The Sabbat
The Sabbat is rumored to have evolved from a medieval death cult. Little of its nature has changed since then. It is the largest sect next to the Camarilla, and is aggressively attempting to increase its domain. They rule through fear, hatred, anger and physical violence.
The Sabbat is organized in units known as "packs," members of which are strongly loyal to one another, feeding and traveling as one group. Indeed, in the Camarilla, it has become a derogatory term to call a coterie a "pack."
Members of the Sabbat come from many different bloodlines, though two clans dominate the organization: the LaSombra and Tzimisce. Though it may be possible to join the Sabbat, almost all members are created. They require strict devotion and adherence to the will of the group.
The Sabbat initiation procedure is designed to destroy any of the vestigial will in a new vampire. Initiates are slain, slowly and painfully, and then given The Blood. The Blood doesn't come from one member of the Sabbat, but from as many as are present at the initiation, combined into a chalice. Once the initiate has been given The Blood, they are buried alive and must crawl out in order to live. Those who do not spend eternity buried under the earth. The process of digging oneself from a grave tears the initiate's humanity from him and opens him to the subjugation and brainwashing of the Sabbat.
Once the Initiate breaks free, he is Blood Bound to the pack that Embraced him in a strange ritual, which occurs over two more nights, the Initiate is given more blood.
The Sabbat is concerned solely with power in all its forms. It is actively engaged in diablerie and has a fanatical opposition to life and its trappings. They view mortals as lesser beasts dominated and used as need requires. The Sabbat worships at the places of the dead - cemeteries, tombs and charnel houses. The members of the Sabbat understand themselves to be undead and behave accordingly. Any who oppose them are burnt; indeed, Sabbat packs seem to have a fascination with fire, though they are no more immune to it than any other vampire.
The members of the Sabbat revel in being vampires and living out their instinct. They consider the Camarilla's Kindred weak because the Cainites try so hard to retain their humanity. For the Sabbat, this is the greatest blasphemy.
The Sabbat often sends packs into the Camarilla held cities to scout out the opposition or to hunt for those who have fled from their covens. The presence of the Sabbat invariable complicates Camarilla politics.
The Sabbat is said to engage in a strange of sort of diablerie, wherein its members ritually butcher the Elders of their kind so that stronger, younger vampires may take their place. However, like so much else, this is unconfirmed. The princes of the major cities would give much to gain knowledge about the working of the Sabbat. All fear the danger of its steady growth.
In the end, nothing certain can be said of the Sabbat. Indeed, all the Camarilla believes about it could be false - rumor spread by the Antediluvian who wish the two sects to fight. Unlikely, but all too possible.
The Sabbat Clans are:
The Sabbat Bloodlines are:
Assamite Antitribu
Blood Brothers
Brujah Antitribu
Gangrel Antitribu
Harbingers of Skulls
Kiasyd
Malkavian Antitribu
Nosferatu Antitribu
Panders
Ravnos Antitribu
Salubri Antitribu
Serpents of the Light
The Black Hand
Toreador Antitribu
Ventrue Antitribu
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