other translation, not even Critias' Codex of Caine, has been as complete.
And yet it shames me to say that this is not the complete text. Far from it. I have seen whole fragments go up in smoke as flames consumed ancient buildings. I have touched a complete Book in the tomb of an Antediluvian, and watched it crumble to dust.
I know that in the catacombs under the tabled Los City of Gold, hidden deep in the Amazon jungle, there are thirteen stone fragments said to contain specific words to each of the 13 tribes of Kindred, but I only glimpsed them once before I was forced to flee. And so I can only boast to having part of the puzzle: the largest part to ever be assembled, true, but still only a part of the whole.
I have chosen English as it is my native tongue, it is, in my opinion, the one language which most ably dances between the ancient concepts of Sumer, the noble language of Ancient Rome and the stentorian incantations of Medieval Germany. I must beg forgiveness for its glib simplified action in some cases. However, I will forever defend my choice. The King's English will serve well, especially since so many of the original texts are forever lost to me.
It is perhaps particularly perverse that I follow the threads of memory to each fragment of this Book, and yet I know that there are those out there who harry me at every step. I know that Amelek has himself had a hand in thwarting me once, and other Methuselahs as well. It is difficult to find, for example, lists of the names of the Antediluvians and the Methuselahs, for they know that in names there are power and they, out of fear that some mage would learn to control them with it have blotted their names out of the histories, where ever they have been recovered.
I have luckily managed to discover a few of them, but I suspect these to be falsified names that were created by the Antediluvians to throw me off the trail, so I offer them here. This may be the only way in which we may identify certain Antediluvians. Furthermore, I have fallen into the habit (regrettably) of referring to the founder of a clan with a nominative of the clan's name. For example, Malkav equals Malkavian. This is, admittedly, sloppy scholarship but I have been left with no choice. Once I learned the true name. of Brujah's Antediluvian and discovered my own name carved in my forearm the next evening. I promptly swore to never again seek the names of those founders.
I am quite sure that, even as I write these words, there are agents of the Jyhad who are following me. I will not join the common room downstairs tonight for last night. I indulged in some wine-sotted blood and saw a woman with silver-grey eyes looking at me. She was wearing Ventrue's scepter-sigil on her cloak, I know it was her watching for me, searching for me, sent by Ventrue to harry me. No matter. I will write the truth and the rest of you be damned!
I have attempted to compile these textual fragments into some kind of coherent story, at least within the contexts of the various Chronicles. Where you see an ellipsis, know that there are more words on that particular scrap, but that it has somehow been lost, erased or hidden from me.
I wait now only for a package from London to finish this missive and have done with this book. This package will carry one of the only copies of the Codex of Caine left in existence, and will be the last piece in my complex puzzle. I look forward to touching it, holding it, with great expectation. And if any of my brothers or sisters comes near it, I will ... I will send them to the death of Fire! Let Michael’s holy sword brand them, for all I care. No one has come this close. I will reign triumphant amongst my kind.
With triumph,
Aristotle de Laurent

~~~
A Brief Word on the Chronicle of Caine

It is unimportant that this part of the Book of Nod is not comparatively accurate with the standard biblical canon. What is important is that we have, perhaps for the first time, a personal viewpoint on the events surrounding the days after the Fall. Caine tells us in his own words what his motives were, and although it is quite possible that this story exists only to shape our idea of him, we can assume that there must be some element of the truth his tale. His account is, after all, the only eyewitness report we have to rely upon.
Ah, our dear Father. In some Islamic myths, the translated Satan figure is thrown from Heaven not because he hates mankind, but because he loves God too much to bow to any other but God, and he will not serve man. It is perhaps that Caine shares in this love he so loves his brother that he cannot think of any other worthy sacrifice to the One Above. Surely Caine could not have had any other reason to sacrifice his brother. He could not know death, having been born before Death was something humanity had experienced.
Other figures of that time also play instrumental roles in the Book. Surely it is not purely mythological transliteration that causes Lilith to appear in this story, for she is a figure in the oldest of the Hebrew Midrashim. Having been cast out of Paradise first, she would recognize Caine for one who had been in the light of heaven and subsequently cast out. There are those among my colleagues who believe that this stanza should represent the idea that Lilith, mother of magick and demoness herself, taught the first Disciplines to Caine. Others see her role as being a midwife to our Father's awakening to his own magickal potential. What remains to be discovered is the fabled “Cycle of Lilith" which supposedly describes the time Caine spent with Lilith as her servant and lover. Was it merely a dalliance, or could it have been some kind of mystical apprenticeship, during which Lilith gradually drew out of Caine tne limitations that the Divine had placed upon him and slowly Awakened him to his own magickal powers? The fact that she shows trepidation at his drinking her own blood from the Awakening cup might point to her lack of total understanding as to what, exactly, this might do to the First Son of Adam.
We cannot afford to speculate heather the cup causes a hallucination in Caine or whether Caine is actually physically transported to a wilderness somewhere in the Darkness. This is not understood, neither is it explained by the translation of the original text. The original phraseology essentially means “breathed in" or “moved." Both meanings of the word point to either explanation. And we cannot gain much in the debates: it matters not whether Caine was physically transported. Like shamanic visions recorded as a result of ritually consuming hallucinogenic, Caine's experience was as real to him as any journey might be to you or me. My childe, Beckett, continues to restate his opinion that the Chronicle of Caine is a vampiric parable. I totally disagree, but Beckett is a beloved childe. I will include his studies and findings here, below.
Because of the literary distance between the current translations of the text (Dr. deLaurent's translation included) of The Book of Nod, the original intent of the Book has been lost. It is my theory, based on my own researches, that the stories of Caine and Abel, Caine's curse, and his subsequent meeting with Lilith are parables created to tell the tale of the first Kindred in such a way that even the simplest of us can understand them. Through my own scholarship, and drawing upon the work of the fundamental Caine scholars in the world (including some captured writings by a Black Hand worshipper of Caine), I have created a story which I believe harkens back to the original parable of Caine.
In the time after humanity went from a hunter/gatherer society to cultivating farm animals and developing agriculture, there were two tribes, named for their chiefs. They were called the people of Caine and the people of Abel. The people of Abel were herders and animal husbanders, and were more primitive than the people of Caine. They worshipped a great Sun God, who was a warrior who lived in the sky. The people of Caine were agricultural, and were more civilized than the people of Abel. Because it was so important to time the harvest, the people of Caine worshipped the Moon Goddess, the Dark Mother who was both the fertility of Earth and the mystery of the Moon.
Yet, not all of the people were happy. Chief Abel attacked Caine's people, telling them that they were inferior and cursed because they did not hunt like their Sun God hunted. Caine's people did not know much about fighting, but Caine taught them how to use the sharp things that they used to till the soil to kill. When Abel's people came back to torment them again, Caine's people fought back. All of the men, women and children of Abel were killed.
The Sun God of the people of Abel then called them cursed as a people, and laid a blood-curse on all of them that they would wander without a home in the wilderness. He burned their villages and salted their fields, and told all to turn away from the people of Caine The people of Caine were unable to recover. They wandered in the curse for many weeks, until they had no food to eat and had many troubles. Then the priestess of the Dark Mother, who lived beyond the Moon, came. The priestess offered Caine's people respite, succor and surcease. She taught them magic, taught them how to hunt, and taught them to drink blood.
The Sun God came to Chief Caine in dreams, and told him and his people to return and subjugate themselves to the will of people of Seth. Chief Caine refused. Then the Sun God told him that all the people of his tribe would be cursed forever, and it was so. But the Dark Mother said that there would always be a way to overcome this curse: if the people of Caine would come to Her, through her mystery, she would free them from the curse of the Sun God.
In this parable, Caine’s people (and Caine) represent our need for civilization, the Humanitas that we constantly seek. Abel’s people (and Abel) represent our animal natures, our wild selves, the Beast that lies within us. The Dark Mother represents the mystery that guides our very existence: the magic of our blood, the power of Disciplines. We must seek the mystery of Dark Mather while dealing with the legacy left behind by the Sun God – the curse. Ergo, “A Beast I am, lest a Beast I become.” Golconda is held out as a final goal, perhaps balancing all these things and showing the transcendence of the Beast Within.

~~~
The Chronicle of Caine

I dream of the first times1
the longest memory
I speak of the first times2
the oldest Father
I sing of the first times
and the dawn of Darkness

In Nod3, where the light of Paradise
lit up the night sky
and the tears of our parents wet the ground

Each of us, in out way,
set about to live
and take our sustenance from the land.

And I first-born Caine, I,
with sharp things4,
planted the dark seeds5
wet them in earth
tended them, watched them grow

And Abel second-born Abel
tended the animals
aided their bloody
births6
fed them, watched
them grow

I loved him, my
Brother
He was the brighest
The sweetest.
The strongest.
He was the first part
of all my joy7.

Then one day
our Father8 said to us.
Caine, Abel
to Him Above9 you must make a sacrifice -
a gift of the first part
of all that you have

And I, first-born Caine, I
gathered the tender shoots
the brightest fruits
the sweetest grass

And Abel, second-born, Abel
slaughtered the youngest,
the strongest,
the sweetest of his animals

On the altar of our Father
we laid our sacrifices
and lit fire under them
and watched the smoke carry them
up to the One Above

The sacrifice of Abel, second-born,
smelled sweet to the One Above
and Abel was blessed.

And, I, first-born Caine, I
was struck from beyond by10
a harsh word and a curse,
for my sacrifice was unworthy.

I looked at Abel’s sacrifice,
still smoking the flesh, the
blood.
I cried, I held my eyes
I prayed in night and day

And when
Father said11
the time for
Sacrifice
has come again

And Abel
led his youngest,
his sweetest,
his most beloved
to the sacrificial fire

I did not bring my
youngest,
my sweetest,
for I knew the
One Above
would not
want them.

And my brother,
beloved Abel
said to me
“Caine, you did not bring
a sacrifice,
a gift of the first
part of you joy,
to burn on the altar
of the One Above.”

I cried tears of love as I,
with sharp things,
sacrificed that
which was the
first part of
my joy,
my brother.

And the Blood of Abel12
covered the altar
and smelled sweet
as it burned

But my Father said
“Cursed are you, Caine,
who killed your brother.
As I was cast out
so shall you be.”13

And He exiled me to wander in Darkness,
the land of Nod.14

I flew into the Darkness
I saw no source of light
and I was afraid.15
And alone.

The Coming of Lilith

I was alone in the Darkness
And I grew hungry.
I was alone in the Darkness
And I grew cold.
I was alone in the Darkness
And I cried.16

Then there came to me
a sweet voice,
a honey voice
Words of succor.
Words of surcease.17

A woman, dark and
lovely,
with eyes that
pierced the
Darkness
came to
me.18

I know your story. Caine of Nod."
She said, smiling.
"You are hungry. Come! I have food.
You are cold. Come! I have clothes.
You are sad. Come! I have comfort."

"Who would comfort one so Cursed as I?
Who would clothe me?
Who would feed me?"

"I am your Father's first wife,
who disagreed with the One Above
and gained Freedom in the Darkness.
I am Lilith.19

Once, I was cold, and there was no warmth
for me.
Once. I was hungry and there was no food
for me.
Once, I was sad, and there was no comfort
for me."

She took me in, she fed me.
She clothed me.
In her arms. I found comfort.
I cried until blood
trickled from my eyes
and she kissed them away.20

Lillith's magick

And I dwelt for a time
in the House of Lilith21
and asked her
"Out of Darkness,
how did you build this place?
How did you make clothes?
How did you grow food?"

And Lilith smiled and said.
"Unlike you, I am Awake.
I see the Threads that spin
all around you, I make that
which I need out of Power." 22

“Awaken me, then, Lilith." I said.
"I have need for this Power.
Then, I can make my own
clothes,
make my own food,
make my own House."

Worry creased Lilith's brow.
"I do not know what the
Awakening will do for you,
for you are truly Cursed by
your Father.
You could die.
You could be forever changed."

Caine said, "Even so, a life without
Power will not be worth living.
I would die without your gifts.
I will not live as your Thrall."

Lillith loved me, and I knew this.
Lilith would do what I asked,
though she did not wish it.

And so, Lilith, bright-eyed Lilith.
Awakened me.
She cut herself with a knife
bled for me into a bowl.
I drank deep. It was sweet.23

And then I fell into the Abyss.24
I fell forever, falling
into the deepest darkness.

The Temptation of Caine

And from the Darkness
came a bright shining light -
fire in the night.
And the archangel Michael revealed himself 25
to me.
I was unafraid. I asked his business.

Michael, General of Heaven,
wielder of the holy Flame,
said unto me,
"Son of Adam, Son of Eve, thy crime is great,
and yet the mercy of my Father is
also great.
Will you not repent the evil that you
have done, and let his mercy wash you clean?"

And I said to Michael,
"Not by [the One Above]'s grace, but mine own
will I live, in pride."26

Michael cursed me, saying
"Then, for as long as you walk this
earth, you and your children will
fear my living flame, and it will
bite deep and savor your flesh." 27

And on the morning, Raphael came28
on lambent wings,
light over the horizon
the driver of the Sun,
ward of the East.

Raphael spoke, saying
Caine, son of Adam,
son of Eve,
your brother Abel
forgives you your sin
will you not repent, and accept the
mercy of the Almighty?"

And I said to
Raphael
"Not by Abel`s forgiveness,
but mine own,
will be forgiven."

Raphael cursed
me, saying
"Then, for as long
as you walk this earth,
you and your children
will fear the dawn,
and the sun's rays will seek
to burn you like fire
where ever you hide always.
Hide now for the Sun rises to take
its wrath on you."

But I found a secret place in the earth
and hid from the burning light of the
Sun.
Deep in the earth, I slept until the
Light of the World was hidden behind the
mountain of Night.29

When I awoke from my day of sleep,
I heard the sound of gentle rushing
wings30
and I saw the black wings of Uriel
draped around me -
Uriel, reaper, angel of Death,
dark Uriel who dwells in darkness.

Uriel spoke to me quietly, saying
"Son of Adam. Son of Eve. God
Almighty
has forgiven you your sin.
Will you accept his mercy and let me
take you to your reward, no longer
cursed?31

And I said to dark-winged Uriel,
“Not by God`s mercy, but my own, will
I live.
I am what I am, I did what I did,
and that will never change.”32

And then, through dread Uriel
God Almighty cursed me, saying.33
“Then, for as long as you walk this
earth,
you and your children will cling to
Darkness
You will drink only blood
You will eat only ashes34
You will be always as you were at death,
Never dying, living on.
You will walk forever in Darkness,
all you touch will crumble into
nothing,
until the last days.”

I gave a cry of anguish
at this terrible curse and
tore at my flesh.

I wept blood
I caught the tears in a cup
and drank them 35
When I looked up from my drink of
sorrow
the archangel Gabriel
gentle Gabriel
Gabriel, Lord of Mercy
appeared to me.

The archangel Gabriel said unto me,
“Son of Adam, Son of Eve,
Behold, the mercy of the Father is
greater
than you can ever know
for even now there is a path opened
a road of Mercy
and you shall call this road [Golconda].36
And tell you children of it,
for by that road may they come
once again dwell in the Light.”

And with that, the darkness
was lifted
like a veil
and the only light was
Lilith’s bright eyes.

Looking around me, I knew
that I had Awakened.

When my energies first
surged through me
I discovered
how to move like lightning
[Celerity]
how to borrow the strenght
of the earth [Potence]
how to be as stone
[Fortitude]
These were like
breathing once was to me.

Lilith then showed me
how she hides herself from
hunters [Obfuscate]
how she commands
obedience [Dominate]
and how she demands
respect [Presence]

Then, Awakening myself further, I found
the way to alter forms [Protean]
the way to have dominion over animals [Animalism]
the way to make eyes see sight [Auspex]37

Then Lilith commanded that I stop, saying
that
I had over reached my bounds
That I had gone too far
That I threatened my very essence.

She used her powers and commanded me to
stop.
Because of her power, I heeded her,
but deep within me a seed was planted
a seed of rebellion
and when she turned her face from me,
I opened myself up once more, to the Night,
and saw the infinite possibilities in the stars
and knew that a path of power, a path of
Blood
was mine for the taking,
and so I awakened in me this Final Path,
from which all other paths would grow.

With this newest power, I broke the bonds
that the Lady of Night put on me
I left the Damned Queen that evening,
cloaking myself in shadows,
I fled the lands of Nod
and came at last to a place
where not even her demons could find me.

Zillah's Tale

Let me tell the tale of Zillah38
first loved of Caine,
first wife of Caine,
the sweetest blood,
the softest skin,
the clearest eyes.

Alone of Caine's newest Childer,
did Caine desire Her,39
and she was not mindful of his
desire, turning away from Him.

Not gifts, not sacrifices,
not perfumes, not doves,
not beautiful dancers,
not singers, not oxen,
not sculpture, not beautiful clothes,
nothing would turn Zillah's heart
from stone to sweet fruit.

So Caine pulled at his beard40
and tore at his hair
and took to roaming the wilderness
at night, thinking of her,
burning for her,
and one night Caine came upon
an old Crone singing to the moon

Caine said to the
Crone,
"Why do you sing so?"
And the Crone replied,
"Because I yearn for
what I cannot have ..."41

Caine said to the
Crone,
"I yearn also. What can
one do?”
The Crone smiled and
said,
"Drink of my blood
this night,
Caine, Father of
Kindred,
and return tomorrow
night.
Then will I tell you
the wisdom
of the Moon."42
Caine drank at the
Crone's bare neck,
and departed.

The next night, Caine
found the Crone
sleeping on a rock.
"Wake up, Crone."
Caine said.
"I have returned."
The Crone opened one
eye and said,
"I dream of the
solution for you
this night. Drink once
more of me,
and then return
tomorrow night.
Bring a bowl of clay.
Bring a sharp knife.
I will have your answer
then."

Once again. Caine took blood from the
Crone,
who immediately fell back into a deep
slumber.

When Caine returned the next night,
the Crone looked up at him and smiled,
"Greetings, Lord of the Beast," the
Crone said.43
"I have the wisdom you seek."
"Take some of my blood,
into the bowl you have,
and mix in these berries
and these herbs,
and drink deep of the elixir."

"You will be irresistible.
You will be potent.
You will be masterful.
You will be ardent.
You will be glowing.
The heart of Zillah will melt
like the snows in spring."

And so. Caine drank from the Crone's
elixir,
because he was so in love with Zillah,
and he so desired her love in return.

And the Crone laughed. The Crone
laughed aloud.
She had tricked him! She had trapped
him!
Caine was angry beyond compare.
Caine reached out with his powers,
to rend this Crone apart with his
strength.

The Crone cackled and said, "Do not"
And Caine could do nothing against her.
The Crone chuckled and said. "Love
me."
And Caine could do nothing but stare
into her
ancient eyes, desire her leathery skin.
The Crone laughed and said, "Make me
immortal."

And Caine Embraced her. She cackled
again,
laughed with the pure ecstasy of the
Embrace,
for it did not pain her.

"I have made you powerful. Caine of
Enoch,
Caine of Nod,
but you will forever be bound to me.
I have made you master of all,
but you will never forget me!
Your blood, potent as it is now,
will bond those who drink it,
as you did, once a night
for three nights.
You will be the master.
They will be your thrall, as you are mine.
For though Zillah will love you, as you
wanted,
you will love me, forever. Go now, and
claim your
lovely bride, I will wait for you in the
darkest
places, while I brew more potions for
your health."
And so, heavy hearted,
Caine returned to Enoch.
And each night,
for three nights,
Zillah drank from her Sire,
though she did not know it.
And, on the third night,
Caine announced he would marry44
Zillah, his sweetest Childe,
and she agreed.

The Tale of the Crone

For a year and a day45
Caine labored in service
to a Crone, who with blood-wisdom.
bound him as surety
as any prisoner.

She would visit him at night
force him to give up his blood
for her secret elixirs
and potent formulas

She would take his Childer's Childer,
and they would never be heard from again.

But Caine was wise. He did not drink
from her ever again.
And she did not ask him to, thinking
that he was ever in her Thrall.

One night. Caine went to the Crone
in the forest.
and told her of terrible dreams
that he had during his sleep.

"I fear for my life, Crone.
I fear the prophecy of Auriel,
and my Children's lust for my blood.
Tell me secret knowledge, that I might
be powerful against my own."

And the Crone went to a tree
made of gopher wood,46
and broke off a limb.
She took a sharp knife
and sharpened the limb.

"Take this piece of living wood,
sharp, strong,
pierce the heart of your wayward childe.
It will render him still,
and yours to command.
Instead of feasting on your heart's blood,
he will feel the weight of your justice."

Caine said. "Thank you, Mother," and
With that, moving in quick movements,
Caine took the stake of gopher wood,
seized it and drove it
deep within the Crone's heart.

Because Caine, wise Caine
had fed not upon her for a year and a day
and because he forced his Will through
his hands, he broke the Bond she held
on him, and turned his fortune.

She laughed again, as blood welled up
and poured out of her mouth.
Her eyes poured out hate.
Caine
kissed her
once, kissed her
cold, withred lips,
and left her there
to Raphael’s gentle smile:
the sun that rises.

The Tale of the First City

In the beginning there was only Caine
Caine who [sacrificed] his brother out of
[love].47
Caine who was cast out.
Caine who was cursed forever with immor-
tality.
Caine who was cursed with the lust for
blood,
It is Caine from whom we all come,
Our Sire's Sire.

For the passing of an age he lived in [the
land of Nod].
In loneliness and suffering
For an eon he remained alone
But the passing of memory drowned his
sorrow.
And so he returned to the world of mortals,
To the world his brother [Seth, third-born
of Eve,]
and [Seth's children]
had created.

He returned and was made welcome.
[For none would turn against him,
due to the Mark that was laid upon him]
The people saw his power and worshipped
him,
[He grew powerful, and his power was
strong,
his ways of awe and command were great]

[And the Children of Seth made] him King
of their great City, The First City.

But Caine grew lonely in his Power.
Deep within him, the seed of loneliness
blossomed, and grew a dark flower
He saw within his blood the potence
of fertility
By calling up demons
and listening to whispered wisdom
He learned the way to make a child for his
own.
He came to know its power, and, doing so,
decided to Embrace one of those near him.

And, lo, Uriel, Dread Uriel, revealed
himself to Caine
that very night
and said to him,

"Caine, though powerful you are, and
marked of God,
know you this: that any Childe you make
will
bear your curse, that any of your Progeny
will forever walk in the Land of Nod, and
fear flame and sun, drinking blood only
and eating ashes only.
And since they will carry their
father's jealous seed,
they will forever plot
and fight
amongst themselves.
Doom not those of Adam's
grandchildren who seek to
walk
in righteousness. Caine!
Stay your dread Embrace!"

Still, Caine knew what he must do, and a
young man
named Enosh, who was the most beloved of
Seth's kin,
begged to be made Son to the dark Father.
And Caine, mindful though he was of
Uriel's words,
seized Enosh, and wrapped him in the dark
Embrace.

And so, it came to pass that Caine beget
Enoch and, so doing, named the First City
Enoch.
And so doing, did Enoch beg for a brother,
a sister, and Caine, indulgent Father,
gave these to him, and their names were
Zillah, whose blood was most-favored of
Caine,
and Irad, whose strength served Caine's arm.

And these Kindred of Caine learned the
ways
of making Progeny of their own, and
they Embraced more of Seth's kin, unthinking.

And then wise Caine said. "An end to this
crime.
There shall be no more."
And as Caine's word was the law, his Brood
obeyed him.

The city stood for many ages,
And became the center of a mighty Empire.
Caine grew close to those not like him.
The [children of Seth] knew him
And he, to turn, knew them

But the world grew dark with sin.
Caine's children wandered here and there,
indulging their dark ways

Caine felt anger when his children fought
He discovered deceit when he saw them
make word-war
He knew sadness when he saw them abuse
[the children of Seth]

Caine read the signs
in the darkening sky,
but said nothing.

Then came the great Deluge, a great flood that washed over the world.
The City was destroyed,
the children of Seth with it.

Again, Caine fell into great sorrow and went into solitude.
And he left us, his Progeny, to our own ends.

We found him, after much searching,
deep in the earth,
and he bade us go, saying
that the Flood was a punishment,
for his having returned to the world of
life
And subverting the true law.
He asked us to go, so that he might
sleep.

So we returned alone to find the
children of Noah,
And announced that we were the new
rulers.
Each created a Brood
In order to claim the glory of Caine,
Yet we did not have his wisdom or
restraint.
A great war was waged, the Elders against
their Children,
just as Uriel had said,
And the Children slew their parents.

They rose up
Used fire and wood
Swords and claws
To destroy those who had created them

The rebels then built a new city.
Out of the fallen Empire,
they collected the Thirteen clans
that had been scattered by the Great War,
and brought them all together,

They brought in the Kingship Clan
[Ventrue],
the Clan of the Beast [Gangrel],
the Moon Clan [Malkavian],
the Clan of the Hidden [Nosferatu],
the Vanderer Clan [Ravnos],
the Clan of the Rose [Toreador],
the Night Clan [Lasombra],
the Clan of Shapers [Tzmisces],
the Snake Clant [Setites],
the Clan of Death [Cappadocian],
the Healer's Clan [Saulot],
the Clan of the Hunt [Assamites],
and the Learned Clan [Brujah].

They made a beautiful city,
and the people worshipped them as gods.
They created new Progeny of their own,
the Fourth Generation of Cainites.
But they feared the Jyhad,
the Prophecy of Uriel,
And it was forbidden for those Children
To create others of their kind.
This power their Elders kept for
themselves.
When a Childe was created, it was
hunted down and killed,
and its Sire with it.

Although Caine was away from us,
we did feel his careful eye watching us,
and we knew that he marked our movements
and our ways.

He cursed [Malkav], when that one
defamed his image
and doomed him to insanity, forever.
When [Nosferatu] was found indulging
his tastes
in foul ways with his own Children,
Caine laid his hand on [Nosferatu],
and told him that he would forever
wear his evil
and twisted his visage.
He cursed us all, for killing the first part
of his Children, the Second Generation,
As we had hunted them down one by one,
Zillah the Beautifu, Irad the Strong, and
Enoch First-Ruler.

And we mourned them all, as we were all
of a kind,
and all of the families of Caine's childer.

Though this city was as great as Caine's,
eventually
It grew old.
As do all living things, it slowly began
to die.
The gods at first did not see the truth,
And when they at last looked about
them it was too late.

For, as Uriel had said,
the seed of Evil planted
blossomed as a blood-red
rose
and [Troile], the Child of
his Child's Child
rose up, and slew his
Father, Brujah.
And ate of his flesh.
Then war wracked the city
And nothing could ever be
as it was.

The Thirteen saw their city
destroyed and their power
extinguished,
and they were forced to
flee, their Progeny along
with them.
But many were killed in
the flight, for they had
grown weak.
With their authority gone,
all were free create their
own Broods,
And soon there were many new Kindred,
Who ruled across the face of the Earth.
But this could not last.

Over time, there came to be too many of
the Kindred
And then there was war once again,
The Elders were already deep in hiding,
For they had learned caution,
But their Children had founded their
own cities and Broods,
And it is they who were killed in the
great wave of war.
There was war so total, that there are
none of that Generation
To speak of themselves any longer.
Waves of mortal flesh were sent across
continents
In order to crush and burn the cities of
the Kindred.
Mortals thought they were fighting their
own wars.
But it is for us that they spilt their
blood.

Once this war was over,
All of the Kindred hid from one another
And from the humans that surrounded
them.
In hiding we remain today,
For the Jyhad continues still.

And none will say when Caine will arise
again,
from his sleep in the earth,
and call for the city Gehenna,
the Last City, the City of Judgment.
The Jyhad continues still.

Notes to the Chronicle of Caine

1. The "first times" discussed in this stanza have been researched thoroughly by myself and my fellow Kindred. The original text speaks of a time "before." The oldest piece of the Book of Nod has been dated just before the time of Sumer, around 4500 B.C.
2. I assume in this that the first stanza is the original narrator, perhaps the first translator of Caine`s story.
3. ”Nod” in this case, meaning, the ”Unknown Lands” - supposedly the lands outside of Eden, which were not named at that time.
4. Latin translation reads ”With a plowshare.” The translation is from the original Sumerian, and just implies a sharp thing. This could be a prehistoric ”spike” tool, used for planting seeds. It is definitely tooth-like, possibly formed of some mammal`s canines - or at least it is depicted thus in the Coonan-DeBrie fragment and the St. Clair Tapestry.
5. That Caine was originally a farmer would fall into line with his existence in the myth as a sun King/Dying God figure, much like the character of Dumuzi/Tammuz in the Inanna/Ishtar myth.
6. Blood in birth in this case. of course, perhaps being a result of the recent Fall. Note that this is the first instance of the word "blood" in the narrative. The translational sense of the word is more along the lines of what we would consider 'blood' rather than the 'vitae' cognate, which implies some extra virtue or potency
7. The "first part" is a phrase repeated throughout the Book of Nod. It means essentially, "the best." the "cream."
8. "Father." in this specific case, generally thought to be Adam.
9. I am translating this as exactly as possible. Because of the nature of the myth. one can easily assume that this is the Cod of the Hebrews and later Christianity. However, because this is not specifically stated in the text. I do not wish to color the narrative with possible inter-religious complexities.
10. "Struck from beyond" might have been a lightning bolt. In some Latinate translations, it is a "bolt from beyond."
11. "Father", again, is probably Adam.
12. In this case. "blood" is written as the cognate to "vitae.
13. This stanza has confused many scholars, including myself. I have chosen to represent it as my particular translation, which is that it is Adam who is the "Father" in this stanza, and it is Adam who casts Caine out. The reasoning behind this is that the One Above never speaks directly to Caine: it is only through a medium that the One communicates Its will to Caine, as we will see. Furthermore, the word "Father" in the previous stanzas has always meant Adam. This contrasts heavily with the Genesis story, but it is internally consistent, and since Caine himself is said to have originated this particular narrative, we can take it on better authority perhaps than Noah, who penned Genesis. There are other interpretations, of course. In New York, Beckett once met a member of the Sabbat who claimed this section referred to our "true" father - Satan. He watched my childe closely when he said this, and then something which Beckett can only describe as an imp appeared on his shoulder. We have gone to great pains to not deal with this vampire again.
14. Here. now, we get the basic idea behind the "Land of Nod." No longer is it simply "not Eden." but it is now to be considered the "Exiled Lands." "Nod" in the Hebraic translation of the text is basically "the wandering lands." This is perhaps because Adam has established himself outside of Paradise and has created a territorial boundary between himself and the rest of the world: thus "Nod" is the same wilderness he was banished to. but now it is Caine who is leaving. One would think perhaps that Adam would have been a little more sympathetic to this. his last remaining son. However, it is possible that Adam's words in this were "divinely inspired" or perhaps inspired out of rage. Thus. we see the traditional tragic, tumultuous lives of all vampires as being indicative of their origins, Beckett says this parallels the relationship all vampires have with their sires, but I like to think our own continued alliance proves this hypothesis incorrect.
15. This stanza is quite important to the "Dying God" myth-perspective of Caine. Caine is destined for darkness, a dark land where he will learn much wisdom. This may refer to our own journey into death, from which our sires tear us when they feed us their own rich vitae.
16. These three things, hunger, cold. and fear (or sadness) still obviously attribute Caine with human feelings and failings. Caine is not yet a "vampire" in the traditional sense. He is, however, clearly cursed.
17. It was hard not to use Ishtar for this particular translation, for this stanza seems to speak of Ishtar: certainly her honey-voice and words of surcease are Ishtar's. Lilith would have to do, however, as many of the original works agree that it was Lilith in this narrative.
18. This stanza, and the others that follow here, I have seen in another form. This is the highly sought-after "Cycle of Lilith" which appears in many different forms. In looking for the original text for these stanzas, I was forced to go into the labyrinthine and saturnine depths of the world of the Diabolists. I started in Venice, where I met with some of the Order of the Black Rose. dark monks, some of whom had to communicate with sign language because their tongues had been severed and then mummified as magical talismans. I soon found that they hungered for Kindred blood, and I was able to parley some of my own vitae for information that led me to Boston. Massachusetts, in America. There I met with a woman by the name of Selina. who at first refused to speak to me about the diabolic Cycle of Lilith. but then allowed me to continue for some bizarre mystical purpose. She said that the "Dark One Herself" asked to let me pass with the knowledge. I was followed through the streets of Boston by the Dark Clan themselves (the Nosferatu) until I got to a special bookstore: it is this bookstore that had. in their back shelves, a few fragments of the Cycle of Lilith behind glass. I was allowed to view it for a few moments before the shop owner returned.
The older man cursed loudly when he saw me. and showed me the door quite firmly. I stood outside the door and heard the man bcrate his employee in some detail. They believed to be speaking confidentially because they were speaking in a dialect of Italian native to Venice, but I had learned that dialect quite fluently and was able to listen for quite some time. I discovered that they were part of a dark circle of devil-worshippers, and followed the older man later that evening back to the cemetery where they held their rites.
Although I was not able to find the devil-worshippers in the cemetery. I did have a very strange encounter in the graveyard nonetheless. A woman appeared from the fog as if by magic. By her aura I knew her to be Kindred, but could not guess how old or of what clan she was. She came to me and showed me a book bound in silver and holding a complete translation of the Cycle of Lilith. She silenced me immediately, commanding me not to ask anything as long as she stood there. I had to obey.
I was able to look at the tome and read it while she smiled at me in the light of a candle. Then she took the book. kissed me once on the forehead, and was gone into the night before I could ask her another question. I can't imagine who this mysterious woman was, but I do think that she is in some way connected with the spirit-form of Lilith, for her powers of command were great, and she had a presence about her that was ancient. I can only thank her for the opportunity to glance at that fabled volume, and I think that this translation benefits singularly from her intervention.
19. It might be noted that Genesis speaks not at all of Lilith. the first wife of Adam. She is a creature of the Midrashim. the Hebrew parables. She is depicted as a demoness, cursed by God Himself because she would not be subservient to Adam. Lilith has apparently, at least in this narrative, spent some time in the Land of Nod, and has built up her own power in this place. She apparently has comfort where no one else could take it. This doesn't speak well for her being a demoness, and thus confined to Hell. but then again Hell wasn't a very populous place around this time in history.
20. Here is a major inconsistency in the narrative, and I have fought for many years to retain it, for I feel that it points at the fundamental flaw of the Book of Nod translations to date: where did the blood tears of Caine come from, if not from the original Curse? Was he then a vampire at that point? When did he exactly begin crying blood? When did he become a vampire? This is a nebulous point still. But I leave the inconsistency because I do not want this point to remain "glossed over" into history. My childe Beckett uses this point to bolster his allegorical fancies. Even now, he travels to Harvard college, there to study some ancient texts discovered in a well in the Sudan. He keeps hoping to discover some more of what he calls "antediluvian" mural works, the poor boy.
21.There has been argument on both sides of the following issue: Was Caine imprisoned in Lilith's house, under her control, or did Caine stay there as an honored guest? This question is never fully answered, but might lend an interesting perspective if it could be proved one way or the other. Perhaps, as some have suggested, the situation involved a little of both.
22. I have translated these words specifically in this fashion out of the advice of one Haphacstus a friend of mine who was once a part of the mystical Tradition known as the Order of Hermes. He maintains that Lilith was no woman, no demonness. but rather an original mage, and that she used her own particular magickal qualities to "Awaken" Caine's magickal potential as well. This is the story of that awakening. I believe that what he says has merit, and it certainly fits in the translation of the story. If it is true that Caine was a wizard as well as Lilith, then the Tremere may indeed be "closest to Caine: - a theory to which Beckett violently objects.
23. Hephaestus indicates that this stanza may point to Lilith being perhaps the founder or one of the first supplicants in the magick Tradition know as Verbena, which uses blood in its rituals.
24. This is often translated as "And then I fell into Hell." I did not feel that the original text was attempting to say this, and I felt that Abyss seemed to indicate a less Judeo-Christian sort of place of torture.
25. Once again, not to cross-mythologize too much. but I could do nothing else but translate the Angels into Angels and Michael into Michael, even though the "shining ones" mentioned in the original text do not specifically seem to be angels. I was unable to come up with a cognate that would fit. Still, I feel that they do not hamper the overall "feel" of the narrative, and so they remain. Their traditional Cabalistic correspondences also remain as they were originally written.
26. This is perhaps a strong rebuff of the "One Above." Caine seems to still be angry about his exile.
27. This is the legendary "Curse of Fire." It is perhaps among the strongest curses of the day. It set up an eternal enmity between the Kindred and the singular source of life in the world: the fire. Fire was the mortals' way of keeping out the darkness, the wolves. It provided a center of community and allowed them to create new technologies. This put us out of that light forever, and was designed to make us outcast forever. It is perhaps this particular curse with, also made hospitality so important among the Kindred.
28. Raphael being the Archangel of the Dawn.
29. An early survival instinct, obviously. Caine instinctively seeks the earth.
30. Uriel's role as the Angel of Death would place him in the ultimate position to be the vessel of Cod's judgment on Caine. Only through Uriel would God Himself choose to punish our Father.
31. Note here that Uriel is offering not to preserve Caine, but rather to "take him to his reward." i.e.. death.
32. Is this a mockery of the more traditional" I am that I am" phrase of the Bible?
33. The first use of the freely translated words, "God Almighty."
34. "Eating ashes" is thought to be a metaphor for the tragic vampire existence. I can find no other reference to "eating ashes." and can only assume it is an idiom which cannot be translated Other versions of the Book of Nod have translated "eating ashes" into "knowing only sadness."
35. This is perhaps a poetic statement, ft certainly emphasizes that Caine is consuming his own sadness.
36. The fact that there is an important diamond city in India also called Golconda may or may not have bearing to this particular stanza. I am beginning to think that the term was originally coined by Saulot, who was known to travel to the Far and Middle East on quests of enlightenment.
37. I have heard of additional sections here describing more of the powers Caine developed. According to my old friend Malk Content, the original version of this went on for 1.001 stanzas Malk also claims his left pinkie is made out of chocolate mousse and answers to the name Harold, so I will stand by the version I have here.
38. Zillah, sometimes translated as "Sylah.' This Tale is translated from a much more folklore-influenced original text. A version of this tale is told by some of the oldest of the Russian Kindred, and I have reason to believe it has roots in Russian folktalcs.
Remember that, among Kindred, there is no "incest" taboo in lusting after the blood of your childe. Indeed, this is perhaps indicative of the Methuselahs attitudes: they often create childer to feed upon.
40. A flagrant transliterative idiom, but one that I felt had literary importance. Imagine Caine with a full, long beard, tugging on it! This is perhaps the only descriptive feature of Caine that we have on record, and its provenance is impure.
41. This Crone remains a mystery to archaeolo-gists trying to locate the source of this story. I believe that the Crone is a shaman/ witch/priestess who perhaps knew a bit about Caine from relations with a demon or some kind of familiar spirit. In sticking with his allegorical paradigm, Beckett suggests that she may be a metaphor for the lust we have for blood and the control it has over us.
42. Another clue: she is affiliated with the Moon. I originally believed this pointed to her origins as a Lupine shaman, but I learned from my Gangrel friends that they do not twist their spells in such fashion.
43. Others have translated Caine's title as "Master of the Blood Fury" in this instance.
44. In Enoch, marriage between Kindred was common. I have read fragments of the "Love Hymn to Zillah" which has led me to believe that it carried with it specific ownership of all house slaves and property, as well as special privileges such as the ability to temporarily invoke one's spouses' power.
45. The traditional Lunar year. It is such a mythological cliche, especially among the "Wise Woman" traditions of the pagan folk. that I must count it as a purely symbolic period of time.
46. A traditional material. Strong, sturdy. The Ark of Noah was built of it.
47. This is perhaps the best-known part of the Book of Nod. Because of the frequent copying by the Tremere and Ventrue Clans of this fragment, there arc many colloquial versions of it. My first task was to totally disregard these "popular" versions, and go on to tackle the truth of the matter. Thus, you see my translations of the "non-traditional" verses in brackets.

~~~
A Brief Word on
The Chronicle of Shadows

These are a collection of pieces and fragments that I have unearthed during my many travels. I must admit that I have used a considerable amount of personal prudence in determining the contents of this book. This is because there are known complete versions of the Chronicle of Shadows. In fact, many of the scholars who have researched this Chronicle claim that it is not a part of the Book of Nod, but rather a creation if the scholars and writers of Carthage who took poetic license in writing down “Caine’s Laws.” Still, I have seen enough seminal text, enough original foundation to convince me that these fragments have some basis in the actual words of our Father, his children, and his grandchildren.
Choros, who was an admitted member of the Sabbat, told me that he believed the Chronicle of Shadows to be a collection of propaganda created by the Camarilla to support its tyrannical reign. I do not believe this to be the case, but it is quite uncanny that many of Caine’s Laws and the Traditions of the Camarilla dovetail.
It is my sincerest hope that these fragments are not some elaborate Malkavian prank, especially the thirteen commandments, which were provided on authentically aged tablets. Still, they were too enticing to leave out. So, Iharkav , if you are reading this and you’ve tricked me, a point in your favor, and I’ll be sure to exact revenge when next I see you!

~~~
The Chronicle of Shadows

Of progeny

These are the words that Caine said,
regarding our Progeny
as he ruled in Enoch, as King.
Hear the words of Caine Law-Giver:

"Thou shall not make Progeny against My will
and if you are given leave,
then choose of those Children of Adam well,
think of them as your future Brother or Sister.1

Look to the everlasting night ahead,
and know Auriel's Prophecy:
that forever shall Childe rise up
to slay Sire.

Know thou that. as in all things, the Father
overcomes the Childe, the Mother her Daughter:
Only through Me will you come to Truth,
Only through Me will you come to Peace,
Only through Me will you come Awake to your Power.2

Know thou that the right of life or death,
as it was in My times,
will ever be the Sire's over the Childe's,
for it has been set in Heaven
as well as in this world,
the way of things.
My Father, Adam, over me,
I, over you,
You, my Children, over all Progeny you get.

Thou shalt not suffer your Childe to live
If it is found that he has killed
one of your Brothers
and has drunk his hearts blood.
This is the Serpents Way, and I will not abide it.3

Thou shalt not Embrace those who are unworthy,
Thou shalt not use the Embrace as punishment,
Neither shall you Embrace the youngest, who
should live long before being brought into
My family, so that the wisdom of our line
will grow.

Thou shalt not Embrace those who are diseased,
insane, or full of ill humors,
for they will taint the Blood.4

Never shall there be more Kindred of Caine
than Kindred of Seth in a place,
neither should there be one of Caine
for every three of Seth.5

All Childer should learn from their Sire
The Law and the Traditions
The Rites and the Customs,
as I have given them to you

Thou shalt not Embrace the Moon-Beasts,
for these should be outcast and called
Abomination.
Neither should you taste of their blood,
for they are forbidden,
they bring Death to our door.6

Embrace not the blood of the Enlightened,
rather listen to their words,
watch their actions,
and move swiftly against them should they strike:
a useful sword, but often too sharp.7

Taste not the blood of the Wild Ones,
for in it is Madness, neither should you
Embrace them: for you will not survive it.8

Embrace not Love, for Love in My Embrace
will grow cold, wither, and die.9

The Rules of the Canaille

These are the words that Caine said,
regarding the Children of Seth,
as he ruled in Enoch, as King.
Hear the words of Caine Law-Giver:

"We are given Dominion
over the line of Seth,
third son of Adam,
as he is our youngest Brother,
we will watch over his Children
as if they were our own,
we will show them the right way,
and in return,
they will serve us all of their days.10

They will serve us while the Sun rides the sky,
and watch over our houses, with quenching water,
against Michael`s Fire.11
They will feed us. and provide us with clothes,
They will dance for us, and provide us with song,
They will lay with us, and provide us with comfort.
They will advise us, and we will listen to their advice.
They will worship us, and we must not allow their worship.

Thou shall not become as a God to the Children of Seth.
for the One Above, growing jealous in his sky,
will strike down the line of Caine forever.
Remember gentle-faced Ashtareth,
Remember golden-fat Baal.
Remember strong Tammauz,
Know thou that the Children of Seth will rise up
with weapons from the One Above,
and conquer us, should we be as Gods to them.12

Thou shall guide the Children of Seth as a
shepherd
guides his flock,
and cull them as they are needed.
Thou shall cleanse their blood,
and keep all of them free from disease.13

Of the Feeding

Find you a place that is yours,
And the mortals that dwell there,
let them be your sheepfold,
let them be your cup,
let them be your holy bread14

Of the Gifts of Caine

Mark ye that a Mortal who,
marked with the Power of another Cainite,
does a thing, yea verily
He does it as if that Childe of Caine did it,
and that Kindred will pay the price
of crime or retribution, just as
he had done the thing, for in this way,
there is an Accounting to be made,
and the Children of Seth not be
merely swords in the hands of dark strangers.15

Mark well the threefold drinking, the Bond
of Blood, and let
those of Seth's Children with great skill,
come to serve the Children of Caine,
as it is we are the first part of Wisdom,
and should be served.16

As well, in Blood Bonds,
know that there is no greater Bond
than Caine has with his Childer,
and through Me, all chains are broken,
all shackles are shattered.17

Mark well the Children of the One Above,
the Cherubs, the Seraphs, the Archangels,
for their touch will burn you as does
the Flame of Michael.18

Mark well the Children of the One Below,
the Serpent's Kin,
for their touch will burn you as well,
and their tongues will delude and deceive you.19

In need, you may feed the Beasts of the field,
of your Blood, and husband them: they will grow
strong and loyal, but beware of the Beast
with the Beast within, and feed not a Hunger
that may not abate.

Of Those Who Serve

Those you choose to bless
with the Potence of Caine,
may come to live within your house,
to protect you,
let no one Embrace these guardians,
let them be given blood at the
appropriate time:
let their Strength be your Strength,
Strength that does not abate with the sun,
let their Eyes be your Eyes,
Eyes that can see in the day.
Let their Ears be your Ears,
Ears that can hear while you slumber.

Let those who serve be named greatest of the Children of Seth. and most privileged.
Let them enjoy the fine cloth of the Kindred.
Let them enjoy the gentle music of the Kindred.
Let them know the sweetness of our wine.
Let us protect them from those who would
hinder and hurt them,
and let us all rise up in outrage should one
of those-who-serve
be shin by another Kindred, for no Kindred
has the right to
kill another's Servant without provocation.20

Of the Moon-Beasts

The Moon-Beasts, the ones-who-change,
they are the Oldest of all,
before my Father
they roamed the lands.
Tarry not in the path of them,
Avoid them, they are set upon
us
like wolves in the sheepfold.
For we are of one kind,
and they another.
Beware their sacred ground,
walk softly through their
wilderness.
Their bite is as our bite,
Their claws are as our claws
Tarry not in the path of them,
they are of one kind,
and we are another.21

Of the Wild Ones

Of the mad ones, the wild
ones,
I say, first, drink not of their
blood!
But watch them,
For they are beautiful in their
wildness,
They are enchanting in their
mystery,
They are deadly in their war-
skills.
Alone among the creatures of
the night
They kept me company in the
earth
and brought me water when I
was thirsty
and could still breathe.

Like Me, they were cast out,
Like my Children, they are
homeless,
Like my Children's Children, they wander,
Like my Mother and Father,
they know too much,
But they keep their own
counsel, and, of them, I say
Mark me well: keep silent!
Say nothing.
Watch, and learn.22

On the Enlightened

The Mother of Power, dark Lilith,
is of the greatest of them,
but there are others,
and more yet to come.
Drink not of their blood, for they will
ensnare you,
Keep wary of them, they are crafty.
They know Adam's knowledge,
and Eve's wisdom.
they are the bringers of fire,
the tillers of soil,
the husbanders of animals,
the bringers of writing,
they are the Sun-children,
the Rising Stars.
They will seek to involve you in their
journey.
Resist! Resist! their path disregards
hunger, blood, and body.
Trust not the ones with bright eyes
towards the dawn:
Remember always, it is the Dawning that
brings your death.23

Of Those Spirits of the Dead

Mark you well: there is a place
beyond spirit, beyond life
which is Darkness.
Shadow,
and there Shadows dwell.
An island, a fortress, a land
of the Dead,
I have traveled there
through
a pathway of doom
and I have witnessed the
dread king
of the Stygian City as he
sat at court.
I have seen the faceless
hooded ones
traversing River Styx.
They swarm about us like
flies on a
putrefying corpse, and
like us, feed on fear,
ecstasy,
and anger.

Dead they are, but undead,
and they are closer to us
than we will ever know.

The Blood of my Brother
cries out to me as I sleep
as the Sun crosses the sky,
I hear my brother, second-
born Abel,
screaming.
Mark well the spirits of
those who have died,
Know their strength is not
your own,
Listen to their words: they
carry wisdom.
Listen not to their songs:
that way is oblivion.
Do not seek to bind them,
but free them if you can,
Such is the commandment
of Caine, who himself has been
imprisoned and freed.24

Of the Commandments to the Kindred

Thou shalt not slay thy Sire and drink his heart’s
blood

Thou shalt hold the eldest among you as Lord, even as I am your Father, the eldest is closest to me.

Thou shalt honor each other’s Domain.

Thou shalt not reveal yourselves as Gods to the Children of Seth.

Honor always your Sire.

Thou shalt teach your progeny the ways of the Kindred.

Thou shalt not Embrace Love

Thou shalt not feed of the Moon-Beasts, the Wild Ones the diseased, the insane, or the drunken.

Thou shalt protect always those-who-serve.

To your Brothers and Sisters, always give hospitality. To your Sire's Brothers and Sisters, always give the best part of your house, to your Progeny's Brothers and Sisters give a
roof from the Sun and the blood of a sheep, no more.

Never forget your Sire's Sire, Caine the Wanderer.

~
The Words of the Clan Chiefs26

Brujah's Commandments27

Throw off the Elder s shackles
of the mind, reach into thyself
and see the truth revealed.
The Truth, as truth is seen,
will illuminate your soul and
heal your wounds.
Know who you are, first,
and be true to your self.
You are my children, all,
but I would sooner shatter you like
flawed pottery than have your weakness
be that you are but a flawed copy
out of my mold.

The Words of Gangrel to his Childer28

Lo my Children, you will walk the earth,
wander far and carry these Words.
Move one step before those
who see by the Moon.

Never abide weakness.
Keep your children loyal.
Walk with your head high.
Let the Beast rule you.

Mark where you hunt, so that
your brothers and sisters will know
and not intrude.

Take all you need, but be mindful
that the hunter can become the hunted
and there are those who find us
no matter how we flee.

Should you become confused
go and eat only of animals
for a moon
sleep in the earth
and drink in sweet water

You will hear my voice in your ears
like a distant bird's cry
or lion's roar, And you will know
what to do.

Let no one say that the House of Cangrel
is a dishonorable one
Let no one say that we are not brave.
Let no one say that we are not fair.

You, a child of the Beast, a child of Darkness,
are first among Kindred.

Malkav’s Words29

In the singing… midnight
By the coral …… of time
Through the …… gates of heaven
...the ... in my mind

Bring about the change so quickly
Bring about the terror’s night
Bring about the blood of lovers
Bring about the smell of fright

I see you watching where I walk
Through the moonlit jasmine field
Listen closely as I talk
About the stars and their lovers past

Past fields of poppies, burning
bright
Into towers of Blackened Bone
Follow me, Bastard of Caine
Come with me, I have no home

As I drain your live’s blood sweetly
As you sigh into my warm hands
As I suck your madness nearly
Streaming down like crimson bands

I dance the dance of the fool
And pray you find me mad
For if you lay hands upon the root
You’ll know me without illusion
And find me guilty of the truth.

Nosferat's Words30

You are the children of Shadow
You are the sons and daughters
of Darkness