Hecata

'We have always been here, hiding beneath sight. Some of us remained in the Underworld - while others hid among packs of Sabbat. Us Giovanni were the front face of our blood for a time; we even believed it too. Such arrogance from our distant Uncles and Aunts. The Samedi were used by those on either side of the Jyhad to help wage their eternal war. The rare few Lamiae were ghosts. Then there is the poor Cappadocians - rough time that lot had; it's no wonder they remain shy, in hiding. The ultimate irony is that out of all the clans, the Clan of Death has endured the most change during our existence. But the truth still remains - we are family. Call us Giovanni. Call us Harbingers. Call us Samedi. Call us Lamiae. Call us Cappidocians. Call us whatever obscure bloodline you want. At the end of the night, we are Hecata. We rule over the dead. We are family.'

- Monica Giovanni of the Hecata

The Clan of Death

What is dead to the undead? Most Kindred of the night barely consider their existence as a contradiction to the natural order - but it's true. Those Vampires that walk the night are nothing but rotting corpses, propped up by the power of the vitae. There are still so many mysteries, so many questions remained unanswered in the face of death. Kindred choose to do the same as their mortal life, ignore such questions less be faced with the existential oblivion facing them. Facing this oblivion is the aims of the clan of death, Hecata. The clan of death has gone through many changes through it's existence. Different names, different front faces , schisms and fractures within the bloodline. But the fact remains, the clan of death wishes to understand the condition and bend it to their will.

Modern nights and various events have forced this once fractured clan back together; under a new (or very old) banner, the name of Hecata. What used to be separate clans and obscure bloodlines have come together for one cause - the pursuit and understanding of death. Each clan brings their own knowledge - their own discoveries of death and the world beyond. Together the Hecata have banded as a family dedicated to death. But old wounds scar, many of those within Hecata have ancestors who have done unspeakable atrocities to the family; particularly clan Giovanni. The Clan of Death may be a family now, but you must wonder if these old wounds may re-open.

History

'Uncle Augie set us up just right - sure it fucked over the others; but hey, we wouldn't be where we are today if it wasn't for him. Sure, Augie was a dick bag and I'm glad he's gone - despite the trouble it has caused - but we can't forget where we came from. If we are to move forward, we need to thank all those involved; getting us together once more. We must remember and show reverence to them all, even those that still walk among us; Cappadocious, Capouchin, Baron Samedi, Augustus Giovanni - they are all forebearers in some way to what we now call Hecata.'

- Frankie di Giovanni of Clan Hecata

The origin and story of the clan of death differ greatly within Hecata depending on who you ask. Each one of these stories are tainted by bias, historical fiction and a sprinkling of the real truth. But there is truth; a gleaming speck within the lies. There was the first, Cappadocius - the Antedeluvian of the third generation, granted the power over the souls and death. From him came the fourth, Capouchin included. The clan of death grew and their power over the dead grew with them. Then came the Feast of Folly, the first fracture within the clan. Cappadocius sent his kin to the Underworld, believing them to be unworthy of his blood. Some fought, some went willingly, others ran away or completely avoided the feast all together; ultimately the Capadocian numbers dwindled. Those that were banished to the Underworld would be tainted, marked. They became known as the Harbingers.

In 1005 CE, Capadocius would go on to embrace Augustus Giovanni. Augustus in turn would move to embrace his family, creating the familia Giovanni. For reasons lost in time (some attribute a lust for power, others theorize out of self preservation) in 1444, Augustus Giovanni would consume his sire - ending the Antidelluvian's reign over clan Cappadocian. With the demise of Cappadocian, Augustus Giovanni chose to reshape the Clan of Death into his own image, the second and biggest fracture in this bloodlines history. The great purge occurred where members of the familia Giovanni hunted down those non-Giovanni Cappadocians- claiming the clan of death for themselves. Those remaining Harbingers and Cappadocians turned to the Camarilla for protection, they found none. So began the reign of the Merchants of Death, Clan Cappadocian became Clan Giovanni.

For half a millennia it was widely believed the Giovanni had succeeded in their ploy to take over the Clan of Death. An agreement was made with the Camarilla, a pact to not interfere in the Jyhad. Clan Giovanni were glad to accept the terms, besides there is always wriggle room. Despite the promise of staying out of the Jyhad, members of the family still attained titles such as Prince, Primogen Council members, or even Anarch Baron. As stated, there is always wriggle room for such pacts and agreements.

Eventually the Harbingers returned, hungry for revenge, returned from the Underworld. Their time in the Underworld twisting and distorting them. They wished to destroy clan Giovanni for the great purge, though some argue that it was a petty vengeance as they wished to destroy their founder for the sins Cappadocius had wrought. More importantly, the Harbingers wished vengeance upon the Camarilla for abandoning them during the great purge. They joined the Sabbat and began waging the eternal war.

Soon though, the younger Giovanni began to question what their fore-bearers had done. They began to communicate with those outside of the clan, discovering secrets of the dead each sect had acquired during their time apart. The different perspectives, occult knowledge and beliefs of the world of the dead were accepted by all those in communication. The Samedi and their communications with the spirits (or Loa as they refer to them) pushed them to join forces and unite with the other Death Clans of the Kindred - uniting under one banner. Thus, the members of the Giovanni called for a reunion.

One common piece of misinformation is that the Giovanni were weakened by attacks on their remaining Elders by the Second Inquistion, much like the Tremere and the destruction of Vienna. That was not quite the case. Rather the attack came from within. Members of the Giovanni clan called a family reunion in Venice, only the Elders were not aware that this reunion included the other bloodlines shunned by the incestuous Giovanni. The Elders who didn't tow the line either fled in hiding or met their final death. Clan Hecata was born that night. The clan of death.

'The Camarilla, Anarch and Sabbat assume now that the Giovanni and by extension us Hecata are weak. This re-brand seems like a desperate attempt to save face - with the pact expiring soon, they believe the upper hand is theres. But they don't know, there is power in numbers and the land of the dead. The Camarilla may be waging war with the Anarchs once more, thinking us too small to worry about. The Sabbat? They are waging their ridiculous Gehenna crusade in the Middle East - as you all know this war is of no concern to us. Let them believe we are frail and weak. Meanwhile our numbers grow every night. We can play the long game, some of us have been playing it for a much longer time.'

- Maria Devulchi emissary for the true Hecata

Modern Nights

Tonight, the Hecata operate in small numbers. Those that have presented themselves to court or baronies have informed their contemporaries of the great re-brand. The connection the Giovanni have made in Kindred politics have proved fruitful in making this a smooth transition. The official word is 'business as usual'. The Hecata keep the deals and arrangements upheld, trade in money, weapons, drugs are all upheld. The Giovanni (and by extension) the Hecata keep their promises. The clan of death will maintain the pact and promise of neutrality that was made in 1528 CE - even if some Giovanni had already pushed the promise to it's limits.

Behind the front facing weakness display of clan Hecata, their numbers are growing. Bloodlines of death are joining the clan and even those clan who could no longer sire childer (such as the Harbingers) are now able to. The reason for this is a closely kept secret by those at the top of the hierarchy -though many rumours and whispers are abound. Even more surprisingly, the clan banes that were attributed to certain clans under Hecata have vanished. Samedi childer no longer bear the walking corpse visage they suffered, Harbinger childer need not hide their skull-like face as they look as normal as any other Kindred. The Lamiae no longer bear the curse of carrying disease. The only bane that remains, curiously, is that of clan Giovanni. The kiss from a member of clan Hecata is a painful one.

The necromantic arts have now been linked to another discipline, thanks to the knowledge of the Samedi and in turn their Loa. Much like the Lasombra, their powers of the dead arise from the mysterious abyss. Those few who have traveled with the Samedi and guided by the Loa have seen this as true. The souls of the dammed lie within Oblivion. With this revelation has come a greater understanding of clan Hecata's control over the dead and spirits. But it brings with it great risk, consorting with the Oblivion causes ones soul to stain, due to the other worldly powers from such a mysterious place. This is a risk those of clan Hecata believe is necessary in understanding the mysteries of the dead.

Candidates for the Dead

In past, the Giovanni were an insular clan - only choosing childer from their extended family, be it Giovanni, di Giovanni, Dunsirn, Pisanob or Milliner - the clan came from the blood. Now that the Giovanni have joined under one banner with the other clans of dead - the requirements for new initiates have opened up. The Giovanni still prefer those mobsters, money launderers, accountants - those that further the coin that the merchants of Venice have accumulated over half a millennia. But now candidates for the Hecata extend to doctors, morticians, grave diggers, occultists, outcasts. Anyone who can extend the clan knowledge of the dead, abyss and the underworld.

The point is that the types of kine who can be accepted into the clan has opened up tremendously. But those within the clan should still exercise caution when embracing. The clan of dead operates best in obfuscation and secret. If a domain suddenly becomes flush with new initiates a curious Prince may send their Sheriff to investigate or a Baron may summon those Hecata in their domain to ask questions. For clan Hecata, the goal is to remain an independent party. As clan Giovanni has proved it can work. While those on the Jyhad are distracted by their petty wars - the Hecata will continue to discover the secrets of the dead.

'Let me tell you this childe. We have seen things. Even those among our ranks who slumbered until recently. Our connection to the abyss and oblivion is a mysterious one. She calls us. She calls us to delve deeper and discover more arcane knowledge. Death is seen as the final step. The hypocrisy of other Kindred is laughable. Many of us may marvel at the modern world we find ourselves in, but we have looked death in the face and laughed. There is power in the dead. The spirits whisper and we, my childe, we listen.'

- Cerena of Clan Hecata