The Sakin Jyhad
Camarilla
From the financial towers of the upper city to the industrial works and sewers, the Camarilla are the strongest sect in the city at this time. The Prince is prudent and charismatic and keeps the support of most of the Primogen. The sect has its talons into the political and economic pies throughout much of the city. Numerous clubs, hideaways, safehouses, and other holdings are maintained by individuals and clans for the protection of their own (as well as the Tremere’s chantryhouse). Camarilla vampires can be found anywhere in the city.
Key Location
The White Rose Club, located in the Cultural Center of the city, is a high-fashion music & dinner night club that caters to the “rich and privileged”. However, the “privileged” include only the Kindred and their approved ghoul servitors. Entrance to this club is forbidden if the vampire has not introduced herself to the Prince in proper form. Though most Clans besides Toreador and Ventrue would normally shun this club, its second floor is host to meeting rooms and gathering places for the Kindred of all Camarilla Clans to discuss local, sect-affecting issues. Indeed, the Prince and Primogen hold their conclaves here, and the elders often fancy their salons in the White Rose Club.
Clan Structure
Ventrue command the local sect. The Toreador are fairly numerous as well, and seem to support the Prince. The Tremere are also present, and their support of the Prince makes him almost unchallengeable even in times of war. Malkavians and Gangrel are few but present. Nosferatu are in good number in the city, and the Primogen claims support of the Prince…but the clan overall seems disinterested in the politics. Though some Brujah profess loyalty to the sect, and there is a Brujah Idealist in the Primogen seat, most Brujah remain Anarchs.
Rules
The Ventrue Prince maintains all seven Traditions, and the Tradition of the Masquerade is perhaps the most inviolate. The Prince wisely imposes few other rules. He does consider the making of ghouls to require his permission and the act of doing so without it a breach of the Tradition and even the Masquerade. Ghouls so made are usually forced “off the habit” and Mesmerized to forget all they know of the Kindred. The domitor is then punished, though rarely Blood Hunted over such a transgression. The Prince considers all Anarchs to be in the province of the sect, and any miscreancy might invoke the sect’s wrath. For the most part, however, the Prince is content to punish only breakers of the Masquerade.
Sabbat
The Sabbat of Kansas City are few in number but resolved in purpose. As the infiltrators before the seige to come, they maintain secret identities and safehouses in the worst neighborhoods of the city. They act quietly, recruiting Anarchs when viable and assassinating key Camarilla figures when appropiate. The sect has next to no influence whatsoever over mortal affairs, which is fine by them. There is no Archbishop yet, of course. But a lieutenant of the Black Hand oversees the sect’s activities, well aware that his comrades must move with precision and silence until the “storm blows in”.
Key Location
Though the Sabbat maintain several safehouses throughout the city, their “home base” is known as the Bunker. This old and abandoned communal bomb shelter is a forgotten, hidden secret located in the poorest “project” neighborhood of the city, on the Kansas side of the river, in the Little Mexico district.
Clan Structure
There aren’t enough Sabbat in the city yet to represent the whole sect. But most of the Sabbat’s clans can be found in one’s or two’s. The sect doesn’t control the city by far and must act much more cautiously. New vampires are chosen most often from criminal and vagabond elements of society, due to the dangers inherent of other choices. Facing dominant Camarilla enemies and disastrous vampire hunter assaults in the past, the Sabbat is now acting with greater prudence. They accepted that the lost open battles that last waged between the sects ten years ago, but they’re far from losing the war.
Rules
The Code of Milan is upheld in this city, enforced through iron claws and a stern reminder of the sect’s place in the area. Mexico City is not sending reinforcements to the area til other cities in the region are dealt with -- which is proving to be a long, arduous process indeed. So the Sabbat must make do with what they’ve got. To stay secure, the sect does not openly break the Masquerade. This tactic is limited to siege time anyway. On the other hand, no Sabbat is expected to act human like Camarilla vampires so often do. Caution is encouraged, and when something happens that humans would discover the existence of the undead, action is taken. That action tends to be Dominate and (if necessary) murder. But blatant breakers of the Masquerade are punished severely, as only the Sabbat can punish. This is especially true since major breaches will attract the Prince’s attention and force the Sabbat to defend itself openly…and in this city, that would destroy them.
Anarchs & Autarkis
Anarchs and Autarkis are often lopped into the same group by many Camarilla and Sabbat. But there is a difference. Autarkis are simply those Kindred that refuse to join any sect or group, either due to a major independent streak, or loyalty to an independent clan (such as the Ravnos or Followers of Set). Anarchs can be of any clan, but are most often Brujah or Caitiff. Other clan members may become Anarchs, too. Anarchy is not the Anarchs’ true goal, but freedom from the stodgy rule of a bunch of musty old vampires…which is the case for both Sabbat and Camarilla sects. Both Anarchs and Autarkis can be found anywhere throughout the city or nearby regions. Autarkis tend to dwell alone or in small groups. Anarchs often congregate in large numbers, to party, or even defend themselves against mutual enemies.
Key Location
The Autarkis have no single place to gather. But the Anarchs do. A rave-club called “Sky Rocket” located in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, is a popular front for Anarch gatherings. Many humans congregate there on an almost nightly basis, providing fairly easy feeding.
Clan Structure
Autarkis can be of any clan, though Autarkis hailing from some clans (like Gangrel) are much more common than others (like Tremere). Anarchs can also be of any clan, though it’s rare to find Ventrue, Tremere, or Toreador Anarchs.
Rules
The Anarchs of Kansas City refuse to elect any kind of leader or establish any common official rules. They Embrace when they please, ghoul whom they please, feed where they please, and bedamn all Elders! The only rule they commonly follow is the Masquerade, and that’s loosely at best. Since many (though far from all) Anarchs have dropped in humanity, killing mortals who know too much rarely invokes a sentiment that gives pause. On the other hand, many Anarchs fell to the vampire hunters of recent time. So most of the survivors learned their lesson since: what the Prince can’t control, hunters just might…
