Dark Ages Libellus: Volume 1: Master of the State

All societies have their leaders, and Cainites are no exception. However, when you live for centuries, it can be difficult to tell exactly who is in power. From this comes the three fountainheads of leadership. Clans Lasombra, Tzimisce, and Ventrue all carry an air of power, but each knows they are the only true leaders for the Cainites. This book is analagous to the many Clanbooks printed for Vampire: The Masquerade. However, they have grouped them together into clans of like minds, if such a thing can exist with these power-driven demons. The first book deals with the Leaders-from-the-Shadows. Just as ever king has a king-maker, every king-maker has the one who made him. Just like their Obtenebration that manipulates the shadows, these Magisters are the ones to pull the power behind the power behind the throne. Seeing a pattern? Although they are internally strifeful, they will not let the others know this. Clan Lasombra should run Cainite society, and if they have their way, their shadowy tentacles will eventually touch every aspect of both Mortal and Cainite culture. Their section is a wonderful extension on core book material. It offers more information on the behind-the-shadows workings of this clan. These details are also augmented with clan specific discipline levels and powers. Now players can see the horrific powers of Obtenebration. Not only can they cloak the night, but Tchernabog can even cloak the day! Even if a Cainite cannot summon this level of Obtenebration, a simple use of Dark Steel will slow down even the staunchest of aggressors. Now those who rule from the Shadows are shown to have their own teeth as well. While it is better to let others do the killing and dying for you, the Lasombra will not need to stand idly by. They can go toe-to-toe with any other clan, if that clan ever sees them coming. Book two takes a decidedly different tone by delving into the ultra-horrific world of the Tzimisce. These Cainites are well called fiends by their peers. Although the view is biased and from a Tremere source, it is evident the strength and power they wield is terrible. This is a place not for the squeamish. The Fiends live well beyond the realm of monster. They relish in their unlives and their ancient powers. Beware when you sup with the Fiends for you never know who is the main course. Now this section does give information on both Vicissitude and a little on Koldunic Sorcery. Do no be fooled. Koldunism is not the same as Thaumaturgy. As others not, Koldunism is far older. If this book seems to indicated the two are the same, then obtain Blood Magic and use that instead. Often, one should not just lump the two together. This is what started the war long, long ago. Granted, killing a Tzimisce elder and invading the lands of the Voivode was not a good idea either. Also, most of Clan Tzimisce do not use Koldunic Sorcery. They have instead been infected with Vicissitude, which is the dif

Koldunic sorcery IS thaumaturgy for all intents and purposes. All thaumaturgy is is using the power of vampire blood to power magic. It's like magic in Mage basically, except it uses vitae instead of quintessence or tass. Koldunic sorcery is the same thing. It is using blood to power magic. Simply enough, it is just an ancient form of thaumaturgy that is not as polished as the Tremere form (they had been Magi for quite some time before they became Cainite). I think it wouldn't make sense to call Koldunic Sorcery as thaumaturgy, mainly because the former predates the later. But, as stated previously, they are basically the same thing.

Well, this was a good book. It was full of usefull information on the Lasombra, Ventrue, and Tzimisce. It talked about how they rule over people, their different pollicys, and all the usual things. Basicly three clanbooks (shorter than usual, of course) for the price of one. There was only one thing that not only disapointed me. I have been scouring White Wolf's books for something on Koldunic scorcery, and I came across this. Now, the Tzimisce are arguable the most popular clan in the Dark Ages, right? You'd think White Wolf would at least take the time to come up with a system that was at least a LITTLE different from Thamaturgy! The ONLY difference between the two is the rituals, and they only give you 6 or 7 of them!

This book details the three "leadership" clans of the Dark Ages, the Lasombra, Tzimisce and Ventrue.The Lasombra section was fairly interesting. It describes the split in the Lasombra between Christian and Muslim, their secret society known as the Amici Noctis, and a host of new powers. The elder-only powers are a little over the top (which is the tendency in WW) but there are several powers which mix Lasombra disciplines at lower levels, which means young'uns can use them too.The Tzimisce was fascinating. It gave a good feel of how a voivode's estate is run and provides a list of the DA ghoul families, which didn't all make it to the modern day. Finally a write-up on Koldunic sorcery! It needs more detail, though, and I was a little disappointed that Koldunic sorcery seems to be Thaumaturgy with different names. There are elder powers here, too, ranging from the twisted to the obscene. This was, to me, the most interesting part of the book.The Ventrue section is pretty boring, but there is minor interest to be found in the sections on the factions within the Ventrue, especially the Merchant Princes.All in all, a very worthwhile book. I recommend it to anyone who plans to run a Dark Ages game.

I could have done with more information about the individual clans... after all, this is a compilation of the Ventrue, Lasombra and Tzimisce. Being a Tzimisce fan, I especially enjoyed the information on Koldunic sorcery and the additional information about Vozhd and Szlachta creation and the DA equivallents of the Revenants and the Lost Families. The information about how to become a Koldun and how exactly one would acquire Koldunic magic system-wise was unclear. If you are a fan of at least two of these clans, I recommend the book.