Gehenna (World of Darkness)

This article is about the fictional event. For other uses, see Gehenna (disambiguation).

In the role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade by White Wolf, Inc., Gehenna is the vampires' prophesied armageddon.[1]:219[2] Gehenna (2004) was the final Vampire book published by White Wolf.[1]:228

Gehenna is the time when the Antediluvians (the grandchildren of Caine, the first vampire) will rise to consume the blood of all the younger vampires and construct a city in which they will rule for one thousand years. The prophecy of Gehenna is most thoroughly detailed in the Book of Nod, the story of Caine's banishment and cursing by God. There are also portents found in the Book of Nod, claiming the coming of the "Dark Father" and the "Dark Mother". Who these are is uncertain, but it is believed these two figures could be the mythical Caine and Lilith, respectively. Gehenna is said to be preceded by the Time of Thin Blood, in which successive generations of vampires past the thirteenth lose the potency of their blood, become incapable of siring childer or exercising their vampiric powers, and even develop a tolerance to sunlight.[3]

Four possible Gehenna scenarios were depicted in the final Vampire: The Masquerade sourcebook, which was titled Gehenna,[4] as part of the Time of Judgment that ended the original World of Darkness. The four scenarios are:

  1. "Wormwood" (God destroys all vampires save for a few, who are given a chance at redemption)
  2. "Fair is Foul" (Lilith takes her vengeance on Caine and his descendants)
  3. "Nightshade" (the Masquerade is broken and the Camarilla divided as the Antediluvians awaken)
  4. "The Crucible of God" (the Antediluvians rise up, ruling over or destroying most of the human race)

Gehenna cult

A Gehenna cult is a group of individuals (almost always vampires) that is devoted to influencing events leading up to or during Gehenna, often with the objective of stopping or aiding the Antediluvians. While these cults vary widely and are often in opposition of one another, in general each focuses on one or more similar activities including:[5]

The term is used somewhat derisively, as most Kindred do not believe in the Antediluvians and many Gehenna cults are pseudo-religious, fanatical, and lacking any trusthworthy information. Many assume that they are created by elders to dupe younger vampires into unknowingly taking part of their personal schemes. The entire Sabbat could be called a Gehenna cult (and often is by members of the Camarilla), but the term is normally reserved for much smaller groups including:[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Shannon Appelcline (2011). Designers & Dragons. Mongoose Publishing. ISBN 978-1-907702- 58-7.
  2. Achilli, Justin; Bates, Andrew; Brucato, Phil; Dansky, Richard E.; Hall, Ed; Hatch, Robert; Lee, Michael B. (1998). Vampire: The Masquerade (Revised Edition). White Wolf, Inc. ISBN 1-56504-249-2.
  3. Greenberg, Andrew (1994). The Book of Nod. White Wolf, Inc. ISBN 1-56504-078-3.
  4. Shomshak, Dean (2004). Gehenna. White Wolf, Inc. ISBN 1-58846-855-0.
  5. 1 2 Shomshak, Dean; Roark, Sarah (1999). Time of Thin Blood. White Wolf, Inc. ISBN 1-56504-245-X.
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