THE CHRONICLE OF CAINE
 
 

The First Times

I dream of the first times the longest memory I speak of the first times the oldest Father
I sing of the first times and the dawn of Darkness in Nod, where the light of Paradise
lit up the night sky and the tears of our parents wet the ground each of us set about to live and take our sustenance form the  land and I, first born Caine, I, with sharp things,
planted the dark seeds wet them in the earth tended them, watched them grow
and Able second-born Abel tended the animals aided their bloody births fed them, watched them grow I loved him, my Brother he was the brightest the sweetest, the strongest.
he was the first part of all my joy. Then one day our Father said to us,
Caine, Abel to Him Above you must make a sacrifice- a gift of the first part of all that you have
And I, first-born Caine, I gathered the tender shoots the brightest fruits the sweetest grass
And Abel, second-born, Able slaughtered the youngest. The strongest, the sweetest of his animals On the altar of our Father we laid our sacrifices and lit fire  under them
and watched the smoke carry them up to the One Above The sacrifice of Abel, second-Born
Smelled sweet to the One Above and Able was blessed. And, I, first-born Caine, I was struck from beyond by a harsh word and a curse for my sacrifice was unworthy.
I looked at Abel’s sacrifice, still smoking, the flesh, the Blood. I cried, I held my eyes I prayed in night and day And when Father said the time for Sacrifice has come again
And Abel led his youngest, his sweetest, his most beloved to the sacrificial fire
I did not bring my youngest, my sweetest, for I knew the One Above would not want them.
And my brother, beloved Abel said to me "Caine, you did not bring a sacrifice, a gift of the 
first part of your joy, to burn on the altar of the One Above." I cried tears of love as I, with sharp things, sacrificed that which was the first part of my joy, my brother.
And the Blood of Abel covered the altar and smelled sweet as it  burned But my Father said "Cursed are you, Caine, who killed your brother. As I was cast out so shall you be."
And He exiled me to wander in Darkness, the Land of Nod. I flew into the Darkness I saw no source of light and I was afraid. and alone.
 

The Coming of Lilith

I was alone in the Darkness and I grew hungry. I was alone in the Darkness and I grew cold. I was alone in the Darkness and I cried Then there came to me a sweet voice,
a honey voice, words of succor. Words of surcease. A woman, dark and lovely, with eyes that pierced the darkness came to me. "I know your story, Caine of Nod." She said, smiling.
"You are hungry. Come! I have food. You are cold. Come! I have clothes. You are sad. Come! I have comfort." "Who would comfort one so Cursed as I? Who would clothe me? Who would feed me? "I am your Father’s first wife, who disagreed with the One Above
and gained Freedom in the Darkness. I am Lilith. Once, I was cold, and there was no warmth for me Once, I was hungry, and there was not food for me. Once, I was sad, and there was no comfort for me." She took me in, she fed me. She clothed me.
in her arms, I found comfort. I cried until blood trickled from my eyes and she kissed them away.
 

Lilith’s Magic

And I dwelt for a time in the House of Lilith and asked her "Out of darkness, How did you build this place? How did you make clothes? How did you grow food?" And Lilith smiled and said, "Unlike you, I am Awake. I see the Threads that spin all around you. I make that
which I need out of Power." "Awaken me, then, Lilith," I said. "I have need for this Power.
Then, I can make my own clothes, make my own food, make my own house."
Worry creased Lilith’s brow. "I do not know what the awakening will do for you, for you are truly Cursed by your Father. You could die. You could be forever changed."
Caine said, "Even so, a life without Power Will not be worth living. I would die without your gifts. I will not live as your Thrall." Lilith loved me, and I knew this. Lilith would do what I asked, though she did not wish it. And so, Lilith, bright-eyed Lilith, awakened me.
She cut herself with a knife bled for me into a bowl. I drank  deep. It was sweet.
And then I fell into the Abyss. I fell forever, falling into the deepest darkness.
 

The Temptation of Caine

And from the Darkness came a bright shining light- fire in the  night. And the archangel Michael revealed himself to me. I was unafraid. I asked his business. Michael, General of Heaven, wielder of the holy Flame, said unto me. "Son of Adam, Son of Eve, thy crime is also great,will you not repent the evil that youhave done, and let his mercy wash you clean?"
And I said to Michael, "Not by the One Above’s grace, but mine own will I live, in pride."
Michael cursed me, saying "Then, for as long as you walk this earth, you and your children will fear my living flame, and it will bite deep and savor your flesh. "And on the morning, Raphael came on lambent wings, light over the horizon the driver of the Sun, ward of the East. Raphael spoke saying "Caine, son of Adam, son of Eve, Your brother Abel forgives you your sin Will you not repent, and accept the mercy of the Almighty?" And I said to Raphael "Not by Abel’s forgiveness, but mine own, will I be forgiven." Raphael cursed me saying "Then for as long as you walk this earth, you and your children will fear the dawn, and the sun’s rays will seek to burn you like fire where ever you hide always. Hide now for the Sun rises to take its wrath on you." But I found a secret place in the earth and hid from the burning light of the Sun. Deep in the earth, I slept until the Light of the World was hidden behind the mountain of Night. When I awoke from my day of sleep, I heard the sound of gentle rushing wings and I saw the black wings of Uriel draped around me Uriel, reaper angel of Death, Dark Uriel who dwells in darkness. Uriel spoke to me quietly, saying "Son of Adam, Son of Eve, God Almighty has forgiven you your sin. Will you accept his mercy and let me Take you to your reward, no longer cursed?" And I said to dark-winged Uriel, "Not by God’s mercy, but my own, will I live. I am what I am, I did what I did, And that will never change."
And then, through dread Uriel cursed me, saying, "Then for as long as you walk this earth
you and your children will cling to Darkness you will drink only blood, you will eat only ashes you will be always as you were at death, never dying, living on. You will walk forever in the Darkness, all you touch will crumble into nothing, until the last days." I gave a cry of anguish at this terrible curse and tore at my flesh. I wept blood. I caught the tears in a cup and drank them. When I looked up from my drink of sorrow the archangel Gabriel gentle Gabriel, Gabriel of mercy appeared to me. The archangel Gabriel said unto me, "Son of Adam, Son of Eve, behold, the mercy of the Father is greater than you can ever know for even now there is a path opened a road of Mercy and you shall call this road Golconda, and tell your children of it, for by that road may they come once again to dwell in the Light." And with that the darkness was lifted like a veil and the only light was Lilith’s bright eyes. Looking around me, I knew that I had Awakened.When my energies first surged through me I discovered how to move like lightening How to borrow the strength of the earth  how to be as stone  these were like breathing once was to me. Lilith then showed me how she hides herself from Hunters  how she commands Obedience. and how she demands Respect. 
Then Awakening myself further, I found the way to alter forms  the way to have dominion over animals  the way to make eyes see past sight  The Lilith commanded that I stop, saying that I had over-reached my bounds that I had gone too far that I threatened my very essence.
She used her powers and commanded me to stop. Because of her power, I heeded her,
but deep within me a seed was planted a seed of rebellion And when she turned her face from me, I opened myself up once more, to the Night, and saw the infinite possibilities in the stars and knew that a path of power, a path of Blood was mine for the taking, and so I awakened in me this Final path, from which all other paths would grow. With this newest power, I broke the bonds that the Lady of Night put on me I left the Damned Queen that evening, cloaking myself in shadows, I fled the lands of Nod and came at last to a place where not even her demons could find  me.
 

Caine's Progeny

In the beginning there was only Caine Caine who sacrificed his brother out of love.
Caine who was cast out. Caine who was cursed forever with immortality. Caine who was cursed with the lust for blood. It is Caine from whom we all come, our Sire’s Sire.
For the passing of an age he lived in the land of Nod. In loneliness and suffering for an eon he remained alone But the passing of memory drowned his sorrow. And so he returned to the world of mortals. to the world his brother Seth, third-born of Eve. and Seth’s children had created. He returned and was made welcome. for none would turn against him, due to the Mark that was laid upon him He grew powerful, and his power was strong, his ways of awe and command were great The people saw his power and worshipped him, And the Children of Seth made him King of their great City, the first City. But Caine grew lonely in his Power. Deep within him, the seed of loneliness blossomed, and grew a dark flower
he saw within his blood the potence of fertility by calling up  demons and listening to whispered wisdom he learned the way to make a child for his own. he came to know its power, and, doing so, decided to Embrace one of those near him. And, lo, Uriel, Dread Uriel, revealed himself to Caine that very night and said to him, "Caine, though powerful you are, and marked of God, know this: that any Childe you make willbear your curse, that any of your Progeny will forever walk in the Land of Nod, and fear flame and sun, drinking blood only and eating ashes only. And since they will carry their Father’s jealous seed, they will forever plot and fight amongst themselves. Doom not those of Adam's Grandchildren who seek to walk in righteousness. Caine! stay your dread Embrace!" Still, Caine knew what he must do, and a young man named Enoch, who was the most beloved of Seth’s kin, begged to be made Son to the dark Father. And Caine, mindful though he was of Uriel’s words,
seized Enoch, and wrapped him in the dark Embrace.And so, it came to pass that Caine beget enoch and, so doing, named the First City Enoch. and, so doing, did Enoch beg for a brother, and sister, and Caine indulgent Father, gave those to him, and their names were
Zillah, whose blood was most-favored of Caine, and Irad, whose strength served Caine’s arm. And the Kindred of Caine learned the ways of making Progeny of their own, and
they Embraced more of Seth’s kin, unthinking. And then, wise Caine said, "An end to his crime. There shall be  no more." And as Caine’s word was the law, his Brood obeyed him.
The city stood for many ages, and became the center of a mighty  Empire.
 

Zillah’s Tale

Zillah first loved of Caine, first wife of Caine, the sweetest blood, the softest skin, the clearest eyes. Alone of Caine’s newest Childer, did Caine desire her, and she was not mindful of his desire, turning away from Him. Not gifts, not sacrifices. not perfumes, not doves, not beautiful dancers, not singers, not oxen, not sculpture, not beautiful clothes, nothing would turn  Zillah’s heart from stone to sweet fruit. So Caine pulled at his beard and tore at his hair
and took to roaming the wilderness at night, thinking of her, burning for her, and one night Caine came upon an old Crone singing to the moon Caine said to the Crone "Why do you sing so?" And the Crone replied "Because I yearn for what I cannot have . . . " Caine said to the Crone, "I yearn also. What can one do?" the crone smiled and said, "Drink of my blood this night, Caine, Father of the Kindred, and return tomorrow night. then, will I tell you the Wisdom of the Moon." Caine drank at the Crone’s bare neck, and departed. The next night, Caine found the Crone sleeping on rock. "Wake up, Crone," Caine said. "I have returned."
The Crone opened one Eye and said, "I dream of the solution for you this night. Drink once more of me, and then return tomorrow  night. Bring a bowl of clay. Bring a sharp knife. I will have your  answer then." Once again, Caine took blood from the Crone, Who immediately fell back into a deep slumber. When Caine returned the next night, the Crone looked up at him  and smiled, "Greetings, Lord of the Beast," the Crone said. "I have the  wisdom you 
seek." "Take some of my blood, into the bowl you have, and mix in these  berries
and these herbs, and drink deep of the elixir." "You will be irresistible. You will be potent.
You will be masterful. You will be ardent.You will be glowing. The heart of Zillah will melt like the snows in spring." And so, Caine drank form the Crone’s elixir because he was so in love with Zillah, and he so desired her love in return. And the Crone laughed. The Crone laughed aloud. She had tricked him! She had trapped him!Caine was angry beyond compare.
Caine reached out with his powers, to rend this Crone apart with his strength. The Crone cackled and said, "Do not."
and Caine could do nothing against her. the Crone chuckled and said, "Love me." and Caine could do nothing but stare into her ancient eyes, desire her leathery skin. the Crone laughed and said, "Make me immortal." And Caine Embraced her. She cackled again, laughed with the pure ecstasy of the Embrace, for it did not  pain her. "I have made you powerful, Caine of Enoch, Caine of Nod, but you will be forever bound to me. I have made you master of 
all, but you will never forget me! Your blood, potent as it is now, will bond to those who drink it, as you did, once a night for three nights. You will be that master. They will be your thrall, as you are mine. For though Zillah will love you, as you wanted, you will love me, forever. Go now and claim your Lovely bride. I will wait for you in the darkest Places, while I brew more potions for your health." And so, heavy hearted, Caine returned to Enoch.
And each night, for three nights, Zillah drank form her Sire, though she did not know it.
And, on the third night, Caine announced he would marry Zillah, his sweetest Childe, and she agreed.
 

The Tale of Crone

For a year and a day Caine labored in service to a Crone, who with blood-wisdom, bound him as surely as any prisoner. She would visit him at night force him to give up his blood
for her secret elixirs and potent formulas She would take his Childer’s Childer and they would never be heard from again. But Caine was wise. He did not drink from her ever again.
and she did not ask him to, thinking that he was ever in her  thrall. One night, Caine went to the Crone in the forest, and told her of terrible dreams that he had during his sleep. "I fear for my life, Crone, I fear the prophecy of Auriel, and my Children’s lust for my blood. tell me secret knowledge, that I might be powerful against my  own." And the Crone went to a tree made of gopher wood, and broke off  a limb. She took a sharp knife and sharpened the limb.
"Take this piece of living wood, sharp, strong, pierce the heart of your wayward childe.
It will render him still, and yours to command. Instead of feasting on your heart’s blood, he will feel the weight of your justice." Caine said, "Thank you, Mother," and with that, moving in quick movements, Caine took the stake of gopher wood, Seized it and drove it deep within the Crone’s heart. Because Caine, wise Caine had fed not upon her for a year and a 
day And because he forced his Will through his hands, he broke the  Bond she held
On him, and turned his fortune. She laughed again, as blood welled up and poured out of her mouth. her eyes poured out hate. Caine kisses once, kissed cold withered lips And left her there to Raphael’s gentle smile: The sun that  rises.
 

The First City

Caine grew close to those not like him.The children of Seth knew him and he, in turn, knew them.But the world grew dark with sin.Caine’s children wandered here and there, indulging their dark waysCaine felt anger when his children foughtHe discovered deceit when he saw them make world-warHe knew sadness when he saw them abuse the children of SethCaine read the signs in the darkening sky, but said nothing.Then came the great Deluge, a great flood that washed over the world.The city was destroyed, the children of Seth with it.Again, Caine fell into great sorrow and went into solitude.And he left us, his Progeny, to our own ends.We found him after much searching, deep in the earthAnd he bade us go, saying that the Flood was a punishment,for his having returned to the world of lifeand subverting the true law. He asked us to go, so that he might sleep.So we returned alone to find that the children of Noah,and announced that we were the new rulers.Each created a Brood in order to claim glory of Caine,Yet we did not have his wisdom or restraint.
A great war was waged, the Elders against their Children,just as Uriel had said, and the Children slew their parents.They rose up used fire and woodswords and claws to destroy those who had created them The rebels then built a new city. Out of the fallen Empire,
they collected the Thirteen clans that had been scattered by the Great War, and brought them  together, They brought in the Kingship Clan Ventrue, The Clan of the Beast Gangrel, The Moon Clan Malkavian, The Clan of the Hidden Noferatu, The Wanderer Clan Ravnos, The Clan of the Rose Toreador, The Night Clan Lasombra, The Clan of the Shapers Tzmisces, The Snake Clan Setites, The Clan of Death Giovanni, The Healer’s Clan Saulot,
The Clan of the Hunt Assimites, And the Learned Clan Brujah. They made a beautiful city, and the people worshipped them as gods. They created new Progeny of their own, the Fourth Generation Cainites. But they feared the Jyhad, the Prophecy of Uriel, And it was forbidden for those Children to create others of  their kind. This power their Elders kept for themselves. When a Childe was created, it was hunted down and killed, and its Sire with it.
Although Caine was away from us, we did feel his careful eye  watching us, and we knew that he marked our movements and our ways. He cursed Malkav, when that one defamed his image And doomed him to insanity, forever. When Nosferatu was found indulging his tastes
In foul ways with his own Children, Caine laid his hand on Nosferatu, And told him that he would forever wear his evil and twisted his visage. He cursed us all, for killing the first part
Of his Children, the Second Generation, as we would have hunted them down one by one,
Zillah the Beautiful, Irad the Strong and Enoch First Ruler. And we mourned them all, as we were all kind, And all of the families of Caine’s childer. Though this city was as great as Caine’s, eventually, It grew old. As do all living things, it slowly began to die. The gods at first did not see the truth, And when they at last looked about them it was too late. For as Uriel had said, the seed of evil planted Blossomed as a blood-red rose,
And Troile, the Child of his Child’s Child rose up, and slew hisFather, Brujah. And ate of his flesh.Then war wracked the city and nothing could ever be as it was. The Thirteen saw their city destroyed and their power  extinguished, they were forced to flee, their Progeny along with them. But many were killed in the flight, for they had grown weak.With their authority gone, all were free to create their own  Broods, and soon there were many new Kindred,
who ruled across the face of the Earth. But this could not last. Over time, there came to be too many of the Kindred and then was war once again, The Elders were already deep in hiding, for they had learned  caution, But their Children had founded their own cities and Broods,
And it is they who were killed in the great wave of war. There was war so total, that there are none of that Generation to speak of themselves any longer. Waves of mortal flesh were sent across continents In order to crush and burn the cities of the Kindred. Mortals thought they were fighting their own wars. But it is for us that they split their blood. Once this war is over, all of the kindred hid from one another and from the humans that surrounded them.
In hiding we remain today, For the Jyhad continues still. And none will say when Caine will arise again, from his deep sleep in the earth, and call for the city Gehenna, the Last City, the City of Judgment. The Jyhad continues still.