Frenzy

In Vampire: the Masquerade Frenzy is a state of mind to which a vampire changes when starving, being threatened or angered to the extreme. In this state, the vampire doesn't follow rationale anymore, but succumbs to his inner Beast. He follows his instincts, feeding on the next victim available, attacking those who anger/threatening him or fleeing from the terror he's experiencing.

In VtES Frenzy is a keyword/trait with no inherent game effect. Here's a list of cards which are considered Frenzy cards in VtES (mostly because I couldn't find one on the interwebs). Frenzy cards usually have either two effects, they allow a vampire to enter combat with another vampire or they prevent the vampire subject to the Frenzy card from using equipment and/or maneuvering. Interestingly not only cards requiring Animalism are Frenzy cards, but there some requiring Presence.

• Battle Frenzy
• Bloodlust
• Brujah Frenzy
• Deep Song
• Drawing out the Beast
• Enrage
• Frenzy
• Rötschreck
• Scourge of Alecto
• Terror Frenzy

These Frenzy cards that can be canceled by Abombwe cards and some equipment and master cards provide immunity against Frenzy cards:

• Bestial Vengeance -- immunity during the current combat
• Blade of Enoch -- immunity for the bearer
• Call the Wild Hunt -- immunity during the current combat
• Sire's Index Finger -- immunity for the bearer

Also a number of vampires are "immune" to the effects of Frenzy cards:

• Aleister Crowley
• Gotsdam, the Tired Warrior
  
• Laecanus
• Lord Aaron Wesley Wilkshire

In fact, while Frenzy cards cannot be played on Lord Aaron & Aleister Crowley, Laecanus & Gotsdam are immune those cards.

References:

• Frenzy on "World of Darkness Wiki"
• Frenzy (VtM) on "White Wolf Wiki"

Kindred Lore: Order of Saint Blaise

Originally the Order of St. Blaise was founded in Armenia in the 12th century and takes its name from Saint Blaise, patron of the kingdom. St. Blaise was a christian martyr (he died in 316 AD), and has been venerated as the patron of those who suffer from throat diseases (beginning in the 8th century). The order was divided into a religious branch, who were charged with the holy offices and missionary work among the unbelievers, and a military branch, who defended the country against the attacks of the Muslims. Following the teachings of St. Basil, the order rendered great services for the christian cause for about a century. The order disappeared when Armenia was conquered by the Turks.

In the 14th century, during the time of the Black Death, the Church established a group of 14 saints known as Fourteen Holy Helpers, one of them St. Blaise, in order to provide consolation for the general population. Blessing of the throat by using a pair of crossed candles for protection from throat diseases was introduced during this time, and it became common pratice to being blessed that way on St. Blaise's feast day, February 3rd.

A group of Sabbat vampires active in the Church at that time, found it rather ironic to use feed from those blessed by St. Blaise. These Kindred re-formed the Order of St. Blaise in order to gain influence in the Roman Catholic Church. They did this not only by manipulating Church officials and resources, but also by "good works" on community level. This was (and is) rather unusual, since the Sabbat is not known for providing support for Kine in general. So the Order of St. Blaise is opening soup kitchens and other charity organizations, which are well received by the general population. Especially in the cities which are prone to high crime rates and an ailing economy under Sabbat rule.

Kindred Lore: Island of Yiaros

During the second half of the 20th century, the Ventrue Anushin-Rawan bought the Greek island Nisos Yiaros, which is located in the Aegean Sea. At first intended as personal safe haven, she eventually made it into an Elysium for her fellow Kindred, particularly her Camarilla brethren. The island can only be visited by invitation safely, otherwise one risks destruction by mortal and undead guardsmen.

The estate Anushin-Rawan created, consists not only a giant manor, but also a Greek temple, Roman thermal baths and a nymphaeum. All of this and the peace of the Elysium allow Kindred to rest and shake off prolonged weariness. It is rumored, that not long ago Anushin-Rawan has offered the Camarilla Inner Circle members to hold the gatherings on Yiaros, but apparently the Inner Circle have not (yet) made up their minds upon the invitation. If they followed her invitation one day, this would greatly boost Anushin-Rawan's already impressive reputation.

Reference: The Anarch State.

Kindred Lore: Purchase Pact

In 1803, a treaty, known as Purchase Pact, was signed which ended the First Sabbat Civil War. The Purchase Pact was largely composed by Radu Bistri and negotiated between the different factions of the Sabbat Civil War. The goal of treaty was to end hostilities between the main factions, namely the Tzimisce and the Lasombra, as well as between these elders and their progeny.

A violation of the treaty by an individual vampire was punishable by final death. The ranking Bishop of Archbishop of the area where the offense was committed would call for a blood hunt then. Not surprisingly for the Sabbat, the Treaty was violated not very long after the Treaty had been signed ...

The Purchase Pact of 1803:

"Let it be known that forthwith, the Sabbat exists as a free entity, though the price of that freedom comes in the form of the sacrifice of certain rights.

On this, the 19th of September, 1803, all Sabbat in good faith and conscience do hereby suspend all grievances with other Sabbat.

Any Sabbat found in open violation of this agreement – e.g: any Sabbat making open war on another for the purposes of his own betterment at the expenses of the sect – is hereby declared forsaken, and maybe hunted for the blood in his veins. A duly recognized Bishop, Archbishop or other elder member of the sect, must pronounce such abandonment.

In this we are united. In this we are Sabbat."

Kindred Lore: Code of Milan

The Code of Milan is kind of a constitution for the Sabbat sect. It establishes the basic principles under which the sect operates, e.g. the authority of the Regent and the role of the Black Hand as well as the observation of the sect's rituals (called ritae). The code was established early in the sect's existence in Milan, Italy. A revised version (with some additions to the original code) was drafted and signed in 1933 at the end of the Second Sabbat Civil War.

Kindred Lore: The Promise of 1528

After Augustus Giovanni founded and established the Giovanni as a clan by diablerizing Cappadocius in 1444, he had his right hand, Claudius Giovanni, start negotiations with the Camarilla. While the Camarilla wanted to prevent another fire to flare up after the Anarch Revolt and the rise of the Sabbat, and keep the Kindred society from becoming even more factious, the Giovanni sought to establish a solid standing within the Kindred society and wanted essentially to be left alone.

In 1528, a treaty was signed in Venice by Rafael de Corazon (from clan Toreador) and Claudius Giovanni, which addressed two main issues. The Giovanni refrained from taking part in in all Kindred affairs (and especially Camarilla politics). At the same time, the Camarilla stopped taking any actions against the Giovanni, but required the Giovanni to be subject to a periodic audit by the Camarilla's leadership (to be undertaken every 13 years at Venice).

This treaty is now known as The Promise of 1528.

References:

• Giovanni Clanbook
• Camarilla Wiki Project

Kindred Lore: Khazar's Diary

For a long time, the Giovanni supported the idea that if they could return to the nights when the spirit could easily affect the world, their power would grow. Since the Giovanni are the only Kindred to practice the Black Art, and if the subjects of that art could universally increase their power, so would the Giovanni's power increase by extension. The desire to tear down the sudario is known as the search for the Endless Night, whereby the dead and the living would share the same plane of existence..

The text of the Khazar's Diary is rumored to contain a ritual that will allow the boundaries of the physical world and the underworld erased. Toward the end of the 17th century, Claudius Giovanni, then right hand of Augustus Giovanni, had uncovered amongst Cappadocian documents hints where to find Khazar's Diary in a Cappadocian temple named Erciyes in Turkey. Leading a group of Giovanni, he went off to secure the document, but to date it is still discussed among scholars whether the operation in this regard was successful or not.

The ritual, according to those with knowledge, requires the soul of 100,000,000 deceased individuals to enact. The Giovanni have different plans to gather these souls required for the ritual. Necromancy is the most functional, but the Venitans also have the ability to plan in the long term ..

Sources: Giovanni Clanbook

The Prophecies

Hearken to the diviner's prophecies
Of blood-filled dreams and shortened nights
Of hunger risen to claim its own
Of arrogance turned to ash.

Within the get of Caine there is a hunger stirring
Once, twice, thrice the call to power and death
Will rend the souls of the Thirteen
This is the death without bloodshed
This is the grave that has no ghosts.

There will come a time
when an Elder Darkness will stir
deep below a city which has forgotten
and will surprise the Elder, its children

There will come a time
when an ancient hunger will awaken
deep in the northern woods
and consume her childer

On these signs, you must know,
that Gehenna waits, even at the door,
as an actor waits in the wings
It is coming! It is near!

As told during the VtES Prophecy League in 2004.

Darker Days (WoD Podcast)

This I "found" (more or less coincidentally) posted by Lost Heretic when browsing through the new VEKN forum:

Darker Days is a World of Darkness podcast that began in 2009 by hosts Vince and Mark. I've since inherited it.

We do discuss VtES on occasion, so I figured I'd keep folks up to date on our episodes. This most recent episode has a shout out for Matt Hirsch and the NAC.

Listen to Darker Days Radio Episode #21

Mike is joined by Adrian of the Mirage Arcana Podcast for the last Darker Days of 2010. The two discuss a lot of what going on with the Wild Games Productions Radio Network and shed some light on the new White Wolf print and digital products. They discuss the North American Championship for VtES and the Grand Masquerade in general.

Original World of Darkness:
Adrian talks about his favorite Vampire supplement, The Last Supper. The hosts discuss the story's strengths and give tips on how to run it.

New World of Darkness:
Mike leads the discussion of how to use themes and concepts from The Last Supper for Promethean, Changeling, Hunter, and Geist - giving some love to the limited lines. Adrian also comes up with the idea of World of Darkness: Die Hard Edition.