Updated: 07 September 1999

The Noble Tremere

                    Once the second Clan in number and power in Paris, the Clan Tremere made the mistake of overestimating its own power, as well as underestimating the power of the Toreador.

At first, the attempts from the Clan to create a Chantry near Paris were subtles, with great caution. It was decided Meudon would be a great spot, as there was there a Node of Vis that was still an active source. But soon, as the other sources of the known world, this source was disminished. Still, the Chantry of Nonisis (Meudon) remained, too far from Paris to take an active part to Paris' intrigue (and thus, far enough to be overseen by parisian Kindred), and still near enough to gather useful information.

The Chantry of Saint Louis was created by secret Intrigue from Vienna. Having discovered from a parisian Mage, who had been Embraced, that the Order of Hermes were searching for a fabulous Node somewhere in Paris, the Clan sent Klawer, a 6th Generation Tremere, to Paris with the mission to find the source, and to build a chantry there. Due to his high Auspex, outranging the detecting powers of the mortal Mages, he swiftly found that the source was... In the Seine!

Next the Ile de la Cité, tiny islands were the only possible construction spot near the source. So Klawer, always impressed by the great roman works, imagined the creation of an island over the tiny islands, and on the spot where the Node's emanations were discovered, the construction of a powerful Chantry. The Node, as well as the occult past of Paris, would make the parisian Chantry one of the most important in the world, if not the most important behind Vienna itself!

His intrigue, involving the architect Marie, as well as a subtle Domination of Richelieu, minister of King Louis the 13th, used the problems with the italian and the french rebellious Princes to divert attentions from the creation of the Ile Saint Louis. By 1645, the island was completed, and the Chantry's construction was finished. Then Vienna sent Tremere Kindred to Paris asking Beatrix the right to install themselves in Paris. At first, she suspected nothing, as the Tremere were not the only ones to install themselves in Paris. Then, information from Villon and Ivan unhearted the secret: A magical fortress of the Tremere had been constructed in the middle of Paris, just under their nose!

Beatrix' reaction was to intrigue to weaken the resources of the Tremere of Paris, be it money, influence, herd, retainers. Vienna disliked this and, as no compromise was found, war erupted between France and Austria. France lost, and by such, the Tremere Chantry of Paris was accorded the right to exist as such, without fear of future attack from the Toreador in 1686.

Klawer, now official Regent of the powerful Chantry of Saint Louis, and Lord of the Chantries of the Ile de France (region around Paris, that was the first french territory, in the early Capetian era), dug an undergound complex and discovered the center of the Node was... nothing but empty air! He called Vienna for help. Lady Laureen, a former Mage embraced in england was chosen to second him in his research, because of her enormous theorical thaumaturgical knowledge. Becoming the Regent of the Chantry of Nonisis, making her the second Tremere of Paris, she started to work at once.

Another war, in 1748, started for different purposes, was another try to win against the Tremere, and so resume the aggression against the Chantry. But in 1756, a surprising change in the alliances in the view point of mortals, can be easily explained by the freezing relations with Mithras, the Prince of London. In the same time, the Tremere and the Toreador agree to make peace: Elle and Villon went to Vienna and signed a treaty of coorperation: The Tremere will keep a low profile in Paris, never challenging of endangering the Toreador domination of France. The Tremere wins by such the right to continue the study of the Node by being given the Saint Louis island. This new cooperation will permit the Tremere Clan to grow in numbers and in power and to become the second most powerful Clan of Paris, helping by their knowledge, the Prince of Paris over occult phenomena.

The 1789 Revolution will weaken the Tremere as much as any other Clan: Klawer will be guillotined by night. Gustacio, his ambitious second in command will take the power, and will keep it at the return of Laureen. She finally discovers the reasons behind the apparent source of Vis but keeps them to herself, continuing her research. Silian, a Tremere Magus and Pontifex of France, went to Paris to inspect the Chantries. He suspected something was amiss, but the appearance of the Veilleurs, with a strange and alien thaumaturgy visibly inspired by ancient egyptian magic diverted him from the study of Laureen's work. Still, he wondered why she didn't spent all her time in Saint Louis' Chantry.

Prussia attacks Austria in 1866, and France in 1870, thus weakening the Tremere and the Toreador. If the Tremere Chantry of Saint Louis was untouched by the 1871 Commune, the Order of Hermes attacks against it will endanger the very existance of the Clan in Paris. Gustacio, in his rightful (and stupid) wrath, will counterattack. In 1894 the war will grow in scale, and few days after, the Mage Traditions, led by the outraged Hermetic Mages, are at war against the Camarilla Kindred, helping their fellow Tremere. Soon after, the Inquisition knows about it. It is a major crisis in Paris, as Justicars threaten to come to the city to investigate.

Villon's forces are gathered: The Masques will protect parisian Kindred and the Masquerade, while the Veilleurs will investigate the sources of this war and try to start a non-agression pact with the second most powerful Mage Tradition in Paris, the Sons of Ether. The pact is signed, as the veilleurs discover Technocracy's intrigues to weaken both the living and unliving mages. This will be the end of the greatness of the parisian Tremere and parisian Hermetic Mages: Until 1918, the Chantry of Saint Louis will be abandoned by all Tremere Kindred (The Chantry of Nonisis is not part of this decision, as it wasn't involved in the Wars of Traditions).

At their return in the Chantry of Saint Louis, the Tremere found that while the Chantry was untouched, the anger of the Toreador was still great: Villon authorized only a limited number of Tremere in Paris, and limited too, the contact between any Kindred (but the Veilleurs) and the Mages. The fact that a Tremere had sacrified himself to stop a Ritual threatening to weaken Paris own foundations (limestone mines whose roofs were being weakened by Magick) permited the Tremere to keep the Chantry as their own possession, and untouched by the other Kindred.

Criaâr, a Corax Abomination embraced by Gustacio (who had been called back to Vienna... And had not been seen since), has been freed from the influence of the Tremere and was to be let alone. As Veille is added to Veilleur's thaumaturgical Repertoire, the Tremere accuses Alexis of stealing thaumaturgical tomes from the abandoned Chantry. Alexis challenges the Tremere, and their new Regent of Saint Louis, and Pontifex of France (he replaced Silian, who was destroyed in the War of Traditions), Abelard: If they can prove they can use the same Magic, then their claims will be accepted as true. The Tremere had not answered the challenge since then, thus unofficially accepting the fact Hekau Thaumaturgy is another new (old?) kind of Magic, different from Tremere Thaumatrugy (even more different than the Tzimisce Koldunic Magic), and was not stolen from their Chantry Library.

Since then, the parisian Tremere are at lost: Laureen's research is not giving satisfying results (it seems she is doing something else...), even if her Chantry shows dedication and good health, and Vienna even sent another Tremere, Laurent, replacing the deceased Henrique, officially to search another spot to built a third Chantry in Paris surroundings. In truth, he came to inspect the work of parisian Tremere, and their leaders, Laureen and Abelard, of course.

Abelard seems to neglect his own duty as Regent of Saint Louis and Pontifex of France. Only Alric, a Tremere Warlord embraced in Transylvania in the War against the Tzimisce centuries ago, seems to care for Vienna's plans, but as Alric is more known for his prowesses in warfare than for his Thaumaturgy research, so he can't be of real help in Paris.

The situation will change soon. As soon as Vienna decide the situation is not acceptable anymore and decide to replace the Tremere Leaders by more capable ones... Alric, and the parisian Tremere Ancillae could, perhaps, be among the next ones.

The number of Tremere, as well as their Influence in Paris, have been largely limited by different treaties, and, most of all, by the Treaty following the War of Traditions. The pyramid of power is somewhat alien to most US Tremere, but the cause of such complex structure is the presence of multiple Chantries in the region. Thus, Abelard is Pontifex of France (and by such is Duc of the Tremere) and Regent of Saint Louis, which gives him power over any french Chantry... Laureen is Lady of Paris and Regent of Nonisis, which gives her power over any parisian Chantry, including Saint Louis! That means, in simplier terms that any parisian Tremere has two leaders to follow, which can be confusing, even if one of them is superior to the other.

Note that the Clan have a relatively high number of Ghoul Apprentices, all fighting each other to become or remain the first, with the hope that a Tremere will fail and be called to Vienna (or simply, be destroyed). So Tremere Neonates are not free from the fight for power: Ghouls look at them with envy, and the most ambitious ones will intrigue to remove them from the path...

Destiny

                    The Clan will suffer a lot from the Assamite freeing themselves from the Curse. The Chantry of Nonisis, isolated, will fall, not without taking with them to death a significant number of Assamite. Of course, the other Chantries will also suffer...

The relations with the Gangrel will degenerate to such point physical combat will be avoided with great difficulty. The fact that Lupines will attack Tremere influences, including Apprentices and even Kindred will make the Tremere ask Villon to make the Gangrel choose their sides, Lupine or Kindred. This could be well the actions the Gangrel waited for to quit the parisian Camarilla, much to the horror of the other parisian Kindred!

Organization

                    Each Apprentice meet her Regent once per week, Monday for the Nonisis Chantry, Wednesday for the St Louis Chantry and Thursday for the New Chantry. Each Regent meet with the Lady of Paris (and so, under her authority) the 6th new moon night of each year (around June). Each Lord of France meet with the Pontifex (under his authority) every three years, the 29 September (they will meet again the 29 September 1997).

Note that these meetings are considered of the most importance, and there is usually no excuse to not appear at each of them. The only exception is when there is a conflict between formal reunions of the Clan. In this case, the last important reunion is cancelled, and is held the following week, exactly.

The Chantry of Saint Louis (Paris)

                    The Chantry of Saint Louis is, without doubt, the most powerful Chantry of France, and could well, if the number of Tremere of Paris wasn't limited by the War of Traditions's Treaty, become the second most powerful Chantry in the world, due to its seemingly endless supply of Vis. It is said that Grimgroth, Councillor of Western Europe, whose Chantry is in Rome, wondered about moving or not to the Saint Louis Chantry...

Abelard; 7th Generation Duc and Pontifex of France, Regent of the Chantry of Saint Louis.
Alric; 7th Generation, Seventh Circle Apprentice.
Gustacio; 6th Generation (deceased).
Julius; ?th Generation (missing).
Mickael; ?th Generation Fifth Level Apprentice.
Patrick; ?th Generation.
?; ?th Generation.

The Chantry of Nonisis (Meudon)

                    While the Chantry of Saint Louis is power, the Chantry of Nonisis (named so because it was believed a cult of Isis had its religious gathering there before the creation of the Chantry) is peace to study and learn. Laureen is more known for her vast thaumaturgical theoric knowledge than her ''firepower'', and is estimated as a teacher.

Frederic de Lagny; ?th Generation Second Level Apprentice.
Laureen; 7th Generation Lady of the Realm of Paris and Regent of the Chantry of Nonisis.
?; ?th Generation.

The New Chantry (???)

                    While this Chantry does not exist yet, Laurent already started to gather ''Free'' Tremere around him, and search for a suitable spot. He is seen with suspition by the other Leaders (or Leader wannabes) of the Tremere in Paris.

Gerald; ?th Generation.
Laurent; 5th Generation.
?; ?th Generation.

The Lost Chantry (???)

                    Goratrix was once Councillor for France, and has since fled Europe and the direct influence of the Clan. He was said to have built a Chantry near the University. The location of this Chantry is now unknown. The Elders, including the non-Tremere Elders, doesn't talk about it. Rumours said it was destroyed by the Tremere. Others add that Goratrix add taken every possible magical apparatus and books and after destroyed himself the building. Still, more than one Tremere Ancillae in Paris dreamt at least once to find the Chantry of Goratrix, in the hope of discovering long lost Thaumturgical Paths or Rituals, or even Magical artefacts. While most started a minimum investigation, few went even beyond that, and none ever claimed to have found it.

The Vis of Paris

                    The Tremere Magi used the Vis To fuel their Magickal power, when they were still ''humans''. Upon the transition, they found their powers had been lost, and they became the Clan Tremere, fueling their Thaumaturgy through expenditure of Vitae instead of Vis. Still, as stated in the Transylvania Chronicles, The Kindred Magi still searched for Vis, which is known now as ''Quintessence''. Why?

A home rule resolves this problem: The Tremere, by their Thaumaturgy, are still able to absorb Vis, and use it to fuel their Thaumaturgy, and only their Thaumaturgy (some believe Necromancy, as well as Hekau Thaumaturgy can also be fueled the same way). A Tremere has a Vis Pool equal to half their Blood Pool, and the number of Vis points they can use each turn is equal to the limitation by Generation up use of Vitae per turn.

For example, Gustacio was a 6th Gen tremere, able to use 7 Blood Points per turn, and with a Blood pool of 30. Than means that he could absorb as a bonus 15 Vis Points. In the same way, he could use in the same Turn 7 Blood Points (from his 30 Blood pool) And 7 Vis Points (from his Vis Pool). The power of the Tremere with a Vis potent enough to feed him is thus increased. Note that a Tremere loses a Vis point per night, in the same fashion he loses a Blood Point per night.

Another possible Bonus is to let them use Vis to decrease the difficulty of the casting of a spell (use of a Path, or a Ritual). Only 1 Vis can be used for each spell in such a way.

Now, the real problem is that no Node, or Caern, or any ''natural'' source of magickal energy in the Paris' region, remained untouched by the Aura of Corruption, and that the Chantry source is a mirror (a tiny fragment, but still...) of the principal source. Using this corrupted Vis can lead to corruption in a very Wyrm-like way. Storyteller are encouraged to create their own lure and seduction/mutation that lead their NPCs (and PCs!) to use more and more Vis. The system of Infernal Investments could be modified to suit the Storyteller's wishes, dragging the Tremere through the corruption of the Wyrm...

Note that it's easier for a Lupine to smell the corruption of a Tremere through the Gift ''Sense Wyrm'' if the said Tremere is full of corrupted Vis...

A Note About Thaumaturgy

                    Thaumaturgy always has been described as a strange and alien Discipline. Just by reading it, if you neglect its structure (Thaumaturgy Rating, Paths and Rituals), this Discipline is very similar in effects to other, more alien, Disciplines. Why Thaumaturgy is seen as so alien?

Because it's magic.

The Tremere was, before their ''Embrace'', an Hermetic House. They were Magi, similar in appearance and powers to other Mages from the Order of Hermes, using Magick, quintessence and Spheres.

When they became Kindred, they sought to win back what power was their. While they lost the control of reality, they won the limitless Kindred powers (i.e.: not limited to a 5-rating). They were the first to make an already known Discipline (Thaumaturgy was already used by some Kindred, Tzimisce, for example or even Mictantecutli, the Gangrel Methuselah from Diablerie: Mexico) a Clan Discipline.

Still, Thaumaturgy was seen as a strange Discipline. Why? Because it was different in appearance to others.

When using a Discipline, a Kindred does not need to make gesture, to talk or anything. They are natural extension of his body and mind. A Lasombra using Obtenebration could do it even when paralysed (And possibly when in Torpor for some powers...). The same can be said for most Discipline unless obvious exceptions: Dominate needs the victim to understand what the Kindred is telling him to do (including forgetting some events), and Vicissitude needs physical contact between the Kindred and its victim, as the Kindred modelate the victim's body (One power enable her to do it at distance, still!).

The Path of Corruption is a very strange Path as the Setites can learn it without needing to know Thaumaturgy, as it is rumored Set himself created the Path, which was stolen by (or given to) the Tremere in the late middle-ages:

Setite characters can learn the Path of Corruption without previously knowing the Discipline of Thaumaturgy. They are able to use the Path in its original Egyptian form, free of the ceremonial trappings the Tremere find necessary (Clanbook: Setites by Richard Watts, p38)

What does it mean? It means that the Setite can use the Path without any verbal, gesture and physical component, which are needed by the Tremere!

Conclusion: Rituals and Paths need to have some kind of gesture made, some kind of words pronounced. It is believable that, as the Mages can learn to use Magick without using Foci, the Tremere could do... but in the other hand, the Mages try to reach Ascensíon, while the Tremere won't never reach it.

It will perhaps bother some players (even some Storytellers). You don't need to follow this ''home rule'', but you would lose what make the Tremere so special...

Thaumaturgy: Revised Edition Comments

                    Vampire: The Masquerade, Revised Edition changed a lot the Thaumaturgy Disciplines. While I'll not comment the exact rules (possibility for the Rituals to fail, etc.) I will the new distribution of powers.

It seems that White Wolf decided to put limits to the range of Thaumaturgy. While there isn't proof of that, the Path of Spirit seem to have been altered, and with this alteration disapeared the power of Thaumaturgy about necromantic magic. The Giovanni Discipline of Necromancy is now some kind of bastardized Thaumaturgy, complete with Paths and Rituals (we can even deduce from this fact that Mortis was, too, a Path/Rituak type Discipline).

So we must conclude Thaumaturgy have been limited to a certain type of Magic. For those knowing AD&D, I will say it seems that Thaumaturgy is limited to the Evocation/Invocation Schools, as well as Conjuring/Summoning, and other ''AD&D-like'' Magic. Necromancy is lost to Thaumaturgy.

As we agree to this changes in philosophy, this will be applied to the characters of the Paris, la nuit.... You're free to do as you want with your player characters, of course.

Additionnal Paths and Rituals of Thaumaturgy can be found at the LdA's Vampire: The Masquerade HTML page.

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