Welcome to Washington, Illinois. Located in Southern Illinois, near the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, this town is an important hub of commerce, industry, and culture. Washington was founded in 1820, just 2 years after Illinois was admitted as the 21st state. The early inhabitants were mostly younger sons of families from the South who migrated West in order to establish their own farms, as the land in their home states was mostly overused and expensive. A second wave of inhabitants arrived a few years later, hailing primarily from Europe, by way of New Orleans. With this second wave of settlers, the first Vampires to settle in this region arrived. Their numbers were dominated by those of Clan Toreador and Ventrue. Not particularly content with what they found, they set about making Washington a place of some prominence, both politically and culturally. At this time, Frederick Philip Ziegelmeyer (who went by his middle name), a 7th generation Ventrue, became the Prince of the city.

Washington grew steadily in the early years of its existence, but at the outbreak of the Civil War, the town boomed. Situated as it was on two rivers, Washington became a hub of transportation for Union troops who needed to get nearly anywhere in the South. The city's Kindred welcomed this influx of kine, for it made feeding easier than ever. Although most expected the city's population to decrease when the war ended, Prince Philip and the other Kindred of the city did everything they could to make this town very attractive to mortals. As a result, the population of Washington climbed steadily, and by 1900, over a quarter of a million people resided in the city. The Kindred population remained small, as Philip was worried about the potential threats to the Masquerade which could arise in an city overpopulated by Kindred.

By the 1990's, the population of Washington was nearly three million. Despite this huge mortal population, Prince Philip had kept the Kindred population very small: only about 15 Vampires. When new Kindred arrived in town, Prince Philip usually gave them a week to remain in his city. If they had not left at the end of this time, Carter, his Brujah Sheriff, took care of things. While the city had no problems with Masquerade breaches, it was not very well defended against outside attacks. In January 1999, Anarchs began making the outlying areas of the city their home. At the same time, the Lupines in the Shawnee National Forest began scouting the city, which was believed to be in anticipation of an attack on the city. Prince Philip was appraised of both situations by the beginning of February. After considering strategies, he concluded that the Anarch problem was the larger threat, as the Lupines had never before threatened the city. The Kindred inhabitants of the city declared war on the Anarchs, and attacked them in full force. The Anarchs were destroyed, but the Kindred of the city were weakened substantially.

When the Lupines attacked that same night, nearly all of the Kindred of the city were destroyed. The only known survivor other than Sophia LaGrange was Aloysius Dupre, Tremere Regent. During both battles, the Tremere Chantry remained untouched. The sewers were also not disturbed during the attacks, leading some to believe that one or more Nosferatu may have survived. Finally, there was a Gangrel who was in torpor during the attack.

Anneke sent her Archons, Matt Black, a Nosferatu, and Derek Malone, a Ventrue to reestablish hierarchy in Washington. Thus began a tumultous time for the city of Washington. Inter-city politics came to a climax, first with the burning of Meiresonne Industries, owned by an influential Toreador, August Meiresonne, then by the burning of Elysium at the hands of the Brujah Anarchs Xavier Kline, Isaac and Sonya. The ensuing chaos left the former Gangrel Primogen dead. The Nosferatu Will Graham enjoyed an extensive reign on Washington as Prince. Experiencing conflicts with the Lupines, the Get of Fenris Theurge named Sees-Beyond-Stars proposed a treaty, which outlined areas where the Kindred were not allowed to enter, and in return, the Lupines would not attack them. Sees-Beyond-Stars stayed behind to attend Elysium in order to see that the treaty was observed. Graham was eventually usurped and sent to Final Death by the members of the city. Replaced by the Nosferatu Malachi, Washington experienced its second Nosferatu Prince in history. The hierarchy experienced a reformation, as new Primogen were announced, as were new members of the Court, and the Lupine Sees-Beyond-Stars became the first Lupine to be Acknowledged in the Court of the Kindred in recorded history. Malachi, being in league with the Tremere Regent, Aloysius Dupre, began his secretive studies in Thaumaturgy. Aloysius, being one of the more powerful Tremere in the area, secretly bartered with demons for his unholy power, and thus was Malachi tainted as the rest of the city battled the threat of infernalism.

Meanwhile, as the city fought with itself in internal politics, the Sabbat crept ever closer to their doorstep. Sophia LaGrange, a Toreador Antitribu, and her pack mate, recently reawakened from Torpor beneath the city, a City Gangrel Antitribu named Martel Borga began their infiltration of Washington posing as members of the Camarilla. Midway through their visit, they initiated four new members into their pack, pulling "loyal" members of the Camarilla right out from under their noses. The Nosferatus Al Dean and Nichalos Arden as well as the Malkavian called Cookie and his ghoul Douglas Wright were shoveled and shown the ways of the Sabbat. Things could have gone better for the pack. They experienced conflicts within the pack itself, which tore apart even the bonds created by the Vaulderie. In the end, their plots came to a staggering climax, in which they defeated Archon Derek Malone, beating him senseless and knocking him off of a cliff. The pack then sold out Martel Borga before fleeing to the closest Sabbat controlled city, Carbondale, Illinois.

Believing Derek Malone to be dead, infighting erupted as vicious as ever, tearing the Kindred apart at the political level. As divided as they were, the Kindred could do little to make ends meet. However, one thing that they did come to terms on was the extensive interrogation of all existing members, as well as incoming members, as to where their allegiances lay.  The Sabbat took this opportunity to attack en masse. Archon Matt Black was destroyed, presumably at the hands of Martel Borga. The subsequent blood hunt called on him meant that the infiltration had to begin once again from square one. Gillian Kearns a Lasombra, was to be the test. If she survived the initial interrogation, then infiltration would commence. Masquerading as a Ventrue, Gillian entered the city cautiously. Unfortunately for the Camarilla Kindred of Washington, she passed with flying colors. Calling in the rest of her pack, Gillian was joined by her associate, Collin Dietrich, a Tzimisce masquerading as a Toreador. Their job was accomplished with flying colors. Infighting erupted in full force. Doubt was instilled and alleigances were decayed even further all by their hands.

Meanwhile, having caught wind of Aloysius's dealings with the devil, the current (now former) Tremere Justicar Carl Schreckt's justice was swift and final, leaving the Dupre to his Final Death, his soul forever pulled down into the void of Oblivion. At the same time, the Bishop whom had arrived in the city with the second wave made short work of Malachi, as Malachi's Sire, Tolbin Grimm, observed from the shadows. He would break the news to the population of Washington upon the next meeting of Elysium. To complicate matters further, the sudden reappearence of Archon Derek Malone, previously presumed to be dead, hearlded the news that Elysium was no longer safe, and that more secure establishment was in order.

Going on its third Prince, Washington continued to degrade. During the reign of the Tremere Saythe, the Kindred of the city lost a valuable ally, when the Gangrel left the Camarilla. Courage-in-the-Face-of-Death, a nomadic Gangrel, came out of St. Louis to break the news. He and his associates, Caitlin and Darwin, two Gangrel from New York, brought word of the events that had led to the secession, and also brought word of the status of the cities boarders: more specifically that they had been secured by Sabbat forces. No one could get in or out. Their Scourge, the Brujah Anarch-turned-Individualist Xavier Kline, was nowhere to be found. He was presumed dead.

The appearence of the mysterious and mischevious Ravnos named Jimmy Angelo stirred the already anxious Kindred to a fevered pitch. The arrival of a member of an Independent Clan was an event none too common, and none too welcome in such a time. Though he said his plans were simple, that he was alone and he would be gone in a few days, he hinted at knowing much more than a new arrival should, and that there were, in fact, more where he came from and that he had no intention of leaving. How, people asked themselves, did he get in, and how does he expect to leave?

The Kindred population continued to argue amongst itself up until the final moments. They argued until the Sabbat was at their doorstep, and that is what caused them to fall so easily. All truths came to light with the attack of the second wave. The battle was fought long and hard by both sides. The Lupines were all but wiped out, facing the brunt of the Sabbat attack. The Chantry survived yet again, completely unscathed. A team of Anneke's former Archons, colleagues of Derek Malone, boasted only one surviving member after their part in the battle. The Camarilla Vampires themselves, attacked by only a handful of Sabbat, were victorious, though at the cost of Archon Derek Malone's life. Although the Sabbat had failed to take Washington, such a strong Sabbat presence in the city meant that the Camarilla had lost the fight as well. Washington fell into the status of being a contested state.

Both sides began to build on their forces again. The Inner Circle, with the loss of Xaviar, former Gangrel Justicar, took votes on new Clan Justicars. Of the remaining six, only Anneke kept her seat. The new Tremere Lord Regent of the midwestern United States, sent Benedict Parrish, his most apt pupil to become the new Tremere Regent of Washington. Having lost all but one Archon to the area, Anneke ceded control of the Washington area to the new Nosferatu Justicar, Cock Robin. Robin has sent his Archons, the Nosferatu Federico diPadula, and Lithrac, who chooses not to release his Clan. Most call him Nosferatu, though an educated few call him Samedi. Federico and Lithrac have been assigned to Washington until such a time that a new Prince and Primogen are chosen.

As for the Sabbat, Francisco Domingo dePolonia, Cardinal of Eastern America, has assigned the Bishops Admetus and Absalon to the area, along with Priscus Chase Malloy should their services be required. Archbishop Vincent DeMartino will oversee the creation of Packs in the city before departing.

And thus begins the second chapter in Washington's long and proud history, as the city enters the time of thin blood...