Sabbat

Background

The Sabbat are an organized vampiric sect founded from the remnants of the Anarch Movement after the Convention of Thorns which saw the creation of their hated foes, the Camarilla. Though beginning as an initiative by clans Tzimisce and Lasombra, in modern nights the Sabbat is host to vampires of every clan. The Sabbat were created as a society to ensure the freedom of all vampires under it, and as such viciously oppose the Camarilla who they had refused to cede to since their founding, seeing them as tyrannical oppressors at best and pawns of an even greater evil at worst.
The Sabbat believe in the writings contained within the Book of Nod. Rather than rejecting the notion of Antediluvians, the Sabbat believe that the third generation of vampires still exists, and will one day awaken and consume their children. When this happens, the sect believes that Caine will arise to punish the antediluvians, and the Sabbat are prepared to act as his soldiers in what they believe will be a great, destructive war known as Gehenna. It is this belief in their coming doom that serves to unite many Sabbat in purpose, and drives some of the more zealous followers of the sect to their heights of depravity, in hopes of understanding the vampiric condition.
The Sabbat of Los Angeles are in a weakened state. Following the final death of Archbishop Andrei, leadership of the sect fell to the Council of Bishops, unable to decide on a successor for their leader. Clan Lasombra's betrayal of the Sabbat only deepened wounds when several of the higher ranking Sabbat members were killed by assassins from the clan seeking to cement a transition into the Camarilla. The advent of the Second Inquisition seemed to spell the death of the Sabbat in Los Angeles, and for a few years the sect had little to no presence in the city. Only recently have the Sabbat begun to resurface. Reorganized by the Council of Bishops, small Sabbat packs have begun infiltrating coastal territories in the city, seeking to liberate them from Camarilla control. With their numbers thinned, the Sabbat of Los Angeles have taken great care to ensure their operations within the city remain secret, leading many Anarch and Camarilla leaders struggling to predict the sect's next move in the city.

---

Organization

The Sabbat of Los Angeles have adopted a nonstandard organization since the losses they've suffered in recent years. Due to a lack of manpower, the sect's local forces have adopted a more streamlined system. There is now a solid hierarchy of positions within Los Angeles' Sabbat, though the lack of a leader effectively makes the sect headless in Sabbat, causing some disunity, internal struggle and slow decisionmaking.
At the lowest rung of the Sabbat are Cainites of all stripes, those of which may or may not find themselves in a pack. With a lack of numbers, the local sect has done away with discriminations against "true" and "false" Sabbat, and no longer persecutes the packless. There are too few of them these nights to afford to turn their nose at a faithful Cainite willing to lend themselves to the cause. However, individual packs still retain the right to moderate themselves, and as such may still look upon packless or deviant vampires of the Sabbat with scorn.
Above the Cainites sit the station of Pack Priest and Ductus. While historically, the Ductus has assumed the position of leadership, in modern times the position of Pack Priest and Ductus are both equal among the Sabbat of Los Angeles. The difference between the positions is simply one of aesthetic. Pack Priests tend to lead packs that have more religious fervor, and are generally more zealous. Meanwhile, Ducti take control of packs that are more coordinated, making up for their lack of zeal and fervor with a stronger acumen for planning and tactical thinking. The Sabbat are afforded the freedom to go about their unlives as they wish, and to decide what aspect of the sect is most important to them.
Bishops occupy the second highest position within the city of Los Angeles. A Bishop occupies a position at which they rise above internal pack politics and take a role in organizing the sect itself. Bishops often are Sabbat who have a strong grasp of both leadership and the spiritual needs of the pack, such that they can tend to both in equal measure. They tend to be powerful vampires, responsible for controlling a territory for the Sabbat. In Los Angeles, three of these territories exist - Santa Catalina Island, Long Beach, and Torrance. Each territory is controlled by a Bishop.
The Archbishop is in charge of ruling the Diocese of Los Angeles; within the city, he or she reigns supreme. However, with the death of Archbishop Andrei the seat remains empty and the local Sabbat leaderless. In the absence of an Archbishop, a Council of Bishops has formed from the leaders of the three territories. While the Council of Bishops has not been effective in leading the sect due to internal disagreements, they have managed to keep the Sabbat afloat. Until the Cardinal appoints a new Archbishop, the Sabbat struggle internally, with various members of the sect trying to prove themselves worthy of the honor.
Cardinals are responsible for directing all the various domains of a geographical region, and as such hold great power. They are generally some of the most powerful vampires within the sect, and answer only to the Regent. The Regent is appointed to lead all of the Sabbat, ensuring their freedom while directing them in their war against the hated Antediluvians. However, the current Regent is unknown to most, with questions as to both what their identity may be, or if there even is one.

The Sword of Caine

Founded: 1493 AD

Peace Treaties: None

Enemies:

• Camarilla
• Kuei-Jin

Territories:

• Santa Catalina Island
• Torrance
• Long Beach
• Marina Del Rey

Leader: Regent

Population: 59