Camarilla


The Camarilla dates back to the years of the Inquisition, as humanity turned its collective eye on vampires. The principle of the Masquerade took root and held sway, growing into the creation of today - a massive, global conspiracy of sorts, meant to decieve humanity about the monsters in its midst, and thus avert another purging. In these times of nuclear devices, powerful goverments and enormous populations, the Masquerade has become both guiding principle and ironclad policy. Today the Camarilla concerns itself with the Masquerade, maintaining harmonious relations between Kindred and kine, and thwarting the Sabbat.

The Camarilla claims all vampires to be under its aegis and proclaims itself the greatest sect of Kindred across the globe. Indeed, it claims that all Cainites are already under its banner, regardless of those vampire's wishes. In spite of the claims, only six clans hold full membership in the sect: Brujah, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere and Ventrue. Vampires from the other clans may join, but they are often suspect, and without a voice in the Inner Circle, they are largely powerless.

The Inner Circle, considered the true hub of the sect, is said to consist of one representative for each clan, supposedly the very eldest of each. These elders plan out the business and direction of the Camarilla, or as much as a race of predators can be directed. It is also their business to select the justicars, those Kindred who become the walking will of the Inner Circle.

The six mighty vampires called justicars are appointed by the Inner Circle to be its eyes, ears and occasionally fists. It is they who judge, jury and executioner of the entire sect, save the Inner Circle. They alone may adjudicate matters of the Traditions. They alone decide the punishment for those who have violated the Traditions on a wide scale, and none are above them in this respect. Those judged by the justicars may not expect mercy. The power wielded by the justicars is immense and often resented by those who have been victims of it, but there is little that can be done about it beyond discontented grumbling. Every justicar is, without exception, several centuries old and extremely powerful.

Below the justicars are the archons, who are singly chosen by a justicar to act in her name as suits her purposes. Most archons are young elders and older ancillae, and such a prestigious appointment can make or break them in the halls of power. A archon typically serves for as long as a justicar wishes to retain, or for the length of the justicar's tenure.

In the Camarilla, the conclave is the greatest political event that every Kindred can be privy to. Any Camarilla or friendly independent vampire who hears the call to conclave may come and participate, no matter her age. Justicars are the only ones with the power to call for a conclave, which is not done often owing to the immense concerns of security. Conclave business may cover any subject, from discussing matters that concern the sect as a whole to trials of very powerful Kindred to a docket of questions presented in a open forum. In these halls, quite literally anything can happen - a sire may introduce his newest childe to his great-grandsire, the youth may come to party and socalize and elders may meet in secret gatherings to whisper about new concerns. For the young, it is an opportunity to fraternize with clanmates from across the country, and a chance to see the political machinery of the Camarilla in action, perhaps even to affect it. For the elders, it is both social opportunity and a time to take stock of the sect, not to mention a priceless opportunity to cement deals and accomplish business.