Five Islands Conflict Tales
The Jyhad Continues Still...
The Kindred are at war! In New York City, the Great Jyhad is underway full throttle. The sects tear each other apart as each vies for control of a city too vital to surrender. The influence over commerce and politics even on a global arena is too fundamental to the undead. Even the Sabbat realizes the importance of controlling the entire city, not just its more residential boroughs.
So dedicated to their brutal conflicts are the undead that they pay little heed to other supernatural denizens of the Big Apple, whose occasional bouts of bloodshed into their ranks barely make a dent. In a megalopolis of twenty million, an appropriate number of vampires would number around 200 – 1 per 100,000 mortals. But there are estimated to be over 800 in New York City. No, there are Cainites to spare and then some!
But as the Children of Caine clash, their predatory instincts start to spasm inside. The primal hairs on the backs of their necks rise in reflexive fear. Ancient vampires from the past, who eschew all the sects, are starting to awaken. They too may seek control of this city, and may easily be able to wrest it from the younger Cainites enmeshed in the battles here.
Special Events
Special events are annual (or more frequent) holidays or special ritual days that the main group or groups observe as a whole community. Attendance and participation is often expected of all members, and sometimes required.
High Salon
The Camarilla in Manhattan spend most of the year with the hatches battened down to weather the storm of the Sabbat’s perpetual Jyhad. One of the few celebratory events they enjoy (though still under heavy guard) is on New Year’s Eve. It is called the High Salon, for even Prince Michaela attends. It is the choice of choice New Year’s events, all glitz and glamour and the finest of champagne which mortal guests imbibe, and in turn provide a taste of New Year’s joy to the Kindred who feed upon them. Naturally, the usual quid pro quo of prestation also takes place in this rare non-military social gathering.
Games of Instinct
From June 15-28th, the Sabbat revel in Games of Instinct. Every diocese of the greater city puts on different games every year, decided by the Bishops. They typically conform to auctoritas ritae customs. Cops-and-Robbers and Base Jumping are popular ones.
Palla Grande
Perhaps the most important Sabbat event, Palla Grande takes place on Halloween, October 31st, every year. This event is especially lively in New York, with multiple venues in multiple boroughs attracting the debauched desires of packs to travel from one to the other all night long.
“If this Jyhad is a war of attrition, then it is only a matter of time, something we vampires have plenty of.”
-- Oleg Selivanov, Bishop of Brooklyn
