Treaties of the Damned | Jyhad by Night

Treaties of the Damned Feb 8, 2020 11:19:33 GMT -8

Post by Triple 7 on Feb 8, 2020 11:19:33 GMT -8

THE MONTMARTRE PACT
As taken from Pg. 105, RotB - Named for the place of its signing, the Montmartre Pact was established in 1489. The Tremere, maligned and attacked on all sides, followed the leadership of Meerlinda and Calderon and petitioned for inclusion in the nascent Camarilla Sect. Their intention caused an uproar; the Tremere were at war with the Gangrel, Nosferatu, and Tzimisce, and were known to have created slaves from the tormented bodies of Kindred of those Clans — namely, the Gargoyles, ~~who were in open revolt across Europe.~~

Forced to make reparations before joining the Sect, the Tremere’s pact with the Inner Circle of the Camarilla was extremely specific. Every Tremere who chose to join the Camarilla was forced to cease creation of Gargoyles (as well as a variety of other abominations), destroying all copies of rituals that manufactured such creatures and giving their oath never to revive such techniques. ~~Further, the Tremere swore to free all captive and enslaved Gargoyles currently in their possession, and to cease hunting those in revolt.~~ In return, the Camarilla promised to be defenders to the Tremere, ceasing all interclan rivalries and warfare with the Warlocks.

Only a few rituals escaped mention in the Montmartre Pacts; notably, Soul of the Homunculi, Blood Imp, and Rutor’s Hand. While Nosferatu and Gangrel snarl and point to these rituals as clear signs of Tremere shystering, no punishment is given for their use — so long as the Tremere ensure that these creatures are no threat to the Masquerade. However, if any Tremere are found to be in violation of the specifics of the Montmartre Pact (creating Gargoyles ~~or keeping Gargoyle slaves, in particular~~), those individual warlocks are cast out of the Camarilla and quickly hunted down by Gangrel and Nosferatu. Even the Astors of their Clan must turn against them and seek to destroy such individuals in order to ensure Clan Tremere’s position remains a pillar of the sect.

..WHAT HAS CHANGED?
The difference here that Player's will need to know is that Gargoyles at Emerald City Nights are not Vampires, they're counted as Retainers. There wasn't an open rebellion or revolt across Europe. As specialized Retainers, Gargoyles are destroyed naturally by crumbling to stone whenever their Domitor's meet Final Death and cannot be embraced. Older Gargoyles, similar to normal Ghouls, survive into the Final Nights by being passed along to a new Domitor prior to their old Domitor's destruction, or by remaining loyal subjects to their masters throughout the years.

The political take away from this is that Clan Tremere was forced to stop creating Gargoyles as part of their entry into the Camarilla because it involved the capture, torture, and eventual destruction of other Vampires. They sacrificed countless others for the cost of their own survival. The Camarilla does not care about Gargoyles being slaves anymore than they care about owning and enthralling normal Ghouls. What they cared about was the creation process for this new breed of Retainer.

Clan Tremere is expected to follow the pact and creating new Gargoyles is in violation of the Montmartre Pact, the same as it is written in V20.

PERSPECTIVES IN CHRONICLE
Gargoyles are a rare breed. Having one under your control is similar to owning a dragon; it just isn't common. Most of the Gargoyles have names that echo the halls of the Chantry and keeping one is a sign of prestige or importance. One of the more well known is Ublo-Satha, under Nicolai Antonescu's control. Everyone knows his name and has heard of his famous deeds defending his master from the Lupine attacks of Chicago '93. It is that level of exalted perspective that makes owning a Gargoyle such a high profile. Owning one isn't common. Owning more than one is nearly unheard of in Tremere circles. (It does happen, but not regularly.) Kindred will pay a high price to own a Gargoyle and Clan Tremere jealously guards them from falling into the wrong hands. The very nature of their existence is perilous, considering they crumble to dust when their master's meet Final Death. There aren't many left in the world, leaving some of Clan Tremere desperate to get their hands on one or to tempt the law creating new bloodlines.

Treaties of the Damned Feb 9, 2020 18:17:30 GMT -8 harry likes this

Post by Triple 7 on Feb 9, 2020 18:17:30 GMT -8

THE PROMISE OF 1528
The Promise was the treaty between the Camarilla and the Giovanni that formally accepted the Giovanni as the successors of the Cappadocians. It was given by the Founders (The Camarilla's Inner Circle) and Claudius Giovanni, officially ending the feud between them that had silently festered since the Conspiracy of Isaac. (The event in which Clan Giovanni Diablerized Cappadocious.) It included the assurance of non-interference of both Giovanni and Camarilla into each other's affairs. It also granted the Giovanni authority over the city of Venice, although the Inner Circle claimed the right to hold their annual meetings there.

The Diablerie of Cappadocius by Augustus Giovanni, caused a great backlash of negative sentiment and animosity in many of the other Clans, particularly those in the newly formed Camarilla. Like the Tremere, who had committed the same crime nearly three centuries before, the destruction of the Antediluvian, caused a great deal of animosity and resentment in the Kindred world. This fact, coupled with the Giovanni's strange Necromantic rituals and shadowy and mysterious agendas led many of the Clans to unite in a worldwide purge of the Giovanni Clan. Wishing to stave off what seemed to be the inevitable destruction of the Giovanni, Augustus Giovanni withdrew the entire Family from the ranks of Kindred society and the Jyhad.

In the winter of 1528, after nearly 90 years of hostilities, several significant members of Clan Giovanni were able to convince a number of Elders from the Clans of the Camarilla to agree to a meeting to discuss the Giovanni issue and lay the matter to rest. Among the Camarilla Elders in attendance was Rafael de Corazon. Over the course of the ten night conference, Claudius Giovanni signed a formal agreement that had been drafted which guaranteed Giovanni nonintervention in all Kindred affairs. The Giovanni were free to go about their own business provided they did not involve themselves in any way with the intrigues of Kindred society.

As an addendum to the formal agreement, Rafael de Corazon demanded that once every 13 years a council of Elders from each of the Clans that signed the pact, except the Giovanni, would convene in Venice to check up on the Giovanni and discuss Kindred affairs. This council of Elders is now known as the Inner Circle of the Camarilla.

The Promise of 1528 is still valid and sacrosanct. Although the Giovanni and Kindred of the Camarilla occasionally come into contact and may even do business, there are no Giovanni Kindred anywhere in the world that are formally accepted members of the Camarilla. Clan Giovanni maintains a strict policy of abstinence from the political manipulations and sect policies of the Camarilla. Similarly, the Camarilla maintains a laissez-faire policy towards Giovanni business.

In the 2010's, rumors began circulating that the Promise had a 500-year time limit, placing the moment worryingly close to its presumable end in 2028.

The Promise, as detailed by Clanbook Giovanni, states only (paraphrasing): The Giovanni promise to remove themselves from the affairs of other Kindred. The Camarilla will not interfere in the affairs of Clan Giovanni. This can be clarified and interpreted as follows..

Terms:

Giovanni: includes embraced members of Clan Giovanni, as well as any mortal member of the extended families of the Giovanni (inc. Milliner, Dunsirn, etc etc), Giovanni ghouls, and mortal business associates, alive or dead.
Camarilla: Any acknowledged member of the Camarilla, and including also kindred under the accounting of acknowledged Camarilla members, and their ghouls, and mortal business associates.
Interfere: To intervene unasked in the affairs of others and often in an impudent or indiscreet manner. Interfere implies action that seriously hampers, hinders, or frustrates.

Points:

The Giovanni are free to reside wherever they see fit. They may buy a house anywhere, and live in it, without needing approval from a Prince. It is often considered polite to inform the Prince that you are in their city, and this is often a prerequisite for being invited to Court. A Prince cannot demand that Giovanni leave their city - this interferes in the Giovanni's affairs. They can demand that no Giovanni may attend their court.
The Giovanni are free to conduct their businesses as they see fit. They may buy companies and run them, without needing approval.
The Giovanni are permitted to attend Court, and other Camarilla events, if invited. Intruding without invitation could be considered interference. It should be noted that "Court" is the event, and "Elysium" is a place. Court is frequently held in Elysium, but this is not a requirement.
The Giovanni are free to conduct business and make deals with other Kindred. They are free to both give and receive boons. Note, such deals cannot be directed against the Camarilla, or its members. It is okay to make a deal to take over a company together. It is not okay to make a deal to kill someone, or put someone in the Prince position.
The Giovanni are free to conduct their own affairs, as long as those affairs do not interfere with the Camarilla. Breaking the Masquerade, by definition, interferes with the Camarilla's primary purpose. A family member destroying another family member does not, nor does a family member embracing a family member. (I.E. - Giovanni need not get "Right of Destruction", or "Right of Progeny" for their own family, these are Giovanni affairs.)
The Giovanni may enter into deals with non-Camarilla kindred, as long as such deals are not directed at or against the Camarilla, or its members.
The Camarilla is free to uphold the social and political institutions of Kindred, enforcing their traditions to the extent that they do not interfere with the affairs of the Giovanni.
The Camarilla cannot be held responsible for violations of the Promise if they are unaware that a Giovanni was involved. Any Giovanni who chooses not to notify a Prince that they're visiting a domain does so at their own risk, and with no protection from the scourge of the domain.
Violations of this promise should be handled by the authorities of the sect/family whose member violated the promise. Giovanni are to be brought to their Don for punishment, Camarilla members to their Prince. In the case of a Don/Prince breaking the promise, the matter should be escalated to the Director/Archon level, or higher. Repeat transgressions by a member can be considered evidence that a good-faith effort to punish the transgressor has not occurred, and should also be escalated.
The Sabbat: The Sabbat has no such non-involvement treaty with the Giovanni. They have never promised to stay out of Giovanni affairs, nor the Giovanni to stay out of theirs. The Giovanni are free to conduct business with the Sabbat at their own risk. Flaunting this to Camarilla authorities isn't smart.

Conclusion: The Giovanni have certain long-term plans that are facilitated by avoiding other kindred, who would certainly attempt to stop them if they knew. Venice is in Europe, which is a highly Camarilla area of the world. It should go without saying that while Giovanni strive to maintain neutrality, the Camarilla are a little more favored in dealings than the Sabbat. In the Clanbooks and White Wolf history; during the New York War, the Giovanni helped the Camarilla take the City.