Gabrielle was slowly getting used to the notion of sleeping in a coffin, but the rest wasn’t entirely complete as she had thought it would be. Not even the blood she found in wine bottles could get her to full awareness. One night, while Xena was out doing who knows what to whomever, Gabrielle decided to venture outside.

Then she remembered something from the one time she read Bram Stoker. Reaching down she scooped up two handfuls of soil, then dumped them into the steel box.

Odd, she thought to herself, Xena has been trying to disprove many of the myths. Why does this one seem to work?

She shrugged her shoulders and gave the waning moon one last look before heading inside.

Pouring herself a cup of vitae, she stumbled across a folder marked: Gabby READ! She picked it up and sat on the couch, curling her feet underneath her. The folder was a bundle of photocopied sheets in flowery and ancient calligraphy:

In The Beginning, there was only Caine.

Caine, who [sacrificed] his [brother] out of love.

Caine who was cast out.

Caine who was forever cursed with immortality.

Caine who was cursed with the lust for blood.

It is Caine from whom we all come.

Our Sire’s Sire.

Gabrielle turned over the sheet and saw Xena’s exacting handwriting on the back.

Gabrielle slid the page to the side. The new page was written in some foreign language. English was wedged underneath the lines:

The rebels then built a new city,

Out of the fallen Empire.

They had collected the Thirteen Clans

that had been scattered by the Great War and brought them all together.

They brought the Kingship Clan [Ventrue} (the clan of the Prince -- very tight knit and powerful $-wise)

the Clan of the Beast [Gangrel] (you’ve met them in the park)

the Moon Clan [Malkavian] (madmen one and all -- avoid them gently)

the Clan of the Hidden [Nosferatu] (great information network -- valuable to have as a friend)

the Wander Clan [Ravnos] (gypsies, tramps and thieves -- Cher knew what she was singing about -- avoid)

the Clan of the Rose [Toreador] (Aphrodite’s clan -- artists or wanna-bes, you be the judge)

the Night Clan [Lasombra] (schemers supreme -- and part of the Sabbat -- avoid them with a passion)

the Clan of Shapers [Tzmisce] (twisted, sick vampires with the power to shape their own... and other’s flesh like clay. The other Sabbat clan. Avoid them more so than the Sabbat)

the Clan of the Serpents [Setites] (not affiliated with us or the Sabbat -- very dangerous -- deal in vice. Approach with extreme caution, unless you feel like selling your soul to them and not know it)

the Clan of Death [Giovanni] (a family of incestuous Italian necromancers -- ‘The Godfather’ meets ‘The Serpent and the Rainbow’)

the Healer’s Clan [Salubri] (this clan is almost extinct, thanks to the damned Tremere [more on them later}, there is one in the city who will heal your more grievous injuries for a price)

the Clan of the Hunt [Assamite] (this clan is full of top notch assassins -- remember Callisto?)

Gabrielle shuddered at the memory.

(She was only one of their ghouls. Their front-line Embraced assassins are deadlier. Better to have them as a friend than as an enemy)

and the Learned Clan [Brujah] (our clan -- rebels in both mind, politics and spirit)

Now -- there is one clan that is not mentioned in this list. The Clan Tremere came about early in the Dark Ages as the result of an experiment by a wizard named Tremere. Surprised about magic? Why? You’re a vampire.

Gabrielle smiled and shrugged.

The Tremere are not to be trusted at all. Hate them. Owe them nothing but your contempt. They seek to destroy us and make themselves as gods.

Some of the clans: Brujah, Gangrel, Nosferatu, Malkavian, Tremere, Toreador and Ventrue joined together after the Inquisition to form a society called The Camarilla. The Camarilla is the governing body over us. There is an Inner Circle -- one from each clan, who pick a Justicar. The Justicars act as the sheriffs, but with broader powers. The Justicars, in turn, hire Archons to do their dirty work.

We hide among mortals, controlling them behind the scenes as best we can. This hiding is called the Masquerade. It is this that keeps us all from being put on the pyre.

The Lasombra and the Tzimisce broke away from us during a time called the Anarch Revolt and formed the Sabbat. They believe that since Kindred are the top of the food chain, they should rule over mortals openly. They have attracted followers from our clans and the independent clans (Setites, Assamites and Ravanos). Do not trust them. they follow darkness and evil willingly. Avoid if you can, kill if you have to.

The Prince is named Zeus -- he is Ventrue and the most powerful Kindred in the city. Pay him the ultimate respect if you should run into him -- but avoid him all the same.

The Primogen -- the ruling Council is as follows:

Ares -- Brujah

Aphrodite -- Toreador

Hades -- Nosferatu

Hecate -- Tremere

Poseidon -- Ventrue

Bacchus -- Setite (not a voting member -- an observer from his clan)

Artemis -- Gangrel

Athena -- (I have no idea what her clan is... she is very tight lipped about this. You should follow her example)

I heard Ephiny ran down the Traditions. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Tomorrow night, I will take you through the downtown area to show you some of the sights and feeding grounds.

I love you,

X.