The Baltimore Prelude
Greed and distrust drive the in-fighting and factionalizing that threaten to destroy the Sabbat's fragile hold on Baltimore. The Camarilla and other clans watch with great interest, waiting for a weak moment and a grand opportunity. The internal and external pressures are mounting and the arrival in the New World of the mysterious Kindred Semsith signals an inevitable tugging on the strings of power.
The brackish sea scents adequately cover the odor of decaying flesh aboard the Lionel Blaire. Stowing-away on the container ship for the duration of the Atlantic crossing, Semsith butchered her Cockney crew upon their docking in the Port of Baltimore. For the third straight rainy night Semsith returns unnoticed to the ship, once more soaked to his waist in blood and foul water. Tonight, however, his covert mission has been especially rewarding. Semsith achieves a full and proud sneer as he savors the perfume of the greasy smoke clinging to his overcoat. He rests in the Captain's quarters, racing toward sleep, warmed equally by the sight of the dawn sky aglow with fires set by his hand and by the promise of rewards for that which he has set in motion.
The Special Promotional Card
These events will mark the first distribution of the new promo-card, The Meddling of Semsith.
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 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 February 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 outcome of the seesaw struggle to control Baltimore.
Check the online calender of V:EKN tournaments for events near you (look under February, naturally). Check back often, as the calendar will be updated frequently as new events are added.
Attend a designated Storyline Tournament and bring a clan-based deck representing who you'd like to control Baltimore. All standard V:EKN Rules will apply. In addition, at least 75% of your deck's crypt is to be comprised of a single clan (for example, in a 12-card crypt, at least 9 vampires must be of the same clan). Complete the rest of your crypt in any manner you please. 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 Baltimore's history.
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.
Fall 2002 - The Eye of Hazimel Aftermath
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."
The Special Promotional Card
The Eye of Hazimel promo card became legal for V:EKN constructed deck tournament play on December 1, 2002.
The Eye of Hazimel Epilogue
During a month-long period of intense experimentation, Hesha had learned to make contact with the Eye over greater and greater distances. However, San Diego was still a stretch -- even for one who has achieved complete attunement.
To complicate the procedure further, Hesha reserved a portion of his senses toward maintaining an awareness of the quiet observer. Hesha had hoped that this would not be a private show.
Hesha labored to lift the blackness before him and was rewarded with a slightly fuzzy view of the surroundings. Even still, he immediately recognized the displayed paintings as the requested pieces from the National Museum of Art and knew that things were progressing well. Hesha, after briefly scanning the Manet, watched as the Sabbat pack arrived. They were much earlier than he'd desired but still within the acceptable timeframe.
The pack tore through the place with abandon. Their frenzy took over and robbed them of the opportunity to block the exits and destroy all who were inside. The bright light of an exploding rocket-propelled grenade stung Hesha's mind and his contact with the Eye was momentarily broken.
He was able to re-establish the connection in time to see Lambach gather the Eye into his own hands. Raising the orb to his own eye, Lambach inspected the item more closely and thanked fate for delivering him Hazimel's Eye.
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.
- Each game begins with the Eye of Hazimel card uncontrolled, in center of the table.
- 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.
- Any minion may take a (D) action to enter combat with the vampire who possesses the Eye of Hazimel.
- 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.
- 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.
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