Fall 2002 - The Eye of Hazimel

Hesha's hands continued their artful chiseling as he muttered encouragement to himself. "After all, haven't I proven myself strong enough to resist the Eye's temptations by burying it in the first place?" He stood more upright as he continued his soliloquy. "If I were to unearth the Eye", he rationalized, "it would not be a sign of weakness but rather a great testament to my discipline." Hesha ceased his carving and stood back from his work. "I just need a few more days of study. That's all."

Hector Rivera had just returned from a successful assignment and looked forward to letting his master know of his accomplishment. He also snatched an interesting bauble from his victim before sending him to the final death. As Hector withdrew the Eye from his pocket, he was startled by the sounds of what seemed like an explosion from the far side of the room. Hector was afforded enough time to turn his head and obtain a close-up view of the rocket-propelled grenade just before it impacted with him.

San Diego's Camarilla population would have suffered greater losses that day had the Sabbat animals been more patient. Most of the extensive guest list had not yet arrived and the overeager Sabbat pack failed to secure even the most obvious exits. Later, Prince Tara spoke with those who survived in an attempt to track down the source of the attack. Of course, not all of the eyewitnesses were known to Tara.

The powerful Eye of Hazimel is loose in San Diego and you have the power to determine which clan will receive it.

---

 

 

The Special Promotional Card

This event will also mark the first official distribution of the new promo-only card, the Eye of Hazimel. Each player attending a Storyline Event will receive a copy of the card.

New to V:TES Tournaments?

If you are new to playing in Vampire: The Eternal Struggle tournaments, these storyline tournaments are the ideal time to try your first tournament. All you really need to play is a constructed deck per the guidelines below (or simply use one of the Camarilla Edition, Sabbat War, or Final Nights pre-constructed starter decks from the White Wolf Catalog or your local retailer) and to review the Vampire: Elder Kindred Network (the player community for the Vampire card game) tournament rules.

 

The Rules

Throughout the month of November 2002, the results of select Vampire: The Eternal Struggle tournaments from around the world will be recorded and used by White Wolf to determine the fate of the Eye of Hazimel.

Check the online calender of V:EKN tournaments for events near you (look under November, naturally).

 

Format

Attend a designated Storyline Tournament and bring a clan-based deck representing who you'd like to control the Eye. All standard V:EKN Rules will apply. Players will bring decks that follow the regular V:EKN Constructed Format rules (60-90 card libraries, etc.) except that at least 75% of each player's crypt must be comprised of a single clan. The rest of the crypt and the entire library may be completed in any manner the player chooses.

 

Additional Rules

Some additional rules will be in effect for each game.

1. Each game begins with the Eye of Hazimel card uncontrolled, in center of the table.
2. If the Eye is uncontrolled, a Methuselah may burn the Edge during his or her untap phase to place the uncontrolled Eye of Hazimel on one of his or her ready vampires.
3. Any minion may take a (D) action to enter combat with the vampire who possesses the Eye of Hazimel.
4. Any vampire who diablerizes the vampire with the Eye of Hazimel must take the Eye of Hazimel. No blood hunt may be called against the diablerizing vampire.
5. If the Eye is burned at any point during the game, it is immediately returned to the center of the table, uncontrolled.

The tournament Historian will make a record of key battles and of the winning clan at your event and forward the results to White Wolf. Here's your chance to finish this chapter of the story of the Eye of Hazimel.

As this sanctioned event will not count toward player ratings and because of the fun nature of the event, this would be an ideal time for new players to attend their first tournament.

Lambach's Legion Storyline Aftermath

Xaviar's response pleased Lucinde. The enraged Gangrel's letter spoke passionately, albeit succinctly, of Camarilla betrayal, blindness, cowardice, and so on.  His refusal to join the Camarilla in putting down the Lambach menace was exactly what she and Pascek had hoped for. This minor victory gave her a temporary sense of control; a feeling that had been missing in the shadow of the current state of affairs.

Pascek, closing his cellular phone, said, "I am receiving reports that the Gangrel are engaging Lambach's horde in Los Angeles."

* * *

In the heart of the Bronx, beneath the local union hall, Donatello Giovanni paced anxiously as he awaited the next hourly report from his lieutenants.  He returned to his chair as the door opened.

Anthony blurted, "Michael was keeping watch from over a quarter mile away and the thing just absorbed him."

Visibly shaken, David added, "It's growing rapidly now and it is taking a toll on the city's infrastructure. There are cracks in the sewers, gas and water mains are breaking, and even the subway tunnels are affected.  Soon, the city will send workers down there."

Donatello Giovanni tried to maintain his composure in front of his men. "Return to your assignments. Inform me immediately if the damn thing so much as blinks," he said.

After the door closed, Donatello quickly retrieved his phone and dialed.

"Yes," answered Ambrogino.

"It's time," said Donatello.

Ambrogino, standing in the midst of six of the Giovanni's most powerful necromancers, replied, "Good. We are nearly ready."

Donatello asked, "Do you think the ritual will work?"

"It must. Otherwise, our study of death will continue on a very persona level."

"Look, attempting to siphon spirits destined for an Antediluvian isn't exactly a sure thing. Maybe we need help on this one..."

Ambrogino interrupted, "Like hell we need help! Listen, it isn't as if the family hasn't destroyed an ancient before. The ritual will succeed and we alone will reap the benefits!"

* * *

Hesha Ruhadze continued his monitoring of the power behind the Eye of Hazimel. Not only had Hesha determined the power source to be in New York City, but he also found that many spiritual forces were being drawn to that center.

"It is as though the entire incorporeal world has fallen prey to a spiritual black hole," Hesha wrote.  His journal, painstakingly kept, recorded his many observations.  He continued, "Ethereal voices sound stretched and garbled, telling wisps of smoke veer ominously and otherworldly beacons are distorted."

Suddenly, Hesha dropped his instruments and reeled as a torrent of energy rushed through the room.  Hesha struggled to extinguish the burning incense of star anise and acacia in order to halt the powerful wave, but it was as if he was walking against a gale and every inch of progress was slow and strained. He cursed as the beast stirred within him.

* * *

Lambach's horde was a bloody sea of rolling and writhing wet flesh.  Gnarled joints twisted in inhuman directions and appendages randomly combined and separated in step with the erratic pulse of the heaving mass. Lambach bore little resemblance to his former self; His face misshapen to accommodate the Eye of Hazimel. Lambach stood in the center of the pack, insulated from the main clash while his troops at the fringes battled an onslaught of Gangrel fighters.

"Son of a bitch!" cried Ramona, feeling the burn of caustic blood.

"For the Master!" said Dane, as he leapt at the wounded Gangrel.

At the periphery of the melee, Xaviar tore into Lambach's minions with unmatched ferocity.  His claws tore into Lambach's creatures, one after another, fueled by his rage at the Camarilla for letting matters deteriorate to this point.

In an instant, Lambach and his army were still.  Xaviar and his clan mates stood stunned and motionless as they watched their foes drop to the ground. As Lambach's legion fell, each creature expelled a spirit that darted into the eastern sky.